Now we get into Drakes early adult life, and things begin to pick up a little. Drake has entered military academy, and has his entire life pretty much planned out at this point. Be prepared for a well-known character form the show to appear in Drake's life. Hope you enjoy.

CHAPTER 3

With high school finally behind me, it was time to set my sights on my future. I had long decided that becoming a military officer was the best direction for my life. It was already planned that I had the money set aside to go to college on, and given that I was practically destined to become a soldier, military academy was the only logical choice for me. It was the fact that my adopted dad was a sergeant in the royal guard, and wrote a letter of recommendation, which was enclosed along with a transcript of my school records that got me in. That, and the fact that we were paying the tuition up front in full, in good solid bits.

Academy was a different world. A different world that I was completely new to, and I admit that it took me a while to become acclimated to it. We all lived at the school, in small apartment-like dorms, each with two small bedrooms, a single common room, and a small kitchen. On day one, we were all called to attention, in something only vaguely resembling a formation, and paired off to be assigned our dorm, which was to be our homes for the next 4 years. As I stood there, 18 years old and wondering exactly what I had gotten myself into, the gruff, military stallion shouted out my name.

"Sir!" I shouted in reply.

"Shining...Armor!" He barked.

"Yes sir!" A voice from somewhere to the left of me called back.

"Dorm 114-B Hall!" The stallion, whom I guessed had the sole job of screaming at everyone, ordered loudly. I picked up my small duffel bag, the rest of my random possessions being in the saddlebags on my back, and began to walk toward the building designated 'B-Hall' by the wooden sign in front.

"I guess we're going to be dorm-mates, eh?" A voice spoke from behind me. I turned to see a white unicorn stallion with a two-tone blue mane trotting up with all the bearing of an aristocrat.

"It appears so." I replied. We would be living together for four years, and I figured that we'd may as well start off on the right hoof. "My name's Dragoon Sabre." I said in a friendly tone. "But everypony calls me Drake."

"Drake, eh?" He said, as if pondering on it. "That's quite the odd nickname, eh? Heheh. I am Shining Armor. Very good to meet you." Okay, beyond that, I had no idea what to do or say.

"Hm. You too." I said. "Wanna see our new palace?"

"New pal...oh, hahahah. That's sort of funny, Drake." He replied. I rolled my eyes and walked into the building. Following the small plaques on the wall, we soon found room 114. I paused a moment, then opened the door, prepared to enter my new lodgings.

"Oh, thank you Drake." Shining Armor said, pushing past me into the room. I sighed as I watched him walk in. Here was definitely a unicorn who was used to being served and handed everything, that much was already apparent. This was going to be grade school all over again. I walked in behind him and shut the door.

"Um...so do you want to..." I began.

"You can have that room, Drake." He said with a friendly voice. "I'd prefer this one. It has a window and I have to have my fresh air, you know?"

"Of course." I said in a sarcastic tone. Shining Armor immediately began to unpack his large bag. I watched as he unpacked several bottles of expensive-looking bath and body care products, four old hoofbound books, a silver teapot and two fancy cups and saucers, a pearl-handled gold-inlaid manebrush, a velveteen bag that was obviously either filled with gold bits, precious gems, or both, an expensive quill and inkwell, and a stack of what could only be personalized parchments.

"Um...you packed kinda light didn't you Shining?" I asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"Oh, oh goodness no." He replied. "The rest of my effects will be here tomorrow. I have a wonderful opulent rug that would go nicely in this room, of course a better bed is in order, and my dishes are of the best quality." He looked at my small bag. "Can I assume the rest of your possessions are on their way too?"

"Huh?" I answered, confused a moment. "No, this is all I have." He stared at me a moment as if he'd just realized I was a strange new creature.

"Oh, I'm sorry..." He muttered. "So that is really all you brought?"

"Well, I have some soap...a toothbrush, a few books on military history, a pound of coffee, and that's about it, yeah." I replied, taking out the few items in my bag. "This is pretty much all of the essentials I need."

"Hm...where are you from, Drake? If you don't mind me asking?" Shining asked, not sounding at all like he was being judgmental for a moment.

"I was raised here in Canterlot." I replied. "My dad's a sergeant in the royal guard." I left it at that, at least for the time being.

"Ah." He said. "I didn't know. Sorry about that. I just assumed, you know..." I looked up. Shining was looking a bit ashamed for some reason.

"What?" I asked.

"Well...not many ponies of the..." He cleared his throat nervously. "...less-wealthy classes even attend military academy...not that you're not officer material just because you're not...you know, of the higher..."

"I'm poor as dirt, it's alright." I said. "It doesn't bother me."

"Well..." He remarked. "It's well that it doesn't. I mean just because you're less priv...um...poor, doesn't mean a thing. That's what I was apologizing for. I just assumed that you were of means, and I didn't intend any insult."

"Well, it's alright." I returned. "Really. I'm here for the same reason you are, so I guess on that level, we're perfectly equal."

"Hm. Never thought of that." He said. "So, what branch are you training for, Drake?"

"Cavalry." I stated simply. "I figure it's the best way to go. You?"

"Royal Guard." Shining replied. "My father is the captain of the guard, and inasmuch, I have been practically groomed for the position my entire life."

"So you had no choice in the matter?" I asked.

"Oh yes, but who in their right mind would ever pass up such a high position, a place in society, and a lofty endowment upon graduation?"

"Well...I don't know. I've never been in that situation, so..."

"Captain Shining Armor...it does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?" He thought out loud.

"I guess..."

"Hm. And maybe when I'm captain of the guard, I can find a nice comfortable position for you in Canterlot."

"Eh...I actually want frontier duty." I admitted.

"What? Drake, why in Celestia's name would you want that?"

"I want adventure. Action, you know? I wanna see the world and be out there in the wild, living by my wits and having to think and act fast. I don't want to spend my life being bored. I want to live it up, see danger, get dirty. It sounds like fun."

"Well...I'm glad you know what makes you happy." Shining said with a sour look. "Just doesn't seem that entertaining to me..." He looked at his pile of items, and picked up a bottle. "Ah...you can borrow this whenever you want it. It's herbal bubble bath. Nothing quite as relaxing after a hard day than a nice hot bubble bath. You like bubble baths?" This was officially becoming one of the most awkward conversations in the history of my life.

"Yeah...sure...every day..." I deadpanned. "usually between teatime and my polo practice."

"No need to get defensive..." He muttered. "I was just saying you can feel free to use some of my toiletries whenever you want. That goes for the furniture too."

"Furniture?!" I questioned.

"Yes, the setee, the accent chairs, the antique mahogany table. When they get here, consider them as much yours as mine." He said. "I like to think we're going to get along quite well."

I was completely speechless. What could I do at this point but just stand there, wondering if this Shining Armor was serious. I'd been around wealthy ponies my entire life, but I had never met anypony like my dorm-mate. I had to admit that he was friendly enough...or at least tried to be. The only problem was that every time he attempted to be friendly, it still somehow came off as showboating. His generosity, as benevolent as it was, somehow was corrupted by a hint of boasting. I honestly didn't know how what to make of him, or how to take him moment to moment, and little did I know, this was going to be an everyday occurrence for the next four years.

Didn't see that coming, did you? Okay, I did a little application of my own fancanon here, based mostly off of logic. Drake and Shining Armor are about the same age, and both are military officers from Canterlot, so I assumed that they would have attended the same officer school at some point. Making them dorm-mates was just an act of inspiration, and given how the military really works, somepony high-up in the school must have compared their backgrounds and talents and stuck them together to teach them how to cooperate with fellow soldiers with different attitudes and skill-sets. Either that, or it was a cruel but funny joke. As always, input is welcome. I'll try to get the next chapter up in a most expedient manner.