//------------------------------//
// Warming Up 
// Story: First Time Caster 
// by Chrome Masquerade 
//------------------------------//

In the library (rebuilt since Tirek attacked Equestria and destroyed the first one), you stood before Princess Twilight, your teacher of the martial and esoteric.

“Okay, my little apprentice, this is the time for all of that studying to pay off.”

“Yes, miss Twilight! I've been waiting for this moment!” you exclaimed.

“That's the spirit!”

You had studied for a few weeks under the alicorn princess. And now... it was time for your very first major spell. It was just levitation, true, but it wasn't just a pencil or the pages of a book or a broom. THIS was for real!

“You remember what i taught you, right?” she said, cocking an eyebrow

“How could i forget!”

“Now remember, the first time you cast a major spell it unlocks your internal mana font. This is why many unicorn colts and fillies have such trouble casting a spell, yet they can activate their horn to cast light. This influx could cause you to surge, like I did when I cast my first spell. If your body and mind aren't prepared for it, you could be destroyed!”

Ever since then you'd been training for this very time, in both mind and body, ensuring that you'd be ready for this.

“I remember. I won't let you down, miss Twilight!”

“I'm sure you won't, my little pony.” she said, with a little smirk.

Just getting  her confidence in you was enough to make you pumped for what was to come.

With that she got out a series of twelve crystals and several weights of varying sizes.
“You remember what these do, right?”

“Yes miss Twilight! The crystals are supposed to protect the environs if I happen to surge, and the smaller weights will help me warm up!”

“Precisely!” she said, grinning. “Now, even unicorns who haven't unlocked their fonts can levitate objects of 'small weight'. Lifting something heavier requires more effort.”

“We've been over this, miss Twilight!” you said, chuckling.

“Of course, of course.” she said, with a tinge of embarrassment, while arranging the crystals and placing the weights before you.

“Okay, try the 10 pounder.”

You long ago figured out that your magic casting was like button combinations from a video game. You closed your eyes, focusing on the weight. Sparks flew from your horn as the object was surrounded in an aura the same colour as your eyes. Forward, Forward, Up! It lifted slowly into the air.

“Good! Good! Now try the twenty.”

Dropping the first one, you repeated the process. Forward, Forward, Up! The twenty pound weight moved slowly upward.
“Excellent! And now... the 50. Okay, now the 100. You're doing great! Now, the 200.”

As the weight you lifted ever increased, you could feel it all coming to a head. Yours! Adrenaline pumped through your veins as you looked to the next weight determinedly. This was it, the moment of truth! You could fairly taste it.