|
|
Post by crystallance on Oct 8, 2011 17:12:22 GMT -5
It was a typical day out in the dorms. Classes were over, the afternoon courtyard was crowded, and the students of Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns had either been resting the day away, studying for the next, or partying as if there had been no tomorrow. But none of the ponies, not even the school's Head Marestriss, would have ever foreseen such an unexpected arrival.
"Now allow me to remind you again: I have several other arrangements and I do NOT have all the time in Equestria! I need to know everything about your top students! Skills, specializations, even their psychological conditions!" Crystal Lance asserted, accompanied by the Head Marestriss. They had been trotting hastily down the dormitory's main hallway, several young students and faculty eyeing them with looks of disbelief.
"Y-ye-yes, Crystal Lance! Right away!" the Marestriss fumbled from her mouth nervously. From then on, she seemed to ramble on endlessly over the various stats of the students at the academy. From the Marestriss' word, several young colts and fillies from Moonstone Shimmer to Granite Shell certainly appeared to be special in their own various ways. Still, there was no doubt that these young unicorns would have to live up far beyond the hype to meet Crystal's expectations.
Very soon, the two mares had reached the main entrance to the courtyard. With a strong telekinetic push, Crystal Lance opened the twin doors before her. Every inch of the courtyard immediately grew silent, save for a few gasps. The unicorn students could not help but stand speechless.
"Tell me: Is there anypony in this room willing to do something worthwhile with their life? Well then, I suggest you listen up! Princess Luna needs something and so do I!" Crystal shouted firmly to the countless amount of students, her posture uptight and unmovable as the mountain her city stood upon. "I need recruits that can prove to me they're worthwhile. I want you all to show me what you've got! Spells, enchantments, illusions, whatever! Convince me that you wouldn't be a total waste of time down in Equestria's Forces HQ!"
|
|
|
|
Post by apporta on Oct 8, 2011 17:55:04 GMT -5
Apporta was walking through the campus when she heard some pony shouting. The voice sounded... familiar, but Apporta couldn't put her hoof on why. walking into the courtyard she then saw her, Crystal Lance. Immediately she remembered the concert and how rudly that pony treated her. She heard the unicorn talk about needing recruits for Princess Luna. Why would Luna need recruits? Was there something happening in Equestria?
Then Apporta heard Crystal Lance issue forth a challenge to anypony who was there to prove themselves worthy of their training. Apporta knew that if she wanted to have another chance of having Crystal Lance as a mentor she had to do something astounding.
Apporta then teleported from the back of the courtyard to the middle of the courtyard."Hello Headmarestress. And hello again Crystal Lance." With that Apporta suddenly teleported again, this time halfway between the center of the courtyard and the doors of the building. "Some time ago, Crystal Lance, you called me a little foal for wanting you to mentor me. I have not forgotten that day." Then Apporta teleported to just a few feet away away from where the Headmaretriss and Crystal Lance stood. "Now I am here to show you how serious I am about having you mentor me so I can be the best at my magical ability, and that I can use my ability to help other ponies. the Headmarestriss can attest to how hard I study and practice my abilities, and how I am always there to lend a hoof to other students. All I am asking now is for a chance."
With that Apporta stood motionless, waiting for a reply from Crystal Lance.
|
|
|
|
Post by starshade on Oct 9, 2011 15:18:16 GMT -5
StarShade was deep into researching the weaknesses of the hydra, levitating a huge book before him as he sat alone at a secluded corner of the courtyard, when he heard the other students around him suddenly fell silent, with some even starting to gasp for a reason. Curious, the black unicorn closed his book and levatated it into his saddlebag before starting to canter closer to the rest of the students to find out what was taking place. It was then that he heard a voice which echoed with firmness and seriousness say-
StarShade's eyes went huge as he gazed at the owner of the voice. It was Crystal Lance! Every unicorn's idol in the magical arts and Equestria's most famous battle magic user! It wasn't long ago when he had seen her at Starsong's concert, but he was prevented from meeting her by the security personnel guarding around the stage. Perhaps the great and powerful Crystal Lance never even saw him there. But now she's here, right there before his own eyes, asking students to come forward to display their greatest abilities. Now was a chance he cannot let slip by. StarShade must get to her now. He can't lose his chance again like he did at the concert. This time, nopony, and he means nopony will stop him from meeting his idol.
Suddenly, another young unicorn began teleporting all over the place, as if showing off her magical prowess before Crystal Lance and thus trying to prove herself worthy of being mentored by the great battle magic master. One student had already presented herself, and it has to be his turn now.
StarShade's horn began to glow, a grey-coloured aura enveloping it as he used his magic to make his way through the masses of students - by pushing them aside. Like a big, ghostly and unearthly hand, the grey magical aura from the black unicorn's horn began shoving the other students aside and creating a path for him to walk through. The other students were at first shocked and upset at being pushed around by somepony, but that quickly turned to a slight fear as they watched StarShade pass them by, like a very ominous black shadow silently gliding across the courtyard and heading towards Crystal Lance. When there were no more students in his way the magical aura of grey dissipated from StarShade's horn as he then swiftly yet cautiously walks up to Crystal Lance, stopping right beside Apporta.
"My name is StarShade," he announced in a low yet firm voice, his eyes looking straight into Crystal Lance's own in a determined gaze, "and I would be honored to be your apprentice and help assist you in accomplishing Princess Luna's mission."
He then stood in a very rigid and straight pose, like any gentlecolt would, trying to look as serious as his ability allows him to be.
|
|
|
|
Post by crystallance on Oct 14, 2011 0:27:53 GMT -5
“Impressive…” Crystal muttered to herself, genuinely intrigued by the magical ability of the filly teleporting throughout the courtyard… though her use of the words “hello again” left her confused. Despite the filly’s claims to have met her, Crystal simply could not recall the young unicorn’s identity. That was until Apporta teleported right in the space before her at least. Immediately, Crystal began to remember events at the concert, along with the filly she then considered to have been a petty annoyance. She chuckled in the irony. Well… There’s no way… Who knew the brat held so much potential?
Crystal still could not completely believe that this was the same pony from that past night… though the revelation had certainly left her impressed. She began to focus on the unicorn alone, eyeing Apporta with her smug grin. Suddenly, a large black shadow appeared from within the crowd. Apporta’s teleportation certainly caught her attention, but this strange aura of darkness simply stole it! She immediately turned her head from Apporta as she locked her sights upon the unicorn colt from which the gray aura came.
She wasted no time making her first judgments upon the young colt introducing himself as “StarShade”. His abilities certainly appeared to hold potential and versatility among Equestria’s Forces… but it was the colt’s behavior that truly interested Crystal. The way he pushed his fellow students away to make his path, in particular caught her attention. The colt certainly appeared to hold an assertive attitude, though she knew the quality could prove to be both good and bad.
Either way, Crystal now had two promising young unicorns standing before her. The talent she had seen here certainly brought her into a good mood. Though for both their sake and Equestria’s, she would not allow her emotions to make things easy for them. Talent alone never made an expert mage.
“Well… Isn’t this the chance of a lifetime? Finally meeting your idolized Crystal Lance… famed master of magic and commander of Equestria’s mages… You two must be absolutely ecstatic…” Crystal remarked towards the two unicorns, her tongue littered with sarcasm. “But really? Luna wants mages for her ARMY and the best this school can give me is two unicorns who specialize in running away? A conjurer of portals and a manipulator of shadows? Just why do you two deserve to be placed in the magic division? I’d like a good answer and I’d like one quick.”
Though she saw great potential in the two, her words would not suggest it. Crystal Lance knew she would never create great mages by simply spoiling them with meaningless complements of approval. She had no choice but to leave Apporta and StarShade to their own four hooves. Hopefully, they would not disappoint her.
|
|
|
|
Post by apporta on Oct 18, 2011 14:12:39 GMT -5
Same sarcasm as before Apporta thought. Yet this time she was not going to crumble into a crying mess of a pony. "First of all, Crystal Lance, I'm not here to idolize you. I'm here to learn from you. If are not willing to mentor me, I will find somepony else who can. Secondly, my ability is not for running away. It is for the element of surprise which, although I'm not in the military, I know is invaluable. I'm here so I can be the best that I can be, the most powerful I can be, and being able to use my talents the best way I can in helping other ponies. I'm here to learn from the best, and I not stop until I achieve my goal.
|
|
|
|
Post by starshade on Oct 18, 2011 15:54:21 GMT -5
Ecstatic? Of course StarShade is ecstatic! He's standing right before his idol this very moment. If it weren't for his will of upholding his aristocratic training of manners by his high society parents since young the black colt would've been bouncing all over the place by now. That, and the fact that Crystal Lance had just given him and Apporta a rather deep question. StarShade lowered his head a bit as the gears within his mind began spinning, trying to conjure up an extremely good answer to combat the Master Mage's question. And after giving a good ammount of thought, Starshade gave his answer.
"Milady, I stand before you now not because I need to advance my knowledge and wisdom, though that is also a wise action to take, but because I want to be able to offer my contribution to society through my abilities."
The black unicorn than turned his eyes away from Crystal Lance and began to blush.
"And... although I do not like to brag, I have spent a massive amount of time studying magic, isoteries and crytozoology, and making myself ready for such a moment. I have been training my magic since young."
There is truth to what StarShade says. Even as a very young colt, while the other foals play and socialize he was busy praticing his magic. The fact that the other foals were afraid of him because of how he looked gave him less reason to socialize and more reason to spend his time dveloping his abilities.
|
|
|
|
Post by crystallance on Oct 19, 2011 20:17:01 GMT -5
“Oh, forget it…” Crystal couldn’t help but mutter to herself. She wasn’t sure if the two younger unicorns could overhear her, but frankly she did not care. She couldn’t deny that they both gave generally legitimate responses. And yet still, deep down… Crystal wanted a little something more. She wanted them to go above and beyond. She hoped to see them display true military traits before her eyes. What she craved were her upmost ideals.
Acceptable enough I guess… This will just have to do…
Looking down upon the two unicorns, Crystal let out one final scoff. Though the situation still brought a mild irritation upon her, she knew she would simply have to deal with it. With the cast of her magic spell, two neatly worded documents appeared from out of thin air. Both were signed at the bottom with an elegant signature from Crystal Lance herself. She released them from her magical grip, offering the papers to Apporta and StarShade.
“These papers hold proof that you are now handpicked recruits of the Equestria’s Forces military. Placed within the magic division, you will be stationed here in Canterlot where you will both have the privilege of being personally trained by me,” Crystal began to speak, straight-faced and cold. Her tone of voice had been totally devoid of passion; her stance completely sturdy and unbreakable. She appeared both disciplined and militant, just as a unicorn like her should. “You will each spend a minimum of four years serving under our military. Within that time, prepare to be trained intensely in the ways of combat magic. Especially prepare for possible deployment into battle. If either of you actually manage to survive those four years, you will be granted a full scholarship towards completing your education in magic here at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. A worthwhile goal to look forward to, I assume?”
“Though your papers show that you’ve both been handpicked by me, you will still need to formally enlist down at Equestria’s Forces HQ here in Canterlot. In the meantime, I suggest you take the upcoming days to pack your belongings and tell your goodbyes to your loved ones.” Somewhat hastily, she began to turn her body away from the two younger unicorns. Clearly, there was more Crystal had left to do here at the dormitories. “I will look forward to seeing you both in basic training but for now, you must excuse me. I have business to attend with the other potential recruits.”
And with that, Crystal Lance was off. She began to speak with the other students, judging the magical prowess of the gifted unicorns at some points and scolding others on the imperfections of their technique at others. A pony could take just one look to her face and tell that she was busy. Crystal had work to do and she could no longer be disturbed.
((OOC: This will be Crystal's second-to-last post in this thread. Her final post will resolve and put an end this thread's events. Just a warning.))
|
|
|
|
Post by apporta on Oct 20, 2011 9:27:09 GMT -5
Apporta gave a faint smile of satisfaction that finally she would be able to be trained to her fullest potential. It was a sobering time though as she did have to leave Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns and her classmates behind, something that she knew very well. Yet nothing could be gained without the possibility of giving something up, and nothing was permanent. She knew, hopefully she would return here one day and to her classmates, but now she had to prepare. "Thank you, Crystal. I look forward to training with you. Now I must get my affairs in order," Apporta said and with that teleported away from the courtyard.
|
|
|
|
Post by starshade on Oct 20, 2011 14:29:33 GMT -5
Using his own unicorn magic, StarShade hastily caught the documents as they floated down from Crystal Lance's magical grip. The young black unicorn held the paper before his own face and began reading it with awe, looking at Crystal Lance's signature with admiration, his eyes growing larger than saucers.
"I could not express my gratitude in words, milady," he said to the Master Mage as he used his magic to roll the document before putting it into his saddlebag, "I promise you, I shall do my best and make you as well as all of Canterlot proud."
It was unsure weither or not Crystal Lance had heard what StarShade had just said before the Millitary Magic Master stormed off to fulfill her other duties throughout The Magical School of Gifted Unicorns. But it didn't matter for now. What truly matters at that very moment was that StarShade's dreams were finally coming closer, and that he had to prepare himself for the coming days after. His thoughts were greatly focused unto his parents' reactions, however. They would not like it. But hay, this isn't a time to worry, it's time to be excited! The black colt was already about to do the famous Buck Dance before his gentleman's instinct succeeded in reminding him to act appropriately.
He heard a sound and saw bright light beside him and noticed that the other unicorn student had already gone, teleported elsewhere.
Apporta, was it, he thought, well, it might be good to have a talented unicorn like her as a fellow student. Though I am quite surprised that we were the only two unicorns who came forward...
|
|
|
|
Post by crystallance on Oct 20, 2011 16:55:16 GMT -5
It was evening by the time the clamor of the campus finally seemed to calm down. As Celestia’s sun began to fade off into the horizon, Crystal could be seen trotting toward the campus’ main gate, relieved of all her duties within the school. She had recruited two promising unicorns, along with a large number of faithful unicorns aspiring to serve their country through their magic. As she said before, Crystal’s day had not yet been over. She had a number of other tasks to complete all across the mountainside city. And yet still, as she began to observe Luna’s moon slowly making its rise, Crystal could not help but feel the most pleasant feeling of satisfaction.
“I’m just glad to make you proud Princess…” Crystal muttered to herself, as if Luna could hear her. She pushed the gate forward with her magic, slowly beginning to fade off into the distance of the city.
|
|
