The hot water became murky as it ran down my skin and the drain.

"Interesting."

I became statuesque upon that comment, "...What?"

"By the gods, you are filthy. How often do you clean yourself?"

Pushing away the thought Umbra hay have seen junior, I played into her deflection, "About once a week, it mostly depends on when I'm available. Disgusting, I know, but all I have in my chambers is a bed with a mattress that's most likely older than me."

"That will all change in due time, Donovan."

"Yeah, I fucking hope."

I rinsed the soap suds from my body. A few moments of silence passed before Umbra spoke again, "So Donovan, what will you do once you return to the castle?"

Umbra's voice echoed within my mind, "Since it usually takes a week for a new shipment of materials to arrive, I'll have time to make one of my side projects."

She hummed before responding, "Side projects?"

A small smile wormed its way onto my face, "Whenever I don't get any orders, or I'm close to running out of materials, I usually spend the week making some things from my world. Can't exactly make modern firearms yet, but I can make a blunderbuss."

"I'd like to see some of your work if you'd be so kind as to let me."

"I don't see why not. The only reason I hide that stuff is to avoid the other guards seeing my masterwork and destroying it. If I had to be honest, the Guard's armor is so simple to make. Kind of like a pushrod V8."

"A what?" Confusion was present in her voice, and rightfully so.

Ponies still used coal to power their trains, "Oh, sorry, it's a thing from my world. I'll tell you about it later." Shutting off the water, I grabbed a towel. Once I was done drying off, I wrapped it around myself and left the showers. Most of the guards had left for their posts. Luckily the Captain was still suiting up. She was a pegasus laden with hot red fur, paired with a white, curly mane and tail. Which was smudged with the same color as her coat. Her eyes were a gleaming emerald shade.

Without her helmet, the mole on her cheek was visible, "Captain Infernus?"

The mare glanced up at me, eyebrow raised in question, "Can you relay a message to the Quartermaster?"

"I can't. The princesses have asked Captain Dusk Blood and I to meet so we can discuss dates for the upcoming Guard's Tournament. You'll have to talk to him yourself. Speaking of, you should consider competing in the Tournament. I've been wondering why you still carry the namesake of a guard. Now that I think of it, I never saw the weapon you were deployed with."

I responded instantly, "I was given the standard-issue straight sword. I contribute very much. I make armor and weapons for all of you. I have wanted to stand Guard with all of you."

She shrugged her shoulders, "So why didn't you choose guard duty instead of blacksmith and armory cataloging?" I froze, mouth agape.

The realization that I had been involuntarily reassigned by my drill instructor slammed into me like a runaway semi, "I did! I-" Infernus' stern glare became even more fierce,

"Watch your tone. Don't forget who you're addressing. You can't even regard your superiors respectfully." Instantly, I stood at attention,

"I'm sorry, ma'am. Please understand that I provide the guards with their gear. I'm in charge of making sure that it is top quality. Each strike of my hammer is precise, every weapon operates as it should, and the armor is robust and beyond reliable." A long pause fell over the barracks.

Infernus donned her helmet and stood, "That is true, but you've never patrolled with us, sparred with us, and never fought alongside any of us. Being part of the Guard is like family. We stand by each other. Yet you've just been doing your own thing. You've been at the lowest rank for two years now! Sergeant Gallant has also informed me of your recent insubordination against him. Personally...I don't think you've got what it takes to be a part of the Royal Guard. I'm going to think it over for a little longer, but my mind's mostly made up. You can continue to work as a blacksmith. You'll just have to turn in your armor and weapon. Seeing as how you've done nothing this whole time, I'll have to talk with Celestia about whether or not you should be dishonorably discharged. If you are, you'll get no retirement pay." And with that, she turned and left. I stood frozen in disbelief. That bastard Gallant, he lied to her, and she believed it!

Rousing myself from my stupor, I ran out and shouted, "Captain!" Infernus turned, "Sign me up for the Tournament." With a nod, she rounded the corner and disappeared.

I turned and leaned onto the door frame, "Fucking great. Goddamn you, Gallant." I grumbled,

"What is the Guard's Tournament?"

Umbra's voice punching a hole in my cloud of growing anger, "It's an annual event where the Royal Guard, Lunar, and Solar compete. Princess Luna proposed it as a way to keep the guards sharp and ready for another attack after she heard about the recent close-calls here in Equestria."

"Hm. Well, the Guard always was a sorry excuse of a military force. The amount of broken guards under my hoof alone is vast."

She punctuated her sentence with a grim chuckle, "Yes, the Royal Guard doesn't tend to do well regarding actual threats." Dodging her sadistic statement,

"Could you please describe the event in further detail?"

I opened the locker and picked up my clothes, slipping on my worn jeans first, "The guards assemble into the Grand Arena and are randomly chosen to fight an individual who shares the same rank. Whoever wins the match receives a higher rank. Then there are the squad bouts, which include a four-pony group. Rank, race, and skill vary.

That event is meant to test unit cohesion."

Umbra hummed for a moment, "Do ponies die in these games?" I shook my head and smirked.

I finally threw on my shirt, "I knew you were going to ask me that. To answer your question, sometimes. Although it's rare. However, serious injuries are common. Last year, this pegasus had one of her wings severed mid-flight. Luckily the cut was clean, and the bones weren't too damaged. She was up and flying after seven months."

"Quite the speedy recovery."

"Tell me about it."

"So when is this Tournament?"

"Next Wednesday."

I could hear the Unicorn grumble in slight aggravation, followed by a sigh, "Well, Donovan, I have some sudden news to share."

My pace slowed, "Judging from the sound you just made, it doesn't sound like anything good."

"Believe me, it isn't. Due to your sudden and essentially involuntary application into the Tournament, my lessons on dark magic will have to be much more abridged. When was the last time you ever trained for combat?"

I blanked, "Since basic training?" Another sigh reverberated in my head,

"So I will have to teach rapidly teach you the fundamentals of magic and re-educate you on combat. This is just spectacular." Our conversation ended when I arrived at the Quartermaster's Station. There was only one Guard ahead of me, and it looked like she was wrapping things up. Sure enough, the mare said goodbye, closed her saddlebag and continued down the halls. The Quartermaster notices me, and her face immediately sours. Let's hope we can get through this order without any hold-ups. Autumn Haze was a unicorn mare with an amber fur coat and orange eyes.

Her straight, dark brown mane spilled over her shoulders, "What do you want, ape? I'm busy." Autumn's brash tone matched her bitter expression,

"I just need to put in an order for more materials."

Her eyebrows rose slightly, and she adopted a smug smile, "I see you're in your street clothes. Leaving the castle to do nothing? Oh, wait! You already do nothing." I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply through my nose.

There goes my hope of a somewhat amicable exchange, "There's plenty of armor and weapons for the Guard to last them until I receive the next shipment of metal. A few days off won't do much damage, I'm sure. They should be just fine." I said, fighting the urge to grit my teeth.

She scoffed, "They should be just fine? Interesting. When you said that, I thought about how effective our weapons and armor truly are." My hand came up to my forehead, slowly traveling downward and stopping at my chin.

Umbra spoke, disgust slathered over her words, "Please don't tell me that this pencil pusher is critiquing your smithing. An occupation of which that wench has no experience. I truly don't know what's greater, her ignorance or her arrogance." Umbra's words made me smile and chuckle.

I glanced down at Autumn, "Hey, you know what, just order the metal. I'm not gonna get wrapped in another pointless argument with you. Besides, you said you were busy, right?" I turned and walked away, not before noticing her look of surprise.

Then, she muttered something, pulling out a paper and pen, "Seriously, it's like she's some petulant child. How do you put up with her, Donovan? I would have strangled her by now." I shrugged,

"Autumn's always been a pain in the ass. She gets off on seeing me get pissed and acts like she's morally superior. Today would have been another notch on her belt if you hadn't have said what you said. Thanks, by the way."

"No need, I just had to say something. By the gods, she's just...insufferable. Anyway, about our conversation earlier. You will need a refresher on combat and a hasty introduction to dark magic."

"There is a training dummy in the forge. I could just brush up on my skills there. I might be a little rusty, but I should get back in the swing of things."

"That won't work." I furrowed my eyebrows,

"And why not?"

"Think Donovan, is ten days truly enough to hone your skills for a series of battles?" She took my silence as a no, "Exactly. Too much rides on you beating whoever you face. Polishing your skills will always give you a strategic edge over your opponents and under my tutelage, you can be a formidable adversary."

"I guess that makes sense. No disrespect, but I thought you just had your armies fight for you as Celestia and Luna do. What do you know about fighting in a war?" It was then that I saw a vision. The sky was dark and bleak, snow seeming to fall from a looming abyss. Jagged alabaster mountains surrounded the landscape. I could see a castle gleaming in the distance. It took me a moment to realize that this vision occurred in the Crystal Empire. What caught my eye next took me by surprise.

Sections of Umbra's fur were splotched with bloodstains. Some of it belonged to her but mainly to the bodies of slain Crystal guards. Her mane was shorter than it was now. Two wavy bangs dangled from opposite sides of her forehead. In her magical grasp, she held her infamous war scythe. Its obsidian blade was dripping with blood and rendered flesh. The snow she was standing upon was turned into a cold red sludge. Umbra had neither her regalia nor armor. Her breaths were deep and labored, a clear sign of exhaustion. Distant yelling made her whip around and lock eyes with the incoming squadron of guards. They stopped to gaze in horror at what'd she'd done to their brothers and sisters in arms,

"What have you done? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO THEM?!" He roared, tears falling from his cheeks. The stallion reached out to touch a severed hoof, stopping mere inches from doing so. He closed his eyes for a moment before dashing forward, spear held tightly in his grip,

"Onyx, wait!" A pegasus mare shouted out at the enraged earth stallion. Her attempt to make him see reason was in vain, however. He was hellbent on making Umbra pay.

"You'd best listen!" She warned,

"Buck you, whore!" She grit her teeth, fangs on full display,

"Very well then, I warned you." The Guard thrust the spear forward, hitting nothing as Umbra dashed to the side. She retaliated by bringing the blunt side of the war scythe down on the crown of his helmet. The stallion went down immediately, planted into the snow. As I examined the spot where Umbra's attack landed, I saw that helmet was caved in. Her scythe rose to strike the finishing blow, only to be interrupted when the pegasus crashed into her side, sending her soaring before tumbling through the snow. The mare hooked her hooves under her unconscious friend's arms. Blood had begun to dribble down his features,

"Reverence! He's not waking up!" The unicorn stallion nodded,

"Take him back to the kingdom. I'll buy you time!" The mare's eyes flew open,

"No, you can't! She'll kill you!" The Unicorn ignored her words and shouted,

"Just go!" The pegasus flinched,

"I-" she chose to stay silent and listen to her friend. In a burst of speed, the pegasus took off towards the empire. Umbra slowly rose, clumps of snow slipping off of her back. A lethal hum resonated from her horn as she picked up her scythe. Then, she trod forward, dragging the scythe's blade in the snow, wrenching it back up in a shower of white. The Guard unsheathed his sword, walking opposite of Umbra. The two circled each other like ravenous wolves. His determined and focused gaze contrasted against Umbra's cold and lidded stare. Suddenly, they stopped. The falling snowflakes were scattered erratically as a howling wind made its presence known. Umbra's mouth slowly opened,

"You know your friend is doomed, right? I fractured his skull and most likely caused severe brain hemorrhaging. Judging from the amount of blood he shed in such a short amount of time, I'd say he'll be brain dead before they get him into a hospital bed." A smug grin wormed its way onto her face. The Unicorn growled,

"I don't give a damn about what Queen Valentine wanting you alive. You are going to die. Right here, right now. By my hoof." Umbra responds with a throaty chuckle,

"Brave words. Yet they are words all the same." Umbra's grin vanished, and her crimson eyes had begun to glow, "I am eager to see you buttress your claim." In an instant, the Unicorn charged her, aiming to cleave her head in two. A shower of sparks danced away from the two as Umbra changes her stance and blocks the attack. She held him there for a moment before pushing up. Then, in a puff of black smoke, she disappeared. The stallion's eyes narrowed as he darted his gaze left and right.

His ears perk up, and he turns around just in time to barely block Umbra's swing. He stumbles slightly before thrusting his blade at her neck. She deflects the attack with ease. A ray of purple and green shot out from her horn. Still trying to regain his posture, the Unicorn had no time to put up a shield, and it collided with his chest plate. He flew back like he had been car, a smoking dent in his chest plate signifying that his armor just barely held up.

Umbra closed the distance with slow, methodical steps. The stallion scrambled to stand. Harsh coughs and wheezes rattled his body. Channeling his magic again, he picked up his weapon and shakily got into a fighting stance. Umbra went on the offensive, strike after strike whittling away at the Unicorn's guard. On the sixth swing, Umbra broke his guard and sent his weapon sailing away. The stallion resorted to his horn. Letting out a slew of magic bolts. Umbra casts a magic shield within a split second. In a last-ditch effort, he unleashed a massive wave. It lasted for five seconds before dissipating. He was sweating and panting. He had nothing left. Umbra stood on a perfect circle of snow, surrounded by scorched earth. She teleports in front of the weary Guard,

"A valiant effort, however, I stand unshaken. You were a worthy adversary. I shall be merciful. You may live." Umbra turns and walks away, scythe disappearing into a plume of smoke. The Guard started in bewilderment and confusion before adopting an angry expression. Mustering what little magic he had left, he tore a dagger from a holster on his foreleg,

"Dumbass." That was the only word I said. I followed the knife as it plunged into Umbra's back. She stopped dead in her tracks. Her head slowly spun around, snapping grotesquely as she finished making the 180-degree turn. Black ooze poured from her maw as she channeled magic. The ground shook under the Guard's hooves. Spikes formed from black crystal blasted out from the snow in the blink of an eye. The Unicorn was skewered from multiple angles, blood rushing down to the snow. I looked back at Umbra only to notice that she had disappeared. At first, I thought she had teleported away. That was until her bloodied forelegs found their way around my neck. Her warm breath tickled my ear,

"I know so much more than you would ever believe." Her hooves covered my eyes. Once they were pulled away, I was back in Canterlot, standing just outside the palace,

"What the fuck? How did I get here?"

"Simple, I showed you one of my memories and assumed control of your body. I must say, those fingers of yours are quite intriguing." I opened my mouth but found no words,

"I guess you do know a lot about war." Umbra laughs,

"Of course, the fact that I traded blows with Celestia and Luna several times is proof enough. Would you like to see that memory next?" I shook my head,

"Nah, I'm good."

"Hm. Very well then, what is the name of this establishment?"

"It's this diner called The Equestrian Grill. Nobles hate the place, but it's pretty good, and the prices are reasonable. It's not too far from here either. Thoughts of the Tournament wormed their way back into my mind. A sigh escaped my body, "Man, what happened to relaxing on your day off? Now I can't stop thinking about the goddamned Tournament."

"If everything goes well with your training, you'll have little to worry about." As jarring as this whole experience is, I'd never think that the voice of a tyrant taking refuge in my head would calm me down so well,

"So, what will you be teaching me first?"

"How to sense and conduct your magic. We also have to find an access point somewhere on your body, which will allow you to withdraw magical energy." I nodded in understanding,

"What if I don't have an access point?" I heard something that sounded like a wince,

"Well, as a last resort...you'll have to carve a channeling rune into your flesh." I got sick to my stomach, I opened my mouth to reply, but she wasn't done, "And if you make any mistake, you can create a Martyrdom rune. Once that happens, you'll draw in limitless amounts of raw magic, until your body becomes a bomb. I've seen it happen to ponies in the past. The devastation is massive. In extreme cases, some ponies will purposely carve the rune into their flesh and run at their enemy." It felt like my heart jumped into my throat,

"Holy shit. How in the hell will I be able to keep that knife stable while cutting myself?"

"If you want, I can assume control of your body and do it myself." I nodded,

"Alright, but that's only if I don't have an access point?"

"Of course, a rune cut into flesh is also difficult to hide." The restaurant was only a few steps away now. Its vibrant lettering made it easily distinguishable,

"I hope it doesn't come to that," I said, pushing through the glass doors. I found a bench off at the edge of the room. As usual, my presence garnered stares and harsh whispers. Sitting down, I grabbed a menu. I was thinking of trying something different today. Another reason why I liked this place is that it accommodates all species, even griffons. So that means I can eat meat. The food that ponies eat isn't bad, but there isn't much of a selection. It's mostly stuff made from hay. A griffin waitress approached my table. Her fur was a soft gray while her plumage of feathers had more of a dark purple tone. Her eyes were a piercing orange,

"Hi, welcome to The Equestrian Grill. My names Ingrid, what can I get you for today?"

"Two Cheesesteak sandwiches, a strawberry milkshake, and some fries. " The griffon nods and writes down my order in a small notepad,

"We'll have it out as soon as possible." I smiled at her as she flew into the kitchen. This place was the only happy medium in my life,

"So humans eat meat?" Umbra asked,

"We're omnivores, so we can eat fruits and vegetables, not hay or grass. Even though I like meat the most, combining all of these foods would give me a truly balanced meal."

"Interesting. The only species of pony that can digest meat are thestrals."

"I know. I tried to eat with the Lunar guard at one period."

"What happened?" I sighed,

"I guess Luna makes her disdain for me very vocal; as a result, her hatred for me had imprinted on them. When I walked into that mess hall, I was promptly thrown out. After that, my first three months in the forge were sleepless. I was always on the lookout for Lunar guards that had deliberately abandoned their posts to try and kill me."

"How did you find out they were stalking you?" I paused for a moment,

"One of them made a sound while I was sleeping. I woke up to find a dagger poking my neck. The moment I opened my eyes, the bastards ran off."

"Spineless cowards." She spat,

"That door outside my room wasn't always reminiscent of a cell door. So after that night, I constructed a 7-inch thick iron door that locks from the inside. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to make hinges before the night came around, so I shoddily melded them onto the hinges. Hence why one of the hinges gave way and broke this morning. Since then, I've kept a dagger of my own under my pillow."

"Just when I thought I couldn't hold Equestria at a lower regard, you go and say that." Umbra's unamused tone speaking volumes about her discontent,

"Yep, my own "brothers" in arms were trying to knock me off. I couldn't go to Luna because there's no way she would believe my word over theirs, and Celestia is too busy during the day and too tired during the night. Besides you, Umbra, I don't have anyone else I can count on." The griffon waitress comes out from the kitchen,

"Here are your Cheesesteaks, strawberry milkshake, and fries." She sets the plate down on the table, "That'll be 17 bits." I give her 27 bits,

"17 and 10 for your tip." Her eyes lit up, and her shiny black beak gives way to a beaming smile,

"Thank you very much!" She pockets the bits in her apron and flies off into the kitchen,

"How philanthropic of you." Umbra remarks. I smile and chuckle,

"Hey, just cause I work with assholes doesn't mean I have to become one." I took a bite and savored it, "Perfect."

Author's Note

As promised here's Chapter 3. Sorry, it took so damn long. Also, if anyone is wondering, Donovan is not talking to Umbra out loud while in public, they are communicating telepathically. Just knew that would strike up some questions so I just wanted to clear the air. Hope you guys enjoy it and remember to stay based.

Edited March 20th, 2022