The now five-year-old filly was eagerly studying her 'first' magic scroll: A simple copy of instructions on how to use telekinesis. This was a gift from her parents who assumed she was ready, which she very much was. While she was a bit disappointed when she learned she could not perform any spells she had learned prior, Twilight had assumed that it was just that her young body couldn't handle her previous level of magical power. Either that, or starting a new game completely erased all of her progress magic wise.
POP!
Would you like to learn [Basic Telekinesis]?
You require: 5 INT
[Yes][No]
Twilight obviously knew the answer, as she had triple the requirement. She pressed [Yes].
You have learned (Basic Telekinesis Lv. 1)!
(Basic Telekinesis Lv. 1)- Everypony's an Esper these days.
- Move and hold a single 1 pound object within 10 feet.
- 10 MP per minute.
"Status," she said.
Twilight Sparkle, The Gamer Lv. 9
HP: 250/250
MP: 375/375
(20/2250 EXP)
STR: 11
DEX: 11
END: 10
INT: 15
WIS: 15
CHA: 10 (+5)
LUK: 3
Buffs: Everyone Likes Babies!
Twilight was more than ecstatic about her progress in the recent two years. She gone through thirty five separate Playdate quests, all giving her exactly 250 EXP each, which added up to 8,750. Which had shot her up to level nine! The cap grew by 250 each time. In total she had received thirty five more points and distributed them relatively evenly, except for Luck, as she wasn't sure what that was supposed to do. She had placed two points into in, yet she has not seen anything worth noticing. She hadn't placed any in intelligence or wisdom considering she already had such a head start on them, and she was smarter than most fillies, so it didn't matter either way. Her observe power didn't grow by much either, only growing by one more level in the past two years and giving only a measly 10 EXP. When she leveled up next time, Twilight was considering placing it all in charisma. With the bonus it was fifteen, but that buff was going to end sooner or later, so best not to get too attached to it.
She also notice Moondancer hadn't leveled up much as her. She was still level six, which was weird considering she should have gotten just as much EXP as her. Did other people level slower than her? Or does her intelligence and wisdom have something to do with that?
Twilight looked at her pencil and focused. It glowed with a purple aura and lifted into the air. If the description was right, she could do this for thirty seven and a half minutes straight. That was quite a lengthy time, for a foal. After the time limit ran out, the aura sizzled and faded away, her pencil dropping back down to the desk.
She looked back to her status screen and watched her MP regenerate by ten each second, she took note of that, meaning it would take about thirty eight seconds to fully recharge. That information could prove to be very useful.
"Twilight!" her mother called out.
"Cancel," she muttered, closing her windows. She wasn't sure if she was the only one able to see the text boxes, but she didn't want to test it to find out.
She turned to see her mother holding a letter in her magical aura.
"That must be..." the filly thought.
"Twilight, I have some big news for you! You remember that old unicorn that came by last week and examined you?" Velvet asked.
"The doctor?" Twilight asked, full-well knowing that that stallion was actually a professor who was requested to gauge the magic power that was dormant in her body.
"Yes sweetie, he said your magic so powerful for someone your age. He said you may have more energy than Starswirl the Bearded when he was your age!" her mother said.
"Really?" Twilight didn't remember that part from her childhood. Did her early higher stats really make that much of a difference?
"Yes, Twily, so me and your father talked it over with the doctor and he said that he may be able to get you a scholarship as Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns!" she nearly jumped, floating the paper over to Twilight.
With her own power, she took the paper and read it.
Dear Twilight Sparkle,
We would like to inform you we have heard of your promising magical power, and are very impressed to say the least. As Doctor Feel Good had said, with training you will surely pass Starswirl within your lifetime.
Next month we will be holding a test to see who is truly worthy of our academy. Princess Celestia will also be present as the fillies and colts attempt great feats of magic. And she has told us that any truly outstanding student will be offered to become her personal pupil.
We would very much like it if you attended.
-Sighed, Principal Nirvana
Twilight raised a brow. Those weren't their names last time. Did the New Game effect that too?
She looked up to her mother, handing her back the letter. "I'd love to go."
"Good, I'll tell your father and we'll try to get an exact time," Velvet answered. "Oh! I also got these to help you develop your magic!" She reached into her saddle bag and hovered over two black cubes, which were just a smidge bigger than her old blocks. She rested them on the floor before Twilight and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Twilight squinted at the blocks.
Novice Magic Training Cubes- Small blocks made from a metal-like substance that is resistant to magic to help a unicorn develop their telekinesis, although they're highly impure so a foal can use them. 10% resistant to magic.
"I don't remember these being a thing," Twilight said. Waiting a few more second to make sure her MP was charged, she enveloped a Training Cube in her aura, it hesitated to rise. Twilight felt the weight, but nothing too unmanageable.
She did the next best thing and lifted it up and down repeatedly like a dumbbell for the thirty seven and a half minute limit. Just as her magic started to sizzle out, she quickly dropped the block on the cube on the floor with a soft thud. Twilight whipped the sweat off her brow, she certainly felt tuckered out. Waiting thirty eight seconds, she felt entirely refreshed and repeated the exercise. And again, and again, and again until she heard a POP!
(Basic Telekinesis Lv. 1) is now Lv. 2! 10 EXP earned
(Basic Telekinesis Lv. 2) - Everypony's an Esper these days.
-Move and hold up to 2 pounds in fifteen feet.
- Costs 10 MP per minute. Each additional pound over the limit increases cost by 5.
"That's certainly an improvement," Twilight grinned. She saw a small box in the corner of her eye. It had tiny with an exclamation mark in it, which she curiously tapped.
(Story Mission) First Day of School
You have received a letter from the School of Gifted Unicorns and been accepted! And it seems that Princess Celestia herself will be present to scout out any possible students. We wouldn't want to disappoint now do we? Time to hit the books!
Time Left: (30) Days
Objectives:
- Learn three separate Magic skills
- Level up at least one magic based skill up to LV. 10
Success: Enrollment at School for Gifted Unicorns, chance to impress Celestia, 2,000 EXP.
Failure: Settle for public school, 250 EXP
Twilight pressed [Accept] with a smile. She kept practicing her magic for the whole day.
******
Twilight woke with a yawn, rubbing her eyes as she vaguely recalled her progress last night. She had literally spent the whole afternoon just training. And it worked. She had leveled the skill up to Lv. 8, earning her 80 EXP. She only had two levels of it left and the only other thing she had to do was learn two more spells.
All in thirty or less days!
"Hm, this isn't really all that difficult," Twilight said aloud.
She exited her room and trotted into the kitchen to see her whole family. Her mother and father were sipping their morning coffee while Shining was eating his cereal. It was only later the same day that Twilight had earned her Observe skill that she learn Shining was around level twelve, but that was two years ago, so he was likely a few higher now.
"Morning!" she chirped.
"Hi Twily! Have any plans?" Velvet asked.
"Actually yes, I wanted to ask you something mom," Twilight pulled back a chair with her magic and sat down. Her mother hovered over a bowl to her filly.
"What's that sweetie?" she asked.
"Do you have any other spells I can learn? Since I've got about a month to practice, shouldn't I also work on other ones too?" Twilight said.
"Oh! Of course Twilight! I'm sure your dad and I have some old scrolls lying around," her mother answered.
"What‘re you practicing for?" Shining Armour spoke through a mouthful of cereal.
"A professor mom brought home says I have a shot for the Gifted School for Unicorns, and that even Celestia will be there!"
Both Shining and Night Light spot out their food.
"W-what!?" her father shouted.
"Oh, I must have forgotten to tell your father, silly me!"
"Twilight! That's amazing news. I'm so proud of you!" Night said.
"Yeah Twi, do you know how many high class unicorns dream about just being able to perform for Celestia? Like, hundreds! I'm rootin' for ya!" Shining added, pumping a hoof into the air.
Her father got up from his chair, trotting around the table. "I think I know the perfect ones." With that, the stallion left the room.
Later, only minutes after returning to her room, Twilight's father returned with two scrolls in his aura.
"Twilight?"
"Yes?" she looked up from her training block.
"I've been looking through my old high school spells that I was forced to study, and I think I found something perfect for a
smart lil' filly just like you!" Night Light answered.
Twilight dropped the block and jumped up with excitement. "Really!? What is it?"
"Basic Transmutation and Storage Seals," her father smiled.
Twilight tilted her head adorably. She didn't recall Seals being a form of magic... Or even hearing about them in her last life.
"Seals?" she asked.
Her father hovered the scrolls over to the filly’s desk. "You see, Twilight, seals are a fairly old school of magic, just like enchantments, but on paper. With containment seals you can write down symbols and runes on a sheet of special parchment and it can store things. The complexity can vary widely depending on what you want to store. They can actually be very helpful, like when you’re moving a couch and you can’t get anyone to help or when your telekinesis isn't working right."
He then rubbed his chin curiously. "Ya'know, I was never sure why these things fell out of use... Maybe because buying the special paper and ink in bulk was a pain? Then again these seals were fairly reusable... Eh, nonetheless, never doubt the power of a proper and well made seal, Twilight."
The young unicorn was already at her desk opening her scrolls.
"Oh, you also need these," her father hovered over some additional items. "I'll leave you be."
After hearing her dad close the door behind him, Twilight observed the extra things she received.
Enchanted Parchment (20)- Special Paper made with magic and other mythical ingredients, these slits of paper are perfect for a seal or two.
Magic Inkwell (20)- Purplish black ink made from the liquified essence of magic, this substance can be used to craft seals.
Small Stones (5)- A simple pebble that could have been picked off the road, nothing too exciting about them.
Twilight cocked her head. Why did her dad give her rocks? She shook her head and checked the scrolls.
Would you like to learn [Basic Transmutation]?
You require: 10 INT
Twilight hastily pressed [Yes].
You have learned (Basic Transmutation Lv. 1)!
(Basic Transmutation Lv. 1)- Equivalent Exchange.
- You can change one small item into another item of equal or lesser value and weight.
- Costs 30 MP.
- 20% chance of failure
Twilight checked the Storage Seal scroll and pressed [Yes] again.
You have learned (Basic Storage Seal Lv. 1)!
(Basic Storage Seal Lv. 1)- Pocket Dimension, but Smaller
- Can store one small item.
- Costs 1 Enchanted Parchment, 1 Magic Inkwell, and 120 minutes to craft.
"These could be quite useful for my organization, not to mention how much space I could save if I level it up!" She then noticed the tag line. "What’s a pocket dimension? Ah well, that’s not important!"
She read over the transmutation scroll’s instruction. "Fairly simple, just like I remember it!" She glanced over to small rocks on her desk. "Of course, that's what they are for."
Twilight lifted one in her magical grasp, bringing it close to her face and concentrating on the pebble. She watched as it glowed white and-
Poof!
In a puff of smoke she saw the pebble was no longer that, and instead she held a small smooth piece of wood.
"Hm, interesting... I wonder if this could eventually turn lead into gold," she muttered to herself. She placed down the wood pebble and looked over to seal making scroll.
With a confident look on her face, Twilight brought over an enchanted parchment and inkwell.
...Two Hours later...
The young gamer wiped her brow with a satisfied look. Bringing up the finished seal, Twilight brought it up to her face to admire it.
The design she was told to write down was certainly outlandish. In the center of the thick rectangular paper was a spiral design with a tribal fire ring. Three small rows of runes, symbols and other designs she had never seen before ran down each side of the paper. Lying it back down, she looked over to the transmuted wood-rock she made earlier.
Hovering over the material onto the center of the seal. Twilight scratched her head in thought, trying to remember the rest
without checking the scroll.
"...Alright, so I have the markings correctly drawn and the item in question is in the center. So all I should need to do next is..." Twilight placed her hooves on the ends of the seal, pressing hard on them. She closed her eyes and concentrated hard, picturing her energy going through her limbs instead of her horn.
POOF!
She opened her eyes again to see the pebble was no longer, merely a single a trail of smoke. Twilight frowned. "Hm... The
skill didn't say anything about a chance of failure, only the transmutation..." she thought, before perking up and slapping her forehead.
"Pht-! Of course! Why did I even think that?" she said, lightly shaming herself.
She placed her hooves back down and repeated the process, but with her eyes open this time.
POOF!
She watched a small burst of smoke came and the pebble reappeared, in all it's wooden glory. Twilight smiled as she hovered the wood-rock again. With a simple cast, it was stone again.
POP!
Completely unsurprised, the unicorn saw the windows indicating her skills had leveled up.
(Basic Transmutation Lv. 1) is now Lv. 2! 10 EXP earned!
(Basic Transmutation Level. 2) - Equivalent Exchange
- Can change one small item into another item of equal or lesser value.
- Cost 25 MP
- 20% of Failure.
"Wait... All that went down was the magic cost." Twilight raised a brow. "Hm... I guess it's because it’s just basic transmutation."
(Basic Storage Seal Lv. 1) is now Lv. 2! 10 EXP earned!
(Basic Storage Seal Lv. 2) - Pocket Dimension, but Smaller
- Can store one small item.
- Costs 1 Enchanted parchment, 1 magic Inkwell, and 110 Minutes to craft.
"Again, the time needed only went down by ten minutes," she paused, tapping her chin. "Which isn't all that bad once I think about it, considering how tedious it is take over an hour to just craft one seal... Imagine if I needed to make this this in bulk!" Twilight snorted at the absurdity.
After this thought, Twilight resumed her tiring training. She would transmute the stones for half an hour, then do another seal before returning to the rocks.