Scene IV: Top Bunk
 
There’s something therapeutic about running long distances. After those 50 laps, my anger had completely melted away, leaving behind my typical . . . reasonable, self. Granted I was also completely wiped, and with the setting sun that meant the other recruits would be turning in to the barracks soon.
 
Unfortunately, I still had latrine detail, which would be much less calming than running, but at least it’d get me away from Chattermare. She seemed to realize it as well, “Hey! Peppermint!”
 
I didn’t even bother being subtle as I quickened my pace, “Can’t talk now, I have latrines to clean.”
 
She was no doubt about to continue when the tell tale monotone of Sarge called out, “Mocha! Hold it right there!”
 
This day just kept getting better and better. I bet he had some big lecture for me or something. I turned to him with an exasperated sigh, “Yes. Sir?”
 
“You’re off the hook. One of the other recruits did something worse than a little insubordination, so they’re stuck with solo latrine detail for a week.”
 
I was both relieved and irked at the same time. It was evident in my voice as I gave my carefully articulated reply, “What.”
 
“Now get to the barracks you two. You’ve got an early start tomorrow morning. Dismissed.”
 
And with that he departed, leaving me with Chattermare. She, of course, couldn’t resist commenting on my newfound luck.
 
“Hey isn’t that great! You don’t have to clean toilets now!”
 
I just looked at her. She was way too cheerful for a mare who’d just run 50 damn miles. Turning towards the barracks I gave her my response, “Lovely.”
 
She followed, “Hey come on. You gotta be at least a little happy you don’t have to clean up other ponies’ filth.”
 
I couldn’t shout at her anymore, the run had drained all my anger away. But I still didn’t want to talk to her. “I’ll be happier when I get away from your yapping mouth.”
 
“What’d you say Peppermint?”
 
We arrived at the barracks, and as we stepped inside I decide to end the conversation there, “Nothing, just don’t bunk anywhere near me, got it?”
 
She finally gave me a break, “Fine, we can talk again later.”
 
I grumbled under my breath, “Hopefully not.” And walked away to find a bunk.
 
I trotted down the bunks looking for one that wasn’t already occupied. The building was quite long, like a tunnel through a mountain, the entire building was just one room. There were bunk beds on both sides and a fairly wide corridor in the middle with plenty of space for four ponies to walk side-by-side unimpeded. The whole room’s aesthetic was very Spartan, simple beds, a basic chest for each pony’s belongings, windows that provided most of the lighting, a few lighting gems in the ceiling, and a single door at the other side.
 
However, there was one feature that made the entire thing extremely weird, the entire building was co-ed. There were no separations, no walls, and everypony was free to bunk with and near whomever they wanted. At first I thought it was a pretty dumb idea, given the nature of ponies, especially adolescent ones. But the more I thought about the more it made sense. If you were going to be on a team out in the wilderness defending Equestria, you’d have to get used to sleeping near them as well. The bunks were also barely big enough for one pony, much less two, plus everyone looked far too tired to get a hard-on, that probably helped too.
 
I looked back and forth across the bunks, but every one of them seemed to already be occupied. I was starting to worry there were no more left when I spotted one devoid of possessions on the opposite end of the barracks. There was only one bunk between this one and the door at the back that pony would presumably come through for the morning wake-up call.
 
I walked to the bunk and looked it over. Two mattresses, two flimsy sheets, two pillows, and surprisingly two desks; one to either side of the bunk squeezed in with a desk for the next bunk over. The desks looked stocked with scrolls, seals, quills and other necessities for writing letters to loved ones. I certainly wouldn’t be making use of those. There was also a window over each desk that gave a great view of the next building over.
 
“Well, it looks like the daredevil has finally come to roost. And she’s gotten the last bunk too.” I looked back at the owner of the snarky voice: a pale brown Pegasus stallion with dirty blonde hair and a brighter yellow streak through it. His blue eyes and friendly grin watched me from atop his bunk across the room. I noticed he had the zebra as his bunkmate judging by the striped body lying on the lower bunk.
 
Looking back up at the Pegasus I asked, “And you are?”
 
“The name’s Quick Shot! But everypony just calls me Quicks. And you, miss daredevil, are Peppermint Mocha, the pony who picked a fight with Sarge when everypony else would have rather shit themselves. You’ve gathered quite the reputation.”
 
I turned to face him, “Thanks. Is there any particular reason you’re putting on the flattery?”
 
“I’m just wondering what a pony has to do to have the guts to do an incredible act such as the one you have done.”
 
I smirked, “It’s not exactly hard. Once you figure out why they’re being intimidating, they stop being intimidating.”
 
He seemed just a bit too into this conversation, “Oh? And why are they being so intimidating then?” I was pretty certain by that point the guy was into me.
 
I hesitated for a second, realizing what I was about to say. Then I said it anyway, “To break us. So they can mold us into whatever they want.”
 
“So you’re . . .”
 
“I’ve already been broken.”
 
By the way the guy’s face fell, I think I killed his boner. He had no comeback for that one. I turned back to my bunk when realization hit me.
 
Worried I turned back to Quicks, “Hey, you said I got the last bunk. What did you mean by that?”
 
My question seemed to snap him back to the present, “Huh? Oh, well apparently they have just enough bunks for everyone here. And everypony else has been here for a while except for you and that blue mare.”
 
I just stared at him, my gut sinking. “But hey, look on the bright side, at least you get to pick which bed you want before the other mare gets here.”
 
Stunned, I was completely stunned; I just couldn’t seem to get away from this mare could I. I just sighed in defeat, “Not really.” And looked to my left, “She’s already here.”
 
And there she was indeed. Standing right there with a sheepish smile giving a small wave with her hoof.
 
I was too tired to get angry, but I still wanted to make sure I got what I wanted. So I got right up in her face to make sure she understood, “I. Get. Top. Bunk. Got it?”
 
She stuttered only once, but otherwise didn’t back down, “O-oh sure thing! I actually wanted the bottom bunk myself.”
 
“Good.” And with that I gave my wings a few flaps, landing on the top bunk.
 
In all honesty, I’d always wanted a bunk bed so I could sleep high up. But, you know, with no siblings there was no real reason to get one.
 
Sadly, bunking with Chattermare meant there weren’t many reasons for her to not flap her yap, “So, Peppermint, would you be interested in talking about where you’re from?”
 
I gave a long tired sigh into my pillow. I just wanted to go to sleep, “Look, Sunnymail-“
 
“Sunlight.”
 
“Whatever, look its nothing personal, but I am not here to make friends, or to have fun, ok. Just please leave me alone.” I prayed to the heavens above she wouldn’t respond. My prayers were distinctly ignored.
 
“Ok. So why are you here then?”
 
“I don’t know.” I grumbled.
 
“Huh? How can you not know why you’re here? You came here on didn’t you? That must mean you know-“
 
I didn’t care anymore. I was just too tired.
 
“I said I don’t know okay! I was just wandering Equestria aimlessly for months, then Sarge comes along and is like, Hey I know this place you could go to and use your shit for good stuff, you wanna come try it out? And I’m like, sure why the hell not? I’ve got nothing better to fucking do! So here I am!!”
 
I plopped my face back into my crappy pillow. When Chattermare didn’t respond right away I thought for one blessed moment that I’d been granted mercy to fall asleep.
 
Sadly that moment came to an end, “But Peppermint, just because you didn’t have a reason for coming here, doesn’t mean you can’t make a few friends here and there.”
 
She was right. As much as I hated to admit it she was right. It’s not fun to be alone with your thoughts for months on end after your life is torn to shreds. The only ponies I’d talked to were clients, and those conversations usually ended with my face getting punched. Not exactly a quality conversation. It hit me hard in that moment, “I would really like to have some friends.”
 
“Huh?”
 
And I really didn’t like that I’d spoken that last part out loud.
 
“N-nothing, just leave me alone ok!”
 
She was silent for a moment, and then finally, mercifully, relented. “Ok Pepper.” I felt the bunk shake a little as she got onto the bed below me.
 
I could finally let the grip of sleep pull me under. But before I lost sense of the world I heard Chattermare again.
 
“Goodnight Pepper.”
 
I didn’t even think about it, I just responded out of instinct though it was mumbled through my pillow.
 
“Goodnight.”
 
And then the bliss of sleep washed over me.