Twilight felt the tears dropping off her face as she wrote her farewell letter, she had almost ruined the wedding and she knew it. She grabbed a photo from her side table, she tossed it onto the bed and exited her room quietly. She trotted out of the castle the two guards barely acknowledging her presence. She headed to the Canterlot Train Station desperately holding back her tears, she took one last look at the castle before trotting up to the pony selling the tickets.

The Ticket Seller asked “Where would you like to go?”

Twilight cried out “As far away from here as possible!”

The Ticket Seller frowned but didn’t comment “A ticket to the south of Equestria it is.” Twilight silently hoofed over some bit as she took the ticket and boarded the train, tears flooding from her eyes as Canterlot grew smaller in the distance. She pulled out the photo hers tears dripping on it, it was of her when she was a young filly hugging her older brother.

She put it back and cried herself to sleep, she felt a hoof nudge she groaned s she looked around a heavy built Earth pony wearing heavy armour was sitting next to her. She jumped, the stallion smiled “Relax lass, I’m a merchant heading for Klugetown.”

Twilight frowned “Merchant, why do you wear such heavy armour?”

The stallion smiled “Well what is a young unicorn lass like yourself doing out here by herself?”

Twilight sighed “I’m running away, I made a mistake and now I’m leaving to start again.”

The stallion frowned “That must be harsh.”

Twilight sighed “It is” she then frowned “I answered your question now how about you answer mine.”

He smiled “Ah the young lass has some fire, very well. The land out here is harsh but the people out are quite willing to pay for Equestrian goods. Unfortunately bandits are everywhere and one needs to be armed out here.”

Twilight smiled nervously “They’ll leave me alone right, I don’t have much?”

The stallion shook his head “No such luck I’m afraid, you may not have much but for many a young lass like you will make fine for harvest or sale.” Twilight’s face paled, The stallion nodded “Unicorn horns are worth quite a bit as well as exotic cutie marks of course even worse is if they decide to send you into slavery.”

Twilight shuddered “What do I do? I can’t go back now.”

The stallion said “I will teach you how to survive but there is one thing you must be ready to do.”

Twilight asked “What?”

His eyes narrowed and then she saw him slam her hooves into her, she screamed in pain. She opened her eyes and stared at him confused “That was killing intent, you can make someone see and feel death. I am going to teach you how to kill.”

Twilight whimpered “But killing is bad.”

The stallion smiled “You’re a good lass” he then sighed “but that won’t protect you here. You must be able to kill in order to survive out here. So do you accept my offer?”

Twilight frowned “I don’t have much of a choice do I” she sighed “Fine.”

The stallion nodded “My name is Tempered Steel, what’s yours?”

Twilight responded “Twilight Sparkle but please just call me Twilight.”

Steel nodded “Very well Twilight please call me Steel, I will teach you the ways of this harsh world.” The train arrived at a station at the far end of Forbidden Jungle near the entrance to the Bone Dry Desert.

Steel pulled a huge wagon off the train full of goods, Twilight followed him into the desert, Steel said “Now is a good time to start your training.”

Twilight stepped back shivering “Right now.”

Steel frowned “The quicker we start the quicker you will learn. Once we get to Klugetown I’ll sell my goods and then head back to Canterlot for some rest time with my family, I assume you don’t want to go back and therefore you will need to to be able to defend yourself.”

Twilight nodded “Fine let’s begin.”

Steel said “Before we get to any combat, I must inform you of how to walk.”

Twilight blinked “Walk , we don‘t walk we trot we’re ponies.”

Steel shook his head and smiled “I guess showing you will make more sense” He pushed himself up onto to his hind legs and to her shock walked towards her.”

Twilight gasped “How?”

Steel explained “There is a type of magic all 3 races share and is not often mentioned. It is earthen magic and is completely passive, it does two things one allows us to walk on our hind legs and allow us to grip objects with our hooves. Earth ponies us it the most, it allows us to opens door and carry weapons such as swords. It is more effective on wood then metal, one may be able to turn a metal doorknob but no more it’s why pony swords have wooden handles.”

Twilight asked “So I have to learn to walk?”

Steel nodded “Yes, we will not leave until you have the basic of swordsmareship down.”

Twilight frowned “So how do I start?”

Steel said “Well try to push yourself up onto your hind legs.” Twilight pushed her hooves up and shakily stood on her back hooves. Steel nodded “Good now put one hoof in front of the other.” She put a hoof forward and instantly fell over. Twilight blushed as she sat up, Steel smiled “Don’t be embarrassed, most wouldn’t be able to stand on there first try.”

Steel watched her as she practised walking for the rest of the day. Twilight was smiling as she had made a new friend and was learning something new, she was just glad for the familiar amidst the world of uncertainty before her.

Author's Notes:

I hope you enjoy this chapter, she will get into some fights in the future.