//------------------------------// // Chapter Two: Arrival // Story: A Colt's War // by Codexwriter476 //------------------------------// The train came to an abrupt halt, awaking everyone aboard. As the ponies aboard slowly emerged from their slumber, officers rushed about, shouting and waving around batons. "Get off the train! Move it! Let's go!" one officer shouted as every pony started to scatter and scurry off as fast as they could without trampling each other. One colt jumped out the window just in front of William. Big Mac helped Mr. Cakes and the two pintos off by barging his way through the crowd. "Let's go private! Get to your hooves! Hop to it!" another shouted, then noticed William. Before he could give the officer the chance to get near him, William jumped out the window into the blinding sunlight. The train had stopped at an large campsite out in the middle of the desert, but he could tell they were somewhere near Appleloosa. The large crowd or recruits were now out and about, stretching their legs and trying to readjust to the bright light. The officers from aboard the train started tossing the bags out of the train and onto the ground near the tracks. "Claim your luggage and form into filed ranks of five columns, ten ponies each!" a third officer shouted from the engine compartment. "Any unclaimed baggage will be 'donated' to the war effort." Ponies soon searched through the massive piles of luggage, and once they got theirs, they tried to form the ranks. William looked for his, but he couldn't find it, that was until he heard a familiar grunt. He turned around to see Big Mac, with his baggage strap in his mouth. "Thanks." William said. Mac dropped the bag. "Not a problem, I already found Mr. Cakes and these two here, so why not find yours." He said, Newsprint and Pipsqueak right behind him, their luggage dragging through the dust. Once William grabbed the luggage strap and flung it around his neck, they group trotted over to a nearby group who seemed to know what they were doing. It was there when Big Mac noticed a familiar brown hat. "Braeburn? Braeburn is that you Cousin?" Mac shouted. The yellow colt wearing the brown hat turned to see who was talking to him, and noticed the large red Stallion. "Cousin Macintosh! Long time no see." Braeburn worked through the column and reached the group. Braeburn was sure glad to see a familiar face, even if it was family. "Does Applejack know your here?" He asked. "She wanted to keep me from coming here." Mac replied, a chuckle under his breath. He then looked around and back to him. "Do you know where we are Cos?" Before he could reply another voice interrupted. "I'm glad you asked Private Macintosh." every pony turned their attention to the Colonel standing on top of a crate. The white war stallion seems to shine from the sun and his pipe was tucked away. On his flank were two rifles, bayonets fixed, crossing over each other. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Colonel Kelly Haybrun, Commanding officer of the First Royal Rifle Corps. For the next three months, you will be trained into soldiers, into Coltgrenadiers; and for the next three months, your flanks belong to me!" He shouted. "As for where we are, This is Fort Orchard, seven miles from Appleloosa and your home away from home. Today, you'll get yourself settled into your assigned barracks, determined by where your standing now. Once you are comfortable, you will report to the mess hall for a welcoming party." He continued. He could tell that half of these recruits wouldn't last a week once they started tomorrow. He then noticed a hoof raise up into the air. "Yes Soldier?" "Where is Fort Orchard?" the black colt asked. "This is the first part of your exercise today. You are to take a mile run to Fort Orchard, with your gear on your back. First Company to arrive gets to pick their barracks, and a special surprise tomorrow morning." Haybrun replied. Every pony soon started off down the trail, gunning at full speed. As for Mac's company, they took their time by making sure the younger colts could make the trek. "Here. Let me take that Pip." William offered to take his bag. "I can do it." Pip refused and started walking. Newsprint also refused help from Big Mac and followed after him. William went after them, followed by Mr. Cakes and then Braeburn. Big Mac took the rear, to help any pony who started to lag behind. -- About a half mile into the hike, the group met up with the first two companies who dashed out at the start, panting and gasping for breath. The unusual summer heat had caught up with them while they continued on, slowly starting to sweat. Pipsqueak and Newsprint collapsed on the ground, panting and sweating. "Dang. I thought this would be easy." Newsprint said. "It would be if you didn't run off like the other companies." "It would be even better if we didn't have our bags. Are these filled with rocks or something?" Pip asked. A colt nearby opened his to find a large rock. "Does that answer your question?" Mr. Cakes joked. The yellowish- orange stallion was more of a baker, not a soldier but he knew when to carry on, same as Big Mac and William, who were way ahead of them on the ridge. From there, they could see Fort Orchard. The fort looked like a large camp with three foot wooden barricades. There were several large barns and a stone structure nearby. "That must be it." Thunder Dash panted. His wings trying to flap with the luggage weighing him down, he then took off as fast as he could. William took this as a challenge and took off after him, followed by Mac and Braeburn, who had just joined them. The four ponies panting and groaned as they hurried to the gate, where two guards were sitting in the shade of a makeshift lean-to. Their tan field jackets and grey steel helmets seemed to blend with the dirt, and rifles stacked up against the barricade. "Hey, Lawrence. Take a look at this." The guard looked up, his horn barely visible through his light brown hair. He had removed his helmet. The tan earth pony next to him looked up, waking up from a nap. His brown mustache/sideburn dusted with dirt as his hazel eyes looked on as William dashed past them, followed by Thunder Dash and Big Mac. "Must be the new recruits Haybrun told us about." Lawrence replied. "Come on, lets go see who needs help." He took off, as the unicorn guard grabbed his helmet and followed after. More ponies soon staggered into the fort, trying to regroup into their companies. William and Dash panting, wheezing from the dust cloud they had brought in with them. "Dang William, you sure can run." Dash panted. "Thanks.." William sighed as he got back up onto his hooves. Haybrun was already there, sitting on a cover patio just across from the gate. The large flagpole stood above the barn roofs, with the Royal Equestrian Banner fluttering in the breeze. "So, who made it first?" He asked. William and Dash soon starting talking over each other, saying they were first in. Haybrun gave a blank face. "Captain, who came in first?" Haybrun shouted to the mustached colt, who was helping in the last straggler. "It was the earth pony, Colonel. The boy sure can run." He replied. 'I should have known that. I've known the boy' Haybrun thought, then looked back to the two colts. "Alright then. Private William, your company get's first pick at the barracks." He said. William, still panting but slowly, looked around and found a strong and sturdy barn near the large barn labeled 'Mess Hall'. "We'll take that one, sir." He pointed to the barn. "Very well then. Fourth Company will take Barrack Two. Private Dash, since your represent Second Company, you will get Barrack One, near the firing range." Haybrun turned to Dash. "Yes sir." He saluted. Barrack One was just a few yards away from the firing range, but was halfway from the Mess Hall. The two colts went their way, as their comrades followed behind, allowing more to flood in. -- Barrack Two was a grand barn, reminding Big Mac of the barn back home on Sweet Apple Acres. Two rows of bunks lined the walls, with a large table in the center and a fireplace at the opposite end. "Shoot. This is one hay of a barn." Braeburn whistled as they walked in. There were about thirty or so ponies within Fourth Company, and nearly every pony wanted the top bunks. Newsprint and Pip already got the two near the window, along with some other colts. Mr. Cakes decided to take a bottom bunk underneath Pip and Breaburn took another a few bunks down. Big Mac took the only large bunk on the right wall near the table. "Care to take the top?" He asked William. "Sure." He walked over and tossed the bag up onto the bunk above. Ladders slanted by the foot of the beds, allowing easy access. William opened his bag and stared. Inside was a picture frame of his family and a letter, signed by Haybrun with a note written on it. 'Open when the time it right.' It read. Before he could say anything, Dash stopped by. "You guys coming to the Mess Hall. It's really something." Dash said, then as he suddenly appeared, left. "I could use a bit to eat." Pip said, sitting on the bunk. "Same here. I'm as hungry as a horse." Newsprint slid down the ladder. The group left their gear, heading for the door when Mac notice William still at his bunk. "You coming?" Ha asked. William broke his concentration. "Huh? Oh yeah, right. Sorry." He said and quickly joined Mac, leaving the letter out on the bunk. -- The Mess Hall was almost like the Barracks, but was twice the size and with a full fledge kitchen on the north face. The large roof allowed voices to carry out and about as the four companies were scattered about, talking about the trip up and the little nature walk of theirs. "May I have you attention please!" a staff sergeant shouted. The recruits continued to talk. "Attention!" He shouted again, this time got their attention. At a large table near the west wall was the officers from the train, Haybrun and the captain. Haybrun stood up. "Gentle colts and Stallions. I want to welcome you to your first night here at Fort Orchard, one of the several dozens of forts throughout Equestria. As you know by now, we are at war with a separatist force within our country." "Who are they anyway?" a recruit from First asked. "Our enemy is a devious foe, who strike day and night, threatening our homes, our culture and our country. They are rebel forces calling themselves the New Lunar Republic." Haybrun answered. The entire hall fell quiet. The New Lunar Republic were as the Colonel put it ' a devious foe ', disrupting the peace in the country and wanting to overthrow Celestia and give her the same fate as Luna, formerly Nightmare Moon. At first, they seemed like misbehaving school ponies, but everything changed during the Longest Day Revolution in Manehatten, when they took arms and attacked the major industries and Royal Barracks. Haybrun knew this very well since he was there. He dispersed the Revolution through force, and he knew that only more would die if this continued. The only reason he didn't mention it because he didn't to worry these new recruits, to give them second thought. "We all heard the stories about Manehatten, About the innocence who were forced into this conflict such as yourselves. But we can end this. As Coltgrenadiers, you will fight side by side with the Royal Guard Army to crush the Republic and restore peace to our country. Tomorrow, we start your training, but tonight..." He whistled. From the kitchen rolled out carts and carts of sweets, ciders, and assorted food. The recruits hollered with joy to see mountains of food and drinks being placed onto their table. "...Tonight, We enjoy the night away! Curtsey of our newest cook, Mr. Cake." He finished and sat back down. All of a sudden, every pony within the hall chowed down everything in sight. Some belly-slid down the table, trying to stuff their mouths with food as others grabbed the tankards of cider and chugged down every last drop. Pip and Newsprint got lost in the fray, hoping from table to table. As for Mr. Cake, he kept the carts rolling in and out with the treats. William was chowing down on a large pie when he noticed Big Mac wasn't here. 'He must have walked out.' He thought and continued into the pie. Outside the Mess hall, Big Mac sat down and looked up into the night sky. He wasn't the only one. "Your missing out in there, you know." A voice said. He turned to see the Captain walking out, a tankard in his left hoof. "I'm not hungry." he replied. "Not much for sweets huh? Same here." The Captain sat down by him. He set the tankard nearby and looked up as well. "So, your from Ponyville." "Eeyup. Yourself?" "Nah, I'm from the Cimarrons, along with that unicorn officer of a step-brother." "Cimarrons. The mountains just beyond the Whitetail forest?" Mac asked. "Yup. I use to run a railroad company there, before we got drafted." the Captain replied. Mac simply nodded. "Name's Lawrence by the way." "Big Macintosh." The two colts shook hooves then looked back up into the night as the party continued inside and throughout the night.