//------------------------------// // Calm Before the Storm // Story: On The Brink of Friendship // by The Number 1 Bushwacka //------------------------------// Chapter 4: Calm Before the Storm The guys got a number of stares from Ponyville’s residents, and the group could notice a few whispering to each other. Nick was one to get most stares from worried lookers. He had put his hood back on, covering his face. Rafael looked at Nick. “Don’t let them get to you. They just have never seen a human before.” Rafael said, trying to comfort him. Nick just stayed silent. “So, What are we going to do first?” Mark asked Twilight. “Well, I guess we should arrange places for you all to stay. We can talk about that at my house.” Twilight said. The guys stared in awe as they arrived at Twilight’s house. “This is a nice place you got Ms. Sparkle,” Jackson commented. “Thanks, now wait till you see the inside.” Twilight said. She then tried to open the door, but it was locked. “Great. I locked the door with a spell so magic couldn’t open it, and spike has the key with him, and he’s gone picking berries for a new potion I was going to try.” She said. “Well, Ah could kick the door down,” Applejack innocently stated. “There is no need for that.” Viktor said. The three Security soldiers and mane six looked at him. “What do you mean?” Twilight asked. Rafael chuckled. “Show them Nick.” Nick walked up, observed the house, and in his mind, created a path to one of the balconies. He then stepped back, and broke into a full sprint. He ran up the side of the house a couple of feet, then jumped toward a branch that was hanging out. He got his hands onto it, holding on and puling himself up. He then jumped from that branch to the balcony, landing it. He then found the window unlocked, walked in, and found his way to the front door. He unlocked it, letting the others in. the girls were in shock. “That was awesome!” Dash exclaimed. “You’re very athletic sugercube.” Applejack complimented. Nick simply nodded, then went back to his group, head down just enough for the hood to cover his eyes. “I do have to admit, that was very skillful.” Carlos admitted. Nick just stayed silent, like he normally was. “Well, feel free to sit where you like, and we can talk about where who will stay.” Twilight said. “Can I get you anything to drink?” Twilight asked the men. “Drink? You don’t have to ration water here?” Rafael asked. It seemed like years since they could simply ask for water. He then looked at the men of Security, knowing that their leaders, the founders, were responsible for this. “Well, yes. Drinks are not a common resource to you back on your planet?” Twilight asked. Viktor, Rafael, and Nick immediately looked over at the Mark, Carlos, and Jackson, who returned the look. “It’s complicated.” Viktor simply said, trying to steer the two sides away from arguing again. The things like water rationing was what started the civil war on the Ark. Twilight could tell that the situation with water supply back on their planet could cause a spark of fighting between the two groups, so she avoided asking about it again for now. “We’ll have some, thank you.” Mark said, his two allies nodding. “We’ll gladly take some,” Rafael said, Viktor and Nick agreeing greatfully. When Twilight came back a minute later with six glasses of water, she immediately noticed how Mark, Carlos, and Jackson took theirs and drank it, finishing the glass in a couple of gulps, but Nick, Viktor, and Rafael drinking theirs very sparingly, savoring every taste. She concluded that Nick, Viktor, and Rafael did not have common access to water like the other three men. “So, where can our visitors stay?” Twilight asked. One by one, the girls offered their homes. After consulting over it, Viktor would stay with Applejack, Carlos would stay with Rainbow Dash, Rafael would stay with Pinkie Pie, Nick would stay with Fluttershy, Jackson would stay with Rarity, and Mark would stay with Twilight. “Well, now that that is settled, I suggest we all get some sleep.” Twilight said. The group said their goodbyes, then walked off with their assigned pony. “Ms. Sparkle, I do want to say again, Thank you for providing shelter for my men and our, “allies”.” Mark said, shuddering a little at calling the three rebels allies. “Oh, it’s no trouble.” Twilight said. She then heard Spike walking in. “Twilight, I heard you in here. I got the berries you wanted, so now we can- AHH!” Spike yelled upon seeing Mark. Spike ran behind twilight. “Twilight, what is that?” Spike asked Twilight. “This is Mark. He his of the race known as humans.” Twilight said. Mark Saluted the small dragon. “Captain Mark Welker, reporting.” he said. “Oh, um, hi.” spike said. “Now, it’s been a very long day. Spike, I’ll introduce you to the others tomorrow.” Twilight said. “Now, Mark, I only have one bed, do you mind sleeping on the couch?” She then asked. “not at all,” Mark replied taking off his “Shield armor, so he only had his pants and his muscle shirt on. He lay down on the couch, and rested. “Maybe tomorrow will start off better for us.” He thought. He then fell asleep. “Twilight, are you sure you can trust these humans?” Spike asked her. “Well, they may be a little on edge, but I’m sure they will help us.” Twilight reassuringly said. She then got in her bed and went to sleep. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Fluttershy woke up, and walked to a guest bedroom that Nick was using, but found that he wasn’t there. She looked outside the window in his room, and saw that he was outside, balancing perfectly on one foot on a small tree stump. Fluttershy then watched in amazement as he jumped up, did a back flip, and landed, catching himself with his right hand. Still maintaining balance, all with his eyes closed, meditating. Fluttershy was amazed at how he was so focused. She flew out to where he was, and quietly spoke, “Mr. Nick, Am I interrupting?” Nick opened his eyes, seeing everything in his sight upside down. “Not at all,” He said. He pushed up with his hand and leaned backwards, landing on his feet. “you’re very athletic,” Fluttershy complimented. Nick nodded in thanks. “So, um, I was wondering if you could help me feed my animals?” Fluttershy meekly asked. “Sure, I can see what some animals look like.” Nick said. They went to where Fluttershy had some food, and Nick picked it up and carried it on his shoulder. They talked to each other while they both fed the animals, learning more about each other. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Earlier that morning… /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Applejack was just getting up, and while it was early for everyone else, it was common for her. The sun was going to rise in a few minutes, and she figured she had better get started on her chores. She went to check on where Viktor was, but when she went into the room he was staying in, he was gone. “Now where did he go?” She asked herself. She walked outside, where she could hear hard breathing, as if someone was working out. She followed the direction she heard the noise, and she saw Viktor, fully dressed in his clothes and mask, lifting two large barrels that are hanging on a bar. “118, 119, 120.” Viktor counted, then putting the bar down. Applejack was surprised. “Why, that has to be about 400 pounds!” Applejack said. Viktor breathed some more before speaking. “Really now? That’s a new record for me.” He said, chuckling. “Well, I was about to do some chores, but since you’re up, think you’d be able to help?” She asked. “Well, I guess I could pay you back for letting me stay with you and your family, comrade.” Viktor said. He followed Applejack to where she would gather today’s quota for apples. “You have a lot of apples, something not commonly seen where I live.” Viktor commented. “You mean y’all don’t have apples on your world?” Applejack asked, shocked. “Well, we use to. But when the floods covered our world, many things were destroyed. It is still very sad.” Viktor grimly said. “I’m… I’m sorry.” was all that Applejack could manage to say. “It is rough, and not everything is easy lived. I pray just to be a strong enough man to get through the bad times.” Viktor said. “It’s that bad?” Applejack asked. “I would rather look ahead to the future than sorrow for the past. Shall we begin with your chores?” Viktor asked. “Oh. Sure thing.” A.J. said, the two going off to the apple orchards. They worked, Viktor picking some apples while Applejack bucked the trees, and were able to gather them by noon. “Well, I have to say, that’s the fastest I’ve ever bucked apples, thanks for the help partner!” Applejack said. “Not a problem.” Viktor said. “Didn’t your Twilight friend want us to head back to her place today?” Viktor then asked. “Oh, I completely forgot! We better get going.” Applejack said. The two the nstarted to head to Ponyville to go to Twilights’. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Before the 3 resistance fighters got to the house, Jackson and Carlos were already at Twilights’ house, tired. “Man, Me and Dash had a race to the ground. If I could have flown instead of running on clouds, which I mean that’s pretty awesome, but I could have beat her flying.” Carlos said, resting on a couch. “Hell, at least you had fun. I had to be a model for Rarity all morning. My body is stiff from staying still for so long.” Jackson said. Before long, both men were asleep. Mark started to walk in, and saw his two fellow soldiers asleep. “Well, only a day away, and they’re already sleeping on the job.” Mark said. “What? Everypony-one needs sleep.” Twilight said. “Yes, but in the military, you have to be able to wake up early in the morning, and be able to stay awake at night hours. Whenever this happened in boot camp, we had ways to take care of them.” Mark said, a smile hid by his “shield” helmet. “What do you mean?” Twilight asked. “I’ll show you.” Mark said. He then went into the kitchen, got a large pot and a large spoon, and walked into the room Carlos and Jackson were asleep in. Mark then began to bang the spoon against the pot, making a loud, alarming array of clanging. “Reveille! Reveille! Reveille!” he yelled, using his commanding tone. Jackson shot up, Carlos got startled and fell off the couch. “WHAT THE HELL?” Carlos blurted. Mark continued. “Drop your cocks and grab your socks! Today we’re suppose to visit the princesses, and I will not have my men sleeping on the job! Ten-HUT!” Mark commanded. Carlos and Jackson immediately lined up, stood up straight, and saluted the captain. Rarity and Rainbow Dash came downstairs. “What in the world is all that noise?!?” Rarity complained. “It sounds like someone is having a party down here.” Rainbow Dash commented. The two walked to where Twilight was and could see the 3 men of security. “What are they doing?” Rainbow Dash whispered to Twilight. “Well, Mark said that back on their world, they had strict, military like rules about sleeping. I guess they do this when they sleep on the job.” Twilight replied. They watched as Mark disciplined the men. “Now I know that in my years with you two, you should be the most highly trained, unquestionable soldiers in all of security! Well, I guess I have to start from step one, don’t I? DROP AND GIVE ME 25!” Mark ordered. “SIR YES SIR!” Jackson and Carlos responded, immediately dropping and starting their pushups. “ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! SECURTIY SOLDIERS TO THE CORE!” They recited as they did their pushups. After doing so, they stood back up and saluted Mark. “Alright, Don’t let it happen again. As you were.” Mark said. Carlos and Jackson sighed and walked around. “Don’t you think that was a little harsh?” Rarity asked Mark. “Please,” Mark started, chuckling, “They have to do that every day before breakfast. I could have done a lot worse.” “Sheesh, I’d hate to see that.” Rainbow Dash commented. “So when are the others suppose to get here?” Twilight asked. “Others?” Mark asked. As if on cue, Nick, Viktor, and Rafael walked in with Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy. “Oh, the “Ragged Rebels”,” Mark said, remembering the other three men. They all heard his comment, but said nothing. “We’re suppose to go to Canterlot today, is that right?” Rafael asked Twilight. “Yes, she said that she shall give us our first mission.” Twilight said. “If you Resistance trash don’t screw it up.” Carlos muttered. “Oh, like we’re the ones to screw stuff up?” Nick responded, giving Carlos a cold stare. “Well, maybe if you guys hadn’t started this war, the Ark could have been in peace.” Carlos said, getting closer to Nick. “Well, if you Security dogs hadn’t treated us like slaves, maybe we wouldn’t have started a revolution, which the Ark needed!” Nick said. The two fumed, staring each other down. It was only morning, and the two sides were already about to fight each other. Viktor got between the two men, pushing them apart. “Guys, we are here to help fight the Griffons, not each other.” Viktor said, looking at both men. They looked at Viktor, then at each other. Reluctantly, they shook hands with a tight grip. “This doesn’t mean we’re not going to be friends back home.” Carlos said coldly. “This doesn’t even mean we’re friends here.” Nick replied with an even colder voice. The two let go and turned to their own group. “Well, I think we should get going. Princess Celestia said that the chariots would be here soon.” Twilight said. She then could see three sets of chariots landing outside. “Well, there’s our ride.” Twilight said. The group went outside, and got into the chariots, the three security soldiers getting into one, the resistance fighters in another, the mane six in the third. “You sure they won’t fight again at Canterlot?” Applejack asked Twilight. “I’m not sure. We will just have to keep watch.” Twilight said. They would all have to watch out for each other, for their first mission could most likely be their most dangerous.