Chronicles of a brave heart
Chapter 3: The dawn of a new day.
“Dad I’m tired I need to rest *pant*”
“Not yet son, you almost had it”
“But dad…”
“Come on Brave you almost have it. I know I seem to be tough on you but it’s because I want you to be able to defend yourself, you got to be able to break the shield and counter attack with a repulsion spell.”
“A repulsion spell??? Wouldn’t it be easier to use a fire or thunder spell?”
“Son, there is a lesson to be learned about offensive magic. It must always be your last resort, casting it is much more complicated than using regular magic, it not only empties your energy, it also damages your body if you are not focused enough. Also you must never try to kill somepony else, you must always first try to reason with them, and if by any reason you can’t you must try to stun or knock unconscious, offensive magic can kill the pony or creature it affects, and you should only use it when somepony else is in immediate danger. You understand?”
“Ok dad… I think I understand… well, here goes nothing”
*ZOOM* *FWOOSH*
“I DID IT!!!!”
“Well done son, you finally got it. Ok. You have an hour to eat, drink and rest. Afterwards we will have a swordplay session.”
“Sir, yes sir.”
It was a cold morning in the everfree, as always the fog rose above the trees, making visibility almost cero, almost all living creatures still slept soundly. Almost all except for Braveheart, who was already stretching out to start his training.
This time around his flight training was different; he now was sporting the golden armor that resided in his living room, with razor blades along the wing protectors, a full body plate, and a shining gold helmet that belonged to his father. He also was carrying his father’s blade Dawnbreaker, a Zweihander, with a black phoenix engraved on it.
He started flying low. Wielding the sword using his magic, he hacked the blade on the small trees, opening a path through the canopy, while building speed. The Pegacorn stopped at the nearby lake, looped and darted full speed back towards the house.
Just before he arrived at the perimeter of the house he was met by a contraption of his own that was designed to automatically shoot arrows at a high speed, Brave stopped dead on his tracks and used his magic shield to reflect the arrows, and as soon as he saw the gap between the attacks, Brave broke the shield and fired a repulsion spell towards the contraption, making it fly towards a tree trunk and shattering it.
“Hmm…. That was ok for the warm-up, now to get some breakfast and then hunt that Ursa down” Brave told to himself, he then walked towards his home, leaving the armor placed carefully on a mannequin in the living room and the sword rested against the wall.
After eating a large meal, Brave was ready to go. The young Pegacorn grabbed the armor and the sword and stepped out, the fog was gone, and some critters could be heard nearby.
Well here goes nothing thought Brave, and he flew off to the direction the lair of the Ursa was located. Brave had found it almost half year ago, but knew he wouldn’t be able to do nothing in his current state, but now with the skills he had been honing for so long, and having found his special talent he was ready to face the creature that he had sworn to kill.
About half an hour later Brave arrived, it was a cave big enough to fit a humongous creature, adoring the entrance were piles of bones of different creatures, some were from bunnies, deers, even from manticores, but what really caught Brave’s eyes was the skull of a pony already bleached by the many suns that had shined above it.
That settled it, the Ursa needed to be taken down, not only for Brave’s selfish reasons, but also to prevent another pony to fall to the Ursa’s clutches.
Brave remained hidden behind a bush nearby while he waited for the Ursa to come out.
Brave knew that he needed to strike the Ursa when it had its guard down, and that he wouldn’t stand a chance if he fought inside the cave.
The hours passed and when Brave was about to leave thinking the Ursa had moved from the cave, the Ursa finally stepped out.
It was massive, with sharpened claws, enormous fangs, and filled with scars along its cosmic fur. Two scars got Brave’s attention, one of them was on its back, a razor-sharp cut, that could only have been achieved by her mother’s razorblade armor protection, and a scar that resided where the creatures left eye should have been, made by his father when he fired a spell on the Ursa to get its attention so Brave could go warn his mother.
The memories started to flow on Brave’s mind, remembering what was happening before him he shook his head to get rid of all those memories.
There will be a time for grieving and remembering, but this isn’t.
The Ursa moved to a clearing looking for food, unaware of the pony behind it trying to get a good spot to start his attack.
Brave took out Dawnbreaker and wielded with his magic, he started to fly and struck the beast making a deep cut on its left rear leg.
The beast howled in pain as it felt the cold steel hacking through the muscle, and the smell of blood that surged from the wound. The Ursa turned to find the one that had injured it, before Brave could react the Ursa hit him with its claws sending the Pegacorn flying towards some trees.
The Ursa approached the dirt cloud that formed from the crash, just to find Braveheart standing up on all fours, all covered in bruises, some blood dripping down his brow, but still, there was a fiery determination in his eyes.
With a speed that would impress the wonderbolts, Brave bolted towards the Ursa and using the blades he had on his wings made a sharp cut that went from the Ursa’s chest to its chin, making it roar as blood stained its cosmic fur. The beast countered by swinging its claws at Braveheart, this time injuring him and sending him back to the tree line.
The Ursa now really injured and pissed off by the attack, began limping towards the injured Pegacorn.
Darn… I guess this is it, I have a broken wing and leg, I can’t move, there is only one choice… it is now or never.
Brave picked up his sword using his magic and threw it at the wounded Ursa, the sword pierced the socket where its left eye had been, the creature roared as it felt the steel of the sword was embedded on its skull. But it kept limping towards Brave determined to see the small creature that had caused so much pain die in its clutches. As the creature approached, Brave gathered all his energy on the tip of his horn and released it forming a chain of lightning directed towards Dawnbreaker making it act like a lightning rod. The creature started howling in pain.
“COME ON COME ON COME ON” shouted a rather exhausted Braveheart trying to send all his energy towards his horn he just had to kill the Ursa, and nothing else would matter.
The stink of charred fur filled the air as the struggle of Brave and the Ursa continued.
After 15 seconds, the Ursa just couldn’t take anymore and fell just a few feet away from Brave. The face of the creature was completely charred because of all the electricity that had ran through the blade incrusted in its eye socket.
Now exhausted and on the brink of death Brave reached to his magic once again to take the sword and place it beside him.
The last thing brave saw before blackening out was his sword glowing in a strange aura, and two familiar silhouettes emerging from the sword.
“Where am I? Am I dead? Well at least I did it. Mom, dad you can be proud of me…”
Brave opened his eyes to find himself in a white hallway, filled with windows that allowed some kind of warm light to pass though them, the light wasn’t that of the sun, but had almost the same warm glow. At the other side of the hallway in front of a huge doorway were two familiar ponies.
“Mom, Dad!!!” Cried Braveheart. He ran towards the ponies, leaving tears of joy on every step.
The two ponies turned to reveal themselves as Swiftheart and Dawnstar.
Brave reached them, and nuzzled them both.
“Hey there champ. It’s good to see you again” said the proud unicorn.
“Sweetie it’s good to see you again, we have missed you.” Said the young Pegacorn’s mother.
Taking a second to inspect the hallway they stood in brave finally asked “Where are we?”
To which his father answered “Son, this is your mind. I managed to seal part of your mother’s and my soul into Dawnbreaker, so we could help you if you ever needed us. At this very moment we are using all our remaining strength to heal you, you really got battered up.”
Swiftheart, who had been quietly nuzzling her son up until now spoke “I can’t believe you got so strong my dear I’m so proud of you, still you are quite foolish, just like your dad.”
“I can’t believe you actually killed an Ursa Major. You’ve grown strong, my son.” said Dawnstar warmly. After making his horn glow his expression changed to one of worry. “Honey we have to hurry our magic is starting to fade.”
“Damn. I thought we were going to have more time to spend with Brave” replied Swiftheart.
“What do you mean dad? Mom, what’s wrong?”
“There is nothing wrong son… it’s just the spell is fading, and we won’t be able to maintain this form much longer”
“I’m sorry dear; I wanted to hear all about your adventures…”
“Don’t worry mom, I’m just happy that I was able to see you again, and that now I can say goodbye.” Cried Braveheart.
“Son, I’m proud of you, and I really hope that you will live a long and happy life, well sweetheart it seems our time is up”
“Goodbye my dear Brave. I’m so proud of you.”
“Goodbye mom, goodbye dad I’m going to miss you so much”
The two figures of Brave parents hugged and kissed their son before starting to disappear, the three ponies were shedding tears as the loving parents disappeared, leaving Brave in the hallway.
Time to go home thought the young Pegacorn smiling and cleaning the tears that remained on his face. He approached the huge doors, which started to open as he walked towards them.
Just as the doors opened Brave walked outside, just to find himself on the very same spot he had fainted. In front of him resided the beast he had just slain a couple of minutes ago, and between the two the blade that had fostered the souls of his parents laid on the grass reflecting the moonlight just like new.
Struggling to stand up Brave noticed that just as his parents had told him, his wings and legs were fine as new and the cuts on his body were nowhere to be seen, still, most of his energy was gone.
Brave approached and picked up the blade with his muzzle and sheathed it in its scabbard.
“Well it’s a long walk back home, so I better start moving” said the young Pegacorn with a smile that reflected the lack of the burden he had been carrying with him for so long.
Epilogue
It was a cold morning and the fog was rising over the trees of the everfree.
Brave finally arrived at his cottage just as Celestia’s sun was rising on the horizon. He was able to see the last stars disappear to leave an orange sky slowly turn into the morning blue.
Brave could barely hold himself together, just wanting to get some rest after the events of last night. He walked slowly, with his wings hanging, still, he had certain energy that kept him going; wondering what he would do now he approached the cottage just to find an odd turn of events.
The door is open? But I swear I closed it before I left…
Using some of the now scarce energy brave had left he grabbed his sword using magic, and stepped in cautiously.
Everything seemed in order, no mess that would indicate some creature of any sorts had snuck in to his house, and then, he noticed the back door opened.
As Brave stepped outside he was met with something he wasn’t prepared to see.
Just beside his parents gravestones stood a pristine white pony, taller than Brave or any other pony brave had met, it was a mare, with a flowing multicolored mane, and a sun for a cutie mark.
A sun for a cutie mark? My dad told me that the only pony in the world with that cutie mark is…
Before brave could finish his sentence the mare in front of him took notice of his presence and turned to meet gazes with the now confused Braveheart. All doubts of the pony’s identity were erased from Braves mind, when he noticed the wings and horn that possessed the Alicorn in front of him.
There was some silence, the birds that usually hanged near brave’s cottage hadn’t woken yet, and it was as if the whole forest was watching the two ponies, until finally the Alicorn spoke.
“You must be Braveheart. My name is Celestia. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you” said the princess with a sweet tone, which made Brave feel comfortable
Remembering his manners Brave made a bow and spoke “it’s a pleasure meeting you too, princess.”
“I’m sorry about your loss, I know it’s a little late, but your parents were the most courageous ponies I ever met”
“Thanks your highness. It means a lot to me to hear you say that.”
“I have to be blunt here Brave, I want to know what happened to your parents, and why are you wearing your mother’s armor, and wielding your father’s blade.”
Brave just nodded and said “please come inside your highness, I’m famished and I could use something to eat and drink. I know it won’t be as much or as good as the food or drinks you get on your palace, but, would you care for some?”
Celestia smiled “just a cup of tea.”
Brave nodded and headed back inside, left the armor and the blade on their respective places and headed to the kitchen to prepare some tea, and some food for him.
When everything was ready Brave started telling his tale to the princess. About how his parents had died defending him, his training afterwards, how he met Fluttershy, Bonbon and Lyra. How he had gotten his cutie mark, and finally his confrontation with the beast, and his re encounter with his parents.
Through the whole story Celestia remained silent, just nodding as a sign of understanding, after some minutes reflecting the Princess spoke.
“You truly are a remarkable pony, I would like to take you to Canterlot, and have you train with the best of Canterlot’s royal guards.”
“Huh? Do you really mean that princess?” Brave was more than surprised by the princess proposal; he didn’t knew what to say.
“Of course dear, I know you will make a fine knight.”
Brave reflected on all this, it was just too much to handle at once.
First he had seen his parents again, then he returned alive from the most challenging battle he ever had in his life, and now the ruler of Equestria was having herbal tea in his house offering him a chance to become a knight just like his mother and father.
After some minutes pondering on his options, Brave looked back to the Alicorn, a flame of determination in his eyes. “I would like that princess, on one condition though.”
“What is it my dear?” inquired the sun princess with an amused look on her face.
“I would like to be free to return here from time to time, more specifically, I would like to be stationed in the town just outside the forest.”
“Ok then, I’ll send some guards to pick you up tomorrow, you must rest tonight.”
“And Brave….” Brave faced the princess again “I’m glad you accepted”
With that being said the princess teleported herself away. And the young pony headed to bed wondering what would await him the next morning, when he would finally leave the forest.
Meanwhile in Canterlot.
A young unicorn was running franticly through the hallways of the castle, until she reached the terrace on the tallest tower and witnessed as princess Celestia materialize just in front of her.
“Princess where were you? I was worried about you.”
“Just taking care of some errands, let’s go my faithful student, you have lessons to take” Celestia glanced one more time towards the forest and with a smile she walked side by side with her student.