It was early in the morning, far earlier than Applejack and the rest of the family would be waking up, the only one up was a certain sheepdog that kept following them, the three men, and Scallop decided to get their half of the work done, it was the least they could do since the Apple family was allowing them to stay until they got enough money to rent a apartment or something in Ponyville.

A certain red haired filly was too restless and wanted to examine the humans and fish creature more closely, so she got out of bed, slipped on some comfortable clothes and snuck out of her room to her intended destination.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Back with the humans and Scallop.

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It was difficult at most for the humans, kicking the trees didn’t do much, only one apple had fallen into the bucket. They had to find a new technique to “buck” the apple trees.

Scallop seemed to have no trouble kicking the trees, he was really good at this to the point where the humans were annoyed at his progress.

“I’m starting to think he’s just trying to show off,” said Joel.

“No shit,” responded Brock.

“Well we better find a way to rock those trees before Scallop leaves nothing behind,” said Brandon.

While Brandon was thinking, he heard footsteps approaching his position. Turning around, he saw Applejack’s younger sister Apple bloom walk up to them, she appeared to be sleepy and most likely woke up to check on them.

“Kids won’t change when it comes to curiosity” thought Brandon as he walked over.

“Hey Apple Bloom, it’s pretty early, you should head back to sleep.”

“Ah just wanted to see what you and your friends are up to, I gotta go to school this morning anyways.”

“Well if you insist, we are just trying to get our work done early, I don’t know about fish face over there, but we are used to waking up early.”

Something clicked inside of Brandon’s mind, an idea that might turn the tables for the three humans.

“You wouldn’t happen to know anything we can use to hit the trees, we can’t physically kick or punch trees seeing we aren’t… Earth ponies, is it?”

Apple Bloom nodded and looked around, her vision a bit better than the humans’. She saw a pile of sticks near the barn and motioned Brandon, Joel, and Brock to come over.

“Try hitting the trees with these,” she said.

The men picked up their respective stick, Brock picked up a log. The two pilots looked at him like he was insane, the log was extremely heavy in their eyes, and the Marine was holding it like it was nothing.

“What are you looking at me for, I don’t see your asses in the Marine Corps.”

Brandon gave him a slap on the back and pointed to Apple Bloom who was standing by.

“Ass?” She asked.

“Let’s just say it’s a bad word and should never be said in front of your… family or others.” Thankfully he caught himself before he said parents.

Applejack had told him about what happened to her parents. So with that he kept his mouth closed about the topic. The reason they woke up later was they had a meeting with those who wanted to enlist. Some current guards from both Solar and Lunar Guard had the choice to transfer into Alpha Squadron and help train recruits as well.

Walking up to their respective trees, Brandon was the first to land a blow with his stick, well, more of a small limb, on the tree.

Only a few apples managed to fall into his bucket, he looked towards the others and noticed that Brock’s bucket was full of apples.

He gave both Brandon and Joel a smirk which didn’t go well for them. Looking around for Apple Bloom, he noticed she went inside, Brandon flipped Brock off.

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As the sun slowly rose, Applejack had exited the house, a cup of coffee in her hands. She was going to wake up her guests but noticed they weren’t in their beds. She became worried until Apple Bloom told her they were outside working.

This stunned Applejack, even she couldn’t wake up that early, seeing she had work to do as well, and figured that they had done enough, she walked towards them.

The first to notice her was Joel, Brandon and Brock apparently were nowhere in sight. Applejack noticed the large barrels filled with apples, there was also another bucket of apples that were rotten and dirty.

“Well I’ll be hogtied, y’all woke up earlier than me, and that’s saying something, y’all should take a break, you more than earned it.”

“So, where’s Brandon and Brock?” she asked.

“Oh right, they are down by the fields near the woods.”

With that, Applejack headed to do her portion of the work, she’d check on Brock and Brandon later.

Joel had nothing else to do, so he decided to find a hobby, not a job per say, but something to do when he was off duty. He was jealous that Brandon got all the good stuff, but he knew better than to let that eat at him.

A non-paying part time job was just what he needed. He would get some breakfast beforehand, luckily the Princesses had lent him and Brandon some bits, he would also go shopping for a few supplies and such. So with that he headed down to Ponyville.

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Brandon and Brock had been waiting for at least half an hour at the edge of Sweet Apple acres, he contemplated on Explaining to Applejack that a group of ponies and Royal Guards would be arriving shortly to help and enlist, Princess Celestia was also putting Brandon in charge of the new Guard Station near Whitetail woods.

Since the Elements of Harmony had been targeted by many villains, or how Brandon liked to put it, bad people, in the past, this new Guard Station and actively specialized trained personnel nearby would prevent any sudden attempts to invade or assassinate.

He was in charge of its design and what requirements it needed to be fully operational.

Brock had been giving Brandon a cold look, it was finally getting to him and he had to ask why he was giving him that look.

“Look, brock, is there something I’m doing that’s bugging you, if so I’ll stop.”

“I don’t like this, we were supposed to be serving America, not Equestria, do you know what will happen if the military finds out we are serving this land?!”

Brandon let out a sigh, he knew Brock wouldn’t like the change but he seemed to go along with it as long as he got to scream and train new recruits.

“I know you haven’t met them yet, but the Princesses are working on a solution to our dilemma and hopefully will help us avoid getting into hot water with our home country’s military and government.”

Brock only nodded until the sound of someone coming up the hill that was to the side of town was audible.

A unicorn with white fur, wild and spiky electric blue hair, with crimson red eyes came towards the group.

“Is this where I’m supposed to come to enlist?”

“Yes ma’am, Vinyl Scratch, right?”

“Yup, that’s me,” she said with a smile.

“Well, while we await the others, why don’t you tell me about yourself and why you want to join.”

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Time skip.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After an explanation and a background check, Vinyl had finally passed phase one, now she was approaching phase two, Basic training.

Well, with that out of the way, it seems the new recruits and Guards I had asked for have arrived, said Brandon, looking at the line of ponies.

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Coffee Cube’s POV.

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I had arrived in ponyville and was told by a guard to follow a small group of ponies, mostly pegasi, to an intended destination.

The doctor told me it was fine for me to join the guard, he would dismiss any claims of my health problems, but there was a catch, if I got a heart attack in the guard or in training, I was to let my superiors know and get discharged from the guard and find a different choice of work.

The ponies who I was now walking with were led by a burly white pegasus with coal black hair, and turquoise eyes.

This guy held his head up high, most likely was a noble that wanted to join the Royal Guard. If this guy was in my designated team, he would most likely be a pain in the ass through the training.

The pony behind him was a lime green pegasus mare, she had lush brown hair, her eyes were dark green, out of all of them, she seemed to be the most excited.

The final pegasus was a much younger stallion, definitely younger than the first stallion and himself. He had messy golden hair that covered his eyes. I was surprised he could still see where he was going.

He had cream fur, he was rather on the skinny side, I wasn’t sure if this guy would make the cut, but who knows.

It appeared we were the first group to arrive, I knew there would be more to come. I regret not telling my mom about this, yet she probably would just lecture me and protest the idea of me serving as a guard.

We arrived at not a station, but at a field, and a white unicorn with spiky blue hair had beaten us here.

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End of POV.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Brandon, Brock, and Vinyl had noticed the group approaching them. The group consisted of three pegasi, two men and one woman… or would that be two Stallions and one mare, ah fuck it, same thing.

“Good morning to you all, I’m sure you already know me, but in case you don’t, I am Brandon O’Neil, former warrant officer and now nominated captain and highest ranking officer in the AMS, better known as Alpha Squadron.”

“So, what are your names and why do you want to join?”

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Coffee Cube’s POV.

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I had kinda dozed off into my own little world for a short period of time, my attention was brought back to the captain, the other guy seemed to be reading a History book about the Royal Guard, a couple books on the table that was laid out in front of me.

“So, what’s your name, sport, and why would you like to join the Royal Guard?” He asked.

I was a bit nervous, I never thought a day like this would come, so I swallowed up any remaining anxiety I had and responded hesitantly.

“My name is Coffee Cube, sir, I’m 20 years of age, I want to join because my entire family served, it’s kinda a generation thing we have in our family.”

“Uh huh, so, do you know what kind of job position you are aiming for?”

I felt like an idiot, I didn’t think about that. “Well, I’m not sure, I never really thought about that.”

Don’t worry, kid, we can worry about that later, now, let’s get into the more personal information and dive into a background check before I deem you eligible to serve.

I grabbed the official papers and documents I had secretly snuck out of my mom’s room while she slept.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Time skip.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I had finally finished my interview with the captain, I was just waiting on his decision on whether I’m in or not. He was done checking my files and other stuff I needed to enlist, he looked at me, I awaited his answer, the captain’s face was as hard as stone, no emotion.

“Congratulations, Coffee Cube, you made the cut, you will be heading into basic training.”

My jaw dropped, I can’t believe I would soon begin my training as a recruit! Oh man, if only my dad and the rest of my family could see me now. I decided to hang out with the other recruits who have seemed to have been accepted into training.

Another small group of ponies had arrived, they must have been the other group. But I knew for certain that I wasn’t completely in, I had to get past training to become a guardsman.

The large white stallion was doing push-ups while the other two just sat around, the girl was checking on her phone. She noticed me come over and gestured for me to take a seat.

“Hey, Coffee Cube, right?” She asked.

“Yeah, that’s me, just came down from Canterlot, you?”

“My name is Citrus, I’m from Cloudsdale, I’m hoping to join because my brother joined the Solar Guard not too long ago, on top of that, I’m looking for a challenge.”

Well well, look what we got here, if it isn’t the nerd,” said the muscular white pegasus making his way towards me.

“Do I know you?”

“Oh yes you do, remember, we were chums in kindergarten, you seriously forgot all the wedgies I gave, those were good times!”

“Wait, Wealthy Wallet!!!”

Memories filled my head, my childhood bully, I never thought I’d see him again.

“Yup, and that’s Prince Wellet to you, you're definitely bigger than the last time I saw you, despite you always being, mama’s boy,” he said with a chuckle.

“Hey, I don’t give a damn if you're some VIP, give him a break, if we are going to be a team, we need to work together, not hate each other,” Citrus cut in.

There was a lot of tension in the air, I had never heard anyone talk to Wealthy Wallet like that. His face showed that he was in no way happy, but he took a deep breath and exhaled.

“Fine, but in the end, it’s gonna be me who will become a Royal Guard, and you two will stay civilians.”

With that, the snobby Prince left. I could only wonder why he decided to join the Royal Guard. Something was up, he never wanted to join the Guard as a kid, all he wanted to do was become a respected noble like his father, Prince Blueblood.

I suppose I will find out sooner or later.

“Alright everyone, listen up!” Said a Night Guard, who we didn’t see arrive.

“While the new station is being built, you will be training in Canterlot for the time being, so pack up and head home.

A guard will arrive at your house early in the morning and will take you to the castle’s guard barracks to get ready for basic training, understand?” She explained.

We all nodded and got ready to head out. The oldest in our designated group happens to be a Unicorn named Vinyl Scratch, She was pretty popular in Canterlot, not by the nobles but by the nightclubs that hired her.

She would be considered the team leader, the thing that disqualified her from being the team leader was she was more of a tech wizard. She rejected the idea of being the team leader, which was bad news for us, because the second oldest was that damn asshole, Wealthy Wallet.

Said asshole walked up to me, bumping my shoulder a bit. “Looks like I’m gonna be the team leader, you take orders from me now!”

This was going to be a long day, and the following days will be even more painful.

We left down the hill and made our way to the train station, thankfully the Royal Guard was paying for the tickets and other minor stuff.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

End of POV.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Joel was casually shopping in and out of stores. He had rented a small apartment complex, it wasn’t even crappy at all. Yet he had a choice between a roommate, and ponies seemed to be very accepting when it comes to new roommates, or to live in an apartment complex, well, the only apartment complex.

The ponies running the place said if you were in the Royal guard, a lot of things would be paid for by the apartment company. He would let Brandon decide on what he wanted to do, Joel just wanted to get stuff done today so it was off his plate.

He had one last stop to make before he headed back to Brandon and told him the news. While walking, he saw some cars parked in little driveways, the cars were very old school, one looked to be a very old red Cadillac continental. The one next door looked to be a Station wagon, nearly all the cars he saw were not of the present day, hell, he even saw a model T.

Joel considered getting a driver’s license and getting a car but he had nowhere to go, so he put that at the back of his head, he reached his destination, Golden oak library. What baffled him was that the library was made out of a tree, and in no way was the tree unhealthy or dead.

“What the hell is this?”

Trying to push past the idea of a library inside a tree, he shook his head and entered. A bell rang as he entered, he looked around and saw loads upon loads of books in bookshelves all over the place. A little tree stump in the middle of the room held up a carved figure of a horse or pony’s head.

To say this place was amazing would be a lie, it was beautiful, once you got over the idea of a library inside a tree that is. As he looked around, he heard footsteps coming down the stairs he previously saw when he entered.

What he saw confused him greatly. A purple and green lizard with dark green spikes looked up at him curiously.

“Barney?”

Author's Note

Be sure to check my blogs because they have a lot of information and you’ll understand a lot of the story, when things are in bold letters, that means either it’s a sign that has words on it, or they are thinking in their minds

Hope you enjoy