//------------------------------// // A little tutoring can go a long way. // Story: Ponysona: Arcana Crusaders // by Phoenix Kitten //------------------------------// August 17 1006 Post Nightmare Moon--August 24 1006 P.N.M Sweetie flew backwards from the shot fired by the armored shadow, tumbling horn over haunches before landing heavily on her side and rolling into some trash cans, which upended and covered her in muck. "Sweetie!" Applebloom, Scootaloo and Silver Spoon cried out in concern. Taking advantage of the distraction,the Shadow's turret aimed at the overturned trash cans and let out a resounding boom! "So how was she doing big bro?" Twilight asked her older brother as he sat across from her and Rarity. Shining Armor took a sip from his teacup before answering. "If you want the honest truth Twily, she could barely hold a shield for longer than five seconds and even then, it was extremely taxing for her." The dust cleared, revealing a solid green bubble around the small filly,which summarily collapsed, leaving her panting heavily. "Try... harder... scrap... heap..." she rasped between breaths,taunting the large vehicle before downing a juice box to restore her mana. The large vehicle revved it's engine menacingly and started spraying machine gun fire at the fillies as Sweetie performed a short teleport back to the gap in her friends formation. "What about basic combat spells?" Rarity asked pensively. "Some ponies claim to have witnessed my younger sister use a very powerful lightning spell." "That, Miss Rarity, is a whole different story." Shining Armor smiled. "I've never seen a filly with such potential for storm magic as she does, and imagine my surprise when I tried to teach her blade casting, only to have her produce a pair of tonfa blades modeled after musical notes. What I wouldn't give to have somepony with her aptitude in the Royal Guard." "Bladecasting?" Rarity looked aghast. "Where in Equestria did she learn that?" "I asked her where she learned it too. Apparently she taught herself that spell as an exercise when her magic started to manifest." Shining Armor shrugged. "Seems a little advanced for a first spell, but we all have to start somewhere. If she wants more training though, I told her to ask my sister here." He motioned to Twilight. "She was one of the best junior bladecasters in Canterlot." "Aheh heh heh..." Twilight sheepishly giggled at her marefriends face. "I picked up on the spell when Shiny used to take me to his guard training... I started practicing the spell and was matching blades with the guards after about a year. I kept it up to keep fit mainly." "Kept a lot of recruits on their toes too." Shining chuckled. "I remember the looks on their faces when Princess Celestia would come down with her prized student and call out a raw recruit to duel her." Twilight rolled her eyes. "I became the yearly hazing ritual." Sweetie sneezed as she dodged another shot, shattering her Persona card with a quick flick of her tonfa, prompting Nightmare to appear and drop a lightning bolt on the large Shadow, stalling it's engine. "Are we ready girls?" She called out. "You know it!" "Always!" "Of course." "Then let's go!" The four fillies piled onto the vehicle and began hammering at it until it exploded into a black cloud in the shape of a skull and crossbones. After collecting their rewards (which consisted mainly of gems{which were given to Sweetie} and eight hundred bits which was divied up equally between them.) the quartet turned their attention towards the alleyway in front of them, in of which laid an unconscious Diamond Tiara. "Diamond!" Silver Spoon cried out as she galloped forward and sat down in front of her friend, the three crusaders hanging back to guard the entrance to the alleyway. "Are you alright Sweetie?" Scootaloo asked her unicorn friend. "You don't look too good." Sweetie took a few deep breaths before answering. "No... no I'm not. I can barely do any magic aside from levitation. That shield spell took a hay of a lot out of me." "How did you learn that anyway?" Applebloom asked. "It seems mighty useful." Sweetie sat down and retrieved another juice box from her saddlebags. "Twilight..Twilight called her brother down to teach me some self defense spells." "Ah didn't know Twilight had a brother." Applebloom tilted her head. "Yeah me neither." Scootaloo agreed as she scanned the street. "Captain of the Royal Guard. Knight Captain Shining Armor." Sweetie recited after taking a long sip from the juice box. A few seconds of silence reigned. "Is everypony in her family that important?" Scootaloo asked. Sweetie shrugged. "She doesn't really say." "So if that's everything then?" Shining Armor asked as he finished packing his saddlebags for the trip back to Canterlot. "I've got to get back to Canterlot and start the new recru-oh. I almost forgot." He exclaimed. "Forgot what big brother?" Twilight asked, watching her brothers head dive into his saddlebags. He emerged a few seconds later with an envelop in his magical grip. "The royal council asked me to deliver this to you." With a small groan Twilight opened the letter and began to read it to herself. Closing his saddlebags again, Shining Armor turned to Rarity. "So, if you don't mind me asking, what is my sister doing living with you? I heard she got her own place at the town library here while I was off on a diplomatic mission to Zebrafica." Rarity gave a light chuckle. "There was a bit of a...mishap with the library one evening, so I offered her and Spike a place to stay in the interim." "I see." Shining said as he appraised the mare with an up and down gaze. "Well then, I guess I should figure out a way to thank you for looking after my sister huh? How about lunch if you're ever in Canterlot? My treat." Rarity gave a dainty giggle and smiled politely. "Well, a charming offer Knight Captain..." "Please. Just Shining will do, that or mr. Armor." "Well then, Shining. As charmed as I am for the offer, I am already spoken for." Rarity said politely. "Ah. I should have known." Shining chuckled. "May I ask the lucky colts name." "Well I.." Before Rarity could finish Twilight trotted back over and pecked her cheek gently. "It looks like I'll have to head to Canterlot at some stage next month to help the council usher in a new Princess. Will you be okay with Spike and Sugarcube here?" Rarity smiled and returned the peck, draping her tail over the lavender mares back. "Of course darling. You say that like watching over two fillies and a dragon could be hard." Twilight giggled. "Just making sure." she smiled before nuzzling Rarity's neck. With a loud cough and light blush adorning his cheeks, Shining Armor brought the attention back to him. "Well then. If that is all. I shall be off." "Of course.*Twilight smiled,breaking away from her marefriend to give her brother a hug. "Tell mom, dad and Cadence I said hi, and that I'll be visiting soon." "Will do Twily. We can catch up when I see you in Canterlot." He smiled before looking up at Rarity. "Miss Rarity, it was a pleasure to meet you." "Likewise Knight Captain." Twilight released him and waved as he teleported out. Sweetie shivered suddenly as she helped Silver Spoon carry Diamond Tiara to an ambulance. "Are you okay?" Silver Spoon asked. "Yeah. I just get the feeling my sister and Twilight are being all touchy feely again." Sweetie answered. "Ah get the same feelin' when Applejack is off with her coltfriend too." Applebloom shuddered. "Leave's you feelin' a bit dirty don't it." Sweetie nodded as she levitated Diamond into an ambulance, climbing in afterwards. "Like I need to shower really bad cause I'm covered in slime."