//------------------------------// // One Important Question // Story: For Everything Must Have a Beginning // by Golden Dusk //------------------------------// In truth, Celestia was not sure what to think of Novus becoming her teacher of magic. She contemplated the subject as she made her way towards the castle library for her first "class" with the alicorn. And even though her younger sister ought to have separate lessons due to her lower skill, Luna would be now sharing the tutoring period with her. Celestia guessed it was due to Novus's generally busy schedule being the keeper of the sun and moon. Celestia wondered what the alicorn would teach her as opposed to her previous teacher, the court wizard Glowing Ember. Ember was older than her father, and though he was an accomplished unicorn, he seemed to occasionally forget himself. Celestia stepped out into the castle courtyard, a sizable rectangular area dominated on all sides by crenellated walls and covered, pillared walkways. Cobblestone pathways broke the courtyard into a collection of garden rectangles, covered with thick green grass, multicolored flowerbeds, trellises of crawling ivy, and numerous small trees. All except one rectangular space, set apart from the rest, where guards and soldiers dueled and trained. The ground there was hardened by the hoofsteps of hundreds of displays of skill, with sparse grass growing in the corners and edges. Currently, such a display was taking part currently. The courtyard rang with the sound of steel on steel, and as Celestia rounded an ivy coated pillar, she could easily make out the two combatants on the far side of the field. One was a guardsman, the other Celestia recognized as a somewhat distant relative, sent to be a ward under her family. Celestia never really liked the colt. His family was also powerful, yes, but only because they were relatives of hers. Though everyone called Silver Blade, the dueling colt, "prince", he was truly nothing of the sort. Celestia swept her head away in indignation and continued towards her class. When she finally pushed open the doors of the library and made her way to the adjoining study where her classes were usually held, she found that both Novus and Luna were present within the room. They seemed engaged in a hushed conversation. The three windows within the room were also all opened fully, letting in the dwindling light of the sunset, and the still warm summer breeze. Novus seemed more part of these elements than solid, his ethereal mane and body perfectly matching the colors of the sunset outside. It seemed as though he was a piece of the sky itself, fallen to the ground yet still changing as the remainder above did. As Celestia pushed open the door fully, the talking died swiftly. Novus looked up at Celestia and gave a wry smile. "Thou took thine time to get here, to be sure." He motioned for Celestia to sit down on one of the two cushions placed in front of him. And as there was only one real chair the existed within the castle made for the alicorn, he opted instead to lay upon the carpeted floor. Celestia laid down upon the soft cushion adjacent to her sister. "I was just discussing with Luna the position of her current magical ability." Novus said, nodding towards Luna. "Now, Celestia, doth thou have any questions before we begin today's lesson?" Celestia looked towards her sister, then back to Novus. "Why did thou become our teacher?" She asked. Novus looked at Celestia a bit curiously, but any possibly stronger emotion was masked perfectly. The alicorn looked sideways out of one of the open windows, and took a slow breath. Celestia thought she could see something within the alicorn's eyes as they looked away, but was unsure of herself. "Well," Novus began, "The both of thou must first understand something. I will not entirely be replacing your instructors. Simply adding in mine own instruction on other subjects. Speaking of which, Celestia, thou art still scheduled to meet with Glowing Ember for your regular classes on the morrow. He told me to remind thou of this. Now, as for why I have decided to contribute to thine instruction, I feel as though the both of thou may need it. Nothing truly lasts for all eternity. Both of thou will one day be leaders, ponies of import who will have a number of responsibilities. I wish to ensure that thou art properly prepared." He turned back to Celestia. "I hope that such an explanation will suffice?" Celestia nodded, though inside she was rather disappointed. Something within her knew not to press, as Novus no doubt had millennia of experience with hiding information. "Excellent." Novus said. "Now, to begin. Thou art both familiar with the Elements of Harmony, yes?" Both of the fillies looked towards each other, then returned their gazes to Novus. They nodded. "How much do you know?" Novus asked. Again, both of the fillies looked towards each other, though now a short exchange of gestures passed between them, as they decided who would speak. The wordless conversation ended with Celestia being the chosen. "The Elements make up the greatest known magic within Equestria," she began. "The six elements are loyalty, honesty, kindness, generosity, laughter, and magic. The Elements have been used only once within our history, in the greatest battle ever fought between the Elder Dragon Ysvoreith and... er... you." Celestia flushed a bit with embarrassment, as she realized she was recounting a tale to the hero who was its focus. Novus gave a small chuckle. "My, my, that must have been over five hundred years ago. A good several centuries before the trouble with the Windigoes when the three tribes finally settled their differences, I think." Novus grinned slightly at the memory. "Doth thou know much else, Celestia?" Celestia thought for a moment, then shook her head. The Elements of Harmony were an old tale, and though there were several shrines to them, nopony really knew where the Elements were. They were, for almost all intents and purposes, just a myth. If Novus himself hadn't told that they did, in fact, exist, nopony would have included them within the story of Novus's epic battle with Ysvoreith. The alicorn looked a bit disappointed that Celestia did not know more. He looked towards Luna hopefully. "Wouldest thou like to contribute?" he asked. Luna furrowed her brow in thought, but then shook her head. Novus nodded a bit sadly. "Tis a shame that so little is known of them. Even though I have once wielded them, even I cannot add very much to thine story." He said. Now looking between them, he continued. "I can add some things, however. For one, the Elements may, and have been, used by normal ponies." Both Celestia and Luna looked at Novus incredulously. "But Uncle Novus," Luna said, "why haven't we heard of this?" "Because, young Luna, that tale was ancient when I was but a colt." Novus answered. Both Celestia and Luna wondered what Novus, ancient keeper of night and day, would have been like as a colt. Celestia stifled a giggle at the thought. "Also," Novus continued, "the Elements have very unusual properties. For example, they may change shape to match their user." Celestia nodded. The castle held an incredibly old, faded tapestry that depicted Novus wearing the Elements of Harmony, appearing as gleaming armor with a circlet of purest diamond as the Element of Magic, facing down a gargantuan black dragon. She had believed that the Elements always looked like this, but this was coming from Novus, what cause did she have to question him? "Novus," Luna asked suddenly, "what did those ponies do with the Elements of Harmony? Did they defeat a big monster like thou didst?" Luna's eyes were sparkling with hope, Celestia noticed. Her sister always did enjoy a good story. Novus looked at her fondly. "I'm afraid that story must wait, young Luna. They did, however, do something incredible." He said. Luna seemed to deflate on the spot. Novus smiled at her softly. "Fear not, though. I have many more stories than that one. I shall make sure to remember a particularly good story for thou at a later time." This set Luna back to smiling widely up at the alicorn. The next long while was filled with Novus asking questions about what the two princesses knew about magic. He had Celestia demonstrate her ability at telekinesis and summoning light, as well as having Luna make attempts to lift various small objects, with numerous successes. He consistently gave praise and advice to both of the fillies throughout their session. He would pose a number of challenges for them to do both together and separate, such a turning pages in a book or manipulating certain objects with telekinesis. Celestia found that working together with her sister was more difficult than doing something alone. Still, she tried not to complain about difficulty to the being that moved the heavens themselves. It was during one of the cooperative challenges that there was a knock on the study door. Celestia looked outside to see that the sun had dipped lower on the horizon, realizing that Novus must have been moving it whilst he had been watching Celestia and Luna practice. Novus himself was also taking on the subtle golds and grays of dusk in his coat and mane, and his eyes were going from their majestic daytime gold into their deep nighttime dark blue. "Thou mayest enter." Novus said. The door tenderly swung open to reveal a middle aged stallion butler, with a fading orange coat and combed crimson hair. He bowed before Novus, who regarded the gesture with a single raised eye brow, before doing the same to Celestia and Luna. "I am to taketh their majesties to supper." He said curtly. Novus nodded. "Luna, please go along. Celestia, I wish to speaketh with thou alone for yet a moment more. Sir, please inform their royal majesties that I shan't be keeping their daughter very long. Ah! And I also shan't be staying for supper." The butler nodded, and Luna got up to go with him. "Bye Uncle Novus!" Luna exclaimed, rushing up to wrap her forelegs around Novus's neck. Novus smiled brightly and returned the hug with a single one of his forelegs. Luna broke off of Novus after a few moments and left with the Butler. As the door closed with a near silent click, Novus seemed to deflate noticeably. Celestia looked at him with concern playing across her face. "What is wrong?" She asked simply. Novus looked to Celestia, his normal emotional mask now replaced, though with something akin to sadness visible behind his eyes. "Thine sister is young. Too young, I am afraid, to fully understand." Suspicion and overwhelming curiosity gripped Celestia. "Too young to understand what?" Celestia asked quietly. Novus sighed. "Young Celestia, thou asked before why I wished to instruct the both of thou in magic. It is because keepers need students. Keepers need to pass on knowledge, to guide those who could be great. Keepers are exposed to energies beyond mortal comprehension. Night and Day, I am filled with the power of the sun and moon. It can make a keeper lose track of the ground, of the world. Keepers need ponies to remind them of their ties to life and balance. And if necessary, succeed them. I have, through mine long life, unfortunately neglected such a duty." The last sentence was so quiet Celestia could hardly hear it. Yet she did. "Wh-what art thou saying Novus? Succeed them?" Celestia spoke in a whisper. Novus had been staring at the floor, and now looked towards Celestia. "Last night, thou were listening in on the conversation I hadst with thine mother. I will tell thou what I told her. I have felt something within the forces of the world itself, young Celestia." "What did thou feelest?" Celestia asked. Novus let out a breath of air. "Mine death knell." --------- Author's Notes: Too long. It took WAY too long to get this chapter out in my opinion. And now I have a trip to Moab desert all of next week, so... another long delay. As always, I am looking for constructive criticism (this being my first fic and all). Besides all that, I hope that this chapter is satisfactory. Enjoy!