//------------------------------//
// V: A Spiritual Connection 
// Story: Trinity 
// by MythrilMoth 
//------------------------------//

Less than a month after earning their Cutie Marks, the day arrived when the Crusaders would have their first Trinity Magic lesson with Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight Sparkle. Nervous, excited, and not a little afraid, the three fillies entered Twilight's castle on the outskirts of town. Although Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon expressed an interest in watching, the Crusaders asked them not to, as they were nervous enough and an audience could lead to disaster.

As they entered, Spike met them in the foyer. "The princesses are in the garden in the back," he said.

"There's a garden?" Apple Bloom asked, tilting her head.

"I know, right?" Spike said as he led them through the crystalline halls. "We're still finding new stuff in this place! Yesterday I found a wine cellar. We don't even have wine!"

"Don't let Rarity know there's a wine cellar. She'll have half of Canterlot here in a blink," Sweetie Belle advised.

"So what're they doin' out in the garden?" Scootaloo asked.

"Something for your first lesson," Spike said with a shrug. "I didn't stick around to find out what because that weird bush they're messin' around with gives me the creeps."

The Crusaders glanced at each other. "Weird bush?"

"You'll see." A few minutes later, they stood at a door which led out to a large garden which seemed to have been planted in a concealed hollow of the castle's crystal trunk. Thin, translucent crystal formed low, clear walls around a broad expanse of lush grass, healthy trees, bushes, and climbing vines that disappeared up into the thicker recesses of the trunk. An open section of the trunk let bright sunlight into the garden, which was magnified by the surrounding crystal. A thin stream, fed by a waterfall that started somewhere up inside the crystal tree, bisected the garden; two crystal bridges spanned the stream.

"Wow," Sweetie Belle breathed.

"Everything's so alive back here," Apple Bloom said.

"Well, I'll be in the kitchen if anypony needs me," Spike said. "Good luck, girls!"

The Crusaders trotted gingerly through the garden, searching for the two alicorns. As they wandered through the garden, Apple Bloom's ears kept twitching. "Y'all hear that?" she whispered.

"I don't hear anything," Scootaloo said.

"I...think I hear something," Sweetie Belle said, her muzzle scrunched up in concentration. "It's like...a whispering."

"Must just be the wind," Scootaloo said.

"Uhh, Scoots? There ain't no wind here."

"Sure there is," Scootaloo said, her wings buzzing. "Okay, so it's not very strong, but there's always an air current, especially in an area exposed to the outside..." She stopped and looked at the other two, who were staring at her incredulously. "What?"

"That's...the first time I've heard you say anything, well...book-smart," Sweetie Belle said.

Scootaloo snorted. "Just because I can't fly doesn't mean I don't know what every pegasus knows," she said.

"There you three are!" Twilight said, gliding over a tall hedge nearby and landing next to them.

"Hey Twilight," Sweetie Belle said. "Umm...are we late?"

"No, you're right on time," Twilight said. "Come on, Princess Celestia is waiting for you just over here."

The girls followed Twilight along the edge of the stream to the westernmost part of the garden. As they walked, a constant rustling, chattering sound reached their ears. "Okay, now I hear it," Scootaloo said. "And it definitely isn't the wind."

"Indeed not, my little pony," Celestia said, smiling as the rest of the group approached her. Several paces away, a large bush with purple leaves and enormous clusters of swollen, ripe yellow berries stood, quivering and rustling. The fillies stared at it apprehensively.

"What th' heck?" Scootaloo asked, her wings flaring out.

Apple Bloom's irises shrank to pinpricks. "That plant's...awful chatty," she said. "Ah mean, dang..."

Twilight giggled. "It's something else, I'll say!"

"And it is the subject of today's lesson," Princess Celestia said. "I've decided to sit in on your first few lessons since Princess Twilight herself is not yet fully familiar with Trinity Magic, having only learned what I've been able to tell her. Once she witnesses it in more detail for herself, she'll be mentoring you alone." Celestia smiled wistfully. "I would love to be here for every step of your discovery of this wonderful new magic, but my duties permit precious little time..."

"We're grateful that you're spending any time with us at all, Your Majesty," Sweetie Belle said, bowing. "It's not every filly that gets personal attention from the ruler of Equestria."

"From both rulers of Equestria," Scootaloo added. "Princess Luna's helped all three of us out with nightmares and problems."

"Indeed," Celestia said. "I'm finding that Luna is rapidly becoming the favorite princess of every filly and colt in Equestria." She leaned lower and smirked conspiratorially. "You'd think I'd be jealous, but in truth, I'm delighted. I had no idea Luna would be so good with children."

The Crusaders giggled. Twilight smiled. "Alright, girls, I think it's time we get started."

"Indeed it is," Celestia said as she opened her saddlebag and withdrew three small, gleaming silver peytrals, each with a brilliant purple gem embedded in it. Each peytral was engraved with the Cutie Mark of one of the Crusaders. She levitated each one in place around the neck of its owner, then clasped them securely. "For the time being, you will only wear these during your lessons at the castle," Celestia said.

"They're gorgeous!" Sweetie Belle enthused.

"Sil's dad did an amazing job!" Scootaloo said excitedly, her wings buzzing.

"Indeed he did," Celestia said. "I don't think any of the silversmiths in Canterlot could have done a finer job." She touched a hoof to her muzzle. "I wonder if perhaps this is the reason Fancy Pants and his inner circle are visiting Ponyville so often lately?"

Twilight laughed. "Yeah, a lot of Canterlot ponies come down here to shop ever since Rarity came into her own in Canterlot," she said. "Well, the ones that are savvy enough to listen to Fancy Pants when he tells them the difference between 'high price, distinguished location' and 'high quality'."

"Mmm, yes," Celestia said with a frown. "That's been a problem in Canterlot for a long time. I'm ashamed to admit it's even becoming a problem with the restaurant culture. There's a new food critic working Restaurant Row who I'm afraid might be undermining..." She shook her head. "Forgive me. I'm wasting everypony's time on an old mare's worries." She turned to address the Crusaders. "Now, your first few lessons are going to deal with the most fundamental aspect of Trinity Magic." She gave them a small smile. "What do you suppose that might be, my little ponies?"

The Crusaders looked at one another, then looked back at Celestia. "Blastin' stuff with friendship lasers?" Apple Bloom suggested.

Twilight facehoofed. Celestia laughed musically. "I'm afraid not, Apple Bloom." With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she added, "That comes later." She glanced over at the bush. "Though I imagine by now you'd probably like to blast that bush."

"Yeah, it's...kinda gittin' on mah nerves," Apple Bloom admitted, shuffling her hooves.

Scootaloo frowned. "Whaddya mean? I mean, okay, so it's makin' a lotta racket, but—"

Celestia raised a hoof. "Let me ask you a question," she said. "Equestria was founded when ponies from all three tribes came together in friendship, was it not?"

"Well, yeah," Apple Bloom said. "That's why we celebrate Hearth's Warmin'."

"Right you are," Celestia said. "Now, what do the three of you know about alicorns?"

The Crusaders glanced at each other, then at the two alicorns. "Well...you're all princesses," Sweetie Belle said.

"You've all got wings and horns," Scootaloo added.

Apple Bloom tilted her head. "Umm...y'all live a really long time?"

"All true," Celestia said. "But you're missing one important thing. Though in all fairness, it's a thing most ponies don't know about alicorns." She walked over to a pear tree which stood not far away, then turned and gave it a swift buck. A dozen ripe golden pears dropped to the ground.

Apple Bloom's jaw dropped. "Y'all have earth pony magic too?"

"We sure do," Twilight said. "Applejack hasn't been telling you about trying to help me with that part of my new magic?"

"Uh-uh," Apple Bloom said with a shake of her head.

"Well, just like Rainbow Dash had to teach me how to fly, Applejack's been teaching me about earth pony magic," Twilight said. With a grimace, she added, "Mostly, it's just so I'm aware of my own strength."

"Alicorns tend to have an amplified version of each pony tribe's natural abilities," Celestia said. "I have, on occasion, been known to shatter large boulders with my bare hooves. Twilight withstood blows from Tirek that should have smeared her across half of Equestria."

Twilight paled. "Thanks for that," she said. "Luna's likely to have words with you tomorrow."

"The point," Celestia said with a sheepish smile, "is that alicorns exist in a natural state of balance between the three types of pony magic. Of course, we also have our own, unique magic—alicorn magic—which not only amplifies our other abilities and extends our lifespans, it allows us to do things other ponies are incapable of."

"Like moving the sun and the moon?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Celestia grimaced. "Well...in a sense," she said. "Before Equestria was founded, the unicorns controlled the sun and the moon. It took large teams of unicorns to move them, and after a number of years, every unicorn who aided in moving the heavens would burn out all their unicorn magic forever." She bowed her head. "Luna and I had been ruling Equestria for quite some time when we were finally made aware of this. We were...not pleased that this had been kept from us. Not when our magic allows us to control the heavens much more easily, and also forms a connection between our own lifeforce and the heavenly body we control."

Scootaloo blinked. "Huh?"

"She means th' reason she's thousands of years old is because she's linked to th' sun," Apple Bloom explained. "Right?"

"That is essentially correct, my little pony," Celestia said. "Though alicorns live much longer than other ponies as a rule, Luna and I are unique in that our ties to the sun and moon have made us ageless." She glanced at Twilight. "And if what I suspect about Twilight Sparkle's connection to the Tree of Harmony is correct, she may also be on her way to achieving agelessness as well."

Twilight took a step back, raising a hoof. "Gah! Can we not bring that up again for like, at least a hundred years?"

Celestia chuckled. "As you wish." She turned her attention back to the Crusaders. "The reason I'm explaining all of this, my little ponies, is that the natural state of balance between the magic of three tribes which we alicorns represent is also the fundamental power of Trinity Magic, and therefore your first lesson."

"I don't get it," Scootaloo said.

Celestia smiled. "You will, soon enough." She studied the three of them. "At its most basic, Trinity Magic amplifies the magic of each pony in the Trinity by connecting them to the magic of their two partners. In much the same way that the balance of earth, unicorn, and pegasus magic creates and amplifies an alicorn's power, your Trinity amplifies your own power through the balance between you." She turned and nodded to the bush. "You're no doubt curious about this strange plant."

"Yeah, kinda," Apple Bloom said, shooting the bush a scowl.

"This is an ocea berry bush," Celestia explained. "They're indigenous to Neighpon. They don't grow easily in other regions, and then only with the presence of alicorn magic to sustain them. I transplanted this one here from Canterlot." She smirked. "The royal gardeners despise these bushes."

"Ah don't blame 'em," Apple Bloom said. "Don't that thing ever shut up?"

"I'm afraid not," Celestia said with a sigh. "But that actually makes it the perfect subject for your first lesson in Trinity Magic."

"According to Celestia," Twilight said, "the easiest magic to synchronize with is earth pony magic. That's why your first lesson is to synchronize with Apple Bloom's earth pony magic using your Trinity Gems."

"And how do we do that?" Scootaloo asked.

Celestia smiled. "Touch hooves," she said. "Concentrate. Focus on your friendship, on what makes the three of you inseparable."

The Crusaders looked at each other, nodded, and touched hooves. The Trinity Gems flared with brilliant amethyst light. The fillies closed their eyes, brows and muzzles furrowed in concentration.

—never work, you old nag. They're so stupid! I mean, look at them! And that pegasus, what a joke! I've seen bigger wings on the bees in the gardens—

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle jumped away from Apple Bloom, eyes wide. "What the heck?!" Scootaloo shouted.

Sweetie Belle stared from Apple Bloom to the ocea berry bush and back. "Was...was that...?"

"Yeah," Apple Bloom said with a grimace. "Sorry about that, Scoots. Y'see why Ah've been in a sour mood since we got here?"

Scootaloo shook her head in disbelief, her wings buzzing. "That...that bush was talking?" She blinked, then glared at the bush. "HEY! That stupid bush was dissing me!"

—catches on quick, this one. Well, I guess if her wings are garbage, at least something about her's almost kinda fast—

"Still is, I'm afraid," Twilight said. "Celestia, didn't you have an ocea berry bush with, well...more social skills?"

Celestia laughed. "Sorry," she said. "I'm afraid most ocea berry bushes are like this. That's why they're so rare."

"Because every earth pony whut spends too much time around one goes fer th' weed killer?" Apple Bloom asked with a lidded sidelong glare at the bush.

"Who'd even WANT a stupid bush like that?" Scootaloo asked.

Who'd want a pegasus that can't fly?

"Ocea berries are useful in curing speech impediments," Celestia said with a shrug. "The few herbalists who cultivate these are patient enough to tolerate the plant's nasty attitude for the greater good."

"Speech impediments, huh?" Apple Bloom asked, rubbing her muzzle with a hoof. "Ah might need some'a them berries later."

"For Twist?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Eeyup."

"I have exactly the potion you need in my copy of Super Naturals," Twilight said. "Feel free to use my lab and mix it up at your leisure."

"Just be careful not to eat any of the berries yourself or even accidentally swallow some of the juice," Celestia cautioned.

"Why, are they poisonous?"

"Only if you call blabbing every single stray thought you have until they pass out of your system poison."

Apple Bloom winced. "Right, Ah'll be careful."

—can't be much in that head worth blabbing. One-fruit farm ponies are all the same. She probably thinks 'apple' every other word—

Celestia grimaced. "As obnoxious as this bush is, I'm afraid it really is the most expedient way for the three of you to learn to share Apple Bloom's earth magic." She gave the Crusaders a sheepish smile. "If you'd care to try again?"

Swallowing, the Crusaders touched hooves and closed their eyes. The Trinity Gems shone, and once again the voice of the ocea berry bush filled Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo's heads. Tuning out its insults as best they could, they listened as Celestia and Apple Bloom guided them through the feelings and sensations her earth pony magic afforded her. Gradually, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle began to understand, at least in part, the way an earth pony was connected to the land.

An hour later, Celestia called a halt to the lesson. "Splendid, my little ponies!" she said. "I can sense that you're developing a feel for the connection Trinity Magic creates between you."

"Why don't we all go to the kitchen? I'm sure Spike has snacks ready for us," Twilight suggested.

"Sounds good to me," Sweetie Belle said in an exhausted tone.

"Tomorrow," Celestia said as they trotted back into the castle, "we will focus on the connection to Scootaloo's pegasus magic."

"Princess Celestia?" Scootaloo asked. "What exactly are we supposed to do with this whole 'connection' thing? I mean, it's kinda neat an' all, but..."

"This is but the first step," Celestia said. "For now, you will simply learn to feel what it is your friends feel when they use their magic. That understanding is the very core of Trinity Magic. It is the foundation on which everything you will learn in the years to come is built."

"If you say so," Scootaloo said. "But...maybe no more ocea berries?"

Celestia laughed. "No more ocea berries," she promised. "From now on, any lessons related to earth pony magic will take place at Sweet Apple Acres." Her eyes twinkled. "But for tomorrow's lesson, you'll all need to be up bright and early for the hot air balloon ride."

"Hot air balloon ride?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"That's right, my little pony," Celestia said. "Tomorrow, we'll all be going to Cloudsdale."