//------------------------------//
// Chapter 12: Back to the Grind 
// Story: The Elements of Honor 
// by Flanagan 
//------------------------------//

The four day break had passed all too quickly for the 1025th, especially for Battleaxe. Cloud Chaser and Flitter were still in Canterlot, but due to his duty to Princess Luna he was denied any chance of seeing them before they had to leave. Greatsword and Record Keeper had been spending time together, running around Canterlot and enjoying the sights, even watching the sun rise once or twice, but just as with Battleaxe training had brought him back to the fields. Warhammer pretty much kept to himself during the days off, only leaving the room for food or his sessions with Princess Luna and Celestia.
“This sucks…” Battleaxe said looking over his trainees, “I’ve got two lovely ladies that’ll be here for a few more days and what do I get?” he looked to Warhammer and grunted, “Training duty…”
“It’s our job Battleaxe…” he replied. “You know we have-“
“I know it’s my job…” Battleaxe snapped. “But those two were something… I mean, Flitter could do this one thing with her wings that made me-”
“Sounds like somepony enjoyed their break…” Flare Flash said touching down next to them. “Can’t wait to hear your stories…”
“Mine?” Battleaxe asked. “What about yours?”
“Me?” Flare Flash pondered. “I just spent the whole time sleeping and hanging out with Comet, Cloud Seeker and Patches.”
“One of those things is not like the other…” Battleaxe said smiling.
“Yeah…” Flare Flash sighed, “Travel’s a bitch if your friends with an earth pony…”
“Not what I was talking about…” Battleaxe said covering his face with his hoof.
Flare Flash’s eyes widened once he finally realized what Battleaxe was talking about. “Oh come on!” he exclaimed throwing his hooves into the air. “How can you even think like that?”
“Easily…” Battleaxe replied with a grin, “But you assuming what I was talking about doesn’t help your argument much either.”
“What?”
“I was saying that it was different because she’s a girl and you’re a bunch of guys… I never said anything about… ‘extra-curricular’ activities.”
Flare Flash’s face went red at the mention of ‘extra-curricular’. That time he knew exactly what he was talking about. Throwing his face into the ground to the sound of Battleaxe’s laughter he let out a heavy sigh.
“Let’s just grab Cannon Fodder and start training these stallions…” he said pulling his head back up. “We’ve got a job to do anyway.”
“Don’t remind me…” Battleaxe said following Flare Flash closely, “See you later little bro.”
Warhammer simply nodded the two and continued his path to Greatsword and their trainees. Night Wing and Dark Knight were the first to see him on the horizon; the two lunar pegasi flew to their trainer’s side and saluted respectfully.
“Good morning sir.” Dark Knight said, “How was the time of?”
“Uneventful.” Warhammer responded walking past them, “Now come along, we have a great deal of training to accomplish this evening.”
“Yes sir.” The two said in unison, following him down the hill.
Greatsword was already making the recruits run laps around the course, looking intently to his stop watch as each pair darted bay him with blazing speed. Warhammer took his place by Greatsword’s side looking over his shoulder to see the current team’s time.
“They’re faster than you…” he said, not bothering to look at Warhammer, “but then again you’re slow as hell compared to everypony else.”
Warhammer rolled his eyes and patted Greatsword’s shoulder. “What about YOUR speed record?” he asked “You haven’t let the pegasi on the track yet.”
“It’s not their turn yet.” He replied, looking to the line, “but we do have a pair ready…”
Greatsword pointed to the two that just came down the hill with Warhammer. Dark Knight and Night Wing looked to one another then to Greatsword. Pointing to them he motioned his head to the track. Finally realizing what he was trying to get at the two lunar pegasi took positions at the starting line.
“We know that they’ve got the spirit…” Greatsword said raising his hoof into the air, “But let’s see if they’ve got the speed.”
Greatsword’s hoof cut through the evening air, sending the two at the line in a blazing speed down the track. Night Wing and Dark Knight were neck and neck with one another, fighting valiantly for the lead. Lap after lap they continued, each one spending their time in front of the other, until finally the last lap was within reach. It was now on between them, giving everything they had left into the last turn the night air cut through their wings. Every time it looked like one had the win, the other would take the lead, but with a stroke of dumb luck their wings caught on one another’s with only feet to go. The two fell over one another shouting obscenities and flailing their hooves at the other as the crossed the finish line.
The two were still in the middle of their scuffle when a figure cast its shadow over them in the moon light. They looked up to see Greatsword with his usual blank expression plastered across his face. They froze mid-strike expecting an explosion of rage from their lead instructor, but instead they received a very rare smile accompanied with a hoof extended towards them.
“Congratulations…” he said helping the two up, “You both beat the record… even with your little argument…”
Night Wing and Dark Knight looked at one another and back to the still smiling pegasus in front of them. “Thank you-“
“Now do it again.”
“What?!”
“I won’t allow a lack of cohesion…” Greatsword said walking back to Warhammer, “even in among two of you… so keep doing it until you don’t try to kill one another coming across the line.”
The two Lunar pegasi sighed in disappointment and made their way back to the start, knowing that after their previous performance they’d be dead. Meanwhile across the training field, Battleaxe, Flare Flash and Cannon Fodder were busy with their issues in training their own trainees.
“No, no, no…” Battleaxe said pushing a lunar unicorn to the side. “If you three keep casting it like that… you can just kiss your flanks and some other parts you might find valuable goodbye.”
“But we’re doing it like you told us to…” one of the Lunar unicorns said, his horn starting to glow brightly “Just imagine the weapon and-“
A summoned sword slashed at Battleaxe, nearly taking his head clean off, but thankfully due to his quick reaction he only lost a few inches off his mane. The unicorn’s face was frozen in shock, but once he saw Battleaxe rise unphased he let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank Luna you’re ok sir…” he said whipping the sweat off his brow, “I thought you-“
He was cut short by the fiery eyed Unicorn that suddenly appeared in front of him. Battleaxe stared down his trainee, putting the fear of Celestia in his very soul. Then he let out a deep sigh.
“Kid…” he began, “This is why we train… so ponies don’t get killed by an inexperienced unicorn trying to do a spell too advanced for his own good.”
“I-I… I’m sorry sir…” The unicorn said ashamed, “I didn’t mean-“
“No big deal.” Battleaxe said placing his hoof on the unicorn’s shoulder, “I needed a mane-cut anyway…” he touched the top and disappointedly sighed, “one more day and Commander Garrison would’ve killed me.”
A sudden explosion of flame and debris filled the sky. Sending hot rock and burning grass careening towards the ground. Battleaxe and his trainees looked over to the newly made crater to see Cannon Fodder and Flare Flash standing on its far side, their faces blackened and manes blown backwards.
“So…” Flare Flash said awkwardly smiling at the unamused unicorn to his side, “That’s how that stuff works…”
“Yeah…” Cannon Fodder said whipping the soot off his face, “That’s how it works…”
“What the hell happened over here?” Battleaxe shouted running to their side.
“Well…” Flare Flash began “We were-“
“I WAS trying to show our trainees how to properly set the right amount of boom clay on a five hundred pound boulder…” Cannon Fodder growled sending a glare over to Flare Flash. “But SOMPONY decided it would be funny to pop a paper bag over my head.”
Battleaxe looked over to Flare Flash; his eyes were going in every direction except for Battleaxe’s. Taking a deep breath and throwing his hoof over Flash’s shoulder, he began to speak.
“Flash…” he started, “I know that we keep our training fun and entertaining for us,” he pulled Flare Flash in closer, “But almost getting us killed will REALLY put a damper on us trying to train these guys… no matter how funny it is.”
“Hey!” Cannon Fodder exclaimed, overhearing Battleaxe’s last comment, “We almost died at the expense of a laugh, and you’re just fine with it?!”
“No…” Battleaxe replied, turning his attention to Cannon Fodder “minus the nearly dying part that was funny as hell.” He looked back to Flare Flash and glared, “Don’t do that again…”
“Will do.” Flare Flash replied with a salute, “Well not the almost blowing all of us up thing that is.”
“Can we NOT forget that he almost killed us?” Cannon Fodder asked, pointing to the crater in the ground.
“I didn’t…” Battleaxe replied, “I told him not to do it again.”
“And since when does Flash ever listen?” he asked again, “I don’t know about you Battleaxe, but I’ve got a-“
“Bad feeling about this?” Flare Flash asked, smirk included.
“No.” Cannon Fodder replied, “I’ve got a horrible feeling about this.”
“I’ll voice your concern to the Commander.” Battleaxe said rolling his eyes, “Now let’s get back to teaching these guys to be real guards.”
“That’s not a proper tourniquet.” Patches said with a smile stepping next to her trainee. “Here, let me show you again…” 
The Lunar stallion stepped to the side, momentarily observing how Patches was applying the tourniquet before his eyes traveled down her back. But he didn’t get much time to enjoy the view, a swift hoof to the back of his head, broke his trance. He spun around ready to slam his own hoof into the pony who hit him, however he stopped the moment he saw Ridge Cracker and Camo staring him down.
“I’d keep watchin’ the lady work if I was you…” Ridge Cracker said motioning his head to Patches.
“And I’d listen to him.” Camo added, “Not doing what he says could lead to a nasty case of the broken jaw.”
“And that’s how you do it.” Patches said turning around with a smile, “You got it this time?”
“Y-yes ma’am…” the Lunar guard said slinking away from the other two shadowing him. Patches stepped to the side to watch him try yet again, her two counterparts standing on opposite sides.
“He was staring at my plot again…” she said softly, “Wasn’t he?” The two nodded in unison, Patches responded with a small smile a shake of her head. “I swear they’ll never learn anything if they keep having me do the medical training.”
“Well you are the best medic in the Equestrian military.” Camo said, “who better to train then the best?”
“It would help if I were a stallion…”
“That’s why ol’ Commander Garrison put ya with us Patches.” Ridge Cracker said placing his hoof on her shoulder, “Ta make sure them lunar boys don’t get no ideas.”
“I thought it was to counter the level of intelligence on this team.” Camo said with a smile. “If we had anypony else we’d be too smart for our own good.”
Ridge Cracker’s hoof stopped only inches away from Camo’s nose. Camo didn’t even flinch, the smile still plastered on his face. “Yer lucky I like ya so much…” he said lowering his hoof, “or else I’da knocked ya round twelve ways from Sunday years ago.”
“I guess I’m lucky then.” Camo said lightly punching Ridge Cracker on the side.
“Gentlecolts…” Patches said to get their attention, “We’ve still got a few hours left in the night, and he was the last one for tourniquet training.”
“Then I recon he’ll be the first fer hoof ta hoof this evenin’.” Ridge Cracker said with a deviant grin.
“Now Ridge…” Patches said, stopping him from taking another step, “I know you feel protective and all, but you know I’m capable of handling myself…” a smile came across her face, “and I know they aren’t the only ones who have a tendency to stare.”
Ridge Cracker and Camo shot quick glances at one another then looked back to Patches, her eyebrow lifted with the smile still there. “He’s still gonna be the first in that ring.” Ridge Cracker said walking quickly past Patches. 
After Ridge Cracker grabbed the trainee for the pit Patches turned her attention to Camo, still frozen, staring awkwardly at her. “Well?” she asked, snapping him out of his current state, “Don’t you have some training to do too?”
“I… uh… you see…” he began, looking in every direction except for hers. “I’ve gotta make sure Ridge Cracker doesn’t kill that guy.” Then he disappeared in a small puff of smoke.
“Kinda an over exaggerated exit don’t you think?” a voice said from above her.
“Comet,” Patches said looking to the sky, “Aren’t you supposed to be training your own ponies?”
“Cloud Seeker and Tower Shield are taking care of them right now.” He said landing next to her, “and plus I needed the break.”
“Well I hope your ‘break’ is a short one.” Patches replied, “I’m sure Ridge Cracker and Camo would want me to watch them in the pit.”
“Don’t you think they watch you enough?”
“You saw that?”
“Yes,” Comet said wrapping his hooves around her neck, “and I think it’s my turn.”
“You can see me as much as you want.” Patches said putting his hooves back on the ground, “but only after training is complete.”
“It’s a date then.” Comet said taking flight, “When do you want me to pick you up?”
“How bout after we get off?”
“Sounds good to me.” Comet said continuing to ascend, “See you then!”
With blazing speed Comet flew off to his team. Patches watched him disappear into the night sky then made her way to the pit. They weren’t even halfway done with this group of trainees, and there were at least three more groups of equal size coming after them. The very thought of another group exhausted her, but like the rest of her unit they were ready to meet the challenge with open forelegs. The hours passed and the night was over, allowing everypony to get some much needed rest after their first day back from their long weekend. 
“Glad that’s over…” Battleaxe said falling into his bed “Did that day seem longer than the others to you?”
“That’s what happens when you go on a break…” Greatsword said climbing into his own, “You need to get back on the old schedule.”
“But I don’t wanna…” Battleaxe complained, slamming his head into his pillow.
“Battleaxe…” Greatsword said rolling his eyes alongside Warhammer, “Can’t you just be happy we actually received some time off? You should know that we might not get another chance for months.”
Battleaxe only groaned, but he knew that Greatsword was right. None of them knew when the next chance at a break would come. Throwing the covers over his head he bid his brothers a farewell before going to sleep. The training continued the next night and deep into the next month. Until their first batch of guards was complete, Night Wing and Dark Knight were awarded the top trainee awards. Something that all of them had come to expect, the next batch was much like the first, but the end results were the same another proud batch for the protection of the night princess. Then it was time for another much deserved break from their work.