//------------------------------//
// Bridging Unity 3: Gift of Blueblood’s 
// Story: Keeping Unity 
// by Chemtest 
//------------------------------//

Blueblood smiles as he leads Clear into a massive gymnasium, filled with armor stands, mannequins, and a giant track all around the room. He grins, looking over at Clear, “So, Initiate, are you ready to begin training?”

Clear nods, “Yes, sir, how shall I begin?”

He notions to the dagger on Clear’s belt, “Show me how good you are with that.”

Clear nods, drawing the dagger with one wing, “How shall I?”

He points to a target across the room, “Target there.”

Clear takes a deep breath. Upon releasing the breath, he twists about, sending the dagger flying across the room. It slams into the target, below the bullseye, but still on target.

Blueblood smiles, “Very good. Now, go retrieve it.”

Clear nods, and begins to trot to the target. He looks back as he trots, “If I may, Sir-“

Blueblood cuts him off, “Just Blueblood, please. I’ve given up all titles and carry no honorific in the military.”

Clear nods again, “Well, Blueblood... why are you so interested in my dagger skills, if you don’t mind?”

He smiles, “Ah, that. Well, Clear, allow me to be transparent and candid. Oh, and if I’m ever not transparent, do tell me. Honesty is a noble’s best policy, and I’ve taken the title of noble much more literal these days. You see, Clear, you are being trained for a very specific purpose.”

Clear raises an eyebrow, slowing to a stop, “...Assassination?”

Blueblood pauses, and taps his chin, “Hmm, not quite. You see, Clear, I have high suspicion that that rotten alicorn, that... well, that version of me, will be coming back. If I know myself, and nopony knows me better than myself, then I shall be back for revenge.”

Clear nods, “Meaning another Canterlot Disaster.”

Blueblood smiles, “Exactly. So, we can’t allow him the time to cast another spell of that size. If he comes, we must be prepared to strike him down. That is your job Clear, kill that rotten alicorn before he can do anything.”

Clear looks back at the target, the dagger’s distance from the bullseye a mile in his eyes, “That is a lot to ask, Blueblood.”

He nods, “I know it is, Initiate Clear. That is why I had to get somepony of true quality. You were the first to show cleverness and initiative in my test, the first in two years. You, Clear, are special. I bestow upon you this responsibility. Can you bear it?”

Clear looks back at Blueblood, and then back at his dagger, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.