Memoirs of a Teacher
Where it all began
The sun was shining overhead, its rays glaring down upon us on the ground. I was accompanied by my seneschal, Raven Quill as I went about my usual duties as the Princess of Equestria.
Today was the day where the unicorn fillies would be tested for their magical ability to be able to join my school for gifted unicorns. I was currently heading over to the testing building to watch from a room where they could not see me, so as to not give any of the fillies and colts any stress.
Suddenly, the world shook as I felt a large burst of magic. Lifting my head up, I gazed at the rainbow spreading out from Cloudsdale. A rainboom! I hadn’t seen one of those in three hundred years...
A large wave of unicorn magic followed the rainboom, coming from the testing room for the unicorn fillies. As I turned towards the tower, an adolescent dragon’s head burst through the roof, looking confused and innocent, accompanied by purple strikes of magic.
Hurriedly, I teleported to right outside the testing room. Pushing open the door, an extraordinary sight greeted me. A purple filly was floating, her magical power was lifting her up and her eyes were glowing. I recognized her immediately. The filly of Night Light and Twilight Velvet, the Royal Astronomers.
Her name was Twilight Sparkle, and her raw magical power was something I had never seen before in a unicorn filly. But her control over it was weak, and the magic was just unbridled raw power. Stepping up to her, I put my hoof on her shoulder and concentrated, using my own magic to calm the magical storm and giving little Twilight more control over it.
Slowly, Twilight turned to look at me, the glow in her eyes fading away. As she regained control over her magic, the two potted plants at the side of the room turned back into her parents, the four examiners stopped floating in the air and the enlarged dragon shrunk down into his normal size. Seeing this, I made a decision.
“Twilight Sparkle,” I stated.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” Twilight mumbled ashamedly. I smiled.
“You have a very special gift. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a unicorn with your raw abilities.” I told her.
“Huh?” Twilight was absolutely confused, her eyes hesitant.
“But you need to learn to tame these abilities through focused study.” I pointed out.
“Huh?!” At this point, the filly was absolutely convinced she was in a dream, wondering why I wasn’t punishing her.
“Twilight Sparkle, I’d like to make you my own personal protege her at the school.” I continued.
“Huh?!” I almost laughed. The childlike innocence in her eyes, and the complete bemusement that was shown there.
“Well?” I asked.
Twilight glanced over to her parents, who were nodding frantically. “Yes!” she cried out as she leaped up in the air, joyfully celebrating.
“One other thing, Twilight.” I held out a hoof.
Her eyes widened. “More?” I pointed towards her flank and her eyes widened in joy. A large purple star with a similar-sized white star behind it surrounded by five white stars was displayed there. “My cutie mark!” She then proceeded to start bouncing around me, chanting “Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!”
I am ashamed to admit that at that moment, I did not just think of her as my new pupil. When I saw the stars on her flank, I immediately thought of my sister and the prophecy. On the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape. Could Twilight Sparkle be the stars that would aid in the freeing of my sister?
At that point, I thought of her as a weapon to hone, a blunt blade to be sharpened to be able to face my sister, and free her from the Nightmare. Eventually, I’d see how wrong I was.
After I had sent Twilight home, promising to collect her the next day and show her new temporary home at the castle, I sighed. There were going to be complications, accepting a filly as my newest student.
Ponies from influential noble houses were going protest, as I had just shown preferential treatment to a filly and taken her in as my student. They were going to insist that I took their own fillies and colts as my students, and I would have to refuse them and endure the complaining that would follow.
However, I did not regret my decision. I had felt her magic and seen her enthusiasm for magic. She was going to be a truly delightful filly to teach all I knew about magic to.
Teleporting inside the throne room, I called for my seneschal. “Raven?” Immediately, Raven stepped out from behind the doors and bowed towards me. “Dispense with the bowing, Raven. We have work to do.”
She nodded. “What do you need me for, Your highness?”
“Make sure the northernmost tower is cleared and made into a livable habitat for a young filly, and inform the cooks that they are going to be cooking for Twilight Sparkle for a while. Find out her food preferences and any dietary needs and make sure they know.”
Raven jotted down my instructions on her notepad. “If I may, Princess?”
I nodded. “Speak.”
“What about the dragonling? What are your plans for him?” I considered the question.
“Twilight Sparkle hatched him, so she’ll have to learn how to take care of him,” I finally answered after a few minutes of consideration. “For now, continue with the current arrangements I have set up. I have plans for him.”
Raven nodded. “Will that be all, Princess?” I inclined my head, and she left the room to carry out my instructions.
Once she had disappeared, I looked forlornly at the stained glass window depicting Nightmare Moon’s defeat. “Don’t worry, sister,” I muttered. “I’m bringing you back.”