1120, 2 September, 2085
Trueblood Military Recruiting Depot, Canterlot
Snapshot

"Alright then Mr. Snapshot," One of the pony sitting across from me said, "Are you ready to review all of the information we have gathered in the past couple weeks?" I cringed. Two whole weeks of nonstop interviews and medical procedures to inform the medical staff of what I would be able to take in the actual training. Countless blood samples, magical scans, and interviews about everything changeling. On the bright side, I was able to feed off of the magical energy from all of the tests they had been performing on me, so my wounds were almost completely healed, and I was feeling stronger than I had in a few years.

"Yeah, let's get this over with." I rested my head on my hoof, waiting to answer the questions that I had already answered six times.

"Good, so we'll start with your physical body. I know we have gone over this before, but as you know, we have never been able to perform these tests on a live changeling. We must ensure our records are correct." The doctor opened his folder to read along and make sure that nothing was missed.

I sighed, "My chitin is a solid exoskeleton made up of three layers. The outer layer is a series of brittle plates filled with prism-like cells that I can manipulate with magic to change my appearance. The plates can shift and change shape as well. The second layer contains a harder armor in the place of skin, it provides protection for my body and has numerous pores to allow the third layer to pass through. The third layer is a magically receptive, almost fluid-like substance that can be transformed into almost anything, allowing my body to have the consistency of fur, and my wings to grow feathers during a transformation. This substance is only found inside a changeling's body, and allows us to mold our bodies into whatever shape we wish. This substance is also what allows me to absorb magical and emotional energy, and use that energy to strengthen my magical power and my physical power. Beneath the chitin, my inner body is similar to a pony's, we share most of the same organs, with the exception that mine can be bolstered by magic." I really wished that I had learned how to transfer memories, like how I had learned all of that. It was extremely boring to recite all of this magical and physical mumbo jumbo.

The ponies sitting across the room from me were talking quietly among themselves and comparing notes. They were excited to finally be learning about changeling physiology. 'I guess they didn't get too much out of the bodies that they collected' I thought sourly. I shook my head, I couldn't keep thinking like that; I may not be doing this to help the ponies, but I was going to have to work with them in order to get back at The Swarm.

The first pony looked back to me, "Thank you very much Mr. Snapshot. Now, I believe that we should move on to your dietary habits. Please give your overview of them as well".

I took a deep breath, it was going to take a lot to put up with these ponies, at least I had gotten more used to hearing my name being said throughout the testing. "For the twelfth time, my dietary habits are barely any different from a pony's habits. I can eat hay, apples, flowers, bread, and sugar the same as you. The only difference is that I am able to consume latent magical and emotional energy to make myself more powerful. The magical energy is absorbed from the aftermath of spells, or found naturally in gems or crystals. I can also gather emotional energy from living creatures. The different emotions give me different levels of power. Positive emotions, like love and happiness, will give me longer lasting power, enhance my magic, and help to sustain my body. Neutral emotions, like curiosity and confusion, give me more information than power, they can also be used to heighten my senses. Negative emotions, hate and fear, vary depending on the emotion. Hate will give me more strength and help me to fight better, but can damage my body over long periods of time. Emotions like fear will help my body to move faster and allow my mind to rely on instinct more than thought." I couldn't believe that I had to sit here and repeat the same things over and over. 'I wonder if the other candidates have to do this' I thought. Either way, the sooner that I got through my training, the sooner that I would be able to actually get things done.

"Thank you very much for your cooperation Snapshot, we're going to take a quick break. When we return, we will have to go over more of your magical abilities" I facehoofed, I was getting way to tired of talking to doctors.

"Actually," A familiar voice said from behind me, "I am afraid that we will not have time for that" I turned around to see Princess Luna standing in the doorway. "Snapshot and I have a few things to discuss ourselves, and then he will be leaving with me" I cheered on the inside; finally, I was free of the medical center!

"Bu- But- But!" The doctor stammered, "We still have so much to learn! You're taking the first changeling speciman that we have ever seen!"

"Oh no, whatever will we do." I said, hopping out of my chair, "You'll just have to go back to examining corpses. Shame." I followed out the door with the princess, leaving the doctors muttering among themselves. "Thanks for that," I said once we had made some distance from the doorway, "I was about to either kill myself, them, or both."

"I am well aware how taxing the medical group here can be," Luna replied, "But it is unfortunately necessary, even after all this time, we still have very little information on changelings. However, it should be over for now."

"Good, so where are we going now?"

"You need to sign some more paperwork, including your contract, which will officially start you in ranger training. Then you will join your fellow candidates and see a physical trainer, he will begin to strengthen your body for the coming course." She took me throw a labyrinth of halls and doors until we found the facility's legal office.

"Great, I suppose that I'll have to maintain a disguise throughout this entire thing?" I asked, sitting down at a desk.

"Actually, no," She replied, giving me a quill and a stack of papers, "You will only have to hold your physical disguise until we begin the official course. The Rangers accept candidates from every race, so the others will be notified that you are a changeling. Regrettably, there is occasionally violence between the candidates, but the instructors of the course will treat you the same as any other candidate." Luna separated the documents in front of me, pointing to one, "Now then, once you sign these, you will create your signature, and officially be an Equestrian citizen. You will also be signing your contract with the Equestrian Army, and the Ranger's. During training, you will receive 700 bits per month, and be provided housing, medical treatment, and food. Upon your graduation, if you graduate, you will hold the rank of Corporal, and your pay shall be increased to 1300 bits per month." She pointed out the lines where I had to sign, so I just started making a swirl pattern on each one. 'This can't be to bad,' I thought, 'How long can it take to sign paperwork?'

3 Hours Later

1430, September 2, 2085
Trueblood Military Recruiting Depot, Canterlot
Snapshot

3 hours...

It took 3 hours to sign the paperwork necessary for a changeling to join the Equestrian Military. As impossible as it seemed, my magic was sore. I didn't even know that magic could feel sore, but it was. Now, I was trudging along behind a humming Princess Luna to join my fellow Ranger candidates. 'How can she enjoy paperwork that much?' I thought to myself, She had giggled once I signed the last paper, and she saw how massive the pile was. 'Oh well, to each their own I guess'

I was currently disguised as a green and brown pegasus, with a camera cutie mark. Luna had thought that it would be better for the other candidates to learn me by my real name before dropping my true identity on them. As we arrived at our destination, I saw the other 120 candidates gathered inside of the building's gym. There were other ponies around too, a good number dressed in guard armor, there were a few griffons and even a minotaur in the room. I gulped out of reflex, I was somehow still not used to being around so many members of the military and guard. The other ponies and the candidates were talking among each other, shaking hooves, and some embracing as if they were close friends.

"They are the other candidate's sponsors," Luna said, seeming as though she read my mind, "Every candidate needs somepony to vouch for them in order to enter Ranger training. Sometimes it is their commander, if they are in the guard, or a current Ranger who thinks they are worthy."

"So who's my sponsor then? I don't think I'm on very good terms with most of the ponies in the guard..." I trailed off. I didn't think there was a single guard I had left a good impression on in the past two weeks. Not that I had tried to, of course.

Luna snorted, "That would be me," one of the guardsponies in the room noticed the Princess and shouted something I couldn't understand. Suddenly, every guard and Ranger in the room turned toward us, snapped to attention and saluted, which Luna returned. "At ease," Luna said, dropping her salute and turning back towards me, everypony else in the room returned to their conversations. "As I was saying, Snapshot, I will be your sponsor into Ranger training. Regrettably, it may put you in a bit of a spotlight with the other candidates, but I think that you shall be able to cope. I will not be seeing you again until you complete the indoctrination course, so I want to tell you; do not forget why you chose to do this. Everything that you will experience in the coming weeks will be specifically designed to break you down, physically, mentally, and emotionally. I believe that you can make it through the struggles, but I need you to remember, you do not have to go through it alone. All of the other candidates will be going through the same thing as you. Embrace that, and use that commonality to strengthen each others resolve. I know that you are a loner, and do not want to rely on others for help, but if you want to succeed, you will have to. I wish you the best of luck, Snapshot. You will need it." She bowed her head to me, which I returned since I was technically one of her subjects now, and she turned to leave. It was a very odd feeling being a citizen.

Luna trotted out of the room, and the other sponsors started to follow suit, many of them saying a last goodbye to their candidate; 'Good luck soldier', 'See you in a few', and a strange 'Caw'ing sound was all that I could understand from the mass of noise. As their sponsors left, the candidates began to circle around a small stage near the front of the room. I made my way carefully into the group, avoiding eye contact with the others. I didn't care if we were all going to go through training together, the only one I had to worry about was myself.

After a few minutes, the crowd began to quiet down, as a grey pony strode up onto the stage. He had an air of authority around him, and I could see a coldness in his eyes. As if he was sizing up the group for a fight. "Alright now everypony," He said, just loud enough to be heard in the back of the group, "I bet you think you're all hot shit now that you're here right?" There was a few hoof stomps and quiet cheers throughout the crowd, "Well I can tell you right now, that you aren't. By the end of today, at least ten of you will be going home," The crowd grew silent, "By the time that the real training begins, there will be thirty less of you here in this room." He started to walk up and down the stage, looking into random ponies eye. A few flinched away from him. "Hmph. My name is Master Sergeant Blitz. I served fifteen years in the Rangers, and have been running the pre-training course for another six. It is your job to get through me into the actual course, and it is my job to weed out those of you who wouldn't stand a chance against Indoc." His gaze landed on me, in the middle of the pack, and I could have sworn I saw a snarl on his face, "Let's just get down to it then. The first thing we'll do is a physical evaluation. If you can't even hit the standards for a royal guard, then I will kick you the fuck out of my gym. Everypony, grab a partner and meet me on the push up pad."

I dropped my head, I really didn't want to have to team up with anyone, I was much better at doing things on my own. I was about to raise my head and start looking for somepony who at least seemed quiet, when there was a weight put on my back, knocking me down. I looked up to see a large white pegasus, with a grey bandanna on his head leaning on my back. "Well hey there kid," He said, "Aren't you a bit young to be here?" He got up off of my back, and held a hoof out to help me up.

I shoved his hoof away and stood up, "Aren't you a bit clumsy to be here?" I replied, dusting myself off. The pegasus had a short cropped blue mane beneath his bandanna, and a similarly fashioned tail. From my angle, it looked like his cutie mark was a few sharp snowflakes flying in a gust. He gave off an air of playfulness that I didn't really appreciate.

The new pony laughed, "Well," he smiled, "at least you've got a sense of humor. The name's Snowstorm, how'd you like to partner up?"

I didn't want to be his partner, but before I could argue, the instructor shouted at us, "Hey! Hurry the fuck up you lazy sacks of shit! What's taking so long?" I sighed.

"Fine," I said, "I'll be your partner for the exercise."

"Great!" Snowstorm said, "You know who I am, how about you? What's your name?"

I rolled my eyes. I had to get away from that imbecile, "My name is Snapshot" I said curtly. It would be easy enough to get away from him, especially once he found out that I was a changeling. I sighed, I was likely to be ostracized here as well. Not that I minded, it was what I was used to; but it sucked nonetheless.

Snowstorm

Snapshot turned and walked off towards the push up pad. I quickly followed after him. 'He doesn't seem like much,' I thought, 'But if he was escorted here by Princess Luna herself, then he has to be special somehow'.

Once all of the candidates had paired up and gotten onto the pad, Sergeant Blitz spoke up, "Sweet Faust, how long does it fucking take to get a partner? If y'all are as slow as this, then nopony will make it through Indoc. I swear, they give me worse and worse candidates each time..." He scowled, and hopped up onto another podium, so that we could all see him, "Anyway, today's events will start with a standard Guard fitness test: two minutes to do as many push ups as you can, two minutes to do as many sit ups as you can, no time limit to do your max pull ups, a timed mile and a half run, a timed half mile swim, for pegasi and griffons, a timed 5 mile flight, and a wing power test, for the unicorns, a maximum weight levitation test, and a power level test. After the testing is complete, anypony who doesn't meet the minimum standards will go home, as will the team with the lowest composite score." There was some murmuring around the room, It didn't quite seem fair that somepony who could meet the standard would be denied, "HEY!" Blitz shouted, making everypony snap to attention, "Quit your fucking bellyaching! We don't have to let anypony through into the Indoc course, so count yourself lucky that we relaxed the standard! It used to be the bottom five who got the axe." The room was dead silent.

Everypony got into position on the pad, two lines facing each other. Magical counters appearing over our heads to count our correct repetitions. "On my mark," Blitz said, "You will begin your test. After two minutes, the counters will stop and I will check your scores" He walked in a slow circle around the pad, sizing up the smaller candidates. "One. Two. Go!" Everypony started performing military style pushups. After the first minute, my muscles were starting to burn, but I kept pushing through it. If I made it through today, there would be much worse pain to go through.

Blitz was looking down at his stop watch, "10 seconds!" He shouted, I pushed myself harder to try and squeeze out as many push ups as I could. "Time! Everypony get your sorry asses up" Everypony stood up and looked at their counts. There was a bright blue '107' floating above my head. I smirked, I had done better before, but it was a pretty good score. Most ponies I saw had scores in the 80's and 90's, so I stood out already. I turned to look at Snapshot, who was hunched over and panting. I looked above him and saw a number that made my jaw drop.

Above my partner's head was a bright blue '57', barely above the passing minimum. Snapshot raised his head with a hopeful look in his eyes, until he saw his score. I could see the panic in his eyes. "Hey," I said quietly, "It's above passing, that's all that matters." I gave him what I hoped to be a reassuring smile.

Snapshot glanced up at my score and dropped his gaze. "Easy for you to say" he murmured.

"Hey, just because push ups ain't your thing, doesn't mean you're gunna fail. There's still plenty more tests, I'm sure you'll do great." I kept up my smile. I felt for the kid, I really did. Blitz walked past us, glancing at my score and doing a double take at Snapshot's. He looked at Snapshot, who was avoiding his eyes, and scoffed, before he moved on. "You'll do great" I said.

30 minutes later

Apparently I was wrong. While he hadn't been failing, Snapshot was barely passing the minimums for the test. His run had passed by 11 seconds, and he had almost drowned on the swim test. I, on the other hoof, was near the top of the leader board in most categories. Our team score was tied for last place, with only two tests left. Since we were both pegasi, we both had to do the 5 mile timed flight and a wing power test, which would be taken in the final stretch of the flight. After every test before this, Snapshot had become more and more angry, he tried to hide it, but I could see his disappointment whenever he saw the scores.

We had a couple minutes to stretch out before the flight, so I sat down next to Snapshot. "Look, I know that it's been going a bit... rough for you so far, but I think that you can pull this one off, all we have to do is get one more point than the other guys." I put my hoof on his shoulder, which he immediately swiped away.

"Can it alright?" He said, his eyes on fire, "I get it, I'm bringing your score down, and it's going to be my fault if you don't make it in. It was your choice to be my partner anyway, so just back off." He looked away, I could see him shaking a bit.

"Snapshot," I said, in a more stern voice, "Look at me." His looked up into my eyes, His eyes taking a bit of an orange tone to them, making him look more threatening than he had all day. "I don't give two shits if you are bringing my score down, I wouldn't be a very good friend if I got pissed of at you for not being as strong as me"

Snapshot

Friend? That didn't make any sense, I had just met the stallion. Even then, we had barely said two words to each other, but emotions don't lie. I felt a surge of warmth flow over me that I hadn't felt since I was young in my hive. 'He... He really thinks of me as a friend?' I thought, 'What in Tartarus is wrong with this pony?'

"What do you mean," I said hesitantly, "Why do you think that we're friends?"

"Well," He said, a look of amusement on his face, "We're going to be going through a pretty tough version of Tartarus in the next few months here. I figure it's best to find friends fast."

That wave of warmth was slowly seeping into my body, I could feel it strengthening my body. I found myself at an impasse, I didn't want any friends, but without this boost he was giving me, I would never make it through this test, let alone training. 'Maybe I can use him' I thought, 'Its not like he'll want to stay that way once he finds out that I'm a changeling, but if I can get this much power from him, I suppose he could be of use'.

"That... Makes sense. I guess," I said, "This course is going to be difficult enough, might as well let you make it easier for me."

"That's the spirit!" Snowstorm said with a wide smile, "...Kinda"

After ten minutes of stretch and rest, We had all lined up at the beginning of the race track. All pegasi were to fly as hard and as fast as they could through the five mile course, until the last stretch, which was where a wing-power test was placed. It was designed to read a flyer's power and endurance if they could push themselves the entire way. Snowstorm and I were standing next to each other, watching Blitz count off before the test began.

"On my mark," Blitz said, "One, two, go!" All of the pegasi and griffons took off into the air. I was quickly passed by almost every flyer, as they all sped off ahead of me. As was usual, I was near the rear of the group by the end of the first lap. The only difference was that this time, Snowstorm was right there with me.

"What are you doing?" I asked, "go on ahead, I know you can fly faster than this"

"Ya, I can," He said, a cocky smile on his face, "but so can you."

I scoffed, "Ya right, we both know that I'm drag our score down, just go ahead and get your points. That's the only way that we'll make it through this test"

"Can't say that I agree with you there, Snapshot. I'm going to stay right here with you, if you want to pass, then show me!"

I started to pump my wings harder and harder, my breathing getting into a steady pace. I slowly started to pick up speed, but not by much. "I can't," I said, "I can't fly fast, just go on ahead, We'll fail if you stay back here!" Yet Snowstorm didn't say anything, he just kept flying half of a meter ahead of me, slowly getting further and further away. I kept pushing my wings as hard as they would go, when that warmth of emotion flooded over me, I felt my soreness go away, and my muscles tense up like they were ready for anything. It started out slowly, but with every beat of my wings, I closed the gap between Snowstorm and I.

He looked back to see me flying right behind him, a determined look on my face. Sweat was pouring down my neck as my team slowly made our way through the group of flyers, one by one, they started to fall behind us. We were coming up on the last stretch of the test, the final sprint. "Come on Snapshot, push it out! This is where we make it!" Snowstorm said as he took off ahead of me. I strained my wings, pushing as hard as I could. I was still pretty far back in the group, but something was rising up inside of me, I kept pushing harder and harder, until I felt it come out.

There was an orange flash behind me as I shot forward through the group, I quickly weaved in and out past the other candidates. This was the fastest that I had ever flown before, and I had caught up to Snowstorm as we passed the finish line.

Snowstorm, the other candidates, and myself all stood around Blitz as he tallied up the team scores, to decide which team would not be allowed to enter the Indoc course. I was a nervous wreck, but I did my best not to show it. I refused to look even weaker in front of everyone.

"Alright then fillies," Blitz said, "The scores are all together. I, for one, am ashamed of your pitiful scores. When I came through here, your highest score would have barely passed. Anyway, everyone met the minimums... barely" He cast a glance towards me, "So then, the team with the lowest score is getting the ax outta here. So then lets see who are winner is. With an average score of 78 points, Summer Stone and Blazing Gizmo will not be joining all of you in Ranger training. You two will be given the choice of leaving, or you can try again with the next course, which do you want?"

Two ponies stepped out from the crowd, "We'll come back next time sir!" One of them shouted.

"Good, do yourselves a favor and work out more for next time eh? Now get out of my gym!" Blitz pointed towards the exit, making the two ponies glare at him as the left. "As for the rest of you, you will be staying here in the barracks. Go there, get something to eat, and rest up. Starting tomorrow, you will be in a world of hurt."

The other candidates began to talk among themselves as they dispersed towards the barracks, Snowstorm came up to me and patted me on the back. "See? I told you that we could do it, and we made it. C'mon, lets get some grub and hit the sack. The fun is just starting" He started walking towards the exit with everyone else.

I shook my head and started walking after him. I sure am going to miss that cheerfulness when he finds out about me' I thought, 'Cheer always was tasty'.

Author's Note

Hey Y'all! I'm back, not dead, and would like to thank Esca and KaitonC for favoriting this story. Also a humongous thank you to Esca for pre-reading this story. As always, feedback is always appreciated and welcomed.
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