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.

"We're finally here, baby," he said softly, "Stretch your legs and walk around, I'll bet you're stiff."

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.

"Peggy?", he asked after a moment, head lifting, "We're here... that means that we're home and we can do all the things I told you about. Running across the fields and picking apples out of trees... and we can finally start practicing with your magic!"

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!!

James smiled gently and stepped forward, "Good! Now... have you tried out your magic before? Even if you haven't, try to reach into your gem and tap into it. Focus on it and try to see where it wants to go. If you can figure that out, you can cast a spell."

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.

"Ah- I suppose this is a lesson to be learned," he said, "Magic is a fickle thing. You never try to control magic, you simply guide it. Sometimes it doesn't want to be guided, and that's fine, there are plenty of opportunities to try again."

He stepped back and puffed up his feathers, ears perked forward, "Now you try. If you don't get it on the first try, that's fine. The first thing to work on is to learn how to try and... hm. How to inspire your magic, is the best way I think I can explain it."

James smiled gently, "That's okay. Just try again."

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, "There! I learned this from the festival we went to, do you remember?"

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.

"Here, have a piece," James said, reaching down to nibble on a piece as well, humming softly.

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.

James lifted his head and contemplated such a question.

"I always knew," he said softly, "I always felt it, I suppose. I took to magic like a duck to water, but lately it's been... lazy, I suppose. It never seems to work when I need it."

He chuckled dryly and shrugged, "But that's magic, I suppose. If you wish too hard then you'll get nothing, wish too little and it's the same. There's this little area in between, I think, where you need to focus enough not to force it, but to coax it."

He'd yet to find it.

James walked forward and nuzzled Pegasus gentle, sighing as he lovingly brushed his nose across the star on the child's forehead.

"All of us gembound have magic within," he said softly, "Big or small. We can all use magic, it's just a matter of practice."

James prepared his spell and watched it fizzle into existence before fizzling right out. Great.

"... Well," he said lamely, "I suppose we're in the same boat this time around, neither of our magics want to listen, huh?"

He puffed out his chest and planted his feet, "We'll just have to be more persuasive!"