Dreaming is never fun.

Not anymore.

I’ve been waking up in that same cold sweat, but I’m never warm, I’m just cold. I’m just unfeeling. The doctors cleared me once more but what surprised me was how everyone treated me after, not anything bad I guessed. Everyone acted like I was this delicate flower who would snap at the slightest amount of effort or touch. I wasn’t sure how to feel, on one hand it was odd and on the other I hated it. I didn’t like being taken care of. Not only that, but I didn’t like being told everything would be ok. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be ok truthfully, how else was I supposed to be ok with this…burning reminder literally in my head.

My days were filled with “taking it easy” as Cadence assured me, I wanted to go against it but big shocker I was too much of a coward to consider even denying her request. That mare Hallow even wished me well after a day in court. No one could seem to come up with a cure, and I wasn’t sure if this was really the best path for me anymore. What was I to gain by sitting around and just resting, what would that do? It felt like the doctors were just throwing things at the board until they stuck at the wall.

It was a strange time for me, only learning what magic wouldn’t set off whatever affliction was upon my mind and body. Not only that, but it wasn’t fun nor was it inviting that I had lost my original drive for magic now that this...curse was upon me. I couldn’t make heads or tails of it, my dreams only grew more vivid, as did my heart’s clenched flame. I continued to be plagued, but something more troubling approached me the more the magic lessons continued. Those same flickers of time slowing grew more and more.

The seconds would pass until 5 seconds soon came and vanished before my eyes, the time slowed and ruined before me, yet it was simply a figment of my imagination, I had to believe that. Things just didn’t add up, and it didn’t help that my sleep got no better as the days passed. Soon the hours turned to days as the plague of this curse continued its hold on me. Something that struck me as odd was my sense of time, not that it was off, but that sense of time you feel as you complete tasks or have fun. Time seemed to slip from me, even as I sat in bed and talked with Adagio and Chrysalis.

Things were just weird, to put it blatantly. I never felt at true peace, the air felt off, my food tasted bland and my throat never dried for a second. Even as I spoke at length with the two fugitive women before me. Sometimes, I just wished that we all could relax. No royalty, no kingdoms, just people in one nation that offers prosperity, fairness and kindness to everyone. It felt horrible that we couldn’t do this. At least in my lifetime. I knew better than to consider myself some revolutionary.

It was just some fool’s dream I imagined, maybe others on earth or here could do something like that, but I wasn’t such a person. I was just thinking too much, I imagined. It wasn’t fun just sitting around and without Adagio and Chrysalis to talk to, often I was left alone in my thoughts. I would usually try to suggest practicing magic, but even starlight was hesitant, and I just wanted out. I really just wanted peace of mind and heart, whatever that may be and if that meant that I had to rest and be a worthless stallion then maybe that’s what I needed, I wasn’t sure. Back in my room, I noticed it was just Adagio and waved to her, getting her to smile before looking at me confused:

”Hey Eon, are you ok? You look like shit, no offense”

”Yea, just feeling useless is all, I can’t practice my magic, can’t attend court with cadence and whatever else, feels like I’m trapped...”

”Well, it’s just getting better, right? I mean I’m not the most knowledgeable on pony cultures and their medicine having run from them for eons and all, but even I could guess that the treatment they are giving you is just one that they hope works, they are just as desperate as your friends are to see you happy again”

”I know that I want to be as well, but what worries me more is....just the whole situation. If no one knows what this verdant darkness is or its effects on me, who knows what I’ll become in the future? Maybe I’m just going to become some monster or some worse cursed being like those monsters Discord or Tirek. It just feels like I’m in a tomb and I can’t get free, trapped beneath the rubble and rendered inert”

”Eon, I know it may be hard to hear this, but...-I’m a criminal. So are you, we’re both criminals who may or may not one day face up for our supposed crimes, and we have nothing to gain from this. My wife can only guard you and me for so long before one day we’re found out, and I just pray to the gods above that each day is not that day. I can only expect of you to hope the same, that each day you don’t become what you fear and push to be the best you can as only you can”

The disguised mare hugged me, gripping me a bit tight before giving me the best smile she could, it was obvious she had been worried. I just hoped that those words reached my mind today. Her eyes gave off that same mirth I had seen in Cadence, Sunset, Starlight and even Chrysalis. I couldn’t help but let a tear loose from my eye.

I thanked her with no words but a small and a nod. She patted my head and chuckled ”Good stallion, maybe now you’ll be a bit more entertaining as my oh so gracious host?” I rolled my eyes, finding myself smiling at this. This will be ok for some time. Just hanging out even if I felt useless now what would be the point in staying down?

***

Within a few days I was cleared for some form of regular study under magic as well as allowed in Cadence’s Court, it wasn’t what I had truly wanted and just wanted this done days ago, but cadence just gave me a look. I don’t know how to explain it but think of it as a *Stare* she had no givings about, telling me that if I showed any further signs of problems that I were to retire to my chambers.

For some time I felt a bit uneasy from her tone and face, maybe it was just the moment, but something shone through in that instance. The Cold of a Blizzard, shining through my very soul. It was a weird moment, but I tried not to think about it too much. Something that struck me as odd was the odd looks from the guards, but I suppose being given that look did give them something to joke about at my expense.

Arriving at the court I was surprised to see Hallow once more, she alongside who I presumed to be her daughter who I later learned was named Violet Gallows. The two of them were taking the former seat of two nobles that had since retired due to complications in age. I was surprised but smiled at them, getting Violet to bound to me and simply bow before speaking:

”Hello sir, my name is Violet Gallows. I am Mrs. Hallows’s daughter and I wish to do my best in making you comfortable”

I was rather confused but nonetheless accepted this, according to Cadence some nobles will eventually try to court me in the same manner as a friendship and wish that I get some favor for their kindness. Maybe that was a bit selfish but Hallows seemed kind enough, maybe I would have some way to benefit from it, but I want to see how she uses my friendship. Hopefully as a true friend and not just some pawn in her own game.

The day court would begin as per usual, the same few nobles from the days before or the last time I was here had been petitioning in particular for the Empress to name an heir for her throne as her family has none left, this seemed to only annoy cadence. From what I had understood, this was something ever since her teen years, they had been petitioning for her to announce an heir from either a royal blood or someone from one of the nobles families. This was some sort of plot to ensure they’d retain ultimate power within their own line, but truth be told, it felt silly. Why petition a woman like Cadence for a child? She didn’t seem like the sorta gal to have a kid for royalty but just no kids at all really. She didn’t seem to find the idea interesting, truth be told.

It was rather strange given the idea that her family abandoned her, it wasn’t a comfortable thought, but maybe that was why. Though I wasn’t privy to this at the time, I was pretty sure many of the nobles saw Cadence as not just some ticket to fame but as a sexual object of their own whims. Many of them had slaves or servants as they said in the form of earth ponies. It was despicable really, I could hardly believe that slaves of that caliber existed, but since one world could have problems then it was only fair to assume other worlds could produce the same evil.

Wasn’t the worst thing I could imagine at the least, knowing that the sirens and changelings were hunted and treated as lesser than even the earth ponies even to people like Cadence was truly a scary thought. That had to be changed, at least to me. Maybe they will be allies one day. I was broken from my stupor as I heard the voice of a noble

”Your Grace, is it wise to have a commoner among your ranks, especially one considered your friend? It’s dangerous to invite such low-level thinking into such a place. Yes, they may be under your care, but please consider inviting such dangerous ideals in the past, such as the nobles in the Lunar and Solar empires who employ Changelings into their ranks. We should remain careful of all those who are not directly linked with either your majesty’s family or one of your loyal noble factions.”

This only got a mere nod from Cadence as she looked at me for a moment, then back at the noble.

”Sir Blueblood, while I appreciate your concerns about those Empires, understand they are our allies and for you to question their actions speaks not of their rule but your own inner thoughts. I am your Empress, I may make a decree for taking care of someone, whether they be of noble blood or my own family. The trust aspect is not something I cannot change for you, while he’s my friend he is no servant nor a guard and merely here of his own volition and my request unless you find a problem with this?”

This did seem to shut him up, though he did try to think of a response for a moment before going silent, but something struck me so I motioned for cadence for some permission to which she allowed.

”Mr. Blueblood I may not be a noble or some royal family member, I’d be more than happy to calm myself a friend of her highness for one reason only, to repay the debt I owe to her in not just heart but my mind and body. I owe the Empress my life for the things she’s given me, friends, a home, a job as her friend and maybe that’s not the most glamorous thing or even the thing I truly desire from my life here. So please, if you have to bare any fangs for her highness please do so myself.”

The noble’s appeared a bit shocked at my words, maybe I was a bit too extravagant with the wording I mean, I didn’t exactly lie about it but it wasn’t the most truthful interpretation of my thoughts. This seemed to even surprise Cadence who only smiled at me as I sat down in my new chair, they had given me a seat next to her a sort of guard for her. It wasn’t a position I loved a lot to be honest, but it was kind of fun to be called her highness royal guard.

It felt nice, really, to be called that. Though I didn’t think of myself as some guard for Cadence, I couldn’t even do magic well. Who’s to say I was good in a hand-to-hand fight. The aspect of me fighting did seem cool to be fair, It would be like I’m a real fighter for my friends. Maybe that’s something I should look into. Could be fun. For the time being though I chose to listen to cadence and the surrounding court stuff, it seemed important and maybe I could help alleviate that load off of her in the future.

The usual jargin I could understand was truly boring. Maybe I wasn’t so cut out for this sort of gig. It felt weird to just sit here and do nothing for god knows how long. Though something of interest did catch my attention as I left with the Cadence, an odd mare who seemed to be on her lonesome.

(Credits to the original artist: https://www.deviantart.com/flairnightz/art/I-still-got-the-touch-709650434)

Before me was a mare dawned in black armor, looked like some sort of guard but she had no horn or at least a functioning one. Her horn seemed to be broken free from her head and had been long lost. Her armor was a dark raven color, similar to those found in some sci-fi novels I would imagine, a raven shaped elbem on her pectoral and her demeanor screamed something fierce.

Walking up to her, she gave me little emotion and merely spoke the second I arrived:

”I see, the Royal friend of the Empress, an unknown Unicorn from a place unknown wishes to speak to me? This must be important sir if you wish to speak to me in such an odd manner”

”Oh well Um, I apologize miss but I was merely curious about you, see I’m an Amnesiac and have no real records of my former life so unfortunately all I have is the few friends I have and of course her highness, May I ask for your name ma’am?”

”Certainly, my name is Tempest shadow head general of the Empire of Love’s armed forces, her highness informed me of your situation not long ago and wished for us to get acquainted as she put it “he’ll become more used to other ponies this way” or something less silly. Her highness informed me of your current condition and so I wish to extend an apology to your current predicment sir, I wish you a speedy recovery now may I ask what you wished to speak to me about?”

”Oh, apologies M-Tempest. I am simply curious about your horn if you can believe it, I apologize before hand if that’s just rude of me to ask but I’m a curious stallion and seeing as you know of my current condition then I can assume you know that I know little of this world and remember very little of how unicorns operate.” I was rather nervous given her seemingly lack of emotion, not for a second did she drop her facial expression.

"I'm afraid I cannot disclose that to you and only her highness knows of such a thing, I would ask that you please not ask any further about this or her highnesses's family. Her highness informed me of your questions and as such I'm obliged to tell you this, the royal family has chosen this path for the benefit of all ponies. To question her highness is to disrespect her."

The answer itself didn't worry me as much as the whole family thing, I hadn't questioned cadence about that in some time so why was it something that I had heard now was wrong in this manner? I guess it wasn't too important since she seemed to have vanished into the crowd of nobles passing by. It was a rather strange set of words exchanged but she seemed nice enough, maybe we could be friends one day.

***

My lessons in magic continued despite my condition, oddly enough I was seemingly improving despite the consistent strain put on my body and mind. My heart would heat up seemingly every time I tried magic but I pushed past it for those brief moments I could spare and was able to conjure some magic. The doctors weren't sure how I was able to do such a thing but hypotheseed it could just be a natural build-up of magic from my condition that is being released as excess energy. Though in truth even I was unsure how I was doing this.

Maybe it was just my stubbornness to sit in bed all day, to let them all down and even make myself appear weak in any way but whatever the case I continued with my lessons. The first was trying to push the basics of my magic further, this was through the conjuring of messages, usually, but today they wanted to test my defensive magic, something having to do with protecting myself more than Cadence can do. The first means of this was getting me an instructor that could teach me defensive magic and so I was told to head to the foregrounds for such a test.

Not long after, arriving in the foregrounds I came across an odd mare to say the least. She looked similar to Cadence, with bright hair down her back, her magenta curls perfectly covering her horn almost though it was rather large compared to most Unicorns I imagine. She had a cutie mark in the form of a Golden shield shaped with a red heart crest. She seemed rather petite given her frame, she had what could only be described as a supermodel body. Though she seemed to have some muscle to her like those body builder women but less steroid like and more like a hidden mask.

She seemed to notice me as the woman smiled brightly and bounced over to me speaking to me in a thick accent though it was quite hard not to tell if she was french or not, maybe this world had an equivalent to the french?

"Ah Monsieur Eon, j'ai beaucoup entendu parler de vous de la part de son altesse, elle parle bien de vous. Vous deviez devenir mon nouvel élève, n'est-ce pas ?"

For those who couldn't understand I was given a little trinket, a magical bracelet from Starlight, she had informed me that miss Fleur Dis Lee was from the Prench Nation allied with the griffons who held a strong respect for the swordsmanship of the Prench. Though all miss Fleur spoke to me about me being a new student to which I agreed with her. She seemed strangely nice, I had heard from the guards that spoke to me that she was a fierce warrior and didn't back down from any challenge, it was rumored she was even stronger than an alicorn.

For the basics in defence, the first step was getting me to conjur a defense of magic in the form of a shield. It wasn't easy and even the most simple of shields were barely able to take the first jab, from her arrival a light-ray in the form of a blade sharpened to the tip. Her eyes lost that same mirth as she ordered me:

"Vous êtes lent, vos réactions manquent et vous êtes trop concentré sur cette pose imprécise."

The same blade struck me this time on my shoulder, nicking my shoulder blade and a little bit of blood spurted from the wound. I tried again this time using the same shield against her and while it wasn't as bad what was difficult was the randomness of her attacks, each little opening I did have she seemed to completely take advantage of. It was bad, if this was a real fight I'd be down for the count or worse. I could feel my chest heating up, my breathing becoming shorter, I pushed my shield forward and fully caught the one strike I could see. She seemed surprised but let loose a grin before drawing back her blade.

"Bon travail, vous avez réussi à retenir au moins un coup. Étudiant intéressant, mais ça va? Tu as l'air beaucoup plus fatigué que je ne l'imagine. Vous devriez vous reposer avant de continuer M. Eon"

I could only nod, my magic still acted up despite my resolve. Sitting down I noticed she seemed to only keep practicing, wasn't she some sort of teacher? Why keep pushing herself like that? I hadn't noticed before but she had a few scars, primarily on her neck in the form of slashes and what could be seen as bites. Wonder what she had gotten to cause that? From my side I could see someone snickering, turning around I noticed a fiery woman, She had what looked like a toned body and looked more like an actual bodybuilder. She wore a fiery armor set that seemed rather loose, covering only vital parts of her body and seemed to let a lot into the imagination.

"Staring at the Commander of the Empire's Royal forces huh? Tsk tsk, what a dangerous game you play stranger, name's Spitfire, guard of the commander and considered the strongest pegasus around, what about you hotstuff?"

I felt rather embarrassed, trying not to feel like I had just been bamboolzed by a mare. Damn my human pride.

"Oh um sorry ma'am er uh sir, I was just merely curious about The Commander, she's a good teacher so far I just hope that I live up to what was requested of me and please do not call me hotstuff, it feels weird."

She seemed to take some of the hint before giggling at me and patting me on the back a bit hard, making me stumble up from my seat from just the sheer force behind her hands

"Oh come on stud, if you can't take this then I don't imagine you'll do well as the Commander's newest student, good thing you're not looking at her ass man, she'd tear you to shreds for that, the boss isn't exactly fond of guys so shocker that her highness sent a Unicorn of all things to a stallion-hater but hey can't exactly question it"

I only sighed at this, this just made things tougher honestly. Guess I'd have to cross this bridge when I got to it, walking back up to my teacher after composing myself I readied myself as the woman didn't bother to look in my direction before her blade struck near my shoulder once more, I just barely managed to defend against this. The second strike was near the center of the magical construct, breaking it nearly with a powerful strike. I tried to reinforce it quickly before the third strike as it arrived not a moment sooner.

For several hours this was the sort of training I was provided, using this flimsy magical shield over and over to deflect her blows sure it was decent to help my reflexes in my new body but what worried me was spitfire's words and the fact that ethier Cadence or Starlight chose this strange woman. Why a man with her of all people? As our training came to an end I was surprised to see my teacher nod in my direction before speaking

"Vous avez bien fait pour la première leçon, monsieur, peut-être que son altesse n'exagérait pas un tel potentiel"

I could only nod and give a smirk to her trying to seem like the pain wasn't all over my body from constant use of magic and consistent physical training was rather taxing given my current condition. My body just wasn't prepared so it was rather taxing given what I had survived in my dreams before hand. I would retire for the night, heading to my room the guards welcomed me into the castle with a smile, I returned that same smile to them and walked past.

Heading to my room, I was happy to find both Adagio and Chryalis sleeping soundly in their bed. Good for them, maybe tomorrow I'll get to talk and see what they did for the day but who knows, this world is rather bizarre.

***

Waking from the same dreams and same issues, I grogily got out of bed, making sure not to step on my friend's sleeping forms as I headed to the bathroom. Getting ready for the day I was met with a knock at the door, trying to get to it quickly, the door burst open with what looked like...Spitfire? That same weird woman from before who barged in and looked at my friend's sleeping forms as well as me in the bathroom before wagging her finger

"And here I thought you were just a regular stallion, already snagged two mares a day after meeting me? Devious stallion, the commander wanted me to simply come by and tell you that her highness has ordered that you report to her for all your more combat-related magic lessons from now on and save standard magic for the others, whatever that means"

I quickly moved her out of the room as Adagio stirred from her sleep and looked at me

"You do know I may not be fully awake, but even I know it looks weird to us two here with you.."

She fell right back to sleep while I could only sigh and facepalm myself. I could feel a blush crawling onto my face as I got myself ready for the day. I only found Spitfire waiting outside my door with a snicker on her face as I just tried my best to ignore her and walked to the foreground just as the day before.

Today would be a normal day for training if it wasn't for the audience watching us, waving to me brightly with a smile was my kirin comrade Autumn blaze and next to them was starlight, Sunset and Cadence. According to Spitfire, this was some sort of little game just to see how I was doing. In my head I had imagined it was a bit more than that but truth be told I was just glad they came to see me. Conjuring up the same shield as before I was stopped by my teacher as she took the blunt end of her magical blade and tapped me on the head lightly.

"You Mr. Eon will be sparring with me today, at the behest of her highness and your friends they wish to see a little display. They wish to know the depths of your potential firsthand and maybe just to see if you could impress a certain mare, most of all my student you will go with all you know from your past in mind. Use what you have learned from them to oppose me, give me a show."

Jeez, I knew I was human but I was fighting my instructor on day 2? Was Cadence just bored and in need of me getting my ass kicked that much? Jesus. I readied myself, not using the shield but what I could conjure of my magic, the first strike was at my shoulder just as the day before, I just managed to slightly veer off from the blade's end. The first strike from me used a small blade I could conjure, a black blade full of brimming golden light that struck her hoof, barely scratching her but nonetheless effective in the moment.

The same blade as before struck my own, a clattering sound from the two blades as my strength waned, so did my blade though she seemed a bit confused about something. That second of compromise pushed me forward, drawing my blade closer and clattering right against her armor once more and attempting to at least scratch her like she did me. The two blades clashed, metal sparks danced in the air around us and my heart just continued to race from the sheer excitement and I didn't even know why.

What about this trading of blows that got my blood pumping, my heart didn't burn like it did before. All I could feel was the pumping of blood and that flame growing over time, exploding from within as I could feel that same black flame coating my blade and maybe they noticed but I didn't. Our blades continued to clash as the separation of our flesh and them closed more and more.

Following through on the motions, almost as if it were instinct I continued to dance with my teacher. The first was her defensive strike at my blade in an attempt to get me to lose concentration, it worked well. I lost my balance for only a moment before catching myself and conjuring my blade once more. The second I got back up the moment she took advantage of was my opening, throttling my blade at her face to which she evaded and grinned, a flaming glint in her eyes.

This battle was all my mind cared about, later I learned I was grinning as the battle drew closer and closer to its conclusion. My mind was at an impass, on one hand my magic was waning and the strain to my body was continuing to mount and on the other my inner self all but screamed to keep fighting. That same flame flickered in my heart, for only a moment as my magic was once called upon, rising myself just above my teacher for a moment as our blades clanged together both of us not letting an inch come between us. My heart began to feel this same pressure as It did before, the pressure of battle, the pressure to grow stronger, all of that confounding into one burst as a black blade formed from my very magic and smashed into her own.

She stopped me for a moment as she looked at my blade, a mix of both confusion and some fear glinted in her eyes. Before I was the woman I was convinced could not be shaken with those scars to see her confused even after such a short time couldn't help but worry about me.

"So this is your blade Mr. Eon? A blade of pure black and flame, what an interesting calling you have drawn from your soul. If you have such an interesting path, may I ask of my fellow student's above to watch over thy blade. Please draw your blade once more but what shall you call it Mr. Eon?"

"Before we continue Mr. Eon, allow me to explain a little about the sword of a warrior, from warrior to warrior, Blades conjured up usually take the form of a magical item but in some cases such as myself and your own our blades are aspects of our very soul and are drawn not just from magic but ourselves, it shows our very soul as a weapon"

The blade, I once got a good look at it was one encrusted with strange metals, the gem near the edge of the blade glistening in the sunlight above. My hand gripped the hilt tightly, it felt right. Like this flame was almost at peace, each part of the blade had something sticking out of it almost like it challenged the very world from touching it. I only smiled and nodded at my teacher

"Let us continue Teacher! I won't give in just yet, I've been too much of a weakling to stand on my own, this is my first step as a warrior and I won't let you back down now and I don't think that the mighty Warrior of her highness, the one I heard of that could begin to think of stopping"

The battle continued despite her grin, our blades met once more, one coated in pure white and the other in pure will, forming a clash of warriors even if I wasn't one yet. With each strike I could feel my muscles begin to burn, the gritting of my teeth, sweat going down my face only pressured me to continue. First was her blade knocking my arm, knocking my blade away for a moment while I avoided a second strike and then a third. The further we continued the longer I seemed to not exhaust, strike after strike on my leg, shoulder, even knocking my sword from me one last time didn't put me down and I could see some small frustration from my teacher. In one feil swoop I could feel the air leave my lungs as the blade was embedded into the ground my teacher's snicker clear on her face before I rose again and felt exhaustion over-take me. I rose to my feet and saluted her, she seemed rather confused but repeated my action. Guess a salute was something you didn't do here? It's odd.

"You have done well as a novice in combat Mr. Eon, I commend you for your will and drive to push forward, but next time, try not to waste your magical reserves as much, you could've passed out or worse if you had continued down your current path" She cheekily reminded me, giving me a snicker and one wink in my direction.

Autumn burst down from her seat to congratulate me, crushing me in a hug and smiling brightly, Starlight tapped the girl on the head with a book getting her to whimper and look to starlight confused before starlight scolded her for crushing an injured stallion. I could only smile at this interaction, Starlight seemed more friendly than her previous Cold Queen persona let on. She even scolded her just to simply pat me and the back and give me those same worried eyes, I smiled before Cadence burst forth and tackled me in a hug herself. Even Starlight and Sunset couldn't help but grin and wink in my direction, even the teacher could only shake her head as Cadence composed herself seeing the looks. She was clearly blushing even as Spitfire wrapped an arm around her.

"Oh your highness, didn't know you thought that highly of a stallion, wonder what else you think of this stallion, hope you've got yourself ready then stud!"

I immediately stood up and waved my hands feeling a blush cross my face as I spoke up, this woman sometimes got on my nerves. But she meant well, even if it was awkward.

"Oh no no miss Spitfire, I mean yes Cadence is a lovely woman but truthfully I don't think I'm worthy of that much less anything but her stray she decided to take in...."

Sunset only sighed and took her hand before swatting my head, I gave her a quick glare for her to only snicker at me and shake her head.

"Why thank you, Eon but you're not a stray you're my friend alright? Don't degrade yourself like that."

I could only give her a small smile and nodded, The commander walked up to me and merely smiled nodding before taking the brunt of her blade and giving me a light tap on the head.

"You did well to impress her highness, I do apologize if we became rather dedicated towards the end of our duel your highness, I just felt that a public display of your friend and giving him some training in combat from this day forward could be more acceptable than sheer defensive training. His body show's an aptitude for combat I've only seen in a few hundred soldiers ever, he seems to be more of a combative stallion than I imagined."

Something that struck me oddly even as we left was the look my teacher gave me, she seemed....worried. if that could be believed, I wondered why that was, but with how tired I was, I didn't give it a second thought.Heading back to my room for the day, I was met with Adagio and chrysalis just coming back from what I learned was shopping, mostly due to the bags hanging from their sides. I was quick to get back into my book though, I hadn't lost that luster for reading even with all the shit going on. For the rest of the day, I broke the silence by talking with them while I read, I felt like it was something I could get used to even if me and the girls didn't do things often considering the circumnstances around us.

Later that night, I felt myself slowly wind down and fall asleep once more. Then it all began again, that same whisp of dark fluttering into my heart and lighting ablaze just as the battle took place. That same damned dream began to play, though this time there was something more dangerous in the air around me. That battle played in my dreams even but I saw it from her view, before me or her was a stallion colored by the black flame, the blade a piercing cold aura around it.

The first slash came my way and just as she did, she evaded or I did it was really confusing. Those piercing eyes are full of a flame unborn from darkness. The words from not long ago echoed "You will become the legacy of ash" Was I this ashen being? consumed by a flame that cannot burn and is always present? This same battle continued, but this ending was not one that occurred. Before I was my teacher, her body was littered with wounds and covered in cuts. Then the scene that scared me to my core, her head slid to the ground the blood seeping below my feet a black liquid flowing from her with only a blank look on my face in response.

The flame of the blade surged around her body, encasing it in said flame burning and smoldering her flesh. Then came the screams from the headless body, her screams welled in my head as I gripped my head tightly just barely able to keep myself composed from the volume alone. It was then snapped as the flesh from her body was ripped, leaving only her skeleton. The creature's bones then turned to dust under my blade. I looked at my own hands, covered in blood and full of her hair. The very world around me shifted, growing and shifting like a mass of light. The furious tendrils and chains then once more chained me to the ground I struggled, even calling my own magic and forming my blade, its cold aura shined through the darkness. I tried as best as I could, forcing the blade against my own flesh even to try and cut myself free for that second until it vanished just as the blade itself.

I began to dream of those flames, the smoldering lights above me. dwindling masses of fire and ice smoldering at the surface of my body. I screamed to the heavens above as the chains ripped from my flesh, tearing my wrists apart but freeing me none the less, I felt no pain. I would not be shackled. I will not fail them again. These flames shackled me to this world and I would only weigh them down. It made me realize just how little this world was to this....thing. For my next few moments were spent with blood and flame. The moment I could feel the cold escape me was the second the flames exploded all around me and consumed everything in their path leaving only ashes behind. That simple thought got me to sit and accept the flames, consuming me until a snap could be heard.

It was foolish of me not to simply accept the fate I had been dealt and maybe this was my punishment for it, to become a monster, to become a simple beast of battle and blood. That sense of dread creeped upon my body from head to toe, I could feel my body wane and dim from my sight as that same snap occured. Luna stepped through the black with no expression on her face as she looked more than frustrated and downright angry. Her eyes blazing with fury as she looked down at me before lifting me to my feet, using her own aura to keep me from falling, my frail and lifeless body before her.

"So it is your choice to simply let these minions of black and blood fuel your own issues and let yourself falter before the negative mass before you, I may not be the best option to help you now Human but I'll be damned to allow that woman's dear friend fall to darkness" Her words hissed out at me as she gripped me tightly before the world of black vanished, before I awoke she spoke something but I could not hear her nor understand.

My day began with a simple relaxation test, hoping I didn't look like shit before everyone else knew of my nightmares. This would become something of a routine I imagine, maybe I would break it in the future. I couldn't help but keep myself in my study for a while, not responding to knocks or requests for my pressence anywhere, for some time I spent my time reading trying to keep my mind off the nightmares, the black and that acursed flame. I chose to ignore even Cadence's pleas for Sunset and noted that despite no changes besides the usual, my magic still felt weird. What was odd about my magic today though, it felt....more full. Like the same magic I used normally was more complete than usual.

This day would be a change in my soul, I could feel it. Getting up I decided to take the day to spend time with my friends. First was sunset, heading down the hall I noticed something rather strange: she and that same strange purple Unicorn seemed to converse before she noticed me and just as before, vanished. I feel like at some point I would know who this was and why Sunset didn't tell me about her, but I felt like I couldn't push for that, we were friends but it wasn't my business to know who she talked to. I decided against it, maybe she'd deserve some time away from me so I headed to the foreground. The first thing on my list was to visit my teacher and see if she was around I'd gotten kinda excited to spar again but all I could find was her resting against the bench, her armor a bit worn and seemingly cut up.

Walking up to her I waved to her, I found that she didn't seem to respond at first before I snapped my fingers, she seemed to be lost in thought before smiling and standing up before holding out a hand, the two of us shook hands but the sheer grip she had made me nearly rip my hand away from how much it hurt.

"Ah it is good to see you, student though your lesson was quite a while ago, might I ask why you were late hm?" She seemed to have a dangerous glint in her eyes, grinning at me.

"Oh um....well. Sorry Miss fleur de lis, I just had a tough time sleeping due to....previous events. Let's just say that I didn't have the best time waking up and was struck with something so I was advised to simply rest in my room for the time being...again sorry." Not a total lie, besides I think it could pass as real if I tried.

She seemed to buy it, nodding at me and giving me a grin before she spoke: "We will be honing your reflexes, your power and defensive strikes while impressive could be worked on but what showed me most was your lack of timing on turning back a blow on your opponent, if I was aiming to kill you then I would have stabbed your open arms and legs without a second thought, further more you lacked any sort of response to my advanced, you kept yourself back and focused on pure power, a failure on your part as my student that I must correct" She tossed to me a set of armor, instructing me to put it on to which I fumbled on, struggling to get it on and felt rather embaressed when she helped me get it on like a child.

Within a few moments we got ourselves ready, the first strike wasn't from a blade but from her own magical blast burning against my leg she glared at me before speaking up:

"You continue to focus on my blade just as before, keep your guard up! My blade is not your only foe now resume!" I tightened my grip on my own blade, I hadn't even noticed it manifested before the second I looked away her blade struck my own, it was like some reflex. my arm moved on a second's notice, the same flame igniting in my heart, the cold blade shining briefly as my moves continued to try and evade her strikes. My body seemed to move less of my own accord and more of on pure instinct alone, I was confused and felt like I was out of my own body within those few moments.

The pressure of my mind attempting to keep up with her blistering speed wasn't the most optimal but it was all I could do, I would receive strike after strike just barely managing to keep myself together in those moments. I chose to go on the offensive to return said harm, bringing my cold blade I called out something I had no idea of even doing!

"Icy Burst!"

The blade glowed as a cold aura swooshed about into the air and colliding with her own, her magic seemed to hold out well despite the frost covering the blade. a massive gust of air coated the area before us as she herself coated herself in a shield meant to deflect the icy wind. I could scarcily believe in my own power, this was something I had no note of. What even was this magic? was this something to do with the flame in my dreams? something that was meant to be with me all this time? Or was this the discovery of my potential talent? For that moment all that their was, the cold air and the silence broken by the screeching metal as my blade met her own, she seemed to steel her own eyes at me, a bit scary if you ask me. Our two blades clashed once more, I pulled myself back and tried to evade the second strike, getting a cut across my cheek for it before her magic met my body, knocking the wind out of my sails throwing me to the ground.

Unfortunately, I had little time to recover, trying to get myself back up but that burning feeling of air flowing into my lungs was the last thing I could feel before a blade's blunt end crashed against my side. My first point of action was to get up, rolling onto my side I gripped my side feeling the air come back for a moment, proping myself up before she spoke again. Just as she began to speak, my vision became hazzy, my breaths became haggered and weak before it all went black.

End of chapter 5

Author's Note

Apologies for it being a bit shorter than normal, the idea for me is roughly 8-10k per chapter. I apologize if things have been a bit slow, I've just been doing other stuff! Also, if you have suggestions or any forms of critique, please comment below. Hope you enjoyed this chapter