//------------------------------//
// The Training Facility 
// Story: Blooming Under Pressure 
// by Dice 
//------------------------------//

	A week.
It had only been a week since her unfortunate kidnapping, and Apple Bloom was already ready to call it quits. She'd been dragged out to the middle of nowhere, to a low concrete building that was supposed to be the training facility. To her, it felt more like a concrete prison, the cool walls sucking in any semblance of happiness she'd had when she got here.
Still, she had to admit, it wasn't necessarily all bad. She'd already learned some interesting things about Canterlot's history that had been conspicuously absent from Cheerilee's textbooks, along with several techniques in force team espionage. Her already strong flanks had been worked to the hoof by rigorous exercise, which was slowly progressing towards combat training. And three times a day she was fed a strict diet of measured portions, to ensure a healthy physique. All in all, they seemed to be trying to make her the strongest, the smartest, and the overall best pony possible. However, there was one little thought that continued to nag her, always at the edge of her brain.
Where were all the other ponies?
If this was a training facility, especially one of this size, why was she the only trainee? Whenever she ate, or went to the gym, or had a class, she was the only non-staff member present. So where was everypony else?
Finally, she got the nerve to ask the one pony else who she actually trusted in this cold place, her history teacher. Her history teacher was a kind, older colt with streaks of grey in his navy blue mane and a soothing lavender coat, just slightly darker than Twilight Sparkle's. He'd sought out to comfort her as soon as she arrived, and had been generally friendlier than any other pony in this building.
"Bookpage?" She asked cautiously, pushing the door to his classroom open with a gentle hoof. The colt looked up and smiled at Applebloom.
"Ah, how can I help you, my little filly? Is there something wrong?"
"Yeah, ah, kind of..." She trotted over to his desk and sat down, "How come I'm the only pony round these parts? not includin' all y'all teachers and such..?"
He smiled softly, shutting the book he'd been reading. "Well, because all of the other students here are currently on missions. Something rather important came up, and we needed every last pony to help. They should be arriving back here.. oh I'd say tomorrow actually, if not earlier."
"Oh wow..." She breathed, glad she'd asked. It would have been unsettling to suddenly have masses of other ponies appear from Celestia-knows-where... "Uh, how many of them are there..?"
"Oh, not that many... about twenty other ponies, as long as we didn't suffer any losses in the mission." His voice sounded hopeful, and Applebloom sincerely wished that the mission had gone well... She didn't want to be in the middle of a grieving class. It was bad enough being the new pony.
Suddenly, her heart sank. She was the new pony. Even though she'd learned so much, she'd still only been here a week. She felt like hiding in the tiny closet in her dormitory. It was being a blank-flank all over again, but in a completely new and terrible way. She was scared. These other ponies had already been on missions and seen things that'd probably make Rarity faint at the thought... She swallowed.
"Well, uh... thanks for tellin' me, Bookpage... I'm'a.. gonna... head to my room now. Need to do some.. studyin'.."
He smiled kindly, "Applebloom, there's nothing you need to worry about. All of these ponies were new and scared at some point, and most of them are a lot better than the schoolfillies you grew up with. Several are still fairly new themselves, so don't fret," His eyes sparkled mischievously, "I think you'll be a little surprised at how friendly they are."
Applebloom frowned, unsure that these other ponies would be quite as enthusiatic as he seemed to believe they'd be.
"Well, alright. I'll try an' stay sane 'bout it. Thanks again, Bookpage."
He nodded, and she left without another word.
##
The next morning, Applebloom only went to the cafeteria because her instructors would not be pleased if she skipped a meal- especially breakfast. She carefully peeked in one of the double doors, and practically melted in fear. There were several new ponies sitting at the tables, chatting and eating their breakfasts. The only upside was that they didn't seem upset- so whatever mission they'd been on must have gone well.
Slowly, silently, she slipped into the room and over to the buffet, using as much stealth as she could. Her efforts were to no avail, however, as she ran into three ponies on her way over. They instantly stopped talking and stared down at her in surprise. She cowered slightly, bracing herself for what she was sure was going to be a verbal attack.
Instead, one of the ponies, a forest-green mare, brightened. "Oh, hello!" Her ears perked up from her silky black mane, "I don't think I know you! Are you new here?"
More than a little shocked, Applebloom nodded. Her eyes passed over the other ponie's flanks... and her heart dropped. All three had cutie marks. One of the two colts, about equivalent to a twig in diameter, tilted his head. "Definitely not. I recognize every pony I've seen before, and this pony is certainly not within that category."
The last colt, rather stocky and muscular, just watched her with careful violet eyes. Applebloom nodded slightly, swallowing.
"a-ah'm Applebloom..."
The mare smiled, "Oh wow! That's such a pretty name... I'm Picklejuice, this is Terminal," She waved a hoof at the skinny colt, then turned and waved it at the bigger one, "And this is Kitten!"
"H-hello" Applebloom squeaked, actually trying to withhold laughter. Kitten watched her, and smiled slightly.
"It's ok to laugh.. I don't mind." He said in a low, smooth voice. Applebloom let out a chuckle or two, as did Picklejuice. Pickjuice tapped Kitten's dark grey flank with her hoof.
"Don't worry about him. He's just a big softy, like his name. Welcome to the school!"
Applebloom smiled sheepishly now, nodding. They all walked to the buffet together as Picklejuice serenaded her with friendly conversation.
"So, blank-flank, huh?" Picklejuice nodded towards Applebloom's markless hindquarters. Applebloom was going to answer, but Picklejuice just plowed ahead by herself.
"That's really cool! They say it takes a reeeally special kind of person to live this long and still have a blank flank! That's why they make up the special team. You're gonna be soooo popular here. Wow, it's so cool! We get to know the new blank flank! Isn't that so cool, Terminal?!"
Terminal, seemingly used to her chatter, only nodded, letting her continue uninterrupted.
"I mean, you get to do all the really cool stuff and go on the really cool missions! Man, I'm so jealous, I wish I was a blank flank! Hehehe! I've said it so many times it doesn't even sound like a word anymore! Blank flank! Blank flank! Blank flank!!!"
Applebloom lowered her ears slightly to dampen the noise. Only Pinkie Pie seemed to rival this mare's conversational ability, and she feared what would happen should the two ever meet...