Finding Freedom

"I think you're a fool. Abandoning that body was the last mistake you will ever make. That form couldn't be hurt, although it couldn't hurt anything either. Now back in your human form, that is no longer true. I can subdue you much easier now."

"Blah blah, evil guy cliché talk. Let's talk with steel!"

I swung my blade to point it at him, "Unless you're scared?"

"I'm literally shaking."

"Well that's a lie."

"Indeed. However, since you have abandoned your peaceful form, I shall do the same."

Luna instantly went rigid, and her eyes rolled back into her head. She fell to the ground slowly and didn't get back up. Nothing happened for a few seconds, until a bright light flashed. I was blinded for a second, and I tried to open my eyes. When I did, I found myself facing a typical male. Nothing special about him actually. Well built and a shaved head, but honestly there was nothing remarkable about him. He was taller than me, by about a foot. He was wearing a plain white shirt, and jeans. Another flash, and he was holding a large two-handed sword.

He looked up at his blade and said, "This will do nicely."

I've never actually been in a real sword fight. I got lessons back when I was a kid, but I never actually used them. I used to pretend that I was a knight or something. The man started charging at me, saying nothing.

Throwing caution completely out of this world, I ran at him sword stuck out. Right before we clashed, I dived to the floor and slashed up at him. He jumped unrealistically above and away from me.

"Now that's just cheating."

"I call it a tactical advantage."

"You're just too scared to fight on an even playing field."

"More like too smart."

"Fair enough."

I once again rushed at him, but this time I kept my blade close to my body. He started to swing overhead, and as a certain unforgiving game has taught me, I dived to the side at the very last second. That would be when the blade is already coming down on you. His claymore smashed into the ground, and a very painful sounding crunch echoed out. It served to remind me of my own frailty. This wasn't back on earth, where if I died I was okay with it. If I died here, apparently this guy could take my soul before it could do anything.

Rethinking my strategy, I backed up from the man and called out, "Morkar any advice?"

"I would suggest hitting him."

"Why don't you come down here to help?"

"I'm a scholar, I don't fight."

Big help he is. I ducked as another swing from the claymore that sailed above my head. I jumped to the side once again as the blade came vertically at me. I was seriously outclassed here. I had joined the big guy league without even training. Yeah that sounds like something I would do.

Throwing strategy to wherever caution had gone, I drew my blade in close and rushed. The man stood his ground and waited for me. As I got close, I jumped to the side and struck. A metal ring, and a nasty vibration up my arm, were the results. I jumped back before he could cleave me. I tried again and this time tried to slide under him.

He had been expecting this move, and swung the flat end of his blade down at me. It hit me in the ribs and I went flying. This time the pain came, and it hurt. I staggered to my feet, barely even noticed the cries of warning. I looked up in time to see the man towering over me with his claymore behind his head, ready for a final strike. This time instead of jumping to the side, I threw myself forward and head butted him.

It…worked. He fell back, but my head was aching badly. I looked up to see the rest of the ponies trying to get to me. They were being held back by some force field.

"I couldn't have your friends interfering now could I?"

I watched him carefully, and I heard Morkar's voice call out, "Use the knowledge I gave you"

Oh right. I stopped running and concentrated. Nothing happened, except that I had to move before I was in pieces.

"How do I do that?"

"You forgot that too? Do you remember anything important?"

I dodged another swing and struck back only to hit metal once again, "Only if it has to do with food."

As I struck out to keep the man on the defensive, I was hit by energy from behind.

"That should jolt your memory."

Oh and it did. So much for being a scholar, Morkar knew more about fighting then he should've. It was weird, I knew things, but I had no idea how I knew them. I jumped back one last time.

"No more running."

The man spoke up, "Good, I'm tired of chasing you around."

"Just one question."

"Oh?"

"What's your name?"

"Why?"

"So when people ask about the regulator I killed, I can tell them his name."

"Like that will happen."

Fear left me, even as he advanced on me, the claymore looking very dangerous. I gave him a wild grin, and charged at him screaming, "CHEESE FOR EVERYONE!"

He stopped moving for a second, confused. I took that moment to strike him in the gut with the handle of my blade. He clutched at his stomach, and I turned and kicked his head. He swung wildly to keep me off of him.

"Your skill has improved vastly."

"Nah, you just suck more than usual."

With nothing holding me back, I went all out. Again and again I hit him, but I never landed a cut or a stab. I could bruise him, but not make him bleed. He was however losing, and I started to get hopeful. He suddenly sent out a wave of power that knocked me down.

"Enough sword play. Show me the extent of your willpower."

"Uh… What?"

His claymore vanished with a snap, and the man held his hands together.

"Physical prowess will not win you any battles. You must also have enough willpower to overpower your enemies."
Still confused, I almost didn't get out of the way when a beam of energy came at me. I dodged to the side, and had to jump right away as another beam narrowly missed. Once again foreign knowledge flooded my body, and without even thinking I shoved my blade into the ground. I put my hands together, focusing much like I had when using magic with my wings. I focused on my focus turning into raw power in my hand. I felt the power rise, and prepared to fire it.

However, I couldn't resist. Even in a life or death situation, that could determine the fate of all existence. I put my hands to my side and started chanting.

"Ka me ha…."

I stopped chanting as I dodged another beam. Pissed off that I hadn't got to reenact that moment I shouted, "Asshole!" and fired. The energy left my hand at a tremendous speed. It felt good to be honest. I began firing more balls of energy at the man, who erected a magical shield.

I tried to use different types of magic, but I couldn't find the knowledge. I didn't know how. Well giant energy balls it is. We both began firing at each other, with me dodging the shots, and the man shielding himself.

honestly this fight felt a little cliché. Like a boss that has several stages, you know where you fight them in different ways. It stopped feeling cliché when an energy ball skimmed my ear. A burning feeling was spreading throughout my face. I touched the spot and went white. My ear was completely gone, and the wound had been cauterized right away.

Reality once again took hold as I realized what would happen if I was hit directly, or worse hit in the head. I shook myself, sending these thoughts away. I needed to focus, not get distracted. I brought forth another ball of energy, and fired it. This time instead of letting go, I held on. A beam of energy was formed, and this time the man fired his own beam. In classic dragon ball style, our beams connected.

At first I tried pouring my energy into it, but I was surprised when nothing changed.

"This is a battle of will power, not of physical energy. You must fight with determination."

I didn't have time to worry about why my enemy was helping, I just focused in a different way.

"If you're trying to overpower me, then it won't work. I have a will of iron. I will succeed in my mission and nothing will stop me."

He was right, no matter what I did, I couldn't bring forth any power. The beam didn't slowly come back, but nearly instantly. I threw my hands up, wishing I had some sort of shield. I was thrown far, and landed painfully on my back. There wasn't a gaping hole in my stomach, but there was enough pain to keep me on the ground. I felt like just laying there and letting him finish me off, there was hardly a chance for me to win.

The man got distracted when the barrier fell. Morkar, who had claimed he wasn't a fighter, began throwing all kinds of magic at the man. The ponies all gathered up and prepared to charge him. I was too far away to hear anything, especially with only one ear. I tried to pick myself up, but the pain held me down. I looked up into the sky, watching snow fall around me. A small patch away from me had been stained red. Must've been from when he burned off half my face.

Nopony was out right now, as most stayed indoors during the snow. The commotion outside must've convinced them to stay inside even more so. There was no one to stare at me on the ground. Only me, the ponies, disembodied voice guy who now had a body, and Morkar were out. It was funny, I could almost hear Christmas music playing, as I laid down in the dirt.

I looked back over to the fight that was going on. All the ponies had once again been trapped inside cubes of liquid. Except Pinkie, she was laying unconscious on the ground. Morkar was waving around a whip of energy and keeping back the man. It was a nice light show to watch. The man threw an energy ball through the whip, and Morkar dropped it, and brought up a shield. Morkar had this under control, a master wizard could pick this up where a man, not even, a kid from earth had failed.

The pain was starting to get to my head and I had to look away and lay my head down. If I hadn't been in so much pain I would've jumped up in surprise. I was laying down next to myself.

"Not you again."

"Actually it would be, 'not me again' but that's unimportant. The important part is that you're losing."

"Well now I feel better."

"You need to get up and get back in the fight man!"

"Morkar's got this one."

"No he doesn't. Look this fight is about pure willpower, the determination to win. Morkar doesn't have as much desire to kill that guy as that guy does for him. You, or I, do. We have enough determination to conquer the universe."

"That sounds like the ambition that nearly got me killed."

"But you're still here. Besides that ambition got you off of Earth. You can do anything my friend, just go at it 100% and you'll do fine."

The pain started to clear away again, and I jumped up to my feet. "Thanks figment of my imagination, you're right. I can't just lay on the ground like some loser. I'm Silver the immortal spirit who will free all of existence, I think I need to remind people of that."

The other me gave me a questioning look, "Figment? Oh no I'm from the future, so remember to do this when you're done fighting, or else the next you won't exist."

"Wait what?"

"I'm just messing with you… Or am I?"

With that he disappeared. I really hoped he was joking, or would it be me who was joking? I shook myself once again, ignoring all of these thoughts. I picked up my blade once more and looked over to the fight that was going on. Morkar was hiding behind a shield that was slowly cracking as the man shot a continuous stream of energy at him.

"Hey! I didn't hear no bell."

The man looked back at me in surprise, "Well well, look who wants another beating. Perhaps I should take your other ear."

I put my hand to the side of my face and concentrated. An icy sensation covered my face and I pulled my hand away. Where there had once been horrific burns and scars, was the rest of my face, ear included. Thank you Morkar.

"Which one?"

The man glared at me and left Morkar alone. He approached me once again and said, "Haven't you had enough? Do I really need to contain you first?"

I grinned at him, "Sorry, but I always ask for seconds."

After saying that I threw another stream of energy at him. He countered with his own stream and they locked together once again. I focused on my will to beat this guy, and to crush that smile of his. It apparently wasn't enough as the beam once again nearly snapped and flew back at me. I held on, but only just.

I tried to push even more will into the beam, but nothing happened. I was once again on the losing side of this battle. Well not anymore! My side was going to be the winning side, if not because I'm fighting for true freedom, then because I'm on this side. The people back on earth, who hated the life they were given, whether they were poor, bored, depressed, or any reason at all. The ponies here, who had not once ever been in real trouble, but now were face with a crazy guy. All of them needed me to win this. The spirits of people I had met, and the spirits of those that I didn't know yet existed. For everyone I would wipe the floor with this guy.

Determination once again filled me, and I pushed with everything I had. I poured all of my determination, from getting revenge for my breakfast, to freeing existence, into the beam. To my satisfaction, the beam started to head in the other direction. Of course it did, it wasn't going to hit me after all. The man suddenly stopped laughing and took on a serious face.

"Playtime is over then."

He began pushing back, but I already had this in the bag. I was going to win no matter what. The beam reflected my confidence, and it snapped once more. This time it struck the man and he went flying. He landed face down, but he didn't wait long to pick himself up.

"Where do you draw this power from?"

"I don't draw it from anywhere, it's already there. Just like you have already lost. Face it, you never had a chance."

"You don't know that!"

"Yes I do actually. See I'm Silver, the immortal spirit. I'm the guy who is going to stop you and the rest of the regulators, and set existence free. I'm going to let every soul decide for itself where it wants to be. They won't be contained any more. So you might as well give up."

"Now who's making cliché speeches?"

"What can I say? I love the theater."

We stopped talking and the man summoned his claymore once again. I didn't bother hoping around this time, I met him head on. Our weapons clashed and a metal sound rang out. I heard the ponies cheering for me, apparently they had gotten free. Even Pinkie's voice could be heard.

"Don't worry guys I got this one!"

I struck once more, and the clang resounded once again. The man jumped back putting some room between us. I held my blade in both hands facing him. I rose it above my head, but dragged it around to slice horizontally. He blocked it, but barely. I had finally managed to cut him a little, and blood seeped out of the wound.

His eyes went wide when he saw his own blood.

I laughed and said, "Oh that's right. You don't have a soul do you? I wonder what happens when you die? Are you a machine to be shut down?"

He didn't respond, and I knew I had pissed him off. He didn't waste time, and swung rapidly at me. His attacks were sloppy, but effective in keeping me away. Looks like I would need just a little bit of help to finish him. After blocking a few more swings I called out to the ponies.

"Hey, could I get a friendship beam or something?"

They all gathered together and began forming one.

I looked back and narrowly dodged a swing. Looks like I would have to keep him a bit busy. I leapt to the side, and came at him with an over head swing that he blocked. He reached out and punched me with one hand. I stumbled back from the blow, but the gin stayed on my face. Victory was close, I wouldn't be denied. I blocked another one of his swings and kicked at him. I connected, but it didn't do much. The man flinched, but didn't move.

The mares were still charging, so I swung my blade once again, using only one hand. As expected our swords clashed, but taking a page from his book, I leapt up and punched the man in the face. A satisfying crack could be heard. Good thing to because that was hard to do, and I wouldn't be trying again soon.

The girls had finished the beam and shot it up in the air. Acting on knowledge that wasn't mine, I reached out and drew it close to me. When it got near I held my blade up to catch it. My blade became surrounded in the rainbow energy, not the coolest, but still pretty cool. The man was on one knee looking defeated. I grinned as I clutched my sword with both hands and pointed it forward. I began running at him and shouted,

"Magic of Friendship Stab!"

I lunged with the blade.

(To be continued….)

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(Right now! =D)

My blade never made contact. Well with the man anyway, it probably hit the dirt somewhere. As I lunged the man quickly got to his feet and grabbed my blade. With his other hand he brought forward his claymore that had been laying on the ground. I couldn't do anything and he shoved it into me.

Time didn't slow down, and I felt the pain that came. My life didn't flash before my eyes, I was just simply stabbed. I was lifted up and most of my muscles shut down. Shock was probably going around somewhere in my head, but I couldn't feel it. I could feel the giant blade embedded in my stomach, and it hurt. The man's mouth was open, probably laughing I couldn't hear. The only thing I could think of, was wiping that laugh from his face.

My right arm, that had previously held what I thought would be the end of this fight, moved as all of this was happening. I reached into my pocket, and felt what I had been hoping for. The one thing I still had from Earth. My ipod was gone somewhere, my Katana was now a straight blade, and was flying away from me. My fedora had been cut down to size by Rarity (forgot to mention that didn't I?). My necklace was stashed wherever Twilight kept the bits I gave her.

The snow beneath me had been spattered red, and all the mares faces were showing shock. Morkar looked on with a grim face. Lunar wasn't even looking at me. With one final push, I flipped open my butterfly knife and shoved it into the man's face directly in between his eyes.

All of that happened in probably 5 seconds. It sounds like a lot, but for me it wasn't. The rest of my senses came back to me. I could hear hooves and screaming, I could hear crying, and shouting. However the thing that comforted me the most, was that I couldn't hear the man laughing.

He fell to the ground, and I fell with him. Pain temporarily flared as I hit the ground. I couldn't see anything, as I was facing away, and I wasn't about to turn myself over. Something landed in the snow next to me, but already my hearing was fading. I struggled to keep my eyes open. Hopefully that guy was dead for real this time, otherwise he would 'contain' me. I should've asked Morkar about that.

My blood began pouring out staining the snow. Odd, I wonder if the ponies had ever seen blood before. I couldn't feel most of my body anymore, and the pain had receded to a dull throb. I stared into the eyes of my enemy, and with satisfaction, saw them empty and lifeless. A yellow face came into my failing vision, but it was to blurry to identify. I had only a few seconds left, and just enough strength to say one last thing.

It's a hard decision, the final words of your life. Last time I had said nothing, but this time I just repeated what I had said earlier this day.

"Cheese for everyone…"

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(For real that's the end of the chapter)