“So are you gonna go over there or are you just going to stare at her?” Rainbow dash impatiently shouted down my ear.

“Jesus, you don’t have to fuckin scream down my ear...” Walking ever so slowly towards the pretty watcher whilst rubbing the inside of my ear with my index finger with irritation across my face.

Stepping just in front of her she eyed me curiously as I did the same. It took a moment before she spoke.

“I’ve been watching you for a while, Mr Johnston,” she said whilst staring intently into my eyes.

’Really? I didn’t bloody notice!’

“So I’ve heard, also just Elliott is fine, no need to make me sound like my dad.” I grimaced at the use of my last name, it makes me feel old.

“Apologies, Mr-” she began.

“No need for formalities, I'm not Royalty, far from it actually.” I slightly chuckled whilst alternating my weight between feet out of impatience and since I hate standing for too long.

“Do you need to pee?” The maid asked whilst tilting her head down and then back up to me.

“What?? No! Never mind that! What are you here for exactly?” I asked half shouting anxiously, she then eyed my sword on my hip.

“I would like to test your abilities in one of the duelling domes you passed on your way here,” she said whilst pointing to one of the massive areas fit for thirty-plus people to fight against each other.

“Wait wait wait, why do you want to figh- and you’re ignoring me,” I said whilst she had already grabbed me by the wrist, pulling me along I decided to dig my feet into the ground to stop her advancement but after another tug, she was literally pulling me through the fucking ground.

’How fuckin strong is she!?!?’

She continued to drag me away, making my arm feel like it’s going to be torn off. Whilst the others followed behind, Rainbow snickering with Fluttershy and Twilight surprisingly glaring a hole into the newcomers head.

‘Jesus Christ! Twilight help me! I am beginning to NOT feel my arm!’

Reaching out my other hand towards Twilight in a desperate attempt at wanting to be saved, thankfully though, Twilight acted like a true waifu and teleported me out of Hulk-chan’s grasp leaving my wrist to be a bit sore and raw.

“What do you think you’re doing? Corporal Boreal Fafnir?” Twilight said getting in the maid’s face. I went to stop her but I was cut short by the others.

“Apologies your majesty, I forgot to ask for our young master's consent; I was merely interested in his abilities and I simply wanted to see for myself,” she exclaimed whilst also having a staring battle with Twilight, clearly she wasn’t going to back down. But before it could get out of hand I intervened.

’Did she just call me master? Heh, Another thing I'm going to check off on my mental list of things I’ve wanted a girl to say to me.’

“Twi, don’t worry about it, I’ve been meaning to have a bit of training and from my earlier outburst, I’ve wasted enough time as it is,” I said shushing her up completely with a show of my teeth, she looked away.

“Boreal was it?” I asked, looking for confirmation. This got the attention of the stoic maid.

“Yes, Corporal Boreal Fafnir; One of the Twelve Virtues of Aristotle, I am the second virtue, Temperance. And also your superior and trainer starting tomorrow morning, young master,” she said with a slight bow of her head, the cuteness making me smile slightly. And a certain someone huffed.

“Well fuck; It looks like I'm going to get annihilated tomorrow then, hell even right now, never bloody mind tomorrow. But what the hell? I’ll take you up on that offer love, but don’t expect any surprises out of me.” I declared with a cocky grin on my face. Twilight and even Fluttershy went to protest but I held out my hand to stop them.

“Don’t worry, It’ll be fine, if something bad happens we will stop, won’t we Boreal?” I said giving the maid a sideways glance.

“Yes, do not fret your majesty, I will stop if our young master here can’t take the ‘heat’ as the youngsters put it.” Boreal said whilst eyeing me again with her icy stare.

‘You know, I can never read her, and that’s saying something.’

I gave Twilight another smile whilst rubbing the top of her head, Twilight was slightly taller than me making me having to arch my wrist slightly, but I managed. Giving her one last pat on her head I pulled away and she looked disappointed. I walked past Boreal and headed to one of the appointed ‘battlegrounds’ as I would’ve put it. Then Boreal followed behind me. Most of the guards were back at their respected spots of training and exercise.

“So, how does this work then? What are the rules?” I asked whilst we both stood on the edge of the forcefield in front of us. Most of the guards took notice of this and slowly the others that hadn’t noticed had now begun to turn their heads. Twilight and the others had caught up with us and were waiting to see what was about to go down, Rainbow Dash looked like she could hardly wait, anticipation and excitement were literally dripping from her. I, however, was a bit nervous, other than a quick one-sided fight with Celestia and now I'm going against possibly one of the strongest in this damn castle.

“Anything goes, there are three rules, no killing, no fatal blows, and to stop when either one has had enough or collapses,” she said whilst motioning her hand towards a small floating board just above the magical barrier, and it had the list of the rules she had called out. Along with it two empty boxes for what looks like names, but I'm not sure on how they’re going to get them, probably just chalk it up to magic.

Boreal Fafnir entered through the ethereal wall itself, like slimy water wrapping around her form before rippling off after she had completely step fo- hoofed? Yeah, not gunna go there either. After she had entered I also went in; now the feeling of going through a magic barrier is like if you’ve gone through a wall of slime or water and it was oddly soothing but yet really fucking cold. I wonder if fire barriers are warm?

Upon entering the duelling ground itself it was quite expansive, somewhat smaller than a coliseum but just enough to give anyone the movement space without worrying about the barrier walls themselves. As we both entered the giant space, most of the guards crowded again just on the outskirts of the walls. As Boreal Fafnir got to a decent enough distance we both waited for something. I didn’t have a clue on what we were waiting for but I stood still for but a moment.

Then a bell sound toned throughout the area making us look up to the board once again, our names and faces along with rank had appeared on both sides of the whitish hologram, although it was just magic, nothing to do with technology. My rank, of course, was zero, whilst Boreal’s had an impossible amount of wins and points. Now, this scared me because she had since stopped looking at the board and was staring straight ahead towards me again but with a different feeling, and intense one. This did make me take a slight step back and Boreal did somewhat notice because I saw her eyes dart to my feet and then back up again.

But like last time, against the wolves, then the Princess, I steadied my breath, if it was one thing I was magically good at, was to keep calm in really bad situations that could be proven fatal if I made a misguided step. Or if I simply hesitated. Now I knew she wasn’t going to kill me, but, since I know she’s going to be my superior and trainer starting tomorrow, I have a suspicious feeling that she’s going to be really hard on me.

’This wasn’t going to end well, I could feel it.’

I stared back with a ferocious stare of my own, the clouds looming over giving the surroundings a grainy look to them as shadows danced across the grass. Seeps of light had escaped and gleamed off of everyone's armour. Until the clouds finally covered everything within a thin blanket. My sword trembling in anticipation. I had my right hand just ready to draw at the handle. My left thumb just under the guard to flick it open at fast speeds like a trigger.

My breathing was apparent, adrenaline had now coursed through all my veins, my eyes locked on one being at all times, looking for different body languages to know when an attack would come.

’Wait a minute...she doesn’t have a weapon on her!’

’I can’t fight someone who is completely defenceless!’

’Oh, wait, her strength! So she doesn’t think I’ll do much so she won’t use a weapon on me? You shouldn’t underestimate someone you haven’t fought.’

“Sooo, where’s your weapon? I don’t feel right fighting a girl that is clearly unarmed.” I shouted over.

“Don’t worry, I have my weapon, you will see at the start of the match,” she said although a little quieter than me she still didn’t move an inch, just in the same posture with both her hands to her side and no stance either.

“Suit yourself,” I said getting back into my stance.

Then the timer started.

It started at ten seconds. Then moving on to nine seconds, then eight, then seven, my breathing got quicker, the adrenaline now rushing through my entire body. Then six. My grip on my handle had gotten tighter, and I started sweating. My heart had started racing within the confines of my chest. Then five. I had leaned forwards slightly out of instinct, my eyes completely trained onto her composed yet stoney expression on her face. Then four. The same tunnel vision had started up once again, like a fish eye camera lens, the areas in my peripherals had darkened and blurred slightly. Then three. I still had my thumb just under the guard ready to fire away. My feet were in a position of getting ready to launch myself at her. I definitely knew that even if she hadn’t had a weapon I most certainly can’t be relaxed around her. Then two.

My sword had now begun screeching again, not enough to irritate my ears but very noticeable to the sizeable crowd that had now gathered. Even Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack had arrived and was now watching. There where some other faces I didn’t recognise, but they did have unique appearances. I also did recognise one, Amaris was even awake and was watching. Then one, after checking the corners of my eyes my focus was now back on Boreal. And what I noticed was her tail was completely out, rather than covered just at the back of her skirt. A bit of what I think was energy pressure or magic pressure I hadn’t deduced what it was yet had now begun to stir and seep out of my body, most of the audience and Boreal herself had felt it but none showed any reactions because I was too focused on the task at hand to take a look. Then zero.

It was an eerie few milliseconds, it felt like hours had passed, it felt like I was in slow motion, then it happened.

DING!

‘START!’ The announcer roared over the deafening silence.

My body reacted on its own, I dug my heel into the ground and launched myself across the battlefield. My sword was already drawn ready to strike. The wind whizzing past me. She hadn’t moved one bit, I guess that’s what you get with the unfeeling type.

I was finally upon her.

Swinging my sword from the left, I aimed for her right shoulder.

CLING!

The sparks of metal had dispersed, I had hit something very hard.

’What!’

What blocked my attack was a great sword. The sword itself was almost the same size as her in the height! The sword had intricate designed etched into the blade itself, yet, spikes adorned the pommel and guard as if it was made from a dragon. Most parts of the blade had black and bits of purple mixed in to create an obsidian colour. There was also a bunch of runes etched somewhat similar in design to mine along the actual blade length.

I couldn’t budge her defence at all.

I tried to push even more but she wouldn’t move. Pulling back slightly she saw this, but I was too sluggish to react. She had slipped just under my guard and swung her back left hooved leg into my stomach sending me skidding backwards. I just managed to balance my weight from falling over. But I was in so much pain I didn’t register her already coming at me with her massive blade.

Bringing my sword up and bracing for the impact, she then swung. It hit my blade head-on and the strength was too much to handle so she sent me flying yet again in a different direction. My back hit the barriers walls. And I coughed out a bit of blood from the striking pain I felt at the bottom of my spine, my lungs were already burning and my legs were already shaking threatening to collapse at any moment. Taking another breath I readied myself and persevered forward.

Most of the others behind the barrier where shouting to end the match and that it was dangerous, but I didn’t listen, for the sole reason I was doing this, was to prove myself that I was of worth.

Firing myself at her again, I went for a feint, bringing an overhead swing down upon her, I stopped myself short when she went to block the strike. I ducked down at the last minute and kicked out my right leg and spun aiming for wherever her shins would be. My side sweep did contact, but unfortunately, it didn't have an effect on her at all. Actually, it did more damage to me than it did her.

‘What the fuck is she bloody made of? Steel?? Chri-’

My mental arguments ended when she brought down her sword on my semi laying form in which I performed a back step with her sword slightly grazing my arms. I managed to get some distance from her, I wasn’t so sure when she’s going to attack again. It’s more of she’s waiting to see what I’m going to do. It’s probably because she thinks I'm not much of a threat. It pisses me off just thinking of being underestimated.

’There’s that feeling!’

I took hold of that emotion and intensified it, my sword’s rattling increased dramatically, whilst the pressure in the air thickened. Most of the watchers recoiled, some were coughing but eleven newcomers plus my friends looked like they were having no trouble with dealing with it. I sprung forward again with slightly more renowned speed than I was used to. Going for her left, I span around mid-air for a three-sixty strike. She went to block again and when I had made contact with the berserker like sword I pushed forward a bit of energy in my blade unconsciously making a trail of yellow energy following behind my weapon, and with a clang her blade actually got lifted up slightly from the force, giving me enough time to send in a kick of my own into her solar plexus sending her skidding backwards, the dirt ripping up from her hooves that had dug themselves into the ground to stop her movement.

The crowd roared with surprised shouts which gave me a bit of a boosted ego, although it didn’t last really long because Boreal was in my face yet again.

I brought my sword forward to meet hers, sparks and flashes of metal and energy colliding with consistent strikes and the speed ever so gradually turning up. I alternated with left and right strikes like a flurry of blades from all angles, she blocked everything I threw at her. She swung from my right and I just so narrowly ducked from the impeding buster like sword, slashing my sword upwards she backflipped out of it before running at me again.

I quickly rolled to my right from her overhead swing making the ground shake from the impact and bits of stone flying in multiple directions like shrapnel. It appeared to me that her weapon was stuck in the ground just about halfway making me wish I hadn’t had taken this fight. As I looked up again she had disappeared, but her sword was still in its position; I looked around at every bloody angle but she was nowhere to be found. She just simply vanished into thin air.

Looking back at where she once stood, I saw that there was a gaping hole just big enough for her to jump into. My eyes widened.
A rumble shook the ground beneath me then two hands came out of the floor and took hold of both my ankles and with just enough strength I couldn’t even push myself backwards. I didn’t know what she had hoped to accomplish with this tactic but nothing good could come of it.

Her sword that was still deep into the soil had glowed a bright crimson and then it dug itself out of the ground and turned towards me, the blade’s end pointed at me whilst it hovered slightly in the air with poltergeist-like tendencies. I was stuck, completely fuckin stuck. Then it hurled towards me, I brought my sword up but I knew it wouldn’t save me.

I closed my eyes once again for the inevitable.

Another metal sounding noise reverberated through the entire area, screaming could be heard from the barriers, even some surprised gasps were also heard, the pain I felt was excruciating, I felt it between my left shoulder, I felt like I had a bucket full of warm water thrown over me but only on my left side. Crying could be heard, it sounded like Twilight. I then heard chains, rattling chains, chains that were being pulled at a constant rate.

The pain had numbed considerably, I couldn’t feel my left arm, I knew that wasn’t good, I think most of the adrenaline had helped with that. I snapped my eyes open and what I saw shocked the shite out of me. My sword was in front of me, but my left arm was up in the air like it had been blocking something, although at the end of my arm and to my hand a red like dagger was in my palm, no, the weapon looked more like a smaller version of a cleaver crossed with a tanto. A red like ribbon was also wrapped around my wrists up until it stopped at the top of my shoulder, and from what it looked like, it was actually keeping more blood from spurting out.

Although the damage was already done and I was heaving pretty badly, I wasn’t used to this much damage, hell, if I am honest, getting stabbed by a tiny flip knife is miles better than getting a whole fuckin 6-foot tall sword through you, although it didn’t go through my shoulder it merely went through a few top layers of skin missing any arteries or nerves, thank fuck for that. But from the pain it was unbearable, it was like a searing white-hot pain, I actually wanted to cry my eyes out like a little bitch but definitely not in front of all these people, Twilight was still banging on the barrier, I'm surprised she hasn’t gone ape shit and blasted the thing.

A charging up sound hit my ears from behind me, but my left arm had already spun myself around fast enough to slice through not one but two small red energy blasts that at speeds the eye couldn’t hope to see. After stopping both attacks the weapon itself cracked all over and exploded into shards of energy tendrils and then ceased to exist, along with the ribbon that had covered my wounds. Said wounds had now started to spill out with blood again. No sounds could be heard. My feet begged for the floor to meet them. In fact, my whole body did.

How did I just do that? I didn’t move my arm at all, especially at that fuckin speed! It’s like I got fuckin dragged!

If it weren’t for this mind-numbing pain that I'm in I would’ve thought that was fuckin sick.

From the slightly raised eyebrow of Boreal Fafnir made me think that she too was surprised at what I just did, although I still couldn’t fucking tell or not. Her left arm and hand were outstretched with four fingers also pointing outwards whilst her thumb was curled into her palm. Her right hand had gripped her forearm. The end of her fingers and whole hand was smoking, probably from the excess discharge.

‘I may be fucked right now, but at least I looked fuckin cool doing it’.

Hacking up my lungs again, I would’ve fallen flat on my face if it wasn’t for Boreal to race forward getting just under me so I could put my weight on top of her. Heh, on top.

Boreal Fafnir lifted me up, she got under my shoulder and walked me across the somewhat torn battlefield, I couldn’t pinpoint where her sword was left, she must have dispersed it or something. The board at the top in the corner of my eye had displayed winner, with Boreal’s face on it. But looking at my name on the ethereal board, I also acquired some points, I went from zero to fifty real quick. Looking at Boreal from my left I gave her a smile.

“Soooo, how did I do?” I asked laughing and then falling into another coughing fit.

“I smacked you around for the first few minutes, but at the last moment, your true abilities shone through. Not only did you block a direct hit from my Hrotti and managed to direct it away from your body, but sliced through two of my Ciras Rebrum’s, which was very impressive,” she said with the first smile I’ve ever seen on her face.

’Damn, when she smiles she’s really pretty.’

“So er, was I at least cool?” I asked pretty tiredly.

“Cool? Well, you’re certainly red hot at the moment young master,” she said with a cute turn of her head.

I mentally facepalmed.

“N-never mind, just take me to a medical wing or something,” I asked lowering my head. We moved past the barrier and we both got hit with a wonderful ray of people. Twilight was the first obvious one to come to my side, whilst giving death glares to Boreal, although she remained oblivious.

“Elliott! Look at your arm! You’re bleeding!” Twilight screaming in my right ear giving me a bit of earache.

“Oh, really Twilight? I didn’t know! I thought my arm was pissing out HAPPY JUICES!” I shouted sarcastically whilst throwing up my one good arm into the air dramatically. Twilight didn’t look pleased, as per usual.

“Don’t worry Twinkie Twonk, I'm going to get patched up and I’ll be fine. I think.” I said whilst booping her on the nose. She went crosseyed and gave me a glare.

“My name’s not Twinkie!” She shouted angrily, whilst the others behind us laughed at her expense.

“Yeah yeah, whatever you say Twatter Flatter” I could literally see that she was screaming inside of her own head whilst the others were already on the floor pissing themselves.

Our group moved through one of the many halls of Canterlot Castle, we were all on the way to the medical bay to get me looked and sorted out. My bleeding had stopped, not sure how since I didn’t have any regenerative abilities. Boreal did point that out off-screen.
I was dipping in and out of consciousness but Boreal and Twilight helped with banging my head to keep me awake. I had lost a lot of blood so I felt a little fuckin high, to be honest.

“Sooo, Tinkie Winkie, when I'm finished with my medical issues is there anywhere I can get a good cup of coffee? I'm getting withdrawal symptoms. And I'm dying.” I said with a sad smile. Twilight rolled her eyes at my comment.

“I’ll get you some coffee when we drop you off at the medical bay, and some food too because you haven’t really eaten anything all morning, and it’s six in the afternoon! and I'm just going to ignore that first comment otherwise would you like for me to buck up your other arm?” she said sweetly with a maniacal grin that scared the shite out of me but also slightly warm.

“Yep yep, okie, I’ll shut up now,” I said whilst making a motion with my hand to indicate that I was zipping my mouth shut. She got the picture.

We finally arrived at the Medical bay, and as hospitals go, everything is always fucking white, boring, and it had that weird hospital smell. Walking in, Boreal still had me under my arm. And I was still in pain, although for some reason I was numb, probably magical bullshit again. And I just realised something.

“Oh bollocks! I forgot me fuckin coat!” I said throwing my head up with an exasperated groan, and flinching slightly whenever my wounds hurt.

Rainbow Dash perked up to this and got into my line of sight.

“Would you like me to get it for you? I can do it lickety-split!” she asked excitedly, which had me confused since it was a bloody coat.

“Yeah sure, cheers love, remind me to owe you one later,” I said whilst her eyes lit up with a suspicious grin on her face, the others already knew what that face looks like and looked at each other anxiously.

“Sure! I’ll hold you to it! Catch you later!” she said with a salute and then she was off, already down the long ass hallway and out of sight.

We moved past a few rows of beds, it was completely empty but we wanted to find someone that could help me sort out this wound, and maybe I could get some sleep since I got up early this morning and I still have a slight hangover from last night’s adventures.

Although I’d probably do it again though.

We did actually find a doctor and low and behold it was finally a guy! And he looked just about ten years ahead of me so he wasn’t practically young.

“Yo!” I shouted towards the doctor who is currently looking through some files from behind one of the curtains, his head popped out with a startled expression on his face, his head actually smacked the top of one of the machines.

“Oh! Sorry! I was a little preoccupied!” he said quickly walking over but as soon as he got a look at my arm he immediately moved from the right side of me whilst ignoring Twilight. Which was slightly funny to see since she had a pouty lip and everything.

“Awh, cheer up Twi cry, I’ll give you a present later,” I joked.

“I am not crying! You’re lucky you’re arm didn’t get ripped off!” she shouted The doctor gave us both a look before heaving my body on top of one of the beds, and I gotta say, they were fuckin shit! Like it was one of those beds that had line indentations in them so they would stick into your back.

“Listen, I am really happy you care so much Twi, but don’t worry I’ll be absolutely fine,” I said whilst yawning slightly. Twilight huffed but calmed down considerably, it was cute the way she always did that. Teasing her is my new best hobby.

“I don’t know about you lads but, would it be alright if I could just go to sleep right about now? I'm exhausted.” I said yawning once again, I stretched instinctively and my left arm flared up in pain again making me cry out in pain. Twilight was on me like a panther.

“I hope you get better soon...Mr Johnston.” Boreal said with slight amusement in a voice, but barely detectable.

’Did she really just make a joke?’

“I'm going to ignore that.” The others looked concerned but nodded and went off to do there own thing, I simply gave Boreal a nod whilst she quickly bowed and walked off.

Rarity actually was the last to go, and she was pretty quiet up until now, even Pinkie was, I don’t think I mentioned that her hair looked straight, normally it’s curly.

“Well, I have to be off darling, I do hope you get better, although it is not as serious as it was before. And I’ll have to make new clothes for you. Because the ones you’re wearing right now are in tatters love.” she said looking me up and down. I followed her gaze.

“Well shit, didn’t even know my clothes were literally half obliterated with slash marks and scorch marks. Cool.”

“Quite. Anyway, I’ll see you later! Take care!” she shouted whilst leaving, I simply waved her goodbye.

‘The only people that were here now are Twilight the Doctor and, wait... Fluttershy? Jesus, she’s already asleep one of the chairs, what the fuck was she doing today? Damn. Well, I wanna follow suit.’

“I’ll see you in a bit Twilight, okay? I'm fucked after all.” I laughed slightly, she gave me a smile and a giggle.

“You and me both, I’ve been running around for the Princesses all day until I heard the commotion. You go ahead and get some rest, I’ll be here when you wake up okay?” she said giving me a hug on my good side.

“Yeah must’ve been tiring. Good night. Twi.” I said putting my head on one of the pillows and closing my eyes.

“Night,” she said whilst walking out of sight. The doctor had gone to check up on a few things, they’ll probably sort out my wounds whilst I'm asleep, they might not be bleeding, but they have closed up enough for it to not be a major issue. So I was good enough for a nap.

‘Finally, I can fall asleep without getting knocked out, seems like a running trope around here.’

‘Oh well, on to the next chapter of my bizarre life I guess.’

Author's Note

Well! I am absolutely fuckin shattered lads, I want to literally throw myself into my bed and merge with the fucker. If there are some errors in here please point them out I was half awake writing this, it’s about three in the fuckin morning and I haven’t had any fuckin coffee yet, Twilight is taking the piss with that one.

Fuckin Sparkle Narkle. Heh, reference.

Anyways, have a good one!

See ya in the next chapter!

Ye pinecone.