"No, drill sergeant." Shortstop answered, trying his best to keep his voice calm. Storm stared him dead in the eye, but Shortstop held himself firm, despite sweating like crazy. "Good." Storm said to him in a low growl. "Because guess what? You two are battle buddies now. If one of you screws up, your both gonna pay for it. Are we clear privates?"
“That ain’t fair, he didn’t do anything.” Mac didn’t like to argue, but he didn’t want Short to get in trouble if he happened to. He quickly pulled his head back when the other stallion’s nose touched his. He paled some under his coat. Shoot…
Shortstop filled the form out quickly, managing to fall in just behind Big Mac. He opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off when he heard another drill sergeant say to another two, "No talking in line. You are not here to chat." Shortstop winced slightly at his voice, then looked back at Big Mac with an apologetic look. Unfortunately, this caught Storm's eye. "You two got something you really need to talk about?" He asked in his stern voice.
“Ah…” He was given a stern glare when he made to answer, so he shut his mouth and shook his head. He lowered his head, slinking forward towards his medical exam.
Pinkie Pie: Hiya Mackey Wackey! I heard you've got a crush on me so let's party!! *brings out the party cannon*
Big Mac blinks at the party canon, then realizes what she said. He blushes. “Ah… Uh… Ah like ya an’ all, Pinkie, but Ah’m taken and Ah ain’t got a crush on ya.”
Once she spotted the stallion, Fluttershy galloped through the apple orchards, a big smile on her face. She was happy to see him again after what felt like forever. "Big Macintosh!" She shouted as she ran towards him.
“Ah ain’t seen you in a while!” He had to resist the urge to rush to her, or he would plow into her. He jumped from one hoof to another anxiously, bumping his head against hers when she reached him.
He buried his nose into her mane and grinned, “Ah hope Winter Wrap-Up didn’t ware ya’ll out.”
Storm walks to the front of the room, the angered look still on his face. "Privates lets get one thing straight. The other drill sergeants and myself are not officers, so you do not address us as sir. You respond with, 'yes, drill sergeant'. Is that clear?" "Yes, Drill Sergeant!" "I hope so privates. Once you complete the form in front of you, leaver the paper on the desk, and line up at the door in the back. Your medical exams will begin in there."
At least Big Mac wasn’t worried about the medical exam. He smiled a little, knowing that he was in mostly good health. Though, it was slightly disheartening to see bigger stallions around after being called one of the biggest in Ponyville.
Mac sighed the papers as best as he could, placed it on the table and lined up. He hoped Short would finish soon so they could talk.
sorry bout yer dead cousin.
Anonymous
“Ah ain’t got a dead cousin.”
As Mac gets up from his seat, Shortstop follows close behind him. "Move privates! We do not have all day!" he heard Storm shout. As everyone lined up outside, more drill sergeants were waiting there. Up front, everyone gives their attention to Storm. Alright privates, here's how it's going to work: You will file inside, and sit at the first open seat. There we will begin your paper for your personal information for your ID tags and medical history."
There came a “Sir, yes, sir!” before the ponies filed into the building. Big Mac tried to stay in the back, but he was shoved forward. He eyed the empty seats and tried for a middle row. Sitting in the back meant he would miss important things, and being in the front meant he would be noticed.
Mac didn’t want to be noticed. He sat behind a burly brown stallion and lowered his head, spotting the papers. He gave a curious look to the pencil and tried to pick it up with his hooves.
"I've never been there either. And this is also going to be my first time near a fort." Shortstop suddenly stops, as he sees aother pony enter the bus. He has on a green uniform, is about mid height, and is wearing a brown round drill sergeant hat. He has an angry look on his face. "All right listen!" he said in a stern voice without yelling. "I am drill sergeant Storm, and you are at the reception battalion of fort willow. Here you will receive all of your equipment!"
Mac gulped and shrank in his seat some. He was a hard worker and took orders from Granny Smith well enough, but Storm was beyond intimidating. The order was given out to step off the bus and line up. The front of the bus filed out fast, and the back of the bus followed.
Mac tried to stay in in his seat, but Short needed to get out and others were bumping into him.
Shortstop looks out the window as his family slowly rills out of sight. He lets out a slight sniffle as he holds back hos tears. "We'll be okay." Those were some of the last words to leave his mouth as they continued to go down the road. It was a while, but they eventually got to where they were going. Out the window there was a big sign thay read "Fort Willow". And below that was a quoye that said "Victory starts here."
The ride wasn’t as quiet as Big Mac would have liked, but he did his best to drown out the noise with thoughts of his family and friends. And when the bus did stop, he too looked at the sign.
“Ah ain’t ever been near a fort before… Ah ain’t even been to Canterlot.” He said to Short.
