Chapter 18
When I awoke the next day, I found a note on my bedside table from Twilight. 'Went to do some shopping, will be back around 12.' With time to kill, I made a breakfast of toast and an apple. After confirming that I was officially bored, I sat by the open window and closed my eyes. Listening, no, feeling the sounds from outside was very relaxing. I opened my eyes, concentrating on SEEING the sounds. After a few moments, I saw distinct disturbances in the air. By focusing on one in particular, I saw that there were subtle differences in how they looked. Colors, shapes, and speeds all depended on the noise.
Out of curiosity, I tried 'pulling' on a random wave. It disappeared. That is to say, one of the ponies talking near my window could no longer speak. Realizing my mistake, I was about to 'push' the sound, but then remembered yesterday. Instead, I tried relaxing my mind. Bam! She could speak again. Now what did I just do? I 'pulled' a wave, but then that pony couldn't make any more waves!
Thinking about this, I begin an experiment. Going into the kitchen, I turn on the faucet. I look at the waves the water is making, and pull. I can't hear the water flowing anymore. I turn off the water, then back on. Still no sound. But I can see the faint outline of a wave flowing toward me. Being absorbed by me! I hadn't cancelled the sound, I was taking it! I had been 'pulling' the whole time. I suppose this made more sense. If I just pulled once, I would only pull a tiny bit.
I heard hoofsteps approaching, and Twilight opened the door. "Hello? Quinn? I'm back!"
I walked into the main room and greeted Twi. "I've been doing some thinking. I think we should go try more...things with my magic."
She smiled at me. "I was thinking you would say that!"
* * *
We were just reaching the edge of the Everfree forest.
"So, we go to Zecora's, and then go find a field large enough for anything unexpected?"
"That's what the list says!"
We head into the forest, Twilight easily navigating between the trees. Soon, we are in front of a huge stump-turned-house.
"I'll go in. I just have a few herbs for her anyway." Twilight enters the hut. I wait outside. When Twi returns, we head out for a clearing. We quickly found a meadow about the size of a soccer field. "This should do nicely!"
I walk over to the middle and sit down.
"Quinn? I want you to tell me everything you do." Says Twi, pulling out a quill and paper. "We need to record all of this."
I nod my head in agreement. "First, I'm going to 'see' all the sounds around me."
I close my eyes, and then open them again. I can see the waves all around me from the birds, the trees swaying in the breeze, and the sounds of the forest.
"I'm now going to 'pull' the sounds in the field to me." I pull them in. This time, I can feel the different sounds inside me. I report this to Twi.
"Ok, Quinn? Try pushing only one sound. Only one! And not at me!"
I focus on a single birdsong inside me, chirping and warbling. I push it to my left.
Twilight gasps. I look, and the grasses and leaves to my left seem to have been pushed by a nonexistent wind.
"I going to try again, but this time, I'll push harder."
I push to my right, with much more force. The same thing happens, but much stronger. Good sized branches go flying.
"And now push with as much force as you can."
1...2...3
I push as hard as I can. The air in front of me vibrates with the low bass sound that flows from me. Instead of a light breeze or wind, this is more like a focused hurricane. The trees in front of me seem to just dissolve, the ground being ripped up and away from me.
I quickly stand up and run over to Twilight, hiding behind a tree. We look at each other, both with fear and amazement.
"Write that down."