Sumac could feel the eyes of his classmates upon him as he took his seat. He knew he wasn’t supposed to say anything, but he felt that he owed them some sort of explanation. He blinked, not knowing what to do, and then turned to look at Pebble, who was staring at him. He saw her lean over towards him and he braced himself for an interrogation.
“Don’t you say a word,” Pebble said in a low voice. “I don’t know what happened, but Aunt Pinkie had a talk with me. You have to keep a secret.” Tilting her head, Pebble looked upwards. “Hi, Boomer.”
Casting a sidelong glance, Sumac saw Lemon Hearts. She was watching him, perhaps waiting to see what he might do. The muscles in his neck tensed and his frogs felt sweaty. He wasn’t expecting the pressure to be so strong. He found himself in an awkward situation, keeping something from his friends. How could he explain his absence?
“Be calm, take a deep breath, and think about something else,” Pebble suggested.
Taking Pebble’s advice, Sumac took a deep breath, crossed his eyes, and looked up at Boomer. The hatchling seemed happy to be back in school, but she also looked sleepy. There was a bulge in her narrow body from breakfast.
“Okay, class, listen up. Separate into your groups. By now, you know the routine. Begin your studies…” Lemon Hearts gave the class a warm smile and waited for her students to comply. “Pebble, your study group should focus on math skills today, we still need to get them up to speed.”
Brows furrowing, Sumac let out a grunt. He had gone to Castle Midnight, he had faced the horrors within, he had witnessed an army of undead, and he had watched a battle with an undead dragon that was actually a pony. Now, he was back with his most hated enemy, fractions. When faced with the frustration that was headache inducing mathematics, Sumac decided that he would rather face the terror of Castle Midnight again.
As his fellow study group gathered around, Sumac wondered if he would do it again. If Twilight asked him to follow along on some expedition to some forgotten, dusty place, would he do it again? His own answer surprised him. Probably. He glanced over at Pebble and wondered what sort of adventures she might have gone on with her parents. If only he could talk with her about this, he could share ideas, exchange information, he might understand how to feel, what to do, how to deal with everything.
But he had to remain silent.
Bearing the burden of trust, Sumac opened up his math textbook and made ready to do battle with his most hated, contemptible foe. It really was no better or worse than Castle Midnight, what it came down to was being patient and waiting it out. In time, he realised that he would sort this out and everything would be okay.
However, between this time and that time, there would be a lot of mane pulling.
Moondancer’s private study was a cramped place that kind of smelled. Sumac sniffed and tried to sort out the funk invading his nostrils. There was mildew or something like it, exotic ingredients for alchemy, he caught a whiff of cat food, and there was something worse, much worse. Sumac’s eyes darted around, trying to find the source of the stink.
Curled up in a pillow and blanket lined basket, Sumac saw what he thought was a cat. But as Moondancer drew nearer, the creature moved. It was black and white, it yawned, and spread it wings. Sumac recoiled in disgust when he saw what it was—a winged skunk. He backed up and his behind bumped into the door.
“Don’t mind Fluttercup, she’s harmless,” Moondancer said as her pet rubbed up against her legs. “Hi, Fluttercup! Did you miss Mommy? Who is Mommy’s little stinker… you are!”
It was just an hour out of his day… an hour trapped in a small, cramped study with Moondancer and Fluttercup. Just an hour. He could make it through this if he tried. Sumac swallowed, tried to hold his breath, and then realised the futility of such an act. Instead, he drew in a deep breath, filling his nostrils. He almost gagged.
Moondancer sat down in a large, somewhat ratty looking overstuffed chair, and Fluttercup settled in beside her. The winged skunk began preening her wings while rubbing her poofy, fluffy tail against Moondancer. The skunk’s wings were feathered and looked like the wings of a crow, or a raven.
“Have a seat, Sumac,” Moondancer said as she gestured to a chair.
Doing as he was told, he sat down in the chair. It was low backed, wide, and appeared to be stained with some kind of red jelly of some sort. The stain seemed recent, as it was still a little tacky. The chair was comfortable though, and the arms of the chair were just the right height to sprawl out, rest one’s head, and get comfortable, which Sumac did not do.
But he was tempted.
Stroking her skunk, Moondancer smiled and asked, “Do you have any questions, Sumac?”
Nodding, Sumac replied, “What is the Rainbow of Darkness?”
Pursing her lips together, Moondancer reached up, brushed a few stray strands of her forelock out of her face, adjusted her glasses, and then gave Fluttercup a pat upon the head. A thoughtful, contemplative expression crept over Moondancer’s face, and one ear twitched as she thought about how to reply to Sumac’s inquiry.
“It is an ancient artifact… a small sack that contains elemental darkness. Some say that it is a gateway to the elemental plane of darkness, but that is unknown and uncertain. What is known is that not much is known. It’s full powers and abilities remain a mystery, but one thing it can do is turn ponies into dragons. Some have even said that the Rainbow of Darkness is the origins of dragonkind in this world.”
Silent, Sumac decided that now was a good time to be quiet, listen, and pay attention.
“The dragons are obedient to the owner of the Rainbow of Darkness, and will do anything and everything the owner says.” Moondancer’s thick brows furrowed. “The Rainbow of Darkness can be used to create an unstoppable army, and that is the danger it poses. Earth ponies become ground based dragons, pegasi become flying dragons, and unicorns… unicorns become dragons adept at destructive magics. Nopony knows what becomes of alicorns, but I have a hypothesis.”
That sounded pretty bad. Sumac’s mind reeled at the implications. An army of dragons swooping down on a city like Ponyville and attacking it seemed as though it would be a very bad thing indeed. Or some terrible evil villain unleashing the Rainbow of Darkness upon a city like Manehattan, which had millions of ponies living there. Instant army of dragons. The little colt felt a cold prickle of fear creeping up his spine and he shivered. He then thought of something much worse.
“Moondancer?”
“Yes, Sumac?”
“I have this idea, and it scares me just a little. I have a question.”
“Ask, Sumac.”
“What if the Rainbow of Darkness was used on changelings?”
Moondancer closed her eyes, let out a sigh, and sank back into her chair. “I asked Twilight that very same question.” She opened her eyes and looked at Sumac. “Would you get a dragon that could look like anything… Twilight was very disturbed.”
Sumac nodded, the little colt found it difficult to breathe in his current state, and his brain teased him with all sorts of awful ideas. As bad as this was, he had to know. “Moondancer? What is your hypothesis on alicorns? What becomes of them?”
“It is my belief that they become something like a draconequus,” Moondancer replied in a low whisper. “I can’t prove it, of course. It is just an idea, Sumac. I could be wrong.” She used the edge of her hoof to scratch behind Fluttercup’s ears and Moondancer’s stare was now half focused upon a bookshelf.
“So, the Rainbow of Darkness takes whatever a pony is and what they do, and twists it into a dragon.” Sumac let that thought sink in and he looked up at Boomer, who was coiled around his horn. “If dragons come from ponies, could it be reversed? What if some magic took a dragon and turned them back into a pony?”
“Twilight is investigating that possibility right now. It is one of our many projects. It is why Twilight keeps an army of scholars that study obscure magic.” Moondancer let out a cough, cleared her throat, coughed again, and then horked out a hairy piece of lint, which she held in her magic and examined. “Hmph,” she grunted as she tossed it aside.
“Would that mean that dragons would disappear?” Sumac asked.
“We don’t know,” Moondancer admitted. “Maybe some of them, if they fit into a specific archetype. Some of the winged dragons might become pegasi, and so on. No doubt, it would be very alarming to the dragon population, which is why Twilight is trying to reassure the Dragon Lady Ember.”
“So this is complicated.”
“Very much so.”
Sumac didn’t know what to say, but he knew that he was in over his head. “Moondancer?”
“Yes, curious one?”
“About Trixie, my mother… what is her role in all of this?” Sumac asked, not knowing if he would get an answer.
“Trixie is a fountain of lore. She knows all kinds of obscure things, locations, events, things of importance. Her travels have allowed her to soak up an encyclopaedic knowledge of obscura. She is a walking book, a wealth of information. She also has experience with evil artifacts, which has been quite helpful. Officially, she is part of city administration, but unofficially, she works for me, in the skunkworks.”
“Oh.” Sumac squirmed in his seat, now filled with so many more questions. He was seized with an idea, and he looked into Moondancer’s eyes. He had an opportunity here. He was already Moondancer’s student. He felt his mouth go dry and he took a deep breath, preparing himself for a tough question.
“Moondancer…”
“Yes, Sumac?”
“Since I am already your student, will you be my Master?”
Much to Sumac’s horror and consternation, several long seconds passed. The seconds turned into what he was certain was a full minute. Moondancer was just sitting there, silent, and a growing fear of rejection filled Sumac’s mind. The silence felt suffocating.
“I would love to do that, Sumac,” Moondancer replied, ending the painful, awkward silence, “but I could not give you the attention that you deserve. I am the department head of the skunkworks. I have far too many duties as it is. It is all I can do just to squeeze out one hour a day for you, when you deserve so much more.”
“I understand.” Sumac felt the sharp sting of rejection, but he somehow dealt with it. “I am grateful for the hour that we have together.”
“Sumac, you would make a wonderful apprentice.” Moondancer’s voice was solemn, serious, and gentle. “You are going to make somepony ridiculously proud and happy. Don’t get discouraged just because I had to say no. You are worthy… but I can’t be the one to be your Master. I would imagine that it is very complicated for you now that Trixie has become your mother.”
“Just a little,” Sumac admitted.
“Relationships shift and change over time. Very little remains constant in life.” Moondancer lifted up Fluttercup and held her in the crook of her foreleg. She nuzzled her pet with her muzzle, and her eyes were sad as she looked over at Sumac. “Any more questions before we begin today’s lesson?”
At that moment, Sumac hated circumstance. Moondancer asked the same questions that he did. They shared some of the same thoughts. Had similar reactions. Looking at Moondancer in her chair, he saw what he might become as a grown up. He saw a pony with remarkable similarities to himself, it was as if everything was a perfect fit, and circumstance kept it from happening. A bitter sense of disappointment welled up inside of him, and Sumac wished that he knew how to express what he was feeling.
His bitterness became anger and Sumac’s mind reminded him of one terrible fact: life wasn’t fair. He wasn’t angry at Moondancer, he realised, he was just angry. At the situation? Perhaps. Maybe he was angry that life wasn’t fair. He thought about the essay he had written for Starlight Glimmer, and then he had the most peculiar reaction. He felt better. There was something almost like a realisation—he became aware of the fact that the essay was a turning point in his life. Starlight had helped him grow up a little. She had done him a favour.
“No more questions,” Sumac said to Moondancer, “I’m ready to begin.”
“Okay,” Moondancer replied, “for our very first lesson, I am going to explain in detail what hexes, curses, and dark magic are. And you, being a very trustworthy colt, are not going to breathe a word of this to any of your friends, companions, or classmates.”
“Honest Apple.” Sumac sat up in his chair and tried to look as grown up as possible.
“Very good, my student…”
Yay it's back!
And I wonder who will be Sumac's master..? coughlunacough
7580962
I can say that it won't be Luna. He's magical, but not nearly magical enough to get her attention.
7580966 Darnit. I thought I'd be on to something.
..Maybe you could give me a hint?
7580982
It will be a unicorn!
7580984 Starlight Glimmer?
7581067
Um, somebody want to explain why this can't happen or am I stuck doing it?
7581076
Cause Starlight is already the mentor off the bully whose name I've forgotten? Believe something with a flower, Petunia?
Betting his teacher will be Sunset Shimmer. Only other overly magical Unicorn I can think of who could help him and she might Decide to come back to Equestria if she finds out how bad things are to try and help
7581082
Nope.
7580984 Say it ain't so!
7581094
A very confused and somewhat shy colt asks Rainbow Dash, "Will you be my Master?"
Dash, totally unaware of unicorn customs, replies, "Sure thing, squirt."
The story writes itself.
7581080 I'd forgotten about that. Thanks for the reminder.
Maybe it'll be Minuette?
7581102
...I can suddenly see some kind of clopfic coming from that.
7581084
...WAIT! I got it!!!! VINYL!
7581080
She's mentoring Olive, the telekinetic horror.
7581126
Would Tarnished be the worst magical master, because he doesn't do unicorn magic well, or the best because he knows such a variety of techiques?
7581102 let's get a list of candidates.
-Princesses: nope! I doubt that. Plus they Alicorns, and you said Unicorn.
-Tarnish: that is a real possibility, though Tarnish is kinda a druid, hard to learn to be a unicorn from that.
-Vinyl: she is coming into town, that is a possibility, im sure she has experience frim helping Tarnish out.
-Gosling: while possible, not probable since he will need to be tutored himself.
-the other princes: naw, i doubt that.
-Lemon harts: nope, I don't foresee that
-Trixie: nope!
-Starlight: Oh how i wish...
-Sunset: naw. She probably like human world, this ain't the Chase-verse.
-Moondancer: she just said no.
That's all I got. Vinyl is best prediction i got.
7581191 he is best Magical master. Just not top unicorn. I mean, actually, if he is a druid, it just means he has magic, and simply uses the magik of others. So no, he mot magical master. If he was a druid sorcerer, than okay, but he isn't.
7581193
Gosling is not a unicorn. Why is he on this list?
7581227 he will become an Alicorn (Unless i am massively misunderstanding things) so magic, older, canidancy granted. Though, that is too Alicorn. You know... I don't know.
But it is someone on the list, yes?
7581102 Okay someone needs to make this a thing. Even if it's just a nice little one-shot.
7581218
Masters are better due to the breadth of their knowledge, not their sheer ability.
Vinyl would be good because she has a confirmed strong knowledge of theory and a large amount of knowledge gained while adventuring... but might be better for a talented and super smart caster than an above average but not exemplary caster and intellect.
But... for someone who had come up with a unique perspective, with a strong but unusual power that requires synergy to make the most of but has bad side effects, and requires magical reagents to activate...
I have successfully convinced myself: Tarnished as a master for Sumac would be awesome. He's got my vote.
7581261 yeah, but tarnished is a crap Unicorn, let's not kid ourselves. And while he could probably do it, he is also all over the place at most times. Sumac ain't gonna travel everywhere with him.
7581265
Sumac literally says that he would rather risk his life at an adventure rather than go to school...
.... but he is a kid and irresponsibility and dislike of school and boredom might be just as much to blame as an adventuring nature. So take the fact that he's been traveling his whole life, and that Tarnished might just need to settle down to raise his daughter and the other child Maud and he are planning...
And yes, those would take up a lot of time, but I don't think that, especially considering that Sumac and Pebble are very close friends already, that it would be untenable.
7581279 eh fair point. But my money is on Vinyl.
And knowing Kudz, we are probably both wrong.
7581282
Damn those plot twists! *shakes fist in impotent rage*
7581191
Tarnish would be a terrible choice because of one reason. Their special magics coming into contact. Can you imagine what would happen if Sumac's Boosting Capabilities were to collide with Tarnish's Poison Joke Magic?
7581337 it would probably be negated. We covered this didn't we?
7581433
Honestly cannot remember.
7581478 i think Kudz covered it.
KUDZ!!! did you go over if Tarnish's magic would negate Sumac's?
Skunkworks for a secret project!
I love it - it even has a skunk!
I would happily tutor anypony but the flying skunk is out!
It sure beats dragon breath a whole bunch!
Quite dear Spikey Wikey
dracony foal diapers?
'gasp'
yep...
I feel you there Sumac...
Maths can be a right proper cast-iron bitch
Tarnished and Sumac's magic combined would be spectacularly disastrous, but I feel that's precisely why they would be Master and Apprentice; if to at least find out what could trigger a Poison Apple ecological disaster, and as such be able to prevent it or perhaps harness/control it.
Nuclear bombs are enormously destructive, but a nuclear fusion power generator can run for a very long time with virtually no waste or pollution, and would provide a magnitude of energy far surpassing our crude oil/coal/gas plants and with greater reliabilty than hydro/solar plants.
That may not be a perfect example, and I'm not the author, but we'll find out who soon enough.
And now the million bit question: What happens if you expose a Crystal Pony to the Rainbow of Darkness? (Which still sounds like Dash's bad OC)
Answer: A cannibal!
Aww... Still no powerful unicorn master? Dang. Well, I never really liked Moondancer anyways personally, but I can't wait for Sumac to take on a master.
7582052
New math? Heh, lets look back on OLD MATH. FYI that's not real math it's just comedy.
I am really curious as to who Sumac's Master will be now that Moondancer isn't an option. The Rainbow of Darkness is very dangerous but it might be used for good if you knew what it can do. I don't think al dragons are going to dissapear if it's even possible to change them and the Rainbow of Darkness might not have created the dragons at all.
7580962
Couphcelestiacouph
7583287
He's not going to her school. The commute would be murder.
7583299
It is now confirmed that it is celestia since he just said he wouldn't go to her school. That means he goes directly to the mare herself!
7582269
derpicdn.net/img/2015/8/6/952049/medium.jpeg
"New Maths" is a perfectly cromulent thing that actually existed
7584127 Actually I meant MY video I know "new math" since I grew up on it.
7584366
I am so sorry...
7584418 nah it happens. I know I wasn't clear on which video I was talking about. You're all good. Still, math sucks. To me anyways. I was never good at it.
2nd image is closest relevance to flying skunkworks logo, last image is best skunk developed not to be surpassed.
acimg.auctivacommerce.com/imgdata/0/1/2/4/1/7/webimg/8063128.jpg
63rdvfs.com/images/vmimages/f117_ladc_field_service.gif
orig07.deviantart.net/f4bd/f/2007/363/4/1/leopard_skunk_wallpaper_by_fourtwoninezero.jpg
acesflyinghigh.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/blackbird-park-palmdale-ca-13-sr-71.jpg
acesflyinghigh.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/lockheed-a-12.jpg?w=900&h=669
Pet skunk? Seems just a little risky.
Interesting and worrisome. Chekhov's gun for later in the story or series? Or just explanation for Discord?
7641879
7584418 I actually prefer new math. You can keep your old math.
Just for that, I'm going to name SWSV Luna's advanced weapons test facility ...
...
..."Dreamland."
Winged skunks after five hits of weed?