Okay, my brother might be some sort of eldritch being of limitless power. I’m not one-hundred percent certain since he still poops in a diaper and burps up on himself, but no normal baby should be able to walk through walls, disappear, and make grown ponies fly on a semi-regular basis.
To be fair, I suppose most of the adult unicorns can probably do that last one too since they’re always levitating something or other, but I’ve yet to see any of them pull off the insane, reality-warping stunts of Blueblood. I also haven’t seen any of them show remotely the level of concern and awe such feats should warrant.
As a matter of fact, they seem prepared for it. I’ve spotted servants with helmets and war paint, lookouts stationed outside the doors and windows, and neither my brother nor I are changed or fed without at least one other pony present for backup, usually sporting an oversized butterfly net.
To put it simply, the mansion has become a mad house.
Even my patience with Blueblood is wearing thin, if not for my own sanity and the constant ache behind my horn, than for the health of our caretakers. I’ve noticed frayed manes and tired eyes on more than a few of them, and that includes Mom and Dad. I still try to be as considerate as I can, only crying for my needs to be met when my brother is already being fed or changed, but it has become a lot harder. About the only time I can rest now is when Blueblood is asleep.
I’m only trying to help, but I think the madness my brother has wrought has already gotten to the adults, because, despite his actions, I’m the one they look at with confusion and worry. I don’t understand, I haven’t set anything on fire or flipped any furniture, so why did my new Mom start to tear up when she held me this morning?
What am I doing wrong?
Ornate sat quietly as her mother sipped tea across from her. Despite her age, the older mare still looked beautiful with her wavy gold mane and bright yellow coat, only crow's feet giving away that she was no longer a young mare. Over the last six weeks, Ornate had been more than glad to host her mother, the two sharing all sorts of foal stories and laughs. As her own foals grew more and more however, Ornate began to notice a distinct difference between her tales to those of Golden Garden.
At least, for one of her children that is.
“So, have the magical surges started happening? I’d say it’s about that time,” Golden finally spoke after several minutes of silence. “With how tired you look, I’d say the answer's obvious.”
“Oh, yes,” Ornate responded, trying to sound engaged as she smiled. “Little Blueblood has been quite the hoof-full this last week, just like you said he would be. I honestly didn’t believe all the stories I always heard about unicorn foals until now.”
Golden chuckled with a pitying head shake, “Nopony ever does until their foal turns them green with magenta spots.” The older mare gave her daughter a mock glare. “You scared me half to death with that one, little missy. I thought it would be permanent.”
That got a giggle from the younger mare. “Did I really do that? Little Blueblood has been driving us all up the walls trying to run free through the house, but I’m glad to say everypony is still the right color, at least.” She breathes a sigh and stares into her cup. “For all the mischief he gets up to, Bluey couldn’t be prouder in his son. He thinks it’s a sign of great potential.”
“Oh, I’ve heard that before,” Golden said with a roll of her eyes. “I swear, for all the parents out there who think they have the cutest foal in the world, they are nowhere near as obnoxious as a unicorn father thinking their foal is the next Star Swirl.
“Your father was the same way with your older brother,” she continued, taking a drink of tea, “The lad makes my petunias grow to the size of carriages, and all that lughead can do is gab about how our son had the green hoof of a hundred earth pony farmers. Meanwhile, I’m trying to keep the flowers from toppling the house over by leaning against it.”
“Well, Sunlight is a pretty successful botanist now, so…” Ornate voice trailed off with a smirk, getting her mother to glare.
“Don’t let your father ever hear you defending him like that. He already thinks he’s always right; he doesn’t need you kids siding with him too. He’d be insufferable.” The serious expression only lasted a few seconds before both girls burst into giggles.
“So, what about Pureblood? I can hardly imagine the little angel causing trouble, but you know what they say about the quiet ones.”
Ornate sobered instantly. “Oh… She’s… she’s doing great. So well-behaved. Hasn’t caused a bit of trouble yet.”
Golden gave her daughter a strange look. “That’s… good.” Leaning in, she asked, concerned, “Is she doing all right? She isn’t sick or anything, is she?”
“No, or at least, we don’t think so.” Ornate once again broke eye contact to stare into her teacup. “She doesn’t have a fever or cough, and she eats regularly too. She’s… maybe not sleeping as well as she used to. Or smiling as much.” She sighed. “She’s hardly touched one of her picture books lately either, even though I bought her three new ones.”
“Foals are a fickle sort, dear,” the older mare comforted. “Why, I remember you used to love mashed carrots, couldn’t get enough of them. It was carrots for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You’d turn your head to anything else until one day, you stopped liking carrots. I was at my wit's end trying to get you to eat. Then one day I ask Sunlight to feed you while I was busy, and I come to find you munching on mashed peas. Peas! You hated peas, and yet, there Sunlight was, making silly choo-choo noises and you were just gobbling that goop up.”
There was the barest hint of a smile on Ornate’s lips, but it did little to change her melancholy look. “You’re trying to say it’s a phase.”
“Exactly right,” her mother answered with a nod. “I’m not saying you should ignore it completely, but, well, teenagers aren’t the only ponies prone to such things. Perhaps little Pureblood will start feeling better on her own.”
Ornate sighed. “It’s not just the behavior, Mom, there’s something else… Mom, have you ever heard of a foal not having magical surges by their first month?”
Golden Garden blinked owlishly for a few seconds. “Well, by a few days, I suppose, but never more than a week.” She tilted her head curiously. “Are you saying Pureblood hasn’t been surging? Honey, it doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong if a unicorn foal isn’t causing spectacular mayhem with their surges. It might be a sign of below-average magic strength, but that’s hardly something to be worried about.”
“That’s just it, I’d be happy if she cast any magic, any at all, but, Mom… She hasn’t shown even a single spark yet.”
Golden couldn’t stop the small gasp. “Are you certain? Perhaps you simply weren’t there, or-”
“The help hasn’t noticed anything either, and we’ve all been keeping an eye out for any sign.” Tears started to form in the corner of the younger mare’s eyes. “Mom,” she whispered, “what’s wrong with my baby?”
I’m trying not to panic, but the all too familiar place my pony parents have brought me to is stirring up memories I’d rather have kept behind me. The memories, and the thought that they will become my future, are terrifying.
I’ve already seen the doctors, ponies in white coats who had no sense of personal space, and been put through tests of some sort. They shined bright lights in my eyes and ears, moved things through the air for me to track, and even made silly faces to get a reaction from me. I tried to give a smile at that, but it was obviously forced. That flimsy smile dropped completely when they covered me with wired sensors and flipped on a huge machine. It wasn’t painful at least, but I was concerned by the incredibly long sheet of paper that spewed out onto the floor.
What sort of thing could have been written on those pages to warrant so much? What did they say about me?
My mother holds me tighter as I shake, whispering what I’m sure are meant to be comforting words in my ear, but I can’t stop staring at the dull white walls or get the sharp scent of antiseptic out of my nose. A part of me is saying I should get used to them now and get it over with. After all, these familiarities would be my only comfort for however long this life would last.
Another part of me argues that I feel fine, better than I ever did in my last life, that I could breathe without thought and my body never ached. But… that wasn’t true was it? I had been ignoring it, brushing it off as nothing, but my head had been hurting practically since I was born.
Was this some sort of cruel joke? To have to spend an entire life ill, a burden on those who foolishly loved a broken girl until the day I broke their hearts, and then have to go through it all again?
A doctor enters the waiting room and my pony dad rises to meet him, they exchange words, Mom asks questions herself, and judging from the raising volume of Dad’s voice and the growing tension in Mom’s frame, it’s not good news. Tears that had been building in my mother’s eyes finally begin to fall and my heart clenches. Soon, the tears I’d been holding back all day fall to match hers.
My understanding of the language has improved, but I still don’t know what the doctor has said, which is a shame since I would like to know how long I have…
No.
I am not going to let it end this way. Not again. My first mom always told me that optimism would help me recover, and I am determined to do so. I will face whatever is wrong head on and overcome it. No more just accepting my fate and waiting. If this is a second chance, then I’ll prove I deserve it. If this is a cruel joke, then I’ll teach the prankster they messed with the wrong girl.
Turning in my mother’s grasp, I looked her in the eye. This is where I’ll start; I won’t let these ponies cry on account of me, and it starts now. Drudging up what little of the language I’ve learned, I return the comforting words this mom is always soothing me with, and hope she understands that I won’t leave her, Dad, or my brother without a fight.
“Well, I have some good news for you,” the doctor spoke, both parents listening with rapt attention. “Your daughter is in perfect physical health, and there doesn’t seem to be anything mentally wrong with her either. Actually, in the latter’s regard, she might even be advanced.”
“That’s… good to hear,” Ornate said, voice soft, “but…”
“But what about the magic then?” Blueblood the 16th demanded. “If she’s in perfect health, then why hasn’t she produced even a glimmer yet?”
At this, the doctor looked down at a clipboard in his hoof, frowning slightly. “Yes… there is that.” Breathing a sigh, he met the stallion’s gaze. “I’m afraid, while a healthy filly in every other regard, your daughter suffers from mageiasthenia, meaning her magical reserves are extremely shallow.”
Blueblood tensed. “What do you mean shallow? She’s a direct descendant of Princess Platinum; one of the strongest unicorn lines in Equestria for crying out loud!”
“Sir, please calm down,” the doctor tried, getting the larger stallion to flare his nostrils. “As for how this has happened, well… we don’t know. The condition is rare, going far beyond simply being below average in magical strength, and so it hasn’t been well-studied.”
While Blueblood looked like he was about to snap again, Ornate cut it. “You’re saying she has less magic than normal. How- how much less?”
Looking back to his clipboard, he frowned slightly. “It’s… practically non-existent, a mere fraction of what would be expected of a pony her age.”
“And why are we just hearing of this now?” Blueblood interrupted. “Shouldn’t you doctors have noticed something like this when she was born?”
“Not necessarily,” he answered. “I of course pulled up the examination results from her birth since they make up the entirety of her medical history, and I can see why no red flags popped up. Her magic at birth was only slightly below what is to be expected of a newborn. I’m not sure if you are aware of this, but ponies of any tribe are born with practically no magic both for their safety and that of their mother. It’s not until a foal is safely out of the womb for a month that their magic begins to rapidly grow.”
“That’s all very interesting, doctor,” Blueblood nearly growled, “But what about my daughter? How can this be fixed? What’s the treatment?”
The doctor looked hesitant, but answered. “I’m sorry, but there is no treatment. All that can be done for Pureblood now is to manage the symptoms until her magic completes whatever growth it will and hope it’s enough for her to live without discomfort.”
While Blueblood stumbled back a step, stunned, Ornate squeezed her filly closer as if to protect her and asked, “Symptoms? Discomfort? W-what are you talking about?”
“When you came in, you told me of Pureblood’s sudden change in behavior, that it started roughly two weeks ago, yes?” Ornate nodded in answer. “About the same time her brother began having his magical flares?” Another nod. “While mageiasthenia may not be a well-understood condition, the effects it has have been documented.
“Scientists believe that the near lack of magical energy within the afflicted causes, at least in part, for them to be hypersensitive to magic in their environment, often causing them some form of discomfort when exposed to high magical pressure. With her current reserves, the magic released from even low-level spells probably cause her some degree of pain, and with a unicorn foal surging right next to her, it’s no wonder she’s been acting strangely.”
Ornate gasps and begins to cry. “You-you mean I’ve been hurting my daughter by using magic near her? But I’ve never noticed- I-I would have-“
“Mrs. Garden, please don’t blame yourself. There was no way to have known and, honestly, things like small-scale levitation probably didn’t affect her much at all.” The doctor consoled. It didn’t seem to work however as the mare kept crying.
That is, until little Pureblood squirmed in her mother’s grip and looked up at her with wet, but determined eyes. What she did next shocked every pony in the room as she leaned up, wrapped her tiny hooves around the mare’s neck, and said, “Hush, Mommy, don’t cwy. Pewblood is hewe. Hush.”
As she ran her hooves up and down Ornate’s neck, making soothing sounds, the mother couldn’t help but cry a little louder, though now it was through laughter. “I’m sorry, baby, I’m sorry.” Pulling the filly away, she kissed her right below her horn and smiled. “I love you, Pureblood.”
Ornate looked over as she felt a hoof on her shoulder, seeing her husband with a tired, but happy smile. “We both do,” he whispered, leaning forward to kiss his wife on the temple before doing the same to Pureblood. “And we always will.”
The filly giggled, reaching up to catch her father’s face and kissing his chin with a exclamation of, “Daddy!”
At that moment, Ornate Garden felt a weight be lifted from her withers. The mare knew then that, no matter what life threw at them, at her daughter, they would get through it together, and her beautiful, bright little filly would outshine the stars themselves.
Loving this story, thanks for keeping the updates up not sure if I could stand waiting several weeks at a time for a new chapter. Will continue to look forward to the next one.
I enjoyed this story. Keep up the good work.
-BFBL
So far interesting story. I can imagine if Pureblood has any magic at all she wouldn't spark it seems to be natural thing among unicorn foals something uncontrolled
Honestly when they were worried I was hoping the more prominent reason would be that they were disturbed by how she was trying to be "grown up" as a baby, being the responsible one despite being an infant.
That's going to wind up dysfunctional on her part if it keeps going so far.
... and I was hoping that her headache was magic building up that she was refusing to use because she couldn't accept that it was real.
7452888 I was hoping something similar.
This seems a little... odd. I thought the whole premise was that she would get a second chance at life as a healthy foal? Instead she appears to have a rare congenital birth defect that will likely haunt her all her life. It's better than being doomed to slowly die in a hospital again, but it's far from the second chance the protagonist was hoping for. If I was her I'd be terribly depressed.
7452892
Me too, I can't help but feel that would have made more sense.
7452911
7452888
In regards to her disability, you'd be surprised what perseverance can accomplish. Even in real life, their are people who have turned disabilities into gifts, I wouldn't be surprised if Pure ends up doing the same.
As for that theory... it was pretty good. I was actually on the fence between those two options, but went for the little magic since it created more of a challenge for the protagonist to overcome. Kind of like Rock Lee, surpassing others despite his weaknesses because he worked harder.
Good story, don't let it fade like so many others do and I'll mark it up as excellent. You deserve a triple yay.
keep it going I for one hope the doctor is completely off with his diagnosis and that she will eventually start to produce normal magic. merely a glitch caused by her human mind not knowing how to properly interact with magic.
7452927
With her being a reincarnated human (beings with no noticeable magical ability) her lack of magic reserves makes perfect sense.
so no magic, hmm i am guessing that why she is much healthier then before during her human life, she is still weaker, just in a different way then before, since it isn't life threatening that is good, and that this will be plot and stuff, don't know if this is spoiler but well better safe then be a jerk
I had to scroll up to see if there was a dark tag on this story before I commented, because this seems like the beginning of a cruel joke. Since there isn't a dark tag however... I'm going to guess that Pureblood will overcome this trial... maybe through the use of science.
Well I was going to be very put off if she somehow skipped what appeared to be a very important developmental step. However, with her extra comprehension time, plus her younger brain, plus an added sensitivity, I could see her being a very good research mage like Sunburst.
My first thought of the magic problem was that, because she is already aware of how most things work, she will not go through the same process of learning magic as normal unicorn babies do and not have magical surges because of it.
So, I have one question. Does pureblood really have mageiasthenia or does the doctors just think she has it?
7452943
What if she just doesn't know how to use magic, even by instinct?
She was born with her human instincts and memories intact while Blueblood was born with unicorn instinct.
The constant ache does imply that she might have more magic than they think.
7453054
Doubtful, they attached her to some sort of scanner during her tests, I don't think she'd be able to fool it as a child.
Is she going to have this condition for real, or is she just holding back? Because this headache could be a sign of her consciously blocking her magic from release.
Nice chapter!
I don't know why, but I have a curtain feeling that Pureblood will have the same expericence as Twilight, when she was young. Trying to do magic, something else happens and boom: huge magic overflow.
I bet 10 bits on it!!
Cheers
\m/
7453025
7453072
7453076
I think the doctors are wrong.
They don't have much information about mageiasthenia anyway, so how credible is their machine?
7453125
That's just it, we don't know for sure. For all we know, her human instincts and logic are keeping her magic suppressed subconsciously.
can't help but wonder what pure's reaction will be the first time she actually pulls off a spell no mater how little?
That and I can't help but think that unless she has some kind of super surge like twilight did that boost her magic to holy crap levels she'll probably be built kinda like an earth pony when she grows up simply because this time around she isn't stuck in a hospital bed 24/7 and once she get's that walking thing down will probably try and move around as much as she can since she CAN actually get out of bed and move around.
Wait... Pureblood just spoke a full sentence to them. Why aren't they freaking out about it?
It's funny, many asian light/web novels depict that the strength of one's magic depends on the quality of one's soul. Usually in the case of reincarnated MCs in worlds where magic exists, the size and strength of their magic capacity/regeneration is bordering on ridiculous and sometimes common sense. The "quality" of a soul is based on one or many of various factors, even going so far as one's religious zeal. It can be anything from the amount of karma, longevity, knowledge, wisdom, life's challenges/experiences, trauma (physically, emotionally, psychologically, nature of one's death). All of these things can strengthen and chip at the walls or vessel of one's soul, affecting how much its output to safely supply magic without killing the body.
Pure still had unexpected development on her magic capacity, perhaps her current body isn't ready to shoulder the burden of her soul. There have been many stories where the MC are more than likely to kill themselves if they exert themselves since their bodies are weaker than their potential. It could take months, years or even up till the show's canon till her development ends. It's all up to the author.
There have been exceptions though... MCs with magical talent so shit tier that they're below even the worst of commoners...
*Edit*
I wonder though, if doctors detected symptoms similar to Pure in foals over the years, perhaps other reincarnated were reborn throughout history?
7452927
You, uh, you're really not supposed to say stuff like that when it's still uncertain to the readers. Let people be surprised by how things go, even if it's something fairly likely. Even predictable stuff is more interesting when you don't know for certain what's going to happen. Also, it's easier to change your mind when you haven't publicly stated where you intend the story to go. (And you can't always know when you're going to change your mind, now can you?)
Hnggg....pinkie.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/rsz/mlfw9406_medium.jpg That ending....i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/525/449/ae5.png
So...i.imgur.com/bhFWO.jpg
too cruel mate...
but holy shit this development is juicy
keep up the good work
one thing tho, I think the reaction after Pure talked was a bit lacking
7453175 agreed. still cute doe so i don't really mind
that was so cute and adorable and sad and funny at the same time that i almost cried at the end.
Yeah, i'm emotional. Sue me.
Very nice twist. Can't wait to see how you will develop it.
Great work, keep it up!
ok this story succesfully got me hooked in 4 CHAPTERS ONLY 4. You my sir have too much talent. I need another chapter (maybe with a good time skip?) You dont need to pressure yourself though!
7453054 I would agree with you when i read the story. I was thinking that the dull ache behind her horn could be a magical buildup that she doesn't know how to release. She is growing in other areas that Blueblood isn't. It could be she is a late bloomer in the realm of magic.
7453076 That's what is seems like to me as well.
7453125 I think the machines are registering her thaumic energy at this point in time. it could be low for her not knowing about magic, no instincts, or she is suppressing it. On another thought, she could be low due to genetics. born into a highly magical family with a brother who is highly magical as well, she could be considered the 'runt' (don't like that word) in this family.
7452927 Nice work, keep the updates flowing. you have my interest. Looking forward to where this goes.
I also have a little baby girl and I know that fear 'something could not be right' is one of the most horrendous thoughts you could imagine. . .
Also I would write to conclude this no magic thing eiter giving her a small surge and finishing in good or going with the drama and concluding that she won't do magic
Please not skip anything related for her first time in holidays, birthdays, play dates and other things between 1-3 years old.
I like to see her grow little by little learning about the world around her.
Here's a interesting question...
I notice this a lot in the fandom. There's always this idea that the parents died in a accident, than have to live with Celestia.
That seems to happen around when BlueBlood is close to 10. Are you thinking of doing that? It would be a incredible twist for the story for are little friend. Would it be hard on Pureblood? Yea, If it were to happen, she would work hard keeping BlueBlood together and herself.
By the way, I love the chapter! Though I still think you could always make it longer a bit, but still amazing story.
7453304
I might. I'm 20,000 in debt still, so every little bit helps (though I just paid 2000 ahead, so I'm feeling pretty good, hence more writing).
7453480
Nah, there's already enough drama potential without killing any pony off, I think, so their parents are going to stick around. I don't think it's canon that Blueblood's parents are dead in the show, I just assumed he practically lives at the castle because he wants to.
7453175
7453257
They were freaking out a little, but, for the parents, they had other things on their minds at the moment, what with just getting the news that their baby is a disabled unicorn. There overall reaction is going to come to light in the next chapter. On a side note, how early to foals speak their first words? Much earlier than a humans 18 months I say, but I'm kinda retconning the part in Baby Cakes where they cheer 'Pinkie' (pretty sure they say that, anyway)
My head-canon for this is that foals speak their first words around eight or nine months, so she's still pretty darn far ahead. She's a prodigy in the eyes of society.
7453222
Or maybe I was lying to throw everyone off guard! Haha...! Maybe. Honestly, I don't know what I'm going to do half the time in life, so even I'm surprised more often than not. I just... do things.
7453184
7452943
If magic is a product of the soul, and you are a soul that never had magic, you should feel lucky you got any at all when you are reborn. That's another way of looking at it. I know though that, yeah, in a lot of those rebirth fics, the protag has a lot of magic even though really, they should only be ahead by a little bit. A twenty-year-old accountant shouldn't be particularly strong spiritually.
7453644 I do agree with you. Please keep surprising us all here.
Pureblood should become a scientist! Figuring out how magic particles work and all that kind of stuff. Her sensitivity to magic could also help her figure out what kind of things use magic and what kind of things don't require magic.
For the fathers mark, are you thinking something like the Army Engineers symbol? Something more or less like this. Corps Castle
Okay now I'm thinking that perhaps meeting Discord/Celestia/Luna would be a bad idea for her cause those three are a literal ocean of magical might
7453784
Yeah, except dark-grey and no background. It stands for his desire to protect the family and house, and that's house like House Stark, not just the building he lives in. Ornate Garden likes the home though; she's pretty good at interior decoration.
7453850
Discord yes, but I'd imagine Celestia would have the decency to suppress her magic while around Pure.
7453965
Hmm... perhaps pure was in the crowd during the wedding?
7453971 That's asking for a coma :I
7453644
Well, with her being bedridden with what I would assume to be something similar to cancer, I would say that she had a lot of time to reflect on life in general.
Pureblood basically did this:
static1.e621.net/data/be/29/be2959cf23d00497abce0aa22be2e840.png
So... did she actually talk to them, or did they just hear soothing-sounding noises?
I'm a little surprised they have shown no reaction of little Pureblood speaking.
So, magical deficiency. Still better than having to be bed-ridden. Or dead. At least she'll have a healthy-ish life!
Why do I have the feeling that Pureblood will be "The Rock" for Blueblood?
She isn't particularly powerful -magic wise- but she is someone Blueblood can fall back, can rely on. And can depend on when he needs knowledge and political assistance.
Don't forget she apparently can learn things faster and better than anyone else.
Good chapters. That was cute she hug her mother and say don't cry
....
It suddenly became much harder to pull off. I'll see where it shall go for several chapters, of course.
So good! I'm loving this story! Can't wait for the next chapter!