Seven Schools, Seven Heroes

Spike had just gotten out of his bed. He looked at his clock and saw it was 8:30. His class didn't start until nine, so he wasn't in much of a hurry. He got dressed into his black and white school robes and decided to head out to get a feel for the school. When he went out of his dorm, he was met by Ember, who asked, "Hey Spike, you're up early. I was going to see if you were awake yet. I wanted to talk to you about the problem with the undead. To be honest, Professor Luna actually asked me to talk to you about it."

Spike raised an eyebrow, "Professor Luna wanted you to talk to me about the undead? Why? I thought first years couldn't go on the streets with the undead."

Ember nodded, "That's true, but you're going to be allowed out there sooner than normal. Professor Luna's sister, Headmistress Celestia sees something in you and the girls. I'm not sure what it is though. Anyway, Professor Luna used to have a split personality. Her bad side, she was called Nightmare Moon. Two years ago, the two of them split apart, by accident. Luna thought she could use a special spell to lock Nightmare Moon away, but things went wrong. We're not sure, but some people subscribe to the theory that Nightmare Moon is causing this undead problem."

Spike scratched his chin, "It would make sense if you think about it. But why would this Nightmare Moon be doing this?"

Ember started explaining, "Nightmare Moon was conceived from Luna's jealousy of her sister. Luna was able to get over it, but Nightmare Moon still inhabited her mind, and then the split occurred. If Nightmare is behind the undead, chances are she's trying to drive Celestia from her position as Headmistress."

Spike sighed, worried about this and asked, "Has Nightmare Moon ever targeted Death Students?"

"Unfortunately, she has. Nightmare Moon is a much more powerful Necromancer than Luna is, and she thinks that she can convince students into joining her by showing off her power. I actually have scars from when I refused to join her." Ember lifted up her robe's left sleeve, showing a large scar, running up from her wrist to her shoulder.

Spike's eyes widened when he saw Ember's scar, "Wow, that's terrible... I'd better be careful if Nightmare Moon tries to recruit me."

As Ember let her sleeve fall back over her arm, she told Spike, "Yeah, you should. Why don't we get some breakfast?"

Spike's growling stomach answered for him, "Sure, I could use something to eat." and followed Ember to the mess hall and got some bacon and eggs. "It's been a long time since I've had food like this. Almost everyone in Mooshu was a vegetarian, so it wasn't too often I could eat stuff like this."

After Spike and Ember finished their breakfast, they headed to class. Luna greeted them as they arrived, "Good morning Spike, good morning Ember. I assume you two talked about the undead problem?"

Ember nodded, "Yes ma'am, I filled Spike in on everything you asked me to."

Luna smiled, "Thank you, now please take your seats."

When the rest of the class arrived, Luna began a lecture. "The Death arts are a highly misunderstood school of magic. Death is connected heavily to the Life School. All life eventually comes to an end, nothing can stop that. However, there are a rare few Necromancers who don't understand this. These few try to cheat death, and it never works out for them. I implore you all to remember this, death is unavoidable. It would be wise for all of you to accept that. However, fearing one's own death will not get you far. We Necromancers accept the fact of death, and live our lives to the fullest. But that's enough of that. For all first years, please approach me in a single file line to receive your first spell card, and your sparring practice deck. This deck is not to be used outside of the Duel Arena on Unicorn Way."

Spike got up from his seat and approached Luna and looked at the new Spell card she'd given him, Dark Sprite. He was excited to get a chance to use it, but wasn't sure he'd get a chance.

As Luna finished giving out the decks, she said, "Now, we have a reservation at the Duel Arena, so all first years, please follow me. All second years and above, please remain here and study for tomorrow's yearly review quiz. I don't want any of you to have forgotten anything you were taught last year."

Luna led the first years to the Duel Arena and walked into the arena. "Now, all of you will have different sparring partners every day. The first duel will be between Spike and Gilda."

Spike looked over to Gilda, the griffin girl from Aquila. She didn't look back towards him, she just walked into the arena and shuffled her deck. Spike followed suit and said, "May the best wizard win."

Gilda rolled her eyes, "Oh don't worry, she will."

Spike had the first turn, so he cast a Death Prism on Gilda, which would change his next Death Spell into a Life Spell. Necromancers were weak to life magic, so it was a good idea."

Gilda drew a card from her deck and smiled, "I cast Doom and Gloom!" Doom and Gloom was a powerful spell that increased the strength of all Death Spells cast by anyone in the duel.

Spike sighed looking at his deck. He passed his turn, "I still need a bit of time... Hopefully I can do this."

He heard Twilight's voice call out from the stands, "Good luck Spike! You can do it!"

Spike smiled as Gilda cast her next spell, a Dark Sprite, "This may be the best I've got, but Doom and Gloom still increases its power!"

As Spike was effected by the magic of the Dark Sprite, he grumbled lightly, "This isn't going good." he looked at his feet, seeing he had gotten a Power Pip. He chuckled lightly and said, "Now I have enough Pips to cast this! Vampire!" He cast the card, and summoned a vampire in a coffin. The top of the coffin opened up, revealing the head of the vampire before it turned into a bat and bit Gilda. After it bit Gilda, the vampire let out a gasping breath towards Spike.

Gilda fell to her knees, weakened by the Vampire, her eyes widened as she heard Luna say, "That's enough! Spike wins!"

She growled saying, "No! I can't lose like this! I cast-"

Luna's voice bellowed loudly, "Enough! Gilda, you will be serving detention with me today!"

Gilda squealed out of fear and nervously said, "Y-Yes professor..."

Spike left the Duel Arena and returned to his dorm. "Professor Luna can be scary when she needs to be... I'd better stay on her good side." He started getting ready for his next class, which was Alchemy.