Shadow Dust took a deep breath.
"What in the name of Luna just happened?"
"Did you forget already Dusty? After Brawly told me you were new in town I gasped, zoomed over, interviewed you on your party preferences (I still need to know what your favorite color streamer is), gave you a tour of Ponyville, introduced you to a bunch of my friends, then brought you here to Sugar Cube Corner for your 'Welcome to Ponyville' party!" said Pinkie.
Shadow Dust's eye twitched.
"In less than a minute!?" he demanded.
"It's actually been about three minutes," said Twilight as she, Princess Luna and Brawler trotted into the crowded bakery.
Shadow Dust sputtered.
"That's still, h-how-?."
Brawler chuckled.
"Lesson number one, Dust: It's Pinkie Pie, don't question it."
Shadow Dust sighed, and rubbed his temples. His day thus far hadn't been bad, far from it, getting personal training from the stallion who'd faced Tirek was a dream come true.
That's the problem I guess.
That morning he had barely finished his morning routine when Princess Luna had teleported into the Lunar Guard's training grounds. Luna had announced that Brawler was going to be a Specialist Trainer for the Lunar Guard, then asked Captain Starry Skies to select the first pony to be trained by him. By some miracle, he, Shadow Dust, had been selected. Once he had gotten over his initial shock he'd packed a few of his things then Luna teleported the both of them to Princess Twilight's castle. Luna explained to Twilight that she thought Brawler should have a Guard to train to make his position more official, and then they were off to meet the legend.
They found him swearing at a Griffon who was apparently both a friend and a fraud.
Shadow Dust did his best not to judge; as a Thestral, he knew what it was like to give a bad first impression.
Yeah, but with me it's looks, he's friends with someone who casually admits that half of their business is based on lies.
Shadow Dust shook his head. He didn't know everything, he shouldn't judge.
But back to the point. All of this combined into a single morning made Shadow Dust question if he was awake or inside some bizarre dream.
The enigma that was Pinkie Pie, did not help clarify this question. (In this moment for instance, she was asking various ponies what they're favorite cupcake was, and then pulling said cupcake out of her hair. Nopony looked particularly surprised.)
"Hellllooo? Dusty? Are you done with your inner monologue yet?" asked Pinkie, waving a hoof in front of his face.
Shadow Dust blinked. "What?!"
"You have been staring into space for awhile now," said Luna, smiling.
Shadow Dust grimaced.
"Uh, sorry. How long-?"
"Oh not long at all. But now I need to know what's your favorite cupcake!" said Pinkie. "If you're not sure I have two thousand two hundred twenty two you can try!"
Shadow Dust blinked again.
"Um, chocolate would be fine ma'am," he said.
Pinkie cocked her head.
"I didn't ask for what would be fine, I asked for your favorite!" she said.
"No offense ma'am, but I doubt you'd have it," said Shadow Dust.
Pinkie's smile vanished and her eyes narrowed.
"Try me."
Shadow Dust gulped.
"You really don't have to-"
"Dust, tell her your favorite cupcake," said Brawler.
Shadow Dust sighed. Brawler was his superior officer now, and he wasn't one to refuse an order.
"Alright. Crunchy Cricket Supreme," he said.
Pinkie's eyes lit up.
"OO! I've been wanting to try that recipe!" and she vanished in a pink blur.
Once again, Shadow Dust blinked.
"She knows Thestral recipes?" he asked.
"I doubt there's a single cupcake on Equis that she doesn't know how to cook," said Twilight, levitating a vanilla cupcake over to herself.
Shadow Dust cleared his throat.
"Well, um, as fascinating as this experience has been, is it really necessary?" he asked.
"When the Element of Laughter throws a party, there is not much one can do to stop it," said Luna.
"Yep, besides, its a good chance for me to look for your fellow students," said Brawler. "Enjoy your party, and when it's done we'll meet you at the dojo."
Shadow Dust was about to say 'yes sir', but at that moment Pinkie reappeared and shoved a cupcake into his mouth.
"How's it taste? Is it good? I personally think bugs taste yucky but I'm not a Thestral so I can't really judge, but do you like it?" she asked.
Shadow Dust nodded, numbly.
"Great! See ya!" and with that the hyperactive mare zoomed away.
Shadow Dust chewed his cupcake. It was actually quite good, not as crunchy as he'd like, but it was still tasty.
"Do try to enjoy yourself Sergeant," said Luna. "Brawler is not a military stallion. The usual cold efficiency displayed by most soldiers would probably just annoy him."
"I will try Your Highness," said Shadow Dust.
"Very good. Now I'm afraid I must return to my duties. Farewell," with that, Luna teleported away.
Shadow Dust looked back into the crowed bakery, shrugged, and took off his helmet.
Might as well, Princess' orders after all.
He wandered into the crowd, and got to know a few of his new neighbors.
Scootaloo was PUMPED.
During the party Brawler had come to her and her friends and told them he got permission to train them! Not only that, but as soon as the party was over, they were gonna have their first lesson, with a Lunar Royal Guard too!
The only thing that had her worried was that Brawler said not to eat too much. At first this had confused her, but then Sweetie Belle said it was probably because he wanted them to eat meat for lunch. Scootaloo wouldn't admit it, but the thought of eating another animal made her a bit queasy. She still wanted to become a Fighter, and was determined not to be scared off, but it still felt wrong.
Scootaloo pushed that thought to the back of her mind as Brawler lead her, her friends, and the guard to the dojo.
"Um, excuse me Sir?" asked the guard.
"Drop the army crap Sergeant, I'm not an officer," said Brawler.
"Uh, technically you are," said the guard.
Scootaloo and her friends giggled.
Brawler sighed.
"Whatever, just don't like, snap to attention whenever you see me alright? It's just weird."
"I'll try Sir."
"And drop the Sir!"
"My Captain, Starry Skies, wouldn't approve."
Brawler sighed again.
"Alright. You had a question?"
"Yes... Um, are you certain you want to train these three fillies?" asked the guard.
Scootaloo narrowed her eyes. But before she could snap at the guard, Brawler turned around.
"I got my Cutie Mark when I knocked a junior Karate instructor on his flank with a single uppercut. I was eleven. If I'm right, then these three have the same potential I had back then. They'll be fine," he said.
The guard nodded.
"Understood Sir."
"Good, we'll do proper introductions when we reach the dojo, then it's lunch time," said Brawler, he turned and started for the dojo again.
Scootaloo hesitated for a moment, then trotted up beside him.
"So what are we gonna be learning today?" she asked. She hopped unto her hind legs and threw a few jabs. "You gonna show us how to do that awesome uppercut?"
"Not today kid. Today's just assessment. Exercises to see what you can do, that kind of thing. If you're up to it, tomorrow we'll get into some real fighting," said Brawler.
"There's no way I won't be up to it," said Scootaloo, grinning.
Brawler chuckled.
"We'll see."
They walked the rest of the way in silence.
When they reached the dojo it was immediately apparent that the construction ponies weren't quite done. Noises were coming from the inside of the building and a few of the workers in white uniforms were looking over some plans in the yard. Brawler walked up and tapped one of them on the shoulder. The worker turned.
"Ah, are you Mr," he pulled out a sheet of paper from his pocket. "Brawler?"
"Just Brawler's fine. Look, I don't want to mess with your work, but I'll have to grab a few things from the work out room pretty soon. That alright?"
"That shouldn't be a problem, we've done most of the heavy duty stuff. We just need a few more hours to patch the walls up."
"Alright, did my grill come yet?"
"It's just around the back. And, uh, a black griffon dropped off a large white bag with a note saying it was for you. We asked if we should put it anywhere but he just got this sly grin, told us not to open it, and walked away."
Brawler rolled his eyes.
"That bucker. He wanted one of you to open it."
"Well I told my guys not to touch your stuff, so I'm pretty sure nopony did. Anyway the griffon dropped the bag by the grill, do you need anything else?"
"Nope, thanks."
Brawler started for the back, his new students followed him.
"Why would that griffon want them to open the bag?" asked the guard.
Brawler sighed.
"Gary enjoys scaring and messing with ponies. How do ya think these guys'd handle it if they opened the bag to see a bunch of greasy chopped up meat?"
Scootaloo swallowed at the description. Sweetie Belle scrunched up her face and Applebloom coughed.
Brawler glanced at them.
"You've probably already figured out that we're gonna be eating meat for lunch."
Out of the corner of her eye, Scootaloo saw Sweetie Belle nod.
"Just remember, nopony's forcing you to do this. If you can't do it just walk away, nopony'll judge you."
They reached the back of the dojo. In front of them was a small circular black grill and a mid size bag. Brawler walked up to the grill and examined it. He rolled his eyes.
"Magic, of course it's magic powered," he grumbled. He took the grill's cover off with his teeth, then pressed a button on the side of the grill. The air above the grill became wobbly. Brawler ignored it and turned to the bag. He opened it, pulled out a jar of barbecue sauce, then picked up a chicken breast with his forelegs.
He opened his mouth, then blinked.
"Crap, forgot plates," he turned to the guard. "Hey Dust, could you fly back to Sugarcube Corner and see if they have any left over plates?"
"On it Sir," said the guard as he took off.
Brawler turned back to the chicken breast, opened his mouth, then bit its skin and pulled it off.
"EWW!" cried the CMC.
Brawler spat the skin out.
"The skin's full of fat," he said as he tossed the chicken onto the grill. "And we don't want fat, we want protein."
He grabbed another chicken breast and repeated the process.
Scootaloo scrunched up her face, but didn't look away.
You're not scaring me away Brawler, no matter what you do.
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle had the same idea, but Sweetie Belle turned away after the second, and Applebloom turned away at the fourth.
Brawler tossed the last chicken breast onto the grill and turned to Scootaloo.
"You're not scoring bonus points kid, it's a gross process. You're allowed to be grossed out."
Scootaloo glared at him.
"Well I'm not!"
"Sure." Brawler turned away and put the lid back on the grill.
Scootaloo growled.
That JERK! I'm fine!
The guard return with five paper plates.
"Thanks Dust, set 'em by the grill," said Brawler.
The guard did as he was told then trotted next to Applebloom and sat down. Brawler sat down in front of the grill.
"Right, now time for some proper introductions," said Brawler. "Girls, this is Sergeant Shadow Dust from the Lunar Royal Guard. He's here because in order to keep Sunshine from throwing me (and possibly you three) in a dungeon, Luna made me an official trainer for the Lunar Guard, and it looks more official if an actual member of the Guard is here for me to train."
"Nice ta meetcha Sergeant," said Applebloom, extending her hoof. Shadow Dust took it and gave it a shake.
"Likewise, and just Shadow Dust will do fine."
"Alright, and Shadow Dust, the filly you're shaking hooves with is Applebloom. The pegasus is Scootaloo, and the unicorn is Sweetie Belle. They're here because they have the potential to become Fighters, and apparently they're pretty desperate for Cutie Marks."
"Hey!" exclaimed Scootaloo.
"Don't give me that, after everything I told you, all the risks you're taking? You're desperate for your mark, don't deny it," said Brawler.
Scootaloo growled.
"Yeah, I want my Cutie Mark, the three of us have been waiting for years to get them. But I'm not doing this because I'm desperate, I'm doing this because I want to be a Fighter, and I'm not gonna let a jerk like you scare me off," she snapped.
Brawler stared at her, and Scootaloo felt her friends and the guard staring at her as well. Then Brawler sighed through a smile.
"You're definitely a Fighter," he said. Scootaloo blinked.
"You just haven't got your mark yet," Brawler stood up. "Moving on. Like I said earlier, today's all about assessment. According to the writing on this grill, it'll only be about five minutes before the chicken's ready. That should be just enough time to see just how skilled our resident Lunar Guard is."
He walked away from the grill and got into his stance.
"We're sparring Sir?" asked Shadow Dust, his voice shaking just a little.
"Damn right we are. Get over here and into your stance."
Shadow Dust nodded, stood up, then trotted away from the fillies and a few paces away from Brawler. He got into a stance that was similar to Brawler's, but with more weight on his back hind leg and his forelegs closer to his body.
Brawler examined the stance, then dropped to all fours and face hooved. He groaned.
"I gotta lot of work to do."
"Sir? Is something wrong?" Shadow Dust started to lower his hooves.
With a powerful flap of his wings Brawler lunged forward. Before Shadow Dust could raise his guard Brawler slammed a right hook into his face. Shadow Dust was knocked down onto his back, he groaned.
"Yeah something's wrong. Grow a backbone! Right now, I'm not a legend, and I'm not your teacher. I'm your opponent! My goal is to hurt you through any means necessary. Including tricking you. Now stand up and get in your stance, there was nothing wrong with it, and even if there was, a shitty guard's better than no guard," said Brawler.
Shadow Dust stood up, and slowly got back into his stance.
"And have some bucking confidence. The second you doubt yourself is the second you lose," said Brawler as he got into his own stance.
Shadow Dust closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened his eyes and nodded.
Brawler lunged forward with another right. Shadow Dust blocked, then spread his wings and took off, driving his knee into Brawler's chest.
"Oomf!" Brawler stumbled back. Shadow Dust landed into his stance, ready to go. Brawler regained his balance and raised his forelegs. Then he lowered them.
"What the hell was that?" he demanded.
Scootaloo growled.
Oh now he's mad when Dust does something right?
"He landed a hit on you, that's what he's supposed ta do," said Applebloom, clearly upset as well. Sweetie Belle just narrowed her eyes.
"Yeah, he's also supposed to follow up on that attack if I'm wide open. That was a golden opportunity to knock me down when I was stumbling, why didn't you take it?" demanded Brawler.
Shadow Dust hesitated.
"Sir, this stance was built for defense."
"Yeah well there are times when you need to attack. Now come on, this time you're making the first move," said Brawler as he raised his forelegs.
Shadow Dust took another deep breath, then began to shuffle forward. When he was in range he pulled back his left shoulder then swung a left hook. Brawler ducked beneath it, slammed two punches into Shadow Dust's stomach, then an uppercut into his chin.
Shadow Dust was once again on his back and groaning.
"Could you telegraph your attacks a little more please! I think a blind mountain goat didn't know exactly what you were gonna do!" shouted Brawler.
"Rragh!" Shadow Dust leapt to his hooves and snarled. Brawler grinned.
"That's right, get mad! I'm not a legend, I'm not your teacher. I'm a shit eating jackass who likes to make you eat dirt! And you're gonna wipe this smug grin off my face!"
Shadow Dust growled, then lunged toward Brawler. Brawler side stepped and Shadow Dust flew past him.
"Gotta do better than that!" said Brawler.
Shadow Dust landed on his forelegs, then keeping his hind legs in the air, he turned them to where he heard Brawler's voice.
"Wha-?"
Shadow Dust pushed off the ground with all his might. Sending him flying back toward Brawler.
"Whoa!" Brawler twisted to the right to avoid the kick. Shadow Dust landed on his hind legs then quickly threw a left jab into Brawler's face. Brawler's head snapped back but he didn't give any ground. His right hoof lashed out and hit Shadow Dust's chest, then he twisted left and smashed a left hook into Shadow Dust's face.
Shadow Dust stumbled back but quickly got back into his stance. Brawler dropped to all fours.
"Good. Now unless you want the chicken to burn, we're done."
Shadow Dust stared at him, panting. Then he chuckled and dropped to all fours as well.
"Well, that was certainly, different," he said.
"Well, it's my first time teaching. Bear with me," said Brawler.
Shadow Dust nodded and trotted back over to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Brawler went back to the grill.
Scootaloo turned to Shadow Dust.
"That was awesome!" she said.
"Where'd ya learn that flyin' back kick?" asked Applebloom.
"It's an advanced recovery move that they teach us in Guard training," said Shadow Dust. "Usually we're only supposed to use it if we get knocked down, but it's also my most powerful attack. And like Brawler said, I wanted to wipe that grin off his face."
Brawler chuckled. He was holding the grill's spatula in his teeth and put the chicken onto the plates.
"Come and get it," said Brawler, placing the plates in the ground and taking one for himself.
Shadow Dust trotted over and grabbed a plate, the girls hesitated, then did so as well. Brawler undid the cap on the barbecue sauce and poured some onto his plate.
"Want any?" he asked holding out the bottle. Shadow Dust shook his head. "Then dig in."
Brawler dipped his chicken into the sauce and took a bite. He smiled as he chewed and swallowed, then he took another bite without talking. Shadow Dust bit into his chicken as well, but his expression remained neutral as he ate. The girls just stared at their own chicken.
Brawler noticed them hesitating.
"If it's any consolation, these chickens were raised happy, and when they died, it was a clean quick death right before they would've felt pain from aging."
Scootaloo nudged her plate.
"What's it taste like?" she heard Sweetie Belle ask.
"Only way to find out is to take a bite," said Brawler.
Scootaloo picked up the chicken with her forelegs, hesitated, then narrowed her eyes and took a bite.
It was certainly, different. She hadn't ever eaten anything that tasted or felt like it before, and she wasn't sure she liked it.
"It's not, bad," she said, after she'd swallowed.
"You'll get used to it. Hell, one day you might even like it," said Brawler.
Scootaloo doubted that, but she gestured to her friends to try. After some hesitation, they took their first bites.
"It's a little weird," said Sweetie Belle.
"It actually ain't half bad," said Applebloom.
"Well no matter how you feel about it, finish up. I still gotta test the three of you," said Brawler.
They nodded and didn't talk for the rest of the meal.
When they finished Brawler stood up.
"Right, be right back," said Brawler, he stood up and trotted into the dojo. He came out a few minutes later wearing a pair of very weighed down saddle bags.
"Okay, is there a hoofball field anywhere in Ponyville?" he asked.
"Uh, yeah, over by the school," said Sweetie Belle.
"Are we gonna play?" asked Applebloom.
"Nope, we're doing something different. Would we be allowed on the field?" asked Brawler.
Scootaloo shrugged.
"I think so."
"Alright then. Applebloom and Scootaloo, go home, grab a backpack and meet us at the field. And I mean a real backpack, not saddle bags. Sweetie Belle, you show me the way to the field, and Dust, you can either watch or go to your hotel. We're not doing anything else today."
"I think I'll come along," said Shadow Dust, standing up.
"Okay, and you two," said Brawler, turning to Applebloom and Scootaloo, "Be quick, but don't run, you're gonna need all of your energy for this."
"What're we doin'?" asked Applebloom, standing up.
"It's a surprise," said Brawler. "Meet us at the hoofball field."
With that, the group separated, Sweetie Belle leading Brawler and Shadow Dust to the field, and Applebloom and Scootaloo returning home to grab their backpacks.
As she was walking, Scootaloo couldn't help but think about her new teacher.
I didn't expect him to be such a jerk! I mean, I guess he did a good job teaching Dust, but did he really have to be such a freaking jerk about it?
Conflicting thoughts about her new teacher continued to plague her as she arrived home, got her backpack, and trotted towards the hoofball field. Along the way she met up with Applebloom, they speculated about how Brawler was going to teach them as they walked.
When they reached the field they saw Sweetie Belle sitting in a weird pose with her eyes closed. Brawler was standing in front of her and Shadow Dust watching from the sidelines. Brawler's saddle bags were open on the ground next to Sweetie Belle, several small dumbbells were spilling out of it. As they got closer they could hear Brawler instructing Sweetie Belle.
"In through your nose, out through your mouth. In, and out. Clear your mind, and feel," he said. Sweetie Belle breathed as instructed.
Scootaloo and Applebloom glanced at each other, then approached.
"Um, what's going on?" whispered Scootaloo.
Brawler turned to them.
"I, Brawler, a pegasus, am teaching Sweetie Belle, a unicorn, how to use magic. Laugh about it later, right now she needs to focus," he said.
Sweetie Belle gasped.
Brawler turned his attention back to her.
"You feel it?" he asked.
Sweetie Belle nodded.
"Okay, now direct the magic to your horn, and pick up the five pound weight."
Sweetie Belle took a deep breath, and scrunched up her face. A light green aura formed around a small dumbbell next to her, and it slowly lifted into the air. Sweetie Belle cracked an eyelid open for a peak, and the weight drifted in front of her face.
"Yes!" she cried, jumping to her hooves with joy. "Yes, yes, yes! I did it!"
"Good," said Brawler. "Now stand on your hind legs and walk to the ten yard line."
Sweetie Belle paused.
"What?"
"According to a book I've read, once you've located your magic it'll be easier for you to bring it out from then on. So right now, I'm not worried about the strength of your magic. I'm more concerned about you keeping focus while balancing on your hind legs. Why? Because almost all fighting stances require standing on your hind legs. You need to be able to cast magic while in a fighting stance, and this is a good way to practice. Now start walking, you drop the weight, or onto all fours, go back to the beginning and start again," said Brawler.
"Okay," said Sweetie Belle. She licked her lips, and slowly raised her forelegs off the ground. She wobbled a bit, but corrected herself, then the aura around the weight wavered. Sweetie Belle narrowed her eyes and the aura stopped wavering, but lost her balance and dropped to all fours in the process.
"Keep trying, you'll get it," said Brawler.
Sweetie Belle nodded and started raising her forelegs off the ground again. Brawler turned to Applebloom.
"You're gonna be doing something similar, come on," Brawler gestured her closer. Applebloom trotted over beside him, on the end line of the field.
"Stand on your hind legs," said Brawler.
Applebloom stood up slowly, wobbling the whole time.
Scootaloo cocked her head.
Why's it so hard for her? Balancing on your hind legs isn't that difficult.
Applebloom eventually managed to balance herself. Sweetie Belle had taken a few wobbly steps forward, still holding onto the weight with her magic.
"Alright, now, I'm gonna put two weights into your backpack. Stay balanced, lean forward if you have to. Unlike your friends' tests, this isn't an exercise you're going to do regularly. This is just to see if you can handle strength and balance at the same time," said Brawler.
He grabbed a ten pound weight in his mouth, and slowly lowered it into Applebloom's backpack. She wobbled a bit, but regained her balance quickly. Brawler then grabbed a fifteen pound weight and lowered it into her bag as well. Applebloom grunted, and leaned forward a little to keep her balance.
"Okay, now walk to the ten yard line. You drop to all fours, come back and try again," said Brawler.
Applebloom nodded and took a step forward, she paused to make sure she kept her balance, then stepped forward again. Sweetie Belle was now paused at the halfway point, trying to regain her balance.
Brawler gestured Scootaloo over to him. She trotted over and sat down.
"Now, you're probably wondering why your friends are having so much trouble, right?" asked Brawler.
Scootaloo nodded.
"Well we pegasi have lighter bones and are usually more flexible than earth ponies and unicorns. So standing on our hind legs isn't that much of a challenge," explained Brawler. "So instead of testing your balance, I'm gonna be testing your wing power."
Scootaloo gulped, thankfully Brawler didn't notice.
"You've seen how useful wings can be for attacking. Dashie with her uppercut and Dust with his knee. They can also be used to help you dodge or lunge faster. Hell, I've even read a few stories where pegasi used their wings to stun their opponents. The point is, your wings are a fantastic asset, and unlike a unicorn's magic or an earth pony's strength, I actually know what I'm talking about when I tell you how to use them in a fight," said Brawler.
Scootaloo snickered.
"Laugh while you can, kid. You're gonna be doing something called the death hover," said Brawler. "Don't worry, you won't actually die. What happens is I put ten pounds in your backpack, then you fly to the ten yard line. You don't need to go higher than a single inch off the ground, and you can do it in short bursts. Just as long as the only time you're moving forward is when you're flying. You got all that?"
Scootaloo took a deep breath, then nodded.
I can do this, I can do this. I don't need to fly very high, and I've been doing my exercises so I'm a lot stronger now. I can do this.
Brawler picked up the ten pound weight and slipped it into her backpack. Scootaloo shifted the weight around, getting comfortable, then grit her teeth and began flapping her wings. She felt her hooves slowly leave the ground. She flapped faster, then slowly moved forward. After a few feet she dropped for a quick breath, then grit her teeth and took off again.
She repeated this process until she made it to the ten yard line. When she got there she dropped her backpack as quickly as she could and panted. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle had already finished their tests, and were breathing heavily right beside her.
"Heh, why are you tired Sweetie Belle? You didn't have to lift anything," panted Scootaloo.
"Cut me some slack Scootaloo. I was doing two complicated things I had never done before at once! It's pretty mentally demanding," said Sweetie Belle.
"Yeah, well carryin' thirty-five pounds on yer back while balancin' on yer hind legs ain't no cake walk," panted Applebloom.
"Heh, you think you two had it rough? I'm the one with weak wings," said Scootaloo.
"What'd you say?!"
The fillies jumped, Brawler had walked up to them without being noticed and he was now glaring at Scootaloo. She gulped.
"U-um, I have weak wings. I was born that way, but the doctors say that if I do the right exercises I'll be able to fly someday," she added quickly. "Once they get strong."
Brawler's eyes narrowed even further.
"Get back to the end line," he said. He grabbed Scootaloo's backpack in his teeth and trotted away before she could respond. Scootaloo followed after him.
"What? Am I in trouble for something I was born with?" demanded Scootaloo.
"Not yet," said Brawler. They reached the end line. Brawler set the backpack down and turned to Scootaloo.
"I want to see you do the death hover again, but this time I want to see your absolute best."
Scootaloo looked out onto the field, then back to Brawler.
"So, what, you want me to go to the twenty?" she asked.
"Twenty? I think you can make it halfway across the field."
"You mean the fifty!! I couldn't make that even without the extra weight!"
"I think you can make it with the weight. In fact," Brawler turned and slipped another dumbbell into Scootaloo's backpack. "I think you can make it with another five pounds."
Scootaloo opened her mouth to protest.
"I don't care wether you think you can or not, I just want to see your absolute best. Can you do that?" asked Brawler.
Scootaloo stared at her hooves.
"I guess."
"Look at me, and say you're gonna do your best," said Brawler.
Scootaloo looked up.
"I'm gonna do my best."
"Good, one other thing: Applebloom, get over here," called Brawler.
Applebloom jumped, then swiftly trotted over to them.
"Yeah?"
"I need to borrow your bow."
"What, why?"
"I just have to borrow it for a few minutes, and it doesn't have to leave your line of sight, okay?" asked Brawler.
Applebloom hesitated, then undid the knot and gave the bow to him.
"Be careful with it now, ya hear?"
Brawler nodded and turned to Scootaloo.
"I want you to do it blindfolded," said Brawler, he slid the ribbon over Scootaloo's eyes and tied it.
"What! Why?" asked Scootaloo.
"Because I said so. Don't worry about wandering, I'll guide you."
Scootaloo heard Brawler walk away then return.
"Forelegs out," he said.
Scootaloo did as she was told. Brawler slipped her backpack onto her. Scootaloo dropped back to all fours with a grunt.
This is nuts! I'll be lucky if I make it to the ten.
"Alright, let's go," instructed Brawler.
Scootaloo squeezed her eyes shut, and took off.
She flew forward for about three steps, landed, breathed, then took off again.
"Alright good start," said Brawler.
Scootaloo did her best to ignore the weight pressing on her back, landed, then took off again.
"Good, you're wandering a little to the right."
Scootaloo changed course in midair, landed, and took off.
"Good, great start Scoot."
She flew for another three steps then landed.
"Am I at the ten yet?" she asked.
"Forget the ten, let's go! Don't stop till you have nothing left."
Scootaloo shook her head as she flew, landed, and took off again.
That probably means I'm even farther than the ten.
Her wings were starting to ache. She landed and took a few deep breaths.
"Don't you bucking dare stop Scoot! You got more in you than that," said Brawler, raising his voice.
"I'm not done, just a quick rest," she panted.
"You gotta keep moving let's go!" said Brawler, his voice just below a shout.
Scootaloo grit her teeth and took off.
"Don't stop tell you've got nothing left Scoot."
Scootaloo inched along another two steps in the air.
"I want everything you got Scootaloo!"
Why am I listening to this jerk? It hurts!
"It hurts!" Scootaloo landed and took off.
"Don't quit on me! Keep going!"
Scootaloo's wings protested, but she landed and took off again.
"Keep going! I want everything you got!"
Ragh! It bucking hurts! Isn't this enough?
"It's heavy!"
"I know it's heavy but you need to keep going," Brawler had lowered his head and was speaking right next to Scootaloo's head.
Scootaloo flew another two steps.
"You're doing good! Keep going!"
Another two steps.
"That's it, keep going! I want everything you got!"
A step and a half.
"It hurts! I'm running outta strength!"
"Then find more! You're going good Scootaloo keep going!"
A step and a half.
Another step.
It felt like nails were driving themselves into Scootaloo's wings.
"It hurts! It BUCKING hurts!"
"I know it hurts you keep going!" shouted Brawler. "It's all hurt from here! Thirty more steps Scootaloo, you got this!"
She flew another step, then another.
Her wings were on fire.
"It burns!"
"Then let it burn!"
"MY WINGS ARE BURNING!"
"It's all hurt Scoot, it's all hurt but you keep going!" Brawler was shouting at the top of his lungs.
Another step passed below her, and another.
I can't do it.
"Twenty more steps Scootaloo! Come on! You promised me your best, your BEST!"
Another step, and another.
Her wings were on fire before, now they were melting in acid.
"I CAN'T DO IT!!"
"YOU CAN!! YOU CAN!!! Come on Scootaloo you don't quit on me!"
I can't ma-
"COME ON SCOOT! DON"T QUIT, DON'T QUIT! SCOOTALOO, YOU DON'T QUIT ON ME! I WON'T BUCKING LET YOU!"
Each step that passed below her felt like a mile.
"RRAGH!!"
"TEN MORE STEPS SCOOT! TEN MORE!" Brawler pounded the ground. "TEN MORE! TEN MORE!"
"AAGH!"
Another step inched by below her.
"IT'S TOO HARD!"
"IT'S NOT TO HARD YOU KEEP GOING! YOU KEEP GOING! SCOOTALOO YOU DON'T QUIT ON ME! YOU KEEP GOING! YOU KEEP GOING!"
Another step.
"YOU PROMISED ME YOUR BEST! YOUR VERY BEST SCOOTALOO! TWO MORE STEPS! COME ON!"
The step crawled by below her.
"ONE MORE!"
Scootaloo took off, her hooves scraping the ground as she made her last step.
"Agh!"
She collapsed. Brawler quickly pulled off her backpack. Her whole body was in agony, tears started rolling down her face.
"It's gotta be the fifty," she sobbed. "It just has to be the fifty, I don't HAVE anymore."
She heard Brawler kneel down in front of her. He pulled off the blindfold.
"Look up Scoot, you're in the endzone."
Scootaloo gasped and looked around. She was on the other end of the field. Her body's weakness caught up to her and she lowered her head.
"Scootaloo, look at me," said Brawler.
It felt like she was dragging her head through thick syrup, but she lifted her head anyway.
"Don't EVER, let anypony call you weak. Especially not yourself. There are areas you can improve in, but you are NOT weak. And if anypony ever says you have weak wings, remember, you just carried yourself, and an extra fifteen pounds across this whole field on nothing, but your wings. Do you understand what I'm saying?" asked Brawler.
Scootaloo sniffled, then nodded.
"Yes."
"B-Brawler?" called Sweetie Belle. She, Applebloom and Shadow Dust had followed behind them.
"What?"
"You put two tens in her backpack."
Brawler stared at her, then back down at Scootaloo. He smiled, and patted Scootaloo's head.
"When you're ready, walk home, and get some rest. We're done for the day." Brawler stood up, and trotted away, Shadow Dust followed.
Scootaloo set her head back down, and smiled.
Shadow Dust trotted up behind Brawler.
"A little intense for the first day," he commented.
"No student of mine is calling themself weak," said Brawler, not turning around.
Shadow Dust stopped, gave Brawler's retreating form a salute, then started back for his hotel.