//------------------------------// // 7 Training Begins // Story: The Crusades End // by ColdChimera //------------------------------// They woke a few hours later to find the fire still burning and Meteor Storm sat in front of it, levitating some apples over the flames. “Here, they just finished.” He said, levitating the cooked fruits over to the Crusaders, Applejack and Rarity. They ate in silence then packed up and left the cave. Tail Wind was waiting for them, his bags packed and looking like he was ready for a fight. He was wearing a small amount of barding, less than the royal guard but still more than anyone else. He also had some metal resting over his wings, it rested over the bones and his flight muscles on his back, but appeared segmented to allow him to move normally, he also appeared to have feathers made of a bright silvery metal. “You ready to go?” the grey Pegasus asked looking to the Crusaders, “We are going through that band of darkness. We are going to move as fast as possible and we can’t stop until we are on the other side.” “Yeah ah think we’re good to go” Applejack answered. “You look so cool, what are those metal feathers for?” Scootaloo gushed. “They’re called Steel Wings; don’t let their appearance deceive you they are sharp as razors, and the silver feathers?” He paused looking around, he spotted a piece of moss that Sweetie and Storm had missed the night before. He stood taking careful aim, and then with a flick of his right wing sent one of the metal feathers flying faster than the eyes of any but a Pegasus could track. It cut cleanly through the moss embedding itself in a stalactite behind it. “So awesome!” Scootaloo exclaimed. Tail chuckled retrieving his feather and replacing it on his wing. “They also help prevent his wings from taking damage in a fight. We need to get moving.” Meteor Storm led them away from the cave with Applejack bringing up the rear, Tail Wind took wing gliding beside them. It took them ten minutes to reach where the band of darkness had been the day before. Everything was the same as it had been the last time they were there, except the darkness was gone. “Must be daytime, alright we move as fast as possible and we don’t stop until we reach the Training area.” Storm told them before setting off at a brisk trot. After about half an hour of this Tail slowed landing next to Scootaloo, “Why don’t you fly? We could scout ahead together.” He asked looking puzzled that a Pegasus wouldn’t fly if given the option. Scootaloo’s response was a muttered “Can’t” as she kept walking, her head lowering slightly. “You can’t fly?” Tail asked slightly less confused. “No, I can’t fly!” Scootaloo answered moving away from him. Apple Bloom shifted to walk between Scootaloo and the other Pegasus, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. Scootaloo sped up a little, walking closer to Rarity. “Did I say something to upset her?” Tail quietly asked the little earth pony he found himself walking with. “She is always like that if she has to tell someone that, luckily ah’ve never had to. Ah met her and Sweetie at the same time and just listened when Sweetie asked.” Apple Bloom looked to her friend with a look of concern on her face. “She was born prematurely so her wings were underdeveloped. There are ways to train that mean her wing size don’t make a difference but her pa doesn’t have enough money to buy the special equipment or the trainers she would need. She could fly if she builds up the flight muscles, so she tries by pulling us behind her in a wagon with just her wings.” “I didn’t know. I’ve met some Pegasi with underdeveloped wings before but they could all fly just fine. They must have had all that training you talked about.” “Yeah, she’s pretty fast on her scooter but she can’t hold herself in the air for much more than a second.” “When we get there I want you to come see me, I want to know all about this special equipment. Oh and don’t tell Scootaloo.” “Deal. Oh, and just so’s you know Tail, she prefers Scoots.” Apple Bloom answered before Tail nodded and took wing again and flew over their heads. A few hours later the area around them started to become dark. Tail Wind landed next to Storm and they shared a few quick words before he took off again. Tail started hovering above them so he could speak to them all at the same time. “Okay everyone, it’s getting dark as you can see, and we have already said we aren’t stopping. You all need to be on guard nothing lives out here naturally anymore so if you see movement shout, Rarity if you know a light spell and any combat spells use them without hesitation on anything that moves. Stay together everyone whatever you do.” “Alright, I want to know now why do y’all keep telling us to stick together here? Why can’t we rest in this dark area? And why do we have to watch for movement?” Applejack asked annoyed at being kept in the dark. “The same reason we are out here: Vampires” Storm answered looking around carefully at the areas in front of him and to his sides. “I’ll be watching our backs; you all need to watch our sides.” “Got it.” Applejack answered starting to watch the area to her right, with Scootaloo. Rarity cast a spell making a small light appear over her head. They continued in a tight formation with Meteor leading, Applejack and Scoots watching right, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle watching left with Rarity between the two groups while Tail continued to fly circles above them watching their backs and flanks. After another half an hour it was pitch black except for the light cast by Rarity’s werelight. There was no sound except for their hoofsteps. There came a slight buzzing sound. Everyone tensed up while Meteor started charging up a spell and Tail prepared to fire his lethal feathers. “What was that?” Sweetie asked. The buzzing stopped. “Sorry a little nervous I guess.” came Scootaloo’s voice. They all relaxed a little. A few seconds later Scootaloo spoke again “I think I saw something move out there.” She said nervously squinting to see. “Keep moving we’re nearly out.” Tail Wind told them as he passed over head. A few seconds later all Tartarus broke loose. Three black shadows detached themselves from the surrounding darkness and flew at the group. One aimed itself straight at Rarity while the others went after the two stallions. Years of training and honing his skills gave Tail Wind the ability to launch three of his silver feathers at the first shadow forcing him to the ground before he hit Rarity. While he fired he covered his body with his wings turning them into a shield and spinning to deflect the shadow jumping at him. After feeling the impact to his reinforced wings he continued his spin unfurling his wings, turning them into a deadly blade that sliced cleanly through the neck of the flying shadow. The shadow paused in midair before falling to the ground as ash. Meteor jumped lithely to his right dodging the shadow, he then calmly turned his head and quietly spoke. “Hello Moon Shadow. It was foolish of you to attack us here, what did you hope to gain?” The shadow got to its hooves and looked at the unicorn with his crimson eyes. He opened his fanged mouth and gave a fierce battle cry as he charged at his prey. Storm quickly conjured a shield of light watching as his foe impacted it then pulled away quickly his face smoking. Moon Shadow stood staring at Storm “I had hoped to take a few more trophies.” he answered, before charging his horn and firing a ray of black energy at the shield. It with stood for a few seconds before collapsing, “You have improved, maybe you are worth the effort now. Your wife didn’t even struggle.” He said, a wicked smile growing on his face. “I will destroy you for what you have done you monster!” Storm screamed as he charged his horn firing volleys of spells directly at the creature that had attacked him. Each of his spells hit, far too fast for even a Pegasus to follow. He fired spells in an almost continuous stream for nearly a minute before he had to stop, his horn smoking slightly. When the dust cleared a little the unicorn could see his foe still standing, slightly dazed and smoking but standing. A second after Storm finished his attack one of Tail Winds feathers found a home in the shadows side, followed up quickly by a pair of orange hooves bucking it clear of the light provided by the Rarity’s werelight. Tail landed next to his friend, put a hoof on his shoulder and offered him a biscuit from his pack. Storm took it with a grunt of thanks and started to eat it as he walked. It took them a minute to reach the edge of the darkness. They all crossed it and the three fillies collapsed in the sunlight, while Rarity allowed the werelight to fade and sat down next to Applejack. “Alright, now what the heck just happened?” Applejack asked looking to the two Crusaders. “We just got attacked by Vampires. Eat this Rarity, it’ll help.” Tail replied giving a biscuit to Rarity similar to the one he had passed to Storm. Storm said nothing; he sat staring into the band of night a look of pure undiluted rage and loathing on his face. “I’ll explain everything when we get to the training grounds I promise. We’re nearly there we should keep moving.” “Alright, let’s get moving; ah don’t feel safe out here. Storm? You alright partner?” She asked looking to the unicorn who hadn’t moved a single muscle since he had stopped. “No” he answered after a short pause. He proceeded to stand up turn away from them and continue to walk towards their destination. “Don’t worry about him, he always gets like this after a battle with that particular… thing. Its name is Moon Shadow, they have a history; we both have a history with him. Sorry I can’t tell you much more than that.” Tail told the other five “We should catch up to him.” The six of them broke into a trot to catch up to the unicorn stallion. The Crusaders walked as they had been for the past hour, between Rarity and Applejack following Meteor Storm while Tail Wind flapped lazily overhead. Storm stopped outside the entrance to a cave, which he promptly entered. “This, is the place?” Rarity asked, looking askance at the arch of stone. “What did you expect of the secret training grounds of a secret order of soldiers, a palace lit up in neon perhaps?” Tail asked as he flew past her landing just in front of the entrance and trotting in, his comments earning him a laugh from the other four ponies on the surface. Rarity huffed before walking in behind him, followed by the Applejack and the three fillies. Their jaws dropped. After a short tunnel they turned the corner to find what was, essentially, an underground city. There were buildings all around a central courtyard area with targets set up on one side, a practice field in the centre and racks of weapons on the far side. They descended a flight of stairs to stand on the practice field facing Tail Wind and Meteor Storm who stood shoulder to shoulder facing them. “Welcome to ‘The Candle’ the secret training grounds, and sometimes headquarters, of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. May it always provide a light in the darkness.” Storm announced to the five ponies. “Your quarters are to the right of this practice field, the medical rooms are to the left.” Tail said indicating the respective buildings. “The armoury is at the back, there is a forge back there too.” He gestured to the rear of the field, then to a building behind him. “Mess hall is behind you. Our ops room or command centre, if you prefer, is up the staircase behind us, that’s where I’ll be when I’m not training you.” He told them “Or sleeping.” He added as an afterthought. “Find your bunks and drop off your things, you have thirty minutes. Report back here for the start of your training. Rarity and Applejack I want to speak to you in the command centre when you’re done in the barracks.” Storm turned and marched over to the stairs behind him, before climbing and leaving their sight as he entered a large building formed from the rock of the cave. Tail turned and entered the armoury while the rest walked to the barracks to find their bunks. Apple Bloom would have described the barracks as utilitarian, if she knew what that meant or even knew it was a word. The only way any of them, with the exception of Rarity, could think to describe the place was bland. There were rows of single beds with footlockers at the bottom. Nothing else at all was in the room. “Why don’t you three go and pick your beds” Rarity suggested, looking to her sister. The three young Crusaders walked off to find the three identical bunks that were most to their liking. Once those were picked the two older sisters chose to find beds far enough away to allow them their privacy but close enough to keep an eye on them. They all got to putting their belongings in their footlockers. Ten minutes later they exited the barracks. Tail Wind was stood in the same place as he had before, this time wearing a set of much heavier barding than he had previously. He looked to them as they left their barracks. “Rarity, Applejack Storm needs to speak to you in the command centre. Training begins for you three now.” “Gotcha” Applejack responded as she and Rarity turned to climb the stairs that they had watched Storm climb earlier. “Alright, this is the only warning you will get so listen up. We are part of the Equestrian military I am a commander and you are recruits, as such you will address me as commander Wind or sir, is that understood?” “SIR YES SIR” the three fillies chorused excitedly. “Good now I need to get you all outfitted in your armour before we start. You will learn how to fight in and out of your armour. You will then be conditioned to fight even in the most extreme of environments. Follow me and I will measure you up for it.” He paused, waiting for the expected response from the young ones in front of him. Nothing came. “When I give an order you are supposed to respond with ‘yes sir’” he informed them. “SIR YES SIR” “Better, now come on.” He turned on his rear hoof marching stiffly to the building he had entered when they arrived. “You asked to see us Storm?” Rarity asked as she entered the command building. The building was one room with a large map of Equestria on a table in the centre. There were books on the shelves all around small cupboards that stood low to the ground along the back below a large board covered in pictures of Vampires and notes. Strom was stood by the room’s only window looking out over the practice area. “Yes, I wanted to discuss your roles here.” He answered turning to them, his eyes still held all the rage that had shown after the darkness, but it was now tempered like the fires of a forge, forced into something constructive. “We need to find the specific jobs that would suit you two since you can’t just pick up skills like we can. So what jobs did you have before you got caught up in this?” “Well I was a seamstress; my clothes were worn by all the elite of Canterlot.” Rarity answered. “Ah was an apple farmer but I did occasionally do the catering at some big events, like the wedding in Canterlot not too long ago. Ah can bake anything from fritters to pies in the blink of an eye.” The earth pony answered. “OK, good we can put you in charge of the food and maybe the supply chains as I’m sure you will have experience with that sort of thing.” Storm said to Applejack before turning to the other unicorn “As for you Rarity I wonder, have you ever worked with metal at all?” “On occasion when I needed a piece of jewellery to accent one of my pieces. But I have never made anything bigger than a necklace” “It doesn’t matter I can teach you how to make our armour, I have taught ponies before I can do it again.” As he said the last part the fire behind his eyes that had lasted for hours flickered slightly as if someone had blown lightly on the flame of a candle, a second later and it was gone like it had been snuffed out. “OK so you are both equally responsible for the care of the weapons but as I said we train to look after our weapons, just because we can find them anywhere doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Rarity you’ll be in charge of the armour and repairs and whichever of you two is most qualified to do so will be in charge of medical the other their assistant, anyone who isn’t injured is expected to aid in the care of those that are.” “That would be me then; years of work on the farm’ll teach you how to treat most serious injuries.” “Tail is our medical chief at the minute; I’ll make sure he knows to teach you everything you need to know. That’s everything, report to your stations, Applejack the mess hall is yours unless somepony comes in injured. Rarity you and I will go to the armoury when Tail and the others are done in there.” “What are they doing in there?” Rarity asked immediately. “They’re getting outfitted with their first sets of armour. Oh, in the future refer to me as captain, captain Storm or just sir; we are still part of the Equestrian military. You count as civilian contractors so you don’t have technically have ranks but you still answer to us. Rarity I’ll come and get you when you are needed. Until then dismissed.” The two mares gave a salute before leaving. Rarity turned before she left. “One more question captain, who is Moon Shadow?” Meteor Storm sighed “He is a Vampire a powerful and old one. He has affected both my life and Commander Wind’s. Dismissed.” Realising that the conversation was over Rarity turned and continued on out of the room, leaving Storm to stand alone. “And so it begins, you will not escape again Moon Shadow.” A shadow detached itself from the surroundings and stepped out along the wall next to Storm “Or maybe it is you who won’t escape young one.” The shadow said before a small piece of it broke off, fleeing into the darkness. Storm watched unsurprised. “ARRRGH” the dark pony screamed as one of the three pieces of metal embedded in his back was removed. “Be quite you fool, you know you can’t heal without these coming out so just grin and bear it.” Moon shadow admonished, looking angrily at the only other survivor of his hastily planned attack. He pulled both the remaining silver feathers from his soldiers back “Done, leave.” The other pony wasted no time in getting up and leaving his sire’s sight. “SON OF A DIAMOND DOG” Moon Shadow screamed kicking at the wall which crumbled under the force of his anger. “Every time I get close something happens.” the dark unicorn fumed. He took a deep, calming breath of cool air, the earthy scents of the cave he called home tickling the back of his nose. “At least we learned something.” The voice came from nowhere, and everywhere at the same time. The Vampire didn’t even flinch “There are three new Crusaders and they have family with them, but I already knew that didn’t I?” he asked the voice. “That we did. We didn’t know, however, that the three were but foals.” The voice answered this time from one direction, as it finished its sentence the body of a black unicorn with crimson eyes, a dog’s fur and bat ears stepped from the shadows to Moon Shadow’s left. The new pony was an exact replica of the one that had been alone a second ago. Most would just say that all Vampires look the same but Moon Shadow new that this pony looked the same as him for one simple reason. The shadow took two steps forward and fused into the dark unicorn. “It feels so nice to be whole again.”