Crimson panted heavily and dropped his D7-model Atlantean short sword. Just across the field, Colonel Silvercrest wasn’t even breathing hard. She swung her own short sword, an E9-model, in a lazy arc and stabbed it into the ground. “Come on, Private. You need more endurance than that. Half an hour is way too short to live the battle, especially in melee.”
“I know, ma’am. This thing’s just so heavy.”
“It’s lighter than this cutlass.”
“It is?” Crimson plopped over on his side. “Now I know I’m screwed.”
She chuckled. “You will be if you don’t try to change it. Besides, you’ll be wearing armor in an actual battle. So this round realistically lasted about five minutes.”
Crimson groaned long and loud.
“Alright, alright. It’s lunch time anyway.”
She walked over to pick him up, but he struggled to his hooves. They walked to the mess tent, mentor and student, and sat down. The others clearly wanted to know how the new NCO was doing with the regiment commander as his teacher, and he wasn’t complaining. Moonshine Silvercrest did her job with a dazzling beauty that entranced him, but he suspected most of his energy was used keeping focused.
“I know what you’re thinking, Private. A pretty thing like me shouldn’t be here.”
Platinum chose that moment to arrive. He burst into laughter at Crimson’s reaction to the statement. His friend gave him a warning look, but not before the rest of the “greenies” had turned around and joined the Unicorn.
“I… ah… That’s not what I was thinking, ma’am!”
“The what were you thinking?”
Platinum sat next to Crimson. “I’ve known him for years, Colonel, and can see right through his face. He’s got the hots for you, ma’am.”
“No I don’t!”
“Denial!” chorused the entire mess tent.
“You wouldn’t be the first.” Silvercrest assured, picking at the food. She giggled. “Just about every one of my career officers and NCO’s think it.” She looked up from her food and saw Crimson with his head buried in his hooves on the table. If it was possible for the Pegasus’s cheeks could get any redder than they naturally were, she suspected they would be.
“And in that moment…” Northern and Southern Lights started simultaneously.
“Crimson Dawn knew…” his Bats continued.
“He done fucked up.” Platinum finished. The four howled with laughter, leading the rest of the recruits into doing the same. Even the colonel smiled and giggled cutely.
After Crimson finally stood up and left, Platinum realized his mistake and followed. “Wait! Red, we were only joking!”
“If you guys didn’t act like complete assholes during meals, you just might help my mood.” Crimson’s voice had an edge to it, as if he wanted to just be left alone.
“Whaddya mean?” Platinum was never one to pick up underlying tones.
“I feel like shit, Plat. Have been for days. And yes, between us, I do have feelings for the colonel. You guys simply hit a nerve, so I left.”
“Your personal training making you feel like shit?"
“No. I - I haven’t been this far from home this long. And I don’t wanna die. I saw some of the casualties when they interrupted the training.” He turned to face his friend. “They were mangled, Platinum. Their legs, their body, just torn apart by bullets. Like they were hit by a magic speed-drill. One poor stallion had his ear blown off. I guess the lucky ones die when it hits them.” Crimson shuddered, his face showing an amazing amount of fear. “Just don’t let it happen to you. Or any of our friends."
“You don’t needta worry. Come on, lunch ends in ten.” Platinum guided the shivering Pegasus back to the mess tent.