Tempest Shadow, the newly proclaimed yet temporary General of the Theurgist Army, stood on a balcony in the caverns and looked down on her newly formed troops with me . The fallen storm citizens and soldiers had been mutated and changed by life magic. Rabbits, badgers, foxes, mice, bears, and raccoons stood in perfect form in front of their new general. All wore brown and green armor, with a matching green and brown shield and sword.

"So, these are the creatures you want me to train?" Tempest asked, looking over to me. "I thought I'd be training zombies or something, not woodland creatures."

I cleared my throat with a quick groan, "I don't really know the conjure zombie spell, only a death wizard would be taught that." I often disliked my magic school, but there are some things one simply cannot help. "The summon knight spell requires a once living body to act as a vessel, and the magic changes the body into a forest dwelling animal to purify the corpse."

Metal knees and swords pelted ground as the multiple dozen knights kneeled at the sight of me, "Our lives for the Life King!" They shouted in unison.

"Making more thralls will just make it more difficult for you to pull back on the ruler thing you've got going." Tempest cautioned.

"I know, but I need to know how they'll act. If nothing else, it will make for a wonderful study on summoning magic and the differences that a changed environment can have on old magic." I was thrilled at the possibilities. "Oh, and you're going to train me as well, remember?"

"Why do you need training again? You have an army bigger than the planet's population and magic that could probably rival the princesses." Tempest asked.

"Because I'm worthless without my magic, a simple dispel charm could render me useless in combat. I don't know if anyone else even knows those spells, but just in case, I need to be prepared to fight the old fashioned way."

Tempest looked back at her new troops and suddenly felt a bit sad. She couldn't quite place her hoof on why though, she thought she heard the sound of claws on rock approaching her and looked behind her, but nobody was there.

"I had the treants build a training ground for us, got a few obstacle courses set up, some exercise equipment, I wasn't really sure what all we would need to train these guys, but I'm sure we can work it out." I said before noticing that Tempest looked a bit lost.

"My knights! To the training grounds!" I roared down to the knights who saluted in unison and marched orderly out of the caverns.

Many hours had passed since the training started and the sun was beginning to go down. Sweat and sand stuck to everyone's body, but no matter how far Tempest pushed them, they never seemed to break. Running, lifting, sparring, jumping, the knights could handle whatever their trainer threw at them. Which was good, it allowed Tempest time to focus on any students who were lacking in physical skills.

"Sugar Hoof, stand up!" Tempest shouted as she noticed me lying down on the sandy ground.

I couldn't breathe, but I was quite proud of myself, regardless. A five thousand yard run, I never used magic, and only had to stop three times.

"It was only a 5k run, I know it didn't hurt that bad." Tempest said, walking closer to look at her worse student.

I rolled over onto my back so I could look at her without standing on my aching hooves. "I am made for desk work, not physical exercise."

"So what, you're as skinny as you are without any exercise?" Tempest asked, annoyance clear in her tone.

"I am skinny because I am prone to skipping meals." I think the last thing physical I ate was that apple treat Braeburn gave me back in Appleloosa.

"We'll need to work on your diet then, too. Starting tomorrow, you'll eat healthy food so you can start building some physical strength to match your magical strength." Tempest said, I didn't really listen though, It sounded like we were done for the day, which brought joy to my heart.

"But first..." She threw something hard at my head, causing me to groan in pain. When I got up and looked at what it was, it was a shield and sword that matched what my knights were using. When I tried to look over to her inquisitively, I barely had enough time to block as an unstable lightning bolt was shot from her horn directly at me.

It exploded and shot me a few feet back. I almost wanted to kiss the shield when I found out I was uninjured, unlike Tempest. My knights surrounded her, and while I couldn't see her, I could hear her scream as she was beaten.

"Get off of her!" I shouted as I ran over. The knights stepped back as I approached the bloodied and beaten Tempest. "She was just going to test me in physical combat, I wasn't in any real danger." I said as I lit my horn and prepared a healing spell. Her wounds and bruises healed quickly and she soon passed out from the spell's calming effects, and the stress of the day.

"She has been cruel to you the entire time you've been out here, master." One of the fox knights said.

"She was training me, just like she was training all of you, that's specifically why I allowed her to stay here." I explained quickly.

"But that's why we're here, we're supposed to defend you." A badger replied.

I couldn't say anything, I simply turned back to the now unconscious Tempest and knew that I'd have to rethink my strategy.

"All of you, see to the repair of your armor and the sharpening of your arms, then take the rest of the day to rest. Tomorrow, your real training begins." I ordered coldly, as the knights saluted and left just as orderly as they arrived.

As I looked down at the sleeping unicorn mare, I could do nothing but sigh and carry her back to her room with my magic.

Author's Note

Please, tell me what you think of the story, is there anything you think I could be doing better?