//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Lessons with Twilight // Story: Champion of Equestria // by Buddy Hooves //------------------------------// "Alright Mark. Let's begin." Twilight said, as she began to slowily circled me. "Magic is all about concentration and willpower. A unicorn must focus their magic from within inorder to unleash it with their horn. It takes time for us to learn how to use magic, and most only ever really learn more then the basics." "Yeah, but that's because they 're unicorns. I'm just an earth pony. I don't think I can use magic." I said bluntly, not enjoying this magic lesson. Twilight just stayed quite for a moment, looking like she was trying her best not to face hoof. We where in the study room, trying to have me learn how to use magic. Today started out like any other normal morning, I woke up, took a shower and went to the kitchen to make breakfast. But that's when everything changed. Twilight told me she had some free time today, and wanted to help me with learning how to use magic. I told her that it would be impossible for me to learn how to control magic, and that defeating the golem was really just a fluke. But Twilight wasn't having it. So, needless to say, after breakfast, she dragged me into the library to reread the basics on learning magic, with a book meant for young unicorns, and proceeded to give me lectures on magic like she was my teacher or something. Now, it was almost noon, and we were now in here so I could practice magic. "Of course you can, Mark." Twilight assured me. "Other wise, you wouldn't have been able to use it on the golem. The magical blast you unleashed was one on the strongest one's I've seen. And I should know, I had the magic of four alicorns inside me!" "I don't know Twilight. I mean, you are the princess of magic. So using magic comes easy to you. But I'm just a guy from another world without magic who got zapped here and turned into a pony. Magic is unknown to me. It would be like a fish being able to breathe on the surface, and then asked to walk. I just don't know how!" "But you're not just a normal guy!" Twilight sighed, as she put her hoof to her chest before she released the air. "Your magic aura is much stronger then normal earth ponies, a dead give way that you posses magical talent. We just need to figure out how to get you to channel it. Do you remember anything before you defeated the golem? Any type of feeling or emotions that might have triggered your magic?" "Not really." I began, rubbing the back of my head. "I mean, when that thing was on top of me, ready to smash me into paste, alot of things were going on. I was in pain, I was scared, I was pissed I was going to die and neve...." And then it hit me. "I remember now. When that thing knocked you out, and was making it's way the kids and me, I felt a fire ignited inside my belly, like a wave of emotions hit me in the gut!" "Go on." Twilight said, looking intrigued. "I remember thinking, 'I can't let that thing hurt the childern.' And that's why I rushed out to meet that thing head on." "See, you are a hero." Twilight said with a smirk. "Only a brave pony would risk their life to save others." "Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, when it was about to squash me like a bug, I remember that feeling in my gut boil over. As fear turned into rage as the thought of dieing was so not on my to do list. And then, well, I snapped." "That's it!" Twilight exclaimed excitedly. Almost like she had just solved the world's greatest mystery or something. "That feeling in your stomach you had was the magic inside you! And it was your emotions and desperation that allowed you to unlock it's power!" "Say what?" I asked, getting it but not understanding it. "It means, that the key for you to unlocking your magic is to use your emotions and channel that feeling in your stomach you had, then you'll be able to use it whenever you want!" Twilight explained. "Twilight, not to sound like a negitive nanny, but that just sounds like a bunch of guano." I said, rolling my eyes at the whole thing. "Just be quiet and listen to my instruction!" She said, with just a hint of frustration. "Now, clear all your thoughts and emotions and relex." She instructed. I let out a huge breathe and did as I was told. I relaxed myself and tried not to focus on anything, keeping my mind as clear as I could make it. "Now, close your eyes and search deep inside yourself until you feel a strange force of energy, like a small ball of light deep inside the darkness." Twilight instructed. I just rolled my eyes behind my eyelids, before doing what she said. Keeping my eyes closed, I tried searching in the darkness behind my eyes for something, anything for me to find. I thought this whole thing was a waste of time, but I continued with it anyway. as I stood their trying to 'feel' this energy inside me, I became aware of the sounds around me as I listened. I could hear the sound of Twilight and me breathing, as well the sound of my own heart beat. Bump bump, Bump bump. I listened as I heard my heart beat in a rhythm. The only thing I could hear or feel was the sound of my heart beating. Bump bump, Bump bump, Bump bump. I could feel it pump inside me, flowing the blood through my body and filling my body with the energy it needs to live. "Concentrate Mark. Focus on nothing else but the feelings deep inside you, as you push everything else out out of your mind." Twilight instructed, as I continued to stand there playing as a statue. I kept searching inside for any hint of the energy that burned inside me the week before. But the results were the same as I felt was my heatbeat and all I saw was the darkness behind my eyelids. I started to sweat with frustrated as nothing was happening. How am I supposed to do this? Finally, I just crossed my arms as I opened my eyes to snap, "This is impossible!" "No it isn't." Twilight sighed. "Don't give up so easily. Fight for it! Try again." Frowning, I closed my eyes again, setting aside all distracting thoughts and doubts. I took another deep breathe and reached into the farthest corners of my consciousness, trying to find this stupid ass power. Searching, I found only thoughts and memories until I felt something..... Different.... a small ball of thought and energy that was a part of me, yet not. Excited, I tried to dig into it, seeking what it hid. But I felt resistance, a barrier in my mind, and I knew that the power lay on the other side of the barrier. Growing angry, I drove into the barrier, ramming against it with all my might, hoping to break the dam of energy behind it. But the barrier didn't even budge, only managing to produce a small crack in it. But I knew I was making progress as a light of energy poured from the crack, and I could feel the energy as it slowly pour through me. It wasn't much, but I knew I was close to unlocking it's full power. "That it, Mark! You're doing it!" Twilight said excitedly. I opened my eyes to find that Twilight and the floor was much lower then I last saw it. It was then that I noticed that I was glowing a faint green as I hovered about ten feet in the air. I couldn't contain my excitement as I realized I had just figured out how to use magic finally. "Holy muffins on Tuesday!" I said faster then I could think. "I can't believe it, I'm flying. I'm flying! I'M FLY..." But before I could finish, I felt the little wave of magic flowing in me slipped away and faded back behind the barrier. The green aura around me quickly dissipated, and I soon found myself greeting the floor in a loud thump. I grunted in pain. I felt tired as hell from the effort, but I grinned from the success. "Not bad for your first time." Twilight said. "Aww man, I wasn't able to keep ahold of it." I grumbled as I picked myself up on shaky legs. That sure took out alot of energy from me. "Don't feel bad, Mark." Twilight said as she gave me a reassuring smile. "It was hard for my first time as well." "Really?" I asked, I just couldn't believe Twilight could EVER struggle with magic. "Of course. I remember when I was a little filly, and had to pass an entrance exam to inroll in Princess Celestia's school for gifted unicorns. I had to use my magic to hatch a dragon egg." "Spike's?" "Yep. But I was still just learning magic, and was no where near strong enough to preform spells that big. I was about to blow it, but then a shockwave from outside broke my concentration and all the magic poured out from me. Everything in the room was effected from my magic, the egg, my parents, even the exam teachers. I couldn't stop, until Celestia walked in the room and put her hoof on my shoulder." "Whoa. And then what happened?" "She was empressed with my raw talent and made me her apprentice. It was also the day I got my cutie mark." Twilight said happily, almost getting all giddy by the memory. No surprise there, I already knew her talent and cutie mark was related to magic. Duhh! I mean, she became the princess of magic for crying out loud! "Uhhh.... not really the same thing there, Twi. But I get what you're saying. It took time for you to master your skills, right?" "That's right. Canterlot wasn't built in in a day, you know." "Still, I can't believe I was able to use a little magic to hover in the air." I said excited. "I bet with some practice, I'll be able to master my powers in no time!" I closed my eyes again, and with only a little searching I was able to find the ball of power again. But before I could try to break the barrier to use the energy again, a sudden wave of exhaustion hit me hard. I weakly moaned as all the strength in my body left me and I started to fall back onto the floor. "Whoa! Easy there, Mark. I think that's enough practice for today." Twilight said, as she quickly used her magic to cover me with her purple aura, and kept me from falling. She then lift me up in the air, and hovered me so I was facing her. "You did great, but don't push it. We can try it again later." I just weakly nodded with a small smile as I didn't even have the strength to respond. Just to use a small pinch of the power hidden deep inside me had left me ready to collapse, so who knew what would happen If I tried to go all out just yet. I could feel my eyes lids growing heavy as I just floated in the air. "I think I'll take a little n...." And then I was out like a light. Dear Princess Celestia, I am happy to report that Mark Less Stevens is adjusting to his new life as a pony very well. He spent the week getting used to Ponyville and making many friends. He's spent most of his free time in the castle library, learning as much as he could about our history and the creatures in our world. He seems very eager to learn, which I must admit, is a breathe of fresh air. He's still struggling to learn about magic, as he says it's because he comes from a world without it. Today I had him practice trying to focus his magic, and I was quite pleased with the results. He was able to channel a small portion of it and lift himself in the air for a few seconds, before he came crashing down. The event left him drained, but he was excited that he was finally able to use even such a small amount. It will still take some time before he can even hope to channel half the power he used before, but I'm sure he'll soon become a powerful ally. Still no signs of anything out of the ordinary since the golem attack, but I'm still being cautious for another attack. Especially since the festival is tomorrow. I've talked it over with Mayor Mare, and decided to place guards around the town just encase Mark's unknown attacker decided to make another move. With any luck, the day will go on without incident and everypony will have a great time. I'll be sure to keep you posted on any updates, since you and Princess Luna are busy with things in Canterlot. Your former apprentice, and friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle.