//------------------------------// // On-the-job-training 1 // Story: Should I? // by The Collapsed Library //------------------------------// As Twilight pulled her hoof off the pad, she couldn't help the apprehension she felt as the eyes on the helmet of the suit of armor in the pod-like structure lit up. Then, the suit began to slide out of the pod and into the room; upon further inspection, she discovered that it was was on a Stand with twin arms meant to pull or push it. Suddenly, the armor opened, pieces sliding back to reveal the inside, even dropping the helmet to further allow her entrance. Instead of jumping in headfirst, Twilight began to examine the armor, she could clearly tell the equestrian designs, more for form than function, from the obviously griffon designs. The griffon pieces were truly amazing: the angles made so as to catch the light from anywhere in the room; the leg-plates locked together in such a way that Twilight doubted very much that, not counting breaks or fractures, leg injury was at all possible. The entire piece was covered with faded blue highlights. The helmet looked very intimidating, resembling a mix of a griffon's and ponies' head. The entire thing appeared to be made of interlocking plates of silver, unlike the equestrian standard which allowed freedom of movement by being made up of several very separate gold plates. Finally getting down to business, Twilight walked towards the armor, her armor apparently. As she began to climb into it something strange happened; it met her halfway, dismantling and then building around her legs almost as soon as it touched her. As it continued to build around her, she suddenly felt something prick her back. It wasn't the worst sensation by any means, like a shot, but it had been uncomfortable enough for her to notice. Suddenly she felt intense pain from every inch of her body, causing her to cry out and collapse, it felt like she was on fire. Then as quickly as the pain appeared, it subsided, leaving her aching. Picking herself up, and feeling the neck armor crawl and lock into place, she took one last look around the room before her eyes settled on the helmet. Well, here goes, last piece She thought as she picked it up in her forehooves. Turning it over and scrunching her eyes shut, she placed it over her head. I will protect my friends and family, whatever the cost. Then she blinked. when she opened her eyes, she immediately closed them again. Why is it so bright? As she opened them again she attempted to get a look around. When she had one thing became quite clear... she wasn't in the room with the pod anymore. In fact, she couldn't think of anywhere in equestria she might be. In desperation she asked, "Where am I?" "you are nowhere, yet everywhere at once, look around you." A voice called. Twilight, thinking out her options and deciding she was not sure what she could do, turned and looked. What she saw stopped her breath in her throat. "I, don't understand," Twilight said, "why are there so many me's?" There were hundreds, thousands maybe, of... well, her!Twilight Sparkles as far as the eye could see standing behind her. They all had slight differences, some in clothes, some with wings, some still who looked like they would soon be mothers. They all appeared significantly older than her. "They are your futures. Every possibility for you if you take off the suit." "what do you mean, 'take it off?' I don't really have a choice but to use it. Besides, what would I do without it?" "Oh, but there is a choice; for you see, I want to help you succeed, so I will let you in on a secret: Deep in the tunnels beneath Canterlot, there is someone trapped who you know. The real Cadence sits and weeps in the caverns while an impostor has used her identity to capture the city. That is your choice: don the suit and save the city, or save cadence. The choice, is yours..." "who are you to want to help me? Besides, If you know so much why couldn't you save cadence while I save the city, or the city while I go after Cadence!" "Because this is your choice and yours alone. I cannot aide you without you making it." "OK, I guess that makes sense, give me a minute." Twilight began to pace and think, if she chose Cadence, she would need to save her friends and the city somehow without the suit. However, if she saved the city first, she would be able to save Cadence nearly hassle-free. But if she didn't save Cadence first, she may not save her in time. Suddenly, she remembered something her brother had once told her. she had been sitting on her bed, looking out her window to view the street outside, where other fillies were playing and enjoying themselves. As her brother crept into the room, he heard her sigh. "Hey Twily, what's up?" Shining asked, "you should be happy, you passed the test!" When she did look at him, it was only to immediately look away and back towards the window. "Celestia made me her personal student." "Yeah, So?" "So, when it happened I was excited, but when I was going home, I started getting picked on" the look on her face spoke volumes to her older brother. "Was it Blueblood?" He asked, making Twilight think he already knew the answer. "Yes." She whispered. As she said this, she curled into a ball and began to sniffle. "You just need to learn to ignore them," Shining said, "those ponies, they were jealous." "Jealous?" "Yes, they saw what you earned through hard work that they couldn't buy and it made them mad that it wasn't theirs." As he spoke, Shining's looked out. "Did you ever have to deal with jealous ponies Shiny?" "Oh yeah," he chuckled, "let's just say that 'jealous' is an understatement for what they put me through." "What did you do about it?" "I realised that no matter what I thought of them, those jealous ponies are my responsibility." He said, "I am their sworn protector, whether or not i'm in training the safety of this city is my priority. I found out later that every couple generations an 'armor' is born into our family, each with a similar mark to mine. Each of them served in the guard and achieved high positions in it." "Cool... but how does that help me? I don't have a shield on my butt, and I don't think I can protect anypony." "That's not true Twilight, and as for how it helps you? Think on it, I'm sure that you can find a lesson or something in it. Now come on, go downstairs and get ready for dinner." She had found a lesson in what he said, it was her responsibility to help protect ponies, from herself. Celestia had told her later that her magic would need to be tempered in order to prevent things like her entrance exam from happening again. Thinking back on recent events in her life, she could probably apply his words to her situation now. the people of the city need me more than Cadence does, there's no guarantee I could save her anyways with Canterlot sacked. I could even find a way to save her along with the city. Having made her choice, Twilight said, "I choose to save the city." "So be it..."