Nikolai and Twilight walk down the pathway. They had met no other merchants. Nikolai could tell that Twilight was feeling anxious. He decided to talk to her.
"Hey Twilight, you feeling okay?"
Twilight woke up from whatever she was thinking about.
"Yeah. Yeah I feel fine." Her lie was obvious.
"You know? I don't like when people lie to me. It breaks my heart that you won't open up to me and see me as not only your friend, but as someone you don't trust. It hurts." Nikolai was good at the psychological stuff.
"Fine, i'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you like that. I was just worrying about my friends, my magic, chrysalis, and so much. I... I just can't stop thinking about it. And the barbs in my side aren't helping either."
"Twilight, stop and listen. First your friends, We are going to find a way to get you back. Maybe even me. Your magic, I think I have a way to solve that. Chrysalis, she was extremely weakened when we left. I wouldn't be surprised if she was in a coma for being extremely drained, the demon inside me took some of her life when i drained her. Look, I'll take care of you, and I will do it for as long as possible. Remember, I am doing this for you. Now stand up straight and walk with me."
"Okay. Thanks. And Nikolai?"
"Yeah?"
"I... Never mind."
"Okay then."
"Okay. Thanks. And Nikolai?"
"Yeah?"
"I... Never mind."
"Okay then."
Twilight didn't know why she couldn't say that she loved him. Even though she had already kinda admitted it and that Nikolai was okay with that. The only other relationship was with flash sentry for what? 3 days on whatever the hell that planets name was. She wasn't going to count that. And she was wondering what Nikolai's 'plan' was.
Nikolai and Twilight continued down the road. Not much happened. The fields were green, trees full of leaves, road of grey gravel. Not much to take note of. Nikolai kept scanning the area as if he was looking for something. At the farthest range of Nikolai's vision was a white figure with a nearly destroyed sword and shield, Nikolai knew that it was a skeleton warrior left behind a necromancer. The skeleton started to shamble towards the party. Nikolai's hand lit up and he threw a ice blast at the skeleton, he put up his shield and the blast deflected back to Nikolai who had sent back to the skeleton. The two both kept deflected the blast back to each other with the velocity increasing with every reflect. Twilight was getting anxious at would could happen. She had gotten sick of it and picked up a nearby rock and chucked it at the skeleton, hitting his head and stunning it for long enough to be exploded and freeze within seconds of each other.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
"We should be getting close to the castle now."
A couple minutes of walking go by and Twilight can see the walls of the castle. The walls were made of painted steel to look like copper. Nikolai's mood improved at the sight of safety. Nikolai broke into a run with Twilight trying to keep up. As they got close to the castle walls, they were lit up by spotlights on the walls.
"Halt, state your name and business."
"Nikolai Sanders and Twilight Sparkle. We are here on account of the wizards college."
"Oh shit, I didn't realize that it was you, Sanders. You and your companion are good. Just go to the front gate."
"Thanks man."
Nikolai led Twilight to the front gate. Four guards were at the gate, two with long swords and two with steam rifles.
"Oh hey Sanders, never thought you would get back. And who's the lucky girl?" A guard said from a small defense tower to the side of the gate.
"Yeah, a lot happened the past few days, and this is Twilight Sparkle."
"Well sanders, you should get your ass to the college. They are starting to worry."
"Thanks Antonio." The gates open and Twilight sees the first of the city. The buildings were made of wood, stone, and metal. The open gate led to a extremely long road down the middle of the city. Side roads led off the main road to what Twilight assumed were homes, and markets. The streets were busy. Nikolai took Twilight's hand, causing her to blush, and leading her down the road and to the left.
Nikolai and Twilight walked down the side road to a amazing looking building, It was almost entirely made of wood and stone, a small pipe at the top let out what she assumed was steam. On the top left wall was a small turret that had a couple chairs and a cone roof. The roof of the home was flat and had railing on it.
"Wow, is this your home Nikolai?"
"No, this is our home."
Twilight blushed even harder. Nikolai took Twilight inside. This interior was as amazing as the exterior. The walls are blue hardwood, the floor was a soft brown carpeting, the ceiling was gray stone. Assorted decorations are on the walls, at the back of the room were stairs that led to the next floor. A couple sofas and chairs are in the room. A arched doorway led to the kitchen, it was a REAL kitchen. A lot could be made with the tools and machines. She could only imagine how good of a cook Nikolai is. Nikolai went into the kitchen and into a brass fridge, the inside of the fridge was lined with green gel. It seemed like that was making the fridge cold. Nikolai took out a paper box from the fridge.
"Catch." Nikolai tossed the paper box to Twilight.
"What's this?" Twilight caught the box.
"Open it." Twilight took the paper off and revealed a purple like chocolate bar.
"Chocolate?"
"Not just any type of chocolate, wizards chocolate. This kind will change its flavor to what you like most."
"That's awesome." Twilight broke off a square and popped it in her mouth.
"Whoa, Creamy and smooth. Exactly what I like."
"Want to check out the rest of my house?"
"Sure." Twilight ate another square of the chocolate.
Nikolai took Twilight up another floor. The floor was the same as the first floor. The walls this time were made of black stained stone. The ceiling was gray stone. Tables are set up around the room with various alchemist constructs and circular tables with different runes and setups. A small hallway next to the stairway led into 3 spare and 1 master bedroom.
"What's all these chemistry tables for?"
"I get a lot of my money from selling potions to merchants and adventurers."
"And what about these tables with runes and stuff?"
"Enchanting and creation."
"Ah okay." Twilight felt a pain in her side and keeled over.
"Ah shit that hurts."
"Okay, we are taking you to the college.
Nikolai Sweeps Twilight off her feet and carries her down the side roads to avoid attention. Nikolai goes to the center of the castle and up the steps to a pyramid like building. At the top the guards carrying their steam rifles let them in. The top of the pyramid was roofed and in the middle was a table, a chair, and a couple students have some tea. The students saw Nikolai and got excited that he was back.
"Hey Nikolai, where the hell were you?"
"Long story, but my companion needs medical attention."
"What happened."
"Raider got her side with a barbed shell."
"Okay, we are going to get master to watch over us."
"Okay, hurry."
The students ran down a set of stairs in the corner.
"Twilight, we are going to get the barbs out."
"Thank you."
The students came back up with a older man in a dark purple robe and simple sandals. His short hair was grey, his skin was almost ghost white. His eyes were the deepest purple. He had a beard that was a little messy.
"Alright, what's the meaning of thi.... ah, Sanders. I was wondering when you would come back. You look different, what happened to those icy eyes?"
"A lot happened, I also have wings now." Nikolai lifted his robe with his right wing and showed it to him.
The students were fascinated at this.
"Nikolai... did you make that potion I told you to never make?"
"Look, I died and that potion gave me another chance, and it saved my companions life in turn. So yes S'under."
"Hmm, and your wand?"
"Exploded and killed me when I engaged in a willpower battle."
"Destroyed?"
"Yeah."
"How are you going to do magic now?"
"Yeah, about that..."
Nikolai's hand lit up ice blue.
"I see, well with this power, you can no longer be an apprentice, you now are granted the title of sorcerer."
"Thank you, but i need you to help my companion." Nikolai motioned his head to Twilight in his arms.
"Okay, Edward, if you are able to succeed you will become a journeyman.
A smaller student came forth in white robes. He took out his wand that was made of willow with a phoenix feather in the cap.
"Okay lay her on this cloth." The student rolled out white cloth with runes dotted around.
Nikolai put her on the cloth. The student took a look around the wound and found the barbs.
"Yeah, these are poison tipped barbs. Don't worry i'll get them out."
"The student pointed his wand towards the first barb. The wand and the barb lit up white. He pulled back and the barb did the same motion. S'under nodded and the student did this for 8 more barbs, Twilight didn't feel a thing. After the bards were removed, the student healed the flesh on her wound, like nothing even happened.
"Hey Nikolai, what are these scars from?"
Yeah, we kinda got captured and tortured. I got it worse so i could use that life ring i had for a while." Nikolai took off his robe and showed the students and S'under.
"Wow, you made a sacrifice to save her. That's special, most people wouldn't do that."
Nikolai put his robe back on. Twilight got up from the cloth and went to Nikolai. The student rolled his cloth back up and put it in his robes pocket.
"And also, long story, but Twilight lost her magic."
"Twilight, I like that name. But how did she lose her magic?"
"Well.... when we came here she lost her magic, she was extremely powerful but it's just gone. I can still sense her mana pool inside her, so she can still use mana."
"Hmm, come back tommorow and we might have a solution. Thomas search the library for arcane tapping volume one."
"Yes master." A boy with a red robe ran down the stairs.
"Thank you both for helping me." Twilight finally spoke up.
"A beautiful voice for a beautiful name."
"Thank you."
"Yes thank you very much."
"No problem Nikolai and Twilight."
Nikolai and Twilight went down the steps and down the main road and back to Nikolai's home. Nikolai took Twilight to the roof. The roof itself was made of marble. What Twilight didn't see from the front of the house was Nikolai's airship docked to the house by a bridge, she imminently got excited.
"I remember you wanted to fly on one."
Nikolai smiled at Twilight's excitement.
"YES, can we fly?"
"Of course, ladies first."
Twilight got on the airship, it was a good size, it had a good sized cabin and a ladder to go into the hull. on the front was a twin barreled HEAT cannon, it looked to be on tracks so you can move it back and to the sides if need be. The balloon itself was made of armored hide like Twilight's flight suit. It was already set to take it to a set altitude. Nikolai came in after Twilight and went into the cabin and to the controls.
"Twilight above you is a cable, your flight suit has a lock hook, hook to the cable."
Twilight took the hook from the her back and hooked it to the cable.
"And put these on."
Nikolai tossed Twilight a pair of flight goggles with purple lenses. Twilight put them on.
"Okay, I need to do a quick check on some things and then we will be off."
Nikolai got out of the cabin and went up front and looked over the gun. He opened the top and put two HEAT ammo belts into both breaches. Nikolai closed the top, and connected a hose to the side of the gun, a gauge labeled psi. maxed out. Next Nikolai went below deck and looked over the turbine, all was good. Nikolai went back up into the cabin and put on his cyan flight goggles.
"Set course for where ever the hell Twilight wants to go."
The bridge to the house retracted and the airship started to go up, Twilight was a little freaked but got used to it. The airship went out past the walls, to explore Al'gathoria.