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Charred
Oct 19, 2011 16:00:05 GMT -5
Post by magmarhyme on Oct 19, 2011 16:00:05 GMT -5
For once, it was a slow walk back to headquarters. Well, slower than usual for her, anyway. She could only move so fast before an overwhelming sense of OW THAT HURT OW would wash over, forcing the ash-covered filly to calm her pace down. Urggghh. Heck, even the pain wasn't that bad, but dragging her hooves back all this way? Blech. It was like trudging - Magmarhyme didn't trudge anywhere!
Maybe she was just being childish, but the inner whining was keeping her mind off what she'd... seen, back in the bog. No, no, she wasn't going to think about it. She was fine, she was safe... ish. Well, at least she wasn't being attacked by that water creature anymore, which was good enough. She'd heal up soon and get straight back on to gallivanting around, burning things. That always calmed her down. Not that Magmarhyme ever really calmed down, but at least she felt more comfortable when everything around her was alight. Or smoking. Or whatever. Muttering something to herself, the ashen unicorn barged her way inside HQ without a thought or a care towards whomever might be behind the entrance. Right now, she just wanted to go back to sleep for a while or something. General grogginess was not something she was going to put up with.
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Charred
Oct 19, 2011 19:44:18 GMT -5
Post by windstorm on Oct 19, 2011 19:44:18 GMT -5
Wind Storm was standing by the entrance door to the headquarters. He was finally getting used to the place and its surroundings.
Suddenly the doors swung open with force as a unicorn covered in ash appeared. He had never seen this pony before and was unsure if she was a friend or foe.
"Going somewhere," Wind Storm said with a defensive tone, "Who are you?"
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Charred
Oct 20, 2011 5:43:42 GMT -5
Post by Watermark on Oct 20, 2011 5:43:42 GMT -5
"There you are Magma, I've been waiting for too long!" A tattooed unicorn said, bursting from behind Windstorm, and brushing the unicorn aside, "And why are you here? Shouldn't you be off with White Fire training?" Again, Watermark's presence was the ever authoritive Hydromancer, grin still on his face, he turned back to the fiery mare, "Come now Magma, we've a lot of training to catch up with!"
He turned away from Windstorm and began leading Magmarhyme to a rather clear area where they could practice in peace. "So let's ignore for a moment that you almost died because you went into the bog against orders. I think that experience is punishment enough. Have you been practicing with your golem?"
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Charred
Oct 20, 2011 8:46:42 GMT -5
Post by magmarhyme on Oct 20, 2011 8:46:42 GMT -5
The glare that had been directed towards Wind Storm snapped over to Watermark. Training? TRAINING? Now?! After all she'd been through at the bog and having to drag her hooves all the way back here, alone, on her own steam? No way!
"I don't wanna." She grumbled, only following the more experienced mage so she had an excuse to get away from Wind Storm. Whomever the pony may be, she was in no mood to be barked at like that. The indignation in her tone made her ratty attitude shine through quite clearly, though. "The stupid birds don't even work, and you won't help me!"
A small flame flickered as she stamped a hoof to the ground defiantly, scorching a little of the earth beneath her. Really she was just kicking up a fuss, but Magma never did things half-baked. Either she was going to act like a complete drama queen or just shut up and get on with things - and keeping quiet wasn't her style. "Gimme one reason why I should even try."
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Charred
Oct 20, 2011 9:42:38 GMT -5
Post by windstorm on Oct 20, 2011 9:42:38 GMT -5
Wind Storm wanted to say something to the Hydromancer and how rudly he cast him aside like he was some little insignificant foal. How dare Watermark treat him like that! Yet he knew that arguing with this mage was futile.
"Fine. I'll be catching you two later," Wind Storm replied as he walked back towards where White Fire was.
(OOC: I wasn't aware this was a private thread, so with this post I am out of this thread. Sorry for the interruption.)
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Post by Watermark on Nov 9, 2011 0:40:49 GMT -5
Watermark laughed at Magmarhyme, "I've given you more than enough incentives, my dead Magmarhyme. If you do not want to be a capable mage, you are free to leave! As such you are being trained under the methods taught by the very pony who invented the very sword you're named after." The tattooed pony crowed, countering her childishness with absolute dismissal, "I will not teach anyone who does not want to learn. But if you do want to learn you're going to have to stick through the hard times."
He turned around and began walking away, "I'm not going to say this again, if you ever want to become a Fire Mage, as powerful as you want yourself to be, you must learn to keep it shut, and stop complaining. Not because I will it, but because the first exercise of control is knowing when not to talk." The unicorn's lecture ended with that, his face, though still grinning was much more severe, and it was obvious that pushing him will not end well for her, or frankly any pony unlucky enough to cross him at that time.
"Now I'll ask again, have you been practicing with your golem?"
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Charred
Nov 10, 2011 10:42:17 GMT -5
Post by magmarhyme on Nov 10, 2011 10:42:17 GMT -5
Trotting alongside Watermark - she had to trot to keep up - felt like the worst. The quickly forming knot in her stomach wasn't helping her mood one bit, and all the unicorn seemed to be concerned with was that golem! Didn't he have any sympathy for the fact she'd nearly died earlier? Or that she'd seen...
No, no. Don't think about that. Don't- just... blot it out.
The filly began to dig her hooves into the ground as she walked, purely out of frustration. She was tired. She was injured. Why did she have to bother with training? Anything she did now wouldn't be using her full strength, anyway. Couldn't she just conk out somewhere for a few hours and do this later? Ugh. No, Watermark probably wouldn't listen to anything she had to say. So now she was stuck here listening to him prattle on about golems.
"No, I haven't." Groaned Magmarhyme, opting for the truth for a change. Sure, he'd probably give her grief about not practising or something but she honestly didn't care. "The hummingbirds just poof away. They don't stay long enough!"
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Charred
Nov 16, 2011 4:20:02 GMT -5
Post by Watermark on Nov 16, 2011 4:20:02 GMT -5
"Keep at it, it takes a while to master, but it will be extremely useful for your growth as a mage. Every time you practice it becomes easier, and your magical prowess increases with practice, once you master it, you'll find that you have a lot more energies to summon larger golems. The game you played the other night is a perfect way to practice it. I suggest you take to play it daily with the other mages. White Fire would be happy, I think, to help you."
The pony turned around, looking to make sure they were alone, before saying, "Don't you think for one moment I don't know what happened out there in the swamp. I got that pegasus to tell me everything before we had his memory wiped and threw him out." He said, his tone was very unclear, was he angry, or concerned? "That's why you don't go out into the Wilderness unprepared and alone. Things are changing, monsters are going crazy out there. We're protected here, under Red Charge, but out there, it's flee or fight, and not everyone get lucky, as you saw yourself." He reached into his cloak and threw a book at her.
On Harmony was the title, it was an old book, considered a literary gem by intellectuals. It was heavily philosophic, raising many questions about life, death, afterlife, magic and the connection between them all. The story of the book itself was unfamiliar to her, but it was said to be a very compelling tale.
"Read the first chapter now, and then we will discuss it."
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Charred
Nov 16, 2011 16:17:23 GMT -5
Post by magmarhyme on Nov 16, 2011 16:17:23 GMT -5
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Could he... read her mind now? What the- Aaaah, screw it! There were too many mysteries surrounding the water mage for her to figure that one out too. It was mostly by instinct that she caught the book Watermark tossed towards her, one hoof cradling it to her chest so she could keep a decent grip on it. On Harmony, huh? Strange name for a book.
"What's this for?" Magmarhyme questioned, grabbing the tome between her teeth and flipping it onto her back for now. It was almost balanced... sort of. It wiggled a bit as she trotted. Now all the filly had to do was make sure it didn't catch alight whilst it sat there. Kicking her pace up a notch, Magmarhyme tried to skip ahead and into Watermark's path to get him to stop. "Y'know, for a teacher, you're pretty distant. Ain't you going to actually help me with this stuff?"
It was a little ambitious of her to try and confront him like this but the filly was hoping for an answer. Even just a "I don't have time" or something, because in her eyes, it seemed like he just didn't want to bother with her. Setting her reading and 'practice on your own'? Psssh. Not that she'd really looked at the book yet but... she was pretty sure she had a point. Sorta. Bleh, she wasn't really thinking straight.
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Charred
Nov 20, 2011 3:49:12 GMT -5
Post by Watermark on Nov 20, 2011 3:49:12 GMT -5
Watermark moved past her fluidly, "I can only teach you magic, not discipline. I can teach you techniques, formulas, and I can guide you when you go astray. However, I can not hold your hoof every time you practice a spell we've learned." The tattooed pony said evenly. Continuing to lead her through the perimeter of the base, through an area she did not remember ever being in, which was odd, since she was sure she explored the entire base.
And then, opened up a large clearing, spectacular not for its natural aspect, but because of what was in it, a collection of life size ice sculptures of ponies, the oddest aspect about these was that some were literally on fire, yet did not melt, nor did the fire die out.
As he walked her through it, she could recognize White Fire, his right hand unicorn in the Red Mages, rearing on her hind hoof, with a flame emanating from the point of her horn. Closer inspection would show that the face of the statue was almost, if not completely the same as the pony herself. Across from her, was another pony, a pegasus with shoulder length straight hair, and flaming hooves. Next was a pair of unicorns, one regal looking and young, whereas the other was cloaked and wearing a very ominous mask, but no feature of his form was visible.
After that row, came a zebra, old and wise looking, accurate up to the wrinkles on his face, he seemed very friendly, but also concerned, despite his warm smile. And next to him, An ice pony engulfed by flames, so that only his eyes were visible. It was easily recognizable as Ash Rider, the mage who created the sword that Magmarhyme named herself after. All of these statues had a thing in common, they were incredibly lifelike, and accurate to the smallest detail, from the scar on the female pegasus' eye, to the laugh line in White Fire's smile.
"Eternal Ice and Eternal Flame, two very difficult and very time consuming spells. I used them for this statue garden, these are all ponies who are important to me. This place is a result of months of hard work, in addition to my own training regime. And once you leave here, you will not be able to return, as I've cloaked this place, it is impossible to find for anyone but the most talented ponies."
He turned back, "My point," He turned back, "I can tell you what to study, but I cannot tell you why. I study for these ponies, I want to be my best for them, so I practice and I study all the time." The water mage explained, "You don't seem to have a reason. I cannot teach you any further techniques until you master your elemental golem at his hummingbird form. All it takes is practice, something that you do not need me for, nor can I really help you with. Do you understand?"
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Charred
Nov 20, 2011 18:32:52 GMT -5
Post by magmarhyme on Nov 20, 2011 18:32:52 GMT -5
The filly let out a 'hmph' as the mage just waltzed past her, falling back into her quickened pace beside him. Magmarhyme barely noticed the new area they had wandered into until the frozen sculptures towered over her. The flickers reflected in her eyes as she stared up at the statues, actually a little in awe of how lifelike they were... and how they weren't melting? How was that even possible?!
"You made these?" She asked, just about paying attention to his words. Did that mean she could do something like this, if she tried hard enough? Was that what he was getting at? Erk, maybe not. Blinking, the filly tried to shake her head clear - trying to listen to Watermark and look closely at the ice was taxing her brainpower at the moment, especially with how tired she was. There was no denying that the stint down in the bog had worn out the feisty side of her for now. Well, mostly. Sort of. Enough that she wasn't bouncing across the clearing and trying to melt everything, anyway.
The ashen filly continued to follow whom some might consider a mentor in her own haphazard way, staring as closely as she could at each ice statue before moving on, dragging behind the unicorn for a bit before catching up. A few faces she didn't recognise, but White Fire and Ash Rider... those were the kind of ponies she'd spot a mile away! "You practice your magic for... them?"
It was a strange concept to her, but in a way, she almost understood it. Watermark kept trying because he wanted to be just as a great as all the ponies he made the statues of - maybe even impress them if he met them. Maybe. At least, Magmarhyme thought that's what he meant. What did she want? Wandering back over to Ash Rider's statue, the filly actually paused to think about the answer.
"I think I get it. Watermark, I wanna prove everypony wrong. I don't need a job or-or school or anything - I can be an awesome fire mage, greater than any other pony in Equestria, and everypony else is gonna respect me for it!" She decided eventually, her childish grin beaming towards the unicorn as she glanced back. She'd taken a hit this past day or so, but by no means was her fire out yet.
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Post by Watermark on Dec 1, 2011 3:53:57 GMT -5
"Good," Watermark nodded at the flaming filly, "Tell you what, let's do some extra credit work." He said, conjuring up a spell formula in mid air, "See this formula? It's called Friendly Fire. This fire is non consuming, it will not burn what it touches. If you manage to master this formula, and replace that whole fire thing you have going on in its entirety with this, harmless fire, by next lesson, I'll teach you something special."
Watermark was oddly fairly calm around this statue garden, and rather unlike his usual hyper self, which was a relief, though a very strange sight to behold. It was like watching Watermark minus... well his personality. In fact the whole air around the pony was different. Magma by now would be accustomed to these sudden changes in his entire being. But unlike his usual bouncy self or his serious, impatient teacher mode, this side was by far more relaxed. Less of a teacher, more of a pony.
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Charred
Dec 1, 2011 21:28:16 GMT -5
Post by magmarhyme on Dec 1, 2011 21:28:16 GMT -5
The unicorn's attention snapped to the vision of flames before her. Harmless, huh? What use was that? Her flames were much more awesome, and causing smoke or sparks wherever she so pleased was too much fun to give up!
Although the thud from that dusty tome previously nestled upon her back shook the filly awake a little. Admittedly, she just stared at it for a moment; firstly, she had to eventually give that back to Watermark, and secondly, she assumed it had some kind of worth to him. So best not to burn it. But that would mean she had to keep her fire under control whilst carrying it - and an ashen pony without her spark of terror was not good.
Maybe learning this stuff wasn't just a bad idea.
"I'll give it a shot!" Exclaimed the apprentice, quite happy to not be dealing with the stupid hummingbirds for a little bit. That was just frustrating. The filly hadn't really expected Watermark to give her such an... easy task. Well, not so much 'easy' as an extension to her current abilities, rather than something completely different. All of it was fire magic, sure, but there were branches to that. Taking her existing flames and taking out their harmful properties would be manageable, with some practice. She knew that. She could do this.
"Whachya gonna do next?" Asked the filly curiously, grabbing the fallen book betwixt her teeth. He could just as well tell her nothing, but the student was kind of interested in where her teacher would be whilst she was training. After all, what if she needed to get a hold of him?
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Charred
Jan 7, 2012 11:46:51 GMT -5
Post by Red Charge on Jan 7, 2012 11:46:51 GMT -5
"I'll do what I do best." The tattooed pony said with a grin. "You know, I'm surprised you never asked to be put under White Fire." He mused, leading the filly out of the statue garden and back towards the encampment. Oddly enough, on a backwards glance to the path leading to the garden, Magma couldn't recognize a single detail.
Watermark hummed to himself before continuing, "After all, I thought someone like you would be especially interested in studying under Ash Rider's daughter." He explained, whistling a short tune, causing a golem to rush over to him with several messages left for him in his absence.
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