//------------------------------// // The Archmagus // Story: The Crooked Inheritance : A Lunar Rebellion Side Story // by Zelderon //------------------------------// I was sure Sunbeam Sparkle noticed my entire body go stiff because the archmagus tried to offer a smile that I suppose was meant to be warm and comforting. It only made me feel even more nervous. “Yes, I’d like to speak with you Star Buck, alone. It’s very important,” the archmagus said in a gentle voice, that still somehow simultaneously held the expectation her request would be granted. Both my parents went into their bedroom and closed the door, leaving me alone with the most powerful unicorn in Equestria. There was a palpably awkward beat of silence before she began. “Hello Star Buck, how was school?” “Fine, I guess.” Another pause stretched on until eternity. “What are you learning right now in class?” “Well, in science class we’re learning about plants. Today we went over a bunch of anatomy and dissected flowers. We’re reading The Canterbury Tales in literature class,” I found myself rambling due to my nervousness, “Oh, and in history class we’re learning about Pegasopolis.” Archmagus Sparkle thankfully latched onto my last sentence. “Oh that must be very interesting to you. Have you ever studied pegasus history and culture before?” “Not really. I sometimes read stories and books about Pegasopolan warriors and battles, but most of them are fictional. My friend Anvil really likes them, so she sometimes lends me her books. I think a couple of them are based on real ponies and battles. And in class we had to read Reliable Source’s book on the liberation of Manehattan by Princess Luna, but doesn’t everypony have to read that in school?” I quickly correct myself, “That is everypony who is able to afford schooling.” “Really? I’m surprised your sister never made you read more about Pegasopolan culture.” “Wait, how do you know my sister?” “Principal Sharp Needle keeps me informed of particularly promising students in my school. I like to keep tabs on talented young ponies. From what I hear, your sister is one of the best writers and most avid readers Sharp Needle has seen come through my school. It’s a shame she refused my offer to come to Canterlot and undergo magus training. I have no doubt that she would have become one of the greatest magical researchers of our time.” I felt the need to defend my older sister, even if it was to one of the most powerful ponies in all of Equestria, “Even though Star Quill is really good at magic and scholarly pursuits, she didn’t want to devote her life to either of them. Our parents wanted her to go to the academy to study magic, but she decided to become a lawyer so she could help ponies who can’t afford them.” “Peace, peace, Star Buck. I was only pointing out that Star Quill’s talents as an example of why I started my school here in the first place. Contrary to what my colleagues in Manehattan would like to believe, there are many great ponies born outside of Unicornia and outside of noble families. I merely wish to help them reach their full potential. Think of all the talent and potential that goes to waste everyday in this world just because some ponies are born into situations that don’t allow for them to explore their true talents. Think of your friend Anvil. If she had been born to a family of sharecroppers she couldn’t possibly read on a level that I hear comes closer to rivaling your sister than any other pony at my school.” I didn’t know what she expected me to say after all that, so the Archmagus continued talking to avoid any awkward silences. “So, Star Heart and Carrot Buck have been telling me that you’re interested in studying the healing arts like them. Do you also want to go into medicinal research?” “Oh no, I would slay myself if I had to spend the rest of my life doing research. I sometimes bring down storm clouds into my father’s lab so he can have a supply of electricity without needing to use his own magic, but I would never actually become a researcher.” For some reason the Archmagus found this humorous. She smiled and asked, “If you’re able to control storm clouds well enough for your father to use them indoors for his delicate experiments, you must have inherited your parents’ knack for magic. I’m sure you’ve never even had proper weather training.” “Well my father is always talking about how each of the tribes has their own special magic and skills. He said at a very basic level we all are connected by the same fundamental magic that flows throughout Equestria. He actually taught me a lot about how to control my pegasus magic by slightly the altering the lessons he received on how to control his own unicorn magic. My mother has been teaching me how to do very delicate and precise actions with my hooves, but I don’t think I inherited her talents. I doubt I’ll ever be as good as her.” The Archmagus chuckled at that, “Oh, your father has always been a strong supporter of Celestia’s Unifying Theory of Magic. And I doubt most unicorns can achieve the level of fine manipulation using their magic that Willow Buck has with her hooves. I’ve seen her perform eye surgeries using only her hooves and a scalpel. Do not worry about trying to follow exactly in your parent’s hoofsteps. I certainly did not.” Before I could inquire about what she meant with her last statement, she contiued. “Did you ever think about going to Pegasopolis to learn from their chirurgeons? I’m sure it would be more helpful for you to learn skills suited for pegasus doctors rather than learn from unicorns or pegasi. You can only learn so much from your father’s reapplied lessons on magic. Surely as a unicorn, he cannot appreciate what it’s like to have the body of a pegasus.” “I don’t think I could. I’m not a Pegasopolan citizen and I have never been through their mandatory military training. Even if they did let me study there, I doubt any of the teachers or other students would ever respect me. And I wouldn’t blame them.” “Well, when you turned eight did you ever want to go to Cloudsdale to begin your military training?” I winced at the question. That was a bit of sore point for me. The archmagus must have noticed because she quickly apologized, “Oh dear, I didn’t mean to draw up any painful memories for you. It must have been a difficult decision to make.” “No, it’s fine,” I quickly replied. I didn’t want to make her feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. “Of course I dreamed of training to become a warrior of Pegasopolis. But my parents and sister were very against it and eventually convinced me not to go. They said it was too dangerous and that I’d have to join the Long Patrol and go to places like the Griffon Kingdom to fight. I’ve always been interested in learning how to fight just for the sake of it so my dad did hire an old pegasus soldier to help train me. He lives near here because his wings got hurt when he was fighting griffon reivers.” The archmagus chuckled, “That sounds like something Star Heart would do. You know when he was your age, he dreamed about becoming an officer in the Royal Guard.” “What?!” I was quite shocked. “Yes, but he wasn’t able to because of his family background. I know that after your sister was born and his family fell back into favor in Unicornia, your father entertained some wishes for your sister to join the Royal Guard.” The image of my sister going through guard training and fighting another pony made me laugh until I suddenly realized something, “Forgive me for asking Archmagus, but how did you know?” “Oh, your father never told you about me? We’re old friends. We often correspond with each other about our research. You ought to learn more about what your father does. He’s one of the greatest healer magi in Equestria. If he had stayed in Canterlot, I’m sure he would already have been appointed as the head of the royal hospital and academy of medicine. We help each other with our research. Your father has quite a knack for the physical sciences. He once helped me develop a more efficient method of producing fire gems. But I digress. Star Buck, I am starting a special school in specifically for pegasus citizens of Equestria who live outside of Pegasopolis. I wanted to invite you personally to come to Canterlot to become part of the first class of students.”