“Alright, let me get this straight,” Professor Spark said as he leaned onto his desk.
Our conversation had moved into his office after I had requested privacy. I was starting to come out of my prideful shell, but I still couldn’t stomach an unwitting eavesdropper.
“You’re going to change your major to advanced theoretical magic?” he questioned. “I’m going to try,” I said confidently as I met his gaze.
“Well, Starswirl,” he started as he leaned back into his seat, “I admire your determination. That being said, I cannot see the Council accepting your application.”
I had expected the conversation to proceed as it had, and I had left out one crucial detail about my ambition. “Professor Spark, there is one more thing you should know.”
“And what might that be?”
“The reason I have not been attending your lectures is because I have been attending professor Evenstar’s Advanced Theoretical Magic class in that time.”
Spark did not respond. He simply leaned forward and held his hooves before his muzzle. His eyes looked straight ahead and his brow furrowed in thought. For several minutes we sat in complete silence. I was waiting for him to speak, to return some reaction to the cards I had just placed before him.
“Starswirl,” he said with a sigh, “you know that I am a stallion who has lectured on equality in this school. For years I have wanted to see somepony rise up and take this matter head on.”
I steeled myself, his trailing voice indicated that there was a ‘but’ to his statement.
“But…”
I flinched.
Professor Spark brought his hoof to his furrowed brow. “I’m going to advise that that you do not pursue such a major.”
I was dumbfounded at the hypocrisy of his words. “What?”
“It’s not the best for you, or anypony else for that matter, to try and put pressure on the council, not for the next several years.”
“But… your speeches… all of us working togeth—”
“I know,” Spark whispered as he shook his head. “I’m as disappointed in myself as you are, but I can’t help but warn you.” He cleared his face of any emotion, and looked to me once more. “This place is not as it seems.”
I tried to keep still in the uneasy silence, but I couldn’t help but fidget. The stallion who had always told me to break the barriers was now telling me to be complacent.
“But…”
“I’m sorry, Starswirl. And if I hear any more of this, I will be forced to take action to stop you.”
“What?”
“If you continue to pursue a course that is not for your race, I will be forced to report you.”
“Report me?!” I shouted, my body slightly lifting from the chair.
“You cannot do this. Now, I trust that you will be in class tomorrow, we have a test.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but the words would not present themselves. I wanted to call him out, to howl at the top of my lungs in that face of hypocrisy, but the astonishment I felt kept me silent. I let my gaping mouth close and contort into a frown.
“I’m sorry, Starswirl.”
“Why are you doing this?”
Spark looked to his desk, his brow furrowing even more. He was calculating a risk. “Alright, I need you to understand that what I’m about to tell you must be kept in the utmost of secrecy. There’s a problem in this university, one that I’ve seen on the horizon like an impending storm.”
Already I was beginning to realize how far my actions could reach.
“This school was founded nearly 100 years ago as a magic research institute. With the centennial coming up, I’ve noticed a lot of… free thinking going on around campus. Several students have come to me before asking for ways that they could break the societal structure just as you are.” He paused to look around the room.
“Every time one of those students made an attempt to cross that structure, they have disappeared from the campus.”
“What?” I whispered. By now I was unsure of the emotions I felt. I didn’t quite understand what he was trying to accomplish, but I also felt as though he was trying to help me through my plight.
“I cannot, in good faith, recommend that you attempt this. Out of all of the ponies that have approached me, you are the only one who has given me a reason for your work.”
His thoughts were just as sporadic as my own, and I still couldn’t infer his motive.
He leaned back into his chair and let out a deep breath. “There’s no convincing you, is there Starswirl?”
I could only shake my head silently in response.
“Starswirl, you’re playing a dangerous game, one that could get a lot of ponies in a lot of trouble. I can tell you that this has been attempted before and the outcome was expulsion.”
He stopped for a moment and looked at me. Behind his stern gaze, I could see a desire in him, one that was trying to break through. Finally, I saw a spark. “Starswirl… I can’t, in good faith, help you pursue a magical degree, but I can give you a way to pursue your work with Evenstar…”
“Oh?”
“Yes… If you can give me updates on your work, just proof that your studies are as you say, I will grant you an amiable grade for the term. I believe that the work you are doing is far greater than anything you could learn in my chemistry course.”
I was shocked, “Isn’t that against regulations?” I asked as I tried to truly comprehend his suggestion. “Couldn’t that get you fired?”
The professor only stared. Silence filled the room as we both sat in complete understanding of what had just transpired. I had been given an indescribably amazing gift at a cost I couldn’t imagine.
After several heavy minutes, the professor rose from his desk and gestured toward the door. “You may leave. You are no longer required to attend my class.”
I feel a sense of pain, pride, and duty in his gestures, as though he were fulfilling something deeper. He wasn’t just doing this for me, he was doing it for himself.
“Professor Spark?” I asked as I rose from my chair.
“Yes?”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Starswirl,” he started as he rose from his chair, “For years I’ve taught about equality, but I’ve never tackled it myself. You… you have potential, something that I always dreamed I could experience for myself. I… I suppose I’m facing the reality that I may not be able to make the impact that I so desperately wish to make. I’m realizing far too late that I’m a lost case.”
Knowing what I know, I wouldn’t have left that room without saying a word. I I would go back, tell him that I would be a voice for equality, but all I did was leave him and walk away without a word.
You are welcome for the fave.
Though I would say that the chapter was rather on the short side.
Nonetheless I do look forward to additional installments in the future.
6479115 That chapter was definitely shorter. I took the route of making shorter chapters that I could release faster rather than longer chapters that I would release slower (hence my shift from 10,000 word chapters to 2,000 word)
Hoever, Sparks is an abnormally small chapter. The next one is ~2000 right now.
A little short, and there are some formatting issues (an indent here and a space there between two paragraphs), but good to see Starswirl's attempt to try magic. I personally thought he would be rejected and Professor Spark would help him study in secret a little while after, but this works as well. I hope to see more soon.
-W.S.
6479438
I'm just happy he finally figured out how to put his pride in a sealed jar for a few minutes and actually talk to someone about his feelings. He's a strong character, but he can't do everything on his own (as much as he might want to).
Actually, this scene was a toss up between whether or not Spark would help him. Either way, fate has dictated many events in the future, but Spark isn't a hypocrite and he definitely would be willing to push for change where he sees unethical behavior.
I'm glad you're still tracking me! There is definitely more like this on the way. I've already completed the next chapter and I was going to work on the one after that in a few hours.
6493504
Well... I've been taunting you too...
Brief, but substantial.
So a conspiracy, huh? You know, I think I liked it better when the main challenge Starswirl had to face was the social rejection and his own pride and self loathing, but adding a major element like this to the plot, if managed carefully, could be quite riveting.
So, yeah, I´ll accept it optimistically.
On a more personal note, I was looking forward to reading this (and yes, I have only noticed today that you had updated, thank you for your concern) because, having started my own school course recently I needed some comfort in this story. Starswirl reminds me of me; insecure, antisocial, at times arrogant and all in all lost. And reading through his adventures and misadventures makes me feel like I´m not alone. Thanks for writing this story
Well, that was sappy. I´ll go masturbate at the rhythm of heavy metal while I punch holes in a wall with my free hand. That should increase my masculinity.
Oh, and I can´t wait to see longer chapters!
6499461
Oh trust me, Memoirs of a Magic Earth Pony is definitely a character based story. There may be conflicts outside of Starswirl himself, but remember the perspective: Starswirl is looking back on his life and recalling what happened and his emotions surrounding those events.
The goal of this story was to take a godlike figure from the show and truly make him someone that was genuinely relatable. With everything that Starswirl will encounter, he's still mortal, has feelings, strengths, weaknesses, and flaws, and truly is a growing character. That was my target. Don't show what happens on the outside as much as I show what happens on the inside.
I guess at the end of the day, we're all human. That's the main reason I wrote this story.
To be honest, I've dealt with the same feelings to. One of the reasons Starswirl feels so genuine is because I've put bits of my own experiences into his personality as well. I think everyone struggles in college and in life in general, I just projected a few of my own issues onto him.
P.S. Thanks for this feedback. It's great to know that my work is really starting to make a difference!
I hope everyone here is also familiar with this story: The Legend Of Star Swirl The Bearded
It's one of my all-time favorites, but sadly not updated for three years now. I'd be tempted to try and continue it myself, but I just don't think I could match Blueshift's inventiveness.
6500262 It´s always my pleasure encouraging a creative and talented mind to carry on!
Chapter VIII
Sparks
Or:
"In Which Doucheswirl The Stubbly Skips Class For the Rest of the Semester"
6514927
Hahahaha