//------------------------------//
// Practice 
// Story: A Fluttery Day: RotE Episode 5 
// by Dream Volt 
//------------------------------//

	Applejack's form still wasn't that great.  It was so hard telling her.  I mean she said to be as blunt as I could and she said she wouldn't mind but I still felt mean.  She was standing on two hooves going though the motions but still a little too fast.  I then heard another "ooph" behind me, and turned to see Twilight sprawled on the floor again.  Giving applejack her lesson for the day here seemed like a good idea, and Twilight joining in an even better one.  But she wasn't doing very well even though I was keeping things very basic.  She seemed to understand the philosophy so well too.

"Twilight are you sure…"

Her brow furrowed.  "I'm fine and I'm not giving up.  While eastern thought refers to it as Ki, magic is magic and that means I should be able to get this."

"Ah don't think it's understanding magic that's the problem Twi."

"And Ki isn't magic, or well…"  I looked down.  "I guess it is, but it really isn't and…"

"Sugarcube, just tell her.  I got a notion of what ya might mean, but ah ain't sure."

Twilight sighed.  "Right now it seems like just about anything would be a better use of my time.  I could use a rest."

"Oh, okay.  If you're both sure.  Ki is the flow of all energies in the universe, not just magic.  While the main focus of martial arts is of course fighting in some way, even if focusing on how it should only be use as a last resort and peace the ultimate goal, there are other common goals as well.  Balancing your internal energy is good in all sorts of ways, not just enhancing your combat abilities, but health as well."

Applejack briefly paused.  "That still seems a might strange."

Twilight nodded.

I looked down.  "So it's not exactly the same thing.  But I guess for casting it should be the same, so really I shouldn't have said anything and…"

Twilight shook her head.  "No, that's very helpful.  It also sounds like maybe I should be less surprised by your progress.  I knew eastern meditation techniques could be helpful with magic but I think I need to study this subject more closely."

"Oh, uh.  Yes."

Twilight was looking at some books along a shelf, but then she turned around and sighed.  Slowly she walked back over to me and once again just tried to hold a single pose.  She looked wobbly.  I wasn't sure if this was a good idea since it didn't come up much, but it probably wouldn’t hurt.  I knew Twilight would get hurt less.

"Uh, you can just hold yourself up with magic, as long as you're in the right pose and don't make it too easy on yourself.  I mean I think…."

She sighed again.  "No I can…"  Then she nearly fell over but caught herself with her magic.  She then was back in the pose.  "Well making sure I don't hit the floor should be okay right?  I mean I've already failed anyway so what could it hurt."

I nodded.   "That, uh, does sound better."

"Ya know when Dash first told me I thought she had gone plum loco, but standing nearly still and going though weird motions slow as molasses seems more like your kinda thing.  Not any real fighting at all."

"Oh yes.  I really hope I don't need to teach you throws and kicks and such to help you.  That would be just awful."

"So Fluttershy, whoa…"  Twilight almost fell over again  "…how is Applejack doing?"

"Oh she's doing much better than Dash.  She's still rushing it a little but she's getting better.  She's also doing really well without wings.  It makes it easier to balance."

"So that's why Twi is falling so often?"

"Except you aren't."  She sighed.  "I'm just bad at this."

"This still seems a might weird for you to be good at."

"Well."  I smiled.  "It was something we could do together.  Mom and daddy love each other very much but most of their shared interests aren't something you could do with a foal, but this was something they could do with me.  Sometimes Sky too."

"Ah, well ah guess ah can see that.  Still, if you are as good as Dash says, and she don't go bragging about other ponies, then why are you scared all the time."

"Well, uhm, everything.  I mean it's not really designed for something that isn't a pony so there are all sorts of ways that could go wrong.  And ponies could have all sorts of weapons, and dark magic and…"

Then I was hyperventilating.  There were so many more dangerous things I wanted to mention but I just couldn't.  Twilight and AJ soon had me in a hug and I felt so much safer.  It was nice.  I then looked down.

"I'm sorry.  I should be trying to help you not being a scardey pony."

"It's alright sugarcube.  Ah still say you gotta try harder to be a bit less afraid but we don't blame you for being who ya are."

"Yes.  Logically speaking I would think this would give you more confidence, but fear isn't rational I suppose."

I smiled.  "Thank you."

AJ let go of me.  "Now how about we get back to work.  I'd really like to be able to buck all proper like again.  Still weird I need two kinds of magic to get it just right."

Twilight let go too.  "Yes.  Magic is a key part of every unicorn's life but apparently this may be true of everypony, even if it's subtle things you don't even notice."

"It's too bad you can't just make yourself stronger like Applejack.  You might be less wobbly.  That would be helpful."

Twilight went wide eyed and rushed off.  I sighed.  I really hope this ends well.  Sometimes when Twilight tries new spells they don't work quite the right way.  I turned to see Applejack going though the exercises.  She looked a little bit better than even a few minutes ago.  She also was looking off in the direction Twilight had gone with her brow furrowed.

"Ah really hope Twi can't find what she's looking fer.  Seems like there is a whole lot of ways that could get out of hoof."

I smiled.  "I'm sure it will be fine."

"Ah hope so.  Ah guess she said she weren't that good at earth spells so maybe it won't be like that last mess.  That girl is just too good at magic for our own good sometimes."

Twilight then trotted back into the room with a smile on her face.  She balanced perfectly, the wobble just gone.  I clapped my hooves together, my wings keeping me upright.  I smiled.

"That's great Twilight."

"I decided not to even try the strength spell, but there was this perfect balance spell that was much easier than the last time I tried it."

"That's great.  Maybe I can even teach you another stance."

Twilight smiled.  "That sounds great.  This is all so interesting.  I feel like there is so much to learn about earth magic and clearly this is the key."

I nodded and quickly shifted up on two hooves, my wings keeping balanced.  I think I saw Twilight raise an eyebrow since so far it didn't look any different than the first, which wasn't really a proper stance at all, just the most basic practice holding your hooves out in front of you and staying upright.  I smiled.  It was nice to be doing something so familiar with my friends like this.  I know Pinkie and Rarity already know some of this, and Dash is way ahead of them, but it might be nice for all of us to practice together.  It would be just like with mom and daddy.