Travel Plans

Extended Holiday
Chp 11: Travel Plans
Act 2

Matthew sat down on a box as he was at the moment positioned at the Canterlot Royal Castle Station. He bend down and pulled out a hard bound book and slowly began to write in a journal he had bought recording some of his thoughts. He slowly spoke what he was writing. “Adventure, Mayhem, and Magic of unknown origins. Unrelated events have brought three friends together into the wildest holiday that anyone could imagine. What started as a small Halloween talk, has now led to them needing to take, An Extended Holiday from reality.” He looked up to look out the window briefly before looking back down to continue writing.

Meanwhile Taze strolled through Canterlot gardens casually,, on the outside he seemed to just be wandering around aimlessly, inside however his head was a mess as thoughts seemed to keep flying through his head. The arrival, meeting the Mane six, the battle, the wedding, it had all happened so fast he was still reeling. The battle though was on the forefront of his mind, he had counted too many times where he was out of breath and open, open put him in danger, it put the others in danger, he couldn’t afford to be this out of shape anymore, things needed to change for him.

Shawn on that note was reading one of the books from the bookshelf, though in reality he was lost in his mind. He was still sore from the battle, and he most likely was going to feel it for awhile. Other than that he was just thinking about anything. How things were happening, what was going to happen next, what he was going to write down next, etcetera, the list went on. He has been up since four in the morning, or at least the clocks said so, and just went about his day like normal.

Mutatio was at the moment hanging from the ceiling and licking the rest of his syrup mess up. Utterly ignoring the two Nightguards below who were making final changes and rearrangements on the luggage. The Room was slightly bare of anything that the three humans had gathered. Armor not being worn was being wrapped in oiled cloth, weapons were being boxed securely and clothing were being placed into what could only be described as overly colorful steamer trunks. With the gifts that Shawn had also received from nobles trying to make a good impression on him, had caused him to be needing two trunks, both were artfully crafted and just showcased the exotic hardwood with the brass locking mechanism polished to a gleam, and the corner metal protectors were also shinned to almost be akin to polished silver. Taze’s trunk was more sturdy and looked like it could fall off the back of a wagon and still be fine. It also had a lot of metal strapped around it to protect the contents from being damage if it was attacked. Matthew’s was the most plain. With a dark green paint, and numerals and letters painted by a stencil. If anything it looked like it might belong to one of the Guards and not a human with how it was built.

The Luggage they were told was to be collected later that afternoon from their rooms for the last train to Ponyville, because of all the guests and supplies, this train was a special mixed carload as ordered by the Princesses, with a few more boxcars, and passenger cars than normal.

“Come on now, keep it steady fillies!” A familiar voice spoke up as Moonshade marched into the station, followed by a large group of ragtag looking ponies. All different pony tribes were present, pegasi, unicorns, earth ponies, and thestrals, but none were wearing Lunar, Solar armor, or even the armor of an average royal guard. They were equipped in simple leather jerkins. There ages varied but none seemed particularly warrior like and there marching formation was sloppy. “Present!” Moonshade ordered and the ponies half heartedly turned to a somewhat too relaxed attention. Now that there motion had stopped Matthew could note that Moonshades helmet had changed, it now possessed the larger fins of a major in Luna’s guard with silver lining across it. Matthew slowly glanced up and counted four rows of five ponies in a very sloppy formation.

“Well, there not much to look at but here’s the first ones...” She turned to Matthew.

Matthew waited for the ink to dry before closing the journal he was keeping and stood up while placing his Officer's cap on his head. “Very well, thank you.” He placed the Journal back into his satchel he had picked up from a surplus store in the Canterlot lower section. He slowly walked around the small group. “First Platoon.” his voice spoke, sounding a little harsh. “I don’t care what you did in your past to be put here, but I have some simple rules for you to follow.” He finished his circled inspection before speaking again. “First you will attend all training sessions, Second, you are to remain in battle buddies at all times, meaning if you get in trouble either you have two of you doing so or no one gets in trouble.” He took a breath to give time for the two rules to sink in. “Third, if battle is to happen you are to keep each other alive, I don’t care if your battle buddy was in a unit that was rival to your own. You are all now in a special unit, so survival is paramount I do not want sending home tiny boxes of your remains to your families.” He looked around them agian. “Final Rule, for the first week you are only allowed to say Yes Sir or Yes Ma’am, No Sir or No Ma’am or I don’t know Sir, or I don’t know Ma’am, and finally, No Excuses Sir, or No Excuses Ma’am. Is that clear? You may only speak more if your commanding officer asks for details or for you to explain something to others.” He added the last part as he knew there would be a smart alec who would try to find that loophole. he waited a little bit. “Do you have wax in your ears? I said Are the Rules Clear?” His voice growing in volume and depth.

The was a somewhat murmured, “Yes sir,” from the crowd.

“What was that? I could not hear you. I had my mother speak louder than that when she wanted me to do something. Are you Soldiers or just wash outs?” He growled.

The response was louder but the tone seemed to imply this was simply to end this quickly “Yes sir.”

Matthew nodded his head. “Major Moonshade load them up in the Troop car. Do not pass out food till they have set up camp after our arrival into Ponyville.”

Matthew heard a few rather unconcealed moans from the group. Matthew’s left eye twitched and he spun back around. “COMPANY HALT!” His voice bellow could be heard over all the din of noise and even a few of the guards not in the small group froze in their tracks. “Did I say you could voice your opinion? I don’t care if you didn’t get your breakfast because out there.” he pointed to the lands and unwittingly towards the north. “You may not get time to eat a warm hot meal.” He looked at Moonshade. “What was dinner going to be tonight?”

Moonshade did not know where this was going. “Warm Hayfries with a catering event with a bakery from Ponyville.”

Matthew nodded his head. “Since our friends did not seem to appreciate this meal gift. Have them eat the travel rations.” He heard a cacophony of sounds. “DID I SAY YOU COULD TALK?” Once more the bellow. The platform was silent. “I was a Cadet like you once. I once went two days on three hours of sleep and those two days on a meal ration designed for one day. It was cold, wet, and rained. I was happy and pleased I had a poncho to cover my head.” He glared at the group. “Do not think that the enemy will be nice to you. I don’t know what you did during the Invasion, Nor do I care at the moment. But I battled that entire day without any food. Something that you seem unaccustomed, so if I hear one more peep out of any of you during the rest of the train ride… I will have you wait till tomorrow to eat.” He looked to Moonshade. “March them out.”

Matthew waited till they were gone behind a part of the station before he slowly sat down shaking from the drain that had taken on him. “I, I just hope I can instill in them a love of Equestria as I do my own nation.” He looked down at the crest on his officers hat. “May God give me strength.”

Shawn looked over from the book he was looking at. Having just entered the station to see the tail end of the events. “I for one think you can do it. If you ever need any boosts have Taze or myself join you, I can see that working in some sense, at least based off some basic ideas.”

Matthew jumped from Shawn’s sudden voice. he winched in pain a little before speaking. “Well, I welcome the help. I can’t do this alone, having to forge an entire unit or more. Just, what am I? Captain America?”

Taze walked into the room moments later wiping blue hairs off his uniform.

Matthew blinked and stood up with a look of concern. “What, did you run into an Anime character? Or something? That is, please tell me you didn’t run into a Smurf.” He had placed his hat back onto his head

Taze chuckled. “No, lime green unicorn in the back of the group? wavy blue mane, bumped into me as I was walking by and snapped at me to watch it, she now knows mane growing is a privilege, she has been stripped of for 2 months.”

Matthew’s eye twitched and he had to take a deep breath, followed by a second, and a thrid, then a fourth, finally after five of them he was able to talk. “Taze, next time… actually we need to standardize this otherwise we will make them scared of us and become useless as guards or soldiers.” He looked at his two friends. “Anyway, I am going to head to the coach car, and hope Moonshade is there to help me with this, I want them to dislike me, and like her. But also don’t dislike me enough to find ways to subvert my orders, I am… I am building something from scratch and I am scared it will blow up in my face.” he turned to face the loading platform. “I wonder if this was how the Americans felt when they were helping the Israelis fight for freedom? Or Washington at Valley Forge?”

“Well I’m being firm with them.” Taze said, “It’s obvious they’re unused to their superiors willing to act on punishments and such so they need to understand if they want to be guards they’d better clean up, anyone who doesn’t like it can quit.”

Matthew paused and actually turned back to face Taze. “Taze, just, yes you are being firm, but in a way you just made it a little bit like an independent move. Next time or frankly… we need a command structure to make them know who is over whom. We do have to give them a recourse action so they don’t lose all faith in training or the future.” They could see he was trying to think again on his feet with his friends in this new position.

“I think the best idea.” Taze retrieved his pencil from his belt and a piece of parchment. “Would be for us to divide them into three groups, and shift them between the three of us over a period of time, after that they can choose where they want to go.” Taze held up the parchment showing a rather crude drawing of a sorting scheme. “Let them choose the traits they respect.”

Matthew smiled a little. “Done.” They all heard a whistle blast. “That’s final call for boarding we better get on so the schedule does not get too messed up.”

Taze retrieved something from his belt “So should I return this?” he opened his hand revealing a mass of similar blue hair connected by a piece of rope giving it an almost pony tail like design…. okay it was an actual ponies tail.

Taze looked at there stares. “What she swore at me.”

Matthew sighed and facepalmed. “Taze a tail lets them keep flies off them. You did leave some of a tail right?” He moved to start walking. “Anyway, keep it, we can have a Unicorn grow it out a little if we need to, but I do like the idea of their head manes kept at a semi short length. Rainbow Dash length at most.”

“Of course I left her some tail, a whole half of it.” Taze said, “Horses have a bone somewhere in there tail I wasn’t sure of it was the same thing for ponies so I played it safe.” Taze said. “As for her mane, you may have misinterpreted, we are talking full shave, she’s got a small strip of stubble because I was in a hurry.”

“Right. Next time, keep it short and not like that. You could be seen as hazing or being too mean, this is a fine line you and I are walking and I do not want to have either of us cross it.”

Unknown to all of them. A guard had been coming back with a paper with the report written as well as Moonshades signature on the top. He was going to report about the event when he saw to his eyes as he could not hear the conversation due to the puffing engine right near him. What he saw was to him Matthew chewing out his friend for his actions. It also looked like he had approved something that the other Warrior had drawn. While the third human just stood there watching. He thought in surprise at the actions.

He returned with a little fear and told Moonshade he could not deliver the message, and whispered what he saw. By the time the last of the cargo had been loaded and the three humans boarding their own car. The rumors were now that Matt was actually in their court. While the Pokke warrior seemed to be a foul tempered one who one should not even cross paths with or he would humiliate you, and that he wanted to be tougher on them then Matthew was this afternoon. As for the third human, it was still a wild card on what they thought of him, only that he must have been shocked to see two friends actually come to blows over what the other was doing.

As the group entered the trainyard many ponies seemed to be staring curiously at the three humans. As they walked into the station proper, Taze’s head turned. “I’ll be right on guys.” He said walking off towards a commotion at the ticket desk.

“Please sir, isn’t there even one extra spot available on this train? My husband needs to get home for his job and the doctors said my son shouldn’t be traveling on the roads.” A cream coloured mare was begging with the pony in a conductors outfit inside the booth.

“I’m sorry ma’am this train has been sectioned off for the Humans, the Elements of Harmony and the Royal Guard.

”Please.” She asked, “It’s just the three of us.”

“It’s ok mom, we can just wait, there’ll be a train tomorrow.” A familiar voice spoke up. Taze turned his head to see a familiar brown colt playing with his joyboy.

“Button?” Taze asked as the colt looked up.

“Oh hi Taze! I hear you guys are going to Ponyville that’s so cool we’ll be able to play each other at Pipewrench in the arcade.” The colt piped up.

“Heh of course bud.” Taze turned to the ticket pony. “What exactly is the problem?” He asked, “Shouldn’t there be another train in a few hours?”

“Princesses want the tracks clear while transporting all of you.” The conductor said “They’ve ordered the rails to cease operation on this end of Equestria for the next 24 hours”

“And there is no room on the train?” Taze lifted an eyebrow.

“None.” The ticket pony said.

“Funny, the car we’re traveling in is pretty big, even with the three of us there seemed to be some room.” Taze noted.

“That’s the royal car sir, only special ponies are allowed to ride in there.” The ticket pony replied with a stern look.

Taze looked at what he assumed was Buttons mom. “This colt doesn’t even have a cutie mark yet and he can get through pipewrench in less than an hour, I’d say that makes them plenty special, if you don’t mind riding with a few hairless minotaurs I’m sure we could fit you in somewhere.” Taze offered.

Matthew blinked and smiled. “If not, I give up my section if I can ride with the Conductor in the Caboose. Imagine, an authentic working caboose. This is going, and being pulled by such a beautiful four four zero.” Matthew muttered as he had this glazed look in his eyes. “I mean with the actual paint schemes of the early 1800s passenger engines.”

Buttons mother stared at the two humans for a moment. “You’re offering us to ride in the royal car?”

Taze just nodded, lifting Button up gently “Why don’t you go tell your husband the good news, if Button here doesn’t mind coming with us. I think he’d want to meet a genuine game master.”

“A real master?” Buttons eye’s widened. “Can I mom? can I? Please?” he turned to his mother.

Her eyes watered as she looked up at them. “Thank you.” She said, “Be good Button.” She told him before galloping off. With a wink to Matthew, Taze turned around and strolled towards the car. “Hey Shawn!” he shouted.

Matthew sat down in his seat in the royal rail car, moping a little. “Just… I wanted to see the Caboose, or the Engine. I mean… come on they only run these things on historic rail lines and even then not as often as they should. Do you know how rare it is, and yet they use it every single day.” One could see some emotions, homesickness, a passion for rails, and above all, sadness that he didn’t get to do something he wanted. “This is on my bucket list. Ride in the Caboose and Engine of a steam train.”

Taze smiled at his friends antics as he stared at Shawn currently engrossed in Buttons joyboy as the colt watched on excitedly. “You two having fun over there?” he asked.

“Eight levels in and he hasn’t died once!” Button cheered.

“Wow!” Pinkie popped up on Shawns other side. “That’s got to be a record!”

Matthew just jumped back a little and made a Gah sound. “But.. you, the other side of the car. HOW?” He had to take deep breaths to calm his nerves again as he looked towards Rainbow Dash looking out a window. “I know you keep saying it’s Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie, but come on, how can she jump around in this small of a space and not be seen?”

Rainbow Dash only chuckled a little. “You sound like Twilight when she first learned about Pinkie’s senses, just, roll with it, okay?” She returned to looking out the window, looking utterly bored.

Rarity and Fluttershy Matthew saw as he got up to stretch a little and to walk off the sudden jolt of energy from the adrenaline he saw where at another part of the rather large plush accommodations. He caught a snippet of them talking about going to the spa later in the week. He next passed Twilight who was reading a book and Spike fast asleep leaning against the wall of the car. The CMC he saw were still shut in one of the parlors that they claimed as a traveling clubhouse. When Taze had boarded with Button Mash, Sweetie Belle seemed to freeze up before bolting to said parlor followed by her friends. He pressed an ear to the door and heard the sound of snores. “Asleep, thank goodness for that.” He turned around as he reached the door to the bed, where Applejack was sleeping as well. He slowly walked back to the front of the coach and then turned to sit down. While it was no bigger than a normal coach car. It felt like one of those fancy pullman's he saw in a trip to Chattanooga.

“So Pinkie, you said that you got us a room at the ‘punch bowl’ for the night was it?” Taze asked carefully.

“Uh huh it’s a hotel slash tavern owned by Berry Punch, it’s cozy just be wary of Berry when she gets a little too much wine in her.” Pinkie said. “Hey that rhymed! Wary of Berry! You think the author meant for that to happen?”

“Most likely.” Taze nodded.

“What are you two talking about?” Button Mash asked.

Pinkie looked at Taze, Taze looked and Pinkie and the two shrugged in sync. “No idea”

Matthew froze and looked at the two, his left eye twitched a little and he slowly backed up. “I think I am going to spend time over here, with the non crazy side of the car.” He was worried about those two’s minds, though, did they mean a play writer or something? He just did not want to think about what that phrase meant. He liked the idea of free will and being master of his own choices.

“Next stop Ponyville.” The conductor called as he moved into the Royal Coach Car as he made his way through the train announcing the next stop. Matthew looked both relieved and sad at the prospect of leaving the train. Happy in that he could be away from Pinkie and Taze a little, and sad because he really loved riding on trains.

Taze stood up checking his stuff carefully. “I miss planes” he mumbled to himself.

Matthew looked at Taze with a slight chuckle. “I don’t, I get more room on a train, the scenery is better, and also, the smell and scents of a coal powered locomotive is.. oh it is magic to my soul.” he replied as he took bustled with his own gear. Of the two he had packed lightly for what might be called carry on luggage. “Oh, no weight limit to really talk of.”

“Meh.” Taze said “It’s also monotonous and generally inefficient, steam and coal burning engines still burn too much for too little.”

Matthew actually paused and looked to his friend. “I am not going to have that argument at the moment, but I will leave it at this. For the same amount of fuel you put on a plane into a train, the train can carry more, further distances.”

“But scientifically speaking a plane will still go father cause the higher up you go the more ground you cover.” Taze pointed out. “A foot up there is nearly a mile down here.”

Matthew was at the door of the train car with Taze. “That may be true but.” he paused as he stepped out of the car and onto the platform. It seemed that he just relaxed and was happy at what he heard and smelled. “This, this is history to me. This is, an era gone and I wish I could have seen it. When companies kept you because you were loyal and they back to you.” He turned to looked towards the engine. “Do you know that where I come from, they are more likely now to fire you before you can retire just to save money in the short term? I know of only one company that still pays for not just you, but your spouse as well in compensation still. And it is the oldest existing railway in my nation.” He looked down a little. “Maybe if my dad went to work for them, we wouldn’t have had some of the troubles we had to face.”

“Thats technically illegal where I come from.” Taze noted. “The whole firing before they can retire thing, anyway we should probably be quiet before we have to explain all this.” Taze whispered back to Matthew.

Matthew only nodded his head to Taze and smiled a little as they reached into ear range of the ponies their debate masked by the sounds of a still active steam engine. He smiled to the station master or at least he looked like one, or she. He couldn’t tell in the fading light.

Taze turned to the guard recruits starting to file out of there car. “Okay you lot listen up carefully, the ponies of Ponyville have been nice enough to set aside land for you all too make camp. Isn’t that nice of them?” Taze ever so carefully fiddled with his knife as he asked the question.

“Yes sir!” They answered with a gulp.

“So we’re gonna do our best to show them our gratitude, you will set up camp in a quick and orderly fashion, there’ll be no lollygagging or.” Taze cleared his throat. “Horseplay.” He used air quotations for this. “You have exactly one and a half hours to have your tents set up in a neat and orderly fashion. anyone who does not have their tent set up by inspection will be sleeping outside tonight is that clear?”

“Yes sir.” They echoed.

Taze looked at Matthew grabbing his medallion. “What do you think? Should we be merciful if they behave?” Taze asked.

Matthew looked at taze. “If I was in that group, I would be helping others first. Then look after myself.” He looked at the group. “Amazingly, you just showed who will become good squad leaders and folks that we can work on trusting with more responsibility.” He had taken his own medallion off his neck. He put his back on and looked at the group. “Well, move. You have your time starting.” He looked at the large clock on the Train Station window. It had just ticked to the half hour mark of the hour. “Starting now.”

Still with his medallion off Taze grinned “And now the horror stories of my horrible temper has spread amongst them, now they will at least realise I’m not talking nonsense.” Taze said. “All according to plan.”

Matthew looked to Taze. He sighed as he took off his Medallion again. “You must have watched too many Marine movies with Drill Instructors, looks like we are two different camps, I train Army you appear to be heading a Marine training route.”

“And together we’ll make sure this group see’s retirement.” Taze said nonchalantly.

Matthew nodded his head as in agreement. “I sure hope I can teach them well. In a way, they have left their mothers and fathers and now… They are my responsibility. My charge, and my Men.” Matthew paused as he looked around suddenly. “How, we lost Shawn Taze, I can’t see him anywhere.”

Shawn on that note was currently over with the crew that was working on removing the luggage from the train. In the process he had also found two other members that they had not seen on the train, the two smiths that had made their sets of armor.

“No, no, no! I told them sea coal!” Stormhammer growled as she checked the crates. “This coal won’t get the forges near hot enough if they’ve been dormant that long.” The smith shook her head.

“What’s the difference? Coal’s coal.” One of the porters grunted. “Heavy all of it.”

Matthew had walked up a little and leaned against the building a little and spoke startling them all. “Actually a lot, you see depending on where the Coal formed can carry different characteristics that will help with different things, some coal, is useful in heating a steam engine, but ask the engineers and they will tell you that they can tell where the coal’s been, like the miss here needs Sea Coal due to the fact that it can stay and keep form longer and thus created more heat.” he turned to Stormhammer, “Just stop me if I get a fact wrong, smithing is not my forte, I just am using common sense from time spent in libraries and around those that knew stuff.

The Porter just snorted and continued to upload crates from the train. He wanted to get home soon to his wife and kids, not be out here with some strange ponies talking about things that he didn’t care about one lick of salt.

“Ah, let it go girl.” Steel Weaver lumbered up from behind. “We can always send for sea coal later, it’s not like we’ll be at those forges tonight anyway.” The heavy smith turned to Shawn. “So I heard you were wielding that monster of a blade with one hand?”

Shawn chuckled lightly. “Yeah.”

“Well then, I’ll have to try again when we get to the castle, they say that forge still has the molds used to create the alicorn great swords.” He winked at Shawn. “I’m sure one of them could give you a challenge.”

Shawn could only grin back. “Now that, sounds like fun.”

“A forge that hasn’t been lit in a thousand years.” Stormhammer was practically gushing, “And we’ll be the first ones to work it.”

“It really gives you new ideas doesn’t it girl?” Steel Weaver laughed. The two smiths started talking back and forth about the future masterpieces they would make with the fires of the old pony castle.

Meanwhile, Mutatio stepped off the train meekly, disguised in his pegasus form the changeling seemed nervous being around so many ponies. The changeling made a beeline for Matthew the moment he spotted him.

Matthew looked down and smiled a little and pulled from his satchel a small sugar cube and gave it to Mutatio. “Easy, you’ll do fine, I’ve got your back.” he whispered to Mutatio with a reassuring smile.

Moonshade soon followed saluting with her wing. “The recruits are at the camp area and setting up on schedule.” She reported. “Hopefully things will go easily in these next few weeks.”

Matthew seemed to gasp and stiffen. “Don’t say that, you are just inviting Major Murphey to take a stroll around camp, Never, ever that that.” Moonshade looked confused at Matthew and Matthew took a deep breath. “There is a saying in my nation and a few others that speak and share our culture, never say things like “This day is going to be perfect, or Well it can’t get any worse, and things like that. Otherwise, They will get worse, in civilian life he is referred to Murphy, in the Military he is either Private Murphy or Major Murphy.” He took a breath and moved to stand with his friends. “Named after the man who came up with a law of society or nature. Murphy, and his law states that anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”

Moonshade only nodded after the explanation. “Understood, I shall try and not to say such things around you. I too rather not incur the wrath of such a mythical being. However here, when something goes like you said or has unexpected results we usually blame Discord.” Matthew only nodded in response as he looked at two friends, a Thestral and a Changeling. He smiled a little. They would make an odd team on recon if they ever moved on their own someplace.

The three humans walked at a measured pace through the rows of tents, before each tent a pony stood at attention nervously. There were four rows with five tents deep, so their tour was going to be short, even shorter as they could see a gap at the other end. The Three humans made deliberately sure that they would reach the gap last.

To Matthew it looked more like the old pictures of a Civil War tent city of officers they kept on walking through the neat rows, while a few where a little off, Matthew was lenient on this for the night. They wanted them up in one and a half hours, he would give them another hour tomorrow evening to line up the tents. The inspection kept on going till they got to a small group of guards, four in total creating a square patch of four stakes where tents would go, however they had set up their cots and rolls under the open sky. Matthew paused and looked at the first one. “Soldier, is their a reason why your tent is not up like the others?”

A large black furred earth pony with grey mane and tail looked back at Matthew he saluted. “Yes sir” he answered. Matthew motioned for him to explain. “I ran out of time Sir, it is unacceptable and I take full responsibility sir.”

Matthew raised an eyebrow. “May I know why you ran out of time? I know it is unacceptable and you appear ready to reap the consequences, so go on, tell me why you ran out of time.” Matthew’s voice was soft and devoid of any major emotions, at least he hoped it was while he spoke.

In answer the pony extended a hoof to the tents beside him were three pegasi looked back sheepishly. “These men grew up in Cloudsdale sir, they have never been camping and as such have never learned to set up a tent sir.”

“So,” he began sharply, “You decided to be a nice pony and teach them real fast?” All he got was an nod as an answer. He nodded and didn’t say anything as he moved to the second soldier a Thestral who did not have a tent up. “Why did you not have your tent up soldier? Just tell me, you can speak more to explain yourself.”

“I was assisting two unicorns from Canterlot who have not left the city, as such they have never needed to set up a stable tent, sir.” Matthew looked from the Thestral in front of him to the two Unicorns behind him. The tents were a little better then their friends in being straight. He turned back and nodded his head.

He moved on to the next one, another Thestral. He spoke as soon as they made eye contact. “I had to help the team captains of the rows with their tents. Two were falling down on their heads, and the others got ripped from being too tight.”

“You, repaired a tear?” Matthew asked in shock. “In less than an hour and a half?”

“No Sir, I took the torn tent for myself and my brother. We don’t mind hand me downs Sir.”

Matthew looked to the front of the rows. and back at this group. He saw that his brother was a smaller Pegasus.

He moved to the last of the four, a Unicorn. “And did you help others?”

“No sir.” Matthew blinked at what the answer was.

“Then why do you have no cover?” Matthew asked with a tone of bewilderment. “I thought all Unicorns like to have a soft fancy place to rest their heads?”

“I don’t, I always slept outside as my older brothers had me sleep on the porch as the house was too small. I don’t mind the stars.” He looked again. “Besides one of the tents given was already ruined I gave mine up to replace the Commander's tent.”

Matthew walked out of the ground and turned around so he could look back and at the four. “You are saying that you gave up having a roof over your heads so that others could have a tent over their heads?”

“Yes sir.” The Earth Pony replied in a loud tone.

He nodded his head. “Moonshade.” He ordered.

“Yes sir?” She asked as she appeared from the growing shadows.

“Get three replacement tents and order three military regulation ones. I want those three tents here by end of first watch at the latest.” He looked at the Earth Pony who spent time helping. “You get your tent and set it up.” He held a hand before any noise could rise. “What these men did is something leaders do, they make sure their men are ready first because they know they are ready. They teach where others don’t know. That is why I am giving them extra time to get their tents up. Because they took charge when they saw a problem. They did not leave their fellow comrades to suffer for problems that they were not able to handle due to previous training faults. So they took charge and helped to keep the numbers of those sleeping under the stars low.” His voice boomed over the group. “Don’t expect passes all the time, tomorrow I want a full on course on teaching proper tent pitching and you will set it up and take them down until you all get it right.”

He was about to turn to face the four when groans sounded in the tents. He voice barked now. “Did I say you could talk from formation?” The moaning stopped. He waited till silence happened. “Tomorrow as I am unable to be here, and Moonshade cannot be all around at once, you four shall take charge of a row and teach them.”

The four ponies stared back. Matthew stared back at their staring and a frown appeared. It was the small Pegasus who spoke first. “Yes sir.” Matthew could hear the uncertainty but he looked at the others. They got the message and the second time it was four strong voice that replied “Yes Sir.”

“Good, Fall Out and get some sleep.” He turned and began to walk away from the tents. He forgot that the ponies could hear him with good hearing as he spoke to Moonshade. “Get me a Tent, if George Washington was willing to sleep in a tent with his men during the hard times, then get me a tent so I can be with these recruits.”

“Uh, Yes sir, that won’t be ready however till we are at Everfree.” She replied with a worried tone towards Matthew.

“Very well, but next time, when we travel I travel with the troops if they want to treat me like an officer then I must be with the men.” He had caught himself almost saying his men, these were really royal guards of the royal sisters not his troops yet he was almost thinking them as his.

“And Moonshade?” Taze caught her before she left. “It is to my understanding Pinkie Pie sent along some cupcakes to welcome the troops to Ponyville.” He looked at Matthew with a questioning glance.

Matthew looked at the camp. “I do not know how, but she already had one cupcake on each pillow with their back turned to me.” It was here that another sound happened and Matthew sighed. “Pinkie Pie somehow snuck through my eyes and already handed out her treats. They were small and only one.”

“Besides,” Pinkie Pie replied as she poked her head up from a bush nearby. “I left a note saying that I did this behind Matty’s orders, they can have them only after they had eaten their meals, which they did right before your arrived.”

Matthew stared at Pinkie Pie and blinked. “Don’t go behind my back ever again, Or so help me I will call you by your full name for a week.”

Pinkie actually eeped a little. “Okay, I’ll ask next time I throw them a party, but why be so grumpy pants about it?”

“Discipline.” Matthew replied. “They are troops and if they ever face a Changeling threat again, they won’t get second chances or do overs. I have to have them exact in the small details because then they will be exact in the big details.” He paused and look at Pinkie Pie as he got an idea. “Like baking a cake or a pastry. You need to do it right the first time and even in preparations, or it will fall apart.”

“Oh, like a fondue, those are tasty but hard to get right, but I know that receipt so well I can do it right every time, oh, that reminds me this is for you.”

With that she pulled out of her pink fluffy mane a Fondue still in the tray and still warm. Yet not a single pink hair was on it. Matthew looked up to an empty street. “h.. How?” He muttered and looked at Taze. “That is going to be my catchphrase with her isn’t it?”

Taze looked on at the assembled ponies. “Get some rest, tomorrow we will be splitting you into three groups, your group will determine your direct CO for the next twenty days.” Taze explained. “Enjoy the next three days while you can boys, everything afterwards is going to be far less pleasant “ He turned to Shawn. “Anything you have to say?”

Shawn looked to the mass of ponies in front of him, leaning forward slightly he focused in on certain ones. Humming to himself he mumbled to Taze. “This is certainly going to be interesting...” He shook his head afterwards.

“There you go Mr. Shawn.” A small red filly smiled up at them. When they had arrived it seemed that Berry Punch was blitzed. fortunately Berry Pinch had been aware of their coming and the helpful young foal was used to showing customers to their rooms.

“Thank you very much.”

The Room was actually rather simple, it had a short hallway with one door that led to a bathroom, and the main area where two beds were and another mattress on the floor. Matthew looked at the others. “I think I am going to find a lean to and sleep there, no offense to you two, but… I am getting a might tired of sharing the same sleeping room with you all.” He sighed and looked at the mattress again. “Besides with had two other ponies as well. They can have the mattress, and… I might find a space between Taze’s bed and the wall if he remembers to get up on the side I am not sleeping on.”

Mutatio blinked and looked at him. “Why take the floor? I can take the floor as I am use to hard places to sleep.”

Matthew only smiled a little. “Because I miss my ROTC days and I want to sleep on the hard ground again, even if it’s a wooden floor.” He turned a little and found a small closet. “Any extra pillows or sheets and blankets I can borrow?” He had looked into the closet and saw that the extra sheets had been used for the extra mattress.

“Welp.” Shawn said stretching lightly. “I’ll take the wall whenever I start feeling tired.”

Matthew blinked and looked at Shawn. “Take the wall? I never heard that phrase before. Besides you should get the bed, what would they all do if they learned you had taken the floor when you are the highest ranked of the group here?”

Shawn only looked at him. “Matthew, I don’t really sleep that long in the first place, by the time I get to sleep and wake up, all of you are typically still asleep.” He said with a shrug. “Plus I think I’ll be out exploring at night, by the time I get back everyone should be asleep anyways.”

“Fine, fine, I guess I’ll take bed closest to the door then. You just take care of yourself, I don’t want you getting sick or something.” Matthew muttered as he sat down and loosened his tie a little as well as unbuttoning the top button of his shirt.

“Well, I’m actually planning to get up early tomorrow.” Taze said. “So I’m gonna turn in now, night guys.” Taze said heading to a bed.

Matthew sighed and moved to the bathroom. “I’ll change and then get some sleep, early morning as well, and well we do need to march to the castle tomorrow. You get some rest Shawn.”

Shawn only shrugged. “I’ll try.”

Taze sighed as he sat in the golden oaks library behind a few borrowed desks that had been put together, on the desk sat a large cup of coffee and a stack of parchments. After getting up early thanks to an alarm he had set on his so recently rediscovered ipod. Taze had stripped off his chest armor down to his undershirt and taken a run around the town's central plaza. His body protested angrily, his mind had more so but Taze had decided he was going to get in shape and he was going to get back in shape rather he wanted it or not.

After his run he had taken a short rest before attempting what he could only label as a sad bunch of push up, sit ups and jumping jacks. After which he had retrieved his armor and gone to see how the tent training was going. Surprisingly the ponies were learning quickly under their instructors. Close to noon the groups had been determined adequate. After which Taze had looked through the ponies and selected 6 for his first group. He had instructed them to meet him at the library in exactly half an hour. After which he had stopped at Sugarcube Corner and gotten a few donuts and the largest coffee they had.

Over the next half hour with Twilights help he created six exact copies of a test that had come to him as he slept. Using actual battle stances from the human worlds history such as the battle of Thermopolye, the romance of the three kingdoms, and north American battles during the colonial era. he created a series of hypothetical situations from which the ponies would have to explain thoroughly how they would handle the situation.

The group filed in thirty five minutes after he had spoken to them, Taze had made a big show of disappointment at their lateness but this time decided against punishing them.

“Sit down.” He instructed pointing to several regular pony tables. The group was a reasonable mix all four of the pony tribes present with an extra thestral and earth pony.

“This isn’t a quiz, you won’t be graded.” Taze explained as he handed the parchments to each along with a separate piece of parchment and a pencil each. “This is for me to understand how you think in a combat situation where tactics may be your only chance, I will be having Applejack, the element of honesty, going over each of these afterwards so don’t try to lie. Any answers that are exactly the same will cause punishment to both parties. I want your honest idea of how to handle these situations. I’m giving you forty five minutes to do this.”

Taze strolled back to his desk and looked up at the library clock. “On my mark….. Mark!” He said as the ponies turned to the test with a confused fever. Taze sat back and took a drink of the coffee, waiting to see what answers the six confused recruits brains would come up with.

As for Matthew he had gotten up a little earlier than Taze, as he got up at dawn, or as the ponies called it, Six in the morning. Matthew set his alarm to five in the morning and using his costume outfit for running. He moved to the outside to do a few warm ups before taking off on a jog. He first jogged from the Tavern he was saying in. He smiled a little at how this reminded him of the medieval style of a Tavern in that it was more room and meals combined. An Inn in modern lingo he realized. This train of thought occupied him till he reached the Town Hall in the center of Ponyville at which point he went toward the Library which was shut up tight at the the moment. As he jogged on his thoughts slowly rolled through his head as he thought of what to do with the troops. He moved next toward the edge of town where the camp was slowly waking up after a bugle call at the same time. He smiled a little and stayed long enough to do some sit ups, push ups, and a few jumping jacks. He caused the camp to laugh a little when he attempted to do some of their exercises. After he was done it was about six and he stayed to eat breakfast with the troops. Which they were happy to see, while not verbal Matthew felt he could see it in their eyes that one of the humans was eating with them.

He surprised them when he stayed with them to both help and learn a little on setting up tents. He did not let out that he forgot some steps but he knew what came out was that he was willing to do the same tasks that he asked of them. He left around eight as he could see that the four were doing well as instructors. He retired to the room and found himself a little tired and sat down on the mattress on the floor, he didn’t realize till being woken up that he had fallen asleep. He looked at his wristwatch and saw it was noon. He was happy to have it. He just did not know how long the battery would last. He looked to see who woke him up. “Oh, Good Afternoon Mutatio.”

“Good Afternoon my friend. Would you like to come downstairs for lunch? Your monster hunter friend is at the library with some of those guards giving a test, and he who can’t die is out in town.”

Matthew blinked and realized that Mutatio must be lonely. “Sure I’ll have lunch downstairs.” He smiled as Mutatio’s face light up and he moved down the stairs to partake in lunch. He felt hungry again, maybe a little more then this morning which confused him. Still he would enjoy this meal. When Matthew stepped into the main area to eat he blinked a little as he saw a small piano in the corner with a few cluttered instruments in the corner with a noticeable layer of dust on them. Unused and a little dusty. He shrugged a little and sat down to eat first, then he would look at the instruments afterwards.

Taze walked into the tavern quite suddenly with his face currently buried in a file. He looked up briefly to locate Matthew before making a beeline for him. “Hey.” Taze said. “You got a minute?”

Matthew blinked up from his meal, “Sure if you don’t mind me eating my lunch while you talk.” he smiled a little at the Pegasus next to him, black with a green mane and tail. He had a lot of sweets, and sugary drink. “Just keep upwind to Black Wing’s eating.” To Taze’s amazement Mutatio laughed at the joke. “Just sit down. I’ll listen.”

Taze sat down across from Matthew. “You had officer training right?” Taze asked.

“A little, but that was over three years ago.” He admitted. “But I can do my best in helping you.” He paused and shook his head. “I wish I packed my ROTC textbooks, but I didn’t have room.”

“Not so much for me, but I think I have a pony who would make for a promising lieutenant in our little group.” Taze said opening the file he brought out a parchment. “I gave a test to my group to get a feel for how they think. A few situations based off home, thermopylae, the battle of Little Bighorn that sort of thing.” Taze explained. “The answers seemed pretty uniform. Three of them suggested a tactical retreat in sparta despite the noted losses greece would sustain, one offered unconditional surrender and another suggested a straight charge.” Taze slide the parchment to Matthew. “But one only said three words.”

Matthew looked down at the parchment and read the three words aloud. “Hold the Line.” he smiled a little. “I see, that is most promising, he knew very well that those that stayed would die, yet give the rest of his nation time to prepare more fully for war.” he looked up with a smile. “I agree, he would do well to be a candidate for officer school, and I have four perfect NCO leaders as well.”

“Actually if your refering to the ponies from the tents…” Taze said. “This was the large black earth pony.” Taze opened the file. “Recruit number four eighty-two, ‘Black Rook’ like the chess piece, born in Whinnysberg a small village north of the Everfree, had a promising start in boot camp but was put in indefinite leave for striking a superior….”

“Officer,” Matthew replied with a frown on his face.

“Actually when I went through the included incident reports the pony he struck was another recruit, the Earl of vanhoovers son, he was charged with striking a superior pony, it’s a charge the nobles cooked up but there was little Celestia could actually do.”.

Matthew nodded his head. “I read the report, and well, from what I saw, included a section of sworn affidavits, Cadet Officer Rook.” he smiled a little. “What? We are creating a unit from scratch, I want to include that rank.” He shook his head. “Anyway, he struck the Earl in a noble fashion of defending one’s honor.” Mathew only grinned like many generals in the movies who were about to make a winning opening strategy. “I like him, and I plan on having him teach the other officers we end up making in our little group.”

“I want him still training with my group in exercises and drills, but after that you can take him whenever you see fit.” Taze said. “This is what I’m looking for, nerve, cunning, and tact mixed with sense, this pony was meant to be a fighter.”

“Then I shall regale him with some lessons from the US history as well. You know how many times Washington turned a defeat into a victory later on? Or the Rangers under Nathanial Greene? Yeah… if we can get him to think outside of the box, and not have any nobles mocking up our system of merit, then we will have a rather nice volunteer unit.”

“On that note we may have lost one.” Taze noted. “Silver Spear of Canterlot refused to believe that sending his men to die and leaving to ‘warn home’ was not a reasonable strategy. He stormed out of the library and I did nothing to stop him.”

Matthew nodded his head. “Let me talk to him. If he truly wishes to leave, then I shall let him, but as the one Shawn put in charge of some training. I need to let him talk to me.” He looked at the corner of the room and the assortment of instruments. “I will come back to see that treasure trove.” He looked at his meal and pushed the half eaten meal away. “I better do it now.” He moved to stand up. “Where might I find Silver Spear?”

“He was headed east from the library last I saw probably heading to the train station or the post office to tell his father of this ‘injustice’.” Taze said. “Silver mane, coppery coat, cutie mark of a spear and a tower shield.”

Matthew nodded his head. “Thank you.” he stood up. He was dressed in his Officer’s outfit, they had yet to settle on a rank for him so he was bare of rank or insignia’s on his outfit. He did have one small ribbon to denote the honor he was awarded two days ago. He moved to exit the Tavern again and quickly headed to the Post Office. He saw the Soldier at a desk writing a letter. “Silver Spear.” He voice cut the silence like a knife, yet it did not carry any anger or risk of demerit for his actions. He saw that he had the attention of the Unicorn pony. He walked up and in a quieter voice spoke. “Can I speak to you one on one real quick?”

“My family has had a prominent place in the guard for generations.” The stallion huffed. “How dare he! Well, speak up quick before my father has all your hides.”

Matthew nodded his head. “May I do so while we walk?” He asked as he motioned to the door. “I feel that it would be better if we were out in the open for this, I find that a walk can help not only help to formulate ideas, but it allows a voice to rise a little without too many stares. Maybe start by telling me the problem you have with the test?”

“Very well.” The stallion sighed following Matthew out the door, where he went to tell him just what his problem was with the test. “The answer seemed so obviously there, if we retreated then our nation would suffer great losses, if we charged we would all die, so why not let the rank and file stay back while I warn the homeland of the impending attack?”

Matthew nodded his head. “So you would leave your troops behind to warn the home of the attack? I can see your logic there.” He smiled a little. “I do not know how much about the Scenarios history he gave you. But the real event this is based on, the Spartans had a very war like tradition, it was said that the mothers told their sons to either come home either on their shield or carrying their shield. To them what you did would not just dishonor you, but all the men you were leading.” He looked to the horizon. “That is why the leader sent back a subordinate to warn home of how large the army was. As he was following his superior's orders his honor was intact.” He seemed lost as he remembered the history lessons. “An army so large that the arrows they loosed would block out the sun. When told that the warriors only replied that they would fight in the shade.” He looked back towards Silver Spear. “The Spartans, that one battle has become so famous and studied that many nations afterwards even mine would draw their actions and attitudes from it. TO Fight like a Spartan is a badge of courage.” He paused and shook his head. “Sorry, I do not know if that answers your question,”

He paused as he looked out over where they were walking they could see the tips of the Sweet Apple Acres orchards. “Silver Spear, not everyone is meant to fight as warriors, and then their are those like I who even though we wished to fight our nations wars could not because of health. That is why I became an Attache for documents, that is what I could do to serve my nation.” He looked back at Silver Spear. “What do you want? Not what your father wants, or your mother, or your grandparents, what do you, Recruit Silver Spear want?”

The stallion staggered it was quite clear that was the first time anyone ever said that too him. “I-I don’t know what I want.” He bowed his head as the realization of those words hit him. “I’ve never had a choice.”

Matthew blinked and slowly nodded. “Then I shall ask you to stay and observe.” he smiled a little. “What my nation allowed was for those that wanted to serve but couldn’t like me, or did not know, was allowed two years of training before making a choice. Would you like to have that option? So you can find for yourself?” He replied. “From what I have heard, your cutie mark can mean more than just a war career, I know of those that are warriors in the art of history, or in personal beliefs or even in protecting those around them and they do not wear a uniform.” He looked back at the apple trees. “What say you my friend? Does that work? And it will allow you time to think of what to really say to your father that is not in the heat of anger.”

“... Very well.” The stallion said before turning around. “Forgive me, but I have a lot of things to think about.” He said before walking off.

Matthew only nodded his head. “Better to think and form a solid decision then to rush headlong into one. My friends got lucky when they charged the Changelings. Very luck.” his voice trailed off from the compliment about thinking things over. He looked back over the land. His lips twitched a little. He smiled softly as he decided to sing a little and finish the walk to Sweet Apple Acres. “Oh say can you see?” He began softly, his voice quivering already from emotions as he slowly sung his national anthem.

In the distance he could hear a faint voice. “Hey! Matt!”

Matthew blinked but he looked around his voice stopping midway through the second verse of the National Anthem. “Yes?”

Looking over he could see Shawn holding a bushel of apples on his right shoulder and waving with his left. He had his jacket off and had rolled up the sleeves to his white dress shirt to just above his elbow. “How’s it going?” He called as he was walking towards the barn.

Matthew blinked as he realized he was fully in Sweet Apple Acres. “Just singing, walking, and giving advice like an old Veteran to the next generation. Leaving a mark on many so that I may attain some immortality through records and memories.” He replied with a slow look and tone as if to say that he was thinking of his own mortality at the moment. “You?”

Shawn shrugged with his left shoulder. “Eh, doing alright, I thought I would help out since nobody was up at the time.” He said with a gesture to the bushel.

Matthew raised and eyebrow. “Well put that down and rest, you, how long have you been working? Don’t over exert yourself it is not fun if you do, and I speak from personal experience, just go easy, okay?”

Shawn chuckled. “Surprisingly, I’m actually fine. No need for the painkillers anymore. And on the note for how long…” He turned back towards the treeline. “Hey AJ!”

Applejacks voice called back. “Yeah?”

“How long have I been out here helping?”

There was a pause. “Since the crack of dawn!”

Matthew slowly looked at AJ, then at Shawn. “It is now.” he looked at his watch. “One fifty five in the afternoon.” He looked again at AJ, “I hate to be a party pooper but I really need to have Shawn put that down and come back to town so we can finish up some things for our leaving Ponyville either tonight or Tomorrow.” he replied in a strict tone of voice that AJ could swear belonged on one of her uncles. “And I do not want him to have a sudden energy crash, which can happen you feeling nice one moment the next you just feel weak and lethargic.”

“Shoot it ain’t no problem. He just joined us, as he said, ‘for the heck of it’.”

Shawn chuckled, putting the bushel down where he needed to. “Alright then, I’ll see you around AJ.” He said grabbing his coat and put it over his shoulder. He looked to Matthew. “You lead the way.” He said with a smile.

Matthew only smiled as if with a wicked idea. “Oh, I shall.” he straightened up. “FALL IN!”

At that moment they all heard four distinct voice. “Cutie Mark Crusaders Marching YAY!” As Matthew stood frozen he watched four pony fillies line up next to Shawn. Matthew blinked and sighed with worry inside but his voice showed no wavering. “SOUND OFF!”

“Shawn, reporting in.” Shawn said using his middle and index finger to do a two finger salute.

“Apple Bloom.” Apple Bloom called out in her southern accent. She was wearing her red bow as always.

“Sweetie Belle.” A squeaky voice replied in the trademarked sound of a Sweetie Squeak.

“Scootaloo.” Matthew thought he detected a fierceness that he associated more with Rainbow Dash but did nothing more to think as the fourth member sounded off.

“Dinky.” Strange it sounded like a mix of American and British to his ears but he didn’t think further. He also noticed that they all had their capes as well.

“Now, we are going to march from here to Ponyville.” He replied with a looked at Shawn and the others. “Good already lined up and straight. Now a quick lesson for those never marched before.”

“Uh Sir?” Sweetie Belle called out raising a hoof. Matthew could not help but smile at the antics.

“Yes?” Matthew replied liking the idea of the hand being raised for school.

“We know about marching we just practiced in the field so we could march to school.” Sweetie replied with a giggle.

“Very well.” He replied turning around to face forward. “Follow my lead, Sound off.” He called out. And to his relief Shawn replied.

“One Two.” As each number was called or the words spoke one of the feet or hooves moved forward.

“Sound off.” Matthew called again.

“Three Four.” Scootaloo caught on to the pattern then.

It lasted like this for the rest of the march to Ponyville having them actually switching off leaders a few times as he allowed the CMC to have their little fun. More than likely from watching the troops marching and setting up camp the night before. They ended their march in front of the school house. He turned around to face his small. He paused. He had not been paying attention. What had started as five men had formed into a larger group of ponies marching.

He cleared his throat. “STUDENTS FALL OUT FOR CLASS!” what followed was a rush of foals of both genders rushing the door as Cheerilee watched with an unreadable face. He noticed that the CMC were still standing in the front row.

Matthew took a breath again. “CMC, Fall out and attend to your duties till the end of School.” They did their best to salute and marched off a little into the school building, as they did so, Matthew swore he heard something like a snare drum beating out a march cadence. Cheerilee just looked at the two humans, turned around and shut the door. Matthew turned back to Shawn. “Fall out and move at your pace to the Tavern.” he sighed and looked back. “I wish I caught that we picked up more students.”

Matthew and Shawn walked normally, or rather would have if Shawn did not notice that even as they walked his friend Matthew was still keeping his hands at his side and curled up in a marching form. This continued on till they reached the Tavern which was empty save for Berry Punch, Moonshade, Taze, Two guards with spears and Mutatio on the ceiling hissing in fear as the two guards waved their spears at him.

“STOP!” Matthew yelled in fear as he saw the sight.