Title:           Black Mage Anon Part 2: New Faces and Nerd Talk
Author:          BlackMageAnon
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/Y1uafSFD
First Edit:      Sunday 22nd of April 2012 09:41:03 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Sunday 22nd of April 2012 09:41:03 AM CDT

>With a loud, slightly squeaky shout, she falls backward on her rump.
“Ah, sorry, that smell is a bit of a sore spot.”
“Please, allow me to aid you four on your path back to uh, wherever it is you come from.”
'Play nice now, and maybe we get some answers.'
>With a shake of her head, she roves her eyes up and down your form.
>”I guess that would be a good idea. I need to take these three fillies back to town.”
>With that, the three smaller p0nies step forward, looking into your shadowed face with...awe?
>”What are ya, Mister?”
<Wut?
“I'm...a Hume. You've never seen someone like me before?”
>The three fillies shake their heads quickly before exploding into a barrage of noise.
>”Are there others like you?”
>”Why do yer hooves look funny?”
>”Twilight's right, you do kinda smell.”
>”Don't it hurt to stand on yer back legs like that?”
>On and they go, a flurry of questions with no room for response.
>”Girls! We need to get back to town, and I have some more important questions for Mister...”
“Anonymous, Miss Twilight. Just call me Anonymous.”
>The five of you walk towards town in an odd procession, the rambunctious fillies rampaging through the woods without a care in the world, with you and Twilight alternating between herding and guiding them from behind.
>Luck stands by your party, and you meet nothing else in the forest.
>The purple p0ny sneaks inquisitive glances at you as you move through the dense undergrowth, though she never voices the thousands of questions you can read in her face.
>At last you breach the edge of the forest, greeted by the sight of the largest apple farm you have ever seen.
>It seems to stretch on and on over the nearby hills.
“Miss Twilight, where are we?”
>”Sweet Apple Acres, Mr. Anonymous. We should be able to leave these three here.”
>”Aww, Twilight, we wanted to play with Anon...Anonem...”
“Call me Anon,  Applebloom.”
>You kneel down to ruffle her mane, and offer a meager promise.
“Perhaps we can play again sometime, but I really need Twilight's help right now.”
>The three little fillies sigh in defeat before running off towards the buildings on the far end of the farm.
“Are you sure they won't get into trouble again?”
>”They will, but not for awhile. They didn't seem to have another crazy plan to get their cutie marks again.”
“Oh thats good to hear. Cute ki-”
<You just breezed right over it didn't you?
“Wait. What the hell is a Cutie Mark, and why does it involve running from giant monsters in a obviously dangerous forest?”
>She chuckles before answering, “A cutie mark is the symbol a p0ny gets on his or flank when they discover what their special talent.
<PFFFT!
>Not noticing your struggle to contain your laughter, and the failure of Hat to control his at all, Twilight continues, “Those three still haven't earned theirs, so they go on wacky, mildly dangerous adventures trying to discover their special talent.”
>”I guess not knowing about Cutie marks means you don't have them where you are from?
<If I still had sides, I would be trying to hold them on desperately right now.
“No, we don't have...Cutie Marks...in Ivalice.”
>Just thinking the word makes you want to giggle like a schoolgirl.
>”Now come with me. I need to write a letter to my mentor about you, and see what she wants me to do. I'll admit it, I'm at a loss as to what to make of you. You don't seem dangerous now,  but in the forest...”
“I was protecting you and the young ones.”
>You pause, looking down at her.
“Would you have preferred I stand by and watch you get eaten?”
>”I...no. But force like that wasn't really needed. Surely something else could have been done.”
“Perhaps when I explain the workings of my world, you will understand more.”
<Ooh, nice and mysterious.
>The two of you continue walking through town, not another soul in sight. The moon had risen during the long road out of what she called “The Everfree Forest.”
>Before long, you reach a large tree with a small door in the center.
<Yer kidding me, right?
>Twilight quickly opens the door and trots in, motioning for you to follow.
>Ducking your head, you take a few steps into the room, before you stop and take in your surroundings.
“By Shiva's frozen tits!”
>As a lower ranking mage, you had never had access to a library; the only book you had ever read was the magical grimoire that Hat led you too.
>You knew it could only be a small collection, but the knowledge held within made you almost giddy with excitement. Above the feeling of power you felt when flinging death and destruction, above the elation of victory in battle, you loved learning.
>Twilight turned around to face you, admonition for your foul language already passing her lips when she noticed your slow turn, watching you take in the sight of so many books.
>”Never been in a library before?”
“No.”
>If Twilight was put off by your short answer, she didn't show it.
>”You said you would answer my questions.”
“I did.”
>A look of frustration crosses her face, quickly banished, but you catch it out of the corner of your eye.
>You smile lightly, the expression covered by the magic shadow cast by Hat.
>”So?”
“You haven't asked a question yet.”
>You obstinacy has its desired effect. The p0ny sits, her annoyance clear. She clears her throat as a sheet of parchment and a quill float towards here, wrapped in an aura matching the one covering her horn.
 >”What are you?”
“Hume”
>”What is that?”
“Me.”
>A book flies off the shelf, lightly smacking you in the head.
>”Don't be rude.”
>You chuckle, and sit across from her, staff resting across your knees.
“Fine. I am a Hume from the land of Ivalice. I specialize in the art of Black Magic, and ply my knowledge as a mercenary/Hero for Hire.”
>”Why is it called Black Magic?”
“I apply the base laws of magic for the purpose of destroying my foes. Long ago, it scared people, and it was tagged as “Black” because of the fear it inspired.”
>”That sounds terrible.”
“Well, once it was understood that all magic comes from the same source, the caster, the fear went away. The difference between a healing spell and a fireball is merely one of mindset, nothing more.”
>”So you can heal as well?”
>At this you look away, mildly embarrassed.
“Theoretically, yes. My attempts have been less than successful. I can't seem to find the mindset needed to bring peace and healing to others.”
>”What are the base principles you talked about?”
“Magic is a source of energy that obeys the will of the user, bending physical laws of the world around us. Using it in conjunction with those laws allows you to manipulate the world. The more energy used, the greater the effect.”
>She hums lightly under her breath before speaking.
>”That is the core principle here as well. We need a focus to use it, however.”
“I assume you mean your horn? My staff works in the same manner, though I can use weaker forms without it.”
>”Interesting. An external focus?”
>The two of you continue on and on, the focus of the conversation shifting, both participants comparing notes on the use of magic, both glad to have found a fellow practitioner of the arts.
>Eventually the sun rises, and with it a loud yawn comes from upstairs.
>”Twilight? Twilight, are you down there?”
>”Yes Spike! Please prepare to write a letter to Celestia for me. We have a guest!”
“Celestia?”
>”My teacher and mentor, the ruler of this land. I should tell her that I found you before we go to bed.”
“My my, Miss Twilight, trying to get me into bed already? How forward of you!”
>The purple p0ny looks flustered, trying to formulate a reply as her mind replays the implications of her words.
>You burst out laughing at her antics, reaching up to remove Hat.
“I jest, Twilight, though I do hope you have a guest bed somewhere.”
>As you lift Hat off your head, he gets in one last shot, after staying silent throughout the conversation.
<Horse-fucker!
>The enchantments over your face fall away, showing Twilight a broad smile and eyes twinkling with suppressed laughter.
“I did enjoy our conversation, though. Perhaps, as I work on a way out of here, we could learn more from each-other?”
>”Of course. I have a guest bed in the basement, behind the testing equipment.”
>She turns towards Spike to hide her flushed face, beginning to dictate her letter.