//------------------------------// // 27. Magic Kindergarten // Story: Imperatives // by Sharp Quill //------------------------------// ”Yes, Meg, that was I. I also gave you your cutie mark, as I give all ponies, and I granted you ascension, as I did for all alicorns before you.” Meg looked at Twilight. “Did you know any of this?” The elder alicorn’s eyes were fixed on her old Element. “No. I knew the Elements were connected to this Tree, naturally, but that was it.” Meg looked up at the Tree. “And I’m guessing you somehow transported me to that realm when I clicked that mouse.” “That is correct, Meg.” “You sure get around for a tree.” “Do not assume this tree is my entire being.” “You can say that again,” Discord muttered. “What was that, brother?” “Nothing, dear sister; nothing at all.” Meg sighed. “Which still begs the question: Why now?” “So what do we do next?” Meg asked as she and Twilight walked down the hallway. Rainbow Dash, of course, flew. “Fix the anomaly for real, or take the observers back?” What appeared to be a graduate student came towards them. As with most ponies, she didn’t know what to make of Meg. She almost failed to nod at Twilight, so focused was she on the unfamiliar alicorn; however, noting the true princess’s presence seemed to reassure her. Somewhat. “Yeah,” Twilight said, after the student went passed them. “Something ought to be done about that, though I don’t know what.” “Maybe everypony will just get used to it eventually?” Rainbow asked. “Eventually,” Meg unenthusiastically conceded. “Can’t wait till my world gets a load of me.” For the time being, she’d try to interact with other humans as a human. That’d work, unfortunately, only so long as she stayed out of her own universe, because plaid pills. “I’ll talk to Celestia about it,” Twilight said. “To answer your question from before we were distracted… I don’t have a solution yet for the anomaly, so taking the observers back wins by default. I don’t have a time for that yet, but it shouldn’t be long from now.” Meg looked up at the flying pegasus. “There will be a complication, by the way, and you’ll have to let it happen.” Rainbow frowned. “What’d’ya mean?” “I’ll explain in detail,” Twilight said, “when everypony is gathered. The short answer is that many of the observers go inside the building against instructions, and we stay outside and let them.” The frowned deepened. “You serious?” “I’m afraid so,” Meg said. “We were just inside that building and saw it happen. Can’t change that—and don’t you dare try.” She looked back to Twilight. “What did you do with the humans you brought back?” “Apart from teleporting the ones not sleeping to the mine entrance, nothing.” “Nothing?” “Nothing yet. The observers were from our future, so I can’t return them now to their realm. I figured that Future Twilight will go back in time, bring them forward, then return them. That way, we don’t have to look after them for a few days.” “Hah! So you’re letting it be Future Twilight’s problem!” “Yes, Rainbow Dash, it’s Future Twilight’s problem. In this case it makes perfect sense.” “No argument from me,” Meg said. “Did you verify that you picked them up?” “No, I haven’t. I suppose I should, just in case.” Twilight cringed. “I sure I hope I did—will—otherwise they won’t be happy being stuck there for hours.” No humans were visible as they approached the mine entrance. That didn’t prove anything, Meg knew. Humans were quite capable of taking action into their own hands if they began to believe they were on their own. She looked around, but none could be seen on the surrounding trails. Rainbow Dash noticed what Meg had been doing. “I can search a lot faster than either of you.” “Not yet,” Twilight said. “Let’s check the main tunnel first.” They entered the tunnel and touched down. Twilight shot an intense beam of light down the tunnel; nothing was visible. Meg noticed something on the wall and moved towards it. “Twilight, check this out.” It turned out to be a sheet of paper, somehow stuck to the rock, with four large words above an image of Twilight’s cutie mark. “You picked them up,” Twilight read aloud. “I guess that answers that.” She canceled the magical glue and grabbed the sheet as it fell, then zapped it out of existence. Which reminded Meg of what she now possessed. “Say, Twilight, do you have time for a quick magic lesson?” She got a huge smile in return. “Absolutely. Let’s start with telekinesis.” Rainbow Dash got airborne. “What did I tell you? Spelling buddy!” The pegasus quickly departed. Twilight rolled her eyes. “She’d get bored watching us anyway.” She scanned the ground, looking for something. “There. See that rock?” “Yeah…” “Try to lift it. Just will it. It’ll take some practice, but it shouldn’t take long. It didn’t for Steve.” It didn’t for Steve. And it didn’t take long for Meg to use her wings. But that was a feature of the isomorphic mapping spell; it was designed to make your new body seem like you had been born with it. If becoming an alicorn worked the same way… Meg looked at the rock, stared at it as if that alone would compel it to obey. It stubbornly remained on the ground. More importantly it didn’t glow. So what did she need to do? Well, how did she walk? Or fly, for that matter. You didn’t think about it—you certainly didn’t overthink it—you just did it. “Do foals learn telekinesis in magic kindergarten?” Twilight shook her head. “No, they figure it out on their own, more or less. But they do a lot of directed practice in kindergarten, to learn fine control and power.” So it was something any unicorn foal could figure out, great. She thought back to her very first lesson with Rainbow Dash. She remembered seeing that pegasus move her wing, and it was just obvious how to move her own the same way. Well, she’d seen unicorns do telekinesis enough times. Just… do that. The rock twitched. “It’s a start,” Twilight said. “It’s something. I… if I had to describe it, it… felt too slippery?” “Not uncommon with foals. Locking on to the object is part of what you need to learn and practice.” Meg returned her attention to the rock. Just grab it. A turquoise glow flickered on and off. Focus… The glow steadied. It sort of felt like she was holding something in some indefinable way. The glow was solid now. Lift. The rock haphazardly rose. A few feet above the ground, the rock dropped. She couldn’t maintain a lock on it. It hardly mattered. “I did it!” “You certainly did! It’ll only get easier. You just need to practice. Then we can move on to more complicated spells.” Like control the hyperspatial void. No alicorn could do that—today. How far in the future was that Meg from? “I’ll be happy just to be able to type as a pony.” “I recommend doing just that for perfecting your fine control.” Meg giggled. “I could say the same thing to you concerning finger dexterity when you finally go human.” Twilight giggled in return. “I suppose you’re right. I don’t really have a reason to put that off much longer, do I? Maybe after taking the observers back?” Meg shrugged. “That’s up to you. Then you’ll have to go visit your past self to prove it’s safe to do that.” “Oh yeah. Almost forgot about that.” “Too many bucking times loops, that’s the problem.” “And we’re taking care of them, one by one, and the day will come when there will be none.” Meg found it hard to remember what it was like before time loops dominated her life. “That’ll be nice.” She nodded down the tunnel. “I’m gonna code for a while. My employer doesn’t offer ascension leave, after all.” Not that she had any particular use for dollars at the moment. It was, oddly enough, the inverse of when she worked for the royal court but lived on Earth. “Okay. I’ll check in with you later.” Twilight extended her wings and— “Oh. You should pay Luna a visit. I’m sure she’d want to see the new you.” She tilted her head in thought. “I should send a message to Cadance and Shining Armor too.” “You do that,” Meg replied mostly out of politeness. Still, she had a point about Luna. Either she visited her that evening, or she’d receive a visit in a dream. Twilight flew off. Meg navigated the all too familiar tunnels and arrived at the magically locked door. She considered it. One day she’d be able to unlock it herself, or even teleport past it; she could look forward to that. She knocked. A guard eventually opened it and let her in, nodding deferentially in a way the guards never had before. So much for Celestia’s explanation. Once inside she squeezed her pendant; now was not the time to practice magical typing on the keyboard, not until she was sure she wouldn’t break it. The others noted her entrance but made no comment. Good; that would get tiring fast. She headed towards her workstation. Which had a wrapped present on it. Meg picked it up and inspected it. There was no card or other message or identification. She presented it to her co-workers. “From one of you?” She got shaking heads in answer. “I’d swear that wasn’t there a short while ago,” Diana said. “And none of you saw who put it there?” Again, shaking heads and confused looks. “That kinda narrows down the suspects, doesn’t it?” This being Equestria and all. Well, there was nothing to do but open it. Meg pulled open the bow tie and removed the lid to the box. Inside was a large gem, exactly the same size and shape as the ones Discord had been providing for Smooze’s voice synthesizer. But why provide a new one in this fashion? She sighed. Why expect rational behavior from the Spirit of Chaos? “So?” Jerry asked. Meg held out the gem. “From Discord, I’m guessing. If I’m not mistaken, it’s for Smooze’s voice synthesizer.” She returned it to the box. She’d have to locate Smooze and try it out later. Dianna slammed palms onto desk. “Smooze is real?!” Didn’t she watch my Senate testimony? Or maybe she had missed that Smooze mention, for some reason. “Yes, he’s real. Not evil or anything, just… communication challenged. I’ve been working on that. By the way, Discord actually did bring him the Grand Galloping Gala, but only because he knew of that season five episode. And he’s purple, not green. But he looks just like he does in that episode in every other respect.” “So…” Martin began. “Could we have him eat all the nuclear waste we have stored here? Once we’ve extracted the reusable stuff, obviously.” “Uh…” Now why had that never occurred to her? “I guess?” “It won’t harm him?” Dianna asked. Would eating nuclear waste harm him? “I don’t think so,” Meg said. Smooze was sort of a force of nature. “But I can double check.” Somehow. Ask Discord if nothing else. That appeared to have ended that conversation, so Meg turned her attention to her computer. She brought up the code to the upgraded magic simulator and studied the modified and augmented equations. Maybe the professor had a point, she had to admit. Maybe she ought to learn about the theory of magic, now that she could cast spells—well, in theory, anyway. “Spike! Did a monster attack Ponyville while I was gone?” A few seconds later her number one assistant poked his head through the upstairs railing. “Not that I know of. Why? Something’s wrong?” “No, just checking.” Thank Celestia for minor miracles. “But you did get a response from Serrell. Does tomorrow, eleven in the morning, work for you?” Twilight mulled it over. Might as well get it over with, especially as she kind of knew how it would end. “Tell him yes.” A maid nodded to Meg as they passed. Like it or not, and she certainly didn’t like it, Meg was going have to get used to this. How long did it take Twilight to get used to it? At least the newest princess had managed to persuade Celestia to let her walk around the palace without her regalia. And certainly “at least” that Meg didn’t have any regalia to wear, definitely not being a princess herself. The newest alicorn finally arrived at her palace accommodations. She unlocked the door and opened it. It was dark inside. That was odd. The interior lighting was magic-based; she never bothered to switch it off when leaving. “ALICORN PARTY!!” The lights turned on, revealing Pinkie Pie, the rest of the Mane Six, Steve, her brother Matt, sister-in-law Lori, and niece Susie—Twilight must’ve fetched them—and Princess Luna. All wore party hats and were blowing party favors. Meg shook her head. “I should’ve expected this.” “Yes, you should’ve,” replied Steve with a reproving smile. “She threw me one too,” Twilight said. Susie came running over and hugged her. “You’re a princess now!” “Not you too,” Meg muttered. “No, I am not a princess, Susie.” Pinkie came over and put a party hat on her head, concern written all over her face. “I’d honestly thought you’d be happier about this.” “About the party? No, that’s fine.” That didn’t appease the party pony. “Look, I didn’t ask to become an alicorn, okay? It’s not going to make my life any easier.” “Well, not with that attitude it won’t.” Pinkie brightened up. “But that’s no excuse to be a party pooper!” She returned to the kitchen. Matt came forward. “The surprises never end with you, do they?” His blowing of his party favor had not been terribly enthusiastic. “Sometimes I wish they would, believe me. Don’t worry, as a human nothing has changed about me.” At least she was spared the question of how to break the news to him and his family. She walked over to an end table and—oh so carefully—lifted her saddlebags with her magic and deposited them. Its weight was barely manageable. “Okay, it makes some things easier.” “See?” Pinkie yelled across the room. Luna had been watching and came over to inspect Meg’s new horn. “Sister sends her apologies for not attending.” The Princess of the Night looked at the huge cake sitting on the counter. “Trust me, she would if prior engagements permitted it.” “Not a problem. Maybe we could save some for her.” A false smile. “We shall see.” Nope, not touching that. Meg turned her attention to the others. “So what do you all think?” Rarity stepped up, eyeing her changed dimensions. “I can adjust your gown so that it will fit you properly.” Had she really grown that much? It didn’t seem like it. But then the fashionista was a perfectionist. “I’d appreciate that.” Applejack was next. “It may not be visible-like, but you’re now part earth pony. You shouldn’t neglect it.” Undeniably true. Meg didn’t feel any stronger, or more resilient, but she hadn’t put it to the test either. “Are you offering to teach me?” The farm pony cocked her head at that, as if she hadn’t considered it. So she hadn’t instructed Twilight? Then she took a glance at the other earth pony in the room, a bouncy Pinkie Pie. “Maybe I should.” Meg looked to Pinkie herself. That mare was drowning in exotic abilities, presumably powered by earth pony magic. But were those things that could be taught? They were exotic after all. Not even Twilight could decipher Pinkie Sense. “Let me know,” she told Applejack. Fluttershy smiled from the background. Rainbow Dash had already expressed her views back at the professor’s office. Pinkie was happily slicing the cake, one stroke per bounce. Actions sometimes speak louder than words. Luna pointed at her phone, resting in its holder. “You took a movie of that realm. May I watch it? It has been such a long time.” “Sure.” Meg pulled the phone out—with her hoof—and navigated to the videos. There were two from that realm; she had yet to watch the second one, the one of her transformation. She selected the first one. “Is it okay to show this to the others?” she asked, looking back and forth between Twilight and Luna. It was possible, after all, that knowledge of that realm was reserved for members of the alicorn club. “I have no objection,” Luna said. Twilight rolled her eyes. “Don’t be silly, Meg.” Well okay then. Meg tapped the screen with a hoof, then made the effort to use telekinesis to hold the phone up. She was pleased to note she was getting better at it. Everyone crowded around the small screen. “Not much to look at,” Rainbow Dash declared. Twilight snorted. “It’s not about the view, Rainbow Dash.” “It looks just like the cartoon!” Susie said. “And there’s my sister. That must have been her sudden urgent business.” The video ended. Meg returned the phone to its holder—though it only went in on the second attempt. “She showed up some time after I arrived. I have no idea how I got there myself. One minute I was clicking that mouse and the next… I had my eyes closed at the time.” Twilight was lost in thought. “In my case, I had completed Star Swirl’s spell, had cast it, got blasted by the Elements, and… wound up there. Uh, my eyes were closed too.” Meg looked expectantly at Luna. She did not answer immediately. “I am not ready to share my story, but I will say it has little in common with either of yours.” “Get your cake!” Pinkie had finished slicing the cake and plating all the slices. Twilight and Rarity made quick work of levitating the plates to everyone. Meg accepted her plate with a hoof; levitating that and a fork at the same time was still beyond her. “Any word yet on the observers?” she asked. “Eleven, tomorrow morning.” Twilight brought fork to mouth. “Their time or our time?” The fork froze in her mouth. With a grimace the fork came out. “I keep forgetting that your realm has time zones.” “Then it’s eight in the morning.” “Not a problem. Just means we get it over with all the sooner.” Meg couldn’t argue. “At least I’ll be sitting this one out.” “So what will you be doing instead?” Fluttershy asked. Meg eyed her saddlebags. “I got a gift from Discord. I should try it out.” “What kind of gift?” Twilight asked. The gem floated out of the saddlebag. “Look familiar?” Twilight grabbed it in her own magic and brought it closer. “For Smooze’s voice synthesizer?” “That’s what I’m guessing. Know where he is?” “No, I don’t. Haven’t seen him in a while, actually.” “Guess that rules that out. Maybe I’ll check out that new—” “Call on me! Call on me!” Pinkie was waving a hoof in the air. She knew where Smooze was? Don’t question it, Meg told herself. It was probably Pinkie Sense anyway. Why wouldn’t there be some combination of twitches and whatnot that indicated the location of that purple blob? Not like Smooze was staying with her or something. “Consider yourself called on.” “I know where Smooze is! Well, where he probably is. I mean, he was definitely there a few hours ago and—” Twilight came to her rescue. “Just tell us where you last saw him, okay, Pinkie?” “Okie dokie lokie! At Sugarcube Corner—in my room. He’s been staying with me!” “Of course he has,” Meg muttered. “He’s been helping out with trash. You wouldn’t believe how much trash a bakery produces!” “I get it, Pinkie.” Meg retrieved the gem from Twilight’s grasp and returned it to her saddlebag. “I’ll stop by tomorrow.” “Check out that new what?” Rarity asked. “Huh? Oh. That new hotel Discord’s adding to his theme park. It’ll be for convention goers, so I really should.” “Ah, I see. Would we be staying there, should we attend as guests of honor?” “Maybe? I mean, you could. But the Zephyr’s pretty fast, too, so I wouldn’t say it was necessary.” “I’d like to accompany you.” Meg sought out the butter yellow pegasus. “Sure, Fluttershy, if you want. But I may have the convention staff with me too.” “They were nice enough to me.” “I shall also accompany you.” Meg spun around. “You sure, Luna? It’d be past your bedtime.” “I shall manage,” she said. “If our little ponies are to visit this park, it behooves me to… ‘check it out,’ as you put it.” “I wanna go too!” “No!” shouted Susie’s parents. “Not this time,” Meg said. “It’s not even open yet to the public, you know.” Her niece pouted. “Here, have a cupcake.” Meg had no idea where Pinkie got that cupcake from—she hadn’t brought any for the party, or so it had seemed—but it had the desired effect on Susie. She returned her attention to Luna. “Maybe I can schedule it for the evening. Anyway, on a different topic, Serrell will find out about my ascension sooner or later. Maybe we should make it sooner? I doubt it will help if he found out from the news.” She didn’t even want to think about the news finding out. Twilight had come over to join them. “I could mention it to him tomorrow. Or would you rather wait until he can see it for himself?” Meg barely needed to think it over. “No, you can tell him. The sooner he knows, the better, I suppose. Gives him more time to prepare for the inevitable news story. I can’t imagine how Routledge would handle it, when he finds out I’m an alicorn.” “And what about us?” Matt had joined them too. “Do we need to prepare?” Meg wished she knew.