The next few weeks had been rough. A day or two after Twilights relapse. Twilight, her friends, Serenity and I were taking a stroll through town when a little light blue unicorn with a light blue and white mane in a dark cloak met up with us. She went on this stupid rant for revenge about this little duel Twilight and her had a few months ago. She wanted to have a magic duel to see who the ‘highest level unicorn’ was. Well Twilight was in no shape to really do anything. That was the reason she was out and about. I wanted to get her moving so that I could do my own thing. Like ohhh I don't know... repair my ship!

So her friends jumped into the situation and started arguing for her while Twilight, Serenity and I stood on the sidelines. Most ponies aren’t a threat, so I though the whole thing was somewhat comical. Until Rarity ended up in a brown dress, which prompted her to pretty much die on the spot from embarrassment, Dash ended up getting a wing twice the size of her body, Pinkie lost her mouth, (how she as able to breath has me beat), and that stupid icon Trixie used resembled an old computer trash bin. Finally, she turned Spike into a ball and promptly slam dunked him into a basket ball net... how does basket ball even work here? Never mind. After that she went on to show off more of her abilities. The biggest one was turning two, rather idiotic unicorn colts, into an old 'man' and a baby. Throughout the whole thing she kept gloating and gloating and gloating.

I looked at Serenity, “Okay I’m sick of this,” I looked at the unicorn, “Do you ever shut up?”

She snapped out of her little rant and focused on me, “How dare you talk to The Great and Powerful Trixie like that!” replied the unicorn.

“Bit me,” I deadpanned, “Look! You are going to kill this charade, fix Dash, Pinkie, and those two over there,” I pointed to the two age confused unicorns, “and piss off before I get pissed!” I ordered.

“Like I would listen to the likes of you!” she replied.

Next thing I know, two spots on the ground began glow, one on each side of me. Then two chains shot out of the round and grabbed me by my wrists before pulling me down to my knees. I looked at my now restrained arms, but what was happening next to me was far worse than my restraints.

“No…no…NONONO! NOT AGAIN NOT AGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIN!”

I looked at Serenity, and she was beyond panicking. She kept looking at her restraints and tugging at them with all her strength while she tried to free herself. My eyes went wide. I knew what was going to follow and it was not going to be pretty.

“Serenity, look at me, look at me!”

She ignored me and kept flailing around while trying to break free of her restraints while her panic level kept rising. Her breathing was heavy and erratic; she was in full blow panic attack. With what the Corpus did to her, being strapped down and restrained by any means would cause her to suffer a catastrophic relapse. There were reasons why I took major precautions after her reawakening. Being restrained by anything other than me was one of them.

I looked at the little blue mare, “Sweetheart, you better let go of her RIGHT NOW!” I demanded frantically.

“And why should the Great and Powerful Trixie-” I hate people that address themselves in third person, “- do that?”

"RRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Oh boy, Serenity is pissed beyond recognition.

“Because what is about to come, is not very pleasant,” I said with calm nervousness.

I heard metal breaking to my right. I looked over to see Serenity in her Hysteria ability while she had one hand over her head and was already in the process of standing up. The restraining chain ripped from the ground. I had to act fast before she tore half the town down. I looked at the mare again. She was terrified, her jaw was on the ground, eyes wide, and she was shaking like a leaf.

“Let me go, I can stop this!”

Not… even… listening.

Because she turned tail and ran. I looked at Serenity, who was now free from her restraints. I couldn’t see under that helmet, but. She. Was. Pissed. It rivaled what I went through at the Crystal Empire. I was pissed yes, but that was a blood loss, infection, type of pissed. I wasn't in my right mind in the first place. the thing about Serenity is it is her whole nature to be a one man tank, and an unstoppable one at that. And its hard to stop an unstoppable object.

She chased after the unicorn.

I had to stop her before she killed half the town.

“Excalibur, what do we do?” Twilight frantically asked.

I pulled on the chain around my right wrist, “Free me, then I can control the situation!”

“How!?” replied Applejack.

I stopped tugging at the chain took a moment to think, “My sword! Take it and cut the chain!”

Only a select few have ever touched that sword. It takes a lot for me to do that.

I felt my sword disconnect from my armor. With a swing and a *clang*, my right restraint was broken at the shackle. With another quick swing, my left was severed. I stood up and adjusted myself in the direction Serenity disappeared.

I looked to my left to see Twilight –who was scared and worried- holding my sword in her magic. I took it from her grasp, “Thanks!” I hollered over my shoulder before chasing after my now enraged teammate.

I just followed the mini-map on the inside of my helmet. I rounded a few corners in an attempt to chase after the tiny lotus flower. I know for a fact that Serenity would have caught her if she would have stopped running. So that meant that that mare was fast! I ran past the town hall and down the main street. This chase was going on way longer than I expected.

While I followed the lotus symbol I heard a plea for mercy, “Please, I… I’m sorry!” that voice was filled with terror, fear, sadness, and regret.

“SHUT UP!”

Didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that that was Serenity.

I glanced at my mini-map and saw that little flower siting still. I rounded the last corner and found my prize. The light blue mare was backed up against the back wall of the alleyway. She had tears streaming down her face. Whereas Serenity stood hunched over in front of her with her claws open at her sides. They shook with anger. While the little mare pleaded to live Serenity used her Rip Line and grabbed her by her chest and pulled toward herself. Once she was in reach she wrapper her energy clad left had around the little mare’s neck.

Trixie was beyond terrified; her life had to have flashed before her eyes more than once. Serenity brought a balled up hand up and quickly opened it. All five of those long orange claws were ready to shred her in two. It hung there for a moment before she brought it back a little further for the swipe. Before she could swing it, I grabbed her by the wrist.

“ENOUGH!” Serenity turned her head to look at me, “That’s enough… Serenity,” I said calmly. I didn’t know what she was going through under her helmet, because those tense few seconds felt like an eternity. But she eventually subsided. I had gotten to her... somehow. Her ability faded and she dropped the mare. Trixie landed with a thud and an 'oomf'. I let go of my teammate and she turned around quickly and embraced me in a big -frantic- hug. The sounds of her sobbing filled the still tense filled air, “It’s alright, just let it out,” I said softly with relief. I looked at the still terrified mare over my teammates shoulder, “You have a lot of explaining to do before I do something drastic.”

She nodded frantically in response.

Come to find out that little Miss Trixie wanted revenge for being run out of town a few months ago. So she went and found this ancient amulet called the ‘Alicorn Amulet’. It grants the user immense power, but at the cost of corruption to the soul. Its almost like a corrupted mod. But they don't corrupt the soul, they just have a negative side affect. Like Fleeting Expertise, grants a 60% power efficiency at the cost of a 60% power duration. Good mod, allows me to cast abilities with less of a cost but decreases length. I'm off topic again. We stood at the center of town. I stood in front of her with my arms crossed while a still nervous and sobbing Serenity sat behind me with Twilight and her friends comforting her.

“Trixie, what you did is not only illegal, but you caused my teammate to suffer a severe relapse. If I hadn’t of intervened you would be dead. You realize that, don’t you?”

“I do,” she regretfully said while looking at the ground.

I took a deep breath, “Look, I am very familiar with revenge. But threatening others who did not do you wrong is not the way to go at it. Now believe me, I have enacted my fair share of it, but I did it for the safety of others, not over some petty loss in a cheap duel. And where I come from, revenge is paid for in blood, not for gloating rights,” I could tell she was too ashamed to say anything, “Normally, I wouldn’t do this, but it’s easy to tell you have learned your lesson. I should be arresting you and handing you over to the guard. But because the princesses and guard trust me with my decisions... here is what I’m going to do. Hand over the amulet, apologize to Twilight and her friends and Serenity, fix the wrong you did, and promptly make your leave,” I paused, “But if I ever catch you doing something like this again,” I leaned in a little closer, “I will personally cut any amulet you wear off of you neck,” I threatened. I leaned back to my normal stance, “And I will do it by any means necessary… understood?”

She gulped, “Yes.”

“Good. Now give me the amulet,” I said while holding out my left hand.

She immediately unclipped the amulet from her neck and gave it to me. Which I promptly took and placed in a storage device and locked it. Then Trixie went over to Twilight and her friends and promptly apologized for her actions –and gave Pinkie her mouth back and fixed Rainbows wing. Once she was done, she promptly left town with her head hung low in shame.

The next day I went to meet up with Celestia. I addressed my concern about the incompetence of the guard and their inability to do really anything. Celestia argued and tried to fight back. Until I addressed the failure at Cadence's wedding and Twilight's kidnapping. She finally relented. Her sister seemed to be proud that the military would be getting a visit from me.

Over the course of a week and a half I visited the Royal guard and reworked the whole system. I gave them new and better tactics and helped them –as best as I could- in the art of swordsmanship. Its hard to spar with a pony than a human. Next was the regular military, which was built out of earth ponies. Since they fight with their hooves I helped them improve their discipline and added a few more exercises to their regime. Finally, were the Wonderbolts. They are a military force, but their skills apparently lie in their acrobatics and shows not combat. They do train like a military force, but they are lacking in a few areas. Performances tend to do that top people. There's a reason why my team is efficient. We always train.

As I soon found out the new ‘Wonderbolts Reserve’ was coming into the light with the newest batch of recruits. I met up with the current Captain, Captain Spitfire, and told her about the situation. She seemed adamant about it… until I told her that she was going to be taking orders from me and that I would probably rework the system if I didn’t like anything. She went Drill Sergeant on me until I pulled out the letter from the Princess and showed her.

“So Captain… you will address me as General for my time here,” I said smugly.

She was not pleased that I pulled the rank card.

Anyway, I told her that I was going to make her new recruits into a living, breathing force. She gave me the newest list which I was reviewing while walking down one of the many runways. Why ponies needed hangers and a full runway was beyond me, but I didn’t really question it. Like most things in this world.

Bulk Biceps

Cloud Chaser

Meadow Flower

Rainbow Dash

Lightning Dust

Starry Eyes

Raindrops

Thunderlane

“Huh… so Rainbow Dash is going to be joining,” I looked up from the list, “She is going to get one hell of a surprise.”

The new recruits were going to be landing early the next day. Well, I was going to give them one hell of a welcome. The next morning came rather quickly. The recruits arrived bright and early. They all stood around idly until Spitfire and two instructors arrived. Well, I was there, but I decided to give them a surprise. She asked the usual ‘so you think’ questions. It was an interesting sight.

If they didn’t want to join they wouldn’t have been there. But the point is to ruin hope and build it up… at least that’s what I think she was getting at? After she warmed them up she moved onto me.

“But before we get to your training I have 'somepony' I have to introduce, “ said the orange mare, “Excalibur, you can kill the charade,” she said while looking in my direction.

I noticed Dash perk up at my name. My Arcane Trickery faded, everyone –except Dash and a turquoise mare with bright orange eyes and mane and tail- nearly fainted from fear.

“Thank you captain,” I said while looking at Spitfire. I looked at the eight recruits in front of me and crossed my arms, “Recruits, here is the situation as it stands. For the next few days I am here to observe your training, but I am also going to be one of your instructors if the need arises. From here on out I own you, you are to address me, Captain Spitfire, and any of your superiors as yes sir, no sir, or yes ma’am, no ma’am. Understood?”

No one answered.

“UNDERSOOD!?!” I ordered.

“YES SIR!!!” they all screamed in unison.

“GOOD!” I paused and went back to a more relaxed tone, “Your training will begin immediately, but of you have questions, now is the time to ask them.”

Raindrops raised a hoof, “P-p-perm-mi-s-sion t-to s-speak s-s-sir?” she was nervous as hell.

“Granted.”

She put her hoof down and gulped, “What do we do with our gear?”

“You will all be escorted to the barracks. Have fun fighting for bunks by the way,” I joked, “After that, you will all be issued your uniforms. Once were done here, I want everyone back here in an hour,” I paused, “Anything else?”

No one responded.

“Alright, dismissed.”

I turned and took a step. That’s when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned back to see Rainbow hovering in front of me. She wore a cocky and stupid grin.

“Hey Excalibur, since I am the best flier in Equestria, and you" she pointed a hoof at me, " are my new instructor…”

Oh I know where this is headed.

“… You think that, ohhhhhh I don’t know…." she looked away with mock innocence before looking my square in the face, "...you could just pass me right now!?” she had the biggest and happiest grin on her face.

Really?

“You know how loyal I am. You’ve seen my skills in a fight and I am all around awesome!”

I had a mischievous smile under my helmet, “Recruits!” I yelled before turning to look at the rest of them, “Front and center!”

They all stiffened up before rushing over and getting information.

I looked at Dash, “I’m going to make an example out of you,” I turned back to the recruits, “I just got asked the stupidest question. I am not. Your. Friend! I am your instructor!” I looked at Dash, “The whole point of training is to break you down and bring you up as a team!” I looked back at the recruits, “Recruit Dash here thinks that she can pass training because of her skills!” I paused and thought about something important, “I want everyone to look to your left!” they looked to their left, “Now your right!” they looked to the right, “In combat you rely on the man to your left and right,” I looked at Dash, “Selflessness is how a team works,” I leaned in closer to her, “Not selfishness!" i looked at the recruits, "In a fight you rely on the person next to you have your back! You fight for them, they fight for you!” I looked at Dash, “For that idiotic idea Recruit! Means that I have to train you harder! I. Will. Break. You,” I said the last word through clenched teeth, “Fifty laps around the base, NOW!”

“But I-”

“Get your ass in gear an MOVE before I make it even HIGHER!” I screamed in her face while pointing to the side.

She panicked for a moment before she forced out, “Yes sir!” then she took to the skies and began to fly around the base. I looked at one of the stallions that came with Spitfire, “Watch her, she’s known for slacking off,” he saluted before taking to the skies. I looked back at the recruits who were shaking and sweating, “As for the rest of you. Follow orders, do as your told and you will be fine,” they all relaxed and let out a sigh of relief, “BUT IF YOU SO MUCH AS THINK THAT YOU WILL PASS ON GOOD LOOKS AND SKILL I WILL MAKE YOU WORK TWICE AS HARD! UNDERSTOOD!!!!”

They all tensed up when I started screaming like that. But they relied with a hearty, “YES SIR!!!”

“Good! Dismissed!” I ordered before I turned to leave. I made it about twenty feel before I cracked my neck and rolled my shoulders, “Wow, I feel a whole lot better,” I said to myself with a smile.

Now I remember why I was so calm after I trained the rest of my team. I got to yell at them and they couldn’t do jack shit!

I was there for a total of three days. Day one started with basic exercises. They did nothing more than running, flying, and a few other break in exercises. The next day, Spitfire had them work this thing called the Dizzitron. Basically; it spun them around and threw them into the air. The whole point of the exercise is to help them with recovery. Dash shattered the record and Dust came very close to meeting Dash. After that they ran an obstacle course that was designed to help them with their flying.

Later that night, Spitfire organized them in four teams of two. Whoever was considered the best flyer was giving the term 'Lead Pony'. Basically, it was like a fighter plane team, with a leader and a wing man. Then it was back to the course. Apparently later that day, Dash came in and talked to Spitfire about becoming lead pony on her team, but was ultimately rejected. I didn’t really bother with it, Spitfire is the commanding officer, I trust her decision.

Boy was I wrong.

The third day started off with capture the flag. Okay, to be honest, this combat regime was rather terrible. I shot at my teammates with live ammo and trained them in person with their swords. I taught them to run and make use of everything. But, since the Wonderbolts don’t use melee weapons and war is pretty much nonexistent here, I think things have been lacking. There is more focus toward flying skills, and less toward combat skills.

After that they were doing a thing called cloud busting. The reasoning is in the name, bust clouds. It was to help with speed maneuverability and a few other things. I think I stopped caring. The training as a whole sucked. But if I had known what was going to happen that day, I would have told Spitfire to do something else. I was headed for Spitfires office to discuss a few things when one of the trainers came running up.

“Sir, we have a situation! I need you to come with me immediately!” he said frantically.

I was a little surprised, “Lead the way!”

Immediately he turned tail and ran, with me following close behind. We literally ran to the other side of the academy. Once we made it to the far airstrip, I could see Twilight –who was crying- and her friends, who were trying to comfort her along with the rest of the recruits and a couple of Spitfires men. I could see that Dash was chewing out her leader Lightning Dust, who just seemed to be sitting there like nothing was wrong. Well, obviously there was since I had five civilians on a military base!

I ran up to the large group, “What the fuck is going on here!?” I was furious.

Twilight heard my voice and looked up before she broke free of her friends and ran over to me and grabbed me in a hug before sobbing into my stomach. I wrapped my arms around her and rubbed her back to try to comfort her, “It’s okay Twilight, you’re safe,” I said calmly before I looked up, “I want answers!?”

No one said anything.

And I was sick of it, “Tell me right now or I fail EVERYONE!”

That was the only good threat I could do next to bodily harm.

Without missing a beat they all pointed at Dash and Dust. Both of them went stiff with fear.

“Recruit Dash, Recruit Dust, Spitfires office, NOW!” I ordered.

In a burst of orange and rainbow, they shot off toward the captain’s office. I looked back at the rest of the girls and the recruits.

“Girls, I will talk to you later about why you are here illegally, but first are you okay?” I asked calmly.

They all nodded and gave me some form of acknowledgement telling me that they were okay.

“Alright,” I looked at one of the service stallions, “Take them to the mess hall and have the medics check them over just in case. The recruits are here by ordered to bunks until further notice.”

He gave me a salute before running over and ushering the girls and recruits to their respective areas. I picked up Twilight and took her with me. After a couple of minutes she stopped crying and nuzzled into my chest. For me it was a rather long and anger filled walk. But it felt nice that I was able to help Twilight out. I had to do something about Twilight's P.T.S.D. though. Once I finally reached the mares office, I handed Twilight off to another stallion and he ushered her to the mess hall.

So here I am standing in front of two, very nervous mares. They found the floor more interesting then the two angry leaders in front of them. Spitfire is in her seat with her elbows resting on the table and she had her hooves together in front of her muzzle while I was standing to her left with my arms crossed.

“Recruit Dust, since you are the leader of this team, I want you to tell me what happened.”

“Yes sir…” she looked up at me.

She went on to explain that creating a tornado… yes. A fucking tornado! To bust clouds. But once the thing grew too large, both Dust and Dash lost control of it. It ran free and apparently it caught the hot air balloon that Twilight and the rest of Dash’s friends were in. I don’t know why they were there, but this is a military installation, they can’t be here without proper permission... and apparently that was lacking.

“Well… I am not proud of anyone in this office,” I said calmly.

Dust and Dash just looked back at the floor. But Spitfire was angry.

“What do you mean ‘anyone in this office’!?” barked the captain while she placed her fore hooves on the desk and stood up.

I looked at her and slammed my hands on the desk, “WE NEARLY HAD FIVE," I held my open hand in front of her face when I said that, "UNOTHAURIZED CIVILIANS NEARLY DIE ALONG WITH A HANDFUL OF PERSONNEL AND AT LEAST TWO RECRUITS! MY QUESTION IS WHY THERE IS NO ONE PATROLLING THE PERIMETER!?” I screamed into her face, “This is your base captain and you. Are. FAILING!”

“You know what?” interrupted Dash. We all looked at her. I watched as a small silver object hit me in the chest. I caught it before it hit the ground; as I looked at it, it was obvious that it was her silver wingpony medallion. I looked up at her with a hint of shock, “I quit,” she said firmly, “If this is what it means to be a Wonderbolt… than I do not want to be one,” she said before turning and walking out the door.

We were all dumbfounded.

I shared the same look with Spitfire before I looked back at the door. I promptly ordered Lightning Dust to wait in the office before I went and chased after Rainbow. I caught up to her just outside of the building.

“Recruit… recruit!” I yelled.

She just ignored me.

I ran up to her and placed my hand on her shoulder, “Dash?” I asked calmly but with concern.

She spun around immediately, “WHAT!?” she snapped.

“Rainbow, are you sure you want to do this?” I asked with concern.

“Why do you care!? All you have done is yell at me!”

I let out an annoyed sigh, “Rainbow, it’s because this is a military base. You are here to work as a team; you have to be able to rely on those next to you. A few hundred years of combat has taught me that,” I kneeled down and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, “I know each an everyday that when I walk into a situation I can rely on those with me… When I first started teaching my teammates they thought the same thing you did. But when we saw our first full mission as a team they understood. I can understand that you are frustrated, they were too. Now... you may have been a part of the latest mishap but you were just following orders. Which is why…” I stood up, “Someone get me Lightning Dust and the rest of the recruits!” I ordered to anyone who was listening.

All the recruits and the girls were standing nearby. I had Spitfire by my side. After a short discussion we came up with a decision. I wanted to go the more serious route, but Spitfire said that “She learned her lesson”. Besides it was her base, not mine. She will be leading this team for years to come, I will not. It was that last reason that I relented.

“Recruits Lightning Dust and Rainbow Dash, step forward,” I asked calmly.

Both took a step forward. Lightning looked calm as could be while Dash was sweating. I walked up to Lightning.

“Lightning, if it was up to me your punishment would be much worse. But Spitfire –somehow- convinced me otherwise,” I bent over and grabbed her pin before forcefully removing it from her uniform, “I hereby strip you of your rank as leader!”

Shocked isn’t the word to use, more like disbelief.

“You are also hereby dropped from the academy. Turn in your uniform and get the hell of this base!” I spat in her face.

The look of shock suddenly turned into remorse, regret, and sadness. She knew she had made a bad decision and that she was a person that wasn't welcome here. She was promptly escorted away with her head hung low. I walked up to Rainbow.

“Recruit Rainbow Dash, for your selfless acts of courage and for reminding Spitfire what it means to be a Wonderbolt,” I kneeled down to her level, “I hereby promote you to Lead Pony,” I said while pining the gold pin to her uniform. I stood up and saluted to her, “Congratulations… private.”

Her wings flared and she wore the biggest and happiest grin ever, “OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOOOOOSH!!!”

There were no words to express her joy.

I was proud of her.

Author's Notes:

I was torn on the second half of whether or not to do the wonderbolt half. I struggled and struggled and as you can see I went with it. It isn't what I fully wanted. Any inspiring things I had for it would happen at the oddest times, like at work, zoning out in class, or when I was in the shower. So I couldn't write it down. So yeah it wasn't what I really wanted.
P.S. I'm going to take a little break from this for a few reasons.
1) I want to hammer out more chapters (as in write not post)
2) I am neglecting three of my other stories and one of them is a collab with a buddy that I have put off for longer than I intended.
3) ... well I cant think of a third... I guess since this is so long I can stop for a little while. (2 or three weeks)

P.P.S. APRIL FOOLS!!! GOD I'M SUCH A DICK!
No this will end as a full story I have put to much heart and soul into it. I will see it through to the end.
The only spoiler I will give for the next chapter is love... have fun figuring that out.