//------------------------------// // Chapter Nine – The Scion of Harmony // Story: The Scion of Harmony // by Thornwing //------------------------------// Twilight made another pass over the southern rim of the bay. The air currents swirled on a sweet smelling breeze as she passed over clusters of fruit trees lording over smaller berry bushes hugging the coastline below. Of all the wonders of the bay that could have caught her interest, she was most enthralled by the strange vegetation that choked the beaches of the secluded harbor. In regulated segments, the plant life changed from hearty nuts and ferns to the soft wave of sunflowers and cornstalks. An abundance of food in varying forms ringed the hidden cove before giving way to desolate desert and impassable mountains further back from shore. In seemed the only way in and out of this place was through the passage the Flying Dutchmare traversed only minutes ago. After taking in the lay of the land, she returned to the ship and the impatient glare of her would-be guide. Starswirl waited on deck with her packs slung guardedly over his back. She swooped down and hovered just above before gracefully lowering herself to a landing. The crew made progress in putting out the tender while she took in the sights and were finishing final preparations for launch. “There are half a dozen plants out there I’ve never seen before.” Twilight smiled as she beamed over her shared discovery. “This place is amazing.” “That’s because nopony ever comes here.” Starswirl tapped his hoof as he waited not-so-patiently for the crew to ready his rowboat. “We have a deadline to meet and we mustn’t keep the Guardian waiting.” “Cool your heals, wizard. They’re working as fast as they can.” Seachelle inspected the lines as the crew made ready to launch. “You might want to hop in before we put it in the water, unless of course you want to save us all the trouble and teleport yourself to shore instead.” “As much as I would like to do so, there are rules in this place. The Guardian is very particular about the wanton misuse of magic, especially so close to home.” Starswirl shook his rump and tossed Twilight’s packs into the tender. The recent infusion of magic served to put a little spring back in his step, and he climbed over the edge and settled into the rear seat with relative ease. “All right boys, give ‘er a lift.” Captain and crew took hold of the rope and hoisted the little boat off the deck. Buckaneer hauled another line across the mast and swung the craft out over the side before tying it off and rejoining the rest of the crew to assist with lowering the boat down into the water. Twilight spread out her wings once more and hopped over the railing. Keeping a steady beat, she floated her way down and unhooked the lines once the boat settled in. With the lines free, she took her place on the second bench and bent down to pick up an oar. “Remember, no magic. The master hates it when magic is used to perform mundane tasks.” Starswirl helped her fit the oar into the oarlock and held it while she worked on fitting the second. He turned his neck and cupped his other hoof to his mouth shouting up at the captain and crew. “Feel free to stay and partake of the bounty of the bay. You are welcome to leave whenever you choose, but remember, once you sail into open waters you will not be able to return without the Guardian’s assistance.” Seachelle poked her hat and nose over the railing and stared down at the two occupants of the rowboat below. “Won’t there be a return trip? I wasn’t aware this was a one-way deal.” “This could take a while.” Starswirl leaned back and saluted. “While the outcome is not assured, either way, Twilight will not require your services and you are relieved, captain.” Twilight nearly dropped the second oar in the water. “What do you mean? You never told me this was a one-way trip!” She leaned back and called up to Seachelle. “I would appreciate it if you would wait for me.” She dropped her head and directed the rest more at Starswirl than the captain. “It’s quite a long flight home, and the idea of going solo over dragon country is much less preferred than the alternative.” “Suit yourself. It really doesn’t matter either way.” Starswirl pushed off from the ship. Seachelle called back in reply, “We’ll wait for you, princess. We got nowhere to be just yet. You take care of business and then we can all go home together.” “Thank you.” Twilight briefly waved and then finished sorting out the oars. Throwing her entire body into motion, she hauled back and drew them through the water. The amount of effort she put into the task did not seem to produce any significant result. She kept at it, however, all the while questioning why someone more capable wasn’t allowed to assist. The grateful first mate had offered to row them ashore, but Starswirl insisted that only the two of them were allowed near the temple. It took some time, but Twilight found the harbor at last. Her time spent navigating the river gave her ample instruction on the functional use of oars in steering the vessel. The lack of current and general calm of the bay helped her efforts. She pulled into the only slip next to the only dock along the entire shoreline. Starswirl stepped out of the boat and tied off the mooring line. Twilight stowed the oars and pulled out her packs before joining him. The marble temple with the golden dome rose up ahead. Only a few steps separated her from meeting the Guardian and finally resolving the mystery of her summons. A wave of both fear and excitement washed over her. She looked over at Starswirl. “A-Any last words of advice?” The trembling excitement manifested in her speech. “You’ll do fine, Twilight. Just remember who you are and everything that you’ve done to get you to this point.” Starswirl placed a hoof on the first step leading up to the temple. “Let’s not keep the Master waiting any longer.” She swung her packs over her back and struggled for a moment to fasten the belt around her belly without the use of her magic. Once secured, she quickly followed the wizard as he led the way up the stairs. As they approached the gold-inlaid oak doors, a strange but soothing voice called out from within the temple. “I bid thee welcome, Scion of Harmony. The time of the Trials has come. Enter and be met.” The doors swung out as if waiting to embrace her in a hug and the pacifying smell of wildflower incense rolled down to greet her. Twilight remembered to wear her crown but still felt a little unsure of herself as she entered the temple of the unknown Master of Starswirl the Bearded. Her eyes adjusted to the lamp light within the rotunda as she crossed the threshold and left the warming rays of the sun behind. At the far end of the room, a beast lay sprawled between two of the giant pillars. Its tail wrapped around a third and a thin line of smoke oozed from its nostrils. In the center of the room, an enormous crystal sphere hovered over a golden cistern which lay nearly level with the floor. The entire spectrum of color danced and spun within the globe, and a silver liquid swirled in the container below as if waiting to catch any stray color that fell. Twilight involuntarily slowed her steps allowing the gap between herself and Starswirl to grow. The beast raised its head from the floor and cracked open an additional few sets of eyes reaching up into what she believed would be its forehead. Two massive horns drew back from its head in spiraling trails—each of which was larger than she was. Another three points formed a sort of crown set in the space between drawn horns atop the crest. One large spike curved out from its chin below a gaping mouth containing at least three visible rows of jagged teeth. The entire span of its body resembled a fully matured dragon, only bigger—even the tail forked and drew out a bundle of spikes near the end. Brilliant red scales adorned the upper shelf while a more subdued tan layer coated its belly. “Princess, please approach the Master. It isn’t polite to lurk in doorways.” Starswirl motioned for her to move closer and Twilight followed his command blindly running on autopilot for the moment. She crossed the marble floor with her hoofsteps echoing in the grand chamber and came to a stop near her escort. Staring up at the great beast, she felt incredibly small in its presence. Starswirl gave a deep bow to the creature. “May I present Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, Bearer of the Element of Magic, and Scion of Harmony.” He raised back up and turned to Twilight. “Princess, this is Lord Aeon, Guardian of Harmony and Master of Magic—the greatest and last of his kind.” Without any further communication, he backed into the corner and practically disappeared into the shadows. Twilight bowed her head and shrunk away. She wanted to hide behind a pillar for all the good it would do. Reaching deep into her core, she bolstered the courage to speak. “H-How do you do, your majesty.” Aeon seemed to chuckle and belched out a puff of smoke. Alternating eyes blinked and he swung his head closer taking a better look at his summoned guest. “I trust my servant took good care of you in your travels and that he has explained the purpose for your visit, Scion?” “Uhhhhh…” Twilight was still in shock from her introduction. “Yes and no, I guess?” She ducked as another puff of smoke sailed overhead. “Is that so? Perhaps we should clear the air before we get started then.” Aeon swung back into his niche and spread the claws from a massive foreleg out across the floor. “Introductions aside, how much have you been told?” Twilight took a deep breath and steadied herself as she worked to formulate a response. “I’m not sure where to start.” The warm and inviting demeanor of the dragon lord helped to relax her fears. “All I think I know is that I was summoned to face your Trials and that in some way this is all a part of my destiny. It’s very confusing—especially the part where Princess Celestia somehow fits into things.” She struggled to come to terms with the analytics of her situation. “Ha! It figures. Starswirl always preferred the less direct approach.” Aeon’s tail spun around the spot where Starswirl faded into the background. With a flick of his tail and a brief holler, the wizard reappeared rubbing his backside. “Perhaps we should start from the beginning and work our way forward. If you have any questions along the way, feel free to ask.” Aeon’s toothy grin stretched into a broad smile. “I would appreciate that very much, your highness.” Twilight gave a small curtsy and suppressed a giggle at the sight of the scolding her companion had just received. Aeon settled in and puffed up a ring of smoke above his head before he began. “This is my tale—see that you listen closely as we have little time for pleasantries.” The great dragon lord stared down with his massive cluster of eyes. Twilight could see her entire self reflected in half a dozen of them. As if describing a dream, Aeon regaled her with his story. “In the beginning, many eons ago, there lived the Ancient Ones—the founders, the crafters, the builders. They were the architects of everything that has evolved in time to become that which we now know to be. These were the original Guardians of Harmony and Masters of Magic, and I was their servant—along with my brothers and sisters. I witnessed the creation of this world and many more just like it scattered across the cosmos in numbers uncountable in your lifetime. Everything that is, was, and will be, is but a shadow of their lingering legacy. “Unfortunately, a great calamity befell the Ancients. One by one, the Great Ones were destroyed along with the worlds of their creation as they fell into darkness and chaos. I alone managed to escape the conflict. In my struggle to safeguard the Elements and preserve the legacy of the Ancient Ones, I founded this sanctuary—The Temple of Harmony. I rose above the wars and strife that eventually consumed my brothers and sisters. Alone, I remain the sole Guardian of Harmony and the last of my kind.” The dragon lord stretched his neck and produced another puff of smoke from his gaping nostrils. Struggling to rise up, the structure around them shook as Aeon trembled. Twilight could feel the ground rumble as the dragon lord shifted back into position and continued to speak. “Just as I witnessed the Ancient’s decent toward their ultimate destruction, I watched their creations grow and develop. As the last of my masters fell, I swore an oath to uphold the Mantle of the Guardian and never allow such a fate to fall upon the creatures of this world. I vowed to protect the magic of your creation and keep the balance of Harmony for as long as I should live. This planet survived the destruction of Magic and the collapse of Harmony across the universe by virtue of my Guardianship. I became the reflection of all that remained of the greatness of the Ancient Ones—the last shining beacon of a once proud and noble empire.” He paused and took a large breath. “That is where you come in, Scion.” Twilight sat down on her haunches. Her bags slipped onto her hips and rested against the floor. Her lack of writing implements to document the history of the planet gnawed as her. “What do you mean? It sounds like you skipped over quite a bit to jump straight to me. What is my part in all of this?” The ground shook again as Aeon fell forward on an unsteady limb. Another puff of smoke left his mouth. “I am dying, young one.” The enormity of the situation flew past Twilight, but seemed to hit Starswirl like a ton of bricks. Aeon rose up slightly and continued. “If I should pass on before my Mantle were to be assumed by another, magic would cease to exist here. Everywhere else, this is already the case, and the chaos and destruction that it brings would shake this world to its core. I fear that may not be all—the entire universe may see an end as a result should I fail in my duties. “Scion, I fear that I may already be too late—you are truly my final hope. If there is any chance that magic and harmony are to continue in this world, in the universe as a whole, the Scion must prove worthy to take up the Mantle of the Master of Magic and Guardian of Harmony.” Aeon’s horns crackled and came to life. The cloud of smoke burst into flames. A cornet of fire encircled the glowing horns atop his head. Twilight dove for cover as a burst of magical energy shot toward the crystal sphere floating in the center of the room. Starswirl came to Twilight’s aid and helped to lift her off the ground. “It’s okay, Twilight. He’s just trying to show you something.” He spun her around and pointed at the magical foci. “Look into the pool and see with your own eyes.” Twilight raised her head and peered into the swirling rainbow mass of crystal above. She took a few tentative steps forward and approached the golden cistern. Multicolored filaments drained down from the orb and disrupted the silver mirror surface that lay nearly even with the floor. She gazed into the pool as images began to form. “What am I supposed to be looking for?” Her question posed to either party at once but also in reflection to herself in the waters below. Aeon responded, “It was my intent to find a creature of significant worth so that I may pass on my Mantle and my Guardianship before I die. There were two others like you—both of whom you already know. The first such candidate stands before you.” Twilight looked into the pool. The image of a much older looking Starswirl appeared on the surface. She gasped and turned her head slightly toward the actual Starswirl. “You never told me that you were a Scion as well.” Her words seemed to pierce the tough outer shell of the unshakable wizard. Continuing in front of her, the scene played on. The old mage in the pool poured over stacks of books and seemed hard at work devising a particularly difficult spell. Starswirl came over to stand next to Twilight and peered into the pool along with her. “It is true, and again it isn’t. I was not the first true Scion—a poor imitation at best. That honor falls to my dear protégé, Celestia. I had barely started along the path when my own curiosity and impatient nature got the better of me. You could say, I had a little accident while trying to become an Alicorn—the first step in the path of the Scion.” Twilight stepped back as the wizard in the pool was engulfed in a storm of magical energy and burst into a scattering array of sparks and smoke. She stared over at Starswirl as the vision in the pool cleared. “What do you mean?” Starswirl closed his eyes and his horn lit up. A small trail of green energy leaked from the tip and wafted up into the crystal sphere above. His corporeal form shifted and faded. In moments, all that remained of the grey wizard was a transparent husk vaguely resembling the outline of the stallion. “I died that day, Twilight.” The princess felt her knees go slack and darkness crept in around the corners of her vision. The entire scene faded to black and the only thing she could feel was the sensation of falling. “That’s a good girl. Just take it nice and easy.” Twilight opened her eyes to the sight of a young grey stallion staring down at her. “W-Where am I? What happened?” She rubbed her eyes and tried to lift her neck. A gentle hoof slipped under her mane and helped her to sit up slightly. “We should really stop meeting like this.” Starswirl supported her as she rolled over and found the strength in her legs slowly return. “Take it slow and we can get back to where we were whenever you’re ready.” “Please tell me this is all a dream.” Twilight came around and realized where she was. She sat on a small bench in the alcove near the doors to the Temple of Harmony. Across the room, Aeon’s long neck swayed like a flickering candle in the evening breeze. His eyes were all locked in her direction. She looked up at Starswirl and asked the first thing that came to mind. “So, you’ve been dead this whole time?” “In a manner of speaking.” Starswirl backed away, his silver tail and shiny coat looking solid but with just a hint of ethereal gleam. “My spell only partially worked. Without understanding what I had done, there was no way to move forward and no chance to return to my previous condition. No longer a part of the mortal world, but not yet elevated to Alicorn status—that is the state in which I found myself. Lord Aeon discovered me as such.” Twilight stood up and steadied herself. “Couldn’t he help you? Wasn’t there a way to reverse the spell?” “As I have said before, using magic has consequences. Mistakes cannot be simply undone. As well, the path of the Scion demands that the initiate bear responsibility for their actions and none may interfere.” Starswirl lifted his hooves and spun around. “Although it feels good to be made whole, it is merely an illusion supported by the magic and will of the Master. I can never return to the life I once knew before my fatal error. I live only in service to Him now.” Twilight hung her head. “Will the same thing happen to me if I fail? Will I never see my friends again?” “Certainly not!” Starswirl brought a hoof to her chin and raised her head. He looked deep into her tear-filling eyes. “Twilight Sparkle never fails!” Twilight choked back a tear and gave a half giggle and half snort. “I wouldn’t be completely honest if I said I didn’t have my doubts, so I’ll just say thank you for having faith in me.” Twilight gave a little smile and hung her forelegs around Starswirl’s neck. “You are a good friend, Starswirl the Bearded.” “That’s all I ever needed to hear.” Starswirl gave her a half hug back. “Shall we get back to it then? The Master has been waiting patiently and we should probably get things moving along. We must keep to the schedule.” “Right. The Trials.” Twilight came down and looked around the bench. “Did you happen to see where my packs went?” A quick glance around the room merited no result. Starswirl smiled back at her. “Aeon has your things, and he is waiting to begin the Trials.” Twilight nodded her head and together they crossed the space passing by the great swirling orb and found their spot before the Guardian. Aeon looked down with his cluster of eyes weighing heavily on Twilight. His rumbling voice shook the room. “Are you ready to continue, Scion?” Twilight stared up at the looming dragon creature and replied, “Yes, and I’m sorry for holding things up.” “Don’t be sorry, young one. The Trials are not to be rushed. Once begun, they must be finished, but I would prefer that you were fully prepared before that time arrives.” Aeon cleared his throat and emitted another puff of smoke. “Now where were we? Ah, yes. The second Scion.” His horns came alive once more and Twilight stood her ground as the magic beam struck the orb again. She spun around and gazed into the pool as another scene dissolved. The royal sisters, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna held each other in a strained embrace. A middle aged Starswirl looked on. Parting ways, Celestia left Luna’s side and joined the stallion departing what looked to be Canterlot but without many of the more recent additions to the castle. Aeon’s narration began. “I summoned the Alicorn, Celestia, on the recommendation of my servant. She was to be the first Scion prepared and capable of attempting the Trials. Her mastery of the Elements of Harmony was questionable, but I had every assurance that she was ready to face the test.” The vision pool changed and displayed a swirling vortex of pure chaos—Discord lay at its center. “Before she began her Trial, this primal scourge of disharmony sought to fill the void that her departure left. She begged me to allow her to return to her sister and rescue her kingdom before it fell into chaotic ruin. I warned the Scion that her actions would have dire consequences, but I could not dissuade her from her chosen course. I had no choice but to honor her request and allow her return. In so doing, events proceeded as they would that nearly led to her destruction. She was never the same from that time forward, and I was forced to suspend her call and wait for another candidate to take her place. That search yielded you, Scion Twilight.” The vision pool stepped through scenes from the banishment of Discord to the fall of the Crystal Empire and eventually to the banishment of Nightmare Moon. In the end, Celestia remained a broken and beaten shell of her former self. Having to banish her own sister left her heartbroken. Twilight threaded the memories of the past together with the present and saw the pain and anguish that her mentor carried for all those years laid out before her. The vision changed again. Twilight struggled to place the image as the scene came into focus. A much younger version of herself sat in a classroom facing the judgment of the acceptance board or her former school. A sonic rainboom filled the sky above. She watched as her young self came to the realization of her destiny and her cutie mark flashed into place on her flank. “I remember that moment. I had no idea then what all of it meant, but I know now that my destiny was born that day.” “Much more than that was born that day, but I digress. In payment for allowing her return, Celestia promised a replacement. The former Scion would find another and train them in the ways of Magic and Harmony so that one day the new Scion might face the Trials.” Aeon let out another puff of smoke along with a pained groan. “It has been one-thousand years with that promise just now fulfilled.” He stared down at Twilight and brought his head so close that she could feel the heat emanating from far back in his throat. “I trust you understand now what your place is in all of this, Scion Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight closed her eyes and cleared her mind. She felt a welling spring of magic flood through her veins as the dragon lord’s breath poured over her. Aeon pulled back and resumed his previous posture. Twilight looked over and saw her bags locked between two massive claws on his outstretched forearm. More questions came to her and she was no longer afraid to ask. “What kind of Trials am I supposed to face? It sounds like I’ve been training for this moment all my life, but I still have no idea what is expected of me. How do I pass your test, Lord Aeon?” “That is not up to me—the Elements will decide.” Aeon rested his body against one of the giant pillars which swayed a little but refused to break. “Are you ready to begin?” He smiled down at Twilight and rustled her saddle bags in the grip of his claws. “Hold on. What do you mean, the Elements will decide?” Twilight struggled to understand what would be required of her. She was to be the first pony to ever face the actual Trials and hardly knew anything of the challenge should would have to face. Her destiny was racing toward her and she fought with the idea of jumping out of the way, or facing it head on. Aeon groaned but kept smiling. “The Trials are simple. You will be placed in a situation and judged by the Elements of Harmony themselves. How you handle yourself and choose to face the challenges will determine if you have mastered the Elements and found the Balance between each and its opposing force. The Trials are a confirmation of everything you have learned and will prove whether or not you are worthy to take up this Mantle as the new Master of Magic and Guardian of Harmony.” “But what if I can’t handle the responsibility?” Twilight shied away and poked at the ground. “I don’t know if I’m ready to take over for you, Lord Aeon.” Starswirl stepped forward. “Twilight, you need to trust in yourself. Remember everything you have been through and all that you have learned. You are an amazing pony and you needn’t look any further than your own cutie mark to see that you were destined for this very task. You are the bearer of the Element of Magic itself. What other possible conclusion could there be than what starts with the Trials and ends with you becoming the new Master of Magic and Guardian of Harmony?” “That’s just it, I’m just the bearer of a single Element. My friends are the ones that hold the keys to the rest.” Twilight reached up and took off her crown. She held it up to show Aeon. “My friends are with me in spirit, but I don’t know if that will be enough to make it through this challenge.” “Scion, you must trust in the Elements.” Aeon’s voice rang out through the temple. His head wobbled and fell to the side before he caught himself and laid down across the ground. “I grow weak and the Trials must be completed before my Mantle can be passed on. Please understand that I have waited as long as I could to see this through. I cannot wait any longer.” Twilight placed her crown back on her head and rushed to Aeon’s side. She held out her hoof and gently placed it on his cheek. Looking up into the cluster of eyes, she saw the look of desperation in his gaze. She also saw a glimmer of hope that burned deep inside, struggling to remain lit as all around the darkness closed in. She closed her eyes and spoke in a whisper. “I will try my best. Tell me what I need to do.” In a raspy, uncleared voice, Aeon rebuffed her. “It is too late to try. It must be done! Hold your head high, Scion. The Elements await.” The great eyes blinked in pained conflict with gravity itself. Shifting a partial gaze, Aeon called over to his servant, “Starswirl, the bags.” “At once, your majesty.” Starswirl darted over and retrieved the saddle bags from Aeon’s once tight and now loosening grasp. He came to stand next to Twilight and presented the cache before his master. “The items you requested, Sire.” “You have done well, my good and faithful servant.” Aeon turned his sights back to Twilight. A few of his eyes never left, but they all shone down upon her now. “Scion, are you ready to begin?” Twilight stood up straight and spread out her wings. With a firm stance and renewed determination, she answered the call. “Yes, I’m ready.” “Then let the Trials of the Master begin!” Aeon’s horns lit up once more. Twilight backed away and watched as the creature seemed to struggle with the magnitude of magical power he brought to bear. All three of his cresting horns lit up easily enough, but that wasn’t all. When she saw the horn at his chin and the two that swung back from his head ignite as well, she looked on in awe and sought to put a few more steps between herself and the Master of Magic. All six horns of the last servant of the Ancient Ones sparked to life. A magical amalgamation of color streamed up toward the great crystal orb. Striking the target, the crystal shattered and a swirling vortex of light consumed the entire room. Twilight fought to maintain her grip on the floor. Starswirl held her bags close to his chest and laid low to the ground. Six colorful orbs brimming with magical energy spun around the temple. Each of the six pillars lit up assuming the primary color of one of the orbs. Twilight watched in reverence of the spectacle—the power on display reminded her of the battle with Lord Tirek. Every last hair from the top of her mane to the tip of her tail stood on end. She gasped as her own horn came to life and she burst into her rainbow powered state. Feeling the energy building up inside her, her eyes began to glow as the potential for one powerful explosion neared the point of bursting from her. Starswirl grasped the bags even tighter as he hunkered down and looked to find any better way to weather the storm. Twilight reached the limits of her resistance and felt the energy explode outwards from her horn. In the place where the crystal orb once hung, her own cutie mark realized itself in the full glory of a shining crystal star rotating on its conjugate axis. Each of the six orbs dove into the cistern’s silver waters without so much as a single droplet splashing in response. As they entered, the pool took on a matching colored glow for only a moment and returned to the plain silver mirror once settled in. Twilight staggered backwards, nearly falling over the hunched form of Starswirl. Rainbow colored markings tipped her wings and ran the length of her legs, mane, and tail. “Steady there, princess.” Starswirl helped to keep her standing and lightened the gravity of the situation with a poignant comment as he brushed a few stray hairs away from her face. “Now that’s a horse of a different color.” With an accompanying smile and a wink, Twilight smiled and gently shoved a hoof back in his face. With the exception of Twilight’s rainbowfied state and the giant crystal star in place of the orb, the temple resumed its previous solemn disposition. Aeon’s horns returned to their unpowered state and his eyes fell back on the ponies before him. His voice boomed out in power and clarity. “The first Trial awaits. Choose for yourself and place the object in the Pool of Harmony to proceed.” Twilight didn’t know how to respond. She stared back at Aeon and then turned to face Starswirl. “I don’t understand. What do I need to choose?” With a bit of a sarcastic grin, Starswirl bowed his head. “For as smart as you are, you have a problem with seeing what’s right in front of your nose, dear.” He lifted the bags and opened the flap. “Take something out and bring it to the pool. The item you pick will determine the order of your Trials.” “But that’s just a bunch of random junk you stole from my bedroom back in Ponyville. What has that got to do with the Trials of the Master?” Twilight sat back on her haunches and fanned out her wings still not sure that she understood the process. “Just reach in and take something out. There is no right answer, and you can’t go wrong. Everything will come around in time.” Starswirl held the bag in front of her and gave it a little shake. “All right. I guess I can trust that at least one of us knows what’s going on here.” She reached into the bag and pulled out her mane comb. She looked down at the brush and the intricate scrollwork in the handle. She looked back up at Starswirl. “You don’t expect me to brush out my tail and mane right now, do you?” “A generous gift, given by the Bearer of the Element of Generosity.” Aeon gave a small cough and blinked a few sets of eyes. “In order to pass this test you must demonstrate mastery of self in the true spirit of charity. Present the comb at the Pool of Harmony and prepare yourself for the Trial, Scion.” Twilight held the mane comb in her hoof and finally realized what she had forgotten about it. When she first arrived in Ponyville, she was a total mess. The generosity of her new friend saw the need of a poor excuse for a put-together pony and offered the gift of an amazing brush to aid in her recovery. She looked up at Starswirl and saw his reassuring gaze urging her on. Glancing over at the pool, she saw the white glow of the first orb come to life as it swam below the surface. She walked over and hung the comb above the shimmering liquid. Struggling with the task of letting it go, she felt dizzy and then sensed she was falling over. With a quickly extinguished cry, she tipped over the edge into the cistern and into the pool itself—still clutching the brush in her hoof.