This wave was the worst, so many bugs everywhere.
I try to make enough distance away from them in order to properly fight back
slamming my pickax down on any unfortunate bug in my way as i get far enough away from them.

As i was creating more and more distance between me and them i start putting down a turret
but just as i finish it i get grabbed by a leech.

My turret quickly shoots it killing it before i get hurt too much saving me,
getting put back onto the ground i see the bugs getting closer and closer to me.
The turret starts firing off at them i blast my turret causing it to shoot a big explosion at a group of bugs
killing them.

But more and more kept on coming i try adding another turret.
That helped but they where still coming, more and more kept coming.
seeing this as a losing battle i take out my grenade launcher firing off at them nuking a big portion of them
and creating a danger zone of radioactive particles.

i yell "eat that you blasted bugs!"

I then start looking around for a place to establish a better defense i notice an entry way to an unexplored part of the cave,
taking out my platform gun i start making a way there, digging through the dirt then running through
the long expansive tunnel i get to a big space perfect for a defense against a swarm.
I recall the turrets and just as i am about to start putting them back down.

mission control says "Something big is headed your way better prepare for the worst"
In utter horror i say "dreadnaught"

Quickly attempting to put the turrets down it spawns in the same room as me,
and starts spitting explosive rocks everywhere causing me to have to retreat.

Running away back where i came from i use my shotgun to take out any of the smaller bugs in my way
just as i was about to get out i get knocked into a wall by the dreadnaught.

A dreadnaught just had to spawn and just as it was about to put me down as i was pinned to a wall.
It was about to begin to screech so in a last ditch effort i whip out my grenade launcher with its fat boy overclock
just as i was about to fire off at it i hear a loud ringing noise get louder and louder then.

Abruptly woken up from the dream just as i was about to get a down i quickly turn it off
and proceed to start the day as i usually do.

Bathe,brush and eat.
The usual start to any ones day and from what i was told by mom
she's going to be coming home later than usual for a meeting of some kind.
Not sure what its about, she doesn't want me to worry about it.

So i dive into the school work for today as she leaves for work.
Hoping its at least somewhat interesting unlike last time.

Then as i see whats in store for me today all that hope is lost in an instant
as i bury my face into my hooves while groaning in annoyance.

"Why cant i get a break" i say as i scowl at the paper responsible for my torment. "just as i thought the last one was bad i have to deal with this!" sighing i say "might as well get it over with"

Its been a few months since she transferred from the night shift to the evening shift.
Done so in order to better accommodate raising a foal.
It may be doable to raise one even while still on the night shift but it would've been
even more difficult than it is now.

Arriving in time it will be an hour until the fall ins then the preparation for the shift.

One of her comrades approaches then says "early as always fletching."

Smirking fletching says "wasn't expecting you this early cutlass. trying to keep up with my schedule?"

Chuckling cutlass reply's "like that would ever happen, but while I'm here i gotta ask."

Looking around around before speaking she then say's "hows your foal doing?"

Sighing fletching says "there is some improvement."
Shaking her head she continues "but they are still having some trouble with how they are viewed by other ponies."

Wincing cutlass says "yeesh poor kid, i can't imagine what that's like."
Creasing their eyes they say "what could even be the reason for ponies to be scared of a foul anyway?"

Nervously swallowing fletching says "yeah pretty odd isn't it?"

Perplexed by fletching's change in demeanor cutlass asks "is there something bothering you?"

Looking at and away from her friend she says "nope nope nothings bothering me nothing at all!"

they both start staring in uncomfortable silence until fletching sighs and says "its because they are a skeleton, that is the reason why ponies have been so scared of them."

blinking in utter shock they struggle to respond opening their mouth they try to say something but close it, failing to put into words how they feel about that.
Out of all the reasons being just bones doesn't sound like a good reason to be scared in their opinion.
But that might just be their experience as a guard influencing their perspective.
They fight close to their opponent unlike how fletching prefers long range.

Training to be a guard takes years of hard work and after the things they've seen a skeleton is so mundane in comparison.
A hydra or even a timber wolf is more threatening than a skeleton.
Even changelings are on the list of things to worry about.
Their ability to disguise as anything gives them an advantage at infiltration.
even dragons are more of a threat if they want to be.

Whats the worst a skeleton could do? especially one that's a foal?
A foal doesn't have the experience or skill especially if they are incapable
of getting a cutie mark.

In disbelief they say "that's it? they're a skeleton?"

Nodding fletching says "yes and I'm just as shocked as you are."

Scoffing they reply "what a bunch of pansy's." rolling her eyes they continue "living such a soft comfy life they cant handle seeing a skeleton walking around."

Before fletching could reply, more of her fellow guards have arrived and are getting ready for the day.

One of them says while chuckling "i don't think I'll ever stop laughing about that ticket fiasco in ponyvile."

The other says back "no kidding, those ponies can be real crazy."

Shaking their head they say "all over a ticket, even though everypony is gonna get one anyway." while laughing.

Another guard chimes in "well that's ponyvile for ya, they'll go crazy over anything."

"pft I'll say, they chased a mare across town over a ticket" they laugh as they exclaim "a ticket!"

Before the conversation could continue it's interrupted by fletching clopping her
hooves together then pointing towards their sergeant,
who looks over at the guards, calling names and then proceeds to tell them the places they'll be guarding for the evening
after a run on a track.

Hours later while patrolling the castle halls with one of her fellow guards they pop a question.
"do you have any plans of your own for the gala?" they say while smiling.

shaking her head she says "not really, unless i could bring my foal with me i think I'll be staying home."

Even if she could bring them it would very likely lead to the gala being a complete and utter disaster
and it would create a big mess for them to clean up after.
if she didn't bring them with her there wouldn't be anyone home to keep them safe.
She would be stuck in a lose lose situation, either cause a massive panic or risk their safety.
Staying home seemed like a much better option, its not like she'd be missing out on anything anyway.

It looked like that wasn't the answer they where hoping for
"oh come on fletching you've got to go at least ounce, you've been skipping out on it for years."

Looking rather annoyed she says"its just not my style, my foal is more important than some party."

Chuckling they say "just like what you said last time, well minus the foal."

Shrugging she says "I've never really gotten the appeal anyway, it just doesn't sound as exciting as everypony says it is." as she looks to the side.

thinking to herself she just cant get whats so special about it.
ponies back home keep saying its this big glamorous event but it just always sounded too good to be true.
she honestly thinks they are overselling it.
anypony can go to canterlot at any day of the week, so whats so grand about this grand galloping gala?

Looking back over to her fellow guard she asks "you've been there right? whats it like?"

She briefly sees a sparkle in their eyes as they say "you get greeted by Celestia and there's drinks,food,music and dancing i cant wait to go again." With child like wonder in their eyes.

Yawning she says "sounds like a snore fest." While smirking.

Tripping over her words they stop then say "what! really fletching?!" cantering back to her side while saying "you get greeted by Celestia herself how isn't that worth it?"

before fletching can respond the enchantment on her armor starts to glow telling her the shift is over.

"well its time for me to go" she says as she leaves.

"oh, bye fletching." her fellow guard says while waving.

Its time for her to attend that meeting at the school house with miss cheerilee.
Looking around the grassy fields as she's on her way to the school house she basks in the beauty of the sunset.
Not wanting to be late she only allows her self to look for a sec before entering through the front door into the hall way
and quickly trot to cheerilee's office door.

Closing the door to her office she sits down as cheerilee welcomes her.

Cheerilee starting it off by saying "judging by your foals performance i think they can physically attend school soon."

Fletching says in surprise "you sure? even after what happened last time?"

Sensing her worry cheerilee says "that was months ago fletching, this change will be beneficial for them,
your foal needs to get out and socialize."

Fletching sighs then says "i just don't what a repeat of last time, it was a real mess, the screaming, the cries for their parents, not to mention the name calling."

"if any of my students where behave inappropriately by being cruel to your foal they will be punished accordingly fletching." says cheerilee.

"when will they attend school?" fletching says in interest.

"they will be physically attending school next week." says cheerilee.

"shes taking way longer than i expected." i say in boredom as i stare at the ceiling.
I say "i am just so damn bored" as i bury my face into the cushions of the couch for sec.

Looking around the room for anything to forget about my boredom for just a minute or more i look at the grandfather clock staring at the pendulum go back forth as it goes tick tock tick tock.

I then look over and notice the sink is slightly dripping the water going plip plop plip plop looking away
i start covering my skull with my hooves then start slightly rocking back and forth due to my boredom.

"cant, just, so, BORED!" i scream into the couch cushions in sheer agitation.

Hearing hooves starting to inch closer and closer to the door i look over in the direction of the sound.
to see mom opening the door and saying "im back with some news." she says like she is singing.

getting off the couch and trotting over to hug her i say "what is it?" and in surprise i hear her say "you will be attending school next week."

in shock i say out loud "what!"

Author's Note

This took longer to write than intended. but i wanted to figure out names,cuties marks and color schemes of those 2 character's. and get it to a state i was happy with.

Edit: 5/27/2023
i misspelled cheerilee DOH
i was one letter off but its fixed