Author's Note

Been a little longer than usual huh? Was on a vacation trip with my Fiance as well as getting re-accustomed to working again. Hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Soaring and Searing

An image of Pinkie Pie wearing the outfit she wore during "You Got To Share, You Got To Care" floods my mind even after a few weeks from that one magical 'call' with her afterwards. The way her hair was put back a bit, and the demeanor she put out during the 'call' simply enraptured me. Pinkie was down during that conversation because she felt as if her song didn't do much to help, even if things ended well. Catching me staring at her completely, she gave me sultry eyes and I proceeded to do what every guy caught red-handed does. Stammer and make excuses. Giggling at my embarrassment and nervousness, she kisses the mirror and ends the 'call'.

I can't believe a technicolor pony made me feel turned on. What would my friends from Earth think of me? Such a stereotypical Brony I am. Though.. It's not wrong to me. They are sentient creatures that I can do more than just hold a conversation with. Maybe it just shows how progressive I am? To be able to feel such things for another being like me, even though she is a differently shaped being that's close to a wild animal that was on my world? Ugh, just thinking about it hurts, so I just won't. I have to start my training with Obsidian again, now that she says it's fine to continue. Working at the farm has built me up immensely, more so than I thought. Heck, I feel like a new person. Even got confused looking in the mirror one time.

Peering down I look over the newly gained muscles from the manual labor I did at the farm. Feeling glad I excluded magic from that job unless it was an emergency, I move onto the train as the doors open and the conductor pony yells for everyone to board.

Strange that Obsidian wanted to train at Canterlot for the next few days, though this is the earliest train so I should make it well before mid-day and be able to have plenty of time to train. If I recall, she said today will mark a new type of training since I've mastered the basics and some advanced techniques. I was also told to ride the train because I'll need to conserve my energy for this supposed intense training. That dream... Or should I say nightmare? It made me want to learn more things about magic. I need to be better so I can protect the ones I care about in a more efficient way. But I suppose for now I'll enjoy the trip.

And enjoy the trip I did. Half of it I spent looking at the scenery once again, along with conversing with the few ponies that were willing to talk. The other half I rested, waiting for the ensuing stop. When I did arrive, I was met with a higher sun and a busy train station. I pick up my luggage that I was told to pack for this training and head off to the castle. Along the way I receive the usual looks and whispers. I sigh at such actions and continue onward with no hesitation.

I've come here more than a few times, I guess they just like to gossip. No matter, I'm already at the castle.

I wave at the guard who lets me pass with a nod. Smiling at the fact I'm known well enough at the castle to do that, I continue on to the throne room to meet with Obsidian and presumably Celestia. When I do arrive at the room, I'm greeted by two more guards before passing through the doors and, like I guess, Celestia and Obsidian. They are talking in the middle of the room with Celestia donning a very stern face and Obsidian looking away towards me with a somewhat dejected expression. After noticing me however, Obsidians face changes to one of happiness as she ignores Celestia completely and bounds over to me with one jump.

"Devan! I'm glad to see you! Now, let's begin our training in a room nearby." Obsidian says quickly and almost cartoonishly attempts to push me out of the room.

Before Obsidian can get us out of the room, Celestia appears in front of me. Obsidian doesn't know this and just pushes me into Celestia. I simply give her a smile.

"Oh my, Celestia... I didn't think you were into me like that. When's the last time you mated? Are you THAT desperate for a lover?" I say while caressing her cheek with my hand.

I watch as Celestia's demeanor breaks and a blush appears on her cheeks. She gives me a sultry grin before leaning in and whispering in my ear. "I don't believe you could handle me Devan. It has been quite a while since my last mating, so I'd hope you would be ready to give me a few days worth of treatment that a Princess deserves."

I then feel my own blush overtake my face as I cough and start to walk past her with Obsidian apparently hiding behind me. We make it out of the room that time, and I can't help but slap my face a few times to clear my head.

You win this time Sun-butt.

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Walking into a nearby room, I notice the completely plain and flat floor and walls, then recognize the room.

"This is where me and Luna sparred. I was so amazed by her enchantment abilities on my sword, and how easy and fluid it was to use it from the start. So, what am I learning?" I say before doing some basic stretches.

"First, show me something. I'm going to give you commands to give your sword, just follow my directions and you'll be fine!" Obsidian says with a very cliche and somewhat worrying smile.

Great... That smile is there to make me suffer.

"Send one of your blade pieces exactly three yards away." Obsidian says, turning to her true form and making a small chair for her to sit on.

I follow her directions and send the tip out from my belt, watching as it goes around three yards in front of me.

"Good enough, though you need to learn exact measurements. Now, make it spin in place." Obsidian requests, watching it closely.

That's easy enough.. What is this supposed to accomplish? Even using my sword this way, I don't need to worry about my magical essence being drained much.

I do as she asks with ease, watching as the blade piece spins slowly in place.

"Make it aboutttt two times faster, and then make it go around you while staying three yards away." Obsidian asks, giving me a smug grin.

Okay....

I do what she asks, and feel a bit more of a drain that I would have thought.

"Now make it change into a cube and then a sphere on second intervals." Obsidian says with glee, enjoying my suffering like the sadistic teacher she is.

Begrudgingly, I follow her commands and give my own to blade piece. After a second or two of this I feel a bigger strain on my body, but I am still able to do it.

Obsidian follows the weirdly morphing and moving piece of gold floating in a circle around me before continuing. "Finally, make it change color with each change into a cube and sphere. Could be any color, just make sure that the cube color and sphere color don't change each time."

Really? This is already annoying me.. What kind of training is this!!? Masochism training!?

I sigh and then make it turn red when it's a cube, then blue when it's a sphere.

"Alright, good. Now do this for an hour. I'll be back." Obsidian says with a yawn before disappearing.

What!!? An hour?? Doing THIS? No way. That string thing I did for Rarity was hard enough, now I have to sit here making this spin around and go around?

I follow my blade piece with my eyes every time it goes in front of me.

I already gave it a command, can I just sit down and let it do whatever then? I'm not really focusing, just... Releasing magical power to it.

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One hour later, I can't move much of my body at all. I'm laying on the floor, facing upwards, in the middle of the now shaking blade piece that is still obeying me. Obsidian walks through the door with what seems to be an almost finished ice cream cone. After noticing me on the floor, she starts to giggle to herself. I lift my head up a bit to speak to her.

"I see you had fun, and still are. I get it now. It's harder than it looks." I struggle to say before finally releasing the spell and hearing a clank as the blade piece falls to the floor.

"Interestingly enough, you failed. That chair I left here? It made a nice spy. About thirty minutes through, when you could barely keep yourself sitting upright on the floor, the blade wasn't changing color properly nor spinning as fast." Obsidian says in a matter-of-factly tone.

I look at her dumbfounded and lay my head back down and stare at the ceiling.

Well, I guess this'll act like that string from before. This will increase the magical essence cap I can store as well as teach my brain to do multiple commands at once easily. Question is, how will I train now? I have no energy left.

Obsidian pulls out a bag from no where and drops it on my chest. Inside are many coarse gems, all of which are green.

"Go ahead, they should be full of energy for you to refill yourself with. Keep going until these are empty. Oh, did I mention that you need to do it until you reach the state you are now? Don't be refilling when you can still go for more time. Last thing, there's seven of those. So lets just say, you'll be busy. Until you can do that for an hour and still have plenty of power left over to do it again for another hour with no issues, then you won't stop. Don't worry though, the Princesses have made it clear that we can use this room for as long as we need to. Your training as a Guardian of Equestia will need to increase in pace. Celestia feels as if some great force will return soon, and wants you three to be ready. Now chop-chop!" Obsidian says, picking up her chair with her magic and moving to the back of the room where the door is before yelling at me one last time. "We're having lunch after you exhaust yourself two more times, so hurry up! I don't wanna be late!"

That damned tree. She really does want to watch me suffer. Fine. I'll do it. Just so I can get stronger.

I take as much as I can from one of the seven gems and feel my energy return.

Alright, take two. Same commands I suppose.

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Two more attempts later, I look back at Obsidian who is asleep. I throw a used up gem at her and she jumps awake.

"I'm up! Alright, let's see how you did. What'cha got for me chairy?" Obsidian says while gazing sweetly at her chair. "Very nice! A good fifteen minutes each time. Seems like you're actually improving. Next time we're gonna change some things up, but let's go visit our lunch buddies."

"Lunch buddies? Whatever, I need to eat. My stomach is trying to eat me alive, and I really, REALLY don't appreciate it." I grumble after pulling energy from another gem for the third time.

I get up, pull my blade back to my belt and sigh before stretching my back until it cracks.

Oh that's good....

I look at the door and see our "lunch buddies" pulling in a table. None other than Luna and Celestia seem to be struggling in carrying a simple table, with some wrapped bowls.

"Move sister. We are trying to deliver our delicious food!" Luna barks in an annoyed tone.

"Perhaps if you allowed me to enter first, then I may bring the table and chairs we will need." Celestia replies in a frustrated grumble.

Seeing both Princesses act like stereotypical siblings makes me snicker. They both notice me watching and stand straight up while dropping each item they carried. Luckily, Obsidian was there to catch each piece they brought, food included.

"Well, good job my Princesses. You both look like royal fools now." I say with a chuckle before walking over and helping Obsidian set up.

Both sisters keep quiet while we divvy out the food and chairs, Obsidian having her own of course. I look at the plate in front of me and see a piece of apple pie on one plate with roasted hay fries cooked in many herbs next to a very steak like veggie block next to it.

I mean.. Going on what I've seen, this looks pretty good. Seems like Celestia really enjoys it at least.

Looking up after noticing that Celestia's plate is already half empty, I observe Luna and notice she is meticulously eating small bites. Obsidian is just consuming normal sized bites while looking left to right at princesses.

Such a tense air about..

I take a couple bites before I attempt to clear the air. "So, how are you two doing? I assume your days are going well."

Luna perks her ears up first and gives a smile after finishing her recent bite. "Why yes, it's been going well. I'm growing accustomed to the night council, though not much happens during it. It's boring, but I get plenty of time to organize and clean the chambers to keep our reputation high." she says with a sense of pride in her tone.

That just sounds like janitorial duties but... If she feels that good about it, I'll just let that one go.

"With the day council, I have been as busy as always. Though now that I don't need to watch over the night council as well, I have more free time thanks to my sister." Celestia says warmly.

"I'm glad to see you both doing well then. I have been busy training for incoming dangers to Equestria. Speaking of such things, Obsidian, do you mind leaving for a bit? I need to speak with them alone." I say with as stern and serious a face I can muster.

"Why? I already know you're from another world. I also know that you know of our future as well." Obsidian says with a confused look on her face as she cocks her head a bit.

I freeze up for a second and look at Luna and Celestia who both look at me with confusion as well.

"H-how do you know that?" I say with nervousness blatantly strewn in my voice.

"Well, I figured you were from another world due to the fact that in the centuries I have been around, I have never seen anything like you. I traveled a lot before you see, and I would definitely have known about a creature like you. I also know from research that the Elements of Harmony somewhat distort time and space, and you appearing right after their use was suspicious. OH and the fact that I heard you say so. Just because you tell me to leave a room, doesn't mean I can't hear you from outside the room Devan. I even mentioned that I knew when I first met you! I suppose you were just so excited for your gifts that you received that you didn't notice. As for the future telling, I heard you speaking to Pinkie Pie about it when a little seed of mine was planted on you. She guessed it without any sort of knowledge! Pinkie is definitely an anomaly of this world." Obsidian replies with a smile. "She's kinda perfect for you in that sense."

I feel my cheeks light up in red and I just nod with a blank face back at her.

"I see. I suppose it would be obvious for those that have been around long enough. Well then, now that the secrecy or, should I say, lack thereof, is out of the way... Continue Devan." Celestia says, somehow showing no reaction to how her assigned guardian has the knowledge she does.

"Okay... According to what I know, you should be arriving at Ponyville soon with Philomena. Is that correct?" I ask Celestia.

"Yes, that is today actually. I was going to show them the wonders of a Phoenix, because it is so rare to see." she responds with a quizzical look. "Why?"

"When will the gala be happening?" I ask in a hurry after she responds.

"About two moons from now." Celestia replies with a serious look and tone.

"That doesn't help me much... Let's just say that there will be an attack during an important event after the Gala. It will be resolved naturally, so do not worry too much. I will say that you should keep your Guardians nearby to protect the city of Canterlot during said event. You must be genuinely surprised by such an attack so that's all I can tell you. Just react how you would normally and everything will go fine. I am telling you this so you don't freak out and call in everyone to mess up the timeline. Specifically tell Echo and Giselle to not come to the castle no matter what. If they do, they might screw up the solution to the problem and stop the happy ending that is expected." I say, clasping my hands together. "I don't believe there are any casualties, but then again I wasn't shown if there were."

"Then we will have to prepare medical units at least. We will tell them to just simply walk the streets in case of sickness or foolishness. A routine drill of sorts during important events." Luna says, gazing downwards in thought. "We don't want to take any risks, even if the chances are slim that a citizen will be hurt."

"That's the other thing... You can't be around Luna. You were busy somewhere else during the whole attack. So the next few events until after it happens, you must stay away." I say, expecting an aggressive response.

"That is fine. I trust you to be correct in your words Devan. I will stay away from event grounds and out of the way during the attack." Luna replies calmly. "But I need to teach you dark magic first. You need to know more. We have less than six moons according to your guesswork. So get ready, the next few days for you will not be fun."

Dark magic training? Alrighty then, things got far less boring!