The Slumbering Servant.

"Are you ready"

"Yeah."

"Do it!"

It has been three days since the ticket incident. During that time, Zakari has bonded more with Twilight and her friends, and were eventually told of Zakari's new position in Twilight's life. One day he and Twilight had to convince Applejack that accepting help from someone is NOT a sign of weakness. The day after that, Zakari had a little tussle with a griffon named Gilda, after she got in Fluttershy's face and roared, sending the poor, timid mare into a panicky mess. Gilda then got 20% of Zakari's boot up her ass!

Which brings us to today. Right now, Twilight and Zakari are in the field next to the Everfree forest. Last night Twilight had a theory about humans and magic, and now they were trying to test it. Zakari stood with his sword at the ready. Twilight was holding onto his back, with her hooves wrapped around his shoulders.

Her theory was this. According to Zakari, humans don't have magic. We are born without it, and have no way of using it. Unless someone else gives it to us. Twilight believed that just because humans don't have magic, that doesn't mean we are incapable of using it. So now she is holding onto his back, trying to get as close as possible. The closer she is, the more easily the magic will transfer. She was essentially using him like a conduit. She would pour magical energy through her body and into his, then he would release it.

She began to focus her energy. They both glowed purple for a moment, then the glow died down.

"How do you feel?" Asked Twilight.

"I...feel good. Really good. Is this what magic feels like? I can feel power pulsing through my body, just looking for a way out. I've never felt this strong before!"

"So you can feel the magic? That's good, it means my theory was correct. Now focus on something in your head, like fire or a gust of wind."

He nodded his head and closed his eyes. Focus.

"Remember to breath."

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

"Now, transfer the energy to your sword and release it."

"Right!"

He imagined himself moving the energy and putting it in the sword. As he did, the sword began to pulse, like it had its own heartbeat. He brought the sword over his head...and cut downwards.

"Ahh!"

Nothing happened. The energy was released, but had no effect. It just...dissipated.

Another failure.

"I don't understand what we're doing wrong. Even if humans aren't born with magic, there is nothing to indicate that they can't use it! You should be able to perform even a simple spell. At least something to show that it worked!"

"I'm sorry, I just don't know what went wrong!"

"Ugh...it's ok. I just can't stand not figuring something out. You should be able to do a spell, but I just don't know what the problem is. I'm not blaming you."

"I know. I'm just sorry to disappoint." He sighed. "Look, we've been doing this for a while. Lets go into town and get some lunch, then come back and try again."

"Well, I'd hate to leave a test unfinished, but I am getting hungry. Ok, a quick lunch, then we come right back."

Zakari nodded and picked up his helmet, and placed it on his head. The two then walked the path back to Ponyville.

As the two entered the town, they noticed that a large crowd was forming in front of City Hall. They all seemed to be crowding around a stage.

"What's going on here?"

"I don't know. Maybe a performance."

The two saw their friends near the front. They went up and greeted them.

"What's going on?"

"Don't know, we just got here." Responded Dash.

"We saw the crowd and decided to check it out." Commented Pinkie

Suddenly, a loud voice comes from the stage.

"Come one, come all, come and witness the amazing magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" Fireworks shot from the stage and into the air.

Zakari turned to Twilight."You were right, it is a performance."

It turns out that this unicorn, Trixie, is a bit of a show off. She claimed to be the most powerful magic user in Equestria, even going so far to say that she vanquished an ursa major. Near the end, she challenged that anything you can do, she can do better.

"Most of the mane six took that challenge, including Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack. Trixie used her magic and showed them all up. The group decided that a challenge by true magic user was the only way to wipe that smirk off Trixie's face. So, they urged Twilight to the stage. She declined, saying that she didn't wan't to be a show off like Trixie.

At the end, Trixie walked off the stage with another smug comment about her superiority.

It was nighttime now, and Zakari and Twilight were back home. Twilight had several books on the table, all of them opened. She was trying to figure out the reason for whatever's blocking Zakari's ability to use magic. Zakari was drinking coffee and sitting in the corner, skimming through a small romance novel Twilight lent him.

Zakari took another sip of his beverage before putting it down on the floor next to him. He brought the book back up to his eyes and flipped the page. He was actually quite intrigued by the story. It was about a human man and pony mare that fall in love, but soon have to deal with bigots and nutjobs that try to tear them apart. The story appealed to him and his slight fetish for inter-species relationships.

As he flipped another page, he noticed that his coffee rippled. He didn't think anything of it, so he went back to reading. Then it did it again. On the third time, he could feel something shaking the ground.

"Hey, do feel that too?" He asked, looking at Twilight.

"Feel what?" The ground shakes slightly. "That...was that an impact tremor?"

The shaking begins to intensify. Soon, the whole house is shaking.

"What's going on?!" Zakari shouted.

"I don't know!"

Suddenly, they heard something crashing and screams. Zakari puts on his helmet and straps his sword to his side. He and Twilight  rush out the front door to see an a giant bear like creature tearing the whole town apart.

"What...what is that!" Shouted Zakari.

"That's an ursa minor! What's it doing here?"

"looks like it's ripping up the place!"

The ursa slams its paw into a building, sending into shambles.

"We have to do something, before it kills some pony!"

Zakari looked at the rampaging ursa, then down to his sword.

'There is no way I can fight that thing, not by myself.' He thought 'But..I have to try something.'

He had a quick flashback of the field from earlier. 'No, that won't work. We still don't know how to get it right. But..there's not much we can do already, might as well take a chance.'

"It's at least worth trying." He said to himself.

"What did you say?" Said Twilight.

He turned to her. "Twilight, get on my back." He lowered himself down to his knees.

"What? Why?"

"Remember what we were doing earlier, in the field?"

"Yes, but what does that-wait I get it! But, we couldn't get it to work."

"I know, but it's the only option I see, now hurry!"

She climbed up onto his back and locked her hooves around his neck. He stood up and unsheathed his sword. Twilight's horn glowed and she began the transfer.

He could feel the magical power move from her and into him. He felt it course through his veins. He began to focus the energy, moving from his body, to his arm, and finally into the sword. The ursa was making its way to them, smashing everything in its path.

'Remember to breath.'

Inhale

Exhale

Inhale

Exhale.

He felt that familiar pulse from the blade. The sword also began to shake a bit.

The ursa was closing in on them now, roaring and growling.

Zakari closed his eyes and raised the sword above his head. The sword began to glow with white light.

Inhale

Exhale

Inhale

"DRAGON GALE!" He cut straight downwards, the blade released the pent up energy in the form a massive, unstoppable gust of wind. It rushed forward, hitting the ursa. The ursa was unprepared for the blast, and it was sent flying back. It got up, shaking its head, only to be hit again and again by gusts of immensely strong wind.

Soon, the thing was skidding backwards and being pushed out of ponyville. The ursa finally admitted defeat. It gave a loud roar and then ran for the forest.

Zakari was panting, he never had to fight an ursa before.  He got down on one knee and let Twilight off. They both stared at the destruction caused by the bear like thing. Houses destroyed, shops wrecked, and even city hall was not spared.

They could only hope that no one got hurt.

Sadly, their hopes were too optimistic.