The Wasteland Strikers

A Nobles Path

It was a warm, summer day in Canterlot. The sun was shining from high up in the sky, hanging above all like a great chandelier. It spread its golden gaze across the city. Ponies moved all about in a great bustle, each trying to reach their own destinations. They jostled and pushed one another, each with some appointment unknown to the others.

Through this great commotion came two pegasi. One was a full grown stallion, with a bright white coat and a hazel mane. He carried himself with great pride, standing straight and towering over those around him. His very appearance seemed to command respect from all, and in his eyes gleamed a certain intelligence of one who had seen much in their life.

By his side was a small foal, wings tucked into his side, staring all around him as if he couldn’t take in enough sights at once. He walked with a small skip in his step, and excitement seemed to emanate from him. He had a rich grey coat, with a mane the same color as his father. His flank was still bare, showing to the world that he had not yet found his place.

These two travelled through the streets with seemingly no destination in mind, content to meander about aimlessly. After a while, the foal finally looked up at the stallion and said, in a slightly exhausted voice, “Father, what are we doing? We’ve been walking for almost an hour, and I still can’t tell where we’re going!”

His father looked down at him. “Asteroid,” He said, “It is very important for you to travel around the city. You are of noble birth, and with that comes much responsibility.” He waved his hoof around, indicating the area where they now stood, a bustling market full of commotion. “The commoners need to see you out here, among them, not surrounded by guards or riding in a carriage, but walking as they do, and showing them that we are not above them.”

The foal’s face grew puzzled. “But father,” He asked, “Cousin Blueblood last night said that we’re above all the commoners. He said that we’re the noble class, and that they should respect us and fulfill our every wish. Was he lying?”

“He was only saying what he believed to be true,” His father replied. “Many nobles believe that we are superior to the commoners. But I fought in the Royal Guard, and in my time there, I saw commoners fighting just as valiantly as nobles. I agree with the princesses, that we should not hold ourselves above anypony else.” He closed his eyes for a minute, recalling his time in the service of the the princess. Asteroid looked at his father, waiting for the speech to continue.. After a while, his father opened his eyes and looked straight at Asteroid. “Asteroid,” the older pony resumed, in a much more serious tone. "Look around and tell me what you see."

Asteroid let his gaze wander. He saw a gilded carriage being pulled by two enormous ponies. He saw market vendors with stands set up, calling out their wares. He saw ponies sitting by the side of the street in derelict clothing, begging for coin from passers by.

"I see the same stuff I see when I look out my window," he said. "Just ponies doing what they always do."

His father shook his head. "Look again," he instructed his son. "I want you to find one pony in the crowd, and I want you to tell me what you think they're doing."

Asteroid turned his head back to the crowd. After a while he turned to his father, pointed at a market vendor, and said,"That one."

His father looked at the indicated pony. He was a shorter pony with an orange coat and a green mane. He was selling carrots. "Okay," he said," now what can you tell me about him?"

"He's been working for a long time now, and he probably didn't get much sleep last night. He's been trying to sell his carrots for a while, and he doesn't seem to be having much luck."

His father nodded. "Why do you suppose he's still doing it, then, if he's having no luck?"

Asteroid thought for a moment. "Because he can't give up. If he did, then he would have to return to his home empty handed, and he would be seen as a failure."

Father turned to Asteroid, and said to him, "When I look at these ponies, I see lives. I see lives that mean something, and I see ponies not willing to let go of those lives without a fight. These ponies fight harder than any nobles I've ever seen, myself included, and they do it everyday. Yet still we tell ourselves that we are better than them, because if we don't, then we must accept that we would not survive in their place." He grew silent for a moment, before turning back to his son."Asteroid, one day you will have to take on responsibilities, and when you do, I want you to remember something. You are not better than anypony because of your birth, but because of the actions you do to prove your own worth.”

“Recruits, fall in!”

The drill sergeant’s voice cut through the chill morning air like a knife blade. The recruits quickly raced over from the fire they had been huddled around for warmth in the cold winter air to form a line by the older, grizzled pony. He had a coat the color of mud, and a mane of deep red. His stare alone was enough to subdue a manticore, let alone a handful of freezing young mares and stallions. They stood out in the Royal Guards camp, about a days walk from the capital. Around them, soldiers milled about, performing their duties, paying little heed to yet another small band of new blood.

“My name is Apple Core, and I will be leading you through these, the worst days of your miserable lives!” He barked out. “Make no mistake! Just because Equestria has been enjoying a time of peace, by no means will your training be any easier! You will suffer, you will break, and by the end of this year, you will each be reforged as a weapon of the kingdom, able to accomplish any task given to you, by either the princesses or one of your commanding officers! Do I make myself clear?”

“Sir, yes sir!” The recruits called out in unison.

Apple Core continued his speech. “You twelve will be in one squad. Your leader has already been chosen for you. You will be relying on each other for the rest of your service. All squads are formed based on different skillsets. No pony in this squad is useless unless they decide to be.” The recruits all nodded along. Apple Core nodded as well. “Good,” he said, “Now, will the designated commander please step forward?”

The recruits all turned to look as one of the ponies in the line took a step forward and saluted the drill sergeant. He was a Pegasus of average height and build. His face betrayed no hint of emotion, and he carried himself with calmness. His cutie mark was that of a circular shield with two spears crossed behind it, each with a flag blowing on the top.

The sergeant turned to look at him. “State your name, private!” He bellowed out.

The Pegasus turned to face his squad. They stared at him with mixed emotion, ranging from silent judgement to utter boredom. He opened his mouth. His voice carried an air of command to it, and his words broke upon his squad in a manner which demanded to be heeded, and all the ponies immediately straightened up and stared at him.

“My name is Asteroid. I will be the squad leader for the remainder of our training.”