Jace gawked at the massive tree in front of him, completely unable to truly take in the fact that it seemed to be Twilights destination. What had him so transfixed was not the size, for he had long ago seen much larger trees. No, the sight amazed him only because of the windows and door that were clearly seen on the tree.

"Wait," He said in an awestruck tone, chuckling the whole time. "You're telling me that tree, that tree right there, is not only your house, but a library as well?" Jace had never heard of anything so...Ironic seemed to be the best term to us, before in his life. All of that paper inside of a tree. just...wow that is funny and yet so flipping cool.

Twilight looked at him, unable to understand what he was chuckling about. "Yes I am," She said nervously. "I-is that too weird? Do you think I'm weird for living in a house in a tree?" She was honestly scared that her potential new friend thought she was too weird and her brain, like usual, was starting to skip ahead to the worst conclusion as she started to overreact. If he thinks I'm weird, he'll leave and he'll talk about how weird I am and he'll never talk to me again cause I'm a weirdo! we'll never be friends and he'll leave us to fight the changelings all by ourselves!

Jace noticed Twilight had stopped and was starting to freak out. He turned to her, laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and smiled. "Relax, Twilight," He said in the same soothing tone that he had used with Fluttershy earlier. "I actually think it's the coolest thing I have ever heard of. I mean, it's a little Ironic, all that paper inside a house made out of a tree, but it's funny that way. I think you are actually a very nice mare, not weird at all."

Twilight stopped freaking out at the sound of his calm, soothing tone. How is he able to do that? It's like he knows just what to say at the right times and how to say them...is it from his time as a military leader? Is that why he's able to soothe the worried and scared with just a few words? She smiled a bit. "Thank you, Jace," She said, with just the slightest hint of a blush on her face out of embarrassment. "I'm sorry for freaking out..again. I'm still really sorry about what happened in the forest too."

"it's not a problem Twilight. I don't like seeing people, or ponies, sad or to see them freak out over things, so I just try to help anyway I can," Jace explained, smiling warmly at her. "I guess it's just in my nature. As for what happened in the forest, we humans have a saying: "No blood, No foul". it means that as long as I'm not injured in any way, I won't hold it against you. Besides, I understand; you were scared out of your mind after being chased by changelings and then seeing me take them out."

Jace stiffened up, Hearing a faint buzzing above them. He kept smiling just so Twilight wouldn't get worried and freak out again. He knew he had to handle this with subtlety and yet deal with it quickly as well. He ran through a mental checklist, long embedded into him by his years of service in his own universes war. Ok. 1) get all civilians in area to safety. 2) engage armor for protection. 3) Scan area for cause of threat. 4) asses threat and move into defensive position if needed, if not, attack.

"Hey, Twilight," He said, maintaining his calm demeanor as he spoke so he wouldn't spook her. "You go on ahead inside. I'll be just a minute. I have to take care of something."

Twilight, being the quick witted mare she was, quickly understood what he meant and nodded. "Alright," She said, he eyes darting around. "But please be careful. I'll go make some tea."

Jace chuckled at that. "Alright, peppermint tea for me please," He said, still smiling and chuckling. "If you have it."

Twilight nodded and walked to the library as calmly as she could and closed the door behind her as Jace activated his armor. He smiled and turned around to see a single Changeling standing there, weapon drawn. "alright," He said, feeling just a bit cocky as he drew his own blade and his helmet engulfed his head. "Before we begin, do you wish to back down?"

The changeling didn't answer with words, instead choosing to charge at Jace, trying to overwhelm him with the first attack. Jace smirked under his helmet and block it's blade with practiced ease, sending it stumbling back. He charged at his opponent and began a quick duel, using the fact that the changeling was off bounce to quickly gain the upper hand. He doged the changelings blade as if it were moving in slow motion and sliced off it's insect like wings, earning a pained yell from the changeling as it spun around and attempted to take his head off with a vicious swing. Jace, however was too fast and flexible, even in his armor, and simply bent backwards, like a reed in a storm. He watched as the blade went right where his neck had been just a moment ago.

Hmm. the speed of this changeling is quite similar to that of a Silvanin. I'll have to be on my toes with this one. Jace thought as he flipped backwards, kicking the changeling in the chin and stunning it long enough for him to regain his footing a few feet away. Jace smiled and stood straight.

"Where I am from," he said as he put in the code to let his helmet return to it's circlet form, determined to look his enemy in the eye. "It is considered polite to name oneself during a duel to the death, so that you're opponent has the opportunity to know who they have slain or were slain by. It gives the duel a sense of honor."

The changeling smirked and nodded. "As it is amongst the changelings," He responded. "Very good. I am known as Razor Death, Commander of Hive Platoon #30 and am a bringer of death! Undefeated in battle, I have bested manticores, dragons and ponies alike! My blade now thirsts for new blood! Who stands before me?"

Jace smirked. "I am Named Jace Veritas, The Soldier of Truth. Finest warrior of the Raximus Omega Military and Leader of the Diablo Super soldiers! My blade serves as a Shining light of salvation! I have bested the universes greatest militaries once before and I can do so again! I have never lost and I shall not be defeated here! Now come! My blade hungers for peace and justice!!"

With that, both opponent charged and began a titanic clash, slicing, slashing, dodging and blocking at inhuman speeds. Neither was able to gain the upper hand, finding themselves easily matched by the other. Their blades struck like lightning bolts and the clash of the two was like thunder. Never before had Razor Death met such an opponent, one capable of matching him blow for blow. Truly this was a match to the death and both combatants were enjoying it. This was more than a simple battle, it was a dance, poetry in motion. Both combatants smiled as the other showed their skills. Had any ponies witnessed this struggle, they would have believed a battle of not mortals, but gods, were taking place.

Locking blades once more, the two warriors found themselves at a stalemate. Inches away from each other, struggling to overcome the other, they both began to laugh. This was not a laugh at something amusing, but rather a laugh at the sheer thrill of fighting someone of their own caliber. They pushed back sending each other a few yards away, still laughing.

Razor Death was the first to recover from his laughing fit. "Truly you are a worthy opponent," He stated respectfully, acknowledging Jace's power. "But I'm afraid this ends now. I will ensure that you are remembered forever, having fought me at your finest and fullest power. Farewell, Jace Veritas of the Diablos."

Jace's laughter had turned from one of respect to one of mirth. Razor Death could not understand why, though. He had given him his last words and here this Man was...Mocking him! This insult would be his last! Razor Death charged swinging with all him might at the Diablo standing before him, but something happened that he did not expect; His blade was stopped between two fingers. He looked at Jace and saw that He had finally stopped laughing and looked deadly serious.

Jace smirked, knowing that Razor Death was caught off guard by this sudden turn of events. Razors Death had been to cocky and that would be his downfall this day.

Jace leaned forward and whispered into Razor's ear "you think you have seen my full strength? Ha. I'm not even using a tenth of what I have. but to give you an honorable demise, I will show you my true power." Jace snapped the sword he was holding between his fingers at the same time he pushed Razor back. A fire had re-ignited inside him and he rushed forward at the speed nothing could ever match and sliced through the changeling, landing behind him.

Jace looked over his shoulder at the changeling. He smiled and began to sheathe his blade. Razor was feeling his body, finding nothing. He laughed and yelled, "You missed you fool!". Jace just kept smiling and clicked his blade fully into place in it's sheathe. No sooner had he done it, than Razor fell to the ground on his back, sliced clean in half. Jace walked over to his fallen enemy and knelt down. He closed the fallen changelings eyelids and said a quick prayer for the warrior. Standing, He turned back towards the library and began walking to it. At the threshold, Jace turned back once more, to look at his fallen foe.

"Bi aig fois ann an sith, Razor Death." he said as rain began to fall, nature itself seeming to mourn the loss of such a fine warrior. Jace turned his back on the scene and entered the library, lowering his armor and sitting down on a bench as Twilight brought him his tea allwoing him to drink it slowly before showing him to the spare room. "Thank you, Twilight. it is most appreciated" were the last words he spoke as he slipped into the bed and fell into a deep sleep, not to be woken until the morning.

Twilight smiled at the sleeping man, Knowing what he had done to protect her. "Sleep well, Jace," She whispered as she left the room and closed the door. "You may be our last hope of winning and you have certainly earned the rest."

Author's Note

Awesome! My first real drawn out fight scene in this story! Hope you all enjoyed it! and that you opened the music in a new tab.

I figured now is the time to put a good word in for DanteRaijin on Deviant art! I was looking through his stuff for ideas on character development (after all Jace is his character) and I came across a fan group for his stuff. WOW! that's awesome. I'll be posting a conversation I had with DanteRaijin in my next Blog post, as well as doing an open Q&A for a little intermission in the story. I'll happily answer any and all questions with the obvious exception of ones I deem inappropriate.

As a side note, Jace needs a theme song. I'll leave it up to you, the readers, to drop suggestions or even make your own. Thanks!

WOW two chapters within a week! it's exciting for me!

Bi aig fois ann an sith.: Scottish Gaelic for "rest in peace". Jace is multilingual.