//------------------------------// // Chapter 17 // Story: Defense in Depth // by Fon Shaolin //------------------------------// Sol Shard looked around the table. His student - former student, he had to remind himself - was at his right. Sunburst was looking much better, thank the sun, than when he’d first seen the young stallion in the hospital. His cast had come off with a little help from the chantry’s healing magic, even if Sunburst privately confided he was still sore. Next to him was the no-nonsense Serine Strauss, the nominal head of the Las Pegasus chantry, looking dour as usual. Sol Shard didn’t mind the unicorn’s attitude like he knew Sunburst did, and Sol Shard could even empathize with the magister. This was his chantry that had been taken over by Canterlot magisters, pegasi scouts, and one very onerous guard trainee. Sol Shard resolved to make it up to the other magister somehow. But it would have to be later. His eyes slid even further down the table. Magical projections of his fellow council members were mostly all present, taking the time to catch up as most of them were flung around the country - Master Flawless Prize was talking in low tones to Velvet Chaser, but Sol Shard distinctly heard them talking about meeting up next time Chaser was back in Canterlot (as if their dalliance wasn’t the most open secret in the magisterium); Solar Comet was quietly reading a book in his seat; Ivy Spice was talking to someone out of the range of the Crystal Empire transmitter, her words magically distorted; Dewdrop, Long Whistle, and Jade Jester were in a little clutch on the other side of the table, talking animatedly about some new magical theory, all in the same projection because they happened to be in Canterlot. And the last one, at the end of the table, facing Sol Shard, was the 12th Master Magister - Feldspar. The “stallion” with a secret only he knew on this council. It’s about time to get this started, Sol Shard thought. He cleared his throat and all the little side conversations faded. Although they were all technically on the same footing, Sol Shard was the first among equals. The overseer of the Magisterium, a position he’d held for nearly a century now. He’d built this organization from the ground up; even trained a few of the unicorns now giving him their attention. “Thank you all for making time for this meeting,” he started. “I know this isn’t our usual schedule, but events here in Las Pegasus have made it necessary to share some information.” Ivy Spice learned forward. “You mean your little monster hunt vacation turned into something serious?” Her eyes glittered and Sol Shard had to remember that when he was twenty years young he too found adventure something to jump at and the youngest master hadn’t gotten it all out of her system yet. “Are you asking for volunteers to come help? Because I volunteer! Baltimare is so boring.” Sol Shard snorted. “Nothing Master Strauss will not be able to help with, I’m sure,” he said, dipping his head to the chantry’s master. “Simply a necromancer. Though, granted, one of some talent. They created a helmed horror.” That went around the table like wildfire. Eyebrows ticked up on the most stoic of the unicorns and the others immediately fell into quick whispers. Sol Shard let them talk for a moment; a helmed horror was something far out of the reach of the typical black magic user crawling around Equestria. The last time a necromancer of that kind of talent had been sniffed out had been over forty years ago before some of the masters were even born. But eventually, the old unicorn tapped his hoof against the table and brought them all to heel. “As I said, nothing to be too excited about. The horror was dealt with by Sunburst and his former apprentice.” “‘Nothing to be excited about’, you say?” Eyes went to Solar Comet. He was an old stallion, nearly approaching Sol Shard’s years, and the second-longest serving member of the Master Council. And always, always willing to push the envelope if it could make Sol Shard look weak. Even over the magical connection, Sol Shard could see the smirk on his old rival’s lips. “I’ve heard that your apprentice was nearly killed,” he said, nodding to Sunburst (who Solar fully knew wasn’t an apprentice anymore, but a full master). “One of our top battlemages, Ivory Tower, also lost his leg to the demon, didn’t he? I’ve heard that the entire expedition was nearly a complete failure… if not for an outsider.” Eyes went back to Sol Shard and he mentally cursed whatever little spy Solar Comet had in the Las Pegasus chantry. If Sol Shard ever got his hooves on whoever it was....! “Hardly an ‘outsider’, Master Comet,” Feldspar interjected. His smiling face radiated calm. “I believe the master council remembers the unicorn I brought up several weeks ago? Twilight Sparkle?” One or two nods and mumbling, but Feldspar continued as if everyone had agreed. “If you need a refresher, it was the unicorn that passed all seven of the training rings installed at the Military Port of Entrance in Canterlot. The one that turned down my offer of a position in the Magisterium.” “The one I said we needed to watch,” Solar Comet grumbled. “The one that seemed too dangerous to just let loose on Equestria with no oversight.” “Just the one,” Feldspar said. “I recommended her to Master Sunburst as an auxiliary. Just to show her what she was missing in the Magisterium. I never expected her to end up like she did, though.” Sunburst laughed. He glanced at Sol Shard and received a nod to talk. “You and I both, Master Feldspar. Twilight Sparkle has incredible magical potential, probably the greatest I’ve seen outside of Sunset Shimmer. Maybe even greater raw power.” Across the table, Flawless Prize sputtered. “Surely not?” he said, looking around at the other masters. “I trained Sunset Shimmer for a few semesters of her education, and I can honestly say that outside of Princess Celestia she is the most gifted unicorn in Equestria. And you two are saying that this… this… Twilight Sparkle can rival her?” “Is it that unbelievable?” Sunburst countered. “According to Master Feldspar, she could cast inside of the seven dampening rings in Canterlot. No pony has been able to do that since they were installed.” “I assumed they were malfunctioning,” Flawless mumbled. “They weren’t. We had technicians check and double-check them,” Feldspar said. “Princess Celestia herself went to the Port of Entrance to test them. They are working just fine.” Solar Comet’s hoof came down on the table. “She’s powerful. We’ve established that,” he growled. “But what are we going to do about her? We can not let her wander Equestria, doing Celestia-knows-what. She must either join the Magisterium or be magically gelded.” Gasps erupted, and for very good reason. Magical gelding was the harshest punishment that the Magisterium could impose. For any unicorn, from a master in the magical arts to a simple shop worker, losing their horn was a nightmare. It couldn’t compare to losing a leg or losing an eye or an ear. It was losing the most fundamental part of being a unicorn. Cut from magic completely, the horn cropped right off at the skull. It was terrifying for any unicorn to even think about. “That’s too far!” Dewdrop erupted, with Ivy Spice and Long Whistle rising out of their chairs with her. “Master Comet, you are too quick to jump to the most severe of punishments! This unicorn’s only crime is existing!” She turned a furious look on Sol Shard. “I will not vote for this!” Sol Shard held up his hooves. “I’m not suggesting to magically geld her at all,” he said. But, he also sent a look at Solar Comet and Flawless Prize. “And I am not saying she should be left to her own devices.” Comet snorted. “This isn’t a television drama, Sol Shard. We are talking about the safety of Equestria. If there is even a chance that this Twilight Sparkle could tip the scales before our problem next spring we have to pull it up at the root.” He glared at Dewdrop and her section before slumping back into his chair. “Or cut it off at the root, as the case should be.” Whispers all around. Dewdrop was furious, as were Spice and Whistle, but the other Masters were talking to each other in low tones. Sol Shard would be lying if he ever said he didn’t consider it the first time he heard of Twilight Sparkle. The unicorn was an enigma, coming from a family of piddling magical abilities. Shining Armor had been considered by the Magisterium as being the shining star of House Sparkle and the sister was just a footnote. Literally, in her case - Twilight Sparkle. Sister. Failed Celestia School applicant. Sol Shard had read the report himself. But. But. She was so very powerful. More powerful than Sol Shard had been in his prime. More than any of the High Spire’s Masters, if he had to guess. Enormous talent. To cut that talent off before it could even begin to bloom… well, it was frankly too much of a waste. Feldspar caught Sol’s eye as the debate raged on around the table. The stallion looked attentive, as he always did during the meetings, but the High Magister could read the little messages on his face - Celestia’s face. It was time. He closed his eyes just in time to avoid the blinding flash of Celestia’s personal long-distance magical communication. Unlike the rest of the Magisterium, the princess didn’t need to use a messenger crystal, but the effects of her magic were much more disruptive. Ponies gasped, chairs rattled as some masters leaped up to defend themselves, but just as soon as the light cleared nearly everyone was bowing. Celestia’s horn extinguished. She looked out over the table and smiled. Even though Sol Shard knew that it was just a projection, Celestia’s magic filled him with a familiar warmth that he had once jealousy coveted. The casual use of power that others could only dream of… it was heady, and Sol Shard wagered Celestia made her spell as flashy as possible for just that reason. There was a dance to her interactions with the Master Council, and she began her script. “There is no need to bow, my little ponies,” Celestia said, her voice melodic and her slight chuckle like the chiming of a holiday bell. “I am the one intruding on all of you, after all.” “Please, Princess. You can never intrude in what you own,” Sol Shard said, falling into his role as well. Celestia gave him a warm smile. “I’ve been told in the past I’m very good at intruding, though,” she said, walking around the table, greeting each master by time. Even Feldspar, her own magical construct. How she did that was something not even Sol Shard could imagine. She took her place in front of the little attic windows. She sat, as regally as possible without a throne, and all the chairs turned to her. “You must all forgive me,” she said, “but I have been eavesdropping on Master Feldspar’s connection. I had intended to ‘wait my turn’, so to speak, but when talk began of magical gelding I felt I needed to step in.” Solar Comet's posture stiffened. “Princess, I was only suggesting that because this is an extraordinary circumstance,” he said, squirming. Sol Shard would be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy watching it. Celestia’s beatific smile cut through all the growing tension. “Of course, Master Comet. You have been one of the most far-seeing, proactive voices for safeguarding Equestria on this council for most of its existence, and I hope you will continue to be a voice of pragmatism. I would in no way wish to give you the idea I am censoring you. Twilight Sparkle is, indeed, a very special case.” Dewdrop opened her mouth - respectfully, now - but Celestia silenced her with a shake of her head and a motherly smile. “And I am certainly not suggesting we take the magic from someone who has provided so much aid to the Magisterium. I understand that Twilight Sparkle dispatched the helmed horror herself, with some help from Magister Lulamoon and Master Sunburst.” Sol saw his former student blush. “I-it was mostly Twilight and Trixie, Princess.” “I’m sure it was, my humble pony. But it was still very brave of all of you. Helmed horrors were among the most dangerous of the servants of darkness I once faced.” Celestia’s lips dipped into a frown. “To hear that one was summoned close to a city such as Las Pegasus is troubling, which is why I shall charge the investigation to Master Sol Shard. I feel that this will require the full attention of the Magisterium.” Silence. For Celestia to personally comment on a threat was… not something Sol Shard had discussed with her before the meeting, when they ironed out how it was supposed to go. But then, they hadn’t been able to talk much of what Sunburst had found in that lair… Time enough for that later, Sol thought. Some up-jumped necromancer or dark summoner was something the Magisterium had gotten very good at dealing with. Strauss could take care of it. He’d probably appreciate a chance to test his anti-magic golems in a real situation as well. There were bigger fish to fry right now. Comet knew it as well. He wasn’t going to be distracted by talk of the investigation. “I’m sure we owe them all a debt,” he said, voice testing the waters. “But princess - Twilight Sparkle is still an issue. An unknown. From what I know of her, she has no interest in joining the Magisterium.” “Which is likely my fault,” Feldspar pipped. Eyes went to him, some surprised that he had spoken up a second time, which for him was unusual, and not about his duties at the castle. “My sales pitch wasn’t exactly the best, and I fear I have soured her on ever becoming an acolyte. Apologies, Princess.” Celestia chuckled. Whether it was because that was expected or because she had technically just apologized to herself, Sol Shard didn’t know. “There is more than enough fault to go around. Princess Cadance informed me of Twilight Sparkle’s existence years ago, but I never bothered to look into it. There. Now we’re all on the same footing.” And now the Master Council was aware of Twilight Sparkle, and her background. Just like Celestia and Sol Shard had planned. The princess caught his eye as the other masters absorbed the admission. Time to start your final act, old stallion. “And that brings me to what I was going to suggest earlier, everyone,” Sol called out. Heads swiveled back to him. “All of us are aware of Sunset Shimmer's destiny, what she will face next Summer Solstice, and what she will become after that. I feel there is an opportunity there, when the Princess's attention isn't so focused.” Flawless Prize coughed, but it sounded more like a gag. “S-Should we be discussing this in such an open place?” he asked, eyes darting around until they landed back on Celestia. “Not that I’m implying that anything escaped your notice, Princess! Not at all! T-this is just the first I’ve heard of… you know what outside the Spire.” “Your prudence is well placed, Master Prize, but things are accelerating,” Celestia admitted. She closed her eyes and everything stilled once again. This was the big step; the big moment. Although the Magisterium normally served the crown, the unicorns in this room were the most powerful beings in Equestria. Politics and jockeying infected every inch of the Master Council. But Celestia had faced worse in her lifetime, Sol Shard knew. A room full of sycophants was nothing to her. “I will take Twilight Sparkle as my new personal student, after the Summer Sun Celebration.” Even the princess’s presence couldn’t stop the immediate crush of questions, but Sol Shard noticed the dejection on Ivy Spice’s face. She had been not-so-subtly asking if Celestia would consider a new apprentice after Sunset fulfilled her destiny and this was her answer. You are better off, Sol Shard mentally told the young mare. Celestia’s attention was like a sunbeam through a magnifying glass - incredible and awe-inspiring at first, but then you feel the scorching. Celestia eventually had to hold up a hoof to stop the barrage of questions. “I realize that this has caught all of you by surprise, but this is an extraordinary case. Twilight Sparkle is too powerful to be left to her own devices. Even if she never harmed another pony in her life, the sheer waste of her talent would be a loss to Equestria as a whole. And Princess Cadance asked it as a personal favor.” Long Whistle crossed her front legs. She was good friends with Ivy Spice, Sol Shard knew. “She has some lofty friends, doesn’t she? Who is this pony? What family is she from?” “She is a daughter of the Canterlot Sparkles,” Sunburst answered. “Minor nobility, but her brother is all but Princess Cadence's fiancée. Some of us remember Shining Armor, I’m sure. He was one of the final candidates three years ago for admittance.” For the first time, Strauss leaned forward. “And we rejected him because he was a military pony. The mindset, that is. How does his sister compare to that?” “I can answer,” Feldspar said. “She is fanatically devoted to the crown. She wants nothing more than to join the Royal Guard and serve Princess Celestia in person. She might even be a member of the Church of the Dawn, but that hasn’t been confirmed. Iron Cross is still looking into her school records.” Solar Comet threw up his hooves. “The ‘Church’ of the Dawn! A fanatic. A horse with religious blinders on her eyes. A weapon to be pointed at things until it blows up in our own faces.” He shook his head. “The decision is yours, Princess, but I think she is a major risk.” “I agree.” The others were surprised, but none more so than Solar Comet when Sol Shard added his voice to the (planned) opposition. “You do?” Comet asked, suspicion dripping from every syllable. Sol Shard looked straight at Celestia. The small frown tugging at her lips; her eyes, slightly narrowed. It was beautiful. It was a wonderful bit of acting. Were you always acting? But he had a part to play as well. “I do. I doubt Twilight Sparkle will ever willingly turn her magic against Equestria, given her personality, but such rigid thinking can be twisted. She needs a Magisterium education to properly use the tools your tutelage will give her, Princess. To think critically, to apply her magic in helpful ways, and to follow basic magic scholarship.” “What are you suggesting?” Celestia asked. “That you offer her something she can’t refuse. A chance to be your confidant, after her stint as your student is through, and her military days are behind her. A chance to stand next to you for the rest of her life, even after she graduates from being your student.” Sol Shard looked around the table. Most everyone was confused, but he saw the gears turning behind Solar Comet’s eyes. And Sunburst’s. Well, time to make it official. “I will train her after you, Princess… to eventually take my place as the High Magister and your number one magical advisor.” There was no outburst like the one that had followed Celestia’s announcement. No shouting, no questions. Just stunned silence from every single master. And all of them were looking straight at one pony - Sunburst. It was easy to understand why. As his personal student, Sunburst had always been the anticipated next-in-line to be High Magister. His knowledge was encyclopedic and his papers and presentations had advanced entire fields of magic, even back when he was just an apprentice. But all also knew of his glaring weakness - he had no actual spellcasting ability past the average unicorn. He was crippled in that way, forever leaching power off of others when needed to cast spells he himself had created. “It shouldn’t be a big shock,” Sunburst chuckled. “Many of our new apprentices can out-cast me.” Eyes guiltily slid away. It had always been the biggest elephant in the room when it came to his presumed spot as the next High Magister, although Sol Shard had no doubt he would have the votes of the majority of the Master Council should something unforeseen happen. Sunburst was friends with many of the other masters, both young and old, and had collaborated with them on projects. He pushed his glasses up his nose. “From what I’ve seen of Twilight Sparkle, I think she already has the qualities to be an excellent High Magister. I don’t doubt she can be stubborn, or obsessive about the Princess, but I never saw either when I was working with her. Instead, I saw a pony who bravely faced down a helmed horror to save a life. I saw a pony with a thirst for magical education, who in a few days did what many of our younger apprentices struggle with for months. I can guarantee that she will absorb her lessons in record time, and if Master Sol Shard says she could be a good replacement for him… well, I’ll be the first Master to cast a passing vote.” Sol Shard felt a burst of pride in the stallion. That had been completely unbidden. They had spoken about Sunburst’s future in the past, of course, but the maturity of his former apprentice… it was a little bit humbling, even to an old goat like him. And the effect on the rest of the Master Council - every pony was nodding along with him. Even Comet was quiet. Sol Shard caught Celestia’s eye and nodded. Their little play had gone off without a hitch. That was the cue for the princess to clear her throat. “That was quite the full-throated show of support, Sunburst. It was very well said.” The stallion blushed as many of the others nodded along with Celestia. “With that, I think that we can, for now, put this matter aside. Twilight Sparkle will be allowed to continue her training at Fort Dressage and kept out of the way until after the Summer Sun Celebration so that Sunset Shimmer does not have any distractions.” Nods all around. Celestia nodded once herself, closing the matter. “It is decided, then. Master Comet, I will ask that you keep tabs on Twilight Sparkle until I am ready for her. Do you agree?” “Of course, Princess.” “And Sol Shard, she will be allowed to stay in Las Pegasus for a few more days, to get a better understanding of the chantry and the Magisterium?” “I believe she returns to Fort Dressage on Monday, which gives her nearly a week. She’s rather close to Magister Lulamoon, so I had them roomed together. However Lulamoon is teaching her, it is seemingly working. I wish to foster that partnership as much as possible.” Solar Comet cleared his throat like an old goat. The stallion seemed to have regained his mental footing, now that Celestia had given him a specific task. “I have a concern,” he said. “Is Lulamoon really the best magister to instruct a future High Magister? That one already has a major mark against her for unauthorized magic usage.” Sunburst was on his feet in a flash. “She has grown past that!” he forcefully countered. “It was years ago and she was properly censured for it by the Master’s Council! She was set back an entire year in her apprenticeship!” Comet didn’t relent. He stared down Sunburst’s outrage with measured disinterest. “Your point? She still was found guilty of stealing artifacts from a declared historical site. Princess, I suggest that we give Twilight Sparkle over to Master Strauss as long as she’s here. He can show her how a chantry works, and what goes on here. That is sure to interest her more than anything a first-ring magister could offer.” Sunburst clenched his teeth, but a flutter of feathers forestalled his arguments. Eyes turned back to the goddess in the room, who had outstretched one of her great wings. The long, graceful pinyon fluttered out over the table, pointing straight at Solar Comet. To the magister’s credit, he didn’t quail much. “There is little point in arguing this now,” Celestia said, voice calm, yet expectant that she would have the last word. “I understand that my future student and Magister Lulamoon have already grown close. Magister Lulamoon is her only tie to the Magisterium and I shall need to leverage it when I ask Twilight Sparkle to give up the Royal Guard. If there are any so-called ‘bad habits’ to be ironed out later, then so be it.” The building tension drained out of the room. Sunburst let out a huff of air and slumped back into his chair as if he’d just fought a battle; Solar Comet looked contrite, but he wouldn’t push the argument again. Celestia looked around the table with a smile, as if she hadn’t just pulled the ultimate rank card. “Is there any other business? It is unnecessary for me to order the Master Council to silence on this matter, I assume? I have a particular way of training my students, after all.” “I believe that is it, Princess,” Sol Shard concluded. “I shall hunt this necromancer to ground here in Las Pegasus and keep Twilight Sparkle as far from the investigation as possible until she returns to Fort Dressage.” He eyed the sullen master down from him. “Perhaps with the chantry’s help?” Strauss tapped his chin. “We can keep both her and Lulamoon suitably occupied,” he said, looking neither pleased nor put out. Celestia stood. Even though she was just a magical projection, the other masters rushed to follow her out of protical. “Then I shall leave this matter to Master Strauss and you, Sol Shard. If you require aid with the necromancer-” “I think I’ll manage, Princess,” Sol Shard cut in, drolly. He saw Celestia’s teasing smile as she nodded back at him. “As you say, Master Sol Shard. Keep me abreast.” The old stallion didn’t even get a word in edgewise as Celestia’s magic unwound itself with a flash of light so bright it made the masters flinch away. “Always has to make an exit,” he muttered. He did send ‘Feldspar’ a glare for good measure, though. “Bunch of absolute drivel,” Solar Comet grumbled, not being circumspect at all. It was riding the very line of propriety, but the old master was good at that. “A ticking time bomb and our only job is to mitigate the eventual explosion. Laud it, even. Call it master.” He stormed around the table faster than Sol Shard had thought his old ‘friend’ capable, only stopping when he was nearly snout-to-snout with the nominal Magisterium head. “I don’t know why you are willing to stick your old neck out so much for this unicorn,” he snarled, “but it will be on your head when everything goes sideways. And it will.” With that proclamation, Solar Comet vanished with a pop as he canceled his projection spell. Across the table, Flawless Prize and Velvet Chaser said something to each other in a low tone and vanished as well. Sol Shard would bet his entire savings that the three were already conferencing. “Well that was absolutely bracing,” Sunburst said. Unlike the others, he was flesh and bone. As the other masters all vanished he stepped in close. “A new royal student and a new High Magister, all in one meeting. I can’t remember the last time we had such excitement. The masters are sure to want to try and get a glimpse of Twilight now.” “And there’s no helping it,” Sol Shard agreed. Some of the masters were very young, all things relative, and would likely serve for decades with Twilight. “I’m fairly sure they will not test the Princess’s orders too much.” The other flesh and blood pony in the room, Serine Strauss, flicked his ears. “I’ll ensure that they don’t,” he said, probably for the sake of his chantry’s peace and quiet as much as following Celestia’s command. Sunburst stepped up to him. “I wanted to thank you,” he said, looking so much like the little colt Sol Shard had nearly raised. “You didn’t have to go along with everything so easily or include Trixie as you did. I… I was too harsh with you this morning.” Strauss studied him for a second, face blank. “If they must be here, I will get some use out of them,” he said. “Nothing more, nothing less. The Princess had already made up her mind. This was all a predetermined show.” His eyes went to Sol Shard. “Was it not?” Sol Shard felt a real pang of surprise and it must have shown, because the chantry master actually smirked. Just a little one, but it was there. “Thought as much,” he said. The door to the meeting room opened with a flick of his horn, breaking the master-class seal placed on the entire top of the chantry. “Tomorrow, tell Lulamoon and the guard to report to Laboratory 5, in the basement, at first light. I will somehow spin a lesson on sealing magic as a chore, to keep them both out of the way.” Sol Shard had to chuckle. “As you say, Master Strauss. But you must let me repay you with dinner.” He turned to his former student. “Both of you.” Two agreements and the trio set off, hooves clapping on the hardwood floor. And once they were well out of earshot, when the attic had gone silent and still, as if it had never borne witness to an event that would change Equestria, another set of hooves hesitantly left as well, leaving behind nothing but the fading glimmer of a powerful illusion spell dissipating in their wake.