Chapter 7: I Got A Name

In the past, First Light had had some trouble with throwing things. She was always able to get speed, but she could never get things where she wanted them to go. Sure, she could pick things up with pinpoint precision, but it was knowing when to let go that eluded her. In her bio, it had stated that she had been taught magic by Princess Celestia herself. Obviously this was not the case, seeing as she only understood the basics of magic.

With the coals held tight in her magical grip, she found a rock at the edge of the clearing. It had a flat surface on a steep incline towards the ground, and was at least as big as First Light was. She placed her hooves firmly on the dirt, so as to make a firm base for herself. She wanted to master throwing things, mostly because it looked so fun whenever somepony else did it. She licked her lips because it made it look like she was concentrating, but she was really thinking about how awesome she would look when she could throw the coals at the rock and watch them explode. Holding back a squeal, First Light began spinning the coals around her quickly, causing them to glow a bright red as the picked up speed.

Unleashing the first coal, First Light dropped the others to the ground as it sailed through the air. She could only focus on one thing at a time, most likely because of her lack of practise and acquired skill. The burning coal came up short and far to the left of the rock. It plunked to the ground, not even exploding in the grass.

“Bummer.” First Light muttered as she looked to where it had fallen, her ears drooping slightly.

Quickly letting go of her first failure, First Light took up the other coals again and began spinning them as she had before. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain on the back of her head. The coals fell to the ground, as did First Light, scratching at the back of her head to get rid of the now searing pain. She brought her blackened fore-hooves to her face as she inspected the remainders of the coal that had struck her.

“Maybe burning coals wasn't such a hot idea.” First Light thought aloud. “Maybe I should try something a little less dangerous.”

First Light quietly moved back over to where she had been sleeping. She sat back down on the grass next to Trixie, who was still quietly sleeping. First Light thought over what she could do to train in magic. She could try throwing things again, but then she would need to go out and find something a little more safe to train with, and then she'd be tired and sore before she even started.

“Too hard...” Trixie started massaging her hooves which felt sore just thinking about all that walking. She whispered more to herself than anyone else. “Maybe I could just wait until Trixie wakes up, and then I could ask her to teach me.” She decided that waiting sounded like the safest plan.

“Sounds good...” Trixie whispered, taking a deep breath as she awoke, her eyes still closed.

“I'm sorry.” First Light cowered. “I didn't mean to wake you up.”

“Don't worry about it.” Trixie said, still sounding dreamy. “Were you having a nightmare last night?”

First Light blushed. “Yeah.”

“After you fell asleep, you were kicking your hooves and panting a little bit.” Trixie slowly opened her eyes.

“Was I?” First Light giggled slightly, imagining herself looking really silly. “Well, it was a weird dream. I was doing a show, and that one jerk from your last show came up and started making fun of me.” First Light explained the dream in great detail, focusing on how she felt physically and emotionally throughout. “... Then, out of nowhere, you came in and saved me! You blasted her with your blue magic and she went goodbye!”

“Blue?” Trixie asked, still a little drowsy. “My magic isn't blue.”

“Isn't it?” First Light cocked her head.

Trixie shook her head. “No, it's pink.” She levitated a coal from the fireplace to prove her point. “See?”

“But...” First Light was confused. She gave her head a shake and changed the subject. “Did you have any dreams last night?”

“Um... No.” Trixie shook her head.

“Why not?” First Light asked as Trixie slowly pulled herself off of the ground.

“I... I don't...” Trixie understood the question, but it was so strange she did not know how to answer. “I just didn't, I guess.”

Trixie stood up on her hind legs and cracked her back, which was sore from sleeping on the ground. The loud crack made First Light cringe.

“Hungry?” Trixie asked, still a little hazy.

First Light looked down at her tummy and rubbed it softly, causing it to grumble.

“I'll take that as a yes.” Trixie chuckled as she moved over to her trailer and stepped inside, the door slamming shut behind her.

“What makes you do that?” First Light asked her stomach, tenderly poking it to try and make the noise again. “And why do you do that when I'm hungry?” To any other pony, the question would sound silly, but to First Light, her stomach growling was an entire unknown phenomenon, and most ponies would not know for sure anyway.

“Breakfast!” Trixie called from inside the Trailer as she pushed her way through the door. “Is served!” She levitated before her a plate of various odds and ends of food she had inside. All semi-fresh and nutritious, it was all Trixie had to offer, and she made a show of it like everything else.

They ate the small rations and First Light hooked up to the trailer as Trixie pulled down the clothesline, throwing her hat back on her head and draping the cape over herself. She gave the trailer a firm push from behind to help First Light get rolling. First Light smiled over her shoulder to the blue mare helping her along as she started to bounce along the uneven turf.

The sun was peaking through the trees at the two mares who marched down the dirt path. It was the road less travelled, but it had been travelled. The two mares made small talk, a welcome change from the near silence of the day before. They paid more attention to each other than the road, the day or their own fatigue. The sun seemed to move quickly across the sky and the road seemed to shorten as the two continued their long hike.

With a long trip behind them, the two mares stopped chatting just long enough to read a sign announcing an upcoming town. It was a town with a low population and a name that was easily forgotten, more a collection of farms around a few houses and shops than a town.

“Looks like we found our next gig.” First Light smiled as they passed the sign.

“There won't be much of a turnout.” Trixie shook her head. “But it could mean a warm meal or two.” Trixie heard her stomach growl.

“Do you normally miss lunch?” First Light asked. “You seem to do that a lot.”

“More often than I would like to.” Trixie sighed. “Food can be too expensive to have three meals sometimes.”

“Have no fear!” First Light stood proudly, halting their movements. “Once we get this show on the road...” First Light looked down at the beaten path. “Once we get this show off the road...” First Light thought for a moment. “Once this show really takes off, you won't ever have to worry about the inflated food prices ever again!”

“You think so?” Trixie asked, her unsure side being brought out by her memories of past failures.

“I know so!” First Light beamed. “As sure as my name is Pinkamena Diane Rainbow Jack Twilight Sunset Shy Responsibility Family Pie Friendship Is Magic Original Character, your show is really gonna bring the top down!”

“As sure as your name is what?” Trixie cleaned her ears as if she had misheard.

“My name is...” First Light thought over her words. She cringed when she realised she had used her old name. “First Light. That's what I meant.”

“How sure are you of that?” Trixie asked, absent mindedly.

“I'm not sure...” First Light frowned, her ears wilting like flowers as Trixie began walking again, leaving her trailing behind.