A few days after my meeting with Celestia and Luna found me and the eight recruits standing at a makeshift gun range in the training grounds of the castle.
"All right you lot. Listen up. I know that some of you have had some experience with firearms. But the weapons that I am going to demonstrate today are very different from the muzzle loaders that you are used to." I said as I picked up a round from the table behind me.
"This is a .44 caliber round. It is a slow and heavy round that will knock down most pony sized targets with a single shot. As long as you aim properly for center of mass, your target will not be getting back up." I said before picking up the rifle on the table.
"This is a Henry lever-action repeating rifle." I said, moving the lever forward, opening the bolt. "It has a sixteen round built in tube magazine. The magazine is loaded from here and the spent shells are ejected from here." I said as I pointed out the parts of the rifle. "This is how you load the weapon." I said before closing the bolt and opening the tube and began loading the weapon.
"Now a big difference in shooting this weapon is how you aim. I have looked at many of the rifles you have been issued previously. One thing that I have noticed is a lack of sights. This weapon has both a front and rear sight, here and here." I said gesturing to the sights. "The preparation to fire and rate of fire is different as well. Watch closely." I said before turning to face the targets and shouldering the rifle.
Working the lever to chamber a round, I steadied my breathing and lined up the sights on the first of four targets.
Pulling the trigger and feeling the rifle buck into my shoulder, I worked the lever as I pulled the barrel back into firing position, lining up with the next target before firing again.
In under forty seconds, all sixteen rounds had been fired, each target now sporting a tight grouping of four holes each near dead center.
I cleared the weapon and set it down on the table before turning to the new Rangers.
"There you have it. I don't expect you to be that good the first, second, or even third time you fire this weapon. But I do want you to practice until you are that accurate with it. But before you start with this one, let me show you your new sidearm." I said picking up a revolver.
"This is the Colt Single Action Army revolver. It fires the .45 Colt caliber round. Another slow and fat round that will take down most pony sized targets with a single well aimed shot. It has a six round cylinder, but I recommend that you carry it with five so that the hammer isn't always under tension." I said before showing the new Rangers how to load and fire the revolver.
I then began the process of teaching them how to fire and adjust their aiming, as well as teaching them the different firing stances and how to best employ them.
As they went through the drills, I observed how they worked individually and how they worked together as the ones who showed proficiency with the weapons assisted their teammates with correcting issues.
I smiled. The team was coming together nicely.
After a break for lunch, we went to another training area that was heavily warded.
"Excuse me sir? What are we doing on this field?" One of the thestral mares, Crimson Moon, asked.
"This field has specialized ward that allow for combat magic to be used without causing injury. We are here because, I want you all to be able to use magic, not just the unicorns and saberhorns." I replied as I pulled out a selection of nearly mastered Materia.
"How can we do that?" A blonde maned pegasus named Cobalt asked.
"I'm glad you asked." I replied as I snapped off a Firaga towards the far end of the field.
"I plan to give each pegasus, thestral, earth pony, and nightstalker a selection of Materia that they best hold an affinity for. To do this however, I have to level the Materia up until it gets mastered. At that point it will 'birth' a lower level version." I explained. " So we are going to play a game." I said.
"What kind of game?" Orchid Twirl, an earth pony, asked.
"All of you against me. You tried you best to take me down, and I will use my Materia to stop you. If I take you down, I will use my Cure Materia and you will move back to the start and try again. You all work out how you want to play this. I'll wait over there." I said gesturing to the other side of the field as I walked away.
I waited for about five minutes as a clear chain of command was established. It must have been that they were already excellent troops, but this team was coming together extremely fast and I was loving it.
Soon enough, they were moving towards me.
The pegasi and thestrals took to the air and split into pairs circling me quickly. The first pair rolled in from behind and I dissuaded them with a salvo of fireballs which they easily avoided until I pulled my hand back towards me, making the attack reverse direction.
The trail member of the pair noticed the change and was able to shout a warning to his lead before they were hit with multiple impacts, knocking them from the air.
A couple of quick Curagas on the pair had them back in the air and winging towards the starting point before I flung a pair of Blizzards at the next pair as they got to close and froze their wings, bringing them down.
Some Fire spells and a quick Cure to each has them going back as well.
Then the spell casters started at range.
A quick layered Barrier/M-Barrier combo dealt with their attack and I was moving casting a Thunder All on them, knocking them to the ground as their muscles locked up.
The Earth Ponies and Nightstalkers charged but a quick Gravity spell slowed their assault and a Fira All combo knocked them back.
This pattern of continued for well over an hour, with different variations as the group learned to effectively bring their own unique strengths to bear. Even the casters had started figuring out how to be mobile while casting to avoid being struck.
"Enough!" I called out, causing all of them to sag. "You all did very well, we got a few new Materia out of it, and most importantly, you all learned how to work together and adjust your tactics accordingly for a threat. That is what I had really wanted to accomplish in this exercise." I said as I threw one last overpowered Curaga All at the group. "Now, go hit the showers and take the rest of the day to yourselves. Get your gear packed up and be ready to head to the train station once I have gotten word from Their Highnesses." I said.
The group nodded at the dismissal, tired smiles on their faces as they headed back to the barracks to clean up and pack.
Once they were gone, I spoke up.
"So, what did you think?" I asked.
A barrier dropped and Celestia, Luna, and Shining Armor appeared in the observation area of the training field.
"How did you know that we were here?" Celestia asked.
"I noticed that there was an area of the field that I could not look at for more than a second. Figured it was a 'Somebody Else's Problem' field and the only ones that would have a need to cast that would be you three." I said with a shrug.
"I see. My assessment is that they have the makings of an excellent team. They took to learning new weapons with ease once the basic function and use was demonstrated to them, and they were able to come together to coordinate attacks and were also able to adjust with little difficulty." Celestia said. "I do believe that you have the makings of a crack team, Ranger General Stryke." She added.
I raised an eyebrow. "Ranger General, huh? I haven't been on the job for a month and I'm already being promoted." I said shaking my head with a smile.
"You have a team now, it is only fitting that the Rangers have a General again." Luna said.
I nodded to her. "I shall do my best to honor the position." I replied.
"Just watch out for my little sister please. She doesn't have much in the way of social skills despite our best efforts." Shining Armor said.
I nodded. "From what I have read in her file I was given, she is a very intelligent mare. Those with strong intellects usually do have issues in social situations because they find it difficult to relate to anyone besides other intellectuals." I said. "I'll be keeping any eye on her personally. That and I will be doing patrols with the rest of the team." I added.
Luna smiled. "You have all the hallmarks of a good leader. Doing the things that you ask of those under your command will go a long way to earn their respect. We wish you well Talisman Stryke. May the Creator guide you in everything you do to protect our realm." She said.
I bowed my head to her in thanks.
"When do you wish for us to leave?" I asked.
"I have arranged passage on the first train to Ponyville tomorrow morning. It leaves at 0800 hours." Celestia said, handing over a folder.
I took the folder and nodded. "Have their new uniforms been delivered?" I asked.
"Yes." Shining Armor replied. "The quartermaster delivered them to the barracks earlier today."
"Good. I want to show up and make a good impression." I said.
With that we took our leave and went our separate ways.
I entered my room and began packing the things I wouldn't need in the morning.
After showering, I collapsed into bed. Tomorrow would be starting a new set of challenges, and looking to the empty side of the bed, I couldn't wait for Emerald to join me.