Canterlot's Hydra

Back in the sewers around noon, I cracked open 'Magic and You: A Beginner's Guide.' and started to read aloud.

"Hello young reader, if you're reading this, it means you're taking your first steps into understanding your magic,"

It figures I'd pick a book for children, but I am starting at ground zero. I figure I could use the hand holding.

"In this book, you'll discover the basics of magic for Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies. Starting with..."

The page lets off into the first chapter.

"Chapter 1: Your Mana Pool

Every pony has a mana pool, sat between their heart and stomach. Earth Ponies transfer their mana into their hooves unconsciously, whenever or where ever they need an extra burst of strength. Pegasi likewise transfer their mana into their wings unconsciously, this is what allows your friends to fly, walk on clouds, or even manipulate the weather. Unicorns transfer their mana into their horns, this is however, not an unconscious thing. A unicorn must call their magic themselves."

Makes sense, nothing that wasn't sort of covered in the show. I decide to skip a few chapters that covered earth pony and pegasi magic, so I could get to the chapter on unicorns.

"Feel your mana pool in your chest, and visualize a small basin of still water. Imagine dipping a hoof into it, and pulling out the water."

I did as the book said, and began to feel a strange sensation... but not an unpleasant one. I felt warmth spread up from my chest. I kept reading

"You should be feeling a warm and comforting feeling around your heart at this point. Don't fight it, imagine the magic traveling higher, towards your neck."

I did as the book suggested and soon felt the warmth spread into my neck, without a second thought, I began to pull it higher into my head, and my horn. Once the mana inside made a connection with my horn, I began to imagine my horn was a sponge. It sucked up a decent amount of magic from within, and soon my horn began to glow a bright gold. The same twinkling sound from the show filled my ears. I skipped over the next few pages.

"Now that you know how to transfer your mana into your horn, let's begin with some basic exercises. I want you to find something light and small in your home. It could be a quill, a piece of parchment, or even your pillow if you feel exceptionally daring."

I had a rock... oh, and this book... and sewer water. I'll settle for using the rock.

"With your item nearby, I want you to focus on picking it up, not with your hooves, but with your magic. For this next part, I want you to close your eyes and visualize a hoof coming out of your horn and picking up your item."

I sat the book down on the concrete and turned to my rock.

"Pick you up, with my horn. Sounds... easy enough." I said to myself before closing my eyes.

I visualized a golden hand elegantly flowing out of my horn and approaching the rock. It's golden, smoky fingers gripped around the rock and I could feel it pulling my magic down. The rock was heavy, the golden hand could barely lift it, and I began to struggle against it.

Sweating began as I would breathe heavier while trying to lift the rock. Exhaustion would take me, and I'd have to stop for a second as I tried to catch my breath. Due to my inexperience, lifting a rock felt like a herculean task.

The fingers wrapped around the rock multiple times, wrapping it like a Christmas present, and putting more magic behind it. The rock would lift slightly off the ground for a few seconds, then fall right back down. After each lift, I'd have to stop just to catch my breath again.

Struggle, lift, breath, struggle, lift, breath. For a second, I thought about checking the book to see if it had anything that could help me, but decided against it. Instead, I kept going. Struggle, lift, breath.

The rock would lift a little higher each time. A little further, a little less struggle.

Sunset came, and I was still going. 120th attempt, I began holding the rock for as long as I could before letting it drop.

180th attempt, and I began moving the rock around, dropping it into imaginary squares on the concrete sewer flooring.

240th attempt, I was twirling the rock around me and the number of imaginary squares increased drastically.

Come morning, I was skipping the rock in between my imaginary squares, the noise of the rock hitting concrete, water, and brick became the norm.

I was still practicing when I could hear the sound of armor clanking about enter the sewers. I began to sing.

Tangled in sheets, the void feels right. Seeped in darkness, faceless shapes of the night

Soon, the area I've been living in since I arrived had it's first visitors. A mare and stallion duo, dressed in golden armor.

"I forgot, what are we supposed to be looking for?" The stallion asked.

The mare looked deep in thought for a second, "Princess Celestia just wants every guard on the lookout."

"No, I get that. But what are we on the lookout for?" The Stallion added, innocently.

"I'm... Well, anything that looks... suspicious, of course." The mare assured, seemingly having forgotten what she was looking for.

The mare doesn't remember what they were searchi.. oh no.

I continued singing as I grabbed my book and rock, and sped my way out of the sewers, there were guards everywhere!

Guards were inside the access tunnel, more guards patrolling the walls, more guards in the sky. A lot of them seemed confused.

Day had returned at this point, and the streets were crawling with both guardmares and guardstallions. Shining Armor could be seen doing patrols with five mares tailing him.

Were all of these guards looking for me? It's morning, and it's too early in the show for something crazy to have happened. Discord should still be in stone... oh no, did I accidentally release him, did I add too much chaos by not being seen?

I steadied my singing to calm my nerves and continued on down the path in the rich people district, where my fears were confirmed. There were flyers posted on billboards and walls.

'Have you seen this stallion?' Written in bold letters on the page, underneath a pretty spot on drawing of myself.

They were looking for me.

"And why have the guards put up all these pieces of paper all over the place?" I could hear a fancy voice say, looking over revealed the voice belonged to Fancy Pants.

"I'm not sure what the Princess was thinking, honestly." Said Fleur de Lis, who was walking beside him.

"Have you seen this stallion? What stallion? They didn't even include his picture."

It was then that I decided to stop singing. I had been discovered somewhat, there was no point in hiding anymore. They don't know what they're searching for, but they know they're searching for something.

I was spotted immediately with a cacophony of gasps and 'Sweet Celestia's

Guards descended from the sky, and others bolted towards me and soon I was surrounded.

If they try anything, I can always just start singing again, and slip away.

"H-hi?" I offered the crowd.