Chapter 4: Future True.
Archmane woke with a start. He had a horrible dream of death and torture, and he didn’t like it. He jumped out of the bed and ran over to the balcony, the sun just rising, it was morning. Sighing, he saw the city alive with ponies moving amongst each other in a rush. He closed the window and locked it, once he get himself together, he grabbed the key of Grandore’s desk and opened the door, finding a pony in barding, and steel plates protecting her chest, neck, and back. Plates went down her legs and were met with metal boots, her helmet sitting next to her on the ground. On her back were two weapons crossed in an x shape, the weapons however, had a strange shape. “Hello?” She said looking at him, he didn’t notice but her coat was light grey, and her mane a darker gray, her eyes purple, “Are you Grandore?”
“No, I’m his apprentice, Archmane, who are you?” He asked.
“I would rather not answer that at the moment, are you going to him?” She said.
“Yes, come with me if you’d like.” Archmane said, pushing past her. She carried her helmet with him and when they entered the sunlight, he could now see the patterns of the plate armor, and tell what the weapons looked like. Her armor was white, with pink trim around the edges, on her left side was a large shoulder plate that went from the middle of her back, down to the middle of her front foreleg, designed to protect but had cuts for mobility. On the shoulder was a pink musical symbol, from what Archmane could tell, was a Treble Cleff. “Are those violin bows on your back?” He asked.
“No their cello bows. Notice their a bit larger. And, however, the bow itself is copper and the string is a ton of tiny sharpened steel wires stringed together.” She pointed out.
“Two swords with many small blades is the idea?” Archmane said, the pony only smiled. They continued onto the training area were they found Grandore, sitting aside grinning at those who trained eagerly.
“Oh Archmane, Perfect timing!” Grandore stood on his hind legs and spreading his forelegs, looking like he was going to hug Archmane, who just put his hoof on Grandore’s chest and pushed him onto the ground in a sitting position. “Well then, anyways! Jazz! Come here with those unicorns!” Grandore motioned to a grey unicorn with a short dark grey mane, and four unicorns behind him. “Archmane, please show these four unicorns how to teleport, how to shield themselves with their magic, and how to us an offensive spell of some sort.” Archmane sighed annoyingly and marched off with the four, Jazz following. “Ah! You must be the Earthpony Celestia promised to put into my squad.” Grandore said, noticing the pony.
“What is your name?”
“It’s Octavia sir. Top of the Earthpony Offensive class.” She said, standing salute.
“Well I see your weapons are cello bows, and I’ve seen them at work. Copper handles, and steel wires.” He said smiling at his knowledge of the student. “And I’m also guessing you’re here and you’re in such a grim mood because you have lost a friend, and sister in one day?” He said.
“I’ve lost Pinkamena and Vinyl to Luna. I won’t let it go unpunished.” She said with purpose.
“Silverspeed reporting for duty!” A grey Pegasus with a grey and white mane landed next to Grandore, Silver bow strapped to her back with a quiver, matching her cutie mark.
“And let me guess? Top of Archery?” Grandore said, then stomping his hoof on the ground a diamond bow shot out and he levitated it in front of him, and notched an arrow, “Show me what you got.” He said. Silverspeed then took the bow, notched three arrows, and fire into the air creating a perfect column. Then, right before she could fire the bouncing shot, Grandore’s diamond arrow bounced off one after another, breaking each in half. “You have potential. I’m glad to have you.” Grandore had the two follow him to Archmane who was training the unicorns. “You done?” Grandore said, and Archmane nodded. “Good, Meet Squad Lightbringer, Archmane.”