//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: For I am a Guard // by StoryBrushes //------------------------------// Storm ran to the stadium, hoping she was not late. She barged in at the last second, so she was technically not late Crystal Edge stood there frowning. “Now that everypony is here, we will start by evaluating your fighting skills.” “U-um, excuse me?” Storm turned around to see the small blue unicorn again. She nervously walked over to him. “I-I actually wanted to be a doctor here.” Her yellow eyes showed fear though she tried to hide it under a tuft of blond mane. “A doctor?” Crystal mused. “May you answer a question?” “Y-yes?” “WHY DID YOU NOT SAY SO EARLIER!” he roared. The blue pony looked like she was going to cry. “Alright, go down the hall and to the left, that’s where all the doctor ponies stay. Now GET THERE RIGHT NOW!” The blue pony didn’t need telling twice. She ran down the hall as fast as she could, disappearing from sight a few moments later. “Now, any more ponies want to say something?” He was dangerously quiet. Storm was sure nopony would say anything, but then a rusty brown pony ambled up. “I want to be a weapons-smith.” she said in a raspy voice. Crystal squinted down at her, “Who the buck are you? I don’t remember you on the list.” “Then ya must need glasses, pal.” A few ponies gasped. Storm’s eyes widened. Does that pony have a death wish? The veins on Crystal’s neck bulged. “Get. Out. Go. Down. Right. Hallway. Turn. Left.” he managed to get out. “Alright then.” the earth pony sauntered down the hallway and out of sight. “Anypony else now?” Crystal asked, his left eye twitching. If the ponies where scared before, they were terrified now. Not a sound could be heard from the crowd. “Good, now everyone take a spear. I’ll show you how to hold it for the ponies who lost there brains.” Everypony grabbed a spear. Storm struggled with it. “Cry-I mean sir?” Storm asked hesitantly. “What is it rookie?” he asked angrily. “Can I use anything other than this spear?” “A good soldier can use any weapon.” he grumbled angrily. “But what if I can be better with another weapon?” Crystal sighed, “I hate training rookies. Tell you what, if you can beat a pony here in a battle with any weapon you choose, you can keep it. Who volunteers?” “I do.” All the ponies looked to where the voice came from. It came from the white earth pony who had been bothering the blue unicorn before. “I volunteer.” “Alright, what’s you weapon grey pony?” “Clouds.” Crystal looked at her angrily, “I don’t like jokes.” “I’m serious.” Crystal squinted at her then looked incredulous, “Great Celestia, you’re serious. Alright. Cloud skipper!” The white pegasus flew over. “Yes sir!” “Gather as many storm clouds as you weaklings can and bring them over.” he ordered. “Sir, is that not incredibly dangerous?” “It’s this pony who’s risking their life.” he said, pointing at Storm, “Now, GO DO IT! STOP DAWDLING!” Cloud Skipper looked at Storm then flew and became a yellow streak in the sky. “While we wait, I want everyone to do eighty push-ups or if you’re a pegasus, wing-ups!” Storm went down to start the wing-ups but was stopped by Crystal. “Not you. Only a featherbrain purposely gets tired before a fight. Or a terrible guard.” Storm got up and stayed silent. What have I gotten myself into? “I’m back, sir.” Cloud Skipper yelled. A few other pegasus guards flew behind him, each holding stormy grey clouds. Each of them placed their clouds a few feet above Crystal and Storm then flew off, presumedly to another training place. “Are you sure about this? Clouds are hard and unpredictable to use so nopony uses them in the Guard, even though they are powerful.” Storm glared at him with stormy blue eyes, “I don’t lose.” Crystal sighed and grabbed a cruel looking barbed spear. When he caught Storm looking he laughed. “Don’t worry, this won’t hurt too much. It’s enchanted so that it won’t pierce flanks though it can still create nasty bruises. White pony.” “I’m Diamond Point.” “This is the weapon you want to use?” “Sure.” Storm gulped nervously but got ready to fight. “Three. Two. One...” Then both of them charged. Almost right away, Storm was hit by the spear. She cried out as she was flung back a few feet. Rubbing her new bruise, she flew up high and gathered all the storm clouds. Diamond pulled a knife hidden at the back of his spear and threw it at her. Not wanting another bruise, she summoned a bolt of lightning from the cloud and the knife melted. Enraged, Diamond threw the spear at her. Storm melted it with ease. I should end this now. I don't want to spend a week in the healing room. Storm gathered the storm clouds in a circle and made them constantly shoot lightning, singing Diamond's mane. Diamond looked scared for a moment and grabbed the closest thing next to her and threw it at Storm. Everything happened in slow motion. The huge ax from before was thrown at Storm and she knew that it would kill her. Crystal hollered, "THAT COULD KILL HER, FEATHERBRAIN!" Storm’s eyes grew wide and then the world exploded in fire and light. **************************************************************************************************** Crystal looked at her in fear. All the ponies gaped at her. There was a pool of white-hot metal sizzling on the ground. Diamond had fainted. “Excuse me, I’ll be back.” Crystal spoke quietly. He picked up Diamond and went down the hallway. “What happened?” Storm asked, eyes wide. Nopony said anything until the rusty brown pony came down from the hallway. “Ya don’t remember what happened kid?” “What do you mean?” I have a bad feeling about this. “Search your mind, kid. What do ya remember?” Storm searched her head for any memory and then it came rushing back to her. The huge ax from before was thrown at Storm and she knew that it would kill her. Storm’s eyes grew wide. She felt her old scars on her hoof, cheek, and wing, tingle. Stretching her hoof out, she concentrated all the energy in her body to a single point and fired. Her scars lit up and her eyes glimmered. A pure bolt of lightning flew from her hoof as the ax melted. Diamond fainted in fear as Storm started plummeting to the ground... “Oh...” Storm looked around at all the ponies who seemed to afraid to get within a foot to her. Except the rusty pony, she just stood there, looking at her inquisitively. Just then Crystal Edge came back, “Come with me.” He did not turn back to check if he was following her. Storm could not help but notice his aura held a large knife. Buck. I’m so screwed...