//------------------------------// // Nothing says rest like PTSD // Story: The Guardian // by NYChris824 //------------------------------// I spent the last hour reading about Equestrian history, if I had to sum it up in three words. Very few wars. Equestria hasn't had a 'major armed conflict' in 100 years, minor skirmishes with pirates, Diamond Dogs and changelings occurred at times. It seemed insane given that in the same time frame America fought in the World Wars, Korea, Nam, Grenada, Panama Desert Storm and the War on Terror, not to mention the interventions in several countries in the Caribbean and Africa. I put the Complete History of Equestria to the side and leaned back. My thoughts drifted back to home, what were my squadmates doing? Probably looking for me, not that it matters that much. Hard to find someone when they aren't even on the planet anymore. After thirteen months, they'll declare me dead, not that I have anyone close family members. "Hey Dan." Twilight said, walking in, "Dash said you were coming to the spa with us." "Yea, my chest is killing me." "You did spend the night sleeping in a chair." "Which I have done plenty in my life and not have chest pains. Flying for eight hours in a cramped cargo plane with a hundred and fifty other guys and supplies isn't the best way to go to Europe and that never gave me a chest pain." Twilight shrugged "I have no idea and that's something I don't say often." "I have a feeling that those four words are going to be said often with everything going on." I said, we walked out of the castle. *** Twilight and I walked in, a bell ringing above the door. Rarity, AJ and Dash were there already. "So glad you two can come dears!" Rarity said pulling us into a hug. "Thanks for having us, Rarity! Where's Pinkie and Fluttershy?" Twilight said "Fluttershy will be here in a moment and Pinkie is training Michael and might not show up." "I didn't know he could bake," I said "then again I have only known him for, like, two days." "Do you have any skills or hobbies?" Rarity asked. Before I could answer with 'Does killing count?' or 'I can take orders well.', the door behind us ringed as Pinkie and Flutterhshy walked in. "And then I said Oatmeal?! Are you crazy?" Pinkie said "But, Pinkie," Fluttershy said, "we were talking about Michael getting a job." "We were?" Another round of greetings went around before two ponies came out from a back door. They were identical twins, but the colors were flipped, one was blue hair with pink skin and the other was pink hair and blue skin. This world is fucking insane. "Hello." The blue one said in a Polish-Russian hybrid accent. "Are they all with you, Miss Rarity?" "Of course Lotus, dear." The pink one showed me to the men's changing room, while Lotus went to work getting whatever we were getting done to us ready. I've never been to a spa, but I know what some of the basic things are. Steam room that feels like Florida, mud baths, massages and happy endings. She showed me where a variety of bathing shorts in several colors and shapes. I grabbed one and changed into it, part of me realized that I've gone swimming and at a spa and it's not even evening. Then again, Taliban attacked us about twenty-something times in a week. Lots of exciting things can happen within a short period of time. I walked back out with an off-gray swimsuit on and followed the signs towards everything else. I had no clue what we were doing exactly other than 'spa shit', but it doesn't t matter too much. I found everyone else in the 'general' area. A giant hot tub on the far wall, a glass door totally fogged over, a several wooden tubs filled with what appeared to be mud and a room with an open doorway but I couldn't tell what was in there. "Ah still don't understand why I can't take a mud bath back home. Plenty o' dirt to make into mud there." Applejack said "You heard Lotus, AJ. This mud is imported, heated and has stuff added." Dash said "So if I take mud from the farm, boil it and throw some stuff in that, I can take a mud bath." AJ continued on, arguing. "Heavens no!" Rarity said "That's like if I planted an apple tree in my backyard and got small apples say 'all apples are the same'." "Now that's hogwash!" AJ said, pointing a muddy finger at Rarity. "Now replace apples with mud, my little tree with your mud and your apples with this mud." Rarity said, adding a triumphant smirk. Applejack just grumbled. "So this is what a spa looks like when it's in one piece. Very nice." I said, making my presence known to all. "What sort of uncouth spa wouldn't be this neat?" Rarity asked. *** Flashback I found myself back in the Kandahar province, taking a break from clearing out Taliban hideouts in Kandahar City. The results of Operation Moshtarak pushed out the Taliban from the city of Marjah in neighboring Helmand Province, and right into Kandahar City and throughout the province. I looked around the building, several high benches, similar to the ones on a doctor's office, large stone tub and several photos hanging on the walls, riddled with bullet holes and slashed out. I watched as Captain Sterlite ordered Brody, a friend from Basic to give him a back rub on a massage table. "Holy shit." Someone shouted, I grabbed my rifle out of normal reaction. Several guys had a similar reaction. Sargent Jud walked over to them, I stood still slightly bent waiting for gunfire. "That's a lot of blood." Sargent Jud said, I walked over to the tub. Covering the bottom was a half an inch of blood and gore. The weird part was there was no bodies or limbs, something that belongs in there. I turned around and walked off. End of Flashback *** I walked over to one of the mud baths and sat down. "A ruined one in Kandahar City." I replied, not going into the details on the inside "The Taliban banned fun things," Pinkie gasped at the no fun rule "singing, clapping, even flying kites. Schools were attacked also, especially ones with girls attending them. We never could find the spa owners." I kept the word 'bodies' out of the end of the sentence. The spa was also converted into an IED factory as well, nothing says relaxation like bomb making. The mud felt nice actually, we sat in there and talked about things. I mostly listened since it was all local events or gossip and I had a lack of understanding. I'm sure sure how much time passed, but I didn't fall asleep because one minute Rarity was talking about how someone named Amethyst Star was courting some guy name Bluenote or something when the tubs began to drain. I noticed the pink one, whatever her name is, holding a remote. She pushed another button and water came out of nozzle at the end of the tub. I looked around to figure what to do, everyone else was washing themselves off. When in Rome. My skin did feel smoother afterwards, kinda like taking a shower after working outside in the summer. I heard a gasp behind me and a hand rub my back. "What happened to your back?" Fluttershy asked "I got hit by sharpnel in some small town. Cut my second deployment short by a few months." I said "It wasn't all that bad." That part was a lie, I nearly had nerve damage from it and almost got discharged for it. "Ve will now proceed with the massages." Lotus said, as she entered and I reached for a pistol not on my hip. "Unfortunately, there are too many of you, so the rest will be in the hot tub." Fluttershy and Pinkie went first, while the rest of us entered the tub. The water was a little hot for me, but I sucked it up and waited it I got used to it. "Is this water imported too?" Applejack grumbled. "Of course it is." Rarity said, earning laughs from the rest of us. AJ huffed and splashed Rarity with water. Rarity immediately gave her the look of 'I will fucking kill and all you love', only she picked up a ball of water with her magic and dumped on AJ. We all laughed at her misfortune before settling into a comfortable silence. Except me. I was busy thinking about the two flashbacks I had today. Sure I have a minor case of PTSD, who doesn't after two deployments to a combat zone? I've had my share of nightmares, flashbacks and jumping at loud noises. I leaned back and rubbed my eyes, when Inopened them back up, the tub was filled with blood. I jumped up and sat on the edge, disturbing everyone else. "Dude," Dash said "you good?" "Fine." I said, as sweat ran down my face and my heart pounded away. I squeezed my eyelids closed and waited. When I opened them up, the water was back to normal. Part of me realizes my left hand is shaking, I make it into a fist to stop it, but it worked slightly. I slid back down and let out a sigh. "I-I pictured the water was blood and I lost it. Things like this happen to me sometimes, I had a flashback last night, one when we got here and now this. I haven't had anything in months. There's no rhythm or reason on when they happen." I said, looking at the water "The shit I've seen, you can't exactly blame me though." "Like what?" Rarity asked "You don't wanna know." I said "No offense Rarity but I don't think you have the stomach to hear about my time overseas. Fluttershy too, maybe Pinkie as well." "Fair enough, but Canterlot Analectic says bottling emotions is negative for mental health." "Yea well, kinda hard to find someone who's seen war in a country that hasn't been in one in a century. But you guys will do I suppose." I said "I was in Afghanstsn for a few days, mostly they had us getting used to the base and surrounding area. One day, me and my squad go out for a patrol, you were supposed drive to Kandahar City and walk around. Win hearts and minds of people and all that junk. We pulled up to a market and the kids came running up to us 'cuz we always carry candy for them. A minute later a bomb went off at a stall. We ran towards the danger while the civilians ran away. The air was filled with smoke and cries from the wounded. I remember going to help a woman face down, she was wearing a hijab, so I couldn't see the back of her head. I flipped her body over and the front half of her face and an arm were gone." I saw Rarity and Twilight look a little green, while Dash and Applejack just sat there. "And that's why I don't talk about my time in Afghanistan." "Well," Rarity said, "I suppose I can see why you have nightmares." "That's just one thing I saw in a eight month deployment, then I spent another four months there in my second before being sent to a military hospital a little early." I said as Pinkie and Fluttershy entered. "They told us that whoever wants to go next can go." Fluttershy said, before any of us can say a word. Rarity grabbed Twilight by her wrist and dragged her out of the tub. "We can get our horns filed, dear." Rarity said. "Well then." Dash muttered "That was a quick choice." "I have a bad feeling bout that for ya Dan." AJ said "What'd we miss?" Fluttershy asked, Dash and Applejack looked at me, asking permission to tell them about my PTSD. "I had a flashback to my time in Afghanistan." I said, "It's something that happens to me that I deal with. No amount of help will get it out of my head. Best thing I can do is roll with it." "Does Michael have it?" Pinkie asked "I don't want hm going all batty on me one day." Her hand doing the 'crazy' sign and made a coo coo clock noise. "Probably not since he flew, he just pushed a little button to drop bombs and flew away. His best story is probably him screwing up or something." I smiled at that thought. "Lost his way back to base and had to bail from his multimillion dollar plane because he ran out of fuel maybe." I said, as we laughed at the thought. We sat in content for awhile before Rarity and Twilight went. Dash grabbed me and we went, I could've sworn AJ gave her the stink eye, but I probably imagined it. Lotus was doing my back while her sister, whatever her name is, was doing something to Dash's wings. "No offense Mr. Kroger, but your back is tighter than Ms. Applejack's." Lotus said "Aloe I need your help." I couldn't help but laugh. "I'm not surprised about that in the slightest." I felt another pair of hands start working on my back. My eyelids were starting to get heavy, but I managed to fight the feeling. "If I pass out, don't wake me." I fought the feeling, partly because that's just human reaction sometimes and I was afraid of another flashback. I heard Dash laugh from next to me. "Dude, your eyes keep opening and closing." "But can you blame me?" I sat there for several more minutes, eyes opening and closing, letting a few moans of pleasure out. My time ended before I realized, I guess have two pairs of hands helped. I returned to the group with instructions for AJ to head on over. The rest of us continued to enjoy the hot tub, with Pinkie going around pretending to be a shark, her giant poof of pink hair being her fin. Our final part of the trip was the steam room. We walked in immediately being hit by pure humidity imported from Florida, combined with heat from Afghanistan in July. I could feel beads of sweat dripping down my forehead, neck, back and chest. From the looks of it, so was everyone else. "Is there a reason I'm sweating like I'm standing in line for a ride at Disney?" I asked "The Kandahr get in hundred and twenty in summer and I think this is hotter than that. "It opens up the pores, lower blood pressure and a few other benefits." Rarity explained, pushing a loose strand of hair back behind her ear. "So why can't I go for a run and sweat? Sounds like the same. Or better yet, carry seventy pounds of gear on a ten mile hike in the California heat. That's heat AND humidity." "That's a hard sweat, so to say. This is a relaxed sweat." "Ah got the same answer, if it helps." Applejack said "Said Ah could work up a better sweat workin' on the farm. I let a 'hmmm' of interest before wiping a forehead worth of sweat. Unfortunately my arm left as much sweat behind and a very itchy forehead. I also could smell my sweat, according to deodorant commercials, sweat in a stressful time makes the sweaty smell. However, years of gym class and Afghan heat proves thems wrong. I looked at everyone to see if they could smell it, if they did they didn't say a word. We walked out, sweaty, but I didn't feel any different. Maybe I had to wait to wait awhile to feel the effect. My back definitely did feel better, though. I went back into the men's room to change back to normal clothes and dumped swim trunks in a hamper. All that was left was get ready to leave for a week and chill. AN: I wanted this thing out sooner, but stuff kept pushing back writing time and I moved pieces around. Also the scene with Flutterhshy and Dan's back scars was added later and may seem a bit odd around the edges. Also longest chapter at 2897 words pre-this note.