Twilight gulps anxiously as the imposing gates of the pace come into view. Though she would be attending Celestia's School of Magic, she was supposed to check in at the pace first. Although she had been there previously—And indeed, though she had grown quite familiar with the sight over the course of her life so far—it was still an intimidating sight.

  Thankfully, her brother is there with her, and far more comfortable entering the pace. Nodding his head to each of the guards at the entrance, Shining Armor smiles and shows off his insignia. The pegasus on duty only gnces at the insignia as a formality before stepping aside. "Hey, Shining. Heard you caught the princesses eye the other day. And for better reasons than me and Hooves, ha."

  Shining Armor shakes his head. "Just because Twilight here wanted to see me. Got called up right in the middle of practice. Um, not that there's anything wrong with that!" Shining Armor hastily adds the st part as he gnces down at Twilight in arm, noticing the purple unicorn filly shrinking back between his legs in embarrassment.

  "Ah, right, your kid sister here's Celestia's new student, isn't she?" The guard looks down at Twilight in interest, making the filly withdraw even further back. "Well, go on in. Wouldn't want to keep the princess waiting." He motions back with his head, leaving the way open for Twilight and Shining Armor to enter the pace proper.

  "If I'm not mistaken, Celestia should be raising the sun about now." Shining Armor states. "Which means... It should be this way." His hoof points the way, as he leads Twilight onward. He technically doesn't have to report in for a while longer; He'd gotten here early to make sure Twilight could find her way. Well, partially for that reason, partially because she was so anxious that he thought the sooner she got here the sooner she could rex.

  Twilight recognizes the path the two of them take, through the rge semi-circur hallway which leads around the private section of the pace, past Celestia's office to the spiral stair leading up Celestia's tower. Putting on his stoic guard face, Shining Armor dutifully escorts his sister up the stairs before practically bumping into Celestia on the second floor nding.

  Shining Armor snaps to attention, saluting the princess hastily. "Princess. I was just bringing Twilight for her lessons." Shining Armor expins, bowing his head.

  "At ease, Shining Armor." The familiar melodious voice of Princess Celestia calls out, before turning their attention to Twilight. "Perfect timing, my new student. We were just on our way to breakfast. Would you care to join us?" Celestia's eyes flick back, drawing Twilight's attention to the filly behind the princess. Rainbow Dash has prominent dark circles under her eyes, but whatever tiredness she might have had from being woken up so early seems to be counterbanced by an undercurrent of excitement for her first csses.

  The same could be said for Twilight, who bobs her head up and down like a raft in turbulent waters. "Uh, yes! Yes, of course! Princess!" Twilight hastily replies.

  Her brother chuckles and pats Twilight on the back. "Well, it seems like you're in good hooves. I'd better go and check in with my CO." Shining Armor briefly hugs Twilight and bows to Celestia before trotting back down the stairs. As distracted as she is, Twilight barely even notices him leaving, following Celestia back into the cozy room where she had met Rainbow Dash for the first time not long ago.

  Twilight and Rainbow Dash are left twiddling their hooves while Celestia goes about making breakfast. Even though she'd seen it the previous time she was here, Twilight still finds it hard to grasp that her breakfast is being made by the princess, personally.

  "So, Twilight." Rainbow Dash speaks up, triggering Twilight to wince. Oh great, she want's to talk. Does she think we're here to socialize? But despite Twilight's silent pleas, Rainbow Dash seems intent on continuing her line of thought. "What're you here to learn? The princess promised me that I'd learn a lot of survival skills, flying tricks, fighting moves... Stuff like that. But you don't look like you'd be interested in all that."

  Twilight blinks at her in confusion. "Flying..? Survival...? I mean, that all sounds interesting and all." Twilight wonders if she should point out her distinct ck of the wings required to engage in flight. Like that would have squashed her innate curiosity, anyways. "But I'm here to study magic. And books. And anything else I can." Despite her typical disdain for social interaction, Twilight finds her speech increasing in speed and excitement at the opportunity to talk about her studies. "Recently, I was studying the foundations of Equestria and-"

  "Woah, there, I was just asking. I get it, 100% certified egghead over here." Rainbow Dash cuts Twilight off flippantly, leaning back in her chair. "Guess that makes sense, you don't look like you'd be much good in a fight."

  You were the one who asked... Twilight gives Rainbow Dash an irritated gre. "Hey! My brothers a royal guard, you know, I could learn how to fight..." Twilight responds, pawing at the ground self consciously and frowning. Why was this musclehead taken in as Celestia's student anyways?

  Rainbow Dash gives the unicorn an interested look and seems about to respond, but before she can, the pairs teacher returns with three ptes of pancakes.

  The two fillies both stare at the food, dumbfounded. It was far less 'sophisticated' than one might expect from a princess, but a grin quickly finds its way across Rainbow Dash's face. This feels like the kind of thing she'd have eaten at home, and somehow it gives her a cozy and warm feeling inside. The expression does not go unnoticed by Celestia, who giggles lightly. "I'm gd to see I can still bring a smile to a filly's face. I trust the accommodations at the pace have been to your liking?"

  Rainbow Dash hesitates before shrugging. "It's too ornate for my tastes." She admits bluntly, prompting an aghast look from Twilight. Did this pony have any tact? Much to Twilight's horror, the pegasus keeps going. "And the stone tile hurts to walk around on. Its way harder than the cloud floors back home."

  Celestia nods understandingly. "I imagine so. How have you been healing, incidentally? I trust you've been keeping off your hooves as much as possible?"

  Rainbow Dash scoffs. "Well, I can always just use my wings. So yeah, I haven't been on my hooves too much. Doc had me check in yesterday, and he said I'm healing well." Not that I put much effort into staying off my hooves... Wasn't sitting around in that hospital bed bad enough?

  A genuine smile breaks across Celestia's face as they levitate up a first bite of pancake to they mouth. Taking a bite in the characteristically effortlessly graceful way they did anything, Celestia nods. "I see, that is good to hear. Are you both looking forward to your first lessons?" Celestia cocks their head to the side.

  Both of the fillies nod their heads eagerly; At least this is something the two can agree on, even if their idea of what those lessons might be is radically different. "What are we gonna do first, Princess?" Rainbow Dash asks, hopping up into a standing position and waggling her body side to side like she was getting ready to leap. "You said you were gonna teach me flying tricks, right? Ooh! Or maybe some fighting tips?"

  Twilight furrows her brow, looking ruefully over at Rainbow Dash. "I feel I should point out some of us don't have wings. We should really start with something more practical. Like... Calculus!" Twilight suggests, equally as eagerly as Rainbow Dash.

  "Please, my little ponies, there is no need for conflict. You will both have your chances to learn what it is you seek." Celestia chides. "But for today, I thought it would be best to get a handle on what you are both capable of. Though you have both already proven yourselves tremendously talented, I have yet to see much of what you can do under less strenuous circumstances."

  At this, a flicker of doubt crosses Rainbow Dash's face, a slight recoil from Celestia's words. The change goes unnoticed by Twilight, but Celestia picks up on it right away. "Do not worry Rainbow Dash, I am aware you are not yet at full strength again. I would not ask you to strain yourself, I simply wish to have a chance to see your techniques in motion."

  Rainbow Dash puffs out her chest indignantly, swallowing her nervousness. "H-ha, who said anything about being worried? I could beat anypony in a race hooves down, even now!" She sputters with bravado so painfully obvious even Twilight notices it, triggering Celestia to roll their eyes in response.

  "Be that as it may, I must request that you take it easy, Rainbow Dash." Celestia responds lightly. "I would not see you injured again, and I do not believe it is necessary for you to exert yourself overtly for me to get an idea of your techniques and form. We can always test the limits of your endurance ter."

  Rainbow Dash looks relieved, but keeps the face of false confidence up, waving Celestia off. "I mean, I guess I can take it easy. Wouldn't wanna embarrass my teachers by out-flying them on the first day, after all." Twilight winces at the obnoxious brashness of the pegasus, while Celestia merely giggles lightly in amusement.

  After the three of them had finished breakfast, Celestia takes the two students outside to a ptform behind the pace. Twilight looks around in some wonder; She'd never been to this part of Canterlot before, being as it was only accessible by a narrow path leading past the pace. The final mountainside ptform here behind the pace seems to serve as some kind of garden or wildlife refuge, as while there is still some traditional Canterlot architecture and the ndscape still seems carefully cultivated for artistic purposes, it is overall mostly covered in flora that more resembles the mountain slopes below than the grass, flowers, and pnted trees that line the main causeways of Canterlot proper.

  "Twilight, why don't you go first?" Celestia asks cordially. "I had some chance to see Rainbow Dash perform at Cloudsdale, but I only caught sight of you performing magic while under the effects of the Rainboom. I should dearly like to witness your talents at work under more idyllic circumstances." Celestia ys down onto their stomach, looking awfully rexed as they stretch out their wings under the sun. "Feel free to show me whatever you are most proud of."

  Twilight blinks, surprised to be called up first, but nods her head. "I- Of course, Princess." Twilight bows her head and struts up into the clear space in the middle of the grove.

  Rainbow Dash groans and rolls over onto her back. "Really? You're gonna let her go first? Why do I even need to be here for this?" The filly grumbles, pawing at the ground with a hoof. "Can I just go back to sleep and have you wake me up when she's done?"

  Celestia frowns, transfixing Rainbow Dash in a disapproving, though not overtly hostile, gaze. "Rainbow Dash, show some respect and pay attention. You may learn something as well."

  Rainbow Dash stares bnkly up at Celestia. "...Eh? Exactly how would I learn anything? She's a unicorn, I'm a pegasus." As if to demonstrate this point, Rainbow Dash fres out her wings beneath her. "I don't exactly think I'm gonna be learning any new flying tricks from her, if you catch my drift."

  Twilight bristles at the insult to not only her magic but the princesses teaching style, and opens her mouth to retort with something appropriately vitriolic. But before she can say anything, Celestia replies in a much less antagonistic manner than Twilight might have found appropriate. "You would be surprised how much you can learn from studying how other ponies perform their unique talents, my young pegasus." Celestia states in a reserved and level tone. "Even pegasus and unicorn magic have much in common. And should you ever find yourself locked in battle with a unicorn, it would serve you well to have an understanding of their capabilities."

  Rainbow Dash grumbles, but reluctantly flops back over onto her front. "Alright, fine." She puffs out one cheek while watching Twilight.

  What a stuck-up brat. Twilight thinks to herself indignantly. Why would the princess bring somepony like that here? At any rate, now Twilight has double the motivation to perform well here; Both to impress Celestia, and to put the snotty pegasus in her pce. But what can she do without the help of the rainboom that would impress all present?

  Twilight takes a deep breath. It is a bit of a long shot, and she isn't entirely certain if she can do it, but... "I'll need a little help for this demonstration." Twilight announces after a moment. Celestia raises a brow, while Rainbow Dash scoffs.

  "Seriously? You can't even do magic on your own?" Rainbow Dash asks derisively.

  Setting her jaw stoically, Twilight shakes her head. "I can do it just fine on my own, thank you very much! I just need somepony to help show its effects." Giving a sly smile, Twilight looks over at Rainbow Dash and beckons her with a jerk of her neck. "Here, why don't you help me? All I need is for somepony to try and attack me."

  Rainbow Dash gives Twilight a skeptical look, then looks up at Celestia uncertainly. Celestia equally looks unsure, and leans over to whisper something in Rainbow Dash's ear. Apparently, the answer she gets is enough permission for her, because the pegasus takes off into the air. "Alright, tell me when you're ready." Rainbow Dash actually sounds somewhat interested now. Probably just because she's actually involved now. Twilight thinks dismissively. Keenly aware of Celestia's and Rainbow Dash's gaze on her, she settles into a wide stance and squeezes her eyes shut, focusing her magic out through her horn.

  Sparks of magic bze out into the air as Twilight feels her horn conducting the reservoir of magic held deep down inside of her. But it needs more focus than she is able to provide it just by will alone, at least, at her current skill level. She would need to time the chant appropriately, as she would not be able to keep the spell up for long. "Alright, Rainbow, I'm ready!" Twilight announces, her eyes flickering open again as she looks up at the pegasus before her. Under her breathe, Twilight breathes out the words of a simple spell, giving shape and focus to the magic she wields. "Light within me, protect me without!"

  Just as Rainbow Dash dives down at her, swooping with one wing at her, a spherical barrier of magical light flickers into existence around Twilight, shimmering as it pulses with energy just as Rainbow Dash's wing contacts it. The barrier fades just as quickly as it appeared, but Rainbow Dash had already been repulsed, hissing as a smidge of magical energy stings the leading edge of her wing where it had impacted the shield.

  "Ouch! So maybe you can fight, huh? Where'd you learn how to do that?" Rainbow Dash asks, suitably impressed. ...That's impressive, right? Or is that something any unicorn can do? Rainbow doesn't actually know, gncing between Twilight and Celestia to try and ascertain what her reaction should be. Based on Celestia's expression, she guesses she should be at least a bit impressed..? But maybe not too much. But... Alright, that was too much thinking for her, that spell was pretty awesome as far as she is concerned!

  Twilight looks taken aback by the enthused response. "Uh, my brother taught me that spell! Shield spells are his specialty." She finds herself expining. What gives? She was completely checked out just a moment ago.

  "Why did you tense up so much when casting it? Does it take physical effort, or were you just flinching in case I hit you?" Rainbow Dash asks, strutting around Twilight with a curious gaze.

  Twilight shifts, suddenly self conscious. "Um, the former. Casting spells is tiring work." Twilight's brain quickly begins scanning its memory banks to remember the reasons, continuing on with a quick addendum of "It's because a ponies magic is tied to their physical form, so exhausting one exhausts the other in turn."

  Rainbow Dash looks surprisingly interested given the previous attitude the pegasus had shown. "Huh. I guess your unicorn magic does have something in common with pegasi after all." Rainbow Dash remarks, almost approvingly.

  Celestia chuckles. "I believe I said as much, Rainbow. I think you will find that you and Twilight stand to learn much from each other, as well as from me."

  "Pfft, yeah, whatever. Let's not get carried away, now." Rainbow Dash replies. "So, what else can ya do?" She asks Twilight, turning her attention back to the unicorn.

  Twilight blinks a little, uncertainly. The mood seems to have shifted so rapidly and she doesn't entirely understand why or how. "Um?" Is all she says at first, but after a moment of thought, she nods her head and stands back up. She is still showing off her talents to Rainbow and Celestia after all, so a little more diverse dispy seemed warranted. "Sure. Yeah, I can do that."

  What follows is a routine dispy of the breadth and depth of Twilight's magical talents under Celestia's watchful eye. Levitation, beam spells, magical sparks, even a transfiguration spell. When all is said and done, Twilight is panting exhausted in front of the two watching ponies, legs wobbling under the strain. Forcing a nervous smile out, Twilight tries to control her breathing. "So... How did I... Do?" Twilight pants out.

  Celestia cps her hooves together in a show of appuse, offering a sunny smile to Twilight. "Most excellently, my young pupil. And to think, at your age most unicorns can only manage basic levitation. There are some fws to be worked on for sure, but you can rest easy knowing that you are quite the talented little filly. Now..." Celestia's gaze shifts from Twilight to Rainbow Dash. "I believe it is your turn to showcase what you can do?"

  Rainbow Dash grins and fps her wings, bolting up into the air. "Aw, yeah! It's about time! Now stand back and watch something truly awesome!" Twilight groans and rolls her eyes in response, but quickly turns back to attention. Unlike Rainbow Dash, it takes absolutely no chiding to get Twilight to pay attention; Annoying or not, a chance to study the flight motions of a skilled Pegasus's flight routine is an enticing opportunity.

  Happy to have a captive audience, Rainbow Dash takes off. The princess isn't expecting you to perform at full strength, so you don't have to do the rainboom. Just show off your agility and techniques, that should be enough. Rainbow Dash tells herself, clenching her jaw as she flies almost straight up before falling over backwards to enter into a spinning corkscrew.

  Twilight clenches up in fear seeing the pegasus getting so close to the ground, only to have Rainbow pull up at the st moment.

  Hearing the gasp of concern from the bystander on the ground only emboldens Rainbow Dash more, who ughs and grins broadly as she commits to a daring race through the canopy of the trees. Gncing back to see the reactions from the two ponies watching, Rainbow self-confidently mentally pats herself on the back. There, every bit as impressive if not more than that unicorn. Rainbow Dash returns her attention to her flight path...

  Just in time to see, but not dodge, an oncoming tree branch. Though the pegasus filly desperately tries to swerve to avoid it, all she manages to do is impact the branch with her belly instead of her face, the high-speed impact knocking the air clean from her lungs, as her insides do all kinds of motions they probably aren't supposed to. The pegasus can't even cry out in surprise, shock, or pain, or even do much of anything; Instead, she simply falls like a brick, all her forward momentum gone just like that, wings stretched out at awkward angles. She almost nds directly on her wings, likely risking far more serious damage than the impact had caused as she plummets out of the air towards a mean-looking boulder directly underneath her, but is caught just in time by Celestia's telekinesis.

  "Rainbow Dash! Are you ok?" Even in her currently dazed and wounded state, Rainbow Dash registers a slight feeling of surprise to hear the sound of genuine worry in Twilight's voice.

  "Stay still and don't move, I'm going to make sure there's no serious damage." Celestia's voice is calm, measured, authoritative. Even so, there is a definite undercurrent of worry beneath it, held in check to act quickly and professionally. Rainbow Dash finds herself levitated down into a gentle hold within Celestia's wings. A golden glow quickly passes over Rainbow Dash, as Celestia's magic sweeps through her to scan for injuries. Rainbow Dash tries to reply through the thudding pain in her ribs, but she still can't seem to infte her lungs, this awful feeling of suction holding them shut inside her chest.

  An utterly bizarre sensation fills her lungs as she feels her diaphragm gripped by Celestia's magic, rexing it by force and causing her to involuntarily suck in a huge gulp of air. A groan escapes her lips as she breathes in and out, each breath painful. But at least it's better than that feeling of suffocating suction from before. Blearily, Rainbow Dash looks up, blurrily making out the worried visage of Celestia, highlighted against the sun behind them, wings gently cradling Rainbow Dash's form. "How do you feel? Can you speak? If it hurts too much, then shake your head." Celestia instructs, clearly enunciating each word while Twilight stands nearby, looking at the pegasus filly anxiously.

  "I'm... Ha... Fine. Takes more than that to... Keep me down!" Rainbow Dash weakly smiles up at the monarch, cringing internally. Far worse than the bruising and pain in her chest is the injury to her pride.

  Celestia breathes a sigh of relief, and much to Rainbow Dash's surprise, wraps their hooves around the pegasus filly in a hug. Rainbow Dash blinks up at the sky in surprise. "Thank goodness..." Celestia releases Rainbow Dash, and sets the filly gently onto the ground. "You don't seem to have broken any ribs. You're a very lucky pegasus." Celestia stands up to their full height, towering over Rainbow Dash, and frowns with a more stern expression. "Everypony knows you're a talented flier already, Rainbow Dash. You would not be here if you were not. You must focus less on showboating and more on safety and technique."

  Rainbow Dash snorts, averting her gaze. "p-pfft, yeah right, it was just a fluke..." She mumbles, cringing. Stupid, stupid!

  Rainbow Dash's blustering is immediately put to an end when transfixed in Celestia's cold, steely gaze. "Your safety will always take the highest priority to me, Rainbow Dash. If I cannot trust that you will fly safely, then I am afraid I can't in good conscience allow you to perform at all. If you are to be my student, I must know that you take this seriously. Today a mistake might cost you only a bruised ego, but if you make an error when attempting more advanced maneuvers, you may well cost yourself or somepony else their life. Am I understood?" The warmth in Celestia's voice had utterly disappeared, leaving only a cold and authoritative tone that reminds all present they were speaking to the reigning monarch of all Equestria. Rainbow Dash shivers, and gulps nervously.

  "Y-yes, Princess. I-I'm sorry, it won't happen again." Rainbow Dash stammers out meekly, bowing her head. Celestia's gaze softens in response, and their wing lightly curls around the pegasus's frame.

  "Good. I understand your drive to prove yourself, but I know from personal experience that such drive can lead to terrible consequences. You must learn to temper your ambition with caution and think carefully about your actions." Celestia advises, their tone steadily returning to its more usual melodious nature. "Your recklessness has affected your flight style, as well. I've noticed that you keep your wings in an anhedral position even when flying in a straight line. Such a position reduces your stability, which does allow for faster maneuvers, but is only an unnecessary danger when flying normally. You should train yourself to keep your wings spread evenly at all times that you aren't trying to perform a rapid turn."

  Rainbow Dash blinks up at the princess. "Um, an-heed-whatnow?"

  "Anhedral! it means that you had your wings at a downward angle from your body!" Twilight pipes up.

  Celestia smiles in response. "Very good, Twilight." The princess spreads their wings out, showcasing the different angles they could be held at. "If you are trying to glide as fast as possible in a straight line, around this position is the most effective." Celestia instructs, holding their wings angled slightly forwards and upwards. "An ideal bance between low drag, and stability. Now..." Celestia's attention turns to Twilight. "I believe it is time I provide you with instruction, as well. Your grasp of the fundamentals of spellcasting is formidable, but you seem to have too much focus only on the academic aspects of spellcraft. You must work on your form, your stance. Allow me to demonstrate..."