Chapter 21:Grounding

Nightmare Night was one of the best nights Von and his friends ever had together. They had all exhausted themselves with the fun that they had. Spike had gotten sick from having too much candy, forcing Twilight to carry the little drake back home. Pinkie had passed out from all the excitement, which lead Kamen to take her back. Applejack had finished helping clean up the food and games with all the other mares and stallions and went on home afterwards. Last but not least, there was Von. Von was happy to have spent some quality time with his friends and all of the ponies who welcomed him....well, most of the ponies who welcomed him. They all had so much fun, each of them spending time with their friends, lovers and family.

Family, he thought. He looked up at the night sky, beautifully created thanks to the effort of the lunar princess herself and thought about his family....or at least the ones who meant something to him. He thought about the elder. His elder was always there for him and was more like a father to him than anyone. He remembered how much time they spent together when Von wasn't able to leave the mountains.

~12 years prior to Von's departure~

"AAAAHHH!!!" Von cried out as he charged headlong at his elder. The elder kept his eyes closed and easily side-stepped Von's reckless assault and cringed as the young drake crashed into a rock pile. It hadn't been too long since the elder brought Von back with him to the mountains. In order to help him blend in better, the elder placed a spell on him that changed and bound him into a pure dragon form. Much to Von's dismay, he had a hard time adjusting to the new shape.

"Perhaps we should end our training at that." The elder said. Von shook off the rubble and turned to face his elder.

'No! I want to keep fighting. I want to unleash my inner dragon, like you." Von declared. "I want to know how to sense the fire and hear the earth and....wait. What was it again?" The elder laughed and patted Von on the head.

"I see hanging around your friends is interfering with your focus. You cannot even remember what you're supposed to be learning. But I suppose I cannot blame you. HE was the same way." He said. Von tilted his head in confusion.

"Who's 'HE'?" Von asked.

"You will learn in due time. But focus on your training. What you must learn is to be swift like the raging winds, calm like the still waters, strong like the mountains of Equestria and fierce like the roaring flames." He instructed. "We will try to see if you can remain calm like the waters. That should be easier for you." He teased. Von snorted and got into position.

"I'm ready!" He declared. The elder got into a fighting stance.

"Close your eyes and remain calm. Clear your mind. Feel everything around you and dodge my attack. Understood?"

"Yes, elder." Von said. Von closed his eyes and cleared his head. He felt like he could be one with all of Equestria. At that moment, he felt something. It was not of malicious intent, but the feeling was threatening.

It was getting closer.

Closer.....

Closer...........

.........................

..........................................

Pow

"Ow!!" Von cried. He put his claws on his head as he felt a throbbing pain. "What was that for?"

"You were supposed to dodge it. I suppose we'll have to keep at this until you get it right." The elder said with a chuckle. Von grunted in annoyance.

"Fine...."

"What was that?" The elder asked, raising one of his eyebrows.

"N-nothing. I'm ready, elder." Von said. He closed his eyes again. He was barely able to sense the area around him, but he was too focused on trying to avoid his elder's hits. They really hurt.

Von kept still and remained calm. He could sense his elder coming closer.

...........

................

Nothing happened. Von had expected his elder to hit him, but it didn't--

Pow

"OW!!!!! That was worst than last time!" Von yelled. His elder laughed.

"Come. We will try again." He said calmly. Von sighed.

~1 hour later~

Pow

"Again."

Pow

"Again!"

Pow

"I'm starting to think you aren't taking this seriously, young one." The elder stated. Von sat there, his head covered in bruises and was barely standing.

"I am trying! Just....go easy on me, will you?" He whined. His elder sighed and patted him lightly on the head, Von wincing from the pain of his earlier hits in response.

"We'll end it here today. But you are doing much better."

"No, i'm not. I suck at this. I'll never be a true dragon like you guys. I'm just this.....thing." Von said sadly. He sat down near a small gem pile and threw a sapphire into his mouth. The elder rested beside him and put one of his claws around Von's shoulder.

"This takes time, Von. This has been knowledge that has been passed down through generations. From my father's father, my father, me....him...and now you."

"Elder, who is this 'him' you keep speaking of?" Von inquired. The elder stayed silent. He looked away from Von for a moment before glancing back down at the young drake.

"I speak of your father. He was a powerful dragon, but he was just like you: free-spirited, stubborn, naive, lacking in discipline...but he had a kind heart and great leadership. He was one of the best dragons I had met in all my centuries being alive." He said.

"Was? You mean..."

"Yes. He died a long time ago, most likely before you were born. I found you 6 years after his death, covered in that slime. I could tell right away that you were his child. I could not leave you on your own, so I brought you back to the mountain. I didn't know much much but from what I heard, he had fallen in love with a pony."

"A pony? But I thought dragons and ponies couldn't get along." Von proclaimed.

"We could. However, he was aware of the difference in species and how it couldn't possibly work out. But it appears he was willing to break past that wall that separated our races in order to pursue his feelings." The elder said with a sigh. "But that led to his downfall and the treaty we dragons signed with the ruler of Equestria broke. Thus, we do not set foot there. That is the reason why I do not want you to leave the mountain. I do not wish for you to be treated wrong...or for you to treat the ponies wrong because of what you heard."

"I won't."

"What?"

"Just because we're different doesn't mean that I would treat them wrongly. I don't know much about ponies, but I'm sure I could get along with them." Von declared. The elder chuckled.

"And why is that?" He asked.

"Because if my father was able to break past that wall, then so can I." Von leaped up onto an edge of the mountain and stood there proudly as his words began to sink into the elder's head.

The two of them really are alike. Ignus....I wonder if you're watching him right now?, the elder thought. Just then, there was a loud boom that caught both the attention of Von and the elder. Far from their home, there was a large shockwave that traveled high above the clouds and over the land. It was colored like a rainbow and it was the most breathtaking thing that Von had ever seen.

"Wow. What's that, elder?" Von asked. He stepped forward to try and observe it more clearly and the elder saw his foot slip.

"Von, be careful!" It was too late. Von had slipped off the small edge and rolled down the edge of the mountain and hit a cliff down below with a loud thud. The elder flew down to his level and picked him up in his arms. From what was seen, Von had hit his head. Ironic since most of the injuries Von had suffered today was on his head.

"Von! Are you alright?" The elder asked. Von dizzily opened his eyes. He could barely see a thing until his eyes focused correctly and locked onto the elder. "Von?"

"Who's Von?" Von asked. The elder sighed.

"I can't believe this..."

"Now that I think about it....it was Rainbow Dash's fault I lost my memory!!!" Von yelled to himself.

Deep within the depths of the badlands, Chrysalis and her horde lay waiting. Most of her changelings had starved to death, but she managed to feed herself and all the rest with the love she had taken from Von.

"My forces have been reduced. But no matter. I still have enough to aid me in taking Equestria." She said to herself. She walked into what was left of her chambers and looked down at a cocoon shell. it was bigger than that of the other changelings, that being because it belonged to Von. "Tomorrow is his 20th birthday. I wonder what he'll do for it?" She asked herself. She turned and left her room. She decided to do one more thing before she retired and that was to check on the newest and most dangerous addition to her army: Her son in law, Nova.

BGM 1

"Ooh...just look at how frail these little buggers are. They don't get enough love, then they wither away. They're better off dead when they get like that." He said to himself as he lifted one of the changeling corpses above his head. "And now I'm one of them. However, I am still stronger. Even without absorbing any love. They need love to become strong. But even with love, they are still weak. And the strong prey on the weak." Nova dropped the corpse into his open mouth and closed his jaw.

Crunch

"....What do you want, Chryssy? Come to pay a visit to your dear old son in law?" Nova asked with a sadistic tone. Chrysalis peered into the chamber to see two purple eyes and a wide white grin staring at her. She felt afraid for once in her life, but she stood her ground.

"Yes. I was checking on your condition. How do you fe--"

"Grrreat! Just great." Nova hissed. He stood up and walked over to Chrysalis. The chamber he was staying in was no longer used as it served as the breeding and nesting ground for her eggs. A desolate place like that was the kind of place Nova now seemed to enjoy. "You certainly took your sweet time coming back the other day. What happened? Did sun-butt kick your ass again?!" Nova mocked. Chrysalis growled at him.

"Of course not. I merely went in search of food for my subjects. What else would I do?" She asked. She knew what the other answer was. I'd go to see my son. But she suppressed that thought for if Nova knew what she was doing behind his back, she and her horde would pay for it....BIG TIME.

"Whatever. I noticed something about you changelings. You have cheese-legs..." Nova dropped another corpse into his mouth and Chrysalis cringed and nearly blew chunks when she heard the loud crunching sound. "But you guys taste nothing like cheese. Odd. Well it doesn't matter to me. Tomorrow, I have plans to visit my dear little brother. I can handle it myself, so you can--"

She's already seen him.....

"Huh?" Nova blinked as the mysterious voice spoke to him again.

She has seen him.....he is still alive....

Nova looked in Chrysalis' direction and stepped forward, Chrysalis backing away slightly in response. He lifted his head and sniffed the air until he caught a scent. It was a scent that he was familiar with. He growled and glared at Chrysalis with his hate-filled eyes.

"Were you with Von?!?!" He hissed. Chrysalis shook her head.

"Of course not! I would never go to see that foolish child." She lied.

"Is that so?" Nova gave her a wicked grin and walked past her. She turned around to see that one of Nova's hooves was just above one of her eggs. There were 4 of them and she had laid them a week ago.

"What are you doing?!"

"You said you weren't with Von. If that's the case, if you're telling the truth then you won't attempt anything when I do THIS!"

Crunch

Chrysalis stared in horror as Nova had crushed the poor egg. Reveling in the joys of killing, Nova laughed and licked the slime off his hoof.

"Kinda salty. Let's see what the next one tastes like." He said with a chuckle. Chrysalis turned away as the next of her eggs was crushed by Nova. She started to quiver with fear. He was nothing like this when she recruited him. Before, he was just arrogant and had a thirst for power. Now...he just wanted to kill and laughed at it. He'd gone insane and realization struck her as she remembered that Nova was going to attack Von tomorrow. On his birthday!

"Stop!!!" Chrysalis yelled. Nova was just about to bring one of his hooves down on another egg until her words stopped him dead in his tracks. He looked over at her with a wicked smile. "Nova....you weren't like this before. Ignus acted nothing like this and neither does Von. Have you lost your mind?!?!"

"Haha! I HAVE NO IDEA!!!" Nova said. He then walked over to Chrysalis and placed a hoof on her cheek. "You know...I have no problem with you seeing my little brother. You are his mother. If you went for a walk, fine. If you fucked him, that's fine. If you got pregnant by him....well that'd be weird, but I don't care. The fact of the matter is...."

You're helping him, which means you betrayed me....

"You're helping him, which means you betrayed me...." Nova then brought his hoof back and smacked Chrysalis across the face with it. She nearly fell to the floor at the sheer force of his strike. Her midnight black cheek was now a crimson red and an imprint of his hoof was there. She stared back at her assaulter, only to see that he was just laughing.

"Nova...what's happened to you?" She asked with a frightful tone. She was scared for her life. She was scared for the lives of her changelings. And more importantly, she was scared for the life of her son.

BGM 2

I have been released from my shackles...

"I have been released from my shackles...." Nova repeated. Chrysalis couldn't tell what was going on. Nova almost seemed like he was in a trance as he continued to step forward. Chrysalis tried to move, but she couldn't. Her body wasn't responding at all. All she could do was look at him in horror. The once proud changeling queen was now reduced to that of a coward.

I feel no remorse. No pain. Only pleasure. Only bliss.

"I feel no remorse. No pain. Only pleasure. Only bliss." Nova looked Chrysalis in the eyes and smiled at her. "I have needs that must be met. I need someone who will not betray me. Someone who will obey me. Someone like you no longer deserves to rule. You are weak, spineless. I am strong and fear nothing. This is my time, not yours." He said. He looked her up and down and smiled. "And speaking of needs....there is one need that must be met and you're here to take care of that." Chrysalis' eyes widened and she tried frantically to get up. But she still couldn't move. The terror from moments ago had taken hold of her.

"No...don't....." Chrysalis uttered.

"I'm not fond of ponies or pony-like creatures, but you'll do for now." Nova flashed his pearl white fangs as he hovered over her. "Don't disappoint me now!!"

"No! Don't!! N-- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Von jolted awake from his sleep. He looked around and realized that he was in his room in Canterlot Castle.

"Another vision..." He mumbled. Images of his mother, himself and Nova flashed through his mind. "What could it mean this time?" Von arose from his bed and after washing up, he went to the audience chamber to speak with the princess.

"A vision, you say?" Celestia asked.

"Yes. I've had two of them so far. One was about some strange pony that I just saw in Ponyville yesterday. The other...was about mom, Nova and myself." He explained.

"And just what happened in this vision of yours?"

"I'm not sure. Nova was just....laughing. And the smile he had was frightening. Mom was crying for some reason and then everything went black." Von looked down at the floor. "I'm a little scared." Celestia rose from her throne and placed one of her hooves on Von.

"Do not be scared. Not many ponies, Unicorns or even us Alicorns, can gain the ability you have. It is very unique. If you can see the future, then you can change it as well. The future is yours to decide, as it is for all my little ponies." She reassured him.

"Change the future....the future is ours to decide....." Von let the words sink in and smiled at Celestia. "Thank you, princess. But there is something else." Celestia gave him a concerned stare.

"What is it?"

"it isn't anything too big, but I've finally gotten my memory back. And if I recall....I think today is my birthday. My 20th birthday." Celestia smiled at him.

"Well, happy birthday Von. I hope you have a wonderful time today." She said.

"I will. Well, I gotta go. I'm gonna be late for my magic lessons." He said as he turned around.

"Magic lessons?" Celestia asked.

"Yeah. I'm hoping to get Twilight to teach me how to use magic. I used dark magic and almost hurt somepony. So I want to learn how to use normal magic like you guys. See you later." Von bid farewell and took off out of the doors. Celestia smiled as Von departed but her smile quickly faded as an ill-wind blew into the room. Her eyes widened with fear.

"This wind....Von, please be careful...."

~30 minutes later~

"Twilight, can I stop now? It kinda hurts." Von cried.

"Oh don't be such a baby! You can handle it." Twilight said.

"Yeah...but it won't go in. It's too tight!"

"And what's that supposed to mean? Are you just going to give up?" Twilight asked with a stern tone.

"Well...no. But maybe if you could make some room, it'd go in a little easier." Von whined. Twilight groaned in annoyance.

"Fine! I'll help."

"No no no no. I got it! Really! Just...have to....give one....more....push....There!!!" Von cried.

"Ugh! Finally!" Twilight said. Spike then came downstairs and looked at them.

"Uh...what are you guys doing?" The baby drake asked.

"I was teaching Von how to use a levitation spell, but he kept complaining about how hard it was." Twilight said as she looked towards the exhausted halfling.

"You sure? Cause it sounded like you were--"

"We weren't." Twilight interrupted. Spike blinked in confusion.

"But it sounded alot like--"

"Spike!!!" Twilight yelled. "How would you even know what that.....never mind. But anyway, Von was complaining the whole time during our lesson."

"Hey...this is....harder than you think. Only a certain egghead would think that it's so easy to do. I have little control over my magic." Von complained.

"Hey! I'm not an egghead. I'm well-read." Twilight defended.

"Sounds like an egghead to me." Spike said. Both he and Von laughed while Twilight glared at the both of them.

"Oh whatever. Since it's your birthday, I agreed to do this for you when I SHOULD be organizing my house." Spike's eyes widened and he smiled at Von.

"It's your birthday? Happy birthday, Von." He said. Von smiled.

"Thanks. So...What else do I have to learn now, Twilight?"

"Let's see.....we've covered magic blasts, shields, healing...and levitation. Next is teleporting. But that might be a bit difficult for you." Twilight said with uncertainty.

"Heh. I can handle it. Bring it on!" Von declared. There was a knock on the door and Von looked towards it. "Hold on. Let me see if I can...." Von lowered his head and a magic aura glowed around his horn. It was small, but it managed to last. The knob of the door glowed with the same aura and turned slightly and it pulled the door open revealing Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Kamen, Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

"Happy birthday!!!" They shouted. At that moment, Pinkie pulled out a small blue cannon and pulled the string, blasting confetti and party decorations all over Twilight's library. Twilight levitated a broom and dust pan which began to sweep up the confetti.

"How did you guys find out it was my birthday?" Von asked.

"Well, it just so happens that Kamen was flying towards Canterlot to find you and see if you were coming into Ponyville." Rarity said.

"And when I found out from Celestia that you left and it was your birthday, I flew back and told Pinkie." Kamen said.

"And when Kammy told me, I told Applejack and Fluttershy and Big Mac and Rarity and--" Pinkie's voice was muffled as Applejack placed her hoof over Pinkie's mouth.

"We invited just about everypony to celebrate with us, sugarcube." Applejack said. As she said that, ponies of all ages came into the library, each bearing a gift or food for the party and a pony with glasses, a white coat and blue mane came in with a musical stand. She had a musical note for a cutie mark and she seemed like she was a DJ of sorts and she stood behind the stand and turned it on.

"Let's crank up the bass and get this party started!!" The DJ pony shouted. Pinkie ran beside her and helped her put the music on.

BGM 3

The party was going well overall. It continued for hours. Von was enjoying himself, but also enjoyed the presents he got. New clothes, some gems, board games and many more. He was as happy as can be since he was dancing, quite poorly, with the rest of his friends. He started to back up while dancing and bumped into Rainbow Dash. They looked at each other and then at the floor for a brief moment before looking in their eyes.

"Hey...Dash." Von said.

"Hi, Von." Rainbow Dash said nervously.

"So....how are things with your new coltfriend?" Von inquired.

"Good...good. This is a pretty swell party you have going on, huh?"

"Yeah. ....Hey listen. About the way I acted the other day--"

"Don't worry about it." Rainbow Dash interrupted. "It was my fault. I should've just calmly explained it to you. To let you know that it--"

"I know. But...I'll still be your friend...even after all that." Von said. Rainbow Dash smiled and he returned a smile of his own and the two of the hugged in order to finally reconcile. He blinked and looked at her. "Hey, where's Fluttershy and Big Mac? I thought they'd be here."

"I don't know. Where do you think they are?" Rainbow Dash asked. Von thought for a moment and his eyes widened in shock and his face turned red.

"I think I have a feeling where they are......and what they're doing...." Von muttered, recalling the events at Fluttershy's house. Suddenly, Von's ears perked and he broke Rainbow Dash's embrace.

"Is something wrong, Von?"

"Yeah...I'm just heading out for a walk. I'll be back soon." Von said as he ran off. Rainbow Dash looked on as Von faded into the distance.

Von ran as fast as he could until he was on the outskirts of Ponyville and halted to a stop.

"Who's there?" He called out.

Von....are you there?, a female voice said to him. He heard the voice but he looked around and could not find the source of the voice.

"That voice....mom?!" Von called out.

Yes. I am communicating with you using my magic. As queen, I can speak to you in your thoughts as I can with all of my changelings.

"What is it? You sound different." Von questioned.

Nothing....I wish to see you. Come to Whitetail Woods. It's to the right from where you are. To the West, Chrysalis instructed.

"Ok. I'm coming." Von said. He flapped his wings and flew off into the night.

"......He is on his way, Nova......." Chrysalis said with an emotionless stare. Nova walked over to her side and smiled at her.

"Good girl, Chrysalis. Now...make sure not to break him. I want to have a little fun, too."

"Yes....Nova..........." Chrysalis slowly nodded her head and proceeded into the forest. Von arrived after a few minutes and landed on the ground. He stepped forward and walked for quite awhile until he saw a figure before him. When the moonlight shined on it, the figure was revealed to be Chrysalis.

"Mom! You'll never guess what happened for my birth--"

Zap

Von jumped out of the way as Chrysalis fired a blast of magic at him. Von whipped his head in her direction and quickly ducked down as another magic blast was fired in his direction.

"Mom! What are you doing?!" Von yelled. Chrysalis didn't respond. She just continued to stare in his direction. "Answer me! Mom?!" Still no response. "Fine. If that's the way you want it...then I'll fight you!" Von lowered his head and grinded his hoof against the ground, hinting that he was about to charge. Chrysalis made no effort to protest what Von was attempting and met him with the same gestures. Their magic auras began to glow around their horns and the two of them charged at one another.

Sparks flew all over the forest as Von and Chrysalis began to battle it out with their magic. The two of them flew into the sky and started to exchange blast after blast. But with each one fired, the next one would hit right on target as the first missed. Von was covered in scorch marks and Chrysalis was as well (though he could hardly notice) and the two of them stayed afloat in the air.

"Mom, stop! We don't have to fight! It's me, Von. Your son, remember?! Remember who I am? You sang to me when I was little and again when I was enraged. You found me again in Ponyville after all these years and we even....." Von blushed as his voice trailed off as he recalled what happened at Neighagra Falls. Chrysalis stared at Von and the color in her eyes returned for a brief moment.

"V.........on............" Chrysalis struggled to utter. Von smiled.

"Yes. It's me." Von crept closer to Chrysalis and examined her to see if she was alright. She made no sudden movements until Von got very close and blasted him with her magic. Von fell to the forest floor and Chrysalis flew down in order to finish the job.

"That's enough, Chryssy." A voice called out. Chrysalis stopped and landed on the ground. "Bring him to me." Chrysalis nodded her head towards the source of the voice and used her magic to levitate Von and carried him with her. Von groan in pain and opened his eyes. When his vision focused, he noticed Nova standing by a tree with two changeling corpses dancing in front of him. He seemed to be humming a tune of some kind, but Von couldn't make out what it was until he got closer.

"Move your dead bones bones bones, Move your dead bones bones bones. I promise to keep you alive. Move your dead bones bones bones. Move your dead bones bones bones. You'll scream for the rest of your life! Hahaha!!!" Nova cackled at the defenseless changelings and in one fell swoop, he devoured both corpses. Once he swallowed, he looked towards Von and Chrysalis and greeted them with a very twisted smile. "Von! So good to see you. How's your birthday? Did you get anything good? Oh, where are my manners. I forgot to give you a present. Oh wait...I've got one for you." Nova motioned his head to have Chrysalis put Von down. He stood on his legs, but was quickly pushed into the ground as Nova placed one of his hooves on his back. "It's your punishment." Nova breathed fire down on Von, but the flames were quickly dispersed as a magic shield was placed around Von.

"I-it worked." Von whispered to himself. And as an added bonus, the shield lifted Nova's hoof off of him and he got up from under his brother and got in his stance.

"Gonna fight me, huh?" Nova asked.

"I don't know what you did to my mother, but I will help her and stop you from doing this." Von declared. Nova laughed.

"Why, I did nothing but have a little fun with her." Nova said as he moved towards Chrysalis. "I have to admit...for a creature with a pony body, she's a pretty good lay. No wonder you enjoyed yourself with her. And I can see your reason for loving ponies instead." Nova hung his slimy tongue out and dragged it up Chrysalis' cheek. Chrysalis did nothing to stop him and this angered Von more.

"Leave her alone!" Von yelled. Nova stopped and smiled at him. Von lowered his head and charged at Nova, but Nova moved over slightly, causing Von to miss. Von turned around and his magic aura grew brighter and a blast of magic shot out of his horn and hit Nova in his face. But he remained unscathed.

"I see you learned some magic, too." Nova analyzed. "Come on, little brother. Come and get me. I want to hurry this up because I feel like plowing your mother again. Oops. Did I say that out loud?" Nova cracked a wicked grin and glared at the halfling. Von felt angry beyond all belief and he felt his power rising. He knew what was happening, but he didn't care. He just wanted to end Nova. However, the symbols embedded in his horn reacted and his power lowered. He had forgotten that he wasn't able to use dark magic anymore. "What's wrong? Not able to use that power you used on me last time?!" Nova asked.

"...." Von couldn't find any words. He wanted to fight, but he didn't want to lose control. That's how he almost got killed.

"Fine. You don't wanna answer, then let's end this." Nova hissed. A magic aura appeared in his mouth and he shot out a magical blast. Von stood still, frightened. What was happening was what his vision was. He was afraid. Afraid he couldn't do anything. He felt powerless. Scared. He wanted to move, but couldn't. This was it. He was going to die. His mother was going to remain a hostage to his brother. His friends were going to lose them. Equestria was going to suffer Nova's tyranny. He didn't have a chance to meet with that strange pony he saw. And what's worse, he let down his father.

He was seriously going to die.

...

...

...

...

...

...

"I'm really.......going to die........." He said to himself.

...

...

...

If you can see the future, then you can change it as well. The future is yours to decide, as it is for all my little ponies.

The words Celestia spoke echoed in his mind and realization hit him. This was a future he had seen. And that meant he could change it. He tried to think of a way out of this. His magic wasn't as strong as Nova's, so that was out of the question. There had to be something.....ANYTHING he learned in his life that he could use to survive. He closed his eyes and an image of him and his elder flashed in his head.

"My training...." Von uttered. He realized that Nova was just egging him on. Trying to make him mad so that he would screw up. Angering him so that he would be consumed by his darkness. But that wasn't going to work. He cleared his mind and thought of nothing else. He felt connected with Equestria as his body started to slowly sway to and fro. The blast came closer until it collided and caused an explosion.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! I did it!!! He's finally gone!!! He's finally--"

He still lives....

"What?!" Nova yelled in disbelief. Nova looked on towards the site of the explosion and when the smoke cleared, Von was standing next to the crater, his eyes still closed. Nova laughed a bit. "So...you're finally putting the elder's training to use, huh? Let's see how well you do." Nova breathed in deep and shot fireballs in rapid succession at the young halfling. Von remained still and as the fireballs got close enough, he dodged them with ease. Nova glared at him, but managed to crack a smile. "Impressive. Your first time using it and you're already doing a decent job. But..." Nova breathed in deep and flames seeped from his lips, but he didn't release. Instead, a magic aura surrounded his flames until they turned purple. He let it out in a single lightning-fast stream and when the flames hit the ground near him, Von got blown back by the explosion.

"Agh...." Von moaned painfully. He struggled to get up, but Nova stopped him by placing a hoof down on him.

"You're just as annoying as a fly. Always buzzing around and getting in my way." Nova hissed. He stayed silent for a moment, staring down at him and then he smiled once more. "Von? Do you know the best way to take care of an insect?" He asked. Von tried to stay silent, but he knew Nova would do much worse to him if he didn't answer.

"What?" Von answered. At that moment, a magic aura appeared around Von's wings.

"You clip their wings."

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