And I thought we were normal. How wrong I was.

   A few weeks after Berry's abrupt departure an article about the alleged killing of two high ranking griffon officials by a high sun priest appeared in the paper and caused a little bit of a stir amongst the townsponies, but it was soon forgotten since it didn't affect them much, quite unlike the news of my robbery which lasted two weeks before dying off along with the investigation.

   After letting the assassination news wore off I decide to make a trip to the library to see if Twilight knows anything about magic training besides my idea to simply cast multiple spells at once until all of my energy runs out.

   I walk through the doorway and take a deep whiff of the ash-ridden air, causing me to cough heavily, but I enjoy it nonetheless. I cross the room to where the lavender mare stands at her podium reading a small tome.

"Good morning Twilight." I greet her, causing her to look up from her book to me.

"I wasn't expecting to see you today Sonata. What brings you here?"

"I've been trying to increase my ring level lately, but my way of training doesn't seem to be very efficient. I was wondering if you knew some kind of method to train magical energy." I explain to her and she nods.

"Alright; what's been your method thus far?"

"Cast a bunch of spells at once and hold them until I run out of energy; repeat." I tell her with obvious shame.

"Well, I guess that's one way, but let's try something less... barbaric." She laughs a little before taking out a metal instrument, closely resembling a large ruler with a small needle on one end, "you may feel a little tingle."

   Without warning, she reaches with the tool and pricks the tip of my horn and I gasp at the stinging sensation. It feels as though someone shot a taser into the inside of my skull and like the tip of my horn is being incinerated. Moments later, I collapse onto the floor, freeing me from the accursed needle and causing a cloud of ash to rise from the floor. I feel violated and by a librarian no less.

"You said a 'little tingle'." I mutter before rising from the wood floor.

"If I told you how bad it hurts you wouldn't have let me do it." She says with a smile before inspecting her ruler.

"What is that thing anyways?" I rub my horn which still aches and burns from that accursed tool.

"You could call it a magic thermometer. The end of the device causes the passive amount if magic in your horn to be converted into heat and channels that heat into the thermometer. Depending on how hot it gets, we can determine how much magical energy is in your inactive horn and based on that, how close or how far away you are from a fourth ring." She explains to me with an unfaltering smile.

"Isn't that a little barbaric?" I regain my now passive smirk.

"It's a low budget library, or rather I allocate most of our money into other projects."

"I guess so." I mutter while trying to think of ways to destroy the archaic tool. Boil it down and feed it to an owl, crush it into a fine powder and spread it over an ocean, eat it and gain its power.

"Well according to this, you're not too far from another ring, but at the rate your training works it'll be another half a year before you get there."

"Well that won't work for me Twilight. You're a smart unicorn; you must have a method." I plead a little.

"Yeah there's a different way that will work." She grins a little and puts the torture device away.

"Which would be?" I ask and I swear I can see a maniacal glint in her purple eyes.

"Follow me." She gesture to her left before walking away from her pedestal and I follow as directed. Cryptic mare...

   We reach the back corner of the room and she opens up a door to a downwards stairwell and I follow her down into the dark abyss.

"Where exactly are we going?" I ask as she illuminates the passage with a purple light from her horn.

"You'll see." I groan in response.

   Deciding not to pester her further, we make it to the bottom of the stairwell. The librarian turns a light switch and a few bulbs illuminate the small pure white room.

"I'll bite; what is this?"

"This is my magical training room. The walls are made of a magically resistant substance so any spell that goes wrong won't cause any major destruction."

"I'm guessing this is one of the projects you were talking about?" I joke as I put a hand on the hard white walls.

"Maybe."

"That's a yes in my book."

"Then we're writing different books."

"Fair enough, but what's the alternative method you had in mind?" I break the flow of the dead end conversation.

"Free flow magical field manipulation, or FFMFM for short." She states simply and I sigh.

"Excuse me if I sound unintelligent, but what is that?"

"Oh yes, sorry about that. In basic terms it's breaking down the formations of magical seals into their most basic component and then combining such symbols randomly, or scientifically, into new seals with unknown or predicted effects." She explains and I nod to her.

"So that's why this room as to be magic proof; in case you screw up and it explodes or something."

"Exactly; most ponies don't actually use FFMFM though. They either can't get their heads around it or they're just incapable or they just don't understand it. It's something you'll find college magical manipulation majors doing usually, but if you have the aptitude you can start using it before then. However, it has been proven to cause a larger strain on magical reserves, more particularly it bypasses the sole use of magic needing to be transferred directly into your horn from your body." She begins to explain with her tone becomes more intense.

"What do you mean it bypasses it?"

"What you have to understand is that within the very air magic is laced among the particles." she starts up and as the air around her body begins to tint to a light purple colour and separates into small purple threads. "In basic magical use, your body will absorb some of this magic naturally and transfer it into your horn until it reaches its maximum capacity. However, in FFMFM you basically turn your horn into a large magical magnet; essentially forcing your horn to overcharge its capacity and to adapt to that amount." She continues and the collections of threads suddenly rocket up and into her horn and she stifles a small scream. "It also hurts a bit." I'd be a liar if I said that her little squeal wasn't cute.

"Ok, but what are the individual parts of seals, or do I have to figure those out as well?" I ask after she recovers a little.

"I've got a book with the basic structures detailed in it, but it's doesn't have everything since it's only the first book in the series it doesn't have too much." She tells me and in a poof of purple smoke a book appears in her hand.

"Well then, I guess I'll get started."

"Ok, first you need to figure it how to deliberately focus the magic in the air." She says, setting the book down on the floor.

"And how do I do that?"

"You obviously know that you form a square for simple constructs, correct?" She questions and I nod, "it's sort of similar to that, but, rather than a square, you need to try and focus it into a solid line in the air without using a seal. Think of it like a light spell, but instead of condensing what is in your body into your horn; you need to try and take what's in the air directly into your horn." She tries to explain and I sigh. Here goes nothing I guess.

   Taking a deep breath, I begin to start focusing as I regularly do with magic, but instead I just try to channel it into the air in front of me. After a few minutes of continuous effort I finally begin to see some results. A small bit of the air begins to glow a reddish-blue mix and I continue to try and condense it like I would a magic construct.

   Finally, after about ten minutes, I succeed in creating two small strands of magic in my respective colours. While it's not impressive compared to how Twilight created hers in mere seconds, to succeed at all on my first try excites me.

"Ok; now try and think about focusing it into your horn." She coaches and I follow the instructions.

   Thankfully the second part passes much easier and it only takes a second for the strands to shoot up into my horn and I stifle a yell of agony from the pain of the process, not unlike that of Twilight's meter, but a little less intense.

"Good, good. For your first time it didn't take very long relatively. You just need to keep at it until it starts to become a little second nature to you."

"Well then, I better get started."

~\o/~

   At this point I'd like to mention that I have an explanation of FFMFM symbols and  major seals that were derived over this time skip which is right under this, but I didn't want to have a wall of text to describe in the chapter since it felt like it was breaking up the flow and I think it'll be fun to guess at what they will do. Sorry if that's an inconvenience. (The outermost squares on the three constructed seals are just borders, not parts of the actual symbols.)

~\o/~

   After a good few months of alternating days between training with Mac, creating a few spells with Twilight and racing with Uefi, I finally walk through town sporting a muscular, but not as overly muscular as Mac's, body and a four ring horn with my head held high and pony tail bobbing slightly behind my head, even as news of the griffon king comes through my ears as the town gossips of the event. Uefi walks at my side with a now large wingspan than before due to the training he got from Thunderback.

   Mac had told me at the last session to bring Uefi with me so we could discuss the favor I owe him, but he remained elusive as to what exactly the favor implied, but as I walk through town I can feel the gaze of more than I few ponies on us and I decide to pick up the pace a little to speed past the crowds to the ranch.

"I still can't believe you're wearing your hair like that." Uefi manages to say through a snicker.

"My manes long enough to pull it off and it doesn't look back with my hair swept back." I defend my pun of a hairstyle.

"Or you could just get a haircut like I did. It wouldn't kill you and the stylist was fairly cute so that's a plus." He suggests and I groan in response.

"I like my mane long and that's that." I end the conversation as we start up the path to the farm house.

"Fine, hippie." He says before pulling out a marijuana cigarette and lighting it.

"And yet you're the one smoking pot." I challenge him, not being too surprised to have seen him taking up his old habit of smoking one a day everyday composed of half and half tobacco and pot.

"You've gotta sample what you grow before you sell it man." He exhales the narcotic smoke in multiple rings. "But what did Mac want us for anyway?"

"I don't know. He just said that he needed to talk with us,"

"I guess there's only one way to find out then." He finishes his smoke and drops it on the ground, crushing it underfoot, as we walk towards the barn.

"About time you two got here." I hear Thunderback call as we enter the barn and shortly after he emerges from the shadows to our left.

"I wasn't aware there was a set time." I joke with the black pegasus.

"Whatever, just come on. Mac is waiting in the 'war-room'." He gestures behind himself.

"War-room?" Uefi vocalizes my very thoughts.

"It doesn't quite fit that name most of the time, but for now it does." He says before moving some of the hay away from the floor, revealing a locked metal grate. "You don't tell anypony about this and what we talk about in here; understood?" He commands before pulling out a key and we both nod, "Good; then welcome to the war-room.

   After unlocking the grate, he opens the hole up and hops down past the ladder and I follow suit. At the bottom on the small shaft I see Mac standing at the far wall of the rather well-lit and large concrete room with a glass-top table in front of him and Thunderback at the right side of the table with a few couches, tables and shelves strewn about the room.

"Nice war-room." I say before taking a position across from Mac, making room for Uefi's entry.

"Thank you." They say simultaneously as our remaining friend takes the left side of the table, which I now see has a list of names with a few circled, each having a number next to each name.

"So why are we here Mac?" I ask him, wanting to get to the point.

"As you should all know tomorrow begins the battle we wage each spring for seven days." He begins but I cut him off.

"What battle?"

"That, my friend, is the battle ever stallion dreads, the battle of hormones and mares, the battle... of the estrus." He answers in an almost sagely manner and Uefi barley stifles his laugh, thankfully both of us read up on some pony anatomy in our time here so we won't sound like idiots asking what it is.

"Oh, but that shouldn't be a problem right?" I say simply. I mean; wouldn't they just lock themselves up or something.

"Wrong. Ponyville holds the same tradition its always had; a contest." Thunderback chimes in.

"A contest?" Uefi manages to say and the other two nod.

"You could call it a survival game. Since the princesses have every town set to its own estrus timing, the town has a weeklong event with ponies separated into age and ranking. Based on their capabilities mares are given a rank and a certain amount of points up to eight. Stallions are ranked and given points up to twelve based on body condition, magical energy and estimated *ahem* 'size'. Mares can either work alone or in teams, but here's how it works. Each mare is given a tag with their team name and point worth on it. Tonight they're going to tag us in our sleep to 'claim' us, barring any mare outside their team from hunting us. Stallions are also able to team up; meaning that the team has to be claimed by another team, but a stallion team cannot by split between two teams. We're along not allowed to withdraw from the competition unless we're married." Mac begins before Thunderback takes the reigns.

"Then at eight in the morning were gathered and registered by our teams to the groups of mares. At eight thirty we start off; stallions get a thirty minute head start but for the rest of the seven days it's just a war against what will literally and most definitely be painful and torturous 'fun'."

"Ok, but how hard could it be? After all, if we make good use of our head start they shouldn't be able to keep up with us; let alone track us." I reason with him.

"Wrong again; when the mating hormones kick in their speed and magical energy at least doubles from the constant adrenaline and their actually able to lock onto the smell of us, unicorns specifically because they can actually see the trail of magic your bodies emit. It's a cutthroat competition of cat and mouse; so it's better to work in a team of those on a similar level. That's why ah' gathered you here." Mac explains to me and I can feel my heart sink. "Last year ah' tried to go alone and barely avoided gettin' caught by two mares. With a team you've got somepony ta' watch your back."

"But what about those that lose; I mean what about pregnancy?" Uefi asks and his eyes betray his uneasiness.

"A temporary infertility spell is placed on us for the competition if we choose. We're mostly outrunning a merciless ride and a very awkward social situation."

"Thank goddesses." Uefi mutters under his breath.

"So you want to make a team with us to boost your chances." I say to get an affirmation.

"Yeah, you need to have a team on the same rank as you so you three are my only options." Mac explains.

"So what's our rank anyways?" Uefi shakes his head at the ideas being circulated.

"That's the problem. We're the stallions top tier in our age grouping, rank twelve." Mac grimaces.

"Crap." Uefi and I say at the same time and with the same degree of excitement, none at all.

"Yeah; we get the worst of it all, and there's only one team that's on our level."

"And who are they?"

"Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and mah sister; team harmony."

"Isn't it a little weird having your sister come after you?" Thunderback says, easing an eyebrow.

"She's already said she only after you three, her team just needs her points to be able to claim all of us."

"Anypony else think we're doomed?" I voice my opinion, having witnessed Twilights magic first hand and knowing full well it's nothing to scoff at.

"Don't talk like that; if we watch each other's backs we should be fine. Besides we're criminals, avoiding pursuers should be second nature." Thunderback assures me and I laugh a little.

"True; quite true."

"Another thing is the damn cameras. Since we're the only modern town to still keep this up there's always a t.v. show on it. This year they plan on documenting the game live between the top tier teams in each group; that meaning us. Sadly we only get a hundred bits of compensation as a base amount. If we do well, and trust me we will, we could get more; so just expect them to wire a mini-camera to your head or something for POV shots." Thunderback says and Uefi laughs.

"So not only are we going to have to run for seven days, we're going to have our experience live streamed to the world."

"And ya' wouldn't believe the ratings it gets." Mac chimes in.

"I'm starting to think we shouldn't have moved here Uefi." I joke.

"Not much we can do about it though."

"I'm glad you understand; then one more thing before we're adjourned." Mac says before pulling out a small piece of paper. "Sonata this is yours. It's a magical seal that will absorb your magical energy and repress your trail for half a day that the company hosting the show supplied. You can make it leak the same trail slowly by ripping it a little to throw them off until you start leaking again. Rip a whole piece off and it will simulate your presence within as if you were there. Tear it all up and it'll be like a flash grenade and momentarily disable magic in its field. Each unicorn gets just two so use them wisely." He explains as I take them and look at the insanely intricate seal formations.

"Thanks." I say before sticking the papers in my pocket.

"Alright then; we're adjourned. Bring your work clothes and meet me in the morning in the center of town." Mac says and we all nod, knowing full well what this next weak might hold.