//------------------------------// // 1-1: Surprise Owls at Sunrise // Story: Harry is a Little Ho(a)rse at Hogwarts // by Teraunce //------------------------------// Chapter 1-1: Surprise Owls at Sunrise (6 AM July 24th 1000 Harmony (formerly Celestial) Era/1991 AD) The unexpected sounds of a beak insistently knocking on his window wakes Lightning Sunrise up rather rudely on a lazy Wednesday morning. Trying to get out of bed and instead falling out of it in a tangle of blankets and sleepy limbs, Lightning gives up and uses his magic to open his window while muffledly saying, “I’m up. I’m up. Give me a minute Scootaloo.” Hearing something chirp in response while flying into his room was not what he was expecting. Hurriedly managing to get the blanket off his head, Lightning blinks in sleepy surprise at seeing an owl hovering in front of him. “Does Fluttershy need something?” he cautiously asks the owl in front of him as he starts working on escaping his comfortable cocoon. The owl let’s out a negative sounding chirp as it shakes its head before landing in order to hold out a foot towards Lightning. Confused, Lightning looks at the prooffered leg and eventually spots the letter held in the offered clawed foot, prompting him to ask, “Is that letter for me?” After receiving an affirmative chirp and nod, Lightning pulls the letter out of the owl’s grip with his magic while asking, “Can you please wait for a reply?” Lightning then reads the envelope to find out who sent it after hearing the owl give another affirmative hoot: L ightning Sunrise (Formerly Harry James Potter) 1st Bedroom on the Second Floor 23 Celestial Avenue Ponyville, Equestria, Equiis Finding only his address down to his bedroom and the mention of a previous name confusing, Lightning flips the envelope over hoping that will solve things: Finding that a bust, Lightning puts the envelope down in order to focus on freeing himself as he asks the owl, “Did you deliver three or four other letters in town?” Pausing for a moment while Lightning frees himself, the owl finally gives three affirmative chirps. Stumbling out of his bedroom into the attached bathroom, he rheatorically asks, “what have we gotten ourselves into this time?” before receiving a comforting chirp in reply. Shaking his head slightly, Lightning exits the bathroom a few minutes later and puts his saddlebags on and putting the letter in them. Turning to the owl, he asks it, “would you like a bit of breakfast? Pretty sure there’s a bit of leftover ham in the fridge.” Receiving an affirmative chirp as the owl flies up to perch on Lightning’s back, the pair make their way into the kitchen. The owl then hurriedly vacates to the counter as Lightning rears up to make breakfast for the pair of them. After a nice filling breakfast, and now dressed, Lightning leaves his house with the owl upon his back. He quietly informs the owl, “I bet my friends all went to the clubhouse to meet up as well over this discovery. I’ve never heard of anyone using owls for post before or seen that seal before. I wish you could talk. At least you understand me.” Keeping up this train of thought while greeting the ponies in the street, Lightning eventually makes it to the clubhouse ahead of Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, but behind Apple Bloom who also has an owl on her back. “I see you got a letter as well Apple Bloom?” Lightning asks as soon as he spots her. That Ah did,” she proudly replies before asking, “Ah’m guessin you got one too?” Lightning nods before Scootaloo, and then Sweetie Belle rush in with their own owls and letters. Scootaloo speaks up by asking, “If all four of us got letters do you think Spike got one as well?” Lightning answers her with a quiet, “I’m not sure, but he is a year younger than us,” before asking as he shows them his envelope, “Did any of yours come addressed to an unfamiliar name in addition to your own?” The other three shake their head with Scootaloo saying, “Mine was however addressed to a ‘Scooter Louise “Scootaloo” Songwing-Dash.’” Sweetie Belle smiles at that as she says, “I guess you really have been adopted by Rainbow Dash,” before frowning slightly as she says, “I just wish I knew why they use owls for post or got our address. It made getting out of the house tricky.” With the other three going “same”, Apple Bloom then continues, “Ah reckon we aren’t going to get anywhere just gabbing and should just open the letters.” Nodding in agreement, they all sit down before opening their letters and reading them. Lightning letter reads: H OGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards) Dear Mr. Sunrise, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July. Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress “Anyone ever heard of a school named Hogwarts,” Sweetie Belle asks curiously as she reads through the front page. “The only one Ah’ve heard of Celestia’s School but Ah’d love to learn how to use magic,” Apple Bloom responds enthusiastically. “Lightning, do you think Princess Celestia knows anything about this?” Scootaloo asks as she reaches the end of the cover letter. “Maybe, but first we should look to see what they require for spells,” Lightning answers as he turns to the second page and reads over the requirements: HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY UNIFORM First-year students will require: 1.Three sets of plain work robes (black) 2.One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear 3.One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar) 4.One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings) Please note that all pupils’ clothes should carry name tags. COURSE BOOKS All students should have a copy of each of the following: The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling A Beginner’s Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble OTHER EQUIPMENT 1 wand 1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2) 1 set glass or crystal phials 1 telescope 1 set brass scales Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad. PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS Scootaloo and the rest shiver at the mention of dragon hide and Lightning asks, “Have you ever really heard of wands ever being used outside of fiction?” “I haven’t and we all know you’re the biggest reader out of all of us,” Scootaloo answers, “but I think this is too big for even Rainbow Dash or Daring Do to handle on their own.” “Time to send Princess Celestia a letter through Spike and apologize he didn’t get one?” Sweetie Belle asks as she stands up and makes her way for the door. “That sounds like a bright idea Sweetie,” Apple Bloom seconds as she stands up and follows, the other two not far behind them. After causing a bit of a stir by wandering through town by carrying four normally nocturnal birds of prey through town on their backs in broad daylight, they arrive at the town library. Knocking on the door they hear someone call out, “Coming!” before someone rushes over and opens the door. That someone being Spike who asks confusedly, “why do you four have owls on your back?” “We can explain if you’ll let us in and close the library,” Lightning answers him seriously but nervously. Nervously, Spike answers, “You know I’m not supposed to close the library when we’re open, but, it’s been a slow day anyways and this looks important so…,” Spike trails off as he flips the sign before standing aside to let them inside before closing the door behind them. Letting everyone settle down in chairs around the big study table, Lightning opens by asking, “Have you ever heard of a magic school by the name of Hogwarts?” Blinking, Spike ponders for a moment with hand under chin before answering, “I can’t say that I have ever heard of such a place. Why?” Enthusiastically, Apple Bloom responds, “They sent us letters of ac-acceptance fer magic classes. Ahh can’t wait to attend if it’s real.” Continuing on, Sweetie Belle says calmly, “We think they found us because of our misadventure through that mirror.” Pouting, Spike asks depressedly, “Why didn’t I get one? Was I not good enough?” Trying to cheer Spike up, Lightning reaches over and pats Spike on the back while confidently saying, “I’m sure you’ll get one next year when you turn eleven.” Seeing Spike brighten up, Lightning continues as he holds out his envelope, “We need you to flame my letter to Princess Celestia as mine contains details about myself I didn’t know before reading it.” Sighing, Spike takes the filled envelope while nodding before flaming it away. Spike then starts to say, “Now we wait and see how long it t-” before being interrupted by a flash of light. Waiting for their vision to return they hear snoring, which is revealed to be a snoring Princess Luna in her sister, Princess Celestia’s magical grip. Belaying the humorous sight of Princess Celestia trying to prod awake her snoring sister is Princess Celestia’s serious expression as she asks in the Royal Canterlot Voice, “LIGHTNING! Did You And Your Friends Find A Mirror In Our Old Castle!? Did You Go Through It!?” Bowing nervously with his friends, Lightning finally manages to utter out, “we did, Princess Celestia.” Princess Luna finally starts awakening with a snort while Princess Celestia continues her questioning in the Royal Canterlot Voice, “Why Did You Leave THAT Out Of Your Tale!?” Stuttering, Lightning answers, “Be-because we were-ren’t supposed t-to be there. A-and we ch-changed shape!” Sitting down, Princess Celestia sadly muses, “And so the future stayed on course,” before pointing to a place for Princess Luna to sit at the table. Once they are all seated again Princess Celestia continues, “I’m sorry for waking you Princess Luna but you need to hear this. Actually do you five know if your sisters are doing anything important right now?” Pondering for a moment, the five shake their head saying they don’t believe they are. With that knowledge Princess Celestia’s horn lights up as she casts a tracking spell before teleporting four of them in. Unfortunately or fortunately she chose an awkward moment to do so, leading to Rainbow Dash flying into a dress that Rarity was working on while Applejack apple-bucks a book Twilight was holding telekinetically into Rainbow’s hooves. The four look around surprised at their sudden relocation before Rainbow groans as she realizes her current situation while everyone else tries and fails to not giggle at the image she presents. While the giggles subside, Rainbow Dash pulls the outfit off before asking, “Why did you teleport us in here Princess Celestia, and what did you do this time Cutie Mark Crusaders?” Still chuckling slightly, Princess Celestia says as she pulls Lightning’s letter out, “Sit down you four and I’ll explain.” Once they sit down, Princess Celestia’s expression turns serious as she says, “I had hoped that link wouldn’t be reestablished Lightning, my godson. The form you changed into when you went through the mirror was the one you and your birth parents were born as.” Nervously, Lightning asks her after a moment of thinking, “Then did they give me the name Harry Potter?” Nodding, Princess Celestia confirms this saying, “Your mother, Lily Potter, or as she was known over here, Lightning Gardener, gave you the name Harry James Potter. You share your middle name with your father’s first name.” Lightning then asks, “did you come up with Lightning Sunrise?” Quietly and sorrowfully Princess Celestia responds as she tears up, “I-I did not. Your mother and I, we...we managed to accidentally recreate the mirror. The connection was held together with chewing gum and hope, b-but she was the first friend I...I had had in a long long time…” Seeing and feeling her sorrow, Lightning butts in saying, "You can stop your story if you need to.” Softly sobbing which causes most present to freeze up in shock at the sight, Princess Celestia rebutts him and continues, “No… No, I can...I must continue. About a year after you were born, s-she snuck out and brought you through. You be-became such a lovely little baby pegasus colt that...that I-I asked what she’d name you i-if you were b-born here. Sh-sh-she res-responded t-that she’d name… that she’d name you Lightning Sun-Sunrise be-because she be-believ-believed y-you’d bring hope… hope to o-others quickly.” Shaking at seeing her sob, Lightning manages to bring himself over to cuddle her while asking sadly, “Why...why am I not still with them?” Princess Luna finally breaks out of her shock to also hug Princess Celestia as the latter manages to utter out between loud sobs, “They died… protecting… protecting you… from a terrible… terrible murderer… who had magic…. Something… something m-my best friend… best friend did… made the spell meant for you… instead bounce back… onto him killing him… and l-leaving you… with that scar….” Confused and saddened, Lightning asks, “So why are you sad about me attending?” At this, Princess Celestia manages to pull together enough strength to say, “I-I can’t say that…, but you h-have to go m-much as I d-don’t want you t-to knowing t-they all t-think you died… with your parents….” Straightening up as much as he can while he continues cuddling his godmother, Lightning declares, “Then my name is Lightning Sunrise…, because Harry Potter died then with them.” Gaining a bit more strength even as Lightning’s answer brings more tears to her eye, Princess Celestia firmly asks Spike, “Did you change when you went through that mirror as well Spike?” Shaken from his stupor by the direct question, Spike embarrassedly answers, “I did Princess Celestia. I… I also became a unicorn on this side briefly and then a dragon on that side.” Thinking, Princess Celestia answers after a moment, “Then you will get your letter next year Spike.” She then continues, “Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity will you allow Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle to accompany Lightning to school? I’ll… I’ll speak to Stellar Flare and Sunspot in Canterlot later today for you Lightning. They should have no problems with you going.” The three mentioned hurriedly nod causing Princess Celestia to address Lightning, “Then… then with that settled your mom left some things for me to give you when you got your letter… i-in case she couldn’t. After that, tomorrow we can all go through the mirror. You’re free to go back to what you were doing Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, and Twilight.” Nodding and making sounds of agreement, the meeting soon grows smaller as the adults return to what they were doing. To be continued in Chapter 1-2: Secret Stash of the Potted Lily