//------------------------------// // A Spartan Dream // Story: To embrace a maternal star // by Lighting Ace //------------------------------// "Faster Kabuto! Faster!" My sister command as I keep dodging arrows from below me, while trying to reach the end of a dirt track. "The ponies will not be this merciful with you, out there its a war zone, if you ever wish to survive, you need to be ready for any attacks in any direction" Suddenly row after row of crossbows appear from the walls and the roof all pointing at me and blocking the way to my objective "From the left, from the right, on top of you, below you…" As she keep listing the direction I concentrate on dodging the attacks on said directions until one single arrow reach my back and make me fall down inches from the goal. I try to reach it with my hand but the end of a baton hit it into the ground and start to put pressure on it "…and behind you" Freya mention appearing from behind me holding the baton that was crushing my hand and bow and arrow secure on her back, after some more pressure she determine that, that I had my fill of pain and remove the baton. "That is enough training for today" She walk besides me and remove the arrow in one swing without any sort of care or delicacy, causing me to scream in pain "Oh quit being such a baby, the hive pool will heal you right away" Freya say not bothering to look back as I saw her walk to a bench. Fighting the pain, I manage to stand up and start to walk toward her "Would it kill you to go easy on me next time? I swear Freya, sometimes I think you are trying to kill me" "Je better me than them" Freya say with a shrug before tossing a bottle of water that I catch before sitting next to her and take a deep gulp out of it. "If I'm pushing this hard now its because I'm really worry about you Kabuto" She say after taking a drink of her on bottle, and then look back at me, her expression softening "No matter how tough or brutal I'm being with you now, it will be nothing compare to what is waiting for you out there brother, the outside world its a horrible place that pray on the weak and only the stronger survive, if you can't take my training here, there will be no chance for you to survive one night out there, and it will be a cold day in Tartarus before I let anyone or anything kill my baby bro" Her comments make me smile, as I stare the bottle in my hands "Thank you, Freya" "And that is why I can't go easy on you!" Freya say patting my back right in my wound giving me a bolt of energy as I glare at her "Oh grow up would you? Go get into the pool if you can't take that bee sting" Rolling my eyes I decided to what she say before, she decided to get more 'funny' ideas with my injuries. "Or better yet…" Turning around I barely have time to register what was happening as Freya attack me with her sword, her eyes turning white and her voice getting distorted as well as the rest of the place. "…Let me give you a real reason for you to cry" Waking up with a gasp, I soon discover myself on a comfortable bed that I don't recognised, while taking a moment to calm my nerves I decide to look at my surroundings in an attempt to figure out my current situation. The room was dark with the moonlight passing throw a window as the only source of light. A heart monitor to me right, and a IV to my left were all the clues I needed to know, to figure out that I was currently in a hospital, or an infirmary judging by the other beds that were in the room, how small it was and how the place didn't smell like medicine. They…are treating me? Why? Why did they brought me back? With all the force I could muster I start to pass my left and right hand to my body eventually determine my condition and where was my body bandage. Not only did they treat my wounds they also somehow ripoff some parts of my body, for some reason only the changeling section of them. Je, so that is how they brought me back, they figure out, how my spell work and found a plot hole around. Well played Sparkle, I did really underestimate you I allow myself a little chuckle as my body went limp, it was begging me to not move and just rest and I was tempted to give into fatigue. Yet when I close my eyes and were about to fall sleep again, the door of my room open and from it I could heard steps approaching. Before it reaches me, I already knew who was my visitor by just the smell of the expensive perfume invading the place like a stink bomb…Blueblood. "So…you are the so call prince that replace me and almost destroy Canterlot using my face. Je I shouldn't be surprise, after all, this is what the likes of you do, right human? Destroy and bring misery wherever you go" The prince was practically spitting his words like they were venom before backing away from the bed. "Of all the ponies, of all the creatures in all of Equestria, why its turns out to be a human the one that replace me?!" I could detect the anger in his tone, as he was passing back and forward in front of me. "I know I haven't being the best nephew in the world, I'm stallion enough to admit that even I made mistakes from time to time, but to be replace so easily…an by YOUR kind of all species…?!" His pacing stop and opening slowly one of my eyes, I was able to see how he was starting to tear up "They didn't even bat an eyelash. The moment I was acting 'strange' everyone just accept you and were ok with that…the snobbish prince that became 'good' in one night…BY a freaking headbud!? The explanation was even ridiculous an they still believed it!" Holding his eyes with both hands he just drop to his knees and start to wipe openly "I don't know what hurt me more, that a human pretended to be me, or that everypony prefer you over me. I might have not showed in the past but I did love my aunts, and you stole them from me!" "They didn't even question it…I bet that if you were had done the same in front of their eyes, they would have throw a parade in your honour" His anger return, as I close my eyes while I could feel him approaching me once more. "I bet they would do that anyway regardless of how you look, I can see it now. You gaining the favour of my aunts as I got to the sidelines with everyone hoping that I disappear, my name slowly being erase while you gain force, and finally be gone for good while you take the tittle of the true prince of Equestria, doesn't that sound great!? Just toss me out into the garbage as the defectuos prince and give you MY crown, as everpony pretends that I never existed in the first place" I could feel the hot breath of his snot as he gets near my face "I bet you are laughing at this now, thinking that you got away with it simple because you stab your insect buddies on the back before we capture you." He stand back and even if I couldn't see him I could still felt his glare on me "Maybe that was enough to fool all of Equestria, but not me, I know what you are up to…human, and the moment you slip out of your little act, I'll make sure that you rot in hell…and if you ever dare hurt my family again, I will personally deal with your execution" I heard him walk away and open the door to the room, but I stop him before he could fully leave. "Do it quickly" I look back and saw how he have just froze the moment he heard my voice. "Maybe I'm an ancient monster, but there is no reason for you to act like one…if you grant me that much mercy, your people will respect you more" He quickly turns around but I have already resume position making me look like I was still sleeping. The place is fill with a tense silence until I heard the door move and close, leaving me alone once more, as one lonely tear fall from my left eye. I'm sorry for taking your life I mentally say to Blueblood before my conscious start to fade and soon found myself asleep.