> Dawn of the Arcane > by The Library > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Release of Power > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was supposed to be a day full of joy and wonder, the union between Shining Armor captain of the Canterlot royal army and princess Mi'amor Cadenza or Cadence for short. They found each other while Cadence was the foal sitter of Twilight, the little sister of Shining Armor and personal protege of Princess Celestia. But their plans have been ruined a creature who needs to feed of Love to keep on going. Taking Cadences place alongside Shining Armor she was able to gain so much love that she became more powerful every minute she was close to him. She imprisoned Cadence deep under the city in the crystal caverns of Canterlot. Caverns long forgotten by pony kind yet found by the cheeky changeling queen to use it as a prison and tomb for the now forever trapped Cadence. But Twilight started to get suspicious about the 'Cadence' that was with her brother. She was always in an ill mood and took it out on her friends while they were not even aware of the coming danger. Soon after Twilight thought she finally revealed the truth about her so called foal sitter, she was turned down by her friends, her brother and worst of all her own teacher. The looks of disappointment still fresh in her mind she collapsed on the very stairs she was standing on. Not a moment later the 'fake' Cadence walked in. "Oh my dear Twilight, you were so close. Yet your friends don't believe you, even Celestia disapproved of your behavior. But you know too much dear Twilight," The eyes of Cadence turned a sick poison green with slit pupils. "Therefore I must dispose of you, it's not personal. It's purely business." Her horn was surrounded by an icky green aura as green flames surrounded Twilight sinking her through the floor into the caverns below Canterlot. A maniacal laugh echoed through the great hall as Twilight disappears from sight. Chrysalis's laughter soon died down to a evil chuckle as she left the hall to prepare herself for her great day. Deep down in the caverns Twilight awoke as she slowly rose from the ground. She looked around the cavern she was in. The walls and ceiling were completely covered with green glowing crystals, which seems to light the entire system of halls and paths. She was pulled from her thoughts as an evil laughter echoed through the crystal halls. Soon after the laughter died down a face of Cadence appeared in one of the larger crystals on the ground. "W-where am I!" Demanded Twilight as she glared at the image. "My, my. Demanding aren't we?" Cadence chuckled. "You are deep within the Crystal caverns underneath Canterlot castle, don't you worry little Twilight. Ponies have forgotten these caverns even existed, because this is the final resting place for those who were greedy enough to enter this mace of crystal and stone." The image shifted to another crystal as Twilight used her magic to shoot a bolt of energy which bounced off the mirror like surface into another crystal which sent the bolt back towards Twilight missing her by a hair. The image chuckled as she taunted Twilight even more. "Yes Twilight, shoot me!" she laughed as she switched from crystal to crystal as Twilight soon blew through the crystal wall. revealing a beaten Cadence. Her hair is a complete mess and her coat is filled with grim and dirt, she looked up at Twilight as her eyes widen. But her moment of joy was soon over as Twilight jumped her with rage in her eyes. Twilight readied her horn for another blast as the real Cadence used her forelegs to shield her face. "Please don't hurt me!" She begged as a lone tear rolled down her cheek. "How do I know you're not a fake?!" Twilight asked with a loud voice. Cadence thought for a moment before facing Twilight. "Sunshine, sunshine, Ladybugs awake." She said with a really small smile on her face. "Clap your hoofs and do a little shake." She clapped her hoofs together as she soon covered her face once again waiting for the beating, which never came. She soon felt a pair of hoofs wrap around her neck as the soft sobs of the young Twilight sounded from her neck. "It is you." She said as she tightened her embrace. "I knew she was a fake, but I'm so glad you're ok." She released Cadence from her grip as she walked out of the small chamber Cadence was held in. "We need to get out of here, we have no time to lose or I might lose my brother to a love eating bug." The two mares wandered around the cavern looking for the exit or entrance. The passed many rooms and path ways but all lead to a dead end. As hope seems to drip of them the more dead ends they find, they found a hidden chamber deep within the cavern. The chambers entrance was blocked by two giant crystals, but the two managed to get through with a little to no problems using magic to blast a hole through them. The chamber itself was empty but at the very end two large iron doors caught the mares attention. The doors were made from a sturdy metal covered with unknown runes which seem to flicker ever so slightly. When Twilight placed a hoof against one of the doors the runes disappeared. Completely in awe of what happened Cadence placed her hoof against the other giving the same result. Not a moment later when the runes disappeared, a harsh wind blasted the two mares back to the entrance of the chamber. Several metallic clicks echoed through the empty chamber, soon the door opened which gives way to another chamber only this one contained a glass floor with three giant heads on each side of the wall. At the very end of the chamber a glowing plate circle was presented at the two as they slowly approached the device. Slowly Twilight moved her hoof towards the metal plate as she was about to touch it Cadence stopped her. "Twilight what are you doing?" She asked in concern. "We do not know what this thing does, maybe we blow up the entire city!" "Cadence, we don't know for sure unless we test it. I don't care what happens when I touch it, all I want is to stop that changeling." She replied with a serious look on her face. Cadence knew that when she had that face nothing could talk her out of it so she released a sigh in defeat as she nods her head at Twilight. "Alright, I trust you Twilight. Just make sure we stay alive." As Twilight returns it with a nod of her own she silently placed her hoof on the glowing plate. nothing happened yet, so she pressed the one button on the plate as the plate moved upwards opening up a status screen. On the screen a red dot suddenly turned green as a roaring sound echoed through the entire chamber. In fear of what Twilight might have awakened she falls to the ground grabbing her head in fear as she was shaking like a leaf. Awaiting her end Cadence waited, but nothing happened. The only thing that happened is that the entire chamber is now lit up by orbs on the walls. She looked around the room in awe as her train of thoughts were interrupted by a voice coming from one of the head which glowed a red color in the eyes. "Engine matrix activated; Welcome Khad'gar." The voice said in a monotone. "Who said that!" Yelled Twilight across the chamber. "Voice not recognized. Starting brief memory back up." the voice replied as the ground behind Twilight and Cadence started to light up. In the middle of the room a large orb appeared which strangely looks like Equis. "Starting history. Thousands of years ago, titans forged this planet. gave it life and build their machines guarded by the earthen. Definition earthen; Elemental watchers of planet Azeroth before planetary purge. created from stone, soon formed race Dwarfs. The earthen call this the curse of flesh. turning dead matter into living tissue." The voice explained as pictured of short bipedal creatures showed up in the room. Twilight and Cadence watched in awe at the sight. Twilight suddenly remembered something as she turned around to face the giant stone head. "Wait, you said something about the 'purge' of Azeroth. Please explain." "Command accepted. Explaining planetary purge; Titans sent heralds to planets to scan for errors in the planets system. Once an error is found the herald has two options. Option one; sent message alpha, confirming stable planetary system. Option two; sent message omega, reporting system corruption requesting planetary purge." "Dwarf called Brann Bronzbeard found herald of the titans after finding planetary corruption. Herald sent message omega before Brann could reprogram messaging system. Resulting in planetary purge. Reducing population from one point two million to one. Only surviving organism stored in the earth before planetary purge. Starting awakening process." Once the voice finished a loud sissing noise entered the chamber as a large block of solid ice is raised from the ground. Twilight slowly walked towards the block of ice as she could see a small, really small person inside. it had a pale skin and blonde hair. "What is that?" asked Cadence to Twilight. But the voice beat her to it. "Sophia Springlock, race: Gnome. Age: 29. Gender: Female. Once proud Battle mage of the Kirin'Tor, lead by Jaina Proudmore daughter of General Proudmore. Was orphan soon after birth, suffers heterochromia, no close friends or family. Fled to Loch Modan after escaping Gnomeregan due to high radiation levels. Went to the city of Dalaran to study under the Kirin'Tor. Froze herself after near death in quicksand. Appearance here: unknown." As the voice kept on talking about the gnomes background, energy levels started to raise dramatically, the ice where the gnome was in started to crack and moan under the pressure. Slowly but surely light began to pour out of the cracks lighting the room even more. Twilight can Cadence quickly turned around as they felt the energy within the ice. "Warning, drastically raising energy detected within the prison. Emergency lock down activated." The voice said as the two massive door quickly shut and locking them in place. Twilight desperately ran towards the entrance but wasn't fast enough as they were now locked within the chamber with no way of getting out. All they could do was wait for the energy to erase them from existence. The light nearly covered the entire room as the cracks connected with each other, breaking the ice and releasing a burst of energy sending Twilight and Cadence into the wall behind them knocking them out cold. > Awakening > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Switching to first person view: Sophia.) Everything was dark, I was cold. Well colder than normal, I tried to look around but I only could see the faint lighting on the faces of what seems like an Archivum. Wait... I'm somewhere in the Storm peaks? That would explain the cold, but something is off. There are two large energy sources nearby but I can't even see my own feet! which is bad since I am rather small. My train of thoughts were interrupted by two low moans which seem to come from the sides of the room. I flared my hands levitating a flame to light up the room enough for me to see what's inside. To my surprise I found two horses? Nah, they are too small to be horses. can know, I need to open a portal to mount a horse. With me being me I poked the ponies, as I will call them for now, with my finger. They stirred at my touch as one of them, the purple one, opened its eyes blinking to adjust to the light in the room. I don't blame it, a flame can be a little bright close up. But what happened next surprised even me, the purple pony locked eyes with my own as a strange purple aura surrounded the horn on its head. The tip of the horn slowly started to form a small orb which got larger with the second. 'I've got a bad feeling about this.' I thought as I quickly used my evanesce spell Which made the orb of magic fly through me. I looked behind me as saw the orb hit the Control panel blowing it up. The lights of the Archivum soon died down as the room was soon filled with darkness. "Great job pony!" I scowled at the purple pony in front of me. "You had to use that orb to blow up the control panel. Now we're stuck here for god knows how long." The pony seems to understand what I am saying because it looked at me with a look of awe and then lowered its head in shame. I sighed as I looked around the room which my flame illuminated. "Now to find a way out of here..." I said to myself as I soon felt a hoof touch my shoulder. I turned around as I saw the pink one stand behind me, it was a little taller then I was. "What you want, you need to pee or something?" I asked as I turned back to continue my thoughts on how to get out of this bloody chamber. "Eh, no... I don't need to use the toilet." I looked back at the pony which I will now call a her since I now know for sure. 'You've got to be bloody kidding me.' I thought to myself as I stared at her with an empty expression. 'First I get locked with two ponies, now I'm locked with two TALKING ponies. My day just got better.' The pink one cleared her throat to get my attention back to her. "Well sorry we couldn't say something earlier, we were just cautious towards you since you knocked us both out cold when you broke free from the ice." 'Ice, I was trapped in ice? I can't recall me trapping myself in ice, by the titans how many years have passed?!' my thoughts were once again interrupted by a slap in the face from the purple pony. "Ouch! what was that for!" I yelled at her as she had a smug smile on her face. I rubbed my cheek to reduce the pain. "Sorry, I thought it was needed since you zoned out there for a moment." She replied rubbing the back of her neck with her hoof. "Well thank you then. But I got a question, how in the name of the titans did you manage to find a working Archivum?!" I partly yelled as I looked at both the ponies. But when I finished I noticed they suddenly became extremely down about something. They sat down on the cold glass floor as they told the story about how they got here and why they wanted to escape this system of paths and chambers. "So let me get this straight, you were supposed to get married today but you were kidnapped and locked away in these forgotten caverns by an insect like demon who feeds off love from one another?" "Well yes, that's about the whole story." Cadence confirmed. She and twilight were sitting in front of me watching me with their physically impossible huge eyes. I scratched the back of head for a moment. "Well then, you don't have to worry about a thing." I said with a smug smile. "And how is that?" asked Twilight. "We're stuck here in, what it's called?" "It's called an Archivum." I replied "We're stuck in an Archivum deep within the crystal caverns with no option for escape!" She yelled in my face. I wiped her saliva from my face with my hand and wiped it clean on my pants. "Time doesn't exist within an Archivum. It's something the Titans left here to control the area around the Archivum, without that they had to worry about the time flow." I replied to her as I chuckled lowly. "So, you're saying they time stopped the moment we entered the Archivum?" asked Cadence with a slight look of unbelief. "Yup, that sums it up for most of it. It goes WAY deeper than this, but I won't bother telling you about it. way to advanced for you to understand." "Try me." said Twilight with a smirk. "I don't have time for this Twilight." I said as I walked towards the massive doors. "All I know is that I need to make sure you two get out of this place." I places my hand on one of the doors as I sent a pulse of arcane energy through the doors mechanics. I knew the doors were on lock-down due to my explosive escape. But when Twilight demolished the control panel, all locks were shut down and the doors stay where they are. "Alright, I have a way for us to escape. But as soon as we leave the chamber time will continue and from what I can gather you two have about five minutes to reach the main hall where the wedding is being held." I said as I focused my mana flow to my hands. Twilight watched in awe as she could feel the magic flow through the air towards my hands. Twilight slowly backed away as did Cadence. The moment I closed my hands the doors groaned and moaned as they are slowly compressed under the immense pressure of my magic. Both doors were pulled from their frames as I crushed them into two balls the size of a medium bolder. I looked over my shoulder and noticed that Twilight and Cadence were watching me with jaws nearly hitting the ground. It was a very amusing sight as I burst out laughing. "By the titans! Your expressions, just priceless!" I laughed as my stomach started to hurt. "You two should see your own faces, sadly I didn't take a picture." My laughter slowly died down into a hearth chuckle as I noticed Twilight and Cadence approach me. "Now that I opened our way into the caverns, would you please-" I was interrupted by the sound of wedding music on the background. "It seems we are running out of time, I have one idea but that would mean we have to crash the current wedding. But looking at the current situation it seems it's our only option." Twilight and Cadence looked at each other and gave a nod. I grinned evilly and mentioned them over. "Alright you two, please hold on tight. This is going to be a bumpy ride!" I yelled as I tapped my mana pool shooting us into the air through the stone ceiling towards our destination, The main wedding hall. > Literal breakthrough > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Switch point of view: Celestia.) This was a momentous moment for everyone here in Canterlot. My niece marrying my captain of the royal guard, Shining Armor. I was standing at the top near the altar taking the role as a priest to bind Cadence and Shining Armor. But I found it rather strange that Twilight was still absent near her friends, I may have over reacted towards her during the rehearsal. But I didn't think it would make this much of an impact. I was soon pulled from my thoughts as the music started to play, which indicates that the bride has entered the hall and that the wedding was about to start. I smiled towards Shining Armor, who looked really nervous for some reason, then to Twilights friends who looked concerned about Twilight. Cadence reached the altar and stood next to Shining Armor. I smiled at the both of them and cleared my throat silencing the hall as I started. "Welcome Ladies and Gentlecolts, we are here gathered today to witness the binding between Shining Armor and Princess Mi'amor Cadenza. If there is someone who wants to speak against this marriage, would that pony please speak now." The entire hall stayed silent, but before I could continue the entire hall started to shake and vibrate. Everypony looked around in panic what was going on as in the middle of the hall the ground started to crack. I quickly reacted and teleported all the ponies nearby to safety without the chance of somepony falling in. To my shock the crack expended and suddenly stopped, as I walked down the altar towards the crack the ground exploded into a dozen pieces. (Switch point of view: Sophia.) As soon as I touched the rock I blasted through it without any trouble, I could feel Twilight and Cadence hold on for their lives as I soon broke through the last layer of stone. Dust and ruble surrounded me and my two clients, who still have their eyes closed. I focused on my hand and with a wave all the dusk disappeared. leaving me, Twilight and Cadence in the middle of a well decorated hall filled with many shocked ponies and a really pissed off looking mare with a colorful flowing mane, which by the way RADIATED energy. The huge mare looked beyond pissed as soon as she spotted the state Twilight was in. She soon shifted her glare RIGHT into my own as I nearly fell backwards on the raw power she possess. "Eh, hello there." I said with a low voice, but before I could say more I was surrounded by a powerful golden aura, as I looked towards the huge mare I noticed her horn was glowing. as her glare intensified I felt my bones break and my muscles rip. I roared out in pain as slowly lifted my hand to fire a counter attack. But my concentration was broken by the yelling of Twilight who rushed towards the white mare. "Please stop Celestia!" Twilight begged. "Twilight, that 'thing' nearly killed ten ponies by arriving like this. Why should I stop?" she questioned as her eyes never left mine. "Because 'she' is friendly! She helped me and Cadence escape the Crystal Caverns and many more, it's a bit of a long story." Her gaze softened as she canceled the spell she was casting on me as I fell to the ground groaning in pain. "Bloody hell! I think she broke a few ribs." I yelled as I hit the ground. Twilight quickly rushed to my side and helped me up while Cadence walked towards Celestia. "Please everypony Listen to me!" She yelled into the hall. "She is a changeling! she replaced me to feed off Shinings' love for me, she locked me deep within the Caverns underneath Canterlot. I was locked and left there to die, but Twilight found out about her plans and freed me from my prison." Suddenly one of the five ponies, who I guess were the brides maids, and pointed towards me. "Who is that then?" Now it was my turn to speak up, I slowly stood up not to strain the broken ribs. "I am Sophia Springlock! Battle mage of the Kirin'Tor, and freed by Twilight and Cadence from my eternal slumber deep within the Crystal Caverns." I slowly turned my attention to the white mare which raised an eyebrow at me as I pointed a finger at her. "And you do well not to attack someone before asking questions, got it? I might be friendly, but those who attack me will get to feel my power!" I yelled at her as I hissed and grasp my chest as I kneeled down in pain. "Applejack, is she speaking the truth?" Asked the white mare not leaving my gaze. "As much as Ah thought she wasn't, she is tellin' tha truth." replied the orange pony named Applejack. Everyone was just trying to get everything together, why is there a small person in the hall and why does she keep glaring at Cadence next to Celestia. "Oh before I forget, this is for locking Twilight and Cadence!" I yelled as I shot two arcane orbs rolling around each other knocking the Cadence next to Celestia into the wall behind her. "But on the other side I have to thank you, if you didn't lock them in the Crystal Caverns they would have never found me." I smirked at her as suddenly green flames surround her. Her form quickly changed from pink and kind of fluffy to a walking green Swiss cheese? "Mhmm, clever little insect." she said in a demonic voice. 'Who is she calling insect?' I thought as I raised an eyebrow at her. "But I can't let you live, you already interfered with my plans for too long. Pity, you could have been a great addition to my little army." She proclaimed as she started her hysterical laughter. Which sounded more like a evil giggle then something I would take seriously. While the Swiss cheese insect like pony 'giggles' evilly I chanted an ancient spell allowing me to walk past the flow of time. allowing me to avoid harm of any kind, yet it takes a lot of my mana recourse and it takes a while to cast. While I was busy chanting my spell outside of the hall purple pinkish shards fall down towards the ground as masses and masses of insect like ponies fly down in a fury of green fire, causing explosions everywhere in the city making the ground shake. "Now, it's time for me to take what belongs to me!" she yelled as she fires a magical beam from her horn towards Celestia who quickly tried to counter it with a beam of her own, but I could feel that the green queen was way more powerful than Celestia. Which is why after a few dramatic seconds the princess crashes into the wall behind her knocking her out cold. "Celestia!" Twilight yelled as she ran towards her teacher to help her, but was stopped by a green sticky goo around her hooves which disabled her for the moment. "Let us go!" Yelled the blue pony with a rainbow colored mane as she struggles to get loose. "Oh little foolish ponies, I can't just let you go. You are all part of my master plan, and I plan not to lose against the likes of you." She hissed a little as she turned her gaze towards me. Once her gaze met mine, my eyes started to glow a pale blue as energy is being sucked to the middle of the hall where I was standing. A faint yellow clock was floating above my head as it seems to slow down the longer I chant the spell. Once I finished chanting the spell took effect as everything around me slowed down till no one moved. I took the opportunity to take out a healing potion from my satchel to heal my bruised or slightly broken ribs. I quickly put the empty bottle away to save time since the spell will soon be wearing off. I ran to the nearest window looking outside spotting an entire army of those bug ponies. Without a second thought I channeled arcane energy into my hands and around my body, forming bright arcane missiles as time slowly started to move forward. When my energy reached its peak the time was flowing normally once again. I heard several gasps of surprise as they noticed I was gone. I quickly pointed my hands out the window sending a barrage of arcane missiles fly towards the descending army of changelings. "Nooo!!" yelled the changeling queen as she saw her minions falling one by one. She glared daggers at me like I killed a puppy. "How dare you, HOW DARE YOU!" she yelled even louder as she charged at me at neck breaking speed. I could easily move to the side as she was full of openings, all I was doing was waiting for the enemy to make their first attack. predict their moves and try to see how they are going to counter a certain attack or move so I can take her off guard. Once she was nearly in front of me I raised one hand to grab her horn and use it to my advantage, I noticed that her focus shifted from my face to my hand as her horn glowed green as my hand stops in mid air before I could grab her horn. "You are so easy to read little worm, trying to grab a changelings horn to use it against them. Clever but it's the oldest trick in the book." She said as she smirked at me for seeing through my attempt. But she was about to learn an important lesson. "Good you saw what I was going to do, clever indeed. but there is one thing you clearly forgot." I said to her as she looked at me in confusion. "We mages are trained for these situations, and you forgot I have another arm." This time it was my turn to smirk as I fired a single orb of arcane energy at her face causing her to release her magical grab on my arm and stumble back. By the time she stood back on her hooves I was once again busy with her minions in the sky above the city. This is where I made a critical mistake, for me to use those arcane missiles I need to focus on one or more targets in sight. But that makes my back a weak spot in my defense for I heard one of the ponies yell "Watch out!". But before I could turn I was hit in the back by a green energy beam which left a nasty burn on my cloths and back causing me to hiss in pain as I grabbed the edge of the window causing small pieces of glass to enter the skin on my hands drawing blood. I slowly pulled myself up causing the glass to get deeper into my hand, I rather have glass in my hand then being flat on the stone streets below. Once I was back in the great hall I was face to face with the giggling Swiss cheese changeling who cowardly shot me in the back. her horn was once again glowing green as I felt myself being lifted off the floor into the air and then violently thrown against the granite wall on the other side of the hall. I heard twilight and the other ponies gasp and call my name, but they were getting more feint by the minute as my vision turned blurry as I soon lost conscious. (3rd person POV) the entire hall was silent after the changeling queen smashed Sophia into the wall on the other side of the hall. Celestia was still on her ground unconscious as twilight and her friends yelled out Sophia's name. Her eyes locked with twilights as she soon lost conscious which made the queen chuckle as she slowly walked towards the now unconscious Sophia. "Such a shame." She said as she picks Sophia up in her levitation spell. "You're smart I give you that, but it only seems you play along the fair rules. You should have known that ponies tend to 'forget' these rules. So sad." she dropped Sophia on the floor with a loud thud. which earned a groan from the little gnome. (Twilight POV) I can't believe it, Such a cheap shot. And I thought ponies still had some honor when it came to fighting. I guess I have a lot to learn about these things. 'I need to do something, but with the power of Shining and her own combined I won't stand a chance against her one on one.' I thought as I saw Cadence look at Shining with tears in her eyes, while Shining was sitting on his rump, drooling and holding a distant look on his face. The I had an idea. I used my magic to free myself. 'Why didn't I think of that in the first place?' as I silently moved towards Cadence. I poked my hoof on her shoulder as she slowly turns towards me. "Cadence I need you to go to Shining armor. I believe only your love for him might break the spell." I told her as I pointed at Shining. "Twilight, are you sure about this? Even Sophia couldn't stop her then why do you think freeing Shining will make a difference?" She replied as she lowers her head. "Cadence it's our only shot, we need to stop her. For Sophia's sake." I said with my head held high. Cadence looked at me with a small smile on her face as I used my magic to release her from the sticky goo. She slowly made her way towards Shining. (Sophia POV) 'I can't believe I was blindsided by that green insect!' I thought as I drifted through the eternal darkness of my conscious. After I get knocked out I show up in my own conscious to speed up the healing process which might take a few hours at its max. This time was slightly different, from what I can gather is that after I hit the wall my mind was open for anyone to enter, it's something I can't control and it seems that the Swiss cheese insect made clever use of that opportunity to browse through my memories, causing me to relive every horrible and just painful memory about my life, from the death of my parents, to the near destruction of Dalaran and the time a guy asked me out to soon later rob me of my virginity and my gold. Now I was beyond angry, my flame was now a raging inferno. She dared to enter my head, use my memories against me. She hoped she could break me by showing these images, all she did was awaken the flame deep inside my soul. I closed my mind's eye, banning the unwanted presence from my mind. Soon after I felt the presence no longer I regained my conscious, I opened my eyes to be face to face with the changeling who had the guts to enter my mind. I could see she was confused how I was able to cast her out. "How... How did you do that. Answer me!" She yelled gritting her teeth. "I'll tell you how I did that, it's because you made the biggest mistake in your little life. You made me relive all those events in my past up till the part where my parents died in front for me." I told her as I started to gather all the energy I can muster. "You made me see the horrors of the past, everything that has happened in the span of mere a thousand years." "But how! Every time I do this to a pony they tremble in fear, they lose hope. Why isn't it happening to you!" she demanded as she stomps her hoof on the stone floor. "Because I remember why I live and why I fight, instead of making me fear you, it gives me all the more reason to destroy you." I replied as I reached my energy peak, "Because there is nothing you can do to stop me." I closed my eyes for a moment before opening them a second later as they glow a bright bluish color. I released the energy in the form of an arcane explosion, sending the queen into the wall next to the white pony as energy cracked over my body. As I stood on the floor once again I made my way towards the groaning queen, my eyes are still glowing as I stood in front of the queen. She locked eyes with me as I took hold of her jagged horn. "I Sophia Springlock, Mage of the Kirin'Tor will judge you guilty for crimes against the lives of ponies and now gnomes alike. By the laws of the Kirin'Tor these crimes can only be punished by death." I said as I raised my hand as an orb of arcane energy hovers above it. "May the Titans have mercy on this sou-." I was interrupted as I felt a large magical presence nearby. I quickly dismissed the orb as I turned around to face the source. But what I saw only made me drop my jaw on the ground. Cadence was near the stallion, named Shining Armor I believe, nuzzling him and giving him a kiss. But what really made my nearly piss my pants is that when they touched horns their energy reached levels higher then my own. A purple/pinkish barrier appeared around them that expanded at an alarming rate causing to make the Swiss cheese changeling to scream as she is launched out of the window. I shielded my eyes with my arm as the light faded away. I quickly looked around the room and saw Cadence and Shining somehow floating in the air before slowly returning to the ground as they once again shared a passionate kiss. "Well that also solves the problem." I said as I once again fell on the ground unconscious. > Recovering and yet still annoyed. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The next day, At least that is what I thought, I awoke from my slumber I found myself in a very fluffy and warm bed, I somehow can't recall what happened yesterday. I somehow knew I was fighting a Swiss cheese bug pony who giggled instead of laughing, blasting more of those bugs out of the air. But other than that it is all blank. I was quickly pulled from my thoughts as the door on the other side of the room opened up revealing Twilight and the five ponies I saw at the wedding. Twilight was the first to run towards me and wrapping her hooves around my waist in a rather tight hug. "Thanks goodness you're awake!" She yelled in my, by the way naked, belly which tickled a little with her muzzle and all that. But I was way too busy with being crushed by Twilight so I didn't really have the time. "Glad to..... be awake.... please.... BONES!" I groaned. She quickly released me as she released a squeak while holding a sheepish smile on her muzzle. "Sorry Sophia, it's just that you've been out for over a week and I started to get worried I would lose you." her bottom lip quivered as she looked at me with the largest eyes I've EVER seen. "By the Titans, please stop that look. You might kill me with those eyes alone." I looked at her in fear as I smirked at her. I snipped my fingers as a small poof sounded in the room. Around me was a small cloud of white smoke that hid me from everyone else in the room. Once the smoke cleared away everyone gasped in surprise as there was a second Twilight on the bed making the same face as she did a moment ago. "What the... Sophia." The real Twilight said as I copied her with her voice at the same time. Twilight looked like she would get a metal breakdown as I canceled the illusion spell that I cast around myself. "How did you do that!" She asked as she once again nearly knocked me out of my bed. "Easy Twilight, it was merely a simple illusion spell. Not really a big deal." I told her not wanting a long threaded question session about how and why I did that. But then realization hit me. "Wait, I was out for an entire week?! How is that even possible, back at home I can't even sleep till a few minutes after sun rise and now you tell me I have slept for over a WEEK!" I practically yelled right in her face to make my disbelieve clear to her. She quickly shoved a hoof over my mouth, which tasted like hay and dirt, to silence me. Then she went on explaining what happened after I collapsed in the great hall, it seems the spell Twilights brother and Cadence cast, was a repelling spell which only works on creatures with an corrupted heart. Still hard to believe though, I know a magical barrier when I see one, and yet I refuse to believe only the once with a pure heart went through the shield. My internal rand was interrupted by a loud knock on the door as two guards entered before I could even say 'come in'. "We present to you Princess Celestia of Equestria." They declared as tall and white entered my room, without asking of course. I raised an eyebrow at her as she looked at me with a skeptical look on her face. "I thought you'd be more muscular after your feats during the invasion." She said as she kept staring at me which was starting to get really creepy. She walked towards me as she stopped right next to me as her horn lights up golden hue as I felt the same feeling I felt when she had me in a telepathic grip. Since I now know how to counter it, I chanted "Arcane barrier." as a purplish blue aura surround me shutting off any connections her magic had on me. Which earned a gasp from the sun-butt, to which the guards raised their spears ready to poke me right in the chest. "Sophia what did you do!?" Twilight yelled at me as I kept my barrier up. "I'm protecting myself Twilight, who knows what she might do. after what she did to me before she even met me." I growled at her as I snapped my fingers getting myself dressed. "I'm willing to talk, but only with you and not with your sad excuse of guards." I told her as I walked towards the widow which was a little high for me. "How dare you speak to the princess in such way!" The rainbow mane mare shouted as I glared at her. "Polymorph: Black sheep!" I said as the mare disappeared in a puff of smoke leaving a confused looking sheep at the place where she once was. "Let that be a warning to all of you." I told the group, "and don't worry the spell will wear off in, three, two, one..." another puff of smoke appears as the mare was back as she used to be. only more scared. "Sophia, what's wrong with you. What happened to the funny little gnome I got to know." Twilight said as she looked like as could burst out crying at any moment, maybe I reacted a little harsh. I turned around and pulled Twilight in a little hug. "Sorry about that, I'm a little tense after what happened between sun-butt and me. and the rainbow mare didn't help one bit." I told her ask I kept my eyes on the mare which seem to get more uncomfortable every second I look at her. I quickly turned my attention to the window at the right side of my room as I walked towards it, since ponies aren't that tall, I could somehow reach the window and open it to let fresh air flow into the now silent room apart from the breathing of everyone in this room. As I stared into the outside world I remembered a song, my mother used to sing for me. I always enjoyed her singing since her voice wasn't high pitched like most gnomes have, It was a song about a prince and an angle. "Sophia, what kind of song is that you were humming?" Twilight asked me as I was unaware that I was humming the melody of the song. "It's a song my mother used to sing for me, it's about a prince who had everything but yet lacked the most important thing in a person's life. Love." I told her as I kept my gaze on the clear afternoon sky, watching the ponies and nobles go on with their day. "Maybe you can sing it for us? if you want of course." Asked the butter yellow pegasus. "I could, but I need to remember the lyrics. It's been over millennia since my mother last sang the song for me." I closed my eyes trying to recall the song as I somehow managed to find pieces and glue them together. I took a deep breath as I hummed the intro of the song.. Once upon a time there was a charming prince, warm soul and arms of steel, but luckless on his love... Once upon a time an angel prayed for him. They had a destiny... Remember it... Please, remember it... Though out of nowhere different instruments played, flutes, violins, drums. They seems to intensify as the song progressed. Though the shadows tried to keep our hearts away forever!!! it never came true... My love was within you... Once upon a time there was an evil hag, was known as Lady Dark, who made me wonder... And before I knew it, she poisoned my heart... And drowned yours with this sorrow and you're gone, and I'm just torn... Please forgive me!! Please forgive me!!! don't be apart of me... I'll keep remembrances of you until heaven takes me, with him... I'll need it to survive!!... without your love!! Please remember me... Ooh! oh, please remember me.. just remember me... 'Cause I'll remember you. Once the song ended and the sound of the mysterious instruments disappeared, I released a breath of relief. It was years since I last sang, yet I still have it. I leaned against the wood of the window frame as I felt several hoofs touch me back and the sound of silent sniffles. I turned around to face the group of ponies to see some happy faces and some faces filled with emotion. "I must say Sophia, that was beautiful. I now understand why you like the song so much to even remember after all those years." Celestia said as she nuzzled my cheek softly, I wanted to push her away, but I let it slip it for once since I'm in a good mood. "Oh stupid, stupid, STUPID!" Twilight said as she slaps her hoof on her head a few times. "I forgot to introduce you to my friends Sophia." Twilight then moves towards the group of mares who were standing in the back. 'Well this should get interesting.' > Brief history lesson > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Alright Sophia, I believe it's finally time to introduce you to my friends and my teacher." Twilight said while she walked back towards her little group who were standing behind her. But then I remembered I was still naked accept for my underwear so I snipped my fingers and a rune appeared underneath me moving upwards covering my body with clean cloths along with my cloak and hood. I ignored the looks everyone was giving me since I could care less. Once I was completely dressed Twilight cleared her throat to get everyone's attention. I crossed my arms eyeing the group before me as they seems to get a little uneasy under my gaze, it might be my miss colored eye or just the fact that I keep a serious expression on my face. 'Sheesh these ponies need to relax a little, they seem stiffer than the original guards in Stormwind City.' I thought. "Let's start with the front of the group" She points at the orange pony. "Eh... Howdy there, Mah name is Applejack." Applejack said trying not to make eye contact with me. "Ah own tha apple farm down at Ponyville." Next up was the pearl white unicorn who seems to look at my clothes for some reason. "Hello darling, my name is Rarity. But I must say your cloths just look magnificent, you have to tell me who made that dress of yours." Rarity told me as she starts to beam the more she looks at my robes. "I'll explain that another time Rarity, for now I'd like to know everyone of you. I believe it's your turn." I replied pointing at the rainbow mare who slightly shrinks as my finger is pointed her. "My name is Rainbow Dash, for your information. And I'm the fastest pegasus in Equestria, And don't try to pull another trick on me shorty or you'll have to do with me." She boasts as she puffs out her chest to show her huge ego. "Do I need to remind you, I killed over a hundred changelings a week ago. Yet still had enough power to take on Chrysalis one on one. Then you expect me to show you proper respect while you have the bloody nerve to call me short, and then say you can take me on. I must say Rainbow Dash, you sure have a death wish." I always had a short fuse when it came to showing off power, and this mare was just plain racist about the fact I can and will outsmart her, and that I'm short. One day she will feel the consequences. As she was silent for now, I motioned to continue. I looked at the pink pony next to Rainbow Dash as she has an unending bounce. I blinked once and she was right up my face, talking in a phase I thought would break the fabric of space and time. If she was a mage in Azeroth she would be the most powerful of all, since we cast spells through thoughts and speech. "HiI'mPinkiePieandwe'regladyou'refinallyawake! butIcan'tbelieveyoutookontheentirechangelingarmyandCHRISALISforthatmatter,ButIhavetoask.Doyoulikemuffins?" Once she was finally done, I noticed that I was lying on the ground with her a little too close for comfort. I thought for a moment to how I can possibly react to such a question. "Well, I like muffins though they were Rare in Azeroth. Only Highly skilled chefs could make such a dish. Yet when I have a muffin I always take the one with raspberries." I replied to her as she squeaked and bolted out of the room. I wanted to ask Twilight about it but she mouthed me not to question it. So I just shrugged it off, looking at the spot where another pony once was. "Eh, Twilight. Where is your other friend? The once with the soft pink mane and butter yellow coat?" I asked her as I looked around the room, only to spot a soft pink tail sticking from under my bed. I turned to face Twilight again as I raised an eyebrow at her, to which she chuckles awkwardly. "Well since she won't be coming from under there soon, I better tell you her name." Twilight said, "Her name is Fluttershy, and as you might guess she is quiet shy around new ponies or gnomes in your case." I looked at the tail as it seems to shudder as Twilight mentioned her name. "Now that you met my friends I want you to formally introduce you to my teacher and her sister, without being in a stressful situation." I looked at the huge white mare who I called sun-butt, as she gives me a friendly smile. Yet her eyes hold order and something I haven't seen in millennia, mothers love. I slowly made my way towards the princess as I kneeled down before her, keeping my head low to show proper respect. "It is an honor to meet you under normal circumstances, I am Princess Celestia Co-monarch and goddess of the sun. I also want to apologies for my actions within the halls, I was in the wrong to judge you on a moment notice. I was merely protecting my little ponies." She said as she kneels before me. It was now my turn to properly introduce myself. "The honor is all mine Celestia, I hope you don't mind if I call you that. I have a great dislike to formalities. I am Sophia Springlock, Battlemage of the Kirin'Tor under the lead of Jaina Proudmoore. I accept your apology, but that won't be needed. You acted the way you thought was right, I aint one to hold a grudge towards someone who only means harm to those who threaten the safety of their people, or ponies in your case." I said as I lifted my head to face her with a beaming smile on my face, which she returned with one of her own as we both shared a chuckle before a cough caused us to look next to us where a midnight blue mare was standing with a waving night sky mane. I looked at her flank to see a black spot with a crescent moon. "Now that the two of you are acquainted, tis our turn to introduce ourselves." She said as she looks at me with a serious expression which was quiet unnerving. "We are Princess Luna, younger sister to Princess Celestia and also Co-monarch of Equestria and ruler over the night. We watch over the dream realm to protect our ponies from harm. It's our pleasure to meet you Sophia Springlock, from what we have heard you were quiet fearless against the changelings that invaded our city." Once she finished I gave her a slight bow and grinned at her as I did to Celestia. "I am happy to finally meet the counter part of Celestia, but what is it with that talking about yourself like there are two of you?" I asked her as her expression darkens. "Tis been a few months after our release from our prison on the moon, we are still using the royal we to talk to our subjects. But please do not ask us about it anymore, it still saddens us." Luna then looked at me as I placed my hand on her muzzle, softly caressing her nose and forehead while avoiding her horn as I had my eyes closed. "That makes the two of us Luna, It's been a week since Twilight and Cadence freed me from my icy tomb. I've been there for over millennia, even before the time of ponies." "Does thou care to explain?" Luna ask as she sat down in front of me while I kept on caressing her muzzle. "I think I can, you all want to sit down. For this might take a while." I crossed my legs as I formed a sphere of energy forming the old continents of Azeroth. "It began before you arrived on this planet," I started, "Before that time the planet was called Azeroth and was the home to many wonderful and dangerous races. Even before my birth all these pieces of land were once piece forming the land of Kalimdor. But the planed was attacked by an legion of demons call the Burning Legion. They manipulated the High Elves through their queen. Her name was Aszhara, she was beautiful as she was powerful. All of the elves are connected to one source of magic, which was called the Well of Eternity. The elves can use it to perform magic just like I can, the only difference is I can tap the magic out of the air while the elves needed a sold source of power since they didn't know how to do it. But the history aside, I was sent along with twenty other people to a place called the Stormpeaks, mountains created by the titans. Who build their machines into the ground. Far north of the mountains lies a old and ancient fortress called Ulduar, the titan city. The city holds many secrets to how Azeroth came to be, many tried to enter the city only perish at the front gates, without even coming passed the defenses. We brought tanks, demolishers even bikes to fight the defenses of Ulduar. Once we were passed the front gate, we entered the city, only to be amazed by the look of the place. There were simply no words to say how beautiful the place looked. Ancient statues of the titans filled the halls, stained glass windows telling parts of the history before our time. But we came to the conclusion the place was corrupted by an old god. Old gods are beings of pure evil and are driven by the sins and dark emotions within everyone. In the end we had to fight those who swore to protect the city. While everyone continued on with their mission, I had mine. I followed Brann Bronzebeard into an Archievem and found out about the herald of the titans, who was in a few chamber away. it was my task to stop the herald before he could find any source of corruption within the planets system. I did manage to convince him we are free from corruption, he gave me the Alpha Codes for the Titans, yet if these didn't arrive within the time of two days the Omega code would be sent and the planet would be wiped clean. This was called the planetary purge. So I was sent back to Dalaran to deliver the codes to Rhonen, my commander. But all I can remember is when I entered the grizzly hills I was fighting with some beasts before getting stuck in quick sand. My Mechanostrider was already gone, not moments later everything went black. Until Twilight and Cadence freed me. My guess it that no one found me, so the codes were never delivered. Which resulted in the omega codes being sent to the titans which wiped the planet clean of life accept for me, the lone gnome deep within the earth, frozen in time. I somehow think the titans build an Archievem around me but I honestly think it's a bit farfetched." After I finished my explanation of how I ended up here I was pulled into a hug by a certain midnight blue princess who was crying like a little baby or foal in her case. It was nice though, to her I'm like a little plush toy. > Peace, and yet another problem. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's been a week since Luna, Celestia, Cadence, Twilight and her little group of friends visited me at the hospital. Slowly but surely my mana pool was nearly refilled due to healthy food and lots and I mean lots of sleep. Yesterday the medic or doctor told me I would be released in a about a day or two after the final check up to see if I was fully healed. Oh I forgot to mention I HATE needles. So when they tried to take some samples I nearly blew up the entire room along with a good chunk of the hospital, yea not the smartest idea, but you gotta do what you gotta do. If it keeps the needles away I would be happy to blow it up. But at the day of my release Cadence came to visit me and told me she had to leave with her husband Shining Armor. It appears Cadence was the monarch of a empire named the Crystal Empire, and you guessed it, it's entirely made out of Crystals. Even the ponies there are transparent. But in the end I said goodbye to Cadence as she went back to her empire. It's going to be a little lonely though, Cadence was fun to talk with even if it gets a little awkward at times. She was really interested in my personal life, to be entirely honest, due to my studies for the Kirin'Tor I didn't have the time to look for a nice guy and to settle down, marry and have a kid or two. That isn't really the life I want, I want adventure, thrill and little bit of chaos to keep my life from being completely and utterly boring. To worry about a child while I fight or when I'm away is just too much. You live the life you want. That's the motto that keeps me going, but enough looking into the future, it's the present that counts right? Well let's just say Twilight begged me to come with her to Ponyville and live there with her and her friends. I had to say I was rather flabbergasted, I mean. I like twilight as a friend, but I am not really friends with her little group of five mares, where one of them shits herself every time she sees me. So I declined, but told her she could visit me whenever she wanted since I won't be busy for a while. later that afternoon Celestia came to me. I was starting to get good friends with her after all the mistakes we made at the beginning. "Good afternoon Sophia, I heard you will be released today am I correct?" She asks as she gave me a small hug which I returned gladly. "You heard that correct Celestia, it's good to finally get out of this place. Don't get me wrong, the food isn't too bad and the ponies are nice to me." I replied as I snickered a little, To be honest the ponies are still a little afraid of me. I can't blame them though it's not like you meet a really short bipedal gnome who has more magical positional, combat wise of course. "That's good to hear, but I'm here for a reason." "What might that be?" I replied. "Sophia, I would like to ask you to accompany me to Canterlot Castle where you will live under mine and lulu's supervision. We still know near to nothing about you, and we would like to know you better." She said while she rubbed the back of her neck like she told me she wanted to share a bed with me. Well maybe that's a little dramatic, but you get the point. "It would be a honor, to accompany you and Luna." I said with a grin smacked on my face. "Splendid, soon after your release from the hospital a carriage will pick you up and bring you to the main gates of the castle. There a guard will escort you to the throne room where Luna and I will be waiting." She looks at the clock that is hanging on the far left wall, as she sighs a heavy sigh. "I have to take my leave for now Sophia, I must return to the castle before my nephew Blueblood fired the entire castle staff because one places a lettuce leaf in the wrong place." I could see on her face that this Blueblood is rather snooty. When I arrive at the castle I better watch my back, because I might get shot in the back by him. When Celestia left my room I decided that I better take a nap or something, cause I've a feeling I might need all my energy to stay sane in that sparkling castle. And so it went, I would wake up the next morning where the doctor would be waiting for me to take a few last tests to see if I was fully healed. Which I was. So I signed the release papers as I was wheeled out of the hospital by one of the nurses that worked there. When I left the building there was indeed a chariot waiting for me, it was rather small and it was only pulled by one pegasus stallion who was as stiff as a wooden plank. I guess I will never get used to that. It didn't take long before we would arrive at the castle gates. As you know I'm rather small since I'm a gnome. But the castle was massive, not big massive, but like Ulduar big. And that says something. So things got pretty boring from that moment, guard lead me to the gates. They let me in after needing some time to make sure I was the right person, which took nearly a full thirty minutes. I knew they weren't the brightest bunch but that was just ridiculous, I'm currently the only gnome in existence and yet they wanted to 'make sure'. I had to keep myself from turning them into a pair of sheep. Once they finally let me in, I was approached by, I believe a maid, that would act as my personal guide through the castle towards the throne room where Celestia and or Luna would be waiting for me. But since the maid knew where to go we quickly found the entrance to the throne room. But before I could enter the large doors slammed open nearly hitting me in the process, I released a yelp of surprise as an angry looking stallion walked right into me causing me to fall on the ground with a soft thump. Being a bit annoyed but his attitude I decided to stop him and ask him why he bumped into me. "Hey!" I yelled at him, forgetting the fact I wanted to act subtle. He ignored me completely and kept on walking. Getting angrier with the moment I blinked in front of him using a small charge of arcane magic to get his attention, only he took this not lightly. "How dare you to stop me you lowly peasant!" He practically yelled, "I can have you arrested for assault you... you... lowlife." "My, temper much?" I replied to him as I poked him with one of my fingers. "You bumped into me and just walked away like I don't even exist. And now you're weak attempt to insult me is just beyond hilarious." All the time I managed to hold a straight face, keeping myself to fall into hysterical laughter. And even that is something he didn't take lightly. "You just made a grave mistake peasant." He said to me with a low growl as he charged his horn. He can't be serious.... is he? > Was I harsh? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- As soon as his horn was charged he shot a magic bullet right passed my face as I felt the air around my ear zoom from the magic. He repeated this several time as he keeps missing me but a few inches. I for myself, was getting rather annoyed for my ear was slowly getting numb from the magical discharges. I found it was about time I went for the offensive, not before snapping my finger to spawn an arcane shield around me for some additional protection against his lowly attacks. The snooty unicorn kept shooting against my shield as his attacks harmlessly bounce off the shield not even close to penetrating it. I released a low sigh as I charged up a polymorph spell, turning him into a black sheep. To my surprise he managed to break from this spell as he smirked at me confidently, while I merely raised my eyebrow at him. Then I noticed I was slightly impressed, oh my. 'I'm starting to get impressed, before I know it I have to give him a complement for his escape.' I thought to myself as I kept my eyes on him. "What you think about that huh?!" He yells as he strikes a pose. "Was that supposed to impress me?" I replied to him as I gave him a deadpan look. "I've seen a baby break free from that spell faster than you, so no. I'm not even close to being impressed." "Why you little..." He growled lowly as I could barely hear him. I had a strange feeling it was better that I didn't clearly heard him otherwise I had to blast him through the wall. But as soon as he stopped growling like a little kitten he charges his horn once more as he fires a dual bullet attack that looks similar to my arcane barrage attack. To avoid the attack I used my blink ability to blink right behind him. I charged up a small arcane charge in my hand as I used it to launch him into the nearest wall, making him grunt in pain as he hits his back against the marble pretty hard. May the charge was a little too strong for him? Not that I feel sorry for him though, he asked for it. "That's cheap you little shit, attacking an opponent from behind. Seems that is all I need to know about you, a low-down peasant." He said right in my face, I looked around as I noticed that several royal guards gathered to watch the event with their own eyes. I remembered some faces from during the wedding and it looks like they are not gonna interfere anytime soon. But other than that, he finally managed to get my pissed. Not only did he mention my length in a bad way, but also called me a low-down peasant. I bet that my sock has more honor than this joke of a life. "What did you call me?" I said to him as I ball my fist. He only smirked at me as he repeated what he said. "I called you a little shit, and a honor less wrench. But I feel generous as it is so I will let it go for now." He wanted to continue but suddenly found himself once more thrown into the wall, this time with more force as he was sent right through the wall. "I wanted to go easy on you, but it seems you forced my hand. And now you face my wrath." As I finished my sentence I charged my energy as I released my arcane barrage spell. The unicorn cast a shield around himself but the spell slammed right through the shield as he was knocked backwards. Once he was standing once again I summoned a purple rune in front of me as I sent a barrage of arcane missiles towards his location. He dodges a few while 69 percent hit its target, leaving burn marks all over his coat. I could see that his gaze was turning fearful, strangely I took pleasure in seeing him like this. Many called me short, but I always forgave them because they didn't mean to insult me. But this high ass boot licker was dead serious, his own mind agrees with the illusion of his high and mighty personality. As I seized fire, the dust that my spells kicked up cleared away. As I walked through the busted wall I found sir dipshit hiding in the left corner making himself into a ball of fear and agony. "I take it you learned your lesson." I said in a neutral voice. He suddenly stopped shaking as he charged his horn which caught me off-guard sending me back into the hallway. "I will never surrender to a lowly wench like you!" He roared as he sends several salvos of magic towards me. I had to admit that his spells was incredibly fast as I was having trouble to dodge them. Sadly one hit me straight on my left leg. I cried out in pain as I felt the magic burn away on my skin. After that I felt something snap deep inside me, burning rage filled my senses as I slowly rose back on my feet. I stretched out both of my arms as in each hand a rune appeared. Instead of their light purple color they were a dark and ominous color. All the sound around me faded away as I was charging the spell. I myself had no clue what the spell was since I've never used it in my life. Once the spell was charged I moved both runes in front of each other releasing a beam of pure arcane energy blowing a large hole in the wall behind him. All I knew is that this fucker had no chance of surviving this. As the dust cleared I saw a large hole in the wall that leads to the outside courtyard, but to my surprise the snooty unicorn survived the attack, but that wasn't the only thing. For Celestia was standing in front of him shielding herself and him. But I saw that I did quite some damage since sweat drops rolled down her coat as she also was panting slightly. I wanted to take a step backwards as I felt the tip of a pole-arm in my back, as fear and regret entered my mind. "What's the meaning of this!" Celestia roared with her royal canterlot voice. I flinched as I felt drained, I fell onto my knees panting heavily. "Aunty, this lowly peasant attacked me without a reason. Banish her at once." The unicorn declared as I shot a burning glare towards the unicorn who quickly hid behind Celestia. 'Bloody whip.' I thought as Celestia stepped towards me. "Care to explain what happened here and why you nearly destroyed my castle?" She asked me softly as traces of anger gone. It took a few seconds for me to catch my breath as I finally managed to form normal lines. "When I arrived here I was lead towards the throne room where this sorry excuse of a life bumped into me." I started glaring once again at the white unicorn who was shuffling uneasily. "When I stopped him with a small charge of energy, merely to get his attention, he said, and I quote; "How dare you to stop me you lowly peasant, I can have you arrested for assault you lowlife."." I explained to her as I attempted to do my best impression of him. "When I explained to him why he bumped into me I might have laughed a little at his attempt to insult me. After that he just attacked me, and one thing lead to another and that brings us here. With the little prick hiding like a little foal." "I've heard enough, Blueblood let this be a lesson for you not to attack anyone for that last attack might have killed you if I didn't interfere. Oh and I will speak to you this evening about this event." She scowled him before turning towards me. "As for you Sophia, your actions are unheard of yet you were attacked first so I will see this as self-defense. But let it not happen again, or you will be put on trail, understand?" I nodded as I attempt to stand up only to cry out in pain as I forgot what he did to me. "Guardsmen, take Sophia to the hospital and let them look at her leg." With that Celestia returned to her throne room with Blueblood right behind her > Onwards > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It didn't took too long before me and the guards arrived at the medical center within the castle. at first everypony was just gawking at me while my leg was killing me. As I managed to get their attention they finally brought me to an empty room where they hooked me up on the strange beeping machine. "I know I look strange, but your staring is just plain annoying." I said to one of the guards who FINALLY blinked before she replied, apparently the pony is a female. "I'm sorry miss but we are under strict orders of the princess to keep an eye on you while you recover." She said as she was like a freaking statue. She only moved when she needed too. "But I have to ask, what are you?" There was the million gold question, a question I heard more often than non. "Well my lovely guard, I'm known as a Gnome. and no, not like those garden gnomes ponies keep on their gardens." I said as a doctor entered the room with a clipboard hanging from his mouth. He tried to speak but it sounded like gibberish to me, which made me roll my eyes. Once he finally removed the clipboard from his mouth he moved himself next to me. "Well then miss Springlock, I would like to say welcome back." He said to me as he chuckled at his own attempt to be funny. "Jokes aside I'd like to take a look at your leg if that would be possible." I nodded as I removed the part of pants which was somewhat burned by the bolt of magic. But before the doctor could take a closer look the door of the hospital slammed open revealing a worried looking Twilight, as she ran into my room she clearly forgot to close the door. But when she arrived at my bed all she did was literally spray me with both questions and saliva. Eww, by the way. "By Mechatorque's hammer Twilight!" I yelled as she was silent a second later. "Thank you...." "I'm so sorry Sophia, but when I heard and partly saw what happened and what you did. I just had to see you, to make sure you are alright." She then looks down towards my leg. *Gasp* "Oh my, did Blueblood do this?" She points to my leg as a sudden cough from the doctor get her attention. The doctor looks at Twilight with an annoyed look as he pushes himself past her to get back to be. "Well then, before I was rudely interrupted," He glances at Twilight. "I'd like to scan the burn to see how far the damage reached." With a single nod from me his horn lit up and a brown aura surrounded the burn. "Hmmm, well I have good news. The burn is only minor and it will be an easy thing to fix, but I have to say that you are really lucky. Not many that come here after a magic attack walk away with only a minor burn." As he keeps explaining what he is gonna do I see Twilight fiddle with her hoofs not really liking to wait on someone, nor did she like that she was pulled away from one of her friends. "Alright, now that I know the issue, I can say that the healing process might be painful. But I will do all I can to make it as painless as it can be." As he finished his horn starts to glow a faint brown color again that now surrounds the burn. Suddenly a sharp pain shoots through my leg as it feels like it's on fire, skin and flesh is repaired as I somehow managed to endure the pain and agony from the healing. "That should do the trick for now, it takes a hour or two to completely heal and for the damaged tissue to regenerate. But keep in mind it is still sensitive to strain." The doctor said as I nodded at him in thanks. "Thanks once again doc." With that he left the room leaving me, Twilight and the two guards in the room. It didn't took long for Twilight to break the silence. "I'm curious though, how in Celestia's name did you manage to get into a fight with Blueblood to begin with?" She asks as she leans on my bed holding a confused look. I released a sigh as I knew this question came sooner or later. "Well it's quite the tale Twilight. It began all when I was being brought to the throne room where I had an appointment with Celestia. But before I could enter the door nearly slammed into me-." I told her the entire story up till the point where Celestia protected Blueblood from my massive attack. I skipped the part where I completely lost it and went into a blind rage, but I think you can understand that it is better to keep is a secret. It's been a hour or two and I was finally being released for the blasted hospital, sure the ponies are nice and all but you know how it goes in those kind of places. Once I was standing outside breathing in the clean air of the open sky. Soon I was brought from my trance like state by Twilight who lightly tapped me on the shoulder indicating that she was ready to bring me to the Celestial Court, as I like to call it. Once again as me and Twilight made our way through the streets of Canterlot many eyes followed me and my companion. even some were whispering to each other, I somehow managed to catch some of the conversations and they went along the lines of, "What in Celestia's name is that.", "She looks kind of cute.", "I really like her mane!" Once we once again reached the castle I was too busy making sure that Blueblood wasn't around to notice that Twilight had stopped in front of the two massive doors as I bumped into her causing her to fall against the door opening it with thump and an "Oof" from Twilight and me. "Ah, welcome Twilight and Sophia. Nice of you both to fall into my court." > Lunch and the hand! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight giggles in embarrassment as I rub the back of my head as I greet Celestia with a wave of my hand, this causes some of the guards to tense up I quickly lowered my hand to avoid any more tension among the guards. "Sorry that we fell into your court princess but someone didn't look where she was going." Twilight said as she gave me a glance. Oh no she didn't. I quickly gave her a slap on her flank, that will teach her. But the result I got was far from what I was expecting. Every eye in the room was now glued to my face as well as the ones belonging to Twilight. But her face was bright red and held a look of shock on her face. "What?" I asked as I shrugged my shoulders. "Sophia dear," I heard Celestia say. "touching or slapping someponies flank is an act of intimacy." This time it was my turn to turn red as I looked between my hand and Twilight's flank where was now a red hand print which added more salt on the wound as a it was visible on her flank. Everypony was dead silent as it was starting to bug me so I decided to break the unbearable silence. "Alright, fine!" I partly yelled as I threw my arms into the air in annoyance. "I shouldn't have slapped her flank, but it was to punish her for giving me a look that screamed attitude." Twilight huffed as she was still somewhat blushing from the contact while I smirked at her. It didn't take long before nobles started to enter the court hall while Twilight and I talked silently about what happened a moment ago and came to the conclusion that we would never talk about this ever again. have I ever told that I have a hate for nobles? No? Well now you know. All these stuck up good for nothing bleach asses keep whining and literally neighing about the raised taxes for wealthy ponies. Sometimes I had to contain myself not to slap some bloody sense into those thick skulls, but luckily court soon ended and Celestia motioned us to follow her to get something to eat. Once we arrived at the dining hall Luna was also waiting there along with Cadence and Shining armor who were here for a short visit. At first things started off silently while Cadence and Twilight did their little dance, which was adorable, before Shining Armor noticed something was off about Twilight. "say Twily?" He started. "What is there a print on your flank?" He finished as he raised an eyebrow and pointed his hoof at her flank which still had a slightly pink print of a hand with four fingers. 'Uh oh...' I thought to myself as I whistled innocently causing everypony to look at me with a confused look while Celestia had trouble to contain her giggle. "Care to explain why there is a mark on Twilights flank that looks exactly the same as your hands, as you called them?" Shining asked as he took a step closer to me causing me to take a step back. I raised my hands in fear as he looked like he was about to rip me in two. Luckily he didn't commit such an act for that would go against his very nature. "I can explain, honestly. It was merely a misunderstanding." I said in a rushed voice not wanting to anger him more. "She forced me to!" I yelled as I pointed at Twilight who was now looking at me with wide eyes and her mouth hanging open. "I forced you?!" She replied as she walks towards me prodding my chest with her hoof. "You were the one that slapped my flank. Not that I didn't like it, but that aside!" Her face now was a bright red as she took a few steps back. I didn't expect that. "Oh hohoho, Twilight. I didn't know you had such a naughty side." I said as I couldn't contain my laughter causing me to fall on the marble floor laughing out loud. Soon after Cadence joined me along with Celestia and Luna. Twilight was blushing madly as she tries to hide behind her hooves. As my laughter finally died down to a light giggle I placed a hand on Twilights shoulder causing her to look straight into my eyes. "We are merely teasing you Twi, nothing wrong with some fun from time to time." I said as I smiled at her. "I know Sophia, but it's just embarrassing." "There, there." I said as I pulled Twilight into a hug patting her back and stroke her mane which was incredibly soft to touch. Not a few minutes later I pulled myself away from Twilight as I walked towards the dinner table where lunch was waiting for us. As I sat down on one of the chairs I had less trouble reaching the table for ponies aren't that taller than me. During the entire lunch everypony was talking to each other and I told Shining and Cadence about the incident with Blueblood. This caused Shining to gain some more interest in me that I intended. "Say Sophia," He started. "Why don't we have a friendly spar after lunch." When he said that I was taking a sip from my water and immediately sprayed it all over Twilight who was sitting next to me. I coughed a little, but when I regained my breath I looked at Shining with an unsure look on my face. "Are you sure you want to duel me?" I said as I kept my eyes glued on him. "I'm quite sure, since you managed to fight Blueblood I want to know how you stand against the former captain of the royal guard." "You're on." Was the only thing I said before continuing with my sandwich and my water, not before apologizing to Twilight for covering her with water. 'This might get interesting.'