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Post by eclipse on Jul 19, 2011 13:42:14 GMT -5
Willow stepped back, then fell unceremoniously on her haunches as Magmarhyme's fireball exploded with energy before coalescing into a bright little hummingbird. She blinked soot out of her eyes. This pony was... Well, Willow had no idea how to react to this pony. "So..." she began, trying to think of an adjective which worked here. After a moment she still hadn't come up with a word she really liked. "Bright," she concluded lamely, still kind of dazed by the other pony's energy. It was true, of course; Magma's fire had a certain light quality to it that Willow hadn't really seen in natural flames, or in other flames she'd seen cast in Canterlot. It was a lot more defiant, among other things.
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Post by Watermark on Jul 19, 2011 18:24:29 GMT -5
"Good! Good! Just next time, try NOT to blow us full of ashes!" The tattooed unicorn laughed, grinning, "Now make it fly across the camp and back! You won't be able to watch or listen through it yet, that's a LOT more complicated, but you can still control it as it flies." Watermark drew a circle with his hoof to demonstrate 'around the camp' and the nconjured a hummingbird of his own, made of water, to make sure Magma's bird was making the full course. His fluttered in the air, loop de looping gracefully.
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Post by magmarhyme on Jul 19, 2011 19:02:19 GMT -5
Er, sorry!" Magmarhyme said while chuckling. Magmarhyme tried turning in a circle and controlling the hummingbird to follow her. It was simple enough, she thought. It was just like controlling her fire, except now she would have to try long distance.
She planted her hooves firmly into the soggy grass, feeling them sink slightly into the wet soil. She tossed her head to one side and the fiery bird flew quickly in that direction. It was only a few feet away when it began to collapse. Disheartened but stubborn, Magmarhyme huffed angrily and conjured a new hummingbird to take its place. This one managed to make it past fifteen feet before it accidentally hit the ground and was snuffed out by the muddy ground.
Three more attempts later had Magmarhyme clicking her tongue as her latest hummingbird began its flight, flapping its wings and leaving a small flicker of embers behind it as it flapped its wings. Magmarhyme tilted her head and the bird turned, starting to form a spiral for its flight path. It spiraled outward until it was encircling the gathering of ponies, then the circle grew and the hummingbird managed a graceful flutter around the camp.
Magmarhyme smiled proudly as the bird finished its round and came back to her, landing for a moment on her extended hoof before taking flight again to hover beside her head. She laughed loudly.
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Post by eclipse on Jul 19, 2011 19:20:18 GMT -5
Willow got back up and dusted herself off while Magmarhyme continued her attempts to send her little hummingbird flying around the camp. She sighed and watched the little bird float around the camp before dissipating or falling into the water. By now she could begin to understand the other mare's fierce determination, but what she found surpising was how she managed to consistently improve her control with each failure. When Magmarhyme finally managed to finish sending the bird around the camp, Willow stamped her hooves on the ground encouragingly, glad that she had succeeded.
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Post by Watermark on Jul 21, 2011 0:07:51 GMT -5
"Good! Now do it again with another, and another until you have five!" Watermark said, raising two of his hooves in the air, and a water clone appearing to raise two of his... and yet another raising one of his own.
"It's not going to be easy! You probably won't get to five this time, but practice can't! And remember! No exploding this time! Take your time, nice and slow, no one's chasing ya!"
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Post by magmarhyme on Jul 21, 2011 0:33:47 GMT -5
She had smiled at Willow for the encouragement, but her smile quickly faded at the next order. She could barely manage one! Right. Take time. Concentrate. Good idea. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Focus. Complete focus. Just imagine the goal and get there. Just concentrate. She did it once and she would do it again and again. As many times as it took. But for now, complete focus. She imagined five birds flying around her.
No, too fast. She visioned two. Just two. Three would come later. Yes! Her mental preparation was complete! She opened her eyes, her horn glowed, her nose wrinkled. She was ready! She took a deep breath and the bird she had already created exploded into another puff of black soot. The exact opposite of her intention.
"No! Bad bird!" she huffed angrily. She closed her eyes to refocus her efforts, ignoring the new layer of ash in her hair.
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Post by eclipse on Jul 21, 2011 1:00:24 GMT -5
Willow sighed, watching Magma attempt something new. She was itching to move on, now, but Watermark had told her to wait, and that she might be learning a new trick; she didn't want to risk walking off, even though she was used to keeping active on these little escapades. She quietly watched as Magma struggled with what she assumed was a much more difficult task, trying to focus on what she was doing.
She ended up getting distracted by the light quality of the fire again, if only because it gave her something to do which always fascinated her. Her fire seemed very insistent and loud, not quite a wildfire but it wished it was. It's almost like the fires are Magmarhyme herself, she thought, proud of the observation. There was also an unusual wavering behind it, like Magma was holding something back... she sighed again, watching as the light exploded into soot.
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Post by Watermark on Jul 22, 2011 5:10:34 GMT -5
Watermark hummed to himself as he watched Magma's failure, before he emanated a stranged *ding* sound, raising his hoof in the air with triumph. He quickly whipped up one of the bandages he was always carrying and wrapped it around Magma's head with magic.
"This isn't going to make anything easier, but I want to see if you can actually feel the fire,." He explained in a very simple manner.
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Post by magmarhyme on Jul 24, 2011 12:41:50 GMT -5
Easier?! Of course not. This is going to make it downright impossible, Magmarhyme thought as she fiddled with the wrapping using one of her hooves.
Again and again she tried to conjure hummingbirds, and again and again she never made it past one. Even now, the single bird she managed to create seemed weaker than before the bandage had been applied. It flapped slower and flicked in and out of existance like a dying fire, out of fuel. She was vaguely aware of a pony sighing near her under their breath, and it only caused her to rush more, try to hurry and finish her training. Repeatedly, the first bird always exploded into soot when she attempted the second. A fine ring of ash surrounded the young unicorn. She stood in her little circle of defeat, panting heavily.
"Haa..... haa...... haa.... I can't... haa... I don't see... haa.... how..." she managed between heaving. She sat down exhausted within her ring of ash, the loose soot on her back sliding off.
She couldn't do it. She tried desperately to create even a second bird and nothing worked. She was hopelessly lost now, wrapped in the cloth with only her flame for a presence, and even that seemed to dwindle now. Maybe she wasn't cut out to be a pyromage. Maybe she should have kept trying to dance. No, the studio was gone. Canterlot was so far now in memory. She sniffled there, lost in her despair.
No. Crying wasn't helping. Crying was water. Water wasn't helpful. Fire wanted nothing to do with that liquid death. She jumped up to her feet. She still sniffled, but now her expression was fierce. "I don't get it! I don't understand! How am I supposed to figure this out alone?" Her anger erupted toward Watermark. "You're supposed to be helping me, not humming and hindering me!" She stamped a hoof. Her frustration came pouring out all at once. "I can't figure it out! The second I create a new one, my first bird disappears! I can't do it! All I'm doing... all I'm doing is making a mess!"
Utterly at a loss, she tossed her head rapidly side to side. "ARRRGH! What am I doing wrong? WHAT?!"
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Post by Watermark on Jul 24, 2011 16:10:19 GMT -5
Watermark stepped up to her, a hoof sternly planted on her chest, "You know what? Maybe I was wrong about you. Maybe you aren't cut out to be a Pyromancer. You have the power, you have the focus, I daresay you even have the skills. But if you don't believe you can do it, why should I?"
He paced around her, his voice was the sternest she'd ever heard from him, his grin disappeared entirely from his face with no trace, and was replaced by a penetrating frown. "A little piece of cloth is what's stopping you? This little piece of cloth that even a small candle fire could burn is going to make you give up?"
He laughed coldly, "If you really have THAT little faith in yourself, maybe I should just find someone else." He passed her, brushing against her oh so gently, his tattoos smoldering against her hot and exerted body.
"So you want to tell me that cloth is stronger than fire?" He asked at last, hoping that this would spark her primal need to prove herself and if not herself than fire. Fire was her passion, which he had hoped to ignite in her. Obviously this wasn't going to be easy, he knew that from the start. But he had to keep her going. She couldn't give up, or he'd fail, and he couldn't, not with her, not with someone he can so identify with!
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Post by eclipse on Jul 24, 2011 16:51:35 GMT -5
When Magma stopped, Willow took the chance to try and explain the suspicion she was beginning to have to the fiery unicorn. She was a little afraid she was interrupting Watermark, but if she didn't do something she would probably explode. "Excuse me," she began, clearing her throat to make her voice heard. She was getting tired of doing nothing but observing, and she was getting rather fidgety. Maybe if she could help Magma it might help her deal with her impatience? Not to mention she thought she could see what was happening, at least if fire was anything like light. Might as well share my thoughts.
"I don't know much about fire, but I've been watching what the light feels for a little while now and... Magma, I think your fire is afraid of something," she said, trying to figure out how to explain what she meant by it. She wasn't very good with language, and it always showed when she tried to explain something complicated. "I mean..." she stopped short, still unable to figure out what exactly she was trying to say. "Oh, nevermind," she backed off angrily, shaking her head out of frustration. I think your fire is afraid of becoming brighter, she thought to herself. That was easy, why couldn't she say it right?
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Post by magmarhyme on Jul 24, 2011 19:12:08 GMT -5
I have what it takes! I AM a pyromancer. It's not like I can receive training for something I already am! I'm a fire mage! I am fire! We established this! I don't need your belief in me! I have my own! I believe in nothing but myself! That's all I've ever relied on! Her thoughts raced rapidly. She wanted to throw off the wrapping and attack Watermark. She wanted him to feel all the rage welling up inside of her. She wanted to tell him off. That good for nothing--
Willow was talking? Magmarhyme was shaking with infernal wrath as the other unicorns spoke. She kept her body low to the floor and her head buried in her front legs. She was exhausted, and losing. Her fire was afraid? Her fire was afraid. Afraid. Afraid of what?
Magma didn't move. She remained in her low position as the others spoke. The frustration in Willow's voice and the impatience of Watermark's made her sink lower into her own thoughts. She was tired of external noise. It was all pointless and infuriating. I'm not afraid, she thought defiantly. I don't fear anything. There's nothing to be afraid of.
Defeat? Not quite. I'm so close to... to doing it again. Willow may well have been right, but Magmarhyme clucked her tongue angrily instead of giving an admission. She didn't come to the bog for therapy.
Magmarhyme lifted her head, her vision still shrouded in darkness. If blocking out all outer distractions had let her pass Watermark's first test, blocking all internal disorder would help now. It was a sound enough plan. No more thinking. Control: yes.
I'm not afraid. She jumped to her feet, fire starting to whirl around her. She couldn't see it now, but she knew exactly what was happening. A fireball formed, this time with Magmarhyme inside of it. "NOTHING IS STRONGER THAN ME," she screamed in response to Watermark's last statement. Whether it was true or not, Magmarhyme felt it appropriate. "I'm so sick and tired of other ponies! I'm too strong - I'm too weak - Not enough control - Too much.
MAKE
UP
YOUR
MINDS"
Magmarhyme was barely visible in her sphere of burning angst. Something - a smaller ball of more condensced fire - swirled about within the larger orb before bursting out upwards. The little ball exploded and took the form of a hummingbird. It began flying circles around Watermark. Within seconds, a second bird burst from the orb and went to encircle Willow.
A third orb launched itself from Magmarhyme's present energy sphere but it quickly disappeared. The entire sphere of light's existance flickered and wavered. The orb started to collapse in on itself.
In the blink of an eye, all the fire was gone. The sphere around Magmarhyme vanished. The hummingbirds burst into little sparks and were gone. Magmarhyme was left in the center of the clearing in the headquarters. She was coughing and dry heaving. Rather than having inhaled the fire accidentally, it was like the flame had receded back into her skin. Her legs wobbled, and she fell to one side.
There was a loud thud as her small frame crashed into the wet grass. "I'm not weak... she mumbled before her consciousness faded.
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Post by Watermark on Jul 24, 2011 21:48:19 GMT -5
Before she could pass out, her face was splashed with freezing water, "Bah, so dramatic! Perhaps you should have gone to theater!" He said, grinning again, "Come on now, the muddy ground is no place for you to sleep." He said, a couple of water golems helping Magma to her feet as he hummed about.
"It seems you still lack the necessary control to truly master this! So how about we play a game instead? It will truly help you gain control of your golems, as well as practice!"
Instantly Magma was rushed away by the golems as a miniature labyrinth full of passages, chasms and walkways appeared. Each walkway was incredibly thin, and always ended with a chasm, a passage beneath a walkway or something else. They would notice there were two high walkways on one edge, and one low walkway on the other edge. The others would also notice that some of the passages were blocked by rocks, and some of the chasms had tiny ladders over them.
"This is the magical golem maze! One of the most grueling magical exercises in the world. We both have our golems and may use certain spells. We must guide it across to the finish post, but only one can reach it. The spells you are allowed to use are : Flame, Enlarge and Telekinesis."
He gestured at the maze again, "The rules are simple, no path to the end is complete, you must move the obstacles to serve your golem, the opponent cannot move your obstacles while you move them, only after they've been placed. Placing a flame on any section of a walkway will block a golem from moving, enlarging the golem would allow it to squash another, and force it back to the starting position, but will prevent it from crossing passages until it fades out. But remember, you snooze you lose. If you place down an object and don't cross it immediately, it will be taken away. You lose focus and your golem will go in another direction than the one you want. You have to pay attention! Objects can also be used to block the opponent's path. First one to get to the end wins. Sounds simple enough?"
He then turned to Trixie, "Red Charge and I play this game nearly every evening, I daresay I've become quite adapt at it."
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Post by magmarhyme on Jul 26, 2011 11:33:21 GMT -5
Utterly silent. Magmarhyme simply stared, mouth agape, at Watermark. "What?"
There were no words to describe how ludicrous this all seemed to the young filly. She could play games on her own time. In fact, she prefered playing alone, where she could set her own rules. She only tolerated this authority over her in order to train. Train. The game seemed simple enough - that wasn't the issue. She was already frustrated and tired, however. The last thing Magmarhyme felt like doing now was watching Watermark gloat and beat her at the same time at a game she knew she wouldn't win.
"No," she said with a sigh. While the game looked easy, she knew this would be impossible against her opponent. Simple enough wasn't simple enough. "I'd rather keep trying to make the birds." Rather than contempt, her tone of speech suggested an earnest desire. "You said you were going to show those other ponies something new, right? Why not go show them and I'll keep practicing."
She looked over to the maze, feeling moreso how little interest it held to her. Perhaps in part due to having been splashed with water when she had finally felt peaceful sleep coming, Magmarhyme couldn't think of anything she wanted to do less than play a game.
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Post by The Great and POWERFUL Trixie on Jul 27, 2011 8:04:08 GMT -5
Trixie scoffed at Watermark. "Of course you've become good at it! You know all the paths and strategies to reach the end, probably like the back of your hoof if you play it that much with Red Charge." She shook her head in disapproval at the potentially one-sided challenge that Magma now faced. "You have quite the unfair advantage, Watermark. I suggest you take it easy on the mare."
Trixie's ears perked up in surprise at Magma's quick denial to the game. 'Wow' She thought. 'From super enthusiastic to no drive to even play a game... She's more like Watermark than I thought.' Trixie sighed, obviously the fiery pony just didn't get it. "Magma, with Watermark, games are training, and very good training at that. Mainly because you have fun with the training, so you push yourself harder without even knowing it." She cracked a smile, "Just ask him about me and my storm clouds"
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