Weeks had passed since my little talk with Tempest, and after that day, I practically trained from morning to night in the large fields of Pome Orchard Farms. It was the most intense training I ever had, and if it weren't for the lovely nights where Violet and I would talk about our day and encourage one another, I would have considered giving up - at last at first. Tempest was true to her words, though, and with Firefly training me with so many flying sessions, it was almost like I was born with wings.
Every day I would have to fly laps, do hundreds of wing-ups, fly while dodging Tempest's magic blasts, fly while fighting Firefly, and fly while fighting Firefly along with avoiding Tempests magic blasts.
I was also taught pegasus-style martial arts. It was hard at first, but I quickly adapted to the style. It kind of reminded me of karate, but along with learning to strike with all four of my hooves, I learned to use my wings for fighting. Another big difference was how a majority of the defensive side of the style involved evasion over blocking.
When Firefly felt I learned everything she could teach me, then came the hardest part - Tempest teaching me her style. Firefly told me she was still learning how to go easy on her opponents and that only one pony had been capable of mastering her style - Cadance.
Firefly had told me I excelled fast in her combat training, but when I first tried my luck with Tempest, it was my fight with Cadance all over again. She did a breakdance-like kick that flung me in the air. As I flew to keep from falling, she maintained her momentum and kicked me down to the ground hard, knocking the wind out of me.
I was in serious pain and surprised I didn't black out. Looking at Tempest, I saw a mare calm and collected. She was unfazed and seemed unconcerned with my current condition. "Get up and fight," she said, sternly, "your opponents won't hesitate to try and kill you if you're down like that for too long."
Despite this horrendous feeling, I fought through the pain and stood. "Good," Tempest said with a proud smile, "you withstood one of my strikes without blacking out on your first attempt. You'll only get better from here."
While I thought I would be able to say thank you, she came up to me, put her hoof on the back of my head and the next thing I knew, I quickly hit the ground, "Never let your guard down," I barely heard her say as I tried to remain conscious. "We'll take a short break. When you regain consciousness, we'll start again." That was the last thing I heard her say before I blacked out.
I was slowly regaining consciousness when I felt a hoof gently brushing my light brown mane. It felt relaxing, caring, it felt so...motherly.
While I was only semi-aware of my surrounding at the moment, I swear I could hear a voice softly speaking to me with guilt and concern. "I'm so sorry I hurt you as much as I did, you sweet little colt," the voice sadly said, "but I have to. You're going to face the Storm King one day. He will do everything in his power to take the life of your lover and I know, if he succeeds, he will make you watch before killing you. Cadance is right about Violet, she won't be capable of mastering my technique, but I can tell that you can. I knew a determined colt like you once. You will not suffer the same fate as he did. You will get stronger, little one."
I felt my forehead being kissed which felt so gentle and loving. I was starting to recognize the voice and as my eyes slowly opened I saw it, Tempest was the one acting so kind to me. She gave me a smile and continued to stroke my mane lovingly. "Nice to see you finally decided to open up your eyes," she said gratefully, "and I hope you heard every word I said to you. We will face the Storm King one day and I will not let history repeat itself. You must be ready, Angelo."
She used my real name. If there's one thing I learned from Cadance and Tempest was when they used my real name, they wanted to make sure I was aware how serious the situation was. I barely saw the Storm King in my dreams and could barely grasp what kind of threat he truly was. I knew what I needed to do, but I hoped I wouldn't regret it. "What did he do?" I asked her with major dread. "I know I shouldn't ask this, but what did the Storm King do to you? I need to know, I need to know what this monster can really do."
I could see the look in her eyes. They were full of sorrow and contempt, but as she looked at me, she could tell that it would motivate me further to ensure he would never accomplish his goal.
"When I was just eight, I watched as he slaughtered my village. Ever pony I grew up with, my friends, my parents...all of them dead. After a failed attempt to stop him, he brought me to the brink of death and imprisoned me. I was to spend the rest of my life in the Klugetown Arena and battle to the death. For fifteen years, I spent every day surviving until...." I could see her tearing up as she continued, "three years ago, when Cadance and Discord saved me. I spent all that time surviving just to spite the Storm King and to deny him the satisfaction of seeing me die...I never even thought I would one day be rescued. It was a miracle."
She gently helped me stand up and, to my surprise, removed the black armor that protected her from shoulder to flank. On her body were nothing but scars. Some minor, while others looked like they were once major lacerations - I couldn't even see her cutie mark because of the scars overlapping it. "This is what his warriors did to me by the time I reached twenty-three." She then pointed to her horn and the scar on her right eye. "This was his personal gift when I was just a filly. You're a full-grown stallion already, so I just need to teach you what I know and I can sleep well knowing that he didn't take another brave soul that just wanted to protect those he loves. I can make sure he never enslaves our kind again," she then gestured to herself, "and not make another monster."
As I saw her wiping the tears away and regaining her composure, I couldn't help but attempt to comfort her. "You're wrong about yourself, Tempest." I found myself abruptly saying. "You're not a monster. You did what you had to stay alive. As for your looks, I hear Cadance always calling you her beauty and she's telling the truth. You are a beautiful mare and," I began to bashfully say, "I think you're really cool, plus... you're a kind, gentle soul deep down."
There was a large smile on Tempest's face, along with the pinkest cheeks I'd ever seen on her. “You certainly know how to flatter a mare. Careful with that gift though,” she said playfully, don’t want Violet or Cadance to get the wrong idea now.”
I was a bit confused at first, but I soon realized it sounded like I was flirting with her and my face turned crimson. "Oh, wait! I didn't mean to say it like that." I quickly said in defense. "I meant it in a way similar to a big sister."
Tempest approached me, giggling happily while doing so, and places her hoof on my cheek. "I know," she teased, "I just always wanted to embarrass some pony like a sibling would." I soon found myself being kissed on the forehead again. "From now on, I'm your big sister and you get to be my little brother. I've grown to like you a lot these past few weeks, Angelo, or should I call you Dessie."
"Uh, I...s...sure, whatever makes you happy." I wasn't sure how to respond to this, but I was enjoying the moment.
During my confusion, Tempest put her armor back on and, soon afterward, ran at me. My reflexes kicked in and I dodged her spin kick. She began to do more kicks and I found myself dodging better than I did before. With the way she fought and the memories of her and Cadance beating me down before, I could now see the similar martial arts back on earth: tae kwon do, capoeira, and judo. I don't know how I suddenly knew this, but I did, and I was making sure she didn't hit me with any of it again.
After a number of attacks, she finally hit me and I hit the ground. "Good, looks like those bat pony instincts are in you after all."
"Wait...w...what do you...mean...by that?" I said, in pain from having the wind knocked out of me again.
"I remember it back in my village. Bat ponies are the most aggressive of ponies and capable of learning combat at far greater speeds than any other. This is how I knew you could learn my technique. I'm going to be a good big sister and make sure you get stronger. Now then, get back up. We have a long way to go before you become a great warrior."
She backed away and gave me enough room to get up. As I did, my instincts kicked in and I maneuvered in a way that dodged her grapple to plunge me down. I knew I wouldn't be able to beat her, but I would attempt to remain conscious for the remainder of the day.
As we approached the castle I could see all my friends walking that way as well. Cadance and Twilight were having a sisterly chat while I could hear that Violet was teasing Discord about the number of tea parties he had been having with Posey while we were all training.
We came within view of them and Violet's expression changed from carefree to worried. She ran to us and she saw the state I was in. I was bruised up, I had scrapes and cuts all over, and, what concerned her the most, I was being carried on Tempest's back.
"Oh my God! Dessie, are you alright? Can you say something, honey?"
I coughed a bit and gave her a big smile. "Everything is all better now that I see you, babe." I got her to blush and giggle a bit, but she still seemed troubled by my condition.
Twilight and Cadance soon arrived as well. Twilight used her magic to lift me up and gently put me on the soft, bushy grass. Before I could thank her, she placed a heart-shaped vial with a cold cyan liquid inside. "Here, drink this." She said in a way that seemed calm, but I could tell she was uncomfortable seeing me so beat up. We had become good friends over the weeks and seeing her friends hurt wasn't something she enjoyed to look at.
Nodding my head in thanks, I drank the liquid - not leaving a single drop. My body started to feel less painful and I soon started to feel better than what I did weeks ago before training. I felt strong and extremely healthy.
Violet lunged at me - giving me all kinds of hugs and nuzzles. "It worked, Twilight," she shouted in glee, "my health potion actually worked."
There was a sense of pride on Twilight upon hearing that. “Well, you had some pony on your mind to motivate you.” She joked.
“Fizzy, dearie,” Cadance spoke in an excited way, “you look so happy.” She gave Tempest a playful grin and started nuzzling her.
“Dessie is such a great pony isn’t he?” Cadance whispered in her ear. Tempest began to turn her head the other way, possibly blushing, but she soon turned back around with a calm composure.
“Indeed, I am really proud of this one. For his first day of training, he was beaten to a pulp and I only managed to knock him out five times.”
“Wow!” Cadance exclaimed in surprise. “That really is impressive. You were right about his kind. Too bad we don’t have any other bat ponies.”
“There's a chance it wouldn’t have made that much of a difference.” The battle-hardened unicorn explained. “Desert Bat still had to put his own will in the training. My father tried to teach his way to bat ponies before. Only a few would keep up with the training before giving up from a lack of focus and motivation. Desert Bat is focused and willing to put his body to its limits without giving up. I can see it in his eyes.”
“I don’t think I like you doing this to Dessie, Tempest.” Violet protested.
“Now Violet,” Discord added, “I don’t really agree with these 'methods' either, but if Des is fine with this we should let him continue. Just be sure to make him more healing potions and I'm sure he'll be fine.”
“It’s okay, Violet,” I assured her “I promise next time I’ll get stronger and come back less beat up.”
“You promise?” She asked me with the biggest, most innocent eyes. “I love you too much to see you hurting yourself just to get stronger for me.”
I smiled at her and planted a kiss on her lips, which she accepted. “I promise you, I will do better for you.”
We hugged each other lovingly for a while until we realized that we were being watched by everyone.
“Awe,” Discord said amusingly, “ I never get tired of watching you two act like this.” Cadance, Twilight, and Tempest shook their heads in agreement as well.
After some embarrassment on our face, mixed with some amusement, we walked over to them and we went to the castle to relax for the day.
For the next few weeks, I trained nonstop with Tempest and got remarkably better as I had promised Violet. I still wasn’t anywhere near as strong or skilled as Tempest, but I was now able to face her without getting any serious injuries.
It was in the final days of these training sessions that, after avoiding a powerful attack she sent my way, I was able to kick her in the side.
After that, she loudly commanded us to stop fighting. I did as she said, a little worried that I did something wrong. Tempest came up to me, but instead of some kind of scolding, she had tears in her eyes and embraced me.
“I’m so proud of you, Dessie.” Tempest said in her sobbing, which, honestly, kind of made me feel a little uncomfortable, “In just several weeks, you’ve not only managed to keep up with me, you managed to hit me. It takes someone who's strong to do something like that to me. I'm so proud of my precious little brother. You are ready now.”
She continued to hug me, and I assumed that the training might have been over. After Tempest released me, she immediately went back to attacking me. "Your training is completed," she proudly stated, " but we still have some time before night. Let's continue to see what else you got."
That following night, we had another one of the multiple parties Surprise had been throwing for us over these weeks. All the ponies of Ponyland were having an amazing time: many were playing pin the tail on the pony, others were dancing on the dance floor, most were enjoying the food, and some were just doing other multiple things that Surprise had planned. A majority of the time at these parties, nobody seemed to know what they were celebrating, they just really wanted an excuse to party whenever they could. My friends and I, on the other hoof, were celebrating on completing the training they wanted Violet and me to deal with and I was ready to go out there with her and the others to find the remaining elements - if they would ever reveal themselves to us that is.
"Hey guys," Surprise happily bounced in with her best friends following along," enjoying the party as much as every pony else is?"
As Surprise asked that usual question, which we always nodded our head happily in response, I noticed for the first time that while she was always with Applejack, Firefly, Twilight Twinkle, and Posey - her best friends that were sort of parallel to the six ponies of the other Equestria and clearly the ones that would have the elements - they only made up five of the elements. There weren't five ponies she called best friends ever present with her. In all my weeks being here, of all the parties Surprise threw, of all the ponies I mingled with, I never saw a pony that appeared to match what would be the element of generosity.