One of Manyby Nightmare DarknessChapters1 Joining the Military2 First dayShock and Oh no1 Joining the Military1 Joining the Military My name is Glass Prism I am a brown coated unicorn with dark orange mane and tail. I have never really stood out amongst my peers or classes. My earth pony father and a pegasus mother made it difficult to learn magic because of their lack of knowledge in the subject, but I did ok with simple spells like levitation, light spells, those types of things. Word began to spread of a initiative being started by a mare by the name Aether Aura, story was she was an alien turned pony, who had become trapped in Equestria and was now offering up details that might protect Equestria from horrible monsters that were from space. I frowned when I had first heard that, thinking it was nothing but a complete false lie drummed up by ponies wishing to sell a fiction novel. That was until the event that ripped the sky apart happened. Again another story surfaced that Astral was riding on the back of Celestia herself to close the tear and did it. It was all too…incomprehensible but then there was this mare hell bent on protecting a home that wasn’t hers. I began to see recruitment posters show up in my small town asking for anyone willing to join the cause. I thought maybe, maybe I could make a difference as this new threat that was presenting itself against not just Equestria, but the world. I walked into an office that had been hastily put in place due to the new recruitment initiative enacted by the Princesses. Glass Prism opened the door and saw a dark blue mare pegasus who was setting up her desk as she looked up at him. “Hello my name is Glass Prism, Is this where you apply for the new army?” I asked. “Are you sure you wish apply?” the pegasus asked as she found her seat. I stepped forward hesitantly before I resolved myself. “Yes I wish to join.” I said before I could stop myself as the pegasus motioned for him to take a seat in front of her. She opened a file that held several blank papers. “You just need to read and sign this.” She said sliding it towards me. Reaching out with my magic I grasped it without a thought and began to read. ‘To whomever so signs this document will waive the right to sue or place blame on your superior officer. You may endure harsh training which could be considered by the regular pony both extreme and most likely unorthodox by most. If you so choose to join this, you are doing so of your own free will for the betterment of all life on this planet, not just Equestria.’ When I finished reading the contract I couldn’t help but frown. Looking at the pegasus I hoped to get some kind of context of what would be considered extreme or unorthodox training. To which she simply smiled. “It’s not as bad as it sounds, it’s just harder training than the military goes through.” She explained. I looked at the contract and placed it on the table beginning to sign my information. After I finished my signature I slid the paper to her and she smiled. “Glad you chose to join up. The train leaves tomorrow and you will be scheduled to be taken to ponyville.” She said which made my eyes widen and my ears drop. “Tomorrow?” I said incredulously. “Welcome to the military.” She said tilting her head with a smile. I had finished packing what small amounts of things that I owned as my parents both were both downstairs still trying to come to grips with my sudden decision to join the military. I took a breath as I walked downstairs. My mom was sitting at the table sobbing lightly as my father put a gentle hoof on her shoulder. “I wish you would have asked us first.” He said looking at me with grey eyes that always could strip away my resolve. Father was a strong red coated stallion with a yellow mane and tail who could have an imposing presence when he wanted to. I looked away slightly in shame but tightened my jaw and returned father’s steely gaze with my own, I needed to prove this to myself. “I want to do this dad, I’ve never been able to prove myself but now I can. Only the strongest can complete this training." I said more for my own benefit. “But for what?!” he exploded. I instinctively flinched at that. “There's no telling when we'll really need this military, I’ve heard stories about the training that they do involving Discord an all. Why do you want to leave?” He asked angrily. I took a breath and squared off against him as I summoned up my courage. “Because I feel it is my duty.” I said as my mom stood up and embraced me in a strong hug.. “Just be careful.” She said as she buried her head into my mane. I could feel the hot tears begin to soak my coat. Looking up at my dad who now had tears forming in his eyes. He approached us and wrapped his hooves around us in a big hug. “I’ll do my best.” I promised. The ride on the train was a new experience for me. I had never left home let alone thought I would. I saw that many others had the same look on their faces as I did. There were griffins, pegasi, earth ponies, and even changelings. I found myself staring at the changelings a bit too much before a sneer caused me to look away. The train had stopped at another community and a griffin found a spot next to me. After a few silence filled moments he turned to look at me and spoke. “Names Grey Wing.” He said with a smile and held out a friendly claw. “Glass Prism.” I replied and held out a hoof and the griffin took it and shook it twice before letting me go. “You join up as well?” he asked with a smirk. “Yea, just yesterday.” I said with a weak laugh. Grey Wing looked at me with surprised but put his claw around my shoulder. "No need to be worried." He tried to reassure me but it did little to alleviate my nervousness. He leaned back in the train seat and seemed to relax. "I hope everything turns out fine though I am worried about this extreme an unorthodox training that was mentioned in the contract." I said out loud and he gave me a critical look but said nothing. I turned to look out of the train window and watched the passing landscape to burn up the time. The train came to a halt and we all unloaded into a mess of ponies changelings and griffins. I could see segregation taking place as the three groups seem to keep away from one another. Grey Wing and I stood side by side and he shrugged as he shared my uncertainty. “Man you and I are going to make it, I have a good feeling about this.” Grey Wing said with a smile before he looked out to see a patch of recruits already in training dodging massive boulders that barreled into one pony followed by a crack and an ear piercing scream. Both of our faces paled as the rock in my stomach became heavier. “We might not make it….” Grey Wing revised as he and I watched the rest of the group continue to dodge the boulders and left the broken now unconscious recruit get lifted up by nearby medics who were also tasked with dodging the boulders. The words on the contract I signed surfaced in my mind. ‘You may endure harsh training which could be considered by the regular ponys both extreme and most likely unorthodox by most.’ I felt my mouth mumble the words. 'replace extreme with insane and unorthodox with suicidal and maybe you got the training right.' “What is…” I began and noticed Grey Wing's body language. Grey Wing was chewing on his thumb talon as his wings were jostling as if possessed by a vibrating spell. I punched him in the shoulder causing him to look at me with a fearful look. “I'll look after you. you look after me?” I suggested and he looked me up and down and smiled meekly as his wings stopped vibrating and he shook my hoof again. A Stallion yelled out loud as he stood on top of a platform gathering all of our attention. “All of you are welcome to ponyville. I am Silver Shield. You are required to pass screening before you may begin the main training regiment.” He said first which several ponies looked between each other. “Didn't we already get screened?” I asked and Grey Wing again shrugged. “We signed a piece of paper... this could be to further thin out the herd.” he suggested which didn't make me feel any better. “You will all be filed into the recruitment hall where you will be tested.” Silver ordered and everyone began to file into the hall. Grey Wing and I both found our seats seven rows away from the stage and it took at least twenty minutes for the hall to quiet down. “Straighten up and pay attention!” Silver Shield ordered and a young mare not much bigger then a filly strode onstage with both purpose and confidence. She walked to center stage with no hesitation whatsoever to address the large crowd. She had a dark purple coat with a silver mane with two blue stripes accenting it. Nopony objected to her, but a few seemed disgruntled which only caused her to give them a half lidded look in response. “This is your Commander Dame Aether Aura.” Silver Shield said which earned him a wicked glare from the filly. I didn't understand why she didn't like her title but then I guess that's a thing to avoid. He then continued. “Now everypony, listen up. Aether Aura, an alien turned pony that has volunteered to become an agent for Princess Celestia. You are all here for the same reason, to learn how to protect all lands from a new threat. Currently, Aether is the only pony who knows what we may face, and how to best train ponies, griffins, and changelings for it. Hence, Aether is in charge and you will follow every one of her orders, understood?” He finished his explanation. “What you have signed up for is not by any means easy, this force was called together to protect the land against inter-dimensional beings that will be bent on killing and enslaving every single intelligent creature of this world. What you have signed up for will test you in ways you have never known. Before we get started about we have a little relaxing game?” she said with a smile that was less welcoming but more...sadistic? “What...does she mean a relaxing game?” Grey Wing asked looking perplexed. “Maybe she's nice?” I offered before she produced three small balls and flung them into the crowd. “Catch!” she said and before I knew it the three balls were bouncing erratically with so much force that began to knock out ponies changelings and griffins alike. One ball whizzed past my head causing my eyes to widen I looked around before a crack of pain erupted from the back of my head and my world began to black out till a claw caught my shoulder bringing me upright and shaking me. “Keep yourself Glass come on!” he said, I focused on his voice out of the pandemonium but gave a moan of pain. I looked up and saw him duck under a ball, another ball came at him from another side. I threw up a quick small shield desperately. The ball hit it shattering the shield but the small force deflected it away from Grey, I sat back up and we went back to back and before we knew it the room became quieter. Aether stood on the stage with a smile and nodded. “Anyone who is still conscious you can tell your unconscious comrades they can stay, but I wont stop you from leaving. If you plan on staying. Get to the barracks, you start your training tomorrow.” She said before she left the room and several other hard faced looking ponies walked in and began to bark orders. Grey looked at me and I looked at him with a wince as heat radiated from my head trama. “Unorthodox training huh…” was all he said and I looked away at Aether and closed my eyes for a moment before opening them again. “Extreme and Unorthodox indeed.” I agreed. 2 First dayNo one really truly appreciates sleep till it’s taken away….violently. My eyes opened in shock as a loud crack of a cannon caused me to jerk and fall out of my bed onto my back. “Out of bed you maggots! Get out into the square! Move it, move it, move it!” Came a booming voice. I stood up and saw Grey was rolling out of bed with a look that was a cross between fury and surprise. I trotted out of the barracks being pushed and shoved by everyone. We were all out in a cluster of bodies before a pegasus landed in front of the group. The moon was still up and the day hadn’t even begun. “Welcome to day one of training! I am your instructor Dusky Skies. I am one of the group who secondly survived Commander Aethers training, and with luck… so will you. As you all stand before me now, you are all useless, every single ohttps:// you. Now first off form ranks!” She ordered and we all looked at each other unsure as to what she meant. After a long pause she bellowed loudly. “Form lines you pack of soggy hay eaters!” She ordered. We all began to form a lines and I looked for Grey who was three rows back as we all fell into line. “Look forward recruits!” she barked causing me to snap my head around and face forward. It took several moments before the entire group stood in ranks. My legs were already sore at standing with my legs together. “The first thing you do every morning is this. Do you understand?” she yelled. I stayed quiet and so did the group, which caused her to frown and she flapped her wings and hovered so she could look down on all of us. “When I ask you something you respond with, Yes Instructor! Do you understand!” she said as her voice echoed in the morning air. “Yes Instructor!” I said as my voice joined in with the chant that reverberated in the square. “Good! Now do you love to run!” Dusky Skies asked which caused a few to call out sporadically and in various volumes. “I asked do you love to run!” She yelled. “Yes Instructor!” I exclaimed joining the military choir. “Everyone is to stay on their hooves or claws. No wings! No Magic! Follow Instructor Golden Sword!” She said as she landed beside the group and began to run. I turned and saw Instructor Golden sword who began to trot in front of the group, the ranks began to fall apart before a voice I couldn’t see who owned yelled out. “Keep your ranks!” I heard ordered and to I began to run looking forward at the back of the head of a changeling. Already the sound of others panting could be heard as the beats into the ground sounded like rolling thunder. I don’t know how long it had been my lungs stung, my legs ached, and my hooves throbbed. Already several had fallen out but a glance in Greys direction every once and a while made sure he was still in. The Instructors yelling and constant abuse was becoming numb to my ears. The sun was still below the mountains before approaching a large hill. “Halt!” Instructor Golden Sword ordered causing us to stop. The pony behind me bumped me which caused me to bump into the changeling in front of me. My body was shuddering as I gulped air, my body was soaked head to hoof from the sweat and my eyes stung as sweat got into my eyes causing them to blur slightly. “Hey…,” I heard and looked up to see Grey Wing now beside me. “H-How…,” I said. “Lots…of...move around…,” Grey said between taking in gulps of air. I understood what he meant by moving up to be beside me in the slight chaos of the group stopping. “Where…are we?” I asked looking around at the group of everyone some on the ground trying to catch their breath. “I don’t know.” He said looking around. “Where are the instructors?” I asked as I looked around. “Up there.” The changeling that was ahead of me said. I looked up at the top of the bluff. Our instructor’s outlines were seen as a smaller outline of our commander, Dane Aether Astra stood in between them as her horn glowed and several rocks now stood at the precipice of the hill and then they were let go to let gravity do what it does best for large roundish objects. “Look out!” I yelled out causing everyone to look up the hill and panic at the sight of boulders rolling down the hill. I spring into flight mode I dodged one rock that just missed me and Grey was about to take to the sky before a stone hit his legs causing him to spin in the air and crash into the ground. The changeling who was in front of me jumped out of the way of a rock and into the path of another one. “Look out!” I exclaimed as Istrained my already tired legs to shove the changeling out of the way of a bolder neglecting my own surroundings and a bolder the size of a filly slammed me in the flank causing my world become nothing but pain and a blur of color. My head hit the ground hard as explosions of light clouded my vision. As fast as it had happened it was over. I tried to stand up but my flank was turning purple as a large bruise began to form. Grey approached me limping with a wince on his face. “This is ridicules…,” he said exasperated. I sat up gritting my teeth as the changeling approached us. “Thanks for that, Names Cicada,” Cicada said with a fang filled smile that made me feel only slightly uncomfortable. “No problem…” I said trying to stand, then felt a smooth but hard carapace against my coat push me up and keep me steady. “Glass Prism,” I said as I looked at Cicada with a thought that came to mind but I didn’t know if I should ask it. Cicada who looked at me questionly. “What?” Cicada asked. “Are you a guy or girl?” I asked which earned me a punch in the shoulder from Grey and a half lidded look from Cicada. “I’m a girl.” She said with and unenthusiastic look that made me feel like an idiot. “Sorry I…don’t know many changelings.” I said trying to recover my mistake but she shrugged. “To be expected. Are you a guy?” she asked as if truly asking the question with garnered a half lidded response from me. “You couldn’t tell but Glass is a girl.” Grey said with a smile. “Shut up.” I said and he giggled as Cicada smiled. “Nice to meet you.” She said before Instructor Dusky Skies flew over us and landed. “Form up! We’re going back! Everyone pick up and assist the wounded we have a three hour hike back to base.” She announced as there was a collective groan from us all. “If this is only day one…how are we going to survive…?” I said abandoning hope. “One day at a time.” Grey Wing said as he began to limp in front of me as Cicada helped me along. “You know you need to grow a pair. I know I can.” Cicada said as I looked down at her incredulously and she smiled up at me. If I thought the run to the rock abuse sight was tough the walk back was like another world in pain and exhaustion. Cicada helped me as best she could but it was hard on her two. After an hour I could put more weight on my back leg but it still burned every time I put pressure on it. After four hours we arrived back at the square, out of our original large group many had fallen and were left behind to be picked up by medics. How I managed to make it was in no small part to Grey and Cicada. The instructors had no end in her abuse towards us and when we had formed up in the square Dusky Skies smiled fiendishly. "Congrats to you that have survived the first day in its entirety. Get some grub and those of you with wounds get them checked out." She ordered and all of us visibly slumped in relief, I was tempted to just go lie in bed and forgo eating but Grey gave me a nudge and took the lead towards the galley. I followed lamely and after eating what could barely be passed as food we made our way to our barracks. Cicada went to her barracks along with the other mares and female recruits. Entering the barracks I found my bed and fell into it wordlessly and was instantaneously consumed by darkness. The sound of thunder that shook the windows and foundations of the barracks made my eyes snap open and try and figure out what could have made such a sound. "Wake up you motherless sods!" Golden Swords voice bellowed through the barracks. "Time to get up!" He said ecstatic. When I tried to move my body felt like it was made of wood and the muscles that were suppose to work for me protested in a way I had never known. "Celesta preserve me..." I cursed as I fell out of my bed and began to try and jog to the door. Grey's eyes were red and his face displayed the same discomfort I felt. We were outside and formed up in three ranks. Many were missing from the previous day. Cloud Strife hovered over us with a sadistic grin that mirrored our commanding officer's who stood by a massive cannon where several bits of confetti and some bits of ribbon scattered in front of the cannon. "Do you like morning runs?" Dusky skies asked and with a woeful chorus we all responded. "Yes Instructor." I said but felt my heart sink with my words. "Your damn right...." She confirmed before landing and leading a jog that was more hellish then anything I could recall. Shock and Oh noThe first two weeks were made up of mind numbing exercise that after the first four days broke us all and began to rebuild us from the bedrock of our very being. My muscles were always sore but the weeks had made it a dull background pain that one just lived with. "Why are we doing this..." Cicada asked under her breath as we lugged saddlebags full of stones. Todays task was to bring stones from one side of ponyville to the other and back again. "I think it doesn't matter anymore. Who has time for thinking in this situation?" Grey said from behind us. I grunted in agreement and simply was glad we were almost back at the beginning of our journey. "This is fairly tame considering." I offered and both of my fast growing friends agreed. In truth all of us were becoming a close knit family. One gets close to those he endures hell with or so the saying goes. We jogged into the square and were brought to a halt and told to face forward. Dusky Skies stood infront of us carrying the same saddlebags that we did. "Alright, now we have softened you up we are going to train you in the way that all military knows best. Drill." She said as a smirk sliced across her face. "Drill?" One of us asked and her smile didn't falter as she shrugged the saddlebags off. "Drill is the backbone of any militaries knowledge." She declared as hoofbeats behind us caused us to look around. A explosion of pain cracked behind my ear as I crumpled to the ground. When I awoke next I could smell as well as taste the dirt and sweat in my nose and mouth. The throbbing in my head made me squeeze my eyes closed a moment before struggling back to my hooves. I looked forward and Dusky Skies was in my face and she took in an inhale and began to berate me in words I had never heard before. "Who in blue blazes left nut gave you the order to look around, Never look anywhere but your front unless ordered to do so! Get me!?" She screamed and we were all silent as I felt a knot in my throat begin to form as I began to fight back tears. I was so tired and exhausted as well as the emotionally stretched to the breaking point. "I asked do... you... get... me!" she bellowed now addressing the entire platoon. "Yes Instructor!" I said as my voice cracked and was thankfully drowned out by the rest of the platoon. The next two hours was a crash course in drill and repetition. I was able to force my crumbling resolve to the back of my mind as I followed the simple instructions of drill. After two hours of this grueling drill regiment my body felt numb and robotic. "Platoon! Break for lunch and be formed up at one. Turing right, dismissed." Golden Swords barked and as a unit we all turned to our right then marched off in unison. After four steps we all broke up into a gaggle making our way towards the galley. Grey and Cicada both fell into step beside me and I looked at them both. "Well..drill...love or hate?" I asked. "Hate." they both said in unison and I smiled. "How is your head?" Cicada asked and I winced at the reminder. "It still hurts." I confided and Grey gave a look at me and winced himself. "Yea looks like the size of a goose egg." He commented as we all wondered into the chow hall and filed into a line picking up metal food trays. My magic used to lift up the tray flickered as my concentration faltered between the throbs in my head. "Oh great...." Grey said sarcastically as he took the lead. "Mashed carrots with potatoes and pea puree." He stated forlornly. I cocked my eyebrow in question as to what was wrong with that? "You ponies have a completely veggie diet, I'm going to need meat or I am going to lose it." Grey said flatly and I felt a small pang of unease at his declaration. Cicada made a note of agreement as she got her food and we filed to a long table where our platoon sat down and began to eat and converse with one another. "You think meat is something that is scarce here try love...." She said woefully. I plopped down and began to lift my spoon and began to dig in. "How do you eat love exactly?" I inquired as I saw her begin to eat. She seemed to think for a long moment to formulate what it was like to a normal pony. "Think of a memory of a loved one and I can feed off the residual love that you had at that time." She said and so I stopped and thought of a time when I was celebrating my cutiemark party and how proud I was. My mom and dad looked at me as I could feel their feelings of happiness and accomplishment. I felt a small draw from my body as I opened my eyes and a small aura around me that was pink was being drawn from me and curling around Cicada, several of the other changelings in our platoon looked at me hungrily and I felt my feelings of the memory fade and the pink aura vanished. Cicada shuddered a moment before opening her blue eyes again to look at me. "Looks like that...thanks for the meal." She said with a wink. I laughed warily and continued to eat my chow. We finished our lunch and as a unit our platoon got up and put our soiled dishes in the dish window to be cleaned and went outside the dining hall and formed back up as the time was closing to one o'clock. Dusky Skies along with Golden Swords walked behind our commander Aether Aura who led them with a crate hovering by magic, a label stamped on the side I didn't recognize but I refused to give into curiosity and move my head to investigate further. Aether looked at us and gave a wry smile before she spoke. "This crate holds the weapons you will be responsible for till you graduate or washout. They are still prototypes but these bands." She explained as she opened the lid of the crate and pulled out a silver looking band that had gems set into it. I could feel the magic they contained. "Are meant for both attack and defence. Of course these are non-lethal...unfortunately. But this is your day to understand the pain of fucking up." Aether said with a wicked grin as she slipped the silver band over her left fore hoof and the gems glowed dimly. "It is to say that any species can use these. Earth pony, griffin, or otherwise." She said before the bands gems glowed and the yellow cut gem shot out a yellow beam and slammed into one earth pony who I knew as Green Liliy on the right of me, She screamed out in pain as she crumpled to the ground twitching uncontrollably. I couldn't help be look in shock as several of our platoon mates began to shift uncomfortably. "I hope your lunches were filling." Golden Swords stated and my stomach felt like a stone sat in it before my commanding officer looked at me and I felt my body recoil in fear before the yellow gem brightened and I threw up a shield. The blast slammed into my shield and it held before I saw Aether appear beside me and swipe my fore hooves out from under me. Her hoove slammed into my jaw and my shield dissipated as light danced in my eyes and a feeling of lightning followed and my body jerked beyond my control as pain coursed through my entirety. The screams of the other member of my platoon filled my ears as I laid there like a sac of potato's. My commanders hooves appeared in my vision and I looked up at her as she smiled. "Get up you lot if this can floor you, you will be in for a hard time." She said with a mocking tone as I shifted uncomfortably, then struggling to stand up as I looked down at my commander as a feeling foreign to me overcame me. It took me a moment to realize it. Rage... without a thought I lashed out at her with the intent to cause harm. The blue gem on her silver ban flared and a shield sprang to life protecting her from my attack. Her response was instant and her ban glowed again and another shock of electricity slammed into my body making it disregard my wishes as I fell to the ground again. "So now you see that these bands are capable of both defense and offence. You will begin training with these tomorrow." Aether notified us as I lifted my head and saw that I was part of the majority when it came to those still standing. Both Grey and Cicada were on the ground, Grey unconscious, Cicada moaning and lifting her head as mud spattered her black face and muzzle, Green Lilly being the first to fall was getting back to her hooves. Aether Aura stood over me and gave a look I couldn't quite make out but I knew it was predatory. We were dismissed to lick our wounds and clean ourselves in the given showers. I let the warm water wash away the mud sweat and some of the pain or at least I felt it like it had. The stalls separated each shower and Grey turned on the shower next to me and I opened an eye to see him. "You look better." I said with a smile. Grey sighed loudly as he placed his head against the wall as the water ran down his back and over his wings. "I think hell would be a better vacation this this training..." He said in a monotone voice. I turned off my shower as I lifted my towel up and began to dry off. "I can agree with you in that regard." I agreed and made my way toward my bunk and then suddenly Golden Swords walked through the door to the barracks and everyone moved to their end of their beds to stand at attention. "Carry on." He said quickly and everyone went back to what they were doing. "Prism!" He said and my blood went cold as I froze still. "S-sir?!" I said as I walked to meet him. "With me." He ordered and I fell in behind him as the other members of my platoon looked at me with both concern and confusion. We left the building and began to walk towards the headquarters of the base camp. It was the first time I had been in this building. "Stand there." He ordered me as he stopped in front of a door that was labeled with commander Aether Aura. My fears were being made real. Had my attack caused me to kicked out and this was the process? My stomach was flipping, tossing and turning as my mind raced with all of the likely possibilities of what my commanding officer was going to say as she said that he was not fit to be in the force. Golden Swords knocked and then entered the room after he was acknowledged and after a moment. "Prism!" Golden Swords strong voice commanded. "Sir!" I shot out. "Enter." He ordered and I did a right turn and marched into the room and stopped into the office and halted in front of her desk. Aether Aura sat behind her desk her dark coat stood against her leather chair. My file was open on her desk with my picture but nothing else I could discern from my point of view but soon I looked straight ahead hoping my slip up wasn't caught by Golden sword who stood to my left. "Glass Prism, 27 years old, cutiemark in the shape of a glass that takes one beam of white and splits into a rainbow. Do you know why you are here in this office?" She asked and I took a moment. "My...expulsion?" I said warily but kept looking forward. "You have something that showed when I was kicking the shit out of you. You tried to fight back...something that everyone at this point have simply just stood there and took it." She said as if making a point. "Ma'am?" I asked unsure as her face contorted in distaste. "Never call me Ma'am... say commander or sir...but whatever. I am training fighters not punching bags. How would you like a promotion to class leader?" She stated and I faltered and looked down at her confused. "Commander?" I asked unsure. "Just know now your responsible for all of those lost souls and when they fuck up...its your ass." She said and suddenly this promotion sounded more like a damnation...
1 Joining the Military1 Joining the Military My name is Glass Prism I am a brown coated unicorn with dark orange mane and tail. I have never really stood out amongst my peers or classes. My earth pony father and a pegasus mother made it difficult to learn magic because of their lack of knowledge in the subject, but I did ok with simple spells like levitation, light spells, those types of things. Word began to spread of a initiative being started by a mare by the name Aether Aura, story was she was an alien turned pony, who had become trapped in Equestria and was now offering up details that might protect Equestria from horrible monsters that were from space. I frowned when I had first heard that, thinking it was nothing but a complete false lie drummed up by ponies wishing to sell a fiction novel. That was until the event that ripped the sky apart happened. Again another story surfaced that Astral was riding on the back of Celestia herself to close the tear and did it. It was all too…incomprehensible but then there was this mare hell bent on protecting a home that wasn’t hers. I began to see recruitment posters show up in my small town asking for anyone willing to join the cause. I thought maybe, maybe I could make a difference as this new threat that was presenting itself against not just Equestria, but the world. I walked into an office that had been hastily put in place due to the new recruitment initiative enacted by the Princesses. Glass Prism opened the door and saw a dark blue mare pegasus who was setting up her desk as she looked up at him. “Hello my name is Glass Prism, Is this where you apply for the new army?” I asked. “Are you sure you wish apply?” the pegasus asked as she found her seat. I stepped forward hesitantly before I resolved myself. “Yes I wish to join.” I said before I could stop myself as the pegasus motioned for him to take a seat in front of her. She opened a file that held several blank papers. “You just need to read and sign this.” She said sliding it towards me. Reaching out with my magic I grasped it without a thought and began to read. ‘To whomever so signs this document will waive the right to sue or place blame on your superior officer. You may endure harsh training which could be considered by the regular pony both extreme and most likely unorthodox by most. If you so choose to join this, you are doing so of your own free will for the betterment of all life on this planet, not just Equestria.’ When I finished reading the contract I couldn’t help but frown. Looking at the pegasus I hoped to get some kind of context of what would be considered extreme or unorthodox training. To which she simply smiled. “It’s not as bad as it sounds, it’s just harder training than the military goes through.” She explained. I looked at the contract and placed it on the table beginning to sign my information. After I finished my signature I slid the paper to her and she smiled. “Glad you chose to join up. The train leaves tomorrow and you will be scheduled to be taken to ponyville.” She said which made my eyes widen and my ears drop. “Tomorrow?” I said incredulously. “Welcome to the military.” She said tilting her head with a smile. I had finished packing what small amounts of things that I owned as my parents both were both downstairs still trying to come to grips with my sudden decision to join the military. I took a breath as I walked downstairs. My mom was sitting at the table sobbing lightly as my father put a gentle hoof on her shoulder. “I wish you would have asked us first.” He said looking at me with grey eyes that always could strip away my resolve. Father was a strong red coated stallion with a yellow mane and tail who could have an imposing presence when he wanted to. I looked away slightly in shame but tightened my jaw and returned father’s steely gaze with my own, I needed to prove this to myself. “I want to do this dad, I’ve never been able to prove myself but now I can. Only the strongest can complete this training." I said more for my own benefit. “But for what?!” he exploded. I instinctively flinched at that. “There's no telling when we'll really need this military, I’ve heard stories about the training that they do involving Discord an all. Why do you want to leave?” He asked angrily. I took a breath and squared off against him as I summoned up my courage. “Because I feel it is my duty.” I said as my mom stood up and embraced me in a strong hug.. “Just be careful.” She said as she buried her head into my mane. I could feel the hot tears begin to soak my coat. Looking up at my dad who now had tears forming in his eyes. He approached us and wrapped his hooves around us in a big hug. “I’ll do my best.” I promised. The ride on the train was a new experience for me. I had never left home let alone thought I would. I saw that many others had the same look on their faces as I did. There were griffins, pegasi, earth ponies, and even changelings. I found myself staring at the changelings a bit too much before a sneer caused me to look away. The train had stopped at another community and a griffin found a spot next to me. After a few silence filled moments he turned to look at me and spoke. “Names Grey Wing.” He said with a smile and held out a friendly claw. “Glass Prism.” I replied and held out a hoof and the griffin took it and shook it twice before letting me go. “You join up as well?” he asked with a smirk. “Yea, just yesterday.” I said with a weak laugh. Grey Wing looked at me with surprised but put his claw around my shoulder. "No need to be worried." He tried to reassure me but it did little to alleviate my nervousness. He leaned back in the train seat and seemed to relax. "I hope everything turns out fine though I am worried about this extreme an unorthodox training that was mentioned in the contract." I said out loud and he gave me a critical look but said nothing. I turned to look out of the train window and watched the passing landscape to burn up the time. The train came to a halt and we all unloaded into a mess of ponies changelings and griffins. I could see segregation taking place as the three groups seem to keep away from one another. Grey Wing and I stood side by side and he shrugged as he shared my uncertainty. “Man you and I are going to make it, I have a good feeling about this.” Grey Wing said with a smile before he looked out to see a patch of recruits already in training dodging massive boulders that barreled into one pony followed by a crack and an ear piercing scream. Both of our faces paled as the rock in my stomach became heavier. “We might not make it….” Grey Wing revised as he and I watched the rest of the group continue to dodge the boulders and left the broken now unconscious recruit get lifted up by nearby medics who were also tasked with dodging the boulders. The words on the contract I signed surfaced in my mind. ‘You may endure harsh training which could be considered by the regular ponys both extreme and most likely unorthodox by most.’ I felt my mouth mumble the words. 'replace extreme with insane and unorthodox with suicidal and maybe you got the training right.' “What is…” I began and noticed Grey Wing's body language. Grey Wing was chewing on his thumb talon as his wings were jostling as if possessed by a vibrating spell. I punched him in the shoulder causing him to look at me with a fearful look. “I'll look after you. you look after me?” I suggested and he looked me up and down and smiled meekly as his wings stopped vibrating and he shook my hoof again. A Stallion yelled out loud as he stood on top of a platform gathering all of our attention. “All of you are welcome to ponyville. I am Silver Shield. You are required to pass screening before you may begin the main training regiment.” He said first which several ponies looked between each other. “Didn't we already get screened?” I asked and Grey Wing again shrugged. “We signed a piece of paper... this could be to further thin out the herd.” he suggested which didn't make me feel any better. “You will all be filed into the recruitment hall where you will be tested.” Silver ordered and everyone began to file into the hall. Grey Wing and I both found our seats seven rows away from the stage and it took at least twenty minutes for the hall to quiet down. “Straighten up and pay attention!” Silver Shield ordered and a young mare not much bigger then a filly strode onstage with both purpose and confidence. She walked to center stage with no hesitation whatsoever to address the large crowd. She had a dark purple coat with a silver mane with two blue stripes accenting it. Nopony objected to her, but a few seemed disgruntled which only caused her to give them a half lidded look in response. “This is your Commander Dame Aether Aura.” Silver Shield said which earned him a wicked glare from the filly. I didn't understand why she didn't like her title but then I guess that's a thing to avoid. He then continued. “Now everypony, listen up. Aether Aura, an alien turned pony that has volunteered to become an agent for Princess Celestia. You are all here for the same reason, to learn how to protect all lands from a new threat. Currently, Aether is the only pony who knows what we may face, and how to best train ponies, griffins, and changelings for it. Hence, Aether is in charge and you will follow every one of her orders, understood?” He finished his explanation. “What you have signed up for is not by any means easy, this force was called together to protect the land against inter-dimensional beings that will be bent on killing and enslaving every single intelligent creature of this world. What you have signed up for will test you in ways you have never known. Before we get started about we have a little relaxing game?” she said with a smile that was less welcoming but more...sadistic? “What...does she mean a relaxing game?” Grey Wing asked looking perplexed. “Maybe she's nice?” I offered before she produced three small balls and flung them into the crowd. “Catch!” she said and before I knew it the three balls were bouncing erratically with so much force that began to knock out ponies changelings and griffins alike. One ball whizzed past my head causing my eyes to widen I looked around before a crack of pain erupted from the back of my head and my world began to black out till a claw caught my shoulder bringing me upright and shaking me. “Keep yourself Glass come on!” he said, I focused on his voice out of the pandemonium but gave a moan of pain. I looked up and saw him duck under a ball, another ball came at him from another side. I threw up a quick small shield desperately. The ball hit it shattering the shield but the small force deflected it away from Grey, I sat back up and we went back to back and before we knew it the room became quieter. Aether stood on the stage with a smile and nodded. “Anyone who is still conscious you can tell your unconscious comrades they can stay, but I wont stop you from leaving. If you plan on staying. Get to the barracks, you start your training tomorrow.” She said before she left the room and several other hard faced looking ponies walked in and began to bark orders. Grey looked at me and I looked at him with a wince as heat radiated from my head trama. “Unorthodox training huh…” was all he said and I looked away at Aether and closed my eyes for a moment before opening them again. “Extreme and Unorthodox indeed.” I agreed.
2 First dayNo one really truly appreciates sleep till it’s taken away….violently. My eyes opened in shock as a loud crack of a cannon caused me to jerk and fall out of my bed onto my back. “Out of bed you maggots! Get out into the square! Move it, move it, move it!” Came a booming voice. I stood up and saw Grey was rolling out of bed with a look that was a cross between fury and surprise. I trotted out of the barracks being pushed and shoved by everyone. We were all out in a cluster of bodies before a pegasus landed in front of the group. The moon was still up and the day hadn’t even begun. “Welcome to day one of training! I am your instructor Dusky Skies. I am one of the group who secondly survived Commander Aethers training, and with luck… so will you. As you all stand before me now, you are all useless, every single ohttps:// you. Now first off form ranks!” She ordered and we all looked at each other unsure as to what she meant. After a long pause she bellowed loudly. “Form lines you pack of soggy hay eaters!” She ordered. We all began to form a lines and I looked for Grey who was three rows back as we all fell into line. “Look forward recruits!” she barked causing me to snap my head around and face forward. It took several moments before the entire group stood in ranks. My legs were already sore at standing with my legs together. “The first thing you do every morning is this. Do you understand?” she yelled. I stayed quiet and so did the group, which caused her to frown and she flapped her wings and hovered so she could look down on all of us. “When I ask you something you respond with, Yes Instructor! Do you understand!” she said as her voice echoed in the morning air. “Yes Instructor!” I said as my voice joined in with the chant that reverberated in the square. “Good! Now do you love to run!” Dusky Skies asked which caused a few to call out sporadically and in various volumes. “I asked do you love to run!” She yelled. “Yes Instructor!” I exclaimed joining the military choir. “Everyone is to stay on their hooves or claws. No wings! No Magic! Follow Instructor Golden Sword!” She said as she landed beside the group and began to run. I turned and saw Instructor Golden sword who began to trot in front of the group, the ranks began to fall apart before a voice I couldn’t see who owned yelled out. “Keep your ranks!” I heard ordered and to I began to run looking forward at the back of the head of a changeling. Already the sound of others panting could be heard as the beats into the ground sounded like rolling thunder. I don’t know how long it had been my lungs stung, my legs ached, and my hooves throbbed. Already several had fallen out but a glance in Greys direction every once and a while made sure he was still in. The Instructors yelling and constant abuse was becoming numb to my ears. The sun was still below the mountains before approaching a large hill. “Halt!” Instructor Golden Sword ordered causing us to stop. The pony behind me bumped me which caused me to bump into the changeling in front of me. My body was shuddering as I gulped air, my body was soaked head to hoof from the sweat and my eyes stung as sweat got into my eyes causing them to blur slightly. “Hey…,” I heard and looked up to see Grey Wing now beside me. “H-How…,” I said. “Lots…of...move around…,” Grey said between taking in gulps of air. I understood what he meant by moving up to be beside me in the slight chaos of the group stopping. “Where…are we?” I asked looking around at the group of everyone some on the ground trying to catch their breath. “I don’t know.” He said looking around. “Where are the instructors?” I asked as I looked around. “Up there.” The changeling that was ahead of me said. I looked up at the top of the bluff. Our instructor’s outlines were seen as a smaller outline of our commander, Dane Aether Astra stood in between them as her horn glowed and several rocks now stood at the precipice of the hill and then they were let go to let gravity do what it does best for large roundish objects. “Look out!” I yelled out causing everyone to look up the hill and panic at the sight of boulders rolling down the hill. I spring into flight mode I dodged one rock that just missed me and Grey was about to take to the sky before a stone hit his legs causing him to spin in the air and crash into the ground. The changeling who was in front of me jumped out of the way of a rock and into the path of another one. “Look out!” I exclaimed as Istrained my already tired legs to shove the changeling out of the way of a bolder neglecting my own surroundings and a bolder the size of a filly slammed me in the flank causing my world become nothing but pain and a blur of color. My head hit the ground hard as explosions of light clouded my vision. As fast as it had happened it was over. I tried to stand up but my flank was turning purple as a large bruise began to form. Grey approached me limping with a wince on his face. “This is ridicules…,” he said exasperated. I sat up gritting my teeth as the changeling approached us. “Thanks for that, Names Cicada,” Cicada said with a fang filled smile that made me feel only slightly uncomfortable. “No problem…” I said trying to stand, then felt a smooth but hard carapace against my coat push me up and keep me steady. “Glass Prism,” I said as I looked at Cicada with a thought that came to mind but I didn’t know if I should ask it. Cicada who looked at me questionly. “What?” Cicada asked. “Are you a guy or girl?” I asked which earned me a punch in the shoulder from Grey and a half lidded look from Cicada. “I’m a girl.” She said with and unenthusiastic look that made me feel like an idiot. “Sorry I…don’t know many changelings.” I said trying to recover my mistake but she shrugged. “To be expected. Are you a guy?” she asked as if truly asking the question with garnered a half lidded response from me. “You couldn’t tell but Glass is a girl.” Grey said with a smile. “Shut up.” I said and he giggled as Cicada smiled. “Nice to meet you.” She said before Instructor Dusky Skies flew over us and landed. “Form up! We’re going back! Everyone pick up and assist the wounded we have a three hour hike back to base.” She announced as there was a collective groan from us all. “If this is only day one…how are we going to survive…?” I said abandoning hope. “One day at a time.” Grey Wing said as he began to limp in front of me as Cicada helped me along. “You know you need to grow a pair. I know I can.” Cicada said as I looked down at her incredulously and she smiled up at me. If I thought the run to the rock abuse sight was tough the walk back was like another world in pain and exhaustion. Cicada helped me as best she could but it was hard on her two. After an hour I could put more weight on my back leg but it still burned every time I put pressure on it. After four hours we arrived back at the square, out of our original large group many had fallen and were left behind to be picked up by medics. How I managed to make it was in no small part to Grey and Cicada. The instructors had no end in her abuse towards us and when we had formed up in the square Dusky Skies smiled fiendishly. "Congrats to you that have survived the first day in its entirety. Get some grub and those of you with wounds get them checked out." She ordered and all of us visibly slumped in relief, I was tempted to just go lie in bed and forgo eating but Grey gave me a nudge and took the lead towards the galley. I followed lamely and after eating what could barely be passed as food we made our way to our barracks. Cicada went to her barracks along with the other mares and female recruits. Entering the barracks I found my bed and fell into it wordlessly and was instantaneously consumed by darkness. The sound of thunder that shook the windows and foundations of the barracks made my eyes snap open and try and figure out what could have made such a sound. "Wake up you motherless sods!" Golden Swords voice bellowed through the barracks. "Time to get up!" He said ecstatic. When I tried to move my body felt like it was made of wood and the muscles that were suppose to work for me protested in a way I had never known. "Celesta preserve me..." I cursed as I fell out of my bed and began to try and jog to the door. Grey's eyes were red and his face displayed the same discomfort I felt. We were outside and formed up in three ranks. Many were missing from the previous day. Cloud Strife hovered over us with a sadistic grin that mirrored our commanding officer's who stood by a massive cannon where several bits of confetti and some bits of ribbon scattered in front of the cannon. "Do you like morning runs?" Dusky skies asked and with a woeful chorus we all responded. "Yes Instructor." I said but felt my heart sink with my words. "Your damn right...." She confirmed before landing and leading a jog that was more hellish then anything I could recall.
Shock and Oh noThe first two weeks were made up of mind numbing exercise that after the first four days broke us all and began to rebuild us from the bedrock of our very being. My muscles were always sore but the weeks had made it a dull background pain that one just lived with. "Why are we doing this..." Cicada asked under her breath as we lugged saddlebags full of stones. Todays task was to bring stones from one side of ponyville to the other and back again. "I think it doesn't matter anymore. Who has time for thinking in this situation?" Grey said from behind us. I grunted in agreement and simply was glad we were almost back at the beginning of our journey. "This is fairly tame considering." I offered and both of my fast growing friends agreed. In truth all of us were becoming a close knit family. One gets close to those he endures hell with or so the saying goes. We jogged into the square and were brought to a halt and told to face forward. Dusky Skies stood infront of us carrying the same saddlebags that we did. "Alright, now we have softened you up we are going to train you in the way that all military knows best. Drill." She said as a smirk sliced across her face. "Drill?" One of us asked and her smile didn't falter as she shrugged the saddlebags off. "Drill is the backbone of any militaries knowledge." She declared as hoofbeats behind us caused us to look around. A explosion of pain cracked behind my ear as I crumpled to the ground. When I awoke next I could smell as well as taste the dirt and sweat in my nose and mouth. The throbbing in my head made me squeeze my eyes closed a moment before struggling back to my hooves. I looked forward and Dusky Skies was in my face and she took in an inhale and began to berate me in words I had never heard before. "Who in blue blazes left nut gave you the order to look around, Never look anywhere but your front unless ordered to do so! Get me!?" She screamed and we were all silent as I felt a knot in my throat begin to form as I began to fight back tears. I was so tired and exhausted as well as the emotionally stretched to the breaking point. "I asked do... you... get... me!" she bellowed now addressing the entire platoon. "Yes Instructor!" I said as my voice cracked and was thankfully drowned out by the rest of the platoon. The next two hours was a crash course in drill and repetition. I was able to force my crumbling resolve to the back of my mind as I followed the simple instructions of drill. After two hours of this grueling drill regiment my body felt numb and robotic. "Platoon! Break for lunch and be formed up at one. Turing right, dismissed." Golden Swords barked and as a unit we all turned to our right then marched off in unison. After four steps we all broke up into a gaggle making our way towards the galley. Grey and Cicada both fell into step beside me and I looked at them both. "Well..drill...love or hate?" I asked. "Hate." they both said in unison and I smiled. "How is your head?" Cicada asked and I winced at the reminder. "It still hurts." I confided and Grey gave a look at me and winced himself. "Yea looks like the size of a goose egg." He commented as we all wondered into the chow hall and filed into a line picking up metal food trays. My magic used to lift up the tray flickered as my concentration faltered between the throbs in my head. "Oh great...." Grey said sarcastically as he took the lead. "Mashed carrots with potatoes and pea puree." He stated forlornly. I cocked my eyebrow in question as to what was wrong with that? "You ponies have a completely veggie diet, I'm going to need meat or I am going to lose it." Grey said flatly and I felt a small pang of unease at his declaration. Cicada made a note of agreement as she got her food and we filed to a long table where our platoon sat down and began to eat and converse with one another. "You think meat is something that is scarce here try love...." She said woefully. I plopped down and began to lift my spoon and began to dig in. "How do you eat love exactly?" I inquired as I saw her begin to eat. She seemed to think for a long moment to formulate what it was like to a normal pony. "Think of a memory of a loved one and I can feed off the residual love that you had at that time." She said and so I stopped and thought of a time when I was celebrating my cutiemark party and how proud I was. My mom and dad looked at me as I could feel their feelings of happiness and accomplishment. I felt a small draw from my body as I opened my eyes and a small aura around me that was pink was being drawn from me and curling around Cicada, several of the other changelings in our platoon looked at me hungrily and I felt my feelings of the memory fade and the pink aura vanished. Cicada shuddered a moment before opening her blue eyes again to look at me. "Looks like that...thanks for the meal." She said with a wink. I laughed warily and continued to eat my chow. We finished our lunch and as a unit our platoon got up and put our soiled dishes in the dish window to be cleaned and went outside the dining hall and formed back up as the time was closing to one o'clock. Dusky Skies along with Golden Swords walked behind our commander Aether Aura who led them with a crate hovering by magic, a label stamped on the side I didn't recognize but I refused to give into curiosity and move my head to investigate further. Aether looked at us and gave a wry smile before she spoke. "This crate holds the weapons you will be responsible for till you graduate or washout. They are still prototypes but these bands." She explained as she opened the lid of the crate and pulled out a silver looking band that had gems set into it. I could feel the magic they contained. "Are meant for both attack and defence. Of course these are non-lethal...unfortunately. But this is your day to understand the pain of fucking up." Aether said with a wicked grin as she slipped the silver band over her left fore hoof and the gems glowed dimly. "It is to say that any species can use these. Earth pony, griffin, or otherwise." She said before the bands gems glowed and the yellow cut gem shot out a yellow beam and slammed into one earth pony who I knew as Green Liliy on the right of me, She screamed out in pain as she crumpled to the ground twitching uncontrollably. I couldn't help be look in shock as several of our platoon mates began to shift uncomfortably. "I hope your lunches were filling." Golden Swords stated and my stomach felt like a stone sat in it before my commanding officer looked at me and I felt my body recoil in fear before the yellow gem brightened and I threw up a shield. The blast slammed into my shield and it held before I saw Aether appear beside me and swipe my fore hooves out from under me. Her hoove slammed into my jaw and my shield dissipated as light danced in my eyes and a feeling of lightning followed and my body jerked beyond my control as pain coursed through my entirety. The screams of the other member of my platoon filled my ears as I laid there like a sac of potato's. My commanders hooves appeared in my vision and I looked up at her as she smiled. "Get up you lot if this can floor you, you will be in for a hard time." She said with a mocking tone as I shifted uncomfortably, then struggling to stand up as I looked down at my commander as a feeling foreign to me overcame me. It took me a moment to realize it. Rage... without a thought I lashed out at her with the intent to cause harm. The blue gem on her silver ban flared and a shield sprang to life protecting her from my attack. Her response was instant and her ban glowed again and another shock of electricity slammed into my body making it disregard my wishes as I fell to the ground again. "So now you see that these bands are capable of both defense and offence. You will begin training with these tomorrow." Aether notified us as I lifted my head and saw that I was part of the majority when it came to those still standing. Both Grey and Cicada were on the ground, Grey unconscious, Cicada moaning and lifting her head as mud spattered her black face and muzzle, Green Lilly being the first to fall was getting back to her hooves. Aether Aura stood over me and gave a look I couldn't quite make out but I knew it was predatory. We were dismissed to lick our wounds and clean ourselves in the given showers. I let the warm water wash away the mud sweat and some of the pain or at least I felt it like it had. The stalls separated each shower and Grey turned on the shower next to me and I opened an eye to see him. "You look better." I said with a smile. Grey sighed loudly as he placed his head against the wall as the water ran down his back and over his wings. "I think hell would be a better vacation this this training..." He said in a monotone voice. I turned off my shower as I lifted my towel up and began to dry off. "I can agree with you in that regard." I agreed and made my way toward my bunk and then suddenly Golden Swords walked through the door to the barracks and everyone moved to their end of their beds to stand at attention. "Carry on." He said quickly and everyone went back to what they were doing. "Prism!" He said and my blood went cold as I froze still. "S-sir?!" I said as I walked to meet him. "With me." He ordered and I fell in behind him as the other members of my platoon looked at me with both concern and confusion. We left the building and began to walk towards the headquarters of the base camp. It was the first time I had been in this building. "Stand there." He ordered me as he stopped in front of a door that was labeled with commander Aether Aura. My fears were being made real. Had my attack caused me to kicked out and this was the process? My stomach was flipping, tossing and turning as my mind raced with all of the likely possibilities of what my commanding officer was going to say as she said that he was not fit to be in the force. Golden Swords knocked and then entered the room after he was acknowledged and after a moment. "Prism!" Golden Swords strong voice commanded. "Sir!" I shot out. "Enter." He ordered and I did a right turn and marched into the room and stopped into the office and halted in front of her desk. Aether Aura sat behind her desk her dark coat stood against her leather chair. My file was open on her desk with my picture but nothing else I could discern from my point of view but soon I looked straight ahead hoping my slip up wasn't caught by Golden sword who stood to my left. "Glass Prism, 27 years old, cutiemark in the shape of a glass that takes one beam of white and splits into a rainbow. Do you know why you are here in this office?" She asked and I took a moment. "My...expulsion?" I said warily but kept looking forward. "You have something that showed when I was kicking the shit out of you. You tried to fight back...something that everyone at this point have simply just stood there and took it." She said as if making a point. "Ma'am?" I asked unsure as her face contorted in distaste. "Never call me Ma'am... say commander or sir...but whatever. I am training fighters not punching bags. How would you like a promotion to class leader?" She stated and I faltered and looked down at her confused. "Commander?" I asked unsure. "Just know now your responsible for all of those lost souls and when they fuck up...its your ass." She said and suddenly this promotion sounded more like a damnation...
