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Post by Gleam Lucre on Mar 4, 2013 9:03:15 GMT -5
Wait, what? Lightning Dust was a Wonderbolts Academy dropout? Gleam looked between Lightning Dust and Lightning Crackle a few times as the latter walked off, brows furrowed. The idea that Dust had been in the Wonderbolts Academy at all was readily believable - with her speed, it was obvious why they'd recruit her. But the idea that she'd been thrown out...did not settle well with Gleam's stomach.
Although the uneasy churning in his belly could just as easily be from the tasteless mush in his bowl. Had it gone bad waiting for their team to get to the mess tent? Could this stuff go bad?
It was almost a distraction from his budding worries when Birch Bright moved into Crackle's former seat and brought up a topic that Gleam was all too familiar with: petty politics. Dust and Sunspire had really begun hitting it off, and Bright thought it was a threat to their team's performance. Gleam took another mouthful of goop and chewed it, giving himself time to think.
He tried to think faster than usual, with short points and facts instead of long and lengthy analysis. So far the fast and loose method had proven itself, why stop now?
Gleam thought about what he knew of Dust, both from sparring with her and the rest of their training. He thought about what he'd seen of Sunspire. And he thought about what Crackle had said, that Dust had been thrown out of the Wonderbolt Academy. Keeping the pair from forming a deep relationship, Gleam concluded, would probably not be difficult. But Birch Bright seemed to be forgetting somepony.
"Keeping her attention is simple, but what about Nova Blast?" Gleam asked Birch Bright.
If Bright was worried about team dynamics, surely he'd have thought of their new team member too. Besides, weren't they supposed to function together as a team? Working to break apart members of the team seemed to go in the opposite direction.
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Post by Red Charge on Mar 4, 2013 9:30:59 GMT -5
Birch Bright slapped his forehead, apparently he did forget about Nova Blast. "Well that changes everything I guess. We'll have to stick with the plan until he joins us. No one's gonna be happy with us once he does. I think the other teams will be pretty ticked off..."
At that they all began to clear out, they still had some break left and they were finally allowed to go to their dorms, which were thankfully indoors, with a working shower. They didn't have time to shower now, but it was good knowing there was one waiting for them at the end of the day. The barracks was divided into rooms for each team. Each had four double bunk beds. Naturally one bunk remained empty for most rooms. Birch Bright picked the bottom bed at the entrance and Lightning Dust picked the top bench above Gleam also at the entrance. Sunspire picked the farthest bed in the most secluded spot where he rest his head for a few moments.
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Post by Gleam Lucre on Mar 4, 2013 10:04:52 GMT -5
Of course Bright had forgotten about Nova Blast. Gleam, for a moment, wondered what would've happened if he'd outright told Crackle that they were effectively taking the ex-major away from her team. Would she have laughed it off, not believing him? Or would she have hit him with her bowl? He'd certainly find out the next time they talked, once it was public that Nova had been transferred.
When 'dinner' was finished, Gleam and the rest of the ponies all made their way back to the barracks. Almost immediately, they picked out their beds, but Gleam hesitated about actually settling down on his. While the attention from the medical staff and a stomach filled with gruel was decent for keeping the exhaustion at bay, he was honestly worried that he'd be out like a light if he let himself lie down.
Eventually, he decided to risk it. ...It was the worst bed he'd ever been on, which said a lot when boot camp involved sleeping on the ground. Still, he managed to sink into a light doze. Might as well get some rest, who knows when this chance would come again.
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Post by Red Charge on Mar 4, 2013 10:12:09 GMT -5
Lightning Dust woke Gleam up when it was time to gather again, this time they were led into another classroom altogether. Harvest Moon herself was present there as Big Axe began to teach them general history of Equestria as well as safety knowledge and even weapon management. How to properly oil and maintain weapons and armor, how to properly whet them and sharpen them, even smithing should the need arise to repair their weapon in the field or reconstruct one they found. It was just the tip of the tongue and he hadn't gotten through much but the time went by and soon it was night and time to release the cadets to their hour before bed time.
Could it be possible? Was it really time for them to finally hit the sack? Poor Nova Blast was probably still in the kitchen cleaning up but they were getting to go to bed finally and rest their eyelids. The warm shower was immediately beset upon by a line of cadets, other took the time to eat some of the snacks they brought from Canterlot and others simply collapsed on their beds and asked to be woken up for showering.
Sunspire did exactly that, being a unicorn and using his magic all day long must have been exhausting for him. He immediately hopped in his bed, asked to be awoken twenty minutes before the break ended and immediately went to sleep. Birch Bright sped right into the shower line and that left Lightning Dust and Gleam the only two waking ponies in the room.
"So whaddya say buddy, wanna hit the showers first or wait out the line?"
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Post by Gleam Lucre on Mar 4, 2013 10:33:05 GMT -5
The classroom time was almost suspiciously easy, though compared to that death course pretending it was only a mere obstacle course, even facing that dragon from this morning would seem comparatively tame. Once again, Gleam's school days came to the forefront. Learning about history wasn't really his thing - he'd have gotten a history cutie mark if that were the case, like his classmate Ivory Tower - but it was interesting stuff. And the part about weapon care was practical.
When it was over, it turned out to be over for the entire day, which was a gift from Celestia above. Ponies crowded for the showers, or took a chance to nap while waiting out the line. Their teammates had already made their choices by the time Lightning Dust asked Gleam what he wanted to do.
"A shower would be glorious right now," Gleam admitted when Dust asked what he wanted to do, "What about you?"
Honestly, now that he was taking the time to look, Gleam felt absolutely disgusting. And not just because he still had traces of mud in several uncomfortable places.
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Post by Red Charge on Mar 6, 2013 16:08:47 GMT -5
"Sure I could go for a shower after this day." Lightning Dust said, hopping off her bunk and landing next to Gleam. "Man you think all days are going to be like this? I mean it's awesome, but I can see it growing stale really quick..." She said as they joined the shower que. "Huh, unisex showers." She observed, Gleam spotted Lightning Crackle ahead looking grave. She avoided them both and when they got near her she left the line. Looks like she found out about Nova Blast. Gleam saw her ducking into her room, probably very upset.
Lightning Dust didn't seem to notice Crackle's odd behavior, she continued to chat happily with Gleam. "Ey, tomorrow if we get to sparring again, I'm not gonna hold back so you better be 100% serious or you're gonna get it big time!" She again gave him an affectionate shoulder punch.
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Post by Gleam Lucre on Mar 24, 2013 10:13:48 GMT -5
Gleam didn't have an answer for Dust's question, though he doubted that the sadists passing themselves off as trainers here would let anypony get bored. Celestia help the pony that asked for more to do here, they'd probably find out if the healers in this place had any resurrection spells in their portfolios first-hoof.
Spotting Lightning Crackle, Gleam winced when he saw how upset she was. He really should have warned her properly...even if she'd assumed he was lying or joking. Lightning Dust was very helpful in distracting him from the sight of Crackle, chatting about sparring tomorrow and punching him in the shoulder. After today, he barely even felt the tap...but the force of the blow still made Gleam's legs wobble. Or maybe that was only due to his exhaustion creeping back up on him, but still. If Gleam took anything useful out of this training, it would at least be the ability not to be knocked around like a rag doll by random friendly punches. How many times today had he been on the receiving end of one? Gleam had lost count.
"I'll be sure to give it my best," Gleam said in response to Dust's comment on the sparring.
For an instant, his earlier fantasy of taking a sword to her wings popped back into Gleam's head. He shook it out as soon as it appeared. No, he wasn't going to maim anypony here! Especially not a teammate! Ugh, hopefully rinsing the sweat and grime off and getting some sleep would be enough to put such an strange thought out of his mind for good.
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Post by Red Charge on Mar 24, 2013 18:45:24 GMT -5
The two took a quick shower, Lightning Dust naturally whipping Gleam with her towel playfully as they got out. By the time they got back their roommates have already gone to stand in line, except for Nova Blast who positioned himself in the the other vacant bed across from Sunspire. The team introduced themselves, although briefly, since Nova was not much of a talker, and apparently he had to do all of his kitchen duties over a tank or sharks or something akin to that, which barely came as a surprise to any of them, but it was still much better than what they had gone through today.
The window from their room showed completely peaceful darkness outside, the same soft breeze they felt in the morning came back and chilled the room. Well, Gleam survived the first day, which was more than half of the people who entered the training course. There were still a lot left and Gleam knew that Big Axe still had plenty more surprises for them, but at least now they knew what to expect.
Hopefully the next few weeks will go by quickly...
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