//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Good Guard it is hard! // Story: Bold Heart: My OC Story // by Buckeye49 //------------------------------// It is morning....I slept pretty well again, and soon I was having breakfast again it once more was amazing and tasty, it was good too since I now had a hard day ahead...if not today then the day after...but maybe since it is the military I will be worked today. "Calm down Heart, you'll do fine...." "Says you...." I said looking like I was about to pass out. "Just breathe Heart...." Twilight repeated. "You are lucky I left early to inform Applejack that you will be in Canterlot...and let you sleep in" Twilight added. "Alright I get it...but this may be trivial to you, but not to me!" I fired back. "I get it Heart, but worrying is not going to help you; be calm and you'll do fine, prayer helps if you need it...." "I have been told...." "Then accept it, it will do you some good...it helped me that is for sure" Twilight said. "I guess.....very well" "Good!~ Now just a little further then we'll be at the train station, take the time on board to relax more before we get there; you do seem at ease on trains from what I saw" "That is because trains, steam trains are a passion of mine as well" I replied, "Oh?~ I see...tell me about on the way...it will distract you from what's bothering you" Twilight reasoned, "That sounds nice..." "Excellent!~ That's the spirit!" Twilight beamed as we crossed the next few yards to the station. At the station Twilight purchased my ticket since she was a princess she gets on free, once that was done we waited til a train arrived. "So...Heart? You were saying about your love of trains?" "Oh yes, alright where should I start?" "Okay, from the 'beginning'" Twilight said. "Alright; 1st off I loved trains since I was a child or foal in this case..." Twilight giggles in response. "I guess it was something that never went away. 2nd: in my world Steam Locomotives are outdated" "Really?" Twilight asked interested. "Yes, on my planet in my native country, they were replaced 60-50 years ago by a locomotive made to run on oil refined into a fuel called 'Diesel', burned in a engine that makes electricity that moves the Loco, this loco is called a 'Diesel-Electric' Locomotive" "Fascinating, please continue..." Twilight eagerly encouraged warmly. "Yes and the upgrades came with a major improvement that is fatal the the Steam Loco's case, a Diesel takes 10 minutes to be ready from cold; do you know how long a Steam Loco takes?" "No, how long?" Twilight asked encouragingly. "6 hours!!" I said. "....Wow....well that makes perfect sense, considering the mass of water plus the heat required to heat the large amount of water and how metal reacts to being cooled then heated...it makes sense that to avoid damage, it must be heated gradually" Twilight stated. "Exactly! It is because if you heat up a Steam Loco too quickly, it will damage the Engine" "Well that spells bad news for Steam Engines if a Diesel has no need for heating water to move" "Yes unfortunately...bad news for them, good news for progress....and it meant death to the beloved Steam Locomotive in America." I said seriously. "That is sad...I am sorry that, that happened in your world, but I guess times change for a reason, they always do" Twilight said sympathetically. "But on the bright side many Steam Loco's are either exhibits or on tourist lines." I said warmly. "Nice! That is wonderful" Twilight said. "I know, some have even become celebrities" "Really how does that work?" Twilight asked looking perplexed. "Well either they accomplished a feat, or had good service so they were kept then used for tourism at the end of their carrier due to that they are 1 of few or the last of their kind, 1 Loco off my head is another's country's engine named 'The Mallard' broke the record for fastest Steam Loco at 126 MPH!!" "....Wow!! That is fast!! What happened to that engine?" "It is in a museum on a turn-table indoors that spins the engine slowly so you get a 360 view of it" "Ah I see, that sounds like a nice end for it" Twilight said smiling. "There is more; some have historic value for being somewhere during an important time like 'The General', used during the Civil War made famous for being stolen by Union soldiers, 'The Jupiter' and '#119' I call 'The Roger' used during the construction of the railroad that first linked the East Coast of my country to the West Coast" "Uh-huh..." Twilight said continuing to show undying interest. "But I think 1 of the 3 is original" "Which one do you think is original?" Twilight asked. "'The General' despite looking different from the look it actually had...if original it must have been rebuilt to look different due to age..." "That makes sense...age would be a good reason for an overhaul" "Indeed so, being built in the 1850's due to design changes made by the 1860's-1870's, a overhaul would be in order due to engines in the '70's becoming coal burners, when they all used to burn wood" "What does the fuel change do to the engines?" Twilight asked. "The tolerance to heat among internal things, coal burns hotter than wood does, plus burns slower and differently" "Aaah...that I knew there is a difference in using coal or wood" Twilight said knowingly. "I had a feeling you would" I said causing Twilight to blush as a result. "Also I wonder about something" "What is that Twilight?" "Why are engines named?" "That I am not sure...I would have to if I return home but can still come back, look that up" "Oh okay." Twilight chirped; we talked back and forth for a little more until finally the train arrived. "Well! Now that the train is here we can be on our way" Twilight said. "Sure Twilight...thank you again for helping in calming me down and listening to me, not many do..." I said warmly grateful. "You're welcome Heart" Twilight said soothingly; on the train we rumbled along on to Canterlot for the beginning of my future as a Equestrian Canterlot Royal Guard. The train was still moving on, on the way we talked a little more, "I love the knowledge you have Heart, your passion for things you love is a wonderfully beautiful thing to have" Twilight said warmly. "Thank you Twilight, not many appreciate my enthusiasm and energy in the things I know or love" "I can see way but I guess they just don't understand...or had Pinkie as a friend.*chuckles*" "*laughs lightly* That I think is true, but there are times I over do things..." "I know Heart, but I too have over done things too" "I can imagine~..." I said coyly. "Shut up!~" Twilight replied jokingly. "But seriously I am grateful for the sympathy" "Of course Heart, Rainbow in a way was right, you have confidence problems so you need friends who can understand and be there for you...." "Twilight you and your friends are the best, my few among fewer friends I ever had" I said tearing up. "Aaaw~ Easy Heart, it is what a good pony and a friend does" Twilight said hugging me. "*chuckles softly* Thank you..." I said trying to dry my eyes. "You're welcome" Twilight said soothingly tearing up herself. We were here, Canterlot....national capital of The Royal Dominion of Equestria; I was back to scared...but Twilight soothed me and my courage was partially regained. "You'll do fine just breathe, and don't worry training lasts more than a day Heart...though that should be obvious" "I know that but it is just the thought of what Day 1 will bring" "I know Heart, a lot can happen in the first day but I feel it should be fine" Twilight reasoned. "I will see" ~And see if I do not crack under the pressure...as well as get jealous of Cielo again...~ "That's the attitude~"; we then walked to the Castle Keep where we were told to meet the Princesses then Cielo for the 1 of many important things of my life. We entered the inside and again a guard was called to find Celestia & Luna, like my first visit the wait was short and again the Princesses were eye candy....sinfully delectable eye-candy...~Oh crap not again....~ "Twilight! Bold Heart! You're here! Excellent!" Celestia beamed. "Yep! And Bold Heart here is anxious to start training" "Really?~ Well then let's not delay then" Luna spoke up. "Come with me Bold Heart and Cielo will see to you" Luna added motioning with her head to follow her. "As you wish" I replied quickly. "Cielo will meet us in the drilling grounds which are to the Right Rear Quadrant of the castle" "Understood" I replied seriously; we walked a great distance before suddenly Luna spoke up. "Are you nervous Bold Heart?" Luna asked compassionately. "A little...." I replied almost squeaking my response. "It is natural to be nervous, you needn't worry Heart" "Twilight has told me that..." "Then thou should listen to her" Luna chimed smoothly. "I was told by her to listen to her as well..." "*chuckles*I suggest taking that to heart too" Luna said smiling. "Yes your Majesty" "*giggles*So formal & proper..." Luna said looking amused. "Well I should start since I am trying to be a guard" "True...but right now I wish to engage in friendly casual conversation" Luna said. "Sorry....I am also formal when dealing with authority figures" I stated. "Ah I see, but you should know me & my sister as often casual ponies" "I should but I did not want to be casual when I should not...in case it is not appropriate" "Understood, but now that you know for sure you can be at ease about us" Luna said reassuringly. "Thank you Luna; oh and how are you and Cielo?" "You are welcome, and we are well; yourself?" "Had a busy first day working for Applejack and my first payment will be given at week's end" "Excellent! Tis wonderful you are hard working and earning payment for thy work!" Luna beamed happily. "Thank you, I feel pretty proud myself..." ~*sigh*...and it will be only myself will be proud of my work and accomplishments......I love my new friends being happy...but a friend...I hate to say is not enough anymore...~. So we kept walking, it was eventually we met Cielo half way in a hallway. "Cielo!" Luna called out. "Hello beloved, is my recruit ready?" "Yes he is Cielo and he is impatient about starting" "Well that is new...usually they aren't ready to be trained...I may like this one more that I do already" Cielo said confidently. "I hope to continue to be favored....at least in the long run" "We'll see about that, but first...your training" Cielo replied; we then reached the area for training. "Well Bold Heart, this is where I leave you; train hard and train well" "I will try Luna" "Good; Cielo?" "Yes Luna?" "Train him well but don't be too hard on him." Luna giggled. "I won't my love." "Good. Farewell boys!~" "Bye!~" Cielo called back, "Now then." Cielo barked at me. "I am not your friend, but I am you Superior! YOU are to listen to whatever I order you to do understood?" "Sir! Yes sir!!" "Good! Now with me!" "Yes sir!" I replied galloping after him which then turned into a running exercise, we galloped hard and it was after a hard 25 laps worth we ceased and to his surprise I handled it well. "Well damn Heart! You tired?!" "No sir!!" ~HORSESCHIST!!!~ "That's good! Let's do 25 more! Then hit the weight's room!" "Sir! Yes sir!!" "Move!" Cielo barked, then we did it again. ~I do not know who is crazier, him or me!!!~ "You running out of steam there Heart?!" "No....Sir!!...." I panted in reply, the truth was I was exhausted but I had to push on!! "Horse-apples!! You look tired to me!!" Cielo retorted. "Well...I...am...NOT!!" with a burst of energy I shocked his horseshoes off when I charged past him!! I could swear this song was playing in my head after an imaginary voice yelled "CHARGE!!" this *tune "playing" in my head I was 3 lengths ahead sweating profusely. After another 25 laps we finally ceased...and hilariously...he was exhausted and taking a breather, though I was about to pass out! "What?!.....was......that?!?!" Cielo asked panting heavily. "I probably am glad we stopped so I can explain to you, I was somewhat a runner on my home planet, I was fast but not for great distances....thanks to this shape shift I feel it enhanced what I had" I reasoned on guess. "Well.....damn!.....That's....not....fair!!....." Cielo said still sucking wind. "With all due respect, you tired Cielo?" I asked cockily, ~That could have been stupid of me...~ "Being smart Heart?" Cielo asked regaining his energy. "No sir, I was asking an honest question" ~not!....~ "Well in that case....NO. Just taking a short breather" Cielo stated, ~Liar...~ "Very well sir, I understand" ~HA!~ "Good! Now, to the Gym!!" "Yes sir!!" I replied as we cantered to our next task in the training process. "After the Gym we hit 'The Course'!" "Yes sir." we soon were in the gym while I exercised Cielo, watched me for which we were here for an hour and a half, then after a very brief rest we hit "The Course"; once there I was on the course from the moment he finished his instructions, we were here for 2 hours!! I was worn, weary, yet unbowed; I was making progress. "Let us retire cadet! You did enough for today, tomorrow we will continue your training, you may be a cadet but since you are a unique case we are doing training in stages" Cielo stated, it was 11:30AM when we came to Canterlot, now it was 4PM. "Why is my case 'unique' enough for this kind of treatment?" I asked near suspiciously. "I do not have the answer, the Princesses do" he replied like it was a prepared response to my question. "Now! To the barracks! With me!" Cielo ordered. "Yes sir!" I replied to which we between cantered and galloped to the barracks. Upon arrival he showed me my bunk I would be using, then showed me other important places I would need to know about within the barracks, after that the Mess Hall where I will be eating this evening with my fellow cadets and guards which the guards dominated in numbers since there was not a increase of recruiting, ~Shame....I guess that night was my last with royalty...but, it was expected...I am a "Guard-in-Training" now~ "So, this is were I leave you; we will continue tomorrow and after more train you will be given important information to which will become a written test understood?" Cielo said seriously. "Yes sir" I replied quickly, "Excellent; well eat and sleep well cadet" "Thank you sir, goodnight sergeant" "Goodnight" Cielo said before leaving; now here I was, a cadet in the Equestrian Canterlot Royal Guard, there was no turning back now as I thought about the future, which was a lot as I sat eating the meal with those who were there. I had nopony talk with me the whole "dinner" and soon I hits the bunk, ~*sigh* I am a cadet, a royal cadet.....what are you doing Edwards?....why the guard?....because you are a closet masochist....*sarcastic chuckle*~. TO BE CONTINUED.