Equestrian Adventurers

Swift and his friends continue their journey toward Little Gem. Dark Shield came up next to Swift.

"Hey Swift I was thinking. Do you have any combat experience at all? Like do you know how to fight?"

"No not at all. Why do you ask?"

"Well sometimes along our adventures we stumble across trouble. Whether it be bandits, Manticores, or even dragons. I just want to be sure you know how to fight and defend yourself."

"I guess you're right. So what you going to teach me? Some mighty python strike with using only my tail? Or are you going to show me how to kill someone with just one single hoof?” Swift made some funny fighting stances he saw in movies back home as best he could in his pony form.

"I have a few ideas," Shield had a sly smile on his face, "when we set up camp for the night I'll start training you."

"Awesome thanks man."

After a long mornings travel Shield decided to stop for lunch. Everyone dropped their bags and Reznox went over to start a fire with his magic.

"Hey Swift get over here and help me with this fire!"

"Sure thing Reznox."

"I need you to use your wings and give the spark some air so it can spread faster."

"Why not just light the whole pile on fire?"

"See when using magic, ponies only have so much to use. It's like a cup of water. Drinking from the cup is using magic and over time it will fill back up."

"So can I use magic like that?"

"Not like me, no. Pegasi use their magic to control weather and walk on clouds, Earth ponies use magic for endurance and strength, and unicorns use their magic to manipulate their surroundings."

"So no shooting fire out of my wings," Swift said in disappointment.

"Sorry kid nope. Oh and btw your tail is on fire...."

Swift looked behind him to see the tip of his tail on fire.

'AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Swift ran around the camp screaming and hollering about his tail on fire. Reznox is rolling on the ground laughing when Shield came up and grabbed Swift by his tail. Swift was jerked back and fell to the ground.

"Swift look it’s not on fire. Reznox pulled one of his pranks just now," Shield put his hand on the fire around Swifts tail while saying this to show he is telling the truth. "And it was a good one to."

Zinc came out of his tent to see what the commotion was about, “Reznox please keep your pranks quite? Some of us are trying to read here."

"Oh lighten up Zinc it was a harmless prank. What you reading anyhow?"

"A book about lost magic abilities for Pegasi and earth ponies."

"Yea sounds like old filly tales to me. Get over here, grab some food, and be ready for a show. Shield is going to teach swift how to fight!"

Sighing, Zinc put his book up and came out with a first aid kit," Then we will need this when the fight is over."

Shield draws a circle in the ground to mark the area which both ponies will have to stay in.

Pointing at Swift, Shield said, “Ok I want you to just try to defend yourself best you can without stepping out of the arena, ok?”

“Ok sounds easy enough.”

Swift gets in a stance to prepare himself for any hits Shield comes at him with. Shield looks at Swift and mentally laughs at his ridicules stance.

“Swift you will never last long like that. Spread your back legs farther apart. Keep your knees slightly bent too!”

Swift adjusts as Shield recommended. After seeing Swift was ready, Shield charges at him with a right hook. Swift ducks to avoid the punch, but ends up with a face full of Shields other hoof.

“You have to keep moving. Your enemy will not just do one punch at a time. What you think this is? A movie where the bad guys suck at fighting? This is real life mate, welcome to Hell!”

Shield didn’t let up at all while fighting Swift. They kept at it for a couple of hours before Zinc called it off.

“Alright Shield stop beating him up so he can still walk later.”

Giving one last punch into Swift’s back Shield leaves the circle and goes over to the camp fire and sits. Swift moans in pain as he rolls onto his back.

“That was the worst beating I have ever felt.”

Zinc walks up next to Swift to treat his wounds. “You’re lucky he didn’t use a weapon. Plus he is an earth pony so he will be tough. You should try to move around faster and give smaller punches in his weak spots. Like his sides and underbelly.”

“Since when did you become a fighting expert?”

“I just know how ponies work. Pegasi are much quicker than earth ponies, but lack in strength. If you time it right you can move around his punches and get in a few fast ones on him.”

“Thanks. I will remember that next time we train.”

“Which won’t be today, you have enough bruises to last a week.”

Zinc finishes wrapping up Swift’s wounds. Swift gets up and sits next to Shield.

“Zinc is right you know, Swift”

Sighing from pain Swift responds,” He sounds like he knows a lot. Did you really have to go all out on me?”

“Better to toughen up with lots of pain now rather than start out slow”

“Well you could have taught me how to fight. All you did was punch me over and over while I tried to dodge you.”

“Let me let you know about me a bit kid…. Long ago I trained for the Canterlot Armed Forces, or CAF for short. First day there guess what they made us new guys do?”

“What?” Ask Swift now interested into knowing some info on his new friends.

“They gave us three choices, : Run 100 laps around the battle grounds, Spar all day with any senior guard, or leave. I chose the spar since I have 2 older brothers I’m used to the beatings, but let me tell you, they did not hold back at all. I barely got up the next morning for breakfast with all the pain I was in. So just to let you know I went easy on you.”

“Wait if you trained to be in the CAF why are you here adventuring?”

Laughing Shield replied, “Because, It wasn’t for me. Standing still at doors doing nothing? Not for me.”

“What about Splitroot? I never hear him talk what’s his life story?”

“He grew up in a very large family. Had 17 brothers and sisters and he was smacked in the middle of the age group. So he was kind of ignored all his life till he left. I found him one day alone at a bar. Never said a word since I knew him from a family gathering a few years before then I just asked to join and he accepted. So usually me and him go around doing quests and hire or ask others to join when needed.”

“So he never talks? Like a mute?”

“Yupp, you can’t get a single word out of him.”

“Last year I heard him scream that’s about as close you will ever get.”

Swift got up wincing in pain as he moved, “how much longer till we get to Little Gem?” asked Swift.

“Should be there by nightfall, but we will sleep outside the town tonight to save a few extra bits and allow us to get better rooms when other ponies leave the tavern in the morning.”

“Works for me, so we going to leave soon or wait because I’m pooped from the beating you gave me.”

“We will leave soon kid, if you want go ahead and pack up won’t take long for the rest of us to pack also.”

Swift went over to his tent and started to pack everything he has. After 3 attempts to get his tent in his saddle he had to ask Shield to help him again.

“Hey Shield when will I get real weapons? I see the rest of you carrying some expect for Zinc, even Reznox has a dagger on him.”

“Well that’s an extra agenda for us to attend to in Little Gem. We will get you the proper equipment you will need. So on the way think of what weapons you want to learn to use and we can get you some.”

“Wait I don’t have any money to use to pay for anything.”

“Ha! You don’t think I know that? I was going to pay for you. Years of adventures have left me some extra spending money, and before you say no my mind is set. Don’t worry I won’t spend all my money on you, just the basics needs. Any money you find or earn from here on out you can use for yourself or pay off the debt you think is real. I don’t care.”

Sighing Swift gave up on the thought of arguing, “Fine but I will pay you back!”

“Come on kid let us get going. It is only a few hours away, we might have enough time for another quick training session.”

As sarcastic as he could Swift replied, “yay….”

Team Velkons left their campsite and headed to their destination with hopes of sleep to be found sooner than later.