Cause and Effect

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1: Birth
Chapter 2: Trust
Chapter 3: Practice

Prologue

As you finish the document, you place it inside the drawer. It has been a very hectic week due to all this paperwork. This was a good chance to get some reading done. Sitting down on the chair placed in the corner, you look around.

Books line the shelves in an array of colors and sizes. The noon sun illuminates the room, leaving no corner dark. Reaching over to one of the shelves, you grab the book labeled The Princess in You. Even if it has been thousands of years, this book has always been there for you.

This was not, of course, the original book, but a reprint of it. The original was deep inside the archives, where it was to be preserved for years to come. As you begin to get sucked into its writings, a hard knock interrupts you.

"Come in."

The door slowly opens, revealing a very stern pony in plate armor. He bows down in front of you, concern plastered across his face.

"Your highness, it seems that the soothsayer requests your presence."

You can feel your ears perk up. It has been... what, a couple hundred years since you last heard anything from her?

"Fetch a chariot at once. We must see her immediately."

With a quick nod, the stallion bows once again and takes off. You quickly leave your seat and place the book back onto the shelf. Leaving the study, you make your way towards the castle grounds where your chariot awaits. The guards quickly assist you onto your ride and make the precautions to ensure a safe ride. After latching themselves to the cart, they lift off and head north.

The wind takes no hesitation to press itself against your face, not that it bothered you much. Getting out of the castle was a nice change of pace, but not for something like this. The last time she called for you, it was to warn you of a basilisk that was being awakened by an evil unicorn.

Looking around, the scenery changes from buildings and houses to grass and trees almost instantly. Trees begin to take over the land as you head over the Everfree Forest, leaving no sight of the actual ground. For what feels like an eternity, you continue flying over the forest, only to stop over a pristine lake. A small hut stands on the edge, puffing out smoke like an old pony with a pipe.

It seems you have reached your destination.

The pegasi slowly lower the cart, careful not to rock it around. As it lands in the fertile soil, the wheels slowly sink in. The two pegasi quickly jump from their reigns and assist you off the chariot.

"Thank you," you tell them, gracefully making your way to the small hut on the edge of the lake. You lift your hoof as you attempt to knock on the door, only to have it open before you can.

"Come in, Princess. I have been expecting you," ushers a raspy, weak voice. A guard attempts to enter the building alongside you, but you stop him short.

"This is a private matter. I know you mean well, but nopony can hear the words spoken inside this home but me," you tell him sternly. The guard hesitates, trying to think of a reason to go with you, but only nods in agreement instead. It was best he didn't fight it anyway. It was your word over his.

As you make your way into small abode, a heavy scent fills your nose. It smells of incense and herbs, making a lovely but obnoxious fragrance. It had been some time since you had been here last, but it hasn't changed at all. The cauldron still sat in the middle of the room under a fire pit, which was the only thing lighting up this windowless structure.A small hole in the ceiling lets the smoke escape so that there wouldn't be a suffocating cloud inside the room. The walls are covered in strange drawings and incantations, giving the hut an eerie feel to it.

"How have you been?” You jump as the shadow next to you moves into the light, revealing a very old zebra. Her hair was weathered, white, and old. The wrinkles on her face show that her age was that of an old one.

She slowly walks up to the cauldron and looks inside. Grabbing a large wooden spoon, she stirs something that seems like herbs into the strange liquid inside and directs her gaze at you.

"It looks as if you haven’t aged a day, my dear."

You weren't sure if she was being sarcastic or serious, but that didn't matter at this point. What mattered was the fact that she summoned you. For her to call upon you meant that something was wrong.

"Thank you for the compliment, but I digress. I know I wasn't called here for you to just comment on my appearance."

The zebra chuckles and turns her head back to the cauldron.

"Straight to the point, my dear? Well it seems that something interesting has arrived into this world… two things, to be accurate." She stops stirring the liquid and leans back, motioning you to move forward and look inside.

You lean forward to see what this cauldron had in store for you. A field covered in bodies is displayed. Stains of blood are spread all across the grass. Bodies of unknown creatures lay across the floors, screaming in agony and dismay. They were bipedal creatures, much like Minotaurs, but they did not have hooves and horns.

It seemed they were in a battle, but with what was not clear. Two of these creatures stood out, however.

One laid against the floor holding a sword and shield, sporting a silver-colored plate armor covered in trails of blood. Another one of the creatures, clothed in a dark robe, stood over the other, laughing. Ripples come across the liquid, changing the scene completely. It was now inside of your throne room, with this creature bowing before you before parting.

The image is interrupted with a new one. A hospital room is displayed where a mare lies on the bed with a stallion to her side. She holds a purple unicorn foal in her hooves, shedding tears of joy. The liquid ripples, changing the scene once again. It was an all familiar scene. It was the main lecture hall of your school, where the same purple unicorn standing before the council. Her test was... “different” than the normal ones. She was to hatch a dragon egg, a purple one covered in green polka dots. One last ripple travels across the cauldron, leaving an image of the same pony, only she wasn't an unicorn now, but an alicorn instead.

The soothsayer removes the spoon before allowing the vision to go any further. Lifting your head, you look at her.

“What does this all mean?”

The soothsayer places the spoon down and shrugs.

"It could mean anything. But one thing's for certain: Their destinies will tie together, whether it be directly or indirectly.”

“How can you be certain?”

"If two visions happen in one sitting, they will intertwine with one another.” She turns around and sits, facing the wall, looking at one of the writings on the wall. It was completely illegible to you, but she seemed to be entranced by it.

"For years I’ve watched everything around me. I have foreseen wars, cautioned threats, and predicted problems, but there is one thing I cannot see.” She looks down to the ground. ”I have not seen how each of my predictions end. It is the one thing I cannot see.” She waves her hoof, signalling for you to exit. So many questions filled your head, but there was no point in imposing them on her. The soothsayer was a stubborn zebra and would not give you the answers to something she didn’t know in the first place.

“Thank you for your help, as always.”

You make your way for the door before she stops you with one final statement. ”You might not know everything that is going to happen, but there will be time for all of that later, my dear.”

Mortal men were nothing but lamb to the slaughter. Your sword has cut down countless men and creatures, leaving nothing but death in its wake. It was not that you took joy in killing, it was more the fact you had no choice. This land was yours and you had to defend it. Anything that crossed into your land unwelcome, human or not, was to be slain.

But you had not counted on this.

Today was supposed to be a battle that would be remembered for ages. The rivaling country to the North had declared war against your people. Being the lord’s right hand man, it was mandatory that you would be out on the battlefield. However, that did not mean you were doing this for him. The lord wasn’t exactly “righteous”. In layman’s terms, he was a very corrupt man.

The only reason you served him was because you swore an oath to do so. As a child, you had been left behind after your village had been slaughtered in a bandit raid. The lord came to you and said he would care for you, but you had to swear your allegiance to him. Being that you were left with nothing, you agreed to the terms.

His elder brother, the ruler of the land, was the one who ended up taking care of and raising you. The lord seemed like a good man, until you got to know him. After watching him stab his only brother in the back for the throne, it became clear what he really was.

But still, you continued to fight for him, though in reality, you were fighting for nothing other than your country. The land you hailed from was what drove you to draw blood across your sword each day. The people in it were a fine bunch and would always be willing to help to care for a man who would return the favor.

Today, many have died with that belief in mind. The bodies lay across the plain around you, bringing nothing but grief to your eyes. But there was no time for mourning. There was only time for fighting.

An enemy quickly sprints towards you, waving his sword above his head like a madman. Releasing an annoyed sigh, you raise your shield and brace for impact. They must have thought their war cries would give them strength to defeat their enemies or something. As his sword slices through the air, you lift your shield up, swatting it away with brute strength. Left completely dazed and confused, the man’s chest is open and exposed. With a swift thrust, you quickly stab through his flimsy armor into his chest as if it was made of butter. The man’s eyes roll behind his head as you place your foot upon his stomach and retract your sword.

Looking out across the field, you notice a tent being protected by a few enemy soldiers. It most likely held the leader of their land; taking him down would bring this battle to a screeching halt. Whoever he was, he was more of a man than your ruler if he was out on the battlefield with his men, even if he wasn't fighting. You turn around to your comrades who have just finished off their opponents, raising your sword into the air.

“Men! Let us finish this battle swiftly! Our enemy’s leader is right before us!” You point your sword towards the tent, giving them the hint. “Let us end this once and for all! If not for our wives and children, then for our fallen brethren!”

They yell out their battle cries, lifting their swords in unison. Sprinting alongside your men, you all raise your shields to block any incoming arrows as you make way for the tent. A couple of your men break off from your group every time a batch of enemies attempts to slow you down. The housing grows closer with every step as more and more of your men break off to defend you. You are left with Herald, your best friend and brother in arms.

As you reach the tent, three enemy soldiers block your path. One swings his sword, aiming for your head over your shield. In a fluid motion, you duck, dodging his attack. The fool was leaning into his swing, a novice mistake. Taking your sword, you slash him across his exposed neck, splitting it open with ease. He falls back from the force of the swing as the blood splatters across your face and armor, clenching his neck before quickly bleeding out. Turning to the other two, you ready your sword.

Herald quickly runs in from their side and throws one down by surprise. He quickly parries the other’s attack before turning to you.

"Anon, make haste! I will hold them off!” You nod before smiling at him.

"Don’t you die just yet!”

He grins before turning his attention back to the two men. You enter the tent and look around. It’s pitch black, but you can make out a faint outline in the far end. In the blink of an eye, an unrelenting force sends you flying out of the tent. You’re laid flat across the ground, unable to move. Before you is a man dressed in a black robe, chanting uninterpretable phrases.

“You are a coward to stand behind magic. Why not face me like a true man with a sword and shield in hand?” you taunt. The evil enchanter chuckles, shaking his head.

”I may be a coward, but I am no fool, Anon.” You feel your heart sink upon hearing your name.

“How do you know my name? Who are you?!” He brings his wretched face close to yours, revealing a sinister smile.

"This whole 'war'? It was solely planned for this moment right here. Your lord felt that you were getting too smart for your own good, being chivalrous and all. The last thing he needed was you turning his people against him. However, you have been good to him, so he doesn’t wish to kill you. That is why I will banish you to a world far away, unknown to us.” His hands begin to glow with a black mist before covering you. A slow burning sensation begins to cover your body as it slowly fades away. Letting out a blood-curdling scream, you slowly disappear from existence, leaving behind not a single trace.

Chapter 1: Birth

This headache... It wasn’t normal. It’s been so long since you have felt a headache like this. It could only mean one thing: Dark magic. The pain started almost immediately after you got back on your chariot from the soothsayer’s. As you near the castle, the headache begins to intensify. One of the guards guiding the chariot turns his head and notices your pain.

”Princess, are you alright?” he screams over the deafening winds. You wave your hoof to try and signal him to remove his suspicions.

“Yes, everything is fine. I merely have a headache. Do not worry.” He nods and continues to fly towards the castle. This was an obvious lie, but it was not every day that something like this would come up. If you were right, whatever was causing this was on Canterlot Mountain. As your ride lands on the balcony, you quickly step off before giving out an order.

“I have a task for you two.” The two pegasis stallions stand in attention, ready to serve. “Take a small group of pegasus guards and check the mountain for anything suspicious. If you find anything, please alert me immediately. I will be in my usual spot in the garden, trying to rid this headache.” They nod and immediately carry out your orders. In almost a flash, they fly off and alert the other pegasi in the air.

You make your way towards the castle gardens, trying to play this headache off. The gardens always calmed you down whenever you were stressed. Listening to the small critters communicate and smelling the fresh air could ease any troubled mind. Your favorite spot was below a big willow tree where the canaries would sing their sweet songs to attract a mate. Their songs of love reminded you of your younger years when love was a naive thought.

As you venture into garden, two ponies catch your eyes. A handsome stallion sporting a dark blue wavy mane and tail laid with a lighter blue coat across a bench with a young mare wrapped around his hooves. She had a straight mane colored white and purple, a grey coat, and quite a bulging belly. It was plainly obvious that she was pregnant.

If you weren’t mistaken, they were the nobles of the court who recently moved into the castle grounds. It would be best to get to know them since they would be living with you. They take notice of your presence and immediately scramble up to bow to you.

”P-princess Celestia!” stammers the young stallion, trying his best to help the mare down from her seat. As quickly as you can, you wave them down before they leave their seats.

“Please, there’s no need for that,” you tell him calmly. You did like that ponies respected you enough to bow, but it made you feel like a tyrant when they did it only because it was customary. “I merely wanted to converse. You both are new to the castle grounds, correct?”

They exchange nervous looks and turn back to you, nodding. No matter how many times you went through this awkward scenario, you could never get used to it.

“What might be your names?” you ask, trying to break this awkwardness.

”My name is Night Light and this is my wife, Twilight Velvet. We just moved into the castle about a week ago,” the stallion explains.

"Ah, you must be the new nobles that my advisor spoke of. I must apologize for my negligence. I have been rather busy and unable to give you a proper welcoming.” The colt shakes his head, finally breaking a smile.

”No no! It’s fine, your majesty. We had a tour and such already. We did want to see the garden for ourselves, though. I feel it will help Velvet relax and not worry about the baby,” he says, rubbing his wife’s belly.

“Oh! Is this going to be your first child?” The mare shakes her head.

”No, we already have a fine colt by the name of Shining Armor. This foal is actually late. She was supposed to be born two we-” She suddenly jerks, holding her belly. A spray of liquid spews from behind her, covering the seat. ”My water just broke! Oh dear!”

Her husband quickly jumps down and attempts to help her down from the seat. You wave down one of the guards patrolling the area who quickly lands in front of you at attention.

“Please bring a chariot here immediately. This mare is in labor and needs to be taken to the hospital as quickly as possible.” The guard salutes and quickly flies away to carry out his orders. Turning back to couple, you attempt to calm the worried mother. She begins to breathe in rapid successions.

“We’ll have you at the hospital in no time. Just please remain calm," you tell her. About a few minutes later, the chariot can be seen coming in from the sky, making its way down toward you and the others. The guards and Night Light help the mare onto the chariot. They begin to lift off as you tag alongside the chariot. One of the guards takes a look and notices you.

”Your majesty, should you really be coming along? Wouldn’t it be best if you stayed at the castle?” he screams over the howling wind.

“These are my nobles. I want to ensure their safety.” The guard merely nods and continues his flight.

After making a smooth landing, the lead flyer rushes inside the hospital as the others help Twilight down. Two nurses rush out and assist the mare, rushing her inside on a wheelchair. It is time to witness the beauty of life one more time.

Standing outside the hospital room, you await the news. It has been five hours now and still no word of if everything was alright. You begin to pace back and forth in waiting room, not able to withstand the tension any more. Even though you had no part of this birth since you were not family, you felt it was your duty to worry about your ponies’ well-being. A nurse makes her way toward you, a smile plastered on her face.

”Your highness, the two ponies wish to see you.” Giving her a smile and a nod, you follow her into the room.

Your heart sinks upon seeing this scene: A hospital room. A mare lying on the bed with a stallion to her side. She holds a purple unicorn foal in her hooves, shedding tears of joy.

This was the vision, the soothsayer’s prediction.

The two ponies look at you in concern before you realize what you’re doing. Your face contains a look of complete horror, as if you witnessed a homicide. You quickly place a smile on your face and move up to look at the foal.

“My apologies. I just haven’t seen such a happy moment like birth in quite a while.” They return the smile and nod their heads. Seems like they bought that excuse. Looking down, you inspect the child. She had a light purple coat with a darker purple and pink striped mane. This was definitely the foal from the vision.

“Might I ask what her name is?” The mother looks up and beams.

”Twilight Sparkle.”

A heavy knock is heard from the door. The nurse opens it as three guards enter the room. They salute as they approach you.

”We apologize for interrupting you Princess, but we have an important report from our scan of the mountain.”

Your eyes slowly open, looking up at the giant grey sky. How long were you out for? It couldn’t have been out more than an hour or so. And it was so cold. How could this be? Winter wasn’t for another few months.

Letting out a sigh, you can see your breath outside your helmet. Lifting yourself up, you feel every muscle and bone ache in your body. The blood rushes to your head, leaving you in a slightly dizzy state. After you recover from the dizziness, you look around and feel your heart slowly sink.

By the looks of it, you were on a mountain. You definitely weren’t anywhere near home. There were no mountains anywhere near the main city. The dark wizard’s spell must have worked. You can feel a little bit of yourself die inside. Everything you loved and worked for... gone in the blink of the eye. Your wife, kids, neighbors... they were all gone. Feeling like a complete train wreck, you remove your helmet and gauntlets to wipe the tears away.

What did you do to deserve this? You always followed orders. You were always kind to your brethren.

So why you?

Sitting here and feeling pity for yourself wasn’t going to make things any better. You stand up, put your gear back on, and lean against a tree for support. There were only two questions you needed to find the answer for.

Was there a way back home? And how were you going to get back?

Then it hit you like a brick. The lord was the reason for this. A wave of anger swells within you. If it weren’t for him, you’d be home right now. You wouldn’t be in some desolate land about which you knew nothing. Raising your fist up, you begin pounding it into the tree. At this point, you had to release your anger somehow. Pounding harder and harder into the tree, chunks of bark and timber begin to fly out of it. Your arm begins to grow heavy as you continue your strikes, but anger quickly numbs the feeling. With each blow, you imagine your lord’s face in the tree’s crater-sized hole.

You quickly stop yourself as you become aware of what you are doing. Standing here attacking a defenseless tree isn’t going to fix anything. Pulling away from the plant, you look over at the spot where you were lying. A smoldering black outline of your figure is imprinted on the ground. Lying alongside it are your sword and shield, patiently waiting for their owner to pick them up. You pick them up, sheathing your sword and latching the shield onto your arm.

Leaning back against the beaten tree, you look down at the cindered outline again. The wizard’s spell was successful, that was clear. You were in some unknown land. That’s a definite fact. There was one question still eating at you: Is there a way back? One thing was obvious... sitting around here wasn’t going to get you any closer to home. You had to find shelter before nightfall or risk freezing to death out here.Looking at the ground to your side, you can see a paved path layered in dust.

“If there’s pavement, there’s civilization at the end of it,” you whisper to yourself. The cold wind begins to thrash against your armor as you climb up the path.

Something catches your attention, however: the flapping of wings. You look into the sky and see the faint outline of what seems like... a horse? You must have hit your head or something, because you’re pretty sure you just saw a pegasus. They’ve been extinct for hundreds of years now, much like their unicorn cousins. This was a definite sign that you were nowhere close to home.

Whatever it is looks at you and quickly flies away toward the mountain peak before disappearing into the clouds. You shake your head and continue to walk. It was best not to think too deeply on it. The long winding path feels as if it goes on forever, each step feels as insignificant as the other. Something felt as if it was dragging you along. Like a small wire was guiding you.

Illegible signs appear on the path’s sides as you further climb the mountain. You must be getting close to civilization. Snow begins to fall as you approach what seems like a small city. The buildings look empty, most missing doors or having a broken window or tow. It’s safe to say this city was abandoned by choice, not because of war or raids.

“Hello?” Your voice echoes throughout the streets and leaves a ringing in your ears. Like a high fall, a memory comes crashing down on you.

Fire licks the rooftops as it consumes the building. Corpses of loved ones and neighbors lie in the streets. The only thing stirring in the streets is the sole survivor, a child no older than ten years old.

”Hello?” he whispers, only to hear his own voice respond back to him.

You shake your head, trying to escape that memory. That was long ago. It was best not to dwell on that memory. Looking up to the top of the city, you see a building that catches your eye. It looks much like the altar that was from your hometown.

You begin to climb the large staircase towards the building as the snow begins to fall at a rapid pace. After what feels like an eternity, you make it to the top of the staircase. A setting sun lights the main hall of the building, emitting a warm glow. Looking through the glass, you could see it was a spitting image of the one back home.

Decaying wooden pews, a stand covered in moss, vines tangling along the walls, flora covering the floors; not a single thing was different. The lord had deemed the altar a slight against his name when he had taken power, so he forbade the people from ever visiting it again. You open the giant doors and they loudly squeak, echoing throughout the hall. A feeling of nostalgia kicks in as you walk to the stand. You weren’t exactly a religious man, but you did keep the rules to heart.

At least, most of the rules.

The only thing different about this altar were the windows. The stained glass told a different story than the one of your gods. On each pane showed what seemed like two unicorns with wings, one being a majestic white and the other being a striking blue. It showed how they were the reason for the sun and moon’s rising. There were panes of the two battling strange creatures, most of them familiar from the textbooks you used to read and others you have fended off yourself. Krakens, Hydras, even what looked like a Chimera which were just a myth to your people. There was a pane of them warding off a dragon as well. From your past experiences, you know for a fact that dragons were no laughing matter.

These creatures seemed like a powerful pair, but the last pane was puzzling. It showed the blue horse being attacked by the white one, sending it to the moon. A civil war perhaps? It was impossible to tell from just glass panes alone. You turn away from the glass panes and walk down the aisle towards the stand. As you grew up in the central city, you would come to the altar to pray for the safety of your people. They were your main concern; you wished that what had happened to you before would never happen again.

Kneeling down before the stand, you fold your hands together and place them against your head. The fact that you were going to pray for yourself leaves a bitter taste in your mouth.

“I know I am not the most... faithful to the gods, but I never really ask for your help. Please find me a way home. That is all I wish for.”

”I cannot promise you will make it back, but I will try to help you in your endeavours,” say a graceful, motherly voice.

You jump up and immediately draw your blade, ready to defend yourself. Your eyes can’t even fathom what they see. Standing in the doorway is a majestic white unicorn with wings. She was much smaller than the horses you had from back home. The books always showed unicorns being taller than humans. Looking over at the glass panes, you see the resemblance. It was the “god” that rose the sun. She has a mane that looked like a colorful mist with a crown sitting on top of her head.

Two small pegasi dressed in plate armor quickly rush forward, only to be halted by her wingspan. They stand away from her with their eyes still glued on you. Sword still raised, you step back. You couldn’t trust this thing. What if it was a doppelganger merely trying to trick you?

“What manner of beast are you?”

She chuckles and replies back.

”I was just about to ask you the same.” Sword still raised you answer the question.

“I am but a simple human. I presume you are a horse?” She shakes her head.

”Close. I am a pony, my race being that of an alicorn.” An alicorn?

“I have never heard of such a race. I have heard of unicorns and pegasi, but they are extinct in my world.” You look at the panes and back to her. “You are a god, no?” A frown falls upon her face.

”No, I am not a god. I am merely the ruler of this land.”

“And what is the name of this land?” you ask in a curious tone. Her warm smile returns as she waves her hoof at the window.

”The land of Equestria.” She kneels down, showing a sign of peace. ”I have seen a vision of your arrival. I welcome you to our home.”

You slowly sheathe your sword and move forward. The plated pegasi jerk almost on instinct but are withheld by her signal once again. Kneeling down before her, you take off your helmet and look her in the eyes.

“My name is Sir Anon, Head Knight of the southern country.” She gives you a warm smile and raises her hoof.

”My name is Princess Celestia. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Grabbing her hoof with your hand, you feel as if the world has shifted into a different direction, like two unlikely forces have collided.

”Might I trouble you to take a walk with me?”

“I don’t see why not.” She turns to the two pegasi and gives them a nod. They salute her and fly off into the sky. You both make your way down the staircase, slowly descending towards the rising moon.

“Can I ask you with a question Princess?” She smiles and gives you a nod.

”By all means, go ahead.”

“What happened to this city and its inhabitants?” you ask, pointing at the abandoned homes. Her look of happiness quickly changes to that of depression.

”This was once a great city. We all used to live here many years ago. One day, however, my sister, Princess Luna, became resentful. She was the one in charge of raising the moon. The ponies would sleep throughout her beautiful nights which she worked so hard to bring to them. She was consumed by hatred and attempted to create an eternal night. I ended up bashing her to the moon to contain her.” That explained the story displayed on the glass panes.

“But this city shows no sign of struggle or war. That doesn’t explain why there is no one here.” As you reach the bottom of the staircase, she give a disheartened sigh.

“We left because of guilt.” She looks up to the sky. Following her lead, you also look up. It was much more obvious than you expected. The moon was in clear view from anywhere in this city.

“My apologies, Princess. If I had known, I would have never asked.” She shakes her head and returns gaze back to you.

”No, it’s quite alright. Now, might I ask you a question?” You turn to her, eyebrow raised.

“Certainly Princess. As long as it isn’t about my dear friend Herald’s bachelor party, it should be fine.” She tilts her head in confusion before you wave the statement away. “It was merely a joke. By all means, ask away.”

She looks down at the ground, avoiding any means of eye contact.

“My guards saw how violent you got when you first woke up. I saw the battle you were part of in the vision. I am concerned for my ponies safety and would normally never let a violent creature into my castle.” Her eyes meet your, glistening in the moon’s light.

”But I feel as if- Neigh, I know you would never harm any of my subjects unless in self defense. I feel your services will be of great use to me until we find you a way home. If I allow you to stay in my castle, do you promise me never to hurt any of my fellow ponies?”

Tearing your eyes away from her gaze, you look up into the sky at the beautiful stars. She was... “different”, to say the least. Unlike your lord, you could tell she had compassion for her subjects, something he could definitely learn a thing or two about. Besides, if what she told you was true, she could easily banish you to the moon if you stepped out of line. You turn back to her, cracking the first smile in what felt like ages.

“I wouldn’t even think of it, your highness.”

Author's Note

This chapter is being rewritten. This is not the final draft.

Chapter 2: Trust

Wrapping your arms around your stomach, you try your hardest to keep from vomiting. Being teleported this much has to be hazardous to your health in some way. You place a hand down on the floor, trying to maintain some sort of ground. Your reflection looks back at you in the sleek marble flooring, completely pale and sickened. Celestia brings herself towards you, making sure to keep enough distance in the event that you suddenly throw up.

“Are you alright, Anonymous?” she whispers, a look of concern across her face. Her voice echoes throughout the room, even though she kept it low and meek. Lifting yourself up from the floor, you look the alicorn in the eyes and nod.

“I’m fine, Princess. I’m just not used to being teleported; twice, for that matter,” you mumble, still trying to regain your composure. Her frown widens as her eyes give signs of true consideration.

“If I had known magic would do such a thing, I wouldn’t hav—” You raise your hand, interrupting her.

“It’s not your fault, I assure you this. Please stop taking the blame for it.” She does a tilts her head back in surprise, quickly replacing her frown with a small smile. Looking around the room, you immediately notice quite a few things.

For one, this was clearly a throne room; it was obvious with the enormous throne at the end of the room. The furnishings were a nice addition as well, taking the eye away from the shiny, yet bland marble flooring and walls. Stainless glass windows retell the tale you had seen before, but show greater sign of care with their gleam from the moonlight. Large tapestries hang along the walls, each embroidered with with the same symbol: two alicorns trailing right behind one another around the sun and the moon.

“This is quite the place,” you state, turning back to the princess. She makes her way towards the exit of the room, beckoning you with the wave of her muzzle. Following her not too far behind, you watch as the armor clad guards bow as she walks by. They eye you cautiously, watching your every move, ready to strike if need be. You keep your hands ready in the event that this happens to be an ambush of some sort, but a voice in the back of your head reminds you of something: They have a clear advantage over you with their magic. She leads you to the hallway where a very stern and gruff-looking stallion stands. His armor is different from the others; it wasn’t the usual gold, but a deep purple with a gold trimming. He scans you from head to toe before turning back to the princess.

“You sure this is the one?” he asks with a furrowed brow, peeking at you out of the corner of his eye. The princess gives him a heated glare, causing him to remove his gaze from her. “Not that I doubt your judgement, your highness, but he just doesn’t seem like much.”

“As captain of the Royal Guard, I’d expect a much better way of introducing yourself to our guest, Durus.” The guard bows his head and kneels down, muttering an apology. The princess regains her beautiful smile. “Now, would you please show Anonymous here to the guest bedrooms? He has been through a lot today and needs his rest.”

“As you wish, Princess,” he replies, giving her another kneel before she leaves. Durus turns to you, giving you a look with his almost dead-like eyes. You’ve seen those eyes before; they marked a being who has seen too much in his times. Losing friends and comrades in battle, taking the lives of other beings: they were the same eyes that looked back at you when you peered into a mirror. Both of you continue your exchanging stares for a moment, not uttering a single word. There was no need to; the silence spoke for you both.

“Follow me,” he murmurs, finally breaking the long stretch of silence. He begins to make his way down the hall with you at his side. His heavy steps along with your clanking armor echo against the bare walls, breaking any form of silence that might have been brought between you two as you venture forward.

“That some scar you’ve got there,” he mentions, not breaking his line of sight from in front of himself. It’s safe to assume he meant the one on your face since it is the only part of your body that’s exposed. “Cut yourself shaving?” You chuckle as you caress the scar with the cold tips of your gauntlet, remembering the fight associated to the wound.

“It was a ‘close shave’, if you will. I was working checkpoint duty, making sure no one dangerous came into our country. Being the novice I was, I didn’t anticipate an ambush.”

Removing your hand from your face, you look at it and remember exactly what happened. It was another day of patting people down for weapons as the relentless sun beat down on you. You couldn’t have been no more than sixteen; still naive and oblivious to the dangers of the real world. An older gentleman had finished his paperwork and came to you for a frisking. It was a foolish mistake to forget to check his sleeves as well as every other part; you probably would have noticed the hidden dagger he had waiting for you. In a single, swift motion, the man pulled out the blade and swung across your face.

“What happened to the ambusher?” Durus says, interrupting your day dream. You shake your head and look back at the stallion.

“He didn’t get very far. Caused quite a riot, but it simmered down within a few minutes. He was later imprisoned and held on trial where they asked me if I wanted to press charges on him. I decided against it.” The stallion eyes you tentatively, trying to piece together why you would do such a thing.

“I assume you had a good reason?”

“I had my reasons,” you say bluntly, trying to end the discussion on the topic. “Is this my room?” you ask, pointing at a red door with gold trimming. Durus nods and opens the door for you with his magic.

“Yes. There’s a bath in the next room and the bed is right there. I’m pretty sure the princess will have a tailor come to assist you with fresh linings tomorrow so you don’t have to wear the same apparel over and over,” he mutters as you enter the room. Removing the gauntlets from your hands, you stretch out your fingers and crack your knuckles. Durus stares at your hands, bewildered the new spectacle. He stares at your hands curiously, almost as if they are new wonders to him. Placing the plate armor onto the dresser, you turn to Durus.

“I should be fine here. Thank you for your assistance.” Durus gives you a small nod before exiting the room, slowly closing door behind him. Sliding out of your leggings, you look around the spacious room. A shag red carpet covers the floor from corner to corner as a nice mahogany finish lines the walls and ceiling, which was strange to see in a castle. A large, comfy looking bed sits in the center of the room, calling your name. It’s been quite a day for you, so maybe some sleep would be best for your weary self. After placing your sword and shield down on the nightstand beside your bed, you crawl under the covers and lay your head down.

Questions begin to fill your head as you wait for sleep’s embrace to consume you. Why were you banished here of all places? What’s your purpose here? But most importantly: How are you going to get home? As these questions slowly fade from your mind, so does your sense of consciousness as you lull into a light slumber.

The light sound of hooves clopping against the marble outside your bedroom door, jarring you from your forty winks. Moving ever so slightly, you feel silk rub against your skin as your reach from out of under the covers towards your sword on the nightstand. With sleight of hand, you grab the blade and pull it under your blanket before the door opens. It creaks loudly as the hoofsteps are muffled by the thick carpeting on the floor.

Slowly unsheathing your sword, you continue to fake your sleep as the intruder inches closer. In one fell swoop, you swing your blade and stop at the creature’s neck. The mare stares at the blade, terror evident in her eyes.

“Who sent you and why?” you bluntly say, ready to strike if need be. Tears begin to swell in the mare’s eyes as her eyes switch between you and the blade.

“C-Celestia, she sent m-me to get y-y-you for breakfast,” she chokes, trying her best to maintain her composure. Retracting the sword, you place it back in its sheath and give her modest nod.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to pull my weapon out on you. But next time you enter my room, knock first.” The mare nods and gallops off, not even daring to look back. Removing yourself from the warm security of your bed, you get up and put on your armor. This apparel is basically a second skin to you by now: it’s almost weightless.

As you walk out of the room, you look down the hall when you realize something: You don’t know where anything is. Walking around aimlessly, you peek into rooms in hopes of finding someone who could help you. The rooms were very large, each containing something different. Bedrooms, offices, libraries; hell, there was even a sauna! A loud throat clearing catches you off guard as you start opening one of the doors. Turning around, you look down at none other than Durus.

“Can I ask why you’re trying to peek into the maids’ dressing room?” he hints, putting on a sly grin. You return a deadpan look and close the door.

“I was trying to find anyone who could assist me in finding Celestia. She’s apparently wants me to meet her for breakfast, but I may have scared my escort away,” you mumble, grasping the handle of you sword. He raises an eyebrow and shakes his head.

“I’ll take you. I’m heading down there myself. Follow me.”

Durus leads you to a large dining hall which, after a short walk, was in the opposite direction you had headed. Celestia sits at the end of the table, pecking away at a corn muffin. Her hair sparkles in the sunlight from the windows, giving off an elegant and beautiful shine. Two guards stand beside her, not taking an eye off you as you walk up to the princess. She waves her hoof at the seat to her right and swallows the bit of muffin down.

“Please, have a seat. The servants just put the food on the table.” As you try to take a seat, one of the guards stops you with a glare in his eyes.

“No weapons at the table,” he advises, pointing at your blade. Returning the glare you take a seat and ignore his order.

“I don’t go anywhere without my sword,” you grunt, taking a seat. The guard’s glare grows. He opens his mouth to repeat his order, but is shortly cut off by a familiar throat clearing. The guard turns to Durus, who returns a deathly stare.

“Our guest can keep his blade if he wishes to. He wouldn’t even dream of attacking our beloved princess, would you?” Shaking your head, you remove your gauntlets.

“Of course not,” you reply. The guard backs off, but not before muttering something incoherent under his breath. Before Durus takes his seat, he eyes your sword.

“Would you mind if I look at your blade?” he asks, pointing at it with his hoof. You hesitantly unsheathe the blade and bring it to his eye level. A few knicks line the edges of the blade, showing clear signs of age and use. Durus hums to himself while inspecting the blade, noticing the bend at the tip.

“This weapon has seen a lot. I could imagine what its user had been through as well,” he says, eyeing the princess right after. Giving off a shrug, you sheathe the sword as he makes his way to the seat across from you.

“Nothing that I’m proud of, I can assure you that,” you comment, sliding your chair in towards the table. “I only use it in defense, I can tell you that much.” Celestia looks up from cup of tea and furrows her brow.

“I know of this already, since you did pull the blade out on one of my servants,” she hints.

“I apologize for that, Princess. She entered my room without knocking. I could only expect the worst would happen had I not been ready,” you say, not wanting to start an unnecessary argument. It’s best to be truthful in this situation and not hide anything. They may be ponies, but you’re not one for fight off an army, especially when a majority of them could use magic against you. The princess merely nods and takes another sip of her tea.

“No, it should be me apologizing to you. My servants should know better than to enter a room without the permission of its occupant. But, rest assured,” she starts, seriousness plastered across her face, “you are safe in my castle. I understand you may have concerns for your own safety, being in a new foreign land and all, but you have my word that we will not try to do anything as long as you return that favor.”

“I wouldn’t attack anyone unless in defense, as I stated before. I have no problems with a simple agreement like that,” you reply, poking at the scrambled eggs on your plate. Celestia slowly nods her head in agreement.

“You mean well; that scar on your face is evidence.” You nearly drop your fork as the statement reaches your ears. How did she know about that? Then the answer pops up in your head, since it was sitting in front of you. Durus continues to eat the food on his plate, not bothering to look up from it. Celestia places her now empty cup on a saucer which is quickly picked up by one of the servants.

“Thank you,” she tells the mare before turning her head back to you. “If you don’t mind me asking, what is the reason you didn’t charge the one who assaulted you?” Placing your fork on the table, you lean back in your chair and look up at the cathedral-esque ceiling.

“I was taken by two brothers, the lords of the land I come from, when I was young. The oldest of the two was the one who raised me before he died. He always told me that a man should not hold a grudge against someone. I know it sounds foolish to forgive a person who assaulted me, but I live by his teachings.”

Durus looks up from his meal and shrugs. “It’s a bit foolish, yes, but noble nonetheless. Why did he assault you, though? Did you provoke him or something?” Stretching out your arms, you place your elbows on the table to hold up your chin.

“The man was trying to help his people get through the checkpoint by causing a distraction. Our immigration laws were kind of strict at the time, making it pretty hard to get into the country. He apologized to me when I visited and explained his reasoning. I told them to release him and went straight to the lord to explain everything. The laws were loosened a bit and, to this day, Herald became my best friend.”

“What a wonderful ending to such a story,” Celestia says, giving you a warm smile. “Your lord seems like quite the ruler.”

“He was,” you mutter, remembering him. The room falls into a silent, awkward air as the conversation dies down. As you finish your meal, Durus slides out of seat and stands beside you.

“Would you care to watch the royal guard training today? I wouldn’t want you being bored all day. Who knows, you might pick up a thing or two.” Placing your fork down on the plate, you stand from you chair.

“I don’t see why not.”

Durus leads you throughout the castle until you reach a large bailey filled with training dummies and wooden weapons. Stallions and mares covered in plate armor spar against one another, bellowing grunts and jeers with every swing they take.

“Aten-SHUN!” Durus bellows, echoing throughout the area. Every single guard stops what they’re doing and gallops to his position, saluting to their superior. “We have a guest here today. His name is Sir Anonymous of the southern country.” The guards mutter to one another about your title, staring at you with curious eyes.

“I expect you all to be on your best behavior. Don’t be afraid to flaunt our fighting style, however,” he jokes. “I need two ponies front and center, ready to spar so that we may demonstrate ourselves to Anon here.”

The two guards from breakfast step forward, carrying a shield and wooden spear with magic auras. Durus nods and the two stallion make some space amongst themselves. Durus looks between the two, making sure both are ready. He stomps a hoof against the ground, signalling the start of the spar. One stallion rushes forward, holding his shield up and spear pointed in front of himself. The other stallion stands strong and parries the rushed strike, knocking the spear aside and leaving the first stallion completely open. He presses the spear to his chest and stops.

“One of three. Round goes to Fatuus.” Durus blurts, stomping the ground again. The spar goes on with Fatuus being the victor, winning three to zero. The crowd of guards stomp their hooves in an applause like manner as Fatuus turns to you, a cocky expression on his face.

“Fatuus here is one of greatest veterans, being one of the personal guards Celestia herself. What do you think, Anon?” You hesitate from responding for a moment.

“He’s good, but I wouldn’t say the best.” The crowd grows silent. “The opponent, no offense,” you add, turning to the other stallion, “had no idea what he was doing with his rushed attack. That parry could have easily been avoided.”

Murmurs begin to rustle amongst the crowd as Fatuus walks forward.

“Why don’t you show us then?” he insists, grabbing his spear and shield.

“Do you have a wooden long sword and shield that I could perhaps use?” Durus nods and turns to one of the guards who runs over to the weapon rack. He hands you a kiteshield and wooden sword which, in your opinion, looks like a large stick. Stepping onto the small “battleground”, you bow to Fatuus who returns it. Durus looks between the both of you and stomps.

Following the other stallion’s example, you rush forward with your shield and sword raised. As you approach, you swing your weapon very widely, only to be parried. Holding your grip on the sword, your arm goes gets knocked back as you continue your rush forward, shield still raised. Fatuus freezes up, not knowing what to do as you pummel the shield into his chest, knocking him over. Bringing your arm forward, you put the point of the weapon to his neck and await Durus’s announcement.

“One of three. Round goes to Anonymous.” Stepping off of the stallion, you extend your hand out to help him up. He swats it away and stands up on his own.

“I can take care of myself!” he exclaims. Durus steps forward, ready to interject before a fight blows up, but stops as a certain mare moves forward.

“You should follow his example, Fatuus. It could save your life one day.” The entire crowd kneels down as Princess Celestia takes a stand next to you, picking up a spear from the ground. “Might I challenge you to spar, Anon?”

Author's Note

What in the hell? An update? What is this?!

Chapter 3: Practice

Durus immediately stands between you and the princess, a clear sign of distress across his face.

“Your highness, you aren’t supp—”

“The last time I checked, Durus, you aren’t the one who orders me around,” Celestia snaps, a smile still across her lips.

Durus looks back to you, his expression screaming, “Help me out here!” Gripping the hilt of your wooden sword, you look onto the group of guards deafened by the silence, awaiting your response.

“I’ll be honest with you, Princess: It doesn’t look good on me if I go about fighting the ruler of the land. You’re kind of putting me in a predicament here.” You point to Durus with your sword. “And I had promised to spar with Durus on the way here, so I don’t want to tire myself before I even get the chance to do so.”

Celestia eyes you suspiciously, almost as if she can see right through you. Durus looks between the two of you, his eyes darting back and forth at high velocity. The air grows thick with anticipation as everyone within the vicinity awaits the princess’s response. She clears her throat and turns around.

“Alright then. I just never expected an ‘elite warrior’ to be tired out after only two spars.” The hairs on the back of your neck prickle as your grip grows tighter. Durus looks back to you as murmurs fly about the crowd. You know it’s a trick; she just wants to get under your skin so that you’ll spar with her.

And it’s working.

“I won’t be. If you want to challenge me, I’ll take you on after Durus and I are done.” The crowd’s whispers grow louder. Durus shoots you a glare that could kill a lesser man. You don’t even acknowledge him; your focus is set on the mare in front of you who’s grinning victoriously.

“Fatuus. Fetch my armor,” grunts Durus. Without so much as a batted eye, Fatuus gallops off into castle and returns with an armor set. The steel shines in the sunlight as Durus slaps it on, making sure each spot of his body is covered and protected. The group goes completely silent as he stands across from you, unsheathing his weapons from their loops. Two wooden axes levitate in front of him as if invisible strings hold them in the air. Placing your hands to your sides, you bow to show your respect. He repeats your action and digs his hooves into the soft soil.

Sweat droplets roll down your face as heat from the sun combined with your heavy armor beat on you relentlessly. The air grows thicker as you stare at your opponent, awaiting the signal to begin. Fatuus looks between the two of you, making sure you’re both ready to engage. His hoof rises in the air, ready to come down back to Earth. You don’t know your opponent that well; the only time you fought against someone who dual wielded axes was a barbarian back home, but he didn’t prove much of a challenge with his lack of training or experience. But something tells you that Durus is better than that.

Fatuus’s hoof slams down to the ground, signalling the start of the fight. For a moment, neither of you budge. You both have the same question running through your heads: Who’s going to make the first move? If you attack first, you won’t look like a coward, but it would be foolish to run in head first into a battle. Waiting on your opponent is another option, but it shows a sign of weakness, even if it is the more practical way to go.

Time feels as if it has stopped. No one moves an inch as they watch, waiting for something to happen. Durus decides to make the first move, slowly advancing towards you with his axes raised. Moving the shield to your front, you grip the handle of your wooden sword and get into a defensive position.

Durus hesitates, most likely thinking you have some trick up your sleeve. Once he feels confident enough, Durus charges forward, swinging one of the axes at your head. The wooden axe cuts through the air, whizzing right over you as you duck beneath the blow. Durus quickly steps back as you thrust your sword forward, aiming for his chest. Your opponent is fast, which is expected from someone using two weapons and no defense tools like a shield.

Durus slowly circles around you, his eyes locked in place. You can tell what he’s up to; there’s a wall to your right. If he pins you against it, there’s no chance of blocking him if he decides to throw an onslaught of blows your way. Now it’s your turn. Shield still raised, you move forward and ready your sword. The stallion backs up, not expecting you to make an advance. Both his axes swing at you, trying to mark a distance between you and him. A question pops into your head.

How is he holding those blades up?

It’s then you notice that the horn on his head holds a slight glow. He must be using magic to keep them afloat, which means…

Jolting forward, you charge right at him, your shield being beaten on as his axes continue their flurry of blows. The sound of the strikes on your shield echo in the courtyard, ringing in everyone’s ears, including yours. With a wide swing, you lower your shield and aim for his horn just as the last strikes knock the blades back. Durus’s eyes widen as your sword flies in the air towards his horn, prompting him to duck and throw a blade right into your chest. You fall back onto your ass and cough. Armor or not, there was enough force in that swing to knock the air out of your lungs.

“Round one of three goes to Durus!” The crowd stomps its hooves against the ground, mimicking applause. Durus extends his hoof, offering his assistance. Taking in a deep breath, you grab his hoof and stand on your feet.

“Thank you,” you mutter before heading back to your spot. Durus nods before heading back to his own spot. You may have lost the first round, but you found the key to winning the next two. The horn is his weak spot. When you aimed for it, the fear in Durus’s eyes was more than enough to give that fact away.

A cool breeze enters your helmet, giving you sweet relief from the sinister heat inside it. The crowd goes silent again as Fatuus checks both of you before raising his hoof again. You can feel it again, the tension you so longed to experience once more: the thrill that only a suitable opponent could give.

With a swift drop of his hoof, Fatuus slams down on the ground signalling the next round. If you’re to win this round, you’d have to take a chance.

Shield raised, you rush forward, leaving enough room to see ahead of you. Durus stands his ground, folding his axes in front of himself. The two blades swing wide, trying to hit your open sides. The crowd gasps as you drop down and slide on your back beneath the Durus. Unable to comprehend the event unfolding before him, Durus stares in awe instead of moving. Sword thrusted forward, you point the tip to his chin, marking your victory.

“Round two goes to Sir Anon,” announces Fatuus. Durus shakes his head, trying to regain his composure. He backs up and extends his hoof again to assist you.

“Humans are quite… flexible, aren’t they Durus?” Celestia sneers. Durus rolls his eyes before muttering something incoherent under his breath. As you get back up, he returns to his spot. You didn’t get his horn, but you did manage to tie the match. But the fight isn’t over yet.

The crowd begins to buzz, excited to see the next round unfold. Their words are cut short the instant Fatuus raises his hoof. The bailey goes silent as you and Durus hold each other’s gaze. To the others, this is a spar, a show even. But between yourself and the stallion before you, this is a test. A test to see who is the better fighter. And you intended to be that fighter. If you want to win this round, you have to be make it quick.

Digging your foot into the soft grass, you lean forward a bit. A head-on charge is risky, but if it’s done correctly, victory will be yours. With a heavy hoof, Fatuus slams the ground. You don’t waste a second to bolt forward, shield and sword raised. Something throws you off though.

Durus is doing the same thing. His two axes held high, he runs towards you at a decent pace. This is now a game of chicken. Pointing your sword forward, you do the one thing you thought you’d never do again in your life. You scream, bellowing your battle cry out into the still, quiet air.

Durus, in turn, does the same. You quickly glance over at the guards to spectating. Their gaping mouths and wide eyes bring a smile to your face. To see their superior acting barbaric is a rare sight.

As you both approach one another, Durus slides to a halt, rearing his blades back. But that doesn’t stop you. You keep charging forward, shield raised. As his axes swing towards their opponent, you come to screeching halt. Durus’s weapons whiff nothing but air, leaving him wide open. Lunging forward, you let out one last battle cry and swing your sword. Durus jumps back as the very tip of your sword skims his horn.

This is it. You’re going to lose. Left vulnerable after such a wide swing, there’s no way you’ll be able to defend yourself. Closing your eyes, you wait for the finishing blow.

“Victory goes to Sir Anon!” The crowd of guards goes into a frenzy as your eyes shoot open and look to Durus. Both axes lay across the grass, no longer held up by a magical aura. Durus rubs his horn in frustration, glaring down his pair of weapons.

“You’re smarter than you look, kid,” he mumbles as he approaches you. Extending his hoof, his lips break into a grin. “Knowing that a unicorn’s horn is their bread and butter... that takes some very dedicated observation. Paying attention such small details even in the midst of battle shows you got some talent.”

You can’t help but smile as well. Reaching out for hoof, you shake as the guards all comment on the battle.

“He just got lucky. Durus could totally beat him if they have a rematch!”

“Did you see that hoofwork? That human’s got some skill. I honestly think that luck had nothing to do with it.”

The crowd’s volume dies down as Celestia advances toward you both, her head held high. With her glowing bright, she picks up a spear and turns to you with a chipper smirk before taking Durus’s spot on the grass.

“Let’s begin, shall we?” she taunts, spinning the spear around like a baton. Turning back to Durus, you look to him for any kind of help. You don’t want to be disrespectful, but you did promise to spar against her after you were done. Durus merely shrugs before taking Fatuus’s place as the referee, leaving you with no choice but to spar against his ruler.

Sheathing your sword, you wait for Durus to raise his hoof into the air. You take the chance to bow, showing respect to your opponent. As you lift yourself back up, you blink as a wooden spear points at your neck. Celestia stands before you, wearing wearing a mischievous grin.

“That’s one point for me.”

Durus rolls his eyes as you turn to him. “Princess, you’re supposed to wait for my mark. At least show Anon some respect. He had the decency to bow to you.” Celestia makes her way back to her spot and scoffs.

“Is this how a battle would go out on the field? Last time I checked, your opponents have no means of ‘respect’ when they’re out to kill you.” You eye Durus as he lets out a defeated sigh.

“Though that is true, this is a duel. There are rules and regulations that must be followed. I have no choice but to award the point to Sir Anonymous.”

So it’s going to be like that? Fine, you tell yourself. Celestia’s eyes narrow as you unsheathe your wooden sword and prepare yourself. The entire bailey goes silent once more. If a sewing needle were to fall on the court, it would echo throughout the area. Raising your shield, you await Celestia’s first move. If she was going to play dirty, you’d have to prepare for anything.

“Don’t hesitate to get rough with me, Sir Anon. I don’t plan to go easy on you.” You can’t help but crack a grin as you raise your sword.

“I wouldn’t even think of it, your highness.”

The crowd stares in anticipation as you both wait for the other to make the first move. Their eyes keep switching from you to the mare, expecting something to happen. Celestia raises her head and snorts. If these creatures were anything like real horses, then she was checking for danger. You can’t help but smile: though her voice sounds confident, her body shows caution.

Taking a step forward, you watch as Celestia lowers herself a bit, making her a harder target to hit. She may have witnessed your fighting style from the previous spars, but she doesn’t know what’s up your sleeve.

Rushing forward, you lower your sword down towards the ground and keep your shield at your chest. Celestia stands her ground and awaits your next move as you inch closer and closer. With a hefty thrust, you swing your sword upwards, aiming for her chin.

But something is amiss.

She’s disappeared.

“Round two goes to Princess Celestia.” The crowd goes into frenzy as you look at the spot she once stood, completely clueless. Slowly, you turn around to notice a spear aimed at the back of your head. Celestia grins at the other end of it.

“How?” you ask, looking back at her previous spot. With a cheeky smirk, she lowers the spear and points to her horn with her hoof.

“A very simple teleportation spell. I told you, Anon. I don’t plan to go easy on you.”

This is absurd! How are you supposed to win against magic? There were no opponents, or creatures even, like this back home. How were you supposed to win against someone of this caliber?

Returning to your spot, you keep running the spar in your head. If you were go head on, she would take advantage of it and use magic to disappear somewhere else. If you stood your ground, she would use trickery and deception to take you down. There has to be an in between…

As you turn back, Celestia is already in your face, spear raised and ready to deliver the kill. Lifting your shield, you deflect her blow and push into her, knocking her over. Celestia falls to ground, stunned by the sudden counter. Driving your sword toward her body, you aim to win the round. Celestia’s eyes widen as the wooden blade comes down towards her and disappears with a “pop”.

Turning around, you lift your shield up to your chest in time and stop her spear from making its mark. Celestia, surprised yet again, steps back and smiles.

“Fool me once, shame on me,” you mutter. “Fool me twice, shame on you.”

Dashing towards her, you swing widely and miss as she ducks under your strike. With a quick side step, you jump out of position as her spear’s head barely grazes your helmet. Celestia’s eyes shine like that of a child in her youth. She’s enjoying this. And, to be frank, you are as well.

There’s only one way you’re going to win this. If you don’t get her horn, there is no victory in your future.

With a desperate step, you try to put some distance between you and the mare, but no luck. As you back away, she pounces on you, showing no sign of mercy. Raising your sword, you feint an attack and hear the familiar pop sound as she disappears. As quickly as you can, you turn around and drive you shield into her horn and knock her over. The magical aura around her spear dissipates, dropping the weapon on the ground.

“Round three goes to Sir Anonymous.”

The crowd goes into an uproar as you bring yourself up. To see someone win even a single around against their ruler seems to be a feat of its own.

“I can’t believe the princess lost!”

“I don’t think anypony has ever won a round against Princess Celestia!”

Celestia stand up and dusts of her coat, staring you down with a playful glare. Trying her best, she attempts to lift her spear with her horn only to fail.

“It seems that you’re out of the game, Princess,” you mock, sheathing your sword. You turn around and start toward the castle as Durus lift his hoof. “I’ll just take the victory and be on my wa—”

“Round goes to Celestia.”

The crowd goes silent as you slowly turn around. Wrapped in her wing is the spear she once held with magic, its point held at the back of your head, resulting in a kill. You can’t help but slap yourself for you insolence. With a cocky smile, Celestia lowers her weapon and whips her mane back, allowing it to shine in the sunlight.

“Never doubt your opponent, Anonymous. Just because you take one of their weak points into account, doesn’t mean they won’t be able to fight at all.” You nod your head, feeling like a complete fool. Such a novice mistake.

You look over at Durus whose hoof is now on the ground. “No announcement of the round?” Durus gives a shrug, rolling his eyes.

“As the princess said, the match wasn’t over. You only assumed it was.” It seems Durus is playing both sides in this match. He may help you out, but that doesn’t mean that he won’t assist Celestia.

No matter. Raising your sword, you ready yourself for the next round. The score was tied now, so this was your last chance to walk away with a win. Digging your feet into the ground, you stand your ground as Durus lifts his hoof into the air.

This is going to be one hell of a fight.

Author's Note

I haven't forgotten about this story. I promise.