The learning curve

POV Lance.Corporal Ben Beal

A boot slammed onto the ground. Kicking up dust around its base. Following up the camouflaged leg, he looked up to see Sgt.Render looking down angrily at him. The expression on his face was one of pure anger. His cheeks flushed red with blood as he bore his teeth. Ben stared back with a shit eating grin that had the ability to piss off anyone in the world without breaking a sweat. Render reached down and grabbed the Kevlar collar of Bens armour. Pulling him up required Render to use both hands as shifting an 80 pound cadet wearing all of his equipment without its help seemed hard work. Levelling him out and putting Ben violently back on his feet, before glaring evilly into his eyes. Obviously trying to scare him. Ben simply carried on grinning without even flinching.

"Kid...you're a fucking disgrace! 'You' are a shit gargling freak of nature! 'You' deserve NO passion, NO sympathy, you fucking insane HELL-SPAWN!"

Bens smile reached disturbing levels as it grew nearly around his entire face.

"Then at least that makes two of us."

Render recoiled his right arm, preparing to strike. But Ben quickly dodged his hook punch and laughed.

"Oh you're so funny Sergeant. Nice one."

Render was not amused. He looked like he was about to explode into pieces.

"Listen very closely Corporal. You said it yourself, no one is ever alone in this world, and after your little 'adventure', it is more viable than ever. I know you are still alive, and I will find you. Trust me my little rat, I will make your suffering legendary. You hear me? You died once but I will find whatever world you were whisped into, and I'll kill you slowly, painfully. You will wish you had never been born, kid."

"That's nothing new, Theodore."

Render growled under his breath. Ben thought about his m9 and it appeared in his hand. Ever since his life had become a complete misery around three years ago, lucid dreams had become increasingly more common in Bens sleeping mind. Stepping his left leg back into a Karate styled short stance, he raised the pistol up to the un fazed Theodore Render, he gave him one final thought.

"Asta la-vista, baby."

Pulling the trigger, Ben felt a jolt of force run through his arm as the m9 fired lead death into the targets skull. His arm was pushed upward slightly because the resultant force of the shot could not go back or down. Blood flew from the Sergeants head in the form of a purple mist, before his entire body dissolved into the background, and the mist dispersed outward before dissipating. Ben took a second to look around. He was in his cadet barracks back on Earth, and the place was empty. Walking over to the door and pushing it open, he walked outside. He took a breath of the fresh air. Lovely. There was no one around, just like in every other lucid dream he had. But only because he didn't want anyone there. He trekked over to the main gate and kicked it open, half expecting an alarm to ring out somewhere. Only to be met with the sound of chirping birds. Ben started singing GreenDay songs. First, 'Holiday', then 'Boulevard of broken Dreams'. He swore he could hear steps behind him though. Strange considering he had never put anyone else in this dream. He spun round to se Luna following him through the countryside.

"How are you in my lucid dream?"

"It is my royal duty to visit ponies in their dreams."

"Ah. And you where checking on me in my sleep, I guess?"

Luna nodded slowly, but Ben raised an eyebrow.

"You're a terrible liar, Luna. Why are you here?"

She blushed a little and started towed him.

"I came into you're dreams to talk to you some more."

As she came to a stop about half a metre from his face, Ben put on a friendly smile.

"I was hoping to ask you...Urgh!"

She looked frustrated and face hoofed.

"I came to thank you. And ask you if you would spend some time with me when you come to Canterlot later today."

Ben wondered if he should ask her out. Nope. Not a good idea at this stage. And what if she didn't love him like he secretly loved her? That would be awkward. He would save it for a later time.

"It's just that I've never met anypony that understands my feelings before and talking in a dream is nothing like a face to face conversation."

"I know what you mean. I'll come and see you when I'm done with the whole 'being Twilights bodyguard' thing."

"Ok. I will be around the palace someplace. I'll notify the guards of your position. Ask one if you can take a look around, don't worry I'll make sure they know what you mean. They will point you in my direction."

"You have guards in Equestria? I was beginning to think this place didn't have a fighting force at all. What do they look like?"

"The day guard are white coated mares and stallions. Pegusi and unicorns only. They wear gold armour and carry spears or crossbows. You know what a crossbow is, correct?"

Ben nodded.

"Good. I will see you then."

"Goodbye again, Luna."

"For now, Ben."

Luna disappeared into a blue fog and evaporated away. They world began to twist and contort in dimensions only possible in the mind. Everything was sucked into an imaginary event horizon as the dream world collapsed in the wake of the mornings coming. The last remaining blobs of light corroded into nothingness as it was replaced by an orange backing created by the light shining through his eyelids. He was once again, awake. Time for another batshits crazy day.

Ben sighed and opened his eyes. The blinding sunlight blared away through an inconveniently placed window and he forced his eyes shut. Ben growled under his breath and partially lifted his eyelids to let his irises expand and push his pupils closed. After his eyeballs had adjusted to the light he was able to begin getting up for the day. He looked at his left wrist to be met by a wrist. He giggled. He had left his watch in the barracks back home. Breathing in the crisp Equestrian air, he slid back the covers of his bed and pivoted on his ass so that he was sitting upright on the side of his bed. Putting his head in his hands, he thought about everything that had happened so far. He had met seven important figures already, one of which he was falling for. He had almost cracked his skull open once and been visited by a princess inside his own dreams. Some pretty cool and damn right stupid things had happened to him in one day, and he hoped today would be a bit calmer. Pushing himself of the bed, he put the covers back to a neat position. He had always had that weird obsession of having exceptionally neat bed covers, he had no idea why though. His mind took obscure pathways in abnormal directions sometimes, so he had learned not to question it. Making his way downstairs his normal way, and by that it means having no clue just how hard his feet were falling, Ben stood at the landing area to meet Fluttershy feeding a fuck tone of wild animals. He nodded in a friendly way and smiled.

"Gutenmorgen, habe ihr hat eine gut nacht?"

Fluttershys brain imploded for a second as she cocked her head and pricked her ears up in confusion.

"Um, I don't know what you..."

"It's, 'Good morning, have you had a good night' in another language."

"You can speak more than one language? That's wonderful."

"We'll, I'm not fluent in it but I know a little bit. It's called 'German'."

"Hmm?"

"The other language."

"Oh..."

Fluttershy paused for a moment then turned to her animals, who looked a bit cautious about him. She told them that he wasn't dangerous and although they were apprehensive, they returned to their feeding. Looking at them eating made him even hungrier than he had awoke as.

"Do you have cereals here?"

"Yes, the er, milk is in the cupboard."

The cupboard? If the milk is warm I think I'll go ape shit.

Checking through all the cupboards he found the cereals and the milk. There were two types of cereal available. One that was foreign to him, but another that looked awfully like Weetabix. It'd have to do, he hoped it tasted like Weetabix. Besides, there isn't much else for anything made of wheat to taste like. He had his cereal with milk and a sprinkling of sugar to get him started for the day. He decided to start getting a little more responsible around the house, as he had not done that much when he was at home. He washed the dish and spoon thoroughly before putting them back where he found them.

"Thank you for cleaning up after yourself."

"No probs' Fluttershy."

She went into the kitchen to make herself some breakfast and I went back upstairs to sort out my personal protection. His bayonet and m9 will do. No need to be carrying around my Rifle or frags. To clumsy and in concealable for personal protection. Going down stairs, he loaded the pistol and cocked it, holding it vertically. *Shick, click* *Shuck, shick* *squee...*

Turning around, Ben saw Fluttershy had noticed him loading the weapon and hid behind the wall from the open landing and the kitchen.

"W-why would you... N-need that?"

"Hopefully, I won't..." Ben replied as he slid the curvy black handgun into its holster.

"... Personal protection. As long as you're not planning on attacking me, then I shouldn't worry."

Fluttershy frowned and peeked out from behind her cover, her pupils looked minute. She was very uneasy.

"Y-y-you can't take weapons into the palace. T-twilight Sparkle will be very unhappy."

"She'll never know unless I need to defend myself. And I'd rather have one and not need it, than need one and not have it."

They stood there for a while before someone said something.

"When did Twilight say we were meeting her?"

"Half past Eleven I believe."

"Didn't she say to meet her at the train station?"

Fluttershy gave a confident nod. He was about to look at the watch he didn't have when he remembered that he didn't have it. He waited until around Eleven before he got himself of the sofa and petting some of the animals that she had. It's not everyday you get to see a deer up close and today he did, he was reasonably pleased about petting a deer.

Yes! I petted a deer! He'll yeah!

After that he was bored so he was glad to get going. The walk to Ponyville was as eventful as sleeping. They met a mare with offset eyes that's name was Ditzy Doo, but apparently everyone just called her Derpy. He only just realised the sheer size of the Male-Female ratio in this place. He estimated there was at least double the mares compared to stallions, so he had no idea how half the mares ever found a partner. Or maybe all the stallions were out doing physical labour work. Ben laughed at this, he had seen AppleJacks brother ploughing fields on his own steam and he found it interesting. The total irony of it was quite funny, actually. Self labouring.

When they arrived at Ponyville, he once again received a slightly smaller shitstorm of questions from the local public than yesterday. Which he was thankfully for, as it was nearly quarter past Eleven and he didn't really think he was in the mood for it.

"Where's the train station?"

Fluttershy turned to face a turnoff in the rough direction of Canterlot and pointed with her hoof.

"This way."

Walking down this this area of Ponyville, Ben worked out that this section was mostly residential due to the sudden lack of queues and shopping stalls. The place was so brightly coloured, he wondered if it could be seen from space. While he was pondering on the thought of how amusing Equestria would look like from the sky, he noticed Rarity talking with a group of richer looking ponies. He gestured to Fluttershy, and they walked over to see the obsessive fashion guru. When we got close, Rarity turned around and smiled at our approach.

"Aha! Just the creature I was looking for. Ladies, this is the creature I was talking about."

"I see what you mean about the hat..." One of the poshly dressed mares told her.

Ben face palmed, followed quickly with a sigh.

"Ben, since you are here you could at least take the liberty of getting a new hat. That...thing you are wearing is quite the 'interesting' piece."

"It's not a fashion item Rarity. Besides, who is your friend here?"

"This is Photo Finish..."

The blue mare flicked her mane back and straightened her neck slightly.

"...only the greatest fashion artist in Equestria!"

Great, another stuck up bitch.

"I see. Well as much as I'd like to just chat, I've got a princess to meet."

"Goodbye, Ben."

"C'ya."

Ben was going to hate Rarity. She was one of those people who, no matter what you do, will never take your opinion into account. He had seen plenty of her type in his 16years of existence. Most of the 'friends' he ever had were just like her. They were all fake, putting on an artificial personality just to be your friend. Most people who ever looked past Bens inane nature had found a loyal, trustworthy guy. But they all used him, played him like a game. He would try not to get too close to Rarity. He needed guys as friends anyway. It wasn't healthy for a male to spend lots of time around his female counterparts. They got into your head.

They kept walking until they reached the train station. The place wasn't at all grand, but its well designed platform and waiting areas made it feel like the ponies who made it, created it with the user in mind. The building behind the platform was pretty cool though. It had a giant clock on it that read 11:20. They were a little late getting tickets but it was only five minutes. Twilight was on the platform, signing autographs and talking to a group of students who seemed to have a fangasm every-time Twilight spoke to them. She saw him and Fluttershy walking up to her past the adoring fans, who she quickly but kindly sent off.

"Good morning you two. Have you got your train tickets?"

Ben flashed the tickets held inbetween his thumb and index finger.

"Exelent! How's your days been so far?"

"Oh, just fine. Ben and I ran into Rarity talking with Photo Finish on the way here."

"Yeah. And she still thinks my hat is ugly..."

Twilight laughed and took a deep sigh.

"...and how's your morning been Twilight?"

"Pretty good actually. Got to talk to a few admiring fans and enjoyed the glorious sunshine."

The train pulled beside the platform and stopped with a loud squeak. The doors were slid open by some stallions in fancy blue jackets and hats.

"All aboard!"

Ben gestured Twilight and Fluttershy to the doors.

"Ladies first."

"Thank you." They replied simultaneously.

They walked in and sat down, closely followed by Ben who quickly took a seat opposite the two mares. On the ride, they mostly talked about what Canterlot was like, and about the invasion that happened two years ago. Ben found it interesting to talk of military stuff but figured the others weren't into that sort of thing.

Arriving at Canterlot was even worse than he had expected. It was like arriving at Ponyville but with twice as many ponies around. This time he ignored the questions. Canterlot, (which is a rip off of Camelot FYI) was not as colourful as Ponyville. Which was fine by him because at least his eyes weren't under constant siege. His senses welcomed the sounds of the city. Being human, he was used to the gentle hum of countless vehicle engines backing the chitter chatter of everyday life. The abundance of voices seemed to make up for that. Following Twilight through the city, Ben glanced around in his usual curious manor. White replaced pink to make the houses look a bit more like the ones back home. He had drawn quite the crowd, and at one point a group of reporters had enclosed the three of them to ask questions for some newspaper called EquestriaDaily. Ben had pretty much reached the limit of his patience. He pushed them aside to allow space for the girls to get through. Probably the most manic day of his life.

So much for my calm day.

All this crowding and attention was killing Fluttershy. By the time they had got to the palace she was about in tears.

"Twilight, stop." He called out to her.

She halted up the steps and turned her head to look at him.

"Fluttershy, you ok?"

"Y-yes, I think. I'm j-just in a bit of-shock."

Twilight looked a little concerned and walked up to her.

"Fluttershy, are you sure you are ok?"

Fluttershy took a deep breath and composed herself.

"Yes."

Ben smiled and continued toward the door with Twilight and Flutters. The large gold door was guarded by two Pegasus stallions in gold armour. They stared blankly ahead, reminding him of the royal guard back home. More commonly known as 'beef eaters'. He had no idea how they got the name and he didn't care. It was funny and served merely as a joke to him. The guard ponies let them through the doors, their blank stare gazing out into nothing. He sometimes wondered if they were robots...

Walking Into the palace felt like entering a history museum. Stained glass windows depicting important events lined the walls and the long red carpet stretched from the door the throne. A throne which was currently occupied by a large, white mare. This one was bigger than Luna, and wore gold attire rather than Luna's black. Her hair flowed green, pink and yellow which complemented her bright coat. And her cutie mark was that of the sun. On top of her body size, her horn added at least 60cm on top of her head. So this was Princess Celestia then.

They walked half way down the hall when Twilight gestured gestured for them to hold. She continued forth to Celestia and sat down before her.

"Celestia, this is the creature I have written to you about."

She didn't need to point to him as Ben was taller than everyone else in the room except Celestia. And his camouflaged clothing along with the fact he was bipedal made him stand out among everything else.

"I see. Come forth."

Ben walked up to her and bowed respectfully.

"Twilight has told me quite a bit about you. Have you been treated well upon your arrival?"

"Certainly. Other than the press reporters, everything his gone well so far."

"I know the feeling. Reporters practically flock around me whenever I go further than my palace stairs. Quite the nuscience they are."

Ben chuckled.

"I couldn't agree more...."