//------------------------------// // Knighthood, failure, retribution, training // Story: New Life of a Crow // by Knight of Crows //------------------------------// Griever POV That's the happiest I've been in I don't know how long. She retained most of her memories which I was surprised and just as happy about as well. We talked for hours with everyone else joining half way, she got along with everyone as I expected. Unfortunately visiting hours ended, but I promised her I'd be back as well, before I left I left a few elemental wraiths (imagine the frost wraiths from skyrim, but don't reveal themselves until they attack) hidden in the room in case anyone tries something, namely Blueblood. I also made a few shadow snakes and crows to find him and make sure he doesn't make things any harder than they need to be, I also made a mental link with them to spy on him and distract him in case he tries to use libel or slander against me before or during the ceremony. I'm not taking any chances, simple as that. When I made it back to my room I found myself unable to sleep, not that I need it, but it helps pass the time. I was probably too focused on Blueblood and Misty to sleep so I messed around with my magic trying to think of new combinations for deadlier combos or elements, but I had no luck. I would have tried void magic, but it's too destructive at the moment and I can only turn hollow for a few minutes before my emotions break free again. After messing around with the magc I decided to listen to some music set on random to help pass the time which actually worked as before I knew it a maid came in to wake me up. "Sir Griever, the princesses are waiting for you in the dining hall." "Alright, tell them I'll be down shortly." I took a quick shower and made my way there, I noticed Blueblood was there and had a smug look on his face. I have a few ideas, but I know if it involves Misty or defamation towards me that it failed. "So the beast is still here, and I'm assuming that mutt is as well?" how deep do you want that grave "Blueblood! You will not say anything that might antagonize or provoke Griever." Celestia said "To answer your question she is here and in the infermary thanks to you. She was supposed to be human again, but that little stunt you pulled took away any chance she might have of being what she was born as. And all because 'peasents' were in a place EVERYONE has a right to be in. As I said, you are going to die, what I did to you then will look like childs play compared to what I'll do to you after the duel so I hope you're prepared." "Prepared to put you and that bitch wh-" I interrupted him with an ice spike flying past his ear "I would shut up if I were you, just because I can't kill you now doesn't mean I can't make you suffer nor does it mean I can't keep you from coming to the duel which will count as a forfeit." I turned to Celestia "So about me becoming your knight, you said the ceremony would be as of today 5 days from now? What would knighthood entail?" She tried to say something before Blueblood interrupted her "Knighthood? You? Preposterous!" "Next time he opens his mouth he's losing a finger. Actually" I muffled him using water and ice "there, now what were you going to say?" "As far as responsibilities go you will be tasked with assignments the guard cannot complete either because of the threat, the importance of the job, or they are not permitted to do. You will also lead the guard when neither me or Luna aren't present. As for what you receive, you will become a noble with land of your own aside from what you already own and monthly payments. All you need to do on the day of the ceremony is arrive in your custom made armor, kneel before us, swear allegiance to Equestria, accept the custom made sword, and stay until the end of the celebration after." Celestia said "Sounds simple enough, now if you'll excuse me I'm going to see Misty. Before I forget, I'll be forging that sword, the armor would just need a few enchantments." Celestia stopped me as I got out of my chair "That is fine, before you go could you please remove your magic from Blueblood?" I could, buuuuuut "No, I think he's less troublesome this way. Bye." I left before anyone could say anything, though I did hear Luna laughing I had forgotten where the infirmary was, but thankfully a guide was available and along the way I noticed fewer guards than last time. I'm guessing Blueblood did try something and failed miserably, that's probably why he had that look on his face, he probably tried to use her against me. Too bad for him that I try to think of plans for anything and everything I can to the point of having several plans for a single scenario then backup plans to my original backup plans backup plan (I try to be prepared okay). I saw a guard rush past us and that just confirmed it, we arrived and found the lobby to be a bloodbath. I strolled past everyone and made my way to Misty's room to see her awake and looking so much better than last time, seemingly unaware of what happened outside. "May I come in?" "You're the only person who doesn't need to ask." I walked inside and kissed her before taking a seat "Just so you know, we'll be having company soon." "What did you do this time?" "Not what I did, but what I prevented." the door slammed open immediately after revealing the princesses and Shining "Well that was fast." "Griever what happened out there?" Luna asked "My wraiths killed a few intruders. I placed protection around the infirmary for Misty and that was the result. My guess is Blueblood hired assassins or ordered a few of his guards to go after Misty to get to me. He probably intended to use her to get me to back out of the duel." "THAT COWARD! HE HAS GONE TOO FAR AND WILL PAY THE PRICE IMMEDIATELY!" Celestia shouted, Luna and the others barely contolling themselves "No, as cowardly as this was it was still a valid strategy. A wise man once said 'all warfare is based on deception', I want to say it was Sun Tzu who said that, but I never read his Art of War so I can't say for sure. What I can say is his defeat will be that much sweeter after this, and the days leading up to the gala will be absolute Hell for him." "I was wondering what that racket was, I thought a patient was going crazy." Misty said "I am sorry, but we will need to leave so the guards and doctors can clean this up and get back to work." Luna said "First, I want to see if I can check Misty out of here." "No need, I already asked if she could leave yet under the condition of no strenuous activity." Celestia said "I am just liking you and Luna more by the minute, you know that right? Don't worry, I'm not any less interested in you Misty, and yes, I'm very good at dodging bullets. Can you walk yet?" "I think so." She stood up and took a few steps with almost no trouble "Alright, I'll go find your clothes and we'll get out of here." "My clothes are in here." she said opening a cabinet by the door "Would you like some privacy?" "You've seen me naked more than enough times to memorize every detail of my body and you're asking if I want some privacy to change? Help me put this on, the others can get out though." I was blushing as she was saying this I helped her get dressed then we met the others outside. The princesses decided to take a day off so Misty and I continued where we left off the other day and introduced them to some anime. We made good progress on Orphen and Trigun before we decided to start killing- I mean training the guards. Summary 5 days until ceremony (today) "Alright maggots listen up, here's the pecking order: it goes you, the dirt, the worms inside of the dirt, your Gods and demons, Griever's weapons, Griever, the princesses, then the wolf lady over there named Misty. Your princesses have given me permission to train you MY way which is comprised of methods from other people. Here are the rules 1. Do not question the rules 2. Do not talk about my training 3. You will be crying 4. Don't break my stuff 5. No food or drink allowed, all snacks will be provided by the instructor 6. Do not speak unless spoken to 7. You will refer to me as master 8. Don't fuck up, because if you fuck up then everyone will be punished 9. Do not ask about my weapons 10. You will not even look at a weapon until I say otherwise 11. When you receive your weapon, you will give it a name befitting of the opposite gender as it will be the only pussy or dick you'll get during my training 12. You will not talk back to me 13. You will not disrespect me or Misty 14. You wil think very carefully before saying or doing anything 15. You will learn these rules quickly as well as what I teach you Any questions?" "Yes, you hones-" SLAP, he ragdolled across the training yard, coming to a halt after digging 30 of dirt with his teeth "Now any more questions?" Silence In my best Popo impression "Now we can begin." 4 days "Yesterday was pathetic, lets do it again!" I said in an excited tone "UUUUUGGHH" "Rules 6, 8, 13, 14, and 15! You know what that means?" they looked at me in fear 3 days "Today you will be learning the most important lesson you can in a fight." "What's t-" I have found my first victim of the day "Thank you for volunteering. DODGE!" I spin kicked him into 5 others "Did you even try dodging?" I asked the downed guards 2 days "Today you get your weapons, but only if you can do something first." "And what's-" "DODGE!" only 10 out of 40 did so "I'm so proud of you! You're learning." I gave them their weapons which they actually named to my surprise "Don't worry, the rest of you will get your weapons too." I blew them randomly to the guards, almost injuring everyone, they dodged that time "Now you will fight eachother." They were crying at the end as expected, three hours later and I was taking a stroll through the gardens before seeing a deformed statue. "What the fuck am I looking at?" 1 day "Today you will fight me after you win a match against eachother. Go!" They fought and the 20 victors stood before me. "Do you remember the rules?" "Yes master!" "Rule 16. Please disregard rules 1-15." "Master?" "Rule 17. There are no rules. No rules means no mercy! HEHEHEHEYHAHAHAHAHAHA MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE!" They didn't stand a chance "Well that was fun, but before I go, had that been a real fight you would all be dead. Bye" I decided to call it a night and went to mine and Misty's room. She had recovered quickly and took advantage of that if you get what I mean. Day of ceremony I'm on a balcony overlooking the people below and can only say I honestly expected less "Celestia, your guards still suck." I told her "That is disappointing, but they aren't important right now. Remember what I told you to do?" "I do." I said putting on my armor with crow shaped heads as pauldrons, wing shaped arms, chest plate with a crow on the upper middle part of it, talon shaped leggings, and the cloak that almost looks like it's made out of feathers and almost makes wings in the breeze. She stepped out to greet her subjects after seeing I was done. "My faithful subjects, today is a day worthy of being remembered in history. For the first time in over 1,000 years, Equestria will have a knight to call upon in it's time of need. But also for the first time, the knight isn't a pony, but the last of race long forgotten that predates even the most ancient on Equus. In the short time we have known him, he has freed dozens of slaves alone when the guard would have been hard pressed in doing so. He has single handedly vanquished Ragnarok, the dragon who would have taken at least 3 alicorns just to ground, the dragon who even father and mother feared greatly. He did all of this for 2 reasons, his hatred of everything slavery entails, and to save a loved one. He has happily given us some of what his race left him, even offered his very being to us if we could help him. He has proven himself a worthy candidate for knighthood and today shall be the day he receives his reward for his deeds. Sir Griever, would you please step up to the balcony." I stepped out into the light and surprised everyone looking at me, I walked up to the princesses and knelt before them. "Do you Griever, swear an oath to Equestria?" Celestia asked "I swear." "Do you swear to uphold our laws and enforce them if necessary?" Luna asked "I swear." "Do you swear to be Equestria's shield, to protect it and its citizens from harm?" they were alternating now "I swear." "Do you swear to be Equestria's sword, to bring justice upon it's foes?" "I swear." "Do you swear that as long as you draw breath, you shall do everything in your power to preserve the harmony we have worked for millenia to create and maintain?" "I swear." "Do you swear to lay down your life for everything you hold dear?" "I swear by the graves of the old world." they drew the sword I made of similar design with the armor (but the end of the blade folds back into a scythe head) and feathers fell from the blade as they held the sword and continued to do so "Then by the power granted to us by the king and queen before us we grant you the title of Crow Knight, and your badge of office: Nevermore. May it serve you well as you serve Equestria." they said together, handing me the blade "Now, say something to the crowd that history will remember." Celestia said. I complied "I would have chosen the title of Wolf Knight, but a certain Abysswalker already took it." they looked at me like I was crazy If any of these idiots get the reference I'm going to be very concerned and happy at the same time