That very day I went home to see a young woman about my age sitting on my couch.
“Oh, hi dad,” Cozy Glow said, “this is Sunset Shimmer.”
Well, I thought, she is beautiful just like Betty said.
“Hi there,” said Sunset Shimmer, “my name’s Sunset Shimmer, I understand I’ll be training you along with your daughter?”
“Yeah,” I said, “that’s it…”
Sunset Shimmer then put out a hand and I shook it.
“Okay,” said Sunset Shimmer, “we’ll start first thing in the morning.”
Sunset Shimmer then turned around to leave and Cozy Glow gave me a weird look.
“You sure were staring at her,” said Cozy Glow, “you like her don’t you?”
“And you think this because?” I said.
“I don’t know,” said Cozy Glow, “just a hunch. You know some people say love at first sight.”
“Okay then,” I said, “fat chance of that happening. I’m not falling for the girl I just met.”
“Sure thing dad,” said Cozy Glow, “you really should find someone to settle down with and soon.”
“Why does everyone keep saying that?” I said.
Cozy Glow shrugged, “We’re only saying that because it ‘s true.”
* * *
“Well then,” said Sunset Shimmer, “I hear you’re very skilled in hand to hand combat. So let’s work on other points today.”
“Like what?” I said.
“Let’s see here,” said Sunset Shimmer, “Betty told me you already have darkness powers. And you can use your sword to draw out other powers to see what attacks you have. And you can also combine those attacks together. Take this for example.”
Sunset Shimmer then stood in front of a tree about ten feet away. She then took a deep breath and out of her mouth came something that looked like rippling sound waves that was much like skipping a rock across a pond. This split the tree down the middle. After seeing this display of power my jaw dropped.
“That,” said Sunset, “was light and wind power combined. That type of thing only happens after you find out what kind of powers you have. Amethyst has already found out what her powers are.”
“What are they?” I said.
“Copper blade and water so far,” Sunset said.
“Nice,” I said, “so exactly how do I find out which powers I have?”
“Well,” said Sunset, “we’ll have to do an actual battle to see what you have. That’s what I did with Amethyst.”
“So you want me to fight you,” I said, “this is not going to be easy.”
Before we could even begin to start the battle, I noticed that there was a single rain cloud above us.
Sunset rolled her eyes, “What do you want, old timer?”
“Old timer?” Rainbow Dash said. “Who are you calling an old timer?”
“That would be you," Sunset said.
“Hey!” Rainbow Dash said.
“Go away Rainbow Dash!” Sunset said. “As you can see, I’m trying to train Norman here!”
“Oh,” said Rainbow Dash, “that’s why I’m here! I wanted to watch the action!”
“No Rainbow Dash,” said Sunset, “go away!”
“But-“ Rainbow Dash said.
“I said go away!” Sunset said. “If you don’t leave, I’ll tell the princess about you interfering!”
“Okay fine!” Rainbow Dash said.
Without another word Rainbow Dash left and Sunset breathed a sigh of relief.
“Well,” said Sunset, “glad that’s over with. Now let’s get started shall we?”
“Fine by me," I said.
During my battle with Sunset I found out that I had four out of the nine Death Walker abilities. I have darkness, fire, earth, and iron fist.
“Not bad,” said Sunset, “you got four out of nine.”
“How many did Betty have?” I said.
“Before she died,” said Sunset, “she managed to master all nine.”
“Seriously?” I said. “Well no wonder she’s considered a legend now!”
“You might become one too," Sunset said.
“I wouldn’t get your hopes up," I said.
* * *
After the rest of the week off, I had my scheduled training with Shining Armor at the Crystal Empire. So I took the first train out in the morning.
“Oh good,” said Shining Armor, “you brought the correct uniform and your sword. Let’s see what we have here, show me your sword.”
I then took the sword out its sheath and Shining Armor whistled at it.
“Not too bad kid!” Shining Armor said.
I wanted to tell him that I’m not a kid, but I just bit my tongue.
“Let’s see kid,” said Shining Armor, “oh I mean rookie adult. Show me what you got. Only use your sword and no Death Walker abilities got it?”
“Yes sir!” I said.
Fighting Shining Armor was not easy and there was no way I could’ve pretended to do poorly. John was absolutely right that Shining Armor can see through a lie. It wasn’t until I was out of breath and could barely move that Shining Armor stopped.
“Wonderful rookie!” Shining Armor said. “I think that’s enough training for today. Oh and you’re going to have to practice more by the next time I see you. I have the perfect person for you! He’s the best in the Royal Guard. He’s human and his name’s Jack. Don’t worry you won’t have to come to the Crystal Empire. He’ll come to you on your mandatory off duty days. You can go now.”
I then barely managed to get off the ground and stood straight up.
“Yes sir," I said. I walked away hoping my knees wouldn’t give out on me.
* * *
“Okay guys,” said John, “the reason I pulled you out here to the training is because you three need to work on teamwork.”
“I seriously hope he’s joking,” I said, “it’s bad enough I have to work with that coward!”
“What did you call me moron?” Jasper said.
“Is that the best you got for name calling?” I said. “You’re even stupid at that!”
“Oh boy,” said Olivia, “how’d I get paired up with these two idiots? I’m doomed.”
“Excuse me?” I said. “Who are you calling an idiot? Idiot! You’re no better than Jasper! You’re both cowards!”
“Why you little-“ Olivia said.
Before I knew it, I took a punch to the face and was down on the ground. Jasper got the same treatment.
“Don’t ever call a woman an idiot,” said Olivia, “idiot!”
Before we could argue anymore, I saw John fire his gun in the air.
“Oh boy,” said Oliivia, “now you’ve done it!”
“Me? What about you?” Jasper and I said.
“That’s enough!” John said. “Stand at attention or I’ll make you stand at attention! As I was saying, you three need to work on teamwork. If you don’t, one if not all three of you can die on a mission! So leave your egos and grudges at the door!”
The three of us had to bite our tongues as hard as possible. I’m surprised my tongue didn’t bleed from biting it so hard.
“Now,” said John, “with your special weapons that you are skilled at and your hand to hand combat you should be able to take down your enemies no problem. But that’s only if you work together!”
I didn’t say anything, I watched in horror because John was seething with rage.
“Now if your enemy has a gun or some other high level weapon like me,” said John, “you need to be able to take down your enemy especially if it’s an assissination assignment. I understand that you’ve had one assignment together so far. And I also understand that two of you sat on the sidelines while Norman did most of the fighting. That should never happen on a team! If you idiots don’t get some common sense, your missions will fail! Do you understand me?”
All three of us didn’t say anything but just nodded our heads.
“I have the perfect thing for you three to take on,” said John,”it is an obstacle course. You should be able to make it out no problem but only if you work as a team. That’s what this is designed for.”
John pointed at the area behind him and all three of us looked on in horror.
“You three get to the starting lane. I’ll just be here watching until you work together," John said, “don’t worry I have all day and so do you!”
Great, I thought, just perfect…
As the day went on we finally got the obstacle course down with honing in on our teamwork skills. Finally John dismissed us and it was almost dark by then. After we got dismissed however, I guess Jasper’s ego got the better of him.
“I’m still going to make you eat that word coward,” said Jasper, “our sparring matches aren’t over, not by a long shot.”
I groaned, “Well, show me you’re not a coward and I’ll stop calling you one.”
“Would you two knock it off!” Olivia said. “If you don’t quit, John will make us go through that obstacle course again! Men are so annoying!”
“Women are annoying too!” I said.
“That’s because you have a crowd of women surrounding you every time you fight someone!” Olivia said.
“It’s not my fault!” I said. “Heck maybe they’re showing up for Jasper for all I know!”
“Nah, it’s definitely you,” said Olivia, “Jasper doesn’t have the looks you do.”
“Hey!” Jasper said.
“You know Norman,” said Olivia, “you could get any girl you wanted. Why haven’t you?”
“Hey!” Jasper said. “I can get any girl I want too!”
“Nah,” said Olivia, “you’re ugly Jasper!”
“What was that?” Jasper growled.
“Okay then,” I said, “I’m outta here! See you guys later!”
I didn’t even change out of my uniform. I ran home as fast as I could.
* * *
The next day John had called me into his office.
“You wanted to see me sir?” I said.
“I want to ask you a question," John said.
“What is it?” I said.
“When’s the last time you slept with someone?” John said.
I didn’t say anything, I just looked down at the floor.
“Judging by that response,” said John, “it’s been awhile.”
“Ah…” I said. By this time, I really wanted to run out of the office.
“That’s not the point I’m trying to make here,” said John, “remember when I said you need to find a better way to work things out?”
“Yes sir," I said.
“Well,” said John, “it’s either find a girl to get in your bed or see a Therapist.”
I sighed, “You think I’m supposed to have a girl in my bed every week?”
“If you prefer,” said John, “but I can’t help you with that one. So I’m sending you to therapy. One session a week for one month.”
“You can’t be serious?” I said.
“Yup,” said John, “therapy one month. And I have the perfect person for you, it’s the same one your mother went too.”
“That sure backfired," I said.
“Yes I know,” said John, “she became a serial killer, the biggest one in the nation. But this Therapist is the best one in the business. Oh and Jack’s here to train you with your sword.”
“But I thought that was supposed to be on my off duty days?” I said.
“I guess Shining Armor changed his mind," John said. “You have training in five minutes. It’s time for you to go now.”
I left the office and ran into Olivia and Jasper.
“You okay?” Olivia said.
“I’m fine,” I said, “I got sword training today. I gotta go.”
“You have sword training today?” Olivia said. “It wouldn't be surprising if you draw a crowd for that one.”
“Let’s hope not…” I said.
* * *
As soon as I got to the training yard Jack was there to meet me.
“Well now,” said Jack, “you must be the rookie adult that I’ve heard about from Shining Armor. He seemed to be impressed when he saw you.”
Jack and I then shook hands and Jack pointed and smiled. Sure enough there was a crowd of women sitting on the bleachers as if they were watching some spectator sport.
I groaned, “Why me?”
“Well,” said Jack, “you sure draw a crowd.”
“Maybe they showed up for you?” I said.
“Nah,” said Jack, “they don’t know about me. It’s definitely you.”
Great… I thought.
“Now let’s begin,” said Jack, “it’s time to draw your sword.”
I sighed, took my sword out and Jack looked like he was ready to chop me into little pieces. Training with Jack was just about as bad as training with Shining Armor. Although I didn’t know which was worse. It didn’t help that I kept getting cheers from the crowd watching. Jack had caught me off guard and managed to graze my shoulder with his sword.
“Get your head in the fight,” said Jack, “or you’ll die in battle!”
“As if I didn’t know that already!” I said.
“Don’t you be a smart mouth to me!” Jack said.
Jack then aimed his sword at my shoulder again when I blocked it. The next move he made I had to jump over his sword. Jack's next move was aimed at my head. I had to do a backflip to dodge it.
Just like Shining Armor, Jack didn’t stop until I was barely able to move. His last attack was to get me off guard when I was down. I blocked it in time but just barely.
“Huh,” said Jack, “I can see why Shining Armor talked so highly of you. That’s enough training for today. The next practice will be in a couple of days. So be on your toes, that’s all for now.”
Jack then turned around and left. I looked over to see Olivia holding out a hand to help me up.
“No thanks,” I said, “I’m good.”
“But you’re injured,” said Olivia, “you really should get that checked out.”
“I think I just said I’m fine,” I said, “It’s just a scratch.”
“You don’t have to be a show off," Jasper said.
“I’m not showing off!” I said. “I said I’m fine!”
“Fine,” said Jasper, “have it your way!”
I then picked myself off the ground and walked away.