I said “Cara, I’m glad for the chance to reinvent myself.”

Cara replied “Blueblood, why did ya want this, ya a powerful noble. Ah mean Ah knew ya said that ya wanted to be useful but where did this come from?”

I sighed “My father, he always told me our responsibility was to serve the crown and defend with our lives I learned how to fight with a sword using my hooves rather than magic. Even after all these years of being a prince I thought despite being rusty I thought I could still defend myself but when the changelings attacked I ran like a coward, if my father saw me today he would climb out of his grave and kick me out of the family!”

Cara responded “Ah see, ya respected ya father a lot.”

I told her “I did when a small group of Griffins raided Canterlot he gave his life fighting to defend the foals in the school. By the time the guard arrived he had already drawn his last breath.”

Cara said morosely “Ah’m so sorry for bringing up bad memories.”

I smiled slightly as I said “It’s not your fault, I am the one who has damaged our family’s reputation and now it’s time I take responsibility.”

Cara smiled “Ah’m glad to see ya conviction, ya will make a fine member of the hive.”

I replied “Thank you Cara, I’m eternally grateful for the opportunity.” Cara smiled as the train stopped. I nodded as we both walked through Ponyville. We walked up to a huge crystal castle. I asked “Why are we here?”

Cara replied “Ah’m heading in to give Twilight the book, we need to keep in contact remember.”

I said embarrassed “Oh I forgot, sorry about that.”

Cara smiled as she said “It’s fine Blueblood.”

I sat there for hours thinking (Father I’m sorry, I’ve failed you and everypony else.) I closed my eyes for a few moments

A familiar voice said “Don’t worry, you’ll do fine I’m glad you're making a change.” I woke and I saw the moon in the sky.

Cara said “Come on sleepy head, we got to set up the conversion.”

I asked “Why didn’t you wake me up?”

Cara told me “The conversion is easier if ya are not tired and ya it seems like ya were exhausted. Are ya well rested now?”

I said “I am let’s get this done.” We arrived in Sweet Apple acres and I saw a small staircase made out of a strange material in the ground. When we entered through it was quite large. I asked “How did you get this done so quickly?”

Cara replied “Ah asked Thorax for help, his hive helped set this up for us.” I nodded as I looked around only to see Applejack floating in a pod. I saw a different one in front of me.

Cara asked “Are you ready?” I nodded as I jumped in and felt the warm liquid matte my coat. Then all went dark .

I woke in a strange looking arena. A voice said “Hello son.”

I gasped “Father, how are you here?”

My father said calmly “I have unfinished business here my son and since when did you forget to call me by my title, you need to prove yourself to me again, you have 2 weeks before this pod opens.”

I said “Head Captain Blueblood, sir does this mean you're a ghost ?”

He said with a smirk “Yes I suppose it does” then his smirk vanished “I have 2 weeks to kick you into shape.” I nodded and he tossed me a sword I caught it with my hoof and got into the stance my father taught me.

He said “I’m glad you haven’t forgotten everything, maybe there is hope for you yet.” I watched as he beckoned for me to start. I charged at him only to be kicked backwards.

He said “Sloppy, I trained you better than that just because I’m old and my speed is hampered even further by my armour is not an excuse to be complacent and charging is foolish if you are not capable of landing the first strike.” I watched as he gripped his sword and rushed me, I couldn’t even blink before I felt a blade in my gut. I blinked for a few seconds before blacking out.

I woke to see my father standing over me, he said “Well that’s one day down. I will teach as much as I can in the day, on the last day you will face me.”

I asked “Sir, how am I alive?”

My father replied “This is not real, your body is a construct of your mind which is rebuilt every day.”

He said “I’m going show you how to parry and counter.” He held his sword out, I swung only for his blade to block mine. He said “Parrying is all about speed and attentiveness, you are distracted, focus completely. You will try now.” I watched as he swung and I was drew my blade only for his sword to stop in front of my face. He shouted “Try again.”

After 10 tries I blocked his first strike. I said “Thank you sir, I think I’m getting it.”

He said “You have a long way to go, let’s see if you can parry a barrage of my swings.” I nodded and after the best part of 3 hours I finally managed to succeed. He said “Good that is the first stage, tomorrow dodging.”

The next day went horribly even as he showed the techniques from jumping and rolling to complex techniques such as moving slices, I had failed each one. I snarled “Why am I failing?”

My father smiled “I know you can do this or else I wouldn’t be here. Your mind is clouded by doubt and fear.” I nodded as I prepared for the next day. 1 week passed and I was still stuck. I snarled “This is ridiculous, I am trying as hard as I can.”

My father asked “Remember what was said in that movie we watched, Lights of the Stars Episode 5.”

I said “Yeah, Lightning Startrotter was mentored by Master Stormeye.”

My father said “I think you need to take the guiding words he said ‘Do or do not, there is no try.’”

I asked “What do you mean?”

My father replied “You are trying but you are not believing in yourself, don’t tell yourself to try, tell yourself to do.”

I nodded and over the next few days it finally clicked I said “You were right sir, I shouldn’t have doubted myself.”

My father nodded and said “The final lesson is hoofwork, where to stand and how to move.”

I nodded as I watched his movements and copied his movements to the best of my ability but I stumbled often. He said afterwords “You have stumbled a lot today but keep pushing never give up and never surrender, that is the way of a fighter, soldier and a leader.”

I nodded and after 3 days of practising the time had come, a duel between me and my father. I swung several quick blows to test his guard before slamming it with a large swing only to be pushed back. He said “That was impressive you tested my guard and then struck at a weak point, you made it too obvious and I played along.”

I realised I was off balance as his sword swung against my guard with impunity. I delivered a sharp blow to his chin before slamming him back. I realised there was no way to meet him from the front, his defences were good and his armour was formidable.

An idea formed in my mind and darted sideways before launching a strike at his side knocking him down and swinging my blade at him only for him to parry at the last second. I took jumped backwards the charged forwards. I smiled as he tried to pulled the same manoeuvre he did in our first fight and I ducked under to swing my sword at his from behind knocking it out of his hand.

I put my sword to his neck and said firmly “Yield.”

He nodded and said “Very well, I yield you proved the point, you are ready. Here is one last gift a heirloom of our family.” I watched as a sword materialised in my hoof it read “The Soulblade of the Blueblood family,” It was engraved underneath “Made by Blueblood the 1st.”

I cried “I don’t deserve this.”

My father smiled as he faded away “The fact you said that is exactly why you are worthy of it.” I woke in a room and looked at my hooves to see white fur but underneath I could see blue chitin.

Cara said “Prince Blueblood, come with me.” I followed her into a large cave building covered in maps and weapons.

She pointed to the end of the line and I stood besides several other changelings. She said in what appeared to be in my head “(You are the ones who wished to join the hive’s military and for those who perform well will get promoted.)” I heard the lings next to me cheering eagerly.

Cara trotted over to me and said “Prince Blueblood you are looking good, those white wings suit you.”

I said “Blueblood is the family name,” I paused for second to look at my flank, my Cutie Mark had changed “My name is Iron Compass and I will protect this hive with my life.”

Cara smiled as she said “Well Prince Iron Compass, it’s time to put your words to action.” I nodded as I ran into the training room summoning my family’s sword.

Author's Note

I hope you enjoy this chapter. Also Texus thanks for giving me this idea for a chapter.