Shattered Reality

Chapter 3: Training

October 18th, 1484 A.F. 3:35 P.M.

Crystal Graveyard, Crystal Empire, Frozen North

I watched from afar as the procession passed, mourning the fallen in the recently finished battle of Baltimare. The Pack was running a siege on the city to gain a port for their new Changeling allies. The siege was a success with little casualties, yet most of the casualties were high ranking officers. The casualties compared to that of the Equestrian Legion were staggering, it was a 3 to 1 ratio.

The siege took place over the course of the past month and only ended just yesterday. The damage to the city was great and the damage to the moral of the Legion was even greater. They didn’t lose many officers, but the deaths were not taken lightly as some of the soldiers stationed in the city had a family there they were protecting.

“We should be moving while we have the chance Solstice, we know not what may happen if they recognize you.” My friend Orion said quietly from behind. Orion was a rare breed, a Dragon-Pegasi hybrid. His mother an ice dragon and his father a pegasi, sadly both of whom were killed over a century ago by its nearby village inhabitants.

Orion found his way to the depths of the Badlands where the Castle of Faust stands. He’d been traveling across Equus to find a place where he would be accepted without question, sadly many saw him as a monster. He had a Cobalt Blue coat, along his back was an armor like vertebrae. His had one blue eye and one red eye, both slitted like a dragons. The last noticeable feature were his dragon wings.

“Orion they may not see us, they mourn for others today not for I. So let us continue, lest you choose to believe me when I say I’m who I am.” I responded cockily as I shot him a grin. He rolled his eyes at me.

“Let us be away than ‘Lionel’” He retorted, using one of his hooves to quote “Lionel” to me. I turned towards the large grave marker at the end of the path and pointed towards it with a nod.

“Tis over there Orion, follow.” I said flatly as I started to walk towards it. Orion following shortly behind me. The walk was relatively quiet aside from the priest blessing the souls of the departed a ways off now.

As we reached my grave marker I sat down and lowered my head in respects. I lifted my head back up to look over to the gawking Orion. He took a double take between the likeness of the statue and my face.

He tried to speak but found himself at a loss of words. He sat down next to me. “Never take my word as a lie Orion, or you’ll find it’s the truth sooner than you think.” I stated flatly as I looked up to the statue.

This statue was made shortly after I died when I was supposed to be 47 years old, now look at me 9 years later. 56 yet not aged a day since then. This statue was a reminder to me that I lost 9 years but also gained 9 years.

Orion removed his hood and let out his wings much to my surprise, but I chose not to say anything as I turned back towards the statue again. “So, you’ve been technically dead for 9 whole years?” He asked without any hint of surprise.

I didn’t answer him immediately, “Yes…but…it’s for the best I stay hidden for now Orion. As to why you shall find if you stay long enough with me.” The air between us fell silent again only broken by the clopping of a group of hooves proceeding towards us.

I looked around to find not one of my friends, but all of my friends and family proceeding towards us. My heart started to race but I forced myself to stay in place. I was disguised and maybe it was time to talk with them, even if they knew it wasn’t me. Orion however shifted very uncomfortably as they approached.

I removed my hood causing Twilight to gasp. I gave her a small smile. She returned it as they all stopped a few feet behind us. Lunas gaze piercing me I stood aside to let her get to the grave.

“Why are you here?” She said coldly. I just stared at her, my expression unchanging and flat.

“Not to have a picnic if that’s what you’re thinking. Just as you’re the wife of him I am one of his friends all the same.” I retorted gesturing a hoof at the grave. Her gaze lightened slightly as she sat in front of the plaque and put her hoof on it. I turned to Twilight.

“Tis nice to see you again Twilight, has the year been good to you?” I asked quietly. She glared at me before replying.

“It has been good, but what I want to know is what was that last year Bright Prism?” She demanded. I motioned Orion over to me. It wasn’t so much for support as comfort.

I opened my mouth to speak but choked on my words for a second. “For…for last year…i’m sorry but there are some reasons I cannot explain openly Twilight.” I flattened my ears against my head and looked away closing my eyes.

I felt a pair of hooves wrap around my neck and when I opened them I was surprised to find Pinkie Pie wrapped around my neck instead of Twilight. Confused, I returned the hug Twilight just smirking as she suppressed a laugh.

“Who may the pink one be?” I asked as I parted from the hug. Pinkie was smiling at me.

“I’m Pinkie Pie!” She exclaimed holding a hoof out. I shook it without hesitation. I smiled back at her as the others walked up next to her and Twilight.

“Tis a pleasure Ms. Pinkie. Twilight may you introduce me to your others?” I asked letting go of Pinkies hoof and gesturing it towards the others. Standing from left to right were Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Jazmine, Spike, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and finally Twilight.

After introductions I turned towards Luna with a solemn look on my face as I walked next to her. On her other side was an alicorn I hadn’t seen before, no doubt from the color of his coat it was my son. A lump started in my throat as I tried to speak but chose to instead sit next to Luna.

I put a wing over Luna, much to everyones surprise, Luna simply looked up at me with a glare before a weak smile splayed itself across her muzzle. She put her head down again, “Last year…Twilight said you knew him…like a brother.” She stated aloud.

I sighed before replying, “Tis true Princess Luna. I knew him as I would my own blood, I know that he did not speak of me much but who would believe a dream.” I turned towards Jazmine who was mourning only a couple feet behind me with her head hung low.

“Many would believe, but few would see.” Luna replied, finishing the saying and giving me a smile. She had remembered almost every quote I used from the day I arrived to the day I died. I turned back to her and gave a smile. Seeing her like this again brought a great deal of happiness to me.

“Seems that you know a few of what he has told you no?” I probed as I held a hoof out to her to help her up. She took it and stood up, I saw our son glaring at me but ignoring it.

“I have…but if you two were such good friends…why would he never mention you?” She asked with an accusing hoof. I shook my head.

“Some secrets are better kept unknown Princess Luna.” I sighed and put my hood over my head. “Tis almost time for me to away from this dark place.” I turned and motioned to Orion to signal our departure. He said his final goodbyes to his newfound friends, Twilight and Spike.

I felt a tug on my cape, turning around I saw Luna lifting her hoof up from it. “Would you not care to stay for the night? We are having a feast tonight and it would be nice to know his secret more.” She offered. I softly shook my head.

“I may not stay Luna. May it be that I see you again this year on a visit or the next anniversary. Be it that you stay in good health until we cross again.” I stated, keeping my eyes locked on the ground. When she didn’t reply I turned and started walking down the path.

I didn’t hear Orion following me so I turned around and saw him saying goodbye to Luna. “Come Orion, we must be away.” I shouted to him. He gave me a nod and ran up to me. I looked over to Twilight, “Fare thee well Twilight and may we see you again soon.” I shouted to her.

Before she replied I wrapped me and Orion in a field of magic and teleported to the edge of the Crystal Empire. Shaking the dizziness from my head we made our long trek down the path towards the Crystal Train Station where a train was waiting to take us to Appleoosa.

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May 16th, 1485 A.F. 6:15 A.M.

Training Grounds, Castle of Faust, Badlands

I stood on the edge of the terrace overlooking the garden below on the edge of the cliff that the Castle of Faust stood upon. The air flowing through my mane, my eyes closed as I basked in the first rays of the morning sun that was slowly making its way over the edge of the world. This was one of the rare mornings where there were no clouds on the horizon or anywhere around the Castle, the day was going to be beautiful.

The edge of where I stood was a cleared out sand platform for extracurricular use. Where as most of the other inhabitants used this for a quiet study area, I used it as an area to hone my skills. The area was occasionally laden with blood from fights between me and one of the various trainers that lived here.

Day in and day out for the past year and a half I had worked myself to the brim everyday training. Every day I got a new injury, but never once did I let my injuries get in the way of my goal. It was clear to the trainers they wouldn’t get rid of me easily, or get a day of rest unless I had made plans in advance.

I was brought out of my thoughts as I heard the creaking of the great doors that lead out into the platform. I turned to face the sound just as a half asleep Orion walked towards me. His head low and his eyes dreary he stood next to me.

“Salve Orion.” I greeted him. He gave a long drawn out yawn. His wing poked me in the side as he tried to stretch them out.

“Why do we always have to get up this early Solstice?” He complained. I chuckled lightly much to his irritance.

“Tis not a better time than the morning to get a good exercise in Orion, or do you want to return to your bed and discontinue your training?” I replied cockily. Even though I was not at my peak condition, I could still give Orion a run for his money and heck, maybe today I’d show him the surprise. He rolled his eyes and sighed out a no.

“Then let us get flying.” My feathers were already preened as I jumped to the ledge below and went to its edge. I stood on my hind legs and let myself fall backwards off the ledge, my wings close to my sides. I turned so that I would be flying upright and thrust out my wings to bring myself into a glide.

A few meters below me stood the forest that surrounded the base of the cliff and the castle far above. I looked behind me to find Orion falling in the same manner that I did, bringing himself into a glide a couple feet below me. Only now did he seem a little more awake than he was before.

“Now see, morning flights are like a cup of coffee.” I said jokingly. He only gave me a confused look. “Right, forgot you’ve never had coffee.” I said quietly as I looked ahead again.

We flew around the base of the cliff for about 30 minutes before we finally decided it was time to get our training started for today. We landed on the ledge of the platform at the edge of the Castle. Laying, sitting, and standing around the edge of the terrace were the different trainers. Most caught up in idle conversation.

This was Orions first training session with all of the trainers, mostly he trained by himself before hand when I woke him up in the morning. Most of the trainers looked over to us as they fell silent, Orion just gawking at the skeletons before him. From the atmosphere I could tell they were nervous about the hybrid standing next to me.

I cleared my throat before speaking, “Hello everybody. As you all are already aware, Orion is to start training with us from here on out. If you wish to not train with him, speak now because I will not have you give him hostilities for what he is.” Two pegasi trainers stepped forwards.

They were twins when they were alive, one named Cloud Jumper the other Storm Jumper. Both of whom were personal guards for King Cosmos himself. “I speak not to deny the training but to ask but a simple question if allowed.” Cloud Jumper stated.

I gave him a nod. “You told us that he were a pony dragon hybrid, yet it seems to me he may be a thestral. Orion, be you sure you are not mistaken?” Cloud Jumper asked to Orion. I looked over to Orion who simply glared at the stallion.

Orion closed his eyes and said something to himself I couldn’t make out. He looked back up to Cloud Jumper, his face happy once again. “I know the similarities are astounding Sir, but I know what I am.” He stated flatly.

“How can you know for sure Orion?” Storm Jumper asked this time.

“My mother was an ice dragon from the frozen north and my father a pegasi from the Crystal Empire. Both of whom died over a century ago due to a villages inhabitants seeking their heads because they were no more than scared of what they may have done if allowed enough time. I have been traveling Equestria ever since.” Orion retorted.

Cloud Jumper and Storm Jumper took in the information. They muttered about themselves for a few moments before speaking again. “Having lived for over a century must’ve been harsh watching friends or family waste away, was it not?” This question caused grimace to find its way to Orion face.

“Not one bit. No one has ever come close to becoming family, let alone a friend. I’ve lived this century wandering from place to place, being ran out of town for fear of what I am. I’m a freak of nature and no one has shown me the slightest kindness all except for Lost Solstice here. Tis the only family or friend I have now.” Orion stated solemnly.

Cloud and Storm Jumper both fell silent afterwards and returned to the spot they came from.  No one else stepped forwards to protest his training with them. “If that is all than we shall start with hoof to hoof combat.” I stated before taking my position in the middle of the terrace along with two trainers and Orion.

With that combat practice started, Orion with the basic combat trainer Captain Light, and me against Colonel Silhouette. Despite it being basic combat training, it seemed like Orion was having a lot of trouble. No doubt this was due to him always relying on his strength to hit the enemy instead of using actual tactics.

Him and Captain Light went at it for hours, Captain Light always coming out on top despite Orions constant attacking. While Captain Light isn’t exactly strong, she is very smart and remembers everything from her basic training classes and her job. Orion was determined to learn but today was his first day so she was just measuring what she had to deal with, just like she did with me.

As for me and Colonel Silhouette, we went hand and hand in fighting. We were just sparring for today, not learning anything knew mostly because I had learned all I could from him. He taught me some old techniques and I taught him some fighting styles I remembered from Earth. Of course some styles were a little harder to do because of hooves instead of hands and feet.

We took a break every now and again to watch as Orion and Captain Light kept going at it for hours on end. By the time we stepped in to end the hoof to hoof training for the day Orion had cuts and bruises all over his body, panting from exhaustion with one black eye from a nasty right hook the Captain gave him.

Orion didn’t want to stop and kept trying to attack Captain Light so I had to sedate him using a sleep spell. I apologized for him to Captain Light who waved it off. When Orion woke up it was 1 in the afternoon. He was furious at me for using a sleep spell on him, especially since he was “winning” his fight with Captain Light.

“You were not winning Orion, you were getting your flank kicked. The proof is evident all over your body, not just your eye.” I stated jokingly as I pointed to his left eye. He let out a huff before crossing his forelegs to pout.

“At least I can still kick your flank.” He grumbled. I laughed even harder. “You know it’s true!” He exclaimed in anger.

I regained my composure before replying, “The only reason you won that fight is because my strength was hardly recovered and my muscles were still relying on my magic to keep them moving fluently.” I stated taking a bite of my eggs.

Despite my time as a pony, I still ate meat and dairy products whenever I could. Most of the residents in the castle didn’t like the idea of a pony eating meat but it didn’t bother me any. The first few times I tried eating meat in my pony form though, it was horrible not only did it taste awful but it left me with a horrid stomach ache that kept me in the barracks for a week.

Even with the pains that it gave me I kept eating it till they went away and the taste was acquired again. Orion looked at me with disgust as I took a bite of the pork chop I was eating as well (sidenote: yes pork chops and eggs). “How you eat meat is completely disgusting.” Orion scrunched his nose as he said this.

“Honestly Orion I’d expect you of everyone here to like meat. I mean a dragon that doesn’t like meat? Kind of odd.” I stated causing him to roll his eyes.

“Just because I’m part dragon doesn’t mean that I have to like meat. Just like you being a pony doesn’t mean you have to like flowers.” He replied slightly irritated.

I nearly choked on my food as I tried to reply, bursting into a fit of coughing. It was Orions turn to laugh at me. When I got a hold of myself I knocked him off the edge, watching him flail in the air for a second before flying back up to me. “That was a cheap shot!” He cried.

“You laughing at me while I’m choking is cheap.” I glared at him before finishing up the last of my pork chops and eggs. He rolled his eyes as he landed next to me, sitting on the edge again.

“You were knocked into the air for a reason, you have flight training next.” I stated as I stood from the ledge and started making my way back to the terrace before he pulled me by the tail.

“You just said we have flight training, where are you going?” He demanded to know. I rolled my eyes.

“I said YOU have flight training next. You’ve only got wings, I have wings and a horn Orion. I am going to the library with the Masters of Magic to work on a long distance teleportation spell I’ve been developing.” I said as I yanked my tail away from his teeth. He groaned. “You wanted to train with me Orion, I will be with you in an hour when the time is right.” I finished with a smile.

“When the time is right? What are you talking about?” Orion asked. I chuckled before turning and walking to the door, “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!” He yelled after me as I shut the twin oak doors and made my way to the Grand Library.

I spent the next hour working on the long distance spell. Progress was slow today as Hazed Star decided to pull a prank on Sed Lux when he went to get a book by pushing the ladder from under him. Sed Lux fell into a pile of bones, it took almost 20 minutes to get him put back together. The rest of the time we spent researching the roots of the teleportation spell and what effects it has on the user.

The spell was overly complicated to the point it caused the user to get a large headache if they teleported too long of a distance. For the most part it was instantaneous because of the amount of magic that was poured into the spell. We didn’t make much progress other than removing the time constraint in which the spell is cast, creating a teleportation spell that had the same adverse effect but used less magic to cast it.

I said my goodbyes to the Masters and made my way back to the training area to find that Orion was sleeping on a cloud above the terrace. Where he got the cloud was a mystery to me as there were no other clouds as far as the eye could see.

I smirked as an Idea came to me. I flew up to where he was and whispered, “There's four banana spiders on you.” No sooner did I say that did he jump off the cloud and plummet to the ground below screaming the whole time.

I landed next to him, falling on my back grasping my sides with my hooves as I laughed. He slowly got up, rubbing his head from the impact he sustained. “Oh har de har har Lionel. So funny.” He said angrily.

“It was extremely funny Orion, and you deserved it. You were supposed to be training, not sleeping on a cloud.” I poked a hoof at his chest as he batted it away. “Well at least I can show you the surprise finally. Are you ready?” As soon as the words left my mouth he nodded ferociously.

The trainers and Masters all gathered around the perimeter of the terrace. All of them had not seen it before either, so this was going to be a first for them as well. I smiled, “Hello everybody! It’s time I show you what I can truly do, but first thing I want to tell you is to not be scared as I will not hurt you. Secondly, when I revert back I will not be dead but will be more than likely unconscious so be ready for that.” As I finished addressing them they all looked at each other in confusion.

I walked towards the edge of the terrace and turned to face them just as the great oak doors opened to reveal Faust. She held a smile on her face as she watched me from afar. She knew exactly what I was going to do. I gave her a smile and a nod, she returned it. I closed my eyes, stood on my hind hooves and breathed in deeply and let myself fall into the open air behind me.

That’s when I started to recite the passage inside my head.

Bring me the light, bring me the fire.

Bring me the air, bring me the earth.

Let the sun guide my heart and the moon my soul.

I call upon the creatures of Equus to give me form.

Come to me now in this time of need.

Lend me your wisdom, Lend me your strength.

I call upon you Tiamat.

Give me form!

As I finished the last verse I felt my body start to grow and my veins ignite as the raw magic flowed through my body. I felt as my horn shrunk into my head and my wings grew exponentially in size. My muzzle started elongating and the coat that once covered it turned into black scales. I reopened my eyes as my eyesight increased dramatically, allowing me to see the leaves on the farthest tree on the horizon flowing against the blue sky under the beauty of the sun.

My hooves turned into giant maroon red talons, and my tail became a long scaled appendage that was no longer covered in my hair. Just as the coat on my snout turned to scales, so did the coat everywhere on my body. All markings of the ethereal flow of magic through my body turned into blackened scales. My ears shifted downwards and turned into small holes and where my ears were, two horns replaced them. Spines protruded from my back each one going from maroon red at the bottom to a bright yellow at the tip. The spines continued all the way to the end of my tail where it shrunk to nothing.

As soon as I felt the burning in my veins stop I let out a roar that shook the very ground beneath me. I quickly turned over and glided along the top of the forest under me doing a loop around to stop in front of the terrace I had fallen from. I hovered there for a minute taking in the two looks of utter amazement from Faust and Orion. The rest I couldn’t tell what they felt, other than seeing all of the mouths agape so I took it as surprise.

I had dwarfed the castle entirely, Faust was only as big as my claws, Orion only slightly smaller than Faust due to his heritage. Orion was almost looking straight up as I hovered before them. I smiled down at him.

“This,” I started gesturing a claw down the length of my body, “is what I can be.” I finished off my statement. I heard a laugh come from right below me. It was Orion, “What’s so funny?” I asked.

“You’re a female!” He pointed out blatantly. Nobody else was laughing except for him, when he realized this his rolled his eyes and stood up turning towards them. “Come on! You all gotta think its at least a little funny don’t you?!” He asked. Nobody laughed but many of them did facehoof or shake their heads. Faust glared at him viciously.

I landed on the edge of the terrace with my two front claws and my back claws digging into the side of the cliff to hold me there. I brought my head down right behind Orion, “Gender carries no importance here Orion, let alone sexist jokes. Be it wise that you heed this, for your own good. For one Faust, one of the creators of Equus, is a female and two Captain Light, your combat trainer is female.” I stated. The ground rumbling as I spoke.

His eyes went wide at the realization. “Oh buck me to Tartarus…” He mumbled quietly. I looked over to Captain Light to find her crossing her forelegs, her head down in what I found to be anger. I lifted my head from the ground before continuing.

I picked up Orion by his scaled spine with my front left claws and brought him to my eyes. “Don’t think you’re getting out of flying practice either. Your job is to keep up with me.” I grinned with satisfaction as he hung his head and let out a loud groan. Everybody in the terrace laughed.

After I had my fun I threw him into the sky above me, quickly meeting his altitude as he regained control. “Ready?” I asked, he gave a nod and then we were off.

The mountains that were a mile away took me no more than a few seconds to reach in the span of 10 wing beats. Orion on the other hand was still near the castle. For about 2 minutes I hovered there waiting for him to join me. All the while silently singing Hurt by Johnny Cash to myself, one of the few songs I remember from Earth.

As he started to approach me I took off again, this time straight up. As soon as I felt I was high enough I could see the edge of Utopia at the edge of the horizon, having the sight of a dragon had its perks. The world around was beautiful, and yet it was ugly as well as I saw the areas in which some of the recent battles had been fought.

I stopped looking around when my eyes fell upon the Tartarus Chasm. My good mood had been ruined in that split second, turning from happy go lucky to depressed and broken. The memories of that horrid battle flooded back like a dam breaking.

The screams…the horrible, horrible screams of the innocent and the screams of the Legions soldiers as they flung themselves over the edge of that horrible chasm. Over 800,000 creatures died that day. It was a horrible day remembered by both sides of the war for a long time. The images of that day, just standing idly by as we watched them commit suicide. All those poor civilians that had been brought there by the Legion…every single one of them dead.

That day it took every ounce of power that Luna could expense to keep me from trying to interfere. If I had tried to rescue them, the same force that was making their death so enticing would have taken me as well. Even with that knowledge I wanted to rescue them all, yet all I could do is standby and watch.

I was brought out of my memories as I felt four hooves land on my shoulder. I brought a claw up to my cheek to find that I was crying and when I looked over to Orion, he gave me a sorrowful look. “What’s wrong Lionel?” He asked in a soothing voice.

I shook my head. “Tis…tis nothing Orion…just remembering something I had long since wanted to forget. I shall be fine.” Of course we both knew I was lying when I said this. Whenever something got to me, memories or recent happening. I would have nightmares of that situation, replaying over and over in my mind.

“Let us return to the castle. Our training will end here for today…” I stated as I brought my wings in close to my side. Orion held on tight to one of my shoulders scales with his front hooves while the rest of his body was upside down. I turned so that my head was facing the ground and flung out my wings to swing into a glide towards the castle.

No sooner had I touched ground with my front right claw did I start turning back. Yet as soon as I did, everything went black, just as I had expected.