Rules of Magic

[Deleted]

[September 5-Open to any student who wants to learn some magic]

It had taken Star Swirl a few extra days after classes had officially started to have his class prepared. Due to the nature of his class, he had taken extra measures to ensure the room itself could not be destroyed by an errant spell. Once that was complete, he announced that his class ready to begin. Not that he really expected too many students to attend. He had always been a rather demanding instructor, and he wasn't keen on changing his ways any time soon.

The bearded unicorn stood behind his desk, eyes fixed upon the ancient book before him. It, like him, was older than Equestria itself. One of the first books he had ever written, in fact. On each desk was a sheaf of parchment, and an inkwell, complete with quill. Nothing newfangled for him or his students. A brief glance up at the clock on the back wall of the classroom revealed his students had better hurry if they didn't want to be late.

[Kevin Price]

"You. Are. Kidding."

Gaffer stood, almost dropping his bookbag from his back as he gasped towards the male. Starswirl the freaking Bearded was standing in front of him. THE unicorn of unicorns when it came to magic was teaching his class. He grinned. The nerdy unicorn's ears perked as he trotted towards the desk. "Starswirl the Bearded?! Hi! My name's Gaffer! I've cosplayed as you before at Ponycon! I didn't get the hat right but I didn't have enough bells in my sewing kit."

He grinned, foot pushing back as he lowered his head in a bow. "I can't believe YOU'RE going to teach us magic!"

[Twilight Sparkle]

'Advanced Magic'. When Twilight saw that as one of the possible classes to take, she'd signed up in a heartbeat. What perplexed her was the name she had seen under the teacher section. Star Swirl. The chances of him being the same Star Swirl she had read about so long ago were slim, weren't they? Celestia would have told her if the stallion was still around to teach, she was sure of it. But... Questioning it didn't seem entirely wise. Twilight decided to go in and see what was expected of her in the class.

The lavender unicorn stepped into the classroom and, sure enough, there was an elderly unicorn at the desk at the front of the room. Twilight tried to contain her awe as best she could as she strode forward, but it was a challenge. If that really was Star Swirl the Bearded, she would be learning from someone who was essentially a legend. Celestia would surely be thrilled to read about that in a letter! Twilight wanted to make sure, though.

"Hello, sir," Twilight greeted. She bowed her head politely in greeting and brought one of her books out of her saddlebag with her magic so she could set it on the nearest desk.

"I'm Twilight Sparkle, and... This is Advanced Magic, yes?" she asked.

[Deleted]

Star Swirl the Bearded glanced up from beneath bushy eyebrows at the young colt staring at him, trotting forward with an almost star-struck look on his face. As the colt spoke, the elderly sorcerer just stared back without expression. The words 'cosplay' and 'Ponycon' meant nothing to him, but he got the gist of what the young unicorn was talking about. The female unicorn who entered shortly afterwards was at least able to contain herself, except for the look in her eyes.

"While the phrase 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery' has the ring of truth about it, flattery won't earn you any favors from me, Gaffer," he said, keeping his voice calm and even. "However, I do appreciate your enthusiasm. I hope you can turn that enthusiasm to your studies."

He turned his gaze towards the young mare, Twilight Sparkle. When he had last seen Celestia, the princess had mentioned her apprentice, claiming she had a lot of potential. Well, that remained to be seen. "Yes, Twilight Sparkle. This is Advanced Magic. And yes, I am the same Star Swirl the Bearded who taught Clover the Clever."

With a sudden flash of magic, the heavy book on his desk closed with a thump. "Now, both of you may be seated, and we'll get started."

[Trixie]

Trixie was one of the students who thought this magic class was one of the ones that she did not need. However, that slowly changed the moment her purple eyes fell on the unicorn who had outshined her. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Twilight Sparkle. I wasn't expecting you here." The unicorn snorted. "I would have thought you stayed in Ponyville, I guess this is a better chance for me to show you that i am better than you could ever be." her eyes narrowed as she walked to a desk far away from Twilight.
---
Young pink haired boy entered the room, his fairy tail guild mark flashing on his shoulder. "This is advanced magic right?" he asked, was he in the right class. So far there were only unicorns in the class. Maybe there was another class, one that didn't have ponies in it. He already stuck out like a sore-thumb with his pink hair but now in a class filled with ponies. He would have to write to Lucy to tell her about this.

[Twilight Sparkle]

A look of sheer awe danced on Twilight's face when Star Swirl confirmed who he was. She was going to be taught by a unicorn who was essentially a legend! The very same who taught Clover the Clever! The purple mare could hardly wait to write home so she could tell her friends and the Princesses all about this much. Her excitement diminished some when Star Swirl closed his book and instructed her and Gaffer to take their seats. Twilight nodded, her look flashing back to eagerness, and as she took her seat she glanced back to Gaffer. The pair of them were going to learn from a unicorn who practically could have written the book on magic. If that wasn't exciting, she didn't know what was.

"Can you believe it? We're actually going to-"

Twilight found herself cut off by a familiar voice, and immediately her ears pressed back against her head in sheer disdain. Trixie. She glanced back to see the blue unicorn and allowed a huff of a breath to pass through her nostrils. What was Trixie doing there? Hadn't she essentially been laughed out of Ponyville ages ago? She allowed Trixie to finish speaking, but she didn't look at all pleased about it.

"I'm not here to show you up, Trixie. I'm here to learn and improve my magic. There's nothing wrong with that," Twilight said. She had to do everything within her power not to get terribly irritated, though her expression probably betrayed that much.

[Kevin Price]

Gaffer grinned sheepishly, moving towards his desk, ears folded back. He was just excited. Learning magic from Starswirl the bearded was going to be epic. He moved back before mimicking Twilight. He placed his books on the desk before sitting in his chair, grinning from ear to ear, placing his hooves between his books. He was about to answer when the door slammed open and a blue unicorn that Twilight seemed to know. He blinked a few times as they spoke.

"So...rude?" Gaffer said with a roll of his eyes, "Uh hey, Trixie is it? You're in the company of the most amazing magician to ever grace Equestria and the subject of any an RPG game. Have some respect!"

[Deleted]

Star Swirl frowned in irritation as Trixie spoke. Rivalries had no place in his classroom. If they wanted to settle any arguments with a magic duel, then that was all well and good, as long as they didn't do it here. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked between Trixie and Twilight.

"The only pony you need to concern yourself with proving your skills to is me. There's no place for any arguing or petty squabbling in my classroom. Fail to measure up to my standards, and you can find another class to take," he said sternly, gaze sweeping across Gaffer and the pink-haired biped as he spoke. "Yes, this is advanced magic. Now, if we're quite ready, we'll begin."

He walked out from behind his desk, and stood in front of the classroom before suddenly pointing his hoof at Gaffer. "You. What are your skills? What magics have you mastered?"

[Kevin Price]

Thrown into the spotlight, Gaffer's ears perked as a slight tinge of red appeared on his cheeks. He grinned sheepishly, looking nervous before swallowing. "Um...skills...right." He swallowed again. A slight glance at his cutie mark was given before confidence filled his chest. The cutie mark might have had nerdy uses mostly but he was still good with what it represented.

"Probability & numbers," he said with a nod, "I'm good with both. That's why I'm the best dungeon master in Canterlot. I'm good with cards, dice, everything. Um but basic spells too, y'know..."

He tilted his head to the side, peering forward. He wondered what this master of magic would see his cutie mark.

[Deleted]

Star Swirl's gaze didn't waver as Gaffer spoke, and for a moment, he simply gazed back at the young unicorn from beneath his bushy eyebrows. Then he nodded slightly, quietly satisfied. Skill with determining probability and numbers indicated a keen intellect. But...

"Just basic spells? Nothing more? Well, that won't last long if I have anything to say about it," he said, turning away from the young stallion, noting as he turned the shape of the unicorn's cutie mark, pausing for a moment. An eight-sided die? Hmm. His eyes narrowed for a split second, then he whirled and pointed his hoof at Trixie.

"You, what skills do you possess?" he asked, gaze fixed upon the blue mare with all the weight of his centuries of age behind them. He had seen plenty of self-important ponies in his lifetime, and had been far beyond any of them in terms of both power and skill. But he also recognized ambition when he saw it. Ambition, and a desire to prove oneself.

[Trixie]

"The Great and Powerful Trixie knows most magic skills." she said, proudly. "She was known as the most magical pony in all of Equestria. At least of my age." she admitted. She can make objects float, obey her command and appear out of thin air." The blue mare was very proud of her skills but the unicorn was only hoping to learn more.

---
Natsu looked around. He was seriously the only human in the class. There had to be a mistake. Why was he taking a class with horses?! Just when his luck couldn't get worse, the blue unicorn started talking in third person. She had a bigger ego than Lucy!

[Deleted]

One of Star Swirl's eyebrows rose as Trixie boasted about her skills, as if levitation, telekinesis, and conjuration were amazing feats of magic. And as for the titles 'Great' and 'Powerful', he'd wager his beard she had given them to herself.

"Most magical pony in Equestria, are you? So, how many spells have you created? How many books of magical knowledge have you written? What enduring legacy can you claim?" he asked, eyes boring into the blue mare's as he spoke. He let his words hang in the air for a moment, then shook his head slowly. "As I thought. None. I don't want to hear you refer to yourself as either 'Great' or 'Powerful' in my classroom again. Not until I say you've earned that right."

He turned to face the entire class, cape swirling and bells jingling as he spun. "The sooner you all realize you are nowhere near my equal, the sooner you will begin to learn. In over a millennium, nopony has ever managed to turn back the hands of time itself like I have. Heed my instructions, and you will be creating your own spells before the year ends."

He paused for another brief moment, then pointed his hoof at Twilight. "You. What are your skills?"

[Twilight Sparkle]

Twilight had to suppress the urge to roll her eyes at Trixie's bragging about her abilities. It was just like in Ponyville, but much less flashy and more wordy. She should have known better than to expect humbleness from Trixie of all ponies. Then, Star Swirl spoke up again. He told Trixie never to call herself 'great' or 'powerful' in his presence again. Twilight would have counted it as a small victory, but it wasn't her chance to shine. She just decided to let Star Swirl say all that needed to be said and focus instead on what she was going to say when her name was finally called.

Finally, her chance came. Star Swirl pointed his hoof her way and asked the same question that had been asked of Gaffer and Trixie. Twilight opened her mouth for a moment, prepared to answer, but then stopped herself and glanced at her cutie mark that was partially hidden beneath her uniform. She was practically the embodiment of the Element of Magic, after all. How could she tell her teacher that without sounding as though she were bragging about it. A sheepish look formed on her face for a moment as she tried to figure out how to grapple with the question. She didn't exactly want to brag in front of Star Swirl, for she'd most likely be reprimanded for it. On the other hand, staying silent for too long might not have been favorable either. So, Twilight decided to do the best she could to answer.

"Well, sir, I... I wouldn't call myself the most skilled unicorn. Princess Celestia has taken me under her wing, it's true, but I believe I still have far to go before I truly get a firm grasp on magic in general. My skills, at least for now, include levitation, teleportation, protective shields... Though, I suppose my big brother can make those shields better than I can. Ah... What else..."

Twilight was fumbling a bit as she tried to remember her spells. Speaking in front of Star Swirl, especially after Trixie had done so, was more than a little nerve wracking. But she'd still try.

"I know a sort of fail-safe spell, can replicate my friend's gem finding spell, a 'want it, need it' spell... Princess Celestia says I have a lot of potential, but... I doubt I'm anywhere near your level yet, sir. Even if I am the holder of the Element of Magic, I don't claim to be a master of my element. I've had my fair share of spells backfire on me. I only wish to learn what you have to teach me. ...If you'll have me, that is."

[Deleted]

Star Swirl's eyebrows had started to furrow as he began to grow impatient, but Twilight spoke up before he could say anything. From the sounds of things, she was more accomplished than Trixie and Gaffer, but he would have expected better from a student of Celestia's. But then, Celestia had never taken magical studies as seriously as he did. His eyebrows did furrow a bit when she mentioned the 'Want it-Need It' spell. What had Celestia been thinking, letting her personal student learn that spell.

"I'll make my own judgements on your potential. And, no, you're not anywhere my level. Not yet," he said. "But, I must warn you, all of you, backfiring spells will count against you. More so than outright failure." He paused a moment, and looked closely at Twilight. "And why wouldn't I have you?"

Without waiting for an answer, he whirled and pointed his hoof at Natsu. "And you. What are your skills?"

[Natsu]

Natsu looked up, glad to be acknowleged by the teacher. "Fire." he replied simply. "I can manipulate it, breathe it, control it. Anything." he replied, snapping his fingers allowing the flames engulf his hand. "I have never tried any other magic, everyone in my guild has their own skills. Fire magic is just the only magic I know. So, if i am not good with other magic...." he shrugged his shoulders, as if the idea of not knowing any other magic bothered him. "I am really trying to learn how to control it better." He was pretty sure that if anyone else had asked about that, he would have smacked him. He knew that he needed the help controlling it, the other fairy tail members would always say that he was going to need to control it.

But if that unicorn with the ego complex said anything about it, he would make sure that she would regret it. Maybe burn her mane or that hat of hers.