The New Recruit

As Spitfire landed in front of the castle, she checked in with the guards as a visitor, despite her rank, and jumped through all of the normal hoops that would allow her passage into the castle. It wasn't hard, and as she'd been doing this for twenty years, it took less than two minutes to pass through the entire security detail.

As she approached the infirmary, however, she hesitated, taking a moment to dip into the bathroom. She had to look in the mirror, first. She felt silly, checking her appearance in the mirror before going to see a stallion like a common tart, but she had a good reason. She didn't need to look beautiful, she just had to look stoic and strong. She had to look as though she was having little trouble upholding her personal and professional codes of honour. Not like a foal that had cried itself to sleep last night.

She wasn't wearing makeup, so she washed her face once more in cold water to ensure that any residue was gone, patted it dry with a towel, and took a deep breath. She could do this. She saw ponies injured all the time. Just because it wasn't an accident or negligence this time didn't change what she was going to see.

As soon as Spitfire walked through the door, on instinct, Ace tried to sit up straight and salute, but the sharp pain that shot through his body sent him right back down, along with the nurse that was in the middle of sponging his shoulder.

"At ease," Spitfire commanded, raising her hoof to urge him to stay down. She was unable to hide the crack in her voice. "How are you faring, Ace?"

"Not good, ma'am... Almost everything hurts."

Spitfire nodded. "That's to be expected, I suppose. Did you remember anything else from that night?"

Ace shook his head. "Bits and pieces, maybe. According to the doctor, I was hit in the back of the head first, and that scrambled a few things. Says I'm lucky to remember anything from that night at all. How about you? How are you doing?"

Spitfire swallowed. "Not great. I don't take kindly to violence against those under my command, nor do I take kindly to excessive violence perpetrated by those under my command. That both have happened at once is wholly unacceptable."

Ace lowered his head as much as he could without being able to sit up. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to touch a sore spot. How about classes? Those are going well, right?"

Spitfire shook her head. "Not a single class has started. Not a one will until we find out who was responsible for this."

"...Oh..."

"...Yeah. We've managed to rule out quite a few students so far, mostly due to who you remember being there. We managed to order some of that list you sent us, too. We know that Gentle Giant was there, and he left before Poinsettia and Pomade approached. They all separately confirmed that. As they were leaving, Eight Ball was approaching. We now have twenty-two ponies saying he left his room that night, and he still claims he didn't."

"He did," nodded Ace. "I remember seeing him."

"Poinsettia admits to having made fun of you with Golden Pomade, then having flipped on him in the middle of the night after he told everypony that she did something utterly deplorable to you. Something that one of Eight Ball's dumber thugs denied having seen when he arrived, despite otherwise holding that he never arrived. We actually have enough on Eight Ball to put him away for thirty years, but if we just call that good, then it's possible that the pony that actually attacked you would go free. I'd much rather have a confession."

Poinsettia had actually been more helpful when they started asking more directed questions. Open questions, such as "Where were you at what time" had done almost nothing, as the most significant event of her night was breaking up with her coltfriend after he started spreading lies about her and immediately replacing him with another stallion and lashing out at him by using his bed. She was almost ready to take the fall for that, if it meant taking Golden Pomade down with her. The interrogators had all been asked not to mention Ace at all unless he came up. The instant they asked her if she'd seen Ace, she had immediately gone off about her involvement with him, and while she was likely to spend a fair bit of time in the stockades, and would be made to wear a magical tracker, she probably wasn't going to be removed from the academy. But she'd really have to watch her behaviour from here on out.

"Anyway, I'm just here to check on you, make sure you're doing alright before I go to court. We're reconvening on your case, where you're alleged to have killed those kids."

"I still feel awful about that..."

"I know. It's still not your fault. Just like you being in here isn't solely Soarin's fault, but he still feels a hundred percent responsible."

Ace sighed, shaking his head. "So much is going wrong. I'd take all of the blame for everything if it would put an end to this."

Spitfire nodded. "I know. And that's why I'm not allowing you to do that. We need more ponies like you, Ace. Ponies willing to risk themselves to open the door for others. Ponies that hold the door open for little old ladies knowing that she might take the last bear claw and leave you with a chocolate croissant. Ponies that will lift their compatriots over a high ledge with no guarantee that they'll turn around and pull you up with them. It's unfortunate, but you're a rare breed."

"If it's going to make things easier, don't worry about me. I'll put in the extra work the minute I'm out of here."

Spitfire smiled broadly. "I know. And so you shall. But you're going to work as I command. Is that understood?"

Ace lifted his leg as if to salute, but the nurse stopped him. "Stay still, or I'll cuff you to the bed."

Ace nodded. "Yes, ma'am." He turned to the nurse. "And yes, ma'am..."