//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Paths to Power: not-so-humble beginnings // by FelSpite //------------------------------// Sunset was never this close to panic since she arrived in this world and found that her body decided to change. It just felt so unreal, to have this pop out of the blue and right in her face. Meanwhile, as she tried to formulate more or less coherent response, Crash calmly drank his beer and both Dust and Gilda, who joined him on the couch, started to gobble up pizza, as if nothing of importance was happening... "D-Do you mean that new card game?" she finally managed, trying and slightly failing to keep her calm. "There is one?" asked Crash "Kay, the local entertainment surely is fascinating in it's diversity alone. Still, i actually mean the stuff like this" and then he just levitated his beercan to the trashbin with a hand gesture. And, while there was no glow, or any other signs of your typical unicorn telekinesis, it finally dawned on Sunset that this supposedly magicless world wasn't actually as magicless as it seemed... She briefly considered bolting for the door, before finally forcing herself to calm down and dismiss such foalish notions. It was actual Magic! Something, that was always her strong point, that he could always comletely rely on and ignoring any possibility to get it back was simply ridiculous! And besides, it definitelly wasn't an attack or ambush of any sort, as there was enough time and opportunity for it already and as far as intrigue was concerned, she was fully confident in her skills.. "So, actuall magic it is" She said coldly, looking right into his face while dropping her previous play completely. "What do you want, exactly?" Sure, there was a possibility to go for selective ignorance, but she needed a strong point to get a better deal for herself, and Crash definitelly wanted something from her. "Idealy, i want partnership, but at least some cooperation would be nice" Answered Crash as Dust triumphantly smirked to Gilda, who muttered something unintelligible. "And what would that supposed partnership mean exactly?" pressed Sunset " What would i have to do for what exactly in return?" "Well, for starters there are basics, such as money and lodging. It may be less important in a long run, but certainly can spare time right now and make things overall much more comfortable. As something of a bigger importance, i can also provide magical help, such as enchanted stuff or lessons" "And why are you so sure, that i do need them?" Surely, Sunset knew, that she undoubtedly did, but still, haggling could give her a better deal and among those things she would like to avoid at all costs, appearing (not to say, actually being) weak was near the top. Crash smiled. "You see, with some help from a unified magical theory, that was created by those far superior to me in terms of skill and intellect, and the data that both Dust and Gilda gathered i can be reasonably sure that the probability of You using magic freely in your current condition tends to zero. After all, would it be otherwise, organisation of our meeting would be completely different" Crash made a short pause, perhaps waiting for immidiate responce and then calmly continued: "As for your part of our possible agreement, first of all i would like your help in one rather personal matter. You see, i'm currently under effect of a certain curse that befall on our family some time ago and the traditional means were proven uneffective.." He sighed. "So my main reasoning for traveling here in the first place was a search for a magic previously unknown to us, simply for the lack of better options." "Well, so far it seems fair, if not actually highly in my favor" thought Sunset "Sure, he may actually be that desperate, or there could be a ton of details, changing everything around..." She looked at the other girls, considering their possible role and deal in all of it. "Are there any further details, that i should know before i'l make my decision? And, say, mere hypothetically, what would you do if i would disagree in the end?" Crash frowned "That would be most unfortunate. Surely i won't force you to go against your will, but, also mere hypothetically, should anything like a substantial threat happen to You, i won't help out of goodness of my heart, and the second possible deal would surely be different." He stretched himself and stood up "Sure, there is no rush to go for it here and now, and i would even recomend a good night rest before making this decision, but avoiding it doesn't do anyone of us any good. Now, if you would excuse me, there's something i really should do before the night, so if you need the details - Lighting or Gilda can tell you all that you want, i'm teaching them too, after all." And with a formal bow he headed to the stairs. As he reached them, he turned to Sunset once more and added "And yeah, before i forgot - try this pizza, it's actually a good one, special order and stuff. I'll be available in the morning in case if you would decide by then, otherwise just ask Dust to drive you to school." As he dissapeared into the basement, Sunset turned towards Dust and Gilda, just as the latter finished her latest slice. "Yeah, 'bout that, i probably should actually get going, before my parents would start complaining yet again. Dust, sure there is no trouble if you would cover it alone?" Turquoise girl smirked "Sure, no problem. See ya tommorow" Seing the other girl leave, Sunset frowned, before adressing Dust with clear sarcasm in her voice: "Well... while i'm really keen to actually hear about your supposed training and the agreement, was it really what you call "to awesomely hang out"? " Lighting Dust just shrugged, her victorious smirk still present: "Well, not exactly, for sure, but think about it - it's still not even eight in the evening, we have the most of the house to ourselves, there is best possible TV with cool video collection, latest console games and even the possibility to order best food around Canterlot for Crash's money!" Then she leaned towards Sunset and added "And what's even more important - there are no annoying neighbours, or actually anyone to complain if, say we turn the sound really loud, or even to look for us. Sure, more decent company would be better, but that can wait till the other time, after all i still have to explain you the agreement and other important stuff..." Five hours later Sunset feeled better than ever since she entered the portal. Sure, that neighponese takeout, or whatever it was actually called, was allready good by itself, beeting Dust at one of these games has surprisingly proven to be even better, but the jacuzzi in the guest bathroom on the second floor, which, as Dust told her, was only for the "special" guests, was perhaps the best of it all. Not to mention the guest bed she now layed in, which definitely could compete with her old one in Canterlot. Only her thoughts on the future deal prevented her from going asleep here and now. According to Lighting Dust, the details were mostly about the benefits and duties of being in the team, supposedly with main focus on "maximum realisation of their own potential", "possible mutual threats" and well, work on that special curse. And while it appeared that Dust's training had quite a lot of simple physical exersise parts, it also allowed her to do at the very least some basic telekinesis in a few month's worth of time, while also copled with school and goofing off. It also come out, that Crash had some usefull connections around, so skipping school with genuine papers mentioning fake "illness" was also an option.And supposedly Dust also learned some other spells which she promised to show off as soon as Sunset accepted the deal. As if it really mattered at this point... Though after all, Sunset prided herself for her mastery of magic first and foremost, so if someone was able to teach someone with just "above average" talent and no prior experience telekinesis with that time, it surely meant that he could give her much more. Yes, there could still be a few details to haggle about or consider, in one thing she became certain - the Deal was to be accepted, and with that last decision sleep finally claimed her.