The week I had gave me the time I needed. I trained in the open in front of Eclipse and Nightmare Moon and also trained in secret. Developing my powers at least twice as much as what I was showing in case things went bad. If I started to trust them I would tell them of what I have been doing. While it would cause them to lose trust in me, if they did trust me, I believe I would be able to easily regain their trust since I trust them then.
I was feeling horrid. My head was a splitting headache and I found I had a small fever which surprised me to no end. I never got fevers before or even a small bug. My powers just basically not allowed it. Not even the common cold! Diseases that entered my body were just destroyed for some unknown reason. Not even the doctors could find out so my parents just said one thing... powers... and it made sense. I was the strongest out of all of us so my powers were more advanced than any of theirs.
I struggled to get out of bed as I gave a small almost unnoticeable cough. Standing up I walked over to the door and did a few deep breathing exercises. I couldn't let this chance to know what was happening to even if it was a lie I believe I could pick up on it and get at least some information out of it. I then opened the door opening my eyes as I was filled with determination and quickly made my way to the throne room just in time as Nightmare Moon and Eclipse walked out through the doors. "morning Eclipse. Empress." I responded as Eclipse gave her own greeting as Nightmare Moon gave a small nod.
"Shall we head to the royal treasury?" I made myself to look confused to keep up the act of being ignorant.
"may I ask why?" I then asked.
"you deserve the truth... at least some of the truth." she then told me as she started to walk away followed by 10 guards and Nightmare Moon. I quickly followed after them as we soon reached a large door. Both Nightmare Moon and Eclipse approached it and inserted their horns into two separate places before a symbol on the door popped out soon followed by many others. They began to spin working like a clock as they pulled their horns out and stepped back with me. After a minute the door began to open as a large amount of treasure could be easily seen. The guards separated from us and rushed over to the door into this large room as Eclipse walked in. I could already spot the sword as she grabbed it in her magic. It was still all wrapped up in the blanket it used was first wrapped up on. Nightmare Moon stepped to the side as Eclipse's horn began to glow... before she paused in her step before her eyes darted open. "block the doors!" the guards immediately got into a stance as Nightmare Moon looked intrigued at what was happening. "how long?"
"how long what?" I asked crossing my arms with a small frown on my face. "how long have I been alive? How long since I first found my powers?" I trailed off as I then glared at Eclipse. "or how long since I've gained back the memories you attempted to seal away?" she narrowed her own eyes. "I've known not long after I woke up after you knocked me out. The only question I had is... why?"
"because you did not need to know what you did not need." she then said in a stern tone.
"so what was I supposed to do?" I then asked. "allow myself to be easily molded into whatever you wanted?"
"to trust us... to trust me!" she nearly yelled as I felt the heat rise up a little. "not much was asked!"
"its hard to trust someone!" I started to yell. "when they won't answer simple damn questions! Who is that damn mare that the human before me kept on drawing?! And why was there a picture of you as the final picture of his?!" I continued to yell as I was surrounded in a very dark green glow. "huh?! Do you see why its hard to trust you after I found out my trust was already betrayed by somebody else?!"
"I see your logic, Benjamin." Nightmare Moon then spoke up as I snapped my eyes over to her. "but my sister sometimes does things... too far. All we ask for now is for you to trust us."
"how about this." they both looked me straight in the eyes. " I trust you and you trust me. No more lies. I will not press for answers but I prefer to be not told lies and to just be told to wait until the time was right. Being lied to just pisses me off... agreed?" I then asked as they looked at each other before nodding. " I understand you are both rulers and I respect that about the both of you. I just wish you wouldn't take these measures to stop me from finding out." Eclipse looked at the wrapped up sword before looking at me.
"I shall then warn you. Once I tell you this information it will only get harder in the future." Eclipse warned me with concern in her eyes, which confused me, and a small frown on her face.
"then I will push through the obstacle or even go as far as to break it." she stayed silent before nodding.
"her name is Nightmare..." she then said.
"Nightmare? But isn't Nightmare right there?" I asked looking at Nightmare Moon
"she is just called Nightmare. For she haunts the dreams of everypony who knows her in the realms. She invaded during my rule but I dispatched her... or at least I thought I did..." she looked at the blade floating next to her. "she instead took on a temporary pony form and latched onto the nearest one she could to manipulate into getting her power by creating fear... the human before you."
"quick question. Just what is his name?" I then asked her.
"his name has been long forgotten." she then answered. "as I was saying he became infatuated with her. She was on his mind more and more the longer she was attached to him. That was... until she slipped up... she blew her own cover when I found her devouring the human's dreams as he was lied to and manipulated into trying to face is own fears only to fail. I quickly vanquished her but something happened in the process. She did something to the human that caused him to awake with rage-filled eyes. Why I had no idea as he then simply resumed his personality and kindly asked me to leave. That was what started his downfall to fall by my own hooves."
"so she started it all?"
"that's what I think. But I also do believe that something else happened that caused him to turn against me or at least start to. I had interrupted her during a spell which caused it to only be completed halfway which could completely change the spell. I have tried to recreate its effects with willing subjects to find out what it did... but they all ended up dying in the end so I stopped the testing and pushed it out of my mind." she then said.
"how did you find out knowing about her coming back by becoming known by others?" I then asked her.
"because she reappeared soon after her legend was created. She began to reappear in the dreams of my subjects. Killing them in their own dreams as they appeared the same way in the real world. And I regret the only way I could kill her." Eclipse then said in a sad tone as she turned away. "I was forced to kill my own subjects before I realized how she kept on coming back..." I gave her a look of pity. "so I destroyed all knowledge of her and made sure to wipe the minds of those who knew the tale."
"what of the picture of you?" I then asked.
"it was possibly a picture of myself or Nightmare. I could not believe I completely forgot about his drawing habits when you showed me the pictures when I was trying to destroy all sources of information about her. Now Benjamin." I looked Eclipse straight in the eyes. "promise me should you believe you encounter Nightmare that you will notify either myself or my sister."
"I promise." she nodded as she levitates the sword over to me as it stayed wrapped up. I looked at her as she nodded as I gave a breath before I began to unwrap the blade. Soon finishing I dropped the blanket to the floor as I once more held the blade in both of my hands. I was still confused as to why there was no cross guard as it looks like there used to be one.
"anything?" Eclipse asked as I shook my head. "perhaps a requirement is needed to be able for something to happen."
"perhaps sister." Nightmare Moon said as she walked over to us before she raised an eyebrow looking at me. "do you feel alright Benjamin?" I looked confused. "you do not look well."
"I feel alright." I lied as she didn't look convinced... and she definitely wasn't convinced when I fell over unconscious... I opened my eyes to find myself in a different place. It appeared to be a castle... but not the castle I knew... the halls were extremely dark and there were no crystals for light. Blue flames on tall lamps. I started to walk through the halls before I realized I was like a ghost. I had a see-through body and whatever I touched my hand phased through.
I heard yelling coming from farther down the hall and small flashes of light came from a large door on my left. I rushed over to it only for a large explosion to occur inside the room. I covered my face instinctively as smoke and debris flew out of the door. As soon as the smoke faded I rushed over to the door as I saw a griffon slaving away as he pounded a hammer onto an anvil. He coughed a little before he chuckled. "this will be my greatest work..." my eyes widened. "a blade that would never stain with the blood of its victims..." the griffon gave a sinister grin. "dragons, griffons, ponies. Nothing would stain this blade!"
"would it be fit for killing gods?" I then heard as I snapped my head to the right to see a human shrouded in shadow. "because that's what I need it for."
"Hm.." the griffon pulled out the blade as he looked it's over.
"possibly. Maybe one. Possibly two." the griffon stated in arrogance. "although I do wonder just why you had me mold a cross guard slot when I could just as easily make one for it!"
"because there is something special I plan on putting into the slot. Something that would make your weapon better than everyone else." I could see the humans sinister grin as I could feel something was very off about him.
"better than all?" the human nodded as the griffon began to chuckle. "then who am I to complain? All will want to learn my talent in the art of smithing!" the griffon began to give a loud maniacal laugh as I narrowed my eyes. The blade seemed... off... how I had no idea.
"how did you even make the blade?" the human than asked.
"blood rituals." the griffon stated with an insane look in his eyes as he looked back towards the human. "combing the blood of separate species into one blade to give it special properties. I decided to give you a special one as well of a mixture that I have theorized would work." the griffon than said as he brought the blade over to the human who grabbed it and began to rub his hands on the blade. The blade began to give off a black burn as the human muttered words as he dragged his hand along the blade, the kanji that was on the blade now were now glowing as they formed on the blade before he stopped.
"you have created a masterwork."
"why thank you." the griffon said with a smile as he turned around and walked over to his forge. "now we must talk payment."
"yes... I believe we must." my eyes widened as I saw him stand up and slowly approach the griffon from behind. "how much would you say the blade would cost?" he then asked as he hefted the blade in his left hand onto his left shoulder.
"considering the blood I used, the metal I used, and the amount of my time is wasted... I would say at least 2000 bits."
"could I run a trial run to see if the blade truly never stains?" the human than asked with a small smile.
"Sure you can! I'll ask for a prisoner to be brought in." the human began to lift the blade into the air. "just why did you want the blade made anyway?" he then asked as the human gave a sinister chuckle.
"vengeance" and with that the griffon lost his head I opened my eyes with a start as I found myself laying down in my room. The blade was leaning against the foot of the bed. I leaned up as I gripped my head and looked out the open window. I checked my forehead and found I no longer had a fever. I gave a small sigh of relief as I felt sore all over my body once more. I heard wings as I looked outside to find a guard flying outside my window.
"I was to alert you once you were awakened for you to stay in your room until further notice." the stallion told me. "orders from Empress Eclipse." I gave him a nod as he flew off. I closed the window and closed the curtains. I gave a small sigh as I was now thinking of possibilities of what happened after I went unconscious. Why did I even get a fever in the first place? At least I could practice in secret. I pulled out the technique book and began to read it once again...