When we reached our temporary living quarters, we sure enough found our uniforms waiting for us on mannequins. It was obvious whose was whose, as each uniform bore a color scheme matching each of us exactly. Not to mention that each uniform had patches on each shoulder bearing our respective names, as well as our rank insignia under the left name-patch, with the exception of my uniform, which also had my combat-brevet insignia under my right. Maj. Dash rushed over to check out her uniform.
"I hope the Princess realizes that we'll stick out like a wingboner in these..."
"They're formal uniforms, Major, not combat uniforms."
"Who cares?! We have CAAAA~~AAAAAPES!!!"
Sure enough..........we had capes.
"Are these...really necessary?" Col. Sparkle said, lifting the end of her cape with her magic.
"I highly doubt it, m'am, but I'm with Maj. Pie: me gusta."
I looked around at the each uniform, each of which had trimming that exactly matched their respective capes in color:
--Maj. Dash's uniform was cyan with a rainbow-striped cape.
--Maj. Apple's orange uniform had a yellow cape, as well as -- much to her relief -- a matching stetson.
--Capt. Rarity's ivory uniform had an indigo cape that glistened like diamonds in the light.
--Maj. Pie's uniform was light pink, and had an almost orchid cape.
--Capt. Shy's pale yellow uniform had a cape that was a shade of pink that was gentle as she was.
--Col. Sparkle had a violet uniform with an indigo cape, which had several magenta and violet streaks on it.
I looked back at my uniform: it was a very schmexy shade of red -- cardinal red. Then I looked at my cape, which was as golden as my heart was for my friends. However, when I looked closer at my cape, I noticed that my rank insignias were emblazoned on it, a smaller Lt. Colonel insignia in the center of the top half of the cape, and a larger Brig. General insignia in the larger bottom half of my cape. The insignias had stylized words in the shape of an arc above each of them, reading Lieutenant Colonel and Combat-Brevet Brigadier General, respectively, the latter being split into two arcs after the 'brevet'. I pointed this out to the others, and the case turned out to be the same for them, understandably, although their insignias were in the center of the entire cape, which also made sense.
Almost as soon as we had all finished putting on our new uniforms, one of the Princess' royal guards appeared at the door, informing us that the Princess had publicly scheduled the announcement as soon as we had left the dining hall earlier, and it was going to begin in one hour, though we were expected to meet with the Princess in a mere fifteen minutes. After a swift salute, the guard then took his leave.
I broke the silence that followed with a laugh. "Alright. Maj. Dash, Maj. Apple: start fighting. That way I can order us all to start heading out."
We all started cracking up -- even Capt. Shy -- before Col. Sparkle actually did call the order to start heading out.
* * * * * * * *
The Princess has just announced the declaration of war from the Griffonite Empire, and we were now waiting for the expected shock to die down enough for her to continue speaking. My fellow officers and I were lined up several yards behind the Princess at the back of a balcony of the Royal Palace in Canterlot. Even though it was a low-hanging balcony, we were still out of sight from all the ponies gathered in the main plaza below. When we had met with the Princess before this, she had explained that we were to line up evenly-spaced in the order we currently were, as that was the order that she was going to be announcing us, going from her left to her right. She also informed us that we were to start walking immediately forward to the balcony rail as she began saying our title, so that we would reach the railing right as she would be saying our name. Once we got to the railing we were to remain there, standing at attention, just as we were now. As we awaited the time when the Princess was going to be announcing us as her officers, I decided to close my eyes and think, but made sure that I let Col. Sparkle -- who was to my immediate right -- that I was doing so, in case I happened to zone out. She nodded and promised to give me a nudge if I was still thinking when the Princess would be nearing our introductions.
My thoughts were simple ones. I knew that when the Princess would say that she had already elected her officers, I knew that everypony listening would immediately know that they would be the six mares I was now in line with -- the Elements of Harmony. Logical, right? But I also knew -- since the Princess had given us each a copy of the speech she was going to be giving, so we would know what to expect -- that she was going to be specifically saying that she had already elected seven officers; I even knew that she was going to be putting a lot of emphasis on the 'seven'. When all of the ponies below would hear 'seven', who would they think that seventh officer was going to be? How will they react when it's announced that it's me? How will they react when they hear that I have a combat-brevet rank that is superior to Twilight Sparkle, who has already become a living legend -- along with the other five -- let alone the Princess' personal student and protégé? How would they react to see me alongside the most famous ponies in all of Equestria, outside of the Princesses themselves, especially in such a crucial role? It wasn't that I cared what everypony would think of me -- because I honestly didn't give a shit -- it was just...my curiosity was killing me!
* * * * * * * *
It was time. The Princess had just announced that she had already elected her officers, emphasis on the 'seven' and all. What else, the chatter amongst the ponies in the crowd was easily audible. My thoughts seemed to be spot-on...well, one of the thoughts, at least. I tilted my head down and clenched my eyes shut.
"It's the spotlight, isn't it?" I heard my superior officer whisper quietly to me in a comforting manner.
I slowly opened my eyes and turned my head to look at her. "Like no other."
"Head of the Medical Care and Attention Corps of the Royal Equestrian Army, Captain Fluttershy!"
Col. Sparkle and I stopped to watch as even Capt. Shy made her way to the railing with a total lack of hesitation and timidness.
"Wow, even Capt. Shy is making me seem like a complete pus--"
"Just stop worrying, lieutenant."
"Yes m'am."
"Head of the Supply Transportation and Management Corps of the Royal Equestrian Army, Captain Rarity!"
"Now that I think about it, are these introductions even necessary? It feels like they're sort of--"
"Oh, shut up, lieutenant." Col. Sparkle said with a short giggle and a large grin.
"Head of the Light Infantry and Specialist Forces Corps of the Royal Equestrian Army, Major Pinkie Pie!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...wow, you're actually being quiet now, lieutenant."
"...I was just thinking about the fact that military corps are almost always lead by an officer of at least Lieutenant General rank..."
"Head of the Heavy Infantry and Short-Range Projectile Corps of the Royal Equestrian Army, Major Applejack Apple!"
"Giggety! I'm next!"
"HUH?!"
"Head of the Cavalry and Air Assault Corps of the Royal Equestrian Army, Major Rainbow Dash!"
"Bloody hell. I'm next now."
"No pressure."
"No pressure my flank!.........................................................................................................m'am."
"Head of the Artillery..."
"What a tweest!"
Col. Sparkle softly giggled. "Well no shit, lieutenant!"
"...and Other Magic-Based Weaponry Corps of the Royal Equestrian Army, Colonel Twilight Sparkle!"
"Try not to be a buzz-kill, lieutenant!" Col. Sparkle sarcastically said as she began making her way forward.
I hope we go to a bar after this...
"Head of the Tactical Operations and Strategic Warfare Corps of the Royal Equestrian Army..."
Well, here we go... I thought as I began walking forward.
"...Lieutenant Colonel, and Combat-Brevet Brigadier General, Briar Rose!"
"Your last name is Rose?!"
"I will fucking stab you, Major Dash."
* * * * * * * *
I didn't hear the rest of the Princess' speech; I was too transfixed on the humongous crowd below. In fact, there were so many ponies gathered that I felt it was becoming a safety concern. And every one of them was cheering; cheering not just for the Elements of Harmony, but for me, too!
That alone gave me enough motivation to last through the entire war...several times over.