A Hearth's Warning Together (ATTN: Ice Storm)

[Lux]

Spoiler

Hearth's Warming Eve was in full swing, and Fire Heart couldn't wait! Despite her fire magic making extreme cold feel uncomfortable, she always loved the way Canterlot looked with the boughs of pine trees, the decorated trees and all the holiday cheer. She mused how just a short time ago around Hearth's Warming Eve she almost lost her life but instead found her future love of her life. Now she was ready to spend the holiday with Ice Storm. She rushed to their home above the shaved ice shop, one that during the holiday sold hot chocolate provided by the red unicorn. Tonight the shop was closed for the holidays. 

 

"I hope that Ice gets here soon." 

[IceStorm]

 

The Train ride back to Canterlot was calm and quiet, such as most late night rides were. Aside from a small blunder with the dragon at the event Ice could say that.... well it went much better than she thought it would. The magical orbs that Swift had given her had calmed down, or at least the one that seemed to be irritated with Squall. She had to admit, it was going to take a bit to get used to the feeling of them in her mind. The sensation gave her a bit of a headache at first, but as the orbs melded with her aether, they could sense the Ache and was able to subdue it on their own. She wondered if they would work on other injuries like that as well. Swift Squall told her that these things would enhance her overall spellcasting power and further accent her ice oriented spells. He also told her that they would take a bit to break in and get used to what power they can grant her. She honestly had never felt anything like this before and to have more magic at her disposal now was... a little bit overwhelming. Still though, the orbs rested in a small orbit around her. They were close enough that she could feel the ambient chill radiating from them as the circled.

 

Back in Canterlot she could still see many ponies in the streets making her way back to there homes just as she was. As she got to her store and home, she looked upstairs. The light was on. Good. Fire was home. She unlocked the door of the shop and made her way inside. She didn't notice it before but she herself was a little bit colder. Knowing that her wife was as susceptible to the cold as she was to the heat, she thought in her mind to tone down the level of cold a bit. the orbs responded. "Okay.... so I can control that part at least. I'm going to have so much to learn with these things... but, Equestria is safer now that I have them," she said to herself as she started making her way upstairs after re-locking the door. She had just managed to hit the last step when she heard Fire speak, saying that she wished she'd get home soon. She smiled. "Well then, I suppose I arrived at the perfect time then," she smiled waiting for the ensuing hug that would make a bear seem weak.

[Lux]

Fire's ears perked up as she heard a familiar voice at the entrance to her home. She turned to see her wife standing there after her party with some very strange items around her. Those definitely weren't with her when she left for her party. 

 

"Ice!" she said wrapping her wife in an embrace, "Glad to see you're back! How was the party...err...and what are those orbs?" 

[IceStorm]

Ice Storm was prepared for the ensuing hug and returned out with much vigor and included a kiss on her wife's cheek before pressing one to her lips as well. She heard her ask about the spheres and found it a tad bit odd, but she supposed that Swift Squall never told her what exactly he was working on for her. "Oh, these are version of sorcerer spheres called Opalus Spheres. Swift Squall said that he had them specially made for me and that you had helped him with it by gathering my magic aura so he could bind then to me," she smiled pulling the mare tighter into her hug.

 

"Speaking of gifts... Mines not as amazing as the work you and Swift put into these, but I did have it custom made just for you," she smiled pulling the small but hefty box from her stocking and presented it to Fire. Inside the box was a very large prefect quality fire ruby necklace. The ruby was cut to match Fire's cutie mark and contrasted with vibrant fire orange diamonds around the perimeter. The chain itself was laced with a mix of prefect princess cut diamonds and sapphires alternating with each other. Ice waited eagerly for her to open the box, hoping she would love it.

[Lux]

As Fire welcomed the barrage of hugs and kisses, she saw the surprised look on her wife's face when Fire asked about the orbs. It was if the red unicorn was supposed to know. Then Ice explained how they were from Swift and that Fire helped gather the aura. 

 

"Right, I remember now! I knew that Swift wanted your aura for some present, but I didn't know what it was."

 

It was then that Ice prsented her gift, a necklace fit for a Princess that looked liked Fire's cutie Mark. 

 

"Oh Ice! It's beautiful! You know, great minds do think alike when you see my gift for you."

 

The gift for Ice Storm was similar necklace, one of her cutie Mark in a perfectly cut sapphire surrounded by red gems. The chain of white gold was accented by rubies, sapphires, and diamonds. 

[IceStorm]

 

Ice Storm smiled and returned the kisses that she had received from Fire Heart. She was quite happy to be back at home with her wife and spending the rest of the holiday with her family. She wished that she could have included her mother in such events, but she just couldn't get a hold of her for the holidays. She began to wonder about her a bit. Perhaps she would have to make a trip to Hoofington to check up on her store there and make sure everything was running smoothly. She hadn't gotten any complaints, but it was a good excuse for checking up on her mother without making it seem like she was being a worry wort.

 

It seemed that Fire remembered now that Swift had asked her to collect the aura from her but she had no idea what he was actually going to do with it. It would have been hard to actually. She didn't think that Swift Squall liked her enough to get her something of that magnitude. But she has them now, and she was going to make sure that she used them to keep Equestria safe. When Fire opened her gift though, the look on her face said everything that she needed to know. The warm smile and the eye contact as she spoke, adding that great minds think alike when she was presented with a similar necklace. The sapphire was mesmerizing, and red rubies accented them very well. The opacity of the rubies as well, would give them somewhat of a purplish look on her coat, and the chain, like the one that she had given Fire was also inlayed with gems. "Oh wow, this is quite beautiful, and sparkly!!" she smiled with a giggle. She loved anything that sparkled. She sat down and snuggled into her wife and gently nuzzled her. "How have you been? I can't imagine it's easy waiting for me to get done with the missions I've been on recently," she stated.

[Lux]

Fire smiled as Ice accepted the necklace. It was ironic how the two thought alike whether it was places to go, things to do, or in this gifts to each other. 

 

"Sparkly indeed!" Fire said with a giggle, "I can imagine you basking in the gems at the jewelry store when you were picking out my necklace." 

 

"How have you been? I can't imagine it's easy waiting for me to get done with the missions I've been on recently."

 

"I'm fine. Being a teacher's assistant at the school I graduated is a strange thing. I always expected that one day I'd wake up and find myself as a student there instead of a teacher. But really, there aren't many jobs that require fire magic like mine except maybe working at a restaurant cooking. I don't know if I'm that good with my cooking to be able to handle the pressure like that. I wish you'd tell me about these missions you're on, but I get that they'd be classified. You must see some neat places in your travels. Just promise me you'll stay safe, ok?" 

[IceStorm]

 

Ice Storm listened as she heard her love talk about her work at the school. she told her that working at the school that she graduated from was a bit strange. She was always expecing to wake up one morning and be a student there again rather than a teacher like she now was. She further added that there really weren't many jobs that required Fire Magic, except maybe cooking, but she didn't know if she was that good with her cooking to be able to handle pressure like that. "Pleeeeease, you're a great cook! I might be able to make anything that's frozen, but anything that requires heat to make you just smoke me at," she giggled a bit. If there was one thing that wouldn't change with her, it was her intentionally bad puns. It was something that she could always fall back on to lighten a mood, or just make everypony sigh around her which is sometimes the only distraction she needs.

 

Fire then made mention that she wished that she could know more about the missions and stuff that she went on. She understood that they were classified for the most part, but made the remark that she must get to see some really neat places. "Oh Definitely! I can't go into details as to why I was there, but I can definitly say that Neighpon is very nice, and I've been to Whitescar Several times. Although one of those times actually wasn't for a mission. I'm actually friends with Jarl Sigrin. Speaking of, I should probably get back up there at some point and make sure the Askr clan is still doing okay. The Red Jarl is know for quite the unsavory schemes. As far as staying safe goes. I'll stay as safe as I can, but injury is a constant occupational hazard. Except for my expeditions in the Frozen North. Those aren't a health hazard for me at least," Ice said smiling. She wondered if she could endure even colder elements with her new stones now. It was something that she would have to try next time that she was in the North. With that she smiled and slid the necklace that Fire had bought her around her neck, and the magical orbiting auras from the orbs gave the necklace a permanent sparkle.

[Lux]

Fire Heart couldn't help but roll her eyes at her love's bad puns. It lightened her heart that she was fine at cooking. 

 

"Well, the cooking part you could thank my parents for. At first they were hesitant to allow me to do anything with my magic. But they knew that suppressing it wasn't good either, so they taught me to cook with supervision. It started slow at first like toasting bread but eventually it went to other things. Lots of toast was burned in the name of controlling my magic." 

 

"Oh Definitely! I can't go into details as to why I was there, but I can definitly say that Neighpon is very nice, and I've been to Whitescar Several times. Although one of those times actually wasn't for a mission. I'm actually friends with Jarl Sigrin. Speaking of, I should probably get back up there at some point and make sure the Askr clan is still doing okay. The Red Jarl is know for quite the unsavory schemes. As far as staying safe goes. I'll stay as safe as I can, but injury is a constant occupational hazard. Except for my expeditions in the Frozen North. Those aren't a health hazard for me at least," 

 

Lots of what Ice said was confusing to Fire, particularly the caribou lands. Fire hadn't had a chance to explore much of Equestria, at least not beyond places like Canterlot, Ponyville, and Manehattan. 

 

"Well the next time you go to these places, let me know. I mean for a non-mission of course. I'd like to see places beyond Canterlot. I think I'm so used to this place I can walk it blindfolded and still know where I'm going. Speaking of other places, who is this Red Jarl? Is he a caribou, too?" 

[IceStorm]

 

Ice Storm was a bit shocked when Fire didn't know who the Red Jarl was. Ever since he had invaded the Crystal Empire and caused the destruction of the original Spire, she thought his name would be known by all. Granted, the fight was connected back to Sombra which was, at the time, the bigger threat, but knowing what they had now she wasn't so sure. She didn't ponysally fight Sombra to know what tech or magical nullifying artifacts he had, but the fact that they had forests of wood that could neutralize magic that hit it... That was dangerous. Still she looked back to her wife. "The Red Jarl is the Caribou that attacked the Crystal Faire while I was there several years ago. He is the reason that I joined the force that I did, so I could make sure that didn't happen again. unfortunately, I know of at least two occasions where we failed to do that," she said with a sigh.

"No matter though, it's Hearth's Warming. There's no sense in letting the negative events of the past bring us down. We don't get anywhere near enough time together anymore," she said leaning in and giving Fire a small peck on her cheek. "So I don't wanna spend what time we do have being a negative nancy. And tell you what, I'm going to Las Pegasus in a week. Why don't you come with me? I was originally looking to purchase some land out there to put another shop, but apparently that was another thing that Swift Squall got me was some prime real estate. Hopefully he's not actually trying to make advances.... He was at our wedding for Celestia's sake so he knows I'm taken and won't reciprocate them. Like, I got him gifts as a co-worker... but nothing near anything like this. Maybe you could even help me design that store! It's Las Pegasus, so whatever we come up with, we'll have to make it stand out! and it will probably have to be a casino and have a hotel in it too..." she said, thinking a bit out loud.

[Lux]

Spoiler

Hey, I saw your Opalus Synphony thread, and I think I can bridge the two a little. It will be subtle at first, but think Disney's Frozen and sort of what happened to Anna later on. 

Fire shivered as she listened to Ice Storm explain who Red Jarl is. The red unicorn knew that something happened in the Crystal Empire that made her suddenly go from being a frozen treats store owner to a secret agent. Of course there were ponies who had an occupational crisis and thought of another better way to use their talents, but this was certainly extreme. But when one's life is threatened, their lives are forever changed. 

 

"So, he was the reason why you almost... you know... at the Crystal Faire and why you took your new job. I don't know how my life would change in such a situation, but it would probably be the same." 

 

"So I don't wanna spend what time we do have being a negative nancy. And tell you what, I'm going to Las Pegasus in a week. Why don't you come with me? I was originally looking to purchase some land out there to put another shop, but apparently that was another thing that Swift Squall got me was some prime real estate. Hopefully he's not actually trying to make advances.... He was at our wedding for Celestia's sake so he knows I'm taken and won't reciprocate them. Like, I got him gifts as a co-worker... but nothing near anything like this. Maybe you could even help me design that store! It's Las Pegasus, so whatever we come up with, we'll have to make it stand out! and it will probably have to be a casino and have a hotel in it too..."

 

"Yeah, I hope he doesn't get any ideas like that," Fire said as she could feel the air around her turn hot. Thankfully there was no actual flames, and she quickly relaxed as the air returned to normal, "Anyway, designs, huh? Are you talking about it being in a hotel or casino? If so, you'd have to look at their theme. If not, then you have more say."

 

She paced for a moment until a thought crossed her mind. 

 

"Hey, what about an ice palace? Everything is made of ice inside a magically refrigerated room. The walls would be covered with ice blocks with designs carved in them , as will the seats, tables and counter. The seats will of course have cushions so the ponies don't have to sit directly on ice. Shaved ice could be sold in a cup made of ice as could any frozen drinks. It would be a cool experience! What do you think?" 

 

With that she let out a little laugh. Perhaps Ice Storm's jokes were wearing off on her. As she approached her love, she stopped suddenly and winced in pain slightly. What was making her feel so uncomfortable? It was then she saw a build up of ice on her chest and forelegs. 

 

"Uh... Ice, are you feeling ok?" Fire said trying to shrug off the pain and melt away the ice. 

[IceStorm]

 

Ice listened for a moment and shook her head when Fire mentioned it being inside a Hotel and Casino. She was right. If it was going to be inside of another hotel and casino it would have to match their theme. She would be extremely restricted on what she would be able to do there. "Na, it's not something that's gonna be going into another hotel Casino, it's one we're gonna have to build from the ground up. Now for the actual parlor part of the Hotel that would be amazing! really enjoy the atmosphere of the place. For the actual Restaurant, hotel, and casino, I like the ice palace design, and making everything look like ice, but I imagine ponies would get uncomfortable in something like that pretty quickly. Aside from the anomoly that is me, and maybe a few others, most ponies don't like cold. Hehe," she commented

 

"Oh, if we're doing this together... maybe we should have it both fire and Ice themed!! Like the casino floor could be a frozen tundra over and ocean and transition into a flaming spewing volcano! Oh! and we could have two themes to the hotel to! An Ice side and a Fire Side! and aesthetically we could make the Fire side warm and the ice side cool, that way ponies can enjoy both!! Our heating and cooling bill will be atrocious, but eh, it's not like we can't really afford it at this point," she said as she watched Fire approach for a hug. She kinda recoiled when she winced a bit though, and was a bit fear stricken when she saw the small bit of ice form on her. "Holy Celestia!! I thought those were off! I guess controlling these are going to be a bit harder than I thought. I guess that makes sense though since I just got them... That being said, I'm okay, was just very happy, but my question is are you okay? I know that you have a high sensitivity to cold like I do with fire, and the absolute last thing I want is to have you hurt," she replied concerned.

[Lux]

A new casino and hotel? This was certainly more than Fire imagined. But this wasn't something she could focus on right now. It was the biting cold coming off her wife which continued to make her shiver and hurt. 

 

"Holy Celestia!! I thought those were off! I guess controlling these are going to be a bit harder than I thought. I guess that makes sense though since I just got them... That being said, I'm okay, was just very happy, but my question is are you okay? I know that you have a high sensitivity to cold like I do with fire, and the absolute last thing I want is to have you hurt,"

 

It's...ok. I'm just a little cold that's all," she said with a half-hearted smile, although clearly she was in more pain than she could admit. She took a few steps back to lessen the effects of the cold, hoping that she'd feel better. "Anyway... you were saying about the hotel, right? That's neat having a fire and ice hotel. The ice and fire sides seem interesting. Maybe have a lobby that's both, but then have two sides. Ooh! Maybe two hotel towers, one ice, one fire, just not actually ice or fire." 

[IceStorm]

 

Ice wasn't entirely convinced that fire was okay, but it seemed that the ice was slowly fading from her. With her fire warming her she presumed that everythign would work itself out with that. It did reinforce the fact that she needed to get training with these things much sooner rather than later. She needed these under her control, not the other way around. Quickly though Fire went back to the topic of the hotel area and spoke of possibly having two towers for the hotel! "Oh! that's a great idea! and we could have the towers mimic what they are. The Ice could be a giant Iceberg, and the fire one could be a super active volcano with fake eruptions! We could do something to make a show with it as well!!" She said before looking back to her. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked wanting to make absolutely sure that her wife was okay.

[Lux]

Fire Heart tried to listen to Ice's plans for the new fire and ice hotel, but something was clearly wrong. Event with focusing on her fire magic to try and reduce the patch of ice on her coat, the patch was actually growing larger, causing most of her chest to turn white. But beyond the ascetics which she didn't care about, the pain was starting to get intense. It was as if the energy emanating from those orbs magnified Ice's ability even if she wasn't using her magic.  She began to shiver from the cold to the extent that her whole body trembled. 

 

"Are you sure you're okay?"

 

"I...uh...c..can you t...take t..those orbs...o...off. S...something w...wrong with them. T...too c..cold."

[IceStorm]

((Apologies. I had a tournament I was prepairing for and immediately after I got sick...))

 

 

When Ice noticed the orbs starting to chill the room even more without her control, she took a step back. Fire was right, there was something off with them. Perhaps she should take them off until she's been able to practice with them a bit more. Now that she was thinking about it though, the orbs stopped dead in their tracks and then rested along her neck, almost like a necklace, but they still would not come off. "I... actually don't think I can take these off. Swift never mentioned how, and I don't know how to separate them from me. Hopefully though they will remain on my neck and inactive like this for the rest of the night. I'll talk to Twilight about them as soon as I can, perhaps Discord as well. He might be a bit chaotic, but he knows magic. He should be able to help figure out something," Ice replied.

[Lux]

OOC: That's ok. I just got a cold, which is more annoying than debilitating. 

 

"I... actually don't think I can take these off. Swift never mentioned how, and I don't know how to separate them from me. Hopefully though they will remain on my neck and inactive like this for the rest of the night. I'll talk to Twilight about them as soon as I can, perhaps Discord as well. He might be a bit chaotic, but he knows magic. He should be able to help figure out something,"

 

Fire could feel the coldness dissipate slowly as she was able to relax. Now that she was able to focus, she activated her fire magic to form a shield around her to warm her body and melt the ice. Although it did took a longer time for her to get back to a level of being comfortable. 

 

"Phew! Thanks for turning those things off! It was getting hard to breathe with all that cold. Now that you mention it, I don't think that Swift told me either about the aura. I can't imagine what I'd do if I had those orbs. Maybe you're right. Maybe Twilight and Discord help." 

 

She hoped that whatever was causing those orbs to activate would be solved. Otherwise spending Hearth's Warming together might be problematic. 

 

"So, you were saying about some fire and ice show? Oooh, maybe a show of two dragons fighting each other, one fire and one ice and the stage would be a round one with mountains that the dragons could cling to, one being a snowy peak and one being a volcano!" 

[IceStorm]

 

"Not a problem! I actually wasn't sure if that was going to stop them or not. I just had to think about it extra carefully. Unfortunately Swift didn't remember to include and instruction manual with them. So yeah, hopefully Twilight and Discord can help me understand them and control them a bit more," Ice smiled. "As far as the dragon idea goes, I like it! We'd have to to figure out a way for it to be done on a nightly basis. Perhaps we could find some Showdragons there or something that could help put un the show with different outcomes. Granted we could always make the dragons out of our magics, but to do the show on a nightly basis would wear us out, plus we would actually have to move to Las Pegasus and I'm not really up for that idea. I've heard from a few ponies that live there that it's a good place to visit, but not to live. A lot of corruption there that I'd rather not be tempted to get involved with. Basically, I want to oversee construction and then use the resort as a get-a-way for us to just disappear every couple of weeks, and possibly do some shows or something while were there. I do like the snow covered peak and the Volcano Idea though, so it will definitly be a twin-towered hotel," she smiled.

[Lux]

"Right, that would take a lot of magic," fire said thinking about each show and how much time and effort it would take nightly. And Fire would have to agree, that would require them having to move. 

 

"So, we would build it and manage it, but not stay there. And this would be like a vacation place for us but also other ponies, too? My only question is, how would we pay for this? Do you have some money from your missions?" 

[IceStorm]

 

When Fire asked about the Hotel and how they would be able to afford it, if she had money from her missions, Ice Storm nodded. She actually had multiple sources of income that helped with this aspect."Yup! I have bits from the missions I go on, and I have a very large amount put away. More than we'd ever really need actually but I keep on hoof for emergencies and the like. Since.... I don't wanna sound all negative and such, but it's mostly a back up clause for you... in the event that well... I don't... return from a mission," she explained rubbing the back of her head a bit. She knew where all of it was, and which bank it was in. The clause on it was that should anything ever happen to her, the entire funds got transferred into an account for Fire Heart. She had enough profits from her already five stores, the guild, Luna, and the guard that she had more than enough put back for something big like this. "But yes, I think that would be best. Once we get everything build, we use it as a getaway, while still being able to check up on things. Besides. It would be nice to have a retreat somewhere that we don't have to spend bits on."

[Lux]

"Yup! I have bits from the missions I go on, and I have a very large amount put away. More than we'd ever really need actually but I keep on hoof for emergencies and the like. Since.... I don't wanna sound all negative and such, but it's mostly a back up clause for you... in the event that well... I don't... return from a mission," 

 

At first Fire Heart felt that the large amount of money was intriguing. Perhaps she should inquire about being part of this secret group. But then Ice's next words about her not returning sent a chill down her spine, colder and more painful that the prior ice magic. To think about her being alone, without Ice. No, she couldn't think about her not coming home. 

 

"But yes, I think that would be best. Once we get everything build, we use it as a getaway, while still being able to check up on things. Besides. It would be nice to have a retreat somewhere that we don't have to spend bits on."

 

"Yeah, having a place like that would be nice providing we could keep it running. I mean, you have your five stores to take care of and your...missions. Speaking of your missions, I'm considering something, but I wanted to get your opinion. Considering that I'm still looking for something that can best use my talents, except for maybe teaching, do you think I'd work well in your group?"

 

Spoiler

Short response I know, but with Easter weekend I could only post a little. 

 

[IceStorm]

 

Ice Storm was a little bit intrigued when Fire Heard asked her about the organization that she was in and if she thought that she would be a good fit for it. That she was looking for a place where she could use her talents for something other than maybe teaching and cooking. Ice Storm thought for a bit on the answer. She couldn't give the answer right away, she was going to have to ask some questions first if she wanted to give her partner a loving, but honest answer. "Talent wise, I would say without a doubt our organization could always use somepony like you. I mean your Fire Power rivaled my Ice Power. So it logically if they were accepting of me, and my skills, then they would be highly accepting of yours as well. Especially if i put in a high recommendation. However, before I can give an honest answer, I have to ask one very important question. Are you willing to do what is needed to be done to complete a mission? We are an Equestrian Defense force. While we do a lot of recon stuff... we also to a lot of defense and rescue missions. Are you willing to fight... or possibly cause dire harm on others, that may very well be other ponies in order to keep the Princesses, and Equestria safe?" she asked.

 

To Ice Storm, this wasn't a question of loyalty. Fire Heart was her wife. She knew very well where her loyalties lied so that wasn't even up for debate. But she also knew that Fire had a deep seated worry about accidentally hurting another pony with her magic. She needed to be sure that if it came to it, and she joined EPIC, that she would have no problems intentionally doing so, or that it wouldn't cause some of those fears to burn even stronger. If Fire felt that she was up for joining though and that she could handle everything that came with it though. Ice Storm would speak with the brass about it in the coming week. However, even if she joined Ice Storm wanted one very hard rule to be followed. Unless it was a safe mission like a simple information expedition in a region that isn't heavily controlled or populated... she wanted it mandated that they were not allowed to go on missions together. At least not missions that have the potential for close combat to present. No Strike missions, no defense missions. They were a married couple. There was no way that either of them would be able to put aside the feelings that they had for each other in order to do what needed to be done in the event that something had happened or somepony had gone after the other.

[Lux]

"Talent wise, I would say without a doubt our organization could always use somepony like you. I mean your Fire Power rivaled my Ice Power. So it logically if they were accepting of me, and my skills, then they would be highly accepting of yours as well. Especially if i put in a high recommendation. However, before I can give an honest answer, I have to ask one very important question. Are you willing to do what is needed to be done to complete a mission? We are an Equestrian Defense force. While we do a lot of recon stuff... we also to a lot of defense and rescue missions. Are you willing to fight... or possibly cause dire harm on others, that may very well be other ponies in order to keep the Princesses, and Equestria safe?"

 

Fire Heart thought about what Ice Storm said. It was noble to consider that she had, in Ice Storm's opinion, a power level that rivaled hers. But then it got serious with the question posed towards the red unicorn: could she do what needed to be done, even harm to others? She had, after all, sworn to herself and to others to control her emotions and not use her fire magic to hurt others. But what would she do if the difference between her and her teammates getting hurt or worse meant using her magic against another? 

 

"I...I know I'm trying to not hurt anypony, but if it means that I must defend myself and others from evil, I'd say...yes?"

[IceStorm]

 

Ice Storm could respect the answer that her wife gave her. In fact, it was the exact answer that she was looking for. It was impossible for a pony to say with one hundred percent efficiency what they would do in a hostile situation like that. It took Ice Storm actually being in a life or death protection situation before she realized that her power in ice wasn't destined to make snow cones for eternity, but was so that she could use her power to protect others. the fact that she had just gotten new enhancements to this magic mean that it rested even more on her shoulders now to keep Equestria and the Princesses safe. It wouldn't surprise her either, if the missions that she got now, were much more vital and forceful. She could easily stage a full fledged arcane frontal assault now. Well, once she learned how to harness these to their full potential anyways. "That, my love is the best answer that you could have given me. I will speak to my CO in a few days. For now though, We need to start packing and getting ready. We have a trip to Las Pegasus in a week, and we should remember to have some fun while we're out there."

[Lux]

Fire Heart hoped that this was the right answer. Well, it was right since it was from the heart, but was it right for the job? She knew that there was some purpose to her fire magic beyond cooking, but all she could think about was teaching magic. Gone were the days of lacking control. Now she had the power and the control. 

 

That, my love is the best answer that you could have given me. I will speak to my CO in a few days. For now though, We need to start packing and getting ready. We have a trip to Las Pegasus in a week, and we should remember to have some fun while we're out there."

 

"Oh, wow. I didn't know if that was the best answer! I mean, I didn't know how to really answer that. Thank you for asking your CO. I guess we'll see what happened. Anyway, you're right. Let's get packing. I can't wait until we get to Las Pegasus!" 

 

Spoiler

Would you like to continue this thread or perhaps move onto one in Las Pegasus?