‘The Legion has long been regarded as a refuge for scoundrels and scum of every kind. Thieves, cutthroats and vagabonds have seen the Legion as an arguably safe haven. It does not take them long to realize the gravity of their error.’- Major Trouble’s report to the Equestrian general staff.

Twilight is woken the next morning by a knock upon the door. A quick glance out of the shuttered window shows no light and Twilight groans softly, snapping her fingers and igniting a tiny purple flame in the palm of her right hand, revealing the spartan quarters she has found herself in. She’s been given her own room, which is apparently more than anyone else in the fort has, however even that’s not much. The room is little more than a cell with adobe walls, floor and ceiling. The only light in the room is provided by a guttering oil lamp, though for now the tiny lavender flame that burns in Twilight’s hand is providing enough illumination to see. There isn’t much to see. Just a simple wooden bed with a straw mattress and all her suitcases piled up in one corner, as that was the first convenient place to deposit them. Twilight could not be bothered to sort them out. She’s only here for a day after all.

The knocking upon the door becomes more insistent and so Twilight rolls out of bed, grabbing her nightie from the crumpled pile where she had deposited it after two frustrating hours of feeling the thing sticking to her body, keeping her from sleep. In Canterlot she would never dream of such a thing, but then in Canterlot there would be photographists with lenses enhanced with spellwork all anxious and eager to grab the commission a naked image of the newest Princess could get. However Twilight has no doubt that there are no photographists here, in the middle of the desert. However as she rises to her feet and tugs her nightie on, Twilight wonders exactly who could be knocking at this unthinkable hour and so she reaches for the Webley pistol that she has already taken to keeping upon her bedside table.

She approaches the door pistol in hand the reassuring weight calms her heart as her other hand closes around the deadbolt and slides it back. Another thing that most of the rooms in this place lack, locking doors. She opens the door slowly, easing it cautiously ajar and peering out to see Diplomatic Incident standing before her, although it is not Diplomatic Incident as she has ever seen him dressed before.

Twilight opens the door, lowering the pistol to her side as Diplomatic Incident comes into her room. He is dressed in the long flowing robes of a Khanate trader along with a Keffiyeh, the ceremonial headdress that is popular in the Khanate. Twilight has to admit it suits him, with his corpulent figure he looks every inch a merchant.

“Nice to see you are learning Princess,” He says, noting the pistol in her hand “It would help a little more if you loaded it first, but no matter. I bring news, along with a change of clothes.”

Twilight turns her back so that Diplomatic Incident doesn’t see her cheeks redden. “I see, what news do you bring?”

“Bad news.” He says grimly as he moves over to her window “The Khanate’s government hasn’t been told you’re coming.”

“Why is this bad news?” Twilight asks softly “And you’re sure?”

Diplomatic Incident nods shortly in response “Ma’am, would you believe me if I told you I had access to magic that could bend the fabric of time and space to allow me to appear before the Almighty and ask him?”

“At this point, given what you’ve demonstrated over the past forty eight hours, I would not be surprised if you told me you communed directly with the Spaghetti Monster that resides beyond the moon on the planet of the Potato people.” Twilight replies.

“Then you’re a fool ma’am, but suffice to say I have access to various tools that your average diplomatic desk-jockey does not. No word has reached Tarhen of your imminent arrival, and this is bad news for two reasons. For one thing, we have wasted a perfectly good afternoon securing your transit papers, for another it means that someone within the Khanate’s Embassy in Equestria has an interest in your arrival not being known to the Khanate.” Twilight winces and Diplomatic Incident continues. “There is however a blessing in disguise in this otherwise unrelenting tale of woe. The Khanate does not know you have left the capital, and it is in our interest for them to think that way for the next two weeks.”

“I don’t follow.” Twilight replies nervously. Diplomatic Incident walks past her to the shuttered window and starts drumming his fingers upon the windowsill, something Twilight has often seen him do when he is thinking.

“It is good news because we do not know what the situation is within the Khanate... The Equestrian Embassy has been out of communication for over three days at this point, three days is a lot of time for revolutions and insurrections to take a lot of ground. All we have at this point is the word of Princess Luna and the word of any Legionnaires who happened to be there. It is my belief, and the belief of Princess Celestia once I had explained the situation to her, that we do not commit an asset such as yourself to the Khanate without any idea of the situation in Tarhen beforehand.” He gestures at his attire. “Thus, I shall travel into Tarhen today to secure us a clearer picture of the situation and if possible acquire some accommodation.”

“What about the Embassy?”

“First off, working out of a suitably luxurious hotel gives the impression that we will not be staying for long, that this is a temporary measure and we will either be pulling out or returning to the Embassy soon enough, secondarily hotels have larger conference rooms than Embassies, and thirdly....” Diplomatic Incident pauses for a moment. “Thirdly, I could find nobody in the Equestrian Embassy who knew how to brew a decent pot of tea.”

Twilight raises an eyebrow, trying not to laugh.

“This is serious business ma’am,” Diplomatic Incident replies briskly “Tea is Equestria’s national drink and if one can find a brew here in the most god-forsaken patch of Celestia’s green earth then I refuse to believe they cannot make a decent brew in the middle of the capital city of a nation whose primary export is the raw material required to make the stuff, in an Embassy of a nation well known to be avid tea drinkers no less!”

Twilight nods. “I... ah... I see, and I will be staying here for the next two weeks?” She asks nervously. Diplomatic Incident, for all his mannerisms, secrets and sharp tongue, is the one constant she’s had since this whole drama began.

“You’ve always been quick on the uptake ma’am, yes. The Colonel is of the impression that you need to learn how to use that rifle you were given yesterday, so therefore a Legionnaire will be assigned to train you.”

“I’ve already learnt how to shoot, in Zebrica, I went hunting.” Twilight cuts in, and Diplomatic Incident shakes his head briskly.

“Ma’am, forgive me but that is not the same thing at all,” He replies and at Twilight’s confused expression he elaborates “When you hunt the deer will not generally shoot back, anyway I shall be off and in two weeks I shall either return or I shall send word. If I do not, then return to Canterlot and tell Princess Celestia what has transpired. She will know what to do.”

“I cannot go with you?” Twilight asks.

“No.” Diplomatic Incident replies shortly, turning and heading back to the door “I am expendable Princess, you are not, do not ever forget that fact.”

“I see” Twilight says quietly “Well, good luck Diplomatic Incident, I wish you success and good fortune”

“No need Princess, I make my own luck.” With that, Diplomatic Incident turns and opens the door, sweeping out of it and into the night.

Twilight listens to his footsteps fading down the corridor and collapses back onto the bed. Diplomatic Incident has been someone whom she has relied on since her coronation, as her teacher, her confidant and more importantly her friend. His astute advice has helped her out many times over the course of the two years since she became a princess. Thus his absence is rather more painful than Twilight cares to admit. She sighs, wondering what she’s going to do without him for two weeks, he knows more about this mission than she ever could.

She is not given long to reflect however, ten minutes later there is another knock on the door and Twilight answers the door pistol in hand to find Rainbow Dash gazing down at the weapon.
“Well geez Twi, nice to know I’m appreciated, it would help if you turned the safety off first though.”

As Twilight’s gaze flicks down to check, Rainbow’s hand flicks upwards and grabs the pistol, dragging it up until the pistol pointing at the ceiling. Rainbow then steps across the threshold, her other hand upon Twilight’s shoulder.

“It appears your commanding officer has a sense of humour.” Twilight says softly, a smile tugging at her lips.

“He does, It’s a real killer!” Rainbow Dash says with a wry chuckle “But orders are orders, I’m supposed to teach you how to fight and kill inside of two weeks.” She says softly, a smile upon her face. Twilight closes her eyes and turns around, her guts lurching as the faint waft of burning flesh fills her nostrils.

“I think I already know how to kill people thanks.” She says softly, shrugging Rainbow Dash’s hands off of her and stepping backwards sharply.

“So the rumours about the airship are true?” Rainbow Dash asks.

Twilight doesn’t look at Rainbow Dash as she heads over to the windowsill, flicking her fingers and causing the tiny oil lantern to flare into life. “The ones about me blowing an airship apart yesterday morning, yes.” Twilight says quietly and Rainbow Dash whistles appreciatively.

“Good going Twi!” She says, stepping forward to congratulate the Princess but Twilight shakes her head.

“Please stop Rainbow Dash, I don’t want to hear it.”

“Oh,” Rainbow Dash says quietly “Was that your first time?” She asks and Twilight nods quietly, her hands starting to shake and Rainbow Dash winces. “I see... do you want to talk about it?”

“Does talking about it help?” Twilight asks tentatively.

“It depends” Rainbow Dash replies “We can if you want... would it make you feel better if I told you it was them or you?”

Twilight shakes her head and Rainbow sighs gently “Well... really that’s what it boils down to Twilight, any time you ever take a life, it should only be for one reason in your case.”

“What reason is that?” Twilight asks and Rainbow shrugs

“Because it’s self defence Twi, was he shooting at you?”

“Yes, with a 20 millimeter cannon.” Twilight explains.

“Right, in that case your boat would have been toast if he hit you with one round, two max. Now had that happened, do you honestly think, given the shit that’s going on right now, that Celestia will think it was bandits as opposed to the Khanate. She’d go into orbit for sure, and we’d be at war before anyone had time to think.”

Twilight’s eyes widen. She’d never thought about it like that before.
“So really Twi,” Rainbow continues “it's a case of them or you, had you killed them, worst case scenario is that a bunch of pirates have to find another airship... if they killed you it could have plunged the whole continent into war.”

Twilight licks dry lips with a dry toungue. That notion does make sense, if it is a little colder than she would have liked.
“Thanks.” She says and Rainbow Dash enfolds her in a one armed hug

“Any time Princess.”

For a moment the two of them just stand there, the singlet and fatigue clad Legionnaire holding the Princess close. Twilight can feel the warmth of Rainbow Dash’s skin and the hard muscles shifting underneath that toned skin. Twilight can remember that skin pressed against her, the feel of that fluttering heart through her ribs. Twilight shivers slightly at the memory and steps out from under Rainbow Dash’s arm, blushing furiously. That was another time.

“Well, ahem” Rainbow Dash says, looking everywhere but at Twilight “We should probably get started at some point” Rainbow gestures to the window, where the first light of dawn can be seen through the thin slats of the shutters “You’ll need to get changed into something appropriate... I found you these, you’ve put on a bit of weight whilst you were at the castle-”

“Hey!” Twilight slaps Rainbow Dash’s arm lightly “I see all this fortress life sitting around in an armoury drinking Madam Locke’s tea isn’t doing your figure any favours, little miss Wonderbolt!”

Rainbow Dash snorts “You have no idea Twi, anyway put these on.” She says, reaching into a sack she’s brought with her and pulling out a pair of Legion-issue battledress trousers. Twilight gazes apprehensively at the trousers and then she starts to get changed, trying to ignore Rainbow Dash’s gaze or the occasional pointed comment about her backside or her boobs.

Twenty minutes later, Twilight is dressed much like Rainbow Dash, in a loose fitting white singlet and Legion battledress trousers that itch, and boots that feel too large for her feet. The webbing feels heavy, it digs in in all the wrong places and jangles like a set of bells. Twilight feels ridiculous as she looks at herself in the mirror, rifle held loosely in hand.

“Nice work Twi’ That uniform fits you nice.” Rainbow Dash says with a chuckle. Twilight feels a blush spreads across her face and Rainbow likewise turns an interesting shade of red. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that Princess, my apologies”

Twilight smirks slightly “I can’t say I mind too much... you look like you were born for that uniform.”

“Born to be among thieves and runaways, I’m flattered Twi.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean-”

“I’m kidding, turnabout’s a bitch isn’t it, but on a more serious note we’d better get going Princess.”

Twilight nods, shouldering her rifle nervously. Weapons have always made her nervous. Even when she was hunting in Zebrica, the weight of the weapon and the dull heat it seemed to emit when loaded seemed to make the weapon feel heavier. As much as her logical mind assured her it was all psychological, just her brain playing tricks upon her, Twilight could not help but feel a little strange about the weapon, freighted with death as it was. Right now, as she watches Rainbow Dash shrug her webbing off and pull on her battle dress shirt, followed by the helmet, Twilight feels odd. Those halcyon days from Ponyville have never felt so far away. Back then they ran around laughing and joking as friends, now Rainbow Dash is a soldier and Twilight is a Princess and both have the heavy weight of life and death in their hands. Half a pound of pressure to put pen to paper to sign a decree, or half a pound of pressure to set a firing pin into motion.

She then follows Rainbow Dash out of her accommodation block and through the base, past columns of soldiers marching to the parade square, moving with a strange slow swagger that Twilight has never seen before.

“Why are they marching slowly?” Twilight whispers to Rainbow Dash, who rolls her eyes in response.

“Because the rest of the Equestrian Armed forces march too quickly. They march at one hundred and twenty paces per minute, we march at eighty eight, that’s why we never appear at their little parades. That and the fact we’d show them up at pretty much everything because we’re just that awesome.”

“Where are they going?” Twilight asks

“First Parade, from there to breakfast to duties.”

“So what are you meant to be doing, as opposed to training me... I hope I haven’t taken you away from duties.” Twilight says apprehensively.

“You haven’t, I’m a spare wheel right now so I might as well do something useful,” Rainbow Dash replies. “Besides, I need to be busy, you get bored and you have time to think.”

Twilight nods quickly and the rest of the walk continues in silence, the sun beating down upon Twilight’s shoulders.

“How come you’re wearing a shirt and a helmet but I’m still wearing a vest?” Twilight asks after a few moments of companionable silence.

“Because a shirt would mean questions and a helmet would mean even more” Rainbow Dash points at the black and tan patches upon her left shoulder. “It would mean you’re tied to a unit, and you’re not. It would mean wearing the patches for a particular unit, and you haven’t earned the right.”

Twilight has to admit that stings slightly, and some of that must have shown in her face for Rainbow Dash’s tone becomes slightly consoling.

“Look, Twi, the Legion doesn’t just take anyone. You’ve got to prove yourself worthy to wear the Klepi Blanc, our dress cap. Legionnaires can't be made, they're born, it’s the Elements of Harmony for hard bastards, no exceptions. Not even for Princesses.”

“I see.” Twilight replies. “Elements of Harmony for hard bastards?” She asks, trying not to laugh.

“Sure on my own I’m bad news... get me in a group of other Legionnaires and we’re un-fucking-beatable, sort of like how The Elements were, back in the day.”

The two women continue onward to the ranges, through the camp gate and out to a patch of relatively flat desert where targets have been arranged. The sun has risen fully now and is slowly climbing in the cloudless sky as Rainbow leads Twilight over to a row of flat wooden platforms with shell casings scattered around them.

“Here’s us.” Rainbow says quietly “Now raise that rifle nice and high for me, take it into the shoulder and aim down the range at the largest target.”

Twilight does as asked, lifting the rifle up into her right shoulder. She takes aim down the grooved rear sight and spears the target upon the pointed foresight. She hears Rainbow Dash approaching and then she feels a pair of callused hands upon her skin.

“Not bad, but your grip could use some work.” Dash mutters as she gently manipulates Twilight’s hands into position “Hold it like this, tuck it into your shoulder nice and tight and the recoil won’t take your face off.”

Twilight nods, trying to ignore the whisper of Rainbow Dash’s breathing in her ear and the odours of cordite, cigarette smoke and sweat that hang off the Legionnaire.

“Right” She says, her hands tightening around the weapon. She hears Rainbow Dash move away from her, and Twilight can’t help but feel a strange tingle up her spine at the absence of that warm tobacco smelling body behind her. She straightens her back as she hears Rainbow Dash moving up next to her, the click of a lever and the sudden sharp crack of a rifle. Twilight’s ears ring and she jumps, however she still sees the target next to hers jerk as a black hole appears directly in the centre.

“Nice shot.” Twilight says brightly and Dash shrugs.

“That’s nothing Twi, not even thirty yards, I could make a shot like that with my eye closed using my toes... now you have a go.”

Twilight lowers the rifle nervously.
“Uh, I don’t have any ammunition” She replies, turning to Rainbow Dash, who nods quickly, opening up her haversack and tossing Twilight a white box.
“Here you go, twenty five .303 rounds, should get you two and a half magazines.”

Twilight opens the box and then works the bolt of the rifle. This part is relatively straightforward, she’s seen Luna messing around with rifles on the palace ranges after all, and she’s seen her brother doing the same. She slides the bolt back, the shrill ratcheting clack sending a shiver down her spine as she awkwardly slots each round into position. Then she raises the rifle once more, closing the bolt and twisting the handle.

She gazes down the sights, focussing on the target as her finger closes around the trigger. Everything else fades into an indistinct buzzing as she focusses upon the target. Again, Twilight can feel the familiar warm feeling emanating from the weapon pressed against her cheek, and as much as she likes to tell herself it is nothing more than the sun heating the weapon, Twilight cannot help but feel slightly nervous. She attempts to calm her nerves but the mind is like an unruly child. Tell it to stop and it merely works harder. Her heart pounds as her finger tightens upon the trigger. She can feel pain starting to spread through her arms. Any moment now, her arms are going to start to cramp and she's going to miss.

“You can do it Twi.” A voice whispers gently as a pair of hands close around hers. “Nice and slowly, take a deep breath and then just let it out... slowly squeeze, don’t rush it, just let it happen.” Rainbow Dash’s voice is soft and soothing and Twilight’s heart starts to calm as her finger tightens around the trigger. She opens her mind and slowly allows her magic to work, feeling the tension of each spring and lever in the rifle’s workings, each tiny pin and nut tensing up, like a tightly wound snake that will lash out at any moment in a finely tuned movement of death. Twilight pulls the trigger the rest of the way back.

The rifle crashes and jerks in her hand, the recoil sinking into her shoulder and the hands upon her own gripping her tightly. Twilight gazes down the sight, anxious to inspect the damage. A tiny black hole has been bored into the round target in the second ring. It’s not as good as Rainbow Dashs’s shot, but in Twilight’s mind, it is respectable. She then flicks her gaze away from the sights, to the hands enclosing her own. Rainbow Dash’s hands are wrapped around hers and Twilight can feel Rainbow Dash’s body pressed against her own. Twilight’s wings stir slightly and she turns to gaze at the face just inches from hers. Rainbow's cheeks are flushed and her left eye is wide as if she cannot quite believe what she has just done.

“Umm... so yeah,” Rainbow Dash suddenly steps back, her hands falling away as her cheeks start to glow red. “That’s how you do it.... yeah.”

Twilight nods, hurriedly averting her gaze even as her own face starts to heat up. She can feel familiar butterflies stirring in her stomach and she shakes her head quickly as if to clear a particularly troublesome fly.

She cannot, she must not do this. She is a Princess of Equestria, she is not here on holiday and they both have too much to lose by getting embroiled in anything. What happened between them was a glorious memory, a moment of Twilight’s life that she will never forget. But it is just that, a memory. It is a ghost and Twilight has learnt through her studies of magic that ghosts do not react well to being reanimated.

She works the bolt again, bringing another round into the chamber.
This Cannot happen! She thinks, squeezing the trigger. The rifle jerks in her hands once more and another round slices through the air to smash into the target, impacting on the fourth ring of the target.

“Don’t slap the trigger, be nice and gentle with it!” Rainbow Dash says firmly and Twilight sighs as she fires again and again, each round singing through the air to thwack into the target. The day slowly progresses, with Twilight spending hours learning the ins and outs of shooting from various positions, shooting her rifle and then her pistol throughout the morning. As they shoot, Twilight can’t help but notice Rainbow Dash keeping a respectful distance from her, never moving into arm’s length, something that Twilight is grateful for. She doesn’t want complications, especially not the kind that getting back into a relationship would bring.

Twilight rather rapidly discovers a natural affinity for shooting. As she continues to pump rounds into each target under Rainbow Dash’s instruction, she becomes more proficient. Twilight has always enjoyed learning new things and it turns out shooting is no different. It is an exact science, a series of complex mathematical equations that come together into an expression of singular intent. Twilight considers herself something of a scientist and thus this appeals to her.

When they break for a spot of lunch, a couple of hunks of dry bread and a couple of scraps of salted pork, Twilight explains her findings to Rainbow Dash, who chuckles and shakes her head.
“Yeah, when you’re shooting at targets it’s one things quite another shooting at other living things, but you’re not doing too bad Twi, considering this is the first time you’ve used one of these rifles ever.”

“Thanks, I blame it on having a good teacher.” Twilight says happily.

“What can I say, I’m just that awesome.” Dash replies brightly before she takes a quick swig of water. “But yeah, here’s hoping you never have to use it in anger Twilight, that’s what the Legion is here for.”

Twilight nods quietly, empathising with that spirit. Her sleep last night was plagued by dreams of burning airships and she has no doubt that such dreams will continue.
“Mhmm, does it make me a bad person that I agree?”

“Not at all” Rainbow Dash says gently “Killing is not a path you should take Twi, you’re too innocent.”

“Is that a good thing, my being innocent?” Twilight asks, drawing patterns in the sand with an empty shell casing, and Rainbow Dash nods.

“Trust me Twi, the emotional baggage that comes with killing is something you can do without, as for innocent, maybe I should qualify that yeah? You certainly weren’t innocent last time we-”
Twilight blushes and playfully slaps Rainbow’s shoulder and Rainbow smirks, poking her side and the two chuckle for a moment, smiling at old memories.

“You know, you’re still cute when you blush.” Rainbow Dash reflects after a few moments of thought.

Twilight’s blush deepens “Thank you Rainy.”

“Anytime, Sparky. Now stop stuffing your face and let's get back to it."