It had been a few weeks since Rose had joined us at the base. Today was the day that she was to begin training.

“Are you nervous?” I was trotting along next to Rose.

“A little bit, but if these ponies are as nice as you say then I think I’ll be okay.” Rose looked down to the ground.

We had made our way over to where Blaze was. “Morning you two.” Blaze had a clipboard sitting on the ground.

Rose greeted him happily. “Morning Blaze. How are you?” She took a seat on the ground.

“I’m fine, thanks for asking. Are you ready to begin your training?” Blaze picked up his clipboard.

Rose was a little bit less enthusiastic. “Yeah. I think I’m ready to begin my training.” She stood up.

“Good. Silver you can stick around if you wish. I don’t think anypony needs you for anything pressing right now.” Blaze threw a hoof to his head in a salute. I spun around and did the same.

“At ease soldiers.” The general looked to Rose. “So we are beginning training today huh? I thought she had a few more days before we would require her to be trained.” The general looked between the three of us.

I was quick to respond. “She does have a few more days general but she wanted to start training early.” I had one of my wings out in front of Rose.

“Is this true little one?” The general pushed my wing back to my side.

Rose gulped. “Yes. Yes it is ma’am.” Rose didn’t cower as the general approached.

“Good to see you taking initiative. As you were. Silver I would like to speak with you. Follow me.” The general turned and trotted away.

“Yes General.” We walked out of earshot of the others. “What did you want to talk to me about General?”

“Well first off call me Derpy. I much prefer my real name to my title. Second off I would like to ask what you have done with the money that you were given.” Derpy took a seat on the ground.

“Ok. Well Derpy I haven’t done anything with that money. I placed it in that safe that you gave me and haven’t thought about it since.” I sat down.

“Alright. I just wanted to make sure you hadn’t wasted all of it. I trust you with that money but you are just a colt. Did you have any plans on how you were going to spend it?” Derpy started drawing in the dirt.

I sat there in thought. “I hadn’t planned on spending it. I did want to buy some candy the other day but decide against that. To tell you the truth I kinda forgot about that money until you brought it up again.” I couldn’t tell what Derpy was drawing.

Derpy was thinking intensely about something. “Well if you wanted candy I do know of a few shops nearby. I could go buy you some if you would like.” She wiped away her drawing.

“I would like that.” She turned to leave. “But could you also get some for Rose. I think she deserves something sweet after all she’s been through.” I couldn’t explain why but I wanted for Rose to be happy beyond her wildest dreams.

Derpy smiled. “I don’t think she needs anything sweet since she has you but I’ll get her some anyways.” She flew off.

I watched her for a minute before she disappeared outside of the cloaking field. I trotted back over to where Blaze and Rose were.

Rose had a rock lifted onto her back and was slowly trotting across the field. I stopped next to Blaze and watched as Rose finished with her baseline test.

“Well done Rose. We know have a baseline to use for your training.” Blaze scribbled on the clipboard.

“How did I do?” Rose had sat down and was resting.

“You did about as well as I expected you to do.” He looked down to me. “Since you’re still here Silver how about you do a little training?” Blaze dropped the clipboard onto the ground.

“Alright I suppose I’ve got nothing better to do.” I trotted down the line of rocks until I found the one I lifted the last time I did this. I got underneath and lifted it much easier than I had expected to. “Feels lighter than last time.” I lowered myself to the ground and pushed back up easily.

“Well you have done a bit since you last tried lifting these. Try the next rock up.” Blaze pointed to the next rock.

I dropped the rock to the ground and moved onto the next rock. It wasn’t as light as the first but it wouldn’t slow me down too much.

“Well it seems you are quite a bit stronger. Try the last rock.” Blaze pointed down the line to the largest rock.

I dropped the rock on my back and trotted over to the final rock. It stood twice as tall as Blaze did. I tried to move the rock. I moved it slightly before backing off. I moved down a few rocks before finding one that I could lift.

“Good now to the end of the field and back.” Blaze waved his hoof across the field.

I slowly made my way down the field testing out just how heavy the rock was. I reached the end of the field and was satisfied in the fact that I could take the return trip at double the pace I had gone up at. I sat the rock back down and walked over to Blaze.

“So how was that?” I sounded cocky.

“Well I’ve learned not to be impressed at what you can accomplish. But I think our new guest is absolutely dumbfounded.” He pointed to Rose. Her mouth was wide open as she stared at me.

I trotted over to her. She was just staring at me in awe. I used my wing to close her mouth.

I waved a hoof in front of her. “Are you still there? Equestria to Rose. Come in Rose.” She didn’t speak so I sat down next to her. After a few minutes she snapped out of it shaking her head.

“Did you just lift that rock?” She pointed to the rock I had lifted.

“Yeah I did.” I lifted my wing off of her.

“How?” Rose continued to stare at the rock.

“It just comes naturally to me I think. Being an alicorn I’m much stronger than I would be if I was just a normal pony.” Her eyes were piercing into my soul.

Rose stared at me. “Are there any other cool things you can do?” Her eyes glimmered in the sunlight.

“Well I do know a few things about my other magic. Would you like to see them?” She simply nodded her head. “Ok. Can we get up though? The grass here is a little bit wet and I would prefer not to sit in it for any longer than I have to.” I rose to my hooves dragging Rose along with me.

I looked at Blaze and he was shaking his head. He waved us away. Rose followed me to where the unicorns trained. Violet was training a few recruits about some advanced magic. She saw us and trotted over.

“Hey Silver what are you two up to today?” Violet knelt down to look at me.

“Rose asked if she could see me do some magic. I thought it would be okay if I practiced a little.” I drew Rose closer with my wing.

She looked back to the recruits. They immediately got back to training. “I suppose it couldn’t hurt. A little target practice maybe?” Violet pushed herself back to full height.

“What do you think Rose?” I turned my head towards her.

“I just want to see you do some magic.” Rose looked into my eyes.

“Target practice it is then. Hey you new recruit!” Violet poked one of the unicorns who were training with her magic.

“Yes ma’am.” He saluted her.

“I need you to launch targets in the air for him.” She pointed to me. “He needs to practice a little bit.”

“Yes ma’am” He hurried over to the controls.

“Have fun.” Violet turned and trotted back to the recruits she was training.

“Will do Violet. Take a seat Rose we might be here a while.” I lifted my wing off of Rose.

“Ready when you are.” The stallion sat behind a desk.

“Ok.” I charged my magic. “Begin.”

Targets were launched into the air one after another. I hit most on the first try but those that I missed I threw fireballs at. Out of every target that had been launched only two fell to the ground untouched.

“Not bad kid.” The stallion stepped away from the controls.

I called back. “Thanks.”

“That was amazing.” Rose stood up and trotted towards me.

“I mean I’m nothing special.” Before I could continue she had locked me in a hug. “If anything you are the special one.” I kissed her. “My special one.”

I would have been fine with living in this moment for the rest of my life. Unfortunately Violet had to interrupt.

“Seems somepony has a crush.” Violet was trotting over quickly.

“I um.” I blushed.

She smiled. “Alright you two it’s time to get back to work. Rose how about you go clean up I need to talk to Silver for a few minutes.” Violet knelt down.

Rose pulled away from me before heading towards the barracks. I waved to her.

Violet grabbed ahold of me with her magic and dragged me into the nearest building. Violet looked around for a few seconds before barricading the doors.

“What are you doing?” She was mad about something. I wasn’t sure about what though.

“I was just hanging out with Rose. She wanted to see me do some magic. Did I do something wrong?” I tilted my head to the right.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.” Violet lowered her voice to a whispered and I could barely hear her. “In fact you are doing a few to many things right for your lack of experience.” She shifted her eyes around the room.

“What was that?” I took a few steps towards her.

“Nothing to concern yourself over at the moment. I don’t want you and Rose to be in the same room tonight without somepony watching you.” Violet held me in place with her magic.

“Why?” I teleported out of her grasp.

“A few things that I thought were explained to you already.” I wasn’t one hundred percent on what she meant but I had my suspicions. “I hope you understand. You have done nothing wrong I just fear for what could happen if you aren’t careful.” Violet patted my head.

“Ok I guess. I won’t spend time alone with Rose where others can’t see us.” I kicked the floor a bit glumly.

“Good now run along I think the general just got back and I hear she has something for you.” As soon as she unbarricaded the doors I ran out in search of Derpy.

Derpy had just landed inside the base and was talking to Spitfire. I slowed down to a trot and made my way over to them. Spitfire watched as I approached, a scowl across her face.

“Am I interrupting something?” I stopped around ten feet away from them.

“I was just talking to the general about a few things. We just finished so you can talk to her now.” Spitfire took off cursing under her breath as she went.

“Hi Silver. Sorry I took so long I had to sort out a few things in town.” Derpy shuffled a few things around in her saddlebags.

“It’s alright. So what did you get me?” I winced a little realizing how rude that was. “Sorry I’m just excited.”

“It’s quite alright Silver. Everypony here treats you like you are a soldier but at the same time are also just a foal.” Derpy sat down and started drawing.

“I’m starting to get use to it. I do have more of a childhood here than I do anywhere else even if it means that I have to act like a soldier.” I sat in front of her keeping a keen eye on Derpy’s drawing.

“This is why I didn’t want to bring you into this. I wanted you to grow up for a few more years before we trained you. I’m not an animal. Am I?” Derpy stopped drawing and hung her head.

“I don’t think you did anything wrong.” I scooched closer avoiding the drawing she had made in the dirt.

She smiled at me. “Ah to see the world through a pair of mostly uncorrupted eyes. I envy you Silver. I think I would do about anything to relive my childhood. That’s why I don’t want to steal yours away from you.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “But anyways I decided it would be a good investment for you to not just get some candy.”

“What do you mean?” I saw she was carrying a small bag. She pulled a few pieces of paper out of the bag. “What are those?” I put my full attention on what Derpy was holding.

“Those are the deeds to the candy stores I visited today. You had more money than you knew what to do with so I helped you spend some of it.” She hoofed me over the deeds.

I was in a state of utter confusion. “So I own candy stores now?” I looked the papers over.

“Well the deeds do belong to you since it was your money that bought them but I figured I would have Blaze and Violet hold on to these for you. How does that sound?” Derpy took the papers back putting them away carefully.

“I think that sounds ok. I think I need to take a seat.” I sat down trying to process all of today’s events.

“Do you want to go take a nap? I can carry you back if you want me to.” She lowered herself to the ground.

“I think that sounds good.” I flapped my wings and got onto her back. I yawned. “I could use a nap right now.”

Out of the corner of my eye I caught Violet mouthing something to Derpy. I wasn’t the best at reading lips but I figured it was something about watching over me. Blaze stopped us and slipped something into my saddlebags.

“You’ll thank me for this one day Silver. Just don’t tell Violet about this or she’ll kill me.” Blaze stepped backwards.

“I doubt she’d kill you. I think she likes you.” He smiled and waved us on. The last thing I saw before entering my room was the extreme look of anger on Violet’s face as she trotted at Blaze.

“Do you want me to set you on the bed? Or would you like to go there yourself?” Derpy closed the door behind us.

“Please set me down on the bed. I don’t want to walk there right now.” I saw Rose sitting in a chair next to the fridge. “Heya Rose how are you doing?”

“I’m fine Silver.” She was really upset about something.

“What’s wrong?” I sat down on the corner of the bed closest to Rose.

“Nothing.” Rose crossed her hooves.

“I know when ponies are lying to me Rose. Please tell me what’s wrong. I want to help you.” I was laying on the bed trying to keep from falling asleep.

“I’ll tell you later. For now take a nap. You need it.” Rose gave me a compassionate look.

“What about you?” I yawned.

“I’ll stay up and talk to the General. Just go to sleep Silver.” Rose waved her hoof at me.

“Alright.” I laid my head down and drifted off to sleep.

While I was asleep I could vaguely hear a conversation between Rose and Derpy. I didn’t remember a single word of it when I woke up an hour or so later.

“You’re up. I thought you would be asleep for a while longer.” Violet was sitting next to my bed.

“Hi Violet. When did you get here?” I stretched my wings.

“About twenty minutes after you fell asleep. I needed to talk to Rose.” Violet shifted her legs.

“Where is she?” I yawned a little stretching my front hooves.

“Didn’t you notice she was curled up next to you?” Violet pointed next to me.

I looked down to see Rose was sleeping silently next to me. I laid one of my wings over her and drew her closer. I had never realized before now that this room was cold. I had also never realized how warm Rose was.

“I can’t say I did. I’ve just gotten use to having her by my side. It feels weird to be away from her and I don’t like it.” I pouted a bit.

Violet giggled a little bit while looking off to my left. Blaze was standing there going through my saddlebags. I was slightly offended that he was going through my stuff.

“What are you doing?” A hint of anger entered my voice.

“Violet forced me to get back what I gave you earlier. I don’t know why she was so freaked out though. I just gave you some brownies.” He pulled a box of brownies out of my saddlebags.

“That’s not what I told you to do.” Violet scowled at him.

“I guess it isn’t I just wanted a brownie while we were here.” Blaze opened up the box of brownies.

“You silly stallion. We have dozens of brownies at home.” Violet shook a hoof at him.

“Yeah but these are different. Somehow they are even better than the ones we have at home.” Blaze was about to take a bite of one.

“Put them back.” Violet got to her hooves.

“Do I have to.” Blaze was whining like a little foal. I was having a hard time not bursting into a laugh. “What? Come on Silver back me up here.”

“I would but Violets got that look in her eyes.” I pointed towards Violet.

“Oh so she does.” He laid the box down on the table, but not before he snuck one brownie out of the box. “Now what were we here for again?”

“We were here to get the little gift you gave to Silver back.” Violet trotted to the end of my bed.

“I still don’t see why we have to.” Blaze trotted over to meet her.

“Because he is too young for that Blaze. Is that how you want him to grow up?” Violet pointed a hoof to me.

“Being awesome all the time. Yes of course I do.” Blaze took a step forward.

“Not what I meant Blaze.” Violet waved her hoof at him.

“Maybe not the entire time he’s growing up but he should at least experience it once.” Blaze forced Violet’s hoof to the floor.

“That is gross and weird Blaze.” Violet turned away from Blaze.

“You have no room to talk Violet. You know just how bad you wanted to while we were waiting for him to wake up.” Blaze put a hoof on her flank.

“Low blow Blaze low blow.” She put her muzzle into the air.

“I know but you see what I mean.” He trotted in front of Violet.

“I do see what you mean but he is too young for that.” She let her muzzle come back down.

“Weren’t you like eight when you first.” Blaze stopped to put a hoof up.

Violet had her hoof clash against Blaze’s. “Shut up Blaze. We are not having this conversation in front of Silver.” Violet pointed her raised hoof at me.

Rose stirred at my side. Violet and Blaze had awoken her with their arguing. She wiped the sleep from her eyes before laying her head back down using me as a pillow.

“What did I miss while I was out?” Rose yawned a small bit.

“Not much that I really understand. So I guess you didn’t miss much.” I laid my head down next to hers.

“I suppose I didn’t. So why are they here?” Rose pointed a hoof in Violet and Blaze’s general direction.

“They came looking for something that Blaze gave me. I still don’t even know what they are looking for.” I brought my head closer to hers.

“I know what they are looking for.” Rose lifted her head off of me.

Blaze and Violet were both in sync. “You do. Where are they?”

“I threw them out. I hadn’t planned to do anything that would require those. Silver’s still to innocent for that. I can wait a few years before I rock his world.” Rose laid her head back down.

It finally snapped in my mind what has been going on here. I remember Rose talking about something like what Blaze was looking for. The last part of my innocence slowly drifted away from me and I had started to understand all the jokes that had gone over my head since I got here.

“You seem like you had a revelation Silver. Care to inform us on what.” Violet stepped towards us.

“I think you should leave. I just want to go back to bed and what you’re looking for is gone so you have no reason to be here.” I pointed a wing towards the door.

“Fine but Derpy is staying to watch you two.” Violet shoved Blaze towards the door.

“I’m ok with that. I just can’t talk with you two right now.” They both left leaving just Rose, Derpy and I.

Derpy walked over to the bed. “So did you actually get rid of them?”

“No. I just hid them under Silver when they weren’t paying attention.” Rose pulled out the package that was laying underneath me.

“Sneaky and very clever. I like it. Do you wish to be alone with Silver?” Derpy turned away from us.

“Only if he is ready.” Rose gave me her most seductive smile.

“I. I think I am.” I still was unsure of many things about all of this.