After the incident with Cain over a week ago, Ponyville has been quiet and serene. Ponies go about their business, fillies and foals remain carefree, and the air is filled with the soothing sounds of birds. Everything is peaceful, or as peaceful as it can get for Soren. Ever since last week, Soren has been studying and training hard for his confrontation with Night Wing. He's in the library almost as often as Twilight Sparkle (and she lives there!) Princess Luna and Twilight have been mentoring Soren to the best of their abilities. Whereas Twilight doesn't specify her studies on offensive spells, Luna was teaching Soren how to use Fire spells.
One day the three friends were in the library practicing fire magic. Luna was trying to teach Soren how to use only his aura to combust something. Soren was sitting on the ground, staring at a bucket filled with water. He was concentrating on engulfing the water in his aura and then turning it into steam. After a few attempts, Soren managed to combust something: the bucket.
"Maybe we should move on from this and come back to it later," Twilight offered. Luna and Soren agreed, and pretty soon, Luna had an idea for another lesson.
"Soren, we shall teach you fire crowning," the regal alicorn said. "Tis a spell that allows fire to jump from surface to surface."
Soren agreed, so the three friends decided to leave Ponyville and traveled to a safer location. They choose to go to the canyons, which were a small distance away from Ponyville. As they were about to walk out the front door, Soren heard something. When he listened closely, Soren could hear a voice coming up to the door. Timing it perfectly, Soren waited and opened the door. As soon as the door was open, Pinkie Pie flew inside. The party mare landed right in front of Twilight.
"Hello, Pinkie Pie, what brings you here?" Twilight asked.
"I was looking for Soren," Pinkie replied. "There are two ponies that want to meet him. I think their names are the Pogo-Swingers?...the Palace-Ringers?" Everypony couldn't help but chuckle at Pinkie Pie's antics.
"The Pega-Singers?" Soren asked. Pinkie smiled and nodded her head multiple times.
"Yeah, them!" Soren looked at Luna and Twilight.
"Well, let's go say hello before we get back to practicing, shall we?" They nodded, so Pinkie Pie led everypony out of the library, and they began to walk towards town square.
It didn't take long for the group of friends to find the twin pegasi near Town Hall. Soren ran up to them and said "hello."
"Soren!" they said simultaneously. "It's great to see ya again," the taller twin said.
"What were you up to after Appaloosa?" the shorter asked.
"Oh you know, little things like: finding my lost family, reuniting Twilight with a long lost friend, and there's that Nightmare Guardian I have to stop. Nothing big." Soren could help but smile after that sarcastic listing. The twins caught on to Soren's small joke and started laughing.
"You sound like an interesting pony to be around, but we figured that out a long time ago."
"Since you're here, do you want to go sing some songs with us?"
"I totally would, guys, but I have some 'Guardian' business that I need to take care of. Maybe later?"
"Alright then. Well, have fun doing what you do best."
"See you two around." Soren and the girls then began walking towards the canyonlands.
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Soren's fire crowning practice was going swimmingly for awhile. The fires were going where Soren instructed them to go, and Soren wasn't straining to make it happen. Everything was fine, that is until Luna asked Soren to increase the amount of fire he used. With Luna standing by his side, Soren began to concentrate even harder now. Within seconds, the snake of fire he was controlling nearly doubled in length. As the snake of fire jumped from rock to rock to burnt tree, Soren was finding it increasingly difficult to control the thing. Eventually, Soren was straining so hard that the spell snapped, and the fire exploded into every direction. After he heard the fire scatter, Soren then heard a scream of pain from nearby. He looked to his left and saw Luna sitting on the ground, holding her right side.
"Luna, what happened?" Soren asked worriedly. "The fire hit you, didn't it?"
"We are fine, Soren," Luna said with a slightly strained voice. "It is only a small burn. Ow." Luna cringed a little. As Twilight Sparkle was running over with a bucket of water, Soren sat next to Luna and moved her hooves. It wasn't a small burn, but it wasn't massive either.
"Excuse me, Soren," Twilight said, putting the bucket down. She then used her magic to levitate the water and applied it to Luna's burn. It hurt the princess at first, but then she felt much better.
"Thank you, Twilight Sparkle. Burns are not one of the most pleasant pains." Luna looked at Soren and could tell that he felt extremely guilty for her getting burned. "Soren, it wasn't your fault. We were the one who instructed thee to increase the amount of fire."
"Girls...I don't think I can use fire...at least not until I fight Night Wing," Soren said seriously.
"Soren, you have to," Twilight protested. "Princess Celestia said you need to learn as many Elements as you can."
"Look at Luna! That burn was an accident. Imagine if we were practicing something even more dangerous than that. One of you could get extremely hurt and I don't think I could handle the guilt." Soren sighed. "Can I be left alone, please?"
"Soren," Luna started, only to be interrupted by Twilight putting a hoof on her shoulder. Twilight shook her head and motioned for Luna to follow her. When the mares were far enough away, Twilight spoke to Luna.
"I think Soren needs to release some anger...literally." Even though she didn't want to leave Soren right now, Luna reluctantly agreed, so the two of them walked back to Ponyville.
When Soren was alone, he decided to try something to vent his frustration. After stretching his wings, Soren flew up into the air. While up there, he gathered some magic and released it in a pillar of fire. The fire swirled around itself as it continued to go so high that most of Equestria could probably see it. 'The Elemental Guardian when angered' was Soren only thought as he continued the spell.