My Little Airman pt 21 Remembrance and Reaffirmation

Part 21 Remembrance and Reaffirmation

 

>A knock on your door wakes you up.

>You fell asleep in your recliner

>Timecheck

>0500

>Damn. She didn't come...

>You couldn't blame her. You had been an asshole the last time you had seen her

>All you wanted was a chance to apologize, but you didn't even get that, and it looks like you won't for a couple more days

>"Sir, are you awake?"

>Opening the door, you see two pegasi guards

Yes. I'm ready. Let me get my bags

>You quickly get your two packs and leave your house.

>The sun still isn't up when you arrive to the castle

>That suits you fine, as you still prefer the night, even if it is controlled by magic

>Fucking magic man...

>You head back to the room that you considered yours and find it empty

>Good. You would've kicked out any inhabitants.

>That's YOUR damn room. You paid for it in your blood, sweat, and tears.

>Oh, and the blood of probably more than 1,000 griffons

>You only unpacked what you'd need for this day: your blues, the M1, and a clip with three bullets.

>Though your blues really weren't meant for this kind of ceremony, they'd have to do, seeing that they're the fanciest uniform you own

>Wait a sec...

>OH SHIT

>The clip with three bullets REALLY had bullets

>That's right, you hadn't gotten around to making blanks

>Well shit, now you know what you gotta do this morning

>You take the bullets out and lay them on a table

>Picking one up, you carefully file away at the bullet with your knife, avoiding the shell

>One wrong move, and you're fucked

>Perhaps you could join the memorial this morning...

>Not funny brain

>Wasn't supposed to be. Just supposed to distract you long enough

>For?

>Oh, bullet is out.

>Damn you brain. You're crafty as hell

>You rummage through a desk and find some paper

>That'll work

>You rip a sheet in half, and then fold it until it's just small enough to fit in the shell

>You fold the other half as well and place it in the shell

>Just to make sure that no powder comes out

>1 down, two to...

>Damnit

 

>Twenty minutes later, you showered and dressed yourself

>You had been sweating bullets while making those blanks

>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8JUIGdKli0

>In your head, you went over the moves that you'd have to perform alone, seeing that no one would call out commands

>You hear a knock at your door

Come in

>Shining Armor walks in. "Hey, Anon."

Good morning, sir.

>A sudden thought comes to mind

>Did he know about his sister's crush on you?

>Probably

>Did he know what happened on Friday night?

>He's not yelling at you, so...

>"Are you ready for the ceremonies?"

Yes, I a-what? CeremonIES?

>"Yes. The memorial and then your commissioning ceremony."

When did I get a ceremony?

>"When you accepted the commission."

>Fuck. You hate these things

What time will it be?

>"About 2 hours after the memorial, and it will be in the throne room."

>Sigh

>"I think you might be pleasantly surprised, Anon. My guards made something, and we think you'll appreciate it."

We'll see about that. I don't like ceremonies very much. Puts the spotlight on me and off of others who deserve it more.

>"That's just how it goes sometimes."

>Truth

>Groan

>Idea. If you gotta suffer through a stuffy ceremony, he's going to get out of his comfort zone

Hey, Shining Armor, I think it would be appropriate if you were involved with the firing party.

>"Yes, of course. How can I be involved?"

>You quickly explain what you have in mind

>"Something that simple? I can do that."

So you say now, but keep in mind you will have the guards watching you, as well as the princesses and any other ponies that are coming. Still feel confident?

>"Yes, that's nothing compared to what I've had to deal with lately."

>That's actually true

Let's practice it

>For half an hour, you practice that simple maneuver with Shining Armor

>He starts out a little rough, but improves quickly

>The sign of a good honor guard

>Wait, was that a memory?

>Rifles spinning, commands being yelled, being highly disciplined...

>Yeah, that is the Honor Guard, but when the hell were you in it? And at which base?

>It's too early for this shit, even though the sun came up a few minutes ago

>"Should we get going?"

Of course. Just one question. What's my cue to start the firing party?

>"Hmm..."

>Of-fucking-course not

>Amateurs! Every fucking one of them! This is a serious event and they can't even-

>"Princess Celestia doesn't know it yet, but it will be at the end of her speech. She'll say something to the effect of 'Please stand for Captain Anonymous's performance' or something. She'll definitely let you know when to start."

>You take it back

>So he can plan on the fly

>But still, not taking this into account in the beginning makes you uncomfortable

Ok, sounds good. Now let's get over there

>The two of you leave your room and walk down the hallway

>Only guards roam this hall right now, given the time

>You feel like you should be given strange looks

>Oh, yeah. Guards. They know fucking discipline

>Following Shining Armor, you reach a carriage and stop

How far away is this going to be?

>"Not far, but off the castle grounds."

>You can dig that

>Entering the carriage, you find it much more comfortable this time around

>The last time you were a passenger on one, you were under it.

>And that's a walk down a painful road that you don't want to go anywhere near

>"Anon?"

Oh, yes?

>"I know we're headed towards a solemn ceremony, but you don't need to have such an intense face."

Oh, right.

>He means well. He really does. But until he's got some experience, he won't completely understand what you're going through

>Hell, you don't even know what you're going through, but you've heard the stories

>Waking up in the night, anxiety, nightmares...

>Ok, that last one already happens on a regular basis

>Let's change the subject

Shining Armor, when is your wedding again?

>"It's going to be this Friday, if all goes well."

>Wait

Hold on, it hasn't been three weeks yet, has it?

>"No, but some things have changed..."

I don't like where this is going. What's happening?

>"I'll tell you later. But I'll say that it was Cadance's idea to speed up our to this Friday."

>You REALLY hate being told pieces of information.

>Really, what's so difficult about telling everything at once?

>Before you can verbalize your complaint, the carriage stops

>Shining Armor opens the door and exits. You follow suit

>A breath-taking view stuns you

>In front of you, there's a path that leads to a bright, open field. There's flowers of all kinds and colors and you can see for miles

>Celestia must have done something with the sun today because although it's in the right position, there's the orange-red hue of a sunset in the sky

>Truly, it's the most beautiful sight you've ever seen. You feel the bittersweet atmosphere engulf you

>There's a tap on your shoulder. You turn, and see Shining Armor on your right.

>"Let's get ready."

What is this place?

>He stops. "This is the Field of Fallen Heroes. Thousands of years old, this is where we lay our brothers in arms to rest. It's one of the highest honors a... Guard who has died in combat can receive."

>You slowly walk forward, noting the old gravestones

>You wondered when the last time a burial took place here, and under what circumstances.

>What courageous guards these must have been. Defending their homeland from the threats of their day, ensuring peace stays in Equestria...

>A thought hits you

Hey, Captain?

>"Yes, Captain?"

>When you had the time, you were going to tell him to NEVER refer to you as captain. He's the superior officer, despite his lack of experience

If I were to die in combat, would I be buried here?

>"Where is this coming from?"

I just want to have a general idea of what's going to happen to my body after I go.

>"If you were to die in combat, Celestia forbid, you would be buried here. Normally, only ponies get buried here, but I don't think anypony would object to you resting here."

What about when I eventually die of old age?

>"Again, I'd say that everypony would agree that you deserve to be here."

I disagree.

>He stops and shoots you a confused look

I don't think I'll ever deserve to be buried here. Personally, I think my remains would be an unwelcome intrusion to this sacred place. This place is too...beautiful for my ugly presence in it.

>Though he acknowledges how you feel about it, he's still confused. "So, what do you want then?"

I don't want much. I don't care for a service. I know I'll be a burden when I die. I don't know how possible this is, but I'd like to be cremated and have my ashes scattered in the castle's garden.

>"Out of curiosity, why the garden?"

It's my favorite place at the castle. Tranquil and quiet, and everyone can appreciate it for its natural wonder.

>You start walking towards the row of ponies ahead of you

>"I'll remember that, Anon, but please don't die on us anytime soon."

>Finding a good place to stand-by, you observe the layout

>There must be over ten thousand ponies here, and that's speaking conservatively

>It's nice that they're organized. It seems there's a U seating-arrangement where all the ponies are sitting, with an aisle in the middle. In front of all the ponies are the 31 caskets, the closest ponies being a good twenty yards from them. There seems to be a place for someone to speak up front, and you can safely assume that the princesses will be there

>You find a place to stand nearby the entrance of the aisle. Carefully, you load your M1, make sure the safety is on, and lay it down in front of you. Shining Armor marched up the aisle towards the caskets

>As soon as you had come up and snapped to attention, both princesses's fly through the sky above and land in front of the caskets

>Princess Luna starts talking

>OHSHITYOUCANHEARFORMILES

>You let your mind wander while she speaks, analyzing their entrance

>They arrived without any guard escort.

>That's a rather unusual event for the princesses

>But today's memorial is also an unusual event. You don't know when the last time a service like this took place, but it must have been quite a while ago

>You conclude that they arrived by themselves to honor the deceased guards

>"Now, please stand and observe Captain Anonymous's tribute to our fallen heroes."

>Oh shit, that was Celestia's voice. While you were daydreaming, they must have switched...and somehow gotten to the end of Celestia's speech. Long speeches weren't your thing. Military conduct was your thing

>You bend forward and sharply grab your M1. Shit, forgot the ear plugs. Oh well, hearing damage is the least of your worries anyways.

>In as crisp a movement as you've ever made, you bring the rifle to your right shoulder and slowly march down the aisle

>You feel everyone's eyes on you, but you're not bothered. You're a million miles away from all that, marching towards your comrades

>As you approach the princesses, you turn, making sure to pass through their left, not in between them.

>Reorienting yourself, you continue down the same imaginary path as if you had passed between the princesses

>You stop at the last casket. Hearing only a slight breeze, it's almost eerie.

>Right, FACE!

>In front of you now are the caskets and to your right, the crowd

>The princesses and Shining Armor are twenty yards away

>Order, ARMS

>You stand at attention with the rifle by your feet

>Imagining the next command, you slightly pick up the rifle and execute another right face simultaneously

>Now you were facing the crowd

>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMaOowSBF4g

>Firing to your left over the caskets, you hear a PING

>Slow, sad music starts playing, and you execute Present-Arms

>It sounds similar to Taps, but not quite. And after it, comes another song. It sounds delicate, yet attractive. You're guessing it's their anthem, but you didn't know for sure.

>After the song finishes, you perform Order-Arms

>Shining Armor, on cue, marches towards you

>As he approaches you, you flip your rifle one-handed, and shove it in front of you

>Without missing a beat, he grabs it and spins it one handed, bringing it to his shoulder

>He performs an about-face and you step to his left

>Together, you march towards the princesses

>In the corner of your eye, you see Shining Armor having some difficulty marching with one less leg

>During practice, you had offered to change this part, recognizing he's a quadruped. He refused, talking about how it was part of your military custom, and that his men deserved the best from him

>Both of you remain in step as you turn to avoid going through the princesses

>Performing a right wheel maneuver, You and Shining Armor were facing both princesses

>Precisely as you start to give a salute, Shining Armor does the appropriate salute with the M1

>They both acknowledge your salutes with a head nod

>GOD DAMNIT! Princesses don't know military customs and courtesies!

>About FACE

>Forward MARCH, sorta

>Shining Armor steps first, moving to the right

>On his second left step, you start marching, moving to the left

>And the two of you march down the aisle

>All eyes are definitely on both of you

>You reach the end of the aisle, and while you perform a left face, he performs a right face

>Both take two steps forward, halt, about FACE

>"This concludes the service. Please exit respectfully and quietly" Princess Celestia says

>Shining Armor throws your M1 towards you, and you catch it. You spin it a couple of times before resting the butt stock at your feet and you stand at attention.

>Ponies slowly walked between the two of you, yet neither of you moved

>A young colt walked up to you, and kicked you

>Damn that little guy kicks hard

>You summon a poker face that the gods would envy

>He starts screaming at you, tears running down his face

>"Why did it have to be my dad? Why didn't you save him? What hero does that?"

>Ouch. You feel your heart hurt more

>Slowly, you go to a knee to talk on his level. Your poker face does its best, but in the end, a single tear falls down the right side of your face

Kid, I tried. I really did. I'm sorry for your loss, and if it's any consolation, I would gladly give up my life if it meant bringing back your father and the thirty others. My best...just wasn't good enough, and I'm truly sorry for that.

>Looking into his eyes, you see that he doesn't really hate you, but is filled with anger and sorrow. Your words took away the anger, and he breaks into crying.

>You pat his back

Your father knew what he was doing. He was a great stallion, and he died ensuring that you would live. Please honor his memory for as long as you live, and make him proud.

>He nods, and walks away

>You stand back at attention

>Shit. That always sucked.

>You never enjoyed funerals. There was the deceased that you payed respect to. For you, it seemed you could never give enough respect. And then dealing with the survivors...You felt guilty as hell, and could only watch their suffering. In a best case scenario, you still could only say some comforting words that did nothing.

>The field is cleared in twenty minutes

>Celestia and Luna both left minutes ago

>When everyone is out of sight, you and Shining Armor about FACE and take a step forward, imitating standard dismissal protocol

>Then you meet each other

>"That was..."

Sobering.

>"Yes. A sobering experience."

I never want to do that again.

>He nods

>"Let's go. We're going to be late."

What?

>"When I told Princess Celestia of your cue, she told me that your ceremony would take place forty minutes after the memorial ended."

So...Twenty minutes?

>Your eyes widen as does his

>You don't sprint out of respect for the inhabitants of the cemetery, but you do walk at a brisk pace

>Getting into the carriage, the stallions rush back towards the castle

Did she give a reason why my ceremony was to be pushed forward?

>"No, but she did ask me to tell you one more thing."

>Here we go

>"If you want to back out of your commission right now, please do so."

After all this trouble, why would I?

>"The princess is afraid you might regret your decision, especially after what I tell you the rest of her message."

I'm listening.

>"Our Intel has received another threat against Equestria. Of the nature, we don't know. All we know is that Canterlot is the specific target, and no other towns are under threat as of right now, but that will change if Canterlot falls."

Why would that deter me?

>"We're all concerned about your health, both physical and mental. If you back down now, we will understand, and we will find a way, trust me."

>He looks conflicted. On one hand, he seems to want the best for you, which he perceives to be retiring. On the other, he needs help keeping Equestria safe.

Shining Armor, I am a soldier. We don't rest until either we're six feet under or our hair is grey and limbs failing. I dedicated my life to serving in the military. There's no returning to a "normal" life once you swear to defend everything that you've given up. And I tell you, Equestria needs me more than my previous home

>He sighs in relief

>"I hope you don't regret your decision."

I won't.

>The carriage stops

>You two sprint to the throne room

>You're JUST IN TIME as you hear horns being played

>Shining Armor disappears in the crowd, leaving you to march alone towards Princess Celestia

>With the same discipline from the funeral, you march and stop in front of the princess

>She gives a smile

>"Captain Anonymous, thank you for accepting my commission. I personally appreciate your dedicated service. Please raise your right hand and recite your oath."

>Oath?

>Fuck.

>Improv skills GO

I, Anonymous, hereby renounce my prior oath, and swear allegiance to Princesses Celestia and Luna, to the Royal Guard, and to Equestria; I will protect and serve the aforementioned to the best of my ability against all enemies, foreign and domestic; I give my life in service to the Royal Guard, and will faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me Princess Celestia.

>Not quite how your last oath of office went, but hey, not bad, especially for on the fly.

>She nods, and her horn starts to glow

>You feel yourself being wrapped in an aura, and see your blues uniform changing

>"I, Princess Celestia, officially welcome you, Captain Anonymous, into the Royal Guard. At ease, captain. I believe Shining Armor wants to say something."

>Out of nowhere, SA shows up.

>"Thank you princess. Anonymous, please look at your uniform."

>You look and see a slight, but quite noticeable, change. It's almost like your regular blues, but now it has a gold trimming down the sides of the trousers, and on the sleeves where your wrists are. The buttons on your service coat now have Celestia's seal on them, and overall, it's much more comfortable

>"This is the uniform of a Royal Guard. You are now one of us!"

>His horn starts to glow, and an object levitates forward...

>It's a circular-

>They didn't

>They did

>"As recognition of your skill as a loyal defender, we present to you a shield reminiscent of your Spartan ancestors."

>You grab it, and feel it's authenticity. You could really use this in a fight.

Thank you Princess Celestia. Thank you Shining Armor. I look forward to serving Equestria as the Beast of Sparta!

>The guards all yell "HOOORAH CAPTAIN!"