(no subject)

[brodakota]

Who: North, Theta, and whoever joins them
What: North practices magic, Theta practices with a slingshot
Where: Ponyville, probably near the Far
When: Afternoon ish?After the lessons with the princesses
Warnings: General Freelancer warning.


While the lessons with the Princesses had gone well, North still felt under prepared. The basics were one thing, but fighting nightmares was another and he was going to need a lot more practice before he could even think about taking them on. His spirits were determined, but North didn't want to rely on them for everything.

He'd set up a few crude targets around the Apple family farm, and collected a few rocks as well, the goal being to turn them into projectiles, and see how effective they were before he started playing around with the slingshot. It wasn't the most effective weapon, but hopefully, it would work. He did better with distance anyway.

Theta stood nearby with his own target and rocks, trying to get the slingshot to work. He was having trouble retaining the tension of the elastic with his little arms. But he was getting better.

Comments

[shadearchivist]

Ienzo hadn't quite managed to attend lessons, but he'd been fiddling with magic on his own. It was probably easier, coming from the position of being someone who already had magic, to learn a new type of skill, even if the system was different. Between Lea and Yuffie, he hadn't had much call to worry about dream eaters and thankfully the Wash incident hadn't been repeated.

The main inconvenience in being a pony was that you couldn't jot down questions to ask the incredibly helpful pony princesses; thankfully magic seemed to make up for that. Ienzo approached the area where North was practicing and stopped; it didn't do to interrupt weapons training.

[brodakota]

It was odd to have slightly better hearing in pony form, but North supposed it made up for not having trackers. He wanted to greet whoever it was, but he was finally starting to get the hang of launching the rocks. Hopefully, whoever it was wouldn't mind.

However, Theta was all for a break. His arms were starting to get tired and he wasn't having much success. He was going to go gather the rocks when he noticed Ienzo and waved.

"Hello," he said, cheerfully.

[shadearchivist]

Ienzo waved a hoof back at Theta. "Hello. I hope I'm not interrupting. I didn't get to the lessons with the princesses so I suppose I'll have to work things out myself."

[brodakota]

"North went! I'm pretty sure he could show you when he's done practicing," Theta said, in reply. North had been improving quite a bit, in his opinion. But it was hard to tell without being in North's head.

"Have you tried doing magic on your own? North said he had to concentrate really hard at first."

[shadearchivist]

"I seem to have some ability to move things, at least. I haven't tested whether I still have a talent for illusions," Ienzo said. "I'm not sure that this magic is inclined to that."

[brodakota]

"It wouldn't hurt to try right? I mean, I can't really make holograms like this." He slumps, unconsciously. He's also been having trouble using a slingshot.

[shadearchivist]

"You shouldn't feel bad about it; different types of magic lend themselves to different skills. It does seem rather unfair that that form wouldn't allow you illusion magic." The mark on Ienzo's flank looked like his Lexicon so if it was representative of the powers he had, then he should be able to make illusions.

[brodakota]

"Well, I'm also not a hologram anymore, so that probably has something to do with it." And it was surprisingly hard, to adjust to being an actual physical being. "Do you know if dragons can use magic? It would be a lot easier than a slingshot."

[shadearchivist]

"I would think that they do; most dragons seem to, but I'm not sure how you would use your particular abilities. It would be a question better directed at the princesses," Ienzo allowed. "Differing systems of magic can have different rules, after all."

[brodakota]

Theta nods, taking this all in. It would be a lot easier if he was still connected to North.

"Too many rules, it feels like."

There's a loud cracking sound and a sigh of relief. North has managed to land one of his targets in a way that's satisfactory. Now, hopefully he can do it again.

[shadearchivist]

"Your practice seems to be coming along well," Ienzo commented to North. To Theta he added, "It's like any other skill; it just does seem to be too bad that you couldn't keep the abilities as you normally are."

[brodakota]

"Not exactly. That's the first time I've been able to manage launching those rocks like that. Now the really practice starts." Still, he'll turn and talk. He needs a bit of a break.

"Not unless I was a holographic dragon or something."

[shadearchivist]

"Are you trying to improve your fine magic skills?" Ienzo asked. Lifting things was easy; lifting a gun and shooting it might be harder but not impossible.

It was curious that Theta wasn't a hologram, actually. "Is being in that physical form very wearing for you, Theta?"

[guerriera]

There was a crunch of gravel underhoof as somepony trotted down the road leading into the Apple Farm's main courtyard, the confident gait of someone who'd mastered at least two pony speed settings and would no doubt be moving up to the next one at the next convenient moment.

It slowed at the sight of the concentrating unicorn and his equally industrious dragon-partner, and Dax chirped from her back as Carolina stopped and considered. She didn't want to interrupt North's training, but..

Theta was a little closer in range. Mind made up, she ambled towards the purply-pink AI-Dragon. "Having trouble?" She could at least offer him some advice before he tried for a new target, even if hooves didn't allow her to provide an active example.

[brodakota]

Theta looked up, before greeting Carolina with a small wave. Tank sat nearby, watching closely before going to scan another area. Carolina passed.

"A little bit. I can't hit the target," Theta sighed. There was a small collection of stones between him and the target, most around his feet. He looked a little discouraged.

North's ears flicked at Carolina's arrival, but he was focused and didn't want to greet her just yet. She'd probably understand.

[guerriera]

No offense was taken at North's lack of greetings. She herself hated interruptions and it would have been rude for Carolina to interrupt when he was attempting to concentrate.

"Don't worry about the target for now," she advised Theta, stepping around until she was beside him, rather than behind. "Stand with your stance a little wider, shoulders back. Show me how you usually fire it."

[brodakota]

Theta nods, and picks up another rock to fit it in the slingshot.

He adjusts his feet a bit and tries to move his shoulders back as best he can. It's kind of weird, having shoulders. He lines up the slingshot with the target, pulling the elastic back tightly. He flinches before he fires though, causing a bit of slack and the rock only goes a few feet.

"That's what always happens."

[guerriera]

Carolina stepped to one side a little more as Theta showed her how he made use of the sling shot. She said nothing as Lela settled beside her on her belly, simply hmming slightly.

"Try again, this time only going through the motions. Don't pick up any stones." Her tone is firm, not yet critical; teaching others was never her suite but offering advice? That she could do. She extended her neck with care, and bumped his tiny dragon elbow with her nose. "Once you've extended the elastic, see how long you can hold the pose."

[brodakota]

Theta nodded, dropping the rock he picked up before taking her suggestion. He gripped the slingshot tightly, pulling back until the elastic was tense. He held it there for about thirty seconds before his arm shook and he let go.

"That's tough."

[guerriera]

"That's why you practice." Red tail swished behind her as Carolina lifted her head to look at the target critically, then glance towards where neglected scarecows lurked a field over. Hn...

..She's not ignoring Theta, however. Though she's paying no heed to North. (No offense, North.) “One of my instructors once told me, 'You make mistakes because you’re focusing on the target and not on your actions'. This is no different.” Well, a little different. A slingshot is not a gun. Or a bow and arrow, for that matter. "Try again."

[brodakota]

"Doing the same thing?" Theta asked, looking up at her. It was more for confirmation. Becoming a baby dragon hadn't limited his intelligence as an AI.

He pulled back on the elastic again, holding it tightly and trying to beat his previous record. There's a determined expression on his face.

[guerriera]

"Yes. Hold the position, and count to 10 in your head, then relax again." 10 was a good starting number for a baby ai-dragon, and repetition in the correct pose would be good for Theta.

One ear then flicked forwards as Lela brushed against her fetlocks, then meandered over towards North. Carolina's spirit hadn't had too much in the way of interaction with her typically purple-clad teammate, and the frootz cat meowed in query when the male ponylancer was done concentrating. Watchadoin?

[brodakota]

Theta nods. He'll do what Carolina says. She is North's friend after all, and North listens to her so he probably should to. Not to mention that counting to ten was a lot easier than counting to thirty. He could do both instantly of course but it was a bit harder as a dragon.

"Hi, Lela," North said, looking over at the Frootz Cat. He was tired. Between the concentration and using his magic, he was a lot more worn out than he thought he'd be. Still, some progress had been made.

[guerriera]

He could increase the time as he gained confidence. Practice, after all, made perfect.

Were he any other AI, save perhaps Delta (and perhaps not even then), Carolina would have been much more terse. But she and Church seemed to understand each other well enough nowadays and she had no reason to antagonise North; Theta certainly hadn't done anything to earn it. "Better. Lift your elbow a bit, and shift your body so your arm runs parallel."

The worn look Lela earned was answered with a more concerned noise, before the frootz cat ambled close, rubbing up against (and, if he allowed, between) his forelegs, her steady purr starting. Rest was important! He didn't want to be like her Person, did he?

..Not that she could blame him if he did, Carolina was pretty awesome, but her Person was bad at knowing when to stop sometimes.

[brodakota]

Theta did his best, trying to do both at the same time. The body of a baby dragon wasn't that different from being an AI once he thought about it. He still had to think to move parts. It was just weird having muscles and not necessarily being able to fix everything instantaneously.

"Like that?"

There wasn't much North could do when Lela started rubbing up against him. He was reluctant to move, lest he step on the cat. He'd mostly mastered being a pony, but there were times when he still lost track of his legs.

"Sorry Lela. I can't really pet you..."