Aria
“This is the barracks,” Spitfire announced as I trotted next to her. Wallflower and Sunbeam slowly followed us. Sunbeam was a yellow unicorn with a yellow and white mane with a cut lemon for a cutie mark. “It’s technically just rooms in the castle but you all sleep together, shower together, eat together and work together. It’s to create a team work atmosphere. You’re a unit so that’s why you do everything together.”
Blitz snored quietly from her bunk as Spitfire straightened the helmet hanging next to her bunk. Sugarcoat and Sour Sweet were playing a card game as they sat on a bunk. Glimmer Shine was cleaning her armor off while Berry Blast watched.
Glimmer Shine was obsessed with keeping her armor in perfect condition. She was silver mare with a grey mane and a knife cutie mark. She had cold grey eyes that reminded me of storm clouds.
“Lieutenant, Captain,” Glimmer Shine saluted as she dropped her rag.
“Corporal,” Spitfire nodded briefly as Glimmer Shine relaxed a bit. “Meet Wallflower Blush and Sunbeam. I’ll leave them with you.”
Spitfire turned around and flew out the door as Sugarcoat shut it quietly behind.
“Hi,” Berry Blast waved a hoof as she swung her legs back and forth from her bunk. “I’m Berry Blast, that’s my twin sister Blitz.” Blitz answered with a loud snore followed by a snort.
“Sunbeam,” Sunbeam said casually as she placed her items on her bed and started sorting them. “Any super annoying rules?”
“Don’t assault civilians. Sometimes, ponies will come to borrow books. The other elements are allowed free reign of the castle as is Starlight, Trixie, Spike and a few others,” Sugarcoat stated firmly. “Lights out is at twenty one hundred. Nine pm unless you have night patrol.”
“Which you do,” Sour Sweet said with a drysmirk. “You and Wallflower do. Newbies always get night duty for the first few nights. Once you get your armor mailed in from Canterlot of course.”
“Okay,” Wallflower said quietly as she made her bed. “Goodnight.”
“She’s a shy one,” Indigo commented as Wallflower climbed into her bed and slipped under covers.
“Yep,” I commented as I laid on my bunk and yawned.
“Just one question,” Sunbeam raised a hoof sheepishly with a faint blush.
“Yeah what’s up?”
“Where’s the bathroom?”
“Towns busy again,” Lemon Zest commented as we walked down a street, the sun shining off our armor as ponies gave us a wide berth. She adjusted her purple helmet with a sigh.
“Yup,” I agreed as I shifted my armor a bit to sit more comfortably. “Town patrol is probably my favorite. We get to show off our armor plus we get swords.” I patted the sword attached to my left side with a hoof before continuing walking.
“I know right? Sparring with Sour Sweet and Indigo is always fun.”
We both glanced up as Indigo flew overhead with Blitz and Glimmer Shine.
“Formation looks good,” Spitfire said as we jumped slightly. Neither of us had seen her approaching. “Indigo is a pretty damn good flight lieutenant. Trains her team hard.”
“Captain,” I saluted as Lemon Zest tossed a lazy salute her way. Spitfire narrowed her eyes before returning the salute.
“Keep your eyes out. Twilight’s speech is tomorrow. No swords or lethal weapons allowed but you guys can use batons and other non lethal weapons for crowd control if ponies get a bit rowdy and try to rush her. Good day,” Spitfire ordered as she turned around and flapped her wings before flying after Indigo.
“Well that was interesting,” Lemon Zest commented as we continued our slow trot. “Been pretty quiet today.”
“Don’t jinx us,” I muttered as we approached the center of Ponyville as a golden mare with a carrot cutie mark waved us over. “Hello.”
“Hey Carrot Top!” Lemon Zest smiled enthusiastically as the carrot seller glared.
“My name is Golden Harvest!” Golden Harvest slammed a hoof down angrily. “This stallion is refusing to pay. Can you make him change his mind?”
I glanced between the mare and the white stallion. This would help the townsponies get used to seeing us around and not disliking the change of town.
“Pay her,” I sighed and gestured with a hoof. “Full amount.”
“I wish we didn’t have any guards around,” he grumbled and slapped a few more bits down. Golden Harvest examined them and nodded in satisfaction before pushing them in her register. “Not only do my taxes go up, I have to listen to the Princess support a bunch of criminal changelings.”
“Keep it moving sir,” I rolled my eyes as he grumbled, walking off.
“Thank you both,” Golden Harvest smiled warmly at us. “I will admit, I’m not too enthused about armed guards wandering around town but it may have upsides. Taxes going up sucks but meh.”
“True. I’d hate if someone cheated my sister at her stand,” I grunted and rolled my shoulders a bit.
“Oh? What does your sister sell?”
I pointed a hoof to Sonata’s nearby taco stand. Lunch time was always busy. The three of us watched Sonata run around and giving out tacos.
“Huh,” Golden Harvest mused as she tapped a hoof against her chin. “I have a date with Spike later tonight. Maybe we will go there.”
“Wait Spike? Princess Twilight’s assistant?” I asked in shock. I heard last he had a thing for Rarity.
“Yep!” Golden Harvest exclaimed happily. “He doesn’t know it yet but he will. He’s very helpful. Haven’t been with a stallion in years.”
“Isn’t he a baby?” Lemon Zest asked pointedly.
“Dragons age faster then ponies but their bodies don’t change as fast. He’s twenty two and I’m twenty three so.”
“Huh what about Rarity?” I asked curiously.
“Pfft screw Rarity,” Golden Harvest scoffed. “All she does is make dresses. Wait until Spike meets a mare who actually works on a farm twenty four seven in a field. Carrot farming isn’t a walk in the park or a day in the dress store so to say.”
“Have a good one!” Lemon Zest called out as we approached Sonata’s taco stand. Thank Celestia the line had gone down.
“Hey Sis!” Sonata grinned happily as she hugged me.
“Hey Sonata,” I grunted as she let me go. “Two tacos please. One for me and one for Lemon Zest. Take two sprites as well please.”
“On it!”
We watched Sonata start working as Lemon and I exchanged small talk, mainly weather, training and paperwork. Boring stuff.
“What does Sonata put in her tacos?” Lemon Zest asked curiously as Sonata smirked. If Lemon knew we used fifty percent meat, fifty percent plants, she’d scream. I gave a dark chuckle as I accepted our tacks.
“Oh, you don’t wanna know.”