Saber charged into the fray, slashing Changelings, his wings alight with metal fire. The Changelings shrieked in pain, and fled before his wings and flaming plume and tail. He saw Twilight fighting Chrysalis, horn to horn, blasting spells at each other. He saw Rainbow, kicking and stabbing and (for some reason) Pinkie Pie, zipping around, tapping, tagging Changelings and causing general havoc. Rarity was armed with shards of diamond in which case she launched at the Changelings, stabbing them in all sorts of places. Vinyl was fighting with a strange speaker that appeared to be powered by her magic. Whenever she used her magic, It shot out a sound wave that knocked Changelings out and even killing a few. A cry echoed across the valley. Saber saw Twilight, her shoulder soaked in blood, on the ground, not moving. Chrysalis stood over Twilight, her horn glowing brighter by the minute. Saber stabbed the Changeling in front of him. Come on Saber, show these creatures that you can use a little slash, he flew at Chrysalis, armor glowing ice-blue, but his flames extinguished so that he didn't hurt Twilight. The color of protection. Saber sliced the shell on her back and she growled in pain. Whirling around Chrysalis's horn glowed again. A beam of green magic shot towards him. He put his wings in front of himself and the they absorbed it. Somehow, he could absorb certain kinds of magic. The wings glowed green and the spell was released in a puff of turquoise smoke.

"What?!" Chrysalis shrieked, "How is this possible?!" Saber didn't understand either, but he didn't let himself be distracted by the thought. He rolled under a boulder she had thrown at him and slashed one of her gangly hooves. Her gnarled horn glowed again and two magic blades appeared on her wings. "You will die slowly and very painfully." She promised. Saber knew a lot about swordplay. He remembered fighting using fake swords with his uncle. "If your enemy is bigger than you or has a longer reach, you have to get in closer." his uncle's battle training flashed through his head. He charged her and narrowly avoided her right insect wing and slashed her again in the side .She shrieked in pain and managed to land a hit on his leg where the breastplate and boots did not protect him. Pain shot up his arm. He tried to land but his knee buckled under him and he fell. Chrysalis saw her chance and slashed down. He raised his wing just in time. Her blade clashed with his.

"Surrender you foal!"

"Never!" Chrysalis slashed down with her other wing. He rolled over and jabbed her in the stomach, barely avoiding her other wing. While she was still recovering, Saber ran to Twilight, who was unconscious. He took a piece of cloth from a fallen soldier and wrapped it around her shoulder. He shoved her into the hands of the nearest Pegasus guard from his group and said, "Get her to a hospital. Now."  

"Yes sir." and he flew off. Chrysalis had recovered and was looking at him murderously.

"Give up! I am a queen! You are a lowly soldier!"

"You are a queen of monsters. I don't bow down to you." His wings lit up and he charged her again. This time, she conjured up a globe of water and soaked his wings. The fire burned even brighter. "Ever heard of a metal fire before, Chrysalis? It's when metal lights on fire. Not hot enough to melt it but hot enough so not even ice cold water can put it out." Chrysalis looked at him in fear. He made his last attack in the whole battle. He flew straight at the evil queen and slashed her with a flaming wing. She collapsed and was shivering on the ground. Three Changelings lifted her up and called out in their language (which Saber didn't understand at all) but from the reaction, he guessed it meant retreat. A Changeling cursed at him and flew off.

They all celebrated their victory that night but mourned the loss of the soldiers who had died in the battle. Five of them were Saber's own. He felt responsible for them passing into the void. He didn't join the celebration feast with the others, including Fluttershy, who had no need to use the gem he gave her. She must've noticed he wasn't at the table. He was leaning on a pillar, staring at the feast with sad eyes. He felt different. He wasn't wearing his armor for once and he was limping where Chrysalis had cut his leg. It was not that deep, but it hurt a lot. Fluttershy snuck off from the table to follow Saber and went after him. He was hiding in the shadows when she found him. For some reason, his eyes glowed in the dark.

"Saber," She whispered into the darkness, "What's wrong?" his voice matched his eyes. Tired, sad, and cautious.

"Five of the soldiers that died today were my responsibility and they...." his voice cracked. "Five ponies I won't forge-" his knee buckled and he sank to the ground, grimacing in pain. Fluttershy sat next to him, looking worried. She put a wing around him and kissed him on the cheek.

"We need to get you to a doctor." She said.

"I'm fine." he replied, although he didn't look or sound okay. He had a bandage on his left hoof, and was covered in nicks and scratches like he had jumped through a window. His eyes were dull and tired, not alert and bright. His voice was raspy, low, and tired. Circles ringed his eyes and a bruise was on the leg that wasn't bandaged and his wings were folded limply instead of spread out. He was usually easygoing and active. Not anymore. It was like he was a robot pony and he was low on power. Fluttershy tried to cheer him up, but she couldn't think of anything to say. "I can't get the image out of my head." he said, shaking.

"What image?"

"The night I visited you, I saw a nightmarish image. A dark figure was standing over what looked like a mare, and it was holding a long knife. Its eyes were blood-red. I can't get it out of my mind." He shuddered and cringed. Another emotion flooded his eyes. One she didn't see very often. Fear. He tried to stand, but fell down again. Fluttershy helped him get up and supported him. "Thank you Fluttershy." he said, unfolding one wing and wrapped it around her as they walked towards his room.

They opened his door and Fluttershy settled him on his bed. He lay down and fell into a deep sleep. When he woke, Adamant Shadow was in his room, reading a book about space.

"Adamant?" Saber mumbled, "Wha-what time is it?"

"Two in the morning." Adamant replied. Saber looked outside. It was still dark. "Wh-where's Fluttershy?" he yawned, "Asleep, considering the time." Saber got out of bed. He yawned and rubbed his eyes.

"I'm going to the library to find more about swordplay." he said and walked out of the room.

The Canterlot Castle was almost endless. Banners, Stained glass windows, and library wings. Saber found his way to Starswirl the Bearded wing of the Canterlot Archives. He wasn't a unicorn, but the different kinds of spells the could use fascinated him. Plus, he wanted to see if he could find the spell that the Changeling used to cut off his wings. Saber searched the shelves for something that might give him a clue to why he was gaining these powers. He found nothing. He eventually gave up and made his way to his room. Saber heard hoofsteps near him. He lit his wings up for light. Vinyl was standing a ways away. She gave a start when his wings lit up. Vinyl sighed when she realized it was him.

"Saber, what are you doing here this late?"

"I was just about to ask you that." Saber replied.  He willed his wings to extinguish themselves. "Why weren't you at the feast?" she asked. "Five of the soldiers that died today were my men. Men that I could've saved. But they died." he said,

"Saber, it wasn't your fault. They were too far away from you for you to help." she replied.

"I could've saved them. I could've flown to their aid." he bowed his head. an walked away.

When Saber got to his room, he was shocked to see that the sun was out. He opened the door and of course, Adamant Shadow was still there. Saber looked at his clock. Eight o' clock. He had been out for six hours?!

"Ah, finally, you're here," Adamant said, looking up. "Today is a break for all the guards. You get a day off. How to spend it is your choice. Maybe-"

"Alright! I get it! I need to take a day off." he interrupted. "I don't know what I'm going to do. First I need some sleep."

"Well I know a certain somepony who is up and about." Adamant raised an eyebrow. "Maybe, spend your day with her once you wake up?" Saber shot a glare at Adamant. "Now, I need to sleep." Adamant left the room and closed the door.

"Find me when you wake up." Adamant replied.

"Okay." Saber said. He closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.