Little over a week had passed since my first training session with Rosie, and to say she had improved a lot would be an understatement. Not only could she hold her own against me in a sword fight for almost two minutes, she could also use every color of her aura, albeit weakly in everything but red and yellow. Swift had been running both of us into the ground with our physical training, and I could say with the utmost certainty that I was in the best shape of my life, even compared to the time I spent in the Corps. My stomach was a flat plate of steel and my limbs were braided cable wound tighter than a guitar string. All and all I was feeling absolutely amazing, and that wasn’t counting the best news of all.

Luna had gotten my paperwork filed and I was officially a member of the Equestrian military, previous rank and all. That included the bonus I had been promised along with my first month’s pay, which I carefully secured in Ponyville’s bank to keep my money from getting away from me. It wouldn’t do to spend it all in one place when I needed to live off of that money for the foreseeable future. That, and I had promised Lyra and Bon-Bon a date night on the town that I was paying for. We had decided on going out once I got back from my trip to Fort Reinwright*, where I’d be introduced to my new subordinates within the Equestrian Army by Twilight and the other princesses. Of course, I had let Rarity make me another dress for my date, this time a deep red satin number that had long flowing sleeves and a shorter hem that only went down to my shins instead of my ankles. She had made me a set of slippers and stockings that were the same red as the dress to hide my prosthetic from random glance, although it did little to hide the plating and servos if one took a closer look. I was fine with that, so long as no one was openly staring at my leg I’d be fine.

Speaking of the purple wonder, Twilight was dropping more hints that she was interested in herd life, and specifically a herd that had me in it. I was getting the feeling that Twilight’s crush was becoming more than that, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it since I was already in a herd with Lyra and Bon-Bon. So, that was on the list for our date once I got back, along with setting some clear boundaries about when and where we could jump each other. I liked getting it on as much as the next girl, but I didn’t like having the thought of the girls’ heats messing things up again because I was clueless about how a mare’s body worked.

So, I filed that away as the second topic for the evening, and focused myself back on the present. Twilight, Swift, Rosie and I were seated on the candy-colored wonder that was the Ponyville Express, and were currently on our way to the fort as the sun began to climb over the horizon. I had dragged Rosie out of bed to join us, given she still needed to learn more about how command structure worked between an officer and enlisted, although she wasn’t technically part of the military proper. Even so, I still treated her like my subordinate, so seeing how the other grunts acted would be a good learning experience for her. That and it might help to boost her still growing confidence in herself to see what she could be in a few months’ time.

Swift was joining us because Luna had thought it would be funny to have her act as my direct CO, although my unit would technically be under a special command that reported directly to the Princesses for our orders. Swift would act more as my go-between for the regular army so that way we could coordinate our efforts instead of working against each other. Other than that, her title as my bodyguard and trainer still stood and wouldn’t be changed for the foreseeable future.

We pulled up to the stop about an hour into the ride, the train stopping at a small, nondescript station in the middle of nowhere that had only a single dirt road leading away from it. We were roughly halfway between Ponyville and Mount Canterhorn, so that placed us in the smack-dab center of the plains that resided to the south of Canterlot. Not a thing for miles around other than the rolling grass and small hills, which meant it was hot as balls in the rising light, causing all of us to start sweating as we disembarked, the train letting out a mournful whistle before leaving us behind.

“Well now what?” I asked, turning to face Twilight as she consulted a map that floated along in her magic grip, “Where do we go from here?”

“It says on the map that Fort Reinwright is exactly one mile down the road leading from the station,” she replied as she lowered the map and folded it into her saddlebags, “all we have to do is walk straight and we’ll see the gates in no time.”

I chuckled as I felt a drop of sweat run down the back of my neck, “Treats the cadets like cattle and makes them march a mile in the blazing heat to soften them up for the real battle ahead, I’m liking this already.”

“Speak for yourself,” Rosie hissed as she fanned her face with one wing, “gryphons are made for the cold mountains of the north, we don’t do well in heat.”

I pat her on the back in mock sympathy, “Well I guess we’d better ask Celestia to cool off he sun for our little walk. I’m sure she’d love to set aside some of her massive power to make your discomfort a little more manageable.”

Rosie rolled her eyes as we walked along the road, her wings going full blast to keep her head cool, “Real funny, Sarah. I can just feel the sincerity rolling off of you right now.”

I gave her a sidelong smirk, “Hey, anything for my favorite student.”

“I’m your only student,” she replied with a frown.

“So there’s no competition for the title, congrats.” I said while trying to keep a straight face. I managed to hold in my laughter as the hen sent me a murderous look, although her gaze was pulled forward before she could come up with a retort.

Looming over us and the winding road, was a set of stone walls that were marked by ballista embankments and the shining points of spearheads as we came up to the fort itself. The large, wooden gate was lowered and inviting like the jaws of a massive predator, and I saw Rosie shiver out of the corner of my eye as we walked into the hulking complex. The gates remained open behind us, for which I was grateful, although the contingent of guards that met us was a little less welcome.

The leader, a unicorn stallion with the traditional Royal Guard armor, led the group of ten up to us and stopped our advance with a raised hoof, “Halt, state your business within the fort.”

Twilight walked up and passed him a scroll in her magic, “We are here for the indoctrination of the Special Arms Unit, as decreed by Princess Luna and validated by Princess Celestia and myself.” She indicated me with a hoof, “Captain Sarah Lovegood is here to oversee the passing of command of the troops to her unit along with her commanding officer, Major Swift Blade.”

The unicorn nodded, although his lips curled down as he spied Rosie at my side, “And the gryphon? What business does she have here?”

Twilight replied without missing a beat, “Princess Rosie Brightwing is here to undergo combat training with Captain Lovegood. She is here on behalf of the king as a personal favor to the crown. Pay her no mind.”

The Lieutenant nodded, passing the scroll back to Twilight, “Then everything seems to be in order. Enjoy your stay at Fort Reinwright, Princess.” He glanced at me as he snapped a crisp salute, “Ma’am.” I nodded in reply as he turned before marching his soldiers back the way he had come, leaving us in the open space next to the gate while troops marched past us in different directions.

Before we could think about what to do next, one of the officers called out in a loud voice, “Commanders on deck! Aten-hut!”

We turned around as a quartet of ponies walked up behind us, the troops snapping into salutes as the commanders met us in the center of the courtyard.

Shining Armor nodded to the soldiers as they dropped their salutes, “As you were.” The ponies around us returned to their duties as he turned to face us, “Welcome to Fort Reinwright, everypony, and gryphon,” he added as he nodded to Rosie. “I hope your trip wasn’t too long.”

“It wasn’t bad,” Twilight replied as she walked up and hugged her brother, “It’s good to see you again, Shiny. I haven’t seen you since Sarah’s duel with King Edward.”

He nodded, turning to look at me as his eyes narrowed slightly, “I’ll be looking forward to seeing your command in action, Captain. You might not be my subordinate, but I promise you’ll regret it if you let anything happen to my colts.”

I nodded, “I’ll see to it they come back in one piece, Captain.”

His reply was cut short as Commander Jetstream rolled her eyes and spoke, “I’m still shocked the Princesses let you join up, and with your past rank too. Personally, I’d have made you do some kind of test before giving you command over your own troops.”

“She kind of did that on her own when she faced off against King Edward,” Night Fury said as he sent me a flashy grin. “Hey there hot stuff, you still looking for somepony to show you a good time?”

I smirked in reply as I crossed my arms under my chest, “Sorry buddy, I’m not on the market anymore. I’m in a herd with two of the Ponyville mares, now.”

His eyes widened slightly but his grin never faltered as he slid his shades down his muzzle to look me in the eyes, “Sounds like my prospects just got better, not worse. You ever need a stallion to spice things up, let me know.”

Jetstream cuffed him over the head with one wing, nearly knocking his shades completely off before the thestral could catch them with a wing claw, “You moron. That’s completely inappropriate for the occasion. Wherever you learned discipline I’ll never know.”

“Ask Princess Luna,” the fourth commander added, “She’s the one who trained Night Fury and the other Night Guard Elite in the first place.”

I turned to face the earth pony stallion with a raised eyebrow as I inspected the newcomer in closer detail. He wasn’t like the others, given he was a dirt brown in color with a silver mane and tail that reflected the light of the sun into his nearly pitch-black eyes. His expression was cool and collected, as compared to the others and their rather animated personalities. I stared into his gaze for a moment, trying to get a read on him, but came up with nothing as he lifted a solitary eyebrow in my direction.

“Something on your mind?” He asked in a calm tone.

I shook my head, breaking eye contact as I turned to look at the other commanders, “No, just interested in a new face.”

Night Fury rolled his eyes as he placed a hoof over the stallion’s shoulders, “Yeah, Iron Wall here can be a bit stiff around those who don’t know him all that well. ‘Course I’m his best friend, so we know each other better than anypony.”

The newly named Iron Wall glanced over at the thestral with the same raised eyebrow he had given me, “Best friends? We barely ever see each other when the Princesses don’t need something from us. If you call that being best friends I shudder to think what your sex life must be like.”

As Night Fury sputtered in indignation, Jetstream cracked a smile and added, “What sex life? He’s so busy chasing tail he never manages to catch anything between each race.”

I chuckled as they roasted the poor thestral, and I glanced over at Shining in the hopes that he was going to add in his two bits. However, I was disappointed when he did nothing more than shake his head in disappointment. Apparently the only one who could get Sir Stick-up-his-plot to open up was his sister and his wife. Speaking of the pink wonder, I hadn’t seen her around, even though she and the Captain were normally joined at the hip.

“I don’t suppose your wife will be joining us, eh Shining?” I asked.

He turned to look up at me and shook his head, “Cadence stayed behind to oversee the Empire while I made sure things went smoothly here. I may not be just the Captain of the Guard anymore, but I still have my rank and I plan on using it to make sure ponies don’t start slacking off in my absence.”

Jetstream snorted in a very horse-like manner, “In the Royal Guard maybe, but I’d never allow something like that in the Scouts or the Wonderbolts.” She glanced up at me with a narrowed gaze, “Don’t make me regret agreeing to come and supervise this little experiment of yours. We know the reason why you asked the Princesses for this commission. You just want to have your command back after getting your flank kicked back wherever it is you came from.”

I bristled as I clenched my fists at my side, “Want to go a round in the ring and see how much better a human soldier is than a pony?”

She scoffed as the others took a step back from the pegasus, “I could fry your hairless flank with lightning from a hundred lengths away. Without a crossbow you’d never be able to touch me.”

“Break it up you two,” Iron wall said in his usual blank tone, “the Princesses are here, present company pardoned, Your Highness.” He added with a glance at Twilight.

“No offence taken,” she replied as we all turned to face the main gates, spotting the two regal forms of the royal sisters in an instant as they walked into the fort.

The soldiers went through the usual ‘officer on deck’ routine once more, and I was starting to feel a bit out of place not saluting to the Princesses like the rest. Then again, neither were the commanders, so there was that.

Celestia nodded to her little ponies, although as she walked up with her sister, I noticed that she seemed to be a bit out of sorts. Her mane and tail were just slightly frazzled, and her regalia lacked some of the polish that it usually held. Her eyes, which were normally bright and alive with energy, were dull and slightly downcast as she walked up to us. I very much wanted to ask why she looked like that, but decided against it in present company. It wouldn’t do to question my new commander in chief about her appearance in front of the troops.

Luna smiled as she stepped up to me and enveloped me in a short wing hug, “Truly it is wonderful to see thee once more, Sarah. How have you been fairing as of late?”

“Well enough I suppose,” I replied as she pulled away, “I got a new apprentice to train on top of my new command.”

Her eyes lit up with interest, “Truly? Thou have undertaken training another in the art of combat?” She glanced behind me and spotted Rosie trying unsuccessfully to hide behind the much smaller Twilight, “And would that be the young Rose I have heard so much about from our dear friend Edward?”

Rosie froze under the scrutiny of both royal sisters as Celestia turned her attention to the gryphon, “Um, y-yes, Your Highness, although my name is Rosie, not Rose.”

Luna nodded, “I shall remember that, although your presence is an unexpected surprise. We had thought that Edward would never let you leave the Empire, for fear of losing you to some unknown threat outside of his care.”

Rosie rubbed her foreleg with one claw, taking great interest in the ground before her, “Well, you see, I wanted to train under Captain Sarah after hearing about her skills in combat against my father, so I had daddy write up a request to hire her as a teacher.” She glanced up at me and smiled, “I couldn’t be happier with how things are going. She’s taught me so much already. Oh!” She snapped to as she turned to face the Princesses fully, “I even found out something new about myself! Watch this!”

She held up one claw and closed it into a fist. After a moment’s hesitation, it lit up with bright red flames, causing everyone in the area except for Twilight and Swift to gasp in wonder.

Luna’s jaw was hanging loose as she walked up and inspected the fire dancing around the young gryphon’s claws, “Thou art an auramancer?! Truly this is a wonderful surprise. We had thought that young Lovegood was the only one who possessed such abilities.”

I chuckled as I walked up and placed a hand on Rosie’s shoulder, “Turns out she was able to manifest her aura on instinct when we sparred for the first time. I thought it would be best if I trained her in Auramancy as well as basic combat in order to help her grow into an even greater warrior.” I looked down at my protégé as she beamed at me, “Turns out she’s been teaching me almost as much as I’ve been teaching her.”

Rosie blushed and averted her gaze, although our little moment was cut short as Jetstream cleared her throat, “Not to be a killjoy, but shouldn’t we get to the presentation instead of lollygagging around here?”

Celestia seemed to regain some of her fire as she raised her head and nodded, “Yes, let us continue with the changing of the colors. We haven’t initiated a new unit for several hundred years, so I would think it best if we got it out of the way before any mishaps can occur.”

“Careful, sister.” Luna warned, “Fate loves to play tricks on those who garner its attention with statements like that.”

Celestia either didn’t hear her sister or chose to ignore the little side comment, “Come, let us be off. The sooner we can get this done, the sooner we can get back to our normal plans.”

I fell in beside Swift as the royal duo led the rest of us further into the fort, leaning down to whisper into her ear as my gaze fell onto Celestia, “She seems a bit out of sorts lately. Do you think we should ask what’s wrong?”

She quickly shook her head, “Whatever it is, if she’s not saying anything about then it’s best to leave it alone. We don’t want to add to her problems by mistake if it has to do with something we can’t help her with. Best to just ignore what she looks like and let it go.”

I nodded, although I was a little thrown by her logic. It wasn’t everyday you saw someone choosing to ignore another’s apparent stress, even if it was an immortal goddess that could move the sun. I filed that away as ponies being ponies as we came to what looked like the parade grounds, where I could see several dozen stallions all formed up in perfect rank and file. They were dressed in a new set of armor that reminded me of the regs from home, although instead of a bulletproof vest they were still covered in metal plating. The metal itself had been painted a dull green in color, while the trim was a reflective obsidian black. All and all it was a very nice reminder of my old dress uniform, although the shine would definitely have to go. I’d rather be able to look at my troops without risking going blind, thank you.

One of the commanders, Shining by the sound of his voice, called out as we came to a stop before the troops, “Aten-hut!”

There was a resounding stomp as the stallions moved from parade rest to attention, their gazes locked forwards and their bodies still as Shining turned to face Celestia. He nodded to the solar princess and stepped to one side, allowing the larger mare to step forward to address the troops.

“My little ponies,” Celestia’s voice projected over the crowd without even the need of an amplification spell, “it fills me with pride to see so many of you willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to take part in this new undertaking. Never before has a non-pony been given command within the Equestrian military, and yet we are here to indoctrinate that very notion into our service today. For so long, the land we call home has been peaceful and it does my heart good to see that the hard work of your foremares has not been in vain.” Her gaze hardened as she continued, “But those times are coming to an end. An enemy is amassing within our borders with plans to take our peaceful way of life and tear it down around our ears. That is why I have called for the best of the best from my most trusted units. You are going to be trained in the combat tactics and skills of a foreign military, one that has the experience and knowhow to teach us the ways of war once again after a thousand years of peace.” She glanced over her shoulder and indicated for me to step up with a wing gesture, “I present to you, your new commanding officer, Captain Sarah Lovegood.”

I nodded my thanks to her as I walked up and crossed my arms behind my back in front of my new subordinates. There was a complete company’s worth as my eyes roamed over the ranks and file before me, and I felt a thrill run down my spine as my old command presence began to surface once more. Sure, I went hard on Rosie in order to make her improve, and I might have channeled some of my inner drill sergeant to get her moving, but these were actual military ponies, so that meant I could go all out with no hesitation what so ever.

I let my hands fall to my sides and I marched up to the first platoon commander, the insignia on the unicorn’s shoulder marking him as a first lieutenant, “What is your name soldier?”

He saluted and replied in a crisp tenor, “Lieutenant Quick Shot, Ma’am!”

I chuckled as I walked around him, inspecting him from top to bottom as I made a complete circuit, “Is that what the mares call you when you try and give them a good time in bed? How about One-shot Willie or Half-cock Charley? Any of those sound familiar?”

I rounded on the troops as they failed to contain their laughter, “Did I say any of you could make a comment?” I chose to leave poor Quick Shot alone as his cheeks tinted a vibrant red in favor of fresh meat. I marched up to the corporal behind Quick Shot and got right up in the pegasus’ face, “What about you, do you have something to say about your commander’s bed habits?”

The young stallion was sweating bullets as he met my gaze, shaking like a leaf as I stared him down, “N-No ma’am.”

“Road apples corporal,” I replied, using some of the more Equestrian swears I had picked up from Swift, “I bet you could come up with at least something, but you’re not because if you did then I’d have to kick your sorry flank into next week for mouthing off about your superior officer.” I pat him on the head once and moved on, leaving a very terrified and also slightly confused pony.

I walked down the line, looking for my next victim, when I heard someone behind me spout this little line, “Bet you I could tap that by the end of the week. Let her see what a real stallion can do.”

I spun around mid-step and yelled out, “Who said that? Who in the name of Celestia’s mother said that?” I walked back down the line and got right in the same corporal’s face, “Was it you?”

He rapidly shook his head, “N-No ma’am.”

My gaze moved on to the next stallion in line, a bruiser with legs the same thickness as my thigh and a neck that could crack solid rock, “How about you big boy, got something to say about my looks? Maybe even about what you’d do to me if you got half the balls your mother seemed to have brining your fat ass into this world?”

His gaze stayed perfectly straight as he replied in a deep baritone, “No ma’am, I don’t have anything to say, ma’am.”

“Tell me sergeant,” I asked as I slowly walked around the earth pony, “would you sell out your fellow soldier in order to save your own skin?”

He kept his gaze forward, but it shifted into one of indignation at my words, “Never, ma’am.”

I paused as I came around behind him, “Even if that soldier disrespected your commanding officer?”

He hesitated for a split second too long, and I lifted my boot up right between his hind legs. His face contorted in pain as his tail tucked in reflex, his hind legs curling up around his jewels as his forehooves cradled the bruised flesh. His face hit the ground as he fell over, the other stallions wincing in sympathy as I walked back around and knelt down in front of the hissing pony.

He looked up at me and managed to force out, “What was that for?”

My gaze was as hard as stone as I picked him up by his jaw and held his muzzle against my nose, “Don’t try to play games with me. There’s no way I’d mistake your voice for someone else’s. You want to try and show me what a real stallion can do in bed, then you’d best unscrew your cock and shove it up your plot because I don’t think you have the guts to even touch me.” I dropped his head and let him cradle his bruised ego along with his smashed balls, turning my attention to the rest of the troops as they quickly returned to attention, “Anyone else think they can say something smart without getting punished?”

No one said a word.

I nodded, feeling a bit more secure now that some of the uncertainty concerning my command had been taken care of. I walked back to the front of the formation and stood at parade rest, crossing my hands behind my back as I forced the troops, “So, now that we have the usual plot-kicking out of the way, let’s get down to business. You all have been brought here because you represent the best Equestria has to offer. Well I’m here to tell you that your skills as an Equestrian mean absolute shit when it comes to what I need in a soldier. You think you’re tough, bullshit, I bet I could take the lot of you with one hand tied behind my back.” There was a collection of murmurs from the group as I locked my gaze onto one disgruntled trooper, “You, the private in the third row of the second platoon,” his head jerked up and fear ignited in his eyes as I marched right up in front of him, “you got something to say about what I just said?”

The unicorn’s eyes flickered from side to side, although he received no help from his fellow soldier as I glared him into submission, “Well, um, you see,”

“Speak to me like you got a pair, Private!” I yelled out, causing him to jump to full attention as he replied in a stronger voice.

“Ma’am, it’s impossible for one soldier to take on two platoons of Equestrian Royal Guard! We’ve been taught the best combat tactics and have the best magic users in the entire nation. There isn’t any way you could beat all of us by yourself, ma’am!” He stood rigid as a board, probably expecting me to blow up in his face, yet I did the unexpected. I did absolutely nothing to the poor soul.

“Finally, someone with something intelligent to say.” I nodded to him before taking my place before the formation once again, “For those of you that couldn’t hear Private Pansy over here, he basically said that there’s no way I could beat all of you by myself because you have the best training and the most powerful magic available to your nation. Are you all in agreement with that statement?” There was another round of murmurs from the peanut gallery, “I asked you lot a question, you should know that if the first and last words out of your mouth aren’t ma’am then I’m going to make you march circles around this fort until your legs fall off, now sound off like you mean it!”

A stomp sound was heard as every stallion stood at attention, “Ma’am, yes ma’am!”

“That’s better,” I said as I began walking up and down the line, “now to answer the question that’s on everyone’s mind, I’m going to explain why your military doesn’t have a chance as you are now. I’ve looked through your regulations and training guidebooks, and what I’ve seen in pathetic. I could bring in a squad of trained Rangers and we could single-handedly take on the entire Equestrian military. It would take forever, but I can say with absolute certainty that there is no way under Celestia’s sun that you would stand a chance. You want to know why?”

Nopony said a thing.

I was about to bark at them again when Sergeant Blueballs managed to add his opinion to the mix, “Why would a pathetic group of creatures like you even bother facing off against the best army in the world? You’d be guaranteed to lose even if you brought the entirety of your forces against us. We have magic, and from what I can see, you don’t. Therefore, you wouldn’t stand a chance against the combined might of the Equestrian Armed Forces.”

The other troops gaped at him like he had lost his mind, and I was inclined to agree with them. However, something he had said sparked an idea in my mind. One I bet not even that blowhard could dispute if I managed to pull it off.

I walked up to the offending stallion and looked him dead in the eyes, “You think Equestria is pretty hot stuff, don’t you?”

He met my gaze and nodded, “I know so.”

My lips split into a sadistic grin, “Think you’re stallion enough to take on the commanders by yourself?”

His composure faltered as he glanced behind me at the COs, “Um, no, I don’t think anypony could take them on by themselves and win. They truly are the best of the best.”

I nodded, that was exactly what I needed to hear, “Then I guess I’ll just have to be the first.”

I spun around and walked back to the Princesses, popping a salute as I stood at attention, “Permission to speak freely, Your Highness?”

Celestia nodded, “Granted, Captain.”

I dropped my salute and turned my attention to Shining Armor and the others, “I challenge the lot of you to a duel, four on one with no holds barred. I plan on proving to these jokers that a Ranger isn’t something to be messed with, so I need you guys to fight me as a group in order to give my claim credit.”

Shining Armor snorted in laughter as the other commanders looked at me like I had grown a second head, although it was much more subdued in the case of Iron Wall. Jetstream was holding her stomach as she tried to remain standing and it was several seconds before they got their composure back.

“You want us to fight you,” Jetstream forced out between giggles, “all at the same time, with no holds barred?” I nodded, keeping my face neutral as I stared her down. Slowly, her expression morphed into one of shock, “Luna’s mane, you’re serious.”

“I can hardly see what my mane has to do with this,” Luna said as she turned to face me, “but I must inquire, is this really a good idea? You would be facing off against the four most powerful ponies in the entire Equestrian military, and at the same time no less. Do you really want to risk the respect of your troops on such a gamble?”

I snorted in contempt, letting my voice carry back to the soldiers behind me as I replied, “What respect? They listen to me because of what you have told them to do. They don’t respect my command because of my own skills and merit, they obey because their immortal goddess told them too. Well I’m not going to sit by and let my own soldiers undermine my authority when I know they can be better. I just need to prove to these jokers that I’m more than just a woman. I am a soldier and I will have the respect that my station deserves.”

Luna nodded, even though Celestia still looked uncertain. Twilight was nearly hyperventilating as she turned from me to her brother and back again, although a calming wing over her back from Celestia went a long way to containing the purple mare’s nerves.

“I see no problem with going through with this duel,” Iron Wall said calmly as he walked up to me, “if you need to face us on the field of battle in order to earn your stripes as a commander, then who are we to stop you. I jut have one condition to this little match.”

I nodded to the older stallion, “And that would be?”

“No weapons,” he replied, “this will be a pure test of physical skill and power. No direct attempts to kill the other duelists should be made in an attempt to win the battle. This is meant to be a test of strength, not a battle to the death.”

Celestia nodded her agreement, as did Luna, “Verily, we shalt not allow for any loss of life over a matter of pride.” The Lunar Princess stepped up to the commanders and I, spreading her wings as she called out in a parade voice, “Listen well, for your Princess speaks. In two hours’ time, the duel between Captain Sarah Lovegood and the combined might of the four Equestrian commanders will take place. The battlefield will be the open plains to the east of the fort, and will be an unarmed test of strength and skill. No direct attempts on any competitors’ life shall be made or tolerated, and the match shall end when one side is unable to continue.” Her gaze leveled on me and the others, “Are these terms acceptable to everypony involved?”

I nodded, as did the others, “Then We will take this time to mark out the battlefield with our magic.” She turned to face Celestia, “Please assist me with this, sister, I might need some help putting together a shield strong enough to contain what is about to happen.”

This caused a murmur to spread through the ranks, given Princes Luna was asking for help to contain what was about to happen. Needless to say, the anticipation concerning the duel had just spiked to a new level.

I turned to face the commanders as Luna and Celestia flew off to do whatever it was they needed to do, “I hope there won’t be any hard feelings when you lose.”

Jetstream scoffed, her wings rustling in excitement as she stared me down, “Don’t think you’re hot stuff just because you can talk a big game. I’ll make sure to pound your sorry flank into the ground for challenging us like this.”

Without another word, she flew off to do whatever it was she planned to do before the duel, leaving me alone with the stallions. Of course, Night Fury had to butt his big head into the mix.

“Well, I’m going to have fun with this,” he smirked up at me as Shining Armor and Iron Wall turned to face the thestral colonel, “who else is having trouble remembering the last time we had somepony challenge us to a duel?”

Shining Armor nodded, “Indeed, although I have a feeling this won’t go for very long.” He glanced my way with a raised eyebrow, “You do realize you don’t stand a chance against all four of us, don’t you?”

I lifted one of my own eyebrows and smirked, “Who said I didn’t? I plan on taking you all out within the first ten minutes of the duel.” I cast a sour look in the direction Jetstream had flown off, “And I’m going to really enjoy taking that turkey down a peg or two.”

“Don’t mind her temper,” Iron Wall said as he followed my gaze, “Jetstream can be hotheaded at times but she’s the best flier we’ve got. Don’t underestimate her unless you want to get your flank pounded into the ground.”

“Shouldn’t that be your job, Iron?” Night Fury asked as he cast a knowing smirk the other stallion’s direction, “After all, isn’t one of your nicknames ‘The Living Avalanche’?”

Iron Wall simply turned to face the thestral with a neutral expression, “I don’t make it a habit to underestimate my opponents, and neither should you.” He turned his attention to me, “I have a feeling our new captain has a few surprises in store for us. Unless she’s a compete fool, she wouldn’t have challenged all four of us to a duel unless she had some kind of plan.”

His calm gaze seemed to penetrate me like a laser cutter, and I did some quick reevaluating in my mind. Jetstream, I was pretty sure I could handle. Shining Armor’s shields would be bothersome but manageable, and I wasn’t really sure what Night Fury could get me with, given his night-based abilities. That meant that my greatest threat was most likely the stallion staring me down, and I felt a shiver run up my spine at the thought of facing him in battle. One way or another, this was going to be a duel for the ages.

The hour of battle had come and gone, and the air was thick with the tension of over a hundred ponies as the combatants took their places in the middle of the dueling arena. Princess Luna and Princess Celestia had constructed the circular area with spells that would contain the powers that they knew were going to be unleashed so as to avoid any collateral damage. Nopony else save for Princess Twilight truly knew what the combatants were capable of, and so it was with much chattering and excitement that the troops of Fort Reinwright gathered to watch the spectacle.

I took my place in the center of the arena, watching with contempt in my gaze as the four commanders took up their own positions on either side, in front and behind me. Each was dressed in their respective armor or outfits, leaving my skinny ass as the only unarmored individual. I turned my attention to the princesses, who had taken up seats in a shaded pavilion that had been set up for them in the center of the spectators. I couldn’t help the smile that graced my lips as I spotted the attentive, if slightly nervous expression that the princesses seemed to sport, although from this distance it was hard to see them clearly. Rosie was watching from her position next to Twilight, although she looked very uncomfortable sitting next to three of the most powerful ponies on the planet, although she hid it well for being so new to the situation.

Jetstream flared her wings a few times to stretch them out, her body positioned to my left while Night Fury stood to my right. Iron Wall was standing in a relaxed stance behind me while Shining Armor was in front, leaving me smack-dab in the middle of the proverbial kill zone. However, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. This was a test of skill and power and I was determined to pound my opponents into the dirt, no matter what kind of advantages they had.

Princess Celestia stood p from her seat, the murmurs of the crowd falling silent as she called out to those assembled, “Combatants, are you prepared?”

I nodded, as did the commanders. Celestia nodded in turn and replied, “The first team to disable all the members of the opposing side will be declared the victor. No lethal spellcasting or techniques will be permitted, but anything else is fair game. Good luck to you all, and may the best team win.”

As she sat down, the troops called out to their favorite commander, shouting for them to pound me into the dirt ten ways from Sunday. Of course, I took this in stride and simply prepared myself for what was to come. I had a feeling that Jetstream would attack first, most likely with a straight charge. Shining Armor would probably throw up a shield or try to grab me in his telekinesis, while Night Fury would simply watch. Iron Wall was the wild card, but I couldn’t see him attacking without a plan, so I prioritized my strategy into taking out Jetstream and Shining Armor before moving on to the other stallions.

I saw Celestia’s horn light up out of the corner of my eye, and I watched as a flare of light shot into the air. I bent my legs and charged my aura as the flare flew higher and higher, until at long last it burst into a shower of golden sparks with a thunderous boom.

Jetstream was off like a shot, charging at me full speed like a bullet, leaving me with little time to react as she closed in. I surged blue aura into my legs and jumped up, allowing her to sail under me as I sailed clear of her initial attack. Jetstream veered off to the right to avoid hitting Night Fury, her head tilting up to look at me with wide eyes as I came back down. I kept the charge of blue energy in my legs to absorb the impact as I landed, my arms held up in a combat stance as I turned to face Shining Armor. His horn was already ignited with his magic and he sent out a solid beam my way that I was forced to dodge. I switched my aura from blue to blue and yellow, pouring on the speed as I raced around behind the stallion and jabbed at the side of his neck with my fingertips. He grunted as his body seized, and he dropped like a stone as his horn’s glow faded to nothing.

The crowd roared as Shining Armor hit the ground like a ton of bricks, although I wasn’t allowed to celebrate my victory for long as Jetstream came charging in from my left. Rather than dodge her again, I secured my legs into the ground and charged my arms as well, leaving my body glowing a soft blue as I prepared for the impact.

Jetstream grinned as she plowed into me, although her grin faded as I grabbed onto her body and held her to my chest, absorbing the impact as I slid backwards in the dirt. Before she could react, I swung her up and over, driving her head into the ground with all of the force of her charge and with the added strength of my upper body.

Her body fell limp as her face plowed a shallow channel into the dirt, leaving me standing alone as Night Fury and Iron Wall looked on with wide eyes. The crowd roared again, this time in amazement as I stepped over the unconscious pegasus and raised my hands into a combat stance once more.

Night Fury glanced at Iron Wall, who nodded in return, and before I could react, Night Fury charged at the earth pony like a madman. My eyes narrowed in confusion as the thestral jumped up and dove at the ground behind the stallion, although they widened in shock as the pony seemed to disappear into his shadow. Before I could react, I felt a pair of hooves plow into me from behind, and I spun around in the air as Night Fury came flying out of my own shadow and drove me into the ground.

I grunted as I landed flat on my back, Night Fury pressing me into the ground as he grinned down at me, “Had enough sweetheart?”

I grinned, “Not a chance. Nice trick though.”

Before he could reply, I charged up my arms with yellow energy and grabbed onto his forehooves. His eyes widened a split second before he got hit by the electricity going through my arms, his jaw opening in a silent scream as his body jerked back and forth like a ragdoll. I released him after a few seconds, remembering Celestia’s words about lethal measures. Of course, Night Fury was out like a light, leaving me on my own as I stood up and turned to face Iron Wall. The stallion hadn’t moved from his position since the beginning of the duel, and in all honesty, that made me very nervous. He had seen my abilities as I defeated his fellow commanders, which meant he had a good read on what I could do. The problem was that I had nothing on him other than his strength as an earth pony.

I could tell from the get go that this wasn’t going to be over fast like the other battles. This was a war of the titans, and I had just stepped in without any idea what my opponent was going to use against me. I charged my legs with blue energy as I prepared for his attack, although it was several second before he began to move. He did something I was not expecting, and closed his eyes as he began to slowly walk towards me. However, I knew it had to be something more than what it seemed. I used my aura speed to charge around behind him, although as I came within striking distance, one of his hind legs came up and pounded into the ground between us.

I was thrown off balance as the very ground beneath me rocked and rolled under the force of the strike, leaving me open for his second attack as his hind legs impacted the center of the chest. I grunted as the wind was knocked out of my lungs, and felt my body flying back as I slid against the ground. I lay there for a moment before pushing myself into a sitting position, taking a moment to regain my wits as Iron Wall started walking my direction with his eyes still closed.

“‘Living Avalanche’ my ass,” I muttered under my breath as I pushed myself into a standing position, “he’s like a freaking seismic detector or something.”

I stepped back as the earth pony approached me, and tried to keep some distance between us as I tried to think of something I could do. Then, it hit me. If I couldn’t get close, then I’d just hit him from a distance with my other aura techniques.

I charged my legs with blue energy as I charged my arms with yellow, the sparks of electricity flying between my fingers as I began racing around the stallion in a circle. My feet kicked up dust and dirt until it was beginning to become hard to see, and I chose that moment to strike. My fingers arced with power as I pointed my hands towards the slowly marching stallion, the arcs of lightning bouncing off the dust and sand in the air in white-hot flashes as they closed in on his position.

Yet, once again, at the last minute, he stomped into the ground, this time kicking up a large hunk of rock that took the brunt of my electric attack, exploding into tiny little pieces as he kicked another boulder into the air between us. I cursed under my breath as he kicked the second rock like a kickball, causing it to sail at me at near blinding speeds. I grounded my feet and slid to a stop, feeling the wind of the rock’s passage as it flew by only inches in front of my face.

I turned to face the stallion as he did the same for me, his eyes finally opening as the dust around us began to settle, revealing a now conscious Shining Armor, Jetstream and Night Fury as they watched on with wide eyes.

I panted as I charged up my hands with blue energy in preparation of another strike, “Not too bad, Iron Wall, it’s been a while since I’ve fought an opponent of your skill.”

“Likewise,” he replied with a nod, “however, you haven’t seen my full power just yet.” He crouched into a combat stance for the first time, his eyes narrowed as he pawed at the ground like the pony he was, “Come at me with everything you have, or else you won’t stand a chance at what’s coming.”

I grinned as I felt my core soaring to new levels of power as my excitement supercharged my aura, “Then let’s see who’s got the best skills out of the two of us.”

Without a word, we charged at each other, my aura flaring to cover my entire body as his own body began kicking up chunks of stone with each step. We closed the gap in a matter of seconds, and I went in with everything as I swung for his head with my right fist. He stomped the ground again and a spire of rock formed between my hand and his head, causing me to shatter the boulder instead of cracking his skull. His response was to kick what remained of the boulder at my face, causing me to jerk my head to the side as I threw a kick at his ribs.

For the first time, he blocked my leg with his own, and I could feel the shockwave as the impact scattered the remaining dust and dirt floating in the air around us. My leg tingled like it was numb even with the added boost from my aura, and I was caught off guard as he grabbed my leg and flipped me over his back like a sack of potatoes. I landed square over his shoulders, and I felt my arm being gripped with one of his forehooves as he grabbed my metal leg with the other. Before I could do anything to stop him, he flipped onto his back and drove both of our bodies into the dirt, with his entire weight landing flat on my torso like the rocks he had been slinging at me.

My vision swam as I tried to remain conscious, and I gasped as he drove his elbow into my gut, further driving the ring of black into the center of my vision. I could barely feel him move as he got up and off of me, my vision slowly returning as I gasped for air.

He turned around and looked down at me, his gaze calm like before as his eyes met mine, “Had enough?”

I felt like I had been put through a fruit press and turned into jelly, but I wasn’t about to admit defeat, not until he knocked me out or I punched his lights out. I grunted and hissed as I pushed myself up, noting that the other commanders had walked up with worried expressions on their faces.

“I’m not done yet,” I managed to force out as I stood up straight, “I’ll prove that I’m just as qualified to lead as you are.” I stumbled slightly but regained my footing as I stared Iron Wall down, “I don’t care if I’ve already earned their respect, this is a personal matter now and I won’t back down until this duel is finished.”

Iron nodded, the other commanders backing up with fearful expressions as the old stallion fell into his combat stance one more, “Then let us finish this. One final strike, winner take all?”

I nodded, feeling my aura spike again as my entire body was enveloped in blue and yellow fire, “Let’s end this.”

We charged at one another, crying out like the warriors we were as we both swung back our arm/foreleg and drove a punch aimed at the other’s face. My fist made first contact, but instead of stopping him, he used the momentum of my punch to roll around and use his other hoof to crack me on the back of the neck. I cried out as his hoof impacted me at the base of my skull, my vision igniting with sparks and black spots as my legs fell out from under me. I was just able to see the small grin on his face as my body crumpled to the ground, my vision fading to black as he landed on his hooves and began walking away.

“Son of a bitch.” I managed to croak out, my hand grasping after him even though he was too far away as my vision faded out completely. The last thing I remembered was Twilight and Rosie calling my name, and then the sweet embrace of unconsciousness.

Author's Notes:

*Reinwright is a pun of Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Today's little battle scene brought to you by this song.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xs1JgxyrO4

Well then, here's another one for all of you to enjoy. Sorry about this but I'm not going to be able to update until later this week because of finals. Anyways, I hope you all are enjoying the book so far, and I hope to see you all in later chapters.

Leave a like, comment in the towel section below, and follow me if you wish. Oher than that, have a happy evening, and I'll see you all next chapter,
Shadow Quill, Messenger of the Moon.