Across The Pond

Pinkie Pie bounced along the trail behind Kolfinna. Pinkie couldn't wait to figure out how to use this weapon. Even though when she had asked she wasn't even sure it was a weapon. Kolfinna had agreed to train her in it's proper use if only if they went out into the woods to do it. Pinkie didn't mind though, she was sure it was going to be fun.

The weapon was a metallic staff. An intricate design adorned both ends and a spiral design made its way from one end to the other. At one end was an orb of some sort. The staff broke into three separate strands that moved over the sphere to hold it in place. They strands held onto the sphere in a manner that resembled talons, and the design indicated that it was part of the aesthetic design.

After about thirty minutes of walking Kolfinna said "I think this is far enough. No need to go to far away."

"Awesome, lets go" Pinkie said in her usual chipper, sing song voice.

"Alright, but before we begin you have to realize a few things. First, when you don't have this staff you won't have any real power, the power is in the staff. Second, If this isn't taken seriously then it will be very hard to keep under control" Kolfinna told Pinkie Pie.

At the last part Pinkie pulled out a steel helmet designed for both protection and camouflage out of seemingly nowhere, put it on top of her head and formed her mouth into a line. She moved her hoof quickly to salute Kolfinna.

Kolfinna stared at Pinkie. Pinkie held this pose for a few seconds before falling over into a fit of laughter.

"I mean it, you gotta watch what you're doing Pinkie Pie" Kolfinna scolded.

Pinkie Pie sat back up and looked at Kolfinna with determination. "Alright, let's do this" Pinkie said, raising one hoof in the air.

"That's the spirit. Now here, take the staff" Kolfinna said as she handed it over to Pinkie.

Pinkie took the metallic staff in her hoofs and then raised the staff in a threatening manner towards a nearby bush.

"Okay, now operating a mage staff is easy once you get the hang of it. Basically all you do i-" Kolfinna was cut off as a bolt of lightning shot from the end of staff, setting the bush Pinkie had in her sights aflame. The flame was quickly put out by Kolfinna who used a frost spell to keep it from going out of control.

"That wasn't bad. Not bad at all. But perhaps aiming it at less flammable targets might be a good idea. It wont ignite everything it strikes but the possibility is there. That's why we have to be careful" Kolfinna said.

"Okie Dokie Lokie" Pinkie said in her usual happy demeanor.

"Now, aim the business end towards that big rock over there" Kolfinna aid as she pointed to a very large rock that was embedded in the side of a dirt slope. The rock stuck out of the slope and stood out with it's surroundings. Kolfinna had used this as land marker many times before but never for target practice. Then again, she had never expected to be teaching a talking Pink horse how to use a magic staff.

Pinkie pointed the staff towards the rock and focused again. The resulting bolt of lighting didn't start another fire but did manage to crack the rock. The staff was very powerful and in the wrong hands, dangerous. Kolfinna eyed the pink mare that was bouncing in place, wondering if she truly had the ability to wield such powerful weapon.

Pinkie looked at Kolfinna then stopped bouncing. "Um, Kolfinna, are you okay? You look funny. And not ha ha funny, more of" Pinkie trailed off, getting lost in thought before yelling out "wait." Kolfinna could barely understand a word Pinkie was saying as she talked a mile a minute "Why do they call it funny? Funny isn't bad, funny is good! You don't look funny. Funny brings laughs and this is not a laughing matter" Pinkie Pie slapped one fore hoof into the other.

"Calm down, I'm fine. Now do it again" Kolfinna commanded.

Pinkie Pie kept at the rock for the next couple hours. By the end of the day the rock was missing a few good chunks and had crevice going along much of the rock. Though Pinkie Pie had to stop before she could completely destroy the rock due what Kolfinna described as a "lack of charge."

Pinkie Pie and Kolfinna made their way back to Cloud Ruler Temple. Once they had gotten back Kolfinna had taken the staff and told Pinkie Pie she would bring it back once it was charged. Pinkie only nodded her head vigorously in response before bouncing over to her friends, who were now gathered around a wooden table, drinking again but not nearly as fast nor as much as they did the other night. It was becoming something of a habit, a habit none of them saw any reason to fix.

"Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow Dash half yelled sloppily as she poured a mug of mead for her friend and the rest of her friends said their hellos to the pink mare. "So, hows about you let your friends in on the secret" Rainbow Dash said.

Pinkie Pie picked up the mug Rainbow Dash had given her and drank it all. Not in one gulp as she did the other night, she took her time with this one. Drawing out every second because she knew Rainbow Dash was anxious.

"Come on Pinkie!" Yelled Dash

Pinkie Pie started to laugh then she said "I don't know what you're talking about Dashie."

Rainbow Dash stared at Pinkie Pie, trying to figure out if Pinkie was joking or if she really didn't know what was going on. Knowing Pinkie Pie she figured both were equally likely so she made herself clear. "What weapon were you using out in the woods today?" Rainbow Dash asked curtly.

"Oh that, I was just playing with a magic staff" Pinkie Pie said nonchalantly.

"You can use magic now?"  Fluttershy asked timidly but load enough for Pinkie to hear.

"I guess so, it's weird but it let me shoot lighting" Pinkie Pie said enthusiastically.

A moment passed and Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity exchanged worried glances. It was another moment before the relative silence was broken.

"This is going get really weird here soon, isn't it" Rarity asked.

Applejack didn't look away from Pinkie Pie as she answered Rarity's question with a short "eeyup."

Pinkie Pie didn't even notice the exchange as she was preoccupied with the wooden mug as she lifted it high into the air, and finished it's contents.