"Almost late, Captain Drops." Floral said as he glanced at Sweetie Drops.

"Yes, sorry, instructor." She apologized with a slight pant.

Looking for a few seconds, Floral nodded and signaled her to join the others.

"You're going easy on her?" Moon asked whilst she focused on training Iron, who was screaming for help as he ran away from several tentacles.

"She hasn't made a mistake yet."

"Yet?"

"She'll learn when she does." He said as he glanced at the gathered agents. "Come on, we'll do stealth this time." He told her and walked off.

"Alright." She agreed and caught Iron with her tentacles before walking after Floral.

"He~y! I'm back with the stuff!" Gilda announced and flew over.

"Good, start a fire and boil a bucket of water in the pot. I'll be over when it's done." He instructed and Gilda walked off with a bag.

"Hey assholes! Why aren't you warming up?!" Moon started it off with a yell as the group instantly went to their positions.

"Move it! Move it!" Floral yelled as they sprinted off. "Come on! Eighty laps! If you're late, I'll add another ten! It's a small field!" He shouted as he moved off. "You keep watch, I need to do something." He told Moon and walked off.

"Got it." She accepted and continued to watch. "Where's Harkon, by the way?"

"He went off to find himself some breakfast."

"Aight."

Leaving the agents, Floral went over to Gilda. A fire was already lit and the water was starting to boil.

"I got the fire going, what're you making though?" She asked and threw a bag at him.

"Remember those smoke bombs I gave you?" He countered and opened it up to reveal a few items.

"Oh yeah, you're making them again? I'm pretty sure the stuff was different though."

"It's simple, I'm going to fill the smoke with a very weak numbing poison. It needs different binders and such." He explained and threw some crushed fruits into the pot.

"You know how to make potions?" Gilda asked incredulously.

"I only remember a few items from a, uh, a group of ponies, very enthusiastic about a certain pony." He left out a major detail and proceeded.

"What? Something like a fan club?"

"Uh, yeah. Basically the same thing." He continued to add a few ingredients.

"Damn, what kind of fan club makes smoke bombs and poison?"

"A very enthusiastic fan club." He gave a reply and continued.

"I see. Will Moon give me a straighter answer if I ask her?" She was unimpressed.

"Yes. Her answer would be as straight as it could be." He replied and started to stir the pot.

Back to the agents, a few were having a hard time breathing as they continued to sprint at full speed.

"Stop running so fast! We need to last another thirty laps!" Stargazer shouted as he almost stumbled.

"Shut up! You don't see the newbie complaining, do you?!" Chain Link admonished them as she struggled to keep up with Sweetie Drops.

"Whatever! Why is Captain Drops running so fast?!" Steps asked loudly.

"Stop talking! Spend that energy to run!" Moon shouted over the agents as they mostly shut up.

Despite yelling the command, Moon was also curious. Sweetie Drops, a weirdly silent mare that always pushed herself. What was she trying to prove? What's the reason she's pushing too excessively? Sweetie Drops was equally, if not even more exhausted than the others.

"Does she want to leave earlier or something?" Moon mumbled to herself.

"She's in love?" Floral suggested and stood next to Moon.

"Who's in love?" Gilda asked and gave a bag of balls to Floral.

"Captain Sweetie Drops, according to her file, she's spent quite a few years in Ponyville. She might've deviated from her objective." Floral commented and brought out only a few of them.

"Ain't exactly a bad thing, right?" Gilda asked.

"Absolutely." Moon answered for Floral.

"Alright, they should be almost done by now." Floral muttered and sat down on the ground as the agents came running over.

"Holy." Stargazer could only say a word before falling down. "My legs hurt." He said and laid down.

"Ugh, I gather intel, not run a marathon." Steps complained and collapsed next to Stargazer.

"I guess being a recon helped me." Eagle said with slightly less exhaustion, at least he hasn't collapsed.

"Yeah, yeah, and I get Heavy, he's a rock, but how the buck are you standing like that?!" Steps instantly asked Iron.

"Hmm? Oh, this is honestly only slightly harder than Princess Luna's training regime. Then again, we're developing skills rather than strength here, no?" Iron said without much trouble as his only issue was being sweaty.

"Correct." Heavy commented and turned towards Floral.

"We've ran all eighty laps, sir." Sweetie Drops spoke up as she wiped some drool and sweat away from her mouth.

"Good on ya." He said as Gilda stepped forward with a bucket of water and a few cups. "For today's training, I'll be placing you all in a dark area with walls, doors and windows. I'll also spread a field of smoke that has numbing lroperties, that you'll be in contact with at all times." He announced as some of the agents were fighting over who gets the cup first.

Moon shrugged and spread her magic out, grabbing pre built walls and doors, all made of wood as she randomly placed them around the area.

"What's the objective?" Sweetie Drops asked first.

"Drink some water first, Captain." Floral told her sternly.

Chain Link glanced at the small exchange.

"Yes sir." Sweetie Drops accepted the order.

"Damn, girl's got no patience." Moon commented as she leaned on Floral with a hoof.

"It's fine to not have it sometimes." Floral said.

"Um?" Moon wasn't sure.

"Yes, it is too much." Floral answered. "Alright!" He yelled to get their attention. "Today's objective! Tag the others! There should be a green colored smush that you could use!" He yelled as Moon placed them all in different spots around the field with her magic.

"Sir?! How are you gonna get the area to be dark?!" Stargazer asked loudly.

"I won't!" He answered and the place slowly became darker.

Their vision started to lessen as they could barely see in front of themselves.

"The one who got tagged the most will get a punishment." Floral's voice echoed through the area.

*Bam*

*Bam*

*Psshht*

Smoke started to spread around as one could easily see it on the ground.

"Start." Floral said as he turned to the campfire. "Tell me when they're done, I need to greet a friend."

"Got it, sir." Gilda replied jokingly.

"I want some stir fry for this!" Moon gave her order as she focused on the dome of shadow enveloping the area.

"Why isn't he using his own magic?" Gilda questioned.

"Dude had vines growing through him the last time he used magic." Moon answered with a bored expression.

"What?"

"Oh yeah, you weren't there. But basically, magic wasn't as safe as a bet we thought it'd be." Moon casually explained.

"Well, damn." She could only say such.

"Yeah, pretty fucking annoying. Killing yourself to live." She agreed. "How'd you learn how to fight by the way?"

"Eh, well, so, at some point I finished flight academy, and I obviously had to go home."

*Bam*

*Creak*

"Who's there?!" Stargazer yelled and searched for me.

I threw rock to distract him, plan successful. In correct distance, I ran forward to tag him and disappeared back into the dark.

"AHHH!" Stargazer screamed like a little girl.

It was hilarious.

Although I am still suspicious of instructor, he teach valuable skills. Training already show results. In one long day I have known him, he has proven his capabilities to teach, and to fight. Anypony who fight bear hoof to hoof is worthy.

I wipe the green smudge on the ground to hide tracks. There are plenty of smudge to go around. Yet, he no tell us when we are out. Then, one can be tagged many times. This is a hunt. Just like Kobychatka, when we hunt bear using only traps and intelligence.

With no noise, I travel to the next target. It take time, but patience is skill all learn when hunting bear with papochka.

"Ugh, this stuff is seriously disgusting." I hear comrade Eagle talking.

I approach with minimal sound. Quickly there, I stuff hoof into the smudge and tag Eagle. In one such move, I leave again. Comrade Eagle was yelling at the surroundings.

This is most exciting game of tag.

"Well, I can't say I never expected this." Floral commented as he gave a fresh cup of tea to Zecora.

"In a disaster, I had to be brave. I burned my way out, escaping the wave." She replied and took a shaky sip from the tea. "All I had, even relics from home, turned to ash, now I’m forced to roam. So I come to you, with a humble plea, may I take refuge, a safe place for me?"

"Of course, Zecora. You can stay as long as you'd like. I'm already housing another guest anyway. What's one more friend joining in?" He was completely fine with the idea. "The girls probably won't bother you much, just, don't ask them too much. They hide it, but they didn't exactly have the best lives either." He asked for one request.

"Of course, I won’t be thankless or crude. To those who saved me, I’ll show gratitude." She said proudly as she finished her cup. "One more cup, perhaps, to make the day complete? Your tea is always such a lovely treat."

"Sure, no problems, Zecora. If anything, you've saved me countless times with your gifts. I've no problems with paying those back." He was fine with the idea.

"I see, I'm glad I've helped you through. It brings me joy to be of help to you." She was quite content right now.

*Boom*

"What the fuck?"

"What a rude surprise to face, caught off guard in such a space."

"HOLY SHIT! FLORAL!!" Gilda came screaming through the bushes with a giant bull on her trail.

"Ah, right. You should also get used to recent monster attacks." Floral commented as he grabbed a small orb made of leaves.

Zecora only nodded as she stared at the beast.

Immediately throwing the orb, a burst of smoke shrouded the bull as Gilda came running over.

"I only wanted to use it!" She complained and ran to the campfire.

"Slowly, slowly." Light repeated as Blueblood was carefully painting on a piece of paper.

"I am going slowly." He replied and recalibrated the scope on his one eye.

"We don't know what it could do, so we need to be really careful with this." Twilight said from the side as he made the tiniest stroke possible with a pen. "One wrong move and it could burst into acid, or pull everything into Limbo."

"Can't we just do with the magic nullifier on?" He asked as Light wiped away some sweat.

"This spell is as sensitive as they come. Doing this without any magic could result in a completely different outcome." Twilight answered as he added one more stroke.

"It's basically ancient magic, we don't know how it fully interacts with ambient magic, nor do we know what will happen if it's activated incorrectly." Light added from the side.

"Gee, thanks for the confidence support." Blueblood remarked as he added one final stroke. "Done, looks like a damn painting."

"Blueblood! Princess Celestia told you not to use that word!" Twilight admonished him.

"Fine, sorry." He said sarcastically.

"It doesn't matter, let's use it!" Light was pretty excited.

"I got it, I got it. Stop shaking me." Blueblood said and carefully brought the piece of paper with him.

Getting out of the control room, they traveled to the middle of the testing area and Blueblood, very carefully placed the paper on the ground. "Alright, who wants to do it this time?" He asked after crossing the worn out yellow line on the ground.

When two hooves shot out, he gave a sigh.

"I have more experience than you!" Light immediately argued.

"I have more magic than you!" Twilight argued back.

"I've spent about a month on this longer than you have!"

"Well, I'm more magically adept!"

"And I'm your senior!"

"And I'm higher ranked than you!"

"Girls, you know this spell would never actually go public, right? Since, it's a secret." Blueblood interrupted calmly.

Glaring at each other, Blueblood knew they wouldn't stop so easily.

"Uh, I have more friends than you!" Twilight made a stupid argument, and she knew it.

"Not enough to get you a coltfriend!" Light immediately responded.

Blueblood flinched at the line.

Glaring at each other for a few more seconds, they silently came to the decision that neither of them could do it. Then they turned to Blueblood.

He sighed wearily as he took aim. Somehow, he's been the only one actually starting the experiments.

"Ready!" He yelled to the control room.

"Ready!" The two mares yelled back as Blueblood shot a weak burst of magic at the paper.

"How far do you think they've gone with the experiments?" Luna asked a bit tiredly as she walked next to Celestia.

"Well, they might've had a breakthrough. Considering they invited us, I'd say they've made some significant progress." She replied happily as they turned a hallway.

"I see, the faster we could get Floral and Moon out of the Everfree, the safer they'd be." Luna replied.

"Yes, also, why do you call him Floral? I thought for sure he'd hate that name since, well, you know."

"Well, he didn't seem to mind it. And it just, felt right somehow."

"Hmm, I suppose it's because it is his birth name. Well, as long as he isn't bothered by it." Celestia was fine with it.

"Yes, oh! Right! Sister, do you remember that guard, that broke the last core?"

"Iron Shield, correct?" Luna gave a small nod. "What about him?"

"It seems he has successfully transferred to S.M.I.L.E, and he's getting training along with your best agents."

"Oh, that is delightful to hear. I feared he may not like changing positions, he only joined the guards because of that old law after all."

"You mean the, uh, nobles having to defend the country?"

"Yes, that one. All nobles must gain some military experience. Although it doesn't fit the peaceful times Equestria is going through, I still deemed it to be correct."

"Peaceful, Celly?" Luna asked jokingly.

"Well, maybe not so." She replied as they shared a laugh. "Well, let's go in shall we?" She said as they stopped in front of a door.

*Bam*

They stopped in their tracks as a small bang came from the door.

"It's too big!" A mare's voice shouted from the door.

"Ah." Celestia somehow became a lighter color.

"Are you sure we're at the right door?" Luna asked with a small blush.

"It's too slippery, I can't get a grip!" Blueblood's voice clearly came out.

"Maybe they're talking about something else?" Celestia suggested carefully.

"You sure?"

"Gragh!" Blueblood grunted and let out a sound as another bang was heard.

"It's too sticky!" Twilight's voice said loudly.

"What?! I thought Blueblood had already chosen his mare!" Luna was shocked.

Celestia slowly wobbled as she couldn't fully comprehend the situation.

"Hey, this is kinda fun!" Light shouted cheerfully with a slightly bated breath.

"I thought you said polyamorous relationships were banned among nobles!" Luna said to Celestia, who almost fainted from shock. "Celly!"

"Hey! Get outta there!" Twilight yelled.

"It's too tight! I can't pull it out!" Blueblood yelled back.

"Here! Let me help!" Light shouted and soon, sounds of grunting came from the door.

Feeling increasingly uncomfortable from just hearing all this, Luna put Celestia on her back as she slowly turned.

"Wait, I think I got it! I just need to, push it! A bit, harder!" Blueblood was seriously struggling as Luna thought of a few memory erasing spells that could help Celestia.

*Clank*

*BAM*

Bursting through the door, a few gigantic vines pushed out with Blueblood at the end.

"I got it." Blueblood said with much trouble as he was slammed into the wall.

"Good job, Bluey!" Light shouted tiredly.

"How hard was it for you to use magic?!" Twilight asked as she climbed out of the vines dizzily.

"Oh, you weren't fornicating." Luna commented to herself.

"We weren't what?" Light asked groggily.

"Oh, nothing." Luna hid it as she started to shake Celestia. "I see you've made progress."

"Yeah, we figured out what kind of magic it was." Twilight replied as she stepped forward. "It was just the magic itself though. Without actual spells to guide it, it made this mess." She explained as she a bit of tree sap away from her face. "Didn't know tree sap was this sticky." She said as she tried a spell to remove it. "Why is Princess Celestia knocked out?"

"Help! It's too tight, I can't get out!" Light pleaded as she struggled to leave the vines.

"I'll, I'll help you when I can move." Blueblood replied and went unconscious.

"You don't need to worry about that." Luna replied to Twilight as she started to zap the vines away. "Well, I wish you success on your endeavors. I need to open Night Court by now anyway." She said and teleported away.

"Seriously, that could have been disastrous." Light commented as she slapped Blueblood awake.

"Yeah, it was very close. Why couldn't you just use magic to open the door, Blueblood?" Twilight asked the stallion.

"I don't know!? Who turned on the magic nullifier?!" He asked angrily.

"Um, I did. I kinda panicked when the vines started to shoot out everywhere." Light replied nervously.

"Oh." He instantly calmed down. "Good job, Light. It was a good decision anyway." His stance changed immediately.

"Seriously?" Twilight could only ask.

"What is it?" Blueblood asked with a straight face.

Twilight was not impressed.

Author's Note

Whadupp!

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Just a question, should I explore the S.M.I.L.E agents more? If you guys wanna see that, comment down below! Because, for now, I basically have a vague idea on their characteristics. Best one is definitely Heavy Hitter though.

Born and raised in Kobychatka, Roassia. He grew up hunting bears and such for food with his father. With six siblings and one mother at home, he took the job as the pay was very high, and there was a life insurance that would be enough to help his family live for another generation. He is a stone faced stallion with a focused mind. It takes a lot to break this stallion.

Kobychatka=Kamchatka(a russian place)+kobyla(mare in russian) Just in case you wanted to know.

Anyways, thanks for reading!