The Proving

As sun has risen over the Embrase, new snow fell from the sky, covering the land below with sheets of white. The snow storm was coming, and birds flew away hiding in the trees. The tall creature of dark metal and tentacles, which extended to the base of the All-Mother mountain, stood high as always, reminding settlers of the devil which watches over them, waiting for the unknown to them opportunity.

All-Mother mountain was the place not only sacred for the Nora, but also a training ground, where the aspirants will test their skill in the Proving. One of the groups like that walked towards the cliffs of the mountain. It was led by a bearded unicorn, followed by Sky Breaker, female changeling, Inlight Dust, Summerwind, two hippogriffs, another pony and a kirin. As they passed the altar, flame-maned pegasi and brown kirin stopped for a moment, to look at it, as it looked like it wasn't touched by anyone for over a decade.

They walked to a tall cliff, where the Proving will begin, and light-brown griffon, with smug face, let Inlight be the first one to climb the cliff. "Outcasts first." Was the only thing he said. Inlight really wanted to break his beak one day, but not now, not today, so he did what Sky Breaker asked, and with wings flew up and hung over a rock. Summerwind came after him, then griffon, changeling, and the rest of the aspirants. They climbed the cliff further and further, and griffon, with wave of his wings, almost broke Inlight from his grip from the rock he holded. Pegasi was frustrated by that action, but he then saw determination on Summerwind's face, which was climbing becides him, and which made a small smile when she saw him. Inlight returned the smile, and they continiued to climb up, as the challenge was only begining.

When everyone reached the top of the cliff, they were greeted by a small plain, covered with snow and a bunch of rocks. On one infront of them, a griffon stood, with his left talon raised, signaling that he's about to talk. He turned his head to the aspirants, and Inlight could see his familiar to him face. With spear in his right talon, he beared a scar near his left eye. His feathers were brown, with some spots of black. He had yellow eyes, colored as his beak, which had a couple of scars he got from hunting. But then, Inlight understood why he was so familiar to him – he was the same griff which guarded the bed-house yesterday! Even though it was dark then, he could still see some similarities between griffon on the guard and griffon infront of him.

"Aspirants, listen up! My name is Falcon Claw, secons Aspirant of the War-Chief. Today is your big day! The day where all of you..." He caught his eyes on the Inlight, who looked at him with the smug. "will become Braves. The Proving is made out of TWO stages...!" Falcon Claw continiued as pony with the chest by his side came to the Aspirants, giving everyone their gear. "First stage: you have to kill a machine and get the trophey out of it's carcass. Second stage: bring it following the Path of the Enduring. You'll need to bring the trophey the fastest in order to win." That sounded pretty easy for Inlight, who listened to War-Chief's Aspirant while his wings were tied to his body and he dressed up the climbing horseshoes. "No one here will use their special advantage, every hooved will get the climbing horseshoes, and any winged creature's wings will be tied down. If anyone will see you somehow cheat, or interupt someone else's Proving will be disqualified! So no cheating!" Falcon Claw finished as the last hippogriff was his wings tied down to his body, and when everyone was ready, griffon took a cylinder-alike device from his bag and blew the air in, creating a machine-alike sound. He looked into the unknown direction, turned his head to the Aspirants, and spoke.

"Aspirants! Ready yourselves!" Young creatures did what they were told, and as Falcon Claw stepped down from the rock, he asked Inlight an rhetorical question: "What it would take to take you out of here, outcast?" And before Inlight could answer anything, he heard a loud noises coming from the snowed hill. It was like a bunch of metal was dropping on the snow, coming closer to the Aspirants. It wasn't long before a tall machine with horns curved upwards appeared from the cliff, then another, then two more. In a blink of the eye, Inlight caught himself in the middle the herd, running from the Aspirants in every dirrection. Flame-maned pony quickly picked up his bow, and drew an arrow aiming on the passing grazer. He released it, and arrow flew straight into the Grazer's body, making it fall. After releasing a couple of more arrows, he watched as Grazer's light slowly faded away, and his trophy was waiting. Inlight quickly ran to the carcass, and picked the valid trophey from it. He did it! He got the trophey! With the happy smile on his face he raised the trophey upwards, showing it to the War-Chief Aspirant Falcon Claw. His happines quickly faded, as the trophey he needed to win the Proving suddenly flew off his hooves and shattered just infront of him. He was quick to turn his face behind, and spot Sky Breaker holding a bow, with the same selfish smile on his face.

"HA! Your trophey is shattered, outcast! Looks like you need another!" Suddenly spoke Falcon Claw with a grin on his face, which surprised Inlight at first, but he moved on as he had to hurry, fast. Luckily, there were still other dead Grazers, and some of them had the part he needed! He quickly ran to another carcass. The trophey he needed wat tied down by some cables, but a quick swap with Sawtooth's tooth he got while hunting should have helped. He picked up the trophey, and without hesitation, with determintion on his face, galloped forwart to the Path of the Endured.

Inlight climbed the cliff, and ran forward, but he quickly stopped. He saw as the last kirin ran into the cave, and how Summerwind with Sky Breaker challenged one another for the first place in the race.

"Well, atleast point you can walk, you wouldn't make it." He suddenly heard a stallion's voice next to him, and was greeted by the same pony who was giving everyone items for Proving. Inlight rolled his eyes, and looked for the alternatives , and saw three tall pines which lead to another path below the current one. If he could take that path, he can get to the first place! He just had to get to the other side.

He walked a couple of hoofs back, before other stallion didn't notice, braced himself, and galloped towards the edge of the cliff, as fast as he could! But stallion spotted how Inlight was about to jump on the pines, and with wide eyes, he shouted to him.

"Hey, hey! HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Stallion ran to the edge of the cliff, as Inlight jumped on the next pine, which started to bend down and fall. Flame-maned pegasi was quick to get to the third pine before second could prevent him from going, and using all of his power he could, he jumped from the third pine onto the cliffside, landing succesfuly.

"I-I made it!" Inlight happily exclaimed, looking back at the fallen pines and the stallion, who looked at the scenery with disbelief. But he couldn't stay here for long! He needed to run to the finish. Fast. He began to ran on the cliffside, passing rocks and broken trees. That stallion was right – this path is falling appart. Inlight soon ran into the tall cliff, with some parts of the bridge and a tree, which looked like it could fall at any time. Thinking fast, pegasi hit the tree with his backlegs, breaking it and making it fall, creating a perfect bridge for him. He ran further up, passing the falling rocks and tree branches. The sound of hooves striking rock were soon changed by a metal, as he continiued his path on one of the Metal Devil's arms. He looked to his left, and saw other Aspirants going as fast as they could, he even could see Sky Breaker and Summerwind closing in! He was almost there! They entered another cave, and Inlight jumped off the metal platform and onto the cliff, connecting himself to it by climbing horseshoes. Couple of rocks fell off when he moved his hoof to it, but he quickly attached himself back, climbing as fast as he could. He passed the hole in the cave, from which Aspirants spotted Inlight, and their voices were heard

"Is that the outcast!? On a forbidden trail!?" One of them called out, but it didn't stop flame-maned pegasi from getting onto the cliff, on which there was a zipline which lead straight to the finish line. He once again prepared himself , and hooked onto the zipline, sliding down to the plain and passing all of the Aspirants, up to the two fastest.

Lone female kirin stood among the snow, looking as the future braves of the tribe are runing towards the finish line. Inlight slipped down the zipline, taking a little advantage over Sky Breaker and Summerwind, which followed him close behind. Everyone pulled their best in the final run to the end. Inlight ran as fast as he could, carrying the Grazer trophey in his mouth. At the last couple of hoofs, Inlight stopped moving his hooves and started to break before the finish. Other Aspirants kept up, and he had to place the trophy first! Inlight succeded in stopping just before the finish line, and slammed his trophy on the snow, moment before Summerwind and Sky Breaker's trophies landed on a finish line. Flame-maned pegasi panted from all of the running, and was breathing hardly, as the other Aspirants did. But yet, the short silence was broke by annoying griffon, who was not happy.

"HE DIDN'T WIN!" Sky Breaker screamed, for everyone to hear. "The outcast cheated!"

"An outcast? Win the Proving?" Elder Kirin asked griffon, looking at him with curiosity. She then turned her head to Inlight, and after a moment, she spoke. "Never."

Inlight was devastated by what he heard. All of this, just for him to not win the Proving? He trained his whole life for that moment, made the wilds his home! No one was aa skilled in the wilds as HE was! And now, he lost the only chance to win the Proving, to get the Boon and his answers. He would not know... He would not know who was his mother, or why did she abandoned him. Pegasi's head slowly fell down, untill...

"For he is a Brave now!" Inlight heard what elder kirin said. Did he.... won?

"You did it!" He heard happy Summerwind's voice to his left, as she put her hoof on Inlight's shoulder. A smile made it to his face. He did it. He won.

"And so do all of you, as long as you put the trophey on the altar!" The happy voices of Aspirants, now turned Braves were heard from the back, and Sky Breaker just frowned on all of it. Eldery kirin then began to move closer to the winner of the Proving, while announcing to everyone.

"But it is Inlight Dust, the outcast turned Brave, who is the winner amongst you, and with that, I decl- AAAGH!"

The scream was heard, and the arrow flew right into the eldery kirin's coat. Inlight's heart skipped a beat, as he watched as kirin infront of him fell dead. Several gasps were heard. Some were shocked, others were stunned. Some hippogriff closed her beak with her talons, shocked by the circumstance what happened. One by one, former Apirants quickly turned their heads into the sky, from where the arrow came from, but they soon were greeted by rain of fire falling down on them. An earthpony caugh two arrows before eventualy falling down, and panic begun. Young creatures began to run into the cover, while trying to dodge the arrows which were flying towards them. Inlight saw as one arrow flew towards him, but he was quickly covered and carried away by Summerwind, which got hit in her right foreleg with armor.

"Shit.. SHIT!" Sky Breaker screamed, as he hid behind the big rock together with some contestants, while other half, together with Summerwind and Inlight, hid under another on the other side of the plain.

Group of masked ponies with dark hoods, machine armor and red stripes, armed with bows and arrows, shot on the plain, and on the creatures below. One of them, female pony who was slightly larger than others, had a curved purple horn, and a mask with a silhouette of fire on it, was looking at the attackers.

"Pinpoint the Nora Aspirants until support arrives. Leave no witnesses."

She said as watched as some of the attackers picked the swords with their magic and started moving towards the two rocks.

"We have to get out of this place, NOW!" One of the former Aspirants said as she tried to heal Summerwind's wound. Inlight and another hippogriff tried to see who were shooting arrows. Meanwhile on the other side, Sky Breaker and others tried not get themselves killed.

Some of the attackers with bows and swords started moving in and sliding down the zipline, revealing themselves to Inlight. He looked at them, and in turn took out his bow He then looked past the second rock, and saw a quick pathway down the valley. Soon, the idea came in.

"We need to hold them back so the wounded will escape through that path!" He pointed with hoof at the escape route. "We'll have to hold them back for a moment, so prepare your bows!" Aspirants who heard him took out their bows respectfuly, loading an arrows on them.

"Done!" Earthpony said as he finished fixing brown kirin's wound, and she, scratching her right hoof a little, took out her bow with magic aura.

"SKY BREAKER, YOU WITH US?" She screamed to the other cover, from which light-brown griffon's head appeared.

"I'M WITH YOU!" Was heard from him, which indicated that they needed to strike back.

Inlight aimed his bow on one of the shooters, releasing the arrow and and killing the attacker instantly. Every Aspirant who wasn't severely wounded began to shoot back at the unknow ponies, stopping the shower of arrows they were sending on them. One after another, the attackers fell on the pale snow, shedding their blood on the stones. After a minute, some of the young creatures, including Inlight and Sky Breaker, took out their spears and charged on the attackers with swords, who launched a couple of magic spells on them. Inlight was quick to dodge one of them, as he sliced his spear right through the attacker, making him fall. He turned his head, and with widened eyes saw as one of the hostile ponies were aiming straigh on the Sky Breaker! In situation not like this he would've let the killer fire, but not now, not today. Dropped his spear, and drawed his bow to the attacker, killing him. Sky Breaker saw as the pony behind him fell with life leaving his body, looked back at the Inlight, and with small smile, said.

"Not bad!"

"Thanks... LOOK OUT!" Inlight thanked and saw how new group of enemies arrive, armed with bows and swords. Aspirants on the back began to shoot at the attackers, and they shot back. The one who were caught in the middle of it battled each other, receiving scars and bruises. Sword passed near Inlight's shoulder, scaring it with sharp pain. Flame-maned pegasi almost dropped his spear, but he was quick to counterattack and swing his weapon on the attacker. Summerwind aimed her bow on the attackers, releasing arrow after arrow, each piercing their masks. When the attackers seemed to stop attacking, Sky Breaker saw that as an opportunity, and turning his head to changeling, shouted.

"Opaliscene! Gather wounded and get the hay out of here! Call for anyone for help, NOW!" Changeling seemed to understand what he said, as she gathered up remaining Aspirants and lead them to the pathway down the valley. Little did everyone knew, that this was not the end of the massacre. Tough stallion, masked as others, carried a large mechanical device, with box-like part on one end and long metal rod on the other. He aimed at the Aspirants of the Nora, and pushing the button on the weapon, fired. Those weren't arrows, as the weapon he fired were smaller, faster, and louder than anything young creatures saw. Changeling noticed that they were attacked and cried for help, but was cut short when bullets hit her body, and she fell lifeless. Inlight, Sky Breaker and Summerwind were quick to hide behind the cover, while brown kirin hid under the altar. Both hippogriffs fell short after, and then, in attempt to save his flank, an earthpony too. Rain of fire then moved to the altar, where Summerwind was hiding! She tried to hide but wooden planks couldn't cover her from the bullets, and one after another, they pierced her. Brown kirin cried for help, while trying to move out of cover, hoping to hide behind the rocks. Unfortunately, a scream of pain left her mouth, as she fell on the snow, paired with blood.

"SUMMERWIND!" Sky Breaker shouted and ran out of his cover, trying to bring her to the cover, but he followed the path of kirin, dying after catching himseld under the fire. Meanwhile, Inlight watched as both of the last Aspirants fell on the snow, leaving him alone against everyone. He started to breath heavily, eyes full of horror. Entire group slaughtered by an unknown weapon he never saw, unknown attackerst, thirsty for blood, and unknown signal his Focus was receiving. His heart rate only fastened, as he heard as one of the attackers called for others.

"Last one down! Redmane now left alone! MOVE OUT!" They were now after him.

Unknown masked figure with curved horn watched as attackers moved in to get to the last remaining target. One of the ponies, with coat dark and mask longer than usual, came to her and spoke.

"Commander, target is now alone. Nothing stops us from fufilling the will."

"Good." Female unicorn said, walking away from the scenery, leaving the last four attackers by themselves. One was armed with unknown weapon by his side, two others had bows ready to shoot, and the last one, with long mask, picked up his sword, with electicity running though it, they walked slowly towards the cover Aspirants were using, looking for the remaining pony – Inlight. Snow storm was coming closer, leaving attackers with low visibility, making them cautious even more. Little did they know, that Inlight moved passed them in the cover of the snowstorm, and aimed his bow to take down the biggest of the attackers – the one with the gun. He released the arrow, and it landed right on the killer, piercing his neck. He fell with a loud stump on the ground, and the rest quickly turned their heads in the dirrection of the sound, but they weren't quick to dodge the another attack, prepared by Inlight – him flying with his wings released and spear in hooves right into the coat of the attacker. Another one, taking out his sword, charged right on the Inlight, ready to swing his sword and kill the last Aspirant. But Inlight was quick to notice pony with sword charging at him, and punched his face with hoof with climbing horseshoe, breaking the mask and leaving the trail of blood from the dead killer. Inlight took his spear back into his mouth, and looked arround. He was sure there was the last killer, the one with long mask? He walked a coulple of hoofs away from the body, cautious of the next attack. But yet, how ready he was, he was unprepared of the sword piersing his wing, and electrocuting half of his body. Inlight made a loud scream, and didn't notice how the totem – the one Duskshine gave his when they've last met, lightened with green for a moment. Flame-maned pegasi was pushed off the balance, and he slid back to the big corpse, next to a gun. Killer looked at him, sword ready to make a final blow, and charget right at him. Inlight, meanwhile, saw the gun next to him, and tried to aim it towatds the killer. He managed to aim it despite the pain in his wing, and not looking what he pressed, fired at the attacker, who instantly was killed, falling on his back with mask falling off.

Moment has passed, and Inlight realised he was still alive. He managed to stand up on his hooves, and walk to the last killer, eyes full of curiosity. He saw something on the killer, right under his ear. A wave of memories struck Inlight, as he came even closer. He remembered the day he fell in the Old World ruin, how he wandered in it until he found a corpse with Focus on it, which he took as his. The same feeling as he had then struck him now, as he was seeing what he never expected. With white, triangular shape and purple line, it was under attacker's ear with circle of purple surrounding it. Inlight knew what was that thing. The same thing he had under his ear too.

The attacker had a Focus.

He carefuly picked up the device from the dead body, and looked at it. This pony had a Focus on it? Inlight thought that he was the only one to carry it. Exept for... North Star. Mare from the Blessing ceremont, the one which walked away as soon as something frightened her, and her Focus was colored purple. Could it be...?

Inlight put the attacker's Focus in his pocked, and was ready to run down the Valley until he stumped into the large white unicorn with orange like flame eyes. He had the same uniform as the attackers! Inlight tried to reach his spear but he was quickly picked up by orange magic by his throat, chocking him. Inlight dropped his spear and moved his front hooves to his neck, hoping that that could do ANYTHING, but with no succes. He was chocked not to death, as he noticed he could almost breathe. Large unicorn, with horn lit up, Focus under his ear and Inlight by his throat, walked to the edge of the plain, moving to a cliff. He quietly looked at flame-maned oegasi, as he struggled to breath. When he finally stood on the edge of the plain, he picked up his twisted knife of dark metal, floating it towards Inlight. He, in turn, began to try even more to break off the killer's grip, but none of the attempts were succesful. And as his knife was ready to cut Inlight's throat, he opened his mouth, and spoke.

"Turn your face to the Moon, foal!" Unicorn said, and drew his knife through Inlight's throat, making a wound in his neck. But suddenly, he was stopped as the arrow flew into his shoulder! Unicorn attacked was surprised, and dropped Inlight on the ground, turning his head back to the one who came for help. He had gray coat and dark mane, paired with green eyes. It was none other than...

"D-Duskshine...?" Inlight weakly spoke. His guardian returned to help! He tried to keep his mind working, and not loose his conciousness out of all the pain which pierced his body. He watched as both unicorns battled each other to death, as Duskshine made a scar near attacker's eyes! Attacker swinged his knife upwards, striking from abowe, but it was blocked by Duskshine's spear.

But after a while, attacker managed to break Duskshine's spear, and before he knew it, he had the knife in his coat!

"No...." Inlight reacted weakly, losing his energy every second he tried to stay awake. He watched as Duskshine fell, and attacker, spitting the blood from his mouth, talked through his Focus.

"Take this mountain down! Leave no survivors!" He said, walking away, as the carriage with two other ponies, dressed in killer's uniform, walked into the plain. They left the carriage, and lightened up the rope that was attached to the carriage, and quickly left the scenery.

Plain was covered in silence, broken only by the sound of rope slowly being burned, leading up to the explosives in the carriage. Inlight couldn't even say anything and he was slowly fading into the unconciousness. Suddenly, he heard someone crawling to him, and opening his eyes a little, he saw worried Duskshine, covering his wound with hoof.

"Inlight... Inlight!" He tried to say to his adoptive son, as he embrased him in his hooves. He looked back at the carriage, and saw that fire almost reached the barrels. With that look, he understood what he had to do. Looking back at Inlight, he, with desperation on his face, said his final words to him. "Survive..." After saying that, he pushed Inlight to the edge of the plain, making him fall down from it.

Last thing flame-maned pegasi saw was Duskshine with streched out hoof, looking at him. Before he was caught in the large explodion, covering the entire plain. He looked how fire and smoke flew out of the cliff, and closed his eyes, falling into the dark abyss.