The train roared through the Equestrian countryside early in the morning after departing Whitetail Woods just a couple of hours before sunrise. The train wasn't packed, nor was it exactly empty either. Most of the passengers slumbered in their seats or in private rooms which obviously cost more than a regular seat---much more. The next stop was Fort Fetlock, an Equestrian military base located over twenty miles west of the metropolis of Manehattan, and any civilization. Unlucky for Thunderblast, it was his stop. He was lucky during the trip however, as it granted him much needed rest in between stops.
As the sun slowly rose, sunlight filled the train cabins, waking it's passengers including the grey pegasus guard. He was laying sideways on his seat, and on a pillow he brought with him. Once the sunlight hit his eyes, he had almost no choice but to open them, which almost blinded him at first. He sat up, pulling the window cover down so he could adjust to the train's lights, before reopening it and glancing outside as pine trees raced by.
"Urgh...what time is it?" Thunderblast groaned, looking around for a clock in his car. He eventually found it, and squinted his eyes to read it across the cabin. It appeared to read seven forty-two, meaning if they were on time, he'd be arriving at the fort in just over twenty minutes. The last thing he thought of was eating breakfast, mainly since he had no appetite from the thought of being away from his life for the next twelve months. He stayed in his seat, fiddling with his hooves a bit as he waited out the remainder of the journey.
Just as expected, just over twenty minutes later, the train slowed and eventually screeched to a halt at a small platform in the middle of nowhere, completely surrounded by nothing but tall, green pine trees, with a wooden sign labeled 'Fort Fetlock'. Thunderblast grabbed his saddle bags and put them over his back and exited his car. He noticed one pony boarding at the same station, wearing what appeared to be a swamp-green shirt and dog tags around his neck. One other thing he noticed, the pony's mane was buzz-cut. Thunder gulped at the thought of having his mane cut, knowing it was definitely longer than military standards.
"Well...at least I didn't get sent to the Lunar Marines." He mumbled to himself as he watched the pony board the train.
Thunder sat on one of the platform benches, knowing he was to be picked up right as he arrived. The train soon pulled out of the small station, leaving behind it a small cloud of dust which faded quickly, with the faint sound of the whistle blowing as it vanished behind a curve, into more trees.
Minutes passed before he grew impatient, peering around for the expected camouflage-uniformed ponies armed to the teeth, only to see nothing but more trees and a straight line of train track. He groaned and stood up, slinging his saddle bags over his back once more, unfolding his wings, and taking to the skies to search for the base.
"Hmmm..." Groaned a bored stallion. He was a lighter-orange earth pony who wore a dark green heavy jacket, as well as a matching military cap with a single black arrow for a rank insignia on it. At the time, he was manning the anti-aircraft cannons and was keeping a close eye on the sky over and around the fort. Less than a minute later, he spotted something; a black and grey object slowly approaching. He gasped and prepared the cannon to fire, not having enough time to warn others. The stallion quickly locked the cannon onto the object, not checking to see what it was first by mistake.
Above, Thunderblast carelessly floated in the near-cloudless sky. He then heard a faint boom, jumping slightly and looking down to see what it was. To his surprise, there was a large round fired from a ground cannon racing right at him.
"Oh shoot!" His pupils shrunk as he quickly flew up, but was too late. The round exploded directly underneath him, knocking him off balance. The next thing Thunder knew, he was spiraling uncontrollably back to earth. He panted as he tried to regain control, watching the ground quickly approach. Just before impact, he regained control and leveled out just a foot of the ground. He extended his hooves, sliding to a stop and kicking some dirt up as he landed. Thunder panted, his heart racing after the experience he just had. But before he could figure out what really just happened, he could count at least four ponies, all in dark green uniforms approaching, guns drawn.
"Hooves above your head!" A light blue earth pony shouted, slowly approaching Thunderblast with his gun aimed at him.
Thunder panted, even more confused. "W-what's this all...about?"
"HOOVES ABOVE YOUR HEAD!" The pony shouted again.
Thunderblast cooperated, dropping his saddle bags and putting his hooves above his head. The ponies kept their guns drawn, until the sound of a loud whistling pierced the air coming from behind them. The soldiers lowered their weapons and moved out of the way, revealing a mud-brown earth pony wearing a different uniform---which appeared to be digital camouflage---walked up to the pegasus.
"Guns down boys. He's one of us." The stallion smirked at Thunder.
The stallions walked away at the pony's word, allowing Thunderblast to lower his hooves. Once again before he could react, the pony extended a hoof.
"Lieutenant Sparkplug at your service, and welcome to Fort Fetlock mister Blast. You can just call me Sparks if you wish, but I would prefer sir for right now."
Thunder extended his hoof and shook it firmly. "Great to be here...except for the fact I nearly got blown to bits a few moments ago sir."
Spark chuckled. "I guess you haven't heard of a no-fly zone yet recruit, because this place is one of the few spots in Equestria where it is that way."
"At least I know not to fly around here. Not without permission that is." Thunder grinned some.
"Huh, seems like the guard has done you some good already. Most of the recruits that come here have no discipline whatsoever. Maybe I can make you into a real stallion in no time." Spark smirked again. "Come, I would like to show you around before I show you where you will sleep tonight, and every other night you are here."
Thunderblast nodded. "Yes sir."
Following the tour, which wasn't much other than the flag pole, the training grounds, the mess hall and the numerous barracks and tents scattered around, Sparkplug walked up to a large tent, almost matching the color of the soldiers' uniforms base-wide, other than his own of course.
"And here is where you'll be sleeping. In case you're wondering, you will have two tent-mates, maybe more if new ponies enlist."
Spark smirked and pushed the doorway part of the tent open, leading Thunderblast inside. It was cramped inside, and was simply four small beds with hooflockers under them, and then a small desk. Thunder wasn't disappointed, not expecting any more than there was. He was only disappointed that he would be back in a cramped room with other ponies that he didn't know before.
"Well...I can't say I'm not used to a small room." Thunder awkwardly chuckled.
Spark chuckled as well. "Your tent-mates are Flashpoint and Skillshot. They may or may not be back in the next hour. For now, make yourself at home. Lunch is at eleven-hundred hours." He turned and started to walk out. "Oh, and training for you will start after lunch. Good luck."