The library balcony was still being repaired, so instead of going up there to study, I went to the park. It wasn't as peaceful as the balcony but it was at least something. Unfortunately, Pinkie was here as well.

"She was like a stunt superstar!" Exclaimed Pinkie. "Flying higher and higher, and then Rainbow Dash swooped down, swoosh! And right before she hit the ground, shoom! She pulled up!" It was getting hard to write notes with her talking my ear off.

"Pinkie," I said bluntly, "I need to study. The Elements of Harmony were destroyed. If I don't up my game then the next time a super villain attac-"

"Rainbow Dash!" Yelled Pinkie, as she flew over us. Pinkie chased after her, finally leaving me alone to study.

I was studying a way to create stronger magic bolts. Normally, I could either create dozens of weak bolts that automatically fly towards targets, which I had used to shut Rainbitch up, or create one big bolt that would only go straight in the direction I fired it, like I had used when fighting Nightmare. I was researching on finding a good middleground; a bolt that was strong enough to do decent damage but still directed itself at a target I assign it. I figured I could also use the research to make smaller, denser fireballs as well. The one I'd hurled at Nightmare was great, but because of its size it was slow and easy for her to dodge.

After about half an hour of writing I had run out of parchment. I needed to go back to library and get more, so I stood up and stretched myself out. Being able to quickly get to materials was another reason that the balcony was a better place for studying than the park. I should learn a spell to repair stuff. Ponies would be less likely to distract me. Although it is Pinkie I'm thinking about. I know, right? Why am I answering myself? I don't know... I packed up my things into my saddlebags and teleported back to the library. I may as well finish the research here now that I'm back. Spike had just come downstairs.

"Hi, Cloud!" He greeted happily.

"Hey, Spike," I replied. We brohoofed as he walked up to me.

"Did you finish the book already? You're here sooner than I thought you would be."

"I ran out of parchment. I was gonna grab some and just finish the research here." Spike sighed.

"You as well? Twilight ran out of parchment just now, I was about to go and get some more."

"I'll come with you, I'm ahead of my schedule anyway." We left the library and started walking to a parchment store. "So what does Twilight need parchment for?"

"She's trying her hoof at potion making. She's only starting with something simple though. Something to cure common diseases or something like that."

"Hmm. I hadn't thought about potions. Could be useful if I get into a fight and need something to give me a good boost."

"Just don't ask Twilight for any. Chemistry has never been one of her strong points. Hey, what do you do for money anyway? I just realized you hadn't told me yet."

"Huh. I haven't have I? Well, I pretty much just do any random jobs I can find. For instance, when Pinkie is off somewhere being Pinkie, the Cakes need an extra pair of hooves to help them bake. Or if a house needs painting, I can just apply it directly with magic. Pretty much just anything I can get really."

"Cool. So how much more powerful are you from when you fought Nightmare Moon?"

"Well... That's hard to say. When I was fighting Nightmare I somehow tapped into ancient magic, I would have been destroyed if I didn't manage to. I can't use it now, unfortunately. It might be linked to my adrenalin since it only activated after I really got riled up. My other magic is stronger though, I can cast spells much more efficiently and also a lot faster. I can also do way more before getting tired now."

"I still can't believe you beat a Pony that even Princess Celestia couldn't beat without using the Elements of Harmony! It's insane!"

"Yeah. I just wish I could remember who I am and why I'm so skilled in the first place."

"The Princess herself is looking into it! She'll find something!"

"Well, hopefully. We'll find out at the gala."

We bought the scrolls we needed and headed outside again. Suddenly there was a loud bang from above us. Shit! We're under attack!

"Spike, get down!" I yelled as I fired three semi-powerful magic bolts towards where it had come from. I looked immediately up to see if they would meet their target, but what I saw wasn't what I expected. The creator of the noise was Rainbitch with a thundercloud. The first bolt she managed to avoid, the second went a bit to the right and hit the cloud, exploding and destroying it and the third bolt she'd managed to duck under, but not without it singing her mane.

"What the buck?!" She shouted at me. "We were only playing a harmless prank! Why'd you attack me, dweeb?!" I looked at Spike to see what had happened to him. He was taking cover inside the shop, but the parchment was lying in a puddle of mud. I grinded my teeth in anger.

"Wasting my time and money! So bucking harmless! Well guess what prankster?" I cast a spell on her and she fell to the ground, "Now you can't fly for twelve hours!" I gathered up the muddy parchment with telekinesis as Rainbitch demonstrated her knowledge of swear words. "Spike, I'll meet you back at the library." I teleported back to the library with the muddy parchment.

"Cloud?" I turned to see Twilight behind me. "Why do you have muddy parchment?" I sighed.

"Long story. If you need me I'll be trying to separate the mud with magic. See you later." I went upstairs to my room. Micro level levitation. This is gonna take hours...

Getting the mud out of the parchment had taken about five hours. I'd gone to bed immediately afterwards due to exhaustion and ended up sleeping in, putting me behind schedule. I went downstairs to make myself some toast, but as I got down there I saw Pinkie complaining to Twilight about something. I was too stressed and tired to care so I just carried on with making toast, but as I made my way back into the main room of the library I overheard some of what Pinkie was saying.

"...My attitude? But I... Do- Bu- It's Gilda that... Du- Are you seri-?!" She let out a frustrated cry before leaving.

"Do I even wanna know what that was about?" I asked as I munched on my toast. Twilight rolled her eyes.

"Pinkie's upset that Rainbow Dash is spending time with another friend and she's accusing that friend of being mean." She sighed before getting a more serious look on her face. "And speaking of being mean, why did you act the way you did towards Rainbow yesterday? Spike told me all about it." I glanced towards Spike, who was grinning sheepishly.

"Rainbitch was being an ass-hat so I cast a spell to block her Pegasus magic. It's worn off by now anyway, she'll be fine." I took another bite of my toast.

"Cloud, you and Rainbow need to-"

"Twilight, just stop. I will never stop hating Rainbitch, so don't bother saying anything like; 'ooh! You needs to be friends and stuff! I'm obsessed with brown bread!'" I finished the rest of my toast.

"I don't sound like that! And I'm not obsessed with brown bread, either!"

"Uh huh. Whatever you say, Twilight." I burped loudly and walked towards the door. "I'm going job hunting, see you later."

The main street was about as busy as it would get on a weekday. Well, unless there was an event of some kind. Then it would be busier. Wait... Is it even a weekday? I need to keep better track of time, it'll help me in the long run. I've never understood that metaphor. What run? Am I running from something? Is there a race? Or is i- My thoughts were cut off as I bumped into Fluttershy.

"Sorry, Fluttershy," I said. "I wasn't looking where I was going."

"Oh... That's okay, Cloud," She replied. "I was just taking these ducks and their children to a nicer pond for them to live in." I looked and saw two ducks and seven ducklings following Fluttershy as she lead them backwards.

"Okay. See you later." I say that a lot...

"Goodbye, Cloud." She continued walking backwards, leading the ducks. Why is she going through town? Why not go around? It would probably be safer. Because going around would take ages. Oh yeah... Suddenly, Fluttershy bumped into a Griffon behind her. Huh, you don't really see many Griffons in Ponyville. "Please excuse me-"

"I'm walkin' here!" The Griffon exclaimed angrily.

"Oh- Um- I'm sorry-" Apologized Fluttershy, backing away. "I-I was just trying to-"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" The Griffon mocked. "Why don't you just watch where you're going, doofus?" The ducks scattered as she marched closer towards Fluttershy.

"B-b-b-but I... I..." The Griffon brothe inward, probably about to roar. She never got to as she was busy recovering from the magic bolt that had hit her in the face.

"Who the buck did that?!" She yelled as I walked towards her.

"I did." I answered, my horn flaring up for my next attack.

"What the buck do you think you're doing?!"

"Cleaning some trash off of the streets. I've found a very filthy pile of trash that needs to be cleaned up." She started grinding her beak in anger.

"Say. That. Again."

"Okay; you are a piece of shit."

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't kill you right now!"

"The fact that you're so stupid that you need me to repeat myself all of the time?" She screamed out of anger.

"Come here, you bucking stick head!" She leapt towards me, slashing her talons. I shocked her with a lightning bolt from my horn strong enough to knock her down, then picked her up with telekinesis, flipped her upside down and floated her in front of me.

"Oh no!" I said in a mocking voice. "The scawy Gwiffon said a no-no word! She needs to sit in the naughty corner!" I threw her into a nearby vegetable stand, destroying it and covering her in different juices. She screamed again and flew towards me, talons outstretched. I teleported behind her, making her to smash into the wall behind me. She tried flying towards me again. This time I threw up a Force Barrier, sending her back into the wall. I stood over her. "Are you gonna buck off now, or am I gonna have to take this further?" She nodded slowly and flew away. "Bitch..." I muttered under my breath.

I walked over to the vegetable stand to pay the manager for the damage I'd caused. Nopony bucks with Fluttershy. Well she wasn't a Pony, she was- Shut up, me! I know what I mean!

I counted the bits I'd earned from today's job as I walked back to the library. Fifty bits was a pretty good haul, but paying for the vegetable stand had cost me twenty five, so in reality I hadn't earned much at all. I sighed. I really need to learn a repair spell. My life would be so much easier with one. I can learn one after I've finished researching more into magic bolts. They're the most convenient attack I know, improving them would help me an amazing amount. I monologue a worrying amount. I'm still not sure I'm even mentally stable.

"Hey!" Shouted the unmistakable voice of the cyan prat. I rolled my eyes and turned to see what she wanted to say. I-

"Ow!" She had punched me in the jaw. "What the buck?!"

"Don't mess with my friends, dweeb!"

"What the buck are you talking about, bitch?!"

"Gilda told me what you did to her! Attacking her in an alley for no good reason!"

"Oh, an alley?! Is that what she told you?!" I struck her with an uppercut, momentarily stunning her. "Well guess what? She lied, you moron!" Rainbitch went for another punch, but I caught it with my hoof. While I was distracted by the first hoof, she hit me in the eye with her other one. I sucker punched her then spun around and bucked her in the chin. She went sprawling, but flew up before she hit the ground. She quickly flew towards me, her right hoof ready for a flying punch. I levitated a large rock at the last second as a shield. There was a loud cracking sound as her hoof hit against it. Rainbitch reared up and cried out in pain. I hit her in the chest with a magic bolt, sending her flying back towards a nearby tree. There was a sound of cracking wood as she smashed into it. "Why don't you try asking Fluttershy about what happened? Maybe then you'll stop being such a moron! Oh wait! That's impossible! You're always a moron!"

I walked back to the library, grinding my teeth the whole way. Buck! Buck her! Buck everything! Why is she such a bucking bitch?! Once again, thanks to that bucker, I need to go to the hospital! One week it's almost falling to my death! Next I'm in a coma because she didn't catch me again! Then she breaks my collar bone! Now I need my face healed! Can there just be one week where she doesn't ruin everything?! I slammed open the library door.

"Hey, Astral-Ass!" I called out. "You home?!" There was no answer. I'll grab a few books then head over to the hospital. Argh! Now I need to spend the little money I earned today on hospital bills! Why must she ruin my bucking life?! I'm going to a bar after this, I need to get wasted...

Author's Notes:

The 'no fly' spell is partially based off of how there's a magic blocking spell in 'The Equestria Games' episode, but blocking pegasi magic instead.
This chapter was really fun to write! I think I'm getting better at writing fight scenes too!

---

Revised 16/02/2015 (DD/MM/YYYY).