"Take that!" a blue unicorn shouted. She lifted up a wooden sword and crashed it down upon a dummy's head, causing the sword to scatter splinters everywhere. However, the dummy's head only had a dent in it.
A purple dragon began to cheer, only to be cut off by a stern look from a light brown colored pony.
"You need to control your power and focus it at one point, Trixie." the elderly pony remarked while shifting his gaze towards the panting mare.
"But Master Greenhooves, I did do that." Trixie explained.
"Then why is the dummy still in one piece?" he questioned.
The mare groaned in frustration and threw the broken sword on the ground, "I don't have time for this! I need to get going if I'm ever getting to Canterlot!" she shouted.
"You wouldn't even stand a chance against the other warriors." Greenhooves informed while getting onto his hooves.
"I have to agree Trixie," the dragon piped up, "Those other warriors probably trained their entire lives while you've only trained for three days." he explained.
"Not helping Spike." Trixie grumbled.
"If you want to get going on your journey, then fight Spike." the elderly pony stated.
The two students looked at him in shock.
"M-me?" Spike asked.
"You are one of my top students. Trixie can learn a lot from you." Green informed.
Trixie smiled and went to get a wooden sword from a wall. The still stunned Spike took a deep breath and trotted to the same wall, quickly choosing a sword made out of oak wood and taking his position. However the blue mare was still at the wall, trying to decide weather to get a sword made out of willow or jungle wood.
"Just pick a sword already." Spike groaned.
Trixie rolled her eyes, but picked up the sword made out of jungle wood and quickly took her position.
"Begin." their master commanded.
The unicorn let out a roar and charged at the dragon. However, Spike dodged and slammed his wooden blade into her chest. Trixie stumbled back, a hoof clutching her stomach. Seeing a chance to end this, the dragon jumped up into the air and swung his blade at the mare's chest. Seeing what he was planing, Trixie tightened her grip and waked her blade across his left leg. Spike let out a bellow in pain before stumbling after the mare. The blue unicorn saw victory flash before her eyes. Grinning, she lifted up her sword and slammed it down upon the dragon's head, hard.
Crying out in pain, Spike stumbled back in pain. However, when he placed a paw over the spot Trixie's blade smashed him, he felt something sticky. When he moved his claw in front of his face, the dragon saw that it was covered in blood. Now a new kind of anger boiled in his veins as he gripped his sword tighter. Letting out a battle cry, Spike charged at Trixie. Before she could deflect his move with her sword, the blade of his sword struck her stomach again. This time even harder.
Trixie doubled over, wheezing from the lack of air in her lungs. Seeing this, Greenhooves called for his granddaughter.
Seeing what he had done, Spike dropped his wooden sword and went over to Trixie.
"I'm so sorry." Spike whispered, trying to help his opponent stand.
"G-guess I s-still need some practice." Trixie replied, hissing in between breaths before blacking out due to the pain.
"There we go." a cream colored mare with a rose on her flank said.
Spike, Greenhooves, and the mare were in a small room lit with many candles. In the middle of the room was Trixie who was laying on a bamboo mat. The unicorn's stomach was covered in a white cream and a glass of water laid by her side.
"Thank you Roseluck." the elder said.
The mare bowed, "It was my pleasure, grandfather."
"Trixie will be able to start her journey to claim the Golden Throne, right?" Spike asked.
"Only if you go with her." Greenhooves stated. Then he trotted out the door, leaving his granddaughter and students behind.
"Ugh."
The sound of their fallen companion made Roseluck and Spike shift their gaze to the now awoken Trixie. Quickly, Rose took the glass of water and gave it to the unicorn who gladly took a couple of sips.
"Guess what!" the dragon exclaimed happily.
Trixie raised an eyebrow, "What?" she questioned.
"Master Greenhooves is allowing you to go on your journey! And I get to come with you!" Spike announced.
The unicorn's ears perked up as she heard this. Then, a small smile crept upon her face. Finally, her dream is becoming true.
Suddenly, Greenhooves trotted back into the room. In his hooves where two long boxes.
"Every warrior needs a great weapon." he simply stated before handing the two boxes to Trixie and Spike.
"Thank you." Spike thanked before Trixie and he began to open their gifts.
The blue unicorn let out a gasp in disbelief as she lifted a sword from her box. The hilt and guard were a pearly white, and the blade was slightly curved and was a crystal blue. The pommel had a blueish white color and in the middle of it was a carving of a snowflake.
"Thank you Master Greenhooves." Trixie said in awe as she picked up a leather sheath from the box as well.
"No way." Spike announced. Making the other ponies in the room shift their gaze to him.
The dragon was holding a battle axe. The neck was made of thick jungle wood, and the blade was an emerald green. In the middle of the blade was a carving of a fire symbol.
"Grandfather?" Roseluck whispered. After seeing Trixie and Spike getting the chance to embark on a journey, there was something she needed to ask her grandfather.
"Hmm?"
"C-can I go with them? I know I'm no warrior, but I am a great healer and-"
Greenhooves held up a hoof and smiled at the nervous mare, "Are you sure of this?"
Roseluck nodded, a determined look on her face.
"But what of your sick mother?"
"She'll have you! Plus, there are many healers in this village."
"You don't even know how to fight."
"Trixie and Spike will protect me."
"How will you be so sure?"
"Because they learned from the best teacher."
Greenhooves thought for a moment. From the day she turned four, his granddaughter always wanted to go out and explore this world. However, there are many dangers out there and he just didn't know what he would do if something happened to Roseluck.
Once he made his decision, the elder pony smiled at his daughter and pulled her into an embrace. Causing his students to give him confused glances.
"You win." Greenhooves whispered into her ear.
Once he let go, Greenhooves turned to his students and smiled, "My granddaughter will be joining you on your quest." he announced before trotting towards the door, "So get going, for your adventure awaits."