//------------------------------//
// Training - Part 2 
// Story: Lunar Guard: Red Dawn 
// by RedDawn 
//------------------------------//

	Strength training wasn't as hard as it sounded, as we found out when we entered the gym. It mainly consisted of obstacle courses, for the Pegasi and Bat Ponies, and magic rooms(1), for the Unicorns. It wasn't too strenuous, and we were done with out session at about 4 am. Everypony trooped back to the barracks and collapsed on their bunks, some too tired to even take off their fatigues. As I took off my armor, the other Unicorn mare came up to me.
"Hey, I, uh, just wanted to apologize about what my sister said earlier. She really wants to be a Lunar Guard, since Princess Luna saved her from a really bad nightmare a few years ago. She was traumatized by the Changeling Debacle at the Canterlot Wedding, and she started having really bad nightmares. The Princess saved her, and she's wanted to serve Princess Luna ever since. She's afraid that you'll take that chance away from her. I'll try to keep her off your back, but if she says anything, just tell me, alright?"
I nodded. I could understand that. She trotted back to her bunk with her sister and I got changed out of my armor to my kit. As I went to stand outside, the officer that first brought us to the barracks came over and motioned for me to follow her. Frowning, I trotted behind her to a large building. We walked inside and I lost sight of the officer. The room was dark, so when a spotlight flashed on, I was blinded. I sensed something coming at me from behind, so I spun and lashed out with a wing. I was mainly relying on my hearing and air current analysis to defend myself, so it was no surprise when they set off a sonix device. My ears splayed, but I still managed to hold off the attacks. My eyes had recovered at this point, but I kept them closed, to keep that a secret. I frowned when somepony shouted,
"STOP!"
I couldn't completely let my guard down, but I couldn't show that I was still so alert, so I opened my eyes and folded my wings, but kept my primaries ever-so-slightly splayed, so I could still read the currents.
"Well done. Come here, and we will explain."
I slowly stepped forward. One of the silhouette's head twitched and, as I expected, an attack came from where my blind spot would have been, directly behind me. A spell flashed and I launched myself forward, the spell, which I recognized as a stunning spell, overshot me and hit the pedestal in front. Spinning and torquing my spine, I kicked off of the aforementioned pedestal and smacked my right elbow(2) into the Unicorn behind me.
"What is this? Why did you bring me here? Answer me!"
I yelled.
"Very well. But first, your name?"
"Black Feather."
"Black Feather, we have chosen you, to be a part of an elite group of Guards. Will you accept?"