//------------------------------// // Discard Two // Story: Thirst for Knowledge // by Doug Graves //------------------------------// The school reminded me of home, with dozens of faces of every color milling about in their cliques. The primary difference, of course, being the variety of shapes: there were six distinct kinds of creatures that I passed in one hallway alone! A plated rootwalla; a fledgling griffin; a razor taloned hippogryph; an earth-origin yak; a morphling, given how her shape changed at will; and an ordinary pony. I wanted to further catalog each one, if only to sate my curious obsession. Alas, time spiraled ever onward, and I had an ongoing investigation to conduct.  We arrived at the library in short order. It was smaller than I expected for a school with such an enlightened patron wizard, though I appreciated the entirely normal armchairs filled by ponies studying. I couldn’t help but notice the multitude of heads turning to regard us, the endless whispers, and the six daring apprentices from before doing a poor job concealing their shadowing.  We passed row after row of suspicious bookcases stacked to the ceiling with thick cartouches containing every topic under the sun. Cartography, history, ancient artifacts, thaumatics, each topic more engrossing than the last! Sadly, my compulsive search was delayed again as Rarity baited me inside a private study room with a spellbook like I was some sort of libratog, my instilled furor at scouring through my first tome impossible to contain. The room was spacious enough, with chairless desks forming neat, orderly lines. Amply supplied chalkboards ringed windowless walls. With an idle thought I conjured paper and pencil, the tip sharp enough to pierce through the apprentice level book. I eagerly stood in the front row, more than ready to pick the unicorn’s brain and leave the book devouring for later.  The door closed with a soft click as Rarity hummed to herself, tidying up the corners. I half expected her to slap the erasers together to the beat of some imagined tune. Once everything was in place she gracefully spun to the front of the room and half-stated, half-sang,  “The more you know how things are done,  The better equipped you’ll be. There’s more to learn than shocks and stuns. And there’s no better teacher than me~e~e! Rarity! And once you learn the pony way  you’ll start to fi~i~it right in!” “I was hoping to learn more about this,” I interrupted what was likely a two minute song as I held up the book. My horn thrummed, whirling my pencil like a dervish. It blew her purple mane back, cheeks puffing out comically. “And other such magics.” It took a considerable amount of concentration, more than I was able to keep up without respite. Even so, I was amazed at my ability; was this the apex of my power, attained without effort? I refused to believe so. What potential might be achieved by combining knowledge and power? “Why am I not surprised,” Rarity deadpanned as her mane flickered back into place. She sighed as she strode to the chalkboard, then stopped and stared for a moment. “And while my training might not be as formal as, say, Twilight’s, or even Trixie’s, I am familiar with the basics.” She inspected the colors of chalk in front of her, leaving all the browns and greens untouched. I gave what I hoped was an encouraging smile. I had more than my share of instructors whom I surpassed, and it would be no fault of her own if that was the case yet again. “Magic,” she began as six different colors of chalk simultaneously levitated to the chalkboard behind her, “also known as Thaumatics, is divided into six categories. Each is named after an Element of Harmony. They are rough separations, and it is not uncommon for a particular spell to twine two together.” A grim reminder. If these Elements of Harmony were the same ones Daydream Shimmer tapped just before she defeated me? It would behoove me to learn all that I could. “Honesty-” orange chalk scrawled an apple underneath the word in the top right of the board “-deals with information. Observation, such as scrying. Distribution, spells that send or receive information. Verification, or truth detection.” My expressive ears pricked at the last one, given my… constraints. Was it like this for each aspect of magic? She continued before I could comment on how trusting these ponies were. Perhaps it was a test, to see if there was some angry, wrathful falcon gorging its brains out and they might tempt it out from under the floorboards with an enticing lure. Like… a spellbook. “I, myself, am an Honesty specialist. My cutie mark,” Rarity motioned to the three glowing gemstones on her flank, “relates to gem detection. Most Honesty spells tend to come easily to me.”  My own ‘cutie mark’ was an eight pointed magenta star, different from the six pointed white and magenta stars I observed on Twilight Sparkle. Did it have some special significance, having to do with magic? A thick orange line separated what she had just written from a hollow outline of an apple. “The converse of Honesty is Deceit and deals with spells that conceal, illusions, and cryptics.” “Deceit is not seen as evil?” I asked neutrally, carefully considering everything she said. Her muzzle pulled tight. “Not as such,” she hedged, scrutinizing me carefully. “Though specialists in that area are often regarded with more suspicion than others.” Suspicion? That’s it? I scoffed internally as I nodded along, brain already storming through possibilities. This broad overview barely scratched the surface! Only an exhaustive search might sift through and reveal the unexpected potentials. “Generosity,” she continued as purple chalk drew a single diamond, similar to her flank, on the bottom right of the board, “focuses on external energy. It is the field most associated with pegasi due to their command of storms and lightning. The converse, Greed, focuses on internal changes. Earth pony magic and healing magics are often considered Greed magic, despite generally being cast on others, as are growth spells.”  I silently observed, focusing on how Rarity effortlessly moved the chalk around. While the motions came easily I couldn’t help but delve deeper, trying to figure out the underpinnings. Honesty and Deceit shared a theme; I had a harder time drawing the connection between Generosity and Greed, other than a naming convention. ‘Energy’ seemed like too generic a term. Perhaps their magic, their ‘energy’, was as malleable as a physical organ? I flipped the first page, my notes already full of speculation.  There was a strange feeling bubbling inside me. I could not tell if it was a byproduct of the magic infused within or merely an inclination to reciprocate… generously towards my benefactors. Principal Cinch had to cajole me into joining their Friendship Games, but here?  The door opened abruptly, my implement of improvement snapping to a standstill. A medium blue unicorn stallion with a two tone gray and white mane forced his way between the yak and hippogryph to get inside. “Hello!” he greeted chipperly, shooting Rarity a fond smile.  “Hello,” Rarity returned demurely, a hoof batting back her mane. “You must have been in the area.” “Oh, yeah, been meaning to thank all’a y’all for what ya did for Hope Hollow. Happened to be in town when this started going blinky!” He motioned to his pulsing cutie mark of a yellow sun. For myself he reserved a cautious, if optimistic, grin. “Just came in today, did’ja?” “Yes,” I replied curtly. His cheer, while infectious, represented a gleaming barrier to learning I did not appreciate. Or would he help me sort fact from fiction? “And already needing a Friendship Lesson? You must be as welcome as a pack of parasprites at a Filly Guide bake sale!” He chuckled at his own joke, my unamused expression lost. “Oh, look at me fergettin’ ta introduce myself. Name’s Sunny Skies, mayor of Hope Hollow! Pleased’ta meet’cha!” He held his hoof up expectantly, grinning all the while. “Likewise,” I returned, uncomfortably bumping his hoof with my own after a moment’s hesitation. “Midnight Sparkle.” “Eerie,” he said as the reflection of my billowing mane danced in his eyes. His gaze rested on my necklace, and I had half a mind to remind him that my eyes were located a foot higher, if only to have said the phrase once in my life. “You sound just like her.” “We were just going over the categories of magic,” Rarity explained, motioning to the chalkboard. She gave him a soft smile, the slightest flick of her mane beckoning him toward her. “Oo! Ya got to Friendship yet?” Sunny Skies asked earnestly, a swift trot taking him to the board. “That’s what these fine fillies helped me with! Well, in a way.” “You had a problem with Friendship?” I asked, intrigued. Accumulated first-hoof knowledge of the primary subject in which I was interested? I supposed I could welcome him to the fold, as long as he did not prove a fleeting distraction. “Oh, yeah! Like you wouldn’t believe!” Sunny Skies chuckled self-deprecatingly. “You see, as the mayor of Hope Hollow, I was in charge of the Rainbow Festival, and we drew in ponies from all over! We were the happiest, friendliest town there ever was. Well, at least, until things started going downhill.” “What happened?” I asked as he faltered. “At first?” he continued, sighing to himself. He softly sang, a slow and entrancing melody,  “It never really seemed like much, when all it takes is a simple touch.  Lending a cup became a chore, no more chats with your neighbor.  Fences went up, we lost track; soon, there was no turning back.  Friendships faded, feelings were down. Soon, nopony had time for our town.” He ended with a solemn motion to Rarity, his head bowed, “The Rainbow Generator did a rope’s worth of pushin’.  Hopelessness stalked, a wolf set on ambushin’.  None noticed as colors faded, no more time to share.  We found an end to the Rainbow, hope turning to despair.” Rarity sang back, her tempo upbeat,  “Against the darkness, we had to fight!  Why just be black and white?  No need to hide all the colors inside!” They both joined together, harmonizing perfectly, “We’ll be living in color!” I pondered, as they devolved into fond chuckles and wiped tears, the implications of their lyrical tale. The loss of Friendship resulted in physical manifestations that they were unaware of? And the restoration of their Friendship likewise restored their color? A fascinating phenomenon, to say the least. What other manifold insights could be found? “Loyalty,” Rarity continued, trying to get back on track as red chalk drew a lightning bolt in the top center, “enhances or modifies attributes already present. Betrayal, or Disregarding, adds abilities not present. An example would be a cloud-walking spell that allows an earth pony or unicorn to, as the name suggests, walk on clouds.” I frowned as I tapped my pencil, poring over the pages. Disregarding didn’t sound negative at all! It seemed like a natural extension of magic, in fact, paradoxical as that sounds. What was the converse of Friendship? Hopelessness? Despair? Did I miss that part in the song? Or would I need to delve to reach these secrets they keep? “Kindness,” pink chalk drew a butterfly in the top left, “is all about the mind. Uplifting, cheer, mental restoration. Its converse, Malevolence, deals with changing a pony’s mental state, or altering egos. Enchantments.” Rarity’s eyes narrowed as she focused on me, impossible to misread her tone. “One of the more restricted areas of magic.” “Mm,” I grunted. I was no hypnotic siren beguiling wills, or Sunset Shimmer slaving minds. Except… I frowned at the abundance of ways to twist allegiances. Could you manipulate the masses in the same way? I made a mental note to privately research this perilous foray. It seemed a glaring weakness, if nothing else, one that should be tested if only to get a better idea of how to bolster their defenses. Rarity took another long look at me, like she sensed a portent of my betrayal, before she drew a blue balloon in the bottom left. “Laughter specializes in shields and other protective magic. Reality - Principal Starlight Glimmer’s specialty - dispels, dispenses, or otherwise disperses with magic.” Her harsh scrutiny intensified.  I completely disregarded it. Confidence and optimism were never my weak suits, nor was taking a hatchet to my own work. “And Friendship?” I asked, a surge of zeal entering my voice.  A spin to face the chalkboard failed to hide her grimace. Magenta etched a six pointed star in the center. “Teleportation, telekinesis, and other conjurations.” She motioned to my pencil. “And you seem to have a grasp on that already.” “If’n’ya couldn’t’a guessed, it’s my specialty, too!” Sunny Skies exclaimed giddily, blinding light reflecting off his teeth. I inspected my pencil, then my own mark. If Friendship was this Twilight’s specialty? A smirk crossed my muzzle. “Is it the most powerful of magics?” “Oh, ya! Definitely!” Sunny Skies gave Rarity an apologetic grin, the corners of his muzzle pulling tight. “Not that the others aren’t important!” “I would have said,” Rarity returned, her voice hard but not derisive, “that it is only when all the Elements of Harmony work together that they are the strongest.” A hoof scratched at my chin as I studied the chalkboard. Each Element, working together? Yes, strength of unity might cover the weaknesses of the other, working together toward a common cause. “And what is the opposite of Friendship?” I glanced down at my notes. “Hatred?” “Not as such,” Rarity explained uneasily. “That would be more Greed, or Malevolence, depending on the reasons behind it.”  “Like a Wendigo,” Sunny Skies supplied. At my twist of head he continued, “They’re creatures.” He paused as if the word meant something descriptive. I kept staring. “Born of cold and hate, and they appear when ponies’ hearts are filled with the same.” Rarity glanced at me curiously, head cocking to the side just slightly as if she was trying to peer into my soul. “Is there somepony, or something, that you hate?” “N…” I started, frowning as my muzzle clamped shut all on its own. Did I hate Sunset Shimmer for what she had nearly done? I did not think so; there must be something else. I carefully considered my next words. “I am a scientist,” I stated neutrally. “If there is anything I hate, it is ignorance.” I motioned to the board, my heart swelling with ardor. “I wish to learn more of Friendship!” My mind reeled, like a weird vampire driven mad by the scent of blood. I had to know! As if my very existence was owed to this obsession, a choice made not during some psychotic episode but from a true desire, one I would not let slip from my grasp! “And, if anything, prove that Friendship is the greatest power in existence!” “Prove?” Rarity asked, her eyebrows raising. “How would one prove that Friendship is more powerful than Apathy?” She glances back at her board. “Or any of the other Elements?” Apathy? The opposite of caring about something was not caring? Understandable, if trite.  Unbidden, my mind began drawing connections between the Elements: Honesty to Kindness, to Generosity, to Loyalty, to Laughter, back to Honesty, surrounding and encapsulating Friendship with every connection. “Especially because we saw that happen in Hope Hollow,” Sunny Skies added. “Hardly a rigorous test,” I countered, shaking my head and clearing the equations from my mind’s eye. “A true scientist sets her hypothesis against the strongest arguments she can. And it is meaningless unless it can withstand repeated evaluations.” “Like when Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow attacked all of Equestria?” Rarity deadpanned, her already long face stretching to the longest pout I had ever seen. Like a stroke of genius it struck me, a malevolent whisper that might prove the perfect opportunity.  “Black!” Rarity shouted, her horn flaring. Her attempt to anchor me to reality was turned to dust, and she was fortunate her flesh did not follow. She hunkered down, her thoughts dampened, and shrieked, “Code black!” as reinforcements forced the door open. I barely even registered how I had quashed her attempt to imprison me, and I surely did not wish to allow a repeat performance. With a thought I brought myself to Twilight’s throne room, slipping through mystic barriers as if they were designed for me. I stood before the circular map. I could feel the power coursing through it, connecting each and every pony. I scoured my mind; I needed something potent, yet not so egregious that anypony might fight it. A wicked smirk crossed my muzzle as my horn lit, casting the entire room into a deep magenta. I had listened to them too many times, these words of power, that I recited from memory. I let the echoes in the otherwise empty room wash over me, a solemn simulacrum of the Rainboom’s performance. “Don’t need to hear a crowd, Cheering out my name.  I didn’t come here seeking  infamy or fame. The one and only thing, That I am here to bring Is music, is the music, Is the music in my soul! Let it break out!” I slammed my hooves into the table with an earth-shaking Kaboom! The castle shook, the trinkets above swaying ominously. Six colors of magic entwined together before their essence drained into a colorless gray. “It’s coming,” I muttered. It plunged into the map, spiderwebs of darkness withering every corner. I could feel the magic already taking hold, and yet… I couldn’t seem to care. “What have you doing?” shouted Rarity from the entryway. Sunny Skies slunk behind her, aghast. She kept in front of him protectively. Twilight Sparkle hovered above, eyes wide and shining white, mouth gaping.  “Did you see the elegance?” I motioned towards the once prismatic strands. “Deceit, not meant what you say. Greed, affecting yourself. Disregarding, an ability not present. Malevolence, a mental effect. And Reality, will bypass any defenses.” I grinned. “And Apathy.” “Really?” Rarity said, frowning. “I will not feel any different.” Her frown deepened, pulling at the corners of her muzzle as she inspected her body. “Do you had any idea what you will do?” Twilight demanded, gritting her teeth. She shook her head, as if that might shake the enchantment laid upon her. “It will falsify my hypothesis,” I said, enthralled by my creation. “And we learn if Friendship truly will be the most powerful magic.” “But your spell!” Twilight shouted, snarling. “Nopony uses the intended tenses!” She stamped a hoof, her horn flaring. “I can’t spoke right!” I could see the steam jets preparing to blast from her ears while she pawed at her eyelids. “Of all the times to start Twilighted,” Rarity muttered. “You can’t even said ‘will Twilight!’ correctly!” Twilight snapped. She took a deep breath, eyes closed yet still fuming. “I gone to the Princesses!” She grit her teeth before trying again, “I go to the Princesses!” Before correcting herself a second time her horn flared a bright magenta and she disappeared with a flash. “Honestly?” Sunny Skies said cautiously, slowly coming out from behind Rarity. He raised a hoof, his medium blue slightly grayer. “It don’t seem that bad.”