[ Video ]

[celestial_wizard]

[ The feed turns on, with Lucy sitting on the edge of the fountain in Traverse. There is a Meow-Wow currently bounding about in front of her, full of life and energy, much to her amusement. ]

Hey hey, those cute little moogles helped me with those Dream Eaters you guys were telling me about. Just look at him -- her ...uh...whichever. Isn't it cute!? [ She giggles, then ohs. ]

That reminds me, I promised I'd introduce some of my spirits to a few of you. Lyra and Plue should do, I think. [ She reaches to the keypouch at her side, drawing out two silver keys, swiping both into the air. ]

"I am connecting a path to the celestial spirit world! Heed my call and pass through the gate! Open the Gates of the Little Dog and Lyre. Come on Plue, Lyra!"

[ Incantation complete, there are twin POMS of smoke and sparkles, and seconds later are two figures - on Lucy's left, a young girl that looked about sixteen, holding a harp under one arm and looking far too excited for words. On her right, a tiny creature that resembled a snowman - and not a snowman at the same time; but he trembled, quickly hiding behind Lucy's right leg. ]

Comments

[letteropener]

I don't believe I've ever seen magic of that nature before... They are connected to constellations?

[celestial_wizard]

Yeah. For every constellation there is, there's a spirit to go along with it. There may be countless more, but I haven't met them yet.

[letteropener]

I wish you could meet my student. She'd love to see this kind of magic.

[Brief, understandable sadness from Celestia. She feels no shame in admitting she misses her faithful student.]

Could you tell me more of the technical details?

[celestial_wizard]

Your student? She... isnt' here, is she? [ Lucy's voice dips a bit, sympathetic. But she brightens again in the question.]

Sure! What would you like to know in particular?

[letteropener]

No. Twilight Sparkle is not here. The only other Equestrian present is my sister, Princess Luna, and she was alone here for some time before I arrived.

[She says this with some regret, because while Luna hadn't truly been 'alone' in that she had made friends here, the idea that she had been taken away from the sister who loved her galls Celestia.]

What are the precise mechanics? Is this a true summoning, in which you are magically transporting the spirits here?

[celestial_wizard]

Yes. I use my magic to open the gate between this world and the Spirit world, and support them when they're pulled through to this plane. But because they're using my magic, depending on their level of strength, I can keep them summoned for only so long before they go back lest they drain my magic completely.

Sometimes they come on their own magic power though, to help out.

[letteropener]

So they are truly allies, and not merely contractual partners.

[Celestia approves of that sort of relationship very much.]

[celestial_wizard]

Of course.

There are, unfortunately, some celestial wizards who think of spirits as just weapons, but - I would never think that. I love my celestial spirits - they're all my dear friends and allies.

[ Lyra looks up on that note, and beams, reaching over and glomp-hugging the blonde summoner tightly. ]

We love you too, Lucy-sama~!

[ Lyra...Lucy can't...breathe. D: ]

[letteropener]

[A momentary lack of breath is a small price to pay for such warm regard, Lucy. Celestia smiles happily, if a little wistfully, at the sight.]

I'm still uncertain how human magic works -- there seem to be many different variants of it. Are you born with that magic, or can it be taught?

[celestial_wizard]

We're born with the magic within us already - learning the magic is usually a little difficult, unless you have a mentor to teach you. Otherwise, it's pretty much learn as you go.

[letteropener]

Is it a specific sort of magic -- that is, are you born to your Celestial Summoning, or is it simply the ability to use magic, that takes the form you learn to shape it to?

[celestial_wizard]

I was born to it. I don't know if it's the same for other magic users, but as for myself, celestial spirit summoning is rare. It's only been hereditary. Before my, my mother was a celestial wizard, and- there are so few of us now. Three, I think. At least count anyway.

[letteropener]

Interesting. But you say that you had to study it, even though the ability to use it is born within you. Perhaps there are others who have the ability, but not the training?

[celestial_wizard]

Well, when I say "study" it's less something that can be studied through the use of books. There are one or two about other celestial wizards, but for the most part I learn by doing. Actually to think about it, that is how almost everyone learns to make their magic grow stronger - by pushing their limits or being mentored by someone.

I recently acquired Capricorn, who was my mother's spirit a long time ago - he's been training me in my magic.

[letteropener]

I understand. And that explains how that magic to come to be, if the spirits themselves can teach it. Magic in Equestria is a combination of knowledge and theory, and practical ability, and most unicorns have a similar knack with one particular area of magic, related to their talent.

[celestial_wizard]

It's really kind of fascinating to know that magic seems so similar even though the worlds are so very different.

[letteropener]

I'm curious if my student could master it. Her talent is magic, in all its forms, and she has a remarkable aptitude for performing spells she has only even seen.

[celestial_wizard]

Hm, maybe if she was in possession of one of the celestial keys. You can't use celestial magic without it and a contract - and that's no guarantee the a spirit will grant their assistance.

[letteropener]

So a celestial key allows you access to the spirit it is tied to, then?

Can you make keys?

[celestial_wizard]

No - at least not by 'humans'. The keys are created by the spirits themselves, and those keys are found in the mortal world and sold.

[letteropener]

So the spirits are eager to make contracts with people, rather than being coaxed into it. Given the rarity of celestial mages, that must make each of you very pivotal on your world.