Swift walked down the cobblestone path, muttering quietly to himself. At least i got promoted. he chuckled to himself. Yeah promoted! Only so I can train some new recruits. Brilliant.
Swift sighed and looked around. He had made his way to the centre of town-square. Various ponies walked about the town-square, some running. No one smiled, no one sang, everypony was depressed. Everypony excepted.... Oh no, please not her! Not now! Swift turned and tried to run, only to slam into the pink mare herself.

"Hi Swifty!" How are you? What did Princess Luna and Mayor want? Was it about a party? I love part-" Pinkie Pie was silenced by the sudden appearance of a talon across her mouth.

"Hello Pinkie", Swift sighed, "I'm fine, the Princess and Mayor wanted to promote me and no. It was NOT about a party."

"A promotion!" Pinkie Pie gasped, "You know what this calls for!?"

Swift rolled his eyes before replying, "A party."

Pinkie began bouncing around Swift as she began her famous tangent. "Exactly! Which means we need cake! And balloons! And cupcakes! And streamers! And music! Oh this is going to be so much fun!" Pinkie suddenly stopped and gasped "I'll have to start handing out the invites! I'll see you later Swifty! I have a party to plan!" With that, she zoomed off in a pink blur.

"Have fun with that" Swift muttered as he began to walk towards the barracks, "Just don't steal Ditzy's muffins."

The barracks was a hastily built place, or maybe a rundown tavern, Swift didn't know, or particularly care. As long as there was a warm bed and hot food, anyplace was home to him. Various tents surrounded the barracks, each in their little groups. From the Lunar Guards to the Zombie Hunters, even the scavengers, had their small groups within the cluster of tents.

"Great, forgot. I have to reserve a few tents for the recruits, not to mention move all my stuff there, not that I have much, but the effort!" Swift complained to himself. He made his way through the maze of tents towards the main building. he didn't feel like flying, that and no one was aloud to near the tents. An incident had occurred several weeks ago when two pegasi collided mid-air above the tents. Tents were destroyed, tempers flared and new rules were put in place.

As he pasted through the tents, a few ponies, even a few buffalo saluted him. He didn't return them, never did, unless they earned his respect.
Swift pushed open the doors to the barracks and made his way to the front desk. The barracks looked similar to a tavern, but there were no tables, chairs or even drinks. Guess it does look a little like a tavern. Swift thought to himself. A pale blue mare with a purple mane looked up and eyed Swift.

"You the new Captain?" She asked. Swift gave a sharp nod and the pale yellow mare pasted over a sheet of paper. Swift picked up the paper and began reading it over as she explained what it contained. "Details of your new squad. Oh, and good luck, you'll need it."

Swift looked up from the piece of paper. "Umm, thanks, I think."

Swift looked over the new recruits. All 7 of them. 2 pegasi, 2 unicorns, 2 earth ponies and a buffalo.

3 ponies he knew, every one knew them and their destructive powers. The fearsome, terrifying, crazy beyond all belief, Cutie Mark Crusaders. Some how, these 3 fillies had gotten into the barracks, signed up and joined the Zombie Hunters. Under age. Perfect excuse to kick them out. Swift smiled.

"Right listen up!" Swift shouted. All 7 recruits lined up and stood at attention. "Only 4 recruits are going to make it through the selection process!" Swift smiled as he saw the determination in the Cutie Mark Crusaders eyes. Would have made great Zombie Hunters. Oh well! "And since 3 of you are under age! The rest are now members of my squad! Cutie Mark Crusaders, go home. Now."

Swift smiled as the Cutie Mark Crusaders hung their heads and turned to go home.

"Next time, I'll tell your parents! And stop doing dangerous things! You'll never get your cutie mark if your dead!"

The Cutie Mark Crusaders quickened their pace upon hearing Swifts threat and left without a single thing going wrong.

"Now for the rest of- Strongheart. What are you doing here?" Swift said after noticing the buffalo.

"I wanted to fight, so I joined up." Little Strongheart replied. She looked bulkier than the last time Swift saw her.

"Your father know?"

"Yes"

"Yes what?

"Yes Sir!"

"Going to give it your all?"

"Yes Sir!"

"Good! Now all of you! Run. Run as fast and far as you can til you throw up! Than run some more!"

"Where, sir?" A brown pegasus with a blonde streaked mane and green eyes asked. His cutie mark was a pair of headphones with a cord.

"Along the wall, all the way around! Any more questions?!" Swift barked.

The all shook their heads and began running as fast as they could. Swift watched them run taking in their appearances and comparing them to his squad sheet.

The brown pegasus was Techno. The earth pony, a mare, was known as Green Clover, a dark green pony with a streaked lighter green mane and yellow eyes. Her cutie mark was a 3 leaf clover. The last recruit, the unicorn, was a fire red stallion with an orange mane and gold eyes. His cutie mark was a fireball. His name was Fire-Light.

And Swift was beginning to like Fire-Light. He had pulled ahead of the group and was already running along the wall. The rest had only just gotten to the wall and were falling behind quicker. They seem dedicated. They might impress me.

Swift was not impressed. At all. Fire-Light was the only one that had made it around the wall and was half through his second lap by the time the others had made their first lap. Techno had already vomited and Green Clover was looking more green than usual and even Strongheart was looking a little pale and exhausted.

The wall's circumference was close to 5 kilometers, it was no wonder they were exhausted. Except Fire-Light. Swift could see him still running on the far side of the town. Sighing, Swift yelled to the other recruits to pack it in. They grumbled in reply and fell to the ground heaving.

Little to no endurance, but at least they are determined. Especially Fire-Light. Swift looked over the exhausted recruits and rolled his eyes.

"Go to mess, get some food and water then meet back here in an hour. I'll go and tell 'Hot Hooves' out there to take a break."

The group mumbled incoherently and walked off to the barracks. Swift meanwhile took off and flew along the way towards Fire-Light. He soon caught up to Fire-light and began flying along side the galloping unicorn.

"Come to tell me how awesome I'm doing sir?" Fire-Light asked.

"No. I came to tell you to take a break." Swift replied. Fire-Light stumbled and nearly tripped before regaining his balance and continued to gallop along the wall.

"No can do sir. I'm going to keep running til I can't go on now any more!" Fire-Light said and with a burst of speed, he shoot ahead of Swift. Swift sighed and flapped harder, quickly gaining up to him. Fire-Light looked back and smiling, galloped faster. "Come on Sir! Race you around the wall!"

Sighing, Swift landed and ran after Fire-Light. Why the hell not? Let's see what his got. With that, Swift speed after Fire-Light.

Swift was exhausted. The race with Fire-Light had been entertaining to say the least. By the pair's third lap of the wall, it had drawn the attention of a small crowd. With each kilometer the pair did, the crowd had grown larger. Bets were placed on who would win and even a cheer squad was formed, which was made up of only Pinkie Pie.

By the end of the seventh lap, the pair were beginning to show signs of fatigue. Fortunately, some thing was going to decide to end it.

Fire-Light tripped suddenly, his face slamming into the ground. He skidded several meters before stopping. Swift, having stopped, turned back around and declared proudly;

"I win. Hit the mess and maybe the showers." With that, Swift walked away.

Fire-Light grumbled before doing what he said. He watched as the crowd cheered for Swift before breaking up.

Author's Note

It's Back! Long time huh! Well dont worry, this story ain't gonna stop! Unless school or work get in the way...