Chapter 8
Alright everypony, I'm back with chapter 8. Here, we get to see Drake's senior year, and look forward to his graduation. This short volume covering Drake's early life will be wrapped up soon, probably in the next chapter, and we can then move on to more exciting adventures as Drake gets his first Duty assignment. I apologize for how boring, silly, and unnecessary this story has seemed to be. I could have started later in Drake's life, but I felt it was important to tell the story of his early life. It, in a way puts the rest of the stories into context a little bit more, just knowing where he came from.
As to what Drake looks like, the cover art for this story is a rendering of Drake shortly after graduation. Hope this helps. Well, here is the next installment, so please read and review.
Senior year was rather easy, as in military academy, senior year means a year of taking everything you've already learned, and putting a high polish on it. This meant another, thankfully less intense course in officer etiquette, more drill in full-dress uniforms, a mathematics class centering around the sort of math we'd have to do in the military, and a class on military law and rules of engagement.
I also had the luxury of two electives within my field of study. Being the outgoing extrovert I was, I chose military literature and opted for an advanced tracking, orienteering and pathfinding class. To me, getting lost in a book or in the woods was the best thing for me. My entire time at academy, I had been to zero parties, signed up for an equal number of extracurricular activities, and to be honest, Shining Armor was the only pony at Canterlot Military Academy who knew more about me than the facts that my name was Dragoon Sabre, I was good at swordplay, and was a complete smart-ass. All of the other ponies had their little groups they would congeal into between classes or on off days, their stupid pranks somepony was always getting PT'd to death for, and their sports and activities to eat up their time and energy. All that wasn't for me, and if it hadn't been for the fact that Shining was my roommate, there probably wouldn't have been a single pony in my graduating class who could recognize my face in a crowd.
Our class drill at this point had gone through 3 years of constant refinement and discipline. Every day, we trained how to work as a unit on the parade ground, how to march, move and think as one. If you have never seen a military unit on full-dress parade, come to Canterlot sometime and see for yourself. There is nothing as beautiful as an entire class of 60 ponies, all in matching (albeit uncomfortable and ugly as sin) uniforms, forming a single, symmetrical formation that can turn on a bit, shift and coalesce, and form magnificent shapes, and all to the melody of marching hooves. By senior year, we all knew how to march well, and look good doing it.
Military literature was an enriching class, and to me, it was just an excuse to read more war novels and fictional accounts of historical battles. At least half of the reading material assigned were works that I had already read once or twice, so the class was essentially a chance to kick back, relax, and get some reading done without a certain somepony distracting me with annoying whining. And my plan was successful. I had nearly an hour each day to read poems and stories and analyze what they meant and whether the author portrayed the battles and/or soldiers accurately. I enjoyed most of what I read, and some particular passages stuck with me, and did for some time. One in particular dug itself into my mind, rooted in, and stayed there for a long time, for reasons I didn't understand until later in my life. I liked the poem it came from, but there was a sense of foreboding that came with it, and I still remember, word for word, the quatrain that stuck with me for so long:
'Theirs not to reason why,
theirs but to do and die
Into the valley of Death
charged the six hundred'
This macabre poem stuck in my head aside, I enjoyed my literature class, and in terms of pleasure, it was second only to my tracking, orienteering and pathfinding class. I had all the skills to excel in the class, and by this point, had proven that as socially awkward and reclusive as I may be painted by some, and as strange and unorthodox as I may be, once in the wilderness, it becomes my domain and mine solely. It became so that nopony in the class could evade me or apprehend me during our tactical hide-and-seek games, and during the final test of the class, when we all had to go survive for one week in the wilderness, I was the only one to return with a smug grin, well rested, and at the same health and weight I left at.
But the day finally came that my time at Canterlot Military Academy was nearing an end. As graduation day loomed on the horizon like the inevitability it was (I'm not a poet, alright?), I began to think more and more about what I wanted to do once I was a freshly commissioned junior company grade officer. There are not many opportunities for butter bars in the military. Fresh out of academy, a new second lieutenant has yet to prove his worth, talent, intelligence or mettle, and is likely to find himself parked behind a desk doing administrative work, placed in the quartermaster department, or assigned to a regiment as an adjutant to the commanding officer. The latter sounds appealing, but at the end of the day, an adjutant is little more than a regimental secretary, and brass polisher to a colonel.
So the race was on. In the last three months of school, every cadet in the senior class frantically fought for open positions in various regiments and in Canterlot military offices. To many of my classmates, being a military officer meant a chance to acquire a cushy job in Canterlot, where they could strut around in a nice uniform, looking official, and possibly move up in rank so they could strut some more. I on the other hand was in the minority. I put in for assignments within active regiments and companies, especially those on the frontier and on the borders of Equestria. There were far less other ponies wanting these positions, but on the other hoof, there were less openings, and to me, being trapped in an office somewhere was a fate worse than death. So, I put in my papers, hoped for the best, and prepared for graduation with the rest of my class.
Graduation day finally came, and I had had a mixed bag of feelings about it. On one hoof, I was glad to get out of academy and finally do something with my life. No more book-learning. No more being on the receiving end of incessant drills. No more being cooped up in a dorm in Canterlot. No more being a cadet.
On the other hoof, it would be another big change in my life. I was still unsure of what the future held, and my last four years had been based in rote and routine. I gripe and groan about routine, about predictability and the mental prison of structure, but when you don't know what tomorrow will bring, and such things seem completely out of your control, anypony will begin to believe that a day of predictability trumps a year of not being master of your own destiny. As I sat there in that same chair in the corner of the dorm that my rump had worn a rut in for the last four years, I realized something. I guess what I really wanted from the start was to be master of my own destiny. But the more I thought about it, I began to wonder at this milestone of my life, if anypony really ever masters their fate. I wasn't cut out for this life...it had been cut out for me. I had been meant for this from the start. I was too good at all the things that had now made me a cavalry lieutenant. Was there a reason to it all? Had I chosen to be here? Had I chosen my destiny, or had it chosen me?
'Theirs not to question why,
theirs but to do and die
Into the valley of Death
charged the six hundred'
Shining Armor was up at daybreak, five hours before graduation. This was no surprise. It took Shining an hour to get ready for school every morning, and at least two if it were a special occasion. It took three once when he decided to carefully and meticulously hoof-polish every single button on his uniform and re-oil and polish his belt. This morning, he was going all out. I admit I groomed myself well too for this occasion. Not only were we all under orders to do so, but it seemed only right. So after my roommate was finished using most of the hot water for the last time, I took over the bathroom. I actually washed, shampooed and brushed out my black mane until it cascaded down my neck and back and shined in the light, and brushed out my tail to a presentable fountain of straight hair. I had polished my buttons, and now I ritually put on my dress jacket, straightened my belt, and gave myself a look in the mirror as I opened the bathroom door.
"Second Lieutenant Dragoon Sabre." I said to my reflection. "Heh. Guess I made it."
"You did." Shining Armor said earnestly, with a slow nod. He smiled. "Somehow, you rapscallion."
"Hm." I grunted. "I figured they'd make you general when you graduated instead of lieutenant." I jested.
"I think I will settle for Captain of the Guard." He said smugly.
"And I'll settle for Lieutenant Drake for now." I replied. We stood there in our dorm, silent for a moment.
"It has been a pleasure knowing you...Lieutenant Drake." Shining said, holding out his right forehoof.
"It has, Captain Shining Armor." I returned, shaking his hoof. My lips curled up into a grin. "Siiiiir."
"Smart aleck." Shining remarked.
"Pompous ass." I shot back with a chuckle.
"Graduation, Drake." He said.
"Yep."
We stood in formation, sixty ponies, all knowing that in a few minutes, we would no longer be cadets. We would be officers. We would no longer be students of war, we would be soldiers...and young. The commandant of the Academy, a decorated old veteran with a large scar on his muzzle, presided over the occasion. He gave a speech about duty and honor, and boasted that his school had turned out yet another class of the finest officers Equestria would ever see. All the while, we all stood at attention, some listening to the old warrior's words religiously, some using the time to reminisce about the last four years, some eager to just get their collar bars and go home for a while before their first assignment.
The valedictorian came to the podium and spoke. He was a strong, intelligent unicorn who had finished first in our class. He had the best marks, and had spent the last two years as squad leader. He talked about his time at Academy, the friends he'd made, and how he looked forward to his future with confidence and optimism, and hoped we all did the same. He was almost right. What I lacked in confidence, I almost made up for in optimism.
Next, Princess Celestia ascended the stage on the parade ground with grace and bearing fitting her position. We all bowed as she made her way to the podium, and arose just before she began to speak. She spoke with pride that we had all come so far to become brave, capable leaders, the kind of ponies who deserved the rank we were about to receive. She gave us her hope that we would serve faithfully and be as great as she knew we all had it in us to be. As she orated further, I noticed the young foal at her side. Standing quietly and attentively beside the princess was a young filly, a light purple unicorn, who did not move or speak the entire time. Who the foal was, or why she was there with Her Highness Princess Celestia puzzled me for some unknown reason. I only remember her now because of later events in my life that reminded me of her.
Then, with great pomp and circumstance fitting him perfectly, Shining Armor was called to the stage. He marched perfectly onto the platform and came to attention. Another pony, a blue unicorn stallion with a darker blue mane ascended the stage, bearing an ornate sabre. Behind him was another unicorn stallion, white with a blue mane and tail. They both wore the red full dress uniform of officers of the royal guard. When the group had gathered, Princess Celestia spoke.
"Shining Armor. As I expected, you have proven you are ready for your role and your birthright. You have made me proud. You have brought pride to your family, and its long legacy. I know you will serve me, the Royal Guard, and all of Equestria with the honor, bravery and integrity that your family is known for." She nodded to the two stallions.
"Are you ready to receive this sword," The blue unicorn Stallion asked. "...with all of the duties and responsibilities that go with it?" I realized now what this was. Shining was getting a promotion.
"I am, father." Shining replied. Aha. So this was Shining's dad.
"Good, because I need to retire and spend some time with your mother." The stallion said. There was a hushed laughter out of the audience and the cadets for a moment. Even Celestia chuckled at the bad joke.
"Shining Armor." The commandant stated, approaching my roommate of four years. "I hereby declare you a graduate of Canterlot Military Academy, with the rank of second lieutenant. Congratulations." With that, Shining saluted. The commandant returned the salute, turned and trotted back to the rear of the stage.
"Lieutenant Shining Armor." Princess Celestia spoke. "I do hereby appoint you Captain of the Royal Guard, with all of the privileges and responsibilities of that rank. Congratulations, captain." The two unicorn stallions moved to either side of Shining, and his father affixed the fancy sword to Shining's left side. They stepped back, and salutes were made and returned.
"Three cheers for the new Captain of the Guard." Celestia announced. As the crowd cheered, I groaned internally. This was the fastest promotion in the history of the military, and I was sure Shining was eating it all up.
After all of the speeches and special promotions, we began to be called up one at a time to graduate, to receive our bars and become officers in the Equestrian military. One by one, ponies walked onto the stage, saluted the commandant, got two patches, each with gilded edges and a single gold bar, were saluted by the commandant, and left the stage a different pony...or maybe they were the same pony, only now with patches to sew to their collars. Finally, it was my turn.
"Dragoon Sabre!" The announcer called. I did as trained, step forward from the ranks four steps. Stop. Pirouette left. March forward to the end of the formation. Stop. Pirouette right. March to the podium steps. All the while, it should be said, I was half nervous, half ecstatic, and concentrating on my bearing and poise. Slowly approach the commander. Salute. Have two pieces of wool, cloth and gold thread slapped into my hoof, the symbols and culmination of four years of hard work and study. Get saluted. March off the stage. Break out of trance.
The weight of it all hit me. I had done it. I was now A second lieutenant, the lowest rank of commissioned officer in the military, but I was happy nonetheless. There was nothing to do now but to go back to my dorm, collect my things and leave. I could go home for a few days of rest and relaxation before receiving my duty assignment. Then my life as a professional soldier would start. I had been a smart-aleck my entire life. I always had something witty to say about everything and everypony whenever I needed or wanted to. I'm sure a lot of ponies thought I was a pompous ass, just as I thought Shining was. I'm sure a great many thought I was a standoffish stoic. I got my commission, promptly walked back to my dorm, went into my bedroom, and cried for the first time in years.
Well everypony, Drake has graduated, and is now a lieutenant. After all of the humor in the story, I bet you didn't expect such deep, emotional moments, eh? Fair warning if you plan on following Drake's story deep into the saga; his life is not a static one, and things change when you...and he least expect it. That's all I can say without giving spoilers. The next chapter will be the last, and I hope to have it up soon, probably tomorrow as I have nothing else to do. Please send reviews. I love hearing from my readers. Until next time, stay tuned.