Twilight Sparkle hummed merrily as she prepared for her next session with Midnight, and was excited about the lesson and content she planned to share with him.
"Spike! Could you bring out the chalkboard for me?" she called.
"I'm on it, Twilight!" Spike hurried to the backroom, eager to please, making Twilight smile as she made sure she had the right reading material.
She hoped the subject she had in mind wouldn't be too complicated but it was an integral study for her student's magical education. She heard the light squeaking of the wheels as Spike rolled the chalkboard into the main room of the library, "Where do ya want it, Twilight?"
"Just over there," Twilight indicated next to the stairs but not in front of them. "I think I have everything ready here, Spike. Why don't you take some free time?"
"You sure, Twi?" Spike asked, "I don't mind assisting you with Midnight's lesson."
"The lesson I have in mind is rather... complicated, Spike," Twilight assured, "and I'm mostly gonna be doing a lecture. Trust me, you'll rather be having some time off than listening to me go on and on."
"Well... if you're sure," Spike shrugged. "I think I'll go to Sugarcube Corner for some doughnuts, can I have some bits please?"
Twilight smiled and concentrated her horn. Her saddlebags, hanging from a wall-mounted peg near the door, opened and out came a few silver bits that levitated to the outstretched hand of Spike.
"Thanks, Twi! Later!" Spike said as he hurried out.
"Have a good day, Spike!" Twilight called after him just in time before the door closed. She then looked to her textbook and refreshed her memory on the subject she had in mind, and it wasn't a minute later before the door opened and she looked to see Midnight walk in, a friendly smile on his face.
"Good morning, Twilight," he said before asking, "Where'd Spike run off to? I saw him on my way here but he was headed the other way."
"Oh I gave him some time off, and he decided to get some doughnuts from Sugarcube Corner," Twilight explained before clearing her throat.
"Now! Are you ready for your next lesson?"
Midnight went to the desk Twilight always set up for him for their lessons, he set his saddlebags down, levitated out a notebook and pencil before smiling, "Fire away!"
"Alright then, our lesson today will be..." Twilight levitated some chalk and spelled out on the blackboard, "'Magic 101: Magic in Greater Detail'. Today's lesson will be mostly a lecture on certain aspects about magic. For example, did you know there are levels that indicate a pony's magical power and class?"
"First I've ever heard of it," Midnight shrugged.
"Well, among ponykind, there are five levels of magic," Twilight explained, "and as we are unicorns, I shall explain these levels and how unicorns are classified by them."
Twilight wrote five letters on the blackboard, from bottom to top, and took a ruler, pointing it to the bottom letter: D.
"The lowest level of unicorn magic is Delta - Unicorns of Delta-level magic are limited to basic telekinesis, illumination, and they usually can only learn the most basic and simple spells. Usually, these spells they are able to learn relate to their special talents in some way. Also, they can only perform one act of magic, as in, they can use active telekinesis but not be able to illuminate their horn at the same time, and they can only handle one object with their telekinetic aura."
"Hmm," Midnight listened raptly, and took notes. He made sure to pay attention and be detailed because Twilight always wanted to look at his notes after their lessons to see how closely he'd paid attention.
"Above the Delta-class unicorns are the Gamma-level. Gamma-level unicorns have more magic than Deltas, but not that much although they do have more potential," Twilight went on. "For example, Gamma-level unicorns can perform more than one act of magic simultaneously" - She drew a pony levitating about three objects, to provide visual aids - "Such as drawing a circle with one pencil and drawing a triangle with another! Also, they can learn spells that are somewhat more complicated, which are not limited to being something related to their special talents! Such spells can include enchantments or illusions."
"So then, you and I and even Rarity are at least Gamma-level?" Midnight inquired.
"Rarity is most certainly a Gamma-level unicorn," Twilight confirmed, pleased with Midnight's question. "That's obvious by her exceptional skill in telekinesis! As you and I have witnessed, Rarity's telekinetic skills are key to her business and passion as a fashion designer, how she's able to sew and stitch and cut fabrics and manipulate numerous tools to do so and produce a dress or other garments so quickly! Very astute, Midnight."
Midnight smiled and continued to scribble down notes.
"Above the Gammas are Beta-level Unicorns," Twilight continued, "Betas are rare, and have much more magical potential and capabilities than Gammas and Deltas. They have a wider range of mystic arts they can learn, allowing them to master more advanced spells to add to their repertoire. A definite sign that a unicorn is Beta-level is if they are able to perform the art of Conjuration, the magical skill of making physical matter appear out of thin air!"
"Wait a minute..." Midnight spoke up, "Making something appear out of thin air... Would that include Teleportation?"
"Absolutely," Twilight nodded with a proud smile. "Teleportation does indeed fall under the Art of Conjuration. It's why many unicorns who wish to aim higher endeavor to learn and master teleportation. However, a unicorn's magical power can't be increased merely through hard work and study. Ergo, many unicorns soon learn to accept they cannot teleport, which means their magical power is not high enough to be Beta-level."
"That sounds kinda of depressing," Midnight commented, Twilight looking at him in wonder. "I mean... to study and practice so hard, only to find that no matter how much you try that you just won't measure up."
Twilight felt a little sad to cause her student some depression, so she added, "Well, Midnight, Beta-level unicorns don't have it so easy either. You see, the more magic you have, the harder it can be to control and without study and focus it can lash out in the form of magic surges when you're under great stress, and maybe even hurt those around you. It's for that reason any unicorn foal who is confirmed to be Beta-level must receive proper schooling in learning how to master their magic so they don't accidentally hurt anyone. Such incidents have happened before, and the foals had to be temporarily removed from their parents' custody so they could have their powers honed and learn control."
"That sounds even worse..." Midnight could just picture parents holding each other while their little unicorn foal cried as some royal guard or something took them away.
"It could have happened to me."
Midnight looked up to Twilight, who smiled sadly, "When I was little, the first time I watched the Summer Sun Celebration in Canterlot I saw Princess Celestia raise the sun. I was so inspired by that sight that I dove into magical study and wanted to become the best unicorn mage I could! You can imagine how happy I was when my parents enrolled me into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns."
She watched as her student thought about it and smiled when he laughed at something he was apparently thinking of.
"But before I could officially enroll I had to pass an entrance exam! The examiners told me the exam was to hatch a dragon egg, and no matter what I tried, I couldn't do it!"
Twilight sighed at the memory, remembering the heavy disappoint of failure she'd felt.
"But right before I could leave, something happened - I heard some kind of explosion and I was so startled that somehow my magic surged and I unleashed a burst of power! I was so overwhelmed, I couldn't think, but I felt magic working around me, random and erratic, and it was only when Princess Celestia stepped in that all of it was calmed and all the magic was dispelled!"
"Lemme guess," Midnight smirked, "Princess Celestia was so impressed by your power she made you her student."
"You got it," Twilight chuckled, "but not only that, that incident of merely tapping into my potential earned me my cutie-mark! I knew then that my path was to learn magic and be the best student under Princess Celestia that I could possibly be!"
"At the expense of your social life," Midnight snarked, "and you came to disregard friendship until your teacher set you straight."
"Yes...!" Twilight admitted with a weary smile. She then cleared her throat, "But my point is, Midnight, I had unleashed so much power and with such consequences I could have been removed from my parents' custody and taken into the school on the spot! I made the egg hatch, the hatchling grow so big his head stuck out the roof, I turned my parents into potted plants! What I'm saying is, such power must be honed, refined, and sharpened, from a lump of ore into a keen and razor edged blade. Without proper guidance and instruction, the potential and consequences are just too dangerous!"
"I... guess that makes sense," Midnight conceded, "but it's still wrong to take a child from its parents."
"Well, I can assure you, that's always a last resort," Twilight swore to her student. "Unicorn foals of Beta-class magic usually go to live in a school of magic, but they and their parents reserve the right to visit each other and keep in contact. Otherwise, they could get a personal tutor and be able to stay home, where they're more at ease. After the princess took me on as her student, that happened to me. I was given a tower to live and study in, and my parents were given permission to enter the castle anytime they liked to visit me, and I them."
"Okay, okay, I'm convinced," Midnight chuckled, "I didn't mean to make this some kind of personal debate."
Twilight smiled, "Well then, the next level of magic is Alpha! Alpha-level unicorns have the greatest magical power among ponies. They're capable of powerful spells, great acts of magic, any Alpha-level unicorn, with great study, training, and discipline, has the potential to become an Archmage, and let me tell you, Midnight! That is one of the most difficult achievements a unicorn can make. In fact, there hasn't been another Unicorn Archmage since Starswirl the Bearded!"
"You're kidding!" Midnight was in awe and the shaking of his teacher's head prompted him to ask, "But how long ago did Starswirl live?"
"Almost a century after Princess Celestia banished Nightmare Moon," Twilight answered, "and for over eight centuries, no unicorn has ever come close!"
"Could you become an archmage?" Midnight asked, the question catching Twilight off guard. She considered her words before answering.
"Yes, Midnight, and yes that means I am an Alpha-level unicorn."
"Hmm," Midnight puzzled, "What about me?"
Twilight looked at Midnight hard as she thought about it for a few moments, "Well, I can't be sure. You're definitely at least Gamma-level since you were able to levitate all those weights on your first lesson, but seeing as how lifting them all didn't strain you in the slightest I have to say you may very well be Beta-level!"
"Wow..." Midnight now had a better understanding of how strong he was until he remembered the top letter on the black board, an O. "But wait, what about the top level of magic? The one you marked O?"
"Ah yes," Twilight looked reverently at that O she'd drawn before explaining, "The top level of magic in ponykind is called Omega... It's having so much power that one can raise and lower celestial bodies, such as the sun or moon, unaided every day for a thousand years!"
"You're obviously insinuating Princess Celestia is Omega-level," Midnight caught on.
"Correct! And until Princess Luna returned, Princess Celestia was the only Omega-class magic user in Equestria," Twilight explained, earning her a curious rise of her student's brow.
"You see, Midnight, the Omega class of magical power is the highest because it's exclusive to alicorns! Only an alicorn can have that much power, and for a thousand years Princess Celestia alone stood at the top, not just because of her crown but also because of her being an alicorn. Raising and lowering the sun and moon every day for a thousand years is not only a testament to her power but also her skills and capabilities. She can dispel the magic of almost any magic user whose level is lower than hers, which means she can dispel the magic of anyone except likely her sister."
"But didn't Luna manage to overcome Celestia when she returned as Nightmare Moon?" Midnight pointed out.
"True, but level alone doesn't truly define power," Twilight elaborated. "There are still a variety of factors that must be taken into account. Environment, mentality, anything can factor into something like supposedly equal powers that tips the scales to favor one side. I can't be entirely sure of how Nightmare Moon was able to overcome Celestia, but like I said, factors and variables and odds can sway in and out of anyone's favor."
"Hmm," Midnight considered Twilight's words when another thought crossed his mind that he had to ask, "But wait a minute, how do these magical levels apply to earth ponies and pegasi?"
"Now that is a good question," Twilight pointed out before smiling sheepishly, "and one I don't exactly know."
"Huh?!" Midnight gaped at Twilight with a little disappointment.
"Well, I've always focused my studies towards unicorn magic," Twilight admitted. "I only learned basic stuff about earth pony magic and pegasus magic. But the magical levels do apply to them, for certain. Let me explain something to you, Midnight."
Midnight was all ears as Twilight took another deep breath for this next lecture.
"Every pony has magic and every pony's magic flows through them, spreading throughout their entire bodies. Each kind of pony, unicorn, pegasus, and earth pony, has a part of their body they associate with using their magic!
"Unicorns, obviously, have their horns, which is what enables us to focus and project our magic and manipulate it for a myriad of effects and purposes.
"Pegasi have their wings! But when you think about pegasi and flying from a more scientific point of view, you see that their wings aren't perfectly designed for flight. They'd have to be much larger and stronger to get a pegasus airborne. That's where pegasus magic comes in; pegasus magic is focused into the wings as well as the air around them, giving them both lift and speed.
"As for earth ponies, they focus their magic through their hooves, as well as their legs. It's partly for this reason earth ponies have such strength that makes them the most physically superior among ponykind. Not only that, earth pony farmers are channeling their magic into the land they care for, as well as their crops! This channeling of their magic causes the land soil to be rich and fertile, and this also invigorates the growth of their crops, and allows their crops to flourish fast and healthy."
"Whoa..." Midnight made sure he had that down.
"But you see, Midnight," Twilight went on, "all ponies, not just earth ponies, can focus their magic into their hooves. Pegasi do it more than we unicorns do. It's what allows pegasi to walk on clouds and move them, giving their greater control over local weather. In fact, all three kinds of ponies could channel enough magic into their hooves and focus it in such a way that we could pick up objects with our hooves without the need for manipulation shoes!"
"Then why don't they?" Midnight asked.
"State of mind," Twilight answered quickly. "To almost everypony, it's impossible to pick up an object with just your hoof because we don't have the necessary appendages to do so, like Spike's claws or a birds' talons. Also, because we have manipulation shoes, ponies don't bother trying to learn to do so even if they are aware of the fact that they could potentially use their magic to pick objects up with their bare hooves."
"Question - If ponies can pick up objects with their hooves by channeling enough magic into them," Midnight asked, "could they learn to do other things by focusing their magic to different parts of their bodies?"
"Yes!" Twilight smiled proudly, having been about to bring up that very fact. "Some ponies are able to do things that other can't or don't because they are focusing their magic towards a certain part of their body. This is usually done in a way that the pony in question finds natural, maybe they do it subconsciously, often because it has something to do with something they feel comes naturally to them! For some, they're focusing their magic to their ears or eyes and actually enhancing their hearing and vision in some way, and this can lead to some variation of one's talent."
"This is starting to overload my brain," Midnight chuckled sheepishly, and Twilight smiled.
"Perhaps we have delved enough into greater intricacies of pony magic," Twilight admitted. "Why don't we go join Spike at Sugarcube Corner?"
"That's for me!" Midnight smiled and hurried over to the door, opening it with his magic. He then bowed and gestured out the door, playfully acting the gentlecolt, "After you, madam."
"Why thank you, kind sir," Twilight giggled as she stepped out, Midnight following her. She then cast a locking spell on the door but worked it so Spike would be able to get in if he was already on his way home.
As they walked to the bakery, Midnight said, "That was really fascinating lesson, Twilight. You made it all so interesting!"
"I was hoping you'd like it," Twilight smiled at him, "honestly though, I was afraid you might get bored or I might go over your head with it all, or something."
"No way. When you put your love of something into it, there's no greater way to share it..." Midnight chuckled before he bumped his rump to Twilight's, making her gasp lightly. "Last one to Sugarcube Corner buys the milkshakes!"
Midnight charged forward with a coltish laughter, Twilight chasing after him, "Midnight, no fair! You took a head-start!"
But as she chased after her student, hearing him laugh and the words he'd given her, Twilight couldn't help but blush a bit an laugh as well.