Tale of Origin: Quantum Rush

A few years have passed since I started my training. I have become a master of dark magic, quantum magic, and have been able to learn other forms of magic fairly easily. My training with Osiris paid off as well, I have mastered different forms of combat. I was no longer that wide eyed colt with hopes of pleasing my dad. I was older know, with dreams of one day seeing how I would be able to help mold the future and prevent the vision that Ether showed me. Now all that was on my mind was to improve my magic and combat skills.

I still have not gotten my cutie mark yet, I feel indifferent about this, but some of the guards and citizens have taken it upon themselves to try and help me get one. It’s almost as if they are on a crusade to help me get one. The only pony that thought I was sad about not having one was my mom.  “Quantum, get out of your room. You have been in there for almost week. I know what will make you feel better.” My mother said behind my door.

“What do you mean make me feel better, I am not upset about anything” I responded.

“Then why have you been locked up in your room all this time.”

“I just don’t want the guards and citizens thinking there is something wrong with me for not having a cutie mark,” I said in an embarrassed tone.

“That is no excuses to be locked in your room for a whole week,” she said in a concerned tone. “I know, how about we take a trip to the market like when you were little, I am sure that every pony has forgotten about you not having one.” Let’s hope that she is right. I have not been to the market with her in a long time, so it was nice to be able to see it again. Though I was somewhat hesitant on coming in fear that the citizens would try helping me again. The empire sees a lot of travelers, it is nice seeing the interactions of the citizens with the travelers and they usually don’t cause trouble...usually.

As we walked through the market I heard a crystal pony mare yell out in terror. “Please I don't want any trouble just take whatever you want.”

A group of griffins were holding up a stand. The head griffin with his razor sharp talons took hold of the mare that was running the stand by the neck, the head griffin looked around her stand as if he did not like what he saw.

“Where are the gems little mare?” the head griffin asked in an intimidating tone. “We came here looking for rare gems. So where are they and tell me before I decide to tear your head off!” Usually no one is dumb enough to commit a crime within the empire, but it seems like the griffins were taking advantage at there not being many guards.

“Quantum don't even think about it,” said my mother with a concerned face. “You aren't strong enough to take on a group of griffins.”

“If I don't do anything then they will hurt the mare and do the same thing to the other vendors. Why should I not defend them, because it is the guard’s job? Look around mom by the time they get here it will be too late!” I announced in an angry tone.

“Just promise me you won't get hurt,” said Midnight Glimmer in a worried tone.

Turning to face the scene that unfolded before me, I replied “you know I can't make a promise like that mom that would defeat the purpose of helping out that mare!” I thought to myself for a moment, am I really ready to do something like this, even with Osiris's training?

As I walked forward to confront the mare's assailants I cast a spell to slow down time around the market. I summoned a dark sphere that surrounded me and cut off all light. When I emerged from the sphere I had on a black and red hooded set of clothing. I cast one last spell that summoned pieces of armor on some parts of the clothing. Now that I was done with my preparations it was time to see if I would be able to protect that mare. I took in a deep breath to compose myself for the challenge that was in front of me, I put on the hood to conceal my face so I would not bring any attention to my mother. I released the time spell that I had placed on the market and walked up to the griffins.

The leader of the group had started to raise his other talon preparing to strike the mare. As his talon came down a black and reddish aura came around his talon that stopped it. He turned his head looking for the cause of this and spotted a stallion that was in armored clothes that cast the spell.

“Will you look at that he thinks he can takes us all,” said the griffin with the mare in his talons. “Why don’t you just head home and act as if nothing happened, stallion this is none of your business!”

“Boss let me at him, I don’t think he is going to listen so might as well let me teach him a lesson,” said one of the thugs that was rummaging through the mares stand. The other griffins stopped what they were doing to size up the stallion that had presented himself. “What’s wrong cat’s got your tongue, or did you just realize that you can’t take us by yourself!”

“That’s not the problem at all, I was just waiting for you finish your inconsistent blabbering that is all,” I said in a calm tone. Even as I said that I was scared out of my mind. What if they seriously hurt the mare the one to blame would be me. “Now if you would be so kind as to put the mare down gently we would be able to get on with this,” with my challenge presented to the griffins the only thing that ran through my head was will I be able to fight these goons.

“Do you really think that you will be able to take us on by yourself?” said one of the thugs in a daunting voice. The griffins around the stand started to move around their boss waiting for his orders. “Well do you think you can take us on or not? Look boss I have him scared out of his mind, he can’t even respond!”

“Like I told you before I am just waiting for you to stop your blabbering so we can get this over with,” but as those words came out of my mouth I was scared that I would not be able to back up my actions.

“Stop the stupid banter already and make him regret wanting to play the hero,” said the head griffin as he dropped the mare. As she hit the floor she was gasping for air, trying to compose herself. A black glow started to come around the mare that quickly manifested a sphere that encompassed her. She immediately started to feel a warmth that came around her body. The sphere was healing the cuts that the griffin left around her neck.

“Don’t worry you will be fine, once I am done with the griffins I will make sure you get proper healing.” The mare raised her head in confusion wondering where the voice came from. “Don't strain yourself, I promise nothing will happen to you,” The mare then lowered her head to rest.

“I will make him regret wanting to play hero,” said one of the griffins as he lunged at me. While he was in mid-air I cast a spell around the griffin that froze him. A black aura came around my right front hoof. I swung it hitting the griffin. Right when my hoof made contact with the griffin he was sent flying across the market.

The leader of the group of griffins was unfazed by what happened in front of him. The other two had a shocked look on their faces. “Well hurry up and finish him off you idiots,” said the leader of the griffins in a commanding voice.  Following their leaders command the other two griffins quickly took their positions surrounding me.

“One on two isn't that over kill, you guys are at a complete disadvantage,” I said in a cocky tone.  Both griffins enraged at what I said quickly lunged at me with full force.  Before the griffins were able to hit me I cast a spell that turned me in to a shadow. The two griffins head butted each other with full force causing them to fall unconscious. I released the spell and materialized in front of the unconscious griffins. The ponies that were hiding started to come out to see what has been happening.

“I knew those three were going to be useless, against someone as well trained as you,” said the head griffin in an aggravated voice. “Before we get to the main event I would like to know the name of my opponent.”

“My name is Quantum Rush, and what is yours,” I said in confident demeanor. When the citizens that were at the market heard my name they had looks of astonishment on their faces. Who would have thought that the one standing up for them is the son of king Sombra?

“My name is Connor, a well-respected warrior form the griffin kingdom, and before you ask then why I am committing crimes it is because they are not paying me enough,” Connor said in a sarcastic tone. “Wait you said your name is Quantum Rush correct, you are the son of the current ruler, so does someone of you stature really need to mess with a commoner like me? Should I kneel before you your highness and beg for you to spare me,” he said in a mocking tone.

“No just kissing the ground I walk on will be more then suffice, no need for anything else” I said in a confident tone. “In all seriousness by any chance can I get you to leave the empire peacefully, I don’t want there to be any more violence,” I said in a calm tone. While looking around at the citizens that have gathered around us I could already tell that he intended to fight me head on in front of everyone.

“I think not my lord that would defeat the purpose of you playing hero, and I want to revel in the fact that this is the day you die.” When Connor finished speaking I was the first one to attack landing a few blows I was confident that I would win this battle so I did not use the combat magic Osiris taught me. With each hit Connor was moving backwards, then I noticed a pickup in his speed dodging one of my punches. In my attempt to match his speed Connor caught my punch and pushed me back. “Is that really all of the strength you have, I was sure that you would have more combat experience, now it’s my turn.”

“Come at me with everything you have Connor this ends here,” Connor then lashed out at me with all of his might. He was undoubtedly faster than me, I had a hard time just trying to avoid his attacks. A vicious barrage of punches came at me each making contact pushing me back and breaking what little confidence I had. With his next punch Connor opened his talon and brought it down with full force causing a tear in my hood and cutting me above the eye. Blood started to trickle down my face, the cut was superficial but that didn’t matter when the citizens saw this they thought it was over. I could hear the collective gasps from the citizens that had gathered around to see the fight.

“Come now Quantum what happened to all of that confidence that was radiating off of you a couple of minutes ago, did you just notice that there is no way in all of hell that you can defeat me, did you notice the difference in our power,” Connor said in a  daunting voice. I stood there silent waiting for him to finish.  “Do you see this everyone your great and revered prince can’t even defend his own citizens what hope does he have when and actual threat presents itself to the Empire?”

“If you’re done talking Connor lets end this,” I said raising my head to look at him. “You think just because you have left me with a couple of bruises and drew blood that it is enough to discourage me, your wrong, I will defend this place with my life,” as I finished speaking a purple aura started to manifest around my eyes, as this happened I had a familiar feeling course through me, just like when dad handed me that book of dark magic.

“Well if you are really looking forward to ending your life right here then I will be more than happy to oblige,” we both attacked each other with full force. I was now able to match his speed and strength. Each punch he landed felt like the earth under me was shacking, each time my hits made contact with him I felt a surge of power course through my body. This time around I had a major boost in my confidence. While all of this was happening I came to a realization of why I was fighting, not just because the mare was in trouble but because I want to protect the citizens of the empire, I would lay down my life for them.

“This has been dragging out long enough, time to end your life Quantum, sorry this didn't end differently, oh wait no I’m not,” Connor grabbed me and started to flap his wings after a couple of seconds we were flying. “Well Quantum you gave me a decent fight, too bad it has to end now,” when we reached the peak of his flight he closed his wings and started to fall from the sky. The citizens that gathered around to see the fight now had faces of terror, they started to scream and cry out for someone to come and help me. “Hear that Quantum, they know what is going to happen, I bet it is going to be pretty tragic when they see their Prince die,” Connor said in a triumphant tone.

“Sorry to disappoint you Connor but this isn't the end,” the purple aura that was around my eyes started to get a more intense color, as I prepared to cast a spell. I let out a burst of energy to Connor it looked like I had vanished.

“Coward I know you wouldn’t face your impending death with dignity, “he said screaming out.

“What are you yelling at Connor I never left, that would make this drop a lot less interesting,” I said mocking him. “This is probably something that you won’t understand, but all I did was a cast a spell that turned me in to a shadow, so now you can’t hit me, but I can still hit you,” I started one last barrage of attacks on Connor. As we were falling Connor started to wail around as each of my punches made contact. From the ground it must have looked like Connor lost his mind. I released the spell and appeared before Connor, “now we end this,” a black and red aura came around my hoof that powered up my next punch. I unleashed every ounce of strength that I had left with this punch. Connor was sent crashing down to the market. I cast a spell around me that allowed me to manipulate gravity making me gently land.

When the dust cleared everyone saw that I was the last one standing, at first there was silence but then everyone let out cheer. While they celebrated among themselves I went over to check one the mare that Connor and his goons threatened. I released the healing spell that I cast around her, I walked up to her to see if she was fine. “Are you okay, is there anything else I can do for you,” I asked in a worried tone.

“I am okay thanks to you, if you didn't intervene when you did things may have ended differently,” she said while trying to bring a smile to her face. “My name is Winter Rose, and if there is anything I can ever do for you just let me know, “she said with a smile across her face. At first I really paid no attention to her, my only concern was her safety, but upon a closer look she had blue eyes that gleamed in the sun, and a white coat that resembled snow, and a light blue mane that resembled the color of the sky. Her eyes caught mine, I quickly lowered my head for her not to see my face turn red. In my defense this is the first time have ever spoken to a mare. With my head down I tired to speak to her so she would not see my red face, but only incoherent words were coming out. She just smiled and brought me in for a hug and said “Thank you risking your life for me, I don't think I will ever be able to repay you.”

After a few minutes of awkward silence I spoke“you don't have to repay me I am just happy that you are safe,” I said with a smile across my face. After helping her up my mom ran at full speed, and when she reached me she started to hug me like she hasn't seen me in years. Her hug had as much force behind it as one of Connor’s punches. “See mom I told you I would be fine, I made it out with minimal injuries,” I said trying to calm her down.

“What are you talking your hurt, you have blood on your face, and you are all bruised up,” Glimmer said in a worried tone.

“Damn it Quantum, if you’re going to do a job do it right and finish what you started,” Connor said as he struggled to get up. I quickly turned around to see Connor getting back up, this was bad with all of all my energy drained I would not be able to fight him for long. I readied myself to counter Connor. Connor lunged at me with the intent to kill, from the corner of my eye I saw a familiar black hoof with a green aura around it. When the punch landed on Connor it sent him flying across the market to where the other griffins where.

After the punch hit Connor I hear a familiar voice“what is the first thing you do when an enemy is down Quantum,” Osiris said in a commanding voice.

“Make sure the enemy can’t get back up and is no longer a threat, but in my defense Osiris I needed to check on Miss Rose, to make sure she was okay,” I replied trying to persuade Osiris to see things my way.

“See if I was in this kind of situation I would have followed all the rule Osiris taught you and have beaten all four of the griffins without breaking a sweat,” said a little dragon.

“You know Paradox it isn’t polite to speak out of turn, and besides Quantum did his best to protect the citizens around the market, so stop teasing him so much,” Glimmer said scolding the little dragon.

“Sorry mom, you have a point, this being Quantum’s first actual fight he did pretty well,” Paradox said in a cheerful tone. I was happy that Paradox was so easily impressed but I was more worried about Osiris’s evaluation.

“First of all I am really impressed by your skill Quantum, we never applied your training in an actual combat situation but you were able to handle the situation very nicely. On top of that you had a high level healing spell cast while you were fighting, then you went on to using the combat magic that you learned, and then to ease your fall you used a quantum spell, you have come a long way from that little wide eyed colt that I knew.”

“Thanks Osiris I thought that you would have been mad at me for confronting them.”

“Nonsense you held your own very well and you put the safety of the citizens before your own, you have exceeded my expectations and I am sure you have also surpassed your fathers.” After a few minutes some guards showed up to take the griffins away. Osiris then turned to me and asked “Quantum what sort of punishment will you bestow upon the griffins?” the ponies that were still around eagerly awaited my response. This actually caught me by surprise, usually the guard would handle the matter of punishment.

“I want them escorted out of the Empire and nothing more,” the guards just nodded and toke Connor and his goons to the outskirts of the Empire. After all the citizens thanked me for stopping the griffins I said good bye to Rose and headed home.

When we got home dad was at the gate waiting for us, Paradox ran up to him to give him a hug. Sombra hugged him back with a smile on his face, this made me kind of jealous of Paradox. “So how was your trip to the market with Osiris, Paradox?”

“It was okay dad, I was hoping we would make it there before Quantum finished fighting the griffins,” Paradox said with enthusiasm.

“I heard about that, it seems like you handled the situation really well son, I am impressed that you were able to take on four griffins, one thing that has been on my mind since this information was relayed to me is who taught you how to fight?”

I looked at Osiris before saying anything, I felt that if I told my dad he would not have approved of me undertaking more studies rather than putting all of my time in to my magic training.

“Osiris is the one who taught me how to fight, over the past few years I have been learning various forms of combat, after I came back from the tundra I asked Osiris to teach me,” I said standing behind my decision.

“Good, you can’t put all of your faith in magic, what if it failed you, you would need another way to defend yourself and others. It’s a good thing that Osiris took time from his duties and trained you, I take it he was a good student general?”

“Yes my lord, he is an excellent student I would go as far as saying that he is better than your elite guards, I am proud to be able to call him my student,” Osiris said with a smile across his face.

As my dad and Osiris conversed about me, mom and Paradox walked in to the castle leaving me with dad and Osiris. Osiris was the first to stop the conversation saying he had to get back to his duties, only Sombra and I were left.

“Quantum I see that you have put in a lot of effort in to your training, I am proud that you stood up for our citizens, you put their safety before your own, I have a feeling that one day you are going to be a great leader if you keep that mindset.”

“Thanks dad it really means a lot coming from you,” I was happy, I don’t get praises from him very often.

“Now then Quantum I have something’s to do, I will talk to you later,” Sombra walked off in to the castle going about his business. I walked up to my room in hopes of getting some time to relax after the fight with Connor and his goons. I placed my armor and clothes on their stand, and as I walked past a mirror something caught my eye I walked back to see what it was. To my surprise, there it was, I had finally gotten one, no more guards and citizens going on a crusade to try and help me. I just stared at the cutie mark for a while, then I thought to myself how did I get one, I didn't do anything special today. Then I dawned on me when I fought Connor that is why I received one. The mark was a shield with a crescent moon on it, and a sword going through the back of the shield. I sat on the floor for a few minutes trying to think of what each meant. I figured the shield meant my willingness to protect others, and the sword my combat prowess, but what was so special about the crescent moon on the shield? I thought on it for a while and then it hit me the crescent moon represented my mastery over dark magic. I thought back on the fight and remembered that I didn’t use dark magic, then I remembered when the purple aura manifested around my eyes, I was using it like second nature, that’s what gave me the edge over Connor. I heard the door open but didn’t bother to check who it was.

“Well looks like you finally got one Quantum I was starting to worry about my older brother not having one, I thought you were some kind of freak,” Paradox walked in giving me back handed complements as usual.

“Yeah, I was beginning to think that there was something wrong with me, but it turns out I am normal sorry to disappoint you,” I said in a sarcastic tone.

“Hey Quantum can I ask you something,” Paradox said in sadden tone.

“You just did, but seriously what is on your mind?”

“I was wondering while you were fighting the griffins did you ever think about your own safety, you just jumped in without a second thought,” Paradox had a concerned look.

“To be honest with you I was scared out of my mind when I started to fight, the only thing that was running through my head at first was whether I would make it out in one piece, but then when Connor was the one fighting me I started to take everyone's safety in to account, that’s when I knew I had to win, not for my sake but for everyone”

“Well that is a stupid reason to put your life in danger, sure that was a nice little touching moment but come on there has to be more than that, to think that I was starting to look up to you,” Paradox paused for a minute to collect his thoughts and the started to talk again. “I think I know why you fought the griffins, it’s because you wanted to get that mares attention, what better way to get her attention than being her knight in shining armor,” as he said that I felt my face turn red.

I stuttered trying to defend myself, “N-N-No that is not why I fought them, I did it to teach them a lesson and test out my combat skills nothing more,” I could tell that Paradox had a giant smile on face.

“Well it doesn't matter why you did it, I am just happy that my loser older brother is still in one piece,” when Paradox said that I sensed that he was being serious and not sarcastic.

The weeks that ensued after my fight with Connor were pretty relaxed, I would follow my daily routine, wake up early go down to the training room with Osiris and hone my skills. Osiris asked my dad’s elite guards to come down and spar with me to have more practice implementing my training in real combat situations. It was great I was able told hold my own against some of the best soldiers in the empire. My magic studies really didn't change much, my dad now came in more often to meditate with me and spar, and I loved it I was finally able to spend more time with him.

When I finish with my daily routine Paradox and I would go out in to the market to talk to the various merchants. When going to the market I would usually spend most of the time there talking to Rose, and doing various odd jobs for some of the citizens. At first whenever I spoke to Rose I would make a complete idiot of myself. I would stutter when speaking to her and avoid eye contact, almost as if I looked at her she would steal my soul or something, Paradox did get a kick out of seeing me act that way, looking back on it was pretty funny. Over the next few weeks Rose and I became close friends. This was the second friend I had, the first being Paradox’s mom. Paradox and some of the guards would tease me about Rose, they certainly had no problem making fun of my social awkwardness. I didn’t even remember that vision of the future that Ether showed me, life was good.