Prologue 1: The Magical Prodigy
Long ago in the great Kingdom of Equestria, there lived two mighty sisters.
Celestia, The Radiant Dawn and Keeper of The Sun was the elder. She awoke each morning to raise the sun and bring light and life to our land.
Luna, Mistress of Shadows and Keeper of The Moon was the younger. ‘Twas her duty to shepherd the moon and the stars across the sky, giving the people time to rest.
The two existed for many a year in perfect balance with one another. Peace, harmony, and prosperity filled the land. Alas, this was not to last.
Over time, Luna grew jealous of Celestia’s increasing popularity. The citizens of Equestria were clamoring for her to take the throne; even The King himself offered his crown to their beloved Keeper of The Sun. Celestia, being a simple and humble mare, naturally declined the offer, her only interest bring the magic she so loved to dabble in.
Not one thought went to the Mistress of Shadows taking the throne, even though she worked just as hard as her sister, if not harder. She strove each night to craft a perfect sky for her fellow ponies, and yet only a select few seemed to care in the slightest. The growing darkness and resentment in Luna’s heart twisted her into a creature of deepest nightmares.
Nightmare Moon.
A great war was fought between the sisters. No unicorn could hope to match either’s power. Nightmare Moon’s supporters were vastly outnumbered, but she used fell magics to twist and change them into creatures of darkness like herself. The war raged for years, seemingly never to end.
When Equestria seemed doomed to destruction, a light appeared amidst the darkness. Celestia had crafted magical artifacts of incredible power. Wielding their might, she banished her evil sister to the depths of Tartarus, never to return.
The young mare tilted her head as she finished the short story. “That’s it? That’s all there is?” The sun shone brightly overhead, warming her pale lavender coat just right as she reclined near her favorite reading place in the courtyard, overshadowed by her Lady’s tower. It was the perfect sort of day to get out of her lab and do a little recreational study. The book in question she’d been reading from came from the furthest shelf possible from the library’s entrance. The only shelf she hadn’t picked clean of anything to read.
Blowing her pink and purple streaked bangs from her face, she huffed in annoyance. “That wasn’t much of a tale at all; more of a short story. Where’s the rest!?” A light orchid aura shimmered into being around the book as the unicorn snapped it shut with a gentle huff. Large violet hued eyes drifted toward the nearby tower, specifically to the highest window atop it. From her position on the ground, she could see the large form of her master moving about in excited haste. No doubt she was in the midst of crafting some great new bit of magic to reveal to the world.
Her horn sparked to life a second time as a matching aura surrounded the well-worn silvery set of robes that lifted from the grass and settled about her body. Shuffling from hoof to hoof, she fastened her saddlebags over her back. She ensured her numerous component pouches were secure about her waist, then set off for her private chambers in the academy.
Lady Celestia’s School of Magical Studies was one of the finest in the entire kingdom. Celestia herself was considered something of an… eccentric by the unicorn nobility, however. She allowed any pony to study in her academy, regardless of tribe. Many scoffed at the notion of a pegasus — or even worse, an earth pony — attempting to cast spells, but she was quite insistent that all had the magic within them. Spellcasting was more a matter of having the proper mindset.
“Twilight Sparkle?”
The mare in question, Twilight blinked up at the sound of her name. A pair of fillies, an earth pony and a unicorn perhaps a few years her junior approached. “Yes, can I help you?”
She couldn’t help but sense their nervousness. “Th— The, um… that is, Professor Morning Glory s— said you could… could maybe… if you weren’t busy… possibly help us with our light cantrips?”
The young wizardess’ mouth set in a firm line. “You’re not going to be casting anything stuttering like that.”
The unicorn’s stammering increased while the earth filly rolled her eyes. “Y’all’ll have t’ forgive m’friend, ma’am. She’s a might skittish on account’a all th’ stories boutcha.”
Twilight’s look of vague irritation switched to outright irritation. “Of course. And what about you?”
The earth pony filly shrugged. “Dunno. Y’seem alright t’me. Sides, Lady Celestia wouldn’ta taken y’on if all the stories were true, right?”
Twilight Sparkle’s eyes narrowed just a tad as she examined the pair more closely. The earth pony had a vivid yellow coat, her bright red mane and tail contrasting sharply. Her robes were a touch on the threadbare side, not surprising given the thickly accented speech. It indicated she was from one of the rural farming villages. It likely cost her family every spare bit they had to send her here.
The unicorn at her side was significantly smaller, not too great a surprise. Her coat was a lighter hue of purple than Twilight’s, while her mane and tail were nearly as yellow as her friend’s fur. She occasionally peeked out from around her bolder friend with bright yellow eyes, though never for long.
Twilight looked again to the earth pony. “Light cantrips? Professor Morning Glory sent you to me for that?”
The filly shrugged. “Said y’all were the best at the fun-da-men-tals when y’were our age.”
Twilight almost cracked a smile at the filly’s slow pronunciation of the word. “I suppose that’s true. What exactly is the problem? Light spells are the easiest for anypony to cast.”
“Well mine’re too bright. Th’ Professor says I’ll go blind if I keep doin’ em like I am. An poor Dinky here can barely get any light at all.”
The elder unicorn looked over to the purple filly, who flinched under her gaze. “A unicorn who can’t even muster a light spell, and an earth pony who conjures too much light? That’s a bit of a switch from the norm.”
To her further surprise the earth filly snorted and stalked closer. “So are ya gonna help us out or just make fun’a us? We c’n go an find somepony else t’ask.”
Twilight actually took a step back. She’d been so used to ponies walking on eggshells around her, more scared to meet her eyes than anything, she’d almost forgotten what it was like to meet one who wasn’t afraid of her. “I… I’ll help, alright? Settle down.” She sighed softly, looking from the bold to the timid filly. “Let’s see what you can do.”
“Thank ya kindly, ma’am! Name’s Apple Bloom by the way! This here’s m’good friend Dinky Doo.”
Dinky offered a hesitant nod of greeting. Twilight’s expression went unchanged. “A pleasure. Now, the spells?”
Even knowing she was a student and not a teacher, both fillies felt precisely like they did when in a teacher’s presence under the formidable young mare’s scrutiny. Apple Bloom took the lead naturally. Closing her eyes and softly intoning the proper incantation, a painfully bright ball of light burst into being before the filly’s muzzle. She and her friend already had their eyes tightly shut in preparation, something Twilight unfortunately did not, and the elder pony found herself thoroughly blinded.
Apple Bloom nervously dispelled the light. “Uh… so th— there ya go, ma’am.”
Twilight’s eyes were watering from the painfully blinding light spell. Closing them, she took a deep breath, counting back from ten. Then counting back from twenty. The second one did the trick. “Right. How often do you cast, Apple Bloom?”
“Uh… not very. Only when one’a m’teacher’s tells me too. Granny says relyin’ on magic t’do stuff we can do with our hooves is lazy!”
Twilight’s vision slowly cleared as she cracked an eye open. “You have too much magic built up. You need to cast more frequently. Once your inner reserves normalize, you won’t have problems anymore.”
“Wow! Thanks Miss Twilight!”
Now the normally dour mare allowed a small smile to appear. “Of course. I’m surprised your teacher couldn’t tell you that. Now let’s see you, Miss Doo.”
Dinky swallowed nervously but stepped closer. Timidly, she mumbled the incantation under her breath. A flickering, faltering sphere of magical light appeared above her head, before it fell apart completely. The poor filly seemed on the verge of tears. “I’ll never do it right!”
Twilight narrowed her eyes, incanting a spell of her own. Both fillies watched warily as a glow suffused her eyes. “Do it again please, Dinky.”
Eyeing the older mare suspiciously, Dinky nonetheless complied. Sweat beading upon her brow, she chanted the short incantation as her horn began to glow, again a ball of faltering light formed over her head for a few seconds before fizzling away. The little filly slumped to the ground, breathing heavily.
Twilight frowned gently. “It’s as I suspected. I’m sorry, Dinky Doo, but your magic isn’t strong enough to cast proper arcane spells.”
Dinky blinked in surprise, while Apple Bloom huffed. “Whaddya mean she can’t cast spells!? She’s a unicorn!”
With surprising patience, Twilight nodded slowly. “Yes, she is. But not all unicorns have the ability to become mages, Apple Bloom. Every unicorn can levitate and learn some small bits of magic that have to do with their cutie marks, but not all of them have the raw power necessary to cast proper spells.”
Apple Bloom and Dinky Doo both recognized the ‘I’m a teacher, listen to me’ tone in Twilight’s voice. “It’s similar to how some pegasus ponies can fly faster than others. The swiftest pegasi have the most magic stored in their bodies. So somepony like Captain Spitfire of the Wonderbolts can fly much faster than, say, the average weather pony. You see?”
The pair nodded gradually. Apple Bloom tilted her head. “So is that why m’big brother an’ sister’re so much stronger’n me?”
Twilight smiled proudly. “It is! Earth ponies’ physical strength and durability is tied to their own magic reserves. There are several types of magic. Arcane magic, like what we use to cast a spell. Then there’s divine, or faith based magic that the disciples use for their spells. Finally, there’s the magic each pony has inside themselves that’s unique to their tribe. So while you might be stronger than a pegasus or unicorn filly, Apple Bloom, your real strength lies in your arcane magic.”
Dinky’s eyes lit up with excitement suddenly. “Does this mean I don’t have to stay!?”
Now it was Twilight’s turn to look surprised. “Well you don’t have to leave. Nopony’s going to force you, but there’d be little reason to stay. What makes you think you have to stay anyhow?”
Dinky Doo was practically nose to nose with Twilight Sparkle, her fear forgotten in her excitement. “The teachers said since my mama’s spending so many bits to send me here, I just gotta work harder! But if you say I can’t become a mage no matter how hard I try, then I can go back home! I get to be with mama again, and she doesn’t have to keep paying for this expensive school!”
Now Twilight wore a distinctly unpleasant look on her face. It was common practice for the faculty to string young potential mages along in order to keep collecting their tuition. “I’m afraid no matter how hard you try, Dinky, becoming a mage isn’t for you. I’m sure you’ll do wonderful in anything else you choose.”
The older unicorn went rigid as the filly threw her forelegs around her in a tight embrace. “Thank you, Miss Twilight! I’m gonna go pack right now!”
With incredibly awkwardness, Twilight Sparkle patted the filly gently on her back. “N— No problem… good luck to you in the future.”
“Thanks! I’ll see ya later, Apple Bloom, I gotta go pack!” Both ponies watched the elated filly dash off toward the dormitories.
The earth pony filly heaved a sigh. “There goes my only friend in this place.” Glancing at Twilight from the corner of her eye, she heaved a second, louder sigh.
If she was expecting words of comfort from Twilight Sparkle, she was greatly disappointed as the young mare turned and made her way along the path toward the private dormitories. The minor dilemma with the fillies solved, Twilight’s mind was already twisting back around to the fable she’d read earlier, and her desire to learn more.
Her ear flicked gently toward the small temple built into the academy. The Disciples of the Sun venerated Lady Celestia as a Goddess, so naturally they wanted a temple inside their chosen deity’s very own academy. Celestia had agreed, with great reluctance Twilight knew. Her master at times couldn’t stand the adoration heaped upon her by the ponies who didn’t know her better. Anypony who got to spend any length of time in the presence of the Lady Archmage knew she was anything but divine. Goofy was more the word Twilight would use to describe her.
The sound of the morning bells tolling from the temple was wildly off kilter. Normally one serene ‘dong’ of the great bell would toll out for each hour, making it easy for anypony in the academy to track the time. Today it was ringing wildly in an unholy cacophony of sound. The young mage grimaced as she shot a glare toward the temple.
Another sound came to hear ears, tiny hooves clopping along the path behind her. Without turning to look, she glanced out of the corner of her eye, seeing the filly Apple Bloom following her with a curious look on her face. Twilight did what she always did when a curious pony had taken an interest in her, and ignored her. They always gave up after she failed to sprout demonic horns or huge bat-like wings as expected.
Putting the filly from her thoughts, she magically opened the doors to the elder students’ dorms. As she entered, all conversations fell silent, and the ponies within shot her nervous glances as she strolled casually through the open common areas. Ascending the numerous flights of stairs, she came to the highest floor. Her floor. With barely a thought, she dispelled the powerful arcane lock she used to seal her chambers shut. Nopony was brave enough to snoop around her quarters of course, but she magically sealed the doors each time more for practice than anything else.
She paused within to admire the perfect order of her own private space. One wall dominated by her work benches, which contained dozens of half finished enchanted items and objects. Wands, horseshoes, cloaks, there was even a bow she’d been asked to enchant by her master herself. Her writing desk had numerous notebooks closed and aligned in perfect proper order, the quills resting in their holders, ready to transfer Twilight’s thoughts from her mind to the blank pages.
Tall racks filled with numerous spell components, herbs, and powdered gemstone stood next to her alchemical apparatus, always on hoof at a moment’s notice for anything she may need for a potion she may be in the process of brewing. Her bed sat beneath a large window overlooking the courtyard, facing the western horizon. Twilight Sparkle was not an early riser, and didn’t care for the sun shining on her face first thing in the morning.
Next to the bed was her nightstand, upon which sat her most prized position; a gift from Lady Celestia herself. The Ever Spellbook would never fill. If she needed more blank pages, she simply opened the book and they were there. If she wanted to memorize even the most obscure of spells for the day, she merely had to speak aloud the name and the book would open to it. Rumor was that it was crafted by Starswirl the Bearded himself, Twilight Sparkle’s greatest hero.
Her quiet appreciation was interrupted as something small slammed into her from behind, buckling her hindlegs and sending her rump toppling square atop whatever rammed into her. Muffled yelps and squirming came from beneath the mage as she hurriedly lurched forward, freeing the trapped offender. Whipping around, her eyes widened. “Apple Bloom!? What are you doing here? Why did you follow me? This is my room! My private space!”
The filly shrank back from the venom in the older pony’s voice. “I… I was just curious is all! We hear all sortsa’ rumors aboutcha, but after meetin’ ya, I just couldn’t rightly see how anypony can say such mean things!”
Twilight’s ears folded back at the obvious fear in the filly’s voice. With a sigh, she forced herself to calm down. “It’s… alright. I’m just not used to anypony seeing my room.”
Apple Bloom peeked an eye open. “Ya ain’t mad?”
Closing her own eyes, Twilight took another deep breath. “No. I’m not mad. Ain’t is not a word, Apple Bloom. Neither is ‘ya’, for that matter.”
Now it was Apple Bloom’s turn to look upset. “Are y’all makin’ funna th’ way I talk!? Cause I get enough’a that from the other students!”
Turning away from the filly, Twilight levitated her robes onto the hook by the door, gently resting her staff beside them. “No, I’m not making fun of you. I’m trying to educate you. I’m sure that wherever you’re from, everypony talks that way, but you’re studying to be a magus now. We have to carry ourselves a certain way if we want to find proper employment, you know?”
Apple Bloom huffed. “That’s what m’Granny said b’fore she made me come out here.”
“Made you?” Twilight closed her door with her magic, causing the filly to start in surprise at the sudden sound.
“Uh huh. She was a big fancy mage when she was younger, an said that since I got… um… the art, she calls it… I had a responsibility ta Equestria ta learn how ta use it.”
“To learn how to use it.”
Apple Bloom was about to say something more when she caught the look Twilight had focused on her. Swallowing, she sighed. “To learn how to use it.”
Smiling slightly, the mare nodded, going back to the work table before her. “I see. Do you not enjoy your studies?”
“No, ma’am! I mean, when I first started, I hated it! Everypony was pretty mean ta—” She swallowed when Twilight shot her a sharp look. “...to me. But the more I learned, the more fun it got. That feelin’ when yer magic’s comin’ up from inside an ya let it out in a spell! Whoo-ee! Ain’t nothin’ like it!”
Twilight winced every time Apple Bloom butchered a word. Terrible grasp of language notwithstanding, she felt a sort of kinship with the filly. “I felt the same way when I first started. I didn’t like it here either, but you learn to ignore the mean ponies and focus on what’s important.” She paused as she levitated a slim mahogany wand toward a trio of beautiful topazes. When the gems met the wood, there was a flash, revealing the new wand now crackling with magical electricity. “The magic.”
Eyes wide, Apple Bloom approached with a wondering look in her eye. Casting a questioning glance at her elder, and receiving an approving nod, she reached out to take the new wand. “Wow. I never saw anypony make a magic item b’fore.”
“Before.”
“Before.” Delicately, she turned it in her hooves, examining the perfect craftsmanship.
“So what do you plan to focus on, Apple Bloom?”
The filly gently placed the wand up on the table. “That’s easy! I’m gonna be a battle mage! An become a travellin’ sellsword like m’big sister!”
“Hm. I never much cared for combat magics.”
Apple Bloom tilted her head. “How come?”
“What sort of spells do combat mages specialize in?”
Now the filly sat up proudly, knowing the answer. “Attack spells, of course! Magic missiles, fireballs! Lightning Bolts! I saw Professor Fire Flash cast a chain lightning spell once!”
“Mmhm. And what do those spells do?”
Apple Bloom looked confused suddenly. “Well… they, y’know… make things explode!”
“True. And what ‘things’ do you think you’d be casting them at?”
“Uh…” The filly frowned suddenly. “...huh.”
“Mmhm. Sometimes spells like those are necessary to protect something important. There are monsters everywhere, and sometimes violence is the only way to deter them. On the other hoof, sometimes ponies would be your target. The Queen is always fighting the rebels, and we’re servants of the Queen at the end of the day. Would you think a fireball is cool when it’s being used against other ponies?”
Eyes wide, Apple Bloom shook her head. “No, ma’am.”
“I don’t think those kind of spells are very cool either. Ultimately, nearly every mage specializes in one of the seven schools of magic. Have you studied them yet?”
“Uh huh! I know all seven by heart! Abjuration, conjuration, divination, enchantment, evocation, necromancy, and transmutation!”
“Very good.” Twilight carefully set the finished wand in a large holder with nearly a dozen others. “Do you know what they each specialize in?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And which do you think sounds the most interesting?”
Her questions were causing Apple Bloom to think a good deal more than those of her actual teachers. “Well I don’t suppose I gave it much thought b’fore…. Before, ma’am.”
Twilight nodded slowly, as if expecting that answer. “Well I suggest you spend some time studying up on them. Research what sort of spells are available in each school. See which ones really speak to you. That’s the best way to find out what you’ll be best at.”
The filly sat quietly for a time, watching the mare work. “What d’you specialize in?”
“All of them.”
Apple Bloom tilted her head. “Oh! Y’mean y’don’t specialize in any? Y’do a little bit of all of ‘em?”
“The letter ‘Y’ is not a substitute for the word ‘you’, Apple Bloom. And no, I mean I specialize in all of them. I am equally as proficient in every school of magic as any of the specialists in the academy.” Swishing her tail to her right side, she gave the filly a clear view of her left flank. “That’s what my cutie mark is, it’s a mark in magic itself. Not just any one aspect of it.”
“Wow… y’all must be as strong as Lady Celestia!”
Twilight coughed softly and shook her head. “No, of course not. But I am very powerful for a mare my age.” Finishing another wand, she finally turned to give the filly her full attention. “Don’t you have studies of your own to be doing?”
Apple Bloom shook her head. “No, ma’am! I finished every assignment m’tea— my teachers gave me for over the weekend already!”
“Hm. Well if you think that’s enough.”
The filly’s eyes narrowed just a bit. “What’s that s’posed t’mean?”
Gently levitating a kettle from her small kitchenette to the sink and filling it, then moving it to her stove, Twilight shrugged. “Well, is your interest in magic only as deep as what the Professors tell you to do?”
Yet another big question the filly wasn’t prepared for. “I… Well…”
“You’ve already told me you enjoyed the feeling of casting a spell, which is good. But if you want to be a great wizardess, Apple Bloom, you have to love magic for the sake of magic. No matter what anypony tells you, no matter what reasons they have for being here, if they don’t love magic just for itself… they’ll never be half as good as somepony who does. All the magical power in the world can’t equal a true zest for knowledge.”
Apple Bloom settled on the floor, forelegs crossed as she contemplated Twilight’s words. She was quiet for quite some time, not moving as the tea kettle began to whistle and Twilight poured two cups. Finally, she looked up as a cup was settled before her hooves. “Know what, Miss Twilight? I think you’re pretty nice.”
Twilight raised an eyebrow, sipping from her cup. “Do you?”
“Uh huh. Maybe a little weird, but that’s okay. Granny says weird ponies make the best friends cause they always have somethin’ interestin’ t’say or do.”
Feeling another smile come upon her, Twilight and Apple Bloom both leapt to their hooves as something heavily impacted the window. With a disgusted groan, the elder pony rolled her eyes, magically opening it. “Honestly, Spike! Every day with this!”
A tiny reptile poked his head in the window, shaking it dazedly. Apple Bloom’s eyes widened with wonder as she small creature fully revealed himself. No larger than a house cat, his lizard-like body sported a large pair of wings. His slender tail was tipped in a wickedly sharp barb. His scales were a vivid purple color over most of his body, with the larger ones along his belly being a deep green. “Is that a pseudo dragon!?”
In response to the filly’s excitement, the small dragon puffed his chest, cooing softly in pleasure. “ ... Yes. This is Spike, my familiar.”
Spike waited patiently as the filly approached, looking over him with adoration clear in her eyes. He was clearly basking in the attention. That is until his master firmly cleared her throat, pointedly eyeing the scroll coiled tightly in his tail. “Is that for me, perhaps?”
Blinking his little green eyes, he glanced back at the scroll and offered a sheepish shrug, flicking his tail out and flinging it toward the mare. Twilight absently levitated him a small bit of salted meat from a jar on her desk as she unrolled the scroll.
Apple Bloom was tentatively stroking the little reptile’s chin when a sudden groan from Twilight drew her attention. “Bad news?”
With an exaggerated eye roll she floated the scroll over to the filly, who read it aloud curiously. “My dearest student, I would very much appreciate your presence in my tower immediately. There is a problem of the greatest urgency, which I require you to handle post haste.” A little further along the bottom, Apple Bloom blinked in surprise. “And bring Apple Bloom with you? How th’ heck did she know I was here!?”
Twilight Sparkle tugged her robes back on with an annoyed grunt. “She knows everything.”
Archmage Celestia’s ivory tower was visible from miles away. Everypony approaching the academy could see it like a bright shining beacon leading them to safety. The pristine white color contributed to its great visibility. So too did its ridiculous height.
Naturally, Lady Celestia made her private quarters at the highest point in the tower. A very simple flight or teleportation for her; a grueling climb for anypony else. Twilight’s coat was slick with sweat as she trudged up the stairs, now and again shooting the filly calmly trotting at her side dirty looks. Even an earth pony with little of their tribe’s own magic still had quite a good deal more stamina than a unicorn.
Finally they’d reached the top of the tower. The door to Celestia’s private study stood open. Twilight suppressed a shudder as she did every time she entered her master’s study. Hundreds of books, many likely older than herself were strewn haphazardly over the floor, desk, and even bed. She was fairly certain she noticed a small family of myconid making their home beneath the archmage’s bed. No doubt the fungus-based lifeforms had plenty to live off of beneath there.
The Archmage herself was huddled over, of all things, a rock. Glaring at it in the harshest of focus. Apple Bloom, not knowing any better, was stricken silent at the sight of the mare who raised the sun each morning, and the moon each evening. She certainly cut an impressive figure, what with her gargantuan body, and obnoxiously flowing mane and tail. Twilight was ninety percent sure the Archmage actually enchanted her mane and tail every morning to do that, but she’d yet to unravel the mystery with any certainty. Less than delicately, Twilight Sparkle cleared her throat.
Celestia’s ears swiveled toward the sound and she swung around, beaming ear to ear. “Twilight! You’re just in time! I have recently completed work on the greatest spell of all time!”
Apple Bloom’s eyes — if possible — widened further. Twilight looked unimpressed. “Again?”
Her smile never faltering, Celestia nodded. “Oh yes! Come close; it’s safe, I promise!” Deciding to humor her mentor, Twilight owed her that much at the very least, she approached. The filly at her side did so with considerably more reverence. “Shh, shh… watch close now. I’m about to cast it.”
Twilight sat calmly on the floor, while Apple Bloom leaned in with excitement. The room was bathed in the golden glow of the Archmage’s own powerful magical aura as bands of magic wrapped around the stone, whirling faster and faster and obscuring it from view. The ponies looked away as the light became too much to bear. When it cleared, sitting in the rock’s place was… the most perfect, rich, chocolatey looking… piece of cake.
Celestia’s smile grew, if at all possible, wider than before. Twilights look of exasperation most certainly grew sterner. Apple Bloom blinked and sat back on her haunches, looking to Twilight for some sort of explanation. The mare just shook her head slowly. “Well!? Is it not the greatest of all magics you’ve ever laid eyes on!?”
Plastering an insipid smile on her own face, Twilight nodded. “Oh absolutely, Master. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a more impressive spell in all my studies. This was certainly worth dragging myself and this filly up thirty flights of stairs to witness.”
If Celestia caught Twilight’s sarcasm, she didn’t let on. “I know! It will revolutionize meal times! Imagine when the cook tries to force me into eating celery, the second he looks away Pow! Cake.”
Now she had Apple Bloom’s attention. “Don’t s’pose y’all could write that one down for me t’study, couldja ma’am?”
Twilight let out a strangled sort of squeak at Apple Bloom’s latest butchering of the Equestrian language. “Well! I could. I don’t think your master would appreciate it, however. She’s a bit stern.”
Apple Bloom wrinkled her nose. “I’m not apprenticed t’anyone yet, ma’am.”
“Well of course you are. Oh! Silly me. In all the excitement I forgot. Twilight, I’m assigning Apple Bloom to you as your first apprentice.”
Twilight’s mouth fell open. “ ... Ahhhhh... What? What!? Apprentice!? Me!? Noooo no. No, no, no. Master, I have studies of my own! Not to mention you constantly dumping your real work on me while you cook up more of your idiotic cake spells!”
“Oh! Yes. I forgot. As of now, you’re officially a graduate of my academy. My apprentice no longer, you’re not a full fledged Wizardess, capable of acting of her own accord in whatever way you deem appropriate. But you’re still taking Apple Bloom on as your apprentice, I won’t take no for an answer.”
Twilight Sparkle’s eyes were wide with panic as they darted from the confused filly at her side, back to the — in her opinion — very smugly smiling Archmage. The newly graduated mage’s heart sank a little more as the playful spark fanned to a roaring blaze in her suddenly former master’s eye. “That’s not all!”
“Of course it’s not.”
“You’ll be happy to know, that I, as your concerned former master and still very good friend have already found you employment.”
Twilight’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “ ... Oh have you?”
“I have! It would seem that the lovely town of Ponyville has been without it’s own mage for some time now. Ordinarily, this isn’t too great a concern, but Ponyville borders the Everfree forest, and of late has had numerous monster attacks. Having somepony on hoof to lend them some aid will be much appreciated, I believe. In addition…”
“Of course.”
Ignoring Twilight, Celestia continued on. “In addition, you’ll be serving as the librarian for the town as well. They’re not about to pay you to sit around and glare at the forest all day, after all. I thought it might be a position you’d enjoy.”
Twilight closed her eyes. She took a deep breath. Then another. Then a third. She licked her lips… and took another deep breath. “So… to summarize. You’re ending my apprenticeship, assigning me an apprentice, sending me off to some podunk town bordering the Everfree, and forcing me to be the librarian of the town.”
“Yes.”
“Master… I hate you.”
Apple Bloom followed her new master tentatively. “Um… ma’am?”
“Yes?”
“Should… should I go pack m’things, or...?”
Twilight rolled her neck, eliciting a few sharp pops from the stiff joints. Taking a moment to collect herself, she turned to face the filly… her apprentice. “Yes. It would seem that the glorious Archmage has assigned you to me, and me to Ponyville. So we’re going to Ponyville. I’m sorry for all this. I know you can’t be happy about this nonsense either.”
To her surprise, the filly shook her head. “No, ma’am! I wasn’t kiddin’ when I said I liked ya! And we’re goin’ t’Ponyville! That’s m’home town!”
Twilight’s faced twisted unnaturally at Apple Bloom’s speech. “Okay! Okay… if we’re doing this, the first thing is the way you talk. I don’t want to seem insensitive, but… every time you say a sentence, you make me want to deafen myself with a thunderclap spell.”
Apple Bloom’s ears immediately wilted. “I’m sorry, ma’am…”
“It’s fine… it’s fine. I’m just… not used to dealing with other ponies. Except my master of course, who can be a little…”
“Silly?”
“Yes. Exactly. I’ll do my best to be a good teacher, but I have to ask you to be patient with me. Can you do that?”
“I think so, ma’am. I can try m’... my best.”
“In return, I can promise you to give you the best magical education I can. How does that sound?”
Apple Bloom spit on her hoof and held it out, smiling. “Sounds like a good deal t’... to me!”
Twilight stared at the offered hoof for a long moment before she spit in her own and clopped it to the filly’s. “Then let’s get packed.”
Twilight Sparkle
Wizard: 6 Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 20
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 9
Special Abilities
Twilight Sparkle prepares spells as an ordinary wizard of her level, however once these spells are expended, she may continue to cast. Each level of spell cast after her prepared spells for the day have been used deals her subdual damage equal to twice the spell’s level. She can render herself unconscious casting in this way.
Favored Spells
Mage Armor, Cat’s Grace, Sleep, Bull’s Strength, Hold Person, Fly, Haste
Special Equipment
Ever Spellbook: Unlike a normal spellbook, there is no limit to the amount of spells it can contain.
Yes please.
This is how you D&D.
Dat Intelligence Score.
EDIT - And featured, just as it should be. Damn good story.
I came expecting a pretty blah knock-off of ponies doing vaguely dnd-y things.
That is not what I got.
While I'll still hold reservations depending on what you do with the others, you have at least made mage Sparkle entertaining enough to read about along with her less-than-wanted apprentice Apple Bloom - so for that i'm going to track this fic and hope what comes next entertains and interests me as much as this part did.
Plus, y'know... Celery to Cake. I would so want that spell too.
This story is fave #3 for you, from me, pchn. That means you have a new follower.
post date says the 29th but my time says the 28th fanfictions from the future that combine d&d and ponies WIN!!
3272762
Hope it continues to be so!
3272778
3272795
She's a brainiac! But man is she a wimp physically. XD
3272810
I'm actually really excited to get to Dash and Rarity's stories. They're the ones I feel have the most interesting hooks. I'll probably work to get the next couple prologues out sooner rather than later.
3272835
Well thanks! Glad you're enjoying a number of my stories. XD
3272856
Apparently I've broken the boundaries of time!
Pony's and D & D......
I am more than okay with this.
All my Yes!
Always nice to see a D&D related story on here.
Oh my, I am going to THOROUGHLY enjoy this!
This will be great.
haven't read it yet but already I think I will like it. Old school/new school d&d player here. this should prove amusing.
I would have made Fluttershy a Multi-class druid/paladin.
Oh hell yes. I'm so excited!
There's an infinite spellcasting loop in there, somewhere. Someone with more knowledge of D&D than me can figure it out. In the meantime, though, the party is going to have both a cleric and a druid, and if we assume the rest of the party is of similar level, this ability allows 1 casting of Cure Light Wounds to power anything Twilight can cast.
silly Twi, not having any feats. also props for making her a support mage rather than a blaster. Its how you wizard properly. now she just needs spells to control the battlefield like Grease, Glitterdust, or Web and some non combat spells like Dispel Magic, Rope Trick, Alarm,Invisibility ect.
Useful guide for any potential DnDer's out there too
3.5 How to Wizard Guide
Are we going to be ignoring spell components, or are the casters all carrying around saddlebags full of endless poop, butter, and other odds and ends?
3272884
I'm more than okay with that avatar. :o
3272927
Now that's a positive endorsement.
3273047
All my thanks! :o
3273048
Thanks! I've been a DM for years so all my stuff is sort of DnD influenced (I even have a pony underdark in my main series).
3273150
I certainly hope so!
3273155
Hope to not disappoint. :o
3273186
Hm, my only problem with that is paladin's tend to be rather the opposite of quiet and timid.
3273198
And it's only the first prologue. XD
3273204
Sure if you wanna munchkin, but where's the fun in that? :x
3273262
I've been playing a wizard since I was 12 and my cousin made me be a drow mage forever ago. No feats because these are just little quicky things I tacked on to the end of the chapter.
3273390
No components?! What kind of wizard has no spell components? The abnormal kind that's what kind! Twilight Sparkle is old school.
3273417
Just a request, will we see anything Forgotten Realms related? As you can tell from my screen-name I'm a huge fan of FR. Any edition really.
I'm guessing bat ponies or changelings would be the drow of this setting?
3273435
Mmm, probably not Realms specifically. I kinda lost track of everything going on in it with 4th ed. Gave up on the novels and such, just loathed what they did to the setting. Until then it'd been my favorite haha. If I do a drowesque species in this, I'll likely just borrow from my other works and use the Spiderkin again, as I called them. the bat ponies will have a major role to play in this story however.
3273417
So Twilight's going to be carrying around scraps of leather for whenever she wants to use Mage Armor?
3273506
Of course.
I really can't wait to see the other mane six... Thirty bits says Big Mac is armed with a war hammer at some point. (Yes I know he's not part of the mane six, so hush all y'all, but it wouldn't be Apple related without Big Mac, now would it?)
3273509
That's a bit morbid.
Apple Bloom's got some spunk to to her.
I'm gonna be mildly disappointed if neither of the above happens by the end of the story. Same for that bow, surely somepony will be an archer if we have epic enchanted bows kicking around.
Granny Smith as an old, powerful mage? Hell yeah.
Ooo, I like this variant on Spike.
I was really hoping that was going to be a rocks-to-cake spell, and I was not disappointed.
Woah. Somepony min-maxed.
3273594
Well I tried to go by her stats in the show. Twilight isn't exactly a physically impressive specimen. She's incredibly intelligent, but lacking in common sense so low wisdom. And she couldn't really get more awkward in social situations, so low charisma.
3273521
Mmm, a little I suppose? It's not necessarily leather made from horse flesh lol
3273517
The second prologue should be done tomorrow, MAYBE the third one depending on how long they take me to write.
3273617
Well depending on when I get back home I'll be happy to help edit again, providing your normal editor isn't back by then that is.
So good I just had to promote in a blog post!
3273758
Well thanks! XD
Was this inspired by Friendship is Dragons by any chance?
3273822
I'm unfamiliar with that publication alas! I read VERY little ever since I started writing. :/
Awesome! I've seen a few D&D/MLP crosses, but I don't think I've seen one with the potential this one shows. I love how you gave Celestia a somewhat different background and personality, and I love Applebloom as Twi's apprentice. It'll be interesting to see what Dinky's mom makes of her encouraging the kid to drop out of school, I gotta say.
3273825
Well, let me put it this way.
=Ranger
=Wizard
=Rouge
=Bard
=Barbarian
=Druid
Wow. I stared reading this reluctantly. Skeptical that a D&D crossover could be done competently. Then I was worried when it started out like is was just going to be the First episode rewritten with D&D classes thrown in. As I read however I was intrigued and enjoyed the very original start it had and how interesting a plot you've started with. I'm now definitely hooked to at least see how the other mane 5 are introduced. Please don't tease us by abandoning this story after such a strong start.
Favourited, Liked and Followed.
3273444
Agreed. I can't stand the half-baked spellplague idea, but Ed Greenwood saved the books (again) at least, with Elminster Must Die through Elminster Enraged, and managed to basically restore the Realms to working order. I hate 4e myself. But they've basically fixed the Spellplague nonsense. Elistraee and Mystra are both alive for instance, but not exactly well.
Plus Drizzt got a new girlfriend. I still hate what happened to Catti-brie, Cadderly, Deudermont, Delly, and Regis. (Salvatore seems to have gained a penchant for killing off characters.) Gauntlgrym and sequels really make up for Transitions. I haven't really read anyone else's
post spellplague stuff.
D&D and ponies whelp i have a new campaign idea with my friends now. Also i figured that Twilight's wisdom would be just a bit higher
...and now I want to see a MLP crossover with the old D&D cartoon.
Dump constitution???
Nothing is more terrible of a decision...
3273831
I think I write Celestia differently in every single story I've done. XD
3273833
Ah! Hm that's close. Dash is a cleric and AJ's a fighter though.
3273870
I don't ABANDON anything, I just at times take a little while to get around to updating. This will make story number six I'm writing at the moment. XD I have very different takes on all six girls, with the initial prologues at least well planned out.
3273874
Drizzt is the only thing I've been reading. Still can't figure out if like, he's dead at the end of the fourth book of Transitions or what. XD
3273882
Well, Twilight exercises an extreme lack of common sense pretty frequently, so she gets a low wis.
3273964
Can't help you there, that show still gives me the shivers. XD
3273964
I just pictured Luna as Dungeon Master.
Good idea though.
This is going on my read later list. I'm too tired to read it now. But in any case, may the blessings of Helm guide you.
Oh, wait.... I think I just gave the author AID&D AKA The Wailing Death..... Sorry.
Also, Best use of a teleportation spell? Transport your enemies four hundred feet into the air.
3273964
That Would be epic
3273998 Looking at your profile you definitely have a good track record for finishing huge stories.
Would you mind if I read this story on my YouTube Channel?
3274017
Haha, oh Wailing Death.
3274028
Go for it. XD
I love this Celestia, she makes me think of another nigh-allpowerful being.
images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120821021560/megamitensei/images/3/38/P4A_Elizabeth_render.png
Love the combination of D&D and ponies. But I noticed you're missing the eighth school of magic, illusion. Was that intentional, with illusion forever associated with Nightmare Moon?
3273998
You want shivers? Listen to the audio drama version of the unaired series finale.
Polymorph Any Object, just to get cake? You surely are a troll, Celestia
Or, did she research a new spell that duplicates the effect just for cake, lowering the level down to 3 or lower?
A spell that makes raw food out of thin air is a 3rd level spell, so it may be a possibility.
In place of the spellbook, you can probably say she has the Blessed Book.
Also, she would be starting as at least level 7, because she has casted Dimension Door at S1E02 against Nightmare Moon to get to the elements. Level ups in tabletop don't usually happen before the end of the current arc, unless the character undergoes a very major epiphany. (you would be familiar with this concept because you DMed before)
3273204>>3273417
Yes, as it stands the ability allows regeneration of spell slots via CLW/CSW/CCW potions. It easily becomes an infinite spell slot loop if she gains access to healing spells by starting as an Archivist, one of the plausible choices for adapting Twilight to D&D, aside from Wizard, Psion or Erudite.
The way you would want to write her cutie mark ability would be similar to a psionic feat called Body Fuel. For arcane users, that's equivalent to 1 point of strength, dexterity or constitution for each level of the spell slot. Still really overpowered because you can circumvent the lackluster physical ability scores via Polymorph. This kind of ability would be okay for the purpose of this fic because Twilight never used Polymorph in the show. (She did use Baleful Polymorph and Mass Hold Person while having a magic surge as a filly, and Polymorph Any Object in Too Many Pinkie Pies.)
Also, being able to specialize in all schools is a big no no. Being a wizard itself is already huge privilege in a D&D setting, so there is no need to hand in even more free spell slots. I would just say she's a generalist and her colleagues just concentrate on their specializations. She would already get her bonus spell slots from intelligence anyway.
3273882
Her adorkableness, inattentiveness and lack of social understanding comes from low wisdom scores. She's not exceptionally resistant to mental influences either. Even 12 is too high; I would probably assign her a wisdom score of 8, at most 10.
So, her scores will be something like;
STR 8, DEX 10, CON 14, INT 18, WIS 8, CHA 10.
(28 Point Buy, and she has known to take an impressive amount of physical abuse. Still better stat numbers than using the elite array.)
Wow Twilight would be up there as among the most broken characters ever. Reducing or eliminating the issue of subduel damage is trivial and getting unlimited spells is not.
Oh well can't wait to see Pinkie. Most people suck at making good bards even if they are a very strong class in 3rd edition.
3273987
More so because she would have to make Concentration checks very frequently.
Slow claps for cleverness.
Okay...Twilight is a wizard, good. Now, assuming the 3.5 rule set, Twilight has obviously had Leadership force-fed to her as her sixth-level feat, which, eh...kinda' sucks. But then, I've never really been a Leadership kinda guy. Now, given Twilight's Generalist nature, she's probably going to want to keep grinding as a wizard rather than Prestige Out, unless she ops for Ultimate Magus or (if she takes a few levels in Cleric to tick Celestia off) Mystic Theurge. Personally, I was always fond Mystic Theurge, because...so many many spells Though, it is a bit late for that, given she really should be (3)Wizard, (3) Cleric by now...
Ah well, straight wizard's good too. Now, she's obviously gone into the item creation feat tree, which is the big sink, so her wizardly bonus feats should help with that. And that Int...what kind of rolling convention did Twilight get? Or is this point-buy? Maybe Unicorn gets an Int buff for dropping Str. or Con?
Oh, Apple Bloom...don't go Warmage, they get crap for spell progression. If you absolutely have to Prestige, go Master Specialist and Focused Specialist, they get some nifty stuff at later levels.
...and I've just waaaaaay over analyzed this, haven't I?Carry on with the awesome fic, good...sir? madam?
I'll just...see myself out now. Bye.
Hmm, I'm actually running a pony D&D campaign so I'm curious about this. Since "fun" spells seem too exist I'm going out an a limb and saying this isn't 4th edition, lol. I would imagine Twilight's charisma would be higher though since she displays great presence and natural leadership in the series. I believe her social awkwardness is more a result of a lack of experience then being uncharismatic. Outside of that I would more or less agree with you on her other stats.