Friesden, the legendary sword Excalibunny in her mouth, hurried to the grand-master warrior’s room. None other than him, the legendary Fauchard, would be able to teach her how to use the equally legendary sword. She would petition him to teach her.
As the eager young student reaches the master’s room, she finds him sitting by his table deep in meditation. Whether the legendary warrior noted her approach or not he gave no sign, but continued to sit in his peaceful silence.
Friesden cautiously approached. To disturb the legendary warrior would surely not aid her in her cause to seek study under him. She crept up, and knelt before him, laying Excalibunny in between, and waited for the pleasure of the great warrior to pay attention to her.
Though Fauchard hid any sign of it, he was very much aware of the foal’s presence, and he suspected what she had come to ask him, and so whether she was aware of it or not, her first test was already begun. Fauchard continued to sit in silence in his meditation. If she truly wanted his knowledge, she would have patience.
Friesden tried to wait. The honorable fighter, the victor of a thousand battles against evil, he was honoring her by allowing her to be in his presence at all. He was most likely contemplating something beyond her experience. She would not dishonor herself now by speaking. She fought the temptation to fidget.
Many minutes passed before the master decided she had waited long enough. Slowly Excalibunny, the blade of legends, began to glow with a pale light, as it was engulfed in the unicorn’s magic. It rose and floated in the air between them, pointing skywards. “Tis a very fine weapon, you have come to possess my little pony.” spoke the unicorn at long last.
“Thank you, great warrior,” spoke Friesden, still not daring to look up. Maybe he would accept her apprenticeship to him, and maybe he would not. Until she knew for sure, she would remain in obeisance to the great and legendary warrior.
Fauchard, looking down at the young mare who was little more than a foal to his eyes, said “You must have a reason to have come to me today? Should not you be out with the others now, playing their foalish games?”
Friesden’s cheeks flush. She was still young, yes, and the grand warrior had seen it. But he asked why she was here, and she would prove honorable even to insults. It was another test. “I am here, mighty warrior, to pledge myself in apprenticeship to you,” she said, still not raising her head.
Fauchard had half a smile upon his lips, “You wish to be my apprentice? But I have no skills fit to teach a young mare such as yourself. I am a poor cook, and I have no skill with needle work. And I believe my son has already instructed you in your reading and writing and arithmetic at your stables. So tell me: what is it that a filly like yourself would wish to learn from me?”
Friesden’s cheeks flushed even more. The legendary warrior did not see any usefulness in a mare. But she would persevere. She would prove herself worthy of his instruction. “Master Fauchard,” she said, “I ask for your instruction in the martial art of the blade.” She rises up, looking him in the eyes.
As she stares him the eyes, his half smile grows full and he chuckles ever so slightly, “You have fire in your eyes, that is promising.” The wooden blade flips over in the air now, now pointing downward. “Are you certain you wish to begin this path? For she who steps on the way of the sword shall find her life only grows harder at each turn. Is that really what you want?”
“Yes,” answered Friesden firmly. If the legendary warrior thought he could scare her away by difficulty, he would not find her scared. She would do what it took to protect the good in the world.
Fauchard stands, “If this is the path you choose in life, then I shall not stand in your way.” The sword rotates so that the handle is right before Friesden, “Take your weapon and we shall begin your training at once, but know I will not make things easy for you daughter.”
“I wouldn't want you to, dad,” is her only verbal answer as she takes up the sword. He accepted her. This was already further than she thought she would get.
Fauchard was still not convinced that she really knew what she was asking for, but he saw no harm in letting her try. He didn’t expect her to make it through even one session, but no small part of him hoped that she would surprise him. Together they made their way toward the barracks where the master acquired a wooden blade of his own, and their training did begin.