Once again, lined in two by two, they trot into the forest. Commander Nexus was silent and forced them to keep their eyes forward under threat of going hungry. After nearly an hours trot, White Knight looked over her shoulder and saw Commander Nexus was nowhere in sight

“You want to know how I did what I did back in the chow hall?” Commander Nexus asked from the right side of the trail. “How a pony with metal strapped to fifty percent of his body could be so stealthy?” he asked from the left side this time.

The entire squad began looking around for him as his voice continued to emanate from all around them.

“It’s called The Art of the Shadow. Pioneered by zebras in the time before the Great Twilight War and was first used in combat against Celestia by the Evening Armada during the war. It was very effective against the forces of Celestia. If you want to be one of us, you have to master this art. And I suggest that you don‘t…blink.”

Suddenly Commander Nexus was standing amongst them with a smirk on his face. As soon as Ephialtes saw him, he swung himself around and tried to hit Nexus with a wide swinging kick. Nexus was quick and blocked the fast moving strike from Ephialtes. Nexus deflected the kick and pulled Ephialtes into another headlock. Ephialtes looked up and slid his head out of Nexus’ grasp. As he dropped down, he swiped Nexus’ legs out from under him and attempted to take hold of his left foreleg. Before Nexus even hit the ground, he had maneuvered himself away from Ephialtes. He rolled out of the formation and stood with his wings extended.

“I see somepony’s studied The Art of the Shadow before.” Nexus said glaring at Ephialtes. “We start with hoof-to-hoof combat then we move onto combat maneuvers. Sergeants!”

From behind the rest of the group, a black Pegasus mare and a gray earth pony stallion emerged from the bushes surrounding the path.

“Sergeant Midnight and Lumen here will be assisting in flight maneuvers for the Pegasi and combat maneuvers for the rest of you. The unicorns will be with me for Macabre Magic 101. You will listen to them as well as you listen to me or you’ll be working tomorrow night.”

“Commander Nexus, permission to speak freely, Sir?” Hestaria asked.

“Granted.”

“What’s tomorrow, Sir?”

“Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice. As with the Summer Solstice, those under the employ of Luna are given the day off unless otherwise told by the Captain of the Guard. So, unless you want to be cleaning barracks all day tomorrow, I suggest you do as I say. We’ll start with hoof-to-hoof combat then I’ll split you off into your separate groups. Form up, forward, march!”

They did as they were told with a Yes Sir, Commander Nexus, Sir!. It was another ten minute trot until they reached the fighting arena. It was a large stone smoothened down into a table with no legs. In white chalk, a circle running the entire circumference of the stone table and a white line splitting it down the middle. The top was smooth though still had some dips in the stone where others before them must have been slammed down repeatedly.

“This will be your training ground. We’ll be starting with holds and how to break them. Sergeant Midnight, if you would be so kind as to join me in the arena.”

“Yes, Commander.” Midnight replied stepping into the center of the stone table with Commander Nexus.

“Basic hold Sergeant Midnight.”

“Yes Commander.”

The Pegasus approached Commander Nexus and proceeded to force him to his hindlegs and put his right hoof behind his back from over his shoulder. Not only did this look extremely painful, but the fact that Sergeant Midnight didn’t restrain from pulling Nexus’ foreleg back and Nexus not budging was amazing. Did Nexus even feel it was the pain question. He didn’t show any pain on his face. Or was that part of the training too?

“From this hold, the easiest thing to do is to use their leverage against them. From this position you can do one of two things; you can toss them over your shoulders, or…”

Nexus bent his knees slightly, then, using Sergeant Midnight as a counter weight, vaulted himself over the Sergeant and touched down behind her with the Sergeant’s hoof still holding his.

“You could reverse the hold and turn the tables. Any questions?”

No pony spoke up as Nexus held the Sergeant in the same hold he had once been trapped in. While watching this display, Ephialtes noticed that the Sergeant wasn’t showing any pain either.

“Now, when you’re putting someone in this hold, you can force them to the ground by knocking their legs out from under them, or you can force them to their knees. It’s all dependent on preference. I like shoving their face into ground.”

He showed his preference by kicking the Sergeant’s legs out from under her and planting the side of her face firmly into the stone.

“Any Questions so far?” Commander Nexus asked once again. And when no one answered, “Good. Pair up and get to work. Start by throwing the other over your shoulder. I know there are eleven of you, so Sergeant Lumen will pair with the straggler. Sergeant Midnight, keep an eye on them. I need to report in with the Princess. I’ll be back in ten minutes max.”

“Yes Sir, Commander Nexus, Sir!” Sergeant Midnight said.

Without another word, Commander Nexus spread his wings and took off from the clearing. Hestaria was paired with Ephialtes and White Knight ended up with some yellow earth pony. The hold hurt, a lot but the being thrown of the shoulder hurt more. Ephialtes and Hestaria repeated the move a hundred times over before Commander Nexus returned around an hour later and split them up by race. He and Hestaria were taken to learn how to push their limits when it came to her flying. The next day it felt like he couldn’t move. That didn’t stop Nexus from putting him, Hestaria and Ephialtes on guard duty during the Winter’s White Moon Festival in Canterlot.

In comparison to the Summer Sun Celebration, the turnout was very small. But those that didn’t come to see the raising of the winter moon, were missing one of the most beautiful sights in all of Equestria. Aura’s spread across the sky and giving way to oceans of stars, all lead by the full moon. The Captain was one hell of a stickler, but he recommended the strangest thing before dismissing them.

“Try the Neon Moon on base. They’ve got some of that Mango Flavored Beer.” he said before going with Luna to mingle in the festival’s attendees.

Hestaria jumped at the words of her favorite beverage and rushed back to the Academy for the beer she so desperately missed. White Knight wasn’t too far behind her. The smoky atmosphere wasn’t unlike any other bar, but only dark colored ponies mingled and partied. The bar had a live rock band playing a lot of great songs from Bon Hoovie and Van Manelen. (Good god those hurt my head.). The other amenities that the bar held included various poker tables. The bar was already raging in the best possible way when White Knight came in. Everypony was drinking and/or dancing in front of the band or at the bar. Hestaria talked White Knight into a poker game with her and to pay for her first Mango Beer.

About an hour of playing cards and half a Mango Beer later, Hestaria noticed Ephialtes enter the bar. She stopped mid-chug and let out a belch before shouting to her friend. “Ephi! You zebra son of a bitch! Get over here!” Hestaria shouted over the music.

Ephialtes sighed seemingly annoyed 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 than 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 levitated the cards up to his eyes and looked them over for a moment before folding. Ephialtes cleaned out White Knight as he started coming back out of his shell. He talked told White Knight what he told about his home back in Haystead but didn’t go much further than that. They played for another two hours before one of Hestaria’s favorite songs came on.

“Oh my gosh I love this song! Let’s dance!”

“I don’t dance.” Ephialtes said over the music.

“Live a little Ephi.” Hestaria replied grabbing him by the neck and pulled him to the dance floor.

White Knight smiled and followed his friends onto the dance floor as the bass of the song resonated under their hoofs. After another song, Ephi had his forelegs around his and Hestaria’s neck banging their heads to the song. Then a soldier shouted something that almost killed the party.

“Commander!”
Everypony stopped, even the band as Commander Nexus walked in wearing a black baseball cap and leather jacket wearing his casual set of legs covering in blue fabric to look like his coat.

Nexus looked around the bar for a moment before grinning. “What are you lookin’ 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. 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.” The Commander said leaning forward.

“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.

Hestaria looked to the band and then back to White Knight and saw that Nexus was already gone.

“How does he do that?” she said taking a sip from her fruit flavored beer.

“Hell if I know.”

Author's Notes:

Nexus: Why am I such a bad ass?
Me: Because it's the only part of your legs not made of metal?
Nexus: Shut up. You're still just having him piggy back on Hestaria's story.
Me: Second act is two chapters away. Calm down.