Shadow of a Sword

Blade had begun to get the basics of the written language down. It was taking far longer because he did not have any system that would provide a shortcut. In the end what had gotten Blade to truly try learning was Twilight telling him that she was not going to review the reports from Shining for him anymore, instead he would have to read them himself.

Blade was in as close to a good mood as he was capable of. He was finally going to get a chance to push this body after the physical damaged had been healed. With this, he would finally be able to tell how much of his powers were active. He expected to simply wipe the floor with Shining Armor even if he was only at half strength.

Twilight said that his behavior did not qualify for a free match. Blade would be required to go over all his powers and what information he had for all the Princesses. She said it was important to understand how exactly they could use him in the battles that would be coming with his old enemy.

The Princesses had all arrived this morning, but Twilight had insisted that he go to this waste of time school. They reviewed music and manners today. Neither of which he cared about. He made a point to sleep through them as Cheerilee had simply said that his injures must be bothering him more today.

After school, three fillies had chosen to try and engage him in something called getting a “Cutie Mark.” Blade believed this was an adulthood ritual where they tattoo something onto each of their flanks. After telling them that Esper skin regenerative abilities prevent tattooing and scaring. The three fillies began to back up mumbling something about how he was in for a surprise. I think

As Blade approached the castle, he saw a pony that had been absent since the first time that I had awoken. She was a very light purple with a darker purple mane with a light blue strip in it. If he remembered it correctly Twilight called her Starlight. Which was weird because that was just a different way of saying the same thing.

“So, you’re the colt that got the jump on me. I hate to say it but I thought I was better than that.” She spoke up as Blade approached,

“You should have been facing my direction instead of looking away. Even if you were still reading the book you could have looked up.” Blade countered,

“Ahh thanks, I will try and remember that for next time I have to watch a murderous colt.” She said derisively, her words dripping of sarcasm.

Blade just continued walking and ignored her. It was clear Starlight did not even register on his list of concerns.

Earlier that day

Celestia was reading the reports, handing them to Luna, who passed them to Candance and Shining Armor who were reading them together at the head of the dinner like table. Fluttershy was sitting with Twilight at the other end of the square table. With Discord floating above them staring at the ceiling.

“So, Twilight is there anything else that’s not in your reports that you feel like we should be aware of?“ Celestia says with her personal smile that she saves for those she cares about.

“No, my report is very complete.”

“Yes, I see that.” Luna says lifting the twenty-page report that covered a nearly minute by minute synopsis of the last week. “Though I feel that I must request that I be allowed to enter his dream realm. If his memories were damaging enough that merely glimpsing them resulted in us having to erase the memories of a small filly, then it’s clear that he is just a ticking time bomb.”

“I’m surprised to say that I find that I agree with my sister. He keeps talking about his enemy. Yet, everything that we have seen shows that he is as dangerous as this enemy could be. He did not react at all when he heard how he had hurt that filly and his next action was to go after the Element of Laughter.” Celestia intoned solemnly,

“I’m sorry Princess. If you read to the end of my report, you begin to see how harsh the world that he came from. I think he has been avoiding telling anything about himself. Yet, the clear way he always shows no emotion and calls himself a living weapon. That shows a level of trauma, yet he is not even remotely open to beginning helped. I don’t think he is going to allow Luna into his mind.” Twilight insisted,

“If I may,” interrupts Shining, “I think that if anyone can learn the answers to the questions you needed answered, it’s me.”

“Shiny, I don’t mean to question honey, but why are you going to be able to do better than Luna? Her dream magic is all about the mind.” Cadence questioned,

“Respect. His way of reacting to Pinkie tells me he is a solider down to his bones. I learned more about him from how he moves than from Twilight’s entire report.”

Twilight seemed to get a little annoyed at this, “Like what?”

“First, he is not just saying that he views himself as a tool. During our little match he ignored his own condition. I’ve seen true soldiers like that. Captain of Squad Four, Iron Wall, is a lot like that. He would destroy himself without a moment’s hesitation. It was a trait that he had to beat out of me and himself. A soldier can throw his life away, but a commander must remember that he needs to lead and must be willing to let others die for them.” At this, Luna and Celestia both flinched. During their long lives both of them have had to relearn that lesson numerous times.

“I know that most of you still have a hard time trusting me,” Discord spoke up, “but I have read all of the memories that were exposed in that storm. I have never lied to you all even before my reformation. Misdirected maybe, but never lied. I am telling you that he was an anti-hero in his world. I also have bad news.”

“Discord is this what you been upset about? You missed this week’s tea party.” That seemed to shock everyone. Discord cared more about Fluttershy then anyone. He never missed a tea party with her.

“Yes, Fluttershy. Celestia, Luna, I can’t tell you much, but whatever this enemy of his is, it will have a direct impact on Equus. It’s still too weak for you to notice now with your lack of experience. No, whatever this thing is its effect is spread thinly instead of focused so I can’t locate it. This is likely the last time that you will see me until this is dealt with. I must remain somewhere else to prevent him from leaving a permanent stain. Goodbye.” With that Discord snaps and disappears.

“That did not seem like Discord” Fluttershy mutters.

The room seemed colder. The fact that Discord, the powerhouse that they had hoped to use as their last resort, was gone. He had been serious. Something that had become far too common since Blade had appeared. It had been several moments of silence before anyone spoke.

“Sister, I think that we need to redouble our efforts. This is not like another one of the evils we faced, for it to make Discord focus on just it…. Not even Sombra had this sort of power.” Luna said ominously,

“Twilight, how long before Blade gets out of school? I want to create a list of questions ready before he gets here.” Celestia says calmly,

Blade entered the Map room to find everyone sitting around it looking at him. “Lets get these questions over with, I have my own reasons I need to stretch my powers.”

The whole group felt that he was being very rude.

“First I want to know exactly what this enemy of yours is. You just call him the enemy, you have yet to explain in detail.” Celestia, of course being the first to talk,

“That because I don’t really know that much. He called himself LOST I know that he was the force behind the Ultick and the Surgeon. All I really know that he was invulnerable to everything that anyone else could throw at him. I developed a unique technique that could hurt him. So I did. He feeds on pain and suffering. He spreads it so that he can feed.”

“That not a lot, young colt. You don’t even know what he is?”

“No.”

“Ok, second question, you called yourself a weapon. What details can you give on that? Maybe we could replicate your powers.”

“I am a class zero Esper. I use space pulled through my body from an artificial space created by the Doctor. I then form it into a Blade that cuts the space between the atoms. Yet, that would not help defeat LOST. The technique that defeated him was based on concepts that I don’t even understand myself. Until I truly understand what’s left of my powers and if it’s possible to regain them, I will not even be able to show it to you.”

The sound of Shining Armor’s head hitting the table was the loudest sound in the room. “So. You can’t even begin to show us anything until you get what you want?”

Cadence put a hoof on her husband’s shoulder. “Ok, my question. You call yourself an organic weapon. How did that happen and just how close are you to a true life form?”

“I was created through the sacrifice of a human organism, I do not know his name. He was disposable. I was then built from the parts after they had been modified. The Surgeon would then review the body using the energy from the artificial space that is instilled and the body would then be heavily modified. The mind of Esper is very different as well. We lack the emotions of a human and are not capable defying the programing instilled by the Surgeon.”

“You said that the Surgeon worked for this enemy of yours. That should mean that you serve Lost, yet you call him your enemy how does that work?”

“The Surgeon miscalculated.”

Twilight seemed to think that through. “One last question. Why are you the way you are.”

“I am a Berserker-Class Esper, built with a class four emotion suppression system.”

“Wait emotion suppression system? So you do have emotions just suppressed? That’s not what you just said.” Candance seemed to pick that point to focus on.

“Esper’s were built with suppression system because emotions are useful in tactical planning yet experiencing them would be a hindrance. So, we are aware of what emotions that we should feel, but we don’t experience them.” With that Blade turned right and trotted out the door.

Blade was waiting outside when the everyone caught up to them. He was stretching. “I have answered your questions, now we will serve my testing needs.”

“Well, I would not say you answered all our questions. But I think it will be more valuable to see you in action rather than waste time trying to get more answers out of you” Shining Armor sighs.

In the next instant everything changed. Blade’s sword was already coming down on towards Shining Armor. He reacted with his trademark shield, it flickering to life faster than the blink of an eye. The blade bounced off the shield.

“I had forgotten that your shield is one of those things that can stop a single blade.” With that, a heat haze of swords seemed to stack on top of the original making the sword to seem to vibrate. “Well then lets try ten then.” He swung his sword again and instead of bouncing off it took a chip out of the shield, surprising everyone.

“Please tell me that you did not think I was that weak.” More hazes of swords seemed to appear, but the sword did not vibrate more. An air of power began to grow off it. This time, when he swung it, it cut right into the shield nearly taking Shining Armor’s head off.

At this point the blade got stuck. Blade made a look to focus as sweat began to pour down his fur, matting his mane. At this point, his eyes shrunk to the size of pinpricks. “Thats not possible. Thirty? I can’t only have thirty. I am a Class Zero.” His muscles bulged and he ripped the sword out as the shield regenerated. Blade focused all of his power and sliced through the shield, forcing Shining to retreat. Blade face began to take on the look of someone giving into the rage.

“Enough! Shining Armor, I think I will take over this fight. Blade, you don’t have any problem with that?” Celestia called as she stepped onto the battlefield,

“Ooo. You have the aura of a warrior.” With those words Blade switched targets. Celestia’s shield was not as strong as Shining’s, but she made up for it with the ability to give it a more bouncing effect. Her shield absorbed the momentum of the swing as a result the blows bent her shield instead of being cut.

“Huh. I never thought to use my shield that way. Though it would have a clear advantage against someone like Blade.” Shining Armor mused as he joined the onlookers,

Celestia was feeling confident, she made the shield far larger than it needed to be, but her mana pool was large enough she could keep this up for days.

“Heh.” Blade laughed, “You would so be worth drawing him for.”

Yes! Yes!!! Draw me!

“Oh, do you think you have a way to beat my shield? I don’t think you’re as powerful as you think.” Celestia chided,

The look of fury that passed Blade face surprised Celestia. “I will show you the true power of a Esper, that conquered life.” His hoof hit the ground with enough force to leave cracks. “Come, Immortal Blade.” As he lifted his hoof of the ground a hilt followed. Then, hate fell like a blanket. A wash of red and black aura flowed from the spot on the ground and it was as if the doors to Tartarus itself opened. The guard of the sword was wider than Big Macs shoulders, the blade that flowed from that guard was lager then any blade had any right to be, as long as Celestia was tall. Worse was the face that was on the center of the guard, cast into the metal of the blade, screaming in pure anguish. A face that reminded both Celestia and Twilight far too much of the humans they had seen in their travels to the human realm. The repressive aura of hate pressed down like the depth of the ocean. There was one thing that pressed into everyones mind, this blade, was alive.

Yes! Freedom! Battle! Bloodshed!!! Finally!

“What is that sword colt?” Celestia demanded coldly,

“This is the Immortal Blade. It will regenerate from any damage and contains the ability to hold my power without end. It is the greatest weapon in my arsenal. I forged this blade in battle against an enemy that should have taken my life, instead he became this sword. It is also the blade that will crush you, Princess.” Blade answered with what sounded almost like real emotion.

In this moment, Princess Celestia was disgusted by this colt. Did he not realize that there was a soul trapped within that blade? That he had performed the most evil art that existed, Necromancy? He had bound a living soul to that claymore in order to grant it greater powers. This broke every rule that Equestria had! After a second though, She remembered that the rules were different where he came from. Yet, things would have to be made clear, that soul needed release.

“Blade! That soul you have trapped within that sword must be released! Here, in Equestria, we have strict laws against the manipulation of souls!” She shouted,

Blade just laughed. “I don’t even know how I made this sword, and even if I were willing to give up my greatest weapon on your command, I would not have a clue how.”

Well, that settled it for Celestia, it sounded like he both was unwilling and unable to release the soul so Celestia would have to do it for him.

“Then I will release it. For no soul shall be enslaved in my kingdom.” Firing up her horn she channeled a spell that she had not used in hundreds of years. Blade turned the sword sideways to use the massive sword as a shield. Yet this just showed Celestia the target that she was looking for. As the spell slammed into the sword Blade dug into ground to absorb the blow. Instead of blowing him back though, Blade found the energy absorbed with no recoil into the Immortal Blade.

“Ha! your spells are not as impressive as you think! They did not even manage to move me!” Blade taunted,

“I was not aiming for you.”

CRACK!

The sound was like a whip right next to the ear.

CRACK!

Blade Dancer turned to find his great unbeatable sword now had cracks spread throughout the entirety of its form. “ Tha- thats not possible! This sword repairs itself from damage!” Still cold without the panic that was to be expected.

With that, the sword shattered, and the red aura spilled forth to form a fog which seemed to eat into the souls of everyone there.

“I am going to Kill You!” screamed a new voice.

Still surrounded in the ever-increasing red fog, which everyone realized was eating away at its surroundings like acid, where there was once one colt, there now stood two. A second had appeared from nowhere!

The new colt was bright. His fur was like spun gold and shined as bright as Blades did in the light. It was a very uncommon color. His mane was the color of beaten gold which was several shades darker than his coat. This coloration would have made him look like a statue if it were not for his quick aggressive movements as he was grappling Blade. His eyes, filled to the brim with hate, were the color of amber.

It was at that moment things took a turn for the worse. Blade cut the other colts head off.

The colts body kept moving with grace, though clearly off balance, as it picked up its head and placed it back on its shoulders. At this point, everyone else was lost as to what was happening. "Did you really think that would work?!" The colt shouted, "You couldn’t kill me before, that’s why you had to turn me into a sword!" he screamed as he bit down onto Blades ear.

“Ok girls, I’m not sure what we should do.” Twilight said rapidly, “I mean, we should stop them, right?!”

Celestia was marching forward to get between the two of them. “I don’t know what you two are doing, but I am sure you can come up with a more peaceful solution then trying to kill each other.”

With this, both colts both turned and punched Celestia simultaneously with force to knock Celestia out cold. Everyone was shocked, the fact was that no one had ever punched Celestia. Her personal guard were trying to tackle the two colts. Yet, even with six full grown stallions pressing down with full force, two of which were earth ponies, they were still fighting back. It was honestly impressive. Then all the Guards were thrown off as the two colts went back at each other.

The amount of red fog had grown, becoming a full grown storm, a maelstrom that was reaching ever higher. The Guard was forced to retreat as the fog was now scraping away at the enchantments that protected them and their armor. As they retreated out of the red storm their personal coat colors had shown through in spots as the enchantments began to break down.

“What is with these colts and storms?!” screamed Rainbow Dash.

It was at this Fluttershy stepped forward. “Boys!” With this, both colts, now shadowed in the storm, turned towards the stern mare, surprising everyone. “I’m well aware that you two must hate each other with a fiery passion, but look at the damage you’re causing. Assaulting the Princess! You two should be ashamed of yourselves! If you want to fight to the death, then do it properly in a setting that is not going to drag lots of ponies into the middle of it. Just look at all this red fog! Did you even think about how to clean this up?”

“BU-!”

“No buts out of either of you! You will calm down and we will settle this like the grown ponies you think you are.” Normally this sort of tactic would not have worked, yet for reasons not clearly understood by either one they could not look away from the mare as she gave them the lecture. Blade was also noticing the red fog. This universe was getting annoying, it seemed any small amount of perfectly normal killing intent was ruining the world.

They both seemly had one last thing to say in their defense,

“He started it!”

That’s when both colts passed right out. In Blade Dancer’s case, for the second time.

“Wait do they have horns?” Twilight was noticing that after the storm both of them were unicorns. “Why? How?! Blade was an earth pony not even a hour ago!”

“It possible for him to have changed. We know that his form was in flux when he arrived. It could be when he went through the release of the other colt from himself he opened himself up to Equis altering him to a form that the world felt fit better for him”, Luna says with interest.

“Well, alright, does anyone have any ideas how we can prevent these two from killing each other the moment that they wake up?” asks Princess Luna.

“Why don’t we simple split them up and move them to opposite sides of the country?” suggests Applejack.

“No.” interjects Celestia,

“What? Sister! What do you mean no?” asks Luna, confused

“I can’t explain why, but we must help bridge the hate between them and form some sort of understanding so that we can make a move have them fight together in the battles that are to come.” Celestia says. Luna knew immediately that this was about Celestias dream that first morning. The arrival of this second colt had made it clear that something bigger was going on. “The enemy that came from their world is something only they can fight. Don’t any of you remember what Blade said when fighting Shining Armor? “That’s not possible. Thirty? I can’t only have thirty. I am Class Zero”. It’s clear that he is not as powerful as when he last fought this great evil. He is going to need the power of a second one of his kind. I want ideas, now. Is there any magical solution that could help weaken the hate or forge a bond between these two so that when the time come they are not standing alone?”

“I…… might have an idea” Cadence said concerned. “But it’s not something I am sure I feel comfortable doing” Candance speaks up from the back of the group. “Its a spell that I created back during my days of watching foals. It makes siblings get along. I’ve only done it before with an actual parent’s permission”

“Candence how is that going to make them get along? They’re not siblings.” Twilight said, trying to reveal what feels like a clear flaw in the plan. “At least, I assume they aren’t…”

“The spell was to make foster siblings learn to get along. It works by making a parent a center of the spell. They are the source for the magic. I bind them to their parent and create bonds through that.” Cadence explained,

“I don’t know how I feel about this,” Twilight says. “I mean what are we even talking about. Trying to force a relationship?”

Luna spoke next “I know Twilight, but the situation makes it necessary. We know that their powers will be needed. Besides, you saw what happened with that one colts head. I don’t think its even possible to control something that ignores things that are supposed to kill you.”

“Then I will cast the spell Aunties. But we need to know who is going to be the parent for them. I suggest one of us. I don’t think anyone else would have enough magic to affect them through whatever defense these strange powers give them.” Cadence confirmed,

“I will do it.” Twilight spoke up, “The rest of you are so interested in controlling them, but someone needs to think about their future. Blade is so damaged and this new colt is most likely going to be just as bad. Someone needs to focus on their mental health.”