//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Reflections // Story: Nightmare's Dream // by shirotora //------------------------------// Chapter 4: Reflections It had been three days since Twilight and Curt discovered the existence of Alex and the other human adepts. Twilight was pleasantly surprised to discover how much Alex had learned on his own. Though she wouldn't call him a prodigy like Curt or herself, he learned noticeably faster than most unicorns. She had led Curt and Alex to a clearing in on the property to start their lessons. Curt was helping a little with Alex's training, but soon enough went off to his own lesson, leaving Twilight to focus on Alex. They had finished with the Arcane School basics, levitation he already knew, and he took to arcane bolts in about an hour and a half so it was easy. With that done to par, they had moved on to the Elemental School. “Okay, first, unlike the Arcane School, you have to transform your mana into the proper type of energy, elemental energy. For that, you channel your magic through your diaphragm, pouring passion into it. Remember, emotion is key for advanced magic schools. If you try casting magic with the wrong emotion it'll fail, often with very bad results. Try thinking about something that you're passionate about.” “Right.” Alex nodded as he raised his right hand and focused. His mind wandered to thoughts about crowds of people, cheering and praising his amazing performances. With that feeling, he channeled his magic through his heart, feeling it become wild, like fire, yet still in his grasp. To non-adepts, his magic aura looked the same as ever, but to any unicorn or human adept, it looked as if he held liquid fire. “Whoa! I did it on my first try!” Alex cheered. “Don't get cocky,” Twilight said, “Almost everyone does. Energy transformation is easy, and with practice will become second nature. Elemental energy is fluid in nature and you will find it's easily controlled.” “Thanks for bursting my bubble.” Alex chuckled as he looked to his fellow human adept. The aura that surrounded his hand was like a breath of fog, slowly churning and rolling. “What kind of magic is he doing?” Twilight glanced at her lover and stated casually, “Necromancy.” Alex's eyes widened, “Y-you mean like... raising the dead?” Twilight rolled her eyes. “Necromancy is mastery over death, whether to cause or prevent it. It can be used to temporarily breath life into dead flesh, for instance to access the last memories of a murder victim, or, yes, reanimate the dead. Although reanimation is heavily regulated, there are a few scientific applications. There are even programs where ponies can sell the rights to their bodies to be used as labor for harvesting herbs in Death Marsh. The air there is so toxic that it will kill you in seconds, but there are plants that grow there that can cure dozens of illnesses including the only known cure for horn rot, red lung, and OTS. They tried using constructs, but something about them kills the plant. Necromancy's primary use, though is in the medical field. Its control over vitality can be used to keep patients alive, even with injuries that should kill them.” “I wouldn't mind learning that,” Alex stated. Twilight chuckled, happy he was showing such enthusiasm. “It's rather advanced, so you won't be touching it for a couple years. Curt's kind of a prodigy, so he's learning it sooner that most others would. Don't worry though, at the rate you're learning, you'll be on Nature Magic within two weeks.” “Nature magic?” “Similar to Elemental Magic in a lot of ways, but instead of dealing with the four base natural elements, it's focus is on living things and a subject’s material composition. Transmutation, plant manipulation, and most simple medical magic falls under this school. But we'll worry about that when we get to it. Right now, let's focus on the most basic Elemental spell, fire.” --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- “Mmm, what is that smell?” Alex asked as the three mages walked into the dining room. “It's a new recipe Twilight gave me,” woman of the house said, “It's spaghetti with dandelion and white sauce.” Alex froze for a moment. “Did... did you say, 'dandelion'?” “Avolian dandelion,” Twilight clarified. “Because there is a severe lack of non-sapient life on Avol, there isn't enough meat to support the population, so we developed 'meat-flowers'. They provide all the nutrients one finds in meat and are healthier. Don't worry, though, they taste nothing like flowers. Dandelions have a kind of garlic-buttery flavor that goes good with pasta.” “So...” Alex began, trying to wrap his head around the 'meat-flower', “They're flowers, but they aren't? Why use flowers, though? Wouldn't it make more sense to just add it to things you already eat?” Twilight was happy to explain, “Because other fruits and vegetables we tried ended up tasting like old socks. Flowers, hay, and grasses took to the magic far better and somehow ended up tasting good.” Curt decided to give a human opinion, “They're good. Ham, lily, and cheese sandwiches are one of my favorite snacks now.” The magician shrugged, “Hell, if I can try Dratali food, I can try this.” “Dratali food? Where did you try that?” asked Curt. “A former Dratali soldier pledged himself to a friend of mine,” Alex replied. “Pledged himself?” Twilight gave the performer a quizzical look. “You haven't heard about that?” Alex replied. “A few months ago, a large number of former Dratali soldiers began 'pledging' themselves. They basically offer themselves as slaves to various people, usually friends or family of civilians that were killed. It's supposed to be a part of their repentance. It's a religious thing.” “That... sounds wrong,” Twilight said, though without much conviction. “I mean... Is it? Slavery is wrong, no doubt, but...” “I feel ya, Twi,” Curt said, “I don't know what to think about that. If they're trying to make things right, and they offer themselves...” “It's weird. Several of them turn up dead, too,” Alex continued. “How have you not heard about this?” “We've been on Avol for the past year,” Curt explained. “They're still in the middle of integration.” “Okay, enough talk about moral ambiguity,” said Patricia as she presented four plates of the pasta, “Food's ready.” Twilight and Curt levitated their meals over with practiced ease, while Alex had to focus a little more, but still managed. Patricia watched as the three plates floated away, “I'm never going to get used to that, am I?” Curt chuckled and said, “Oh, sure you will, mom. After all, the wedding is going to be on Avol, so you'll see plenty of magic at work. Who knows, if we find out how that orb worked, you might be able to get magic of your own.” “I'll pass,” Patricia said nonchalantly. “I'm not that lazy.” “Hey!” Twilight said, “Magic is my special talent, and I'm the Element of Magic. But I'm not lazy at all.” “Good!” the older woman smiled warmly, “Then you can wash dishes.” Twilight just groaned while Curt and Alex laughed. “I walked right into that.” “Twi, you're smart,” Curt gave his fiance a pat on the withers, “But never underestimate mom. She's ruthless.” --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Twilight was jolted from her dreams of chocolate cupcakes, sexy stallions, and for some reason, Pinkie Pie, tambourine in her raccoon paw, chimes dangling from her moose antler, and her beaver tail beating a drum. Ever since Mayhem told everyone that he was Clyde, Pinkie's rock farming 'earth pony' father, Pinkie didn't have to hide her nature anymore and had become even more random. It made her wonder if the hyper pink half-draconequus was actually in her dream. It didn't matter at the moment. What mattered was finding out who was going to get cussed out. Twilight levitated her ringing prosthetic from where she had put it the night before, something she was supposed to do every night, but often forgot. She reattached the false limb as Curt let her know he was up by placing a few light kisses on her withers. She brought up her computer and put on her best “If this isn't important, I'm going to incinerate you” scowl. “That's really not a good look for you, Twilight.” Twilight's scowl shifted quickly into a smile, “Good morning, Admiral.” Admiral Gibson, Twilight's former CO, returned the smile, “I trust you're keeping that lazy bum you call a boy friend in line.” “That's fiance, now,” Twilight corrected. “Oh, my condolences, Sparkle.” “I heard that,” Curt looked over Twilight's shoulder. “I wasn't hiding it. Anyway, as much as I enjoy chatting, this is a business call. We've identified another passenger that was on the same flight as your friend.” They would already have had all the passengers, but for some reason the records of that flight vanished right after the flight arrived at the Sunset Station above Earth. “Her name is Tanya Swanson. I'm sending you the details now.” the old soldier gave the pony a knowing smirk. “I think you and she will get along just great. Gibson out.” And with that, the screen went out. “Huh...What did he mean by that?” Twilight pondered. “Oh well, let's see what we've got.” Twilight opened the file she received and read intently. Curt watched as a smile crossed his lover's face. “What?” he asked warily. Twilight replied, excitement heavy in her voice, “She's a scientist.” --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Twilight couldn't keep still in her excitement. Their first adept was a scientist, and a quantum physicist at that! Curt on the other hand was tired. He had to fly from Ireland to Old Union, what was once the eastern coast of the United States, and traffic was a bitch that early in the morning. As Twilight started down yet another tangent about godards, the door to Dr. Swanson's lab opened. “Ah, Ms. Sparkle,” a woman with long, black hair, bangs cut razor straight, walked out. Her pale skin was that of a person that rarely saw the sun, and her simple skirt and blouse were more for function over form. “I'm so glad you came.” The excitement was obvious in her voice. “I've been wanting to speak with you since I first heard about you on the net. Why don't you come inside?” Twilight and Curt followed the scientist into her office. Twilight was immediately aware of something she had only seen under glass cases in antique stores and museums... Books. Lots and lots of books. Nothing else mattered about the room, not the desk and chairs, the few pictures that dotted the walls, or the plants in the corners beside the door. “Oh, I see you've noticed my collection,” Tanya said. “There's something about paper books that make them so much better than their digital versions.” “I agree, Dr. Swanson,” Twilight replied, “Do you, by any chance know why we're-” “Hold that thought!” the woman interrupted. She ran to her desk and grabbed her datapad. She flipped through a few folders, mumbling to herself as she opened one folder after another, “Lists... Questionnaires... Possible meetings.... Twilight Sparkle. Alright, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you, Ms. Sparkle.” “Uh...” Twilight gave a confused look to Curt, “Can it wait? We're here for a very important reason.” “Yes, yes, I know,” Dr. Swanson said with a wave of her hand. “I've already figured most of it out.” To prove her point, she raised her hand and, with a lavender glow, a ficus in the corner turned into a small purple iguana looking lizard. “Spines here volunteered to let me test a spell on her. I've figured out that mana is dependent on not only emotion, but also which of the pools you draw from. I've identifies five different forms of mana, and have documented thirteen different spells.” “Twi...” Curt whispered into the unicorn's ear as he watched the scientist in fascination, “Am I the only one seeing this?” Twilight looked around the room as she spoke, “Lists, obvious OCD, spends most of her time inside with her experiments and books, and has a natural talent for magic?” “Don't forget the purple lizard,” Curt added. “Eeyup... I think we just found my Debby.” Twilight listened as the human woman went into details about the discovery of her talent. This is going to be eye opening. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Human (Homo Sapien) Home world; Terra, Sol Humans are the most diverse race in the galaxy, having many nations and governments on their home world alone. Nearly every world and colony within Terran Federation space falls under the jurisdiction of one of five major factions, each consisting of an alliance of nations that fund the colony or world, though most are allowed there own laws. Humans first reached the stars in Terran year 1961, a little over one thousand years ago. They, along with the Aviva, founded the Alliance of Sapient Races. The Terran Federation is the largest of the races in terms of occupied worlds. Humans are also the most widespread, being found throughout the galaxy. An interesting detail is how closely their culture resembles ours. Not only is English and Equuish virtually the same language, but unicorns, pegasi, griffins, dragons, and many other Avolian races are found in Human myth. Does this mean our worlds have interacted in the past? Considering evidence that humans, at one time, had magic themselves, this is a possibility. Personally, I would recommend most Avolians to begin their travels in Terran space, as it is the most similar to our own. It also has the widest diversity of other Alliance races, allowing one to begin learning their cultures in a setting that is more familiar.