Nova Shine
The Apprentice, the Student, and the Charlatan
Chapter 01 - Nova Shine
A biting wind blew through the streets of Neighton, causing many of the street goers to tense and bundle up even tighter than they were already. It had definitely been one of the colder winters up to that point. Fortunately, winter wrap-up was right around the corner, but until then, the citizens were stuck dealing with it.
Some had to deal with it far more than others. Huddled against the wall of the town pub, the Cloak and Dagger, was a shivering pegasus pony with a hat laying open-end-up near his curled-up legs, who was desperately trying to keep warm with the cheerful heat that spilled out of the building. He wasn’t allowed in, since he had been kicked out some time ago for his drunken antics. But it was the warmest building in the town.
Where did it all go wrong? he thought miserably, shaking his filthy mane out of his eyes. The Weather Team fired me over an accident, I got kicked out of here, my house got repossessed… how the hell am I going to get out of this mess?
Another gust of wind blew through the street, causing him to hold himself even tighter, trying with all his might to keep warm, but it was a futile effort. He couldn’t even feel his hooves anymore.
He glanced down at his hat, which only had a few bits in it. Maybe enough to get a room at the inn for a night, but it was by no means a permanent solution to his problem.
Still, at least it would keep him out of the cold a while longer. If he could just get through winter wrap-up in two weeks…
The steady clip-clop of a pony walking down the street toward the pub caught his attention, and he chanced a look in the sound’s direction.
Lo and behold, the resident mage was walking toward the pub. Toward him, even.
Well, mage probably wasn’t the most accurate term. He was a unicorn, and his specialty was magic, but he did little odd jobs around town in exchange for bits and services. The closest term anyone could assign him was “mercenary,” but he wasn’t a thug by any stretch.
If anything, he was probably the most cultured least violence-prone pony of the town.
Lightning Lance didn’t know him very well, having never met him in person before, but when he was still working a year ago, the talk of the town had been of the strange young unicorn that had moved into the expensive house near the road to Ponyville. There were rumors about him, such as that he was originally from Canterlot, that he was supposedly from one of the older unicorn clans, that sort of thing. But rumors always spread about the new townsfolk until they got to know the pony in question.
The most interesting thing about it was just how young he was to be living alone. He had barely turned 18 when he moved in! Most ponies his age would be off to university and learning the tools of their future trade.
The pony stopped in front on Lightning Lance, giving Lance a chance to inspect him. Neighton was by no means a large town, which made it all the more strange that he’d never gotten a proper look at the boy before. While he did help keep the cold off of him while he was on the weather team during his move-in, he never spoke to the colt face to face. The colt seemed to spend all his time when not doing his odd jobs cooped up inside that house of his, doing Celestia knows what.
He was rather scrawny at first glance. Further inspection showed that he was thin, but not thin enough to look malnourished by any stretch of the term. And far from a certain naivete he had expected to see, the colt’s demeanor was experienced. Hardened, even. It wasn’t natural to see someone so young look so experienced in the ways of life.
Perhaps most striking about the colt’s appearance were his coat, mane, and eyes, however. His coat was immaculate white, his mane and tail a clear blue, and his eyes were deep pools of the purest blue, even deeper than his hair. Just above his hairline, a white horn, a little longer and just a tad sharper than any average unicorn's he had seen before, poked out of his mane.
And those blue eyes were currently staring down at him with some pity.
“What’s your name?” the pony asked. His voice did have a youthful quality to it, but apart from that it was a very typical voice, one a person wouldn’t think twice about.
“Lightning L-Lance,” he answered, shivering some more as a slight gust found its way under his fur.
“I remember you,” the pony said, seemingly unaffected by the wind.
“Y-you do?”
“Yeah,” the pony dipped his head. “You’re the one who kept the winter weather off my back while I moved in a year ago.”
“I was j-just doing my job, sir,” Lance said, looking down and away. “You l-looked like you needed a hoof with all that s-stuff you had. I f-figured clearing the s-storm would be better than actually h-helping physically.”
“It was very appreciated,” the colt answered earnestly. “I’m Nova Shine, by the way.”
“P-pleasure,” grunted Lightning Lance.
“Why are you out here begging?”
“Why do you think?” Lance snapped, drawing his hooves up around himself all the tighter..
“I meant no offense,” said Nova, holding up a placating hoof.
“Sorry,” Lance looked down at his own hooves. “I’m rather touchy about it.”
“I can tell.”
For a moment, they sat in silence. Lance thought he might be waiting for him to say something, but there wasn’t anything left to say. Either Nova was going to donate a few bits or he wasn’t.
Yet Nova didn’t seem to be leaving. Lance gave a brief glance up at the colt, where he noticed Nova was looking at the inside of his money pouch, seemingly counting what was inside. Lance’s spirits perked up. Was he really going to donate?
But then he put the purse away, causing Lance’s heart to sink. Figures, he thought bitterly. And yet Nova still didn’t seem to be leaving. He just stared at a spot near Lance’s hooves, and now he was rubbing the skin around his horn, apparently deep in thought.
“I think I can help you out,” Nova finally said, reaching out a hoof.
“By doing what?” asked Lance, staring skeptically at it.
“I know what happened to you,” Nova said. “I’m a hermit, not a total recluse.”
“Well, congratulations,” spat Lance. “If all you’re here to do is lecture, then I’ll just--”
“No, seriously, I can help.”
Lance glanced back at the offered hoof again. Could my situation really get any worse?
Against his better judgement, he took it. Nova helped him to his hooves, and began to lead him past the pub.
“So, how is it you can help me?”
“Well, it’s quite simple,” Nova said. “Homen owes me a favor.”
“Homen? Homen Hearth?” Lance asked, surprised. “The apartments owner?”
“The very same,” Nova nodded. “She owes me a favor, and I figure I can use it to help you out.”
“You… you would really do that?” Lance asked, suddenly confused. “But I barely know you.”
“You didn’t know me when you helped me move in,” Nova reminded him. “It’s the least I can do to help you when you need it.”
“I…” Lance licked his lips, unsure of what to say. But then he scowled. “How do I know this isn’t a trick?”
“What would I have to gain from lying to you?” he asked, glancing back and raising an eyebrow. “How would it benefit me by leading you on?”
Lance had no answer. He figured he would keep his reservations until he had his supposed help.
The apartments weren’t far from the pub at all. Once there, Nova led Lance straight to the front offices, where a matronly earth pony mare with a tan coat a brown mane who looked a bit younger than Lance did was currently bookkeeping.
“Hello, welcome to the Neighton Apartments, how can I--” she started as she heard the bell, but cut off once she saw who it was. “Mister Nova Shine? This is unexpected. I don’t think I have a job for you tonight. How can I be of service?”
“I’m calling in the favor you owe me, Ms. Hearth,” he answered, and gestured back to Lance. “Mister Lightning Lance here needs a place to live.”
“I... yes, of course, but there’s the matter of payment--.”
“A month should be plenty of time for him to make it,” Nova assured her. “If he can get a decent job, he should be able to keep paying with no problem.”
“Mister Shine, I’m afraid all I can do is knock off one month’s worth of payment, but I still need the second,” she said apologetically. “That way, if he stays more months, his last month is paid for too, even if he terminates the lease. I'm sorry, but it’s just our policy.”
“How much are we talking?” Nova asked, pulling out his bits pouch.
“Three-hundred fifty bits.”
Nova looked down at his pouch, and Lance noticed his eye twitch just a bit. Lance proffered his hat, which did have a few bits in it too.
“I have fifty right here, if you need them,” he said.
“But that still only leaves me with two-hundred,” Nova frowned.
Homen sighed.
“Mister Shine, in your time here, you have been nothing but a benefit to this town. I suppose I can knock off the extra one-fifty for the first month.”
Lance’s eyes widened. Was this really happening!?
“Deal,” Nova said, taking Lance’s bits as well as all the bits in his pouch and giving them to Homen.
“Very well. Mister Lance? Take this key,” she gave him a key with a number emblazoned on the side. “We’ll do all of your paperwork tomorrow, but your first two months are paid for. I will be expecting payment within the first four days of every month save for these first two. Soon as I get some of these simple things filled out, I'll show you to your room.”
Lance took the key in his shaking hooves. Is this really happening!?
“N-Nova Shine,” he said, his eyes welling up. “I… thank you. How can I ever repay you?”
“Don’t mention it,” Nova said. “Seriously, don’t go making a big deal about it,” he frowned
“I-- How can I not? You just gave me a home!”
“You can’t because I’m asking you not to as your way of repaying me,” Nova said inclining his head. “Look, I’m sure the thought has crossed your mind that I’m young and on my own. Truth be told, I don’t want to be found. I won’t say who by, but I will say that I just want to lay low and keep to myself. Can I trust you, both of you, to do that for me?” he asked.
“Of… of course,” Lance said, nodding. "An if you need anything, anything at all, I will be there to help," he promsied.
Nova nodded. "I'll keep that in mind," he said as he started toward the entry door of the office.
“Why would you do something like this?” Homen asked from behind him.
“Pardon?” he asked, as he turned around.
“Why would you just buy him an apartment out of the goodness of your heart?” she asked, looking up from filling out some of the paperwork.
Nova shrugged. “He needed it more than I needed a night of drinking.”
And with that he was off, back into the howling gale outside, back to his house on the road to Ponyville.
"And besides," Nova commented, just loud enough for Lance to hear, "I don’t think I would be in good shape to meet Ponyville’s representative for Trading Day if I had a hangover."
{T} {A} {T} {S} {A} {T} {C}
Faint blue magics swirled around the sleeping unicorns' heads. Dream magic was always one of the most difficult schools of magic to practice, because if anything went wrong, the target would awaken, and it would all be for naught. But it was important that he see this and set everything in motion.
Visions of the Vault and of the day he met the Faithful Student. They cannot awaken too early again. There can't be many more opportunities to direct them where they need to go, thought the unicorn casting the magic, continuing to focus his energy on the scrying orbs, through which he watched the sleeping forms of Nova Shine and Twilight Sparkle start to grow restless. In a third orb, Trixie Lulamoon slumbered as well, free of the magic plaguing the other two, but that would all change soon.
Too direct. Tone it back, he thought, noticing that his control over their dreams was slipping as they grew close to waking. At once, he changed his approached, and with it, the magics changed. Let's start with more memories, to ease into it. The day they met seems prudent enough.
{T} {A} {T} {S} {A} {T} {C}
A loud banging sound echoed outside. Nova scrambled to his hooves to get out of bed, blearily colliding with things and screaming bloody murder. What the hell was that noise!? It was only after he tripped over his own hooves and fell all the way down the steps of his home did he really return to full alertness. And that alertness was indicating that he had a piercing headache, and that there was noticeable magical power emanating from just outside his door.
"Ugh, it's too early for this," he groaned, picking himself up off of the floor and crawling to the door.
Upon reaching the door, he threw it open, allowing the sun inside and causing him to cry out and throw a hoof in front of his eyes, which only led to him stumbling backwards and collapsing right where he started.
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being terrible and 10 being a morning from hell, this morning was shaping up to be about a 6, and it wasn’t even 9AM according to the clock.
On the bright side, at least he was awake now.
Outside the house, a cart of goods sat in the midst of a charred circle on the dirt road, somehow looking completely unharmed despite the sheer intensity of the magical blast that had just woken him up. Leaning against said cart, looking tired but pleased with herself, was a unicorn mare just a bit shorter than him. Her coat was a lavender color, her mane and tail were a bluish-black, with a magenta streak highlighting both, and adorning her flank was a strange magenta six-pointed star, backed by another white one and surrounded by five more smaller white stars as well.
Another mage? Nova thought, looking back at his own flank, which depicted a blue crescent moon, with four blue five-pointed stars surrounding it.
“Are you alright?” he asked, trotting forward and offering a hoof to the mare in case whatever spell she had cast, a teleportation spell by the look of things, had completely worn her out.
“I-I’m fine,” she said, shaking her head vigorously, no doubt attempting to fix her vision.
“Are you sure? Is there anything at all I can do to help? I have a few things for spellcasting aftershocks” he asked, gesturing inside.
“Well, now that you mention it,” she said, finally seeming to get a grip on her surroundings and looking at him with purple eyes, “you can direct me to a mister Nova Shine. I’m supposed to meet him and a Mayor Balanced Budget for Trading Day.”
“You’re new to the area, aren’t you,” he asked, already knowing the answer.
“H-how did--”
“Ponyville and Neighton are styled very similarly in the town’s organization," he explained, pointing up the road, further into the town. "You’ll find Balanced Budget’s office in the same place you’d find Mayor Mare in Ponyville: that way, in the center of town.”
“O-oh. Thanks,” the mare said. “But what about this Nova Shine? He’s supposed to be Neighton’s representative and I’m supposed to meet with him until the allotted time to make sure we have everything on the checklist.”
A clipboard with a list attached to it floated out of the cart, surrounded by a magenta aura, and into her hoof.
“That would be me,” he said, bowing politely. “Nova Shine, at your service, miss…”
“Oh, um, Twilight Sparkle,” she said. For some reason, Nova felt like he had heard the name before, somewhere in the distant past, and somewhere far more recently, but for the life of him, he just couldn’t figure it out.
“A pleasure,” he said only half-heartedly and extending a hoof, which she shook. She wasn’t supposed to be here for another four hours. Ponyville wasn’t all that far away, but hikers had to skirt around the edge of the Everfree Forest to get there, lengthening an average trip by a couple of hours. “Did you teleport here by yourself?”
“Oh, ummm…” she trailed off, her ears flattening and a slightly pink tinge coming to her cheek as she glanced away. “I just wanted to make the job more efficient. Get it done earlier in the day, you know, so there's not as much time wasted.”
“Yeah, yeah, I understand,” Nova said, trotting toward his house and holding open the door for her to enter, “and for what it's worth, I'm impressed you did it by yourself, but did you have to do it so… early?”
“I didn’t think my teleportation would work,” she admitted, trotting inside and into the living room. “I only just learned the spell a couple of months ago, and I’ve slowly been using it with more frequency and with greater distance.”
“A couple of months ago, eh?” he asked, shutting the door behind her. “Roundabouts the time Nightmare Moon came back over there?”
Her cheeks flushed again as she trotted over and sat on one of his couches.
“Y-yes, that’s exactly when,” she said, trying not to meet his eye.
“I don’t know why you’re getting so embarrassed,” he said, trotting into the kitchen and opening the refrigerator. “I figure you’d definitely have earned your right to brag if you had that much power. Care for anything to drink?” he added.
“Oh, I…” she glanced down at the floor. “No thank-you. And I just had an encounter with a very brash mare who lorded it over everyone that she was better than them. I don’t want to make it sound like I am.”
“Mmh, a noble sentiment,” Nova noted, taking out a glass of something light to start the morning with. “Well, on to the business at hoof.”
“But we're not supposed to get started for a few hours,” Twilight protested, looking over the checklist herself. “I got here way ahead of schedule.”
“We could, you know, start early,” Nova said, rolling his eyes. “I could have used the extra sleep, but since you're already here, we can go over it and get it done sooner.”
" think it would be best if we waited for the Mayor," Twilight replied.
"Suit yourself," he groaned, getting up and starting to trot toward the stairs. He had, after all, not gotten a chance to freshen up yet. "He's not even going to open up his office for at least two more hours."
“I can wait. You don’t happen to have any books here, do you?” she asked, leaning over and trying to glance upstairs.
“Sure do,” Nova said, and her countenance brightened immediately. “Follow me.”
He led her out of the living room and up the stairs to the third floor of his house. His study/library was the only room up there. Every wall had a bookshelf set up against it, there was a single chair, a footrest, and a small table with a lamp up there, and the ceiling was a dome of glass. Whoever had owned the house before Nova had apparently enjoyed stargazing and/or astronomy.
To Nova’s amusement, Twilight Sparkle started squeeing with anticipation upon seeing his wide selection of books. Nearly every bookshelf was filled from end to end, with only a few gaps here and there. As soon as she was able, she was dashng from shelf to shelf, seeing everything he had.
“How in Celestia’s name do you have A Study of Unicorn Magicks and Their Applications to Everyday Life!?” she demanded. “All of Star Swirl’s writings are so expensive, I doubt my parents could afford one on a year’s salary! Is that A Brief History of Time by Stephen Trotting? How do I not have that yet!? And--”
She gasped and dashed over to another bookcase, while Nova simply trotted over, removed a Christopony Paolini novel from his shelf, and set to reading in his chair.
“ARE THESE FIRST EDITIONS FOR EVERY HARRY TROTTER BOOK!?”
Nova smiled to himself as he glanced at her over the top of his own book.
“That they are, Twilight Sparkle, that they are.”
“H-how? I have first editions of the last five, but you even have one for Philosopony’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets!”
“What can I say?” Nova asked, shrugging. “Parents got me a copy right after it came out, and I loved it so much I was in line for every midnight release ever since. Even got one signed by Yearling, once,” he added. “Go ahead and flip open the cover of Deathly Hallows.”
She did so, and it was almost like Twilight couldn’t bear to look directly at it, fearing that it was worth more than every drop of Celestia’s blood. It was hastily placed back on the shelf, arranged and adjusted to the merest millimeter back in its place.
For the next few moments, Twilight was quiet as she looked for a book to read, giving Nova some peace as he read his book. They were going to be here awhile, but he had no intention of getting to know a mare he probably wasn’t going to see again. Unfortunately, Twilight didn't share his sentiments.
“I noticed your cutie mark,” she said, glancing over at him as she continued to browse the shelves. “Are you a mage?”
“Nope,” Nova answered curtly.
For an awkward moment, Twilight thought he was going to continue, but when he didn’t, she spoke up again.
“What do you do?”
“Odd jobs,” Nova answered. “Call me a magical mercenary. Not totally true, but it’s the best I can come up with.”
He went quiet again, continuing to read his book and hoping Twilight would get the hint that he had no intention of talking with her if he could help it. After all, why build a bridge you weren’t going to use again, so to speak?
“Are you from Canterlot?”
“I was,” he turned a page.
“You… were?”
“I lived there for a time, and then I moved away,” Nova clarified, rolling his eyes. “Really, it’s not a hard concept to grasp.”
Twilight flinched slightly, at his brusque response. Nova figured she was trying to be friendly, but he wasn't ever going to see her again. There was no incentive to engage in conversation.
“Why did you move to Neighton?”
Rather than answer the question, Nova decided to take his own offensive.
“Why did you move to Ponyville?” he asked, closing his book and looking her directly in the eye.
Twilight blinked, taken a bit aback by the redirection.
“Prin-- I mean, my teacher-- had me move here to make friends.”
Nova snorted. “What, spend all your time cooped up in a library reading books, or something?”
“Don’t you do that?” she asked, glancing around at all the books in the room.
“Nope,” Nova answered, shaking his head. “I just told you, I do odd jobs. What about you? Are you a librarian or something?”
“Well, I am now,” she said, and Nova was even more irritated to notice that she had started reorganizing certain shelves. “I didn’t have a job when I was living in Canterlot.”
“Mmh,” Nova grunted, returning to his book. I'll just put those all back later. Now can I please just have... I dunno, five minutes of silence?
And yet, despite his insistence that he didn’t want to be bothered, Twilight simply wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“So how come you’re not a mage if your cutie mark is stars and a moon?”
Nova felt himself grit his teeth and let out a bit of a growl.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” he said, shifting his head lower and more into the book that he was no longer actually reading.
“Why not?” asked Twilight.
“Because I just don’t,” Nova replied, glaring at her from over the top. “I’d rather not divulge my feelings on the matter because talking about feelings is what touchy-feely ponies do, and I’m not one of them. So please, don’t ask again.”
“But why don’t you study it in your off-time?” Twilight asked, trying to steer away from the anger-inducing part of the topic, since it was apparently something in his history, while still keeping on the main bit of it. “You seem to have plenty of books for it.”
“I don’t have time to study magic when I’m too busy keeping myself supported.”
“I’m supporting myself just fine, and I still have time to learn about magic.”
“How can you, if you have a teacher?” Nova asked, momentarily forgetting his anger in favor of his curiosity. “How can he stay in contact if he lives in Canterlot and you’re in Ponyville?”
“I have a baby dragon assistant,” she explained. “I send her letters through his dragonfire and she sends responses back.”
“Convenient,” Nova said, rubbing his chin as he considered the implications. “Maybe I should hatch a dragon egg... Who is your teacher, anyway?”
“Oh, umm…”
Twilight glanced down at the floor and mouthed something he couldn’t hear.
“Sorry?” he asked, leaning his head a little more in her direction..
“Prncssestia,” she murmured.
“You’re gonna have to speak up.”
“I said ‘Princess Celestia,’” Twilight said, finally in an audible tone, though she didn't look up. Nova blinked for a moment, before suddenly laughing openly. Princess Celestia, taking time off from her job as ruler of Equestria, just toteach a normal unicorn mare about magic! What a thought!
But the laughter died when he saw the slightly-offended look she was giving him.
“Y-you’re serious?” Nova thought, feeling his insides grow cold. Please don't be insulted, please don't be insulted, PLEASE don't be insulted...
“I’m her faithful student,” Twilight said simply, shrugging. "She's taught me everything I know about magic for seven years now."
Nova’s eyebrows almost rose into his mane.
“Seriously? But that means you’re the… the...”
He suddenly felt himself grow a lot more respectful to the mare. If she was Princess Celestia’s pupil, that made her the one who had restored Princess Luna some weeks prior.
“The what?” she asked, looking a bit confused or apprehensive about something.
“The bearer of the Element of Magic,” he finished, running a hoof through his mane in disbelief. “Well, this is an unexpected pleasure.”
“Oh, umm…” she looked away, her cheeks going pink, “I didn’t realize my reputation preceded me.”
“Oh come now,” Nova said, almost laughing again. “You saved Equestria from Nightmare Moon and you purified Princess Luna. How won’t your reputation precede you?”
“You would be surprised,” Twilight grumbled, thinking back to Trixie’s encounter.
“Wait, so you want it to precede you? Or not?” Nova asked, tilting his head. “You seem like a modest mare; I can’t picture you liking to advertize that sort of thing.”
“I guess it depends on the case,” she explained. “If it would prevent conflict, I would love for my reputation to precede me. But if it causes me to be treated like some kind of work of art, or very important pony, no thank-you.”
“With you on that,” Nova replied, inclining his head in her direction. “Except I don’t want to have a reputation like that ever.”
“Why not?” Twilight asked.
“I’m trying to lay low,” Nova answered, shrugging. “Haven’t done anything illegal that I know of, but there are ponies out there I don’t want to be found by,”
“Is that why you moved to Neighton?” she asked, and it was then Nova realized he was finding avoiding conversation with her to be a lot harder than he had originally thought.
“Pretty much,” he said, and with that, he popped his book back open and continued reading.
“You know, I can’t help but note that I recognize your name from somewhere,” Twilight said, sounding like she definitely hoped to continue the conversation. “I mean, even aside from the fact that you’re named after one of Equestria’s magical pioneers.”
“Really,” Nova said, not looking up. If she's from Canterlot and she's got a decent memory, then of course she'd know about it.
“Did you ever attend Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns? And who are your parents?”
Nova felt his teeth grit again, and his hooves start to shake. He couldn’t blame Twilight Sparkle for asking, since she didn’t know. But her ignorance couldn’t prevent his anger.
“Please don’t ask that again,” he said through gritted teeth, staring straight at words on a page that he wasn't reading.
Twilight seemed to think not pursuing it was the best course of action, because she didn’t. Instead, she finally picked a book and began to read as well. And there they sat, silently reading to pass the time by, for the next two hours. And Nova hadn't been happier with the circumstances all day. At last, some peace and quiet, and no more pestering questions that he didn't want to answer.
Finally, after the time as almost upon them to go about their duties, Nova heard a knock at his door.
“Must be the mayor,” he said, putting his book down, to which Twilight nodded, only half-aware.
Nova trotted out of his study, downstairs to his door and opened to reveal a muscular tan earth pony with a black mane, green eyes, and a cutie mark depicting a bits symbol waiting at his door.
“Ah, good morning Nova,” Mayor Balanced Budget said, offering a hoof, which Nova shook. “I take it Miss Twilight Sparkle is here?”
“Upstairs,” Nova gestured with his head. “Am I going to be needed for the rest of the day?”
“A little bit, but after some of the formalities are observed, you’ll be free for the day with the bits you’ve earned for the job. I assume they’re still going towards your impending and uncertain move to wherever?” he asked.
“Pretty much, barring something unexpected,” Nova answered.
“Shame that,” the mayor remarked. “You’re the only unicorn in town, and even among all the unicorns I’ve met, you’re a damn strong one. Neighton will be sad to see you go.”
“Aww, I’m touched,” Nova said, with only a slight touch of irony. “Good to know you care for the town hermit.”
“Yes. Well, let’s get a move on, shall we? We have work to do.”
“I hear that,” Nova replied. “But do be careful, Bal. She’s Princess Celestia’s personal student. If you offend her, you might end up banished, or put in prison. Or put in prison in the place that you're banished to.”
Nova would be entertained immensely for the next few hours from the look of dismay on Balanced Budget’s face alone.
{T} {A} {T} {S} {A} {T} {C}
A new problem arose, as he felt something start to fight against the magic he was casting. Something that didn't seem to be coming from Nova or Twilight, and felt far more powerful.
Ah, there you are Luna, thought the casting unicorn, taking the appropriate steps to cut her off from disrupting the dreams that would soon become nightmares. I'm afraid I can't let you interfere.
It didn't take long for Luna to give up, as she had done many nights before, but she did so far sooner than expected.
Good. And now, the last few gentle scenes before we reach the crux of it all.
{T} {A} {T} {S} {A} {T} {C}
“Ahhhh,” Nova sighed contentedly as he fell onto his couch. He had been needed for a while after Balanced Budget’s arrival, but once his end of Trading Day was taken care of, he was free to go about doing even more of his odd jobs.
And so, several hours and many bits earned later, Nova came home, quite satisfied with the day’s events. Which meant it was now time for fun. And fortunately, it was time for his favorite rivalry of the Equestrian Premier League season, his Arsenal against their perennial rivals, the Trottenham Hotspur.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
...and fortunately, it would be time for his favorite rivalry after he met his latest guest.
Groaning good-naturedly, Nova trotted over to the door and opened it up to see his new guest…
...before slamming it shut when he saw that none other than the newly-reinstated Princess Luna herself was outside his door, waiting to meet him.
Why is she here!? he thought, panicking. I haven’t done anything illegal! Is this related to that Twilight Sparkle mare!? What did I do wrong!?
On the other side of the door, he heard an impatient huff and decided it was probably best to not keep her waiting any longer.
Shaking from nervousness, Nova opened the door, revealing a very unamused Princess Luna.
She stood only a little taller than him, with a periwinkle coat, a light blue mane spilling around her shoulders, and her tail nearly touching the ground, even when she wasn’t dragging it.
“Thou lookest as though thou hast seen a ghost, citizen,” she said, her eyes glinting.
“U-unexpected house calls from Equestrian royalty will do that to a pony,” Nova said, hoping his voice didn’t shake too much. “Umm, would you like to come inside?” he added, stepping back to allow her entry.
“That would be most welcome, subject,” she said, raising her muzzle just a little higher and trotting inside, letting him close the door behind her. “Pray tell, wherefore thy reaction? Dost thou have a guilty conscience?”
She smiled at him in manner which unnerved Nova greatly.
“Hast thou been, as modern ponies sayeth, ‘a bad boy?’”
Nova was almost frantically shaking his head before Luna even finished the question, Luna laughed, a tinkling laugh that eased Nova’s anxiety immensely.
“We apologize, citizen,” she said, placing a hoof on his shoulder. “We did not mean to frighten thee. Dost thou accept our apology?”
For a vague moment, Nova had to wonder who the “we” was, before he remembered it was the princesses’ custom to speak in the majestic plural before Nightfall.
“Our-- my-- apologies, citizen,” Luna said, smiling sheepishly, noting Nova’s confusion. “I am still growing accustomed to thy colloquialisms. It is a little hard to grow accustomed when we-- I-- have been gone a thousand years.”
“I don’t know why you’re apologizing,” Nova remarked. “I’m the one who slammed the door on you.”
Luna giggled. “Yes, that thou didst. Pray tell, what is thy name?”
“Nova Shine, your highness,” Nova said, heading back into the kitchen and heading for his refrigerator. “May I get you something to drink?”
Luna didn’t answer. Nova got a drink of his own and waited patiently for a response, but when none came, he poked his head out again to see Luna staring at a spot on the wall, her eyes glossy. She must have been in very deep thought.
“Your highness?”
Luna blinked a few times as she was jolted out of her thoughtfulness, before she shook her head to fully clear her mind and trotting to sit on one of his armchairs.
“Our apologies,” she said, with a small smile. “We were thinking of one of our first students from ages long past. This, fortunately, giveth us an excellent segue into the purpose for our visit.”
She leaned forward and pressed her hooves together under her muzzle.
“Nova Shine, we have come to offer thee the position of the Night Apprentice.”
Nova blinked, dropping his cup and spilling cider all over the kitchen floor. A spell later and it was completely cleaned up, but he still couldn’t quite comprehend what she was asking.
“Sorry,” he said, “but say that again. You’re here to what?”
“We are here to offer thee the position of the Night Apprentice,” Luna repeated. “Thou likely dost not know, but in olden days, we and our sister would take on personal unicorn students who had cutie marks of stars. That alone is not the entire qualification process, for a potential student must also show an interest in magic and an aptitude for learning. All of those qualities, thou fulfillest.”
Nova didn’t know what to say.
“I… um… wow,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief. “I’m honored to have been chosen. If I may ask, what all does this entail?”
Before Luna could answer, Nova held up a hoof to forestall her response. “First, why me?”
Luna smiled again. “Alas, we knoweth not wherefore thee. We used to select for ourselves, but as thou art undoubtedly aware, we have been… absent. So our sister chose for us.”
Nova fell right on his rump in utter shock. Princess Celestia had chosen him? Of all the better-qualified ponies in Equestria? Surely she had to know of the incident that had taken place at her school seven years before!
“And as for the original question,” continued Luna, choosing not to pursue the reason behind Nova’s reaction, “the Night Apprentice offers many benefits. For starters, he or she is accorded the rights and privileges of the minor nobility until their graduation.”
“Well, I already have those by birth,” Nova noted, but Luna continued.
“He or she wilt receive the opportunity to learn powerful magicks directly from myself and my sister.”
“I surmised as much,” Nova said, trying and failing to not be sarcastic for this one moment.
“He or she wilt receive an unparalleled education of the night, astronomy, and many other fields of science and magic, overall adding up to an education to rival many of the most educated ponies in Equestria.”
“Very tempting.”
“And finally, the Night Apprentice wilt receive a fancy title to include on resumes for job applications.”
Nova grinned. “I like that one best.”
Luna gave a small smile. “Yes, so did our original pupil. Pray tell, wherefore didst thou wish to know all of this? Surely thou must have figured this all out already.”
“I did, Princess,” Nova assured her, “but I wanted to know the full details of what I was going to be doing. Didn’t want to end up doing something I regretted, after all.”
“A wise policy,” Luna replied with a nod. “Too many times, we have seen short-sighted ponies shackle themselves in misery because an offer looked too good to be true, and they failed to look into it.”
“I mean,” continued Nova, “if it tells you anything, I actually read and paraphrase my contracts and stuff. Helps me not to get caught in stupid stuff.”
However, the smile faded from his face as a thought presented itself to him.
“Princess?”
“Something the matter, Nova Shine?” asked Luna, a look of concern crossing her face.
“Yes, actually,” Nova answered honestly. “If I accept the position, would I need to live in Canterlot? Or can I stay someplace else?”
Luna’s gaze narrowed and she stared him directly in the eyes.
“Tell me the truth,” she said, her voice becoming stern. “What makes thee ask such a question?”
So Nova told her. He told her everything about why he was living alone at such a young age, why he wasn’t at university like other ponies his age, and why he was moving from town to town at a very quick rate.
“Hmm,” said Princess Luna thoughtfully as he ended his tale. “Nova Shine, thou must understand that thou wilt need a permanent residence with a proper study facility for the purpose of a magical education. That being said, thou wilt not need to live in Canterlot; this house will suffice. However, assuming you accept the position, thou art expected in the Canterlot Castle foyer this time tomorrow evening for certain formalities which must be observed.”
“Long story short, I need to visit Canterlot, but I can live here,” Nova said. At Luna’s nod, he sighed, feeling immensely relieved. “Good.”
“Well then, in light of that information, Nova Shine, dost thou accept our offer?”
With every conceivable thing wrong with it explained away, Nova bowed his head.
“I would be honored to accept the position of your Night Apprentice, Princess Luna.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt a strange little itch in his mind. For one maddening second, he flinched and brought a hoof to scrub at his mane, but as quickly as it had come, the sensation was gone.
Luna smiled at him.
“Very well, Nova Shine. Thou hast accepted the post of the Night Apprentice. As of this moment, thy loyalty is ours before all others, even before our own sister. Is that clear?”
“Crystal,” Nova answered, bowing.
“As we told thee before, thou art expected in Canterlot Castle this time tomorrow night, and bring a knapsack with thee, for we will be lending thee some books and a scrying orb for communication.”
With that business concluded, Princess Luna rose from her seat and made her way to the door.
“Farewell, our new Night Apprentice,” she said, spreading her wings as she exited the house, and giving him one last warm look. “We must inform our sister of thine acceptance. May thou enjoy the coming days.”
And with two powerful flaps of her wings, Princess Luna took off and began to fly back to Canterlot Castle.
{T} {A} {T} {S} {A} {T} {C}
“Letter for you, Twilight.” *BELCH!*
“Thank you, Spike,” Twilight said, catching the letter in her magic as it materialized out of the dragonfire. The baby dragon gave her a dutiful salute and then scampered back off to finish the day’s chores.
Twilight sighed, content with the day’s work. She had managed to repeat the long-distance teleportation from Neighton, except for the small matter that she had teleported directly into Town Hall, cart and all, right on top of Mayor Mare’s desk.
Note to self, she had thought, no more teleporting over long distances to places I’m not familiar with. Too much can go wrong due to me teleporting to the wrong place.
Still, the bits had been earned, and she was ready to relax for the evening. But since it seemed Princess Celestia had written to her about something important, that had to come first.
Twilight trotted up to her loft in the library, leapt onto her bed, and unfurled the scroll.
My Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle,
For the first time in over a thousand years, Princess Luna has chosen for herself a pupil to tutor in magic.
Twilight gave a small gasp. Princess Luna had taken pupils to train? Well, in hindsight, it probably should have been obvious. Princess Celestia had taken her personally, just as she had Cadance before her, and some other pony over four hundred years before her.
Her student is traditionally known as the Night Apprentice, and it is important that you know this, for he and you will be very important to each other later in your apprenticeships, but not until he has been trained up a fair amount to where he is around your current level.
She used ‘he,’ noted Twilight, catching the pronoun. The Night Apprentice will be a colt? Is Princess Celestia implying something when she says he and I will be very important to each other later in our apprenticeships?
Mayor Mare has told me that you performed excellently for your part in Trading Day, an account corroborated by Mayor Balanced Budget. However, in the future, I would suggest experimenting with long-range teleportation before you attempt to move large and heavy objects over a great distance, to avoid accidents. However, you have my sincere thanks for agreeing to her request.
Twilight grinned sheepishly. Of course the mayor would tattle.
Finally, I believe congratulations are in order. I heard about your encounter with the Lulamoon mare a few nights ago, and how you were able to send an Ursa Minor back to sleep in its cave. You neglected to mention that in your previous letter, and you know how much I do enjoy hearing about your magical feats, Twilight.
Yours truly,
Princess Celestia
As she read the final words on the page, Twilight yawned. The teleportation had taken a lot more out of her than she had thought, it seemed.
“Spike!?” she called.
The baby dragon poked his head up through the staircase hole in the floor.
“Everything alright, Twilight?” he asked.
“Yes, everything’s fi-fi--i--ine,” she said, failing to stifle another yawn. “Go ahead and close up the library, I’m going to bed.”
“Alright. Good night, Twilight,” said Spike, retreating downstairs.
“Night Spike,” Twilight replied, snuffing out the flames on the lamps around the room and closing her eyes for some much needed rest.
{T} {A} {T} {S} {A} {T} {C}
Princess Celestia surveyed a recent report from the elderly chair councilpony of Seaddle, a pair of rather plain spectacles sitting on her muzzle, hardly fitting for a sovereign diarch of Equestria. Her balcony was unlocked and she was waiting for her sister to return from Neighton, already knowing of her success.
Sure enough, as she furled up the councilpony’s letter, finished taking her notes, Princess Luna landed lightly on her balcony, shook her head and rubbed at her eyes quite vigorously, and then trotted inside. Princess Celestia had smiled at the display, before taking out a diary, turning to the very back and noting a date some three years later when she would see an old friend again for the first time in a long while.
“Trouble with your eyes, sister?” she asked, teasingly.
“We had forgotten how it felt, flying in the open air. After a thousand years of flying in a vacuum, we shalt have to accustom ourselves to the sensation.again. Our flight aside, didst thou feel it, sister?”
“I did, Luna,” Celestia said, dipping her head. “I have already sent a letter to Twilight Sparkle, informing her that you have a student. I wonder if she felt it too.”
“It is probable, given what you have told us of Twilight Sparkle,” replied Luna. “Dost thou think she and he wilt be fit for each other?”
Celestia hid a smile, knowing that Luna could not have seen the hidden meaning behind her own words.
“Based on their interaction alone today,” answered Celestia, “I feel as though there are rough edges that could be smoothed out, but overall, I feel as though they are the best combination we could hope for.”
“If we may ask, sister, didst thou pick him because he shares the name with our very first student?”
Celestia didn’t answer at first, which spoke volumes to Luna, but after a moment’s hesitation, Celestia had a reply.
“There is more to it than that, sister,” she explained. “Seven years ago, there was… an incident at my school involving the poor colt.”
“So this is a sort of repayment?” asked Luna.
“I will admit, that is part of it.” Celestia answered honestly, “but there is so much more. Has your memory been totally regained yet?”
“No, we are afraid not,” Luna said.
“When you remember, you will understand.”
Luna didn’t like that answer, but she knew her sister too well than to try to pry a more clear one.
“Tia, please be honest with us,” she said, deciding to divert the conversation.
“About what, Lulu?” asked Celestia, looking at her sister over the top of her spectacles as she closed the diary and placed it back in its place on a shelf.
“First, please don’t call us that,” Luna said, rolling her eyes. “We are not a child anymore.”
“But you’ll always be my little sister, Luna,” Celestia said, giving her a teasing smile.
“Yes, well, as we said, please be honest with us. You told us before we left that you would only give the okay if Twilight Sparkle and Nova Shine developed an amicable relationship, something you said, and we quote, ‘they could build on.’”
“So I did, what of it?”
“Tia, please tell us thou art not trying to make them fall in love.”
Celestia gave a fake-thoughtful look up at the ceiling and smiled slyly.
“Maaaaaaaybe--”
“TIA!”
“Luna, Luna, I’m just joking,” she said, stopping her sister’s indignation and beckoning that she sit beside her. “If they fall in love, so be it, but I will not attempt to manufacture romance. I may have my flaws, but I know enough not to try that.”
“Yes, the love poison incident proves why that is a poor idea,” Luna said dryly.
“However, a first meeting like today means very little. They could grow to loathe each other, as Comet and Sunbeam did at first, in which case we will have to steer them right. Regardless, I have no doubt they will grow to be very good friends in the long run, at least.”
“We don’t understand how thou canst be so sure,” Luna said.
Celestia had nothing to say to that. Instead, she unfurled another report, this time from Manehattan, and set to transcribing the records within to a private records book of her own.
“Sister, dost thou think she would have felt the disturbance? Even after so long?”
Celestia sighed.
“I suppose it is too much to hope for that she wouldn’t have.”
Silence fell between them yet again for a time, before once again, Luna piped up.
“Sister, dost thou think we wilt still be a good teacher?”
“My my, Luna,” Celestia smiled. “Normally, you are quiet, confident, and reserved, but tonight you seem insecure and have many questions.”
Luna had no response. Magic had advanced to an unprecedented level over the last millennium. It would take her much time to get used to modern levels of magic, and the spells that were developed. She could only hope that she did not come off as a primitive teacher to her new Night Apprentice.
“Luna, I believe you will still be a great teacher,” Celestia answered sincerely, patting a spot on the ground, where Luna laid down and sidled close to her elder sibling. “There are many times I still wonder what you would do in a situation I have no experience in. Worry not, sister. What will come will come, and we will be ready to meet it when it does.”
Luna smiled at her sister’s kind words, and gave her a nuzzle before watching her go about her work.
{T} {A} {T} {S} {A} {T} {C}
And now, the nightmare, thought the mysterious unicorn, the magics around Nova Shine's and Twilight Sparkle's heads intensifying significantly as the dream shifted once more. Faint magics also began to appear around Trixie Lulamoon's head as well, causing her to begin to shift uneasily in her bed.
{T} {A} {T} {S} {A} {T} {C}
There was an overgrown building, sitting in a clearing in the heart of a foreboding jungle. In its time, the building had been magnificent, a pristine jewel of Everfree, but after a thousand years, the building had fallen into disrepair. Ivy clung to the once-shining, now-dull stone, vines hung out of the building’s many crevices.
Inside the building, there were many stone doors, built into the sides of a giant hole drilled into the ground. One of these doors must never be opened, for within lies an enchanted glass vial, and within the enchanted vial slumbers a shadow, only to awaken when that accursed pair are reunited.
A pulse of magic passes over the vial. At once, it began to glow a bright orange color, and from within came the sounds of mad laughter. It was time, after a full millennium! It was time for bloodshed, time for her work to begin. It would take some time, but she would be free from this prison, free to once again roam the land…
ONCE AGAIN, SHE WOULD BE FREE TO KILL!
Nova Shine let out a yell and bolted upright in his bed. He wasn’t in a temple, he was still in his home. After a moment, in which he sat there, mind reeling from the nightmare yet again, he fell back against the sweat-soaked sheets.
Another dream about that day, he thought. Another dream about that place in the forest.
It was the fourth night in a row he’d had the same dream. After the third overall, he had gone to Princess Luna to ask that she ward off these nightmares, only to hear words he seriously didn’t want to hear.
“You’ll learn later.”
Naturally, Nova had not been happy, but he had kept his complaints to himself. Princess Luna must have had a good reason to withhold the information from him. But she did ask him to tell her if he kept having this dream.
Obviously, he had. Under normal circumstances, he would tell her immediately. However, he was expecting the princess to get into contact him with her scrying orb, so he decided instead to go ahead and make himself presentable for the day.
With a groan, he rolled out of bed, falling right onto the floor with a loud thud. Great, just when the morning couldn’t get any worse.
With another groan, he heaved himself into a standing position and lumbered out of his room, toward the bathroom just down the hall. Once inside, he looked directly into the mirror to see how he looked.
Long story short, the metaphorical cat had dragged in better-looking things.
His blue mane was filthy, matted with sweat and plastered on his forehead, his eyes were a little bloodshot, and there was a noticeable slouch in his gait. He splashed some cold water from the tap onto his face and it helped just a little bit, but not quite enough to really help him out. So he turned on the shower. Perhaps a full-body shock would help. Surprisingly, the cold didn’t. So, if not cold, then heat?
A minute later, those townsponies who were out this early in the morning were treated to the sight of the town’s magical mercenary sprinting out of his house with steam issuing from his back, howling at the top of his lungs.
A visitor to the town might have looked twice, but the townsponies had gotten used to Nova Shine’s hijinks over the last three years. After all, working with magic was a very volatile pastime. One particular incident involved the townsponies waking up to find Nova’s house floating upside-down on the bottom of a cloud, perfectly rooted to it as though the foundation were built in. The cause of that incident remains unknown to this day.
A few minutes later, Nova had returned to the doorstep of his house, slightly embarrassed by what had just transpired. Still, he was awake now, but he definitely still needed to properly clean himself up.
Seeing as how he was already outside, he got his mail and Equestria Daily newspaper from the postbox and after glancing at the title, tossed the both of them onto the couch in his living room. He would have time to read about Celestia’s School’s new headmaster later.
Up in the study, there had only been one addition to it over the years furniture-wise. A small round three-legged table sat in the very center of the room, with a polished glass ball sitting in a small hollow, just for it.
Nova walked right up to the ball, placed a hoof onto it, and said aloud, “Princess Luna, I must speak with you.”
At once, the orb changed from clear to showing an image of a balcony in Canterlot Castle. Nova was currently in a position to see off the edge of said balcony, so he trotted around to the other side, where he gained a clear view of a set of doors leading to Princess Luna’s room.
Within seconds, the doors opened, and his princess trotted regally from her chamber. Over the last three years, her coat had darkened to a shade of blue only just darker than his mane, her mane and tail had changed to look more like her sister’s, with stars and flowing independent of the wind, and she had grown taller and leggier. She had grown to look more beautiful and more royal than before.
“Ah, good morning, my Night Apprentice,” she said, giving him a warm smile. “How was your rest?”
“I had another one,” Nova said bluntly.
Princess Luna’s smile vanished, replaced with a very deep frown.
“That is the fifth overall, and the third in just five days.”
“Yes, I know, I’m the one who dreamt them,” Nova replied, a touch of impatience creeping into his voice. “Look, I can handle a few sleepless nights, after our irregular schedule began to take its toll on me, but it’s getting out of hoof. Are you ever going to tell me what you know about these nightmares?”
Princess Luna was quiet for a moment, leading Nova to suddenly start to hope. Is she actually going to tell me this time?
“Not just yet, my Night Apprentice, but you will know soon.”
Nova inwardly facehoofed. Of course she was going to lead him on.
“Yes, well, nightmare aside, you asked me to contact you this morning. Something going on?”
“Yes, actually,” Luna said, dipping her head. “My sister and I have agreed to put you through an assessment of your abilities, compared with those of the Faithful Student. You are expected in Canterlot at three o’clock this afternoon, and a train leaves--”
“Whoa whoa whoa, slow down,” Nova interjected. “Are you seriously going to compare my progress in three years with the progress of a unicorn who has received training at least since the day I fled Canterlot, if not longer?”
“We will,” Luna said, fixing him with a stern look. “I would like to see how far you’ve come under my tutelage in this brief time, compared to her student’s after that long. I have every confidence in you, but Nova, please remember this is in no way a competition. You are not trying to beat her.”
“As if I could in the first place,” Nova grumbled. “You know I’m rubbish at advanced spellcasting. I can decipher spells no problem, but casting them?”
“Nova, you have come a long way since our first night as teacher and pupil,” encouraged Princess Luna. “As I said, I have every confidence in you to do well. There is no pass or fail, there is simply how you did versus how she did.”
“Well, since my day is accounted for, when is the next train out of Neighton?” he asked.
“In an hour. There will be a stop in Ponyville, where the Faithful Student resides. Perhaps you and she may meet each other on the ride here, or even on the road to the castle? Regardless, you will meet her in Canterlot Castle soon enough as is.”
Right, Nova thought skeptically, assuming she also uses the same alleys I use when I’m in Canterlot, fat chance of us meeting.
“Is that all you needed of me, Luna?” he asked.
“It is, Nova. We will see you this afternoon.”
“Until then,” he said, and then he let the spell drop, returning the scrying orb to its clear, spell-free form.
He didn’t move right away. Five nightmares in a week and a half, and she didn’t want to say anything. This gave Nova the suspicion that she wasn’t being entirely truthful with him. If she didn’t know, she could just tell him and he would drop it and try to deal with it.
But for that matter, why couldn’t she stop the nightmares from happening? She had done so many times. What was different about this?
In the end, Nova sighed. If he wanted to think on this some more, there was always the ride. And with that thought in mind, it was time for a shower. He needed to get ready, because he had a train to catch.
In
THE APPRENTICE, THE STUDENT, AND THE CHARLATAN
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I like this version much more than the other. It is much more detailed and we get to see Nova do a good deed. five eeyups and five mustaches!
Are we not supposed to know why he "fled" Canterlot at this point?
This looks good so far, giving this a try!
You could easily break this down into several shorter chapters and make it more readable;
Luna taking Nova as her apprentice seemed a bit unexplained; especially given that Nova has been doing everything he can to keep off the charts for the last few years. Maybe Celestia has been giving considerable effort to keep tabs on him all this time if she thinks she knows him well enough to choose him as Luna's apprentice; but if that's the case, and she's known he's that special for that long, you'd ask why she hasn't tried to recruit him in some other fashion before now.
Then skipping the first three years just like that?
This seems like a great story! I also really look forward to the audio drama ^.^
Obviously, since I'm one of the artists working on it! XD I just wanted to know what the story was about and if it was good, and it did not disappoint. :D
These are incorrect. It goes:
I am, thou art, he/she/it is, we are, you are, they are
I will, thou wilt, he/she/it will, we will, you will, they will
Am I reading this right and you included a three year time skip with only two mentions to it? Almost missed it there at first. Interesting start, but very little information given, I suppose to try and entice us.
Coming back to this site and story after god knows how long can't wait to see how the nostalgia feels after so long!
What is the pony version of Harry Potter even about? They have actual magic which kind of runs off half of the plot points. I mean muggleborn discrimination might still be a thing with genetic throwbacks from earth pony or pegasus parents but for one thing, that kind of racism is much less of an allegory in a world that probably actually has that kind of discrimination. Also, the whole premise of the wizarding world doesn’t work in a universe where witch hunts presumably weren’t a thing. I mean I guess most of the skeleton still works but a lot of the lore gets thrown out the window.
8875346
Never really thought about it, actually. That would be an interesting thing to explore.
8875378
You NEED to throw some sort of warning or a transition when you do a time skip. You jumped from day one to year 3 in the span of a dream sequence and gave no advance warning or at least some opening exposition otherwise it you'll throw people off and get them confused.
God damn this story is dry.
Are these dreams/nightmares memories or illusions? I don't trust this third party forcing nightmares on them. I hate mind magic especially altering memories. I don't want to get invested if the story will just make me angry.
11754373
Almost all A, but a tiny little bit of B. Nothing that they witnessed in their heads didn't happen, but the how (for that little bit of B) is what's interesting. No gaslighting or anything like that. As I do not know what exactly makes you angry as a reader, I don't know whether or not this explanation is to your liking.
I can promise, however, that the being causing these visions is benevolent, plus several additional words to create the illusion of a more complicated spoiler but without actually giving away a major plot detail.
I do gotta warn you, though. In case you haven't seen my notices, the first several chapters of the story have been rewritten compared to their original versions at publishing (I got better as I wrote it way back when), and this reveal comes in chapters that did not get rewritten (because it took me eight years to rewrite as far as I did), so hopefully it's explained in a way that makes sense and doesn't feel forced.