I can’t help the smile on my face as Penny, Rainbow and I leave the portal and arrive back in front of my guest room in the castle. Checking the window, I see the moon is high in the sky, around the same position as when we left Nat’s world so time didn’t flow all the differently from this world.
“Oh man, I can’t wait for tomorrow morning! I am not going to be getting much sleep with this thing in my room.” Rainbow says, tossing her present box into the air a few times.
“I know you’re excited RD, but try to restrain yourself.” I tell the pegasus before an idea pops into my head. “How about this? The three of us will meet up at dawn and open the presents before heading to the training grounds for tomorrow’s lessons. Sound good?”
“Sounds good to me captain. I’ll see you two in the morning, night!” With that, Rainbow dashed down the hall towards her room. I chuckle slightly before looking to Penny, the girl shifting on her feet.
“I’ll see you in the morning, okay Penny?” I say, stepping closer to her. Penny looks up to me and nods, her face flushing slowly. I raise a brow, but before I can question it, Penny leans up and gives me a kiss on the cheek before sprinting down the hall and to her room. I just stand still, eyes wide, before slowly placing a hand on my cheek and smile.
‘Yup, I have a crush alright.’ I think with a laugh before entering my bedroom and getting ready to sleep. After a quick shower and changing into some sleeping shorts, I crawl into the oversized bed and turn off the lights. Right before I close my eyes, I glance to the present I got from Lex, silently wondering what my sister made for me and my friends.
Right Before Dawn...
My eyes snapped open to the sound of almost frantic pounding at my door. Getting out of the bed and putting on a shirt, I open the door to reveal Rainbow and Penny, the latter still in her pyjamas, rubbing her eyes, while the pegasus has a giddy smile on her face.
“About time Adam! I wanna see what we got, so hurry up!” She says, rushing past me and sitting on the couch, her present sitting in front of her. I spare a glance to Penny, who just shakes her head and carries her own present to the table, yawning again. I sigh and levitate my present to the table and join the others, Rainbow vibrating in her seat.
“I guess, go for it?” I say slightly unsure, rubbing my face. Rainbow immediately grabs her box and begins to tear apart the paper wrapping, while Penny and I actually unfold the paper as not to make a mess. Looking to the presents, they all appear to be the same thing, a cardboard box with some kind of digital writing on it. Rainbow looks to me with a raised brow as she looks at her sealed box.
“Looks like some kind of Enchantment. The questions is what it does, considering these appear to be sealed with scotch tape.” I say, slowly peeling back the tape from the box. As soon as the tape comes free and the box opens, the writing glows, then fizzles out. I raise a brow again and look into my box, seeing....something I was not expecting.
Inside my box is a black, dark green and purple flame, the plasma somehow not burning the box or really emitting any form of heat. The girls share my confused expression as they open their own boxes, Penny’s having a bright yellow flame and Rainbow’s being somewhat transparent and prism looking.
“Okay? Any idea what this is Adam?” Rainbow questions, looking at the flame in her box from several angles.
“Not really. I am not the best when it comes to magic, but these are no normal flames, that much is certain.” I mutter, looking over my own flame in confusion. Penny just looks at hers, almost mesmerized, before slowly extending her arm and trying to hold the fire. Rainbow and I jump back as the flames rapidly climb up Penny’s arm before covering her completely.
“Penny!” I yell in shock, about to grab my sheets to beat down the flames, only for them to dim and begin to fizzle out, leaving my partner confused.
“Um, what? Why don’t I feel burned, hot, or in pain? Why do I feel....stronger?” Penny questions, looking herself over. I raise a brow for the third time this morning, glancing to Rainbow, who is equally confused, before looking to my own flame.
After a moments hesitation, I back walk to my box and grab the fire, allowing it to cover me like Penny. I could feel it, this was no normal fire. I didn’t feel warm at all, in fact I felt a chill go down my spine as the flames cover me from head to toe. I look over my flaming body with a critical eye, seeing the fire appear to meld into my flesh instead of burning or sizzling it.
After a few moments longer than Penny’s, the flames begin to reseed, leaving me with an odd chill and burst of energy, making me one hundred percent awake. Once the flames go out, I glance over my body again, seeing nothing new, before focusing inwards. I could sense my soul, my aura, was slightly stronger, but when I focused towards my magic, I can’t stop from gasping.
My magic, visualized by a red and silver orb, now had black mist surrounding it, some off purple and green lines wrapping around it. I open my eyes wide as I realize what this was, just as Rainbow grabbed her own flame.
“Magic.” The girls turn to me, curious. “These flames, they’re magic transfer flames.” I explain, the duo still not understanding, before Penny looks to my box and spots a note sticking out of the bottom.
“Adam, it looks like your sister left you a note.” She says, grabbing the note and handing it to me. I nod in thanks and take a seat on the bed, the girls sitting on the sofa nearby. After a quick breath, I open the letter and begin to read aloud.
”Dear Adam,
Hey bro. It’s nice to see that you trusted me enough to grab the flames in your boxes, I know that must have been nerve wracking, but I promise it will be worth it.
Anyways, as we have told you before the party, I am a wizard with many forms of magic at my disposal. I also have the ability to grant others their own magic through spells like Archive’s Download and the Transfer Flames, similar to the Flames of Rebuke. You have told me how dangerous your version of Equestria is, what with the Grimm running around, so I decided to grant the three of you Fiore magic to give you a leg up on the Grimm.”
I go wide eyed and look to my friends, Rainbow and Penny looking to their hands in shock at learning they now have their own magic flowing through them. Rainbow in particular looks excited, her wings springing out. I shake my head slightly and continue to read.
”For you Rainbow Dash, you mentioned that you are training to become a huntress that uses a bow that splits into scimitar-like blades, so I want to help you. I grant to you an experimental magic I had been working with that allows you to create magical arrows for combat. For example, with this magic, you can create arrows made of pure light or pure darkness for an attack, as opposed to just regular arrows. Now since this magic is experimental, it will be up to you to discover its limits and how to compensate.”
Rainbow’s face splits into a smile I would expect on Pinkie at the prospect, before she closes them tight, clearly trying to concentrate. Penny and I scoot back a couple inches as Rainbow tries to use her new magic, a small silvery spell matrix appearing in her hand before a single arrow that looks like it is made of green wind appears in her hand. Rainbow pants from the use, frowning that she only made a single arrow.
“Ok....looks like you are going need to practice with that.” Penny mutters. Rainbow sighs and lowers her arm, the arrow disappearing in a small swirl of wind. I shake my head slightly and look back to the letter again.
”Next, for Penny. I know about how you used to be a robot back in Remnant, and you mentioned you knew quite a bit about how electrical currents worked, so that is the magic I gave you. Lightning Magic. As the name implies, it allows you to control and use the power of lightning and electricity at your leisure. Obviously it is very useful for offence, but it can be used for defence as with enough practice, you can learn to turn your whole body into plasma, making you virtually intangible.”
Penny goes wide eyed as I read that out, before gaining a determined look in her eyes and sits cross legged. Unlike Rainbow, Penny tries to meditate on it, and I can sense how she is trying to not use her aura. Rainbow and I watch in silence as Penny focuses, and before long, arcs of gold and green electricity begin to spark around her body almost calmly. Rainbow and I smile and Penny opens her eyes, looking at the electricity dancing across her body and between her fingers.
“Wow.” Is all she can say, her eyes shining with happiness. She closes her hands, the electricity vanishing from her body before nodding. “Alright, it appears I need to study those magic books on my free time.”
I smile to her with a nod before looking to the letter once again, curious about what magic I got that could change my magics look so much.
”And for you my brother, I have given you magic that is actually the opposite of what you should be able to use, but I know you can do it. You told me once about the silver eyed warriors, how they were fighters of the light and have the ability to use their eyes to defeat the Grimm. I can tell you haven’t been able to unlock it yet though, so I grant you the opposite power, some I know you’ve always wanted to be able to use.
Darkness and Shadow Magic.”
The three of us go wide eyed at this, the girls looking to me then to one another in shock. I quickly shake my head and continue to read.
”Back when I first introduced you to Fairy Tail, you mentioned how you would love to be able to use the darkness for good and to protect others, trying to be the opposite of the villains who use the darkness. Well, here’s your chance. Along with the Shadow magic that was showed early on, I also gave you several dark magic spells used by the likes of Zero and Midnight. The list should be in the box. I don’t need to tell you have powerful and dangerous these spells are, so practice with caution.
Also, for each of you, your magic is very adaptable, so I have no doubt the three of you will end up developing your own spells (or create magic forms of attacks from other media) so be sure to practice and don’t go overboard. Good luck!
Sincerely, Lex.”
I put the letter down and take a seat on my bed, trying to wrap my head around this. I have darkness magic? A silver eyed warrior, has the ability to use the darkness and shadows? I sigh quietly and look to my present box, seeing the small note that should be a list of spells. I am about to get up and grab it, only to pause and thought of something else.
Sitting cross legged on my bed, I focus on my magic, and more accurately, the new magic I can sense is flowing through my veins. After a second, I feel the magic connecting to me and I smile. The girls look in confusion, then shock as my shadow begins to shift before what looks like a tendril of pure shadow stretched from my shadow towards the box, leaving the floor and grabbing the note before bringing it to me. I grab the note from the shadow tendril as my shadow shifts again and goes back to normal.
I chuckle a little at the stunned looks on Penny and Rainbow’s faces before looking at the list. According to this, I have access to quite the selection of darkness and shadow magic. Pretty much all the spells used by Zero during the Nirvana arc, and the spells used by Kageyama during the Lullaby arc. Somehow, I knew I could also use this magic to copy the abilities of some other characters from other shows, eventually.
I smile and place the note on my nightstand before grabbing my outfit for the day.
“Well, it looks like we have quite a bit of training ahead of us. But for now, I suggest you two get changed and meet me at the training hall, we still have a long day ahead of us.” I tell the duo, Penny and RD nodding and grabbing their messes before leaving my room. I release a sigh as I head to the washroom to shower, grabbing a towel with my shadow.
‘Yeah, I could get used to this.’
One Week Later
Opening my eyes, I am greeted once again my the canopy of my temporary bed in the guest wing of the royal castle. Today was the last day for training the White Fang before we head back to Ponyville to recharge and hang out before coming back. Plus I apparently had a meeting with the other leaders of the guard and Shining Armor today for some reason, so there was that.
Getting out of bed and heading to the washroom, I pause as I pass the mirror, looking over myself for a second. I was by no means ripped or fat before coming here, being an athlete prevents you from being the latter, but I saw how lean and admittedly muscular I was, especially now with all the small bruises dotting my body from training my soldiers.
After a second though, I activate a spell I gained from Lex, one not in the show, and watch with fascination as black markings begin to climb and cover my exposed skin and even along the sides of my face. They looked a lot like the black markings Black Star from Soul Eater gains whenever he used his Shadow Star forms. I am not sure if the markings were intentional, but they were badass. Especially my eyes, in which my sclera turned black and my pupils narrowed into slits like Spikes eyes.
Dismissing my spell, I hop into the shower and get a quick rinse before getting changed into my original outfit and heading to the dinning hall. Passing by the other guest rooms, I stop in front of one a few doors down and knock.
“One moment please!” I hear from inside before the door opens, Penny walking out with a smile, tightening her bow. “Good morning Adam.”
“Morning Penny. Ready for breakfast?” I question with a grin, the human nodding with a smile and walking alongside me to the dinning hall. “Hey Penny, nice job with practice last night. You are really getting the hang of using your lightning.”
“Thank you Adam, but it is only because I have such a great teacher.” She says with a wink and a giggle, earning a chuckle from me. The night we got our magic from Lex, Penny and Rainbow have been wanting to practice, but it is rather difficult to do so after a whole day of training, so I found a small loophole that lets the three of us training without worry of either someone getting hurt or needing to worry about our bodies exhaustion. Dreams.
So at night, I used my Dream Walking magic and made a shared dream between myself, Penny and Rainbow, where I would help Rainbow practice how to utilize her magic, while also showing Penny a bunch of electrical attacks, not just from Fairy Tail, but also from other universes like Naruto, Pokémon and DC.
So far, Rainbow has been able to figure out how to summon arrows made of wind, light and ice, and how to summon them continuously, though she can’t seem to fly when she is summoning a bunch of them. Penny has also managed to learn how to control her lightning for attacks like her own version of Chidori and Discharge as well as how to turn her body into intangible plasma. But I knew the three of us still had a ways to go before we can claim to have mastered these new powers.
Shaking my head to clear it, Penny and I turn a corner and see the entrance to the dinning hall, but something is defiantly up. Not only are there two solar guards up front, but also two lunar guards, two White Fang members, two Crystal Guards, and also what appears to be the Wonderbolt guards. I look to Penny, who is equally confused, before walking to the doors and opening them up.
I am immediately bombarded by the sound of talking as I see that not only are the royal sisters here, but so are Shining and Cadence, the Element bearers and Spike, Ruby, Pyrrha, Oscar, Qrow, Captain Iron Frost, Captain Midnight Blossom, and who I recognize as Spitfire of the Wonderbolts, all sat around a table eating and chatting with one another. All talking comes to a screeching halt as Penny and I walk in.
“Ummm, are we interrupting something?” I questions awkwardly. The large crowd all shrug.
“Not really. We were waiting for you two to show up.” Twilight says, motioning to two seats next to Luna that were empty. Penny and I shrug to each other and take our seats.
“So, what’s up Adam? Been a while since you were in Ponyville.” Ruby says, taking a big bite of her sandwich.
“Eh, not much Ruby, just training the White Fang took a little longer than I thought.” I say, grabbing an apple and taking a bite.
“Quite. Though I must admit, the coloration of your division is simply divine darling. White and red work so well together.” Rarity gushes, looking at one of the members, who blushes under her gaze.
“Thanks.” I say simply, silence slowly beginning to cascade across the table. Eventually it becomes enough and I sigh. “Alright, what’s this all about? I know I had a meeting with the other captains today, but over breakfast and with my friends present?”
After a second, Celestia clears her throat, earning our attentions.
“Well Adam, you see, the other captains have brought to my attention that you have had no previous military training, yet your training regiment you place your soldiers under is top notch and even stressful. They merely wish to understand the man behind the madness as it were.” She says, barely flinching as I turned my masked gaze to her, lowing my mask.
“Alright, but that still doesn’t explain why everyone else is here. No offence guys, but I assume the military of this kingdom would have some degrees of discretion.” I say, looking over the elements and Remnant natives.
“Maybe I can explain.” We all turn our gazes to Spitfire, who looks to me with a neutral yet almost challenging face. “I heard about how you faced Princess Luna in a duel a few months back and to be honest it sounds a little too fantastical for me. I mean, absorbing a spell that would normally kill somepony then sending it back. Yeah that sounds a little much.”
I look to her with an almost equal neutral mask, before seeing the glint in her eyes and get what she wants.
“I see. So, am I to assume you want to test me to see if I deserve the rank of Captain of the White Fang?” Spitfire barely flinches as I hit the nail on the head. I smirk to her, before leaning back and thinking about it. I have little doubt I could beat her, she is just really fast and strong, but training with Ruby and Rainbow made me great against speedy opponents.
“Do either of you agree with her?” Penny questions Midnight and Iron, the two captains glancing to each other.
“To be perfectly honest? I know that Adam is more than material for his rank, but I wouldn’t mind testing him out in a personal duel. Unlike her highness, I don’t plan on holding anything back.” Iron Frost states, Luna shifting in her seat as she realized all of us knew she held back in our fight.
“Same goes for me, though I do want the chance to fight more than just you, Captain Taurus. I would like to fight one of your subordinates as well, to see how they would stack up.” Midnight says. I look to her with a nod before turning to Shining Armor, seeing if he wants to add his hat into the ring. After a second, and a nod from his wife, he spoke up.
“For me, I just want to see how I would stack up compared to you Adam. I know firsthand how well you fight against the Grimm, and I have little doubt fighting actually sentient beings wouldn’t be much more difficult for you.”
I nod to him before leaning back again, thinking about all this. The three leaders of the other three branches of the guard all want a chance to fight me, and one of my soldiers in Midnights case. I am not sure how a normal person would react to this, but I was far from normal. I wouldn’t completely mind fighting each of them, but setting up individual duels would be rather tiresome. After a second, I get an idea, but I needed someone’s opinion.
“Hey Luna? Can you cast a privacy spell on me and Penny?” I question, the crowd caught off guard from my request.
“May we ask why?” She questions.
“Just wanted to run something by her really quick.” I answer simply, the gathered ponies and humans looking to one another in confusion before Luna nods and light her horn, a blue bubble appearing around Penny and I. I nod to the lunar princess in thanks and turn to Penny.
“What’s this about Adam?” Penny questions, I just grin, and go over my plan with her, those outside the bubble confused when Penny begins to silently gesture around.
“What do you think their talking about?” Ruby questions her uncle, who just shrugs with a grunt.
“With those two, who knows? They have a different type of chemistry with each other than they do with others.” Qrow says, taking a swig of some coffee.
“Kinda an understatement.” Rainbow mutters, not being heard by anyone other than Cadence, who raised a brow at her, sensing the jealous she senses when we met was all but gone.
‘Hmmm...maybe..’ Cadence turns to Penny and I as I finish going over the plan, Penny thinking for a moment and nodding. I wave over to Luna who drops the spell around us.
“Alright then, we have come to a sort of decision. You four all want the chance to fight me, and I wouldn’t be completely against that. But I think we should make it a little more interesting.” The four ponies look a little nervous at my grin. I glance to Penny, who nods with her own grin, before turning back to the ponies.
“Eight on two. You four and one of your strongest subordinates against me and Penny.” There was stunned silence for a moment, before Pinkie took a swig of her water, only to do a spit-take that somehow missed everyone,
“WHAT!?” Was the collective yell, Penny and I covering our ears.
“Ow! Hey, watch the volume! Stronger hearing than most here!” I yell, shaking my head to get rid of the ringing in my ears. I could see the others give sheepish looks as my hearing goes back to normal.
“Sorry, but seriously, what!? You two against these four and their own soldiers?” Pyrrha questions, looking to Penny, who shrugs.
“In truth I am curious how I would do against true opponents, since the most I have done is sparing. I haven’t been in a real fight with another warrior since our duel in Remnant Pyrrha, and we all know how that turned out.” The Remnants flinch at that, Penny sighing slightly. I place a hand on her shoulder, the human smiling up to me.
“As for your worry, Penny and I are both more than strong enough to take on hordes of Grimm by ourselves, but we must also be ready to fight other warriors. So far it has been your groups to arrive, but there is no guarantee that Salem and her crew couldn’t find a way to get here. A battle against the leaders of the royal guard sounds like a good way to make sure we are ready to me.” I point out, leaning back in my chair. The gathered ponies all look to one another while the humans glance to Penny and I.
“I say go for it.” All eyes turn to Qrow. “He makes a valid point. Salem could find a way here, and we would need to be ready, not rusty from fighting only Grimm. Fighting one another is a good way to push yourself, to see how you would stack up against one another.” He goes to take another swig of his coffee, only for him to miss the handle and causing the remaining coffee to spill on the floor. He frowns and sighs at that.
“Yeah your Semblance sucks sometimes Qrow.” Spike deadpans, the others all nodding in agreement. There was another silence that settled over the table as the others all truly thought about my suggestion, Penny and I waiting quietly while munching on the odd piece of fruit. Before long Spitfire straightens up, a cocky grin on her muzzle.
“I’m in. And I know Soarin wouldn’t mind the chance to take you on. I just hope you can keep up Taurus.” She says.
“I guess we’ll have to see, won’t we?” I retort with my own grin on my face.
“In that case, Star Seeker and I are in as well. And we won’t hold back.” Midnight states, her fangs poking out her muzzle from her smirk.
“Same goes for me and Storm Hammer.” Iron says. All eyes soon turn to Shining Armor, the prince looking to his wife, silently asking permission. After a second, Cadence sighs and addresses me.
“Just don’t hurt them too bad Adam. Or else you’ll know why love can be so dangerous.” I felt a shiver run down my spine at her sweet yet deadly tone, nodding quickly.
“Well, it appears we have an impromptu fight to set up. Mayhap's we could inform the soldiers?” Luna says, her excitement evident in her eyes.
“Of course. It would only be natural for the soldiers to be present to watch their commanding officers battle. I just hope it doesn’t end up being too big a deal.” I say, grabbing a whole apple before standing up. “How about, two hours for prep before our fight?”
The ponies all nod and stand up themselves, heading to the doors to get ready. I turn to Penny, who nods up to me, the two of us leaving as well to grab our gear.
‘Looks like I get to practice my skills against some hopefully worthy opponents.’
Two Hours Later
Canterlot Training Stadium
I was leaning on the wall behind the entrance to the arena, waiting for Penny to show up. Like I expected, practically every soldier in the city and not a small amount of the populace came to the arena when they heard that I would be fighting again, even more so when they heard who my opponents were. Before we knew it the place basically turned into the Amity Colosseum, complete with concession stands selling popcorn and soda. The royals, Elements and humans were all seated in the VIP booth, having the best seats in the house, and I could all but hear the excitement coming from them.
“Are you ready?” I look down the hall as Penny heads my way, her back secured on her back and her mask resting in her hand.
“Yeah I think so. The question is if the ponies are ready to get beaten.” I say with a laugh, adjusting my Ember Celica. I had Wilt and Blush secured to my left side, and my philosophers stone around my neck, so I was more than ready for this fight.
Penny nods with a smile and leans on the wall next to me, seeming content with her proximity to me. I smile down to her before getting serious as I hear the horns blaring music. With a quick nod to Penny, we place our Grimm masks on, and wait for Celestia to call us out.
‘Here we go.’