As the Ghostbusters continued to get their friends, Discord, and Luna prepared for the fight tonight against Nightmare Moon's ghost, the girls were once again up to speed on how to use the equipment like before. Luna and Discord after much learning had also learned how to properly use the proton pack and compact pack they were given to use.
Peter stood before them and paced, before speaking like a drill instructor, "You all learned well for a whole afternoon. We taught you all we can. But the time of practicing is over. For tonight we venture into the Everfree Forest to put an end to a menace who wishes to make nighttime eternal. Are you ready?!"
"Yes, sir!" Rainbow called.
Peter smiled and dropped the dramatics, "Beautiful way to go."
"I think now we should conduct strategy." Egon suggested.
"Good idea." Twilight agreed, as they were about to head into the castle.
Discord looked up and saw a chariot pulled by Canterlot pegasi guards, "Oh, it looks like we've got company."
They looked up, as Twilight spoke, "It doesn't look like Princess Celestia's in the chariot."
"Then who could it be?" Spike asked.
When the chariot landed, a unicorn stallion a bit smaller than the size of the regular Canterlot guards and less built in shape hopped off it. He had a white coat, green eyes, blue tail and mane, along with a cutie mark representing a ghost, "Thanks for the lift, guys," he thanked the pegasi guards who nodded before taking off. The group looked at him, as he saluted them, "Royal Guard Rook reporting for duty!"
"Uh, hi." Ray greeted him awkwardly.
"Am I missing something here?" Applejack asked.
"Rook, I didn't expect you to be coming here." Luna said in surprise.
"You know him, Princess?" Rarity inquired.
"Yes. Rookie or Rook is one of our newest recruits in the royal guards." she explained.
"And why is he here?" Winston asked.
"Because I am a big admirer of your work, Ghostbusters." Rook answered.
"You are?" Ray asked.
"I am. Ever since I was a little colt I've always been fascinated by the supernatural. That's how I got my cutie mark."
They saw the ghost image on his flank, "How about that. A ghost cutie mark." Peter chuckled.
"Dr. Peter Venkman, such an honor to meet you and your colleagues." Rook bowed his head.
"Well, this kid knows how to show some respect." Peter smiled smugly to the guys.
"Princess Celestia hearing of my expertise in the supernatural and ghosts sent me here to assist you." the unicorn explained.
"Why didn't she send us a letter to let us know you were coming?" Twilight asked.
Luna sighed, "That's my sister for you."
"I admit I've never faced an actual ghost before, but this is the opportunity I've been waiting for!" Rook said in excitement.
"Take it easy," Egon cut him off, "Catching ghosts is a serious business. It's not all fun and games."
"What it isn't?" Peter asked in surprise, while Winston and Ray roll their eyes.
"The stuff we deal with is real. The ghosts are more dangerous than you can possibly imagine." Egon warned Rook.
"I'm aware of that factor. But I've studied further up on ghosts ever since I heard you went hoof to hoof against the ghost of King Sombra. It gave me proof that ghosts really do exist. And since that day I've been studying more on ghosts and how to deal with them like you guys. I studied how your equipment works from when Celestia showed me various of your exploits when she herself studied up on all of you."
The Ghostbusters looked at each other questionably, until Luna spoke up, "I think we should allow Rook to join us."
"You do, Princess?" Twilight asked.
"Yes. This task is just what he needs to further train as a rookie guard."
"Exactly. Every little bit of on the job training helps." Rook nodded at her reasoning.
"Well, I suppose it could be helpful to have another." Egon admitted.
"Especially after them ghost Shadowbolts got the drop on us." Applejack added.
"Hooray, a new teammate!" Pinkie hugged Rook.
"Well, if he's going to be a Ghostbuster, he's going to need a uniform," Rarity spoke up, "I'll get right on it." she galloped off.
"Well, I guess we'll have to teach this newbie about how to work our equipment now." Peter told his boys.
"This could be the perfect opportunity to try out the new and improved proton pack." Ray added.
"New and improved?" Rainbow asked.
"We've developed a proton pack with some upgrades." Ray answered.
"But it still hasn't been properly tested." Egon warned them.
"Well there's no better time than now." Peter said.
"But to let a rookie test it out?" Egon asked.
"Would you rather let one of these delicate ladies risk themselves?" Peter tempted Egon and he made them look at the girls who looked like they were giving him the innocent look.
Egon sighed, "Very well. But one sign of malfunction and we forget using it."
"Deal," Peter said, "Ok, Rook, come over here."
Rook trotted over, as Egon levitated a proton pack onto the newbies pack strapping it on. Rook looked it over and said, "This looks just like a regular proton pack."
"It may look like it is, but it actually has two special upgrades to it which makes ghost catching easier." Egon explain.
"Such as?"
"For starters it now has blast stream focusing. The blast stream focuser increases the proton stream's stability, greatly reducing the amount of beam perturbation."
"What'd he say?" Applejack asked the group.
"He means the proton beam won't wander around and hit other things while trying to make contact with the spook." Ray explained.
"That does make for a good upgrade." Fluttershy admitted.
"And the second one?" Rook asked.
"Blast Stream Recoil Decrease," Egon answered, "By increasing the pack's number of nucleon jackets as well as adding a second proton buffer reduces the proton stream's negative energy kick back allowing the user to move more quickly while firing the proton beam."
"Cool." Rook gasped.
"Man, why does he have to try out the cool new pack?" Rainbow Dash grumbled.
"Oh, let the rookie have some fun, Rainbow." Discord said, as he kicked back on a beach chair to watch the rookie's performance.
"Besides with those two new upgrades he'll need them more than us." Twilight added.
Rainbow looked seeing Rook operate the proton pack with Slimer acting as his target. She watched as the newbie used both upgrades allowing him to catch and hold Slimer without any fear of losing control of his beam, "Yeah, he does need it more than us."
So the Ghostbusters educated Rook on using the proton pack and the rest of the equipment, while Rook looked like he himself was making mental notes on the equipment right down to the basics.
Soon enough, Rook had the proton pack and the rest of the equipment down, and was ready to fight by their side. Rarity suddenly trotted up, "I'm back!" she said in sing song.
"You sure took your sweet time." Rainbow said.
"You know I take pride in making outfits to make sure they're perfect," the fashionista reminded her pegasus friend, "And how is our rookie doing?"
"Doing better than we expected." Winston answered.
"Yeah." Slimer agreed.
"Splendid," she answered, and looked at the rookie, "Rook, while you were practicing I whipped this up for you to wear." she levitated a Ghostbusters uniform up like the guys and was colored like their old uniforms before they switched to their individual ones.
Rook levitated the uniform from Rarity and marveled at it, "Awesome! My own uniform."
"I suggest you get changed right now, nighttime is upon us." Luna said as she looked up and saw the sun was slowly setting thanks to her sister.
"Already?" Ray gasped.
"We haven't even discussed strategy." Egon sighed.
"Well, we'll just have to do what an old friend of ours had to do when he didn't have much option." Twilight said.
"And what's that?" Winston asked.
"Wing it." she answered.
The boys looked at each other, as Peter spoke, "She's got a point. We'll just go with what we know."
"I really don't like going into battle without some kind of plan." Egon remained true to his methods.
"Then we'll talk strategy while on our way to the forest." Ray suggested.
"Ray is correct, but for now it's time to raise the moon," Luna said, "And for our sakes, it better not stay up there forever." she began to use her magic to raise the moon into the sky.
From the Everfree Forest inside the old castle, Nightmare Moon looked out a window seeing the sun going down and the moon coming up. She smirked and said deviously to herself, "It's time."