Chapter 9: Hand in hand.

Nox yawned as he gazed out the castle window and looked at the streets below, the recent snowfall leaving the castle gardens covered in a small blanket of snow. He turned around to see Strong Shield walk into the quiet library with a tray of drinks floating behind him in a magical bubble.

“So Nox, have you thought about anything else you want to study?” Strong Shield placed the tray down on a table as Flux appeared from behind one of the bookshelves. Strong Shield and Flux had been encouraging the young alicorn to try and find an area of study, or to at least let Twilight Sparkle teach him a broad variety of subjects.

The young prince hummed before shaking his head, “Nah.”

“Try not to pressure him,” Flux sighed as she sat down and poured herself a cup of tea and poured another for her frowning husband. “He has more than enough time to learn all he needs to know.”

Strong Shield looked at the lavender Pegasus opposite him, his annoyed side showing again as he turned to glance at Nox. “Well I am just saying that having a plan for the future is a good way to train your mind.”

“He has all of eternity to decide what to do,” Flux took a sip of her tea before using a dextrous wing to pick up a sugar cube and drop it into her tea. “Remember when Princess Celestia challenged you to a quiz about battle formations?”

Strong Shield’s frown disappeared as Nox’s ears stood on end; the tired unicorn looked at his wife with a desperate look. “Please don’t remind me.”

“You could recall fifty formations whereas Celestia managed to describe sixty five in perfect detail,” Flux gave a smile as she heard Nox give a long gasp. “Yes Nox, your mother is a lot more knowledgeable than anypony in this castle.”

“Pish posh,” Strong Shield’s eye turned to Nox. “Now how many do you reckon Princess Celestia can actually use in official combat?”

Flux smiled again, showing she was two steps ahead of Strong Shield the whole time. “Well she doesn’t need to; she is just that much wiser than us.”

Nox looked at his grandparents in confusion, wondering what was going on in their heads. The pair was always a mystery, both of them seemed to know what was going on but both used the information in different ways.

Strong Shield could always look at somepony and know exactly what they had done in their lives and where they would go to from there. Whereas Flux could see how the pony’s future can be changed or avoided.

But one thing they both shared was that they were usually both thinking the exact same thing: How to deal with the situation. Sometimes Nox would wonder if his grandfather Strong Shield’s missing eye was actually a magical spell that allowed him to see into the future.

At the end of the day he never remembered what his straight faced grandfather would say.

“Nox, at least consider enrolling in the military to gain valuable experience,” Strong Shield tapped his chin. “Maybe make the rank of major before leaving so you have experience commanding troops.”

Flux rolled her eyes, “Or let the poor colt choose his own hobbies, even if it as plain as stargazing.”

“Stargazing?” Strong Shield and Nox both raised an eyebrow in confusion.

The young colt hummed before smiling, “Nah stargazing is to simple.”

“See?” Strong Shield pointed proudly at Nox. “He desires a more engaging and challenging experience such as being a soldier and a commander.”

“N-no,” Nox shook his head before smirking. “I wanna fly to other stars and find new worlds!”

Flux placed down her tea, glancing at Strong Shield before smiling at Nox, “Honey that isn’t possible. Your auntie Luna controls the night so trying to explore may be an inconvenience.”

“Why should it?” Strong Shield hummed. “Odio found Dave on a distant solar system so we know there are other worlds with life... maybe this is a good idea.”

“No it is not!” Flux protested, her eyes showing a glimmer of anger that made Nox step back out of shock. He had never seen his grandmother show even annoyance to a bee stinging her, so this was a huge jump. “His mother and father would never agree to this!”

Strong Shield looked at Nox with his evaluating eye, “He could magic then go use his powers on empty worlds, train his skills freely without worrying about hurting others.”

“So you are encouraging him to use his magic to do damage?” Flux shook her head, folding her hooves and muttering. “No that won’t happen to him.”

Strong Shield rolled his eye, “He needs to learn to control some of his alicorn heritage, and even if Dave’s genes suppress the alicorn part of him the little colt will be immensely powerful.”

“You think because he is young he needs to grow to be strong,” Flux glared at Strong Shield with an anger she hadn’t felt in a long time. “He needs to learn to be wise, to fight with words and not violence.”

The unicorn and Pegasus stared at each other with an intense silence that made Nox take in breaths as quietly as he could for fear of being involved even more. Flux and Strong Shield’s differences in view becoming more apparent as the silence dragged on.

Flux could think of a thousand arguments to why Nox shouldn’t go but as she stared into Strong Shield’s unwavering eye, she knew he was quietly answering them all in his own head. The old Pegasus gave a sigh before looking across at Nox.

“If it is ok with your mother and father then we shall see about you getting some training in,” Flux looked back at Strong Shield, who was actually smirking. The mare gave a smile in return as she heard Nox’s excited cheer.

“YES!” Nox leapt into the air before flying over to hug both his grandparents. “I love you both! I’m gonna ask my mum right away!”

Meanwhile…

Mike paused to take a breath as he hid behind some bushes, the tall castle wall was standing proud behind him and the castle stood defenceless in front of him. His eyes danced over the outstanding architecture, exploring every window and curve.

“Such a shame,” The human sighed as he removed his backpack and opened it up. He gazed in at the light brown bear paw that rested at the bottom, another powerful gift that had been chosen to be given to Sasha.

Mike never liked Sasha when she was around him; he felt the menacing eyes that she gave him. The way she stared at everyone for being inferior compared to her. The only time she behaved was when Hank told her too, his word being law amongst the human group.

Then again there wasn’t a single human in the group Mike actually liked, his only reason for being around was his debt to Hank for saving his life when it had hit rock bottom. Although the man who gave him a second chance at life was asking him to take others in return.

These ponies never bothered Mike much. He didn’t know a thing about them after all, except that the rulers were meant to be extremely cunning and that a human named Dave was basically a living weapon for their purposes.

Even if Mike decided to back out on all this work that made his stomach churn he wouldn’t be around for long. Especially seeing as he was the one human in the group that argued with Hank’s intentions at the worst time.

He had been punished for his outburst and all the humans had suddenly shown their dislike of him and his behaviour. But after all he had done to hinder the group he was kept alive with offers of redemption. Offers that only made him feel worse.

The paw that rested in the bag suddenly twitched, as if something nearby had frightened it. Mike couldn’t blame the lifeless limb as he spotted Sasha walk in through the courtyard gates, followed by Sarah, Dave and Princess Celestia.

The kid that looked so sweet, so innocent, was the key to everything in Hank’s plan. Once Mike looked at Sasha’s smiling grin he could almost feel her anger and fury. To Mike she was basically how cruel a child could truly become.

Sarah was another matter. Mike could see she was always thinking about herself in the long run, planning a way to get more than she was going to get. If he could see it then Hank must have clearly planned a lesson for her in some shape or form.

Mike zipped up his backpack and prepared to stand before looking at Dave and took a moment to examine the human that was chosen by Hank and fate to be his enemy. The relaxed looking man was playfully rubbing his palm onto Sasha’s head, laughing as she told him jokes.

Was Dave so powerful he had nothing to fear? Or was he just plain dumb? Mike didn’t care as he watched, noticing Sarah’s stiff body language. She had obviously had an interesting conversation with Hank when she signalled the group telling them to advance.

The thing Mike thought was curious was how Dave didn’t know of Sarah and Sasha’s abilities. He must have assumed because of their alibi and the rampage by Steven that they were merely victims in all of this. Regardless of the excuse, the silence wouldn’t last much longer.

Mike gave a sigh as he stood, waiting for the castle doors to shut behind the group that had come home from a day in town. The soft snow ahead of him was almost too pure for him to walk over as he forged ahead, desiring to get his role over and done with.

Meanwhile…

Dave was released from Celestia’s hug as he left the group. “I’ll see you later guys!” He called over his shoulder as he walked towards a set of stairs that would take him higher into the castle.

“I have a few things later in the throne room so find me there once you are done!” Celestia called as she left Sarah and Sasha in the care of a guard that began to escort them to the dining room.

Dave took his time climbing the various castle stairs, his hands in his pockets as he hummed a small tune to himself. Seeing how big the castle was it was pointless trying to rush anywhere as you would probably be late regardless.

“Man I wish I could teleport,” Dave sighed before feeling a certain chill go down his back. “Wow I got a major bad feeling.”

“Yeah I can see how that might happen,” Odio whispered into his ear.

Dave flinched before turning around to the fog behind him, “How are you out of your room?”

“You mean how come I am actually degrading myself to talk to you… you… peasant!” Odio sneered.

“Spill it,” Dave stared plainly at the fog.

Odio glared away, “Servers are down.”

Dave chuckled, “So you braved the outside world, how thrilling.”

“Can’t be any worse than whatever dilemma you are having this week,” Odio smirked as Dave gave out a low groan. “Oh brilliant I tempted fate into you telling me your problems.”

“Well you see I can’t figure out why nothing spectacularly bad has happened,” Dave scratched his head. “Normally I deal with a problem only for worse ones to appear, and this time it looks like… what are you doing?”

Odio paused dragging a bed into the corridor to stare at Dave, “I was planning on having a nap while you complained… truth hurts eh?”

“Shut up and help me you doofus!” Dave pointed at the fog angrily. “You are meant to help me aren’t you?”

“I only talk to you so I can tell you references that you should understand! These pony folk don’t have a clue what I mean,” Odio drifted closer to Dave as his voice turned to a whisper. “If you don’t believe me then I will go all The Mountain on your ass.”

Dave shrugged, “I have no idea who that is.”

“WHAT!” Odio gasped loud enough to make the walls vibrate. “Have you not watched Game of Thrones?”

“I don’t even have a TV anymore you dumbass!” Dave threw his arms up in protest. “You won’t even let me watch yours when we play Mario Cart!”

Odio hummed, “Alright… I guess I can make an exception… I’ll listen to your problems this once and make them all better!”

“Probably worse,” Dave sighed under his breath before taking a risk. “Alright I am worried that something is going on that I am not seeing.”

The fog of hatred hummed before nearing Dave again, “Give me a hint?”

“Urgh,” Dave rubbed his eyes before shrugging. “I don’t know! That’s the problem! Like I don’t understand how Sarah and Sasha got here without any magic on them and that Steven guy has a major magic power that I had to strangle before it stopped working.”

“Oh this is easy!” Odio laughed. “Wow you have to be such an idiot not to see this one!” Dave groaned at Odio before the fog rolled its eyes and thought out his sentence. “I mean oh my gosh this is so hard to figure out.” The fog said sarcastically before meeting Dave’s glare with one of his own. “What now?”

The human shook his fist at the fog, “You are zero help you know!”

“Well did you ever think that you only resist magic automatically?” Odio made an eye extend closer to Dave. “Did you ever think to resist other things?”

“Well no because I wasn’t expecting him to have those powers…” Dave suddenly froze as his eyes opened in shock. “Just like how I didn’t expect the girls to have powers either…”

Odio began flying around the air in circles while laughing, “Well aren’t you feeling dumb ha ha!”

Meanwhile…

Mike stood over the unconscious body of the guard that had taken Sarah and Sasha to the private dining room. The sword in his hand remained as still as his eyes, his concentration aimed at the door and the guard, preparing for anything.

Sarah stood quietly in the corner of the room, a dark stare and low growl aimed at the final member in the room. Her eyes never leaving the young girls back as she looked at her new right arm.

Sasha laughed with a maniacal hysteria as her right hand turned to a large and powerful paw. Her eyes alight with a ravenous fury that made Sarah even more jealous yet afraid. Sasha raised her paw into the air before clicking her fingers and vanishing in a blinding white light.

Sarah and Mike were left alone, standing in the empty silence where a lunatic’s laughter once reigned. Sarah’s eyes opened in a stunned fear as she looked over at Mike.

“Did you know that it was…?” Sarah shuddered as Mike nodded. “Hank gave her teleportation?”