Pepper heart

by Hestrir

First published 4th of July, 2016

Twilight Sparkle is invited to substitute one of her favorite teachers in the Celestia's school for gifted unicorns. Starlight tags along for the ride.

Twilight recieves an invitation to temporarily substitute one of her old teachers in the Celestia's school for gifted unicorns. Starlight goes with her, curious of what her life could've been if she went there when she had a chance.
In there, Starlight learns that the true purpouse of said trip was not what it seemed...

Chapter 1: the trip

The morning sun shone through the crystal windows, breaking into rainbow spectrum by prism-like qualities of the latter, showering Twilight's room with an array of colors, playing on the walls.

Twilight Sparkle was packing her saddlebags with books of wide variety of topics. Spike sat on a wooden chair, making faces at his funhouse-like reflection in the crystal wall beside him.

A sound of trotting hoofsteps has echoed from the wide and empty hallways not too far. The door swung open and a mare emerged. Starlight Glimmer looked flustered and uneasy as she entered the room, carefully stepping over a huge tome of Principles of Magic, lying open on the shining floor. She had a somewhat unpleasant dream, depicting Twilight poking her with the staff of Sameness in the cutie mark cave, with Sunburst laughing loudly in the background. Even morning coffee has failed to wash away the foul feeling that dream has left behind.

'Morning, Starlight' - waved Spike, distracting from his endeavors to touch his nose with his chin.

'Oh, Starlight, you're here' - said Twilight absent-mindedly, trying in vain to close her over packed saddlebag.

''Lo. Going somewhere?' asked Starlight. She gave Twilight a rather puzzled look and started to pick up the books, scattered hastily on the floor.

'Yeah. Sorry about not telling you earlier. Something unexpected has came up.' Twilight muttered while casting a shrinking spell on her books so they would fit - 'Oops!' - one of the books became smaller than a medium-sized cracker.

'Is it something urgent? Like a friendship problem? Or a monster attack?' asked Starlight, handing Twilight the books she picked up.

'Or a parteyyy?!'

The ponies jumped in place from the sudden sound of party whistle. Starlight has suddenly noticed Pinkie Pie, appearing seemingly out of nowhere atop the crystal map.

'Hey, Pinkie Pie' - said unamused Spike, scratching his nose 'You're early today.'

'It's just I've heard that Twilight is going away, and I was like - 'Aaah! But she didn't told us!' - so then I was like - 'Maybe she's planning a surprise and she'll be gone for a minute and then return with the BIGGEST cinnamon cake in ALL of Equestria!' - Pinkie jumped on a crystalline table, sweeping down few books and a shining platter with leftover sapphire shards in it, and spreading her frontal hooves wide as if to signify the imaginary cake's size. Spike sighed and jumped down his chair, begun to pick up the books, stealthily putting rather big sapphire shard in his mouth.

'Or, you know, a friendship problem?' - Said Pinkie under Spike's dismissive glare, jumping down. 'Did the map called you?'

'Nope' said Twilight, running through her checklist, 'My teacher from Celestia's school for gifted unicorns called and asked for a favor, urgently telling me to go to Canterlot. It came so sudden so I didn't have time to inform you all.'

'School for gifted unicorns?' - asked Starlight, looking away with a sad expression. The visage of evilly laughing Sunburst from her dream has appeared in her mind again.

'Oh! Did your teacher invited you to a partay?'

'No, Pinky. He needs my help. Actually, it's kinda strange. We haven't been in touch since my days in Canterlot -' Twilight's face took guilty expression 'I have completely forgotten about him. Mister Cosmos was always so nice to me back then...'

'So, what do he want you to do, Twilight?' - asked Starlight, eyeing Pinkie Pie as she bounced up and down.

'Apparently, he needs some help with something. I hope he's okay...' - Twilight made her checklist vanish and finally closed her saddlebags.

'Pinkie, can you tell everypony that I will be away? I would've done it myself, but that letter sounds too urgent.'

'Okie-dokie! Just be sure to send a notice when you'll be returning. I'm gonna throw a returning party! Oh, that reminds me, I need to get those streamers!' With that, Pinkie dashed away, humming a lighthearted melody.

'Is Spike going?' - asked Starlight nervously. The thought of being left alone in this labyrinth of a castle for a prolonged period of time made gave her chills.

'Nope. I will stay here in case some friendship problem will happen and folks here would need Twilight!' - said Spike, jumping on the sofa nearby and pulling a small tray of gem shards from behind the pillow. 'Since Twilight is coming to the magic school, I can just send her any letter there'

'You can do that?' asked Starlight in a puzzled voice. She has never heard of such a magic. She has thought to ask Spike about the logistics of his fiery mail sending ability in detail later when she'll have a chance.

'Of course! After all, the school for gifted unicorns is the place that invented this way of postal service! Didn't you know this?'

'Umm... no' - Starlight has scratched the floor uneasily ' I never made it to magic school...'

'You didn't?!' exclaimed Spike, making astonished Starlight to take a step back.

'But you're so good at magic!' - exclaimed Spike again, dropping a gem sprinkle out of his mouth.

'Well, I... uh - Never had a proper chance, I guess...' - Starlight has turned her head away. She has failed the entrance exam after Sunburst has left her after getting his cutie mark. Starlight has lowered her head, looking at concerned Twilight. - 'I was so distraught by the fact that Sunburst has lost any contact with me that I couldn't concentrate, failing the entrance test. Plus, Sunburst was the one who was always helping me with magic study, guiding me or whatnot.' - Starlight stumbled. - 'Without him I couldn't learn anything new at first. I've got so used to him helping me out that it turned out too difficult to move without his direction. I've learned all of my magic later myself, when I was researching cutie marks for... Well, you know... "Utopia"'.

'Oh, Starlight...' - Twilight looked at her with a sad expression. But then her expression changed 'Hey, I have an idea! Why won't you accompany me? I can show you around, make you acquainted with greatest unicorn scholars! Or show you the library! The library there is AMAZING! It have all sorts of magic tomes in it!' - Twilight started hopping excitedly with a dreamy expression on her face.

'I-I'm not sure, Twilight...' - Starlight looked awry.

'Come on! It will be fun! You'll definitely make new friends there! All the professors and astromancers! Or the students! The magic school is a treasure throve of friendship lessons!'

'Well... Sure, why not!' - Starlight smiled - 'I wonder what my life could've been if I went there back then...'

The visages from her dream has appeared in her mind again. But now, for some reason, Starlight has found them pretty funny. Twilight has excitedly heaved her saddleback on her back, bending under its weight.

***

The gleaming Canterlot express has finished its trek to its final destination. The platforms were filled with all kinds of ponies, rustling and bustling around, discussing latest news and freshest gossips. But from time to time some of those ponies were stopping their conversation to curiously look at an alicorn, walking through the common crowds. Everypony knew her name, from the bougiest of the elites to the simple tube cleaners. There goes Twilight Sparkle, the princess of friendship.

Twilight was trotting uneasily under their gazes, making her way off the station, and Starlight followed her step to step.

'What now? We're gonna catch a cab?' - asked Starlight, shielding her eyes with her hoof from the bright shining sun.

'No need' - smiled Twilight and approached a stern balding old pony of night-blue coat with huge, puffy white eyebrows. The pony looked unremarkable, dressed in a simple gray coat, but Twilight approached him quite confidently.

'Mister Cosmos! It's so nice to see you!" - she called. The pony has averted his gaze from the mountains and looked at Twilight.

'Twilight Sparkle!' - he exclaimed, his voice sounding dry and sickly - ''Tis was a long time, was it not?' he beamed at Twilight with a kind smile. - 'You've changed so much. It feels weird seeing you as an alicorn from that close *cough* of a distance.'

'Are you allright?' Twilight asked, voice concerned. 'You sounds sick'

'That I am. But let us discuss that somewhere else.' he looked at Starlight, who was stomping the ground shyly behind Twilight. 'Is she your friend?'

'Yes.' - Twilight nodded. - 'Her name is Starlight Glimmer. She's a very gifted unicorn.'

'Good to hear. Then the trek will not surprise her. Twilight, dear. And Starlight too. Come near me and form a circle. Do you know what to do?'

'I - uh...' - Starlight has shifted uneasily. Something seemed off about that unicorn, but Starlight couldn't put her hoof on what.

'Don't worry, just think of a teleportation spell' - Twilight smiled at Starlight and moved in front of Cosmos, Starlight following shortly.

Three horns flashed brightly under the midday sun, and the three ponies has vanished.

***

They reappeared in a small round room. Round carpet with celestial-themed pattern laid in room's center. Room's walls were cluttered with endless shelves and one big wardrobe, all filled with scrolls, empty amphorae and books of all kinds. Cosmos has moved to the huge rocking chair under a small window and sat down comfortably.

'Now, my dear *cough* ladies. Let me tell you the root of my problem. As you may have *cough* noticed, I have caught a pretty malicious influenza. The kind that no magic can cure'

Twilight bit her lip.

'But recently when I was in a middle of reorganizing olden scrolls, I have stumbled upon your essay on the properties of magic vials and pottery. Memories came flowing into this old head of mine, and I have decided to ask your help. Dear Twilight. Would you teach in my class during my absence?'

Twilight's eyes lit. She begun to shake slightly.

'I know it is not an easy task' - said Cosmos quickly, misinterpreting Twilight's trembling - 'But I could not think of *cough* anypony else who can teach in my class! You were the best at all kinds of topics back then! Plus, you are an alicorn now! Creature of *cough* pure magic. There is so much they can learn from you!'

'You want ME to teach in magic school?' - the excitement in the air became almost touchable. - 'I would GLADLY do that! I- I love teaching ponies! That was one of my dream jobs!'

Cosmos has sighed with relief.

'Oh, dear Twilight! You are a lifesaver! For all the long years of my practice I have never been absent. I did not knew what to do to not make the precious little ponies miss out on their learnings!'

'Wait. You have never been sick before?' - asked Starlight, bobbing her head in disbelief.

'Never!' - Cosmos has dramatically raised his right hoof, placing his left hoof on his chest. 'For my whole life I have been evading that *cough* *cough* foul virus! But it hast finally found me!'

'Most of the normal illnesses can be cured by magic, but not influenza' said Twilight absent-mindedly. 'Oh, I'm so excited! Master Cosmos, when do I start?'

'Tomorrow will be a good time, my dear. For now, you two can stay in my tower. It's close to the academy and a grocery store that has the best pretzels in the whole Canterlot!'

'But where do we sleep?' - asked Starlight, looking around. The idea to sleep in the same room with an old stallion who gave her unexplained jeepers was not very appealing.

'Take the guest quarters two floors above. My charmed brooms should have prepared your beds by now' - he winked, shooting two tiny sparks from his horn.

'We'll be off then!' - chirped Twilight - 'I'll come down in a bit when I'll finish unpacking. Then we can discuss EVERYTHING!'
With that said, she happily bounced away. Starlight followed her, throwing a last uneasy look at a rocking old stallion.

***

'Wow!' said Twilight.
The guest quarters were really huge, much bigger than the room Cosmos has resided in. Huge windows were half-open, letting in the cozy breeze. The place had four huge beds, a wide round table in center and multiple enormous bookcases filled to the brim with books than made Twilight excited even more than she was before. The walls were decorated with celestial-themed tapestries, while the ceiling was shining with a plethora of golden star ornaments. Twilight has immediately dashed towards the nearest bookshelf, tossing her saddlebag to bounce on the star-adorned blanket of a nearby bed.

'Look, Starlight! The cupboards here even have different quills and parchments!'

'Uh-huh'

Starlight has moved in the room's center and begun to look around her uneasily, disregarding Twilight, who was too lost in the process of inspecting all the container furniture in the room.

'Do we have to stay here, Twilight? I feel kinda... Unsafe in here'

'Of course we have! Why would you feel unsafe? This place is scholar's dream come true!'

'I dunno...'

'Anyway, focus, Twilight.' - Twilight muttered. 'I'll have plenty of time to check these - Oh! I can't believe it! Twenty principles of magic by Mélange Spellbeard! - oh, this place is Amazing!'

Starlight just sighed. Twilight seemed too easily impressed by that sort of thing.

'I'll go grab something to eat.' she said, wanting to look at their spacial disposition.
With that, she left Twilight alone.

Starlight has moved the seemingly endless spiraling staircase all the way down, exiting the tower.

'Now, did that old pony mentioned something about pretzels?' she mumbled, eyeing the scenery in front of her. The tower she just came out of has stood on Canterlot outskirts, adjacent to a mountain in such a way that it could serve as a leeway to the higher level. There were building scattered here and there, though the bulk of them was a somewhat long distance away. A bit further to the north of the tower an unusual structure was visible, as if it was a small but wide castle with a single sharp-ended tower in the middle.

Starlight has noticed a cluster of ponies near a small building nearby. The building had a huge pretzel carving on its roof. Starlight has trotted closer.

The place's forward displays were filled to a brim with all kinds of pretzels, some of which Starlight never seen before.

'Hm. What should I pick?' - she wondered out loud.

After a slight pause, she ended up on a huge chocolate sprinkled pretzel for herself and a vanilla one for Twilight, as well as a bottle of soda. She put them in a paper bag and started making her way back to the tower, stopping after a few steps to a strange structure in the distance. Then she has noticed something unusual.

There was a young filly, sitting alone under a tree in the distance. She looked somewhat unusual. Her tail has appeared to be lubberly cut, and her ear looked weird, though Starlight couldn't see it well from the distance. Curiously, Starlight has moved closer, noticing with her peripheral vision that seemingly all passerby ponies were avoiding walking on the road close to the filly.

The filly was a unicorn. She had a vanilla-colored coat and smoked paprika mane and tail. She had a small red bow wrapped around her horn, making it look shorter, and a cutie mark that looked like a dark-green snake made of fire. Her ear was torn and her tail looked like it was rent off.

The filly was looking at a sketchbook in front of her. When Starlight has approached, the filly rose her eyes.

'What d-do you want?' - she asked in a dry voice with a slight stutter.

'Who? Me? ' Starlight has uneasily stroked her mane. Something in filly's eyes was threatening. 'I was just wondering about that building over there-' - she pointed towards the unusual building complex in the distance - 'Is that, by any chance, Celestia's school for gifted unicorns?'

'Yes. W-what is it to you?' the filly implored dryly. She threw a quick glance at Starlight's paper bag, her nostrils expanding.

'Well, it's a long story. I was denied the chance to get there when I was a filly, so I am here to check it up' Starlight has cranked a smile.

'Lucky you' - said the filly gloomily and turned away from Starlight.

'E-excuse me?'

But filly has ignored the question, burying deep inside her sketchbook. Starlight has shrugged and turned around. She threw a last worried look at the filly and went back to the tower. When she moved enough distance, the filly has pulled a vanilla-flavored pretzel from-under her sketchbook and dug in with a ravenous appetite.

***

When Starlight came back to the wizard's tower, she found Twilight talking to Cosmos in the guest quarters. The contents of their discussion has eluded Starlight, having something to do with stars and their placement.

'Oh! Miss Starlight! Come in, come in' Cosmos has beamed her way and beckoned her. 'We were just discussing the Secretariat comet. Have you heard about that? It has passed us by quite recently.'

'Oh, hey, Starlight. Had a good walk?'

'I have. I brought some snacks' she magically bestowed the paper bag to Twilight and sat on a side of the bed.

'Oh, thank you! I've been organizing the parchments when mister Cosmos came in.' she made a whipping motion with her front hoof. 'Oh, that reminds me. I have to send a letter for Spike. Mister Cosmos, where is the nearest mail hearth?'

'Oh, one floor down.'

'Thank you! Will be back soon. I haven't told you yet about my own adventures during that celestial event!'

'Oh, I will be certainly interested in hearing more! Although I doubt that your adventures will beat battling gigantic mutant cockatrices! Now that was a time...'

Twilight went out, leaving Starlight and Cosmos alone.

'Hmm. Judging by your voice - you seem to feel better' said Starlight, leering suspiciously at an old stallion. 'Maybe Twilight won't have to teach in your place after all.'

'What? No! *cough* My throat got a bit better, but I'm still quite ill' he said, a bit too fast.

'And that's why you're hanging around Twilight with such a contagious disease?'

'I- no! I-I have casted an anti-contagious spell!'

'There is no such spell.' Starlight looked as if she was ready to deflect a magical blast. She did not excluded that possibility.

'How do you know that? You have not even *cough* been a student in the wizarding school' said Cosmos brashly.

'Perhaps I wasn't. But it doesn't change the fact that you're lying. You're not sick at all, aren't you?'

Starlight made a step closer. Cosmos has gave her an appraising look and sighed.

'I am not' Starlight has made another step forward, lowering her head. 'But please, listen to what I have to say.'

Starlight, after a brief pause, raised her head and sat back on the bed comfortably, ready to call Twilight any second.

'I'm listening.'
'I need Twilight's help. But I can't let her have full information on the matter.' said Cosmos quickly.

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'You see... There is a problem student in my class. One with... troubling powers. I want Twilight to help her.'

'I don't understand.'

'That filly has a huge magical potential, but she is rolling down the slippery slope. She has no friends, and doesn't seem to know how to make some.'

Cosmos has suddenly looked Starlight right in the eyes. 'And you do know how that can transpire, do you not, miss Equality?'

Starlight has averted her gaze, struggling with an impulse to turn the all-knowing old stallion into something small and insignificant.
'So help her yourself. Aren't you her teacher?' she said, clenching her teeth.

'I have no talent at such issues. But Twilight Sparkle does. She can give her guidance. I have the proof of her ability sitting right in front of me giving me hostile looks.'

'Okay, I won't deny that Twilight knows a thing or two about friendship. But then why all these charades? Why won't you tell her the truth?' implored Starlight, doing her best to ignore the latest remark.

'I can't tell you that. Non now' Cosmos said firmly.

'But you may understand it yourself. Just visit Twilight's classes tomorrow. Please, just give me a benefit of the doubt. Twilight Sparkle may not be able to help that filly if she will know the root of her problems. I know Twilight well. She will choose the wrong approach.'

Starlight was sitting on the bed, her expression unchanging from slightly hostile disbelief. Cosmos stood up.

'I will tell you everything you'd want to know tomorrow if you will not tell Twilight Sparkle about our conversation. I promise. Just give me a chance to prove my point.'

After a pause, Starlight has nodded reluctantly. She thought to herself that if Cosmos is telling truth, she would be doing a bad thing by derailing his plan.

'You better do. Cuz if you don't - we're getting out of here tomorrow.'

'It's a promise, then' Cosmos smiled 'I guess I now can dispell the warding charm I have set up.' Starlight has risen her eyebrow.
After a few minutes of awkward silence the door creaked open, letting Twilight in.

'All done!' she said, beaming. 'Had to make trip a few times. There were always things I forgot, like writing Spike to make a quill order from Quills and Sofas and all. Heh-heh...' she laughed absent-mindedly while Starlight threw a quick impressed look at a delighted Cosmos. Such a warding spell was unknown to her and felt beyond her expertise.

'Oh, by the way, Starlight. Thank you for the pretzel! It was good. Have you eaten yours already?'

'What do you mean? Mine was the chocolate one.'

'Huh? There was only a chocolate one' Twilight looked confused

'Huh? There was supposed to be a vanilla one... Did I dropped it on the way here?' Starlight looked puzzled.

Author's Notes:

I am using an apostrophe for dialogues and quotation marks for thoughts (not seen in this chapter). I hope this is correct, cuz that's what I saw in Harry Potter books.

in any case, me English is far from perfect. Got any nitpicks? Suggestions? Criticism? By all means! I want to improve, thus I welcome any kind of feedback.

Thank you for reading!

Chapter 2: magic school days

The solar rays has pierced Starlight's eyelids, waking her up from an... interesting dream, In which Cosmos has been carefully putting endless replicas of Starlight's cutie mark on the cutie cave's walls, accompanied by Twilight applause. Starlight has shook her head and sat up. The bed was quite comfortable after all. Twilight was nowhere to be seen. The bookcases in the room looked different. They have got new books in them, and their old books were re-organized neatly. Starlight has rose up and went to search for the bathroom, wondering to herself why didn't she asked about it earlier.

She found Twilight descending from upstairs, with a blanket on her back and a toothbrush levitating in front of her.

'Morning, Starlight. Ready to greet the day?' Twilight has beamed on her and went back in the room.

'The lessons will start in an hour' she said, putting the brush away and grabbing her saddlebags. Starlight has nodded and went upstairs.

After brushing her teeth and mane, Starlight went back. Her tummy has grumbled. Seemingly lost pretzel has reminded her of itself. There were some stale-looking apples in the vase in the guest quarters. Reluctantly, Starlight has grabbed one and started eating, gloomily thinking of Spike's cookies and Applejack's apple pies. Twilight was standing in front of a huge mirror.

'So, what is the plan for today?' she asked, taking another bite from the apple.

'I'll have the first period, that's about an hour and a half. Then there will be a big recess, during which I'll give you a quick tour on the school.'

Twilight sounded excited. She has levitated a dark-red sweater onto herself, struggling to put her wings into it. She gave up after realizing futility of that task. That sweater was not made with wings in mind, so Twilight has settled on a simple blue-and-white scarf and a pair of pointy-ended glasses without lenses. Starlight has risen her eyebrow.

'So what am I suppose to do during first period?' she asked, sending apple core to the trash bin and grabbing a fresh stale apple from the vase.

'Just sit in the class, I guess' Twilight shrugged, her glass-free glasses falling off as a result. 'Or you can take a walk yourself.'

'Nah, I'm good' Starlight didn't feel too keen on wandering on some spacious school grounds alone without any directions.

***

Starlight has looked around herself with strange, vexing feeling of excitement. The school grounds were spacious indeed. The building complex turned out to be much bigger than Starlight imagined looking at it from afar. The school consisted of five major buildings and multiple minor ones, with a huge three-towered building in the middle. The architecture style was different from that of usual Canterlot. Its walls were white with occasional purple decorative areas, while its roofs were dark blue, covered with colorful patterns of stars and celestial bodies. Starlight's memories about this place were hazy. She's been there a few times during her fillyhood, but back then she weren't noticing the grandure of the place.

Strings of foals and fillies were passing through the gates, entering school grounds and proceeding into the various buildings.
'This place was smaller when I was a filly. I don't remember those two buildings over there.' mumbled Twilight. She was still dressed in the scarf and glass-less glasses, looking ridiculous all the way through.

They have entered the central building and proceeded on the second floor. The insides of the school were not to Starlight's taste: boring mosaic floors, rugs and endless portraits of famous pony wizards. Finally the two mares has entered a lecture hall. The hall was empty and sightless, aside from a number of purple tapestries depicting some mares Starlight didn't recognize.

Twilight has proceeded to the teacher's desk, while Starlight has awkwardly sat on a faraway seat. The seat was a bit too small for her, making the stay extra uncomfortable.

After a few minutes of Starlight trying to take a comfortable position, the school bell has rang an unknown melody, and the class has started to slowly fill with fillies and foals. Two foals who has arrived first has stumbled on a sight of an unfamiliar teacher and tried to retire, but Twilight has levitated them inside with a welcoming smile. Soon, the lecture hall was filled almost to a brim. Starlight became trapped between two little fillies, who were giving her weird looks. Starlight has gritted her teeth hard, thinking back on her decision to go along with Twilight's plan.

The last one to enter was somepony unexpected. Starlight's eyes has widened with surprise when a certain small vanilla-coated smoked paprika-maned filly has meekly entered the hall and sat on the furthest seat, avoiding eye contact with any pony in the room. When she unpacked her saddlebag and looked closely at the teacher, her eyebrow has flung up.

'Oh, right. She did tell me that this is the school... Make sense that she's also learning here' Starlight mumbled, raising suspicious gazes from her next-seat neighbors.

With another bell ring the lesson has begun. Twilight has introduced herself, relaying information about Cosmos' absence and herself being his replacement. Student body has leered at her with suspicion, but calmed down in time, listening and taking notes of Twilight's lesson.

Twilight was reading a teaching program from flash cards in front of her, occasionally asking questions and getting answers. Starlight, uncomfortably lying on the table, has rose her head from the comfort of her fore hooves and looked at her friend. Twilight seemed very happy. But the topics Twilight has been teaching were boring for Starlight, who knew everything she's been talking about. Bored out of her wits, Starlight has started taking close looks at the students.

"I wonder who's Cosmos were talking about. Being troublesome and all this stuff..." she thought, leering at a nearby focused foal. Surprisingly, but most of the students seemed really interested in Twilight's lecture. Some were whispering, pointing at Twilight's wings. Two foals and a number of little fillies were looking at Twilight with aspiration and adoration, no doubt recognizing her as a princess. Starlight wished that she could be as happy as Twilight at the moment.

But something felt out of context. The vanilla-coated filly that were sitting all alone on the farthest seat. She seemed disinterested in Twilight, looking solely on her sketchbook in front of her. With boredom as her main fuel, Starlight has casted a peculiar spell she has learned long ago in the desert. Her horn glowed faintly, looking for a suitable target. After a minute, a target was found: a small black fly on the lecture hall's window. Starlight has smiled faintly and casted a silent spell.

Now she was looking through fly's eyes, with her body sleeping back at her seat while being eyed by two clearly annoying fillies next to it. Twilight didn't seemed to notice, being too caught up in the excitement of lecturing little ponies about mess-fixing spells. Starlight has imbued fly's little mind with an image of breadcrumbs on the back of vanilla filly's seat, sending the fly towards it.

Fly's vision was weird. It felt much wider, than pony's, and the picture was subtly divided on hundreds of cells. It was a bid finicky on the details, but Starlight has clearly captured the overall shape of little filly's sketch. It seemed very familiar. It took Starlight a second to realize, that the shape was Twilight's head. It seemed masterfully drawn, even without much detail visible trough the fly's weird little eyes. The filly has drawn the last line and threw her sketch a critical look, comparing it to Twilight. With a huff of satisfaction, the filly has closed her sketchbook, put it out and started to look at Twilight.

Suddenly, Starlight has felt a bit of pain in her side. Bribing the fly with a phantom aroma of fresh-baked apple pie to make it look at her own body's direction, Starlight has noticed a filly to the right poking her in the side. Starlight has quickly released her grasp on the fly's vision and woke up, giving the filly a stern look. The filly has stuck her tongue out.

***

The school bell has rung, signaling the conclusion of the current lesson. The foals and fillies has begun to civilly pack their bags. Starlight has teleported herself out of the restricting seat and stretched her limbs joyfully. She remembered Starburst telling her that it was hard to know so much at the school and be able to do so little. At the moment, she clearly understood what he meant. Thought of being confined to a seat for several years without anything interesting to learn made her cringe.

'So, how was I?' asked Twilight, approaching Starlight.

Starlight has opened her mouth to answer, but suddenly a small flock of students have surrounded Twilight and started to ask her questions about her wings. Starlight has rolled her eyes and proceeded out of the lecture hall. The corridors were filled with children. However, they were not running amok or making trouble. They were walking around all civilized-like, calmly discussing magical matters. After a minute of looking at some portraits, Twilight has trotted out of the hall, sent the students away and approached Starlight.

'So, let me show you around' she said, beaming. 'We have some time before my second class.'

Two mares have walked through the corridors a bit, Starlight listening to Twilight's happy thoughts about the students. Starlight's mind, however, was far away. She was thinking about Sunburst and what his time in the school looked like when he was a foal. A colorful image of the yellow-red foal, lying on the table, was too lucid for her.

"Then again, he must've been good at pop quizzes and tests and the likes" she thought.

The two walked up the flight of stairs into the biggest of building's towers.

'Here's where astronomy classes are. But sometimes, when the night was bright and cloudless, we were called to study the stars at the observatory atop that mountain!' Twilight's eyes has lit with nostalgia. 'The telescopes there are so huge! You can even see the castles on the moon with it! I wonder if moon people have telescopes as well...'

Starlight has been looking around. The hall they were in was filled with everything astronomy related, from star maps to telescopes. Nothing has caught Starlight's interest besides a huge picture of Starswirl the Bearded on the wall. And it has only caught her attention because of unusual coat color. Starswirl has lived so long ago that most artists just couldn't decide the color of his coat. Most of the depictions Starlight have seen has showed him with either blue or white coat, but there were always some strange colors like golden or purple. Thinking on the subject of incorrect depiction of an ancient wizard, Starlight has missed most of Twilight's nostalgic tails about her time in the mountaintop observatory. She only snapped out when the two has left the tower entirely and went out of the building.

'So, where next?' Starlight asked.

'Library!' said Twilight excitedly. Starlight has silently groaned. The prospect of looking at the books she knew through and through and listening to more of Twilight's nostalgic stories about awesome books she has read did not amused her. But suddenly, the school bell has rung.

'Oh my gosh! We forgot about the lesson! We've been talking so much that I have forgot about time! Quickly!' she then teleported in an unknown direction, leaving dumbfounded Starlight alone.
'Oooookay...'

Starlight has attempted to imagine the lecture hall hard to teleport into it, but the memory of that place was so surprisingly vague, considering that she was there twenty minutes ago, that she has failed.

Teleporting to a place unknown was too dangerous. She could've appeared in the desk, breaking it or even in the air, falling down and injuring herself and the unfortunate colt or filly under her.

Starlight has groaned and made her way to the main building. She was mostly alone on the square, colts and fillies being in the classes. But suddenly a motion in her peripheral vision has caught her attention. Curious, Starlight has glanced in the direction of motion - one of the lesser school building. But nothing was there. Wondering if something was going on behind the building, Starlight has approached building's corner, peeking around it.

Under the building's shadow has stood a small group of children, curiously not in the classes like the rest of the student body. To Starlight's surprise, a familiar vanilla-coated filly was standing up to larger colts, confronting at the apparent leader of the colt group: a lean, jade-coated one with a bob of white mane. The colt was looking down on the filly with clear amusement on his face. The filly was gritting her teeth and looking up with a face full of fury.

'It was your stupid trap, wasn't it?'

'What are you talking about? Those amazing traps aren't mine!' said the colt with a huge grin on his face.
'This. Ain't. Funny!' the filly was furious. Starlight looked aghast. She has realised what situation she has found herself in pretty quickly.
'Oh, it isn't? What do you think guys?' said the colt, looking at his entourage. The other colts have busted with laughter.
'I dunno, Pepper. The guys think it's plenty funny.' shrugged the colt.

Starlight has barely doused her burning desire to turn the colt into a ferret and catapult it away.

"Calm down, Starlight. What would Twilight do?" she thought, clenching her teeth and deciding to watch where this was going.

'Merrylight! If you won't stop your stupid pranks I... I...' said Pepper angrily.

'You what? Use your Evil Magics to turn me into a crystal or something? Yeah, right.' Merrylight has spat on the ground.

'Use your stupid magic and you'll be booted off for sure. Actually, go on. Blast me. I can take it.' he laughed. 'This school has no place for freaks like you.'

The filly has gritted her teeth, visibly holding down her tears.

"Okay. That's enough."

Starlight has flashed right in front of Merrylight and his gang, making them flinch.

'What is your deal?' she said, glaring right in Merrylight's eyes. 'Do you have nothing better to do than to pick on a filly?'

'And who are you?' asked Merrylight in a smug tone, recovering from Starlight's sudden appearance.

'I am me' said Starlight sternly.

'Then you are not important' Merrylight has shrugged. 'I haven't seen you once in the school. That means that you're an outsider. Lady, let me give you an advice: don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong' he grinned.

Starlight was reaching a boiling point.

"Calm down, calm down... What would Twilight do?.."

'I may be an outsider, but it doesn't mean I shouldn't care. Bullying is...'

'Bad?' the colt interrupted. 'Oh, grow up. I'm doing what I want, and that twat deserves it. Out of my way.' he attempted to shove Starlight away with his magic, but failed to overpower Starlight's might. A slight surprise has blinked on his face.

'Just get out of my way, lady. Or we'll get you out ourselves.'

His entourage has huffed aggressively.

"What would Twilight do..." thought Starlight . Twilight would probably attempt to talk the bullies down, teaching them a friendship lesson and making them good. "But wait, I am forgetting something." Starlight has suddenly raised her eyes and looked down on Merrylight triumphantly. "I am not Twilight."

Her horn lit with a teal soft glow and suddenly has bursted with a magical beam, aimed at Merrylight's smug face. The colt's expression has changed in the last moment before the beam hit him. After the dust have settled, there was no Merrylight anymore, but a small white ferret, sitting aghast on the ground. The expression of terror has slowly crept on the other colt's faces.

'So, who's next?' asked Starlight with a friendly, inviting voice. 'The ferret spell was a success, good thing I have finally found a volunteer to try it on. Next up is the frog transfiguration. Who will be the lucky colt to hop around , green and free for a few hours?' she asked with a devious smile. Indeed, Starlight Glimmer is not Twilight Sparkle. After all, she don't have enough understanding of friendship to deal with this conflict the Twilight's way. But she had plenty experience in other ways of interaction.

'We-we're gonna tell on you!' cried one of the colts, and they all have zoomed away, not forgetting to grab their fuzzy leader. Starlight's catharsis had no end for about a minute before she has realized that what she has done would be the exact thing Twilight will tell her not to do under any circumstances in this kind of situation. Mentally waving away the unhappy thoughts, Starlight has turned around to the filly to see her sitting on the ground, jaw dropped.

'Are you allright?' Starlight asked in a concerned, sitting in front of the filly. 'Who were those bullies?'

The filly has looked her right in the eyes with a mixed expression.

'Who are you?' she asked.

'My name's Starlight Glimmer. I'm not from around here.'

'O-obviously. You have asked me for directions earlier.' Pepper's voice was dry and sardonic, which has surprised Starlight, who was waiting for some kind of appreciation.

'So, what's your name?' Starlight asked carefully.

'Pepper Heart.' the filly answered, looking away.

'So, who are those bullies? What did they want from you?' Starlight asked, looking at filly's torn ear and shambled tail.
'Did they... do that to you?' she pointed at Pepper's tail.

'What's y-your deal?' the filly asked, looking down and gritting her teeth. 'Who asked you to interfere anyway? I can take care of myself.'

'But...' Starlight has stumbled. The filly acted outside of Starlight's understanding of basic conventions. Starlight has tried to come up with words, anything, really, but discovered herself at loss. "How would... Twilight... react..." she thought, understanding the irony of that way of thinking.

While Starlight stood there, dazed, not knowing how to react, the filly has stood up, picked her saddlebag and quietly went away.

'Hey! A simple 'thank you' woulda've been enough!' Starlight shouted. The filly has ignored her and went away in the direction of the gates to the school ground.

'What is your deal...' Starlight mumbled, following the filly with her eyes.

***

The bell has rung ironically at the exact moment when Starlight has finally found Twilight's lecture hall. The colts and fillies have calmly proceeded out of the hall, greeting Starlight as if they always knew her. Twilight has walked out last.

'Oh, that was so much fun!' she said, beaming. 'We've talked about friendship and friendship based magic! Those little colts and fillies are so enthusiastic about everything! Just like I was!.. Where have you been exactly?'

'Yeah.' Starlight said absent-mindedly. 'Say, Twilight, is the pony named Pepper Heart in this class?'

'Pepper Heart? I believe so. I think I've seen that name in the papers. Why?' Twilight has finally took notice of Starlight's grim expression. 'Did something happen?'

'That is exactly what I want to hear.'

Both mares has jumped at the sudden voice and turned around. There stood an olden pony, gray in coat and black in mane. He was dressed in the black robe which had a teacher insignia on it.

'P-professor Ash Cauldron?' asked Twilight, stumbling. Her eyes wide with surprise. 'It's been a l-long time, wasn't it? It's nice to see you!'
Twilight's expression has betrayed her words though, being that of fear and a badly-masked resentment.
'It is nice to see you well, Twilight Sparkle' said the stallion with a cold voice. 'Good to see that you have actually made something of yourself and was not a waste of teaching.'

Cauldron have nodded on Twilight's wings. His gaze has moved to Starlight, on whom he looked with consent.

'Y-yeah! I am the princess of fri-uh, magic now! I am here to-'

'You are replacing professor Cosmos.' interrupted Cauldron. 'But I'm not here to talk about you.'

He raised his hoof and pointed it at Starlight.

'You. Who do you think you are?' Starlight has winced under Cauldron's cold eyes. She begun to understand his gripes pretty well.
'What do you mean?' asked Twilight, looking at Starlight nervously.

'Your, uh, student here,' said Cauldron accusingly 'has used an unsanctioned spell on one of our students.'

'You did WHAT?' said Twilight, aghast.

"That's right. They did tell on me." thought Starlight calmly.

'He deserved it' she said sternly, trying to look Cauldron in the eyes, but flinching back from their coldness. 'He and his gang were bullying a little filly.'

'Deserve it or not it is not for you to decide.' said Cauldron, staring Starlight down. 'The students will be punished for disturbing the peace and being absent on the lessons. But from what they have told me, that 'little filly' you were so rigorously protecting have insinuated that off-class meeting herself. She will also be punished for leaving the school's grounds in the middle of the day. But we are not talking about her right now.'

Cauldron have made a few steps toward Starlight and stared her right in the eyes, making her to crouch down and move away.
'You are an outsider. An aberration of the school system. Due to Twilight Sparkle's request we have agreed to tolerate you until the moment you'll disturb the school's order. But it seems that Twilight Sparkle was mistaken about you.'

He glanced at Twilight accusingly. She has lowered her head.

'You are now thereby banned from the school grounds for using an animal transfiguration spell on a student.' Cauldron said coldly. 'Your presence is no longer required, nor desired. See yourself out.'

'Fine. I've had enough of this stupid place anyway.' Starlight has snapped. 'See you back in Ponyville, Twilight.'
She has turned around and went down the hall, boiling inside.

'Starlight! Wait!' Twilight called, but Starlight ignored her.

Twilight has reached her on the stairs, huffing.

'Starlight, what was your thinking?' she asked in a concerned voice.

'I couldn't stay and watch the filly being bullied' said Starlight angrily.

'But transfiguration! It's so hard to reverse!'

'It will wear off after a few hours' said Starlight sheepishly. 'That scamp deserve some exercise. Twilight, he and his gang has ganged on that filly. And they may be responsible for some really bad pranks or whatnot.'

'But Starlight... Couldn't you talk it trough?' Twilight has moved in front of Starlight, blocking her progression.

'Talking is your expertise, Twilight' Starlight has smiled sadly. 'When have I resolved any conflict by talking things through?'
'But what about that time you've talked down those bullies when you... uh... the past...' Twilight has stumbled, looking for words. Starlight has smirked.

'It was different. They were different. That colt was a thousand times more awful that those bullies.' Merrylight's words have re-surfaced in Starlight's memory. "No place for a freak like you..."

Starlight has suddenly come to a realization. She looked straight at Twilight's concerned face.

'Twilight, I think that filly, Pepper Heart, needs your help. She has a real friendship problem it seems. Exactly your caliber.'

'I'll see what I can do' Twilight smiled. 'But please don't return to Ponyville yet! I'm sure I can talk this through with the school board and they will un-ban you! There is so much more things I wanted to show you!'

After a brief pause, Starlight has shrugged and nodded. Her wish to go back to Ponyville has melted on its own anyway. She wanted to see this through.

Author's Notes:

I decided to use that pony from Heath's warming tail episode, the Snape one. I think it makes sense that Twilight associates that pony with a bad teacher from her memory, doesn't it?
In any case, got any suggestions? Nitpicks? Criticism? Bring it ALL in! I strive to improve, thus I accept any sort of feedback to the heart!

Chapter 3: misstep

Pepper Heart was lying face-down on her creaky bed, hugging a plush fox. Her sketchbook was laying on a small table beside her. Pepper's room looked like as if a tornado has run through it multiple times. The small room was cluttered by stuff, mostly clothing, books and papers, randomly scattered everywhere and found in the most unexpected places, like a pair of boots on top of an old grandpa's clock with a broken minute arm, or some random sketches, stuffed into an empty fruit bowl. The biggest thing in the room, a huge wardrobe, had cracks running on its side. The rug on the floor was gray, although Pepper could vaguely remember it being red a long time ago.

Pepper has turned on her side. She was thinking about everything that has transpired today.

The day had a very rough start when Pepper has fallen out of her bed in the morning, breaking her favorite hoofstool. After that, on her way to school she has decided to visit her favorite spot under the tree by the road, but stepped on a hidden leash rope, one of those "hilarious" traps that monster Merrylight set for her. She was hanging upside-down for some very humiliating and infuriating minutes before a passerby pony has helped her out, wondering who would make such a trap under some random tree next to the road.

But then something interesting has happened. An unknown replacement teacher came, and alicorn and a princess. A kind of those privileged heroines of which the colts and fillies in her class were constantly talking about, often ruining Pepper's concentration. That princess was not bad, Pepper admitted, she really seemed to know much about magic, even considering the unbearably boring topic of the lesson. Pepper has managed to get a few very good sketches of the princess, wondering if she should color them later. Pepper has glanced on the wall of her small room, which was completely covered by a plethora of pictures, done in paint and, occasionally, crayons. The portrait of the princess should definitely look good there. Pepper has sat up on her bed and moved her table closer. She picked up her pencil and started to chew it absent-mindedly.

After all, the princess alicorn was not the only interesting thing that has happened to her today.
The pencil has begun to slide on the paper, leaving gray trails, that has schematically formed a head and eyes. Slowly but surely the ears have appeared along with a horn. A weird mane followed that didn't look like it was growing correctly from the head.
Yes, that pony. Starlight, was it? From the day before. Back then Pepper was hungry, so she stole some food from her. Pepper knew, of course, that stealing is bad, so the conscience has announced its presence shortly. And became even more naggy after what has transpired today.

During the princesses' lesson Merrylight was making faces at Pepper from the other end of the class, making spinning gestures, leaving no doubt about the ownership of that leash trap before. Pepper had enough. It was a third trap this week, even though it was much less painful this time. The first time was a pit, dug on her favorite walking route behind the school (and how do he always knows her favorite places like that?). When Pepper has fell into it, her ear has been hooked by a badly-cut root, damaging it.

That extremely painful experience was made even worse by professor Ash Cauldron, who berated Pepper for being tardy on the potions lesson. The second time was a few days later, when Pepper has walked into a net trap in the park. Pepper was caught in the net, but attempted to cut through it. However, when she jumped down, her tail has been caught in the net so tightly that a huge portion of it was ripped out.

Pepper knew it was Merrylight, but decided not to confront him. But as they say, third time's the charm. Pepper has called him out alone. He arrived with a whole squad of bullies. Pepper did not know what to do. She could've probably beaten him one on one without any magic, but she have overestimated his sense of honor. But then that mare came. Pepper has felt a sting of shame when that mare has, what's it was called? Stood up for her, butting in Pepper's business. But, to be honest, paper felt a strange feeling of thankfulness, because she didn't know what she would have done if the mare did not interfere. She could've made a mistake and used 'that,' ruining her chance to finish the school.

Besides, Merrylight has looked awesome as a ferret. Though if it was Pepper's choice, she would've picked a frog. Or a slug.
The pencil has ended its artistic journey. Pepper have levitated it away, looking at her sketch critically. The mare on the sketch has turned out good, in Pepper's opinion. Not bad, considering that it was drawn from Pepper's memory.

"I wonder if I reacted bad?" pepper thought, rotating the picture in front of her, looking at it from different angles. "Maybe I should apologize for being rude, just how dad told... And say thanks, I guess? If I'll ever see her again that is."

The sound of hoofsteps has reached Pepper's torn ear. Dad has returned. Pepper has lazily jumped down her bed and went to the hall to greet him.

Powder Bolt was a cobby but surprisingly lean pegasus with a short, clocked black beard contrasting with his large, angled amber eyes and grey-ish white coat, which had multiple barely noticeable dark stripes on Powder's back - a remnant of a long-removed zebra ancestry. His eyes always had a somewhat empty and tired expression at this time of day.

Dad has placed his suitcase on the sofa near the cluttered table and beamed at Pepper with a tired smile. He then proceeded to fall on the couch.

'Evening, honey. How's your ear?' he asked.

'Still hurts, but healing. Miss Summergale's healing spell should recover it by next week' said Pepper.

'Good. Are you hungry?'

'No. I have eaten at the school' said Pepper. Her belly has betrayed her by making a grumbling noise. but Powder was too tired to notice.
Pepper could not cook. All her cooked endeavors were always ending with some sort of a small-scale catastrophe, of which a failed dish was the least evil. Pepper has shrugged, remembering one time she was so angry at the eggs that they have exploded in black goo, leaving a horrible stench all over the kitchen.

'Okay. Honestly, I am too exhausted to cook anything anyway' Powder has yawned loudly.

'I think I'll go to sleep early today. Sorry about that.'

'No prob, dad.' Pepper has smiled warmly 'I already made your bed.'

'Thanks, sweetums. You're the best' Powder has smiled and went up into his room, abandoning his suitcase on the sofa.

The crickets were playing their melodies behind the windows. Pepper has stood up and went to her room. There, she has blew off the candle, lied down on her bed and threw a glance on a dusty picture frame, hanging on the wall near the window. On it, a significantly younger Pepper was held up by two ponies, whose faces were unintelligible in the dark. Before she fell deep into slumber, she vowed to herself that she will apologize to that Starlight pony if she'll see her tomorrow.

***

Starlight has woke up from several solar rays, piercing her eyelids from a nearby window. Starlight sat up and massaged her eyes, looking around. Twilight was nowhere to be seen, presumably already teaching in the lecture hall. Starlight stood up and went out towards the bathroom.

The rest of yesterday was awkward. When Starlight has walked into the tower she immediately went to look for Cosmos to confirm some of her outlooks on Pepper Heart, but Cosmos was suspiciously absent. The rest of the evening Starlight was searching for him in the tower and surrounding area, but the stallion was gone. When Twilight returned, she just shrugged on the topic of Cosmos' absence and went to sleep shortly. So did Starlight, exhausted from the long day.

Starlight has moved down the stairs when a creaking noise has attracted her attention. Cosmos was rocking in his chair imperturbably, sipping from a cup of tea. Starlight has rudely stopped the rocking chair's motion with her magic and confronted Cosmos.

'Where the heck have you been all of yesterday?' she asked, staring right in Cosmos' eyes.

'Shopping.' answered Cosmos innocently. 'Bought some good tea. Want some?' he made a noisy slurp and pointed towards the table on which a steaming tea cup stood, as if waiting for Starlight. Starlight has cocked her eyebrow, but took the tea along with a bagel from the plate nearby.

'So, have you met Pepper Heart?' asked Cosmos calmly, grabbing another bagel from the plate. Starlight has almost spat out the tea right in Cosmos' face, thinking back on how good that face would look with tea on it.

'So it was her you were talking about.' she noted, biting on the bagel fiercely.

'Indeed. So, have you noticed anything special about her?' Cosmos' face looked slightly amused.

'Aside from that she is bullied by one of the worst creatures in Equestria?'

'Worse than a witch that has enslaved a whole village worth of population to follow her selfish ideals?' Cosmos has winked. Starlight had fun in her head, Imagining Cosmos as a bearded ferret.

'Is there more to her?' she asked, gritting her teeth.

'Oh, certainly.'

'Then why won't you tell me?'

'It's a hard topic, on which even I have a bias. So does Twilight. And so, probably, do you.' said Cosmos firmly, slurping his tea.

'Try me. I am tired of your shenanigans. What stops me from getting Twilight and leaving?' said Starlight biliously.

'Twilight's having a lot of fun, doesn't she?' Cosmos has drank the last drop of his tea and stood up, heading towards the teapot.

'And what about you? Want to leave that filly alone?'

'Big deal. Twilight's taking care of it. She is the friendship pony, not I.' Starlight has turned away.

'Pepper's problem might be of your expertise, not Twilight's.' said Cosmos thoughtfully.

'What do you mean?' Starlight has turned her head back towards the tea kettle, but Cosmos was no longer there.

'Showoff...' murmured Starlight.

She sat in Cosmos' room for a few more dozen minutes, eating Cosmos' bagels angrily with the intent to not leave a single crumb behind. Then she stood up, buckled down the rocking chair for good measure and started to chant a spell.

***

Pepper has entered the classroom last as she always did, berating herself from eyeing teacher's table excitedly. The princess alicorn was there once again. When Pepper was proceeding to her seat, something unusual happened: the princess has waved and smiled her way. Pepper looked around to see nopony beside her and sat up, rather perplexed. Pepper threw a glance at a faraway seat. Merrylight glanced back with pure hatred on his face.

After the routine greetings' the princess has started her lecture.

'What do you know about magic balance, pony folk?' she asked, excitingly looking at the audience. A few hooves has flew up. And, to Pepper's utter surprise, her own.

'Alright. Pepper heart!' said the princess, beaming. It was too late to back out. Pepper has looked around the classroom nervously. The ponies were as surprised as she did.

'Umm... M-magic always exist in balance, always, like... balanced...' she stumbled, hearing snickering all around her. 'T-there is no spell without a counter-spell... Like, all magic can be undone and stuff. A-and there is always... bad magic equivalent to good magic.' Pepper has bit her lip.
'Precisely!' said Twilight happily. 'As long as there evil magic, there will always be good magic equivalent!'

'But what is the magic is neither good nor bad?' somepony asked. Pepper was covering her face with her hoof, so she couldn't see who it was.

'A good question, Lemon Star! But first, let me tell you where magic comes from.'

'Our... horns?' asked Lemon Star. Pepper has raised her head a bit.

'Well, yes and no.' smiled Twilight. 'Magic is fueled by our emotions. Good magic comes from positive emotions, evil magic comes from our negative ones. But there is also an unaligned magic that comes from pure mischievousness, like the magic of Discord. You all know who Discord is, right?..'

Pepper has looked on her forehooves, thinking of magic. "Emotions, huh." she thought, feeling strange. Realizing that she has spaced out, Pepper snapped out of it and proceeded to listen to princesses' lection.

The lesson was fun. Twilight has called down some ponies, Lemon Star included, and made one of them cast simple spell on the other, announcing it, while the target had to come up with a counter-spell to cancel its effect. The sight of Lemon Star's round yellow face being doused over and over again, trying to think of the spell to counter it, was funny in the most rudimentary way, but Pepper has enjoyed herself, drawing few sketches of Lemon Star and other ponies, stuck in ridiculous poses due to some spells being cast on them.

Suddenly, Pepper shivered. She felt as if she was being watched. She looked around the classroom, but everypony, even Merrylight, were too caught up in the magic duels to gaze around. There was a small lavender bird sitting on the window frame though, looking intently on Pepper. The filly has shrugged an turned away from the window, returning to the unfolding show.

The show has ended soon, leaving Pepper in a good mood she haven't been in for a very long time. She even answered more of Twilight's questions, one even without stumbling. When the bell has rung, Pepper, for the first time in her life, didn't want the lesson to end. She even wished to herself that the princess would always profess, eliminating professor Cosmos' boring lectures forever.

She walked out the lecture hall absent-mindedly, forgetting to put off her sketch book and holding it in front of her. The sketchbook has impaired her vision enough to not notice multiple ponies approach her.

It was Lemon Star and a blue-green filly who's name pepper did not remember. Alarmed by their approach, Pepper has stumbled. Lemon Star has made a shy step forward.

'Hey, Pepper. You seem to know a lot about magic balance...' he suddenly said, smiling meekly. Pepper did not know how to react. The question itself could have a hidden meaning concerning Pepper's "talent", but Lemon Star looked way too honest to bully her.

'Oh, what's this? Is that me?' asked Lemon, looking at Pepper's sketchbook. Pepper begun to panic, trying to cover up the sketchbook, but sudden notion of her hoof has tore the sheet from the spring, sending it right under Lemon's hooves.

Lemon has picked up the sketch with blue filly peeking over his shoulder, looking intrigued. Pepper has shut her eyes and lowered her head, preparing for the worst. But the worst didn't come.

'Wow! That is so good! It's from that duel thing?' asked Lemon excitedly. Pepper has looked up meekly.

'Give it back! It's mine!'

'Oh, come on! It's so good! I want to hang it in my room! Nobody ever drew me before. Can I take it? Pleaeease?' he made a pair of puppy dog eyes. Pepper has stumbled. No one ever asked her such a thing before either.

'Ummm... Sure, but... NO!' she snatched the paper. 'Just lemmie... It's not finished!'

Pepper has grabbed the sketch and went away quickly, not looking back.

'Did I say something wrong?' Lemon asked his companion.

Pepper has managed to escape the extreme discomfort, but strangely she felt sad.

"Oh, what the heck am I doing?" she berated herself. "The first ponies to approach me in YEARS and I'm running off like a mule. They never gonna like me now..."

Thinking on how bad her actions should've looked, pepper went forward grimly. Her mood has became even worse when Pepper has realized that the next lesson is going to be Alchemy, professed by one of the least tolerable teacher in the whole academy. Ash Cauldron always hated pepper. From the moment he has witnessed... Pepper has brushed away unhappy memories and went into the alchemy lab with a sense of doom.

The alchemy lab was placed in the core building's basement. It was always dark, cold and dry, presumably so to keep the potion ingredients from spoiling or something like this. Pepper hated this place. The odd mixture of smells of dried weeds and vinegar has struck Pepper's nose. She has proceeded in the wide room with a huge fireplace with two cauldrons, one in the fire and one on the beside the teacher's table, eyeing the audience intently. When Ash Cauldron has noticed Pepper, his cold eyes has narrowed.

The lesson went as always, boring and dreary. The professor has spent the entire time by reading paragraphs from the potions book, for which Pepper was thankful for once, since there was no need to actually brew damn things this time. Pepper's cooking disability has apparently affected her ability to brew potions: she could never mix the correct dose of each ingredient right, at least at her first try, leading to poor grades from professor Ash and even worse treatment. Pepper tried not to look at the general direction of Lemon's seat, in fear that her wish to bang her head on the desk will get the better of her. But she couldn't help but notice Lemon's worried stare.

Pepper has sighed with relief when the bell has rung. She stood up, aiming to leave the dreary place as soon as possible. This was the last period for today. But suddenly something unexpected happened: Ash Cauldron has called her name. He rarely did that, preferring to either ignore Pepper altogether or call her something along the lines of "you there". Having a bad feeling, Pepper has approached the professor.

'Yesterday you have disrupted the school's order' he started, looking down at Pepper. The filly has felt a cold grip on her innards. 'You have provoked a group of colts to leave the central building, turning out to be a reason for them to skip a portion of the lecture. What's more, you have left the school's premises, skipping the last lecture altogether.'

Pepper has felt a sting of cold anger. She quickly has subdued this feeling, remembering what can transpire out of it.

'B-but I-'

'I want to hear no excuses. I have voted to give you a proper punishment, but the school board has dissuaded me, considering the nature of your abandon. Count yourself lucky.' his voice has became even colder. 'But if you will skip one more class, I will personally make sure that you will not go unpunished.'

He threw her another piercing cold gaze and went out. Pepper has sighed with relief. Before she left the room, Pepper threw and uneasy glance backwards. The feeling of being watched has returned. But there was nopony left in the room. Only a lonely mice, peeking from-under the big cauldron. She has dismissed the strange feeling and went out.

***

Starlight Glimmer panicked. She was losing her form. With each passing second it was becoming harder and harder to maintain a rodent shape. She felt extremely nauseous and dizzy.

"Gotta get out... Find a place to revert..." she thought. She dashed out of the basement, slipping under some filly's hooves. Somepony has let out a shriek, but Starlight was too focused on keeping herself steady. She dashed through a long hall, but a tall figure has appeared in front of her. A teacher. "Oh, that's just great". She thought, making a sharp turn and slipping in an open door. The teacher or whatnot seemed to not have noticed her. The room was dark. The stairs have caught her off-guard. Starlight has rolled down, bumping on every step and cursing everything, starting from the stairs itself and ending with the person who invented it. Thankfully, the stairs were not too long.

Somewhat recovering her composition, Starlight has dashed behind a big rectangular object. She heard the sound of the door hitting the doorframe, then the sound of key turning. She was locked. Sighing with big relief, Starlight has stopped keeping her form. She began to expand, her limbs absorbing the claws and her skull changing shape. IT was not painful, but extremely uncomfortable. When the transformation has ended, Starlight felt extremely cluttered. She crawled out from-behind the rectangular object that turned out to be a huge locked chest.

Starlight's eyes has begun to adjust to the darkness. The nausea has stopped, so did the dizziness, but Starlight has felt that she won't be able to turn into any animal for a while. She has severely overdrove herself. Three hours not only in animal form, but switching between the forms of a bird and a rodent has proven out to be extremely strenuous, even for her. Starlight has shook her head.

"Just what the heck am I doing anyway..." she thought angrily. "Turning into an animal and stalking a little filly... In hindsight, it's really creepy.

"Oh sweet Celestia that idea was stupid..."

She looked around herself.

"And now I'm trapped."

She has quietly climbed the stairs and tried the door. It seems locked. Starlight thought about shouting to call somepony, but the thought of having to explain that to Twilight was too much for her. She has attempted to lit her horn to have some light, but her horn sparked and Starlight has felt a numbing pain in her cerebellum.

"Looks like I won't be casting spells for a while." she thought, rubbing her temples angrily. How could she forget? Turning into something so different from pony physiology for such a long time was a really bad idea. Starlight has felt a slight jab of conscience about Merrylight, but quickly dismissed it, thinking that if anypony has deserved the nausea, it was him.

The minutes were passing, each new one more aggravation than the rest. Starlight was pacing back and forth, waiting for her magic to return. She got somewhat acquainted with the place. The big chest in the middle of the room was not the only container. The place was cluttered by different shelves, filled with all kinds of magic stuff. Starlight has eventually concluded that the room was a storage for school's requisites and stuff needed for lessons.

Starlight has recognized most of things she found, but nothing there could help her get out or at least get her magic back. Starlight was angry. Ridiculously angry at herself for coming up with such a stupid idea; at Cosmos for being so vague and unhelpful and even at Pepper for being the source of her aggravation. Her symphaty for the filly begun to waver. She begun to remember Pepper's attitude, which made her clench her teeth. And most of all, Starlight was angry at the school itself and at Twilight for dragging her into this.

When Starlight was almost ready to give up and call somepony to get her out, she felt a sudden coldness. The temperature was apparently changing, albeit slowly. The cold gave Starlight goosebumps. The cold seems to have coming from the enigmatic chest. By looking at the chest closely, Starlight has noticed it shaking very subtly.

She stood there, hypnotized by its vibrations. It was getting so cold that Starlight could see her breath. She has slowly approached the chest and poked it with her hoof. The shaking has stopped for a few second, then begun again, much more violently than before.
'What the heck is going on?' Starlight asked in a dazed voice.

The coldness has became unbearable. The chest has begun to cover with patterns of hoarfrost.

'Oh COME ON! Don't you think I'm miserable enough without your stupid cold?!' she growled at the chest. She turned around and kicked the chest with all her might, releasing her anger.

The blow was stronger than Starlight expected. The chest's wooden lid has cracked. The cracks has expanded in a matter of seconds. With a horrible screeching sound, the chest have shattered. Starlight sat there, dumbfounded, looking at a white cloud raising from the chest's remnants, taking a vaguely horse-like shape.

'Oh...' muttered Starlight, coming to a grim realization. 'Well, that's just awesome...'

Although Starlight has never seen one live, she knew what a windigo is. Everypony knew what it is. Though this one looked a bit different from the illustrations. Most pictures were depicting windigos long and lean, with sharp muzzles and puffy manes. This one looked rather small and stump, with its mane looking long and frazzled. Overall it could've even look a bit humorous if not for its eyes. Starlight has never seen such cold, emotionless eyes before in her life. She begun to shake violently, partly from the cold, partly under the being's gaze. A chaotic cacophony of thoughts were spinning in her head like why the school have a windigo stuffed in a chest in some locker room or why has it suddenly sprang to life.

"Starlight. Seems that you have incited another catastrophe. Way to go." she thought in Twilight's voice.

The windigo has glanced around the room and turned its eyes on Starlight, who was rapidly covering with hoarfrost patterns. It has noticed a door above the staircase and went there. It has attempted to ram into it, but bounced with a horrible shriek. The door has begun to cover with frost as well, but no matter how hard the windigo tried to go through it, it has repelled it.

"Well, at least it is trapped here. Must be some magic door."

Starlight was calm. Her body has begun to cover with ice. It was cold. Very cold. Starlight has stopped feeling her legs.

"It seems I am getting what I deserve." she thought. A strong desire to close her eyes, just for the second, was growing. If only she had her magic...

Chapter 4: windigo

'What is going on in there?' the voice came through the cold.

Somepony was at the door. Starlight used all of her strength to stay awake and looked up. The unmistakable sound of key turning has pierced the cold silence. Starlight's fading mind was conflicted. She didn't want the door to open. But at the same time... "Being saved would be pretty good right about now."

The door has opened up with a creek. Two sounds has came from above: a disgruntled shriek of a stallion and an astonished squeal of a mare. Both voices seemed familiar. Starlight's vision wavered. The ice was creeping on her chin. There seemed to be some commotions up there. Sounds of magic and thrashing about. Then it became silent... Until.

'Starlight?!'

It was Twilight Sparkle. Starlight has felt relief. It became warmer. The ice has begun to melt. The vision has returned, blurred at first. The hearing became less muffled. Starlight has begun to feel her limbs again. The muscles became limber and no longer cold. Starlight felt warmth all over her body. Twilight was standing in front of her, attached to her by a warm ray from her horn. Starlight has felt an overwhelming gratitude, mixed with shame. And when she saw a pony standing beside Twilight, fear has also been added to the emotional spectrum. Ash Cauldron stood there, looking at Starlight with cold anger.

'Starlight, are you allright?' asked Twilight, stopping her spell. 'What are you doing here?'

'Scratch that question.' said Cauldron angrily. 'How did you even get here? And how did that THING get there?' he moved in front of Starlight and pinned her to the ground with his ice-cold gaze of pure disdain. 'Did you brought it here? Did you brought a windigo in a school full of children?!'

'No! I-I swear!' Starlight has staggered away. It was still hard to move properly. Starlight's muscles felt weak. 'It was in the chest when I get there!' she has frantically pointed at the chest's remnants in the middle of the room. Starlight has bit her lips. Her face has been projecting a strange mixture of emotions.

'What were you even doing in here?! You have been banned from the school grounds!'

'Professor Cauldron, we really have no time for that! W-we have to restrain that windigo!' said Twilight quickly. 'It can't be let loose!'

Cauldron has shifted his gaze to Twilight and back, appraising the situation.

'You have the point.' he said after a momentary pause. 'I have to report that to the school board. You're an alicorn, so go stop it.' he then pointed at Starlight.

'And you are coming with me.'

'No!' said Starlight firmly. 'It's my fault thin thing's out there, so I'm going to fix it.'

'Do you think I will let you run around the school free, you little-'

'We REALLY don't have time for that, professor!' cried Twilight. 'We can deal with it when it's over!'

Cauldron has swung away.

'Whatever. She is your responsibility. YOU will have to answer for her.'

With that said he teleported away.

'Starlight, quick!' said Twilight, lighting her horn up. 'I can track it. Follow me!' Twilight took off quickly, running down the corridor.

'Twilight, I'm sorry! I let it free!' said Starlight, following Twilight's gallop.

Ponies around the halls were stopping and throwing surprised looks as two mares has stormed through the halls.

'What *huff* were you doing here anyway? How did you *puff* get in the locker room?' asked Twilight, frantically turning her head around.

'It's a long story, but I'll tell everything! You don't have to get in trouble because of me!' Starlight was struggling to keep up. Her feet were still stiff.

'No, I am suppose *huff* to get into the trouble!'

Two mares have made their way out of the building. Twilight has stopped for a moment, catching her breath and scanning surroundings with her horn.

'What *huff* do you mean, Twilight?'

Twilight has turned around and looked Starlight in the eyes.

'Starlight, I brought it here.' she said anxiously.

'You did WHAT?!' asked Starlight, astounded.

'I would've use it to demonstrate the magic of friendship to graduates later this week!'

'How- how did you even get hold of a windigo in a chest?!'

But Twilight ignored her, rushing quickly in direction of the school's wall. Starlight followed her.

'I took every repercussion to contained it. I made *huff* THREE checklists and double- no, quadruple-checked everything!' Twilight cried while they ran. 'How did you even released it? It was asleep! Weak! It didn't receive any negative emotions in *huff* forever!'
Starlight has came to a grim realization. "Wow, Starlight. You've really done screwed this up." she thought.

'Oh, what a fool I am...' continued Twilight in anxious voice. 'What was I thinking...'

Starlight was asking herself the same question.

Soon they have approached a wall. It was an outer palisade, covered with hedge and shrubbery. Twilight has quickly flew over it, Starlight following through with her self-levitation spell. They have entered a small grove, a kind of park or a forest left behind. Through the trees the side of a mountain was visible. Twilight has landed, almost tripping on some root, and proceeded inside, Starlight following in shortly. Every step they made deeper into the forest the air was becoming colder.

'Starlight.' said the alicorn princess. 'Windigos feast on negative emotions. Whatever you do, do not think of anything bad! And I do mean anything. Guild is a negative emotion too.'

'What should I think about then?' asked Starlight, catching her breath.

'Positive emotions can repel it. Think of all the good things! Like friendships you made and ponies you've helped!'

Starlight thought hard, remembering only a hooffull of things, that could be considered positive. Most of them came from the time after she tried to destroy Twilight's past, and even though they felt good, they were also filled with anxiety.

"It must be much easier for you to do, Twilight, remembering ponies you've helped." she thought grimly. "I've never really helped anypony for real, have I?" the image of an equal sigh has appeared in her mind.

***

Pepper strolled through the woods, arriving in her favorite spot. Experienced by her late mishaps she was periodically stopping in front of every obstacle that looked even slightly out of place, checking it for traps. Her mood, extraordinarily good at the day's beginning, was now grim and sad. Unhappy thoughts about professor Cauldron and Lemon Star were gnawing at her sub consciousness. She needed to clear her mind, and she knew the exact place for it.

She soon arrived at a small hill, surrounded by trees and bushes from all sides. It looked like an impenetrable fortress with its walls of shrubbery, and that is why Pepper loved it so much. She knew a secret way in: to crawl under a specific bush to a relatively open place. She climbed her way to the top of the hill under a lone ivy tree. She sat under it and looked forward. The park looked like a rug of green leaves in front of her. The buildings of the school were looming in the distance.

The sun was setting. Pepper didn't want to go home. There was nothing there to do until dad comes back from work, and he wouldn't in a few hours. Pepper has opened her sketchbook, looking at things she drew today. Princess Twilight, class ponies, Lemon Star... Pepper felt ill looking at a picture of Lemon Star with a burnt mane losing balance, so she shut her sketchbook.

Pepper became mad. Not exactly out of nowhere, that emotion has been bottling up the whole day sans Twilight's lesson. She couldn't really understand why she was so mad, Cauldron really didn't do anything really mean or out of ordinary, and Lemon Star was friendly and seem to really want to be friendly with her.

"Why am I such an idiot?" Pepper thought, shivering.

But that shiver was not from any external sources. The air was becoming cold. The grass around has became white, covered by hypnotizing frost patterns. Sudden breeze has felt like an icy blade. Pepper has jumped up, looking cautiously around herself, not seeing anything out of the ordinary. She then looked up and froze in place without help of any ice.

The pale white mist has formed into something akin to a cloud, swirling and moving chaotically around. Soon the formless whirl took a shape of a stump horse-like creature with a pair of eyes, which coldness would give Ash Cauldron a run for its money. Damp, restraining fear has restrained Pepper in place. She wanted to scream, to run, but she couldn't. Her limbs were not moving.

***

'Look! Up there!' said Twilight, pointing to a small hill behind the trees. She took off, almost getting stuck in the treetops. Starlight followed through. Her magic has returned for the most part, but she felt she shouldn't strain herself too much.

The two mares were hovering in front of a white creature, which was looming over a small shaking filly.

'Pepper?!' Starlight shrieked. That was the last pony she expected to see there.

'Come on! Think of good things!' shouted Twilight. She begun to frantically whisper something, her horn glowing brighter with each syllable. Starlight has made an image of Trixie in her head. Then of each Twilight's friend in succession, trying to feel which one gives her most positive feelings.

The image of Sunburst appeared. Starlight has remembered the crystalling and their goodbyes. Warmth has filled her body for a second before fading away after an image of little Starlight, watching how no longer blank-flanked Sunburst gets carried away by cheering ponies. The cold has crept in Starlight's whole being once again.

"No, no, NO! Positive! Think positive!" she silently cried, focusing.

In the meantime Twilight has released a spell she was casting. A shining beam of warmth has hit the white mass, but the windigo has dispersed it's body a moment before it hit, passing a beam though it. It has then re-formed right in front of two hovering mares, casting them a piercing-cold gaze. Suddenly, its mouth has open. It spoke.

'Now, now, you are still using that, little princess?'

It's voice was cold. Neither male nor female, it had a whirling of icy winds hidden in it.

'Begone! You do not belong here! You have nothing to feed upon! The power of friendship will vanquish you!' twilight's voice was firm. She seemed really used to facing monsters, as windigo's terrifying visage did not intimidate her in the slightest.

The windigo made a noise that could be interpreted as a cold cackling.

'Here you are, wielding the power you think you understand.' it said. It's form was constantly shifting, looking as if it was fading in and out of focus.

'Don't you know that by using this power you only make us stronger?'

Twilight looked confused, albeit for a second. Then her expression have changed back to determination and she begun to cast a spell again.

'What, think I'm trying to mess with your perception?' grinned the specter. 'I am ancient. I know much more about magic than you do.'

It's shape has changed subtly as it moved closer to hovering mares.

'It is all in the balance. Why do you think all the evils from a thousand years ago are returning?'

The windigo has lost it's from, dodging Twilight's spell, then reshaped itself.

'Think about it. A thousand years ago the world was filled with what you consider evil. And then, for the last thousand years, it was peaceful. There were no monsters roaming these lands. Well, until you came in. Want to know why?'

The windigo cackled coldly at Twilight's futile attempts to hit it with her beams. Starlight's insides felt frozen while she desperately sought for an overwhelmingly positive memory.

'It is all in the balance, little princess. The elements of Harmony, is that what you call it? Ancient powers. An antipode. A great might of "good". The cosmic order cannot allow its sole existence. A balance has to be reached.'

Twilight has changed her tactics, trying to cast a large area-hitting magical glow, but the windigo has repelled it seemingly effortlessly.
'YOU are the cause of all the darkness your land has been engulfed in past few years, little princess.' The windigo cackled. Twilight has lost her focus, astounded at the accusation.

'You have returned the ancient powers of "good", of warmth, of light. You now embody them. But the light must always casts a shadow. As long as you possess and use those ancient powers, the shadows will always be cast. The darkness will always loom. No matter how many times you'll clear it away. It will always return.'

The specter laughed loudly, it's voice filled with roaring of northern winds. The ice has begun to cover Starlight's body. She struggled to keep herself afloat. The strain of her mind grew. She was desperately searching to find any good memories, and she did. In an area she avoided.

"That's right. I was happy back then, wasn't I?"

The images of a neat, tidy street. The smiling ponies passing by. The feeling of being safe. The memory of nopony being better than her at anything. The equal sign.

The warmth has filled Starlight's body, and with it came guilt. It has attempted to dampen Starlight's memories, but she disallowed, disabling the guilt temporarily for a better cause. It wasn't cold anymore. She looked at Twilight. Priness' face looked conflicted. She wasn't focused. Starlight has turned around to face the windigo, thinking on a spell she should cast. Nothing particular came to her mind. She has prepared a simple fire spell, but something utterly unsusceptible has happened.

Pepper stood firm. Her little horn has erupted with a wave of green and purple. A stream of energy has engulfed the windigo, encasing it inside a whirlpool of purple-green fires. Twilight looked at Pepper's face with utter terror on hers.

Pepper's eyes were glowing green, with haze of purple around them and two fiery-red pupils looking straight at the convulsing windigo above her. The specter has emitted a soul-piercing shriek and vanished without a trace, with green and purple flames still dancing around in the air aimlessly. Some of this flame has fell on the lone Ivy tree, putting it ablaze. The filly below has rolled her eyes and collapsed.

Chapter 5: dream

The lights are shining through the windows above. A little filly stands in front of a huge spotted egg, sweating like crazy. She is exasperated, anxious, panicking. A few dozen pairs of eyes are looking at her every move, judging. They stalk her every breath, waiting for her to act. To do something. To show magic.

The filly tries her hardest. Strains her mind. Focuses all her skills on a single task. But the egg stays still and unmoving, a laughing monument to filly's failures. A drop of sweat runs down the filly's cheek. But filly knows that it's not sweat. She's crying. This is supposed to be her big moment. Her fate is being decided. Her destiny gives her a test.

The pressure is overwhelming. Even dad watches her intently, calling for action. The filly feels desperate, ashamed, angry. Really, really angry at the egg which refuses to hatch.

"Why won't you open, you damn thing!" she thinks, gazing upon an egg with eyes full of hatred.

Suddenly her vision blackens. She sees the room through a thick purple fog. The faces of ponies in the room are surprised, astonished, afraid. The filly is afraid too. The energy erupts out of her horn. Bad energy. Evil energy. Destructive energy. It wants to consume, to destroy, to erase. It is aimed at the egg.

"NO!" cries the filly. The energy listens. It is no longer out to destroy. It silently waits for filly's orders.

"Make it grow!" she commands in her mind. "Make it hatch!"

The energy obeys.

It envelopes the egg, passing through its core being. It stimulates it. Commands it. Controls it. The egg cracks.
Inside sits the small bird with a snake's tail, looking around innocently. Its eyes are red, but they don't have the power to petrify just yet. The bird is too young.

The filly feels joy, satisfaction, happiness. She did it! She completed the test!

She feels itching on her flanks. She raises in the air, enveloped by the colorful energies. When she lands, she knows what has happened. A cutie mark appears, a snake made of fire!

"So cool!" she thinks, looking at it from every direction. She has found her talent, her calling, her destiny. She looks at the audience, beaming. She expects praise. But finds none.

Only terror is imprinted on their faces. Fear, disgust, disdain. Even dad looks at her with fear. The filly's smile melts away.

Pepper woke up in a cold sweat. She was lying on a big, soft bed, with bed sheets adorned with celestial patterns. Pepper has looked around. She was in an unfamiliar place with lots of beds and bookshelves around, as well as some tables.

The walls were made of stone and a big patterned round rug was lying on the floor. Pepper was not alone in the room. She could hear voices. Mostly familiar voices. She struggled to raise up to look around better. With each move heer felt like it was splitting apart. She has finally managed to sit up.

A small group of ponies were arguing loudly, not noticing Pepper's awakening. There stood Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer, professor Cosmos, professor Cauldron and professor Quasar Quark, the dean of the school.

A stream of memories has hit Pepper. She now had a full memory of what has transpired yesterday. She froze with fear. She has realized why those ponies are gathered. To decide her fate. She has finally done it. Pepper felt strongly like crying.

'That filly has broken a taboo we have placed upon her!' said professor Cauldron coldly. 'The promised punishment needs to be issued! We have prohibited her from using dark magic under any circumstances!'

Pepper's worst fears has came through. A lone tear has slide down her cheek.

"Sorry, mum..." she thought. "It seems end of the line for me..."

But something unexpected has happened. Ponies has stood for her defense.

'Really you should realize that those were dire circumstances!' said twilight pleadingly.

'She saved up, maybe us all from the windigo!' proclaimed Starlight, looking sternly at professor Cauldron. 'Who cares how she did it?'

'I care!' said Cauldron, looking down at Starlight. 'And YOU are not the one to talk! It was YOU who let that thing out!'

'Professor, it's not her fault!' said Twilight, making a step forward. 'It was I who brought the windigo in here! I thought I could defeat it to demonstrate the magic of friendship! But I couldn't defeat it fast enough at that hill, so this filly did it!'

'And bringing the windigo was *cough* my idea' Said professor Cosmos calmly. His voice sounded sick. 'I really wanted to show those little *cough* students what they can achieve by an example of an alicorn.'

'Why in the name of Celestia would you EVEN THINK of bringing such a dangerous creature?!' Cauldron's voice was filled with cold anger.
'Professor Cauldron, calm down!' said the dean, his deep purple beard bouncing in tact of his speech. 'We are, I believe, a group of calm, rational adults, are we not? You are ruining our image with these shouting outbursts.' he winced.

'I... am sorry dean, I am just too... peeved at their actions' Cauldron looked shunned. Pepper's irises shrunk in surprise. She never thought that somepony had the ability to put professor Cauldron in his place.

'What has transpired today was... An unfortunate chain of events' continued the dean. His orange eyes were scanning the room, stopping on a sitting Pepper for a second before continuing through.

'But most of it was an accident. Even so,' he looked at professor Cosmos disapprovingly. 'bringing a windigo in was a horrible miscalculation.' Professor Cosmos has nodded shamefully. 'I am sorry, dean.'

'At the moment,' said the dean, nodding lightly at professor Cosmos, 'we do not have the rules against bringing windigo in the school. An oversight to be sure. I will make sure to include such a rule in the next revision. As for you two,' he pointed on Cosmos, then on Twilight, 'I expect you to take full responsibility for your action and write me an explanatory letter. We all are lucky that that beast has caused no damage. As for the little filly here,' he nodded towards the dumbfounded Pepper, sitting sternly on her bed, 'we will ignore her breaking the taboo just this time due to grievous circumstances she was in.'

Pepper's mind has exploded with joy and relief. She was finding it hard to believe what she heard. That meant she could stay!
Professor Cauldron looked so angry that it wouldn't be a stretch to imagine HIM shooting darkness from his horn at the moment.
'B-but dean! They... they!' he shouted, pointing at Starlight accusingly with a shaking hoof.

'Everypony makes mistakes sometimes, professor Cauldron' the dean has smiled. Cauldron has threw a gaze full of hatred and stormed out the room.

'But even so, I advise you, miss Starlight, not to appear in the school grounds in any shape or form from now on.' said the dean sternly, stressing the ending of the phrase.

'I... understand' nodded Starlight. 'I have already caused too much trouble'.

'Professor.' Twilight has made a few steps forward. 'May you revise that decision?'

'No Twilight. He's right. Don't worry about me.' smiled Starlight sadly, looking away.

'Okay... But I want to ask one more thing!' said Twilight after a slight pause, looking right in the dean's eyes. 'Allow me to spend some time with Pepper Heart! I will try to find a way to help her get rid of the dark magic!'

Pepper has thought that she misheard that latest statement. Get rid of dark magic? Is that even possible?

"Of course it is! It's Twilight Sparkle, the alicorn! She can help!" said the voice in her head. Pepper's whole being has filled with excitement. She looked straight at Twilight, not noticing a worried disapproval on the face of Starlight Glimmer nearby.
The dean has stood up and looked at Twilight in an appraising way.

'You have my permission, even though you do not need one. What happens outside of the school time is not of my expertise. And professor Cosmos? I wish you a quick recovery.' he nodded politely and went away.

Twilight gave Pepper an awkward look. Professor Cosmos was smiling. Starlight's face looked rather gloomy. Suddenly a sound of hoofsteps and flapping wings has came outside of the door. Dad has stormed in, exasperated and out of his breath. His mane was a mess. He stood in the doorframe for a second, scanning the room for Pepper, after what he dashed to her and covered her in his embrace.

'Pepper! Darling! Are you allright?!' He was almost crying. 'When I have heard that a windigo has attacked you, I almost got a heart attack!'

***

What Twilight said has planted a seed of worry in Starlight's mind. She could not properly explain the source of that feeling, nor could she bring to word it's meaning. Somehow, she strongly felt that Twilight was wrong for offering to get Pepper rid of her dark magic. Thinking on it logically, Starlight could see nothing wrong with the idea. Dark magic is obviously bad, so it makes sense to get rid of it. Even then...

Starlight has climbed on her bed. She was exhausted. That sure was a long day. Pepper, who they has transported into Cosmos' tower after she lost consciousness on the hill, was apparently feeling well and went away with her father. Twilight was downstairs, discussing something with Cosmos. Starlight was alone in the guest room, free to think on today's events and misfortunes uninterrupted. Although she'd rather not think about anything.

Her stupid idea has played a part of a small-scale disaster, that could have potentially brought troubles not only for Twilight and herself, but for Pepper as well.

"It was a miracle that they got away scot-free." she thought. "That dean sure is a nice guy, isn't she?"

She thought about Pepper. An image of little filly shooting darkness out of her horn has left a deep imprint in Starlight's memory.

"So that's what Cosmos meant." she thought. "But what exactly did he meant by saying that this problem might be of my expertise? I know nothing about dark magic. Nor do I have any notable experience at changing someone."

She has turned face-down on the bed. T\A thought about Twilight's changing abilities has stirred up a memory of a few hours ago. Starlight has felt a sting of guilt. How could she hold that memory as the happy one? An equal sign has risen in her mind.

"But is that really wrong, to remember being happy about something... bad?" she thought. "And is it really so bad to have dark magic?"
She was banned from the school grounds, and now she really didn't wanted to go there. Not after what has happened. But she felt that she need to see things through. She needed a different approach.

"No more stupid ideas. No more convoluted spells. I will just talk to Pepper after school. This really seems the most rational thing to do anyway." she thought, falling into slumber.

***

The following day was boring. The fact that it felt like snails racing on molasses didn't help. Starlight was basically confined to the Cosmos' tower for whole midday. There was nothing to do and the tower's owner was absent, so Starlight has been entertaining herself by eating pretzels ant taking tours around the tower.

The place where Twilight went to send a letter has turned out to be a small room consisting of nothing but a huge fireplace outfitted with plethora of bronze tubes, a writing table and a locker with papers. Starlight has expected to see there a few dragons or at least something more grand, but was left disappointed. Aside from that, Cosmos' room, guest room and a library the tower also had a small empty kitchen that looked like it was not been in use for at least a thousand years.

Bored out of her mind, Starlight couldn't wait for 5 o'clock, when the school is going to end. At 4.30 she went out, pacing circles not too far from the school gate. Soon, the bell has been rung and a stream of little ponies has erupted from the gates. Starlight was looking for Pepper in the crowd, but to no avail. Soon, Twilight has came out, looking exhausted.

'Oh, hey, Starlight' she smiled weakly.

'Hey. You don't look so good' said Starlight solicitously.

'Been fixing up our mess' smiled Twilight. 'And I do have another thing to do today. Have you seen Pepper?'

Starlight has shrugged wonderingly.

'She's not with you?'

'No...'

Starlight was puzzled. Pepper should have exited from the school gates. It was the only exit from the school grounds (Starlight made sure of it yesterday during her stupid adventure).

'Wanna look for her?' she asked. Twilight shook her head.

'No. I'm too tired for today... I'll see her tomorrow.' she yawned exasperatedly.

'Oh. Ok. Take care.' said Starlight. 'I'm gonna take a walk for a while.'

Twilight has yawned again and went towards the Cosmos' tower.

Starlight somehow had an idea where Pepper could have been. She remembered the wall they have leapt over yesterday. It had a concealed hole behind the bushes. Too small for a full-grown pony to go through, but perfect for a filly. Starlight has strolled around the school until she has entered a barren space between its wall and a mountain. Sure thing, the hole was there. Starlight took a deep sigh and went into the forest-park thing, keeping her head down from prickly branches.

After a few dozen of uncomfortable bush-stomping minutes Starlight has arrived to the small hill. What she saw there has reminded her of yesterday's catastrophe. The grass on the hill was scorched black in multiple places. The ivy tree on top was no more, only a smoldering stump reminding of its former glory.

Yesterday, when Twilight was focused on rescuing Pepper from the ring of flames, Starlight has managed to douse most of the blaze, yet it still left a scar on this beautiful place. The filly Starlight was searching for sat at that burnt hill next to a smoldering stump. Alone. Her hooves and backside were dirty from the ashes.

She looked on something in front of her. A pile of burnt papers. The remnants of her sketchbook.

Pepper did not seem to notice a mare approaching her. The hill was surrounded by thick shrubbery, so Starlight had to levitate herself to get past it. She has approached Pepper, calling her name. The filly has jumped, astonished, then turned towards Starlight. Her eyes were wet with tears.

'Ummm...' said Starlight awkwardly, 'do you mind... my company?'

Pepper has looked at her with discerned look on her face and shrugged. Her stare seemed a bit wary.

Starlight has carefully sat next to her, disregarding the dirtying ashes underneath. They sat there in an awkward silence for a few slow minutes.

'At l-least,' said Pepper, looking away, 'the view is still the same.'

The sun was setting. The comas of the trees below were stirring peacefully in the winds. The air has smelled of dew and ashes.

'Pepper, do not blame yourself of what happened to this place.' said Starlight heartily. 'There are times when you do need to blame yourself, trust me, I should know, but yesterday wasn't it.' Starlight has looked up on an orange, cloudless sky.
They sat there for a while, looking at the sunset. Suddenly Pepper gulped.

'It b-began on my entrance exam to the school' she said quietly. 'There was an e-egg I needed to hatch. A cockatrice egg. I panicked. I was kinda mad at it' she shuddered. 'That magic came out. I has managed to hatch the egg. And I passed the exam. But... But later that cockatrice from the egg has changed. It b-became evil, aggressive... It was petrifying ponies left and right, and nopony could tame it... They have released it somewhere... At least that's what they told me.' a lone tear has rolled down filly's cheek.

Starlight sat there, not knowing how exactly should she react.

'And they made me swear to never do this again. Ever. But I did it... I was afraid... And angry at that thing. It came out on its own.'

The filly was sitting there, shaking. Starlight has finally made up her mind on her course of actions. She hugged the little filly, disregarding her meekly resistance.

'Listen here, Pepper. Sometimes we make things we later regret. You did yours involuntary. I did mine willingly. You're not evil, if that what you think you are... I was though' she let the filly go awkwardly.

'I made some mistakes based on my own insecurities. For example, that one time I was so mad on my friend getting a cutie mark ahead of me and moving away because of it that I have created a spell to rid ponies of cutie marks and formed a society of brainwashed ponies just to be better than them. How's that for an evil pony?' she forced an awkward smile. A shameful memory of her thoughts during yesterday's windigo battle has stormed her consciousness. But the filly did not seem deterred by Starlight's revelation. On contrary, her eyes has lit up with enthusiasm that has caught Starlight off-guard.

'Y-you can remove cutie marks?' she asked in a tingling voice.

'Well, yes...' Starlight has started to regret her revelation. 'I could rip them out along with pony's talent and personality traits, making them equal-'

'Do it on me!' Pepper has jumped up. Starlight has flinched.

'Why would I-'

'My cutie mark has appeared exactly when I casted that dark magic spell on that egg!' she said hurriedly. 'So my talent MUST be dark magic! But I don't want that kind of talent! Please! I'd rather be without any talent than with an evil one!' she pleaded, looking Starlight right in the eyes. Starlight has shook off the surprise.

'No.' she said firmly.

'B-but why?!' Pepper's enthusiasm has melted. 'Because you're not evil anymore? But if you help me, you'll use that evil magic for good! So you don't have to be evil!'

'Right back atcha'' smiled Starlight softly. 'No matter what it is, it is a part of who you are. Do you really want to lose what makes you you?'
A treacherous voice in Starlight's head has reminded her of her little town, drawing faces of its inhabitants.

'But I don't want to be me! It's miserable!' cried Pepper.

'Listen, Pepper.' Starlight has touched her head calmingly 'Say a dragon lives in the neighborhood. Dragons can breathe fire. Is it an evil ability?' Pepper has cocked her head wonderingly.'It depends on how you look at it.' continued Starlight. Somehow she was finding correct words in her head on the fly. 'If that dragon uses his fire breath to burn pony homes - it is evil, right?' Pepper has nodded carefully. 'But if it uses its breath to, say, light up ovens? Or bake? Or send letters? Do that make it evil?'

'Can dark magic be used to send letters?' asked Pepper sarcastically. 'And it will probably turn a muffin into an evil demon instead of baking it.'

'I'm not saying that it can do those things.' said Starlight softly. 'But it can be used to great effect to, say, defeat evil windigos?' she winked.

'The power itself is not evil. Nothing is evil by itself. But it can become evil if somepony who uses it is.'

'By your logic, using that evil equalizing spell on me will not be evil, because you will be helping me to lead a normal life.' said Pepper sulkingly.

'Pepper. I will not be ridding you of your talent.' said Starlight sternly. 'Why won't you try to learn to control it instead of keeping it inside? This way you'll definitely won't hurt anypony involuntary.'

Pepper said nothing. She just threw Starlight a grim look and turned away. All her stature spoke of her unwillingness to speak to Starlight anymore. After a few silent minutes, Starlight has sighed and left her alone, warping away.

***

Starlight has appeared in front of Cosmos' tower, astonishing passerby ponies around. She entered the building, thinking grimly about Pepper.

"Am I really right to think this way?" she thought to herself, ascending up the ladder.

Twilight was asleep on top of an unpacked bed.

"Gosh. I guess that day was really rough for her..." Starlight thought, feeling a sting of conscience. "The sun is not even down yet..."
She has carefully lifted sleeping Twilight up, unpacked the bed and put the alicorn back, covering her with a bed sheet. After that she went down the stairs to the Cosmos' room, barging in without knocking.

The old stallion was caught up in a very undignified pose, scratching his backside with a magical staff. Upon hearing Starlight's hoofsteps he has quickly, too quickly for a pony his age and definitely too quickly for a supposedly flu-stricken elder, put the staff away to the staff pile under the table and sat in his rocking chair as if nothing happened, looking at Starlight with a usual innocent expression.

'Why, Starlight. What brings you here today?'

Starlight has rolled her eyes and levitated a chair in front of a rocking old stallion, sitting on it firmly.

'We need to talk. And if you'll pull that vanishing trick again I swear you won't be able to find anything in this room ever again.'

'Okay, okay. Point taken' said Cosmos in a disheartening tone. 'What do you want to talk about?' he has beckoned a teapot on the faraway table and it flew to him. He then proceeded to drink right from the teapot, slurping loudly. Starlight winced.

'It is about Pepper. And you KNOW it's about Pepper.'

Cosmos has shrugged, taking another sip.

'So, you see the problem now?' he asked.

'I do. She has a talent for dark magic, but she is not allowed to train in this magic, while training may help her control it and use it for something NOT evil, and whole school of stuck-up jerks would rather banish her from the very Equestria before accepting her' blurted Starlight angrily.

'Is that how you see it?' asked Cosmos calmly. 'Some ponies see it differently. And by some I mean the most of them.'

Starlight has remained silent. She knew what she will hear next, so she braced herself for the redundant.

'The way most folks see the situation is that an emotional child holds something dangerous inside her that she can't control. Something that has a horrible historic track record and just plain dangerous and scary. So they have tabooed her from ever using that scary thing for everypony's safety including her own.'

'Yeah, yeah. That's one point of view.' Starlight muttered. But a traitorous voice from her head has returned once again, explaining her the logic of that view.

'Exactly, my dear.' said Cosmos unexpectedly, taking another slurping sip from the teapot.

'Eh?'

'Remember I told you that I operate on a bias?' he asked. The tea in his teapot has dried out, so he turned it in the air, looking in the teapot's nose.

'But at the same time I have an open mind. My problem is that each time I am trying to look at the matter from different angles, my prejudice of dark magic gets the best of me. If I try to think on the matter long enough, I am always rolling back to my original point of view. And by experience I know that Twilight will have the same point of view on the matter.'

Cosmos have levitated an empty teapot away. Then he has beckoned a huge sideboard nearby. The upper section of the sideboard has opened, revealing a whole collection of surprisingly steaming emergency teapots. Starlight was so dumbfounded by what she has witnessed she lost the track of her mind. Cosmos has levitated one of the teapots towards him and took a slurp of the scalding-hot liquid. Noticing Starlight's questioning expression, he has guiltily pointed at the sink in the room's corner. It had a whole tower of empty teacups stacked in, with a lone white rug on top.

'Anyway,' he continued, 'Twilight is different from me. She is young. She can change her point of view. She can walk out from the comfortable and take the idea of uncomfortable to the heart. At least that was the original plan.' he shrugged, his sudden motion spraying some tea drops around. 'But then you came along. I am actually quite familiar with your mischief. So I decided to, hmmm... "use" will not be a great word in this situation. It will make me sound evil. Get your point of view on the matter. And it IS different, thankfully. You and Pepper might have something in common after all.'

Starlight sat there, digesting the information.

'But so what? It's not like I can help her anyway. She want to be rid of that thing herself! And Twilight has set her mind to do it. And she can and will do it.'

'I know.' Cosmos nodded, petting the teapot. 'Twilight has the power to change ponies. To help them. But you might have a power to change her mind. So Twilight could do the helping the right way.'

'So you're saying that my point of view is the right one?' asked Starlight suspiciously.

'No. I am not saying that.' Cosmos shook his head. 'But you have a point of view different than mine. I'm not saying that one is right and the other is wrong. There is no sure way to tell. But having multiple opinions gives more choice, creates more possibilities.' he suddenly put the teapot down on the floor and stood up, looking Starlight right in the eyes.

'Talk to Twilight. Discuss your points of view. Find a consensus. Maybe this way you will be able to find the best way to help that filly.'
With that said, the old stallion has made his way out of his room, leaving Starlight alone, thinking and thinking on what she should do.

***

Pepper felt guilty about leaving early yesterday. She has completely forgot about her appointment with princess Twilight, leaving to pick up her sketchbook from the hill instead. What she saw there has severely tarnished her mood for the day.

To make matters worse, dad has sent her a chimney letter telling that he'll be late so Pepper has spent the evening dadless and went to sleep alone with her unhappy thoughts, having nothing to distract her. There is a little wonder why her mood was horrid the next morning.

Pepper sat in her usual spot in the class, looking at princess Twilight intently. She wanted to apologize to her from leaving yesterday, but decided to wait till the school is over. Today's topic was transfiguration.

'Now little fillies and colts, transfiguration is an advanced topic. It's a very hard magic to perform and have very advanced semantics, so I will go over it superficially, as it will be a separate subject later in your education.' she said in an excited tone.

That did not stopped her however to rave about the topic in great detail for the whole lecture, using words and terms nopony in the class could understand. Things became more interesting when the princess has placed an apple on the table and shot a beam at it, turning it into an orange. A happy memory of Merrylight's time as a ferret has flooded Pepper's consciousness. She threw a quick glance at the colt to find him gritting his teeth angrily. It seemed that not only Pepper has recalled the event. Merrylight has remained angry for the remainder of the lecture and the next lecture after that, regularly bombarding Pepper with glances full of ire.

The next lesson for the day was astronomy, which Twilight has also been teaching, substituting for professor Cosmos' absence. She taught the class a plethora of trivia facts about the stars, so the lesson went far less sluggish than usual.

Finally, the bell has rung. Pepper went out of the classroom, thinking on how to approach princess Twilight after pepper's last today's lesson. She has absent-mindedly entered the empty portrait hallway and went towards the staircases. The place was rather desolate. Pepper has often used this hallway for shortcuts to the dungeons, but other ponies her age were afraid of it, spreading silly rumors like the portraits tracing one's movement with their eyes or giant poisonous spiders living under the picture frames. The hallway was U-shaped and rather big. Pepper liked this place. Quiet, serene. It felt safe. At least until today.

Pepper has stumbled, finding Merrylight in front of her, blocking the passage. The filly has gulped. She heard muffled hoofsteps behind her, signifying the lack of escape route. All Pepper's senses has ringed a danger song.

Merylight has made a few steps towards Pepper, grinning evilly.

'What do you want?' asked pepper, trying to infuse her voice with all the aggressiveness and courage she did not have. Merrylight's grin became wider.

'Come to think of it, Pepper, we did not finish our little conversation back in the yard' he said in a creepily sweet tone.
'I saw you grinning out there, Pepper.' he said, approaching. 'It was rather funny, wasn't it? Seeing me as a ferret. A very humorous situation, wasn't it?' he moved closer. Pepper has frantically backed away, sensing presence behind her back.

'Well, guess what. That wench isn't there, is she?' asked Merrylight softly. 'So nopony can disturb us now, you little monster.'

'B-back away!' screeched Pepper, her voice giving up.

'Oh, what's the matter? Not so brave without your wittle babysitter?' suddenly, Merrylight has swung his head madly. His intonation have changed to one of pure hatred.

'Do you even realize what I had to went through because of you? I have never felt such a humiliation in my life! And when I was prepared to forget about it, you were here, giggling like an idiot you are during that stupid alicorn's lecture.'

He leaned forward, grinning like crazy. Pepper's knees were shaking uncontrollably. Suddenly, a voice in her head has surfaced. her voice.

"Come on." it said. "It is so easy. You are afraid. you are angry. That is enough fuel."

"No..." said pepper in her mind.

"Come on. Do you plan on remaining a doormat for your entire life? Blast him." the voice tingled.

"NO!"

"BLAST HIM! To Tartarus with the consequences!" the voice urged.

Merrylight was leaning closer and closer. Pepper backed down a few steps before somepony has pushed her forward. There were no place to run.

"Blast him you idiot!"

'NO! I will not!'

Pepper has quickly formed mom's image in her mind to ward away the urges. Mom's face was smiling. A scene from her past has flew past her mind's eyes in a matter of milliseconds. The urge has died down. The only thing left to do was to figure out the way out of the situation she was in. Merrylight's face was right in front of her eyes. But suddenly...

'Hey! What's going on here?' the voice came. A familiar voice. Merrylight has flinched and looked back frantically.

'Oh. It's just you.' he said with relief. 'Go away, numnut. This is none of your business.'

Behind Merrylight stood Lemon Star, looking at the bully with a clear resentment. Behind him stood two fillies from the parallel group, looking distressed.

'You know what, Merrylight? After words like this nopony decent will just walk past.'

Pepper's being for the first time ever has filled with hope.

'I see it. You really want some problems on your fat ass' said Merrylight spitefully, turning his back to Pepper. His entourage has nickered behind Pepper.

'Hey guuuuys!' suddenly shouted Lemon Star. 'There is bullying going on!'

Sounds came from afar. Hoofsteps and more. Pepper has took a deep sigh of relief. Merrylight has threw a destructive gaze first on Lemon, then on Pepper, and hurried away, his entourage bailing in front of him.
'This ain't over.' he hissed over his shoulder. His horn has flashed for a brief moment. Strange. Pepper could feel literal coldness radiating from him.

The hallway has filled with ponies.

'Who's getting bullied?' asked professor Mandrake, a lean green pony, through his thick lake-green moustache, looking around.

'Pepper has been pinned by Merrylight and his goonies, professor.' said Lemon star.

'Goodness gracious! Are you not hurt, Pepper?' asked Mandrake in a clearly concerned tone. Pepper felt weird. She didn't even knew professor Mandrake so well for those kind of concern. She saw him a few times when he was substituting Ash Cauldron.

'Um... Ok, I guess.' she whimpered.

'That Merrylight..! He is such a jerk!' said one of the fillies who were accompanying Lemon Star.

'Yeah! I heard that he took a liking at bullying Pepper!' said Glitter Light, a filly from pepper's class.

'He did? Then why didn't you say so to the teachers?' asked Mandrake, dumbfounded.

'We did! We told to professor Cauldron! But he brushed us off!' said another filly from Pepper's class.

Pepper was the center of attention. Ponies around were talking about her. Patting her back, wondering on her well-being. This was so unusual for Pepper that she struggled to react. The shock of Merrylight's attempted attack has not wore off completely, Pepper's mind was filled with joy of her miraculous salvation, dampening most of the outside words.

Even though Pepper was incredibly grateful to all the ponies around, she felt vulnerable. She felt pressure that was not there. The ponies around here were talking, but Pepper could not understand them. She felt weird, as if her innards were becoming cold. Her head was spinning. Suddenly, she felt like she was falling.

She opened her mouth to cry for help, but the words did not come out. She was falling into an abyss.

Chapter 6: cold

Mom is sitting on the bed, petting little filly's head with her hoof. She feels warm. Pepper plays with her hoof like a cat with a toy. Pepper feels safe. Joyful. Happy.

Mom is smiling. Mom is laughing heartily at little Pepper. Her horn glows with a soft pink glow. A flower circlet appears out of nowhere. pepper is awestruck by the miracle in front of her eyes. The flowers are landing on Pepper's head. She laughs.

'Mom! Teach me how to do it! I wanna make flowers too!' she calls. Mom is beaming.

'I am not making them, silly. I am bringing them from the garden. You can't make a thing out of nothing.' she smiles softly. 'It will upset the balance.'

But Pepper do not listening. She urges mom to teach her the trick. Mom complies.

'Imagine a flower.' she says. Pepper sits uptight and does her best to imagine a flower. A cute one, with red petals and black center. Like those she saw in the huge fields.

'Did you imagined it? Good! Now imagine yourself holding it! Imagine hard! And think of something happy while doing so!'

Pepper does her best to imagine the flower in her hoof. She does as mom told and thinks of the show she went with dad to last week. It had cute animals and neat magic tricks in it. Pepper feels joy by just remembering it, being there with dad.

But nothing happens.

Pepper then shuts her eyes tight and thinks of the flower in her hoof double as hard!

Nothing...

Triple as hard!

Still nothing.

Quadruple as hard!

She opens her eye and looks at her extended hoof. There is no flower. There is nothing. Pepper feels angry at the flower. Annoyed at the flower. She tries again. She imagines the flower hard, but this time a place of her happy thoughts was taken by her anger and annoyance.
It works! Pepper holds a flower in her hoof. She extends it happily towards mom and huffs proudly.

She did it! She can do magic tricks!
But mom is not happy. She looks into Pepper's eyes with an unusual expression. Pepper rarely sees her sad. But today it's definitely sadness on her face. And a bit of fear too. Pepper flinches, thinking that she did something wrong to upset mom.

'Pepper. Did you not think of the happy thoughts?' mom asks sadly.

'I did! At first. But the flower did not came, so I got angry at it, but then it worked!' Pepper says. Mom's expression becomes even more sad.

'Did... did I do something bad?' Pepper asks. Mom hugs her with shaking hooves.

'Never, never do that again!'

Pepper looks in horror at the withered flower in her hoof.

'No... I am sorry...' mumbled Pepper in her sleep, turning in the bed. Starlight looked at the filly with a concerned expression.

The news of Pepper collapsing has arrived at the exact moment when Starlight called Twilight off her break to talk about Pepper's situation just outside of the school gates. A small foal came, apparently familiar with Twilight. He was out of breath. He informed the mares that a filly has collapsed with a fever, then he ran away, presumably to speak with other teachers. It took Twilight one look at Starlight's determined face to submit and extend her wing to help a little mouse to climb on her head. Starlight has hid in her mane and the alicorn princess has rushed to the hospital wing.

They found Pepper on the bed, turning in her sleep. She was hot to the touch. In the hospital wing stood an unfamiliar green-colored professor and the nurse, with dean Quasar Quark arriving along with the colt who called Twilight earlier, his name turning out to be Lemon Star.

'What is wrong with her exactly?' asked Twilight, worryingly inspecting a sleeping filly.

'By all accounts it is a fever. The kind you can get when you're under a dire cold' said the nurse.

'She had a class with me earlier.' said Twilight. 'She wasn't sick then. Well, at least not THAT sick.'

'Ponies do not just collapse with a dire fever on the spot.' said the dean, throwing a look at Twilight's mane and sighing. Starlight whimpered. The dean knew she was there!

'I know that' said the nurse apologetically. 'But this is all I can say about the situation.'

'Will she be ok?' asked Lemon Star worryingly. Twilight gave him a sympathetic look.

'Of course! It's just a fever. Even though its origins are rather baffling.' said the nurse calmly. 'There is no magic for the cold treatment. She just need some rest.'

'Thank goodness!' said the lean green professor, his name being Mandrake.

'Under which circumstances did you find her in this state?' asked the dean. Twilight nodded, almost catapulting a mouse off her mane. Starlight has frantically grasped her horn.

'She was being bullied' said Lemon Star. 'I was walking in the main corridor with Chalcedony and Sparkle Shine when we heard a cry from the side corridor. You know, that scary one with portraits and cobwebs. It seems like Pepper was shouting something like 'No! I won't!'. So we went there and found a group of bullies with Merrylight as their leader surrounding Pepper' reported Lemon Star. Starlight has clasped her tiny mouse hands.

"Merrylight! That freak again!"

'I then called for help and ponies came' continues Lemon Star.

'Yes. I've heard Lemon Heart calling, so I have arrived along with some students.' nodded professor Mandrake.

'Hmmm...' the dean has begun to pace around the room, lost in thoughts.

'Can it be that Merrylight has casted some sort of spell on her?' asked Lemon Star, looking at Twilight. The princess has shook her head, making Starlight to hug her horn tight again.

'There is no such a spell pony can cast that can inflict cold' she said.

'Come to think of it, the cold seems to be completely outside of magic possibilities...' she mumbled thoughtfully.

But Starlight was not buying it.

'It has to be Merrylight!' she whispered in Twilight's ear. 'Ponies don't just drop with fevers out of nowhere!'

But Twilight has ignored her.

'It might have something to do with yesterday's battle with windigo.' she said, looking at the dean. 'She could be under windigo's freezing effect. Maybe its aftermath has manifested as a fever?'

The dean did not answered, looking deep in thought.

'Pepper fought a windigo?!' asked Lemon Star, his eyes lighting up.

'Yes.' threw Twilight absent-mindedly.

'That is so cool!' Lemon Star has glanced at sleeping Pepper with admiration.

Starlight felt a sting of annoyance at Twilight. What she said did made sense in the retrospect, but Starlight just knew that Merrylight has something to do with it.

"It wouldn't hurt to investigate anyway." she thought. Starlight has made up her mind.

The memory of her condition when she has overextended her animal transformation has grasped Starlight's memory, summoning nausea-like sensation, but Starlight has brushed it away.

"I need to be smaller..." she thought, focusing all her magic. Her head has begun to spin. She started to feel nauseous. "I must..."
Transforming in something so severely different from pony physiology seemed outside of even Starlight's skills, but she pressed on. Her limbs became dull and begun to pulse with pain. She begun to shrink. Her bones has changed with a shot of pain. Soon there were no longer any bone in her body. A set of small wings has erupted from her back. The vision became different, but familiar. After all, she already saw the world through a fly's eyes before.

A small black fly has inconspicuously flew out of Twilight's mane and went out of the hospital wing's door. Starlight was desperately grasping for her consciousness. Somehow she managed to regain her focus. Her head was spinning.

"Okay, I have about twenty minutes..." she thought, evaluating her condition. Without losing any second she flew out of the hospital corridor.
"Where to now?" she thought, looking around with her little beady-eyed head. She flew out of the open window and looked down, scanning the ground for familiar shapes. Her vision area has widened. She could clearly see everything on the sides of her head.
She flew around for a good dozen minutes before the fortune has smiled on her. She saw her target. Merrylight was running somewhere on the courtyard, rudely pushing passerby ponies aside. He went towards the northern wall. Starlight has followed him, struggling with a growing nausea and head-splitting headache.

The foal has approached the secret passage wall and climber through it, surprising Starlight. Starlight has followed him through into the forest.

Merrylight has vanished between the trees. Starlight has landed on the ground, not able to keep her form any longer. A mind-numbing pain has shot through her as her bones were growing back. Struggling not to faint, she whimpered on the ground, expanding. Soon she was sitting on the grass, sweating and breathing heavily. She stood up on her shaking legs and tried to cast a simple light spell just to make sure.
"Yep." she thought, seeing nothing but a faint spark flying out of her horn. "Another amazing idea."

Trying to ignore her berating inner voice, she has quietly entered the grove, climbing under a huge root. Then she heard a voice. She has carefully crouched and went to sound's direction, avoiding to make any sounds as much as possible. Soon she has reached a clearing. Merrylight stood there, surrounded by foals.

Starlight has stepped on a twig and begun to panic, but the foals seemed too distracted to pay attention to their surroundings.

'We shall ambush her here' said Merrylight. His face looked a bit distorted. A colt made a step forward.

'Boss, are you sure you're ok? You seem to be overdoing it.' he said, looking worryingly at the foal.

Merrylight has threw him a glance full of ire.

'Shut up!'

'B-but boss... You seem obsessed by that filly! It ain't normal!' said another colt, whimpering under his leader's hateful gaze.

'Am I sure? AM. I. SURE?' Merrylight snapped. 'That little monster is the cause of EVERYTHING!' he jumped forward and slugged the speaker into his head with his hoof, breathing heavily. The colts have flinched backwards.

'From very beginning, VERY beginning she was getting on my nerves! You weren't there!' he sounded like a madman 'I saw her doing her magic! Exact very moment I met her she already disgraced me! I met her in this very forest! She shot darkness at the bush I was hiding in! I couldn't move for a week! Everypony thought that I has caught some kind of sickness, and nopony believed me that I was cursed! But I knew! She is a monster!' he backed into the center of the clearing. His entourage shaking under his gaze. Merrylight's movements became ragged and erratic.

'Is it m-me, or is it getting cold in here?' whispered nearby colt. Starlight was so caught up in what was happening that she did not notice a temperature change. It was getting cold! Colder with each passing second.

"Windigo?!" she thought, shaking wildly.

Strange.

The cold seemed to be coming from Merrylight, but the foal seemed undeterred by it.

The ground started to cover with frost around Merrylight. A panic has ensued amongst the colts. Starlight has desperately grasped at her happy memories. Tidy streets. Smiling ponies. A safe place. Equal sign. She knew that it was wrong to think about it, but she did not care. The memory of distant happiness has filled her being with warmth. The frost on her hooves has melted. The foals were not so lucky though.
Starlight has horrifyingly found herself surrounded by plethora of ice statues that used to be Merrylight's henchmen.
The foal stood alone in the clearing, surrounded by frost and frozen comrades, his face bearing a horrified expression.

'What the...' he said, looking around. Suddenly, a familliar voice came from Merrylight's being.

'You did not need them anyway.'

Starlight has begun to shake uncontrollably. She knew this voice. She couldn't forget such a cold, distant voice in her life.

'I... Don't understand...' said Merrylight, his voice sounding muffled.

'You don't need to. All you need to know is that you can have your revenge.' the cold voice said. 'On Pepper heart. On Starlight Glimmer. On everypony who ever wronged you.'

'Revenge...' Merrylight's eyes has lit up. 'Revenge!' he sounded off, mixing up his intonations and accents.

'Speaking of Starlight Glimmer,' said the voice, making Starlight freeze in fear. 'you can start with her. She is close, resisting the icy despair.'

Starlight took off. She ran how she never ran before, jumping over roots and stumps, making her way outside of the accursed grove.

"I need to tell Twilight" was her only thought. She heard a roaring of wind behind her, but she did not look back.

***

Pepper woke up, sweating. She felt very ill. Her eyes were hot and her throat was sore. She lifted herself up a bit to look around. Some sort of commotion was going on around her. Nopony has noticed her awakening.

"Déjà vu" she thought, taking a closer look at her surroundings.

A whole lot of adult ponies (and Lemon Star) were gathered around in the corner of what Pepper has recognized as a hospital wing. They were discussing something loudly. Pepper has focused her mind to make out the words.

'Posessed by a windigo? A student?' asked professor Mandrake unbelievingly. 'What are you talking about?'

'Starlight! Calm down! Explain what you saw!' said Twilight worryingly.

'I keep telling you!' cried Starlight in a desperate tone. She looked very exhausted and out of breath, not to mention sweating like crazy.

'I saw Merrylight in that grove! The one near that hill we fought a windigo on! He was talking to his goonies about ambushing Pepper there, but something happened to him! All the colts but him were frozen! Then the windigo's voice came out...'

Pepper froze in place. "Merrylight? Windigo? What the hay was all this about?"

'Windigos don't talk!' interrupted professor Mandrake, looking at Starlight with contempt and disbelief.

'They do' said Twilight quickly, shunning him down. 'What happened next?'

'It spoke something of revenge and noticed me! I ran away!' said Starlight desperately. 'It's coming here! I think a windigo has possessed Merrylight somehow!'

Pepper tried her hardest to make sense of the situation. It all felt like a bad dream.

'Windigoes can't posess ponies!' said professor Mandrake sternly. 'Dean, please, tell her she's wrong!'

Pepper looked at the dean. He seemed shockingly calm, looking away as if deep in thoughts.

'...Dean?' pleaded professor Mandrake. 'Oh, come on you all! You really believe that random mare who just barged in spouting nonsense about windigos?' he sounded desperate.

'I am not random!' snapped Starlight.

'Yes. You aren't. You're a hooligan who turned a student, the same student if I'm not mistaken, into an animal for no reason! Doesn't add to your trustworthiness!' said Mandrake in a hysterical tone. Starlight was gritting her teeth angrily. 'What are you even doing here? You've been banned from the school grounds!'

'Quiet' suddenly said the dean. His voice was stern and booming. Mandrake has shut his mouth, astonished.

'We need professor Cosmos.' said the dean, pacing around the room. 'And we need him immediately. Twilight, can you contact him?' Twilight has opened her mouth to reply, but suddenly:

'That won't be necessary.'

Professor Cosmos has warped in, astonishing the crowd. Pepper stared blankly at everypony. Nothing seemed real to her. She felt sick and sleepy, but she kept watching.

Professor Cosmos had a determined look on his face.

'Professor Mandrake. look out of the window, if you may.' he said coldly. Mandrake has threw him a look of disbelief and looked out of the huge window, gasping.

'What? What's there?' asked Twilight.

Pepper has noticed Lemon Star in the room's corner. He stood there, utterly confused. His facial expression persisted on the nurse's face as well. Pepper has lifted herself higher off the bed so she could see a bit of window. She saw nothing in particular. The outsides of the window seemed completely white. But then she saw a horrified reactions of professor Mandrake and princess Twilight, who were staring in the window.

'What is happening out there?' asked Starlight in a shaking voice, taking a look out of the window as well.

'The windigo is erecting a barrier of fast-moving freezing winds. Everything that will attempt to past through it will be immideately frozen.' answered Cosmos calmly.

'It can do that?' asked Twilight.

'H-how do you know it can do that?' asked Starlight with suspicion in her voice.

'If anypony knows a thing or two about windigos - it's him.' said the dean.

'Why is it doing that?' professor Mandrake's voice was shaking.

'To prevent us from escaping. or to prevent reinforcements from outside. Take your pick.' said Cosmos in a bored tone.

'Princess Celestia can deal with that barrier, can she?' asked princess Twilight, throwing constant worried looks out of the window.

'Sure. In a few hours' shrugged professor Cosmos. 'But I'm not sure we have that long.' Twilight has bit her lips.

'Quasar.' said Cosmos calmly. 'Evacuate all the students to the dungeons. Keep panic from spreading. We will deal with the windigo.'
The dean has nodded quickly and went outside, taking professor Mandrake, nurse and Lemon Star with him.

Four ponies remained in the hospital room: Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer, professor Cosmos and Pepper. Starlight has looked at Pepper's direction and sighed with relief seeing her awake.

'Pepper! How are you feeling?' asked princess Twilight in a caring tone.

'I am allright. Just a bit sick...' said Pepper uneasily. 'Can you please explain what is going on?' she pleaded.

'The windigo has returned.' said professor Cosmos. He then surprised everypony by proceeding to raid hospital's cupboard nonchalantly. He dug in the cupboard in an awkward silence for a few minutes undeterred, then emerged with a teabag in his mouth.

'Shorry. Tea helps me focush' he said, proceeding to swallow the teabag to everypony's horror. A minute passed.

'Is everypony going to ignore that?' asked Starlight, looking around.

'Returning to your question, Pepper,' said Cosmos as if nothing happened 'The windigo you fought has returned, and it's coming for you.'
This statement has summoned all sorts of reactions for everypony in the room. Twilight has gasped in disbelief, Starlight looked like she thought she misheard and Pepper just froze in incomprehension.

'Yep. You've heard me right' confirmed Cosmos, nodding at Starlight.

'But why her?' asked the princess.

'How the heck do you know that anyway? And what is that thing the dean said about? Why would a school professor know something unusual about windigos?' asked Starlight in an angry tone.

Cosmos has ignored her and turned towards Pepper, his face being emotionless.

'I am sorry, Pepper. But that thing is going after you.'

Pepper's innards froze.

'It has something to do w-with... um...'

'Yes. With your dark magic. Though the issue is a bit deeper. You all may be wondering why did I brought it here in the first place?' he said, looking at Starlight. The mare nodded.

'That would be good to hear.'

'I thought it's for my demonstration!' said Twilight.

"Wait... Professor Cosmos brought it in?" thought Pepper in disbelief.

Cosmos has looked Twilight deep in the eyes and suddenly sighed sadly.

'I am sorry, Twilight. I haven't been honest with you. And you, for that matter,' he nodded to Starlight. 'All of you.'

'What... do you mean..?' asked Twilight.

Cosmos has opened his mouth to answer but a thunderous roar of wind has ripped hospital wing's windows.

'Damnation! It have finished erecting the barrier already?!' shouted Cosmos, trying to outcry the roaring wind. Pepper was pushed in her bed, struggling to breath as Ice-cold wind was pressing her chest. Starlight and Twilight were struggling to not be blown away, clutching the furniture.

'One windigo can't do this! Unless... On, sweet Celestia...' Cosmos has rushed to the window, desperately struggling with the wind. 'There are more of them!' he shouted. 'How could that happen?! I thought I have banished the very last one of those m-monsters!' his voice broke, sounding desperate.

A particularly strong gust of wind has blown him away from the window, slamming him into a cupboard. A whole lot of hospital trays flew up, getting caught up in the wind.

'Professor!' cried Twilight.

'H-how could I be so stupid...' mumbled Cosmos.

Suddenly a huge, menacing figure has appeared behind the window. It was a windigo! Different from the one Pepper has faced. More lean and thin. But the eyes were the same. Cold, piercing. Pepper wanted to scream, but couldn't. Her innards were getting cold. She felt frost on her hooves.

'Starlight! Get Pepper and get out of here!' shouted Twilight. She flew up, surrounded by a radiant lavender glow. Her horn has erupted with a shining beam that struck right into windigo's head, repelling it back.

'What about you?!' shouted Starlight, trying desperately to keep her footing in the roaring gale.

'I'm going in!'

Twilight has rocketed out with an incredible speed, leaving a purple trail behind. The window has flashed brightly, following with a screeching shriek of a wounded Windigo. But Pepper did not hear that. She was cold. Very cold. She wanted to close her eyes.

Starlight Glimmer has rushed towards her, shooting a warming glow out of her horn. The coldness has faded somewhat, allowing Pepper to think clear again.

'Pepper, hold tight! And think of something positive!' ordered Starlight, letting Pepper embrace her. 'Dammit! I can't teleport! It seems we have to do it the hard way! Pepper, a positive memory! Windigos feed on negative emotions!'

Pepper held tight. She was feeling sick. And coldness did not entirely fade. But she followed Starlight's instruction, desperately searching her head for a happy memory. It came rather quick.

A warm summer breeze. An ivy tree atop of the grassy hill. She sits there with mom and dad, and nothing can take the moment away. This memory fills her whole being with warmth.

***

Starlight was galloping downstairs, burdened by a filly on her back. The air was freezing. The walls has begun to cover with frost patterns. Starlight was keeping her breath, focusing on the stairs below her feet. The last thing she wanted to do is slip on the frozen staircase. Pepper was breathing hardly on her back. She felt hot. Her fever didn't go away, and the constant shaking were not doing it any good.

Soon Starlight has reached the end of the staircase, entering a wide hall. There was nopony in sight, no doubt thanks to timely evacuation. But it wasn't quiet at all. The muffled sound of rushing winds was shaking the window frames wildly, and a sound of broken glass was heard from time to time.

When Starlight has reached a hall's centre, a nearby window has exploded with shining shards, just barely Missing Starlight in their shrapnel fly. A windigo has emerged from outside of the window. The menacing icy figure was rather small compared to its brethren, but its visage was intimidating nonetheless. It has slowly turned its head, scanning the room. When the windigo turned its face towards Starlight it has received a blast of fire, smoldering it like nopony's business. The windigo has shrieked and flinched, but recovered quickly and rushed towards the mare, breathing frosty wind from its narrow muzzle.

Tidy, clean streets. So neat. So homely.

A blast of formless energy has met windigo's torso, repelling it back a good dozen feet. Starlight had no hesitation.

Smiling, friendly ponies. Always nice to her. And to each other. No conflict. No hatred. No pain.

Another blast has been fired, filled with warmth and emotion. The windigo has attempted to evade it, but the ray has changed its vector and hit it anyway, sending a shrieking specter to collide with a wall. The creature has splattered into s bunch of white smoke, but started to re-form.

Feeling safe. Feeling safe. Safe...

Starlight kept bombarding the beast with emotion-charged blasts, keeping it from reassuming its form.

Equal sign. Everypony's equal. Everypony is happy...

But are they equal?

Were they happy?

Starlight's determination wavered. She has realized something she did not see that clear before.

"That's right... We were not equal... I was superior. This is why I felt so good back then. To have everypony bow to my will. I am a hypocrite, ain't I?"

Her momentary pause has allowed the mist to reform. White specter has desperately rushed towards Starlight, attempting to envelop her in its bitter coldness.

"All this time I thought I had equals... How could I be so foolish?"

A room, designed to brainwash.

The windigo approached.

Fake smiles, with pain hidden behind them.

The windigo loomed.

The soulless, empty eyes at the moment of personality removal.

Empty husks.

Nothing.

"How could I?"

A restraining cold has enveloped Starlight's being.

"How could they ever forgive me?"

No one is equal. Nothing can't be equal. In her whole life Starlight did not meet anypony equal. Even Sunburst wasn't. Not after his identity. She felt alone. Abandoned.She never felt equal. Never, until...

"That's right. They all forgave me. Even if they shouldn't have to. And it's all thanks to her."

Three-colored mane, a horn and a pair of wings.

The windigo was so close that its ephemeral body was almost touching Starlight.

"She may not be my equal. I will never be equal to her. Not to her qualities. We will never be equal... But is equality really that good a thing?"
'The differences between me and my friends are the very thing that makes our friendship strong.'

"She is better than me. But because of that I always have somepony to look up to. To aspire to be like her. To try to be like her."

A soft glow has enveloped Starlight. It was warm. Warmer than her previous feelings. Softer. Because she knew that this time she was not fooling herself.

The windigo has shrieked in terror, it's voice generating randomly shooting ice shards. The glow has slowly enveloped its core, eating it whole. Gnawing on the negativity. A second has passed before the glow has dissipated. The windigo was no more. At least in that hall.
Starlight pressed on. Pepper was asleep, snoring peacefully on her back, yet managing to clutch her hard. Starlight felt good. She did not felt so peaceful and happy for a long, long time.

The mare with a filly on her back has entered the ground floor of the central school building. The wind was howling. All windows were broken. Everything was covered with snow and ice. A powdered snow was rushing in the hall from the windows, accompanied by freezing gales. But Starlight didn't felt it. At least on the inside. She won't feel cold inside as long as she cherish the memory.

Starlight has paused for a minute, looking intently at the hall. Something was out of place. A few steps away from the building's exit stood a pony, half-encased in ice. Starlight has gasped and rushed forward. It was Ash Cauldron.
'You?!'

Starlight has quickly casted a warming spell, radiating the frozen stallion with warmth. The ice begun to melt.

'What the hay are you doing out here? And why are you frozen?' the mare asked after professor has restored his gift of speech.

'Fighting those m-monsters!' said Cauldron, his whole body shaking. 'And what are YOU doing here?! You have-'

'Been banned from the school grounds, no doubt caused the windigo invasion and surely kidnapping this child for my own sinister urges.' said STarlight, cutting him out. 'Is that what you wanted to say?'

Cauldron just grinded his teeth, looking at Starlight with pure enmity.

'You REALLY should focus on the situation you are in. And how did you even get frozen like that? Don't you know how to deal with windigos, "professor"? Wait...' Cauldron remained silent, his eyes filled with frozen hatred. The frost has begun to creep on his hooves again.
'You don't have a strong positive memory, do you? Have you always been that grump?' A hint of compassion has rose in the corner of Starlight's mind, but was brushed away quickly.

' Like you'd ever understand. Always indulging in your personal happiness, never thinking of the future and the betterment of the country.' the stallion snarled.

'All my life I've been working for the future. For Equestria. You have no idea how it feels to have nopony equal around. Almost everypony in my life are spineless! Pathetic! Either that or they stay above me, on unachievable height! I may never become a royalty or the realm's protector. I may be stuck in this position of alchemy teacher for my whole life! But it doesn't mean I shouldn't try to achieve something more! If I could repel the windigos, I-' he broke off, not knowing how to finish the sentence. 'I....'

'Listen here. Contrary to what you think, I may know how you feel.' said Starlight. Her mind was uneasy. 'But you can't face the windigos without a good memory. How about to live for yourself for once? At least this way you may make a memory you can use against windigos, not counting other benefits.'

'Don't you dare to *cough* lecture me!' snapped Cauldron. 'I have chosen my path.'
'Whatever.' snarled Starlight. 'You can feel important for once and show me a way to the dungeons where everypony has evacuated to. The filly on my back has a severe fever and we're wasting time by standing and snapping at each other!'

Ash Cauldron looked at the building entrance door, then on Starlight, as if appraising the situation. He stood there for a solid minute. Then he made a few trembling steps away, waved Starlight to follow him and made his way to one of the doors. He opened the door and went in, beckoning Starlight. But as the mare made her way towards the door, something utterly unexpected has happened.

A wall of ice has formed from nowhere, blocking the door and part of the wall. A cold wind howled. Starlight has slowly turned around, fearing what she may see. Her fears came through.

Merrylight stood there, looking lost and harmless if not the white mist around him, swirling and roaring constantly. His eyes have lost its colors and became colder than an arctic night.
'Found you.'

Chapter 7: white

Two ponies are standing on the hill under an ivy tree. They look at the sunset before them. It is an unusual sight. It feels weird watching the sunset with just two of them.

Pepper is no longer happy up that hill. She is sad. So is a stallion beside her. Although dad tries to not show it, he has changed. He started to return late from his work. He rarely talks and eats less than before. He became thinner. Less fluffy. Every time Pepper tries to talk to him she feels as if he is not present in the same room.

Dad's mind is always away. Even now, looking at the sunset, his eyes are akin of glass. Pepper looks up worried. She wants to ask dad what is wrong, but can't. She already knows the answer. She shifts her eyes back at the sunset. It feels wrong now. Like it has lost some of its color. It feels pale for the two of them.

'Pepper.' says dad gently. 'You have to get in that school.'

'I know.' answers Pepper. She already made up her mind. No matter what, no matter how, she will get there. She will become a great wizard.

'You need to do your best.' says dad. His mind is far away.

'Yeah.' says Pepper quietly. 'That what mom wanted...'

They stand on the hill, looking at sunset. Even though two of them do not enjoy it. Not anymore. But they still stand there. Relieving a memory of a moment which nothing can take away.

Pepper woke up from her half-asleep state. It was cold. Both inside and outside. She found herself on Starlight's back, hugging tightly. Marveling on how she managed to keep her grasp while being asleep, Pepper has evaluated her condition. The fever was still there, but it felt lessened. Pepper's mind was clear, but the cold has started to cloud it. Pepper has summoned an appropriate memory. The cold has went away. She opened her eyes.

Everything around her was white, covered in snow. The same snow was whirling in the air wildly. Cold snow. Sharp snow. The winds were howling. The floor underneath was covered by frosty patterns. Pepper has raised her gaze and gasped. Not too far away stood Merrylight. Or was it Merrylight? He stood up in an awkward position, his eyes colorless and cold. His head on his side. Surrounded by a white vortex. Pepper has felt a familiar presence. Then she heard a voice. A cold voice, not belonging to a bullying colt, but rather to a monster.

'Found you' it said. Merrylight's face, which was showing no emotion up to this point, has twisted into a grin. Pepper felt cold shivers on her back.

'What do you even want with her? Why are you so focused on that filly?' asked Starlight in a demanding tone. Her body was shaking slightly.

'She have something that belongs to us.' answered the voice. Merrylight has made a few steps forward. Each step he made was followed by a new patterns of frost underneath his hooves.

'What have you done with that colt?' asked Starlight. 'Were you got your butt kicked so badly that you needed to possess a child or something? This is really low! Even for monsters like you!'

The voice chuckled.

'I did not chose to possess that child. This child chose to be possessed. Because of you.'

'What?!'

Starlight was shaking. Pepper was thinking on what she could do to help her out. She felt weak, but she felt able to use at least some dark magic. If only a good opportunity should arrive... But suddenly she looked in Merrylight's eyes. The eyes were cold end empty, but for a second Pepper could've swore she saw pleading in them.

"No. I can hurt him. Even though he probably deserves it, I can't do it" she thought bitterly.

Meanwhile a possessed colt was making more frost-followed steps forward.

'He apparently was so humiliated by your actions that he sought power to defeat you. He found me, weak and drained. He helped me recover. Now I am helping him get his revenge.'

'And using him as a shield against magic, right?' asked Starlight angrily. 'Pathetic.'

The voice just laughed.

'I am afraid that this is the end of the line for you. Time to take back what is ours!'

He made a shrieking cry. The sound was filled with the roaring of northern winds. It has pierced Pepper's ears like a knife. A horrifying white figure has emerged from one of the windows and flew towards Merrylight, stopping in the air as if awaiting orders. A minute has passed. Then another one. Merrylight seemed to be waiting for something. But nothing came.

'Just one?' asked the voice in a rather annoyed tone. 'They are better than we thought. No matter. Two of us is enough.'

'Make that one!' shouted a familiar voice.

Suddenly a bright purple beam has struck the underling windigo. It has shrieked in terror, unable to withstand its radiance. Merrylight looked shocked, albeit for a second. The windigo has evaporated in the light, leaving naught but a thin cloud of mist behind. Merrylight has made a sudden jump backwards, avoiding another beam, light blue in color. The beam has melted the frost patterns in a huge area, leaving a large warm circle on the floor. Pepper's mind has filled with glee. Princess Twilight has landed in front of them, sweating and panting heavily. She was surrounded with a warm purple glow. Professor Cosmos has landed near her, covered in a light-blue aura. He looked highly exhausted as well. And just as determined as Twilight was.

'So, you two has took out all of my brethren? Not bad for a naive little princess and...' Merrylight's irises shrunk as he looked at Cosmos. 'You!'

'Long time no see, Frosty.' said professor Cosmos calmly, as if greeting a friend. 'I'd imagine our last meeting ended with you in my chest?' He then pulled out a tea bag from insides of his torn and frosted mantle and started chewing on it.

'Last time you've got me tricked.' said the voice spitefully. 'But you will not trick me again. I can no longer be caught.'
'We'll see.' Cosmos has cracked a smile.

'Pepper, can you hear me?' he whispered to his side. Pepper has nodded. She slowly let Starlight go and landed on the cold ground. Her hooves were shaking, but she could stand. Starlight did not seem to notice her actions, focused on an enemy before her.

'We will make the windigo leave that body. When it emerges, fry it good. With all you've got. Your magic is like a poison food for it.' whispered Cosmos quietly. Pepper has nodded.

'What are you two going to do?' asked the voice confidently. 'If you want to get to me, you will need to get through this child. And even then, your magic will have a little effect. I am ancient!'

'Yeah. Perhaps the oldest of the windigos.' nodded Cosmos calmly. 'But old doesn't necessarily mean good. In fact, it means quite the contrary most of the time.' he beamed at Merrylight.

'Don't you two understand?' asked the voice angrily. 'Your magic is what made us appear in the first place! When there is a light, there is a shadow! Did I not made you think about it, little princess?'

'You did' nodded Twilight calmly. 'And you may be right. perhaps the evil will keep coming as long as we use the magic of friendship. Perhaps it will never end this way. But you know what?' she looked up triumphantly 'Keep it coming! We have saved princess Luna, reformed a spirit of chaos, freed an entire nation from a thousand-year long nightmare and helped a lot of ponies in the process' she winked at Starlight.

Starlight beamed back. 'So if those things are destined to keep happening, it can only mean good things to come! More people to help, more friendships to make! And each new friendship gives me even more power. A kind of which we shall demonstrate you right now!'

'Do your worst!' shouted the voice. Merrylight has suddenly lunged forward, surrounded by a blanket of roaring winds. But suddenly he stopped mid-lunge.

Two flexible rope-like beams were enveloping his body. One blue and one purple. The shimmering ropes were connected with two unicorn horns. Merrylight watched in terror as the ropes completely covered his body. The foal looked like he was trapped in a blue and purple cocoon, suspended in midair. Then Twilight and Cosmos simultaneously pulled their heads back. The coccoon has shrunk and violently ripped a white formless matter out of Merrylight's body, catapulting it towards the ceiling. Starlight has gasped in amazement.

The cloud has formed into a familiar menacing shape. Pepper has prepared herself. She focused all of her bottled up rage. She remembered Merrylight in the portrait hall. She remembered Ash Cauldron's face. She remembered all the traps she was caught in. She remembered a burned down hill. A stump in the place of an ivy tree. Her soul has filled with rage.

She saw the world through a green veil. Then her vision was covered by a stream of darkness. It was wide and massive, but miraculously avoided all the ponies in front of Pepper, making its way towards the specter. It did so because Pepper told it to. The cloud has enveloped the windigo, covering it completely. A shriek full of pain and hatred has followed...

A new life is born. A new existence. The creature is small and hungry. It looks at itself, reflected in the nearby wall of ice. It sees a tiny cloud formed into an unfamiliar shape. Two hooves, one head. Two eyes full of wonder.

The creature wonders what it is, flying around the cold and empty ice-covered space. It feels hunger. It tries to remember what hunger is, and memory comes. And with it comes the knowledge. It now knows what it is. And it knows what it hates. And it knows what it loves to eat.
'But why do I exist?' it asks the cold and empty room. 'Why am I here?'

'Because you're a shadow.' answers its reflection in the ice. 'And shadows exist because of the light.'
'That's right.' realizes the child. 'I am a shadow. But am I alone' The child shivers. ' It feels scary facing the light on my own...'
The answer has followed shortly. The plethora of shapes appears around the child. Shapes similar to its own. The child sighs with relief. Now it is not alone.

'Not alone...'

Pepper has found herself standing on the cold floor. The weird vision she had was gone. She was no longer a child, born out of ice and snow. She was Pepper Heart. A filly who just defeated a windigo.

The monster was nowhere to be seen. Gone without a trace. Pepper looked around. Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer and professor Cosmos stood there, all looking at her with amazement in their eyes. Pepper has smiled meekly. She didn't feel cold anymore. Even the slightest. But her legs has buckled. She fell into oblivion.

***

'Pepper!' shouted Starlight as the filly fell on the cold floor. Twilight has rushed towards her.

'She's okay. Just fainted. Her fever seems to be gone.' she said with relief. Starlight felt as if a heavy boulder has been lifted from her back. The door behind her was swung open, unleashing a number of ponies. Dean Quasar Quark walked in front of the crowd hastily with Ash Cauldron following tightly.

'What has happened?' asked the dean, looking around. Why is Pepper Heart on the floor? The amount of dark magic that has been released just now beats all the written records!'

Starlight winced. She remembered the feeling she felt when Pepper has fired her spell. Acute, almost animistic terror.

'We have defeated the windigos!' proclaimed Twilight happily. She was still sweating. 'We couldn't do it without Pepper!'

'What? So that dark magic was used to defeat those horrible things?!' exclaimed professor Mandrake. 'But... Is this right? I mean...'

Ash Cauldron walked forward. He threw a long, deep stare first on Twilight, comforting unconscious Pepper, then on Starlight.

'This was a clear violation of the taboo. So much dark magic was not only a gigantic security risk, but can have massive side effects on health and well-being of the students!'

A pause has ensued. Cauldron took another long look at Pepper and sighed.

'But the side effects of the windigo attack could mean much worse things. Thus every contribution towards defeating those monsters must be praised.' he bit his lip hard. 'I think...' he looked decisively unwilling to continue, 'I... think... we need to re-examine the... the taboo.' he looked almost physically pained by his last phrase.
The dean has smiled at him warmly.

'Couldn't put it better myself.'

He turned around towards the crowd.

'The four ponies in front of us has saved the Celestia's school for gifted unicorns from a terrible disaster! Let us cheer them for the heroism they have demonstrated today!'

Everypony has busted with cheers. Some ponies were whistling, some yelling, some clapping. Starlight has looked back to see her friend's reaction. Twilight was beaming happily. Even Pepper was smiling weekly in her dreams. Only professor Cosmos didn't. The old stallion stood there with a grim and rather guilty expression on his face. Starlight found it strange. Then she remembered that he was ready to tell them something. She looked Cosmos in the eyes demandingly. The stallion has caught her gaze and sighed.

'Dean. Please take care of Pepper Hearts and Merrylight. The filly needs some rest and best hot chocolate you can get, the colt may need some medical aid. I need to discuss something with those girls.' he said in a determined voice.

'Can't it wait? I think we're going to throw a celebration!' said he dean, but Cosmos shook his head. Twilight looked on Cosmos with wonder.
'Oh well. Off you go then.' sighed the dean. Cosmos nodded and beckoned Starlight and Twilight. They have approached the stallion and formed a triangle.

They have appeared in Cosmos' room. It was more of a mess than usual. It looked rummaged through. Starlight has noticed remnants of an accursed treasure chest she smashed, lying scattered the room's corner. Cosmos approached his rocking chair, looked at it for a minute then kicked it away. He turned around and faced the two mares. Starlight has never seen his face bearing such a honest expression. Twilight has uneasily shifted her hooves.

'The story begins twelve and a half years ago.' started the old stallion. His voice was emotionless. 'Back then some knew me as a specter hunter. I have been capturing, repelling and disposing of a number of types of creatures who fed on emotions. I sort of specialized in that back then. Windigos consisted around seventy percent of my targets.'

'But I thought that windigos have left Equestria ages ago!' said Starlight. The image of young Cosmos fighting the windgos looked unbelievable to say the least.

'So right now we were attacked by a swarm of really big white flies?' remarked Cosmos sarcastically. 'Windigos never left. They are everywhere. They bide the time. Waiting for a moment to strike. To ruin Equestria once again. These creatures can't be destroyed.'
'What?' asked Starlight.

'Yes. Even those windigos we vanquished today will one day completely recover and will come back to haunt other ponies.' said Twilight sadly. Starlight bit her lip. Her achievements today seemed lessened by the latest information.

'This is a problem with windigos. They never end. They never go away. I was searching for a way to get rid of them for good. And then the idea came to me. Dark magic!'

Starlight has cocked her brow in confusion. How are windigoes linked with dark magic?

'They feed on negative emotions. Siphon the negativity. But dark magic is their food weaponized! Imagine it with pancakes. You love to eat a pancake or four from time to time, right?'

Twilight has licked her lips.

'But if you'll thirty at a time, you'll get sick. And if you'll somehow eat three hundred - you will probably explode. Same principle is used here.'
Twilight's stomach has growled meekly.

'Dark magic is a concentrated bad emotions given form. Like hundreds of pancakes in a single pint-sized serving, having the same mass as a hundred pancakes on a plate. I have gathered plenty of dark artifacts over the years. The kind that held dark magic inside. I was ready and willing to test my theory.'

His eyes has clouded with memories.

'I have tracked a windigo. A strong one. I have released an insurmountable amounts of dark magic at it. The theory has proven success. The windigo was no more. But then begun my mistakes.'

Twilight was looking at Cosmos with terror in her eyes. Starlight did not understand the reason behind this emotion on alicorn's face. Sure, dark magic is bad and all, but the windigo was defeated, wasn't it?

'After a windigo was defeated, the dark magic persisted. It often does. Especially this amount. I did not pay any attention to it lingering back then, as I've been inspired by my sucess. But the remaining dark magic soon proven to be a disaster.

I thought I have picked a relatively remote place for our battle. A hill deep in the forest. But I was mistaken. Apparently a mare liked to spend time in that remote location with her husband.'

Starlight's irises has shrunk. Her mind was constricted by a grim realization.

'The mare was pregnant. Dark magic was too weak to attach to a grown heart. A heart filled with positive memories and emotions. So it has found another way to linger. It has fused with the child. A blank slate, having no good memories to repel it. The child has absorbed the darkness and bacame one with it. At least that is my theory.'

A silence has ensued. Cosmos looked down, unable to look either of the mares in the eyes. Twilight stood there with a terrified expression frozen on her face. Soon Cosmos has continued.

'All of this I have realized relatively recently. I was blind. I thought of nothing but my success, not realizing that a catastrophe has arose from it.
I was not there when Pepper has passed her entrance exam, but I saw its consequences. I did not thought too hard about it back then. I did not relate her state with the aftermath of my battle with a windigo. Only thing I had was a mild curiosity.'

His voice sounded disgusted.

'I have completely ignored her. I've been ignoring her for most of her time in the school. Until I have noticed a windigo hunting her. This windigo is the one who we defeated today. I tricked it. I caught it. I interrogated it. It told me everything. It told me that the girl has literal darkness inside her. Darkness that should belong to them. It wanted to extract it and make it its own. And there was something else. He feared Pepper. Feared her because he knew that she can destroy them. I have sealed it in the enchanted chest.

Soon after my conscience has struck me. I have realized that her life has been ruined at birth. And because of me. She had no friends. She was too afraid and protective to even speak to other ponies. So I have called you, Twilight. I hoped you can help her. But then.... Then I had an another bad idea.'

Cosmos looked at his side, avoiding to make any eye contacts.

'I have realized that windigos can't be reliably defeated by dark magic. At least not one by one. And innocent bystanders could get hurt. So I have decided to strike at their nest. A place that must exist, I thought. They had to go somewhere to heal! My plan was simple. To have you, Twilight, defeat a windigo and then to follow its signatures. Then I wanted to... Destroy their nest. If there was such a thing as their nest. And for that I needed Pepper's help.'

'That is why you told me that only I can help Pepper? Because yoyu knew that I will want her to keep her magic?!' Starlight was mad. She wanted to hit the old stallion. To do something bad to him.

'You wanted to use us. All three of us!'

Twilight put a hoof on Starlight's shoulder calmingly, but the mare has brushed it away.

'Yes. And for that I am sorry. I have realized my mistakes when you let the creature free. Nothing ever goes as planned.'

The old stallion looked much older and weaker than he ever been. His sight has somewhat quelled Starlight's rage.

'I thought that Pepper has destroyed the windigo back then. But then I saw Merrylight. It took me some time to realize that something was wrong with him. His soul was overrun with negative emotion, and he must've been close to the windigo when it was nearly vanquished. If a heart is bound with darkness, a windigo can always find a way inside. When I have realized it, I've made some preparations. I wanted to tell everypony, but just didn't made it in time. When I saw numerous windigo signatures around the school, I knew that the time is up. I have arrived to help and the rest you know. We used conventional methods to banish the windigos away, and Pepper has finished their leader off. I hope that this time for good.'

A silence has ensued once again. Cosmos stood there with a lowered head. Twilight bore a sad expression on her face and Starlight was analyzing the information. Everything made sense for her now. Cosmos' confession has made her despise a stallion a bit less. "Maybe he is acting. If this is the case, then he's a good actor." she thought, looking at Cosmos. They stood there in silence for quite some time.

'So, what now?' finally asked Starlight, unable to bear the silence any longer. 'Let's go find Pepper and get her rid of that magic? Can you do it, Twilight.'

The princess has nodded, but then shook head.

'This is not my choice. Pepper was born with it. Faced tribulations with it. But it made it part of her. Part of her... self. Maybe she can learn to keep it in check? To use it for good? This way it will not be different from the magic we use. After all... Our magic can be used for evil too. I'll give her a choice. And I will follow through with it. Either way I will help her with her friendship problem as much as I can!' she smiled widely. Starlight has returned the smile.

Epilogue

Pepper was looking in the lecture hall's window frame. Though the repairs of the school were in full swing, some of the broken windows were still not fixed. A warm breeze has blown from outside, playing with Pepper's mane. Her ear has almost completely recovered, leaving only a thin scar. Her tail has grew back. Pepper was bored. Magic theory lectures became quite boring without an alicorn princess teaching them.
Professor Cosmos was standing behind the teacher's table once again. He was lecturing in monotone. He seemed distracted. Multiple times he approached Pepper in the corridors, asking baffling questions, like how did she feel or how well did she ate.

Pepper has threw a quick glance on an empty seat. Mettylight was still not there. Pepper preffered it this way.

It has been a week since Twilight left. A whole week and Pepper still didn't do a thing the princess has asked her to do! Pepper felt irritated with herself. A small dark spark has run her horn. Pepper has covered it with her hooves. Nopony seemed to notice. With each passing day

Pepper could control her magic better and better. The powers were arriving in her whim. Sometimes unexpectedly. But the troubling visualization aside, Pepper knew for a fact that it will never harm anypony. Not until she is the source of it.

Soon the bell has rung. Pepper has grabbed her new sketchbook, put her notes in the bag and hurried out. She soon saw Lemon Heart in the end of the corridor.

"It's now or never, Pepper." she thought. "Remember what princess Twilight taught you."

She has approached Lemon hurriedly, blushing furiously. The colt has turned around, noticing her. He flashed a smile.

'Hello, Pepper!'

'Ummm... R-remember you asked me to draw you once?' asked Pepper meekly.

'Why yes, not that long ago.' smiled Lemon.

'Ummm... Still... still up to it?'

'Of course!' Lemon seemed a bit surprised, but happy. 'When and where? Can you also tell me more about yourself? And how you defeated a windigo twice? It's so cool! You're so cool, Pepper!'

'Um... sure...' Pepper smiled.