The late morning sun beat down on the small group of runners as they made their way over the winding perimeter road. The midsummer heat made their breaths more haggard as the high temperature sapped the energy from their already weary bodies.

Jason continued pushing the stallions in front of him. They still had another half lap to go, yet the Guards were beginning to drag ass a little bit. Given any other circumstance, Jason would have let them. Hell, he probably would have been right there with them. It was hot. Damn hot. Jason could feel his own energy draining as he ran, and if he felt tired, he couldn't imagine what the stallions in front of him were feeling.

This was perfect. This heat is exactly what Jason wanted. They were preparing for operations in the desert, after all. The sooner the Guards under his command could adapt to stressful conditions, the better.

Jason saw Razor beginning to fall back from the other two stallions. Like most pegasi, Razor had become reliant on his wings for traveling more than a few yards, and so his legs had taken quite a bit of work before he could maintain a decent pace for any considerable distance.

"LET'S GO RAZOR! DON'T YOU FALL BEHIND ME! IF I PASS YOU, I'M ADDING ANOTHER LAP!" Jason shouted. Razor's ears perked slightly at his commander's words and he picked up speed again, returning to his place beside the other Guards.

Jason missed his runs with Rainbow Dash. The exercise used to relax him. It gave him time to think, and he relished in the shared activity with his partner. Now however, the runs were becoming a chore. Jason pushed himself, and the stallions in front of him, harder than he had in years. They weren't fun anymore. Cardio was going to play a major role in the upcoming operations they would need to participate in, and Jason was making sure that his Protectors would be capable of handling it.

Jason looked around quickly, taking in the familiar scenery of the trail. In the distance, he could hear the tell-tale sounds of construction emanating from deep within the Everfree Forest. The construction had begun a couple of weeks ago, though Jason would have preferred it to start much sooner.

Fluttershy had actually been the cause of the delay. A rather large section of the forest had to be cleared before anything could actually be built, and so work crews had been assembled to begin clearing the trees.

Jason had been observing one of Razor's flight lessons when he heard the commotion. He knew the work was supposed to begin today. The government workers the Princesses sent to handle the building of the camp had kept in constant communication with the Captain, giving him frequent updates on where they were in the process. Jason had been amazed at the efficiency with which they went about their work, and had left them alone for the most part, rather than nit picking everything they did.

Jason tore himself from the lesson just as Rainbow was demonstrating a complex corkscrew maneuver for Razor to learn and began making his way toward the ruckus. The general mumble began separating into identifiable voices as the human drew closer. He could recognize a few of the contractors from his previous jobs, but he couldn't identify the high-pitched voice they were arguing with.

His eyes widened as he beheld Fluttershy, wings spread wide and face a mask of anger. She stood in the center of the path into the Forest, blocking the contractors and their equipment. The human was taken aback at the pegasus' complete one-eighty in attitude. He had never seen her this angry before. Honestly, he didn't even know she was capable of such rage. He had heard stories, sure, but this was the first time he's actually seen it.

He could see Pumpkin Spice, one of the advisors Celestia had sent, cautiously speaking to Fluttershy from amongst the contractors.

"NO!" Fluttershy shouted. "I will not just stand by and let you destroy countless homes!"

Pumpkin Spice's response was calm, but even at this distance Jason could see how impatient she was becoming at the whole situation.

"Ma'am please. This is for the security of Equestria! And we're not destroying any homes, we're simply clearing a few trees to make room for the training camp. Nopony lives in the Everfree Forest! Whose home could we possibly be destroying?"

"Well, for one Zecora lives there. Our construction will be a significant distance from her home though..." The crowd turned their attention to Jason as he spoke. He could see almost obvious relief wash over both mares as he walked in between them.

"Captain Sinder! Please convince this young mare how important it is that we get in and clear the land for Camp Sandblast!"

"Jason, help me tell these bullies that they can't just cut down the Forest! So many animals are going to lose their homes if the trees come down!"

The mares assaulted him simultaneously, putting Jason in a rather awkward position. Camp Sandblast needed to be built, of that much he was certain. But Fluttershy was not going to relent if her animal friends were in danger. He had to defuse this quickly.

"Alright, alright. Let's see if we can work this out... Miss Spice, do you have the plans for Camp Sandblast on hand?"

"Of course, I have them right here." The orange earth pony said calmly as she pulled out a few sets of blueprints. She took a few steps toward Jason and set the plans before him.

Jason gestured toward Fluttershy, urging her to approach. She cautiously left her position and moved next to Jason.

"Okay, Fluttershy. Here are the plans we have for the camp. I understand your reservations, but we are going to need to build it, and the Everfree Forest is the best environment available to train the new Corps of Protectors. We are willing to work with you to make this happen, but I'm sorry, some of the trees are going to come down. They have to."

Fluttershy was appalled. "You're on her side?! I can't believe it! After all the help I've given you!"

Jason was starting to become angry. "Fluttershy, ponies have DIED because they weren't properly trained! The Everfree Forest is by far the most hostile environment in Equestria, meaning it's the closest we can get to what the Protectors are going to have to live in while we're at war. I am willing to work with you to have as little an impact on the environment as possible, but you're going to need to cooperate. I'm sorry, but if you don't then we are going to be using this established plan and clear an entire chunk of the woods." Jason's expression hardened. "I'm sorry, but the lives of the stallions under my command are far more important to me than a few birds and squirrels."

Jason could see tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "I won't let you! I'll never let you past me!"

Jason let out a painful sigh. This was not going well. "Fluttershy, please. Work with us here. We're willing to compromise!"

"I won't let you destroy a single home!" She nearly screamed.

Jason clenched his jaw he didn't want to do this... He really didn't... But he saw no other option. She was being irrational in her rage.

"Then, as a Captain of the Royal Guard, I hereby place you under arrest for the obstruction of military operations. Fluttershy, please come with me."

Her eyes widened in shock. Everypony was silent. The contractors watched in sad silence at what was transpiring before them. Many of them were Ponyville residents, and knew both Jason and Fluttershy. They knew of the friendship between the two, and they could understand why Jason was doing what he was doing, but that didn't make them like it. They loved Fluttershy. Everyone did. How could you not love the Element of Kindness?

"You're... You're arresting me?" Fluttershy's voice quivered.

"You're not giving me a choice! Camp Sandblast needs to be built! I told you, this is going to happen! I can understand how you feel, they are the same emotions I feel about defending the citizens of Equestria. To properly defend them, we need a force capable of stopping any threat, and to create that force we need to train them in the hellfire's of combat, or as close to them as we can get."

He looked at her desperately. He wanted her help. She knew the Forest better than anyone in Ponyville, and her insight would be invaluable in going forward.

"Work with us Fluttershy. If you are there organizing the construction, you can ensure that no animals are being mistreated. would that be more acceptable for you? I don't want to arrest you. Believe me, I don't. But I won't hesitate if you won't cooperate."

Fluttershy became lost in thought. She didn't like this. Jason could tell, yet he hoped that he had given her a good alternative. One that would let her be in control of which trees were taken down.

After a while, Fluttershy spoke up. "Okay Jason... I'll help you... I don't like it... But I'll help." She looked defeated.

Jason let out a sigh in bitter victory. He was going to do whatever he could to make it up to her, but he was grateful she had decided to listen to reason. If he had actually needed to take her into custody, he doubted there was any way he would be able to repair their friendship.

"Thank you, Fluttershy. Pumpkin Spice, please speak with Fluttershy and get her up to speed about the plans for the camp. If you'll excuse me, I need to get back to training my instructors." He looked to Fluttershy. "Fluttershy, I promise to stop by later to talk with you."

Fluttershy ignored him as Pumpkin Spice walked over to her to begin detailing their plans. Jason turned away from the gathering and began making his way to the library, where Twilight was busy teaching the two unicorns the finer aspects of magic.

After that initial interruption, the construction continued as planned, albeit at a slower pace than originally planned. Fluttershy ensured that every tree they cut down was devoid of animal life before she let the saws anywhere near it. The workers were becoming a little agitated at her diligence, yet they didn't attempt to progress without her approval.

Jason's mind returned to the present as the finish line came into view. The stallions in front of him remained in their small formation, exactly the same way they had been when they started their seven-mile death run.

It had been an extremely effective month and a half. Their stamina was improving remarkably well, and their individual training with his herd mates was progressing far better than he had expected. Carbon and Copper were learning more and more advanced spells, and Razor was actually beginning to keep up with Rainbow during their flight exercises.

Jason alternated their group PT sessions between cardio and martial arts, with the help of Rainbow. Originally, they didn't even know what part of their bodies they were supposed to fight with, but after many hours of practice they were able to hold their own decently well against the certified masters. They never won, but their sparring matches were lasting longer and longer as they became more confident in their abilities.

As far as their combat training went, Jason taught them what he could. Without their weapons and other equipment, their instruction was limited. He taught them basic unit tactics and formations. Fire team movements, patrolling methods, bounding, and anything else he could think of that didn't necessarily require weapons, however he was beginning to run out of things to teach. His lessons became shorter and their PT became longer. He was essentially killing time until their first sets of gear arrived from Canterlot.

Jason did his best to teach them how to be instructors. He was no DI. He didn't have that training. All he had were his memories from Boot Camp, and he did what he could from those. He led through example, often time losing his voice from the constant shouting, and through personal training, by explaining why he did what he did and the effect it should have on their students.

"STOP!" Jason shouted as they passed the finish line. Their run slowed to a jog, then to a walk as they slowly turned. They walked in a circle for a while, allowing their fatigued legs to cool down from the strenuous exercise.

Jason watched as Coppers legs quivered beneath him. As he took another step, the leg gave out and he fell forward onto the gravel road. He took a few quick steps and stopped directly beside the downed unicorn. He inhaled deeply.

"GET UP! GET THE FUCK UP! YOU THINK ANYPONY IS GOING TO RESPECT YOU IF YOU CAN'T EVEN HANDLE A LITTLE RUN?! YOU'RE FUCKING PATHETIC! I CAN'T BELIEVE I ACTUALLY AGREED TO LET YOU TRAIN OUR CORPS OF PROTECTORS! I MUST HAVE BEEN OUT OF MY FUCKING MIND!"

Copper slowly got to his hooves, anger quickly flashing over his face as his legs struggled to support his weight. It was enough for Jason to grab onto.

"WHAT? ARE YOU MAD? DO I PISS YOU OFF? HUH? YOU THINK I'M WRONG?"

Copper gritted his teeth. "Yes, Sir." He hissed.

"I'M SORRY, I DON'T SPEAK BITCH. WHY DON'T YOU TRY AGAIN WITH SOME FUCKING INTENSITY IN YOUR FUCKING BODY?"

Copper stiffened. "YES SIR!" He shouted.

"SO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD BE HERE, THEN!" Jason leaned closer to the stallion, his face mere inches from the pony's. "THEN QUIT BEING A LITTLE BITCH. FIND YOUR FUCKING BALLS AND PONY THE FUCK UP."

"AYE AYE SIR!" Copper responded.

Jason returned to his full height. "GET ON LINE!" He shouted.

"GET ON LINE!" The ponies responded in unison as they quickly formed a line facing Jason.

The Captain looked over the stallions quickly. One of the first things Jason had gotten rid of was the customary dyeing of the stallion's coat and mane. It was good practice for units that adhered to uniformity and appearance, however it was impractical for a functional military. He had them maintain a short haircut, however the white and gray dyes the ponies had used on their coats was nearly gone, revealing their natural colors. It would still be a couple weeks until the color was totally gone, giving their coats a strange, tipped appearance.

Jason looked at his watch quickly. It was just before six P.M. Perfect. Jason thought to himself as he relaxed his pose.

"At ease, gents." Jason had flipped the mental switch within his head, turning off DI mode and returning to his normal, more relaxed state.

The stallions sighed in relief and allowed themselves to relax. Their training day started at five every morning and ended at six at night. If he could, Jason would have kept them in the training mindset, but he wasn't a machine. It was what he was training these stallions for. Their platoons would remain in that mindset twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

"Alright. Good work today. Tomorrow, we'll be going over a few more instructor theories before you go to your subspecies training. In the afternoon, we'll be practicing IED detection. Finally we've got our next phase of PMAP. You'll need your mouthguard and sparring gear. We'll be focusing on standing strikes and kicks, as well as a few throws. Any questions?"

"Sir, did we get any word on when we're supposed to get our weapons?" Carbon asked. "We really need to start applying what we're learning with the right equipment."

"I agree. I know that the weapons are in the final stages of testing right now so hopefully we'll be getting them soon. Anything else?"

"Sir." Razor spoke up. "Do you know if we're going to be tested on our specialized training? With the mares I mean. I know we still have a lot to learn from them, but how are we going to know when we're ready to begin training new recruits?"

Jason thought for a moment. He honestly didn't know. That was something he would have to speak to Twi and Rain about. It was a good idea. Having a cumulative test would show both Jason and the stallions themselves that they were ready, though Jason knew it would still be a while before they were ready. However they should begin creating the tests so they'd be ready.

"Good question. I'll speak with Twilight and Rainbow tonight and see what they have to say and get back to you tomorrow morning. Any other questions?"

The stallions were silent.

Jason let out a sigh. "Alright. You're dismissed. We'll meet here tomorrow morning at zero-five. Be ready to scream tomorrow morning."

The stallions snapped to attention. "Aye aye, Sir." They said in unison before turning and beginning their walk to the small home. Their fatigued limbs protested the movement and they walked with minor limps.

"Stop limping. I know you're hurting, but you need to be a symbol of unwavering strength to the recruits beneath you. If they see you moving like that, they begin to think you're not as strong as they think you are." Jason called after them.

"Aye, Sir." They responded as they attempted to walk normally.

Jason exhaled quickly before turning and taking a step toward his home. His leg nearly failed beneath him as he attempted to walk and he barely caught himself before he fell to the ground. "Aw fuck." He said under his breath as he took another step. His legs were done, and he struggled to walk normally as he made the journey home.

Jason stiffly walked into his home. He could smell a thick and slightly sweet aroma emanating from the kitchen and his stomach growled in anticipation, his body naturally looking for any way to replenish the calories he had expended during his workout.

"I'm assuming that's you, Spike?" Jason called out

"Hey Dad!" Spike responded from the kitchen. "Dinner'll be ready in a few. How was work?"

"Tiring..." Jason said as he made his way to the living room and collapsed on the couch. He was exhausted. The day's training had been tiresome. He was thankful that Rainbow and Twilight were able to share at least a small amount of the effort of training the stallions. The few hours they had the Guards each day gave the Captain time to rest, and plan their next courses of training.

Jason exhaled deeply. He needed a shower, but he was unsure if his legs would even support his weight right now.

"Where's Twi and Rain?" Jason called to the dragon.

Spike emerged from the doorway, adorned in his pink apron. A smirk made it's way to Jason's face. He had gotten Spike a different one years ago. Something that could be considered more 'manly', If one could consider an apron manly in the first place, yet Spike still wore the one Jason had met him in. It was his favorite, and Jason wouldn't begrudge him his preferences.

"Twi's out restocking her quills and paper, and Rainbow's got some last minute weather tasks to put together. There was supposed to be a bit of rain last night but it didn't happen, so now there's gotta be an even bigger one tonight."

"Any idea when it's supposed to end?" Jason asked as he gently began stretching his legs, trying to prevent them from cramping.

"Nah, you're gonna have to ask Rainbow about that." Spike said with a shake of his head. "I better get back to it, or the sauce'll burn."

"Okay Spike. I'm gonna go shower."

"Oh yeah! I almost forgot. You got a letter from the research ponies in Canterlot. I left it on your desk." Spike said before vanishing into the kitchen.

"Thanks, I'll take a look at it." Jason said as he struggled to his feet. He was a little concerned at how his body was reacting to the exercise. He hadn't been this sore in quite some time. Maybe the daily hazing sessions he put himself and the Guards through daily were beginning to catch up to him. Maybe he was getting old. He didn't know, so he let the thoughts slip from his mind.

He stepped into his study and closed the door. The letter, adorned with the official 'Ministry of Research' seal, sat centered on his desk. With a sigh, he set his weight on his chair and picked up the message. He broke the seal quickly and read it to himself.

Captain Sinder

It is with great eagerness that I write you today.

After countless hours of development and testing, we have completed the first prototypes for the projectile weapons to be used by the Corps of Protectors. We have demonstrated them to the Royal Sisters, and they have given their approval to proceed with transferring the weapons to you for further testing.

We will be transporting the weapons to you as soon as possible, expect them to be there in no more than two days.

I look forward to our meeting with anticipation.

Respectfully,

Storm Wind

Director of Weapons Research

Ministry of Research.

It's about time... Jason thought as he set the letter back onto his desk. An unexpected relief washed over him. He would finally be able to train his instructors with the weapons that may one day save their lives, and with the weapons they would be one step closer to completing their training.

He set the letter back on the desk and rose. He stopped by the bedroom quickly to get out of his sweat-laden clothes and collect a fresh set before making his way to the bathroom and the cool shower that awaited him.

Jason took his usual position at the table, relishing in the clean feeling after the refreshing shower. Some of the ache had eased from his muscles, but he reminded himself that he still needed to stretch before bed, lest the lactic acid build in his muscles.

Twi and Rain still hadn’t returned from their tasks, leaving Jason and Spike to enjoy their dinner alone.

Jason looked out the window quickly. The late summer sun was setting, bringing yet another eventful day to a close. A touch of curiosity entered his mind. He understood that Rain would be gone as long as needed to ensure the clouds were properly placed for the storm, but he was curious as to what was taking Twi so long.

He let the thought slip from his mind as Spike walked into the dining room carrying a bowl of salad. Jason slid his chair out and moved to assist the dragon. As he entered the kitchen, he heard the distinctive thud of the front door closing and bags being set in the entryway. He stepped to the counter and collected a covered casserole dish before returning to the dining room and observing who had come home.

Twilight stretched her neck slightly. It looked like her day had been just as long as his and she seemed tired.

“Hey Twi, just in time for dinner!” Jason said with a smile.

“Thank goodness. I’ve been so busy all day I had to miss lunch. I’m starving and that smells delicious.” She sniffed the air graciously before returning the human’s smile and making her way to the dining room.

Before long they sat together at the table, enjoying the meal Spike had so painstakingly made for them.

“So Twi,” Jason said between mouthfuls.”Where ya been? Spike said you were just out restocking your writing gear. That shouldn’t have taken that long.”

Twilight finished chewing and swallowed before responding. “I got stopped on my way back by a group of colts.”

Jason raised an eyebrow. “What for?” He asked.

“To ask questions about the Protectors.” She said before scooping another spoonful of the casserole into her mouth. She chewed quickly before continuing. “They’ve seen me training Carbon and Copper, so they thought I would have information for anypony who wanted to join.” She shook her head quickly. “I told them as much as I could, but they had a lot of questions I couldn’t answer.”

Jason nodded as he ate. “Yeah, we really need to get those recruiting stations finished. I answer questions when I can, but I’m so busy with training I don’t really have the time. I’ll make sure to send a letter to see if we can’t get that side of things moving a little faster.”

They ate in silence for a little while, simply enjoying the food and one another’s company. Eventually, Jason broke the silence once again. “Razor brought up a good idea today. He asked if there was gonna be a cumulative exam at the end of their individual training.”

Jason saw Twi’s ears perk at the mention of a test and she looked up toward him, a touch of excitement in her eyes. He saw the pace of her chewing quicken slightly.

He continued before she had a chance to interrupt. “I know Carbon and Copper still need a little more work, but when they are at least trained enough to handle themselves and begin instructing others, a test could reinforce their confidence in their abilities.”

Twi swallowed. “I’m happy you brought that up, actually. I’m getting pretty close to finishing their basic training.”

Jason’s eyes widened slightly at the revelation. “Really? Wait, what do you mean by ‘basic’ training?”

“Just what it sounds like. They have great control over the most basic and most practical of spells, like telekinesis.” She grinned a little at Jason’s surprise. “They are decently gifted and extremely motivated to learn what I have to teach them. All I really have left to pass on to them are some of the more advanced exercises to strengthen their focus. Everything else I could teach them will require months of diligent study to master, but for what they will need they are more than qualified.”

Jason blinked. If this was true, then their training was far closer to complete than he had anticipated. They still required weapons training and he wanted to get them all to black belt in the martial arts program he and Rainbow had developed. Without the individual training, however, they would have that much more time each day to focus on these parts of their training.

“Well if that’s true, do you think you can start putting together their exams? If we can get those knocked out, we can focus on other areas of training.”

“Sure, I’ll get to work on mine tomorrow morning. It shouldn’t take too long to put together. Be sure you talk with Rain though, you know how she is with tests, I can’t imagine she’ll be too excited about having to make one.”

“Nah, she’ll probably put Razor through some kind of obstacle course to test his flying. She likes setting those up.”

The room was engulfed in a flash of white light. A moment later, the walls shook from the proximity of the lightning bolt.

The three of them jumped in surprise at the unexpected thunderclap. Spike and Twilight both glanced out the window just in time to see the fat raindrops begin pounding against the panes.

Jason sat there frozen. In his mind, all he could see was a plume of sand being thrown into the sky, engulfing the Guards as they approached the downed ambassador.
He shut his eyes tight, shaking his head quickly in an attempt to rattle the memory from his mind. He let out a sigh and stood “Excuse me for a minute.” he said before making his way to the bathroom. He rinsed his face quickly, the cold water washing the last bit of shock from his mind.

The visions had been occurring more and more frequently. Originally, it took something excessive, much like that clap of thunder, to set it off. Now though, any kind of sudden, loud noise was enough to bring them back. Even a popping balloon.

God dammit… He thought to himself as he snatched a towel from the bar next to the sink. After drying his face, he look at the towel in his hands, focusing on the rough, yet soft texture in his hands. He focused on the light blue color and before long the last few visions left his mind.

Hmm… Rain’s gonna need one of these in a minute. Jason thought as he returned the hand towel to it’s place on the bar. He opened the cabinet beside him and snagged a clean towel before exiting the room.

He set the folded cloth onto the small bench in the entryway. He rejoined Twi and Spike at the dinner table. They looked at him together, obvious concern on their faces.

"You okay Jase?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Spike said with worried eyes.

“Yeah...Yeah I’m fine. Don’t worry about it, it’s nothing.” Jason said with a smile before picking up his fork and taking another bite.

Twilight and Spike looked toward each other, obviously unconvinced by Jason’s words. Yet they relented and returned to their meal.

They ate in silence for a few minutes before a gust of wind overtook the dining room.

“I’M HOOOME!” Rainbow called from the door before pulling it shut behind her, sealing the now raging storm behind the thick wooden portal.

“Hey Rain!” Jason called in response. “There’s a towel for you on the bench!”

“Thanks!” She answered. A few seconds later she joined them in the dining room, the towel draped around her neck. “What’s for dinner?” She asked as she sniffed the air and licked her lips. “It smells awesome!”

“Cheese and potato casserole and some salad.” Spike said quickly.

“Man, quite the storm, huh? You’re usually back before the rain starts.” Jason observed. Droplets of water still dripped from her damp coat. She laid the towel out on the chair before sitting and beginning to pile some of the food onto her plate.

“Yeah, I wanted to make sure the rain actually started tonight.” A quick flash of anger played across her face before vanishing as she scooped up a few pieces of lettuce. “Got a bit of an ass chewing from our regional supervisor for missing yesterdays storm, so i needed to make sure everything was fine.” She popped the food into her mouth and chewed ravenously.

Twilight shot Rain a quick glare. She was growing more accepting of the change in Rainbow’s vocabulary, but she didn’t really like her cussing in front of Spike. Rainbow ignored her as she got lost in her food.

Jason chuckled. “At least the rain’ll cool things off a bit. It was pretty hot out there today.”

“You’re tellin’ me!” Rainbow exclaimed. “I’d be lying if I said i didn’t enjoy the nice shower on the way home.” She took a bite and swallowed quickly. “How was PT?” She shot him a mischievous grin. “I saw you out there hazing the stallions. How many laps did you have em run?”

“Three…” He returned her grin. “May have been just a little warm, though. It’s a good thing they hydrated properly, but Razor almost fell out.”

“Well, that’s still way better than last month. He was barely able to finish a lap!”

“True...True…” Jason took a final bite before setting his fork across his plate. He savored the last mouthful, enjoying the food Spike had made. “Thanks, Spike. That was pretty good.” He said after finally swallowing.

“Thanks!” Spike said, a touch of pride working it’s way into his voice. “It’s a new recipe I found. I really like the mixture of spices and cheeses, really gives the potatoes a lot of flavor.”

Jason chuckled, happy at the dragons excitement. He reached out and rustled his quills lightly.

Rainbow was devouring the food ravenously, obviously starving after a day of hard work.

“So Rain, there’s something we need to talk about.” Jason said.

Rainbow froze, surprising Jason slightly. She looked up from her food, a little bit of cheese still present on her lip. “What? What happened? Did I do something wrong?”

Jason shook his head. “What? No… It’s about Razor’s training.”

Obvious relief washed over her. “Oh, okay. What’s up?” She asked, her worry replaced by curiosity.

“Well I’ve already talked to Twi about it, but we need some kind of final test for the stallions. Something that touches on every little thing you two have taught them. You know, so we have a good idea as to when they’ll be ready to start training their own recruits.”

“Is that all?” She responded dismissively. “That’ll be cake. I’ve already been putting something together for him. I’ve already been quizzing him. Before we moved to another part of his training, I made sure he understood everything I taught him. Y’know, so I was certain he knew everything by heart. A final test shouldn’t be hard to put together.”

“Perfect!” Jason exclaimed. He was extremely happy he had such qualified partners to assist in the training. He doubted there was anypony else in Equestria who could have taught the stallions quite as well as these two mares have. “Any idea how much longer before he’ll be ready?”

“Honestly, I’ve taught him all I can. All that’s left for him is to practice. Practice makes perfect after all. I’ve taught him everything I know about reading wind currents and their effects on flight. It’s just him pushing himself now, finding out his own personal limits and pushing them to improve his own flight. He’ll probably be ready for the test as soon as I finish it.”

Jason was flabberghasted. He had no idea how far the stallions had come. He didn’t like to talk about training too much at the end of the day, instead preferring to rest and relax with his family. Something he was now regretting. He should have been keeping closer tabs on their progress.

“Well alright.” Jason’s mind was racing. He may be able to complete their training within the next few weeks, meaning they were that much closer to receiving fresh recruits. Camp Sandblast still needed to be finished, but they may be able to afford some extra leave time while construction was being wrapped up. That would be good.

“Let’s get ‘em knocked out then. The sooner we complete their training the better!” Jason exclaimed with a bit of excitement.

Rainbow sat up on her haunches and gave him a cheesy salute. “Aye aye, sir!”

Jason chuckled before turning the conversation to lighter topics, asking how their days were, and just generally enjoying the company of the family around him.

“Alright gents, find a tree.” Jason told the stallions before him.

The rain had dropped the temperature considerably, making the outdoors far more comfortable, yet the humidity in the air still drew traces of sweat from the human as he watched the stallions make their way to individual trees and turn toward him. Curiosity was obvious on their faces.

“Today, you’re going to scream. Not at me. Not at each other. But at the trees.”

The stallions were taken aback in confusion. He could see their faces scrunching as they thought, trying to figure out what their Captain was thinking.

“Uh...Sir?” Carbon asked.

Jason held up a finger, silencing the stallion.

“The purpose of this is two fold. For one, it’s going to strengthen your voices. You’re going to be shouting almost nonstop when you’re instructing the recruits, so we’re going to start now so you’ll be used to it. Second, it’s going to help your bearing. I know, it’s dumb to scream at trees, but you have to resist the urge to laugh. I don’t know what it is, but recruits are stupid. Sure they may be borderline geniuses normally, but with the stress we are going to be putting them through, they won’t be able to think properly. At least not during the first few weeks while they get used to it. Anyway, with their stupidity, they will do some ridiculously funny shit, and you need to be able to keep a straight face.”

The stallions didn’t get it, but they didn’t question him. Jason continued his explanation.

“Also, it’ll give you practice on picking out things to yell at them about. One of our primary jobs is to keep the recruits stressed out. If we keep their minds in a constant sense of fear, they’ll be much better at making snap decisions, especially while under stress. When we go to combat, they’ll be able to make life or death choices much faster since they’ve been through something like it before. Allow me to demonstrate.”

Jason walked over to a tree of his own and inhaled deeply. “OKAY MOTHERFUCKER! WHAT THE FUCK DID I TELL YOU ABOUT GROWING CROOKED? GROW STRAIGHT NOW! FASTER! I SAID FASTER YOU LITTLE SHIT! YOU CALL THAT VOLUME? MY GRANNY COULD SCREAM LOUDER THAN YOU, AND SHE HAS TO GO THROUGH SIX FEET OF DIRT!”

He heard a few chuckles from the stallions as they watched. Jason spun to Copper, who stood the closest, and quickly walked over to him.

“YOU THINK THAT’S FUNNY? THAT FUCKING TREE IS UNDER YOUR COMMAND, AND IT IS UNSAT! LOOK AT IT! HALF THE BRANCHES ARE DEAD! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO TRUST YOU WITH RECRUITS IF YOU CAN’T EVEN KEEP A FUCKING TREE ALIVE?!”

Copper was struggling to hold back his laughter as the Captain screamed at him. Their bearing had improved a little over the past weeks, yet there was still more to be desired.

Jason relaxed before he spoke. “Do you see my point? It doesn’t matter what you scream at them about. I don’t care about their feelings. We’re making them tougher, able to take verbal abuse will only toughen their mind. Scream at them about anything you want, just keep them scared. However, they won’t be scared if they see you laughing all the time, so lock that shit up.”

Jason walked to the center of the triangle the three stallions formed. “Now then, when I give the word, start screaming. Don’t stop until I say so. Any questions?

“Sir?” Razor raised a hoof.

“Yes?”

“What do we do if we can’t scream anymore? I mean, I’ll scream as long as I can, but eventually my voice is going to give out.”

“Like I said, this is partially to strengthen your voices, and that only happens through practice. once you get to the point where your voice doesn’t work properly, drop your tone and try speaking from the back of your throat. LIKE THIS.” Jason dropped his voice to the raspy frog-voice he had been working on throughout their training. He had lost his voice a few times, giving him more than enough opportunities to practice. The voice wasn’t quite as loud as full on screaming, but the raspiness added another level of fear to the recipient.

His voice returned to normal. “Understand?”

Razor nodded and returned his attention to the tree in front of him.

“Alright. Ready? Go!” Jason shouted and the three stallions simultaneously burst into full volume shouts.

Jason walked between the stallions, listening to each of them as they tried to find any little thing they could use as a focus point of their rage. The human struggled to keep a straight face as he listened. He nearly lost it when he heard Carbon order the maple tree before him to start doing pushups because its leaves were out of uniform regs.

Jason watched the stallions for nearly forty five minutes. They were doing their best to keep it up. Shouting at full volume for that long was hard. Damn hard. Their voices had failed nearly ten minutes ago and even their frog voices were were on the verge of failure. Still, Jason let them continue, pushing them to their absolute breaking point. Dark spots were beginning to form on their cammies as the clothes absorbed their sweat.

“Captain Sinder!” He heard a voice call from behind him. He turned to see who called for him and saw Storm Wind making her way towards him. He turned his attention back to the stallions, who had stopped to see the source of the interruption.

“Did I tell you to stop?” His voice was even. The stallions returned their attention to the spit covered trees in front of them and continued their ass chewing.

Jason turned back toward Storm Wind and walked to meet her halfway.

“Miss Wind! I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow!” Jason said, letting a touch of excitement into his voice. If she was here, that meant the weapons were, too.

“I did say within two days didn’t I?” She said with a smile. “I knew you wanted the weapons as soon as possible, so I hopped onto the first train possible. The weapons are currently under guard at the train depot, just waiting for you to pick them up!” The unicorn seemed eager to receive his appraisal on her work.

“Excellent! Let me just wrap things up here and we’ll meet you over there.”

“Perfect. That’ll give me time to unpack them for you.”

“We’ll be there soon.” Jason nodded toward her before turning and returning to the stallions. He glanced at his watch.

Excellent… Just five more minutes and we’ll start heading over He listened intently as the stallions yelled, their breathing heavy and voices ruined.

The four Protectors all looked down, practically drooling over the weapons that lay before them. They half paid attention to Storm Wind as she listed off various specifications of the weapons, such as weight, caliber, action, and composition.

The unicorn variation, to put it bluntly, was gorgeous. It was little more than a long rectangle, roughly the size of a two by four. Jason picked up one of the rifles. from the ground, it was just long enough to come up past his belt. He could see the magazine well and trigger assemblies cut into the bottom of the rifle. He hadn’t thought of concealing the trigger like that, but it made sense since the unicorns could manipulate the trigger without physically having to touch it.

The RCO that had been developed for the weapon extended off the rifle at roughly a forty five degree angle, with concave areas cut into the polymer body just behind the eyepiece, meaning the pony using it could get a proper cheek weld while using the weapon.

He picked up the rifle’s twin and held them toward the unicorns who were still ogling the weapons.

“Here, take a look for yourself. Remember your weapon safety rules.”

“Aye, Sir.” They responded in unison as they extended their magic and took hold of the weapons.

After he released his grip, Jason turned his attention to the interesting rig that had been designed for Razor.

He took a knee to examine the setup more closely. The rifle itself was nearly identical to the unicorn variation. The interesting part of the setup was the harness it was mounted to. A metal framework held the rifle in place while various straps would be used to mount the weapon to the operator. The RCO was slightly larger, and sat mounted to a brace that could be moved aside when not in use. The trigger was also interesting. It looked to be some sort of pressure switch that could be operated via mouth. It was attached to the same pivoting brace as the RCO.

Jason glanced toward Razor. “Welp, you wanna get mounted up? I’m curious on how this works.” Jason said, the faintest traces of a grin appearing on his face.

Razor nodded eagerly. A few technicians who had accompanied Storm Wind stepped up and used their magic to lift the harness off of the platform. They set the rig in place and began tightening the straps. Before long, they stepped back. Razor rolled his shoulders quickly, allowing the rig to settle more firmly onto his body. He flapped his wings experimentally.

“Good. It has a low enough profile that it won’t interfere with my flying.” He looked toward the RCO mount and saw a small piece that was padded for his teeth on the side of the trigger. He leaned his head over and pulled the optic into position. “Huh, this doesn’t look right.”

The technicians stepped forward again and made some adjustments to the rig. Eventually, Razor voiced his approval.

Jason left Razor to get better acquainted to his weapon and turned his attention to his own rifle.

The ponies had made extensive modifications to the weapon. The barrel was roughly the same length, but that is where the similarities ended. The foregrip now resembled the same boxxy weapon the unicorns now wielded, however the corners had been rounded and were extremely comfortable to hold. The charging handle was in the same position over the collapsible stock, but the ejection port was a mere slot in the side. Jason pulled the bolt to the rear to get a better look inside. The chamber and everything inside looked functional, but he would need to actually test it before he could call himself confident. He released the charging handle and watched the bolt slide forward. Strangely, the polymer sleeve that had sealed the ejection port did not slide forward.

Jason frowned and turned the weapon over, examining the bolt release on the other side. There was a second button right next to it that was up. He pressed it and felt a small click within the weapon. He looked at the ejection port and the sleeve and returned to the sealed position. He raised an eyebrow and looked toward Storm Wind. She was looking at him with poorly concealed excitement.

“That, is part of the Protector Combat Rifle, or PCR’s intricate climate proofing. When that port is sealed, there is zero chance of anything getting into the chamber, including water and sand. It’s designed to lock to the rear after the first round, so it doesn’t impede with ejection.” She beamed with pride. “Once we are able to further refine the design, it’ll move with the bolt and prevent anything from getting in there during the firing process.”

“Wow, that’s pretty amazing!” Jason said. He was genuinely impressed at their ingenuity. They didn’t even have rifles until a few months ago. He was amazed at the innovations they were able to make in such a short time. “How were you able to machine it so accurately?”

A half grin formed on the unicorn’s face. “You’d be surprised how tight we can get our tolerances when some of the best magicians in Equestria building them. Your rifle is one of a kind, so we put a little extra effort into it.”

Jason went to his shooting stance and brought the weapon to his shoulder. It was perfect. The weapon sat perfectly balanced in his hands, with the perfect eye relief from the RCO. It was the most comfortable rifle he had ever held. Almost like it had been tailor-made for him which, on second thought, it had been.

Jason let the rifle fall to a tactical carry. “Did you happen to bring magazines and ammunition?” He asked Storm Wind.

She grinned. “Indeed we did. We brought the weapons, along with anything and everything that comes with them, including enough ammunition to finish instructing your instructors.”

“Excellent, then I believe a proper test is in order. They just finished building the Camp Sandblast rifle range last week and I think it’s about time to break it in.” Jason said with an excited grin of his own.

Storm Wind, her technicians and the Protectors all shared similar expressions as they began making their way to the Everfree Forest, magazines and ammo cans in tow.

Jason stood proudly in front of the three instructors. The noonday sun hung high in the sky, bathing the brand new parade deck in bright, summer light.

The three weeks following the arrival of the weapons had gone by in a flash. It had taken some time to adjust Jason’s tactics to the differences in the weapons they had. The unicorns were extremely versatile in their handling of the weapons, since their magic meant they could move it in anyway they want.

Razor, however, was far more limited. His weapon was stationary, meaning he had difficulty maneuvering the rifle in close quarters, yet at longer ranges the more stable rifle was extremely easy to fire accurately.

Weapons training and martial arts filled a great portion of their final weeks of training. everything they would need to kill the enemy, at least in physical terms.

They still ran of course, much to the stallions’ disappointment.

But they had done it. They had demonstrated that they were ready to take future Protectors under their wing. They had proven their loyalty and dedication, both to the Corps of Protectors and to the defense of Equestria as a whole.

That is why Jason stood before them today in his dress blues.

In his hands, he held a wooden box. On it’s lid was a red hexagon. Within the shape was a golden shield, emblazoned with the globe of Equestria. Behind the shield were a pair of crossed PCRs, which extended from the corners at the top and out through the curved sides.

Jason had spent hours thinking of different ideas for the symbol. He had finally settled on the symbolism created by this final insignia. It was simple enough. the globe on the shield meant they would defend Equestria from anything they could, and the rifles depicted exactly how they would do just that.

Honestly, he just picked the hexagon because it looked good with the rest of the design.

A small group of ponies had gathered to watch the ceremony. Most of the representatives from Canterlot were there, along with Twi and Rain, a couple of other townsfolk and, not surprisingly, Octavia. They talked quietly amongst themselves as they waited for the ceremony to begin.

Jason waited a few more minutes before executing an about face and looking out toward the crowd. He cleared his throat quickly before speaking.

“Ladies and Gentlecolts. Standing before you today are the first of what will become a great institution within our homeland of Equestria. But they are more than just a government body. They are a family. A brotherhood dedicated to protecting the ponies of this great land.”

“That is why we bear this mantle. We will stop at nothing to ensure that our children can return to their parents once more. To ensure that our enemies never have the chance to rob a wife of her husband. We lay down our lives to prevent that from happening. It is a sacrifice we are willing to make, so the common citizen will not have to.”

“Standing behind me are the first of the Protectors. Over the past three months, they have undergone rigorous training under my watchful eye. They are the best trained members of the Equestrian military, and together we will use our shared knowledge to teach even more protectors. The ones that we train will then train even more Protectors, until there are so many of us that no enemy we face could ever hope to compete with our numbers. We will be elite. We will be powerful. and we will be effective.”

Jason conducted another about face and looked with pride at the stallions before him. Their chests puffed with pride under his gaze.

“Gentlecolts, you have suffered these long months to become the best in your profession, and it is with pride that I say you have succeeded. You have gone with me to combat once before, and now that I know your true character, I say that it would be my honor to fight with you by my side.”

“You are the best of the best, and that is exactly what you should remain. Completing this training is but the first step into what I hope will be a long, and prosperous career. There is much ahead of us, but I feel you are now capable of handling anything this world has left to throw at you.”

“With these insignias, I give you the title of Protector. The first such titles that have been given in over a millennia. The world has called you to service once again, and we rise to the call.”

He stepped to Carbon, the first stallion in line. He opened the box and pulled one of the matte black hexagons from the velvet lined container. embossed on the shape was the insignia of the Protector. Jason tucked the box under his arm and took another step forward. With his free hand, he reached forward and pushed the pin through the camouflage lapel of Carbon’s blouse. He took a step back and came to attention. Carbon continued staring straight forward, yet Jason could see the pride in his eyes.

“Congratulations, Protector.” Jason said quietly.

“Thank you, Sir.” Carbon responded.

Jason moved down the line. Copper stood at rigid attention beside Carbon. Jason stopped and pulled another insignia from the box. He stepped forward and pinned the unicorn before stepping back and coming to attention.

Copper’s eyes were different than Carbon’s. Instead of pride, Jason saw only determination. He was ready to go. Where to, Jason had no idea, but it was definitely somewhere.

“Congratulations, Protector.” Jason said.

“Thank you, Sir.” Copper replied, his voice tense.

Jason repeated the ritual once more for Razor. A few tears had begun streaming down the stallions face as the strength of his pride overwhelmed his body.

“Congratulations, Protector.”

“Thank you, Sir.” Razor responded. His voice quivered slightly as he spoke.

Jason returned to his position in front of the small formation.

“You are now true members of the Corps of Protectors. You are my brothers, and allow me to be the first to say, welcome to the family. Following today, you will be given two weeks of leave. Go home, spend time with your loved ones, rest, and be ready to get back to work on the 10th of next month.”

Jason looked over each stallion again, immensely proud of the progress they have made over the past three months.

“Detail, atten-HUT.”

The stallions didn’t move.

FUCK… Jason thought to himself as he noticed they were already at attention.

He didn’t miss a beat.

“When you receive the command, commence your leave.”

One final glance.

“DISMISSED!”

The stallions instantly relaxed and turned to congratulate one another. The crowd erupted into cheers and made their way onto the parade deck.

Jason watched as Carbon ran toward the crowd. He met with Octavia and they joined in a loving embrace, which quickly turned into a deep and passionate kiss.

Jason raised an eyebrow at the spectacle before letting a smile grow on his face.

Speaking of love… He thought to himself as he looked over the crowd. Where are my girls at?

“Looking for someone?” A familiar voice asked.

Jason let out a chuckle before kneeling suddenly and pulling Twilight into a loving embrace. He gave her a kiss before looking around quickly.

He saw Rainbow shaking hooves with Razor, undoubtedly congratulating him. She nodded before turning to look for him. He raised a hand toward her and she smiled toward him.

A few seconds later, she too was snuggled into an embrace.

“What’s the deal, big guy? You haven’t been this clingy in months!” Rainbow exclaimed with a giggle.

Jason chuckled. “Training cycle’s over. I finally get to relax for a while.” He shot them both a mischievous grin. “Which means I’m gonna have a lot more energy at night.”

“Oooh I can hardly wait…” Twilight exclaimed sensually.

“You and me both, sister.” Rainbow added, her tone matching Twilight’s.

Jason looked up toward the crowd. a few of the ponies were making their way toward them.

Jason chuckled once more before returning to his feet. “Sorry girls, looks like you’re gonna have to wait just a little longer.”

“As long as you keep that uniform on. I’ve always wanted to take it off you.” Rainbow said.

Jason laughed a good, hearty laugh. he hadn’t felt this good in ages.

The ponies formed a sort of line in front of him, all wanting to congratulate him on his accomplishments and to wish him luck in his future endeavors.

Author's Notes:

Sorry about the wait on this one guys, but I am now officially moved in to my new unit and will hopefully be able to get back into my previous update tempo.

Thanks again to all of you who have stuck with me. You guys are awesome!