Looking Over the Edge of the World
Private Kieta rolled out of bed with a smile the moment Celestia's sun hit his face. Today was the first Tuesday of the month, which meant mail! Well, technically it was supposed to have been two days ago, but our little outpost on the edge of nothing gets overlooked sometimes. Bless that muffin pegasus though, she always seems to remember us, even if it's last minute.
After shaking his mane out a little, he scampered over to the mirror and took a deep breath. Being an earth pony has its advantages and its disadvantages, one of those disadvantages is the lacking ability to squirm into a uniform properly. After thrashing around a little on the ground, Kieta managed to slip into his uniform, he checked once in the mirror to make sure the back was on properly, then scurried out the door.
If he was quick enough, he would be able to see the mailmare before reveille starts. He quickly but quietly dashed past the other members of the Squad's sleeping quarters, and before he knew it, he made it to the winding staircase. This part was always the worst, the squeaky stairs.
He lifted a hoof and cautiously placed one down. The board screamed. His ears flicked back as his whole body tensed instinctively. Quiet. He let out the breath he was holding and eased another hoof down. Another screech.
Little did he know that Captain Khali was watching with amusement the entire time. He watched for a couple more squeaks before he cleared his throat. Private Kieta instantly froze and slowly rotated on the frogs of his hooves. He smiled impishly at the sight of the captain.
"Thank you for volunteering for latrine duty, Private Kieta." Now, it's well known among Squad Firelight that Captain Khali was prone to little hazings of the lower ranks every so often, but it never lessened the look of terror and despair on their faces. Of course, Khali would never outright claim he bullied his subordinates because of their expressions, that would be downright mean.
"Yes sir." Private Kieta said glumly. He even gave a halfhearted salute before squeaking his way down the stairs. Khali waited until the private disappeared before heading back to his bunk. Another one of the great perks of being Captain, going to bed whenever one feels like it.
The one pony who is supposed to be up at this hour is none other than the chef. Chef Corporal Leer is not the best of cooks, but it was the one they got from the higher ups. Despite his shortcomings, he absolutely loves his job as head cook and always went out of his way to learn new recipes and new cooking styles, to marginal successes.
That Tuesday, he was preparing a little something he liked to call a Leer Special. With his wings, he sprinkled some hyacinth he found last month into the mixture hat would soon become, at least, what he hoped would become a light fluffy bread. Now he just needed to put it in the brick oven that sat awkwardly in the wall and wait.
During this time, Leer would spend the little moments watching out the window. He would marvel at the cloud formations or comment on how the weather was holding up. Today was slightly different as he heard some squeaking, then stomping, then an angry earth pony barge out of the tower outpost and into the shed nearby. Leer couldn't keep it in and giggled a little.
By the time the bread was done and readied to be served, another pony would wake up and make her way to the top of the outpost. Second Private Tausta, the trumpeter of the group, and the mare who would call reveille.
She rolled out of bed at the same time she wakes up every day, slipped on her uniform with the help of magic, and marched out. She ascended without much effort the cramped spiral staircase. She came out from the domed roof onto a small wooden balcony. When she first arrived at the outpost, she had complained, but now, she recognized the beauty and tranquility of a space that was entirely her own, despite the lonely existence on the outskirts of civilization.
Following protocol, Tausta faced all cardinal directions and snapped a salute with each turn. She then faced west to where the void lay and raised the trumpet to her lips. After years of playing, she barely needed to force her horn to do anything, as her magic glided across the notes with ease. She took a deep breath and released a pure note, than another. The valley echoed with the melody of reveille announcing yet another morning before drifting into a pleasant quiet.
Tausta saluted again, this time facing where Canterlot supposedly was. Then, she put away her trumpet and took in the pleasant breeze this Tuesday. It ruffled her mane in a comforting manner that also threatened her to lax off just slightly, but before her eyes could close, she shook herself away and reluctantly climbed down the staircase.
As she made her way down, she caught a glimpse of Second Private Zabyl. Zabyl was quite big, even for an earth pony. She squeezed down the wooden staircase and stumbled into the kitchen.
"Ah! Chef, I see you are making another delight, yes?"
"Zabyl! Yes yes, this one is made with hyacinth. I think it'll add more zestiness to the bread, don't you think?"
"Hahah! You know those words fly over my head, Chef. But, if you think it's good, than it's good!" Zabyl slapped him on the back before making her way to the dining area. When she arrived, Kieta was already seated and waiting for everypony to gather. "Kieta!"
"Zabyl."
"Why so glum, little colt?"
"Captain made me do plumbing." He mumbled out. He blushed angrily when Zabyl guffawed at that.
"Ah, another good Captain joke. I like it. In time too, I think I'll let out a big one after mess. Haha!" Zabyl grinned and plopped herself down next to Kieta. "Captain coming?"
"I don't know." But just as he said that, Khali marched in, following after Tausta. The two nodded their greetings before sitting down at the head of the table and the left side respectively.
"Captain! Fine morning."
"Yes it is, isn't it, Second Private." He politely tapped his hooves together. "I wonder what Chef Corporal Leer is preparing for us this morn."
"Something unbearable, I would imagine." Tausta grumbled. Khali let it slide.
"Ah, everypony is here. Good good. Behold, I present to you Leer's Special Hyacinth Bread." He placed the bread pan down and slipped into the remaining spot, right of the Captain.
As tradition honored it, Captain Khali took the first bite, savored it, than swallowed. "You may begin."
The other four smiled at the pleasant start of the day and began chattering amongst themselves. Just another morning in the day of Squad Firelight at Outpost Forget Me Not.
Author's Note
An interesting note, all of the names are from different languages, but they all essentially mean the same thing. Forgotten.
On another note, I'm back! Hello, Happy New Year and may this one be a good one. It's certainly overdue, lol.
