"For fun" is the best reason to do anything. "The best" is the best way to do everything.
Twilight Sparkle's exam at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns is coming up, and she is bound and determined to ace it. Spike is, as always, willing to help.
Twilight refuses to fail. Spike won't give up on her.
Can they pull it off?
Before There was Magic, There was Still Friendship
Giggle at the Ghostly
Gray Twilight
Hay-oh, Welcome to Hayburger
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“Today’s exam,” Merlot said, “will take the form of a magic duel against me. The spells you have learned will be used to counter the spells I use. Points will be deducted for any spell of mine you cannot counter.” He turned a steady gaze upon the class. “I expect everypony here will do well. I will be disappointed if I find that you have not practiced adequately.”
A duel with Twilight. O.o
That... Was... AWESOME!!!!!
To be fair, Merlot was using what seemed to be more advanced spells against Twilight that he did with the others.
3150508
I know, right?
Thanks!
3150659
Yes, but only after she started to use more advanced spells against him.
Very, very perceptive of you.
3151616
He should have told her to stop rather than just doing what he did. If his job was to was to judge how well they use them, he should have made them be used.
Man, that really was awesome! I loved the duel, over powered Twilight is awesome!
3152291
You know, I've spent all of yesterday and today thinking up ways that his actions could be neither a plot hole, nor unethical. Everything I've considered requires elements that I did not include in the story to even hold water. Yes, in a modern-day classroom setting, he should have just stopped her where she was, considering the purpose of the assignment.
Thank you for your critique. I all too often need someone to tap me on the shoulder and tell me when I'm doing something wrong. It feels like there's always something holding me back from writing good stories...
3155739
Thank you! I totally agree about Twilight.
3156398
It doesn't make the story bad, in fact it could add even more substance to it.
He seemed like a hard up and prideful person at first and when Twilight started to throw the more advanced stuff he reacted like she was challenging his authority and tried to to put her in her place, or that's a way to look at it at least. He could have failed her, could have done more as well but he didn't. He got past that pride and not only passed her he also gave her that encouragement, something not required of him. So he seemed to have learned a lesson as well.
TL,DR; Just because a character was a bit of a jerk doesn't make the story bad.
3156451
I'm starting to see the benefits of the whole "death of the author" school of thought. That's awesome.
Unfortunately, I have an honest streak a mile wide.
Truth be told, as I was writing Merlot, I imagined his mindset to be more along the lines of curiosity than haughtiness. When he saw Twilight preforming the "advanced" spells, he wanted to test her more thoroughly, though in a completely different way than originally intended. He sought to test her limits.
Needless to say, I prefer your interpretation. Either way, he's probably not the best teacher in the business.
I've written enough jerks to know that.
But when an author doesn't notice details like this, the end product usually is.
I just wanna say thanks for taking the time to discuss this with me, it's very much appreciated.
3172076
I enjoyed a lot as well, and thank you very much for actually responding to someone pointing out something they think is wrong, and then admitting that the person was right. It speaks highly of you and you would not believe how refreshing it is to have an actual debate with it.
Anyway, before I sound like to much more of an ass, you're welcome with pointing that out and if you ever want a prereader on standby I would be willing.
3172249
Thank you. I think I'll have to take you up on that sometime.
3182643
Not protégé, prodigy.
As in: Twilight is Celestia's protégé or her personal student. Twilight is also a magical prodigy or wunderkind a pony who, at an early age, develops skills at a level far beyond the norm for her age.
4863434
Whoops!
Thank you very much for pointing out the distinction! I'm glad to know the difference.
Whoops, not sure how I never manged to get around to this. I faved it for reading a while ago, and then lost it down in my unread chapters listing. Glad I found it, though, pre-Ponyville Twilight is a favorite topic of mine these days.
And that was excellent. It really is a good thing that Celestia sent Twilight to Ponyville. Even without the "needed to save the world" funny details, the poor girl really needed some more friends than just Spike.
Great use of the Teddy Roosevelt quote.
5132527
Watching. Waiting. Building for the moment to strike!
Mine, too. Pre-Summer Sun Celebration is a really neat time overall. Whenever I see a story in that style, I at the least hit "Read later" and actually, you know, read it later.
Spike's the man, but... he's just one man. Boy. Drake. Whatever. An excellent support, assistance, and all-around buddy. A pony needs a bit more than that at times. For instance, I don't believe i've seen a moment in the series where Spike and Twilight make each other laugh...
Thanks. I don't know that I really did it justice, but it's the thing that inspired the whole story, so there you go.