Serenity’s Tale – Chapter 2: From the Reservoir to the River
Tranquility, Serenity and Equilibrium strolled across Nocturne towards Ether’s School of Magic and Traditional Arts. The warm spring breeze tickled their fur as the morning sun slowly ascended into the sky. Serenity glanced across the street at the dozens of Unicorns in the plaza as they used their magic to raise the sun.
“How come so many ponies come out to raise the sun?”
The black and white stallion stopped and turned his attention to the Unicorns.
“Ah, yes. I never explained that to you, did I? You see, raising and lowering the sun and moon are difficult tasks. They require a large amount of magic—much more magic than what any single Unicorn possesses.”
Equilibrium pointed to a rock sitting on the side of the road.
“Levitate that rock as high as you can, Serenity.”
“Yes, father.” I’m okay at levitation, but I’ve never lifted anything too high before.
Serenity’s horn glowed bluish white as she concentrated her magic on the rock. Her magic aura surrounded the stone and it slowly rose into the air. After it reached fight feet into the air, Serenity felt her telekinetic grip on it get unstable and stopped its ascent.
“I-I can’t raise it any higher, father. I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize, Serenity. Everypony has their limits and this is one of yours. Tranquility, now you start levitating it from where your sister left off. Serenity, keep your magic flowing on the stone.”
Tranquility covered the rock in her own magic and levitated it higher. Soon the rock was eleven feet in the air and rising.
“Whoa!” exclaimed Tranquility. “I could never lift anything this high!”
The rock was then enveloped in a medium gray aura and levitated until it was far out of sight.
“Alone, no. But with the help of others, there’s no limit to what each of you can do.”
Serenity looked up at the sky through Nocturne’s translucent black barrier. She searched for the stone still in their shared magical grip. Equilibrium lowered the stone back to the ground and resumed walking, his daughters following behind him.
“It’s not that I don’t have time to teach you personally, Serenity.”
Serenity’s ears twitched as surprise and puzzlement filled her eyes.
“You mean you’re not too busy? Then why won’t you teach me, father?”
Tranquility gave her a scolding nudge.
“You’re not supposed to ask adults why, Serenity.”
Serenity shot Tranquility an annoyed glare and held her gaze intently.
“Actually, it’s good to ask questions,” stated Equilibrium. “Especially ‘why’, ‘what’ and ‘how’. However, you must not ask questions to be rebellious.”
“What does “rebellious” mean?”
“It means being disobedient and not listening to anypony,” answered Tranquility.
Equilibrium came to a stop as they reached the school’s front gate. Tranquility bade farewell to him and entered the school. Serenity, on the other hand, stayed behind with Equilibrium.
“Do I really have to go, father?”
Equilibrium gazed down at the white and blue filly with his usual stoic expression. She really is set on being homeschooled, he thought. This could be a problem for her social development. If I give her a choice, she’ll certainly opt for learning from home. However, if I just shut her down without explaining the significance of this matter, she won’t understand its importance.
“Are you going to come in or not, young filly?” asked the headmistress. The older mare tapped a rear hoof impatiently as her icy blue eyes locked onto Serenity.
“Just give us a moment, Headmistress Winter Gaze,” replied Equilibrium.
“Hmph. See to it that you hurry. Punctuality is expected of all students—even if they are not yet enrolled.”
Winter Gaze went into the school building, leaving the father and daughter alone.
“You can teach me at home, can’t you father?”
“Yes I can, Serenity. Truthfully, I would be more than happy to homeschool you myself.”
Serenity’s face lit up with joy and she clapped her hooves.
“Yes! Thank you so much, father! I can’t wait to tell Tranquility so she can join me! She can be homeschooled with me, can’t she?”
“Tranquility is happy learning at Ether’s School. She would not be interested in being homeschooled. Also, even though I said that I wouldn’t mind teaching you personally, I am going to have you learn at Ether’s as well.”
Serenity’s heart dropped into her stomach and a disappointed pout formed on her face.
Why would father telling me that if he was just going to send me to school anyway?
She sniffled as hot tears blurred her vision. For several moments, Serenity remained silent and still as she burned the grass with an angry stare.
“Serenity, did you hear me?”
“Yes father, I heard you. But I don’t understand! You said that you have the time! You said you’d like to teach me, but you send me to school anyway! Why, father? Why won’t you homeschool me?”
Equilibrium’s brow furrowed into an intense glare.
“Do not raise your voice to me or any adult or authority figure,” he said with a stern tone. “It is disrespectful.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
Serenity’s ears flattened against her skull as she hung her head apologetically. Her father’s gaze returned to its previous neutral state and he cleared his throat.
“I am choosing not to homeschool you because I know that you wouldn’t willingly socialize or interact with other ponies if I did. That is why I’m having you in a public place of learning—so you can learn and grow alongside other foals.”
Serenity’s brow furrowed as she tried to grasp the importance of her father’s words.
“Nopony can make it in this world alone. Just as no single Unicorn can raise the sun.”
“Ohh, I think I get it now. I need other ponies to help me grow like plants need rain, sunlight and dirt.”
Equilibrium nodded. She has a basic understanding of socialization’s significance now. That’s a good start. “Exactly. I don’t expect you to make friends immediately, but I do expect you to put forth some sort of effort and talk to your peers.”
“Yes, father. I’ll try to talk to the other fillies and colts.”
Equilibrium shook his head as he walked towards the front door of the school.
“There is no such thing as trying, Serenity. You do not try, you do what you can. No matter how little or how much that is.”