17, +5 Initiative. 22.

Perfect. I start off by sprinting towards Shining with my rapier held out to the side. Let’s start this nice and simple. I can work my way up depending on how strong he actually is. I see his eyes following me as I start to turn left, so I shift the momentum onto the back of my foot and spin around to quickly go after his right side. We agreed I wouldn’t stab him so I just aim to slash down the right side of his barrel.

14, +9. 23.

Right as the blade is about to start sliding over his coat a flash of magenta appears and forms a sphere around the unicorn. It causes my rapier to violently recoil away and I jump back. Okay so even with a 23 I can’t get through that shield. That shield felt…. different though I wonder if it’s more so like a wall of force or something that has its own hit points. It felt unusually solid.

I don’t get much more time to focus on that as a longsword the same shade as his shield suddenly pops into existence next to me. Spiritual weapon? The sword does a few spins before it attempts to slice me in half vertically. I wait until it’s about half way down before I attempt to swipe at it with the rapier in an attempt to parry it.

The longsword is deflected backwards a couple feet before it spins around again and makes a slash at my side. Because I just swung my rapier to the right and I have nothing in my left hand I’m wide open to the attack. I try to jump away from it, but that only helps prevent it from cutting deeply.

Hit points: 24/32.

I almost used my shield but they said they wanted to test my swordsmanship so I assume I’m not allowed to use magic. I’ll ask, “Hey am I allowed to use magic that supports my swordsmanship? You used your shield but I wasn’t sure if I could use mine.”

Shining and Luna share a look for a second before Luna answers, “Of course, we should’ve been more clear before we started. Feel free to use all of your capabilities that you determine are related to your sword play.”

“All of them? How good are your healers?” I respond with an eyebrow raised.

“I doubt they will be needed but they were quite capable 1000 years ago, so I can only imagine they’ve improved somewhat since then.”

“Alright, well don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I smirk and sheathe the rapier.

Let’s upcast this to 3rd level. “Edalb wodahs” I hold out my hand in front of me and my body begins chanting. It sounds like 10-15 different people's voices are coming out of my throat all at the same time and whispering over each other. A cloud of black begins to form from all the nearby shadows of the tree’s, the fence, a few of the spectating guards, and starts to swirl around in my hand before solidifying in my grasp in the vague shape of a short sword.

Alright that’s my last 3rd level slot, but I didn’t want to hold back. Hopefully this doesn’t kill Shining, if I can just get through that shield I’m sure I’ll only need to hit him once. I finally notice the looks I’m getting from my opponent and the spectators. I glance around and notice some of the spectators are looking slightly afraid as they whisper between each other, and even Shining has his brows furrowed as he glares at me. Luna’s reaction is unreadable, but if I had to give it my best guess I’d say she finds this interesting.

I don’t want to waste anymore time, so I begin to channel booming blade through the shadow sword and blast straight at Shining. Aiming at his neck the blade hits the still present shield.

19, +8 to hit. 27.

This time my attack doesn’t violently bounce off the shield but I don’t break through it either.

1. 1. 6.
   14, +5. 19 Psychic damage. 6 Thunder damage.

My attack slightly bounces off the shield, but as it does the shield begins to form several cracks, large and small. Shining winces a bit before giving me a serious look and I turn around to see his floating longsword making a stab at my chest. Two can play at this game.

Shield!

My own mostly transparent shield erupts from my offhand and the spiritual weapon bounces off it. I would’ve liked to bladesong and increased my AC, but I decided to gamble on the shadow blade being strong enough to end this in one go. Hopefully my shield holds up to his assault.

The longsword quickly recovers and slashes violently at the shield.

Hit points: 13/32.

Concentration Check.

18, +2. 20.

His spiritual weapon passes through my shield this time and gives me deep gash across my chest. This time stinging enough to make me drop to 1 knee and grasp at my chest.

“That’s enough for now, I’ll get this documented while Princess Luna escorts you to the medical wing. I’ll be by shortly to ask you some questions…. mostly about that dark magic you’re using.” Shining says as he looks down at me. The cracks in his shield have slightly closed up.

“We’re not done yet. How can this be the conclusion of the test when I haven’t even used my bladesong?” I ask him, genuinely curious. Is he that concerned about my shadow blade that he’s ending this early? Or is he looking down on me thinking I can’t take another attack.

After a small pause Luna chimes in, “Agreed Captain. Continue.” Shining looks over at her and she gives a small nod and he looks back towards me.

I close my eyes and flourish the shadow blade once more.

Bladesong.

When I open them again I see the familiar motes of light rising from the ground around my feet, carrying soft notes from a violin and chords of a piano. It’s not the True Bladesong, but this should still be enough.

AC: 17 , +5. 22.

Wasting no further time I charge directly at Shining once again, this time making use of my increased speed I jump straight up, coating my blade in purple wisps of thunder, and try to use gravity to add to the force of my slash on his shield.

Wait, 3d8 + 1d8 + 5, if I crit I’m potentially doing 74 damage here. Will that kill him? I freeze in mid-air and see the 20 sided die start to roll.

Natural 20. Oh shit. I just had to say something, huh?

Time resumes and I instantly shout with my voice full of panic, wide eyed. “DODGE!”

I crash through his shield and as he registers what’s happening it’s too late. The shadow blade phases through his head. Luckily it’s not a real physical blade and is just an illusion. Hopefully this doesn’t hit him too bad.

6, 6, 3. 15, +24 Crit +5. 44 Psychic damage.
10 Thunder damage.

Blood leaks from Shining's ears as he falls to the ground holding his head with his forehooves while hissing in pain with his eyes screwed shut. I instantly cancel the shadow blade and drop to my knees and catch him before he falls completely. “Don’t move, don’t move! If we move him right now he’ll suffer the secondary effect from my booming blade. It’s the thunder energy you see my attacks give off.”

The spectating guards all jump the fence and run straight at us, and luckily by the time they reach us the booming blade has worn off. I say luckily because they didn’t heed my warning at all and just instantly pulled me off of him while two of them helped Shining to his hooves and they helped him start walking towards the castle.

I stare up at the sky while the guards pin me down and they start asking for restraints, but Luna interrupts them. “That will not be necessary. We instructed him to go all out did we not? He was a bit stronger than we anticipated, but we shant hold ill will towards him for following our demands.“

“Of course your majesty, but that dark magic-!” The guard tries to retort, but she doesn’t get to finish her complaint.

“Release him. We will not say it a third time.” Luna orders with somewhat of a glare this time. Wow, that pure authority was…. nice.

With a few grumbles the guards stop holding me down and I stand up, brushing off my cloak and pants. I look over to Luna and she continues, “Come, you did not escape unscathed either. We will have your slashes treated in the medical bay.”

She turns and begins moving towards the castle as I jog and catch up to her before replying, “Thanks for not throwing me in the dungeons back there. I didn’t realize there would be such a negative reaction to my magic.”

“Yes, our subjects have always had problems with dark magic users. Mainly because Celestia dislikes it, but we are proficient enough with the school to know that your spell is not dark magic. We are curious as to the details of it though. After the both of you are treated we will reconvene with ‘Tia and discuss our observations.”

The rest of the short walk was in relative silence as I contemplated the consequences of what happened today. Luna and I turn a corner and walk into what looks to be a medical area. It’s a somewhat large and open room with around 30 beds, 15 spaced out on each side. Across the room I spot Shining laying down like a loaf of bread as he talks to a nurse and one of the guards that brought him in here.

As we approach their conversation stops and the guard next to the bed glares at me while Shining speaks up, “Phew, dude that shadowy sword thing is brutal. If I knew it attacked the mind I’d have cast mental reinforcement.”

Another nurse comes over and guides me to the bed opposite of Shining and starts channeling her magic. I see a green light begin to shine on the gashes on my torso as I respond to the Captain, “Yeah… my apologies in my defense I did double check what I was allowed to do, but I guess I still could’ve given you a warning. Now that I think about it I really should’ve said something because I know that spell wasn’t on the reports from the Nightmare Moon encounter.”

Luna decides to join the conversation, “Yes, while we take a majority of the blame here you are correct to acknowledge your own faults. That actually brings us to the first question we have, why didn’t you use either of the spells you showcased today? Surely you were not holding back for us? You’d be foolish if you held back despite how close to death you came.”

Well shit. How do I even explain this? Yeah so I have this ability that lets me accumulate experience in a quantified number form and after acquiring enough experience I can level up. When I leveled up I learned both of those spells as well as a couple others. Yea, no that just makes me sound like a lunatic. Time to perform some bullshittery!

“I had been studying those spells, and while I understood them I lacked the capacity to actually cast them. After the whole Nightmare Moon thing I noticed my mana pool had increased exponentially, and my body became sturdier.”

19, +1 Deception. 20.

Shining made some notes after my explanation, but Luna just squinted at me. “You are not telling us everything.”

I sigh. “I was trying to explain it in a way you’d all understand, I think if I gave you the full truth you’d either not believe me or you’d become confused at what I describe. I’ll try to explain it fully, but I’m not doing it until Celestia is here. I don’t want to explain it more than once, and I must also request that it’s in a more private area.”

Everything I said is true, but I’m mostly making these demands to give me time to think. Should I really do this? I can just cast invisibility and get out of here. No, I can do that if things go south, but for now I still want to explore their magical archives and spell libraries.

Whatever pro or con I was about to come up with next is interrupted by the guard that accompanied Shining here. “First of all, it’s Princess. Celestia. You continue to disrespect her majesty and I’m sick of allowing it! Secondly, who do you think you are to make demands here? You will answer the Princess, now.”

Before I can even respond Luna turns to the mare, “While the Sergeant is somewhat correct, I will agree to waiting for mine sister. We assumed Tia had allowed you to forgo her title, but if she has not then you would do well to address us properly.”

“Nuh uh.” I reply with a deadpan look.

“W-What?!” Luna is utterly flabbergasted.

“I said nuh uh, I don’t wanna. The only beings above me are the Archfey and the Dark Maiden herself, Eilistraee. Respectfully of course, I don’t believe all of you to be below me, but at best you are only my equals.”

When I mention Eilistraee I see Luna’s eyebrows furrow in confusion. Has she heard of my goddess?

The random guard looks like she’s about to pop a blood vessel when a familiar serene voice chimes in from the doorway, “I also don’t think you are below me Ignis, but if you had a preferred title I would still address you as such. However, I can’t say I dislike being referred to so casually. Now why don’t you follow me to one of my sitting rooms and I’ll read the Captains report to catch up while we walk.”

Celestia floats the report away from Shining and turns around. As a sign of good faith I give Luna a half bow and make an “after you” gesture with my arms and after she passes me I look over to the nurse and give her my thanks before following them out of the room.

Author's Note

Heyo sorry for the long wait! I am currently in the middle of moving across the country and haven't really had time to sit down and crank out a chapter.

That being said, I think I've decided what direction I want to go in for now and next chapter you'll get an idea of the next major arc for the story. Thanks for the comments as always, and tbh I apologize. I'm not really that happy with this chapter, but I think for it being a transition/in-between chapter it's fine. Still need to work on getting into the minds of the characters and writing smoother dialogue. Luna in particular is annoying to write dialogue for.

Anyways, thanks for reading!