//------------------------------// // Lesson 7: Spirit Energy // Story: Bright Green Monster Realm, Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Undeath // by ArtieStroke //------------------------------// Spir-it-En-er-gy ˈ\spir-ət  e-nər-jē \ n. A mystical, metaphysical substance, generated by all living things except monsters and elementals. As opposed to the rigorous spell matrices and advanced magics capable of demonic energy, spirit energy is a simple source of power, usually limited to evocation and abjuration style abilities. Also unlike demonic energy, spirit energy naturally renews itself in a person, while a monster must consume spirit energy to convert to and replace their own stores of demonic energy. "I'm in." Twilight blinked, "Wait, just like that?" Dash nodded, "Absolutely- that harpy kid, Scootaloo? I don't know exactly what her family situation is like, but I haven't heard any hubbub in town about her specifically. The kid looks up to me- it's the right thing to do, you know?" "How... strangely noble of you," Rarity said, with a hum. Dash gave a grin and a thumbs up with her single, clawed digit at the wrist of her wing. "It's what heroes do! Besides, like- if I were a little kid and someone I looked up to saved my butt- I mean, do you KNOW how awesome that would be? I'm gonna make that squirt's WEEK!" "And there's the other shoe," Rarity muttered. "There is safety in numbers," Fluttershy added, "And Spike said you were good with, um, alchemical reagents...?" Twilight brightened, and Spike internally grimaced. His nerd-o-meter was reading critical reaction levels from the undead bookworm's general direction. "Yes! Alchemy was one of the many schools of magic I studied back at Celestia's academy- I'm guessing you were trying to get some rosa sanitus for potion making?" Twilight said, gesturing to the mistaken flower that Rainbow had brought, now resting in a vase. Fluttershy nodded. "Yes- the local apothecary has been running low for standard healing potions. It hasn't done much to combat whatever's wrong, but there's still some temporary alleviation..." Her words trailed off, as she started to realize everyone was looking at her, and she tried to hide deeper inside her sweater. "Well, it wouldn't make sense to make too many trips into the Everfree," Twilight nodded, "Alright- so we'll search for the missing kids and keep an eye out for alchemical regeants." "Whoopee, fetch quests." Sunset grumbled, earning a small nudge from Spike. Twilight stood. "Alright, I'll let you gather whatever supplies you intend to bring, and you can meet me near the edge of the forest. One of the local farmers is also coming along- her sister's one of the missing kids." Rainbow fist-pumped one of her wings, "Oh, sweet! AJ's probably the second most awesome person around here! Total badass, you definitely want her on your side when going into deadly territory!" "Deadly?" Fluttershy squeaked. A moment of recognition flashed across Rainbow's face, before she slung a wing around her friend. "Aww, come on Shy- I'll be around! Don't worry! Nothing's gonna happen to you, I promise." Twilight let out a breath, heading towards the door, with Spike, Rarity, and Sunset following. The sun was definitely working its way down the sky, and for a moment Twilight stood there, letting the warmth of it heat her now non-thermoregulated body. It was strange- she used to coop herself up inside all the time, but the sun felt great on her skin right now. "Hey, are you doing okay?" Spike said, interrupted Twilight's short moment of bliss. "Huh? Oh- yeah just. Never noticed how good the... sun... feels." Twilight frowned at her phrasing. "Like I said- basement dwelling." Sunset said, continuing to march forward, "Are we heading towards the meeting spot or not? We've got more important things to do after this." The other three glared at Sunset, but continued behind her just the same. Twilight was starting to fidget. It couldn't be out of boredom- she had a fresh book out on the trunk next to her, but she was finding it hard to concentrate on it. And this wasn't worry, either- there was still ten minutes before the agreed upon meeting time. Something was just... off. She didn't really know how to place it. Or more likely, she just didn't want to acknowledge it. "I haven't seen you get a case of jiggly legs like this since before your graduation exam," Spike said, sliding next to her. Twilight laughed, a hint of nervousness creeping in. "Oh, y-you know. Just... kinda bored. Already read that book before, haha." Frowning, Spike put a hand to Twilight's forehead. "Well, you're still pretty- uhh... actually not sure what a zombie's body temperature is supposed to be. Is clammy normal?" "Yes." Twilight lied. "If you say so," Spike said, unconvinced. Twilight did her best not to look Spike in the face, focusing elsewhere- and for a moment, catching a worried look from Rarity before she too looked away. A loud "Howdy!" broke the tension, and Twilight looked over to see Applejack trotting up the path, saddlebags strapped across her hindquarters and a sword at her side- though, upon closer inspection, it more resembled a heap of raw iron bashed into the shape of a blade than any sword Twilight ever saw a guard carrying around. "Looks like I made it in time," AJ said, grinning as she came to a stop in front of the group, "Y'all waiting on anybody else?" "Yeah- two others," Twilight said, earning a nod. "Got ourselves a proper adventurin' party," She looked over, spotting Rarity and tipped her hat. "Evenin' miss Rarity." "Applejack." She responded, curtly. "Didn't expect to see y'all here." Rarity made a few scoffing sounds, almost as if to a beat, "What, a woman of my standing can't try and rescue her sister from... whatever's going on in a dark, potentially haunted forest?" "Nah, that ain't what I'm sayin' at all," Applejack shook her head, "I respect that y'all are takin' the initiative to make things right yourself. That's just well and proper- glad to be seein' the real side of you." Rarity's face twisted slightly, a blush coloring her cheeks before she turned away. "Well... a lady has her reasons for things." "I'm sure she does," Applejack said, nodding once more and trotting closer to Twilight. "So, who all are we waitin' on?" It took a full second for Twilight to register that AJ had said anything, blinking before looking up. "Uhhhhhhhhh... Rainbow someone and Fluttershy?" "It's Rainbow DASH!" Rainbow Dash said, making a three-point landing with a crack of lightning. Spike clapped, distracting Dash from her annoyance at Twilight long enough to take an exaggerated bow. "Thank you, thank you, I'm just naturally awesome like that." Standing up to her full 5-foot-nothing height, Dash cleared her throat. "I saw Fluttershy making her way over here, so we should be ready to go any minute now." Twilight nodded, sucking in a deep breath of air and letting it out in sync with a wave of her hand- always a good way of calming her nerves. Now a bit calmer, she stood up. "Alright. So, we have two goals while in the forest- most important, find the kids. Second most important, find the reagents Fluttershy is looking for. The rest of you don't have to worry about that, Spike and I are well versed in alchemical knowledge so you can focus on looking for signs of the children." "Is she always this rambly?" Sunset asked aside to Spike, who shrugged. "Usually only about stuff she's learned." Sunset frowned. There was definitely something off about Twilight Sparkle, but she couldn't place her finger on it. And after thinking that, she frowned- why should she even care? At this point she should be number two on her shit list, right behind the princess. Sunset shook her head, brought out of her thoughts with the arrival of Fluttershy. Quick greetings were exchanged, and Twilight turned to face the Everfree. "Alright, people- into the abyss we go."