//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8- Training Time.  
// Story: This looked easier on paper. 
// by TheOctoWriter 
//------------------------------//

The trio trudged through the Badlands.

It was hot and they were so dam thirsty.

"Ughhh... I want some water." Spike said.

"Wait, what's that over there?" Sunset said pointing to a rectangular shape in the distance.

"It looks like a house! or maybe a hut." Spike said.

"C'mon guys let's go see if there's any water there!" He said as he ran to the mysterious place.

He ran to the shape only to found out it was a house.

What surprised him ever more was that a big red figure stepped out of the home.

"Tirek?!" Spike said in confusion.

"Hello Spike. I'm glad to see you have made it here safely." Tirek said.

"And I see you've brought some friends."

"Hi I'm Sunset." Sunset said smiling.

"I'm Gummy." Gummy said shaking his hand.

"Spike is that you?" Twilight said as she stepped out.

"Twilight!" Spike yelled out as he ran to her to give her a big hug.

"Spike, I'm glad you're not hurt." Twilight said hugging him back.

"But what are you doing here?" Spike asked confused.

"Well, when the dragon was attacking. professor Tirek managed to find me and help me escape."

"I promised to help him find any remaining survivors and now I'm here." 

"I'm sorry to interrupt Princess but I must prepare them for the journey ahead."

"Yes Tirek, it would be best. Spike follow professor tirek's training."

"Wait... you know about my mission?" Spike asked.

"Yes, Princess Celestia told me about it."

"I'm sorry to leave Spike but I must search the destroyed academy for more survivors." Twilight said preparing to teleport.

"I wish you three the best. stay safe." Twilight said as she hugged Spike again.

"Ok Twilight, we protect Equestria. I promise!" Spike said as she teleported away.

"Now, are you three ready to begin your training?" Tirek asked.

"Can we have some food and something to drink first?" Sunset asked.

As they ate and quenched their thirst. 

Spike began to ask Tirek some questions.

"So Tirek is there any reason why you wanted to save others who survived?" Spike asked with general curiosity, while Tirek did take the teaching job, Spike still didn't really trust him.

"I wanted to save them to make up for trying to take over Equestria." Tirek said.

"Seems fair enough." Spike said.

"But why do you have a house out in the Badlands?" Spike then asked.

"Well... I made a couple of investments with certain merchants, then I saved up enough to buy this home." Tirek said.

"Cool." Spike said turning to Gummy and Sunset.

"Guys... I don't trust him." Spike said quietly.

"Spike you're not giving him a chance." Sunset said.

"Maybe he has changed."

"Maybe..." Gummy said pondering.

"Or it could be a ruse to make us let our guard down then attack us when we are the most vulnerable." Gummy concluded.

"But why would he want to attack us? We're just three students from Celestia's academy." Sunset asked, confused.

"He could know about the mission that Celestia entrusted us with." Gummy said.

"You must remember that changeling spies are everywhere nowadays."

"But still... I want to believe he's changed." Sunset said.

"Just stay on guard." Gummy advised.

"So... are you guys ready to train?" Tirek asked, snapping them out of that conversation.

"We're ready!" The trio yelled in excitement.

"Good, please follow me to my backyard." Tirek said as he walked to this backyard.

"Whoa..." Spike said as he walked in the backyard.

There were so much green.

It surprised him how there could be so much grass and trees in this part of Equestria.

"Awesome!" Sunset said as she looked around.

"Quite impressive." Gummy said as he surveyed the surrounding greenery.

"How did you get all this grass?" Spike asked.

"I thought this part of Equestria was too dry to grow grass."

"It is, but I brought a whole lake with me and kept my eye on the area, making sure to water it and let it grow." Tirek said.

"Woah..." Spike said in awe.

"Now let me assess each of you individually." Tirek said.

"Spike, you're up first." Tirek said.

"Alright guys, I'm up." Spike said.

"Good luck!" Sunset said smiling.

Spike smiled back.

He approached Tirek.

"Alright Spike, show me what you got." Tirek said.

Spike charged forward drawing his sword for a low swiping slashes.

Tirek blocked them.

Spike kept trying, slashing at Tirek with all his might.

Tirek was having starting to have a little trouble keeping up with him.

Spike then tried to go for a overhead slash.

But he was tired. 

Tirek blocked the blow.

"Good job Spike! You've definitely improved from our last battle." Tirek said.

"But we need to your speed and endurance. All that power won't do you any good if you don't have the speed and endurance to keep up with your opponent." 

Up next was Gummy.

"Hello there." Tirek said.

"Looks like your up next."

"Show me what you've got!" Tirek said as Gummy rushed him.

Tirek tried to slow Gummy down with a flurry of punches but Gummy avoided all of them.

He's fast... Tirek mentally noted.

Gummy then went on the offense.

Furiously slashing at Tirek.

Tirek was impressed to say the least. 

It been a while since a mere mortal could give him a bit of a challenge.

His blows were heavy and quick.

Tirek could actually feel when the sword made contact with his skin.

Eventually Tirek decided to end it.

Gummy had managed to cause him to stagger.

"Good work Gummy!" Tirek said.

"You're strength and speed are impressive. If I would have not stopped the fight, that sword may have been at my neck."

"But we'll still work on your endurance."

Tirek then turned to Sunset.

"I don't really have anything magic related to teach you since you are a unicorn."

"If only Princess Twilight were here." Tirek mused.

As if Celestia heard their cries of distress. Twilight suddenly appeared in front of them.

"Hi guys, I'm back!" Twilight said as she finished teleporting.

"Twilight!" The trio cried out.

"But what are you doing here?" Spike asked.

"Well, after I checked on my friends. I made sure that you guys were doing alright." Twilight said.

"Perfect timing Miss Sparkle." Tirek said.

"I need you to teach Sunset how to teleport long distances. Just in case she gets into trouble and needs a way out."

"Ok. I'll do it!" Twilight said smiling.

"Come here Sunset. I'll teach you the basics of teleporting." Twilight said.

"Okay." Sunset said as she walked over to Twilight.

"So you remember that when you perform a spell, you have to focus your magic right?"Twilight asked.

"Yeah!" Sunset said.

"Well, teleporting is kind of similar. Expect you have to imagine the place you are teleporting to."

"Also it's very important that you concentrate when you do this, if your mind wanders then it could send you off course completely."

"You could even end up in a different universe if you're not careful!" Twilight said emphasizing that last part.

Twilght and Sunset practiced this for the rest of the afternoon.

Sunset eventually got the hang of it.

Twilight was ecstatic when that happened.

"That was fun and all, but unfortunately I have to go. Princess Celestia needs me for repairs to the academy." Twilight said.

"Ok bye Twilight! Be safe!" Spike said happily.

"Come visit us if you can!" Sunset said waving.

"Goodbye Princess... and good luck in repairing the academy." Gummy said in a sincere tone.

"Thank you all!" Bye!" Twilight said as she teleported back to the academy.

"Let's continue exploring." Gummy said.

"Ok, let me tell Tirek that we are leaving." Spike said.

"We'll be going now Professor Tirek! Thanks for everything!" Spike said happily waving goodbye.

"No problem! You kids stay safe!" Tirek said.

"Thank you! Bye!" The trio said as they continuing their journey across Equestria.