Chapter 11 - Training

I was relieved to get away from that castle. It had been physically and mentally exhausting. We had at least been able to plunder some equipment from the castle.  I hadn’t realized it but I was weak. My mind suddenly realized that this was just the first of many tests I would have to pass. I would have to get stronger.

“Applejack? I need some help.” I said.

“What do ya need?” She asked.

“I need some help training.” I explained “If I’m going to be fighting all forms of monsters, then I’ll need to be stronger.”

“I here ya” She replied. “With all the fighting you’ve been doing, it’d be good for ya to get some better training.” Applejack took me and Twilight to an open field outside of the Everfree forest. She then began to build a mock training course. I had no idea that ponies could use so many weapons. From swords to spears to javelins even a bow.

“I have to admit.” I stated. “I wasn’t at all expecting this.”

“What. Did you expect us to only fight hoof to hoof?” Twilight questioned. I agreed with her. It was rather primitive to not fight with weapons. Applejack brought over two stick mock swords for practice.

“Pick one up and try to attack me.” Applejack said. I figured that I wouldn’t be able to pick it up with my hooves.  I grabbed it with my teeth and clumsily tried to swing at Applejack. Big mistake. She parried and jabbed me in the chest. I backed up and winced in pain. “Focus. The sword is an extension of your body. Try again.” I got back up and tried again. I aimed low this time seeing if I could knock A.J. off her feet. She parried this hit but that was what I was expecting. I then aimed for her neck seeing if I could land a blow. However she was one step ahead of me. She blocked the counter and tripped up my feet. I fell to the ground again.

“Dang it!” I yelled.

“You just need a little practice.” Twilight encouraged. I continued sparring and losing to Applejack. After a while we finally switched to a different task, finding food. Applejack sent me and Twilight out into the Everfree forest to find a source of food. I ached all over, but the walking helped ease the pain a little. I was given a small sword if there was any trouble. “Applejack worked your flank off.” Twilight said as we walked.

“Don’t remind me.” I stated. I had been over confident in my battle with Iniquitous. I thought I was strong though I had just gotten it handed to me by Applejack. Sensing my self-doubt Twilight tried to pick me up

“Applejack’s one of the strongest fighters in Equestria. No one has been able to come close to matching her.” She encouraged. We were lucky to find a few apple trees in the overgrowth. We bucked down the apples and continued back to the camp. “Hey. At least you can still buck like a pro!” Twilight commented. This was true. I could yet be as strong as Applejack. I was warmed by Twilight’s words for a moment but it was short lived. Out of the foliage emerged two large creatures. Two timber wolves stood between us and the camp. Instinctively I drew my sword. “Jared! What are you thinking?!?” Twilight panicked. The two wooden beasts began approaching us. I knew that the only way out of this would be to fight off the two wolves. The one closest to me leaped towards me. I remembered what Applejack taught me and dodged to my left and swung hard at the wolves’ side. Blade met wood and the beast hollered in pain. The other, seeing that I had wounded its partner, lunged at me. I wasn’t fast enough to dodge this attack and the wolf placed a large cut on my flank. I dropped down to my knees, unable to stand back up. The creature pounced on me. I realized that I was at an advantage. I angled my sword at the center of its chest. The blade stabbed strait into the beast. The shocked wolf collapsed into a pile of sticks and foliage. The other had recovered from its injury and now was furious. I was now stuck. I couldn’t move and the monster was quickly approaching. All of the sudden a large beam shot from behind me strait at the wolf. The animal exploded into an assortment of twigs and sticks. This gave me time to get back on my feet. I winced in pain. The gash was still fresh and bleeding. Twilight was now at my side ready to help. “I knew this was going to happen!” she scolded. All I did was give her an adamant grin, pick up the food we had found and continued down to the camp. When we arrived I was bandaged up and given hot apple cider.

“What the hay happened?” Applejack asked. I told her about the whole event and how we had defeated two timber wolves.

“That was a really foolish thing you did there Jared” Twilight scolded. “You could’ve gotten both of us killed!”

“Well did you kick major flank?” Applejack asked. I nodded.

“You’re not going to scold him for being so foolish?!?” Twilight exclaimed

“In the words of my brother, nope!” She replied. I couldn’t help myself; I started laughing!