I was standing in the great hall of our Chapter. Me, Apricot, Peach Fuzz, and Melon Seed. “The Children of Boulder Junction,” as they called us. We had all joined the Steel Rangers at the same time. Boulder Junction was only a few hours trot from the Chapter. We were some of the last residents left. After a major attack from the Locals. The town had to disband and what was left of our friends and family were somehow able to convince the Elder to allow us to train and become Rangers. He agreed and told us that if we failed one task, they will cast us out. We trained hard fearing that if we failed we would all be thrown back into the wasteland. We had put our all into it and here we were standing in the hall taking our oath. To protect our brothers and sisters, to protect our Chapter, to protect and find our past and to bring it back to the present. The hall faded away as I awoke to the dim light of the morning. I looked to Apricot, who was still asleep and resting her chin on my foreleg. I glanced at the time on my pipbuck and knew that I should get up and start to plan out how the camp will be set up. I nuzzled Apricot. “wakey wakey I want eggs and bacey,"

Apricot slowly open one of her eyes and look at me . “You hate my cooking remember,” she said with a growing smile. “You were stuck in the bathroom for hours afterwards,"

I returned the smile and said. “That’s because you used two day old scavenged radhog and eggs from an animal we didn't even know could lay eggs. Now come on get up, I need my foreleg back so I can start work,"

She grabbed onto my foreleg, placed her chin back on it and closed her eyes saying,"No, its my pillow leg and I’m still sleepy,"

Even though I was enjoying the playing she was “doing..." Celestia knows we haven’t had a chance to have too much fun on this trip while living in the crawler. My ears perked as I realized how I could win this battle. “Sooner I can get in the office building and figure out what the outpost will be the sooner we can get out of sleeping in the crawler,"

She lifted her chin and looked at me. “You win this round,” she said. She then let go of my foreleg.

I gave her a kiss on the forehead again and stepped out of the crawler. The morning air was cooler than normal, the sign that winter would be arriving soon. I walked into the M.O.P office and looked around for places to set up defence points and places to cache our supplies. I noticed on the floor an old basic map of the building showing the floors and office space. I levitated the map over to me and looked at it. The office was a three story building. The first floor had a small lobby that from the looks of it, was the main entry point for employees, it also had a few small cubicle spaces for workers. The second floor had the main office areas, along with a lunch room. It also had the memory archive that I would be spending my time looking through. On the third floor was the main administrative office and a large room for meetings. As I looked over the map I heard hoofsteps behind me. I turned to find Apricot had walked in, now wearing her helmet.

“So what is the plan?” she said.

I looked back at the map and said. “I’m thinking we can use the first floor for a defensive position incase the outer area is over run. Then we can use the second floor for bunking and cooking. Then the third floor can be a observation post since it’s the only high standing structure around for a good five hundred meters,"

Apricot looked at the map. “We could park the crawler up front and build the walls that we are already using around it. I think we should angle them so the entrance for the wall is pointed at the bank so me and Melon can make it back to the outpost incase something happens,"

I nodded my head in agreement. “Alright lets do that. I know that Tea and Donut are going to hate me for this, but can you tell them to rearrange the walls to be placed in a crescent shape around the front of the building. Also to park the crawler facing out so if we need to evacuate we can. Then if you can start to set up quarters for us all there should be enought office rooms that we all can have our own rooms. I think it be nice for everypony to be able to sleep in privacy for once. I’ll ask Peach to set up the kitchen area while I get started on the archive and when you're done with the bunks you and Melon can start on that bank vault,"

Apricot nodded and stepped outside and headed towards Donut and Tea leaf who were setting up the stove for Peach Fuzz. From the look of it today’s breakfast would be oatmeal. Even though they made me sick I could really use eggs and bacon just... something other than oatmeal. I approached Peach Fuzz. “Good morning. Did you see any stars?”

Peach looked up from the pot he was filling with some water. “Like I said you get all the luck. All I saw was clouds, dirt, and a tumbleweed,” he said.

“Well at least you got some plant action,” I said with a smile. “We’re moving everything into the office today. Can you set up the kitchen on the second floor lunchroom, then after that take watch on the third floor. The lack of standing high structures in the area will give you a good vantage point,"

Peach Fuzz nodded as he started the fire. “ Do you know how long we are going to be in the office area?” he said.

“I’m not too sure. They want me to do a full report of the archive so I guess I’ll watch that memory block the computer mention yesterday. We got about a ten day supply of food and water so we should be okay and if anything we can shortwave Zed and get him to head back over with some food and water. “ I said as I picked up a bag of oatmeal and passed it over to Peach.

Peach opened the bag of oatmeal and dumped it into the pot. “Are you enjoying being able to order everypony around?” he said as he stirred the pot.

“Hey you know the procedure. We found some tech command, that goes to the Scribe while they secure it. If combat starts up the Paladin takes command. Normally there one Paladin on these missions but since this is a long run they want the most experienced search team and thats us. So I get to pick the Paladin that will command in combat and that will be you. I think you can keep us all safe if the tumbleweeds start a revolt against us," I said with a smile.

Peach look at me and said. “I will keep you safe from the evil flora, and from anything else that will threaten this outpost,"

I nodded to Peach. “Well I’m going to go relieve Donut Hole and let him get some food before he and Tea Leaf move the walls," I walked over to where Donut Hole was standing. “Good morning Donut, did Apricot pass on your orders?”

“Yes, and a reminder to you that you are an outsider and even though I’m bound to these orders; that doesn’t mean that I like how and you and your fellow outsiders are able to command me or Tea Leaf. I know the rules that allow you to stay in this chapter; but I am watching you,” he said.

I look at him with determination. “I will not fail my mission or my brothers or sisters in this chapter. I know where I come from and I know what keeps us here. I took an oath and I will stay true to it," Donut nodded at me. “Good now take a break before your shift. I’ll cover your watch while you eat," I said as I turned and looked out into the wasteland.

I covered for Donut and Melon covered for Tea Leaf while they got something to eat. After a while it was our turn to get some grub. After everyone ate we began to move equipment into the office building. I headed upstairs to start work on the memory archive. It had been a long time since I stepped into a memory orb, let alone an unknown orb. The nervousness started to build up. In training we viewed practice orbs that were safe, with known contents. Most of them were just old training films. That was all we really had. I still remember the titles of them. How to clean and set-up a machine gun battle saddles. Proper Steel Ranger power armor maintenance. How to avoid The Clop and other sexually transmitted dis- Whamp.

I fell over and grabbed my head. Apparently I didn’t notice the chunk of metal I had hit. A suspended pipe from the old sprinkler system was the foe. When I hit the pipe with my head it clanged into the duct work echoing my error around the floor. Apricot stepped out from the 2nd floor stairwell to see me sitting there rubbing my head.

“Let me guess; you were deep in thought again?” she said with what sounded like a snicker.

Fun fact about being this close to somepony. They tend to learn every little thing about you. All your secrets and all your flaws. Apricot knew most of my secrets, and to my knowledge, she knew all my flaws, including not looking where I'm going when I'm thinking. I continued to rub my head and looked up at her. “Ya, was thinking about memory orb training,” I said. Another fun fact about spending a lot of time with a very special somepony. They tend to know when something is bothering you.

Apricot walked over and sat next to me. “What's bothering you?” she asked.

“The last time I orb dove into a unknown memory was back when I was a colt and was digging around my dad’s closet," I said.

“What was on it?” she asked.

“Well..." Great she getting another one of my secrets I thought to myself before continuing. “it was of my parents. You remember how my dad had that old recollector and was recording all of us?”

“Yep, I still remember when they showed you as a little colt in the bathtub. You were so cute," She said with a snicker I could hear even under her helmet.

My eyelid twitched a little bit.Okay, another secret she would know. I took a deep breath. “On it was a memory of my parents together. The night they conceived me," I said with a growing red on my face.

Apricot stood there in silence for a second or two. Then took a breath and started to laugh. She almost fell over on top of me laughing so hard. Then she suddenly stopped. “Wait, did your mom look like she was really enjoying it?”

“W..What?” I stammered.

“Well I read in a old magazine that if the mare really enjoyed the experience of her stallion and they conceive a foal. The foal would be a great love maker," She said tapping her forehooves together innocently.

“I...I..I didn't... I don’t remember what my mom looked like... during. I was trying to find ways to crawl out of my own brain to escape that orb,” I said with shock in my voice. “Wait a minute, are you saying I’m not doing my duty when we’re together?” I said with a more insulted tone.

The metallic giggle coming from her helmet told me she was just messing with me. “You have never underperformed in your duties. But I think I got your mind off your worries,” she said.

I just gave her the stink eye.

From behind us at the stairwell to the first floor stood Peach Fuzz. “You two going to sit in the middle of the floor all day or would you consider getting back to work?” He asked.

Apricot stood up and said. “Ya, ya I’ll head back upstairs," She leaned in to whisper in my ear. “I tell ya what. When I’m done I will check in on you and make sure you’re feeling ready to go. And if you're already in a orb. I will make sure to wipe the drool off your chin," She said with probably the biggest smile she could make under that helmet.

“I don't drool," I said and stood up. I then proceeded back down the hallway to the memory orb archive as Apricot headed back up to the third floor and Peach Fuzz headed to the lunchroom.

Stepping into the office area that led to the memory archive. Ahead of me was the metal doors that still showed the damage that Peach made. I stepped through the door into the memory archive. I shouldn't be nervous or scared, these were just memories of ponies. Just bones in the wasteland. I took a deep breath and sat in the chair. Using my magic I lifted the Dr. Winter ID that was sitting on the console and inserted into the terminal port.

The speaker crackled to life once again, “Good morning Dr. Winter, I hope you slept well," The A.I. said.

“Fantastically,” I said. “Bring up memory block C and prepare to activate interface,"

A robotic arm similar to the old grab machines we’d seen back in some of the blown out shops appeared out of a housing inside the glass covered shelf to my left marked ‘Block C.’ The arm moved over to one of the memory orbs sitting in its protective sleeve. It lifted the orb out of the sleeve and moved back towards the housing it came from. A few seconds later the screen displayed a prompt asking if I was ready to view the orb. I selected yes. A red button lit up next to the terminal. The button said EXTERNAL ABORT. Then the black screen on the other side of the terminal showed a horseshoe like symbol and said PLACE HOOF HERE. I compiled and placed my hoof on the screen. The terminal screen then displayed ‘Stand By.’

The terminal screen began to fade away. For a split second I thought the chair I was in was being pulled away but then I remembered my training and how the sense of the world disappears when you enter an orb. When the world faded to black I was confused. Usually the memory would start up but there was nothing. I started to wonder if the orb or the machine was broken. I suddenly had a feeling of panic, thinking I might be trapped in this black void forever. The fear passed when a shape started to appear at the bottom right of my view. Then more shapes appeared. It resembled the Eyes Forward Sparkle my Pipbuck used. The shapes became clearer and I started to notice that they look like file tabs that were forming at the bottom right of my view. On the tabs, letter were starting to show up. One said orbs the next one said field notes, and the last one said audio logs. On the bottom left I saw writing saying ‘Block C, Orb 1’ and a bar appeared below it.

“Loading Block C, Orb 1, Section 1, Subject Orange Harvest,” A.I. said. “Do you wish to use the Memory Orb Accelerator?”

A prompt appeared in the middle of my field of view. saying ‘Memory Orb Excelerator Yes/No?’ I did not know what it was or how to select an answer. “What is Memory Orb Excelerator?” I said.

“The Memory Orb Accelerator allows the observer of a memory orb to experience the events in the orb at a much faster rate. Instead of a second to second ratio of time a user can set it up to second to hour ratio. Allowing for less time needed to view a memory," The A.I. said.

The prompt on my Eyes Forward Display as I figured I would call it, was still asking me yes or no. “Yes," I said.

“Warning when using Memory Orb Accelerator the danger of mental confusion or damage is increased if external abort is used. Do you wish to continue?”

Another prompt appeared asking yes or no. “Yes," I said.

“Order confirmed activating Memory Orb Accelerator system. Please specify ratio or length of time you wish to view orb," The A.I. said.

“um..." I looked at the clock at the top right of my E.F.S. “Can you set the first section of the orb to play its length in the span of three hours?” I said.

“Yes. This system is able to sync section or orb length with a real world timeframe. Do you wish to set section one to three hours?” The A.I. asked.

“Yes, three hours will put the end of the first section around the time of the first break," I said.

“Confirmed. Loading Block C, orb 1, section 1, four months since declaration of war, with subject Orange Harvest... Stand-by,"

System Load..............

Memory Orb Accelerator set for three hours.

Loading Orb................................................ Complete.

I was... well my host. If the system was correct, I was a pony named Orange Harvest. From the feel of it I wasn’t a stallion. Apparently Orange Harvest was a mare. The strange feeling passed quickly as my training started to kick-in. I had to remember that in a orb, you may not be in the same gender or species. My host Orange Harvest was looking up at the sky. A color I have only seen peeks of through the gray. She then looked down to many green blurrys passing by. I think they where trees. Orange Harvest seemed to be trying to grasp what was going to happen to her. She kept looking around. The different objects seemed to blur just a bit.

“A.I. what is causing this blurring effect? I have never seen this before in any other orb," I said.

“The blurring is caused by memory distortion due to the memory being recorded to a memory orb much later then when the memory was experienced. Most early memory orbs in this project will have some distortion due the less complex memory spells that were in use. In addition with the Accelerator active it will cause some distortion from time to time. The O.I.S. uses the database to help build more of the background elements of the memory to help reduce blurring and distortions," A.I. said.

I never though about the concept of a memory being too old that only pieces of it could be recovered by a memory spell. I tried thinking to some of my earliest memories, I could remember faces, but that was about it. I remembered my parents and my friends when we were kids, though.

“What's your name?” a voice asked.

The question snapped me out of my thought. I tried to say Mint Chip but all that was said was “Orange Harvest," I then remembered that I was in a memory orb and I was not paying attention to what was happening. Mustard Seed would be very upset with me right now.

“Let me guess you work on a orange farm don’t you,” the voice said. The voice was coming from an earth pony stallion sitting in the seat across from her. He had a green coat with a white mane. What was different was his face was less distorted than some of the others. My guess is he had more interactions with Orange Harvest than the smeary, blurred faces.

“Nope, I’m a banker in Canterlot” Orange Harvest said.

The stallion cocked its head and looked at me, well, her. Damn orbs always mess with your head.

“Why is a banker from Canterlot signed up to join the military?” he asked.

“I’m not in the habit of telling my life story to a strange pony. What’s is your name?” my host said.

The Stallion placed his hoof on his chest, I wasn’t not sure if he was insulted or had indigestion.

“I would think you would've of heard of me. My family won the Garden Fall competition three years running, now. However my name is Grassweed,” he said.

“I’ve heard of you," A voice from Orange Harvest right side said. “You and your family design those winning floral arrangements up in the mountain areas around Fillydelphia. I loved last year’s entry, with that ocean design on the mountain! The blue flowers you used with the lighter blue to create that glare when the sun came up was beautiful!”

My host looked over at the pony who was talking. It was a light yellow earth pony mare with a long orange mane. Her face was also much clearer than the others in the wagon we were in; but something was different. Her pupils were smaller than a normal ponies would be. It was like she was in shock or had been looking at the sun too long. Also her mouth always seemed slightly open, even when she wasn’t talking. I wondered if she was just surprised to see this garden artist in the same wagon as she was. She also had what looked like a birthmark on her neck.

“Hello, my name is Sandy Shore,” she said her pupils still not changing sizes. It was starting to creep me out. “I’m from the eastern suburbs of Fillydelphia and I always look forward to what your family makes each year. Why did you up and leave and come out here?”

“As the filly sitting next to you said. I’m also not in the habit of telling my life story to every strange pony," Grassweed said.

“You two are just no fun. I mean come on we all have our reason for signing up. I wanted to help out other ponies. Equestria hasn't had a war and I don’t think the zebras really want to fight one. So we do a few little helpful missions and the zebras will see that we are not bad ponies and peace will be declared,"Sandy Shore said.

A loud noise was heard and the wagon jolted when it hit what I was guessing a ditch in the road. I heard something fall to the left of Orange Harvest. She turned to look at a brown coated tan, maned stallion pick up the book that he dropped in his levitation field. His face was not as clear as the other two but much clearer than the other ponies I could see in the wagon.

Sandy Shore spoke up from behind my host. “Oh, what are you reading?”

“Daring Do," He said, then placed the book in his bag that was sitting on the floor of the wagon. He then looked at my host. “Hello my name is Coco Leaf , and I joined because I feel the same as Sandy Shore. Also I like to adventure, just like Daring Do here. I mean think about it, in the zebra lands their animals are feral. I might even write my own story for Daring Do from what I experience in the army," Coco Leaf said. “Why are you looking at me like that... It was Orange Harvest correct? At least I said more about my life history then you did. What made you join?”

“Ya,”Sandy Shore said. “I mean we’re going to all be stuck together for... I think the recruiter said a month or two? So come on, why did you join?”

Orange Harvest turned and looked atSandy Shore. For a second I thought that I would find out why Orange joined the Equestrian Army, but she then looked up at the gate that the wagon was passing through. “Looks like we’re here, so we should get ready to get off,"

Sandy Shore looked disappointed. “Fine keep your secrets, just makes things more fun when we find out later," She then picked up her bag and slung it onto her back.

Orange Harvest used her levitation to sling her bag around her shoulder. When the wagon stopped she stood up and looked behind her. Standing on the ground was a stallion with a short cut blue mane, looking back at her with an absolutely furious expression. If I remembered anything about my instructor in basic Steel Ranger training, that’s the look of ‘I just found my new chew toy.’

I didn't think me or Orange Harvest would be liking this memory.

“Ok ponies get out of the wagon the free ride is over. Time to work!” the blue stallion ordered.

I thought to myself, he’s being a lot nicer than I was expecting. If this was my trainer he would already be yelling at me twice for standing there looking stupid and then not showing respect to him. I started to think none of these ponies had any idea what they were in for.

“I don’t remember asking to take your time, now get off that wagon now!” the stallion yelled.

Now that starting to sound more like it. My host and the others jumped off the wagon as fast as they could. Orange Harvest landed on the ground and almost stumbled. Unfortunately Grassweed had a lot more problems and promptly face planted into the ground when he landed.

“Do you have the legs of a newborn foal? Get up and stand in line. You heard me ponies get your flanks in line right now!” the blue stallion raised his voice again.

Yep, now he’s starting to sound like a trainer. Now all he has to do is punch the gut of one of the initiates or whatever they called these ponies in the army and he’ll be my trainer. The ponies began to stand in line with my host in the middle. and the angry blue stallion was staring at her and Grassweed, who was get up off the ground. The voice of Sandy Shore came up to the left of my host, however she did not turn to look at her talking. Orange Harvest was already in the crosshairs of this stallion and she seemed to know not to look away. However, it looked like Sandy Shore was about to learn that lesson.

“Hello, I’m San.," then she was interrupted in mid name.

“I don’t care what you call yourself. I call you what I call all my new recruits. Foals! Nothing but foals! I train ponies. When you graduate to ponies, then I’ll call you by your name. So right now be a good foal and be quiet or you and your friends will regret it," He looked over at my host and Grassweed.

“I’m not her friend,” My host said.

I wonder if my real body just facehoofed at the massive error that my host just did.

“Not friends you say, well I guess I was wrong. No wait, I’m in charge of babysitting you foals and guess what? In any combat zone your fellow ponies are your friends and without them you might as well shoot yourself right now because you're wasting my time," He yelled staring down at my host as she start to sink down more and more . “Well not friends, guess what you get a lot of time to become friends as you will be cleaning the stalls. Now report to Instructor Scotch. She will be happy to help you understand how working together will let you survive longer,"

Grassweed spoke up. “Ummm... Sir what about our bags?”

The blue stallion turn sharply looking at Grassweed. “Do I look like a damn bell hop. You're taking your stuff with you. NOW MOVE!!”

My host, Grassweed, and Sandy Shore grab their bags and started to run to the area marked as stalls. As we approached the stalls I over heard Grassweed running behind my host saying in deep breaths. “Why did I get screwed like this?” We arrived at the building marked stalls outside was a tan mare standing with a hat saying ‘Ins.Scotch’ next to her where brushes and buckets.

“Oh good my volunteers have arrived," Instructor Scotch said.

The voice of my host spoke up. “Ummm.... We didn't volunteer, Instructor Scotch,"

“Oh? Are you saying Instructor Bluemoon is wrong?” Scotch said.

Before my host could put her hoof in her mouth and say something stupid. Sandy Shore and Grassweeds hoofs appeared and covered my host’s mouth before she could say it.

“No ma’am, Bluemoon was very much right," Sandy Shore said.

I could see out of the corner of Orange Harvest eyes that Grassweed was nodding frantically.

“Well good to see he pick the right volunteers now you will be cleaning the stalls. We want them as clean as possible since so many of you will be using them throughout your time out here,"

Grassweed removed his hoof from my host’s mouth and looked at her sternly. We all walked over to the buckets and brushes. My host lifted the bucket with her levitation then Scotch step forward.

“No magic," Scotch said. I could tell that my host was about to say something when Scotch interrupted. “I’ll make this simple. There may be a time that you can't use your magic. So we train our recruits to work without it. If you use magic without permission from one of the instructors, stall cleaning will be a gift in comparison to the punishment you will get,"

My host nodded in agreement. Picking up the bucket with her mouth, she followed the others into the stall room.

When she stepped inside, she saw the face of Sandy Shore curl up as she dropped the bucket. “Oh dear Celestia what is that horrible smell," she asked.

My host put down the buck. “You never camped out anywhere, have you?”

“There are no real places to camp out in the city the size of Fillydelphia," Sandy Shore replied.

“You're telling me your family never took you out camping?” Grassweed asked incredulously.

“Nope. My family spent all our energy working in the bakery. Besides I tend to enjoy the beach more," she said.

“So you're a baker that wants to be a beach pony?” Grassweed said.

“Yep. The ocean is always calling me. I hope to be able to build a house near the water someday," Sandy Shore said as she started to scrub the walls.

My host and Grassweed began to scrub the doors and floor. I had a feeling they were trying to avoid the less than fun part of the stall seats.

As time ticked by, I was starting to get a bit worried that I have to experience these long dead ponies cleaning this long forgotten bathroom. The door suddenly opened, and a white unicorn mare with a light blue puffy mane walked in holding a bucket and brush in her mouth.

“Um... Hello. I’m Snowplain. I guess this is where they send the trouble makers," she said sheepishly.

“Nope. This is where the send Equestria’s finest!” Grassweed said with a snort and continued to scrub the floor.

Snowplain laughed a little bit and started to scrub the wall. A flash of light occurred and the room seemed to get distorted. The room reappeared, but my host was standing in a different spot.

“What just happen?” I asked.

I could hear the voice of the A.I. replying. “That was a memory flash. The whole element of that memory was not able to be recovered by the memory spell, nor effectively rebuilt by the databank,"

The memory flash seemed weird and disorienting, however the feeling quickly passed, and I returned to paying attention to the orb.

“Ok, so we can’t play rock, paper, scissors to see who has to clean the seats. What else should we try?”

Behind my host a voice said. “Well why don’t you all work on it together,"

My host and the others turn to look at Scotch standing there looking at them.

“You know this was a punishment for talking back to your superior officer, but also a lesson for you four to learn. That lesson was working together. When you're out in the field, your fellow soldiers will be the ones to save you. The more you work together, the more you learn to rely and believe in your fellow soldiers. So instead of trying to making somepony else do the work, just do it together and get the job done," She said.

My host and others looked at each other and nodded.

“Good. Get it done and get to the barracks. You need your rest. Because scrubbing some stalls is the least of the suffering you’ll all be going through," she said with a bit of a laugh as she stepped out of the stall room.

Everypony looked at one another, then began to work on the seats in the stalls. The bright flash happened again, and the scene changed to my host looking at a cot in a dark room. I guess this is the barracks.

“Well looks like we get the last four bunks. They are as far from the heater as they can be," My host said.

“Yep. But at least we get to be bunk mates together!” Sandy Shore said with a bit of a giggle.

“So I’m going to be stuck with you there for the time being I guess. Why do I have a feeling that Bluemoon set this up for us?” Grassweed asked.

We all seemed to fall into our bunks at the same time. The room was very quiet, except for the coal power heater at the far in of the barracks. It seem I might be experiencing the host’s dream, but the familiar flash of light of a memory flash occurred.

My host was standing in the rain, and she seemed to be jogging in place in a field made of just mud. Three other lines of ponies jogged in place ahead of her, including Snowplain, who was in front of her, and to Snow’s right side in the front group was Sandy Shore. The oh so soothing sounds of instructor Bluemoon yelling at the group of ponies to ‘keep jogging!’ and ‘don’t be the one they have to go back for!’ Such encouraging words.

I heard Grassweed’s voice from the right side of my host saying. “So what you think?” his breath was not as labored as it had been. My guess is this wasn't their first workout session. “I mean, really! She keeps complimenting me on how great the work we do on the floral arrangements is. She must have a thing for me. Maybe when we get back, I can see about designing a ocean view for next year's arrangement. Just think! Phillydelphia will look like it has a ocean to the east and west,"

My host, still trying to jog in place, looked over to the smiling stallion and just shook her head. “We been training for only three weeks. Don’t you think it’s a little soon to be asking her out? Let alone asking me for relationship advice?” my host asked.

Grassweed just smiled and nodded, trying to keep attuned with the other recruit’s jogging pace. Then we all dropped down when Bluemoon called out “Push-up thirty five NOW!” Even I instantly tried to drop and start doing pushups.

“Well first.. what makes... you think... she will.... date you?” My host asked in between push-ups.

“Well she... keeps...complimenting... me on my...... family display...." Grassweed replied.

“Sounds... more like... you have.... a fan filly...." My host said. She then stopped doing push-ups. “I think your falling in school colt love with her. You notice that she spends more time talking with Snowplain than you or me?”

Grassweed stop doing push-ups as well and said “Yes, but I figure she just shy,"

“No. Sandy anything but shy. Remember last week when she told us about the time she got gum caught in her hair and other spots? I don’t think I’m going to go back to chewing that stuff ever again," my host said.

“Well true by maybe she just thinks I’m shy and is waiting for me to feel comfortable enough to make a move," Grassweed said.

I could tell my host was about to say something when suddenly a blue hoof step right in front of them. “Hello there, foals. I see that the other fillies and colts are being good and doing push-ups. Care to explain to me why you two decided to stop and talk?” Bluemoon said.

If I could jump back into the past and buck Orange Harvest in the face for what she said, I would.

“It’s personal sir,"

Well, at least she was wise enough to say sir, this time. I guess she had learned something. I think I could hear Grassweed falling over into the mud from what she said.

“Personal you say? Well, I’m sorry. I did not mean to interrupt you two gossiping whose sticking what into whose hole. I got a great way to help you think of who's doing what. Let's first try some simple math to get your brain firing a little faster. Lets see..... can you two count to fifty?”

My host and Grassweed nodded fiercely in fear.

“Good! Because thats how many more push-ups you're going to do for me; and since thinking requires no talking I’m going to stand here and help you not talk by telling how to do push-ups better. Now.....GET....STARTED!” Bluemoon shouted.

My host and Grassweed started to quickly do push ups as Bluemoon started to count.

“One....Two.....Three......Four.........Five...........Six.........Seven. COME ON! I seen non royal guard pegasus do push-ups with their wingtips. Are you telling me your four hooves are weaker than two wing tips? FASTER! Twelve...thirteen...fourteen....fifteen....sixteen. There! Now you're getting it. See? You get better results when you don’t talk about whatever passes through your heads. Twenty One...twenty two...twenty three.....twenty four.......twenty five. Why are you slowing down? Do you want more push-ups? Or would you like to go to mess? These other ponies want to go to mess, but right now they have to stand here and wait for you. Thirty One..thirty two...thirty three..thirty four," Bluemoon continue to shout.

Even I was starting to feel the stress that he was putting on Orange Harvest and Grassweed. Orange Harvest’s eyes started to get a little bit blurry. I was thinking it was going to be another memory flash, but this was her starting to pass out from the workout. Sweat was splashing into the mud puddles around Orange Harvest’s hooves as she continued to complete her task.

“Forty Seven..........Forty Eight........Forty Nine.......Fifty!” Bluemoon shouted.

As soon as the number fifty was reached, I felt my host hooves collapse. Before she fell into the mud, she was caught in a magical blue field. She looked over to where Grassweed was. He was also in the same magical field. My host looked up to see that Bluemoon had caught them.

“Good job, no point getting any dirtier over this mistake," He looked over to Cocoa Leaf and Snowplain. “Help these two to the mess so they can get something to eat," Bluemoon said in a more calm and helpful voice.

Snowplain’s horn glowed as she wrapped a magical field around my host as Cocoa Leaf did the same for Grassweed. Bluemoon stepped aside and droppped his magic. My field of view started to fade. The moment when she was about to pass out from doing push-ups finally caught up to her as my view went to black.

When my field of view returned, I saw that they must of moved Orange Harvest and Grassweed into the mess hall. I could only see the tired stallion’s head as he rested his chin on the table. Orange Harvest’s friends were sitting around them. I could see Cocoa Leaf sitting next to Grassweed, and he seem to be talking to Sandy Shore, whose voice I could hear to my right. Also I could hear Snowplain talking to another pony to my host’s left. I look at what they had for food. From the look of it, it was steamed alfalfa. It look amazing. I haven’t seen fresh non-preserved alfalfa in years. I found myself fixated on the steaming green pile of glory. Though Peach Fuzz was a great cook, you can only take two hundred year old ingredients so far. My fixation was broken when Grassweed spoke up.

“I thought they said we will have exotic foods to eat," Grassweed said with tiredness in his voice.

“Maybe it’s later on when we are,” Sandy Shore raised her hooves and made air quotes with them and said. “‘Ponies,’ they will move us up to more exotic foods," she smiled.

My host looked at her food and picked up a fork with her levitation and poked at the steaming mess of green deliciousness.

Behind Grassweed, Bluemoon stepped into the view. “Well, I can see you’re both broken for the day, so you are ordered to the barracks for the rest of the day to rest,"

A voice from a nearby stallion asked. “Wait, why do they get the rest of the day off?”

Bluemoon facehoof and turn to the stallion,"What is with you foals and questioning my instructions today? The reason is simple. My job is to push you beyond your abilities so you get better. However, if a foal is pushed too far beyond, they are broken and are unable to work. I’d rather have two foals needing a nap for the rest of the day then them being down for a week. But if you like to get an early nap, I’d be happy to help you get to that stage,"

The stallion did not say anything else. Bluemoon turned back to the table that my host and her friends were sitting at. “Finish eating and get some rest. Next week, you start harder training with hoof to hoof combat," Bluemoon said, then stepped away from the table.

Cocoa Leaf leaned in. “You two are lucky you don’t have to do anymore work outs today,"

My host look over to him. “I be happy to trade the feeling of my limbs for your workout," she replied. Then my host turn back and watched Grassweed try to move to pick up his fork.

“I just can’t wait to start hoof to hoof combat training. I heard they are bringing in some zebras from a nearby town to teach us some of their arts," Cocoa Leaf said with excitement.

Grassweed gave up on trying to pick up his fork and said. “I thought we were at war with them. So why are they helping to fight against their own?”

“Well, not all the zebra’s are after us. Really just the ones that are more zealously loyal to their leader. And, well, I also heard that some of them are jealous of how our lands are. I mean we don’t have to deal with feral animals like they do well unless you go to the Everfree forest," Coco Leaf said.

“Have you seen zebras fight, Co?” Snowplain ask.

“Nope I heard they got two primary styles though. One is the secretive and highly disciplined Fallen Caesar style, and the other is Tribal style. Though I would love to learn the Fallen style, I think they’re going to teach us Tribal style. From what I read, its more countering moves than attack," Coco Leaf said.

My host looked back over to Grassweed, who was trying again to reach his fork. Above my field of view, a light yellow light shined, and Grassweed’s fork had the same color to it as a levitation field formed around it.

“Okay, I’ll help ya out," My host said as Grassweed’s fork picked up some steaming alfalfa and placed it in his mouth.

“Awww! How cute! She’s feeding him” Snowplain said.

My host turned and looked at Snowplain, as she had the biggest grin on her face. Orange Harvest turned back to Grassweed and pushed his plate closer to him. Enough that he could reach it with his mouth.

After watching for what seemed like a hour of my host and her friends eating and idling chatting. Nothing useful for a scribe one hundred and seventy years in the future. My host started to stand up and almost fell over. Snowplain helped her up, and Coco Leaf helped Grassweed up. As my host and Grassweed walked towards the mess hall door, they seemed to try to support each other. If she looked in a mirror, they probably would look like two ponies trying to win a six legged race. As they approach the door out of the mess hall, my field of view started to blur: the sign of a probable memory flash occurring. I was right; the scene flashed away...

When my field of view returned, I was watching Grassweed being slammed against the ground. Bluemoon walked over to the now on his back buck.

“I think you're done, foal. I suggest you step aside. I know you have a lot of earth pony pride, but sometimes it’s better to know when your done. It keeps you alive longer," Bluemoon said. Then he turned and looked over at the other ponies in line.

“Okay, who wants to go next? Remember, if you can beat me, you get out of exercise for the day. Any takers?” Bluemoon asked as he look from left to right. “No? Well too bad. I was hoping for more of a work out. Okay foal, back in line”

“Sir! Yes, sir," Grassweed said as he stood and trotted back into line.

My host started to giggle a bit. “Tried to get out of excursies again. You should know by now that Instructor Bluemoon is not going to let you," she said.

Grassweed rolled his eyes and formed up in line next to my host.

“Ok foals. Today you will be learning some of the moves that zebras use to survive in their native lands. I know some of you are wondering why these zebras are helping, since we are at war with their native nation. It’s the same reason why the villages we will send you to when you're done with your training. These zebras are good natured and not loyal to their Caesar. Your job will be to patrol Equestrian borders to keep everything stable, and keep an eye out for some of the more fanatical zebras from trying to breach the borders and cause havoc behind our lines. However, one of the problems you ponies being on the border will face is the fact that a lot of the feral animals live in the wooded areas. Today, these kind zebras will be teaching you hoof to hoof combat skills to survive," Bluemoon said.

Behind Bluemoon, five zebras stepped forward. Four of them stopped while one stepped forward more, and began to speak.

“Hello. I’m Zexton. Today me and my friends will be teaching some of the combat moves we teach other ponies that want to adventure into our lands. However, we will also be teaching how my kin may turn your own combat style against you. Though we lived in peace with ponies, we have also learned your kind of style of hoof to hoof combat. Bluemoon, could you be kind and find a volunteer to show the primary form of pony hoof to hoof combat?” Zexton said.

Bluemoon step forward. “All right foals, its show and tell time. Which one wants to step forward and show us how to kick?”

I heard Cocoa Leaf speak up. “I will sir. I been studying different ar-”

Bluemoon interrupted him. “I don’t need your life story. Just get over here and kick this hay bail,"

Instructor Scotch wheeled over a bale of hay suspended on a rope connected to a pole. Cocoa Leaf walk over and looked at Bluemoon.

“What are you waiting for? Just attack it like it was a tree of apples or a bully whose teeth you wanted to buck in," Bluemoon ordered.

Cocoa Leaf stepped back from the hay bale then lower his head and charged at it at a full gallop. Just before he collided with the hay bale, he turned on one of his fore hooves causing his body to turn. He sharply kicked with both hind legs at the hay bale, causing it to get knocked back. He returned to a normal standing pose and turn back to Bluemoon.

“Good job you know how to kick something,” Bluemoon said. “Now do it again,"

“Sir yes sir," Coco Leaf said and step back and ready himself. He lower his head and charge at the hay bale again. He turn to deliver a kick when a magic field wrapped around him, stopping him in mid kick. The magic field was from Bluemoon. Cocoa Leaf look surprised, and stared at his Instructor.

Zexton stepped forward. “Yes, I agree. Great form on your kick. There is a lot of strength put into it. If you were attack another pony, they probably be unconscious or wishing they were. However against a zebra or a feral animal, you might find yourself at a disadvantage,"

Zexton stepped around in front of Cocoa Leaf, who was still being suspended by Bluemoon’s magic. Zexton pointed to Coco Leaf forelegs. “See? This is where you will find your disadvantage. You have all your strength being put into your hind legs your fore legs are just supporting,"

“I...I knew that,” Cocoa Leaf said. “I have read up on zebra combat arts and traditions,"

“Oh? Well, then surely you be able to beat me in a duel," Zexton said.

“Well ummm..... I read about your combat arts years ago," Cocoa Leaf said while biting his lip nervously.

“Hey, you’ve been bragging about how much you know about zebra fighting all last week, Co!” Snowplain yelled out.

Bluemoon turn and look at Snowplain. “You foal! Twenty-five push-ups, now!” he barked.

“Awww! Come on!” Snowplain said.

“Thirty-five! Now start!” Bluemoon shouted.

Snowplain did not say anything else, but started to perform her push-ups.

Zexton turned back to Bluemoon. “Instructor Bluemoon, could you release our volunteer please?”

Bluemoon released Cocoa Leaf who then place his hind legs onto the ground and turn to face Zexton.

“Now Co is your name?” Zexton asked, stepping in front of Cocoa Leaf .

“No sir. It’s the nickname my friends gave me. My name is Cocoa Leaf ” Cocoa Leaf replied. “But its true. I been studying your culture and martial arts styles. I always wanted to take part in one of the traditional combat competitions. But well the war started and...yeah..." He trailed off.

“Well maybe after the war you can visit the arena and take part in it. But for now, let us teach you how to survive this conflict. Now. Please charge and attack me like you did that hay bale," Zexton said as he stepped back and made sure the rest of us could see. He then took what looked like a loose pose. I was expecting him to take a steady defensive pose to block the kick. Zexton looked at Cocoa Leaf and asked: “Ready?”

Cocoa Leaf charged at Zexton in the same attack method he’d used before. He turned to do his kick, raising his hind hooves into the air. That’s when Zexton countered.

Zexton ducked down and dove under Cocoa Leaf, using his forehooves to connect with the back of Cocoa Leaf’s joints, causing them to buckle, dropping Cocoa Leaf onto Zexton’s back. Before Coco Leaf even had a chance to try to recover, Zexton threw him off his back and onto the ground, back first. Cocoa Leaf was now defenseless as Zexton turned and moved in to strike. The zebra stopped just before hitting Cocoa Leaf . There was just silence. No sound from any of the recruits. The zebra’s speed and planned counterattack worked perfectly.

Cocoa leaf lay on his back, shaking his head. “What the hay just happened?”

Bluemoon stepped over to him and looked down. “You're dead,” he said. “If this was a real animal or zebra attacker, you be slashed or stabbed to death," He then turned to the rest of the recruits. “This will happen to each of you if you don’t pay attention and learn what these moves can do,"

Zexton offered his hoof to Cocoa Leaf . “Thank you for being a effective volunteer Mr. Co,"

Cocoa Leaf reach up and took Zexton hoof and started to stand up.

Zexton pulled helping Coco Leaf up. “Now let me show you a standard kick from one of my kin," Zexton walked over to the hay bale and looked at it. He then spun almost completely around but stopped just short. His front hooves lowered down and one of his hind hooves kicked sharply up at the hay bale. It got knocked back, but not as far as when Cocoa Leaf kicked it. “My kick was not as powerful as Co’s here. However, I did not leave myself open as much for an attack," Zexton then took the same pose and kick the hay bale again. This time he maintain the pose of the kick he made. “Now, if this hay bale was able to block my kick, I would be at a disadvantage if I did not have a free hind leg to work with," he said. Then he brought up his other hind leg in a spinning kick right to the side of the hay bale.

My host and all the other recruits just stood there in surprise at how fast the zebra was with his attacks.

Bluemoon stepped forward again. “Now, for the next two weeks you be training each day on how to use and counter these moves and others. After that, you will begin weapon training,” He said. “Now pair up and get ready to start,"

My host and Grassweed looked at each other. “Care to spar?” Grassweed said.

“I’ll try not to knock to many of your teeth out," My host said, laughing.

Grassweed leaned in closely to my host. “Let’s do this in a spot that Sand can watch me, okay?”

She whispered back. “Grass, are you still trying to impress her? I told you last week, and I even told you this morning that she has no interest in you! Can’t you see that?”

Grassweed frowned. “I’m not giving up on a beautiful mare like that, Orange," He turned and look at her, starting to blush.

My field of view spun as I realised that my host just rolled her eyes. “Come on. Let’s see how well you can impress the ladies. I’ll try to let you keep your pretty smile,"

Grassweed and my host were staring at each other, standing about three pony lengths from one another. I heard Bluemoon voice from the right side. “Alright foals, begin!”

My host charged at Grassweed. Before she reached him, the familiar blurry and bright light of a memory flash began. Just before she delivered a kick, my field of view went white.

When my field of view returned, I found my view of a pony looking down the sight of a rifle. It look like a very early semi-auto rifle. My host was pointing the rifle at a Manticore shaped target down range. I heard the voice of Instructor Bluemoon behind me.

“What you are holding is the SAE1 rifle. This is the latest in earth pony rifle making. The earth pony that designed it made a new feature to it with the autoloader. When you fire, the spent round is ejected and a new round from the magazine is place in. This will allow for faster fire, but remember, it’s accuracy that is going to win you the day. A lot of these animals will have tough hides. It’s better to make one precise shot, than to try to fill it full of lead. So remember breath, aim, and fire. Now group one, start your practice," Bluemoon ordered.

As soon he finished, I heard cracks of gunfire. Some of the ponies must not have follow the instructions. Though my host did not fare much better. Her first shot hit the right paw of the Papercore when she was aiming for its head. Her second shot did a little better hitting right side of its stomach. She then concentrated and was able to finally place a shot in its head. Well more in its left eye. It was enough for a kill though. To my left side I heard the voice of Sandy Shore.

“Nice shot! I think you're catching on quickly,” She said. “Lets see if I still got it,"

She fired three times at the target each one hitting some part of the chest or head: all of them kill shots. My host looked over at Sandy Shore, who was still looking down the site of her gun. At least I think she was. Both her eyes were still open and pupils small. It’s the same eye position every time I’ve seen her. It was starting to really freak me out. I thought to myself ‘why hasn't anypony asked her about it? Or why did they even let her in?’

By my knowledge, this early in the war there was no need to bring in every recruit. They needed numbers, but a lot of ponies join. Hey, most of the ponies I’d seen looked like the adventurous type. Even Cocoa Leaf, himself he doing it to be like Daring Do. So why did they let this pony in?

The crack of the gun knocked me out of my mental rant. I wasn't even sure why I was dwelling on this. She is dead. They are all dead. I should be paying more attention to the weapons they are using, but they were just antique early guns. Uncommon in the wasteland, yes, but mostly because they were junk and replaced later on with better models. How can she fire with her mouth open like that? Mint Chip: stop thinking to yourself and over analyzing this silly thing. They let her in because she a skilled shot, and maybe they just didn't have standards at the start of the war.

“How the hay are you that good with that?” My host said, knocking me out of my ranting mind again.

“Well, I may live and work in Phillydelphia, but my Uncle and Grandfather live and work on a farm. They used guns to scare off the critters that kept sneaking in and stealing food. When I visit, they let me practice shooting it. My father did not approve of it, but my Grandfather thought it was good to teach me. My Uncle just loved sticking it to his brother whenever he had a chance," Sandy Shore replied, chuckling.

“Wait, I though all the animals in Equestria are tamed and such?” My host asked.

“Tame? Yes, but doesn’t stop them from going back to some of their past instincts. Before we settled here, these critters foraged for food just like we did. The instincts are still in there heads, and even with all the taming we can do, they’ll still take a chance to grab a free bite to eat," Sandy Shore explained.

“Well I give up. I just don’t know what's wrong with your weapons. I mean, I figured that’s why you two stopped and are discussing the ways to fix your weapons, but I’m not sure why a history lesson on why we have these guns is going to help. I guess I’m just not cut out to be a instructor. Maybe I should turn in my hat; or maybe you two are just gabbing your gums and not learning a damn thing," The ever rising voice of Bluemoon growled behind my host and Sandy Shore. I could hear the swallow of my host as she realised she was screwed. Again.

“Really now? Well, I see that she is a good shot, but looks like you need to practice more," Bluemoon said.

“But sir, I hit the target in the eye! That should put it down right," My host said turning to Bluemoon. I started to wonder if Instructors throughout history ever smiled.

“Yep you hit it in the eye which would kill it, but what shot did you get it in the eye," He said staring down at my host, making me wonder if he kept staring, would he be able to see me?

“Third shot, sir,” My host said.

“Well, that’s nice, but its wrong! If that was a real Manticore, it would of already torn out your spine and brushed its teeth with it!” Bluemoon yelled directly into my host face.

My host was showing great progress of not saying dumb things to the Instructor laterly. “Brush its teeth with my spine? I don’t think that possible," Well I guess I spoke too soon.

Bluemoon stared directly into her eyes. I could see the reflection of my host’s eyes in his, and they were full of fear. “Are you questioning my analogy?” He asked.

“Sir! No sir!” My host quickly replied. I guess she got her head back on.

“Good. Now you keep practicing till I get three headshots in a row. You got me? Group two you're up," He ordered.

My host started to stand up till Bluemoon hoof was place on her back.

“Not you, foal. You're now part of group two and group three and every group till I get my head shots," Bluemoon said.

My host look over to Sandy Shore, who was getting up. She look at my host and said. “Hang in there, Orange. Just keep practicing, and you’ll get it," She walked behind the rope line while Bluemoon moved to start to filing in group two.

Wait, now I think I know where I’ve seen her face before! That ghoul in Rot Station she has that same face. The ‘I’ve died but can’t accept’ it face. That must be her! Next time we go to Rot Station, I should ask her. Wait. Most of them either forgot their names or just up and changed their names to forget their past. My mental thought on Sandy Shore was broken again by Grassweed, who was apparently part of group two. He laid on the ground station next to my host.

“Your mouth seems fairly accurate. You hit Instructor Bluemoon’s button right in the piss off mode. Nice shot," Grassweed said.

My host just looked at him. I could hear the annoyance in her breath.

“So what did you and Sandy talk about? Was it me? Did she like how I was doing in close combat drills yesterday?” He asked.

“What? When I threw your flank over my shoulder and onto the dirt. Yeah, we were talking about that," she shot back. I could almost feel the smile she was forming.

“Yeah, yeah... You kicked my flank. Nice job. I thought I had you, but you got me in the end. Now come on tell me what did you two say about me?” Grassweed said with a what seemed to be enthusiastic face.

My field of view spun as my host rolled her eyes. “Fine, we’ll talk about that adorable little color patch on your sack. You know, that one shaped like a rubber ducky” My host said. That line made me chuckle a bit.

“Wait. How you know that I have that?” He said with a now very surprised look on his face.

For a split second my host look down in what I could think of maybe an embarrassed face. “Well I kind of peaked when we all were in the showers about two weeks ago. You're like the only station that is not try to show themselves off while they clean themselves. I figure you were hiding something, so I just had to have a peak," My host replied in a slight embarrassed voice.

“Celestia! I hope you didn’t tell her that” He said in a more frantic voice.

“No I did not. She wouldn't of cared anyway. As I told you before, you’re bucking up the wrong tree. She would care more at what's under Snowplain’s tail then what’s under your belly. So stop asking before I do tell her about your mark," My host said.

“Well you did say it was adorable, so maybe that will get me a chance to buck that tree," He said with a smile.

“Uhhhhg," My host replied slamming her head into the dirt. She then quickly raised it when she heard Bluemoon order everyone to being practice.

My host look down the sites of her gun as the scene started to fade out. The crack of her gun was distorted at the memory flash started.

My field of view returned to my host sitting with her friends. The ground was covered in white. I’d seen snow before, but the snow of the wasteland looks sickish. This was nice, clean snow, and in an even amount everywhere. Equestrian wasteland snow just piles up in spots, depending on which way the wind decides to screw you. I wanted to just watch the snow for hours, but my host had other ideas as she look at the ever so oddly looking Sandy Shore.

“So when we get done with training and get our orders, we get a week off before we are deployed?” my host asked.

“Yep! Gives us time to see love ones and wrap up loose ends before we are away for a long time," Sandy Shore said.

“I hope we get a good Lt...... I think they are called Lts right?” Cocoa Leaf asked.

“Lt is short for Lieutenant. He will lead our squad of ten ponies," Grassweed said picking up a cup from the table and pouring some coffee.

“So basically we are going from one loud jerk telling us what to do to another?” Snowplain grumbled.

“Yep. But this time we be in a combat zone, so there is a chance for us to die," Grassweed said before he took a drink of his coffee.

“We are not going to see any combat. I mean, yeah, the zeebs are being jerks and not listening to reason, but still! They won’t take it this far. Celestia won't allow it," My host replied.

From behind Grassweed, I could see Bluemoon walking towards them.

“Crap. Here comes Bluemoon what the hay did we do now?” My host whispered ducking down a bit.

“Don’t know. He seems to like picking on you, Orange," Sandy Shore whispered back picking up a cup trying to look busy.

“You five foals. Front and center!” Bluemoon barked.

“Sir, yes sir!” The group of ponies said and stood in line in front of Bluemoon.

“Report to warehouse seven there you will receive orders from Instructor Scotch. You understand me?” Bluemoon said.

“Sir, yes sir!” the group replied in unison.

“Quit standing around and get going," Bluemoon shouted and walk off.

My host and her friends proceeded to the storage area of the base. The sound of walking in snow finally was something to enjoy rather than fear as they walked. The crunching sound, and not just sinking knees deep in it wondering if its covering a mine or some horrible radioactive source. When they arrived at warehouse seven, the main door was not open neither was the service door. They looked at each other.

“Warehouse seven right?” My host said.

“Yeah. So who wants to try the door?” Snowplain asked.

The group of five stood there for a second till Cocoa Leaf stepped forward and, with his magic, opened the door. The room was dark, except for a light shining down on the middle of the floor.

“Well this doesn’t look right," Grassweed said as he stepped back a bit.

“Maybe its some kind of torture test to see how well we can take it?” Sandy Shore offered rather unhelpfully.

Cocoa leaf was the one that step through first. “I really don’t think they will torture us,"

Grassweed was the next to enter, then Snowplain, then my host. Sandy Shore seemed to be the one that did not like any of this. They stood in the tight circle; my host watching the shadows for anything. I could not see a thing with the light overhead, so I assume she was having the same problem. The lights suddenly shut off with a loud clank. The room went completely dark.

“Okay, now I’m starting to believe your torture concept," Cocoa Leaf said.

Over head a light turn on but not pointed at the group but at the catwalk above the group. The light shone on Instructor Scotch.

“Good afternoon my little ponies” she said with a rather dark smile on her face.

This may have happen almost two hundred years ago but even I was starting to feel fearful of what Scotch was doing.

“I think some of you remember back when you first started here eight weeks ago on your first day. I told you that cleaning the stalls was a lesson for you to learn to work together as a team. Well today we get to full test your team work. A dear friend let me borrow her critter friends to help test you. There is only one rule, and she made it clear not to hurt them, and my rule is they can’t cross that line behind you.

My host turn around to see a light shine on the floor that made a line.

“If they cross that line you will have to start your ten weeks over again. You understand your orders?” Scotch said.

My host turn back and look at her and nodded. She look at the others they were standing in a defensive stance. She joined in.

“Okay then lets get started," she said as the light dimmed around her and the room lights lit only slightly.

In the distance, there was a gate that they could see by now. The gate began to open, revealing shadows that I know all too well, and what seemed to be a mystery to my host and her friends. From the gate walked a Manticore, Timberwolf, and a Cockatrice. I could hear the panicked breathing coming from Sandy Shore.

The fearsome creatures started to walk towards my host and her friends none of them moved. It seem they were panic stricken. At this rate it looks like I be revisiting her training again. I was not looking forward to it. As they approach the voice of Cocoa Leaf stood out as he took charge.

“Quick! Sand, cover Snow. And Grass? Cover Orange. Give them time to get their spells ready!” Cocoa Leaf said.

Grassweed stood directly in between My host and the Manticore that was starting to run at us. The Timber wolf charge at Snowplain but Sandy Shore step in its way.

“Orange, Snow use your telekinesis to push them back!” Cocoa Leaf ordered.

My host’s response was fast she formed a wall a pony length ahead of Grassweed. The Manticore ran right into it. Snow’s telekinetic shield also formed ahead of Sandy Shore: blocking the Timber wolf.

Grassweed watched the Manticore bite at the shield he just stood there. I was unsure what he was doing. The light started to flicker above my host head. The Manticore was starting to overpower her magic. That when Grassweed spoke up.

“Orange! Drop your shield quickly!” Grassweed shouted.

My host responded quickly and dropped the magic wall. Grassweed charged in and shoved the manticore right in its chest with his head, knocking it back hard. He stepped back and took a defensive stance.

My host looked over to Sandy Shores’ spot. Snow seemed to be doing better with the wall compared to my host. Sandy quickly stepped around, grabbing the Timberwolf with zebra like agility, and was able to throw it back down the room. I could see that the manticore and timberwolf both noticed that the shield wall with my host was the weakest, as they both charged at Grassweed. He stood strong and readied himself while my host tried to put a shield back up, but was already having difficulties.

Around my host’s shield, another formed from Snow. Then a third one formed, this one looking like Cocoa Leaf ’s magic. Both creatures slammed into the reinforced wall. Both Sandy Shore and Grassweed darted around the wall, and were able to toss the manticore and timberwolf back. It seemed my host and her friends had learned teamwork and how to help one another. I noticed something my host seem to be missing. The cocktrice was just standing there, doing nothing. Why is it just standing there?

The flickering light of Cocoa Leaf’s magic drew my attention back to the wall as it faded. Grassweed turned to look at Cocoa Leaf and his mouth dropped open. My host turned to see Cocoa Leaf was a turned to stone.

“Co down!” Grassweed shouted.

“We need to get that thing to turn him back!” Snowplain shouted as she created another wall, this time with more force in it, pushing the two attacking beasts back.

“Right! Sand follow me. Orange, can you give me a boost up?” Grassweed said as he charged forward along with Sandy Shore; both running around the manticore and timberwolf.

My host seemed confused in trying to figure a way to give him a boost as he requested. Then the light around her horn glowed as some kind of platform formed in front of the charging Grassweed.

Sandy Shore was about to reach the cockatrice, but it took flight. Grassweed was ready, and lept onto the platform, then at the cockatrice. They both came crashing down. The beast stared into Grassweed’s eyes. He froze and started to turn. Snow was quick and aided by casting a snowball and plastering the cocktrace in the face, covering its eyes in snow. She then helped pin the bird’s head down so it could not stare at anypony. The only problem now is that my host was the only one defending the line.

My host stood her ground as the manticore and timber wolf charged at her. She lower her head and started to charge back using what was left of her magic to grab hold of the timberwolf throw it back. She reached the manticore. It raised up both paws to strike her. She responded quickly and dove under the beast, using one of the zebra moves she learned. Quickly knocking the hind legs out of the beast, causing it to fall onto her back. She quickly used her strength to throw it off her and away from the line.

However, the timber wolf recovered quickly and was charging at her again. She tried to raise a spell around it, but it was too late. In my field of view and in her eyes was the face of a timber wolf as it tackled her, sending her back. She landed and slid back. A whistle was heard, and the snarling timberwolf that was in my host face suddenly started to pant and seemed to be happy. It then step off my host and walked back over to the room it came out of.

My host looked over at the others. The manticore was already walking back to its room and the cockatrice seem to be nuzzling Snowplain.

Cocoa Leaf, who apparently returned to normal, walked over to my host. “What happen?” he asked.

My host jump up and turn to see him standing there looking confused. “You were turned into stone," she replied.

“Did we win?” he asked, rubbing the back of his head.

“Ummm... I don’t think so. The timberwolf kind of got past the line with me in his arms," My host said.

Overhead the light on Scotch light back up. “Well they got past you," she said.

The others gathered around my host as they looked up at Scotch.

“So we have to repeat the ten week course again?” Grassweed asked.

“Well no. You made it past your timer. I just let you keep going so you can have more practice working together. Also, it’s a good motivator for you to conquer your fears. I figure staring down these critters is a lot less terrifying than facing another ten weeks with Bluemoon. However take this to heart. If this was a real fight, your friend would been the next to fall after you. Keep yourself strong and each other strong. Next time, you won't be facing friendly manticores or timberwolves," Scotch said.

My host vision began to blur a bit. Another memory flash? No there was no light.

“Looks like he gave you a nasty bump on the head. The rest of you take her to medical. Also, Bluemoon is behind you he will give your last part of your debriefing," Scotch said, then walked towards a room in the warehouse.

Everyone turned to see Bluemoon standing there.

“Do not tell any other foal about the test you just took. If I find out that some foal that has not taken this test finds out about it. All of you will be punished. Now get her to medical. She looks like she has a concussion," Bluemoon said. At least I think it was Bluemoon. His voice started to fade.

My field of view dropped to black. It seemed that my host had passed out. The black slowly turn to white as a memory flash occurred.

The white scene was replaced by a winter morning and my host standing in a line behind another group of ponies. Ahead of her was a stage and podium. On the stage was Bluemoon and Scotch, along with several ponies dressed in armor. My guess it was the royal guards. Above them was the Equestrian flag.

Bluemoon stepped forward and stood behind the podium. Bluemoon seemed different. When he looked at the rows of assembled recruits, he did not look down upon them, but seemed to have the look of pride at what they had accomplished. When he spoke, it was the first time I could hear him speak calmly and clearly. The last time I heard an Instructor speak that way was during my graduation from training. So it look like my host and her friends made it through.

“Centuries ago, Equestria was hit by great evils. One took a great city to the north, the other took one of the princess away from us. When the evils were removed, Equestria needed to be healed and be protected. Celestia ordered the Royal guard to expand. No longer protecting just a small city, but Equestria as a whole. Over time Equestria grew and allowed for new towns and cities to be built, and new families to grow. The Royal Guard were their protectors," Bluemoon said. He pointed over to the royal guards standing on the stage.

“Decades ago, a great evil returned and new defenders of Equestria were needed. The bearers of the Elements of Harmony. They represented the spirit of Equestria and all of us. With them, the many great evils were defeated. They were also defenders of Equestria,” He said. Now looking at the Equestrian flag.

“Months ago, a new evil entered Equestria. That evil is War. New defenders of Equestria are need to fight this darkness. You are the new Defenders. You are the sword and shield of Equestria. You all carry the strength of the Royal Guards from the past, and the spirit of the Elements of harmony now. You represent what Equestria is. You carry a part of each element in you. Use it to protect your home, your families, and yourself.

Show those that want to use war the Generosity of your self: both to your fellow pony and zebra. The Kindness in your hearts to aid their suffering. The Loyalty to all the ponies of this land. The Honesty of ourselves and to others. The Laughter and joy we bring to others as we help them and protect them, and our spirit is our Magic. That will protect all of Equestria. “ He said pointing at the group of ponies in front of him.

“For the last ten weeks, I have called you foals. I no longer can. I am proud to call you ponies, and prouder to declare you as part of the Equestrian Army," He said. Then saluted the now soldiers of the old Equestria.

The now pony soldiers saluted back to their former Instructor and in unison, turned left and marched back to the barracks. The quiet crowd that was behind them cheered as they marched. I could tell these ponies were proud of what they have done. Even my host seem to walk with her head higher than normal.

When they were away from the crowd of ponies, they started to break marching formation. My host trotted faster to catch up to her friends. A sign was posted on the wall of the building that my host and every other soldier walk behind to get away from the crowd. It read ‘All Equestrian Army soldiers report to your barracks to receive your assigned orders. Then pack your stuff and head outside to meet your families and congratulations.’

My host and her friends entered the barracks. There were already ponies looking at their orders and packing their things. One seemed to be throwing everything into his duffel bag. I guess he really wanted to see his family. My host walked over to her bunk. On it was a scroll seal with a royal seal. She picked it up with her telekinesis and looked at her friends. “So what do you think our squad going to be called?” she asked.

“Maybe we get to name our own squad. They even might of made Co here our leader, since he did really well at that test," Sandy Shore said picking up her orders with a hoof and started remove the seal so she could read it.

“I can see it now Cocoa’s Renegades," Grassweed said holding his front hooves over his head and spreading them out like he was revealing a sign.

“What about The Sand Dollars!?” Sandy asked, dropping her orders onto the floor.

Grassweed was the first to read his orders aload. “Grassweed you are ordered to report to Lt. Oakwood of Ruby Squad of the shield regiment, second battalion, fourth company, first platoon," he read aloud.

“Wow they like to subdivide themselves a lot," Sandy Shore said yet again dropping her scroll as she tried to talk and open it at the same time.

Cocoa leaf caught the scroll and unrolled it for Sandy Shore. He began to open his while Sandy read hers.

“Sandy Shore you are orer to reprot to Lt.Oakwood of Ruby Squad! YES! I got me a squad buddy!” She gave Grassweed a big hug.

Grassweed had the a rather love struck smile on his face as Sandy Shore hugged him. She then look over at Snowplain and her smile dropped.

When my host look at Snowplain she had tears in her eyes.

“Snow what’s wrong?” Sandy Shore said.

Snow began to read her letter allowed struggling to hold back the tears. “Snowplain you are order to report to Lt. Cederwood of Silver squad in sword regiment of..." She just stopped reading and began to sob.

Sandy Shore walk over to her and hug her. Tears started to form in her eyes. “This is so stupid they tell us to work together as a team. Tell us to embrace friendships and when we made our friends, they split them into different squads. What the buck is this shit!” She said as she started to cry.

Grassweed spoke up. “Orders signed by the Captain of the Royal Guards,"

Sandy Shore looked over to Grassweed with tears running from her eyes. “You mean that bucker with the purple armor. I going to go give him a piece of his mind after I crack his head open with a brick," She started to move towards the door.

Cocoa leaf step in front of her and spoke in a softer voice. “Don’t worry, Sand. I will keep her safe. I’ve been assigned to her squad as well," Cocoa Leaf said while placing a hoof on her to help calm her down. “Besides cracking the Captain of the Royal Guard head won't help you be assigned to our squad. I think that will just end up getting you placed in chains," He said giving Sandy Shore a hug

Sandy Shore look up at him and said. “Thank you Co. I know you’ll keep your word," She then looked over to my host. “W.wh..what does your say Orange?” she said while wiped tears from her eyes, sniffling.

My host look down and removed the seal from her scroll. She took a deep breath and said. “I have been assigned to......... Oakwood squad," she said.

Sandy Shore smiled a bit. “Well at least they didn't split us up too much," She wiping more tears from her eyes. “Well our families are probably waiting for us to see them," she said as she walked over and started to put her personal belongings into her duffel bag.

My host and her friends started to do the same. Even with some sadness in the air, they seemed to be enthusiastic as they put their bags together. Even if my host did not really like her family, she seemed to be in a hurry to see them. When her bag was packed, she waited for the rest of her friends to finish. They walked out of the barracks and back into the light of the afternoon. The beautiful, perfect snow was still all around them.

“I think our families will be waiting for us in the parade grounds. We should hurry I haven’t seen my brother in weeks," Snowplain said as she started to run back towards the grounds. My host and the rest of her friends followed.

As they reach the parade grounds, I could see the groups of ponies hugging, talking, and sharing stories and introducing friends. Still their faces had a blurry quality to them. I could tell that some of the ponies that were talking to the soldiers were colts and fillies. Saying hello to their older brother or sister, I assumed. I could hear crying and cheers from left and right of me.

Cocoa leaf was the first to find his parents. His father seem to have a mustache and beard, or he just had an off color nose from his gray body.

“Hey Orange! I’d like you to meet my father. Dad this is my friend, Orange Harvest. She lives in Canterlot and works at one of the local banks," Cocoa Leaf said.

“Well hello there Orange Harvest. I’m glad to see you helped my son survive training. Thank you for helping him keep his head on his neck," Cocoa’s father said.

“Ummm thank you Mr...?” my host said

“Oh sorry. You can call me Silverline. I run the main steel mill in Phillydelphia," Silverline said.

“Wait. You live in Phillydelphia, but Co here lives in Canterlot?” My host said looking over at Cocoa Leaf .

“I run the logistics for my father’s company with the Royal Guard," Cocoa Leaf replied.

“Run with the Royal Guard huh? Guess that explains why you were able to take charge during the test," My host replied.

“I manage a lot of ponies back at work, and I picked up a few tricks from the royal guards I’ve worked with," Coco Leaf explained.

“So you took charge and saved your friends? Thats my colt," Silverline said placing his foreleg around his son and shaking him a bit, then giving him a bit of a noogie.

“Ah stop! Hey I see Snowplain! Come on! Let’s go meet her. She will be my squadmate," Cocoa Leaf said, trying to get out of his fathers grip.

As they walk towards Snowplain, my host turn to Cocoa Leaf. “Why are you giving up and joining this again?” She asked.

“I told you. I am adventurous, like Daring Do. I don’t like just sitting around an office telling somepony where to file a paper, or sit there with a officer of the guard trying to decide how much metal they need this month,"

My host then turn to Silverline. “You’re letting him do this?”

“I can’t stop him, nor would I want to. It’s his choice to sign up. Besides, it will work out for business. He will be in the field and be able to tell me what he thinks this Equestrian Army will need, and we can have an up on the other competitors. Sales dropped from the embargo on the zebras. So this will give us a chance to kick up production and put ponies back to work," Silverline said.

“You sold to the zebras? What do they need steel for? Aren't they tribal?” My host asked. I could see out of the corner of my field of view Snowplain waving for us to hurry and get over there to meet her family.

“With the trade of coal for gems, the zebras had a chance to expand. They did, and we helped by selling steel to them. I figure the market won’t last forever because they were starting to get there own mills rolling, but it was a nice boost to production. Now I think I can get another boost from this army. It won’t last long hopefully, but by then I think I’ll have some additional contracts, given how Equestria is expanding,” Silverline said as we walked up to Snowplain. “Hello dear. Snowplain is it? I heard you’ll be working with my son. Try to keep him out of trouble," he said.

Snowplain smiled and laugh a bit. “I’ll keep his head on straight, sir. I’d like you to meet my little brother, Snowball," she said.

“Snowball?” Cocoa Leaf asked with a confused expression.

“It’s a family thing," Snowplain explained.

“I figure that but I mean where is he?” Coco Leaf said pointing to the ground around her.

“Oh he is on my back, apparently trying to hide. Come on little brother. Say hello to my friends," Snowplain said looking behind her. She turned back and smiled at my host and Cocoa Leaf.

“No!” a small colt voice behind Snowplain said.

Snowplain turn her head around again. “Please," she said with what I guess was a big smile.

“Nuuuuu” is all I heard back. I guess the kid doesn’t want to see these ponies.

Snowplain turned around and smiled at us. Then her horn light up and I could see a magical field form behind her.

“he-hehe- HEY! hehe- Ssstop that! hehahe You know hehhhe that I’m ticklish to hahagic!” Snowball said as he was floated upside down, now laughing in front of my host and Cocoa Leaf . Snowball look like a smaller and colt version of Snowplain. He had the same colors of his sister, and was a unicorn.

Snowplain placed Snowball right side up on the grass. “That’s not fair sis. Stupid unicorn magic," He said sitting down crossing his forehooves.

“Hate to break it to you ,little bro you're going to have stupid unicorn magic too," Snowplain said flicking her brothers horn.

“No, my magic is going to be awesome. So much better then yours," Snowball said, sticking his tongue out.

“There you are Orange," Grassweed said, walking up with two other ponies following him. “They were looking for you," He said as the two ponies that were following him stepped forward.

“Hello dear. How have you been?” The mare asked.

“Doing okay. The Instructors kick our flanks a few times, but we pulled through," My host said sitting up proudly.

“I can tell,” The stallion said. “At this rate you be able to kick over some of our younger trees back at home,"

“I said I was not going to work at the farm anymore," my host replied, stomping a hoof down.

“I know I was kidding. Though it’s sad to see you go. We are glad that you are able to find work in Canterlot, but are you sure you want to do this?” the stallion asked.

“Ummm Mr....." Grassweed said stepping forward.

“What? Oh ,sorry! I’m Maplestock, and this is my wife Orange Blossom," Maplestock said. Placing a hoof around the mare.

“Maplestock? Odd name for a orange farmer," Grassweed said.

“Not everypony needs to be named after what they do," Maplestock said offering his hoof to Grassweed.

“Sorry. In my family, seems like everypony is named after some kind of plant," Grassweed said, shaking Maplestock’s hoof.

“Hey guys! I found them!” The voice of Sandy Shore was behind my host. When my host turned around, Sandy Shore had both her hooves around two ponies.

“These two lovely ponies are my parents. Jampuff and Bakeroll," she said wiggling her hoof around the shoulder of the mare and then the stallion.

Seemed like everywhere you looked, ponies started to form into large groups. Guess a lot of friends were made in training, and now everypony was talking to everypony else. It’s something you don't really see in the wasteland anymore.

“Yeah, these are my friends from training; the ones I wrote you about. They helped me survive through this crazy thing," She said, returning to standing back on all four hooves.

“Hello! You must be Orange’s parents, and you are ummmm.... Co’s father and,” She looked down at the Snowball standing behind one of Snowplain’s forelegs. “Hello! You must be Snowplain’s little brother. I hope you’re having fun seeing your big sister again," Sandy Shore said.

The group of ponies seemed to talk forever about different things from their respective cities. I started to zone out a bit looking more at the snow on the ground. I really wished I could see snow like this again. I was finally snapped out of my daze by Sandy Shore looking directly into my host face.

“Hey Orange, are you ready to go?” she asked.

“Yeah. Sorry, just a little tired and started to space a bit. So the army’s paying for our tickets for a visit home?” My host asked.

“Yep. Grassweed’s parents are going to take us all to the skyport. That’s why we haven’t seen them yet. We should head over to the lot and see if they have arrived," Sandy Shore said.

“Okay I haven’t been in one of the large sky chariots, let alone one of the smaller ones," My host replied and started to walk with the group.

Grassweed spoke up from behind my host. “Hey Sand, can I talk to you for a minute?”

Sandy Shore stopped and turned. “Sure what's on that mind of yours?” she asked passing my host.

My host continue to walk towards the lot with different chariots, wagons, and even a few skycarts parked in it.

“Hello. You must be Grassweed’s friends and family. I’m Rosestem, and this is my husband Birch. Where is my son?” Rosestem asked.

“Oh he is,” Orange Harvest turned around and looked back into the crowed of blurry ponies. She seemed to take a few seconds to spot them. Even though, to me, they stood out due to the fact they were not blurred by the memory. Sandy Shore seem to talking quietly to Grassweed, and he had the face I’d seen on Meleen Seed’s face before when he asked Knight Lime out on a date. The look of rejection. I guess he’d just learned what my host had been telling him this whole damn time. “Ummm... give me a minute. I’ll go find them," My host said, walking back into the crowed.

She could see Sandy Shore slowly walking back towards her with a lowered head. When she reached my host she just looked up at her.

“I’m Sorry Orange” then lowered her head again.

“It’s okay. He’d have to learn sooner or later. Go back to the rest of the group. I’ll go talk to him. Okay?”

She just nodded, and started to walk past my host. Grassweed was just sitting there, poking at the snow with his hoof, trying to hold back tears.

My host sat next to him and placed her hoof around his shoulders. “I’m sorry that she had to tell you this. I tried to help you early on," my host said.

Grassweed just lowered his head. “I know. I guess I was just holding out hope," he said. “I really wanted to show her my design I have been working on back at home,"

“I tell you what. We get a week off, and my family starts the harvest in three days. I’ll go home and spend sometime with them. Then head to Phillydelphia and see your family’s display, and your design you have planned," My host said.

Grassweed looked up at my host. “Are you sure you want to leave your family so soon and on a harvest?” he asked.

“I’m not needed for the harvest, so I’d rather spend some more time with my friends," My host said, patting Grassweed gently on the head.

“Okay. I will get the guest room set up. If you like, you can stay on the mountain so you won't have to travel too much,” Grassweed said, now with a small smile.

“Deal. Also, you're going to find me the best restaurant in town. I want to try some of this Philly food I hear about,” My host said.

Grassweed stood back up. “You know, those of us who live in Fillydelphia don't like it when ponies call it that. Makes us sound like we eat fillies or something,” Grassweed said.

“I know, but its all in the context. Now lets get going. I still haven’t said hello to your parents yet," My host said as she started to walk back towards their families.

<=======ooO Ooo=======>

My field of view went dark as the interface display receded. The voice of the A.I. came up.

“Section one complete. Outside time lapse is three hours. Would you like to shut down?” the A.I. asked.

“Yes,” I replied back.

“Shutting down system.Stand by,” The A.I. replied.

Everything faded to dark and then I felt my eyes opening. I was sitting in the chair with my hoof still on the black square. The feeling of confusion passed quickly, but I almost could not believe where I was. Just a second ago, I was in old Equestria, seeing pure snow and now I’m looking at a gray terminal. I did see a note left on the screen. I picked it up with my magic and read it.

‘Hey Mint. I checked in on you like I said I, would but looks like you were able to conquer your nervousness and start in. I knew you could do it. Oh, by the way, I did wipe the drool off your face. From your Apricot.’

I smiled as I read then frowned.

“I don’t drool."