James very carefully touched down, exhausted after the long flight. He'd carried Pegasus all the way here and it had been quite the flight. The sling he'd gotten the Collector had given him flashbacks every damn hour, making the flight all the more horrific.
He set Peggy down and tossed the stupid thing away, for he'd never need it again. He peered over at the house he'd made and built for his family, his wings drooping, ears down.
James breathed out and stretched, front legs stretching out in front of him like a dog, yawning widely and shaking his head out before lowering his head, sniffing at the cool grass. He took a bite and hummed happily, starting to graze eagerly, gorging himself on the sweet sweet grass beneath his hooves.
Pegasus could finally live in bliss here. It had taken a while, but he'd done it, and now he could relax. After his conversation with Pride, he just felt better. Like he could look at his son and not feel ashamed of himself anymore.
Excitement filled James' chest, his wings lifting and fluffing up, energy renewed. Finally... he could be the father that Peggy deserved. He could teach him everything. Magic, how to have fun, where the best places were to graze. He was just so excited!!
Yellow eyes turned to look at their parent, at how tired he was. If they'd been the one doing the flying they would be tired too, Pegasus would bet to themselves in their head.
"Are you tired?" The feathered horse-creature questioned. Maybe James would want to nap?
Either way, instead of looking behind themselves, Pegasus fully turned around - it was easier on their neck, they found. Their parent moved to munch on the grasses below, but the child was too focused on looking at the things around them. This place was absolutely beautiful! They could see the trees from here, along with.... Some kind of blue. Pegasus would have to ask Comet or James to explore with them, to help them find a quiet place to relax - though the kid was mostly always relaxed, except for when that deer had been around.
At the mention of all the things they could do, Pegasus visibly bounced on their feet. The magic was the most exciting - Pegasus had been waiting for a cycle to try it out!
"Really? I'm ready!" The feathered gembound exclaimed, the loudest they'd been since they hatched. Pegasus was naturally more quiet.
@James
James smiled gently and stepped forward,
He breathed in, out, and then tried to do the same, drawing from his magic to try to cast a simple spell. He opened his eyes to see a flicker appear in the air, but a wisp didn't form, and the light quickly flickered out.
He stepped back and puffed up his feathers, ears perked forward,
Feathers on the side of his head flared when his parent said that not every spell would work. But he could always try again. At least he knew that! Pegasus would feel disappointed if their spell didn't work, but maybe it meant they would have to work more. Hooves firmly placed on the ground, Pegasus had no idea how their spell they knew was supposed to work.
Whatever spell it was, it didn't work at all - Pegasus couldn't feel a lick of that magic they were told about.
"It didn't work." He huffed aloud.
@James
James smiled gently,
He himself got ready to cast again, to see if they could demonstrate at least something to his child. Maybe a silly little spell would cheer him up!
A pumpkin appeared from out of thin air and landed on the ground, making James smile and shake his tail out,
He didn't mind if Pegasus didn't but he just hoped the little trick could at least entertain. He stamped a foot on top of the pumpkin and nudged a piece closer.
He loved pumpkin so much. It could use something more to make it even better, but until he realized what that was, he'd settle for this.
And then a pumpkin popped up, ending up on the ground in front of Pegasus and their parent. Oh!
"I remember!" That spell was cool - though Pegasus themselves didn't know it.
The hybrid lowered their head to take a chunk off and munch on it, it was sweet, but not like some of the other things they'd tried. It was good!
"How did you learn to do magic?"
@James
James lifted his head and contemplated such a question.
He chuckled dryly and shrugged,
He'd yet to find it.
They supposed it made sense, really. Having to find that in-between where you didn't ask for too much, or ask for too little. Perhaps Pegasus just needed to ask more gembound? On how they used their magic? The colt was curious, but the idea of talking to strangers was intimidating. Even if it was for something new. Something extrordinary. Pegasus could become something, and make their parent proud.
"Do you think i'll learn how to do that?" The gembound asked, quiet, curious, hopeful.
@James
James walked forward and nuzzled Pegasus gentle, sighing as he lovingly brushed his nose across the star on the child's forehead.
James prepared his spell and watched it fizzle into existence before fizzling right out. Great.
He puffed out his chest and planted his feet,
"You did the other spell before." They mentioned, so the magic wasn't all failing to work.
When James got confident, Pegasus excited stamped his front hooves to the ground. Yes! They just needed to work things out with the magic! Make it work! Or maybe Pegasus and James both needed more practice. That could be it too.
"Can you try again?" The child questioned. They wanted to see.
@James