Donovan Crowley works as a Royal Blacksmith for the Guard. Ever since his arrival he has been ridiculed and tormented by everypony he meets. One night in his dreams, he meets an enemy once thought to be destroyed.
Donovan Crowley is a human in Equestria. Despite his best efforts to integrate himself into pony society, he is still an outcast. As a result, the only job he could obtain is as a Royal Blacksmith. Donovan's had to suffer through harassment and mistreatment day in and day out, over the course of three years. Eventually, his plight grabs the interest of an old despot.
I was observing a dagger for imperfections when a helmet crashed into my face, followed by chuckling,
"Hey, freak! Toss me another helmet?" With a sigh, my shoulders sunk. The voice was annoyingly familiar, I looked up, and my day was instantly ruined. Emerald green eyes, mane, and tail, accompanied by white fur. Yep, it was him. Sergeant Gallant Blade of the Solar Guard. Bastard's been a pain in my ass ever since we met. Him and his entourage of yes-men or yes-stallions. Gallant was from a long lineage of uptight unicorn nobles who, unfortunately for everyone else, had a history in the Royal Guard.
Trying in vain to curb my anger, I stood up and walked towards the helmet rack. Snatching one off of the shelf, I tossed it at Gallant, "Try not to dent this one, Gallant." My words struck a chord in him. Gallant's eyes lit up in a fury. He instantly closed the distance between us. The stallion's face was contorted in rage.
His hoof prodded my stomach, almost sending me off balance, "Listen here, you shaved ape, don't you ever speak my name! A lowly creature such as yourself will sully it! It is not my job to worry about what happens to the armor. That duty is yours and yours alone. I don't even know how you became a guard in the first place, but...you belong in here, away from ponykind. Like the animal you are." I almost hit his ass right then and there. My fists shook. Every second I looked at his ugly sneer, the urge to throw a punch grew. Gallant noticed them and smirked, "Oh, you wanna hit me? Go right ahead, I'll beat you up and down this forge, then make sure you never step foot in this castle again. Do it. Do it. Come on, do it, you freak!" He grabs me with his magic and shoves me into the shelf. I was showered in a rain of golden helmets.
The silence was interrupted with raucous laughter, "Look at him, at my hooves. As he should be!" Gallant turned and walked away, "Clean this up, now. That's an order." Once they left the chamber, I rose from the pile.
I sighed a lot louder this time, "I can't take much more of this shit." I bent down and snatched up a helmet, gazing at my reflection. I was an unfortunate man who happened to be stuck in Equestria, to be more specific, A 24-year-old African American man. Scars peppered my body, got cut a few times on the job. I shaved my head bald, less of a thing to worry about. Black stubble lined my cheeks and jaw. Dark bags formed under my eyes. Strangely enough, I've been sleeping these past few days. No matter how long I stay in bed, it still feels like I was awake the entire night.
My name is Donovan Crowley; I arrived here in Equestria after a "magical influx" opened on my world. I was unfortunate enough to be walking home from the local bar when it happened. The princesses understood my situation. They tried everything they could, but as fate would have it...I couldn't go back. The combined magic of Equestria's royalty wasn't enough to pinpoint the exact location of Earth, let alone send me there. The news was the hardest thing I ever had to take in. Never being able to see my friends and family again. Things I learned back on Earth quickly became useless. Finally, once some time had passed, Princess Celestia gave me citizenship and sent me on my way.
At first, I tried to get a job somewhere out in Canterlot. Every store I went to didn't need another worker. Especially those where I was confident that there would be some open positions. I spent whatever bits I had on some food. I found myself sleeping in allies and on benches when the night came. I spent the last of my bits on breakfast in a restaurant when I saw a poster ad for the Royal Guard. I stared at it for a time, pondering my options for a few moments before realizing I had none. I spoke to a recruitment officer and signed up.
Boot camp was another animal entirely. The Drill Instructors were especially hard on me. It didn't matter how minor the mistake was. If I fucked up in any way, my punishment was always harsher. My fellow recruits never regarded me, either. No matter how much physical training or sparring matches we had, I always felt like I was on my own. However, against all odds, I survived. When I received my armor and sword, I felt proud to have accomplished something. I couldn't stop myself from smiling, regardless of the comments I received about it. Not all guards get the same job. Sometimes we handle escort missions, get stationed at forts across the country, or if you were highly desirable, you could be a personal guard for one of the Princesses. Standing by them and ensuring their safety at all times. Wanna know what I was tasked with?
Blacksmithing. I trained tirelessly for two months, only to be given the role of Royal Blacksmith and Armour Cataloguing. The first time I saw the old stone walls and decrepit furniture was a soul-crushing experience. No windows, just the roaring light of the furnace illuminated the dungeon I'd come to call home. The previous blacksmith that used to work there opted to teach me everything she knew. Her name was Iron Hooves. She was a middle-aged earth mare with a silver mane and tail accompanied by burnt orange fur. She never commented on my appearance or my race. Iron Hooves was just there to mentor me. Learning the ropes took a decent amount of time and effort. My first creations looked akin to crude weapons that third-graders would scribble in their notebook. Once I learned everything there was to know about forging armor and weapons, she wished me luck and left. After that, I never saw her again. I didn't want to ask around, not like anypony would take the time to stop and answer, but it was also because of how exhausted she'd always looked. I guessed that she should enjoy her retirement.
So now...here I am. Living out every day of my life in the sweltering heat of the forge. Slaving over an anvil to supply the guard with weapons and armor. I haven't worn my armor for so long that it's been collecting dust. Its gold material, having long lost the lustrous shine it had on the day of my graduation from boot camp. It just stays on the stand until the day I need it. It isn't like blacksmithing didn't have its benefits, the heat, continuous movement, and heavy lifting made for a killer workout. For lack of a better word, I was built. I packed on a good amount of muscle over time. Still, I wished things were a bit different. If only these ponies were more accepting towards me.
In Equestria, ponies go by the motto "Friendship and Harmony." As far as Harmony goes, it's a lot more peaceful than what was going on in America or the world. But, on the other hand, friendship is something I have yet to experience. I've been alone for the whole of these three years. With the way things are now, I doubt that will change.
I stepped back from the shelf and looked at the helmets. The roaring flame of the bellows made them gleam. I gotta admit, I do some damn fine work. The only fun part about being this damn job is my side projects. I've made a lot of stuff over the years. I made repeating crossbows, daggers, and swords. Just to name a few. Armor and weaponry from the Medieval Ages were my favorites to create. Ponies used Corinthian-style armor (think of the Spartans), which is great for mobility but not as effective for protection in certain areas like the legs and arms. What was even worse was the fact that the Solar Guard used Gold. Despite being an absolute waste of a valuable resource, it was also unethical. Gold was a lot heavier than steel yet not as resilient. The Lunar Guard preferred to use blued steel, so they had the upper hand when it came to that.
I went around the room, snuffing out the wall-mounted torches before extinguishing the bellows. I shed my apron and tossed it onto the couch with a huff, "That's it for today, I guess," I headed towards my room. The iron door opened with a slight squeak, warranting my attention, "I'll fix that hinge tomorrow morning." I muttered before stepping inside. On the left was my cot. The mattress was old, stained, and darkened from time. There was no bathroom in here. I usually got ready for the day in the barracks. I go a little earlier to avoid any confrontations with the other guards. In the far right corner, my dusty armor sat. I had nailed in a metal rod between two adjacent walls to hang up my clothes, what little clothes I had anyway. My room was lit by a single torch. Not as big as the ones I used for work, but it was enough to let me see.
I collapsed onto the bed, the frame squeaking something awful. The squeak graduated into a groan before a loud snap rang out. The mattress now sat lopsided. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, "Guess I'll fix that in the morning too." Funny how I went from a respectable auto technician on Earth to a blacksmith on some distant planet. Some time passed before I started to feel the day's effects.
'How much father am I going to fall?" was the last thought to cross my mind. Then, finally, my eyes closed, and sleep overtook me.
I awoke in darkness.
It was as if my eyes were still closed. Although I could feel that they were open. I stood there perplexed at the strange dream...or nightmare. It was too early to tell. Taking a tentative step forward, my barefoot made a squelching noise. It felt like I was standing in cold mud.
No, wait. It was moving? Before I could react, the black ooze crawled up to my knees and forced me downward. My arms flew out instinctively to stop the fall, only to meet the same fate as my legs. I fought and struggled against the strange black substance. I looked around, waiting for Princess Luna to come to take me from this nightmare.
"I have been...observing you, Donovan." That didn't sound like Luna or Celestia, but the voice was feminine, "You are a fascinating creature, to say the least." The mysterious being's voice was frigid and bold. It felt like I was surrounded by the same person, speaking in both my ears simultaneously, "If you would kindly look forward." My head rose, and I squinted. In the distance, a thick purple mist flowed like smoke from two eyes. The scleras were a neon green while the pupils held a blood-red shade. I could feel them boring into my soul. The muscles in my body twitched of their own accord.
"What the fuck?"
"I have seen how ponies have treated you. I know you want respect from them, yet they treat you like dirt. You do so much for them, and what do you get in return? Nothing." The eyes got closer, causing an irrational fear to mount, "What if there was a way to make them respect you? What if you had the means to take what you deserve? If you had these chances...would you take them?" The eyes were only a few feet away now, " Donovan, I see the considerable potential inside you." My body started to quiver and shake. The fear was so intense that I closed my eyes. It felt like death itself had been speaking to me, "All I want to do is give you a chance to actualize your desires." I could feel a hoof gently lift my head.
Dark gray fur, an ebony mane, and tail blacker than the night sky, and a curved horn glowing a fierce crimson, "Queen Umbra," I said in awe and fear.
Her fangs glistened from a wicked smile,"Ah. So you do know of me?" She stood and walked around me. A black aura enveloped her horn, and the black ooze departed from my appendages. Apprehensively, I stood and stared down at the mare. She was tall for a pony. Now that she and I were so close, she was a head shorter than Princess Luna. Umbra wore her dark steel armor and regalia. The same she wore during her many conquests of destruction, "Tell me. Haven't you ever wondered what it's like to use magic?"
"Y-Yeah. A few times." Her eyes widened slightly, and her twisted smirk grew,
"What would you say if I offered to teach you how to use my magic?"
I stared down at her; my expression was laden with surprise. Her magic?! 'I've read books on the kind of chaos and destruction she'd cause.'
Umbra's eyes narrowed slightly, "And what, pray do tell, did you think of my feats?" Wait. Is she...is she reading my mind?! The mare's throaty giggle sent shivers down my spine, "Indeed I am. When it comes to observing and manipulating the workings of the mind, you'll find that I am quite gifted at it, and you can have that too." Umbra leaned forward, her frigid breath washed over my ear as she whispered, "Think of what you can become. You'll be able to accomplish unimaginable things and compete with some of the most elite members of the Guard. I know how often you've wished for action, to finally obtain honor and glory. Don't you want that?" She pulled away and I noticed that her irises disappeared, leaving only haunting green orbs. The longer I looked into them, the more...entranced I felt, "Although I have committed incalculable amounts of evil, I still feel so horrible when I see you. Toiling from sun up to sundown. Yet you don't even get a thank you."
"B-But...if I talk to the princesses, maybe they could help."
Umbra scoffed and shook her head. Pity evident on her face, "Donovan, if the princesses cared for you, they would have assisted you with getting a home or a job besides that of the Guard. Are you so naive as to believe that they would take the time to help you earn the respect of your peers when they promptly left you on your own without any assistance? Apart from the meager amount of bits they threw at you?!" Her volume made my ears ring, "Donovan. I am offering you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you reject my offer...I will leave you to this meaningless life; you will remain a punching bag for Gallant and that group of fools he surrounds himself with. Eventually you're strength will fail and you will be cast aside...like garbage." I stared at her, my mouth moved, but no words were spoken. With a snort, she backed away, the purple mist wafting from her eyes now resembling a roaring fire, "Perhaps...you need an incentive." The intensity of her magic forced my eyes shut. Once I reopened them, I could see that I wasn't in that dark area. I found myself standing in the throne room. Luna was sitting on her throne, so Night Court had to be underway,
"Princess Luna!" No response. I walked up to her and waved my hands. Still nothing. What the hell did Umbra do to me?
As if on cue, she appeared behind me, "We are merely observing your memories, Donovan." I turned around on the spot. Her steel horseshoes shoes clanged loudly against the tile. She continued, "I need to remind you of your past. You seem to still harbor some compassion for these cretins. Does this memory seem familiar?" I gave her a confused look.
Before I could respond, a lunar guard ran into the throne room, "Your highness, we require your assistance!" Immediately, Luna rose and regarded the stallion,
"What is the situation?"
"A creature was spotted in the west wing of the castle! When we tried to stop him, he ran, we have 10 guards apprehending him, but he keeps resisting!"
My expression softened, "This is the night I arrived."
Umbra stood next to me, "Come." In an instant, we found ourselves in one of the castle hallways. Down the hall, I saw a writhing pile of dark blue armor, with me trying to fight my way out at the bottom. Seeing myself from those days was an out-of-body experience for sure, I was half-drunk and scared for my life. I didn't lie down and wait for them to cuff me exactly.
Luna used her magic to restrain my movements, "Let me go! Fucking let me go, you goddamn horse!" I roared. One of the guards rammed his hoof into the side of my head,
"Speak to her highness with respect, you bucking freak!" He snarled. Luna had begun to reprimand the stallion for the misuse of force. With her focus trained on the Guard, Luna's magic was lessened. I broke free from her hold. In my confused and angered state and wriggled my way out from the guards. Going so far as to uppercut one of them. In my half-drunken stupor, I stumbled after a few short steps. Luna was so surprised that she didn't even react in time to avoid my head from crashing into her snout. I winced as I watched Luna recoil from the blow.
My hand flew to my face, "Aww, man. Forgot I did that dumb shit." I watched with bated breath knowing what would happen next. My action enraged Luna so much that her eyes turned white with arcane power. Then, a magical orb the size of a basketball flew into my chest, sending me soaring over the guards. That bruise stayed on my chest for weeks.
Umbra's cackle pulled my attention away from the scene, "Oh my! Donovan! Headbutting Luna of all ponies!"
She futilely pressed her hoof against her mouth to stop laughing, "Yeah yeah, laugh it up. It was an accident. When I got teleported to Equestria, I was basically half-cut. The guards beat the ever-loving shit out of me for that in the dungeon, though."
Her barrel shook with mirth, "I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing at Luna's reaction. The way her eyes flew open was priceless!" I was about to question why that was so funny, then I immediately remembered how much she hated the Sisters. They fought each other over the Crystal Empire for decades, "Now without any further distraction." Another purple flash landed us in a cell. I was on the floor, bloodied and beaten. My nose was broken, shock coming into effect. My lip was cut open, and I had a knot growing on my head.
"So this was how they treated you on your first night here?" I nodded,
Seeing myself like this refreshed some bad memories, "Yep, I couldn't move for at least a couple hours. I didn't get a doctor until Celestia saw me. It took a whole week to find a doctor who wanted to work with me."
"Bastards." Her lip was curled up in disgust at my pummeled face. "Onto...onto the next memory." She gripped my hand tightly, damn near crushing it in her magic. It didn't take long for me to realize where we were next. The Drill Instructors yelled at the recruits as they struggled over the wall, climbing their way back down. Some ponies collapsed in the mud, only to have one of the instructors bend down berate them further,
"Move, you freak! MOVE MOVE MOVE!" There I was, my body was caked in sweat and mud. I was at the back of the group. I pushed myself as hard as I could to keep up with them. The stallion's name was Roaring Gale. Looking back on things now, I can't help but feel like he was doing everything in his power to make me quit. I collapsed and fell into the mud, heaving from exhaustion. "Oh, come on! You useless-" He stomped over to me. He grabbed my head, "It's bad enough a freak like you desecrated these training grounds from simply being here. Now you can't even complete an obstacle course!"
"I-I'm sorry, sir, I'm trying as hard as I can." I wheezed,
"Aw, you're trying. Well, that makes it better, doesn't it?" His hoof shot out and connected with my stomach. I heaved and wretched, puking up my breakfast, "Oh you son of a-" Gale's hoof came down on my head, pressing my face into the cocktail of mud and vomit.
I stepped towards Gale, only to be halted by Umbra's magic, "Donovan. As much as I want to see you brutalize that sorry excuse of a stallion, it's just a memory. You'll just walk right through them." I took in a deep breath,
"Yeah, you're right."
"So, I take it you've seen enough?" My eyes returned to look at my past self, scooping up vomit and mud putting them in my pockets while Gale shouted rapid-fire insults at me.
I turned back to Umbra, "More than enough." With a nod, her horn was alight once more. However, we weren't in that black void from earlier. Instead, we were in a clearing. Surrounded by a forest of towering trees. The sky was an unnatural black. A supermassive moon bathed the land in ominous light. The grass long dead, adapting this gray color, "Umbra, where exactly are we?"
"This is where my soul resides. The Eternal Forest, I like to call it. At first, I made this place for my consciousness to avoid Luna's influence over my mind in the dreamscape. Every time I've been destroyed in battle, my soul comes here." Umbra teleported in front of me, "So have you decided?"
"I have."
Umbra closed the distance between us, "So, what is it?"
Reaching down, I pulled out a few blades of grass and let them float back down, "Teach me. Besides, what the fuck else do I have to lose?"
The unicorn pondered, "Well, if Celestia or Luna discovers your secret. You could be deemed too dangerous and entombed in stone or, at the worst, executed."
My body stiffened with resolve, "...Well, it wasn't much of a life anyway. I just have one question, though."
"Hm?"
"Why are you helping me? Aren't you a brutal and unforgiving tyrant? Why don't you control my mind and my body or something?"
A brief pause blared throughout, "Because I know what it feels like to be left out. Cast aside, and be...regarded as less. Nobody helped me when I was a young filly, roaming the streets of the Crystal Empire. I won't allow the same to befall you. Even a wicked mare such as myself has some sense of morality."
My eyes were wide open, "Wow, Umbra, I don't know what to say. Thank you."
She nodded, "There is one thing I must ask of you, though."
"Yeah, what is it?"
"In return for the power I shall bestow upon you, you will become my sworn Guardspony. My army dissolved long ago after I was defeated. On the day I return to the land of the living, I need someone by my side."
"Wait, so when you return to the physical world, will you try and take over the Crystal Empire Again?"
Her expression softened as she stared up at the moon, "I-I am not sure. I have been destroyed too many times in my goal of taking the Empire. The whole idea seems...implausible to try for a third time."
"I'll do it." She turned to face me with a stern expression,
Umbra spoke authoritatively, "On your knees, Donovan." I did as she ordered. Umbra summoned her infamous scythe, the blade looking like it had been carved from obsidian instead of forged from metal. I could faintly see my reflection, "Donovan, the human, do you swear to watch over me, fight and even kill all who
I can't say that the last oath didn't make me nervous, but I swallowed my pride and fear and responded, "Yes, Umbra."
"Are you willing to renounce Harmony and allow the clutches of dark magic to assimilate itself with your soul?"
"Yes, I am."
"Splendid. I am pleased with your faith and devotion. As far as I can see, this is the day you die. Your new life starts here, Donovan. Under my instruction, you shall grow to have considerable power and unending respect from those who trampled over you." Her irises once again vanished from the influx of power she was conjuring. My body was blanketed in her magic, and I was levitated off the ground. Every muscle spasmed and flexed. It felt like my skin was bubbling, and my eyes threatened to burst from my skull.
My teeth which were clamped shut gave way to the groan that left my vocal cords, "Endure Donovan! Endure the pain for a little while longer! I promise it's almost over." Just as she said that the stream of magic she pumped into my body grew in size, and so did the pain. My groan graduated into a roar of excruciating pain. Seconds felt like hours before it finally came to an end. Once my feet hit the ground, I swayed slightly before crumbling to my knees. Blood poured from my nose and mouth. The blood in my throat made every exhale sound like I was on the verge of dying. One particular breath brought on a coughing fit. I splattered the lifeless grass under me with crimson. The feeling of fur being brushed against my left cheek grabbed my attention. My breath hitched slightly when I noticed that Umbra was nuzzling me.
Her hoof came to rest on my head, "I was right about you."
"What-What do you mean."
Snaking her hoof under my chin, she gently pulled my head up to meet her, "The amount of magic I gave you was far beyond what most have been gifted with, let alone survived." I blinked,
"Are you saying that could have killed me?"
"That could have killed most, but you survived."
I shook my head, "That's not a very comforting thought, and," My sentence was interrupted with a weak cough, "Who's to say I won't die later on? I've heard stories about ponies turning to husks from using too much dark magic."
"Yes. Ponies, which is something you don't happen to be. It seems your body and soul can handle higher infusions of dark magic than an average pony." Umbra's forehead met mine. I looked up at her eyes, " You are more than worthy to be my Guard and student. As long as we trust and protect one another, we will find solace." Her voice soothed me and brought forward a sense of comfort I didn't know I could feel. "For now, it's time for you to awake from your slumber, my human." But, wait, I never told her what I was. So how did she know? Umbra's horn met my head, and I went numb. Before I hit the grass, she quickly caught me and flipped me over. The fur on her belly tickled my bare scalp. Umbra's hooves caressed my head. I looked at her face and was met with a soft smile. My eyes started to shut.
Maybe there was more to this mare than malice and hate.
I shot up from the bed, "Holy shit." My body was outlined in the bedsheets from sweat. I was frozen in thought at what I had just experienced,
"Good Morning," Umbra's voice reverberated in my head, "I apologize for the pain you went through. Although, I can assure you the corruption is underway."
"Corruption?"
"I merely tainted your soul with a hefty dose of dark magic. Think of it as a virus. Dark magic will flow throughout your body, washing away any kind of harmonic magic that has become attached to it. Until then, I can't teach you any spells. I will tutor you in the dark arts when you are fully corrupted. Luckily, the process is not long. I predict that it shall be completed within hours."
I threw my legs over the bed and stretched, "Hours, huh? Well, the Forge is closed on weekends anyway. So I don't have anything to do today."
"In that case, is there anything you have planned for the day?"
I rubbed my stubble, "Gonna go order more metal, get some food, and that's it." I pushed the metal door open. It responded with a loud screech before the rusted top hinge gave. A clang reverberated around the chamber. I stared at the door with an apathetic expression, "Guess I'll fix the door first."
My worn leather boots thudded against the clean floors. The pristine ivory walls of the palace always seemed to glow under the rays of the morning sun. The only ponies I saw this earlier in the morning are solar guards starting their shifts or maids preparing to go about the day.
It was such a contrast to the bleak and empty feeling that the Forge gave you, "Donovan?"
"Yes, Umbra?"
I thought, "Where are you going? I thought you were going to change?"
"I use the barracks to shower and clean myself up since there's no bathroom. It's tedious, but it's the only option I've got to take. I usually go a lot earlier than this, but my bedroom door needed to be fixed."
"You aren't even afforded your bathroom so that you can stay clean? By the gods, I knew the ponies were hypocrites about that "Friendship and Harmony" nonsense, but that is unfathomably insensitive."
"I tried to seek an audience with the Princesses about it."
"And what came of that?"
I sighed, "Celestia was too busy with Day court to get back to me. Luna, on the other hand, just sent back my paper. Albeit, it was balled up." I could hear her scoff,
"So I suppose it's safe to assume Luna still hasn't forgiven you for headbutting her?"
"Yep, right on the money with that one. You should see the homicidal looks Luna would me with. After repeatedly trying to at least speak with Princesses, only to have them brush me off...I just stopped trying. There was no point to it. The results would have been the same each time."
I could feel warmth washing over my body, along with a feeling of comfort, "They abandoned you, swatted you away like a fly to their tails. I would never do such a thing. You are a part of me, as I am of you." A small smile came to my face,
"Thank you, Queen Umbra."
"Of course, and please, just call me Umbra." I arrived in the barracks, garnering the usual stare or disgusted look.
Any conversations being had faded off, replaced with murmurs, "That freak again."
"He doesn't even have any duties. He just sits on his ass all day."
"Freaks like him don't deserve to wear our armor."
"Why can't the Princesses just strip him of his title? He's been ranked as a Private for the past three years."
"Sweet Celestia, I could smell him from here!"
"He reeks, doesn't he?"
"Bastard's lucky the Captain is here."
"I hate how he always waltzes here as if he's something." My right hand twitched. I tried with all my might not to form a fist. Then, grabbing a towel and a soap bar, I entered the showers. The stallions who were inside promptly turned off their water and left. Tossing my change of clothes in my locker, I stripped down and turned on the water. Watching as the water ran the drain, a smile formed on my face.
The hot water became murky as it ran down my skin and the drain.
"My, what a peculiar shape."
I became statuesque upon that comment, "...What?"
"By the gods, you are filthy. How often do you clean yourself?"
Wanting to move away from Umbra's previous comment, I played into her deflection, "About once a week, it mostly depends on when I'm available. Disgusting, I know, but all I have in my chambers is a bed with a mattress that's most likely older than me."
"That will all change in due time, Donovan."
"Yeah, I fucking hope."
I rinsed the soap suds from my body. A few moments of silence passed before Umbra spoke again, "So Donovan, what will you do once you return to the castle?"
Umbra's voice echoed within my mind, "Since it usually takes a week for a new shipment of materials to arrive, I'll have time to make one of my side projects."
She hummed before responding, "Side projects?"
A small smile wormed its way onto my face, "Whenever I don't get any orders, or I'm close to running out of materials, I usually spend the week making some things from my world. Can't exactly make modern firearms yet, but I can make a blunderbuss."
"I'd like to see some of your work if you'd be so kind as to let me."
"I don't see why not. The only reason I hide that stuff is to avoid the other guards seeing my masterwork and destroying it. If I had to be honest, the Guard's armor is so simple to make. Kind of like a pushrod V8."
"A what?" Confusion was present in her voice, and rightfully so.
Ponies still used coal to power their trains, "Oh, sorry, it's a thing from my world. I'll tell you about it later." Shutting off the water, I grabbed a towel. Once I was done drying off, I wrapped it around myself and left the showers. Most of the guards had left for their posts. Luckily the Captain was still suiting up. She was a pegasus laden with hot red fur, paired with a white, curly mane and tail. Which was smudged with the same color as her coat. Her eyes were a gleaming emerald shade.
Without her helmet, the mole on her cheek was visible, "Captain Infernus?"
The mare glanced up at me, eyebrow raised in question, "Can you relay a message to the Quartermaster?"
"I can't. The princesses have asked Captain Dusk Blood and me to meet so we can discuss dates for the upcoming Guard's Tournament. You'll have to talk to him yourself. Speaking of, you should consider competing in the Tournament. I've been wondering why you still carry the namesake of a guard. Now that I think of it, I never saw the weapon you were deployed with."
I responded instantly, "I was given the standard-issue straight sword. I contribute very much. I make armor and weapons for all of you. I have wanted to stand Guard with all of you."
She shrugged her shoulders, "So why didn't you choose guard duty instead of blacksmith and armory cataloging?" I froze, mouth agape.
The realization that I had been involuntarily reassigned by my drill instructor slammed into me like a runaway semi, "I did! I-" Infernus' stern glare became even more fierce,
"Watch your tone. Don't forget who you're addressing. You can't even regard your superiors respectfully."
"I'm sorry, ma'am. Please understand that I provide the guards with their gear. I'm in charge of making sure that it is top quality. Each strike of my hammer is precise, every weapon operates as it should, and the armor is robust and beyond reliable." A long pause fell over the barracks.
Infernus donned her helmet and stood, "That is true, but you've never patrolled with us, sparred with us, and never fought alongside any of us. Being part of the Guard is like family. We stand by each other. Yet you've just been doing your own thing. You've been at the lowest rank for two years now! Sergeant Gallant has also informed me of your recent insubordination against him. Personally...I don't think you've got what it takes to be a part of the Royal Guard. I'm going to think it over for a little longer, but my mind's mostly made up. You can continue to work as a blacksmith. You'll just have to turn in your armor and issue a weapon. Seeing as how you've done nothing this whole time, I'll have to talk with Celestia about whether or not you should be dishonorably discharged. If you are, you'll get no retirement pay." And with that, she turned and left. I stood frozen in disbelief. That bastard Gallant, he lied to her, and she believed it!
Rousing myself from my stupor, I ran out and shouted, "Captain!" Infernus turned, "Sign me up for the Tournament." With a nod, she rounded the corner and disappeared.
I turned and leaned onto the door frame, "Fucking great. Goddamn you, Gallant." I grumbled,
"What is the Guard's Tournament?"
Umbra's voice punching a hole in my cloud of growing anger, "It's an annual event where the Royal Guard, Lunar, and Solar compete. Princess Luna proposed it as a way to keep the guards sharp and ready for another attack."
"Hm. Well, the Guard always was a sorry excuse of a military force. The amount of broken guards under my hoof alone is vast."
She punctuated her sentence with a grim chuckle, "Yes, the Royal Guard doesn't tend to do well regarding actual threats." Dodging her sadistic statement,
"Could you please describe the event in further detail?"
I opened the locker and picked up my clothes, slipping on my jeans first, "The guards assemble into the Grand Arena and are randomly chosen to fight an individual who shares the same rank. Whoever wins the match receives a higher rank. Then there are the squad bouts, which include a four-pony group. Rank, race, and skill vary.
That event is meant to test unit cohesion."
Umbra hummed for a moment, "Do ponies die in these games?" I shook my head and smirked.
I finally threw on my shirt, "I knew you were going to ask me that. To answer your question, sometimes. Although it's rare. However, serious injuries are common. Last year, this pegasus had one of her wings severed mid-flight. Luckily the cut was clean, and the bones weren't too damaged. She was up and flying after seven months."
"Quite the speedy recovery."
"Tell me about it."
"So when is this Tournament?"
"Next Wednesday."
I could hear the Unicorn grumble in slight aggravation, followed by a sigh, "Well, Donovan, I have some sudden news to share."
My pace slowed, "Judging from the sound you just made, it doesn't sound like anything good."
"Believe me, it isn't. Due to your sudden and essentially involuntary application into the Tournament, my lessons on dark magic will have to be much more rushed. When was the last time you ever trained for combat?"
I blanked, "Since basic training?" Another sigh reverberated in my head,
"So I will have to teach rapidly teach you the fundamentals of magic and re-educate you on combat. This is just spectacular." Our conversation ended when I arrived at the Quartermaster's Station. There was only one Guard ahead of me, and it looked like she was wrapping things up. Sure enough, the mare said goodbye, closed her saddlebag and continued down the halls. The Quartermaster notices me, and her face immediately sours. Let's hope we can get through this order without any hold-ups. Autumn Haze was a unicorn mare with an amber fur coat and orange eyes.
Her straight, dark brown mane spilled over her shoulders, "What do you want, ape? I'm busy." Autumn's brash tone matched her bitter expression,
"I just need to put in an order for more materials."
Her eyebrows rose slightly, and she adopted a smug smile, "I see you're in your street clothes. Leaving the castle to do nothing? Oh, wait! You already do nothing." I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply through my nose.
There goes my hope of a somewhat amicable exchange between us, "There's plenty of armor and weapons for the Guard to last them until I receive the next shipment of metal. A few days off won't do much damage, I'm sure. They should be just fine."
She scoffed, "They should be just fine? Interesting. When you said that, I thought about how effective our weapons and armor truly are." My hand came up to my forehead, slowly traveling downward and stopping at my chin.
Umbra spoke, disgust slathered over her words, "Please don't tell me that this pencil pusher is critiquing your smithing. An occupation of which that wench has no experience. I truly don't know what's greater, her ignorance or her arrogance." Umbra's words made me smile and chuckle.
I glanced down at Autumn, "Hey, you know what, just order the metal. I'm not gonna get wrapped in an argument with you. Besides, you said you were busy, right?" I turned and walked away, not before noticing her look of surprise.
Then, she muttered something, pulling out a paper and pen, "Seriously, it's like she's some petulant child. How do you put up with her, Donovan? I would have strangled her by now" I shrugged,
"Autumn's always been a pain in the ass. She gets off on seeing me get pissed and acts like she's morally superior. Today would have been another notch on her belt if you hadn't have said what you said. Thanks, by the way."
"No need, I just had to say something. By the gods, she's just...insufferable. Anyway, about our conversation earlier. You will need a refresher on combat and a hasty introduction to dark magic."
"There is a training dummy in the forge. I could just brush up on my skills there. I might be a little rusty, but I should get back in the swing of things."
"That won't work." I furrowed my eyebrows,
"And why not?"
"Think Donovan, is ten days truly enough to hone your skills for a series of battles?" She took my silence as a no, "Exactly. Too much rides on you beating whoever you face. Learning to use a different weapon will give you a strategic edge over your opponents. Under my tutelage, you can be a formidable adversary."
"I guess that makes sense. No disrespect, but I thought you just had your armies fight for you as Celestia and Luna do. What do you know about fighting in a war?" It was then that I saw a vision. The sky was dark and bleak, snow seeming to fall from a looming abyss. Jagged mountains surrounded the landscape. I could see a castle gleaming in the distance. It took me a moment to realize that this vision occurred in the Crystal Empire. What caught my eye next took me by surprise.
Sections of Umbra's fur were splotched with bloodstains. Some of it belonged to her but mainly to the bodies of slain Crystal guards. Her mane was shorter than it was now. Two wavy bangs dangled from opposite sides of her forehead. In her magical grasp, she held her infamous war scythe. Its obsidian blade was dripping with blood and rendered flesh. The snow she was standing upon was turned into a cold red sludge as an effect of the blood beginning to freeze. Umbra had neither her regalia nor armor. Her breaths were deep and labored, a clear sign of exhaustion. Distant yelling made her whip around and lock eyes with the incoming squadron of guards. They stopped to gaze in horror at what'd she'd done to their brothers and sisters in arms,
"What have you done? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO THEM?!" He roared, tears falling from his cheeks. The stallion reached out to touch a severed hoof, stopping mere inches from doing so. He closed his eyes for a moment before dashing forward, spear held tightly in his grip,
"Onyx, wait!" A pegasus mare shouted out at the enraged earth stallion. Her attempt to make him see reason was in vain, however. He was hellbent on making Umbra pay. Umbra glared at the approaching aggressor,
"You'd best listen!" She warned,
"Buck you, whore!" She grit her teeth, fangs on full display,
"Very well then, I warned you." The Guard thrust the spear forward, hitting nothing as Umbra dashed to the side. She retaliated by bringing the blunt side of the war scythe down on the crown of his helmet. The stallion went down immediately, crumbling into the snow. As I examined the spot where Umbra's attack landed, I saw that helmet was caved in. Her scythe rose to strike the finishing blow, only to be interrupted when the pegasus crashed into her side, sending her soaring before tumbling through the snow. The mare hooked her hooves under her unconscious friend's arms. Blood had begun to dribble down his features,
"Reverence! He's not waking up!" The unicorn stallion nodded,
"Take him back to the kingdom. I'll buy you time!" The mare's eyes flew open,
"No, you can't! She'll kill you!" The Unicorn ignored her words and shouted,
"Just go!" The pegasus flinched,
"I-" she chose to stay silent and listen to her friend. In a burst of speed, the pegasus took off towards the empire. Umbra slowly rose, clumps of snow slipping off of her back. A gentle hum resonated from her horn as she picked up her scythe. Then, she trod forward, dragging the scythe's blade in the snow, wrenching it back up in a shower of white. The Guard unsheathed his sword, walking opposite of Umbra. The two circled each other like ravenous wolves. His determined and focused gaze contrasted against Umbra's cold and lidded stare. Suddenly, they stopped. The falling snowflakes were scattered erratically as a howling wind made its presence known. Umbra's mouth slowly opened,
"You know your friend is doomed, right? I fractured his skull and most likely caused severe brain hemorrhaging. Judging from the amount of blood he shed in such a short amount of time, I'd say he'll be brain dead before they get him into a hospital bed." A smug grin wormed its way onto her face. The Unicorn growled,
"I don't give a damn about what Queen Amore wanting you alive. You are going to die. Right here, right now. By my hooves." Umbra responds with a throaty chuckle,
"Brave words. Yet they are words all the same." Umbra's grin vanished, and her crimson eyes had begun to glow, "I am eager to see you buttress your claim." In an instant, the Unicorn charged her, aiming to cleave her head in two. A shower of sparks appears as Umbra changes her stance and blocks the attack. She held him there for a moment before pushing up. Then, in a puff of black smoke, she disappeared. The stallion's eyes narrowed as he darted his gaze left and right.
His ears perk up, and he turns around just in time to barely block Umbra's swing. He stumbles slightly before thrusting his blade at her neck. She deflects the attack with ease. A ray of green energy shot out from her horn. Still trying to regain his posture, the Unicorn had no time to put up a shield, and it collided with his chest plate. He recoiled back like he had been shot, a smoking dent in his chest plate signifying that his armor barely held up.
Umbra closed the distance with slow, methodical steps. The stallion scrambles to get up. Harsh coughs and wheezes rattled his body. Channeling his magic again, he picked up his weapon and shakily got into a fighting stance. Umbra went on the offensive, strike after strike whittling away the Unicorn. On the eighth swing, Umbra broke his Guard and sent his weapon sailing away. The Guard resorted to his horn. Letting out a slew of magic bolts. Umbra casts a magic shield within a split second. In a last-ditch effort, he unleashed a massive wave. It lasted for five seconds before dissipating. He was sweating and panting. He had nothing left. Umbra stood on a perfect circle of snow, surrounded by scorched earth. She teleports in front of the weary Guard,
"A valiant effort, however, I stand unshaken. You were a worthy adversary. I shall be merciful. You may live." Umbra turns and walks away, scythe disappearing into a plume of smoke. The Guard started in bewilderment and confusion before adopting an angry expression. Mustering what little magic he had left, he tore a dagger from a holster on his foreleg,
"Dumbass." That was the only word I'd say. I followed the knife as it plunged into Umbra's back. She stopped dead in her tracks. Her head slowly spun around, snapping grotesquely as she finished making the 180-degree turn. Black ooze poured from her maw. Her horn was enveloped in a dark aura. The ground shook under the Guard's hooves. Spikes formed from black crystal blasted out from the snow in the blink of an eye. The Unicorn was skewered, blood rushing down to the snow. I looked back at Umbra only to notice that she had disappeared. At first, I thought she had teleported away. That was until her bloodied forelegs found their way around my neck. Her warm breath tickled my ear,
"I know so much more than you would ever believe." Her hooves covered my eyes. Once they were pulled away, I was back in Canterlot, standing just outside the palace,
"What the fuck? How did I get here?"
"Simple, I showed you one of my memories and assumed control of your body. I must say, those fingers of yours are quite intriguing." I opened my mouth but found no words,
"I guess you do know a lot about war." Umbra laughs,
"Of course, the fact that I traded blows with Celestia and Luna several times is proof enough. Would you like to see that memory next?" I shook my head,
"Nah, I'm good."
"Hm. Very well then, what is the name of this establishment?"
"It's this diner called The Equestrian Grill. Nobles hate the place, but it's pretty good, and the prices are reasonable. It's not too far from here either. Thoughts of the Tournament wormed their way back into my mind. A sigh escaped my body, "Man, what happened to relax on your day off? Now I can't stop thinking about the goddamned Tournament."
"If everything goes well with your training, you'll have little to worry about." As jarring as this whole experience is, I'd never think that the voice of an ex-tyrant taking refuge in my head would calm me down so well,
"So, what will you be teaching me first?"
"How to sense and conduct your magic. We also have to find an access point somewhere on your body, which will allow you to withdraw magical energy." I nodded in understanding,
"What if I don't have an access point?" I heard something that sounded like a wince,
"Well, as a last resort...you'll have to carve a channeling rune into your flesh." I got sick to my stomach, I opened my mouth to reply, but she wasn't done, "And if you make any mistake, you can create a Martyrdom rune. Once that happens, you'll draw in limitless amounts of raw magic once that happens until your body becomes a bomb. I've seen it happen to ponies in the past. The devastation is massive. In extreme cases, some ponies will purposely carve the rune into their flesh and run at their enemy." It felt like my heart jumped into my throat,
"Holy shit. How in the hell will I be able to keep that knife stable while cutting myself?"
"If you want, I can assume control of your body and do it myself." I nodded,
"Alright, but that's only if I don't have an access point?"
"Of course, a rune cut into flesh is also difficult to hide." The restaurant was only a few steps away now. Its vibrant lettering made it easily distinguishable,
"I hope it doesn't come to that," I said, pushing through the glass doors. I found a bench off at the edge of the room. As usual, my presence garnered stares and harsh whispers. Sitting down, I grabbed a menu. I was thinking of trying something different today. Another reason why I liked this place is that it accommodates all species, even griffons. So that means I can eat meat. The food that ponies eat isn't bad, but there isn't much of a selection. It's mostly stuff made from hay. A griffin waitress approached my table,
"Hi, welcome to The Equestrian Grill. What can I get you for today?"
"Two Cheesesteak sandwiches, a strawberry milkshake, and some fries. " The griffon nods and writes down my order in a small notepad,
"We'll have it out as soon as possible." I smiled at her as she flew into the kitchen. This place was the only happy medium in my life,
"So humans eat meat?" Umbra asked,
"We're omnivores, so we can eat fruits and vegetables, not hay. Even though I like meat the most, combining all of these foods would give me a truly balanced meal."
"Interesting. The only species of pony that can digest meat are thestrals."
"I know. I tried to dine with the Lunar guard at one period."
"What happened?" I sighed,
"I guess Luna makes her disdain for me very vocal; as a result, her hatred for me has imprinted on the Guard. When I walked into that mess hall, I was promptly thrown out. After that, my first three months in the forge were sleepless. I was always on the lookout for Lunar guards that had deliberately abandoned their posts to try and kill me."
"How did you find out they were stalking you?" I paused for a moment,
"One of them made a sound while I was sleeping. I woke up to find a dagger poking my neck. The moment I opened my eyes, the bastards ran off."
"Spineless cowards." She spat
"That door outside my room wasn't always reminiscent of a cell door. So after that night, I constructed a 7-inch thick iron door that locks from the inside. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to make hinges before the night came around, so I shoddily melded them onto the hinges. Hence why one of the hinges gave way and broke this morning. Since then, I've kept a dagger of my own under my pillow."
"Just when I thought I couldn't hold Equestria at a lower regard, you go and say that." Umbra's unamused tone speaking volumes about her discontent,
"Yep, my own "brothers" in arms were hunting me like some animal. I couldn't go to Luna because there's no way she would believe my word over theirs, and Celestia is too busy during the day and too tired during the night. Besides you, Umbra, I don't have anyone else I can count on." The griffon waitress comes out from the kitchen,
"Here are your Cheesesteaks, strawberry milkshake, and fries." She sets the plate down on the table, "That'll be 17 bits." I give her 27 bits,
"17 and 10 for your tip." Her eyes lit up, and her beak gives way to a beaming smile,
"Thank you very much!" She pockets the bits in her apron and flies off into the kitchen,
"How philanthropic of you." Umbra remarks. I smile and chuckle,
"Hey, just cause I work with assholes doesn't mean I have to become one." I took a bite and savored it, "Perfect."
The walk back to the castle was somewhat blissful, considering I had just eaten. The day was brightening, and Canterlot had a considerable buzz going about. There'd be so many voices and ponies by the afternoon that it would be easy to lose any companions you were traveling with. Store owners flipped their signs to open, and street vendors loaded merchandise onto their stands. Canterlot certainly had that immense city feeling, although it would become eerily silent once night fell. That's another thing I noticed sometime after my arrival. The natural cycle of day and night was very adhered to in Equestria. It was a massive contrast to what I had been used to with cities on earth. There would be some nightlife, but that was mostly thestrals going out hunting or beginning their shifts as Lunar guards. Umbra's voice called out to me once I made it to the castle steps,
"Deep in thought, hm?"
"Eh, I'm just taking it all in."
"So, you said you created an armory and hid it away, correct?" She asked,
"I wouldn't say it's an armory, just a little stash of stuff I made from leftover materials; besides, I doubt I'll ever put any of that stuff to good use. It isn't like I'm getting considered for deployment soon." I said glumly. Although those creations were my babies, and I cherished them deeply, a big part of me wanted to actually use them. Umbra sighs,
"Have you forgotten about the tournament already?" I shook my head,
"I remember, but the high brass will probably force me to wear the standard issue armor and sword to battle."
"Well, they already despise the thought of you wearing their armor and being among their ranks. So why not show them your reason behind doing exactly that?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, wear your armor, utilize weapons of your own creation, and use these things to crush all who oppose you during the tournament. Thus, sending a message that you are superior to them in every conceivable way."
"..."
"Splendid, now let's hurry along. I must say, you've gotten me curious about witnessing your craft."
At the top of the steps, I walked by a line of nobles and average citizens awaiting their turn to speak with the princess. My presence warranted the same whispers and snide comments. Celestia was seated on her throne, with her elegance on full display. Her mane and tail billowed in a nonexistent wind, radiantly sparkling with color. Celestia's alabaster fur seemed to shine like the gentle morning rays of the sun. Her wonderful magenta irises held infinite amounts of love and compassion within them. Celestia was the definitive example of a goddess. However, I could tell that she was fighting to stay awake.
Trying her hardest not to yawn at the current noble who was trying to talk her into letting him buy a ridiculous amount of land in Ponyville that the local Mayor won't allow, Celestia tactfully covered her mouth with her hoof before speaking,
"Mr. Bitsby, while I understand your desire to…expand your vast economic empire," I tried hard not to smirk. This is how Celestia always sent clowns like this packing. She'd use choice words to boost their ego, then gently let them down. It was genius, "I don't feel that there is a need to. I've heard you're doing quite well yourself. I even saw that beautiful new jacuzzi you've recently installed in your manor. You have impeccable taste." The stallion fixed his monocle and puffed his chest out,
"Why I am honored that your highness herself understands my more lavish tastes in interior design," What a tool! I gotta get outta here. I'm gonna wheeze. I nodded to Celestia, who smiled lightly and waved. This, unfortunately, garnered the attention of the noble. He looked in the direction the princess was smiling and scrunched up his muzzle in an obnoxious display of disgust, "Ugh! How dare you interrupt such an important meeting with your beastly appearance?!" I just kept walking, I was in a good mood today, and I wasn't gonna let some noble douchebag ruin it. Once I reached the main hall, I slowed to catch the rest of the court proceedings. Celestia cleared her throat; her tone hardened noticeably,
"Shall we continue, Mr. Bitsby?" Although she never found the time to sit down and talk with me about my grievances, Celestia was the only pony; besides Umbra, of course, that seemed to give me a modicum of respect,
"Yes, your highness. My apologies."
"I'm afraid I must decline your proposition due to building restrictions."
"I-er, but-" I snickered and picked up the pace. I passed a unicorn maid carrying a feather duster in her magic down the main hall. Now I understand that there is more than one maid assigned to each job, but I can't begin to imagine the task of cleaning up this massive palace. You'd have to cover so much ground, even if you were part of a group. The decorum changed once I descended the long flight of stairs to my floor. The lower parts of the castle were a massive juxtaposition compared to the upper portion where the Princesses resided. The once pristine marble covering the upper floors was replaced with drab stone, with cracks lining the walls from age. The air was dry and stale. It smells pretty unpleasant down here your first time. Fortunately, it becomes more tolerable as you get used to it. Finally, the forge was at the end of the hall, adjacent to the staircase that led to the dungeons. I opened the door, and the hinges groaned as it swung open. I had no intention of fixing another big ass iron door. There were rust spots here and there, but for the most part, they were pretty good,
"Probably just need to be oiled.' I muttered. Walking behind my desk, I pulled out a little metal can of lubricant. MMR-12 was the name stamped onto it. It was basically the Equestrian equivalent to WD-40 in terms of purpose. However, the way it worked was much different. MMR-12 was practically a potion in a can. Returning to the door, I sprayed each continuously for about three seconds. A purple cloud stuck to the metal for a short time before dissipating. The hinges looked as good as new. Satisfied, I shut the door. Magic sure was something else. I checked the clipboard on my desk for any further work orders for the upcoming week. Much to my relief, I had nothing new yet,
"Do you still want to see my personal armory, Umbra?"
"Why, yes. I've been curious about what wartime inventions your kind has created."
"What I'm about to show you is considered archaic compared to modern technology." I chuckled. I relit the torches inside the forge before heading into my bedroom. Once I shut the door, I flicked down the metal slab over the bars. It was a precaution I had taken just in case someone came inside to put in a work order or needed to talk about other matters that required my expertise. Walking to my makeshift closet, I pushed my old jean jacket aside. Revealing a metal handle, I turned it and pulled. Dust was shaken free as the hidden door slid into the wall. Patting myself off, I took a step inside. Then, just like I had done outside, I went around the room. I lit every torch until the pitch-black darkness was replaced by a flickering yellow. I smiled contently upon the sight of my handy work,
"Wow." Was all Umbra could muster, bolstering my pride. I rubbed my hands and observed the first wall of weaponry. Pondering what I would show first. I was about to settle on a pair of daggers when the battle-ax caught my eye,
"Ah, now this," I started, pulling the ax from the wall, "Was my first creation. It took me just short of a week to finish it." I went with a double-headed design about four feet in length. The handle was wrought from black steel, spiraling towards the bottom. I chose to make it even more special by engraving roaring flames on the heads of the ax.
"Your level of craft is exceptional, Donovan."
"Thank you, I put lots of time into this baby and many other things here. Speaking of which," I placed the ax back on the wall before walking towards my most complex weapon. This little baby took a month of planning and redesigning before I started creating it. My repeating crossbow. I turned to the armor-clad dummy at the end of the room and took aim. I held down the trigger. Four six-inch bolts were launched quickly, each one hitting the target. The bolts had 4 blade broadheads, so they did much damage to armor. The steel armor was punctured like a soda can,
"By the gods, that's genius." I set the crossbow back down,
"It's practically operated by an internal mechanism that recocks the rope after each shot. The springloaded floor in the magazine pushes the next bolt up. Each mag holds about eight bolts."
"Do you have a set of armor?" I nodded, turning to my current work in progress.
"This was what I'd call my magnum opus. A knight's suit of armor, made from blackened steel. I created each section of platemail meticulously, from the boots to the chest. I also lined the inside with chainmail for extra protection. Weighs a bit, but I'm strong enough to move around in it." Alongside the armor was my primary weapon of choice. A longsword, the steel blade glimmered even in the dull light. At the ends of the handlebar bore the heads of snarling wolves and a wailing human skull at the pommel.
"I haven't seen work so immaculate for ages. It feels ecstatic to be the first to witness it all."
"Thanks, that means a lot." Umbra's words had me beaming with pride,
"Donovan, you must take your armor and weaponry to the tournament. It would make even Celestia view her Sabre of Dawn as inadequate." I stroked my beard for a moment as I pondered her words,
"You know what, that might not be such a bad idea. The longsword would give me an edge thanks to its more extended size. Also, the armor would protect more of me than the standard-issue Solar armor ever did."
"Every advantage matters in battle." She affirmed,
"Well, you've convinced me," I set the sword back down, "I think I'll get started on that helmet now." I snuffed out the torches before exiting the armory. I changed out of my street clothes and into my workwear. Once I was back in the forge, I pulled out some spare steel and my tongs. There were so many types of helmets that I had favored when it came to the attire of knights. Closed helms, bascinets, barbutes, and even the kettle helmet always caught my eye. However, my biggest favorite was the pot helm or the great helm. They were typically worn by the Templars during the Crusades. This particular type of helmet would be the one to finish my set of armor. I walked next to the forge and took hold of the adjacent shovel. With a sharp thrust, I wedged it inside a bag of coal before tossing the contents inside the stone maw. I repeated this process until I was satisfied with the amount. Then, taking a match, I swiped it across my boot and tossed it onto the pile of coal. I waited for the tiny flame to grow before walking to the bellows. My boot firmly came down on the handle.
WHOOSH
I felt the slight wave of heat wash over the chamber. The dim reddish-orange glow evolved into a bright yellow with each jet of air that flew into the flame. I took my foot off the bellows and stood in front of the forge. It was definitely hot enough, hence the slight itching sensation on my skin. Using the tongs, I held the metal over the coals for a moment. Once it turned orange, I brought it to the anvil. Then, using my hammer, I struck the metal into shape. Drops of sweat rolled down my body and face. A driblet would collide with the glowing steel every now and then, resulting in a sharp sizzle and a wisp of steam. Once it cools, I'll use rivets to bring it all together.
After a few hours of work, I had the shape of the helm complete. A good stopping point for now. Setting everything down on the workbench, I sat in my chair and stared into the forge,
"It's been quite the productive day, hasn't it?" Umbra asked,
"Yeah, I guess you could say that."
"I stayed quiet so I wouldn't disturb you; I saw how focused you were. It would be unjust to disrupt that."
"I do get fully engaged when I work or completely zone out. Depends on who sees me."
"Donovan?" I lifted my eyebrows,
"Hm?"
"Pardon me for asking, but what are you doing?" I chuckled before replying,
"After I get some work done, I sit and look into the forge while it goes out before I head to bed. It helps me reflect on what I've done and winds me down. I know that probably sounds weird to you." Umbra's response was instant,
"No, it doesn't. There's nothing strange about one bringing serenity to mind. If anything, it's necessary to remain complete." It was then that the flame finally died out,
"Exactly." I rose from the seat and went to my room, removing all but my jeans. Landing on the bed with a sigh, I stared at the ceiling until sleep took me.
When I reopened my eyes, I noticed I was in the forest. I could feel a soft breeze kiss my skin. Up ahead was Umbra; she had removed her cape and regalia. Her eyes were closed, and a ghost of a smile was visible on her muzzle. Umbra's mane and tail looked different too. The ebony smoke seemed to have surrendered to wavy locks of raven black hair. Next, my eyes wandered over her body. Umbra's lush coat was peppered with scars. I could faintly see muscle outlining her frame. While tracing the contours of her body, my eyes fell upon her cutie mark. A black crystalline skull bathed in a purple aura. As strange as it sounds, I couldn't take my eyes off her. Umbra was absolutely enchanting, scars included. I was so enraptured that I didn't notice her mouth move,
"Hello, Donovan." Stiffening slightly, I met her gaze. Her eyes. Her normal eyes were hypnotizing pools of crimson, twinkling slightly,
"Hey, Umbra." Her eyebrow rose slightly,
"Is everything alright? You seemed off."
"Well, I never saw you without your cape and regalia, plus your mane, tail and eyes are different."
"I'm sure I looked the same in that memory I showed you earlier."
"Yeah, you did, but you were covered in blood and snow. Never really got to take in your features until now. You look great, Umbra." I said with a smile. It was hard to see, but I noticed a light hue of pink adorned her muzzle,
"Why thank you, Donovan," She smiled briefly before hardening her features. Her horn was alight in a purple aura, which hung around my body. Umbra nodded and halted her magic. "Good news, it seems that your corruption is complete. Do you feel any different?" I shook my head,
"Not really, no."
"Are you sure? Nothing at all?" I opened my mouth and closed it. Focusing on my senses,
"Hmm." I took a deep breath and exhaled. A strange sensation flowed through me like a soft thrumming. "Actually, I do feel a little different."
"What do you feel?"
"It's like a subtle pulse that reverberates around my body."
"That's what magic feels like when it's not in use. Now that you can sense it within. Our next course of action is to determine whether your body can physically withdraw and use it. Try to find where the sensation is the most intense. For unicorns, magical pulses start from our hearts and feel strongest at our horns." She said, tapping her forehead. I nodded and focused on my pulsings,
"It starts at my head and gets more powerful at my fingertips."
"Ah, I assumed that your fingers would possibly yield the most potent feel. Now what I want you to do next is to channel your magic. Try to imagine the pulse stopping at your fingertips."
"Okay, let me give it a try." I stared at my palms and concentrated. Somehow, I managed to hold it there for a few seconds. Only for it to leave my fingers, "Shit." Umbra giggled,
"It is hard to do at first." Trying it again, I held my magic for a bit longer. It was long enough to hear a humming sound, followed by an erratic blue aura around my hands. It faintly resembled electricity. I was so surprised that I managed to lose focus and let the magic slip away,
"Whoa." Umbra trotted next to me,
"I saw it as well. Try again and hold it for as long as you can." Cracking my knuckles, I did as she asked. The arcing blue returned and seemed to become more volatile,
"Quite the intriguing aura. Is there anything you're struggling with?" I shrugged,
"Just maintaining it." Nodding in understanding, Umbra flared her own magic,
"I noticed you straining to summon forth and hold your magic. You must relax your body and mind. Calling upon magic must be effortless as if it were second nature." Until she spoke, I didn't even realize how tense I was. My arms were shaking like I was struggling to curl a new personal record,
"Okay, I'll do that." Then, loosening my posture, the stress of holding my magic lightened, "Oh yeah, that feels way better."
"Great. Next, we'll do a short exercise. When I say discharge, you let your magic go. Invoke means to bring it forth once more. Finally, maintain standards to hold. I'll eventually get faster with each command you get right. This will help with the basics of controlling your magic while preparing you for tense situations where you might need to perform a quickdraw."
"Gotcha." Umbra smiled and nodded,
"Good. Now release!" Doing as she asked, I relinquished my hold,
"Invoke!" With minor struggle, I brought it back,
"Hold!" I gave her my full attention, waiting for the next word,
"Release!" I had just shy of two seconds of rest before she said the following order,
"Invoke!" Grimacing slightly, I did it successfully,
"Hold!"
"Release!"
"Invoke!" I accidentally pulled forth too much magic because of the speed I needed to respond at. The separate auras joined into a massive ball of raw power. I faintly heard a gasp from Umbra,
"Donovan, release your magic now!" Before I could do so, a loud crackle assaulted my ears, and the orb exploded. Surrounding trees bent from the power exerted. I heard the sound of a lightning strike as my arms swung back, and I was sent sailing into the air. I braced myself for impact, but it never came. Umbra caught me with her magic and brought me back down to the grass,
"H-Holy Shit." I stammered; my hands were trembling. Umbra opened her mouth to speak when a dry snap grabbed our attention. We watched in disbelief as a tree fell. Its bottom half was still firmly rooted into the ground,
"Donovan," I turned to meet her gaze and noticed the lines of gouged earth in front of her hooves. Umbra's look was wild as she peered into my eyes, "I understand that you wanted to keep up with my commands. However, that was something we can never allow to transpire again."
"What was that?"
"It's called an overdraw. It commonly happens when a unicorn pulls too much magic into its horn at a very uncontrolled and rapid rate. Usually, it results in horn injury and temporary migraines, but it can kill in some unfortunate cases. So, Donovan, you have to always control your magic. Do not try to force it to bend to your will. It will come to you naturally with time," Her hoof tapped my stomach slightly, "That is why it is called practice. Speaking of which, I believe we should leave off on that note." I plopped down with a sigh,
"Can't disagree, but before I wake up Umbra, I need to ask you something?" She sat next to me,
"Ask away."
"Why does my magical aura look so different? Unicorns look so smooth and calm. Even yours is different. So why is mine the way it is?" She pouted slightly,
"One key reason is that you have dark magic, not harmonious. The other reason, purely hypothetical, is that you aren't inherently from the planet Equus. So I assume your race cannot use magic as we can, right?"
"Yeah, we're more of a technological species."
"Exactly, with such a foreign vessel, the magic within you is more volatile and, judging from the scale of the discharge from your recent overdraw, more powerful. But, nevertheless, it's too early to make that latter assumption."
"That would explain it. Guess I gotta train a ton, don't I?"
"Yes, but as you improve, we will finally see your true potential." I stretched and closed my eyes,
The weekend came and went, and I'd made good progress on my training with Umbra. Last night, she said we would start practicing levitation and incorporating armed combat into tonight's lesson. On Sunday, I even finished my helmet and armor set. Monday came after that, and I was swamped by equipment inspection orders. With the Tournament happening in three days, the Royal and Lunar guard made preparations. Stands for the populace were getting built on our training grounds, and flyers were posted all around the city. So far, I'd spent the last three hours looking over weapons and armor. Since Equestria was at relative peace, I rarely had to fix anything for the time being. Those few cases where I have to touch up on a guard's kit are usually the cause of negligence.
I've seen guards do some very dumb shit with their standard-issue equipment. I was at my desk examining the spear of 2nd Lieutenant Banshee of the Lunar Guard. In my peripheral vision, I could see her glaring at me. Now I was used to the Lunar guards giving me looks that echoed their intent to send me to a hospital...or a morgue, but this mare was something else. She had become a legend among the guard during Queen Chrysalis' invasion of Canterlot. According to what I've heard, two members of her squad died, and the rest were injured. Which left only her. Banshee stood her ground long enough for the Equestrian royalty to bounce back and repel the attack. When reinforcements got to her, she had reportedly killed 70 and wounded 20. Banshee's actions earned her the Equestrian Star of Valiance, akin to the Medal of Honor given to the United States Armed Forces. I wish I had been there for it all; when I got here, the only big event was my arrival on the planet and the subsequent panic that followed. It might not have been an event that required me to take up my arms and go on duty for once, but it was still...interesting, to say the least,
"Well, I see nothing wrong with the current state of your weapon. The spearhead is still sharp, and the socket is firmly attached to the wood. I don't see any signs of rot on the wood either. You've maintained your weapon well." I leaned over the desk, holding the spear in front of the mare. Banshee's fur was a smokey gray, while the webbings of her wings were a few shades darker. Her braided mane and tail were glossy indigo, while one of her eyes shared the same color as her mane; the other was milky white due to Banshee losing her eye during the invasion. The mare only nodded thanks before grabbing the spear and striding out of the Forge. Two stallions and a mare turned their heads and watched her walk away, thinking god knows what as they took an eyeful of the rough-looking mare's assets. The display made me want to shake my head.
Unfortunately for the horny bastards, the mare's intuition kicked in a few steps past the doorway, and she turned her head slightly and caught them gawking, and for the first time in my life, I heard Banshee speak. Her voice was husky, "What are you scumbags looking at?!" Closing the distance at an alarming speed, she stood next to the line. Even though there was no order, everyone, including me, stood at attention. She pointed at the three ponies checking her out, "STEP OUT OF LINE NOW!" Like children, they shuffled out of their spots in line and found themselves standing right in front of Banshee. Who looked like she was ready to tear every one of them to pieces in an instant, "I'm only going to ask one more time. WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU WORMS LOOKING AT?!" Her voice echoed off walls. I bet someone could have heard it upstairs with how loud she got. One of the stallions answered,
"You, Ma'am."
This was still not a satisfactory answer as Banshee walked over to the stallion and got in his face. His reddened cheeks failed to hide his guilt, "If you don't fucking tell me what I want to hear, I will make sure you spend the rest of your miserable days bedridden and shitting in a bag. Do you hear me?" The stallion nodded, trembling so much that his knees were nearly knocking,
"I-I-I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR FLANK, MA'AM!"
"Oh." Her expression softened, "Well, if you wanted to look so bad." She wheeled around and bucked the poor bastard in his chest. The audible force of the impact made a few in-line flinch and grimace. Then, Banshee stomped over and yelled in his face, "I AM YOUR SUPERIOR, YOU VILE PICE OF SHIT! HOW DID YOU MAKE IT THIS FAR IN LIFE WITHOUT HAVING A SINGLE INKLING OF DISCIPLINE?!" The stallion only gasped in reply, struggling to catch his breath. Finally, she looked at the two other ponies and approached them slowly, "Got yourselves an eyeful, didn't you? DIDN'T YOU?!"
"Y-Yes, ma'am."
"Well, I hope it was worth it because you clowns have won yourselves extra shifts for the next three months as punishment. Now grab this sack of shit and get him out of my sight!" The ponies carried their partner in crime off to what I could only assume was the infirmary. Banshee followed behind them, stopping in the doorway and telling us, "At ease."
The injured stallion groaned loudly before the door at the end of the hall slammed shut. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding as I relaxed my posture. A few moments passed before another guard relinquished his kit to me, bringing my attention back to the task at hand,
"Hmm," I mused as I looked at his Blade, "Edge has no nicks," Pulling out a piece of paper, I gently forced the sword through the form. It cut about a quarter before stopping, "Blades a bit dull. Let me go ahead and sharpen this for ya." I took out a whetstone and dipped it in the water bucket adjacent to my feet before setting it down on the table. Starting with the coarse grain, I held the Blade at the proper angle before sliding it across the stone. After a few passes, I flipped the whetstone over the fine-grain side and did the same. Pulling out another piece of paper, the sword sliced through it like hot butter. Then, I put the sword in its sheath and turned my gaze toward his armor. I tilted the golden helmet to get a better view of its surface. Apart from a few circular scratches (Most likely due to using the wrong kind of rag), it was fine. Handing his kit back to him, the stallion turned and left the chamber. Unfortunately, one of my most frequent visitors was up next in line. Gallant Blade smiled smugly at me as he tossed me his sword. Catching it, my expression became even more void. I went right to scoping his things out, hoping that by removing additional eye contact, his walnut-sized brain wouldn't feel the need to fuck around with me.
"Hey, freak," And here we go. Trying to keep my cool, I just looked at Gallant, "I just happened to hear that you signed up to compete in the Guard's Tournament." A collective wave of surprise and confusion washed over the line. As murmurs rippled throughout the crowd, I found eyes trained heavily on me,
"Yes, I did." Multiple of them burst out laughing. Some looked at me in question and disbelief,
"You're kidding, right?" A mare further back in the line said as she looked at me. I shook my head slowly,
"Quite brave of you, but it's idiotic. You're going up against the ones standing post and remaining active in our duties when you only have basic training to stand on. For Tarturus' sake, I'd bet a fresh recruit could embarrass you on Wednesday." Gallant's sentence awards him a few more laughs, "I'd assumed that you'd have some capacity for critical thinking, but it seems that I've set the bar very high for a woefully dull creature, haven't I? Listen, why don't you just leave the guard? I bet you can still work here instead."
"Well, I haven't thought about that last part," I said blankly, trying in vain to defuse the situation,
"Oh, you didn't think about it," Gallant sneered, "Something about you not thinking somehow doesn't shock me." I wrestled down my desire to fire back at him, but I didn't respond to his statement, grabbing the whetstone and dipping it in the water. My grip was so tight that it shook. I heard a small pop as I pulled the whetstone from the water. One side of it slowly sagged a bit. I furrowed my brows and set the stone back in the bucket. When I pulled my hand away, I saw that I had snapped the thing in half. My eyes widened, "Did you hear me?"Gallant's snobbish voice brought me out of my confusion. Acting quickly, I grabbed my spare whetstone and dropped it on the table, "HELLO?!"
My eyes snapped up to meet his, "What?" Gallant's eye twitched, and everyone in line looked at me like I was on another planet...well, nevermind. I had sharpened Gallant's sword and handed it back to him in no time. He opened his mouth to speak but only found the strength to look at me with disgust. Then, taking the sword in his magic, he stormed out of the Forge. Apprehensively, another guard stepped forward and relinquished their things.
As I continued the rest of the day, I'd take cursory glances at the inside of the bucket.
After attending to the last guard, the Forge was empty once again. I promptly closed the large iron door, "Umbra, I called out in my mind." A brief moment of silence came and went,
"Yes, I know. I saw what happened earlier."
"How was I able to do that?"
"One of the many advantages to dark magic is not only the raw and violent magical power it holds but also the effect it has on the body. While you may not feel like it, the dose of dark magic you have within has made you stronger and faster than ever before. While you aren't as mighty as I, the force needed to break a whetstone is still incredible."
I blinked, "Woah," was the only thing I managed to say,
"Woah, indeed. It's part of the reason I could stand hoof to hoof with Celestia and Luna on many separate occasions."
"That's a pretty good upside."
"Truly, as long as you can control yourself." She said matter-of-factly. Umbra made an effort to frequently remind me of how much of a double-edged sword dark magic was over the weekend during my training, "Are you ready for tonight's lesson?"
"Oh yeah," I nodded. "Just let me handle something quick before I hit the sack. Inside my hidden arsenal, I examined my completed suit of armor. A small part of me wanted to add some engravings to it, but there'd be no time for me to do so before the Tournament. Reaching out, I pulled my helmet off the rack. The great helm design was a good idea on my part compared to the guard's standard outfit. My head was protected all around, and my eyesight wasn't affected very much by the narrow visor.
"I admire your helmet's design."
My eyebrows rose, "Really?"
"Of course, you substituted that ridiculous cavern that often leaves the faces of the guard exposed for an attack. Additionally, a pony wouldn't be able to see through that, but judging from the size of your eyes, this wouldn't be much of a problem."
I set the helmet back on the stand and chuckled, "Thank you, all I did was take a page out of human history. We can be rough around the edges, but we have done great things."
"Hm, well, now I've gotten curious. Tell me of one of these great things."
I scratched my chin in thought as I closed the entrance to my arsenal and moved toward my bed. Then, lying down and getting comfortable, I decided, "Okay, I'd say the invention of flight."
"Flight?" Umbra said incredulously,
"Yeah."
"How? You have no wings."
"We essentially did it by first creating a weird multi-winged vehicle powered by a machine that provided the proper amount of propulsive force to achieve liftoff."
"And here I thought your kind had simply domesticated a sizeable flying animal."
I chuckled, "Yeah, humanity tends to make amazing inventions that change the course of the world. But, sometimes, it can be for the worst" Then, with one last yawn, I shut my eyes and fell asleep.
When I awoke in the eternal forest, Umbra's sat on her haunches. She sure did like to drink in the gloomy environment. She also created this dimension herself, so maybe it's a form of expression,
Umbra's right ear twitched once I got two steps in, and she glanced at me over her shoulder, "Ah, there you are."
Stopping beside her, I smirked, "You ponies sure have some good hearing."
Umbra chuckled a bit before rising and stretching in a way similar to a cat, "That we do. Now, are you ready to begin?"
I clapped my hands and rubbed them together, "Let's get to it."
She raised an eyebrow, "Well, aren't you eager?"
"Of course I am. Being able to pick something up and put it down with my mind was something that many kids, hell, even some adults on Earth dreamed of doing."
"At least you're ready," She picked up a rock in her magic and dropped it in front of me. It was about the size of my fist, maybe a bit smaller, "Invoke." I did as she asked, bringing forth my magic, "Focus on this rock and try to envision your magic covering it completely." Then, opening my hand, I aimed my arm at the rock. My aura flickered intermittently around it initially, but I eventually managed to pull it off,
"How was that?" I said with a slight strain in my voice,
"Adequate, even though it did take you a moment. Next, visualize it leaving the grass while keeping your aura on the rock." When I tried to do it, the rock only came up a couple inches off the ground, wobbling and shaking,
"Man, it's...harder than it looks." I maintained my hold on it for a few more seconds before it plopped down,
Umbra ran a hoof through her mane before speaking, "Try again, but this time, don't try and lift it as high as you can. Instead, fixate on keeping the rock from shaking in the air."
Following her instruction, I did my best to keep the rock stable. Granted, it still moved a ton. After letting the stone hit the floor, I turned to Umbra and asked, "I tried what I could, but I don't think I changed my control over it very much."
"Don't go about it as if you were just picking the rock up with your magic," Umbra levitated the rock, "Tell the rock what to do. Make it heed your instruction." She made the rock fly around my head a few times before dropping it at my feet.
I looked at it and thought over her words. Then, with a breath, I grabbed the rock in my magic again. "Stay still, don't move," I mumbled, concentrating so much that I overlooked Umbra covering her mouth as she stifled a laugh. My eyes widened as the stone gradually stabilized to a moderate degree. It wasn't absolutely still, but it was a good start,
"You are quite the quick learner. Well done. That proves to be a sufficient stopping point. We still need to commence the combat portion of tonight's lesson."
The rock again found itself nestled in the grass, "So, what's on the menu today?"
Horn alight with magic, Umbra called forth her scythe, "I believe that your unarmed combat skills are sufficient. However, I have yet to see you perform with a weapon," A perfect copy of my longsword appeared in front of me. Wasting no time, I grabbed it out of the air. Umbra takes a stance and says, "Show me what you've got, Donovan." There was a brief moment of hesitation. My mind was racing, thinking of ways I could approach her and worrying about how easily she could destroy me. Then, taking a breath, I steeled my resolve and darted forward.
Umbra simply stood there with a slight smirk as she waited for me to close the gap between us. Once I had gotten close enough, I thrust the sword at her chest. She swiftly knocked the blade away with her scythe before countering with a swing. Seeing her attack, I blocked it to the best of my ability. I kept her scythe at bay using my handguard while sidestepping under the snath. I created a small opening in her defense by pushing away with all my might. Then, moving as quickly as possible, I swung for her head. She leaned backward and tracked the sword with her eyes in one fluid motion as it narrowly missed her snout. As soon as she was clear, Umbra assumed her stance again. I followed up immediately with an overhead. She avoided it by jumping backward. Seeing that she evaded it, I changed the angle of my swing. Narrowly missing the grass, I brought the blade to my side and closed in. Umbra met me in earnest, going on the offensive. I managed to deflect two of her swings relatively well until the third when she nearly knocked the sword out of my hands. I almost spun to keep my hold.
Umbra did not hesitate to seize the opportunity and went for another swing. Since I had barely recovered from the previous hit, I knew I could not defend myself against the next attack. Turning my sword, Umbra's scythe struck the flat, and I was knocked over. I looked to see her bringing the scythe down on top of me. Grunting, I rolled away and propped myself up on the sword. Umbra herself was already starting her next swing. In a last-ditch effort, I did the same,
"RAAAAAHHHHH!" I roared, swinging with everything I had. The resulting sound of the collision echoed throughout the landscape, and we were showered in sparks. I used the brief pause to take deep breaths, trying to regain some of my energy,
Umbra simply looked at me, eyebrow raised, "Hmm," she pondered, "You do have considerable skill for somepony with basic combat training."
She withdrew her weapon, and I did the same, resting my hands on the pommel, "So, what do you think?"
She smiled, "Your attacks are somewhat slow and thus easily decipherable. Yet, I'm confident that we can remedy this. The weight behind said attacks are deceptively powerful, coupled with your bipedal structure and weapon of choice. You may not be fast, Donovan, but you have power and reach. A very lethal pair of attributes to a fighter that doesn't take you seriously." Umbra's expression hardened slightly as she spun the scythe in her magic, "Let's address those weaknesses of yours. Are you ready?"
I grasped the handle and spun the sword around, holding the flat close to my face, "More than ready."
P.O.V. Twilight Sparkle
Celestia's sun rose above the clouds and, unfortunately, through the window into my bedroom. Moaning at the intrusion of my sleep, I channeled magic into my horn and shut the blinds. I smiled softly and got a little more comfortable.
*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*
Right as I nearly fell back to sleep.
"C'mon, Twilight, wake up!" Spike's loud and muffled voice came through the door.
I groaned and drooped my ears to futilely silence the assault on my rest, "Mmmm." For a moment, silence yet again washed over the Castle. That was until I heard my door open,
"You gotta get up. We both know how you get when you don't eat in the morning." The soft thump of his paws grew louder and louder as he closed the distance, followed by shuffling. I could feel a very concerning weight on my bed approach me. Spike's scaly finger poked my cheek three times, and I finally relented,
"Okay, okay. I'm up." I grumbled, yawning and stretching, "So what'd you make for breakfast?"
"Pancakes with prench toast and hay bacon on the side."
My stomach growled in approval, causing Spike to chuckle, "Sounds good." Coming off the bed, I went to the dining hall with Spike in front. Yawning again, I asked, "Do I have anything on schedule today?"
He shook his head, "No, I checked, and there aren't even any chores that need to be done around the castle." Hmm, it had been a while since I had an empty day. I'll see if any of the girls are free too, we could have a picnic. Once we got to the hall, the smell of breakfast wafted into my nostrils.
Graduating into a light trot, I took my seat at the table. Then, drizzling a good helping of syrup onto my pancakes, I cut out a section and took a bite, "Hey, Spike?"
"Yeah?" He asked with his mouth full of half-chewed gems,
Giggling slightly, "I was wondering if-" I didn't get to finish my question as Spike began to hiccup loudly. At first, I thought it was the number of gems he'd stuffed in his maw, but then he let out a loud belch. The small plume of emerald flame dissipated to reveal a scroll. Spike caught it in the air and opened it. While he read it, he nonchalantly popped an amethyst into his mouth. His eyes widened slightly as he rolled up the scroll and motioned for me to grab it,
"Hey Twi, this scroll's from the Princesses."
I excitedly tapped my hooves, "Ooh, I wonder what they wrote!" Then, taking the scroll in my magic, I opened it and read its contents.
Dearest Twilight, we have sent this scroll to invite you and the Elements of Harmony to watch the upcoming Guard's Tournament proceedings. We would have loved to send you this invitation earlier, but my sister and I have been extremely busy with matters around and outside the kingdom. Therefore, we thought that the Tournament would be a fantastic way to get together once again and catch up. We await your answer.
Tuesday night, my final night of training before the tournament. Fulfilling the requests of the other half of the guards was much more "exciting," thanks to the recent news of my participation spreading through the ranks like wildfire. Some wasted no time making disparaging remarks, while others eyed me like a steak. I even heard a few of them make bets with each other on how long I'd last in the first fight—encouraging stuff to hear, if I had to be honest. I did my best to tune it out, but there were a few points throughout the day when I was pushed near the limits of my mental composure.
A pony here and there would wish me good luck, sometimes sarcastically. To which I'd respond with a subtle nod. After closing the door behind the last guard, I went and pulled all my gear off the stand and packed it into a large box for transport. Umbra voiced the idea as an element of surprise and a way to impose fear into my adversaries, but would the princesses allow me to wear my gear? They could deem what I'm wearing out of regulation and prevent me from competing; then, if they won't, Captain Infernus definitely will,
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained," I muttered while shutting and locking the box. Grabbing my sword, I gently swept my weathered fingers across the blade. I sheathed it in the scabbard, before rolling it up in a cloth. Then, I took some rope and tied the fabric down on both ends. Setting my items beside the door, I stripped off my work apron and sat on the bed. Resting my hands on my knees, I let out a heavy sigh. "I have to win tomorrow." Sinking into the bed, I waited for sleep to take me to the forest.
I opened my eyes and saw that I was in Canterlot's Square, but something was off. It was pitch black as the streetlights were out nor were there any buildings with light visible in their windows. Normally, Canterlot had quite the night life, being one of the bigger cities in the empire and its capitol. The dense fog certainly didn’t ease my suspicions either. I was about to call out to someone when I heard voices,
"Freak."
"Monkey."
"Beast."
"Animal."
Trepidation crept over me as I looked around for the individuals in question. I clenched my fists and readied myself for an attack. I assumed this was just a test from Umbra, but something deep down told me this was different. Hoofsteps in front of me grew in frequency and volume. A dark figure quickly took the shape of a pony. The shadowy equine leaped through the fog and right toward me it's forehooves latched around me. The creature nearly knocked me off my feet but I managed to pry it from my midsection before grabbing the creature by its mane and catapulting it into the dirt. Hearing more hoofsteps to the right, I turned and kicked another with all my might. It sailed through the air briefly before hitting the ground and sliding. Suddenly, I was tackled to the ground, face to face with yet another specter. With a grunt, I rolled over until I was on top of the being. Pinning it to the ground with my body weight, I immediately began pummeling it. Before I could land another punch, yet another one collided with my back Hard enough to send me sprawled out with my face in the dirt. I grimaced as pain shot through my body. It wasted no time in assaulting me with hard blows. One strong blow to the back of my head filled my vision with blinding light that left my dazed.
Using the adrenaline filling my veins, I launched myself from the ground and fell backwards with my elbow extended, slamming into the stomach of the creature. The creature cringes in pain as I slam my forearm against the pony's throat. With haste, bringing down my fist slamming into the side of its head the shadow falls limp. Standing up I wasn't given more than a moment of rest before four more of those things came barreling towards me. With no other option, I darted for the one in front of me. My knee crashed against the pony’s snout, causing it to recoil back. Before it could fall, I took hold of its forelegs and lifted it over my head. Spinning, I slammed the pony on top of another. The shadow on the right spun around and got ready to buck me. Stepping back, dodging the buck I slipped my hand against the side of its head and grabbed Another shadow rushing toward me on my left and pushed them together. Resulting in a loud thud that echoed through the dead city. I took hold of the tail belonging to the final shadow and pulled it. Powerless to stop me, I lifted the flailing animal into the air, causing it to swing its limbs at me in a vain attempt to continue the fight. Cocking my free arm back with a yell, I sent the creature plummeting to the earth. Momentarily, I stared into the surrounding fog for any more arrivals. With the coast seemingly clear, My fatigue began to catch up with me, each of my limbs feeling like lead, letting myself fall into my back. Feeling myself slowly getting weaker, my eyes drift shut.
I awoke, almost flying off of the grass and getting into a fighting stance. My eyes darted to and fro, scanning the environment. Upon noticing that I was in the forest, my posture relaxed slightly,
"Donovan.” My head snapped onto the origin of the voice. I let out a breath upon realizing it was Umbra. Her brows furrowed, "What happened, why are you so frantic?” Her slit irises scanned me, “I’ve been waiting here for quite some time.”
“I had some strange dream, well more of a nightmare I guess.”
“Oh? Anything particularly concerning?”
I nodded, “Definitely, I was in Canterlot but the whole place was just dead. No sound, no lights, nothing. On top of that, there was this thick fog all over the city but that wasn’t the worst part.” Umbra cocked her head to the side, taking a few steps closer, “There were these weird pony looking things that looked more like shadows. They came flying out from the fog and instantly attacked me. I fought them all off but it took all I had, then I woke up here.” I looked down at the unicorn, “Do you know anything about this?”
She shook her head, “No I can’t say that I do. It could possibly be an ordinary nightmare.”
I shrugged, “Sounds like the most likely thing to me.”
“Very well then, back to matters at hoof. First, we will briefly review what I've taught you, and then we'll have our little sparring match."
I nodded, "Sounds good." Umbra returns the gesture and steps a few feet back,
“Invoke!" Just as I obeyed her command, she teleported next to a boulder that was half my size and plucked it from the ground. I mentally prepared myself, watching streams of dirt fall from its underside. A smirk wormed its way onto Umbra’s features. She leaned forward as her mouth slowly opened to utter one word, “Catch.” before launching it at me. I caught it but my magic was disrupted by the size and speed of the object. Again, I grabbed the rock. Groaning, I continued to fight against the rock’s pace. Successfully, stopping it mere inches from my body. Every part of me wanted to just drop the goddamned thing yet I held and waited for Umbra.
“Hmm,” She mused, coming from behind the rock, “Good, good. I thought you were going to drop it at first.”
“That makes two of us.” I strained,
“Quite the stable hold as well, nowhere near as sporadic as that pebble you picked up two days ago. You may drop it.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Once I dropped the stone, my hands came to rest at my side, “Man, that was tough.”
“Oh I assure you, it gets easier. Now, for the main focus of tonight,” Our weapons appeared in front of us, soaked in her magic, “Remember, I won’t hold back. Try to keep up.” Just as I nodded in agreement, Umbra dashed forward with ridiculous speed. I leaned backward, narrowly dodging her scythe. Noticing the opening she left, I swung my sword. Only for her to deflect it in a blur of movement. Desperate for distance, I launched my foot into her breast only knocking her back a step. Closing the distance, I brought the sword down on her head. There was a split second where I thought I’d actually struck her, but that hope disintegrated when her form turned to smoke. My eyes went wide at the realization and I spun around to defend myself. I turned to see her already initiating another attack, leaving me utterly helpless to deflect the blow as her scythe’s blade bit into my back. I was swept off the ground as she spun me around, launching me into the trees. Flying through the air my back explodes with pain after colliding against the solid oak, bouncing off of it. I laid sprawled out trying desperately to regain the wind that had been knocked out of me. Somewhat regaining my composure I dragged myself upright, wheezing and coughing gripping my sword tightly, “I must say, I’m somewhat disappointed with you Donovan. Your performance so far has been lackluster to say the absolute least.” My brows furrowed, “Well, let’s hope you manage to beat those guards tomorrow. You only need to win one match after-all.”
Growling, I stood up straight and faced Umbra, “Oh, struck a nerve did I? Come do something about it.” Normally I’d never give in to such a childish tease, but in this case. I fell for it hook, line and sinker. She giggled as I approached, swinging her scythe yet again. An idea popped into my head, which led to me dropping my sword. My hands shot out and grabbed the handle of the scyther, just inches from piercing my neck. I groaned as I struggled against her magical grip. Eventually, Umbra began to overpower me. Keeping one hand on the scythe, I spun and hit her with the hardest elbow I could muster. Her head flew to the side, knocking her off balance. I didn’t let up, hitting her with a right hook that snapped her head the opposite direction. Finally, I ended the combination with an uppercut that Mike Tyson would have been proud of. Umbra recoiled backward, hitting the dirt. I stared at her for a moment, waiting for her to make another move. After a brief moment passed, I approached her. Umbra’s cheek was swollen and blood trailed from her nostrils,
“Umbra? Are you alright?” receiving no response, I knelt down to try and rouse her. Just when my hand came to rest on her shoulder, her eyes shot open. In what seemed like an instant, her foreleg shot out and cracked against my jaw. Stunned, I hastily tried to rise to my feet and get some distance. With a lifeless expression, she lunged forward and struck me with an overhead right. I went down instantly, subconsciously putting my hands up to defend myself. Without mercy Umbra descended upon me, her crimson eyes latent with violent aim The last thing I remember is her hoof rising yet again.
I awoke from my bed with a start, half expecting to see Umbra on the attack again. After a bit, I sighed and rose from my bed.
Suddenly a familiar voice rang throughout my mind, “You did well.” Umbra’s words permitted my shoulders to relax. A ghost of a smile made its way onto my features, “While you were unable to strike me with your weapon, you stayed on the defensive for a satisfactory amount of time.”
“That’s good, right?’
“Yes, a good defensive posture is very essential. Offensive might is nothing if you were to simply be cut down overtime. Survival in battle is the greatest skill one needs to master. Trust me, your proficiency with the sword is quite commendable. So there’s no need to worry yourself over your inability to hit me…too much. Lastly, your unarmed combat is exemplary. Your body’s structure allows for many avenues of attack, at length and up close. That first hit came so unexpectedly that I was left wide open for that flurry of yours. Well done.”
Two clops resonated in my head, which made my smile even bigger, “Thank you, Umbra.”
“You're most welcome.” Slinging my scabbard over my shoulder, I lifted the chest and began my trek to the barracks. Each maid gave me a wide berth as I continued down the halls. The few guards I walked by regarded me with curious glances. The subtle clatter of my equipment became the constant noise throughout the halls. I rounded a corner and saw the one mare I did not want to see. Especially this early in the morning, every fiber of my being told me to ignore her. Sadly, protocol prevailed in this situation.
Steeling my resolve, I took a breath and spoke, “Good morning, Princess Luna.” Setting down my chest, I stood at attention. She stiffened up and painfully reared her head in my direction. She always looked worse for wear in the mornings. Her mane and tail were disheveled, while her eyes had dark bags,
Upon seeing me, she sneered, “Ugh.” being her only response. With haste, Luna teleported to what I could only assume was the royal dining hall,
Umbra’s voice cut through the awkward silence, “Her hate for you is so palpable, I was able to sense it myself.”
Picking the chest up, I resumed my journey, “Oh, I noticed. I really wanted to ignore her but I would have been promptly smoked by either her or the captain. Spiteful as she is, Luna is still royalty.” Once I managed to get to the barracks, the staff had multiplied. Chefs, maids, and butlers scattered about. After nearly tripping over a earth pony maid carrying a duster in her maw,
I stepped inside the room. Upon my entry, the chatter among the guards died. It was so silent I could've heard a pin drop. Silently, I made it to my locker and sat down on the bench. After fishing the key from my pocket, I removed the padlock. I managed to open the locker a quarter of the way before a hoof slammed it shut. There was no reason to look at who did it, I already knew who it was, “Hey there ape. I see you took my advice and quit the guard,” Gallant kicked the chest, causing it to slide a small distance before I caught it, “Good thing too,” His muzzle inched closer to my head, “Because you would have been crushed.” With a chuckle, he pats me on the head as he walks past. “Well, freak. It’s certainly been an experience!”
I sat there and waited until I was the only one in the barracks before undoing the wrap around the scabbard, unsheathing the sword slightly. My gaze trained on the side of my face that reflected off the sheen of its blade, “It’s time.”
POV: Twilight Sparkle
The city of Canterlot was even more lively in light of today’s tournament. There were quite a few vendors pulling their carts towards the palace. I couldn’t help but smile while taking in the atmosphere of the city. Ponyville may be home but Canterlot will always hold a special place in my heart.
Rainbow Dash was taken aback by the active environment, “Whoa! It’s like the Gala’s happening tonight.”
I giggled, “The Royal Guards’ tournament is one of the biggest events of the year. So it’s only natural that everypony gets excited about it.”
“I hear ya on that, Twilight the place is jumpier than a fly caught in a web.”
“It’s a shame that Fluttershy didn’t come with us. It could have been super duper fun!”
“Well you know how Fluttershy is Pinkie. She isn’t the type to be present during these kinds of festivities.”
Applejack gave Rarity a quizzical glance before responding, “And you are?”
With a shake of her head, “Oh of course not, but I would never pass up a trip to Canterlot darling!”
After some time, we reached the palace gates where we were greeted by two guards standing post. Spike reached into my saddlebags and fished out our tickets while the girls did the same. Once the guards verified their authenticity, they were handed back to us before we passed through. The newly erected colosseum roared in the distance as ponies filled the stands,
Doing a flip, Rainbow pumped her hoof in the air, “This is gonna be so AWESOME! I rarely get to see guards fighting!”
“And when we do, it usually involves us, so we don’t really get to sit and watch their talents until now.” I remarked, “I just hope it doesn’t get too violent.” We soon met another detachment of guards who escorted us to the area where the princesses were seated. It was a box that sat smack in the middle of the stadium surrounded by all of Canterlot’s nobility. Rarity gave a small wave to Fancy Pants and his wife Fleur, which they reciprocated. Stepping inside, Celestia’s soft smile grew upon seeing us.
Rising from her seat, she trotted towards us, “Ah, it’s been far too long! I’m so glad you all could make it to today’s proceedings.”
Luna came to her sister’s side and nodded, “I concur, it’s always good to see you all.” We all came together in a group hug before taking our seats.
Clopping my hooves together, I looked up to Princess Celestia, “Um, this isn’t going to get very…out of hoof is it?”
Her smile fell a bit, “It may be a mite graphic, but severe injuries aren’t common occurrences.”
I pondered my thoughts for a moment. With a breath I steeled myself, “O-Okay.”
“Are you sure Twilight? We could always share a cup of tea and catch up another way.”
Shaking my head, “No, it’s fine. Besides, I'll have to attend one of these at some point so it’s best I expose myself to it now.”
Celestia’s hoof came to rest on my shoulder, “Whenever it gets to be too much for you, just let either of us know.” After nodding in response, Celestia rose. Her horn alight with magic as she put on her Royal Canterlot voice,“Hello everypony. It brings me great joy to announce the third annual Royal Guards’ Tournament!” The stadium erupted with applause, ceasing as Celestia brought up a hoof, “For those of you are attending this event for the first time, I shall explain the order of today’s matches! Starting the event, there will be one on one unarmed combat, next will be one on one armed combat, and finally there will be a squad bout! Now, without any further delay, let the Tournament begin!” Once again, another surge of noise rolled through the stadium, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie included.
The ranks of the guard filed out of a dimly lit tunnel up ahead, bringing the noise up to a crescendo. The new captain of the guard stood ahead of them, shouting orders. After a brief moment of shuffling, an earth pony stallion stepped forward. There was a brief pause, before something inside the tunnel caught the captain’s eye. Taking flight she flew inside. The stadium died down as ponies began to question what had been taking so long,
“I wonder why they haven't started yet.” I said aloud,
“I know, this is getting boring! Let’s get this show on the road!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Suddenly, the captain cantered out from the tunnel before taking flight towards us. As she drew near I could see that she was less than pleased,
“I’m sorry your highnesses, we have a bit of a problem.” Though she tried to be subtle, I saw the mare grinding her teeth together when she finished her sentence,
Celestia cocked her head slightly, “What’s wrong Captain Infernus?”
With a small sigh, she says, “That bumbling clown Donovan showed up in some strange black armor he made instead of his standard issue equipment. I apologize for the inconvenience, I’ll make sure he gets properly disciplined for this.”
“Never a dull moment with that fool traipsing about.” Luna grumbled, Celestia however seemed intrigued,
“Donovan huh, mighty strange name, even stranger being that it sounds kinda familiar.”
“Donovan was that strange creature that appeared in the castle garden a few years back.” I answered Applejack
“Oh that feller! Knew ah’d heard it somewhere.”
“Ooh! Ooh! I never got to throw him a welcome to Equestria party!” Pinkie bouncing in her seat
“Well, Donovan is quite the craftspony. He’s always delivered great results on every order I’ve sent to him.” Celestia rubbed her chin with a hoof,
“Sister, please do not tell me you are thinking of rewarding him for this foalish disobedience.”
Celestia smiled, “Oh come on Luna, it could be interesting!” “Ugh, fine.”
Turning to face the captain, Celestia nods, “I will allow him to compete.”
“As you wish your highness.” Infernus said with a bow before flying away and landed in front of the tunnel, shouting into it before giving orders to the guards to stand at the walls. Slowly, a tall figure emerged from the darkness. The crowd almost instantly began to boo him, which took me by surprise,
I looked at Celestia, confusion evident on my features. She noticed my gaze and sighed, ears drooping a bit, “My little ponies have yet to look past Donovan’s exterior appearance. I have not had a chance to sit down and inquire on his interactions due to recent affairs with other nations. I hoped that things would have changed by now, what with the increase of other races residing in Canterlot.” Luna opened her mouth to speak, opting instead to stay silent. My gaze fell back onto the crowd and then my friends. They were all taken aback by the display too,
“Celestia,” I asked, "How about we introduce ourselves after the Tournament’s over? We are going to be here for a few days.”
The girls nodded, “Ain’t no harm in gettin’ to know the fella.”
“Meeting an alien sounds awesome!”
“I’m sure he’s quite the gentlecolt.”
Celestia perked up, “Ah yes, that would be a splendid idea! Luna, would you care to accompany us?”
Luna’s muzzle scrunched up, “I think not, I have no desire to converse with that…fool.”
“Luna, it’s been three years since that night. A speck in our lifetime! He was scared and confused, can’t you find it in your heart to forgive him?”
With a groan, Luna looked back towards the guards, “I will think about it.” Part of me wanted to ask what happened but seeing Luna’s reaction was reason enough not to ask.
Turning back to the sight inside the center of the colosseum, I found myself leaning forward to get a better look, “Wow.” being the only words I could muster. From top to bottom, he was covered in armor. It didn’t look bulky or compromising in any degree, it was broad and imposing. His helm concealed his facial features entirely. As he strode out to meet his opponent, I managed to get a better look. I could faintly make out horizontal slots on the helmet. ‘That must be how he sees.’ I thought. When he turned, facing the guard. My attention was placed immediately to the monolithic scabbard fastened to his hip. Even from here I could see parts of the sword’s guard twinkling in the light,
“Whoooa! That dude looks so cool! I definitely got my bits on him.” Rainbow Dash gushed,
Rarity adjusted her sunglasses, “I must say those gems on his weapon are absolutely exquisite.”
Luna shook her head,“Hmph, that sword is a gimmick. Its size is entirely impractical, it will simply become a hindrance to wield. Really Celestia, I don’t know why you’re so keen on wasting everypony’s time.”
“Oh hush Luna, stop being a spoilsport and see what happens.” Celestia jokes,
“His armor is so interesting. It’s like he’s made of metal. I don’t really see any open areas besides the ones for his sight,” I observed, “And that sword, normally you would see minotaurs carrying something of that size. I suppose since they are both bipedal creatures with hands it would make sense that they’re weapons would share some similarities.”
“Quite the astute observation, Twilight.” Celestia added, a small wave of heat rushed over my cheeks. The stallion spoke before snorting and lowering himself into a stance. I watched with growing intrigue as Donovan did the same. Raising his fists up to his face, he brought his head down slightly and changed his footing. I wish I’d brought a quill and some paper. A unicorn guard stepped toward the two and charged up his magic. The crowd fell silent as a green bolt rocketed into the sky. My breath hitched as it soared higher before finally exploding.
When my eyes fell back upon the stallion and the human, they were already approaching each other. The stallion reared up on his hindlegs and threw a punch, which the man blocked and immediately countered with a bodyshot. It was hard enough to make a loud clanging sound and make the earth pony stumble back onto all four hooves. Donovan followed it up with a kick to the stallion’s chest, sending him sprawled out on his side. I winced and rubbed my side, almost feeling the pain by proxy. The man nonchalantly walked over the downed stallion stopping a short distance away from him. I could see his fingers tapping against the side of his leg simply waiting for his opponent to get back up. Eventually, the stallion got up and rushed the man.
Once he got within range, the stallion moved to his side. Seeing the opening, the earth pony spun around and delivered a hard buck to Donovan’s side. The crowd went wild, cheers and whistles breaking the silence while the human barely kept himself upright. The stallion wasted no time, pressing forward to maintain the offensive. He successfully managed to land two hits on the man’s midsection, horseshoes crashing loudly against steel.
His third attempt at attack was thwarted when the human simply batted the punch away like a fly. Unable to put up his guard in time, the man grabbed the crown of the pony’s helmet before his knee came rocketing into the stallion’s jaw. The audible smack that resounded from the hit made me grimace. Donovan delivered another swift punch directly onto the stallion's snout then, his body twisted slightly. For a split second I wondered what he was doing but my eyes widened when I realized. With the speed and power of a lightning strike, Donovan’s fist cracked against the stallion’s skull. I gasped subconsciously as the pony’s head violently bounced to the side. Like a felled tree, the pony fell over onto the dirt, legs outstretched and eyes rolled back into his head. The crowd went deathly silent at the display, concerned whispers intermittently breaking the silence. I looked at the girls, who were just as shocked as I was. Celestia simply pressed a hoof to her muzzle while Luna was leaning forward slightly, an unreadable expression on her face. My eyes slowly fell back onto the human as he made his way back to the other guards, passing by the next two ponies who were headed towards the center.
It was certainly going to be an eventful few days.
