The pony came to what looked like a snack bar.
“What can I get you?”asked the clerk,another pony.
....pony...pony.... stop it brain!He thought.
“May, may, I have…"he ask hesitantly to focus his mind."a simple glass of, water, please?”
“Sure thing bub, you guys sure working hard. Glad Celestia organized this!"he ducked under the counter to get a glass. "Without you soldiers this would be a mess!"placing the glass on the wood counter and he poured from some kind of crystal canter. "It’s like these guys don’t know basic equis or something. Glad to see some of you take a break…wow. You really work out.”A pony just like himself, all that movement it was a bit scary to watch.
The stallion eyed him strangely, then at the glass of water placed in front of him and then the others who were eating and drinking,now what?Do I do this on three legs? thinking to himself
Taking a deep breath he let out a sigh. He moved, deliberately and slowly picking up the glass, another look and then slowly began to drink.He finished and looked at the glass in his hoof.
What was he afraid of? He knew he could do it! After all, he was a home scholar! Feeling accomplished, he set the glass down.
Now came the difficult part, getting information.
“Yes…..”he said slowly as he listened and adjusted his voice and mouth accordingly, moving the tongue around inside with a click.Come off cool, nonchalant: his next question, always a gamble, just a little for a little more.
A little more to play the part expected by others. Not too much, just a little: else it would seem sarcasm.
”Speaking of Celestia,"he asked. "do you have a favorite picture of her? I have some artistic talent and I’m always curious of others opinion.”
“I like that one.” The clerk pointed to a picture of a winged and horned mare obviously leading the sun through the sky.
Dear God! His mind grasped at straws. Unadulterated paganism! What’s going on? What is this Celestia, a sun god?
The stallion smiled brightly with twinkling eyes.Focus,focus...don't start shaking!
”I just got in."big smile: laugh lightly, hides nerves and shaking." Haven’t been through orientation yet, after all, Celestia’s still….having… more troops to spell of those already here, can’t say much more, hush, hush, you know.”
The clerk nodded while cleaning a glass.Good, clean the inside of the glass first!
“They said for me to work where they are disposing of the ahh…"he tapped his hoof to his chin."what’s the most polite term for them?”
“Strangers…"the clerks voice lowered, just a little."Celestia’s sake! Honestly! You have the manners of a Unicorn!”the clerks cheery attitude changed and he cleaned the glass slower.
“Then I suppose it is deserved that I be dispatched to trash detail!"Our stallion looked downcast and sad, not to sad. "Hanging out with unicorns! Showing up late, sleeping in, losing my uniform and missing orientation! Serves me right!" stand up make heartfelt sigh. "Please, just tell me where they are disposing of the rags so I don’t get into anymore trouble!”
“Ha! I knew you were lying!” said the pony clerk proud of himself for discovering a fraudster.”I bet your not even an artist! How else would you not be impressed by that a classic masterpiece by Fennel Sort! Finish you’re water and go straight down the hall, you can’t miss it.”
“Don’t worry about it.” said a pegisi. ”there was a mix up, lots of new enlisted lost their uniforms.” his smile, a mouth full of shields as the impressive Pegisus rose casually and wandered over toward the pony.
“Err..thanks…”said the pony,had his cocern about being caught out flashed on his face or was it something else?
“ATTENTION!!”It was almost as if someone had thrown a switch. The Pegasus was right in the Pony’s face snorting with fiery eyes.
It was something else!
The pony obeyed. Straight as a board on four legs !