The tale of Aeros

Chapters

The tale of Aeros - Part 1
The tale of Aeros - Part 2
The tale of Aeros - Part 3
The tale of Aeros - Part 4

The tale of Aeros - Part 1

The tale of Aeros: Part 1.

‘Let me introduce myself. I’m Aeros Dawnstar. I am 7 years old but my parents already tell me that I’m a very big colt. I go to school here in Manehattan. A small school for other foals with rich parents. My father is one of the best, perhaps the best flyer in all of Equestria. Even the Wonderbolts gaze in awe when he flies! And so he became rich.’

At the age of 10 Aeros had surpassed every other foal in his class with knowledge and physique. His parents, particularly his father constantly tutoring him about flying and all calculations and variables that influenced it. He was indifferent towards the flying lessons, performing poorly and it soon became clear flying wasn’t his thing. His parents were greatly disappointed for Aeros would not follow the path his father followed. As colts for generations followed in the family and had become the heritage of the family.

‘By now you can figured why they called me Aeros. It would be a suitable name for a sports flyer but I really can’t see how any pony can enjoy it. Still my dad forces me to attend the flight school for advanced flyers and shoving down more knowledge of flying in my head. I started to become a little depressed and I really didn’t know what else I could do. What my special talent would be. Until the day I saw a flier at school. It said: ‘fencing tryouts, are you the new swords master?’ I thought it was a great idea but of course my parents didn’t. Sword fighting was for the poor and the weak of minded.’

Aeros kept the flier he found in his room but obeyed his parents’ will initially. But the more he looked at the flier the more it spoke to him. As if he already had a certain affinity with it. On a certain evening right after dinner, Aeros opened his window and flew to the address given on the flier. Upon arrival he noticed that the neighborhood was poor and the buildings were crude. This didn’t scare him. He entered the house and there he gazed upon the ponies fencing. He fell in love the seconds he caught the first glimpse.

‘Wow, such finesse in movements, agility and wits. This might just be what I was looking for! I just hope my parents don’t find out. If they do, I’m in for some big trouble! But just look at that. The armor and the sword the teacher is wearing. Wouldn’t you just kill to have such equipment?’

It didn’t take long before the teacher told his pupils to take a little break and he then walked up to Aeros. ‘Hey there young foal, what can I do for you’ he said. ‘Ehhm… I saw your flier quite some time ago. And I thought I would check it out’ Aeros said. ‘Well young foal, if you tell me your name then you can join in for the final half hour of class.’ The teacher said. And then Aeros replied: ‘well, my name is Aeros Dawnstar.’ As he said his name the entire room went silent. Every student gazed upon Aeros. ‘Is he THE Aeros Dawnstar?’ ‘Isn’t his father like the world champ?’ ‘Doesn’t he swim in money?’ was heard in the whispers from the students to each other. Even the teacher seemed amazed.

‘Great. You have a father who happens to be rich and about the best flyer in Equestria. And suddenly every pony looks at you like you’re a freak show. Can’t they just treat me like one of them for a change? I never asked for this’
‘Are you the son of Featherdust Dawnstar?’ The teacher asked. ‘Yes, I am his son.’ The teacher then shook his head and asked: ‘isn’t your family more into the flying business?’ Aeros then looked a bit sad to the floor and after several seconds of silence he replied: ‘yes, my family is. And they have forced me to attend flight school and training ever since I was even younger then I am now. But flying isn’t really my thing. The way of the blade calls me’ he replied determined of his case. The teacher said nothing more but smiled. Aeros attended the class for the remaining time it lasted.

‘Wow, it was even better then I’d imagined! The finesse and grace. It can’t compare to flying in any way. Even the students don’t judge me for my heritage. And the teacher just treats me as if I am a normal pony. I am a normal pony! I don’t understand why my parents don’t want me to do this. It is truly the most wonderful thing I’ve ever done’

In the weeks following Aeros attended the fencing class twice a week. Along with the forced flight lessons he had to take from his parents. It demanded much from Aeros. Keeping the fencing classes a secret and keeping up with the flight lessons. Physically exhausting it was. But his motivation to become a good swordfighter won from the pain he had to endure sometimes. And with every following week he became better, faster and more agile in fight. He had reached a level within 3 month which normally is accomplished after 2 years of intensive training. At a certain night after training the teacher asked Aeros to stay for a couple of minutes. And once the other foals scattered and went home the teacher approached Aeros. ‘Next week we got a competition and I want you to compete, the affinity and talent you’ve shown makes me confident you could get very far in this contest. And best of all. Someone from the swords masters guild is coming by to see if there are people capable of their special training program.’ ‘Swords masters guild? I have never heard of that’ Aeros said. ‘The swords masters guild of Manehattan is responsible for the protection of the royal family and keeping the city parameters safe. They also have the best of the best swordfighters in equestrian, all hoof picked by a high placed member of the guild.’ Aeros just smiled and then said: ‘I’ll be there next week and try the best I can.’

‘A fencing contest. Why would he choose me? I’m only here for several weeks. I think some of my fellow students won’t be pleased when I compete while they practiced way longer then I did. And what if my parents find out? If my parents find out they will punish me for sure. I wish I could just tell them and that they would support me. But that’s never going to happen.’
Aeros got home about 5 minutes later then normally for he had that conversation with his teacher. He entered the window and was glad to find that his parents weren’t looking for him. Even though he has been doing this for the past 3 months he never got used to the anxiety it caused for him to get caught by his parents. The week went by slowly and he slacked off at his flight training. He wanted to save his body for the upcoming contest this weekend. His parents were angry at him. ‘You have to train better for your flying or do you want to disgrace the legacy of the Dawnstar family’ his dad relentlessly shouted. Aeros remained silent, not paying attention to his dad’s rant with his mind with the contest he has tomorrow.

‘Tomorrow I get to prove myself. A contest of speed, strength, agility and wits. I’ll prove myself in battle and I might even be deemed worthy for the Swords masters’ guild! Then again, this contest is held in the middle of town and it’s a big event. I’m almost doomed to expose now. Is it worth it?’

It was a long night for Aeros. If his parents were to find out he has been doing this for the last couple of months. He would be in deep trouble. At the break of dawn Aeros woke up after a short night of sleep. Exhausted as he was he lifted himself from his bed and washed himself. Before his parents woke up or even before he ate something he flew out of the window heading towards the contest site. ‘By Celestia, mom and dad told me they were going to spectate this event. They are going to see me compete in a sport they don’t deem worthy for their standards’ he thought while he flew to the location.

At the location several students and the teacher himself had already arrived. ‘Hi Aeros, how are you feeling today?’ The teacher asked. ‘I’m okay, but I’m afraid my parents won’t be when they see me here today.’ The other students look critical towards Aeros and one of them shouts: ‘HAH… you let a rookie compete? He just trained for 3 months! Are we this desperate?’ the teacher and the others disregarded him completely. ‘Aeros, you follow the path that your heart tells you to take. How can your parents be mad at you for that?’ the teacher asked him. Aeros just shook his head and then said. ‘You’ll find out after today’

‘Oh my, Tonight is going to be fun at home. Slacking off at flight training got me a rant of an hour. Let alone slacking off at flying training for a contest they deem unworthy for me. But hey, I can’t think of that right now. The only thing that matters at the moment is that I deliver the best fight I can in this contest. Hopefully I can impress that pony from the guild!’

Aeros fitted himself into his gear and chose his fencing blade. ‘Good luck Aeros, your first opponent is from another fencing school in Manehattan. So don’t let me and us down.’ The teacher said. A little sense of anxiety rushed through Aeros’ stomach as he walked to the arena door. When he peeked into the arena he saw his parents sitting on luxurious chairs instead of standing just like every other pony. The announcer started to speak and the crowd silenced. ‘From the north gate, Emil Steelhammer’ some ponies in the crowd cheered loudly. Then he said: ‘And from the south gate, still a fairly new but very talented swordfighter, Aeros Dawnstar.’ Aeros walked through the gate, but instead of cheering the crowd remained silent. The seats of his parents were now vacant and Aeros felt a bit nervous.

‘Why does this happen every time my name is called. Even with the flight contests they still think I’m the best of the best while I don’t even like it. Why can’t they look at me like they do at any other pony? Even my opponent seems enfeebled by me entering the arena. My parents are now probably cursing at my teacher. And I need to figure a way to defeat my opponent.’

The announcer pony walked towards us while we approached each other. ‘This match end when either of you takes his 3th hit. If one falls, you cease your attack and wait until your opponent stands back up.’ Aeros and Emil nodded towards the announcer and then took their battle stance. Aeros’ opponent took initiative from the very first second, landing a barrage of strikes on him. He had difficulties fending off the barrage but despite his best efforts he couldn’t prevent being stricken by his opponent’s sword. Aeros smiled towards his opponent and nodded in order to congratulate him on his moves. They took their positions again and now it was Aeros who took the initiative. He completely surprised his opponent who had not expected such a shift of styles after the strike he just landed on Aeros. Aeros quickly managed to land his blade on the armor of Emil. Completely dazed Emil recuperated for the next round. When green light was given by the announcer they both stood there for several seconds before Emil suddenly lunged towards Aeros. Aeros’ anticipation was flawless as he sat a step aside and tapped Emil playfully on the back with his blade, gaining his second strike. Emil’s anger was clearly visible as Aeros so easily dodged and countered his lunge. Emil took his position again and as soon as the announcer moved, he charged towards Aeros. Aeros on his turn blocked the blade hurling towards his head with his blade and then rolled to the side landing perfectly on his hooves again, displaying great agility. Emil still clearly angered was slashing his sword furiously in the direction of Aeros. But due to the lack of finesse in his movements Aeros could easily avoid or fend off any incoming attacks. He took no further action besides defending against Emil’s attacks for several minutes. After a little while Emil was rendered almost incapacitated due to exhaustion and Aeros could easily land his first and only strike of this round on Emil’s chest plate. Scoring his third strike and thus winning the match.

‘Wow, I have won the match. Maybe I am destined to become a swordfighter! Then again, the performance of this opponent was weak if not to call feeble at most. YAY I still won. I wonder what my trainer will tell (…) or my parents… *gulp*’

Aeros walked out of the arena under the wall of sounds created by the cheering audience. As he walked out of the arena through the gate he used to enter his trainer walked up to him with a smile. ‘You’ve done great Aeros. You’ve even managed to impress the scout from the guild! And you should have seen his face when I told him you’ve started only 3 months ago.’ The trainer says. As he speaks another pony rises up from a dark corner of the preparation room and with a raspy voice he starts talking: ‘I saw your affinity with the blade is great. I would love to see more of you Aeros. And….’ Before he could end his sentence Aeros’ parents bashed into the preparation room.

‘AEROS!!!! What in Equestia’s name were you thinking!’ his father yelled while his mom only stood there as if she had been stricken by lightning. ‘Don’t even answer, you weren’t thinking. Were you? You don’t care if you disgrace our family’s name. you’re coming home right now mister and you never touch another sword as long as you live with us.’ His father ranted on. Aeros’ eyes were drenched in tears as his dad started to drag him. Without uttering another word he gazed upon the guild member and his trainer in hope they would help him. But they didn’t want to intervene in the domestic issue.

‘3 months ago, I was at the top. Standing in the arena and showing my skills as a swords master. But as it seems my dreams and hopes have shattered. For the first week my dad ranted nonstop about how being a swordfighter is unworthy for the likes of the family. And no matter what I would say, he simply dismissed it by saying: ‘flying is our family legacy and it’s expected from you to uphold this legacy.’ And other arguments as such. It all came down to the following: I got locks on my window, I got an extremely strict curfew now and every time I go to school of that pesky flight training I am accompanied by either my dad, my mom or the nanny they hired to keep constant watch over me so I can’t sneak out anymore.’

Today Aeros celebrates his 12 birthday. Now he is a colt in the family tradition. ‘Dad, I still want to be a swordfighter’ He suddenly said at the breakfast table. His dad completely surprised by this finally gave in. ‘I guess I can’t fight it anymore. But know that your ancestors will be mad at you,’ He said in a final effort to get the idea out of his head. ‘Thank you dad. I’ll set another legacy for this family, along with the traditional one,’ Aeros said while smiling. His father also smiled a bit despite the disappointment. ‘set a new legacy?’ he asked somewhat puzzled. ‘Yes father, a new legacy along with the old one.’
‘my father actually listened to reason? I must be dreaming. Never has he given in or let me make my own choices. First he locks me up in the house for months when he finds out and now out of flying nowhere, he just approves. Why can’t I stop thinking there must be a catch?’

As soon as breakfast was done Aeros stood up in excitement. ‘Can I visit the guild? Can I visit my trainer?’ He asked while jumping around his father. He sighed deeply and said: ‘You’re a colt now. You can do those things on your own. You did so 2 years ago.’ Aeros shrugged and then simply said: ‘fair enough.’ As he walked out of the house. As fast as he could he made his way to the place he used to train. But upon arrival he found out the place was abandoned. He knocked on the door and after several minutes the door slowly opened a few centimeters. ‘I don’t have any bits, go away,’ then the door slam shut again leaving Aeros standing outside.

Aeros knocked on the door once more. ‘I’m not after your bits master,’ he said. The door then opened again and the amazement in the colt’s eyes was obvious even though he tried to hide it. ‘Ae-Aeros. Is that you?’ he stuttered. ‘Yes master. It’s me. After 2 long years my father finally approved. But what happened to your place here?’ It remained silent for several secondsbefore the master said: ‘come in Aeros. It’s quite a long story.’ Aeros walked in, sat down on a chair and then the master began talking. ‘You beating the previous champion threw up a very high profile and as you can imagine it angered the other competitor and even more, the other sword fighting school. But once you had to retreat from the contest due to your parents we became the laughing stock of Manehattan and soon we started to lose a lot of members. I got bankrupt and now I fight every day to get something to eat.’ He started sobbing a bit. ‘Maybe if I take you to my place and explain it to my dad, he will help you,’ Aeros said.

‘Taking my old trainer home to ask if my dad will help him so I can practice a sport he still doesn’t approve very much. What could possibly go wrong here? But look at the poor colt. Down to his last bit ruined by a chain of events set in motion by me and my family. I can’t leave him here in this state.’

The teacher smiled and a spark of hope was witnessed in his eyes. ‘I can’t promise you anything. My dad still isn’t too happy about my passion. Follow me if you accept my offer,’ Aeros said. He then started to walk to his home. Away from the bad neighborhood and soon the buildings improved until they arrived at Aeros’ residence.
‘Dad, this is the teacher that trained me one and a half year ago. He is one of the best swordfighters in this town. But since what happened back then he got ruined and went bankrupt. Would you please hire him to train me?’ Aeros begged to his father. Aeros’ father on his turn looked critically upon the battered colt. ‘Aeros, are you sure he is trustworthy. He looks rather… impoverished.’ said the father. ‘He just had some bad luck, and part of it is my fault. But as far as I know him he is trustworthy and honest,’ Aeros said while confidently smiling to his trainer. ‘Please tell me your name,’ Aeros’ dad asked to the trainer. ‘My name is Kyle Swordbreaker. And I must stay it’s an honor to be in your presence mister Dawnstar.’ Kyle said. ‘Consider yourself hired. If you choose you can train my son in the confinements of this house,’ said Featherdust. Kyle got a small tear in his eye along with a broad smile on his face and said: ‘Thank you very much mister Dawnstar. I won’t disappoint your and Aeros’ expectations and make him one of the best, perhaps even the best swordfighter in Equestria for your son Aeros is one of the most talented and natural swordfighter I have ever seen.’

‘today, exactly 2 years ago when I turned 12, thus an actual colt according to the family tradition my father who denied my sword fighting training for a long time finally approved me practicing this beautiful art. Now it’s my 14th birthday and Kyle and I are all set to leave for a long trip today. He told me he can’t teach me anything anymore besides one thing: forging my own sword. My very own, custom made sword out of materials I have to gather myself, perfectly fine tuned to my body and style. This trip is going to be great. And even my father got proud of me once I won the equestrian championships in my age category. His resent of the art of sword fighting faded as I improved and showed him the finesse and grace of the sport. But now I have to go and make my special sword!’

Aeros and Kyle went on their trip. Heading towards the highest mountain chain in all of Equestria. ‘I got the minerals for my sword from these mountains. The finest materials can be gathered here. You should search for the right material that suits your sword and style in fight the best. Don’t ask me if it is the right material for I can’t judge,’ Kyle said. Aeros just nodded and followed Kyle into the mountains soon to find himself high above the point they were just standing. The mountain sloped steeper and steeper until Aeros could barely told his ground without tumbling downhill. After an excruciating climb that lasted several hours they arrived at a flat part of the mountain. The plateau faced a wall where the mountain continued to rise, but in the wall there were dozens of cavities and caves, clearly made by ponies also searching for the right materials over the past decades.

‘This is the spot where me and my family gathered the materials for our equipment. The toughest and rarest variety of minerals can be found here. Take your time my faithful student for you should not rush to make your choice. The sword you make now will last your entire lifetime,’ Kyle said and he started to set up a tent. Aeros started to scan the area. Evaluating a wide variety of different rocks. He inspected every cavity closely and analyzed every rock he could find. In order to find the best minerals suited to forge the blade. Several hours past and when the darkness falls and Aeros can’t distinguish the different rocks anymore he heads towards the tent now accompanied by a warm and cozy campfire. Aeros sat down next to Kyle and sighed deeply. ‘I found these 2 minerals that would really suit well, but I can’t really figure out which one to use. If only I could merge these, then I would have the perfect sword,’ he said. Kyle smiled: ‘You know you can make an alloy out of different types of metal to utilize the best properties of each component?’ Aeros looked up and smiled. ‘I will gather the required materials tomorrow when it’s light again. But I’m exhausted and hungry now. Can I have something to eat before I go to sleep?’ Kyle reached to the ground and grabbed a plate with food on it from the ground. ‘it probably isn’t what you’re used to, but it’s good food none the less,’ He jokingly says while he hands the plate over to Aeros. He looked at the plate and then asked: ‘excuse me, but do you have a fork for me?’ Kyle laughed out loud and said: ‘just eat it with your muzzle, no pony can see you here.’ Aeros smiled a bit awkwardly before burying his mouth into the food. Once he was done he resided to his tent en fell asleep almost instantly.

‘These minerals are just simply amazing! I will be able to make a thin and lean blade that still is as tough as a nail, unbreakable. Kyle is a great master and he has taught me so much of the way of the blade. I haven’t got a clue how to repay him. But I’m sure to find a way to do so.’

At the crack of dawn Aeros woke up finding Kyle sitting just outside of the tent. ‘Good morning master, I’m ready to collect the needed materials,’ Aeros said. Kyle just nodded and Aeros started to gather the specific minerals he wanted to use for the blade. Soon they started their descent from the steep mountain. This time Aeros’ saddlebags were filled with rocks and ores required to forge his gear.

A day’s walk later they arrived in Manehattan again. And went straight to the guild for they had a forge suited to craft the blade and armor from the materials Aeros had picked. upon entering the guild the members looked upon Aeros but paid no special attention to him. Kyle guided Aeros to the forge. ‘Crafting a blade is a lengthy process, and it’s physically heavy. Since we walked all day and you had to drag all these minerals with you, we start tomorrow. Catch some sleep we start the forging process tomorrow.’ As Kyle advised he went to a bed given to him by the guild and slept.

Early in the morning before the first rays of the sun could enter Aeros’ sleeping quarters which he shared with a dozen other guild members he was awakened by Kyle who was clearly excited of his student making his own blade. Aeros learned a lot about the crafting process as he proceeded in every step. Making the custom shaped mold, refining the metals and finally adjusting the sword and the sword’s handle to his precise preferences and finally sharpening the sword.
3 full days of labor it took to finish the sword. The last day was committed to decorating the sword, engraving Aeros’ family crest and the crest of the guild to show he is a full member now. ‘congratulations my student. I would be honored to duel you now if you want to in the training grounds of the guild. It would be a great way for you to test your newly forged blade,’ Kyle said with a broad smile on his face.

Ten minutes later they stood face to face on the training ground, surrounded by several members of the guild. Aeros wielded his blade and so did Kyle. ‘Now Aeros, I won’t hold back and I want you to show me everything I taught you and everything you know,’ said Kyle. Aeros nodded and bowed for Kyle, and so did he. They then engaged in duel. At great speed Aeros made his first offensive move, landing 2 strikes against Kyle’s sword within the blink of an eye. The initiative soon turned around as Kyle lunged forward evading the barrage of strikes Aeros tried to land on him hurling his blade with great speed towards Aeros. Aeros barely managed to avoid the incoming sword but he still felt Kyle’s blade sliding over his armor. He jumped back in order to create some more distance between him and Kyle in order to recuperate from the move his master just made. Within a second he regained the initiative and leaped to land a strike on Kyle. At the same time Aeros engaged with Kyle again, another pony walked into the ring. Aeros recognized the pony for he was the family servant for years. His face looked serious.

‘Our family servant just came to tell me that my parents are no more. They were heading with a carriage towards my dad’s last flight contest and the carriage crashed when they headed up a mountain. Tumbling down hundreds of meters before coming to a hold. No pony survived. Including my parents. 10 minutes ago I had it all, now I’m alone. Alone as I can be. Nothing is left for me here now.’

Aeros resided to a deserted room in the guild. Sobbing in tears for the tragic loss of his parents he stayed in solitude for what seemed to be an eternity for him before Kyle walked in. ‘I’m very sorry for your loss Aeros. Is there anything I could do for you?’ he asked Aeros. Aeros while drowning in his tears remained irresponsive, barely uttering any sound but some squeals every once in a while. Kyle sat next to him on the bed with a hoof wrapped around Aeros. They sat there for hours, in complete silence. Kyle didn’t bother to talk to Aeros. But he let him know he was there for him. For better and for worst.
‘3 month ago I got the dreadful news my parents had died in a terrible accident. Kyle has been like a father to me since the loss of my parents. But I have not returned home yet. Today I will visit the house where I lived for 14 years. So many memories will come back. This will probably the last time I’ll go there for I have nothing left there.’

With the money he inherited from his parents he helped Kyle build a new school for swordfighters. Since Aeros started to practice this other rich foals started to get interested in the way of the blade. It was a great success. And soon Kyle could take care of himself again. but the void that was left in Aeros’ heart by losing his parents could not be filled and at a certain night. He wrote a note.

‘Dear Kyle,

you have been very good to me over the past 2 years. You taught me some values my parents never did and taught me to treat every pony as an equal. Treat them as you wish to be treated. But from now on I have to walk my own path and get out of the town that constantly remembers me of my parents. Once again I want to thank you for the things you have done. Please take the new sword fighting school as a token of my appreciation and let every pony enjoy the art.
With kind regards,

Aeros Dawnstar.

Aeros folded the letter and sneaked out of the sleeping room. He looked into Kyle’s room once more and in his mind he said goodbye to him and with that he said goodbye to everything that was familiar for him and all that he had ever known. He walked out of the house into the darkness that shrouded not only the streets of Manehattan, but also shrouded Aeros’ mind.

The tale of Aeros - Part 2

The tale of Aeros: Part 2.

‘Today I celebrate my 16th birthday. I have travelled all over Equestria since I left Manehattan two years ago. I have seen pretty much everything there is to see now and even visited the crash site of my parents. When I gazed upon the wreckage that still isn’t cleaned up I cried. I sat there for hours crying until my eyes hurt and were out of tears to spare, but it gave me a sense of closure. I feel like a new pony now and a new beginning lays ahead for me in the town I decided to settle down. Ponyville it’s called if I recall correctly.’

Aeros bought himself a small house at the edge of town. But with the money he had stored at the bank of Equestria he managed to live as he wanted. Once arrived at Ponyville he got warmly welcomed by every pony. But he barely had the urge of connecting or talking to any pony. He rather stayed in his home, or went to an open field practicing moves with his sword. Making every move he develops or knows perfect in execution. It didn’t take long for some other ponies to find out and soon Aeros found himself surrounded by curious ponies. Eager to learn what Aeros knew.

Next day Aeros went back to Manehattan. After being away for 2 years he was warmly welcomed by Kyle once he arrived at the swordfighter’s school. Aeros smiled as he found the school still flourished and ponies rich and poor were practicing next to each other. The clearly visible differences seemed to fade once they entered. Kyle dismissed his students for a while and walked up to Aeros. He didn’t say a word, but a small tear of joy emerged from his eye as he smiled. He then hugged Aeros. ‘Boy, did I miss you my friend.’ He sobbed. ‘I missed you too master,’ Aeros replied.

Aeros told his master everything he could tell him about his 2 year journey through all of Equestria. What he had witnessed, heard, felt, smelled and tasted. Hours later when the sun went down and darkness started to fall Aeros got to the point that ponies in Ponyville, where he decided to live from now on were interested in sword fighting. But he needed some swords for it. Kyle smiled broadly and soon Aeros found his saddlebags filled with wooden practice swords within no time. ‘don’t worry about my supplies. I can get more then I can carry in the guild within the blink of an eye. Good luck with teaching the ponies in Ponyville.’

‘Who would have thought that ponies in other towns were so enthusiastic about the way of the blade. I knew that Manehattan was famous for the swordfighters it delivered. But I also heard that other towns weren’t very interested. Now I can teach every pony about the way of the blade. I’m certain my dad, even though he didn’t like it a first now smiles down upon me with pride from wherever he might be.’

He slept in the bed he slept in for several months after the passing of his parents. It felt familiar and good to be back in Manehattan even though he started a new life in Ponyville. The next day he got up early and found Kyle already awake. ‘I must be going now, a new legacy awaits.’ Kyle smiled and then said: ‘I wish you the best of luck and I hope to hear from you soon.’ Aeros nodded and smiled, ad he headed back towards Ponyville with his saddlebags bulking with practice swords.

When he got back to Ponyville he got his sword and went back to the field where he trained and just started. He tried a new move which he thought of on his way back to Ponyville. When he executed the move at first it went clumsy, soon he found himself eating grass as he lost his balance. He persisted and soon he managed to execute the move flawlessly, almost as if he never did something else. Again some ponies curiously gathered on the field to see Aeros showing his moves. ‘I heard you would like to learn something?’ Aeros asked suddenly after doing several other moves. The ponies then nodded and smiled enthusiastic as Aeros pointed them to his saddlebags packed with practice swords.

‘these ponies seem so eager to learn. I hope I can teach them with the same grace as Kyle did. The student becomes the master he said more than often. I personally never believed him for he always managed to make me kiss the floor. Or before I knew it his sword was mere centimeters away from my neck. I never thought I would be capable of teaching other ponies the way of the blade. Now here I stand with about a dozen ponies eager to learn.’

‘We’ll start off easy. Don’t expect making moves like I did just a few minutes ago after today. These take years of practice to get to.’ Aeros then preforms a Basic move, one of the first he learned. Even with this simple move the ponies gazed upon him with awe. ‘now I want you to do the exact same move I just made, make sure you’ve got enough space so you don’t hurt any pony else.’ He then executes the maneuver several more times at different speeds to show every pony how to correctly execute it.

As weeks passed Aeros’ lessons grew swiftly in popularity. And he soon got overwhelmed with the amount of lessons he had to give. There was only 1 reason he kept on going on and that was a certain mare, about a year younger than him. He noticed her during the training, drowning in her eyes he sometimes just stared for several minutes without averting his eyes. Other students quickly noticed Aeros staring at the mare and giggled loudly each time they caught him. She however only blushed and smiled to Aeros.

‘what causes me to stare at her like that? Her beauty stuns me and she looks so graceful as well with and without her blade. The other students laugh as they catch me staring but I don’t care. When I see her smile and blush a little my heart makes a flutter. I don’t know what is happening to me, but somehow I like it.’

‘Okay every pony. We are going to practice dueling now, form couples and then stand opposed to each other,’ Aeros shouted to his students loud enough every pony could hear him clearly. Every pony matched up except for one mare who happened to be the mare Aeros likes so much. He walked up to her and said: ‘You’ll duel me then. Don’t worry I won’t hurt you.’ The other students laughed and whispered as Aeros and her had to pair up. ‘I’m sorry, but I have never asked you what your name is,’ he said. ‘My name is Nimeta Sunriser,’ She said while she took a battle stance against Aeros, showing no fear. ‘I see you have the guts to be a swords master, I’ll go easy on you,’ he smiled.

On Aeros’ sign the couples started their duel, including Nimeta and Aeros himself. The fighting style of Nimeta resembled much of Aeros’ style. Agile, graceful and using every feature of the terrain to her advantage. In combat Aeros needed to put in some effort in order to fend her swift and accurate strikes off. ‘So, besides your beauty you’ve got quite the moves,’ Aeros says. Once he realizes he confessed that he thinks she is beautiful he turns bright red. She only smiles but says nothing before adapting her battle stance to train some more.

The training ended and Aeros resided to the side of the field, accumulating all practice swords. Every pony handed in their wooden sword except for Nimeta, still practicing some of the moves she learned in today’s training. Aeros walked up to Nimeta in a way she couldn’t see him coming when he suddenly said: ‘To optimize that movement you better do it like this.’ He then grabbed his real sword and gracefully executed the complicated maneuver. Nimeta gazed upon his movements and his exquisite sword. She then tried to imitate his movements but initially failed. Aeros patiently waited for her to practice and did the maneuver a couple of times himself.

Several minutes of tumbling and struggling later Nimeta managed to full the movement off flawlessly. She then sat down next to Aeros who already sat down in the grass. ‘So… Do you really think I’m beautiful?’ She asked with a bit of a high pitch voice betraying alight nervousness. ‘Ehhm… I do actually,’ Aeros said since there was no point in denying. ‘Somehow you give me a certain feeling, a special feeling I thought I could never have.’ He said. Nimeta then looked up and smiled while she blushed a little. Without saying another word she hugged him and walked away.

‘Man, why didn’t she say anything. Anything would have been better than nothing. How can I answer the questions I have now? What did the hug mean? How does she think about me? How is it even possible that she can make me feel like this? Never I had to face such a problem. These are the times I miss my dad the most. Even though we had our differences he always handed me some good advice.

Next day Aeros went to the field a bit tired for he had a horrible night of sleep. Today he wouldn’t see the mare that makes his heart beat faster. A group of Foals awaited him for the training on what is now known as ‘The swords masters’ lawn.’ They frolicked around Aeros as he dragged his heavy saddle bags stocked with the practice swords along. ‘Easy there kids, we will start soon enough,’ he said with a smile.

He put the foals into a formation which left enough distance between each of them so they would not accidently hit each other while practicing. Then he noticed some pony entering the field. It wasn’t just any pony. It was Nimeta. His heartbeat accelerated as he gazed upon her and he fell completely silent for a moment. The little foals, naïve as they are even noticed the smitten Aeros gazing upon Nimeta.

‘Hi Aeros, I thought maybe I could help you with the training today and get some more practice once you finish up here?’ Nimeta suggested. Aeros smiled in relief and said: ‘I’d be honored if you would help me. You are very talented and way ahead in skill of any pony else here in Ponyville.’ Aeros said. He then addressed the foals: ‘today Nimeta will train you. She is a very talented and very kind pony. So be nice for her.’ The foals giggled a bit and Aeros sat down and watched as Nimeta took over his class.

‘wow. She is beautiful, she is graceful and a very talented sword fighter. She is even willing to relief me from these foals and train them. I trust her completely for she masters the basic techniques completely. I can’t believe ponies like her exist.’

After the training Nimeta sat down next to Aeros as the foals went home with their parents. Aeros looked into her eyes and blushed a bit. ‘You have no idea what a relief it was you taking over today. I didn’t have a free day in months,’ he said. Nimeta just smiled and laid down in the grass. Aeros soon followed her example and het boldly laid his hoof on hers. She blushed a bit but remained silent. Together they remained there laying down for an unknown amount of time, watching the sun set as time passed by. Once the sky turned bright orange and the clouds looked like blazing fires Aeros broke the silence: ‘This might be the best thing I’ve done since my arrival here in Ponyville.’ Nimeta got up and looked Aeros straight into his bright yellow eyes. She saw the sparkle in his eyes and smiled. ‘I would love to get to know you better. Tell me something about yourself Aeros Dawnstar.’ She said.

‘Oh my gosh. She wants to know my story. What do I tell her? Should I just tell her the true and entire story? It isn’t a pretty story I think. (…) what do I have to lose? It’s better to be honest then to tell het something that isn’t true. I hope she isn’t too shocked for what I will tell her.’

Aeros told her the entire story from when he was only 10 years old until his arrival in Ponyville. Nimeta sobbed a bit and a tear rolled over her cheek. ‘You are so young and yet so much has happened in your life. I’m so sorry for you Aeros,’ She sobbed. ‘If it wasn’t for the unfortunate events happening, the most fortunate of events wouldn’t have happened,’ he said in a comforting voice while he smiled towards Nimeta. Nimeta’s sad face changed into a smile and she then hugged Aeros without saying another word.

The sun now set completely and the moon rose. It became progressively darker at the field where they resided. ‘I think I should go home now,’ Nimeta said. Aeros just nodded and then stood up. ‘I hope to see you again soon,’ he said. Aeros then grabbed his saddlebags filled with the wooden practice swords and headed home. Upon arrival at his small home he sat down and grabbed a bottle of cider. His mind constantly drifted off towards Nimeta, the mare his heart now desires. The mare he wants to love.

Nimeta now trained the foal class on her own which gave Aeros one free day a week. At first he utilized the time to just hang around at his home and just slack off for one day. Until one day he decided to walk into the Everfree forests. He went deep into the forest far off any paths that ran through the forest as if they were veins. In the dense growth he gazed upon the dozens of different kinds of plants. Amazed by the beauty of nature he found a tranquil place. A place just for himself where he could come to rest and where he could escape the hassle of Ponyville. This was the only place he was capable of keeping a clear mind.

‘This one free day a week is a delight. Now I can finally get my head clear. It’s not that I don’t like thinking about Nimeta, but my head sometimes starts spinning with all the stuff I have to do. Still I have to train 6 other groups of ponies. But Nimeta stays my number one and nothing will change that. Maybe I should go check on her how she did with the foals today.’
Aeros trotted from the edge of the forest to the field and then watched from some distance how Nimeta handled the little foals. Kindness radiated from het to the foals and they frolicked happily around as she trained them. Playfully she thought them the basic techniques and patiently she waited for the foals to master them. Aeros walked closer so Nimeta could see him. Once she noticed him she smiled a bit but quickly focused on the foals again. Aeros then walked up to Nimeta and said: ‘hey kids, how would you like to see a duel between me and Nimeta.’

The foals cheered loudly and were eager to see the 2 ponies duel. Aeros got himself in his gear and wielded a practice sword and stood opposed of Nimeta. ‘Now, we show these foals how the big ponies duel,’ he said. Nimeta nodded determined and immediately took the initiative executing several complicated movements landing a strike on Aeros’ protective clothing. Aeros on his turn then lunged towards Nimeta and with ease he landed the tip of his blade on her chest. Laughing then walked up to each other and hugged before dismissing the class.

‘I must thank you that you took this class over from me. I went for a little walk through the forest this afternoon and it felt great,’ he said. Nimeta smiled: ‘it’s my pleasure. I love these foals. They are so playful.’ She then danced around Aeros in a bit of a taunting way. ‘I did manage to hit you.’ Aeros laughed and engaged in the dance too, circling around each other their eyes never lost each other for a second. They then got closer and kissed.

‘3 months ago on this exact day Nimeta and I first kissed. I don’t exactly know why or how but I say fireworks. We have been together now for the last months and growing ever closer. Sharing our passion in the way of the blade and teaching other. But I also feel drawn to the forest. I’ve been spending quite some time there lately exploring everything it has to offer. I found an open space with a small shack built in the middle. I’m busy fixing it and I think I’m going to use it as my personal spot to go to when everything is getting too much for me.’

Aeros found himself in the shack once again. The place he has been spending progressively more time since he discovered it. The shack now was fully repaired after days of hard work. Aeros abandoned some of his classes, simply not showing up at all leaving a lot of ponies disappointed. Nimeta took over some of his classes but couldn’t manage to teach all classes since her experience with the art of sword fighting was only limited after the five or six months of training.

Night fell and Aeros noticed he was still in the shack he had fixed in the middle of the Everfree forests. He laid down on a couch he dragged towards the shack through the dense forest and almost fell asleep. Even though there were no ponies or any other beings except for the normal woodland creatures Aeros heard a vague voice. He looked anxiously around in order to try to find the source, but the voice seemed to come from every direction. He couldn’t hear what it said but Aeros got a strange feeling from it. ‘Who is there,’ he shouted. He remained perfectly still and silent for several seconds awaiting an answer, but the voice just kept on going undisturbed as if it ignored Aeros’ shout.

The night took long and not much sleep was granted for Aeros. For the entire duration of the night it haunted him. Leaving him not a single second of rest. ‘What do you want from me, who are you, show yourself!,’ he shouted. But again there was no response from the constant whispers. Frightfully he stayed in the shack, wide await waiting for a ray of sun to rescue him from the haunting whispers.

‘What is going on? Please, some pony help me. What is this voice haunting me? it isn’t even responding to what I say. How can this even be possible? There isn’t any pony anywhere near this small house. Oh gosh. What if it is a ghost? The previous owner of this shack?’

At the first crack of dawn the sleep deprived Aeros ran through the dense forest back to Ponyville. Accompanied by sunrays beaming through the leaves made viable by the thin layer of mist left from the night and the singing of the birds Aeros calmed down a little once he arrived at his house. Out of breath he panted and opened to door to find Nimeta sitting on the couch awaiting his arrival. ‘where have you been? For days I was looking for you around town. I was worried sick something happened to you,’ she then paused for a few seconds and took a good look on Aeros. ‘As I was saying. Something bad did happen. Didn’t it?’ she carried on. ‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,’ he said and looked at Nimeta with a serious face. A single tear of desperation rolled over Nimeta’s cheek and she shouted: ‘why wouldn’t I believe you? I trust you my dear!’ Aeros sighed deeply and sat down on the couch next to Nimeta.

For the first time Aeros confessed he found himself overwhelmed by the immense popularity of the sword fighting classes he had to give. And that after half a year he needed some time off badly so he went into the forests to seek tranquility and rest. He explained the shack he found and fixed deep in the forest and the whispering voiced that haunted him the entire night. ‘I feel so stressed out my mind starts playing tricks on me, even when I’m at the most peaceful place I’ve ever been.’ He sobs. Nimeta looked at him with a forgiving look in her eyes. ‘Why didn’t you say something before, I could have helped you and relieved you of some of your classes. I am capable of teaching the beginners and the foals.’ She says. Aeros smiled for the kind offer Nimeta did. ‘I couldn’t ask you that. How would I repay you for it?’ he asked. ‘I don’t need a payment for it. I enjoy doing it and I learn a lot from it. You give every pony something beautiful and you don’t ask a single bit for it,’ she says. Aeros smiled sincere towards Nimeta and hugged her.

‘I think it was just my mind playing tricks on me. I spent 3 straight days in the forest with very little sleep. It was just an illusion. It must have been an illusion. I’m not losing my sanity? Am I? Fortunately Nimeta helps me with the classes and I got some more free time. I think I’ll go back to that small house in the forest. The tranquility I felt there was beyond anything I have felt before. How can it make me feel so good if it is a bad place?’

Nimeta walked to the field as she left from Aeros’ place after they spent the afternoon together. As soon as Nimeta was out of sight Aeros walked out and went straight to the house in the open field. Once he arrived he found the house in the same shape as he left it. He entered it but the voice he was hearing earlier was absent now. ‘Like I thought, just my mind playing tricks on me,’ he thought.

Aeros meditated in the middle of the room, enjoying the tweeting of the birds along with the rustling of the leaves from the surrounding trees dancing in the wind. For about an hour he sat there when the first feint sounds of whispering appeared again. He opened his eyes and looked around while his heartbeat and anxiety increased. He tried to concentrate to understand the incoherent whispers yet he was unsuccessful in his attempts. Long minutes crept by as Aeros sat there in complete silence without moving only accompanied by the whispering sounds. The birds had stopped singing once the whispers started and a shiver went down Aeros’ spine.

He still sat there in an attempt to hear what the whispers told and after a while he could hear the sentence: ‘five… drops… of… blood…’ which kept repeating every 10 seconds. Aeros shivered a bit for the grim image coming to his mind. ‘five drops of blood? What sense does that make? More importantly, should I listen to this entity?’ he thought in an attempt to figure out what it means. ‘five… drops… of… blood (…) each… time… you… enter… this… house.’ The whisper spoke and seconds later a loud screech was heard saying: ‘MY HOUSE!’ Now Aeros’ fear was complete. The earsplitting screech still resonating through the small room he stood up and went back to his house in Ponyville. Nimeta was waiting for him when he arrived home. He did not tell Nimeta what happened in the forest today.

‘That was one of the most scary thing I have experienced in my life. No sorry, let me rephrase that. It was the most scary thing I have experienced in my entire life. Yet even though this experience was frightening I still feel compelled to go back to that place. What in Equestria’s name is wrong with me? I sure hope Nimeta doesn’t find out about this. Or I’ll find myself at the pony psychiatrist sooner than a blink of an eye.

Today Aeros had to teach the most experienced group. The most talented of sword fighters in all of Ponyville. Nimeta was amongst them and stood proudly against her duel opponent with the sword she wielded risen high above her head. Once she engaged in the duel she resembled an almost exact copy of Aeros’ fighting style. Purely based on the agility one can achieve and the overwhelming speed to dazzle your opponents. Aeros enjoyed watching Nimeta fight and sat in the field observing her with a big smile on his face. Once she was done and her completely decimated opponent was struggling to get up she walked up to Aeros and laughed: ‘You trained me well, Master Aeros.’ Aeros couldn’t help but laughing then he heard her calling him master. ‘You are my prize student Nimeta Sunriser. You have great potential of becoming an even greater sword fighter then I am,’ he said.

‘What if Nimeta becomes a better sword fighter then me? I would be humiliated in from of every pony and worst of all, I fail to fulfill the promise I made to my father. To be the best sword fighter in all of Equestria. I just have to train more. Or should I go to the forest to that nice house in the middle of the open field. (…) Snap out of it man, that place is horrible! How can you even think of going there again. Sorry for that, I don’t know what is happening to me but I feel some changes and I don’t know if they are for the better.’

Nimeta left later that night to sleep at her own house and so she left Aeros alone in the house. He sat down in a comfortable chair and let his thoughts roam free. His thoughts soon went to the little house in the forest and soon enough he felt the urge to go back there even though the frightening whispers he is hearing all the time when he is there. As he remembered the whispers telling him of the 5 drops of blood he took a knife from a drawer and then made his way to the shack.

Upon arrival he found a small circle with strange symbols engraved in the front step of his door. ‘5… drops… of… blood…’ resonated through Aeros’ head as he stood in front of the door. He got the knife from the saddlebag and carefully made a small cut in his left hoof causing several droplets of blood to hit the strangely engraved circle on the ground. At the moment the droplets landed they vanished as if they simply dissolved into thin air. ‘yessss. That taste… so pure,’ the mysterious presence whispered. Aeros made a little jump when he heard the whisper again, but somehow got more comfortable with it as he now felt connected to the presence.

When Aeros entered the house he noticed a half transparent pony standing in the exact middle of the room. ‘Welcome to my sanctuary,’ it spoke with the whispering voice Aeros had heard in the past days. He looked puzzled towards the image. ‘Who are you,’ he asked. ‘I am the Guardian spirit of the forest, and many other forests too,’ the spirit spoke still in the eerie whispering tone. ‘The guardian spirit?’ Aeros asked surprised. ‘Yessss… I reign over these forests and every being that lives here,’

The tale of Aeros - Part 3

The tale of Aeros: part 3.

‘Today, as I have been for the past few weeks I’ve been to the house in the everfree forests. The spirit told me everything about the forest and every living being in there. Never I have felt better then I do when I’m in that house. The spirit seems ancient and wise. The only disadvantage is the blood offer I have to make each time. Nimeta started to notice it and asked me some questions. Why is she so invasive in my issues? I know she cares for me, but still, I would much rather have her to mind her own business.’

‘Where have you been, have you been roaming the forests again? How often do I need to tell you that the forest is a dangerous place to hang out Aeros!’ Nimeta says once Aeros enters his house. Nimeta grabs his hoof and critically inspects it. She noticed the new cuts made in his hoof and shook her head. ‘Why do you keep doing this Aeros. What is it you’re not telling me.’ She sobs while collapsing on the couch. Aeros kept a straight face while merely mumbling some incoherent things. ‘please Aeros, tell me for I might be able to help you. Please, trust me as I trust you,’

Aeros sat down in a chair opposite of Nimeta while remaining completely silent and showing virtually no emotion on his face. ‘Nopony has to know,’ he said. The sparkle of friendliness normally ever present in Aeros’ eyes was now absent. ‘and don’t ask things you don’t want to know the answer of,’ he snapped at Nimeta. ‘Aeros… what’s wrong with you. Is there another mare in your life?’ she started sobbing. Aeros merely grunts a bit: ‘just stay out of this. It’s none of your concern.’ He then went to bed leaving Nimeta behind in tears and desperation.

‘Nimeta here, since Aeros seems to have lost his mind. What on earth has possessed him to act like this? Why must he hurt me like that? Each night he comes home with another fresh cut in his hoof. I find it hard to believe he keeps cutting himself on the barbed bushes in the forest. I’m on the end of my tether here, what is left for me to do to reach Aeros?’

‘Ok kids, that was training for today,’ Nimeta said when she dismissed the foals and soon they all scattered off to their parents waiting on the side of the field. With a smile she watched the foals jump, play fight and laugh loudly in utter joy. ‘These foals are great, they somewhat remember me of when I was small, eager to learn and driven to become the best. But Aeros doesn’t seem to understand this wish,’ she thought while aimlessly staring into the setting, deep orange sun making its way down into the horizon. ‘I should head home and hopefully Aeros didn’t go to that dreadful forest again. Celestia knows what he’s doing there,’ she mumbled while picking up the practice equipment and stocked them in her saddlebag.

Upon arrival at Aeros’ small house Nimeta found all light extinguished and the house seemed vacant of any life. When she opened the door she found Aeros sitting on the ground with his eyes closed chanting some incoherent things in a language she had never heard before. ‘Ados… nasceth… imeda…’ he kept saying over and over. ‘Aeros, are you alright my dear?’ Nimeta asked while she sat down next to Aeros, but he didn’t respond. Instead he kept chanting those words. ‘Aeros, please, what is happening?’ she desperately sobbed while she embraced Aeros. Aeros was still irresponsive and immovable he kept chanting the 3 words getting progressively louder over time until he was shouting them out loudly.

Nimeta took some distance from Aeros for he was scaring her. ‘Aeros, whatever is going on, please snap out of it,’ Nimeta shouted but her words gone lost in the resonating shouts of Aeros. Nimeta collapsed and started crying and an unknown amount of time passed when the shouting stopped. Nimeta still cried a little and when she looked up she saw Aeros standing above her. ‘Aeros… what in equestria’s name was that?’ she sobbed. ‘Nothing of your concern. But I think it’s better when you just leave me alone and don’t show yourself at my place anymore.’ He said with a deadly calm voice.

‘This is getting better and better. I still havn’t got the slightest clue what’s going on and now he doesn’t even want to see me anymore. What is it I did? I really thought Aeros was special, that he would be the colt growling old alongside me. but apparently he doesn’t feel the same way. (…) those words, they still haunt me. it was as if they were drenched in taint and evil. What do they mean? I better go to the library and ask twilight if she has a clue about what those words mean.’

Nimeta went home with her eyes drowning in tears for she felt rejected by the one she loves. ‘What did I do wrong, I’ve tried my best,’ she sobbed softly while making her way to her house. When she got home the house felt empty. It has been long since she slept alone for the night. Aeros was always there for her to keep her warm, but now she arrived at a vacant and could house. Without Aeros to be seen. She laid down on her bed and her thoughts went to unknown directions. Drifting off towards Aeros and the eerie words he kept on chanting still resonated through her head.

The night lasted long and although nimeta felt tired she could not sleep. With a broken spirit she just sobbed while lying on the bed. ‘Aeros, what happened to you my dear, what has possessed you,’ she repeated several times. Eventually she got fed up with it and she stood up and watched outside the window to see countless stars shimmering in the sky accompanied by the full moon shining brightly, casting a feint and dull light over Ponyville. She looked towards the place where Aeros’ house was. Nothing but darkness was seen from his house except for darkness. Even the illumination of the moon seemed to get consumed by the darkness shrouding Aeros’ house. A shiver went down nimeta’s spine as she suspected something above all powers she’d previously encountered had taken possession of her loved one.

Nimeta sat in the window opening for hours. But she felt she sat there for days. The early birds tweeting betrayed the arrival of dawn. The sky slowly changed its color from pitch black to deep blue and on the horizon where the sun slowly rose it colored bright orange. The rays of sun now landing on her face made her feel only slightly better. But it at least broke the deep dark shroud covering her mood, and haunting her mind without a second of relief.

The sun rose higher and the weather was beautiful. Yet Nimeta could not enjoy this beautiful day. The only thing on her mind was making her way to twilight’s library in order to figure out what the 3 words meant Aeros kept chanting. ‘Twilight, I came to you for you might be my last hope,’ she said while rushing into the library. Twilight turned to nimeta and looked critically towards Nimeta. ‘Uhhm, what can I do for you?’ Twilight asked calmly. ‘Aeros… he has gone mad,’ Nimeta said. ‘Aeros, I heard of him. Isn’t he the nice pony giving the free swordfighting classes on the field just outside of town?’ Twilight asked. ‘He’s more than just a nice pony, he is the colt I love dearly, but he seems to have lost his mind eversince he started going into the everfree forest,’ Nimeta said.

Twilight’s face turned a bit grim. ‘He started going into the forest repeatedly? Sit down and tell me exactly what happened and how Aeros behaves. Then I’ll see what I can do for you.’ Twilight’s horn started glowing and soon enough a little flask of ink, a quill and a notepad levitated towards twilight. Nimeta sat down on a coach and sighed deeply. ‘It all started several weeks ago, about 2 months now. Aeros got overwhelmed by the populairity of his classes and I offered him to take over some of his classes. When I started doing the foals and the beginner classes Aeros still taught the higher level ponies, including me. But when he was reliefed of his duty he went into the forest. At first I was fine with it but soon enough he showed up with several different scars that look self-inflicted. And yesterday evening when I went to Aeros’ place for the night he just sat there, chanting the following words: ‘Ados nasceth imeda.’ He just kept saying these words and when he snapped out of his trance he told me to leave. I fear something bad is about to unfold,’ nimeta said. Twilight used her magic to write down in detail what’s being said and occasionally twilight nodded and made some sort of humming noise as she analyzed what’s being said.

‘This is honestly one of the strangest thing I’ve heard in a long time. And those words, I would swear I’ve heard of those before. But I can’t remember where or when,’ Twilight said while she visually had trouble digging into her memory for the unknown words. Suddenly she starts digging franticly among the hundreds of books stocked in different shelf and commanded spike to help her. Nimeta just patiently sat on the couch in hope twilight could find what she was looking for. And hoping that she could find a way to help Aeros.

‘Fortunately Twilight agreed to help me. I don’t know if I have to be concerned for the fact that she actually knows those words or that it’s a relief. No matter what the cost, I solemnly vow to help Aeros in any way I can. I would die if I can’t be with him anymore for I love him so much. Please twilight, give me information.’

‘Ah, here it is,’ twilight said while she made a huge and dusty book levitate towards the table. When it landed some clouds of dust got airborne and twilight couched a few times when she breathed some of the dust. ‘Ados, Nasceth, Imeda’ twilight said while reading the book. Nimeta shivered upon hearing those words again. Twilights face suddenly turned grim and with a serious gaze in her eyes she looked towards Nimeta. ‘Aeros is in big trouble,’ was the only thing Twilight could think of to say. ‘big… trouble?’ Nimeta asked. ‘Well. Ados, Nasceth and Imeda are in fact 3 spirits that ruled the everfree forests a long time ago. But in their hunger for more power they fused into 1 very powerful and dangerous spirit. In history a few other ponies got possessed by him and those ponies did things darker then the black of night.’ Twilight said. ‘Is there anything we can do to help Aeros? I don’t want to lose him,’ nimeta said. ‘I’m sorry to tell you nimeta, but you’ve already lost him. The only thing we can do is try to find a way to contain the damage he will do when the spirit keeps him under his command much longer.’

Several minutes of silence followed as Nimeta slowly stood up and walked over to the book to read it herself. She sighed deeply. ‘Are you sure there is nothing we can do for him twilight?’ she asked. Twilight nodded with visible disappointment on her face. ‘The best fate for Aeros is to (…) die,’ Twilight said. ‘NO, AEROS CAN’T DIE! HOW CAN YOU SAY SUCH THING!’ Nimeta shouted loud while tears once more drenched her eyes. ‘Nimeta, please. I know you love Aeros deerly, but the Aeros you know is long gone. The taint of the spirit is what drives him now and if you stand in his way he won’t have any reason left and might do thing you never expected him to do,’ Said twilight.

‘No… Aeros… why did this happen, why is the kindest of colts I have ever met fallen for this vile spirit. Twilight, is there really nothing you can do for Aeros?’ She asked once more in sheer desperation. Twilight nodded her head. ‘I’m very sorry miss, the only thing I could do is help you fight Aeros,’ she said. Nimeta collapsed where she stood, devastated by the bad news. She cried for several minutes and twilight gave Nimeta the time she needed.

‘This is absolutely horrible. My poor Aeros, possessed by this vile spirit. How could this have happened? But what I even wonder more is how I’m supposed to fight Aeros. I couldn’t hurt him for I love him too dearly. I hope twilight keeps her word and helps me drive the evil out of Aeros. I hope she finds a way to do it without killing him.’

Twilight showed up just after dawn the next day at Nimeta’s house. Nimeta got out of her bed grunting some curse words for she was still tired. ‘I’m coming, take it easy already,’ she shouted when the doorbell rang for the 4th time. ‘Nimeta, it’s time to go now. We must find Aeros and do the inevitable before the spirit takes full possession of him and he accompanied with the spirit lays waste upon Ponyville.

Nimeta sighed deeply: ‘I don’t even have a sword of my own, I would rather not go unarmed against him. I think he will put up a fight and he will grab his sword.’ Twilight replied: ‘I might have one in my library, it’s a decorative sword but it’s better than nothing I guess.’ They walked over to the library and Nimeta got the sword hoofed to her. The two then made their way to Aeros’ house only to find it abandoned. When they looked inside blood smeared the walls and the bodies of several small critters laid on the ground. ‘It’s even worse than I thought,’ Twilight said. ‘He is truly possessed by this spirit, have you got any idea where he is right now?’ Twilight asked. ‘No, he never told me where he was going and I never followed him. Now I wish I persisted and had the courage to follow him.’ Nimeta said.

‘We need to find where he is. Which means we have a lot of forest to search. Prepare for a long search,’ Twilight said while they headed to the edge of the forest. Nimeta just nodded and held het sword tightly in her hoof while looking around her a bit anxiously. ‘My sweet Aeros, I’m so sorry,’ she whispered softly while a tear rolled down her cheek. They made their way into the forest scanning every bit of forest to find a sign of Aeros. Unsuccessful they were in their search for no trails or hoofmarks were seen. ‘We need to get back soon, we’re losing too much daylight here,’ twilight shouted, but right at that moment Nimeta shouted: ‘I Found something over here!’ It was a narrow path made over the past months by some pony constantly crossing it. ‘This has to lead us to where Aeros is right now. I hope’ Twilight said.

After several minutes of following the path Nimeta and Twilight arrived at the open field with the little stone house in the center. From the edge of the forest to the house some damage was seen in the grass. ‘Aeros comes here quite often seeing the damaged grass. But I think you already figured this,’ Twilight said. Nimeta just sighed deeply and led the way up to the house. When Twilight and Nimeta arrived at the sturdy wooden door they could hear distress calls from an animal coming from inside. They opened the door and were shocked to see what they found.

Aeros stood in the center of the chamber with his sword in his hooves. On a blood-soaked metal table next to Aeros a small deer laid trashing and screaming in fear and agony. Aeros turned to Nimeta and Twilight and hissed: ‘You shouldn’t have come here. This ground is sacred. These grounds are my sanctuary!’

Aeros’ eyes emitter a blood crazed urge while he turned back to the small and helpless deer while lifting his sword as high as he could. ‘Ados, Nasceth and Imeda, accept the offer I make for you,’ he said right before chopping the deer’s head clean off in one swift movement. For a few seconds the deer made a few spasms before becoming completely motionless. Aeros breathed heavily and smiled a bit grim. ‘Yesss… this offer… delicious…’ a whispering voice said. Twilight and Nimeta looked at each other in utter shock and huddled close to each other to find some comfort. ‘Rid… these… intruders…’ The whispering voice resumed and at that exact moment Aeros turned to Nimeta and Twilight. ‘Your souls now belong to the almighty spirit, accept your fate,’ he whispered softly but hearable.

The door behind Nimeta and Twilight slammed shut with a loud smash startling the 2 badly. Aeros then walked up to them. The room was only dim lightened and only they shimmer of his sword and his blood crazed gaze betrayed his presence. Nimeta tightened the hold on her sword but her shaking sword betrayed the fear she had for Aeros and his sword.

‘Well, this might be the last thing I say, but the love I feel for Aeros still burns in my heart but it stings like a knife at the same time. Aeros has gone completely insane but it isn’t even his fault. How could he have known about the spirit. I still have a little hope to solve this without having to kill him. Though I find it hard to think of a way to rid him of the vice the spirit holds him in. Maybe this is farewell.’

Twilight set het hooves firmly into the ground and braced herself while she started to channel a spell. Nimeta stretched her sword in front of her as far as she could. Before she knew it a burning pain filled her hooves ad Aeros slammed his sword full force on to hers. Nimeta’s sword flung through the air and Nimeta shouted loudly as Aeros got very close to her.
Twilight finished channeling het spell and a bright and powerful looking purple ray emerged from her horn. When the beam impacted on Aeros he found himself caged in a force field. Aeros smashed the force field furiously but despite the efforts he made he could not break the field. Nimeta quickly regained her senses and picked up the sword once more, this time she put her fears aside. Just in time because the force field broke under the constant barrage of Aeros’ sword striking it. Twilight showed a few drops of sweat on her forehead showing the field had cost her quite some power.

Aeros turned to twilight heavily panting and enraged. ‘Magic users, I despise them,’ he shouted while he dashed towards twilight. Nimeta charged towards Aeros in effort to protect Twilight and with a loud smash Nimeta collided with Aeros. They tumbled over the ground and dust flew up high as they made their way over the dirty floor. Aeros gazed into Nimeta’s eyes. Nimeta stared back in hope to see the sprinkle of his kindness one last time, but her hopes got lost when Aeros threw Nimeta off him. ‘Rid… Them… I… Said…’ the voice hissed.

‘Yes master,’ Aeros said and once more he tried to make his way to twilight while ignoring Nimeta. Twilight quickly teleported to the opposite side of the room to avoid the speeding incoming sword and made Aeros bash into the wooden door. His sword got stuck in the door and Aeros started to jerk it desperately trying to pull it out. ‘YOU… FAILURE…,’ the whispering voice hissed now sounding very angry. While Aeros focused on the sword Nimeta made a complex maneuver and dashed towards Aeros with great speed, making the blade slice the air with a feint whistling noise. Split seconds before the sword should make impact Aeros suddenly moved violently as his most powerful pull made him able to release his sword. Nimeta’s sword merely sliced some of Aeros’ mane.

Aeros now stood in between twilight who was channeling her next spell and Nimeta ready to make her next maneuver with the blade she was wielding. ‘FINISH THEM YOU FOOOOOL,’ the hissing voice resonated through the house making it feel almost as if there was an earthquake. Nimeta and Twilight both startled and twilight failed to keep the concentration of het spell. Nimeta lost her balance but Aeros seemed unimpressed by the sudden rumbling voice rumbling through the house. Aeros instantly made a charge for Twilight. Nimeta could do nothing else but chase Aeros to minimize the damage Aeros could inflict.

Searing pain filled twilight as Aeros sword carved deep into her hoof. She first screamed a little and soon it was replaced by grunting. Before Aeros could lash at twilight again Nimeta managed to stop his slashing attack. Nimeta pushed Aeros back giving twilight some room. As soon as twilight noticed the opportunity she started to channel another spell. Nimeta managed to keep Aeros at a little distance with an endless barrage of strikes, but none of them did any damage since Aeros avoided each of them with great agility. After several seconds twilight finished channeling her spell and another power infused beam headed for Aeros. The magical force constricted Aeros’ hooves and wings. The magic was so strong one of his wings snapped and at that point Aeros’ front hooves could no longer bear his weight, making him fall on the ground with his wing wobbling aimlessly and uncontrollable.

‘YOU… FAILURE… IF YOU CAN’T HANDLE IT, I WILL,’ The hissing voice said. A dark strong aura suddenly engulfed Aeros and his wing snapped back into place. Aeros grunted loudly as the wing snapped back into position. He stood up and said with a voice no longer his: ‘Now, your lives are forfeit,’ Aeros’ eyes turned pitch black and the dark aura surrounding him sank to the floor. Not long after that Aeros mumbled a few incoherent words and the dark shroud covering the ground concentrated and formed around Aeros’ blade. Nimeta and twilight both watched everything happening and found themselves engulfed in fear.

Aeros flapped his wings once and a devastating shockwave emerged from him causing Twilight and Nimeta to smash against the wall. ‘NOW YOU FEEL MY TRUE POWER,’ he shouted while more darkness harnessed around him. Aeros charged towards twilight with his dark bound blade and smashed towards her with speed that is supernatural. Twilight failed to dodge the attack and her already injured hoof got even more damaged. The wound caused by the dark infused power was looking weird, as if it started to fester instantly. Nimeta charged towards Aeros as soon as she could, but upon arrival Aeros was already starting straight into her soul with his pitch black eyes. Nimeta hesitated for a split second and that was exactly enough time for Aeros to lash his sword towards Nimeta. She could barely avoid the incoming, pitch black sword and with a loud clash it slammed into the ground making several stone fragments come loose that bumped into Nimeta and Aeros.
Despite the searing pain Twilight felt from her multiple and festering wounds in her hoof she managed to keep standing. With great effort she started to channel her biggest spell yet while Nimeta kept Aeros once more busy with a barrage of strikes. This time he didn’t manage to avoid the swipes causing several deep wounds on his chest and hooves as he desperately tried to get out of the barrage. Heavily breathing while all her muscles screamed in pain Nimeta persisted her never-ending assault against Aeros while Twilight kept channeling het spell causing the room to illuminate due to the bright purple light emitting from her horn. When Aeros noticed it was already too late. A bright flash blinded him and Nimeta when she finished channeling her spell and loud noises filled every pony’s ears.

After several seconds Nimeta regained her sight from the blinding flash and what she saw made her gasp loudly. Levitating in mid Air Aeros floating. He struggled to break out of the spell but the force field surrounding him now restrained him from any movement. ‘THIS BODY… IS… WEAK,’ the spirit in Aeros hissed. ‘Nimeta, you must finish him before I lose my spell,’ Twilight shouted. Nimeta looked towards Twilight and hesitated. She then looked Aeros into his eyes one more time. The only thing his eyes emitted was hatred and darkness. Nimeta stared for a few seconds and with a tear emerging from her eye she lifter the sword up high. ‘YOU… FAILURE…,’ The spirit hissed as Nimeta rose her sword. ‘I’m sorry Aeros. I never wanted to do this, but you gave me no choice,’ Nimeta whispered while she landed the sword on Aeros’ chest.

The force field that held the possessed Aeros instantly broke when the sword landed and loud screeching was heard coming from Aeros. Tendrils of half translucent material emerged from Aeros as he fell motionless on the ground. Nimeta collapsed the instant she landed the sword, bursting out in loud crying. Twilight walked up to Nimeta and huddled next to her. ‘This was the only way to set him free. I’m very sorry for you Nimeta,’

‘A few months ago I met Aeros for the first time. He was the most kind and handsome of colts I have ever met and we fell in love. Now, I had to kill the only colt I loved. My heart is screaming in pain and I will never see Aeros again. Why did it have to be like this? What did Aeros do to deserve such faith? I wish I could have set him free in another way and not like this,’

Nimeta and Twilight sat next to each other for some time watching Aeros lay motionless on the ground. After several minutes without speaking a word they stood up and left the house leaving Aeros lay there. ‘I’m sorry,’ nimeta once more winced once more upon leaving the house and then closed the door. ‘There really wasn’t another way, was there twilight?’ Twilight nodded and confirmed it once more. It didn’t make nimeta feel much better but she still felt the pain of the loss.

The tale of Aeros - Part 4

The tale of Aeros: part 4.

‘Where am I?’ was the first thing coming to his mind when he opened his eyes. ‘What in Equestria’s name is this place,’ he thought. As he looked around he could not make out any shapes. As if everything constantly changed shape, as if everything around him was made out of liquid. He tried to stand up but he couldn’t move a muscle. He then tried to shout but whatever he tried no sound was uttered. ‘What is going on, please some pony help me,’

Several minutes he laid there on the constantly shifting grounds watching everything around him slowly taking shape. He found himself floating inside his house. ‘Ados, Nasceth, Imeda,’ he heard. When everything took its final shape he watched upon himself constantly chanting those words. ‘What is this? I’m sure it’s me but… I can’t even remember doing such thing,’ then Nimeta walked in but the chanting Aeros ignored her initially. ‘what the… I would never ignore her,’ he thought. He then kept watching how Nimeta plead to him and he couldn’t prepare what came next. The chanting Aeros broke his trance and was rude against her, telling het to get out. ‘Can some pony tell me what’s going on already, what is happening to me?’ he thought.

Shapes once more got blurry and the next thing he knew he stood in a pitch black void. Nothingness surrounded him. Anxiously Aeros looked around but wherever he looked endless black was the only thing seen. ‘Aeros… what have you done?’ said a whispering voice. Aeros immediately recognized the voice as Nimeta’s voice. ‘Aeros… what is happening to you,’ she said in the same whispering voice. Aeros felt rotten from the inside. ‘what have I done? I can’t even remember. ‘NIMETA!’ he shouted loudly this time successful, but there was no response. ‘I’m sorry,’ the whispering Nimeta said. ‘Sorry for what?’ he thought.

Silence then filled the room and Aeros closed his eyes. He laid down on the pitch black ground trying to figure what was going on. ‘What is this place, please, some pony tell me,’ he thought. Several minutes passes before Aeros opened his eyes again. What he saw was a huge image of Nimeta’s face. Tears rolled down her cheek and she asked: ‘Aeros… why?’ before Aeros could answer the face was gone and utter blackness one again surrounded him.

‘I havn’t got the slightest clue what I going on here. The last thing I remember before I ended up here was me being in the small house in the Everfree forest. The spirit spoke to me about how he would make me a fellow guardian of the forest. After that it’s blank. Then I end up at this place, these images. I saw myself and how I acted towards my beloved Nimeta. How did I end up like this? what did the spirit do to me?’

Once Aeros ask himself this question he finds himself in the shack in the middle of the forest, where he spent many hours talking to the spirit, but he wasn’t talking to the spirit. The image Aeros saw made his stomach twist and turn. He saw himself as a lifeless puppet with the spirit controlling his every move. ‘This image can’t be true, this image must be false.’ He thought while watching the entire thing go in. when the surroundings of Aeros were cleared up he saw the helpless deer on the metal table. And him rising the sword high in the air. He also saw Nimeta and Twilight watching him decapitate the helpless creature with grim looks on their faces. The second the sword landed on the deer a bright flash followed, rendering Aeros blinded.

Minutes passed and Aeros was still blinded by the light. Still unable to look around he tried to move but his every movement or attempt to move made searing pain wave through his body. The only sounds he could utter were some incomprehensible grunts due to pain searing through his entire body. He slipped in and out of consciousness every once in a while.
Long hours passed and many jolts of pain had to be endured before Aeros finally woke up while upholding his consciousness. The blurry sounds he has been hearing turned clear. The blinding light became bearable as Aeros was awake for more than a few minutes. The beats of his heart represented by a peeping sound and lots of apparatus surrounded Aeros. ‘Aeros, are you awake now?’ a familiar voice sounded. ‘K…Kayle… is… t…that you?’ Aeros muttered with a lot of effort. ‘Yes Aeros, it’s me. As soon as I heard what happened I came looking for you. And fortunately I found you quite fast. When I arrived a few hours later you would have been dead.’ ‘But… w…what happened to m…me?’ Aeros asked. ‘A couple of days ago Nimeta came to my place. And told me everything until your encounter.’ ‘Days? Encounter???’ Aeros asked in utter surprise.

Several minutes of silence followed before Kayle asked: ‘What exactly do you remember Aeros?’ ‘Ados, Nasceth, Imeda… I dreamt about it… I saw myself in the grasp of the spirit. I was doing things I would normally not do,’ he said and right after that he pinched and grunted for another pain wave seared through his entire body. ‘Take it easy Aeros. Take your rest. Do you actually recall how you got yourself here?’ Kayle asked. Aeros merely grunted and nodded, showing clearly he had no recollection of the encounter Kayle mentioned before.

‘now here I lay, every muscle in my body screaming. Every inch of skin burning. The bandages and the pain killers only help so much but what hurts the most is what I have heard. What I did and the pain I caused to the one I love. Nimeta, I solemnly vow to make this right, to redeem myself. I do not expect you ever to love me again but the least thing I hope for is forgiveness. But first I have to get out of this damn bed.’ (…) ‘Ok, clearly that isn’t working yet. The nurse came in then I started to grunt in my attempt to get out of bed. I think I’m stuck here for a little while. And every day I lose Nimeta gets further away. Can I possibly ever reach her when she is a few days or maybe even weeks ahead of me?’

Aeros found himself to have very much spare time. Except for the daily 30 minute visit of kayle and occasionally a nurse or the doctor checking in on him days were uneventful. The only thing he could do was to think about the things he had done. The recurring flashback like dreams he has each time he sleeps. Every time he recalls the spirit’s voice a cold shiver ran down his spine and goose bumps were seen on the little exposed skin he had left. ‘I need to get out of here’ Aeros thought when dusk set in and he once again prepared for a restless night of sleep where dreams would haunt him towards insanity.

Early in the morning Aeros woke up by an erratic noise. He found himself strapped to the bed unable to move his body. With each attempt he felt his barely healed skin stretch and even rip in some occasions, causing small droplets of blood to seep through the bandages. Aeros soon stopped his attempts when he noticed he started bleeding again. He opened his eyes and noticed 2 ponies pulling his bed forward and 1 in the back making sure he doesn’t topple over. ‘what are they going to do to me,’ he thought. Occasionally some hastily shouted command where heard but in no voice he could recognize. Not the doctor’s, not Kayle’s or any pony else’s voice he had ever heard. Fear got the best of Aeros as he saw no way out and did not know what his assailants were planning for him.

‘MASTER, he has come too!’ the pony on the back shouted the instant he noticed Aeros’ eyes were opened. Quickly the bed came to a hold in a rough way making Aeros slide forward a bit and opening some more of the old wounds. Aeros did nothing but grunt when his vision blurred due to the searing pain shooting through his entire body. Then all turned black for Aeros.

‘Master, what are you actually planning for him?’ one of the ponies asked. ‘Aeros is in a great deal of trouble. His wounds are severe, that alone is enough to be deadly, even after several days of healing. But there is something else. I don’t have time to explain it all, ask herself when we get there. Now keep walking and warn me the instance he wakes up again. I don’t want him to get in an even worse condition then he is already. Got that?’ Kayle ranted. His subtends nodded and swallowed when Kayle was done. ‘now keep moving numbskulls, we’re losing valuable time here,’ he shouted. Before a second passed Kayle and 1 student were pulling the bed again, while another one monitored Aeros and kept the bed straight.

Aeros once again regained consciousness but when he opened his eyes nothing but darkness is what he could see. Despite he couldn’t see anything he could hear voices and smelled several different unknown but pleasant scents filling the room. When he looked around he saw 1 thin beam of light coming from under the only door in the camber. Occasionally he noticed something obstructing the beam partially, perhaps a thin cloud of smoke or some dust. Even a spider web, Aeros did not know.

‘Now what, we got him here. Is there something you can do for him?’ Kayle asked. ‘I do not know my friend, for I have never heard of the spirit called Ados,’ a deep mare voice stated on a nearly poetic way. Aeros could now identify Kayle’s voice and felt a bit more comforted knowing he means no harm. ‘at least I hope he means no harm,’ suddenly shot through his mind. ‘no, master Kayle is the nicest pony I know. He wouldn’t harm me, would he?’ he asked himself. He quickly dismissed his thoughts as ridiculous. ‘Hah, I can’t believe myself. My mind must be playing tricks on me.’

Minutes later the door swung open and 2 ponies walked in. now the little clouds of smoke emerging from several smoldering bowls which were once filled with dried herbs were visible now. One pony he instantly identified as Kayle. The zebra however was completely new to Aeros. ‘Do not worry my wounded friend, my name is Zecora and I mean no harm,’ the zebra said. Kayle stood next to her with a hesitant smile on his face. ‘I hope she can help him, I hope to Celestia what he had told me isn’t true,’ kayle thought.

‘Aeros, do you know why Kayle has brought you here?’ Zecora asked. Aeros nodded and Zecora sighed deeply. ‘Well, your condition isn’t as bad as I feared but except from the wounds you suffered during the fight, the spirit left you something too. Call it a corruption or a taint. Not physically but in your mind and soul. Sometimes these cause your body to fester from the inside out, cause growths and such, but in your case I’m unsure what the effect is. It will pose no immediate threat, but once you notice strange things are happening, please come visit me as soon as possible.’ Zecora said. Aeros looked towards Kayle who was not confidently smiling and then to Zecora. ‘W…Will I be okay?’ Aeros stuttered. ‘You will most likely be back on your hooves within a few days, especially since I treated all your wounds with these special herbs I gathered from the forest.’ Zecora said. ‘Let me untie you, that might be a bit more comfortable,’ she chuckled when she carried on.

‘Ah, fine, a corruption of my mind and or soul. When you think it can’t get worse then it’s just karma’s hobby I guess to prove you wrong. But anyhow, I can actually walk a few steps again. 1 day with the herbal treatment of Zecora has helped more than one and a half week in the hospital. But still, how about Nimeta. I should get back on my hooves right away and go after her. But Kayle will probably disagree. Well, can’t blame him there. The mare has suffered enough as it is, I don’t think seeing me right now is going to help, especially in the state I’m in now.’

Days passed and Aeros’ recovery was fast beyond anyone’s believe. First he barely could walk 5 phases with assistance from both Kayle and Zecora. Now he trots around as if nothing happened. ‘Kayle, could we please go to the village today. I feel like I can handle it,’ Aeros said. ‘I don’t know Aeros. Let’s consult Zecora first, how about that?’ Kayle stated. Zecore spoke from a dark corner: ‘Yes Aeros, you’re strong enough to go home now. But please remember to come back to me as soon as you think something is wrong. ‘thank you zecora, those herbs of you are truly miraculous,’ Aeros said with a smile while walking enthusiastically outside.

When Aeros trotted towards the center of Ponyville he noticed he was being eyed. Somehow a hush fell over the crowd wherever he went. ‘okay, I know I am scarred, battered and bruised. But somehow I think that’s not exactly the reason why these ponies are acting this way wherever I come. ‘… … ..ssing…. … .. … abduct…. …’ was what Aeros heard several ponies say when he passed. Only hearing fractions of what ponies were trying to tell each other. ‘Hah, now I have to deal with this. They of course think somepony abducted me and ment harm to me. I guess I have something to explain to them I guess,’ he thought while having no idea how to do that exactly. Seconds after his thought a pony he has never seen before started shouting his name: ‘Aeros! Aeros!’ He turned towards the shouting pony and instantly noticed the typical hat and note block. ‘now this will help,’ he thought. ‘What can I help you with sir?’ he asked the hooded pony, appearing oblivious to the fact he is from the paper.

‘Let me first introduce myself. My name is Marco Pressroller and I am with the Ponyville newspaper. As you might have noticed it hasn’t gone unnoticed that you suddenly disappeared from the hospital. Let alone it has gone unnoticed what happened. Strange and different stories rotate amongst the inhabitants of Ponyville. Every pony seems to tell another tale. Just to get the facts straight I would like to hear what you have to say mister Aeros. What happened and how did you end up with all those scars? And how did you disappear from the hospital?’ the press pony said. ‘I Don’t want to talk about how I acquired my wounds, and I was taken from the hospital by a friend of mine to have me examined by an alternative healer. And what she has done for me in a week, would have taken at least a month in a normal hospital.’ Aeros exclaimed.

The press pony was writing furiously while Aeros told him in short what happened. But then started to drone about what happened prior and still persisting about getting information how he acquired such grievous wounds in the first place. ‘LEAVE HIM!’ Kayle suddenly shouted. ‘When he is done talking to you, he is done talking to you. Got that mister?’ Kayle hissed towards the press pony while taking a protective stance towards Aeros. ‘Aeros just went through hell and back, and you find it strange he doesn’t feel like elaborating everything? Just let him be.’ Kayle carried on. The press pony lifted his head and snorted once. ‘gosh, some ponies just don’t know when to stop. Are you okay Aeros?’ Kayle asked. Aeros just nodded and looked with a blank expression towards Kayle which slowly changed into a faint smile. ‘Thank you Kayle,’ Aeros said softly.

Aeros went home and for the first night in many he slept in his own bed. No longer haunted by nightmares but still the memories fresh in his mind. The most painful part was still the vacant spot next to him in bed. The place where nimeta used to sleep. The pony he still loved above all else in the world. ‘What happened to her and what did she do after all that I’ve done.’ He thought time and time again when lying awake in his bed. ‘I still wonder if I should go after her, or grant her the space she needs. She probably thinks I’m dead. (…) Why aren’t I dead? Is there a reason I survived?’ he thought while slowly tiredness started to kick in and once again drifter off to the realm of dreams.

It seemed like a second to Aeros when he woke up again. Now not sore and completely ridden of all scars that ran over his body. The upcoming purple sun threw a strange hue over Ponyville and the street on which Aeros had a view from his window. The sky colored brightly orange wasn’t really helping Aeros either. ‘This is rather odd, this must be a dream. SNAP OUT OF IT!’ he thought. But nothing changed. Slowly the sun rose higher coloring blue rather than purple when it rose and coloring the sky yellowish when it rose even higher. ‘Why can’t I snap out of it. Normally it works.’

Doors from houses across the street and next to Aeros’ house swung open and strangely formed creatures walked out. All black as if no light could illuminate them. The Aura of corruption around them clearly noticeable. The creatures resembled a hybrid race between ponies and some sort of hellish hound like creatures. Their shape mostly concealed by the darkness surrounding them. The creatures remained a certain distance from each other but at a certain point some of the creatures broke the imaginary barrier and attacked eachother.

Loud howling noises followed soon after the fights began and the winner of each fight seemed to consume the loser, absorbing its very being as well in soul as body. Aeros just hid underneath the window, peeking on the streets where the creatures ravaged and consumed one another. ‘What in Celestia’s name is going on here,’ Aeros thought while he witnessed more and more smaller creatures turning bigger. Then after the smaller creatures had been consumed the larger, even more distorted creatures attacked each other. Dark bolts emerged from the fight as small embers emerge from a fire, only these bolts don’t dissipate when launched away from the source. When these bolts got close to Aeros he could literally feel the taint, darkness, fear and sorrow engulfing his entire being.

The fights of the bigger creatures ended the same as the ones of the smaller creatures. The winner of the fight engulfed the one that was defeated. This kept on going for a little while, until two creatures remained. Both 5 times larger than any building around remained. They stood against each other, both emitting an aura of blight which made Aeros nauseous. ‘this is a dream… it can’t be anything but a dream. WAKE UP… WAKE UP IN CELECTIA’S NAME’ he thinks in a shouting way. He then finally succeeded to wake up.

Never was he happier to wake up battered, bruised and sore. Groaning in pain he got up, taking a look outside and noticing a dim orange and purple hue on the eastern horizon indicating it’s just mere minutes before the sun would rise. Aeros couldn’t get himself to get to bed again, not after the horror’s he had just witnessed. When the sun got up it’s ways lightened Aeros up occasionally when they managed to avoid the few cumulus floating slowly and peacefully over Ponyville.

‘Should I tell any pony about the dream I just had? The corruption I felt was the same as I felt during the connection with Ados, Nasceth and Imeda. I think it means something. Those beasts consuming each other? And then the final fight. 2 beasts of equal strength, might and corruption facing each other. A fight between such entities would sent the entire likes of Ponyville to the gates of oblivion, or leave a permanent taint over all of equestrian, corrupting everything good and dear to us. If only I had the slightest idea what the dream tries to tell me, or even warm me about.’

Kayle had stocked Aeros’ shelves with plenty of food at the time he spent at Zecora, recovering from his injuries and trying to get back on his hooves. He made himself a crude and hastily makeshift breakfast but once he sat down to eat the haunting images from the dream recurred. ‘once I think to be ridden of the corruptions and the darkness, it proves me wrong.’ He mumbled while stirring his fork in his food rather than eating it. ‘Would they understand even the slightest bit of what I’ve dreamt tonight?’ he wondered.

He finished his food rather quickly when his mind came to ease and just when he was about to clean the plate loud knocks where heard from the door. When Aeros opened the door he saw Kayle standing outside. ‘Hey Aeros, how was your first night back in your own bed?’ he asked. Aeros merely grunted softly and gestured Kayle to come in. Kayle’s face turned a bit grim for he figured this might have something to do with the corruption the spirit left in his mind and or soul. ‘Aeros, please tell me what happened, I know something has happened,’ he stated confidently.

Aeros sat down on the couch and sighed deeply. ‘I had a terrible nightmare, but it felt as if it was trying to tell me something, as if it tried to warn me about something. It was about creatures fighting one another and consuming the one that met its demise.’ Aeros said. Kayle stood there listening and visibly trying to figure out what it actually means, tho he could not manage to think of anything that could be remotely useful. ‘Don’t you think you should inform Zecora about that dream? Maybe it has something to do with that taint she mentioned,’ he said to Aeros.

‘I don’t know Kayle, I honestly don’t know what it could possibly be. But I too think it’s a good idea to at least inform Zecora. I have to inform her about anything odd happening and I’m sure this was no normal dream. This dream was meant to tell me something. Kayle nodded in agreement and started to trot towards her cabin deep inside the Everfree forest.

Aeros and Kayle where kindly greeted by Zecora when they entered the cabin but soon her smile changed into the same serious expression as Aeros and Kayle wore. ‘Zecora, I’m afraid the corruption already manifestates itself since I had the most grim of dreams last night,’ Aeros said. Zecora frowned and gestured Aeros and Kayle to sit down on some strangely shaped stools made from a wood like substance. ‘Now Aeros, tell me what you have seen,’ she spoke.

Nodding and occasionally humming she listened carefully to every word Aeros said about the dream and once Aeros was done she fell completely silent too. Visibly she was thinking what could cause such a dream but her mind was vacant of any idea’s. ‘I don’t think it’s the corruption here, just a bad dream for everything you’ve been through Aeros.’ Zecora said. Both Aeros and Kayle sighed in relief. ‘You might keep seeing those for a while Aeros, and whenever you doubt, come to me as quick as you can,’ she said. Then Aeros and Kayle took off, relieved by the news Zecora told them.

‘I have to take off back to Manehattan now Aeros, I’ve been blowing off my students for 2 weeks now, I think it’s time for the both of us to pick up our normal lives again, especially for you Aeros. And I know it might be hard for you after what has happened but try to meet some new ponies, make some friends. I’m most certain you will be allright my green friend,’ Kayle said. Aeros merely nodded as Kayle packed his saddlebags. ‘okay Kayle, I wish you the best of luck and my sincerest apologies for all I put you through. But there is one other pony who I should apologize to, Nimeta, if only I knew where she was.

‘Aeros! I know how much you loved and love Nimeta. But this isn’t the right time to look for her. I shall tell you what happened when she arrived at my home. You might want to sit down for this,’ Kayle said and then silenced for a while before continuing: ‘when she knocked on my door her eyes where wide open. Her mane looked raffled and beaten accompanied by blood stains and stains of filth. The expression on her face expressed fear, pain and most of all sorrow. The one she loved most, the one she wanted to spend het life with turned against her in the most horrible of ways. Downing in tears she told me what went down in that little shack in the Everfree. She explained to me what happened prior to it. She told me you were dead, killed by the powerful spell twilight cast upon you, while you were fully possessed by this spirit and held Nimeta in a death grasp. That’s when I packed only the bare necessities to survive and came looking for a body, but it wasn’t a body I found after almost 2 days of travel. I found you, unconscious you laid there on the ground barely breathing and your pulse was weak. I dragged you to the hospital and later stole you from the very same hospital I took you to in order to let Zecora treat you. That’s what went down in the time you were unconscious.’

Aeros remained stating in dead silence towards kayle for about a minute, processing what exactly he just heard. ‘I… I… how… what…,’ he uttered in a confused state before breaking down in tears. He tried to dig his head as deep in the table as possible, bashing into it several times before coming to a stop and laid still, except from some occasional involuntary shocks his body made due to the crying. When he rose his head again his forehead was bruised and cut as a result from the numerous bashes against the table. ‘I’m sorry Aeros, but you had to know. The only thing I can advise you when I’m gone is to try to pick up your life as usual and don’t go looking for her. You will only hurt yourself more. Give her some time, she probably needs a lot of it. When she feels the time is right she will come back, but I’m not sure if she ever wants to speak to you again.’ Kayle said trying to comfort Aeros a bit. ‘Now I’m off to Manehattan again. May celestia be with you my friend and may your recovery be swift.’ He said while walking to the door. Aeros waved Kayle goodbye and the door shut seconds later.

‘Pick up my normal life, he isn’t the one corrupted by an evil spirit. He hasn’t tried to kill the only one he ever loved. Still, somehow I think he is right about 1 thing. Nimeta needs time and so do I. me and her both endured great torment now, we both in our own ways. We are both left devastated by this spirit. I don’t know if we even ever recover from what happened. Building up a new life, or actually picking up my own life won’t be easy.'