After that little fiasco, I wasn't really in the mood to interact with anyone. I still couldn't believe what happened, Luna and I should have been more careful. Luna didn't return after she left, I'd imagine she was trying to wrap her own head around the situation with her own clouded head. I spent the rest of the morning in the armoury with Dawnstar as I began to work on the potential new design for the shotgun, one advantage of working with her was that as soon as I presented some work to her she would remain focused and not lose her focus on her work.

I explained the basic operations of a shotgun, after considering my options, I decided that the best shotgun to create would be a pump-action shotgun. This type of shotgun should be easier to operate for those who don't have magic, it would just require an additional grip which protrudes from the fore end in order to load the next shell into the barrel. Like our rifles, the operation of this new weapon would be entirely mechanical, we'd be the ones responsible for completing the action manually. Pulling the fore end backwards will pull the slide back in order to load a new shell into the chamber.

A key internal part of the weapon is the 'carrier', this will interact directly with the slide. The carrier works to keep the bolt in position, it prevents the bolt from being driven backwards during the ignition of the cartridge. The carrier also has an additional function of the 'shell lifter' to feed the next shell into the chamber.

Finally, the bolt is the vital part of the internals. It contains the weapon systems firing pin to strike the primer at the rear of the shell in order to ignite the primer and to send the shot down the barrel. The bolt also functions as the extraction, taking hold of the used shells and bringing them back with the bolt to be ejected from the weapon as the next shell is fed into the chamber as it goes forward.

As the slide is driven to the rear, by the operator using the fore end, the slide will move along a track which is carved into the side of the carrier. A lug on the inner surface of the slide will ride along the track and drive the carrier downwards as it pivots on its position where it's attached to the receiver. From this movement, the carrier breaks contact with the bolt, this unlocks the bolt, allowing it to travel to the rear. As this happens, the slide will come into contact with a hook that's attached to the bolt, this pulls the bolt backwards in order to eject the spent cartridge.

As the slide moves fully to the rear, it reaches a section of the track which is opened up in order to allow the carrier to move more in order to complete its function. The bolt will come into contact with a sloped section of the carrier in order to drive the carrier further down. As the carrier is lowered, the spent cartridge is then fully ejected from the weapon system as it comes into contact with a flat spring.

With the bolt fully to the rear and the carrier lowered, it will allow a fresh shell to be loaded. The user will operate the fore end in order to push the slide forward, this brings the hook towards the front of the weapon with the slide in order to drive the bolt forward. The carrier will continue to rise, lifting the shell into the path of the bolt in order to house it within the chamber of the weapon. The hook will detach from the lug of the slide, allowing the carrier to lock in position in order to secure the bolt. It'll take some time in order to fully create the weapon system, I know how a pump-action operates, but it shouldn't be too difficult. Some trial and error will be required, but we're in no rush to develop it.

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

After spending most of the day working on the shotgun design, I found my mind drifting back to recent events. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't push it to the back of my mind. I'd go for a few minutes without even paying attention to that thought, but it would always be pushed away and filled with anger and frustration. After the earlier events, I can't help but feel frustrated with myself. I'm not normally one to back down so easily, but what choice did I have? Nobody can know of me and Luna. If what she said was true, that officers think that I'm getting favourable treatment, then we'd be up shit creek without a paddle if anyone was to find out.

Groaning, I rub my face as I look to Dawnstar as she continues to work on the plastic casing for our shotgun shells. I take hold of my schematics and take them over to Dawnstar. Sliding the schematics across the table to her, I turn and head towards the door. "I need to take a break, get my head straight. Make sure you lock everything away once you're done. This work that we're doing has been classified by Celestia, so do not mention any of this work to anyone unless I give you authorisation to do so."

Grabbing onto my utility belt and breastplate, I refit the belt and holster to my body as I carry the breastplate in my arm. I need to find a way to let out my frustration, I can't keep going around in this state. I need to blow off some steam, and the best way to do that is to push myself and work out some of my energy. With that plan set, I leave the barracks and make my way around to the rear courtyard. I find a number of guards carrying out a number of small exercises on the various pieces of equipment we have available, I also notice Starry and Night Star stood to the side as they carry out dry-fire exercises in order to familiarise themselves with their rifles.

Leaving my armour rested against the wall, I take out my phone and cycle through the files for the recording of the beep test. Finding the audio file, I fit my armour and move into a small equipment storeroom which holds various exercise equipment. Digging through the kit, I find a backpack and fill it with some weight before throwing it on my back. With a loaded bag and my armour fitted, I move to the starting line and play the recording.

As I carry out the beep test, I find myself forgetting temporarily about the incident as I focus primarily on maintaining my timing and controlling my breathing. I continue to run as I feel the weight of the backpack, each step begins to dig the steel of the breastplate into my collarbones. The hot sun helps to add to the discomfort, running with a large sheet of metal on your body along with black kit isn't the greatest way to keep cool, my shirt it soon becoming damp as I begin to sweat in the heat.

Reaching level ten, I'm able to beat the standard requirement for officers in the army. Deciding to change exercises, I stop upon reaching the requirement and remove my bag. Dropping it to the floor, I strip out of my breast plate and utility belt and rest them both on top of the bag. Switching exercises I move onto the next fitness test, sit-ups and push-ups. Lowering myself to the floor, I begin to carry out a number of sit-ups in an attempt to beat the requirement in two minutes.

As I get halfway to my target, a shadow moves over me as Starry and Night Star step alongside me. "Having fun?" Night Star asks with a smug grin.

I nod my head as I continue with my exercise, "Time of my life."

"Any particular reason why you're exercising in uniform?"

I remain silent as I finish the rest of my sit-ups. Coming to a stop, I look up at the two Thestrals as I remain on the floor. "Because I can. We wear this uniform in combat, it wouldn't be very good if I couldn't perform whilst wearing all of our kit."

Night Star shrugs, "I guess."

Starry groans, as she rolls her eyes. "You're not going to give us some kind of test, are you? We already had to pass your training in order to join the Rangers."

Cocking a brow, I rise to my feet. "And that isn't even all of the training I've got planned for you."

"There's more?" Starry asks in disbelief.

"Of course. The training I made everyone do was only a very brief overview of phase one. You've still got phase two to complete."

"And what is phase two?"

Stepping over to the nearby wall, I lean back against it as I stretch my legs. "I can't do the phase two training I had back home with you guys. phase two is specialised training, teaching the skills of your profession. My phase two consisted of vehicle and electrical maintenance."

The two look to one another in confusion until Night Star turns his gaze to me. "So, what has this got to do with us? We don't want to be electricians."

"Phase one in the Rangers will be our initial entry requirements before soldiers are allowed to develop to phase two. Just like phase one, if you fail, then you're not able to remain in the Rangers. I will make phase two consist of battlefield casualty drills, CBRN training, survival skills, close quarters combat and a number of physical tests."

"Fun," Night Star responds in a sarcastic tone.

Furrowing my brow, I fold both of my arms. "The army isn't fun. It isn't all about shooting guns and blowing shit up, it is an important and vital job. You are expected to risk your life to keep your country and those around you safe. If you don't know how to survive by yourself behind enemy lines or how to treat a wounded soldier, then you are of no use to me or the Rangers."

"And you know how to survive behind enemy lines?" He asks sceptically as Starry facehoofs.

"How do you think I earned the Lunar Cross?" I respond as I stand up straight and glare down at the Sergeant. This causes his stance to quickly stiffen as he stares straight ahead. "I was behind enemy lines in the Griffin Empire for eleven days by myself with little to no ammo left, a number of injuries and with a bounty on my head. I had to make shelter every night, hunt and scrounge for food and even avoid enemy patrols in occupied territory. I practically lived off of wild rabbits I captured in the wilderness to keep myself fed."

Starry's face scrunches up slightly, "You ate rabbit?"

"I caught, killed, gutted and skinned rabbit. Somehow, I doubt any of you have those skills. You may need them, there is plenty of plant life out there which could be poisonous, eat the wrong mushroom and you could become severely ill." Passing around the two, I turn my head and look towards the exit of the compound. "In fact, I think you all should learn that skill in order to retrieve food in drastic situations."

I can hear the two shuffle uncomfortably. "But, the only meat some ponies will eat is fish."

I turn around and face the two, causing them to shift to attention. "Tough shit. You've got to do some unlikeable things to survive out there." Stepping up to Night Star, I lean closer to him. "So, Sergeant, you can inform the team that tomorrow they'll be begining their phase two of training. We'll be remaining in the Everfree forest for an entire week, where you'll be learning survival training, first aid and field craft. Is that understood?"

Night Star nods his head, "Yes, sir."

I wave my hand towards the exit of the courtyard, "Off you fuck."

I watch as he slowly moves off to head back into the barracks. Running a hand over my face, I turn back to find Starry still looking at me with some concern. "Is everything okay, John?" I only respond with a nod as I move to collect my breastplate and utility belt. "You're just like Night Star, you're not good at hiding when there's something troubling you."

Attaching my utility belt and holster, I turn back to face her. "I'm fine. It's just the joys of leadership, nothing to concern yourself with."

"Ah, so Spitfire did give you a grilling."

I look down at her in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"Chaser said she came by to speak to you. Apparently, she looked pissed, so I'm guessing you didn't have the friendliest of conversations."

"...You could say that."

As I strap the breastplate into position, Starry remains on the spot as she looks at me expectantly. "Are you going to tell me?"

I release a sigh as I pinch the bridge of my nose, "It's the joys of leadership, officer disputes and all that. Let's just say... that there was something that she isn't exactly too happy with." Starry doesn't seem to be satisfied with this answer but doesn't bother to pursue it further. As she leaves the courtyard, I decide to follow her in order to begin making preparations for a week in the field. I will have to plan first aid lessons, numerous exercises and training drills.

I remain hidden in the clouds as I look down at the view below me. I watch as Spitfire enjoy her precious little dream, herself and the Wonderbolts seem to be performing some sort of routine which everypony in this dream obviously enjoys. Enjoy your dream while you can. Nopony, and I mean nopony, can think that they're allowed to walk over me. You pulled a very stupid move, Captain.

Standing on the cloud, I adjust my position as I try to fight off the discomfort in my loins. This heat is unbearable. Maybe I should have taken the suppressants... no, John and I have unfinished business to attend to... right after I deal with this mare. I fought through heat before without suppressants. Before my banishment, nopony would have even believed that suppressants could have existed. I survived without them for one-thousand years, I can easily manage until later tonight.

Channelling my magic into the dream, I decide that now is the time to make my presence known. I abruptly end Spitfire's fantasy as I allow the apparitions in her mind to be blown away by the wind as her surrounding turn to pitch black. With the last few clouds hovering overhead, I cause a bolt of lightning to strike her wing. Spitfire released a pained yelp as she crashes to the floor, the clouds then dissipate into a thick fog as they surround her.

Creating an illusion of the moon overhead, I step in front of it in order to cast my shadow down over her as she looks around in confusion. With the moon creating my silhouette in the sky, I look down at Spitfire as she finally lifts her head. "Did you really think that your actions would go unpunished? You dare have the nerve to attempt to blackmail a fellow Captain, and myself in the process, in order to receive additional funding?"

Spitfire's eye widen as she finally sees past the silhouette in order to identify me. As I begin to walk on thin air in order to lower myself, she slowly climbs to her hooves as her injured wing hang lows alongside her body. "P-princess Luna? O-oh buck."

"Yes," I respond as I look down my muzzle at her. "I'd say that 'buck' is a pretty appropriate way to sum up the situation you find yourself in. I cannot abide by somepony that blackmails and manipulates others to achieve their goals, no matter the justification for it."

"Manipulation?" Spitfire pulls her injured wing closer to her body as she slowly back peddles. "And what about John? Manipulating you in order to-"

"-HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE HIM OF MANIPULATING ME!" I shout back at her in the royal Canterlot voice. It's been a long time since I've used the royal Canterlot voice... oh, how I've missed it. Spitfire's posture quickly falters as she backs up further. "He has proven to me that he's more of a trustworthy Captain than you are!"

Spitfire averts her gaze slightly as she works up the courage to speak. "W-what are you going to do to me?"

I step off to the side as I pretend to ponder my options, "Hmm... The Princess of the night, guardian of dreams... I wonder what I could do?"

"I-If you do anything here then all I have to do is wake up, this is only a dream." Spitfires eyes widen as a realisation seems to hit her, "How do I know that this is even real? You may not even be the real Luna."

I let out a small sadistic laugh as I shake my head, "I bet you think you're so clever, coming up with that idea to rationalise what is going on." Focusing my magic, I propel a ball of energy into Spitfire's gut, lifting from the floor before slamming her back down causing a pained grunt to escape her muzzle. "This is a dream, yes, but is it the real me?" I keep my focus on my magic as I begin the transfiguration spell, the magic travels through my eyes as I morph them slowly into those of Nightmare Moon, the pupils taking on an almost reptilian form. "That's the fun thing you've got to figure out."

As I turn to face her, Spitfire's face drops in horror as her eyes lock onto mine. Stepping up to her, I press my forehoof on her injured wing causing her to writhe in agony. "You cannot awaken from this dream. You will feel every piece of agony, every disturbing sensation, until I allow you to awaken... or until I let you die in this dream. That is how the Rangers train for combat, you will simply experience the pain that comes with it."

Spitfire bings her body closer to her wing in an attempt to reduce the strain on it. Curling up her body, her eyes look up at me with fear, "So you're going to kill me? S-silence me so nopony knows your secret?" She straightens her neck as she attempts to glare daggers into my eyes. "And just what will happen when everypony finds out you silence ponies in their dreams?"

I begin to bellow out in laughter as the transfiguration spell continues. As it begins to transform my teeth into razor-sharp fangs, I lower my head in order to bring them to the centre of her attention. "Oh, that is the beauty of this. Nopony will know, who's going to believe you? They'd just say that you had a bad dream. You'd need proof, and I'm the only pony in all of Equestria who can enter others dreams. They'll never believe you."

"T-there are others who will find out about yours and John's fraternisation. There are signs that point to it, all it'll take is somepony with standing to speak out against it."

Is she still trying to maintain some control? Attempting to make me back out of my actions? Isn't that just precious? I lift my head as I look down at her with interest, "And that pony is you?"

"If that's what it takes to end this, then I have no choice. I can't let you weaken other units in order to keep him happy, there's so much at stake. I'd have to make your relationship public, to help the Equestrian Guard."

I crack an evil grin as my coat gradually transforms jet black, starting from my hindlegs and slowly working towards the front of my body. "Are you ready to be miserable and suffer for the rest of your life? You won't be a pony of standing once I'm through with you. You'll be court-martialed for blackmail of a fellow officer, your title and name discredited as you're removed as Captain of the Wonderbolts. That gives you the perfect reason to throw out this false story of Captain John Davies and me, you're just looking to besmirch the name of the officer you attempted to manipulate and the Princess that put a stop to it. I will make sure that you never sleep soundly again, every night will be filled with nightmares and torture... I can easily break you, both physically and mentally."

Spitfire's shade becomes paler as she seems to mentally shudder underneath my grasp. "But why do you need to do this? I said I'd keep quiet-"

"-After you blackmailed an officer out of the funding both my sister and I gave him!" I apply more pressure on her wing as my other forehoof presses against her throat. "I don't need to do this" -I brush my muzzle against the tip of her ear as I whisper- "Maybe I want to do it." I lift my head back up as the transfiguration spell completes, transforming my mane and tail as my royal regalia is replaced with the platinum armour of Nightmare Moon. "You blackmailed John, not to mention myself in the process, and you expect me to believe that you'd just keep quiet? No... you're prepared to talk, that's why you blackmailed him."

I release Spitfire's wing from my grasp as I take a step back. As she pulls it close to her body, I begin to pace around her. "There's a reason my sister and I provided him with that funding. I've seen the technology of his world, the power it has to save lives and to make soldiers more effective in combat. You've put Equestria at risk by cutting the funding that was to go towards the development of advanced armour, new weapons to allow guards to fight without putting themselves at risk and advanced training. You will return that funding to the Rangers, for the good of Equestria."

"But what about the Wonderbolts?" Spitfire shakily rises to her hooves, "That funding was needed to help with our developments. We haven't been given any additional funding, despite our requests."

I roll my eyes as I close the distance between us, "The Wonderbolts are a joke. You're nothing more than a moral booster. Somehow, I reckon that John could help develop something more useful for flying units than the flight suits you'd likely throw money at. You're not a priority for funding... that is not up for debate. I am not giving you a choice, you weren't supposed to receive any additional funding at this time. You will do the noble thing and donate that additional funding back to the Rangers. Do this, and I shall ask my 'pet' to kindly help develop equipment for Pegasi."

"I can't just throw the money back to the Rangers. What would Celestia say?"

With my magic, I materialise a copy of the document John signed over the Spitfire earlier this morning. "He sent it elsewhere. Tell my sister that you came to your senses and realised that the Ranger's advancements are more beneficial to Equestria."

"I- We need that funding."

I scowl as my magic wraps around Spitfire's injured wing and applies pressure to the wound. As she screams out loud, I pull her down to the floor as I step closer, "Are you prepared to suffer for eternity!?"

"I can't allow you to play favourites! It's not right!" Spitfire shouts back as she tries to escape from my grasp.

"My 'favourite' has saved lives by ending the civil war and severly crippling the Children of the Motherland, disarming a chemical bomb and repelling an attack in Ponyville. He's working on armour to protect the lives of our guards, and you took those funds!" I apply more pressure to the wing as I stamp on her back. Lifting her wing, I pull on it with considerable strength, I can feel the muscle straining as it threatens to tear,

I watch as Spitfire squirms in agony, her pained breaths preventing her from momentarily speaking. "Y-your mind is clouded by the fact that you're lovers. H-he's using the fact that you're in heat to play you."

I give her wing one final yank, the flesh loses as her entire wing is pulled from its socket. Spitfire screams in torture as I release her wing, allowing it to fall to the floor alongside her. "You know nothing of my mind! I could easily have you killed... but that would be of little amusement to me. No... I'll just make your life a nightmare until the day you die, that'll be much more entertaining."

Spitfire's eyes tear up as she attempts to fight back her sobs. As she continues to contort in anguish, her eyes look up at mine with dread. "So y-you're going to torture one o-of the Captain's in your military?"

I let out an amused chuckle as I shake my head. "A Captain? No... a traitorous blackmailer. You will learn what I am capable of!" Forming a blade in my magic, I press the razor-sharp knife against her uninjured wing, "You will keep quiet about what you saw at the Rangers' barracks!"

As I begin to slowly push the blade into her flesh, Spitfire frantically shakes her head as tears run down her cheeks. "Yes! Yes! I will!"

I watch her frantically twist as blood begins to run across the blade and slowly drip onto the floor. "You will donate the funding back to the Rangers!"

"I will! They'll have their funding back! I swear!" Her face begins to contort in pain as she tries her best to pull away from the blade.

I slowly retract the blade and remove it from reality as a soft smile breaks over my muzzle. Leaning closer, I allow my form to return back to normal as I lightly pat Spitfire on the cheek with my forehoof. "So generous." As I turn to walk away, I look back over my shoulder to find Spitfire crying whilst she holds onto her wing. "I hope you learnt an important lesson here, Captain." Stopping in front of the moon, I turn my body to face her. "Do I play favourites?"

"N-n-no..." Spitfire stammers as her body shakes with fear.

"Did you see anything in Ponyville when you paid John a visit?" Spitfire slowly shakes her head as I turn back to the moon with a confident smile. "It must have been my imagination. Sweet dreams, Captain. Don't let the bed bugs bite." As I hear Spitfire continuing to sob, I stroll upwards through the air and pass through the moon in order to exit the dreamscape.

Nopony walks over me.