As Ghost and I arrived back at the Training Grounds, my face was stone cold and expressionless as I quickly went back over my training regiment in my head to ensure I knew what I needed to do. Stepping out into the arena proper, our eyes landed on roughly thirty Guards, who all stopped as soon as we entered. They simply stared, unsure of what to do.

"Line up!"

All scatter, dropping what they were doing, lining up in front of me as quickly as they could. A full minute passed before they all fully lined up, resulting in an annoyed sigh from me, seemingly putting the Guards unease while Ghost shook his head.

"It took a full minute to form a simple fucking line!?" I yelled while Ghost hung near the wall behind me. "Disgraceful! I can only hope you can form a phalanx quicker than that!"

Walking along the lined-up Guards, my more impressive stature unnerving them all, but they at least held strong enough under my highly critical and unimpressed gaze.

"Next time I ask you to line up, I expect it to be done in less than thirty seconds!" I yelled. "Any longer and those not in line will be performing a ten-mile run as punishment!"

"Now!" I continue. "Congratulations are in order. You are among the first to participate in the newest training program set up by me."

"Uh...Sir? Not even a quarter of the Guards are present."

My head whipped around just in time to see one of the Guards quickly closing their mouth. Stepping up to them. "Did I ask you to open your mouth son?"

"No, Sir you didn't," He replied.

"What's your name soldier?"

"Private Carver."

"Private Carver, drop down and give me twenty!"

Flinching from the sudden noise, he takes a second before he gets down and starts his push-up while I continue my walk along the line.

"When you are training you will speak when spoken to or unless told otherwise!" I started. "And when you are training you will refer to me as Sir! You will preface your words with Sir and you will end your words with Sir! Am I understood!"

"Sir yes Sir!"

"Now before we continue, I will give you this chance, this one chance to walk away," I stated, drawing many odd looks from the gathered Guards. "This training will be brutal! You will be put to your limits! You have this chance to walk away and no harm will come to you, but I do not tolerate quitters. If you do not leave now and quit later on, it will be through me!"

Coming to a stop in the middle of the line, I look among the very confused Guards as Carver stands.

"So. Do I have any takers?"

None walked forward. The determination in their eyes told me they all had a fire to see it through. A little bit of pride was already making its way onto my face, but before I could let it show, I nodded my head and gave a satisfied hum.

"Alright then. Let's get started then."

"Your momma was home when you left!"

"You're right!"

"Your daddy was home when you left!"

"You're right!"

"Your sister was home when you left!"

"You're right!"

"Your brother was home when you left!"

"You're right!"

"The dog was home when you left!"

"You're right!"

"The cat was home when you left!"

"You're right!"

"The fish was home when you left!"

"You're right!"

"Your momma, your daddy, your sister, your brother, the dog, the cat, the fish was home when you left!"

"You're right!"

"And that's the reason you left!"

"You're right!"

"I left my home!"

"I left my home!"

"To join the army!"

"To join the army!"

Staring down at the formation of Guards, a smile crept upon mine and Luna's lips as we watched. It was an odd thing to watch, to see a formation of Guards march at a specific speed and chanting back was truly unique. A sort of call-and-respond drill, calling it a cadence march or something to that effect. It was supposed to help develop coordination by marching in sync at a specific tempo depending on the song while calling back when warranted while also having the added benefit of improving and increasing oxygen to the lungs to provide more energy. The songs usually held some sort of meaning as well.

Percival had brought it, and several others up after his Knighting to our attention, running through a basic training regime he would put the Guards through. He had stated he would be putting them through what he had experienced, something similar to a group he called the "SAS". We had questioned as to who these people were but he didn't inform us, saying that their training regime was more important than who they were.

We were sceptical at first, unsure of how effective this rather unorthodox and gruelling program would be. But after a few months, it was easy to see the difference. They could run faster and longer, and lift more, and their teamwork and coordination had improved drastically. Not only that but their discipline, mental fortitude and focus were all impressively above what they were. He still stated they had a little ways to go, saying they still had the survival aspect of his regiment to go through, but it had more than proven its worth.

"It has been brutal so far, but you cannot deny its effectiveness," Luna commented next to me. "Your hunch was certainly right about him."

"Indeed, and he just keeps getting more interested," I said. "Makes me wonder what goes on in that head of his."

"Careful there Princess," Ghost said from my other side, slight amusement lacing his words. "You'll give yourself a hernia."

I couldn't help but giggle quietly to myself, but it was true. Percival was something of a walking mystery and pondering on such a mystery would often lead to a headache. There was something about him that made it hard to push him from my thoughts. The things he would say, the way he would say them, the way he held himself. Even down to something as small as the way he would sometimes fidget behind his back as he trained the Guards.

But this little mystery jumped to new heights after Twilight had regaled Luna and I about his words to her before the ceremony. About how he had "seen his fair share" of war and how he "never wanted to play soldier again". The last war was two thousand years ago when me and my sister were still young, for him to have participated, he would need to be immortal and very, very old, and there weren't many of them left wandering the earth anymore. So many burning questions spawned from a fairly simple interaction, it made me wonder what the future had in store.

From the moment I saw him, I knew he was an interesting fellow and that he would be an incredible boon to us and our interaction in his Mindscape solidified that near-instant notion. But after what we had seen and heard so far, it goes beyond anything I or my sister could have hoped for.

Just who is Percival Felwinter? What things has he seen? What has he done? Is he as long-lived as he suggests?

So many questions left unanswered and so many mysteries left unsolved. Questions I fear will be left unanswered for quite some time. It's a good thing I love a good mystery.

"Yes Ghost, you're quite right, but won't stop me from wondering, however," I smiled. "But you have to admit he holds a certain mystique about him. You aren't even a little curious?"

"My duty is to protect him, not question him," He replied quickly. "But I will admit to a passing curiosity. The stories he's told have been interesting enough."

"Yes, we heard of a few," Luna said. "My personal favourite was the one with the big fish, though I forget what it was called."

"Tell us Ghost," Luna said suddenly. "Why is it you are not a part of his drills?"

"Said he wanted to see if I was up to snuff himself since we would be working on a more personal basis," He stated simply.

"And I take he liked what he found?" I asked.

"I think he did," He replied.

Nodding my head, I look back out at the marching band of soldiers walking in near-perfect sync. It was impressive how such a simple exercise could help develop a strong sense of coordination, both as an individual as well as a group. My sister and I have lived long lives, but it would seem even we have things to learn. Making their way back to their starting point, seemingly having finished their drill for the day. Stepping in front of them, he addressed the large group of Guards.

"Well done, almost perfect. You've all done incredibly," Percival said, his raspy yet rich baritone voice effortlessly carrying through the air. "You're all done for the day, take a well-earned break. You know the drill."

Snapping a crisp salute, they began filing out as Percival turned and saw us standing, watching as he conducted his drill. Waving to him, he waved back before he made his way to us. Once he was beside us, Ghost stepped up next to him as he always did. I clasped my hands in front of me while I turned to face him.

"While we were sceptical at first about your methods, I have to admit," Luna said. "We cannot deny its effectiveness."

"Indeed," I added. "It is truly quite impressive the progress you have been able to achieve in even just a few weeks."

"Thank you for the vote of confidence," Percival replied with a toothy grin. "Truth be told, they still have a lot to improve on. Not just in this, but in other aspects as well. But we'll get there Chief."

Luna giggled a little as he said this. Roughly a week into his Knighthood, Percival had absentmindedly called me "Chief" and while at first, I had regarded it as a good-spirited mockery of sorts to the fact we don't use proper titles in privacy, it had very quickly caught on and he started calling me that outside in public as well, much to the chagrin of the nobility, stating that his nonchalant attitude is untoward and unbecoming of a man of his rank. Not that he cared, telling them to, and I quote "go stuff themselves". Luna finds it and his attitude rather amusing and though I wouldn't tell him, I found it rather endearing.

"Well, with the headway you have made, I don't doubt that you'll get there soon enough," I said with a smile.

"Here's hoping," He replied, crossing his fingers.

"What are your plans for the rest of the evening?" Luna asked as we started making our way into the palace.

"Don't have any," He shrugged before gaining a thoughtful look. "Though I have been eyeing the pool for a while."

"Then would you be willing to join us for dinner?" I asked.

Peering down at his expertly crafted watch gifted to him by Rarity Belle, he looked back at us with a grin. "Yeah, I've still got time. It's been a while."

"Splendid," Luna cheered lightly.

"Then if you'll both follow us," I requested.

As we sat at the table, Percival happily eating a rather large piece of steak, I couldn't help but smile subtly at him as he did. I was happy he was actually eating. For the few months he has been training the Guards, I, as well as Luna and Ghost, had noticed he began eating less and less, prioritising his responsibilities over his well-being. Though his lack of appetite didn't seem to be having a detrimental effect on him, which we were both extremely confused about, it was still worrying to see him not eat anything for a week straight, if not longer.

Ghost had noticed this as well and had tried to get him to eat more, though he wasn't fully successful, he got him to at the very least have a snack here and there. It wasn't enough to put our minds at ease but it was something.

"I am glad you accepted our invitation, Percival," Luna said as she finished her soup. "You seem to be taking your role very seriously."

"As I should," He replied, chewing the last of his rotund steak. "It wouldn't do anyone any good to half-ass my job."

"That is very true," I commented. "Your work is extremely impressive I must say, though highly unorthodox."

"I knew it would be," He shrugged. "But sometimes the most unusual things can be the most beneficial."

I nodded, while Luna took a little time to dwell on his words before speaking. "Quite."

"I must say, I'm glad you accepted," I said. "I wasn't totally sure you would."

"Yes well, life is strange and I keep saying yes to things," He replied.

Luna looked at him curiously. "But you seem happy with your choice."

"They're choices. Choices are better than not choosing. Not choosing means you're at the whims of circumstance," He replied, idly leaning his elbows on the table. "I prefer to be in control than to be at the whims of something."

"...you're far wiser than you let on," I said to no one in particular. "It makes me wonder what goes on in that mind of yours."

"Watch yourself Chief," He playfully warned. "You'll give yourself a hernia."

This got a good chuckle out of us, Ghost in particular. But the joy, however, didn't last.

As we laughed, an individual burst into the room, causing us all to stand immediately as Percival and Ghost reached for their weapons, but relaxed when they saw it was a Guard. He wore a panicked and frazzled look clear as day on his face as his breath came out heavy and ragged. Quickly spotting us, he didn't move as he practically shouted his words.

"Your Highnesses, word has come from the Lycan Commonwealth!" He exclaimed. "They're under attack!"

"By who!?" Percival asked, immediately stepping up to the panicked Guard.

"Demons!"

Author's Note

Definitely more of a filler and bridge chapter to lead into the next but it was still fun to write, hope you guys enjoyed, not much else to say.

Please point out any mistakes I may have made
Constructive criticism is always appreciated
Until next time, TTFN!