Chapter six: Physical Education
The train moved slowly along its course to Xing, being about three days away. As it turned along the cliff face past soft hill laden plains, it became like a happy traveler on his merry way as the sun warmed him up. This beautiful site was ignored, however, by two of the people inside the train who went into the train a far back as they could go. The alchemist push aside all things breakable and then began to draw a circle in the middle of the car, “Ed, I don’t get it…how is this going to help me learn Alchemy.” Twilight asked, getting into some comfortable fighting clothes and out of the purple attire she had been wearing.
“You’ll see.” Ed said as he began to remove his long brown coat and into some black pants and tank top. “ Besides, my teacher has always said that a strong mind needs a strong body to protect it.”
“That is true, but how does that relate to Alchemy?” Twilight asked as she moved into the circle and assumed an odd fighting stance, one that made it obvious that she was getting used to the idea of having arms rather than hooves.
Ed sighed a little at the sight, “Have you had any experience in fighting? Or have been taught the basics?”
“Well, I have read a few books on Neighponese fighting styles and Dash taught me a little back when I was a pony, so I am a little more used to hooves.” She looked down, a little embarrassed by her clumsiness.
“Ok, well at least you might know how to throw a punch.” Ed stated, ignoring Twilight’s little, insane, fantasy about being a pony. “So throw one at me.” He waved one hand at her, beckoning for an attack.
“Ok!” With that, Twilight threw her first punch, which was then blocked by Ed’s palm. She was then pulled to Ed and thrown to the ground. “OOOF!”
“Did you see it?” Ed asked with a chuckle.
“See what?” Twilight asked getting up and brushing herself off.
“How it worked like Alchemy.” He then looked at her, “Throw another punch at me, slowly this time and I’ll demonstrate.” Nodding, Twilight did as she was asked, “ You see, this style works like Alchemy by taking and understanding the opponents attack.” Gently he put his palm to the side of Twilight’s arm and pulled it, “Deconstructing it, and then “He then threw Twilight back to the ground “Changing it or redirecting it into a new form.” Crossing his arms, he smirked.
“Yeah” Twilight shook her head to get her bearings, “I think I am.” Twilight then threw a basic jab, but tried to do an uppercut that she had read about. Ed just blocked the jab, uppercut, and then countered with a light punch.
“See? I redirected your jab, deconstructed your uppercut and then used the leftover energy for a good punch.” Ed smile as he watched Twilight get up.
“Yeah I see.” She said as this time she thrust her foot out to kick Ed, and watched as he took a step back, grabbed her foot and lifted her off the ground. As she was in air, Twilight twisted her body on instinct to deliver a kick to Ed’s face. “How did I?” Twilight looked at herself in confusion, she did not know how to do that and never even learned it.
“I don’t know, but it was impressive and well executed. Ready for some more?” Ed asked as he got up slowly, wiping a bit of blood off his nose.
“Yes teacher.” Twilight said, nodding. As the two continued to spar with one another, Twilight began to think about what has been happening to her lately, It’s interesting, but the more time I spend in this world, the more I seem to be adapting. For instance, my ease at learning Alchemy and how to fight as a human, both of which should take me months to learn. However, here I am learning at a fast rate, I wonder She backs away, dodging the sweep kick from Ed If this is Truth’s way of compensating for the loss of my magic, equivalent exchange as it were. After all, back when I was a pony I did have an unique ability to learn a spell just by watching it performed. Maybe, since I can have magic but have skills, my talent just moved to the next best…”OOOOF!!!” Twilight yelled as she got jostled by the train’s sudden stopping. “What was that?”
“ATTENTION PASSENGERS WE SEEMED TO BE STOPPED TEMPORARILY BY WHAT APPEARS TO BE A GIANT... BEAR? WE CALMLY ASK ALL PASSENGERS TO PLEASE REFRAIN FROM THE OBVIOUS BEAR PUNS AS THE CONDUCTOR AND I HAVE ALL READY MADE THEM.”
“ OH, HOW ABOUT “I CANT BEAR THE SUSPENSE OF HOW THE MILITARY IS GOING TO CONTAIN THIS.”
“GOSH DARN IT PHIL, SHUT UP!!!!”
“Oh,come on, why does every train I go into always seem to get into trouble? C’mon let’s check it out “Ed said as he got his brown coat and went to the outside ladder. Twilight soon followed and saw a huge bear growling at the train. Inside this blue creature was a collection of stars, including the constellation Little Dipper. “What is that thing?”
“ It…it’s an Ursa Minor.” Twilight said, unbelieving her eyes, but trying to figure out a way to stop the creature from harming anyone.
“A what?” Ed looked at Twilight, confused.
“An Ursa Minor, a creature from the world I come from…but he shouldn’t exist here at all.” Twilight said, trying to figure out what is going on.
“Existent or not, we got to figure out how to at least contain it.” Ed said, clapping his hands, but then remembering that his Alchemy is gone. Twilight, looking to the cliff wall, claps her hands and puts them to the side. She then made the wall into a pushing hand and shoved the beast out of the way. “Nice thinking my student” with that he leaped off the train and rolled down the hill. Getting his bearings he picked up some rocks and threw them at the bear, “ Hey big guy come and get me!” The bear roared and charged at Ed as he ran from the beast.
Twilight followed Ed, trying her best to think of a plan. Without her magic, she knew she couldn’t lull him to sleep like last time. So this time its time to play with the area, she then clapped her hands and put them to the ground, forming stone spikes and hitting the bear in the side. As the bear yelped in pain Ed punched it in the nose and kicked it in the leg before running to Twilight, “So any ideas Twilight?” Ed panted out his question.
“I need to find a way to contain this beast, something like a good steel cage or something to that effect. Anything.” Twilight said looking around her.
“Give me a weapon, we can probably think this one out while keeping it busy.” Ed held out his hand. Twilight nodded in agreement and used Alchemy to form a spear for Ed and handed it to him. As Ed charged at the beast, Twilight clapped her hands to the ground to form a platform to get herself high up. A few yards away she could see some trees covered with some vines. Smiling she looked down at the fight as Ed vaulted himself up with his spear, and used it to stab the beast while in flight. Landing, Ed blocked the bear’s swipe with the spear; however, it broke. The bear reared, ready to swipe again and as it did Ed used his left leg to block the attack. The force still knocked him flat. “ED!” Twilight then used her alchemy to knock the bear aside with a rock fist. She then used a few more fist to blow the creature back. “Ed, are you all right?”
“Yeah I’m fine, ruined a good pair of pants though.” He then ripped his pants legs off into a pair of shorts, revealing a flesh leg and an metalic left leg.
“Y…your leg, its cybernetic.” Twilight said in amazement.
“Yeah, it’s a long story, tell you more later…now any plans for Grizzly over there?” Ed looked up at the recovering monster.
“I need you to lure that beast to that grove of trees over there, I can then trap him with those vines.” Twilight then pointed the way.
“Good plan.” Ed said as he ran by the beast, running to the grove as Twilight followed. As the creature loomed in on Ed, he did not notice Twilight clapping her hands onto a tree and causing the vines to come alive, trapping it as it bound the creature in its tendrils. Smiling Twilight walked to the captive, but then watched in shock as a grey shimmering portal began to envelop the creature. Running to it, Twilight put her hand into the portal and watched in amazement as her hand became a hoof inside the portal and when she pulled it back, it became human, that’s a portal to my dimension she then watched as the portal closed but how did it open? Twilight turned to Ed who was also watching.
“Interesting, that is something we are going to investigate later. For now, lets get back to the train.” Ed then walked to the train, Twilight in tow. As they got within viewing distance of the train the people cheered the two heroes, Twilight couldn’t help but blush from the admiration. “Trust me, you’ll get used to it.” Ed said placing a hand onto her shoulder, he, however, was kind of reveling in it.
Later on, as the train got back on track, Ed and Twilight sat in their private car, “So Ed, what about that robot leg?” Twilight asked, having seen some prosthetics on ponies before.
“As I said it’s a long story, “ Ed sighed, bringing out a picture. “ This was me a few years ago.” He then showed Twilight a picture of him in a red overcoat standing next to a suit of armor.
“Nice suit of armor...” Twilight said, looking at Ed.
“That’s Al.” Ed said, then taking out another photo. He was never one to talk about his past, especially the incident. After all, that was the location of his greatest and worst mistake. “You see, me and Al used to live alone with our mother after our father left.” He showed a picture of Him, Al, and a brown haired woman holding them both in a hug. “For a while, we were happy, studying Alchemy and showing it off to our mother.” He then looked down as he remembered the next part, “However, one day a horrible sickness came over the town taking a lot of lives…mother was one of them. Me and Al were devastated, but I had a stupid plan. See we knew most of the tricks behind alchemy and rules behind it, including its greatest taboo. “
“That’s why you were upset at me when you thought…”Twilight said looking at Ed.
“Yeah, I had experience. We gotten ourselves a teacher and she taught us everything we knew and then when we got home we bought the right ingredients for a human body. We put it all into a pot and mixed it with our blood, and then made the stupidest mistake of our lives. I cost Al everything and all I lost was this stupid leg. But I wasn’t about to lose him for good, I made one other transmutation and put his soul into that suit of armor at the cost of my arm.”
“But you have a flesh arm now.” Twilight said looking at Ed’s arms.
“That was because me and Al went on a long journey together, and with a lot of effort we got our bodies back to normal. Well, with exception of my leg but my wife says that is ok.” Ed chuckled.
“Your wife?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah” He then pulled out a photo of him, a blonde, an a young boy and girl. “This is her” points to the blonde woman, “And these” points to the children, “Are my son and daughter: Hohenheim and Trisha.” Ed said proudly. “So tell me about your family.”
“Well, there is so much to tell about them. There’s Applejack, a very honest worker and very good at what she does. Rainbow Dash, who is a bit of a braggart but you could count on her in a pinch and Fluttershy, who is very kind but about strong as the rest of us. There’s Pinkie, who is a bit random but she does have a way to cheer you up and there’s…Rarity” Twilight looked sad at mentioning her name.
“ Must be the one your friend tried to bring back.” Ed said, looking at the way she reacted.
“I don’t know if my spell worked or not…but I just got to hope and if not…I’ll go to Tartarus itself to bring her back.” She said, determination in her voice.
Ed smiled, he liked that determination, reminding him of himself. “ It sounds like you have some great sisters.”
“They’re not….” Twilight was about disagree with Ed.
“You talk about them like they are your sisters, you seem like you think about them a lot, and you were willing to die for one. Sounds like sisterhood to me.” Ed said with a smile.
“Well, I do have an older brother, his name is Shining Armor and he is great…” Twilight then began to brag on not just her brother but 5 ponies that meant the world to her. Ed, in retaliation, talked at length about his family and thus did it go on throughout the night.
The sun shone brightly upon the travelers, as if to give them a beautiful light of hope for their situation; it acted like a beacon for the five trying to show them the right path to finding the way to save their friend. Rainbow dash kept flying ahead of the group, keeping an eye on the right path while Applejack led the group on the ground, with Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rarity keeping close behind. For them, the question was not if they would succeed but when they would succeed. It was this thought that spurned them on as they traveled, well…that and a little help from a great pick me up,
“Come aboard and bring all your hopes and dreams,
We’ll find everything we are looking for, One piece.
Compass left behind,
It’ll only slow us down
Your heart_” Pinkie continued to sing until interrupted by Rarity.
“Pinkie, just what is that song you are singing?” The unicorn asked, arching an eyebrow.
“ Oh its from the opening of this play I watched a few days ago called, “Tales of a straw-hat pony from the east blue” IT was really funny and awesome at the same time. I really got to take you guys to it.” Pinkie said cheerfully.
“Uh, Rainbow dash…not to question what you read in the book but are you sure that the stone is in Unicornia?” Fluttershy questioned, looking up at the flyer.
“Of course!” A confident smirk came across Dash’s face “ The book said that the last anypony has seen of the fraternity stone was in that city. So it is the best place to start looking” she flew a little farther to make sure nothing was up ahead.
“What I am worried about is who is gonna be guarding this thang and how are we gonna get it away.” Applejack said, looking ahead and then stopping, “Wait a sec, did y’all hear that?” She began to twitch her ear and began to look around.
“Lust? Luuust?” From out of the bushes cam a very fat pony with a strange cutie mark, resembling a snake trying to eat its own tail.
“Oh my gosh! HE IS SO BALD!!!!!!” Pinkie said looking at the newcomer as he turned his head to the voice.
“Oh, hello there.” The fat pony said, putting his hoof in his mouth as he looked to the brightly colored equines. “Have seen my lust? I got lost walking around. Lust?” The pony continued to look up and down and around for his companion.
“I am sorry there mister, but we haven’t seen hide nor hair of your friend, but if we do we’ll be sure to let you know.” Applejack said, curious about this pony before them.
“Well, if I can not find my lust.” The pony opens his mouth, bearing his teeth as drool drips from his mouth “I can have something to EAT!” He then leapt at the five ponies.
“WHAT?” Rarity exclaimed as she leapt from the lunge.
“Oh, maybe he plans on making us into cupcakes and share us with his friends.” Pinkie joked as she watched the pony stand and look around.
“I don’t know what crazed cannibal family you came from, but we aint gonna be anyone’s supper!
Applejack growled as she bucked the gluttonous one in the stomach as Dash flew down to kick him in the head. The deranged pony swiped at the flying rainbow as she dodged his attacks. Rarity used her magic to grab a few rocks and throw them straight at the pony. The bald pony winced as the rocks hit his sides. He then tries to run at Rarity, but then Fluttershy lightly smack him with her tail. Distracted by the light hit, the gluttonous pony leapt at the yellow Pegasus pinning her down. Raising his head to bite down on the filly but was struck from the side by a large spiked stone impaling it to a tree, “ Rarity! What…” Applejack said, looking at the impaled pony, stuck to a tree.
“I, I don’t know what came over me.” Rarity looked at her kill, suffering a little shellshock, “ He looked like he was going to eat Fluttershy, I had to!”
“Its ok Rarity, you saved me.” Fluttershy walked to Rarity, giving her a reassuring nuzzle.
“Yeah, you did what you had to.” Rainbow said looking at the impaled pony.
“So, what do we need to do if he comes back to life and pulls himself off?” Pinkie asked.
“Now Sugar cube, how would that happen?” Applejack asked looking at Pinkie.
“Like now!” She then pointed to the bald pony as he began to pull himself slowly off of the spike. Once off, the giant hole in his stomach began to heal itself making him hole once more.
“Gluttony, stop playing with them and come back here, we have more important things to be doing.” A feminine voice spoke, getting the fat pony’s attention.
“Yes, Lust!” The fat pony then ran to the black haired pony’s side. On her flank was a similar cutie mark to the fat one’s only with a more feminine figure. As the two were reunited, a shimmering portal came over the two and they vanished.
“Just what the Buck was that? Wh…who were those guys?” Dash asked, looking at the spot where the two ponies disappeared.
“I have no idea.” Applejack said looking at her friends. “Its getting late though, So I think we should get some rest for now.” The others nodded in agreement, the fight had taken a lot out of them and they had no idea what was up ahead for them.
“Oh Twilight darling, I am so glad you decided to come over for tea. I had just gotten some new boxes that you just had to try.” The white unicorn said, happy that it was all over.
“ It was my pleasure Rarity, I am just sorry that I have been so busy lately.” Twilight said, smiling glad that she was back with her friends.
“ OH by the way, let me tell you about my day recently I…” Rarity was suddenly interrupted.
“That’s what it is all about isn’t it? YOU!” Twilight interrupts, her voice sounding less female and more decayed. Her face slowly peeled back to reveal muscle and bone as her left eye slowly faded away.
“Twi…Twilight? What do you mean?” Rarity began to back away in utter fear.
“If you didn’t die I wouldn’t have had to save your worthless TAIL.” She begins to reach for Rarity over the table, wanting to attack her. “What are you compared to the life of Celestia’s trusted student.?”
As Rarity backed up, she is grabbed by a similarly decayed Applejack and Fluttershy, “Thanks to you, your friends are all now risking their lives for her just because you had to die.”
“You should’ve just stayed dead, no one really cares for a fasionista who only cares about her own beauty!”
Rarity began to struggle, “Nnnno, I am sorry, I didn’t…” but is cut off as zombie forms of
Rainbow dash and Pinkie begin to jump her, grabbing at her.
Rarity shot up, panting as sweat rolled over her face. She looked around the dead campfire as everypony else slept. She looked at Pinkie Pie who was asleep in the middle of the group, more to be surrounded by the love of her dear friends. Fluttershy was sleeping under the extended wing of Rainbow Dash, Dash meanwhile had the look on her face that said she was going to protect her friends no matter what. Lastly, She looked to where Applejack slept…well, would be sleeping had not she decided to watch over her friends and keep a look out for everypony,
“Rarity? Y’all alright?” Applejack asked looking at Rarity.
“O…Of course I am darling.” Rarity said with a fake smile.
“It looked like you were having a nightmare there.” The blonde pony then walked to Rarity.
“Applejack, ladies such as myself do not get nightmares, we just get dreams. “ Applejack looked at Rarity, almost as if to say was that she was going to trust her to tell her what was really wrong. Applejack then turns to keep her vigil, “Uh Applejack?”
“Yeah Rarity?” Applejack turns to Rarity.
“Ever…think about what Twilight has meant to all of us?” Rarity asked, still thinking about her nightmare, feeling a little down about herself.
“A little, I really don’t think we would be the friends we are without her. If we never went on that little adventure with her, I would still think you to be just a frilly little princess with no life whatsoever. Fluttershy would be a recluse, Rainbow a little jerk, and Pinkie…” Applejack tried to think about Pinkie’s life.
“She wouldn’t open up to us and found true friends.” Rarity said with a smile.
“What?” Applejack asked looking at Rarity.
“Remember when she ‘lost it’ at her birthday? It was because her closest friends almost betrayed her. It had been anyone else, she would have been fine. She probably feels the most open with us, that she can be herself with us.” Rarity said, watching the sleeping pony.
“Maybe you are right.” Applejack then stretched, “So, y’all want to keep the lookout with me?”
“You won’t mind me?” Rarity said, looking at Applejack.
“Nah, it’s a lot better to have someone with ya.” Applejack said, adjusting her hat.
“All right.” Rarity agreed, the thought of the nightmare still on her mind but trying her best to drive it from her mind.
The next morning, Pinkie woke up to seeing Applejack preparing breakfast, rolling out the apples for the girls. “MORNING APPLEJACK!!!!!”
“Mornin’ Pinkie. I think you might have woken everypony else with your voice.” Applejack chuckled as Rarity took her apple.
“Well, Actually you woke me up before the dawn, something about tradition or something.” Rarity said biting lightly on her apple. “ I swear you would get up before the rooster.”
“That dang rooster is a few minutes too slow, I have to. Pinkie, could you get Dash and Fluttershy up for me?” Applejack asked as she looked to the two sleeping pegasi.
“Uh…actually, I have been up since Pinkie. I just can’t wake Rainbow dash up.” Fluttershy said as she wiggled a little under Dashie’s hold.
“Here let me help.” Pinkie pie skipped to Dash, pulling out a megaphone and put it to her ear.
“RAINBOW DASH, SPITFIRE IS HERE WITH A FREE OFFER TO JOIN THE WONDERBOLTS!!!!!!”
“WHAT???” Rainbow dash shot up and looked around before chuckling sarcastically, “Very funny.”
“Glad to see you up.” Applejack said.
“How many miles do we need to go before we get to Unicornia?” Fluttershy asked, looking at her friends.
“Looks to be about three to four miles at most.” Pinkie said, finishing her muffin.
“How did you know that?” Dash asked flying up and confirming it.
“Oh I looked over while we were eating.” Pinkie said.
Once breakfast was done the mane 5 walked over the hill and traveled to the front gates of Unicornia. Rarity knocked on the door, “Excuse me, we need to get in.:
“Oh really, Well welcome to our…” the unicorn guard walk out and then sees the others behind Rarity, “I am sorry mam, but your slaves are going to wait outside, we don’t allow ruffians here.”
“WHAT?” Rarity asked.
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