I held my head in my hands. After breathing in a out a few more times, I let out a final heavy sigh. I looked up at Twilight.

"Alex, I'm so sorry. I had no idea..." She said walking slowly over to me.

I sniffed lightly, then answered her, "It's...not your fault. It's no one's fault. I'm just...in a little shock now is all. Something that horrible had never happened on the show before. I didn't really think...I just didn't think that something like that would happen...here." I told her. Maybe I should have expected something to occur. Why else would I have been taken to this world? "Whatever, it...it doesn't matter now, right? It's gone, and it was...necessary...right?" I questioned myself in my words. I really hoped that was the truth. What Celestia said made me more comfortable.

Twilight couldn't help but feel extremely guilty. "Do you still want to try to learn that spell?" She asked seemingly as cheerful as possible. I couldn't tell if she was joking or not. The question was very off to me.

"No. Celestia's right. I think I just need a nap right now or something." I said, feeling now for some reason almost depressed by what happened.

It reminded me of something.

I was hesitant to get up, but knowing none of that could happen again eventually compelled me to do so. "Just give me a little while, then we can get started on...something simpler. I don't think it's a good idea for me to try something that complicated...right now." I told her as I started walking slowly up the stairs.

"Oh, right. Umm...Take all of the time you need." She said.

"Thanks..." I said tiresomely. I continued up, but something caught my eye. There was what looked like a burn mark on the wall right above one of the steps. It looked like it said something, and I squatted down to see.

7

"Hmm..." I thought about it for a second, but shrugged it off. Must be some weird coincidence.

"What is it?" I heard Twilight ask.

"Nothing. Something I must've done. Celestia missed it, I guess." I got back up and walked up the rest of the stairs.

"I'll get it later." Spike said. "I think I'm gonna do the same, a nap seems really good right about now. Y'know, after everything thats happened. I'm really sorry too Alex." He walked up behind me, as I now stood in the doorway.

"Alright, I'll get some things set up for us to try when you're ready." Twilight said, as she walked over to the bookshelf. She was happy that Celestia was able to restore everything at least. It would have been a disaster if not.

I nodded to her, then closed the door. I walked over to the window and closed the drapes, then stumbled lazily over to the bed. Without taking anything off, I fell into it. Within a few seconds I found myself already asleep.

I can't say I woke up as good as I did this morning. The room was pitch black. It was dark out now, surprisingly. Being that there were no lights in the room, I couldn't see anything. What happened before then came back to my thoughts, and I shivered. I put it out of my mind though. Let's start practicing, like Celestia said. It will help me forget about it...hopefully. I thought.

I put my palm up in front of my face, and concentrated. I didn't want to affect anything, but wanted my Marks to glow so that I could see at least a little. I wasn't exactly sure on how to do that though. They had only done so when trying out spells. It was about a minute of thinking of different things before I finally saw the circles light up slightly. The thought at the time was simply having them to do so, nothing more. I slapped myself in the face. Though, they could really only get so bright like this.

I got up and went to the door, putting my hand out in front of me to light the way. I stepped out onto the balcony and it was dark everywhere. I looked over and saw that Twilight's door was closed. I held my hand to my watch and looked at it.

"Ten hours?! God damn it..." I cursed to myself. That must have done more to me than I thought. Everyone was asleep. I looked around a little, and saw down on the coffee table that there were now three books on it.

When I got down, I read them: A Beginners Guide to Magic, Tricks and Trades, and Magic.

I wasn't tired anymore, so I figured I might as well start. Twilight was probably going to have me read through these anyway.

I reached down to grab the first one, but stopped myself. I remembered I need to practice, so instead, I sat down on the couch and levitated it to me, where I set it in my lap. Not that I had a problem with that; I still could only have fun doing these things.

I flipped to the table of contents, holding the glowing Marks on my other hand closely as a small light source. I knew I would start on chapter three, but something else caught my eye.

Oh, chapter six has something on creating light. That would be useful right about now. I thought, and chuckled to myself.

I flipped to the page it was on, then read carefully. I found a simple part which pretty much listed how it was done.

Creating light is only as complicated as the creator chooses it to be. Whether they make a simple ball of light, or complicated, bedazzling patterns. First, one needs to think of what they want, and picture it being there, doing what they want. The more complicated, the more energy one will need. Second, now think of a candle. This becomes the base, staying in the subconscious as the spell continues. Now, one may cast.

Oh, well that seems simple enough. I thought, knowing at this point that a cast was the same type of 'release' done before with the other spells.

I held out my hand palm up.

Okay, ball of light, I just need to be able to read. Something not too bright, alright. Candle, candle, candle. Okay, ball of light, candle. Cast now.

A very small sputter of light appeared just above my hands, then going out in a second.

Stronger... I thought.

Again, I tried. Brighter now, but still went out in a quick wimper. Apparently the 'good control' was only most easily applied to telekinesis.

Stronger!

Almost there, it lasted much longer, but still wouldn't sustain.

OH, COME ON, DAMMIT! I yelled in my thoughts.

A blazing ball of light formed in my hand, and rose high into the air. I was blinded by it. Too strong.

"Aah! Shit, uh...Stop! Dim! Turn off!" I tried commanding, but nothing worked, and I couldn't concentrate hard enough for it to change. It continued to fill the entire room with bright light. I was worried I'd wake someone.

I put the book up in front of it, and quickly read the rest: Finally, to end the spell, picture the candle going out while intending for the light to also do so.

After reading those words, it stopped. The sentence made me picture such without thinking.

"Whoa..." I muttered, feeling suddenly dizzy. I fell back into the couch, holding my head, and having a hard time seeing. Celestia was right, trying too hard right now could knock me out. I stopped for a minute, and slowly regained myself. That was close.

I tried again. Finally, this time a small, consistent ball of light came out and hovered right above me. "There we go. Heh, neat." I said. I was slightly mezmerized by it, mostly for what it was, but also that it was mine, something I did.

I shuffled now into a more comfortable position, and levitated the book out in front of me. I tried slowly turning a few pages, to get an idea of how not to rip them. There it floated in front of me, first page. My calm and soothing aura surrounding it. I found it suddenly amusing that it was my favorite color, but I guess that should have been expected.

Okay, focus. What were the steps? Oh, right. Empty space. Me. Book. Alarm; off when done, off if called.

Cast...

The next three hours seemed like no time at all. I had reached the last page of the last chapter. Everything else then again came back to me.

"Wow. I'm already done. Heh, would have loved to have that during school." I joked to myself.

The book was not too long, and Focus also allowed me to read faster and more thoroughly than normally possible. The book and all it talked about was pretty clear in my mind, especially the parts that peaked my interest. Though I didn't understand exactly all that was in it, this was still good. I felt now like I was really getting somewhere. I could now at least have the knowledge of how to do more things. There were all sorts of amazing spells that I would love to try.

Any sort of distraction from what happened before was also satisfying.

That long period of time powering three spells at once really took it out of me though. I felt suddenly dizzy and tired. I fell back in the seat, but didn't fight it. I didn't care if I passed out here, right now. It was late anyway. The book dropped, and the ball of light faded away.

"Alex?"

"Hmm...what?...Oh! Yeah! I'm up." I was startled by Twilight nudging me awake. The light from the windows blinded me when I opened my eyes. It was bright and sunny out, really a beautiful day.

"Are you alright? You slept much longer than I thought you would yesterday. I had to go to bed." She explained backing up from me. She looked down and noticed the book on the floor. "What were you doing?"

I was laying back in a very seemingly lazy position. It was embarrassing. I sat up quickly, and wiped my face with my hands.

"Oh, I was...um...reading...and practicing, like Celestia said. I read through the first book you had on the table."

She was a little confused and a little shocked. She looked down on the floor and levitated the book back up onto the table. She wasn't fully convinced that someone who had previously not had any magic understood the concepts, despite the fact that they were beginner level. "You read...all of it? And understood all of it?" she asked.

"Most of it. I used the spell you taught me. It worked incredibly well! I even taught myself a simple light spell, with a bit of trouble at first, but I eventually got it to work." I chuckled proudly. I showed her a quick little ball of light as I explained, then after a few seconds remembered again how to make it go out.

She was impressed by it. "Well, just knowing the steps to a spell isn't exactly useful without practice. Did you try anything else?"

"Well, no. I only had time to read it, before...um...I think I blacked out from using three spells for a few hours." It was very quick when it happened. Not something that was easy to realize.

Her eyes widened a bit, making her look concerned. "How are you feeling?"

I actually physically felt much better. "Uhh...good. For what it's worth." I told her. I no longer felt depressed. That was good, too. However, I still couldn't shake the feeling that I was mad at...something.

Damn it...mad...mad... Why? Who? Twilight? Of course not. Celestia? Why would it be? Why do I feel so angry at...something, someone? Is there someone to be mad at? Me? Have I not...?

"We should do some more practicing then. After eating." Twilight interrupted my thoughts.

"Oh, right!" That sounded like a great idea. Despite what happened, I still really only wanted to learn more.

After a quick breakfast, Twilight suddenly teleported us both out to the front of Sweet Apple Acres. I was startled by it.

"Um...What are we doing here?" I asked.

"This is where we will practice for now. Applejack agreed that we could use the South field, where nopony would probably see us."

"But Twilight, some ponies have already seen me. When you showed me around town?" I recalled that event. I remembered that they didn't really react that badly when it happened though. Twilight seemed to give off that impression that anyone around her was okay. Especially with what happened after Luna.

"True, but they may gain more suspicion if they see you learning magic. We can work here in more peace, for now anyway."

"Heh, peace? I might make a tree explode...twice." I added in the joke.

Twilight was confused, she knew she heard something like that before. "Umm...well, hopefully only if you are trying to." She reassured, not understanding what was behind it.

"I wouldn't be trying to make anything explode right now. I'd fall over before it happened." I joked. Twilight let out a laugh. It was really time to get myself and her in a better mood. Worrying wasn't going to help anything. It's over. It happened. Forget about it. "Actually, to be honest, I would hope I didn't have to blow anything up. Even if it would be cool. I don't know how to either."

"True. Only I know how to do that." She teased me. I chuckled, but it didn't surprise me.

"Oh, hey there y'all!" We heard the familiar southern voice behind us. Twilight looked around.

"Hi Applejack. Thanks again for letting us use your field for practice!"

"No problem! Ah'm always happy to help. Y'all get along to it." She said, then began trotting off in the direction of her barn. Twilight and I headed off in the other direction, before an idea got into my mind.

"Hey, Applejack?" I turned and called over to her.

She looked back, "Yeah, sugarcube?"

"If you...um...need any help with anything, I'm more than happy to pay you back for everything that you've done." I told her sincerely. I knew I should be getting along to practicing more, but I couldn't help but feel guilty that I haven't really done anything for her yet. After she had me over for dinner and helped throw the party.

She looked away for a second, then looked back at me interestingly, "Actually, if it's no bother, Ah've been gettin' a little backed up on the buckin'. Y'all wanna give it a try and help me out?" She asked with a smile.

"I dunno Applejack, we really do need to get practicing. The princess said that..."

I stopped Twilight, "Hang on, let's just see where this goes. Maybe I can get some practice in while doing this too." I whispered to her.

"I'd love to!" I looked back up at Applejack.

"Alright, we'all better get to it!"

We walked up the path to where Applejack had been working. There were several trees which had no apples, and then a perfect line separated those from the trees which were full of them.

She walked up to the first one with apples on it, then turned to me.

"Well, you've seen what apple-buckin' is from the show. So, give it a try!" She held up a hoof the tree. I didn't expect that, and wasn't thinking it was the best idea.

"Um, why don't you do it first. Get me motivated." I said shyly after a small gulp.

"Heh, alright." She walked up to the tree. She looked at it for a second before swiftly jumping around onto her front legs with a wind up...

*FWUMP*

Her hind hoofs hit the tree dead on with tremendous force. I could feel the vibrations sent through the ground. The tree shook ferociously, and the apples fell off one after another in very quick succession neatly into the baskets that were below it.

She walked away from it with her head held high and full of pride.

"Give it a try now." She pointed to the next one, a grin on her face.

"Okay..." I walked up to it slowly. I stretched out my right leg, thinking maybe it would help. However, I was no kick boxer. I never really kicked that many things in my life seriously. I wasn't weak, but not strong either.

With a slow wind up, I through my leg forward at the middle of the trunk.

*Fwack*

The bottom of my shoe hit as hard as I could make it. I was surprised, it felt very different then I expected it to. The trees in this world were not like the ones on mine. They felt flimsier, more flexible. Still, with a small few vibrations, only a couple apples fell. I took a few hops back on my other foot to regain my balance. I looked stupidly at the apples that were in the basket. It really was more than I had expected, which was none.

I looked back. Twilight and Applejack both looked like they were about to burst out. Sure enough, an explosion of laughter came from them as they couldn't hold it in any longer and fell on top of each other. I blushed. I had a feeling this would happen.

"Hahaha! Heh, you sure that's the best y'all can do hone? Heheh, I think Applebloom can get more out than that." She chuckled after compiling herself and getting up.

"Yeah...um...I don't think humans are supposed to be as good of kickers as ponies." I tried to explain. I knew it, but I didn't want to give the impression that I did.

"Well, heh, maybe you can help in some other sorta way..." She started.

"No wait, I have a better idea." I interrupted. This was where I could get practice in.

In the book, there was a section on something called magical constructs. It said that they are something made out of pure magical energy as a solid to be used as a sort of force by the caster.

I turned back to the tree.

Okay. Let's see...It's really simple. Simple, simple, simple. Step 1: Picture the thing. What do I want, some sort of large wrecking pillar, or large fist, extension? Seems about right. Step 2: Put energy into forming the thing in reality. Again, pretty simple, casting the spell. Act it out, remember to act it out so it's easier.

I put my hand up, and concentrated. After a few seconds I began to hear ringing, and saw ripples form in the air in front of me. They started swirling around, gaining slowly a deep blue light, very much like my aura. They started to fly around each other. It surely but slowly came around to take the shape of a very large hand, in the same position and gesture as mine. It was slightly transparent, and looked like it was made out of water, with deep blue energy and light outlining it.

"What the hay?!" Applejack burst out, this was something very new to her. Not Twilight though.

"Shh!" She put her hoof in Applejacks mouth. "Just wait a second..."

Okay, got it. Heh, wow, that looks really cool. Okay, come on, keep concentrating. I moved my hand around a little, the construct acted in the same way. I moved my arm around, wanting it to move the same way, and it did. Heh, too cool. Alright, lets see. Umm...A few test swings? Yes, okay.

I moved my hand more, giving a few jabs at the air with a fist, the construct shadowed me instantaneously. With it now, I lightly pushed the tree. I couldn't feel it specifically, put I could feel that there was now something there, in the way, resistance. I brought it back now and punched forward.

*Pong*

The sound that came off was like a crash of the ringing, and echoed a few times. It was very mesmerizing, yet also slightly scary. I felt now the great resistance that it was facing. I could feel myself having a harder time trying to push my arm forward more, as the construct couldn't move forward at all. It was like I was trying to push a spring in to be tighter, and it was pushing back. I pulled away, and punched harder.

*Pong!*

I could see a few wisps of energy detach like liquid and wrap around the tree, only to dissipate after falling off the other side. Several apples fell off the tree. One more, harder now. I pulled back, and punched forward with much more might.

*PANG!*

The sound that came off that time was more like a gong, punch, and a small explosion all in one. The hand exploded around the tree after hitting hard. All of the rest of the apples fell off into the baskets. The final wisps flew off and died out in blue and clear waves of light, as the echo of the ringing died off with them.

I looked back with a smirk, proud of what I had accomplished.

It was too much though, and suddenly I found myself fall to my knees, and then down on my chest.