“Ex… Expelled?”
Dinky’s voice cracked on the latter syllable, and she placed her face in her forehooves, shaking. “What happens now?” she managed to croak from behind her hooves. “Can I… can I appeal or something?”
Bright Spark laughed coldly. “With the proper paperwork, perhaps, but it would take months to process, and considering what you’ve done today, the odds of it getting you anywhere are very, very slim. As for the present day, your privilege to remain at this academy or on its grounds has been revoked.”
“So what do I do for the rest of today?” Dinky asked hesitantly. “The train doesn’t come until Saturday…”
“I will be contacting Canterlot station immediately,” the dean replied. “A special train will be coming later this afternoon specifically to take you away from the Academy. In the meantime, you will remain in the antechamber outside my office. I’ll have Sparkler escort you to the train when it arrives.”
“I can’t even go say goodbye to my friends?” Dinky asked, her eyes full of desperation.
The dean shook her head. “After what just happened, I’m afraid you must remain here, under the supervision of Sparkler or the other fifth-term students.”
“Don’t I at least have to go back to the tower to get my stuff? Can I go if somepony escorts me?”
“The tower is currently off limits,” the dean said matter-of-factly. “It’s being investigated for potentially dangerous damage to the infrastructure and remaining traces of dark magic. Your belongings will be sent to you at your home address as soon as it’s safe to retrieve them. Tomorrow, probably.”
“Tomorrow? Where are the fillies going to sleep tonight?”
“We have the supplies to set up temporary beds in the castle,” Bright Spark answered curtly. “Now, go sit in the antechamber. There will be a few fifth-term students guarding the outer door, so don’t try to leave. Get going, I’ve got a lot to do, filing incident reports and contacting magical security agencies and whatnot. Which reminds me, there’s going to be a footnote added to any documents officially identifying you stating that you have been involved in destructive and life-endangering use of dark magic. I hope you weren’t planning to pursue a career in the magical arts; it’s going to be all but impossible to do so with that on your record.”
“What?!” Dinky gasped. “But… but I didn’t—”
“Hush,” the dean commanded. “You’re actually lucky this happened at school. Had you done something similar in a typical public environment, you’d be sent to a detention center for magically delinquent foals for a few months, if not longer.”
Dinky was left speechless. Cowering beneath the dean’s glare, she climbed from the chair and trudged out to the antechamber.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For hours, Dinky sat in the empty antechamber in crushing, total silence. Outside in the main hallway, a few older students were undoubtedly guarding the entryway, but if they were speaking to one another at all, the wooden door was doing a fine job of preventing their hushed voices from reaching Dinky’s ears. The quiet was only occasionally broken when the filly’s emotions got the better of her and a few sobs escaped. A thousand different scenarios of what was to come swirled in her head, intermixed with her attempts to make sense of the situation.
So if Sunbeam is dead, how have I been hanging out with him? He’s a little strange, but he certainly doesn’t seem like a spirit or zombie or something.
She shivered. I wonder if he’s somehow using his own dark magic to keep himself alive beyond death. Is that even possible? I’m not sure I wanna find out…
Dinky mentally chided herself for not realizing something was wrong earlier. Sunbeam’s desire not only to keep his magic secret, but to keep himself hidden from Dinky’s friends suddenly made much more sense; the colt wasn’t supposed to exist, so the fewer ponies that knew about him, the better.
Maybe that’s why I never even noticed him until just a month or so ago, she realized. He slipped into the back of the classroom, posing as a student, to get close to me. The Magic in History professor spent all his time lecturing and hardly ever called on the students. He probably didn’t even notice. I doubt I can prove he still exists. I ended up doing just what Sunbeam wanted all along, and now…
Dinky struggled once again to choke back a sob. So much had happened in such a short time, and now here she was, facing expulsion and likely a ruined future. Everything was ruined, and it was all the harder to bear because it was at least partially her own fault.
What’s Miss Twilight gonna think? And mom? Mom will… oh no…
Dinky remembered the words Princess Luna had spoken to her less than a day before. “The greatest expression of thanks you can give, young Miss Doo, is in your actions. It is through your mother’s sacrifice that you stand here today, and I am certain nothing will please her more than to see you make the most of this educational opportunity.”
“And I blew it,” Dinky whispered in the silence. “You gave me this chance, and this is what happened…”
Overcome with sorrow and guilt, Dinky let herself collapse on the floor, and began bawling. One after another, she thought of ponies she had let down.
Miss Twilight spent so much time and effort preparing me for this term, and now I won’t have anything to show for it. And Clarity, Honeydew, and Scuffle trusted me, confided in me and offered to help me when I needed it, and I went and kept this from them until it was too late. They might even get in trouble too, because of me…
After a time (Dinky wasn’t sure how long), there were hoofsteps in the adjacent office. Dinky sat up and wiped her eyes as the dean walked up to her.
“The train has arrived,” she said simply. “Sparkler is going to accompany you until you reach Ponyville.”
Dinky sniffled and nodded. Bright Spark opened the outer door and asked one of the older students standing guard to go get the overseer. Sparkler herself appeared a few minutes later.
“Goodbye, Miss Doo,” the dean said, nodding curtly in Dinky’s direction. “I doubt our paths will cross again.”
Dinky did not reply. She hung her head and followed Sparkler down the empty corridor.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dinky sat on the cushioned bench, trying to preoccupy herself with the rhythmic rumble of the train’s wheels. Hours had passed since the initial incident in the tower, and the filly’s fear and sadness had finally shifted into a sort on numbness.
Dinky wished she could just push everything out of her mind and enjoy a few moments of peace, but she could feel Sparkler’s gaze burning into her from across the aisle.
Save for the two fillies, the train car was completely deserted. No doubt ponies outside were watching the train pass and wondering why it was operating off its normal schedule. Dinky stared out the window, wondering what would come to pass when she arrived back in Ponyville.
Sparkler had said nothing for two solid hours. The overseer remained in her seat, watching Dinky with disdain. Dinky met her gaze occasionally, but found herself quickly overcome with the desire to look away. Finally, she couldn’t stand the icy silence any longer.
“…Sparkler? Can… can I ask you about some… stuff?”
“Why?” Sparkler asked, frowning. “In another hour or so, you’ll be back in Ponyville, and none of this will be part of your life anymore. There’s no point.”
Dinky sighed. “Sparkler, please. Can’t you just let me ask a few things before we part ways? Just for my own curiosity?”
Sparkler gave a dissatisfied grunt. “Fine,” she conceded. “I’ll humor you. What’s up?”
Dinky hesitated, searching for the right words. “About that spell I cast…” she said finally. “What… what exactly is it? Where did dark magic come from, and why can unicorns even do it?”
“Dark magic in any form is evil,” Sparkler answered curtly. “It’s inherently negative. It only causes destruction and pain. Everypony knows that.”
She scowled. “Well, everypony but you, apparently. If you really didn’t know what you were wielding until you set fire to the tower, why didn’t you tell the dean where you actually learned it? Maybe your punishment would have been less harsh.”
“I did tell the dean where I learned it,” Dinky said quietly. “I know my alibi doesn’t make sense. I can’t explain why I met a colt who’s been dead for forty years. I just did. He’s still at the Academy, pretending to be a student.”
Sparkler shook her head. “I seriously doubt that. There will be an investigation, of course, as to where you really learned it. The fact of the matter, though, is that you used dark magic, and given the evidence, the dean has no reason to believe that you didn’t know what you were doing when you did so.”
Dinky was quiet for a moment. “You’re right,” she said finally. “I might not be able to prove what I’ve said even if I was still allowed at the Academy. I know I’ve been played for a fool, but I’m not sure anypony will believe me.”
Sparkler, again, did not reply.
“What was the spell you used?” Dinky ventured. “You know, the one that beat back the fire like that?”
Sparkler groaned. “If you must know, that was a counterspell,” she replied. “Most counterspells were invented by powerful unicorns who spent their lives studying combat magic. Their whole purpose is to undo the effect of another spell.”
“Like the magic cancelling spell,” Dinky realized. “The one that lets you interrupt another unicorn’s spell while it’s in effect.”
Sparkler nodded. “Of course, that spell would only have worked to counter your spell if I’d been able to use it before you set everything on fire. Once the magic is out of the caster’s control and acting on its own, it’s much harder to stop.”
“So how did you know how to stop it?” Dinky asked. “I know you had to grab a book to get the spell exactly right, but how’d you even know where to look?”
“I learned about it in class, obviously,” Sparkler said, rolling her eyes. “The Academy offers a course in combat magic to older students, so it’s only fair that they also offer one about counterspells. Without them, whichever unicorn knew the better combat spell would immediately gain the upper hoof in a duel. And, obviously, a unicorn using dark magic would be able to cause massive destruction if counterspells couldn’t subdue them.”
Dinky nodded. She opened her mouth to speak again, but Sparkler stopped her.
“I think that’s enough questions,” she said coldly. “You’re not coming back to the Academy, so this information isn’t going to be any use to you anyway. The more you allow yourself to be curious about magic, the harder this is going to become. Just accept it; your training is over.”
Dinky pouted, looking at the floor. “I was just trying to pass the time,” she mumbled. “I don’t want to keep sitting here mulling over what happened…”
“We’ve passed enough time,” Sparkler said, unmoved by Dinky’s misery. “It’s only another hour to Ponyville. Sit there and stay quiet.”
Sparkler turned away and stared out the window intently, as if to further prove she was done talking. Dinky sighed and tried to focus on the sound of the train again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The final hour, to Dinky, seemed to take days. The sun was already beginning to dip beneath the horizon when the empty train finally pulled into the equally deserted Ponyville Station. The cabin door swung open, and Sparkler stood, escorting Dinky out to the platform.
“Well, we’re here,” the overseer said. “You’ve been a troublemaker since day one, but at least now it won’t be my problem anymore. Get going.”
Dinky gave Sparkler a disappointed look. “That’s… harsh,” she commented apologetically. “I just got kicked out of school. I know you and I have never gotten along but… don’t you have just a little sympathy?”
“It’s my job to be harsh,” Sparkler snapped. “The dean says you don’t belong at Celestia’s Academy for Gifted Unicorns, and I stand by her decision. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to return to the Academy to help with the restoration efforts on the fillies’ tower.”
Sparkler climbed back aboard the train and grasped the handle of the cabin door with a bit of magic.
“Goodbye, Dinky, and good riddance.”
The cabin door snapped shut. The train gave a sharp whistle, and a rogue puff of steam shot from between the wheels, forcing Dinky to back up. By the time she’d waved away the cloud, it had left the station and was making its way around the bend ahead. Soon, it was out of sight. Dinky was alone, with nowhere to go but back to her cottage.
I guess I’d better get going. It’ll be dark by the time I get home.
Dinky turned away from the tracks and began to make her way home. Her hooves clicked on the stone floor as she walked.
The filly went only a few steps before stopping and listening intently.
I could have sworn I just heard another set of hooves.
There was no sound now but the wind. Cautiously, Dinky began to walk again, and her ears twitched as she again heard hoofsteps that weren’t her own.
“Who’s there?” she asked, turning around. “I hear somepony. Where are you?”
“You heard me?” came a disembodied, female voice. “Well, crud. I guess it’s harder to keep quiet on stone than on the carpeting in that train.”
Reddish light suddenly flickered into view half a pony length above the ground, radiating from no discernible source. The outline of a filly faded gradually into view, and her transparent fur and mane were quickly replaced with their usual grey and sky blue.
“Oh yeah, I perfected my invisibility spell,” the newly visible Clarity said, smirking at Dinky’s flabbergasted expression. “Told you I could do it. It was just a matter of— oof!”
Clarity staggered backwards as Dinky tackled her and pulled her into a crushing hug. She took a moment to recover before returning the embrace.
“But… but…” Dinky stuttered, at a loss for words. “I… Clarity, how… and why…?”
“You didn’t think I was going to just abandon my best friend after something like that, did you?” Clarity asked. “When the enchantment on my hair clip told me you were heading toward the train station, I realized what had happened. I knew they wouldn’t let me talk to you, so I followed you from a distance. Pretty soon, though, it became obvious I wouldn’t be able to talk to you; Sparkler was with you the whole time.”
“So you stowed away on the train?” Dinky asked, amazed. “How are you gonna go to class tomorrow?”
“Pssh, missing a couple days of class isn’t gonna hurt,” Clarity said, waving a dismissive hoof. “I’ll just catch the next train back on Sunday. So anyway, I knew the only way I could follow you was if I could get on the train without being seen. I couldn’t think of any other way, so I tried my invisibility spell again, and it worked! I snuck on right before the train left, and I was sitting on the bench just in front of yours the whole time!”
For the first time in what felt like ages, Dinky giggled. “I gotta hand it to you, Clarity,” she admitted. “You’ve got guts. I just can’t believe you did all that because you were worried about me.”
Clarity shrugged. “I figured you could use some support after what happened,” she said. “You looked miserable on the train. I wanted to try to make you feel better, but I couldn’t risk Sparkler seeing me.”
She gave Dinky a quizzical stare. “So what happened, anyway? That was dark magic you used. You know, the stuff usually reserved for megalomaniac unicorns who have gone off the deep end and want to bathe the world in darkness and misery?”
“I’d never heard of it,” Dinky said simply. “That’s got to be why Sunbeam targeted me; he wanted a pony that wouldn’t be too skeptical. I was a little suspicious about that magic, but I never thought it would turn out to be that destructive.”
“Yeah, that’d do it,” Clarity said, nodding. “The average unicorn foal has heard stories of dark magic from their parents. Most unicorns are taught to stay away from it early on, but you missed out on that phase.”
“Never mind me, how’s Honeydew?” Dinky asked nervously. “She was unconscious the last time I saw her.”
“Oh, that,” Clarity said. “She’s, uh… alright. The school nurse is looking after her right now. She’s conscious, but she’s sorta in shock. They said a few hours to calm down and a good night’s sleep should fix her up, though.”
Dinky sighed. “She is gonna be okay, right?”
“Yeah, she’s not hurt,” Clarity affirmed. “Her nerves just aren’t exactly the best, so it takes her a while to recover from something like this.”
Silence fell for a few moments. Eventually, Clarity spoke up again.
“I’m a little more worried about you than Honeydew right now,” she admitted. “I’m guessing you got expelled?”
“Yep,” Dinky answered bitterly. “The dean was just thrilled to give me the boot, too. Apparently, Sunbeam’s been dead for forty years, so they didn’t believe my explanation.”
Clarity cocked her head. “Sunbeam’s dead?” she asked. “How’ve you been hanging out with him, then?”
“You tell me,” Dinky said. “I was surprised when Bright Spark told me. And Sunbeam’s been taking care to keep a low profile, so nopony can really help me prove he’s still at the Academy.”
Dinky sat down on the stone floor. “I don’t know if there’s anything I can do about all this,” she admitted, starting to sniffle again. “Right now, there’s nothing to do except go home and tell my mom what happened. She’s gonna be so disappointed…”
“I’ll back you up,” Clarity declared, placing a hoof on Dinky’s shoulder. “I know you better than anypony at the Academy, and I know you wouldn’t use dark magic on purpose. I’ll defend your story for your mom, your tutor, and anyone else who listens!”
Clarity held up a hoof triumphantly for a few moments, but then she deflated slightly. “…And also I’m kinda stranded here in Ponyville now and need a place to stay.”
In spite of her mood, Dinky grinned. “Well, I don’t know how well the rest of it’s gonna go, but I can offer you that, at least. Come on, let’s get moving. It’s kind of a long walk to my cottage, and it’s getting late.”
Dinky stepped down from the stone floor of the train station and followed the road south through town. A few ponies were milling about, taking advantage of the last bit of sunlight the day had to offer.
“So, this is Ponyville,” Clarity said slowly, craning her neck in all directions to stare at the houses and shops. “It’s a little smaller than Whinnychester, but I guess that makes sense since you guys have so many forests and mountains right around here.”
“Whinnychester doesn’t have that stuff?” Dinky asked.
“Nah,” Clarity replied, “the land out there is just hills and fields for miles around. We’re lucky to find even a grove of trees, let alone a forest.”
“So there’s lots of farming, I take it?” Dinky asked.
Clarity laughed. “You’d think so, wouldn’t you? Actually, Whinnychester’s on the coast. You should visit sometime, especially if you’ve never been to the sea.”
“I’d love to,” Dinky said, “but I don’t know when we’re going to get the chance. I’m probably gonna be grounded for the rest of forever when mom finds out about this. Never mind the fact that I won’t be seeing you at school anymore…”
“We’ll make it work somehow!” Clarity insisted, giving her tail a decisive flick as she tried desperately to keep Dinky’s spirits up. “Even if they don’t let you back into that school, we’ll keep in touch, I promise.”
Dinky smiled weakly. “You’re really upbeat, you know that?”
“Hey, my best friend’s kinda down in the dumps,” Clarity pointed out. “I’m doing my best to lighten the mood!”
“You know, I do feel a little better,” Dinky admitted. “There’s no denying that this has been a terrible day, but even one friendly face really makes a difference.”
Dinky gently nuzzled her friend, and the two of them headed side by side back to the Doo cottage.
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Darkness had fallen by the time Dinky’s humble home finally came into view. The cottage looked just as it did all year round: old-fashioned and small, but well maintained by the dedicated mare who owned it. A rosy glow shone out of the ground floor windows and illuminated the yard.
“Well, this is it,” Dinky announced. “It’s a little shabby, but mom’s been looking into getting a little renovation done, now that she can afford it.”
“It doesn’t look bad,” Clarity said. “I love how you live a little ways outside town. The remoteness really adds to the charm.”
Dinky trotted up to the door and raised a hoof to knock, but stopped when she heard voices on the other side. “Someone’s here,” she mumbled. “Let’s go look.”
The fillies trotted around to the side of the house. Dinky hopped up on a crate and cautiously peered into the hall window, from which she could get a partial view of the dining room.
Several ponies were gathered around the dinner table, with the remains of a meal scattered on the dishes in front of them. Dinky immediately recognized her mother and Autumn Breeze, and then turned her attention to two other ponies. One was an older pegasus, white in color with a grey mane and wearing a green beret. The other was a bright yellow earth pony with a spiky brown mane who seemed to be having trouble sitting still.
“Cloudcover and Watt are here,” she said, surprised. “I guess mom’s invited her coworkers over for dinner.”
“Can you hear what they’re saying?” Clarity asked.
Dinky pushed the window open just a tiny bit, and swiveled her ears toward the voices inside.
“…and the poor stallion was so head-over-hooves for her, he could hardly speak when she was around!” Cloudcover said. “I had to rehearse a whole conversation with the poor boy until it was practically automatic.”
“Did things work out when he worked up the nerve to talk to her?” Ditzy asked.
“Of course,” Cloudcover laughed. “It was obvious from the beginning that she thought the whole situation was just adorable. She gladly accepted his offer as soon as he had enough courage to ask her to lunch.”
“They’re just talking about work,” Dinky whispered.
“Oh, that’s right, your mom works at that matchmaking place,” Clarity realized.
Before Clarity could continue, Watt’s shrill voice caught Dinky’s attention. She turned back to the window.
“Is it just me,” the jittery stallion asked, “or is the Doc gradually getting weirder? I went to give him a status report on my latest assignment yesterday and found him messing around with that little sippy-dippy bird thing of his again.”
“Oh, don’t be so quick to judge, Watt,” Cloudcover chided. “Everypony needs a hobby. There’s nothing wrong with Doctor Candyfloss playing with that delightful desk toy of his every now and again.”
Watt squinted. “Playing with it, I’d understand. Gluing a little top hat and monocle to it and then talking to it in a false accent might be taking it a bit far, though.”
Breeze almost choked on his food trying to stifle a laugh. “Okay, you have a point,” he managed. “The boss is a little strange.”
The ponies around the table continued to talk and laugh, while Dinky remained at the window. “I almost don’t want to bother them,” she whispered to Clarity. “They look like they’re having a good time. As soon as I go in there, I think the fun will be over for the night.”
Clarity frowned. “You’re just looking for excuses now,” she accused. “I know it’s going to be hard, but you have to go in there and tell her what happened. She’s gonna find out one way or another.”
“I know, I know,” Dinky mumbled, stepping down from the crate. “I’ve wasted enough time. Let’s go.”
The fillies returned to the front of the house. Dinky took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
“Visitors? At this hour?” came Ditzy Doo’s muffled voice.
“Maybe Candyfloss found some time to come by after all,” Breeze suggested.
“Come in!” Ditzy called. “It’s not locked!”
Dinky’s aura surrounded the doorknob and then pushed the door open. Clarity waited in the foyer while Dinky trotted around the corner and into the dining room, where Ditzy and the others had already resumed conversation.
“Um… hi, everypony…”
Ditzy stopped mid-sentence when her daughter appeared. The rest of the table fell silent as well.
“Dinky?” the mare asked, her eyes achieving a rare moment of focus to confirm the filly’s identity. “But it’s Wednesday. Why aren’t you in Canterlot?”
“S-something happened,” Dinky stuttered. “I needed to come home…”
Ditzy spread her wings, floated from her chair, and landed next to the filly. “What happened?” she asked, obviously concerned. “Are you hurt? Sick, maybe?”
“She looks alright,” Breeze said, also getting up. “What’s the problem, kiddo?”
“Well, there was… an incident,” Dinky answered. “It’s kind of a long story. Clarity’s here too; she can help me tell it.”
“I heard my name,” Clarity said, appearing in the doorway.
“Mom, Mr. Breeze, this is Clarity. She’s that friend I’ve been telling you both about.”
“Pleased to meetcha’, Mrs. Doo,” Clarity chirped, stepping forward and shaking the slightly bewildered mare’s hoof.
“Y-yes, likewise,” Ditzy replied. “But Dinky, I still don’t understand. Why are you here, and why is Clarity with you? What’s going on?”
Dinky stared at the floor. “Well…”
The filly retold her story. Ditzy and her coworkers remained silent, without interruption, as she recounted the meeting of Sunbeam, the study of the “alternative magic”, and finally the accident that had led to the fire in the tower.
“…after that, they took me to the dean’s office, and she… well, she… expelled me. It’s true that I put a lot of ponies in danger, but I really didn’t mean to! I had no idea what kind of magic I was using. But… nopony will believe me…”
Ditzy and Breeze exchanged worried glances. Ditzy reached out and put a hoof on her daughter’s shoulder.
“Dinky…”
“I’m so sorry, mom,” Dinky choked out, hanging her head to hide the tears that started flowing yet again. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble. I should have known better, should have seen what was happening…”
“Dinky.”
“But it’s too late! Now I’ve gone and wasted the greatest gift you’ve ever given me! I’m a terrible daughter…”
“Dinky!” Ditzy yelled.
Dinky looked up. Ditzy took the opportunity to wipe away a few of the filly’s tears.
“Dinky, you listen to me,” Ditzy said. “You are not a terrible daughter. You are one of the sweetest and most considerate fillies in Equestria, and I am incredibly lucky to have you. I’m no unicorn, so I know I can’t fully understand the details of what happened, but if you say you didn’t know about this dark magic stuff, then I believe you, no matter what the others say.”
Dinky sniffled. “You’re not… mad?”
Ditzy gave the filly a hug. “I’m not mad. I know you would never intentionally hurt anypony. Circumstances were just stacked against you this time.”
Dinky said nothing. She leaned her head against her mother’s coat, relieved but still depressed.
“So… there’s no way you can get back into the Academy?” Breeze asked. “There’s got to be a way to show them this isn’t your fault, right?”
“I don’t think so,” Dinky mumbled, turning to face the stallion. “The dean hates me, so even if I appeal the expulsion, she’ll find a way to make the committee that reviews it deny me a chance. I don’t think I can get back into the school unless Princess Celestia herself commands it.”
Ditzy tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Well, why don’t you go into town tomorrow and talk to your tutor? Twilight Sparkle has connections with Princess Celestia. Maybe she can help.”
Clarity’s ears stood straight up. “Wait, Twilight Sparkle?” she asked curiously.
“Yeah, she’s my magic tutor,” Dinky said. “Do you know her?”
Clarity’s jaw dropped. “Twilight Sparkle is your magic tutor!?” she cried. “As in, the leader of the Elements of Harmony and student of Princess Celestia? That Twilight Sparkle?”
Dinky grinned sheepishly. “Oh yeah,” the purple filly mumbled, “I guess I should have realized that ponies from other parts of Equestria would have heard of her. Nopony treats her differently than anypony else around here, so I never really thought about it.”
“I guess you didn’t!” Clarity replied, still utterly shocked. “I know I wouldn’t have been able to go half a term without mentioning it to my friends if I had Twilight Sparkle as a magic tutor!”
“Well, why don’t you go with Dinky to talk to her tomorrow?” Ditzy asked. “I’m sure she’d be flattered to meet a filly who holds her in such high regard.”
“Can I?” Clarity asked, her eyes lighting up. “I can’t wait! I’m gonna get to meet one of the most powerful unicorns in Equestria!”
Clarity hopped in place, looking thrilled. Dinky shook her head, grinning at her friend’s antics.
“Jeez, put the brakes on, kiddo,” Watt said from his place at the table. “You’re looking as hyper as… well, me, I guess.”
“Yeah, as much as we know you want to meet Twilight, your visit isn’t exactly on happy terms,” Ditzy said.
Clarity stopped bouncing. “That’s true,” she said in a more grounded tone. “I came here to support Dinky when she needed me most, not to meet celebrity unicorns.”
“It’s fine,” Dinky chimed in. “If you were as somber as I am tonight, this evening would be even more depressing than it needs to be.”
She yawned. “It’s been a long, difficult day, though. I think it might be best if we get some sleep.”
Ditzy nodded. “Clarity, you’re free to stay in Dinky’s room for the night. We’ll help you get back to school tomorrow.”
“It’s the room down the hall on the left,” Dinky said. “Go take a look. I’ll be right there.”
Clarity nodded and disappeared down the hallway.
“I guess we’re gonna go too,” Breeze said, as he, Watt, and Cloudcover trotted to the foyer. “Come find me if you need me to help with this whole business with Dinky.”
Ditzy nuzzled her coltfriend. “I will. Have a good night.”
The stallions left, leaving Dinky alone with her mom. They stood in silence for a short while.
“So… what if Miss Twilight can’t help?” Dinky asked. “What if I really am expelled for good?”
“Then Celestia’s Academy will be losing a wonderful student,” Ditzy replied. “But no matter what happens, I want you to know that you are a very bright filly, and I’m very proud of you. Somewhere up there, your dad is looking down on you, and he’s proud of you too.”
Dinky didn’t reply, so the mare continued. “We will get this sorted out. You’re not a bad filly, and once we talk to Twilight, we’ll make sure the Academy knows that too. Now try to get some sleep; there’s no sense worrying about it anymore tonight.”
“You’re right, as usual,” Dinky admitted, smiling softly. “Goodnight, mommy.”
“Goodnight, Dinky.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dinky entered her bedroom and found Clarity spreading a blanket on the floor.
“What are you doing?”
“Makin’ a place to sleep,” Clarity replied. “We don’t have our bunks in here, remember?”
“My bed’s big enough for two,” Dinky pointed out. “You didn’t have to come to Ponyville to support me, so the least I can do is offer you a comfortable visit.”
“Really? Thanks,” Clarity said, hopping onto the bed. Dinky simply nodded and climbed onto the other side.
Both fillies lied there in the darkness. A feeling of tension still hung around Dinky, and she tossed and turned as she tried to push the day out of her mind and get some sleep.
“Still nervous, huh?” Clarity asked.
“Yeah,” Dinky said. “Even with you and mom sticking up for me, it just feels like so much is working against me. I wish somepony could promise me everything will turn out alright.”
Clarity snuggled up against Dinky. “I can’t do that, but I can give you the next best thing; a friend who won’t abandon you either way.”
“Aww,” Dinky cooed. “Thanks. That’s… oddly sentimental, coming from you.”
“Eh, there’s a time and place for mushy stuff,” Clarity replied. “I like to keep things a little lighter, but now and then I gotta be serious. You know, to remind you that I’m not taking the situation lightly, even if I might seem like it sometimes.”
Dinky nuzzled her playfully. “You don’t need to remind me. There are only a hoofful of ponies in Equestria who care about me as much as you do.”
The purple filly pulled up the covers. “Let’s try to get some sleep. I’m exhausted.”
Despite her worries, Dinky’s tired body took precedence over her tumultuous mind. Snuggled up next to Clarity, the filly finally drifted off into slumber.
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Thursday morning came. Class began as usual at Celestia’s Academy for Gifted Unicorns. Many miles away, two young unicorns and a pegasus mare made their way into the heart of Ponyville.
“There it is,” Dinky said, motioning to the huge old oak in the middle of town. “That’s the library where Twilight lives.”
Clarity stared at the tree. “I figured the Elements of Harmony would have grander homes than that,” she commented.
Dinky chuckled. “To Twilight, there’s nothing more grand than a room full of books. She’ll probably be either reading or re-shelving them when we get inside.”
Dinky knocked. The door opened, revealing Spike.
“Hi, Spike,” Dinky greeted. “Is Twilight in?”
“Ooh, a dragon!” Clarity squealed, trotting up and examining Spike from every angle, much to the baby dragon’s discomfort. “Do you deliver mail like the dragon at school?”
“Uh… yeah,” Spike said, edging away from the eager filly. “I’ll, uh… go get Twilight for you girls. Yeah.”
Spike dashed off, leaving the girls in the doorway. They stepped inside the tree, and Clarity pushed the door shut with a hind hoof.
“You need to chill a little,” Dinky commented. “I think you made Spike a little uncomfortable.”
“Sorry,” Clarity replied. “I’m just kinda antsy. I can’t believe I’m finally about to meet—”
Quick hoofsteps echoed from the stairwell, and the librarian stepped into the room.
“—Twilight Sparkle!” Clarity finished, her voice rising to a nervous squeak.
Twilight smiled. “Yep, that’s me. Welcome to the Ponyville Library. How can I help y—”
Twilight paused mid-sentence when she realized one of the fillies in front of her was her student. “Oh, hi Dinky. What are you doing here?” she asked. “It’s the middle of the week. There’s no reason for you to be home on a Thursday, unless…”
Twilight trailed off. She placed a hoof to her forehead, slightly exasperated.
“Come to think of it, news from Canterlot said there was some kind of ‘incident’ at the Academy yesterday, but they haven’t released the details to the public. Please tell me this has nothing to do with that.”
Dinky shuffled a hoof. “Well, I could tell you that, but I’d be lying…”
Twilight’s expression filled with concern. “Is that why you’re here right now?” she asked. “Are you okay? Did you get suspended or something?”
“Um, expelled, actually,” Dinky admitted quietly.
“What?” Twilight sputtered. “B-b-but how? What did you do?”
“That’s one of the things I came to talk to you about,” Dinky said. “I, uh… I sorta accidentally used dark magic.”
Twilight’s jaw dropped. “Where did you even learn about dark magic!?” she asked frantically. “I didn’t teach you any of that! Most unicorns have only heard stories, and even I only knew a few details until just a few months ago when the Crystal Empire reappeared!”
For what felt like the millionth time, Dinky retold her story, and Clarity made sure to interject periodically with additional details and confirmation of events. Twilight looked surprised at the mention of a mysterious colt wielding dark magic, and horrified at the news that the tower had nearly burned down. When the filly finished, Twilight took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she processed all that Dinky had said.
“Okay, it sounds to me like this whole thing is a result of your lack of knowledge about dark magic,” the mare said, “and I’m afraid that’s my fault. We were pressed for time during your tutoring, and I didn’t think you’d even be exposed to dark magic, so I didn’t think there was any reason to bring it up.”
“I still don’t really understand what it is,” Dinky complained. “I know it’s evil, but that’s about it. Everypony’s been avoiding my questions about it.”
Twilight nodded. “That’s because it’s an uncomfortable topic for most unicorns,” she pointed out. “Obviously, it’s a little late now, but I can tell you what you need to know about it. At the very least you’ll have the knowledge you need, should you ever encounter it again.”
Dinky and Clarity plopped down on one of the footstools Spike used to reach the higher shelves. “Well, it’s not like we don’t have time to listen,” Dinky admitted.
“I think both of us could use the knowledge anyway,” Clarity said. “Now that all this has happened, we should probably know a little more about it.”
“Excellent,” Twilight said. “Then it’s time for an apparently long overdue lesson. I don’t have any books on the subject; the only ones left that mention the topic in significant detail are in the Canterlot library. I’ll have to go from memory.”
She cleared her throat. “Dark magic, in simplest terms, is the antithesis of regular unicorn magic. Standard magic is inherently good; even things like battle magic are not meant to kill or severely wound, just to temporarily impair. That’s not to say regular magic can’t be used negatively, though; many unicorns throughout history who went bad used regular magic to commit their crimes.”
“So, whether magic is good or evil is dependent on the wielder,” Dinky summarized.
“How is dark magic different?” Clarity asked. “Besides the obvious, I mean.”
“That’s the strange thing about it!” Twilight said, leaning forward sharply. “Dark magic is so inherently evil, it’s impossible to use for good. History tells us that dark magic was created as a corruption of standard magic. It is powered by the same base energy within the unicorn’s body, but summoning it first requires transforming it into a twisted, poisonous shadow of the energy it was born from. The unicorn’s anatomy is built to make it easy to summon more typical magic, so anypony trying to cast dark magic is met with great physical and mental resistance, both because their subconscious realizes they are using perverse willpower to corrupt the energy, and because their body isn’t used to the process that must occur to make it happen.”
Dinky bit her lip nervously. “And so… if a pony continued to practice dark magic despite that… would it get easier over time?”
Twilight nodded somberly. “It would. The body will adapt, as it does when exposed to any new stressor. Extended time without using dark magic would make it become more difficult again. The more alarming effect, however, is dark magic’s effect on the mind if used repeatedly.”
Dinky swallowed. “And… that effect is?”
“In order to summon the spells, the mind must create negative energy,” Twilight explained. “I suppose it’s possible, in cases like yours, to not even realize you’re doing so, but the special sensation this Sunbeam showed you how to tap into is your own dark side: the vices and temptations that good ponies suppress. If a pony uses a lot of dark magic, those bits of darkness tucked away have an easier time creeping forward and influencing the spellcaster’s decisions and attitude. In many cases, dark magic users are already acting on the intentions of the more vile part of their mind before even choosing to cast dark spells, so once they do, the additional influence makes it difficult to stop.”
Twilight furrowed her brow. “How much dark magic did you use, anyway? From what you’ve told me, you only practiced for a short while, so I hope it wasn’t too much.”
Dinky recalled the one instance, only two days before, where she’d felt a sudden rush of destructive intent after casting the fire spell with Sunbeam. “Not… too much…” she said weakly. “Is, uh… is the effect on the mind reversible, like it is on the body?”
“It is, unless it becomes a severe influence. Then it’s harder to say,” Twilight said, stepping closer to Dinky and examining her worriedly. “You do want to stop using dark magic now that you know what it is, right?”
“Yes!” Dinky insisted, looking shocked that Twilight would even ask such a question.
“Then I think you’re probably going to be okay,” Twilight said, relieved. “Even I’m not sure exactly what happens when a pony uses lots of dark magic for a long period of time. Theoretically, if a pony was to do so, their conscience would eventually shrivel entirely as the influence of the corrupt magic they are creating takes over.”
Dinky blanched. “But that’s not going to happen to me… right?” she asked, her voice strained.
Twilight shook her head. “Not unless you keep casting dark spells,” the mare said. “Dark magic may have had a minimal effect on you, since you did practice several times, but it shouldn’t have caused a dangerous change. Just remember what we talked about if you’re tempted to use it again. If dark magic seems like a good idea, for almost any reason, that’s just the influence of the spells you have cast clouding your judgment. Ignore it, and find another way to solve the problem, and hopefully after a few months the slight corruption will fade.”
“For almost any reason?” Dinky asked, raising an eyebrow. “Not that I’m planning to find myself in such a situation, but when would dark magic be considered a good idea?”
Twilight sighed. “Well, in most ponies’ lives, it’s never a good idea,” she said, her ears flattening ashamedly against her head. “The only reason I said that is because I had no choice but to use a few dark spells to overcome some of the puzzles set by King Sombra, former dictator of the Crystal Empire. He was a user of dark magic, as well.”
“You’ve used dark magic?” Dinky asked, aghast. She and Clarity exchanged shocked glances.
“Twice,” Twilight said curtly. “Both times were to unlock secrets Sombra had hidden. Believe me, I never want to cast it again.”
Dinky sighed. “I’ve cast a lot more than two dark spells, though…”
Twilight trotted closer and lifted Dinky’s chin with a hoof. “Dinky, you’re going to be okay,” she insisted. “The fact that you’re so scared and remorseful about all this means you will easily be able to overcome any damage done. Think of it like having a cold. When you get a little sick, you just rest and treat yourself with care, and eventually it goes away. Dark magic’s done the same thing inside of you, and just like with any other small malady, you’ll heal in time. But if you ever, ever have any more concerns about magic you’re not sure about, please talk to an adult.”
Dinky gave a sheepish grin. “I… think I’ve figured that much out, Miss Twilight…”
“Good,” the mare replied more cheerfully. “Now, I know for a fact that you didn’t know any magic at all before I tutored you, and I know you didn’t learn dark magic from me, so, strange as it all sounds, I think your story deserves a little credit.”
Dinky rolled her eyes. “Tell that to the dean,” she mumbled. “She has proof that Sunbeam’s dead, remember? She doesn’t want me at that school, so she’s going to take advantage of that for all she’s worth.”
“I know, and I can’t explain that either,” Twilight said thoughtfully. “But unlike the dean, I believe that you really did use dark magic unintentionally. I’m not sure what’s really going on here, but I’m writing a letter to Princess Celestia right now to see if she can help.”
Dinky jumped up. “That would be great!” she said. “I don’t know if she’ll overrule my expulsion, but maybe she’ll believe me more than the dean did, at least.”
“Spike!” Twilight called. “Come down here please! I need you to take a letter!”
The ponies listened to the distinctive sound of footsteps on the upper floor, followed by the even more distinctive sound of a baby dragon falling down a flight of stairs. Spike staggered into the room, dusted himself off, and quickly opened a scroll, looking at Twilight expectantly.
“Dear Princess Celestia,” Twilight dictated. “After speaking with my student Dinky Doo, it has come to my attention that the actions by the Academy staff regarding the recent dark magic incident may have been taken without proper attention to all details and sides of the argument surrounding the event. If possible, I would like to request a brief meeting to see if you interpret Dinky’s side of the story differently than the acting dean. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.”
Spike finished writing the note and sent the letter away in a puff of green flame. “And now we wait,” he said. “Don’t worry, girls, Princess Celestia usually replies to Twilight within minutes.”
“In the meantime…” Dinky said, grinning, “I think my friend here has been dying to meet you, Miss Twilight.”
Twilight turned to Clarity and raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Are you one of Dinky’s classmates?”
“Yes, ma’am!” Clarity said excitedly. “My name’s Clarity! It’s so great to finally get to meet you, Miss Twilight!”
Twilight stepped back. “Well, you’re certainly enthusiastic!” she said, a bit taken aback. “You aren’t even from around here, though; why were you so eager to meet me?”
“Why?” Clarity asked, stunned. “Haven’t you saved Equestria like four times now? Aren’t you the leader of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony? And most importantly, aren’t you basically the most powerful unicorn since Starswirl himself to study at Celestia’s Academy? Why wouldn’t I want to meet you?”
Twilight blushed. “Oh, I guess stuff like that does get around,” she admitted.
“You bet it’s gotten around,” Clarity confirmed, “especially in towns like Whinnychester where there are a lot of unicorns. You’re practically a legend there!”
Clarity opened her bag, and a quill and roll of paper floated out in clouds of red magic. The objects presented themselves to Twilight.
“Can I have your autograph? Please?”
“Sure,” Twilight giggled, taking the quill and scribbling her name. “There you go. I’ve never been approached by a ‘fan’ before.”
Clarity opened her bag and placed the scroll inside, handling it with a sort of reverence, as if it was her most precious possession.
Spike chuckled. “Look out, Twi,” he warned. “Pretty soon, you won’t be able to travel anymore without getting trampled by an army of excited little—”
Spike’s sentence was cut short by a sudden burp, and the resulting tongue of flame deposited a scroll marked with the royal seal at Twilight’s hooves. “Oh, look at that,” he commented. “Told ya’ she’d answer right away.”
Twilight opened the letter, and the three ponies quickly read through the short note inside.
My Dearest Twilight,
Bright Spark sent me a report of the incident, but the details seemed vague and the overall resolution suspiciously simple. I would like to ask you, Mrs. Doo, and Dinky herself to meet me in Canterlot this evening, so I can be sure I have heard all the facts.
I look forward to seeing you in the castle tonight,
-Princess Celestia
“Well, that settles it then,” said Twilight decisively. “Go home, get your mom, and meet me at the train station in an hour. We’re going back to Canterlot.”
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Dinky couldn’t help but feel a bit uncomfortable under the gaze of the dozens of staunch, motionless palace guards. Twilight didn’t seem concerned though, so she did her best to ignore them and follow her tutor and her mom down the long magenta carpet that led to the throne. Clarity trotted along silently beside her, taking in the majestic surroundings with unconcealed awe.
At the end of the hall sat Princess Celestia in all her glory. She smiled as her subjects approached and bowed.
“Hello, my dear Twilight,” the princess greeted. “And hello to the rest of you. I wish we were meeting to discuss a happier topic, but what occurred at the Academy yesterday is not something that can be taken lightly.”
She leaned forward, looking over Twilight’s and Ditzy’s heads and directly at Dinky. “Dinky, could you come forward, please?”
The two mares in front of Dinky stepped aside, allowing the filly to move forward. Dinky, intimidated, wasn’t able to get herself to move until Clarity gave her a nudge.
“Are… are you mad at me, Princess?” she asked nervously.
“I’m not going to judge what has happened until I hear your side of the story,” Celestia replied gently. “If Twilight is correct, and she usually is, your version of the story may differ from the one I heard from Bright Spark. Please tell me exactly what you told the dean.”
Dinky repeated her story yet again. Celestia’s eyebrows rose at the mention of Sunbeam, but she said nothing until the filly had completed the whole tale.
“Interesting,” the Princess said. “There are indeed a few points that Bright Spark left out, including the fact that she seems to be biased against you. You must try to understand her; she has been in the service of the Academy for many years, and usually she performs her duties very well. I realize she is becoming somewhat less compassionate as she ages, but I still believe she wouldn’t expel somepony without at least a fairly good reason. I need to reconcile your story with hers before I decide if she acted too quickly. Thankfully, she should be here to clarify right about n—”
Celestia’s last word was drowned out as the door to the throne room was flung open, revealing an aging yellow unicorn in glasses.
“My princess!” Bright Spark called as she trotted down the aisle. “I came as soon as I received your summons. For what reason was I called here for an audience with—”
Bright Spark stopped when she noticed the ponies standing off to the side. Her gaze came to rest on Dinky, and although her expression did not waver, Dinky could feel anger burning in the dean’s eyes.
“Ah. I see Miss Doo is here. I take it this meeting pertains to the incident on Academy grounds yesterday.”
“Yes,” Celestia answered. “The report you sent me yesterday stated that Dinky started a fire with dark magic in the girls’ residence tower, and that after it was extinguished, she was unable to provide any reasonable alibi for where she learned the spell, so in light of the danger she caused, you expelled her.”
“That is correct,” Bright Spark replied. “Use of dark magic is, after all, a clearly punishable act. Even if lives hadn’t been in danger, the use of that forbidden magic alone warrants severe punishment.”
“I don’t deny that,” Celestia replied. “What I don’t understand is why you failed to mention the pony Dinky claimed she learned the magic from.”
“Oh, her alibi was so clearly false that I didn’t even bother you with it,” Bright Spark said simply. “I gave you the facts, not a desperate student’s lies.”
Ditzy bristled. “Now wait just a second, lady,” the pegasus barked. “My Dinky is not a liar. The story she told the princess just now was exactly the same as the one she told me. If it was made up, there’d probably be some parts that were a little less constant.”
Bright Spark rolled her eyes. “Princess, I assure you, her argument is meaningless,” the dean continued. “It’s completely impossible for the pony she incriminated to have been present to teach her dark magic.”
“She described a pony in detail,” Celestia replied, undeterred. “She was able to name him and describe his appearance and Cutie Mark for each of us, and I assume she did the same for you. Do you deny this?”
“Well, no,” Bright Spark said, just a bit less confidently. “But, my Princess, it was Sunbeam that she blamed. Her argument falls flat then and there.”
“Is it as simple as that?” Celestia asked. “You didn’t even look into her claims?”
“Why waste the time?” Bright Spark asked. “Sunbeam is not a student, nor is he on the Academy grounds. Last time we checked, he was buried in a forgotten cemetery in Hollow Shades! I hardly think a colt who died forty years ago requires our attention.”
“If you’re so certain he’s gone, how was Dinky able to find out about him?” the princess asked.
“I don’t know,” Bright Spark replied indignantly. “I’m sure there’s a history of the Academy somewhere that mentions him. His death was a rather tragic accident, after all. It was well publicized at the time, as I’m sure you remember.”
“Be that as it may, Dinky had to learn the magic from somewhere,” Celestia argued.
Bright spark reared up and slammed her front hooves down. “Princess, why can’t you accept that Dinky clearly searched out the resources to teach herself these spells? If she had a pony to incriminate, surely she would have mentioned them to save her own hide! And for the last time, Sunbeam is not an option, because he is dead!”
“Do not raise your voice at me, Bright Spark!” Celestia commanded in the Royal Canterlot Voice. “I may give you the privilege to run my Academy, but that does not mean you may disrespect me!”
Bright Spark’s demeanor changed instantly. She collapsed, quivering, at the monarch’s hooves.
“My deepest apologies, my princess! I spoke out of line,” she whimpered. “I beg your forgiveness.”
“You may rise,” Celestia said sternly. “But please, no further outbursts. This is a civil conversation.”
“Of course, my princess,” Bright Spark breathed, getting up. “I am merely suggesting that I do not see a reason to pay much attention to claims of a pony we know is dead wielding dark magic.”
“Even if that is true,” Celestia countered, “you’ve still failed to consider an important fact. The only magic Dinky has ever practiced outside of the school has been in Ponyville, mostly under the instruction of Twilight Sparkle. Obviously, she didn’t learn dark magic there, so if she did pursue the topic by herself, that means she found the resources to teach herself about it within the Academy walls.”
The dean’s eyes widened. “We would never allow such a thing!” she insisted. “There isn’t a single page in any book, or the barest mention allowed by any of our professors, about those terrible spells. Any student caught so much as mentioning them would be questioned, as well.”
“Well, then I believe we still have an ongoing mystery on our hooves,” Celestia stated. “We cannot assume Dinky acted with intent to harm until we can prove where she learned the spells. I suggest you launch an investigation at the Academy, to search for any further evidence of dark magic use. In the meantime, Dinky will be permitted to return and continue her studies.”
“I will?” Dinky asked, breaking into a huge smile.
“She will!?” Bright Spark yelled, outraged.
“Yes, she will,” said Celestia forcefully. “And I thought I said no more outbursts. I’m overruling Dinky’s expulsion, and if you continue to argue I may begin to question your loyalty to the Academy and dedication to your position.”
Bright Spark slammed her mouth shut and backed up a few paces and removed her glasses, wiping them nervously with a lens cloth. “Of course, Princess. You know best.”
Celestia’s horn began to glow, and a familiar roll of paper, stamped with a big red X, appeared. The princess’s magic flared brighter, and the red ink began to melt off the paper, dripping down and evaporating into steam when it hit the marble steps. Soon, Dinky’s enrollment record looked brand new.
“Dinky, while dark magic use is a serious offence,” Celestia began, “I have no reason not to believe that it was entirely accidental. You may return to the Academy, but if you’re caught using any more of those spells, I will stand by the dean’s decision to have you removed from our program. Is that clear?”
“Completely,” Dinky said, nodding enthusiastically. “Am I still going to have that note on my citizenship record that says I’m a magical criminal, though?”
“Not quite,” Celestia replied. “In light of this decision, you are not being held accountable for the accident at the tower, so that particular accusation will be removed. However, even I can’t change the fact that a note must remain saying you are capable of using dark magic. Any unicorn who has done so must have that on their record, and no one can deny that you were the one who cast that fire spell.”
“It’s not as big a deal as it sounds,” Twilight said gently. “My record includes the same note.”
“Mine does as well,” Celestia admitted.
Celestia turned back to Bright Spark, who now stood some distance away. “Return to the Academy,” the princess commanded. “I’ll be sending Dinky back on the next train.”
Bright Spark forced a respectful bow. “Yes, princess.”
The old mare cast one more not-so-subtle glare in Dinky’s direction, and then turned up her nose and trotted from the room.