Weekly Teaser #2

Spike and 2 cadets, an earth pony and a Pegasus, of the Royal-Guard stood behind a wall. On the other side were two powerful demon-ponies, unicorns, both who knew devastating dark magic.

"Axios, flank from the left. Axiel, you take right. I'll head them down the middle, clear?" Spike spoke with authority, fastening his helmet.

"What? Are you crazy? We can't take those things head-on! Look, up there! If I can get up onto the trees just west of them, I can snipe them. Few arrows oughta do the trick! We need to keep our distance." Axios suggested.

"Soldier, this is a command, follow my orders! It's our best chance of doing this cleanly." Spike said, holding the shoulder of the Guard.

"Sir, I'm sorry, but I'm not taking those things head on. Range is our best option." Axios said, before promptly running towards the trees he mentioned.

"Axios, you idiot!!!" Spike yelled, as Axios made a mad-dash for the trees. One of the demons noticed him, and shot a powerful blast of dark magic at him, exploding right into his side, sending him crashing into the earth, as smoke rose from his body, a result of being fried by the magic.

"Shit, damn fool risked it! Axiel, change of plans, move now!" Spike yelled promptly, vaulting the wall and charging at the demons.

Axiel flew to the top of the wall and hurled his spear towards a demon. The demon was too focused on Spike, and was subsequently impaled, killing it on impact.

Spike punched at the other one, but it blocked with a ward and stabbed Spike in his shoulder with the horn. Gritting his teeth, Spike broke off the horn with great strength, took it out, and jammed it into the throat of the demon, enabling it to bleed out.

Spike panted, shrugging off his injury. He walked over to the suffering Axios and examined his wounds. The magic blasted his armor, causing it to impale him. He was bleeding severely, but it wasn't fatal, yet.

Spike decided now was the best time to teach him a lesson.

He crudely grabbed the soldier by the collar and lifted him, glaring into the soldier's eyes. The soldier looked back, pain evident in his eyes.

"You can hold orders, soldier?" Spike asked.

Axios didn't want to admit his blunder, so he replied,
"It's just..." He began, coughing and spluttering up some blood.
"Another casualty sir..." He said, sure that he'd die from the injury. His wound still smoked from the blast.

"Unacceptable." Spike spat, violently dropping the soldier back onto the ground.

"I am trained for this. I have lived it hundreds of times. Assessing a battle situation in seconds is what I'm bred for as a Champion of the Royal-Guard. Did you think range would be best against creatures capable of ranged combat?! Leave the decisions to seasoned combatants next time soldier, and never doubt your higher-ups unless they give you reason to do so. May your injury enlighten you." Spike preached.

"Axiel, you can treat him. I'm sure as hell not doing it." Spike said, looking back at him.

"Shining Armor says a life is either wasted or well-spent. While you're in the infirmary, you decide what yours would've been. Follow orders next time." Spike said, walking off, leaving Axiel to haul him back to the city.

As Spike walked off, he grew a frown. Truthfully, he didn't like being so harsh, but these were life-and-death situations, and these were the best ways to teach them. Hopefully, he'd grow into a fine guard, just as he has.