Canterlot Academy Trials

The fighting continued for hours into the day until there was no more resistance. Eventually the fighting had stopped and what remaining forces existing in the failed state of the Serpent City had given up and laid down their arms.

In the aftermath of it all, the army had actually managed to find more children who were being put through a slave trade in some form. Most of them were young dragons, naturally shaken from their experience, but they were more than cooperative with the Wukong soldiers that were looking to help them get to safety.

After it was all over, the group would meet back up with each other at the edge of the city where the rescuers were escorting what children they could away from the city, with Mistwalker having sat alone and off to the side in a patch of grass with her face hidden from everyone else.

“...she looks pretty fucked up,” Blue commented from where he stood with a sympathetic frown. “...think we should go talk to her?”

“I’m not sure,” Thiasus replied while looking down at his spellbook, “Whatever it was, she ended up telling me off when I tried to speak to her, so I didn’t exactly try and pry further.” He got up and shut his book closed via magic before sighing. “Hm. Some things are just better left alone I suppose.”

Blue was unsatisfied, but knew he couldn’t force anything out of Mist if she wasn’t up for explaining it. The smoke being huffed out of his nostrils was a clear indicator of his frustration.

“Urgh…fine,” he muttered before changing the subject, “At any rate, I’m glad we were able to save a good chunk of those kids. Really pisses me off what those fuckers did.”

“It’s unfortunate, yeah. We can only really speculate as to how things would’ve turned out had we not shown up,” the buck replied with a content sigh. “...I have to say, they didn’t really put up much of a fight compared to that monkey noble.”

“Hei, right? Yeah. Guess that just shows how much stronger we’ve gotten,” Blue replied with a confident grin as he flexed his arms.

Thiasus gave a more grounded response. “Or maybe it really shows the disparity between the strength of an elite warlord and common soldiers. Honestly, I was relieved that this battle was a bit easier.” He paused for a moment to shudder. “Brrgh…fighting Hei unnerves me even now.”

“Maybe you have a point,” Blue replied, folding his arms, “That guy was so tough that I guess these randos were baby mode in comparison.”

“I suppose that’s one way you could put it,” the buck rolled his eyes as he closed his book and stood up, “Regardless, we need to get moving and make our report. Hopefully Mist will come to her senses at some point.”

The dragon looked over at the water mare with a worried look on his face. “...yeah.”

A few hours later…

Everyone had met up back at the palace and retired to shower and sleep in their respective guest rooms. Waging a war that lasted no more than a day had begun to take its toll and left everyone haggard after it all.

Thiasus in particular had rather heavy eyes as he yawned and left the showers to trot towards his room. But before he could make it there, he was stopped by Mist.

“...Oi,” she called out as the buck rounded the corner of the elegantly red-carpeted hallway. “I just wanna say that I’m sorry. It was bullish of me to speak to you like that over me own shit.”

“Huh?” Thiasus rubbed his hoof across his eyes and yawned once more. “...yeah, yeah. No problem. I figured it was probably something personal and didn’t want to bother you about it.”

“I do owe ye an explanation considering me actions at least,” she replied with a huff as she looked at the floor and flicked her tail.

One explanation later…

“...I see now,” Thiasus replied with a sympathetic tone, then looked at her with a more firm expression, “I completely understand why you reacted that way when you saw children’s lives being threatened. However, please keep in mind that the battlefield is no place for your emotions. If you don’t keep them in check, and allow your power to overtake you…I hate to say it like this: But you will likely end up causing just as much, if not more pain than you did on that day. Not just to those around you, but yourself as well.”

Mist looked down at the floor with a shameful frown. “...I know. Or rather, I know better now than I did back then. But I was a damn fool for allowin’ myself to get like that. I’m sorry.”

Thiasus shook his head. “Don’t apologize to me. While I appreciate the sentiment, you need to think about how you want to continue living and not stay focused on your past. Trust me--though my situation isn’t quite the same as yours--I know what it’s like to endure emotional trauma. You have to be strong enough to not let it control you. Especially if you want to be a soldier. Understand?”

“Yikes. Ye sure don’t mince words…” Mist chuckled weakly as she rubbed her hoof behind her head.

“No. I don’t. I can’t afford to,” the buck replied stoically, “Now are you going to grow up or continue to allow the mistakes of a child determine what you can and can’t do?”

“I…”

Thiasus cut her off, “...get some rest and think about it,” he walked onwards towards his room in the palace, “...goodnight, Misty.”

“...yeah. Goodnight, Thi,” she muttered under her breath as she heard his door close, then retired to her own room for the night.