Soul In the Sword

Chapter Six: Answers

"What...happened?"

I tried to sit up, groaning in pain from how sore my body still was after everything that happened. I somehow managed to successfully sit up on the couch that I had been placed on and tried to remember what caused me to feel like this. I remembered fighting those wolves, though the memories felt fragmented. I remembered talking to Sunlight, and then...

Oh, that's right. Sunlight mentioned that Celestia was bringing me somewhere.

I weakly gazed around the room, taking note of the sheer amount of books decorating the shelves that seemed like they were built into the walls themselves. Speaking of the walls...

I guess she wasn't kidding when she said it was 'some kind of tree building.' It really looks like it was carved right out of a tree. Seems like this is a library, with all these books.

Looking around the room with half closed eyes, I could see Celestia approaching with a worried look.

"Liam, are you sure you should be up yet? Your mana reserves are still quite low, you could hurt yourself if you aren't careful."

I chuckled despite the pain and waved a hand in front of my face, wincing at the pain that flared up in protest of my movements.

"I'll be fine, Celestia. I'm not planning to fight anymore timberwolves any time soon. Trust me, I plan to rest for a while before even trying to get out of bed."

Celestia sighed heavily and placed a hoof on my shoulder. She quickly retracted it when she saw me wince in pain, but the concerned look she had remained on her face.

"Alright, but...let me know if you feel tired. The only real cure for mana exhaustion is resting in bed, and plenty of water."

I nodded at her and looked to the other ponies in the room. Most seemed curious about me, though a couple still seemed suspicious of me.

"Are all of you alright? No one injured?"

Rainbow Dash scoffed and flew into the air, lazily flapping her wings to keep airborne.

"Pfft, like we would get hurt by a bunch of walking twigs! We're too awesome for that!"

She smiled at me as she looked me in the eyes.

"Though you were pretty awesome too. I didn't know that magic could do that! That was beyond cool how you took out those timberwolves!"

"I meant to ask you about that, actually."

I turned to Twilight as she spoke.

"Princess Celestia filled us in on a few details, and honestly...I have a hard time believing her when she says that you have never seen magic before today."

Twilight looked down to her hooves with a contemplative expression.

"I've never seen those specific spells cast before, but there is one thing I know for certain. Those were high level war spells. As in spells meant to kill, and complex ones at that. Where did you learn to do that?"

Her gaze moved to me as she questioned me. I broke eye contact and looked at Dawnbreaker, resting against the end of the couch I was sitting on. I tried to concentrate on that feeling from before, that warmth. I wanted the polearm to come to me, and it responded. My left hand outstretched and pointing at Dawnbreaker, both began to glow red as the spear levitated shakily and slowly flew to my hand. I channeled some mana into the handle, and the shaft quickly retracted back into a standard sword grip, shortening the length of the weapon greatly.

That was...more than a little taxing...

I panted from the effort of using magic, realizing just how drained I really was. It seems Celestia wasn't exaggerating when she said I was suffering from mana exhaustion. I truly felt...almost empty. The feeling was both painful and disturbing. Celestia had gasped when I had levitated the now sword into my hand, and was now looking at with a disapproving glare.

"Liam! I just told you that you are suffering from magical exhaustion! That means no more magic! Don't make me repeat myself again, do you understand!?"

I jumped in surprise, wincing at the sudden movement, and looked into Celestia's eyes before gulping. I didn't want to find out what she was willing to do if I didn't listen to her.

"U-understood. I just...wanted to see if I could do it again. To make sure it wasn't just some...fever dream."

Her expression softened, and she smiled softly at me.

"I'm not mad, just...please don't risk hurting yourself more than you already are."

I looked down to my arm, suddenly remembering the large bite wound I had sustained in the fight with the timberwolves. It looked...like it had been burned shut, but looked quite clean at the same time.

"How did...my arm isn't injured?"

Celestia's eyes went to my arm and her eyes widened as if she had realized the same thing I had.

"I...It wasn't my imagination, was it? You did get bitten by that timberwolf, right?"

Her confused expression mirrored mine perfectly, before she did something resembling a shrug and smiled again.

"Maybe your magic closed the wound when you cast that last spell. Regardless, it is very fortunate that your arm is no longer bleeding."

I mean, she wasn't wrong. I wasn't exactly complaining about not bleeding to death, but it would be nice to know exactly why I was no longer bleeding.

"Now, I believe my student asked you a question. Would you care to answer it?"

Looking to the purple unicorn revealed how annoyed she was at being seemingly forgotten and ignored. Her forehooves were crossed and she was pouting in irritation.

"Ah...yes, she did ask me something. To answer that question Twilight, I didn't know what I was doing. The first spell was entirely an accident, and the second was given directly to me."

Twilight's expression changed to one of confusion as she uncrossed her forehooves and tilted her head.

"It was...given to you? By who? I know Princess Celestia didn't have enough time to teach you anything like that. Learning a spell that complex would take me weeks just to be able to try casting properly, and magic is my special talent."

Special talent? Oh well, that's a question for later, I guess.

"That's because the knowledge was placed directly into my head. I don't know how Sunlight did it, but she gave me the instructions and specifics of the spell."

"Sunlight? There wasn't anypony else in that cave besides you and the princess."

I maintained eye contact with the purple unicorn, understanding her confusion all too well.

"Sunlight Spirals is her full name. She said she was a knight."

Her eyes widened, and her gaze snapped to mine so fast I could swear I heard something crack.

"Sunlight Spirals!? The famed monster hunter who...went missing? She was known as 'The Phoenix.' No one knew what happened to her, but it was assumed that she was killed by something she was hunting."

My expression changed to one of shock as I learned something new about my friend and I glanced at my arm as I realized where the symbolism involved in the tattoo came from.

She was famous? I didn't realize that she made that much of an impact in the world.

Twilight looked down at the floor and shuffled her hooves nervously.

"That explains why your sword seemed familiar...I've seen it in historical records about her. Called Dawnbreaker, Sunlight had it enchanted with a large number of spells to enhance her own combat abilities. It's made of mithril, a rare metal that bonds to magical enchantments better than almost any other known material. It's...quite expensive, which is why historians hypothesized that the sword was likely made by someone of importance. There were a number of ideas of who exactly, but many assumed..."

She looked to Celestia.

"That Princess Celestia is the one who made the sword for her. She was an amazing warmage, and Dawnbreaker only made her that much more effective. Though..."

Looking back at me with slight suspicion, her eyes narrowed and she took a step forward.

"That still doesn't explain how a unicorn warmage that has been missing for six hundred years could use mind magic to deposit knowledge in your head. Even if she wasn't killed, she would still be long dead."

I looked down to Dawnbreaker and smiled sadly.

"Well Twilight, she isn't entirely gone. Those historians were right about one thing. She was killed. Some kind of cult tricked her, and trapped her soul in Dawnbreaker."

Twilight's eyes widened in shock and fear as I explained.

"Sunlight is why I was able to use that last spell. Without her, I doubt I could have done much against that many timberwolves, even with my new magic."

"That's...that's very evil magic. Soul magic used like that has been outlawed since Equestria's founding. That's..."

Twilight's eyed started to mist over, and a single tear ran down her face.

"That's horrible! I can only imagine how much pain she was in..."

Sniffling, Twilight looked at Dawnbreaker with pity.

"How did she keep her sanity? Nopony should be alone, let alone for that many centuries."

I placed my hand on the sword.

"I don't know, but...she's happy that someone found her. I can hear her thoughts, and she can hear mine. I think she is 'sleeping' right now, but we can also communicate in my dreams. She was...lonely, but happy that she had someone to talk to after so long."

I smiled sadly as I looked back to Twilight.

"I think...I think that while she wishes things had been different, she isn't unhappy about how things turned out. After all, she did pledge herself as my knight. I imagine that isn't a small thing."

Twilight's and Celestia's eyes widened and the purple unicorn took a few steps forward.

"She did what!?"

"Liam..."

My eyes whipped to and from the two ponies who were seemingly shocked by what I said.

"What? What exactly does that mean?"

Celestia smiled softly and looked right into my eyes. Her expression was calm and happy.

"Liam, if Sunlight pledged herself as your knight, it means she trusts you implicitly. Normally a knight's vow would end with their death, but this isn't a normal occurrence. Sunlight knows better than most that her pledge to you would last until...either you die or her soul is freed from Dawnbreaker."

I could only stare at Celestia in shock as I processed this new information.

Wow, that's...Sunlight, you really do see something in me, don't you?

"She really did something that significant? I..."

My gaze returned to the sword as the implications of the words that Sunlight spoke in my mindscape echoed in my head. I tried to tell Sunlight how grateful I was over our shared link and I got a small response, as though she were just waking up.

Liam? What's wrong?

Sunlight's voice sounded groggy, and I could almost see her wiping her eyes with her hooves as she sat up.

Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up. Nothing is wrong, but...

Liam, I can tell that something is bothering you. Your emotions aren't exactly calm right now.

I sighed softly and ran a hand down Dawnbreaker's blade.

I just...did you know what your pledge meant?

Once again, I could feel how Sunlight reacted. Her eyes widened a bit before she looked down and blushed softly, seemingly embarrassed that I had realized just how big of an impact her words had.

...yes. I know what my vow entailed when I made it. Remember Liam, I have seen your soul. I have seen who and what you are. I see nothing that would make me second guess what I said and promised to you.

She looked up and I saw a fiery determination in her golden eyes.

I stand by what I said. I will be your knight and serve you until you either have no need of my services, or until either of our deaths.

I smiled softly and tried to convey just how much her support meant to me.

Thank you, Sunlight...

Sunlight smiled back, and laid back down. She closed her eyes, quickly going back to sleep.

Anything for you, my friend.

I could feel tears welling up in my eyes and a single tear fell, landing on Dawnbreaker.

"Liam?"

Looking up into the concerned gaze of Celestia, I quickly realized the cause of her concern. To the rest of them, I had just been staring at my sword for several minutes before crying. I must have looked like a madman.

"It's nothing, Celestia. Just...confirmed something with Sunlight."

Wiping my eyes with my hand, I glanced around the room. A couple of the assembled ponies looked bored, while the rest seemed curious. In Fluttershy's case, she seemed concerned about me, but she looked away with another squeak when she realized I had noticed her staring.

"You were right. Sunlight knew what her vow meant. She doesn't regret it."

Celestia smiled happily and placed a hoof on my shoulder before moving her head towards me and softly nuzzling my cheek with her own.

"I'm so happy to hear that, Liam. While Sunlight can be stubborn, she is an amazing pony, and I can't imagine a greater ally for you in the coming days."

I quirked an eyebrow and looked onto Celestia's eyes with confusion.

"Coming days? Is something going to happen soon?"

Chuckling softly, Celestia held a hoof to her mouth.

"Oh, nothing of the sort, my friend. You will simply need somepony to teach you to control your magic and learn new spells from, and I can only think of one pony who might do a better job than Sunlight."

She looked over at Twilight, who seemed slightly crestfallen at not being the first choice to teach the alien magic.

"My faithful student, would you be willing to teach Liam more about magic when he has learned better control? Liam seems to have a knack for combat magic, and while I trust Sunlight to teach him what he needs to know, he will need someone to teach him what Sunlight cannot. Sunlight's talent was in her fire magic and combat spells. Your talent is magic itself, and you can easily fill in the gaps that Sunlight will likely leave. Will you do this for me, Twilight Sparkle?"

Celestia's voice took on a pleading tone near the end of her request. It seemed that she didn't think that Twilight would want to teach me magic. Understandable, given how we were introduced. After all, assault and accusations of using what I assume is dark magic doesn't exactly leave a good first impression. Twilight didn't seem to have the same reservations she did before our talk, since she started hopping happily around the room chanting 'yes' over and over with a large smile on her face. Her friends seemed to find this amusing, since everyone present had a small smile on their faces, even the otherwise grumpy Applejack.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! I would love to teach Liam magic!"

I looked at the excited purple pony and quirked an eyebrow.

"Well that was a huge shift in attitude. Before you didn't trust me in the slightest, and now you're literally jumping at the chance to teach me magic. Seems like a drastic change in stance."

Her jumping stopped and she looked sad for a moment before she locked eyes with me.

"Well...I don't entirely trust you, but...if Princess Celestia and Sunlight Spirals trusts you to that extent, then...I doubt you're even close to what I assumed you were."

I smirked and looked down at Twilight.

"And what exactly where you expecting?"

Twilight grunted in frustration before throwing her hooves up in the air.

"I don't know! Some kind of evil wizard, a destructive monster, something other than whatever you are!"

Chuckling softly, I looked down at Dawnbreaker before sighing softly.

"Oh, you have no idea just how destructive humans can be..."

That comment earned me a room full of curious and slightly concerned stares.

"What do you mean by that?" Twilight asked with a hesitant stare.

"I mean that humans aren't exactly peaceful all the time. Most are good people, but some would love to watch the world burn. As a friend of mine once said, 'all it takes is one idiot to ruin it for everyone else.'"

Twilight seemed hesitant to ask her next question, gulping before opening her mouth.

"So...which one are you?"

I just gave her a confused look before I realized something and started chuckling softly.

"Liam?"

Looking at Twilight's confused face, I couldn't help myself. I burst out laughing and winced from how much everything still hurt.

"Oh my god! I just realized! World burn! Fire magic! Holy shit, I didn't even mean to make that joke!"

I continued laughing for a few moments before the aching of my chest overcame the hilarity of the situation.

"Ow. Okay, no more laughing for me for a while. Well Twilight, I'm definitely one of the more normal ones. I had a standard job, with a standard house, and a standard life. I lived my life the best I could, tried to help where I could. I don't think the life I lived was particularly good or bad, but I definitely wasn't someone who went around hurting others for no reason. Not only is it illegal, there just isn't any point. I...I don't like hurting things."

I could feel myself tearing up again, and wiped the moisture away.

"When...when I first arrived in that forest, I was confused and scared. I didn't know where i was or how I got there, and I saw something that should have been impossible. I think it was a manticore, or it looked like the pictures I've seen in mythology books. It was dead and rotting."

A gasp interrupted me, and I turned to the source to see Fluttershy looking at me with relief.

"So you...weren't the one who killed him?"

Did they think I did that?

"No, he was that way when I found him. A couple moments after that, a timberwolf found me and chased me through the woods until I found that cave. I thought I was trapped, that I was going to die, but..."

Lifting Dawnbreaker until it was eye level, I smiled and spoke softly.

"Dawnbreaker was in the cave too. It started glowing when I found the determination to fight back, and then..."

My smile disappeared.

"Then it was over before I really knew what happened. All I clearly remember is striking the wolf with the sword, the wolf igniting into flames and crying in pain as it burned alive. I...i broke down. Celestia found me shortly afterwards, and I think you all know what happened after that."

Fluttershy's face had tears running down it, and she surprised everyone when she leapt forward and hugged me gently. I barely managed to move Dawnbreaker in time to avoid hurting her as she sobbed into my chest. Not knowing what else to do, I gently hugged her back and softly pet her mane.

"I'm...so sorry. Nopony should ever have to...to take a life like that...It must have been...so hard. There were...so many more outside too..."

I smiled softly at the shy pegasus and maintained the soft hug.

"It's alright. It...wasn't a happy experience, but it did show me just how powerless I would be without Sunlight. It showed me that I need to be stronger if I'm going to survive in this world. Besides, if there is one thing humans are good at, it's adapting."

Fluttershy sniffled softly and her crying stopped shortly afterwards, but she didn't let go of the hug. Twilight walked in front of the couch that I was resting on, and looked me in the eyes.

"About that. If you wouldn't mind, could you answer some questions I have about humans?"

I smiled as I continued petting Fluttershy's mane.

"Of course. I don't see why I couldn't."

Twilight smiled widely in response and her horn glowed before a quill and some parchment flew from her nearby desk and floated in front of her, surrounded by the same violet glow as her horn. She quickly scribbled something on the parchment before returning her attention to me.

"Alright, I guess I'll start off with the basics. What exactly do humans eat?"

I frowned softly at how I assumed they would take the answer. After all, it's clear that these ponies are entirely herbivorous, and they already had a less than stellar impression of me without adding 'predator' to the list of traits.

"Well...humans are omnivores. We can eat almost anything, with the exception of grass, hay, and quite a few kinds of flowers."

Twilight scribbled something down. Movement from another part of the room caught my attention as I saw Applejack walk over with a heavy scowl on her face.

"So let me git this straight. Ya eat meat?"

Twilight's scribbling stopped and she looked between me and Applejack before her eyes widened slightly, seemingly only realizing that fact now.

"I can eat meat. I can get enough protein from other sources like beans or spinach, so I don't need it."

Applejack's scowl deepened before taking an aggressive step forward.

"And how do ah know that ya won't eat a pony?"

I looked at Applejack's angry face and aggressive posture for a moment before laughing.

"Are ya mockin' me!?"

Waving a hand dismissively before chuckling softly, I could only smile at the question.

"Hell no, I wouldn't eat a pony. Humans are the only sapient species on our planet. Nothing else can talk or act like we do, so we tended to eat whatever we could when food was scarce. Only the most desperate and starving would resort to eating another person, and I see you all as far too close to human to even consider the idea. You're all obviously sapient and intelligent. I prefer it when my food isn't able to talk back."

Applejack's aggressive stance relaxed a bit before her face changed to an expression of mild confusion. The scowl returned as she snorted and started walking back to where she used to be sitting.

"I still don't like it..."

I doubt I was supposed to hear her muttering to herself, but I did.

Man, what is her problem?

"Applejack darling, must you be so stubborn about this? Liam did save us all from those timberwolves, after all. He was so dashing, like a knight come to save the poor damsels in distress."

Rarity fluttered her eyelids and swept a forehoof to her head in a dramatic swoon. Applejack only glared in response as she passed by Rarity.

"Ah don't see why yer so ready to defend him. You saw how readily he killed those timberwolves."

Rarity simply returned the glare with one of her own, and daintily stomped a hoof on the wooden floor.

"Well I don't see why you are so insistent on being rude to our guest. You've been acting simply dreadful, and you seem to get crankier with every new thing you learn about him."

Applejack stomped right up to Rarity and pressed her nose to the white unicorn's, looking even angrier than before. A feat I did not think possible before just now, for sure.

"What's so hard to git!? This critter is a meat eatin', violent, murderin' alien who could decide at any point that one of us would make a tasty snack and kill somepony!"

Recoiling with a gasp, Rarity's glare also intensified.

"He saved our lives, Applejack! He almost got himself killed protecting us! Unlike you, I recognize generosity when I see it! What could be more generous than giving your very life for others!? If you honestly think for one moment that such heroic actions don't prove somepony's trustworthiness, then maybe you don't embody your Element of Harmony as well as you think!"

Everyone but Celestia and Fluttershy gasped at the white unicorn mare's declaration. The yellow pegasus that was still hugging me was shaking, probably from the raised voice and conflict, and Applejack was turning an angry shade of red. No, really. Her fur started changing color to a bright red.

What the...

Applejack didn't say a word in reply, simply stomping over to the door before leaving the library, slamming the door behind her. I looked to the remaining ponies, seeing their looks of shock and surprise. None seemed to disagree with Rarity though, if the barely annoyed looks Rainbow Dash and Twilight shot her way was any indication. There was no real anger in the looks, just exasperation. Pinkie just seemed sad about the exchange, a sad frown on her face.

"Friends fighting isn't fun..."

Rainbow Dash looked towards Pinkie's sad face for a moment before blankly staring at Rarity.

"Really, Rarity? Low blow..."

Rarity looked at Rainbow Dash with a mildly offended expression.

"Well, I couldn't just allow Applejack to continue being so rude to Liam. He has done nothing to warrant that kind of behavior."

Looking at me, Rarity gave me a sad look.

"Really, darling. I'm so sorry that she treated you that way. Applejack can be stubborn, but I've never seen her behave like this before."

I sighed and looked at the floor.

"This isn't going to improve any time soon, is it?"

The white unicorn shook her head softly and sighed.

"I'm afraid not, dear. She can be quite stubborn when she wants to be. I don't know why she is acting this way, but I doubt she will change her mind any time soon. She's usually pleasant to be around."

I opened my mouth to reply, but I cut myself off with a sudden yawn.

"Oh geez. That was sudden, sorry about that."

Celestia, who had been quiet for the last little while, turned to me and placed a hoof on the arm that was holding Fluttershy.

"Liam, it may be time for you to get some rest. Staying awake later than you should won't help you recover any faster."

I nodded in agreement before softly patting Fluttershy on the shoulder.

"Come on Flutters. As comfortable as you are, I need to get to sleep."

Fluttershy squeaked, and I could see a small blush on her face as she pulled back from the hug.

"Did you...call me Flutters? And I'm comfortable?"

I smiled softly at the yellow pegasus.

"Yeah, you're pretty soft. As for the nickname, I thought it was cute. You don't like it?"

She blushed harder and averted her gaze.

"Oh no, I like it, I just...wasn't expecting you to give me a nickname."

Fluttershy looked back up into my eyes and smiled.

"I didn't get the chance to say it earlier, but...thank you for saving me, Liam."

I didn't get the chance to respond before Fluttershy gave me a soft kiss on the cheek. I did what anyone would do in that situation. I froze. Fluttershy giggled demurely and gently hopped off of me, heading for the front door.

"Wow...well, it was nice meeting you, big guy. I'll see you later, okay?"

"Yes, I do believe that Princess Celestia has the right idea. I do need my beauty sleep after all. Goodnight, everypony."

I waved at the ponies that were leaving through the library's entrance, noticing that Pinkie was quiet and still seemed sad.

I hope there isn't anymore fighting between them. It seems to hurt more than just them...

Looking around, I could see that the only ponies left were Celestia, and Twilight. Yawning again, I started to lay down and get settled on the surprisingly comfortable couch.

"Well...I think I'll be going to sleep now. I'll answer more questions in the morning, if you have any."

Twilight yawned as well, and rubbed her eyes with her forehooves.

Ha! It's contagious!

"Yeah, you're right. I think I'll be joining you. I wish you a good night, Princess Celestia."

I quirked an eyebrow at Twilight's phrasing, while Celestia looked mildly amused. The purple unicorn looked at my expression for a moment before hitting her forehead with a hoof and groaning softly.

"I didn't mean in your bed, Liam!"

"Well, it's really more of a couch."

Another soft groan was my reward, with an increasingly amused looking Celestia trying not to laugh at her student's misfortune.

"Goodnight, Liam!"

I could only chuckle as Twilight quickly trotted over to the stairs leading to the next floor, entering through the door frame before softly closing the door behind her. I looked to Celestia, and smiled.

"Well...guess I'm off to dreamland. Wish me luck, Celestia."

Celestia giggled and laid down nearby, levitating a book in her gold magic.

"I think I'll read for a while before leaving. Sleep well, Liam."

"Thanks, Celestia. You too."

I could feel my heavy eyelids begging to be closed. I put up no resistance, letting my eyes fall shut and falling asleep moments after.

Author's Note

Chapter Six is done! This took longer than I would like, but I like where things are headed.

As usual, if you notice any typos, errors, or inconsistencies, please let me know! An informed author is an improving author!