Title:           Ascension Chapter 1
Author:          Anonymous
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/6VHT7wkQ
First Edit:      Thursday 6th of June 2013 08:00:50 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Thursday 6th of June 2013 08:00:50 PM CDT

It was absolutely freezing outside.
 
There was nothing anyone could do to stop the cold. As far as Celestia was aware, the Pegasi were not doing anything to lessen the rabid snowstorm. They did little else than sit up in their clouds and demand a longer duration of the sun from the elite unicorns. The white-coated unicorn quickly trotted across the courtyard as her little sister trailed behind. It should have been lush and blooming, but was icy and frozen over instead. Luna seemed tired and irritated, more so than usual. She’d been bullied just earlier today and was still upset over it. It was not unusual; they often received odd looks from those they passed by.
 
It was not often two young unicorns bearing no cutie marks were allowed to step foot in Starswirl’s Academy for Gifted Unicorns.
 
Starswirl knew that they were not exactly welcomed, so he allowed them to come in-between the hours of his regular classes for personal lessons. For reasons unbeknownst to Celestia, he seemed incredibly interested in their natural abilities of levitation and quick understanding of magical concepts.
 
Why they still had not received their cutie marks already was beyond Celestia. Levitation or perhaps telekinesis was obviously their special talent – why hadn't their cutie marks appeared?
 
At long last they reached the back entrance to Starswirl’s secluded study. The snow had now climbed up to their ankles and Celestia shivered. Without thinking or even knocking, Luna barged into Starswirl’s study - Celestia resisted the urge to chastise and followed her.
 
“You have arrived,” Starswirl addressed them blankly without moving his eyes from his scroll. It had always unnerved Celestia for his gift of being completely in-tune with the environment.
 
Celestia’s eyes shifted to see what he was so preoccupied on. He was ferociously scribbling down words with a quill, and seemed terribly busy. This obviously was not a good time for her and her sister to come pestering, so she quickly tried to stumble out of the door.
 
“Where are you going, my dear?” His eyes were still fixed on the scroll, “Have a seat, for I have an assignment for both of you.”
 
Luna, still quite little for a filly her age, shifted her face up to her sister’s and scowled. In response, Celestia sat down and patted her leg for Luna to join her. She refused with a huff and stood defiantly to Starswirl’s face. He did not seem to notice. This was definitely going to be a difficult session.
 
“Starswirl, we’ve been bullied again!” Luna began to whine.
 
“We still don’t have a cutie mark and yet you try to teach us teleka… telekan,” She began to hopelessly stumble over her words and looked to Celestia for help.
 
“Telekinesis,” She said an eye-roll.
 
“I’m well aware of your peers’ adversity to your education,” Starswirl said, “But their resistance should not tear your efforts down. You will still continue your studies, yes?”
 
Luna seemed to go silent after that. Celestia wondered if Starswirl had more than just plain unicorn magic – anyone that could defuse an oncoming temper-tantrum from her sister was far beyond the white unicorn’s expectations.
 
“You mentioned an assignment, sir?” Celestia asked Starswirl, who was now back to scribbling on his scroll again.
 
“Oh, yes, yes of course!” Starswirl said with surprise.
 
He turned around from his desk to address the sisters directly. His coat was grey and coarse, with a long beard that seemed to trail to the ground. His robe was a deep blue with stars dotting it – elegant, majestic, and wise. The bells that jangled with every unsteady step were to symbolize his prowess in magic. Celestia dreamed of a day when she might be able to wear a cloak of such respect. No one would think her or her sister as useless ever again.
 
Only ponies with cutie marks would even be considered for such an honor, though. The idea of someone respecting her seemed quite obsolete.
 
“Oh, give me a moment Celestia, my poor old self can’t keep anything in order,” He mumbled as he levitated pile after pile of paper before tossing them to the side.
 
His personal study, unlike his actual academy, was small, unclean, and disorderly. The deep brown bookshelves were stuffed with books, ink pots, scrolls, and detailed letters for Princess Platinum. Starswirl’s brightest student, Clover the Clever, was often keeping her Highness informed on any new breakthroughs to stop the atrocious snowstorm from starving the unicorns.
 
Nothing had seemed to work yet.
 
“Aha! I have found you at last,” Starswirl said to a small scroll before tossing it towards Celestia’s face.
She took it and kept it directly in front of her before attempting to read. It seemed smudged, as if it was unorganized and hastily written. Her eyes screwed together to try and decipher it.
 
“What does it say sis, what does it say?” Luna demanded, attempting to stretch her neck to get a better view of the scroll. In response, Celestia moved it further away with a smirk. Luna grumbled back at her.
 
Celestia cleared her throat and began to read.
 
You, STARSWIRL THE BEARDED, are cordially invited to witness Her Royal Highness Princess Platinum, His Lordship Commander Hurricane, and His Bountiful Chancellor Puddinghead to discuss peaceful negotiations involving the snowstorm that recently has been endangering all of ponykind. If you are not able to attend, please return this letter to your nearest Ambassador so another may be selected in advance. Thank you for your courteous and swift response.
 
“Uh, sir?” Celestia said warily as she glanced up to Starswirl, who again was busying himself with writing on a scroll.
 
“Yes, my student?” He asked in response.
 
“What does this have to do with me or my sister?” Celestia asked, still confused at her teacher’s current intentions. She shared a glance to Luna, who had returned to her pouting.
 
“Hmm? Oh yes, my mistake!” Starswirl chuckled at himself before he began to look for something else on his desk. After locating it, he coughed quite a bit - Celestia winced.
 
“Oh uh, It seems you must be there by, well, tomorrow.” The unicorn said with a nod before returning to his work.
 
“Excuse me, sir?” Celestia’s eyes widened before turning down to see her sister’s reaction. She seemed just as confused.
 
“Me and Clover are busy with other affairs, you see,” Starswirl began to ramble, “She believes this will be successful, I think it will be a total flop. Anyway, we need someone to be there for us.”
 
“Excuse me sir, but why would you send a reject student to a super-important meeting!?” Celestia exclaimed with exasperation.
 
“Nonsense,” Starswirl chided before gaining a cheeky grin, “I’m sending two.”