Chapter Two: Beginnings

“And suddenly you know: It's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.”

― Meister Eckhart

*****

Manesville, Manesville District NCR: Ginger Snaps

After our discussion with the Blackberry Pie and her team, we make up our minds to do it. The first thing they do is tell us where we can pick up some surplus items including old uniform items such as jackets, web gear, and battle saddles. As a team, we all descended on the Manesville market district as if on a scavenger hunt.

As I am looking at one of the uniform jackets Epona asks me, “Ginger, what do you think about taking some of these over to Sewing Bobbin’s shop and having her modify them for us? You know, tailor them to us, make us look a bit more professional.”

I nod my head, “Yeah, that sounds good. It would lend to our credibility. Besides, poor Cowlick is going to need a special order one I bet.”

I catch myself laughing at that, but she is right. He is good-sized even for a bull. “But do you think she can make one large enough for him?” I ask.

I hear Epona take a deep breath as she thinks about it. Then she slowly lets it out as she says, “Yeah, I think so. She has been able to make a few dresses for some of the cows. In fact, Kettlebell got her last maternity dress from her.”

“I had not realized that, but it makes sense. I wonder if she can put extra pockets on them for us too?” I tell her without thinking.

She laughs slightly and replies, “Now you are sounding like mama Magpie and her desire for pockets on her dresses too.”

Shortly after this I hear Cowlick off to the side say, “Wow, I found one that will fit.”

Then I hear Sunny ask, “Really Cowlick? You sure it’s not a tent?”

“Ha Ha Sunny,” he replies sarcastically. Then I hear him say, “Oh, the name on them is Horns. I wonder who he was?”

Suddenly my mouth is dry and I no longer feel like laughing and joking. “I knew him Cowlick.”

He turns his head and asks, “You knew him? How?”

Xochitl walks up on the other side of him and answers for me. “Cow, he was on the expedition with us. He was an officer with the Enfields. He, he didn’t make it past the Second battle of Two Step.”

Soon after this, I see Epona stop as she looks through the box of old uniforms. I see her face look like her heart is breaking. Then she hugs the shirt to her. I go over to see why she is crying and I see the name on the shirt. Ivy. Her mother. Well, her mother on this side’s shirt. Goddesses, I think. What if I find my mother’s?

I put a hoof on her shoulder and ask. “You alright Sis?”

She nods her head. “Yeah. I, I just was not expecting to find her shirt.”

“I guess we should have expected it, after all, I am sure this came out of all the lockers from those who didn’t make it back, as well as those who were still in when the CDF became part of the NCR Army.”

She sniffles a bit more then says, “Yeah, you're right. I want to see if I can find another of hers too. If so, I will wear them when we are on Ops. You know, to honor her.”

Cowlick now approaches us and gives us both a hug and tells us, “I agree. We make sure we remember those who wore these uniforms before us. If you don’t mind, later, I would like to hear about Horns.”

Xochitl tells him, “We can do that Cowlick. But later, alright.” And with that, we continue on with our shopping spree.

We all find several uniform shirts and coats to wear. Then I notice all of the soft covers that are in there. I make the suggestion to everyone, “Guys, what do you think? Should we all wear the old soft covers too?”

Cowlick looks at the fully brimmed “Boonie” softcover I am holding up and says, “Nah, but how about the ones with the brim in the front only. You know the type I am talking about. Those can be carried in our saddlebags easily enough and I think they give a more polished impression.”

We are all talking about this when Choo Choo finally catches up with us. As she approaches, she says, “I could not help but overhear what you are suggesting and honestly, I think Cowlick is right. I think the visored soft cap will give us a much more professional appearance than the Boonie cap. I am not saying I don’t like them, but we need to think about how we project ourselves to others. If you have what you want, let's get over to Sewing Bobbins shop. I discussed a few things with her about what we are doing and she wants to discuss them with us.”

Now I am intrigued. Many of the ponies and cattle in the Manesville region avoid Sewing Bobbins shop because she is a ghoul. However, my family has been going to her since shortly after the expedition.

Sewing Bobbins is not only a ghoul, but she is a unicorn ghoul and I can tell she was very attractive when she was still alive. But even more interesting is that she was trained in her trade by an apprentice to the former ministry mare.

As we enter her shop, I hear the small bell ring and I hear her raspy voice call out, “Be with you in a minute.”

Choo Choo calls back, “That is fine Sewing, I have my team with me.”

“Oh, it’s you, Choo, just wrapping up a few things and I will be with you.” She says and I can hear her moving around in the back.

Finally, she comes out and I see she has her glasses on and today she is wearing a kerchief around her neck, with several pins and needles stuck in it. As she comes into the room, I can see her hazy eyes look at each of us and she smiles. “Good to see all of you again. I appreciate you and Choo giving me a chance to help you with your attire for your new, how shall we say this? Uhmm, enterprise?”

I find myself smiling at the old ghoul and now I am curious as to what she has in mind, so I ask, “So what do you have in mind Sewing?”

She grins at me, which, if I was a different pony, I would find kind of disturbing. Then she says, “Well, I have suggested to Choo that one of the things we should do is have a couple of different types of uniform per se for you to wear. While out in the field, the old surplus stuff is plenty good. When you are working around dignitaries or performing escort work, you will want to appear more refined. In which case, I have discussed with Choo Choo having black jackets and ball caps. Now, for a few caps more, and a bit extra time to make them, I can completely outfit you in such attire, and have it made out of ballistic weave fiber. This would mean it would provide some additional protection to you, yet still be fairly light and easy to move in.”

I find myself as well as most of the others all looking at her with a raised eyebrow. Then Twinks asks, “Uh, Choo, I thought I was tech support, not a combatant?”

Choo Choo looks at her and smiles and tells her, “We are all combatants, however, your primary job is as a tech.” She pauses briefly and then asks, “That reminds me, you do know how to perform a shield spell right?”

We all watch as Twinkle Hoofs starts to go pale and she nervously says, “No, I never had a need for that one.”

I see Choo Choo close her eyes and slowly shake her head. Finally, she says, “Ok Twinks, when the others are practicing hoof to hoof fighting, you and I will be doing some extra training on spells.”

I notice that Twinks blushes this time and she quietly answers, “Yes ma’am.”

From our side, I hear Sewing Bobbins say, “Good, now that is decided, I need all of you to line up so I can get some measurements. If I am making these for you, I want you to look your best.”

*****

Manesville, Manesville District NCR: Xochitl

Two days later I am with Tater cleaning out a room we will be using as our business armory. The room is in the back of a previously unrecovered storefront in Manesville. I find it funny that even though it is actually just a few blocks away from the Trough, where most of the troopers from the base as well as some of the local roughnecks hang out, this neighborhood has been left as it was after the Last Day.

I am just moving a table out of the way from a stack of trash in the corner when we hear it. Growling. I suspect it is a feral ghoul. Part of me feels sorry for those poor souls whose minds have deteriorated to the point of base functions only, but they are dangerous when they are like this.

I start to move back from the pile when an earthpony ghoul lurches out from under it. Then it stares briefly, growls one more time, and leaps at me with its jaws open.

I reach for my pistol, and I realize it is hanging across the room on a chair in my holster. I am jumping back from it when I hear three quick shots near my head go off as Tater puts the feral we did not know was there, down for good.

My ears are ringing and I use my hoofs to rub them. Then I simply turn to him and he asks, “You want help pulling him out of here Xochitl?”

I nod my head, “Yeah. Well, now we know why Choo was able to get the place so cheaply.”

He wipes his head and looks disgustedly at his pistol in its holster again, “Great, now I have to clean it again,” he says to no one in particular and then I hear him sigh.

“At least you had it with you. Thanks for covering me.” I tell him and watch as he waves a hoof and says, “It was nothing Cohitl. You would do the same for me.”

I laugh lightly, “Yeah, but this time you did it for me. So, I really do appreciate it. Now let’s get this thing out of here before Ginger sees it. I don’t need her giving me a hard time.”

We have just pulled it outside when Ginger and Twinks show up. I see a smile come to his face when he sees Twinkle Hoofs. I know he is interested in her, but I also know he feels too shy to ask her out for some reason. He has dated before, so I just don’t understand his issue.

“So Xochitl, how is the cleaning coming?” Ginger asks.

I simply shrug, “It’s coming, you know, nothing too exciting.”

Ginger grins and shakes her head, and I see she has noticed the remains of the Feral and she asks, “Anyone we know?”

I shake my head, “No, none of the ghouls we know. I think this one was here for a very long time.”

I see Tater shake his head as he says, “Besides from what I have heard Captain Bailey Bridge say, the ghouls he knows would rather die than become this way. Not that they really are in a rush to judgment or anything.”

Then Twinks ask, “Do you two mind giving me a hoof out in the front area? I want to set up my test bench there.”

Tater and I simply shrug our shoulders and begin to move the bench as she has asked. Once the bench is set up, she has us begin to put up several pegboards of tools on the wall behind it. She has the bench set so she can look at the door as she works and her back will be to the wall of the armory. We also clean out some of the old store racks, saving what we can still use.

I have just moved the back of one of the shelves that has collapsed when I hear Twinkle Hoofs say, “Cohtil, stop. Look,” as she points to the area I have just cleared.

I shake my head as I see a trap door on the floor. I look up at her and tell her, “Well, let's get the stuff clear first, then we can explore it.” Then I look at Ginger and say, “Right sweetheart?”

She grins back at me and laughs lightly, “Yeah, then we can explore it. I guess.” She looks around and then asks, “You do have your pistol with you? Right?”

I feel myself blush because it is still hanging in its holster on the back of the chair in the armory. “Yeah, I took it off to be more comfortable while working.”

I feel slightly admonished as I see her shake her head. Then she says, “Let me guess, Tater saved your bacon?”

I again blush and then I begin to laugh as I tell her, “Dear, I am starting to worry about your obsession with bacon.”

I then hear both Tater and Twinkle Hoofs laughing to the side. Then Tater says, “I think you are onto something Cohtil.”

I watch Ginger sit down with both her front hooves crossed in front of her and she says, “You never complained about bacon before. Especially when it was earning us extra caps.”

This causes me to smile, “Yeah, you're right, and I always have enjoyed your salty kisses after a little bacon.”

I then hear Twinks say, “Ok, that is too much information for me,” as she starts to blush a bit.

Beside her I see Tater blushing a bit and looking at Twinks. Beside him I see Twinks raise an eyebrow at him, but she says nothing.

We are just finishing cleaning up when Epona shows up with Choo Choo. Following them pulling a large cart is Cowlick. As they pull up outside the door, I see Choo Choo see the feral from earlier. She simply raises an eyebrow and comes inside. As they enter Epona jerks a forehoof toward the door and asks, “Anypony we know?”

Ginger looks up at her, “Nah, just a random who got upset about being woken up dead. Yah know, the usual in this area.”

Twinks then ask, “I thought that they cleared out this area awhile back?”

I grin as I tell her, “Well that was about a century ago, and ponies are just starting to reclaim this section of town.”

As they begin to look around at what we have done I see Epona notice the trap door in the floor too. She looks at us and asks, “Has anyone checked this out yet?”

I shake my head and tell her, “We were planning on it after we were done cleaning up this place.”

Choo then asks, “Have you begun to set up any racks for your team gear other than the electronics?”

Both Tater and I look at each other and I answer, “Not really, we cleaned out most of the backroom and then helped get the front area looking better.”

“Ah, I see, well let’s get this stuff out of the cart at least, otherwise we have to guard it all night outside,” Choo tells us.

With that, we all head out the door and begin to carry our recent purchases inside. As we bring them in, I begin to notice that Choo has also picked up several lockers for us to use. While we are ponyhoofing them inside Choo tells us, “Be careful with them, they go into the armory so that we can store our extra clothing there.”

This is really interesting to me as I never had a spot to put just my things before. I mean at home what clothing we have, goes into our family’s dresser or under my bed. I mean we aren’t poor, but we really do not have a lot of extra stuff so that we need to store it like that. Besides, Father says he was raised that everything should be ready at hoof.

As we are unloading the cart one of the things I notice is a toaster being set on the bench. I raise an eyebrow at it and I ask, “Ok, I give, why a toaster?”

Epona smiles shyly and replies, “Bait?”

I start to laugh and ask, “Bait? For what a sandwich?”

She puts a hoof on her hip, “No for the Toaster Repair pony.”

I laugh even harder and I hear Ginger snicker as she says, “You realize she already has somepony, right?”

Epona sits on her hindquarters and crosses her forelegs, “Hay, a mare can always hope, can’t she?”

I turn from her as I know how lonely she really is and how much she wants a special somepony. The others laugh as if she were joking.

Tater and I also bring in several boxes of spare appliances and electronic components that we store in the front. Finally, Tater says, “These two go in the back.”

As I look at them, I notice they are boxes of weapons components as well as enough weapons cleaning kits for all of us. These we set next to the lockers. Once this wagon load is emptied, I notice we do not have any weapons racks or weapons.

When I ask Choo about it, she says, “Well, I know you each have your own favorite weapons, but we can pick up some specialty ones too. But let’s get this place set up before we do so.”

We all agree and continue to work on setting it up until the sun begins to set. Finally, we all agree to call it a night. As we begin to lock up and head home for the night, I hear Choo Choo tell us, I expect you all here by 8 am. We will finish setting up and I want to begin some of our training.”

After this, I walk back to the farm holding Ginger’s tail with mine, but I still worry about her sister as I hear her sigh more than once as we follow the road home.

*****

Emerald Grove, Manesville District NCR: Choo Choo

As I fly back toward the cave I share with my friend George, who happens to be a dragon, I think about what all we have to do yet before we are ready. So much to do. So much training still to happen. I smile at Epona’s answer for why the toaster, but really, I had my reasons for buying it.

Tonight, Paperwork has duty at the Stable so no matter how badly I want to see him, I can’t. Tonight, I feel lonely without him and George is off visiting her children in Harness again. Well, actually this is a second home for her anymore, so I should be used to it. She spends most of her time with her dragonets, Tempered and Forged now.

As I lay down in my bed, I use my horn to pick up a book to read, then I use it to turn off the lights and illuminate the book while I read until I am drowsy. Once I am tired enough, my horn goes out on its own as I fall asleep.

I do not tend to dream much anymore, but when I do, I seem to make up for when I don’t. Tonight I have two dreams. First, I am back in my old body. It is back during the war, and both Sidetrack and I are still just regular ponies and in love with each other. It is the one where he and I are talking about when we retire in a few weeks and how I am looking forward to visiting my son’s family in Fillydelphia, and my daughter and her family in Manesville on the trip back.

We were both looking so forward to that trip. In my dreams we made it happen. In reality, at the time the dream takes place, we were within a mere few days of the end of the world as we knew it, and our lives were changed forever.

The second dream is the one that still haunts me, and probably always will. It is of the Siege of Serenity Valley. It always starts at the same point. Myself and the rest of the scouts are being held as a reserve in the basement of the house we used for an HQ there. The LT has just ordered all of the fliers there too for the same reason.

We can hear the intensity of the battle as it rages for hours. Suddenly over our PipBucks, we hear Lieutenant Tenderhoof yell out, Broken Saber! I repeat Broken Saber! Silver Spite and his remnants of Red Eyes forces and the raiders he has hired have broken through the E troops section of the line.

Ginger and Xochitl are next to me and look at me, then at our commander Sunset. I can see the sweat building on him as he wants to give the word go.

Then we hear the LT, Lieutenant Mollygirl over the PipBuck all hands Frequency call out, Clock Work they are about to break through in E-troops section. Send them in NOW! She has just sent in the Volunteer company. None of them were regulars with us when we started.

Then we hear even worse, over the PipBuck all personnel channel I hear, “This is Sergeant Rice Paddy, Cadet Tenderhoof is down. They are targeting the Medics and stretcher-bearers, Both E-troop medics are down.

This is soon followed by D troops medic Sutures responding on the radio, E-troop this is Sutures, I am on my way.

Immediately after this, we get the word from Mollygirl, All troops protect the medics. Sunset, provide an escort for Sutures.

As soon as we hear this we begin to move at a run. The ground scouts form as they run around her. I and Sunset are above her as is Firefly and his sister Serenity. I cannot help myself and am terrified for the foals. They should not be here. I SHOULD NOT HAVE HELPED THEM COME I berate myself in my mind.

I am firing the guns on my battle saddle as I fly forward, using my horn to cast spells at the same time. As we run forward escorting Sutures I can actually hear when the Volunteers make physical contact with the raiders as you can hear the screams of pain and the screeching of breaking equipment from the force of impact of the two forces.

I watch as Xochitl dives and rolls as he slides along the ground under a raider. As he slides by, he fires two quick shots into his belly. He then rolls back over and is on his hoof running again.

Just opposite of him is Ginger. I am stunned and frightened for her as I watch her leap into the air over a dead body. Landing on a raider's back, she puts a quick shot into the back of his head with the SIR and without slowing leaps down again.

As this is happening, I hear a shotgun near me begin to bark. Sutures, the combat medic we are escorting, has to shoot her way into the wounded and dying Equestrian Rangers of E troop.

As we get into the middle of the fight, I hear somepony yell out a war cry in zebracan and as I look in the direction of the noise I see Xavier, Xochitl’s father is on his back hooves with a knife in his pastern and engaging the raiders in hoof-to-hoof combat.

We are starting to drive them back and retake our positions when close by I see Serenity take a shot in her helmet and I watch her fall limply over 40 feet to the ground below. I call out, MEDIC!

And I am suddenly awake. I am tangled in my blanket and have fallen off the bed again. I am panting hard and covered in sweat. I look at the time, I have been asleep for a little over two hours. I guess that is enough for now. I will try to get some more after I calm down. But part of me is afraid that the dream will come back. I know it will. It always does.

I finally get another couple of hours of sleep. Then I am up with my alarm and I go to meet the youngsters to begin their training. Never again will I take unprepared recruits into a meat grinder. I can’t. I don’t think my conscience will let me.

*****

Spitfire Officers Acadamy, Grand Pegasus Enclave: Cadet Ball Lightning

“Cadet Ball Lightning, what is your major Malfunction? Do you not want to be in my beloved Army?” I hear the light blue and red-maned drill instructor yell into my ear.

“Negative Sergeant Major! I do want to serve!” I yell back

“Do you really think you are going to succeed as an officer with such slapdash work? That is the third time you have been rejected by the armorer for a dirty weapon.” He nearly growls at me.

I look down at the MEW rifle I have at my hooves and tell him, “Sergeant Major, this cadet has failed to meet the required standards but will do so this time.”

“Well, I certainly hope so. The last thing I want to turn loose on some poor platoon of soldiers is a butter bar lieutenant who can not even clean his weapon correctly.” With that, he turns and walks away. As he goes, I see him stop at another cadet and begin to give him a variation of the same speech he just gave me. Goddesses, I just want to complete this training so I can begin to live again. I tell myself.

Beside me I hear another cadet tell me, “I keep telling you Ball, take more time and do it only once. Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.”

I harrumph quietly then I reply, “Really, for this Down Draft? I thought you only meant it for tactics.”

He smiles and shakes his head, “It goes for a lot of things such as tactics, formation flying, those you are attracted to. You know, the important things.”

I raise an eyebrow at this and laugh lightly at the last part of his answer. “You know, I do have a mare already.”

He nods his head as he runs a soft rag over his weapon one more time. As he is doing this he tells me, “Yeah, but she is in the Volunteer Corps isn’t she?”

“Well yeah, I told you that before.”

He sighs, “Two things, those who choose the Volunteer Corps tend to be more pacifistic types and turn away from us military types,” he pauses and adds, “Happened to my older brother.”

“And?” I ask motioning with my forehoof to indicate for him to continue.

This time his face goes expressionless and he quietly says, “And all too often those who go into the Volunteer Corps don’t survive too long. They really get short-changed on their training.”

I feel my stomach drop out and my chest feels slightly tight when he says this. My poor Sundancer. Celestia and Luna, please protect her, I pray silently.

Then Down Draft quietly tells me, “Rumor has it that they only get two, maybe three weeks training before being sent dirtside. That includes trying to teach them about the ground bounds’ culture and ways.”

“Two to three weeks? No, really how long do they train them for?” I ask.

He shrugs his shoulders and tells me, “That is the only amount of time for the Volunteer Corps training that I have heard. But hey, hopefully, I am wrong.”

I sigh, “Yeah hopefully, but Down Draft, since I met you, you have rarely been wrong.” Those words would come back to haunt me later that night.

I am at the end of my bunk polishing the buttons on my dress uniform for the inspection in the morning. After I am done, I will see about writing Sundancer. It has now been four weeks since I last saw her, and about two weeks since I last received a letter from her. As I mindlessly polish the last button and am thinking about what I will write to her I hear from the front of the bunk room, “Mail Call!”

I quickly put away my uniform and polish kit and head to the front of the room with the other cadets. I get there just in time to hear the company clerk for us cadets call out, “Cadet Ball Lighting.”

“Here!” I call out and raise a hoof. He then uses his wingtip to pass me a letter. I look at it and I see it is from Sundancer and I cannot help but smile. As the clerk keeps calling out names I go back to my bunk and sit on the floor next to it using my wings to hold in front of my muzzle. I can smell the perfume she likes to wear on it. I gently open the letter and I begin to read;

My Dearest Ball,

I miss you so much and wish I could be with you right now. Last week we started our training for my class of the volunteer corps. They say they have elongated the training to three weeks now. But honestly, why would it need to be more than two weeks. I mean, ponies are ponies, right?

Today was a big day for me. I got to choose what area I wanted to be stationed in with the VC. Some asked for around Baltimare, a couple of hopefuls chose New Pegasus. Myself, I chose Hoofington. I mean it is not far from home, and if something were to go wrong, well the Enclave is right there. I mean it has to be safe, otherwise, why would they offer it to us. Besides, if you get stationed at Thunderhead, you won’t be too far away.

I am very lucky as some of my closest friends here are going with me there. Including Sky Swirl, Altocumulus, and Arctic Air. The four of us are always together. Both Sky Swirl and Alto say they feel they have to protect us mares Arctic and me.

I miss you and think of you each day. I can’t wait to see you again, especially in your officer’s uniform. I am so proud of you love.

Love ya and see you soon

Your Sundancer

I guess my face shows how I feel as I hear Down Draft asks, “Ok Ball, what has caused that goofy smile on your face?”

So, I show him the letter. He smiles kindly at me and pats me on the shoulder. “Hoofington, I have heard some things about that place. Well, they certainly need the Volunteer Corps there. Well, that and the Enclave to help eliminate the undesirables too.” He pauses and I see him shake his head, “Three weeks. That is all there getting. Wow, I would never have imagined it,” He says, “Ok, I will talk to you later, I am sure you want to write back to her.”

“Yeah, thanks Down for understanding,” I tell him, then I dig into my hooflocker for a pen and paper to write a quick letter to Sundancer before lights out.

I use my wings to get them out and then I begin to mouth write her a letter.

My Dearest Sundancer,

I can’t begin to tell you how much I miss you. While it has only been a little over a month since we last were together, it feels like an eternity. I only long to hold you once again and to feel your gentle kiss.

Hopefully when we get our orders, I will get either Hoofington or Thunderhead so that I can be close to you and we may be able to spend our spare time together. Thank you so much for letting me know where you are going to be stationed. It helps in a way to know where our futures may be heading.

Someday I hope to be the father of your foals as well as your devoted husband. I can't imagine life without you in it. Well, it is almost time for lights out and I best get going. Tomorrow we begin our classes on power armor operation and maintenance. I really am looking forward to soon trying my hoof at wearing one of those suits and only wish you could see me in it when I do.

Sweet dreams my beloved and I will write again soon.

Yours always, Ball Lighting

I then blow lightly on the ink. Once it is dry, I fold the letter and write her address on the outside, but leave it unsealed so the censoring officer can inspect it before it leaves the base. I deposit the letter in our company mailbox and then get ready to go to sleep for the night. We all climb into our bunks and the lights are turned off for the night. The only one not in their bunk is the recruit assigned to watch the bunk room and break room that we have. After an hour he will be relieved by somepony else. We all will end up taking a turn at standing watch during our training. It may not be exciting but at least we all have to share in the misery of lost sleep.

Morning comes with the lights being flicked on and I hear another one of the instructors yelling at us to get up. Once awake and on hoof, we stand at the end of our bunk. The enlisted drill instructor then reviews our plan of the day quickly with us, finishing by yelling, “You have ten minutes to get ready, Move it, Cadets!”

We are back, dressed, and in the position of attention at the end of bunks in eight. He nods his head, “Alright fall out to the drill field for chow.”

We all fall out and form our ranks. Once he decides we are ready he gives the order and we all fly in the same formation across the base to the drill hall for our breakfast. And while it may not be great, it is hot and filling. I can live with that. Well, that and the hot coffee we are able to get there.

After we eat, we fly over to the armory. We first sit through a lecture where they give us the basics on how our Enclave pegasus power armor works and the maintenance we will be required to perform on it.

“Now cadets, how many of you know the differences between the officers’ model and the enlisted model of enclave power armor?” The senior armorer asks us. He looks around and when he sees no wings or hooves raised he points a wingtip only a few inches from my muzzle. “You, what can you tell me the differences are?”

Without thinking I rattle off, “Sir, our models are lighter in weight, feature two medium weapons mounts rather than heavy ones on our matching battle saddles and we have a complete set of communication and tracking sets integral to them that allow us to more effectively direct a battle as well as communicate both up and down the chain of command.”

He nods his head with a smile. Then he adds, “Very nice, oh and the newer suits come with an integral pistol holster on your right hind leg.”

Beside me, I notice both Down Draft and Dust Storm raise an eyebrow and nod. I guess I finally impressed them. I don’t have time to gloat as the instructor has moved on and we now begin to learn how to use these features in combat.

For some reason, I find the power armor really fascinating and now I can’t wait till the day comes when we can try it. Maybe there is something to this military service that I will enjoy, I tell myself, then I begin to pay attention to my class again as they begin to teach us about the spell matrix and how it works.

Not only will learning this save my life, but it is interesting to me. Beside me I see Down Draft looking bored and poor Dust Storm has his eyes glaze over and I see him starting to do touch and goes as his head slowly drops against his chest, then his eyes pop open and he lifts it up and begins the process again. Finally, I hear the instructor say, “Cadet Dust Storm, if you cannot stay awake, please stand up.”

I am amused as he again starts to do the touch and goes. Finally, our instructor shakes his head, slaps his hoof down on the podium in the front of the class, and tells him, “Go to the back of the class and hover. I know you can’t fall asleep then.”

I almost laugh out loud though when Dust Storm does just that and hits the ground hard. I actually see our instructor facehoof at this. Then I watch as he makes a note on the clipboard on his podium. As he does this, I raise a hoof. Once he calls on me, I tell him, “Sir, I think that Cadet Storm is just exhausted, sir.”

“Cadet, you all are exhausted, why should that excuse his failure to be able to stay awake?”

I look at my friend and then the instructor and I tell him, “Sir, he not only stood two watches last night, but he also was up early to try and get some extra time in running in place in the sinks so he could lose more weight. He is terrified he will not be able to fit into his power armor and therefore washout sir.”

He looks at me with half-closed eyes and turns his head slightly. I watch his ears shift from alongside his head, to slightly out to the side, then finally forward as he says. “Thank you for letting me know that cadet. I will take it under advisement.”

Later that evening during our personal time, our senior drill instructor Sergeant Major Funnel Cloud comes in and has Dust Storm leave with him. Most of us figure he has washed out. Instead, when he returns, we watch as he goes, sits in front of his bunk, and breathes a sigh of relief. I go and sit next to him and ask, “Well, what happened?”

He looks around and then looks at me. I watch him take a deep breath and let it out and he tells me, “I got a final warning about falling asleep in class. I am off the rotation for late-night watches too. He and the Captain told me if I pass and cannot fit into my power armor, I can still be an officer. Just with the supply troops or maybe even a staff position. Sure, that doesn’t sound exciting to most, but to me, it means I will not have failed out and can still serve the Enclave. My family would disown me if I got scrubbed out.”

I nod my head in understanding, after all my father would do the same thing. I put a hoof on his shoulder and tell him, “I am glad to hear that Dust. I would hate to lose you, buddy.”

He grins at me and laughs lightly, “Yeah, I know. The more we lose, the more attention the DI’s can pay to those who are left.”

I laugh slightly also and I tell him in a slightly sarcastic tone, “You say it like that is a bad thing.” Then I give him a wink and we both begin to laugh.

Finally, he asks, “Heard anything from Sundancer lately?”

I nod my head and then I tell him about the letter. After I am done, he smiles sadly and tells me, “You know you really are a lucky buck. At least you have a pony who cares about you.”

I am just about to comment back to him when I hear one of the junior DIs calls out, “Five minutes till lights out, hit your bunks.” And we all scramble to our bunks and call an end to another long day.

*****

Well, all my little ponies out there in the wastelands, this here is DJ Pon3, reminding you all to help each other when you can and to keep your weapons loaded and clean out there. This next song reminds me of some of my ghoul acquaintances' stories and why we should try and make it a better world. Here is Standing at The End of The World.

Author's Note

I hope you all are enjoying it so far as you get to know these characters better .It will be a couple of more weeks before I release the next chapter, but I will still try to keep to a fairly regular schedule.

For those who wish to listen to the dedication song, the YouTube link is:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CU9tAHKuzI