Shining Armor paced back and forth. A solid line of where he paced could be seen below him. He glanced constantly skyward with a look of anticipation. He muttered under his breath looking around at the ponies passing by, worried expressions on their faces. Star Grazer and Light Dasher were walking by Shining Armors tent when they saw the white pony pacing about. Star nudged his crème companion and they walked over to him.

“Hello sir? Are you alright?” Light Dasher waved a hoof at him when he didn’t respond.

“Um… Shining? What’s up? Is it that thing we discussed earlier? I thought we had come up with a plan for the hostage situation at town?” Star Grazer knelt down his front legs and looked closely at the dirt line under Shining Armor. “You have been pacing for at least an hour…”

“Wow Star! How did you know that?”

“I am a scholar. I know a lot of useless information. The ground under Shining is firmly packed indicating pressure on the area. The piles of dirt around the packed area tell me that he has not deviated from this spot and about how long he has been in the area.” Light Dasher, impressed by his knowledge, nodded her head and smiled.

“That is actually pretty cool! I mean it is dirt but still cool!” Star Grazer blushed.

“Ah it’s nothing really… Wait! We are getting distracted. Shining what is going on?” Shining Armor glanced up at the sky again as a chariot touched down. The two royal guards pulling it let out a sigh of exhaustion as they relinquished their load. Shining perked up and quickly glanced at Star Grazer and Light Dasher.

“Hey get outta here! I have important business to attend to!” Shining barked at the duo. They walked away and headed for the mess hall. Barry and Fluttery were already there. A small crowd formed a half circle around the two and large piles of food lay in front of them.

“Uh… Barry? What’s goin’ on?” Barry looked up at Light dasher for a split second before returning to the hay fries and celery sticks.

“Hey what’s going on?” A pony from the crowd swatted Star Grazers hand away and hushed him.

“Come on dude! They are in an eating contest. We received too much food that could spoil so we set up this contest. I have four bits on the red one.” The two ponies sure could eat a lot. Three plates lay empty by each of them. Two more plates full off smoked apple patties towered over the now depleting Zap apple sandwiches.

“Sweet Celestia! How much extra food did we get?!”

“Apparently a lot…” Light dasher replied blankly.

The food eating contest lasted thirty minutes with a stale mate of 10 minutes. The stalemate consisted of a bloated Fluttery and Barry waiting to swallow food and take their last bite. It was the most suspenseful moment of no ponies’ life. It was a close match and everypony almost missed it. The winner who took the last bite.

After Fluttery won the contest by a single celery stick, the four of them slowly walked around camp. Auburn leaves covered the ground and the autumn breeze gently swayed the trees. With each gust a new leafy layer coated the landscape. The weather transitioned quickly from when they first arrived.

Star Grazer took it upon himself to help some ponies clear the main walkways of leaves. Light Dasher soon joined in cleaning, removing leaves from the tops of tents. Barry and Fluttery, too bloated from their earlier meal, watched the two ponies work.

“Hey Fluttery?”

“Hi Barry!” She smiled.

“You think something’s going on between them two?” Barry pointed to Star Grazer wiping leaves that landed on Light Dasher’s back.

“I don’t know. They sure are good friends though!” She examined Star Grazer rubbing her chin thoughtfully.

“Yeah. Well whatever. How about you?” Fluttery quickly turned to look at him.

“What do you mean?”

“Anything between you and Blueblood? I saw you drag him into the forest. You don’t have to tell me I'm just curious.” His passive expression eased her tension.

“No it’s fine. We are friends… or at least I think we are friends. I consider him a friend but he seems to hate me.” She turned to the floor, toying with a few leaves.

“Ah forget him! He hates everybody. If it makes you feel better I don’t hate you! I actually like you.” She turned to meet his cheery gaze.

She struggled to grasp for words and she managed a quiet “thank you” and hid behind her mane. Barry simply laughed and patted her on the back.

“No problem. What are friends for?”

Star Grazer swept away the last of the leaves from the ‘road’ and looked to Light Dasher who nodded in confirmation. She dropped the last of the leaves she carried into the pile they made off to the side. They stared at the leaf pile that was as tall as them. Star Grazer extended his hoof, receiving a hoof bump from Light Dasher. Star Grazer let out a sigh.

“Don’t ask me why because I don’t know. What shall we do?”

“Well I guess we should check and see if Shining needs anything. Seeing as we are in the military and we haven’t done much in the way of… military stuff and all.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

The two trotted over to the now familiar tent. As they approached low murmurs could be heard from within.  They slowed their pace as words could be made out. They crept closer to the tent pressing their ears to the side. Silence filled the tent and they leaned in closer.

ATTENTION!

Light Dasher jumped, wildly flailing her arms and smacking Star Grazer. She fell into him and quickly put a hoof over his mouth, her leg hit him in a place. Shining Armor turned looked around the corner, frowning at the stumbling duo he considered proper officer rank.

“Oh good! You are here! It saves me the trouble of finding you. After all you have work to do.” His frown turned to a small but wicked grin.

Light Dasher had a hard time standing still. Her body was tense all over. She glanced at the other potential candidates uniformly in line to her. She nudged Star Grazer and leaned in to say something. She was hushed by him and followed his hoof pointing at Shining Armor. He was trailed by a sky blue Pegasus and a changeling. Rainbow Dash and Jason… I don’t know why but I think there is something going on between them two…

They stopped a few hoof steps away from them. Jason was talking with Rainbow Dash. She tossed him a bag and he slipped out a paper. Whatever the paper was made him let out a long sigh and slipped it back in the bag. Jason picked up another paper and looked over the ponies. He looked at Star Grazer and Light Dasher for a slightly longer time and called for Shining. They conversed, with Shining Armor gesturing to them a few times. Light Dasher tilted her ear to try and hear what they were talking about. The only thing she was able to pick up was ‘be up to the challenge’. Must be talking about Star Grazer. I'm up for any challenge.

Jason passed something to Rainbow Dash and she flew away somewhere. Jason and Shining did more talking. The ponies in the line were getting a little antsy. They began gossiping among each other.

“I heard that the Changeling is Rainbow Dash’s colt friend.”

“Yeah I know. I heard that they like to get it on a lot… if ya’ know what I mean!”

“No way. A changeling and a pony? That can’t happen.”

“Shining Armor also likes Rainbow Dash I heard.”

“No way that isn’t true. He is married to the princess of love!”

“I heard that she don’t give him a lot of love… If ya’ know what I mean!”

Jason walked towards the group and all conversation ceased.

“Listen up!"  Jason started.  "These are your weapons, as far as I'm concerned.  I'm dividing you up into two teams, and your objective is to capture a small ruin out in the forest.  Your ability to work as a team and your judgment as an individual will be weighed, and ponies will be cut from the team.  I will not tolerate lone wolf tactics, even if you do somehow capture the ruin all by your lonesome."  He paused.  "You're probably wondering why this is such a hard mission.  Well, I've got the rest of Team Green Bean out there, defending the ruins.  If you get hit with one of these sticks, you better call yourself out.  Cheating is just going to make you that much weaker in war, and if I see it it'll make it much harder to get on the team.  Understand so far?"

“SIR YES SIR!”

“WHAT WAS THAT?!?”

“SIR YES SIR!!!” Light Dasher noticed Jason chuckle a bit. I think he is milking his position a bit much. She muled to herself. A pile of sticks were placed in front of them.

"Alright, you're going to be in two teams, going for the same goal.  Feel free to help each other out, or sabotage the other team.  Just know that being on the winning team doesn't ensure you a place on Team Green Bean."

"Now," He continued, "This is a map of the area. Your objective is marked, along with the path you have to take to get to the area in which I want you to start." He smacked his fore hooves together. "Okay then," He started walking down a path, further into the woods before gesturing for them to follow. "I'm guessing that none of you needed to hide much in whatever you were assigned to do." He stopped in the middle of the clearing, which was carpeted in short grass. "Find the pony in this clearing." They shifted uncomfortably. "Go ahead, look around. Betcha' can't find her."

Light Dasher did as instructed and walked out towards the clearing. Several other ponies began searching the grassy area as well. She heard a few ponies complaining that there is no pony in the clearing. She would have agreed if she hadn’t heard something move near her. She cautiously walked over toward it, examining the grass trying to locate the source of the noise.

Dash!  Come on out!"

Light Dasher paused before she heard a shuffle in front of her. A blue blur came into her view before letting out a yelp and putting her guard up. She fell backwards and cringed before hearing Rainbow Dash’s laughter. She offered a hoof between fits laughter.

"You shoulda' see the look on your face! Priceless!" Light Dasher muled and accepted the mares help up. Light Dasher turned around seeing Jason and Shining Armor laughing as well. Humph! Whatever… I wasn’t scared… She surprised me is all! Jason calmed himself down and cleared his throat.

"So what did we learn there?" Jason asked. A pony raised their hoof.

"Surprise is important?"

"Sure, but more importantly, the combination with a good hiding place and timing. And planning." He paused, clapping his fore hooves together. "So without further ado, let's get to work here. The sooner we're done, the sooner you can get to sleep to prepare. Get out your maps and start off now, and I'll blow the whistle after I check to see if Team Green Bean's ready. Anything you want to say, Dash?" She nodded and stepped forward.

"You gotta play this like it's war. I know he's said that, but I have something to add. If you get hit with the end of the spear, assign a sharp end now, by the way, play it like you got hit there. Limp if you get hit in the hoof, don't walk at all if you get hit in the shoulders, hips, thighs or biceps, and basically act incapacitated or dead if you're hit in the chest, throat or head. Drag injured ponies to safety, throw them over your back, anything to get them out of there. And you have to bring back that flag or take out everypony else to win." she paused, trying to think of something else. "I think that's it."

"Yeah, I can't believe I forgot that. Now stealth. You saw what she did. Remember, be resourceful, be smart, be silent. And use your resources to their fullest." He looked around at the ponies. "Go ahead, start off on your ways, but listen for the whistle. You have to get to the staging area first, though. Now go go go!" Light Dasher quickly found Star Grazer and the rest of their group and bolted off into the forest.

Star Grazer led the way with Light Dasher at the back. The few ponies that were with them followed in a single file line. Star Grazer quickly and quietly knocked away branches and thicket forming a faintly noticeable trail through the forest. He kept them toward the edge of the forest line, close enough that they can see things that were close but far away enough to not be seen.

They continued in silence for what seemed an eternity before thinning tree revealed a large open field. A small ruin lay in the middle with a flag protruding at its top. No sign of Team Green Bean could be found which unnerved the group a little. The sounds of a fighting could be heard faintly. Star Grazer called them close and spoke in a hushed tone.

“Ok. We’re going to need a distraction… I know almost for a fact that Team Green Bean is hiding like Rainbow Dash is. Anyone have any ideas?” A young stallion slowly raised a hoof.

“I’ll be the distraction.” Star Grazer stared at him quizzically then shook his head. “Hey don’t worry. After all this is only a test sir.” Star Grazer nodded and he ran out of the trees. The pony was quickly subdued by a member of Team Green Bean and slowly dragged away into a bush.

“Ok we now know the location of one enemy. There seems to be some scuffling over on the other side of the ruin so we are going to wait it out. When the other team comes out from the forest I want us all to charge in a triangle shaped pattern. ‘In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity’ you know!” He was given a round of quizzical looks. “I read that in a book I found.”

Star Grazer and his group waited in the dark. The area was still and quiet only to be broken by the sound of fighting and brush rustling in the distance. After a prolonged moment of silence a few ponies from the other team travelled loudly in the open. Star Grazer raised a hoof and stood rigid and ready to pounce. He threw down his hand and galloped out of the wood.

They charged at the confused ponies taking down two of them. Star Grazer ducked under a jab and clashed ‘spears’ with somepony. A swipe from the pony made him jump back into Light Dasher. They fought back to back until a loud blaring noise startled them to a stop. Jason let the whistle fall and began to speak.

"That was good, I'm pleasantly surprised you all did that well after a start like that." Light Dasher and a few other ponies blushed. "But there was obvious room for improvement. None of you took the threat of being followed seriously enough, you all figured that you were the one several moves ahead of the others. I like to keep my strategy simple. Never underestimate the enemy. Overestimating is fine, it means you're ready, for sure." He paused. "Now, there were some parts I liked, like the formations and the bait trap thing you had going across the clearing. But here's the thing, you need to be more resourceful. Getting in the tree is a good example." Star Grazer gleamed at the formation part.

"I guess while we're at it,"  he continued,  "you guys need to take out all the threats first, then get to the objective, especially when it involves going out into the open like that.  That flag's not going anywhere.  And don't be so obvious about where you're going, trick the enemy, make him think he's got you pinned.  Don't enter into fights that you don't think you'll win."

"Okay, round two.  Same drill.  Go!"

Several ponies knelt down in exhaustion. They ran through the exercise two more times before Jason walked around and gathered the sticks from them. Jason placed them in a cart that no pony remembered being there earlier. Jason pulled the strange tablet that he constantly referred to and sighed, switching it out for a clipboard. He stood in thought for a moment before clearing his throat to speak.

"So before I send two of you away, I'd like to state my gratitude for you going through all of this, even if it turned out to have no gain.  Even if you don't make it onto the team, you still have bragging rights for being selected, and you should be proud that your skills are this well-toned.  Now without further ado, the ponies on the team are as follows, in order of score.  Breeze Glider, Light Dasher, Star Grazer, Dusk Sky, Dull Shine, Rain Flurry, Wood Work, and Blueblood." Jason did a double take at the board

"Did you just say Blueblood, Jason?"  Dash asked.  "Cuz it sounded kinda like you did..."

"I did, it's right here on the sheet."  Jason showed her the clipboard.  "So maybe one of them's joking?"  He turned to the ponies.  "Which one of you is Blueblood?"  He put air quotes around the last word.

Blueblood tentatively raised a hoof. “That would be me.” Jason walked over to him and examined him closely. Light Dasher could tell he was feeling anything but a little nervous.

“What happened to you?”

"I wanted to actually do something with my life, and your stu- war seemed like a good enough cause."

"But what made you change? If I remember, you were one of the ponies on the sidelines in Canterlot. You know what, I'm not going to question it. Welcome to the team." He turned back to the group. "I should have probably said this earlier, but the two that didn't get on, you can be alternates if you want to." They nodded, still looking a little downtrodden.

Light Dasher: Well this will be interesting.

Star Grazer: Wow! Team Green Bean! Funny to think about but I'm inside a force to be reckoned with. WooHoo!

Blueblood: What have I gotten myself into…

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