Chapter 78 - More Training!

Friendship is a Game

by Twistedphoenix1

Edited by SpedaHooves

"Alright, ladies!" Shiro greeted the girls, smiling like a cheshire cat. "Today, we start the fun stuff."

"We're actually going to learn spells?" Sweetie asked, getting a little excited. She had chosen a simple white blouse and a pink skirt today.

"That's right," Shiro said with a wink. "But first, Sweetie and Silver, you two need to find a weapon you like. Scootaloo, I take it you're comfortable with your kama?"

"Yeah, I'm getting good with them, too," Scootaloo bragged. She simply decided to wear her track outfit today, a tank top and shorts

Shiro nodded, "Excellent. We don't need to worry about you." He turned to the others. "So, how do you see yourselves fighting? Silver?"

Silver fidgeted in her pink top and purple jeans. "Well... I don't really know. I don't like fighting, though. Maybe I can help in other ways?"

"Support mage, great." He turned to Sweetie. "And you?"

Sweetie gave it a bit of thought. "I'm not really sure. I'm not that strong or fast, so I can't really fight like Scootaloo does, but I also don't want to let others do the fighting for me. What do you think?"

"Oh, you want me to do it for you?" Shiro said with a smirk. "I don't know... Maybe we can figure out something later, let you try a few weapons out. For now, let's stick you with a sword.

Shiro turned back to Silver, again. "As for you, Silver, if you're going to go pure support caster, I would go with something specially made for caster spells, like a mage staff. Those are great for casting, but they aren't made for fighting up close. Is it too much to hope that you already have some kind of martial training?"

Silver blushed a little. "Um... actually, I know fencing. Daddy insisted I learn."

"Oh, I knew you had a little badass in you," Shiro said, a bit impressed. "So, how about we get you a saber to go along with that mage staff? Perhaps Micro could craft a mage staff that doubles as a saber scabbard?"

"Alright, now," Shiro began, addressing the group. "I'm going to be teaching all of you one spell from each element. That way you can get a feel for what element you might want to focus on."

Sweetie raised a hand. "Isn't that what our affinities are?"

"Good question, Sweetie Belle. Looks like you have brains as well as beauty," Shiro said, getting a blush from the girl. "Your affinity is just what element your mana is naturally aligned to. That doesn't mean it fits your style. Even if it does, you might like another element. For example, I love air and fire magic as well as lightning.

"First things first, a fire spell," Shiro announced. "Now, fire is not only the element in charge of actual flames, but is the element of life and soul. As such, one of the most basic spells any sorcerer learn is Enhance Self. With this spell, you supercharge your life force making yourself stronger, faster, and tougher. Basically, it makes you three times better than you were.

"Second, I'll teach you Zephyr. Zephyr is a utility spell that creates a whirlwind in a designated place. The wind itself isn't really harmful, but..." Shiro waved a hand at the group of training dummies, throwing them around. "It can be used to throw an opponent.

"Also," Shiro shot his hand at his feet, creating a whirlwind around him, throwing himself into the air a short distance. He landed with all the grace of a cat and continued. "It's not quite flying, but it's close enough... unless you're an air affinity, like Sweetie. With enough practice, Sweetie, you actually can fly with this.

"Third, Stonewall." Shiro punched the ground and a wall of stone sprang up behind him. "Self explanatory.

"Fourth, Thunderbolt," He held two fingers skyward before flicking them down toward a dummy, and a bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, striking it. "Great for enemies hiding behind cover, but not usable indoors.

"Fifth, Chill." Shiro took his spear and stabbed at one of the dummies. As soon as he did, the dummy started to frost over, slightly. "Basically, the exact opposite of Enhance Self. It slows the enemy. Best thing about this move is that it only has to touch them. So, even if the strike does no damage, it'll work.

"Finally, we have Wilt," Shiro continued. "Wilt is cast through direct contact with your target, so you have to actually touch them. It works by forcing water from the cells of a living thing, causing them to die."

Shiro walked up to a tree and placed his hand against the trunk. Almost immediately, the tree started to die. Its leaves fell, branches broke, and the trunk went gray, until it broke under its own weight.

"The thing to remember about water spells is that they are almost one hundred percent offensive, and nearly all those are fatal. If you plan on using water, please keep that in mind.

"Now... Let's get started."

As the three girls began focusing on the spells, Shiro started taking down notes. Who was picking up on what. What elements suited each person. That sort of thing.

His main focus however was on observing Sweetie. Just like yesterday, she was taking to the practices like a fish to water. Already she was jumping high into the air and landing with grace. If she kept up this pace, she would be flying in no time.

'She sure is something,' thought to himself. 'I didn't even pick up things this fast.'

Sweetie flipped in the air over his head and he blushed a bit. That flash of pink...was just her skirt right?

Sweetie landed and placed her hand on the ground, fighting her blush as she tried wilt on the grass. It wasn't as successful as Zephyr, but it did turn slightly brown. She grinned and jumped with joy. When she heard clapping, she turned and saw Shiro was smirking at her.

"Amazing Sweetie! Just don't forget to practice the other spells as well."

The young girl beamed at the praise as she went on to try and channel Enhance Self. Shiro kept looking at her for a few moments before he turned to the other two.

Junkyard

Micro hit the ground hard, his scales absorbing most of the impact. The Dracokin form was extremely resilient, but that didn't mean he liked being slammed down.

"Point Chara," Ember said as she approached the fallen boy. He was taking deep breaths and his clawed hand dig into the ground. "Why don't you try and spar with Spike now Chara. I will go through some of the movements with Micro."

When his girlfriend was away, Micro took Ember's hand and she hauled him up. Before he could drop into a battle stance, she grabbed his collar and shook him a bit.

"What the heck is wrong with you? There is no way half those hits should've landed!"

Micro felt a growl rise in his throat. A heat filled him for half a second and he was about to-

"Gah!" Micro said as he threw the Dragon Heart gem down, shifting back to his human form. He noticeably calmed and sat down on a discarded tire. "Why the hell can't I control it?"

Ember sighed. She figured it would be something like this. Sitting down next to him, she shifted into her human form.

"Have you been using that...Mind ability of yours?"

"I have," Micro said, frustrated with himself. "But it doesn't work. I tried blank slating my mind and everything but anger vanished. When I tried to focus on anger, it was like a tea kettle. It built up more and more and…"

He held his head in his hands.

"I just don't think I can use this form."

"Oh get over it!" Ember growled.

"What?"

"I know why your anger is so strong," she said. "Your anger is at yourself. You hate what you did and so whenever you are in this form, which amplifies anger…"

"It's all I can think of," Micro finished. "And focusing on stopping it from controlling me, I can't focus on fighting."

Ember nodded. The young Gamer sighed and looked at the gem. He took it in his hand and felt the anger build up.

"Control it," Ember said. "Focus it. Use that anger toward yourself as fuel. Fuel to become a better person. Use it, and direct your energy in combat."

She stood and shifted form again as Micro stared at the gem. He set his face and stood, also shifting before charging at Ember.

Diamond

Growling she took a couple books from her mother's old shelves.

"Garbage," The young succubus muttered. Most of it, was smut. Sexual positions, ways of pleasure, forms of subjugation to use on men, controlling demons. All boring and useless…

She turned to last book and raised an eyebrow. Opening to the first page, she read an excerpt.

When summoning demons, it is near impossible to fully control them. One must normally form a contract, and it is typically too difficult to control more than one at a time. Only those with skills in getting others to follow them can truly master this art.

Diamond thought for a moment before turning to one of the other books she found.

A Succubus Guide to Getting What You Want

Shiro and the Girls

As they all finished up, getting everything tidied up for Shiro to pack away, Shiro called Sweetie over with a wave.

"You know, you have a real talent for this," he said. "You could be truly great if you dedicate yourself."

Sweetie blushed. "Oh, thanks. I guess it just... fits with me, you know."

"I would like to start giving you private lessons, if you'd like," Shiro offered. "Something to help advance you toward the high level stuff."

"R-really?" Sweetie asked. "This isn't just some ploy to get me alone, is it?"

"Absolutely not," Shiro insisted. "I really do want to help you realize your potential."

"Oh... Okay, then," Sweetie agreed. "I'd love to have some private lessons."

"Great," Shiro said. "Now that that's settled, what are you doing Friday?"

"Nothing, really," Sweetie replied. "I can train Friday."

"Actually, I was hoping we could train on Thursdays," Shiro said. "I was going to ask if you'd like to have dinner with me on Friday."

Sweetie blushed. "Dinner? Y-you mean... like a date?"

"Yes," Shiro replied. "Would you like to go out with me on Friday?"

"I..." Sweetie thought for a moment. He was nice, funny, ridiculously handsome. Her mind went to Spike. She hesitated with him and lost him. She tried to be coy and it failed. She wouldn't risk the same thing here. "Yes, I would love to go out with you."

"Great! Meet you in front of the school around four," Shiro said before heading back to pack his training equipment away.

"Hey, Sweets," Scootaloo said. "We're going to get milkshakes, wanna come?"

Silver noticed the smile on Sweetie's face. "What's got you so happy."

Sweetie turned to them, her smile growing even more. "I have a date!"