//------------------------------// // Entrance Exam // Story: Twilight's School for Gifted Unicorns // by Crimson_Moon //------------------------------// Shortly after being shown the way to the entrance exams, Celestia finally stood before the main entrance, jaw dropped in awe. Aside the entrance stood two marble statues of famous ponies from long ago: Trixie Lulamoon the Great and Powerful was on the left, her famous hat and cape donned on and her expression as confident as ever. On the right was an even older statue of a pony she didn't recognize. Approaching closer, the unicorn read the plaque aloud. "Starswirl the... Bearded? Who's that, Daddy?" Scratching his chin, Solar Blaze concentrated on the statue, trying to remember who it was from history. The pony, like Trixie, had on a hat and cape, though his were less flashy, and his expression was stoic. Looking at the beard, he suddenly remembered. "That's right! This here is Starswirl the Bearded, but you probably know him by a different name: Beardy the Lesser." "Oh yeah! He was Trixie's great-great grandpa, wasn't he?" She asked. "Yes, and she didn't like how his name put her accomplishments in his shadow, so she gave him a silly name like Beardy the Lesser. Legend goes that Princess Twilight laughed so hard she couldn't stop crying for at least 3 days!" "That's a long time!" Celestia giggled. "Yes, but I also heard and read that he was the one who taught her how to use magic." He looked back at the statue with the same look of awe her daughter now had. "In fact, he was the very first Dean for TGSU." "Wow..." Her eyes sparkled with wonder. To think somepony as silly as Beardy-Starswirl she corrected- was Princess Twilight's teacher! Suddenly, they both heard the ringing of Canterlot Palace's bell chimes. If they didn't hurry inside, they would miss their chance for the exam! "Quick, hop on my back Celly! I'll get you there!" Doing as instructed, she held on tight as her dad rushed through the halls dodging ponies left and right. Ducking and weaving, Solar Blaze galloped to the doors of the exam room, and right before they closed, he slid through last minute, stopping in his tracks. Hopping down, Celestia looked around the large circular room she was in. It looked like a lecture hall, with seats leading several rows above the doors now shut behind her. Curiously, the only ponies in the room, aside fromherself and her dad, were the usual examiners she recognized from previous years, as well as the mages the Princess must have hired sitting near the windows at the top. Aside from them sat an elderly pony behind the podium she didn't recognize, but the most noticeable, and the scariest individual that was in the room, was the massive purple dragon slumbering behind him. It was so large, it's spade tail wrapped around the entire room, it's green spikes glistening in the afternoon sun. "What is the meaning of this?!" The pony behind the podium all but shouted. "We're sorry, Mr...?" Blaze asked. "Silver Quill. And I will not tolerate outbursts such as this! We were expecting dignified ponies to show, not...not some rabble found on the streets! Why if it were up to me, I'd fail you right here and now for wasting my-" suddenly, the slumbering dragon's tail slammed down with a thundering BOOM, one of his slitted golden eyes boring into Silver Quill. Clearing his throat, he straightened his white and red lecturer's robe out as the dragon went back to sleep. "Greetings, and welcome to the magical test examinations for entry into Twilight's School for Gifted Unicorns. Today, we will have you perform a series of tests to prove your magical potential is worth our school's pedigree. Name?" "Celestia, and her father, Solar Blaze." he stated. "Solar Blaze, as in the same Solar Blaze that petitioned our Majesty for another chance, despite your previous Failings?" He uttered that last word with venom, making his intentions clear for the spiked unicorn. "Y-yes, that's correct, Dean Silver Quill." He said through gritted teeth. He remembered him now, this was the same pony that contested every petition to see the Princess. Every. Single. Time. Then, when he finally got an audience with Princess Twilight, he was there, discussing how dangerous it was to, quote, "let commoners into the dignified school." Much to Blaze's chagrin however, he was escorted out and they were to talk about his "less than noble attitude." "Very well. Since I am forced to endure this pointless test for a third time, your daughter may begin." Nodding to the pony on his left, the unicorn stood and approached, her blue robe disguising the cream colored coat and strawberry mane. "My name is Moondancer and I will administer, as well as grade, the first test." The elderly pony smiled behind her rimmed glasses down at the filly. "It's good to see you again, Celestia." "Good to see you too, Miss Moonie!" She giggled, smiling back. The Dean, clearing his throat annoyingly loudly, ushered Moondancer to continue. Rolling her eyes, she began to explain the rules of the first test. "Your first exam, Celestia, is to perform advanced levitation." Lighting her horn, the older pony conjured 3 magical weights, all weighing 100 pounds each. "Your goal is to simultaneously lift each of these magical weights, hold them for at least ten seconds, then release. Are you ready, Celestia?" "Yes ma'am!" The small filly smiled, her horn shimmering in a golden hue. Waiting for the signal, she manipulated the aura around the weights, ready to start the test. "Begin." Concentrating, the unicorn tried lifting the weights. Sweat pouring down her brows, she began to remember how this test went the first time: "All I have to do is lift them?" Celestia asked. "For how long?" At this time, she was only seven and didn't show much talent in magic yet. "Just for a few seconds, that's all." Moondancer, also known as Miss Moonie to magic kindergarten students, said. She was the first to recommend Celestia take the exam. "Just give it your best shot!" She smiled. At first, the white unicorn struggled, sweat pouring down her face. It started out as being very light, and Celestia smiled when it finally lifted from the ground. Then, the weight began to get heavier. Straining once more, she poured more magic into her horn, keeping the weight afloat. Once again, the weight was even heavier. Finally, having enough, Celestia growled and sent as much magic into her horn as possible. "No, wait!" Moondancer pleaded, but it was too late. Her horn crackling, the filly lifted the weight with ease and tossed it out the nearest window. However, her magic didnt dissipate. Instead it steadily grew and grew, eventually lifting her examiner as well as the entire building the exam took place in. Moondancer, being quick on her hooves, activated her magic and cast a dampening field around the filly's horn, cutting off her magic and putting her to sleep. Since then, the regulations regarding the Test of Levitation have changed, not interacting with the user's magic to test thaumaturgic strain, but instead was left up to the examiner's discretion. The building's foundation had to be replaced with anti-magic concrete to prevent further incidents. Coming back to reality, she heard the final seconds count down. "...2,1. Congratulations, Celestia! You did it." She smiled, clapping her hooves in a small applause. Some of the mages watching the exam even started to clap, until Quill bored his grey eyes into them. "Hmph, if it were still done the way it was the first time, she wouldn't have passed!" He grumbled. Summoning his own weight, the second part of this exam began. "This is a weight of my own making. Lift it." "Come on Silver Quill, you can't just-" Moondancer began, but was interrupted. "I'm the Dean here, not you!" He spat. "True, you are a certified Examiner, but I think you've spent too much time teaching at the Magic Kindergarten! You've grown soft." He gestured to the filly to lift it. Behind him, the dragon's eye was open again, but he refrained from putting the Dean back in line. Looking back at her dad, Celestia was unsure what to do. "It's alright, Celly! I'm here now, so don't worry." He smiled, putting her back into spirits. Just like the exam when she was seven, the weight was easy to lift, and just like back then, every time Celestia lifted it, the weight got heavier and heavier. This time, however, she was more in control of her magic. The weight kept increasing, and every time it did, she poured only enough magic to keep it suspended in the air. It still kept getting bigger and bigger, the mages setting up protective barriers in case the worst happened and there was a magical surge. One ton, two tons, three. Clutching her eyes shut, her whole body shook, sweat coming off of it in gallons. The weight was so big now, it had no more room to expand, and at this point, the purple dragon raised his head and, with a mighty breath, blew the brightest green fire she ever saw. Its magic fire fizzled out everypony's horns, shutting off the protective barriers as well as the weight Celestia lifted. Leaning down closer to Silver Quill, it bared its teeth and whispered something into his ear, sending a shiver up the Dean's spine. After it was done, the purple drake stretched its front claws and went back to sleep. "C-congratulations, y-you passed the first exam." He muttered, still shaking in his boots. Lighting his horn, he cast a rejuvinating spell on the worn out filly, revitalizing her and her magic reserves. "Congratulations, Celly! You did it!" Solar Blaze laughed heartily! Still out of breath, she gave a small chuckle back. "Thanks Daddy!" Nodding to the next Examiner, the Dean announced the next test this time. "The previous exam was to test your magical limits. This test is to test your creativity. Sunset Shimmer?" Lifting her hood, Sunset flicked her greying hair and conjured some reading glasses, her tired eyes and wrinkled body shaking slightly. "Your next test is to create a magical construct entirely unique. However, you can only have three things for you to enchant." Lighting her horn, the orange mare conjured a small pile of mechanical parts and random objects on a small cloth "You can use anything in this room. The timer is set for 2 minutes. Are you ready?" Nodding, Sunset continued. "Begin." Looking at the cloth, Celestia peered through the bits and pieces there to try and find a good enough body to start off with. Peering through the objects, she began to levitate one of the bigger sized items- a small wooden block, only for it to fall right through her magic. Trying again with another item produced the same effect. "One minute left." Sunset Shimmer announced. Panicking, the filly tried, and failed, to pick up any of the objects sitting in the cloth when she remembered something: Sunset said "Anything in this room." Quickly looking around for anything, she noticed one of the dragon's scales was loose. Trotting up to the sleeping drake, she tapped it on the shoulder. It's eye slowly opening up, it looked down at the mare. "Hmm? What is it, my little pony?" He rumbled deeply. Despite looking very menacing, the dragon sounded very friendly, much to Celestia's surprise. "Is it alright if I take your scale?" She pointed to the loose one on his arm. Looking down, he cocked his head curiously. "I don't see why not." Plucking it off, he gsve it to the filly. "Just make sure to use it wisely." Smiling, she nodded. Running back to the cloth, Celestia levitated the scale above the objects and fired a spell at it. Suddenly, the scale wobbled and shook with arcane energy, pulling in all the objects below it before erupting in a blinding light. "Time!" Sunset yelled, stopping the timer. Looking down, she gasped in shock. What stood before her was a perfect miniature replica doll of her that mimicked her movement. "H-how did you-" the elderly mare began, stopped by Celestia explaining. "Well, dragon's are magic, and the objects on the cloth didn't want to be picked up by magic, so I sent a spell to Mister Dragon's scale to make it do the work! I was just trying to draw you on it, but this is way better!" The filly giggled. She couldn't believe it. In all her years, Sunset Shimmer never saw somepony actually make a construct using the test materials! It was meant to test a filly's patience around magical objects. The timed aspect would pressure them into using advanced spellwork so she could see the range of spells they were capable of. This filly was on a whole other level, it seemed. "I-I... You passed. You're the first person to actually pass. Congratulations..." "Really?! Yay!" Celestia jumped up and down, excited she passed this one too. Just one more to go and she would be able to finally get in! Looking back at her dad, she ran and hugged him, crying tears of joy. "I did it, Daddy! I did it!" She giggled, the happiest 10 year old alive. Ushering the other two other, the Dean collaborated with them in hushed whispers, deciding what the final test would be. Breaking up, Silver Quill cleared his throat. "Miss Celestia, due to your results from the previous two exams, it is with great pain that I must announce we cannot go further with your Exam." He said stoically. "W-what?" She said, on the verge of tears. "WHY???" She huddled closer to her dad, trying to calm down. "Your two tests were designed just like they would be for any other filly. However, you were supposed to show certain things. The first was control-" he gestured to Moondancer, who approached with sad eyes. "The Weighted Levitation exam was designed to strain your magical reserves and have you set the weights down one at a time. The second part was to see how far you can go without pushing your body over the limit. I'm sorry, Celly..." She leaned down to the filly. "You would have passed, but-" she glared back at the Dean. "*sigh*, I dont have the final grade. He does." Standing back up, she stepped back to her place beside the podium. "The second test was designed to test your patience." Quill stated. Nodding to Sunset, she continued where he left off. "Look," she sighed. "In all my years teaching, I have never seen creativity like that done before. If it were up to me, I'd put you in advanced classes right now. However, Mister High and Mighty over there is being too much of a prude to let you go through with it. Call it Hubris, I guess. Sorry, kid." Stepping back to her side, the Dean continued. "Due to these circumstances, se must give you a FAILING gr-" "ENOUGH!" a voice echoed through the lecture hall louder than even the roar the dragon had earlier. Suddenly, in a terrifying cascade of purple and white light, Princess Twilight appeared behind him. She stood 3 heads taller than the tallest pony in the room, her wings stretching out regally. Scanning the room, her violet eyes and shimmering purple mane flowed addressed each and every pony with regality. "I apologize for the loudness of my arrival." She bowed. "P-princess! What are you doing here?!" Silver Quill asked, flabbergasted. "Setting you straight, Quill." She spoke with a stern tone. "I've been watching the entire exam through Spike." She ignited her horn in a purple aura, projecting a live feed from the dragon's eyes. "Care to explain why you're failing her?" "W-well, t-that is, um..." He stuttered, trying to find the right words. "Dean's office. Now." Was all she uttered before she teleported again. A few hours passed, each pony quietly eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich Moondancer prepared for all the exam attendees this year, when Dean Silver Quill reappeared alongside Princess Twilight. Clearing his throat, he approached the podium and began to speak. "Through careful...deliberation between the princess and I..." He stared up at the princess in question, only to receive a scowl in return. "The princess and I have decided to let Celestia take the final exam." Lighting his horn, he teleported a small fiery egg to the center of the room on a small purple pillow. "Your final test is to hatch this Phoenix egg." He stated. "Okay... What do I need to do?" She asked, looking at the ponies around for answers. "As with every filly entering this illustrious school, their final test is to hatch the egg of a magical creature; a tradition set by Princess Twilight since Spike the Dragon was hatched by Trixie the Great and Powerful." He looked back towards the slumbering dragon. "The object of this test is simple: you must exert your magical power using the knowledge from the first two tests, but since you bungled it up-" he said, receiving a whack on the back of his head from the Princess. "*ahem* knowing your magical limits from the first test, and using the patience learned from the second, you must hatch the egg using your magic. You may begin when ready." Still skeptical, Celestia stared back at her dad with a look of hesitation. "Go ahead, honey. I'm here with you." Gulping, she slowly approached the egg, her horn lighting up. Thinking on how to best hatch the egg, the filly began by levitating it and applying a heating spell. Suddenly, the egg began to wobble steadily. "You're doing great, Celly!" Her dad yelled. "Keep going." Nodding her head, Celestia powered her horn with more magic, causing the first crack to appear on the egg. Panicking, she stopped her heating magic, thinking she was harming the egg. Seeing no other changes, the unicorn continued, this time with less power. Another crack appeared, when everypony heard it: the small chirping of a chick. There, among the cracks in the shell, sat a small beak poking out, greeting the world for the first time. Suddenly, the chirping began to get sporadic and weak. Panicking, Celestia increased the heat tenfold until, suddenly, the egg burst into flame. Silver Quill panicking, began to approach and dampen her magic when he was stopped by Princess Twilight's hoof. Looking on at the spectacle, the egg burned away until all that stood in Celestia's telikinetic field lay a small chick, chirping happily at the filly before it. "D-did I do it?" She asked, out of breath. Stepping down from beside the podium, the Princess approached. "Yes, you did it, my little pony." She smiled down at the small filly. "Congratulations, you passed the test!" A roar of cheers erupted through the exam room, Celestia jumping for joy and Solar Blaze crying tears of joy. "However," the Princess began, ending the celebration early. "You may not enter my school in the traditional sense." "What do you mean?" Celestia asked. "Well," Princess Twilight sighed. "After counseling with Dean Silver Quill, we both came to an arrangement." She smiled once more. "Due to your enormous magical potential presented in the exams, you may still attend the regular curriculum for fillies as ordained by the Board of Education, but all magical lessons will be taught by me personally." Once again, everypony cheered and even Princess Twilight and Silver Quill, reluctantly, clapped their hooves in celebration. This year, she finally did it, and what's more? She was to be taught by her idol, her royal majesty of Equestria, Princess Twilight Sparkle! This year, she was going to have the best classes ever! Solar Blaze chuckled, finally realizing why his daughter was given special care: Celestia was too powerful for traditional teaching.