//------------------------------// // Chaotic bootcamp // Story: A fiend or a friend? // by JL-Hero //------------------------------// Twilight wasn’t entirely sure why he said that, but before she could say anything else Magic Silver interrupted her. “And for that we need an appropriated place” He then teleported taking Twilight to a place he could call “home” they arrived to what seemed to be an infinite extension of blank space “What is this…? Place?” Twilight asked, she was having a hard time even calling it a “place” she couldn’t tell where it started nor where it ended.. “This is my home, sweet parallel dimension” Magic Silver said, though, he wished that Twilight could understand the privilege of being the first mortal creature to ever enter into his dimension. “This is where we start, this where you will learn everything I have to teach you, we will begin with the basic skills: physical abilities, which, you will need in order to prepare you to fight the incoming threat, it will be exhaustive yes, but I have everything arranged and solved, you just have to concentrate on everything I teach you, are we--? Are you even listening?” Twilight got a lost staring at the infinity of the place where she was, she couldn’t perceive the difference between the ground and everything else, let alone if there was any walls and ceiling or just a horizon and a sky, she could hear Magic Silver--Discord--whoever he was, talking but she didn’t pay attention. Of course she would never do this on normal circumstances, but the fascination was great. However she was suddenly dragged out of her little trip by Magic Silver’s nagging question: “Are you even listening?” “Yeah… Sure… Do you really live here?” Twilight asked still amazed by the place and reluctant see it as a “home”. “Yes, I do, though this is only my yard, I’ll later show you the living room and the rest of my abode, but for now, let’s get to business shall we?” At that moment Magic Silver summoned two large walls at each side to create a long road and a pit in the middle. “And for what is that pit?" “First, we start with the most basic of skills; you must be able to jump that pit, you can take all the impulse you think you need” Twilight didn’t want to admit it, but she still was processing all that stuff about saving the world, sure, she already did it in at least three occasions, but she knew that none of those demanded so much as this, what is more, she realized that she just trusted the worst enemy that she and her friends have ever faced, and yet she was there doing exactly what he was telling her. So she realized that at least she could get the whole truth, maybe this whole thing was an evil plan by Discord… or maybe not… Even if he was sincere about his intentions she felt she needed more reasons, she needed answers. “Ok, Discord but first I want to ask you a few more questions” “Of course, Twilight, but please, call me Magic Silver. Discord was only a gimmick, Magic Silver is who I am now. This body is comfortable and I like it, and apparently you like it too.” Twilight blushed a bit at that statement, though it was truth, she does not like to be reminded that. “Oh yes, I know how you look at me. But that’s not important, now about your request I thought of something, How about a little deal? You complete every physical test I give you and you can ask any question you want, do you agree?” Twilight nodded and she prepared herself taking backward steps and then, when she got a good calculation for the impulse she will need, she started running to the pit, and when she got close to the edge and tried to jump it, she failed miserably falling into it and getting hurt. “Oh boy, this is going to be a long, long day” Magic Silver said with a bit of annoyance Magic Silver stood there in the starting line of the artificial road, watching Twilight try and fail, sometimes she could get closer to jumping the pit, and then came the times where even when she still was failing it was by a small margin. as Magic Silver was witnessing this he started wondering to himself: “I really don’t know if this is a mistake. I really hope not, if it wasn’t for our rules I would fix this whole thing in the blink of an eye. Should I really give this weight to a simple mare? Of course she is special and of course she has the qualities, but she has to go through all this in order to discover them. She needs to know what we are going to fight against, even when she and her friends have already defeated 3 powerful villains, she doesn’t have a idea of what is coming. I wasn’t willing to hurt anyone. Nightmare Moon wicked and evil as she was, was only the incarnation of a young mare’s anger. Chrysalis, well, I couldn’t give her credit for anything, this isn’t supposed to happen. None of this happened anywhere else, this world shouldn’t be taken out of its harmony nor its inhabitants, that’s why I am almost hurt for the fact that she will have to learn all of this the hard way. Twilight Sparkle failed once more to jump the pit, this time catching onto the edge on the other side before falling, seconds after she touched the ground a staircase appeared behind her, for she could get out the pit and start again. Before completely getting out she started to think: “Why am I doing this again? I’m supposed to go through all this training in order to get ready to fight a great evil, but that’s what Discord said. Why do I believe something he says? After all, he is the supreme trickster. He says he doesn’t want to hurt us, but maybe he is talking about a physical pain, and he will be more than happy to make us miserable like the last time… But then “Why am I doing this again? I’m supposed to go through all this training in order to get ready to fight a great evil, but that’s what Discord said. Why do I believe something he says? After all, he is the supreme trickster. He says he doesn’t want to hurt us, but maybe he is talking about a physical pain, and he will be more than happy to make us miserable like the last time… But then again if I have the chance to ask him exactly what he is. Yes! I can look him in the eyes, and see if he is lying, after all, thanks to him I can spot a lie when I hear one.” When she got out of the pit and walked her way to the starting line, she stopped for a moment and she looked a Magic Silver who just made little smile. Then she started to ponder again: “Why should I trust him? Seriously, why? He is the embodiment of disharmony, the god of chaos, even if he already said that he learned the importance of things. But how can I believe that when he used to have fun creating chaos and misery, and how exactly he learned something so important? He is the one who turn my friends on me, he made me experience the ultimate misery, and I just won't forget that. I will never trust him and I shouldn’t even be doing this, preparing to fight a great evil and prevent a disaster? Maybe he is the disaster! I think he wants to fill me with self confidence for only in the last minute, when he reveals his evil scheme. He would take pleasure crushing every given hope, but then again I am here, trapped on his realm, But I think I have a plan and in order to apply it, I have to play his game!” Twilight ran as fast as she could, faster than when that Hydra was chasing her, she really forced her legs this time. Just before reaching the pit, she decided to try a new strategy. This time she jumped at the very edge of the pit, also using an incredible amount of strength in her legs, this time she succeeded. She made it to the other side, barely, but she did it. She collapsed right after the landing tired and out of breath and Magic Silver appeared right next to her saying: “Nicely done, Twilight, as soon as you catch your breath you can ask your ask your question” Twilight gave herself three minutes of exhaling before getting up, when she did that, she threw the question: "What are you exactly?" “Me? I am basically everything that you already know, I am omnipotent and immortal, but I am not a spirit of chaos, at least not always. Discord… that was only a role that I performed, only a gimmick. I have different names depending on the world but I really don’t have proper name, that’s why now I ask you to refer me as Magic Silver, since in order to help you I need to blend in your society. Overall, everything you have to know about me is that I am an interdimensional being and that I am here to help.” Those five last words, left Twilight wondering more things, but she decided to remain silent and wait her next chance. “Alright, Twilight, that was your question, and now comes my next challenge, first you will have to jump that pit two more times, after that I will tell you the next part of the challenge.” “Ok, but at least I have to drink something before I continue, I’ve never felt so exhausted…” “Oh, Ok,” Magic Silver said and touching Twilight’s nose with his hoof he said: “There, that should do it” “What—what did you do? I feel refreshed and my legs aren’t heavy anymore” “I made you ignore the pain on your worked out muscles, filled your body’s water deposits and put food on your stomach.” Twilight immediately thought that this was just another trick but she decided to keep playing along, the faster she could complete the tests the faster she would get out of this realm. “You can start now, Twilight” Twilight reached the starting line of the path, she got on position and prepared to start running, but just in that moment Magic Silver added: “Oh, and Twilight, just how many times do I have to repeat the same thing? I don’t want to run this world, I don’t want to ruin your lives, and I am not interested in creating chaos anymore! I thought you knew better, since you already know the feeling of not being trusted." Twilight was totally amazed and confused about how in the hay Magic Silver knew what she thought. But then again after seeing how he has his own plane of existance that would be a pointless question. but wha he said was truth, and the realization hit her, she indeed knew that feeling, but her hatred and paranoia overwhelmed every little sense of confidence she could have about Magic Silver’s intentions. The facts were obvious and she just chose to ignore them and keep being suspicious. “Look, Twilight, I am not asking you to trust me. I am just asking to believe what I say, I just want you to be ready to fight for those that you love. And with more reason now that there is a reason to fight for them and for the future.” Twilight merely nodded at this, she didn’t have words, a future, yes, that’s what she has been thinking, fighting at the present to ensure a future. After that Twilight got back to her original position and took off, running as fast as the last time, Twilight managed to jump once again the pit though she landed clumsily and stiff. Before galloping again to the starting point Magic Silver teleported next to her and said: Let me give a little advice, every time you land after a jump try to duck at the very moment of the landing. That will distribute the energy of the impact and will reduce it. “All right, Magic Silver, but how many time will I have to be here?” “Don’t worry about that, I will only tell you that a day here on this plane is a minute on your world. So you won’t be out for long, but we will spend several days here. I need to know if you are up to spend all that time training.” Twilight then remembered words that she said moments ago: protect the present, to ensure a future, a future for everyone. “OK, the next part is basically the same as the previous one, only that this time the difficulty level will be higher since the road will be longer, and there will be multiple pits. But don’t worry there will enough room for you to take the necessary impulse to jump.“ Once more she repeated the process only that this time the pits appeared one by one as she raced through the path, jumping them with slight difficulty, but she finally completed the test. She was exhausted again, but that was no problem thanks to Magic Silver’s touch. “Ok, I have completed another one of your test, now it’s time for my question.” “I wouldn’t forget that, ask and it shall be answered.” “How exactly did you learn that there are things that are worth fighting for?” “It was another world, another body, another name, It was a more complicated world than this, and the creature that I associated with was… Strange mix of you, Twilight, and Princess Celestia only that he was a male. It was then that I learned the meaning of friendship, although he never saw it like that. But in the end we got to understand each other.” “So, at least in the end he got to consider you as a friend as too?” “I like to think so, but the question is already answered, let’s begin the next test. You will have to do the exact same race the pits as obstacles, only that this time I will be pressing you by… shooting at you!” “What!?” “You have to go through a danger situation besides I will be making warning shots… for now, so let’s start.” Twilight began the now dangerous race as Magic Silver flew over her preparing to blast energy beams, Twilight made her best attempt but this time multiple failures were inevitable. Try and failed over and over again having to dodge Magic Silver’s rays and concentrate on the jumps. Whether she was taken down by a nearby explosion or simply falling inside the pits, this was both stressing and exhaustive for Twilight. But she had determination after all but it was only after many, many attempts, much more pain and physical efforts and several hours trying to succeed that somehow she managed to dodge ever ray fired at her and jump every pit in front of her. Twilight landed heavily ducking, only that she couldn’t get up due to exhaustion. However this was easily fixed by another touch from Magic Silver. “Every time you do that I feel that my body is entirely replaced with another.” “I hope that means you feel good. Well I am ready for a new question if you have one.” “Yes, I have one, is about your past here on equestria.” “Oh, and what you would to know this time?” “How did you become ruler of equestria?” “Aah, a really legitimate question… But to be honest, I am not entirely sure. You see, back then I was relatively young, I came to equestria only looking for a new playground. Celestia and Luna were already in charge of moving the sun and the moon respectively, but then I discovered you, ponies. It was fun to play massive scale pranks and causing chocolate rains here and there, but of all of those pranks were primarily harmless. However one day they came to me with news about the cities and asking me for orders until that day the pony folk were apparently organized in sovereigns states, and they considered me as their new lord. Maybe because I was the most powerful being on Equestria, I wasn’t really qualified for the job, but I accepted anyway. Soon though Celestia and Luna saw the flaws in my government and the rest is history. I was tired too so I let them think that they defeated me and I went on vacations.” Twilight was somehow amazed by the simplicity of the facts, but they were also pretty much what she already knew from the history books. “Alright Twilight, let’s continue with the training. You know? Twilight, we have only spent thirty-six hours on this realm and we are going to spend… the time necessary for these physical tests be as easy for you to perform as reading.” Twilight had a mixture of shock and annoyance in her face. But she decided that if this was necessary to capable to protect their friends if the elements of harmony could fail. The other thing that was bothering her was that now she will have to make a list of crazy things she has done and apparently will keep doing.