//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: A True True Friend // by DiscoRobot //------------------------------// Her father lay dead on the ground, blood pooling around the fatal stab wound. His final expression of sorrow and regret was etched in his features. From that point on, Sword Flash started Rainbow Dash in her studies of swordplay. He taught her to forge her own blade using a forge he had constructed himself. He explained the significance of balance and dexterity when against an opponent of equal or greater physical strength. But most of all, he emphasized the importance of character- the component of swordplay that makes every warrior in question unique. “A sword must be an extension of your being. When you hold a sword, you should feel no different with it than if you were standing bare-hoofed.” He spoke clear and directly. It had been less than a year since Sword Flash had found Rainbow Dash in the Everfree Forest being assaulted by stallions when he lead her to a high point among the mountain range surrounding his home. Beneath their hooves, Equestria lay spread out, like a colorful moving map. Rivers snaked through the dense Everfree Forest. Wetlands and swamps dotted the landscape. Canterlot could be seen sparkling far in the distance. They remained silent for a few minutes. Sword Flash spoke first. “Do you enjoy using your sword Rainbow?” His question threw her off balance. What kind of question was that? She considered carefully for a moment. “No.” A simple one word answer. Perfect. “It gives me ideas that I’ve never had before. Ideas that I don’t like to imagine. ” Her answer seemed to satisfy him. “Good. That means I’ve done my job. The sword should be considered a tool, not a weapon.” He paused and turned around. “Fight for purpose Rainbow Dash. Because in a duel, it doesn’t matter how many ponies you have to face by yourself, or how skilled they are. If you have a stronger sense of purpose than all of them combined, then you will emerge victorious. Everytime. The art of the sword has almost nothing to do with ability or talent and everything to do with simple willpower.” He looked tired, sadness clouding his eyes. “As much as I want to, I cannot protect you forever.” And he stumbled away on the path back down the mountain, looking older and more exhausted than ever before. Rainbow Dash stared at Derpy, utter shock and confusion in her eyes. Dash spoke first. “Why?” Derpy stared defiantly at the cyan blue pony. “Don’t you remember what Sword Flash taught us? We’re family. I came here to kill the pony that caused you so much pain and suffering.” Dash spoke again. “How?” “The letter. You left it on your bed when you left. That’s how I got the address. Aren’t you happy he’s gone?” Rainbow shook her mane in disbelief. “We promised each other, Derpy” she almost sobbed. “We made a promise when we came to Ponyville that we would never speak of what happened ever again.” But she didn’t. Instead, cold fury entered her gaze. She grabbed a sword off the wall, and charged at Derpy. Rainbow had no idea what a sword was doing in her father’s house, and she didn’t care. Derpy’s eyes widened in surprise. She fled out the window. Rainbow chased after her. That very night, Rainbow Dash was woken by the sound of Sword Flash pacing the cave. Derpy was snoring softly in her sleep. He had strapped on his sword belt and scabbard, and was pacing restlessly at the entrance. He had lit torches surrounding the island. Light from the torches bounced off the water and lit the entire area. He noticed Rainbow was awake. “Rainbow, this is urgent” he spoke rapidly. “I need you to wake Derpy and leave immediately with her.” Rainbow blinked. “What? In the middle of the night?” The urgency in his voice made it clear that this was no time for argument. Rainbow looked closely at her mentor’s face. He looked nothing like the old, helpless pony that had spoken to her on the mountain. His eyes were bright and alert, and he radiated energy and confidence. But his expression was shadowed with worry. “Yes. Take your swords and get out of here as quick as possible. Don’t use the main path, stick to the shadows and whatever you do, don’t-“ At this point, Derpy had woken too. She rubbed her eyes sleepily. “What’s going on?” Rainbow was sure something was wrong. Sword Flash had honed her observation skills to notice even the smallest of details. She was near certain that she had seen ripples in the lake. Large ripples, which indicated large creatures. And she was sure there was more than one of them. Sword Flash had noticed the ripples as well. Eyes flashing, he spoke urgently. “There’s no time. Change of plan. Listen carefully. Get on top of the roof of this cave and whatever you hear or see, promise me you won’t come down. Promise me.” Rainbow Dash and Derpy were utterly confused. They looked at him with wide eyes. “PROMISE ME!” he almost shouted. They had never seen him like this before. They looked at each other, then looked back at him and nodded in unison, unable to speak out of fear. He looked at them both with fierce pride in his eyes. “Take care of each other, no matter what happens tonight. Stick together always. Now go!” They flew up to the roof. Under the cover of darkness, they crouched and looked down at the scene. The sharp rocks and pebbles stung Rainbow’s chest, but she didn’t move. Neither did Derpy. Sword Flash sat, his sword sheathed and Timothy by his side. There was no friendliness in Timothy now. His teeth were bared in a snarl and he growled viciously at the lake. And they appeared. Five stallions, right out of a horror film, walked out of the water. Rainbow couldn’t help but notice the long, threatening swords strapped to their bodies. Unlike Sword Flash’s weapon, theirs were long, black as midnight, and seemed to induce fear into Rainbow, filling her mind with the darkest of thoughts and nightmares. Derpy was affected likewise. She sat trembling next to Rainbow. Sword Flash seemed unaffected by their presence. He remained in his position while they approached in a ring. He was surrounded. “Father.” The largest one grinned, but there was an unsettling feeling behind his creepy smile, and his eyes were as cold as a winter night. “It’s been a while.” “What are you doing here, Rough Pebble? You dare come back and show yourself to me?” Sword Flash looked scarier than ever, his face a mask of calm, but his eyes a storm of icy rage. Rough Pebble seemed unperturbed by Sword Flash’s anger. “No, no this is more than just a courtesy visit.” He glared cruelly at Sword Flash. “You are going to pay with your life for the death of my three comrades over a year ago. And when we’re done with you…..” He chuckled. “We have special plans for those two Pegasi you've taken under your wing. There are plenty of clients who would pay good money for those two as slaves. What they choose to do with them is no concern of mine.” He glared menacingly around the clearing, his eyes passing over the location where Rainbow and Derpy were hiding. “They can’t run forever.” Rainbow’s heart almost stopped when Rough Pebble looked at them. He couldn't possibly know where they were, as it was pitch dark, and she heaved a silent sigh of relief when he looked away. Sword Flash could retain his composure no longer. He sprang to his hooves and drew his blade. The deadly steel glinted in the torchlight. There was no fear in him. Only fury. “Those three intended harm to a young and innocent Pegasus in the forest. They were scum- the lowest of the low and the vilest of the vile” he spat. “They deserved to die.” Rough Pebble lifted an eyebrow. “Really? Who made you a judge of who deserves life and who doesn't?” He laughed again. “Enough of your blabbering. Kill the old fool” he ordered. The other four stallions drew their blades and surrounded Sword Flash. Rough Pebble stood back a safe distance away with a smug expression. Rainbow could tell that the blades the four stallions were holding were abnormal, but in what way? She was sure they were more dangerous than they appeared. Her worry for Sword Flash almost made her leap down there and help defend him, but she remembered her promise. She had to restrain Derpy too, who had lost her bubbly character, and was positively writhing to escape Rainbow’s restraint. The boldest stallion swung experimentally at Sword Flash. He was more than ready. Slipping to one side, he lunged forward as quickly as a rattlesnake, forcing the stallion to parry the attack and back up. The ground smoked where the evil stallion had hit his sword. “Poison”, Dash thought to herself. “Their damn swords are covered in poison.” The others were more wary of attacking Sword Flash. They kept their swords up, their eyes glinting maliciously in the torchlight, circling around him. One got too close by mistake. And Sword Flash struck. He attacked the stallion with incredible speed, weaving a web of steel around him. The stallion could barely defend himself. He would have been overwhelmed if his companion had not come up behind Sword Flash, forcing him to defend his back. While he was distracted, the third stallion’s blade struck at his other side. Had the hit landed, it would have proved fatal. Timothy leaped to intercept. He fell to the ground, dead, his fur smoking from the poison. Sword Flash roared. He whirled around like lightning and swept the stallion’s hooves out from under him with the flat of his blade. As soon as he hit the ground, Sword Flash was on top. He stabbed downwards, his sword connecting with the evil pony’s chest. The stallion never moved again. The remaining three stallions continued to circle. Rough Pebble still watched from afar, but Rainbow saw a flash of fear cross his smug features. One of the stallions swung. Sword jumped aside, but a little too slowly. The black sword glanced off of his flank, leaving a smoking trail, eating away at his flesh. Rainbow felt Derpy wince next to her, as if she had been struck. If he felt any pain, he didn't show it. His eyes shone with the light of battle, and he charged. The members of Mare8 used their swords awkwardly. They used them to stab, rather than the graceful slashing technique Sword Flash had taught Rainbow and Derpy. But jabbing was still deadly, and the stallions were good at it. One stallion stabbed at Sword Flash’s right hind leg. The sword barely touched, leaving a nasty looking burn. Sword Flash used his rear hooves to slam him in the chest. While he was winded, Sword threw his weapon like a javelin with deadly accuracy. It impaled the stallion through his head, and he fell, propped up by Flash’s sword. Sword limped over and retrieved his weapon. He was still standing, but it was clear that the poison was sapping at his strength. Both stallions noticed his weakened state. They charged from both sides. Sword Flash still had one last trick. As soon as they were in range, he dropped to all fours and kicked out with all four of his legs, like a butterfly. The two stallions tripped over his legs, cursing as they fell. One slashed out and sliced a gash open on Sword’s flank. He recoiled slightly in pain, but that didn't stop him from leaping upwards, and using his downward momentum to drive his sword deep into the first stallion’s brain. The stallion’s eyes went dark. The final stallion had regained his balance. The two glared at each other, their flanks heaving, and swords held at ready. This time it was no match. Sword ducked his upper swing and swung an uppercut in retaliation, cleaving the last stallion into two pieces. Blood was everywhere.