//------------------------------//
// 135 
// Story: My Little Fortress: Dawnpick 
// by Paaaad 
//------------------------------//

Friesden walks into the barracks, Excalibunny in her mouth. The bruises from yesterday had not yet faded, but she bore the pain proudly. She wouldn't give up now. She had been accepted, and nothing her father, her tutor, the legendary warrior Fauchard, could do would make her quit.

As Friesden sets eyes upon Fauchard he stands there with a pair of large saddlebags full to bursting, with what she could only guess. At his side was not a training axe, but his trusty steel blade. “You decided to come back for more. Good. Today, we are going to start with a short walk. Take one of the bags and follow me,” instructs Fauchard, taking one of the bags onto his back and leading the way.

Friesden lifts up one of the bags and puts it on, before taking up Excalibunny again and following. What her mentor had planned now, she couldn't guess, but experience told her it would be hard. But no matter what, she would do it.

Fauchard leads the mare toward the newly repaired drawbridge at the edge of town. “Just a bit farther,” he says as they reach the point furthest from home that Friesden had ever been.

“Where are we going?” asked the pegasus as she continued to follow her master. She wasn't scared. Just curious.

“You’ll see soon,” is the only answer the old stallion gives. After only a 15 minute walk down the road away from the town walls they reach a small flowered meadow. Fauchard stops, looks around and says, “Yes, this is the place.” He takes out a large blanket from his saddlebag and places it on the ground and takes a seat.

Friesden is confused at this, and stays standing. “What are we doing here?” she eventually asks.

Fauchard inhales deeply and exhales completely before beginning to answer. “We are here to do things, one we are here to rest our bodies, after the hard training they did yesterday, and we are here to train. Does that confuse you?”

“To rest?” she continues to inquire. “But...I...I thought we would be doing more of what we did yesterday...” The legendary warrior was trying to confuse her with this. But Friesden couldn't help it - she was confused.

Fauchard lies on his back and begins to watch the clouds, “Friesden, open your saddlebag, perhaps then you will begin to understand why we are here.”

Friesden promptly opens the saddlebags, looking within. Within them she finds only three hoof made books of fine quality. She takes the largest one out, still confused, and opens it up.Inside she sees that it seems to be nothing more than a large book of poems with detailed illustrations. “Poems? I still...I still don’t understand...”

Fauchard takes his time in responding. “There is also a book of history, and one of the stories Glaive is fond of. Friesden, if I teach you only one thing, it would be this. A warrior needs more than a shape blade, and a hard body, he also needs a strong mind, and a mind needs books, like a sword needs a whetstone. We will not work our bodies everyday, nor will we work our minds each day either. Focus too much on one, and you will only cause yourself harm. When you work one, give it your all, but then let it rest. This is how you grow.”

Friesden understood...at least, she thought she did. She nodded, and carefully holding the book of poetry, she began to read. If her master, if her father, told her this would help...then surely it would.

The duo spend the rest of the day sitting in that meadow. Fauchard had brought some food and drink for them to share, and they spent the day reading, discussing, and meditating on the works from the book of poetry. As it neared nightfall the master packed up their belongings and the two ponies headed home. Tomorrow would be another day of physical training, but both felt rested and ready for it.