The lightning project

     Kimat  Volts awoke to sunshine in his face, the pony grumbled as he got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. Looking himself over in the mirror he thought to himself. " Todays gonna be the day, Im going to finally enlist in the royal guard!" He washed up and ate a little breakfast, then he set out into canterlot city, heading towards the recruiting station.

     Kimat walked up to the recruiting station and sliped through the door. Behind the desk sat a gruff looking pony. The recruiter had a on a navy blue uniform with a white bow scarf. Kimat walked up to the recruiter.

   "Good after noon sir, I was looking to sign up for the gaurd." Kimat said in a polite tone. The recruiter looked up from his clipboard at Kimat. He looked him up and down; judging him.

  The pony eventually responded with "Sign up sheets are to the left, just fill one out and hoof it to me.

  "Thanks." said Kimat as he picked up the sign-up sheet and began to fill out the contents. Among those contents was a service term choice. Kimat chose the 3 month service option since he was only joining for a summer job.

      Normaly he works at plant Vogal. Equestria's first and only nuclear power plant. Kimat was very good with electricity. Kimat worked with the engineers during the initial constructrion of the plant. Kimat decided to join the guard because  during the summer, all employees get the summer off except for certain ponies such as the executive chief engineer or the security squad leader. Kimat thought that being in the royal guard during his months off was a great way to still be useful in his society. What Kimat REALLY wanted was to rise through the ranks and eventualy become executive chief engineer. Right now he was currently a systems engineer, one of many, but he was happy with his position all the same.

     Kimat walked out of the recruiting station and decided to head to the local mart to pick up some groceries. On his way there he spotted a group of suspicious look teenage ponies in a dark alley, normally this wouldn't phase him, but what got under his fur was that one of the ponies seemed to be staring at him intently. Kimat HATED being watched. The thought of being stalked always creeped him out. He walked quickly to the mart, which was right across from the famous Ritz-Hoofington Inn. The most luxurious hotel in all of equestria, but Kimat never fantasized about staying in that hotel, he was content with living in his upscale Canterlot apartment.

    Entering the store, he took a basket from the shelf and headed towards the pasta aisle. He had grown a taste for a certain brand called Ramen-Noodles ever since he got out of college. He found it and he promptly put 6 boxes into his basket, a months worth. He then headed to the wine and beer aisle. Kimat didn't have normal tastes for alcohol compared with other canterlot ponies. Instead of wine or even beer, Kimat prefered a stronger drink called Vodka.

he spotted his brand and picked out 3 bottles of good old Stalliongrad Vodka.

He then proceeded over to the counter to pay. As he walked up to the counter he got his bit bag from under his wing. After paying for the goods he was just about to walk out of the store when the cashier spoke up. " Hey, I like your mane"

          "Thank you" said Kimat as he exited the mart and made his way back to his apartment. Ounce inside he poured himself a glass of Vodka and fixed himself a bowl of ramen noodles as he sat down and turned on the television. He fliped through the channels, after finding out that there was nothing good on(as usual). Kimat decided to go to bed early since he had a big day tomorrow.

         Kimat flew over to the training camp entrance and  landed just in front of it. After getting inside he was then directed to the barber. Once inside he saw one of the barbers put a helmet on the new recruits. If the helmet fit, the pony would be allowed to leave. If the helmet didn't fit, then the pony would have his mane cut into a buzz.

           Kimat stepped up to the barber, the barber then put the helmet on Kimat. The helmet fit perfectly. He was then directed to the medical clinic wher ponies were getting vacinations. Kimat never liked needles. When it was his turn he walked up to the nurse and sat down.

           The nurse the used a cotton ball to disenfect the area of the shot, she then proceeded to stick the needle into his shoulder. Kimat bit his tongue in pain. For some odd reason, needles hurt him more so than other ponies. After the nurse was finished Kimat walked over to the recreation area. With his shoulder still in pain, he sat down on one of the tables with great dificulty. Soon a group of tough looking stallions sat down in front of him.

         "Looks like one of the fresh meat has style." said the lead stallion "yeah, for a rich canterlot snob." said another stallion.

         "hey!, Im not a snob!" Kimat exclaimed as he shot up from his seat.

       "Whoa, whoa, whoa buddy, calm down, were just playing around!" said the stallion as he backed away a little.

      "Right, sorry 'bout that. "Kimat said sheepishly as a sat down again, feeling embarassed by his sudden outburst. Kimats biggest problem was his anger. Kimat was pretty good at controlling his temper, but sometimes after experiencing a lot of pain his temper flares up more than usual, ponies around him tell him that it is normal but he thinks that it's a mental disorder.

        "Whats your name buddy?" asked the stallion. "Uhh, Kimat Volts" Kimat responded. "Storm Sheild" said the stallion as he shook Kimat's hoof. Upon further investigation, Kimate saw that the pony had a red and white fauxhawk for a mane. His coat was a dark brownish color and his eyes were a brownish color.

         "Nice to meet you, Kimat" Storm said, letting go of his hoof.

         "yeah, nice to meet you." Kimat responded. Looking around he noticed that most of the stallions had gone off to play basket ball.

         "So what made you join the royal guard?" asked Storm Shield. "Well, I needed a summer job, so I thought that this would be a good choice.

        " Kimat responded. While taking a piece of gum from under his wing and popped it into his mouth.

            "So where do you work for the 9 months that your not here?" asked Storm.

         "I umm, I work at plant electron." Kimat said, choosing his words carefully.

        "Wow, Thats pretty cool, I wish I could work at a nuclear reactor, Im not that smart though, so I would never have a chance." Storm responded.

          "Yeah, I have always been good with electricity, Thats how I got my cutie mark." said Kimat as he showed Storm Shield the 3 purple  lightning bolts that were on his flank.

         "How 'bout you, what made you join the gaurd?" asked Kimat as he sat back down again.

           "Ive always been good at protecting other ponies, so I thought why not join the guard, plus I might even get good with one of the princesses, if you know what I mean" responded Storm.

            "Hehehe, I think I know what you mean." said Kimat as he winked at Storm. Just then a loud bell rang through out the camp.

       "Welp, we should probably get going, Don't wanna be late do we?" said Storm.

         "Hell no we don't" Kimat responded as he got up from the table.

           The two stallions headed to the barracks. Once inside they found a bunk and settled in. After a bit all the recruits were making small talk. Just then the door burst open and out steped a stallion wearing a green sergeant's uniform.

         "ATENTION!!!!!" exclaimed the drill instructer. All the new recruits all jumped out of there bunks and stood on the floor at attention.

          "My name is Scorch Fire, But you will call me by sir, or seargent, AM I CLEAR?" yelled the seargent, SIR, YES, SIR!!!!!!

           "As of now, you are all pieces of shit, and you will be treated like pieces of shit, AM I CLEAR?" SIR, YES, SIR!!!!!!

              The drill instructer walked down the hallway in the barracks. He stopped at a small, light blue unicorn.

       "Whats your name, maggot?" he asked.

          "sir, Frost Blizzard, sir" said the unicorn.

           "BULLSHIT!!!!!!!, from now on your name is private snowball!" yelled the seargent.

           "SIR, YES, SIR" yelled the unicorn.

       The seargent then walked down the hallway again. Eventually he stopped in front of Kimat.

           "And who might you be, maggot sack!!" asked the seargent.

            "sir, Kimat Volts, sir!!" Kimat responded.

             "BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!, You'll be known as electro-colt!!" yelled the seargent.

            "sir, yes, sir" responded Kimat. Kimat hated that name, he felt that it was humiliating and demeaning.

     "I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!!!" exclaimed the sergeant.

     "SIR, YES, SIR!!! yelled Kimat.

     "BULLSHIT!!!!, DROP DOWN AND GIVE ME FIFTY!!!!!!!!! yelled the sergeant.

      Kimat immedietly dropped to the ground and started on his push-ups, feeling embarassed. Soon the seargent had dismissed them and had left the barracks.

     "Welp, we should probably get some sleep, gotta wake up early tomorrow." said Storm.

      "Agreed." replied Kimat as he switched off his bunk lamp.

     "good night, electro colt" snickered Storm.

    "Shut the hell up storm" Kimat retorted as he rolled over and closed his eyes, eventualy falling asleep.

     Kimat awoke to the sound of the sergeant yelling in his face. "WAKE UP, SLEEPING BEUATY!!!!!! exclaimed the sergeant as he yanked the sheets off  the bed where Kimat was sleeping. Kimat shot up in panic and confusion.

    "Who dat?'' asked Kimat, still half-asleep.

    "Private, you better get your ASS down to the assembly area, NOW!!!!!'' yelled the sergeant. Kimat galloped down the hallway and outside. He ended up in line at the assembly area. After catching his breath he looked around the area. There were several banners with Celestia's sun painted on them. He also noticed four stallions on a platform at the front of the assembly area.

     ''Looks like some pony finally decided to wake up." jeered Storm as he jabbed Kimat in the ribs, interrupting him in his thoughts. Kimat just grunted as he listened to the third stallion's speech.

    "As I was saying, you each will spend a total of 21 days in this camp. On the last day you will take a three part test. The first part will be physical, push-up, pull-ups, sprints, weight lifting, things like that. The second part will be mental, you will write a letter addressed to princess celestia on why you are joining the royal guard and why she should let you join the royal guard. The third part of the test will be practical, you will spar with a trained and seasoned official. In order to graduate from this academy you must pass your practical test and you must have your letter stamped with

Celestia's seal of approval. Any questions?'' as the stallion finished up his speech the fourth pony on the platform stood up and took the microphone

        "Thank you Cloud Zipper, that concludes our speech for today." said the fourth pony as he and the other three stallions started to file out of the platform. Soon the sergeant had dismissed the new recruits and they began to converse in small groups. Turning around, Kimat saw Storm Shield rolling on the ground laughing.

      "Whats so funny?'' demanded Kimat as he pulled Storm up off the ground.

     "It's just that you look really silly with your mane all messed up like that." he said while trying to compose himself.

     "Yeah, whatever." Kimat said. As he was looking around he spotted the group of stallions that were on the platform, as he was looking at them a question popped into his head. "Hey Storm, what did the first two stallions talk about?'' asked Kimat.

      Storm responded with: '' The first one was talking about not throwing trash onto the ground, and then the second one was talking about how we are supposed to save energy." Kimat shivered at the last statement. It's not that he didn't like to save energy, because he did, it was the reason that they were promoting energy conservation so much. The reactor wasn't producing as much electricity as it had been. It used to be every year the reactor would produce less electricity than it did before, but now it was every month. This greatly troubled Kimat because the system reports had turned up nothing, which led him to believe that there was something wrong with the sensors, but he has never been given a chance to prove it.

     Just then the entrance to camp opened and out walked princess Celestia accompanied by two royal guards in full gold armor, as soon as she walked in every pony bowed their heads. The sergeant then stood up and walked up to her. "Umm, wow princess, we weren't expecting you here, we would have a tent or something." The sergeant said nervously.

     "Oh, thats quit alright, I just wanted to give a little speech on why we should save energy." replied Celestia as she moved among the ranks of the kneeling ponies. She kept moving until she stopped at a particular purple pegasus. "Whats your name, stallion?'' asked Celestia.

     "M-my n-name?" stammered the pegasus, nervously looking up at her.

     "Yes, your name." replied the princess.

     "*sigh*, My name is Kimat.''