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- >A few candles, flickering on the desk, keep the lonely darkness at bay.
- >The soft orange light presses against their surroundings, gently illuminating the tome in front of you.
- >You read over the script in the book carefully.
- >Studiously.
- >Over and over.
- >You close your eyes and exhale.
- >You shift your vision to your miscellaneous gear and objects in the corner of your room.
- >You focus on your blade.
- >Reaching out your hand, you flex your muscles and strain your mind.
- Volito…
- >You mutter softly under your breath.
- >The sword in its sheathe twitches slightly, noticeably trying to lift off the ground.
- >You tighten your focus.
- >But the blade doesn’t budge, and only tips over onto the ground with a clank.
- >You sigh, and shake your head.
- >…don’t get too discouraged, Anonymous.
- >Levitation is a high level spell.
- >You probably aren’t ready for it.
- >Especially when you’re still saying the spells out loud.
- >You lean back in your chair and gaze out the window.
- >Such a beautiful, star-lit Canterlot night.
- >Princess Luna has really outdone herself.
- >You’ll have to compliment her the next time you see her.
- >But for now, more studying…
- >The night drags on, and you’ve engrossed yourself in your studies.
- >Your technique is what requires the most help.
- >Unlike these unicorns, you don’t have a horn to easily channel spells from.
- >You need to conjure from or by your hand.
- >…must be in the flick of the wrist or something.
- >You’ve got some spells down.
- >Combat, of course, which is what you’re training for.
- >But those tend to be easier.
- >You have a knack for them, they say.
- >It’s these other ones, like levitation, that seem to be trickier.
- >Why are the ones more practical to your training easier to learn, you wonder?
- >…well you won’t stop there. You want to be proficient in all magic.
- >No matter how long it takes.
- >After a few moments of silence, the heavy wooden door of your room groans and creaks open.
- >You alert your head in the direction.
- >The silhouette of a p0ny emerges.
- >It’s impossible to make every detail out due to this darkness.
- >But you can see a tall wizard hat resting on its head above its horn, and a long beard draping down below it.
- M-Master…
- >You sputter, closing your tome gently.
- It’s late… what are you doing here?
- >A worn laugh echoes through your chamber.
- >”Yes, boy… it is rather late.”
- >His voice drags on; groggy, and old, yet commanding a sort of strength to it.
- >”But I’m afraid this matter cannot wait much longer. I figured it would be best to tell you now.”
- >He closes the door behind him and steps toward your desk.
- >The soft light of the candles illuminates his face.
- >He’s an old, grey p0ny, with a patterned wizard hat resting on his head, and a simple cloak draped over his body.
- >His tangled, white beard dangles wisely from his chin.
- >Rumor around the castle is that this p0ny here, Master Spellweave, is a descendant from Starswirl the Bearded himself. Or, a student, or student’s student, or student’s student’s student. You’re not sure.
- Of course, Master. Anything I can do?
- >He laughs softly, and gazes upon the tome on your desk.
- >”Studying in your free time, eh boy?”
- >You scratch the back of your head and laugh a little.
- >He smiles. “…ah, more ‘practical’ spells, is that it? Opening doors, levitation, that sort of thing?”
- >You smile a little.
- I… I’d just like to be able to perform some of the same spells you p0nies do…
- >”Nonsense…” he says with a smile, “your proficiency in combat magic makes you far more valuable than we are… but… “ he continues, flipping open the book and scanning a few lines, “if you wish to study these spells in your free time, I won’t be stopping you…”
- Th-Thank you, Master.
- >He smiles and nods at you.
- So, Master… may I be of service?
- >He nods once again.
- >”Yes, Anonymous, yes. I’ve come to inform you about a… new studying opportunity we here wish to give you.”
- >Your heart skips a little.
- A new… studying opportunity?
- >”Indeed… indeed…”
- >The worn grey p0ny begins pacing the room.
- >”You’re progressing at a fantastic rate… a rate far more than I’ve expected, my boy. Too fast, perhaps, for even myself to keep up…”
- >You laugh a quick, breathy laugh.
- Master, I doubt that I would ever be proficient enough to out-do you.
- >He turns and smiles.
- >”Perhaps, lad… but regardless, your skill is improving dramatically, and I think it would be a fantastic opportunity to snag and hone this improvement while we can…”
- >You nod your head.
- >”Princess Celestia agrees… one of her students, a Miss Twilight Sparkle, lives in P0nyville, not very far from here at all…”
- Twilight Sparkle…?
- >”Name familiar, boy?”
- >You can’t place it… but yes, it is rather familiar…
- >You nod your head.
- >He smiles.
- >”I figured it would be… she’s a powerful, powerful unicorn, with a vast knowledge of a variety of spells… she’s even saved the kingdom quite a few times before you came along.”
- >Master Spellweave levitates the book from your desk and slips it neatly into the bookshelf behind you.
- >”We think it would be best if you journey to P0nyville and study under Miss Sparkle. She would be a fantastic teacher and mentor to you, Anonymous, and I don’t doubt your magical capabilities would increase exponentially under her guidance.”
- >You nod your head once more
- I understand, Master.
- >Incredible… studying under a unicorn perhaps even stronger than Master Spellweave…
- When will I be departing?
- >”Tomorrow afternoon,” he states.
- >…rather soon and sudden.
- >But… the earlier the better, you suppose.
- >”Attend your blade training with Shining Armor tomorrow, and let him know after about the news. I’m sure he will be… pleased.”
- >Sir Shining Armor would be pleased?
- >Why would your mentor of blade training take an interest to your magic instruction?
- Understood, Master.
- >”Good, good…” he drones, “in which case, I shall retire for the night. I recommend you do the same, Anonymous.”
- Yes, Master.
- >”Goodnight.”
- Goodnight.
- >”Anonymous, sir,” a voice calls from your door.
- >You creak your eyes open.
- >Soft morning light bleeds in from the window.
- >A maid p0ny stands at your threshold.
- >”It’s time for your combat training. Shining Armor will be waiting in the courtyard.”
- >You sit up in bed and nod.
- Yes, thank you, ma’am.
- >She smiles and closes the door behind her.
- >You give a mighty stretch, then slip out of bed.
- >You get dressed, first putting on your white, slightly baggy leggings and leather boots.
- >Next, you don your thick blue tunic, lightly armored by matching blue leather.
- >Princess Luna’s suggestion. Apparently, it brings out your eyes.
- >Finally, you fasten your red cape to yourself.
- >You snag your sheathed blade and secure it to your leather belt, then depart from your room toward the courtyard.
- >The walk is a brisk and quick one that you’ve made many times.
- >You bid many of the castle residents a “good morning” as you pass them.
- >Eventually, you reach the courtyard, where an armored Shining Armor waits alone.
- >You’ve been getting lessons personally.
- >As he sees you coming, he smiles.
- >You approach the unicorn and kneel down before him.
- Greetings, Sir Shining Armor.
- >He laughs.
- >”Get up, Anonymous,” he says with a smirk.
- >You smile, and rise.
- >Apparently, kneeling before your superiors or masters isn’t required here, or at least, not often desired.
- >But it’s a habit that’s stuck.
- >”Alright, well now that you’re finally here, shall we begin?” He asks, coating his blade in his magical aura and drawing it.
- >You grip your hilt and draw your own.
- Gladly.
- >The hours of practice fly by in what seems like minutes.
- >Combat is so different here in Equestria.
- >The blade can be almost anywhere, at any time, due to this levitation magic the unicorns use.
- >But apparently, you do a fantastic job putting up a fight using “a limb for sword combat,” as they like to jokingly and wondrously say.
- >What’s abnormal to you is the standard for them, and vice versa.
- >It’s quite interesting.
- >Shining Armor sheathes his sword, panting a little, and laughs.
- >”You’re improving quite a bit, aren’t you, Anonymous?”
- >You laugh a little.
- If so, only because I have such a magnificent instructor.
- >You say with a smile.
- >He punches your shoulder with his hoof softly.
- >”Oh stop it you!~” he says in a jokingly feminine voice, “you must really get the ladies with that charm, huh?”
- >You just smile a little bashfully.
- >Perhaps you would… if they weren’t all mares…
- >…regardless, even if they weren’t, you’re a mage warrior in training, you don’t have time for things such as romance.
- >”Anyway,” says Shining Armor, breaking your train of thought, “the old bearded magician said you have news for me. Care to share?”
- >Your mind snaps to attention.
- Ah! Yes, I do.
- >You sheathe your own trusty blade.
- It appears I’ll be studying… abroad for a while. Princess Celestia and Master Spellweave apparently believe I’m improving quickly enough to train under a great unicorn. I depart this afternoon.
- >Shining Armor nods his head with an air of seriousness.
- >”The old coot should’ve given me a heads-up… well, just don’t neglect your sword training.”
- Never.
- >You say with a smile.
- >The seriousness dissipates, and he smiles too.
- >”So where and who are you training under?” He asks, as you two begin to walk back into the castle.
- If I recall correctly… P0nyville, under a Miss… Twilight Sparkle.
- >His eyes widen, and a huge grin broadens across his face.
- >He lets out a deep laugh.
- >”Oh ho ho ho! Twily?! Really!?”
- >He continues his laugh.
- >You raise your eyebrow at him and smile.
- “Twily?”
- >He wraps a hoof around your neck (having to stand to do so) and wipes a tear from his eye.
- >”Oh, WOW! That’s incredible!”
- So I take it you know my future mentor?
- >He drops back down on all fours and nods.
- >”Yeah, you can say that. You’ll only be studying under my little sister.”
- >Your heart skips a little in your chest.
- What!?
- >You clap your hand over your mouth.
- >That was rude…
- >He sees this, and laughs.
- >You clear your throat.
- I-I mean… your little sister is one of the most powerful unicorns in all of Equestria?
- >He laughs and nods.
- >”And a hero, too. You should consider yourself lucky, Anonymous! Studying under the great Shining Armor AND his sister!” He says with sarcastic narcissism.
- >You laugh.
- >Wow, Sir Shining Armor’s sister, huh? If she’s proficient in magic anything like he’s proficient in swordplay… wow, what an honor!
- >You reach the corridor where Shining Armor and yourself usually part.
- >”Well,” he says, holding out his hoof, “good luck out there, brother. Say hi for me, and remember: I’ll be checking up on you, so keep practicing!”
- >He gives a wink.
- >You laugh, and grasp his hoof in a Roman handshake-esque manner.
- Thank you, Sir.
- >He releases his grip and joking scoffs, shaking his head.
- >”Sir… psh,” he says, laughing and shaking his head as he traverses down the corridor.
- >You turn and begin walking your own way.
- >Better pack your things quickly.
- >It’s only a couple hours until you depart.
- >You wonder if she has her own spell books?
- >Where will you be sleeping?
- >Oh, this is so sudden, you’ve hardly planned anything!
- >…relax, Anonymous. Master Spellweave and the Princess know what they’re doing, you’re sure they have everything planned out.
- >You laugh again.
- >…what an experience…
- >You enter the golden chariot, donned in your outfit from before, and a simple rucksack with standard belongings in them.
- >Master Spellweave and Princess Celestia are there to see you off.
- >Shining Armor, as the captain of the royal guard, had other plans, but you’ve already said your goodbyes.
- >Two royal pegasi approach the front of the chariot, attach themselves, and begin to take off.
- >You wave goodbye to your Princess and teacher.
- >”Remember boy!” Spellweave calls out, “send letters with your progress! I’m sure Miss Sparkle knows much about the process!”
- I will!
- >You call back with a smile.
- >And with that, the chariot takes to the sky.
- >The two guards gallop higher into the air, as the castle, and soon all of Canterlot, grows farther and farther away, shrinking into the distance.
- >You turn your head away from it, close your eyes, and take a deep breath of the fresh, high air.
- >P0nyville… you wonder what it’s like…
- >About an hour passes, and you begin flying over a thick forest looking area.
- >”The town’s not much further, Anonymous!” One of the guards calls out to you, “We’ll take it a little lower over the trees here for a smoother landing.”
- >You nod to the guard.
- Yes, that sounds good. Thank you, gentlemen.
- >The guard turns back to his duty.
- >You peek over the side of the chariot, looking down to the dark forest below.
- >It’s beautiful, in a deep, twisted sort of way.
- >You wonder what kind of things dwell in it.
- >You smile to yourself, then bring your head back up, looking straight ahead
- >…
- >You snap your palms to the side of the chariot and dart your head over, looking around below.
- >Did you just hear a…?
- >”Anonymous!” A guard calls, “Is there something wrong?”
- >…
- >There it is again!
- Yes! Guards, can you land in the forest here?!
- >They look to each other in confusion.
- >”I suppose, but—“
- Please, gentlemen, we must land with haste!
- >They nod, and you briskly drop through the treetops below.
- >Everything gets quite a bit darker under here.
- >The guards descend slowly and land, quite gracefully all things considered, onto the forest ground below.
- >You leap out of the chariot quickly and listen intently.
- >…
- >…
- There!
- >You bolt out in a direction, holding your sheathed blade.
- >”Anonymous, where are you going?” The guards call out.
- >No time!
- >That’s three times already you’ve heard it.
- >A scream.
- >A young scream.
- >If you weren’t mistaken… a child is in danger.
- >You dart through the thick trees swiftly and acrobatically.
- >The scream is heard once more.
- >It’s close.
- >Eventually, you launch out into a clearing from the trees.
- >Your eyes lock to three fillies cowering in fear.
- >An orange one, white one, and yellow one.
- >Three children!?
- >Your eyes quickly shift to their assaulter.
- >A huge, monstrous looking creature stands before them.
- >It has canine-esque qualities, with a long, toothy snout, paws, four legs, the entire structure reminds you of a vicious dog or wolf.
- >But… it appears to be made out of wood.
- >…what enchantment is this?
- >No time!
- >You dart quickly over to them, and slide in between the three shivering children and the monster.
- Halt, foul beast!
- >You yell, as you draw your blade before you.
- >The three fillies take notice to your protection.
- >”Wh-Who are you!?” one of them bellows.
- >You whip out your hand behind you, eyes still on the monster.
- Quickly, get away from here!
- >The monster roars at you.
- >Its breath is most foul.
- >You back up a little bit.
- >Made from wood.
- >Okay, so the best spell would be—
- >The wolf monster swings its paw down mightily at you.
- >Shoot!
- >You clasp both hands around your blade’s hilt and brace.
- >The paw connects with your weapon, and you struggle against his might with your own strength.
- >”Mister, are you okay!?” another child calls from you.
- >What are they still doing here!?
- Ch-Children!
- >You call, trying desperately to overpower this foe.
- I told you t-to flee!
- >You give one mighty push upward, temporarily overpowering the beast and flinging its paw up away.
- >It's taken off balance slightly.
- >You pick up your foot, and with a mighty Spartan kick, slam your boot down into its chest area.
- >You can hear a few snaps, perhaps some twigs or sticks assembling it?
- >You follow up with a quick slash to its opposite arm, slicing through and snapping the wood close to its shoulder.
- >The beast reels back in pain.
- >Good, Anonymous! Now, follow once more with—
- >It brings his other paw down with much force.
- >You dive and roll out of the way, its hit connecting to the ground with a great thud.
- >Shoot! Your mind is almost a scramble! Actual combat makes it so hard to focus and cast spells!
- >You try your hardest to remember.
- >The canine lifts its paw back up and swings it horizontally at you.
- >You duck the horizontal hit and weave away from a vertical one.
- >Come on, Anonymous…!
- >…aha!
- >You dive and dodge one more swing.
- >Rolling on the ground, you prop yourself up on one knee, extend your open palm, and shout:
- IGNIS!
- >A warm power rapidly forms in your chest, then barrels down your arm and to your palm with great speed.
- >A rather large and speedy fireball careens from your hand, thrusting directly into the wooden creature.
- >Instantly, it ignites on fire, and begins writhing and wailing as it burns.
- >The wood begins to turn to ash. The bright, green light in its eyes begin to dim, and the creature collapses to the ground, not moving.
- >The beast is felled.
- >You stand up and breathe heavily, trying to catch your breath, and give a pleasurable exhale.
- >You sheathe your blade, the metal sliding and scraping down the holster until it satisfyingly clicks and locks into place.
- >Your cape gently waves and flaps in the soft breeze.
- >Your first real combat experience in this land…
- >”…WOOOOW!” you hear from behind the burning lump.
- >It grabs your attention, and you briskly stride around to see the three fillies admiring your kill.
- >They take notice to you almost instantly and bolt over.
- >”That was AMAZING!” The orange one bellows.
- >”Ah thought we were gonners fer sure! But you really saved out hides!” The yellow one adds in.
- >”Thanks for saving us, mister! Are you some kind of brave knight!?” The white one asks.
- >Their big eyes look up to you with wonder and fascination.
- >You laugh a little.
- Not a knight quite yet.
- >The orange one scoffs.
- >”Yeah, sure! Only an AWESOME knight could take on a timberwolf like that!”
- >”Do you have a name, Sir Knight?” The white one cutely inquires.
- >You place your hand to your forehead and laugh a little.
- You may call me Anonymous, dear children,
- >You say, giving a formal bow.
- at your service.
- >They all giggle and dance on the tips of their hooves.
- >”Okay, Sir Knight Anonymous!” The yellow one cries. “We’re gonna go tell EVERYP0NY about you!”
- >They turn around and begin running.
- Wait, children!
- >You call, extending your hand.
- It could still be dangerous!
- >”Nah, we know the way from here!” The orange one calls. “See you around!”
- >You stay for a moment, before dropping your hand and laughing, shaking your head.
- >If they’re heading for town, perhaps you should follow them.
- >”Anonymous!” You hear from your left.
- >You turn, catching the eyes of the two pegasi guards who have just passed through the trees.
- >”Is everything alright?” One asks, his eyes slightly glancing at the large bonfire not too far from you.
- >You smile and nod.
- Everything is grand, gentlemen.
- >They look to each other, then to you.
- >”Splendid. Shall we then return to our flight to P0nyville?”
- >You shake your head.
- No thank you, sirs. You may return back to Canterlot, I think I’ll walk from here.
- >”…understood, Anonymous. Good luck with everything.”
- >You nod.
- Thank you.
- >The two guards turn around and head back through the trees.
- >You turn your attention down the path the fillies ran down and begin taking large steps.
- >Hand on your blade, breathing in the fresh forest air, you head toward P0nyville.
- >Toward the new chapter in your life and studies.
- End of Prologue
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