The following night Acropolis found himself very nervously waiting for the Apples to show up. He had not read the volume report Rune had left him of her research and was unaware of what she had discovered the night before. Rising before her he had quickly made his way to the foyer where they had agreed to meet. He felt strange in the grand hall, looking up at the dark marble statues. Out of his armor, he felt oddly out of place. Guards that would normally salute him just passing by without nary a glance. The cacophony of voices that rambled in the back of his mind now quiet. Left alone in his own mind, he enjoyed the peace it gave him, even if he was now just a crippled Pegasus. The constant twinge in the nape of his back a constant reminder of that fateful night he lost everything. He had hoped his disability wouldn't hinder his ability to learn the martial art of the Apple clan. His thoughts moved on to Shining and their sparring match. Acropolis thought himself a competent fighter and had proved as much in his duel with Brigade. But the thought that his victory over Brigade was a fluke ate away at him. His other fights were rather one sided or the enemies were out numbered. He questioned his own combat prowess, and as Captain of the Lunar Guard he is held to a high standard. He out of all in the guard should be trained to a point that none should be able to defend against him. To defend himself and his Princess he required to get stronger, and hopefully Erde Fausten would assist in his desire for strength.  

"I wonder if I was to early." Acropolis looked up at the clock hanging on the foyer wall. The little Luna and Celestia hands marking out daytime and nighttime, he smiled slightly at the little characters of the princesses.

"Eeyup." Big Mac's deep voice startled Acropolis. He turned around to see the large and very red Big Mac standing in the doorway.

"Big Mac! Haven't seen you since Vinyls concert!" Acropolis was genuinely happy to see a old face from Ponyville. Especially somepony he respected on many levels.

"Eeyup." Big Mac looked around lazily as if trying to find something he had misplaced.

"So, about Erde Fausten." Acro looked around trying to spot whatever Big Mac was looking for.

"Apple tree." Two words, two simple words that very confused Acro.

"Apple tree?" Acro repeated, his tone perplexed.

"Eeyup." His response was slow and deliberate. Acropolis was getting more nervous, Big Mac suddenly seemed very imposing, almost threatening.

"There are glow apple trees in the Lunar courtyard." He gestured towards the large glass doors that lead out to the gardens. Big Mac looked at Acropolis and began to walk towards the doors. "I guess it off to the courtyard then."

"Eeyup." Acropolis was beginning to dislike that phrase.

Big Mac lead Acropolis to one of the glow apple trees, their lights starting to glow. He stands next to the tree placing a hoof on the tree looking up at the glowing fruit. The soft blue light making him seem wise beyond his time. Tapping the trunk he seemed to divine something from the tree.

"Knock down a apple, no wings, punch." Big Mac stood up on his hind legs, took a combat stance and punched the tree. The gentle strike shook the tree forcefully, knocking loose a single apple. Which Big Mac snatched out of midair. He tossed it to Acropolis, who caught it with his wing.

"Can I kick? Err, Buck?" Acropolis put the apple down an a near by rock.

"Nope," Big Mac punched forward towards Acro, the force moved the air near him ruffling his hair. "Punch."

"Ah, I see." Acropolis Approached the tree. Looking from the tree to Big Mac and back to the tree he never really noticed how big the tree was. Big Mac's expression was never changing, frozen in perpetual slack eyed calmness. He placed his hoof the the trunk of the tree, it was hard and rough. He pulled his hoof back and struck the tree hard. The tree shook but no apples fell. "Ow." A shooting pain ran up Acropolis arm, he punched a bit to hard.

"Nope, punch core." Big Mac mimicked punching. "Don't punch surface, punch core."

"Punch core?" Acropolis looked to the tree trying to imagine a core to the tree. Dont punch the surface? Punch the core? "Like a sword? Dont poke, stab?"

"Eeyup." Big Mac gave him a grin.

"Okay, lets try this again." Acropolis went back to the tree he pulled his hoof back and got ready to strike. The core. He looks into the tree and imagines a few inches of the trunk peeled away. His strike landed on the trunk, he dug his feet into the ground and twisted his hips, placing all of his force behind his fist. Envisioning his fist moving deeper into the tree, he could feel his force multiplying as his imaginary fist struck the imaginary core of the tree. His hoof was still for a moment, grinding into the trunk of the tree. And after a moment the tree shook violently. Acropolis stood back hoping for an apple to fall as the tree began to settle. Big Mac grinned at him even wider. "I guess, no apple for me huh?"

"Eeyup."

"Eeyup?" Acropolis barely finished the phrase as a apple bounced off is head. He picked up the apple with his wing, "Eeyup," Placing the apple with the other apple on the rock. "So does that mean you will train me?"

"Eeyup." He abruptly contorted around and struck the tree with his shin. Shaking free several more apples. In a single motion he struck all of the apples before they hit the ground. Catching the last and taking a bite. "Erde Fausten Zauber, against magic." He mimicked another punch, this time punching with all his might. The force from his punch sent out a shock wave, pushing Acropolis back a bit. "The only way to defeat magic," Holding up his hoof, he tensed his arm, "Is with overwhelming force." Twisting around he stuck the tree with all his might, shattering the trunk in a single strike. The tree began leaning towards Big Mac, and without hesitation he punched straight up at the falling trunk. Acropolis stood in shock as the trunk exploded from the overwhelming power coming from Big Mac's strike. Splinters and debris rained down on the pair, several guards had stopped to see what the explosion was. "Sorry about the tree."

"No, its fine," Acropolis was surprised about his strength. He knew Big Mac was strong but he had no idea just how strong. "So how do we start?"

"Need another tree." Big Mac grinned at him.

Several of the guards looked around with concerned expressions. Rune was slightly annoyed that her guards were being distracted from her briefing. The evening briefing was coming to and end anyway, everypony had their assignments, and their route plans.

"Alright, everypony. Dismissed." Rune called out and her guards slowly began going about their tasks. As she returned to her office to do the morning sheets she spies Coco, the guard pony she had left Trixie with. "Coco, what is it?"

"Ma'ma." Coco saluted, "I tried to bring Trixie home last night but she refused."

"Refused? Where did she go?"

"She asked to be left in the Starswirl wing Ma'ma." Coco saluted again, "Im off to my duties." She turned and left, her report given.

Starswirl wing, I bet shes in the hidden lab. Rune smiled knowing that her extreme actions had struck the proper nerve. She was confident that Trixie had taken her little talk to heart and had decided that research into magic was her path to greatness. Trixie will be great and powerful, if I have any say in it.

The glow apple tree shook with the force of Acropolis's strike but its apples held firm. Big Mac stood silently observing Acropolis's repeated attempts to reenact his earlier feat. The fatigue painted on Acropolis' told Big Mac all he needed to know.

"Stop," Big Mac held out his hoof to stop Acropolis's punches.

"Whats wrong?" Wobbly on his feet he tried to sit down, more or less just falling to the ground.

"You have potential, but Erde Fausten may be out of you reach, for now." Big Mac said plainly helping Acro to his feet.

"But you said you would train me."

"I did, and I will," Big Mac produced a card from his collar, "But first you need more basic training. He is in Canterlot, strength trainer, he will help, tell him I sent ya."

Acropolis took the card from Big Mac with his wing, it was a business card. On the front was a bull horn motif, the back an address with a name. Which Acro read aloud in surprise.

"Iron Will?" He voice wavered. Acropolis wasn't scared of much, but the imposing figure of Iron Will made him very nervous. Thoughts of his last visit to ponyville came to mind and the very rude Fluttershy he had cultivated. Big Mac wanted him to go to that monster, er, Minotaur? "Really? Iron Will?"

"Hes gotten a bad rap lately, hes good though, finish his course, write me again." Big Mac turned and began to leave but stopped, "And Acro, don't think that your handicap restricts your movement. A very wise pony one said, Pain is all that keeps us from ripping ourselves apart. Dont hide your pain, embrace it." He bowed briefly and left Acropolis alone in the garden. The moon 3/4 through the sky, Acropolis's night was still young.

"Heh, I guess I was a bit arrogant to assume I would excel at this," He produced his pipe from the bag he had with him. "You gotta learn to walk before you can run." He took out a lighter, but his pipe flared up with magical fire.

"Training over?" Rune Shift asked coming from behind him and sitting down next to him dispelling her magic.

"Yep," He took a long drag, "Gotta get stronger," Handing her the business card he blows out some smoke, "Iron Will, Big Mac says he can help me get the strength I need to learn Erde Fausten."

"Thats good, right?" Even in her armor her gentle smile comforted him, with her around he felt like everything was good.

"Yes, I suppose it is." He took another drag, "Hows your night going?"

"Well, Ive made a monster." She snuggles into the sweaty captain at her side.

"A monster huh? Something we need to stop?" He chuckled, they seemed to be collecting monsters.

"No, we need to encourage this one." Her smile widened. "I feel I may have stolen Celestia's newest student from her."

"Ah, I see." He knocked some ash out on her armor. "Celestia isnt going to be too happy about that."

"I dont care." She planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

"No, no, I guess you dont." His grin now matched hers as he took another long drag.

"None shall stand before the Lunar Guard, We are the protectors of the night," She stood up taking a moment to look up at the moon still over head, "My shift ends early tonight," She flicks him with her tail, her expression taking a more serious look."I could use some company."

"Trouble sleeping?" The smoke slowly drifted out of his mouth.

"You could say that," She gave him another kiss on the cheek. "I just need some, quiet time."

"Of course, you okay? Im serious now." Acropolis was picking up that she desired more than a quiet night.

"Yeah, just need some us time." Her tone is soft and reserved. He hadn't seen that in her since they first arrived. She leaves him alone in the garden. Smoke slowly flowing from his mouth as he watches Rune leave.

"I dont need the link to know your coming apart at the seams. I guess all the violence has started to get to my little bookworm." He snuffs out his pipe, his hoof shaking slightly as he returns the pipe to its case. "shes not alone in that."