A.N.: A quick Memorial Day special that I thought of the top of my head, so it’s not edited, sorry. Not really apart of the “final” chapters I was going for, but something that, I thought needed to be written. Though you won’t be missing out if you don’t read this.
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I continued to pace, talking as I did. Spike writing down each word as quickly as I could say them. It was about maybe a week and few days into trying to write this book for the Princesses. Spike and I have become more or less writing partners in effort to get the memories of past life onto the pages. Though my life wasn’t the most exciting piece of work, but we were barely out of high school memories by the five-day mark and we were already working on another fairly large stack of paper. Pausing to let the dragon’s hand rest for a moment before continuing. Spewing out anything and everything that came to mind was quite therapeutic. All the repressed memories I could think of: first love, that bad math class, spilling yogurt all over my shorts during lunch. Anything that I thought that was remotely beneficial to learning about human behavior I mentioned and elaborated on for pages on end. Looking back at history, my history, my first life, with all the knowledge experience I had now. I had a fit of laughter of thinking of twenty new ways to cheat on that math exam I had failed without being caught.
By this time in the writing, we finally arrived at my first day of basic training. I had to keep myself from laughing when I remembered the drill sergeants basically spitting as they yelled their lungs out. Yet, I could almost cringe at the thought of being PT’d into the ground. Shaved head and a new identity, I realized how almost easy it seemed now. I remembered the joy I had when I first dissembled and reassembled my rifle about a minute. Only to have the drill sergeant laugh and then yell at me for forgetting the firing pin. I couldn’t win them, apparently. Sure, shooting at the range, throwing a few frags, and kicking in a few days every now and then did relieve a lot the tension between the Drills and us as E1s. Though everything the Sergeants did teach eventually saved my life at least once or twice. I recall a proper door breach scaring the insurgent on the other side. Startled as he was, he was unable to pick up his weapon in time and we were able to capture him. In the middle of a firefight, for some reason I heard my drill sergeant’s voice to stop and change mags before I jammed my weapon. Changed mags and after the fight looked at the first mag and found a nice bullet hole in it. The remaining shrapnel in the mag would have done wonders to the internals of the weapons.
I kept talking on and on about the small things I could remember. Laughing over a cold coke at one friend’s shenanigans, while offering support at another’s “Dear John” letter. Carrying a friend over your shoulder as we walked back to base after a short weekend leave. It was those family-like memories that made me smile, but at the same time made me miss it.
Seeing the dragon yawn, I realized in my efforts to talk about anything and everything had taken its toll on him. “Spike, I think we can call it for tonight. Thanks for listening and writing. I’ll get Twi to help me move these papers to the other room in a second.”
“I’m not tired, honest,” the dragon protested, but another yawn a second later was his undoing.
“Don’t lie to me,” I smiled as I walked towards to the where he was behind the desk. “Besides, the last paragraph looks bit like chicken scratch, we’ll have to go over it again in the morning.”
“I still got a few minutes left in me,” again the dragon objected. “You were just getting to the good part anyways.”
“You’d be asleep on the paper before I even metaphorically fired a shot in the sandbox. Come on,” pulling him away from the desk and putting him onto my back. “It’s late, you need your sleep anyways.”
The dragon made a muffled complaint, but finally consented. Trotting up the stairs and to his bed, he barely even touched the pillow before he was out. I chuckled lightly at being right yet again and almost abusing the dragon as much as Twilight did. Though she was stuck editing the large stack of papers my pacing rants made. Heading back down the stairs, I walked to the side room where Twilight was editing.
Knocking twice then entering, I saw the unicorn at work. Ink splotches covered parts of her face, her mane was up in a bun, and her glasses on, I couldn’t help but think in the back of my mind that for some reason she looked amazingly attractive for some reason.
“Just when you think you know someone,” she commented without looking up from her work. “You get to know them from their memories written on a piece of paper. By the way,” looking up and into my eyes with a slyest of smiles, “About that yogurt incident.”
“You will not believe how embarrassed I was from that incident,” walking to the room and to her side. “I don’t think I showed my face at school for over a week, feigning sickness. I also begged my mom to see if I could attend a different school.” I observed her handy work on this sheet of paper, seeing what was edited. “Though I think I haven’t quite recovered from it.”
The mare laughed, “And you come in here to disturb me to tell me you are still disturbed?”
“Well, not really. Just came in to say hi and see how you’re doing. Also just to say that my pen is now fast asleep.”
“Oh,” Twi’s eyes shifted to the clock hanging, “it is late for him anyways. Where did you get to today?”
“Started on the memories of my first days in the military, basic training and then infantry school. You know, the beginning of the end for me.”
“Toby, don’t be morbid about it,” her gaze shifted back down the page in front of her and continued to edit, “You had your reasons for doing what you, and now you’re here now.”
“Well, I guess you’re right,” I started to walk around to other side, “though, I think I haven’t quite explained my reasons for joining.” A light bulb appeared in my head, and a smile complement the thought. “Would you like to hear an author’s exclusive on this?”
Hearing the quill be set down gently, her expression grew blissful. “Well, of course I would like to hear an actual word or two from the author himself.”
“By our nation’s capital, sits multiple memorials dedicated to men and women who have answered our nation’s call for service. Some in times of global crisis, others times I cannot justify the reasons, but where our nation called for her servicemen and women to go, we went. Now, these memorials are set up to commemorate those who paid a debt that we as people still alive cannot yet even begin to pay back. They are the ones that never came back.” I paused in my pace, gathering my thoughts. “Now, getting around to my point, in my final years of high school, I went to the Memorial Day parade at the capital. Now Memorial Day is a holiday on the fourth Monday in May dedicated specifically to those who made the sacrifice. Though in all actuality, we should be remembering them and their efforts nearly everyday, but not point. I remember talking with a veteran, asked him why he served.” By this time, Twi had left her position from behind the desk and moved slowly to my side. I had not felt the tears beginning to form, but she apparently did. “He looked me straight in the eyes, jabbed a finger into my chest, spoke with the fullest of heart I have ever seen, and he said “Son, serving your country is the greatest honor you be bestowed upon. Sure, the pay ain’t great, the hotel service is lousy, and work environment is downright atrocious, but it makes up for that in the memories you make and the men you serve with. Never in the entire world can men be thrown in worst of situations and still manage to crack a smile.”
I could feel the tears flowing as I look at Twi standing in front of me, her eyes began to well up with tears as well. “I remembering him pointing to the flag, the ole red, white, blue. “You owe a debt that has been paid in blood,” then he pointed to one of the memorials off in the distance, “And you owe it to those who came before you, those who stood when you could not. It’s because of them that you are standing now.” I remember shaking his hand and going to a recruiter within the week, from there, it’s basically all that you know. But I realized something in my time here, my time with you that I am standing because someone had to. Because of one man was able to drag my ass into a helicopter.” The tears were already flowing down now as I sat down, but I met in the mare’s powerful embrace as she wrapped her hooves around me. A small comfort that I took for granted every day.
“Thanks Paul.”
A good Memorial Day to you, my good sir! I salute you!
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It's true. I wish I could have served longer then my 2.5 years in the US Army ROTC program, if only because I don't get to see those friends I made in the service as much any more. Even though I can't stand beside them anymore, I will always have their back.
You may got to war for the most noble of reasons, but you fight a war for the brother on your left, and the sister on your right.
Great as always.
powerful stuff man. Thanks for this. A thanks to the soldiers that fight everyday to keep us free.
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I salute you in my house.. sadly you can't see it..... for honoring our living and fallen service men and women on this very important day.
If only they got more pay and benefits rather than being the first on the cut list. The idea that welfare checks are more important than military benefits and pay makes me
This filled my heart with joy, pride and sadness at the same , so I salute to you for this successful chapter.
Seeing a story dedicated to our armed services reminds my faith in humanity, how some people don't hate us for killing and doing bad on their behalf, though I have not been in combat just yet, I am supposed to be in Afghanistan by the end of December, just before Christmas. Nothing is solid though.
Either way, 40,000 words is quite the project. I better get to reading. lol
Happy Memorial Day, battle. One for the Fallen.
Excellent chapter and message well delivered and received! We salute you and every man and woman who risks their lives for our freedom! Keep up the good work and our sincerest gratitude for your service, though it may never be enough.
I'm a Canadian and I salute all those who fell in honour of their county.
662772
This says it all.
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bing.com/images/search?q=american+flag&view=detail&id=586DBC0CF6B3D1A212A3FBE0224A2661E37AC852&first=0 god bless the USA
**** England I'm moving to America and joining the army.
Remember those who fell for our country. God Bless.
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I love that picture of Human Twilight, she looks pretty cute, definitely gonna read this one later.
662994 i do the same thing when i am writing. Pretty soon it's like 0400... and i get up to run at 0630, best two hour nap eveer
This needs a squeal. I mean this is one of the best stories I have read on this site.
god bless them who take a risk so that we will be free...
Thank you. This..... This hit home.
This could easily be turned into a movie
I live in Australia, so we don't have memorial day. But whenever there's a day for tribute to our service men and women, I'll always try to pay my respects, even if it just means tuning in to the parade.
awsome chapter mate , just out of curiosity, how many more chapters are there going to be roughly after this one??
While I am not American I do get the message and I think you expressed it with proper respect.
This has been quite the cap for the marathon read I did of your story, and I would just like to say great job!
I hate that such amazing individuals have to die in the name of freedom . Great story!
Oh, you came SO close to making me cry tears of sorrow... but, you failed. Pretty damn close though, you, my friend, know how to play emotion.
Powered through this over the last hour. It's been quite a ride, with more twists and turns than a certain highway in Cali. I salute you.
in a way, i believe every nation must have a day like this memorial day, for if we do not honor those who died for our nation, and our beliefs and for our freedom and religions, then how could we call ourselves a nation?
spoken by an american though sooo.....
To all the men and women who gave their lives fighting for the country they love, I salute you.
Nicely done, thanks.
You get a thumb at last (mostly due to stuff getting in the way)
as a disabled army veteran, this chapter, hell this story, is something that I will continue to read, this chapter in itself was very touching.
The men and women who fight to protect their country deserve all the respect in the world.
All gave some, some gave all.
The ones who went to war and died protecting their country will be remembered and given the respect they deserve forever.
God bless the fallen I salute you and all of those who are not with us now.
663795 Would post a gif, but I have no idea how. Darnit, I'm missing an entire realm of joke/reference making!
*EPIC GENTLMAN SALUTE*
good job mate.
663017 Oooh trust me, something is already in the works in terms of a sequel
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You make a good point. We take our freedom for granted every day. I salute you along with the men and women who have given their lives to ensure that we can live a life of comfort. If anyone has a family member who gave their life for our country, thenthey have giben something that cant be given back. And for this. I thank you.
663717
Well, all I can really say is thank you for your service, I hope that my tour coming up will get those bastards. And from what I've been told, NSF Mobile Security usually jumps into the fray. You my friend, deserve more than a salute. Thanks again.
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Thank You to all of those who serve or have served our country and too those paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we have today
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god bless....
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Just got around to reading this today, and I have to admit this is one of the most fitting tributes to the military I've read in a while.
Reminds me of the time I spent as fighter pilot in the Gulf war. I lost my best friend in the F-14 I was flying from flak and I still remember his death to this day.
Again, some great writing by you, and I'll be visiting his grave over the summer.
I. NEED. MORE. Easily one of the best stories I've ever read.
Now, I could post some form of salute or something to show my appropriation to those soldiers, but not being american, and actually celebrating this, it wouldn't mean much coming from me.
Instead, I'll post the mental picture I had when you described Twilight:
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-Glassed
I may not be American, but that doesn't stop me from remembering the Men and Women of all countries who lay down their lives for a purpose they can only begin to imagine. One day, I will be working along side them. And then, should I fall, I will know that there will always be people who will remember the sacrifice I made, for what ever cause I may be fighting for. You have Memorial Day, we have Remembrance Day.
668747 huh... that picture pretty damn close to the thought in my head actually
663111
images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111219015049/mlp/images/a/a0/I_know_right_S2E11.PNG I know right? This guy is just... the best!
On a more important note though...
May all lives lost to war be forever blessed by the Lord.
Sorry, Im late for the chapter reading, but I enjoyed it regardless.
God bless our troops and our foreign allies.
Lets raise a glass to them (contents of said glass can be as hard as you like)
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666417 MARLOW! The workhorse of the best/worst unit in the US Army.
693170 try chapter 6