“Alright Mr.Jai, watch your step. Traps and junk are probably all over the place” Dusk said to him. Jai was pretty impressed with how things were progressing. Scratch that, he was in disbelief how things were progressing.

“I should have used you before I broke this P.O.S. ” Jai said, holding up the broken sword from Selene.

“You got cut pretty bad, Is everything ok? ” The sword asked. Everything was peachy and that was what was confusing him.

“Yea! You’re just so much sharper than I thought” Jai said. He sat on a fallen log wiping the blood off of Dusk. He stared at his surroundings and sighed twenty-three fallen Umbrum lay strewn about the surrounding area around him.

“I told you what you were getting when you picked me up, You missed a spot,” Dusk said proudly, while nitpicking.

Sombra was just as impressed as the human as he looked around. It was bitter sweet to Sombra. To watch the Jai grow into a decent fighter made him feel happy, and yet angry. He knew if Jai didn’t need him, he would be at the humans mercy.

“Jackass, why do you look like you have to take a dump? Do you even have to do that?” Jai asked, looking over his shoulder. Sombra’s eyes twitched after hearing such a stupid question.

“Just had some unpleasant thoughts, that's all,” Sombra said. He felt like an idiot for worrying about the human in the first place. Over the course of the past month and a half in the wilderness, he had done fine.

“Yeah don’t hurt yourself thinking.Ah, Never mind please keep it up,” Jai said, turning away from the now red faced Umbrum. Dusk snorted, as Jai got up a familiar rumbling was getting closer.

“Is it back?” Sombra asked.

“Yeah,” Jai said, stretching his arms.

“Need magic to run?” Sombra asked, grinning.

“Pfft! Like hell I want your help. But now I’m pissed off that you think I need help,” Jai said, drawing dusk from the sheath.

“Um Mr. Jai? You aren't going t-” Dusk began, before getting cut off.

ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

“Call it test number two. Just take his magic and get us home,” Jai said.

“YOU SAY IT LIKE THAT'S EASY!!!!”Dusk shrieked. Jai ignored the sword reading shadow magic. He didn’t want to use anything that would cause him pain or have more Umbrum flocking to him.

“Well this works for me, you die…I win,” Sombra said, with another creepy grin.

Trees fell as the black dragon rampaged around after Jai. So far Jai had figured out that the dragon didn’t want to burn the forest to the ground. Or it couldn’t use a wide breath of flame on him for some reason. Another thing he learned was that Dusk made shadow magic stronger if he used them both at the same time.

“Jesus Dusk, you’re a lifesaver so far,” Jai said. If nothing else, if Jai died he would be so happy. It was weird that he would enjoy fighting just for the hell of it, so much. Less so the Umbrum but this…this felt different.

“I’m doubling down! You are crazy,” Dusk yelled. Jai said nothing as he continued to dodge. The dragon clawed, stomped, and flung magic at him. However Jai dodged each and everyone. Some he dodged narrowly others it was as if he could see it coming a mile away. The better Jai got, dodging with magic and pure instinct the angrier the dragon got. He was in the zone, he moved instinctually

“Yeah, maybe I am!” He replied, before stabbing through the dragon's left eye.

GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! ROAARRRRRRRRR!!

“YOU INSIGNIFICANT LITTLE FUCKKKKKKKK,” The dragon roared, its voice echoing throughout the forest. Jai covered his ears as he fell back to the ground.

“So it could talk and decided to choose violence, lovely…”Jai said, face palming.

“Why would I, a superior being. Converse with a monkey?” The dragon asked, leering down at him.

“I’m.Not.A.Monkey. I’m so happy to know that I’m the only human to grace these god forsaken lands,” Jai said sarcastically. He gripped Dusk’s handle tighter in irritation. Higher being his ass, even if it killed him unless this bitch had a good reason he was going to kill it.

“A failure like you is all that's left? Aww then I shall forgive you and let you waste away elsewhere,” The dragon said, sarcastically. Her condescending tone and toothy grin reminded him of someone. Someone that he had some deep seated hatred for.

“Ma…?” He mumbled. The dragon just looked at him frozen in place. Jai’s mind was racing and the dragon above him was savoring the moment. She knew when he accepted, and he left the area he would be reduced to ashes by her. She would have liked this area

“You failure! Your brother did better than you again. Why can't you do anything right!? I let you live here and you embarrass me? I shouldn’t have had you!” His mothers voice echoed. The dragon sounded just like her. He hated it, he hated being looked down on as less. He hated her.

“Your answer then, thing?” The dragon mocked. Jai looked up and glared daggers at the hulking figure above him. He already knew diplomacy was out of the question and frankly right now, he didn’t care. Here, in this place, being a person with feelings didn’t get you far.

“Ahhh, I'm better than this,” Jai said, exhaling sharply. Traces of gold, silver, and shadows danced in the air around him. His body felt lighter than it usually did, even more so with his fatigue.

“SUCCESS: Contract conditions fulfilled”

“Not no-”Jai mumbled before image after image flooded his mind. Unfamiliar poses, no these weren’t poses. These were memories that weren’t his, and they were flowing into his head at an alarming rate. They were overwhelming but one thing stood out to him at the moment..

BOOOOOM!!!!

The dragon dropped its claws on the human and clicked its tongue. The shockwaves reverberated out past the city of Tempest in the distance.

“Tsk, I grew bored of waiting. You were worse than a bug,” The dragon said, scowling. Turning around and stalking off into the distance. She wanted to torture the poor thing since it took her eye. However a life for her eye seemed to be appropriate.

“You are really good at making things angry,” Dusk said. She was surprised that he had reacted at all to the dragon attempting to step on him. Dusk was even more surprised to find that Jai didn’t stop hiding behind a tree.

“Gahh, old habits die hard,” Jai heaved. He was exhausted and full of energy at the same time. After hearing about the contract being fulfilled he felt it. The overwhelming difference in magic between him and the dragon.

“So how did you figure out the conditions?,” Sombra asked, looking at the human. His magic had made a halo of gold and silver with an aura of shadow magic under it.

“I didn’t. I just felt lighter and now the world's spinning-,” Jai said. The halo fading as the human slumped face first into the dirt.

“What was that? Is he ok?” Dusk asked. Sombra shrugged and sat close to him.

“He’s alive, probably just exhausted from all of that,” Sombra said, motioning to the destroyed forest area the dragon left behind. Hours passed as storm clouds began to form and a light drizzle of rain started to come down.

“Nghh,” Jai groaned, as he rolled over and sat up. His head felt almost as bad as the day he woke up after the whole possession incident. The only difference this time was that his magic pathways weren’t all twisted up.

“Ah you’re up boy,” Sombra said, looking down at him.

“How long was I out?” Jai asked, rubbing the dirt from his face.

“Not too long, a few hours at most,” Sombra replied. Jai felt honest to god, embarrassed that he even thought he could fight a dragon in the first place. He couldn’t even beat two Umbrum soldiers 6 months ago. What made him think he was that much stronger now?

“I…I have a lot to improve on,” Jai mumbled, slowly getting up. Now that this area had been relatively leveled out, he could actually make his way around. The smell of rain and pine filled his senses as he trekked back through the forest.

“How much longer do we have to gooo?,” Dusk complained.

“You don’t even have to walk, why are you complaining?” Jai asked, too tired to really care about a response.

“The rain is going to ruin my finish. My sheath is already rotting and it's gross!” The sword whined. Jai just rolled his eyes as a welcome sight came into view.

“Yo Selene? You home?” Jai called out as he used his magic to enter the cave dwelling. He looked around and let out a small laugh. He thought maybe she would update the interior or something.

“Oh, you’re alive? I took you for dead since it's been quite a while,” Selene said, using her magic to slide her smithing hammer into her apron.

“Don’t blame ya. Now, mind if I wash up?” Jai asked, motioning to his muddy attire. Selene nodded her head towards the bathroom.

“Same place as always,” she said.

“Oh also, you got an extra sheath for this one?” Jai asked, holding up Dusk. Selene put a hoof to her chin as she examined the sword.

“Probably, go wash up and I’ll see what I have. What happened to the lump of iron I gave you?” Selene asked, looking at the handle of the other sword.

“I broke it. You can have it back. I'm too tired right now. ” Jai said, pulling the sheath and broken sword from his pants. He slowly walked towards the bathroom and turned on the water heater. He knew he’d have to fill the water tank later but he didn’t care, he just wanted to rest. The cuts and scrapes strung his skin as it washed over him.

“Alright let's organize…whatever this is,” Jai thought. He was stuck in Nocta until he figured out how to use Dusk to leave. Jai could only prepare and hope for the best.

Day 127:
It’s been a while since I’ve written in this journal. I was surprised to get this back in all honesty. Selene had held onto it after cleaning the spare room out. I almost shed a tear when she handed it back to me. I almost forgot what I had written in it, until she asked me about the Sombra situation. While pointing a sword at me…have to say, a new feeling being on the receiving end. After telling her my side the tension seemed to relax. She even told me more about herself. She’s a former shadow guards mare, only in her mid thirties, and currently m.i.a after a mission. I decided to leave it at that.

Day 150:
When asking Dusk about how to leave she just kept saying it wasn’t time yet. She said something about the thinning dimensional magic and all. I’ve seen sci-fi movies about shit like that but I guess it's real. Other than that I got to finally start swinging Dusk around like the dragon in these memories. It’s weird seeing a bipedal dragon not the size of a 4 story building, but I’m no expert on dragons. The red dragon called this the four seasons sword dance. Sounds awesome and it’s something that should keep me alive. In these memories it looks like he has a ring of fire around the center of his wings. Why is it a dragon in these memories anyway? Dusk talks like the ponies in the crystal empire not like a dragon. Whatever, I’ll ask later when I care.

Day 216:
I’m at an absolute impasse with this sword shit right now. I have the Summer dance down relatively well but when it comes to The others … I just freeze up. Using magic is out of the question too because the way I swing this damn thing messes up my concentration. What if I could…

Day 280:
I figured something out. Sombra let it slip that before I passed out my magic all combined into a halo. Maybe the difference in magic is why I’ve been struggling. Honestly It’s been that way since I’ve been dropped into magic pony land. When I think back to that fight with the dragon, there was that brief boost. A feeling of unity, I was so focused on not dying that well the obvious happened. Whatever, Selene wanted to eat together tonight and it’s the first time she’s been outwardly nice…ever. Hopefully nothing is wrong but time will tell.

Day 281:
Selene was ok…well as ok as ok gets. She was telling me why she helped me when I fell from god knows where. She said I reminded her of a former squad mate that had died. He was brutally strong, uncontrollable, but sweet and kind with the brightest smile. If I didn’t know any better I’d say she loved the guy but that's none of my business. She said she felt compelled to help me out but was scared to get close to me. She wanted to apologize for giving me such a shitty sword. It was a way of coping for her if I died so she could say she tried, but even she knew that was messed up. I kinda figured that was the case but it hurt more hearing it than I thought it would. Trauma makes people move in wild ways and I am no exception to that. Well either way I’m glad we had this talk, it was comforting in a way. She also gave me a sheath for dusk that fits, and clothes that act like leisure wear! I don’t even know when she had time to do this but with this I’d say she is forgiven!

Day 405:
I’ve been here over a year, and I finally figured out these memories from Dusk's previous owner. The red dragon was from the first war with the Umbrum, and left Equestria to take the fight to them. Only to lose to Sombra and Primrose who was a knight captain. Sombra seems to vaguely remember the movements of the sword but his age is showing as he says he doesn’t remember too well. This Summer sword dance is probably my favorite, more so since I got the Halo to manifest when doing it. It makes everything in these memories flow together easier but I guess not being a dragon makes this harder. I’m missing something, but I’ll figure something out when I get back to Equestria, Dusk said it’s almost time.

“Dusk so you mean to tell me. After a whole year, I can change what kind of sword you are?!” Jai yelled. Scratching out the journal entry for Day Four hundred and Sixty-seven, he scrambled from his chair to grab the sword.

“I mean, yeah. HELLOOO Talking sword. Why wouldn’t I be able to do anything else cool?” The Sword said sarcastically.

“Why wait until we have to leave Nocta to tell me this?,‘What do I get if I pick you up’ remember that question?” Jai asked, shaking the sword like a rattle.

“AHHHH, I guess I forgot to mention itttttt,” Dusk said, regretting staying with a human. She couldn’t even leave if she wanted to anymore, since her former masters' will had been passed on and the contract was finalized.

“Forget it, what can you turn into? I’m pretty sure this was what I’ve been missing.” Jai asked, putting the sword down and pouting. Dusk taking a few moments began to transform into 3 different swords. A silver Rapier with an ornate and floral hand guard, a ken sword, And a Longsword. Before turning right back into the black short sword.

“WOAH, that takes a lot out of a sword,” Dusk wheezed. Jai had only seen the dragon use two swords in the memories he’d had. The short sword, and the longsword. He’d just figured it was whatever suited him. With this however maybe this was what he needed.

“It’s time to go anyway, you said something about the moons overlapping?” Jai asked, putting Dusk down. He continued to pack up his things in his waist bag. His journal, magic flask for water, and a simple first aid kit. Getting up Jai looked around the stone room for the last time. He saw the sweat stain in the stone from his countless hours of training at night. Sliding the carpet from the bed closer to the center of the room he chuckled and left the room.

“Sombra you’re awfully quiet these days?” Jai said. The Umbrum ignored him, choosing to remain silent. Jai stared at him for a moment before, shrugging his shoulders. This was what he wanted earlier in his stay here, but now wasn’t a bad time.

Clang! CLANG! CLANG! Thunk!

The sounds from Selene in the forge room slowly got louder as he approached. Peering into the room, Jai saw the purple and black colored mare focused on her work. After a while she noticed Jai and wiped sweat from her brow and smiled then frowned. She saw he was wearing his waist bag filled and the repaired clothing he’d shown up in the forest.

Setting her hammer down on the anvil. Jai nodded his head and she sighed. Walking over to her desk she picked up a small dagger in her magic and levitated it over to Jai.

“Here, this is one of my best this time I promise.” Selene said, laughing as she watched the human reluctantly take the dagger.

“I’ll come back and haunt you otherwise,” Jai said sarcastically. The two shared a laugh while Jai walked over knelt, and hugged Selene.

“I probably wouldn’t have been able to live this long and be sane without you, thanks Selene,” Jai said. Selene returned the hug patting him awkwardly on the back.

“You made me regret it a few times but I am thankful for our time,” Selene admitted. The two shared the hug for a little longer before the human stood up.

“Well, hopefully I can come back under better circumstances,” Jai said, smiling and leaving the dwelling.

“Y-yeah, maybe you will,” Selene said, waving as she watched him walk back into the familiar dark forest. The two moons usually separate slowly, beginning to overlap, causing Selene to smile. She hoped it was a good sign, and wished she didn’t have to lie to human.

“Alright Dusk, spill it. The moons doing the thing,” Jai said, drawing the sword from her sheathe.

“I get you’re impatient master but you could be nicer,” Dusk complained. The human rolled his eyes and looked to the sky. A double lunar eclipse? It was pretty cool to be honest, if this place didn’t want him captured he’d probably stay.

“Perform Summer, since it’s the only one you can do,” Dusk said, changing into a Ken sword. Jai shrugging followed what Dusk said. Lifting the sword, he felt off but he ignored it. Each thrust, slash, and pause felt heavier than usual. As he finished the dance, there was only silence around him. A blinding white light enveloped him. Lifting him slowly upward. He felt so happy, after a year of this dark, dreary place. He got to leave, and on his own terms.

“Dusk we did ittttttt,” Jai screamed, his voice trailing off as he was suddenly launched upwards at a dizzying speed. Closing his eyes the only thought in his mind at that moment was ‘don't puke’. When he re-opened his eyes, he was in another cave.

"I'm so sick of caves ya know..." Jai complained. Then he heard shuffling, and then 3 figures appeared in front of him. They were grey with green eyes and holes all over.

"Strange intruder! Get him!" One hissed.

"I mean no harm I just want out!" Jai said, slowly backing up.

"Lies! We will feed on you intruder die!" Another said as they rushed him. Jai sighed and prepared for more fighting.

"I miss Amore's breakfast," The human mumbled.

Author's Note

I'm curious how you feel about the journal entries. I feel like they help add a little more insight to how Jai is feeling or his thoughts. But i'm open to other ideas.

If you got this far...Thanks and I love you! Hope you're enjoying this story so far. As all always stay blessed

Ps. Next chapter is almost done hahahaha