With Heart and Sword

by FALG

Bash

This was the fifth day since everything happened, the fourth I didn't do anything remarkable to add in this story.

Before I left this world for good, I had thought of a few things I wanted to do before.
One of them, was a real battle against Shining Armor; since we always fought with his advantage, I wanted to know who could win if we fought or own ways.

"You're kidding right?"
"I am not kidding Shining" I told him "I want to fight you, but for real this time, not just any sparring match."
"You are insane; if you can't beat me with what your father taught you, you think you'll win with something you haven't properly mastered?" he insisted.
"C'mon pal, don't tell me you are chickening out." I scoffed
"I am not, I am simply rejecting your plead." Shining said
"Please Shining! I only have one more day here, don't let me go without having a proper fight with you."
The unicorn began to think for a while, and finally said.
"Well fine; you'll fight in your style, I'll fight with mine, use as much weapons as you wish, but I don't know if I will let you time for using them." he said with a smile.
"Don't worry about that, we'll see what happens. Tomorrow here at the barracks?"
"Why not today?" suggested Shining.
"Hey that's a great idea, give me some time to grab my equipment from the castle."

With that, I left for the castle and after an hour I got back with a bag full of my weapons, armor and some other gadgets I designed.

I decided to have my light sword, and strapped to my front hooves two retractable blades.
My armor consisted of a metal neck guard and hardened gauntlets, ideal for blocking incoming slashes (they are like shields, only more maneuverable).
Shining on the other hoof, was clad with purple armor with details of gold, with a matching helmet similar to those the guards wear. His only weapon was a longsword, it may be heavy, but Shining lifted it with his magic without a problem.

The battle took place in the center of the barracks, many soldiers watched the fight.
We agreed on a sudden-death bout, so there wouldn't be rematches. The fighter would win if his sword was in contact with the other's coat (making it an automatic win), or if the other fighter declared defeat (somehow).

We took opposite sides in the fighting zone, and then the battle started.

Shining ran towards me, trying to ram me. I blocked the ram but fell to the ground with the impact, Shining then made an impaling motion and I rolled to a side evading his sword.
I walked away from him some paces, and he charged again; hacks and slashes from the right and left were his strong points. I had to block with my gauntlets; when I found an opening, I parried him and punched him in the head a few times, I definitely left him dizzy because the helmet may protect from slashes, but not blunt hits.
He regained his feet balance and attacked again, this time swinging his sword in a circle around him. He was trying to confuse me because he wanted me to block the attacks. Blocking wasn't something I was always good at.
But once his sword was behind him, I tackled him, but he didn't fall; he had his front hooves off of the ground, so I took the chance and made him a sweeping hip throw. He got up slowly, because his armor was too heavy.
I jumped towards him but he kicked me off, with his magic he picked his sword and flung it to me. I unsheated my own and parried the flying object. Shining charged his horn with magic and shot a charge.
I dodged it, but after it came several more, so I ran around the zone avoiding the hits. Then he got pissed and charged one big shot. I just waited still until he fired, then I rolled to a side.
He picked his sword again, and ran in a jousting manner, which I responded with the same.
I sidestepped at the last moment, to avoid the sword, but Shining grabbed me by the head, and slammed me to the ground.

My head felt lighter because of the dizzyness, and Shining said to me:
"You put up a good fight Flare, but not as good as me" while levitating his sword.
"You keep thinking that friend, but I haven't lost yet, nor I will lose this fight" I scoffed.
"Oh yeah? And why, pray tell, is that?"
"You haven't noticed a poking on your neck, have you?" I asked him with a smile.
He looked to a side, where my hoof had the hidden blade completely unfolded, touching his coat.
"No way..."

While putting my stuff on my bag, Shining came to me:
"Hey Flare, I just wanted to congratulate you for winning, you certainly are somepony that puts up a fight."
"Thanks pal, I appreciate it; but let me tell you something, you could have won the fight as much as I did." I replied
"No Flare, I never had a chance against you."
"You are just being humble Shining, stop it; you could have been the one to win, but it turned out the other way around. Don't reduce yourself just because of one lost battle, a Captain would accept it with honour."
Shining laughed.
"You definitely are the son of Steel Calmness. You have the same wisdom as your father."
"Stop the cheesy dialogue Shining, it doesn't fit you." I joked.

I went to the castle, I entered my room and left my bag with weapons next to the wardrobe. Then I decided to make another thing before I left this world.
So I headed to Fluttershy's room, and knocked the door until she opened.
"Hey Fluttershy, I wanted to tell you something."
She kept silent, waiting for me to talk.
"I wanted to invite you on a date tomorrow, all day if you are okay with it."
She thought for a while:
"Tomorrow is your last day here right?" she asked worried.
"Don't think like that Fluttershy, it will only make things worse."
She looked down and sniffed, I couldn't stand seeing her like that.
"C'mon, we can have dinner, I invite."
I expected for the light in my rear to "swallow" me when I was asleep, so Fluttershy wouldn't have to bear to watch me as I left this world.
After too much thinking from her part, she finally said:
"I can't say no to you Flare" she said with a smile.

We agreed to meet each other on the castle's doors at 7 PM, and we left for our rooms.
When I was about to sleep, I noticed a letter on the floor. I picked it up and read it.

Dad

"What does he want?"