A Dash of Raine

Chapter 1: First Meeting

'Finally, I found it.' I thought to myself with a grumble. I was annoyed at having wandered for so long just to find that the entrance was right in front of my face the whole time. With an irritated expression, I lifted the manhole cover and dove head first into the darkness without a second thought. I flared out my wings to catch me a bit as I hit the floor below, and I looked around.

The walls were deep green and surprisingly clean for a sewer. The floors were a mixture of a lighter shade of green and lined with grey stone. It was all surprisingly clean for the location, and I found myself slightly pleased at this. I continued down the hall and crossed this metal grate that acted as a bridge. I stopped before a sign that said, "Soldiers Hall." I pushed the door open carefully before stepping through the door. I took in my surroundings, bunk beds lining the walls, the matresses were sort of thin with brown blankets covering them all. I chuckled softly to myself, thinking back to the military I was once part of.

'Home sweet home.' I thought to myself before taking the bottom of the second to last bunk toward the back. I was lost in thought as I placed my bag onto the floor and fixed up my bunk appropriately. I did this fluidly and on autopilot, having had much practice. 'I wonder what this place is all about. I wonder if they have good food for my kind. I wonder if the commanding officer will be as exciting as my last one.' I grimaced at the last thought before being shaken out of my thoughts by a voice.

I looked up to the owner of the voice, he was short, had blue antlers, a multitude of brown mixed together to create his coat, which looked surprisingly soft considering the situation we found ourselves in, he was wearing a stormy grey bodysuit under steel armor. He had a gas mask attached to his belt as well as a battle saddle where his rifle would sit.

Finally I looked up at his face, he was talking animatedly about something, his eyes were mismatched, one light blue that reminded me of crystals and his other was purple, that color reminding me of a long lost friend. I shook my head and looked at him, my facial expression unreadable, "I'm sorry, what?" I asked in my deep register, my voice ringing out like steel in its monotone pitch. He just smiled at me and said, "My name's Dash, I'm a deer, obviously. It's good to have someone else new around. Do you think you'd want to be friends? Or battle buddies? I think it could be interesting considering we seem so different. You're kinda mysterious." His voice sounded like the crisp fall morning air, or a light breeze. I put up a hoof to stop his rambling, and he looked at me expectantly. "I don't play well with others. We probably won't be friends. But I can accept being your battle buddy so long as you don't talk this much up there. I'd rather you not get me killed. Also, I'm really not new to all of this, but I won't be helping you figure it out. Good luck." I responded, dipping my head down to look at the blanket, I wanted to ensure it was perfect.

My ears perked up as I heard a laugh from the deer in front of me. I didn't move from the task at hand, though, and continued running my hoof along the hospital corners I had just made.

"Hey, fair enough, though to be fair, I didn't ask for your help. I asked for your friendship, and you accepting my battle buddy request is just one step forward." I raised my head to look at him, finished with my bed, and was pleased with the outcome. "Well, I don't want to see someone like you get killed out there. We need more annoying balls of sunlight in this world. But that doesn't mean I have to like you." I glared in his direction, "you really get on my nerves, and I just met you. So, if you could do me a favor and shut your trap, that would be most enjoyable for me."

He just continued to smile and shook his head before turning to his own bunk. I was a bit annoyed that nothing was getting under his skin, but I shrugged it off and left the room to find my superior officer.

My hoofsteps echoed across the hall, and the familiar sound of metal under my hooves was a comfort that I had almost forgotten. As I walked, I passed a stallion, he wasn't too tall or too short, he looked muscular, as most earth ponies do and he was tinkering away with something in his hoof. He had on the same armor as Dash, but instead of a blue emblem on the shoulder, it held a red one. It complimented his red coat color and contrasted well with his brownish auburn hair.

'I'll have to ask about that later.' I thought to myself continuing my trek down the hall until I finally reached my superiors office. I knocked on the door and waited. "Enter." I heard in a gruff, raspy voice. It reminded me of the sound of gravel underhoof. I entered the room and saluted, "Private Rainstorm reporting as ordered." He looked up from his paperwork and nodded his head, I lowered my salute and stood in the middle of the room at attention. From what I could see from my eyes front position, the place was pretty empty. Save for a small dark oak desk, the stool he was sat upon, and a few awards decorating his desk.

"At ease, what can I do for you, private?" He asked, breaking me from my thoughts. I looked at him and said, "Sir, I just came for my uniform, I'm supposed to be with tonight's patrol." He nodded his head before walking behind me to a black metal cabinet I hadn't seen when I walked in. He pulled out a few articles before opening the other side and pulling out the same metal armor with the muted blue shoulders.

"This should be yours private, head down to the technicians' hall, and they will fit you with a battle saddle and your rifle. It's just down around that corner to the right." I nodded my head respectfully before turning and leaving the room, my uniform being balanced atop my broad back and shoulders.

I walked down the hall, the same familiar metal sounds coming forth every time my hoof hit the ground. I was once again lost in thought, and before I knew it, I had arrived at the technicians office. I knocked once again and entered when I heard a deep voice say, "Come in." His voice sounded tired, and that was confirmed as I stepped into the room seeing the same earth pony from before.

"I was told to come see you for my battle saddle and rifle." I stated firmly, "Name?" "Private Raine, callsign, Rainstorm." The stallion nodded and turned towards his desk. "My name is Foie, I'm one of the head technicians. If you need your armor or rifle or really anything fixed, you come to me." I nodded though he couldn't see. He turned his head to look at me, and the one visible green eye seemed to observe me. I couldn't tell if he despised me or not. He turned back to what he was doing.

"We don't see many of your kind around here. Where'd you come from anyway?" I scowled a bit to his back before fixing my face, "I came from up north, found home with the yaks before all of this shit started." He nodded his head in what was seemingly understanding. "I'm from around here, but I get what you mean. I personally miss how it used to be." After a moment, he turned to me, hoofing me my rifle and battle saddle as well as something else I hadn't been expecting.

I looked up at him, some slight surprise visible in my deep green eyes. "I want you to be useful in daytime missions too. Your sonic screech can be useful to disrupt enemy equipment. People don't really utilize bat pony skills as much as they should, and I plan to take advantage of that." I simply nodded, finally looking down at the special tactical sunglasses he had given me. "Thanks." I said before turning and leaving the room.

*A/N I hope you enjoyed this first chapter. Special thanks to one of my best friends for giving me this wonderful idea. May there be much more drama and excitement ahead!*