Chapter XI: Shadows of the Commander
Chapter 10 Recap: Twilight can't be certain whether her beliefs or actions will make a difference, but she still wishes to try. As the conflict between the Celestial Defenders and Nightmare Guard escalates, Twilight has acknowledged just how little she knows about their history, and her purposeful neglect of it. But even so, she reflects back on her own negativity throughout life, and how little its accomplished. With Moondancer's arrival Twilight has chosen to believe that despite the world surrounding her wreaking with such conflict, perhaps a sliver of positivity is all she needs to make a difference, regardless of how delusional she may sound to others. Rushing headlong into an experience utterly foreign to her, she has chosen to make the best out of her situation and follow her instincts, and perhaps, find out what makes her special along the way. Though with times looking so bleak, while currently being chased by a voracious Nightmare Guard, it seems like a long road ahead. No matter, complications are common at this point!
In a time long since passed, Canterlot was a bright city filled with mesmerizing, vibrant colors. Not unlike present day Canterlot, but there was a contrast difference between the beauty of the sun touched structures back then. Whereas everypony was also graced by its comforting warmth. Such days were obviously in the distant past, yet even back then, Twilight's world was still primarily the same. She was a little filly living with her parents at the time, as she sat in her room located on the second floor of their home. Her curtains were wide open, giving sight to more appealing views downtown, where numerous districts dividing areas such as the gardens, parks, and more urban shopping locales were located. Twilight currently flipped through a book, her mane still unkempt, as she smiled happily while reading. Sitting beside her was Smarty Pants, also slumped over and facing that particular book. Twilight chuckled, "Hey Smarty Pants, do you-"
"Twiiiiiiiilight!" A familiar motherly tone called out to the filly, only repeating herself a second time. "Twiiiiiliiiiight!"
Twilight's eyes widened as she glanced over at her open doorway in curiosity. "Coming mother!" She pushed on her tiny hooves, rising to all fours as she raced over towards the door, curious as to what her mother wanted. Twilight's home was one of common prestige, as she trotted upon flawless velvet carpeting, unmarred and spotless. The windows were gold rimmed, and family pictures hung on the walls, while many of them were also portraits of past relatives and distant friends. Twilight paid no attention to these things, seeing as she lived here on a daily basis and was but a filly. She cared little for thinking about such decor. Twilight raced halfway down the staircase, before coming to an abrupt halt in realization. She turned around hurriedly and rushed back over to her room, grabbing Smarty Pants before repeating her motions and going back downstairs to find her mother. She had to turn the corner from the right of the staircase, before going down a hall and then turning left to get into the kitchen. Smarty Pants was also wrapped around her neck as she arrived, "Yes Mother!?"
Twilight Velvet stood in the kitchen, accompanied by two others. She chuckled, obviously in delight as she gestured a hoof towards one of two stallions. The stallion whom stood on her left was Night Light, while the one she gestured towards whom was on her right, was a familiar family member. But based on her excitement, happiness, and obvious need to call Twilight, he probably wasn't around often. She smiled eagerly at Twilight, before chuckling a bit more and leaning her head back some. "Look who came on over for a visit Twilight!"
Twilight's gaze was already locked onto the visiting pony, as she looked startled and shocked by his presence. Standing beside Twilight Velvet was a large white stallion, large in stature and in height while obviously fit for his age. Twilight could never forget that dark sapphire mane, consisting of various shades of blue. She however, looked more confused than ecstatic. "S-Shining Armor?"
Shining Armor, whom was also entirely adorned in plated gold armor, chuckled. "Hey Twi, you know what time it is right!?"
Twilight immediately sunk into worry and reluctance as she backed away. "Noooo, b-but I was reading a very good book!"
Twilight Velvet gasped, as she looked at her daughter in disappointment. "Twilight! Your brother came a long way to see you!"
Twilight gestured a hoof towards both Shining and her mother, refuting that statement. "He works at the castle Mother!"
Night Light cut in with a warm smile, more amused by his child if anything. "Now now Twilight, listen to your mother. We know you like to spend your time reading those books nestled up in your room, but go outside for a bit, spend some time with your big brother."
Twilight rolled her eyes with a huff as she lowered her head, a bit irritated. "Fiiiiiiiiiiiine."
Twilight Velvet's nose wrinkled in annoyance, as she now glared at her daughter in irritation.
Shining couldn't help but burst into laughter as he immediately made his way to rub the top of Twilight's head. "Never change Twilight, no matter what Mom and Dad says. But today I do have something I need to speak with you about alright? It won't take long."
Twilight's expression sunk further, more in a depressed manner as she muttered. "I know what it is already...."
Shining Armor closed his eyes, smiling as he nudged Twilight with a hoof in her side, signaling her to turn around so they could make their way outside the house. "Now don't make assumptions Twi, let's just wait until we talk first alright? Then make your judgement."
As they prepared to leave the house, Twilight glanced back at her mother with a saddened look, as Twilight Velvet looked to her daughter more so in surprise followed by slight remorse. Twilight turned her own gaze ahead again, lowering her head in a sulking manner.
As the two left the house, Twilight Velvet scoffed in irritation and annoyance, though looking quite guilty. "Ugh! W-What's with that child!? All I want her to do is spend time with her big brother and not even that's good enough for her? Did I do something wrong!?" She leaned back against the kitchen sink, crossing her forehooves as she peered towards the ground in distress, lost in conflicting thoughts.
Night Light snickered, smirking at his wife and patting her back. "Let's not be too harsh on her honey." His eyes saddened as well, as he recalled his own reasoning for Twilight's behavior. "After failing to get into Celestia's school, you know how she's been."
Twilight Velvet dropped to her hooves, as she placed a hoof over her chest and squinted at him in distress, one eye exceptionally so. "My daughter isn't a failure, I know that! But she doesn't! A-All I want for her to do is remain on top of discovering her purpose!"
Night Light frowned at his wife. "What does it matter though Velvet? Isn't her happiness what's most important?"
Twilight Velvet flinched, as she glanced to the lower right. "O-Of course it is!" But she glared at him then. "But so is ensuring she has a secure future! That she isn't just aimlessly wandering, depressed and uncertain of what she's supposed to do! Besides-" she turned around with a heavy sigh, leaning against a counter. "You know the stigma revolving around cutie marks just as much as I do."
Night Light sighed at her, tilting his head to the left. "We should be teaching her not to care about what others think."
Twilight Velvet snapped, swiping a hoof at him. "Don't twist my words Love! You know what I mean! I know that child has a fond love for magic, she's my daughter! I know that she was heartbroken not to get into Celestia's school! But we cannot allow her to dwell on that failure for the rest of her life! If she isn't destined to pursue a future revolving around the study of magic, then we as her parents, her mentors, need to help guide her towards what she's actually meant to do! We need to help her discover who she is, so she can use her actual talent to find herself a job, further develop her skills, and not be stuck pondering why she's so stuck in life!" She huffed angrily.
Night Light frowned even further, then smiled and looked out the kitchen window towards the city. "I see what you're saying darling. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe you're right, maybe I just don't mind what she does as long as she's happy." His gaze turned towards the ground, "And maybe it's our job as her parents to find a way to show her that the road to happiness is about accepting your failures, not denying them." He looked back towards his wife in question. "But I don't want to dismiss her love for magic as a lost cause, not just yet."
Twilight Velvet frowned bitterly, groaning and turning away from him as she trotted off. "Fine, do what you want Love."
Night Light sighed right back, as he continued to look out the window towards the city in question, and uncertainty.
Outside in front of the house, both Twilight and Shining Armor stood in an open grassy field. There was a cobble stone path leading up towards their home nearby, but Shining ensured to stand in an area where they had plenty of room to move freely for his lesson. Shining Armor in particular looked eager, as he held one of his royal lances in one hoof, before tilting it and looking over it with a warm smile, then looking back towards Twilight, smirking a bit as he regarded the filly with half-closed eyes. "About Princess Celestia's school Twilight..."
Twilight's frown intensified as she hated the topic, and she looked away from him grumpily, remaining silent. I knew it...
Shining Armor continued. "Maybe it doesn't mean you don't have a knack for magic, or can't use it." He raised his lance, shining it in the sun a bit. "But more that you're just not using it the right way. Perhaps your knack for magic, can be used elsewhere."
Twilight's eyes widened as she looked up at Shining in confusion. "Huh?" She tilted her head to the right.
Shining Armor lowered his lance, and looked down at her, smiling wide still with interest. "In the Royal Guard, there are many of my subordinates who've discovered that they're meant to focus on a particular school of magic. This goes with everything Twilight. Princess Celestia's School doesn't define magic, not by any means." He paused, "Tell me, what do you know about all the various schools."
Twilight peered up at him, answering immediately in a casual tone. "That there's lots! Teleportation magic! Destruction! Illusion! Telekinetic! Shadow! Elemental! Defense! And there's stuff that still needs studying like Time Magic and The Manipulation School!"
Shining Armor raised a brow at her, honestly surprised by her knowledge about the subject. "Whoa..."
Twilight looked at him, confused and blinking a bit. "What?"
Shining Armor shook his head, scratching at the back of his mane. "U-Ugh! It's nothing. I'm just a bit surprised honestly." He tilted his head to the right, looking at her curiously. "What about the other races of Equestria Twilight? Such as the pegasi and their traits."
Twilight's confusion intensified as she muttered. "P-Pegasi? Um..." She raised a hoof to her muzzle in thought.
Shining Armor smiled a bit. "That'd probably be asking for too much huh?" He rubbed the top of her head, "Don't worry about it. I know your obsession is with magic." He started to trot away from her, before glancing back, "But I still think you should learn about them. Which brings me to my main point Twilight." He turned to face her fully again. "Have you figured out why I came over here to see you?"
Twilight gazed up at him worriedly, as she lowered her head in thought again. "Uuuum..."
Shining Armor closed his eyes. "It's not to harp on you for not getting into Celestia's School." He then smiled at her, looking at her in an earnest heartfelt manner. "It's to explore a new possibility for you. Maybe like me, you're meant to be in the Royal Guard." He began circling his sister, "Nothing would make me happier Twilight, than having my baby sister at my side. I think this might be destiny at work."
Twilight continued to look at him worriedly, her gaze constantly following him while he circled her. "H-Huh?"
Shining Armor continued. "Yeah sure, we're not as efficient at mastering all the various schools of magic there are Twilight, or looking into their past history and studying how they work. We're not as intricately involved in the works of magic, but as a member of the Royal Guard, you would still be harnessing it, using it, and ultimately discovering an aspect about magic that sets you apart from the rest." He stopped circling her then as he arrived in front of her, and only smiled. "You'd be a master at something Twilight, a true prodigy."
Twilight was silent, as she only peered up at her brother observantly, still listening attentively.
But Shining Armor burst into laughter somewhat, as he rubbed at the back of his mane again. "But you're still too young right now! I mean, I'm a little fresh myself." He looked up in hopeful thought, "Maybe someday I'll even be a Captain, who knows." He then glanced back down at her, still hopeful. "But for now, I still want to give this possibility to you. I still want to know your thoughts about it all."
Twilight raised a hoof to her muzzle again, as she seemed conflicted. "I don't think I want to-"
But Shining Armor immediately hugged her, squeezing her tight. "It's settled then! You'll be the perfect wingpony baby sis!"
We'll start out with some of the basics!...
In present time Twilight heard echoes of Shining Armor's voice in her head. Despite being preoccupied to say the least with her unwavering assailant. She didn't understand why now of all times, she was recalling such distant memories. Twilight turned in-between buildings, stuck in a series of alleyways as her pursuer was hot on her tail. As she continued to retreat, she poofed behind a nearby stack of crates and knocked them over, hurriedly turning to trot away, filled with panic as she glanced back to catch sight of the pegasus.
The nightmare guard mare roared as she merely knocked down the crates, slashing through them with her lance. "You can't run forever! I'll catch you eventually, and when I do, I'm going to tear you to pieces you traitorous coward!" She rushed forward once again.
Twilight flinched, as she looked back ahead, continuing to retreat as she continued to dwell on memories of Shining Armor.
Twilight was outside the house again in the same open area, though this time she and Smarty Pants had brought a book. Twilight laid on her side in a casual manner, glancing up at Shining Armor with bags under her eyes as she flipped through the pages of said book.
Shining Armor sat a few feet from her smiling, and even had a large whiteboard with him which he levitated with magic. He immediately uncapped a marker before beginning to draw a pegasus on the board. "Let's talk about some of the pegasus criteria Twilight."
Twilight yawned as she patted her muzzle, and began to watch the board with a raised brow. The sky was a faint mix of orange and yellow, giving hint that it was early in the morning, the peak of dawn. Birds chirped in the distance as most of the city was still quiet.
Shining Armor continued, making average drawings on the board to match his explanations. He started out with a pegasus zipping through some hastily drawn clouds. "Speed obviously is an extremely important factor for our pegasi guards. Of course they can just use the sky to their advantage majority of the time, but in situations where they're unable to, they have to rely on their speed to get them out of sticky situations. Burst Training is to help pegasi better acquaint themselves with such close quarter scenarios, using their powerful wings to maneuver around enemies in short periodic moments, or bursts, explaining why we call it Burst Training." He smiled softly, drawing another pegasus, this time zipping between a group of three opposing ponies. He turned to face Twilight. "This is extremely important for pegasi who come across hostile unicorns as well Twilight. Suffice to say, we're the most capable of handling practically any situation life throws at us, so it's a pegasus' job to single out one of our greatest weaknesses as unicorns. You know what that weakness is Twilight?"
Twilight blinked, now fairly curious as she sat up and tilted her head at him, preparing to answer. "Um, cast time?"
Shining Armor's smile widened as he turned back towards the board, now drawing a unicorn standing before a pegasus. "Yes, can't say I'm surprised you knew. Speed, or casting, is one of our biggest faults. This is why a lot of our unicorn guards such as myself, tend to focus on a singular school of magic and do our best at mastering it. As unicorns, our reaction time to activate a particular spell can make all the difference, and harnessing and focusing that magic can be quite a grueling process if you're not familiar with the spell you're casting, or used to how it works." He began drawing a unicorn, using the telekinetic school to lift a box. "Take a unicorn who works solely on telekinetic magic for example. It's their job to be able to focus their magical energy around an opposing object and take hold of it from a distance, sometimes without crushing or destroying it upon initial contact. It's a delicate process that takes time to master. This is something that most unicorns who are efficient in destruction magic may not be too good at considering their magic is furthest from fragility."
Twilight continued to sit there, as she kept her head tilted while paying attention.
Shining Armor nodded. "But to move on Twilight, despite burst training focusing on exposing our weaknesses as unicorns, there's two other things the pegasi in our guard are known for." He paused, "Their efficiency with weapons, seeing as their broad range of maneuverability and use of the skies gives them a wide variety of options in regards to how they master the use of their assigned weapon. Lances come in two forms, hefty and light-weight, and majority of our pegasi tend to favor the light-weight lance. As for that final thing Twilight-" he paused again, this time turning towards her to address her a bit more seriously. "This is something that I've wanted you to know, even before desiring for you to join the guard. There are some pegasus out there who are extremely gifted, and dangerous. Ones who're exceptionally skilled in a form of combat I've taken to dubbing as Re-direction." He looked back towards the board, drawing a series of clouds as well as a pegasus with spread wings. "Re-direction is something few to little pegasus are efficient at using in the heat of battle. But still they cannot be ignored, for if any of these few decide to go rogue someday it'd spell a lot of trouble for us. Through the use of their wing-power, some pegasus are able to re-direct almost anything back towards their adversaries, even magical spells, re-adjusting the wind current and using it to their advantage. Though re-direction can be easily countered with efficient telekinetic magic, it's still troubling."
Twilight continued to listen to her brother in silence, not entirely understanding the point of all this.
But as Shining Armor stood there, simply happy with the fact that he was able to teach Twilight about the guard like this, a sudden bright pulsing came from a nearby satchel he had close to his side. He blinked, glancing down at it hastily and with a panicked look before he opened the satchel and removed a pulsing pink gem. He looked it over before raising a hoof to his head in dismay. "Ah crap!..."
Twilight tilted her head to the side again, only becoming more confused. "Shining?"
Shining Armor immediately dropped the board to the ground, before grabbing up his things and trotting off hastily. "Lesson's cancelled today Twilight! I'll meet up with you later! I've got somewhere important I gotta be!" He rushed past her, hurriedly trotting off.
Twilight turned to face his direction as she called out to him grumpily, mad she woke up for nothing. "Where are you going!?"
Shining Armor grinned cheekily, closing his eyes as he looked back at her, yelling his reply. "I've got a date!"
Twilight flinched, as her nose wrinkled and she raised a brow at him. "D-Date?"
Twilight drifted back to the present, as she turned towards her pegasus adversary, stopping in the middle of a deserted courtyard. Two dumpsters sat behind one of the buildings, as there were only two routes of escape, but Twilight chose not to run. She stood there silently and patiently with Smarty Pants still around her neck, safely tucked, awaiting for the pegasus to arrive, utterly determined.
As the pegasus arrived, she wheezed, catching her breath as her straight black mane hung outside her armor. She stood on her hind legs, holding her lance in one hoof. But even though she'd finally reached Twilight, the fact the unicorn stood there waiting for her caused the pegasus to look conflicted. She grimaced a little, as the two stood alone between this back alleyway courtyard. She swiped a hoof at Twilight angrily. "Y-You, you think you're showing me up!? Why'd you choose to stop running!? Decide to accept your fate or something!"
Twilight frowned at the pegasus as she remained on all fours. "No, I just realized that I don't have to run away."
The pegasus flinched as her annoyance only became more apparent. "Oh really? And why's that?"
Twilight's eyes fastened on her more in concentration. "I know what I need to do to stop you."
The pegasus' eyes widened as she looked at Twilight in disbelief, before shaking her head and grunting. "Argh! How many times do I have to say it!?" She paused then roared, "You got lucky!" She spread her wings and immediately burst forward, spinning her lance as she did so and rushing Twilight angrily.
Twilight waited for her to arrive before teleporting directly above her and kicking off the back of her head to get up into the air, then turning, firing off a narrow beam of magic straight towards the pegasus. She remained concentrated, focused, as every movement was precise.
The pegasus roared as she turned, swiping her lance sluggishly and splitting the beam of magic, causing it to diverge and hit the ground at each of her sides. She kicked off her hooves and burst towards Twilight a second time, pointing her lance straight at her. "You're still running!?"
Twilight shook her head at the pegasus blankly, still focused. "I'm not running."
The pegasus' eyes widened again as she looked at Twilight, still facing her midair.
Twilight's horn began to glow again, as she had little trouble simply repeating another quicker cast of the same spell. Twilight's horn radiated with bright violet light, as her eyes showed some hesitation, yet she continued. "Just waiting."
The pegasus scowled fiercely at Twilight, pupils dilating in realization.
Twilight immediately shot off a narrow blast of magic at the pegasus, striking her and sending her crashing into the ground. Since the beginning, she used her wing power in small but heavy bursts. Twilight thought back to the pegasus' initial strike from atop her sack, and her choice of utilizing her momentum to instead thrust her lance towards her. Her eyes saddened. But she only used it to attack, and only flew casually to chase me. She didn't even attempt to assess the rhythm of my cast time.
The pegasus' armor sizzled with heat, as she slammed against the pavement and even bounced off the ground before rolling and slamming back against a wall, losing hold of her lance again as she wheezed, coughing before catching her breath for a moment.
Twilight immediately touched back down upon the ground, as she gulped before looking at the pegasus in regret. If she had... maybe she could've predicted the force of my arcane spell was meant for two consecutive bursts. One smaller... one stronger, to catch her between her own attack. I'd read before, dueling with a pegasus, is like the rhythm of a dance.
The pegasus slowly opened her eyes as she was still leaned up against the wall. As she realized her situation again, she looked down at herself in a panic and began tearing off her heated breastplate and other pieces of armor, still smoking and sizzling from Twilight's blast of magic. She tossed them off hurriedly, becoming bare and naked as she rushed forward and fell onto the pavement, laying on the ground before glaring up at Twilight. "No! No no no! How are you able to do that!? I'm a guard! I've got the proper training! So how!?"
Twilight approached the pegasus as she looked down at her reluctantly with a frown. "My brother is one of the founding members of your guard. Um... and I read a lot of comics that involve Trixie and her duels I guess."
The pegasus peered up at Twilight, still confused as she shook her head. "Your brother!? What? What're you talking about!?"
Twilight answered her simply, her answer causing the pegasus to freeze in faint shock. "I doubt you know me, but my name's Twilight Sparkle, and I'm the younger sister of Commander Shining Armor. A long time ago my brother taught me all about your training regime, I guess little has changed. Because if I remember... you're using basic burst training principles."
The pegasus looked at Twilight in a perplexed manner now, before squinting at her in suspicion. "You're lying!"
Twilight shook her head, actually looking to defend her claim. "I-I'm not! He really is my brother!"
The pegasus growled, slamming her hoof on the ground and gritting her teeth. "I...I attacked the Commander's little sister?" Her expression sunk into one of guilt as she seemed confused, conflicted, and lost in her thoughts for the time being, utterly silent.
The silence drew on for a moment longer, as the two just quietly faced one another.
Twilight took a trot forward, as she asked hesitantly, "Where is my brother!? Why're you all doing this!?"
The pegasus looked back up at her with an impatient glare. "What?"
Twilight continued, persistently with an angered look. "What have you done to my brother!? I know he would never stand for something like this. Trapping ponies against their will, interrogating them without reason, causing such civil unrest! I, I know he wouldn't!"
The pegasus frowned bitterly as she continued to glare at the unicorn. "I don't know where the Commander is or why he isn't here! I'm just a grunt knight! But more importantly," she pointed a hoof at Twilight, "Why aren't you on our side then, Twilight Sparkle!?"
Twilight flinched, backing away from the pegasus. "Huh?"
The pegasus continued in an unrelenting manner. "You heard me! Why aren't you on our side!? You're the Commander's sister!"
Twilight fell silent as she looked away from the pegasus, muttering her words. "W-Well I-..."
The pegasus swiped a hoof, while now knelt on the ground. "You're one of us and you know it! So why aren't you fighting with us!?"
"She already told you. Because this isn't what her brother stands for and she knows it."
Both Twilight and the pegasus now blinked, before both turning their heads towards the rooftops.
Three Nightmare Guards all suddenly were sent flying over the edge of the rooftops, one slamming against an opposing building's wall as the other two were practically flung down, crashing into the pavement and rolling past Twilight and the pegasus who'd pursued her.
The pegasus on the ground cringed heavily as she saw her fellow guards upon the ground, before looking back towards the rooftop.
Moondancer stood looking down at the lot of them, before particularly squinting at Twilight who was in one piece, as her gaze drifted back to the bare naked pegasus who was absent of her armor. Moondancer tilted her head to the right. Maybe you didn't need my help.
Twilight looked to Moondancer with wide eyes, before looking at her in concern. Moondancer? But, where are the other two?
Moondancer poofed, disappearing instantaneously as she reappeared on the ground, a few feet from Twilight and the pegasus. She slowly began trotting up towards the two. "I'm glad to see you're alright Twilight." She paused, "Even you, Nightmare Guard."
The pegasus raised a brow at Moondancer as she approached, looking up at her in a perplexed manner. "What do you want with me?"
Moondancer loomed over the pegasus with a cold stare. "I don't believe you're in a position to be asking the questions."
The pegasus growled beneath her breath, glaring up angrily at Moondancer, realizing what she was implying.
Moondancer's cold stare didn't let up, as she continued. "But I do believe there are a lot of pieces you can connect for us here."