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// Ch4 Cadet Stone 
// Story: A Charred Stone 
// by Priceless911 
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                “GET UP! GET UP! RISE AND SHINE!!!”
As I rolled over in my rickety old cot, I could see Commander Bolt standing there with a smile on his face as Lieutenant Snow bashed his sword against his shield, making all sorts of racket. I sat up, I looked at the commander in irritation through my messed up mane, “What time is it?”
Commander Bolt gave me a funny look and replied, “What was that? I didn’t hear you… who are you talking to?”
Knowing what he was asking made me sigh, “What time is it, Commander?”
Commander Bolt looked at Lieutenant Snow who only shrugged his shoulders, then he looked back at me, “Beats me, all I know is that we better get started if we want to return before they serve breakfast.”
I replied, “Breakfast? When do they serve breakfast sir?”
“About sunrise… erm… eclipse rise… or whatever you would call it.”

I looked out the hole in the top of my tent at the sky above and could see that sunrise was only about an hour away. I then looked back at the commander and asked, “Um sir? Why are we up so early?”
Commander Bolt smiled as he replied, “Good question… you have two minutes, fix yourself up and come with me.”
I looked at him in confusion, “Two minutes?”
As Commander Bolt turned to leave the tent, He called out, “A minute fifty… forty-nine… forty-eight!!!”
Realizing he was timing me only made me hasten myself as I climbed out of my cot, wet my mane with a pail of water I had gathered the night before, and grab my bandanna while quickly rushing outside without drying my mane first. When Commander Bolt saw me standing there with water still dripping from my soaked mane, he laughed at me, “Don’t worry you can dry it on your way there.”
I could only sigh with sarcasm, “Yippee sir…”
Commander Bolt smiled then looked at Lieutenant Snow and spoke, “Go see to your duties, The Cadet and I will meet her alone.”
Snow nodded his head and replied, “As you wish sir.”

The commander started trotting through the camp as I tucked my bandanna under my wing and asked while shaking my mane dry, “So… um… sir? Where are we going anyway?”
Commander Bolt replied, “We are going to see somepony very important. Let me be the first to congratulate you, by the way.”
After my mane felt dry, enough I started tying the bandanna to it as I replied, “Congratulate me? For what sir?”
“Cadet Stone, of the number of ponies recruited yesterday during the ceremony in Cloudsdale, you have been especially selected to become an officer rather than a basic soldier.”
I thought to myself for a second then gave him dulled stare, “Of the ponies recruited yesterday in Cloudsdale sir?”
“Yep.”
“Wasn’t I the only pony recruited yesterday sir?”
Commander Bolt smiled, “So… you now see the difficulty in our decision to select you then. You should be honored.”

Basically, he was saying that I was selected by default, so I hesitated as I wondered whether to take it as an insult or a compliment. Then he replied, “If it makes you feel any better Cadet, you are what we like to call a special case.”
“Special? What do you mean?”
Commander Bolt explained, “You have no cutie mark, your talent is a complete mystery to yourself and the rest of us. Basically, you’re a rolling die. For all we know you could be an expert swords mare, or an exceptional blacksmith. Your talent could be anything, so we see that as an advantage. A truly skilled soldier doesn’t count themselves as such until they prove it to themselves first, then others later.”
I couldn’t help but blush at his complement while agreeing to his logic. If I could find out what my special talent was during this whole event, then it wouldn’t matter whether or not I succeed or not. My cutiemark alone would feel like a reward on its own. However, I still had one question, “Who are we going to see sir?”

At this time we were at the edge of the Nightmare Legion’s camp as he looked at me and replied, “The pony we are about to meet will be referred to as Your Majesty, is that clear? You will not speak unless spoken too, and you will conduct yourself accordingly so that you don’t disrespect her in anyway. And always, follow my lead.”
“Yes sir… but who…”
“Shh, she is here.”
As I looked into the darkness, I started to see a cloud of dark mist approach us as Commander Bolt bowed. After he bowed his head, I did the same in confusion of what this mist was, then the mist increased its size until it turned into a tall dark alicorn. As we continued Bowing, the commander spoke, “Your majesty… I sent for you to report the status of our trip to Cloudsdale.”
The tall dark mare looked at me, then back at the commander, “Is she the only recruit?”
Commander Bolt replied, “Yes your majesty, we were attacked before we could attain more. This here is Cadet Gem Stone of Cloudsdale. From this moment on, she will be trained under my wing.”

The dark mare looked at me as I continued bowing; I never felt so nervous before. It was as if she was looking deep into my soul, then she spoke, “Mare? Do you know who I am?”
I was too scared to reply, but I did my best, “N-no your majesty… I do not.”
The mare lowered her head, put her hoof on my chin, and guided it up to look me in the eye. Then she smiled, “I… am Nightmare Moon. The ruler of the night and the essence of your deepest fear. So… what do you think of my pilgrimage to bring forth an eternal night?”
My mind quickly raced through a series of answers. Nevertheless, I honestly didn’t know what to say until I replied out of impulse, “I-it doesn’t matter what I think your majesty… I am here to follow orders… that’s all.”
Nightmare Moon smiled, “This one will be easy to break in. see to it that she is trained well commander. But must you train her yourself? Shouldn’t you place that responsibility on one of your officers?”
Commander Bolt stepped closer to me and replied, “With this momentary peace between the two armies, I’m losing my mind in boredom. Besides, this will allow me to see her talents first hoof, so that I can place her in the right position once her training is complete.”

Nightmare Moon took her hoof off my chin as she raised herself back up, “Very well, do as you please commander. I’ll leave her in your care.”
Commander Bolt then asked, “Any word on Canterlot’s status?”
Nightmare Moon sighed, “No… sister continues to draw out this momentary cease fire as long as she can. She must not like the idea of ponies dying in this war.”
“And… Commander Mist?”
“He is currently training new recruits of his own. Though he has a lot more than one to deal with.”
Commander Bolt nodded his head and replied, “Understood… thank you your majesty.”
Nightmare Moon smiled pleasantly and replied, “Good morning to you commander.”
With that said Nightmare Moon turned into the dark mist again and vanished as the sun started to peer over the horizon. Then almost immediately, it vanished as the moon eclipsed it before the sky could light up.

As the eclipse rose, Commander Bolt turned around and spoke, “Let’s go Cadet. We have a long day ahead of us… you’re going to need your strength.”
As we trotted back through the camp, I couldn’t help but feel like Commander Bolt was in a bad mood, for some reason talking to Nightmare Moon had put him in a deep though so I tried to break the ice, “So commander? Did I do ok… you know, talking to Nightmare Moon?”
He didn’t reply, instead he just continued trotting in deep thought. “Um… sir?... Commander?”
Finally, he snapped out of it, “Oh… sorry cadet… I was just thinking about somepony.”
“May I ask who?”
“No…”
Feeling as if I stepped out of place, I didn’t reply to his answer. I could only hold my silence while dealing with his. When we finally reached the dining tent, I could see a long line of soldiers standing outside. Commander Bolt looked at me and spoke, “Get yourself something to eat. I don’t have much of an appetite right now.”
Without explaining why, Commander Bolt continues further into the camp while leaving me there to get in line for some food.

After getting a plate and some oatmeal, I trotted to an empty table and sat down. While looking around the large tent I noticed that there were a large number of stallion soldiers throughout the camp but almost no other mares. I felt a little out of place being here but I knew that I would be better off if I made myself distant from the others just as I did at the orphanage. As I sat there eating alone, I couldn’t help but wonder what was next for me. Then without my permission, Lieutenant Snow came up and sat down across from me, “Well good morning Cadet Stone, and how are you this fine morning?”
Trying to let him know he wasn’t welcome sitting here, I replied, “Well I was doing fine… till now.”
He must have ignored me completely because he continued the conversation without even acknowledging my comment, “So how did your meeting with Nightmare Moon go? Well I hope… May I asked what you think of her?”
I didn’t know how to answer a question like that so I replied, “I dono? What do you think of her?”
Snow started stirring his food while he replied, “I personally think she is out of her mind… however if I were to question my ruler now, then what kind of soldier would I be?”

Hearing him say that threw me for a loop, “Wait… you don’t like what Nightmare Moon is doing? Then… why are you fighting for her?”
Lieutenant Snow looked at me and replied, “For her? My dear, I’m not fighting in this war for her. I’m fighting for Commander Bolt.”
“The commander? But why?”
“I served with Commander Bolt a few years ago in the Griffin Civil War. And even though he keeps his secrets, I know him enough that he wouldn’t choose to fight if it meant something bad would come from it.”
I gave him a dull look, “Really? What good will eternal night bring?”
Snow looked back at his food and replied, “He is complicated isn’t he? And if anypony knows Nightmare Moon more, it’s him. In fact, some would say that he a… and… um… I…”

Snow slowly stopped talking as he looked over my shoulder and began nervously mumbling too quietly for me to hear. Because of his curious actions, I slowly turned my head to look behind me, only to see Commander Bolt standing there with an unamused expression on his face. I slowly looked back to my front and nervously stirred my food as he spoke, “Lieutenant Snow, didn’t I put you and your soldiers in charge of this morning’s daily patrol?”
Lieutenant Snow nervously stood up and replied, “Well… um… yes sir. But I feel confident that my soldiers can handle a task like this without…”
“Without what? Leadership? A good leader will follow his soldiers into any task, no matter how medial or insignificant it may seem.”
“Well, yes sir. But I felt it would be better for training if they handled this alone.”
Commander Bolt sighed, “Well you know what? You though wrong! Get out there and support your soldiers!”
Lieutenant Snow sighed, “I understand sir, I’ll go out there as soon as I fi….”
“No… Now! Need I remind you your soldiers are also going without breakfast?”
Lieutenant Snow lowered his head in disappointment, “Yes sir… as you wish.”

I personally think Commander Bolt was being too hard on Lieutenant Snow, but I only held my silence as his unamused stare started to focus on me, “Cadet? When you’re finished, I want you to come to my quarters at the far eastern side of the camp. It’s the hut with my insignia on it, when you see it I want you to knock, and ask permission to enter or speak with me. This is a rule for everypony, not just you.”
Commander Bolt turned around and left with no explanation of what we were supposed to be doing today. I don’t know what is going on but he seemed to be acting very different then yesterday. He seemed a lot more… serious then before. With his actions in my thoughts, I finished my food, and left the dinning tent.

After eating, I went to the far eastern side of the camp and found an area with a large number of wood huts. This area seemed well taken care of, so I could only assume this was the area that Commander Bolt spoke of. Finally, I came to a tent with an insignia that looked like an eight point star with a moon in the center. Guessing that this was the right hut, I knocked on the door, “Um… C-Commander Bolt? It’s um… Cadet Stone… are you there? Or um… can I enter?”
Commander Bolt replied, “You may Cadet.”
When I trotted into the room, I saw Commander Bolt talking with Captain Storm in the center of the room. As I expected, the room was in perfect shape, no damage, nothing broken, not one hint of a bad living condition. Well, since he is the commander of the Nightmare Legion I wouldn’t think he would be treated like the rest of his soldiers. As I approached the two stallions, Captain Storm spoke, “Well Ms. St… I mean, cadet… It time to get your measurements.”
I felt a little nervous, “Um… measurements?”
Commander Bolt nodded his head, “Captain Storm is not just the officer in command of the Pegasi Assault Force. He also happens to be our top blacksmith in the camp. He will need to measure you for your armor.”

I bet my face was turning a little red as I tried to suggest, “Um… I think I would feel comfortable if somepony else took my measurements… preferably a mare?”
Storm replied, “Now don’t be modest. I’ve had to raise a daughter so you don’t have to be embarrassed about anything.”
“Yea but you’re not my father…”
Commander Bolt sighed, “If it makes you feel any better, I’ll leave so you can have some privacy. Nevertheless, he will be getting your measurements Cadet. He is the only one who can make armor with as much quality that I want all my officers to have, but he uses his own system of measuring so it would be impossible for another blacksmith to make it as perfect as him. Now get to it. I would like you to be wearing your new armor by the nightfall.”
With those words, Commander Bolt left the room as Captain Storm began taking my measurements. At first, I felt uncomfortable, but as he said before, he was very mature over the whole thing, though it didn’t make it seem any less weird.

After he finished he overlook his notes and spoke, “All done, now that wasn’t so bad was it?”
A gave him a dull look and replied, “Easy for you to say…”
he actually started laughing at me as he replied, “Its ok, I’m the only one who will see these notes so don’t feel too embarrassed.”
As we both left the tent, we met Commander Bolt right outside, “Is it done?”
Storm replied, “Yes sir, I’ll begin on her armor as soon as we finish.”
I got annoyed, “Finished? You mean there’s more?”
Commander Bolt didn’t like my tone, “Watch it cadet… remember your place, and his rank. Yes, there is more so let’s get to it.”
Commander Bolt and Captain Storm began trotting back to the center of the camp with me following. It wasn’t long before we came to a hut with a chimney on the top. I honestly didn’t know what to expect, but I didn’t expect what came next. As we opened the door, I saw a lot of shining swords, shields, axes, maces and all sorts of weapons dangling from the ceiling and walls.

As Commander Bolt and Storm trotted through the room, Commander Bolt asked, “Well… what do you think Storm? What weapon would she be good for?”
Storm thought to himself and replied, “Well, she doesn’t have the built for a heavy sword, axe, or hammer. Maybe something on a smaller side, daggers, a thin sword, or maybe even a wooden spear.”
Commander Bolt looked at me and asked, “Well cadet? Let me ask you, have you ever carried a sword before?”
I looked back and replied, “Um… no sir.”
He continued, “How about an axe?”
“No.”
“A spear?”
“No.” 
“A morning star?”
“I don’t even know what that is, so I’ll say no…”
Commander Bolt sighed, “Have you even seen any of this before?”
“… No.”
Commander Bolt put his hoof on his head, “Well this will take longer than hoped.”
Captain Storm put his hoof on Commander Bolt’s shoulder and smiled, “No worries sir, we will just have to let her try each and see how she fairs… or we could always put her on a catapult team.”

I don’t know what catapult teams did but Commander Bolt replied, “No, she will become an officer so there is no need for her to command a catapult. I’ll put her on a cannon team first.”
Captain Storm smiled, “Oh! So you will allow me to make us a cannon then?”
“What? NO!!! I’m not repeating the mistakes we made in Gryphus! That weapon will never be a part of my arsenal… Period!”
Storm laughed, “Well it was worth a shot… might we start her off on a spear then?”
Commander Bolt nodded his head, “That sounds fine; give her a light one though.”
Captain Storm trotted into the back of the room and pulled a spear from a pile then he came back with it and gave me some pointers, “This is your standard six footer, the blade is double sided with a razor sharpened tip for deep penetration. When jabbing always remember to hold it at the bottom so that you can avoid attacks from swords. But when swinging grip at the center of the shaft, with a comfortable distance between your hooves so that you can turn it sideways to block.”

When Storm gave the spear to me, I was surprised that it was a lot heavier then it looked, not to mention the blade weighed more than the shaft so I had to grip it higher to hold it right. Then Commander Bolt spoke, “Well let’s give it a test run cadet. There is a battle dummy out back that we will practice on, follow me.”
Commander Bolt led me outside to a wooden dummy that was standing behind the hut. Then he turned to me and spoke, “When using a spear you need to focus only on vital parts. The chest, throat, and head are what you should focus on attacking. However if you want to subdue your opponent, then the wings and hooves are your focus. Now show me what you got, Strike this dummies neck.”
Following Storms advice, I griped the spear at the center and swung the blade hitting the dummy as hard as I could. Shortly after the blade hit the dummy, putting a gash in it. Commander Bolt spoke, “Wrong!”
I turned and looked back at him, “What?”
“You hit too low, with that swing it would have simply dug into his shoulder until it hit his shoulder blade. Leaving him wounded, but free to dig his sword into your chest. Now do it again and this time do it right!”

A little annoyed about his instruction, I tried again. Nevertheless, it still wasn’t good enough, “Again!”
I swung the spear from the other side, “Sloppy, again!”
I swung the spear a fourth time, then a fifth, then a sixth. I must have hit the dummy more then ten times but it didn’t seem to be good enough for him, “Again!... Sloppy, again!... Too high… again!... Again!... AGAIN!...”
This continued throughout the day and well into the evening, with each passing swing I started to get more and more tired, but I also got more and more irritated at the commander who just kept repeating “Again!”
Finally, I lost my temper entirely and instead of swinging the spear and hitting the now mangled dummy, I jammed the spear into the dummies chest as hard as I could, digging the blade deep into the wood body. This time Commander Bolt didn’t say again, instead he just smiled at my act of frustration. Trying to calm myself down, I tried to pull the spear form the dummy, but the blade was stuck, I yanked as hard as I could, but as I did the blade finally broke off and I fell to the ground with the broken spear shaft in my hooves.

Oddly enough, Commander Bolt trotted over to me and helped me up as he spoke with a dull and serious tone, “Good… now you have just assured me that instead of being killed in battle you will only be wounded… You will die shortly after though.”
I couldn’t believe him, rather than help me with training; he only criticized me on my actions. Then to top it all off he continued, “It would appear that a spear isn’t your weapon. Go return it to Captain Storm.”
This pony was really getting to me. First, he wears me out by continuously telling me I’m doing something wrong, then he heartlessly insulted my continuous attempts to do it the way he wanted me to. With my increased irritation, I could only keep my mouth shut and do as he said so I wouldn’t say something mildly offensive to him… since that’s all I could think about now.

When I approached Captain Storm and gave him the spear shaft he laughed, “Well I see the commander kept you busy… so how did you do?”
I sighed, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Storm replied, “Suit yourself, speaking of suits, your armor is ready would you like to try it on?”
Hoping to get my mind off of today’s fiasco I replied, “Sure, I can do that.”
Storm led me to a secluded room and gave me the armor to try on. At first, it seemed a little tight, but it was more snug then anything. Each part of each piece fit so perfectly that it seemed like wearing a second layer of skin. As I trotted around wearing this, I couldn’t help but marvel at how light and comfortable it felt. As I trotted out of the room, both Storm and Commander Bolt watched as I moved around to test how mobile I was, then Storm smiled, “It’s made with a special coating of metal that I myself mixed. It’s as strong as iron while as light as aluminum. Perfect for combat.”

I felt much better about everything now so I looked at Captain Storm and smiled, “Thank you… it’s great… I feel like a soldier now.”
Commander Bolt gave me an unamused stare and spoke, “Well you don’t look like one to me… You are relieved for the day, when you’re not sleeping you will wear this armor at all times. And Luna help you if I catch you not wearing it. Go back to your tent and get some rest. Tomorrow before dawn, we will begin your sword training. Hopefully this time you can do it right.”
With those words said, Commander Bolt turned and left the room, leaving me both furious and speechless.

I… I couldn’t believe that jerk!... if he didn’t tick me off before, it seemed like he was trying even harder now. No words of confidence, no good job cadet, no motivational speech, or words of advice? What kind of cruel pony is he? I think I was starting to see the true colors of this stallion. And I don’t like it one bit. That’s ok, if he wants to treat me like I’m useless, and that I will die in my first battle… then I say let him. Nevertheless, I will be standing there smiling with a bug bag of I-told-you-so when I prove the great Commander Bolt wrong! And even if it kills me, I will prove him wrong!