Chapter 4

An Unwelcome Visitor

Filthy Rich was so desperate to get away from the owls, he moved his family to a cottage on a far off island. The cottage had broken windows, dirty floors, and limited food. It was a nightmare for the Riches to live like poor ponies. Spoiled Rich begged her husband to consider moving them back to their old home, but he refused to listen.

That night, everypony fell asleep except Twilight, who had to sleep on the hard, cold floor. Twilight still thought it was better than sleeping in her old room. Knowing that she wouldn't go to sleep anytime soon, Twilight took a glance at the clock. Only 15 minutes before her birthday. She was sure that nopony would care because her family always forgot her birthday.

Twilight always wondered what it would be like to have a family that cared for her. The mare's thoughts were interrupted by the chimes of the clock. She was officially eleven years old. The chimes came to an end and silence filled the room. The silence was suddenly broken when a loud pounding sound erupted from the front door startling everypony awake.

Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich crept down the stairs in fear. Filthy Rich aimed a rifle at the door hoping the pounding would stop. "Who's there?" he asked fearfully. The loud knocking was so strong, it knocked the door off of it's hinges. The stranger was revealed to be a red stallion with a bright orange mane with the cutie mark of a big green apple. He stepped into the cottage causing it to shake every footstep he took.

"Sorry about that." the stranger apologized in a deep voice. He picked up the broken door and put it back in it's spot. "Sir, I demand that you leave at once! You are breaking and entering!" Filthy Rich demanded with the rifle shaking in his hooves. The big red pony took a few steps towards the business pony and glared at him. "Calm down, Filthy, you rich snob!" the stranger shouted. The stallion took the rifle in his hooves and bent the end upward, causing it to fire towards the ceiling.

Filthy Rich took a few steps back from the stallion now that he was unarmed. The red pony turned towards Twilight and smiled. "I haven't seen you since you were a foal, Twilight. It's been so long!" he said. He reached into his saddle bag and took out a cake that had 'Happy Birthday Twilight Sparkle' written in frosting. "By the way, Happy Birthday, Twilight." he said handing her the cake.

Normally, Twilight wouldn't accept gifts from strangers, but he was the only pony who remembered her birthday. "Thank you!" Twilight said politely, accepting the cake. The stranger took a seat near a fireplace with an umbrella in his hooves. He pointed the umbrella at the fireplace and the wood caught on fire on it's own, surprising the family. "Excuse me, but who are you?" Twilight asked the stallion. "I'm Big Mac, the groundskeeper of Canterlot School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." the stallion introduced. "Sorry, but I never heard of Canterlot." Twilight explained.

Big Mac was shocked that Twilight never heard of Canterlot. "Seriously? Have you ever wondered where your parents learned magic?" he asked. "You are a witch, Twilight." Big Mac revealed. At first, Twilight thought Big Mac was joking. Her uncle always told her that magic doesn't exists. "I'm sorry, but you are wrong." Twilight said. "I can't be a witch. I'm just Twilight." the unicorn explained.

Big Mac let out a deep chuckle. "Well, 'just Twilight' were you able to do anything unusual when you were angry or scared?" Twilight took a moment to think about his words. She did think it was unusual when the glass at the zoo disappeared. Big Mac searched through his saddle bag again and he pulled out a letter this time. It was the same letter that Twilight wanted to read for the past few weeks.

"I believe this letter will explain everything." Big Mac said handing Twilight the letter. Twilight tore open the envelope of the letter. It read, 'Dear Miss Twilight Sparkle, it is with great pleasure to inform you that you have been accepted to Canterlot School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We are looking forward to having you enrolled.

Sincerely, Professor Cadence.'

As Twilight finished reading, Filthy Rich spoke up. "You are not going there! The day we took you in, we swore to put an end to this madness!" Twilight glared at her rich uncle in rage. "You mean you knew about this and you never told me!" Twilight shouted, angry that her family lied to her for the past ten years. "Of course we knew." Spoiled Rich spoke up. "My sister, Twilight Velvet was born with magical abilities." she explained. "She only got herself murdered because of her so-called special abilities." Spoiled Rich said with a smirk.

The purple mare couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her mother was a witch too? "But you told me my parents died in a chariot crash!" Upon hearing this, Big Mac stood up and glared at the Riches. "A chariot crash killed Night Light and Twilight Velvet? It's a lie!" he shouted. "Twilight deserves to know the truth. She will learn magic from the best sorceress in Equestria, Professor Celestia."

Filthy Rich didn't like the idea of Twilight learning magic like her parents. "We are not sending her to a school where some freakish unicorn can teach her magic tricks!" he objected. In one swift motion, Big Mac took out his umbrella and aimed it at the business pony. "Don't you ever insult Professor Celestia in front of me again!" Big Mac threatened.

He looked behind Filthy Rich and saw Diamond Tiara eating Twilight's birthday cake. Losing his temper, Big Mac aimed his umbrella at Diamond Tiara. He fired a beam of light at Twilight's cousin transforming her pink tail into a rat tail.

The Riches screamed frantically at Diamond Tiara's new tail and took her out of the living room hoping to fix it. "Oops! Lost my temper for a sec!" Big Mac said apologetically. "I would appreciate it if you don't tell anypony about this." Big Mac told Twilight. "Nopony should use magic outside of Canterlot." Twilight nodded showing that she understands.

"Well, I guess it's time we leave and get you ready for your first year at Canterlot." Big Mac said as he stared at the clock. He made his way to the door and knocked it down for the second time. "Unless you want to stay here." the stallion offered. Twilight thought anything would be better than living with the Riches for another second. She made her decision and followed Big Mac into the night.