//------------------------------//
// On Your Mark 
// Story: Beyond Blind Eyes 
// by Lunaric 
//------------------------------//

"I'm sorry... I meant for it to be something useful, but I didn't think. I apologize."

"It's okay Raven, I honestly find it sort of funny. Imagine if my talent was making really cool lights? Some of the most ironic shit ever." Aqua held a sly grin on her face as Raven flinched. Not used to Aqua's vocabulary yet, I see. Aqua looked down suddenly before looking at Cotton "Wait... do I have that as a mark?"

Cotton opened her mouth to respond, but Raven cut her off. "Uh... no... Still, I feel horrible about it, so once more, I'm sorry."

Aqua held up a hoof. "You don't need to be formal to me, Raven. Considering how I speak; do you really think I'm a stickler for that kind of talk?" Inkwell squirmed in her seat, obviously wanting to say something, but didn't. "Anyway, let's get off that topic; what's another spell I can learn? Those are always interesting, even if a bit hard for me. I haven't mastered the light spell yet, but in-between learning a new spell, I can take a break to work on the light one."

Inkwell hesitantly nodded. "If you're sure..." She then looked to her scattered notes and mumbled to herself in contemplation. "Give me a moment to pick one that you might be able to cast as well as one that's useful despite your condition."

Aqua shook her head with a small smile before turning to Cotton and whispering, "It's going to take a while to train her not to be formal, don't you think?"

"Yup," Cotton whispered back with a giggle. 

After a few quiet moments, Inkwell hummed briefly and nodded. "I have an idea of a few, you pick which one you like the best, and we can do the rest later."

"Sounds good."

"The first three I have in mind are as follows: a twinkle spell, a lightening spell, and a warming spell."

Aqua mimed looking down at herself. "Well, I once heard from an ex-friend that it's best to enhance your strengths, rather than covering your weakness. Granted, it was only in..." Aqua's smile evaporated and her ears flattened, "Something I used to do... God, do I miss those... Anyway, I choose the teleport spell." Aqua spoke with confidence and grinned. "Just kidding, I think I'll chose the lightning spell."

Raven chuckled. "First let me describe the three, then you can choose."

Aqua sheepishly shrunk. "Ah... That would be a good idea."

"First is the twinkle spell. The twinkle spell is a beginner training spell used for foals to practice. As the name implies, all it does is make a small twinkle sound. It's fairly simple, and I recommend it first of the three because of how easy it is to cast and. It's also a good starter spell because it trains you to control your mana better... The second option is the lightening spell. All it does is simply make and object weight less temporarily. It's really helpful when helping carry books for the librarians..."

As Raven finished her explanation of the second spell, Aqua's ears flattened. "Oh."

Inkwell tilted her head and looked at Aqua. "Hm? Is something the matter?"

"It's nothing. I just thought the lightening spell was a lightning spell. You know, like the electricity in the clouds."

Raven's eyes shot open. "Oh, Celestia, no! That's a very dangerous spell, and it's much too advanced for you currently. I won't teach you that, nor would I even be able to, due to it being too advanced for me as well."

Aqua tsked and did a weird motion with her right forehoof. "Darn... Well, what's the warming spell do?" A sarcastic grin.

Raven had an uncertain expression. "I don't know if I should teach you that one, actually. Considering you would have chosen a lightning spell. This one could be dangerous if not properly used on a pony."

"What if I promise not to use it on a pony then. Would that help?" Aqua tilted her head, and Cotton could tell she was trying to look at cute as possible. Cotton never found it that convincing, but she had worked with foals for a few years now. It's been... what, three and a half years? No, no. I started... Celestia, it's been four years.

Cotton could tell Raven was conflicted with her scrunched nose.  "I... " Eventually, her resolve failed. "Okay. As long as you promise."

Looking to Aqua, Cotton noticed an immediate change in her demeaner. Aqua rose out of her natural tilted slouch, her ears rose to attention, and put her right hoof to her chest. "I promise not to use the warming spell on any pony..." Aqua began slouching after she finished. Continuing, she asked, "Can I at least use it on someone if it's self-defense?"

Raven slumped. "You won't be attacked here in Canterlot, but... fine." She then pointed at Aqua with a stern voice, "I'll teach you the warming spell, but if you hurt somepony, you'll be punished harshly."

The filly smiled brightly and nodded quickly. "Perfectly understandable. I'd expect to face punishment if I hurt a pony."

Inkwell curtly nodded. "Before we start, let me describe the warming spell first. The spell is meant to warm a non-living object up, such as tea or food. Normally, and to the average caster, it can only warm things up to being warm. If powered sufficiently, the spell can be used to start a campfire... And if mis-casted, you instead, may catch on fire."

"Okay. I'll make sure to take it slow as well then. Don't want to become firewood." Aqua chuckled.

"Alright. So... to begin..."

Cotton tuned Inkwell out. She didn't have a horn; she had wings. Cotton glanced at her filly. But... If I want to help her, I should listen, even if it's boring and goes over my head. Looking to the other mare in the room, she began to listen.

"... in the mana theory we've reviewed, the catalyst used for this spell is the manathaumic catalyst..."

Yep... Goes right over my head...