The moon was still hanging high in the sky as Ephialtes approached the brick Lunar building. His eyes lids were heavy. It was 0303. Maybe Commander Nexus would see he wasn’t ready and would kick him right after. The building itself looked like it was a modified gymnasium or roofed stadium from a high school. As Ephialtes made his way through the double doors he was stunned to find it was a gymnasium. Polished wooden floors and even bleachers off to the sides. On the floors there were four long tables lined up in two rows with three packs set on them. From first count, he could only see ten ponies in the room; one being Commander Nexus standing at the front of the desks.

“Nice of you to finally join us Private. Please, take a seat.” Commander Nexus said motioning towards the desks.

With great hesitation, Ephialtes approached the tables and sat down at the far right corner.

“Now we can begin.” Nexus began. “I would like to be the first to welcome all of you to the first day of training for the Evening Guard. I am Commander Nexus, and will address me as such. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Sir Commander Nexus, Sir!” all but Ephialtes shouted.

“Good. Now this isn’t going to be anything like what they told you in orientation. In fact, forget everything that the teachers have told you. From this day on, you all will be trained to counter anything that is thrown at you. Form every counter spell you can learn to how to work your equipment. Unlike the Celestian Guard, we have weapons, ranging from the lightning lance, to the standard issue Iron Icarus Mk. III that are sitting in front of you.”

It wasn’t until now that Ephialtes looked around at the other ponies that were around him. Three Earth ponies, three unicorns and three Pegasi. All dark colored accept for one that was white and one Pegasus with bat wings?

“For all but three of you, this will be your main piece of equipment. You will learn how to take every little component out of that pack and put it back together backwards. And that is after a ten mile run. For the unicorns here, I will be teaching you spells you’ve never even heard of; spells that no soldier will be able to counter. You will learn to bring out a ponies greatest fears and have hoofs as deadly as your horn. And that last part goes for all of you. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Sir, Commander Nexus Sir!”

“Good. You will all report here at the same time every day for the next two months. In the top flap of the Iron Icarus, there is a schematic of it. You will learn it and will also be ready to use it by the time. Now, line up five by five at the doors and wait for my go. Ten miles is a long run!”

“Yes Sir, Commander Nexus, Sir!”

Ephialtes stood and walked to the doors with everypony else. Nexus wasn’t kidding either. They were the hardest ten miles of his life. Nexus was on his case the entire run. It took more then two hours to run the full perimeter of the main campus twice. The moon was just starting to dip behind the trees when they returned to the Lunar Building. The Iron Icarus’ were still lying where they had been left. Ephialtes could barely lift his tools, either with his telekinesis or even his teeth.

Every other pony was having similar problems. And with Commander Nexus prowling around the floor shouting about how they were doing it wrong made it harder for him to concentrate. The manual wasn’t a load of help either. On top of being practically being in Saddle Arabian, and the incredibly complicated diagrams made it even more impossible to understand.

At dawn, Commander Nexus herded Ephialtes with the other six ponies that weren’t Pegasus and ten Pegasi onto a royal airship with their Iron Icarus’ strapped firmly to their backs. Ephialtes wasn’t quite sure how he got his hands on an airship, but he was sure it had to do with hard core flank kissing. Once airborne, they flew higher then the Canterlot mountain and hovered there.

“Okay, this is your first test! If you prepared your Iron Icarus right, you’ll be able to fly back down to the base with no problem. If you start free falling, one of the Pegasus here will be there to bring you down safely. You land, your wings must retract back into its pack to pass. Okay, catchers, take off!”

“Yes Sir, Commander Nexus Sir!” they said in sync.

Once they were all out, Commander Nexus turned back to them.

“Now, get your sorry flanks out those doors now! Move it!”

One by one, they all jumped from the airship. Ephialtes was the last out the doors of the airship. The rush of cold air was exhilarating and also terrifying as he plummeted from the highest point in the world. Ephialtes’ heart nearly jumped from his chest as he reached back to the deployment ring on the left side of the back. Or was it the right? He couldn’t remember at this point!

He gripped the left ring and pulled as hard as he could. The sound of metal scrapping against metal filled the air around Ephialtes as he started slowing down. He also started moving forward. Looking around him, he say five of the six others spiraling down with Pegasus trailing each of them. The only other that was still flying was a white unicorn. Ephialtes leaned left lightly and began to slowly descend in a left hand turn.

Once everyone was safe and sound on their now unsteady hoofs, Ephialtes and the white unicorn were the only two who could get their wings back into their packs. (considering most didn’t deploy to begin with it wasn’t too impressive)

“Ten-hut!” Commander Nexus called as he landed in front of them.

Everypony lined up on Ephialtes and stood at attention.

“That was one of the most pathetic displays of airmanship I’ve seen in my two years in the Guard! Private Breeze, you were late on deployment by ten seconds! Drop!”

“Yes Sir, Commander Nexus Sir!” a black unicorn replied dropping down to his stomach.

“And Private E!” Commander Nexus said glaring at him. “You took the easy way out and glided back to the ground! Drop!”

Ephialtes looked confused.

“Maybe I should be a little more clear. Drop and give me twenty!”

Commander Nexus put his hoof on the back of Ephialtes’ neck and shoved him, face first, into the ground. Begrudgingly, Ephialtes began his set of twenty pushups with Commander Nexus’ hoof still on his neck. He even counted out all of Ephialtes pushups out loud. Once he finished, Nexus let him up and returned his attention to Breeze.

“Now don’t think you’re off the hook either Private Breeze! I want you and at the head of formation with Private Ephialtes! And as for the rest of you, I want you all to keep up or it’ll be your asses going hungry! Two by two formation, now!”

“Yes Sir, Commander Nexus Sir!” they all shouted, lining up behind Ephialtes and White Knight.

Commander Nexus led from the right of the formation as they started down the running trail again. Once they made it back to the main campus, Nexus ordered them into the mess hall, by then it was past noon and lunch was being served. Ephialtes couldn’t have been more grateful for this act of mercy. What he found odd, was that Evening Guard trainees got their own table in the chow hall. Commander Nexus sat with the other officers on base chatting quietly.

“Hey, Ephi.” a white pegasus named White Knight said, elbowing Ephialtes in the ribs. “You hear me?”

“Hu? Oh, no I was just thinking about something.” Ephialtes replied.

“How do you think The Commander ended up like he did?”

“I’d rather hear what you guys think.”

“Okay, I heard he’s the son of the C.E.O. of Lunarus Industries and that he was run over by a train.” the gray Pegasus mare with yellow eyes and bat wings eating a mango said leaning in like it was some big secret.

“That’s stupid Hestaria. I heard he had a heart attack so strong it caused his legs to explode.” the White Knight said.

“And you say I’m stupid?” Hestaria said shaking her head.

“I agree Hestaria’s theory, but I think he was kidnapped by marauders and held for ransom. As punishment for not delivering on time, they chopped off his legs and mailed them to his father everyday he was late.” the red unicorn said.

“What about you Ephi?”

“I don’t know. I’ve only been here for three days and only talked to him twice.”

“Maybe he just thought they looked cool.” Commander Nexus said standing right behind the black earth pony.

He suddenly went ridged as Commander Nexus went to the head of the table.

“How’d he do that?” Hestaria whispered to Ephialtes.

“Quiet Private Hestaria!” Nexus shouted. “Now I don’t want to hear anymore of these conspiracy theories, or all of you will go hungry tonight. Saddle up, time for combat training.”

“Yes Sir, Commander Nexus Sir!” everypony, including Ephialtes said getting up from the table.