//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Royal Guard Training // by Mocha Jon //------------------------------// The three cadets were seen grunting as they made their way to the laundry and cleaning room, Camo Cadet and Combat Gear both covering their noses at the scent of armor sweat. The two seemed bitter about having to wash the armor, Mocha Jon however seemed rather ambivalent to the task. The gym bags were all piled in the corner holding the armor and it was obvious that they have not been cleaned in a very long time. “Alright I’m not touching those.” Combat insisted, looking angry. “You didn’t bring latex gloves or anything? The one thing you don’t have!” Camo insisted, looking equally grossed out, “I’m not going near those bags!” “Ugh, shoving!!!” Jon rolled his eyes and shoved himself in front of the two stallions and grabbed the bags of sweaty gear himself, opening them and dividing the helmets, vests, and boots. “Camo, you got helmets, Combat, you got vests.” He said as he tossed the bags to them, “Tossing.” The two coughed from the smell of the armor but Jon didn’t seem to mind it, “You guys can run five miles and do all those pull ups but you can’t handle a little laundry?” Jon joked. The two started to suck it up and went over to grab the brushes and water buckets, Jon remained stationary as he had to get his toothbrush for it. On their way to the other side they laughed at Jon’s comment but then looked a little concerned about what he said. “It was only ten pull ups, who can’t do that?” Camo asked Combat, out of Jon’s hearing range. Combat looked a bit concerned at that statement as well, “I know, I mean that was easy as possible.” He said as he started the started the water. The two came back with the water and were surprised to see Jon was already scrubbing the boots with his toothbrush, they were shocked he was so willing. “There you are.” He said as he used his horn to dip his toothbrush in the water, “Dipping.” Jon said but his small horn fizzled out and the toothbrush fell in the bucket, Combat pulled it out and gave it back. The two reluctantly started brushing their gear and looked at each other thinking about what they were talking about getting water. “So Jon… I noticed you were having trouble keeping up with us on the trail.” Camo mentioned awkwardly, afraid to seem rude. “Oh yeah, I know, remember when I fell, that was hilarious!” Jon said as he pointed to his bandage and chuckled, the other two chuckling too. “And the pull ups, they looked like they hurt.” Combat added softly, turning his head away from the vest as he scrubbed it. “What’s your record prior?” “Oh, six.” Jon said as he remembered his pull ups, “That was funny too, if my arms weren’t cramping up at the end I would have been laughing when I yelled ‘FALLING!!!’ until I said Ouch.” Jon said as he already finished his first boots. “You find that funny?” Combat asked as he held his vest even further away, not even able to see where he was scrubbing, “Man when were these last cleaned?” Jon laughed a little again as he started his next pair, “Oh yeah totally, I mean you gotta be able to laugh at yourself right?” Jon said as he started getting the insides. Camo tried to get a large red stain off his helmet and looked a little squeamish at it, believing it to be a blood stain. “Well that makes sense, but… You know we’re gonna be doing that a lot right?” He said as he quickly traded brushes once he got the blood stain off. “He’s right, aren’t you worried it’s gonna be too much?” Combat said as he pulled out a small sponge from his fanny pack to help, he had several packed. “You gotta be able to handle a lot.” “Really? I thought we were gonna play video games most of the time.”: Jon said sarcastically. “You guys don’t have to beat around the bush, I know I did horrible!” “You do?” The two asked in unison. Jon was already on his third pair of metal boots by that time, he was working rather quickly, “Oh gosh yeah! I expected Shining Armor to yell right in my face from how bad I started. I’m not strong at all! Holding these boots is kind of too heavy!” Jon said as the boots fell on the floor, Dropping.” Camo and Combat looked at each other confused, he’s aware that he’s unfit but still enlisted. “Then gotta ask, why do you want to join the guards?” Combat asked seeming both confused and a little worried. “Yeah, you didn’t say last night, why do you want to be a guard? Was anypony in your family one?” Camo added as he started getting used to the scent of sweat and started scrubbing the helmet faster. Jon looked less casual than he normally did once they asked him that, he didn’t really want to answer that question, “Oh… Well… It’s kind of hard to say. I’d rather not get into that.” Jon looked a little nervous and even embarrassed once the subject came up. He then just looked back down and started scrubbing faster, “SCRUBBING!” He said loudly, clearly not wanting to admit it. The two looked back at each other again, surprised at the sudden change of attitude, Jon was normally very honest and upbeat but now he was acting strange. “Uh… Okay… Well, that’s weird, but we just don’t want you to try anything that will get you hurt.” Combat said as he finished his first vest. “Yeah, I don’t want to be mean or anything but this takes a lot of work, and today was only the easy stuff, it’s gonna get harder. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Camo said as he started helping Combat clean his vest. Jon grinned again and appreciated their concern, “Thanks guys, but I can handle more than I let on, plus I’m the only one of you who can handle cleaning these things. Dare you two to do this!” He said as he shoved his muzzle into one of the uncleaned boots for comedic effect for about five seconds. The other two just laughed at the exaggerated attempt at humor, “Alright alright, that took guts, I’ll admit it.” Camo said casually, happy to see him being funny again. Jon took his muzzle out and chuckled himself, “You know it! This guy even left a sock in it.” He said pulling it out and throwing it away. Combat chuckled at that and gave Jon a hoof bump, “But in all seriousness, we want you to do well here. If you need any help with the exercises, just ask.” “He’s right, we’re all Cadets and we stick together!” Camo said excitedly as the two stood up strong, dropping their helmet and vest on the ground. Jon picked up the armor and put it back on their benches. “Returning.” And he just smiled and nodded as he returned to scrubbing the boots. “Cleaning. Thanks guys, I appreciate it a lot, can’t wait to see you guys on the obstical course tomorrow.” “Oh yeah, let’s hope Shining Armor doesn’t yell at us if we skip one of those tires we run through.” Camo jokingly said as they all chuckled and continued cleaning the gear.