//------------------------------// // 6. The Ticket Master - Part 1 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// A week had passed since the events that changed Midnight’s life forever. He’d settled into Sweet Apple Acres well enough, despite the rough and shaky start, such as getting up at the crack of dawn (often by a rude awakening courtesy of Applejack or even Big Mac). At first Midnight simply helped around the farm with simple chores, like gathering up the apple baskets, hoeing the crops, feeding the chickens and pigs, helping Granny Smith around the house, and keeping an eye on Apple Bloom. They promised they’d soon teach him apple-bucking, and he honestly wanted to give it a try. But today, he was excited! With a pep in his step, he eagerly trotted through town, on his way to the Golden Oak Library. Today he was to begin his first magic lesson with Twilight Sparkle! He wore his saddlebags but he no longer felt self-conscious about his lack of a cutie-mark. He was just carrying a few things he was bringing to his lesson. He soon entered the library, and entered the first section, where the room was centered by a wooden bust of a horse head. He also noticed a chalkboard set up and a desk, which Midnight assumed was for him. Sitting in front of it, he slid off his bags and carefully took out the apple he’d brought for Twilight. If I’m gonna be a student, I may as well milk the situation, he thought with a chuckle. Setting it on the desk, he waited. He considered yelling out for Twilight but that would’ve been rude, especially in a library. Twilight didn’t keep him waiting long, and a door opened to reveal a wheeled table she pushed in with her magic, the table topped with a few books and objects. “Oh good! You’re here, I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long.” “Not at all,” Midnight waved her concern off, and pointed out the apple. “Brought you something.” “Why, Midnight,” Twilight gave him a sneaky look, “attempting to bribe the teacher?” “Ha-ha,” Midnight knew she was just joking, but she accepted the apple anyway. She bit into it, and found it delicious and crisp. “Now then,” she levitated a piece of chalk and wrote, “Welcome to ‘Magic 101’, I will be your teacher, Twilight Sparkle.” “Given that I already know that,” Midnight smirked with a raised brow, “was that really necessary? Ow!” Twilight had launched the chalk at his forehead, with a raised brow. “Raise your hoof if you wish to speak! As to your interrupting question, I read that the best method of teaching is to maintain a professional attitude. Anything else?” “Sorry,” Midnight muttered as he rubbed the spot where the chalk nailed him. “Please continue.” “Very well then,” Twilight beamed, inside feeling a little giddy. I can’t believe how thrilling it is to be the teacher for once! And I even got a student of my own, eeh! “Um, Twilight?” Twilight snapped out of her reverie, and cleared her throat. “Excuse me. Why don’t we start with an explanation about Magic! First off, everypony has magic, not just the unicorns. Earth Ponies and Pegasai use magic in a more… subtle way, I guess you could say.” “You mean like how Pegasus Ponies can walk on clouds and control the weather, right?” “Exactly,” Twilight said with a nod, “whereas Earth Ponies use a magic even more subtle. Their internal magic gives them a physical strength greater than Unicorns and Pegasi alike. Not only that, they are able to channel their magic into the land they care for, helping them grow crops that flourish under their care.” “Interesting,” Midnight muttered. “So what about Unicorn magic?” “Unicorns differ obviously by our ability to actively perform magic,” Twilight answered. “We are able to channel more raw magic through our horns, and by focus and belief, we are able to project magic by casting spells, and affect our surrounding reality.” “So… it’s focusing on a target, and envisioning the desired effect?” Midnight asked. “Yes! That’s it exactly!” Twilight was surprised, Midnight figured it out so easily. “So, with that in mind, let’s start with something simple: Telekinesis!” Twilight walked over to the table with the books and objects. She opened a chest and levitated out several metal orbs, each larger than the next. “Now, while telekinesis is something every unicorn can learn, each of them has varying strengths in power, measured by how much they can move with their minds. Focus on this weight right here, the 1-pounder.” She gestured to the smallest orb, engraved with the number 1. “Focus on it, and envision it moving. Try raising it a hoof.” Midnight guessed a hoof was Pony for a foot, as in a unit of measurement. He locked his eyes on the orb, focusing, and imagined the orb rising in the air. Rise… rise! A pale blue aura surrounded the orb. “That’s it, Midnight, keep it up!” Twilight encouraged. The orb wobbled a moment, but then to both unicorns’ shock, it shot up, and they heard a loud noise and they looked to see the orb had driven a hole into the ceiling above, and was stuck, leaving them both at a loss. “Whoa…” Midnight whispered. “Indeed!” Twilight agreed, “I think you might have put a little too much… oomph into it.” “Sorry!” Midnight’s ears drooped. “I didn’t mean to ruin your ceiling!” “It’s okay,” Twilight assured, as she focused on the orb and it wedged itself free before floating back down onto the table. “Let’s try again, and this time, don’t try so hard. Just stay calm and think of the orb floating. Like a dandelion seed!” Midnight got the idea, and took a deep breath to calm himself down. He looked at the orb, and closed his eyes. He imagined it rising up and floating about, thinking of a dandelion seed floating in the breeze as Twilight suggested. “Midnight, you’re doing it!” Midnight looked and smiled to see the orb floating above their heads, as whimsically as though it were caught in the breeze. Midnight envisioned it going one way, and it did. He envisioned it bobbing up and down, and it did! “This is so cool!” “Well done, Midnight,” Twilight congratulated, “now let’s try the heavier ones.” As the lesson progressed, Midnight found he could lift all the weights Twilight had brought out, including the fifty-pounder, and to Twilight’s surprise, none of them felt heavy to Midnight! It got to the point where Midnight levitated them all and had them orbit above their heads like a miniature solar system. “Amazing, Midnight! Not only do you have such intricate control, you’re lifting them all without straining yourself!” “How would I know if I was being strained?” Midnight asked as he gently set the orbs back onto the table. “It would feel like a headache,” Twilight answered, “which would become increasingly painful the more you strained your magic. But somehow you don’t seem to be suffering any ill-effects at all!” Midnight laughed and said with a smirk, “I guess when you got it, you got it…” Twilight laughed and said, “Why don’t we take a break?” They moved out onto the balcony for some fresh air, Spike bringing them some ice water. They just talked about this and that, particularly about their lives. Twilight found Midnight’s old world to be quite interesting, such as all the machines and devices humans had invented and made use of everyday. “We have stuff like what you describe, except they’re powered by magic.” “Well, be glad that you haven’t reached the technological achievements humanity has,” Midnight dismissed as he sipped his water. “You wouldn’t believe some of the horrible things humans have made, and what they can do, have done…” “Are you okay?” Twilight asked, seeing Midnight looked down. “You miss your world, don’t you?” Midnight shook his head, “It’s not my world anymore. I miss the life I had there, the people I loved.” He sighed, saying, “And I didn’t appreciate just what I had until it was too late.” “Do you ever wanna go back?” “No,” Midnight replied. “My old life is over. Equestria is my home now, and I’m happy to be here. Besides, I found a new family in my friends.” Twilight got up and gave Midnight a hug, much to his surprise. But he smiled and returned it. “I’m happy you’re here too,” Twilight said when they parted their embrace, “my faithful student.” “You were just waiting to use that, weren’t you?” Midnight smirked. And the two laughed when Spike showed up, shouting, “Twilight! I just got a letter from the princess!” “What’s it say?” Twilight asked. Spike undid the seal and unrolled the scroll before clearing his throat and speaking dramatically, “‘Hear ye, hear ye! Her Grand Royal Highness, Princess Celestia, is pleased to announce The Grand Galloping Gala to be held in the magnificent capitol of Canterlot on the 21rst of, uh blah-blah-blah…’” Spike said, skipping a few details, before getting to, “Ah! ‘Cordially extends and invitation to Twilight Sparkle plus one guest!’” Spike removed two golden tickets from the scroll and Twilight grabbed them in her aura, saying excitably, “The Grand Galloping Gala?!” Uh-oh! Midnight remembered this, but realized the story had changed again! Because she was giving me a lesson instead of helping Applejack! Gotta play along… “…What’s this about a gala, Twilight?” “The Grand Galloping Gala is the most prestigious ball in Equestria! “Twilight explained, squealing with a giddy smile. “It’s something anypony would give their hoof for, for a chance to attend!” “It’s really girly,” Spike scoffed, “Too much dancing and…” “And?” Midnight waved his hoof for him to move along. “Well, you know!” Spike insisted. “Other girly stuff!” “Wait!” They looked at Twilight, who looked troubled. “I only have two tickets… Who should I invite?” “Well, count me out,” Midnight shrugged. “I’m not really into dances, but I’m sure one of our other friends would be interested!” “That’s what I’m afraid of,” Twilight lamented and Midnight suddenly remembered what was the problem. And it’s a big problem.