"... At that point, Pharynx recommended we head back to you."
"I see." Thorax smiled. "So from here on out, any information is new to your friends as well."
"Good thing," Gallus said nervously. "I kinda spaced out there."
Everyone stared at Gallus.
"Really, dude?"
Thorax coughed. "Moooooving on. What is the reasoning behind the other power and personality choices?"
Ocellus cleared her throat before beginning. "The reasoning is as follows. 'The power over wind belongs to the leader of the team. With it, the leader can always have an aerial view of the fight and can sense motion allowing them, giving them a better perception of anything around them. They can then relay this information and make decisions for their teammates.'"
Sandbar rubbed the back of his head. "Haven't had much of a chance to do that."
"'Earth is purely power, so it belongs to the strong, who can let others think for them. Similarly, Fire belongs to the confident because they will always be ready to fight, and, when used right, there are few situations that fire is completely useless in.' Basically, those two are obvious choices, possibly leftovers."
Smolder pointed her thumb at Yona. "You mean that thing that she never has?"
Yona patted her stomach. "Yak need LOTS of nutrition!"
Ocellus giggled, then went back to the book. "Continuing on. 'Ice is able to form barriers more efficiently and much farther than other powers and displays the fastest and best ability to regenerate. These traits make it more suitable for those that would take more injuries and defend others. Therefore, Ice goes to the protective types.'"
Thorax put his hoof to his mouth but remained quiet.
"Here's the first of the interesting ones. 'While it is known that loyalty gets its own power, it's very unclear what that power is. However, the last one that had this power was stated to use it to take down armies in one fell swoop. Knowing this, it can be deduced that they don't want anyone to know or replicate this power.' Meaning we have no idea what this power is."
Gallus put his claw to his head. "Which sucks for me, since we all agreed that I'm the one that has it."
"It's good for your enemies," Pharynx decided to state. "Then again, I doubt any of you would make an enemy out of anyone that isn't bad."
Ocellus cleared her throat. "If I may continue. 'Water can be used to heal others, and personality is determined by "humors", or fluids in the brain, which those with water control can manipulate. Due to these factors, water goes to those that are empathic'... Which means they understand other's emotions."
The students and Rainbow all turned to Silver.
Silver looked uncomfortable. "What?"
Sandbar rubbed his head. "Well, no offense, but that doesn't exactly describe you. If anything, you tend to be... well..."
"Oblivious," Ocellus said bluntly.
"Oh, come on." Silver waved her claw, wearing a seemingly forced smile. "It's not that bad."
Rainbow looked away. "Yeah, there are times where you just don't seem to get what's going on."
"I just..." Silver stepped back, her smile waning. "I..."
"I-it might just be that we're missing something," Smolder suggested, looking unsure of herself. "I mean, some higher being or whatever chose you to-"
"You don't believe that." Silver was glaring at Smolder, as her legs turned to water, though holding their shape. "You... None of you think it fits me." Tears welled up in her eyes as more of her body was turning to water. "I'm trying to get better, but... but..."
"SILVER!" Gallus shot over to her, quickly grabbing the now Hippogriff-shaped blob of water into a hug. "Hey, hey. It's okay. It's okay." He started running his claw through the part of her that was her mane. "Even if we don't think you're empathic, there are still plenty of good things about you. Heck, even looking at our fight against Professor Applejack, you did a lot more than the rest of us in either fight." He suddenly found himself running his claws through actual hair instead of water. "You matter. Don't forget that."
Silver, now resembling a Hippogriff again, wrapped her legs around him. "Gallus... thank you." Tears were streaming down her cheeks. The two half-birds then had a psychic conversation, but none of their friends dared to eavesdrop, allowing them privacy in a full room.
"Wait." Yona's face went from happy to confused. "Did Ocellus mention water and empathy when we first get book?"
Smolder shrugged. "She did, but we were focused on Gallus at the time."
A short while later, Silver and Gallus broke off their hug. Silver wiped the tears from her eyes. "Sorry about that. I guess I'm still sensitive about that after what Terramar said."
"If it helps," Thorax spoke up, "Those sorts of traits aren't absolutely defined, in spite of what some might think. For example, when we think of confidence, we think of self-confidence, but it could also mean confidence in others. Similarly, strength of body and strength of mind are different, but those with either are considered strong regardless. When we think of someone empathic, we think of the calm, collected types, like a therapist. All empathic means, however, is that they understand other's emotions. Therefore, it is wrong to assume someone cannot be empathic simply because they aren't calm."
Ocellus couldn't hold back a smile. "That, your highness, is why you're a much better ruler than Chrysalis was."
Thorax blushed. "Y-yeah. Let's hope we don't see her again."
Ocellus flipped through her book. "Where was I?... Right! This is the other interesting one. 'Electricity belongs to the creative types, but anyone that knows why was very tight-lipped about it. Apparently, they either don't know why, or they do know but don't want others to know. But it appears that the connection between power and personality is unknown.'"
"Come to think of it," Rainbow said, "Wouldn't electricity have been useless back then? They didn't have many of the things we use electricity for these days, so it would have been a weapon at best."
"It... sure is." Ocellus was able to think of one thing that always used electrical signals. "Anyway, both color and magnetism got short blurbs. 'Color went to the cautious, who are considered cowards. Magnetism went to the mechanical, who could use it to create machines.'"
"Wow. That's informative," Gallus said sarcastically. It did get a giggle out of Silver, though.
Thorax smiled and raised a knowing eyebrow. "Did you put your power off as long as possible on purpose?"
Ocellus blushed and rubbed her head. "Maybe. 'Wood is granted to the intelligent, as they are the most likely to understand how to use some of the finer aspects of their power. For example, using specific flowers to trigger specific assists or illnesses.' Basically, they're smart, so they automatically know everything about botany."
Sandbar smirked. "That means you're going to study botany now, right?"
"Exactly!" Ocellus smiled, hopped up, floated for a second, then landed.
Rainbow chuckled. "I'll let Fluttershy know. She'll be happy to help you with that."
"I couldn't help but notice something." Thorax looked right at the book. "It seems that the personality that could make the most use out of each power is given that power, as opposed to the personality that best matches the power."
"For example," Sandbar said, "Rather than give water, which has healing abilities, to someone who's calm and 'goes with the flow', whatever gave us our powers gave it to the one most likely to use its healing abilities."
"Oh! Oh!" Silver was waving her claw like she wanted to answer a question in class. "Or Wind going to someone likely to use it to get information and spread it."
Rainbow rubbed her head. "But I haven't seen Sandbar fly."
Sandbar floated up using his power, smiling right at his teacher.
"Woah." Rainbow was definitely shocked. "Need a teacher?"
"There's a good reason I haven't been flying much." Sandbar touched down softly. "But I can see why you like flying so much. I wish I could just use my powers without fear."
"If it helps, I don't have a problem with you using your powers here." Thorax gave the children a smile. "If you ever want to just use your powers for no reason, you're more than welcome to come by. We won't tell Celestia."
"I'm pretty sure Aunt Novo feels the same way," Silver spoke up, "So we can go to Mount Aris if we can't come here."
Smolder shrugged. "Though the hive is closer to the school."
Ocellus smiled, then bowed to Thorax. "Thank you, your highness. This visit was useful and informative."
"Of course. If you ever need help, don't be afraid to ask."
They looked at the king's image through the mirror. "So I was right. They are the White Cursed."
They closed the case the small mirror was in, put it in the top drawer of their desk, then brought out an isomorphic lock-box. Most creatures would not be able to open the box, but the owner of it could with ease. And for good reason.
They pulled a folder out of the box and removed the six pages inside. Each one depicted one of the students, and had information the School of Friendship had... and information it wasn't supposed to have.
They pulled out a quill and wrote on each of the files.
"White Cursed: Air. The leader of the team. May face issues with the more rebellious members."
"White Cursed: Fire. Closest to dying in both incidents, though that's not saying much."
"White Cursed: Water. Prone to bouts of sorrow, in spite of her usual cheer. May be caused by her powers."
"White Cursed: Earth. Liable to rushing headfirst into danger without thinking. Shown high luck during incidents."
"White Cursed: Wood. Brilliant, but fragile. Needs protection, but seems averse to receiving it."
They looked at the sixth file. They wrote "White Cursed", but stopped. "Gallus... You are loyal. Maybe as loyal as Rainbow Dash herself. In spite of that, or perhaps even because of that, I fear what will happen..." They wrote down the next five letters, then made them vanish. "... if you learn the truth."
"Direct attacker, but capable of distracting opponents. Most dangerous without powers."
"The six of you..." They put the papers back in the folder. "... are capable fighters." They put the folder in the box. "Even so..." They closed the box. "... I have to wonder..." They put the box in its hiding spot. "... what will happen..." They stood up and walked up to the window. "... if your opponent is too strong."
They watched a number of ponies, some playing, some talking, some trying to get somewhere else, but all living without a worry. "There are many lives out there, but yours... yours are unarguably more valuable than many may think, and for more reasons than many others may know." They sighed. "Please live. For your own sake... and for mine."
"Sandbar! Are you here?" Smolder scratched her head. The students split up for the last couple hours of the field trip, but it was time to go back... Except Sandbar hadn't shown up at the front door. "Sandbar!" She pushed open a door.
"Yeah, that was me."
Smolder froze up. That was Sandbar's voice, but what did he mean by-
"I was afraid of that." That voice was... King Thorax? "You've been surprisingly calm, considering this is where-"
"It's because of her. What she did... I can't forget it."
Can't forget what? Smolder wanted to look but was worried she would get caught.
"Is that why you feel the way you do?"
"Yeah. I'll talk to her about it, but... I'll need some time, though. I don't want to be too sudden about what I'm going to tell her."
Smolder's eyes went wide. Is he talking about Ocellus?
Yes, I am. "I think my friends are looking for me. It should be time for us to go."
"Ah, right. Thank you for visiting. Come back any time."
Sandbar opened the door to an embarrassed looking Smolder. "That's what happens if you don't watch your thoughts."
Smolder scratched her cheek. "... Yeah. I'll keep that in mind. Uh... I won't tell anyone."
Sandbar's smile was disturbing. "You'd better not."
Thorax watched the students leave. "If our oracle was right... you may want to say it soon."