Rageshift

Chapter 3

Training Begins

Day 1—late afternoon

“WRONG!” Blacklight shouted as magic dust flew.

“I’M TRYING, BUT YOU’RE TOO ROUGH!” Twilight shot back.

“WE’VE BEEN AT THIS ALL DAY AND YOU CAN’T MANAGE A SIMPLE SHEILD! DO YOU THINK XERXES WILL BE SO MERCIFUL? HE’LL KILL YOU THE MOMENT HE GET’S THE CHANCE!”

“WELL YOU COULD BE A LITTLE MORE SUPPORTIVE!”

“SUPPORTIVE? DO YOU THINK I GOT TO BE AS POWERFUL AS I AM BECAUSE LIFE WAS KIND TO ME? I FOUGHT FOR MY LIFE CONSTANTLY! …Though I suppose you’ve never had tough love before with this spineless ruler looking after you,” Blacklight gestured to Celestia sitting on her throne. The two were training under Celestia’s watch for the moment. It had been decided that the two princesses would take turns in surveillance duty.

“WHO ARE YA CALLING SPINELESS?” Applejack shouted.

“Remember our agreement Applejack. You’re allowed to be here so long as you keep quiet, and don’t interfere,” Blacklight reminded her.

“Ahm not gonna sit here and let ya’ll insult the princess just cause she’s not gonna say nothin’ on account of ya’ll knowing her dad in yer time!”

“Then leave,” Celestia warned.

“But princess with all due respect—”

“I’ll only say it once, dear Applejack. I don’t agree with being called ‘spineless’, but I never have been very hard on Twilight. Even during her grievous mistake of enchanting all of Ponyville. If Blacklight wishes to teach Twilight as such that is how it will be.”

“But ahm—”

“Leave us,” Celestia ordered. Applejack scowled at Blacklight before leaving. Fluttershy on the other hoof remained quiet.

“Don’t you have anything to say?” Blacklight asked, “I don’t imagine the wielder of kindness being okay with my teaching methods.”

“It’s okay,” Fluttershy said, “I’ve had to give tough love myself a couple of times. One in particular was a dragon that was clouding Equestria’s skies with its snoring.”

“As I recall Twilight saying, you made the scaly beast cry,” Celestia said.

“Well that was only after it attacked us, so why are you okay with this?” Twilight asked.

“Well Xerxes already attacked us once, so I think the same rules apply,” Fluttershy explained.

“How level-headed of you,” Blacklight commended, “Now again Twilight.” Blacklight’s horn glowed and launched another magic projectile, and Twilight responded with a magenta shield made from her magic just before it struck her. The shield counteracted the blast, but shattered upon doing so.

“WRONG! Focus your magic into a solid flat surface.”

“I’M TRYING!”

“TRY HARDER! Remember, you still need to use your levitation spell to hold it in place. TRY AGAIN!” Blacklight attacked again, and Twilight attempted another shield. This time the shield stood.

“I…I DID IT!” Twilight hopped about in excitement.

“DON’T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN!” Blacklight shouted as he attacked again. Twilight failed to recover from her excitement, and was struck in the side of the head. Twilight flew through the air a few feet before hitting the ground; holding her head in pain.

“TWILIGHT!” Celestia yelled as she disappeared in light to appear at her side, “Twilight, are you all right?”

“That was too much Blacklight!” Fluttershy scolded. Blacklight merely looked at her, completely void of any emotion. Twilight stood up with her head hung low. Her gaze shot up as she yelled.

“You…YOU JERK!” Twilight yelled, and as she did she opened her eyes to reveal they had turned red, and her pupils had disappeared.

“If you let down your guard for a moment in battle you will die,” Blacklight responded while returning his attention to his new student. Blacklight’s horn glowed again as he launched several magic blasts at her. Celestia’s horn glowed as she attempted to defend her, but Twilight’s coat turned a near white orange, and her mane and tail burst into flames. She created a new shield made from flaming magic, which stopped every projectile Blacklight had created.

“20. 20 attacks, and not even a flinch,” Blacklight noted aloud, “Now you see what kind of power Rageshift grants.” Twilight lowered the shield and charged him screaming in a focused rage. Blacklight was unimpressed though, and didn’t move an inch.

“Come at me you whelp,” Blacklight taunted. Blacklight created his own shield in preparation, which Twilight bashed through with a simple hoof strike. Blacklight stood firm, and Twilight back-hoofed him, sending him flying into the wall. The wall collapsed as Blacklight crashed into it, and Twilight started to gallop at him again.

“TWILIGHT STOP!” Fluttershy and Celestia yelled. Twilight’s eyes widened in shock as she grinded to a halt, and then she closed them. She reverted to normal, and her eyes were violet and pupiled when she opened them again. Celestia teleported to the collapsed wall and started digging through the rubble; tossing stones away with her magic.

“Blacklight? Where are you? Can you hear me?” Celestia asked franticly.

“You’re only concerned for me because I knew your father,” Blacklight’s voice came from under the rubble. When Celestia dug him out he limped out; using one hoof to hold his jaw in place.

“Nice back-hoof,” Blacklight said through his teeth, “My bones are hard as steel from having been broken so many times, and the correct dietary amount of calcium helped me reach that too. Now here I stand with a broken jaw, because of your Rageshift. Are you beginning to understand the power you possess?”

“Oh goodness!” Celestia exclaimed, her hoof held against her chest in shock.

“Tell me you at least know some medical magic, Celestia. Medical magic is just one of many things your father excelled at, and I hope you inherited that from him at the very least,” Blacklight said still holding his jaw.

“I am experienced in that field, yes,” Celestia confirmed as she regained her composure. Her horn glowed, and after some sickening snaps Blacklight stretched his jaw muscles; rotating his jaw in every way.

“At least you least you gained that much from your father,” Blacklight said. Celestia smiled shyly.

“You idiot,” Blacklight remarked. Celestia’s smile vanished.

“You’re so obsessed with the fact that I was your father’s advisor that you’ve been desperately trying to obtain my approval,” Blacklight explained, “You can’t even see when I’m patronizing you, and you’re letting it interfere with your duties as ruler.”

“What do you mean by that?” Celestia asked; clearly confused. The chamber door opened and Luna trotted in looking even more confused.

“Sister? Have I been un-informed of a schedule change?” Luna asked.

“What do you mean Luna?” Celestia asked.

“You should have set the sun an hour ago you twit,” Blacklight deadpanned.

“OH MY GOODNESS!” Celestia shouted.

“You forgot?” Luna asked. Twilight pulled a face-hoof, and Fluttershy sighed with her head hung in embarrassment. Celestia shuffled about frantically trying to explain her error.

“Oh goodness no! I’m so sorry Luna I just lost track of time and I—”

“Will you shut up already?” Blacklight deadpanned again.

“Uh…I, um,” Celestia stopped and tried to think of something to say, but nothing came out.

“Could thou just set thine sun already sister?” Luna asked.

“Yes of course! So sorry,” Celestia said as she trotted to the west window. Luna trotted to the east window, and both princesses did their celestial duty of changing day to night, despite the fact they were late.

“I’ll say it again: you’re a twit,” Blacklight mocked. Celestia returned to her throne without a word; still embarrassed. Luna sighed and trotted for the door.

“Why did you wait an hour to point it out?” Blacklight asked before she left.

“What?” Luna asked as she turned back to face him.

“It’s a straightforward question: why did you wait so long to point out that the night was late due to Celestia’s error?”

“I was…busy, with other things,” Luna replied hesitantly. Blacklight eyed her suspiciously. Luna became visibly uneasy and started for the door.

“Well I have things that require my immediate attention, so if you’ll excuse me I must be going,” Luna said as she trotted away. Blacklight slammed the door shut with his magic before she could leave.

“It’s hard to fool a pony whose special talent is perception,” Blacklight reminded her, “Exactly what are you hiding?”

“I do not answer to thee nor anypony else you arrogant FOAL!” she screamed in response. Her expression was one of pure rage as her eyes glowed white, wings spread, and magic at the ready. She put herself in a stance ready to charge at him while he just shook his head.

“You let your anger control you so quickly,” he said in disappointment, “400-500 years of life I estimate and you can’t control your own emotions. Shameful really, and here I thought you were the more mature of the two.” Luna’s magic was causing whirlwinds and stormy clouds to appear in the throne room.

“YOU LITTLE FOAL! HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY!” she roared using the same spell to amplify her voice that she used for the Canterlot speaking voice.

“Princess stop! He’s just egging you on and you’re scaring Fluttershy,” Twilight yelled in urgency. Luna looked at Fluttershy and went into a state of shock. Her magic ceased and her eyes returned to normal. Fluttershy was scared stiff, hiding herself under her wings and hooves, and shaking like a leaf. Luna forced her gaze to Celestia, who was staring at her in fear. Of what Luna already knew.

“I must leave,” she said quickly before subsequently teleporting out of the room. Blacklight looked at Celestia with a look of curiosity.

“Does that happen often?” he asked her. Fluttershy was slowly creeping out from underneath herself now, while Twilight still stood in disbelief of what happened. Celestia gathered herself and narrowed her eyes at Blacklight.

“I think it’s best that we retire for the evening,” she suggested.

“Perhaps so,” Blacklight agreed to everypony’s surprise, “Most ponies can’t keep up with this level of training for so long. Good evening to you princess.” Celestia nodded and left the room in a flash of light. Blacklight returned his attention to Twilight.

“I must say it’s commendable how durable you are Twilight,” he told her, “Must be in the blood.” Twilight snapped back to reality by shaking her head furiously.

“Huh, wait, what?” she asked, “What do you mean?” She cocked her head in confusion.

“Mentally and physically you’re quite durable,” Blacklight told her, “Not many ponies could continue magic training like this for so long and not be gasping for breath on the ground. In addition that blast I hit you with was quite powerful. Rageshift or not I didn’t expect you to recover so quickly.” Twilight was surprised at the praise she was suddenly receiving from the stallion that blindsided her.

“Despite the fact that you need practice in properly channeling your rage, you will make a fine warrior in time,” he told her, “Simply put though, that back-hoof should have been stronger given that you were in Rageshift.”

“What?” Twilight asked.

“In Rageshift even a novice is able to effortlessly lift a hydra off the ground,” he explained, “But only when it’s a focused and purposed rage, not blind rage like yours. You would have more than just broken my jaw otherwise. Had you been coherent even I would have been weary of you.”

“Wow. Rageshift is more complicated than I thought it would be,” Fluttershy thought aloud. Twilight sat down to take in the new information.

“I must apologize however,” Blacklight said, causing both fillies to pull a double take, “Normally it’s against my code of honor to blindside an opponent as such, but I am teaching you to fight Xerxes, so I made an exception.”

“So she’s really that far along already?” Fluttershy asked.

“Yes, and for future reference: I never lie,” Blacklight told her.

A thought suddenly occurred to Twilight. “You said ‘it must be in the blood’,” she pointed out, “What did you mean by that?”

“From the research I’ve done on the wielders of Rageshift before you I know that each of them was an accomplished warrior in the Equestrian army, although there were no records of them using Rageshift while in service,” he told her, “Information I only gained since coming to the castle. During the last break I was flipping through military records, though I could only find records during Celestia’s reign. Records of Sol’s time seem to be stored elsewhere.”

“What about siblings?” Twilight asked.

“Actually yes,” Blacklight confirmed, “Siblings of Rageshift wielders seem to be exceptionally skilled in combat magic, both offensive and defensive. I’d assume you’re asking because you have a brother or sister in the Equestrian military at the moment.”

Well I don’t have to explain it to him at least. “My brother, yes. Shining Armor,” she told him, “He’s actually the captain of Celestia’s royal guard, but he’s on leave right now.”

Blacklight cocked his head in curiosity. “Why?” he asked.

“Why’s he on leave? Nothing major,” she told him, “He got married about a month ago and left for his honeymoon the day after.”

Blacklight closed his eyes and smiled as he seemingly became lost in memory. He absently gave a happy sigh. “Now that’s a feeling I know all too well,” he said softly.

“Sounds like you were married yourself,” Fluttershy pointed out. His eyes shot back open and he returned to his normal stature.

“I’m not here to discuss my past with you all,” he said sternly, “Leave it be.” The words were obviously meant as a warning.

“Blacklight!” Twilight scolded.

“Sorry,” Fluttershy said, “I didn’t mean to dig up old ghosts. Oh wait.” She stopped to try and think of a different way to put it.

“It’s fine,” he told her, “Just don’t do it again.” The butterscotch mare nodded in agreement, then yawned, which caused Twilight to yawn too.

“Celestia was right,” Blacklight said to both mares surprise, “It would be best to retire for the evening. I’m off to continue catching up on Equestrian history.” He trotted out the throne room door and shut it behind him.

“Rude much?” Twilight shot, “He could at least say goodbye.”

“Well he’s not very social,” Fluttershy pointed out.

Twilight looked at her with an eyebrow raised. “Why are you taking his side?” she asked.

Fluttershy pawed at the tiled floor nervously. “I just think there’s more to him than we know,” she admitted, “Besides, we need his help either way.”

Twilight sighed. “Alright you got me there,” she admitted.

“Besides,” the pegasus continued, “What he did in his life isn’t our business, and it’s not like something he did back then would effect us now.”

“Except for Xerxes,” Twilight reminded her.

“He didn’t have a choice Twilight, and you know that,” Fluttershy scolded.

Twilight sighed in response, which turned into yet another yawn. “You’re right, you’re right,” she yawned, “Okay I’m sorry, but I can’t stay awake another minute, I’ll see you in the morning, okay?” Fluttershy nodded and the two finally left the throne room, going separate ways to their respective destinations, but Fluttershy wasn’t going to her room.

***

Day 1—early night

Fluttershy trotted among the different flowers in the garden like she had before, and once again the creatures that lived there scattered in fear of her. Likely because they remember what happened the last time she was there. She sighed and gave up; she wasn’t about to cause another scene.

She left the garden and roamed around the castle walls, until she saw somepony up on the hill to the right of the castle. They say curiosity killed the cat. This is true. It is also true of everything else with a pulse. Fluttershy approached the silhouette of a pony, and could already guess why it was a silhouette against the moonlit hill.

“Hi Blacklight,” she said as she approached him. He turned his head to look at her.

“Hello Fluttershy,” he said softly, “Honestly I wished you’d given me a couple more seconds to guess. It’s a little game I like to play sometimes.”

Fluttershy sat a couple feet from him. “What game?” she asked.

“Let’s see who’s behind me,” he told her, “After knowing somepony for some time I can recognize their trotting pattern. You’re very light on your hooves you know.” Fluttershy nodded and looked out over the cliff. She could see Ponyville from this spot.

“I remember when that wasn’t there,” he thought aloud, more to himself then to Fluttershy, “Just a large field.”

Fluttershy thought for a moment, but couldn’t fathom an answer to her question. “This place is special to you isn’t it?” she asked quietly. He nodded in response.

“You know…I did most of my growing up after I became the advisor,” he told her to her surprise, mostly because she was shocked to hear him openly talk about his past after what he said, “I was young, rash, and very arrogant, but Sol saw how wise I was. He gave me a better life, and for that I am eternally grateful…and now…he’s gone.” She could hear his voice starting to crack as he spoke. She didn’t need to look at him to tell he was holding back tears.

“You two must have been very close friends,” she thought aloud, much to his dismay, “I’m sorry Blacklight, please don’t cry.” She put a foreleg around his broad neck as he shook, trying to hold back tears.

“I just can’t believe he’s gone.” His eyes were clenched shut, his ears flattened against his head, and his teeth were clenched shut.

“I can’t imagine what you’re going through,” Fluttershy whispered. She’d never seen somepony in so much pain before.

“He was the first pony to believe I could be something more,” Blacklight admitted, “and he was right. Now what do I have left? Not a thing.” The full force of being alone was finally hitting him, and the only thing dulling the pain was a gentle grip over the back of his neck. Then he realized something that dulled the pain enough for him to stop shaking. He finally opened his eyes as he thought of it.

“Thank you,” he told her. Fluttershy blinked a couple times in confusion.

“For what?” she asked.

“For being my first friend in this day and age.” He lowered his head to the ground and fell asleep afterwards. His small breakdown exhausted him mentally to the point where he could no longer stay awake. Fluttershy looked at him, then over the cliff again. Poor Blacklight. She contemplated trying to take him back to his room, but he was too big for her to move alone.

After a few minutes of sitting with him he awoke for a brief moment and teleported away. Fluttershy could see the dull flash in the spire his room was in from where she laid. She could understand why. Sometimes somepony just needs to be alone with their thoughts, emotion…or even pain.

She finally got up and trotted to her own room. She laid down and finally let herself fall asleep. She was as exhausted as Blacklight was. The poor filly just put his needs above her own desires, like she does with everypony. If Blacklight were to see her then he would most likely tell her she’s truly worthy of the Element of Kindness.