The morning was chilly, but I didn't mind. I walked through the school's corridors with a smile I could barely contain.
My thoughts kept drifting back to Sunburst, this new acquaintance who had somehow worked his way into my daily routine.
Maybe he didn't have the most dazzling magical talent... his telekinesis was shaky, his control sometimes trembling. But his mind—his mind!—shone brighter than almost any I'd seen. His understanding of magical circles, his imagination when combining them, his excitement whenever he discussed theories...
It was like finding a reflection of my own curiosity.
At last, I had someone with whom I could debate ideas, come up with hypotheses, and dream out loud. Twilight had a similar spark for magic, of course—she was incredibly skilled in the topics she mastered. But her mind was so closed to anything that wasn't written in a book or scroll that it limited her creativity. Sometimes, she seemed to short-circuit when reality didn't match her reading. And her habit of ignoring others in favor of some dusty old scroll made talking to her uncomfortable... you never knew when she'd suddenly stop listening.
It wasn't that Sunburst was "better" or "perfect" compared to Twilight. There was no need to compare them. Each had strengths and weaknesses in different areas. But there was something about Sunburst that worried me.
It was no secret that he wasn't exactly popular. Older colts—especially Gleaming Crest and Silver Scepter—made sure he remembered it whenever they could. Silver, in particular, seemed to enjoy it a little too much.
I wanted to help him. I wanted to lend him my training cube. But Dad had been very clear: no lending the cube outside of home, except to Twilight and Lyra, and only if they stayed nearby.
I didn't want to get in trouble. Not again.
So, I came up with something else.
I took a gold coin out of my small bag—a commemorative coin from Canterlot that Mom had given me—and made it float in front of me, wrapped in a faint layer of magic.
When Sunburst walked down the hallway, eyes downcast and ears drooping, I waved to catch his attention.
"Sunburst!" I called, waving the coin in the air like a shiny lure. "Feel up for a little challenge?"
He looked at me, confused.
"A challenge?"
I nodded, smiling.
"I want you to try and take this coin away from me. With your magic," I explained, slowly spinning the coin to show the faint glow surrounding it. "You just have to snatch it away. Easy, right?"
Sunburst hesitated. I saw his uncertainty, the slight trembling in his legs. I knew he didn't want to fail again. I knew he was tired of failing.
I took a small step back, giving us some space.
"It's not a competition," I added quietly. "It's just practice. And I know you can do it."
That seemed to encourage him a bit. He tilted his head thoughtfully, then quickly shook his mane and fixed his gaze on the coin. He stayed silent until his horn lit up in a warm orange glow, like sunrise, and I felt his shy magic reaching out toward the coin.
I responded gently, holding the coin with my own telekinesis, not too strongly. When he pushed, I resisted. When he pulled, I countered.
It felt like a small tug-of-war. A game of finding openings and slipping through.
Sunburst clenched his teeth, his expression focused. His magic vibrated irregularly, slipping over mine. Every time he almost found a weak spot, I reinforced it slightly... and then left another small opening for him to discover.
I wanted him to work. To struggle. But I also wanted him to win. This wasn't a challenge to humiliate him; it was meant to lift him up, to restore the confidence he had somehow lost.
Long seconds passed, maybe even an entire minute, until finally, I felt a firmer, more confident pull. I smiled inwardly.
"Now!" I whispered without thinking.
Sunburst tightened his magic in one final effort, and the coin jumped into the air, freeing itself from my spell. He almost dropped it out of surprise, but managed to catch it between his hooves just in time.
He stared at it, stunned.
"You did it!" I laughed, stepping closer to give him a friendly little nudge on the shoulder. "See? It's not all brute force. It's about finding the rhythm."
Sunburst looked at me as if he couldn't believe it. Then he smiled—a shy, sincere smile brighter than any spell. A bit of that gloomy mist around him had disappeared. I didn't know what kind of life he led outside of school... but at least today, he seemed a bit better.
Before I could say anything else, the school bell rang. I retrieved my coin from his hoof—though he seemed reluctant to let it go—and waved goodbye.
"See you at recess!"
Sunburst just waved back, standing still, his horn still flickering slightly. I guess his mind was still caught up in what he'd just accomplished.
The school's decorations already announced Nightmare Night's arrival: pumpkin-shaped lanterns, dark-colored banners, and fake spiderwebs adorned the halls. The air smelled of caramel apples and dried leaves.
When I entered the classroom, Miss Maple was already waiting by her desk, a stack of parchment scrolls at her side.
"Alright, class," she said in her sweet yet firm voice, "this week will be special. Nightmare Night is just around the corner, and I want everyone to participate."
Some foals started whispering excitedly. Others, like Lyra, tapped their hooves impatiently.
"Your homework," Miss Maple continued, unfurling a scroll, "is to master one of these transformation spells. Each scroll contains a simple yet unique transformation, designed to make you look scary for the festival."
The scrolls began passing from hoof to hoof. Each of us took one randomly.
"Miss!" protested Lyra, lifting her open scroll. "It doesn't say what I'll transform into!"
I chuckled, watching her confused expression.
Miss Maple smiled mysteriously.
"That's the fun part of this activity," she winked. "You'll only find out what your transformation is once you successfully cast the spell. If you like another classmate's transformation, you can learn their spell too for Friday, at the official Nightmare Night celebration."
Murmurs grew around the classroom.
"Each spell is based on a three-point magic circle," she explained. "This means they're single-line spells, quick to learn—but requiring concentration and precision." She waved a scroll in the air for emphasis. "Your grade will depend on your effort and execution."
I looked at my own scroll.
The circle was filled with scribbles and symbols. It didn't reveal anything obvious. A simple transformation? Or something more dramatic?
I felt excitement bubble in my chest. I couldn't wait to find out.
Next to me, Twilight opened hers with a confident smile. Lyra, on the other hoof, frowned deeply, as if her scroll were about to attack her.
The class continued, though somewhat chaotically.
Miss Maple tried introducing us to basic runes and simple combinations—nothing overly complicated, just first-year circles—but it was clear that hardly anyone was truly paying attention.
Myself included.
No matter how much I tried to focus on the magical patterns and rules, my mind kept drifting to the scroll rolled up on my desk.
How could a single-line spell transform my body?
'Would it alter my bones, skin, voice? Would it hurt? I doubted it.' It wouldn't make sense to teach something dangerous to foals our age... right?
But doubt gnawed at me. What could upper-year students be learning if we, barely first-years, were already working on physical transformations?
From the corner of my eye, I saw Lyra staring at her scroll with a mix of anxiety and curiosity, though trying to hide it. She seemed just as perplexed by the spell as the rest of the class. Some classmates exchanged scrolls, trying to find a spell they felt more comfortable with, while others just stared at the symbols with uncertainty.
Miss Maple seemed fully aware of our unease but said nothing, maybe that was part of the lesson.
When the bell rang for recess, the classroom practically exploded in relieved sighs.
We hurried outside to the backyard, gathering near the old apple tree. Lyra and I were with Twilight, discussing scary transformations.
"What do you think we'll become?" Lyra asked, tapping her hooves thoughtfully. "I'm betting on a ghost! I could float through the air, pass through walls..."
"I want to be a batpony," I blurted without much thought. "It'd be amazing! Bat wings, a bit of mist, fangs. That would be terrifying!"
Twilight, always more logical, gave a practical answer.
"Batponies, zombies, ghosts, walking skeletons... they're simple transformations that just change appearance. Nothing dangerous. Though… of course, it might be trickier for someone without enough magical control."
Suddenly, a familiar figure approached: Sunburst.
Seeing us, his face lit up with a shy smile, and he quickened his pace.
"Hey!" he greeted, adjusting the glasses sliding down his muzzle. "How's everything going?"
"Discussing our Nightmare Night spells," Lyra said enthusiastically, waving her scroll around.
Sunburst smiled nervously, pulling out his own carefully rolled-up scroll and unfurling it before us.
Seeing it, I frowned. His spell wasn't single-line like ours—it was much more complex. Three interwoven rune-lines, far more advanced than ours.
"Wow," Lyra said, "that looks like a spell for third-years!"
Sunburst shrugged awkwardly.
"I guess my teacher thought I could handle it... though I'm not sure how it'll turn out."
"What does it do?" I asked, intrigued.
Sunburst smiled, proud now.
"It conjures scary creatures. I don't know exactly what yet. Maybe spiders, rats, bats... or something even stranger and creepier! I haven't managed to conjure it properly yet."
Lyra exaggeratedly jumped back.
"I hope they're not spiders!"
Twilight raised an eyebrow curiously.
"Can I copy your scroll later?" she immediately asked. "I want to study it!"
Sunburst chuckled, slightly embarrassed.
"Sure. But first I have to get it working without causing chaos in the yard. Although... that might be fun."
We laughed together, worries fading into excitement about our spells. At least for now, Nightmare Night seemed less scary—and more fascinating.
The rest of the day at school went by rather quickly. After promising Sunburst that we would exchange copies of our spells and share our addresses, I carefully stored the note with his address in my bag, making sure to later send it to Twilight and Lyra as well.
When the bell rang announcing the end of classes, the hallway filled with the cheerful and hurried chatter of my classmates. Everyone was talking about the transformation spell, speculating on what monstrous creatures would appear on Nightmare Night. I, on the other hoof, didn't rush out. I had other plans today.
Before heading to the library, I clearly remembered the last scolding from Mom when I arrived home late. With a slight shiver, I pulled out one of the magical communication scrolls my parents had given me for emergencies.
I held the scroll in front of me, focusing on the message I wanted to send:
"Mom, I'll be a little late today. I'm fine, I'm just going to spend some time in the library studying a new spell. Love you! – Wizbell."
When I finished the message, the scroll burned away in a small golden flame, turning into magical dust before me. Just moments later, almost instantly, a soft pink flame appeared in front of my eyes, dropping another scroll onto my hooves.
I carefully unrolled it:
"Alright, my little wizard. Don't stay out too late, and remember: no dangerous experiments on your own. – Mom."
I smiled in relief. Mom's message had a much more relaxed tone than I expected, a sign that she trusted me. I tucked the note away and headed for the library with determined steps, excited to learn more about the transformation spells we had just received.
The library, much quieter now that the initial excitement from the other foals had faded, welcomed me with the familiar scent of ink and old paper. I made my way straight to the advanced spells and transformation section.
My eyes scanned the book titles until two in particular caught my attention. The first looked quite old; it was a history text titled:
"Transformation Magic in the War Against the Griffin Kingdom."
Intrigued, I carefully opened the book. The pages, slightly yellowed with age, showed detailed drawings of ponies transformed into strange bipedal figures, similar to humans. I started reading attentively:
"...During Discord's final prank, ponies underwent a radical physical transformation, acquiring a bipedal structure and limbs capable of manipulating objects with ease. Although initially uncomfortable, over time ponies discovered that their martial abilities improved significantly in this form. What was first seen as a disadvantage imposed by Discord — the bipedal variant — would prove crucial centuries later during the Frontier War against the griffins..."
The following pages recounted battles, strategies, and how specialized magicians managed to temporarily transform earth ponies and pegasi into these humanoid bodies, granting them a tactical advantage.
I stopped at an illustration showing a dark alicorn proudly raising a sword toward the night sky. There was no name, but I clearly recognized the symbol of the moon. I stared at the image for a few more seconds before sighing. The book was starting to drift away from the topic I was truly interested in: magic.
I carefully returned the volume to its place and picked another book that looked more promising, this one specifically written from a magician's perspective, titled:
"The Magical Moldability of the Pony Body: Effects of Physical Transformations."
This book seemed just what I was looking for. I settled at a secluded table and eagerly began devouring its pages.
"...After the incident caused by Discord, it was demonstrated that the pony body, originally stable and difficult to alter, acquired a new property: magical moldability. Since then, ponies can undergo deep physical transformations without suffering permanent damage. This phenomenon is due to the innate magical essence within each pony, which acts like a kind of cellular memory, preserving information about each individual's natural form. After a certain period, or when the applied magic fades, the body automatically returns to its original state..."
I leaned back slightly in my seat, marveling at the discovery. So that was what made spells like the ones we had been given safe for young foals. Our own magic acted as a shield against permanent harm.
I took notes on my personal scroll, highlighting key concepts for the assignment:
Magical moldability: the pony body's ability to undergo physical transformations without damage.
Magical body memory: the natural form is preserved within the pony's magical essence.
Safe transformations: the body will naturally return to normal once the applied magic fades.
I kept reading attentively, discovering practical examples, recommendations for stabilizing transformations, and even safety warnings for beginners.
By the time I finished, quite a bit of time had passed, and the sun was beginning to set slowly on the horizon.
I stored my notes away with satisfaction, fully aware that I now had a much deeper understanding of the magic I was studying. But before leaving, I remembered something important. I pulled another communication scroll from my bag and quickly scribbled a brief note to Sunburst:
"Sunburst, here's a copy of my scroll as promised. I'm looking forward to seeing your scary creatures spell! — Wizbell."
I stored the letter away; once I got home, I would use the magic flame to send the letter to Sunburst. For now, I had to hurry and get back.
I left the library with light steps, feeling like I had taken a big step forward. Not just in my understanding of magic, but in the bonds I could offer to my friends.
As I walked home, the fresh evening air filled my lungs. The promise of discovering what I would turn into on Nightmare Night pulsed warmly in my chest, along with the excitement of seeing what Sunburst would achieve with his more complex magic.