//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: A Human, a Tyrant, and a God of Chaos // by Ender Inkbourne //------------------------------// Alex was currently sparring with Shining Armor, both holding wooden practice swords. One in hand, the other with magic. The week prior, Alex had asked Celestia if Shining could train him on how to swordfight, not mentioning going to ponyville, but he likely had that in mind whenever he asked. She summoned Shining to the throne room, and after some explanation from Celestia and introducing themselves, the princess asked the man to wait outside while she and Shining talked, which he begrudgingly did. Once allowed back in, they both agreed to allow it, but she herself would be there to oversee it. Though the man was bummed abit when he learned they wouldn’t be using actualy swords, but wooden practice swords, scuffed and chipped from years of use by the new guardsmen. ”You’ve got to get the basics down before we can get to real thing.” Shining had said that when he brought the swords out to the gardens on their first day of training. Over the next week, Shining saw alex improve with learning basic technique drills he had assigned him, and then decided to start the man on basic combat. The human wasn’t a master, not by any means of the word, but he was learning, and at a rather fast pace at that. He was at least impressed, though he knew his student had a long way to go before he could be at his own level of training. The human’s current outfit consisted of his hair being tied into a short ponytail, he suggested it so his hair didn’t get in his eyes, a grey sleeveless tank top and a pair of blue shorts, which where made by Rarity after she took his measurements. These were because it was supposed to be very hot and sunny, and even despite knowing he’d likely get sweaty and dirty, he’d rather not have him collapse from heat stroke. His hands were also bandaged, to keep splinters from digging into them, as the swords were old after all. The sounds of wood hitting wood, labored breath and the thumps and thuds of foot and hoofsteps could be heard in the gardens as the duo were in combat, and even though it was only training, neither held back and gave it their all. Sombra, Celestia and Twlight had decided to watch, the only reason Sombra had came along was cause there was really nothing to do. can you leave me alone? As if. But, i will admit, that man is..interesting. The human? Really? what? I can be interested in other things. I do have a life outside of you. your stuck in the frozen wastes, what is there for you to do anyway? ..don’t remind me. Why are you interested in him anyway? I can’t stand him myself, figured you’d feel the same way. ah yes, is it because he’s been trying to be friends with you? Sombra heard a chuckle echo through his head. yes. I’ve told him multiple times i don’t want friends yet he hasn’t quit! Even so, you have to admire his tenacity. Reminds you of yourself, doesn’t it? Sombra felt a chill go down his spine making his eye’s widen and he shook his head. when i was his age, yes, though i doubt that he’ll make the same mistakes i did, though he can’t actually use magic, thank the ancients. your only 29 genius. He’s 23. Sombra became confused upon hearing his shadow’s statement. how do you know that? I didn’t know that. He looks about 19 to me. His soul is like an open book. You already know whats going to happen, yet it’s still interesting nonetheless. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t suspicious, the umbrum could tell something was up, but didn’t know exactly what..yet. But he guessed it wasn’t good, though anytime darkness was involved, it was never a good thing regardless. his light is rather..radiant. Although given his personality and sweetly sickening kindness, it makes sense, at least to me. What surprises me is that he doesn’t seem to have friends besides the princesses and celestia’s pupil. so what? his darkness, on the other hoof..its rather..powerful, unlike yours it has a tone of sadness and pain, physical pain to be more exact. physical pain? Oh yes, its quite interesting actually, i’d tell you myself but why spoil the fun and ruin the secret? Sombra frowned. What was that man hiding that he hadn’t told anyone? Also, if your thinking of taking his body- He heard a snickering chuckle cut him off before he could finish his sentence. oh believe me, i’d love to have a more physical form to call my own but..his light is just too..off putting for my tastes..it’s just too bright, with an air of naivety to boot. Though, i thought you couldn’t stand him? So why should you care what happens or has happened to him? Sombra paused for a moment, trying to think of an answer. you do care, your just too afraid to admit it to yourself. shut up. i don’t hear you denying it, now do i? Sombra stayed silent after that. When he turned his attention back to the human and shining, he saw the man on one knee, the sword stabbed into the ground as he had both of his hands on the hilt. His body had small patches of dirt and grass stains though it seemed most of it was on the tank top and shorts, though the feet and lower legs were covered in dust and just as many grass and dirt stains. Shining trotted up to him, holding out a hoof, which he took and slowly stood up, picking up the sword a moment after. “You did good today, Alex.” The human gave a tired smile. “Thanks Shining, i do try my best.” “So i’ve seen, though i am impressed by your progress over this past week. Most of the new trainees take a few weeks just to get the basic’s down before even moving onto combat training.” “I’m a fast learner, at least when it comes to some things.” “Keep it up, but don’t shirk off going over the exercises between our lesson’s or even when your by yourself.” He gave a small smile as the man walked off, going to take a shower to clean off. “He’s learning quite well, maybe in a few years, he’ll be as good as shining.” Celestia gave a nod, before turning her head back towards shining, who had picked up both swords with his magic. “As long as he keeps at it, i’d say you are correct, Twilight.” She looked over at Sombra, but she realized he had left, though didn’t know when as nopony had looked over in his direction till now. Meanwhile, Alex entered his room, slipping off his clothes and setting them in a nearby hamper. He did fold them up so they’d fit better, plus it was easier on the maids and butlers, that way they didn’t have to do it themselves. Every little thing helped after all. Once that was done, he picked out a clean outfit to wear, boxers included and went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. he turned the bath on to let it warm up, grabbing a towel off of the nearby rack as well as a bottle of bubble bath solution. The label on the bottle said it was strawberry scented. Opening the bottle and sniffing it, it really did smell like strawberries, but it wasn’t the artificially made kind of scent either, it actually smelled like the fruit had been plucked off the plant and put into the bottle itself. This being Equestria, it made sense they wouldn’t do things like humans would..well in a manufacturing sense anyhow. He poured some of the bubble bath, only about a full cap of it, and swayed his hand in the warm water to get the bubbles foaming. Once that was done, he carefully stepped inside and slowly laid down in the tub, keeping his head above the water. As he lay there, his mind began to wander, as it usually did when he was in a quiet and peaceful environment. He closed his eyes and relaxed, not realizing he was slowly sinking into the tub, until he got a noseful of water which made him shuffle up and grab a washcloth to wipe the soap off, making sure none of it got in his eyes. He soaped up his hair, diving under the water with closed eyes to wash said soap out, then washed his body off, getting the washcloth wet to help him. Once that was done, he got out of the tub, pulling the stopper and letting the water drain, which after doing so he washed the tub to make sure the foamy bubbles left behind went down the drain as well. He grabbed the towel and dried himself off, rubbing the towel on his hair to make sure all of it was dried, then tossed it into a hamper hanging on the door. He then got dressed and slipped his feet into a pair of sandals sitting next to his bedroom door, opening the door and walking down the hallway and headed outside. When the human entered the gardens, the only one around was Sombra, lounging underneath a large tree near the castle wall. He smiled and walked over to him, sitting down next to him. The unicorn opened an eye upon noticing someone had sat down. “How many times must i tell you?” “Tell me what?” “You should know already. Unless your either just that stubborn or idiotic.” “Look i’m just trying to be nice-“ Sombra growled in an annoyed tone. “I don’t care. I’ve told you and told you, yet you refuse to listen.” Sombra had gotten up and began to trot away back towards the castle. His tone of voice, which was full of both anger and venom, something he hadnt heard him have before, but it still brought a feeling of fear over him, yet the man felt it even down to his soul. Is this fear what the people of the Crystal Empire felt after Sombra took over? “Sombra-“ he had begun to walk towards him, holding a hand out as if to reach for the umbrum. Though he wasn’t able to actually get close, as he was struck by a blast of magic straight to the chest, which knocked him back and made him slam his back into the trunk of the tree, making several leaves fall and the limbs shake, as well as knocking the air out of the human’s lungs. He gasped for air, and saw Sombra with likely the most angry expression he had seen him have, his eye’s having this strange purplish aura around them, seeming almost like smoke and his horn smoking with a ruby red aura. “S-s..” He wasn’t able to finish his sentence, due to the fact he was struggling to regain his breath. “Don’t. Even. If you even come near me i won’t hold back next time.” Sombra then trotted away, leaving him alone as he tried to regain himself. He layed there for celestia knows how long, till he regained enough strength to sit up, though trying to stand up resulted in his falling back against the trunk. Once he was sure he regained enough strength, he slowly stood back up and tried to make his way back to the castle, but fell onto his knee before he even made it halfway there. He slowly staggered back up, only barely getting back onto his feet before he passed out and collapsed onto the ground. When he regained conciousness, the faint beeping of a heart monitor as well as distant voices filled his ears, and he tried to sit up, but felt woozy and fell back against the apparent hospital bed the man was in. “Where..?” “Your in the medical wing, Alexander.” “Luna?” He then noticed the princess of the night standing near the hospital bed, her midnight blue mane flowing in some kind of invisible wind, and her eye’s were holding this look of concern in them. “Who else calls you that? “Your sister.” She gave a small chuckle, smiling slightly as she did so. “True, but she is not right around right now, is she?” It was then he noticed it was nighttime outside, though it seemed to be a new moon, as he could barely see anything outside, other than the stars twinkling, which also meant Celestia was likely sleeping. “Fair point.” “You know, the Grand Galloping Gala is coming up soon, have you thought about attending?” “I’m not really one for those fancy events.” “and why is that?” “I just..i don’t do well around crowded or loud as hell area’s.” “Is there a reason?” He shuffled uneasily in bed. It seemed to be a touchy subject, based on that reaction. “Look, its nothing to worry about Luna.” She gave a sort of worried look but decided not to push the subject. “Anyway, you should get some rest.” The man nodded but before she left, she looked back at him, giving him the same worried look as before, though it almost had a motherly tone to it. The man got up out of the bed after he was sure she had left, and he went outside his room and walked down the hallway for a quick bit of excercise, since he had likely unconcious all day. He did see a couple of the night doctors, but let them know that he was only taking a short walk to stretch his muscles, which they agreed to, but then it was back to bed. He normally would’ve argued but they knew what was best, and since the man was under their care for who knows how long, it would be advisable to do what they told him to. He reached a hand into his shirt and pulled out a locket, which had gotten burnt when he got blasted by Sombra’s magic, leaving a blackish char mark on it and even some on the chain, clicking it open and revealing a smallish photo resting behind the glass inside, which was cracked, though that happened a while before he even ended up in equestria. It was a photo of himself, his mother, and his sister, all three of them much younger than they were now, Emily being around 6, and Alex being only 3, with their mother’s age, at least he guessed anyway, around her early 30’s. He closed it and put it back into his shirt, and turned around, heading back to his room before the doctor’s worried. ”Your really homesick, aren’t you?” The mans eye’s widened and he turned around to where the voice was coming from, and saw a figure in a long black hooded trenchcoat standing where he was just a few moments ago, yet something was off. The figure, whatever or whoever it was, was seemingly fading in and out, becoming as solid as he was one moment and then translucent the next, as if he was fading into and out of existence. “Who are you?” The figure, completely ignoring his question, began to walk towards the man, passing straight through him, making a harsh chill go down his spine. The figure then stopped and turned its head to back towards him. ”You are not yet ready.” “Hey wait!” He ran towards him, but before he could reach the figure, they vanished entirely, leaving the human dazed and pretty confused about what just happened. “Mr. Alexander, are you alright?” The man turned his head as one of the doctors had trotted over to him. “Oh, yes i’m ok, doc.” “Are you sure? If anything’s wrong you can tell us, and we won’t tell Celestia, doctor-patient confidentiality.” Alex looked back to where the figure stood not a moment before, but shook his head. “I’m ok, i just want to get back to bed.” “Alright.” The doctor helped him get back to his room and into bed, before making sure everything was in order and left to let him rest, shutting the door as he did so. He rolled over in bed, laying onto his back, staring up at the ceiling. Who the hell was that? And what did they mean by “you are not yet ready?” As he closed his eye’s and fell back into sleep, he had a feeling of dread overtake him, not unlike the fear that had done the same earlier. he just really hoped he wouldn’t see them again.