Spike walked slowly over to the fillies dorm, not sure exactly how he was supposed to teach this little pony. Sunset was right about him, but just because he knew a lot didn't mean that he was the best to teach. Sighing he opens the door and sighs seeing the pony asleep with her nose inside a book. He giggled removing it and placing it gently down on her nightstand and covering her up in a nice warm blanket. Somehow he felt like she belonged with him, it was silly but his gruffness was lost on the sweet filly. This would be the opening to Twilight and Spikes magical training, a warmness to her allowed him to put up with her quirks, her obsessiveness, so different from Sunset was frustrating but also helped her learn at an accelerated pace.
“Slow down Twilight,” Spike roared as she lifted him and a dozen other objects at the same time. She wanted to show what she had learned, to finally take the test but in doing so forgot some of the basics of magic. “Remember to always think of what you want your magic to do, not to just fling things around to see how many things you can move” He struggles until he is free. “Today you will not only be tested by Sunset, but also” He looks around and dims the shades running around the room blowing out the candles. “This is something you can't tell anypony but” He leans in “Queen Celestia will be their to observe your progress. She insisted in seeing you”
“WHAT CELESTIA” She gulps hearing the sound dropping all the objects in her room, “N-no not now, I am not ready” She starts to panic and breathing hard, “I don't know if I mastered the hatching spell and what happens if I mess up and make myself into a egg instead, what if I forget to get dressed” She plops on the ground hyperventilating. “I-I wasted all your time and I know you could have chosen a better student” She starts to cry, whimpering into her pillow.
“Twilight calm down” Spike reaches down and pets her mane to help calm her down, “Look you have mastered so many spells and no one knows the library like you do” He smiles helping her sit up. “Your magic is at least equal to Sunset when she started, and you are more knowladgeable about the library then any other creature here, myself included.
Twilight looked up through blurry eyes, “No you are so smart and know so much” She starts to smile and wipes the tears from her eyes. “But then why aren't you ever scared of messing up, why aren't you worried.”
“Why its because I have friends who help me, My sister Sunset and Queen Celestia believe in me and it makes me believe in myself.” He bends down hugging her neck, “And Twilight I believe in you, I know that there is no other pony better qualified for being Sunset and Celestias student then you are” He nods and grabs her saddle bags. “Look I will be right beside you and will take you out to Hayburgers when you pass”
Celestia waited in her seat at the front row of the study hall, Waiting to see this years hopefuls. She had heard great things but each student looked worst then the last, “Are we nearly done, I do think that Moondancer has some abilities but all the others seem to really need more training before they are anywhere near ready to be Sunsets student”
“You mean your student right” Civil asked and frowned as he saw her frown and shake her head, he reached over hugging her. “My Queen you have many more years left” He tried to confort her but could see the look on her face,
“No, I do not.” She coughs hard, her body weak and she collapses a little in her seat. “This will be the last year I am afraid, Sunset has proven herself to be my heir, she has been doing my job for years now” She shakes her head, “Bring Sunset o---” She pauses as Spike brings forth his student, and her cuttie mark, “The elements” She whispers drawn to the pony almost like she was a great wizard, “T-that is the one who saved me, will save me back then. Civil she is to graduate, no mater what” She watches as Twilight attempt so and accomplish hatching the Phoenix egg.
Twilight stood in shock as the egg began to hatch, maybe she did have potential. She looked up and saw the queen move down to her, “Oh no what did I do” She gulps and bows down before the queen,
“No need for that my faithful student, Today you will be my prized student, but the lessons will be hard and quick, I can't have any delay, nor breaks” It takes all her will not to show how sick she was. “But I know you will be my equal before this time next year”
Sunset had come down to congratulate the newest student when she heard Celestia, Her face dropping at the words, “Her equal, not me” tears starting to form at the corner of her eyes. “B-but I have been training for years, how can she be an equal. The words ring in her ears, as she thinks about how Celestia was going to do in a year that which took her nearly a decade to master. “Well if that is all I am to you, maybe you can take back over” She gruffs off to tell the 'Queen' she was done. She made it to Celestia's chamber and heard talking on the other side.
“Celesita are you sure you can do this” Civil asks holding her hoof and helping her back to bed, “A year is not possible, and this strain will only make your condition worse, Don't you think you should” He was silenced by a simple kiss on the cheek. “Civil you have been a great friend and more” She puts her hoof on his and smiles. “But no amount of doctors will help me live a day longer then what I have, We know that this day was coming soon, but I want you to know that Sunset deserves a helper, a sister.” Her eyes mist as she remembers what had happened to her own,
“No, no Celestia” She ran off to her room, “Doctors may not be able to save her, but I can.” Opening the closet she finds something that could save Celestia's life. “These elements should have enough power to extend the life of my queen” Her horn glows as she uses the magic of the orbs to heal Celestia.