“So you went and played with Dark Magic?” Lemon Stand asked with some incredulity. I shot her a glance that was meant to be a warning. She did not flinch, but changed her tone, “Isn’t that illegal?”

“I did. And I didn’t get away with it, not completely.”

Windy Day tilted her head, “You’re still here, though. So…”

I snorted once in mock laughter, my voice taking a darker tone, “I am. And I am still not free of it’s effects.”

Silence overtook the group. I swallowed, preparing to tell the darkest part of my tale.

“Did she leave you?” A voice asked with suddenness. I could not identify it.

I stared at the crowd for a moment.

“Next question.” I demanded.

“What about Trixie?” Lemon Stand asked, “Why was a Unicorn that could practice dangerous magics allowed to live amongst Ponyville?”

“She was Twilight’s student, as I have said.” I told her as I reopened them.

Lemon Stand scrunched her nose a little, frowning, “Did Twilight know? And if she did, why would a Princess take on a student like that?”

“Be careful what you ask and whom you ask it from.” I warned, “I cannot say exactly why Twilight took on Trixie as a student, especially after all the things that she had done, but I do know what she told me about Trixie, and what I had seen from her. Trixie was not an inherently evil Unicorn. She was just very, very lost in a place that most of you will never see, I pray.”

Fireflight raised her hand. She was somewhat timid in situations where questions were to be asked. Give an order though… and her compliance was impeccable. I nodded at my most faithful future soldier.

“What place, sir?” she asked

I raised an eyebrow in question, not fully comprehending at first.

“What place… was she in?”

I sighed, looking for a way to explain something that did not have substance or words that would fit it, “I cannot explain it completely. It’s one of those things, really. If you’ve seen it, then you know you have and know if someone else has seen it as well. I will explain as best I can in due time, as I went there as well.”

Once more, silence overtook the group. I was not ready to continue however. Seeing some of the ponies shifting uncomfortably, I could tell that they were interested, but that the ache of muscles that were used to movement was getting to them.

“Alright, everypony!” I barked, gaining their attention. Even Lemon Stand’s sleeping comrade shot up to alertness. “We’re going for a run! Get in formation!”

Some of the ponies around me seemed confused as they settled into their respective squads and stood at attention. I knew they had not been on a run in a while, which was most likely why they seemed bewildered.

“Forward!” I commanded with sudden ferociousness, “March!”

In unison, the future Lunar Night Guards moved. Each hoofstep exactly the same as the pony next to it. Beautiful, I thought. There was simply something inspiring about a unified march of single-mindedness towards a common goal. It was something I had not thought would be appealing to me before I had become a soldier in Luna’s Equestrian Royal Night Guard. Something that now I know is best saved for military functions, and should not be applied to the lives of the unprepared or untrained. They will not understand.

“DOUBLE TIME!” I hollered and began my own gallop at the side of my formation.

“DOUBLE TIIIIIME!” The formation called back. I smiled savagely, and began the cadence.

To that cadence we ran, each hoofstep perfectly in unison with any of the others. It was funny that the other instructors were never around when this sort of thing was going on. These were my soldiers, though, and I did not care what the other instructors were thinking. I knew they were ready, and well deserving of their soon-to-be-new titles as soldiers. Life would not become easy for them after this, but it would certainly be better for a time.

The night air was cold and the moon was full, providing ample light and a bracing effect to the lungs. It was dry as well, which was a boon for flying through clouds.

“INCREASE SPEED!” I commanded as I began moving to the front, ceasing the cadence after ten minutes of running, “WE’RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING NEW TODAY!”

None of my charges even blinked. That made me smile inwardly.

“WHATEVER YOU DO. YOU WILL NOT STOP, NOR WILL YOU BREAK FORMATION. I REPEAT, DO NOT BREAK FORMATION.”

I looked back at them as I took the helm of the column. Confusion was present in their eyes, but forward they went. I brought them away from the familiarity of the barracks, and out into the mountainous stretches of the Spineyback mountains. There cliffs awaited each turn, and one could lose their footing easily. But the run would soon end, so there was no worry of that. I ran, followed by my soldiers, up to the tallest mountain. It had been about thirty minutes. Many ponies were looking rather tired. Their legs had not been worked in that way for some time.

I brought them to the edge of the outcropping and jumped, “DIVE!” I ordered as I did so.

And as I did, so did they. In formation, they followed, like a long tail from the head of a dragon.

“COMMAND: WINGS OUT!”

And so we spread our wings, bringing our legs close to our bodies.

“COMMAND: FOLLOW ME!”

Right into a cave we went as a whole. It was night time, but the cave was brightly lit by bioluminescent fungi that were native to the area. I spun left along my nose to avoid a hanging rock, as did my students, then left, pulling up, and through another hole going upwards. The hole spiralled upwards and out through the top of a mountain.

“COMMAND: HUG GROUND, BREAK FORMATION, STAY CLOSE!”

We skimmed through the forest that dotted the mountainside. Trees swept forward and past myself and my charges. It was this that I had trained with the wonderbolt Rainbow Dash for. She had taught me everything I knew then about flying. Or at least most of it. Such a story was quite worth telling, and the night was still young with daybreak approaching some six hours from now. We weaved, in and out, over and under the brush and trees.

“COMMAND: RETURN FORMATION!”

I called to my soldiers, as I was becoming more fond of considering them as such, and they responded in kind, returning to formation as they, and I, broke into the night sky. I stopped and hovered there above the clouds, the moon shimmering against my coat and theirs.

“Squads!” I barked, “Take headcount! Did we lose anyone?”

My squad leaders took roll-call. I heard as each squad called out all accounted for until I got to Lemon Stand’s.

“Fireflight is not with us, Sir.”

I frowned, “Then where is she?”

“Sir, I believe she is in the forest. Fireflight was still in formation when we were in the caves!”

I floated back and forth across her field of view, “Was she with us when we entered the forest?” I asked.

“Sir, she was, sir!”

“Night Sky, Radio Wave, Iridescent Dawn!” I called out, “Come forward!”

“Moving Sir!” they called out as the floated to the fore of the formations, “Sir, we are here!”

“Enough of that!” I growled, “I have an assignment for you all. You are now a part of my Search and Rescue team.”

“Yes, Sir!” they saluted and stayed in position.

I called Lemon Stand forward, “You.” I stared at her.

She did not flinch, I did not expect her to, “You are Flireflight’s squad leader. You will now lead this team to find her. Do a systematic grid search of the area. It shouldn’t take too long.”

“Everyone else!” I dictated, “You will all follow your squad leaders back to the barracks. If ANY of you deviate, I will personally take you out behind the shed and give you a REASON to want to leave. Do not disappoint me, and I’ll tell you the rest of the story when we return.”

The new squad leaders took position, including the backup for Lemon Stand as leader. Within moments it was soon just Lemon Stand, the team I had assembled for her, and myself floating somewhere above the Spineyback Mountains.

“Move out. I’m going to search on my own.” I told them.

They moved with an immediate promptness.

I began to think back. It didn’t make sense. Fireflight was a little weaker, constitutionally, than the rest of the team, but not by much. She was also one to never give up or disobey orders. I was certain that she would have tried to signal us by then. Unless…

But that couldn’t be.

I decided that it wasn’t worth waiting around to find out. Thrashing into the brush of the forest below, I swooped in, calling out.

“Fireflight!”

I opened my wings to catch wind and hurl myself over a branch, diving down and touching the ground just enough to force myself into a horizontal dive through a small hole under a fallen tree. Opening my wings, I stabilized then angled then back to rise once more. It wasn’t as fast as flying through the branches above, but it was more precise when searching, and certainly faster than just walking.

“Fireflight!” I called again, “Where are you, Fireflight?”

Losing a candidate was not something that would get me fired. Ponies died sometimes in training. It was not the first time I’d lost one either. Even Princess Luna understood that sometimes the training we underwent was too much, and that losses were inevitable. But I knew each of my candidates. Each was the best of the best. I had trained them to be. They were loyal! They were skilled! Losses, to me, were not acceptable because any soldier that did not make it was one more soldier that might not save a life, prevent a cataclysm, or become somepony greater!’

I dove off a small ledge and into a clearing and that’s where I found her. Broken. Shattered. My breath caught in my chest for a moment as I galloped forward.

“Fireflight!” I called out again.

No movement, and I found myself at her side a moment later.

“Fireflight, you’re not done yet.” I demanded quietly as put a hoof on her shoulder and shook lightly, “Can you hear me?”

In the Moonlight of the Spineyback Mountains, I saw her eyes flutter. She was alive. Battered and broken, but alive. She moaned.

“Don’t worry. You’re going to be fine.”

“I… I’m sorry… sir.” she managed to heave.

Punctured lung. I could hear it, and judging by the misshapenness of her ribcage, at least a few broken ribs.

“Soldiers don’t apologize.” I insisted, “Just stay there..”

She shook her head as best as she could, “N-no… sir… I can’t follow… that ord...order. S-sorry…”

It was the first time she’d ever said anything against any sort of order I’d given. It was then that she faded. Not completely, but enough that I knew it would be over if I did not do something quickly. I watched as she tried to stand, but fell over. Fireflight was a courageous and determined soul, but that was not enough for her to make her broken body to move properly.

I grabbed a flare from one of my pockets with my teeth and bit into it, setting it ablaze like one might a glowsitck. Yes. Pocket I still had those then, and still do even today. A flare can fit in a pocket.

It would not be enough. I knew it would not be. The forest was small, but there were many clearings, and likely the clearings would be overlooked by Lemon Stand and her team. They’d be searching the forests and the entrance of the cave.

“Ghosts of our Past...” I whispered beginning a well-remembered chant, “Forgive my intrusion… forgive my failures… forgive my desperation and my weakness… cleanse my heart… set it ablaze… and let my voice break through the HAZE!”

An explosive sound ripped from my throat, somewhere between a roar and a blast of air. It was powerful enough to actually amplify the light from the flare, if that makes any sense. In my mind I saw who would respond. As the Call faded, I turned back to Fireflight, and watched her closely. She was breathing, but it was very shallow. Either sweat or dew was forming on her coat. In any case she was likely going into shock, and so I settled next to her, shielding her under my wing and hoping to trap some body heat from myself and her to keep her warm.

Moments passed, but soon enough somepony teleported into view.

Twilight looked around, spotting me moments after she had appeared. She ran to my side.

“Are you okay?” she asked, “What did you just do? Is it…”

I shook my head, interrupting her, “I need help.” I told her, “Somepony has been hurt. Firelight here.” I opened my wing, revealing the young mare, “I am fortunate you felt the Call.”

“You shouldn’t be using those powers. They’re dangerous, and you could lose yourself to the Ghosts. We’ll talk about it later.” she scolded, but turned before I could say anything and added, “I’ll get Doctor Redheart.”

Moments later, Twilight appeared with Doctor Redheart who immediately ran to my side. I stood, retracting my wing from over Firelight.

“What happened to her?” she asked, glaring at me.

It was not the first time Redheart and I had encountered one another, and it would not be the last. At the time she disliked me greatly, thought I was too rough on my recruits. Even still, I had the lowest injury rating amongst the ERNG training instructors. It was just that when somepony did get hurt under my instruction… it was usually very badly.

“Training accident. We were doing maneuvers.” I said simply, not willing to elaborate too much, “High speed, very dangerous.”

She snorted and got to work. Twilight stared at my charge from a distance, knowing full well that Doctor Redheart needed space. She was about to speak, it seemed, but before she could, Lemon Stand’s squad appeared from over the trees.

“It came from over here! Follow me!” I could hear Lemon Stand bark at her squad, “I think it might have been-”

She came to a screeching halt in midair and then dropped to the ground, galloping to Firelight’s side.

“Firelight!” she yelped, “Firelight!”

“Back off, soldier!” Doctor Redheart snapped, “Do NOT touch her.”

Lemon Stand flinched, but stood her ground, “I will not! Firelight is my squadmate… If you expect-”

“LEMON STAND!” I called to get her attention.

Lemon stand straightened up at attention, “Sir!?” she asked.

“There is ROYALTY on the field! Act like a soldier!” I snarled.

“SQUAD!” she barked, “Attention!”

Each of her soldiers stood stock-upright, looking straight ahead, lined up perfectly. I could see tears in Lemon Stand’s eyes. She had never lost a soldier. It was a harsh lesson. One must always keep track of their charges, or face the consequences.

“They don’t have to do that…” Twilight whispered, “Not for me, not right now.”

“That may be, but they must be prepared, Your Highness, to receive orders from you or Luna, even Celestia at any moment’s notice. If you wish me to let them at ease, I will do so.”

Twilight glared at me a little, probably because I had stopped Lemon Stand from rushing to the side of her squadmate, “No need.” she told me as she faced the squad, “At ease.” she commanded softly, “Lemon Stand, you may approach Fireflight. The rest of you, keep your distance.”

I bowed, stepping aside. Princess Twilight Sparkle glared at me in the moonlight, distaste in her eyes.

“You have changed, Captain.” she hissed, “I worry about you, but… you used the Call. Was there no other way?”

“No your Highness. There was not. We are in the Spineyback Mountains, and there are no nearby outposts to spot a signal.”

The Princess nodded with an unhappy expression, “Send them back to their bunks.”

“Group!” I called, “Attention!”

All five of the squadmembers stood stock upright.

“Form up and head back to base. I will meet you all there shortly. Lemon Stand will take charge upon arrival until my return. DISMISSED.”

Lemon Stand saluted, clearly holding back her sorrow and took off, followed by a perfect formation of her temporary squad. I took no happiness from the sight.

Twilight approached me, “I know Aurora’s absence is taxing you. She’s been gone for a long time now… but you have to retain your sanity.” she sighed, “Your training, you actions… they’ve both become more and more reckless! Each time there’s an injury it gets worse and worse for whoever is involved!”

I stood, looking forward, “Your Highness, my injury numbers are the lowest in the entire company. I-”

The Princess stomped her hoof in anger, “Stop! Air, I need you to keep training them. We all know what’s brewing in the west… but I need YOU to remain who you are! If we lose you to the Ghosts…”

A small voice called out from where Doctor Redheart was working on Fireflight.

“P...Princess!” it cried, “P-Princess… don’t b-be mad… Please!”

Twilight moved to Firelight, “You should save your strength, no talking… okay?” she asked, compassion filling her voice.

Redheart tried to keep my soldier down, but Firelight pushed her off.

“I… I have to… forgive me Princess… but…” Firelight stood shakily, taking heavy, shallow breaths, “... Cap… The captain… he’s a… he’s a great leader…. he cares…”

Firelight began walking towards me, I did not move. I could not move as she passed the Princess. Firelight had disobeyed orders twice. It was not unusual, except for her. I watched as she, shaking like a leaf, made her way to stand before me, as if she was ignoring the Princess, speaking directly to me instead, despite her wordage. Twilight watched with great concern, but did not make a move to stop her. She seemed confused about Fireflight’s actions, judging by her expression. Doctor Redheart insisted that she stop, but knew better than to try to topple the Pegasus for fear of injuring her further, I assume.

“I… I will follow him… into… Tar… Tartarus… if I can…”

Firelight began to fall. I made my move, stopping her from falling completely by catching her with a wing.

Twilight stared at me for a moment and sighed as she turned to Doctor Redheart, “Doctor, please take care of Fireflight… I’m going to teleport you both back to the hospital in Ponyville. Give her the best treatment possible.”

“N-no!” Firelight cried.

I sat down next to her, “Firelight… don’t fight this time. Just this once. I give you permission to be at ease.”

“... but… will I be able to come back…?” she asked, “... did I fail…?”

I couldn’t bring myself to put a hoof on her shoulder, it was badly bruised and I wasn’t sure how much any sort of touch would hurt. Her gaze put sorrow in me. I could not have helped it. Accidents happened, and ponies who completed the training that we did were second in terms of skill at night-flying only to the Wonderbolts. My soldiers were the best because of the harshness of the training I put them through and each group I trained was better than the last because of that.

I forced myself to stare into her eyes, and smile softly despite the fact that I could scarcely stand it, “Don’t think about that right now. Firelight, I want you to rest. I’m going to put you in contact with a friend. She’ll help you get back into the air. When you, not if, but when you’re ready you can return and complete the training.”

Doctor Redheart growled at me, “Don’t make promises like that…”

I ignored her and waited for Twilight to send them off, and in a flash of light she did so. A few moments of silence filled the air between us as we stared at one another. The air rustled leaves and grass between us.

“We need to talk.”

“I know.”

“Tomorrow. Lunch.”

And with that, Twilight disappeared in a burst of light, presumably back to Ponyville, leaving me alone in the middle of the clearing. I sighed, cursed, and walked over to the spot where Fireflight had fallen. I flinched, remembering battles past. I could smell blood, probably coughed up into the grass by one of my most promising candidates. The smell was familiar, and caused the hissing noises in my mind to intensify, almost laugh-like in their undulations.

“Fuck off.” I murmured and launched myself straight into the sky.

The sky above the Spineybacks was clear and clean in taste, hiding the treacherous and untamed woods below and the caverns that ran deep through them. It reminded me of Aurora. I gritted my teeth, my memories taunting me. It had been eight months.

I had almost wished that the Call I’d conjured had brought her to me, but knew it was for the best that she did not hear it.

Fortunately, nearly anywhere in the Spineyback range was equidistant from my training camp and I made it “home,” a bedraggled mess. As I landed, I nearly tripped, haunted by my own recollections of love, loss, and the skirmishes that had been occurring at the edges of Equestrian land for the past three years. Less because I had experienced those things though, and more because the one I loved was not there to make my mind quiet and calm.

Lemon Stand greeted me with a salute and I returned it as I entered the barracks she was guarding.

“Listen up everyone.” I said entering, but no one heard me as they were all murmuring amogst each other or regaling tales of what they’d accomplished in the past few months, at least until I yelled, “LISTEN. UP!”

Silence filled the room as everypony scrambled to the front of their bunks to stand at attention.

“Tonight,” I began as I paced down the center of the barracks room, “You will sleep. No more stories until tomorrow. In a few days you will graduate. You all know that much already, however. In light of this, and how well everypony did at Ghastly Gorge during their final test, you will all be given a free day.”

Many ponies forced the smile from their faces as it crept onto them, staying within my expected level of discipline.

“I may be gone when you all awake. I have left instructions for your Squad Leads, and if there are any questions, defer to Lemon Stand, as she is Company Lead until my return should I not be here when you all awaken.”

I took a breath and sighed, “Any questions?”

No one raised a hoof.

“Good, then go to bed. See you all tomorrow.”

With that, I flipped off the light and waited outside a few minutes, to ensure everything was going smoothly. I too then, took to bed and set my alarm for just before lunch so I could prepare for my visit to Ponyville and my audience with the Princess. Unfortunately, I don’t feel like going into that just yet, and so I’ll skip ahead to the next morning. Maybe some day I’ll let you in on what it was that we discussed.

Upon my return however, I circled the camp looking down at the ponies I had trained. Eager to get my mind off of everything we’d discussed and the memories of the night before, I swept down into the middle of the recreation field and called out to my soldiers.

“EVERYPONY GATHER’OUND!”

It didn’t take long for them to do so. They all stood at attention. It was something I was happy to see them do, but I felt aggravated by somehow at the same time.

“At ease, dammit.” I huffed, “Who wants to hear the rest of the story?”