Archmage Fizzle Hooves popped a chocolate chip cookie in her mouth and let it rest upon her tongue. The cookies were fresh out of the oven and the sensation of the gooey chocolate and warm, crumbly cookie on her tongue was driving her wild. She mashed the cookie against the roof of her mouth and swallowed it, then pulled another off the baking sheet. Her eyes drifted towards a clock and she smiled. Just a few more minutes. Trixie will be so excited!

Trixie's training in the art of magic had been proceeding extremely well. Trixie was quite talented and a quick learner. She had easily mastered the curriculum that Fizzle Hooves taught and had soon been casting some of the more advanced spells. Trixie was loving every minute of her training, and Fizzle Hooves had been immensely pleased with her choice of student. Trixie had once only been able to conjure up a medium-sized storm cloud, now she could darken the sky if she so desired.

As part of her training, every morning Fizzle Hooves destroyed Trixie's wagon and commanded her to fix it. Today had been no different. Trixie felt that her new master got a sick satisfaction out of the act, but it served as a means of gauging her progress. Where once she had struggled to put it back together, Trixie could now easily reconstruct the wagon. Every day it came quicker and easier.

At the beginning of the training, Fizzle Hooves had told Trixie there would be three trials she would have to undertake before she became a master of magic herself. Today was to be the first. In preparation for this first trial, Fizzle Hooves had ordered Trixie to wait for her on top of the archmage's tower. The young unicorn had been waiting since noon, and Fizzle Hooves had been pleased to see that Trixie possessed impressive discipline as well, dutifully awaiting her master despite the hours going by.

The clock began to chime for six o'clock, and Fizzle Hooves licked her lips. Her horn began to glow as she began to cast a spell, then suddenly ceased as her eyes drifted to the cookies. Well, maybe just one more... Fizzle Hooves gobbled down another cookie then resumed her spell. Fizzle Hooves closed her eyes as the world began to shimmer and blur before her. You are going to love this, Trixie!

Atop the tower, Trixie wiped at the sweat pouring down her brow and glared up at the blazing sun. Any other time she would have been annoyed by Fizzle Hooves' tardiness, but today, she had all the patience in the world. She heard a raven's call from above, and she tilted her head to watch the black bird soar past. As she looked up into the sky, she began to feel lightheaded. Her vision started to blur and she sat heavily on the floor.

Trixie felt as if a magical blanket had been drawn around her, the world began drifting away into a hazy shadow. She looked up and the sun, which had been blazing with such a hot intensity, was now a dull red, darkening into night. Suddenly her surroundings vanished and Trixie found herself in a dark void. Her stomach tightened and she suppressed the urge to cry out. Trixie quivered in fear and tried to calm herself.

Trixie frantically looked up for the sun, but now it was gone. As she stared into the void, streaks of brilliant azure light began to soar past her eyes then disappeared into darkness. She tried to reach out and catch the lights and to her amazement one veered towards her hoof. Trixie's eyes went wide as her right hoof began to burn with bright green flames that roared like an inferno, then sizzled out and became nothing.

Trixie felt a surge of magical power pass through her, it delighted her. She reveled in the power, allowing it to course through her soul. Time lost all meaning, all sense, and she was not sure if a second had past or eons.

"Now you know the true power of magic," Fizzle Hooves' voice whispered to her.

For the first time, Trixie was aware that there was a presence with her in this strange place. It was dark, foreboding, and yet for this instant she could sense almost a benign amusement, as if it was an old mare showing new wonders to a foal.

"The power you wield is but nothing to what I am," Fizzle Hooves whispered. There was a sinister air to these words, and Trixie shivered as a slight twinge of terror ran down her spine.

Trixie shielded her eyes as the sun reappeared, glowing brighter, and brighter. Amidst this blazing sun, Fizzle Hooves appeared as a foal. There was an expression of deep sorrow etched across her face, and she looked upon Trixie with tears in her eyes, which were no longer the eerie green Trixie had become accustomed to.

The foal sobbed, "I'm doing my best to train you, Trixie, to shield you from the cruel realities that are life. It is taking all of my strength, but like you, I must persevere... If you should ever pierce the veil that hangs between what is real and what is not, you must stay strong and resist that which you see upon the other side. This is real, no matter what anyone, or any thing tells you."

Trixie felt confused and the intensity of the light flared and faded. When she opened her eyes Trixie was amazed to find herself in the gardens of a fabulous palace. Banners hung from the walls with Trixie's image. Robed unicorns were wandering throughout the grounds, a brilliant crest was affixed to their sleeves. It looked exactly like Trixie's cutie mark. The unicorns bowed deeply as they passed and greeted Trixie.

"Good afternoon, Mistress Trixie," a unicorn said. "What a fine day we're having, isn't it, Mistress Trixie?"

Trixie muttered, "Yes, yes it is..." as she walked over to a bed of roses and smelled the fragrant flowers, sighing in contentment. She felt safe here, she felt a tranquility that she had never felt before. Songbirds chirped and flitted through the air. They circled Trixie and waggled their wings before zipping off. Fizzle Hooves, a mare once more, appeared besides her.

"What is this, master?" Trixie asked.

"This, Trixie, was your first trial. It is a portrait of what may happen, or what will happen should you endeavor to make it thus," Fizzle Hooves explained. "You feel the potential within, don't you? This place is your desire."

"It's wonderful," Trixie uttered as she marveled at the palace grounds.

"I needed to know that you had a future worthwhile. I now know that you do. As you might have deduced, this is your magic school," Fizzle Hooves said.

Trixie's eyes sparkled. "My magic school..."

"This may all be yours, Trixie, if you so desire," Fizzle Hooves said.

The archmage clapped her hooves and their surroundings melted away, revealing the pair to be standing on top of Fizzle Hooves' tower. "You have passed your first trial, Trixie. I am pleased."

Trixie squealed with glee and cast a pyrotechnics spell. As her fireworks exploded over head, Fizzle Hooves awkwardly tried to take a step back as Trixie embraced her.

"Thank you so much," Trixie said.

"You are welcome," Fizzle Hooves replied. "I have baked you some cookies to celebrate your victory. I had a feeling you would pass this trial. You will enjoy them."

Fizzle Hooves cast a teleportation spell and the two unicorns appeared in the tower's library. Fizzle Hooves cast a conjuration spell and summoned forth a cushy sofa for Trixie, then summoned a serving tray with the cookies and a fruit smoothie for Trixie. Fizzle Hooves watched Trixie as she enjoyed the sweets she had prepared, then summoned an ornate, gilded container.

Trixie's horn tingled and she knew the container was heavily enchanted. She leaned forward to get a closer look. The container was about three feet in width, one foot in length. Strange runes were etched on the sides of the container that glimmered with magic. Each corner of the container had a golden effigy of a unicorn. As Trixie looked at each one, an image appeared above the effigy, all of which were symbols of magic. There was a staff, an orb, a scroll, and a magic wand.

Trixie gasped as the effigies came to life and simultaneously looked towards the center. The image of an alicorn appeared, small at first, but steadily grew to life-size proportions. The alicorn's coat was a dark blue and upon her flank was a cutie mark consisting of a bookshelf filled with tomes. Her hair seemed to be an almost metallic silver that glinted in the light. A pair of gold-framed glasses rested on her muzzle. The alicorn turned to Trixie. "Hello, Trixie."

Trixie glanced nervously at Fizzle Hooves, who nodded at her. "Trixie, this is Marelinn the Librarian, the keeper of arcane secrets."

Trixie, unsure of what to do, bowed her head.

Fizzle Hooves' gaze drifted from Trixie to the plate of cookies and she snatched one with her magic. In between bites she said, "Tell Marelinn what you accomplished today, Trixie."

"I.. I saw the future. My future," Trixie said. She glanced at Fizzle Hooves, who gave her a reassuring smile. "I will have my own magic school, once I finish my training here."

"This magic school, this is something you desire?" Marelinn asked.

"Oh, yes! Ever since I was a little filly," Trixie merrily said. "I mean, I hadn't really thought about it recently, but, yes!"

Marelinn smiled and leaned down, gently rubbing her horn against Trixie's. After a few moments, Marelinn's image began to shrink until she was only a few inches tall, standing at the center of the container. Her horn began to glow as she cast a spell, and a brightly glowing image of Trixie's cutie mark appeared above her head. Marelinn's image vanished and they heard her disembodied voice say, "You may proceed, Fizzle Hooves. Hopefully I shall see you again, Trixie!"

Fizzle Hooves pointed towards the container. "Stick your little horn into the image of your cutie mark, Trixie."

Trixie did as she was told, and jumped backwards into her chair as she heard a clap of thunder. Fizzle Hooves laughed as she used her magic to pull the lid off the now-unlocked container. Trixie craned her neck to see inside. Three stone tablets lay within the container, one of which Fizzle Hooves removed. Fizzle Hooves moved the tablet over to Trixie then placed the lid back on the container, which vanished with another thunderclap.

To Trixie's disappointment, the same runes that marked the container were written upon the tablet as well. Trixie pouted. "I can't read it!"

Fizzle Hooves smiled and walked over to Trixie, placing her hoof on her shoulder. "This is the ancient language of the Phoenixians, a powerful clan of witches and warlocks. You will be able to decipher it soon enough, Trixie. You should be honored, as well. Few ponies alive today can comprehend the runes, let alone have received a Phoenixian spell."

"So, Princess Celestia's student, Twilight Sparkle, doesn't have one?" Trixie asked.

Fizzle Hooves laughed. "I should say not."

Trixie smirked and gently ran her hoof over the tablet. "Good."

Fizzle Hooves turned and began to leave the room, looking back over her shoulder at Trixie. "It is getting late. We shall begin the next level of your training tomorrow. Finish your treats and rest up, little one."

Trixie looked at the clock and frowned. It was nearly midnight. Had it really been almost twelve hours? Trixie shrugged and finished her smoothie and cookies, then eagerly galloped to her bedroom, the stone tablet bobbing along in her magical grasp.

* * *

The subsequent days were not near as exciting for Trixie, who, in addition to working on learning the Phoenixian language, was soon back to her usual regimen of fixing her wagon in the morning, bathing and eating breakfast, studying spellbooks until lunchtime, eating her midday meal, practicing the spells she had learned until suppertime, eating her dinner, and then practicing all of her spells until bedtime. For any other pony, it may have been boring, but for Trixie, it was an amazing experience to see the powers she could wield.

Trixie had been sleeping with the stone tablet on her nightstand. One night, she awoke in a cold sweat, her magic had activated on its own and was holding the tablet before her face. She looked at the runes and found she could understand them, accidentally casting the spell as she read. Chains of light appeared and bound the stunned unicorn to her bed. Trixie struggled against the magical bindings in vain, then finally passed out in exhaustion.

Hours later, Trixie awoke to find Fizzle Hooves hovering above her bed. The archmage winked at her, barely containing her laughter. "Hello, little one. In a bind, are we?"

Trixie grinned. "I don't know how, but I cast my Phoenixian spell! I woke up, and my magic had the tablet in front of me, and I was able to understand it finally!"

Fizzle Hooves moved closer, making sure not to touch the magical chains. "Congratulations, Trixie."

"Don't suppose you know how to free me?" Trixie sheepishly asked.

"You are the wielder of the magic, Trixie. Will it away," Fizzle Hooves said.

Trixie closed her eyes, concentrated on the magical chains and imagined them dispersing. She felt their grasp weaken and fade. When she opened her eyes, the chains were gone. She smiled up at Fizzle Hooves as she rubbed at her legs. "I wish I thought of that last night."

Fizzle Hooves snickered. "Indeed. It is time for your second trial. Meet me in the courtyard when you are ready."

The archmage teleported away and Trixie jumped out of bed. The wagon was broken, again, but she repaired it in record time. She was excited, after today she would be one step closer to her own magic school!

She galloped out to the courtyard and stood before Fizzle Hooves. A large fountain stood in the center of the courtyard, and Trixie could see arcane sigils had been drawn on the stonework all around the courtyard. The first trial had come as a great surprise, so she could only imagine what would be happening here. Still, she was confident in her skills, and merrily trotted up to Fizzle Hooves. "I am ready, master."

Fizzle Hooves smiled at her. "Very good, Trixie. Your trial begins now. Good luck."

The archmage shimmered out of existence and Trixie looked nervously around the area as she heard a rumbling from the ground below. All around her, golems of stone began to emerge. She grinned and began casting her spells, disintegrating the golems with ease. Her smile became a frown soon after, however, as more and more golems began to emerge and her spells became weaker and weaker, barely damaging the constructs.

The golems closed in and Trixie cast a mirror image spell and ran for cover as the golems converged on her illusions. Panicked, she looked around the courtyard and a gleam of metal caught her eye. The centerpiece of the fountain was a dragon's skull with a sword pierced through it. She grabbed the hilt with her magic and pulled. As the sword slid free, it began to crackle with power and bolts of electricity arced up and down the blade. She stared at the blade in amazement, then awkwardly slashed at the approaching golems.

As if she was cutting paper, the sword sliced through the golems with ease. As the last golem fell, Fizzle Hooves reappeared and was beaming with joy. "Trixie, do you know what you have done?"

"I beat my second trial?" Trixie asked.

"With flying colors, as they say, but no, Trixie, that sword you hold, do you know what it is?" Fizzle Hooves asked.

Trixie took a closer look at the weapon. The hilt was golden and studded with rubies and a large diamond was set into the pommel. Trixie shook her head. "It looks pretty old, and valuable. It's also really strong since it took out those golems like they were nothing. Beyond that, I don't know. Is it important?"

Fizzle Hooves laughed. "Why, that's the sword of Brightdawn the Lightbringer, a unicorn paladin of ancient times. Travincolt was once ruled by an evil dragon named Galduros. Brightdawn led a crusade of warriors against the dragon, but the dragon was too powerful. They fought and were slaughtered to the last pony. Brightdawn was the last one standing. With his last bit of strength, he plunged his sword into the dragon's head, slaying him, but he himself died in the process as the dragon's body collapsed forwards, crushing the poor paladin. The citizens of Travincolt created that monument in honor of  Brightdawn's heroism and sacrifice. It is said that only a pony with as noble a heart as Brightdawn could draw the blade."

Trixie looked at the sword. "What does this mean? I'm some kind of paladin?"

Fizzle Hooves laughed. "Well, you do have a mastery over the 'light' in your pyrotechnic spells. However, it means you are meant for something far greater than that, Trixie. You are a hero of destiny."

Fizzle Hooves' horn began to glow as she cast a teleportation spell. They appeared in a catacomb under Travincolt. Fizzle Hooves cast a simple light spell and unveiled a mural carved in the wall. It showed a unicorn drawing the blade from the skull, charging at the head of an army, then sitting upon a throne.

"This is you, Trixie. This is your destiny," Fizzle Hooves said.

"I don't understand," Trixie replied, curiously studying the image of the unicorn.

Fizzle Hooves smiled. "You will, Trixie. You are a hero, a champion of all that is righteous. Descendant of powerful ancestors. Enemy to all that is evil. But, you still have much more to learn, let us get back to your studies."

The two unicorns headed back inside to the library. Once more, Fizzle Hooves had made a plethora of treats for Trixie. Today, she had prepared cinnamon buns and hot chocolate. Trixie had a feeling of what would come next, and she clapped her hooves in delight as the ornate container was summoned once more.

The image of Marelinn emerged just like before and she smiled broadly at Trixie. "I knew I would see you again, Trixie. Congratulations."

Trixie beamed. "Thank you!"

"What is that you have there?" Marelinn asked, eyeing the sword. "The legendary sword of Travincolt's savior, perhaps?"

Trixie nodded. "It is! I was doing my second trial, fighting these golems. After a while, I just couldn't seem to stop them. Then I saw this piece of metal glinting in the sun, so I grabbed it. I guess it's kind of a big deal, huh?"

Marelinn chuckled as her image shrunk. "You might think that. Here is your next spell, Trixie. I am confident I will be seeing you again. Farewell!"

Marelinn vanished, replaced by the image of Trixie's cutie mark. She eagerly thrust her horn into the image and clutched at the tablet as Fizzle Hooves pulled it from the container. Trixie began reading over the spell and Fizzle Hooves shrieked, "Don't!"

An immense explosion rocked the tower as Trixie's spell went off. A tremendous cyclone of energy began to swirl in the center of the room, ripping books - and bookshelves - from the walls. Fizzle Hooves cried out as she was sucked into the cyclone, tendrils of energy lancing out at her. Trixie was staring wide-eyed at the devastation she had caused. She heard Fizzle Hooves' moans of pain and blinked her eyes and focused on quelling her spell.

The cyclone died down and Fizzle Hooves crashed to the floor in a crumpled heap. Trixie rushed to her side. "Fizzle Hooves!"

Fizzle Hooves took deep, labored breaths, each one wracking her body with pain. She struggled to sit up and leaned towards Trixie, gently rubbing her horn against her student's.

"I... I think th-that's enough excitement for t-today," Fizzle Hooves said in a weakened voice.

Trixie embraced Fizzle Hooves and nuzzled her neck. "I'm so sorry! I almost killed you! I... I didn't-"

Fizzle Hooves placed her hoof on Trixie's mouth. "Shh.... It is okay, little one. You did what you were meant to do. I would have expected nothing less. Now, go outside and play with your new spell. I will clean up here and call you in once I have dinner prepared."

"Are you sure? I can help you. It was my fault," Trixie offered.

Fizzle Hooves nodded. "I am positive. Go and have fun with your new trick."

Trixie apologized once more then headed towards the exit. Fizzle Hooves watched her go, then shook her head as Trixie was out of sight. The action caused Fizzle Hooves to wince in pain. She sighed and staggered to her feet, surveying the destruction. Fizzle Hooves whistled appreciatively then began cleaning up the library.

* * *

Over the next few days, Fizzle Hooves became much more involved in Trixie's training, teaching her how to magically wield the sword. To help her with this, Trixie was placed in the center of a room full of candles. She was instructed to slice the flames off the candles, cutting off the wicks only. The first few days were disastrous, with wax and candle-halves flying all about the room. But Trixie was a quick learner, and soon Trixie had mastered the art of swordplay. She was thrilled beyond belief. Not only would she be a master of magic, she had claimed a powerful artifact as her own and knew how to wield it. She was soon back to the old routine, but every night she dreamed of her magic school.

Fizzle Hooves was glad that her little training program for Trixie would soon end. Fizzle Hooves had never had a daughter of her own, and she had grown attached to the young unicorn. Her maternal instincts had become harder and harder to resist, and it was becoming a weakness. A weakness Fizzle Hooves could not allow. She found herself slinking into Trixie's room at night, hitting her with a sleep spell, just in case. Fizzle Hooves couldn't remember her mother, if she had one, but over the years she had watched how other ponies behaved. She would read stories to her unconscious student. Comb her mane. Brush her coat. Talk to her about things she had never told anyone before, such as her own tragic childhood. She had been putting off Trixie's final test for days, but she knew she could not allow herself to grow more attached.

One morning, Trixie awoke to find Fizzle Hooves leaning against the wall of her room. There was something not quite right about Fizzle Hooves' appearance. Her face looked weary and she looked far older than Trixie had remembered. Her eyes lacked their usual glint of mischievousness, and she was lacking her typical smirk.  Even the archmage's normally well-groomed mane was disheveled. Trixie couldn't put her hoof on it, but it almost looked as if Fizzle Hooves had been interrogated all night and had just confessed to some horrible secret, like the villains in the Applewood spy flicks Trixie enjoyed.

"What's wrong, master?" Trixie asked, concerned.

"It normally would have taken you months to reach this state, Trixie, but since you have acquired the sword of the Lightbringer, I believe you are ready for your final trial," Fizzle Hooves softly said.

Trixie sat up in bed, her eyes wide with excitement. "Really?"

"Yes, little one. You have proven yourself to be everything I could have dreamed for in an apprentice. This last trial is not like the others, however. You must prove your heroism in a fight to the death. There is a powerful warlock, Darkheart. An ancient evil that exists solely to warp the world into his perverse view. He can slay you with but a thought. Empires have been wiped off the face of the world with but a word from his lips."

Trixie frowned. "And I'm supposed to beat this guy?"

Fizzle Hooves nodded. "If we act fast enough, you can smite him before he has a chance to react. I will teleport us in, you to his rear, myself in front of him. I will be the bait, as it were, while you deliver a surprise attack."

"Won't that be dangerous? What if he kills you, master?" Trixie asked.

Fizzle Hooves smiled. "Well, hopefully you kill him, in which case, you will have passed your trial and you shall be the master. I would suggest you prepare yourself, I have readied a meal for you and drawn your bath."

The archmage smiled at her once more, then left the room. The seriousness of the situation dawned on Trixie as, for the first time since she had arrived, her wagon was left intact.  She enjoyed her bath, letting the warm waters erode her worries. She dried herself and brushed her mane and tail, then sought out her breakfast. She dined on a feast of fruits and grains, all prepared just the way she liked them.

She practiced her swordplay and some of her most powerful spells, then, confident in herself, she sought out Fizzle Hooves. She found the archmage out in the tower's gardens, laying on the grass. Fizzle Hooves motioned Trixie to join her. Trixie laid down and smiled. "I am ready, master."

Fizzle Hooves smiled and wrapped her leg around Trixie, holding her close. They lay there in silence for several minutes, just watching the clouds go by. Fizzle Hooves eventually sighed and sat up, staring deep into the young unicorn's eager eyes. "Come, Trixie, it is time for you to meet your destiny."