//------------------------------// // Ch. 4: A Bizarre Change // Story: The Storm is Here! // by UnKnownSalvation //------------------------------// Ch. 4: A Bizarre Change After staring at the ceiling for twenty minutes with an ice pack on my stomach that had already started to warm, the ref and Shining Armor decided it was time to get the show moving. "Will the next two participants please enter the ring?" The ref asked. A green pegasus and orange unicorn that were sitting a few rows ahead of where Brutus and I were both got up and walked into the ring. The two faced each other as the ref stood between them. "This next match will be between Slipstream," The ref announced as he pointed towards the pegasus. Slipstream was wearing black shorts and a red t-shirt. "And Star Blaster!" Star Blaster was wearing basic sweat pants and t-shirt. "Choose your weapons!" Slipstream went and chose the same small sword I picked during my fight while Star Blaster picked up a long sword. It kinda looked like a cutlass from where I was sitting. "Do either of you have anything you would like to say?" Silence from both of them. The ref simply shrugged. "Begin!" Slipstream wasted no time getting on the offensive, much like his first fight. Though Star Blaster was faster than the last unicorn that fought Slipstream, he still was having a hard time keeping up with Slipstream. As Slip swiped and tried to disarm Star, he tried to get behind Slip though received a punch in the side for his efforts. He quickly jumped away to get distance. "He's not bad," Brutus said to me as he looked on. "You're definitely going to have a run for your bits today." "Provided that he doesn't try to punch me in the gut," I remarked. "He was watching your fight especially well," Brutus told. "He knows just what button to push." Brutus poked the ice pack on my stomach. "I'll just have to be on my guard then," I replied. I looked backed at the fight to see that Star Blaster wasn't doing so well. He was literally with his back against the wall trying to find an opening. As Slip rushed Star, out of desperation, Star Blaster grabbed some sand with his hand and attempted to blind Slipstream's vision. Slip immediately dodged and kicked Star in the face for his efforts. Star tumbled down to the ground, unable to continue after failing to get up. "Dammit! I was hoping he would, oh I don't know, hit him!" I grumbled to myself. "That was a quick fight," Brutus and I both looked to see that it was Fate who had taken a seat next to me. "You're definitely going to have to be at your best to beat him." "Thanks for that kick by the way," "You're welcome," He deadpanned. "Star Blaster cannot continue! Therefore the winner is Slipstream!" The ref announced before going to tend to the unconscious Star Blaster. I turned towards Shining Armor's direction to see him and Celestia and him leaving in a hurry. I found this extremely curious as Shining Armor was the Captain of the Royal Guard! You'd think he would be there to watch the finals of the tryouts. As we waited for something to happen, Slipstream took his seat and resumed being the silent pony he's been all day. After about three minutes, this new gray furred pegusas pony in armor walked in before bowing to Luna. 'I wonder who that is…' I thought to myself. My question would be answered rather quickly. "For those who don't know me; I am Shining Armor's second in command, Valiant Knight," Valiant talked in a much different manner then Shining. While Shining was more of a friendly pony, this pegasus was more of the kind of pony you would see actually in charge of the guard. "He really needs to lighten up," Brutus whispered to me. "Don't plan on that ever happening," I whispered back. "Due to circumstances you need not know about, Shining Armor and Celestia are unable to survey the remaining tryouts and as such, I'll be taking their place until then," Valiant Knight informed the rest of us. "Anyway, let us continue with the finals," Valiant Knight announced. "Looks like I'm up next," I said to myself, as I got up from my seat. "But here are the rules; you both must fight in full armor with real weapons," Valiant Knight informed everyone, catching a lot of us by surprise. "Well, this is going to be fun," I spoke with amusement. You both have twenty minutes to be ready," I looked over to Slipstream who looked back with an intense glare like he was going to look at my soul. 'How is he the only intimidating pony in the room? I don't even find Brutus intimidating... well when he's in a good mood,' I thought, expressing some discomfort from his glare. 'Fine by me! At least my stomach won't be on the top of my worry list,' I grabbed my backpack and changed into my armor in a room that one of the guards directed me to. I then pulled my dad's sword out of the bag before unsheathing it to get a good look at it. It was a double-edged short sword that really didn't have anything special about it. Even though, it was all I had left of my dad and it was extremely important to me. I then finished putting on my armor and readied myself. The fight that was coming up would be the closest thing to my first real fight with this sword and my first real test of what I could do with it. After getting suited up, I walked out and stood on the opposite side of the ring from where Slipstream was. He was wearing normal armor that seemed heavier than mine but I couldn't tell from looking at him and also covered his wings like mine. His weapon of choice was a saber. I wondered how good he was with a saber though I didn't really get to see much of his swordsmanship. "This fight will continue till one of you is either disarmed or is unable to continue," The ref announced. "Do either of you have anything you would like to say?" "I feel like I'm at my execution when you say that…" I joked aloud. It seemed to annoy Slip a little. I guess he didn't think I was taking him seriously. The ref looked at Slip who remained silent. 'Either he's mute or doesn't like talking,' I thought to myself. "Begin!" We both took a stance as we stood around ten feet from each other. Slip was the first to attack as he dashed at me attempting to swipe the sword out of my hand. He was sufficiently slower in his armor though that was to be expected. I dodged and attempted a side slice at the hilt to either create and opening or knocking it out completely. Unfortunately neither of those came to pass as he managed to dodge and tried following up with a downward slice. I blocked it and we began to clash in a test of strength before I tried to kick out one of his legs. He saw this coming and dodged. When he planted his foot again he tried to do the same to me with the same amount of luck. After a few seconds we both broke the clash and backed off. We both encircled each other before clashing with each other over and over. I try to sweep his legs but he jumps over and tries a downward slash only for me to block it. He tries to kick me in the gut but I counter by catching his leg with my free hand and attempting to bash him with the hilt of my sword. He blocks this and gets his leg free before putting distance between us again. After about twenty minutes of us matching each other blow for blow, I could feel myself starting to slow down. Luckily, so was Slip as I could see him starting to breathe heavily as well. 'Now or never…' I thought to myself, as I picked up speed and dash towards him with my sword. Slipstream was taken by surprise, as he attempted to shield my blow, partially succeeding in the process, as I almost slashed his helmet off. It wasn't much, but better than nothing. 'Nice reflex Slip, but I have a few tricks of my own,' I proceeded to turn around and immediately leap towards my opponent, lunging at him with my sword. I suddenly felt a large pain in my gut from Slip kicking me in the stomach before everything when black after he wound up a kick to my head, causing me to fall to my stomach. I woke up from being knocked out on my back... even though I landed on my stomach... "Ow... What happened?" I asked myself as a rubbed my aching head, before I saw every pony looking at me with a shocked expression on their faces. Brutus immediately took an offensive stance and looked at me like I was his worst enemy. "What's wrong? Why is every pony looking at me like that?" Now they were looking at me like I was crazy. "What'd I miss?!" Slowly, Brutus lowered his offensive stance, as he cautiously made his way towards me. "You really don't remember what happened?" "Yeah, I got my ass kicked!" That was what I remembered before blacking out. "Until you got up and suddenly went feral over Slipstream." Discord explained to me, before pointing to the unconscious and beaten pegasus. I looked over and saw Slipstream out cold. "When did this happen?!" I shouted. I had no idea what was going on. I even thought it might just be a prank that some pony is trying to pull on me. "It happened about five minutes ago. It was like you were a different pony," Brutus replied. I did a double take on my friend's face and after a while, it was clear that he was telling the honest truth. I looked at every pony's faces. What they saw must have been something. Too bad I couldn't remember any of it. "Discord, Luna; we should alert Celestia about this," That just made me cringe. I felt my chances at getting into the royal guard suddenly plummet. 'What have I gotten myself into?' I thought to myself, still in disbelief how my day is turning out. So as we waited for the return of the ponies that were in charge of whether or not we get in, Brutus and Fate filled me in on what happened. "Did I really do that to Slipstream?" I still have a hard time believing what I did back at the ring. After I had been knocked to the ground, the ref called the match before looking towards me to see I had gotten up like nothing happened. The blade of my sword also went from being a normal steel color to a shiny blue. The guard had turned red and yellow. After that, the ref continued the match as I was still able to fight. Slipstream tried to make quick work of me and tried to disarm me, though instead for his efforts got the beating of his life. After the ref called the match, I refused to stop and Brutus actually had to pull me off. This was followed by me escaping and trying to attack Brutus himself which he was saved by a barrier that Fate made. After Luna magically bound my sword arm, Brutus punched my lights out. Then I woke up to the scene I saw a few minutes later. "What happened?" I asked myself. My head felt like it was smashed by a ton of bricks. Back in the present with me still sitting in sand with my sword about ten feet from me. "Now how did that get there?" I asked no one in particular, before I got up and retrieve my sword. "It fell out of your hand after I punched you," Brutus explained. I looked at the sword and much to my surprise; the shiny blue blade had somehow reverted back to its normal steel color. "This was blue?" I asked. "Yes," Fate answered. "You could also see a dark blue glow around it." "Not only that, but your mane and fur turned darker and your eyes suddenly became yellow," Brutus noted. My eyes were normally a blueish green. I don't know, I could never tell but I was damn sure they weren't yellow! "And then you went on to attack Slipstream with no mercy at sight," Fate continued where Brutus left off. "So," I said with a hollow smile. "What are my chances of getting into the guard?" "No," Brutus said. "After what we just saw, I wouldn't." "I'm sorry, Storm, but I don't think they'll give a second chance," Fate informed me sympathetically. "Goodie..." I mumbled sarcastically before I threw my sword angrily at the wall in frustration before falling on my back and lying in the sand. Brutus and Fate looked at each other, no doubt trying to think of something to calm me down. But it wouldn't matter, because I lost my only chance of becoming a Royal Guard. If I was just not let in because I wasn't good enough, that would have been fine. I could have always tried again. But I tried to kill my opponent, Slipstream and Brutus. I doubted they would let me in under any circumstances and more than likely ban me for life or maybe even imprisonment. 'Well I can't wait to tell mom...' I thought to myself in disappointment. "Storm..." Fate said, as he extended his arm at me, but I gently knocked it away. "Please, just leave me alone," was all I said, before I walked away for what felt like the last time. "Attention every pony! The announcement of the newest trainees in the royal guard are about to be announced so I recommend all of you stay here," Valiant Knight announced. "That means you too, Storm." The moment Knight mentioned my name; I stopped dead in my tracks, cringing in response by this. Just what did he have in stored for me? I couldn't read his face. It was the same deadpan expression he had shown all day. Even when I woke up after the incident a little while ago, he seemed to not show any emotion one way or the other. Whatever he had in mind for today, I knew for certain that I wouldn't like it one bit.