The Black Knight leaned against the wall, a hand over the wound that Darth Various caused. He looked at you, and smirked while holding up his fingers, ready to snap them. "No worries… I'll be fine." He chuckled a bit, looking at his hand. "I'll be adding another story to the list, hope you all don't flip out with how much of a work load on you, but what can I say? I have an overactive imagination, in all honesty Lopoddity gave me the idea for this one, and…" He gave a wink. "They'll need all the help I can give. Hope you enjoy this story, where you'll be introduced to a more… Relaxed story. To save the confusion, this story is Anthro'ed." He suddenly snapped his fingers, throwing you into the new story.
Chapter One
Twilight walked down the hallway of her, newly dubbed, Academy of Magical Arts. The moment her mentor gave her the seal of approval to start an Academy, instructing the different forms of magic to all races within Equestria… The youngest princess could barely hold her excitement back. Though, construction of such a promising university and gaining the faculty required to run it, nearly drove Twilight up the metaphorical wall.
She had been lucky to be blessed with friends that were well versed in different fields of study. Twilight asked Rarity to handle classes involving the use of unicorn magic to perform detailed and pattern oriented work, in which she lovingly agreed. Applejack decided to help with the teaching of agricultural magic, help every one of their students understand such a desired skill. Fluttershy went with teaching about, and how to care for, the different magical creatures one may come across. Rainbow Dash, unsurprisingly, took over the Physical Education Department, along with Weather Control. Pinkie Pie handled Home Education, so she can have fun teaching others how to cook. Zecora offered to teach potion making classes, even show them the shamanistic ways from Zebrica to those who would listen, and were intrigued… And, surprisingly, Discord offered to teach a class he called 'Chaos Theory and Implications', something he claimed as his "reformed community service duty'…
Yeah, Twilight did not buy it for a second, and had the draconequus Pinkie Promise not to cause any problems for her Academy.
Twilight managed to gain many more professors, all well versed and able to teach the expanded portions of the academicals spectrum… But there was one course that no professor could possibly teach, due to Equestria being so peaceful. For the longest time, she searched city after city, looking for a professor qualified to teach "Defense Against Dark Magic and -Entities" … Only one pony came close, but Starlight Glimmer had enough on her plate with Advance Magic and Implications courses, along with her Friendship Lessons… The unicorn mare even admitted that she had no idea how to teach the vacant course.
When Twilight was about to give up on finding such a nonexistent professor, disappointed that she couldn't help keep Equestria safe from evil, the universe threw a curve ball at her.
Eleven, towering, bipedal beings appeared without warning, some months ago… Of course, they and the Elements fought each other shortly after their sudden arrival, each believing to be a threat to the other. But their leader had it all come to a sudden halt, apparently Twilight's skills had impressed the towering sorcerer. After their ceasefire and long talk between the two leaders, Twilight discovered that their appearance in Equestria had been purely accidental. An attempted escape from some powerful foe, when their 'Warsmith' disappeared. Along with their leader being a well versed sorcerer and teacher, while his brothers were victims of another's attempts to "save" them from some dreaded curse.
Seeing this as an opportunity, from a likeminded individual, the princess asked if he could teach the vacant class, until said sorcerer could find a way back home… After much thought, and what seemed like a telepathic debate with the ten statue-like warriors, clad in iron and brass armor, the red and gold leader agreed. Claiming it to be "within the teachings of his lord and primarch".
Now, on the Academy's first official school day, the headmistress made her way to the DADAE, as Rainbow Dash called it, Classroom. Though, she wasn't going as herself, she rather not distract the class. No, the mare used a form altering spell to make herself look like a crimson unicorn mare with a silver mane and tail, called "Star Ruby".
Once she arrived, "Star Ruby" situated herself in the very back of the classroom, pulling out a notebook, a quill, and an inkwell; for notes on this instructor's teaching methods. Like many of the students, she arrived early so not to miss a thing. However, there were two "statues" flanking both sides of the blackboard, the other eight placed around certain points of the Academy. The newly made professors said these two are acting "teaching assistants" while the others waited to protect the school from any threat. But they did not make the class feel very safe, due to their intimidating looks.
The entire class looked towards the door, as it opened up and an eight-foot giant, clad in scarab red and gold armor, with a strange khopesh sword attached to his hip, walked in. He stopped at his desk, removing the crescent helmet, with a gold face mask and a single tear under its right eye, placing it on to said desk. All eyes were on this strange professor, who seemed more like some grand sorcerer-warrior, many of the female students blushing at his short cut brown hair mixed with rather defined facial feature and a thin beard. He turned to the blackboard, grabbing a piece of chalk, and wrote the title and name "Professor Anubis" in big letters.
His gaze lingered on the word "Professor", a satisfied smile on his lips, before the giant faced the group, his emerald eyes scanning all those within the class. Most were still eyeing the decorative iconography edged in his armor, such as the golden phoenix on his right shoulder pad, its crimson counterpart on his waist tunic, or the jackal head etched into his breastplate. "Now then…" Without his helmet's breather giving it a metallic tone, Twilight noticed how gentle the sorcerer's tone was… Earning a blush of her own. "As you all may have probably guessed, I am Professor Anubis, Pyrae Sorcerer from the Thousand Sons Legion. I am here to teach you all how to defend yourselves against Dark Magic and Dark Entities… At the Headmistress' request."
A Gryphon raised her hand up, earning a nod of acknowledgement from Anubis. "Professor Anubis, um, I hope you do not mind me asking, but… What makes you the most qualified to teach this class? I mean, I heard that not even the Equestria's finniest magic users were qualified, and one of them is a princess and the headmistress herself." Twilight flinched, fearing a verbal reprimand from the Astartes turned teacher.
But Anubis only smiled at the question. "A good inquiry, Ms. Mira, I applaud your curiosity." His response earned a blush from the Gryphon. "To answer your question? I must regale what organization I come from… My Legion was one of twenty, and we specialized in psychic, or magical, warfare. We prioritized our abilities into five separate cults." He went to the blackboard again, and started to write the five types on to it. "Corvidae, precognition. Pyrae, Pryokinetic. Pavoni, body chemistry manipulation. Athanaeans, telepathic. And Raptora, telekines." The class started to take notes on what he said, writing the five cults, and their specializations, down. "I was a member of the Pyrae, as I mentioned before, a pyromancer to those who do not understand what 'pryokinetic' means. What makes me qualified to teach this class, is very simple… Our Legion incorporated these five cults to be used in both everyday life, and battle."
The class stopped, some gasping at his response at how the Astartes actually wielded magic to harm others, trained to do that. Despite this, however, he continued with the explanation.
"We have gone against just about everything you can think of, including other Astartes and daemonic entities." He placed the chalk down, and faced the class. "One can imagine the dangers I have faced for the past one hundred years." The class gasped again, hearing the sorcerer's venerable age. "While I shall not say I know everything, such a statement is fool hearty and rather idiotic, I will say that I took my Legion's knowledge seeking side very seriously-…"
For some reason, Anubis stopped and looked at the armored statues behind him, frowning at the iron clad beings.
Before any of the students could ask if he was alright, even Twilight starting to worry about the professor, the Anubis looked back at them with a cold, serious, stare. "With that said, I shall enter my first lesson." He went back to the blackboard, and started to write something. "One thing to remember, is that 'Knowledge is Power', ignorance being one's truest of enemies. That is what Magnus the Red, Sorcerer King of Prospero and Lord of the Thousand Sons Legion, taught us."
Twilight smiled at such a philosophy. "I think he and I would get along, if that is how he views everything." She thought, unconsciously writing down notes for Anubis' class, like she was actually one of his students.
Anubis placed the chalk down, turning around and leaning against the wall. "However, there are some things that should go without knowing about." He motioned to both of the statues. "I am sure you have seen eight more of these suits of armor, around campus?" The class all nodded at his question, Twilight taking more notes.
When she first asked about these strange beings, Anubis completely avoided the subject. Twilight could sense the powerful, enchanted, runes hidden all over their metal bodies, sealing them magically. At first, she thought they were just animated constructs, some high end spell bringing them to life, being controlled by Anubis' own magic… But, after she overheard him actually having a conversation with them, each suit having a name of its own… She knew there had been far more to them.
Boy, did she wish to be wrong. "They are the unfortunate victims, and result, of learning too much and putting trust into an unknown entity." The entire class stopped writing, looking at their instructor. "That is correct, everyone… At one point in time, these intimidating suits of armor? Were no different than me… Now, they are just empty shells, their souls bound within the very armor they wore when a spell, meant to save them, forever cursed their existence."
The entire room gasped in horror, loudly, as Twilight placed a hand over her muzzle. It took every ounce of concentration not to allow her disguise to drop, from such a shock. "Sweet Celestia… T-That's terrible!" She thought, before a drake raised his claw.
"Yes, Mr. Smaug?" Anubis asked, nodding to the bronze drake.
"Professor Anubis… That cannot be possible, nothing has such power to perform a thing." The drake said, skeptical of what had been said.
"To mortals, which includes those long lived like I, yes. But to a daemonic entity, centered around sorcery and change? Very possible, they can manipulate anything they see fit, Mr. Smaug." Anubis suddenly smiled, his irises starting to glow and shift colors. "But, if you still have doubts about what I have just told you?"
Without warning, the statue to Anubis' right suddenly jolted, its eyes glowing green. To the entire class' shock, the statue turned and walked up to the blackboard, picking up a piece of chalk and wrote a name. Once done, it faced the class, and placed a clawed hand over his heart. "G-Greatings, class… I a-am Brother C-Calious." His voice echoed around the room, almost like it was a ghost speaking to them, and not a suit of armor! Every one of them, even Twilight, went slack jawed. "I l-look forward t-to helping you… L-Learn."
Anubis placed a hand on to Calious' hazard strip-colored left shoulderguard. "Brother… You may rest. I know it strains you more to speak to all of them, instead of using telepathy." The Rubricae nodded, going back to his former position, and falling silent. The Sorcerer released a pained sigh, obviously showing that such an attempt had strained him, as well. "I bet you're all wondering, 'why are they wearing a different color than Professor Anubis', correct?" They all nodded. "Well, that is because of the Warband we joined, after leaving our Legion. I was allowed to keep my colors, since I am their leader, but they had to wear the Warband's colors." Anubis placed a hand on to his forehead, regaining his composure. "But that is off topic…" A new hand went up, drawing the instructor's attention. "Yes, Ms. Star Ruby?"
"I-Is there any way to possibly reverse the spell cast on them?" Twilight asked, her eyes still wide at such a terrible revelation.
The question made him twitch, causing the entire class to flinch. "Unfortunately, no… This should prove as a lesson to you all." Anubis leaned on to his desk, Twilight happy she magically reinforced it for him. "You must be aware as to what you are learning, and know when you are taking things too far." He gave a sigh, and suddenly gained a serious stare. "Along with not allowing your emotions to push you over that edge, or…" He motioned to both Rubricae. "This could be your result."
That unnerved many of the students within his class, such a result being rather terrifying to them. Twilight, on the other hand, quickly made a few notes about Anubis' teaching methods. Actively deters students from seeking too much knowledge, but still encourages them to seek knowledge. She looked up at him, slightly listening to the Astartes' lecture on what basic forms dark magic and entities use as their signatures, a way to identify them early. This caused her to smile, seeing how serious he is taking this job given to him, before continuing. Shows actual care and interest for his students, along with their safety. Nothing being too small, no question going unanswered.
Though, her concentration had been interrupted, when the bell suddenly rang. This signified that the class was over, for today. While the other students gathered their things, and left the classroom. Star Ruby waited in line to speak with their professor. She smiled at how many students were saying they are looking forward to his class, or how he had peaked their interest in some way. There was even a unicorn stallion asking for an assignment, wanting to start a research paper on his course. This caused Anubis to smile, and had told him to have a ten-page report on the corruption of Princess Luna, and how the Nightmare Entity took her over, on his desk within a week's time, a task the stallion seemed to beam with joy about.
When the others had finished, and left, Star Ruby walked up to the Astartes, who was restacking some papers. "Professor Anubis-?"
He suddenly heled a clawed index finger to her, causing Twilight to fall silent. Reaching the other hand towards the door, Anubis quickly clutched it, and pulled it back to him. This, somehow, caused the classroom door to shut and lock, the Astartes now facing her. "Now then, what did you think of my lesson, Headmistress?" He asked, making her go wide eyed.
Twilight quickly dropped her disguised, revealing both her lavender coat and wings. "H-How did you know it was me?" She asked, with a blush. "None of the other Professors could tell, my disguise was perfect!"
Anubis chuckled a bit, crossing both arms over the jackal on his chest. "If I were one of them, I would not have even noticed. However, those of my Legion are taught a spell in which allows us to do something called 'soul recognition'. I used it, the moment you asked that question… Try hiding your voice next time." Twilight blushed, forgetting something so simple, as he suddenly started to examine her form, rubbing his thinly bearded chin. "Huh…"
Twilight started to examine herself, slightly panicked. "W-What? Did that spell misfire again!? I swear, it always leaves something unaltered, when cast or dispelled!" She started to bounce around, trying to see every point of herself, but could not find a thing wrong with her, and heard him starting to give an amused chuckle. "W-What?"
"Oh, nothing is the matter, Headmistress… I was honestly admiring how well you wear the Academy Uniform." Anubis answered, as Twilight went wide eyed, and examined said uniform she was wearing.
It was true about how well she wore it, since the white undershirt and violet overcoat hugged against her frame perfectly. Though, the pink ribbon-tie rested neatly around her collar, the ends resting just above where the outline of her, decently sized, breast became visible. The violet, pink, and magenta; plaid skirt reached a little past mid-thigh, but her white stockings covered any parts of her legs that would have bene exposed. The place for her wings were meant for pegasi, but she used an illusion spell to hide the holes when walking around as 'Star Ruby'… Male students wore a similar variant of the uniform, except they wore khaki pants with a blue dress tie.
The fact he commented on how well she wore the uniform, made Twilight's cheeks burn more intense. She attempted to hide it, by lowering her head so that her banes covered the blushing mare's face. "R-Rarity ne-needed somepony to model in it, t-to see what it would look like on a mare…" She looked to the side, somewhat embarrassed that she had been caught wearing the uniform in public. "Only natural I be the model for such a thing, since it is my Academy, and she let me keep the uniform… Figured this would help with my disguise."
Anubis smiled at such a reaction, even an Astartes would have to admit her reaction was rather adorable. "Well then, consider me lucky I got a chance to see you in it… Now then!" He grabbed a piece of paper, and handed it to Twilight. "If you like to attend more of my lectures, you are more than welcomed to, as yourself or Ms. Star Ruby." Twilight nodded, taking the piece of paper. "That is an assignment I am planning on reserving for the more promising students… Your assistant told me about your studious nature, and knack for difficult assignments, and I would like for you to try it out… See if it is truly worthy for the more advance academic levels."
Twilight smiled, before eyeing the assignment he gave her. To her surprise, it was asking for a fifty-page report, along with a thirty-page research paper, on the differences in corruption between the Nightmare Entity, King Sombra's Magic, and Chaos Magic! This was a really advance assignment, even for her! Anubis was asking for sources, along with personal notes, as well. This was a true challenge for the intellectual minds.
She suddenly gained a grin, that unnerved the Astartes, before looking up at him. "You really know how to show a mare, of my nature, a grand time, Anubis!" Twilight giggled, scanning the assignment again. "With the amount of research required for me to do this, there is no telling what I could stumble upon!" She suddenly beamed, causing Anubis to gain a slight shock. "I could even discover a cure for any permanent damage the three could cause! Even become a potential research source for one of your future students! I need to get started on this, right away-HURK!"
Twilight was about to run out, but Anubis grabbed ahold of her collar. After she finished hacking, and asked why he nearly crushed her wind pipe with such a suddenly hold, the Astartes pointed at her body. "Forgot to put your disguise back on, Headmistress." He simply answered, Twilight blushing at the fact her excitement allowed the mare to overlook something like that.
