776/Magic Tutoring

Magic Tutoring
Date of Scene:	17 November 2023
Location:	Dorms #1
Synopsis:	Sunbreaker teachs Double Trouble more about how to wield magic... they also discuss their future and where they came from. Absolutely nothing could go wrong.
Cast of Characters:	Hinoiri Kirara, Double Trouble

---

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Sunbreaker appeared in the middle of the dusk zone, somewhere...

... She had no idea where she was. But that was common for this place, so it was exactly as planned.

Once Double Trouble arrived, likely... a bit less stable than Sunbreaker, she held out her hand. "Now then. Let the dark energy course through you. I find it's much easier to just... let it enter your body when here. To kind of charge up, as it were, by absorbing the magic while it's pushing in on your on all side."

"From there, you need to focus on where you want to go. I find it's easier the further away it is. Kind of... sling shotting yourself off the dusk zone, to where you want to be. Now, normal teleportation is muuuuuch more precise... but a lot harder than dusk porting, so we're going to focus on that. Such a method is also very normal to just... pop up somewhere else than you meant. So don't be upset if you end up going too far. We're going to aim for those forest paths I showed you last time, okay?"

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble had been practicing. If they were going to really sell Shadow Weaver, they needed to be able to duskport. Not to mention, they really hated taking the elevator when they went in to the office. They couldn't quite get there yet. They hoped this lesson would help them figure it out.

They arrived just a couple moments later. They have surprisingly good balance, wobbling a little, but never in danger of stumbling. It's the tail. It acts as a counterweight. That doesn't stop them, however, from taking hold of Sunbreaker's hand when she offers it. And then continuing to hold it.

"Alright, I think I've got it," they say. "So I'm going to think about where I want to come out, and let the dark energy take me there. Give or take." They shrug. "Seems easy enough."

They give Sunbreaker's hand a squeeze and then let go. They know they've got to do this part on their own. They do just what she said, relaxing and letting th edark energy flow through them. They hold the image of those forest paths in their mind, and then just make an effort.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Sunbreaker may have turned just a tiny itty bit red in the cheeks when Double Trouble took her hands. "Right. So just... focus on where you want to go, and kind of... slingshot yourself out from here, to your destination. Don't try and fight the arrival, just let it slide in where it feels comfortable. You're not going to be able to make the chosen location precise, but you can at least make it somewhat comfortable. I'll meet you there and give you a path to follow."

She then dusk ported away after pulling her hands away.

In theory, a lot of dusk porting was just... kind of giving in and flinging one's self to the destination. Was kind of why it was so much easier the more often you went to the same place to actually get TO that place. But also why it was so imprecise.

On the upside, Sunbreaker arrived in the middle of the forest, sitting on a rock and, hopefully, Dee would be able to follow that same path.

Double Trouble has posed:
She'd said to slingshot themself to their destination. Double Trouble concentrated and let the dark energy just carry them away with a whoosh. This felt differently than when they popped over from the physical realm. It was less of a fight and more of a ride. It was fun in a way.

And it was over in just an instant. Double Trouble managed to follow the path. But they did emerge a little off the mark along the z-axis. Just a moment after Sunbreaker arrives on her rock, she'll hear a rapidly approaching Double Trouble call out from above. "Look out darliiiiiiinmg!"

Right before they crash land right on top of the unicorn.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Sunbreaker glanced up. "Huh?"

Well, it meant that Double Trouble avoided getting impaled on a horn. But it also meant that Sunbreaker was ill prepared and didn't move away when she should have. If this were an anime, they would have fallen so their mouths touched in a humorous, but passionate kiss.

But it wasn't. So instead it was more their heads did colide... foreheads first. And Sunbreaker dropped under the lizard, her eyes swirls and giving a few soft, pained groans. "G-good... j-job... for a... s-second attempt... o-ow..." she mumbled, giving another groan. "J-just... just gonna need... a moment."

Unicorn dooooooown.

Double Trouble has posed:
Sunbreaker broke their fall, but Double Trouble still knocked noggins with her pretty hard. Gravity is harsh. They roll off in a somersault so the end up laying on their back on the ground, their head right next to Sunbreaker's. It's not quite anime, but they're trying.

"Yeeeah. My head. I'm so bad at this," they say. They bring their hands up to their face and rub it. "I'm sorry."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Sunbreaker slowly, verrrry slowly, sat up and rubbed her head. "It's... it's fine. Very common, honestly. The first time I teleported I ended up teleporting outside and the royal guards had to catch me. Dusk porting is easier, but well... not that much easier when you consider your current lack of knowledge on magic as a whole."

She shook her head, clearing it. "Oof. Okay. Right. Actually, though, that was about as best you can expect, though. I think we should work on your manipulation of dark energy, though. Namely, the 'floating' thing. It's pretty cool. More importantly, when you arrive somewhere and appear 20 feet in the air you can just float there and not look like you didn't mean to do that."

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble just laid there on the ground and looked up at Sunbreaker as they listened. They've got a dopey grin on their face. Their eyes blink sideways. But then they're really getting back into the lesson, so they scramble up to their feet. They're so fast when they try.

"Yes!" They shout when Sunbreaker says 'floating'. "I absolutely need that to pull off Shadow Weaver right. I'm surprised Adora bought it last time, honestly. Just shows how dumb that girl is." Not falling from twenty feet in the air? Also good.

"Did I tell you about the youma I threw at her?" Double Trouble asks.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Sunbreaker blinked a few times and shook her head. But... she... she tried to keep her face calm. She was teaching. SHE was a teacher here.

But oh my gosh, seeing Double Trouble actually so EXCITED just FILLED her with an odd sense of glee. She didn't know why, but it felt REALLY good to be teaching someone and having them get so EXCITED about all she was teaching. It made her feel important. Valuable. It made her feel like her lessons were helping and making things better.

Also it was cute as heck.

"Floating isn't so hard. Feel the dark eenrgy that is in you and just kind of... let it. Kind of like.... swimming in the air, I suppose. But not. Just let the dark energy flow through you and push you around. It's not the most.... concise movement. But it lets you hover there without falling on your flank, which is nice."

"As for the youma, no,m you haven't, but I'd love to hear all about it. What kind of youma was it?" Ahhhh, evil bonding.

Double Trouble has posed:
They're not wearing their necklace, and the dusk zone makes it easy to get dark energy, so Double Trouble has no reason not to tell this story in the most them way possible.

Their body melts into a glob of inky blackness that then extends and reforms as the tall and slender Shadow Weaver. With that low husky voice, she says, "I intercepted Adora on her way back to the bus from her ridiculous Equestrian club." Clearly Shadow Weaver disapproves. But she disapproves of everything Adora does that's not what she says. "She was shocked to see me because she saw me die. But since Catra's from the past, she just absolutely bought it."

Shadow Weaver could teach an entire course on how to evil laugh.

"Of course that blonde brute just transformed and came right at me because she doesn't know how to do anything else," Double trouble goes on. "But that was the plan. I had snagged a youma, and it possessed the bus Adora was going to catch. Uh. With people in it."

All while she's talking, Shadow Weaver channels the dark energy, and starts to lift up off the ground, drifting around. It's kinda goofy at first until she gets the hang of it.

Then she shifts into Dianora. She can still use her magic because it's not the necklace, and so the black-haired girl in pink is floating like an possessed, evil school girl. It's a vision to behold.

"And so when She-Ra showed up on the spot, I was there for her to rescue! She saved me from the bus youma, and then trashed it. She's a good fighter. I have to admit it. She's dumb as a brick, but she's good with that sword of hers. And Swift Wind," she says.

Then she stops. Her lips curl in and she looks up to Hinoiri, and says, "And then they gave me a ride back to campus. Swift Wind did loop-de-loops. He's such a fucking show-off."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Sunbreaker couldn't help but snicker while the other girl talked. "Saw her die? That must have been quite the thing. Let me guess, Adora is very much the 'stab my enemies until they die' sort? Is it just me, or are all these so called 'heroic' types pretty murdery? I've had like... five try to kill me." Well, only three who actively tried to do it. But two more she suspected wanted to.

She still smiled through the display, even giving a low applause at that. "Oh my. And you even played up the role of Dianora. Absolutely marvelous. Who would have thought that... well, okay. I'm pretty sure someone like Adora could be fooled with a fake wig and like. A nametag. But I'm sure future sparkle skirts will be just as susceptible," she said, laughing loudly...

However... the mention of Swiftwind. Uhhhh... Got Hinoiri to noticeably lean forward.

"...Swift Wind... let you ride him?" she asked softly. Her voice filled with reverence. "And... and you did loop-de-loops? Did he do any other magic?"

Double Trouble has posed:
Before answering that question Dianora shimmers into an inky black nothing and then back into Double Trouble. They dart forward and turn around sitting themselves down next to Sunbreaker, draping their arm over her shoulders, and wrapping their tail around her waist. Their unicorn.

"I'm telling you. He doesn't really do magic. It's all her. He's just a self-obssessed himbo gossip that can fly. You've got more magic in your pinkie, darling. I'm telling you," they say, giving Sunbreaker a squeeze. "But anyway. I'm gonna do this more. Because I think you're right, and Dianora needs more friends." They grin.

"So, anyway. About duskporting. I really want to be able to duskport into the office like everybody else. I hate going up the elevator," they say. Then they sit there for a moment. "How long before I can do that, do you think?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Sunbreaker gave a soft sigh. "Really? So... it's... Adora? She can do that? Just... make someone an alicorn? I wonder if she could do that to me..." She leaned back against Double Trouble. "I wonder if it would do the same thing. Our magics aren't the same. Oh gosh. What if it made me a... himbo?"

...

"What's a himbo?"

Offfff course.

"As for teleporting into the office? You could likely do that now. The hard part would be getting where you want to BE in the office. Namely, you don't want to go to the wrong place. Fortunately, it's easier than you'd think. You see, there's a lot of places you just.... can't teleport there. And because of that, if you teleport there you only end up in the places you CAN appear. So it's annoying, but useful. LKess chances of ending up in the wrong office. but still appearing outside the wrong door."

"But, let's be fair. Duskporting is way easier than normal teleportation. So don't think I'm just giving you too much credit. It really is just that simple in comparison. You really want to work on the floating and speed part first. Prioritizing those will help you avoid like... getting hurt when you mess up."

"On the upside, you're pretty good at covering, so even if you end up in the wrong place, you should be able to play it off. And the more often you go there, the easier it'll be. Think of it like... taking a path that's well worn. Every time you travel it, it gets easier. Before you know it, it's almost second nature."

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble just looks at Sunbreaker for a moment. Of course they don't know that word. "Basically, Adora is a lesbian himbo. Dumb as bricks, but strong and with a strong moral center. Swift Wind isn't any smarter," they explain.

They pause to consider the question of if she could do that to Sunbreaker and shakes their head. "I don't think she can make any more alicorns. She-Ra is supposed to have a noble steed, so the magic in her sword turned that horse into Swift Wind. I mean, I guess maybe you could hack it." They shrug. "I've never understood that stuff."

They listen about duskporting to the office and paths and how it's actually pretty safe to duskport to there. "Oh good. Well, I'll keep practicing," they say. But not right now. right now they're going to sit right next to Sunbreaker. Their arm still around her shoulder, their tail still around her waist.

They lean their head against hers and sigh. It's a happy sigh.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Sunbreaker gave a small nod. "She's... an idiot but strong. Huh. Himbo. Heh. I guess that means a lot of people are himbos, right?" she asked with a light laugh. "That'd make Catra one as well, right? Well. If she didn't have that 'strong, moral center'." She leans against her and sighs a little herself.

"... Yeah. I possibly could. Using a magic item like that. I could probably sever its connection to Swiftwind. But... if he doesn't have magic power, maybe it's not it. I'll need to... check with him. And if it turns out he's not actually an alicorn, if it just... looks like it? Even worse. Cause that'd... just be insulting."

She leaned against Double Trouble, a small smile forming on her lips. "... You're such a professional drama queen. You'd fit right in amongst the nobility of Kirakirafantastica. Before long I bet you'd have them eating out of your hands."

"... So. Catra... really did turn 'good' in her world? In her future? How'd that turn out for her? Were you and her... well. Friends?"

Double Trouble has posed:
"Himbos are usually male, though," Double Trouble quickly clarifies. "It's just Adora's exactly that, but a lesbian. It works because she's so butch."

They lean back against Sunbreaker and their free hand reaches across to rest on her leg. Perhaps an invitation to hold hands. They listen as she talks.

"Mm. Nobles are easy to manipulate," they say, so casually. "They always care so much about image and propriety. All you have to is get them to do something shameful--which is usually all too easy--and then the black mail is always so easy." This is what villains talk about on their dates, apparently.

They lift their head and look at Sunbreaker for a moment and then laugh before looking back toward the trees in front of them and leaning against her once more. "I wouldn't say we were friends, but we've been through some things together, sure," Double Trouble says. They know Sunbreaker's sensitive about this.

"The Catra that Adora and I knew, didn't get sent here by that portal. When that all resolved she went on to lead the Horde while Hordak occupied himself doing whatever. But then the rest of the Horde showed up and she lost everything. Adora rescued her from being mind controlled, and they had some space adventure. I don't know. I was back on Etheria the whole time."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Sunbreaker just blinked a few times. "Wait, so it's a... ohhhhh. So wait. It's like... himbo, and then female himbo? Err, lesbian himbo? There's no female equivalent? This world is weird," she muttered. "The whole... gender dynamic thing is just so strange here. Back home, it's nothing like this. Males and females coexist all the time. Did you know I've gotten like... seventeen threats just for talking with that Adrien kid? At first I thought these girls had figured me out. But nope. Just a bunch of brats who think he's cute and for some reason I'm interested. It's kind of obnoxious."

Her hand reached out and didn't grab theirs, but did stroke it.

"Nobility... yeah. I used to get a lot of grief from them, at first. Then I ended up 'accidentally' lighting one of these hussy's manes on fire after some 'comments'. I said it was an accident... but it totally wasn't. Funny how they kind of backed off a bit further once they thought I might get 'stressed' and cause an 'incident' to them if they kept prodding me."

She cocked an eye at the news about Catra and snorted. "You know... it sounds like they're all being *really* stupid about this whole thing. Like... don't get me wrong. It's funny. Hilarious, even. But... why are they all set on being miserable?" She sighed and leaned against Double Trouble. "If you really want something and it wants you, why not just accept it? Is everyone on your planet such a broken mess?"

She paused. Then snorted. "And yes, I know I'm broken. But I'm broken in the *right* ways." That was debatable.

Double Trouble has posed:
"It wasn't until Catra lost literally everything, even her own autonomy, that she was able to let go of her trauma," Double Trouble says. The therapy speak just rolls right of their tongue. They're a behavioral analysis expert, after all. And they know Catra inside and out. They've played her part so many times before.

"The girl that works with us at Obsidian is basically just a ball of trauma covered in fur. She's got so much rage, and a lot of it is righteous. She's had it hard her whole life. But she's convinced that what she needs is power, and that's not what's going to make her happy."

They give her leg a squeeze and then flip their hand over to catch hers, lacing their fingers between hers. "She didn't have a mentor. All she had Shadow Weaver who was an abusive wine mom right up until the end, basically. So all she knows is power and strength."

They don't say anything about how Sunbreaker is desperate for her former mentor's approval, whether or not she wants to admit it. But they think it really loudly.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Sunbreaker gave a small nod. "Ahhhhhh. So she lost everything, then she fiiiiiinally let someone help. She's going to be fun here, then. She's not going to survive it, though. She's going to tap into the dark energy, more and more. And eventually? When she has nothing left? When she walks on that razor's edge? It's going to kill her."

"I guess in the end, the only thing she wants... is to just cause as much pain and misery as she feels she should make others feel for what happened to her. Lame," Hinoiri said with a roll of her eyes.

"And I know what you're thinking. 'How much are you going to lose before you give this up'? It's... not... the same. I can handle this. I have a definitive end goal. Something I want. More importantly, I have rules. Lines I *will not* cross."

"... More importantly, I know what dark energy is doing to me. I know it's hurting me. I know how dangerous it is. I know if I go too far, it will kill me. That's why I'm going to succeed. I have to be stronger than it to use it. But, so long as my will is unbreakable... I can control it."

"... It's dangerous, this stuff. We didn't have dark energy back home. But we had... things that were close. Power like this will corrupt and change a person. The only way to control it, the only way to make sure you stay *you* is to set rules. Lines that you *never* let yourself cross. No matter how desperately you want to in the moment. Because the moment you cross them, you've lost and the power rules you, not the other way around."

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble listened as Sunbreaker spoke, leaning against her. Their eyes closed. Smiling. She always says so many words, but they don't mind, because they love the sound of her voice.

"Mmhmm. Which is why I'd like it if you could hurry up with your plans so we can get off this magically forsaken rock," they murmur. "Are you sure you need to prove something to everyone in Kirakirafantastica? You have my approval, who cares what they think?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Sunbreaker was a talker, it was how she lived. Over analyzing. Describing. Detailing. All of the little bits that made her... her.

"No. Nobody there will ever truly respect me. I don't care about them. The only one who... the only one who..." Her hands squeezed Double Trouble's.

"It's not just Sora," Hinoiri said. "It's me. Growing up there, my entire life. I lived in Sora's shadow. I was her pupil. Nobody wanted me. Nobody cared about me until her. To everyone else? I was just a kid who wasn't even talented. I just had the best mentor, so obviously I succeeded. Obviously I did better than everyone else. Nothing... mattered. I thought to Sora it did, but... in the end, it didn't. She told me she saw greatness in me. That one day I could achieve things that even she couldn't."

"... Then when I was on the cusp of it... she turned on me. She made excuse after excuse. She strung me along until I refused to be strung along anymore. And then she tossed me aside."

"... I can't let them be right. I can't let everything I worked for slip through my hooves on her whims. I won't." She held up her other hand, a small, rather cruel grin forming on her lips. "But soon, Dee. Just you wait. Every day I grow stronger. I push my limits. Every day I get stronger. Soon... I will become unstoppable. And well... my next little experiment? Oh. It will be a doozy." Her eyes had turned black, now. "Sailor Eclipse was a fun little... distraction. And it has given me so many, many ideas. I'm on the verge of turning *Everything* about them... on their head."

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble listens, their hand lifting up off Sunbreaker's shoulder to idly comb through her hair. It's almost as glorious as theirs.

When they've had these conversations in the past, Double Trouble just let it go. But now that they've acknowledged their feelings for the troublesome unicorn, they're struggling to do the same this time.

"Darling, just listen to yourself. With one breath you say you don't care about those people, but with the next you say you can't let them be right. I'm all about you getting stronger. I just want you to be doing it for _you_ and not just to prove yourself to a bunch of people that don't even care about you."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Sunbreaker nodded. "I... I guess I care. I care that... they tricked me for so long. I care that I... let them get to me. I need to prove them wrong. I have to prove them wrong. I..." She gave a soft, annoyed sigh.

"I guess it's also partially for them. I want all of them to see that I am more than what they said I was. They dismissed me and I will make them all regret it. In the end, they'll thank me because they'll understand that I was right all along. And I'll make them choke on their words. You can't tell me that you don't revel in watching the people who treated you like dirt have to swallow their pride and bow before you."

"And one day, they'll all bow and see I was the one who should have been in charge. That they should have helped me, rather than pushing me down. So when I rise up? They'll get *nothing* from me."

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble knows they should just let this go. Sunbreaker is not going to come around on this. And yet they simply cannot.

"Of course it feels good to make people bow before you," Double Trouble says. "I just want to make sure that you're doing all this for you and not for those fools who clearly don't deserve you." They ruffle her hair a little then put their arm around her shoulders again and squeeze tightly.

"But it's not like we can stay here forever, and I'd much rather be living it up as the consort to the ruler than whatever else we'd do," they say leaning their head back against hers.

"In the end, I just want you to be happy."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Sunbreaker nodded and then smiled. She, gingerly, leaned in to rub her cheek against Double Trouble's. "I am. That's the important part. Those idiots? They'll die off one day, anyway. And everyone else will see how brilliant I was. I'll be in control. And I will be happy. And... a... consort. I... I've never even thought of that."

"... You'll make a good consort, though. Heh. You'll probably have everyone there eating out of your hands in no time. One day... one day I'll be able to show you Kirakirafantastica. And you'll fall in love with it, just like you... have me..."

Annnnd there was that blush again. The idea of 'love' still obviously worried her a bit. But... she also... liked it.

Double Trouble has posed:
"Of course I will, darling," Double Trouble says because they'd love anywhere more magical than Earth. But that doesn't sound as good as what they say, "Because I'll be there with you."

They fall silent just enjoying the moment. They're in the forest, holding the girl they love, and making plans for the future. This is not a life they ever imagined. Not for them, at least. They have no idea what to expect, and it's amazing. They're very curious what will come next.

"So, what's this new plan you've got brewing, then?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Sunbreaker wouldn't have expected this either. Her. With a weird dragon/reptile. In another world. Where she was mostly powerless. She chuckled and reached up, gently scritching her ears. "Oh, I'm still working out the kinks. But, if I'm right? It'll be a good way to delay the sparkle skirts from interfering in my plans. Well. Reduce the energy used to summon youma, making it easier, allowing me to gather more energy when I do it. In the end? All around better for me, worse for them."

Sunbreaker then shook her head. "We should get back to your training, though. I don't want your little acts to get found out just because I was a bad teacher. If Adora expects dark magic... we'll show her just how much 'darkness' Shadow Weaver can wield."

She paused for a moment and... "That is *such* a stupid name. Double Trouble is way cooler."

Double Trouble has posed:
"I can't wait to see how it goes," Double Trouble says with a grin. If it's anything like her other plans, the failure will be spectacular, and they will be there to help her pick up the pieces. They get drama and connection, of course they're looking forward to it.

But enough about that. Back to their lessons. Or, instead, they could have a discussion about how ridiculous Etherian names are.

"Nobody in Etheria has any originality. None. Shadow Weaver does shadow magic. Glimmer has sparkle magic. Her best friend Bow? He's an archer. Her aunt is a sorceress. Her name? CASTASPELLA'. Guess what Netossa does? Spinerella? Frosta?" They shake their head. "I have the most original name in Etheria."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Sunbreaker was going to be a disaster after it. Or possibly worse. However... when Double Trouble explained it, well...

Sunbreaker snorted. Then, before long, she all but collapsed in laughter. "Oh my GOSH! She-RA! Cat-RA! Spin-e-rel-LA! You know the best part of it? The VERY best part?" Sunbreaker asked, laughing so hard there were almost tears in her eyes.

"Half the people in your name have CHEERS at the end of their name! Oh, Cat-ra-ra-ra! Bwa ha ha ha ha! And I thought MY world was fairytale filled! Bwa ha ha ha ha ha!"

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble joins right in with the laughter. It's funny, after all, and seeing Sunbreaker laugh like that is even better.

"It's so bad. Even the Horde had terrible names. Their leader? HORDAK," they say, and reach up to wipe away a single tear from laughing so hard.

Then they give Sunbreaker another squeeze before leaping up off the rock. "Now, let's practice!" They touch Sunbreaker on the tip of her nose, and say, "You're it!"

And then they duskport away.