Across The Pond

By the time Strillian was back in Cloud Ruler Temple everyone was up and about. Their hangovers were bad but they didn't stop they from completing what needed to be done. Once Strillian walked into the gates one of the gate's guards walked over and handed him a scrolled up piece of parchment. Strillian saw the royal seal and quickly unrolled it and read the hastily written words.

Strillian,

I am going to just cut to the chase here. The Empire has been threatened with war and I need you and your finest diplomats in Imperial City. I know your main function is the guarding of the Emperor but I know the Blades spend time learning as well as training.

I can not be everywhere at once and if I had a few more people to help the masses get used to the idea it would make my job a little easier. Of course my protection is also a key element here. Even now I worry the man I will be handing this letter to is a spy.

As for our guest keep them at Cloud Ruler Temple until they can properly defend themselves. If they are looking for their friend is Elsweyr then they will be in the thick of the action and we don't want them going home horribly maimed. That would scare the others in their society.  And fear breeds hatred. Fear is the greatest enemy of them all, for fear leads us to war. And another war isn't something we need with this one breathing down our necks.

Come see me as soon as possible once inside the city.

Emperor Titus Mede II

When Strillian finished reading it he ordered for everyone in Cloud Ruler Temple to gather around. Once everyone had come he began.

"I'm not going to sugar coat it, we are in serious trouble. War is at hand and Emperor Mede has asked that I and a few others make their way to the Imperial City. You ponies will stay here and train until you can hold your own. It is even more important now with war underway. The ones who will go with me must be willing to speak in public to settle crowds if necessary. While I am away Kolfinna will be in charge" Strillian said.

Kolfinna was a strong, Nord woman. She had long blonde hair that went halfway down her back. She looked up at the news Strillian gave with confusion, but said nothing. She knew what was happening and didn't need clarification. So she simply nodded.

"I leave in one hour, if you wish to go get ready, though know I am only taking a few with me, no more than five. Figure out who is going among yourselves and meet back here. As for the rest of you, I would start training." Strillian told them

With that everybody was on the move, the ponies went to the courtyard and awaited instruction and a fair amount of Blades followed.

After an hour had passed Strillian had left with five other Blades for Imperial City. And, after trying to figure out the best way for a pony to grip the weapons that were designed for man the training was about to begin.

Rainbow Dash stood in front of a Blade who was strong, but scrawny when compared to most of the other Blades. The Blade had just finished explaining how the bow works and a brief history of the weapon. Rainbow Dash was doing her best to stay awake.

"So with that, let us begin" said the Blade, picking up his own bow and looking at the bored Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow's ear's perked up and she said "really?"

The Blade chuckled and responded with "yes really, now hold up your bow."

Rainbow did as the Blade instructed and waited for her next instruction.

"Good, I can't tell if that is a good enough form or not so we will just skip right to the arrow" the Blade told her as he handed her a steel arrow.

"Now what you want to do is get the string of the bow in between the space at the back of the arrow. Once it is one pull back as much as you can, aim, then release. Though you should probably be looking in the general direction you want to shoot in before you draw your arrow." The Blade said with a chuckle.

Rainbow Dash aimed for the target on the other side of the courtyard and released the arrow. The arrow flew past the straw target and towards a Blade who was foolishly walking behind it. The Blade raised his shield quickly and the arrow ricochet off the metallic shield and flew back towards the center of the courtyard. The arrow his Applejack's hat, pinning it to the wooden support beam of the wooden awning.

Applejack stopped swinging her long katana and looked around, seeing her hat pinned to a post. She felt the top of her head and, as expected, didn't find her hat. "Hey! Watch where you shoot that think Rainbow! Aw, look what y'all did to mah hat" Applejack complained.

"I'm sorry Applejack, I was aiming for that target and I don't know what happened" Rainbow Dash said apologetically.

"Ya missed is what happened, it's fine sugar cube just be more careful. You could hurt somepony." Applejack told her friend as she walked over and retrieved her hat. A decent sized hole now in two places on it. "Ah am gonna have to get Rarity to fix this later" she said to herself.

"Don't worry about it Rainbow Dash" said the Blade. "The first time I shot a bow my aim wasn't much better."

"And when that happens you will need to apply pressure to the wound imminently, at that point they can't afford to lose much more blood. Any more questions?" a Blade asked Rarity and Fluttershy. Their training was more of a Q&A due to the lack of injuries in the area.

"Well what happens if the they are bleeding badly but the cut is small?" asked Rarity, she didn't like talking about this kind of stuff and she couldn't see herself doing it. The reason she allowed herself to become interested in such a thing was simply because the knowledge she gets from the Blade might help her and Fluttershy save one of their friends.

"Well then a major artery was cut. Some large cuts will bleed a lot but won't always need attention right away, but when the cut is small and is bleeding a lot then there is an issue. It means they are most likely cut in a place a lot of blood goes though and if the wound isn't taken care of even the smallest of cuts can kill them. Of course it would have to be a deep enough cut that is" the Blade told her.

Rarity continued asking questions and the Blade continued answering. The Blade had never been a teacher and was just now figuring out that a crash course is better than just answering questions. Fluttershy hadn't said anything, mainly because she rarely did but it was also because most of what was being said she already had some sort of understanding due to her work with animals. It wasn't often she needed to bandage up one of the little critters that surrounded her cottage but it was something she was prepared for. Besides, anything she would have asked was asked by Rarity so Fluttershy saw no reason to talk.

The Blade began the crash course of medical science and both mares payed close attention.

"So what am I gonna do?" Pinkie asked one of the Blades.

"I'll tell you the truth Pinkie, you seem to cause enough confusion and destruction without a weapon, I'm not sure you need to be trained. That is I will train you with whatever weapon you want but I don't think it's necessary.

"Oh, can you train me with that" Pinkie said excitedly, pointing a hoof towards a weapon hanging on the wall.

"Really? Are you sure" asked the Blade.

"Yeah, it looks like fun" Pinkie said with a wide, ear to ear grin.