Star Grazer woke up with a dull, numbing pain on the side of his head. He opened his eyes slowly to see a cloth like structure on top of him. He stared at this dark item over shadowing him for a minute before realizing that he was inside a tent. He began to sit up and just as he did so the dull pain became a hammer to his brain. OH SWEET CELESTIA THAT HURTS!!! Wait! Why think that?

“OH SWEET CELESTIA THAT HURTS!!!”

Light Dasher leaned over from her cloud bed looking down at a cringing white earth pony. She watched as his body rhythmically twitched to the beating of his heart. It looked to her like he had a pretty bad hangover. She figured she might as well bring him to the infirmary.

“Hey! Light weight! Up here!” Light Dasher smiled as she saw the look of pain and rage across his face. She yelled that a little too loudly. She decided to speak in a calmer tone of voice. “Hey! If you aren’t in too much pain, I can take you to the Doc’s tent. He cures hangovers all the time!”

Star Grazer made a motion for her to come down to him. She flew down and realized why he was in so much pain. The rock he laid his head on left a pretty big welt on him. She made sure to keep her mouth shut about her dropping him last night… Combined with a hangover, it must be excruciating for him. She tried not to show any sign of worry as she helped him up.

“Hey… Light Dasher? Did something happen last night?” She turned her head in confusion.

“What do ya’ mean kid?” he shot her a look and repeated his question.

“Did anything happen last night?” She stopped. Slowly turned her face toward him and tried to hold in her guilt.

“NO! Nothing happened! You got drunk and passed out! That is all!” Star Grazer winced at piercing pain.

“No? Ok… please stop yelling in my ear…” Light Dasher saw what looked like a tear roll down his cheek.

“Oh! Sorry…” She nervously giggled and continued walking him toward the distant, standalone, and tent.

After about 5 minutes of walking in silence they reached a red tent located on the outskirts of the camp. Light Dasher proceeded to carry Star Grazer to the white earth pony in green scrubs. Without even glancing there way, the nurse pony gestured toward a flap to the left of her. She then proceeded to pick up a clipboard from a desk behind her and right down something.

They stood in the room which was barren, save for a hospital bed and a strange machine in the corner that had wires and a bag hanging from the top. The ground was covered with tiling that was strangely clean and obtrusive compared to the grass floor off the “lobby”. Star Grazer lifted a hoof to his head and jerked it back at the sting.

“Hey Light?”

“Yeah?”

“Why are we here? You kind of just helped me up and walked me over here…” Star Grazer walked over to the bed where he proceeded to lay down.

“Well I know the Doctor here and he knows how to get rid of hangovers in a snap. I mean if you can call what you have a hangover. It looks more like you were hit by a train…”

The two were interrupted by a noise coming from the flap of the curtain. Some talking was heard and a figure began to move to the curtain. It flipped open revealing a gray unicorn with a monocle and a suit on. From what Star Grazer could tell, the suit was a part of the Petit Cheval collection. He gazed at the stallion with utter confusion. The unicorn took a short glance at Star Grazer then turned sharply around staring at the tent flap.

“Hello! I’m Dr. Gustaf Udo Ulf! Slight swelling of the forehead and poll, pastern and ergot are slightly bent, your crest seems to be fine but shoulders and withers are too muscly and could cause damage in the future. You also seem to have a displaced fetlock on your back right hoof…” The pony stopped and took an overly dramatic breath. “Oh! And you have a hangover…”

Star Grazer was aghast. He didn’t even look at me save for maybe 2 seconds! How in Celestia's name did he do that!!! He continued to stare blankly at the unicorn as he began to walk out the flap, door, thing. “Wait! Aren’t you going to help my hangover?”

“Already have lad! I also got rid of that lump on your face. I don’t think Pegasus “dig” guys with purple welts!” Star continued staring until the soft patter of hoofs on the ground dissipated. He looked over to a smiling Light Dasher and stood up. After taking a few seconds to collect himself he opened the flap and proceeded to exit the tent.

Star Grazer needed a way to find Cherry. He knew the only way to do that was to enlist with the Equestrian army. He wasn’t much of a fighter. Not to mention the fact that he had very little in the way of muscle and could barely handle a mug of cider… In no way, shape, or form was he fit to be a soldier. My common sense tells me not to join the army… my heart says otherwise… Ok let me rationalize the pros and cons again. Wait! Why am I doing this? The reason I travelled so far from Manehatten was to enlist! I don’t need too! Well I do… I’m risking my life, but it’s for my loved one. Ah, she is much stronger and tougher then you! She isn’t even your marefriend! She is just your longtime pal who couldn’t give a flying feather if you liked her! But I LOVE her! No matter…

Light Dasher stood by watching as Star Grazer paced back and forth. His face was spastically changing expressions with each turn of his hoof. He has been like this for a good hour now. I’m probably fired from my job now… I pretty much skipped the whole day yesterday and now today as well. All well! The pay was dirt anyway! A smile broke across her face. Light Dasher wasn’t sure why but she felt a need to stay with Star Grazer. He seemed lost in this big place called Canterlot. Sure half of the city is destroyed and only now does the main castle resemble its former glory, but! The place was still big. Just the refuge and construction camp was pretty big. At least ten to twenty acres large! Possibly more! Why was she even hanging around with this guy anyway? Sure he was kind of cute in a goofy way but he is definitely not her type. He would be all right if he didn’t do that weird thing when he talks. Those big words confuse me sometimes… I swear he makes them up! Also those glasses are a little too big for him. I kind of understand his cutiemark but its…I don’t know. Plain? Hmm… What’s his story anyway? He keeps checking his saddlebag. Why am I worrying about him?

Light Dasher sat there thinking for a few more minutes before deciding that Star Grazer should stop pacing, or at least move places, the grass was completely trampled. She walked over to him. He didn’t seem to take notice of her or, if he did, didn’t care. She reached out a hoof in front of him when he turned around shocking him a little. He stared at her hoof then looked to Light Dasher worriedly.

“You gonna' tell me what’s up? Or am I just gonna’ hang here and watch you trample grass?” She moved her hoof from his chest to his back rubbing t gently.

“I have some stuff going on. I know how to fix it… but I'm scared to do it… I don’t know. Right now I'm confused. Shoot! I have only known you a day and your being so nice to me! Why?”

“I'm a nice girl is all!” She smiled at him and a small grin broke across Star Grazers face.

“Thank you. I'm going to go do what I should have done already!” And with that he turned around and full sprint ran toward the camp, only for him to return not a minute later to Light Dasher. “Do you mind showing me were the sheet is to sign up for the army?” He chuckled nervously. Light rolled her eyes.

“Sure.”

She led Star to the large billboard near the Elites tent at the center of camp. I don’t remember this billboard being here before… Was I really in that much of a rush? Light Dasher leaned against the board and looked around at the  neighboring tents as Star Grazer ripped a small leaflet from the notice.

Report to the Guards tent northeast of this billboard. There talk to the guard about applying to the Royal Equestrian Guard, Army Division. Join the fight against those who oppose the princess!

Star Grazer nodded to Light Dasher and they trotted along at a brisk pace to the guard’s tent.  By now the day was half over. For a fall day it sure was nice weather. The duo made it to the tent 10 minutes later. Light Dasher was noticing a lot of things for the first time. Being that she only came to the guard’s tent at night she never really got a good look at it. It was actually relatively tall compared to the other tents. Not as tall as the Elites tent but tall enough. It was a royal blue color with white trim leading up to the top of the tent. It almost looked like it had two floors. She was snapped out of her mild trance at the absence of a white earth pony by her side. She quickly followed opened the flip and trotted inside. The room in the tent was strangely lit. There was light filtering through but in some areas light wasn’t shining through. Maybe a spell was cast on the tent? Star Grazer was already at the desk in the far right corner of the room talking with a pony. He seemed to be explaining the paper work he was pulling from the ground next to him. Light Dasher stared at him while he filled out the paperwork in rapid succession. He never did explain why he was applying again. You know. Maybe I should apply. If this guy has the guts to apply for army why shouldn’t I? Ah I guess I will. Why not? Someone has to watch him. She chuckled to herself and walked over to Star Grazer and the guard.

“Hey kid! Slide over I'm signing up with ya’.”

Star Grazer and Light Dasher began their training next day. Star Grazer one sidedly argued at Light Dasher about joining the army. She would merely shrug and or laugh at his fail attempts at convincing her otherwise. He had his reasons and she had hers after all. The guard began touring them through the basics of being a guard then left them in the barracks.

Day 0:

Same Night of Signup, 3 Days before Nightmare Night.

Dusk

The Barracks were one of the few places the Griffons were unable to capture. The building was in near perfect condition save for how old it was. A black pony apart of the lunar guard escorted them to the barracks. According to him the captain of the Royal Guard has become a lot meaner and stricter I training ever since the invasion. The Lunar guard opened a tattered brown door and let the two in. What they did not expect was how full the room was. It looked as though all the bunks were taken. Some ponies were actually lying on the floor. Star Grazer gingerly stepped around the sleeping earth ponies and unicorns making his way toward a small open corner. He accidently stepped on an orange unicorn’s tail and was punched in the arm rather forcefully. He finally made his way to the corner were a tired Light Dasher was waiting. Too tired to even look shocked or annoyed he placed his saddlebag down, which in all honesty he wasn’t sure when he got it, and fell down and slept.

Next Chapter: Sergeant Shining Armor Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 31 Minutes