Two hours... two bloody hours was all it took for Celestia and Luna to figure out how to mix their manas perfectly...

I sit in front of the flowers grumbling to myself as I continue to focus on the flowers life force. I yawn and feel a bonk to the back of my head. "Focus, Adrian," Gaia scolds me.

"Argh," I groan with a slight echo. "I'm trying, I just can't seem to find it," I reply.

"That's okay, there's no need to rush," she tells me.

I'm then blinded by a light to my right. I rub my eyes and see Celestia firing small bolts of white light down the target range. At least she got her wish to train with us, as it's not strenuous physical activity. The small balls of light cause a bright flash on impact, but what confuses me is the scorch marks left on the target, with no visible smoke or fire. Maybe that's because of her own magic as the alicorn of the Sun?

I look to Luna who holds her arm out and four tendrils of shadow extend out and wrap around a practice dummy. I hear her grunt and pull her arm back as the dummy is crushed and ripped out of the ground... Wow, at least I know that when the fight does come I won't be facing it alone.

I then get bashed on the head again. "What did I say about focus?" Gaia tells me with a sly grin.

I just grumble again and resume my own training.

So much power... is this how Adrian feels during his training? I feel like I can take on every single gryphon by myself.

"Very good, Celestia. My element, while mostly is used for general light and blinding, can also cause severe damage with UV radiation when a lot of mana is used. Similar to how if you stay out in the sun too long, you begin to burn. Now, I want you to try and cast a beam. Fortunately, an aspects power doesn't just require a human's method to casting, but how our... host, casts spells. To cast a beam, all you have to do is gather our mana and instead of a single push, you keep the flow open," Lux tells me.

"Alright," I reply and take a deep breath.

I hold my right hand out a gather our magic together, I then release the energy and keep the flow of magic going. A bright white beam hits the target instantly and very slowly, starts to burn through the target... No, burn isn't quite right, It looks more like it's vaporising. No smoke, no burning smell, no flames.

After about ten seconds, the beam goes through and continues to hit the cliff face, where it starts to vaporise through it. I stop the flow and just stare wide eyed.

"Very good. Adrian was right that we would make a strong pair. It seems you're also accustomed to my mana as well from me all these centuries to be learning this fast," Lux informs me. "For now though, I want you to continue with bolts and beams just to make sure you're used to my power," he tells me.

I nodded and fire another beam at a new target.

I pull back my hand and crush another dummy. This power, it feels so similar to when I turned into Nightmare Moon, but I have full control this time. I look to my right hand and can feel the shadows around it. I think I understand how Adrian felt when he fought that undead giant.

"Excellent, Luna. You're a natural at this," Umbra tells me.

I don't know if it shows, but I think I'm blushing. "We thank thee. This feels so familiar, yet instead of fear, we feel... comfort, like an old friend hast returned," I reply as I flex my fingers and feel our magic flow together as one.

"As it should have been all those centuries ago," she says. I can only smile in reply. "I want you to continue to practice with the tendrils until you can fully control them at will," she tells me.

I smile wider and nodded. This is surprisingly a lot more fun then I thought it would be!

This is amazing! I can feel so much magic coming from both Tia and Luna. I kinda wish I could help them, but I know nothing about how to fight. I can't stand the sight of blood or hurting anypony.

I notice Adrian getting frustrated and lay down on the grass with his arms spread out. I walk over to him and sit beside him.

"Are you okay, Adrian?" I ask him.

He opens his eyes, that faint green glow of magic in them. "Oh, hi, Cadence. Yeah... I'm fine. Just feeling a bit jealous at how quick they're learning and I'm stuck with trying to move a flower..." he replies with a chuckle. His voice sounds nice with that echo to it.

He looks at my stomach and puts his right hand on it. "I can see her you know," he tells me and rubs my stomach.

"What?" I ask confused.

"While in this form I can see all the life around me, and I can see our daughter growing inside you," he replies.

I go wide eyed and pout. "That's not fair!" I whine playfully. I would like to see my foal myself.

He chuckles again and smiles at me. "She's growing strong. I can only see her life force, but I know she'll be just as beautiful as her mother," he tells me.

I smile and blush as I lean down and kiss him. I squeak as I feel his tongue caress mine and I couldn't help the slight moan that escapes my throat. I lay on my left side and rest my head on his chest and look in his eyes. I'm glad he's not wearing his armour right now, the rise and fall of his breathing along with his heartbeat and the sweet scent of the flowers on him is very comforting. He then places his right hand on mine, just lazily stroking my fingers.

After a few peaceful minutes, his eyes then slowly widen and a grin is on his face. "What?" I ask with confusion.

"I think I understand it now," he says and gently lifts me off him as he sits up.

He looks at the sunflowers and I just watch quietly. He points his left hand at them and has a look of concentration. After about ten seconds, a flower begins to shake and starts to... dance? The stem waves back and forth while the leaves rise up and down. The flower on the top leans to the left and right.

I giggle as it looks adorable.

I see sweat roll down his face and I couldn't resist as I lick it off. I don't know why, but his sweat tastes so salty and delicious.

That seems to have broke his concentration as he blushes, the flower then jumps out of the ground and lays on the grass.

I giggle again and kiss his cheek. "Sorry," I say.

"It's alright. At least I've figured it out now," he replies with a smile.

"And what was it?" Cadence asks me.

"Before, I was trying to force it to move, but after some thought, I just tried to ask it. It's not an inanimate object, it's still a living thing," I reply.

Gaia sits down to my left. "Correct. All life has a will of it's own, from the mightiest of beasts to a single blade of grass," she tells me and giggles. "It took Starswirl two months to figure that out, always thought with a scientific mind instead of a more open one," she says as she makes the uprooted sunflower get up and and re-root itself.

"You could have just told me," I glare at her, still with my smile.

She puts on an innocent smile. "And would you have really learned anything from that?" she asks.

I sigh, she has a point. I now have a greater respect for all forms of life. "No, I might not have. So I take it I just continue to practice this now?" I reply and ask.

"Yes. Once you can make at least six sunflowers move at once, we shall then move onto bigger plants, like vines and small trees," she replies.

Well, no time like the present. Cadence cuddles up beside me and hooks her left arm around my right. I lean my head against hers as I hold my left hand out and continue to practice.

I'm making another flower dance for Cadence as she watches with a smile. I then notice Silk Sheets come out with a trolley with bottles of water on it. She hands them out to Celestia and Luna, but stops at Shining and kisses his cheek as she gives him one. I smile seeing her find a man of her own and Shining looking less depressed.

After a minute or two of talking, she brings the trolley over to us and hands us both a bottle.

"I see you and Shining are getting along rather well," I say to her.

She blushes with a smile. "Oh yes. He's been very kind and gentle with me," she says but her smile fades into a sad frown. "I'll be honest, but I kinda wanted to be with you... Especially after, you know, but I think that was more of a crush than love," she sighs and looks back at Shining. "But I think I'm falling in love with him," she says with a wide smile.

Cadence smiles as well. "Please make him as happy as you can," she asks her.

"I know how much he means to you, Princess. I just hope I can make him just as happy as you did," she replies.

"I'm sure you will. Thank you for the water," Cadence says and starts taking sips from her bottle.

Silk sheets bows and delivers the rest of the bottles to the guards and then talks some more with Shining.

I yawn and take a few gulps from my bottle. I put the cap back on and was about to start practising again but I feel something land on my head, it feels like a bird's talons.

I tilt my head up slightly and look up and see a red bird with an orange neck and yellow beak look back down at me with pure white eyes.

'Is its feathers on fire?' I think to myself.

The bird tilts its head and squawks at me. I raise an eyebrow at it while Cadence laughs.

"Philomena!" I hear Celestia shout out.

I turn to Celestia with a confused expression. "Who's Philomena?" I ask, as the bird stays perfectly on my head.

Celestia hovers over to us and holds her arm out as her aspect form fades away. The bird jumps off my head and lands on her arm.

"I've been worried sick about you young lady!" she scolds the bird.

The bird -I'm guessing is Philomena- looks upset but nuzzles Celestia. She then squawks a few times at her.

"I see, did you find them?" she asks Philomena.

Philomena hangs her head and lets out a pitiful squawk.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"Just before you arrived in Equus, Philomena's egg was stolen from her nest. She knows who took it and has been pursuing them, but she's lost them. I've even sent guards to hunt them down," Celestia says with a sad tone.

I frown. "Why would anyone steal her egg?" I ask.

"Philomena is a phoenix, a very rare and magical bird. When they die, their bodies burst into flames and they're reborn from the ashes. It's very rare for a phoenix to lay an egg. Most ponies and other races want them for their healing properties as a phoenix's egg can cure almost any ailment, but they only lay them once every thousand years," she tells me.

Gaia floats over to Philomena and strokes her. The bird coos and nuzzles her hand.

"I believe I can help with that," Gaia says.

"How?" I ask.

"I can feel all life on the planet, finding another with a piece of her unique life force from her offspring will be easy," she tells us.

"Then let's go and get it back!" I say as I stand up.

We all get on a carriage, except for Shella and Cadence who stayed behind, and follow Gaia's directions. I teleported Adrian's weapons and armour on to him before we left. After about an hour of flying, we arrive at a rather run down warehouse in the city of Manehatten with forty guards with us.

"Her egg is in there," Gaia tells us.

My anger at these criminals stealing one of my oldest friend's egg rises, she's been waiting centuries for her own foal just as I have. I step out of the carriage and tap the orb on my hand.

'Lux, please lend me your power. I wish to teach these heartless animals a lesson,' I ask him. This will make a good test for my new abilities.

'Very well, but please do not give in to your anger and hate. You saw what that did to your sister and Umbra,' he replies.

He's right, I take a few breaths to calm down as I can feel his magic flow into me. I begin to hover above the ground as I feel my wings recede into my back. I open my eyes and stare at the large metal door.

'Celestia, if you channel our mana throughout your entire body you'll be able to just go through the door as you vaporise it, as well as vaporise anything else physical that can't handle the heat coming in contact with you,' Lux tells me.

'Thank you,' I reply. I then turn to the guards. "I want twenty guards to surround the building and capture any who try to escape. If they resist with killing intent, you have permission to defend yourselves. The rest of you will follow behind me and capture any inside, but their leader is mine," I tell them.

They all salute and silently surround the building. There will be no escape from the ground or air.

I turn to Luna to see her already in her aspect form. "Luna, can you help the guard out here please?" I ask her.

"Of course, sister," she replies in a whisper like tone. She flaps her wings to join the pegasi in the air, but it's rather unnerving that she made no sound what so ever.

"Adrian, I want you to find the egg with Gaia's help and be ready to heal any wounds the guards may receive," I tell him.

"Alright," he replies with a nod.

I turn back to the door and gather our magic and let it flow throughout me where I can feel a heat building up as my body glows brighter. I start to move forward with the guards and Adrian following behind me.

I watch as Celestia just floats into the door and it just evaporates around her. Wow, that must be some heat she's giving off. I hear shouting and yelling from within as the guard and I follow behind her.

'Adrian, the egg is upstairs in that room. Please hurry, now that we're closer, I can feel it is dying,' Gaia tells me.

My eyes go wide and I look to the right to see a set of metal stairs leading to the room overlooking the warehouse. I can see the life force of a small round object... and it's very dim.

'Got it,' I reply and make my way to the stairs.

"No pony move! You're all under arrest for theft!" a guard shouts out.

"BUCK! IT'S THE GUARDS! EVERYPONY SPLIT!" one of the people yells out.

A loud squawk echoes through the room as Philomena soars in and latches her talons onto a man's face and to my surprise, flames spew out of her mouth and scorch him. He screams in pain and tries to pull her off, but her talons have dug deep into him, I'm glad she didn't do that to my scalp.

A dark green furred man runs down the stairs holding the dying egg. I draw my sword and cut him off.

"Outta my way!" he yells at me and pulls out a small one handed crossbow.

He pulls the trigger and I raise my shield. The small bolt bounces off and I thrust my sword into his leg.

"GAAAAAHHH!" he screams. In his pain, the egg rolls out of his hand and over the railing. I breath in sharply and drop my sword as I dive off the side. I grab it and slam my back onto the floor hard. 'Oh shit, I'm going to feel that in the morning. No, wait... I'm feeling it now,' I think to myself sarcastically as I sit up while ignoring the pain. Not one of my brightest ideas.

'At least you saved the egg, hold it in both hands and don't move, I'll try to keep it alive.' Gaia tells me.

I can feel her mana flow through my hands and into the egg as a green mist surrounds it. I then feel something land on my head. It must be Philomena as I look up and see a worried expression on her face.

As Gaia does her thing, I look at Celestia. She's got the leader cornered and has a really pissed off expression on her face.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" she asks him.

"I'm sorry! I won't ever do it again!" the man begs pitifully.

She lifts her arm up and I see a ball of light form above her hand. "How would you feel if someone took your foal from you!" she yells at him.

Uh-oh, I think she's having one of her emotional outbursts again.

"It's just a stupid bird's egg!" he replies... aw shit.

"Just an egg?" she asks, her right eye twitching. "That bird you took it from has been my friend for hundreds of years! She's been waiting centuries to lay her own and you just Insult her and call it just an egg!" she yells at him.

I want to go over there and try to calm her down, but I can't move without disrupting Gaia.

"Please don't hurt me!" he begs her and cringes.

Her face forms a scowl with gritted teeth. Well, nothing will save him now.

"RrraaAAHHH!" Celestia cries out as she slams the ball of light onto him. I then hear a scream that sounds more like it belongs to a little girl.

Once the bright flash dies down, I look at the man... Oh gods that's nasty. The front half of his skin and muscle have been vaporised, exposing his organs and bones. I can even see the insides of his eyes and brain.

I hear a guard throw up and another pass out.

Celestia is breathing heavily and drops to the floor as her aspect form fades away. Her wings sprout back out and she sighs.

She then drops to the floor and begins crying with her face in her hands.

'Gaia, how much longer?' I ask her. I want to go over to Celestia and comfort her before she really starts to break down.

'Almost there... and done!' she replies and the mana flow stops. I look at the egg and see its life force much brighter. I then get up and walk over to Celestia.

"Tia, it's alright. The egg is safe and healthy," I tell her and hold the egg out to her.

She lowers her hands and takes the egg. I hold my arm out next to it and let Philomena sit on my arm. The phoenix nuzzles Celestia who just smiles back.

"My Queen, all the criminals have been detained," a guard tells her with a salute.

She sniffles and I wipe the tears from her eyes. "Thank you. Let's go back to the Castle... I need to lie down," she replies and I help her up. Philomena moves onto her shoulder and keeps nuzzling her.

As we walk out to the exit, I look back at what's left of the corpse. 'If that was just a basic spell... then what is the true power of an aspect?' I think to myself.

And that ends The Power of an Aspect chapters. Next one will be a Celestia stress relief clop chapter.