Twin Souls

Chapter 5

Sahsunaar

The bell echoed throughout the hallways, corridors, and spaces between, giving notice that class was now over. Students of all shapes and sizes, colors and forms exited their rooms, heading preferably back to their dorms or someplace else. Out of the herd of students, one in particular followed the teacher of the classroom she was just occupied in.

"Professor!" She called out, scurrying to keep up with him. "Professor, may I speak to you please?"

The stallion ignored her requests, pursuing his ongoing target, the staff buffet.

Easily angered by his rude response she charged her horn, and in a flash appeared in front of the old stallion. "Professor, I would like it if you speak to me."

"Oh, Miss Far, good to see you again." He said sarcastically, before moving around her and continuing his journey to the magnificent spectacle of food set for him and his co-workers.

Miss Far grunted, charging her horn once again, but this time levitating the professor back to her, holding him in place. He squirmed around, shooting daggers at her eyes.

"I demand you put me down this instant! I could get you expelled for this!" He shouted, only loud enough for the both to hear.

Miss Far, in return and revenge, ignored his requests and brought him closer. "And I demand you speak to me about it."

The two stared at each other for what seemed like ages until the old stallion finally gave up. "Look Miss Far, I've already told you this, I have nothing else to teach you!" He implied.

She pouted, but then remembered. "What about those other classes? I saw you teaching some colts around campus, what was that?"

The old stallion laughed, "Those were personal classes, and they are far too advanced for you."

She was shocked, "Too advanced, I-" She was cut off by his dismissing hoof.

"Look, you may have been taught by Celestia, but if you haven't figured out yet, some of the Mages in this university are more magically advanced than even her. You must learn from the best to be the best, which is why you are here." He said.

Hearing the tough truth about her mentor was much, but understanding that she must spend another two years in the same classes before she could move on was even worse. She had already aced all the tests so far, she knew all the material, so what's the point?

"Professor, I have done everything this school has to offer, I have passed every class in every nook and cranny of the art of magic. So why won't you let me learn what those other ponies learn?" She begged.

The professor sighed, putting a hoof on her shoulder. "You should respect and love your youth. For the final magic we teach is far too dangerous for you to learn."

Miss Far blinked, confused. "My youth...Dangerous? What do you mean dangerous?"

"Miss Far, this entire time you have been learning defensive and conjuration magic. The only kind of magic any average pony would need right?" She nodded. "But beyond that is what we like to call offensive magic. It is the most dangerous kind. The power to conjure flames at will and incinerate your enemies..."

He sighed, continuing. "But it doesn't stop there. The most ancient kind of magic we teach is only available through the headmaster,  Professor Weavehoof. He is sort of a nut, to be honest.” Far frowned, much to the professors amusement.

"Teaching Rotmulaagge, as they call it!”

Far’s mouth dropped, "Y-You mean?"

The professor nodded, "Yes, the dragon’s language. Not draconic, but old dragon. Starswirl could barely catch a glimpse of its true power."

Far gulped, but then remembered. "But why study it if we cannot use it?" She asked.

The professor nodded, “True, in a sense, my dear. Though through much study, and practice, if you remember correctly, Starswirl managed to shout a few words in his lifetime. Of course, it took him thirty years to master it." He said, trying his best to scare the young mare from trying it.

Far spent a few seconds to re-gather her thoughts, but by the time she was back to ask more questions, the professor was gone. She looked around, calling his name. She heard a bubble sound next to her. She turned around to see a conjured message bubble. She cocked a brow and popped it, waiting to hear its contents.

"I'm sorry Miss Far, I must be going, the buffet awaits me. Ta ta!" A voice replayed.

Far blinked, turning back around to the hallway, still filled with hundreds of students. "Rotmulaagge...I know what I'll be writing to the princess about tonight." she squealed, heading back to class.

Within the company of her dorm-mates, who were busy, well studying, she opened a letter from her greatest friend, the personal protege of the princess, and fellow student under the ruler of Equestria as well, her greatest friend, Miss Twilight Sparkle. They had been friends for as long as they could remember, reaching far back into the lights of their childhood.

Of course, due to certain complications, they were separated when high school came around. Fars parents decided to send her to another school, all much to financial issues. She was, of course, disappointed to leave her friend, but as soon as college came around, they were both thrilled to see each other sharing the same classes. Though today, Twilight was on hiatus due to the recent events of the crystal empire.

She quickly read the letter with haste, her eyes growing wide in interest and surprise. Her friends noticed this, deciding to push for the reason. When she wouldn’t answer, they started throwing various objects at her, which she dodged, laughing at her friends silly actions. “Stop, I’ll read it!” She laughed.

Her friends smiled, listening to the letter about to be bestowed unto their ears.

“Apparently, she has been excused from classes for the time because of a project assigned by...By Stars beard, by Princess Luna herself!” She squealed, along with the rest of her friends. “So lucky!” One said. “I wonder what it is?” Another asked.

“Shh, shh, wait, I’m getting to that!” She glared at the alabaster mare, who quickly shut her mouth, though a small excitement behind her disguise surfaced.

“It says that Luna has recently left Equestria on a trip to find more about the...Dragons!” She shouted, surprised. Her friends ooed in response, interested in what could provoke the mare to do such things. “While on her trip, she managed to snatch a piece of advice from the local dragons. It says she found an ancient language engraved on various stones across the valley of death.” Far’s eyes grew fearful reading that title.

“The dragons call it ‘Father’. Oh my...Wow...What’s this?” She read on. “She has direct orders from Luna to research more about this language for her. The dragons said that a ‘bearer’ of Father is roaming Equestria.” She looked up from her letter, exchanging glances with her friends. “No idea what that means.”

She continued to read the letter, nearing the bottom. “Sorry girls, that’s all, the rest is all personal.” She smiled. The girls moaned, though a few squealed in excitement over this lucky turn of events. She laughed, turning her head back to the letter. As her eyes read over it, she whispered it in a hush tone.

“Far, I’ve recently met with a creature from an unknown origin. A good friend of mine, Lyra, found him wandering the park a few days ago. He stands on two legs, like a diamond dog, but is covered with black scaly armour. He looks like he just came from a war or something. Even so, that isn’t why I’m telling you about him. The reason is because his armour. It’s enchanted.” Fars eyes grew small to the size of peas.

“Enchanted? But that’s impossible...” She whispered.

“The only creatures known to pony who could have done these things were dragons. They invented enchantment in the first place. Okay, no big deal right? It get’s even more interesting. After visiting Celestia, in hope she could decipher the enchantment’s, she sent him into the afterlife to chase after some dragon that supposedly guards the gate to hell.

“As much as this sounds insane, it’s all true. We managed to find that his chestpiece can detect magical energies, which explains how he knew exactly where Celestia was, but...Something about him bothers me. It’s like he’s hiding something. I feel so terrible for thinking this way, as he remember close to nothing about himself, using Lyra, perhaps his only friend for support. Before you know it, he’s back from the dead, completely different, and utterly silent. Before you know it, Celestia tells him to travel south. Yes, that south. I don’t know about it all, Far, but I know he can’t survive on his own.

“Look. There is a reason why I’m writing this letter to you. I know what you’ve always wanted to do, but never got the chance. You’re the adventurous mare, aren’t you? There is no pony else in the whole world I trust more than my bestest friend. Would you go with him to the Dead Lands?

“It’s a lot to ask for, I know. To endanger yourself like that. But I-” Far closed her eyes, putting the note aside. The other girls noticed her strange change in behavior, giving her worried looks. She faced them, her face void of emotion. Suddenly, without cause or reason, she jumped into the air, screaming, “ADVENTURE!!!!”

The middle aged professor finished his meal, sitting down at his desk. His eyes moved over the hundreds of papers that had yet to be graded. He moaned loudly, much to the amusement of a certain monarch which had found herself into the room.

“Grading is never that much fun is it, Books?” She asked quietly. The professor jumped up in shock at the surprising appearance of royalty.

“My word Celestia! You almost gave this old coot a heart attack!” He said, bowing respectfully at her before moving his attention back to the papers.

She laughed, “You’re not that old, Books. Besides, I’ve got your blood pumping now, haven’t I?” She asked, stifling a laugh. Books, unmoving from his papers, blushed. “I-It seems so...” He gazed to the window, his heartbeat picking up from the presence of her royalness.

“You’re so adorable, Books.” She whispered from directly behind Books. He yelped, shooting out from his desk, to the window, leaving a giggling schoolgirl in place for a ruler. His nervousness changed into slight anger as he pouted. “What do you want, Celestia!” He trotted back over to his papers, occasionally exchanging glances with her. “I am quite busy, you know that right?”

His face heated up as she closed in on him, her smile growing seductively. Once the warm breath of his ruler was upon his neck, he ported a few desks away with the papers.

“Keep this up, and I won’t be able to tell you from a harlot!” He shouted, his face blood red with embarrassment. Celestia fixed herself a childish laugh. Books glared at her, unamused. With a soft finishing chuckle, she coughed to gain his attention.

“We always shared something special, Books.” She said warmly. “Besides, you’re still as handsome as always, if not cuter.” She flirted, much to the annoyance to the professor.

“The very moment I became Court Wizard, you flirted with me on many accounts.” He laughed, “Even tried to court with myself if I recall.”

“Can you blame me? You were the sexiest stallion of thirty-fourteen...” She recalled.

“Yes, and that was...What? Twenty years ago? You know something Celestia?” He asked. She cocked a brow, unsure.

“Yes?”

“Minus running the country, you act like such a foal around me. Honestly, it’s like you’re some teenager with a crush, who can’t manage to conduct herself in an orderly fashion. Then again...” He laughed. “Teenagers!” She laughed as well, knowing all too well about the behavior of an average teenager.

“So where would you like to go tonight?” He asked, a stallionly tone invading his box. She gasped. “A date? Are you asking me out?” She asked innocently.

Books laughed harder. “You’re quite the actress, my dear. But enough roleplay, what shall it be?”

Her smile grew as she gathered a list of various places she would love to spend the evening with him. An idea popped into her head as she remembered her favorite restaurant. “How about Cataclysmic Cafe?”

Books smiled, “Your favorite, of course. I shall meet you there at eight?”

Celestia nodded, parting his presence with a peck on the cheek. They’ve been unofficially dating for years, and yet he cannot stop himself from heating up whenever she even grazes him. He sighed, his happy attitude letting him plow through the rest of his papers, and eventually head home to tidy up for the night.