Fallout Equestria: Wounded Worlds

Chapter 3: Bootcamp

I thought Bootcamp would be a breeze. It wasn't. Eighteen hours a day of hard physical labor for seven days for a total of two weeks. The next part was easier for me, as much as I didn't like it. I always excelled at hoof to hoof combat. During the exercises, I spotted a pony who seemed to have the same problem with hoof to hoof that I had. He was good. Really good, but he never wanted to fight. I soaked in his details. He had a black coat and mane, making him easy to remember. I'd like to meet that stallion someday. I thought. On better circumstances, of course.

We then moved onto the the weapons phase and learned to use and how to fire them accurately. There was much more down time, but it was all monitored. We perfected our marksmanship over a course of seven days. Then, Blue phase struck. Harder than I thought it would. Blue was a combination of everything we had done. A lot of it was physical prep with weapons at our sides. Most of the platoon I was in failed and was sent to a new platoon. All but two of us in fact. Myself, and the completely black stallion I had observed in hoof to hoof. Our commander looked at the two of us and laughed quietly at first, then louder and harder until he was crying from laughing so hard. "Oh. Ohohohoh. Hoohoohoo. I bet. You are wondering. Why I'm. Laughing so hard." the commander took breaths spasmodically so that he wouldn't choke himself. "No, sir. I have not a clue." I replied. "Not a clue, sir." repeated the black stallion. "Because you two are the most adorable little recruits to ever pass! Useless maggots! How the hell you two passed and nopony else did is beyond me. Regardless, I was told by my superior officer to make you bitches fight for the spot on his platoon."
"What if ve choose not to." this was the first time I heard the other pony speak with his accent. It was slight, but obviously Germian.
"Then you go with the rest of the retards who didn't pass and re-start Bootcamp. Your choice queers." I looked over to the charcoal pony. As we faced each other, I was taken a back by his eyes. The icy blue seemed to chill me to my very soul. For the first time in a long time, I think I was intimidated. It was a new experience. Out of respect for my opponent, I lowered my head and whispered, "Sorry we had to meet like this."
"I am sorry for the way it will end." the charcoal pony solemnly replied.
The fight was one of the most intense fights I had ever fought. I constantly had to use my sinking technique to avoid his fast blows. I occasionally threw a few hooves back, but he parried them with ease. Every now and then one of us would land a strike to the side of the body or legs. Nothing really crippling or injuring though. The fight went similar to this for almost an hour. Neither of us had landed a devastating punch yet. It was obviously not as one-sided of a fight as the drill sergent thought. He had lost interest about a quarter through the fight though.
I could barely move anymore. It needed to stop. I asked my adversary to hold while I fought for my breath. He stopped his assault and gladly went for a breather as well. I hadn't even noticed he was fatigued until he withheld. This wouldn't end. Not until one of us passed out from exhaustion, or got a lucky punch off.
"Why are you stopping?!" Yelled the sergeant.
"Sir, because fuck you. If making your officers platoon means injuring this pony." I paused, taking another breath. "I'm out."
"Why you insubordinate shit. I should..." Much to my surprise, General Spectrum stepped in front of him. "You are dismissed, sergeant." The drill pony grumpily trotted away, muttering something about revenge. "I am General Spectrum, I know that we have met before Halcyon, but I am unfamiliar with who you are, recruit. State your name soldier."
"I am Shadow Shot, sir." Shadow Shot was clearly trying to avoid eye contact by staring past the General. I knew why. His eyes were practically a weapon on their own.
"Well, I was watching the display of physical prowess and honor you both showed in the past hour and have come to a conclusion. You are both being immediately administered directly to my platoon."
"Thank you, sir." both Shadow and I said in unison.
"You are both dismissed for the rest of the day. You are to report to cabin number 1-9-6-8 for curfew and share the open bunk."
"Again, thank you, sir." I said.

We had the rest of the day to ourselves. So, I decided to really meet Shadow Shot formally. "So, you're Shadow Shot?" I asked.
"Yes. Though just Shadow if fine. Who, may I ask, are you?" Shadow seemed like a really hard character. The way he said everything seemed to be well thought and solid. It was almost unnerving.
"As I'm sure you heard the general say, I'm Halcyon. Hal is fine though."
"Nice to meet you under circumstances where we aren't fighting each other."
"Yeah. No kidding." I laughed a bit. "Whereabouts are you from?"
"I'd prefer not..." Shadow looked away.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't..."
"It's fine. Other ponies usually press about my past. They don't end up finding out anything other than that I hit hard."
"I can agree. I'm not proud of some of the things that I've done. Or who I can be." We made a silent agreement out of respect to not bring up the past. Yet.

Over the course of the next week, Shadow and I became fast friends. We spent hours training together. Many exercises were combat scenarios. Whenever there was a sniper role, Shadow took it, and I was his spotter. After the final week of Bootcamp and basic training ended, Multiple ponies in our platoon commented on how we acted almost as a single unit rather than two ponies. The general had held to his promise. I was immediately promoted to major. The only thing I really wanted to do now, was more negotiations concerning my leave.
"You want me to what?"
"You heard me right. I want to split my leave of two months with Shadow Shot."
"I don't understand what it is you see in that one." The general was skeptical.
"The thing is, I don't understand what you don't see. He is brilliant with a sniper rifle, practically a ninja, and an expert in hoof to hoof. Keep him with me, and we'll go places."
Spectrum thought for a moment. Shadow Shot had improved in all areas dramatically when I accompanied him. Our score for the combined accuracy course was nearly unfathomable. In the end, he conceded.
"I guess, only if you keep quiet about it though. I don't want the others to think I'm answering to you."
"You won't regret this, sir."
"Dismissed, now leave before somepony sees you." I happily trotted out of the generals quarters and decided to have a check at my mailbox. I hadn't talked to Cloudway in close to 3 months now.
When I stepped outside after reading and sending mail, there was a group of warrant officers waiting for me. "Here comes the general's fuck-buddy now. Speak of the devil."
"What do you want?" I shot at them, I felt rather impatient to get my mail today. They got off of the roofs they were chatting on.
The pegasi fluttered into a semi-circle around me. There were eight of them. "We are here to put you in your place. You don't deserve your rank. We have been here for upwards of 3 years at the least!"
"Yeah! Then you show up for, like, 3 months and are already 5 commendations higher than any of us!"
Really? That's what this herd was gathering over?
I sighed. "Are you really bitching about rank? How low do you get?" I muttered the last part under my breath.
"Actually, this is about Buck and Squeaker. They were family to all of us. You are the reason that they were both hospitalized." The pony speaking must have been the leader because he was doing the majority of the talking. "I'm Buck's oldest brother. I hope you know that he almost died from blood loss..." The orange pony stopped to compose himself. This was obviously painful for him.
"State your name, officer." I said in an official tone.
"Why the hell should YOU, of all ponies learn that?!"
"So that I can give proper condolence to your family. I see that I am the cause of this gathering today and don't want any trouble."
"Can whatever condolence you give allow Squeaker to live with both lungs again? If no, then you pay. Right here. Right now." He stepped out from the semi circle towards me, just enough that his cutie mark was visible. It was a silver badge with a star in the middle. I made a stab at what his name could be.
"Justice, is it?"
"H-how did you...?"
"You really don't want to do this. Engaging me in combat it a mistake you won't forget. Think of what happened to Buck. You can't leave him alone with nopony to care for him, can you?" Justice bit his lower lip, and backed away, only for another pony to take his place.
"They were caught unaware of your potential. I watched the fight. You may be quick, but you can't get all of us." This pony was trying everything in his power to keep his battle righteous. He smirked. "And we have you surrounded." I thought for a moment. Quickly glanced around the rooftops so as not to attract attention to my gaze. What I saw was a black figure shoot sneakily around the tops of the buildings. They had no idea ho one sided this fight would be now. I backed into a corner as if intimidated by the group of pegasi. "Wait, I have something to tell you all before you pound me." I put on my best scared face. They all laughed.
"And what, pray-tell, would that be?" One of them snarled.
I revealed my plot by removing my scared appearance and grinned.
"Duck." The smart ponies ducked immediately. The others stood confused for a moment, then were taken out by Shadow's powerful, fast attacks.
The fight was now 6 on 2. Shadow retreated to my side, glaring into the eyes of the enemy. One of them fled in fright. I guessed that the only ponies left were direct relatives of Buck and Squeaker. I decided to freak them out, and sank into the clouds. I had spent enough time with Shadow that he knew my plan. He sucked up all the attention he could by making vulgar insults and playing defense. My attackers were moving enough that I could see where they were from the clouds they were disturbing. I pulled them under the clouds when they were in the back of the group and knocked them unconscious while they were dazed from being pulled down. After there was an unconscious enemy, I tossed them back to the top of the battle field. I only got two of them before they noticed and took to the skies. I flew out of the clouds and back to the battle. Shadow and I were next to each other again. We dropped to the ground and fended off the enemy from there. Justice flew to the sky and dove straight towards us. I don't know how it happened, but Justice dropped to the ground for no reason and started convulsing and foaming from the mouth. I bucked the pony that was on Shadow's back off of him and ran over to aid Justice. The last pony rushed at me. Shadow tackled him away. "Leave him awake, but don't release him. I need to help Justice before he dies!"
I rushed at the pony and slid to a stop. I leaned my head down and put my ear to his mouth. He was still breathing. But the breaths he was taking, were shallow and heavily strained. It would be only another few minutes before he stopped all together. I flipped him on his back to get a better view of his chest. It looked like nothing had happened, then I saw it. There was a slight nub on the side of his neck that I hadn't noticed earlier while he was addressing me. I prayed that I was right, and tore it from his neck. There was little blood, but it looked painful. The good thing was, that he woke up and was instantly breathing better. I spat the small capsule looking piece of tech to the ground. "You okay?" I hastily asked.
"What the...aaag. That...mmmph. Hurt." Justice was dazed in his state of pain.
"I think something was shot in your skin while I was under the clouds that triggered inflammation of your trachea."
"Speak Equestrian, please." Justice, I decided, was not a smart pony. I did give him credit for nit attacking me right away, however.
"The metal thing in your neck was keeping you from breathing."
"What? Are you implying that I was a target of somthing?"
"No. I can only assume that it was a misfire from somewhere in camp."
"Wait. I wanted to kill you, you knew this, yet, you still save me? Why?"
"Because you were helpless. I don't kick my foe while they are down. Now, anything to say for yourself before I turn you in?" I threw a healing bandage over his wound.
"Why? Why did you hurt my brother like that?"
"For the same reason you came to fight me today. To protect my family. He was attacking Cloudway. I will never permit that."
"I see. Then I hope you can come to forgive Buck, for me. I'm sorry." I barely heard the last sentence as he was drug away from Shadow and I by some lieutenants. A couple of medical ponies rushed towards Shadow and me.
"You two okay?"
"We're just fine. The ponies you should be worrying about are the ones scattered on the ground, unconscious."
"Y-yes, sir." the pony flustered at his own stupidity. I trotted away with Shadow Shot to finish our day. "Hey, I got the general to split my leave with you."
"Why did you do that? I don't have anywhere to go or anything to do." Shadow lowered his head.
"So that we could hang out! I bought a cloud for you just around the block from me!"
"Why-that's-but...Thank you, Halcyon. Nopony has ever done something like that for me before."
"Well, now I have! The thing is, I'm planning something for when we get back. And I might need you to cover for me." I had been writing Summerfly after we had finished Bootcamp. I was going to get Shadow settled in his house first off. A date with her was next on the agenda.
"What exactly are you planning, Halcyon?"
"I'll tell you when I'm certain." It was going to be a big month if everything went my way.