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// 14 - Due Process 
// Story: What Follows Hugs 
// by David Silver 
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While all the important ponies of his life went off to handle important pony business, Toby went to handle his own. He loped through the halls of the school with a face of cheerful determination.

Landing beside a unicorn mare, he nodded to her. "Hello! Where pony to ask join school?"

The mare blinked at his question. "Are you asking for a friend?"

Toby sat on his haunches and raised a furry finger to point at himself. "Toby ask for Toby. Who ask?"

She smiled, warm with only hints of the uncertainty within her. "This is Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns."

The emphasis flew past Toby without notice. "Yes, is good school. Toby want learn magic to bring magic to Tsuki. You lucky to be here. Are you good magic?"

The phrasing seemed to confuse the mare a moment before she put it together, her expression going from bewilderment to a smile. "I'm still learning, but I can do some things I couldn't when I first came here." She pointed back at her thigh. "My specialty is plants. Making them grow, wilt, change colors and species."

Toby clapped at the wonders being described. "Is good magic. Maybe Toby learn that? Where pony to talk to?" His eyes went to the pony's rump, where a symbol of a wild growth of vines was depicted. "Maybe Toby get picture when he learn magic?"

"Um, good luck with that," said the unicorn without confidence and wearing a false smile. "Most ponies are invited to join by showing off the magic talent they already have... I guess you could talk to the dean? She's usually in her office." She pointed the way.

Toby locked in on the door being pointed to. "Thank you." He took off at a powerful jump, sailing down the hallway. The limited clearance forced him to make three jumps where one would have been enough in clear space, but he was there quickly enough. He looked over the door. It had a sign that declared it to be the office of some important-sounding pony.

He had not had bad luck with important ponies so far. He turned the knob, only to be shocked! He jerked his paw back with a yelp. "Bad door!"

The door opened a crack. An eye could be seen, peering from the small space. "What's this? A student fail at a conjuration?"

Toby tilted his head at the pony eye. "Name is Toby. Want join school and learn magic."

"Do you?" The door opened wider to reveal the mare speaking. She wore half-glasses and looked to be advanced in years. "Most unicorns that show promise have applications turned in by their parents, we schedule a trial, and then we make a decision." She cocked a bushy brow. "And here you are."

"Here Toby is," agreed Toby. "Toby not have parents. Toby will work hard! Learn magic, bring it to Tsuki."

"That so?" She appraised him from his paws to his horns. "Well, you've already got my attention, go ahead. Show me what you have."

Toby wasn't sure what was meant by that. He had tricks, but would a really good hop impress the mare? What could he do...? The idea of bringing up his exploits did not even occur to him. They were just his job, not notable in any fashion. "Toby... not know magic. Is here to learn."

"I'm afraid you have the wrong school." She shook her head slowly. "We are here to advance already gifted students to their peak. You need to learn the basics before you even dream of applying here."

Toby's face fell in dismay. "Where Toby go?"

The mare, on the other hoof, suddenly smiled. "You should go where students here fear to go, but where you must. Are you brave?"

"Toby will go!" he exclaimed with joyful optimism. A way forward seemed to be opening and he was ready to hop on it.

"Keep that attitude. You, my large friend, are bound to Magic Kindergarten." A student passing by gasped with horror and scooted away as quickly as his legs would carry him. "Here, I'll write you a referral, but only if you are serious about this."

"Toby is ready." He bobbed his head with certainty. "Thank you."

A paper floated free of her office and hovered before Toby, filled with little scribbles. "Bring this to them and they'll do their best." She looked up at Toby's red horns. "Do those even work? Well, I'll leave that to them to worry about. Good day."

Toby barely had time to take the paper in a paw before the door was closed. He was alone again, but he had a place to go, and a mission to complete. He was happy. With a joyful smile, he bounded to the closest window, pulled it open, and squirmed right out of it. Free of the inside, he made a powerful jump towards destiny itself. He would learn magic if he could.

How bad could any place that literally started with 'kind' be? It sounded like a nice place to him. A nice place for nice ponies to learn nice magic. He couldn't wait.





Celestia glanced between her three breakfast partners. They were not who she would have normally expected. Of course, Luna was always welcome to join her, no, she was no surprise. Sombra was still a bit off putting, and his 'vizier', Quick Stroke, was another matter entirely. "Mister Stroke, have you given thought to your changed role in things in this new world?"

Quick flashed a smile that worried Celestia. "An astute question from an astute ruler. Some of my... methods... may be... dated, but what is a pony that cannot adapt? I will serve my king well, just as I always have, even if the means need updating."

Something was nagging at Celestia, and it suddenly clicked into place. "You served Sombra when he was king, over the Crystal Empire, correct?"

Sombra nodded. "He was quite loyal, and creative. I hope to turn that towards the betterment of my kingdom."

Celestia inclined her head at Sombra in acknowledgment before she returned her attention to Quick. "Why aren't you a crystal pony?"

He blinked. "It's been so long... Even I had forgotten." His pelt began to shimmer darkly, as if reflecting his dark past. He was a crystal pony, but like that of few others. "I had learned long ago to conceal that. It intimidated the others to have their overseer not be one of their own."

Luna frowned a little. "A valid, if underhoofed technique. You will have little need for it among the Tsuki. They will not see you as one of them regardless, but they may welcome you as kin if you treat them well. Toby is already trying to offer a... paw... in friendship and solidarity."

Celestia tapped at her chin thoughtfully before a cookie approached her, held in her golden magic. She bit it in half and chewed quietly a moment. She had questions, but few ways to ask them that would not appear as rude, so she set them aside for the moment. "It is good that ponies are getting chances to turn a new leaf and embrace a life of growth." Her eyes turned to Luna. "The doctor's report that all is well. I believe our student has suffered sufficiently for her crime, and I will be giving the order for her to return to her studies."

Luna huffed softly. "You are very mild on your students. Even if she caused no direct harm, did she not break a rule of some severity?"

Celestia shook her head. "She was brought in chains before the full of the court, driven to tears and made to wallow in her failings. She been been disciplined quite thoroughly. Now is the time to show kindness and help her move forward. She is still a talented student, and I would see that encouraged."

Quick leaned back in his wide-bottomed chair, "She is, this I will grant. Her magic was quite ready to hurl her friend across the city when I took hold of it. A pity her aim was off."

Sombra canted his head towards Quick. "In what way?"

"She would have hurled her friend into the stone. It would... most likely... have caused no lasting harm, but been quite painful and uncomfortable until she was rescued."

Luna gave a soft snort. "If you had simply rescued her instead of whisking her away to the shadows, you would have been a hero."

Celestia shook her head. "Teleportation accidents are no small matter. I thank you for preventing what could have been worse. I will have her teacher informed that her technique needs refinement, not that a student of her level should be attempting to move a living pony so far."

Sombra gave a sharp-toothed smile. "Your students have a habit of surprising you."

"They do," agreed Celestia, a more sedate smile appearing on her face. "It is a pleasure every time." A cup of tea lifted to her snout and she sipped lightly. "We should begin the day."





Toby landed before a much smaller structure than the grand edifice that had been the School for Gifted  Unicorns. 'Magic Kindergarden', read a sign over the gate leading to the place. The building was painted bright and cheerfully, and he saw many little unicorn foals running around with excited giggles and squeals.

"This happy place," he decided, but if he was to learn there, he would be the largest and oldest thing there. The social ramifications of that did not click with him. He did little hops to avoid any potential collisions and opened the door to go inside.

"Who you?"

Toby looked down and to the left to see a little filly gazing up at him with big eyes. "Who you?" she repeated, pointing at him.

"Toby." He nodded. "Who you?"

"Junifer," she replied with a smile. "Why here?"

"Learn magic," replied Toby. This little pony spoke in small easy words and sentences. He kind of liked it. "You learn magic, yes?"

"Uh-huh," agreed Junifer. "You big."

"You small," he returned, settling down to be closer to her level. "Help learn magic?"

Junifer tilted her head left and right. "Can try." She didn't sound completely certain, but she sounded ready to try, and that was enough for Toby.

The door Toby had undone and let swing open a few inches suddenly pulled the rest of the way open. An older mare stepped into view. "Who left t--" She cut off, almost walking into the furry wall that was Toby. "Oh my..."

"Hello!" cried Toby, turning to face the adult. "Toby is here to learn magic. Teach Toby please."

She looked uncertain, glancing between him and the filly beside him. "Junifer, come here."

Junifer shook her head. "Help teach magic!"

"Yes..." Her eyes travelled up to his double horns. Were they like unicorn horns? She could only try and find out, she supposed. "You will have to follow the rules of this school."

"Toby will follow rules, learn magic, work hard." He reared up to clap his paws. "Toby is ready."