//------------------------------// // Act III: Chapter Twenty-One: Full Roster // Story: Innocent // by Puzzle Piece //------------------------------// With another full day’s rest behind him, Jason was feeling much better. Well enough, in fact, that Cor had allowed him out of his tent. He knew he wouldn’t be at his best for another day or so, but he was oddly invigorated by his returning strength. It put him in a wonderful mood and he’d taken to wandering the camp, talking with ponies at random. Even though it only ever amounted to so much small talk, the ponies he spoke with relaxed visibly. Jason knew all too well the value of having a chance to get a soldier’s mind off darker thoughts, even if it was only briefly. Midmorning had come and gone by the time he’d made his way through the training grounds and out toward the armory. That was where the head of the Air Corps intercepted him. She introduced herself as Captain Spitfire and they spent nearly an hour discussing each other’s take on the enemy. The Captain seemed, as far as Jason could tell, to be at home in the military mindset and her tone told him that command was not a foreign field either. They fell silent when a familiar Pegasus swooped in and landed a short distance away. “Sergeant Dash reporting, ma’am,” she said with a crisp salute to the Captain. “You had something you needed to speak with me about?” “When I said take some time to collect yourself, I didn’t think you’d have to sleep on it,” Spitfire said with a shake of her head. “Anyway, I have new orders for you. Your squadron is being reassigned. You’re to accompany Lieutenant Faircastle’s detachment and assist in his operations, independent of the rest of the Air Corps.” Rainbow looked at Jason. “You put in a request for me to be transferred?” Jason shook his head. “This is the first I’ve heard of it.” “Then why?” she asked the Captain. “This comes straight from Princess Celestia,” Spitfire said briskly. “She wanted to send a supplementary force with the Lieutenant that could move fluidly between commands. She asked if I could spare any wings and I told her that, if any squadron was cut out for the task, it was yours.” “So I should start calling you ‘sir’?” Rainbow asked Jason with a grin. “That’s technically correct, Sergeant,” Spitfire said, bringing Rainbow’s attention back around. “However, you’re being assigned to assist his detachment, not being put strictly under his command. You’ll still be an Air Corps squadron, but the Princess needs you to act independently of the rest of us.” She gave Rainbow a wink that was so quick that Rainbow wasn’t even sure she’d seen it at all. “I’m sure you’ll have no trouble filling that roll.” “Should we let her squadron know about this change?” Jason asked. “No need,” Spitfire replied. “I informed them late last night and asked them to come down here to make it official with you today. In fact, I see them coming now.” Fifteen ponies trotted across the field toward them from the rows of tents that served as the Army’s quarters. They were dressed in their full uniforms but did not carry their weapons. Rainbow seemed to be distracted by something about them as they approached. Jason didn’t see anything wrong and waited silently for them to shuffle into formation. They saluted to Spitfire and she returned it. “Alright,” the Captain said, addressing everyone present. “Now that we’re all here, we can say it’s official. The paperwork has been filed and everypony has been informed. This squadron is to provide support and assistance to the special detachment under the command of Lieutenants Cor Hightalon, Zacon Crimsontide and Jason Faircastle. They will act as your commanding officers for the purposes of field operations but you report to me as your Captain in the Air Corps.” She turned to Jason. “You take care of my fliers, you hear? We’re counting on the fact that you know what you’re doing. Judging from what we’ve seen so far, you do. Just don’t go proving us wrong.” Jason smiled grimly. Spitfire turned to Rainbow. “Make us proud out there, Sergeant.” Rainbow nodded resolutely and Spitfire again addressed the whole group. “You’ve seen how bad it can get and you’ve seen what’s at stake. But we’re not going to roll over for them; not now, not ever! There will be a lot riding on each of you out there, but you’ve shown twice now that you’re up to the task. Good luck, all of you.” She nodded to Jason and Rainbow and returned the squadron’s salutes before winging away again. Rainbow watched her until she disappeared behind a building a block away. Then she turned back to her squadron. “There are fifteen of you here,” she stated bluntly. “Who’s the extra?” “I am, Sergeant,” a plucky voice called. A Pegasus, significantly smaller than her peers, stepped out from behind Cerulean. She had a dark gray coat and white spots on her wings. Her mane was black with an indigo sheen where the light caught it, conservatively cut and tucked back tightly. She held herself rigidly at attention as she saluted Rainbow. “Private Starling, ma’am!” she announced, nearly shouting. “Reporting as second wing, third flight, twelfth squadron, ma’am!” Rainbow processed that information briefly. “You’re the replacement for Camera Flash?” Starling nodded. “When I enlisted, they were assigning recruits to fill vacancies in existing squadrons before forming new ones, ma’am.” “How much training do you have?” Rainbow asked. “I’ve been training since I was a filly, ma’am,” the small Pegasus declared proudly. “Not flight training. I mean combat training.” “I am combat trained, Sergeant,” Starling responded with a nip of indignation. “Since before the war?” Rainbow asked in disbelief. “Yes, ma’am! I intended to join the Royal Guard. But with the war, I was unable to apply for and complete academy training. So I enlisted in the Air Corps instead.” “Well, alright.” Rainbow relaxed and returned the salute. “Welcome to the twelfth.” “Thank you, ma’am!” Starling said, finishing her salute sharply and stepping back into line. Heavy hooffalls announced Big Mac’s approach before Jason saw him. The stallion nodded to the Lieutenant as he stood beside him. Rainbow met Big Mac’s eyes and several seconds of unspoken communication passed between them. Jason looked Big Mac over briefly. “I take it you’ve signed on with us?” Jason asked. “Eeyup,” he replied. “Once we’ve all gathered, we’ll go over the plan and get properly outfitted for it,” Jason said, addressing them all. “Cor has a few other recruits he’ll be bringing with him and…” A hush fell over the camp. Jason turned to see both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna approaching them. The light of Celesita’s aura mixed with the noonday sun, causing her coat to glow faintly. The Lunar Princess, by contrast, seemed impervious to the radiance that surrounded her. Her azure coat was sleek and dark, despite being exposed to the brilliance of her sister. Ponies all around bowed to them as they passed. Walking beside them was Twilight, armored, uniformed and loaded down with bulging saddlebags. “I think I have everything,” Twilight was saying. “There were a couple of spell books and a reference book I had thought to bring, but I’d have needed another bag. Oh! What is it that I’m forgetting?!” “You’re forgetting to trust in yourself,” Jason heard Luna whisper to her. Twilight grinned sheepishly and stopped fretting. When they reached the group, Jason bowed with the other ponies. Celestia nodded to them as they straightened again. “I have approved the transfer papers for Twilight,” she said stoically, addressing Jason. “The papers are a technicality though. She is not an official member of the Guard and thus is not bound by the chain of command. It is her choice to be here and as such, you are the leader of the group she is following, not her commanding officer.” “I understand, your Highness,” Jason said. She turned to Twilight and lowered her voice, though Jason could still hear the words. There was a hint of softness in her voice that Jason had heard once before, when she was cradling her nephew’s body. “Be safe, my faithful student. If you believe this is where you need to go, then I will trust your judgment.” “Thank you, Princess. Don’t worry, we’ll keep each other safe,” she replied as they nuzzled affectionately. Celestia straightened again, composed and commanding once more. Twilight stepped over to stand next to Jason and wait for her to speak. Celestia’s gaze swept over them all, clearly measuring them. Luna whispered something in the other’s ear and Celestia turned to see a large group of ponies approaching. Cor led the column. Jason waved him over and Cor hurried his pace to get there. “I’m not late, am I?” Cor asked. “Not too late,” Jason replied. “I take it you’ve been busy?” He peered past Cor at the ponies behind him. “Boy was I!” Cor said with a laugh. “I had started signing them on one at a time, but Private Heartstrings proved to be an effective recruiter. An entire platoon turned up, including their Lieutenant, all looking to join us. I figure a transfer that large will need special permission, so I guess it’s convenient that the Princesses are already here.” Cor motioned for the Lieutenant to come forward. He trotted up and saluted the Princesses. “Lieutenant Long Watch of Third Company, Second Platoon, your Highnesses. I’m here to request the transfer of my platoon from the Army command to that of Lieutenants Cor Hightalon and Jason Faircastle.” He finished his salute sharply and waited for their answer. Celestia nodded in acknowledgement and accepted the papers Cor held out to her. “Your entire platoon has expressed a desire to make this transfer?” she asked. “Yes, your Highness,” Long Watch confirmed. “Very well,” she said, signing off on the papers and giving them back to Cor. “Your exemplary service thus far has not gone unnoticed. If your valor in the city as well as at the river is any indication, I have no doubt that this mission is in capable hooves.” “Thank you Princess,” Long Watch said with a bow. “But the credit can’t be ours alone. The tenacity of these Lieutenants inspired us to fight as we have. We hope to achieve further victory for Equestria at their sides.” Luna cast a worried glance at Celestia as if to make a comment but her sister didn’t seem to notice. “And I am sure you will have good fortune in that endeavor,” Celestia said with an encouraging smile. “We have much work to do before the Army is ready to follow you into the field once again, but we will follow as soon as we are able. In the meantime, any advantage you can press now will be of great help.” “We will be leaving early tomorrow morning,” Jason informed her tactfully. “We’ll spend the rest of today making sure we are all properly outfitted for what is to come.” “Whatever you might need will be made available to you,” Celestia assured him. “And I’d like one of you to meet me in the palace later this evening. One of my scouts has information to share with you.” “I can meet with this scout,” Cor volunteered. “Then I will be expecting you.” Cor nodded. “Make what preparations you need,” Celestia said, looking around at them all. “Rest well this night and know that all of us wish the best of luck for you as you go forth.” Everypony bowed as she and Luna turned to leave. Luna whispered urgently in her ear and Celestia responded with a frown that silenced Luna. Neither said anything more until they were well out of earshot of the others. Cor eased over to Jason. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to pay Zacon a visit. We’ve got to get him back on his feet if we’re leaving tomorrow.” “Right,” Jason agreed. “Be sure not to overdo it. We can’t exactly have you draining yourself just to get him moving.” “I’ll make sure to give him just enough that he can stand,” Cor winked. “And then I’ll tell him that if he intends to prove what a big, tough warrior he is, he’d better walk the rest off.” Cor passed the transfer papers to Jason and left laughing. Jason allowed himself a small smile before turning to deal with his troops. “Alright, listen up!” Jason shouted to get everyone’s attention. They shuffled in closer to hear and waited for him to go on. “We’ve got the rest of today to get our gear together and then one night to rest up before we’re in the field for the foreseeable future. Our mission will rely on speed and mobility. No heavy equipment unless it is absolutely essential. As for the kind of action we’ll be seeing, we won’t be engaging the enemy directly right away, so don’t dwell on it. Our primary objective is to make it as hard as possible for the enemy to move freely in these lands. That means cutting supply lines, setting traps, ambushing scouts and sentries and taking any opportunity we get to draw them away from their goals, whatever those happen to be. Our other objective is to be the eyes and ears of the Army, providing them with more accurate information on what to expect when the time comes to engage the enemy head on.” His gaze swept the group once to measure their reactions as he spoke. He then glanced at the papers to confirm a few names. “I’m putting Lieutenant Long Watch in charge of organizing the supplies, and Sergeants Blitz and Waters in charge of making sure everypony has their weapons and armor repaired, cleaned and ready for battle. Sergeant Dash and her squadron will see to their own needs. I will be down at the armory. Don’t hesitate to bring any questions you have to either me or Lieutenant Hightalon. Dismissed!” Ponies set off in various directions to carry out their preparations. As Jason started toward the armory, Lieutenant Long Watch trotted up beside him. “A moment, Lieutenant Faircastle?” the other asked. “Sure. And call me Jason,” he said with a casual shrug. “Or just Lieutenant if you’re strict on protocol.” “It was actually your rank I wanted to discuss. See, we have four Lieutenants for one platoon and only three Sergeants. I’m a little confused about the chain of command.” He smiled wanly. “I see what you mean,” Jason nodded. “But frankly, in this case the titles don’t match the authority. Cor, Zacon, you and I are all the same rank on paper, though the three of us are only acting Lieutenants. I figure you’re a commissioned officer?” Long Watch shrugged. “I was a Sergeant in the Royal Guard but some of us were transferred to the Army to fill command rolls. Captain Gallant Lance believed veteran leadership for the new units would be more useful that a few more lances on the line. The promotion will likely only last until the end of the war and we return to our old posts.” “I guess we’re all acting here,” Jason mused with a half smile. “Still, let me see if I can explain our particular command structure simply. Cor and Zacon are the heads of this group, commanding all subordinate members, including me. I act as their executive officer, issuing most of the direct orders while they set the course. Your platoon is already used to your leadership so it would be best if you maintained that position. Sergeant Dash has her squadron and Captain Spitfire was pretty clear that we don’t technically command her. Twilight is here on her own prerogative, so she’s outside the command chain entirely. That’s how it is on paper at least.” He cleared his throat and went on in a very stern tone. “But that’s not quite how it will work once we get out there. This team has a purpose and that purpose is to do what an army can’t: Move fast, hit hard, move again and hit again. We’re going after soft points, creating weaknesses and vulnerabilities that the Army will be able to exploit when the time comes. In all honesty, it’s the only way an enemy like this is going to be beaten with the resources at our disposal. In order to execute that mission, my friends and I expect nothing short of complete compliance, whether we are in the appropriate position of authority or not.” Long Watch considered him carefully for a time. “I wish to see this war ended as much as the next pony, but disregard for the command structure does not tend to lead to that end.” Jason held up his hooves defensively. “I’m not saying we’re disregarding the chain of command. I’m just saying that we need to work together as a cohesive unit. Look, we’re a piecemeal team and some of the officers who retain authority aren’t going to be present. I need it to be clear that when we give an order, even though we’re only technically allowed to suggest a course to the others, it should be treated like an obligatory order.” Again, Long Watch took his time answering. “I trust that you will not be giving unreasonable orders. And the situation in battle changes constantly. I understand what you mean by the separation of authority in this detachment, the Air Corps squadron in particular. I’ll keep that in mind.” “As long as we share this understanding, we shouldn’t need to worry.” Jason smiled, his tone lightening again. “If it makes it easier, though, I’d consider a temporary rearranging of our titles to more closely fit our authority. Just in this group, mind you. It’s not like I can give out field commissions in any official capacity.” “That might be for the best,” Long Watch admitted. “There’s not all that much left of this platoon now anyway. Hardly one squad’s worth of us left.” He sighed and shook his head. After a pause, he looked Jason hard in the eye. “I’ve been in the Guard for ten years and I’ve never seen anything like this war. I want it over and done. Nopony should have to go through this, least of all these townsfolk who’ve never touched a weapon before this. It’s just not right! If you can bring this war to an end, then I’m with you.” Jason considered him stoically and Long Watch waited for his response. “While I understand what you’re saying,” Jason said, his voice carefully kept neutral. “I must caution you; fervor will not bring this war to a close any faster. We must be careful and patient, at least as far as our plans are concerned. Do not expect to win in a single battle.” Long Watch let out a huff. “I understand. But every moment I have to wait, knowing that this is still happening, is another pin in my side. It’s hard to be patient. I want to act.” “We will. Of that, I can assure you. And when we do, we will be swift. But first, we must be sure that we are ready.” They reached the armory. Long Watch excused himself to attend to the supplies, leaving with one last nod of acknowledgement that Jason returned. As he watched the other officer leaving, Jason realized with bitter irony that Long Watch had voiced a sentiment that Jason himself felt. Not too many days past, Cor had told him that he needed to put aside his objections to the war and worry about actually winning it. Now Jason had told Long Watch essentially the same thing, to be patient and not let his feelings interfere with the task. He’d also insisted on the same adherence to patience with Twilight, he reminded himself with another guilty twinge. He wondered how much hypocrisy he would be able to get away with before it came back to bite him. He busied himself with the names on the papers he held in an effort to push his discomfort aside. The armory was a large tent containing administrative desks where a team of harried ponies sat, tracking the equipment on long lists. Racks of weapons and armor encircled the tent like layers of barricades. A disorganized pile of damaged equipment glinted dully behind the tent. A pair of ponies was loading some of the bent swords and dented armor into a wagon to be taken down to the blacksmith for repairs or scrap. Jason’s new command had mostly finished picking up their equipment since many of them could still use their own Army-issued uniforms and weapons. Big Mac was watching off to one side as everypony else made their selections. Jason noted the huge hammer propped up beside him. Jason nodded to himself as he noted the rank of Corporal attached to his name on the list. Jason knew the big stallion could handle that weapon’s weight without issue. Sergeant Obsidian Blitz was assisting a massive white-coated Pegasus in picking out the spear that fit him best. Jason scanned the names and concluded that if any name on the list fit the Pegasus, then he had to be Private Bulk Biceps. A brown-coated Earth Pony with severely cut grey mane was trading small talk with a shorter dark grey Earth Pony. Jason thought he recognized them from the river as Corporal Night Watch and Private Baritone but it was hard to be sure since he’d heard the names in the heat of battle. He continued down the list, noting the ponies he knew as they moved about him and trying to match the remaining names to those he did not. One pony he knew from Cor’s description drew his attention. Private Heartstrings exited the armory tent and headed directly toward the blacksmith. Jason noticed she hadn’t selected any weapons and decided to follow her out of curiosity. As he passed by them, the gazes of a few ponies were drawn, not to the Lieutenant himself, but to the black blade that hung from his side. They caught Big Mac’s eye and the Corporal nodded in understanding. Shouldering his hammer, he and the small knot of ponies trailed after Jason. ~*~*~ As Celestia gave the signed papers back to Cor, Long Watch bowed low, just as he always did before addressing her. “Thank you Princess,” Long Watch said in response to her praise. “But the credit can’t be ours alone. The tenacity of these Lieutenants inspired us to fight as we have. We hope to achieve further victory for Equestria at their sides.” Luna cast a glance at her and she saw that look in her sister’s eyes that conveyed worlds of worry. Celestia made sure not to acknowledge her just yet. It would be better to address those concerns in private. “And I am sure you will have good fortune in that endeavor,” Celestia said with an encouraging smile. So eager to serve, and yet so humble. If I could have but one wish, it would be that good ponies such as he will see the end of this. “We have much work to do before the Army is ready to follow you into the field once again,” she went on, trying not to think too hard about the full meaning of her own words lest they shatter her composure. “But we will follow as soon as we are able. In the meantime, any advantage you can press now will be of great help.” “We will be leaving early tomorrow morning,” Jason informed her tactfully. “We’ll spend the rest of today making sure we are all properly outfitted for what is to come.” “Whatever you might need will be made available to you,” Celestia assured him. She made a decision then that she’d been wrestling with for a day now. They would need all the help they could get and Corporal Winds was the best source of knowledge on the Trolls in Equestria. But I am not ready to send any more of my ponies with these foreigners than I have to. She made an effort not to glance at Twilight again. No, she reasoned. A simple meeting will be enough. “And I’d like one of you to meet me in the palace later this evening. One of my scouts has information to share with you.” “I can meet with this scout,” Cor volunteered. “Then I will be expecting you.” Cor nodded. “Make what preparations you need,” Celestia said, looking around at them all. “Rest well this night and know that all of us wish the best of luck for you as you go forth.” If only luck were enough. Everypony bowed as she and Luna turned to leave. “Sister! This isn’t…” Luna whispered in an urgent hiss. But Celestia had been anticipating her and shot her a look that informed the other that their discussion would not take place here. Luna fell silent, but not without a tightening of her jaw that betrayed her frustration. Neither said anything more until they were well out of earshot of the others. When at last Celestia decided they could speak freely, the dark Alicorn was biting her tongue to keep from speaking. “What is it that is bothering you, sister?” Celestia asked. “Did you not hear it yourself? Do you not see what is happening?” Luna hissed. “Luna, please,” Celestia said with a sad shake of her head. “Do not start again with your misgivings about these foreigners. I share them, but we do not have any other choice.” “So they say,” Luna grumbled with a sour glare back the way they’d come. “What would you have us do, Luna? Would you refuse their offer? Do you think we have a chance of overcoming this threat without their help?” Luna looked away with a huff. “We are more than capable of leading our own troops. We should not yield that authority to them.” “You’ve seen what they can do and you’ve seen what has happened without their help,” Celestia said softly. “I admit that I am no war leader, extensive though my power may be. We need somepony who knows the ways of battle as they do.” Celestia waited for her sister to respond but the younger princess was silent for a long time. They stopped at the top of a low wall that gave them a marginally better view of the city. Luna looked out over the devastated streets, her eyes passing critically over every fire-blackened wall and hurrying pony. When she did speak, she did so without even glancing at the other. “Then perhaps I should be the one leading our ponies, not you.” Luna’s words were spoken coldly. Celestia flinched as though she’d been struck a physical blow. “You blame me, don’t you?” Celestia asked, her voice quivering. “You think I’ve failed Equestria and our subjects.” Luna turned to face her again but said nothing. Celestia searched her sister’s face for sympathy in any form but Luna hid her thoughts behind an icy mask. Celestia couldn’t stand the unfeeling gaze any longer and turned away. She sat down and tried not to weep. When Luna did speak, she spoke matter-of-factly. “You are correct that you are no war leader, sister. You have maintained an astonishing level of peace in the last few centuries. But that peace comes with the lack of a seasoned army. You have failed to plan for the possible need of one. In that much, you are to blame for this.” “I ruled as best I could,” Celestia said, her voice dropping to a pleading whisper. “I only ever did what I thought was best for Equestria. I did everything I could to give them peaceful, happy lives.” “And you did, sister. For better or worse, they had peace under your rule. Now, a new style of leadership is needed. But not from you. You should not change yourself to meet these demands, for your ways will be needed when peace returns. But I, sister, do not need to change to meet this challenge.” Celestia took several calming breaths before facing Luna again. “You’re right, sister. Perhaps you are better suited to lead our ponies in battle. I wish I were as strong as you. You’ve not just managed to handle yourself in this crisis, but kept me from sinking below my despair. You’re so collected, so confident, so…” “So cold?” Luna offered bluntly when her sister struggled for the right word. Celestia grimaced but didn’t deny it. “I care for our ponies just as much as you do,” Luna frowned. “Though I am less forthcoming in expressing it. We do not have the luxury of letting our emotions dictate our course. Now is the time for analysis and action. Even if we must seem cold.” “Your words are beginning to sound like Prince Crimsontide’s,” Celestia observed with a hint of irony. “Please, sister.” Luna rolled her eyes and huffed derisively. “That beast may have been right on a few accounts but that does not mean I agree with him on the whole.” She growled slightly. “He is still just as contemptible, arrogant and uncivilized as…” “Now Luna,” Celestia broke in, her tone a gentle warning. “You mustn’t let his manners, or lack thereof, tarnish your composure. Hostilities between us will accomplish nothing. We must remain united, for the time being at least.” “You’re right.” Luna sighed and collected herself with a deep breath. “Yours has always been the way of the peacekeeper.” “And yours, the way of the ardent defender,” Celestia replied, stepping closer to nuzzle Luna affectionately. “We each have our parts to play in this. I am thankful that you and I are together for it.” ~*~*~ Private Heartstrings arrived at the blacksmith and conferred with one of the ponies hammering out a new set of plate mail. He directed her to one of the shelves outside, where she retrieved the items she had obviously requested. Jason watched her strap on the bandoleer of slim daggers and attached the long, narrow shield to the holder on her side. He walked over casually. “You favor small blades?” he asked. She glanced at him and then at her weapons. “Yeah. I found that they’re more versatile and agile than broader blades. Plus, they don’t take as much effort to use for a long time. In my experience, that’s the difference between life and death.” “An astute observation,” he nodded. “May I see one of them?” She drew one dagger and passed it to him wordlessly. He held it up and examined it closely. The slender steel blade was eight inches long, with a stubby ring of a guard and the most minimal hilt Jason had ever seen. He quickly gathered that it was not meant to be wielded in the mouth, as many other pony blades were, but instead held by telekinesis. “This is a very specialized blade,” he observed. “A bit,” Lyra said. “It’s for quick, penetrating shots without giving the enemy anything to grab. I wanted something that could pierce through their thick hides easier but wasn’t easy to block or parry. These can go straight in, lightning quick, and withdraw just as fast without needing to wind up and swing in wide arcs that could be easily intercepted.” Jason nodded. “You seem to have a fighting style in mind. So, pop quiz.” Lyra blinked. “Um, okay?” “How far back will you be when striking?” “I think…” she glanced around hurriedly and took a step back. “About this far, from me to you.” Jason looked at the ten foot separation. “Show me a stance. How would you face an opponent?” She crouched low with her hooves widely spaced and drew three of the daggers. They hovered above her threateningly while she positioned her shield between herself and Jason and peered over the top at him. Jason nodded. “It looks viable at first glance,” he commented casually, pacing around to one side. He picked up a breastplate and a club from one of the nearby racks and levitated them in front of Lyra to imitate an opponent. “But this can’t be a static position if you intend to rely on quick strikes and small blades. You will need to move and rapidly, responding to the flow of battle so that you can exploit every opening, every weakness. If you find yourself facing one opponent, your task will be easy. But the enemy outnumbers us significantly.” Jason picked up two more sets of armor. “You will likely face several at once. So learning to defeat one opponent is not as important as learning to survive three…or more.” Lyra glanced at him nervously as her manikin enemies multiplied themselves into nine sets of armor and clubs arrayed against her. “Are you expecting me to win against odds like those? I mean, I took three Trolls by myself once, but I think I got lucky. You want me to take on whole groups alone?” “No,” Jason said simply, putting the equipment back. “I just wanted to illustrate a point. I only expect you to do the best you can.” He smirked at her. “And since three seems to be no trouble, I figure your best is already excellent.” “Like I said, I got lucky.” “And that’s not a bad thing. But I agree that we’ll need to rely on more substantial advantages going forward. Now, I don’t ask that you handle nine Trolls at once. But I would like you to be able to deal with those odds. You don’t need to kill all of them to win. Just one or two and then get out alive.” “Hit and run?” she asked. “Exactly. That’s why I like your choice of style. Used properly, it enables you to engage and disengage fluidly.” Lyra grinned sheepishly. “You wouldn’t happen to know what the proper way is, would you. I’ve been making this up as I go.” Jason laughed. “I can train you in an agile fighting style. The one I use isn’t far from the ideal application of your strengths anyway. But you’ve gotten this far from trusting yourself and following your instincts, and the numbers don’t lie. You’ve done well. We’ll see if we can do even better in the future.” Lyra nodded but hesitated. “If you don’t mind my asking, you say your style isn’t much different than this one, but you use one sword. I don’t see how you can attack quickly with a weapon like that. My sword was always getting stuck or blocked when I fought. How do you do it?” “That’s a question I’d like to ask as well,” another voice broke in. Big Mac and three other stallions from their group approached. Jason glanced at the list to confirm he had the names right. The three ponies accompanying Big Mac looked hesitant, but curious. Private Caramel kept glancing at Big Mac as if to remind himself that the bigger stallion was still with him. Private Time Turner was giving Jason a careful appraisal. Private Breezy had a knowing look, as if he was waiting for some sort of spectacle to begin, his tweed cap perched to one side casually and a crooked smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You want to know how I fight the way I do?” Jason asked. “We’ve seen you fight. We know that what you do works. What we want to know is how you make it work.” Lyra cast a glance at Big Mac for help finding the right words. “What you do shouldn’t be possible,” Big Mac offered. “I’ve seen the way you use that sword and nopony else seems to be able to use a sword quite like you do.” “I can certainly try to explain,” Jason said with a nod. “The major factor in my chosen fighting style is the sword itself. It is unlikely any of you have seen one like it before.” He undid the clasps that held the blade in place and drew the wakizashi slowly, holding it up for them to see. The black blade glimmered faintly violet where the light caught it. He let them examine it briefly before speaking again. “There is more about this blade that makes it different from a conventional blade than similar. For starters, the material isn’t actually metal. It’s comprised of super-condensed raw magical energy, which has been locked into this form by a process that takes an entire council of mages many weeks to complete. Because it is technically energy, the edge is finer than any physical material can be.” Jason plucked a strip of scrap metal from one of the piles near the blacksmith’s tent and held it up beside the blade. “The blade never dulls due to the form-lock placed on it.” He pressed the blade slowly and evenly across the scrap of metal, slicing a notch in it. As he continued to speak, the blade made its way through the scrap until it had cut completely through. “Even though it is comprised of energy, it is so densely compressed that it is incredibly heavy for someone other than its intended wielder. The blade is made exclusively from magical energy taken directly from the intended wielder, so they are attuned to it, thus allowing them to use it without restriction.” He turned the blade downward and dropped it. It fell tip first to the ground and sank into the dirt up to the hilt with a wet hiss. He pulled it back out and held it up again. “It is capable of slicing through heavy armors with a stroke of only modest power and thus, nearly impossible to block. My style incorporates a theme of constant movement, both of the blade and the wielder. Since the blade is not going to be stopped by any conventional object, every swing transitions from one to the next seamlessly; one continuous arc. I, in turn, follow in its wake, guiding it as much as being led by it.” As the others leaned in to examine the sword, Jason held it out so that they could see it more clearly. “What are the chances we could get one of those?” Caramel asked longingly. “About the same as you growing a pair of wings by tomorrow,” Jason said with a grim smile. “I don’t have nearly enough magical training to make them, and besides, it would take more than two months to make just one.” Caramel sighed. “It was worth asking.” “May I take a closer look?” Turner asked, holding out his hoof. “I’d rather not. This blade is indiscriminate and I’d hate for there to be an accident.” Jason allowed Turner to lean in closer while he held the blade and the Earth Pony got as close as he could, examining the tiniest details. Lyra picked up the metal scraps and looked closely at them. The severed halves were cleanly cut, with no rippling or folding in the metal from the pressure of the blade. Big Mac looked over her shoulder and nodded at what he saw, obviously impressed. “I’ve got to say, that’s a mighty fine weapon you have,” he rumbled. Jason smiled and gave him a nod of acknowledgement. “If it can do this to steel,” Lyra said, half to herself. “I can only imagine what it’s capable of doing to a creature’s body.” Jason’s smile slipped a notch. “Yes, well, I try not to concentrate too much on that.” He shifted uncomfortably and quickly put the sword away. “It is a useful and effective tool. War is not pleasant, so I expect that using unpleasant weapons is only par for the course.” “Aye,” Breezy said, soberly. “And the Trolls have shown their own unpleasantness to us already. Just look what they had in store for the Air Corps. Poor souls practically jumped out of their feathers in fright at it. The ones that made it, anyway.” “What’s that?” Jason asked, worried. “I’m afraid I wasn’t watching the Air Corps.” “Oh, they met with some trouble when they flew out to the catapults.” Breezy scratched his chin, recalling it. “And a terrible bit of trouble it was too. Some other types of machines were waiting for them, launching spears back at them.” Jason’s expression became unreadable as he suppressed his reaction. He looked instead in the direction that Rainbow had gone with her squadron. Lyra followed his gaze briefly. “Something wrong?” she asked. “What? Oh, no, nothing. Just…thinking.” Jason cleared his throat. “Anyway, was that all you wanted to know?” The stallions nodded, having heard what they came for. As they shuffled back toward the rest of the group, Lyra reminded Jason that he was going to help her develop her fighting style. They started toward the training fields, but Jason glanced back at Time Turner’s retreating figure. He knew he’d heard that name before, and it had just occurred to him where that was. He recalled again his pleasant conversation with a certain grey Pegasus. If this was the stallion she’d spoken of, he had no doubt that he was every bit as good a partner as she had insisted. He frowned. She had spoken of his indispensable qualities, of how she couldn’t imagine what she’d do without him. If he was here now, she was on her own back home. He shook his head at the idea. No sooner had he finished that thought than another chilled him to the bone. What if he doesn’t come back? He stopped where he was and stared after Private Turner, fighting the illogical urge to run after him and order him to go home. But Lyra called after him to hurry up and he shook himself free of his doubts. He’d led men into battle before; men who had families at home and men who had not lived long enough to have families yet. He’d seen them die. He would do what he must to save this country, regardless of the sacrifices it might demand. He and Lyra sparred with practice swords for a while as he walked her through the stances that would compliment her weapons and fighting style before switching to drills where Jason would levitate armor and weapons after her while she dodged and struck back at them. She was visibly frustrated for most of the lesson, though it was unclear if the source of her irritation was Jason’s blunt criticism or her own mistakes. In the end, she had made marked improvements and she left to pack her things in good spirits. Jason, despite all of his attempts to brush the matter side, continued to worry.