I let out a loud yawn that woke Crest from his slumber. It’s been a week since I arrived and getting used to not having meat in my diet is difficult to say the least. Sure Cinder Hound meat, a staple of military diet in the Firelands, isn’t the best. Actually, Cinder Hound is some of the worst food I’ve ever had. Some of the most “amusing” food I’ve has was on the front lines though. From chasing warp burgers, trying to remember not to wonder what’s in the mystery meat, and cooking scorpions bigger than you. Scorpions that big are basically poisonous lobsters that walk on land and feed twelve. Just don’t eat the tail, be sure to drain poison from the rest of it, and eat with a clean knife.
After Princess, sorry, Celestia ordered some bolts of silk for me I began to sew extra clothes for myself. I enjoyed adding my own flair of magic to each shirt and pair of pants. I’ve mostly just literally woven in pigments with magic, but some simple enchanted inlays are nice as well.
A hard knock came on my chamber door. “Excuse me Val,” came a voice, “are you decent?”
“Give me one moment,” I got out of bed and slipped on a pair of pants. “All clear now.” I gave a wave of my hand, focusing on the energy in the air, to unlock the door. It was a simple utility spell and I remember learning plenty of little tricks like locking doors or lighting candles to simplify things during late night study sessions.
A red pegasus came inside after hearing the latch flip. Celestia appointed her to be my assistant while I got used to things. “I have a message for you Val,” she told me as she brought a scroll to my desk, residing where the old table used to be. “It’s from Twilight Sparkle in Ponyville.”
“Thank you Ruby, is there anything on the agenda for today?”
“Yes,” she pulled a notepad out of her saddlebags, “we need to sort your books onto the shelves today. Princess Celestia has requested you oversee the trainees as they practice. And last on today’s schedule, you’re to return Discoveries in Modern Magic, Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide, The Biography of Star Swirl the Bearded, and Predictions and Prophecies to the Royal Archives before sundown.” She returned the notepad to her saddlebags, exchanging it with a newspaper that she calmly placed on my desk. “And here is your copy of the Manehattan Times.”
I walked over to my desk and pulled out a vial of blue liquid. “Thank you, is there anything else?” I fastened it to an injector and jabbed my arm with it.
Ruby winced, “you also missed breakfast and somepony is bringing something up for you.” I knew she didn’t have a high threshold for blood or pain, but I needed some mana every day. Injecting it was far simpler than cutting myself up, exchanging my health for magic.
I grabbed a tuft of cotton and bandage right after removing the needle. “I’m sorry Ruby, but you know I need some fresh magic in my body every day.”
“Yes,” she replied grimly, “and this is so much better than taking a knife to your arm. Why couldn’t you just drink those vials?”
“They’re carefully measured and drinking them will make me loose just enough to cut my dose.” I glanced away from Ruby, “I wish I didn’t need it. It isn’t easy, being so dependent on something like this.”
“So you’ve said since I first saw you jab that knife,” she pointed a hoof at the dagger on my desk, “into your arm.”
“I know, but I hope Miss Sparkle can help me adjust.”
“I do have a question about that mana stuff though,” Ruby fidgeted. “Why is such a poisonous thing good for you?”
I chuckled. “Ruby, my studies into pony biology may say that mana is a deadly poison to you. Pony bodies just can’t interpret the magic and so the two conflict until the weaker one gives out. I’m a little different though, I need it on more than a psychological level. My biology screams for it.”
“Care to explain that?”
“Way back before I was born we, the Sin’dorei, had built a powerful magical site called the Sunwell. Back then, we called ourselves the Quel’dorei, the highborne. Over our history we basked in the power of the Sunwell at least until it was destroyed by Prince Arthas. When that happened, we worked our hardest to find a new magical source to fill our need for magic. By that point we realized it was part of our biology and we needed a new source. We found our salvation in draining magic from other creatures, demons were one of the best sources.”
“You were a specialist in summoning demons right?”
“No, though I was good at it. I played with fire and practiced shadow magic.” I chuckled. “Listen to me trying to shrug it off, like I was only a child.”
Ruby gave me a humble smile. “That’s quite alright, but did your people get the Sunwell back?”
“Yes we did but soldiers on the front lines against Arthas and all of Azeroth’s other foes still had to have their share of energy. Some clever engineers figured out the injectors that made it a lot easier for alchemists to make perfect sized doses using fewer materials.”
“I really do wish for the best Val.”
“Well, I’m good with theory so I hope Miss Sparkle can help me with the practice. How long do I have before I inspect the recruits?”
“About four hours, plenty of time for a bite to eat and to return the books.”
I nodded. “You’re always on top of things Ruby, thank you so much.”
One bite to eat and bath later…
With a little work last night, I made a good enough satchel. It’s not up to my usual standards but with no serious materials, I had to cut corners. Without too much trouble, I was carrying the books back to the Archives. It felt so weird having books, I didn’t personally own, but I’d have to get used to that now.
“Ah,” came the voice of a white unicorn behind me, “did you enjoy Discoveries in Modern Magic?”
“Yes Quill, I also found Predictions and Prophecies to be rather entertaining.” Quill and I had always enjoyed talking about whatever I was returning. He spent more time reading than doing his job; I could sympathize.
“Did you find anything curious in there?”
“Actually I did, about a flame more fierce than the sun quelling the hearts of those it reaches. I’m a little curious about its actual definition of quell.”
“Well,” he started to lead me along so I could return the books. “That’s a prophecy for you. What bothers me about that one is the ‘flame more fierce than the sun’ part of that one. I mean, that means-”
“It’s a prophecy Quill,” I said with an assuring tone, “they’re meant to be full of symbolism and have room for interpretation. Personally, I don’t really put stock in prophecies. I was actually pretty interested in Star Swirl the Bearded.”
“I know, by the way how did you get past the guards and the barred doorway protecting the Star Swirl Wing? Nopony let you in, but there you were in the morning.”
“A mage’s blink spell is nearly silent, and a careful warlock can be just as quiet. I marked the ground inside the wing with a little help and slipped away so I could reach my target without being seen or heard.”
“That’s amazing Val. You’ve got to teach me that trick.”
“I’d rather not, don’t want to start you down a dark path of death and destruction. Quill, you’re still pure. You’re to be admired for your honesty and dedication.” I checked my pocket watch, a simple keepsake. “Oh, I’ve got to run Quill; Princess Celestia wanted me to keep an eye on the rookies.” I ran off to the training yard, if I wasn’t stopped, I would be out of breath but not late.
*****
“Alright recruits,” rang the voice of their instructor, “Val may be a wizard, but that doesn’t mean he’s not physical. He’s seen more combat than anypony in Equestria, so Princess Celestia has asked him to observe us this afternoon.”
I was running at a steady pace for the training yard and I could already hear the yammering about how I was a skilled warrior and could probably wrestle some big creature to the ground with my bare hands. I’m not very strong physically and I make up for it by being smart and tough. A little short of breath I rounded the corner seeing the recruits at attention.
“Shall we begin then Val?”
I simply nodded, hiding being short of breath. I still had Miss Sparkle’s letter to read, I was hoping to get to it before heading out here. If nobody’s watching, I might be able to read it on the yard.
The recruits were worked hard by their instructor, and it showed in everything they did. Drill after drill, maneuver after maneuver, it pushed them to their limits and I simply observed their progress.
After a few minutes to compose myself, I stepped forward. “That’s enough for the moment, everyone front and center.” The recruits were eager to prove themselves as they took line before me. I examined them, pacing and observing their reactions. My eyes reached a pegasus that was badly out of breath. “What’s your name recruit?”
The recruit gulped hard but stepped forward, “Wing Shear sir!”
“Wing Shear,” I hardened my tone, proving I was the one in charge. “What has your instructor told you all about me?”
Wing Shear hesitated, “permission to speak freely sir?”
I gave him a smile, “naturally Wing Shear. I have to know what expectations you have.”
“Sorry sir-”
“Don’t apologize, a good friend told me it was a sign of weakness.”
He nodded nervously. “We were told that you were a skilled warrior, the kind we must all aspire to be like.”
I gave him a skeptical look. “You cannot fathom how wrong your instructor has been about me being a mere warrior. It takes more than brute force to be a real soldier. You also need a level head and the ability to adjust to the circumstances at hand. I have fought on the frontlines on my fair share of wars, but the way I still stand here is innovation and the ability to make my own skills flexible.”
Every pair of eyes was focused on me; even the instructor knew a speech when he heard one.
“My knowledge of curses and afflictions brought me the ability to weaken or exhaust my foes before they can even reach me.” I shot the instructor with a glare of the purist malice I could muster, causing him to quake in fear. “I learned how to strike fear through no more than a look.” I looked back to the very nervous recruit with a pleasant smile on my face. “Wing Shear,” there was no anger anymore. My voice was unnaturally calm. “I expect to see you redoubling your efforts understood?”
“Yes sir,” he saluted me, every other recruit followed in nearly the blink of an eye.
“Regardless of if you make the cut to be a guard, instructor, soldier, whatever, there is one thing you have to learn here. Training like this does more than just drill a pattern into your mind; it builds a foundation of discipline that will improve your life. If you become a soldier for Equestria, be ready for a lot of harsh orders and disrespectful tones from veterans. You’ll be new, a rookie, it just means you’ve yet to prove yourself. The kind of soldier I am is one who knows about laying siege to a fortress, storming an enemy citadel, even igniting my enemies with my anger and fury.” I clenched my fist tight, letting wisps of fire escape between my fingers.
“There will be times when your physical strength is worthless, meaning you will have to rely on your brains.” The instructor was starting to come around from my glare; I had to wrap my lecture up soon. “Through this physical training you are building the foundation of your future, regardless of where it leads you. Remember the discipline helps make you a better you.”
“Sir,” exclaimed all the recruits in unison.
“That is all,” I turned my back on them and strode back to where I was observing, “return to your drills.”
After recomposing himself, the instructor saw his recruits working harder than ever. “Beg pardon sir, but how did you get them to work like that?”
“I told them what they needed to know. This is just the beginning, they need discipline and they’ll get it through time and practice like these drills. I’m also not a physical contact soldier; I have demons fight for me.”
“I should’ve known," he scoffed, "you’re a wizard through and through.”
“I’m sorry but not every soldier wears armor,” I sighed. “You have to understand that these recruits aren’t soldiers. In fact, you aren’t even a real soldier. Every soldier that walks onto a battlefield knows it may be their day to die.”
“But I hold rank and-”
“Does that make you think you can command anyone? I fought and killed but rarely saw promotion. The interesting thing is because I was willing to do some missions that made me seem like I could be discarded I gained a reputation of always getting the job done. Whenever I volunteered for something, there were others willing to fight, even if it was just a glorified suicide mission. I never lost a single comrade until we fought something that drove us to the brink of madness.”
“And then?”
“We couldn’t save everyone, but those were fights I took charge in. I’ve lost plenty of good friends in the trenches and on the front lines. My war ended before that monster though. We didn’t know what we uncovered until it was too late. The Old Gods are a force to be reckoned with, that’s what I walked away from that fight knowing.”
The instructor just looked at me after I finished. He was taken aback by my honesty. To be honest I wanted him to say something, but I continued to watch the recruits until I caught Ruby in my periphery.
“Val,” she said with a sigh, “we still need to organize your things.”
I nodded, “carry on out here. Keep them on top of things, there’s plenty of potential.” I turned on my heel and let Ruby lead me through the castle.
“Nearly everything is in your room, but some items are being troublesome. We need you to take them up to your quarters. I’ll help with books that are left though.”
“This would take forever without you Ruby.”
“I hope you’ve read your letter,” she replied off handedly. Scratch that, off hoofedly I think works in this case. At any rate, it’ll take some getting used to.
“I haven’t had the time to Ruby, what’s so important about it though?”
“You should always be prompt when reading your mail. In case you have to reply to it.”
We shuffled off to the edge of the hallway, allowing others to pass while I undid the wax seal with a careful flicker of green fire.
Dear Val,
As you should be aware, I am Twilight Sparkle. Princess Celestia asked me to help you adjust to the magic in our world. I’ll be arriving in Canterlot this evening to meet with you and discuss our lessons. Please be in the courtyard at eight o’clock tonight so we can talk over dinner.
Twilight Sparkle
“I suppose we have less time than ever Ruby,” I said as I pocketed the letter. “I’ll need to be in the courtyard by eight. The Everflame may slow us down so we’ll need to get busy.” She nodded and we rushed off.
I remained focused on the flaming orbs hovering close to my head as we carefully went up to my quarters. I studied quite a few things during every one of my stays in Dalaran. Everflame was one of my more recent experiments, a movable flame that was very luminescent and cool to the touch. This kind of creation would be easy for any fire mage, not an easy feat for someone practicing what I had. Sadly, I could not cool it to the point where you could manipulate it with your bare hands and my treated gloves were ironically in my quarters. In my bag were several samples of magical residue and samples of metals. I also sported a new bag on my back, filled to the brim with plants from Azeroth and Draenor.
“You mentioned alchemy once right Val,” Ruby’s saddlebags were filled with my personal journals.
“Yes, I specialized in transmutations. Things like iron to gold. But I also brewed numerous kinds of elixirs and tonics.”
“So you’re part soldier, part chemist, and part tailor?”
“Well, chemistry doesn’t have too much to do with transmutations, but I do know enough to notice when I did something correctly. I do know my way around a needle though. I could weave just about anything, from a patch job so you could look presentable after months of trench warfare to magic carpets that allowed you to fly great distances.”
“Can you still do something like make one of those magic carpets? It could save so much work for ponies who want to travel great distances.”
“I would need to experiment with the fabrics we can get. For example, I would have to barrage silk with specific kinds of magic to even give it a chance of being powerful enough to hold flying enchantments. I’d have to start from scratch and even then, the sheer cost of materials and the incantations to create them would make them impractical for anyone save the nobility.”
Ruby was still interested; I could see it in her eyes. It was the fact that she saw an answer to something, but knew it would be far from helpful until I figured out how to make it easier. “So you’d want to help everypony instead of permit something to be only in the hooves of the upper class right?”
“If I made cheaper ones then I’d have to worry about the rate of degradation of the enchantments on the carpets themselves. I would hate for someone to be in midflight and have the enchantment break.” We shared a grim look. “Better everyone wait until I figure it out.”
“I suppose so, and that means we pegasi still rule the skies.”
“As I recall you said pegasi can walk on clouds right?”
Ruby nodded. “We can also manipulate the weather. I can’t but my husband can,” she added in a chipper tone.
“Well, I’ve never really found something capable of doing either of those without considerable power backing it up. It’s good to be special; it helps define a people and their culture.”
*****
Packing things up was easy, unpacking them was a different story. We managed to get most of what remained to my room; most of it even got homes on shelves. When it became seven fifty-five, I started to worry. There was no way for me to rush down this tower’s stairs and out to the courtyard without a few magic tricks I just didn’t know. I looked over to the wall and saw a violet and turquoise rug rolled up and leaned against a bookcase. Would it still work? “Give me some space Ruby, I have five minutes to get to the courtyard and I’m not sure if this one can still fly.”
I pulled out the carpet from between bookshelves and Ruby gave me enough space to roll it out. Just pressing my hand to the carpet’s center told me everything; I should be good for a short trip. If I can’t make it all the way, I can at least get close to the ground. With a wave of my hand, the latch on the window opened, allowing the breeze to swing the large window open.
“Are you sure about this Val?” Ruby’s hesitation was understandable. It’s been nearly two years since I rode a carpet and this was the last one I made. If it was on its “last legs” then all my other ones were just rugs with carefully stitched, but otherwise useless, enchantments now.
“I’m willing to risk it Ruby, I have to make a good first impression and be on time.” I stepped onto the carpet and focused all of my magic to the carpet’s enchantments. They were weak, crying out for me to stop. Just a few minutes, I thought to the carpet. If you can make it, I’ll do my best to get you back together. It sounds silly I know, but I’ve made enough carpets to know they like hearing you respect them, or at least the enchantments do. I sighed, quieting my mind, and kneeled down as the carpet picked up and whisked me out the window.
“Crest,” Ruby looked to the napping phoenix, “one of these days something will kill him and he won’t be getting up.”
*****
Twilight looked around in the courtyard outside the palace; she knew Val would stand out and that it was nearly eight. What was completely unexpected was exactly what she was looking for: everypony turning to stare at a large carpet soaring down from one of the castle’s towers. The sunset managed to catch it just perfectly from where she was standing.