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Tales of Apple Scratch : The Sergeant Cloud Kicker goes to Canterlot

by Mariacheat-Brony

Chapter 1: The Sergeant is "needed" in Canterlot

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All the Royal Guard outposts received a missive from Canterlot in early July. Said missive went on about how the Princesses had finally chosen a new member of the Council of Harmony, which had been left empty by Lady Cinabelle’s retirement four years prior. While the letter didn’t hold any information on who the new Council Member was, probably because the Princesses didn’t want any leak to the medias. Or at least, not one that would put her new Councilor in the spotlight too soon. After having read the missive, each leading officer of the many outposts called a meeting with their troops, for a new Council member meant a certain task from the Royal Guard.

Said task was to send a delegation of four people to swear their allegiance to the new Councilor, and that was the cause of the constant chatter in Ponyville Guard post’s main hall. As soon as their commander, the aging, stern Constance Vigilance had explained the situation and the need for a flag bearer and two escorts to accompany her to the Capital, many started to argue with one another on who should have the honor to go to Canterlot with her.

While she usually hated a big commotion like the one that followed her announcement, Constance Vigilance let her soldiers to their argument and simply strolled around her troops. Like a bird of prey, she scanned the room, mentally gauging each of her soldiers to see who would be best suited to accompany her to that ceremony. At first, she inspected her veterans and other seniors officers, who were the closest to her. She was slightly put out when she managed to overhear their conversation.

Many hoped to represent Ponyville in order to gather the attention of the new Council Member with the goal of getting promoted far away from the Everfree and that country hick of a monster that lived in that backwater town. Quietly letting out a growl of displeasure at the jab aimed at the eldest daughter of her late brother-in-arm, she went back to observing the rest of her troop.

Quickly enough, she was glancing at the younger recruits instead. While their conversations were also about possibly gaining the favors of the new Princess representative, they had that glint in their eyes that showed genuine excitement and honor at the thought of being chosen by their commanding officers. The short times of their services hadn’t made them bitter of the situation of the Ponyville Platoon: which mostly consisting in fighting off creatures of the Everfree, at least not yet. It was at that moment that Constance realized that bringing her newest generation of guards to the ceremony in the honor of the newest generation of the Council of Harmony would be the better choice.

Haaaa, if only little Jacquelyn had walked the other half of her father’s steps… Constance thought with a mental sigh. At least, I would have my standard-bearer…. and I probably wouldn’t need the two escorts… she added with a mental chuckle before the thoughts of the late Jonah Apple’s daughter brought another blonde in her mind.

She scanned the room once again, and realized that her newest recruits weren’t in attendance. Frowning a bit, Constance left the main-hall in the search of the three girls that had begun their services a few days ago. She glanced around the courtyard as she remembered that the girls were supposed to still be on duty, so they were probably still in the compound, or at least she hoped for them to be. As she crossed the courtyard, she heards metallic clashes which reassured her a little.

At least, they’re training. Constance thought as she strolled to the training grounds on the other side of the compound.

As she reached the fence beyond which the fighting noises were coming from, Constance caught sight of the trio’s training and stopped in her tracks a little. The Winterjet had mentioned in her recommendation letter that the blonde had an unusual set of combat-shapes for a Jupitarian, but she would have never imagined something like what she saw. Constance observed in silence as a tall, muscular redhead and a smaller watermelon-haired girl were attacking in concert the third girl of the trio. Axe blades and a spear tip tried to reach for the two-toned blonde, only to be repelled by her metal-covered wings in the loud clashes Constance had been hearing from the courtyard.

… Oooookay, a Jupitarian who can shape metal… That’s certainly a first. Constance thought with wide eyes as the whitish metal seemed to flow along the feathers and the bones of the blonde’s fuchsia wings, coating the right just before her opponents could land a blow.

“Come on, Blossomforth,” the blonde taunted as she repelled the watermelon-haired’s spear with a flutter of her right wing. “You’re getting soft on me… I like you more when you’re fierce and ready to bite!” she added in a low seductive pur. “Don’t you want to bend me over your desk anymore?”

….That was also in Pagétonas’ letter, Constance remembered as the spear-woman’s face turned beet red in a matter of seconds. I wonder how she’ll rea…”

“I TOLD YOU TO STOP DOING THAT, CLOUD!” a very flushed and angry Blossomforth snapped as she unleashed a fury of thrusts at the blonde, who had to cover herself with her wings to block the onslaught.

“Wow, Blossom, take it easy,” The redhead, whom Constance recognized as the Private Gale Swiftwing, called with a frown. “It’s just sparring!”

“It’s okay, Gale!” Cloud called back nonchalantly, the metallic mist slowly covering every feather of her wings to block all of Blossomforth’s blows. “I love it when she’s hot and bothered like that,” she purred while licking her lips sensually.

Unbeknownst to them, Constance imitated Gale in perfect synchronicity: both of them facepalmed with a soft chuckle at the sight of an even redder Blossomforth intensifying her assault while shouting “DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE!” in righteous fury. The many metallic clangs that rang through the training grounds clearly showed that her entreprise wasn’t successful at all.

“All right! Time for The Grand Finale!” Cloud shouted excitedly as she flapped Blossomforth’s spear out of her grasp.

She spread her metal-covered wings open, which looked like they were made of hundreds of silvery blades instead of fuchsia feathers, before she took off with a strong flap. Cloud hovered above the ground and closed the distance between her and Blossomforth in a blink of an eye. Cloud then used her wingspan to “enrobe” Blossomforth in it before she turned around the watermelon-haired girl three times. Once that was done, Cloud flapped herself away from a surprised, and seemingly unharmed, Blossomforth.

Okay, she turned around her a few times and? Constance asked herself in confusion before getting more confused when the metal on Cloud’s wings simply evaporated in a puff of smoke.

“...Huh, what exactly did you d….KYAAAH!”

As soon as Blossomforth moved, the plates of her training armor fell of her body due to its straps being cut in two. At the same time, Blossomforth’s red undershirt and leggings slowly fell apart in multi-sized patches of fabric, slowly but surely unveiling her pale, fit body for all to see. Gale immediately burst out laughing at her friend while Blossomforth was too shocked to even react or try to cover herself with her hands.

“Woooo, you're wearing the underwear I gave you for your birthday!” Cloud commented with a genuinely happy grin at the sight of the stripped, dark pink and green bra and panties.

“Is that how Pagétonas trains her cadets?” Constance asked in a shout before Blossomforth could managed a shaky retort. “Because that’s quite unorthodox, even from her.”

Instantly after noticing the presence of their commanding officer, the three girls quickly stopped laughing, or trying to cover themselves and stood at attention in a perfect line before the ashen-haired Eponian. Cloud, who was standing in between her comrades, conjured her left wing to at least mask Blossomforth’s custom-made underwear from their Officer's view, while the red on the almost-naked girl’s cheeks vanished from her focused and calm face. Constance blinked a bit stupor at quickly their demeanor had changed.

“Good to know that discipline with an officer is still a standard she keeps.” Constance mused slowly before waving casually at the trio. “At ease! And, please do cover yourself, Private Shields,” she added gently to Blossomforth.

“Yes, Ma’am!” Blossomforth replied in an even tone before quickly going to her and her comrades’ bags on side of the training court, a patch of fog following her and thus masking her underwear-clad body from Constance eyes.

The lieutenant’s eagle-eyes were not focused on Blossomforth’s near-nudity at all though. They aimed their stern irises on the blonde who was maintaining the fog around the with small circles of her haze-covered fore-finger.

“I probably should punish you for the humiliation you put your underling through, Sergeant First Class Cloud Kicker,” Constance stated slowly. “There are limits an officer can’t cross with his troops, even if they are long-time acquaintances, best-friends, or occasional bed-partners.” From the corner of her eyes, she noticed Blossomforth gulp nervously while Cloud’s face remained impassible, but her eyes shone with guilt. “Now, you’ve been promoted not even ten days ago, so I’ll let it pass for once… Only once though, is that clear?”

“Yes, Ma’am!” Cloud replied instantly. “Thank you, Ma’am!”

“That being said, I must admit it’s really nice trick to have in one’s arsenal,” Constance let out with a wink. “Now that that’s out of the way, I have a couple of questions to ask you, Sergeant Kicker.” Constance said slowly as Blossomforth, now dressed in sports gear, joined them. “Why weren’t you attending the meeting in the main hall?”

“Master sergeant Silverrain told me and my partners weren’t needed for this meeting when I asked him, Lieutenant,” Cloud replied in a confused tone.

“It’s true, Ma’am,” Gale and Blossomforth both assured when Constance raised a dubious eyebrow at the blonde sergeant.

“That’s weird. I told him that I wanted everyone in the main hall,” Constance replied with a frown. “It’s not like him to disobey a direct order from me.”

“Anyway, what was the meeting about, Ma’am?” Cloud asked with curiosity.

“Long story short, the Princesses finally found someone worthy of starting the whole Council of Harmony,” Constance explained laconically. “There’s an oath of allegiance to the new Councilor to be sworn by the representatives of the Royal Guard from each Equestrian city.”

“.....That’s rather important, I admit,” Cloud let out slowly.

“If I may say something,” Gale slowly called. “I think the Master Sergeant was right. That doesn’t really concern us. We’re just rookies.”

“That seems more like something you and the….hum,” Blossomforth started before searching for the most appropriate words.

“Let’s say, you and the “older guards”,” Cloud finished for Blossomforth with awkward air quotes.

“...I was going to say “more seasoned”,” Blossomforth sheepishly whispered as they waited for the Lieutenant’s reaction, all three prepared for the worst.

It wasn’t what they had thought they would get : the angry scowl followed by a violent exposition about how experience outrank everything that a youth could offer. Instead, the Lieutenant Vigilance simply let out a short, sad chuckle and a brief nod.

“I’m about two years away from my retirement, closely the same for all the more seasoned ones of our platoon,” Constance explained softly. “What purpose would my oath of allegiance serve to a youngster whose function will outlive me for certain? Whoever was chosen by the Princesses doesn’t need my loyalty, he -or she- needs the loyalty of those who will be with him/her all along the way.”

“...Makes sense, I guess,” Gale let out slowly, scratching the back of her head.

“Why are you telling us that though?” Cloud asked in confusion. “Surely, you could have had someone filling us in, like you probably will with those who aren’t on duty today.”

“I could have done that but that was before I remember what I heard about your exploits in Las Pegasus,” Constance explained with a small smirk. “Your “mission” in the Great Rift probably made you more seasoned than some of the older fellows around here.”

“You’ve heard about that?” Blossomforth asked in shock.

“I’ve heard about a lot of things,” Constance replied with a smile before pointing at Blossomforth. “Graduated from the young officer program in West-Hoof; designated team leader for three years in a row by Pagétonas; top spear-woman of the Las Pegasus compound; daughter of the Lieutenant Steel Shields of Detrot; despite many anger outbursts, mostly caused by the young Miss Kicker, the quality you’re known for is your iron discipline,” she said, earning a sheepish blush from the watermelon-haired girl. “Though, you’re easily embarrassed by any sort of praise thrown at you, which isn’t much of a surprise when you know how coldly strict your father can be,” she added with a smile before facing Gale Swiftwing.

“Born and raised in Las Pegasus’ low-town; you got recruited by Pagétonas when she spotted you beating the crap out of the thugs that had bag-jacked your neighbor during one of her stroll in the city; a little bit obsessed with axes, of which you keep a large collection : your favorite being the one you took as a souvenir from your combat against the Diamond dogs in the Great rift; always the first one in battle, and always the last one out of it.”

“That does sounds like me,” Gale mumbled with a shaky chuckle.

“And then, there’s you, Cloud Kicker,” Constance slowly turned her gaze toward the blonde. “... I think about half of the Ponyvillians in their twenties are well acquainted with you…”

Pfffft, as if it was only half! Blossomforth thought with a mental giggle, oblivious that her thought was shared by both Gale and Cloud herself.

“... Yet unlike many others, I remember more than you being the most libidinous roach to have graced our town,” Constance slowly continued. “I remember a seven-year-old offering friendship to another child who needed it the most; I remember a twelve-year-old giving her two friends all the support they needed during their the harshest times of their lives; I remember the sixteen-year-old who faced death head-on for the sake of her little sister; I remember the eighteen-year-old who took a train for the harshest training grounds of the Guard and came back with the stripes of Sergeant First Class.”

What? What did Cloud face when she was sixteen? Blossomforth and Gale wondered in confusion, eyeing the blonde between them.

“Glad to know that I’m not known just for my hobby, Lieutenant,” Cloud commented with a warm chuckle.

“Do you think you can tone down your hobby if you were to be in presence of many higher-ups of Equestria?” Constance asked slowly with narrowed eyes.

“Sure! I gotta grow up at some point, Lieutenant,” Cloud admitted with a shrug.

…...WHAT?! Gale mentally shouted, her widened, shocked eyes turned toward Cloud.

...Did she really just say that?! Blossomforth asked herself in total confusion.

“I mean, as you said, I’m an officer now… I’ve got responsibilities, an image to uphold,” Cloud explained with a sheepish grin.

….Is this really happening?! Gale stared blankly at the newly-promoted sergeant. WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE!?

...She...She’s changing… She’s becoming a respectable woman… Blossomforth thought as her hands over her mouth.

“Good,” Constance slowly nodded before observing the three girls before for a few seconds. “You three are coming to Canterlot with me! We leave in four days, Get your ceremonial armors ready by then and pack enough for a week.“

“A week?”

“Ceremonies like that one needs to be rehearsed,” Constance replied with a shrug. “It probably won’t last that long, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared,” she explained before facing the exit of the training ground. “You can resume your training for now. If you have any questions, you can find me in my office.”

“Just a quick one before your leave, Lieutenant,” Cloud said as she walked to her superior. “Do we know who the Princesses pick as a Council member?”

“No name was mentioned in the missive I got,” Constance replied casually. “Though the ceremony is happening on the Arcanium’s grounds… So I guess it must be someone related to it.”

“Thanks anyway, Lieutenant,” Cloud nodded with a brief smile. ...Looks like you made it after all. she thought with pride as the image of a certain Titanian filled her mind, before facing back her long-time teammates. “Okay, what do you say we start ag...Blossom, are you crying?” she asked with worry as she noticed the line of tears on the freckled cheeks.

She’s finally behaving like a true officer. Blossomforth thought with pride. I can finally look up to her without fearing a slap on my butt or a comment about how great I’d look with a mini-skirt…

“I think what you say to Lieutenant Vigilance broke her,” Gale supposed softly. “To be honest, I can relate to that. You giving up on your banging spree is something we never thought possible.”

“Now, come on! You make it sound like I lived only for banging…”

A crimson red eyebrow was raised high on a pale forehead in response.

“... That’s a bit of a stretch and you know it,” Cloud argued, pointing an accusatory finger at the redhead.

A single coughing noise escaped the redhead’s throat as she leaned her head forward, her eyebrow still high.

“Okay, I used to flirt and try bang every cutie that I encountered, with a lot more successes than failures. Happy?” Cloud asked with a false frown, a chuckling grin slowly forming on her lips.

“What changed then?” Gale asked with a grin, crossing her arms before her sergeant. “Unlike Blossomforth, I know and didn’t hope that your promotion would change your rabbit-like drive,” she added, nodding at the still beaming and crying Blossomforth.

“Something happened before we left Las Pegasus…. Something before the whole Spitfire-Trend debacle,” she added slowly in a shameful tone. “I’ve been thinking about a lot of stuff because of that. Stuff like maybe stop fooling around like a horny teenager all the time.”

Best day ever! Blossomforth thought as sobs of joy went past her lips.

“Huh,” Gale let out with a surprised nod. “That’s good, I guess… It’s going to take a while to get used to the new you… It feels like the world’s suddenly become flat!” she added with playful chuckle.

“Don’t worry, Gale!” Cloud assured with a sly grin. “The world’s still as round as Blossomforth’s cute little buttocks,” she added after giving her blissfully crying friend’s right buttcheek a slow and sensual grope. “I’m not giving up on everything… at least not yet!” she added as she let go of Blossomforth’s butt and conjured her wings.

“You really are just a libidinous roach, aren’t you?” Gale playfully asked, picking up her two axes and getting in position.

“It’s Sergeant Libidinous Roach to you,” Cloud warmly corrected as the metallic fog once again covered her feathers. “Let’s go!”

As the two Jupitarians resumed their earlier sparring, Blossomforth kept on crying, but this time for four reasons : One, she was saddened by Cloud shattering her hopes of seeing her act like a decent human being; Two, it still made her happy that Cloud still considered to behave professionally enough, even if it would requires baby steps: Three; she was upset that Cloud had invaded her personal space right after the Lieutenant Vigilance told her not to do things like to her anymore; And four, Blossomforth was upset by the fact that her previous reason didn’t really upset her that much. Cloud’s Magic Touch was still as effective on her as it had been during that night after the Great Rift maneuvers, all those years ago.

Author's Notes:

Okay, my faithful readers are probably going to hate me for starting another story, but this one is already completed, I'm just publishing it one chapter at the time. It is also very short (only 4 chapters) so it should be completed very soon :twilightsmile:

As it has been said in the story Description, this story was written for Chengar Qordath's Cloud Kicker Ship-fic event.

I'd like to give a huge thanks to Royal Rainbow for Pre-reading this little bit of writing of mine.

And also, My patrons for their Support.
Joseph Marques, Adam Tomkinson, Brad Snow, ScaredTuna, DerRotSpassvogel, Robert Redd, Michael Abell, James Zhang, Anthurak.

You can support my writings and my other mlp project on Patreon

Don't hesitate to tell me what you thought of the beginning of the story, or to complain of those two hiatus-y months, both are appreciated :pinkiehappy:

Love, Mariacheat-Brony

PS: Angel Wings still needs voice actors for fan fiction reading project of the first Apple Scratch Story: More infos here!

Next Chapter: The Sergeant goes to the library. Estimated time remaining: 40 Minutes
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