//------------------------------// // Chapter 26 // Story: Upgrading the Railway Network // by The Stainmore Phoenix //------------------------------// Stanier Five’s magic lessons had ended and he was being flight trained by Soarin’ and Rainbow Dash. If he was going to be a full fledged Alicorn, then he needed to be able to fly and who better than a Wonderbolt and a Wonderbolt Reserve. He was pleased to make friends with Soarin’ and learn from the best. Meanwhile, Dangersignal was busy overlooking the construction of a 4-8-4+4-8-4 streamlined Garratt, a hybrid Diesel with a chassis of a Heisler, a GWR Cathedral class 4-6-2, and a Saddle tank/crane tank Heisler. He wanted to have some fun experimenting with different ideas that landed in his head. After all, he didn’t have any outside railway board to answer to and his experiments never hurt anypony or anybody. “At least we’ll be miles ahead of the boring places that only use diesels and electrics,” he said. However, his peace was soon to be disrupted. A messenger mare came to him and handed him a registered letter and had him sign. The Alicorn tipped the mare handsomely and after she left, he read the letter and gave a dissatisfied groan. He was being called back by Prince Shining Armor to train a fresh batch of new Royal Guard Recruits. Dragonstorm was also being called back and he wasn’t best pleased at this prospect. However, a job was a job and Shining Armor was a Prince and they had promised him that they’d train any new recruits. He had been their superior commander and now he was semi-retired and was hoping that one of the Alicorns would take over during this training festival. The two Alicorns caught the next train to Canterlot, where several veteran guards met them. “Field Marshal Dangersignal and Brigadier General Dragonstorm, I am Lance Corporal Dagger Maelstrom of Dispatch,” the large black coat Earth Stallion said. “I have received orders that you two are to be based here to train the new recruits.” “That is correct, Lance Corporal,” Dangersignal said. “Have you any other orders?” “Yes, your quarters are in the front of the Castle, Second Floor, Fifteenth door on the right,” Dagger Maelstrom said. “I shall be your official guide to your quarters. You two will be sharing one quarters to discuss what you both observe and discuss which ones should be hired on.” Dangersignal and Dragonstorm thanked him and followed the stallion to their quarters, where several boxes of files awaited them. Lance Corporal Dagger Maelstrom left them to their reading and their mind making. Dragonstorm looked at his older brother once the door was shut. “How do we want to train them?” Dragonstorm asked. “We need to train them in what we call the “basics”-full and accurate reports without missing a comma, hoof-to-hoof combat, OTF medical analysis, basic first aid and whatever else we were trained in,” Dangersignal said. While that was going on, the humans were continuing on with the work on the railways and the new style engines were out of the shops and had been run. At least, they were having fun and not having to don armor that felt like a ton of bricks. Pegasi armor was slightly lighter to accommodate the fact that the winged ponies liked to be in the air rather than on the ground. Unicorn armor was heavier, but it didn’t impede the use of magic. It was also bulkier and weighed a great deal more, but it was meant to protect the magically astute ponies, but it slowed them slightly. Earth pony armor was heavier, but that was because they were often the first line of defense and in the fray of the fight. Unlike Pegasi and Unicorns, Earth ponies had to rely on their strength, dexterity and even their quick wits and impromptu distractions skills. (One Earth pony that Dangersignal and Dragonstorm worked with was known as Dynamite Fuse and he had a tendency to over use his explosive knowledge, which lead to many mishaps, including blowing up Luna’s tower during her thousand year stay on the moon). As for Alicorns, their armor was lighter, but it held many secrets and allowed for them to store weapons. In fact, Pegasi, unicorns and Alicorns were given throwing, utility and combat knives, as they could use their wings. Earth ponies were given swords and daggers as their combat weapons. Some of the more astute Earth ponies carried spears and lances. Any former guard will tell any new guard that they serve two purposes-one purpose is to be a meat shield for the princess and the second-to be a guard every pony remembers. Dangersignal and Dragonstorm had passed into legend because of their feats, but they knew the fact that being a meat shield is far more fun than being a legend. As they looked through the files, Dangersignal came upon one that made him roll his eyes in disgust. Name-Blast Star Pony Type-Thestral (Pony with Dragon wings) Rank-Private Age-22 Current Pay-650 bits Cutie Mark-An exploding star Eye color-Lime green Mane color-White Chocolate Tail color-Caramel Coat color-Kiwi green Talent-explosives/diversions The photograph showed a cocky male Thestral with the Lime green eyes, White Chocolate Mane, Kiwi green coat and Caramel tail. He had a cocksure grin that said “Here I am, take me out first!” “I’m glad he isn’t on our staff, or he’d be out of a job so fast, that he wouldn’t know which was up until I sent him packing for a thousand years to the moon!” the higher ranking Alicorn huffed. Something told him that this kid was going to be trouble and that there was no way of making him see sense until he was active and having to do his job or be completely wiped out of existence. Dangersignal refused to let that happen and decided to be a teacher to this kid. Deciding that Dragonstorm was too busy at the moment, Dangersignal went out to look over the new recruits. The training ground was practically buried under formations of new ponies. Earth ponies, Unicorns, Pegasi, Thestrals and batponies stood there, at attention. “Good morning troops!” Dangersignal called out. “GOOD MORNING SIR!” the new recruits said in sharp and loud tones. Dangersignal looked at them, with a thoughtful eye. They were reminding him of the humans he worked with and how prompt they were with words. He then had an idea to really put them through their paces. He really wanted to see how they’d perform and what skills each guard possessed. He knew that Blast Star was in the ranks of the new trainees. He wanted to personally train that Thestral himself, so he waited and when Dragonstorm arrived, Dangersignal explained his plans to his younger brother. “I understand, Field Marshal,” Dragonstorm said, saluting the higher ranking Alicorn. Dangersignal turned around. “Will Private Blast Star come Front and Center?” he called. A hushed silence fell as a lone Thestral walked forward. The silence turned into sinkers and laughter as they realized he was in trouble, or so they thought. “Right then, Private Lens Flarye, what’s so funny?” Dangersignal asked, glancing down at a Bright orangish red unicorn, with a glass white mane and tail and crystal blue eyes. The startled unicorn nearly fainted, from being spooked by the higher ranking official. Others fell silent and looked around, as if to find rocks to crawl under. From the back, a Unicorn Stallion walked forward. Every new guard practically fell over. “Commander in Chief, Prince Shining Armor,” Dangersignal said, saluting the Unicorn Prince. The Commander in Chief returned the salute and asked how the new recruits were. Dangersignal explained that he had to promptly spook one to make his point, which got a wry chuckle out of the Prince. After another wry chuckle, he turned to the new recruits. “If I were you, I’d listen to these two. I didn’t make them a Brigadier General and Field Marshal for nothing. They have years of experience and know what they are doing,” he told the stallions and mares. “If one of them wants to personally train one pony, like Celestia did with my sister, then it’s fine. I shall come back in three months time for an inspection and a report. If any of you have royally put your hoof in it, consider yourselves out of a job.” “If they lose their job here, I know of a rubbish depot opening up that could use manual labor to unload the wagon loads of rubbish that the railway will be delivering,” Dangersignal said. “After all, it’s a job, but it’s on the low end of the world.” The two Alicorns and Unicorn heard hushed whispers which sounded like, “We’d best stay on the right side of these three, unless we want to be on the rubbish bins.” Dangersignal and Shining Armor winked at each other, and the prince headed off to his lovely wife. As for the Thestral, he stared up at Dangersignal with a newfound respect. Dangersignal gestured for the private to join him on stage. When he came up on stage, the Alicorn told the Thestral that he’d oversee a special brand of training. That got everyone complaining, but Dragonstorm said that if they behaved well for him, then Dangersignal might pick another one or two to be up for special training. That got everyone to calm down and follow the orders of the Brigadier General, who trained them in weapons usage and the basics from when he was a recruit. Dangersignal was training Blast Star and looked down at him. “I have chosen you to be one of six guards to be allocated at Ponyville, to act as a guard for Princess Twilight Sparkle and her “Stand in” prince, Prince Stanier Five,” Dangersignal said. “Stand in?” Blast Star asked. “That means that he stands in for Twilight when she’s away and runs Ponyville,” Dangersignal explained. “Why me?” he asked. “You remind me of my brother’s youthful self, and how he loved blowing things up,” Dangersignal chuckled. Blast Star laughed slightly and was ordered to wait on the inner castle courtyard. Once he was out of sight, Dangersignal sighed and walked back to the new recruits. “I was hoping this would be easy, but running the railway is easier,” he groaned.