//------------------------------//
// The guest lecture 
// Story: The Principles of Magic 
// by Starlight_Flight 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Two: The guest lecture

Twilight and Spike arrived at the red schoolhouse exactly half an hour later, knocking on the door, then opening it to see the whole room looking at them. Cheerilee saved the pair from an embarrassing silence with her quick response: "Oh, Twilight! Good, you're just on time. Everyone, Twilight Sparkle will be delivering today's lesson, on magic!"

Snails spoke up first, "Magic, woohoo!" That earned him a sour look from a couple of earth ponies.

Applebloom spoke up next. "Why do ah gotta learn about magic? I ain't got no horn!"

Twilight jumped in, saying, "I think you'll be surprised, Applebloom. Magic per se isn't restricted to just unicorns. Pegasi and even earth ponies have their own special forms of magic. Cheerilee, shall I just start into my lecture?"

Cheerilee grinned. "Certainly, Twilight! If you need me, I'll be over here in the corner, grading papers." Then to the class she added, "And if any of you ponies need me, I'll be right there!" Watching you all, you little troublemakers. She retired to her desk with a smile.

Twilight nodded, and stepped front and center. She placed a few notecards on a nearby lecturn and cleared her throat.

Twist spoke up, "My mom can make you a lozenge for that throat, Miss Twilight." The class laughed.

Twilight smiled. "Thank you, Twist, but that won't be necessary. Why don't we get started? Spike?" Spike picked up a marker and went to the flipchart, turning it to a blank page. Then he drew a horn, while Twilight lifted up her first notecard.

"All right. Magic. Magic as we know it was discovered in the misty past, before the Nightmare War, before Celestia and Luna were even born. As far back as ponies can remember, we have had magic all around us, and magic within our souls.

"Most of us think of unicorns when we think of magic. Making light with our horns, lifting things, making images and causing objects to come to life are some of the tricks and spells that unicorns like me have access to. Pretty awesome stuff, right? But there's more to it." Twilight nodded to Spike, who drew a wing and a hoof on the same page.

"Pegasus ponies have the magic of weather, wind, and flight. When you need a raincloud or a gust of wind, they can bring one to you. Some can carry enormous loads through the air. Some can fly fast enough to produce fantastic effects. And a few have special tricks, like trails of lightning."

"Like the Wonderbolts!"

"Yes, Scootaloo, like the Wonderbolts. A lot of that comes from how they train to use their special weather magic to make that power come alive."

"But what about earth ponies? All they get is tough and stringy!"

"You take that back, Diamond Tiara! Big Macintosh ain't stringy! 'Sides, yer an earth pony too!"

"Applebloom is correct, Diamond Tiara. You, and all earth ponies, will usually receive more physical strength than other ponies. Your connection with the land is also deep enough that earth ponies who don't have farming cutie marks often still have excellent green hooves. Plants grow easily in your care, and the power of the land dwells strongly in you. Earth ponies are also extremely flexible in terms of the kinds of jobs you can hold. And while Princess Celestia's royal guard is primarily big, tough pegasi, earth ponies make up the bulk of the peace officers' corps, as well as many governmental positions where an understanding of the land and the people is needed."

"This is boring! Why don't you show off a few tricks like the Great and Powerful Trixie?"

"Now, Snips, you should know by now that I don't like to show off. Spike?" Snips gave her a downcast look. Spike flipped the page, and drew a six-pointed star on the page. Twilight moved to yet another notecard.

"We all know now about the Elements of Harmony, and how friendship can win over terrible evil. But what else goes into magic? There are many natural elements of magic which must be considered if you wish to learn the secrets of its power."

"Haaay! Who pulled mah tail?!" Giggles came from all around. "Ah'm serious, somepony pulled mah tail." Applebloom turned around. "Was it you, Snips?"

Snips shook his head immediately. "Uhh, no! It wasn't me! I wanna learn about magic!"

Then Diamond Tiara squeaked. "Who was that, tickling me! I demand to know!"

Cheerilee frowned as the ponies accused shook their heads. "I didn't see anything, Diamond Tiara."

Then Diamond's eyes grew large, and she gasped as everypony saw the tiara on her head rise up and fly out the window. "That's my favorite tiara! I made it yesterday! I need it back, now!"

Cheerilee stood up and looked to Twilight. "Twilight, would you be so kind as to help her out?"

"I certainly would!" Twilight reached out with her magic and tried to pull the tiara back in, fighting a strong pull all the way. The window slammed shut, and then the flipchart slammed backward onto the floor. Twilight immediately looked at Spike, who held his hands up.

"It wasn't me! Look!" And he pointed at the blackboard eraser, which lifted up and clapped Twilight over her head, leaving her briefly stunned, her face covered in chalk dust.

Twilight stared, then sneezed. "Cheerilee, we might have a poltergeist in here."