Around noon the following day

Sudden woke up and looked around.
Had you slept until noon? And where were the other two now?
Did they just leave her here?
It popped up and was about to look around when Nocturnal and kallaxia came back and were apparently talking.
Both looked at Sudden and smiled.

"Good noon, Sudden. Did you sleep well?"

"I ... yes I slept well. Where have you been?"

"We were just looking for something to eat."

Nocturnal emptied a small bag of miscellaneous food items that were relatively easy to find in the forest. Flowers, leaves, a few early fruits, roots. Nothing special, but Nocturnal started to boil a bit of water while he smiled blissfully to himself.
And within a few minutes he had made tea from various leaves and roots, which he offered to everyone.
Kallaxia gratefully accepted this tea, but Sudden looked at him a little questioningly

"That is something we liked to drink back then. We called this tea the 'blades dance'. Try it."

Sudden took a sip, and her doubtful expression quickly turned into an expression of disgust.
She jumped up and rubbed her tongue, trying to get rid of the burning taste.
Kallaxian just laughed and oh Nocturnal was giggling. They both looked at each other and shook their heads.

"That's disgusting! How can you drink something like that?"

"It's all a question of getting used to it and killing the taste buds. I actually don't know anyone who likes this tea. And when you started scraping your tongue, you performed the dance from which the tea got its name."

Nocturnal poured himself a cup of tea and drank, eye closed and reminiscing.
He could literally see it in front of him. The magician of the group who made this tea and distributed it, the old-established laughing as the newcomers tried to get rid of the taste.
His mouth twitched upwards

A very long time ago in a still unknown country.

The young stallion's eyes sparkled as he stepped from the ship onto the Land. Baltimare, a small port a little further north of the city of Manehatten. The ponies here looked a little different than expected. Very normal in fact.
here his wings would attract attention, so he hid them under the red cloak of his order.
There was little that could be done about the fangs and the eyes other than keeping them out of sight.
Everywhere he saw ponies with feather wings or with horns, much more than back then in his home country. In fact, there seemed to be a relatively equal number of all three tribes here.
It was all so exciting!

"Gehe voran, Junge, uns eilt es sehr."
("Go on boy, we don't have all day")

The mage of the group that arrived on that ship nudged Nocturnal from behind with his cane.

"Verzeihung, Magier!"
("forgiveness, mage!")

He leaned out of the way and also took the magician's luggage on himself.
Together they went to a tavern in the center of town.
"The beheaded hydra."
The name of this place seemed promising for Nocturnal. Indeed, inside there were already other groups of Wandering Blades. They had gathered here to toast together on the successful crossing over the sea.
Something that was not granted to all blades.
We knew of three ships that had sunk in heavy seas, and another had fallen victim to a sea monster.
What luck that the nocturnal was spared. He hated getting wet.
Or to be eaten.
When the magician walked in, all the blades immediately went silent and looked at him.
This looked around the room.

"Wo befindet sich der Schwertmeister? Ist er nicht hier um seinen alten freund zu begrüßen?"
("Where is the swordmaster? Isn't he here to greet his old friend?")

The magician's smile faded as everyone's eyes fell.
Nocturnal also realized what had happened.
He must be among the victims of the crossing.

"Nun den. Lasset uns einen moment unserer Kameraden gedenken, danken das Wir alle hier sind und für die nachzügler hoffen."
("Now that one. Let us remember our comrades for a moment, thanking us all for being here and hoping for the stragglers.")

The magician's horn glowed and a jug flew to Nocturnal, another to the magician.
It was tempting, but Nocturnal knew that his willpower was tested as well as his strength and endurance. Everything together would help him one day become a Wandering Blade himself.
Then he would have a squire who carried everything after him.
Although it would be more pleasant to be assigned to a swordsman.
Mages carried more books than anything else ...
and the other stuff in addition!
That was one of the moments when Nocturnal wanted to be an earth pony.

Everyone toasted and Nocturnal took a sip of the wine too.
The wine was salty, way too sweet, and probably designed to tempt you to order more.
Disgusting, as Nocturnal found.
He would prefer a good apple juice. After all, it was a week or two ago that he ate a real, undried apple. That on the ship was more uncomfortable than anything and had made him gnaw on his mattress.
The mage seemed to notice and exchanged the cup with the help of magic.

"Danke, Meister Magier!"
("Thank you, Master Mage.")

The magician nodded to him and then sat down on a chair with a loud sigh and started again to write in his notes.
Before the voyage started, one chronicle of the Wandering Blades was brought to each ship, everything copied meticulously.
And the magician had one of those books. Now it was his job to keep a book until someone of a higher rank appeared.
Another magician or swordsman worthy of being the leader.
The door was kicked open and a small group of ponies came in, laughing and staggering, but what they were wearing identified them as Wandering Blades.

"Sieh mal einer an, da sind ja die anderen! wir hatten schon befürchtet wir wären die letzten am leben. Aber wie wir sehen, haben doch ein paar überlebt! Dann werde ich das hier doch brauchen."
("Look at this, there are the others! We were afraid we would be the last ones alive. But as we can see, a few survived! Then I'll need this.")

To everyone's surprise, the newcomer took out a necklace with the emblem of the blades.
It was the leader's mark, and everyone who wore it was the one in charge.

"Ich bin Lightning Strike, und auf dem letzten wunsch unseres Anführers bin ich nun der anführer. wer ein problem damit hat solle vortreten und wir klären das wie Klingen."
("I am Lightning Strike, and on the last request of our leader, I am now the leader. If you have a problem with it, step forward and we will sort it out like blades.")

The magician gave an amused twist and turned back to the book, finished what he had started and then read it to the newcomer.

"Solange wir eine Führung haben, werden die Klingen vorankommen. Und da keiner dieses Medallion hat, außer dir, bist du es nun, der uns leitet. Ich gebe dir meinen Knappen als hilfe. Nocturnal ist eine sehr große hilfe."
("As long as we have a leader, the blades will move forward. And since nobody has this medallion but you, it is you who guide us. I give you my squire to help you. Nocturnal is a very great help.")

Nocturnal was speechless and it took a moment before he started his new assignment. He bowed deeply and gratefully to the magician, then straightened up again and accepted parade rest across from Lightning Strike.
He repeated the bow

"Ich gelobe euch treu zu dienen."
("I vow to serve you faithfully.")

Lightning Strike looked at the young stallion and began to smile.
Then he let the hind hoof click, a sign that Nocturnal was allowed to rise.

"Sag, junge, hattest du schon einen becher 'Tanzende Klingen'?"
("Tell me boy, did you already have a mug of 'Dancing Blades'?")

Nocturnal looked at him in amazement and his eyes widened. so far that it was hard to hide that he was something other than an earth pony as he wanted to pretend, or a pegasus who hid his wings under a cloak.

"nein noch nicht , mein Herr. Aber ich habe gehört dass das zubereiten dieses Tees dazu gehört eine Wandernde Klinge zu werden."
("No, not yet, sir. But I've heard that making this tea is part of becoming a Wandering Blade.")

Why everyone laughed was a mystery to nocturnal, but a little later he was sitting in front of a mug with a tea that ... took some getting used to.
But the smell and the look had not prepared him for what he tasted.
His tongue burned like he'd stuck it into a burrow of fire ants and left it there for a day.
he jumped up, spat and gasped, rubbing his hooves over his tongue to get rid of the taste.
And everyone else laughed at him!
What a shame!
As a surprise, Lightning Strike came to him, patted him on the shoulder and handed him a mug of milk.
That actually helped against the taste

"Nocturnal Wanderer. Du bist hiermit als mein Knappe angenommen. Gratulation."
("Nocturnal Wanderer. You are hereby accepted as my squire. Congratulations.")

The applause in the tavern was deafening, but Nocturnal felt like he was bursting with happiness and joy!

"Equestria to Nocturnal, please come. Equestria to Nocturnal can you hear me?"

Kallaxia's voice was concerned.
And nocturnal hadn't even noticed that he was staring into the cup with a small smile.
Obviously it had been long enough to worry the two mares in front of him.

"I am okay. Just lost in thought. It is been so long since I ..."

He broke off again, then laughed softly to himself, only then looked up again and beamed at the two mares.

"Let us go. I really want to do as much distance as possible. Adventure awaits us I can feel it. and we have to find a village with a smith. Sudden needs a sword!"

As he said this Sudden began to shine like a sun and her wings rose wide in surprise.

"Me? A sword? That would be great! But how should I pay for it? Swords are expensive. And not many smiths make them at all. Ponies usually don't need them and the Royal Guard has its own smithy"

Nocturnal just smiled and jumped up, stretching himself and his wings.
He was more than ready to go.

"We will see what it costs and if we can find one. Ever thought about a fighting style that would interest thee? Elegant, fast, or powerful?"

"Isn't there a style that unites all three?"

Nocturnal laughed, as did kallaxia.
Both drew their swords and showed them.

"It's not about the style alone. It's also about the sword. I wield a broadsword. Strong, with a lot of weight, I can quickly cut hords of opponents in half. In the fight pony against pony, when it comes to a duel, I am in disadvantage to that, if the opponent has a lighter sword. He then has speed on his side. "

"The same goes for me. I prefer speed over brute force... at least most of the time. My blade is lighter than Kallaxia hers, and so it lacks the power to break an enemy's defence. In a direct duel with Kallaxia, I am on a par with her, and I should get her tired to find a gap. When fighting with several ponies at the same time, I can quickly change my direction and shift the fight as needed. However, a skilled swordscolt or swordsmare can outmaneuver me and a strong one with a broadsword can disarm me relatively easily if he gets a good hit. If strong enough the broadsword even could break my teeth. The art of sword fighting is to find thou style, and to look for thou sword, and then to master both."

Sudden nodded and seemed to understand.
Nocturnal had already gained a bit of experience training new candidates for the wandering blades, but it was always a new challenge.
Every pony was different. and each pony needed its own instruction and guidance.
After a little thought, Sudden looked at both of them.

"And if I want to learn the third form? The elegant one? Can you teach me that too?"

"I could. Back then it was customary to learn all three art forms before deciding on one. But be warned, I am not as good at it as my in form or Kallaxia in hers."

"That will work out. If necessary, I'll have to think of something myself a little."

That was the spirit that Nocturnal loved so much in a warrior's soul!
He smiled and sheathed his sword again.

"Then off to the next village with a blacksmith who can make you a sword. Something light and elegant will certainly be found."

Author's Note

Seied Gegrüßt, meine werten Freunde, höret eher und wissed ich habe den Weg zurückgefunden nach langer weile des nicht wissens was ich schreiben möchte.

Greetings, i am Back ^^ i hope everyone is fine and i am sorry it took so long.
Thanks to AlexDTI i found new ideas and i found new fire to write on this story. i certently want to know how it ends ^^