//------------------------------// // Future planning // Story: The New Life of Shadow Ironsword // by ShadowIronsword //------------------------------// The light hum of magic buzzed in my ears as the doc’s magic cut off my cast. Several loud clacks sounded out as I felt a relief on my left foreleg. The air finally rushed over an area that had been stifled for so long. I gave my wrist a testing twist and tried to put weight on it. It felt fine, so I turned to the doc, a cyan coated and brown maned stallion, who turned to me with a smile and an outstretched hoof. “Let me see your leg, Mr. Ironsword. I just want to make sure everything healed properly.” I offered my paw to him, he began running his hoof over the length of my leg, putting a fair amount of pressure, trying to see if the bone was at all out of place. “Well, everything seems normal, so I think you’re good to go. Just don’t push it too hard, and  you should be fine.” “Um, doc?” “Yes, Mr. Ironsword?” “I’m supposed to go in for a spar today, would that be okay, or should I say I’m not fit to do so?” He paused and brought his hoof up to his chin, tapping it lightly. “I think a friendly spar should be fine, as long as you don’t push it too hard.” I nodded my head and gave him a smile, “Well, thanks doc. I think I’m going to head out now.” The gesture wasn’t returned, he turned and left the room. “Okay, make sure you sign out at the main desk.” My face fell into a light frown. He’s just busy, I’m sure. I hopped off the table and left the room, walking down the hall to the main lobby. I signed out, and headed out the main door. Okay, I’ve gotta head over to Val’s house, make sure he’s fine and start getting fit for the wingblades. I noticed the sidelong glances, and baleful glares as I walked through the streets of Cloudsdale, but chose to ignore them. Seems everyone knows who I am, anyway. Why am I even trying to hide myself? I scoffed and kept walking to Val’s house. The oh, so great pegasi of Cloudsdale, a bunch of racists. Who would’ve thought?  I gave a strong knock on Val’s door and stepped back, waiting for him to answer. A very bedraggled, and tired-looking Val answered the door. “Oh, hey, Shadow.” He yawns and slaps his gums together. “Whatcha doing here so early?” I looked past him, to the clock on the wall. “Um Val? It’s almost ten O’clock. I’m not early at all.” A grin started to come to my mouth. “What were you and Amber doing last night?” A faint blush crept across his muzzle. He turned his gaze down and mumbled something incoherently. “Hmm, Val? I can’t understand mumbles.” “I said, she was a bit cuddly last night. I couldn’t sleep.” I tried to stifle a giggle, but a few slipped through. “Oh, okay, is that all?” I shook my head in mock resignation, “If you can’t handle some cuddling, makes me wonder what you’re like after a night where she wants more?” The blush spread all the way to his ear tips and he scrunched up his muzzle in a look of pure embarrassment. “That's none of your business!” He huffed, rolled his eyes and looked back to me with a smile of his own. “Though, I will say she’s really rough.” “Oh am I? I might have to dial it back if the big baby really thinks that.” Amber stepped around the corner from the kitchen sticking a piece of toast in her mouth, she continued to speak. “If you really wanted me to stop Valor, I would have.” He looked back down to the ground, trying his very best to imitate a lighthouse beacon. “I-i never said I wanted you to stop, did I?” He looked up and gazed into her eyes, she did the same. I could tell where this was going. I gave a light cough, bringing their attention back to me. “Well, I’d love to see my best friend and his marefriend make-out, but no I really wouldn’t.” Amber chuckled at that, while Val gave an indignant huff. “Actually, Val, I came by to see if you’d like to head down to the forge and get me fitted for a set of wingblades? But, of course, I won’t get in the way of you and your mare, if that is what  you want.” Val opened his mouth to speak, but then turned turned back to Amber, a pleading expression on his face. “Can I, Amb?” His face fell slightly. “I know I said we’d take a couple days rest, but I think Shadow’s asking cause he needs it soon right?” I nodded. “Or, at least I will soon. There’s a convention of sorts going on today. The top twenty duelists in Equus will be there, and there’s a spar amongst the top fifteen.” I lifted my paw in order to stop Val from talking. “I don’t need them today, but I’ve got a feeling that I’m gonna need them soon.” Val turned back to Amber. “Well you heard the stallion! Don’t need to start working on them today, just some measurements, and I can do those here in the house.” Amber gave a slight nod, took another bite of her toast and went back into the kitchen. Once she was out of earshot I turned to Val, “‘Amb’, huh?” “Oh shut up! It’s normal for couples to give each other pet names.” He sat on his haunches and crossed his forelegs over his chest. “With all the teasing you’ve been doing recently, you’d think things went well in Ponyville.” I felt a slight twinge in my chest at the mention of Ponyville. It must have followed to my face, because Val hastily tried to amend, “I mean, I know you probably learned a lot, even in the short time you were there. So that’s good right?” He tried to give me an awkward smile. I didn’t return the gesture. “It’s fine, Val. I screwed up, and I’ll have to amend things with Twilight, but not yet. I’m not ready. And I did learn quite a bit from just observing Twilight and her friends for a week and a half.” Val seemed to relax quite a bit. “Sorry, Shadow. Didn’t mean to open up fresh wounds. I know it hurt you, what happened in Ponyville. I know you’ll make everything right though.” I gave a happy nod. “Again, it’s fine, Val. I know I’ll fix everything, but for now I’m gonna collect myself and collect my thoughts.” I gave a nod to the living room, “Now come on, I know you wanna get back to your mare. And I’d like to get some training in before the convention this evening.” Val gave me a strong nod and lead the way to his design room. Most don’t know, but Val is actually an avid inventor. He sketches up some crazy weapons, most would be impractical, but some really are ingenious. He initially got help from my dad to bring his better ideas to life when he was younger. Ever since he’s been hooked, making new sketches almost nightly. He pulled out some measuring tape and I outstretched my massive navy-blue wings one at a time. I had to, since the room was rather small. Even then, my other side was pressed tightly against the wall. Val ran the tape over the length of my wing and then around it every four inches. Each time he’d write it down on a scrap piece of paper sitting up on his cluttered desk. “Make sure you don’t lose my measurements amongst all the other insanity on that table, Val.” He stuck his tongue out at me. “You know this insanity is part of what helped me design the wingblades.” I tilted my head to the side. “And the other parts?” “Just one.” I rolled my paw, encouraging him to continue. “It was watching you duel that griffon in your match before we met. I watched it back, and a few others, over a couple times. I took note of how you tended to use your wings to unbalance opponents, especially when they were airborne.” He gave grin that nearly split his face. “I’d already wanted to make a gauntlet of sorts for pegasi, so I thought this would make a perfect opportunity to make a whole new thing. I brought it to Vanguard and he approved of the idea, saying it would really give pegasi a good advantage against unicorns.” I brought my paw up to my mouth in shock. “I’m honored that you would use me as inspiration for such an awesome weapon.” I padded over and wrapped Val in a hug. “It really does mean the world to me.” I heard hoofsteps come up to the door and stop I turned my head and saw Amber standing there in the doorway. A thought came to my head. “Ha! You’re too late Amber, I’ve stolen your stallion, and now I’m going to whisk him away to the forge to work with me!” She shrugged and kept walking down the hall. “Shadow?” Val said a hint of something I couldn’t identify in his voice. “Yes, Val?” “You are a dead wolf if you don’t get out now.” With that I got a prompt smack upside the head. Though his words were meant to be serious he couldn’t help a smile slip onto his face, or the tremble in his shoulders that was a tell-tale sign of laughter. “Aw, why you gotta be like that Val? I could be so much better than Amber! Just give me a chance!” I threw myself at his feet in mock desperation. “I will always love you! Why can’t you see that!?” I felt a tingling sensation and a light pressure surround me and I was lifted off the ground. “Amber, how dare you! This is the proof that you know I’d be better for him!” I now could barely stop the laughter that was threatening to break free. “I swear you get more and more ridiculous each time I see you.” She dropped me in front of the door giving me a friendly smile. “I’ll see you soon, I assume?” I returned the gesture. “Yep, but you know what they say about assuming: It makes an ass out of you and me.” I started to burst into a fit of giggles. Amber opened her arms for a hug and I gladly accepted. “See ya soon, Amber. Take care of Val. It’s good you’re getting him out of that room of his. As much as I like his inventions, he needed to get out and live a little. Ya know?” She gave a solid nod of her head. “I understand completely, and you’re welcome. Now, go practice before your big convention later.” She turned her head to look at the clock behind her. “What time is it again?” “Two O’clock.” “Well, it’s currently ten thirty O’clock, so you’ve got time. I’ll send Val down in an hour, or so. Celestia knows that he loves to spar with you.” She gave a goofy grin and a wave. I gave a friendly smile and a wave over my shoulder. I set my paws in a solid stance, spreading them wide. I take a deep breath and launch forward, hitting the construct full on with a charge. Pulling my wings under its forelegs and push up, making it rear up on its hind legs. I pump my wings to the left, making me fly right and land on the right flank of the construct. I rear up on my hind legs striking out four times rapidly. Twice in the chest, once in the neck, and once in the head. I flick my wings back out and down, making my fly up into the air. I level out quickly, then launch down and pin the construct to the mat with paws to the neck and left foreleg. My back legs are straddling the constructs barrel. I get up and off the construct, and it disappears into dust. “You were faster that time, shaved off a whole half second to the take down.” “It’s good, but still not good enough, the world’s number one can do a take down like that in less than two seconds.” “Yea, he’s also a bipedal drake the size of Celestia herself! You’ll catch up eventually, but now focus of the number twelve slot, will ya?” Val said with an exasperated huff. “Really, can’t you be happy with progress at all?” I gave a slight twinge at that. “You know it isn’t like that, Val. I’m happy, I just can’t rest with doing it in five seconds. I mean the guy just above me can do a takedown in more time than me. But he’s also strong and tough enough to take just as many hits as he gives, if not more.” “Yea, but you’re faster than him, use your advantages, don’t focus on your disadvantages. That’s fighting 101. Come on, Shadow, let’s run it again.” Val summoned another construct, this time it was a perfect replica of Silver Lining, the pony directly above me in the world rankings. A silver coated pegasus with white mane and purple eyes. He wasn’t particularly large, but he was tough as an earth pony, and just as strong. “Come on, Silver, let’s see what an old stallion can do against a spri young one.” I charged him dashing to his right to try and flank him. I threw a quick strike, but he turned and leaned his head into the blow, putting his entire body behind the movement. I felt my paw start to throb as I pulled it away. Silver stood up on his hind legs, drawing his right hoof back he executed the full-movement punch. His hoof smashes into my stomach with the strength of an earth pony. “Oofff.” I feel the air leave my lungs, and I go sprawling across the mat. I land with a thud, but Silver isn’t done yet. He drops down onto three of his legs using the moment from the movement to bring his hoof down onto my head. Or, it would have if I hadn’t moved my head at the last second. I push my wings into the ground, causing me to fly up a few feet. I balance out in the air, but Silver stays on the ground. I grunt and flap my wings going through the motion for a full frontal assault. At the last second I dodge to the left and land one foreleg on the ground. Swinging my back legs around and plant the other foreleg and buck out with the full momentum of my dive. It catches Silver in the side and sends him skidding across the mat on the floor. I put all four paws down and turn to face Silver. This time he charges me, jumping into the air. He gives one strong pump of his wings, and he’s right in front of me before I can react. I duck down to avoid one punch, just to move right into another. My head flies back and is caught by his other hoof. He slams my head down into the ground, disorienting me. Then he backs off. I’m surprised that Silver would do something like that. Then I remember that it’s just a construct, being controlled by Val. I get up and look at the construct as it fades away into dust. “Why did you do that? I could have recovered from that.” He nodded his head back and forth, “Yeah, I suppose you could have, but you’ve got somewhere to be later today, and you just got out of a cast. I didn't think I should push it.” I huffed, “You’re right, as usual.” I gave him a smile. “How about we go get some lunch?” I’ve still got a few hours.” “Sounds good, Shadow.” Val smiled and turned around, heading for the door. “Come on, I know the perfect place.” I gave a chuckle and followed him out the door. As I made my way into the lobby. Though when I got to the end of the hallway I spotted that Val had stopped and was staring into the lobby. I moved around him and looked at him, “What’s up, Val?” He didn’t look at me, just raised his hoof to point further into the lobby. I looked where he was pointing and felt the color drain from my face. Standing there at the reception desk was the world’s number one duelist, Fraener Dracone. He stood as tall as Celestia herself and had scales as Black as night itself. He had a set of yellow spikes running from the top of his head to the middle of his back, each one getting shorter. His wings were folded into his sides loosely. He seemed to freeze and then he turned around to stare directly at me. “Ah, so you’re Shadow Ironsword, yes?” I stood there dumbfounded for a moment before Val snapped me back to reality with and nudge from his elbow. “Um, yes. My name’s Shadow, and this is-” “I do not care for who the pony is. No offense to him, but I honestly couldn’t care less right now. I’m not here to fight you, Shadow, so you can relax.” I visibly relaxed, the tension leaving my shoulders. “Actually I was looking for your father. As I understand it, he’s the smithy here, correct?” His green, draconic eyes pierced through me with a questioning look. “Yeah, I mean him and, my friend, Platinum Valor. He’s a specialist with weapons that are made with rare materials.” Fraener turned his head to look at Val with a look of renewed interest. “I’m sorry for my rudeness earlier, Platinum Valor. It seems like a great many ponies in this floating city are not exactly welcoming of those who are not like them.” His eyes drifted over to me and lingered a moment before he turned around fully and faced Val. “It’s no problem, Fraener. I understand fully how unwelcoming ponies of Cloudsdale are.” He gave a shaky smile. “So, what was it you needed done? Since you seemed to take interest in my talent, I assume that your weapon was damaged, right?” He seemed shocked that Val could guess something like that. “Yes actually, but I’m not looking for it to be repaired. I’m looking for an entirely new weapon to be forged. Are you familiar with how to work hardened black dragon scales?” Val seemed flabbergasted. “Um, yea, I know the theory on how to work them, and it wouldn’t take me too long to get it down with a proper scale, but they’re so rare and expensive that I’ve never had the chance to work one before. “ “Hmm, truly a shame. I’ll tell you what. If you can make me a proper length and quality Khopesh, I’ll give you a dozen black dragon scales. Sound like a fair deal?” He had a completely serious look on his face. Does he not know how much those are worth in Equestria? I shook my head out and nudged Val in the side. “Uhhh, do you have any idea of the worth of those in Equestria?” Fraener’s eyes narrowed, “Are you saying I am not offering enough? If so, I can take my business elsewhere.” Val hastily corrected, “No, no, no, I’m actually saying that sounds like an incredibly good deal for me. Like the deal of a lifetime.” Fraener’s expression softened considerably, “Oh, is that all? I’m willing to pay for the best. And, as I’ve heard, this forge has produced some of the best blades in Equus.” “You’re damn right it has.” My dad came in from the door to the forge itself, opposite the main entrance. I noticed Fraener stiffen noticeably, almost as if stiffening to attention. “Now, what can I do for you?” A look of confusion crossed Fraener’s face. “You’re not going to ask my name?” Dad scoffed at that, “I already know who you are. You’re Fraener Dracone, best duelist in the world. My son is one of the best duelists in the world. You think I’m not going to scope out his competition a little?” A knowing smile crossed his face. “I’d even bet you’re here to do the same thing, aren’tcha?” Fraener’s eye flicked to me and away so quickly I thought I’d imagined it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He sounded very stiff and unconvincing. My dad picked up on this, but said nothing. He just looked to me and nodded slightly. “Well, can’t argue with that. Anyway’s Valor’s off work for a few days, unless you want to wait for his services specifically I’ll see what I can do about getting you a new sword.” “I think we can at least sketch up a plan for a new sword. Though, from what I hear, Platinum Valor works better with rare metals.” He turned to look at me. “I look forward to our meeting, and spar in a few hours, Shadow.” I swallowed nervously, “Yea, same here.” I held my paw out for a shake. Fraener held out a talon to meet me halfway. When he gripped my paw I had expected it to be crushed from pressure, instead it seemed rather normal. I gave a light smile, “See you in a few hours.” With a small nod Fraener turned back to my dad and they started walking back to the forge area. I turned back to Val with a genuine smile. “So, where’d you have in mind for lunch?”