Winter was finally winding down. March was here and Winter Wrap Up was days away. As for today, it was relatively pleasant weather for the time of year and I was just lying down on a small hill in my backyard. A book was within easy reach should I desire it. Summer had been working me like a dog recently and I was just taking a day to relax.

Of course, for me ‘relaxing’ still entailed my mind incessantly chewing on some issue or another, large or small. On this particular day I was still mulling over the issue of heating up my chi and/or stealing other people’s heat. My magic weakness was becoming an ever pressing issue. Luna’s investigations had turned up another cell of cultists, but they had managed to give her men the slip and I was becoming more anxious by the day.

Aside from becoming a chi vampire or supercharging a ‘hot’ emotion, I had also started wondering if ‘pressurizing’ my chi was possible. How I would actually go about doing so, I hadn’t the faintest idea. Even if I could do so, it sounded distinctly unhealthy, so it was something I had more or less shelved.

The other idea my mind was working on was a sort of ‘point defense’ idea. If I could sever the connection of magic from caster to me, then the spell would fall apart. So theoretically all I would have to do was superheat the point of contact or create a small spot of superheated chi between me and the spell caster where the mana was flowing.

Of course, that idea still required me to know how to superheat my chi in the first place, but it sounded more practical than heating the entirety of my chi. Though I was no closer to figuring out how to be a chi vampire either, since in the Ranma ½ canon, Hinako had had her metabolism modified at a young age by Happosai in order to be able to do what she did.

Wouldn’t it be convenient if my body started processing mana after living in a mana-rich environment? Of course, I had asked after that possibility and Twilight had confirmed I was out of luck as far as that solution was concerned. Unless something drastically altered my biology, which to be fair, wasn’t an impossibility in this world. Although I would probably be hesitant about such a thing, I think my biology has been messed with enough, thanks.

Another possible solution was wearing some kind of magic-retardant armor, but not only would that hinder my fighting abilities to unacceptable levels, I was also paranoid about any item-based immunity failing me at the worst possible time or getting caught with my pants down, literally. Wearing such a thing 24/7 would be just impractical.

“There has to be something I’m overlooking. I’m going to feel so dumb when I figure it out,” I sighed out loud.

“Figure what out?” Thistle stood over me as she asked. I explained to her the issue I’ve been having with magic and my possible solutions. Thistle blinked a few times and then looked at me like I was an idiot.

“Is not love considered a ‘hot’ emotion? Do the bards not sing of fiery passion invoked by love?” Thistle asked.

My mind short-circuited. How had I not realized that sooner?! I WAS IN AN MLP WORLD! LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP WERE WHAT MADE THE WORLD GO ROUND! LITERALLY! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Thistle seemed to sense my inner turmoil and seemed all too pleased with herself for causing it. She had a definite air of ‘don’t underestimate me mortal!’ to her.

“I hate you,” I eventually managed to say through the immense frustration blockading my brain.

“If lies make you happy,” Thistle replied with an amused grin. She then wandered off, content in her superiority over me, leaving me to stew in my own inadequacies. Oh well. At least now I had a place to start working from.

…After I got done with the busywork surrounding Winter Wrap Up, of course.

It has been an exceptionally long month. Family drama, getting sick, my laptop breaking, trying a new diet with Factor_ that I ended up cancelling because the food was awful, and more.

Family drama is family drama and this particular instance of family drama is particularly personally, so that's all I'll say about it.

The sickness was just me catching a case of what I think is Pink Eye. Or whatever it is has my eyes hurting, feeling dry, and waking up with my eyes crusty, so if it isn't pink eye, it's some kind of eye infection. It's nothing too serious, just makes writing or otherwise looking at my screen for long periods of time a pain.

My laptop's keyboard keys started sticking and then falling out, so I had to send it in for repairs. Not sure when I'll get it back. I'm never buying a Lenovo again.

I decided I wanted to try losing some weight so my doctor told me to go on a semi-keto diet. I know myself well enough that if I do my own shopping at least a few non-approved items will find their way in. So I decided to try a meal kit thing. I ended up going with Factor_. But their food was awful. To the point of nearly being inedible. So I ended up cancelling it. Might try Hello Fresh or something later.

Next chapter look forward to Winter Wrap Up shenanigans. It'll be like Christmas in July!