Twilight and Facet stood with Loki and Drever in one of the temple training rooms, a pair of round droids floating in the air in front of the boys.

“Alright, boys. Today we begin your training in blast deflection,” Facet said. “These remotes will fire extremely low power bolts at you from various angles, and you’ll deflect them. The bolts will only sting if they hit you, so don’t worry.”

“Well no pressure then.” Drever dryly replied as he ignited his saber, getting himself into a steady stance.

Loki could only chuckle as he too switched on his lightsaber. “With the two of us, those droids don’t stand a chance.”

Facet and Twilight shared a knowing smile as the latter activated the remotes with a push of a button. The remotes began moving back and forth in front of their respective younglings, rotating sporadically before they started staggered shooting at the boys.

Both Loki and Drever managed to deflect the first couple of warm up blasts with ease. They kept their eyes locked on the droids as they floated around in a staggered, unpredictable pattern. The droids fired another couple of shots. Loki reflexively deflected one of them, but the second shot hit him in the shoulder, causing him to reel back from the sting. Drever, momentarily distracted by his friend’s distress was hit with both blasts in the chest. Drever lightly growled at the droid before recomposing himself.

Twilight pressed the button to stop the remotes. “Not so easy as you thought.” Pulling a couple of blindfolds from her robe, she used telekinesis to blindfold the boys. “Now you’ll try again.”

“How’s this going to help me?” Drever barked as he tried looking around. “Loki has the advantage of the Force to help him. How am I supposed to fight blindfolded? It doesn’t seem fair.”

“Sharp,” Facet complimented. “The point of doing this blindfolded is to encourage the initiate to rely on the Force rather than his physical senses. But you can do something similar, Drever. It’s possible for those not touched by the Force to achieve a form of meditation through absolute focus on the physical technique. Though near diametrically opposed to the traditional Jedi focus of subsimation into the Force, it can be used as an alternate path to the same destination. One focused on the control aspect. The Force as it moves within our bodies. Using this connection to guide the physical technique.”

“So what you’re saying is all I have to do is concentrate hard enough and I can fight blindfolded?” Drever asked, a sense of doubt and disbelief in his tone. “That seems impossible with something shooting at you.” As he sighed, he could feel a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey, I believe you can do it buddy.” Loki said reassuringly as he patted Drever on the back. “You can do anything you want if you set your mind to it. That’s what your old man always believed and I believe it too.”  

Drever nodded in reply before taking a calming breath and readying his stance again. “Ok, bring it on.”

Twilight smiled and set the remotes back into motion, the devices soon beginning to fire again. “Remember. Let go your conscious selves and act on instinct.”

Both boys took calming breaths as they entered defensive stances, focusing only on the sounds of the training droids moving about. Each could feel the tension in the air as the droids moved in their unpredictable patterns. Drever could feel little beads of sweat forming as he snapped his head side to side, trying to follow the droid. At the first moment he felt he could be zapped, he swung, only to be struck in the shoulder. He growled slightly before trying to deflect the other blasts. He managed to deflect one, but the other two hit their mark.  Loki’s droid also fired, though it’s shots were effortlessly deflected.

Twilight and Facet smiled at each other. “You’ll both get better. Don’t let those hits discourage you, Drever,” Twilight said encouragingly.

“Keep going, boys,” Facet said as the remotes kept circling the two. He shared another smile with his lover as they watched the boys keep at the exercise. Loki seemed a natural talent, having deflected every shot sent his way. Drever was still taking hits, but he was slowly getting the moving meditation down.

After taking another shot to the shoulder, Drever growled once more in frustration before he inhaled deeply and regained his composure, trying to just clear his head of any possible distractions. As his mind cleared, he could feel a strange connection to something, like a gentle and guiding hand. The droid fired its volley and Drever managed to deflect each shot with ease.

“Good, Drever! Good!” Facet praised with a wide grin. He knew Drever had the ability. Now that ability just needed to be refined. “I told you don’t need to be touched by the Force to learn our techniques.”

Drever lifted the blindfold up, a confident smile formed across his face as he locked eyes with the floating droid. “At last! Victory is mine!” He boasted as he proceeded to fist pump in celebration, though not before feeling the sharp sting of the droid’s laser striking his hand. He yipped in response as he grasped his hand.

Facet chuckled a bit as the door to the training room opened. “Egghead! We got a surprising visitor with even more surprising news.” Rainbow Dash leaned on the doorframe as she spoke, arms crossed.

“Who is it?” Twilight inquired as she handed over the training droid controls to Facet and motioned for him to continue the boys’ training. “Has my brother finally come from the Crystal Empire to visit?”

“You wish, and I wish,” Rainbow replied as she rolled her eyes. “Actually, it turns out that Prince Blueblood of all people is Force sensitive, and he wants to join the Jedi.”

Loki immediately dropped his still active saber to the floor upon the name echoing into his ears, the saber’s internal safeties deactivating the blade. “What?” Both he and Twilight asked in utter disbelief and befuddlement.

“You can’t possibly want him here!” Loki protested. “The guy’s a world class jerk! Plus he’s egotistical and need I mention his attitude? He’s prissy, whiny and soft.” Loki stopped his rant for a moment as some gears turned in his mind. “He wouldn’t even last five minutes under training.” A slight smile formed on his lips as ideas entered his brain.

“While I agree with everything you just said about him,” Rainbow began. “And trust me, Rarity is with us on this too, Blueblood is actually a master rapier fencer from what Rarity said. So he does have discipline. And Fluttershy’s convinced that even an ass like Blueblood has some good in him. She thinks he’s trying to improve himself as a person. And well… Fluttershy’s hard to argue with.”

“Be that as it may, I’d like to see this for myself.” Twilight responded, ready with a few choice words for the uptight prince.

“So would I.” Loki added before he marched out of the room, intent on confronting his cousin head on.

Twilight, Facet, Rainbow Dash, Loki, and Drever found themselves treated to a sparring match between Blueblood and Rarity. The former had been provided with a stock training saber, and Rarity was using her own self-crafted training saber, identical in appearance to her combat saber.

Both duelists were moving in much the same way. Feet kept in line with one another and moving along this line with very grounded footwork. Keeping each other at arm’s length when not striking or parrying. Neither assumed a dedicated offensive or defensive posture, using a linear push and pull method of advance and retreat with one handed bladework.

Whenever their blades locked, it was only long enough to attempt to subvert the other’s defenses, with thrusts being batted aside with deflection parries. There wasn’t a single wasted movement. Everything they did was minimalist and energy efficient. So elegant as to appear to be a poetic dance.

Even so, Twilight, Facet, and Rainbow could see clear as day that Rarity was restraining herself with great difficulty, no doubt wanting more than anything to stop holding back and bring her Force abilities to bear. To cow Blueblood with a show of force to make sure he understood that his royal status would gain him nothing from her, and just as likely simply wanting payback for how he’d treated her the night they had first met.

But all things must end, and Rarity finally lost enough restraint that she settled for driving Blueblood onto his back foot and deftly disarmed him, catching his saber in her empty hand as she held her blade tip to his chest right over his heart. “And that’s the final thrust, darling.” Normally said with mirth or affection, she spat that last word with venom.

Blueblood however failed to notice her venomous inflection on her last word, rather he chuckled as he carefully stood up, keeping an eye on the searing hot tip that lay just inches from his chest. He took a step back before bowing his head towards Rarity. “A pleasure to have dueled with you, Miss Rarity.” He spoke in an unusually calm and respectful manner before he turned his attention to the audience that stood before him.

“Well you certainly have skill, Blueblood,” Facet remarked. “Not only did you adjust to a lightsaber’s unique handling quickly, you even managed to translate your preexisting rapier training to a passable knockoff of Makashi.”

Blueblood only smiled and once more uttered a light chuckle before making his way towards the group. “Well my dear stoolie, when raised in the splendor of ivory towers, one passes the time by learning a few traditional arts. Compared to this, fencing was mere foal’s play, and I am so enjoying the challenge.” He remarked with a light sneer in his voice as he locked eyes with Loki. “Well hello, little cousin. I see you’ve made your way here as well. I heard what had happened in town and I’m….so relieved you’re unharmed.”

“Of course you are,” Loki muttered with a scowl on his face as he looked into Blueblood’s eyes. “Why are you really here? We both know you could never live the simple life of a Jedi.”

“Well if you must know, my dear little cousin,” Blueblood started as he roughly tousled Loki’s hair. “It’s simply because I intend to get on the proverbial band wagon of Equestria’s latest religious craze. Not many in Canterlot would dare set foot in here amongst the more….primitive settings, but I for one intend to rub this in their faces.”

“You’ve got a lot of nerve coming in here and talking about our order like it’s just some fad,” Rainbow snarled. “You don’t care about what we actually do. You just want some extra standing. You should go back to Canterlot. We can all see by the way you’re talking that you don’t belong here.”

“I believe I’ve already explained that to you.” Blueblood remarked, his tone never raising or lowering. “It’s a wonder your brain isn’t as fast as your wings used to be.”

Twilight lifted an arm to stop Rainbow from physically lashing out. While Rainbow took deep breaths to calm herself after Blueblood struck that particularly sensitive nerve, Twilight stepped between her friend and Blueblood. “We are not a religion, Blueblood. We’re a monastic order devoted to the pursuit of enlightenment. And as such, we do without materialistic things. Can you look me in the eye and say that you can let go of those cushy things you’ve lived with your entire life and devote yourself to something bigger than yourself? To focusing your energy on the needs of others?”

“Of course I can, Master Jedi.” Blueblood replied, mocking a bow towards Twilight and the others. “When I’m done here, I’ll be as humble and simple as a hick on an apple farm.”

“You’re lucky Applejack didn’t hear you say that,” Facet commented. “Not sure why Fluttershy sees potential in you, but she does. So we’ll just let her handle your training.”

“That’s all well and fine by me, oh faithful lapdog.” Blueblood snarked. “Now, if perhaps you will excuse me, I must find a place to meditate and have a cup of tea.” Before anyone could utter anything else, Blueblood calmly and quickly walked out of the room.

The silence lingered for several moments before Facet broke it. “I’m going to kill him. If he doesn’t improve soon, he’s going to say the wrong thing to the wrong person and then that person will do the entire universe and the gene pool a favor.”

“Yeah, get in line.” Rainbow Dash responded as she cracked her knuckles and smacked her fists together.

“Now now,” Twilight chided. “I’m sure you both want to take him down a few pegs, but remember our goal as an order. If anypony can make a respectable Jedi out of him, it’s Fluttershy.”

“Oh I do pray for the poor girl.” Rarity responded as she sheathed her saber and placed it back on her belt, her tone inflected with a high concentration of drama. “Heaven knows what that….beast will do to her.” With another dash of dramatic flair, she placed one hand on her head. With her other hand, she reached out and pulled a very lavish couch towards herself before she collapsed upon it.

“Really, sister?” Facet asked with an amused smirk as he draped an arm around Twilight’s shoulders. “The fainting couch routine?”

“What?” Rarity replied with her own question, her voice squeaking a bit. Loki and Drever tried their best to stifle their laughter, but could no longer hold it in.

“Is she always like this?” Drever asked in between his chuckles. Loki was inhaling gulps of air as he continued chortling before he calmed down enough to reply.

“Are you kidding? She once babysat for me and by the time mother returned home, she had fainted on the couch, just trying to change me.” The boys laughter continued for some time.

“Of the two of us, Rarity was always the one predisposed to melodrama,” Facet commented through his own laughter, holding Twilight closer as she laughed with him. “Even becoming a Jedi won’t change that.”

Rarity immediately sprang from the couch, a light glare across her face. “Is that so, my dear twin?” Rarity replied, a slight smile forming on her lips as she turned her attention to the still laughing Loki and Drever. “Perhaps the boys would like to hear of a funny little incident involving a certain brother of mine….at the water park as I recall it?”

“We agreed never to speak of that again…” Facet said in a low voice as he looked in alarm at his sister. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Rarity only replied by crossing her arms and raising a brow before returning her gaze to Drever and Loki, who’s laughter had died down a little. “Loki, Drever. Would you like to hear another hilarious story?”

Both boys laughter immediately stopped as they turned their attention to Rarity, intent on listening to every word of hers.

“Don’t you dare!” Facet exclaimed as he closed the distance between himself and his twin, even more alarmed, as though he knew what she was planning to divulge. “I know a few stories about you, don’t forget.”

Rarity casually lifted up her hand, facing the palm towards Facet. “Relax, my dear big brother.” She calmly replied. “I’d never reveal your more…personal secrets. But it is the most effective way to get you to back off.”

Facet smiled and embraced his sister. “Nor would I reveal yours, little sister.”

Rarity returned Facet’s affection, patting him on the back. As they released each other from their sibling hug, Loki made his way to the lightsaber rack and looked over the saber Blueblood had wielded in his duel. Unlike most of the ones he’d seen, it had a curved hilt. He picked it up, immediately noticing that it felt very comfortable in his hand. Without activating the blade, he swung it around in varying slashes.

Rarity noticed and walked over to him. “How does it feel in your hand, Loki?”

“It feels…smooth.” Loki replied as he stopped his air slashing, turning his attention to Rarity. “Has a nice balance, good weight. It just feels right.”

“As it should,” Rarity replied with a smile as she drew and ignited her lightsaber. “The curved hilt fits better into the palm and provides greater leverage and control. Perfect for a Makashi specialist like myself.” She pointed the blade forward, the curve of the saber lining it up with her forearm perfectly. “And makes the thrustcentric bladework so much easier.”

“Makashi?” Loki queried as he set the saber back onto the rack. “I don’t believe I’m familiar with the term.”

“Neither am I.” Drever piped up as he made his way to Loki’s side, himself taking a turn to inspect the curved hilted saber. “But from what we witnessed, it seems it has similarities to fencing. Fast footwork combined with defensive parries and thrusts. Back in more….antique times, it was a common way for nobles to settle disputes or to just show off.”

“And Makashi is essentially that,” Rarity said with a nod. “Rapier fencing adapted to the lightsaber. It is in fact a dueling style made specifically for one on one lightsaber duels, and was never intended for open battlefields.”

“But somepony could, in theory use it in battle?” Loki questioned as he leaned against the wall, very intrigued by the conversation.

“Oh yes,” Rarity said with a nod. “It would just need to be properly configured. Master Mercer told me of how such a thing was done by the reigning Makashi master of his era, a man called Count Dooku. Who not only used it on the battlefield, but could even perform blast deflection. And he devoted himself to Makashi and nothing else. Which I must confess that I have not done.”

Drever’s eyes practically lit  as he turned his gaze to Rarity. “That’s….that’s amazing! I’ve never heard of such a feat before.” With an excitable energy, he quickly raced over and knelt in front of her. “Miss Rarity, could you teach me this art, please?”

Rarity lifted a hand to her mouth to cover her mirthful giggle as she looked at Drever. “Why certainly, Drever. I would be quite happy to be your teacher.”

Drever grasped Rarity’s hand in his and placed a light kiss upon it. “Thank you, Miss Rarity. I promise I’ll do my best.”

Rarity let a light blush color her cheeks as she giggled. “Fancy Pants’s son through and through, aren’t you, Drever? Of course, since I’m taking you on as my apprentice, decorum dictates that you address me as Master.”

“Of course Miss….I mean Master.” Drever replied with a quick bow.

Twilight smiled. “Well now Drever has a teacher…” She looked down at Loki. “And I’ve been wanting an apprentice of my own. How about it, Loki?”

Loki locked eyes with Twilight, a gleam behind them. “It’d be an honor, Twilight. After all you are one of auntie’s best students, I could learn a lot from you.”

Twilight’s smile widened. “Then you, Loki Starfallen, are my apprentice”

In one of the temple’s larger training rooms, a trio of teenage fillies were engaged in a free for all sparring match. The Cutie Mark Crusaders had grown a lot during their training, physically and mentally.

Apple Bloom stood in a grounded stance with her lightsaber, a curved hilt with a blue blade, cocked back above her head facing to her left, prepped for a slash.

Scootaloo was wielding a pair of full length blue blades, one held in front of her in a guard while the other was cocked back for a thrust.

Sweetie Belle was in a relaxed stance with her green blade held in a one handed grip, her off hand empty and open as she held it cocked back.

The three stood in a circle as they paused their fight, each looking at the other two and waiting for the first move to be made in their renewed bout.

Finally, Scootaloo, lashed out at both with her twin sabers, her strikes being blocked before she jumped over them, slashing at both. The strikes were parried and as Scootaloo landed, Apple Bloom came on. Aggressively powerful. Her lightsaber’s curved hilt gave her a better grip on the blade and more leverage for power attacks. Scootaloo backpedaled while parrying her friend’s attacks. Apple Bloom stayed right on top of her, each step a blow and each blow a step.

While the two were focused on each other, Sweetie Belle seized the opportunity to attack Apple Bloom’s exposed flank. As her strike was blocked, she tanked a retaliatory Force push with her telekinetic barrier, but felt herself skid back several feet. Scootaloo jumped over Apple Bloom and began windmilling at Sweetie Belle with a flurry of slashes akin to a lawnmower.

Sweetie Belle parried each and every strike with ease, her body weaving in harmony with her friend as she used Scootaloo’s own momentum against her to keep out of her line of attack. A well timed Force push sent both of her friends flying. When she saw the two nod to each other in a truce after recovering, Sweetie Belle decided to change tack. With a flick of her wrist, a second lightsaber extended from her left sleeve and into her empty hand. A push of a button ignited the saber’s green blade. Without missing a beat, she linked their pommels together and engaged the locking mechanism, turning the twin blades into a saberstaff.

As Sweetie Belle got the sabers locked into place, she barely had the time to block the simultaneous strikes of Scootaloo and Applebloom. The blades sizzled and crackled as the three put their strength into trying to overcome each other. Before either one could break the impasse,a  familiar voiced rang in their ears.

“Alright girls, I think that’s enough sparring for one day.” Twilight spoke as she entered the room, a small smile on her face. Not far behind her followed Loki, who was equally impressed with the three.

The three disengaged and sheathed their sabers before bowing to Twilight in respect for a moment. “Hello, Master,” they said together.

“Nice to see you girls are improving your techniques.” Twilight replied as she returned her bow. “Though Sweetie Belle, you could work on your reflexes a little more. If you were half a second slower than you were, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo might have been victorious. Though I will admit your blade work is very fluid.”

“Thank you, Master,” Sweetie Belle replied with a smile. “I’ll be sure to work on my reflexes.”

“I know you will.” Twilight assured as she turned her attention back to Loki. “Loki, I’d like you to meet our best padawans. Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle. Girls, this is Loki Starfallen, my newest student.”

Loki stepped into the dueling ring and gave a quick bow to the girls. “A pleasure to meet you all.”

“You too, Loki,” Apple Bloom replied with a smile.

“So the prince wants to be a Jedi?” Scootaloo asked, grinning at him.

“We’ll help you along the way, Loki,” Sweetie Belle promised with a smile her sister would be proud of.

“Thank you,” Loki replied, a light grin on his face. “I appreciate that.” Before more could be said, Twilight silently motioned for the girls to exit the room. They nodded in reply and quickly left, leaving just Twilight and Loki in the dueling circle.

“So I’ve seen you going through the books in the library and the Great Holocron,” Twilight said. “Nice to see that you have a thirst for knowledge that matches my own.”

“I can’t help it.” Loki replied, smirking a little. “There’s just so many fascinating things in the world. Every text is a new journey of knowledge.”

Twilight smiled warmly at him. “And what were you learning in the Great Holocron?”

“Well there’s a lot to process from it.” Loki answered. “I mean it’s like three or four large libraries worth of information. But if I had to pick something, the lightsaber is a pretty cool thing to learn about.”

Twilight chuckled. “Ah yes. The lightsaber. An ancient weapon with lots of history and fighting styles. So tell me. What all have you read about the lightsaber?”

“Well, the main thing is that no two lightsabers ever seem alike.” Loki began, though he sensed something….odd. He pushed it to the back of his mind before he continued. “Each one is as unique as the one who wields it. Though there are the same basic principles to every lightsaber. They all compose of the same parts and are powered by a crystal at the center. When turned on, this crystal becomes focused into a blade of plasma that is capable of cutting through virtually anything.”

Twilight nodded. “That’s the gist of it. Each lightsaber has the same basic components: handgrip, emitter matrix, lens assembly, power cell, and focusing crystal. The reason each one is unique is that customization is encouraged when building one. As Master Mercer said, the Jedi strive for consistency in manner and dress, but we do not make rules for this most personal of weapons.”

“What really amazes me is that one Jedi can take on multiple enemies with just one lightsaber.” Loki continued, a smile forming on his face as he mimicked some of the slashes from the holograms.

Twilight smiled. “Yes. Most Jedi use a single blade, defended by the Force’s direction of their blades. But some do like to use more than one weapon. Pinkie Pie, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and myself being examples of such. The style is called Jar’Kai.”

“So this is what I’ll be learning from you then?” Loki inquired as he carefully side stepped Twilight. He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing up, his heartbeat increase, and a surge of adrenaline about ready to course through his veins.

“What you learn is up to you,” Twilight replied. “There are seven forms, as I’m sure you know by this point. Each appeals to different mentalities. The girls, Facet, and I each built our respective styles around a different form. Applejack, with her preference for simplicity, specializes in Shii-Cho. Rarity, ever the elegant astheticist, is devoted primarily to Makashi. Fluttershy, always having been a peace loving mare, is a Soresu specialist. Rainbow Dash, with her love of speed and her headfirst mentality, chose Ataru as her primary discipline. Facet, my ever practical soldier boy…” She took a moment to giggle as she thought of him. “Facet prefers Shien and Djem So. I myself favor Niman, and Pinkie Pie is a very formidable practitioner of Juyo.”

Loki nodded as he quietly made his way over to the weapons rack. “That’s interesting. So many styles to choose from. Could one learn them all? Become like the most awesome Jedi ever?” He placed both hands behind his back. Concentrating with all his might, he focused one hand on a simple crate that lay on the floor.

“Many Jedi have mastered all seven forms,” Twilight replied, seemingly oblivious to what he was doing. “It’s actually a prerequisite for the title of battlemaster. Master Mercer isn’t one of those Jedi though. He had a good understanding of all seven forms, but he devoted himself to Forms II, V, and VI, his foundation for the study of Juyo.”

“Wow, he still sounds like a master I wouldn’t want to cross paths with in a dark alley.” Loki responded as the crate was lifted from the ground a few inches. As it rose ever so slightly, Loki focused his power through his other hand to one of the training sabers, trying to wrench it loose without alerting Twilight to his trick.

“That’s very true,” Twilight replied. “According to Master Ontera, Master Mercer was called one of the greatest lightsaber masters of his era. He was the reigning master of Niman.”

“Cool.” Loki calmly spoke, his smile growing as the crate was just in the right position behind him. Without another word, he flung out his arm, launching the crate towards Twilight, while simultaneously pulling the training saber into his other hand, igniting it and immediately leaping towards Twilight.

Twilight didn’t even move a muscle as the crate flew at her. She didn’t need to. As she had used telekinesis a great deal back before the loss of magic, using it through the Force was like reattaching a lost limb. She effortlessly overrode Loki’s control over the crate and redirected it, setting it down on the other side of the room while also grabbing a training saber in the same action, igniting it without touching it and blocking Loki’s first strike. “Clever using an environmental factor to distract. But it won’t work on me. I use tricks like that all the time in my own style. Niman is called the Diplomat’s Form, but I prefer to call it the Trickster’s Form since it emphasizes adaptability and ingenuity rather than pure power.”

Loki immediately leapt back before Twilight could overpower his blade and land a blow. He kept his blade raised, trying to anticipate her next move. He quickly scanned the room, seeing if anything could help him get an edge on her. He locked eyes on a small table with five tools on it. Extending his free arm, he focused the force on the tools and launched them towards Twilight, attempting to divide her attention and strike at the first opening he could get.

“Very good use of the environment,” Twilight complimented as she overrode his hold on the tools and sent them flying at him, walking toward him so casually it was like she wasn’t even truly sparring, her saber floating along in her telekinetic grip as she held her arms crossed behind her back.

Loki barely had the time to deflect only three of the tools before he tucked and rolled off to the side. Without thinking, he moved towards her side in a zigzag motion, attempting to use the lessons Gilda taught him to gain the advantage over Twilight this time. With all his strength, he swung his saber at her.

Twilight’s saber intercepted his and stopped the strike. Without missing a beat, Twilight pushed him back with a Force push. “Drawing on some of what you learned from the griffons, Loki?”

Loki felt himself slide back, his feet digging into the ground, carving a trail into the floor. “How’d you guess?” He pondered as he attempted another strike, only to connect with her blade once more.

“I’ve studied them and their ways,” Twilight replied as she kept up the spar while strolling around the room. Even in her lecture mode, she was able to fend off Loki’s attacks, having an answer for every lunge, parry, and riposte.

Loki could feel his frustration grow as every attack of his was being rebuffed. In desperation he reached out to her lightsaber and attempted to wrest it away from her telekinetic grip, however try as he might her ability in the Force proved much stronger than his.

“Calm, Loki,” Twilight chided as she repelled his attempt to disarm her. “I get that you’re frustrated, but remember the difference in skill between us. You’ll get stronger over time. So… Which form do you think suits you best?”

Loki deactivated his lightsaber and inhaled deeply, focusing on calming his thoughts. “I’d say….Niman was it?” He replied. “It just feels….normal to me.”

Twilight thought on that as her own lightsaber deactivated. “I can imagine so. You’ve always been quite the prankster, haven’t you, Loki?” She smirked at him with an arched eyebrow.

“Only to those who have it coming.” Loki replied with a smile of his own. “And maybe just for kicks every now and then.”

“Still. You have a trickster’s mind,” Twilight said. “You’re always looking for an angle, you’re adaptable, able to make things up on the fly. Vital skills to have when trying to master Niman.”

“Ok then, Niman it is.” Loki replied with a hint of enthusiasm in his tone.

Drever stood at the opposite edge of the dueling circle, the blue blade of his saber humming as he flicked it upwards, in what appeared to be a salute towards Rarity before he swung it to his side.

Rarity made the same salute and flourish with her own green blade before she lifted her blade and pointed it toward Drever while circling with him.

Drever, in turn, circled her, keeping his eyes locked with hers. The tension in the air was thick as they prowled like lions fighting over territory. In anticipation of her first move, Drever quickly charged at her, swinging the saber with all his strength as he connected with her blade.

Her brother would have locked blades with the boy in a head to head confrontation. Rarity however was more elegant, refined. She was above such uncivilized brawls. And it reflected in her technique. With a flick of her wrist, she deflected Drever’s power blow off to the side, stepping back in the same movement.

Drever felt himself moving forward after his attack was deflected. He barely had the time to correct himself before attempting another strike, this time trying to correct his over zealous first strike.

Like the first, Rarity batted aside his attack with a wrist flick parry, taking a moment to brush a lock of hair from her face before deflecting another attack. Time and again Drever attacked her head to head, and each time was turned aside. Rarity never met him strength to strength, merely guiding his own power slanting away. Applying a technique she’d picked up from Fluttershy. Soresu’s favorite tactic if she remembered correctly. Let mounting fatigue or frustration do the work for you.

Drever could feel himself becoming more and more fatigued with each strike, despite the fact that he was keeping his pace with her footwork. In addition the frustration of not being able to overcome her defense was beginning to build. His current strategy wasn’t helping the matter and he knew he needed to try a different method. Thinking back to his fencing training, he eased off the strength attacks, and tried swinging at her side.

Rarity once again deflected the attack. This time she used the momentum of the parry to bring her blade up next to her head pointing forward, stabbing at Drever’s exposed head.

Drever barely dodged the strike in time, managing to spin around her before he tried an overhead attack.

Rarity sidestepped the attack and countered with a stab at Drever’s open guard, aiming at his chest.

Drever repeated her sidestep and parried her strike. He could feel his confidence growing and a smile form on his face as his lessons were clicking together. He followed his parry by attempting a stab, aiming for her chest as well.

Rarity stepped back as she deflected the thrust. This time however, she caught the blade in a bind and twisted, deftly disarming her apprentice and setting her blade tip over his heart. “Remember, Drever. Makashi does not use power. We are more refined than that. Finesse and dexterity are our favored attributes.”

“Yes, Master.” Drever replied as he caught his breath. “I often forget that I am an Equestrian gentlecolt and find myself slipping back into that….unthinkable beastly nature. I’ll try and work on controlling my baser instincts.”

“Drever, darling,” Rarity chided as she knelt down to eye level with him after deactivating her lightsaber. “You should never be ashamed of your roots.”

“Why shouldn’t I be?” Drever questioned, a hint of anger in his tone. “I mean look at me. Father may have raised me Equestrian but no matter what I do, everypony seems to treat me as a mongrel. A despicable animal, a filthy little beast.”

“Drever. The circumstances of your birth are irrelevant,” Rarity said in a gentle tone that matched her smile. “Just as flowers cannot choose where they bloom, a child cannot choose his parents. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.” She tilted his head up to look her in the eye. “Looking at me, would you peg me as nobility prior to becoming a Jedi?”

“Well, yes actually.” Drever replied as his eyes locked with hers, a slight blush coming to his face.

“And you would be wrong, Drever,” Rarity said with a small giggle. “I was born to working class parents in Ponyville. All that wealth I have tucked away in case I need it? I earned every single bit myself. I was not born into wealth.”

Drever chuckled a little, turning away for a bit before gazing once more into her pristine sapphire eyes. “Well, you could have fooled me, m’lady.” A warm and calming feeling came over him, like all his problems just vanished.

Rarity giggled and planted a small kiss on his forehead. “Such a gentlecolt you are, my apprentice.”

Drever remained motionless, the warm feeling growing in intensity as he felt her lips on his forehead. “Tha….than….thank you, Rarity.” He finally stuttered, his blush becoming a little brighter. “I….I mean….Master.”

As Rarity and Drever continued their chat, Spike leaned against the doorway, his teeth glittering in what little light there was. He couldn’t help but chuckle a tad as he saw the poor little pup’s face turn red. To him, it was cute to see a young boy have a crush on his teacher, not that he could blame Drever for finding Rarity stunning in every aspect. Still, he felt a tiny twinge of jealousy. He put the thought in the back of his mind as he properly entered the room. “Having fun there, kid?”

“Watching us again, Spike?” Rarity asked as she stood and regarded the dragon. He had grown into quite the dashing example of his species. “Or are you just watching me?”

“You caught me, Rarity.” Spike chuckled as he stood by her side. “In my defense though, every time I see you wield that saber, it’s like watching a ballet. There’s just such a grace and beauty to your form.”

Rarity held a hand over her mouth as she giggled, letting a small blush grace her cheeks. “Oh you charmer. I’ll blush even darker if you keep up that flattery.”

“Red I think is a good color for you.” Spike replied, his smile widening as he gently rested his clawed hands on her slender shoulders. “Blushing really brings out your eyes.”

“Oh stop it! You’re just saying that!” Rarity replied as her blush darkened, her sapphire eyes meeting his own emerald orbs. “If only your gentlecoltly nature was the standard against all others were judged.”

“Well, everything is better as a rarity you know.” Spike responded as he placed his hand under her chin.

“Oh go on, darling…” Rarity purred as her eyelids fell halfway down, her finger unconsciously tracing patterns on his broad chest.

Before any more fires of passion could be sparked, Drever coughed a bit, calling their attention to him as his blush darkened. “Ahem.”

Blueblood ignited his light blue saber and with a flurry, twirled his blade in the standard Makashi salute. He stood in a calm, yet ready stance against Fluttershy, feeling rather confident and cocky that his larger frame could easily overpower the much tinier Jedi. He stepped forward with deceptively graceful footwork whilst simultaneously swinging his blade in an elegant series of slashes, hoping to use this fancy bladework to catch her off guard.

His form was excellent, and his bladework and footwork fancy and elegant. There was no denying that. But there was also the simple fact of the matter. Not. One. Touched. Fluttershy. Her blade weaved an equally elegant dance of movements between different guard positions. Each movement of her saber countering two or three of the prince’s slashes. The rest sizzling past her, her minimal shifts in stance slipping them by centimeters. As if to add insult to perceived injury, she was doing all of this with her eyes closed, her blade guided only by the Force. And that pleasant, tranquil smile never faltered for a moment.

Blueblood’s expression quickly went from confident and smug to one of anger and frustration. He simply couldn’t believe that this smaller and weaker pegasus had an answer for every possible combination of attacks. Be it a feint, prise de fer, breaking time or compound attack, she deflected them all from every possible angle and still maintained her light footwork that matched his own fastidious dance. He grew more impatient as he continually tried to pry at her defenses, but it was becoming all in vain; his blade simply couldn’t dance around her seemingly impenetrable bladed fortress. In desperation, he extended an arm out and with the Force, launched a few crates in her direction, hoping his dirty tactic would give him his opening.

Without batting an eye, or even opening one for that matter, Fluttershy danced around the crates, her own Force power gripping them and sending them Blueblood’s way, her guard still up and ready.

Blueblood attempted to counter the crates but alas wasn’t quick enough. He felt one hit his knees, the next hit his chest and unlucky for him three whammed into his head, sending him crashing down onto the hard ground. As he recovered from being walloped by the crates, his anger level rose ever more, furious that he might lose this match. He leapt up and tapping into all of his rage, threw out his hands, sending a powerful shockwave towards Fluttershy.

Fluttershy’s eyes snapped open as she blocked the shockwave with her own Force shield, not moving an inch. With a single leap, she closed the distance between them and placed her blade at Blueblood’s throat. “Calm yourself, Blueblood. Dark emotions like that will only lead you to dark places if not carefully controlled.”

Blueblood tightened his grip on the saber as steam seemed to flare from his nostrils, the duel over and he the loser. However, he inhaled a few deep breaths as he deactivated his blade. “Forgive me, Master.” He spoke calmly as he bowed to Fluttershy, though a fleck of anger was still evident in the tone. “It was uncouth of me to have lost my temper. You must forgive me.”

“Of course I forgive you, Blueblood,” Fluttershy replied with a smile as she deactivated her own lightsaber. “Let’s meditate now. It’ll do you a lot of good.”

“Yes, that sounds wonderful.” Blueblood responded, forcing a smile onto his face as he motioned for Fluttershy to lead the way.

Hooking her lightsaber to her belt, Fluttershy smiled and nodded as she turned and led her apprentice down the hallways toward her personal meditation chamber.

As they walked, Blueblood’s eyes couldn’t help but trace along Fluttershy’s figure. Out of the others, she certainly had the most going for her. He couldn’t help but fixate on her wide hips, licking his lips as thoughts raced through his mind. Before any more could enter his head, he shook himself back to reality, disgusted that a mere commoner was even in his head, but his eyes still wandered over her. They traced up from her hips to her sleek back and narrow shoulders as they entered the meditation chamber.

Fluttershy sat down on one of the two mats in the room with her legs crossed. Straightening her back, she rested her hands on her knees and closed her eyes, her breathing taking on a slow, rhythmic cadence as she slipped into a meditative state.

Blueblood sat in the same position as well, his eyes now entirely focused on her breasts. By far they were the largest he’d seen on any mare, about the size of watermelons. His eyes widened and he could feel his mouth water as he imagined grasping them, feeling their warmth and  softness in his hands. An urge overcame him as his arm extended outward, he could feel himself leaning towards her, the prize almost within his grasp. Before his fingers could even touch her tunic, he quickly pulled his arm back. “What are you thinking? She’s of the common filth, a pony who crawls through the mud and muck! You shan’t soil your hands with her, you’ll catch her commoner disease.” He felt the urge to smack himself before he took in some very large, deep breaths and focused on his meditation.

[Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak Academy OST 1 - 17. Sisters Plan ]

Yet even in his meditation, Fluttershy entered his thoughts. The mare herself was still seated across from him deep in meditation. In his mind however was another story. There, she opened her eyes and gave him a smile as she slowly rose to her feet. Her smile turned sultry as she slowly began to dance for him, moving her body in the most beautiful of ways.

Blueblood’s eyes widened and beads of sweat began to drip from his face as she danced so fluidly and with such grace. He felt paralyzed, unable to focus on anything but her.

Fluttershy winked at him as her hands traveled down the swell of her chest to her belt. With a quick motion of her fingers, the belt fell down to her feet, letting her outer robe fall open to show her pants and the shirt underneath. With a shrug of her shoulders, the robe pooled around her feet.

A light blush streaked across his face as he focused on her with more intensity. He licked his lips, feeling his mouth dry as a strange heat overcame him.

Fluttershy’s dainty fingers lightly gripped the hem of her shirt and began slowly lifting it, revealing her toned stomach inch by inch, finally pausing at where her breasts began, and quickly lifting past them and starting to reveal her forest green bra bit by bit.

Blueblood’s breathing increased as he stared at the slowly revealing bra. He could feel his heart wanting to beat out of his chest, the heat practically skyrocketing, and his pulse racing close to the red line.

As her shirt was lifted over her head, Fluttershy tossed it aside and ran her hands through her hair, flaring the pink locks out behind her and letting the motion do wonderful things to her chest. Her hands trailed down her curves to her pants and slowly unbuttoned them.

He leaned in closer, licking his lips and feeling his trousers constrict as her pants fell to the floor. His breathing became erratic and he could feel his blood boil.

Fluttershy leaned closer to Blueblood as she daintily stepped out of her boots and pants, now clad in only her undergarments. Standing back up, she smiled seductively as she slowly reached behind her back and unhooked her bra. Turning away from him, she shrugged her shoulders and let her bra slide down her arms to land at her feet. Bringing her arms up to cover her chest, she slowly turned back toward Blueblood with her lips puckered and her eyes half lidded. “You ready?” She asked in a low purr, her lips’ every movement oozing with sensual energy as her arms ever so slowly began to lower.

Blueblood immediately stood to his feet, his hands and body trembling as he moved closer to her. “Yes, by the sweet grace of Faust, yes.” He responded in an unusually meek tone as he stepped ever closer. He extended his arms, feeling them shake violently as his goal came to within his grasp, his breathing becoming heavier and his heart pounding against his chest.

“Are you alright?” Fluttershy’s voice didn’t have a single trace of that seductive tone, and her hands had grabbed his wrists to stop his hands in their tracks toward her fully clothed body. “I realize that meditation is relaxing and that I am attractive, but I would rather you not touch my breasts.”

Blueblood face turned a dark shade of red as he yanked back his arms, turning away from Fluttershy. “I….I….I don’t what came….over me.” He stuttered, a sense of deep embarrassment and shame washing over him. “That’s….that’s never happened before, I swear. I….I beg of you not to tell another, please.”

Fluttershy giggled as she smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Blueblood. This little… incident doesn’t leave this room. It’ll be our little secret.”

“Thank you.” Blueblood replied, hugging her in a burst of joy before he released his grip and dusted himself off.

Fluttershy giggled and lightly blushed at the sudden affection. “You’re welcome, Blueblood.”