//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: The push // Story: When Runes Come // by deathisupon //------------------------------// "So what your telling me is you guys are forcing me to leave here and go on a vacation?" I ask everyone and they all nodded. I started frowning and looking at them in their eyes. I noticed they were hiding some worry but I can only guess they would think I would yell at them. "And why do you guys think I need a break?" I asked them to see their answer. If they give a good answer then I might go with it. "You are constantly training and fighting. Even when times look tough but you still do it. But its all you have done while here. So we decided to send you to my pupil." Celestia said. When I looked through my memories I realized that she's right. but then I got confused about something. "Since when did you have a student?" I asked her and she tilted her head in confusion. "Didn't I tell you Twilight is my pupil? I swear I told you before." She said and I shrugged. "Must have been when I was spacing out like there was no tomorrow." I said and she nodded. "Well I would go but I don't think it would be a good idea." I told them. They all had confusion written on their faces. "And why exactly can't you? Even Merlin agrees you need a break." Luna said and Merlin nodded his agreement. I sigh and look up. "Since you all think that I need a break I'll need you to prove to me that I'm not needed to help out. So you guys are getting a test. And Merlin you stay out of it. no help whatsoever." I told everyone. They all look at each other nervously and in a instant I see a flame in Mom's and Luna's eyes. A flame that means they most likely have what it takes. I start laughing out of control which made everyone turn to me. "What's so funny?" Dad asked. "This is going to be so much fun!" I say while hopping around. then I stopped and turned to the guards in the room. Because if my students are to prove their worth, they are gonna need some bandages. "Hey guards! can you bring some first aid kits? If they do perform the test wrong then they might get hurt a lot." I see them nod and head out. I turn to see them all looking a little scared. "Oh don't take the wording wrong but you see. You are all fighting yourselves!" I tell them as I go to the center. I can feel everyone's eyes on me except Merlin who I hear chuckle. "Man is he creative." I barely hear and laugh. "Come here Merlin, I'll need some help with the spell." I tell him and he starts to follow me towards the middle. "Okay. so I am gonna need you to set up the screen to show what happens inside of their mind while I set up the spell." I tell him and he nods. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 HOURS LATER... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "There we go! all finished." I tell them. They all sigh and I laugh. "You didn't have to wait so long if I could travel with you. but if two people step into the circle then there is no tell what might happen." They all nod. "And the first one to go shall be... Luna!" I tell them. she steps up as Celestia raised her hand. "Yes Celestia? what is it you want?". "Why does Luna get to go first? As far as we know you know she already battled herself." She told me and while everyone looked surprised Luna returned a questioning look and I looked at her with teacher mode turned on. "The simple answer is that since she has already battled herself then She won't know what to expect because last time she was fighting a parasite. but this time it's her actual self." I explained and they both looked at me with a questioning look. I sighed and begin to go into detail. "What she was fighting is a parasite. but the parasite copied her memories and skills and did a transferal of types. It basically transferred it's powers into Luna and what that resulted was it gaining the memories and the skills of Luna." They gave a more understanding look and nodded. "Now with that over here's a thing to keep in mind. Since Luna has been learning new tricks, she will be fighting a version that would more than likely be able to do everything she's capable of. and will be able to counter her original strategy. So in order to pass you will have to come up with something on the spot. And don't worry the most that'll happen if you lose is you getting tossed out of the spell circle and slam into the wall. But that's why we have bandages!" I say a little to excited near the end. Making almost everyone shudder. "So step on in Luna! And don't worry about anything. You probably won't fail if you do what I think you will." I told her as she stepped into the circle and watch it flash as her body starts floating. when it was done the screen activated and I see Luna facing a Anti-Luna and staring at it curiously. "Huh hey Jake is that supposed to happen?" I hear Merlin ask. "What? Never seen a Anti before?" He shook his head and I laughed as everyone turned to me from the name. "Anti? Is that what you are supposed to call yourself?" Celestia asked and I started looking at them. "Nope! that is just all her negative emotions all into one being. But I'll leave the other surprise open till it comes out. And she better hurry it up! she has ten minutes before the other one arrive. she will need to weaken her dark side if she wants to succeed." I tell them cryptically. See I never said how many of yourself you have to fight. There's light and dark in everyone. So most people when they fight them self they have to fight a two on one battle. Sometimes more if you are a rare case. the most someone had to fight at one period was six. but that's not how many I have fought. add one more you'll know how many I had to fight. But that's because I have other forms. This is how you know if someone has a form. If they have more than two... Now since I think about it I'll have to retake this test myself what with me finding a new form. I have a feeling that I'll be getting more forms in the future. when I zoned back in I noticed that there was smoke on the screen now and the Anti is in front of Luna which is now crying. The Anti must have used a fear spell. "Do you know why Luna is crying all of a sudden?" Celestia asked me. "The Anti is just using a fear spell so she is most likely seeing her worst nightmare." I say out loud as her eyes go wide. "She already went through that though. which means she's probably going through it again!" Celestia said with a hint of panic laced into her voice. I quickly rushed to her and hugged her. "Then she must have figured out that this is part of the test." I told her. When Celestia looked a little confused I sighed. "Not all fights are going to be physical. most of them are actually going to be mental. I only have more physical tests because I wanted more power to protect friends. So when my inner selves came and taught me I went through physical. Because the more power you have the easier it is to protect the ones you care about." I tell her. She is the first one I had told my reason for wanting power. besides if you weak to where you will do LITERALLY 0 damage than what good will speed and intelligence do for you "Why are we doing this?" She asked me and I looked towards the screen to see Luna snap out of the fear induced illusion. "That's my little secret. but I will say a wise man once said 'Inner peace can be reached only when we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of our past, and is therefor the means for correcting our misconceptions.'" I told her. When I hear a sniffle I turned to see Celestia about to cry. "Now why are you crying?" I asked her as I hug her. "That you are helping us. Even though you only knew us for almost two months now." She said and I laughed. "You helped me day one and without you guys I probably wouldn't be around here now. It's the only way I can think of repaying you for all the help you gave me." I told her with a genuine smile for once. One that shined to anyone that saw. I looked back at the screen to see that Luna is starting to understand what I put her through and chuckle. which ended up earning the attention of everyone in the room. "Looks like she finally figured out what I'm trying to do. And on her own as well. She is more clever than I thought. Maybe one of you have caught on by now?" I ask them and the only one close to figuring out what I was trying was Celestia. And Celestia doesn't know fully what I'm doing. "Something to do with getting over some kind of obstacle?" I heard Mom ask and she's the closest so far. "You're really close to it. Celestia know what the test consist of since I had to explain a little more in depth with her. If she shares the info then that is what happens. Most I can say is not everything is physical or mental." I told everyone with the end being cryptic. I turned back to the screen to see that she finished the first part and the Anti is frowning. Luna on the other hand seems to have a smile plastered on her face. I swear I haven't seen that beautiful of a smile ever since my sister was born. I looked in the corner to see the light part come into play. "Looks like round two is starting." I said out loud. but it was more to myself than anything. "So Light what are you gonna do?" I heard Anti talk and I tilted my head. I must have accidentally ignored the talking from Anti. "I'm not gonna say out loud you numskull!" I saw the white one yell and smack Anti across the head. "So it seems you figured out what Anti was trying, huh." I heard Light say and chuckle. "Yeah so what are you gonna try to throw my way? Another fear induced Illusion? fighting for my life?" I heard Luna ask and chuckle. "Nope!" Light said confusing everyone but me. I started getting giddy. Its getting to the good part. "I'm gonna unlock a thing you will get. but since you master came and told me not to tell you just yet I'm here to see if you actually pass!" Light said and everyone turned to me with questioning looks. "I'm not saying a thing till you all finish... By the way where is Merlin?" I asked as when I looked around the room I noticed he was gone. "He went to get some popcorn." Shining Armor told me and I nodded at the information. "So how are you exactly going to test me?" I heard Luna ask and light giggled. "By putting you through a simulation!" Light said and I tensed up because this is gonna suck for everyone. "Why are you looking tense?" I heard Mom ask and all eyes turn to me. "I don't think she's ready for this. How is she at making strategies Celestia?" I ask her. "She was the one to lead our armies before nightmare moon. She came up with most Ideas but I put them into the plan." She told me and I face palm. "Well let's hope she learns quick because They went over step two." I said to everyone. making their eyes widen and look at the screen. The scenery in the screen started to change until it looked like the castle we're in. but the difference is that in the middle of the arena in front of Luna is a Darkside and a Dark Follower. When everyone including Luna saw the Darkside and Dark Follower they gasped and Luna immediately ran for cover. "Smart choice she did. But how will she deal with the Dark Follower beside a Darkside?" I ask myself out loud but Celestia Heard me. "Is the one with wings the Dark Follower?" She asked me where everyone could hear. "Yep. That is the only difference between them." I said while keeping my eyes on the screen. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- P.O.V Luna --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What am I supposed to do against this? Does Jake seriously believe that this test will be doable? Of course it is! he wouldn't send me in here to fight against the Darkside and whatever the flying Darkside is called. Okay Luna let's think about this. I'm fighting against two toughest heartless there is and one has wings. so there has to be a way of beating them. Wait if what I saw from Jake's fight with a actual Darkside has taught me anything, it's that their weak-spot is when they attack. So I'll need to get them split up and fight one of them. when I look around the surrounding I notice that it's the throne room in Canterlot Castle. And if they have a direct copy here from my memories then the garden is two rooms over. I start smirking and fly out of cover. I notice the one with wings flying towards me and try to punch me. But with them being larger that means I can out maneuver them both just like Jake. That's it! I need to get out to the garden and set traps! I started giggling to myself and rush out the door and head to the garden. when I opened the garden door I noticed that a darkside reached the door to the throne room. I quickly set up a fire trap at the door when the Darkside spotted me. When I finished setting up the trap I noticed that the darkside was halfway towards the door. I quickly close the door and arm the spell while going to place different spell all around the place. When I got three traps up I heard the first trap go off covering the first Darkside in flames. I noticed that the simulation added a health bar to look at and noticed that it is at half health. I silently cheered and went to the second trap. When I was behind the second trap I shouted at it "Over here you ugly thing!" I saw it look at me and start running. After a minute I heard the wind trap go off. Making it where the Darkside last a fourth of his health. Making the health bar show red. I turned and shot off a waterga. leaving it with one hit and I jumped to his head. taking out the Darkside and leaving the flying darkside. The flying darkside land in front of me and throws a punch. Since I wasn't prepared I got hit. While I was flying through the air I stretch my wings and start to glide. When I got to the center of the maze I watched as the flying Darkside is dive-bombing me.I smirk and quickly dive out of the way. It got its head stuck in the ground. I run over there and start hitting his wing. I notice that the wing is quickly healing the damage I do and cast Fire at it. Fire was the one I struggled with the most from all other Mystic Arts. I notice the wing disappearing and cheer. That is when the flying Darkside got its head unstuck. When it looked at me I noticed the health bar had a name next to it. So this thing is called a Dark Follower. I cast thundaga and it seems to be at half health now. It screeches and a ball of purple energy appears in its chest. when it leans back the ball shot out missiles and my eyes widen as I jump to the side. When the missiles followed me I ran towards the Dark follower and had it hit itself with the attack. I noticed the health bar stayed the same so this attack doesn't affect the Dark Follower. I looked to see two missiles turn towards me from the back and on instinct I swung. When the keyblade hit the missile and sent it back I started attacking the missiles. Whatever missiles didn't hit the monster I would hit back. When I had a break from the missiles I swung at the arm. And I cast One more thundaga and the Dark Follower is gone. "Woo you did it!" Light tackles me while Anti laughed at the sight. I chuckled and nodded. "So is that all from the test?" I asked and they nodded. "Because of this test you are now allowed to change into a form. Jake knows how to activate it so ask him." Anti said a little giddier than earlier. "Why are you so excited?" I asked Anti. "Oh no reason. oh yeah you two better finish this little thing there because your gonna leave soon." Anti told me and I laughed. Because Anti started to become embarrassed at the amount of attention he has. When I finished laughing I noticed the area around us fading out. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- P.O.V Jake --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Welcome back Luna." I called out to her as I give her a hug. "You passed the test! And you had to fight two Darksides." I told her. getting her to smile. "Thanks Jake. So who is next?" Luna asked me and I started thinking. "No one at the moment." I said getting everyone to look at me. "And why not?" Celestia asked me. "Have you seen what time it is? It's almost dinner time." I said to them getting shocked expressions. "What can I say? We started later than you think And activating the runes require a master to start it. And with the amount of mana I have we can fit in two at best." I told everyone. when I looked to make sure they understood I nodded and clapped. "So who wants food?" I ask getting answers from their stomachs.