A month and four cases of beer later, Hestaria and White Knight were on their way to the Canterlot Military Academy for orientation. It was easier to get into the Academy than the Freedom Fliers for some odd reason. Maybe there was a shortage of volunteers. She was to go through two months of training and if she was still standing after that, she was a sure to be accepted. It didn’t matter to her where she went after the Academy, she just needed to prove to her boss, her coworkers and maybe even herself that she wasn’t the total outcast that they thought she was.

The air ship was filled with pegasi from Cloudsdale and some of the surrounding villages. Most were light gray and or white with blue manes. Hestaria was the only dark colored Pegasus there. And as far as she knew, other than her mother, she was the only bat pony in Equestria. She never understood why, but every family on her mother’s side had at the very least one bat pony in the mix. Every picture, every painting, every (if any were around) cave drawling of her family had one bat pony. She had found a painting in the back of her family’s attic of a full family of bat ponies.

Her ears started to pop as the air ship began to drop down below the Peak of Canterlot Mountain. At the southern most base of the mountain, was the ten mile wide area known as Canterlot Military Academy.

“It doesn’t look like much from up here.” Hestaria said to her white coated and bleach blond friend.

“We’ll have to see. I heard that the drill sergeant that most ponies get is a total hard ass.” White Knight said leaning over to the window.

“I hope they have a bar on base.”

“I highly doubt it.”

“Fuck me flying.”

The air ship landed softly near the entrance of the Academy. The back side of the wall had a massive metal plate with the name of the instillation and the saying “May Celestia guide thee to greatness”.

“She knows I’ll need it.” Hestaria said to herself before being herded into rows of five with the other pegasi.

A dark red unicorn with a fiery yellow mane, dressed in full Celestian Guard Armor stepped out from the front the air ship and stood in front of the recruits.

“Alright you lazy good-for-nothings, ten-hut!” he shouted.

Everypony clicked their hoofs together and straightened their backs.

“I am Master Sergeant Brand Fire But you will call me Sergeant Firebrand.” He began as he paced in front of them. “I am here to make your life a living hell. This isn’t a field trip you misguided coat hanger ninjas, this is a training facility!” Brand Fire glared directly at Hestaria. “Let me guess.” He said getting in her face. “You’re here to protect and serve Princess Luna, right?”

“No sir. I’m-”

“I’m sorry, what!?”

“No Sir!” Hestaria shouted.

“Good, because that’s not where you’re at right now! You are here for one reason and one reason alone, to be broken. And WHEN you reach your breaking point, we will rebuild you into the soldier of Celestia that you are meant to be. If you wanna’ quit now, it’s a long flight back.”

The air ship took off right behind them and left them there alone with Sergeant Brand Fire.

“Now, since there are no questions, I’ll have First Sergeant Wave get you into orientation then you’ll be off to lunch. Sergeant!”

“Yes Sir! Company, right face!” everypony turned on their heels and faced to their right. “Forward, march!”