Chapter 2 Progress... · 9:54pm Feb 20th, 2013
23rd Moon, Autumn Solstice
Dear Mom and Pops,
I'm sorry to inform you that my unit lost in it's engagement against a far-numbered enemy. I did what I could to thin their numbers, and even nicked a few in honor of you, Dad. I know that every Changeling I put down was one less chance of another pony meeting a demise at the hands of these monstrosities. Unfortunately, their numbers overflowed onto the Rangers that were the last of what I had and killed all of them.
But one mare survived the who ordeal. Mom, I'm sure you would love to meet this Applejack character. She's such a great friend, in fact, she's my first real friend. She's the one who I managed to save out of the other nine Rangers that lost their lives. Applejack is a strong mare, no doubt.
Right now, I'm sitting next to her bed at one of the medical stations that dot the borders of Equestria. I refuse to leave her side because... Well, she fixed me. No, I'm not physically hurt at all. I survived the battle without a scratch to my name. She gave me something that so many ponies were scared to give. Friendship.
No, not just comradery that me and the Rangers had with each other. This is something deeper. She truly cared about how I felt when I broke down in front of her the night after the fight was over. I was a real mess afterwards, having to shove tags into one of your fellow pony's teeth was something that I couldn't bear. But somepony had to do it right? It was then, when I shoved the last tag into a dead ensign's mouth, that I heard her cry for help.
Something rushed over me when her accent tickled my ears. I never thought that my mind would run so fast when I searched frantically for her. I felt dizzy at one point when I shimmied my way through some thorn-ridden brush to get to her. My mane and coat retaliated with each prick that I felt, but I kept moving forward. Maybe it was the fact that I didn't want to lose a life that I could easily save. The pain I was experiencing couldn't match the ones that my comrades felt when they were killed.
There was a giant pit in my gut when I brought her out of that brush. It reminded me so much of the time you saved me, Dad. I still will never forgive those damn Changelings... Anyways, when I started patching her up, she bit down on me in pain, but I let her continue to do so because I knew how she felt. I didn't have anything left inside of me at that point.
All my emotional pains were gone with you guys. Having Dad go the way he did was only the beginning of my ride down the trail of loneliness and sorrow. But once you were gone Mom, everything inside of me broke. My heart took the beating because I blamed myself for your passing. I felt that if I had stayed home one more day, if I had hugged you for a mere minute longer, I would have been able to keep you from going out the way you did. Now that I think about, some of the emotions that I felt those six years ago are coming back.
Applejack can tell you that I was upset when she first asked me if everything was alright. I tried my best to hide it, but the way her emerald irises glistened in the moonlight, the way her hoof touched my shoulder in sympathy... I couldn't hold it back. Having the unit gone was one thing, but Applejack was the icing on the cake. When I cried, she held onto me, even with her broken rib. She even said that she was the 'last apple in the bushel'.
I knew she meant to say 'ya' still got me', but the way she put it made me feel full inside. I felt as if I was the foal before the fire nearly thirteen years ago. Happy, content, outgoing, adventurous. All those words could describe my foalhood before Dad passed. And somehow, Applejack was able to make me feel that way yet again. I don't know how, but she did it.
You could say that I was a broken soul before all this, but this mare was the one who mended the crack in my heart. She showed me what true friendship is like, even after all the bad I've encountered throughout my life. No wonder I refuse to leave her bedside unless it's dire. I don't want to lose her. She's all that I've got left from my past. I want her to be apart of my new beginning.
I'll be writing again when I get the chance.
Your Beloved Son,
Dusty 'The Ranger'
What do you guys think of Dusty's journal entry? Too sappy? Well anyways, I'm half-way through the second chapter. Can't wait to post it for you guys!
Nice, very nice. I like it, nice n' sappy enough, me thinks. Can't wait to read it!
850177
Heh, and the music arrangement I picked for the entry might make it even better. How's your work been lately since I haven't seen you online for a while?
850186
Been going okay, been resketching the surrounding scenery. Finished the final draft of the main picture, and it's ready to be scanned. I've been working out the kinks to the other scenery (placement, facing, expressions) and I feel as though it's getting close to something I can send and then start doing the line-art and all that jazz.
All in all, it's going quite fine. Just need to carefully juggle my work and projects, and it should be done relativly soonish.
850186
Oh! I actually have a question about Dusty's Cutie Mark. Is it the target on your avatar now, or is it that golden leaf bundle thingy it was on the last cover image?
850239
It's the target/crosshair on that's on the avatar now. And I can't wait to see it! I'm glad you took a liking to this story.
850275
Is a good story, and good writing. Dusty seems like a neat character, and I can't wait to see how his life plays out. Keep it up!
The story's going along great. I can't wait to read it!
850314
It's ready. I hope you guys like the song arrangement. I even included the Dead Island song, which will be Dusty's Theme.