Egghead

Chapters

The First Test
A Matter of Pride
Game On
(Not a real Chapter) Unicorn Dueling: as dictated by Star Swirl the Bearded
Without a Plan

The First Test

The First Test

"Come on, Twilight! You're going to love this!"

"Dash, you still haven't told me what it is you want me to see."

"Trust me! Treat this as payment for something you did for me awhile back."

Twilight stopped suddenly, her eyes narrowing. "Payment? Are you pranking me or something? Oh, I knew this wasn't just an innocent little gift. You're probably teaming up with someone. Pinkie Pie! I know you're there!"

Rainbow Dash, who had been flying at a pace similar to that which a pegasus would use to not completely lose a rather slow unicorn in the dust, stopped as well. "No, no, no, of course not, I'm not trying to prank you, Twilight, this is honestly something that I want to show you!"

"Give me one reason why I should believe you, Rainbow. Last week you replaced my feather pen with a phoenix feather. You burned my letter to Celestia!" Twilight said, skepticism embedded in her tone.

"Er..." Rainbow thought for a moment. "Because... trusting your friends is a huge part of the magic of friendship...or something?" Rainbow Dash smiled, her ears folding down the side of her head and her eyes staring right into Twilight's.

"Ugh, fine. But I swear, if this is some sort of a joke, I'm turning your wings into chicken wings for a week."

"Deal!" Dash shouted, before shooting off again, flying towards the town square. "Just follow me!" she yelled, leaving Twilight about half a mile behind her before the purple unicorn even knew what had happened.

"Pinkie Pie should stop giving Rainbow free coffee from Sugarcube Corner...she is way too hyper." Twilight sighed and jogged off towards her hyperactive friend.

After two minutes of Twilight slowly making her way towards town square (with Rainbow Dash impatiently tapping her hooves all the while), Twilight finally made it to where Rainbow Dash was standing, a bulletin-board.

Upon arrival, Twilight was nearly sweating. "Okay, Rainbow, what is it you wanted me to see?"

Rainbow Dash smiled. "This! Behold, the perfect sport for an Egghead like you!" She made a large gesture with both her wings and hooves towards a small scroll pinned up to the bulletin-board.

Ponyville Dueling Club
Think you're a talented unicorn with the will to out-duel others with the same ambition? Are you willing to push your mental power to its limits? Do you have the skill to weave your magic perfectly to counter the spells of your opponent?
If you're up to the task, join the Ponyville Dueling Club!
First session begins at 9 AM sharp on the 14th. Meet at the lake behind Town Hall.
Come prepared.

"So, what do you think? Wanna shoot magic lasers or whatever type of combaty-magickey stuff you unicorns can do?"

"Um... I... don't know" Twilight replied, stammering slightly.

Rainbow Dash groaned. "But why not?"

"Well..." Twilight drew a circle in the dirt. "I don't mean to be arrogant, or overconfident, but I'm afraid I might hurt somepony."

Rainbow face-hoofed. "Twilight, it's a dueling club. You're meant to try to hurt each other."

"But I don't want to hurt anypony!"

"If you do, it won't be any sort of serious injury. Look, on the bottom of the flyer it says 'No spells higher class than three'. Does that mean it's safer or something?"

"Well...sort of. Class three spells are things like basic water or air based magic, plus things like levitation and other non-deadly spells. You can still possibly hurt someone with them!"

"But is there less of a chance?" Rainbow Dash cocked her head.

"Technically speaking, yes, but—" she couldn't finish her sentence.

"Then sign up! Please, Twilight? You made me love something that you love, so I want to return the favor and be able to relate to you more as a friend. Please?" Rainbow Dash was bending down, looking up at Twilight with the saddest, most adorable expression she could possibly muster without vomiting.

"...Okay, fine. I'll sign up. But if I don't like it, I'm quitting." Twilight said, staring down at Rainbow Dash.

"Yes!" Rainbow Dash jumped up into the sky and did a backflip.

"I don't have a pen... how am I supposed to si-"

"Here you go!" Rainbow Dash produced a feather pen, already dipped in ink, and held it out to Twilight.

"You knew I would agree, didn't you?"

"Fluttershy taught me how to beg. Was I good?" Rainbow Dash had a huge grin on her face.

"Ugh. Fluttershy has to know when not to give ponies things they may misuse" Twilight said under her breath.

The next day was sunny and Rainbow Dash was outside of Twilight's door a full two hours before her first session was meant to begin.

"Twilight! Are you up?" she yelled, excitement filling her voice.

After a brief pause, Twilight opened the door. "Rainbow...what are you doing here? I'm not due at the lake for another two hours."

"Well, yeah, but don't you want to talk strategy? I thought we could get some breakfast at Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie Pie gets me this great deal for free coffee and I'm sure she'd give it to you as well..."

"Wait... strategy? What do you mean, 'strategy'?" Twilight asked.

Rainbow Dash stared at the purple mare as if she were insane, her left eyebrow raised in question. "Twilight... you never thought about what kind of spells you would use? How you would counter other spells?"

"We signed up yesterday and I didn't have much time to think. And even if I did, what exactly am I supposed to strategize about when I haven't even been to one session yet? It's not like it's a tournament or anything..."

Rainbow Dash smiled. "Don't worry Twilight, I'll help you."

"You don't know anything about magic, Rainbow." Twilight replied, blinking.

"No, but you can teach me. At Sugarcube Corner. Now?"

Twilight sighed. "Fine." She stuck her head into the library. "Spike! I'm going out to Sugarcube Corner. Do you want anything?"

"Not now Twilight, we're doing a raid..." Spike replied, dazily.

Spike's addiction to his new game, Land of Lovecraft, was completely obvious by his messy scales and empty cups of tea.

"Are you sure? They have those sapphire snickerdoodles that you like!"

Suddenly, Spike's head appeared out from an open doorway complete with a headset. "Okay, fine, get me six of the snickerdoodles, please? Thanks." Just as quickly as he had appeared, he melted back into his room. "Alright, I'm back guys. Can someone buff up our Pegasus? Does the Medic have mana?"

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Alright, let's go.

.............................................................

"No, Rainbow Dash, class three magic does not include turning their horns into licorice."

"Are you saying it wouldn't be a good way to fight?"

"No, I'm sure it would work, but that's transmutation, which is class four magic."

"Ah, that's a shame." Rainbow Dash drained the rest of her super-sweetened black coffee, which had been her third cup that morning. Twilight, however, had only just finished her first cup.

"You know, if your heart hadn't already taken the stress of a Sonic Rainboom multiple times, you would probably be dead right now" She joked.

"Heh. Funny." Rainbow Dash looked over to where Pinkie was icing a cupcake. "Pinkie, can I have another cup?"

"Uh... Dashie... Mr. and Mrs. Cake say that if you want any more coffee, ever, you're going to have to pay for it." Pinkie sighed. "I told them they were being party poopers, but they wouldn't listen. Sorry."

"It's fine. Half of what I normally drink should keep me running. Hey, you wanna come with us?" Rainbow asked, suddenly perking up a bit more.

"Where are you going? I like to go places. Are you going swimming? Or skydiving?" she replied, leaving her work mode and ascending into pinkie mode.

"No, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash made me sign up for this unicorn-dueling club, and today is my first session. Didn't you hear us talking about magic?"

"Of course, I heard you. I didn't know what it was for. Maybe you were turning Dashie into an alicorn?"

"You can't just make anypony into an alicorn, Pinkie. When outlined on a punnett square, the only possible way for an alicorn to be born is—"

"Twi, please don't talk like that when we're at the dueling club. Even if these people are smart like you, they still think like athletes" Rainbow interrupted.

Twilight narrowed her eyes.

"So, how about it Pinkie? Wanna come watch Twilight shoot lasers?"

"I don't know how to shoot las—"

"Sure, Dashie! Lemme just go tell the Cakes that I'm going on break. Should I pack us some lunch? Or is it still breakfast? Pickles." Pinkie narrowed her eyes, concentrating on the difference between various meals. After deciding that brunch would be the best option, she walked off.

"I hope she brings something caffeinated..." Rainbow Dash said, sadly eyeing her empty cup of coffee.

After Pinkie finished packing her not-exactly-brunch-but-sort-of meal, the three mares headed off towards the lake. Twilight was racking her brain for any type of combat spell that she knew. She didn't know many as most of her stuff was pure utility. Most of the combat magic that she did know was due to the Element of Magic, which was class ten magic, and wouldn't help her much.

Crowded around the lake were around twenty or so unicorns. Most of them were ponies that Twilight had never met before, but one familiar green mare caught her eye.

"Hi, Lyra! I didn't know you were any good at magic."

"Oh, hi Twilight. Yeah, Bonbon said I should sign up for this. I guess I can do a bit of magic, but you can definitely do more."

"Oh, don't be silly. I'm not that good with magic"

"Are you kidding? Twilight is going to wipe the floor with all of you!" Rainbow Dash said with her voice tingling with pride.

"Rainbow!" Twilight's face was bright red.

Lyra glared at Rainbow Dash. "I'll see you later, Twilight..."

"Rainbow, what the hay is your problem. You know I hate boasting."

"Oh, calm down Twilight. It's just a little bit of friendly trash-talk. Competitive stuff." Pinkie cooed, trying to lighten the mood a bit. "Do you want to hear a song about it?"

"Oh I don't think that will be nec—"

"Fiillies and gentlecolts!" a loud, deep voice boomed across the lake. "I want all of you in a circle facing northwest at exactly 84.49 degrees!"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. "But that's not fair!" one pony yelled.

"Yeah! We didn't know we were supposed to know any math!" another agreed.

"Twilight, I'm sorry, I didn't think you would have to be prepared for something like this..." Rainbow explained while staring at the ground with guilt.

"Why are you smiling, Twilight? Did Rainbow spike your coffee?" Pinkie asked in an attempt to cause laughter.

While she didn't laugh, a smile did appear on her lips. Although it was for a different reason. "No, but I wouldn't expect any less of her. I'm smiling because I know how to solve this."

"How?!" Pinkie and Rainbow Dash spoke in unison.

"Just you watch." Her two companions looked skeptical, but didn't say another word. Using a proportions spell, Twilight drew a perfect circle in the dirt, and stood in the center.

"Done."

Both ponies were staring at the circle with the expectation of something extraordinary. But, confusingly, the circle was just a circle.

"Twilight... what exactly did you do?"

Twilight answered her pink friend with a smile.

After a few minutes, the voice spoke again. "Alright! Anyone who has not managed to complete the task, please step to the right of the line!". Nopony could see a line. In fact, nopony could see whoever was talking!

"What line?" a few ponies yelled. As if on command, navy blue fire tore through the soil, burning a dark line.

"That one!" the voice boomed. Little more than half the ponies moved to the other side of the line. One pony in particular remained on Twilight's side, and she caught the lavender mare's eye immediately.

"Trixie..." she huffed. The last time she dealt with Trixie, she had been surrounded with an air of over confidence, but now... she was different. Her arrogance was still evident, but her confidence somehow appeared to be... deadlier.

The blue unicorn's horn was glowing, and her head was being held in place towards a particular direction, assumed to be 84.49 degrees north-west.

"Ready or not, here I come." Suddenly, the water swirled, and a gush of it poured onto the land. After a second of no movement, it gushed in mid air, filling up an invisible mold in the shape of a unicorn. Once the spell was completed, he was bone dry, and even fully clothed in light blue robes to contrast with his navy blue body. The source of the voice had finally appeared.

"Hello, everypony. My name is Archmage Cobalt Star. You may call me Archmage, or the Archmage. If any of you call me Cobalt, or Star, or ArchC, or anything that you foals are saying nowadays, I'll shapeshift your horns into licorice."

"I told you it was a good idea" Rainbow Dash whispered to Twilight.

"Shh!" she retorted.

"Now, the unicorns on the side that I am standing on are the ones who at least tried to pass this test, and are therefore much better then the rest of you, and I prefer them. Those of you on the other side, feel free, no, feel encouraged to despise the ponies on my side" the Archmage said, bowing towards the unicorns he 'preferred'.

"Alright, preferred-ponies, let's see how you did." The Archemage's tone was like chloroform: sickly sweet and intoxicating, one pony can only take so much of it before they are lost in its web of numb shadows.

The Archmage waltzed through the small group of eight or so ponies, all standing perfectly still, trying to point in the proper direction. All but Twilight. Trixie, Lyra, and two ponies that Twilight didn't recognize passed and the four others failed. At last, the Archmage approached Twilight.

"What is your name, unicorn?" he asked.

"Twilight Sparkle, Archmage."

"Well, Ms. Sparkle. Please tell me how in the name of Celestia you are pointing in the correct direction, when you are facing a completely random direction in comparison to the other ponies who passed?" he asked, his voice still threatening yet seductive.

"Alright, Archmage. May I write on the ground the instructions that you gave us?"

"You may" he said with an eyebrow raised.

Twilight concentrated for a moment, and manipluated the dirt via magic, spelling out the instructions.

"Are these correct? 'I want all of you in a circle facing northwest at exactly 84.49 degrees."

The Archemage looked down at the dirt drawing for a moment, not even humoring Twilight with a closer examination, and simply said "Obviously."

"Then I did your task correctly" she said confidently.

"Oh, did you now?" he replied, voice growing in volume. "Well then, Twilight Sparkle, can you tell us exactly why you think I should pass you?"

"You didn't have a comma after circle."

"...Excuse me?" The Archemage's voice had completely lost any threatening tone, and was now laced with confusion.

"You said that, as I had written it down, your command was correct, yes?"

The Archemage nodded, his eyes narrowing.

"Well you did not have a comma after the word 'circle'. Because of basic grammar laws that I am sure someone of your intelligence understands instead of your task meaning that WE need to face 84.49 degrees north-west, the CIRCLE needs to face that direction. Since my circle is indeed a perfect circle that I have summoned by a basic proportions spell to ensure perfection it has no side that is any more or less from another. This means that it is pointing at EVERY angle, equally. So, I am indeed, standing in a circle that is pointing at 84.49 degrees north-west." Twilight took in a breath. "Any questions?"

A Matter of Pride

A Matter of Pride.

The Archmage stared at Twilight. His face appeared expressionless, but beneath the frozen glare was a churning sea of silent fury. "What did you say your name was, unicorn?"

"Twilight Sparkle, Sir. May I call you Sir?"

"You may..." The Archmage said somberly. "I'm not going to lie to you, Twilight Sparkle, I want to drown you in the lake behind me." He sighed. "But... you have outsmarted me, and I'm not afraid to admit my own defeat. You have passed my test." Nodding at Twilight, the Archmage walked off towards the group who failed. "Now, what do you all have to say for yourselves?"

"Twilight Sparkle, did you just cheat?" Rainbow Dash had a small smile on her face.

"No, of course not!" Twilight was blushing. "I could have solved it without doing what I did. It's just—"

"It sure looked like cheating, Twi," said Pinkie Pie, eyeing the circle.

"Well it wasn't! I just wanted to outsmart him. He's so arrogant and cocky and..." Twilight sighed. "And he reminds me of Trixie." Twilight blushed as the memories surged into her mind.

"We get it, Twilight," cooed Rainbow Dash. "Don't we, Pinkie Pie?"

"Totally! Cross my heart and hope to die, stick aMMPH" Pinkie began her trademark rhyme, but her only reply was a quick hoof to the mouth by Rainbow Dash.

"You two! Pink and Blue!" The Archemage yelled as he stalked towards the three friends. "This dueling club is meant for unicorns, and neither of you appears to have a horn"

"We're here to support Twilight! She's our friend so we thought we would cheer her on." Pinkie smiled.

"Well, listen here... cotton candy" he said distastefully, eyeing Pinkie Pie's messy pink mane. "Unless you or your color pallet friend here decide to suddenly grow horns, get out."

"Color pallet! Oh, you better watch your—" Rainbow began, but received an equally forceful hoof to the mouth by Pinkie.

"We should go, Dashie, this guy thinks my hair is made of cotton candy, what a weirdo," Pinkie whispered to Rainbow Dash, guiding her away from the lake.

"Alright... bye guys." Twilight said meekly. Gulping, she glanced at the Archmage. "Do you have another assignment... Sir?"

He grinned savagely. "Yes, yes, I do believe I have another assignment for you. Follow me, Ms. Sparkle." The Archemage set off towards the shore of the lake. "Unicorns! Gather around me!"

On his command, the mob of magic savvy unicorns began to materialize around him. Twilight was still next to the Archmage, and felt as if every single unicorn were staring right at her. "What's he going to do? Turn me into a frog as a demonstration?" She dreaded over what was going to happen.

"Over half of you failed the very first test that I gave you. Feel relieved, as the test was purely symbolic, and will have no effect on your ranking." The deadly tone in the Archmages voice was no longer present. His voice was now drenched in seriousness, and wasn't very far from the tone of a drill sergeant.

A murmur vibrated over the crowd right as he said 'ranking'. "Archmage, what do you mean: 'ranking'?" asked a distant stallion.

The Archmage grinned. "Ah, I probably should have mentioned this in the very beginning. If you feel cheated, by the way, feel free to leave. This dueling club is my way of putting together a pair of ponies that I will train, and have them compete in the Equestrian World Cup: a magical tournament. The ranking does not relate to this tournament... directly."

"So... what is the ranking for?" asked the same stallion.

"I would say 'good question', but that was a horrible question" he quipped. "Essentially, the ranking is what is going to keep you all in the dueling club, or kick you out of it."

Nobody responded to his foreboding statement.

"Every time that we meet, every one of you will engage in a duel with another member. Whoever wins the duel remains in the dueling club, and whoever loses is kicked out. Any questions?" The Archmages tone was laden with sarcasm that made it seem as if he was having fun with everypony else's discomfort. "Since there are twenty of you, we will have a total of three more classes before the pair will be decided."

Outrage filled the crowd. "Why in the hay would we stay in this club if we're probably going to be kicked out of it?" yelled an outraged young mare.

"You'll remain in it because you all want to believe you have a chance at making it to the end. 'How hard could it be? It's just doing a bit of magic.' Well, I'll show you just how hard it can be, and the extremely witty and talented Twilight Sparkle is going to help me." The Archmage pronounced Twilight's name as if she were a meal that he was about to devour, and then review, in front of a waiting audience.

"How am I going to help you, Sir?" She had tried to suppress any and all fear in her voice, but had only managed to make every one of her words sound forced.

The Archmage suppressed the urge to chuckle. "You're going to help me demonstrate to the class how duels work. Is this fine with you?" The Archmage, of course, didn't care if it was or wasn't a problem. Twilight Sparkle was going to help him no matter what.

"Yes. It's... fine with me."

"Lovely. Now, my dear, please touch your horn to mine." With that, the Archmage bent his head down towards Twilight. The horn looked like a sharpened dagger poised to gouge out her eyes, but she mustered up the courage to touch the tip of her horn to his. A ball of energy was formed at their contact, and it cascaded in pulses down the side of each unicorn.

Twilight whimpered slightly.

"Oh, don't worry. This is just a simple charm that is used during a duel. I've cast it on both of us, see?" He held up his right hoof, which has swirling energy around it. This also applied to Twilights hooves.

"What does it do?" Twilight asked with a mix of fear and curiosity.

"It's a levitation charm. This will hold us over the lake, which is where we will be dueling. The idea is to knock the enemy into the lake by dispelling their charm or using physical spells. Any questions?"

"No, sir." It seemed simple enough. Was he hiding something?

“Normally, there would be a separate unicorn to cast the spell. But, because I doubt anypony here is intelligent enough to know it, I’m going to be channeling it. I assure you I will show zero resistance if you try to dispel it, as is regulation.” He explained.

“Alright, so I’m going to have some advantage over him because of his concentration on the levitation spell. Brilliant” Twilight thought. “I doubt it’s a huge advantage, but it’s a good start."

“Are you ready to begin?” The Archmage’s words sounded equally sinister to somepony asking if Twilight was ready to die.

“Yes Sir.” While she was scared, she also was itching to show the Archmage that she had what it took to be a powerful unicorn. Last time, she had outsmarted him via some simple grammatical trickery. But did she have the magical skill to defeat him? She wasn’t sure.

“Alright then, good luck, Ms. Sparkle.” With that, the Archmages horn burst into light, and the swirling blue energies around the legs of each pony turned bright white. Twilight felt a harness like tug around her chest, and suddenly was lifted off the ground with the Archmage.

Both ponies were dragged to the center of the lake. "Alright, Twilight. In about ten seconds, we will both have full control of our levitation. Get ready."

"What, no 'good luck'?" she thought. "Alright, time to show him what I can do." As if in response to her preparation, she suddenly felt a tug at her mind—the spell had kicked in. Suddenly, Twilight could move freely around in the air just as easily as she could move any other part of her body, as if flying was something she could do for all her life."Game on."

Twilight thought against trying to dispel the charm from the Archmage. He would be naturally defending it with his own magic, and she doubted that her magic could overpower his. It'll have to be force that takes him down. Reaching out her mind to the billions of air molecules surrounding her, she gathered them together as somepony would gather together snow in a snowball, and hurled them at the Archmage.

The Archmage was thrown back about ten feet quite easily. Was it too easily? Twilight didn't bother thinking about it. If she could overpower the Archmage that easily with wind, then she could easily knock him into the water.

Twilight felt a second, lighter tug at the back of her mind. Again, she disregarded it in favor of more offensive moves. Twilight hurled another blast of air at the Archmage, again, he was thrown back quite easily. Why wasn't he resisting?

"Alright" she thought. "One good shot and you're going into that lake." The tug at her mind made her horn tingle. What was he doing? Suddenly, she got her answer. The levitation charm had been ripped from her! Knowing she was doomed for the water, she threw all the air she could manipulate at the Archmage... from above him.

The Archmage was thrown downward by the force generated from the wind—much faster than the rate that Twilight was falling at.

"I'm going to win this!" she thought, joy filling up inside of her as the Archmage descended below her.

The Archmage hit the water two seconds before Twilight did... but never fell in. Before Twilight could feel confusion, she fell into the icy cold water of Lake Hardtack. Popping up out of the water, she stared at the Archmage in silent questioning.

"Oh, Twilight, I'm so... so sorry. Didn't I mention that you are allowed to catch yourself before you actually hit the water? I must have forgotten that. Since the rules state that the pony who is submerged neck down first loses, and I am walking on the water..." The Archmage paced along the surface of the water as if it were just a floor. "... It appears that I have won. I'm sorry to have bested you with something as petty as that."

"Oh, he's getting me back for how I passed his test. Think embarrassing me in front of your class will do anything? Think again, Cobalt Star." She wanted to say something smug to the Archmage. Something about how he had cheated or maybe how he should be more mature than that... but she wouldn't sink to his level. Not ever again.

"Congratulations, Sir." She said simply as she swam back to shore. "I should have clarified the rules with you more. You deserve victory." If she won't say anything smug, she'll drown him in acceptance.

"Oh, I wouldn't expect anypony like you to have clarified." He walked onto the shore, not a drop of water on either his coat or hooves.

"What does that mean: 'anypony like you'?" Twilight truly hated the Archmage.

"Class is dismissed for today. Let this be a lesson to all of you: understand the rules before you play the game. You shall all report back here in two days, then you shall all have your first duels. Goodbye" and with that, the Archmage vanished in the same fashion that he had appeared: melting into the water.

.............................................................

"Oh, don't feel bad dear. He was unfair and cheated you." Not feeling up to explaining the situation to Rainbow Dash, Twilight had decided to take refuge at Rarity's house.

"But Rarity, I don't have the rightto be angry at him. I passed his first test because of a grammar mistake. He didn't do anything more underhanded than me."

"You have the right to your emotions, it doesn't matter what you've done yourself. You haven't even touched your tea yet, you know."

Twilight sipped the tea. It reminded her exactly of Rarity—jasmine, chamomile and a hint of vanilla. "Thanks, Rarity. I don't think I could have handled telling Rainbow Dash that I lost my first game. She's really into this."

Rarity rolled her eyes. While Rainbow Dash was one of her best friends, she could be a bit... enthusiastic about competition. Even when it wasn't her that was competing. "Who cares what Rainbow thinks. He didn't tell you what the rules were, and he didn't deserve his win." She sipped her own tea, taking the tiniest sip that was possible.

"I guess. But what if—" Twilight was interrupted by a knock on Rarity's door. "Rarity, did you invite somepony else?"

"No. Just you. Would you mind getting the door? I didn't put on eye shadow today."

"Alright." Twilight didn't really see the difference between wearing and not wearing eye shadow, but she didn't bother arguing. Opening the door, she was greeted by a mint green unicorn. "Uh. Hi Lyra."

"Is it one of my clients? Tell them that I'm busy" yelled Rarity.

"No, it's Lyra Heartstrings!" Twilight replied. "What you doing here, Lyra?"

"I'm looking for you. I knew you would either be here, or at Fluttershys cottage. May I come in?"

Twilight looked back at Rarity. Had she even met Lyra before? She didn't know. "Sure, come in. Rarity and I are having tea."

"Oh, hello. I don't believe we've met before, dear. I'm Rarity. Are you one of Twilights friends?" asked Rarity.

"I suppose you could say that, yeah. I came here to talk about the dueling club with her."

"The dueling club? What about the dueling club?" Twilight was curious... did Lyra want her help for something?

"Well... I was just thinking... the Archmage beat you when you didn't even know how to properly duel. Would you like me to teach you some of the basics?" Lyra tried to phrase the question without offending Twilight's skill level.

Twilight blinked. "Uh... how exactly did you learn the basics?"

"My father used to duel during college" Lyra explained. "When he saw the ad for the dueling club, he told me I had the talent for it. He taught me the rules, and strategies for both basic and advanced gameplay."

"Basic and Advanced?" Twilight had never heard of these before. "What's that?"

"Well, there are three different types of unicorn dueling. Basic, Advanced and Pro. Basic dueling is what we did today—the levitation spell is quite strong, you are allowed to use up to level three magic, and you only need to know one or two extra spells to keep you out of the water. Advanced dueling has a much weaker levitation spell, a spell cap of level four, and there is more reliance on your own magic to keep you from the water. Pro level dueling has a spell cap of five. You also don't get any pre-applied levitation spell for Pro games, it's all up to you."

"Why do you need to know more than one extra levitation spell? Couldn't you just repeatedly reactive one?" asked Twilight.

"No, you are only allowed to repeat every spell of that nature a maximum of twice, so it's important to know multiple. How about it, can I teach you a bit?"

Twilight looked back at Rarity for advice, she smiled at Twilight and nodded in encouragement. "Sure, when?"

"Can you meet me at Lake Hardtack in about ten minutes?"

"Sure, Lyra. See you there." She smiled, and waved goodbye as Lyra trotted off. "You don't mind me leaving you, Rarity?"

"Of course not, Twilight. I don't want you getting embarrassed in front of that horrid sounding Archmage again. Go ahead, let her teach you."

Twilight nodded, and left Rarity to her tea.

.............................................................

"What happens if somepony get's hurt?"

"What?"

Twilight sighed. "Lyra, what happens if one of my spells hurts the other pony? You said that in higher level duels I'm allowed to use level five spells... that includes fire."

Lyra chuckled. "You worry too much. Do you honestly believe that these tournaments would exist if ponies could get seriously injured from them?"

Twilight thought about this for a moment, and then realized she was right. "So how do they prevent it?"

"During a game, you are shielded from large injuries. While it will let small things pass through, such as a punch to the jaw, things like boulders will be shielded. Instead of actually being injured, the spell saps away at your energy instead."

"Why doesn't everypony wear one of these spells so that we can never get injured?" Twilight's brow narrowed.

"It's a complicated spell. An extremely complicated spell." Lyra paced to the left. "Also, if somepony were to take enough damage to have died while the shield is active, energy will begin to break through. A lethally sharp boulder, for example, might begin to break bones if you were to die from it. Any questions?"

"Has anypony ever died?"

Lyra bit her lower lip and looked at Twilight. "Not in sanctioned play."

Twilight's left eyebrow raised. "What does that mean?"

"Well... there are sort of... underground tournaments." she explained. "These aren't actually approved by Canterlot, and the rules differ."

"How so?"

"There are no shields, for one, but the spell limit is at four to prevent the league from being banned." Lyra said. "But, there's a twist to that. If you were to cast a spell over the limit in sanctioned play, you would be disqualified and possibly even banned from play—that's why ponies do underground play half the time, they were banned."

"Is it any different in underground?" asked Twilight.

Lyra nodded. "You're allowed two strikes, so you can go over the limit a total of twice during a game without getting disqualified. Deaths have occurred because some ponies use powerful spells. The most powerful spell on record cast in underground play was level 7—which is also one of the recorded deaths."

"How the hay can they get away with that?"

"The argument is that the practice isn't bannable, as they don't have the skill to cast the shield." Lyra hoofed at the ground. "They also state that it's the duelists responsibility to shield themselves from danger. Can you believe that?"

"No, I can't." Twilight said somberly.

"If you don't mind, can we move onto something else?"

"I actually don't have anymore questions, Lyra. You've been a great help. I can probably get Rainbow Dash to help me practice some of the spells, you need to be in good condition for tomorrow. Don't want you losing to some cheater." Twilight smiled.

"Aw, thanks Twilight. Nobody likes to be embarrassed."

Game On

Game On

"Ow!" yelled Rainbow Dash as she fell into the water.

"Rainbow!" exclaimed Twilight. "Are you OK?"

Rainbow Dash swam to shore, shaking herself off. "Apart from you knocking me into the water over and over again for the last twenty minutes, yeah, I'm fine." Rainbow glared at Twilight. "How long does it take you you to learn a spell...?"

"Oh, I've had the spell down for about six attempts now" she explained. "But I wanted to double check that I had mastered it."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "You've got a problem, Twilight, I hope you know that."

"I don't have a problem!" Twilight narrowed her eyes at Rainbow Dash. "I just happen to be a pony who heavily appreciates making sure that I don't mess something up. You know, maybe you should try double checking things. You wouldn't have messed up your first two tricks at the young flyers competition if you just took the time to—"

"Okay, geek-i-corn." Rainbow Dash sighed. "Any more spells you want to throw at me? I don't think you've managed to bruise my entire body yet." Rainbow was dotted with small but annoying bruising upon impact with spells, and had been soaked and dried in the cold air tens of times.

"Hey, you're the one who wanted to help me. I didn't force you."

"Yeah, but couldn't you have just gotten like... Spike to help you? He has scales and won't bruise."

Twilight rolled her eyes, again. "You and I both know that Spike can't fly, and Fluttershy would never be willing to do something like this again. Look, I just have one more spell I want to try, okay?"

Sighing, Rainbow Dash replied "Fine, what is it? Are you going to singe off my cutie mark?"

Twilight ignored her comment. "The spell isn't really a new spell, it's just a way to use a water manipulation spell that I decided to try. The idea is to move an extremely large and hard to dodge mass of water at once. It requires that I focus everything onto it, but if I'm confident enough to cast it, I won't miss."

"So you're going to rinse my cutie mark off." Rainbow said, sarcasm embedded in her voice. "That's much better."

"Oh, you. Just go fly to the center of the lake and be glad I have no reason to train with lasers."

Rainbow nodded, and darted to the center of the lake, awaiting her final dose of battle magic.

"Alright, feel the water around me... make it into my own..." Twilight's horn began to glow a bright purple, brighter than with most other spells she casts.

"Twilight? How powerful of a spell is this?" asked Rainbow, nervously.

"Barely weak enough to be considered type three... I'm stretching the rules a bit." After finishing her statement the full strength of the spell was revealed. Suddenly, Rainbow Dash become something that hundreds of gallons of water had an extreme desire to touch.

"Are you s—" whatever Rainbow Dash was going to ask, she didn't have time to. Hundreds of gallons of water gathered into a large pillar slammed into the blue pegasus, engulfing her and pulling her into the depths of Lake Hardtack. After a good thirty seconds, she swam to the surface.

"Rainbow! Sorry! I didn't know how rough the spell was. It's hard to estimate how much water I'm manipulating at once... are you OK?!" Twilight was frantic as she ran towards the shore.

Panting, Rainbow Dash could only muster the energy for three simple words before collapsing in a tired mess. "That... was... awesome..."

.............................................................

"Come on, Rainbow... hold still..."

"Fluttershy! You've been telling me to hold still for the last five minutes when I've barely even blinked. How much more still do I need to be?"

Fluttershy's ears folded on her head. "Well I'm Sorry, Rainbow, but I don't want to mess up..."

Rainbow Dash huffed. "You're putting ice on a bruise. How can that possibly mess up?"

"I might put it on the wrong place... or it may be too cold if I put it on too fast. Someponies can get frostbite from ice packs, you know..."

"Yeah, if the ice packs are taken from the arctic. Fluttershy, trust me, you won't mess up."

"Rainbow, why didn't you just let me heal it for you? Healing spells aren't that complicated." asked Twilight, impatiently waiting for Fluttershy to finish the (evidently) hour long process of tending to bruises.

"No, Twilight, you need your strength for the dueling club tomorrow. You've already done plenty of magic today. I'm perfectly fine, anyway." Rainbow replied stoically.

"Okay, done. Sorry I took so long... I hope you don't mind that much." Fluttershy dipped her head.

Rainbow smiled at Fluttershy in silent thanks. Fluttershy was her first real friend, and she loved her like a sister, but that pony was just way too insistent that everypony she meets know that if she did anything possibly wrong, she was sorry for it.

"Twilight, I can't believe you signed up for the dueling club. You're so brave..."

"What do you mean, Fluttershy? We defeated Discord, and Chrysalis. Are you saying it requires more bravery to do a safe sport then defeat villains?" Twilight raised her eyebrow at Fluttershy.

"Well... technically... didn't Cadence defeat Chrysalis?" Fluttershy's wings instinctively tightened against her side.

Twilight sighed. "Oh, you know what I meant. The dueling club is perfectly safe, Fluttershy."

"You've never dueled before and you covered Rainbow in bruises, what if somepony else hurts you?"

"That won't happen, Fluttershy. There are safety measures." Twilight eyed Fluttershy thoughtfully. "You worry about everypony, don't you?"

Fluttershy stood up slightly, grasping a tiny bit of bravery in the debate. "But what if it does? What if you go blind or something?"

"Blind?" coughed Rainbow Dash, who had been drinking a cup of tea that Fluttershy had made for them. "You think she's going to get blinded? What kind of a sport do you think this is, Fluttershy, seeing who can stare at the sun for longest?"

"Hey..." any grain of confidence Fluttershy had possessed in her side of the argument had been shredded. "... you don't know what magic can do..."

"No, but I do. I'll be fine, Fluttershy" cooed Twilight.

Fluttershy huffed. "Okay... if you say so... do you want any more tea?"

"No thanks Fluttershy" Twilight began. "It's getting late, I should probably head to bed in an hour or so... sorry."

"Oh, don't be sorry, Rainbow and I can finish off the rest of the pot."

"Actually, Fluttershy, I was going to go get some co—" Rainbow Dash was interrupted by a sharp glance from Twilight, and a nod toward Fluttershy. Rainbow sighed. "Actually, I could go for some tea. Plus, you probably want to check on my bruising... or something." The blue pegasus glared at Twilight.

"Alright, bye girls!"

.............................................................

Twilight stared at Trixie from across Lake Hardtack. "Of course" she thought. "Who else but Trixie to duel against for my first game..."

Twilight felt the tug from the levitation charm; the game had begun. "Let's end this, fast." Twilight began to summon her magic. She felt the air around her, deciding to go with a wind charm, and launched it at Trixie... but she didn't. Why wasn't her magic working?

"Oh, Twilight, are you missing something?" cawed Trixie.

"Wh—" Twilight began, before she gasped at Trixie. Trixie was wearing her Element of Harmony... how?!

"Oh, poor little Twilight. You are nothing without this fancy little crown. Is that right?"

"No... I..." why couldn't she speak? What was wrong with her?

"Aw... you can't even talk without the help of your Element, cute." Trixie had a wicked grin on her face. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of your crown... I am the Element of Magic now."

Before Twilight could respond, Trixie's eyes began to glow in the same way that Twilights glowed when she banished Discord. She was charging up the Element of Magic.

"Goodbye, Twilight Sparkle" said Trixie, her voice eerily similar to that of the Archmage. A blast of searingly bright energy shot from the crown, heading straight for Twilight.

"Twilight!" yelled spike. "Wake up! You have to get to lake hardtack in twenty minutes!"

"Ah!" Twilight screamed as she fell of her bed. "Spike, don't do that..."

"Sorry, but don't you want to get their on time, you hate being tardy."

"So it was only a dream..." thought Twilight, relief blanketing her. "I... Spike... I don't think I can go."

"Why the hay not? I wouldn't have to tell the Princess that you quit... she was so happy that you were entering in this."

"You told Princess Celestia?!" roared Twilight. "Why in the name of harmony would you do that?"

"I'm sorry! I thought she would like to know, is all..." Spike looked at his feet, avoiding Twilight's anger filled gaze.

Twilight bit her lip. "It's okay, Spike, but... I really don't think I can do this."

"Why?"

"Because without my Element of Harmony, I'm just another unicorn. The only thing even a bit special or interesting about me is that I'm a student to Princess Celestia, but she never taught me any battle magic... what if I lose?"

Spike put his hand on Twilights shoulder. "Twi, you won't lose. I've known you for my entire life, you never give up. Even when the situation is so impossible that you know you are going to fail. All the other unicorns? They may know a few more spells, they may have history with unicorn dueling, but they do not have the drive that you do."

Twilight nuzzled Spike. "Thanks. But what happens if I do lose? What will I tell the Princess?"

"You'll tell her that you lost. Winning and losing don't mean much to someone who can control the sun."

Twilight laughed. "You know, even when the situation is serious, you never are."

To this, Spike grinned devilishly.

"Oh you." said Twilight as she hugged Spike. "You're right. If I lose, it won't matter. In fact, it will probably make the Archmage angry that he can't play any more tricks on me."

They laughed together.

.............................................................

Twilight walked towards Lake Hardtack, nervousness and excitement filling her mind. She looked around her, taking a deep breath of the warm air. Not a dream this time.

"You're almost late, Twilight Sparkle." said the Archmage, rushing up to Twilight as if she was a leper trying to enter a preschool.

"The keyword is almost, Sir." said Twilight. "Chances are, I'm going to lose this. Let's not bow down to this jerk while I do."

"Oh, you remain ever so clever, Twilight." sneered the Archmage. "Go stand in line, I have everyponies dueling partners organized, and I don't want you messing it up."

"What does that even mean...?" thought Twilight. Resisting the urge to curtsie, Twilight found her way to the line of unicorns, excitedly talking about the upcoming duels.

"Alright!" yelled the Archmage. "I have hand chosen all of your partners based off of many variables, such as whether or not you passed the first test, what kind of promise you show, etcetera."

"Alright, Archmage. Who's my first opponent? Probably someone who you know will beat me... or maybe... Trixie." Twilight gulped, remembering her dream.

The Archmage read off the list, jotting off a bunch of names that were meaningless to Twilight's ears. Trixie was paired up with a confident looking crimson pony named Flare, thank Celestia.

"Twilight Sparkle" announced the Archmage. "You shall be dueling Lyra Heartstrings."

"Excu—" Twilight interrupted herself before the Archmage heard her plea of complaint. She was facing Lyra? She couldn't face Lyra... what was he playing?

Lyra walked up to her, her expression completely unreadable.

"Lyra, I can't..."

"Oh, what, worried that you'll be too powerful for me?" said Lyra, smirking.

"No! Of course—"

Lyra interrupted her. "Twilight, It's a game. Someone always has to lose if anyone is ever going to win at the game. Let's both agree to play fairly beforehand, okay? I want this to be a real game, none of this Archmage game play."

Twilight nodded. "Nothing like the Archmage."

The two unicorns walked together, towards their assigned section of Lake Hardtack. Neither of them spoke to the other, they were both completely serious.

After setting up the pair of ponies before them with a levitation charm and shield, the Archmage walked up to Lyra and Twilight. To anyone watching them from afar, the Archmage simply applied the spells and walked off, but Twilight saw the look in his eyes. He chose Lyra for a reason other then what he claimed his methods for. She just knew it.

"Alright, Twilight." said Lyra as the two floated above their lake. "Let's see if I taught you anything useful."

Twilight nodded, and then felt the all too familiar tug of the levitation charm on her mind. The game had begun. immediately, Lyra's horn began to glow, but there was no visible magic appearing.

"Is she creating a shield?" thought Twilight. "Alright, let's assume it's a shield. Looks like I'm going to have to break that spell from the inside" Twilight concentrated on Lyra, pressing her mind against hers in an attempt to break into it and shatter the levitation charm, instead, she felt a numb feeling in her mind and heard... music?

It was beautiful music. A tune that could describe nearly anything... war, love, sadness, literally anything. Was this her spell? "Why would she be casting music" thought Twilight. She began to pay her full attention to the music, dipping nearly all of her conscious mind into it...

"Siren song!" Twilight screamed in her mind, tearing herself out of Lyras mind. "That's siren song! She's made it impossible for me to breach her mind, because if I do, she'll essentially hypnotize me... clever."

Lyra smiled. "Familiar with the music of the sea? Isn't it lovely... very useful when playing against someone like you, who isn't the type to only use brute force. Essentially takes out half of your magical potential. Like it?"

Twilight had never seen this side of Lyra. This competitive, edgey side that was sharp as a razor. In a way, she admired it. In another, she feared it. Twilight suddenly felt a prickle of a different tune in her head. This one was much more defined then the siren song. It didn't seem comforting or accepting, it was forceful and almost painful.

"What in the name of Celestia is this... get out of my head!" Twilight filled her mind with energy, trying to burn the music out of her mind. She succeeded... and also burned away her levitation spell. After falling a few feet towards the water, Twilight caught herself with a wind charm.

"I'm not going down that easy." yelled Twilight. That sentence was meant to be filled with confidence, but instead she found that it was teeming with anxiety and fear. She was going to lose this.

"I didn't think you were..." Lyra said, a deadly innocence in her tone. "You look tired, would you like a lullaby—"

"No!" yelled Twilight, sending a torrent of force towards Lyra. The mint unicorn was thrown backwards about ten feet, displaying the power of Twilight's spell.

"Wow, Twilight." Lyra said honestly. "You've been practicing your battle magic. Nice."

Twilight nodded at Lyra, her mind filled with the addictive adrenaline like (often called magrenaline) hormone that was created from lots of energy being channeled threw a unicorn's horn. She loved it. Twilight eyed Lyra, scanning her for any sign of weakness. There was none, she was completely confident, even after Twilight's barrage.

Lyra's horn began to glow brighter, but Twilight heard nothing. "She's probably channeling a spell." thought Twilight. "She's distracted, time to act."

Instead of casting a torrent of blunt energy, she was going to focus all the impact on one point: Lyra's back. She wouldn't expect something from behind her, so it probably wouldn't be blocked, and she wouldn't think to save herself because of the concentration on her charm.

Twilight released the energy. It was a long, flat shape that she whipped at Lyras flank... on which it melted into Lyra.

"How? What?" Twilight was confused, what had happened? Dismay filled her mine when she saw Lyra's horn... it was glowing purple.

"Mimicry spell." Lyra said simply. "Nasty stuff." Lyra launched Twilights spell back at her, knocking her out of the circle of wind she had created.

"I've lost." thought Twilight as she began to fall. "Good job, Lyra. Well played."

Twilight looked towards the shore for a second, and saw the Archmage laughing with Trixie. Oh of course they were friends, why wouldn't they be? Twilight stared at them for the few seconds that she had before impacting water, and the Archmage turned... and smirked at Twilight.

"You are not winning this, Archmage." Twilight screamed within her mind. A small surge of brilliance sharpened her mind as she remembered the events from the day before... she remembered the spells she had practiced...

Twilight focused on the water, drawing it's energy into her mind. She knew what spell to use. Without even thinking about any possible wrong outcome, she deftly gathered the water into a large mass below the surface.

"One shot to make this work..." Twilight thought, the water only feet below her. She released the spell, sending a pillar of frigid water surging towards the mint green unicorn in the air.

It was only half the size of the previous one that Twilight had cast, but she didn't want size. Twilight wanted speed.

The water engulfed Lyra just as Twilight hit the cool surface of the water. "Whatever happens, happens." thought Twilight as she drifted beneath the water. Twilight stared above her, admiring the little moment of beauty that she had.

"And you know what" she thought. "Does it even really matter?"

(Not a real Chapter) Unicorn Dueling: as dictated by Star Swirl the Bearded

Written and Approved by Star Swirl the Bearded.

Ut victoria esse tuus

Official Classification of Spell Power

Basic Manipulation of physical matter or low-level energy control.
Advanced Manipulation of physical matter or medium-level energy control.
The Magicks of Water and Air. High-level energy control. Creating small physical barriers or otherwise physical objects from pure energy.
Basic Aetherial Magic. Teleporting short distances by sliding oneself through the Aether. Basic Conjuration and Transmutation
The Magicks of Fire and Earth. Heat-based weaponized energy control focused onto a single point.
Creating larger (or dome-based) physical barriers or otherwise physical objects from pure energy. Using Aetherial waypoints to travel through the time stream.
Advanced Conjuration and Transmutation. Giving a living creature a new addition to it's body that it can and will control to it's full extent or modifying a creatures emotions without harmful effect.
Self-Transmutation. Controlled Aetherial Domination (summoning the power of the Aether, and mixing it with ones own Aura to strengthen the power of spells.)
Spells of Eternal Imprisonment (Such as those used to bind the Lord of Chaos, or that which Princess Celestia was forced into using on the Lunar Princess.)
Complete Maniplation of the Sun and/or Moon. The Elements of Harmony.

Certain Magicks not mentioned are branches from other Magicks (Sound Magic is a branch of Air Magic).

Official Dueling Procedures and Rules

Both entrants must be given a basic levitation spell prior to the game beginning.
Both entrants must be given the shield spell designed by Myself (Star Swirl the Bearded). Any modification to the spell must be forseen and accepted by the Magical Tribunal.
Spell Locks must be used if legally acceptable. If not, tracer charms must be applied to the perimeter of the dueling facility set to track level six or higher Magicks cast in the vicinity. Those caught casting such spells are to be disqualified without questioning.
Both entrants must be in fit mental condition at the time of competition. If they are not in fit mental condition, they have a maximum of 48 hours to ready themselves for their mental state to be tested once more.
Black Magicks, whether or not their spell level is low enough, are completely and utterly banned.
The summoning of sentient beings is forbidden. Mind-sharing beings which technically "think for themselves", but still think with your own mind are legal.
Physical contact is forbidden. All blow must be made by magical means, or by a previously mentioned mind-sharing being.
Chant or otherwise vocal based magic is forbidden.
Mind Reading or any other clairvoyant spells of the opponents mind are forbidden.
Targeting the pre-cast shield with dispelling magic is forbidden. Legal punishment can and will result from attempting to tamper with this spell.

Calcandi caute

Without a Plan

Without a Plan

"Do you actually have money this time?" asked the bristly Mr. Cake.

"Uh-huh" replied the caffeine deprived Rainbow Dash.

"As do I" added Twilight.

"Me too!" squeaked Pinkie; desperately trying to see over her two friends.

The three ponies ordered their drinks (black coffee for Rainbow, hazelnut for Twilight and a whipped cream drenched-in-caramel-sugar-rush-in-a-cup latte for none other than Pinkie Pie) and found a seat by a window to nurse their caffeinated life elixirs.

"So, how did Lyra react?" Rainbow finally asked after the caffeine began to pipe up her nerves.

"Like a good sport, of course" Twilight replied.

"So she didn't rage out and try to horn-stab you?"

Twilight blinked. "Horn-stab?"

"It's when they stab you with their horn." Rainbow informed.

"I had assumed." Twilight took a sip of her coffee. "She was obviously a bit disappointed, but she didn't show any hostility towards me."

Pinkie Pie came up for breath from her long draft of latte to add; "Good, nopony likes a sore-loser-meanie-pants" before diving her face back into her liquid sugar coma.

"Trixie also won her duel" Twilight added as she wondered how Pinkie hadn't burned her face off yet.

"Oh, of course she did." Rainbow exaggerated. "Why wouldn't the Great and Powerful Trixie win her round."

"Why don't you ask her, Dashie?" suggested the whipped-cream covered Pinkie.

"Wh—"

"Hello, Twilight" said Trixie.

Rainbow stared at the light blue unicorn as if she was a changeling that had suddenly materialized in front oh her.

"Hi, Trixie!" greeted Pinkie, cheerfulness glazed over her tone like warm icing.

Trixie ignored her. "That was a clever spell that you pulled off on Lyra."

Rainbow feinted choking on her coffee. "Did you just compliment something that wasn't your own flashy a—"

"Rainbow!" exclaimed Twilight.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. According to her friends, she had developed a swearing problem. After she had taught Scootaloo a plethora of 'new words', they had insisted that she stop swearing. What's the fun in anger if you can't use potent words to describe it?

"What does 'pull off' mean?" inquired Twilight.

"Well, an improvised move like th—"

"It wasn't improvised, Trixie." Twilight forced out Trixie's name with the same disdain as she did with the Archmages'. "I created that spell in no less then an hour."

"Yeah, and she tested it on me" Rainbow remarked, slightly too proud of being a punching bag than she should be.

Trixie bit her lip. "Magic like that won't work on any anypony with any degree of intelligence, Twilight."

Twilight flared. "Are you saying that Lyra isn't intelligent?"

Trixie's expression failed to change. "Yes."

Rainbow Dash stood up. "Get the hay away from us, and keep away from Twilight, witch."

Trixie blinked at the angered pegasus, and walked off towards the counter.

"Well, she isn't very nice." Pinkie chirped.

.............................................................

"Spike! Get the hay off of that game! Dinner!" yelled Twilight.

"But we're at the Shoggath fi—"

"Now!"

Spike mumbled excuses into his microphone, and hopped down into their kitchen.

"I honestly don't know why I let you keep that game" Twilight sighed.

"Because it was a present from Princess Luna?" Spike suggested.

"Yeah, a present that was your fault in the first place."

"How can a present be somepony's fault?"

Twilight rolled her eyes at his innocence. "Celestia wanted you to introduce Luna to some more modern things, to make up for all the time she lost on the moon" She began. "You decided that video games would be a good thing to show her, and you got her hooked on them. Now she gets you a new one to play with every month."

Spike batted his eyelashes. "It's not my fault that Luna is so generous."

Twilight sighed, again. "Just eat your quartz, and feel lucky that I didn't make you a daisy sandwich and salad for dinner."

Spike made an 'ew' face, and dug into his translucent chunks of draconic delicacy.

Shaking her head, Twilight took a bite of her own dinner.

"When ishur next dueleen clashe?" Spike asked through a mouthful of gems.

"No talking with your mouthful, Puff." Twilight said crossly.

Spike blushed at her pet name, but swallowed. "When is it?"

"In two days. I have tomorrow to practice, and I have no idea who I will be paired up with. I'm guessing it's going to be Trixie, knowing the Archemage."

"Is Trixie any good?" Spike was examining his next morsel with the face of a connoisseur, before downing it like a hungry wolf.

"Yeah, and she's friends with the Archemage." Twilight's appetite faded at that thought.

"Of course she is. She's the bad guy, so she's friends with other bad guys." Spike reasoned.

Twilight lovingly thumped Spike. "You're a useless chunk of hungry scales."

"Are they pretty scales?"

At that, Twilight laughed.

.............................................................

"Again!" yelled Rainbow Dash.

"Rainbow..." panted Twilight. "Can I take a break?"

"Hay no. You need to be in shape if you want to win your duel tomorrow."

"But it's... a... magical.... tournament." Twilight had already ran two whole laps around Ponyville, and felt like she was going to melt.

"So? If you're more fit, you weigh less, and will be able to float easier." reasoned Rainbow.

"That isn't how magic, or exercise for that matter, work, Rainbow." panted Twilight.

Rainbow made a "Pfff" gesture, and poked Twilight's flank. "You're made of gelatin. Lavender gelatin."

"Thanks, Rainbow. I thought you wanted to help me train?"

"I do. My kind of training." She smiled smugly.

"But I don't need your kind of training" Twilight whined.

"I know" Rainbow admitted.

Twilight stared at her blue friend. "What?"

"You don't actually need to be fit at all."

"Then why in the name of Celestia did you make me run circles around Ponyville for an hour?" Twilight fumed.

"Because now you're going to try and hit me." Before Twilight could register what had been said, Rainbow had launched herself out and over lake hardtack.

"Come n' get me, Gelatin Flank!" screeched Rainbow.

Twilight narrowed her eyes at Rainbow. "Oh, you're trying to put me into difficult situations" she thought. "Yeah, won't work on me, 'Dashie'."

She focused on where Rainbow was flying, and tried to figure out a pattern to her motion. There probably was one, but she was way too tired to find it.

"Damn you, Rainbow Dash." Twilight muttered. "Making me tire out to the point of nearly fainting. Forcing me to hypocritically swear... you're gonna get it."

Twilight tried to focus in on the speeding pegasus, but she just couldn't bring up the energy.

"Alright, brute force it is" She thought savagely. Twilight blasted a wall of course wind at a location several feet in front of Rainbow Dash, hoping to hit her.

She zipped right past it.

Trying again, Twilight aimed slightly farther than she had originally.

Again, she zipped passed the wall of air.

Twilight growled. "Stay still!"

She threw a third gust of wind, and it was perfect. Rainbow was going to fly right into it's path...

And she dove right under it, without even thinking.

"Damn!" Twilight yelled.

"Stop using brute force, you're better than that" whispered a voice.

Twilight yelped at the sudden noised. Who the hay was that?

"It doesn't matter who I am, Twilight, but I'm helping you.

"Why?" Twilight thought upon realization that the voice was in her head.

The voice ignored her. "stop trying to hit her. Use the weakness she gave you to your own advantage.

"How?"

If mentally sighing was possible, the voice did it. "There is a method of mind magic called Blight Sharing. It sounds evil, but it is completely legal"

Twilight blinked.

"It's why most unicorns, while they probably can take you down with lasers and whatnot, try not to" the voice explained. "It makes your target feel the pain that the caster is experiencing. So if you are tired..."

"Then I can make Rainbow tired" Twilight was mentally beaming at the voice.

"Yes, try to isolate your exhaustion into one point of your body—your horn is a good choice, and afflict them with it."

Twilight nodded, as if the voice could see her. "Isolate the exhaustion..."she muttered. Closing her eyes, she focused in on the lactic acid buildup that the running had caused in her legs. She felt each energy drained ounce of her quiver with it's own individual loathing of her target; Rainbow Dash.

She channeled the pain into her horn, not feeling it melt away from her, but sort of feeling it be lifted into the horn, like when you hurt your leg and rest it on another one; it still hurts, just not as much as when pressure is put on it.

When the buildup of exhaustion was at its peak, she scanned the sky for Rainbow Dash.

"Hello, little pegasus" Twilight murmured, excitement boiling over in her mind. "Getting tired, are we?"

She released the spell, throwing her pain right at the pony who had caused it.

Immediately, there was an effect. Rainbow's speed was nearly halved, making her much easier to hit.

"Gotcha'" Twilight whispered, mimicking Celestia's favorite phrase.

Twilight released her fourth and final gust of wind at Rainbow. The tired little pegasus had no chance, and was thrown into the icy cold waters of Lake Hardtack.

She removed the spell immediately, hoping to stop her from... well... drowning.

A few seconds later, Rainbow popped up out of the water.

"How... did... you..." She stammered.

"I gave you a taste of your own medicine." Twilight chirped proudly, raising her chin into the air mockingly.

Rainbow clucked her tongue. "You're flank is still gelatin..." She grumbled angrily.

Twilight giggled.

.............................................................

"Amethyst Star and Royal Ribbon" the Archemage called out. "Lemon Hearts and Diamond Mint."

The Archemage had thrown something new at the duelists; tag team duels.

"Allie Way and Comet Tail" he continued. "Trixie and Graphite."

"Oh, so you didn't pair me with Trixie." Twilight thought, slightly surprised. "What the hay are you planning, Archemage?"

The Archemage passed by Twilight without as much as a glance. "Twilight Sparkle and Quartzite" he said plainly.

"Quartzite?" she thought. "I'm being paired up with Spike's dinner?"

The Archemage rattled off a few more names that Twilight didn't recognize, and then walked off.

"'Scuse me" a gravelly voice spoke. "Are you Twilight?"

Twilight turned around to be greeted by a stark grey, well built stallion. He was older than most other ponies in the dueling club, but there was a spark of young mischief in his eyes.

"Yes, I am. Are you Quarzite?"

He grunted. "So, I came here to duel against powerful Mages from all 'cross Equestria, and I get paired up with a purple teenager?"

Twilight bristled. "Quite a rude awakening, isn't it?"

He blinked. "What?"

"It's an idiom."

He blinked again. "Did you just call me an idiot?"

Twilight sighed. "Nevermind."

Quartzite's natural color was an almost beautiful stark grey, but there were rusty brown spots nearly covering his lovely coloring.

"Did you fall into a muddy hole or something?" Twilight asked.

"Hm?"

"Your coat, it's covered in mud. Did you fall?"

The muddy stallion chuckled. "Just you worry 'bout yourself, child, I assure you I'm perfectly fine." His voice had a southern twang to it, but his gravelly tone and manner of speaking refined it into what a wise old grandfather should sound like.

"You two shall be dueling Solar Wind and Colgate" the Archemage said quickly, not even glancing at them for more than a moment.

"You haven't forgotten me, Archemage. I know you're planning something" Twilight thought. "I just don't know what it is yet.

"What kind of magic do you think they use?" Quartzite whispered.

"What?"

He rolled his eyes. "Solar Wind n' the one with toothpaste for a mane. What do you think they cast?"

Twilight had never really considered strategizing like this. "Um. I know Colgate has worked with that new pony in town on some magic. Nopony knows his real name, so we just call him Timeturner."

Quartzite's expression was solid. "So she does time magic?"

Shrugging, she replied "I really am not sure, and I've never even seen Solar Wind before.

He grunted affirmatively. "Time magic is tricky, but considering the limit on these duels, she won' be able to do much."

"What type of magic do you do?"

He grinned. "Earth magic. The mud on my coat you saw? Ammo."

Twilight beamed. "That's brilliant." Quartzite was completely caked in the rusty brown mud. Considering his size, he probably had a decent amount of ammo.

"An' you?" he asked.

"Oh. Erm. I don't really have a specialty... I guess I like wind and water magic. Oh, plus a little bit of energy manipulation.

Quartzite nodded. "Your spells are faster than mine, but my magic can hit a bit harder. I've got enough earth on me t' encase Colgate in solid rock."

"Really?" Twilight asked skeptically.

"Yup. It's all dried clay that I packed super tightly, so once I add water, I can make a little spread over a large surface." he glanced at the other pair. "Got any signature moved of your own?"

Twilight thought for a moment. "I did invent a way to control huge amounts of water. Other than that, most of my stuff is... textbook." Twilight blushed a bit at herself.

Quartzite smiled. "We'll be fine, don't w—"

"All pairs, report to your sections of the lake" barked the Archemage.

Quartzite's ancient face lit up at the Archemages words. "A purple teenager and an old fart? Victory is ours."