//------------------------------// // 8. Come and Get It!! // Story: Wolves of Night and Blade: Book I // by One of Nine //------------------------------// “What!?” Celestia’s voice rocked the room. Chandeliers swayed, cups and plates went flying across the hall. I, along with a giggling Pinkie, screaming Rarity, and flailing Trixie glided over carpet and table alike. One moment I sat in my chair between Trixie and Fluttershy, Discord staring at me as if I’d just pranked him, and the next I was sailing through the air like a ragdoll with three crying/Wheee-ing mares. After crashing head first into the double doors, which hurt (a lot, I might add), I slowly sat up with an aching back. I turned to find I’d used a certain white unicorn as a cushion, her body slumped against the door. My eyes burst wide open before I helped Rarity to her hooves, her legs shaking with the effort. “You ok?” I asked after she took a few deep breaths, she was close to hyperventilating. “Anything broken?” The fashionista rubbed her sore bum. “No, no injuries. Only my pride as a Lady, nothing more. And thank you darling.” “No problem.” I nodded before turning back to a stunned Celestia and Luna. Both staring at me. “I-I’m s-so sorry, Fang!” The Solar Princess begged, her eyes starting to tear up. “I-I lost control, I—” “It’s ok.” I assured, assisting the other two mares to their hooves. “Your back in control now, and no one was hurt. A win-win, as my brother would sometimes say.” The Princess gave a little smile before recomposing herself. “My apologies everypony, I didn’t mean to shout… i-it’s just been…” She suddenly wilted, her smile disintegrating. Luna took up her sister’s sentence, the Solar Princess sniffling and eyes watering. “It has been some time since we heard of the Tree speaking. Not since Mother passed have we heard such things. And that was over thousands of years ago. Long before...” She sighed, no doubt remembering her ulterior self. I nodded solemnly, understanding their grief. “And when the Tree spoke to her, what did it say? If I might ask.” “The only thing I remember was that Mother reported it saying, you are not worthy. After that, we left and didn’t return till Discord ruled.” The Lunar Princess spared the Draconaquis a glance. “However short it was.” The Lord of Chaos huffed, troughing his sombrero and maracas behind him, a startled cat hissing in the distance. “Enough about that, I think we’ve touched on that too much. Yes, my reign was short. Mostly because of the two party-poopers over here.” He jabbed a thumb over to the Princesses, his nail flipping up like a lid and out launched a flurry of smoke and sparks. The should of a gunshot sounding, only to reveal the Princesses covered in soot and grime. A small flame flickering in Luna’s mane. Discord blew out his assaulting finger old-west style as the two sisters cleaned themselves with napkins. Luna shot her former enemy a scowl and doused the flame, her eyes spilling over with irritation. “Oh don’t give me that look Moon.” The nickname caused Luna to scowl deeper and blush, and from what I could see, she was trying not to search her dress’ backside. I suddenly found myself baring my fangs and snarling at the Chaos Lord, his red and yellow eyes locking onto me. My claws slowly unsheathed, the sounds of popping bone and spitting flesh filling the room. A low growl sounded in my throat. “Show her some respect, spawned whelp. She, as well as her sister, are your rulers.” We growled, our head lowering slightly in preparation of attack. It seemed that whenever I got mad or irritated, my Wolf would partially take over and we’d act as one. I didn’t know about our situation at the time, but this is what I thought of it. “Give them respect and you will slowly earn mine. Very slowly.” Discord nodded repeatedly, his pupils shrunk, his breathing quick and shallow. My Wolf retreated into the depths of my head without a fight, his work completed. Maybe I should’ve named him there and then, but I was too focused on my target to care. I huffed as I leapt forward, closing the distance between us. My lips pulled back further with a deep snarl, eyes narrowing. “Good.” Luna stepped forward, no doubt intent on defusing the situation. “At any rate, thank you Fang, but your assistance isn’t re—” “AUNTY!!” A screeching yell halted the Princess’ words. My memory seemed to recognize the voice though, bringing back images of dashing unicorn stallion. Not a minute later did Blueblood step into the dining hall, a smug scowl edged into his pale muzzle. I watched as everyone in the room (save the Prince) cringed, indicating he was unwanted. Much like the Blueblood we all know and hate (the one I personally loved to see get beaten), he strode into the room without any greeting. He simply strutted up to the Princesses, each holding their own regal stance. Celestia stood straight with a warm and loving smile, welcoming the Prince with a polite nod. Luna sat in her chair, leaning back with her hands resting on her stomach, not paying the brat of a Prince any heed. She closed her eyes and looked about ready to doze off, if it weren’t for the fact she occasionally glared at her nephew, I would’ve thought otherwise. “Hello dear nephew, how goes your day?” The Solar Princess asked in a motherly voice, though I imagine she regretted it. Blueblood huffed with a raised nose, stuffing his hands into his pockets, the sound of many bits clinking following. “Terrible, dear Aunty. When I arose this morning, I heard talk of some discussing beast wondering the halls and some ludicrous filly’s tale about said mutt braving the wilds to feast on my own two aunts. HA, how preposterous!” The last statement was solidified with a stomp. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Rarity was flipping her butter knife in her hand, murder flooding her eyes. I then took notice of the others. The rest of the main six looked ready to pound the Prince into goo, Dash looking the most prepared with her wings already spread. Cadence and Shining sat off to the side, rolling their eyes at his rant. Flurry, oblivious to all the commotion, continued to play with her doll. The toy horse’s legs swaying this way and that as the filly made it walk, probably frolicking through bright green fields. I stifled a chuckle as she made her doll jump up and down, she muttered a little song, mumbling happily with each action. I then turned my attention back to the other half of the royal family, Blueblood continuing his rant. “…nd that was just the start of it, next I asked the maid to get me a platter of hayfries and she brings me back a bowl of salad. What is she, DEAF?!...” “Actually Blueblood, I asked her to bring you that salad. Doctor Cord said you should be eating more healthy choices if you wish to gain muscle.” Celestia had sat down and was facing her relative with a patient smile. Did her cheeks even ache? Seriously, I’ve never been able to smile that long, especially with such boring topics. The Prince’s eye twitched. “Well… I suppose…” He finally turned his head and sneered down the table at the assembled group of mares. “Pf, mares. The only things we as stallions are destined to dominate. Their rightful place is in bed and under us as they quiver. The kitchen and broom closet are their playgrounds.” I caught this, as well as other insults toward the assembled mares. The stallion, if you could call him that, muttered all this under his breath, below anyone’s prying ears. That is, except mine and Luna’s, as I noticed her scowl deeply at him and her ears twitched toward him. When his hateful gaze set upon me, his eyes went wider than dinner plates, pupils turned to pinpricks. “A-aunty?” “Yes, dear nephew?” She followed his gaze to me, the Princess offered me a gentle nod and a comforting smile. To which I nodded back before arching my back and stretching, fixing my hands and letting my claws slip into view. “Ah, yes, this is the so called ‘beast’ you mentioned. Obsidian Fang, please meet my nephew, Prince Blueblood. Blue, this was our rescuer from Chrysalis’ Hive, Fang.” Blueblood hadn’t seemed to pay any attention as he was too busy trying not to faint. His legs quivered beneath him, his arms trying to shield his rib cage, and eyes shrinking even further. Once I finished my morning stretch, I stood to my full height and walked over, making sure my—our steps were heavy as they shook the marble floor. We stopped about five feet away from the cowering Prince, giving him a half smile, knowing our sharp teeth were on display. “Du kaller oss en dyret nar du kan ikke engang se selv. (You call us a beast when you can’t even see yourself)” Our deep, intertwined voices rang throughout the hall. Memories of our language class from high school surfacing. “Vi vet hvor vil du snart ringe hjem, og Black hjertet skal brenne dine synder forbli Unforgiven. (We know where you’ll soon call home, and your black heart shall burn should your sins remain unforgiven)” “Mornin’, your Majesty. Nice to meet you.” I then regained control and leaned down to the Prince’s ear, the smell of sweat becoming palpable. “You ever say or treat any mare in that way, I will personally wring your neck and send you to the moon, without the Elements. You get the message?” I finished with a snarl and popping my knuckles next to his head, wishing I could shave him bald and use his mane as a mop. It was defiantly long enough. The Prince, being the height of society and nobility he was, made a break for the door without a word and sped as fast as he could down the hall to the safety of his room. Or possibly an underground bunker, either of which, I didn’t care. “Kjore, kjore lille prinsen. (run, run little prince)” The words rolled off my tongue before I lost composure in a giggling fit. I was barely able to hold back my applause as I started laughing like a mad man. I ended up leaning against the table to steady myself. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Asked a perplexed Rainbow Dash, the rest of the girls staring at me with a mix of smiles and shock. Celestia and Luna just seemed surprised and relieved at the same time. I gave them a triumphant grin before addressing them. “Yeah.” I managed to laugh out. “Seeing as you all gave him your disapproval, I thought I’d get rid of him for you. That and I was getting tire of listening. Even I try and never complain that much. And Celestia, you also seemed to dislike his company. Why bother with his attitude? Why not kick him out and send him on the road, huh?” The Princess grew a sad smile, her eyes dimming slightly. “Well, he’s family. You can never choose family… regardless of how troublesome they are…” Her eyes glanced over the assembled table, her smile brightening. “But you can choose friends.” My grin widened, my teeth coming into view behind ash lips. “Very true.” “However, it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.” Luna mumbled, only a moment latter did she realize I heard her words. Her head rose, silver ringed eyes catching mine and looking very guilty. I gave her another quick smile along with a chuckle. “When you’re ready, give me a call. I’ll dropkick him at the word.” My smile returned before I delivered one of my favorite lines in Television history. “And we’ll all be happy, happy, happy.” My grin stretched to its fullest, putting Pinkie’s to the test. “Happy, happy, happy?” Applejack, who’d been slowly sipping on a cup of coffee, ever so slowly waking, piped up. “What ya’ll talk’n ‘bout?” “Famous words of a bearded red neck.” “Red neck?” Her hat sat sideways on her head, making one ear stand straight while the other played hide and seek. AJ scratched her head, letting a few loose strands of heir fall over her forehead. I smiled. “Someone who lives in the south. Anyway…” I was cut off as a waiter dressed in a black suit lowered a shining platter before me. He rested a hand on the plate’s covering, ready to present a meal worthy of a king. “Your breakfast, sir.” His curled mustache bent upward with his smile before he pulled the covering up to reveal two stacks of large, brown, steaming, mouth-watering, perfectly baked pieces of Heaven. Waffles. My jaws immediately began drooling like a waterfall. “Shall I leave the syrup here with you sir, or shall I pour some for you?” I finally managed to push back some tears and swallowed a lump in my throat. Lord, you’ve blessed me so much… and I love ya for it. I needed me some waffles!! “That bottle of syrup isn’t gonna survive this encounter. Might as well leave it were it can accept its fate.” “Very well, sir.” With that, the stallion left me to drool uncontrollably over my plate of warm goods. “Takk! (thank you)” I shouted after him. I was about to dive right in when I remembered something my family always taught me to do before a meal. I slowly hunched over my plate, closed my eyes and folded my hands. The waves of warm steam still tickling my nose. Lord, I come before you today to thank you for the amazing meal you’ve placed before me. Thank you for the wonderful friends you’ve placed at my side, the people I could help rescue. Lord, I know they’ve had it rough and need your guidance. Please give me the strength to help and show the love you’ve given me. Please help me figure out this new life and body, the amazing strength and power you’ve given me, I will do my best to use it for your glory and might. And I pray for the people who’ve been running this country for the thousands of years they’ve been in power, please show them your wisdom and love through me. I hope to do as you’ve instructed and raise a church here and build on your family tree. In all this I pray, in your holy name. Amen. I then resumed my position above my plate, mouth starting to water again. That is, until I caught a glimpse of everypony and she-wolf giving me curious looks. I looked everyone over and felt confused, I shrugged in response. “What?” “What were you doing? Trixie’s never seen anypony do that, and she’s been almost everywhere in Equestria.” Said the blue unicorn from the far side of the table, I’d almost forgotten she was there. I gave her a dismissive shrug, keeping it casual. “Praying.” “Ooh, ooh!! My great-great-great-great-great grandmama prayed a lot when she was a filly!” Pinkie grinned from her seat next to Fluttershy and Dash, her hand raised as if she were in class. “Yeppers! Prayed nearly every hour of everyday! She prayed to Faust for a whole bunch of goodies.” My heart sunk into my stomach at that. Not saddened that her ancestor prayed for food things, but that she prayed to a mere mare, I didn’t mean to make the bar stoop. If her ancestor were to pray, it should be to the Creator, not someone who’s seen as an idle and can die. They had been lead astray and were doomed to be separated from their Maker, doomed to never feel love, joy, peace, and kindness for the rest of eternity. I’ve always done what God asked to the best of my ability, and even if I screwed up, He’s already forgiven. Be kind and loving, even to your enemies. Trust me, that one’s a pain to accomplish, never easy. But if life were easy, I’d be snoring away under an oak tree till noon and climbing trees and mountains until dark. “Darling, are you alright?” Rarity asked with a smile. I shook my head, apparently, I’d been staring at my plate of semi-warm waffles. “Would you like for us to stop so you can eat?” I looked down at my breakfast again, I wanted nothing more than to clean the plate and slurp up every last chunk of baked good. However, it would be rude to put them on hold. But, then again, I did need some warm food in me. “Perhaps if we could hold up on the questions until I’m done? I need something to eat so I don’t end up dozing off.” I then leaned back and began to playfully snore. Rarity giggled with a hand covering her smile. “Of course darling.” I nodded in thanks before picking up my fork and knife, only to have both snap in my hands like thin twigs, leaving nothing but useless silver scrap in my hands. I promptly tossed the broken silverware on the table next to my plate and cupped my hands together in frustration, growling. I quickly licked my dry lips and stared at my hands, their claws— wait, my claws… My claws. I could use my new claws to eat. I’d always liked finger food, now I was taking it to a whole new level. I then focused on my appendages and extended my natural utensils. Two inches worth of sharp bone slit my fingertips down the middle before I sliced a chunk of waffle off the main stack. I soon took the syrup bottle and nearly flooded the plate in the thick, sweet, delicious nectar of all things breakfast. It took me roughly twenty minutes to devour the plait’s contents, licking the last of the syrup from my sticky claws. I looked up to see a number of concerned faces staring at me. I took a second to search all present at the table, studying their faces. “Even when I first broke my chamber’s door, it didn’t come that easily.” Luna muttered, to which my ears perked in her direction. After a moment, the Princess stood and looked at me with a stern gaze. “I challenge you to a match of strength and skill.” Everyone in the room gasped, even Celestia looked taken aback. All eyes staring at the Lunar Princess, my own face twisted into confusion, brow raised in a sharp point. “L-Luna, you can’t possibly do this!” Celestia finally stuttered out, grasping current events. “If you couldn’t tell, he outweighs you in strength and build! I can bend almost any metal with my bear hands, but with a good amount of difficulty. Now you challenge him, of all beings, to a fight!?! Wha…uh… E-ev-even the Minitour King has at least some trouble flexing hard metals! With Fang’s show of strength in that accident, he could tear you in half if he wanted to!!” “I KNOW!!” Luna shouted, nearing Royal Canterlot Voice levels. “But I’d still like to see.” “Um, Princess?” Asked a nearly giggling and trembling Twilight, holding a paper pad and quill that had some scribbles on it. Celestia took a breath to calm herself. “Yes Twilight?” “While Fang was eating, I took the liberty of measuring the level of strength it would take to brake the silverware that easily and the measure of strength that Luna possesses… that we know of so far.” She looked down at her notes, Applejack leaned over to see the pad, her eyes bulged a moment later. The farm mare whistled in her amazement. “Woo nilly. Ah’ve never been to good at math, but woo-nilly, that’s a lot of force.” “Yes.” The lavender Alicorn stated before going on. “Apparently, Fang has three point eight the times of strength you have, Princess.” Celestia’s eyes widened till they looked ready to pop out. “H-ho-how?” Twilight shrugged. “I don’t know, and Luna is at equal strength levels with you, maybe a bit more so.” “So, let me get this straight…” Discord chided in, his arms crossed over his chest while he leaned back in his chair, smoking on a bubbling pipe. A mass of red spaghetti overflowing the pipe. “Shaggy here is stronger than Celestia!? Goddess of the Sun, Reaper of Darkness, Raiser of the Lone Star, and Bringer of the Elements?!” Everyone nodded in sync. The Draconaquis leaned forward to stare at me, eyes wide in excitement. “Care for an arm-wrestling match?” I let loose a chuckle, “Maybe later, Mismatch.” Discord barked out a long laugh. “Oh, good one! Hahahahaha!!” I then stood, very gently cleaning my hands with a napkin before marching up to the Lunar Princess. “I accept your challenge.” The Princess of the Night took a breath, her exhale spilling out her scent. “Very well. Do you require any armor? Anything that might make the fight more comfortable?” I smiled and gave a huff of amusement. “No. If I’m going to fight, I’ll fight like a man. No armor.” Everyone seemed stunned by this, the loudest gasp coming from Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash was quick to get in my face, zipping around the table to meet me. “Dude, are you INSANE?!?! Going into a fight without any protection? That’s like flat out asking to be killed!” I couldn’t tell why, but for some reason, I didn’t feel like I needed it. I felt as if I knew my skin could take the punishment and still fight. Maybe my Wolf had something to do with it? By the way, I thought I’d name him… Dawn… does that sound good? A sudden rumble echoed throughout my head, a hum of agreement from my counterpart. Dawn it was. For our eyes glow like the coming light of the Builder’s sun. Anyway, Dawn assured me that I could take almost any punishment given. I looked down at the daredevil with a smirk. “I’ll be ok.” Dash gave me a firm nod in return, the thrusted her pointing hand in my face. “Good, ‘cause I want to give that arm-wrestling thing a shot.” I huffed and raised an eyebrow at that. “Ok?” “Excuse me, Fang, darling?” Called Rarity as she walked up, looking a bit nervous. “I’d feel awfully terrible if you went into a fight without any protection… at least a little bit. Perhaps an arm guard? Or something a little more stylish than ripped jeans and a shirt like that.” She pointed at my Wonderbolts GO shirt, the mini Spitfire soring into view. “Hey, are you dissing the Wonderbolts?!” Shouted Dash as she pumped a fist at the fashionista. Rarity in turn let out a snobbish huff, sticking her nose in the air. “Hardly darling, I just couldn’t bare to see such a fine shirt get ruined.” “Oh.” The alabaster unicorn then turned back to me as she glided her hands over my shoulders and chest, I could feel my face heating up slightly. “Come darling, I have some work to do. And if you want me to make you come new clothes, now’s the time for me to take your measurements.” I shook my head with a grin before following the mare. “Alright.” Luna’s POV: After further talk on Fang’s current strength level, I descended to the Lunar Keep to fetch my custom-made armor. Each was a sleek black plate of metal that overlapped with each piece. From the shoulders to the ankles, I was soon dressed in fine Mithril plated armor, each surface glistening like polished obsidian. Soon after gathering my Warhammer, which I kept in a pocket dimension at all times, as to keep it close by and always on hand. So, I collected my hammer and dual daggers, each strapped to my back. Once all weapons were accounted for, I made my way to the training yard. This was where most of the Royal Guard trained and worked out. When I entered the area, all manner of equipment had been removed to allow a wide field of movement. Only the stone tiled floor and eight pillars stood, the ten-foot pillars standing in a circle around a normally sized ring, yet I doubted that it would work for me and Fang. I then turned to my left to see Tia and the others sitting on a set of bleachers, all waving and smiling at me. Rarity soon came from the door I’d entered and joined her friends. Discord sat clothed in a gold and red jersey and a black ballcap that had Fang’s eyes and facial scars covering the bill and front. A bag of popcorn sat in his arms, the Draconaquis shoving handfuls into his jaws. I gazed around to find my opponent, but he was nowhere to be seen. I waved back to my sister and friends. “Has Fang showed yet?” Tia shook her head. “Not yet, Lulu.” As if to answer our question, the double doors leading to the castle’s halls shook with an astounding blow, almost ripping themselves off their hinges. I could smell the other wolf behind the door, his scent clear to me among the sourdough from his breakfast. He was trying to scare me. Smart. The battle of the mind must be fought before the one of body. However, this tactic would’ve been better used on the megger changelings or anypony with little experience in battle. Me however, I had seen countless battles and wars, I didn’t scare easily. Suddenly, the doors burst open as the towering form of Obsidian loomed over me on the steps. True to his word, he wore no armor over his chest, his firm muscles flexing beneath his black fur. While his right arm was left bare, his right arm had been dawned in leather and steal armor. A pair of thick gauntlets started at his wrists and ended just before the elbows, and a large curved plate of metal shielded his upper arm and shoulder, three wicked blades edged themselves from the shoulder plate. The broadsword he’d used to rescue us was strapped to his back, a thick grey rag was wrapped around the hilt, making the grip larger for his broad hands. Fang’s face was twisted from the kind and noble smile he usually wore to a snarling and fearless beast’s expression. It seemed that the Fang we’d known was gone, all that remained was a vicious beast bent of my undoing. Yet Star assured me that he was just pretending and “getting into character”. Tia stood up from her seat on the bleachers, holding a green flag. “Ready?” I nodded in confirmation before Tia took a breath to calm herself, raising the flag. “Set…” My eyes bore into Fang’s, his eyes becoming half dark blue and half gold. The rings of deep yellow thickening, threatening to engulf the blue. Was something going on that we were unaware of? Something dangerous? “Go!” With that, Tia waved the flag and sat down. Her face bent into worry. At that second, my opponent charged and unsheathed his sword. He raised it to his side, ready for the fight. I braced myself for the oncoming attack, raising my hammer above my shoulder. But Fang didn’t stop to attack, he just kept coming, barreling toward me like an enraged Minitour. He lifted his sword wielding arm and slammed into me. His free arm rapped around my back, the pressure building as the sound of armor denting rang in my ears. The black wolf let out a bestial roar as he barreled into an opposing pillar, dust and rock crumbling around us as he kept running. My back and neck started to ache. Fang stopped and flung his arm out, grasping my arm along the way, he lead me to unroll into the hard surface of a nearby pillar. Using the momentum he’d given me, I whirled around said stone cylinder and raised my hammer in one stroke. The thousand-year-old Warhammer connected with his jaw, I shook off the pain form my landing as he stumbled back. He then gripped his aching chin and smiled, almost insanely. “Now that… was AWESOME.” He popped his jaw and knuckles, his grin expanding to its fullest. “Let’s see what we can come up with.” I didn’t know what he was talking about, but I knew it wasn’t good. He then stabbed a large chunk of pillar and swirled in a circle, letting the boulder fling off his sword as it charged toward me. I took a batter’s stance and swung my hammer, obliterating the torso sized rock… only to have Fang bearhug me from the cloud of dust. His thick arms rapped around me in a way you’d find unappealing, his muscles rippling as the pressure built, threatening to crush me in two. I looked down at my attacker with a hard eye, Fang stared at me with a neutral gaze, not even snarling as his power grew. I drew my head back and lashed it at the black wolf’s cranium, pain erupted in my head. Fang shook his own head and blinked but kept his grip on me and kept the pressure even. Thunder rumbled overhead, lightning sparked and crackled. Dark clouds steadily rolled in from the west, blocking the sun’s precious light. I managed to hear Rainbow Dash comment over the roaring thunder claps, “Hey, rain wasn’t in the schedule! What gives?!” I was curious myself but being crushed tends to relieve you of such worries. Suddenly, a single bolt of lightning surged down from the dark heavens. The bolt found its target; the wolf currently hugging me with all his might. The lightning struck, its energies engulfing Fang, his response was an intelligent “uuuuh?”. It seemed that the energy didn’t affect him in any harmful way. A second bolt raged at him, it struck with no consequences. Strangely, the electrical charges didn’t disperse, they stayed put, providing an eternal surge of energy onto the oblivious wolf. Then, a third found it’s mark. Slowly, a pour of rain descended on us, all present on the sidelines grumbled as they were drenched. Finally, under the strain of his embrace, I let my hammer fall to the scorching floor. I noticed Discord popped an umbrella over himself and Fluttershy, but left everypony else in the miserable rain. Rarity looked exceptionally peeved, her cold glare seemed to freeze the rain, aimed at the Draconaquis. Fang finally broke from his dumbfounded trance, shaking his head again as he released me from his iron grip. I plummeted to my knees, taking deep breaths. “Hey, you ok?” He asked as he patted my shoulder. I nodded, as this wasn’t a true battle and there was no need to anger myself. The black wolf then looked himself over, raised his hands to his chest, and clenched them, the lightning halted its assault, the clouds flashing and continuing to pour rain on us. Fang shook his head, eyes blinking rapidly. “Man, this is nuts.” He clapped his hands; a flurry of lightning flew from his hands and into the floor. “Yikes, hahaha!” Forget what I said earlier… I gritted my teeth, my grip on my Warhammer tightening. No way I was going down. I was a seasoned war hero, one of the mightiest among warriors! A Princess of Dark War, they’d called me, and I would not let that name fall at this day! Not now, not ever! The lightning suddenly encased him, his eyes invaded by sparkling white light, arcs of electricity springing forth. A swirl of crackling white energy surged over his hands, stretching over his arms and chest. Tan markings aglow with a shining golden light. So lost in my observations was I that failed to see the punch he was delivering and was suddenly sent flying over the stone yard. I blinked away the pain and stretched my wings, their broad and long feathers spreading twice my armlength. I turned back to Fang in terror. His eyes and body let loose an array of alabaster lightning along with his roar, ruins glowing, and huffing out columns of smoke and dark orange fire. This was beyond thrilling and terrifying. Could I possibly have these abilities too? Could I learn to breath fire and control lightning? I took a quick look at my own markings, their fluid and graceful edges a dull grey. I suddenly felt very jealous. How could he, somepony who awoke merely days ago discover so much about himself and leave me in the dust?! I, Princess of the Night?!? Letting this anger fuel me, I turned to my opponent and rushed toward him, hammer lifted and ready to maim. As I sored after him, the wolf turned and braced for my inevitable impact. My Warhammer collided with his chest before he was sent tumbling into a still standing pillar, that same column being reduced to dust and pebbles. Fang wheezily stood, his fur matted and drenched, whipping his head around until he found me charging him again. The lightning was gone, but he had another attack installed. The dark hound took a quick breath and unleashed a furry of flame and black smoke, I was barely able to evade the attack, but I managed to skim the edge and sore over him. However, the torrent of fire pursued, chasing me down as it heated my feet. I climbed above the fires, weaving and rolling between the flames. I sharply veered back at Fang, diving under the fire breath, preparing to end this fight. Our bodies collided, and we tumbled in a ball of fur, limbs, and protests. When our ride finally ended, I laid on my back with Fang laying on top of me. He rolled his way off of me and shook his head, trying to straighten his rolling eyeballs. “Ouch!” He mumbled as he smacked his head. “That hurt.” “Not as much as this will!” I countered as I rushed for my hammer, Fang in turn rolled backward and stopped with his back to a still intact pillar. He stood and grasped the grey stone column, extending his claws and digging into it’s surface. With a snarl, he ripped the pillar from it’s roots and snapped it in half over his leg, presenting them as boxing gloves. “We’ll see.” He teased with a grin, he pounded the two halves together to make his point known. We started toward each other before Tia shouted, “ENOUGH!” I turned to see Tia standing with a neutral mask, her amazement and wavering concern breaking through slightly. “I think the training yard has been put through enough, don’t you think?” Both of us looked around at the destruction we’d caused, the bruises and cuts making themselves known to me in great pains. The yard was a mess. Pebbles and rubble scattered themselves over the tills, scorch marks surrounded the area, and spiderwebbed craters littered the ground. Fang let loose a whistle. “Dang, looks like either me or someone else’s got a lot of cleaning ahead of them.” Words could never be truer. “Perhaps—” But my proposal was cut short as the double doors burst open, the sight of my nephew dampening my mood. “There he is!” The incompetent snob pointed at Fang, seeming to shrug off that one of the massive doors had fallen off its battered hinges and toppled to the ground. “Apprehend that beast for insulting and threatening the crowned Prince of Equestria!” Oh joy, the plot-hole was back. Bucking-tastic!