//------------------------------// // Lost Innocence [3] // Story: Stories in Stone, Lost Empire // by TDR //------------------------------// Stories in Stone Lost Empire by TDR Lost Innocence The colt sighed, shifting uncomfortably in the heavy padded armor he wore. The unicorn stallion standing across from him looked as if he would rather be anywhere else, and the colt couldn't blame him. Here he was being asked to spar with a pony half his age in front of his commander. Win or lose, it would be a bad day for the unicorn. The colt shifts his hoof, tracing the large ring on the end of his training swords grip. His Ma had designed the blade for him since he didn't have magic, the ring was wide enough for his hoof to fit through, and the grip was long enough that he could easily switch which side he was holding or even grip the ring in his teeth. His uncle said it looked like a big throwing dagger he had seen used called a “kunai” or something like that. The colt exhales, bouncing on his hooves and limbering up a little more. This wasn't his first spar, though it was the first real one he had against somepony who wasn't directly involved in his training. “You sure about this sir? I don't want to hurt the colt.” the mottled blue and red unicorn mutters glancing back at a gray unicorn standing on the sidelines. An orange unicorn mare with long silver hair sits next to him one hoof on a medical bag. “I'm sure Corporal. Don't hold back. Pip, you ready?” the unicorn questions. The white and brown colt nods shifting his training sword up to his mouth. “Yah, da, anytime now.” Pip states flicking his tail. The unicorn sighs leveling a wooden training sword before glancing back at his commander nervously. The large training room they were in was by no means crowded, though there were a number of members of the 42nd utilizing the enclosed gym for their own practices. Most were pointedly trying to ignore the General and the colt with him, though a couple were watching the spar with interest. Pip bites down on the blade grip looking up at the unicorn that was nearly a head and a half taller than he was. Even at sixteen Pip was rather short, living up to his full name of Pipsqueak. His body still had a bit of the gangliness of coming of age with it, though he knew he was never going to be as tall a pony as his Da and definitely not as tall as Ma, though there were very few ponies that were as tall as she was. Really, only aunt Celestia was taller, though uncle Rhede came close. His ears perked, hearing the strains of singing from a music box someone had playing on the other side of the gym. He flattens his ears, trying to ignore distractions, though a drum heavy song had come up and he couldn't help tap a hoof to it. “Begin.” The unicorn had seen Pip starting to tap his hoof and shifted himself to deal with a an attack once the song began in earnest. Pip was darting across the floor one beat from the start of the proper rhythm, moving counter productive to the music and throwing off the unicorn's expectations as he closed the distance. “Buddy you're a colt make a big noise Playin' in the street gonna be a big stallion some day You got mud on yo' face You big disgrace Kickin' your can all over the place Singin'” Pip went low, his legs splaying out as he practically slid under the blow aimed at his chest. He could feel the unicorns training sword whisk through his mane. He spat out his own blade lifting a hoof to slide into the ring, spinning the wooden sword towards his opponent. “We will we will rock you We will we will rock you” The unicorn raised a shield blocking the shot, he was clearly not expecting that sort of speed from an earth pony, though he quickly adjusted and tuned out the beat of the song as well. Pip was used to dealing with someone who used shields and was already spinning away with his weapon as it bounced off the barrier. He reared up on his back legs, slipping the blade from his hoof and gripping it in his teeth, jerking his head to knock aside a strike from the unicorn. “Buddy you're a young colt hard colt Shoutin' in the street gonna take on the world some day You got blood on yo' face You big disgrace Wavin' your banner all over the place.” The unicorn steps back, barely avoiding a hoof strike by the smaller pony. His commanders words of don't hold back finally sinking in that he was speaking to both of them. Even with the training armor they both wore the strikes the colt was attempting were going to hurt if they hit. Though the young pony was small the muscles under his patchwork coat were easily noticed when he burst into action. The unicorn growls lightly leveling the wooden sword before him with his magic, finally realizing he needed to get serious. “We will we will rock you (Sing it!) We will we will rock you” Pip dodged aside feeling the tingle of the stun bolt fired by the unicorn pass too close to him for comfort. He jerks his head throwing the blade at the unicorns face charging in behind the flying weapon. The unicorn raises a shield from the sudden charge, the sword clacking off of it though Pip had already changed his angle and slipped alongside of the shield to the Colonels’ side past the shield. His tail flicks back hooking about the ring and pulling the deflected weapon along with him. The small earth pony plants his fore hooves spinning around to lash out with his weapon and rear hooves at the side of the surprised unicorn. “Buddy you're an old horse poor, horse Pleadin' with your eyes gonna make you some peace some day You got mud on your face You big disgrace Somebody better put you back into your place.” Pip's eyes widen as his hooves connect with the air and the unicorn vanishes with a light popping sound. He whirls in place rolling to the side as the pony drops down from above hooves slamming into the spot where he had been. “We will we will rock you (Sing it!) We will we will rock you” Pip turns to face the unicorn only for the pony to vanish again reappearing next to him with a blink. (Everybody) We will we will rock you We will we will rock you (Alright) The music suddenly turns to a guitar wail as Pip brings his blade around only to have it bounce off a shield. He jumps to the side though not fast enough to avoid a solid impact of wood against his armored side sending him tumbling across the mat. He rolled with the blow wincing in the knowledge it was gonna bruise, but at least the armor soaked up most of the blow and the Guard had finally gotten serious. “Alright stop.” Jer'rahd shouts watching both of the ponies freeze in place along with a number of other ponies training who reacted to the sound of their commander’s voice before realizing he was shouting at others. Old habits from the 42nd's training were hard to shake. Pip pants a bit, shaking off the impact before nodding to the unicorn on the mat and moving to pick up his blade again. “Alright tell me what you did wrong.” “As should have expected a teleporter when he started using spells and shields at tha same time. Shouldn't have pressed my attack an not gave away any tricks before ah saw an opening. Ah shouldn't have fallen into the beat with the music.” Pip states. “The first is a bit much to expect anyone to know, though you are right that you should have tested him a little more before trying something that would leave as big an opening as you did.” Jer'rahd smiles. “Still you did better than I expected against a combat trained unicorn.” Pip laughs lightly. “Still lost.” “If it bothers you that much, don't next time.” Jer'rahd nods. “Corporal you need a bit of work too, don't think I didn't notice your hesitation at first. That sort of thing can get you killed. It doesn't matter who or what your opponent is, you go after them as if they are the worst threat you have ever faced. You think a changeling won't try to hide as a colt or filly so it can take advantage of a precived weakness. If somethings coming after you, I don't care if it looks like your mare friend you take it down and ask it questions later if it's still breathing. Understand?” “Yes sir!” “Good, I understand it will not always be as easy to tell friend from foe, but when you identify the target you put it down.” Jer'rahd sighs. “Alright Pip, lets get the armor off of you. Orange, you mind checking on your little brother?” “I wouldn't need to if you didn't put him through the ringer all the time, Jer'rahd.” the mare scoffs trotting closer to the colt her magic pulling up the side of the training armor allowing her to look over the spot he was hit. It also exposed his cutie mark, a silvery circle shield with a globe map in the center of it with Equestra on the facing side. “Jeez sis I'm fine, s'why there's padding.” Pip grumbles as Orange checks him over. Orange sighs letting the armor fall back over his side. “It'll bruise, though there's nothing else wrong with him aside being a stubborn fool. Just like you Jer'rahd, I'm letting you tell Luna though.” Orange chuckles. Orange Danish had grown up to be a rather pretty petite mare, with a cutie mark that at first looked like a bowl and spoon though on closer inspection it could very well be a mortar and pestle. Her orange fur was more of a cream coloration and her long silvery hair was done up so that it fell over half her face hiding it and the burn scars covering her face and most of her neck. Despite her scars quite a number of the guards were more than willing to to flirt with her and seek her affections, that number only dropped slightly when Jer'rahd put a stallion, who was a little too forward with his intentions through a wall. Related by blood or not Jer'rahd still treated her like his and Luna's daughter even if she didn't fully return the sentiment. At twenty five she was already an accomplished doctor though she had joined the Guard regiment as a 'in house doctor' rather than go to work at a Major horsepital. She claimed that she felt she owed Jer'rahd and Luna for their help in getting to where she was, despite the pair of them denying she owed them anything. While she considered the others the pair had adopted as siblings, she still didn't refer to Luna or Jer'rahd as her parents like the other three did. “Sure, throw me under the cart why don't you.”Jer'rahd grumbles with a smirk. A few chuckles draw his attention upward to the gathered ponies though he offers a small shake of his head in return. “Laugh all you want, but those of you who have children probably remember what your mare friend or wife was like when she was with foal.” There were a few nods and a couple of shouts of encouragement. “Yes, well consider that, now add in that Luna's a goddess and this is our first, and you can see why I'm worried.” Jer'rahd chuckles getting a few more laughs. “I don't need her thinking I'm letting Pip get hurt too.” “Actually Da... I think I'm up for another go or two. Got a better idea of what tah deal with now.” Pip states stretching a little. “S'ides she did tell us we couldn't practice in the castle anymore.” “You sure?” “Ya.” “Corporal?” “If he's up for it sir.” “Alright, one more round. Your mother will be raising the moon soon and she'll probably want to check on you to make sure you survived the day with me.” Jer'rahd states as Orange grumbles about her adoptive family being masochists. “Don't tax yourself too much Pip, You've still got a few years of school yet before you can start training for the Guard in earnest. No need to act like you're preparing for a crusade.”