Under Lunar Wings

by JP HACK

Chapter 09: Observation

Celestia's useless guards are crumbling beneath us as the siege is going exactly as planned. It pleases me that the reports of the vault said to hold the most powerful spell in all of Equestria, maybe even the world, came to me through my spies confirming that it indeed exists. I have three battalions under me, all strong a mighty ponies of the night. We will crush and put an end to her ways. For tonight Canterlot falls under the might of the New Lunar Republic! I will get my hooves on that spell if its the last thing to do. - Admiral of the Lunar Republic

"Laaaaance....y you o okay?" Nova grumbled. He was on the ground, armor dinged and dented in some areas, and was in some pain. His axe was embedded in the ground next to him and even was slightly chipped. A groan from above came from on top of a rafter hanging from a destroyed section of the building. It jerked and creaked until it finally snapped and fell down.

"Craaaap!" Lance fell down along with the rafter in a huge thud, scattering debris all over the Place. "Ouch...remind me to kill you once I have power back to my wings.” He rolled around and moved a hoof.  “*wince* And give me a bucking asperane. My hangover is kicking in or something." Lance tried getting up but stumbled on a leg and fell over. "I can't believe she committed a buck n’ run. But at least Spitshine is okay." Nova made no effort to reply only to grunt when he tried picking his head up but fell back and smacked his head on the floor making a loud clang with his helmet. Another struggling voice perked up amongst the wreckage.

"Aye....Just so ya know. I'm perfectly fine. Thanks guys. Drinks on the house." Spitshine called out from under a pile of broken tables. He stumbled out and looked around him examining how destroyed everything was. "Or on second thought, dinner is on me once me feelings return to me legs." All three stallions all mopped and moaned to what just transpired. With some intense struggling, Nova got back up on all fours and scanned the area.

The club was completely destroyed, along with his ego. What used to be a building was now a crater and a huge mess. The stage was completely wiped out. The bar smashed to pieces with booze leaking everywhere, inciting a single tear from Lance's eye. The DJ’s music was somehow still running even though the record player and equipment where on the ground disconnected from the power. Its was amazing how the buildings next door had not even a single scratch on them. Lance and Spitshine both slowly picked themselves up and cleaned off their coats of the dirt and grime while Lance went to Spitshine to help him walk while Nova stood there staring into space.

"I cant bucking belive it." Nova shook his head in frustration. "We lost. Again!" He stomped on the floor tossing some chairs and broken bottles around. "Lance, please tell me you shot a tracker bolt." Lance in the distance snorted a laugh.

"Nova? You all there? I don't have my wing braces remember?" Nova faced hoofed with a slow drag across his face. Clearly he was having a bad day.

"What was that back there anyway?" Asked spitshine who tried putting as less pressure he could on his hind leg. Lance kept walking allowing him to lean on his back for balance.

"Even I don't know what the buck happened. Did Strife use the-"

"Grand Vortex spell? Yes." Nova replied abruptly. "And she basically attacked us with some crazy magic to hold us off long enough to use the spell. I nearly could not hold it back in time. Though its seems that she put way too much power into it and teleported away somewhere far, destroying the building with the spell." Lance and spitshine just stared at him and only nodded.

"Now what do we do?" Lance asked. He took a look around and a thought occurred to him. "And how can I have some snu snu action with my goddess damned club destroyed!?" Nova raised an eyebrow making Spitshine gave a haughty laugh in response. "What's so funny?"

"Ha! Yar club? Lance ya just have the highest VIP here cause ya were a former wonderbolt. Ya didnt own anything ya crazy pegasus." He said in a particular rusty northern trottingham accent.

"Says the bartender that screamed like a little foal in the hooves of a girl." Lance replied with a sly grin causing Spitshine to narrow his eyes.

"Oi! She was downright scary and nearly took me cutie mark!”

"Riiiiiight, and who was it that saved your flank?" Lance asked sarcastically, expecting some praise for his efforts.

"Nova." Spitshine plainly said with a hard gaze at the pegasus, causing Lance to nearly stumble over in shock.

"What!? Thats Horse crud man! I swooped in and saved you!"

"Aye, but is was Nova who broke through her shield to allow you to save me ya blubbering buffoon." Lance took offense and shoved Spitshine off to the side causing the bartender to fall on the ground.

"Oops, looks like Nova was not here to save you this time." Lance turned around and looked at his armored friend who was staring around at the scene as if he was looking for something. "Right buddy?" Nova said nothing and didn't even bother to care. He was occupied with something. Something big. He kept his head low as if sniffing the floor like a dog while moving some junk out of the way picking up some stuff and tossing it aside. Lance figured he was doing something stupid and chose to ignore him. He picked up Spitshine who gave him a death glare and helped him walk again. In the distance the sounds of the fire brigade and various medical wagons all were closing in on the club, or what's left of it. Lance helped Spitshine go to the street while leaving Nova to do whatever he is doing.

"I'm gonna get healed up. I will see ya around Lance."  Lance brushed his wings of some dirt as Spitshine trotted off to the nearby medics.

"Kay, see ya Spit. Let me know when the club is rebuilt. Notify Fancy who did this okay? I don't want him to kill me thinking it was my fault. I really don’t want a repeat like last time."

"Aye, I was thinking the same." The bartender waved a hoof while immediately getting the attention of one of the medical ponies there. Lance turned back to the club to meet with Nova. From a distance he saw many ponies tending to ground zero and cleaning up. No policepony questioned him on who he was or why he was there and let him in under the newly erected yellow warning tape. He spotted Nova looking around and talking loudly to his axe.

“I wonder what Nova is up to?”

-=-=-=-=--=-=-

Nova was in the middle of the wreckage. His axe was still imbedded in the ground next to him. A glow of the axe in a blue to an alternating purple came from the weapon. The unicorn stared at it for a long time and then scanned the area around it in concern.

"You really think that will work?" The weapon fidgeted again with colors as if it was speaking.
 
"But If I do that I will be using almost half my magic power and some of my reserves." A glow of bright red shined from the weapon. Novas eyes went tiny and gasped in fright. "Such language coming from you! But you do have a point." Nova stared into empty space again, lost in thought.

“So you're telling me that, if I do a scanning spell and tune it to focus on the left over magic signatures in the air, I can track Strife?” He waited for a response until his face scrunched up in anger from another glow of the axe. “I swear, another word out of you and you get dunked in a bucket of water. Okay!?” The axe stopped and leaned slightly in defeat. “Good. Now shut up and let me think.”

Nova took a deep breath. He looked up in the sky and slowly closed his eyes. A blue glow from his horn erupted and engulfed it. It magnified in intensity as Nova continued to pour more magic power into it while his face was scrunched up in focus.

“Καλούν τις δυνάμεις δείτε όλα τα πράγματα αόρατα. Δείξε μου τα μαγικά της Έριδος και όπου είναι επικεφαλής.” (Call upon forces see all things unseen. Show me the magics of Strife and where she is heading.)

Instantly a beam of energy shot from his horn and went straight into the ground spreading into arcs and a waves. For a second nothing happened until a misty fog started to come up. Nova opened his green eyes with them glowing a hazy white. He saw lines of magics and wisps dancing through the air moving along as if they where currents through the ocean. He saw a large mass of leftover magic and then a stream of magic going straight up and over from that point towards the forest in the direction of Los Pegasus. He stopped the spell and blinked a couple of times to get used to the light. “Oh, I don't feel that good.” He stumbled around, almost falling. He felt a dizziness that he had not felt before. He fell backwards expecting to hit the hard ground but didn't expect to land on something soft.

“I gotcha ya idiot.” Lance Caught Nova and gently put him down on the floor before he fell over. “What are you doing?” Nova grabbed his head with his hoofs and shook violently around to get whatever that was bothering him to leave. He put a hoof up to signal to give him a moment to compose himself to Lance. Lance on the other hoof had a puzzled look on his face. What WAS Nova doing? Sweat started to pour from the armored unicorn and he started shaking violently. Lance at this point only raised an eyebrow.

“Nova, what did you do?” Nova didn't respond but laid on the ground now in some agony as he gripped his horn which glowed red. Lance didn't like where this was going nor had any clue to what Nova just did. Its not like the other random times he did something stupid. This was more serious as it was actively hurting Nova. “Nova! What the hell man! Speak to me!” Lance went up and slapped Nova in the face. Normally one would snap out of whatever they were doing and get back to reality.

Not Nova, for he stopped dead in his tracks, locking every part of his body making himself almost an armor clad statue. Lance counted to three and slapped him again a little harder. “Wake up ya moron!” Nova fell backwards from the force of the slap and rolled on the ground a bit. He grumbled on the ground before picking himself up. Lance had no clue what Nova just did to be in this state and with every second of not knowing it drove him more crazy. “Nova. What did you just do?!” Nova turned around with a small smile.

“Found Strife.” Lance stumbled back in pure shock and even had to pinch himself to make sure that this was not a dream.

“What!? Come again?”

“I Found where Strifes general location is.” Nova said weakly with a slight cough. Nova stood there and stared out to the castle. “We gotta go back and come up with a new plan. Now.” By now Lance had almost a double heart attack. Nova just made logical and cohesive sense and was acting like he really had a mission to accomplish. It was almost too much for Lance to handle.

“I, uh, wow. What is wrong with you?” Lance asked with his head tilted questioningly.

“I used almost all of my Magic power to conjure up a spell that is normally used for tracking missions of large mythical creatures.” Nova weakly said. Lance nodded questioningly and noticed that his axe was not glowing in any way shape or form.

“Limb! On my *Cough* back. Now!” The axe, without any external effects, picked itself up and floated lazily through the air before hitching onto Novas back. As soon as it did Nova nearly collapsed before Lance wrapped a wing around him for support.

“Lets go back to castle ya crazy armored freak, you can explain to me what you did on the way there.”

“Sure.”

“Okay, so let me get this straight. That was your first shield spell? And you never bothered to learn it before?"  Lance asked while sticking close to Nova for support. "Your being an idiot again you know that." He rolled his eyes and focused on the street ahead of them.

"When was I not? But at least we survived *wince* whatever it is we did." Nova said with a relieved sigh. He didn't look so good and was trotting slowly towards the castle. Lance paid no heed to Novas condition but had a feeling he was missing something.

"Nova be serious about answering this next question: how much magic power did you just expel in that scuffle and with that spell you just used?" Nova didn't make any eye contact and cursed under his breath. "If you went to magic burnout just now and suppressed it, let me kill you myself before your actions take you to an early grave. You know full well that you can die from that. Frakking idiot.” Lance snorted and gave Nova a hard stare.

“Hey, It was Limbs idea! Tell him Limb!” The axe glowed a purple and then a light cyan color on Nova’s back. Nova stopped for a moment abruptly. He turned his head towards his axe in a gaze that could take on Tatarus and survive.  He removed the axe with his hoof in a swift motion and threw it in front of him in frustration making Lance back off in surprise. The axe soared through the air arcing towards the ground and surprisingly stopped right before hitting the floor and came back like a boomerang to hitch on Novas back. Nova seethed with some anger and breathed heavily. “If this axe was a pony, I would have killed him or her for making fun of me or making fun of sweet rolls.” Lance raised a hoof.

“Excuse me?”

“This thing here,” Nova pointed to his axe, “said that he blames sweet rolls and my lack of judgement. And that its my fault for following a suggestion that he made.” Lance couldn't help but laugh a bit.

“Ha ha ha, your axe told you to do that tracker spell knowing full well that you had low magic reserves? Idiot.” Nova narrowed his eyes before realizing that he indeed was very low in magic power and nearly fell over onto the street in a sudden loss of balance. Lance caught him once again and helped him steady himself.

“Forget it. Lets just get back to the castle and meet with Hammerheart. I'm sure she finished with fixing your wing bolts and we can come up with a new plan now that I know where Strifes general location is.” Nova said, not wanting to talk about this mess any further. Not only has he failed again by barely fighting Strife off and surviving but now he has to heal up for a day or something before he could do anything to capture her. Luna forgive this idiot.

“Thats no problem, if you were not clad in heavy armor I would have flown you there myself. Why don't you ever take tha--” Nova cut him off with his horn glowing and his axe suddenly near his throat.

“Don't you even finish that sentence.” Nova seethed, temporarily forgetting his aches and pains. Lance calmly put the axe down with his hoof and smiled.

“I forgot that the armor is off limits. My bad. You're right though, we have to get rested and healed up.” Nova returned his axe to his back and kept slowly moving with Lance to the castle. They were not really far only about four blocks away from the main entrance. They walked a bit in silence the rest of the duration of the trip. Neither of them wanted to make the current situation worst than it already was. With Nova failing again in his duties and with Lance almost rutting Strife then and there, it was not the most fond memory they both shared.

Some time passed and they both reached the main gate. Two guards stood on each side of the massive steel gate and there was a third guard in a small booth. The guard in the booth spotted them and called out with a hoof raised out.

“HALT! Who goes....Um...Nova Blade? Lance Skyslicer?” Both unicorn and pegasus nodded. The guard in the booth called out to the other two in a quick fashion. “Scotch, Mist. Open the gate now. No delays. These two have level alpha access.” The guards in response shrugged and did as they were told. Both of them used their magic at the same time to activate a large switch to lift the gates. They knew that out of the five levels, level alpha was the most rare, usually reserved for the princesses themselves only.

“Thanks Keystone!” Nova called out,  “I will save good word for you for the princess.” Nova waved a hoof as he and Lance passed by. Keystone sighed in relief and turned to his fellow guards after the two left from earshot. They both gave him a confused look.

“Trust me fella’s, unless you two want to be cut up from that axe of his like Woodchip was, I would stay clear out of his way.”

“Woodchip sir?”

“Never could put his horn back together after Nova was done with him....”

“Let me see that note Pinkie.” Twilight asked. Pinkie Pie handed her a piece of paper and had a very worried look on her face. The purple unicorn scanned the note and with every line she became more appalled and scared. Pinkie took notice of Twilights changing mood and nudged her side to calm down.

“I don't know Pinkie. This explains a lot of horrid things just to stop one villain.”

“That's the problem Twilight. He is not gonna just stop her, he is gonna end her like the end of a book! Its something that we usually never hear of. I'm getting goosebumps just thinking of it.” Twilight paused in thought before responding.

“We might have to stop him. Otherwise what these plans say here can't be reversed.”

“I will call the girls right away.” Pinkie bolted out of the door before Twilight had the chance to say anything. Twilight waved a hoof and dismissed Pinkies quick getaway before going back to reading the note.

“Nova Blade....who are you really?”

“Even after all this. I don't feel remotely tired.” Nova said while holding a set of cards in his magic. He put one down before giving a sly look at Lance across from him with his own set of cards sitting on a floor table. “Draw four.”

“Dammit, I had Ena!” Lance reluctantly grabbed another four cards out of the deck to add to his collection. “Your right. Its near midnight and I don't think I will be able to sleep anytime soon myself. I wonder where Hammerheart is.” The pegasus dropped a blue number 4 card and waited for Nova to make his move.

“Hammer? I haven't heard from her either. Though do you think we should tell her what had happened?” Lance said as Nova put down a blue 7 card and then a green number 7 card down on top of the deck. The crossbowless pegasus frowned. That was not the color he wanted to see right now.

“I don't know Lance. It could make things worse by telling her. And its not like we had to cover up the damage and make it look like an accident like back in the Gryphon Kingdom.” Nova stated as he waited for Lances next move. “And besides as long as you don't tell her what you nearly did to Strife, then everything is gonna be fine.”

“Mmmmh. You could be right Nova. I don't want get on her bad side.” Lance said. He took another card from his hold and placed a skip card to which he added a second green 2 card. Nova looked at the deck and back at his current cards. To his dismay he had no moves left. He reached over to the deck and pulled out a card. It was a wild card. Victory is just around the corner!

“Ena! I win!” Nova triumphantly exclaimed. He placed the wild card with another yellow card on the pile. Lance stared at Nova and back at his own cards in disbelief.

“Goddess dammit Nova. I was only two cards away from winning.” Lance grumbled for a bit and picked up the cards and shuffled them with his wings acting as claws to pick up the cards one by one. Nova picked up his head and turned to the door wit his ears pointed towards it.

“Shhh Lance. do you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

“Like someone yelling and making the guards very angry.” Nova continued to stare at the wall and instinctively summoned his helmet that was next to him and put it on. Lance paid no heed and shuffled the cards in preparation of another game. Though the commotion through the walls increased with somepony yelling and was making the classic “prong” noise with every step. Lance stopped and turned around to face the door too.

“Our room guards will stop whoever is coming right?” Asked Lance with a concerned look.

“Yeah of cour-” Nova was cut off when one of the guards from outside called out,

“Ma’am you cannot enter. You hav-”

SMASH!

The door flew open splintering across the room, along with two night guards, revealing a pissed off Hammerheart bearing full power hooves and some light barding. Her power hooves where smoking and making a powerful purple glow around them creating a small purple mist. The two guards picked themselves up and promptly ran away from the intruder leaving Lance and Nova shocked and relieved that it was someone they knew and not a random visit from one of the princesses.

“WHAT. THE. BUCK. IS WRONG WITH YOU TWO!?” Hammer screamed out while simultaneously increasing the glow of her hooves creating a slight electrical arc between them. Nova and Lance both stumbled back in fright and didn't have any clue what was going on.

“Uh....hey Hammer! Long time no see? Eh. How have you been?” Nova hesitantly said. He knew not to mess with Hammer under any circumstances but this time he had no idea what he and Lance did wrong now.

“No. No. NO. Both of you idiots front and center!” Hammer demanded with a stomp of her hooves. Lance shrugged and gave a wink to Nova signaling that everything is gonna be fine. Little did they both know that they bucked up, royally. They stood in front of Hammer as she eyed them with an evil stare. She grabbed a newspaper out of one of her pockets from her barding and placed it on the floor for the warrior and pegasus to read.

Nova and Lance both stopped reading and looked at each other and back to Hammerheart who was now staring at them as if she had lasers coming out of her eyes.

“You two are in deep trouble for this you know that!? Luna now has to make sure that this ‘Nova Blade’ and this ‘Lance Skyslicer’ are just a bunch of nobodies and that the people can move on and not worry about all this mess.”

“Well at least I didn't almost rutt the alleged Cutie Mark Stealer...” Nova deadpanned as he looked at Lance.

“YOU DID WHAT!?” Hammer screamed at Lance as he made a death glare towards Nova for blurting it out so openly.

“Its not what you think Hammer, I was tricked!” Lance quickly said to try to cover his tracks and to be on Hammers good side. Nova though put a hoof to his stomach and raised a hoof in the background.

“I'm going to the night guard mess hall. They might have some sweet rolls there. Could replenish my energy.” He trotted off and head out the door as Lance and Hammerheart argued on.

“Honest I swear I didn't really do it. I stabbed her as soon as I realized it was not Serenity the stripper.

"Lance I can't believe you almost basically rutted Strife. What. The. Buck."

"Hey she's damn good looking. It's not my fault she's bent on overthrowing royalty!"

"That doesn't mean you can get to third base with our enemy!"
        
"Well what did you want me to do?! Think about you? I didn't know it was her until the last second!" Lance thought mentally about what he just said. Ahhhh... manure... me and my bucking germane mouth. Hammerhearts face swelled up in multiple emotions making Lance a tad uncomfortable.

"Lance...... Did you just call me ugly? Am I bucking that repulsive to you!?"

"Hammer shut up! You're bucking beautiful. You're nowhere near ugly." The earth pony mare paused and backed up a step in surprise.

"Lance... Did you just call me..."

"Yes Hammer yes I did..." He gave a heavy sigh and looked away to try to hide a slight blush on his cheeks. Hammerhearts voice calmed and she again spoke in her usual voice.

"I know you Lance... And you're hiding something... You can't really keep secrets when your sober... Or drunk for that matter..."

"Look Hammer its just... That whole thing with Strife... It kinda made me realize what I've been doing... Running around with all those mares... They're all just stuck up fillies who show off their new cutie marks... You wanna know the only thing I've ever want from mare?" Hammerheart said nothing and shook her head.

"I just wanna be there laying on a couch... A full bottle of White Pegasi in one hoof, a bong full of Everfree Joke, and a beautiful mare in the other just chilling and watching cartoons with me..." Hammer’s face contorted into a faint smile as she shut down her power hooves.

"You know Hammer... Sometimes... And never I mean NEVER tell anypony this... Sometimes... I wish Nova wasn’t our friend. That he wasn't with us... And that it was just me & you. Because I would've made you mine in a heartbeat." He turned around and lifted his head up high with a mean look on his face. The same look you give when you're about to go on epic quest of justice. "And it just pisses me off... cause I don't think Nova deserves a mare like you." Lance turned around and walked out of the room in the direction of the mess hall, slamming the door behind him leaving Hammer there in silence.

“Lance....”

"And so like i was saying. She came out of nowhere with the grand vortex spell and nearly could've killed us from the residual magic. If it was not from my shield, which i just remembered to conjure up, we would of died. That and now i have a general location of her thanks to the suggestion of my axe to use a tracker spell." Nova said as he talked to a multitude of guards all around him. Its a rare sight to see technical admiral of the lunar and night guards actually with his guards.

"So wait. How much magic did you use to track her with that spell?" One of the guards asked. Nova picked up a piece of a sweet roll and swallowed it whole before responding. He left his axe on the table as it looked like it enjoyed the crumbs or something.

“Almost all of it. In technical terms, I had maybe 400 Magic Power left. If I dropped below that I could of been in a coma or knocked out for a day. Though I guess my axe was just trying to get to Strife as much I do.” The guards around him only nodded questioningly and watched him as he downed another sweet roll whole and looked how the weapon was somehow making the crumbs disappear. It sorta freaked everyone out but since is was Nova, its nothing to be alarmed about. Man the unicorn can really down those sweet rolls.

“Hey boss, is that your third sweet roll?” Another guard asked. Nova looked down onto his plate and axe. With a quick glance he confirmed that he ate two and was about to finish the third. Nova smiled and smashed his plate on the floor in a quick swipe as he put hoof up into the air.

“Bring me anotha!”

Meanwhile, a pissed off Lance trotted in a very slow pace towards the mess hall. He approached the entrance which was flanked by a set of guards on each side. Both guards looked at the disgruntled pegasus but one let off a snicker.

“Damn Skyslicer you look pissed.” The first experienced guard spoke more concerned than anything.

“What’s wrong Lance? Got too drunk and woke up in bed with a colt?” The other laughed as the first guard winced at what was going to happened. Lance went straight up to the rookie and headbutted him square on the dome knocking him out. The other guard stood there with his mouth open he did that as Lance just KO'd a fully armored guard with a headbutt.

“Damnit Jet Stream.” The veteran sighed and attended to his fallen comrade. Lances head was red and throbbing, but due to how mad he was he didn't pay any heed. He pushed the doors open to see the sight of Nova surrounded by a lot of night guards as they all chanted for their superior.

“Eat, Eat, Eat!”

“You can do it Nova!”
        
“Down that sugary goodness like you mean it!”

Nova was in a race against time. He used his hooves to grab a fork and with it he jabbed into his next victim, the sweet roll. He slowly inched it toward his mouth and with this last sweet roll it would set a new world record for most sweet rolls eaten in 10 minutes. Lance didn’t know any of this nor did the angered pegasus care. He trotted up towards the crowd, shoving other ponies around to get to his target.

“Lance!? What the buck?” Another guard asked when he had the misfortune to be shoved aside from Lance. Other guards noticed him too as he approached the fully armored unicorn.

“Whoah. Lance what are you doing here?” More guards stopped cheering for Nova and turned their attention to Lance. He stopped right before Nova, who was busy eating the most awesome pastry in the world, and slapped the fork with the sweet roll still on it, out of Novas hoof. Everyone gasped in shock. Lance though slammed his hooves on the table facing Nova and spoke with a calm tone, one that did little to hide seething anger underneath.

“Sparring arena. Now.” Lance removed his hooves off from the table and trotted away. The guards and Nova himself all stared at the pegasus heading for the exit. Nova on the other hoof had a twitch his eye.

“My....sweet roll.” The other guards all looked at Nova. Everyone knew that when it came to messing with Nova and his sweet rolls there will be trouble. Nova got up from the table and looked at Lance as he left through the exit of the mess hall.

“Uh...Boss. Are you okay?” Asked another guard who looked at Novas changing facial expression from joy to complete seriousness. He looked at the guard with a firm stare.

“Lance needs some unwinding from the looks of it.” Nova closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “This doesn't feel right.” The armored unicorn promptly trotted out towards the arena grabbing his axe. All the other guards who were off duty silently followed Nova out with him and watched on as his axe glowed an eerie green and bluish glow on his back.

The arena was not really used that often. It was mostly used for entertainment and training purposes for the royals and the guards that needed to be trained in minor combat. The arena had two main gates on each side to let participants in and out. It was surrounded by a high 20 foot wall and by the spectator stands which made it more intimidating in the dead of night. Nopony is crazy enough to fight at this hour except for two. As soon as word got out through to the guards that there was gonna be a practical death match between the personal student of princess Luna versus a former Wonderbolt, everyone who was able to, showed up to watch the battle. It was very rare for anything to happen that could be life threatening in the arena except for the usual magic duel but they only lasted between besting someone in magic, a lame duel in some respects. Since it was the dead of night and that only the guards knew who Nova and Lance was, everyone refrained from yelling or chanting on in encouragement unless they want to give their identities away. It was gonna be a very silent match. The lights around the arena all turned on to illuminate the area.

Nova was just outside of the north gate. He had no idea why Lance wanted to spar with him nor really know why it was a death match of some sort. Nova knew that he wanted to let off steam but had not the faintest clue on why. Nova made his way out of the gate and stood in the arena awaiting his opponent. However when the door of the southern entrance opened Lance didn’t walk out.

Puzzled Nova called out. “Lance? Buddy you alr-”

The ex-Wonderbolt shot out of the gate and smashed into Nova hard causing him to fall back in a skid. Lance flapped his wings hard and took of in the air not leaving that much time for Nova to get back up. The pegasus arced down at a blistering speed with his hoofs out for another blow. Nova, still in shock on how cheap that move was, barely got up in time to dodge the speeding blur. Lance barely grazed his armor and arced around a second time for another pass. The armored unicorn looked up at his opponent.

 This was not a time to be silly or be stupid, no this was life threatening and by the looks of it, Lance was out for blood. Nova took out his axe and set it before him. He couldn't cut Lance but he can make it into a blunt weapon with his magic by increasing the strength of the safety. Lance came down from above and met Novas axe head on on the flat side creating a *Clang* noise. Lance though with a swift flap of his wings kicked up dust and spun his body mid air above Nova and using his rear hooves to smack Nova into the sider bypassing the axe. Nova nearly fell over but by the time he regained his composition Lance was gone.

Nova now slightly battered looked around him to see where Lance was now but didn't see him in the sky above. The lights of the arena made it hard to see anything high in the sky without them blinding your eyes. A whoosh sound was heard and Nova glimpsed Lance racing towards him only inches from the ground heading straight for him. The armored unicorn couldn't react in time to move his axe defensively. Lance landed a sucker punch right into his chest and kept a flurry of blows that only a pegasi can achieve. He kept pounding on his friend without mercy or let up. Slowly denting and chipping away at Novas armor. Nova reacted this time and blasted his friend with some magic causing Lance to stumble back and Land on the ground. The left side of his cheek was singed and he said nothing when he picked himself back up. No grunts of pain, no battle cries, no nothing. Nova at this point was worried. Not only he had to use magic to ward of his attacker but his attacker was not speaking to him. Thats definitely not a good sign.

“Lance seriously. What's your pro-” A whirlwind of dust came from Lance on the ground as he took off again into the air blisteringly fast surprising Nova to the point of making him not defend himself in time. Lance lunged and careened all the force he could mister and punched Nova square in the helmet in a large uppercut. The force knocked off the protective head gear clean off Nova while he stumbled and fell back in a heap. Lance landed on the ground back in front of him and waited for his opponent to get up.

Nova, on the ground holding his disoriented head with his hooves, looked up and saw what was before him. His axe was still floating next to him but his helmet was completely dented on the bottom and sides. If at this moment you had any right to be pissed, now would be the time to exercise that right. Nova took a look and had to do a double take. Did Lance not know how precious this armor was to Nova? Lance though in the distance said nothing and stood there with his wings flared out, waiting for his opponents next move. Nova stared at him intently while glancing back at the downed helmet a few times, but once they made eye contact, Lance let out a sneering grin. At that very moment Nova really wanted to turn off the safety and did what he did to Woodchip to Lance.

The student of the night picked slowly himself up and enacted a shield around him. This confused Lance on what was Novas next move, as shields were only made seconds before defending against an attack because it drains about 500 MP a second, and his friend is apparently making one for no reason. Nova on the other hoof was not just angry, he was downright pissed off. His axe glowed a fiery red and even making his shield red as well as he stared down back at Lance with almost pure hatred. A quick grab of telekinesis spell and he picked up his helmet into the air and then with a flash it was gone.

“It shall be repaired later... Lance. I dunno why you did that but you know that was a poor decision. Even for you.”

Lance snorted and not even intimidated in the slightest, flapped his wings and took off again into the air. He was not a Wonderbolt for nothing as this time he went shot straight up high above the arena, almost like heading right for the moon above. Nova kept his shield up and looked up to see any signs of the pegasus that is gonna feel some pain when he comes back down.

Through the clouds appeared Lance dive bombing down with a visible air cone in front of him. No, he was not trying to make a sonic rainboom, but he was doing something more deadly. A sonic blast which was a concentrated force of air which hit like a cannon and simultaneously made the air very hot, shot down right above Nova spreading out over his shield and impacting with a series of invisible shockwaves. Each shock wave pounded the shield and sent dust and debris into the entire stadium making all the bystanders dirty.

Nova struggled keep his his shield at max power as it visibly cracked throughout the top. Lance was not about to let nova move out from that spot and he himself came straight above to hit the shield himself. Nova though reacted by dropping the shield and with his fire red glowing axe, punted Lance right into one of his forelegs.

*SNAP*

Everyone in the audience silently gasped and some even threw up on the spot. Lance was tossed back in a large arc and hit the ground, hard. His right front foreleg was bent at an ungoddess like angle. Normally anyone at this point will yell out in pain. Not Lance. He picked himself up again quickly and flapped his wings hard to keep aloft. Nova dropped his axe and shield when he realized what he just did. His axe alone is made of the hardest material known to equines and he just punted Lance like a baseball.

“Holy shit Lance! I didn't mean to do that.” Nova slowed down and could not believe his eyes. “I was so....uh....mad? What the hell?”

Slowly the downed pegasus raised up and without even looking, snapped back his forearm with his hoof and gave another death glare towards Nova. At this point Nova was considering of Remote Teleporting Lance straight into the infirmary out of concern.

Must be his adrenaline. I have to end this before he forces me to permanently hurt him. Sometimes he reminds me of my training with Luna.

He couldn't believe his eyes when Lance stopped flapping his wings and landed on the ground like nothing happened. He didn't even wince when he put pressure on the damaged foreleg. Nova now stood there and looked at Lance, then back at his axe, and back to Lance.

“You can say that again Limb. He is crazy.”

Lance immediately started plonking up and down, gaining speed with every jump. Air started to come towards him and colese under his hooves. Sparks started to fly in random arcs causing Nova to step back a bit. He built up speed and at the height of his jump he flared his wings and caused a white cloud to come up under him.

Multiple members of the audience of guards gasped. What was Lance gonna do? The disgruntled pegasus stomped on top of the cloud in another jump and turned the cloud dark, making it into a storm cloud. Sparks flied at a quicker pace with greater intensity which dashed throughout the cloud. Nova at this point tilts his head in confusion onto what was Lance doing now. Lance now flew around to the side of the cloud and pushed it up into the air. Once he got it to a height that he deemed acceptable he went back on top of it and started jumping again.

Lighting didnt shoot out but he made a lot of electricity come to him instead. He leaned his head down and dropped the edge of his wings to touch the electrified storm cloud. The electricity arced and danced through and went through his body as he slowly raised his wings up closer to each other. A charge of white light built up that arced between his wings as they were only inches apart above his body.

Meanwhile, Nova realised what Lance was doing. He was staring down the barrel of a artillery move that only some extremely high ranking military officials know. The Static Cannon. Now was not the time to do a shield spell unless he wants to get outright killed. Lance let out the charge and with it came a massive blinding white light of a near fireball of  pure Lightning right at the student of the night.

With some quick thinking Nova slammed Limb into the ground with the blade pointing at Lance.

“Power Guard. Release!” Nova yelled. The axe glowed a hell of a Blue glow itself and Nova shot every beam of magic into the weapon.

Lance fired his weapon and the whole arena went white. Everyone in the stands shielded their eyes as it seemed like a sun was born in the arena. The thunderclap that came with it echo from the mountain and was heard as far away as the Everfree.

The dust settled and the scene changed of the arena to show that it was almost completely destroyed. Well, it was not the first time something like this happened. The ground was all chopped up and cracked except for where the two combatants were standing. The surrounding perimeter wall was even cracked all around it and some parts collapsed, taking some guard ponies with it if they were unfortunate enough to be sitting on the stands above the section. Nova was now sweating bullets and had a confused look on his face.

His weapon was glowing not from magic but glowing hot as the metal itself was near its melting point. The area around the unicorn was all glass now. Lance though was still standing on the cloud, which turned back to white, and slowly came back down to the ground.

Nova weakly approached him and once he got close, Lance laid down on the cloud in defeat sweating and panting heavily himself.

“Better now?” Lance looked up and saw Nova grinning ear to ear. He sighed and looked up at his unicorn friend.

“Yea. I needed that.”

“Okay then. I can't believe you got so pissed for whatever reason that you came at me unarmed. The hell was bugging you?”

“You wouldn't understand....”

“Understand what? Regardless, come on lets get you to the Emergency Room.” Nova inched forward and put a hoof out to reach for the cloud that Lance was now laying down on.

“Wait Nova! Don't touch m-”

*ZAP!* A arc of electricity shot out and smacked Nova square in the chest. He stumbled back and nearly fell.

“I...Ugh...Static residue. Won't wear off in a couple of hours.” *Twitch*  “My everywhere hurts...” Lance explained weakly. He rolled on the cloud and held his forearm close to him. The pain was getting to him and he tried to hide it from Nova from taking notice. Nova on the other hoof walked away and with a glow of his horn summoned his axe from the ground with some telekinesis. He brought it over and inspected it. Steaming hot but okay, no permanent damage.

“Yeah, yeah. I owe you. Shut up Limb.” Nova came back and now placed his axe between him and the cloud that Lance was on. Electricity formed around the cloud still in sporadic bursts and arcs into the axe. Though Nova had to get him out of here so he hitched the Axe to one end of the cloud while with the other end he hitched it with some magic to his armor. Like a trailer he pulled Lance out of the arena.

Right as they were about to exit the gate they heard the tell tale whirring sound of power hooves. Out of nowhere Hammerheart rounded the corner and charged right into Nova and Lance. She didn't pay any heed to Nova and went straight to Lance hugging him, even taking the sparks as they were not even there. Nova said nothing until Hammerheart reeled up and smacked Lance in the face.

“Hey! What the buck was that for!?” Lance yelled while holding his forearm. Hammerheart fixed her hair and gave him a hard stare.

“That was for running off like a moron!” She went up to him and kissed him on the cheek earning a reaction out of Lance like a lightning bolt struck him. “And that was cause I know why you did it.”

Nova watched the two of them converse with an expressionless look. Although the unicorn didn’t show it. Nova had emotions and right now there was a maelstrom inside him.

“Sorry. I came as soon as I heard from one of the guards.” Before she said anything further she looked at the helmetless Nova and his damaged armour. “Did you...Never mind. Both of you need to go to the ER. Now.” She ushered them on to the medical bay of the castle while going back to tend to Lance. She went on top of the cloud and thanks to her power hooves casting a cloudwalking spell upon contact she wasn’t able to fall through. Lance fidgeted and didn't want to be taken care off like a foal but Hammerheart smacked him like a little filly and tended to his wounds.

Nova continued though to go towards the ER. He made a left after the exit of the arena and headed down to the back side the castle. The ER was just ahead and once they got inside they were greeted by a surprise. Princess Luna was standing there with a bunch of other medical Ponies which immediately started to help Lance.

“Ah, My faithful student of the night. How did the Match go?” Nova and Lance were both shocked to see her except Hammerheart who was preoccupied on tending to the brash pegasus.

“Princess!? What are you doing here? How did you know about this?” Nova asked as he unhitched Limb from the cloud.

“Silly Nova. I'm the princess of the night. I see all things at this time. Especially how strong you are.” Nova blushed. “But I came here not to converse. I came here bearing news about Strife.” This time everyone stopped and looked at the princess making Nova look tense.

“I have received reports from a scout that she has been spotted in Ghastly Gorge. Nova, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go after her first thing tomorrow after you and your team are rested up.”

Lance looked down to his foreleg and deadpanned. “Ahhhh... Manure.”

New Perk Unlocked - Sweet Roll Master:  You now are fully healed upon eating 2 dozen sweet rolls... Also your sweet rolls CANNOT be stolen anymore.

New Perk Unlocked - Rain Dance: You can now perform the infamous RainDance to summon a storm cloud and smite your enemies with god like wrath.

New weapon ability - Power Guard. - (Explanation pending)

New Inventory Item - One Wat: You have been given a single Wat. Use it wisely.

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