Starswirl’s Magic Primer
A ZKPony fanfic
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Author’s Preface:
My name is Starswirl the Third, often dubbed ‘The Bearded’, and I am the author of this book. Anything written within is the result of hard-fought magical research, deadly experimentation, lofty dreaming, and persevering friendship. These words are not to be altered, as every phrase has an exact meaning, every name a notion, and every sentence a purpose. If you are reading this, and have not yet started your magical training, put this book down immediately. This is not for the unlearned. I myself did not even comprehend most of the knowledge contained in this book until my third lifetime. Everything I have put down in this book is of the highest level of magical theory, practice, and thought.
You have been warned.
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Prologue:
‘In order to first understand matters related to magic, one must first understand what magic is. Definitions are useless here, as are most words in explaining the unexplainable. However, I strive to spread this knowledge as best I can. Let us start with what magic is NOT. Magic is not a fix-all. You cannot create something from nothing, and energy cannot be created or destroyed, only moved or changed. Most of the principles of physics and alchemy apply herein. Magic is not some mystical force, or a gift of the gods, or a connection to some higher power.
It IS, quite simply, expressed as one of three values:
Will.
Understanding.
Need.
These three things separately are, at best, only enough to get one started on the road to magic. They are, individually, not enough to continue down that road. Though the common unicorn may be able to utilize only one in order to cast, the truly learned strive for more.
Great mages utilize two, or even all three, in their magic. To do so is right, correct, and in following with the very nature of magic. To do so is to do true magic.
There are no shortcuts with magic. You must learn it, know it. There can be no doubt about what you are doing, no hesitation.
If all of this is in line with your own thinking, then you are surely mad. Mad enough to begin studying Magic.
Welcome.’
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Twilight Sparkle put the thin volume down, and she took another look another look at the small, red leather-bound book she held in her magical grasp. It wasn’t an extraordinarily gorgeous book. There was no decorative scrollwork, no pictures, no prettiness to it. If not for the exceptionally good condition of the book, the purple Ponyville librarian might have passed over it on her weekly book hunt. This book wasn’t one that had seen much handling.
“ What is this? It’s hard to believe that this was really written by Starswirl the Bearded…This has to be a fake. I’ve never heard of Starswirl writing a Magic Primer, at least, not one that hadn’t been sanctioned by the Crown… Besides, this seems hoof-written. Every serious scholar knows that research is always typed up before being put to print. And what’s with this three values theory? I’ve never heard anything like this…” Twilight got up with a small groan, and searched among the shelves for a few minutes. Three books came sliding out of their places, each wrapped in a lavender glow.
“Here we are. ‘Starswirl’s Guide to Magic’, ‘The Mage’s Road’, and ‘Advanced Magical Studies’.”
The studious unicorn flipped almost idly through these three books for a short time. A frown caressed her face. Twilight’s magic winked once more, and a small scroll appeared with a soft *pop*. She set the three new books down softly, before picking up the thin, red volume. She readied a quill and set to her night’s work. A smile crept onto her face, and she opened the book with a renewed enthusiasm.
“Time for a book report.”
~~~
‘The first chapter. Such an important initiation to such an exclusive ‘club’. Typically, when teaching the basics of magic to unicorn foals, they are taught to sense the world around them. That’s the way that I was initially taught, and the way I’ve taught countless fillies and colts. Five lifetimes is quite a long time to be teaching the wrong ways.
Reach out to the world, and sense it. Everything has an aura, a pressure. Some things press hard against your magic: Stone, River, Wind, Blood. Other things are subtle: Light, Gravity, Heat, Fear. Still others are deeper, quiet: Love, Passion, Hatred, Will. We learn from a very young age that all things are composed of some form of energy, and that our horns give us a conscious grasp of these energies, and as such, all things are ours to command. That we can drive objects or events towards our focused purpose. That we have control. Control. Such a laughable concept, but so essential in our ‘ modern ’ theories. This is an egregious lie. Let me give an example.
^ When I was about six or so, I started my magical training. My father, Starswirl the First, was the Arch Mage for Princess Celestia, and my brother, subtlety named Starswirl the Second, was being groomed into his replacement. Most of the family’s attention was upon him, and as such, as long as I didn’t get into any trouble, nopony bothered me much. It was an easy life for a second son, especially for royalty like me. I didn’t want for anything, and had no great passions- although to be fair, I was only four years old. I was content with running around, playing, and learning from my tutors. And then my magical training started. I heard my father say once back then that no member of the Starswirl line would ever be a disgrace if he had anything to say about it. I only hope that he can forgive me. Oh, but I should explain. You see, the Starswirl line has long been a family of very powerful unicorns. My father was Arch Mage, his father was Arch Mage, and his father was on the Mage’s Council. We have quite the history of magic in our blood. So when my brother showed a talent for serious magic, only two years older than I, the family was very proud. Much more proud than they were of me when I couldn’t even complete the Magical Analysis Exam, or the MAE. Unicorns sometimes failed to complete the MAE, especially at young ages, but my father seemed to take this as a personal affront.
“No Starswirl has ever failed the MAE, and neither will you. You will not disgrace me and mine.”
The encouraging words of a loving father. Anyway, the point is that I wasn’t highly regarded and that my brother was adored. Exalted. Thrust upon a pedestal and given all of the love he deserved, and much more that he didn’t. Nopony could give two bits about the younger brother, one who cried when-
…
Oh dear, I seem to have lost my objectivity along with my direction. That’s easily mended. I had no love for anything magic-related at this point, but Princess Celestia and Princess Luna held auditions for personal tutelage. There was parading around, and boasting, and very much pompous ass-ery, with no offense to any donkeys. Every foal old enough to ignite even a spark attended. Being taught by one of the Princesses was a great deal. So I did my duty and hung around until it was over. The Eternal Goddess of the Sun, her Royal Highness of the Glorious Day, and Undisputed Ruler of Equestria, Celestia, made my brother her choice without even looking the other applicants over. It was a minor uproar, but no one doubted her choice. Then the Eternal Goddess of the Night, her Royal Highness of the Sublime Moon, and Uncontested Ruler of Equestria, Luna, made her choice. She slowly sauntered around the Grand Ballroom, looking at each filly and colt. She motioned for a few to come forward, and I was not among them. It only hurt a little. But then she shooed them away with a casual flick of her hoof. I recognized some of them then, the rejected foals. Promising mages, powerful and cunning for ones as young as we were. Luna made her rounds a second time, thinning down our herd to just me and three others. I, again late to the party, recognized those of us left. The losers. Two of us hadn’t passed our MAE, one was nine-tenths earth pony, and a common-born foal who happened to be in the room at the time. The last was a pegasus filly. I do not, to this day, know how she got there. What I do know is that the beautiful Princess of the night stared each of us down. A calculating, appraising fear bore into our souls. And she chose me. Now, I remember that I didn’t want to learn magic. I almost disliked it, but despite my wishes, I was to be taught by the Pri-^
~~~
*CRASH*
Back in the Ponyville Library, a purple unicorn winced and scratched her parchment with a quill. The parchment was half full of notes, and ended with an offending slash of ink.
“Spike, what was that?!” A few tense moments passed before a reply came.
“Sorry, Twilight! I dropped a vase! I’m cleaning it up, though!”
With a weary sigh and a shake of her head, Twilight glanced back over to her book.
~~~~~
‘ Ah, back are we? Worried you’d lost interest for a moment. Happened once or twice, you know. You missed a good bit of the story, but not too much to-‘
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“What in the world? This isn’t where I left off…” Twilight turned the book back a few pages, certain that she must have accidentally turned forward a few pages when she looked away.
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‘ –s quite rude! I’m trying to tell a story and somepony just goes and- Ah! Here you are! Stop skipping around and let me tell the story properly. I’ve no pati-‘
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The personal student of the most powerful pony in Equestria closed her book while her mouth hung open. Her mind raced as she analyzed and sensed the enchantments woven into the book.
“Hmmm, no artificial personality… or intelligence, maybe a pre-recorded- no… Darn! What are these spells?!” With a slight growl, Twilight began casting every de-spell incantation on the Basic level. When she sensed no changed in the offending reading material, she moved up to B3. Still no change. Now tired and aggravated, she cast her most powerful dis-enchantment spells: from her A6.
Exhausted and struggling to stay awake, Twilight Sparkle opened the Primer and stared at the first page, confident that she’d broken whatever misguided protection this small volume had.
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Author’s Preface:
My name is Starswirl the Third, often dubbed ‘The Bearded’, and I am the author of this book. I am also one of the greatest mages in pony history, and I do not appreciate whoever you are meddling with my Primer. If you are reading this, then you are still awake after that lofty barrage of de-spell incantations, and as such are very strong indeed. Everything I have put down in this book is my own knowledge, safe from prying eyes and the Mages Guild. Celestia herself could not breach my sanctum of Knowledge, and neither shall you. If you will not study me like a considerate pony, than I won’t share any of my knowledge with you. By Luna’s Horn, get your act together.
Nyeh-nyeh-nyeh-nyeh-Nyeh.
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