//------------------------------// // Chapter Ten // Story: The Gates of Equestria // by SapphireRose87 //------------------------------// Aether along with the rest of the Guardians were angry about being put on house arrest because of Pinkie's actions putting everypony in danger by visiting every Guardian at every single gate.  The anger that the Guardians had about this situation bled over into their training that was taking place more than once a week as Sapphire promised.  Master Shi took note of this anger everypony was displaying and she told the Guardians that it would be best for them to go into the fighting ring and pretty much beat the crap out of each other. Not so much a fight to the death, just a fight to be fighting. That was fine by Aether the most. It was mostly because Pinkie disrespected his friends by putting them in danger. When Aether finally got a chance to fight Firewing in the ring, he was kind of happy about it. He wondered if Firewing felt the same way because of the rivalry they had going at the moment. But if this were an actual battle there's no way Aether would kill Firewing, unless it's a fight to the death.  Master Shi stood in the middle of the fighting ring. Aether was on one side of it staring down Firewing, and Firewing was on the other side staring down Aether.  "Alright you two!" Master Shi said. "I want a good clean fight! This isn't a fight to the death! I repeat, this is not a fight to the death! If I see the fight going that way, then I will intervene. Ready? Fight!" The bell sounded, Aether and Firewing readied their battle stances. Aether smiled as he thought, I might be small and I might not be that strong but I make up for it with my speed and agility, and Firewing is about to find that out.   Firewing went for the first strike to Aether’s face. Aether moved just slightly out of the way and used Firewings momentum to throw him. Firewing stood up and grunted; Aether simply stood ready and watchful for the next move. Firewing then ran at Aether and made the mistake of aiming for Aether’s face and upper body again, but Aether moved too fast for Firewing, moving to the side and just enough behind him to sweep him to the ground again. In a moment’s time Firewing stood up and all that protected Aether next was his quick thinking. Aether put up a barrier with his magic when he saw what Firewing was getting ready to do next. Firewing flew at least twenty feet up in the air. BOOM! A huge beam of orange light came form Firewing towards Aether. Aether’s shield managed to block Firewing's attack.  "I thought Master Shi said this wasn't a fight to the death!" Aether growled. "That wasn't a kill move, trust me, if it was, it would've cracked your pathetic shield you have up Smalls!" Firewing snapped. Aether’s glance narrowed.  Firewing charged towards Aether, but he was too fast. Aether moved out of the way, and headbutted Firewing. This dazed Firewing for a moment, but it seemed an adrenaline boost had taken over Firewing. Enraged, Firewing grabbed Aether’s tail and threw him into the ground! THUD! Aether’s defensive instincts kicked in. After being stunned for several moments it seemed, a magic surge had passed through Aether. He got up, and although Firewing could only see Aether’s back, what he didn’t see was Aether’s horn charging up as he started to stand, enough to make his eyes glow as well with fury and magic. He turned and pointed at Firewing, firing his magic. It came too fast and too unexpected for Firewing to dodge and it both shocked and threw Firewing several feet back and to the ground.  Firewing landed on the ground with a thud loud enough to echo through the room, and slid several feet, Aether panicked when he saw this. Several moments passed with no response as the room went silent. “Firewing?” Aether said, as more time passed with no response. “Oh no… Firewing!?!?” More time passed... A gasp is heard throughout the room as Firewings eyes open and he is filled with rage. “You little shit!” Firewing said as he started to get up, Preparing to run at Aether full speed.  Aether’s panic turned to relief and then surprise in an instant all at once when Firewing got back up. Master Shi teleported into the fighting and a bright light stunned both Aether and Firewing. She growled. "I thought I said no fighting to the death! Aether, you almost killed Firewing! I advise that you hold back on your strength when fighting. I know you two have a rivalry going on but geez man, I don't need a dead Guardian while we're high alert! You two need to work things out and stop being so hostile towards each other. I suggest no more provoking each other so one will move in for the kill. Now since Aether made the finishing move, I'm declaring him the winner!" As soon as Master Shi released Aether and Firewing, Aether was still getting past the shock. He sighed, walked up to Firewing, “never underestimate the small ones. We might just surprise you,” Aether then walked away.  This comment made the other Guardians snicker that were watching the fight.   "Alright you two, do a hoofshake to show good sportsmanship." Master Shi commanded.  Aether turned back around, walking towards Firewing and they did as they were told. Master Shi nodded, "Good, the next fight is Thunder and Melody!" Everypony that heard this gasped, Melody rolled her eyes, "Seriously everypony? I might be blind, but I can hold my own against a dragon!" Master Shi nodded, "Yup, if I were you I'd sit back and watch the show!" * * * Just like Firewing and Aether's fight Master Shi stood in the middle of the fighting ring. Thunder stood on one side of the fighting ring and Melody stood on the other. Melody thought, Ponies might think I'm helpless because I'm blind and I'm getting tired of that! Time for me to show them what I'm made of, without destroying the building of course. "Okay," said Master Shi, "I want a good clean fight, I should remind you no fight to the death! I know everyponies is pissed off at what Pinkie did. But we need to be reminded that we are comrades. Got it?" Melody and Thunder nodded to show they understood what Master Shi was saying.  "Ready? Fight!" Master Shi said. As soon as the bell sounded, Melody whistled two notes and searched deep inside of her to connect her music with her dark magic. No one knew that about Melody, she had some sort of dark magic that she could use at will and didn't have to read a spell in order to cast it.  Melody stomped a hoof on the ground and readied her battle stance. "Don't go easy on me just because I'm blind, Thunder." She said in her usual flat monotone voice.  Thunder nodded, "Alright then, as you wish." Melody heard the cracking of the electricity from Thunder's claws. Actually you didn't have to see to hear that sound and feel it too. WHOOSH! Melody felt the first two electric strikes and barely managed to dodge them. Melody was able to cast her dark magic to stop time. She went up to Thunder and rearranged his fighting stance posing him as if he were a doll. She took both of his claws and crossed them. Then she took his tail and moved it in between his legs. Then she took Thunder's cloak and pulled it over his head.  Since nopony was able to hear her at the moment because she had stopped time, she let out a small chuckle at how she had posed Thunders' body. Finally after she was done messing with Thunder, she released her spell.  Thunder fell over once the spell was released and he struggled to get free of his cloak.  Master Shi entered the fighting ring chuckling, "Well, we all know who won this round. Melody is the winner! Melody and Thunder do a hoof and, um, claw shake in Thunder's case to show good sportsmanship." Melody and Thunder did as they were told. Thunder looked truly impressed by the way Melody won the fight. "Good job Melody! How on earth were you able to trip me up so much?" "I'm not telling because it's in my bag tricks." Melody said flatly.  Thunder chuckled, "It's okay. I understand." When Melody walked past Aether they high-hoofed.  "Good job Melody!" Aether cheered. Melody nodded, she wanted to show she felt proud, but to her, showing emotion would have to wait until she got home. "Alright then," said Master Shi, "the last fight for the day, Aether and Fancy Mark!" Aether and Fancy Mark nodded and got into the fighting ring. * * * Just like the last two fights, Master Shi stood in the middle of the fighting ring. Fancy Mark was on one side of it and Aether was on the other side of it.  Before the fight even started Aether didn't want to go at Fancy Mark like he did with Firewing. Not because Aether was good friends with Fancy Mark, but because Aether noticed that Fancy Mark's right hoof was twitching and he didn't know why. He wanted to tell Master Shi that he forfeited the fight, but he wasn't sure if he should do that just because Fancy wasn't feeling well. Or at least Aether thought he wasn't feeling well.  "Alright," said Master Shi, "as I said in the last two fights, I want a good clean fight. This isn't a fight to the death. Ready? Fight!" Aether hesitated but when Fancy charged at him, he stepped to the side to dodge him but in time Fancy managed to trip him. Aether was on the ground face first. Fancy yanked on Aether's tail to help him get to his hooves.  "Are you going easy on me Aether?" Fancy asked. Aether gave a nervous laugh and lied, "eheh what? Easy? Me? No way." "Because you're not attacking me as strongly as you did with Firewing." Fancy snapped.  "Alright then," said Aether, "you asked for it!" Aether charged at Fancy and Fancy spun around and yanked on Aether's tail and pretty hard too.  Aether let out a yelp of pain. "Agh!" Fancy still had Aether's tail in his mouth as he tossed Aether into the nearby wall.  BANG! THUD! Aether fell to the ground. He wasn't knocked out so he got to his hooves and dusted himself off. Aether frowned when he saw Fancy's hoof twitch again.   I really don't want to hurt Fancy, I know this is supposed to be a fight and Fancy doesn't want me to go easy on him, but he doesn't look like he's feeling well. Maybe I should- Aether didn't get a chance to finish his thought when Fancy headbutted him in the chest. Aether stumbled backwards trying to catch his breath.  Before Fancy could make his next move, Aether called out with a wheeze, "Master Shi! I forfeit! I forfeit this fight!" Everypony in the room gasped at what Aether said. Master Shi teleported into the fighting ring and frowned, "State the reason why you forfeit Aether." Aether swallowed, "I, um… I can't do it! I can't fight Fancy!" Master Shi raised an eyebrow, "Why I think Fancy's more than capable of-" Master Shi paused and looked at Fancy, she nodded at Aether because she saw Fancy's hoof twitch again. "I see… Alright then, the winner by default is Fancy! That ends the fights for today. Fancy, come with me, everypony else, do your usual two hundred laps around the track!"  While everypony else groaned before Fancy could follow Master Shi to the medical area, Master Shi turned to Aether, "Aether, please come with me also." Aether nodded, "Yes Master Shi." * * * Once Master Shi, Fancy and Aether made their way to the medical area, one of the doctors there made Fancy sit on one of the beds.  Fancy glared at Aether and Master Shi, "Do you guys care to tell me why I'm at the medical area, I'm fine! I feel fine! I don't need to be here!" Aether and Master Shi exchanged a look when Fancy's hoof twitched again. "Um, are you sure about that Fancy?" Aether asked. "Your hoof's twitching and it doesn't look like you're feeling well." He sighed. "That's why I forfeited the match. I can't fight my friends when they're not at their best." Fancy's ears perked up and his eyes went wide, "My hoof's twitching again? I… I didn't notice. Why didn't you say anything before the match started?" "I wasn't sure about what I saw, then after the match started I confirmed it." Aether answered.  Fancy sighed and looked away, "I see. So you were going easy on me!" He smiled. "I guess I can't be mad at you for throwing the match then. It's because you were looking out for my welfare. That's just like you to do that Aether. I guess I should thank you for going easy on me then." "It's fine," said Aether, "I just don't like putting my friends in danger if I can help it." "Okay what seems to be the problem here?" Aether and Fancy jumped at the sound of the Doctor's voice. They looked over to see a young stallion, a unicorn with yellow fur and a blue mane and tail. His cutie mark was that of a serpent coiled around a staff.  "Oh, uh Dr. Snake," said Master Shi, "um, well let's just say for some reason Fancy Mark over here, uh… His right hoof is twitching." Aether covered his mouth with a hoof trying not to laugh at the Doctor's name. It was funny to him. He didn't know why it was funny to him. It was just plain funny. Dr. Snake looked at Fancy and nodded when he saw Fancy's hoof twitch again. "I see. Sometimes this happens when there's a case of extreme stress, emotionally not so much physically. I can give him a potion that will help calm that down. It won't make him sleepy or anything like that. If anything it'll help him focus more and be on his game when it comes down to doing his job of being a Guardian.  "I hope this doesn't start happening to any of the other Guardians that would be bad. It wouldn't surprise me if it did happen with the stress of being a Guardian in general."  "Are there any symptoms I should look out for to see if any of the other Guardians have it?" Master Shi asked.  Dr. Snake frowned and shook his head, "Unfortunately no, this is what's called Involuntary Stress Twitching. It happens under extreme stress on the mind. Sometimes it can be triggered by a traumatizing event. I'm not a therapist so I'm not going to ask any questions about that. I'm just going by what I see and what I know what to do from there. So with that being said, I'll go get the potion which is to be drunk with a cup of tea. One cup of tea in the morning and one cup of tea at night for two weeks. After that, this condition should be under control." Fancy nodded. "Thanks Doctor." Dr. Snake smiled, "Oh it's not a problem at all. This is why I love doing my job. I get to help ponies in need. I especially like helping out a Guardian, they're the most important ponies and this time dragon around that keep Equestria safe. Now I'll go get that potion and it'll fix you right up!" After Fancy was done being looked at Aether felt much better about helping his friend. He was definitely glad that he forfeited the match before his friend got hurt. He also felt better knowing that Fancy would be in good hooves when he got home. That's because the pony taking care of Fancy takes things seriously when it comes down to Fancy's health.  Once Fancy was taken care of, they parted ways and went back to their Gates.