Matters went very well indeed for the next couple of months as summer turned into fall. I was doing well in my lessons, well enough so that both Twilight Sparkle and Accurate Strike were pleased with my progress. I was not yet up to teleporting when it came to magic, but Twilight was sure it would not be long before she judged me ready to learn. Accurate Strike was proud of my progress in hoof to hoof combat and had begun teaching me battle magic as well as armed combat. I already knew how to wield a quarterstaff and a tonfa, and once I had proved to him my knowledge, he moved me up to swords and knives.
Where I really impressed him was with my skill in throwing knives. Crossbows did not work well, but I was able to plant a throwing knife in a one-inch target at a range of fifty yards more than nine times out of ten. That ratio improved when I brought up senbons, and had a batch made by a local smith. Took a while to hammer out the flaws in my initial plans, but once they were made properly, Accurate Strike commissioned a batch for the Ponyville Guard and had me teach the guard on how to use them.
The record deal went gangbusters right from the start, my initial ten songs setting records (yes, pun intended. I don’t suffer from paronomasia, but I’ll admit it is a near thing) for sales, as well as sparking increased demand for record players. Shortly after the second release, Filthy Rich stopped me in the market and told me that his record player sales had tripled in the past month, thanks to the demand for my music. Lord Topspin was happy as well, giving me a ten-thousand-bit bonus when I went to Canterlot for the third session.
In Ponyville, I kept my promises to the ladies, spending Saturdays helping each of them in rotation, the only exception being Rainbow Dash, because obviously, I’m unable to shove clouds around like she could, or fly. We found other ways to be together, thus keeping a promise to her.
I learned from each of the ladies in turn, Rarity showing me how to run the sewing machine competently, but utterly refusing my help in design, saying that I had no taste at all when it came to attire. I did not dispute her words, because I knew she was right. However, she did let me assemble her designs, to her satisfaction.
Applejack taught me about farming, and I made myself useful to her and her family, helping at Sweet Apple Acres once I learned how to do more around the farm than cause ruin. Apple bucking, however, was RIGHT OUT. After the third broken hoof, it was decided that I should find something else to be good at while working at the farm. I did not argue with Applejack or Big Mac.
Pinkie Pie taught me baking and decorating, which did take a while to learn. I never gave up, and it was not long before I could make and bake a cake from scratch that pleased Pinkie Pie. She looked forward to my occasional ‘help at the bakery’ trips. So did I. However, I did not partake of vanilla cupcakes for a long time. I found the chocolate fudge to be better. Good thing I didn’t put on any weight, a bane of mine since I was young.
Fluttershy taught me a lot about medicine and veterinary care. I knew basic first aid, ever since Cub Scouts, but she taught me far more than I had known. I learned how to be empathic with the animals, getting them to relax while being treated, that they had nothing to fear from me. Fluttershy declared I had passed her basic test by tending a skunk with an injured paw, and not get sprayed. The animals liked me. All but one. Need I name which one? Little snot of a rabbit….
My time with Twilight, when not taking magic lessons, taught me how to organize a library. I was highly organized to begin with, being a stores keeper, but she showed me methods I never would have thought about. She appreciated my assistance, as did Spike, who always had trouble putting books on the higher shelves. Spike knew to call on me if he needed help. Same with Owlowiscius. I just had trouble understanding him. Not that I could give a hoot…
Rainbow Dash, like I said, was a problem on how to help. Fortunately, we found something. She taught me how to chillax, and she found chillaxing with me really settled her down. We found some games we enjoyed together and took it from there. She, however, did not appreciate it when I beat her in bowling. Somehow, I never got around to mentioning the shelf of bowling trophies I had accumulated since high school. I learned to tone it down once I figured out how to throw a fingerless ball accurately.
The school was fun, as well. I learned enough about teaching, and Miss Cheerilee’s method of lesson planning, to be able to substitute for her as needed, if available to do so. Getting certified for that was an experience, one that ranks right up there with being in a Damage Control trainer with all the water pipes on. In winter. Using river water. NOT fun, but doable. That Chancellor Neighsay was a tough stallion to convince…
One project that I wanted to do some ground breaking on was the design of radio. Here, I was sure we could build crystal radio receivers, but making a transmitter proved to be a challenge. I had ideas, Twilight had ideas, but we were having trouble on making it work. That was our ‘if and when’ project, meaning we nibbled at it if and when we had time. She liked the idea in principle, it was making it work that was proving a pain in the rump.
I should mention that I still retained the habit of finding slick spots on the floor, going on a fast slip and having a nice fall. Almost in desperation, Twilight not only taught me some healing spells, but also gave me a charm (which I kept tucked in the flap of my watch) to speed my recovery in case I knocked myself senseless. I could not be called a klutz, but I always found the bad spots on the floor. Doctor Pacer at the clinic gave me a frequent visitor discount card, because I was there at least once every couple of weeks for treatment. I also carried a first aid kit in my saddlebags, both in the big set and the smaller, more casual set. In three months, I replaced the kit twice.