//------------------------------// // Chapter Seven: Shocking Lesson // Story: Heart of Shadow: Passing the Torch // by TheCrimsonDM //------------------------------// Passing the Torch Chapter Seven: Shocking Lesson Written by TheCrimsonDM Light shined blissfully through the window casting its brilliance over the small room. Amber however didn’t care for the light and covered her head with her blanket in a feudal attempt to drown out the brightness. It took only moments for her to realize that there were voices coming from the kitchen right outside her door. She groaned and threw off the covers but kept the Sophie doll next to her as she let her eyes adjust to the lighting. Amber listened in and didn’t make much of an effort to actually get out of bed, instead she chose to attempt to try and figure out who was here. After a few moments she realized exactly who it was and she moaned with displeasure at the thought of seeing ‘her’ this early. It took some effort but she eventually made her way out of the bed while still holding the Sophie doll in her mouth. It might not have any actual use, but it did make her feel more comfortable whenever she was in trouble. Amber slowly opened her door and walked out into the hallway leading in to the small kitchen/dining room. Amber didn’t give any heed to the ponies that were sitting at the table drinking coffee. What Amber did do was grab a cup and fill it full of the leftover pot of coffee, she then sat down at the table and set the Sophie doll upright before taking a few unwilling sips of her black drink. “Good morning, Amber,” Twilight said gently. Amber just glared at her before returning to her drink, Twilight took that as a sign to keep going. “Look, I’m sorry about my attitude from yesterday. I care for you and I just don’t want to see you get hurt, that’s all. I’ve been talking to your mom and maybe it is time that I start trusting you a little more… will you forgive me?” Amber was surprised to hear such a kind apology from Twilight, and even better the hope of getting to do dangerous stuff at Twilight’s side was filling Amber’s heart with joy. Amber sat up straight and very quickly said, “Of course I forgive you!” Twilight smiled softly at Amber’s quick change of attitude. Trixie clapped her hooves together and said, “I’m so glad to see that you two have made up. Now if you’ll excuse me class is starting soon. I’ll see you when I get home, Amber.” With that said Trixie stood up from the table and left. Amber never enjoyed how early her mom would leave; Amber almost never got to spend the morning with her mom. Amber stared longingly at the front door hoping that maybe just maybe Trixie would be able to stay home today. Twilight caught the look in Amber’s eyes and stood up from the table. “So I promised to teach you some non-lethal combat spells today, right? Why don’t we head out?” Twilight suggested. Amber let out a sigh and said, “They never have time for me.” Twilight’s face began to frown and Amber let out a practiced sigh before saying, “Okay, let’s go do something fun.” *** The old library was where Twilight and Amber were spending most of their time that day. Twilight was sitting in the first floor and reading up on a series of books that she had told Amber would be beneficial to today’s lesson. Amber on the other hoof was spending her time playing with the various knickknacks that lined the shelves next to the front entrance. Sure Amber could have chosen to read, but reading was typically boring unless it was fiction of course. Amber decided to ask a question that she had been wondering for awhile now. “So I have a question.” “What’s on your mind?” Twilight asked while flipping a page in her book. Amber was examining a particular picture of a pony sized dragon standing proudly next to Rarity while holding a tiny white foal in his arms. “You told me once that this tree was destroyed by Lord Tirek, but you also told me that the chandelier in your castle was actually made from this tree… so how exactly did you re-grow it?” “This tree left a seed behind when it exploded. After we noticed something beginning to grow from the ashes of this place a few years after its destruction I realized exactly what it was. It took some help from the other princess’s and then some scolding from Celestia after she explained that she could have rebuilt it for me sooner, but the new tree was grown. And it resembles the old one fairly closely,” Twilight explained. Amber set the picture back down and said, “So this is actually a new tree, you didn’t actually re-grow the old one?” “Well… yes your right. But it looks so much like my old tree and even feels like it. I can’t really explain it but it’s like I can feel the life of this tree, and just as much as you or Spike this tree is part of my family. Applejack could explain the feeling this place gives off better than I can, but then again she is an earth pony so she has a better connection to nature then I ever could,” Twilight said with her nose stuck firmly in her book. Amber Light stood up and opened her mouth to ask something else when suddenly the door swung open and a cloaked pony walked in. The pony had white fur and the cloak they wore was light blue with a diamond pattern embroidered into it. The cloaked pony walked up to Twilight and a soft mare’s voice spoke saying, “Um… grandma, Twilight.” Twilight Sparkle smiled brightly and said, “Yes, Jade.” “I um… can I stay here for a while?” Jade asked quietly. “Sure you can. If you want you can join in our lesson, we’re about to learn about non-lethal combat spells,” Twilight said calmly. “Oh… I wouldn’t want to be a bother to anypony,” Jade said before looking back at Amber Light. A single green eye could be seen shining from underneath the hood. The sight gave Amber Light an uneasy feeling and she quickly looked away from the strange eye. “You won’t be a bother to anypony, I promise. Now why don’t you find somewhere nice to sit,” Twilight said while levitating out a bowl of gems from off the shelf behind her. “And take these with you, I’m sure that you’re starving.” Jade grabbed the edge of the bowl with her sharp teeth and walked into one of the corners of the room before sitting down. Amber watched in curiosity as Jade stuck out a long split tongue, wrapped it around a large green gem and brought it back into her mouth. Amber could scarcely believe it as Jade began chewing on the gem as though it was merely hay. “So do you just keep a bowl of gems around all the time?” Amber asked. “Of course I do, she’s the closest thing that I’m ever going to have to a granddaughter so why shouldn’t I?” Twilight said proudly. Amber gave Twilight a funny look and asked, “What do you mean by that?” With sudden enthusiasm Twilight smiled widely and said, “It’s time to teach you a new spell.” Although it was blatantly obvious that Twilight was hiding something from the young unicorn, Amber chose not to pursue this topic at the moment. If the issue was as serious as Amber imagined then when Twilight did sit down to talk about it, tears would surely follow. Amber stood up and shook off the odd feeling she got from the quiet pony thing eating in the corner. Amber looked back at Twilight and said, “That sounds fun.” Twilight let out an uncomfortable moan as she stood up from her spot on the floor. “My legs seem to be in disagreement with me today. Alright I’ll begin teaching you.” Twilight walked to the center of the room and sat down one of the books she had been reading on a table and said, “Okay this spell is something that you’re mother actually learned at a fairly early age. It’s called Shocking Grasp and should prove effective at stopping your opponent without killing them… or maiming them for life.” “So,” Amber asked while she opened the book, “What level of spell is this?” “Does that matter?” It didn’t take long to find the spells location and Amber deflated a little. “Oh… it’s only a level one spell. That’s a little simple isn’t it?” “This spell is actually around your skill level, Amber. I already taught you one higher level spell and it took a long time for you to get a hang of it, or don’t you remember?” Amber let out a sigh. “Fine, I’ll learn the spell so long as it will help me defend my friends.” “This spell will do a wonderful job. I promise.” *** Almost an hour had passed and numerous attempts at practicing the new spell had all gone without much success. At first Amber could barely manage a spark from her horn, and at most she ended up shocking herself. The point of the spell was to channel an electrical current through her body and then to transfer it to her target. After all the attempts Amber was left on the floor in a weakened state and her horn throbbing with intense pain. “Would you care to try it once more?” Twilight asked as she stood proudly before Amber. Amber hated lying on the hard wood floor like this. She knew that she was too weak to properly learn magic, and she hated it. She cursed and said, “No, I would not like to try it again. I think that I’m working up a nose bleed from all this practice.” With a gently touch Twilight brushed back Amber’s mane with a wing tip. A kind smile was worn on Twilight’s face. Amber growled and looked away. “Oh come on. I know that it’s hard to learn new magic but you don’t need to be angry about it,” Twilight said. Anger was a part of Amber Light’s life and right now that anger was focused on her own inability to learn simple spells. She closed her eyes and said lamely, “I’m failing you…” “You are not failing me. You have always had a hard time using magic, even more then I did at your age. I know it’s not fair, I used to be jealous of how easy it was for your mom to learn new spells when I was a teenager,” Twilight said softly. “My mom is still not as good as you are…” “Your mother has the ability to pick up and learn new tricks easily, mastering them however was difficult for her. If she had spent even half the time I did in practicing her magic then she could have been more powerful than me. Of course with her having the same issue that you do, she would have only hurt herself in practice.” When Twilight finished speaking she laid down in front of Amber. “Ugh, why does my horn hate me?” Amber grumbled. “It’s a birth defect, nothing too serious though. We can try this again tomorrow if you wish.” With tired eyes Amber looked up at her teacher and said quietly, “I think that might be for the best. Maybe I can go bother some of my friends.” “Or you could hang out with Jade?” Amber looked at the cloaked pony in the corner and noticed that Jade had long since removed her hood. Half of the white pony’s face was hidden behind a short green mane and the one eye that was visible was clearly not normal. Jade’s eye was much more reptilian than anything resembling a ponies eye, and when Jade licked her lips she revealed a row of frighteningly sharp teeth. Jade looked suddenly at the two ponies staring at her and her face began turning a light shade of pink. She quickly through the hood up and over her face and said, “P-p-please don’t stare.” “I… uh… what should I do with her?” Amber asked in a whisper. “Just hang out with her, she doesn’t have any friends and I think this could be a wonderful experience for you,” Twilight whispered back. Amber stood up slowly and attempted to ignore her aching muscles. “Hey, Jade. Wanna hang out with me?” Jade looked at her from beneath her hood and Amber caught the tiny smile that grew on the strange ponies lips. “Do you really mean it?” “Yeah, it’ll be fun.” Jade stood up quickly and walked over to the three. Jade’s smile was a little frightening with all those sharp teeth but at the same time it was somehow very friendly looking. Although Amber was unsure of what exactly the two would be doing, she figured that dragging Jade around town with her couldn’t be too bad. Maybe she could introduce Jade to Sophie and Hushpuppy, those two would probably love the strange little pony.