//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 - Research and Development // Story: Tales of Symphonia: Quest for Harmony // by Aleria_Lief //------------------------------// It had been about an hour since Twilight met the strange half elf pair and so far Raine had not asked any questions. This made her very nervous. What the hay!? she was dying to ask me questions before but now she has yet to ask me one... She thought. Just then Raine stopped walking "This should do." "Sis?" Genis asked looking at her. "We need to set up camp. the sun is setting and we all need to eat." "Right. I'll cook." "That's fine I wanted to talk to Twilight anyway." "Okay..." Twilight said on edge. "When we met you why were you on fire?" She asked her instantly "My spell back fired." "What spell were you casting?" "A location spell." "And what incantation did you use?" ` "I don't use those... I just cast." "Sis... What are you getting at..?" Genis asked Raine. "Genis, doesn't she feel... off? I have never felt anything like her. Her mana is totally different from every other living creature, and the only thing that is remotely similar is..." she trailed off. Genis finished her sentence "An angel..." "Yes... But then what does that mean? I can tell she isn't a member of Cruxis... but she uses pure mana. Angels come the closest to that and still don't succeed." "Then what is she?" "I'm an Alicorn." Twilight offered. "That doesn't really help..." Genis said. Twilight sighed "Well then could you tell me why I couldn't cast my spell?" "It's hard to say... I would need to see you cast, then I could be sure." "Oh..." twilight replied disappointed. "Perhaps when we reach Iselia I can do a more in depth study and tell you for sure why you are unable to use magic..." "Well it's not that I can't... It just doesn't go well." "Right... in the mean time can I ask you a few questions?" "I...I guess...." "Are you able to fly?" "Yes..." "Marvelous! And on such small wings! I must see this! would you do me a favor and fly a little?" "I guess....." she spread her wings and attempted to fly, however, she was unable to get off the ground. "That's odd I've never had this much trouble before...." "Hmmm are you unable to take off?" "Well yeah...but I don't know why..." "Twilight....Tell me where are you from?" "Ponyville...Why?" "And were is that?" "Ummm...well its south of Canterlot..." "Twilight....Neither of those places exist...." "Of course they do! I was there not to long ago..." "And how did you end up here?" "Well my friends and I went into the Everfree Forest to investigate then we found this strange white circular platform...one of my friend stepped on it and disappeared...so I followed her..." "I see and this place your from...what is it called?" " Equestria...." "Then I might have some Idea as to what is happening...." "What...?" "Well from what I gather this world is very different then yours..." "And?" "Well for starters I don't believe you have ever had to deal with elemental mana before have you?" "No....What is Elemental mana? Is it like the Elements of Harmony?" Twilight asked pulling out a note pad and pen. "I'm not sure but elemental mana is related to the spirits: Undine, Efreet, Sylph, Luna and Aska-" "Wait Wait wait! Luna what!?" Twilight interrupted "Luna is one part of the spirit of light. She and her Phoenix companion rule over the day and the night. Luna rules over the night while Aska rules over the day." "Uhg... this place is giving me a headache... anyways, you were saying?" "Ah, yes! To continue, Volt, Gnome, Celsius, Shadow, Origin, and Maxwell. their elements are water, fire, wind, light, lighting, earth, ice, darkness, time and space and birth respectively." "Okay...not like the Elements of Harmony..." "What are the Elements of Harmony?" "Well they are honesty, kindness, laughter, generosity, loyalty, and magic they each play a part in bringing harmony to our world. Together they are our greatest defense against anything that could pull our world into darkness." "I see. You have never had adapt to the high elemental mana area's....so if I teach you how to sense and control elemental mana you should be able to cast again." "Well that's a relief, but what about my wings? Why can't I fly?" "I believe I may have answer for that as well but I will have to talk to Kratos first..." "Who?" "A friend of ours.....he will know more about flying in this world than I..." "Oh...." "Well I think it's time we all got some rest" Raine said laying down as the others slowly followed. The next morning they packed up and resumed their journey in silence. Everyone was to busy pondering the new information they had learned and before they knew it they were outside of Iselia. Genis looked at his sister "Um sis?" "Yes Genis?" "How are we going to get her into the city....?" "Good question if we simply walked through with her it would draw far to much attention. hmmm... we can't leave her here either." "Well we could always put her in a cage and claim your studying her...." "Well the mayor is not really comfortable with that but if we take her straight to Dirk's it should be okay." "Yeah, that's where we're meeting Kratos and Lloyd anyways." Raine nodded and pulled out a small device and opened it up and a cage with wheels unfolded "Okay get in. I understand it is not ideal but it's the best option we have for now." Twilight winced and slowly stepped into the cage. Raine shut the door once she was inside then pushed the cage through the town. All the towns people stared at the massive cage as Raine and her brother made their way toward Dirk's house. The people began to mumble about what she had found this time, and it began to make twilight uncomfortable. Thankfully it did not take long for them to clear the small village, and Twilight was released from her cage. She sighed softly as they walked the rest of the way to Dirk's house and the waiting game began.