//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 Too many Princesses // Story: Practice Makes Perfect // by Magical_Mystery_Mare2 //------------------------------// Twilight woke up on the day after Nightmare Night. Her wings were still there. That's interesting. The spell was staring to last longer than she expected. If her wings didn't vanish in a couple of day's, she would ask Celestia how long it lasted. Maybe she could ask other readers of the Mathemagical Monthly how the spell worked. The Mathemagical monthly was a venue for high quality mathematical and magical discussion. While enchanted communicating journals had been around for a while, the publication took it a step further. Behind all the articles there was a comment section. A range of leading scholars were sent Expert versions, where anything they wrote would be copied to all the other journals for everypony else to see. Having written several articles for them, Twilight of course had access to the Expert version. Twilight wrote up a short description of how to cast the spell, and what it seemed to do. Asking if anyone else knew more (or could investigate) how it worked. She checked over the note for spelling errors before carefully copying it into her copy of the latest issue of the Mathemagical Monthly journal. A few seconds later a magical glow indicated it had been copied into every issue across Equestria. Actually, now might be a good time to do some more experiments on that spell herself, while she waited for replies. The best way to start would probably be to cast it on somepony with a thaumospectroscope running in the background. Maybe she would take a few other measurements as well. Twilight started pulling several complicated looking pieces of equipment out of cardboard boxes in the basement. The journal vibrated slightly. That was quick. Somepony in Vanhoofer had already tested the spell and written up a few ideas about how it might work. Professor Thaumic Line had a theory that the spell would take more energy to cast on Earth ponies than on Pegesi or Unicorns, on account of having to conjure both wings and a horn. He proposed an experiment whereby he would cast the spell on 100 ponies of each race, and measure the magic used. Celestia had managed to cancel court for a week, and had ordered the royal chariot to be readied. She was going to visit Ponyville to see the newest Alicorn. And explain the basics of Alicorn magic, abilities and Twilights position as Equestria's newest princess. Celestia pondered. For nearly 1000 years she had been the only Alicorn in Equestria, and then just a few decades ago Cadence had ascended. Just two years ago her own sister had finally returned from the moon, and now Twilight had ascended as well. Alicorns were certainly arriving thick and fast these days. Celestia wondered how Equestria would change in the centuries hence, with so many Alicorns. Four of them, and given the way things were going, there seemed like a distinct possibility of more. Maybe Shining Armour would make a good Alicorn in a few years... Berry Cherry came into the library. "Hey Berry," Twilight asked, "could I cast that wings and horn spell on you while I take some measurements with this equipment here?" "I know you said it was dangerous to fly on conjured wings, but yours have lasted till today, haven't they? You didn't cast the spell again? And I'll fly low and only over Ponyville lake. Please. PLEEEASE. Can I?" Pleaded Berry. "Um, I suppose so" hesitated Twilight, "So long as you actually fly low." "I'd bring a towel if I were you" she remarked. Twilight turned on several pieces of equipment. Dials started spinning, something started beeping, and several pens started drawing tracks on paper. Twilight cast the spell and Berry Cherry once disappeared into the spell like usual. Princess Celestia hadn't sent any warning of her arrival ahead through spike. A surprise visit was always the best way to see what was actually happening. As Celestia got close to Ponyville, a strange cherry red light appeared in the sky. Briefly perplexed, Celestia watched the ball of light descend to form a mare with wings and a horn. Had Twilight really ascended another pony, after only two days of being an Alicorn herself, without even consulting her for advice? Who even was this mysterious new Alicorn? Professor Thaumic Line had managed to get his experiment set up pretty quickly, all things considered. He had a chalk board with "ponies of all races needed to test temporary wings and horn spell. 10 bits per participant" on the sidewalk. He had an assistant taking down the ponies weight, height, age, name, race and cutie mark. As well as giving the warning about not flying on conjured wings. While he tested magic levels and cast the new spell himself, recording the energy use as he did. He had even nipped down to the photocopier room, and made 400 slips of paper with the spell formula on it. Participants liked to know what had been cast on them and most ponies couldn't remember a whole spell formula from one glance. Thaumic Line's office was near the centre of the Manehatten university campus. There were always plenty of students around looking to earn a few bits, or for the novelty of having a fun and unusual spell cast on them. There was a fair bit of giggling from a couple of the unicorn students in the queue. He suspected they were only here to learn this new spell and prank their friends with it. Never mind. Let the students have their harmless fun. It wasn't like he could tell them off just for giggling. He should have finished gathering all of his data by tomorrow mid morning if he kept this pace up. He had heard legends of course of a strange world of bipedal apes that lived on the other side of the mirror. A world where researchers had to wrestle with red tape for months before they could begin the simplest experiment. He was very glad he didn't live in that world, if the rumours were true it was a wonder any if research got done at all. Celestia's chariot landed in Ponyville and she stepped out towards this strange new Alicorn. Celestia was surprised certainly, but she had much experience in falling back on regal formalities whatever her emotional state. And the formalities here said to ... "Greetings to Equestria's newest princess " Celestia bowed with reverence. "May I enquire as to your name?". "My N-Name is Berry Cherry, and I'm n-not a p-princess" came a hesitant reply. Twilight left the library to see Celestia ... CELESTIA of all ponies bowing to Berry Cherry. Twilight's muzzle scraped the ground in a bow. "Princess Celestia, How good to see you, what are you doing here, I haven't even got ready for you, checklist. I checklist ... "Twilight panicked. Celestia knew where she was with panicking students. "Princess Twilight Sparkle and Princess Berry Cherry. " She calmly stated despite her swirling emotions under the surface "Lets have a cup of tea and sit in the library, we have much to discuss."