The Sword and the Spirit within/BOOK 2

Daytime. Canterlot Castle throne room.

                               Celestia began to teach Syrus how to block and dodge attacks by using crystal rocks. Syrus readied himself with his sword in his hands, the crystal rocks floated in the air and lit up with a purple color. Syrus, who was standing in the center of the room was waiting for the crystals to make a move. When they did, they began to circle him and attack him from all sides. They charged at him, before they could harm Syrus, he created a white see through shield to stop them in their tracks.

                           After they impacted his shield, they moved back to their original position. Celestia raised up and walk down to Syrus, He still had his shield up. He closed his eyes to lower the shield, then walk to her as well.

                           “Well done Syrus.” Celestia said, congratulating him on a perfect shield formation. “That there was a well formed shield, but another task now remained.”

                      “And that would be?” He asked, wondering what else there would be. “Cause I think I can handle myself with anything.”

                          “Yes you can, but the enemies you faced before were not Alicorns.” She said, looking at him while she began to shine her horn. “Now your real test begins.”

                            Celestia’s horn created a black sphere, it expanded throughout the entire room. engulfing him and Celestia in nothing but darkness. Nothing but darkness could be seen at first till a bright light lit up beneath him, it expanded and created a new room. Syrus was shocked and surprised to see how on room shifted to another, all that could be seen was nothing but a big that looked like a dual arena.

“Amazing isn’t it, this is my personaly made arena, I call it the room of Illusion. This is where you and I shall battle.”

                              Syrus didn’t object, he readied his sword and looked at her with a serious face. “Bring it, I’m ready.” Celestia was surprised to see how motivated Syrus was, but it didn’t change the fact that he and her were about to fight.

“Would you like me to go easy on you?” She asked, caring for his well being.

“Do you think my enemy will go easy on me? He said, making a point.

                      Celestia sighed, she lowered her head and reraised it knowing he wants to be tested to his full extent. “Very well, We shall begin your true test. And worry not, this sphere that we are in will not allow us to die, no matter how brutal we are.”

“Good, cause I’d hate myself if I did hurt you.”

Celestia smiled. “You’re very kind, but let’s get started.”

They both readied themselves in the center of the room of illusion, Syrus closed his eyes then reopened them with the glow of Alicorn magic. Celestia did the same, she closed her eyes as well and reopened them with a glow of Alicorn magic too.

Syrus made the first move, he sprinted towards Celestia to slash her with the sword of light. when he was close enough, he swung the sword right at her but she created a shield to dodge his sword. Syrus did two jumps back to keep a distance from Celestia.

“You know, I really hate that trick.” Syrus said, looking at her while she was inside her shield.

“Let me give you one piece of advice. Never attack your enemies head on, especially what you just did.”Celestia lowered her shield.

“You must let your enemies make the first move, you must follow their movement. Only then will you be able to defeat your opponents. But a Unicorn and an Alicorn are a different story.”

Syrus raise his eyebrow, he lowered his sword to speak. “let me guess, their magic abilities?”

“Yes, the dark Unicorn you fought that night in the forest used her magic against you.” Celestia flew in the air and landed right up close to Syrus. “If you are to prevent that again, you must learn magic attacks than just using your sword for slashing.”

Syrus looks down at his sword. “But it’s a sword, right?” He said, now looking up at Celestia.

“It’s more than a sword to kill, it can even act as a firing weapon.” Celestia raised her wings a flew herself back to her original position. “For what you call, a gun.”

“I already know that, what’s your point?” He asked.

“My point is, don’t think of it as a sword. Think of it as a horn that is part of you.”

Syrus looked down at the sword again.”A horn…” He return his gaze to Celestia. “I think I got it.”

“Than strike me with the sword, without coming close to me.” Celestia said, smiling to him.

Syrus put both hands on the grip of the sword, he closed his eyes for a brief moment. When he opened them, his eyes and his entire body started to glow white. The sword glowed white too, he pointed the sword at her and drew his magic at the tip of the blade.

He shot a beam of light out of the tip of the blade, much larger than the ones Celestia had ever seen beside her and her sister. Celestia quickly dodged his attack by flying in the air, she lit her horn and fired the same type of beam right at him. He acted quickly and raised his right arm at the direction of the approaching beam.

When the beam hit Syrus’s hand, a barrier was created around him to block the attack. After that Celestia created a sword out of magic, she flew right at Syrus to strike him with the magic sword. Before she could strike him, Syrus raised his sword with both hands, both their swords clashed.

 Celestia tried hitting him again sword slash to the left side, he blocked it again and after he did, he hit her with an uppercut with his fist. Celestia got hit right at the neck, she back away from Syrus right after he inflicted pain to her neck.

She lit up her horn and fired another beam of light at him, he did the same by pointing the sword in her directing and firing a beam of light too. When the beams collided, a wave was created which shock the arena a bit.

Both beams were holding, Celestia was standing there with her legs stretched out to keep her from falling back. Syrus was struggling to keep himself from falling, the vibrations running through him while the sword was firing the beam was becoming too much for him to handle.

After Celestia waited long enough for him to break her attack, she decided to use her magic to her full extent and fire another beam inside the one already being used. Syrus narrowed his eyes and knew he was about to lose, with her beam breaking through his he had no choice but to let go by shooting in a different direction and risk getting himself hit.

He quickly pulled his sword away, and pushed himself back to avoid her attack. This caused him fall on his back. Celestia gasped and stopped her attack to make sure he didn’t get hurt. After seeing him laying on the floor, she ran over to him. “Syrus! Are you alright? Can you- GAH!”

Syrus caught her by surprise and kicked her right at her torso. His attack somehow sent her flying and landed across half the arena. He widened his eyes while gasping, knowing that he might have just hurt the ruler of this world.

“Holy shit…” He said, raising himself up to his feet. He ran toward her while still holding the sword. She raised her head and turned her gaze to him while he was heading toward her. She had an upsetting grin and fired another beam at him. Before she could even hit him with it, he smiled and put both hands on the grip of the sword. he raised it in the air than he slashed the ground by creating a blade beam.

Both of their attacks collided and recreated that wave again. After they stopped for a moment allowing Celestia to get back on her feet, she looked at Syrus like he was her enemy. Syrus did the same, but after looking at her, he lowered his sword and started to laugh a little bit. After Celestia saw him laughing, she started to laugh herself.

She lit her horn and return her and Syrus back to the throne room. Even though they returned, they were still laughing at each other. After Syrus stopped laughing, he changed his facial expression that caught the eye of Celestia.

“Syrus? Is something wrong?” She asked.

“I have one question, how did you become an Alicorn?” He asked, knowing what the answer might be.

Celestia cocked her head, she sighed and looked at him like she knew what this was all about. “Why do you ask? Don’t you know?”

Syrus looked down at the floor. “Thunder Wave gave me an offer…”

Celestia slowly widened her eyes, she walked over to Syrus and stopped right in front of him. “What did he want?” She asked liked she was not pleased to hear this.

“He wanted to give me wings…”

Celestia blinked. “What?”

“He wanted me to become a winged human, I didn’t take it cause… I’m not one of you. I thought maybe I could become a Guardian without it”

Celestia smiled. “Syrus, you don’t have to be one of us to have wings. You made a choice and now you must live with it.”

“But Thunder Wave said I will never unlock my magic to it’s full potential unless I have Alicorn wings.”

“And he’s right, Your sword may be your horn but the wings would have made you half human and half Alicorn.”

Celestia put her right wing to his shoulder. Whatever you choose is up to you, but having wings is like a reward, you’ll understand that someday.”

Syrus smiled and put his left hand on her wing that was touching his shoulder. She let go of his shoulder and returned to her original position. “Now I must ask you to prepare.”

“Prepare for what?” He asked.

“For the Grand Galloping Gala, of course. Have you ever dance before?”

Syrus smiled in a weird way, and nodded no. Celestia smiled and rolled her eyes. “Alright, I help you with that first thing tomorrow morning. Go and be with your friend.”

Syrus nodded yes and turn to exit the throne room, after the throne room gates closed by the guards he spotted Luna leaning on the wall. Syrus stopped for a moment while looking at her then just walked passed her.

She turn her gaze to him and started to follow him. “Can I help you?” He asked.

“We saw and heard everything.” Luna said.

“So.”

“Thou impress us, thou lasted alot longer than most ponies.”

Syrus continued walking while Luna continued to follow. “Well for once I’m happy you feel that way, and not to mention that’s the nicest thing I ever heard you say.”

Luna rolled her eyes, and continued to follow Syrus. “We want to say we’re sorry for what we said yesterday and-”

He quickly turned to face Luna. “No! I’m the one who should be sorry, I was out of line.” He resumed walking after that.

Luna for once smiled, she looked at Syrus and ran to his side to speak. “We also heard you refused Thunder Waves offer, We understand why thou feel you’re not ready but a true Guardian.”

“I don’t really know why I refused them.” He said, as Luna and him were heading outside the castle.

“Thou might think you’re not ready, But we think thou are.” She said.

“Huh?” Syrus stops while they were in the middle of public. “You think I’m ready for such a gift? To be a Guardian at max?”

“My sister believes in you and we need you in this time of great crisis.” Luna said, not knowing that everypony was bowing before her while they were talking.

“I understand that, but even though I might have given her more than a fight, I still feel afraid.”

“Remember what we said! Fear is what will make thou weak! Thou must overcome fear if you are able to defeat the dark ones.” She yelled, doing it in a normal loud voice.

This time Syrus didn’t cover his ears, since she talked normal for once. “I’ll have to work on that I guess, now for the Grand Goolo thing aaahhhh, whatever you call it.”

“The Gala?” She asked.

“Yes that’s it, your sister has some-”

“Plans for thou, we know.” She interrupted. “My sister must be planning to give thou something to wear.”

Syrus blinked and started to scratch his head. “But how’s she going to do that? I’m a human, not a pony.”

“True, but never underestimate Equestria and it’s ponies.” Luna said.

Syrus started to laugh. “I’m not even going to ask what that means, and Luna?” Syrus looked at her with a weird face while looking around the place where all the ponies were bowing before her.

“You might want to tell these ponies they can leave now.” He said, Luna’s looked around and dropped her jaw.

“Something tells me you’re more used to being out in the night than you are in the daytime.” He said.

“Luna quickly spread her wings and flew t the top of one of the buildings. Syrus looked at she just landed two building away. “Okay? What are you doing?!.”

“Thou are right, I’m not usually out during the daytime.” She said, looking down at Syrus from the top of the building.

“I can understand that but you should at least tell these ponies to get on with their lives!” He yelled while she’s standing on the building.

"Tell them that, you are a student of my sister and future Guardian. She said, making no sense to him at all.

Syrus interacted his right hand to his forehead, thinking Luna lost her sense of rule. “Okay this is totally weird…”

He turn his attention to the bowing ponies. “Okay all you ponies, break it up and go on with your lives.”

They all got up and looked at Syrus, one of them came close to speak. “We don’t take orders from you.” the local pony said.

“That wasn’t an order, I was just telling you to stop.” He said the the local pony.

“Like we all care, I don’t know what you are but you have no place among us.” The local said.

Syrus dropped his jaw while the pony insulted him. He turned his attention to all of them and stood up straight. “Look, I don’t care if you all won’t accept me. It was hard for me to accept this world when I first got here, but I changed, I let myself become part of this new life.”

“Sounds like you had a bad life where you came from.” The local pony said, while the others started to whisper at each others ears.

“I did, I been holding this back ever since it happen.” He looked down for a moment then returned his gaze to the pony crowd. “I was once an orphan, I lost my family because….”

They all leaned forward to hear what he had to say. “Because I let it happen, I was upset with my father. Me, my mother, father, and my 3 year old sister.”

Tears began to roll from his eyes, he turn his head to the sky and yelled as loud as he could. “There! I said it! Everything I did before I came here was my fault!!! I caused them to crash because I distracted my father from what was more important!!!”

Syrus wiped his tears off his face, as they all started talking to themselves he still had more to say. “Have you all lost family? Have you all lost a Mother, Father, or a little sister?”

As all the ponies heard what he said, some of them began to shed a tears. Most of them looked down at the floor and walked away. The ones that shed a tear walked away too, all but one stayed behind. Syrus looked and saw Red Scale standing right in front of him, he walked over to Syrus and gave him a hug around the neck while tearing.

The entire area was cleared beside Syrus and Red, Luna was still watching them from 2 rooftops away. She flew down to them and walked right beside Syrus. “

“I’m sorry, I know how thou feels.” Luna said

Syrus got himself back on his feet while Red let go of him, he shut his eyes for a second and turned his gaze to Luna. “Why would you care about my families death?”

Red Scale sat down on the floor to listen. Luna lit up her horn to shield them from any other pony that could be watching. “Like you, me and my sister lost our parents too. I don’t expect you to understand, they left us to fight in a war that happen a long time ago. After that they never returned, and me and my sister were left alone.”

“But you and her survived, like me.” Syrus said.

“I did too…” Red said.

Luna, Syrus and Red both looked at each other, after that Luna spread her wings and flew up in the air but this time stopped to say something. “Thou have a good heart, never lose faith in who you really are.” After that she flew back to the castle, Syrus and Red made a way back to their tower.

As they continued to walk, Red had something for him. “Hey Syrus, this came in for you today.”

Red showed that Syrus had a letter from Ponyville. “Ponyville?”

Syrus quickly opened it and saw it was from Tana and Mosa, he started to read it out loud so Red could hear too.

Dear Syrus,

It’s been quite a while since we parted ways, I hope your training to become the Guardian is going great.

I’m sorry about what I said last time was saw each other, I’m pretty sure you and Luna have made up.

Me and my sister have been preparing for the Gala, and we hope to see you when it happens.

You be a good person too many ponies up there and when we see each other, I wanna test you skills in magic. Don’t you dare back out on that either and tell Celestia, Luna and you little friend I said hie.

From your best friends, Tana and Mosa.

P.S. Mosa misses you every day, maybe when you training is complete you could come and live with us. You’re always welcome at Ponyville.

After Syrus was done reading, Red smiled and flew to his back shoulder. “That’s some friends we have down there.” Red said.

“Eyep, at least will see them at the Gala.” Syrus said, as he started to walk home with Red on his back.

“What should we do now?” Red asked.

“We are going home, but later on tonight… We’re going out for dinner, cause I need to eat something new.”

Afternoon Deep in the Everfree Forest.

Randar was walking through some old underground ruin, he came across a very old throne room where his mistress was sitting. around the throne room were dark ponies everywhere. They all had glowing red eyes, and all turned to Randar while he was walking to his Mistress.

Randar bowed before her. “You wished to see?”

“I need you to prepare, the time to attack Canterlot is nearly here.” She said.

“What of the human? He might not join us.”

“I will leave that to you, his little friend. I noticed you’ve had eyes on him since that night.”

“What of it?” Randar asked.

The dark Unicorn smiled, and got on her hooves. “It doesn't matter, Syrus seems to be getting stronger everyday.”

“What should I do to persuade him?” Randar asked.

The dark Unicorn grind. “Use his little friend.”

Randar looked up to her and smiled. “As you wish…”

He got back up and walked away from the ruined throne room, The Dark Unicorn return to her seat and began to laugh. “Soon this world will be all ours, and it’s all thanks to you, Luna.” She said to herself, as her eyes glowed red.