The Stars Above

by Boeing-787

Rating: teen
Tags: Spitfire, Star Wars, Profanity, Gore, Violence, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Death, Human, Other, Romance, Thriller, Original Character, Adventure
Length: 11000

Peace is a rare, there is only will. Through experience, I gain strength, Through strength, power comes. Through Power, I lead to victory. Through Victory, the cost may break me down again.

[Written in conjunction with Freddie Mercury: The Heavens Above]

Peace is a rare, there is only will.
Through experience, I gain strength.
Through strength, power comes.
Through Power, I lead to victory.
Through Victory, the cost may break me down again.
- The Warrior Code (Spin of the Sith Code)

[Formerly The Long Road Ahead]

The Ponic Civil War, times when peace was almost never an option and time itself broke ponies down.
This leaded warriors adrift in a sea of sea dragons and spears with rouge waves breaking down on them.
This is the story of a spotlight on one pony lost in this hurricane.

Link for Picture

Can accept related fan art for this story.

Published 2019-10-27 16:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-02-03 18:57:12 UTC

Chapter 0: 5 and11 years ago...

Chapter 0: 5 and 11 ago

Tone Music

Dear Diary,

Hello first diary! I am so glad I finally got you today for my 7th birthday! You have been my long-time dream to get you into my hooves. And now I have you. This is the best gift ever! Some other ponies in my tribe get more than a single gift but [replicated farting noise] who needs junk?

Dear Diary,

I caught my first fish today! It was small but it is my first!

Dear Diary,

My younger sister Izzy nearly caught our house on fire the other day when she accidentally put the firewood to close to the wall and it started to catch on fire. That would’ve been a disaster with Winter coming. Where would we stay from the cold?

Dear Diary,

Ewwww! My sister kissed my on the lips! I am to young for this tradition yet! I know it is Kings Day which means couples get together but still!

Dear Diary,

Surprise! I’ve been invinted to got with my grandpa to pick Snozzberries at West Later this week! I hope I won’t break my leg right before the trip starts like last time. I hope, I can become stronker than last time.

Entry 2: Grammar: I hope I can become stronger than last time, my bad on my younger self.

Dear Diary,

I forgot to add this from my last entry yesterday. Snozzberies only appear in the wintertime and best bend is the only place where they aren’t over harvested normally. This will be a long five-day trek to get there but it will be worth it, hopefully.

Dear Diary,

We’re leaving tomorrow morning! EEEEEEE! This is going to be exciting! All of our bags are packed and Izzy and I can’t sleep! I with that it won’t 5 days to get there but, ehe, I can do anything about it.

Tonight, I read something about how there was a land that had something called “Unicorns” that could use magic to levitate things. I feel lucky for them since we only have wings or nothing but there is nothing I can do about it. Why?

Dear Diary,

Today we started our trek to West Bend and the entire time and so far, my sister has been on my back because she is tired. Come on! You are only 10 months younger than me and you don’t have strength?!

Dear Diary,

Well I kicked off my sister from my back and is now suffering as much as I am.

Dear Diary,

We’ve made it to West Bend! Let the picking began!

[Tone Music]

Dear the Portal to my Past Life,

Exactly 5 years ago, I went on a trip.

The place was called West Bend.

We were going to pick berries for the festival, but mother nature had other plans. She replaced the grounds of my life with boiling magma that ended up taking the lives of my grandpa, my parents, my village, and my beloved sister.

That day, the fire deep within the crust forced itself out the of the soul of the mountains. The fire then turned to magma which then flowed its way across the holy land that I call home and burned my soul away.

I know I’ve done this for the 5th time in this journal but for the past five years, it has been a draw. Every village I’ve been to has either kicked me out or treated me so poorly that I’ve fled from it. This, in turn, made me learn at least 10 different languages that I can’t even remember one.

The hunt is on for the Village X and in turn my gateway to a better life.

[Tone Music]

Dear Journal, [Three years from present]

Yesterday, I stumbled a village in the Trotgass Forest where I was hearing voices of a place called Equestria. I somehow didn’t end up getting kicked out and despite all the different species which none where pony, darn. Anyways, I walked into a par and ordered a No. 7 and that is when I met a gentleman (or is it gentalghulah?) Ghoul who told me about the place Equestria that is where my kind hails from. I immediately got interested and he offered a job position as a trader between this village, named Nowheresville, and Equestria but I must learn the language of Equestrian.

What could possible happen?

Dear My Somewhat Approved Life,

Well, Equestrain isn’t as hard as I though and made from acquaintances in Nowheresville and work as a hunter, which isn’t all that bad. I also sometimes bring back salvage from my missions in the forest. However, my rate of getting into bar fights has improved dramatically since I arrived. I still like to live in the forest in a makeshift tent I made some time back. Why do I need a house?

Dear Bless My Soul,

[Tone Music]

Well, here is something that nearly gave me a heart attack yesterday. I was in route to an abandoned outpost to scavenge it when I was a creature being ambushed from a dragon. I scrammed to the dragon and ended finding a earth pony (woohoo!) trying to fight the dragon. I ended up killing the dragon but not before the pony went black and a blizzard washed the land. We ended up in a nearby abandoned mineshaft.

[Tone Music]

Then I woke up this morning with him sleeping with no grace regarding his sleeping position and with a pterolycus sleeping on my shoulder which nearly gave me a panic attack. It was awake and staring at me. The blizzard was still going so we were stuck in the cave for about another hour before I carried the still unconscious stallion on my back and arrived at night fall. I took him to hospital and now is waiting for him to respond at the instant. By the way, the pterolycus stayed with me until halfway when he ran after some turkeys and never came back.

Dear My Crazy Life,

Some stallion came to me while I was talking to a ghoul to thank me for saving the pony from last week. I wonder who he could be connected to.

Dear This Book,

[Tone Music]

The village got destroyed in a forest fire and I am on my way to whatever this land that I call Equestria is. I hope they’ll be kinder than the residence of the last village which sadly, none made it out in time or survived their injuries.

Dear The Heaven Above,

[Tone Music]

I finally made it to Equestria! Woohoo! I stumbled across a village that I’ve yet to disover that its name is yet but is way, way, bigger than my previous “home” of Nowheresville. It has about 70 buildings with a building with some track leading in and out of it so I have to check that out. Overall, it seems to be a fine town for me to settle. I should apply for [Sound Effect] citizenship so I can stay.

[10 months till present]

Dear Journal From A Very Happy Earth Pony Stallion,

[Tone Music]

Success! I got my citizenship for Equestria! Now all I must do is- oh, wait, right. I need to find a house, and I have no clue where.

[One week later]

Dear Journal,

Well found something, a single twin bed hut on the edge of town near the Trotgass Forest and a river. Nothing much but this is like the best house I’ve ever been to! It even has a permanent stove with a single burner! I just realized something the town is called Foalbanks.

[One month till present]

Dear This Crazy World,

[Tone]

For some reason, the amount of guards has increase dramatically within the last week. This is not a good sign, but I don’t care, what could possible happen?

[One-week until present]

Dear The Crazies,

[Tone Music]

Okay, it is getting worst in Foalbanks, the trains are coming in and out of the single platform station with one more on the building lot and there building a military outpost. What the hell is going on?

Present…

[Background Sounds]

It was a beautiful morning in the city of Foalbanks, Far North, Equestria, and in the outskirts of the town lays a very sleepy Alexander who was just getting up for the day.

Alex crawled his way to his window where it paned out towards the Trotena River and the woods that surround his lonely house on his three acre land slab. Alex muttered to himself that he has to go ice fishing for himself and the process of doing so.

Sighing, he went to his coat rack to pickup his russet

But as soon as he put on his jacket, the door was knocked on by somepony.

‘What? The mail is here this early?’ Alex though before walking over to the door to uncover a pegasus guard.

“Are you Alexander?” The guard asked in a strong voice.

“Yes, I am.” Alex replied in a strong middle eastern accent.

The guard then handed him a letter while saying “You are to meet at the station by 9 o’clock tonight.

“Uh, okay.” Alex said as the guard turned around and departed.

“What does this letter say?” Alex though aloud as he opened the letter.

Mr. Alexander,

You are, under the officials of the National Equestrian Military, drafted into service for an unspecific amount of time. You will meet at Foalbanks International Train Station at 17:00 tonight at platform 13.

This is mandatory and you will only be allowed to bring a single bag.

Signed, Artillery Gung

Captain Artillery Gung, Captain of the Equestrian Military.

And with that, Alex tripped over his bed.

Author's Note

This is an complete rewrite of the original for those who don't remember this chapter.

All chapters will be different compared to the original.

Chapter 1: Crazy Train

Chapter 1: Crazy Train

Dear Jornal,

Well, today I was beaten up after somepony mentioned that I don’t have a cutie mark. I ended up beating him up and dumped him into a filthy sewage ditch somewhere down south. I celebrated by drinking a No. 7 again and the stallion came to the same bar again with his filth. He was kicked out due to his stench.

Heh, wow. I now just have to sleep in the town prison for the 3rd time, goodnight.

[Background Noise]

Alex made his way down the winding snow covered dirt road down towards main street, another dirt road. He made way past houses with neighbors several hundred feet apart. He finally made his way to the top of Thor Hill where the sight of Foalbanks was clear.

He looked down at the small town, seeing carts and the spots of ponies meandering on the streets of the sleepy town. He also saw the newly completed Platform 13 next to the older platform 4. Sighing, Alex made his way down to the town below.

He made his way to the town center and paused on a corner. He looked to a local bar where the stallion was kickout from, the barber shop that caused a scar near his mane, and a gang of ponies approaching Alex. Wait, what?

‘Oh, buck me.’ Alex though as the gang of earth ponies approached him on Sunday’s empty streets, rendering Alex S.O.L. with him getting help.

“Hello Alexander, we’ve been waiting for you.” One of the gang members said in a fake-happy tone.

“Buck off Shoko, what the hell do you want?” Alex growled at him.

“Oooow! Harsh! Tell me what, give me all your money and we’ll leave you alone. Deal?” He said as he approached Alex’s rear.

“Fuck off.”

“Well, you deserved it.” And with that, Alex revived an arrow that embedded itself into his hind left leg from his behind. [Sound effect]

“UUUUURRRRGGGGHHH!” Alex screeched at he fell to the ground, holding his left leg.

“Know, WHERE IS OUR MONEY?!” Shoko yelled as he picked up Alex by the neck. But at this moment, Alex snapped.

“Sure, HERE IS MY VALUES!” Alex screamed at Shoko before hitting his head to the point where he became unconscious.

“GET HIM!” A gang member called out, but it was to late, Alex became a monster. Alex pulled the arrow from his hind leg and then embedded it into the chest of one of the four other gang members.

“Erk!” He screeched before falling to the ground.

“Retreat!” A gang member yelled before the same member was hit by a rock and fell cold.

The other two ran “safely” away but not before being bombarded by rock-embedded snowballs.

‘There, now for no good guy.’ Alex though as he turned towards the Shoko who was now stirring.

“Shoko, your time is up man, your useless.” Alex said while picking up a pointy rock.

“Buck… *huh* you…” He wheezed before settling on the snow in surrender.

“Okay, sounds good.” And then Alex thrust the rock into this skull. Killing the gangster that terrorized the town as far as Alex’s arrival in Foalbanks. Alex then dragged the corpse towards a dumpster.

“What a pile of trash.” Asked said before hulling Shoko into the dumpster and then closing it with as little noise as possible.

At this point, Alex realized what he has done just now and started to run away from the sight. As Alex ran down the street, he took a left turn that led to the station a little too sharply and ended up slipping on a piece ice into a mud pile. [This video when the man lands in the puddle.]

“Urghhhh…” Alex groaned as he raised his muddy body out of the mud that now covered his jacket, which he couldn’t care less about.

“Sir! Are you okay?” A mare came running from a nearby shop, panicked.

“Yes, I’ve had worse.” Alex said, grumbling over his slip and mental searching for his sanity.

“Well, I think not!” She said as she started to drag Alex towards her shop. She brought him to a beauty shop and immediately started to wipe his jacket and fur off mud.

Alex went through what he labeled as the “weirdest thing I’ve ever experienced so far” moment: a random mare cleaning him up. Ever in his life, there hasn’t a thing that even came remotely came close to what was happening right now.

Coming back reality, he realized that the mare was looking into his eyes.

“Hello sir? Are you there?”

“Uh uh, yes.” Alex replied. “Thanks?”

“No problem your highness.” And then her eyes went eye. “I mean, sir.” She said, blushing from her mix up before turning around. “Uh sir, may I asked what that scar is on you hind leg?”

“Which one?” Alex asked.

“One that is horizontal and on the joint.”

‘Oh crap.’ Alex thought as he realized he forgot the arrow that penetrated him earlier that day, he turned around hesitantly to see that there was, in fact, a scar in his leg.

‘What? Well that is, different, what should I say to her? I can’t say I’ve just somehow got the ability to super hill which, by the way, how?’

“Well, about 2 years ago, I was climbing a tree when a fella and the scar was from a thick branch I hit on the fall.”

“Ouch, well, I have a good day!

“Uh, Thanks?” He replied before leaving the front door, stopping to make sure there weren’t anypony with crossbows aiming towards his area.

(10 minutes later)

As Alex approached the now expanded train station, he saw a booth with the sign “Equestrian Military” on the top. Mentally, grinning, Alex approached the booth before showing up but realized it was empty. Grumbling, Alex ran the bell several times.

Eventually, a mare came from somewhere to the booth.

“Paperwork?” She asked, somewhat aggravated, probably due to him interrupting something.

Alex hoofed in his paperwork, essentially a piece of cardstock that was stabled to the draft paper he got in the last chapter. She looked at the paperwork before looking dumbly at the top right corner which has “C4-B53” stamped on it.
This concerned Alex, who was startin
g to question what this meant.

“Uh, sir? Can you come here for a moment?” The mare said, still looking at the paper.;

“Yes?” A navy-blue earth pony stallion responded wearing an officer’s uniform.

“What does this mean sir?”

“Uhhhhh…” And then the stallion went on mumbling to himself unintelligible things as he read the paper before looking up to Alexander with a face of disbelief.

Right now, Alex was slowly backing away.

“Cadet.”

‘That’s new.’

“Come here please.”

Alex reluctantly complied but not with him trembling forwards and tensing his muscles into a flight or fight mode. The stallion seemed to notice this, but didn’t say anything about it.

“Follow” *awhooooo! * “me.” He ordered.

Alex complied but his stance on the situation didn’t change.

As Alex follow the stallion, his mind couldn’t get the fact that he was blindly following a stallion that he doesn’t even know whatsoever. He does remember what happened last time…

Several years ago…

“So, how do you do this again?” A young Alexander asked a sphinx who he just meet the previous day.

“Oh don’t worry, here.” And Alex’s world went black and woke up in chains.

Getting the memory off his mind, Alex’s mind went back to the present to get eye singnals that the officer was opening a door to an office.

Alex stopped walking, not for sure what to do: walk in behind him through the door, stay outside, or, the friendliest to him, flee.

“Cadet Alexander? Are you coming?” The stallion’s voice entered his head.

“Why can I trust you?” Was the first words that came from Alex’s mouth.

“Because I am an office-.”

“NO, don’t give me that ‘oh, I am an officer!’ bullcrap. It doesn’t effect my question.” Alex said stomping his hoof.

“Cadet, come.” The officer said with his voice’s authority rising.

“Can we do it out here in the open?” Alex asked.

“*Sigh* No we can’t, tell you what, how about you can stay near the door during this. Agreed?”

“Sure…” Alex reluctantly agreed to before entering in behind the stallion.

The office room wasn’t anything of interest, just a couple of chairs and a bulletin board with who knows what pinned to it. It also had a door with a mirror attached to it for one reason or another, plus the walls and the floor is plain white.

‘I have a bad feeling about this.’

“So, let me start with introductions. I am Captain Blue Seal of the Equestrian Military, commander of a classified unit you don’t need to worry about. So, tell me Cadet Alexander, what about you?” Captain Seal asked while looking out of a frost covered window.

“Well, I used to live in the village of Valkway until I was about 6 and ½ before volcanoes erupt which caused me to live the Trotgass Forest for the last 13 and a half. It was brutal and whenever I stumbled on a village, which was every so often, I would often been kicked out, beaten then ejected. Only once I was somewhat accepted, but a forest fire destroyed the village.”

“Hmmm… Sees about right from what I’ve heard.”

“What?!” Alex said, aggravated, while getting into a battle stance.

“Yes, Alexander, do you remember the village of Nowheresville?” Captain Seal said still looking out the window.

“Yes, I do, why…?” Suddenly, Alex had a feeling what was happening.

“Well if you remember, you saved a stallion from a dragon fight. And then you were praised about doing so. Guess what?”

“You were there when it happened?”

“Well no, you actually carried me.” He said in a flat tone.

Alex’s world froze. He remembered doing so but the stallion was covered in mud so he couldn’t tell who it was, but it was him?! He never thought this would happen.

“You seem, shocked, but I get it. I had never though this would happen again as well.” Captain Seal broke into Alex’s wind to his right. “And this leads me to ask several questions. First,” Captain Seal turned toward Alex. “how well can you survive on your own cadet?”

“Well, let me see, I’ve have been do do do do do… alone in the forest for a maximum of five years alone. And-.”

“Okay, I have enough of that question. What about you use of weapons?”

“Made a sword/spear out of obsidian that I was able to kill a fully-grown dragon with.” At this point, Captain Seal’s face went from a strait/emotionless face to one of surprise and, fear?

“Oh, wow, expecting that.” He said looking downwards. “Well, that is enough for now, go to your assign cart and you’ll be on your way. You will be receiving, something, at your connection.”

“I am just a cadet without any military experience, why the special treatment?” Alex asked, looking at the captain dead in the eyes.

“You’ll see.” He said, grinning for the first time.

“I don’t think I deserve it.”

“Cadet Alexander, stop self-loathing yourself and just do it.” He ordered.

“Sure, as if I can change in a instant.” Alex grumbled while walking out of the door. “This is totally B.S. of me being special, there will be others who are a better pick.” And then Alex walked out the door.

“Heh, I think not.” Captain Seal said, now in the empty room. “Did you get everything sir?” He called out into the room.

“I did, he’ll be perfect, we need to see about the others.” A male voice came from the room with the mirror.

“Good, he’ll be in for a surprise.”

“Attention mares and gentalstallions, we are approaching Canterinople Station in about 5 minutes, the time is 5:55.”

“Huff, why did I have to get the overnight trip?” Alex though out loud as the train approached the station. The train cart had only about 10 other aboard and with all of them tired out of their ears. The station itself was about 20-minute walk away from center, so the city itself was barely visible from the train.

The train finally pulled into the lit three-platform station. The stallion was much, much bigger due to the larger population of Canterinople, and the ground wasn’t covered in snow. The decorations were the same as Foalbanks station, mostly bare except signs to go places and advertisements.

Alex got off the cart with ease due to the lack of ponies on his cart and was met with warm, moist air, that he wasn’t used to.

The heat made Alex fold up and pack his jacket into his saddle pack. He briefly took the time to look down into his jacket to see his belongings, including a special something that he didn’t want to come to light.

After putting his jacket away, his burnt orange coat came to light, revealing scars and scratches from his years in the Trotgass Forest.

Ignoring the weird looks he was getting, Alex made his way to the relatively empty Military Desk that had a mare on standby this time. The mare didn’t bat an eye at Alex as he approached.

“Paperwork please?” She asked robotically.

Alex handed her his paperwork which she looked at and immediately, ran a bell 5 times. A guard came from behind her in response.

“Take this stallion here to cart A1.” She instructed the stallion.

“Yes ma’am. Follow me.” The guard ordered before going to Alex’s left to a door before heading towards the train.

Alex followed the guard but with a fight and flight mentality, again, all the way to the cart. The guard left him and a purple and green pegasus mare greet him.

“Hi their cadet, how are you doing?” She asked in suspiciously kind voice.

“Good… good.” Alex’s eyes squinted at the mare as he judged the mare.

“Ready to go to hell for the first time?” She said in the same voice.

“I’ve already been to hell already, won’t be a problem going back.” Alex said rolling his eyes, now with the mare looking up and down the stallion.

“Well I won’t count on what you said, I am Master Seragent Bullet “B.B.” Burner, and welcome to hell.”

“Thanks…” Alex replied before entering the cart.

“And by the way, sit in the green jump seat next the door on you right.”

“Does in matter which one?”

“No.”

“Alright.” Alex said as he sat down on the one literally next to the jump seat in the red bench seat, yellow wall, carpet, and ceiling cart with about 15 rows of seats.

“Hello cadet, what do we have here?” M.S. Burner said to someone that Alex couldn’t see due to her being in the way.

“A mare in my path that is getting away from my destiny.” A somewhat harsh female voice responded back.

‘Uh oh, not this kind again.’ Alex though, thinking back to Shoko, who was just like that before he killed him, who he was still questioning whether that was the right things to do.

“True yellow, please step in and sit right next to the stallion on the green jump seat.” M.S. Burner said before stepping to the side.

“Sure.” The voice responded and walked in a yellow coat, orange mane and tail pegasus mare with a fiery gaze who met with Alex’s curiosy gaze before turning to the chair.

“I have to sit in this thing for who knows how long?” She muttered to herself.

“Hey Cadet Jet Fling, watch your mouth, you will make the chair said as well as Cadet Alexander’s chair.”

“*Grumpling* Fine.” She said before plopping down on the uncomfortable chair next to Alex’s equally uncomfortable and small chair.

Alex simply looked ahead of him, daydreaming about his time in the forest and the possibilities that the future will bring to him. His daydream was interrupted when he felt a hoof tap is shoulder several times to which he turned to see Jet Fling looking at him with a serious look.

“Don’t you dare do that to me, Randal.” She scolded at him.

“Whose Randal?” He asked.

“Don’t do that to me! You’ve been trying to get my place as the top flier since our childhood!”

“I don’t have wings, think before you act.”

“Stop lying,,, ing, oh.” She said as she shifter her eyes to his torso to confirm, he didn’t have wings.

“In that case, don’t get in the way of my destiny, blank flank.” She said as she looked away.

“Why is that important? May I ask?” Alex said, now looking at her side.

“Because I am the one that will bring glory to the military! I want to be apart of the 9th Special Forces Group and fight with the best.” Now she was facing Alex with a smug look. “And you don’t have a cutie mark so your direction in here won’t be nothing. But if it does, prepared to get your ass axed.”

“Cutie Marks don’t matter.” Alex retorted in a calm voice while waving his hoof in front of her, signaling that he wants the topic to walk out the door.

“Yeah, yeah, it doesn’t matter.” She complied as she looked straight ahead. Alex could now see her cutie mark was a cloud on fire, uh oh. But his mind was on the fact that he simply conveyed her to follow on what he just suggested easily.

Shrugging, he adjusted himself and put his saddle bag on his lap and settled down.

Now, 6:30, the train was full of sleepy ponies on the chairs that Alex wished he was sitting on yet didn’t complain. Jet Fling, on other terms, was constantly squirming, huffing, and cursing herself to death.

“This chair sucks.” She muttered.

“Hey! We didn’t send you there for you to complain!” M.S. Burner scolded from the door.

“Yes ma’am.” She sighed before turning towards Alex, who was looking out the window.

“What do you have to prove these?” Jet Fling said, hitting Alex’s arm.

“Owww! To prove what?” Alex said now facing Jet.

“Your muscles stupid!”

“Lived in the Trotgass Forest for around 13 and a half years.”

“Bullshit! Nopony can do that!” She said, chuckling to herself due to Alex’s “lie.”

“Sure, laugh as much as you want.” Alex said turning back to the window.

“Okay everypony!” M.S. Burner yelled into the packed car. “It is time to go to your training! Better known as Hell! The rules of this cart is no talking, no excessive squirming around in you seat, you can’t fall asleep at any point, and food is prohibited unless given to you.”

Everypony groaned.

“Lunch will be served at 12. Have a good trip, I’ll be your ‘supervisor’.” She smirked before sitting down in the largest chair, right next to Alexander and Jet Fling.

The train left the station at 6:35 to wherever it was heading towards, Alex didn’t know. Alex was looking out of the window in the cart when M.S. Burner spoke up, about 5 minutes after leaving.

[Background Noise]

“So, Cadet Alexander, what do you think?”

This caught Alexander off guard as he wasn’t for sure whether to speak or not, he went this a question.

“Should I speak or not.” Then he shut his mouth or not.

“But you spoke!” She laughed at him.

“That is the point, but I have nothing to lose at this point to eh, what is the point.” This stopped her.

“Nothing to lose, eh, what about several hundred under your command.” By now, all eyes were on the two.

“That will be the stupidest rule ever, communication will be cut off and the battle will be lost, thanks to a stupid rule that my superiors that I don’t trust forced me to follow.”

The cart gasped.

“And I don’t trust really anypony because the last couple times I trusted someone else-.”

“Why someone, should it be a pony?” A random cart member asked.

“Who said that?!” M.S. Burner asked, no one responded.

“Good, continue.”

“Thank you, I ended up in nasty situation on purpose due to them and I have authority members who made rather cruel or stupid decisions that diminished my trust for higher officials to nothing. I don’t even trust myself most times.”

The cart went silent.

“But still, you broke a rule-.”

“I don’t care about those bucking rules!” Now Alex was losing it. “It just gets in the way of things unless its there for a good reason! This isn’t one of those!” Alex was now painting.

“Sorry ma’am, I don’t like when others restate facts most of the time.”

“Okay Cadet, I’ll… talk about it with Captain Yankee.”

“Question, whose Captain Yankee?”

“Captain Blue Seal, it is confusing unless you know where he comes from.”

“Oh.”

The cart remained silent for, I don’t know, another 20 minutes before it was Jet Fling’s turn.

“So Cadet Jet Fling, what is up?”

“What’s up?!” She yelled. “I’ve been stuck in the bucking cart for half an hour with a bunch of idiots!” The silence was deafining. “There should be ponies that can break the rules! Not follow! And-!”

“Cadet, quite!” She went silent as the grumbled in her seat.

The train went on for another hour before M.S. Burner stood up and went back.

“Cadets, I’ll be back, rules still apply. You will never know who is watching you.” She said, stopping to stare at Jet Fling, before heading though the back door.

“Well, I’m free.” Jet Fling said before getting out of her seat and walk several times across the cart.

‘Well, let her get into trouble.’ Alex though as he repositioned himself.

The peace in the car, except Jet Fling’s movement, was interuped by a loud bang from the back of the cart, which was lacking about 2 rows, and smoke from the door.

[Tone Music, he he he he.]

“What the hell?!” Jet Fling yelled out before cowering under her assigned jump seat.

“All Aboard!” A voice yelled out before several ponies with grey armor and green eyes stormed the cart, with one of them laughing in an evil way.

All cart went into total chaos with the result being messed up benches, with some of them being toppled over, and all the ponies cowering behind Alex and Jet Fling who were shivering.

“I don’t like crazy.” A mare spoke.

“Is this the end of the us? Is this how we go?” Another mare replied.

“Stop you quivering foals, it is to late for your love to help us! We’re Neptune’s Spear!” The lead stallion introduced them with the rest evilly laughing.

“What did we do to you?” A stallion bravely stepped to them via on top of the benches.

“Well, you will see YOU FOAL!” The stallion bellowed out before using his magic to levitate the poor stallion to his face. “Well, is this how you, derail, your life?” [Pun totally intended.]

“Please don’t please!” He pleaded.

“Well, too late!” He yelled like this was victory before opening a window and shoving about a third of the stallion’s body out the window.

“Any last words?” The Neptune’s Spear Stallion asked.

The stallion spoke, something, but it was lost to the wind.

“Get to the crowd.” He ordered, the other members started to go to the group with spears that caused them to coward even further, except Alex and Jet Fling but they weren’t doing anything.

“Alex…” A soft, motherly, tone spoke out.

‘What was that?’ Alex mentally asked.

“Do it, you can.” And then the spoke ceased as well as a weird feeling he got from the first to last transmission.

“Right.” He though, somehow courage from somewhere before turning towards Jet Fling. “Jet, we need to charge them.” He whispered.

“What?! No! We can’t let desti-!” The cart shook like made

“Well, it is out bomb, I just need to press the little red button-“He presented a rud button to the cadets, who were all cowering, including Alex and Jet Fling. “-to end all your life’s.” As he said this, his hoof started to touch the button.

“Now!” Alex yelled out before running to the stallion and toppled him to the ground.

“Get him!” A Neptune’s spear member yelled out before Alex suddenly felt a sharp shock in his neck. This caused his world to get drowsy and before he knew it, his head was stuck in the window, however, the other stallion was not in sight.

“Crap! Crap!” He yelled into the wind wash and started to flail his limbs around, still in the cart, before he felt his hind leg slam into somepony behind him.

Unsatisfied, he kicked the being again, and again, and again, before being pulled into the cart with a thump.

[Theme music stops, regular background music continues.]

“Aright! Alight! This simulation was a disaster!” The sound of Captain Blue “Yankee” Seal filled Alex’s ears as he go this bearings together. “There are many problems with this cart I would like to address but first, Alex, are you okay?”

“Uh, I think?” Alex said before standing up to face a very worried Yankee.

“You’re good. Everypony return to seat.” He ordered at everypony hesitantly returned to his seat.

As Alex returned to his seat, he expressed his concern to his face while Jet Fling had a neutral face, even, smiling a bit?

“Well firstly, all you guys in the benches here failed the test except the one who stepped up first.”

Said stallion smilied.

“Therefore, to describe what I saw, you are full of cowards and failed the test.” Alex eyes went eye. “All except Alex and Jet Fling over there.” Ah, better.

“But, Alexander, you weren’t without faults.”

‘Oh no.’

“You should’ve done it earlier and you should’ve ralied up everypony else first to help.”

“Well, they were cowering so-.”

“Yet, you should’ve had. Now Jet Fling.” Captain Seal turned to Jet Fling. “Why did you try to nicociate you bitch?! They said no turning back when Alexander was kicking them in the window!”

‘Bullseye.’

“I don’t want to hurt myself or others sir!”

“Yet! You could’ve had your entire squad killed! Okay, I’m done.” Captain Seal stopped before turning towards M.S. Burner who had a chart with her.

They whispered to each other before ssettling on something then kissing each other before Seal left and M.S. Burner came back to her chair, leaving behind a stunned cart. Mostly due to realization this was just a simulation and the fact that the two were in a relationship.

This left Alex looking out the window again, thinking about what just happened, and Jet Fling giving him and M.S. Burner death glares.

It was now twilight time and the train were still steaming like no tomorrow. No one had dared to speak up, even after M.S. Burner spoke to them. Some ponies still had wet spots on their cheeks after what had happened that morning.

Alex was trying to stay awake then he felt the train start to slow down as he started to see lights right by the dual tracks the train was gliding over. The next thing he knew, a platform appeared with guards standing on the platform.

Ponies started to stir as the train came in.

“No standing up!” M.S. Burner ordered, prompting more groans.

The train finally halted as the brakes were applied.

“Okay, now you can stand up.” The train was filled with sighs of relief. “Except Alexander and Spitfire.”

“Come on!” She exclaimed.

“Patience young one, you have much to learn.”

“Fine!”

The train became empty as the last pony left and then Captain Seal came aboard the train.

“Okay you two, we need to have a talk, come outside when I do.”

Alex gulped.

Author's Note

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Chapter II: Welcome to Hell

Chapter 2: Welcome to Hell

Dear Journal,

Today when I was out in a cave saving my ass from a blizzard, I discovered that it was a gemstone cave. Excited, I started to eat them but the last one I put into my mouth, it refused to break.

Confused, I took it out of my mouth to see the orange gem in my hoof and for somereason, it drew me to it like it was my nonexistent mother. Shrugging, I put into my saddle pack for no good reason before heading off.

[Background Sounds]

Captain Seal looked at the two cadets with a stern, strait face. This caused the Jet Fling to coward slightly under his gaze and Alex coward slightly from it before the stallion smiled and chuckled to himself slightly.

“Boy, you guys are gullible as fuck.” He chuckled.

‘BOY! I AM GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS!” Jet Fling yelled as she got up and got ready to punch but was punched in the gut by M.S. Burner.

“Okay, calm down you, you will have all of time to prove yourself,” Then she smirked. “Spitfire.”

“WHAT?!” She screamed before bolting out of the door and fuming right outside of it.

“What is wrong with her?” Seal asked.

“I don’t know.” Burner replied.

Captain Seal whispered something in M.S. Burner’s ear as Spitfire fumed outside of the cart cursing the stars into submission. After about 5 minutes of blowing steam, Spitfire finally went back into the cart, passed by the tree ponies, and slumped back down in a back seat.

“What a spoiled bitch.” Alex heard M.S. Burner muttered to herself before turning to face Alex.

“So Cadet,” She started, “what are your goals here since you arrived at Fort Gator?”

“I don’t have any goals; they all went out the window.” Alex comically said as he opened the door and threw his ‘goals’ out of it before shutting it. “Now I need new ones.” He finished before crossing his legs and putting his forearms behind his head in a relaxed position.

“Why is that Cadet?” She went on.

“Let me tell you what!” Spitfire yelled across the cart. “My goal is to kick ass and kill those son-of-bitches to the point of death!”

“*Sigh* That is, something spits.” Captain Seal replied. “So, Alex, can you explain yourself on what you said.”

“Well, to start off with, I have no clue who we’re fighting against so there is that. Which means I don’t have a mental battle plan on what the hell I should so. They could be merciless killers who need to be punished on the battlefield by death or beings fighting for their beliefs and should be spared. I just don’t know.” Alex shrugged.

M.S. Burner clapped at his explanation. “Well said, but if you don’t know what your enemy is, then what?”

“KILL THEM ALL!”

“NO! Spitfire, you can’t do that, that will lead you being charged of genocide.” Captain Seal said aggravated at Spitfire’s behavior. “Anyways, continue.”

“As I was saying,” Alex gave a dirty look to Spitfire. “I also have no clue what. I don’t have any data on what they are like so if they aggressive, be aggressive and if they are not, don’t be aggressive.”

“Eh, acceptable but do you have any experience working with others?” Captain Seal asked.

“Well, this is where I go down, I… don’t really trust anyone from my past, like I was stabbed in the back the last time I trusted something.” He said looking downwards.

“Hmmm…” Captain Seal and M.S. Burner hummed before whispering to each other.

“To be honest, I don’t really have anything to lose at this point, I don’t even think I’ll get far to be honest. I’ve always though this, life of min was a huge tragedy but in reality, I am nothing more than a joke.”

“Well get that out of your system peabrain! And don’t get in my way of glory!”

“SPITFIRE! COME HERE NOW!” Captain Seal bellowed right at Alex’s face, who crunched up from it.

Spitfire quickly trotted to Captain Seal who turned around to face the pegasus mare with furry.

“Your behavior young mare has been up to the point of being disgraceful young mare.” His face relaxed. “Now tell me, what did you do to prepare you for this moment?”

“Well, let see, I went to the best flight school I can find, my wings are the right size for speed, I even beaten my bullies into submission and-!”

“Okay, I’ve heard enough, I know what Alex has been up to, let’s go.” Captain Seal ordered before they left the cart.

[Background Noise]

As Alex made his way down the stone platform, he noticed that the last of the cadets that where on his train were walking though a large gate about 50 meters to his 1:30.

But as soon as the last pony made its way into the gate, the gates started to swing.

“NOOO!” Spitifire yelled out as she flew towards the shutting gates, but she was too late, she rammed into the now locked gates and fell to the ground.

“Urrrrgh!” She grumbled as she got up and look up at the gate, who were mocking at her. “What are you starring at?!” She yelled before kicking the door. “OWWWWWEEEEEEE!”

“Ha, that is what I call comedy gold!” Captain Seal chuckled at her failure.

“Yeah!” Responded M.S. Burner.

“When’s dinner?” Alex asked.

“Why do you want to now ground boy?!” Spitfire yelled, still on the ground.

“Want to direct the topic somewhere else. So when is it?”

“Follow me.” Captain Seal said with a grin as the four started to walk to their left aaawwwaaayyy from the main gates and passed the main wall and into the forest surrounding it. The sun was just setting.

“Where, where are we going?” Spitfire said worriedly, this is the first time she cared about something, and that something is herself.

“Welcome home! Thank you for camping at Camp Gator! Please complain to the trash can and room service is at Ustekday.” Captain Seal explain, chuckling to himself.

“Grrrrrr!!!” Alex grumbled to himself.

“Hey Alex! What is with the sudden change of attitude?” Captain Seal asked innocently.

“Well I’ve been living on and off in the open for about 12 years and doing it again ruins why I stayed in Foalbanks in the first place.” He grumbled.

“What, what?” Spitfire chimed in.

“No, I don’t want to explain.”

“Oh come on!”

“Anyways,” M.S. Burner continued from where Captain Seal left off. “You will be living in tents with 3 others not including you. You will be responsible for your tent like if a leak develops, we’re not responsible for repairs or a new tent. Everything else will be on a rule board in the middle of the camp.”

“It there anypony there already?” Spitifire asked.

“Possible, they are coming tonight as around the same time and HERE WE ARE!”

The camp was modest size wise with about 5 actual buildings, 5 more that will be pushing it, and around 30 tents that look too small to fit 4 fully grown ponies. In the middle of the camp, there was a part of a tree that has a board with ‘Rules’ nailed to it. The place was littered with trees and the tents themselves had trees on top of them.

If Spitfire and Alex wished to be the first ones there, they were mistaken, they were surrounded by ponies as they approached the middle of the camp where the ‘Tree of Truth’ was.

“Okay you two, read the rules hear and I’ll get someone to explain somethings in detail.” Captain Seal departed the three and Spitfire and Alex read the rules:

Breakfast: 600 Lunch: 1300 Dinner: 2000

Wake up call @ 500

You’re responsible for your own tent

You’re responsible for somepony else’s tent if you do anything to it

Prepare to get your ass kicked

“Oh boy, tough rules.” Spitfire commeted.

“I don’t see a problem with this, the forest will screw you up, not this.”

“Stallions.” She muttered to herself before a voice caught them off guard.

“Well, hello you two nitwits, what’d’u think?” A stallion’s voice cut through the air. The two cadets turned to face a tan unicorn stallion with a grey mane staring down at the two cadets, which Spitfire cowered.

“Just another day in my misery.” Alex replied calmly.

“What misery?” He challenged.

“This.” And this is when Alex struck him hard on the head without warning. Everypony in the vicinity gasped as the stallion whimpered up to his hooves after the blow.

“Well jimmy, can you stand?” At that moment, the officer lunged at Alex and pinned him against the Tree of Truth.

By now, almost everypony formed a circle around the two, some whimpering behind others.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” The stallion sneered.

“Higher authority are big jerks and don’t now what they are doing. Proof me otherwise if I am wrong. They have the tendency to stab others in there back for no good reason.” Then he was released.

The stallion looked at him dead in the eyes before releasing him to the ground and storming off in a random direction. The circle dissipated around Alex with worried looks, this is not a good sign. And Alex just become self aware that that wasn't normal for that to happen.

Shrugging, Alex looked at the time to see it was 1950. Time to go to the cafeteria!

Okay, well as Alex got to the cafeteria and expected the food to be bad up to the point to be useless. Instead, there wasn’t anyfood and the same stallion from earlier that he head-wacked was standing on a table surrounded by ponies.

“Okay, due to your training circulum, there won’t be any dinner for you guys today but rather, you need to fetch it out in the surrounding forest around here.”

Everypony groaned.

“Come on! You signed up for this, but I didn’t sign up for my head getting wacked *chuckles*. Okay, there will be pegasi flying above to make sure you don’t die from a bear or a poisonous plant or animal. Good luck! By the way, I am Master Hass Kicker. You can go now; you can eat in the cafeteria area if you want to.”

Alex looked around the cafeteria to see that the seats were tree stumps and the tables were bigger tree stumps. He decided against eating here for now before heading into the forest.

The forest was denser than the forest he was used to and several times already, his legs have been caught in thorny bushes several times already, but he didn’t complain besides when he went through them.

His train of thought was cut though by him spotting a dear eating at some ground vegetation. Alex knew what to do.

5 minutes later…

[Background Noise]

After gathering dried sticks in abundance on the ground, Alex started a fire near a creek where he brought his now unconscious dear, slit its throat, and cut open its body to let the blood drain into the creek which was flowing downstream from the camp.

Not really thinking outside of the task at hand, Alex failed to notice a set of eyes looking at him and his prey on the riverbank.

[Background Noise/Campfire Noise]

After about 3 minutes of working, Alex finally got a inferno burning that heated the surrounding area. Satisfied, he went to the deer and cut out a chunk of meat from the poor dear, put it on a stick, and then put it over the fire that he started.

Only about 2 minutes have past when Alex heard a nearby bush rustle to which he stood up since he started to cook his dinner.

“Whose there?!” Alex shouted towards the culprit bush.

The bush stirred again and stood up a dark blue coat, blue striped red mane pegasus stallion with unusually large wings for his size came from the bushes.

‘Well, this is awkward.’ Alex though as the two stared at each other for a moment before Alex sat back down again.

“Well, do you want to join me or not?” Alex casually asked the stallion.

“S-sure.” He stuttered as he approached the fire. His nose taking shallow sniffs before he clamped it shut with his hoof.

“GAH! It stinks!” He exclaimed.

“Well animal carcasses will do that do you.”

“Well, it, does sound better, somewhat” He smiled a bit, taking his hoof off his muzzle, eyes watering.

“Than what?”

“Eating nothing, can you, give me a piece?”

“Are you for sure?” Alex questioned, he knows what is it like to eat meat for the first time, it isn’t pleasant.

He gulped before replying “Yes.”

“Okay…” Alex complied before taking his hunting knife that he took with him in his saddle bag and cutting a chunk of meat off of the dead, putting it on a stick, and giving it to the pegasus.

“By the way, what is your name?” Alex asked.

“Boaz.” Boaz responded as he took the stick from Alex.

“Alexander, or just Alex.”

“How do you cook deer meat?” Boaz asked his more experienced acquaintance.

“Well, turn it around the same speed I am.” He mimicked it. “And we’ll be doing this for around the next 10 minutes.”

“Darn.”

“Well, your deer doesn’t look, to bad.” Alex commented, looking at Boaz’s somewhat burnt dinner.

“Well, first try.”

“Yeah, eat it up, not for sure how much time we have left.”

“Okay.” Boaz said as he took his first bite of deer. He chewed it for about a minute before swallowing it.

“Not bad.” He commeted before taking another bigger bit from it.

“Good, what are we going to do with the deer?” Alex ask as he also ate his dinner.

“We could take it to our tent, heh.”

“What, you want to be with me?” Alex asked surprised.

“Why do you say that?” Boaz asked, stretching.

“Well some of the gossiping I heard after I whacked Hass Kicker was over that I am mean and will beat anypony merciless, so why?”

Boaz sighed before explaining. “Well, I know this may seem crazy but I feel, safer around stronger ponies if I trust them and I want to gain your trust, if you want to.” He smiled before his face turned to horror.

“Goodness! What happened to you?!” He exclaimed as he saw all the scars on Alex’s body.

“*Sigh* Do you want the sugar-coated version or the ugly truth?” Alex said defeated.

“Well I want to truth, if you want to say it.” Boaz responded with a slight smile.

“Okay, well I all started when I was-.”

“HEY YOU TWO! IT IS TIME TO- WHAT THE HELL DID YOU GUYS DO?!” A voice came from the forest to which it belonged to Master Hass Kicker who has a shocked face plastered on his face.

“Dinner, do you want to try some?” Alex asked.

“No, you dam cannibals! Put that fire out and meet at the Rule Tree.” He started to go back to the camp before stopping. “And also, bring that deer with you.” Then he left.

The two looked at each other before shrugging and then Alex picked up the deer corpse and Boaz splashed water on the fire which it sizzled out.

In the meantime Alex was thinking to himself.

‘Should I tell him that I lived in the jungle for who knows how long? Last time I mentioned it, I was beaten half to death.’

“Yes, the time has come to do so.” The two voices from earlier said at once.

“This is you in the making.” A third new feminine voice said after the last one.

This is starting to confuse Alexander even more than last time. His train of though was broken when his shoulder was tapped on.

“Fire’s out.” Boaz spoke to the startled stallion.

“Okay, do you want to follow or lead?”

“I can’t even see in the dark unless you can magically do so.”

“Well I can see in the dark.” Alex commented before walking with the deer on his back.

“How?” Boaz asked while walking behind Alex.

“Well for some reason, I can see in infrared so I can detect heat from the surrounding objects.”

“Huh, interesting.”

“Seen some weird things I guess?”

“Yes, I know a unicorn who has 3 horns.” Boaz chuckled.

“Interesting, and I don’t know why I can see in infrared, but I can also see in black and white apparently according to some ponies I knew.”

“What do you mean, knew?”

“Well they drowned when they attacked me.” And then Alex glared at Boaz who coward slightly at the sight until Alex looked away.

“Oh boy… worse than my situation.”

“What?”

“Well I-.”

“Welcome back you two, care if I take this from you.” Master Hass Kicker asked, pointing at the deer.

“Sure, no need to have it elsewhere.” Alex agreed.

“Thank you.” Hass Kicker levitated the deer off Alex’s back before turning around to some other officers. “Hey you guys! This is what these two cadets were able to do!” He yelled towards them.

“What?!” They all said, astonished at what they were seeing.

“Can we leave sir?” Alex asked, agrivated.

“Sure, good luck finding a tent for you two to find. Showers are marked by the way.”

“Thank you.” Alex said before leaving with Boaz following closely.

“Don’t like authority Alex?” Boaz asked on their way.

“No, let me guess, you overheard my interaction with Hass Kicker?”

“No.”

Alex stopped under a tree and looked at Boaz.

“Then how can you tell?”

Boaz sighed again.

“Well, I didn’t have the best foalhood and this led me to, be aware of how other feel.” He said ashamed, scratching his leg.

“Sums up my life foalhood as well.” Alex muttered as he put a hoof on his shoulder, but Boaz recoiled away.

“Don’t! Reminds me of those times.” He said, putting his head down in shame.

“Hey, let me tell you something.” Alex began. “Just keep your head up and don’t be dragged down your past, okay?”

“Okay *sniff*.”

“Good!” And the two left the cover of the tree, unaware of some officers watching them as the event unfold and folded up, snickering over what happened.

[Fly Noises]

“Have you been here before?” Alex asked as they entered the restroom/shower area.

“Nope, first time as well.” Boaz replied as he looked around in the unisex bathroom. The walls are either wood or hay stuffed fabric and the showers were nothing more than a string you pull to release water into a bucket which the bucket has holes that rain down on whoever is below it.

“Well the shower area has shampoo.” Alex commeted as he left the area.

“Come on!” Boaz complained from one of the bathroom stalls. “The toilets are just large holes in the ground!”

“Well don’t complain to me! Complain to the grass!” Alex replied back as he used the restroom himself.

“What?”

Alex finished his business and walked out of the stall, as he turned a left towards the door with Boaz in toe, Spitfire walked into the restroom. The two stared at each other for a moment before spitfire spoke up:

“What are you looking at?!” She yelled before slamming the stall door.

“What is her problem?”

“Well she received the nickname Spitfire.”

“Ooooohhhhh…”

“Anyways, do you want to find our cabins?” Alex asked, thinking that he’ll go to another cabin.

“Can I stay with you?” Never mind.

“Huh, I have to ask you a question Boaz, do you have any since of danger making quick decisions without prior information?” He asked as the two made there way to the tents.

“To be honest, I don’t have anything to lose right now so I don’t think about anything twice.”

“Same here with me, no family, no friends, nothing except for a knife and a crystal.”

“Yeah, I literally brought nothing with me, you seemed to be better off.”

“I hope so.” Alex nodded slowly before the two went silent for the rest of the walk.

“Get away from you filthy aninmals!”

“Oh hello! A weekling being protected by a strong guy, get out of here!”

“This is only for girls’ perverts!”

“Do you want a knife to your face? Then no, get lost.”

“Well this is a disaster.” Alex mumbled to himself as the two sat under a random tree.

“No kidding, the kindest think we received was ‘Losers!’”

“Yeah, I wonder if we can sleep under this tree, better than elsewhere.” Alex asked Boaz.

“Seems fine with me.”

“I would search otherwise.” The feminine voice inside Alex’s head went off again.

‘Okay, where should I search?’

“Follow your instincts.” It replied before going mute.

Alex thought for a moment before looking at a relatively creepy alley way with a sign that said ‘More Tents This Way’ on it.

“Should we try that way?” Alex asked pointing at the sign.

“Sure.” Boaz replied without hesitation.

“Letting your guard down again?”

“Sure, sure.”

“Uh…” Alex said as he looked at Boaz who was starting to sweat.

‘This is not good.’

“Let me guess again, your parents abused you?”

“Family.” Boaz corrected.

“Well I am a clean template, so you don’t have to follow the ‘mister tough guy’ attitude.”

“But-.”

“No buts, so you are scared.”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to follow my lead?”

“*Gulp* Yes.”

“Then follow me.” Alex ordered before the two went down the trail.

The trail itself wasn’t that bad but being at night, who knows what can be lurking in the shadows of the dimly lit trail. It wasn’t a problem for Alex who could see easily in the night but for Boaz, he was shivering in fear at the middle spots of the bamboo torches that lit the way, some of them weren’t even on.

“How much longer?” Boaz whispered in Alex ear.

“I don’t know, hold tight.” He responded as they continued their trek.

They eventually made their way to an open area with four other tents surrounded by trees on all sides with a sign that said: ‘River Tent This Way, Beware of Flooding, the Choice is Yours.’

“Oh boy.” Boaz said as he saw the campfire illuminated area and saw ponies in them already.

“Well, let’s make an attempt at the tents.” Alex said as they made there way to the left most tent but was stopped by a hoof tap by no other than Master Hass Kicker.

“Where do you think you two are going?” He asked.

“Ask the ponies in these tents if we can stay in them.” Boaz replied, showing courage for the second time that night.

“Well sorry, I won’t let you go into any of these.”

“You don’t have a good reason to kick my ass with that asshole.” Alex growled.

“Do you want to be in this program Cadet Alexander? You are out of warnings.”

“Yes but everything needs a reason for something.” Alex’s relaxed a tad.

“Well this has one that is, classified from you, now go down to the river tent and that is where you can kiss you dreams.” And then Master Hass Kicker left the two who were now looking at each other before both gulped and made their way to the cabin. They were thankful that there was another restroom/shower building there.

“Hey Stallions!” A mare called from behind the two who just stepped on the trail. They turned around to find Spitfire waving at them.

“Good luck drowning!” Before she went back to her tent.

The looked at each other again before continuing with Alex cursing to himself at her shenanigans.

[Background Noise]

The trail down to the cabin was steep and they could here the sound of a waterfall. The tent was only like 30 meters away from the circle but was muddy for the last 5 meters. Boaz and Alex clearly saw there was no pony in the tent as of that moment.

“Well, we can’t do anything about it now.” Alex cometed.

“True.” Boax replied but Alex was focused on the fact that his crystal seemed to by, vibrating constantly. Shacking his head, Alex sighed before moving forwards.

The tent was relatively small and cozy but was able to fit 2 bunk beds with lockers with either side NOT being covered, which meant in the case of a down pour, they will get wet.

“Well, we may be alone Boaz, but these bunks sure look used, at least half of them.”

“Yeah, good thing that is that they have one side so do you want the bottom or top bunk?”

“Your choice.”

“Oh, I’ll take… uh… the… top.” Boaz answered.

“Okay.” Alex agreed as he put his stuff on the lower bunk for pausing.

“Well, since with that, I’m going to take the right locker for no reason.” Alex called out.

“Uh okay.” Boaz gave in before sliding into his bunk due to him not carrying anything with him.

Alex took his stuff to his locker he claimed, well more like a cabinet, and then took his saddle bags off that housed his jacket, hunting knife that is now clean, and his crystal that has been acting up on and off through out the day.

Alex took this time to open it up and look at the crystal, thinking about why in the world is has been doing this and what is the leading towards.

Shrugging, he closed his saddle bag, closed the lockless door, and then slid under to his bed. The mattress has the comfort of a college dorm’s mattress and the sheet was thin, but Alex couldn’t complain, sort of.

“Well well, looks like we have new tent mates in hell!” A stallion’s voices ran outside from the bunk.

‘Oh no, I don’t like the sound of that.’ Alex though as he and boaz looked at the entrance to see a teal blue, white mane, and a khaki, emerald green mane earth pony standing there.

The unicorn was grinning somewhat evilly and the earth pony also smiled but yet, he looked, sad.

“Do you want to see if they can play swim the river?” The unicorn asked, looking up at the earth pony.

“Sure! Then maybe we can then play hang mare!” The earth pony chuckled.

“Sure, sure, well let’s introduce ourselves since we have their eyes on us already.” The unicorn said as he marched into the tent.

“Hello you two nitwits, got stuck into this hell tent by the asshole that told us we had to find out dinner in the forest?” He asked aggravated as he slide in the upper bunk.

“Yes, we have, I can’t complain tough.” Alex commented.

“Why?” The earth pony asked.

“Well once, no, actually several times, I slept on a kayak on ice cold rivers and streams and the kayak decided to capsize on me.”

“Ouch, well I’ve been beaten during my sleep.” The unicorn said. As the point in time, Alex noticed all the scars on the unicorn’s body, reminding him of his own ones.

“Don’t mind if I ask why?” Boaz asked.

“No, I don’t want to, it is already 20:00 so we need to sleep before we get yelled at.” He sternly told them.

“GET TO BED! WE HAVE A BUSY DAY TOMARROW!”

“Well, there is that.” The unicorn committed before getting under his sheets. “And by the way, my name is Pyralis.”

“Alex.”

“Boaz.”

“Allson.” The earth pony said from below.

And the rest of the night was silent. But Alex’s dream was nothing but.

Chapter III: Dream Land

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