The Not so Legendary Beginning
Nothing, to me, means quite as much as accomplishing a brand new spell. The adrenaline rush, the excitement, it is all so grand. It makes me feel like I'm so free--free from anything and everything that bothers me in this world inhabited by other ponies like me; Equestria. Nothing brings me quite so much joy as swinging my horn all around, casting every spell I can think up in my mind. Mother and father find it an issue; my putting too much focus into my magic studies. Why would they think that? Isn't it good that their young child is so interested in Equestria's uniqueness, consisting of many different forms of magic? I personally believe that is preposterous.
Studying is nothing more than putting time and effort into things that interest you. It only shows that you have the liability to do things that usually wouldn't interest most other ponies. On that note, I don't ever even see most other ponies preform more with their magic than simply lifting cups and silverware, or grocery bags walking back to their homes from the many stores that dot the landscape of our fine land. Thinking about this makes me feel more original, more unique. My magic is something special, and I know that I will do excellent things for Equestria in the future.
The one thing I do want to do, though, is impress her young, royal, gorgeous majesty, Celestia. The way her pink mane shines in the morning sun that she brings to the land each and every day. I watch her from afar whenever I happen to spot her taking a stroll through town with her younger, nightbound sister, Luna, who brings and takes the moon. Celestia's beauty truly catches her regality, and that is what I truely love about her. Not only that, but Celestia is one of the kindest in all of the land. Never in my entire life have I ever seen any deeds of kindness to such extremes as preformed by Celestia herself. But, sadly, I can never even work up the courage to so much as say hello to her.
To my luck, though, a new school that I have just recently enrolled in, includes Celestia herself as one of the students. School would be the utmost best place for me to show off my extraordinary skills that I have worked so hard to perfect for when I finally meet her. If I get truly more lucky, I could even have her in my class. My class! Only time will tell me so. I just cannot contain all of my excitement! The joy is so much greater than that of learning new magic! I simply cannot believe that I will be attending the same school as the sun princess herself.
***
My eyes simply fly open, my heart racing as I leap out of bed. I quickly make my way to the small blue vanity at the wall of my bedroom, levitating the brush with my magic, dragging it through my messy with mane. It gets stuck once or twice, but my hair ends up looking absolutely stunning, just for her majesty. Posing for myself is such a childish choice, yet resisting it is just too hard. I am admiring my mane for a few moments when I finally notice my ruffled tail. Picking the brush up with my magic again, I pull it through my ramshackle tail, placing it back onto the desk of the vanity once it is complete.
I look to the small, raw wood dresser in the corner of my room. I levitate a blue uniform with a clean white undershirt and red tie off of it, pulling it over to myself. The moment it makes contact, the outfit appears on my grey form in a flash of light. I make a quick adjustment to my tie in the mirror before rushing out my bedroom door, my hoofsteps echoing through the halls. He race to the door, sweat running down my forehead. What will she think of me? I'm amazing, I know it. She'll think I'm just that. There is nothing anyone can do or say to change these thoughts. I'm confident in myself to be able to impress her majesty.
Not paying attention, my head slams into the wooden door of my house, my horn jamming through the raw wood. I tug and tug; nothing. The grey length begins to glow a shade of gold, and in a flash of light, I am standing before the door, my horn detached from the tall brown hinged object. The door continues the glow, along with my horn, and the wound made to it is repaired in less than a second. He push out of the door, my mother yelling goodbye after me. I mostly ignore her, galloping for the schoolhouse.
I swerve in and out of ponies here and there, and jump over a fence along the way. The school comes into my line of sight. I smile, pushing myself to my limit, sweat streaming down my entire head. Two of the kingdom's royal guards stop me on my way to the school gate. "Young man," One says. "You must present proper identification before we can permit you to enter the school grounds. As you may have already been informed, Equestria's princesses are behind those gates. We do not want any fans or predators crowding them." The other finishes his sentence. I roll my eyes, levitating the student I.D. I was given three days prior to this occurrence. The bot nod, and let me past, my head slouched, my gait as trotting. I look back at them, and they stop a student whom traveled not too far behind me, informing him of the same things they had me.
I continue down the long, winding path to the school. It is rather long, with highly irritates me to the point of wanting to forcibly shorten it. As I approach the main courtyard, I not the large crowd of ponies circling something. No--rather, somepony. Could it be Celestia herself? I gallop up to the crowd, trying to find a spot where I can see the pink haired Alicorn. I get pushed and shoved with no luck what-so-ever in o much as viewing the royal pony. I look to the right to find a navy pony with a lighter mane, standing, her eyes welling with tears. It was Princess Luna. I couldn't stand to see Celestia's sister like this--I could even catch her attention by attempting to sooth her!
I trot over to the sobbing princess,and put a hoof on her back. She looks up to me, tears streaming down her face.
"Why are these tears of sadness overtaking you, Princess Luna?" I ask, watching her watery eyes carefully.
"O-Our sister is getting all of thy student's attention... We find it highly unfair and uncouth." Luna replied, her voice shaking. I stare at the crowd, and frown.
"H-Hey!" I cry out. What is this feeling? It's not anything I've ever felt before. Could it be what results of kindness? Perhaps. I don't like this feelings very much. But I shall do anything to catch the attention of her majesty. "Why are all of you paying no attention to poor Princess Luna here? She too is a princess, and should be treated equally fairly!" I finish. Sweet Solara, that was hard. I slowly begin to step away as other ponies begin to make their way towards the moon princess. The once crying pony who was drying her tears mouths a Thank you, towards me.
I lightly smile back, continuing on my way, backwards, when I bump into another pony. I flatten my ears and clamp my eyes shut.
"It's okay. I'm not going to do anything to you." I hear a sweet, motherly, yet young voice say. That voice belongs to her. Instantly, I open my eyes, and turn to her, backing away a few steps.
"A-A thousand pardons, y-your highness..." I instantly apologize, bowing before her royal highness Princess Celestia herself.
"There is no need for that." Celestia says, smiling lightly, looking down at me. "We are at school, and you should treat me as you would any other student."
"I-Indeed..." I awkwardly reply, smiling just the same way. I get back up into full posture, blinking. "S-So, as to why may I inquire you left the crowd of ponies?" I ask raising a hoof and tilting my head.
"I noticed how you were being so kind to Luna, who I always apparently seem to... Outshine..." The princess of the sun replies, flattening her ears and turning her head to the side, lowering it.
"Don't be ashamed, it is highly doubtful that you are at fault, your maj-" I pause, biting my bottom lip. Like a normal student; that's how she wants it. "C-Celestia."
"You really think so?" She asks, lifting her head back up to face me. She blinks, starting to smile. I cant believe she's smiling. And at me! I nod in compliance, smiling right back at her.
We begin to talk, and it turns out that we have plenty in common. Everything from the color of our magical aura to our interest in all things magic. Just as we wrap up our conversation, the headmaster pony begins to walk out from the building. She is holding a clipboard in one hoof, using the other three to walk.
"Students!" She calls out with a heavy accent. "Welcome to Everfree School for Gifted Ponies!" She called out, smiling brightly. "Before we begin our school day, I shall assign you to your classes." She explains. "Now, each of you, gather into groups according to whether you are an Earth Pony, Unicorn, or Pegasus." She instructs, looking about the crowd of new students. She looks like a rather entertaining headmistress. "Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna, you two may group yourselves with any class you wish." The two once confused looking princesses looked to each other, and looked forward, smiling softly, slowly walking over to the crowd of unicorns. "Now that that is done, you shall all be assigned to your classes. There are classes for each individual race in which you shall be tutored to hone your skills, and there will be classes where all of you shall come together. When I gave you your numbers, you shall each come up and get a schedule with the corresponding number." She tells, and begins assigning numbers. I decide to space myself a safe distance from Celestia, for a bit more assurance of being placed with her. With seven numbers, there is still very little chance.
"Celestia, you are a six, and will be joined by your sister." The princesses both go up and get a schedule of their own. I bit my lip, flattening my ears. I watch as she assigns ponies that spaced me and the princess with their numbers, when she finally approaches me. She squints at my name ta and opens her mouth to speak.
"You, StarSwirl, are a seven." She tells, and I smile brightly, happily trotting over to the pile of seven schedules, levitating one over to myself, scanning over it. I see a desk labeled Maps, and get one of those as well so that I have an easier time getting around the school. I glance over it for a moment, before I notice the royal sisters making their way into the building. I bite my lip, dashing over to the two. Might as well walk with them as we are in the same group of classes. I wonder if we will have any projects in which we could work together and form chemistry... Oh, I do so hope that there is a potions class! I just cant imagine what we could be doing as we walk along down the path that leads to the school's main building. I hold the doors open for the princesses, both of them bowing their heads in thanks as they enter the building. A large smile spreads across my face as I happily trot inside after them, eventually catching up with them as we make our way to our first class.
First class, lets see, was History of Magic. That seemed like it had a very extreme amount of uniqueness, and just the kind of class for me to show off the skills that I have developed over the course of my life. Of course, Celestia could simply blow the class away with her own knowledge, as well. Trying to top her could be a challenge... What if we end up as rivals instead of friends? What if she ends up hating me if I know more than her? This whole school thing is putting a very large amount of stress upon my shoulders... I just shake it off, continuing to smile as I carry on along the two sisters as they make conversation of what duties they must preform as they finish school for the day, and something about an Organ to the Outside. It sounds strange, but I decide not to say anything out of pure etiquette and respect.
We reach our class, and the group of unicorns in the class other than me, Celestia, and Luna, are all crowded at the side of the room. Not knowing what else to do, the three of us make our way to the crowd. The instructor of the class begins calling names and seat numbers, and ponies all go to where they are assigned, making conversation as they make their way to their seats. I watch as Celestia and Luna move to their seat, 21 and 22, right next to each other, and I flatten my ears, looking around. The instructor pony puts a good deal of space between me and Celestia, yet I can still make out the nice pink shimmer of her mane to the left of my desk.
"Good morning, students, and welcome to your first day of History of Magic. My name is Professor Kinderhoof, and I will be your instructor throughout this school year." The instructor pony tells, his horns glowing light blue as he picks up a piece of chalk with his magic. "Over the course of this year, we will learn of Equestria's founding by King Darkmoon and Queen Solara, the fable of the Elements of Harmony, the war of the Draconequui, and many more fascinating topics." I stare in fascination. I know most everything about the fabled elements, I study the Draconequus race in my free time, and King Darkmoon and Solara are only one piece of my top studies! I get the feeling I am going to do wonderfully in this class!
"Now, we will not officially begin class until tomorrow, but we will each be doing small presentations on what we know about ancient magic the day after, so for the time we have in class, you will have time to study up on whatever topic you please. You may work alone or with a partner, but a maximum of two ponies per group." The instructor pony tell. Everypony stands up to get a partner. I get up to talk to Celestia and ask here if she would be willing to work with me. Other ponies crowd the poor sun princess, and Luna slowly backs away.
"Everypony, please, calm down! I-I'm working with my sister!" She tries to tell. None of them listen, and continue to beg to work with her. She bites her bottom lip. "StarSwirl, a little help?" She knows my name. How does she know my name? There's no way she could have heard it when I was assigned a number or seat, she couldn't have over all of the conversating ponies. Did she perhaps pay attention to me when I practiced around town before we met? Or maybe she just knows the names of all of her subjects. The second one is most likely correct, but what if she does pay attention to me. Nevermind that, she has requested my help, and she is royalty, so I must comply!
I ready myself, my horn glowing, and it flares up, sparking, teleporting Celestia out of the crowd of mobbing fans.
"Thank you so much, StarSwirl. I owe you one." She says, smiling, a slight laugh in her voice, as she trots off to see her sister.
"No... N-No problem." I say, sighing heavily. I suppose I could work alone on the elements of harmony, anyways. I do work better alone, as partners usually just get in the way with their silly little ideas I'll just come up with some notes and a speech on the elements, that should be enough. I sigh, looking around the room for study resources, and find the housing book of the elements itself, bringing it over to myself and opening it, reading away to my hearts content.