//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8 
// Story: The One 
// by Kolective 
//------------------------------//

It was about a week after the cyberpony incident. We had a series of letters back and forth between Twilight and Princess Celestia. She had picked up on rumors about a mad scientist somewhere in Equestria, and determined this mad scientist to be the source of the cyberponies. No more had shown up, but Princess Celestia had warned us specifically that this might simply be to upgrade the cyberponies, and that I should train with the guards to help with my sword skills, just in case it happens again. Fluttershy was quiet after that, not more shy, but a lot less talkative, which is saying something. She doesn't talk a whole lot normally.

The others were angry at themselves, other than Pinkie and Fluttershy. I had done most of the fighting. I had defended them. They thought they hadn't contributed a lot. I told them they were wrong, that they were very helpful, that I couldn't have done it without them. But they had, regardless, went to training, to help more in any future conflicts. It was hard to see them so sad. They had decided to show me their strengths. In combat. Let's see how this goes...

Outside Fluttershy's house, we started. At first, it was me against Applejack.

"Ready to go?" I asked, and she nodded in a reply, obviously trying to keep herself with as much energy as possible. Even if it meant not talking.

Twilight decided to be the referee. "3-2-1, START!" She announced, and we started.

I swung forward, given a plush sword as to not mortally injure anyone, while still being able to do something. She quickly jumped to the side and kicked forward. I could barely block it, and even then, it sent me sprawling backwards. So much force into a single kick, it was surprising. I swung once again, realizing I would have to dodge everything, or defeat would be easy. After some sparring, it turns out we were at a tie. They let me rest a bit and we started again, this time faring off against rarity.

I used double sabers, and for some reason, they let me have real ones. We got into a battle position and as before, Twilight reffed and started the match. Once step and I had gems flying at my head. I managed to block a few, but when a looked at Rarity, there was a massive wave of hundreds of them. "Okay, okay, you win. I'm not dealing with that." "Okay! Glad I can impress you, dear." She floats the gems over to a waiting basket and deposits them.

Next was Rainbow. I knew what was coming with that, and I was tossed a pair of plush dual swords. Twilight started the battle again. This was going to be annoying. I swung overhead with the right sword, from the side with the left. She easily blocked both, and in a split second, there was a giant swirl of color around me. I swung my sword out, and instantly lost grip of it. There was no way I could win, so I just surrendered immediately. There wasn't a reason to continue.

Twilight. She was the oddball. She also used double swords. We both used plush swords, and we began the fight. I could tell why she was using swords. She was using her magic to make the swings much harder, and I could deflect them still, but it was hard. Each impact was pushing me back. Every once in a while, she would use a wave of energy to shoot me back onto the ground and swing downward. I would be able to dodge, but she was a formidable opponent. We ended up driving each other to terrible exhaustion. Before I passed out, I ended up passing out because of being so tired, and the last thing I remember is being picked up by Fluttershy.