One of Many

by Nightmare Darkness

1 Joining the Military

My name is Glass Prism I am a brown coated unicorn with dark orange mane and tail. I have never really stood out amongst my peers or classes. My earth pony father and a pegasus mother made it difficult to learn magic because of their lack of knowledge in the subject, but I did ok with simple spells like levitation, light spells, those types of things. Word began to spread of a initiative being started by a mare by the name Aether Aura, story was she was an alien turned pony, who had become trapped in Equestria and was now offering up details that might protect Equestria from horrible monsters that were from space. I frowned when I had first heard that, thinking it was nothing but a complete false lie drummed up by ponies wishing to sell a fiction novel.

That was until the event that ripped the sky apart happened. Again another story surfaced that Astral was riding on the back of Celestia herself to close the tear and did it. It was all too…incomprehensible but then there was this mare hell bent on protecting a home that wasn’t hers. I began to see recruitment posters show up in my small town asking for anyone willing to join the cause. I thought maybe, maybe I could make a difference as this new threat that was presenting itself against not just Equestria, but the world.
I walked into an office that had been hastily put in place due to the new recruitment initiative enacted by the Princesses. Glass Prism opened the door and saw a dark blue mare pegasus who was setting up her desk as she looked up at him.

“Hello my name is Glass Prism, Is this where you apply for the new army?” I asked.

“Are you sure you wish apply?” the pegasus asked as she found her seat. I stepped forward hesitantly before I resolved myself.

“Yes I wish to join.” I said before I could stop myself as the pegasus motioned for him to take a seat in front of her. She opened a file that held several blank papers.

“You just need to read and sign this.” She said sliding it towards me. Reaching out with my magic I grasped it without a thought and began to read.

‘To whomever so signs this document will waive the right to sue or place blame on your superior officer. You may endure harsh training which could be considered by the regular pony both extreme and most likely unorthodox by most. If you so choose to join this, you are doing so of your own free will for the betterment of all life on this planet, not just Equestria.’ When I finished reading the contract I couldn’t help but frown. Looking at the pegasus I hoped to get some kind of context of what would be considered extreme or unorthodox training. To which she simply smiled.

“It’s not as bad as it sounds, it’s just harder training than the military goes through.” She explained. I looked at the contract and placed it on the table beginning to sign my information. After I finished my signature I slid the paper to her and she smiled.

“Glad you chose to join up. The train leaves tomorrow and you will be scheduled to be taken to ponyville.” She said which made my eyes widen and my ears drop.

“Tomorrow?” I said incredulously.

“Welcome to the military.” She said tilting her head with a smile.

I had finished packing what small amounts of things that I owned as my parents both were both downstairs still trying to come to grips with my sudden decision to join the military. I took a breath as I walked downstairs. My mom was sitting at the table sobbing lightly as my father put a gentle hoof on her shoulder.

“I wish you would have asked us first.” He said looking at me with grey eyes that always could strip away my resolve. Father was a strong red coated stallion with a yellow mane and tail who could have an imposing presence when he wanted to. I looked away slightly in shame but tightened my jaw and returned father’s steely gaze with my own, I needed to prove this to myself.

“I want to do this dad, I’ve never been able to prove myself but now I can. Only the strongest can complete this training." I said more for my own benefit.

“But for what?!” he exploded. I instinctively flinched at that.

“There's no telling when we'll really need this military, I’ve heard stories about the training that they do involving Discord an all. Why do you want to leave?” He asked angrily. I took a breath and squared off against him as I summoned up my courage.

“Because I feel it is my duty.” I said as my mom stood up and embraced me in a strong hug..

“Just be careful.” She said as she buried her head into my mane. I could feel the hot tears begin to soak my coat. Looking up at my dad who now had tears forming in his eyes. He approached us and wrapped his hooves around us in a big hug.

“I’ll do my best.” I promised.

---

The ride on the train was a new experience for me. I had never left home let alone thought I would. I saw that many others had the same look on their faces as I did. There were griffins, pegasi, earth ponies, and even changelings. I found myself staring at the changelings a bit too much before a sneer caused me to look away. The train had stopped at another community and a griffin found a spot next to me. After a few silence filled moments he turned to look at me and spoke.

“Names Grey Wing.” He said with a smile and held out a friendly claw.

“Glass Prism.” I replied and held out a hoof and the griffin took it and shook it twice before letting me go.

“You join up as well?” he asked with a smirk.

“Yea, just yesterday.” I said with a weak laugh. Grey Wing looked at me with surprised but put his claw around my shoulder.

"No need to be worried." He tried to reassure me but it did little to alleviate my nervousness. He leaned back in the train seat and seemed to relax.

"I hope everything turns out fine though I am worried about this extreme an unorthodox training that was mentioned in the contract." I said out loud and he gave me a critical look but said nothing. I turned to look out of the train window and watched the passing landscape to burn up the time.

---

The train came to a halt and we all unloaded into a mess of ponies changelings and griffins. I could see segregation taking place as the three groups seem to keep away from one another. Grey Wing and I stood side by side and he shrugged as he shared my uncertainty.

“Man you and I are going to make it, I have a good feeling about this.” Grey Wing said with a smile before he looked out to see a patch of recruits already in training dodging massive boulders that barreled into one pony followed by a crack and an ear piercing scream. Both of our faces paled as the rock in my stomach became heavier.

“We might not make it….” Grey Wing revised as he and I watched the rest of the group continue to dodge the boulders and left the broken now unconscious recruit get lifted up by nearby medics who were also tasked with dodging the boulders. The words on the contract I signed surfaced in my mind. ‘You may endure harsh training which could be considered by the regular ponys both extreme and most likely unorthodox by most.’ I felt my mouth mumble the words. 'replace extreme with insane and unorthodox with suicidal and maybe you got the training right.'

“What is…” I began and noticed Grey Wing's body language. Grey Wing was chewing on his thumb talon as his wings were jostling as if possessed by a vibrating spell. I punched him in the shoulder causing him to look at me with a fearful look.

“I'll look after you. you look after me?” I suggested and he looked me up and down and smiled meekly as his wings stopped vibrating and he shook my hoof again. A Stallion yelled out loud as he stood on top of a platform gathering all of our attention.

“All of you are welcome to ponyville. I am Silver Shield. You are required to pass screening before you may begin the main training regiment.” He said first which several ponies looked between each other.

“Didn't we already get screened?” I asked and Grey Wing again shrugged.

“We signed a piece of paper... this could be to further thin out the herd.” he suggested which didn't make me feel any better.

“You will all be filed into the recruitment hall where you will be tested.” Silver ordered and everyone began to file into the hall. Grey Wing and I both found our seats seven rows away from the stage and it took at least twenty minutes for the hall to quiet down.

“Straighten up and pay attention!” Silver Shield ordered and a young mare not much bigger then a filly strode onstage with both purpose and confidence. She walked to center stage with no hesitation whatsoever to address the large crowd. She had a dark purple coat with a silver mane with two blue stripes accenting it. Nopony objected to her, but a few seemed disgruntled which only caused her to give them a half lidded look in response.

“This is your Commander Dame Aether Aura.” Silver Shield said which earned him a wicked glare from the filly. I didn't understand why she didn't like her title but then I guess that's a thing to avoid. He then continued.

“Now everypony, listen up. Aether Aura, an alien turned pony that has volunteered to become an agent for Princess Celestia. You are all here for the same reason, to learn how to protect all lands from a new threat. Currently, Aether is the only pony who knows what we may face, and how to best train ponies, griffins, and changelings for it. Hence, Aether is in charge and you will follow every one of her orders, understood?” He finished his explanation.

“What you have signed up for is not by any means easy, this force was called together to protect the land against inter-dimensional beings that will be bent on killing and enslaving every single intelligent creature of this world. What you have signed up for will test you in ways you have never known. Before we get started about we have a little relaxing game?” she said with a smile that was less welcoming but more...sadistic?

“What...does she mean a relaxing game?” Grey Wing asked looking perplexed.

“Maybe she's nice?” I offered before she produced three small balls and flung them into the crowd.

“Catch!” she said and before I knew it the three balls were bouncing erratically with so much force that began to knock out ponies changelings and griffins alike. One ball whizzed past my head causing my eyes to widen I looked around before a crack of pain erupted from the back of my head and my world began to black out till a claw caught my shoulder bringing me upright and shaking me.

“Keep yourself Glass come on!” he said, I focused on his voice out of the pandemonium but gave a moan of pain. I looked up and saw him duck under a ball, another ball came at him from another side. I threw up a quick small shield desperately. The ball hit it shattering the shield but the small force deflected it away from Grey, I sat back up and we went back to back and before we knew it the room became quieter. Aether stood on the stage with a smile and nodded.

“Anyone who is still conscious you can tell your unconscious comrades they can stay, but I wont stop you from leaving. If you plan on staying. Get to the barracks, you start your training tomorrow.” She said before she left the room and several other hard faced looking ponies walked in and began to bark orders. Grey looked at me and I looked at him with a wince as heat radiated from my head trama.

“Unorthodox training huh…” was all he said and I looked away at Aether and closed my eyes for a moment before opening them again.

“Extreme and Unorthodox indeed.” I agreed.

Comments

[Kaffeina]

For one, typos and mistakes galore, two...
Did you talk to Silvak about this? Like, at all? Because, if you didn't, expect anger.

[Kevin Lee]

7017138
I suspect Silvak will approve if they hadn't spoken about it--this story's got that chaotic touch and plenty of potential to match the main feature
Although, if Silvak doesn't approve, don't expect anger--
Just expect chairs.
And tasers.
And rail guns.
Or some combination.

But, yeah, definitely needs editing.

BTW, expect them, even if Silvak DOES approve.