North Star sat on the sidelines of the training area, pencil in his mouth. His eyes scanned the cadets as they sparred, writing things down in a notebook. His mind was in full analysis mode, and no detail was to escape him, not even Lieutenant Nightshade Silk briskly trotting over to him.

“Private. You are on royal escort duty. Why did you break from it?”

“Permission and order from Princess Luna. I am to write a detailed report of the cadets’ combat strengths and weaknesses and offer training suggestions specializing in compensating for weaknesses and improving strengths. Private Tumble Weed is taking my position.” North never looked away from his work, only studying the troops and writing down information. The pencil in his mouth made his words a tad slurred, but he simply slid it to the side of his mouth for greater clarity.

Nightshade sighed and put his hoof on his forehead. “Is there a specific reason she is having you do this?”

North squinted as he watched Burning Iron throwing massive fast hits at Lily. “I expressed my concern about the cadets not playing to their strengths. The fighting style of the Royal Guard is too uniform and if everypony was fighting the same, it makes it easier to take them down.”

Nightshade raised an eyebrow. “How so?”

“I’ll give an example. Let’s say you fought an opponent who never adapted, and fought one way every time. If you fought them over and over, you’d learn how they fight and soon overpower them. Now imagine a person who fights the Royal Guard. If they all fight the same…”

“Then the key to fighting them is exponentially easier.” Nightshade nodded, focusing on the sparring troops. “Very well. What have you found so far?”

North continued to write but pointed at a batpony stallion, goggles holding his darkened red mane back. “Scarlet Spark. Extremely analytical, to my level. He seems to have been studying everypony the moment they started training. But he has the convenience of prep time. In a real fight, there’s no prep time. Give him an opponent who hits faster than he thinks. Force him to make split-second decisions. The moment he faces off against an opponent with speed and fast reaction times, the moment he’ll be easier to pin down.”

He pointed to Spark’s opponent, a tall, beautiful mare with her dark yellow mane tied back in a bun. “Lightning Chain. Her fighting is trying to aim for brutality, it’s like she’s trying to prove something. Her beauty is stunning, and that can be a good weapon against weaker-willed opponents and catch them off guard with takedowns and knockouts. As for the fighting itself, she needs to stop overextending. That leads to her being vulnerable. Give her some grappling training and perhaps some savate.”

He pointed to two soldiers, almost identical in appearance who seemed to match every blow they threw out. “Criss and Cross. Twins, right?”

Nightshade nodded.

“Yeah, I thought so. They don’t just look alike, they fight alike. Tight bond, and they can easily take on any opponent. But what happens if one isn’t there? You need to separate them and train them in solo combat. I suggest capoeira and jiu-jitsu.”

“Those are good observations, Private…” Nightshade nodded, pointing to Lily and Iron. “And what of those two? You had given them advice during the beginning, has that been any help for them?”

North nodded, sparing a slight glance in that direction. “Iron is doing well. He’s compensating for his weakened right side and actually switching his posture. However, there’s a delay in his movements as using his other side still makes him tired. I actually think that, on top of continued training, he should be undergoing a bit of physical therapy. Perhaps using something to keep the weight off his right side.”

“I doubt the Scholars have invented something such as that, but I can see about him undergoing such therapy.” Nightshade looked at Lily. “And Private Breeze. What about her?”

Silence filled the space between the two. “... Fine.”

“That is it? Just fine?”

“... Yes.”

“Speak the truth, Private. You are holding back information on me. That can do more than break the Guard’s ability to work. It breaks integrity.”

North sighed as he set his pencil down. “She fights admirably. Truthfully, she can defeat anyone if you give her enough time…”

“And yet…”

“... I think she’s better suited to being a member of the Shadow Corps, Lieutenant. She might sustain too much damage and then her career will be over before it begins.”

“And yet, she chose the Night Guard over the Shadow Corps. Private, we all chose this life. We serve our purpose, no matter the cost. Private Breeze was offered a role in the Shadow Corps, and rejected it for the Night Guard.”

North stayed quiet, looking down at his notes. For the first time since sparring started, he closed his eyes and calmed himself down.

“Have the notes done by the end of training. We’ll see what we can do.” Nightshade turned and began to walk away, but North stood up and turned to face him.

“Lieutenant. Permission to inquire.”

Their leader stopped. “... Permission granted.”

“Why are you doing this? Ever since I joined the Guard, you’ve been lenient with me. For what reason?”

Nightshade stayed quiet for a moment as if contemplating the answer. He spoke in a humbled manner. “Princess Celestia had the same concerns as you. She felt that none of the Royal Guard, as good as they were, were willing to adjust themselves to the level that the criminal element does in Equestria. They learn to fight, and never stop learning. Even now, I can see your mind constantly thinking of new methods of fighting. The Princesses eventually agreed that, if the Night Guard started to handle success from your ideas, then there could be changes and the average pony wouldn’t have to fear when the Guard was around.”

North’s shoulders sunk down a little. “So essentially, I’m a gamble.”

“Yes, but considering the work you’ve put in, I believe the gamble will pay off. It is why I’m allowing you the sabbatical. If the training improves their performance, then we can be confident in your methods and actually be something worth praising.”

North looked at Nightshade, who simply finished with one statement. “I expect those notes by the end of the day.”

Before he could leave, North spoke up. “Lily would benefit from learning to use her opponent’s weight against them and to focus on pressure points. Give her books to study pressure points of the body and also get her to focus on stealth.”

The lieutenant simply nodded, a slight smile across his face as he left North to finish. The stallion sat on the sidelines, watching the cadets work and writing his notes with a far greater passion than before. First, it was a guide to help the troops. Now, it was a guide to help his family.

Author's Note

Sorry this wasn't one of the big chapters! I'm a little distracted dealing with some other projects, but I had this idea that I thought was a little fun and could tide you over for when I come back with the second part. Next time... We're going to Manehatten.