Private Glinting Spear wasn't disappointed at all that she was sent to a backwater hick town. No she wasn't, it wasn't like she had slaved away months upon months of her life hoping to maybe, just maybe, do something at all important that had to do with the image of a literal spear on her cutie mark. But instead she had been sent to some Faust-damned town with desert, desert, and more desert on every side.

Okay, maybe she was a little disappointed, angry even. However she couldn't do anything to change it, so she was going to have to make do with the situation. After all she would probably just stand in her heavy, hot, and uncomfortable armor for a few hours then retire to the tiny barracks to eat and sleep. Then repeat the entire dreadfully boring experience for the next six or more months she was stationed there.

The train whistle blew and it chugged slowly to a stop at the platform as the doors opened to reveal her only company for the next half-year of her life. Corporal Knocked Arrow greeted her with a smile in her clearly well kept golden armor.

"Hi, welcome to Sandville, I take it you're private Glinting Spear. It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Corporal Knocked Arrow."
The clearly over-enthusiastic orange mare babbled while shaking Glinting's hand roughly.

"Uh, yeah, hey there, good to meet you as well I guess, just call me Glinting, everyone else I know does." she responded as she pulled her now lightly aching hand out of the much taller mare's grasp.

"Alright Glinting, follow me and I'll get you acquainted with the town."she explained with a wide smile.

She began walking toward the main part of the town where there was a large cluster of old looking buildings standing in a semi-circle around a rather large well in the center. Most were in some state or another of disrepair, giving the town another layer of tacky cowpony movie like feel.

"To the left is the saloon where most everyone spends their time when they aren't working or sleeping. Next to that is the general store, old Satisfying Deal runs it from five to nine. So if you ever need something he's more than likely to have it in stock.

After that is the bank which I've still never been in, if you happen to want to store your bits somewhere that isn't just a dresser in the barracks then that's the place to do it.

Next is the barracks, where you will call home for the duration of your stay. I'll show you where your cot is and where you can put your things later.

Last thing that is important is the smithy. Got a bent or chipped weapon or your armor gets a scratch and Steel Shaper will fix it right up,for you. Just make sure you don't insult him or else he'll ban you from his forge. Some poor private stationed here a few years ago had to learn that the hard way. Certainly taught him a lesson he isn't soon to forget."

During the corporal's explanation Glinting had gotten enough time to study the mare in front of her. She had a dark orange coat like the sunset and a pure white mane with two light blue streaks through the middle and Steel gray eyes. All in all, not the most basic coloration she had ever seen, but certainly not something that was really flashy.

'Get a hold of yourself private, stop checking out your current superior' she thought to herself.

"Something wrong?" Aforementioned superior chimed in after seeing her mentally scold herself.

"No, it's fine"

"Well alright then, let's get to the barracks." She responded turning and marching off in the direction of the pathetically small building. Gleaming following shortly behind her.

Once they entered it was clear that she had gotten lucky the CEGA1 had decided not to care all that much for the backwater town as there were eight beds lining the walls of the building. It already seemed it would be downright claustrophobic in the building with two ponies, let alone EIGHT.

"Choose a bed and set your extra gear down under or on it. The laundry is through that door over there, and there's an outhouse just to the left of the barracks for when you need it."the mare explained.

'Great, an outhouse, just when I thought the experience couldn't get any better. the mare disgustedly thought to herself while she set her bag down on top of the bed as far away from the one she was pretty sure was Knocked Arrows. The thought of trying to sleep while laying just across the way from the ecstatic mare made her feel uncomfortable.

"Alright, your job while you're out here is to patrol the border of the town during the night and then do whatever you want to do with the rest of the night. You can visit the saloon or head to sleep early if you want to. Now, any questions?"

"Yeah, where do we bathe?"

"Why, you bathe in the designated bathing stalls in the saloon. For most folks it costs bits but apparently the saloon receives payment from the CEGA to let you use them for free." As the mare explained this Glinting could see a scorpion climb out of the room through a rather notable crack in the window frame.

"For today however, you are just to get settled down and meet the locals Or just sit in here and avoid outside contact. I've had new transfers keep that up for months before. I'm still not sure how they managed to keep themselves busy, but I will commend them for finding some way.

"Alright, do they serve food at the saloon by any chance? I'm starved, and I usually like to keep to a schedule when it comes to eating."

"What kind of saloon would it be if it didn't serve food?!" The corporal exclaimed loudly.

"Well I've never been to a saloon before so I don't know if they serve food or not." She hastily shot back.

"I suppose that's true, alright yes they do serve food, and hard cider if you ever get the time to indulge in some."

"Okay then I'm gonna go ahead and go to eat." She began her way to the Sandstorm Saloon.

Author's Note

Well there it is, the first chapter of what I hope will be a long adventure with our new friend Glinting.

Constructive criticism welcome and encouraged!

1 the Central Equestrian Guard Authority, headed by the Captain of the guard and the main force in charge of assigning guards to locations within Equestria as well as supplying those guards with all of the essentials they would need.