A Certain Magical Friendship – Context_SHIFT

by Sora2455


Bonus content: Spellbook

“Hello everypony!” Princess Celestia beamed from behind her lectern. “Welcome to Spellbook, the segment where we’ll go over some of the spells that you might be unfamiliar with, or those people might be confused about!”

“Wait, that’s what we’re doing?” Index blinked from behind her own lectern. “If that’s the case, shouldn’t I be doing this with Twilight?”

“I believe the rational is that we’re magical experts with the same colour scheme.” Celestia explained patiently.

Index looked down her her habit (white with gold trim), then over at Celestia’s fur (white with gold jewellery). “Oh. Right.”

Celestia looked down at the checklist in front of her. “Well, first on our list is the ‘spear of mortal pain’.”

“‘The spear of mortal pain’.” Index recited from memory. “Better known by its untranslated name, ‘Gáe Bulg’. The signature weapon of the Celtic hero-deity Cúchulainn. Much like the spear of the Norse god Odin, Gungnir, Gáe Bulg is a spear that is expected to kill any opponent once thrown; though the legend only says that the spear will fill the target’s body with barbs. An opponent unaffected by gross physical harm – such as Nightmare Moon – would probably be fine even after being struck with it.”

Talking about her special subject seemed to inject life into game-show-contestant Index, who straightened up. She turned to face her partner. “Speaking of which, could you explain how she got up next to us to throw Touma at me? I didn’t sense any magic at all!”

“That’s because it wasn’t magic.” Celestia answered. “Or at least, not new magic. Luna’s trick was to hide herself inside her Nightmare Mist, and then simply walk over to you. By gradually fading the mist in, and by keeping the points of light inside it stationary, she could create a visual illusion that nothing was moving. It’s a very effective trick for moving around magic-sensitive opponents unnoticed.”

“I see, I see.” Index nodded. “So what’s next?”

“Next is… oh my. Somepony summoned χάος last night?”

“What?!” Index yelped. “χάος is the Greek titan that represents primordial void. Who on earth was summoning him?! Even minuscule amounts of his power can erase anything from mortal existence!”

“I don’t know – it happened before I arrived. Oh dear, I hope nopony was hurt…”

“Could it have been that darkness-obsessed sister of yours?”

“No, Luna doesn’t know how to cast that kind of spells. Even at her most violent, she’s never needed more than her Nightmare Mist, her minions, and the ability to twist dreams into nightmares.”

“Nightmares, huh?” Index tilted her head. “That sounds really easy to counter – just invoke the protection of Asibikaashi.”

“Hm? Oh yes, the spider woman.” Celestia said, with a far-away look in her eyes that made Index wonder if Celestia was remembering a personal encounter. “She spins a magical web that catches all bad dreams and causes them to evaporate in the morning sun. However, her people grew so numerous that she couldn’t possibly spin webs for them all, so she taught them how to spin the webs themselves.” Celestia’s eyes refocused, and she showed a mischievous smile. “You can find cheap knock-offs of these magical webs sold in Buffalo souvenir shops as ‘Dreamcatchers’.”

Index leaned over and picked up the checklist Celestia had been reading off. “Next, they want us to talk about… ‘Sodom and Gomorrah’?! What?!” Index clenched her hands, crumpling the paper between then. “That’s a miracle-class spell designed to obliterate cities to the point where historians cannot be sure that the cities ever existed at all, turning all witnesses into pillars of salt! Even a full Gregorian Choir doesn’t generate anywhere near enough power for that! What went on while I was sleeping to cause THAT spell to come up?!”

Celestia, who had been present for the casting of that spell, debated for a moment on enlightening Index as to who had tried to obliterate Academy City. She hesitated for slightly too long, however, and Index continued talking.

“The Joshua 10:12 spell?! That’s another miracle-class spell! Those spells emulate an action taken by the Lord Almighty, they’re not supposed to be castable by anyone who isn’t omnipotent!” Index flung the checklist off to one side, and leaned out over her podium. “The spell literally holds the rest of the universe still so that the caster can finish off their opponent! Once cast, its a spell of guaranteed victory!”

Index’s breathing was heavy as she finished yelling, and her eyes were wide.

Celestia stared at her partner, worry clear on her muzzle. A moment passed in complete silence.

Then Celestia smiled. “Well, there’s no point worrying about it now, is there?”

“…eh?”

“Well, what I mean is, however it happened, we won. Luna came back to us, and you escaped your pursuers. Given that, does it really matter who cast what spells?”

Index eyed the ancient alicorn for a moment. “…were you the one who cast those spells?”

“Oh goodness no.” Celestia shuddered. “I’ve seen what happens to ponies who mess around with time magic.”

Index looked like she was about to question her further, but Celestia used her telekinesis to retrieve the checklist telekinetically, and quickly look down the list. “Only one item left, Index. ‘Who or what is Skinfaxi’?”

Index continued to eye Celestia with suspicion, but explained anyway. “Skinfaxi is the horse of Norse mythology who pulls the day across the sky and lights up the sky and earth with his mane. His brother, Hrímfaxi, pulls the night.”

“Oh.” Celestia smiled. “I wondered why he sounded familiar.”

“Now then.” The princess leaned towards the audience. “Any questions?”

“Yeah.” Said Misaka, sitting in the front row. “Why are we talking about magic like it’s a real thing?”

“And what the heck are these things?” Rainbow Dash said from the next seat over, pointing a hoof each at Index and Misaka.

“See you next time, everypony!”

“No, wait! Don’t end the –”