Big Mac awoke from his nap to find the train had arrived at the training grounds at Fort Hoovler, Macintosh got off with the other stallions who were drafted and went to the receiving barracks. He could see the looks on all their faces and could tell they were all very nervous. Almost immediately drill instructors began pounding on the confused recruits.

"MOVE IT!" A demanding voice shouted. "MOVE FASTER RIGHT NOW!". The stallions all turned to see a large earth pony clad in armor. He was almost as big as Macintosh and had three scars going across his face. Big Mac hurried to the barracks as the instructor pony began yelling more.

"IF YOU MOVE THAT SLOW ON THE BATTLEFIELD YOU ARE AS GOOD AS DEAD! DO YOU HEAR ME? GOOD AS DEAD!" The instructor shouted as the ponies made their way to their rooms and unloaded their bags. Macintosh put the picture of his family next to his bed as he and the other ponies were given training uniforms which weighed sixty pounds.

"I AM SERGEANT SKULLCRUSHER! YOUR SENIOR DRILL INSTRUCTOR! FROM NOW ON YOU FILLIES WILL ADDRESS ME AS SIR DO YOU LITTLE FILLIES UNDERSTAND? The instructor pony yelled.

"SIR YES SIR!" The stallions cried.

SIR EEYUP SIR!" Macintosh responded sounding out of tune with the other recruits because of his accent. No civilian would have caught this but for a seasoned DI it stood out like a sore thumb.

"WHO JUST SAID EEYUP?" Skullcrusher demanded "WHO'S THE SLIMY LITTLE BUCKET OF CRUD WHO JUST SIGNED HIS OWN DEATH WARRANT?".

"SIR I DID SIR!" Macintosh reluctantly responded. His heart began to beat as Skullcrusher gave him a death stare and walked over to him.

"What's your name filly? Skullcrusher asked staring Macintosh right in the eye.

"Sir Big Macintosh sir!" Macintosh replied

"Macintosh? What are you an apple or something?" Skullcrusher asked.

"Sir I am sir!" Macintosh said.

"O a wise pony eh?" Skullcrusher said not knowing Macintosh was part of the apple family.

"Sir! I am part of the apple family sir!" Macintosh explained.

"Where are you from filly?" Skullcrusher asked.

"Sir Ponyville sir!"

"PONYVILLE! HOLY MANTICORES! ONLY STEERS AND QUEERS COME FROM PONYVILLE AND YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE A STEER TO ME SO THAT KINDA NARROWS IT DOWN DOESN'T IT?" Skullcrusher screamed.

"Eeyup sir!" Macintosh yelled before realizing his mistake.

"PRIVATE MACINTOSH! I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYPONY TALKS IN PONYVILLE BUT HERE WE ALL SPEAK THE SAME!" Skullcrusher yelled. "ARE YOU TRYING TO BE DIFFERENT? DO YOU THINK YOUR BETTER THAT EVERYPONY ELSE HERE? HUH?"

Sir no sir!" Macintosh replied.

"THAN QUIT IT WITH THAT HILLBILLY TALK OR I'LL RIP OFF YOUR MANE AND USE IT FOR A MOUSTACHE! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Skullcrusher asked.

"SIR YES SIR!" Macintosh yelled.

"Thats what I like to hear, i'll be keeping an eye on you!" Skullcrusher said as he walked to the front of the room. "LISTEN UP! FROM THIS DAY FORTH YOUR RIGHTS AS PONIES ARE NOW GONE! I'LL DO WHATEVER I WANT TO YOU AND YOU HAVE NO SAY IN IT!" Skullcrusher threatened. "WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET'S GET SOME EXERCISE! GIVE ME TEN MILES".

"SIR YES SIR!" The stallions all yelled as they began the run. Years of applebucking paid off as Macintosh had extreme endurance and finished before the other ponies.

"Sir I'm done sir!" Macintosh said trying to impress Skullcrusher.

"Private Macintosh, do you know that we leave no pony behind?" Skullcrusher asked.

"Yes sir!" Macintosh replied.

"THAN WHY ARE YOU UP HERE AND YOUR BUDDIES ARE ALL BACK THERE? YOU WORK AS UNIT! DROP DOWN AND GIVE ME FIFTY!" Skullcrusher yelled.

"SIR 50 OF WHAT SIR?" Macintosh asked irritated he was being punished. He never thought he'd see the day where he'd regret finishing first.

"OF EVERYTHING! SQUATS! JUMPS! SIT-UPS! SPRINTS! START MOVING!" Skullcrusher yelled as Macintosh did his punishment drills. The rest of the day went downhill after that with Macintosh being punished for absolutely everything even when he did it right. Macintosh felt like nopony else was being punished except him. After lights out Macintosh passed out from his bed exhausted, he had never worked that hard in his life.

"Dude Sgt Skullcrusher hates you." A green stallion with a tree for a cutie mark said.

"Tell me about it! Ah aint never been this dern tired ma whole life!" Macintosh said.

"My names Redwood Oak." The stallion said holding out his hoof.

"Big Macintosh." Big Mac said as he shook the stallions hand.

"Well its pretty late and we got a tiring day ahead of us tomorrow. I recommend some shuteye." Redwood Oak said as he turned off the lights. "G'night Big Mac."

"Night Redwood." Macintosh said as he pulled out a piece of paper and wrote a letter to his sisters.

Dear Applejack and Applebloom

Today was the first day of training and it was exhausting! A week of applebucking don't even come close to what we do here. My drill instructor doesn't like me and yelled at me for ma accent too. I did meet a nice fella though, his name is Redwook Oak he's a mighty nice guy and I think we'll be good friends by the end of this. I miss you and I can't wait to come home.

Love your brother, Big Macintosh

Macintosh reread the letter than put in an envelope and sealed it and put in the mailbox to be sent to the his sisters at Sweet Apple Acres.

Author's Notes:

Who caught the Full Metal Jacket reference?