Twilight's POV
Waiting.
It's strange how something so simple can feel so... heavy.
I stood just outside Ponyville School, among the rest of the parents and adults waiting for the foals to come out. The afternoon sun still hung in the sky, gilding the clouds and bathing the fields in warm copper light. The soft murmurs of chatting mothers, the hum of village life... it all blended into a peaceful atmosphere.
And yet, I couldn't feel at peace.
"Twilight, darling," Rarity said beside me, interrupting my train of thought. "Isn't it simply fascinating, what appeared this morning?"
"You mean... that?" I replied, not taking my eyes off the structure.
A few meters from the traditional school building—white wooden walls, pink rooftops—stood something that clearly didn't belong: a hall built entirely of gray stone, every line and angle perfectly crafted, as if Canterlot itself had decided to plant a root here in Ponyville. It wasn't just visually out of place... it was too perfect.
And worse, it felt.
Rarity nodded, twirling her mane as she lowered her voice.
"They say it was built overnight. Some claim magic brought it, others say it's the work of a mysterious unicorn who's going to teach here... But you and I both know what this really means, don't we?"
I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I closed my eyes.
The feeling was still there.
It was as if the air around the structure moved differently. A lingering calm, like the breeze that drifts through a quiet library. And at the same time, a kind of latent wonder, vibrating through every stone. Those two sensations...
"Wizbell," I murmured before I could stop myself.
"Excuse me?" Rarity blinked.
"Nothing. Just… magic. Very specific," I half-lied. I opened my eyes and tried not to get pulled too deep into the thought. He hadn't told me anything, and yet, his magical signature was there—indelible, like his handwriting. Why here? Why now? Why without telling me?
Rarity seemed to notice my discomfort and stepped away with graceful tact.
"I think I'll go chat with Roseluck. Maybe she has more juicy gossip," she said with a playful smile, though she gave me a glance that was both concerned and understanding before walking off.
I was alone.
Well... alone with the echo of him in every stone of that building.
My mind started doing what it always did: spinning, calculating, weaving possibilities. Is he preparing to teach? Here? Is he hiding something? Did he talk to Celestia first?
I stepped forward, just once. I felt a ripple of residual magic. It wasn't invasive... it was gentle. Welcoming. Like him. Wizbell had always had that rare ability to make the extraordinary feel... domestic.
I took a breath. Let it out slowly.
I knew it. This has his name on it, even if it doesn't say so.
And yet, he hadn't told me anything.
Nothing.
"Why didn't you tell me, Wizbell...?" I whispered, not expecting an answer.
The school bell rang then, rescuing me from the spiral. Foals' voices surged like a wave, followed by quick hoofsteps, laughter, and squeals. The adults brightened. Smiles here, hugs there.
But I kept staring at that structure.
And I could feel the pulse of his magic in my chest, as clearly as if he were still beside me.
The crowd began to thin, but not the whispers. Some parents lingered longer than necessary, turned their heads more than once, pretending interest in something else... but I knew exactly what they were doing.
They were looking at him.
Wizbell was at the end of the dirt path, talking to Applejack. Earlier, he'd exchanged words with Rarity. Nothing unusual. Just friendly conversations. But I was watching. And what I saw wasn't innocent.
Applejack had looked him over. Slowly. Meticulously. Like she was evaluating the condition of a stud before a competition. Her gaze slid down his neck, paused on his forelegs, then moved to his flank. There was no lust, no boldness—just her usual earth-pony frankness. But that didn't make it any less unsettling.
Rarity wasn't as blatant, but she didn't hold back either. She disguised her look with a polite smile and a flutter of lashes, like someone admiring art while trying not to seem too obvious. But I saw how her eyes traced his figure, lingering just a bit too long on his chest, then on the line of his jaw.
Wizbell, of course, didn't notice a thing.
He was smiling. Cordially, as always. And right in the middle of that chat, his eyes wandered—not toward them—but to two little fillies running by the path. A spontaneous laugh escaped him, and for a moment, his entire attention shifted to the scene as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world.
Oblivious.
Completely unaware of how he was being looked at.
Completely unaware of what he causes.
And I saw it all.
I saw myself watching from the outside, but feeling it from within—like something had twisted deep in my stomach. It wasn't just jealousy. It was something more uncomfortable. More annoying. More irrational.
How does he not see it?
How can he be so careless with his presence?
Because it wasn't just how they looked at him. It was how he accepted it without even realizing. Like it was natural. Like it didn't matter. Like he had no idea what kind of effect he had on others.
Then, a clear image flashed in my memory.
Lyra.
Her hug. Her casual closeness. That shameless nearness. Her laughter against his neck.
That's not okay.
He's a stallion. She's a mare.
We're adults. There are rules. Boundaries. And Lyra... Lyra should know that.
When we were foals, none of it mattered. Touch was just part of play.
But now... every touch has weight. Every gesture speaks.
She shouldn't touch him like that.
Not now.
Not when...
My thought collapsed in on itself.
I felt a pressure in my chest. A sharp ache—not pain, but close. And the urge to rationalize everything became unbearable.
Why is she allowed to do that...? Why doesn't anyone say anything...?
My eyes went back to Wizbell.
He, of course, hadn't noticed a thing.
He was smiling with that usual warmth of his, as if nothing around him affected him. Sometimes it seemed like he didn't even know he was being watched. Like he simply existed, unaware that his mere presence disrupted the balance of everyone around him.
And Flash was no different.
There he was, chatting calmly, showing not the slightest sign of discomfort from the stares or whispers. Rainbow Dash stood beside him, so close there was barely space between them. He didn't seem to notice either. Not the rumors, not the tension, not the looks from the mares who had already picked up on that closeness.
They're both the same.
Wizbell and Flash.
Oblivious, one. Indifferent, the other.
Two stallions walking through the world, blind to the tremors they leave behind.
Maybe that's why they're best friends.
Because they're equally clueless about the opposite sex.
Equally blind to signals, to games, to unwritten rules.
Or maybe they just... don't care.
And before I knew it... I had moved closer too.
I was closer than I meant to be. No longer among the crowd, no longer hiding behind a safe distance. I was just a few steps away from him. Close enough to hear the softness in his voice. Close enough to see his ears flick slightly when Flash said something that made him laugh.
And close enough to feel that ache in my chest when he didn't look at me.
I didn't think.
I just heard myself speak.
"So, why didn't you ask me?"
My voice came out on its own. Soft, yes, but far too clear to be ignored. Everyone turned to look at me.
Wizbell looked at me. He didn't seem shocked... just puzzled.
"Well..." he began, lowering his gaze briefly. "The truth is, it really just came down to me not having a formal job. I lived off my research. The mayor—or maybe the whole town—needed a pony with magical expertise. There were two choices: you and, obviously, me. But the difference is, you're already Ponyville's librarian."
His answer was logical. Flawless, even.
But it wasn't enough.
Why didn't he tell me before? Why didn't he talk to me about it?
Before I could say anything else, Pinkie Pie appeared with her usual explosive energy, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Sounds more like they just want you to touch some grass!" she blurted, jumping half a meter in the air next to us.
I blinked. Touch grass?
"Yeah, yeah!" she kept going without pause. "You never leave your house! And you never let me stash my party supplies there! I never know when I'll need a party close by—or inside your house! And if I need streamers or balloons and can't get them because a certain magical pony won't let me in... boom! That's the problem!"
She raised a hoof like she was testifying before an invisible jury, completely serious. Or, well, as serious as Pinkie could ever be.
"So in my opinion... this is a good thing! You'll get fresh air. Not that weird air with floating magical doodles and glowing symbols on the walls. Real air! And you'll be surrounded by fillies. That'll make you happier!"
And without warning, she lifted a small unicorn filly into the air next to her.
"Look! Look how she's looking at you! So happy!"
I watched as Pinkie Pie pulled the filly from who-knows-where and held her up in front of Wizbell.
"Look! Look how she's looking at you! So happy!" Pinkie repeated with a contagious giggle.
"I love you, Star-sensei."
I froze… completely.
What...? Sensei...? What is happening...?
Was she a foreign filly? What does "Sensei" even mean? What are they teaching foals these days?
Wizbell handed Pinkie a muffin—still warm, I noticed with mild astonishment—and she reacted as if he'd just given her the cornerstone of universal happiness.
"Mmm! Warm and fluffy!" she exclaimed, cheeks puffed out with joy.
Then he added, casually:
"Yeah, in the end it was a direct request from the mayor... and also from Celestia herself. And, as Pinkie said earlier, that was one of the reasons."
Flash clicked his tongue and handed Pinkie a few bits, which she accepted while puffing out her chest proudly, as if she'd just won an official competition. I had no idea when they'd made a bet, but no one seemed surprised.
"I believe it..." I murmured, tilting my head. "You've barely left your house more than three times in the past two weeks."
He shrugged, like it didn't really matter.
Flash laughed, light as always.
"This was fun. See you girls later. And thanks, Wizbell, for the laughs."
And just like that, he left. Rainbow followed immediately, stretching her wings with energy.
"Yeah! I'm off to do awesome stuff! The day's just starting!"
And they disappeared into the crowd.
One by one, the others left. Parents, foals, teachers. The chatter slowly faded, leaving the street quieter with each passing moment.
Except for two.
Stella remained seated in the distance, calmly eating a peach.
And I… I hadn't moved.
I hadn't joined in the jokes.
I didn't laugh.
I'd barely said a word.
But I was there. Standing. Watching him.
That kind of watching. The kind that tries to find something behind a calm expression. The kind that searches for answers before the mouth dares to ask the question.
Finally, I stepped closer. Slowly. Like each step was a statement of intent.
I stopped in front of him. I looked at him for another moment. His face still held its usual serenity. He didn't even seem to suspect what was coming.
I straightened up, took a breath… and let it out all at once:
"So... this morning... you and Lyra... what exactly were you doing at the mall café?"
I saw it.
In real time.
The exact moment my words reached him, when he remembered what I was talking about and replayed the scene in his head. It barely took a second. Just a blink.
"It's Lyra being Lyra," he answered, like it was something he'd said many times before. "We ran into each other this morning, she said hi, and we caught up a bit. Just talked about what we'd be doing today, that's all."
He tilted his head slightly, and that's when I saw it. That tiny spark of curiosity in his eyes.
My question had surprised him. That much was clear.
But I didn't say anything else.
It wasn't the time to explain myself.
"Oh… I see."
That was all I said. Not a gesture more.
My mind kept spinning.
Wizbell… you…
Are you really that blind, or do you just ignore it on purpose?
He had always been different. That I already knew.
But I didn't think it was this much.
I turned and began to walk away, no clear direction in mind—just needing space.
Space to cool off what I was feeling, to calm the confusion mixed with something sharper… more uncomfortable.
So… if she can… then so can I.
I said it without thinking. I didn't even know if I said it out loud or just murmured it to myself. But I said it.
Wizbell followed beside me in silence. I didn't look at him, but I could feel him there. His steps were light, as if he didn't want to disturb me. And his ears… they were slightly folded back.
He was worried.
"Uh… yeah, sure… wait, what?!" he suddenly blurted, confused.
I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye.
He looked back at me, puzzled.
"What did you mean by that…?"
I didn't answer.
Not yet.
I kept walking, letting the silence speak for me.
My mind wouldn't settle. Not with him this close. Not with that confused look in his eyes—
—a look that somehow hurt more than if he'd understood.
Maybe I should ask Celestia...
No. No. Not her.
Cadance.
Yes.
Cadance will be able to help me.
She's always understood matters of the heart in ways I can't. Or don't want to. Or don't know if I'm ready to accept.
With the idea burning clearly in my chest, I took off running.
No looking back.
No saying another word.
I left Wizbell standing there, confused, his mouth slightly open.
He'll get over it.
——————————————————————
Wizbell's POV
I watched her run off.
She didn't say anything else.
I just stood there, not fully grasping what had just happened.
"What...?"
My eyebrow arched.
'So if she can… then so can I.'
That's what she said, right?
"Hormones, maybe...? Did they finally catch up to her?"
I let out a sigh and shook my head silently at how weird the whole thing had been—her behavior, her mood swings, her sudden exit.
None of it made sense.
But hey. She seems okay.
"I should stock up on chocolate... lots of chocolate, if Twilight's going through delayed puberty—"
"WHUHH!! HAHAHAHA! THIS IS PURE GOLD!"
A loud thud came from the roof.
Stella had fallen off a beam from laughing too hard, rolled over the edge, and landed on her paws like it was nothing. She kept laughing in broken gasps as she wiped away a tear with the back of her paw.
"Delayed puberty! I can't take it! Wizbell, I love you!"
I stared at her, deadpan.
"You were there the whole time?"
"Obviously," she said with a sharp-toothed grin. "That was better than any soap opera I've ever eavesdropped on."
I sighed.
"I need more chocolate than I thought."
"And I need popcorn. For episode two."
She stretched her limbs, leapt effortlessly, and landed on my back.
"Let's go! I've gotta negotiate with Sunny! The longer we take, the longer I wait for my snacks and cakes!" she said, giving my back a couple of light taps like I was her personal ride.
"Stop giving everyone nicknames."
"Never."
Without distractions, we reached home quickly.
Stella jumped off my back the moment we crossed the door and darted straight to her bed. She rummaged through her things, pulled out a memory trap, filled it without saying a word, and dashed off to my office.
She was inside for less than a minute. When she came out, she looked noticeably more relaxed.
"Done! Mission complete!"
I stared at her in silence.
"How many of those do you have now?"
Stella gave me a proud, feline grin.
"Enough to write an entire saga."
I rolled my eyes and headed toward my lab.
Today I planned to summon another console, this time in an isolated field to avoid magical contamination and protect the electronic components.
"I'll be locked up in the lab!" I called out to Stella, who was lounging for a moment on the couch.
She seemed to hesitate... then jumped to the floor and followed me without question.
"I'm coming with you!"
I sighed.
Even though she's not really a cat... she behaves exactly like one.
But when I opened the lab door, I was greeted by piles of broken artifacts, magical junk, and damaged tech I had summoned days ago.
I had completely forgotten.
I stopped in the doorway.
Let out another, longer sigh.
"What a mess..."
I scanned through everything. One by one.
Looking for anything actually useful.
Nothing.
Just test material.
Stuff I'd planned to organize later. But... what a drag.
So I just gathered it all with a compression spell, levitated the entire mess into the center of the room, and burned it at a temperature high enough to vaporize every bit of matter. I sealed off the heat with a magic field, and once only dust remained, I shaped it into a small sphere.
One final gesture, and I banished it somewhere I'd never have to see it again.
"I love that magic trick, Wiz," said Stella, now perched on a table, her tail swaying lazily.
"I use it for my dirty laundry too," I muttered.
Stella smiled with her eyes.
I moved to the designated summoning area and prepared more magical isolation circles.
They worked like a bubble: suspending the content by nullifying gravity.
A precaution before applying the real magical shielding over the console.
With practiced ease, I activated the spell: Echo Forge.
Instantly, a fragment of my magic was drawn into the core of the spell and into the four circles at once.
The console materialized in the center—solid, real.
Without delay, I deployed the magical shielding directly onto it.
It was sealed.
Stable.
Perfect.
A complete success.
"That thing again..." Stella muttered from a corner. "I was hoping for something more magical, or interesting... or edible, if I may say so!"
Her eyes lit up at her own suggestion.
I stared at her for a moment, then clicked my hooves.
I summoned a dessert from the castle kitchen.
Stella caught it mid-air with feline precision, but to avoid dropping it, she pulled off her little trick where she walked upright on two legs and popped out thumbs.
Then she looked at me with puppy-dog eyes while holding the pastry.
"Can I get a fork, please?"
I rolled my eyes and summoned one from the kitchen, levitating it in front of her snout.
"But you're cleaning it. No leaving it in my lab."
"Obviously, obviously~" she sang while settling down as if she were in a luxury patisserie.