An Alicorn Learns to Fly

by Cryogenii

When the Dust Settles

In the hushed aftermath of Twilight Sparkle's transformation into an Alicorn, the library was now in the grip of an uneasy silence. The initial jubilation had changed to a more pensive atmosphere as each pony began to contemplate what changes the day's event would bring. Nevertheless her friends were all still there, their expressions a mixture of wonder and concern. Twilight herself sat at the centre of the room, her eyes glassy with the shock of what had occured. She couldn't believe what Celestia had done to her. She wondered how this day had become so wildly out of control? If there was one thing Twilight hated it was when things spiralled out of her hooves, and apart from the moment when she'd managed to restore her friend's cutie marks she felt she'd been like a leaf in a tornado today.

Twilight Sparkle's gaze was drawn to a burnt patch of floor, its ominous presence casting a shadow over her thoughts. Something deeply unsettling had occurred during her ascension, something that had not only left its mark on the library but also traumatised her dear friends. They were still haunted by terrifying memories of when they believed she had been immolated before their eyes.

The charred mark seemed like a dark omen, a stark reminder of the overwhelming magic that had engulfed her, and the intense sensations as she'd been caught in the centre of that white-hot blast. As she contemplated what had transpired, Twilight couldn't shake the feeling that there were aspects of her transformation she had yet to understand. It was as if she had been rewritten, leaving her with a lingering unease over the authenticity of her existence. Her mind raced with questions about where Princess Celestia had taken her during that momentary disappearance. Had she really been vaporised? It certainly seemed that she'd been transported to some ethereal place, if it weren't for the presence of Princess Celestia, she would be half convinced this was now some illusionary afterlife. She remembered a sensation of soaring high above the clouds, a frigid chill in the air that contrasted with the warmth of her friends' concern.

The room was filled with the lingering echoes of the powerful magic that had just transformed her into an Alicorn, a change she had never anticipated. Her hooves trembled as she involuntarily extended her wings, which still sparkled with the remnants of her magical metamorphosis. Unfamiliar muscles rippled under her skin where simple ribs had been before. She had no ability to process these new sensations, the ghostly touch as a gentle draft rippled the feathers on her wings. The feathers… on her wings! She wondered how she was supposed to command muscles that mere hours before weren't a part of her body? How does a pony develop a completely new sense of proprioception for a body she wasn't born with?

She couldn't help but feel utterly overwhelmed by the unexpected turn of events. Starswirl the Bearded's spell, which she had been compelled to complete, had caused a great deal of disruption and threatened her friend's destinies. She had never imagined that finishing it would have such a profound and physical impact on her very being. The raw power that the unfinished spell had unleashed made her head spin. How many other incomplete or failed experiments had her old hero left behind? Could Celestia have had any idea of the chaos this relic would unleash? Was this what she intended to happen? Twilight's skin crawled at the thought she might not be the first unicorn to unleash the unfinished spell's effects on a group of unsuspecting ponies.

Questions swirled in her mind like a chaotic storm. What did this transformation mean for her role now she was no longer Princess Celestia's student? How would her friendships change, if at all? And why had this transformation happened now, in the face of the far more perilous trials she had endured? It all seemed so arbitrary, as if the timing had been on some hidden agenda instead of the merit of her actions that day.

In this moment of shock and confusion, Twilight Sparkle felt herself standing on a precipice, like she was staring into a dark abyss—one that was awful to contemplate and bewildering. As she struggled to make sense of it all, she couldn't help but wonder how this unexpected transformation would divert the course of her life and her understanding of magic. Through the swirl and crash of her thoughts, she became aware of her friends' concerned voices starting to reach her ears, their words feeling less distant but still coming from a place beyond where her exhausted mind could easily comprehend.

Rainbow Dash, her usual enthusiasm tempered by the moment, hovered nearby. "Twilight, you look pretty beat. Are you sure you're okay?"

Twilight managed a faint smile, her eyes revealing both shock and weariness. "I'll be fine, Dash. It's just... everything happened so fast, and this magic... it's overwhelming."

Applejack, the ever-steady friend, nodded with understanding. "Well, ya did go through a mighty big change today, Twi. Maybe it's time to rest a spell."

At her words a shiver ran through Twilight's body. Applejack hadn't meant anything malicious, but that felt like a pretty poor choice of words. Odd sensations ran through the new alicorn, compounding the sensation of being unfamiliar within her own skin. Not only her wings, but also the magic sparking and buzzing within her skull and horn. It was as if her brain didn't quite fit inside her skull anymore. If her magical reserves had been a bucket before, they now felt like an ocean. She felt as if her aura was bursting out of her head, the power she could channel had immediately increased and felt as though it had continued growing all day. She felt as though she could swat an Ursa Minor as easily as a bug now.

Fluttershy, normally the most sensitive of them all, had a sympathetic look on her face. She had a solemnity about her as if she could feel her friend's body horror. She cradled Spike, who had fallen asleep in her lap, his tiny snores a rhythmic backdrop to the scene. It seemed as though she needed the comfort of holding him to steady her nerves. It seemed certain that the curiosity which belonged to the zoologist in her would eventually be thrilled at the prospect of having a juvenile alicorn to examine, but right now the lingering fear she'd felt when they all thought Twilight had been consumed in the magical fire was still too fresh in her memory. They'd all been so relieved when Twilight had descended from the sky with Princess Celestia, that there had been no time for the questions that were spinning around inside her head now.

Rarity, ever the picture of grace, stepped forward. "Indeed, darling. This is an incredible transformation, and you simply must take time to adjust. We'll be here to support you, as always."

"I know you will Rarity, that all of you will," replied Twilight, with a yawn, "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Pinkie Pie, known for her boundless enthusiasm, was the one who had grown uncharacteristically quiet. Although her initial reaction had been to celebrate this new alicorn's arrival, she now stared at Twilight with an unusual intensity, her expressive blue eyes filled with emotion and distrust. She didn't speak, but her silence spoke volumes, as if something about this whole situation suddenly didn't seem as jubilant as she'd first thought. She couldn't shake the feeling that there'd been some trick that had happened right under their muzzles, that someone had switched which cup the ball was hidden under. She'd seen Twilight teleport dozens of times, but this hadn't looked at all like that. She knew what it looked like had happened, and didn't want to think about it.

Unaware of what was troubling her friend, Twilight Sparkle closed her eyes, her wings gently folding at her sides in some basic reflex. It had been a confusing and chaotic day, but here in the heart of the Golden Oak Library, she knew she was exactly where she was meant to be, surrounded by those who loved her.

---

As the night grew darker, Twilight Sparkle had long since drifted off to sleep, her wings gently rising and falling with each peaceful breath. Her friends watched over her for a while, sympathetic to the exhaustion that must come with such a transformative experience.

Fluttershy, her eyes filled with tenderness, had carried Spike to the upper level of the Golden Oak Library. There she had tucked him into his cosy basket bed, ensuring he slept soundly. After she crept back down the stairs, she smiled at the slumbering Alicorn before leaving the library for the short flight back to her cottage, her hoof steps soft and barely audible.

Rarity and Pinkie Pie lingered a moment longer. Rarity noticed the uncharacteristic quietness that had enveloped Pinkie throughout the gathering and couldn't help but feel concerned. She placed a gentle hoof on Pinkie's shoulder and whispered softly, "Pinkie, dear, it's perfectly alright to feel overwhelmed when such significant changes occur. You know we're all here for Twilight, and for you too."

Pinkie jumped, as if an electric shock had struck her, and spun to face her friend. "Thanks, Rarity. I guess change can be kinda scary sometimes, but that's fine… everything's fine," she cried out in a rapid fire of manic words before letting out a sudden, shrill bray of laughter that made all her friends gasp in surprise.

Rarity recovered her composure the quickest, her finely shaped eyebrows arched into a surprised expression, "it's obviously been a very trying day. Why don't you head home and gather yourself, sweetie?"

The pink pony gave a sharp nod, whilst she kept her front hooves over her mouth in a seeming effort to prevent anything else from bursting out. Her eyes, wide and desperate, flicked around her friends' faces as if looking for something. Without another word she bolted from the library.

Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash stood frozen in place, their faces etched with concern after Pinkie Pie's sudden, lunatic outburst of laughter and her hasty retreat. They exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of what had just transpired.

Rainbow Dash was the first to speak, her voice a mixture of bewilderment and concern. "What in Equestria just happened? I mean, we all know Pinkie is a little unstable sometimes, but why would she act like that?"

Applejack scratched her head, perplexed by the situation. "Ah have no idea, but it must be 'cause of Twilight's transformation, mustn't it?"

Rarity, chimed in, "I can't fathom why this change in Twilight would cause such an extreme reaction in Pinkie, but I'm genuinely concerned for her."

The three friends silently pondered the mystery of Pinkie Pie's sudden breakdown, struggling to understand why their usually joyful and boisterous friend had reacted in such a bizarre and seemingly distressed manner. They knew that they would have to find Pinkie and talk to her, hoping to unravel the scene that had unfolded in the library.

Applejack, the embodiment of dependable strength, broke the tension to fetch a stack of bedding from the upper floor of the library. With a gentle touch, she set about arranging pillows and blankets in a comfortable circle around Twilight Sparkle, creating a makeshift nest on the floor of the library. The blankets were draped with care, ensuring that her friend would be cosy and warm through the night.

As Applejack moved around her, Twilight stirred from her deep fatigue. Her eyes fluttered open, revealing the exhaustion that clung to her like a heavy quilt. She managed a weak smile as she looked up at her friend.

Applejack noticed the faint smile and returned it with a reassuring one of her own. "Don't you worry, sugarcube," she whispered softly. "Everything's gonna be alright."

Rainbow Dash, always brimming with loyalty, moved near Twilight. She made sure that Twilight wasn't sleeping awkwardly on her newly acquired wings, adjusting the pillows with precision. She watched the nearly unconscious Alicorn for a moment before leaning in close, her voice a hushed whisper. "You get some rest, Twilight. We've got your back, no matter what."

Twilight appreciated her friends' thoughtful gestures, her gratitude shining through her weary eyes even as they drooped with fatigue. She appreciated the unwavering support of her friends during this challenging time. With a sigh of contentment, she settled into the pillows and blankets, her body finally able to relax.

With her message of support delivered, Rainbow Dash crept towards the door to leave the library in peaceful silence, so Twilight Sparkle could find solace in her dreams amidst the new journey that lay ahead.

---

Rainbow Dash stood just outside the library, her thoughts lost in contemplation of the mysteries that had unfolded in the past day. She shivered in the darkened street, a chill running through her from the cool night air. Just as she was spreading her wings to return to her cloud apartment, she was surrounded by a soft light that bathed her in a warm, radiant glow. As the light took form, Princess Celestia herself materialised before her, her majestic presence eclipsing all else. Rainbow Dash bowed deeply, her muzzle pressed to the dirt and her heart pounding in her chest under the unexpected scrutiny of the Princess.

"Rainbow Dash," Princess Celestia began, her voice carrying the weight of both wisdom and command, "I have a task that I entrust to you."

Rainbow Dash's breath caught for a moment, her wings twitching slightly as she felt the gravity of the Princess's words. "Uh sure, Princess. What can I do for you?"

In a voice that left no room for doubt, Princess Celestia conveyed her will to Rainbow Dash with a firm command, "You are to take on the role of teaching Twilight Sparkle how to fly and care for her new physiology. With her ascendance, Twilight in now in possession of the attributes of all the pony species. Some of these new capabilities, such as earth pony strength, will be easy to adapt to. However alicorns physically share more in common with Pegasi than with Unicorns, and Twilight will need guidance to understand these changes."

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions, including a slight fear of disappointing the Princess. "But why not you, Princess? I mean, you're an Alicorn."

Celestia looked sharply towards Rainbow Dash and arched an eyebrow. "You're right, Rainbow Dash, and if I were freed from my duties to the citizens of Equestria then I might have accepted this challenge. You may not realise this, but my upbringing was also quite different from a pegasus's. I was raised by unicorns, and no one taught me the ways of flight or the intricacies of Alicorn physiology. Today I may be skilled with my wings, but I have spent millennia practising. I wish for Twilight to have a better tutor than trial and error."

Although chastised by the princess's stinging rebuttal, Rainbow Dash's natural confidence began to return. She looked up and said, "I'll do my best, Princess. Twilight's my friend, and I won't let her down."

Princess Celestia looked down at the cyan pegasus with her kohl rimmed eyes and smiled, her regal form shimmering with grace. Rainbow Dash felt a tingle run through her, like when she stole a glance at Applejack.

"Thank you, Rainbow Dash. I have faith that you will guide Twilight Sparkle well in embracing her new destiny," the Princess stated, "we will presently send a retinue to bring her to Canterlot. You shall accompany her there where you may practise flying away from public view until we are ready to announce the coronation. In the meantime you are to keep her from public scrutiny."

With these words she took to the wing, her huge form lifting with ease as she turned towards distant Canterlot Castle. Rainbow Dash watched, until her white coat was lost in the gloom of the mountain's silhouette. She frowned, thinking over how she was going to explain all this to Twilight when she awoke.

She turned back towards the library door. It seemed like it might be a while before she saw her Cloudsdale apartment again, but the library did have guest beds so she would be able to stay with Twilight. She'd need to get a pet-sitter for Tank, though. Maybe she could ask Fluttershy in the morning.

Comments

[Hyper Star]

She felt as though she could swat an Ursula Minor as easily as a bug now.

Swat an Ursula Minor? That you could Twi, that you could, too bad I don't know what that is (it's called an "Ursa Minor", not "Ursula").

Sigh, It's always nice to see the girls when they're friends being, well, friends

Wonder what's wrong with Pinkie... oh well, guess I'll find out!

[BleuBlooms]

This is great and sketchy as hell. What really happened here? The expression of Twilights strange, churning thoughts was pungent.