Unyielding Powers

POV: Twilight

I descended down the dark stairwell, to the recesses of Element's hidden passage. Through the humidity and blackness until, finally, I arrived upon a doorway. I could hear the voice of Element Mage coming from the other side, so I listened through a crack left in the doorway.

"I don't care how many times you ask me or how important the mission. I refuse to go into the badlands. Unless I am allowed to do things my own way you have two options. One, give me what I want, or two, find someone else to do it. Those are your only options. Call me back when you come to a decision."

He then proceeded to slam something down on a desk. I felt I should go inside at that point so I widened the entryway. What I saw left me speechless. I didn't have time to take it all in as something had started to growl behind me. When I turned around I found Charles in the form of a rabid black Orthos. He had scared me with his red piercing eyes and gnashing sharp teeth. I started to slowly back away. That is... until a bag was pulled over my head.

Twilight had been knocked unconscious and her body was carried deep into the forest of Everfree.

POV: Element

Once I had gotten deep enough through the huge mass of trees I stopped and gently slid Twilight's KO'd body to the ground. She began to stir so I hid myself behind a tree and I cast a spell that changed my voice to a deeper version so I would not be recognized. I used an incantation that would project my voice from all throughout the woods so I couldn't be pinpointed in one spot.

"Wh-where am I?" she spoke, frightened and confused. "If I didn't know any better I'd say I was in the E-everfree f-f-forest."

"You are not wrong, Twilight Sparkle." my voice rang out causing her to yelp and tremble. "Do not fear, for I am a friend. If you were to be harmed, I will see to it you are treated. But for now we have business to discuss."

"Who are you? What are you going to do to me?" she asked looking in every direction possible. "I'll warn you now if you don't show yourself I will level this whole patch of trees."

"Please. We both know you don't have that kind of magic. Now, unless you drop your uptight guard, we both won't be getting any answers." I stated, starting to get annoyed. She did as told and also sat in the grass. "Good, now then. You probably want to know why you're in the Everfree. Am I correct?

"You're not wrong." she spoke, a bit of anger dripping from her words.

"You've been brought here to be tested. Not on your knowledge, nor your skill in magic, but your ability to understand what you are not ready to learn about." she seemed to understand what I was getting at as she was getting scared again.

"If this is about Element's hidden room, I'm sure we can just forget about it and move on." her voice got higher a she backed into a tree, "I swear I didn't see anything. Please, even if I did, I've already forgotten. Don't hurt me."

"Heh, if I had any intentions of harming you, I would have already done so. But you will be searched, deep in the recesses of your mind, and all unneeded memories will be erased. And just so you know, you will remember this moment in time, so you do not forget your place." A spell I had been preparing had been cast and Twilight Sparkle fell unconscious once more.

An hour or so past by and Element had erased the unwanted memories from the mind of Twilight Sparkle. He carried her upon his back once more, and was going back to his home in Ponyville. He felt guilty for performing this deed to an innocent mare, so once inside he placed her gently onto his sofa, pulled a blanket over her slumbering figure, and allowed her to sleep. He had to leave her there for the moment as he had other things to attend to.

I proceeded to walk amongst my library and found a book I had been wanting to read again. With it in my levitated grasp I went back into the living area. Twilight was still asleep, so I picked up my IPON and made a call. It rang a few times until it was finally answered.

"Yo this is Pon-3." said the voice of a well known DJ.

"S'up Scratch, Mage calling."

"Dude, I haven't heard from you in forever. How's it been? Workin' on anything new?"

"Nah, just the same old crud Celestia gives me. Things have been good though, moved out of Canterlot, made some new friends, y'know normal stuff." I spoke casually.

"So you finally moved out of that stuck-up city. Where you crashin' now? Manehattan, Fillydelfia? Or are you in Foalrida, maybe Coltifornia?" She sounded like she was trying to gossip about something.

"No, I'm actually living in Ponyville now, why?" I probably shouldn't have asked that.

"Omigosh, your in Ponyville? Where at?"

"A little ways Northeast on the outskirts of town. You coming over for a visit?"

"Heck yeah. We've got to catch up on missed times. I'll be there around four. See ya then."

I hung up the phone and opened my book of curses and myths. This should keep me here awhile.

Later

I closed the book after reading the final page and smiled. I still had some time before Vinyl arrived so I read my book on Pyromancy. That is until Twilight woke up with a yawn. She sat up and examined her surroundings, her eyes widened as she realized she wasn't at home.

"What happened?! How did I get here?! What's going on?!" the frightened purple unicorn spoke frantically.

"Relax," I said trying to calm her nerves, "You're safe. That was some hit you took back there. Are you feeling alright?"

"What happened? Oww!" I cast a small pain spell on her cranium, keeping my horn dimly lit in the process, making her wince. She rubbed the spot where I applied said spell. "Why does my head hurt?"

"When I went to turn off one of my machines you had teleported inside and hit your head on the mantel of the fireplace. I used a healing charm to make sure you didn't get a concussion or anything too serious." I made up that lie on the fly, (hah, rhymes) I'll keep her in the dark until she's ready to know. "Princess, I don't believe we got to that little arrangement we agreed on. Would you still like to have tea with me?"

The question surprised her as she must have forgotten what we were doing that day. She then smiled and nodded. I trotted to the kitchen, turned on the burner with my magic, and placed the kettle filled with the liquid on top. Afterwards I walked calmly back into the other room where Twilight was waiting. Charles somehow snuck into the room undetected and was now in the middle of being cuddled in his little puppy form. Lucky little bastard.

*Ding Dong* (Yes, I have a doorbell)

I went to answer the door and found a gray pegasus mare with a wall-eyed stare, (I'm a poet and didn't know it) she was wearing a mail-mares cap so I'm guessing she was making a delivery. "Package for Elephant Match. Weird name by the way"

"That's because you said it wrong. It's Element Mage." I had to correct her, I don't like it when ponies get my name wrong. But I still picked up the pen with magic and gave her my signature. "Who's the package from anyway?"

She narrowed her eye's and glanced at the box. She lifted her head and looked at me with a sad expression. "It doesn't say. I'm sorry about that."

"It's fine. Thank you for bringing this to me. Have a nice day." I spoke keeping one of Equestria's best poker faces ever on and my voice having almost no emotion to it. I shut the door and heard the pot whistling and screaming. After taking it off the burner with my magic I noticed Twilight examining Charles very closely. Curious I asked, "Whatcha doing?"

"I wanted to know, what does he eat other than love. I never got to examine a changeling before. After Canterlot was attacked during my brother's wedding, I've had a plethora of questions."

"Well if you must know..."

One boring explanation later

"And that's all the information I've gathered while studying Charley. Did you get all that down?"

Twilight looked up from the notepad she was scribbling on while sipping at her tea. "Yep, my knowledge of different species has grown ever more. Thanks." She gave a beaming smile and I couldn't help but smile back.

"What is it about her that makes me feel like I've been missing something? I'd ask her out but I'm still trying to get over Trixie. Come on that was years ago. You were stupider back then. Now you have another chance, just ask her already. I mentally debated with myself for a minute before I noticed Twilight looking at me strangely.

"Is something wrong? You've been really quiet."

"Just... contemplating on something." I blushed a bit, but tried hiding it by looking away. It didn't work out as I had hoped since she had a bit of crimson in her cheeks as well and she was shuffling in her seat. "Are you uncomfortable? I can get you a pillow or something."

"No, no, it's fine. I was just thinking about *eep." I moved seats and sat next to her, a conjured wing wrapped around her form. Her blush increased in volumes. She looked at me, an expression of shock and disbelief etched on her muzzle.

"I hope I'm not being to forward. I just, felt the urge to be next to you. I like to follow my instincts a bit." I said a bit nervous.

She shook her head, "N-no i-it's fine. I was actually hoping you would do that." We had a small moment to ourselves, and it felt good being allowed to sit next to her. Then, and by my surprise, she nuzzled into my body and closed her eyes. It was around 7:30. Oh that Vinyl, always late for something. I looked out the window and saw the sun was beginning to set. Without warning Twi, I lit my horn and teleported both of us to a tall hill outside of town facing the sun. She tensed up, her eyes widened, and she seemed afraid.

"It's alright. Relax, I had a feeling that the moment could be better. Care to watch Tia's sunset with me?"

She looked over to the horizon. The colors of the sky complementing the radiance of the sun, creating a picture that could never be put on a canvas, or captured in a photograph. "Wow, it's beautiful."

"Yes you are." I tried talking under my breath but she still ended up hearing me.

Twilight gazed towards me, a furious shade of crimson upon her luscious purple coat, "S-say again."

"I-I, uh, said you're beautiful." I muttered the last two words and looked away.

"Say it again, louder, and look me in the eyes when you do." She sounded like a mother scolding a child.

"I said...*gulp*... you're beautiful." I had to swallow my pride and say it, that's all I could think of doing without making her mad. Her blush increased tenfold when I did, and she looked away. I could tell she was thinking, and even though my subconscious forbade me I had to read her mind. Just to know what she was thinking.

"He can't be falling for me can he? It seem wrong, but it feels right. I only ever experienced a feeling similar to this with Flash. But this is different. It's... better, somehow. Should I ask him if he truly likes me, or should I consult one of my books? I... I... ohhh. She was really struggling with herself. But at least I knew that she didn't absolutely hate me.

"Twilight." Calling her name seemed to snap her out of her trance. She looked at me, and as she did I place a well coordinated kiss upon her forehead at the base of her horn which lit up and sparked. "Princess Twilight Sparkle, I believe I'm in love with you."

She regained her composure after a few deep breaths and cleared her throat. "That can be proven at a later time. For now, come sit with me. I assume you didn't teleport me out here just for that."

She tapped the grass beside her, ushering for me to sit. I did as requested, and Twilight began to lean on me, her head on my chest as we watched the sky change from orange to a deep blue. I wrapped a magical wing around her and she snuggled into me. "I think I'm in love with you too."