I suppose you can sort of guess where it went from there. Overmare exiled me for fear of a murderous rampage, I was kicked out on my flank with nothing to survive with and told good luck. Let me tell you now, that fucked me up good. Have you ever felt so alone that you just give up and curl into a ball and cry? Well that was me at that moment, a little foal curled up in the middle of Stalliongrad crying his eyes out.
Mind you, I cut that shit out as soon as I heard hoofsteps, and a lot of them, and they seemed to be getting closer. I picked myself up and darted behind some conveniently placed rubble, trying to quell my sobs so that whomever it was didn't find me.

That plan was working pretty well, too. I was hiding behind this trashed and rusted cart, watching a small platoon of iron clad ponies march by with perfect form and precise movements. Until I was grabbed by the scruff of the neck and yanked out of my spot.
~
"Commander Erwin! Look at this!" I heard the pony yell. I soon saw another pony clad in thick iron armor break ranks and come over to investigate, but not before removing her helmet. I tell you what, she sure was a beautiful pony, scars and all. Her velvety blonde fur prefectly complimenting her ice blue eyes, and hazelnut mane, fashioned into a short cut ponytail.
"Well well well, what have we here? A runaway slave, perhaps? Or maybe even a spy?"
Oh Luna her voice...it was like the sound of an orchestra in perfect harmony, absolutely stunning.
"...Well? Which is it then?"
"N-Neither, I was just...just..." Dammit if I could form words that would make things a lot easier for me...
"Spit it out you little fucker! Who are you working for?" Damn she can sure command fear when she needs to.
"NOBODY! I'm not working for anybody...I'm all..alone"

Now they say admittance to a problem is one of the first steps to emedying that problem, but that only helps if you're not being forced to admit a problem under threat of...who knows what.
Oh hey, she's stil talking.
"Alone huh? Well shit, can't have that. Captain, take him to the supplies cart. We'll deal with him properly when we get to HQ. As for you, young..."
"Appledrop..."
"What was that? Apple Clop?"
"N-no ma'am! Appledrop!"
"Well, Appledrop. Behave yourself, or you don't even want to know what I'll do to you. Got that clear?"
~
After about a days travel, we reached what appeared to be an olden, run down office building. Let me tell you this now though, what was inside that shell was most certainly not an olden, run down office building. It was absolutely packed with Steel Rangers, computers, electronics and more than a few slavers stuck inside prison cells with thick golden bars. After the party came to a stop in the center of the base I was "unloaded" and taken to an interrogation room, where I was told they would determine whether or not I was really a spy.
~
3 hours and quite a bit of overly convoluted explanation as to why I was exiled from my stable and I was free. Well, mostly free. Whatever, technicalities. I was deemed a high risk yet non threatening asset to the Steel Rangers and Commander Erwin was ordered to take me under her care and raise me as a Ranger. I had never been more scared or excited in my entire life. On the one hoof, I had just found myself a new home, and a family. On the other, well, I was being raised as a military weapon. Eh, beggars can't be choosers, I suppose.

Over the next few years I was trained in several forms of marshal arts, including taekwondoo, karaote and crab magaw. I was taught the history of the Steel Rangers, of the war and of the "Goddess Sisters" who watched over the light and dark domains. I learned stories of "The Sky God" who sacrifised herself to save the equestrian wastes, and I was told of a mare who went by the alias of 'Hired Gun', who was known as the Guardian of Dise. I was trained to proficiency in the use of power armor and tactical assault weaponry, and how to survive in the wastes. Over the years, Commander Erwin stopped being so much of an intimidating soldier and more of a mother, encouraging my training and berating me for insolence.

And here we are today, my first official deployment. Dear sweet Jesus was I nervous then...

Author's Note

SURPRISE UPDATE!

Sorry for the change in writing style, and the time it took to update, but all in all I think this chapter's pretty good. Now I just have to remember to update the damn thing more than yearly...

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it!