"Alright Caroline. Don't overdo yourself."
"Oh but Patrick! This is some of the freshest water that I have had in months!"
Patrick smiled and patted his mare on the neck as she drank from the fountain in Ponyville Square. She, along with the other mounts were watering themselves after being dismissed by Captain Hamill. He and Lieutenant Gordon were talking with Princess Twilight and her friends at the edge of the square while the rest of the dragoons, under the supervision of Sergeant McMann, tended to their mounts and stretched their legs. Patrick loved riding, but even he had to admit that after a while in the saddle, the seat of his trousers tended to get a little sore. Even now after the ride from the fort, he could feel it down below.
As he went back to his saddle to make sure everything was still strapped down properly, he happened to glance down below Caroline's belly and spotted a pair of small black boots connected to two skinny grey legs. Patrick walked around to the other side of Caroline and saw who they belonged to. There, fiddling with some of the straps on his saddle was a little purple grey unicorn girl with soft blonde hair and a soft blonde tail. Patrick now knew that she and other pony people here with horns were called unicorns and the other two types were pegasi and earth ponies. The unicorn filly was wearing a little bright pink dress and a floppy straw hat on her head with a pink ribbon tied around it. Her eyes were large and golden yellow and Patrick could not help but smile when he saw them.
"Hello there." He said.
The filly jerked her head towards him when he spoke and suddenly began to look frightened as if she were about to get in trouble for doing something wrong. "I..I..I...uh...I didn't..." She stammered.
"It's alright." Patrick reassured. "Caroline doesn't mind to much and neither do I." He then stepped a little closer and looked at Caroline who was still drinking from the fountain. "Caroline girl. You've got an admirer."
Caroline lifted her head up and looked back at Patrick and saw the filly standing beside him looking a little nervous. She smiled when she saw her eyes. "Aawww. Hello there cutie." She cooed. "My name's Caroline. What's yours?"
"Dinky." The little filly replied. "My name is Dinky."
"Well it's nice to meet you Dinky." Caroline smiled.
Patrick squatted down until he was eye level with Dinky. "Caroline is one of my closest friends Dinky." He said with a smile. "She helps to get me to where I need to go. We're thick as thieves she and I."
Caroline smiled. "I wouldn't have it any other way." she said.
Patrick's smile widened at that. He then turned back to Dinky. "Now, where are your parents Dinky? Do they know you're over here?"
Dinky looked shyly down at the ground. "Um, well..."
"Dinky! There you are!"
Patrick turned around towards the voice and stopped for a moment when he saw who it belonged to. Walking towards him was another mare though this one was a pegasus. Her fur was slate grey and her hair and tail were the same color as Dinky's. She wore a pale green dress with a white apron ties and pinned to her and a simple white bonnet atop her head. Slung over her shoulder was a burlap sack and in her hand she carried a whicker basket with various produce in it. But the most striking characteristic that caught Patrick's attention was the fact that her own golden yellow eyes were out of alignment. While one eye was looking ahead towards the direction she was walking, while the other was pointing to her left. But despite this normally off-putting feature, Patrick could not help by stare at the mare's sun colored eyes in wonder.
"Dinky. Little muffin." The mare said as she finally reached the pair. "Don't wander off like that. And you shouldn't be bothering these soldiers."
"I'm sorry mommy." Dinky said looking down at the ground.
"It was really no trouble ma'am." Patrick reassured with a smile and bow. "We were only having a friendly conversation. Dinky is quite the little girl Miss...?"
"Oh, silly me." The mare responded looking much more embarrassed then Patrick thought was required. "My name is Bright Eyes. Bright Eyes Hooves. Dinky is my daughter."
"A pleasure to meet you Mrs. Hooves." Patrick said with a bow. "My name is Patrick. Private Patrick Harris."
"Pleasure meet you too Mr. Harris." Bright Eyes replied with a smile with suddenly faded into a frown. "Though it's not Mrs. It's Miss."
"Oh." Patrick said as he realized what she was implying. "Oh I see. Sorry for presuming ma'am."
Bright Eyes shook her head. "It's fine. It's fine really. You weren't to know." To Patrick's surprise, she appeared to be blushing slightly. "Well. We had better get going back to the house. I've got to get started on our dinner tonight. Say goodbye to Mr. Harris Dinky."
"Bye Mister Harris." Dinky said softly. "Bye Caroline."
"Bye Dinky." Patrick smiled.
"Bye sweetie." Caroline smiled.
With that, the mother and her daughter walked away and down the street until they were out of sight. The entire time Patrick stared after the mare until he was suddenly nudged in the right side by Caroline's rump. Looking back at her for an explanation, he was greeted by a sly grin.
"Someone was staring." Caroline said teasingly.
"Oh hush now." Patrick brushed her off with a chuckle.
"Oh I think you were Patty." Billy chimed in. He and his mount Coal were next to Caroline and Patrick. "You seem to be smitten with the lass."
"Oh shove off. Both of you."
Caroline simply looked at Coal next to her, who nodded in agreement with her opinion.
"Alright lads." Sergeant McMann came walking around with Bessie in tow. "Let's finish it up. Get your last drinks." He then continued on repeating the same words to the other troopers around the fountain.
Just after Sergeant McMann passed by, Harris looked in the direction where the officers were meeting with Princess Twilight and saw that Lieutenant Gordon was making his way towards the fountain with Lucinda following close behind. He went straight over to Sergeant McMann, who was talking with Private Webster.
"Sergeant McMann." The Lieutenant called out. Harris watched as the Sergeant snapped a salute to the young officer.
"Yes sir."
"Pick at least six men and form an escort. Five privates and a corporal. The Princess has stated that her mentor shall be arriving to Ponyville tomorrow to meet with Captain Hamill. We are to billet here tonight. Select the men if you please. We can't do much about our appearances but we'll have to make do."
"Yes sir. Right away sir." Sergeant McMann replied with a salute, which was returned. Lieutenant Gordon then turned back and walked back over to Captain Hamill and the rest. Sergeant McMann then immediately walked over to Patrick and Billy.
"You two." He said. "You both are to be on escort duty for the Captain tomorrow. Make sure your kit looks as smart as you can. And make sure your mounts look smart too."
"Yes sergeant." Both Patrick and Billy replied.
"Good lads." He then went down the line and selected the last three troopers he needed. The last choice, however made both Patrick and Billy groan.
"Oh no." Billy groaned. "Not Jameson."
"Just what we need." Patrick chimed in. "Him pushing us around all night."
"I'm always sure that he is hurting his mount Sheila." Caroline said worriedly. "Though I have never been able to say anything before."
"Even if you did." Coal said. "You'd need proof. And he somehow is always able to cover it up."
"Well, hopefully he'll get what's coming to him someday if that is true."
"Alright you loafers!" Sergeant McMann came riding back upon Bessie. "Mount up and follow me!"
Soon the company had formed back up into a column behind the color guard and the company officers. They found themselves being led out of town by one of Princess Twilight's friends, Applejack, until they reached a large expanse of beautiful apple trees. Trees brimming with the fruit stretched as far as the eye could see. Soon the company was led through a white gate and down a winding dirt road until they reached one of the largest and brightest red barns and farmhouse that any man in the company had ever seen. The dragoons soon afterwards fell into a line in the yard in front of the barn and waited until Sergeant McMann rode in front of them.
"Mounts into the barn! Report to your corporals for billet postings! Supper is at 8:00! Corporals give me your reports as soon as your duties are completed! Company! Dismount and dismissed!"
With that, the dragoons dismounted and then led their horses towards the barn. As Patrick led Caroline towards the barn, he looked and saw Captain Hamill, Lieutenant Gordon, and Sergeant McMann talking to Miss Applejack. Captain Hamill was shaking Miss Applejack's hand and both were smiling. Patrick then turned back towards the barn where the rest of the company was leading their mounts.
Upon entering he found that the ground floor of the barn was nearly as spacious as the stables back at the Fort were and about 10 feet above him was the hayloft. There were no stalls for the horses though it seemed that the horses themselves were choosing the spot they would rest for the night so Patrick just left it to Caroline.
"Pick a spot Caroline." He said.
Caroline looked up above the crowd of equines and spotted the black form of Coal and his rider Billy. She smiled and trotted on over after seeing that there was an open space beside him. Patrick smiled as he followed her and approached Billy.
"Well it seems those two will be fine together." He chuckled.
"That's no joke." Billy agreed. He then sighed. "I guess we ought to go and report to Jameson."
Patrick only groaned in agreement. They made their way to the entrance to the barn where they found a neat line of the men from their troop in front of Corporal Jameson who was sat at a table with a quill and paper. The short little man with shaggy black hair and mustache was the arch nemesis of almost every man in the company. While Sergeant McMann was firm but fair, Jameson was likened by the men to a tyrant. He overworked the men on fatigue details, wrote them up for the most petty of infractions and even went so far as to read some of their mail whenever it arrived at the fort. There were even rumors that he blackmailed some of the married men into letting him enjoy the company of their wives. There was no definite proof but neither Patrick or Billy thought that it would be unlikely.
Soon Patrick and Billy had reached the front of the line. Jameson looked up and smiled his evil little smile that was so characteristic of him. He particularly enjoyed tormenting the pair of friends whenever he could.
"Ah. Harris and Kirkwood. You both are up in the loft. You better be looking smart tomorrow or you'll both be on latrine duty for two weeks."
"Yes corporal." Both troopers replied. They then turned back around to tend to their mounts and remove their saddles and other trappings. As they approached their horses, they saw that they were not alone. Standing in front of Coal was a large and obviously muscular red earth pony stallion with dirty blonde scraggly hair and tail and dressed in a checkered tan shirt and a brown waistcoat and brown trousers. He had a wheat stalk in his mouth and a worn out black faded wide brimmed hat. slung on his shoulder was a burlap bag full of bright red apples. One of which was in the hands of a small yellow earth pony filly with bright red hair tied up with a large pink bow. Her tail was the same color and she wore a bright blue dress with muddy boots on her feet. She stood in front of Caroline with a large smile on her face as she fed her the apple she had in her hand. Caroline was enjoying herself immensely from the look of happiness on her face as she chewed on the juicy apple.
"Hope y'all enjoyed the apples." The little yellow filly said with a smile. "They're fresh from the orchards this mornin'."
"Oh they were so delicious Applebloom!" Caroline replied happily. "I haven't had an apple that good in a long time. Have you Coal?"
"Can't say that I have Caroline." Coal replied after he had swallowed his last bite. "Thank you very much little miss."
"Aw shucks, it weren't nothin'."
Caroline then turned her head and perked up in surprise when she saw Patrick approaching.
"Oh hello Patrick. This little darling is Applebloom, and this is her older brother Big Macintosh. They own this farm along with their sister Applejack."
Patrick tipped his hat and smiled in greeting to the young filly. "Hello Miss Applebloom. As Caroline said I am Patrick."
"Nice to meet you mister Patrick." Applebloom smiled in return.
Patrick then looked up to see the red stallion Big Macintosh looming over him. If the stallion had seemed intimidating from a distance, if Patrick hadn't known he had nothing to fear he might well have soiled his drawers. He could see even more clearly up close that the muscles on this creature could tear him in half. Patrick had never felt so small.
"Um, and you must be Mister Macintosh, am I correct sir?"
"Eyup." The large stallion replied slowly. "Though there ain't no need for that sir business. Call me Big Mac. I suppose I ought to call ya Patrick?"
"Alright then Big Mac. And yes it is Patrick. Patrick Harris."
"And my name is Billy. Billy Kirkwood. Pleasure to meet you Big Mac." Billy came around from Coal and took Big Mac's hand in his and shook it. Patrick did the same next.
"Well I suppose y'all got a mighty lot of work to do. So we'll let y'all get to it. C'mon now Applebloom." Big Mac began to usher his little sister out towards the door.
"Alright Big Mac. Goodbye now Caroline! Goodbye Coal!"
"Goodbye sweetheart!" Caroline called back with a smile. "Oh she is just a darling!"
"She sure seems that way." Patrick agreed. He then set about to unloading the rest of his gear.
Later that evening
By nightfall, the company had settled into their temporary billets. Captain Hamill, Lieutenant Gordon and Sergeant McMann were quartered in the Apple Family House while the rest of the company had spread out their blankets in the loft of the barn. At that moment, Patrick, Billy and the rest of their squad mates were huddled around a campfire that they had set up outsider of the barn and had just finished cooking their supper of salt pork and hardtack. Patrick himself had just finished chewing on his last piece of pork and was about to wash it down with his canteen.
"Still can't get used to that taste." Patrick said after swallowing the last bite.
"Same here." Billy replied after gnawing on a piece of hardtack that he had been working on for ten minutes. "This here bread is as hard as rock. Can't bite to hard else I might break my teeth."
"Pour water in your cup and put your bread in it." Patrick offered. "Should soften it up."
"Well howdy fellers."
All six men gathered around the campfire turned around to see the figure of Miss Applejack walking towards them carrying a basket in front of her. The dragoons immediately got to their feet and removed their hats out of courtesy, revealing their heads of shaggy hair.
"Miss Applejack ma'am." Patrick nodded in greeting. "Good evening."
"Good evening to you to darling." Applejack replied. "And no need to go on with the whole 'Miss' thing. Just call me Applejack. And I was thinking that y'all might like a little bit of this."
Applejack reached into her basket and pulled out a large glass jug that was labeled Apple Family Cider on the side.
"Thought you boys might like a nice drink after a long day. I certainly would."
Patrick grabbed the jug as it was handed to him with a surprised smile on his face. The rest of the dragoons upon seeing the jug were already thirsty to taste it's contents. "Thank you very much ma'am." Patrick said. "We should pay you though. How much would this be?"
Applejack shook her head. "Don't sweat it dear." She smiled. "It won't cost y'all a single bit. This is just being a good host. Hope y'all enjoy it. See you tomorrow." With that she left the group in search of other campfire circles that night.
The rest of the dragoons looked at each other for a moment before gathering their tin cups together and passing them to Patrick. Patrick filled them up one by one and handed the cups back to their owners. Soon, each dragoon took a sip from their cups. The flavor was amazing! To Patrick it was almost like drinking the milk of heaven. He had never had cider that good before.
"Sweet Jesus!" Billy cried out. "This here is the best cider I've had in my lifetime!"
"Me too!" Patrick agreed. He then looked off in the direction of another campfire where Applejack was repeating the same delivery. He then smiled and raised his cup up.
"To Miss Applejack. A gracious and kind host." He said.
Every other dragoon raised their cups. "To Miss Applejack."
They seemed to be taking a liking to this new world and eagerly awaited what fate had in store for them next on this adventure.
Meanwhile back in the barn among the sleeping mounts, Caroline, half asleep next to Coal, began to feel a slight tingling on her back. She ignored it though after it went away with a twitch. Little did she know that the rest of the horses in the barn felt similar passing tingles though some were on their heads or in their legs.