Chapter Three
Twilight sat at the center of her office/room, legs crossed over the other, as she focused intently on the figure in front of her. All else within the room lost focus, slowly fading to black, until only she and the ironclad Rubricae were left. Every bit of her concentration went to the one Anubis called "Kamaat', trying to push her consciousness into him. The mare's horn began to glow, as Kamaat's body gained an aura of blue, her mind reaching out to the dull helmet. The closer Twilight got, the more she could feel the soul trapped within the power armor. She could sense every emotion he is feeling, eve the surprise when Kamaat felt her own presence. Twilight knew it would not be long, she had this in the bag, soon she could-!
The moment Twilight connected with Kamaat, a backlash of psychic energy sent her flying back! Before she could collide with a bookshelf, the crimson and gold clad hand of Anubis quickly caught her, and brought the mare into a countering embrace. "You were very close, Twilight… After two weeks of training, I sensed you almost woke Kamaat from his slumber." He chuckled, lowering Twilight to the ground.
Twilight lowered herself to the ground, breathing heavily. Just attempting to wake one Rubricae drained Twilight quite a bit of her magic, excluding this being her tenth attempt today. Once her breath had been regained, she smiled up at the Astartes. "You have… Put so much faith… In teaching me this, h-how could I not do my best… Each time?"
Her words made Anubis chuckle some, shaking his head. "Giving it your all, while admirable and inspiring, can be dangerous in these lessons." The Sorcerer slowly walked in front of the mare, sitting down himself. "You could end up pushing too much of yourself into the Rubricae, and risk being trapped as well."" He placed a hand over the jackal head over his breastplate. "Whenever I link with them, I use half of my remaining concentration to regulate my remaining power. This limits how I fight, but my defenses are greater because of this."
"So, such power comes at a price?" She asked.
Anubis gave a nod, both hands on his knees. "I could not put it better myself, Twilight." He lifted his right hand up, placing the tip of it against her forehead. She could suddenly felt a warm surge course throughout her body, almost like the Astartes was examining her with some spell. "Your body is drained; I think our private lessons shall end for today… Do not want you pushing your body too far."
Twilight gave a nod, leaning back and using both arms to brace herself up. "That is fine with me. I could use the rest." She giggled, smiling up at the Astartes. "Being both a headmistress and a student, at the same time, turned out to be nowhere near easy, as I thought."
"Then best get in some rest… I am going to meditate, see how things are going around campus." Anubis stood up, the joints straining with his movements. "We both have many duties… I am the Academy's first line of defense, along with its instructor on the Dark Arts. Talk about having a great responsibility."
"And every student is thankful for your vigilant watch, Anubis." Twilight, slowly, stood up herself, both legs wobbling. "Goodnight." She bowed her head.
Anubis looked back at her, after having Kamaat return to his post just outside of Twilight's office/bedroom. "Goodnight, Twilight." He gave a half bow, placing a hand over his hearts, then took his leave and left the princess with her thoughts.
"He is quite the professor." Twilight thought, moving over to her wardrobe, looking through the different attire, trying to find her nightgown.
Though, when she came across the Academy Uniform, the princess stopped. Her fingers tracing the violet fabric of its vest, eyeing how well Rarity made the very first uniform. "I was honestly admiring how well you wear the Academy Uniform." A smile crept on to her lips, remembering Anubis' words… Along with a blush.
On a sudden impulse, Twilight quickly removed her headmistress attire, and put the uniform on. Once everything was perfectly placed, she stood before a standing mirror, shifting around to different modeling poses. She wanted to see what he had saw, going so far as to use her Star Ruby disguise… But saw absolutely nothing in the appeal. Twilight, honestly, felt she looked like any other student.
"This feels so silly." Twilight muttered, walking back over to her wardrobe, searching for her royal blue night gown. "Maybe I am more tired, than I thought." With that, she removed the uniform, making sure it was perfectly placed, and put her night gown on. "I better get some rest… Princess Celestia is coming to inspect our progress tomorrow!"
The mare walked over to the bed, quickly snuggling into its warm embrace and used her magic to turn the lights out… Completely unware of the Chaos planned for tomorrow.
-Next Day, Outside of Anubis' Office-
"Are you girls sure about this? I mean, Professor Anubis may get mad at us." Sweetie Belle asked, eyeing a bucket of paint just barely sitting on the door seal to Anubis' Office.
"Of course, Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo exclaimed, from their hiding spot. "It is just a harmless prank, I'm sure he would even get a kick out of it." The teen pegasus had been anxious, after finding out the newest instructor had thwarted every prank thrown his way. "Just imagine the kind of rep we'll get, if we prank the unprankable!"
Sweetie Belle still seemed unsure about this, while Applebloom examined the last bits of their prepared prank. "Plus, he would be expectin' some complicated prank, not somethin' this simple. It's perfect." The farm teen stated, smirking. "I bet ya'll it will be just fine, and go as planned."
Voices started to be heard from behind the office door, the three teens trying to shush each other. Slowly, the doorknob turned, the door itself opening and causing the paint bucket to shift back and forth. All three pairs of eyes were right on the paint bucket, as it tilted towards the other side of the door. They could almost see the armored silhouette of their target just behind the glass.
"And that, Ms. Maria, is why you must be wary of unknown artifacts." Anubis voice echoed out into the hallway, from his cracked door. "There is always a possibility of them being the prison of some dark entity, or having some terrible curse placed upon their solid frames."
The door opened wide, causing the paint bucket to fall, all three teens having their own look about it all… But there was no sound of metallic contact, or splash of paint, confusing them.
"Wow, I knew major artifacts had those chances, but never would I have believed that it went for minor ones, too." The Gryphon Student said, walking out of the office first, not a single drop of paint stained her feathers or uniform. "Thank you for going over it with me, Professor Anubis."
"Anytime, Ms. Maria. If you have any more questions or problems, do not be afraid to seek me out." The Astartes, made professor, walked out of the office, also without a single drop of pink paint on his scarab red armor. "Now, best run along. I believe your next class is about to begin."
"Oh, you're right!" Maria began to sprint down the hallway, waving back at Anubis. "Thanks again, Professor!"
"And no running in the hallway!" Anubis smiled, simply waving goodbye, as the three teens were slacked jawed about what just happened. "I bet you three seriously thought you had me, didn't you?" He looked back at them, still smiling.
His words snapped them out of it, shaking their heads. "H-How!?" They asked, together.
"Two ways." Anubis held up two fingers. "Your minds are far too loud. The second? A simple spell known as 'Temporal Displacement'." The explanation actually dumbfounded the teens. But, before they could say anything, he spoke up again. "By the way, I do believe this is yours?"
At the snap of his armored fingers, pink paint suddenly dropped on to all three of them, the bucket landing on Scootaloo's head. They blinked, now covered in pink pain from their very own prank… As the Astartes began to laugh, playfully.
"Better luck next time, girls!" He called out, heading towards the teacher's lounge.
"S-Something tells me, this will be harder than we thought." Scootaloo said, pulling the bucket off of her head.
"We're gonna halfta step it up, if we're gonna prank'em." Applebloom noted, before they looked to their unicorn friend.
Sweetie Belle had steam coming of her, right now. Not only had her uniform been covered in paint, but so was her hair! "I hope he knows… This means War."
With that, the three teens began to plot out some way for them to prank the Astartes Professor… Each prank failing by his heightened abilities. They tried everything from hot spices in his drink, to classic glue and chick feathers prank. Sad to say, the three had to visit Nurse Redheart, at the Nurse's Office, many times. Things were getting bad, forcing them to go to the only one that can get the job done. The ultimate Prankmaster in all of Equestria.
"Come on, Rainbow Dash! We could really use your help!" Scootaloo pleaded, the three giving said Physical Education Director pleading looks.
The mare shifted her basketball from one hand to the other. "I don't know, girls… What you're asking is a pretty tall order." Rainbow Dash was not too keen on pranking the Astartes, remembering when the Elements had fought him and the Rubricae. "He may think of it as harmless fun and games, with you three doing it. But, Professor Anubis will probably get serious if I help out."
They just kept giving her those pleading eyes, hands intertwined together like they were praying. "Please, Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo started, Rainbow Dash trying to resist the temptation by looking away. "Just imagine it! Actually pranking Professor Anubis, the Unprakable! It will go down in the History of Pranking!"
Oh, that got her. "Go to Zecora. Try and get a potion of Poison Joke Extract from her. Once you do, meet me in the courtyard. I'll figure out some way to lure Professor Anubis out there while we set everything up." Rainbow Dash instructed, the three teens saluting and rushing off. However, something started to pick at Rainbow Dash's mind… Almost like she forgot something important is happening today.
-An Hour Later, Academy Courtyard-
"Ok, everything is set and ready to go." Rainbow Dash said, floating down next to the three anxious teens. "You three ready?"
"Ready!" The three said, after finishing up the last parts of their elaborate trap.
The mare had given them specific instructions, after arriving with more supplies. Everything had to be set up just right for their prank to work, and not hit anyone else. Once that had been completed, Rainbow Dash flew off to set their plan in motion by making something up, luring Anubis out here. Which was not easy, and the mare had to make herself believe it was all true while talking to him.
"What did you tell him, Rainbow Dash?" Sweetie Bell asked, the three smiling up at her.
"Easy, that his prized student had been looking for him, and I told her I would find him for her while she waited here in the courtyard and studied." Rainbow Dash answered, though her mind started to wonder about said strange unicorn mare… Along with how you would only find her once a day, and Twilight disappeared around the same time of her showing u. Her concentration ended, when they heard the tell-tale thuds of Anubis' armored boots. "Quickly, hide!" The four dove behind a nearby tree, slightly poking their heads out from behind it.
Anubis walked down the hallway, adjacent to the courtyard, find it strange that 'Star Ruby' wanted to speak with him out here. Though, he could understand why Twilight would use her disguise, if it is about awakening the Rubricae. But there were far better places, such as his office, her own office/ bedroom, or directly after class. Another strange fact was how Rainbow Dash had been, her mind not going on about-. "Oh, those clever little…"
The Astartes instantly figured out what this had been about, especially after his short analysis of Rainbow Dash. There was one thing Rainbow Dash often thought about, when she wasn't thinking about Wonderbolts.
Pranking.
His gaze went around, quickly noticing four different tails sticking out from behind a nearby tree. A grin formed on his lips, before a door to his right opened, allowing him to see who it is. "Your Majesty… Always a pleasure to see you." Were his only words to the regale figure, before walking off. "This will be good."
All the while, the four continued watching for their target, Sweetie Belle holding on to a limp trip wire. They were all grinning, anxious to finally prank the unprankable. Yet, his steps stopped, followed by muffled words, and no more heavy footfalls.
"Huh? Did he… Turn around?" Scootaloo asked, looking at the others. "You don't think he figured it out, do you?"
"How? None of us gave any signs… Did we?" Sweetie Bell asked, each shaking their heads, not noticing the armored figure squatting behind them.
"Then, where the heck is he!?" Rainbow Dash managed to whisper.
"Try behind you." They all jumped, Sweetie Bell accidently pulling the trip wire tight, seeing Anubis right there.
"P-P-P-Professor Anubis!" The four yelped, Sweetie Belle feeling a tug on the wire. "What are you-!"
"Eep!"
The sudden squeak made them all look out from behind the tree, seeing that the Enhanced Poison Joke Extract had been dropped, blue powder going everywhere. They could see that someone tall had triggered the trap, their silhouette in the powder, and waited for it to clear… Sorely wishing that they had not waited for that.
The powder cleared, revealing that Princess Celestia had been its unintended victim. Her brightly color mane now had a neon hue to it, mixed with black streaks and was more angled in its flow. Her eyes, lips, and nose; were all pierced by silver rings, nails painted black. Her white robe repleaced with a black shirt, with a matching skirt, along with black and white stockings. Celestia's eyes wide in terror, black eyeliner evident over them.
"N-No! No! No! NO! My teenage years have come back to haunt me!" Celestia began sprinting down the hallway, flailing her arms. "TWILIGHT! HELP!"
The four were utterly terrified after that, not meaning to prank the eldest of Equestria's Royal Sisters. Though, with Anubis actually laughing about this, they feared being banished to the moon. "Oh, I have to give it to you four." The Astartes started, trying to calm himself down. "I have not laughed like this in ages." They didn't even notice him passing by. "I cannot wait to see what you four come up with next!"
After he left, it was Rainbow Dash who spoke up first. "No more pranking?"
"No more pranking." The three repeated, together, with a nod.