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Post by apporta on Dec 1, 2011 11:10:56 GMT -5
Apporta thought everything was going according to plan. Then she stared in horror at what was happening. There above StarShade was a massive cloud of energy. The unicorn casting didn't seemed aware of it at, but Crystal Lance looked as terrified as Apporta did. Then she heard Crystal's ask Apporta to teleport away the cloud. Apporta hesitated. It was such a massive and devistating spell. What if she couldn't teleport it? What if she hurt another pony?
Then she realized that this was what was holding her back to begin with: her lack of faith in herself. By doing nothing, by hesitating, she would be hurting ponies here. Taking a deep breath to collect her thoughts and clear her mind, she said simply, "Understood Crystal Lance. I'll start the portal now. Let me know when you are ready for me to get it out of here." With that she began to create the spell around her and let it expand to the size of the energy cloud.
This was it, there was no going back.
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Post by starshade on Dec 1, 2011 23:43:42 GMT -5
"StarShade..." the voice was faint but significantly real, beckoning him to comply. StarShade began to let go of his visions and slowly opened his eyes. He suddenly felt intense pressure coming from above him. It was powerful magic full of destruction that he felt. When the black unicorn looked up, his eyes bulged and his mouth gapped as he was greeted by a terrifying sight. A huge sphere of destroying magic, dark gray and now nearly 5 times bigger than himself, was shifting at the very tip of his own horn! Horror gripped the colt as it just dawned to him that this was his own magic.
"M-m-mi-milady~!!" he blurted out in panic, hoping with all his heart that his the Army Mage was there to assist him in this terrifying moment. And then it occured to him that if he failed to correct this mistake he had just made Crystal Lance will surely kill him for his actions. No, that won't happen!
"No~!" he shouted to both Crystal Lance and Apporta, "I can do this! This is my spell! This is my test! I will finish this!"
With a loud groan StarShade focused to control the dark magic at the tip of his horn. It took several moments but the sphere of magic gradually shrunk bit by bit. After what seemed like several dozen minutes the shifting and pulsating ball of destructive had shrunk to the size of a baseball. StarShade looked up into the sky and looked for an area clear from clouds, pegasi or any other flying creatures. His spotted an area where the sky was clear and focused his aim into that direction. Once he was confident that he won't hit anything, he let it go.
A huge ring of dark-gray shockwave sprung from his horn as the black unicorn discharged his magic up into the sky. The magic-infused sphere flew through the air and straight into the sky, further and further away until it could not be seen again. Then, all the sudden, the area of the sky where StarShade had fired his magic missile turned all black. The darkness there lingered for a few minutes before finally clearing away to reveal the normal sky once again.
"... my first magic missile..." a stunned StarShade said in a voice mixed with shock and amazement.
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Post by crystallance on Dec 3, 2011 13:13:08 GMT -5
Crystal immediately put an end to her levitation spell at the black unicorn’s belated response. Only a few moments ago, it had appeared that at the loss of the StarShade’s control he had become completely oblivious of his surroundings as well. Now, only the opposite seemed true as the black unicorn courageously vowed to take care of the problem.
“Hold it,” Crystal commanded Apporta in response, signaling her apprentice to cancel her spell with the subtle motion of her hoof. Crystal respected the black colt enough to treat him like a stallion. She had no choice but to allow the unicorn to take care of his own business.
Standing right by Apporta’s side in the face of the magical disaster, the colt’s process of downsizing his spell seemed to take forever… but he eventually seemed to find a method by which to make it work. In time, the oversized orb of magical energy that could have only really been considered a grotesque bomb had finally been refined into the beautiful and sleek form of a true magic missile. As the colt launched the missile far off into the sky, the military mare trotted forth to congratulate him.
“And a fine magic missile at that… I think you handled the situation wonderfully StarShade,” Crystal applauded the colt as she approached. No longer was she scolding him for his faults or giving him punishment for one of his mistakes. For once, Crystal had been legitimately praising her young colt apprentice.
“And now, you have both been taught how to create a magic missile…” Crystal continued speaking, this time to both of her apprentices. “That concludes today’s session of training. If you so wish to do so, you ponies may stay in this facility to further practice your spells… Or you may leave if you so wish to go about your own personal business. The decision is entirely up to you. Either way, I will look forward to seeing you ponies again in the upcoming weeks. You ponies are now dismissed.”
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Post by apporta on Dec 4, 2011 11:14:51 GMT -5
Apporta heard Crystal Lance's request for her to stop plans at teleporting the massive cloud of death away. As she watched cautiously, ready to activate her spell at a moment's notice, she saw StarShade being able to control the spell back to a manageable level and cast a magic missile. It was amazing to see the colt, who at first appeared like he may not even survive the first day of training, be able to fix his potentially costly mistake and create a great spell.
At last Crystal had dismissed the two. It was bittersweet for Apporta. She was tired from her practicing her spells, yet her always hungry mind was looking for something new to learn from the army mage. But like her classes when she was at the university, she knew it was over.
"Thank you Crystal Lance," Apporta said to her new instructor, "for teching me those new spells. I will definitely practice them the next days to improve." Then Apporta had an idea. For this training she and StarShade learned their spells separately but did not really practice together. "StarShade, would you like to practice with me? that way we could help improve each other's spells that we learned. Do you want to practice some more?"
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Post by starshade on Dec 5, 2011 14:26:40 GMT -5
"That sounds wonderful, Miss Apporta," replied StarShade, "but I am afraid I must decline. I would like to stay here longer and discuss something with our mentor. Why not stay with us longer? That way we may continue training together here. Of course, the choice is for you to make, milady."
Despite all that he had went through, from the injuries he recieved from Crystal Lance's 'attack' to his hard work in keeping the crystal shards levitated evenly in the air, it seemed as though StarShade has not suffered from any fatigue just yet. Perhaps it was the anticipation of learning a new spell from his idol, or maybe it's the fact that he has a huge amount of magic trapped within him. Either way, the black unicorn colt wishes to stay by his mentor's side a bit longer.
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Post by crystallance on Dec 5, 2011 22:31:23 GMT -5
((OOC: Just skip me for now. Crystal Lance isn't really doing much right now anyway.))
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Post by apporta on Dec 6, 2011 9:22:32 GMT -5
At first Apporta was confused with StarShade's reply, but then she understood what he wanted to do. She found fascinating that despite being shouted at by Crystal Lance andthe injuries he sustained, he still wanted to stay and lean morefrom the army mage. There was more to this unicorn that met the eye. "I understand StarShade. I can definitely stay around and wait until you are done speaking with Crystal Lance. I will leave you to speak with her in private, but I will still be in the training area practicing. When you are ready, please let me know."
With that, Apporta teleported away and began trying her clairvoyance and teleportation spells again, this time now working on speed and the accuracy of picking a point and teleporting directly to it.
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Post by starshade on Dec 7, 2011 1:43:50 GMT -5
Seeing Apporta vanish before him, StarShade turned around to face his mentor. "Would you like to rest first, milady?" he asked the Army Mage, "Or would you prefer if we discussed certain matters of interests?" The black unicorn was looking up at Crystal Lance with big eyes of anticipation, but his voice suggest that he was putting his mentor's condition before his own and that he was very caring towards her feelings.
It may come to a surprise to everypony, but StarShade is actually a very caring pony. Despite having grown up all alone most of his life, the colt has a strong tendency to care for others and being able to almost 'feel' the pain they're suffering. It's a peculiar thing, but it was something he was born with. A loner who cares for others. Definitely a living example for the wisdom "Never judge a book by its cover".
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Post by crystallance on Dec 7, 2011 23:56:08 GMT -5
Crystal’s back had been turned for the majority of their conversation. In every aspect of Apporta and StarShade’s magic training and preparation for combat, Crystal vowed to always be there one hundred percent. The personal lives of her apprentices however did not concern her in the least. She figured this ‘caring yet cold’ sort of relationship would simply be best for them. Her goal was to be the best, most passionate trainer she could possibly be for her two apprentices. She would never however, grow the least bit soft on them. Her hardened spirit simply would not allow it.
As she prepared to leave the training grounds, Crystal only really half heard the words StarShade and Apporta shared. They must be heading out too… Crystal pondered as she noticed her filly apprentice teleport off. It was then that the black unicorn StarShade addressed her. A part of her was surprised.
“Go on… I’m listening,” Crystal calmly replied to her apprentice, looking down upon the colt’s large and ecstatic eyes.
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Post by apporta on Dec 8, 2011 8:05:23 GMT -5
(OOC: Skip me as Apporta is basically doing the same spell practice she did before. Once the conversation between Crystal and StarShade ends, I will resume her part.)
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Post by starshade on Dec 9, 2011 7:48:42 GMT -5
StarShade looked into Crystal Lance's. They seemed so cold before but now they seemed to have a hint of glitter in them. The black coltblushes a little bit, awed by the fact that his idol is now staring right at him, paying attenton to his every words. Swallowing once, he opened his mouth to speak... But nothing came out. His mind was suddenly a complete blank. All that he wanted to discuss with his mentor about seemed to have been carried off or blown away by his previous magic missile spell.
"I... I... I... I..." he stuttered, knowing that his actions could and will land him into big trouble unless he gets his act up in front of his mentor. "I wish I could melt into my own shadow right now..." he finally said in a subconscious state, not realizing that Crystal Lance could actually hear him saying so.
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Post by crystallance on Dec 9, 2011 18:46:10 GMT -5
His words were almost the exact same as before. In a near instant, Crystal could immediately tell what the black unicorn colt had been asking for. He was still interested in learning a new spell, the exact same thing she denied him of only a few moments ago due to his misbehavior. The military mare almost felt pity for the young black unicorn, stuttering and whimpering so helplessly in the face of his idol. Still, she could not allow this sheepish behavior to go uncorrected.
“I remember telling you to speak FIRMLY when addressing me, StarShade!” she scolded her apprentice with a raised voice, stomping her hoof hard against the surface mountain rock in her fury. Her eyes had still been locked deep into his, though the look on her face suggested much more of an impatient and critical mood. “Speak up and repeat to me the request immediately!”
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Post by starshade on Dec 10, 2011 0:25:29 GMT -5
The sound of Crystal Lance's hoof slamming the rock nearly made Starshade's soul jump straight out of his body, and the fact that the army mage was looking him dead in the eye wasn't helping it out at all. In a mixture of shock and fear, the black unicorn let out a reply;
"I WISH I COULD MELT INTO MY OWN SHADOW~!"
The reply came out as a loud, thunderous shout which sent a sensation of a powerful gust of wind towards Crystal Lance, clearly heard as it echoed throughout the mountainside. Realizing this, StarShade covered his mouth with his right forehoof, his eyes staring back at his mentor's own.
"Forgive me, milady! I have lost control of my voice for a moment. But I would really appreciate it if you could teach me how to... melt into my own shadow?"
It just dawn to the colt that those words concerning 'melting into his own shadow' came from his mouth in a random manner, and not at all what he really wanted to ask. But alas, all was too late, and all the black unicorn can do now is to stick with his random request and survive.
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Post by crystallance on Dec 11, 2011 0:04:45 GMT -5
The colt’s reaction was not what she had been expecting at all. Crystal Lance could only help but let out a brief sigh, forgiving her apprentice StarShade just this once for his pitiful lack of self-control.
“I WISH I COULD MELT INTO MY OWN SHADOW~!”
He just kept asking the exact same thing. And never once did it sound like an actual request to learn a new spell. It always came across as more of some of strange, subconscious cry of helplessness stemming from somewhere deep inside the mind of the shy and sheltered unicorn colt. It was the strangest thing she had ever heard.
What was even more difficult to understand was how to even begin in teaching her apprentice such a thing. Teaching ponies how to see with clairvoyance or how to fire magic missiles was nothing. Those were non-elemental spells. A unicorn’s specialization didn’t really effect how skilled one could be using such forms of magic. Whether a pony’s special talent was teleportation or crystals, any unicorn could learn to fire a simple magic missile.
In the end, the most Crystal could really do in this situation was give him some guidance. She began to think… Just what was the element of shadow and by how would onepony go about controlling it? Gazing into the eyes of her frightened apprentice, timid and fearful emotions were the first two things to come to her mind. Perhaps if a unicorn simply wished to disappear from all of sight, his or her own feelings could bring those desires of shyness to reality. It was a possibility, but she knew she would be better off asking StarShade of his knowledge on the subject first.
“…Melting into your own shadow?” Crystal repeated her apprentice’s request. “I am not somepony to practice such magic… but with training, I could surely teach you to perform such a spell. Just what forms of magic are you already capable of performing with your shadow?”
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Post by starshade on Dec 11, 2011 15:02:49 GMT -5
"Well," replied StarShade, averting his eyes away for a few seconds while blushing before looking back at Crystal Lance, "I never really bragged about it, but if you meant what I can perform with my shadow using my magic, so far I could make very nice shadow puppets."
The black unicorn began casting his unicorn magic before his mentor. The his horn began to give out a dark grey magical aura which snaked its way about, under the colts full control.
"I have noticed eversince I was little that my magic was very different from other unicorns. Instead of the somewhat severed telekinesis that all unicorns share, mine seems to remain attached to my horn, or to me to be precise."
The young colt made his magical aura wiggle like long tentacle before performing a few rope tricks with it, including skipping.
"It even has its own shadow, since it's darker and lacks the glow of other unicorns' magic. And this is the best part! I can totally control the shape of my magic aura, and its shadow!"
Grinning with his tongue out, StaShade made his tentacle-like magic aura change its shape until its shadow took the form of the Royal Canterlot Library. Then, he changed it again into the Sun, then the Moon, and finally, most intersting of all, into a battalion of Royal Pony Guards!
"But that, I am afraid, is all I can 'perform' with my shadow using my magic. I cannot really control shadows, let alone melt into one, or my one for that matter. Although, there're times when I wished I could in order to hide from other ponies..."
StarShade recalled to his mentor how, eversince he was very little, the other ponies would stay away from him in fear of his appearence. Foals would cry when they saw him, mares would scream for help, and stallions would threaten to hurt him if he comes any nearer to them. There was something about his dark and sinister-looking image that seemed to frighten the hay out of them. This never changed as he grew up, which explains his characteristics of being an anti-social loner.
"I hid myself from them not because I am afraid of them, but because I do not want them to fear me. Many a times I find myself hiding in the shadows, hoping I would melt into them and become unseen. Strangely, I always managed to successfully keep my stealth everytime."
Suddenly, he stood up straight and looked into the army mage's eyes as he said, "But I do believe that such a feat would not be impossible. You have already shown me that it was possible for me to multitask while using spells, something I have believed to be impossible all my life until now. I believe that there is a way I could achieve this feat. I just need to find out how."
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