Twilight was standing in the training field with her blades ready, Celestia was carrying a mighty greatsword. Twilight sighed “Mum, are you really sure about this?”

Celestia nodded “I need to be able to protect my subjects Twilight, come at me with everything you have.” Twilight sighed before disappearing in a flash of light Celestia was barely able to dodge the first sword swing before the second one cut into her shoulder. Celestia winced as Twilight pulled the blade out and the wound healed.

Twilight frowned “You need actually guard against blades, parry and counter. In fact that’s where we will start, stand perfectly still and I’ll come at you with my blades. We’ll start with a minute without teleportation.”

Celestia prepared her sword, Twilight began rushing at her delivering a wide variety of rapid strikes. Celestia winced as the odd strike got through her guard but she did manage to block most of them. Celestia grimaced as the sword swings stopped “I am definitely out of shape.”

Twilight nodded “We are doing it again, until you can block all of them we will continue.” Several nobles who were looking for Celestia watched in shock as Twilight attacked the Princess of the Sun from multiple angles as her wounds healed slightly faster than they were inflicted.

Celestia sighed “I need to go, it seems politics is calling me.”

Twilight smiles “Thanks Mum, I’ll see you for more training later.”

Twilight teleported out of the room as Celestia walked towards the nobles, a large grey Adept with dark red hair known as Longwall frowned “Princess, I’m not sure you should be allowing a machine to fight with you like that. Furthermore I believe you should not encourage it’s delusions.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow “What delusions, as far as I’m concerned Twilight has no delusions. We have both made our positions clear on the matter.”

Longwall grimaced “It is a machine, they are tools to be used. They don’t have families, that’s not how it works. We build tools for use, not be living things.”

Celestia glared at him with disapproval “I once thought as you did, and I have been proven wrong. Sunset my first student was as alive as any others, she even gave birth to two kids. I may not have given birth to Twilight but I built her and she is the second of my two daughters, the first does not call me mum because I was a blind fool. Don’t bring this up again.”

A green Adept with a bright yellow hair hit him on the back of his head “You really are an idiot, Longwall. Twilight is a skilled individual, a better caster than most people are nowadays. I for one take pride in capability over bloodlines.”

Longwall growled “I am Duke Longwall, a descendent of Clover the Clever! I am more than a match for that little robot brat, Sir Lightning Stronghold I challenge you to a duel!”

Stronghold nodded “Very well, I’ll ask the Princess for permission to duel you in front of everyone.” The other nobles followed on eager to watch Stronghold get stomped by Longwall.

The nobles entered the throne room, Stronghold bowed “Princess, Duke Longwall has challenged me to a duel and I believe it would be beneficial for us to duel publicly.”

Celestia looked over the both of them before nodding “Very well, be ready for the duel within the hour.” It was not long before the two stallions were outside in a large grassy field are with seats either side protected by powerful barriers as Celestia was there to Oversee the duel.

Celestia looked over them “First person to be knock out or kill their opponent is the winner.”

Stronghold nodded before turning to Longwall who grinned “Are you ready to be beaten?”

Stronghold remained silent, Celestia’s assistant Raven commanded “You may begin!” Longwall grinned throwing a barrage of fireballs only for Stronghold to click his fingers the balls of fire turning into smoke, Longwall teleported behind his opponent about to blast him with lightning only for Stronghold to fade away.

Longwall growled “Fight back coward.” His eyes widened as Stronghold hovered above the ground his body surrounded with dark green magic as a three huge meteors hovered behind him, Longwall gasped “How can you do such things?”

Stronghold frowned “I am descended from Chaos, my bloodline has been fighting for Eons for the good of Equestria. Keeping those hidden in the shadows from striking at us for a long time.” With a click of his fingers the three meteors flew towards the the arrogant adept who desperately put a shield up only for the three meteors to crash right through it crashing into Longwall.

Stronghold looked down at the body of his enemy “Poor fool, he had no idea who he was challenging.”

Celestia frowned “A descendant of chaos, what did you mean by that?”

Stronghold bowed “Princess, Discord was far from the only one of his kind. At the same time he was probably the most insane of them, from what I can tell the Draconequi prefer parties, contests of power and general revelry.”

Celestia sighed “I believe I will need to locate the leader. I would rather have them as an ally than an enemy, Discord was bad enough without an army of him on our doorstep.”

Stronghold nodded “The Draconequi live deep in the ancient forests far from Equestria and going there would be difficult to say the least.”

Celestia nodded “Very well, thank you for the information Sir Stronghold. I have a lot of investigating to do.”

Meanwhile Dyna was watching the events closely “I may need to contact Sunset soon, I’d rather not deal with Celestia if I can help it. Immature immortals are so frustrating to deal with.” Dyna continued to watch hoping that her nation would not be intruded on.

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed what I did with this chapter.