[Friday Afternoon]

After we had our pizza, we left the restaurant and walked to the park that was further south of town, across from the elementary school where we all had first met and had our classes together. We all lied next to each other under the big tree that we like to lounge under now and then. I looked up at the sky, and saw the clouds were moved by Canterlot’s weather pegasi.

“Huh, are we going to have rain today?” I asked first.

“Sigmund was telling me this morning that there will be a heavy rain storm scheduled for later tonight,” Teala answered. “They're trying to make up for the lack of showers the past few weeks before summer kicks in. I guess they’re preparing for that right now. Makes sense since it’s past four already,” she finished. One great thing about having her as a friend is that she’s one of the first ponies out of everyone in town that knows what weather will occur in town on a daily basis due to her family's connections to the weather industry in Cloudsdale.

“Well at least we’ll still be able to enjoy the sunlight for the rest of today without anything bothering us before we study this weekend,” Roxxie added.

While it’s true that I like the daylight as well, I actually enjoy the night sky better myself. City lights affecting the view aside, I always loved watching the moon and stars in the dark. It’s a shame I won’t see any of that tonight, as the rain and clouds will be covering the skies.

I rest my eyes closed and took in the sounds of my surroundings with a smile. The wind rustling through the tree leaves and grass, the birds chirping with delight.

Nothing could possibly ruin this great moment.

“Well well well. If it isn’t Dusknight and the blank brigade?” An irritating, yet, familiar voice asked smugly.

... Why did I even think nothing could go wrong? Somewhere in the afterlife, Murpheigh is probably laughing at me right now.

The three of us jolted up to see the source of the voice came from a snooty green unicorn colt with a coyly styled, red and white mane sticking out in front of him. He wore a dark green, button up shirt, and black slacks while wearing a golden wrist band with an emerald embedded on top. Alongside him was an uptight, brownish-gray unicorn colt with an indigo mane, combed to the side and stretched over his shoulder, while wearing a black button up shirt with vertical light purple stripes, and matching slacks. He also had square shaped, black framed glasses over his eyes.

“Emerald Brace and Copper Cut… What the buck are you two doing here?” I snarled as me and the girls got up.

“I was just enjoying a stroll until I saw an opportunity to crash the party. Isn’t that right Copper?” Brace asked his cohort.

“Quite,” Copper responded with almost no emotion in his tone as he fixed his glasses.

“You better have a damn good reason to barge in on us if you know what’s in store for you,” Roxxie threatened while she cracked her knuckles, and Teala stood there glaring at them, flaring her wings open.

“I just want to wish you all the best of luck on the exams next week,” Brace replied. “Especially YOU, Dusknight, as you’ll need it the most.”

“And what is THAT supposed to mean Emerald?” Teala asked.

“I believe you remember that there are two different tests that will take place next week,” Brace explained. “The first is like all others where all races are tested on the subjects that were taught in class. The second is where each race is tested on their physical and mental capabilities. Ponysonally, I don’t see why pegasi and earth ponies are even included, or even allowed to walk the streets of Canterlot as unicorns are the superior race in this city.”

That just tighten the grip on my fist. I knew that was an insult directly to my friends, and I’m going to get him back for that later.

“Just get to the point Brace,” I growled through my teeth.

“My point Dusknight,” Brace continued. “Is that I know the bumpkin and featherbrain will have little to no trouble passing this test, as all they would do is prove their strength, coordination, and fly through hoops. YOU, on the other hand, must cast a spell high or unique enough to gain the judges’ attention, and how you represent our race. Now, how many high level spells have you successfully performed to prepare yourself for this test?” I stood there in silence, but started to shake with rage. “Just as I thought. It’s a shame really. Not only do you not have a cutie mark yet, but you can barely even perform a mid-level spell. What kind of unicorn are you that you can’t even perform such spells or higher with ease? I wonder if you’re even a unicorn at all? If not, then why are you even staying in this city in the first place?” He asked with a smug grin.

I can’t take this anymore. My blood is boiling, and I have to say something before he goes further.

“You take that back Brace. Right. Now,” I demanded with my teeth bare, as I could barely see what was around me anymore, besides the bastards that were standing in front of me.

“Why don’t you prove it?” Brace asked. “Magic Duel. Right here, right now, and we’ll see if you’re worthy of being called a unicorn,” he challenged.

“Cyan, you don’t have to do this!” Teala exclaimed. “Let’s just walk away from here and go somewhere else,” she pleaded, but I couldn’t take my attention away from him. I don’t know what Roxxie was doing, but I could feel her rage, no, her fury from where I was standing.

“No. I can’t let him get away with insulting you and Roxxie like that,” I replied. “I’m not going to let this die down without me at least trying to fend for myself, and for you two. I wouldn’t be a good friend otherwise,” I could almost tell her expression now turned to worry, and Roxxie was probably the same as I felt her anger die down. “I accept your challenge Brace, and when I’m through with you, you better take back what you said about my friends and their respective races.”

“We’ll see about that, Dusknight,” Brace smugged. “Copper, you be the referee,” his sidekick nodded in response before he walked to an open area.

“Take your places,” Copper ordered, before Brace and I moved and stood at a safe distance from one another, our stares not leaving each other’s sight.

“This was not the best way I was hoping for this to turn out,” Teala commented on the side, while Roxxie had her hands on our friend’s shoulders.

“I really wish I could just kick the crap out of these guys instead, but I guess I can’t change Cy’s mind now. We’ll just have to hope for the best,” Roxxie concluded.

“This Magic Duel will be between Emerald Brace, and Cyan Dusknight,” Copper announced with the same monotone voice. “The rules are simple. Each contestant will have a turn to cast a spell that the other must match. The unicorn first casting the spell will be switched with each round. There will be no physical contact, no spells that cause physical damage, and no interruptions from anyone outside the arena, or the contestant associated with them is automatically disqualified. Last unicorn standing wins the match. I will now do a coin toss to decide who goes first,” he finished before he took a bit from his pocket, and flipped it in the air.

“Heads,” I called before the coin hits the ground.

“Tails. Emerald will go first,” Copper concluded. “Contestants, are you ready?”

“As always,” Brace answered with a smug.

“Let’s just get this over with,” I finished.

Copper raised one hand up in the air. “Let the Magic Duel… BEGIN!” He exclaimed as he cut the line between us, starting the match.

“I think I’ll start things off with a little warm up,” Brace said. “I’m sure you’re going to need it Dusknight,” he closed his eyes, and raised up one of his hands. His hand and horn glowed an emerald colored aura before a patch of grass before him turned from its natural green to a shade of red. His horn and hand stopped glowing, and lowered the latter. “Your turn, failure,” he said.

Okay, a color changing spell, that’s not too hard. Time to work my own magic

I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath to calm myself. I opened my eyes before I targeted the colored patch of grass. I aimed my concentration at it, raising my right hand towards it, and glowed a light blue aura around it before I changed the patch of red grass back to its original green color. Teala and Roxxie applauded for my achievement, hoping to boost my morale.

“First round of this Magic Duel is over. Cyan will now start things off with round two,” Copper announced.

“Give this all you got Cyan!” Roxxie exclaimed.

“You can do it!” Teala added.

If I want this to end, I’ll have to use the best spell I have in my arsenal.

I got into a more balanced, defensive stance, and pointed one finger to the air. I concentrated on that point while putting more of my magic into it than usual. Not too much that I’ll lose most of my magic, but just enough to make it work. The tip of my finger glowed the same light blue aura from earlier before it shot up to the sky. It exploded, and spread into a big, light blue umbrella that stretched to the ground around me; thus, making my force field. I took a deep sigh and wiped a few beads of sweat from my brow after the spell was complete, and my two friends cheered loudly at my achievement.

That may have been easier to cast than the last time I tried to do it. Though it might not have lasted as long as my record of two minutes, it’s an improvement isn’t it?

“Hmm… Not bad, but not so hard to match,” Brace commented with a lack of interest in his expression. My force field dissipated before Brace got himself ready. He copied the same gestures I had made before, focused his magic, with his horn glowing the same emerald aura while a ball of light of the same color was shining on his finger . It shot up to the sky, and exploded at a higher height than mine, and spread to a wider area. The emerald colored umbrella covered the makeshift arena, while the rest of the ponies and I were inside. “Heh, larger than yours, and I didn’t even break a sweat. Seems I have more insurance shielding ourselves from oncoming attack than you,” Brace finished with toxic in his voice.

“Second round of this Magic Duel is over. Emerald will now start round three,” Copper announced.

That monotone of his may sound boring, but it gets irritating after a while.

“I think it’s time we finished this once and for all. This next spell will be your demise,” Emerald said before his horn started to glow brightly. In an instant, he flashed, and vanished a second later. “I’m over here~.” Sang the familiar, yet agitating tone, but at a lower volume. I turned to the source, and saw him leaning against the tree we were relaxing under earlier with one hand. He checked his nails on his other with that same lack of interest expression from earlier.

“Oh no…” Teala commented.

“Wait, what happened? What was that?!” Roxxie asked in confusion.

“A teleportation spell… One of the highest level spells known in history,” I answered as my determination quickly and surely crumbling.

“Correct Dusknight,” Brace added. “I should probably tell you all now, but I went to the School of Gifted Unicorns summer program at a young age. They said I was one of the best among the age group at that time,” he brushed the nails he checked earlier on his shirt before he yawned, and looked at me with annoyance. “I’m getting tired of this Dusknight, so let’s cut to the chase. If you can perform the teleportation spell in this round, we’ll end it right then, I’ll submit defeat, and take back EVERYTHING I said about you, and your pathetic friends’ races. You don’t even have to teleport as far as I have to do it. Just disappear, and reappear at least an arm’s length in any direction, and that will be the end of the duel.”

This is it… This is where it all ends. I was lucky that the teleportation spell was one of the things I studied from last night, so I got a good handle on the concepts, but I’ve never even tried the spell firsthand.

I turned to my friends, where they looked back with that same, worried expression from earlier.

I can’t mess this up, I just can’t.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and thought back to what Mom told me from this morning.

Magic is a powerful, yet, mysterious thing Cyan, and not everyone is the same with it. You never know what it will bring, but as long as your intentions are good, and your mind and heart work as one, the best of your abilities will come out when you least expect it.

Please… Please, let this moment be that time. I’m not only doing this for myself, but I’m doing this for Teala and Roxxie as well. The most important ponies in the world to me. Come on magic, let me tap into that hidden potential so I can win this!

I steadied my stance, gritted my teeth, closed my hands and eyes tightly, and concentrated. I could feel my horn burning, and glowing brightly. I tried to put every ounce of my magic and being into this one spell. I started to feel pain from my horn, but tried to ignore it as I kept pushing myself more and more.

My face was sweating bullets, and my whole body was shaking like crazy.

My horn just kept burning hotter and hotter.

Until…

KRA-BOOM!

AAAAAAUUUUUGGHH!

I dropped to the ground, and screamed in agonizing pain from the magic explosion. I scrambled on the grass, and tried to ease the pain as I grabbed my horn. My entire body felt like it was on fire as I curled up into a ball while screaming still. I didn’t notice Teala and Roxxie running towards me, but stopped at a safe distance ready to aid me. My voice cracked, and my throat got sore from all the air I was pushing out with my wails. The burn felt like it took hours before it finally started to calm down, and the pain with it died. After things quieted down, I lied on my side before I heard a haughty laughter from Brace.

“Oh this is just PERFECT!” Brace exclaimed. “Not only have I beaten you, but I even get to see you wallow in defeat. This has definitely been a good day for Emerald Brace. Copper! End this duel. NOW!” He ordered his minion, who stood there silent for a moment.

“The winner… of this Magic Duel goes to… Emerald Brace,” Copper finally said, barely hearing the cracks that were in what used to be his monotone voice.

“YES!” Brace cheered. “From today’s duel, let it be known, that unicorns are not only the superior race, but Cyan Dusknight... is a FAILURE OF A UNICORN!” He yelled before he gave an even haughtier laugh as he walked out of the park’s premises, while Copper followed suit with quiet hoof steps. The laugh slowly died until everything around me was dead silent.

I lied there, still grabbing onto my horn for dear life as I trembled with pent up emotions inside of me. I heard the tentative hoof steps of my friends as they got closer, and crouched above me.

“Cyan?” Teala asked first with concern.

At that moment, I jolted up to my hooves and sprinted in the opposite direction of the earlier laugh, getting away from my friends.

“CYAN! WAIT!” Teala screamed as I kept sprinting and not looked back.

I didn’t know where I was going, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to get as far away from anyone as possible. I kept running through the streets of West Side as a trail of tears of sadness and despair left my face.

Next Chapter: Chapter 6: Lumina and Nil's talk, and their Secrets Revealed Estimated time remaining: 9 Hours, 10 Minutes