Chromabloom

She inspected the dome seeing incubator was written in floating letters in a box. She activated the panel to be greeted with a list with a single name.

Wolfy, and the symbol for male. She touched the name with her hoof, and inside the dome the hiss of hydraulics, and it lifted. Blooms eyes turned into giant swirling void dinner plates as she stared at the biggest non-mythical dog she'd ever seen. It was white and gray with large ears and a nose like a bat. It's coat looked wiry and course. It moved and stretched letting out a big yawn. It saw Bloom and jumped up bowling her over, she let out a terrified yelp as Wolfy pinned her to the ground and let out a growl.

Then it sniffed her. The growl turned into an excited yip and ran its long tongue over Blooms face making her sputter and paw at the giant dog. Sweetie came running down the ramp to see what was going on only to see the size of Wolfy and freeze. Bloom shoved the giant dogs face away from her's. She saw Wolfy look at Sweetie and dread filled her when it leaped off Bloom at Sweetie.

"No Wolfy! Friend!" She called scared only for the giant dog to drop low in a playful manner wagging its short tail. He licked Sweetie's face with excited barks. Bloom and Chroma both relaxed from the dread in their systems. Oridis spoke over the speaker system.

"It's time for training."

Bloom, Sweetie, and Wolfy went back towards the linset. Ordis looked at the beast and sighed inwardly. He detached the liset, and they made their way back to ponyville. Once back Oridis dropped them off Litterly. Thankfully Bloom landed first and caught Sweetie. Somehow Wolfy just appeared behind them looking around at all the new things and smells. He looked adorably excited. They were all at Ponyville Tennis Court. Things were lively it sounded like a battle was going on. But when they got closer they understood... well understood was a strong word for what they were seeing.

On one end Excalibur stood. He was deflecting a tennis ball with his Skana. His arms were a blur deflecting and returning the ball. His opponent Pinkie, who was using two rubber chickens tied together as nunchucks to return the ball with equal power and speed. Bloom tried following the ball the best she could until even chroma lost track of it. Then the ball caught fire making it slightly easier to track. But four more hits and it puffed into char and dust. Everypony watching clapped, and Wolfy barked. The two players bowed.

Cal didn't rise from his bow to speak to Bloom. "Now your training will hopefully be less ridiculous."

Pinkie who was rubbing Wolfy's belly as his leg kicked in bliss. Spoke up with a raised eyebrow. "With me here? Not likely. Bloom think fast!" She tossed something at Bloom who jumped back avoiding the pastry that Wolfy slid on his back to catch. He chewed happily as Bloom looked confused.

"Was that a cupcake?"

Pinkie held something over her shoulder that looked like a ball launcher. "Yep, except this thing isn't filled with pastry." Chroma and Bloom barely had time to get the twin swords off her flank before Pinkie started firing tennis balls at them. Bloom leaned back on her hind legs using her tail as a counterbalance so she could Swat and swing her blades. The launcher shot at weird angles but using Chroma's muscle memory nothing got through. One ball flew over Wolfy's head, and he took after it. By the time the launcher ran dry Bloom's arms were beginning to get sore, and she was breathing a tiny bit heavier.

"How am I doing so far?" She asked, and Cal nodded

"Your meeting expectation." That's when Pinkie rolled up with a blue and pink cannon Shouting

"More Training!" Before pulling the string. The cannon went off with a bang that rattled everyone's bones. Bloom crossed her swords hoping to deflect the ball. But when the actual cannonball hit the little unprepared Tenno, it pushed her swords up and hit her chest sending her several feet back.

She and the cannonball separated ways, and she rolled with a pained grunt. When she got her feet under her slowly, her chest was on fire. She peaked at her stats with one eye as the other winced. Her shields were gone, and so was a large chunk of her health. She sneaked a peek at her energy bar to see it was half full. She looked back towards Pinkie and Cal as they argued Wolfy was running towards her.

Three things happened Cal slapped the cannon, and it went off again, Wolfy started to glow, and Bloom heard a crackling sound. She felt her armor get heavier. She lowered her head like a bull as the iron projectile came her way. Everyone watched in shock as the cannonball smashed directly into Bloom's head kicking up dirt and dust. As the dust settled Bloom stood firm. The iron orb was split into three different pieces on the ground. Two on either side of her and one lying directly under her lowered head.

Her head fell, and she collapsed on her side. Wolfy reached her first and let out a distressed whine. Pinkie and Excalibur ran towards the unmoving hybrid fearing the worst. Cal looked at her seeing most her health was still there and she wasn't bleeding out. He breathed in relief.

"She's ok just knocked out." He reported, and Pinkie put her hoof to her chest.

"Oh thank Celestia! I'm so sorry Bloom!" She pleaded Cal touched her hide and Chroma's hide flared, and a shudder went through the little hybrid. Wolfy barked excitedly, and Chroma Bloom stood shakily. When Bloom's eyes opened, they were dim, as if there wasn't any power. Cal nodded his head and Pinkie looked between the two. Sweetie made it to the scene she rushed up to Bloom catching her dim eyes she let out a worried whine.

"What's wrong is something broke?" She asked, and Cal held out a calming hand.

"Blooms out cold, Chromas using his half to help get them home," Cal explained, and Chroma nodded he looked at Wolfy who laid down for the Dragon to get on his back. Using his claws to latch onto the wiry fur, Wolfy stood up smoothly.

"I guess I did take things a little far didn't i." Pinkie admitted playing with her front hooves guiltily. Chroma made a noise and Cal laughed.

"Just a bit he says, But Bloom showed she can block. Threat assessment will come later." Cal assured, and Pinkie nodded as they begun to walk back to the farm. A little later as Pinkie rolled her ill-fated cannon still feeling rather crummy for what she'd caused. She did the math in her head and realized she'd cost Bloom a half a day. Which meant less time for her to train for the meany "Tin-Shin." got here. She made a distressed noise, and Cal noticed slowing down to walk beside her.

"There is a lesson to be learned here, for both of you." He said sagely.

"Ya maybe some..." Her face scrunched up as she tried to say the alien words. "Restraint?" She asked as if unsure if that was the right word.

"Yes, that word." The frame chuckled "And hopefully Bloom learned some problems can't be faced head-on." He waved his pointer finger out, and Pinkie nodded. Pinkie began to think about how she really didn't know all that much.

"Hey Cal?"

"Hmm?"

"Fighting and training are like uber important to Tenno right?" She asked seeming unsure of where she was going with this. Cal looked at her cocking his Helm to the side giving the impression he was raising an eyebrow.

"It makes up the majority of our lives yes," Cal answered, and Pinkie stared really hard at her cannon in a rare moment of complete seriousness.

"Can you teach me to?" Excalibur stopped dead. Pinkie stopped to look at him.

"Why do you want to learn?" He asked pointing a finger Pinkie looked into his helmet.

"So I can better understand my Tenno friends." Pinkie spoke with conviction, and Cal nodded approvingly.

"Ok."

Pinkie smiled and quickened her pace to catch up.

Bloom was back in the white void.

"Am I dead?" She asked the void and heard Chroma chuckle.

"No merely knocked out. Your body hasn't been tempered for such abuse like most Tenno have been."

Bloom nodded understanding. "Hmm, so what was that ability we used?" She asked and a small screen popped up in front of her.

"Vex Armor, our third ability." Chroma started, and the screen showed a little version of her. Her shields and health appeared where Bloom could see them. Two Grineer popped up on either side of tiny Bloom and started firing. "Vex Armor hardens are hide forming a protective shield around us. The more Sheild Damage we take, the more armor we have." The tiny Bloom's shields ran out, and she started taking health damage. "The more health damage we take, the more damage we do back at the enemy." At this point, lil her pulled out the supra and mowed the two down quickly.

"So if I'm going to use this ability I'm gonna have to take a lot of damage?" She asked warily.

"We have excellent armor compared to most Tenno. We're whats considered an offensive tank. compared to Frost who is a Defensive tank." Chroma explained, and Bloom furrowed her brow.

"What like Rainbows tortious?" She asked and could feel Chroma shake his head.

"What?" He asked confused, and a video of the reptile flying around with Rainbow showed on the screen. Chroma looked at it for a second.

"Kind of except we breathe fire and don't fly."

"Fair enough." Bloom bobbed her head approvingly. Then she clapped her hooves together. " But I need to get tougher." She admitted seriously.

"Training and propper modding can help with that. Did you learn the other important lesson from today?" He asked

"Pinkie has access to an actual cannon," Bloom said in the most serious tone. The pelt unwrapped a claw from her front leg to face-claw.

"No... while useful information to have. The lesson was sometimes you can't face your problems head-on."

"oooooh. Like with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon."

"Exactly!" The pelt said excitedly that the Filly was getting it. Bloom looked at the white floor thinking deeply.

"Then we headbutt our problems?" She asked, and the Pelt chuckled

"Get some sleep, Bloom." The filly nodded and curled up the white Void faded away.

Bloom opened her eyes to see that dark and cold place again. She felt warmth under her but before she could look around. The songs of the Void pulled her back to sleep.