Author's Note

So this was the chapter that was supposed to come out for January. February's chapter is about halfway done. My GF has been making snuggle appointments so nothing could be done *shrug*.

Farming material in Equestria is easy?

Twilight can only marvel at the sight before her. She had nearly forgotten how abundant the caves beneath Canterhorn had been. And to think, the ponies had nearly only scratched the surface of what all there is to be down here. They have found all sorts of different magically charged gems and ancient crystals, but none could compare to this recently found bounty of magically infused krustallos. She may not be a Crystallographer, but even an Earth Pony could tell that the energy being emitted from this mine is unlike any other.

Twilight, with a fiendish grin upon her lips, turns to her mining mates and announces that they have hit the jackpot. It has been several weeks since the joint mining operation began and the last raid by the Gryphs. The runners had all managed to come back with loads of Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies from various different locations. The majority of them decided to stake their claim in making various items, crafting tools, or joining up with the war efforts. Others have decided to become miners, farmers, and scholars. One would have thought Twilight would have locked herself away with books plenty due to her natural affinity towards learning. But instead, she has found herself unnaturally drawn to things outside of her base knowledge.

To feel everything first hoof seems almost... correct to her.

This has shown itself to be the case when she first discovered how much she actually liked cooking her own meals. Sure she did here and there later on in life when Spike was more out of the picture and when her body was on four legs, not two, but she hadn't really enjoyed herself and mainly had used magic to do so. Cooking by hand has been quite a different experience altogether. While not as dexterous as she would like to be, she's managed to make use of everything she can.

From flipping pancakes, squeezing oranges, and handpicking garnishes that are rare in between, she hadn't relied on magic as much as she had in her past life. Perhaps it was for the better. After all, all of ponykin is trying to move past that part of their lives. where magic ruled everything and science was for those that needed a hobby that didn't include going outside. After all, what was the need for science if you have magic?

The foalish nobles and the simple-minded. She once wished she could go back in time to rub it in their faces, but remembered that messing with time can have some very... disastrous result. And she would rather avoid that if at all possible.

And then she soon discovered exercising and stretches. The sound of popping joints and the feel of strain within her hardly used muscles became increasingly enjoyable as the days went by. She decided to take practice with the guards on their early morning runs. After which, she would join others in makeshift gyms to work on her lifts and "gains" as one pony had put it. She certainly wouldn't consider herself a muscle head, because the greatest muscle is the mind, but she never really knew being fit was so much fun.

That using her hands and making use of her body would actually be an enjoyable experience.

Thus when it was announced that a new mining team was being put together, she decided she would be fully on board. She went through a course, read a few books, got her gear, and went to work every day outside of running, lifting, and planning. At one point, she had forgotten that life had changed so much for all of them.

Despite all of this, she didn't think she would take to mining so well, but something about the body seems well suited for it. An easier grip than magic. The ability to strain muscles again stone. She hadn't noticed, but the body has become more and more muscled as the days went by. Pudge that had been her belly has shrunk and disappeared only to be replaced with a solid smooth surface. It squishes a bit here and there, but she has certainly gotten stronger through all of her efforts.

Unlike her previous life, she had decided she will be well equipped in both body and mind.

Speaking of mind, it has been eerily silent. The presence of both entities within her has been oddly distant. She's been trying various different ways to contact the spirits within her but has born little fruit. Celestia she is fine from not hearing from, but the other. She knows Celestia would never help her through the scape that is her mind but would she try to hinder her is a question all on its own.

Despite the joy she should be feeling at finding a new source of gems for pony kind, she can't help but think of so much which takes place in their world now. From her current possession of a body not her own to the helping of the war effort, and to her own unbridled rage towards those that deserve it. She had never been one to give in too quickly to her emotions, but it could be an influence on the bond the three share. The connection is obviously still unstable...

Perhaps there was something within the spell they used to-

"Ahh!"

A sudden scream breaks Twilight free from her own darkening thoughts. One of the crystals has moved and lashed out against some of the nearby ponies. It seems that some of the gems refuse to be used by others. Understandable, but problematic.

Twilight pushes herself through the fleeing crowd of ponies while giving the pickaxe, custom made with the help of Iron Forge, a few test swings. She's never gotten the chance to use it on any creatures before. But now seems like the best time to test its durability against more sturdy opponents.

"Hey ugly!" She yells while yanking free some of the smaller gems and tossing them at it with magic, "Over here! I wanna use your face as mining practice."

That's.... not what she was going for. It seems that Celestia's rash emotions are still affecting her. Perhaps more than just meditation needs to take place. Either that or a sit-down...

No. she definitely needs force to make her do anything now.

The beast rises fully from the ground revealing its more disproportionate shape. It resembles that of a bear but made of point multicolored gems. The right side of the bear seems to be larger than the other yet the paws on each leg seem to be built for crushing instead of slashing. The bear quickly takes notice of Twilight and roars.

Seeing it roar and lash out makes her wonder how these constructs actually work. From timberwolves to the lesser know Firblings. They're animated or construction anomalies that seem to be able to do things that organics can do. From eating, sleeping, and even using a voice. It's very strange and leaves a lot to be desired in the idea of fighting various different creatures. If they could be tamed and used against the enemy effectively, how much of a fighting force could they have?

The bear bull rushes towards her. Twilight allows her magic to flow into the pick while calmly walking in its direction. She once read somewhere that this was how bounded weapons were formed. Celestia's halberd and rapier, Luna's great-ax and maul, and Cadence's longbow. Twilight never thought of taking up a weapon due to her friends being the most powerful weapons in all of Equis.

Perhaps there was a way to bound them to her? Now that's something to look into. A way to teleport all of her friends to her as the simple flick of the wrist. To bring the elements together at any moment's notice. A smile cracks upon her face as the point of the pick cracks against the gem created skin of the bear's side.

"Oh! Sorry! I had forgotten all about you for a moment!"

Her body had reacted on its own. Or perhaps...

"Celestia?"

No response and the Bear turns around to lash out to try and crush her beneath its paws. Twilight, agile and slim, weaves between its attack and body before slamming the point into the stomach breaking through the gem and into whatever makes its inside. It howls in pain while rising up on hind legs. She rips free the weapon before swinging it into the right hind leg of the best. Instead of ripping it free, she yanks it towards her causing the best to lose balance and fall to its back.

It attempts to roll back to cover its belly but finds itself pinned and a glowing hand pointed in its direction. The spilling liquid from the beast's belly seems to glow the same color of magic as Twilight's.

"Interesting. So all of that magic has to reside somewhere huh? I guess that makes it that much easier to control you. Yet, it isn't the case with the Timberwolves. Or perhaps we're using the wrong magic for the Timberwolves."

A solid crack followed by the shattering of the injured hindlegs causing even more magic to flow free from the inside of the beast. It would attempt to scream and scamper away but finds itself completely stuck and unable to do anything. It whimpers for mercy.

"Oh shush now. I'm experimenting. Now, just hoooold still for me~"

Crack. Crack. Crack. Crack.

Crack...