Commander Nexus was a very cryptic teacher. The first spell he tried to teach them was something called Shadow Thoughts. It was to only be used in combat and not against civilians. This spell would allow a pony to enter the mind of another and take a ride in their body while influencing what they see, mainly fears. He said to look inside themselves and know what they fear, use that fear to power the spell, but wasn’t specific as to how to summon this spell to start with. He said it’s different for everypony, but most thought that was a load of horse shit. A red unicorn named Short Fuse, tried entering Commander Nexus’ mind and immediately fell unconscious.

“There are some ponies that have impenetrable minds, or when you enter them, the thoughts they have are far too strong for you to handle. This is why the only way to learn how to use it is in combat. When Private Fuse comes to, tell him to meet me in my office.”

Nobody said a word as Nexus continued lecturing on how the spell worked. The next day, Fuse wasn’t in the chow hall. There were only a few hours before the Winter Solstice celebration. Unfortunately for Ephialtes, he and the remaining trainees for the Lunar Guard had to attend the celebration before going on leave. Hestaria invited him and White Knight for some drinks at the on base bar, The Neon Moon.

The celebration was much smaller then the Summer Solstice for Celestia. Only a few hundred ponies showed up to watch the raising of the moon and stars. And were they missing out on a spectacular view. More stars then even Ephialtes had ever seen. And being in a small town in the middle of a swamp, stars were always plentiful. Now, a blanket of stars began flooding over the horizon lead by the moon. Their pail blue glow was just as great as the sun, covering the land with soothing light.

Once the moon reached its apex and the stars reached from horizon to horizon, did Nexus dismiss the Guard. Nexus followed Princess Luna back to the castle while everyone else went off to party and relax. Ephialtes stood outside The Neon Moon on The Canterlot Military Academy’s campus. He sighed, knowing he didn’t have much else better to do tonight, and started towards the bar.

Inside, music from a live rock band played as mostly gray, mares and stallions, wearing their black, iron chest plates and boots, danced, played darts gambled, and more over, drank. They were all singing the Lunar Guard marching song and Commander Nexus drilled into their heads.

“I don’t know what you been told! Royal Guard was getting old! You fight one you fight us all! United we all stand up tall! Sound off! One, two, three, four! Hoorah!”

Ephialtes shook his head and scanned the bar for his “Friends”. White Knight wasn’t too hard to find. He was the only white stallion in the entire bar. He was sitting at one of the poker tables with a bottle of Apple Whisky sitting on the table next to him. on his right, Hestaria chugged a mango flavored beer and let out a powerful belch.

“Ephi! You zebra son of a bitch! Get over here!” Hestaria shouted over the music.

Ephialtes sighed and took the seat next to Hestaria.

“Wanna’ sip?” she said tipping the neck of her mango flavored beer towards him.

“Nah, I-I don’t drink.” the blood red zebra/pony hybrid said pushing the bottle away from him.

“You don’t drink? Sweet, Luna you’re as stuck up as The Commander!” White Knight said taking a pull from his Apple Whisky.

“I just don’t okay.”

“Whatever, deal ‘im in Ace.” Hestaria said looking over to the black earth pony with an Ace of Spades cutie mark at the end of the table.

“Wait, I don’t have any money!” Ephialtes tried to argue.

“Here,” She said sliding him five poker chips over to him. “Twenty five bits. More then enough to get you started. Each chip is five bits, starting pot at five bits.”

“Okay. Fine.” Ephialtes said as Ace slid him five cards.

“That’s the spirit!” White Knight said reaching accrues the table to punch him in the shoulder.

The other player at the table took his chips in his teeth and left the table as Ephialtes tossed his chip into the center of the table. He wasn’t sure if he could remember the rules of the game. Can only have five cards, in hand, can trade in for a equal amount of cards discarded. Ephialtes levitated his cards up to his face, he saw; Ace of Clubs, Nine of Moons, King of Suns, Eight of Hearts, Queen of Hearts. Nothing good, and the likely hood of getting anything else was even lower.

“Fold.” Ephialtes said dropping his cards.

Nearly two hours and two hundred bits of winnings later, Ephialtes was on the dance floor with his forelegs around both Hestaria and White Knight, banging his head to the rock music. It wasn’t until somepony uttered the single most kill joy word ever spoken in that bar that everypony stopped.

“Captain!”

Everypony stopped what they were doing and even the band stopped playing. All eyes were on the front door and Commander Nexus standing in it. He looked around the bar confused. He wore a black leather jacket and navy blue baseball cap.

“What are you looking at? Blow Me Away!” he shouted to the band.

The lead smiled and the drummer tapped out the first three beats before the guitar started playing Blow Me Away. Nexus smiled and banged his head to the beat of the song as the first words started flowing. Everypony in the bar went back to partying except for Ephialtes, Hestaria and White Knight. In truth, Ephialtes was enjoying himself. It had been a I very long time since he had smiled. Nexus noticed they weren’t rocking out and motioned them over to the bar. Nexus was the first to sit; Ephialtes sat to his right with Hestaria next to him and White Knight on Nexus’ left.

“What’s wrong with you guys tonight? We’ve got the night off!” Nexus said still rocking out to the band as he spoke.

“But you’re the Commanding Officer of the entire Lunar Guard. Shouldn’t you still be working, Commander Nexus, Sir?” Hestaria asked.

“Fuck that. I need to cut lose once in a blue moon too ya know. Bar keep! Beer me!”

With no delay, a closed bottle of beer slid down the table and to Nexus’ fabric cover metal hoof. Not waiting for the bottle opener, Nexus pried open the top with his teeth and spit the cap into the trash at the other end of the bar.

“So, what’ve ya’ll been doin’ since the raising of the moon?”

“Just rocking out here Commander Nexus, Sir.” Ephialtes said avoiding eye contact.

“Please, when I’m not in uniform, call me Nexus.” Nexus responded taking a sip of his beer.

“O-Okay, Nexus, what are you doin’ here?” White Knight said taking a hesitant sip of his Apple Whisky.

“Like I said, even I need to kick back once in a blue moon.” Nexus said taking another swig from his beer.

“Yeah… I guess.” Ephialtes said looking back to the band.

“You okay Ephi? You don’t seem happy.”

Ephialtes was about to go off on Nexus. It wasn’t until he started thinking about it, he hadn’t felt this way until he saw him standing in the door. He felt the familiar feeling of resentment and towards this dark blue cyber pony. What right did he have to put him here? None. He had no right to even be interfering with his night. Ephialtes felt the overwhelming urge to bash Nexus’ head into the bar his was sitting at but held back. Though he couldn’t tell, Nexus knew of his feelings. He was looking into his mind as Ephialtes stared back at him looking for the words to say. Ephialtes had to get out of there before something happened.

“I’m fine, Commander. I need some air.” Ephialtes replied getting up from the bar.

Nexus shrugged and went back to his beer as Ephialtes left the bar alone.

“Maybe I should go with him.” Hestaria said about to get up.

“Let him go Private. He just needs some time to himself.” Nexus said taking another sip of his beer.