//------------------------------// // 11 - Wagons and Foals // Story: Ponyville Fire Department // by Rescue Sunstreak //------------------------------// Looking out at the crowd gathered, he could not believe how fast this had all happened. Three months. He had been in Ponyville just three months now. The station behind him was almost halfway done, enough so that the wagons could be delivered and set in the squad bay. Standing on the packed ground that had yet to be concreted and turned into a driveway, he looked out at what must be sixty, seventy ponies out here. He saw Twilight sitting with her friends, but oddly Applejack was sitting over with Big Mac. Ailan was simply sitting over talking with the two apple ponies. He smiled a bit, as they were a regular item around Ponyville now. He and the large-winged stallion had decided to take things slow. A kiss here, a cuddle there, or even sleeping together. However, they had not crossed that big line yet. He and Ailan had both agreed the wait was worth it as they learned more and more about each other. Out behind him, sitting on the gravel in the light of Celestia’s sun, sat two brand new fire wagons. Bright red, with gleaming brass and gold highlights, stood the ladder and pump wagon, and the rescue wagon. No fire station in all of Equestria had such cutting edge, state of the art equipment. They were the first. Now, standing here in his dress uniform, he could not help but be proud of what they would build here. Glancing back at them, he watched for a moment as the light breeze made the blue and gold flag on a pole mounted to each wagon flap some. The pumper wagon was a huge machine. Four static wheels, two steer wheels, all designed to be pulled by six ponies with up to four riding, split two in the front seat, and two hanging on the back. She had a huge steam pump sitting mid way, the brass beast jutting up like a fat smoke stack. The whole bed of the wagon taken up by it and the five hundred gallons of water it carried. Lining her sides were long hoof-made white oak ladders tall enough to reach all but the top windows of the crystal castle that Twilight called home. Tucked in with them lay four large suction hoses, six inches around each and made to feed the massive pump from any source of water they could run them into. Last were the hoses, enough to supply six teams with over two thousand feet of rubber. It was a marvel of technology and magic. Sitting by its side sat Rescue Squad One, dwarfed by the huge wagon next to it. Rescue Squad was a short draft wagon, made to be pulled by two pony. Her bed wide open, with a pull out litter, stokes basket hung on one side, the other side lined with locker boxes as were the insides. A soft canvas top bowed over to keep the elements off the poor pony who was being transported. The bright red wagon was equipped to deal with almost any trauma they would run into, yet still big enough to take even an alicorn Luna’s size in the rear. Up front where a driver and shotgun rider would have sat, one could see a brass pump, sitting atop a fifty-gallon water tank, a short three hundred foot two and a half inch hose set to be pulled out from a drum. It was enough to fight down small flare ups and keep things in control tell the big pump could arrive. Clearing his throat, Rescue waited patiently for everypony to settle down. With a smile, he dug deep and used his voice to his advantage. “Good afternoon everypony, and thank you for coming out today. We will be giving tours of the new wagons, and explaining the gear used on each here in a bit. However, first I have a few announcements to make.” He looked to his left and gave a nod, watching ten younger fillies and colts break rank and trot over, all lining up facing out at the crowd, and all dressed alike. A navy blue coat, a whistle around their necks, and a small watch cap on each head in pure white. Each of the ponies wore proud on their coat sleeve the badge of the Ponyville Fire Department that Rarity had designed. Each wore a small badge on a chain around their necks declaring them Junior Firefighter Explorers. Looking up, he could see the parents, most showed pride. A few were worried, but he knew it would take time for them to adjust to their little ones wanting to do something for the town. He himself could not be more proud. Now, for a month he had been working with the foals, teaching them the pride, honor and traditions of being a firepony. When he had quietly made the announcement at the small school house about the program, he had been quite surprised at the turnout and eagerness of the young ponies. Most of all he had been give quite the shock at how dedicated they took the idea. One, a young Trottingham born paint, the smallest of all of the foals, had explained it to him. They all saw this as a chance to help others, just like he had helped Big Mac in his time of need. Rescue had to reflect on that for quite some time, how that tiny event, one simple intervention, had snowballed into a whole community putting their all behind the department. “If everypony would put their hooves together and welcome, Ponyville's first Junior Firefighter Explorers as I call out your name. Please step forward, one pace and stand proud!” Taking a breath he called out in order… “Junior Firefighter Applebloom, Junior Firefighter Sweetie Belle, Junior Firefighter Scootaloo, Junior Firefighter Rumble, and Junior Firefighter Archer. Step forward!” As the first rank of five stepped forward, one could not have wiped the big smiles off of their faces if one tried. He watched as parents, family, and friends all slammed hooves to ground or together. Rescue himself smiled, they had worked on this routine for days and he was glad to see them show pride in it. “First rank, right face, forward on the quick and return to back rank!” He called, watching them jog around and behind the second rank of ponies. “Junior Firefighter Aquamarine, Junior Firefighter Carrot Crunch, Junior Firefighter Lilly Longstocks, Junior Captain Pipsqueak, and last but not least, may I introduce you all to Junior Chief Diamond Tiara. Step forward!” He called out. Each of them came forward a step. Rescue looked up at the one parent he felt would be the most upset by his decision to name Diamond Tiara as the Junior Chief. However, he took note only her father was there. A little sad at that, but perhaps her mother would come around in time...he could hope. “Junior Chief Tiara, take your squad around and take your places at the wagons,” he spoke once the cheers died down. “For the ponies here that do not know. The Junior Firefighter Explorers will be helping out the full-time firefighters like myself and the pony that become volunteer firefighters. They will be taught how to deal with crowd control, spotting danger and reporting it, helping to keep the station and the wagons clean and ready to go. They will study basic fire fighting theory and learn first aid that they can then teach their friends and family. Please, show them the respect they have earned, as they have taken the first step on a road of honor and tradition. Some may only do it for the summer, and others... Well, you may be looking at the next firefighter generation.” He gave a smile and then cleared his throat. “Now, on to other announcements, it is with great joy I say I am opening up the list for volunteer firefighters to sign up. Come and talk to me over at the table there,” he gave a nod. “If you wish to find out more, we will be taking on twenty stallions and mares, of all kinds for training. Of that group, fifteen will make the cut, the ones that stick with it and do not drop out but don’t make first cut, will go on a reserve list. Now, I have bored you all with my talking long enough, so please, enjoy the refreshments provided by Pinkie Pie from Sugarcube Corner, and speak to the Explorers if you wish to learn about the two wagons behind me.” Stepping away, Rescue turned and trotted over to the table, checking to make sure he had enough quills, paper, and such. Of course he did, Twilight had browbeat him with a clue by four and a list that looked a thousand miles long to be sure he had all in place. A slight chuckle came from his throat at that, he had learned that the bookworm princess was quite the accomplished planner in her own right. Looking back over at the Junior Firefighters, he took note each talked with pride and clarity, standing near their assigned station in various spots around the wagons. They explained to parents and town residents alike the parts of the wagon, what they did, and how they worked. A glance over at the small rescue wagon made him pause and then smile. There, little Pipsqueak stood proud, talking to Princess Twilight and her friends about the equipment in the various, currently open, storage compartments. Rescue gave a nod to himself, knowing he had made the right choice naming the little Trottingham paint as captain. Another flick of his eyes to the pink filly, watching her move pony to pony, group to group, and help. Again, he held no reservation that he had named her Chief of the JFE. She had proven herself a good leader, with a good heart. Yes, he had heard all of her past, she herself had told him one day after a jog with the others. She had felt she was holding them all back because of her fear of falling into old ways. Rescue, of course, had been quick to point out just how far she had come, and now look at where she was. She was a squad leader, she was helping the others grow and learn. He had seen her coax the shy Lilly into being one of the best speakers among the group of foals. Rescue could think of no one else among all of them, that could lead as well as that little filly could. He shook himself out of the daze he was in to turn and find a large group of ponies in front of him. Some like Big Macintosh and his sister did not surprise him, others like Mr. Cake and Thunderlane, did. One stood out, and he blinked a few times. Ailan stood there next to Applejack, and it took him a few moments to recover from the shock. “A... Ailan, what— I mean, are you wanting to sign up for training, too?” The large winged pegasus stallion gave a smile and a nod of his head. “Everyone standing here does, Rescue. We all talked about it last night. However, will our... Relationship... Be a problem?” Rescue had to think on that, he took note none of the others seemed at all shocked about that. Then again, the two stallions had been a pretty regular thing around Ponyville now for a while. After the incident with Red, more folks had come forward in support of the two of them. Even the two others with Red that night came forward and apologized for their part in it all. Looking around, the twenty-five mares and stallions that stood around the table, he shook his head. “No, but... Can we talk about this later, in private?” Ailan gave a nod, and stepped forward to start filling out papers. Rescue looked over at Applejack and frowned, but she just rolled her eyes at him. He started to hand out clipboards and quills to the others around the table, earning a smirk from Big Mac as he muttered not quite to himself. “I am too old for this sh—" He caught himself before he finished. After all, there were foals close by.