//------------------------------// // Chapter 11; Revival and Boot // Story: The Wander Through Lands Unknown // by Tomas Lutwig //------------------------------// “What took so long?” Princess Celestia asked looking at me questioningly before a worried look came to her face as she noticed I was still wearing the mask. “Did everything work out alright?” I nodded, pulling the mask from my face and throwing it into my bag. Looking up at the princess I smiled, a gesture to which she returned. “May not be the best looking face, but it's better than looking like I've been mummified” I said The princess raised an eyebrow at this, but didn't say ask anything. “Well it's good that you won't have to wear that mask all the time” The princess said still smiling. I got into the chariot next to her before the guards took off at her order. “Well to be honest I was planning on making a more, comfortable and probably better one later in case I do end up kicking the bucket and losing my humanity” I said looking forward. “That and I have always liked masks, the idea of hiding your face from those around you is strangely appealing to me as it gives a sense of mystery of who you are. Also helps that it threatens some people as strange as it is” I said chuckling. “I see” The princess said nodding her head. “I was curious though, what were you planning on doing in the royal guard, as there's more than simply patrolling the castle and the cities” she asked making my gaze return to her. “To be honest I figured someone had to of made the armor and weaponry of them, so I'd give that I had experience in smithing as well as a few other forms of metal working” I said looking down for a moment before returning my eyes to the princess. “I suppose I should ask as well; have Equestrians have come up with Arc welding yet?” Princess Celestia gave me a slightly shocked look before a thoughtful look took it's place. “I believe they have made improvements for earth ponies so that the could use electrical currents to melt metals similar to unicorns, though the latter simply heat the metal to bond them instead of making the electrical arc” she said her eyes returning to me. “Why do you ask?” “Well it was one of my few talents back home” I said folding my arms proudly closing my eyes, “I was one of the best welders that I knew, and due to my father's job of engineering, I knew quite a few” “It's good that you're proud of your special talent” Princess Celestia said with a smile making my eyes shoot open. “Oh no” I said shaking my hands “Humans don't have a special talent, we simply have things we're good at and things we aren't. None of that discovering yourself and earning the cutiemark bit” I scratched the back of my head for a moment. “Normally people simply do what they need to to make money, be happy, and keep food on the table for themselves and their family, if they have one” “I suppose you spoke to Applejack and Pinkie Pie about cutiemarks?” I heard the princess ask making me mentally facepalm. I nodded, “They no doubt thinking it strange that humans do not receive one. I must say the concept is odd, but as long as you have a purpose in life and it's something you love doing to help one another then it is no doubt your race has thrived” she said with a smile. Looking at the Princess, I could almost swear she knew more than she was letting on, but I didn't question her, less she did the same of her world and found me lying. The urge to explain that humans also cared more for themselves than for the whole also making me bite my tongue. “So how have Applejack, Pinkie Pie and their friends been anyways? You said I've been in stone for at least two years” I said turning to look out over the green fields and forests that we passed. If the princess suspected my unease then she didn't show it, a smile forming on her face. “Well Twilight has been taking to her new responsibilities quite well, spreading the magic of friendship wherever ponies are in need or don't know of friendship. Her five friends of course aiding her in this endeavor. There have been a few arguments here and there, but that is normal between ponies who have known one another for so long...” The princess went on, telling on the letters that Twilight had written her about what had happened. I found myself barely paying any attention to the stories, as interesting as they were. Thoughts came to mind of how things would end up. 'If I'm going to be stuck here for the rest of my life, I suppose I should make the most of it, but is that really joining the equestrian military?' I thought. The chariot shuttered turning my attention to my surroundings, “It seems we have returned” Celestia said, “I believe now that you've regained you 'humanity' as you call it, it would be best to speak with the captain about your enlistment” I nodded mentally sighing, 'Hopefully the service doesn't last too long' I thought before remembering how long I was intended to be trapped in my mind and I whimpered mentally. The captain of the royal guard looked me over, a grizzled light gray pegasus with a salt and pepper mane wearing a cloth uniform. The Princess had walked me to his office and explained the situation. Now I was in the process of being checked out by the captain. “Well we've had minotuar in the Royal guard at one point, so I suppose this isn't too far a stretch from them. Even if he is a bit chubby” He said giving me a calculating look. “Have you ever seen battle son?” he said talking to me instead of the princess. “Very little sir, but I have sparred many times” I said standing tall with my hands at my sides. “Did I ask you if you'd sparred?” The captain asked raising his voice, “I asked you if you'd seen battle. A simple 'Yes sir' or 'No sir' is what I wanted. So I'll ask again, Have you seen battle?” A familiar feeling of aggravation and annoyance filled my stomach as the stallion yelled at me. “Yes Sir!” I said matching his volume. The captain realized what I was doing narrowing his eyes. “He might be a bit of trouble your majesty, but we'll break him” he said turning back to the Princess. She nodded gracefully, “Thank you Captain Silverhoof, please keep me posted” she said “Now please excuse me” She finished before the princess headed for the door behind me. Captain Silverhoof turned back to me, still standing like a statue seemingly extremely focused on one of the bricks behind his desk. “So colt” he said glaring up at me, “You have ten seconds, why did you decide to join the Royal guard? Go” he said before starting to count down from ten. “Because my talents can be better used in a fight, Sir!” I said right before he reached two. “Oh?” He said mockingly, “You think your talents can be useful to us? Well you're wrong, right now you're a useless pile of ugly clay, my clay to mold and to do with whatever I please. Do I make myself clear?” He asked making me give the affirmative in the normal way. “Good, now follow me. We're going to go meet the sergeants charged with putting you in shape to hold the title of 'Royal Guard'” There was a small amount of surprise as I followed Captain Silverhoof, 'Perhaps this military works different. Well or it could be that the fact that I'm a human among ponies is weird.' I thought. Captain Silverhoof led me outside to what looked like the training grounds nearby the guard barracks. I noticed a number of ponies out as well as what looked like a few minotuars. As we approached the captain called out to the two of them “Iron Arms, Strong Horn! Get over here!” he yelled at the two of them catching their attention and making them run over. “Iron Arm/Strong Horn reporting for duty” They said in unison as they stopped a foot from the captain at attention. “Alright you two, this piece of garbage clay right here is our new recruit. While I know he's not a minotuar, you're going to be the ones to mold him into a soldier that we can make use of. Do I make myself clear?” The captain said to the two of them. “Yes Sir!” they said saluting at the same time. “Then what in the name of the solar Princess herself are you doing standing around?! Get to it!” he said making the darker colored one of them rush over pick me up under his arm like I was nothing and the two of them to rush off. After a moment the two of them put me down. “Alright, 'clay'” the one that had been carrying me said “I am Iron Arm, this is Strong Horn” he said motioning towards the other minotuar. Iron Arm was quite large, his torso being a brown color reminding me of coffee which stood out from the reddish brown of his legs. The minotuar had short hair that looked like someone had taken a ruler to it between a pair of large light brown horns. Strong Horn was slightly smaller with a nearly cream colored torso and dull copper legs. This creature looked as though he shaved his mane leaving only the coat to cover the top of his head between the pair of off white horns. “Greetings” Strong Horn said with what sounded like a Russian accent, “Now, I want you to drop and give me as many arm ups as you can” he said. A strange look fell on my face making him roll his eyes. “On the ground” he said pointing a finger to emphasize. I was on the dirt in a second making him nod. “Alright now push off with your arms but leave your legs in place” he said making me mentally face palm. 'Pushups' I thought before he restated his order, “Now give me as many of those as you can do” After a few minutes and about thirty pushups, the lighter colored minotaur was clicking his tongue in disappointment. “Alright” Iron Arm said, wearing a similar face reflecting his feelings to my performance. After an hour or two of the two of them throwing me through different exercises, having to explain a few of them due to their names, I was exhausted. “Alright Clay, you have thirty seconds for a drink, go!” Iron Arm said making me throw down my bag unzip it and start chugging the water inside before replacing it and being back up. “Wow Clay! That only took twenty five seconds! Next time I want it done in fifteen!” he said in my face making me sigh mentally.