The explorers have grown up and now the five best friends face a year of hard training. They face it together, to return to Ponyville and their many friends, as the firefighters they knew in their hearts they were.
Long and hard work lay before the five. However they would do this, for Ponyville, for Luna, and for the memory of Archer.
Meanwhile Ponyville continues to grow, and with that. The chief of PVFD Station 1, Rescue Sunstreak, grows with it. He has to plan the future, no longer is ponyville a tiny little village, it is a true town now and its needs for first responders have grown with it.
With his husband at his side, and friends all around them. They will guide the new generation of firepony, to help them carry on the tradition of charging in when others run away.
“Do you guys remember when we slid down this hill on that ramp and tried to jump over Ponyville to get our stunt-pony cutie marks?”
Apple Bloom looked over at the tangerine pegasus and gave a warm chuckle. “Ah sure do. Ah remember we had to work for two weeks cleanin' up around town, too.”
Sweetie Belle didn’t say anything, rather nodding her head. The three—the original Cutie Mark Crusaders—were together having a little picnic.
“I... sure am going to miss you two,” Scootaloo said, glanced over at her two friends. “I love you both, you two are my true sisters.”
Both the earth pony and unicorn squeezed in, hugging the small-winged pegasus. Sweetie said in her soft, warm tone. “We love you, too, Scoot, but you are going off to do great things. You are going to come back a paramedic, I don’t think anypony could be more proud of you than we are.”
Apple Bloom nodded her head in agreement with the white unicorns words. “She is right, and it ain’t like you are gonna be gone forever. It's just a year, and then you and the others will be back, right?“
Scootaloo exhaled and pressed her forehead into the light yellow earth pony’s neck. “Yeah, but, we have never been apart for that long before.”
Sweetie Belle once more spoke up, placing her hoof on her best friend's shoulder. “Scootaloo, no matter how far you are, no matter how long it has been, you are a Crusader forever.”
She then took in a small breath. “Got the moves got the mojo.”
Apple Bloom’s eyes lit up, and she couldn’t help but add in. "No harder working ponies around.”
Scootaloo sniffled and smiled warmly. “We are a trio, work as a team.”
All three mares put their right hooves together in front of them, touching edge to edge and singing in unison. “We will be the first ponies out on the flag waving scene.”
Scootaloo grabbed her two friends in a combination of wing-and-hoof hugs, pressing her face in between the two of theirs.
“Thank you two, for everything.”
---
Pipsqueak glanced over at the pink earth pony mare laying next to him. The last month since graduation had been quite a change in their relationship. Mr. Rich was not exactly happy when he caught them up in her room. However, a long talk with him and Pip’s two fathers had sorted things out in a jiffy.
“Diamond, are you awake?”
The mare rolled over to face the paint stallion laying next to her. “Yeah, was just thinking about tomorrow. About how I am going to have to go nearly a year without this, without laying next to you and feeling you.”
Pip blushed some as he nuzzled into her neck. “We will find time. It will be difficult, but we will, okay?”
Pressing into him, Diamond Tiara wrapped her legs in with his, so they lay belly to belly. She nuzzled under her stallion's chin. “Are we doing the right thing, I mean... are we on the right path to a good life?”
He had to smile, her question was one he'd heard her voice before. He was pretty sure it was more trying to make sure her own feelings were right.
“I think, my Diamond, that we could not be on a better path, and I can’t think of any pony I would rather be on it with.”
He watched her fluster as she tucked her head under his chin and rubbed her snout into his throat lovingly. “Pip Sunstreak, what am I going to do with you?”
Pipsqueak rested his chin on the top of her head and softly exhaled. “No clue, Dia, I will never understand how you put up with me.”
She whispered into his neck. “You talk too much.”
---
Rumble sat on his bed, staring up at the ceiling and thinking. A knock on his door brought him about and he turned to look at it. “Yeah, come on in!”
Rarity nosed the door open. It was kind of weird really, when he thought about it, how the fashion diva and his brother hooked up. However, she was a very genuine mare, and it was clear to him his brother was head-over-fetlocks with her.
“Rumble, darling, you have been in here all morning. Are you okay?”
The stone-grey pegasus sat upright, stretching his wings some before giving a nod. “I am. Thank you for asking, Rarity. I'm just thinking about tomorrow, about the future. Part of me wonders if Scoots and I will make it, or if our relationship make it.”
He shook his head, glancing out the window next to his bed. “I don’t like not knowing.”
A soft, perfectly manicured hoof touched his shoulder.
“Rumble, you rushed head-long into a burning building to save her. You risked your life, and earned your cutie mark for her. You are her knight in shining armor. I see the way you look at her, and I see the way she looks at you. It is the same look I see in Diamond's eyes when she looks at Pipsqueak, all the same I see in Ailan’s eyes when he looks at Rescue.”
Glancing over at her, Rumble gave her a smile soft and warm. “What about how you look at my brother?”
She paused a moment, a light blush crept into her cheeks. Peeking over her shoulder and out the door, finally guessing Thunderlane must still be outside.
“Your brother is very special to me. I know we have only been dating a few months now, but, I am already very fond of him.”
Rumble slid off his bed and touched his fetlock to Rarity’s for a moment.
“Rarity, I know my brother loves you. Heck, the first few weeks after you said yes, all he could do was talk about you. It drove me up the wall.”
Her blush retained its warmth and light, as she smiled. “I used to think I was going to find my prince, who would come along and sweep me off my hooves. Carry me off into the high society of Canterlot and fame.”
She shook her head some. “Rather, I found a sweet, soft-hearted pegasus stallion who wants nothing more than to protect me from the dangers of the world. He may not be a prince, but, well, I think in my heart, he is.”
Rumble warmly smiled back. “Thank you for talking to me, Rarity, it means a lot to me. I just want to do right by Scootaloo. I mean, I know she loves me, but…”
Again, Rarity shook her head she tapped the young stallion on the nose. “Enough of that, darling. Now, come along, your brother is sure to have the hayburgers ready by now.”
---
Lily just stayed there in a ponyloaf, neck wrapped around Carrot’s neck, relaxing as they hid away in his parent’s barn. Her ears perked as he nuzzled her once more.
“I am going to miss you, Lily. You will come home every chance you get, right?”
The big draft mare gave a nod to the smaller stallion. Not that Carrot had grown up short, just she was a big mare.
“I will, Carrot, I will. Every chance I can get a hold of. I will write and stuff, too.”
He leaned into her and closed his eyes, resting his head across her withers. “You know, she would be so proud of you, just like the rest of us are.”
A silence fell upon them for a lengthy amount of time, before she gave a light nod of her head, turning her muzzle into his chest and pressing her soft nose there.
“I know, Carrot, but, all I really care about, is that you stand next to me and support me. I know it ain’t been easy, I know folks give you a hard time because I am so much bigger than you…”
She gave a little nicker when he nipped her neck. “You stop that, I don’t care what others say. Come next spring you will be my wife, and that is all I care about Lily... you.”
Lily shook her head and planted a kiss on top of his head. “Don’t know what I ever did to deserve you, Carrot.”
---
It seemed like half the town had turned out to see them set off. All five of them with bulky saddle bags across their backs, with big tote bags stuffed with their equipment were also being loaded on the train. Pipsqueak hugged Rescue one last time, as tight as he could, sniffling a bit, but then again, so was the big stoic stallion.
“I won’t let you down, Dad.”
Rescue shook his head and looked into his son’s eyes. “You just do your best, Pip, and that is all your father and I can ask of you.”
He turned his head to look at the others saying goodbye to friends and family. “That goes for all of you. You just do your best, and if you have a problem, if you are worried, stressed, scared, it don’t matter. You come back and talk to me, you talk to each other, you find my father or my brother. You are not facing this challenge alone, and I just want to say…”
He paused, looking around before looking into the eye of each of them in turn.
“I am proud of you all for taking this step. No matter what the outcome is, I am proud of each and every one of you.”
Many stomped their hooves, shouting and whistling happily. The five all looked around and not one of them stood without a blush under their coats.
“All aboard!” The conductor glanced at his watch and shut it, tucking it back into his pocket. “Canterlot Express is leaving the station, last call to board!”
Three mares, two stallions, all young, looked around. With a nod to their respective parents and loved ones, they turned and walked into the train car. Sitting by the windows, they waved out of them as the train started to pull out.
Once out of sight, when they could no longer see the happy, smiling faces of everypony, Diamond turned to her friends, her fellow cadets, and she gave a nod, reaching out her hoof. Lily lifted hers up to touch, followed by Pipsqueak, then Rumble, and lastly, Scootaloo. The pink earth pony exhaled slowly and looked each in the eye in turn.
“For Ponyville, for Luna, and for Archer.”
Not one of them looked away, they all knew exactly why the were embarking on this quest. A quest to become one of the insane ponies that ran to the fire, not away from it.
Arriving in Canterlot and finding their way to the academy had not been too difficult. In fact, Rumble had struck up a conversation with a group of four cadets from the Crystal Empire on the train. Now, the four crystal ponies were walking with the Ponyville cadets. It could not have been more intriguing to learn they were the first of their kind to start down the road of becoming first responders.
“That's wild! So, it’s a bit like soft metal fires then?” Rumble glanced over as the nine ponies walked together in a tight group.
Blue Sapphire, a crystal earth pony, gave a bit of a nod. “Exactly. So, if a fire reaches a high enough temperature to hit the flash point of crystal, we can’t use water on it. It just makes it hotter and burn brighter.”
“Hey, Pipsqueak, how come you and Lily have that little pin on your uniforms already?” Clouded Ruby asked. The reddish-yellow mare gestured her hoof at the open parachute with the crossed axe and saw over it.
Pip glanced over, then back to where he was walking. “Lily and I are both honorary Hot Shots, Academy regulations let us wear our pins to show that.”
The four crystal ponies exchanged looks with each other and back at the paint pony in a bit of awe. “So, you two have made a jump already?”
Lily shook her head. “No. It’s a long story, but to sum it up, we pulled a wagon across a fire line in full gear to pull ten Explorers and a full crew out who were trapped behind it. That was during the big Whitetail Woods fire, about three years ago.”
Pip continued after her. “So, at the Firefighter's Ball that year, we were inducted. Of course, we still have to qualify in jump school and graduate from the Academy before we can become full members.”
Blue shook her head. “That's crazy... and cool all at once. You think we will all get the same bunkhouse?”
Diamond Tiara shrugged. “Who knows, but it would be pretty cool. First Ponyville cadets, and the first Crystal Empire cadets, all in the same unit.”
Clouded leaned over and spoke in a softer voice to Scootaloo. “Is Diamond seeing anyone?”
The tangerine pegasus smirked slightly and gave a nod, keeping the private-conversation tone. “Sorry, Clouded, but her and Pip are engaged. Heck, they have been together since we were all like ten or eleven.”
“Damn! All the cute ones are already taken. You Ponyville ponies move fast,” Clouded grunted, but he smirked some, having already learned about her and Rumble.
---
Diamond simply could not fathom how somepony so old-looking could be so darn loud! She stood shoulder-to-shoulder with her fellow cadets, listening as the training officer lectured bunk assignments to every pony there.
“Ponyville!” the faded dark-green earth pony stallion shouted. He stood up on a small podium with eight other firefighter trainers who had all been introduced.
Diamond called out. “Here and accounted for, sir!”
His head pivoted and looked down at the pink mare, silently sizing her up. He gave a grunt, then a nod. “Bunkhouse three," he said, shifting his attention back down to his clipboard. “Griffonstone!”
A large and rather burly eagle-headed griffon spoke up. “Here and accounted for, sir!”
Flint Stone looked over and down at the group of four griffons, then grunted out. “Bunkhouse four.”
Back down to his list, he called out and assigned four other groups before he called out the last. “Crystal Empire!”
Blue proudly raised her head. “Here and accounted for, sir!”
Once more, the earth pony’s head turned and looked down at the group of four. “Bunkhouse three.”
Scootaloo grinned at that. “Cool!”
Tucking the clipboard back into a hip bag hanging from his side, the older stallion glanced down at the Ponyville group. He lifted a hoof and pointed right at Pipsqueak. “You, paint! You are Pipsqueak Sunstreak, yes?”
Gulping, Pip kept his head up and eyes forward. “Yes, sir,” he responded.
Clicking his tongue a few times, the old stallion gave a grin. “I was your father's probationary training officer. I will expect big things from you, boy.”
The paint colt struggled to swallow another lump, nodding firmly. “Yes, sir!”
With a nod, ignoring the snicker from a few of the other training officers, the old stallion bellowed out. “Dismissed! Unpack your gear, clean up. Remember, you all have the official meet-and-greet at seventeen-hundred hours. You are expected to wear your cadet dress uniforms.”
He paused to glance down at the three griffons. “You may wear your sashes, with any honors you have, but may not fly your color patch, you have not earned that right yet.”
They glanced at each other, then nodded. “Yes, sir,” they said in unison.
Turning, he grunted out. “Now, get out of here, all of you.”
---
As they had all found out, the bunkhouses were broken up into a cross, and all four attached at one end like a big plus mark.
Each wing had two floors, five rooms each, two beds to a room. All females downstairs, all males upstairs. Each floor had its own shared shower area and bathroom. Downstairs was a small kitchen that both floors shared together, along with a spacey common room with four study areas set aside.
Pip found himself bunking with Rumble, and he knew Diamond and Scootaloo were bunking together. Lily received her own room due to her size. They had to bring in one of the beds made especially for the draft stallions to accommodate her.
Right now, he and Rumble were busy brushing out their cadet dress uniforms, making sure not a speck of lint or hair was on them. Rumble attached a small bar on the left breast pocket, just under a slightly-longer bar with two ribbons on it.
"How does that look, Pip?” he asked, stepping out of the way. “Is it on crooked?”
Pipsqueak turned and strode over, looking at the shirt hanging from the small hanger on the closet door, taking note of the pure white background, three dark blue bands, and the tiny gold-crossed axe pin in the center red band. “No, you got it dead on.”
Walking back over to grab a towel, Pip threw it over his shoulder. “I am going to go shower up.”
He headed down the hall, ears catching the chatter of the others from the other bunkhouse wings in the showers. Stepping into the locker room and over to his assigned locker, he tugged his shower kit off his back and stuffing it in the small space. From behind him, he heard, “What the hell happened to you?!”
Blinking, Pip glanced behind to see a group of three—two earth pony stallions and a male diamond dog—all of which fixed their gazes at his left barrel side and leg. Looking down, he shrugged, unwavered by the fact that anypony outside of Ponyville would recognize it.
“I got burned pretty bad when I was a foal, rushed into a burning building to save a friend.”
The Diamond dog snorted. “Horseapples, bet you got caught playing with matches or something,” the small group then walking off down their hall, laughing.
A timid voice from his left spoke up. “D-d-d... D-don’t l-let them get-get-get to you.”
Turning, he found himself looking at a rather small yellow unicorn. The stallions cutie mark looked to be a book set aflame.
“It’s cool, I am used to it by now. Name is Pipsqueak, but everyone calls me Pip,” he paused, brushing a hoof across the floor. “Or Squeaker.”
The unicorn offered out a hoof, Pip shook it lightly. “R-r-r-Run C-Card, I-I-I am here from Mmm-m-m-m Manehattan.”
Pip smiled. “Cool, Ponyville here.”
He watched his new friend nod. “I-I know, Y-you-you saved my b-b-b-b-b... brothers life. H-he was part of s-s-station fif-fif-fifteen’s E-Explorers.”
Blushing now, he tucked his ears down. “It was a team effort. I am really glad we were able to make it, Run Card.”
The smaller stallion smiled. “Y-you d-d-didn’t ma-ma-make fun of my s-s-s-speech.”
Pip furrowed an eyebrow, shaking his head. “Why would I? Does it stop you from doing your job?”
Run Card shook his head. “N-no.”
Pip gave a single nod. “Like my dad taught me, all that matters is what a pony does, and where his heart goes, as long as you try your hardest.”
The smaller stallion nodded. “I-I-I w-will.”
Pip turned to head into the shower just as Rumble walked in with his kit and towel over his back. “Hey, Rumdumb, this is Run Card. His brother was in the Station Fifteen Explorers,” before disappearing into the shower area.
Rumble gave a smile. “Sweet! So, you must have been Station Thirty then,” he said, their voices blotted out from the sound of running water.
---
Pipsqueak glanced around the gathering. There were so many of his fellow cadets he had yet to meet. Rumble beside him gave a nudge. “Dude, you better keep an eye on your mare, or some sweet talker is going to take her from you.”
Pip snorted. “Yeah, right. They would be lucky to get away from her without a broken nose.”
Rumble glanced over, then snorted out. “True. Well, I am going to go meet others."
“Yeah, same, see you back in the room.”
Pip then spotted the cadets from Manehattan and waved, heading for the drink table. Half way, there he found himself cut off by a familiar diamond dog and two earth pony stallions. “Hey, look, it's the firebug.”
Exhaling slowly, Pip shook his head. “What is it with you? Your mother not hug you enough as a pup?”
A growl slipped from the diamond dog. “What did you say, runt? You got a mouth on you. Not surprised considering you are a liar, too.”
Pip was about to retort when a hoof stomped down hard. “What is going on here?!”
Snapping to attention and making note of the three other cadets did the same. Pip saw it was a rather large draft stallion, easily his father's size, dressed in a training officers uniform, its markings indicating that he was the wagon-and-pull trainer.
“Nothing, sir, just engaging in conversation with my fellow cadets.”
He snorted and looked at the other three, before looking back at Pipsqueak. One eyebrow lifted, then suddenly he lifted his hoof up and saluted the paint pony. This caused the diamond dog to suck in a shocked breath.
“You must be Rescue’s kid, Pipsqueak Sunstreak,” the big stallion gestured to the ribbon on his chest. “Honor to have a Iron Hook winner among the cadets.”
Leaning closer, still ignoring the shocked Diamond dog and his two friends. “I hear you paid a price for that ribbon, son. That ain’t going to hold you back, is it?”
Pip lifted his head a bit higher. “No, sir!”
The stallion gave a nod. “Good. A lot of us will have our eye on you, son. Carry on, cadets,” as he turned and trotted off.
“N-no way, you... you really received the Iron Hook?” The stallion to the left of the dog half-whispered.
Pipsqueak shifted back to the three, nodding “Rumble and I both,” gesturing to the grey pegasus currently talking to another group of cadets far across the room.
“Look, sorry, okay? My name is Hose Weaver, that is Butch, and the quiet stallion there is Smoke Dancer. He doesn’t talk, he is mute from birth... but, he does know Equestrian standard sign.”
Finally, the diamond dog spoke up. “I... I had no clue, I had no right to call you... I am a bad dog,” his ears flattened.
Pip shook his head. “No, don’t do that—Butch was it? You just made a mistake, and now you know and you won’t make that same one again," he then offered out his hoof. “So how about we start again. Hi, I am Pipsqueak. I'm from Ponyville.”
Shaking hoof with the paw, then shaking the hooves of the other two. Hose translated for the ear motions and head tilts of the green earth pony while butch hung close.
“So, Smoke asks, did Rumble get hurt, too? What about that pony you saved?”
Pip smirked some and pointed. “Rumdumb got all four hooves burned and torched his wings some. He won’t admit it out loud, but his wingtips still bother him some... nerve damage. The one we saved is right over there,” pointing at the tangerine pegasus, talking to the griffon group with a pink earth pony at her side. “EMT Scootaloo, over there standing with my fiance.”
It was Butch who blurted out. “The pink one? You are getting married? You must only be, what, just turned eighteen?”
The paint pony gave a smile and nodded. “Yeah, we agreed to wait 'til we get through our probationary period, but we have been together since we were eleven. So, what is a bit longer of a wait?”
The Diamond dog shook his head. “I like you, Ponyville, you got your act together. Come on, let's get some drinks.”
Pip gave a nod, turning to walk with his three new friends. He glanced at the diamond dog once more.
“Butch, I mean nothing bad by this, but I am very curious. You speak far more clearly than most of your kind I have met.”
The dog’s tail started to wag slightly as he smiled. “I was adopted when I was a pup of three months old by a pony couple. I grew up around ponies, going to pony schools and hanging out with pony friends. I got to have the formal education so many other diamond dogs don’t receive.”
Pip gave a bit of a nod, then he paused, turning to look up at Butch. “We share something then, Butch. I am adopted, too. My fathers adopted me right after the fire that burned my old orphanage down.”
A genuine smile crossed the canine's face, then he blinked in bewilderment. “Wait, fathers?”
Pip gave a nod, and started to explain as they each poured a cup of punch and found a spot off to the side to stand out of the way of the others. By the end of the rather-long explanation, the paint pony found a good twenty of his fellow cadets all gathered around, listening to his story, and a certain pretty pink earth pony pressed against his side.
Rescue let out a long, deep breath and peeked out from the squad bay. His eyes on the shining white castle on the hill in the distance. He didn’t hear Ice come up on his side, only becoming aware of her as she nudged him.
“Chief, relax, will you? You raised him right, you taught them all the best you could. They will make it. None of them know how to quit.”
Glancing over at the pegasus mare, he gave a snort and looked back at the view.
“I know that in my head, but my heart worries and I know Ailan’s does, too.”
She again nudged him. “Well, quit, you are going to spook the Explorers. You know the trouble twins are watching you, right?”
Turning his head to see the two cake foals snap their heads back to working on polishing the brass slide pole, he sighed and called over to them. “I better be able to see myself in that thing, Explorers. Perhaps this will be a good reminder that it is not a funny joke to replace the coffee with decaf!”
He then shifted back to Ice. “Yeah, I know, thank you for reminding me. Are things set up for the announcement tomorrow?”
She nodded. “Yes, Chief. You still sure we shouldn’t tell Bull?”
Rescue frowned some. “Shhh.”
She grinned. “He is running a gallon of ice cream out to his wife.”
Rescue shook his head. “I still can’t believe another Apple is on the way. Do you know how big that clan is? Are they part rabbit?”
She blinked and gave an almost shocked look. “Chief… d-did you just... tell a joke?”
He slugged her in the shoulder lightly. “Shut up,” looking back out and wondering how his son, along with the other cadets, were taking hell week.
---
Pipsqueak glanced behind himself as they all ran circles around the long track. Spotting a few stragglers, he glanced to the pink mare huffing next to him.
“Di, I am going to drop back and help them.”
She glanced over her shoulder then nodded. “Go!”
Dropping back, slowing his pace and letting others pass him, he took note of Butch and Code running together but almost a quarter lap behind. He allowed them to catch up by setting pace with them, saying nothing. Butch was the first to break the silence.
“Squeaker, what are you doing?”
Looking over at pony and diamond dog, he smiled. “Running with you two. Come on, set your cadence with mine. We will finish this lap together, alright?”
Week one had been tough. Then again, it had been nicknamed ‘Hell Week’ for a reason. All of them had slept two or three hours a night. They had run more laps than they could count, push-ups, sit-ups, and carrying heavy hose rolls up the challenge tower. When they weren't sleeping or working out, they were being bombarded with classwork and homework.
It was Friday, make or break day, and Pip knew if Code and Butch didn’t at least make their best time, they were out.
Looping around the final turn, he huffed out. “Come on, you two, let’s sprint! You can do it! Come on, heavy, long strides!” He called out as the three sped up, Butch’s heavy feet slamming into the ground as he stretched out. He could hear Code huffing, wheezing a little now.
However, both were putting in everything they had. Crossing the line together, he urged them to slow, not stop. Walking it off, moving about until their heart rates lowered.
“Sunstreak! What in Luna’s left teat do you think you were doing?!”
Coming to a stop and moving to attention, Pip immediately faced the large brown unicorn stallion storming his way.
“Sir, I was helping Cadet Butch and Cadet Code finish their run.”
Frowning more, the stallion looked at his stopwatch then back at the paint pony. “Cadet Butch, Cadet Code, you passed, with two seconds to spare. Front and center Cadets, Ponyville, front and center!”
Once all were in formation before him, once more Stone Dropper looked at the young Ponyville stallion. “Now, Cadet, explain to me. What made you think it was okay to drop back and do what you did?”
Pip swallowed hard, he had not received one reprimand yet, but... the week was not over.
“Sir, I... well, I was taught a firepony never leaves a brother or sister behind. So, I got permission and I dropped back to give my fellow cadets some encouragement and support.”
Stone snorted. “And, Cadet, just who put that notion in your skull, and who gave you that order?”
Pip glanced at Diamond, who by day three had been given the badge of Cadet Chief. Even the gryphons felt she was the right one for it. “Sir I was given permission by Cadet Chief Tiara. As to who taught me that,” puffing his chest out some in pride. “My father, sir, Chief Rescue Sunstreak.”
Another grunt emanated from the large stallion facing them, then he glanced out at the others not in formation but listening. “So, at the risk of taking a demerit for performance, you thought you would help your fellow cadets?”
Pip gave a nod. “Yes, sir.”
Lifting his head, Stone yelled out.
“Listen up you foals. From here on out, you take note. One of you falls behind, you all fall behind. Teamwork, support your brothers and sisters, am I clear?!”
As one, they each barked out. “Yes, sir!”
He gave a single nod. “Cadet Chief Tiara, assign Cadet Ensign Sunstreak here to help Cadet Butch, Code, and the others who are a bit slower out there. I expect results by next Friday's test.”
She saluted in return. “Yes, sir,”
Butch and Code strolled over, still huffing some as Stone walked off.
“Pip, you saved us. Thank you for that.”
Pip shook his head. “No, I helped a couple of brother firepony—er, firedog, you know what I mean. We help each other, always. Remember that. The only reason the five of us are here is teamwork.”
---
Shaking his head lightly. “So what are your thoughts on them so far, Stone?”
Stone looked over at the other in the room, who was standing at the window looking outside at the training yard. “Flint, I think they have all got it. Sure, a few of them like that diamond dog and that little runt from Manehattan will have a rough go. Although, they will do just fine, as to who I know you are speaking of…”
Lifting his drink and taking a slug from it, letting the whiskey burn its way down. “I think Sunstreak’s kid will be one hell of a firepony, and I think that arrogant pink mare of his,” he shook his head, “I think we will be calling her Battalion Chief before you and I retire.”
Smirking as he turned, Flint lifted his own drink in a salute to his friend. “I think you are right, and I think Ponyville is in good hooves,” they clinked their glasses together and Stone gave a nod back. “Who would have thought that stallion would have gotten his shit together and turned out—” gesturing outside, “—Cadets like that.”
Flint glanced outside once more. “You remember what he was like back when he was a probie, Stone. I see the same thing when I look in their eyes. You know they lost one, right?”
Stone stood and walked over, looking outside, shoulder to shoulder with one of his oldest friends. “Yeah, I guess that gave them a drive to give it their all. So, all call out to Ponyville next weekend?”
Flint smirked some and took a sip. “Yep, be good to see that crusty stallion, show some kind of emotion in public.”
Stone snorted. “I will bet you twenty bits he doesn’t even crack a smile.”
The older stallion looked back over. “You are on, and you will lose that bet just like you did about him and mares.”
---
Standing now, donning his finest uniform, Rescue looked out at the gathered ponies and other Ponyville citizens. Oh, how he loathed public speaking, and having to be in full dress on a warm day made it that much worse. Hearing a throat clear on his right side, he turned and smiled a bit at the rounded and very-clearly pregnant orange mare.
“Y’all gonna tell us what this is about now, and why ma husband is out there sweating his flank off in full dress with th’rest of the crew?”
Rescue gave a chuckle and shook his head. “You can hold five more minutes, AJ. I could start early, but…” he gestured over to the purple alicorn and small drake holding a long list and making check marks on it.
Applejack snorted. “Yeah, well, there is that, ain’t there?” she said, rolling her eyes some with a smile. “Res, Max and I got to talkin’ about godparents.”
She glanced over at the big stallion at her side. “We want you and that husband of yours to watch over our foals should somethin’ happen to us.”
Turning his head to look at the younger mare, Rescue laid his ears back, and just stared in disbelief.
“I... we are honored, but, why us? I mean, you got all your friends, and—”
How many years had he been here now, and once more, some damn mare cuts him off. Life was never fair.
“Sunny, shut tha hell up and just say yes.”
He shook his head and chuckled. “I will let Ailan know,” blinking at her smirk.
The orange mare winked. “Ah think he knows already,” gesturing to the big, wide-grinning pegasus among the volunteer crew in their dress uniforms.
Opening himself to the link he and his mate shared, he could feel the warmth, the joy, pouring from his better half. “I suspect you are right.”
---
Rescue stood behind the podium and looked over his notes, then up at the sea of gazes focusing on him.
“Ponyville has grown since I first came to this little town and was tasked with starting up Station One. We have had our growing pains, we have all fought hard, and done our best. Today, it is not only the anniversary of that opening, but…”
A voice loud, clear, and above him came. He looked up as everypony started to mutter and whisper.
“Princess Luna?” what was it with mares cutting him off? It was like life had it out for him today.
Everypony immediately bowed down, and the observant would note every firefighter moved a hoof—or claw in the case of the gryphon among them—to the small medallion they all wore under their badges. Rescue dipped his ears as he watched her land beside him.
“Princess, we had not been told you would be attending.”
The lunar alicorn smiled warmly. “We know, friend Rescue. If you will pardon us, we will be taking over for a bit.”
All the big stallion could do was blink a few times then nod. “O-of course, my princess.”
---
“So, this is where you guys grew up. Nice looking place,” Stonecrusher, the gryphon officer candidate stood next to Pip as they waited in formation with the rest of the cadets and a number of high-rankers from the EFD.
He managed to spot his uncle and his grandfather among them, but no one had told them what was going on, except that all the cadets had been ordered into dress uniforms, and the Ponyville Cadet Squad now stood at the front of the column.
“Yeah, Ponyville is a pretty great little town. I mean, how many other towns can say they have their own princess, as well as the Elements of Harmony?”
“Looking good, Rumble!” a pegasus mare flew past heading in the direction of the station that was just down the street and around a bend. Rumble glanced up and grinned wide.
“Hey, thank you, Flitter!”
Scootaloo poked the colt-turning-stallion. “No looking!”
Rumble muttered. “Eww, she is like a older sister to me.”
Up front standing at Firehook’s side, a young pink earth pony mare shook her head. “Idiots.”
Firehook chuckled some to himself and said in a low tone to the young cadet chief. “It is like wrangling parasprites sometimes,” before his ears lifted at a loud whistle from down the street. Spotting his son Steelhook gesture, he nodded.
“It is time, Cadets, Battalion representatives. Let's move out!”
As a group, they started down the road, nearly fifty strong.
---
“You will forgive the change in speaker, but today is a monumental day, and I wished to be part of it.”
The blue alicorn settled her wings in and glanced off to the left, giving a nod. Rescue tried to follow her line of view, but saw nothing.
She turned back to the crowd. “Today, we gather not just to commemorate the day Ponyville received its first fire station, but to honor the ones who work tirelessly to staff it. The one who toil night and day protecting us, watching over us, and saving us in our moment of need.”
Hooves stomped, claws clacked, as everyone clapped. Luna let it die down some, but it didn’t as others started to look around for where the hoof stomping was coming from. Around the corner came a column of ponies in blue dress uniforms with crisp white shirts underneath.
Rescue’s ears perked high as he spotted his father, his brother, and many of the other high-ranking officers of the department. Eyes going over the line as it appeared, a smile came to his face seeing his son march proud next to the other cadet officers. The cadet leaders standing out from others in their bright white hats counter to the black ones the rest wore.
“Princess Luna, what is—” a dark blue hoof pressed to his lips.
“Thine husband is quite right, thou talks too much.”
Rescue let off a little angry horse snort, but kept his mouth shut.
Once the procession had come to a stop and formed up. Four ponies stepped out, flanked by a gryphon, and a diamond dog. Stepping up, each bowed to Luna, as Rescue snapped off a salute, looking his father in the eyes, trying to figure out what the heck was going on.
Luna stepped aside to let the six step up to the platform before she again turned to face the crowd.
“Today, Ponyville grows. Chief Sunstreak, will you do the honors, please?”
Rescue blinked and stepped forward next to the taller mare. “Max Ember, front and center, please,” he paused as a few in the crowd looked around. The draft stallion chuckled. “That is Bull’s real name for you folks that only know him as that, or, Mister Applejack.”
AJ gave a laugh and a very unmare-like snort. A few laughed with her, Bull simply grumbled as he strode up, muttering, “I am going to get you for that one, Sunstreak,” under his breath, but just enough for the dark earth pony to hear.
Rescue turned to look at one of his friends, fellow firepony, and right hoof. “Bull, you are out of uniform, and I am highly disappointed you would be such in front of our princess.”
The unicorn stallion blurted out, he couldn’t help himself. “Like hell I am!”
More laughter, but Rescue held up a hoof to silence the crowd before reaching under the podium.
“Max Ember, Bull… you have been my saving grace more times than I can think of. It does me a great honor, and with great joy... I hand you this.”
He offered out a blue velvet case about five inches long and another three wide. Bull took it in his magic aura and opened it carefully. His face broke, something that most, even other fireponies had yet to see him do before now.
“T-r-this is, they are, but I—we…” his head snapping up with wide, teary eyes. “A-are you retiring?”
Applejack called out from the crowd. “What in tarnation are they—!” none seeing exactly what was in the case.
Bull looked out at the orange mare, the soon-to-be mother of his foal. His ears down, displaying more emotion than he had ever let show in public on his face. He held the case up for her and the crowd to see. “T-they are Chief bugles.”
Applause and hooves stomping broke out, calls of pride and congratulations echoed among the gathered Ponyvilleians.
Rescue watched AJ’s eyes tear up some, but shoot from her husband to him and back to her husband before he spoke, pausing to let the crowd once more die down.
“Chief Ember, no, I will not be retiring. Rather, you are hereby,” picking up the pins and slowly working the unicorn stallion’s old captain bugles off, staying silent as he pinned on the new ones. Stepping back one pace with a smile.
“Assigned to Ponyville Station Two, as her first Chief.”
Gasps escaped from everypony, other than the officers on the podium, the dark alicorn, and a few in the crowd of many.
“Station Two, we don’t have a Station Two…”
Rescue chuckled some. “We will in six months, Bull, she is to be started tomorrow, out on the far north end. I could not be more proud to know you right now, or more sure they picked the right pony for the job.”
This time, the uproar of cheers came from everywhere. Up in the clouds above many of the Ponyville pegasi flock banged hooves together. Earth ponies stomped and yelled, unicorns shot bright colored balls of magic up into the air like fireworks. Rescue looked at Bull who was showing more emotion than he had ever seen the big guy show.
“I... don’t know what to say, I…”
The larger dark stallion patted the unicorn on the shoulder and gestured. “Say something to her, dummy,” watching as Bull spun and pulled the orange mare who had come up the steps into a crushing embrace. He heard him whisper to AJ who had tears flowing now.
“We did it, Jackie, we won’t be wanting for money now, no matter what.”
Rescue gave a nod of his head as he watched Applejack mouth a silent ‘thank you’ to him.
Slowly, the cheers died down, and Rescue realized the lunar princess was holding up a hoof to call for silence.
“Chief Sunstreak,” she looked over at him. “There is another matter to attend to here,” shifting to Rescue’s father, she spoke clear but not shouting, just loud enough for all to hear. “Fire Chief Firehook, if you will please.”
He nodded once and looked out over at the cadets, five of whom had the largest smiles of anypony there.
“Cadet Sunstreak! How many battalions are there in the Equestrian Fire Department?”
Pip called out without thinking. “Five, sir! Battalion One and Three are Canterlot, Battalion Two is Los Pegasus and Cloudsdale, Battalion Four is Manehattan and surrounding areas, and last, Battalion Five is Ponyville, and all outlying areas, including the Crystal Empire, sir!”
Rescue tilted his head and watched his father and a few of the others shake their heads. Again, Firehook called out.
“Captain Flint, just what are you teaching this year's cadets?”
Luna gave a ‘tsking’ noise, as the old stallion snorted from where he stood with the cadets. Everypony else had their heads turning one way and the other, following the conversation.
“Don’t know what to say, Firehook, I guess the kid is soft in the head or something,” turning to look at Pip, who was quite confused now.
“Cadet Ensign Sunstreak, were you not issued the update for the manual before we left?”
Diamond spoke up. Not only was she top of the class, but very by the book.
“Update, sir? We were not informed of any update.”
Lifting an eyebrow, the old stallion looked back up at the officers and princess on the stage. “Sorry, Fire Chief, looks like someone screwed up.”
Luna could not hold her smile back as she stepped in. “It appears it is up to your princess to correct this oversight. Cadet Sunstreak, as of today, Battalion Five is the Crystal Empire. Battalion Chief Cloudcutter is there now, in fact, hence why he is not here. Rather, there is now a Battalion Six that covers Ponyville, Appleloosa, and all surrounding towns that have only volunteer squads.”
Pip lifted his ears, but Rescue spoke up. “Pardon me, Princess, but why was I not informed of this?” glancing over at his father and the others. “Why am I just now finding out my station has been moved to a new battalion?” sounding a little put off.
Rescue didn’t like the grin his brother had, but his eyes returned to Luna who responded “Friend Rescue, I am disappointed to hear this. You will need to bring this up with the Battalion Six chief right away!”
The dark stallion shifted his emerald gaze to Luna. “Who would that be, Princess?”
Something flashed out of the corner of his eye, turning to see another blue case floating there in the dark purple magic of the quiet alicorn princess in the crowd sitting with her friends. His eyes widened some as it opened…
“Mares and gentlecolts, may I introduce to you, Battalion Six Chief, Rescue Sunstreak!” Luna’s voice carried loud, proud, and the smile on her face was almost as animated as the one on his father's face.
Rescue’s ass thudded into the stage as he sat hard in shock. One ear lifted as he heard Luna say softly. “Now, Pinkie.”
And the world erupted, cannons went off, streamers shot into the sky, banners unfurled. A brown-maned stallion and a pink hyper pony shouted together. “Congratulations!”
From out of nowhere, a huge banner came down behind them. On it, a large number six stood out on a map of Equestria with ten or so stars. A close look would note the stars were in the locations of all of the towns in the Battalion.
He turned his head to a voice he could hear above the ruckus of Ponyville screaming in joy.
“You are out of uniform, son,” a faded green stallion standing there, pride in the older stallion’s eyes.
“D... dad?” he choked out, ears falling back as the stallion who raised him gently pinned his new rank on, just as he had done for Bull.
“I am proud of you, Rescue Sunstreak. I could not be more proud of you and your brother.”
A few stray tears raced down his face as he looked into his father's eyes.
---
The party was in full swing by the time he made it past all the well-wishers. Finding himself flanked by his mate and Luna, he approached the paint colt and pink mare talking with a group of others. Every last one of them spun and snapped to attention, saluting him.
“At ease cadets... erk!”
The paint pony stallion was hugging him as hard as he could. “I am so proud of you, dad! You deserve this.”
Wrapping a leg around the smaller male, hugging back with pride and strength. “Thank you, Pip.”
Rumble let out an almost-rebel yell. “Dude, your dad is a Battalion Chief!”
His pride showed on the other ponies faces, even gryphons came over and congratulated him once the hugs had broken up.
The party went on for all of the night, even if some had to return to duty, and the cadets had to head out on the train. It was a huge event. Ponyville had grown again, and now was the seat of Battalion Six.
Studying was hard. Training was harder. Each of them had been pushed and shoved hard as they went day to day. Academy life was like that, but they all knew they did this not for themselves, but for the greater good of all.
The past six months had been some of the toughest they had all dealt with. However, they were all still together as one. No one washed out, no one failed. Diamond Tiara kept them going, every last pony, gryphon, and diamond dog. In turn, they respected the cadet chief, as she had earned the respect of even the few that clearly didn’t support the idea of a mare in a leadership position.
This was life for now. They had six more months until they all graduate and head off to their respective probationary placements.
Pip was suddenly woken by the klaxons sounding. In that instance, virtually all of campus was lighting up. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was only eleven at night. They had just hit bed an hour before. He sat up and glanced over to see his roommate, his best friend, Rumble, sit up with a start, both looking at each other as the Klaxon cut and the PA system came on.
“Attention all cadets, attention all cadets! Report to muster on the parade grounds immediately . I repeat parade ground muster, immediately! All Cadets to be in full gear, that is all.”
Looking at each other as they heard from rooms down the hall, fellow cadets started to yell and get going. Rumble hopped up and yanked his locker open. “Pip, what is going on?”
The paint pony shook his head. “I don’t know, Rumdum, but it sounds serious!” yanking his own hooflocker open and starting to tug out his gear.
---
They all looked up at the commander, even the gryphons among them shocked, tired, but alert now. They had heard it all; a massive, devastating forest fire was ripping its way towards Griffonstone. Virtually every able-bodied country in the world was sending help, and Equestria was stepping up. Along with every cadet they had, the sisters were sending twenty two pump wagons, three hundred members of the EFD.
Luna herself had called up all four of the country's major firefighting airships and twelve smaller sloop style troop carriers drafted out of the naval yards. Celestia for her part had bid the biggest of them all, the hospital ship Moonbeam’s Mercy, be brought out of the mothball docks.
Pip trotted over to Stonecrusher, he could see of the five gryphons, the officer candidate was the most upset. “Hey, Stone, you good?”
The gryphon looked down at the paint pony’s eyes nervously. “N... no,” he exhaled just barely. “My mother lives in Griffonstone, Squeaker.”
Frowning in worry for him, the paint pony put his hoof up on his fellow cadet’s shoulder. “All of Equis is rushing to help, she will be safe. I swear on my family name, we will do everything we can.”
The gryphon fluffed out some and he lifted his head. “You talk a big game, pony… lucky for you, I know you can back up your words. I am damn proud to be going into this with Ponyville at our side.”
A throat cleared and both males turned, snapping a salute to the pink pony who returned it. “Leading, I was just given an official commission,” her ears filled with blush along with her cheeks, all turning a darker pink than her coat. “P-Pip, they made me... an acting field lieutenant for the duration of this call out.”
Pip grinned some at that. “That is my mare!”
---
It was hard to believe the true scope of the mobilization transpiring. Pipsqueak and the other cadets simply stared wide eyed at everything going on.
Along the left side of the raised dock sat the four large fire ships; each a former battlewagon of the Equestrian Navy. No longer did they carry weapons of war, but weapons to fight blazes. Pip knew from study each of the four airships carried over forty thousand gallons of water. A crew of thirty, and room for thirty more firefighters and three pumper wagons in the hold.
Then there was the huge white airship with the massive red crosses on her side. Her bow painted dark in a sweeping stripe, her prow painted the likeness of Luna herself. The Moonbeam’s Mercy drew a length almost two hundred yards long. So massive was she that it took ten cloud nacelles and eight prop engines to keep her airborne. Once designed to bring war like her smaller cousin ships, she had been retired from battle and transformed into the largest floating hospital the world had ever seen.
Three hundred beds, five full surgery rooms, two mess halls; all serviced by one hundred full-time crew, and upwards of four hundred brought on board. From doctors to techs, firefighters to food staff. The Mercy could produce enough clean water, energy, and support when on the ground to keep a city the size of Canterlot running smoothly—all on her own.
“Cadets, at attention! Line up!” a voice bellowed out. Without a thought, every last one of them snapped to and into rows quickly.
Before them stood their commander, and two ponies Pipsqueak knew well. On the right a faded mint stallion, his grandfather. To the commander’s left, looking all business stood a dark brown stallion with bright yellow mane, a stallion who had taken a scarred and frightened little foal and turned him into a stallion… his father.
“Assignments are in, so listen up. Ponyville will break up into three groups,” the earth pony flipped a page. “Acting Lieutenant Tiara, you will be on the Mercy. You are to shadow Battalion Chief Sunstreak as his attache.”
Clearing his throat, he continued. “Cadet Ensign Sunstreak, Cadet Longsocks,” he frowned some. “End of the dock, you are flying out on the Hellfire...” he groaned. “With the Hot Shots.”
He barely got it out when both Pip and in a rare moment of exuberance, Lily, shouted and slammed their hooves together. “Hooah!”
Anyone listening close would have caught the pink mare in the front of the group mutter, “Idiots.”
Clearing his throat the commander continued. “Cadet Rumble, Cadet EMT Scootaloo, report to Angel Six once you board the Mercy. She should be port side aft of Nacelle Eight.”
The faded green stallion continued down the list, every cadet, every group. They all had their places, and were not just there to be coddled. Equis, the world, needed brave ponies, and it was their time to shine.
---
Looking up at his father, Pip set his ears back some. “Son, I… I don’t know if I like the idea of you jumping in with the Hot Shots,” he paused, setting his huge hoof on the paint colt’s shoulder, the boy he had raised into a stallion along with his husband, his deep emerald cores meeting the younger’s. “But your father and I are proud of you.”
Sniffling some, Pip gave a nod of understanding. “Where is Dad?”
Giving a bit of a smile, Rescue replied, “Stayed in Ponyville, acting captain at Station One.”
“Are you deploying, too?”
Again, the brown draft pony gave a nod and gestured with his hoof. “Pumper One and Rescue Eight-One are on board the Lady of Smoke, along with Pumper Two-Six from Appleloosa,” he looked back to the paint. “I will be in command of the forward command base in sector three.”
Both stallions looked at each other, and then Pip whispered to his father, “Please be careful, Dad, okay?” He knew full well that FCB’s can be overrun by flames faster than ponies could pull out.
Hooking his hoof around his sons neck he looked right into the boys eyes. “You just keep your wits about you, and you come home safe to us, you hear me, son?”
Perking his ears and stiffening his posture, Pipsqueak nodded back comprehensively. “Yes, sir.”
--
Airborne now, the five fire ships escorted by ten of Equestria’s biggest warships, two on loan from the Crystal Empire flew among the flotilla, both as new as can be, filled with crew eager to show the ships worthy of the empire.
Pip stood at the tip of the foredeck, once the home of a large cannon, now hosting two large water cannon. The Mercy really was one impressive ship, and all that it could do seemed impossible. Currently the Hellfire was docked and tied to her side as they headed for Griffonstone.
Standing quietly, pressed to his side a pink mare, the wind blowing her grey and white mane lightly. She glanced over and up slightly at the stallion she loved as he spoke. “You stay at dad’s side, Di, please. I need to know you are safe, and I know he will keep you just that.”
She sniffled, a singular tear running down her cheek. “Pip, you idiot, you are the one jumping into a hot zone. Please…” turning to look up at his eyes. “Come home to me, Pip, safe and sound. Don’t do something I wouldn’t.”
He smiled and dipped his head in, pressing his lips to hers in a soft, but loving kiss. “Always, my princess.”
---
Pip looked over his shoulder as he stood on the ramp, about to trot into the Hellfire. He watched as Diamond looked back across the airships docking link, as she stood on the ramp edge of the Moonbeam’s Mercy. One last time he mouthed to her, “I love you,” and watched her mouth back “Be safe.”
Turning back, he climbed up and into the jump bay of the smaller, faster airship. Looking around at the thirty nine other ponies, gryphons, diamond dogs, and the lone minotaur among them.
Spotting Lily, he trotted over to where she stood in the open room that was the whole mid deck of the ship. “You okay?”
She gave a soft nod. “Yeah,” adjusting the straps as she slid on the pack that held her parachute, looking back over at her friend and fellow cadet.
“She will be fine, Pip, You are going to have to learn to trust that. She is at your father's side, nothing is going to happen to her or the others.”
Picking up the carry harness of his own, starting to strap up and into gear as others were. The paint heard the ramp click shut and an announcement come from the speakers placed in the bay.
“Attention all hands, attention all hands. Push off in three, two, one!”
The ship bucked a bit, then all aboard could feel the strange sensation of rising slowly. The airships moorings dropped, letting its captain and crew start to bring her away from where she rested tied to the Mercy. They were now just twenty minutes from jump. Their first.
“I know Smash, I know. I just…” he paused and glanced over at her. “This is the first time since we met that we are truly apart going into a callout. It feels…”
She gave an understanding nod, shifting her equipment around. “Yeah, I know.”
---
Looking around the bay Lily and Pip took note of their fellow Hot Spots. Each helping the ones next to them double and triple check packs, equipment straps, backup gear. Pip felt his jump partner, Glenda, tug his pack again. “You are good to go, Squeaker! So, you got the tummy flops yet?”
He turned and grinned at the gryphon, reaching out a hoof to start checking her pack and gear straps for her. “A little, but I am fine.”
She gave a squawk as he pulled a strap around her belly tighter. “Buck me, kid, you are going to crush my ribs,” but it was said with a grin on her beak.
Pip snorted with a smirk. “Kid, you are only three years older than me, fish eater,” he retorted jokingly.
Up came her right claw, and he bumped his hoof with it. “Damn, hay breath, you might just fit in here you keep this up.”
The speakers again boomed. “Jump in thirty seconds!” the captain's voice reverberated across the deck.
He looked over at Lily, standing with her jump partner, Brutus. The lone minotaur of the group and the only other one in the squad who could use the massive chainsaw strapped to his back, mirroring the one strapped across Lily’s. It was new technology, in fact she was the first cadet to be trained in how to use it outside of the one carried by her partner.
The magitech was quite advanced; a motor of sorts, powered by crystal storage units. The magic they stored spun a steel chain with sharp teeth along a bar that was thirty-six inches long.
It could make quick work out of taking down a tree far faster than even a team with axes could do it, but it was heavy. It was not something most could use, and the few strong enough to use it understood the thing. With the power it had, if it kicked back could sever a limb or worse before anypony could even blink.
Pip turned, hearing the ramp start to grind down. Two of the ship's crew cranking the cable winches to lower it. His ears lifted as Gaslamp, the Hot Shot captain, yelled out. “Squeaker, Smash, up front. You virgins get to jump first!” said with a grin on his beak.
Moving past others, receiving a nudge or a smack on the back with their jump partners behind them. The two moved up to where the huge gryphon stood near the start of the ramp, looking out at hell.
The forest burned away to ash and smoke hazed the sky. They could see the clearing off in the distance they were aiming for, being so high up. The captain grabbed Pip’s pack and shook it once, then did the same to Lily’s.
“Alright you two, first jump. Relax you have done this in your training jumps and passed. Just focus on what you know you have to do. Smash, Brut, soon as you two hit, I want packs off and start getting the saws put together. Squeak, Fish, you two get started on brush clearing.”
He raised his voice. “I want a clear zone of forty yards around the landing zone, ASAP! You morons hear me?”
Everyone, from pony to gryphon, diamond dog to minotaur bellowed out. “Hooah!” in response to the cap’s orders.
A big red crystal lit up near the door, as the captain again yelled out. “Ten seconds!”
Pip inhaled, then exhaled slowly, counting in his head. Then the light went green and he was moving before the “Go Go Go” from the gryphon captain even started.
He and Lily ran with all their might, and leapt off the ramp. For a moment, they were pegasi. They understood what it was like to fly, then gravity had its way. Pip focused on his training. Spreading his legs he plummeted down, the strange fabric of the jump suit rippled and snapped as it caught the air and he entered a glide. Arrowing his body for the landing zone in the distance, he took a moment to just admire the view.
To his left, pristine forest as far as the eye could see, and even a hint of the city of Griffonstone in the distance. To his right and in front of him, the beast. With a smirk, he turned his head to his left more and took note of Fish with her wings spread wide, right next to him. He grinned at her, and winked. The gryphon’s face gave a look of surprise and a squawk escaped her beak, just before he tugged in his legs, rolled on his back, then went into a vertical dive.
The air nipped at him as he gained speed. For a moment, he truly understood what it was like to be Rainbow Dash. To dive, to go fast, he knew now why the Wonderbolt loved it so. Again a glance to his left told him the gryphon had tucked her wings in and caught up, diving with him, a mirroring smirk on her beak.
To his right motion caught his eye, one of the pegasi was mirroring him. Wings tucked in hard, diving with the earth pony and gryphon, Cloud Striker streaked down. A grin that mirrored Pip’s simper on the warm blue pony’s muzzle.
Looking back over at his jump partner, he watched her tap her left claw with her right, and he gave a nod. Pulling up, legs out, the fabric once again caught the air and his gut dropped as it slowed him down and sent him in a screaming glide.
Using his speed to glide out for twenty seconds, Pip soon bled off momentum the closer he came to the landing zone. As he rapidly approached the mark, he again watched the gryphon zip in front of him and roll; his signal to yank his front legs up. Shooting vertical, he came to a dead stop before starting to plummet legs first.
A few seconds later, he reached to his chest and tugged on a cable handle.
His whole body wrenched and the air was knocked out of him for a moment as the sound of fabric catching air came from above him. The rectangular parachute tugging him so he was now vertical, head up, legs down. Tail and mane streaming behind him, he reached up to a handle on each of the two straps tying him to the chute, and pushed his hooves into them.
Tugging some, sending himself into a slow, shallow dive, and adding a bit of a turn to it. At twenty feet up from the ground, he reached down and tugged another strap. Sending his pack and gear down on a long strap to dangle almost ten feet below him. His forward momentum insuring they would be behind him and not a hazard.
Five feet, he braced, four, three, two, touchdown! Already letting momentum crash him down on all fours once more he ran, then tucked up into a tumble as he had been trained to. Bleeding off energy and speed, he came up on his hooves once more to come to a stop, Instincts and training once more kicking in. He wasted no time looking around, but spun on his hooves and started to haul the parachute in, to keep it from pulling him down. Once it was collapsed, he had time to glance around. His jump partner was right next to him with a huge grin across her beak.
“So?” she yelled.
Pip could not help himself. “AGAIN!” he bellowed in excitement, slamming his hoof into her uplifted claw. Reaching up to his neck and undoing the straps to the jump helmet, he turned along with the gryphon, to start unpacking gear and get into their turnouts.
Looking up as he tugged himself out of his jump harness, Pip watched Lily come down next, not nearly as hot as he had. However, the big mare stuck her landing hard, no runout or tumble, with an almost textbook perfect flare of the parachute just before the ground. He watched her come down on all fours, such was her style. She did everything by the book and without a single mistake made.
Others were landing, each with their jump partners. Soon the landing site was a flurry of action and yelling. Jump gear packed into a large pile to be picked up later. Pip snatched up his McLeod tool and he got to work ripping up the ground and knocking down the larger weeds and grass clumps. Looking up at the high pitch sound of a chainsaw, he watched for a moment as Lily handled the big blade with ease, already cutting into one of the larger trees at an angle to start her notch.
Gaslamp landed next to him as he was digging in and snarled at him. “Squeaker, what the buck was that!”
Looking over at the gryphon captain, he gulped. Gas looked absolutely ticked off. “Just, uh, a fast insertion sir?”
He felt the male’s claw poke him in the chest. “Do that again and you are grounded from the jump team, kid! That kind of crap gets ponies killed.” His glare then softened. “Still a decent landing, rookie, now clear this damn LZ so the tractor can land!”
Pip gave a nod and a grunt, “Hooah!” and swiftly went back to digging out clumps of weeds and small brush with the others. Looking up in time to see a tree crack and start down. Lily. not even watching her work, already moved on to the next tree as the one she finished smashed down into the woods right between two other trees; a perfect fall.
It took the team ten minutes to clear out the space, eight trees, untold bushes all lay in piles and spread out like a fan from the now larger clearing. Gaslamp gave a nod to one of the few unicorn on the team who shot a bright white ball of magic up into the air. It burst like a flare, a signal to the hellfire they were ready for the rest of their gear and equipment.
It came in the form of a massive container, falling, tumbling. Right up until the three chutes opened and caught air. Two of the Hellfire’s pegasus crew guided it as it fell, peeling off fifty feet up and letting it come down with a massive thud.
Already the Hot Shots were on it, some pulling the chutes down, others tugging out hammers and starting to bang big metal pins out of the corners of the container. A diamond dog by the name of Spot called out. “Clear right!”
A huge metal wall fell, exposing what was inside. A hybrid of magic and steam tech, a creation born of a train engine and a plow, the huge flat bladed dozer sat on tracks almost as tall as a pony. More of it exposed as more panels fell showed it to be a open cockpit design, no protection there from the heat.
“Burn, Wings, I want that thing fired up,” Gaslamp gestured. “Let's start cutting a firebreak this way, say, three clicks if you think it can push it.”
Pip tilted his head and glanced at Wings, a bright yellow earth pony who was about the closest one he had ever met to being Pinkie Pie’s clone of another color, right down to the mane.
“Got it, Gasbag,” responded the yellow stallion, pronking over to the great machine.
Turning, the gryphon groaned, then pointed at Lilly and her partner. “I want you two on point. Fell anything too big for it. Let’s make sure we fall them,” he gestured. “Fireside, I want as little chance of a jump as we can get.”
