//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: Training Montage, Except A Montage Requires More Than One Scene. // Story: There's a Changeling On My Couch, and Other "Tails" From the Far North // by Super Trampoline //------------------------------// Chapter 14: Training Montage IT was (fairly) unheard of. (sort of) Preposterous. (not so) Revolutionary. But it was hardly surprising. For the first time in 67 years, an earthen was apprenticing under a unicorn. Yes there were challenges. Yes there were hardships. Yes there were.... "hmmmmm," Flashpan thought to himself. Need to follow the rule of three. "Yes there were... obstacles? Nahhh. ...were..." "FLASHPAN!" Moody Blues yelled. "Click click,[1] 'Hello?' Break time's over. You can fawn over your autobiography later. Time to get back to work." "Awwwww, ok. What ever you say coach." Flashpan sighed and put down the ink quill he was holding, not at all eager to get back to his drills. Well, he was sort of long term eager. Just not eager right this second. "Come on kid," the gentle giant said. "I'll go easier on you this time." Verily, Moody Blues was the epitome of the phrase "gentle giant". He was quite well constructed much like a draft horse; indeed his father had been in his time one of the main farmers in Eastside. But he was in fact a unicorn on account of his dainty mother's lineage, and a quite proficient one at that. Dark, midnight blue fur was accented by his long straight electric indigo mane which lithely draped his body; some said he looked the part of some otherworldly weeping willow tree. His disposition was of a similiar nature: he gave off an air of quiet resignation which many mistook for moodiness, but was in fact merely deep contentedness. At 57 years, he was slowing down, but nopony really noticed, perhaps because he had always moved with a firm unhurried steadiness. He was usually droll, but it was a drollness that warmed you up, comforted by its lack of pretense and commotion. And most importantly, he had heart, and lots of it. All these traits made him one of the more popular basic magics teachers at Drumsticks High School, where he had spent the last twenty seven years educating impressionable minds [2]. These traits also acted as a counterbalance against Flashpan's natural excitability, and in fact though he would admit it to none but himself, Moody really did enjoy the fresh burst of energy he recieved three times a week from training his eager protege. It was relaxing to not have to put on airs of imperturbability for three hours, even if they were authentic ones. But we digress.[3] In spite of his genteel nature, Moody Blues was not a softy, and his "I'll go easier on you this time," was relative. It generally meant something like 200 push ups instead of 250. In this case, it meant trying to levitate eight rocks at a time instead of ten. "Come on sonny! Is that the best you can do? My grandma can levitate better than you and she's dead! Show some strength. Show some resolve. Show some pizzazz, some chutzpah! Flashpan however, was struggling mightily to lift the small boulders. Sparks were flying from his hooves and his whole body was shaking and glowing."Your... (wheeze) grandmother.... was a.... (ugh) ... .... a UNICORN!! (gah!)" He collapsed onto his stomach, the pieces previously hovering now falling aimlessly around him. "Too much... too much (pant)...work!" Despite the cool temperature, he was sweating profusely. "Come on kiddo," Moody pleaded. "You can't just try to brute strength it. You gotta feel it in you. You have to flow with the magic, become one with it. Which is easier, to dam a mighty river, or to merely change its course, hmmm? That is what you must do. Do not try to force the magic to bend to your will. Bend your will to that of the magic force." "Oy vey, sensei-Blues, do you have any idea how cheesy you sound?" "Yes." A rare but knowing smile appeared on the lips of the tutor. "Good just checking. Ok I'll try again. You have any rocks with a higher mineral content? My finicky earthen magic seems to respond better to those." "Shall you always have your surroundings to your liking? If you can master your strengths even at your weakest, then the enemy shall have false confidence. Let your weaknesses become your strengths." "You're enjoying this too much you know." "I know Flash. Now levitate those rocks." -~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~--~-~-~-~-~-~-~- Such was the amiable relationship between master and student, and in time both grew wiser in the ways of sort-of arcane magic. And Moody Blues, whos own adopted (though for other reasons) son had long ago moved to graze in greener pastures, so to speak, felt the warm feeling of being a father again. He guided Flashpan Alley into discipline and determination, and the colt grew with earth pony strength and unicorn heritage. Though the skies were sunny for now, soon his powers would be tested... -~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~--~-~-~-~-~-~-~- Now as for his reading assignments... "GUH this is so BORING! I'm a rock research intern and I think this is boring. Ughhh!" Flashpan repeatedly slammed his head against the book in an effort to stave off a revolt by his gray matter against the harsh living conditions he was currently subjecting it to, namely, "this STUPID BORING BOOK!"