The Life and Times of a West Hoof Cadet

Rapid Strike.

So the would-be assassin had a name.

Because I can be a pest when I want something, Instructor Line shared with me what she had learned in the course of the investigation. Rapid Strike had been trained at West Hoof but was expelled after several instances of overaggressive tactics on the sparring grounds. In fact, during the final instance, the one that would determine his fate, he had severely wounded three cadets and nearly killed a fourth before the Instructors could get to him. This was why sparring matches with multiple opponents were now forbidden.

Since those who were expelled from West Hoof often had trouble finding stable work, he was one of many who found themselves unloading cargo for slave's wages in the Canterlot train yards. Perhaps this was where Skyy Gust had found him.

Gust, for her part, seemed to have vanished after word of the failed assassination attempt had reached her family. Good riddance to Bad Eggs, I say, but her continued absence made me wary. There was no telling where the mare would be. She could be using whatever remaining funds she had to find another knee-breaker to go after her sister. However, I doubted what she would gain from eliminating Nimbus from her family tree could negate the costs of performing such an action. But, if she was actually the one attempting to eliminate Nimbus, she might try again, if only out of spite.

I brought this up to Line and she assured me that the sentries, usually cadets, had been replaced with instructors and were now quite well-armed. West Hoof wasn't taking any more chances. If word got out that the campus wasn't safe, many families would begin to pull their children out and the school's reputation would be tarnished forever.

Instructor Line spent a great deal of time interviewing Nimbus on where she thought her sister might go to ground. The Guard was already out searching for Skyy and any information that she could provide would be helpful.

She gave Line a list of possible haunts but warned that Skyy would be impossible to find if she didn't want to be found. Before leaving, Line gave me a special assignment. To assist in locating Skyy Gust, she wanted me to profile the mare.

Profile Skyy Gust. I hadn't even gotten the profile on Rapid Strike correct, what made Line think I could do any better with an intelligent pegasus who had the connections to virtually fall off of the face of Equestria?

I now had a very full plate. I needed to have private time to grill Nim about her sister, get her and Tor together, and keep her away from the Cumulus clan. This would be quite a feat and I had only a short time to come up with something. Semester break was a mere three days away and, because the Instructors usually went home to their families, cadets were encouraged to do the same. Tor and I would be heading back to the Kicker compound on the edge of Canterlot. He had already told be he'd be bringing Typhoon along. In fact, Typhoon had asked to come along and I was fairly certain as to why. He wanted more time with me.

Since he had been guarding me, Ty and I had become rather close. Despite his rather stoic front, he actually had a rather sharp wit and sense of humor that would expose itself at the strangest times and he could always make me laugh with his wry observations on cadet life. I looked forward to having Ty with us at the compound over the break.

While packing my bags, a thought occurred to me. I needed to keep Nimbus away from her clan, get her close to Tor, and I needed an opportunity to have private time with her. What better way to accomplish all of this than to have Nimbus at the compound with us during break? I told Tor my plan and, surprise surprise, he was immediately on board. Unfortunately, we were making all of these plans without Mom's consent and I knew we would catch Tartarus for it later but it was easier to beg forgiveness than permission. Especially if I had a damn good reason for disobeying Mom.

“So,” I began, closing the door to our room and climbing up onto my bed, “what do you have planned for break?”

Nim shrugged, “Dunno. I thought I'd just head back to Cumulus manor.”

“Seriously? Even with your sister out for your blood? You're going into the belly of the beast.”

“I can't stay here, not without the Instructors. If you have a better idea...”

“I do. You're coming with me to the Kicker compound.”

She sat up. “What?”

I cocked an eyebrow. “Remember when I said I'd protect you every time you do anything stupid? Well, ta-da... besides, Line wants me to pick your brain about your sister so we'll kill two birds with one stone.”

“But-”

“It has already been approved by the powers-that-be, namely Mom, and you're going to come with me and Tor and Typhoon to spend a fun-filled week of intense training, my mother's patented third-degree, and lots and lots of interviews with me about your favorite family member.”

“Your mom actually approved of you bringing the school whorse home with you?”

“Well, to be perfectly honest, I haven't actually said anything yet but I'm sure she'll be fine with it.”

Her ears fell back. “And when will we be leaving?”

“First thing in the morning.” I hopped down and trotted to her wardrobe. “I'll help you pack.”

“Yippee. I don't know how I'll be able to contain myself.” She deadpanned and she moved to grab her pack.

x----x

The legendary Kicker compound was a gift from Celestia to the Kicker clan during the Lunar Rebellion over nine centuries ago. Originally, it was an old fort on the outskirts of Canterlot that wasn't being used. With some work, it was made quite comfortable. That was nine hundred years ago, give or take a decade.

The barracks houses were made into duplexes and triplexes comfortable enough to fit a small family. The mess hall became a restaurant where single ponies on leave or shipping out mingled with compound-bound ponies like caretakers and Royal Guard REMFs. Officers' quarters had been turned into apartment houses for single ponies and the armory was lined with heirloom weapons and armor that didn't belong to any pony in particular but were kept around for instructional purposes.

“This place is huge!” Nimbus cried as we trotted through the front gate. “How many ponies live here?”

“At any given time, between five hundred and a thousand but we can cram up to two thousand. I've surprised you've never seen this place before. We're not exactly isolated out here.”

In truth, while the fort had originally been on the outskirts of Canterlot, the city had grown up around it.

“I've been by on occasion but I've never been inside. All of you are related?”

I nodded. “To one degree or another. Sometimes guests drop by to see somepony but most of us here do have a 'Kicker' somewhere in their immediate family.”

Nim let out a low whistle. “I can only imagine your inheritance issues.”

“That's just it,” I laughed. “There are no inheritance issues because there is no inheritance. The only things that get passed along are a pony's personal affects but any commissions they may have go directly into the clan accounts. That money goes to pay for education, widows and orphans' funds, and travel expenses.”

“So you don't have ponies fighting over inheritance?”

I shrugged, “What's there for them to fight over? It's always been that way, since the days of Shadow.”

“Who?”

“Shadow Kicker.”

Nim gave me a blank stare.

“The matriarch of the only pegasus clan to remain loyal to Celestia during the Lunar Rebellion.”

“Oh, yeah.” She scuffed a hoof. “We don't really talk about that in my family. Apparently, we were from one of the other clans. Er..are you sure your mom isn't going to have any issues with me?”

“Why would she?”

Nimbus stared at me, “Other clans.”

“That was nine hundred years ago. I don't think it matters anymore. I mean, don't expect her to meet you at the door with cookies and milk. She's going to give you a hard time but she gives everypony a hard time. That's just how she is but she doesn't hold a grudge, especially something that occurred almost a millennium ago and that you had no personal involvement with. You'll be fine and, if she starts to get to you, let me know and I'll ask her to tone it down.”

“I'm not worried about it.” She replied off-hoofedly.

“Don't speak so soon. Mom has a tendency to wear a pony down and she'll do an extra effort on you.”

“What makes me so special?”

“You're another mare who's an influence on Tor and I. She wants to make sure you're a good influence.”

Nim started laughing. “Me? If I'm what passes for a good influence around here, I'd hate to see what she calls a bad influence.”

“I wouldn't say that.” I flicked a wing in greeting to one of my cousins. “You're not that bad.”

“I got you drunk.”

“No, I got me drunk. You took me to a bar.” I stopped at a blue painted door, nearly indistinguishable from its neighbors save the lever-shaped handle, and knocked.

“I thought we were going to your place?” Nimbus asked.

“This is my place, but I've been away. Mom wants us to knock if we've been away for an extended period of time.”

The door opened and an imposing mare barred the threshold. Her coat was a pure white, save a large and sparsely furred scar on her throat. I snapped to attention, nudging Nimbus to do the same.

“Cadet Kicker reporting, ma'am.”

The mare's attention shifted from me to Nimbus.

“Oh...er...Cadet Gust, ma'am.”

The mare's ears folded back as she returned her gaze to me.

“I have a good reason for not reporting this to you, ma'am. There was simply not enough time. I can explain further.”

With a single nod, the mare stepped back, allowing us in.

“Tor will be along shortly. He's brought Typhoon Season with him.” I turned to Nimbus. “I'd like to introduce my mother, Second Lieutenant Drift Kicker. Mom, this is my bunkmate, Nimbus Gust of the Cumulus Clan.”

Mom snorted loudly.

“I'm sure Nimbus feels the same way. That's part of the reason why I had to bring her.”

Mom continued to stare at me for a moment before turning and heading for the den.

“She doesn't speak much, does she?” Nimbus asked, quietly.

“She can't. There was an accident of some sort. She never got into specifics and always gets really irritated whenever we bug her for details. Just leave it alone.”

“So, how is she going to give me the third-degree?”

“I did say it was 'patented', didn't I? She speaks through gestures and body language. You'll learn to read it. It's really very simple to understand, once you get used to it.”

Mom clopped, drawing our attention. She jerked her head into the den.

“She wants us to join her?” Nim guessed.

“See, you're getting it already. Like I said, simple to understand.”

We followed Mom into the den where we all sat on some fairly comfortable pillows. After a moment, Mom gestured to me.

“Okay...uhm...you know Nimbus is a member of the Cumulus clan. They have some issues with inheritance and, anyway, Nim's sister is trying to kill her for her share of whatever.”

Mom gestured for me to continue.

“I got involved and there was this big fight with this thug that used to attend West Hoof and I'm sorry, I know you've told me a thousand times to stay out of things like that, but he was going to kill her. Anyways, now there's this investigation and Instructor Line wants me to talk with Nim about where her sister might be and I needed someplace safe to do that so...yeah.”

“Your articulation is beyond words.” Nimbus quipped.

“Shut up,” I shot back out of the side of my mouth.

Mom clopped for our attention again before raising a hoof and flicking it at me.

“Don't you need somepony to translate?” I asked.

Mom shook her head.

“Are you going to show her up when your finished or do you want me to come back?”

Mom flicked her hoof again.

“Alright. I guess I'll just leave you two fillies alone”. I turned to Nim and wished her luck before hurrying off to my bedroom.

x----x

I had just finished unpacking when the door open and Nimbus came in, looking exhausted and queasy. Mom came in behind her and cocked her head at me.

“I'll make the rounds once I get her settled in, say about an hour?”

She gave a single nod and disappeared, closing the door behind her.

Nim let out a long breath and sagged a bit. “You weren't kidding about the third-degree. I don't think she likes me.”

“Oh no. If she didn't like you, you'd know it. I remember when Tor brought home a new fillyfriend that Mom didn't approve of. She dragged that poor mare, by her tail, out the door, across the compound, and bucked her through the front gate with enough force to launch that pony across the street. Compared to that, I'd say she already considers you part of the clan.”

“If you say so.”

“I think she pities you. Family has always been really important to her and she doesn't like ponies being mistreated by their families. She's always the one convincing other Kickers to take in orphans or abuse cases so that they'll grow up to have a nice life. She's really a big softie, once you get to know her.”

Nimbus snorted. “That's like saying she's a nag but you'll get used to it.”

“Hey!” I snapped, “That's my mom, you're insulting. Go easy on her, she's lived a rough life. After Dad was killed on Long Patrol, she had to raise us by herself and it wasn't easy. I mean, there's Kickers left and right so there was never a shortage of foalsitters or ponies to help out, but I can tell she still misses him.”

Nimbus' ears lowered and, for a moment, I regretted my rebuke. “Sorry,” she said. “It's just, these past few weeks have been...” She let out a heavy sigh.

“Hey, don't worry about it.” I said as I helped her with her bags. “That's why we're here, so you can relax and see how a family is supposed to treat each other. Also, I want you to think long and hard about where Skyy might be hiding. Line wants me to come back with information on your sister and I have no intention of letting her down.”