TheFiredancer

National Equestrian Mage Conference

@Carlsberg

When Ley came to, she’d find that Sky had set up something to hold up a picture of a life sized, extremely eagerly grinning pink pony within about an inch of her face. When Ley opened her eyes, she’d be opening them to see an absolutely massive and close pair of sky blue orbs staring back at her.

National Equestrian Mage Conference

@Carlsberg

“Nah, nothing I can think of,” Sky said to Ley cheerfully, grinning. “Meditate to your heart’s content. Just hit the hay at a reasonable time. Gotta have the energy to properly get a feel for what’s here tomorrow before the Conference officially starts, no?”

He went back to assembling his cannon, which consisted of a seventy-five centimetre long tube, with a twenty five centimetre but that sat against his shoulder for recoil, the trigger mechanism hooked up to a small external lever to which he’d hooked a small, magically charged thunderstone that would trigger a much larger one at the end of the barrel inside it.

Thunderstones were a work around that non-unicorns had that allowed them to use basic magical abilities from precast gems set to certain triggers. Nothing to the level of a unicorn in complexity or versatility, considering they needed to be precast, but it was good for unicorn magi-locks if one wasn’t a unicorn, or in the case of Sky Runner’s cannon, storing a powerful force blast to launch something. Just a medium for storing spells that didn’t need any ‘supervision’ while they ran their course so that non-unicorns could use them if needed and they had the correctly enchanted thunderstone.

National Equestrian Mage Conference

@Carlsberg

Sky nodded. “Got it no alcohol and wet mares tonight,” he said, his voice full of implications. “And I’m aware… if you can meditate through a crate of potatoes exploding, you can meditate though anything,” he added with a laugh. He knew the exact magical resonance of potatoes after the incident, and that extremely magically charged potatoes had a chain reaction effect if the charge was on that resonance. Though the look on Ley Lines face when she came too coated in mashed potato while he was working on cleaning up the lab had been priceless.

He walked over to the hardcase and began to unpack the currently disassembled components. He’d learned his lesson about transporting it fully assembled in another previous incident… His potato cannon might have caused him a lot of trouble while he built it, but it was going to be worth it in the end!

The checked luggage wasn’t up from the platform yet, though Sky felt it wouldn’t be more than maybe another hour while the staff sorted through everything and where it was meant to go.

National Equestrian Mage Conference

@Carlsberg

Sky Runner gave Ley Lines a confident grin. “So make a pass at Twilight Sparkle, got it,” he said as if noting down a task. He then nodded. “Sure, but I’m setting up a hammock on the deck, then, or finding a cloud nearby, because all-nighters were done when I graduated,” he said to Ley cheerfully. He did kind of wish that Ley hadn’t thought of that rule though. Not only was the bed in a nice, sheltered room with air conditioning, he also really wouldn’t mind if Ley brought somepony back… he’d stay quiet! “So, now that room rules are settled, what are you up to now? Enjoy the room? Check out the bar or pool? I’m gonna see about getting my potato cannon firing without mashing the ammunition,” he told her with a rather cheerful grin. The type that normally told ponies that it wasn’t just science, but [i][b]SCIENCE![/i][/b] that was about to happen. Something that many a pony might not want to be around for.

National Equestrian Mage Conference

@Carlsberg

Sky raised an eyebrow, before suggesting in a joking tone, “If one of us gets lucky, share?” He was fully aware she’d never go for it, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t tease. After a second, he laughed, before going on in a more serious tone, “Yeah, you’re right, though I can’t think of all that many besides keep the bathroom clean, and be up on time.” He really wouldn’t mind all that much if Ley brought a mare back to the room. He was a functioning stallion in his early twenties, he had an excuse! “What kind of rules were you thinking?” he asked her curiously, looking over.

National Equestrian Mage Conference

@Carlsberg

Sky Runner snorted. “You have an advantage, though,” he said to Ley teasingly. “You’re a mare.” He then turned to regard the room and raised an eyebrow. “You know, I never thought I’d be staying at one of these places again,” he stated casually, walking in and looking over the room.

There were two prince sized beds, with nightstand between them, and oil lamp on the nightstand. On the wall across from the bed was a large chest of drawers. Over top the chest of drawers on the wall was a beautiful painting of a snowscape.

Just within the door to the left was a large bathroom containing a Jacuzzi, and all the fixings of a ‘luxury’ bathroom, with several samples of mane and coat shampoos and conditioners that probably cost about the same as a week of food for a full sized bottle of it.

There was an exceptionally large sliding glass door overlooking the valley behind the resort, letting out onto a balcony. Their view extended for miles, and Sky could tell that even the ground floor was hundreds of feet above the floor of the valley, the Resort built on a sheer cliff.

Sky put Ley’s bags down at the foot of one of the beds and put the hard case that had his own project at the foot of the other, before making his way straight out onto the balcony, looking out over the valley with a grin. “So, you think you’re going to enjoy the next two weeks?” he said back to her, his voice mirthful.

National Equestrian Mage Conference

@Carlsberg

Sky Runner narrowed his eyes at Ley’s teasing accusation of him being jealous, though there was a rather challenging smile on his face. He said nothing about it however.

The desk mare nodded. “Whatever we can do to make your stay better,” the receptionist said as Ley left, her tone perfectly professional as she gave no reaction to Ley’s flirting tone.

Sky gave Ley Lines a smug look. “Thirty-five point seven two percent,” he answered her smugly as he hit the elevator call button. “So, it’s actually better than the average nerd.” Though he was fairly certain Ley had a better average than him, but he was determined to be proud of his average.

National Equestrian Mage Conference

@Carlsberg

“No, it’s really not too much,” Sky Runner agreed easily, though there was still a teasing tone beneath it. “Well, the book and recognition at least.”

One of the desk mares nodded to Ley. “Just let me check,” she said, pulling out a large ledger. After going through it, she nodded. “Here you are. Room seven-twenty-three, seventh floor. The elevators are just over there,” she said, indicating with her head off to the side where a short hall lay with six metal doors, three per side.

Sky turned and began to lead the way over. “Well, of course,” he answered Ley. “Mare, stallion, if they’re hot and don’t shoot me down at ‘hello’ it’s work a shot no?” He shot a grin over at her as he laughed.

National Equestrian Mage Conference

@Carlsberg

“Just meeting her?” Sky asked teasingly, barely catching Ley’s muttering.

Sky sighed as Ley led the way off the train, shaking his head. When he’d seen that she was his boss on being hired, he felt rather happy with his positon. She was damn cute. Unfortunately, it hadn’t taken him long to learn she was into mares, thus meaning his appreciation would never go beyond his eyes. He rolled his eyes at Ley’s wondering. “This is a really swanky resort. Of course there are going to be good looking waitresses. And waiters,” he added with a chuckle. “The question you should be asking is how receptive of your flirting they’re going to be. And before we hit the bar, we should probably at least find our room,” he finished with a laugh.

He didn’t mind carrying the bags, and he wasn’t in danger of collapse beneath them even if they were a good weight, but he’d still like to put them in the room as soon as possible.

National Equestrian Mage Conference

@Carlsberg

“No idea,” Sky answered Ley. “While she is one of the foremost magical experts, she’s also kinda-sorta a Princess, no?” He perked up as Ley mentioned being able to see the station and went over, going so far as to open and poke his head out the window, only to immediately dart it back in just in time for a branch to pass right where his head had been. Undaunted, his head went right back out the window. A couple of seconds later, he pulled it back in again, this time at a more reasonable pace. “There’s the station, alright,” he informed Ley, some excitement creeping into his voice.

It wasn’t more than five minutes later that the conductor’s voice came over the speakers on the train. “We will be pulling up the Peak Resort shortly. Please make sure you have all your carryon luggage with you when leaving the train. Your checked bags will be brought up to your rooms, and equipment moved to your designated storage by the Peak staff before the days end. Have a wonderful stay.” Even as the canned message was running its course, Sky was already gathering any bags Ley had brought up into the passenger car with them, as well as his one carryon, a small hardcase, no bigger than a small weekend suitcase, containing a pet project of his.

“So, you want to see if this resort holds up to its swanky reputation?” he asked Ley as the train began to slow, the station visible not even three hundred metres ahead of the train.