“That is really strange,” the doctor commented as I was given a check up. It’s been about four weeks since I got out of the hospital, even though I haven’t fully recovered. So I was taken in for a monthly check up to make sure I was recovering properly. However, it only revealed something strange.
“There seems to be a new mana pool that seems empty,” from my studies, I learned that it is from there that a pony gets their magic from, “However, it doesn’t seem to hold mana, per se. Readings are saying that it’s some kind of unknown energy that is stored in it, based on the residual mana that is in there.”
“That is strange,” my mom said.
“If you don’t mind, I’ll like to study this further to see if it has any negative effects on your daughter.”
“If it can help protect her if it does, then yes.”
‘I don’t have a say in this?’ I thought, ‘Not that I care of course.’
“Great! Come back in a month or so, ok?” the doctor asked. My mom gave a nod.
“Come on, Sunny,” she told me. I hopped off the table that I was on and followed my mom out of the clinic. When we cleared the corner, I asked something I’ve been meaning to ask for a while.
“Mom?” I called out.
“Yes?”
“I’ve been wondering if I can learn to fight,” I asked in a shy voice, still not comfortable around her. She only raised an eyebrow.
“Well, I never thought I would hear you say that…” she commented, “But may I ask why?”
“It’s just…when I was captured last time, I was taken down without problem. If I knew how to fight, then I’ll be able to defend myself, at least long enough for help to arrive,” I took a deep breath, “If I knew how to fight, I wouldn’t have to rely on having guards to protect me wherever I go….” I would have continued, but I felt a hoof on my shoulder, causing me to look up.
“Sunny, I’ll let you learn how to fight,” I immediately perked up at this, “but the guards are not just for protection. Even I have personal guards with me when I leave Canterlot.” She smiled at me, causing me to forget what happened a month ago for a few moments, long enough to smile.
“I know, but sometimes I just want to talk to some of the locals, only for a guard to prevent me from doing so,” I said, looking down. She was silent for the rest of the walk. When we reached the castle, the guards bowed with mutterings of “your majesties.” Not long after, two guards, one that I recognized as one of my personal guards joined us.
As we were walking, we stopped by my room, “Sunny, I had this made while we were out, as I think you’re old enough now to have a set.” I just cocked my head as I tried to figure out what she meant. With a nudge from her wing, I walk into my room to see a chest in the middle of it. Cautiously, I opened it to find a golden crown with what looked like a fire red ruby embedded in it and some golden hoof-shoes similar to the ones my mom had. Looking back, I noticed that my mom had a smile on her face as she walked into the room.
“This is for me?” I asked, just to make sure. With a nod, my mom’s horn lit up in a golden aura as my crown did the same. Lifting it up into the air, she moved it until it rested on my head, the ruby faintly glowing.
“The ruby is enhanced so that it glows when on the head of a true ruler,” she told me, “And even though I didn’t give birth to you, you’re still the best daughter anypony can ask for,” she said with a nuzzle, which I promptly returned with one of my own and a smile.
“T-thank you, mom,” I said, my eyes watering.
“Come on, let’s see if we can find you an instructor.”
As we walked, I had a noticeable spring in my step. My mom’s words kept echoing in my mind, “You’re still the best daughter anypony can ask for.” Any fear and worry I had about my mom just...faded. I was pulled from my thoughts when we reached the training courtyard.
As we walked in, everything that was going on was brought to a stop as everypony bowed to us. While my mom gave a polite nod, I just smiled. After a few moments, everypony got out of the bow and returned to what they were doing, except for a single unicorn that troted over to us.
“Your Majesties,” the unicorn bowed, “What can I do for you?”
“I want to know if you can teach Sunny how to defend herself without magic?” my mom asked, to which the unicorn started at us in shock before regaining his composer.
“Are you sure it’s a good idea?” he asked, “She could get hurt. Badly.”
“I know, however, I’m asking due to the fact that Sunny felt weak when she was captured last time,” she explained.
“How is a young filly like her going to be able to keep…” he started before I interrupted.
“Trust me, I’ve been alive for a few decades now, so I’m not really young,” I said with a chuckle, “I also have the desire to learn so I don’t make the same mistake twice,” he got quiet for a few moments.
“Oh alright,” he relented, “But know that it will be quite painful. Are you sure you still want to do this?” I gave a nod, “Ok, give me a couple of weeks to set up a training regimen for her.” He told my mom. “Oh, I almost forgot, my name is Golden Sword,” he told me.
“Nice to meet you, Golden. I can’t wait until our first lesson,” I said with a smile, a smile that he returned.
The first lesson was right after my second check up after getting out of the hospital. I seem to have fully recovered because they finally removed the magic nullifier off of my horn, allowing me to use my magic again, though I was advised not to use my magic for a few more day so the effects can wear off. True to his word, the first session was really painful, but not as bad as I thought it was going to be. It was worse.
“Come on, I think it’s time to take a break,” Golden said with a chuckle.
“No, let’s continue,” I said as I put down my right foreleg, which caused me to yelp a bit.
“While I appreciate the enthusiasm, you won’t be doing much with an injured leg, and I don’t think your mom will forgive me if you get landed in a hospital because of me,” he told me, leaving no room for arguing.
“Fine,” I said in a huff, not wanting to stop now, even with a small sprain. With a visible limp, I made my way back to my room, hoping that I didn’t pass my mom on the way.
“Sunny?” a voice said, “What happened?”
Turning around I was face to face with my mom. “I sprained my leg while training” I said with honestly. When I noticed sparks coming off of her I quickly added, “But I was the one who insisted that we continued,” calming her down, just a tad.
“Where are you going now?” she asked.
“My room?” I said uncertainly, only for her to shake her head.
“I think you should visit the infirmary first, then take a few weeks off.” I sighed, knowing that I wasn’t going to be able to argue with her, “But I’m surprised that you managed to get a sprain on the first day!” she said with disapproval in her voice. Lifting me onto her back, we started to head to the infirmary so I can get looked at, and like I said, I had a sprain in my right foreleg.
As we were heading back to my room, I said, “You might want to inform Golden about what happened.”
Without a single word, she deposited me onto my bed when we reached my room. As I was about to pull the blanket over me, a golden glow engulfed it and pulled it over me.
“Goodnight, Sunny,” my mom said with a nuzzle, which I returned.
“Goodnight, Mom.”