“What the hey happened back there, Midnight?” Rainbow Dash asked after they got back to the hotel.

“First, was that last trick what I thought it was?” Midnight asked.

Dash smiled “Yeah, I finally perfected the Buccaneer Blaze! Awesome wasn't it?”

“Aside from the pain, hell yeah!” Rune said.

Dash's jaw dropped, “My Trick did that? HOW?!”

“It's called 'toxic intake'.” Midnight said. Dash's face grew more confused, “In order for our seals to work they constantly take in magic energy from the surrounding area. Toxic intake is caused when the energy taken in is too alien, and the seal can't adapt quickly enough. The seal can't hold it so it leaks out into the body causing extreme amounts of pain.

“Your Buccaneer Blaze combines three different types of magic into one. The sonic rainboom is created by your pegasus magic, which is amplified by the rune magic of your enhanced wings and combines with the nature magic of the lightning. That makes a new and very unique form of magic energy.”

Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash with growing excitement talking with Pinkie like enthusiasm, “OMYGOSHANEWTYPEOFMAGICENERGYIHAVETOSTUDYYOU!!!” she rushed the pegasus.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Rainbow said putting her hooves up to keep the research crazed mare at bay, “Midnight, help! Your wife's gone egghead nuts! GET HER OFFA ME!!!”

Midnight, Rune, AJ, and Rarity struggled to pull the mad scholar away.

“Come on now, sugarcube, you can study her later.” AJ said, finally getting her away, “Ah think Midnight has more to say.”

“Thanks, AJ. I think we should try using this against the invasion force. Very few people in my birth world DON'T have seals so it should probably affect the whole army. As for me and my brother we can form a null-magic field to protect us from the majority of the blast.”

“Now every pony go have as much fun as you can,” Midnight got a wicked grin, “because once we get back to Ponyville you start your training.”

“Let's go squirt.” Rune said leading Aurora out of the room.

Everypony but Midnight and Twilight went to their own destinations.

Twilight smiled at Midnight as she shut the door, “Let's try something new.”

Midnight was suddenly filled with a joyful fear

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

“AAALLLLLL ABOARD!!!” came the call from the passenger car. Everypony filed into the train,

“Hello again, Mr. Star.” said one of the other passengers, a regular customer, “What's with the limp?”

Midnight sighed and hobbled back to their car. Twilight and Rarity were already inside.

“So you tried it than?” Rarity asked Twilight.

Twilight was about to answer when she saw Midnight. He just glared at the fashionista. Damn you he thought.

After a moment the others found their way in.

“Hey, lil' sis,” Rune said, “I miss my hands.”

“Oh, right.” she answered.

Rune put on some baggy cloths, and a quick spell release later he was Jacob again.

“That's better.” Jacob said stretching out his newly returned form.

“So, what kind of training are we gonna be doing.” Rainbow Dash asked.

“To put it simply, Mage Guard training.” Midnight answered, “A lot of my training would be useless to all of you without demon blood, but most should be helpful. You will be learning how to use human weapons and tools. You will learn the deadly aspects of close combat, including how to kill without a weapon. You will learn how to fight with severe injuries.” the others looked at him nervously, “It WILL be hard, and you will most likely hate me for a while.”

He looked around at his friends and family his look was one that was rarely seen. It was the look of a man who was willing to give everything he was to do what must be done, “It is our responsibility as Elements to do whatever it takes to protect Equestria and her citizens. Even at the cost of our lives.”

“If it means Equestria will be safe, I'll chop my own wings off.” Rainbow Dash said, her brash nature giving way to her fierce determination to help her friends.

“Glad to hear that,” Midnight said, “Jacob hand me a cleaver.”

“WHAT?!” Dash said.

Midnight, Jacob, and Pinkie just laughed

*WHACK*

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

“So, anypony what a quick sparring session before nightfall?” Midnight asked still holding an ice pace to his swollen eye.

“Sorry, darling, I need Fluttershy to come to the boutique to help me make her dress.” Rarity said.

“Pink, Aurora, and I are making the cake.” Jacob answered.

“I gotta get back to Scoots.” said RD taking off.

“I'm just plumb tired.” AJ yawned, “Can't sleep well on them fancy hotel beds.”

“Well, I guess it's just us.” Twilight said giving him 'the look', “What should we do together?”

“Actually, I have an idea.” Midnight said as he watched his brother walk towards town, “You feel like one more big spell.”

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

The girls were lined up in a clearing outside of the Everfree. Jacob had woken them up at six in the morning and dragged them out here to wait for, as he said, “The Major.”

After a moment, the hauler pulled up and the door swung open. Under the door appeared a pair of booted feet. The figure that came around was one that only two there had seen before.

“How the hay did another human get here?” Dash asked.

“That's Midnight.” Twilight said. The girls gasped and looked back to the approaching human Midnight, “He had me cast the same spell I used on Jacob to turn him into a human.”

“ATTENTION!” Jacob called and the six quickly followed the order.

“Good morning, ladies,” he said, “Before we begin, ,let me make one thing clear. As of right now I am NOT Midnight Star, I am NOT David, I an NOT your friend.” that made the girls gasp with expressions of hurt, “I am Major Corbin, your instructor.

“It is my job to turn you six into warriors capable of fighting off an army with vastly superior numbers and weaponry. This is not a feat that your run of the mill soldier can accomplish.

“As such, you will be undergoing a modified and accelerated form of Mage Guard training. You WILL be pushed, bruised and miserable. Before the first week you will HATE me.

“Now you will notice the barrier that has been erected around this field and a portion of the Everfree.”

Brought out of their stupor by the last comment, they looked around. Sure enough there was a huge dome around them.

The Major continued, “This serves Two purposes, the first is to keep nosy ponies out, and the second is to make sure you can't run away.” The mares eyes grew.

“Another thing you will notice is your magic and runes are useless.

“The final thing you should notice is the distinct lack of any kind of shelter. That is because shelter is your responsibility. I have provided you with all the tools and material you will need.”

The girls looked at the materials provided and back to the Major.

“Um, 'scuse me, Major,” Applejack said, “there ain't any wood here.”

The Major lifted an eyebrow and pointed toward the forest, “What do you call that?”

The girls looked at the forest and back to the tools, noticing the axes.

“I suggest you get to work. The barrier won't keep out the creatures of the Everfree.”

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

“OW!” Twilight hit her hoof for the third time trying to hammer together a couple logs, “How do you do this without magic, Applejack.”

“Practice, Ah guess.” AJ answered carrying a new log she had just cut down.

“I can't believe Midnight's making us do this, It's horrid!” Rarity complained (not whined).

“I know!” said Rainbow Dash, “Twilight you're one of my best friends, but as soon as we're done here you're gonna be a widow.”

“Oh I know, I'll be the one killing him.” Twilight said, “How can he do this to his wife!!!”

“Oh, girls” Pinkie Pie was dragging a log of her own with a smile, “He's training us for battle. What, did you think it'd be easy? You remember what he told us about war, and that was the nicer stuff.” She went back to her regular music routine as she worked.

Twilight sighed, “She's right. He's only being harsh with us to prepare us for war. With how calm they were at that camp, they must have seen some horrible sights.”

“Was it really that bad at the camp?” Dash asked.

“I'd rather face Nightmare Moon alone than see that again.” she answered. The others shuddered.

“That's a beautiful spring day compared to what it's like to have to create a scene like that one.” The Major said coming behind them.

“Oh, Mid... Major.” Twilight said, “You startled us.”

“Yes well here's chow.” he laid down a sheet and put six boxes on it. I'll be back at ix with dinner.” He turned and walked out of the barrier.

The girls were king of scared to see what they would have to eat. Luckily there fears were proven false as the meal was more of a feast.

“Ah guess he feels we need our strength to work.” AJ said and sat down to the meal.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

David climbed up the tower he had erected just outside of the barrier. Jacob was sitting in a chair with a pair of binoculars.

He sat next to his brother and placed the high caliber rifle to his shoulder.

“So you went through this is your training?” Jacob asked.

“Not exactly,” David replied, “We didn't have anypony with a rifle watching over us.”

Jacob smiled at his little brother still using pony terms.

They sat in silence watching the tree line for anything that might threaten the girls

Jacob finally broke the silence, “Why did you have Twilight change you back into a human?”

“Because you're the only one who knows this form. I need them to think of me as Major Corbin, their instructor. If I were a pony they would only see Midnight Star. They can forgive Midnight for the things he does, but not Major Corbin. They need to hate me. Their hate for me will bring them even closer together.”

“Then what?”

“Then, we won't have six friends helping each other out. We'll have one unit living and acting as a single entity for a single purpose.” David said as he pulled out his lunch while Jacob continued to watch for danger

He took a big bite out of his sandwich, “Mmmm, man ah wich oo coul tashed dish like ah do.” he swallowed, “The flower sisters grow the best lilies in Equestria.”

Jacob laughed, “Wow, it is so weird seeing a human eating flowers. I know you're not technically human, but you still look like one. Imagine how I would have looked if I got a steak in Fillydelphia. That's how you look to me.”

David just grimaced, “That would have been disturbing.”

After finishing he said to Jacob, “I got it you go eat.”

Jacob pulled out a bowl of mashed potatoes, coleslaw and a venison steak, “You want me to go somewhere else with this.” He pointed to the piece of deer flesh.

“I'll live. Plus I might need you up here if something nasty comes out of the woods.”

After a moment Jacob finished his meal and David took the girls theirs with out even acknowledging them. He just dropped the food off and went back to the tower.

“Hey Midnight, you have a letter.” a voice behind David startled him.

“Oh, Derpy, Thanks.” he took the letter before a question popped in his head, “How did you know I'm Midnight?”

The lovable pegasus just smiled and said, “Your eyes. What's that?” she pointed to the rifle leaning on the side.

“It's a weapon” answered Jacob as David read the letter.

“What does it do?” She asked.

“I'll show you.” Jacob handed her the binoculars and grabbed the rifle, “Ok you see those rocks over there?” She nodded, “Watch them.”

Derpy look at the rocks through the binoculars as Jacob put the rifle to his shoulder, aimed and pulled the trigger.

“Wow. That was cool. Can I try?” she asked.

“Well,” he looked at David who gave a confirming nob, “Ok, come here, you hold it like this,” he but the stock against her shoulder and placer her hooves an the weapon, “You look through this tube here and put the cross hairs on the target. Than when you're ready pull this trigger here. Aim for the same place I hit.”

The mailmare lined up her target and deeply exhaled before pulling the trigger. The shot flew perfectly and buried itself in the exact same hole that Jacob's shot made.

Jacob was stunned, “Try that again.”

Two more times the gray pony landed a round into the single hole, “This is kinda fun but I gotta get home, bye.” with that she flew off.

Jacob looked over at his brother who was still watching the forest, “Did you see that? She's a natural.”

“Well she is a postal worker.” Next Chapter: Chapter 9: First Blood Estimated time remaining: 49 Minutes