//------------------------------// // Checkpoint Reached: Five Years Old. Introduction and Training // Story: Checkpoint Reached // by Lunar Flarion //------------------------------// The world has changed, hasn’t it? The vamponies had gained a new leader with the wedding of Prim Bite and Lunar Flarion. A new treaty of peace had been signed by the Wereponies, who asked to join the Vamponies in harmony, ridding their king from his throne in a large civil war. Aided, of course, by the Vamponies. Once the war was over, the king locked away for crimes he had committed both against his own ponies and the Vampony kingdom, the Wereponies now happily live alongside the bat vamponies in relative harmony. New jobs for both had opened, both Wereponies and Vamponies dominated the market with their game that they hunted in the forest. Selling their products of both meat and crop around to the corners of the globe. Griffins, Minotaurs, and so on, once hermit kingdoms of their own reason, slowly opened up their trading posts, the king and queen of the Vamponies sent out diplomats as a way to increase communication that was long lost when the Solar Empire rose. The Moon Mother still watched from her kingdom, alone in her isolation with those of the past to keep her company. Ever since her great great granddaughter, Prim, got married, she too had opened up a bit and looked for a pony to call her lover. Yet, this is the world on which they tread, but each pony, each creature has their own personal worlds that they see to. Each world a new one to see from another. That is where the story begins. ---5 years later--- A small beam of pure energy shot out and struck the target dummy, hitting it directly. However, the only damage it caused was a slight burn, and nothing more. “Oh come on!” whined a small blueish gray filly. “That’s alright,” said a large blue stallion, his one red eye looking down at the small filly,” Not everyone can up and summon runic magic with their hooves, but that doesn’t mean that you're just going to know how to use it. Now, take a deep breath, channel your energy through your hooves and outwards through the rune, make it your outlet.” “Alright, dad,” The filly nodded. She stood up tall on her hooves, held one out and closed her eyes, she whispered softly as a small runic pattern appeared in front of her, it glowed a soft purple color as she went silent, trying to focus her energy out into her outlet. The glow started to intensify as a soft, purple mist formed around the small filly, her wings stretched out and readied... then, she fired. A much large blast exited the rune, hitting the wooden dummy right in the chest, leaving behind... just a larger scorch mark. “... Wow...” The filly pouted a bit, then looked at her hooves,” am I doing something wrong?” “No no, you’re doing wonderful,” The stallion smiled softly as he sat down next to her,” Magic takes a good long while to learn. Almost everything does.” “But what about talented ponies?” the small filly asked. “If they are born with it, then that is something that you will learn when you’re older, but, even ponies who seem very talented took their time in studying, practicing, and so on.” The stallion replied. “How long did it take you to learn magic, dad?” She asked as she looked up at her father. “Years, but that is because of different reasons, it will take you a while, but I don’t think it will take too long~,” He replied with a smile. A small, gray coated mare walks in with a gentle smile, her wings folded gently to her side and her purple mane put up in a nice ponytail. “Hello, you two~,” The mare smiled softly,” Lunch is ready.” “Alright, Prim,” The stallion smiled as the small filly climbed onto his back. “Okay, mama,” The small filly replied as her father walked with her mother and her to the kitchen for their lunch. The small filly was sat down at the large dining room table, her food, a small, cut up steak with some steamed veggies and apple juice to drink. She smiled happily and started to nibble on the tiny meat cubes. The blue stallion had the same as his daughter, however, it wasn’t cut up and he had a different beverage. He smiled gratefully and kissed his wife on the cheek, then dug into his own meal while his wife dug into her own. “Bite Size, please use your fork instead of biting down onto the plate,” Prim scolded Bite gently, without having to open her eyes to know what her daughter was doing. Bite, the young princess, nodded and grabbed her fork and gracefully stabbed her meat cubes, picking them up and eating them two to four at a time with however many her fork could carry. Her mother happily ate her meal, as well as started up a conversation with her husband and daughter. “So, how is training going?” She asked with a smile. “It’s going well, she’s moving along nicely in her training,” He smiled softly,” She still needs to practice, but, so far, it’s going well~.” “I still can’t make the dummy explode...” Bite replied with a pout. Her father chuckles,” I don’t think you’re going to have to worry about making the dummy explode for right now, Bite.” “But... that’s what the cool anime hero does to the villains in Auntie Night’s shows!” Bite countered with her fork, now filled with both the cooked meat cubes, and accusation, but mostly meat cubes. “Oh? Which anime is that from?” Prim asked softly. “Kono... subshii... something?” Bite stammered a bit, trying to remember the name of the anime. “Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku Wo?” Prim asked with a cute smile. “...” Bite’s eyes were wide open a bit, then she slowly nodded,” Y-Yeah.” Prim giggled softly,” I guess you like Megumin?” Bite nods happily and smiles,” Yeah yeah yeah!” Her father chuckled,” You two and your anime.” Prim rolled her eyes playfully,” Oh please, Flare, we both know that you enjoy a few animes~.” His red eye looked over at her as he smiled softly,” Have you been going through my movie boxes?” “Maybe~,” Prim giggled as she ate her lunch. Flare simply chuckled, finished his meal, and his beverage. He got up and walked to the kitchen and cleaned off his plate. When he returned, Prim and Bite were talking about anime with another guest, Prim’s sister and Bite’s auntie, Night Blossom, and the second oldest sister, who was sitting back and talking about other animes that they might enjoy. She also was scheduling another “Anime Sleepover” with Bite Size. “I think around 6 or 7 o’ clock tonight would be nice, she can sleep in my room again, I’ll put up a sleeping bag.” Night Blossom told Prim, who had asked about when the time to bring Bite over to her room was. “Yay~! Anime!” Bite yelled happily as she hugged her auntie. “Bite, dear, please don’t yell while in the dining room,” Prim scolded. “Sorry, mama...” Bite responded. “You have a little bit of all the sisters in you, Bite, you got my love for anime and literature, Prim’s calm and caring nature, and Midnight always being very loud~,” Night responded with a smile. “I HEARD THAT!” came a female voice passing by. The group in the dining hall laughed as Midnight, the third and oldest sister walked by. “That never gets old,” Flare responded as he sat down next to Prim. “She’s your boss, I’d watch what I say~,” Night responded. “No no, I’m his wife, I’m the boss~,” Prim joked, earning another round of laughter, at least from the three adults. “You’ll understand when you’re older, Bite,” her father says with a warm smile. “Okay dad,” Bite smiled as she got off of her chair, walked over and hugged him. He smiled warmly as he hugged his daughter close. Night and Prim smiled at the cute sight until the doors creaked open. The group looks over and see a purple-maned, light grey-furred, older looking mare with blood-red eyes. “Grandma!” Bite squealed happily as she jumps off her dad’s lap and hugged the mare. The older mare giggled as she scooped up the tiny filly and hugged her closely," Hello, little one~." Bite giggled happily as the mare gave her a loving squeeze. "Ready for your flight training?" the mare asked sweetly. "Yeah yeah!" Bite nodded with an adorable smile. "Alright, mind if I borrow her for a moment, then?" She asked, looking at Bite's parents. "Of course, mom," Prim replied with a nod. "Yes, go right ahead, Mrs. Honey Glow," Flare responded. "Alright~," the mare looked down at the filly, then put the filly on her back and walked out to the courtyard. -_- in the courtyard -_- "Alright, ready for your next flying lesson, Bite Size?" Honey Glow asked with a sweet smile. "Yes, Grandma!" Bite responded happily, her wings unfolded to show that she was, in fact, ready. "Good, now, for today's lesson, I am going to teach you how to glide in the air and move without losing momentum." "Really?" Bite asked as she titled her head slightly to the side. "Mhm, now, follow me~," With that, Honey walked over to a tall box of wood and climbed onto it. Bite followed and was helped to get onto the box. Bite stood there and looked around, even though they were on a slightly elevated surface, taller than the dummies used for sparring and practice, she still couldn't help but feel bubbly and gitty with being this high up. Her grandmother looks down at her happily. "Alright, Bite, how, what you want to do is spread out your wings." Honey stated. Bite followed her instructions, she unfolded her wings, then looked at Honey. "Now, take a step back, then, with a quick pace, jump off the edge and let the wind guide you. Like so." Honey unfolded her own wings, then took a few steps back, then with a quick pace, she jumped off the box and glided around the box, then landed right back in her normal spot. Bite smiles happily and shuffles a bit, then follows what her grandmother did, her wings spread out and tries to glide like how she was shown, but on her return trip to land on the box, she missed it by a little, her legs hit the box and she faceplanted onto it. Honey leaned down and gently picked up Bite in her hooves. "Are you alright, sweetie?" She asked softly. "I'm okay..." Bite responded her legs now a little sore from the sudden impact. "Would you to continue?" Honey asked. "Yeah!" Bite smiled as she flapped her tiny wings happily. Honey smiled warmly as their lessons continued. They trained for the rest of the day until they were called for dinner. The two happily went to go eat where the rest of the family sat. Dinner was short this time of day since everyone had worked hard and they all wanted to go to bed, Night Blossom and Sharpening Stone, the colt of Midnight and Tattered Moon, held heavy eyes as they walked back to their rooms for some rest. Bite Size, now aching from her training a little bit, which consisted of not only gliding but more flying practice, headed off to bed slowly but with a happy smile. In her room, Bite yawned and stretched, then walked over to a large cage housing a large, black raven named Feathers. Bite happily pulled out some food from the small food box and gave it to Feathers, who cooed happily and nuzzled Bite's hoof. Bite, smiling a little wider now, said goodnight to Feathers, got under her covers and fell asleep. ---Check Point Reached: The Story Begins---