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11:33, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Remains of the Golden Oak Library.

Posted by PonyvilleFor group 0
Spike
NPC, 47 posts
Fri 31 Aug 2012
at 15:54
  • msg #360

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

"Nah, it's okay.  I've got a system.  But if I were you, I'd take the chance to cram in a bit of study before Twilight wakes up... I heard her giggling about how she was gonna drop a pop quiz on you today." Spike warned in a furtive whisper, as if he were afraid saying the phrase 'pop quiz' at full volume would somehow summon Twilight immediately.

Twilight wasn't one of those teachers who dropped extra homework, study, or quizzes on a student to be mean.  It was just that she absolutely adored education and sometimes forgot that not everypony was as keenly into book work as much as she was.  Still, a bit of extra study time before the fact was sure to do Starcrasher some favors.  Meanwhile, Spike went back to his morning chores.  The Library had a certain level of chaos to it as well, but that was only because Twilight wasn't always very good at immediately cleaning up after herself.  Things got cluttered to a certain extent before she and Spike would tidy the whole place up all at once, then slowly allow it to become cluttered again.  It was different than the omnipresent mess that filled Widget's workplace.
Starcrasher
player, 276 posts
Only shooting stars
break the most
Fri 31 Aug 2012
at 17:39
  • msg #361

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

- "Duly noted."

With the saddlebags off her back, Starcrasher walked up to one of the shelves to get a couple of study books, and decided to read through a couple of things she wasn't quite sure of. She vaguely wondered just how long ago Twilight had graduated, because she had the feeling some of the things she was being taught came straight out of the advanced classes. Still, if it would learn her to cast magic, she'd have learned to recite the history of Equestria backwards if need be.
Twilight Sparkle
player, 242 posts
Mon 3 Sep 2012
at 06:10
  • msg #362

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

The morning rolled along a bit at a time while Starcrasher and Spike both tended to their own affairs.  The young Dragon was always up for idle chit chat and kept Starcrasher company while she studied, though after a while a soft 'whud!' and a sleepy grumble indicated that Twilight had finally woken up... apparently by falling out of her bed.  The Unicorn herself came ambling out of her room a few minutes later with a hair brush hovering about fixing her mane and tail, though she paused on the stairs when she saw her pupil already there and reading.

"Oh!  Good morning Starcrasher.  Good morning Spike." she greeted them both with a cheerful but still somewhat sleepy chime.  "Sorry I kept you waiting.  I had a really long night the other evening..." she couldn't quite stifle a yawn.

"I'll say.  Xing Ming is cute, but she needs to learn how to control her volume." Spike rolled his eyes.  "She gets all excited and chirpy over Astronomy."

"Well can you blame her?  It's a fascinating subject~." Twilight was pretty chirpy about it herself as she cantered on down the stairs.  "So, Starcrasher, I hope you're ready for some fun today~!  You get to take a pop quiz~!"
Starcrasher
player, 279 posts
Only shooting stars
break the most
Mon 3 Sep 2012
at 15:21
  • msg #363

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

- "Twilight, i'd honestly be surprised if there was a subject you haven't found fascinating to some degree."

Starcrasher chuckled as she closed the book she had been reading, moving to the saddlebags filled with her homework of last week. It seemed like a lot, and it honestly had been, but the amount of research that she had to do to be able to write this much made the two bags pale in comparison. Fortunately what she had remembered of her lessons provided her with the necessary pointers on where to look, but still...

And then, much as Spike had guessed would happen, a pop quiz was brought up. The young unicorn rolled her eyes with a halfhearted 'Yay', though it was not aimed to offend.
Twilight Sparkle
player, 244 posts
Mon 3 Sep 2012
at 18:56
  • msg #364

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Starcrasher's monotone 'yay' was echoed by Twilight's own, though hers was one of genuine glee as she hovered over a bound scroll to spread out on the table before her.  It was already filled with a few dozen questions, most of them essay style, and intimidatingly few multiple choice.  Apparently Twilight's idea of a pop quiz was similar to what the Academy's idea of a mid-term.

"Here you go~!  Remember, no notes.  Memorization skills are key in the field of magical theory, and you're not going to be able to keep cue cards around all the time for reminders." she advised sagely.  Her magic flared once more as she conjured an hour glass out of thin air and set it down on the table to start the flow of sand.  "Two hours should be plenty of time.  Relax, pace yourself, and have fun~!"

Perhaps the most annoying thing was that she said 'have fun' without a drop of sarcasm in her voice.  Twilight left Starcrasher to her test and headed off to the kitchen to get breakfast started; the three of them could all eat together once Starcrasher was finished.  Was there anything better than reviewing and grading a test over breakfast?
Starcrasher
player, 288 posts
Only shooting stars
break the most
Mon 3 Sep 2012
at 19:55
  • msg #365

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Starcrasher sighed as she headed to the table. Time was ticking, and the only thing she would achieve by complaining to Twilight about it was that she'd have less time to spend on filling out the pop quiz itself. Figuring that, true to her family's beliefs, hard training led to the best results, she got started on the first of the questions.

- "Right. Question One: Name ten applicable uses of the levitation spell in everyday life."

She blinked. That was a fairly easy one compared to the others, she could already think of several ways they could help, like lifting boxes, allowing Ponies to get cats out of trees... Quite a simple question, really... There! Now on to the next question.

- "Lessee... Question Two: Now describe the economic, cultural and developmental consequences of each of the answers given in Question One."

Starcrasher facehooved. This was going to take longer than she thought. She only hoped two hours would be enough.
Twilight Sparkle
player, 245 posts
Tue 4 Sep 2012
at 04:15
  • msg #366

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Time slipped on by one grain of sand at a time while Starcrasher worked.  Twilight remained busy in the kitchen since she'd gotten herself absorbed in reading a cookbook and was trying to decide what to make for breakfast.  It kept her out of Starcrasher's mane... the Librarian meant well, but she had a habit of peering over her pupil's shoulder while she worked and unwittingly adding to the pressure.

Every now and then Spike's chores would bring him along past Starcrasher and he'd pause to peek up at her work himself, though for different reasons.  Whenever he noticed the filly struggling, he'd lean in and quietly whisper a little hint or prompt to get her thought process moving again.  He didn't cheat -- he never just flat out gave her an answer, but instead merely bumped her in the right direction with a little nudge.
Starcrasher
player, 292 posts
Only shooting stars
break the most
Tue 4 Sep 2012
at 07:52
  • msg #367

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Starcrasher genuinely tried to figure out the answers on her own, and though Spike meant well with his helpful hints, she couldn't quite shake the feeling that being helped on the quiz by a baby dragon had injured her pride somehow. She did not show it of course, but every time Spike offered her a hint it motivated her to put more effort into it so she wouldn't need another hint on the next question. As the seconds ticked by, she continued to struggle with a couple of questions covering subjects she knew was a subject she had not studied yet, but it had been among the material Twilight had made her do homework on, so...
Twilight Sparkle
player, 246 posts
Fri 7 Sep 2012
at 14:29
  • msg #368

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Time marched steadily on and, as Starcrasher struggled through one question after another, they actually kept on becoming a greater and greater task to work through.  Worse still was that many asked to refer back to Starcrasher's own answers as the variable for a posed problem, meaning she'd have to be careful about what she wrote in the first place.  Reading ahead to see what other questions awaited her had some dire consequences too... the later questions were downright cruel!

~Question 19:
Briefly discuss the cultural impacts of magic-users who suffer Cognitive Dissociation in modern Equestrian society, as opposed to their treatment in pre-Third Generation expansion.


Unlike in Canterlot, where lessons had been very straight-forward cases of 'do or do not', Twilight's tutelage was a bit more... varied.  On one hoof, she threw a staggering amount of reading and research into the mix on a slew of seemingly unrelated topics.  But on the other hoof, they all had ways of gradually linking together like the pieces of a puzzle.  The connections were all there... one just had to do a lot of cross-referencing to find them.
Starcrasher
player, 296 posts
Only shooting stars
break the most
Fri 7 Sep 2012
at 19:05
  • msg #369

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Starcrasher bit a corner of her lip as she tried to figure out what the answer to the question would be. Sure, cognative dissoniance, umm... They were... magic users that didn't know what to choose, or something like that. That meant that... they were probably stuck back then because in the old days they had a master-apprentice system, whereas nowadays it would be more like one hop to the library to read up on other stuff. Something Twilight seemed to have done a lot.

One glance at the clock told her that the last question she would have to skip, nor could she afford the time to think much on the nineteenth question: First hunch it was then! Not having a clue about what else it could be, she decided to forgo the headache and just write that down.
Twilight Sparkle
player, 247 posts
Fri 7 Sep 2012
at 20:54
  • msg #370

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Eventually the last grain of sand fell from the hourglass and the whole thing poofed out of existence with a noisy 'womf~!' of air rushing in to replace the vacuum the dispelled item left behind.  Time was up and Starcrasher would only have a few moments to finish scrawling down the last of her answers before Twilight came trotting on out of the kitchen with a string of glowing bowls floating behind her.  Apparently she'd decided to make a spring salad for breakfast, though she'd also thought of Spike as one of the salads was dotted with rubies instead of cherry tomatoes.

"Alright, time's up~!  How did you feel about that, Starcrasher?" the Unicorn asked cheerfully as she set the bowls around the center table so that they could all nosh and discuss the results of the test together.  Spike seemed more interested in chowing down than the pop quiz though and immediately set into his salad.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:55, Fri 07 Sept 2012.
Starcrasher
player, 297 posts
Only shooting stars
break the most
Fri 7 Sep 2012
at 21:53
  • msg #371

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Starcrasher winced, massaging her temples with her hooves before sliding the paper over to Twilight for her to check the answers and undoubtedly grade her efforts.

- "Ugh... Now i know you're mixing in stuff from the advanced classes. Couple of questions were a first so i kind of had to guess what i was supposed to do."

The test she handed back over actually had more answers crossed out than actual.. answers. While normally students were expected to use a simple erasing spell to remove wrong answers, the side effects of her own magic would likely have ended up causing a blackout. Or worse, dispel the clock. Hard as the test was, she didn't want to make it appear as if she was cheating.
Twilight Sparkle
player, 248 posts
Sat 8 Sep 2012
at 08:24
  • msg #372

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Twilight plucked up the paper with her magic and held it aloft while her reading glasses floated on over to rest on the bridge of her snout.  She didn't actually need reading glasses at all... it was a mild bit of vanity since she liked the aesthetic.  They made her feel more like a teacher.

"Guilty as charged.  Pop quizzes aren't just meant to check on what you know -- they also serve to gauge how well you're retaining information, how far ahead you may have studied, and test critical thinking skills." she explained as she skimmed over the answers one by one.  "It's also a test for me too.  A student's achievements and failures are a reflection of the teacher's.  So this also lets me know how I need to adjust my own teaching style to make sure you're getting the most out of all this.  If you're struggling, it means I'm not doing my job right."

Yes, lessons with Twilight were rather different than lessons in Canterlot.  Perhaps it was because she'd done the same courses herself and already had that scholastic career under her belt?  Back in Canterlot, there was always a sense of 'if you don't get it right, it's because you're dumb' when it came to tests.  The teachers often held themselves as being nigh infallible, and it was all on the students to ensure that they could keep up.  So to have Twilight note that Starcrasher not understanding some of the material was because she was pushing too hard or not explaining things well enough herself was quite the turn.

"You actually did pretty well though.  You even caught the trick question in number nineteen.  Though I think you need to brush up on the specifics of Cognitive Dissonance.  Still, good job for spotting that 'Cognitive Dissociation' isn't even real." she offered praise easily enough.  "A lot of magical writings and theories are ancient and damaged, so it's important to be able to figure out the overall concept and what the writer means to ask rather than what's necessarily written exactly on the paper.  It can be the difference between mastering a tricky transmutation spell and, as I found out the hard way, turning your coat polka-dotted for a week."
Starcrasher
player, 300 posts
Only shooting stars
break the most
Sat 8 Sep 2012
at 12:05
  • msg #373

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Starcrasher just nodded, though from the look on her face she didn't really understand what the trick part of the question had been. It's not that she correctly identified the affliction to be false, but rather a failure to grasp the meaning of the term in the first place. Cognitive had something to do with perception, and Dissonance was what it was called when something wasn't in harmony, so she had simply concluded that it had something to do with somepony seeing things differently than another. And since the question mentioned magic-users specifically, her fist thought was that it would have had to do with teaching.

- "Actually, that's the problem... I've never had and Advanced Classes because my problem with spells kept me from passing the Basic ones i needed to get past first. Half the stuff you're telling me to learn i hadn't even heard of before, it's like trying to cram six months of school into a single week."

She sighed, taking a bite of salad. Twilight meant well, she really did, but she felt she was getting close to a point where she'd spent too much time trying to retain amounts of new information that made her head spin to throw even more information onto the pile. It was okay for Twilight since she literally lived in a Library, but she had a job too!
Twilight Sparkle
player, 249 posts
Sat 8 Sep 2012
at 20:57
  • msg #374

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

"Actually, it's eight and a half months worth of approved curriculum." Twilight corrected with a smile.  She certainly didn't seem worried about the workload she was putting on her pupil.  "The thing is, magical study is divided into two basic fields: Practical and Theoretical.  Practical study is the actual application of magic while Theoretical study is all the book reading behind it.  Naturally there's only so far you can go with one before you need to start applying the other.  The thing is, you should have been taught this sort of thing already."

Twilight's thoughts drifted immediately over to a letter she had in her desk from the Canterlot academy head offices.  Given her connections with the school it was easy for her to get just about any information she needed -- she knew all the professors personally, after all.  Finding out about Starcrasher's education so far and the reasoning as to why she'd been sent out for 'personal field study' as it had been justified disappointed her though.  There were plenty of cases where Unicorns who lacked raw magical strength necessary for casting spells were still given a full education without issue.  It was because of Starcrasher's 'side-effects' that she'd been pushed out the school and the very thought of it put a scowl on Twilight's face.  She didn't blame Starcrasher's lack of understanding on the filly herself since it was obvious that the desire and drive to learn were there... she just hadn't been given the chance she needed to apply them.

"Overall, you pulled in a solid 'C' for the pop quiz.  Great job~!" the Unicorn jotted down the final grade and point ratio on the top of the scroll, then gave it back to Starcrasher to keep like all her tests.  A 'C' was exactly average... not failing, but not excelling either.  But given that she'd never even cast the spells that the test spoke on or have the practical exercises that accompanied the theories, that was an impressive grade to hold.  "I know it may not feel like it, but you are showing development, Starcrasher." she assured her student with a smile. "So, how would you like to go out to the White Tail Woods for more telekinesis practice?"
Starcrasher
player, 303 posts
Only shooting stars
break the most
Sat 8 Sep 2012
at 21:15
  • msg #375

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Starcrasher put the test away into her saddlebags, now properly emptied of homework. Theory was all good and well, and she had the mind to know what was being talked about, but much like Twilight said without practical application there was little she could do. She gave a weak smile at the praise and looked up when telekinesis practice was mentioned.

- "Oh, that'd be great actually."

She did her best to sound enthusiastic, but something about it didn't sound genuine. She was afraid she'd just end up failing like she had a million times before. The reason she was relieved that practice was in the White Tail Woods was not just because there was nothing in the area to accidentally disrupt, but there were also less ponies around to witness her failings. She sighed deeply, taking a bite of salad that seemed to have lost its taste.
Tik Tok
NPC, 3 posts
Tick Tock, Tik Tok
Widget's Pet Automaton
Sat 8 Sep 2012
at 22:29
  • msg #376

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

<<< FROM: Ponyville Town Square

The slightly tuckered mechanical bird landed with a rather heavy thunk against the closed window of the main library study, the rolled up parchment squashed a bit under the metal bird's increased weight. Silver wings fluttering, it leaned forward and ticked its beak against the glass, causing the sound of 'ting, ting, ting' to echo within.
Twilight Sparkle
player, 250 posts
Sun 9 Sep 2012
at 16:56
  • msg #377

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Twilight was sympathetic to Starcrasher's situation even if she couldn't quite fully understand it.  She'd had her own difficulties with magic when she was young too and the thoughts of those first terrifying moments of failure during her entrance exams still echoed in her mind.  If it hadn't been for Rainbow Dash...

"Alright, let me just pack some supplies and--" she began but paused when she heard a familiar tapping at her window.

"I got it~!" Spike chimed as he hopped up from his empty bowl and scampered over to the window.  With a bit of clambering on the sill he opened the window up and scooped Tik Tok into his claws, letter and all, to carry them over to Twilight.  Message delivery was his gig, after all.

"Thanks Spike.  And thank you, Tik Tok." Twilight giggled as she tapped her horn on the little mechanical bird's head to give it a magical charge, replenishing its battery.  "Just a second, Starcrasher." she asked her pupil for a moment's patience while she unrolled the letter and read it.
Tik Tok
NPC, 4 posts
Tick Tock, Tik Tok
Widget's Pet Automaton
Mon 10 Sep 2012
at 01:16
  • msg #378

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Having received a good, firm jolt of magic to its stores, Tik Tok hopped right back up with a bright eyed mechanical chirp of gratitude and flutter of metal wings. As Twilight took the note, the bird hopped in Spike's little claws, fitting in them perfectly, to look at the little dragon and give a greeting. After all, they were both assistants to their fellow caretakers.

The note itself was short, and written in Widget's very recognizable, slightly untidy scrawl in blue ink.

~

Dear Twilight,

We've both been so busy with our work, it seems we haven't spent any quality time together the past few days. This simply won't do! It's getting hard to concentrate, wondering when I get to see you again. So I propose we solve this problem before it becomes all-encompassing. I would like to ask you to lunch with me, this afternoon in the Whitetail Woods, your special spot. Don't worry about bringing anything -- I will handle all the preparations. If you are able to come, please send a note back with Tik Tok. Hopefully, I will see you there at noon!

XOXO

Widget


~
Twilight Sparkle
player, 251 posts
Mon 10 Sep 2012
at 02:36
  • msg #379

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Twilight spent a few moments reading the note to herself and her cheeks flushed as a silly smile came to her face.  It was true that she and Widget had been getting wrapped up in their respective tasks... but all the same, she'd asked around about it too.  Everypony she talked to about it agreed that it was important that a couple still do things independently as well.  Besides... she had to admit she would have found it hard to concentrate...

"That is a seriously dopey grin there, Twi..." Spike deadpanned as his companion's smile got increasing flustered as her thoughts ran away with her.  Twilight instantly snapped back into focus with a shake of her head.

"Ah... heh... nevermind that.  I just need to write a quick reply." she said bashfully.

"You're on your own for that.  Leave me out of your mushy stuff." the Dragon refused his duty as scribe.  Twilight didn't mind one bit though in that case and hovered over a parchment and quill herself.  A quick bit of jotting later was all she needed before the note was rolled up and given to Tik Tok's metal claws.  "Okay Tik Tok; take this to Widget for me, please."
Starcrasher
player, 304 posts
Only shooting stars
break the most
Mon 10 Sep 2012
at 10:26
  • msg #380

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Starcrasher used the time Twilight had spent on reading and replying to the letter to finish her bowl of salad. As she started stacking the bowls to bring them into the kitchen, she half-turned to Twilight.

- "So umm... Are we going to do that teleport thing again?"
Twilight Sparkle
player, 252 posts
Mon 10 Sep 2012
at 14:03
  • msg #381

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

"Only if you want to.  It's a nice morning, so wouldn't a walk be more pleasant?" Twilight asked as she left Spike to take Tik Tok back to the window.  As much as she tended to abuse her ability to spam teleportation everywhere, Twilight didn't use it for absolutely everything.  Sometimes it was better to just take things slow and enjoy the trip.
Starcrasher
player, 305 posts
Only shooting stars
break the most
Mon 10 Sep 2012
at 14:09
  • msg #382

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

- "Okay, be right there!"

Starcrasher's voice came from the kitchen, where she was cleaning up as thanks for breakfast. She would be done in a couple of minutes, though she'd leave the things in a rack to dry simply because she had no clue where else to put them. Going by what she had learned the hard way on her first day, ponies didn't really appreciate a change of layout. When she was done, she walked out to join Twilight.

- "So uhh... What's this 'date' thing like, anyway? Isn't it just spending time together?"
Twilight Sparkle
player, 253 posts
Mon 10 Sep 2012
at 14:41
  • msg #383

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

Such a direct question got warmth rising to Twilight's cheeks again, though she managed to play it off well enough and gave a shrug she hoped was casual.

"W-well, yes, essentially.  There's a bit more to it than just that... and there's a different emotional context involved as well." she had trouble fully explaining it since she was still learning as she went herself.  The Unicorn gave her student a sidelong grin as a thought occurred to her.  "Why do you ask?  Is there somepony around town you've had your eye on?"

The two could talk while they walked; Twilight waved goodbye to Spike and Tik Tok, then opened the door for her and Starcrasher to hit the road.

--> Twilight exits to White Tail Woods
Starcrasher
player, 306 posts
Only shooting stars
break the most
Mon 10 Sep 2012
at 16:37
  • msg #384

Re: Ponyville Residential District - Books and Branches Library

After a moment's hesitation, Starcrasher shook her head. No, she didn't have her eye on anyone, at least not in the way Twilight seemed to imply.

- "Not really, just trying to figure it out i guess. What difference in context?"

Continuing to ask questions, she followed her teacher to the Whitetail Woods.

--> To: The Whitetail Woods -->
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