THE TEACHER, THE SORCERESS, AND THE WONDERBOLT

Chapter 15: Brothers and Foalsitters

Cheerilee awoke in the ponypile before Trixie or Spitfire as was usual. She stumbled to the bathroom to tend to her morning ablutions, and refreshed, went downstairs to the kitchen to start breakfast. As she approached however, she heard familiar voices and laughter.

“He really pulled the 'kelp monster' trick on the foals? He hasn't done that since I was eight!” The dulcet tones of Twilight's laughter filled the room, causing a smile to spread on Cheerilee's face. She entered the room to see Twilight talking to Cadance and a handsome stallion with a white coat and blue mane and tail. Twilight noticed her entrance and waved her over. “Morning, Cheerilee! This is my brother, Shining Armor. Shining Armor, this is the teacher friend I was telling you about in my letters.”

Cheerilee sketched a small curtsey. “Good morning, Your Highness. Congratulations on your wedding.”

The stallion nodded back. “Good morning. I apologize if we woke you, Miss Cheerilee.”

The maroon mare shook her head. “Neigh, I'm always awake at this hour. One has to get an early start in order to be a teacher.” She looked over to Cadance to find the alicorn staring at her.

She wasn't wearing a malicious expression, but the intensity of her stare was unnerving to say the least. It was like the Princess was staring straight into her soul. Slowly, a smile spread to her face, a smile which went on to become a full-fledged grin. Twilight was oblivious to this as she was enjoying a long pull from her mug of coffee, but her brother saw and took note.

He had seen that look on his wife many times in the past, but what it had to do with Twi- Oh. OH! Ooooh... Oh Celestia, not again... He groaned internally and facehoofed. How does she do it? Everywhere she goes! Well, at least this time it's only one-

His internal thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of a blue unicorn mare he did not recognize. He saw his wife's gaze land on the newcomer, and if anything, her grin became even more shark-like. The intensity of the grin was redoubled by the entrance of a third mare, this time a golden pegasus. Dear, sweet Celestia, it's just like high school all over again! I thought her cutie mark was for magic, not reeling in the fillies! What, is she made of candy?

Twilight tried not to choke on her coffee in her haste to put it down and introduce her guests. “Shining Armor, You already know Captain Spitfire,” Indeed, the stallion did know her. She was the mare that his little sister had been mooning over for the past five or so years. In fact, she still had a giant poster of her hanging in her bedroom at their parent's house. A poster he had once caught her kissing. Twilight's voice broke through his thoughts with, “and this is Trixie. Ladies, this is my brother, Shining Armor.”

“Trixie is most pleased to make the acquaintance of Twilight's brother,” the azure mare said with a flourishing bow. “She hopes that we can become good friends, seeing as how we're likely to see a lot of one another.” Trixie's speech patterns seemed to have thrown him for a loop, leaving Shining Armor speechless.

Spitfire chose to salute instead, creating an automatic response in Shining Armor to return the salute. “A pleasure to see you again, Sir. I had no idea that you were Twilight's brother.”

It took him a few seconds to find his voice again. “Likewise. I never told anypony about my connection with Twily because she doesn't like being treated differently because of who she knows or is related to.”

“Shining, that grammar was atrocious,” Twilight said with a roll of her eyes.

He grinned at her in return. “If I didn't have such 'atrocious grammar' you wouldn't have anything to complain about.”

Twilight gave him a wicked grin of her own. “Oh, I think I could find something. I just try not to be too hard on my BBBFF.”

“Um...” began Cheerilee in confusion.

Cadance took pity on them and said, “It means Big Brother Best Friend Forever.”

“Ooohhh...” 's chorused from the three mares as they filled empty seats at the table.

Twilight stood and went over to the stove. “You girls want some breakfast? Cadance made her 'killer cream of wheat' for us.” She stirred the pot as her telekinesis brought down three more bowls. “She says her secret ingredient is love,” she finished with a laugh.

Unseen by anypony else but Shining Armor, Cadance's horn briefly lit up in a dim glow which was matched by a glow from the pot. He gently kicked her under the table and gave her a warning glare. Cadance only gave another shark-like grin in return.

Twilight put the bowls down in front of the mares who eyed it distrustfully. They looked up at Twilight again to find her watching them with a beatific smile, her head resting on her hooves. Hesitantly, Cheerilee was the first to try it, putting the spoon in her mouth as if to get it over with quickly. Her eyes widened in surprise. “Mmm! This is very good!” she said and started gobbling it down with all due haste.

Trixie, who had been poking at it with her spoon looked at the teacher dubiously then took the tiniest nibble possible from her spoon. Without missing a beat, she didn't even bother with the spoon anymore, and lifted the bowl to her mouth telekinetically, drinking the gruel from it directly.

Spitfire tried a bite as well before planting her face directly into the bowl, licking it up as if it were ambrosia.

Twilight just grinned at them making fools of themselves, as she remembered her first time with this particular dish. Finally, when not a speck of food remained anywhere in sight, the three mares sat back in their chairs and gave contented sighs. “Didn't I tell you it was 'killer'?” Twilight asked. “That's her word for it, by the way, though I have to agree. Too much of something that tasty can't be good for you,” she joked.

“Trixie sees... how it... got it's name...” the blue unicorn managed to get out in between licking her lips.

Cheerilee rubbed her bulging belly with satisfaction. “I agree. I've made cream of wheat before, but it never came out like that. What did you put in it?”

Cadance held up a hoof as if being sworn in. “Twilight already told you. The secret ingredient is love.”

Spitfire cracked open an eye to see the alicorn looking a bit too innocent for her liking. She of course knew about the Princess's special talent, and throwing in the fact that she's an alicorn cast everything in a new, very suspicious light. She then shifted her surreptitious gaze over to her Shining Armor who was obviously trying hard not to glare at his wife.

Cheerilee wobbled forward in her seat to struggle to a standing position. “Well, I better get going. Lots to do before the foals arrive at school.” She looked over at Cadance and Shining Armor. “It was a pleasure meeting you, and thank you for breakfast. It was delicious.”

Twilight rocketed up from her seat, slamming her hooves down on the table. “Omigosh! I almost forgot that I have a class today!” She looked over to her newest guests. “Are you two staying long enough to come to my class?” The unicorn actually let out a fillyish squeal of delight. “I can't believe how awesome that sounds! 'My class!' I think I'll have a class photo made.” She regarded at them once again. “So are you?”

“Of course we will, Twily. We wouldn't miss this for the world,” Shining Armor reassured her.

Cadance nodded in agreement. “That's right, Ladybug. Wild humans couldn't keep us away.”

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

Shining Armor watched his wife with no small amount of vexation. The situation was bad enough here as it was without her interference, but now... He could plainly see the three mares were smitten with his sister. They practically broadcast it every time they looked at her, talked to her, or (Celestia forbid this actually happened) smelled her. When Twilight was in the room, the world seemed to melt away for them. When she spoke, she held their undivided attention. Once when she had walked past them, he could swear he saw them sniff the air.

And now, walking behind Twilight, Trixie and Spitfire, he could see that Twilight's friends weren't watching where they were going. Oh, no. Their peepers were positively planted on a particular purple pony posterior. Did I just think that? Oh dear Celestia, just a few hours around her and I'm falling into our old habits again. Of their old word games, Alliterative Round Robin was the one at which he was best. It was also the only one he could win at with her. A wistful smile found it's way to his face as he thought about the games they used to play before he went away to join the guard.

A wolfish smile Cadance threw at him brought him out of his memories. Clearly, she was enjoying herself. She had told him when she came home last night that the Princesses had mentioned to her that “their” Twilight had several suitors so she had immediately dropped what she was doing and went to see her favorite foalsitting charge. The rumors proved to be true, but she wasn't too sure just how strongly they felt for her favorite filly- Argh! I'm doing it again! He shook his head to clear it and glared once again at Cadance who just gave him a peck on the cheek. This mollified him a little. I suppose I can trust her to not screw up Twily's love life any more than it already is, he groused to himself.

As they approached the tiny schoolhouse, a swam of fillies and colts ran screaming out of the building, happy to escape their academic imprisonment for another weekend. They parted around the adults like a river flowing around a rock in the middle of a stream, and were gone with only a settling dust cloud and their yells echoing off the buildings as a sign they were even there. After that, the schoolhouse itself seemed quiet, only a low murmur of high-pitched voices to break the silence.

The group stepped into the only classroom, and the low susurration quickly turned into a chorus of “Good afternoon, Miss Twilight”s to which said pony beamed a smile at the gathered foals. The rest of the adults gathered at the back of the classroom, Trixie and Spitfire making sure to run their hooves across their lips in a zipping motion, signaling to Cadance and Shining Armor to remain silent for the lesson.

“Good afternoon, class.” Twilight looked among the class again, nodding with satisfaction. “I can see you've all been practicing at home. Very good. Keep this up, and you'll pass this class with flying colors.” She looked over at Cheerilee, who gave a silent nod in return.

She opened the bottom drawer of the desk and levitated out sixteen identical black balls. Placing two on each desk occupied by a filly or colt, she said, “Today, we're going to practice levitating two balls of differing weights at the same height.” She turned around to the chalkboard and began writing on it. “And then, we're going to learn the theory behind telekinetic shields, and if we finish quickly enough today, begin practicing actually making one.” She turned around to face the class again with a grin, happy to see the expected glee on their faces.

The levitation practice went quickly as expected, leaving all the foals pumped and ready to learn how to consciously erect a force field. Most had done it subconsciously at one time or another, but never had they made one on purpose before, and they were eager to get this down before the coming winter. Oh yes, when the snowballs started flying, they would be ready this year!

The theory lesson sucked out some of their enthusiasm as was to be expected, but they were left with ten minutes at the end of class, just enough time to give one go at the practical part of the lesson. The desks were all pushed up against the walls, leaving a clearing in the middle of the room. In pairs, the foals came forward and did their level best to make a wall of force in front of themselves. Most only managed for a second or two, but two students stood out, those being Dinky Doo, and surprisingly, Snails. Both managed to put up a force field for a full fifteen seconds before collapsing on the floor in exhaustion.

They were swarmed by their classmates, all congratulating them on their achievement. “Well done, both of you!” Twilight floated over two gold stars, affixing one to each of their chests. Both foals looked proud enough to burst.

They threw their arms around the mare. “You're the best magic teacher ever, Miss Twilight!” Snails shouted.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class. “Alright class, that's all for today. Remember to practice what you've learned today, but only with adult supervision.” She patted Snails and Dinky on the heads until they let go and ran off into the afternoon sun. Twilight smiled as she watched them go, but squealed happily when a large, blue hoof mussed her mane.

“I'm impressed, Twily.” Shining Armor told her. “You were really holding their attention there.”

Cadance came up behind her and nuzzled her cheek. “I think I even learned something about magic shields there. I never thought to resonate them at a frequency counter to the attack in order to reduce the kinetic impact.”

Twilight blushed and gave an embarrassed shrug. “It came to me a few weeks ago at a party Pinkie held. She had the music turned up too loud, so I put up a magic wall that resonated at the opposite frequency of the music. It was so quiet, I could actually hear what was being said around me.” She gave a wistful shake of her head. “You'd be surprised what ponies say when they think nopony else can hear them.”

The alicorn and stallion gave each other knowing looks. “Oh, we think we have an idea or two,” the Princess said with a smirk.

Shining Armor looked to his LSBFF. “You should have heard some of the rumors flying around when Cadance and I announced our wedding.” He chuckled to himself. “Some ponies actually thought it was because she was pregnant, if you can believe that. I mean, it's not like we ever made a secret of how we felt for each other, or anything, but that?”

“So, you're... not pregnant, Princess?” Spitfire hesitantly asked.

Shining Armor waved a hoof at her. “Of course, not. At least, not yet.”

Cadance wrapped one wing around his withers protectively and nuzzled him. “Though it's not for lack of trying.” She kissed him again, this time on the lips. “Though we did manage to wait for our wedding night.”

Twilight popped up between them and pushed them apart as far as she could. “Alright that's enough of that. If there's one thing I don't need to hear about, it's my brother's sex life.”

Tittering behind a hoof, Cadance asked, “Why, Twilight! Are you... jealous?”

Turning as red as an apple, Twilight crossed her forelegs in front of her and looked to the side. “Of course not! There are just some things that one does not want to hear about concerning one's siblings, and their love life tops that list!”

The pink alicorn sidled up to her and put a foreleg over her withers. “Ooooh, I can tell! You know what my special talent is!” She came close to her ear and whispered into it, “You want somepony to love as much as Shining loves me.” She hesitated a beat before adding, “Or should I say 'some mare'?”

Still blushing as red as a tomato, she turned and pounced on the Princess. “Oh, that is it! You're in for it now!” Having grown up with somepony lets you in on a lot of their secrets, and Twilight wasn't about to show mercy this time. She knew exactly where the alicorn was most vulnerable, and struck hard, giving no quarter. Her hooves found the sensitive spot under her wings, and began their assault. It didn't take long for the results to show when the Princess started laughing uproariously.

“Ha ha ha ha hee hee hee! Stop, stop, STAHP!” Her giggles filled the room, but Twilight wouldn't let up. Left with no recourse, she fought back, finding Twilight's weak spots, sending her into a gale of laughter.

The tickle fight stretched on until a pink aura surrounded both and pulled them apart, leaving them suspended in midair. When their laughter subsided to a few titters here and there, Shining Armor asked them, “Are you quite through?”

All three suitors were left gaping and blushing. Cheerilee quickly hid a pad of paper she had been furiously writing on, and Spitfire wiped away a drop of blood that had mysteriously appeared under her nose.

Twilight got her fit of giggles under control and cleared her throat. “Yes, I believe we're done here,” she said with mock gravity. “My point was made.”

With equal seriousness, Cadance nodded. “We have reached an accord.” Shining Armor set them down gently with a satisfied nod. “Our accord was to get you!” she shouted and the both pounced on the unsuspecting stallion.

The three mares watching this exchange, could only stare at them. Cheerilee silently handed the other two tissues to wipe up their drool which they gladly accepted and used. They watched the three of them roll around on the floor with poorly disguised envy. Finally, the three siblings could go no further and just lolled around on the ground, their sides heaving as they tried to catch their breath again. Shining Armor tried to lift his head to glare at them, but decided he could achieve the same effect from the floor. “That was... dirty pool... ganging up on me,” he wheezed.

Cadance did manage to lift her head. “But we're just defenseless fillies, already weakened by previous... frivolities. We needed an edge against such a big, strong stallion,” she said, with only a hint of breathlessness, but dripping with false modesty.

“Yeah, big bro. Cut us a little slack,” Twilight said from her position on her back. “It's not like we were using our magic."

Rolling onto her belly, Cadance added, “And we all know that we mares have the stronger magic of the three of us.”

Shining Armor rolled to his hooves as he rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes we all know that magic is your only defense against us brutish males.”

An attention-getting polite cough brought everypony's attention to the azure unicorn. “As much as Trixie dislikes getting between family, but she must remind you that she and Twilight have a prior engagement tonight.”

Cheerilee and Spitfire gave her a sour look, but said nothing. Cadance nodded seriously. “Of course. We understand completely,” she said as she rose. “But before we go, we still have to give Twilight the souvenir we picked up for her during our honeymoon.”

The pink alicorn bowed her head for a moment, her horn taking on a pink glow, and in a flash of brightest white light, a book appeared, floating in front of her. Surrounding it in a pink aura, Cadance floated it over to her little-sister-in-law. The book itself was fairly thick, and bound in eelskin, making it waterproof.

“We got this from a real Voodoo Mambo named Madam Bones. When we tried to give her something for it, she refused, saying 'the loas would see this to Magic's hooves', and 'to accept anything for this would only earn their ire'.” Cadance actually shivered at the memory. “I've checked it over myself, as well as had some of the court mages and Auntie Celly and Luna look it over, and we could find nothing malicious about it, so auntie Celly said it would be okay to give it to you.”

Twilight held the book almost reverently. “I've been wanting to get my hooves on something like this for years,” she said, her eyes wide. There's only so much that you can learn about loas, and without a teacher or book like this one, I wouldn't even begin to know how to go about studying this kind of magic.” She opened the book, the eelskin creaking softly. With an awed smile, she closed it again and held it to her chest, breathing in its scent. Rushing forward, she gave Princess and consort a hug worthy of the largest grizzly. “Thank you,” she quietly breathed.

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

“Are you sure about all this, Cadance?” Shining Armor asked as he walked alongside his wife, on their way to the carriage waiting to take them back to Canterlot.

The alicorn turned to her husband, giving him a reassuring smile. “There are certain things of which I am certain. Love, our future together, the sun and the moon rising; all of that, I know I can rely on. Leaving a magical book in Twilight's hooves?” She gave a little chuckle of amusement. “That doesn't even require speculation from me.” She looked up at the orange sky as the sun set. “If it has to do with magic, she is the pony to see.”

Shining Armor arched an eyebrow at her. “That's great and all, but I was referring to what you did this morning. You know, with their breakfast?”

“Oh, that,” she said as she waved a hoof dismissively. All I did was to add a little magical courage so they would have the confidence to act on their feelings. Won't last longer than a week or so.”

“But why do that at all?” her husband asked. “Why not let their feelings takes their own path and develop naturally?”

Cadance stopped walking entirely and gave him an exasperated look. “Okay, first of all, have you ever known a colt or filly to actually fess up to Twilight about how they feel?”

Putting a hoof to his chin, Shining Armor replied, “Well, there was that one filly... what was her name? Minuet? Romana? Something like that.”

The Princess nodded. “Exactly. Which is why I added a little bit of magic to Twilight's meal that will increase her observational awareness for a similar amount of time as well.” She sighed exasperatedly. “We can't have Twilight missing her moment for happiness with her usual obliviousness.”

“I was wondering what you had done to hers,” the stallion added.

“So anyway, as I was saying, I had looked into their hearts this morning. Normally, I wouldn't even consider such a breach of privacy, but with our Twilight's happiness on the line, I felt that my morals could withstand it.” Cadance was downcast as she said this. Shining Armor could tell this was a big breech of her ethics.

“What I found was quite interesting. Cheerilee and Spitfire have been pining for her for years, Spitfire longer than the others put together, but still. It was a slow burn for them, slowly building over time. Trixie's feelings, however were rather more recent, within the last year or so.” She went silent for a moment, considering just how much to tell him. “Suffice it to say that each of them feels as strongly for Twilight as the other. I would be hard pressed to say which of them is the best for her.”

Cadance shook her head, perplexed. “What makes this such a sticky wicket as it were, is how Twilight feels for them.”

Shining Armor gazed at her, wide-eyed. “Don't tell me she doesn't feel the same for one of them, does she?”

“Quite the opposite. She feels so strongly for them, she can't seem to decide between them.” She smiled wryly. “Every time she looked at one of them, her heart would flare, bright as the sun, and I would think 'A ha! She's finally chosen who she wants!', and then she would look at another, and the same thing would happen.” Cadance looked her husband in the eyes. “She wants to pursue one of them romantically, but doesn't want to lose the others' friendship, and she feels about the same for each of them, so it's paralyzing her.”

Cadance looked away to the sunset again. “What's more, she is truly ignorant of how they feel for her; hence, the spell on her food.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “I don't envy her position right now.

Author's Notes:

Sorry about the delay, folks. As I said last time and in my blog (not that anyone responded to the last one, so I'm not sure how many actually saw it), I have family visiting, so updates are a bit erratic. Things have calmed down a bit, so I should be able to get back on schedule. I hope this chapter lives up to the previous ones, I can't tell since I'm still a bit frazzled at the moment. Also, I got tired of the usual page breaks, so I decided to try something new with them. What do you think? The usual disclaimers apply here, everything but the arrangement of the words belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.