The Duel
It has been three weeks since Spike had first been brought to the temple and already he could feel that he was stronger than he ever was in Equestria. His control of the force while not mastered, had grown exponentially along with that of the other members of the Darius clan. It was no longer hard to move the small boulders in the training room and Spike did not have to think of a Unicorn's magic to use the force, although when he did he found it quite easier. Now, he could lift multiple of the boulders at once, Struggling but could still pick them up nevertheless.
"Who can tell use what happened during 25,000 BBY" Darius asked.
"Sir." Spike said while raising his hand up. "The modern Light sabers was created during that time."
"Correct and well done on learning about basic history." Darius said before walking on. "Now, who can tell me what this war teaches us?"
"How to get anger out." Zuno said while grinning.
"No, War teaches us that life is not always easy. It can be started many ways either someone wants to rule something or conflicts between people. It requires us to learn from our mistakes and it also gives us a chance to improve ourselves from mistakes we have made."
Telling them the lesson is over, and the initiates stood up, placing their datapads away for the time being. Spike looked around at the others.
Briana and Zuno wore short brown robes with a belt going around there waists.
Brandon wearing a dark robe also with a belt around his waist. Asha also wearing the same uniform as the rest only slightly green. Spike wore a dark blue robe closely matching his skin color while he to wore a belt around his waist.
It felt odd to wear anything, after so long of only wearing clothes for formal occasions but Spike had to admit that it felt good. Turning to face the others he watched in amusement as Asha once again practicing with the force, lifting up a few rocks weighing nearly one thousand pounds altogether and trying to keep each one steady. The rocks rose above the floor before one simply dropped back down.
"So close!" Asha said to herself, the other rocks dropping to the floor with a loud bang.
Out of all of them, Brandon was still struggling with his control over the force. He had no problem with lifting a single, large object but his control of multiple smaller objects was nearly impossible for him to do. The failure was eating away at him but he still tried.
"Don't worry to much about it Brandon." Spike said. "You're stronger than us when you only have to pick up one big rock."
"But I can't even pick up four rocks at the same time." Brandon asked slightly aggravated.
"You'll be able to do it eventually." Zuno smiled, walking over.
"Zuno is right." Darius nodded, walking over and placing a hand on Brandon shoulder. "The force is a difficult thing to master. Some Jedi practice for a lifetime and still never achieve full mastery over it. You cannot expect to become an expert in only a few weeks."
"How about we have a duel in physical strength maybe that can help you calm down." Asha suggested.
"Fine. But I will probably win." Brandon grinned looking over at some small mats that could be used for a match.
"You're on." Asha grinned before she suddenly stopped and looked at Brandon. "That is if it's ok with you, Master."
"It could serve as an interesting display of what you are all capable in brute strength." Darius said. "I had planned to do something similar in a few days but we can do it now."
"It is Master Darius after all. What did you expect?" Zuno whispered to Spike causing him to grin. Zuno was right, Darius did like to spar more than many other Jedi masters.
Leading the group towards the training mats, Darius turned to face them again.
"Right this is how this shall work." He said, looking at each of them in turn. "Two of you step into the ring. The first one to set foot outside of the ring loses. Anything goes while in the ring and you can use either your physical strength or your knowledge of the force to force your opponent out. Any questions?"
"Is there a time limit?" Spike asked while stretching his arms out above his head.
"There is not." Darius replied before glancing around. "Now, Asha and Spike take position."
Darius stood back as Spike and Asha moved into the ring on the training mats, taking their position on opposite sides and turning to face each other.
"Ready?" Spike growled.
"I am." She nodded, "You."
"Always."
"Begin." Darius said with a slight smile.
Spike and Asha began to circle around each other, looking at the others movements before making an attack. Patience, as Darius had taught them.
Suddenly, Asha sprung forward, diving towards Spike and grabbing hold of both his arms, attempting to use her momentum to toss Spike from the arena. Spike barely moved as she did so, grinning before flexing his arms, breaking her grip. Taking a step back Spike thrust his hand towards Asha and called upon the force.
Asha went falling backwards, but it was not enough to force her from the ring. Getting up she didn't notice that Spike went forward, copying Asha's first attack perfectly and this time the move worked perfectly.
Grabbing his lighter and weaker opponent, Spike used his own forward momentum to spin her around, pulling her off the floor before tossing her from the ring with ease. Asha nearly hitting the ground before Brandon extended his own hand and Asha suddenly stopped mid-air before being lowered back to the ground.
"Spike wins." Darius said before turning to the rest of them. "Zuno, Briana get into you're fighting positions. It should be interesting to see you two fight."
The twins took the same position as Spike and Asha had did just a moment before and turning to face each other. Spike already could see that this fight was going to be different from his fight. They both knew each other perfectly and would be able to match the others moves blow for blow. All that would have changed between now and the constant fights that ended in draws aboard the ship would be their command of the force.
As expected the two lunged at each other almost as soon as Darius had nodded for the fight to begin, clashing in the middle of the ring. Zuno brought his hand whipping around but Briana knew what he would do and duked, avoiding the blow before she lunged again, bringing her knee up into Zuno's chest. The brother grunted slightly but had prepared for the blow and rolled backwards before jumping back at his sister.
The pair seemed so opposed now that they had unlocked the power of the force. One, Zuno, used the power of the force to strengthen his own abilities, his speed, his strength, everything, while Briana had focused on learning to channel the force. She had almost no grasp over physical strength using the force while her brother was almost as weak as her but strengthening his own abilities further because of the force.
Zuno once again swung his fist at his sister, moving faster than Spike had thought possible. Clearly Briana had not expected it either as the fist impacted with her jaw and sent her flying nearly over the arena.
With a groan she got to her feet just as Zuno sprang at her, jumping higher than he should have been able to. Throwing her right hand forward, an invisible force hit her brother and he was thrown backwards, crashing to the floor just outside of the ring.
"Briana wins." Master Darius said, looking impressed at the young Padawan. "Now, only Brandon hasn't had a chance to prove himself…"
"Master, if I may." Brandon said while raising his hand.
"What is it Padawan?" Darius asked, looking at him.
"Can I prove myself against Spike?" Brandon asked while turning to look at the purple dragon.
"Spike?" Darius asked, turning to face the dragon. "What do you say?"
"Brandon asked and I'll answer... I accept" Spike grinned, looking at the Human.
"Very well. Take position." Darius said, standing aside.
"You sure you're up for this?" Brandon said.
"Ready to beat you." Spike grinned.
"Begin!" Darius shouted as the others crowded around the ring.
Rushing forward, Brandon swung his fist at Spike only to find it blocked by Spike. Not giving the dragon a chance to react, Brandon lashed out again, catching Spike on the back, grunting in pain as he hit the hard scales there.
Taking advantage of his opponent's momentary pain, Spike brought his head forward, smashing it into Brandon nose. He grunted in pain, but didn't react any more than that, bringing his hands up to protect his face from the blows Spike was throwing at his friend. Spike realized he wasn't getting through Brandon solid defense and changed his tactic, dropping low, and sweeping his leg around to try and trip Brandon up. Branson saw the attack coming and instead of facing it jumped back before raising his hands. Spike knew what was coming next, and instinctively raised his own hand, extending it palm forwards towards Brandon palm.
The two grunted in exhaustion as each tried to push the other one away with the force but being unable to find their way through the others use of the force.
Yelling, Brandon extended his other hand towards Spike and the dragon suddenly felt himself being slammed backwards. It was to late to react and he was thrown out of the arena.
"Brandon wins." Darius smiled. "You did very well padawans."
"You would have beaten me if I didn't use my second hand to strengthen my blow, and you could have also beaten me if you realized that I was going to use two hands matter in fact I felt like you allowed me to win since you could have done the same thing as I did anytime." Brandon grunted slightly irritated that he thought Spike allowed himself to lose.
"Possibly but I didn't and for that you still win." Spike said "anyways that was hard Brandon."
"It was but it was very fun." Brandon laughed.
"Now that that's over, I believe it is almost time for dinner." Darius smiled. "As soon as we finish, we will meet back here for the final lesson of the day."
With that Darius and his group walked toward the dining hall.
Equestria
Twilight and her friends has been searching for Spike for over three weeks and to no avail. They all agreed it was best to stop searching since they were getting no clues. Now they are going to have a funeral for him and for all he has done for them. When the funeral was about to begin a good portion of all the ponies waited there until it started.
Twilight stood in silence with the other princesses of Equestria and her friends. Behind her stood the rest of Twilight's family, Shining Armor at the front with her parents just beside him. Another few tears rolled down Twilight's chin as she saw where Spike should have been standing and for the briefest of moments Twilight thought she saw him before the apparition faded along with her horn. Turning around Twilight looked on mournfully her surroundings refusing to look directly in front of her.
She was standing in the Ponyville library the one she had renamed as Spike's library but the books had all been covered up with black fabric, interlaced with dark emeralds, courtesy of Rarity, who was also crying. In fact now Twilight looked around every pony had tears in their eyes whether they were running down their chins or not.
Finally, Twilight let her eyes fall on the object just in front of her. It was a small brown casket, the wood inlaid with purple and green swirls. On top of the casket stood a photo of her pseudo-brother and just the sight of it almost made Twilight burst into a full blown sobbing fest again. Stepping forward, Twilight turned to face the gathered ponies to make a speech.
"Spike, was a friend to all." She said, forcing herself not to sob or sniff as she did her number one assistant justice in his leaving the world. "Out of all of us he was the only one who embodied five of our elements and given the chance I am sure he would have mastered mine as well. If you want to remember Spike in the years to come remember this. Spike the dragon was unique amongst his species. He alone was loyal to anything other than his own desires he was generous to a fault and he laughed at others humour not their pain. He was honest when it mattered and he was beyond kind. Remember Spike as the dragon that all others should look to."
Standing back Twilight glanced over at Celestia, Luna and Cadence, all of whom were silently crying. Nodding, each one of them illuminated their own horn and surrounded the empty casket in their combined magic. Twilight gently levitated the picture off and stood it beside some lit candles before turning to face the casket and adding her magic to the other three Alicorns.
Slowly, all three Alicorns and Twilight marched out of the library being met by a specifically organised rain that was made by Rainbow Dash and a letter of intervention from Celestia. Walking through the town the ponies of Ponyville flocked onto the streets wishing to pay their respects to the funeral procession.
By the time they had reached the hill that they had decided upon they had already amassed a large crowd who followed the four princesses in silence. Stopping, Twilight looked down at the hole in the earth and sighed. This was going to be his final resting place.
As the Alicorns began to lower the casket into the hole, Luna began to speak softly yet somehow could be heard clearly by every pony even over the rain.
I cannot say, and I will not say,
that he is dead, he is just away.
With a cheery smile, and a wave of a hoof,
he has wandered into an unknown land,
and left us dreaming, how very fair,
it needs must be, since he lingers there.
Waiting to return.
As Luna finished speaking the Casket reached the bottom of the hole. As the other Alicorns stopped the glow around their horns Twilight kept hers going looking over at a large pile of dirt. Surrounding it in her magic she quickly picked it up before softly placing it atop the casket smoothing it over so that the bare earth and the grass were perfectly even. Casting a quick spell Twilight assured that no grass would ever spread onto the graves before nodding to Fluttershy.
The timid butter yellow Pegasus moved forward and slowly knelt down scraping away a small patch of earth and placing a single flower in the hole before packing the earth back in around it.
"Rest Spike." She sobbed softly, before returning to the crowd.
At this, Applejack and Rainbow moved forward holding a large slab of polished obsidian between them. They were struggling and panting as they placed it at the head of the grave but had refused to let Twilight take it from them wanting to do their part for the funeral.
Finally Pinkie Pie moved forward and untied the single black balloon from her hoof reattaching it to the headstone before moving back while having tears in her eyes.
Moving forward again, Twilight addressed the crowd.
"Here lies Spike. A friend to all, a brother, and the best assistant a Unicorn could ask for."
As the following days to come Celestia felt something was off. Twilight became quieter while barely speaking to any of here friends. Celestia knew if she just gave Twilight more time Twilight was sure to get better but something else was off... Each passing day her eyes become more and more yellow.
Her eyes are slowly becoming yellow... that isn't good. I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and hope they keep on reading.