...Today just bites... Lets start from minute one. Minute one being an early morning wake up call. Well... at the time it was just nearing midnight but we all had packed up for a plane home. Weapons were being stored in crates either going back to Equestria or heading over to the local weapon cache to be put into storage, fixed and or refitted with some new ammo type... The pony doing it is actually sending me a gift made for a pistol, specifically one that I can obtain in the guard. Not much was done there with everything before I left. Just said our goodbyes as we got on our respective planes. Here's a rule I've implemented on both planes (and yes even before I went into the war). I've had a little budget pushing to put parachutes on everyone, even pegasi just in case something goes wrong with the engine. About half way home the pilot got on a speaker waking me from a nap. I was far into the plane just sitting against the wall facing out towards my troops. All wearing either the Solar Empire or the Lunar Republic colors. Both rep a different side to the same Equestria we stay faithful to... I sat right next to a few ponies who helped me along the way. A Manehattan pegasus mare who i just call Pepper since she looooves using a shotgun. Brown coat and a white mane. Odd coloration but she actually dyed her mane that way. She was wearing a tank top, Lunar Republic pants and black combat boots. A stallion next to her, a red maned, orange coated unicorn stallion who wore his full Solar Empire uniform and had his face covered by a bandana with black marks in the form of a smile on it. I called him Rouge. He didnt like that but it was better than snowflake. He was on the other plane and he made me wonder how he became a guard with the skills of a stick. This next stallion was just at the other side of me. Called him Shadow. Why? Dark purple mane, lighter purple coat, always wore Lunar colors and snuck up on you when ever you had your back turned... weirdest one was just after I finished in the bathroom... I wanted to put a bell around his neck when he was just standing there against the wall kinda glancing at me waiting for the only urinal. I let certain ponies use my personal latrine and since it didnt have a door.... yeah bad idea. And the uniform I wore? Full Solar uniform. Felt comfortable enough to sleep but... OH yeah the pilot half way through the flight. "Attention troops: you may feel a bit of turbulence on our entry back into Equestria." He said. "No need for alarm. Its going to be slightly rough but we'll be fine."
I gripped my leg where a bullet hit me. The wound healed fully and not much damage was done but i still felt weird there. Pepper rested her hand on my shoulder. "C'mon General just breathe.... We're gonna be alright..." She said giving me a slight smile. Forgot to mention she was promoted to my second in command when the wound put me out of commission. I nodded and did such. The air was muggy and smelled of sweat. There was ventilation on this plane but the damn pilots forgot to kick it on and there was no way we could tell them but plus side is we werent cooking. Just a little uncomfortable warmth. As I did so I slowly nodded off back to sleep. Sleeping kept me calm during this flight. I wasnt always good with heights or aircraft flight but this felt good.
I only stayed alert while i slept. Never a deep sleep. I heard Rouge sigh. "...Home... Cant believe I get to know what that word means..." He said. "Shadow? You got family to go home to?" Shadow actually never spoke. Mute. "Ah... That's good to hear.... Hope who ever it is you're going home to is gonna be glad to see you..." Pepper huffed.
"...Lucky you have someone to go home to... my mother died before I left for the war... father went way before her and i havent really found anyone to share a life with..." A little silence. "...General Ryder told me he had his parents killed right in front of his little sister.... he's gonna surprise her where ever she is... just hope she's strong being away from her only immediate family like that...." Okay now I know that wasnt the way I explained that to her but I did hear she was a bit warped when it came to her mind. Rouge hummed confused.
"Wait didnt I see that on the news that a mare did that? Didnt the general speak to a news team about that?" I heard nothing. "Yeah he did! I remember he said it was an exmarefriend who did it and he had to break another guards jaw to get his sister back!" That was it. That's the way I remembered it.... I shifted a bit just to get them to shush each other. I assume Shadow just kept his mouth shut while Rouge and Pepper shushed each other.
But... after the shushing I fell into a nightmare. A flashback of that night. I was just driving down the road in my car, muddy and wet. Though I was in my military uniform I still felt scared. The road was just the one i was on following Berrie. Yet the road was dark and all I saw was rain. Echoes were heard of far off voices that i couldnt make out but one came to my ears. It was hers. "....We'll be together forever...." I heard Berrie say as I turned onto the road of the orchard. Forever just rang out in my head but suddenly my car went out of control and i was thrown from it before it wrecked into a tree. I got up from the mud and wiped some of it off. After I just started again. "...You'll be free to do what ever.... without them holding your leash puppy...." Her voice was more loud and echo-y effect to it. It didnt take long for me to find the orchard home... the cherry on top of this.... The house was up in flames, burning still even in this harsh rain. "....Come... accept it Ryder... Ryder.... Ryder...." Her voice echoed even more and i started to freak out as an earthquake struck shaking everything. Toppling trees, breaking unbroken glass panes in the burning house and even cracking the ground underneath me.
Suddenly I heard something explode which woke me right up scared. Everything was just shaking and wind was whipping everything up but all i could see was my troops running out with Pepper looking at me scared just a few yards away. "GENERAL! GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!" She screamed. "THE PLANE IS GOING DOWN!" I panicked as she turned and just bolted towards the open drop door.
I managed to unhook myself and get up staggering. I swear if I didnt catch my footing I'd've been dead. I ran after everyone as fast as I could and I just as I set foot out the door I was launched by the explosion of the plane hitting. I felt the rush of extreme heat hit me and as I fell I tried opening my chute but.... here was the scary part. My chute didnt open. The reason? Well as I fell weaving in and out of the tops of the trees on a snow covered mountain I looked back and saw my parachute was on fire and burning. I struggled quickly ditching it. I knew I wasnt going to be doing this forever so I quickly extended my wings but.... I felt a little heat still. No firey debris around me, no parachute but... My wings... my wings were on fire! I screamed and quickly flipped to my back only to plummet straight to the ground and I swear i thought I was dead.... My life flashed before my eyes ranging from mom and dad bringing Scootaloo home for the first time, to the murder, to Scootaloo and I parting ways so i could fight the stupid war... Once I hit the ground I blacked out because of the instant pain and the cold around me. I dont know how long I was out but I groaned coming to. My vision was blurry but I found myself on my stomach feeling sore all over. "Hey! Hey he's waking up!" I heard Rouge say. I did see him over me barely but I didnt want to believe it. As my vision cleared I saw Shadow and Pepper come over and just stare me in the face. They looked a bit scared but a bit relieved. Rouge kept them a little bit away by putting his hand up. "General! Nod if you can hear me!" I hesitantly nodded. He sighed. "Alright good... Now tell me if you feel this!" He grabbed my leg and squeezed it. I groaned because of the pain but I knew it wasnt broken. I jerked it away and into the other leg. "Alright... you can probably walk. Arms test now...." He grabbed one arm and squeezed. I felt it i just didnt feel any pain. Good thing too. He even did to my other arm. Felt what he did but nothing more. "Alright... No pain... Still felt it right?" I nodded. "Good... Now uh... I'm just gonna let your wings be right now..."
I looked to Rouge confused. "W-why...?" I asked panting a bit. I think I actually had the wind knocked out of me in the landing. I tried getting up but they all pushed me back down.
"...It'd be best if you just stayed down for now... think you can look back from that position?" I almost didnt want to the way they made it sound. But I did anyways. I looked back and my heart dropped. My left wing was just busted beyond repair. The right was folded for the most part and just singed slightly. Nothing bloody about it but my left... yeah... I just screamed looking at my busted wings thinking of how I'll never be able to teach my baby sister to fly...
Pepper came over and just threw some snow in my face. She even grabbed my mane and held my mouth shut looking me in the eye as scared as I was. "GENERAL! HOLD IT TOGETHER MAN!" She yelled. I shut right up. "...Okay listen... yes your wings are fucked but which matter more? Your wings or your life right now? I swear if you say wings over your own life I'm going to hit you where the sun dont shine! Now stay calm and tell us what we need to do here!"
Of course they relied on me to get me the hell out of here. We were just in a plane crash for fucks sake. Excuse my language but this day just sucks to high hell! I glanced around the best I could. I saw my squad mates, rocks, trees, my blood and some metal from the plane crash. "....G-go find something sharp..." I said. Rouge got up and went from my side just over to the metal. Pepper looked me in the eye worried.
"Why...? Why find something sharp?" I huffed.
"...Get me on my side... rest my wing on something flat and cut it off.... I... I know a useless wing when I see one...." I used to watch all this medical stuff when I was bored and they've shown so many wings that needed amputations, replacements of some wings and things... I know my wing needed to be amputated because there were bones sticking out and it was all bent out of shape. Nothing like that could've been saved.... Pepper gasped a bit.
"....You want someone to cut your wing off....?" I nodded hesitantly.
"...Its the only way I can proceed here... I get up that thing is gonna be pulled down and I'll be crippled by the pain... Would you rather end the pain of a wing that would need to be amputated anyways or would you rather me be carried over everyones shoulder's like this and probably have us all dead by the time we hit half way down the mountain....?" I could see the thought in her face as Shadow and Rouge walked over both brandishing pieces of metal. The one Rouge had was slim and sharp looking while Shadow's was flat and large. She looked to them.
"Wait you two!" She snapped standing up. "Get things ready but I need to get something ready!" I saw them both nod and get everything ready to one side of me as she went over into the metal herself. I winced as the guys rolled me gently onto my side with my left wing now lying on a large piece of metal. I almost wanted to cry and my squad mates would've understood. They've seen me cry before. Shadow listened to me after we landed in the war zone, I cried then because I missed Scootaloo. I cried again when Scootaloo was bedridden in Celestia's care. I was so scared for Scootaloo I thought I was going to visit her and mom and dad.... I most likely would've killed myself or something. Anyways after about two to three minutes Pepper came back with a stick and a hand full of berries. She knelt down near my face and huffed. "Okay... What I need you to do is trust me here... These berries should help keep your pain level down afterwards. The stick... Well its self explanatory... Put it in your mouth and get your ass ready for the hurt.... You ready?" I nodded and opened my mouth. She put the stick in my mouth and i bit down a bit keeping it there. Shadow even grabbed my hand holding it keeping my other wing steady. It hurt but it was a blunt pain compared to the other.
I bit down on the stick harder as Rouge put his hand on my busted wing holding it down against the metal as he got the sharp metal ready. "Alright... On three General...." He said. "One... Two..." I heard him hesitate. I knew he didnt want to do this but I also knew he was the strongest one out of all of us to do something like this. Told me he had to survive for a week in Everfree because he got drunk and stumbled out there only to find himself lying in a ditch with a stick driven into his leg. How it got there he didnt know but he took it out and disinfected the wound before putting leaves and shit over it. Zecora, a zebra that lives in Everfree making potions and stuff had to drag him back to her home to be stitched up properly and fed. She was actually given a medal of honor and some ingredients for some new mixtures that i tried. Note to self- dont try a potion with joke essense... She used too much and I had sensitive hearing which meant any time someone did anything I'd hear it and it would annoy the hell out of me. Anyways... He didnt even get to three before he brought his hand back and brought it down onto my wing sending a shockwave of pain through my body. I yelled out in pain as Pepper and Shadow held me to the cold ground. Rouge even had taken the sharp metal to my jacket sleeve cutting it off until he could rip it. Not once did he even come close to cutting me again. After I felt him wrap me up back there they sat me up and Pepper started feeding me berries as Rouge cut my other sleeve off tying it over my wound again.
I couldnt help but start to cry feeling my entire body in pain. The berries tasted bitter but I didnt care. What I did care about is Scootaloo.... I looked over at Rogue as he threw the blade away. It was covered in my blood, same with the metal they put it on.
"....S-sweet Celestia..." I looked to Rouge as I ate another berry fed to me by pepper. "....Wh-why did you let me do that....?" He knelt down next to me.
"General you knew that I knew that wing needed to be taken off... whether it would be now or at a hospital later but... it was best to get rid of it now... Just let the berries take over and we'll find a way off this mountain... You gonna be okay...?" I couldnt muster up an answer. I didnt know either way if I'd be okay or not. My heart said yes I was going to be alright.... even though it was pumping blood to an open wound... and my brain was saying no I'm gonna die falling off a cliff.... But I think that's only because I played games where I had to make my way down a mountain to travel to a new town and i accidentally took a wrong turn only to break my legs.
Anyways he left me alone with pepper and those berries took a moment to kick in. I felt floaty.... Either I was about to trip balls or those berries had a powerful painkiller and they were hitting me HARD. Probably both. Pepper opened my pocket and stuffed the berries inside. "Here...." She said sounding a bit echoey. "....If the pain gets you while we're going down take one. And I mean only one! You've had three already and this was just for the pain of the initial amputation.... In other words you're gonna be flying high for a while.... Plus side is this wont come up on a drug test. Its all natural but... It effects everyone differently. My friend took one when he accidentally cut himself on a camping trip that we had to cut short because he started puking a bit. You should be fine though... I hope..."
I huffed a bit. My crying died down a bit because the pain turned to a slight pinch. "...Can we just... go now? I'm actually starting to get cold...." I said. My voice sounded a bit echoey as well. Pepper nodded and slowly helped me up along with Shadow. Rouge brought over what looked to be a tarp that was ripped and tattered by the crash but big enough to cover us all. Rouge was the only one who had a jacket. We just let him keep it since he brought us the tarp. He gave one end to Shadow and the other to Pepper. They just pulled it over their shoulders having me in between holding onto them both as we started off.
As we walked I started to feel light headed. Either the berries were making me feel this way or I was about to bleed out but I dont think I would bleed out of my wound... right? Nevermind but... I swear I started hallucinating. I started seeing black marks in the snow. Paws of some sort being created right in front of my eyes by a shadowless, figureless entity. I heard growling but nothing else. No wind, no crunching of the snow and not even anyone elses talking. If they were talking... Though I did hear a voice. "...I spared you... you must become my plaything...." I heard. "...Just follow the tracks...." The voice was a whisper almost. It echoed but not as much as everyone else's voice. My vision grew blurry and suddenly I blacked out.
I thought I was dead but Rouge slapped me awake. "General! Come on stay with us!" He snapped. "We arent letting you go that easy!"
I shook my head a bit. "...Wh-what happened....? How long was I out....?" I asked scared.
"Just a few seconds but... we arent gonna let you sleep at all.... Y'know... just in case you have a concussion...."
I looked over at Pepper as she whimpered a bit. "You dying on us is something we cant allow... not even if your sister wants to see you...." She said. "...You're strong.... Dont give into the weakness..."
I sighed just looking back to the snow where I saw the tracks. Nothing. "...Sorry I just.... Those meds are making me feel funny... Tired and just all.... floaty...." I said. "....Tell me something... did I mumble anything at all?" Rogue looked out as we continued forward.
"Not really... You did kinda try and get something out but that was when you nodded off. You gonna be alright from here on out...?" I didnt know how to answer. I was both frightened and just about ready to be sick. In fact... I actually pushed both Shadow and Pepper away just falling forward to my hands and knees before just throwing up. Breakfast, the berries and a soda I had before the flight.... Honestly might not've been the smartest idea but... Eh... Pepper came back to my side as Rogue helped Shadow up. "General!" She pulled me away from my vomit puddle and sat me against her just being weary of my wings. "C'mon.... you gotta rest... this is just too much for you... your stomach is reacting badly to the berries...."
Rouge grunted picking up a chunk of ice as Shadow brushed the snow off of his uniform. "I swear if he dies before we get back to Canterlot I'm reporting your ass and I dont care who cries about it!" He snapped.
I grunted a bit sitting up more. "Shut up Rouge.... I aint gonna die, nobody is gonna get reported... If I do end up going just tell everyone I didnt get out of the plane in time.... Got ejected without a chute and broke my neck upon landing..." I said just looking out into the distance. I just looked out towards what I think was Fillydelphia or something. City just covered in smog and what not with tall buildings. I remembered being out there with my parents just scared about being just three stories high. We were just vacationing during the summer and Celestia was out there... We hoped to get a look at her during her summer sun celebration ceremony but we couldnt find a parking spot and all pegasus in the city were grounded and any found in the air were basically forced to the ground. Made to wear weighted braces. Could still walk but.... yeah. Anyways Rouge grunted.
"For all we know she could've poisoned you with those berries!"
"She's trying to help like you or fucking Shadow and even he's affected by the plane crash! Just look at him freaking out over there!" We looked over at shadow and just saw him leaning against the tree looking down at the snow covered ground. He didnt really show emotion at times but we kinda knew how he was feeling . Yeah.... I remember when we actually found him in his room one day. He has little ticks that inform us on how he's feeling. Right now he was just freaking out bad;y. More than when he was just deployed.
Rouge looked to him and huffed. Pepper just scoffed and went back to comforting me. "Rouge if you wanna make yourself useful I'd suggest you and Shadow go find a little help for us...." She said. "I'm not gonna make the general push himself..." I watched as Rouge just walked over to shadow and tapped him on the shoulder just whispering something to him. "I swear to Celestia you two better come back or SOMEONE is gonna get hurt worse than the general!" She looked to me as they walked on through the trees. "General... I want you to tell me everything that happens when you take those berries... Did anything happen before you just nodded off?" I nodded hesitantly. "Well?" I sighed.
"...I just... I saw paw prints burned into the snow as if a wolf made of fire stepped in front of us on a wood floor... and... I heard a voice... saying that... I'm not gonna be let go that easy...." She felt my forehead. I did have a wound near my eyebrow but it was something small... probably hit a little ice shard or a small rock or something...
"Temperature is.... a bit on the high side.... Or normal... so cold I cant tell... I'm gonna assume its heightened a bit because you just puked.... That and your wing..... You might be having hallucinations because of everything that's been going on.... Um... tell me how your gun shot wound feels...." I lifted up my shirt a little bit. I could still feel as if the wound were still opened a bit but in reality its just scar tissue.
"Well... Its nothing different from before the incident.... I just.... I still cant believe that made me just lose everything...." When I say everything I do mean everything. I puked, I pissed and shit my pants in front of everyone. Good thing nothing got into my wound and i saved myself from infection... They cleaned my wound, they cleaned me and got me on an easy diet just in case I puked from the pain. Long story short I healed up after a week of rest, a week of physical therapy and after that I decided to make my weapon training every other day. Even if it was just something to blow of steam. But even while I was doing the physical therapy I was made to do all my normal duties around. Planning attacks, deciding where to put mortars and snipers. Actually may have put a sniper or two on the wrong roads trying to take out a convoy that never existed thanks to that rat we had.... Glad he's dead.... Pepper hummed.
"Just... when those hallucinations happen let me know... Tell me what that voice says and where those paw prints are leading okay?" I nodded and just started to breathe heavily to calm myself. I just looked back out at everything in the distance.
"...Pepper?" She kinda cuddled up to me scared. "....Thank you for helping me through this hard time..."
"Anything for you General. You were one of those guards that always believed I could do it.... You know I wasnt always strong hearted even when it was that far from home...." Yeah. She was just a nervous wreck coming out here. I had to sit next to her on the plane, hold her hand while she slept and even rub her back after we landed. Only lasted for a few days before she was good enough to come with me into the shooting range and then my quarters just to talk. Told me everything that happened where she was from when she first became a guard. Her post just denied her entry after training despite being one who passed. They thought she wasnt even a guard until someone else came in with her papers. Even then she was ridiculed.
"You know... when I became a guard I was freaking out about the murders of my parents so much.... even before that... I got arrested because I busted another guards nose getting my sister back... spent a night and a half in a jail cell puking my guts out... Shining Armor himself vouched for me saying I was capable of doing great things but.... I nearly shot myself in a range when I was released.... I was just that messed up.... Had to shoot my ex marefriend out of revenge... and protection...." She sighed.
"Harsh... But... you did good things for those you loved. Even I wouldnt have done that.... I'd've just ran away not knowing what to do...." She just nuzzled me making sure I felt content. "....What do you think everyone who saw the crash is thinking....?"
"....Probably the same thing everyone else who bailed out of the plane.... we're probably dead.... Either that or that smoke is probably a fire burning out of control...." I looked up at the smoke pouring from the wreck. We fell quite a ways and somehow managed to meet with each other still...
"Well... that's probably what we caused... How far down do you think debris flew?"
Just as she was about to answer I gasped and just pushed back on her a bit starting to trip out again. "Come now.... follow us.... we are here to help...." An echoed voice said. The paws started to appear in front of me and I pointed at them like it was a spider just sitting there taunting me.
"Th-the paws! The voice! They're back! Follow... Gotta.... follow the paws!" I heard my own voice but nothing more other than a wolf's bark. Pepper helped me up sling my arm over her shoulder. I didnt know if she said anything or something but I just told her which way. "....Straight...." We started walking forward. Each black paw was just.... Just weird. Suddenly they made a right. Told Pepper to go right. We went in the direction of Rouge and Shadow if I remember correctly. My mind was such a blur it just scared me. When we came to a few rocks the voice stopped and the paws just disappeared.
Pepper knelt down hearing i just gained my breath just as if i were running for a while. "Okay... okay... lets calm down here...." She said. "Did those paws go anywhere else up ahead?" I shook my head looking closer at the terrain around us. Two rocks. One boulder to our right, one smaller one to our left. Trees were just covered in snow as well as the rocks but... something was weird about the rocks.
"...N-not that I saw.... I just... I feel like we're being led somewhere... not sure where but.... where ever it is better fucking help...." I coughed a bit before spitting a bit of berry off to the side. If my stomach wasnt empty it was now. I looked to the rocks and just looked closely. "...Hey... what's that on the rock...?" Pepper looked at the rock I was looking at.
"...Its just... frost... and snow.... Are you sure you arent hallucinating again?" I shook my head and got to my hands and knees starting to crawl across the cold ground towards the cold boulder. "General hey! No come on dont do this! You're gonna get cold!" I looked back at Pepper just giving a quick glance at the stub that is now my wing.
"...I know what I'm doing here... Trust me!" I looked back to the rock and sat myself just a bit to where I leaned on it just right. What I saw was a glistening piece of metal under a bit of frost. I looked to the mare at my side. "Get a rock... and one that looks sturdy but isnt too big to hold..." Pepper nodded and just got up going over to the smaller rock just looking around it. I had to sit myself up and try to keep myself that way... my arm almost wanted to stick to the rock and freeze there. Already lost one thing and I dont wanna lose another. Pepper took about a minute until she brought back a small but broad rock. I pointed to the metal piece. "Here... Scrape the frost off of this the best you can... I wanna see what this is..." She nodded getting to her hands and knees starting to chip away at the ice. Didnt take long before I saw it was a hinge. "See? This is what I saw... Look for another!"
Pepper nodded and started to follow a thin line upwards on the rock. She dusted off some snow and started at another hinge. Just then someone came from the trees. "GENERAL!" I heard. I looked up only to see Shadow rushing me! I honestly havent heard his voice and I doubt anyone else has either... Well... other than family. His voice was deep but with an accent. Nothing native to Equestria but... almost eastern Steuropean. "General! Pepper! There you are! Rouge found others!" I huffed as Pepper cleared off more snow.
"Where is he now?" I asked.
"With the others looking for shelter. He ditched me telling me to either join him or go back to you two the quote 'bull headed and crazy' ones... If anything he's bullheaded. Leaving us like this...." He kicked snow away from us just as I heard a loud 'KER-chunk!'
Pepper looked to me and Shadow. "Shadow move Ryder to the other side of me for a sec. I got this thing open!" She said. Shadow nodded and grabbed my arms dragging me through the snow. I did get a bit of snow down my pants but it beats my wing any day. As Shadow knelt down next to me I gave him a pained smile. Pepper just pried the rock open and peered inside.
"What's this?" Pepper looked to us.
"Seems to be a survival cache... almost picked clean but there is an MRE, a medkit and an empty box of ammo... Well I guess someone was hunting out here..... Hope they arent around stilll..." Shadow looked to me as Pepper went to the medkit.
"How did you two manage to find this? We didnt even leave for that long..."
I huffed feeling a bit floaty still. "Those berries I ate... they basically gave me visions.... why? I dont know...." I said. "But... it's kinda scaring me.... its either leading me to salvation or... the other.... I'm not sure which but... this is a good sign...." I looked to Pepper. "Anything in that medkit that can help me?"
Pepper huffed. "There are bandages for small wounds, a knife.... Gonna keep that there... uh..." She trailed off for a moment. "There is a bottle of pills here but... I'm not sure what's in it since its unmarked.... Should I check at least? Maybe make sure they're okay?" I nodded and just grabbed a fistful of snow shoving a bit into my mouth. As cold as it was and... who knows what was under this... I was actually thirsty and melting snow helped slightly... Eh... Anyways Pepper opened the container up and just sniffed it a bit. "Uh.... I've done drug searches before and this is something you definitely dont want..... I might as well just take everything in here.... Might piss off who ever knows about this but I'm not letting this even stay here..." She quickly just started loading the first aid kit with everything in there. The medkit was just a bit bigger than a small handbag but smaller than a grocery bag. She had to fold the empty ammo box to fit it and the knife in making a sheathe out of the ammo box. She came back up with it in hand and just helped me up with Shadow. She looked to Shadow as I gained footing. "Take us to where you last saw Rouge. I'm shoving my boot up his ass for abandoning us..."
Shadow grinned. "I shall take part in this ass kicking as well..." He said. "...How dare he leave his comrades behind.... Even I wouldnt disrespect authority even in his boots...." Honestly Rouge has been an asshole since he got deployed. Sure I almost blamed him when I got shot but he knew he was probably in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong thing in his hands. But I didnt. The guy fessed up and was sent to clean the mess hall. In the time we took to get from where we were to where ever we were going I just felt good because of the berries. Pain definitely wore off. I didnt even hallucinate again. Well... I did kinda but all it did was make me think I was pissing my pants but I wasnt. Thank goodness too...
Not long after there was just a horde of militants dressed in the Equestrian uniforms. I felt good that almost nobody got injured. Behind the horde of militants there was a cabin. Pretty big to be just a normal citizen. Pepper and Shadow yelled at everyone telling them to make a path. They slowly did but when they looked to us they saw I was pretty bad and even tried pushing others out of the way. Some which started a little brawl. Quickly diffused by others. Soon we came to the front door being guarded by Equestrian guards. Normal everyday ROYAL guards. It donned on me that this was Princess Celestia's cabin. I huffed as the guards opened the door for us. "...Find... Find a guy call sign 'Rouge'.... Send him to me IMMEDIATELY!" I snapped. They nodded and closed the door immediately behind us. I did end up blacking out for a little bit but only snapped back finding myself in a warm study next to a hearth. I actually cried out a bit feeling Pepper applying some rubbing alcohol to my wound to disinfect it. She was the only one in here with me.
Pepper shushed me as I rubbed my teary and tired eye. "... dont worry... you're good now.... we have proper medical attention here..." She said. "....That's the good news... bad news is the plane crash knocked out power to a cell tower and the phone lines to the entire mountain were destroyed.... So... No way of contacting anyone yet... We are gonna have a little transport partial way.... a nearby fuel source was destroyed too thanks to that plane crash as well... lucky us we have wood and coals...." I coughed a bit feeling my throat being dry.
"....H-H-how long was I out....?" I asked. She sighed.
"....An hour.... you were content for a while until I started to disinfect your wing.... The guards here told me not to remove the improvised bandage until we got to a hospital or something.... They say this is actually preventing a bleed out when you're upright...." I couldnt help but kinda smile.
"....Th-that's good..." I winced a bit as I propped myself up slightly. I looked to the open room before Pepper just had me lie straight down now. I looked to everything. I just felt really good in this room... not because of the warmth but... the aura to it... There was a lot of good here... "...Y'know... despite the pain... I'm actually kinda glad I got out of the plane... I get to see all this and walk amongst everypony still...." Pepper laughed a bit.
"...We were all lucky... all but the pilots.... While you were asleep they said there would be a little turbulence but then one of the engines failed... We did see you get out but... you disappeared when we parachuted away from you. When we found your chute we thought the worst but... Rouge found you face down in the snow... you seemed to have rolled a few times from when you landed and boy were your wings just fucked up.... thanks to my medical knowledge I actually determined if you were alive or dead... Rouge wanted to leave you... Shadow just didnt want to even look but... well... you're alive and... well... you're alive..." She rested a hand on my shoulder. "...Uh.... brace yourself... this is gonna sting a bit...." I clenched my fists and readied myself. She poured the rubbing alcohol onto my wing once more and I gotta say it hurt quite a bit. It only lasted for a second but I was still pretty out of it. She sighed as she put the cap back onto the bottle and set it aside. "Alright... we're done here.... You need anything general? Food? Water?" I huffed forcing myself to sit up. Rubbing alcohol dripped down my back. Maybe a little blood too. Didnt really care.
"...Nah... Water maybe but... I just wanna get out of here..." I looked to her as she put the alcohol bottle away inside of a large white metal medkit.
"Probably not an option until someone can get a working radio or something.... We'd borrow vehicles from locals but there isnt enough to get everyone down... Not to mention we got some injured and we are not transporting injured in anything that might give someone a concussion... Speaking of which General how is your head feeling?"
"....Feels fine... From what I can tell my mane might be a tad singed and my wing a bit... Kinda why i dropped into the snow like that... Glad that snow was even there too..... for all I knew that could've been solid ice or something...."
Just then we got a knock on the door. Pepper shook her head as she got up and walked over to the door. As she opened it it was shoved open just having her shoved back. In stumbled in Rouge looking patched up for his small injuries but otherwise fine.... But that was before he tried running back out as Shadow entered just decking him and knocking him down to the ground. "You! Stay here!" Shadow snapped as he slammed the door. I struggled to get up as Rouge wiped the drool off his mouth. I looked up to Shadow as Pepper helped me up even more.
"...Thank you Shadow... Didnt know when I'd be able to do a little help to myself...." I looked to the grounded stallion and huffed. "...You should fucking know better than to leave your superior behind after what happened...." He said nothing as I put my boot on his chest. "...You know what happens to deserters? They get jailed... I can say one fucking word to Celestia and you're gone... you got me?" He nodded. "...Now... I want the truth.... why did you ditch me, Pepper and Shadow here?"
Rouge huffed trying to get up. I wasnt gonna budge. Even in my condition. "...Look... I didnt want to admit it but I didnt want you to weigh us down..." He said. "My mind wasnt in the right place because of the crash... I thought I was dead, I could swear it was enemy doings but.... I just... I just wanted to get out of there before we were ambushed... I just didnt wanna have you know I wanted to ditch you...." I huffed.
"...Fine... Good reason... you're freaking out... I get that... But seriously... No more running off or there will be consequences. You get me?" He nodded.
"Y-yes sir!" I huffed and looked to Pepper.
"....Can you pull up that chair real quick? I uh... I actually dont feel like standing up right now...." Rouge actually lifted my boot up a bit just enough to where he wiggled out and stood up. He ended up getting me the chair allowing me to sit down on it. He even made sure I didnt even bump my wings. I sighed just hunching over in my seat. "...There we go.... I wish we could just relax here but... Nope... I... I gotta get back to my sister...." I looked around. I teared up slightly knowing this. I looked to Pepper. "...Can... Can I be left alone for a bit....? Please...? I need a moment.... And a water when you have a chance." Pepper smiled and nodded. Shadow opened up the door and let Rouge leave first. Pepper followed and then Shadow left just giving me a quick bow before leaving. This wasnt a royal greetings bow but just a bow meaning 'thank you' in his culture. Steuropean or not he's Equestrian welcome.
As I sat there alone I looked around at the room. This rooms aura had a sad aura mixed in with its happy one.... It was small but it hit me hard. But... Suddenly my vision went blurry and the paw prints appeared again. "...Follow...." A voice said. I got scared but... I mustered up the strength to stand up and follow the paw prints. They wandered around the table near the hearth and then it went towards a bookshelf stopping in front of it. A little ember floated in front of a few books. I looked closely and saw the ember disappear and when my vision returned I was panting a bit but i was still strong. The names of the books I was looking at were Little Mare and Needles and Narcs. I knew nothing about the books but.... I saw something in between the books. A thin paper or something. I reached in pulling out Little Mare and the paper fell to the side. It was a photo. I took it out replacing the book and when I looked at the photo I actually felt happy. This was a picture of Applejack, Scootaloo, Celestia, Cadence, Luna and Shining all grouped together. Yeah we have smartphones and digital cameras but Celestia always liked to use cameras that printed out the pictures right then and there. They were all dressed in winter clothing but.... I just looked at the smiles on Applejack's and Scootaloos face. No wonder this room had a mixed aura.... I remember this.... Scootaloo, AJ and Celestia were up here after the attack... All making sure I was okay and that they miss me.... I couldnt help but fold the picture up and put it in my pocket. But as I made my way back to the chair I just... I still saw the paws. They just went under the door. I opened the door and saw Pepper standing there leaning against the wall.
Pepper approached me a bit making sure there werent anymore guards around. "....Paws?" She whispered. I nodded. She huffed and got a hold of me throwing my arm over her shoulder. "Alright where did they go...?" I looked up and down the hallway.
I huffed seeing paw prints lead down the right hallway. "Right..." I mumbled feeling a bit of pain come back. She nodded and started to follow the paws. I felt more like myself but... The pain was still there... Maybe not as great as before but.... great in the sense I was still walking and feeling stuff. Anyways as we followed the paws down the hall. They suddenly made a left turn into a closed off bedroom with guards in front of it. "....In there..." I whispered lazily pointing towards the guards. To be honest I felt a little weak. As Pepper approached the door the guards just stood closer to each other blocking the door.
"Is this a bedroom?" Pepper asked a bit worried hiking me up a bit.
The guard on the right, a unicorn stallion wearing some winter camo snow suit, nodded. "Yeah. Princess Celestia's private quarters."
"May we enter so I can let the General rest somewhat? He's getting weak and he needs to lay down. He's very weary of anyone who aides him... I'm basically the only one he can fully trust after that plane crash. Everyone else tried to either abandon him or hurt him." Yeah... Shadow didnt hurt me or anything but I'm gonna just go with it. They looked to each other and then back to Pepper.
"Sorry. Cant allow that even for the General."
"Please! He needs his rest and I cant carry him any further! He'd use up all of his energy trying to fight you to get away from yo... Just please let us inside!" I slumped over a bit and Pepper struggled to even keep me upright.
The guard on the left, unicorn as well wearing the same kind of uniform went to my side and reached for my arm. I just glanced at him and growled. "...Get... the fuck... away... and let me in..." I said. "....If I get to Canterlot you're fucked...." The guard quickly backed up. "...Now... let me... the fuck in.... NOW!" The guard huffed and just forced the other to the side before opening the doors for us. We went inside and the guards closed the door behind us. Inside we saw A large bed with a very ornate comforter on it and a smaller bed pushed up against the wall across from it with a black plain comforter on it. That was where the paws led. I pointed to the bed feeling my weakness just increase. "There.... th-that bed..." The pain rose as we lumbered towards the bed and just as we got to the side of the bed I collapsed panting heavily.
"Hey hey! Just calm down... just breathe... Do what ever it is you need in here but... just keep it down... dont want anyone kicking us back out into the cold or shutting us up with threats..." Like hell they were gonna even TRY that... Anywho as I lied there on the bed I couldnt help but feel under the pillows. Felt cool to the touch. Just like every other part of the bed that I dare not lay my bleeding wing stub down on. Out from under one of the pillows I pulled a little stuffed toy... It was a little wolf toy... Something Scootaloo likes to cuddle ever since that incident with the Ursa Minor that appeared in Ponyville. I just sighed holding the toy close to my aching chest. I felt so comfortable about this... Even with Pepper just watching me. "...How did you.... find that...?" I looked to her carefully positioning myself to have my head on one of the pillows. It felt so soft.
"...M-my little sister left it here.... We... We need to go soon... I wanna see her again...." Pepper sighed.
"...Alright... I get it.... you're too impatient to lie here all day. Let me ask someone what kind of transportation is around here...." She just patted my side wiping a tear of pain from my eye and walking over to the door. As much as I wanted to sit here and cuddle this toy I knew I'd have to get up.... Inevitably. I felt a bit woozy as I sat there. Nothing too bad but I did feel nauseous again. I got up from the bed still holding the toy. The pain was almost unbearable but I held it together... until I got out the door... when I got outside the room after pushing both Pepper and a guard out of the way, tossing the toy aside before just lurching over and tossing up bile. I never even got my water now that I think about it. God my stomach was a mess but I still had the strength to stand... while leaning against the wall. One of the other guards lost what ever he had while the other choked it down and called for clean up of bio-hazardous material.
Anyways a little bit later I was loaded into the back of a guard truck with Pepper and my squad mates inside. Shadow was at the wheel and Rouge was in the middle of the truck. He felt bad for what he did. Even had a water bottle for me. I sat carefully with Pepper and she just had me sip on the water. Rouge looked back. "...There... got a ride..." He said. He sighed as Shadow fired up the engine and turned the heaters on. Lucky to get a guard truck with a vent in the way back. "..I just... I wanna apologize for what happened...? You gotta know everyone else might've had the same ideas for their squads after that crash.... You I think were the only one in serious condition but... you're gonna be fine." I sighed just nuzzling up to Pepper who just kissed my forehead making me blush a bit.
Shadow looked back as we started pulling away. "Alright... we were lucky others pulled up when they did..." He said. "One truck to check a supposed wildfire? Hell... worst thing ever.... but good thing is we can send more transport up here to get everyone off the mountain and tend to the other injured."
Pepper twisted the cap on the water bottle and sighed. "...Finally... the nightmare ends..." She said. She looked to me. "...You get to see Princess Celestia, your sister.... Oh I really wanna meet your sister.... She seems so sweet from the stories you've been telling me..."
I looked to Rouge. "Hey... You got that stuffed toy I gave to you before we walked out?" I asked. Rouge nodded and handed it back to me. I just sighed and cuddled it a bit. "...I just... I really hope she's doing okay... I was supposed to surprise her at school... guess... guess she's gonna surprise me in the hospital..." Pepper fixed my mane a bit.
"....Its kinda sad that has to happen... If someone came home only to end up in a hospital I'd either resist to go see them or go and face the music but... its a greater chance for me to resist to go.... sorry to say...." I huffed just laying down on my side and then just going to my stomach a bit.
"....It's okay...." I said. "...She doesnt need to see me like this... as long as she knows I'm home I'll be good..." Pepper dug into her pocket a bit and pulled a berry.
"Here... One to last you for a bit.... I tossed a few others out just because they didnt look good... picked them quick and didnt check which were good and which werent..." She popped it into my mouth andI chewed it a bit before swallowing. "There... Just try and stay awake if it starts to mess with you.... If you do fall asleep just make sure to tell me before you do.... I dont wanna find you asleep just to freak out thinking you slipped..." She looked back at Shadow. "Hey turn up the music. Help the General stay awake!"
Shadow laughed a bit and turned the radio on to my favorite station. And on it... One of my favorite songs by Gems. Paradise Island. He cranked it up and I just couldnt help but mouth the words. "WOOOOO HELL YEAAAAHHH" Rouge yelled just headbanging. Pepper laughed just watching him. Hell.... If I could I'd do air guitar. Gash has always been an inspiration... Maybe to why I never give up even when told to. If I remember it right Gash just before joining Gems he was denied four times when they were forming. Just because it took forever for Gash to tune his guitar. Sparkplug actually came after their old bass player passed... Called himself Motor Runner. Left us.... Oh for five years ago... Boy would I have loved to meet him.... Anyways yeah... Gash taught me never to give up no matter how much you're being put down.
You know as we went on it was just awesome song after awesome song. First it was Gems.... Then Metallicolt... Then some RRC... With all this good music I just thought I slipped away somehow... This was all just a dream. Speaking of dreams I did start to feel really really tired. Adrenaline crashing... Lack of sleep... Blood loss probably... And the medicine berries. Pepper had to slap me back awake a few times on our way back to Canterlot. We saw some nice sights along the way but about half way there we hit traffic. I wasnt keeping track of time of day at all. Nobody was. This truck didnt even have any lights or sirens but it was something. We had to ride the shoulder for a bit, nobody questioned it. Probably because this truck was just marked with a little number at the back. Just then my vision blurred hard. It was to the point I could barely make out any shapes. "...Your timing is impeccable..." The same echoed voice said. "....Just know your time with me isnt over... I'll leave you for now but... when the paws call for you... you follow without hesitation..... Hesitation leads to bad things..."
When my vision came back I panted hard and heavily. Pepper looked down at me as she picked me up from my position carefully. "General? General are you alright?" She asked. "What happened?" I was panting so heavily I just couldnt answer. I was in so much pain in both my wing, my chest and my head to even answer. Pepper looked up towards the front. "ROUGE DIG INTO THE GLOVE BOX AND THE CONSOLE! FIND ANY FORM OF COMMUNICATION NOW!" She looked back to me just as I hear the engines rev and Rouge call out before rummaging through something. "C'mon... You're gonna be fine... Just breathe here...."
Not even a moment later I hear the static of a radio hit loudly. "Testing testing!" I heard him say. "This is Rouge of the Fillydelfia Guard! Military branch! We have an injured stallion coming into Canterlot requesting assistance! We're just on the fortytwo east and incoming fast!"
Not even a moment after I hear something from the radio. "Ten four Rouge! Closest place for you is Canterlot castle!" I heard a stallion say. "Take the Diamond Road Exit and you'll be met by a few patrols ready to escort to the gates! What's the status of the injured stallion? Over?"
"He's breathing heavily! Very unnaturally! We survived that crash in The Foal Mountains and there are still injured there! Communications are down and everyone is at Celestia's Ski Lodge! Send Multiple transports to get the injured off the mountains and get the others back home to their families!"
"Ten Four! All units in range of Foal Mountains we have injured from a plane crash! Get everyone you see off the mountain and get a fire brigade to put the fires out!" Okay... He might've had the wrong button held down. Either that or everything was being relayed through the radios to any station we might be near.
Pepper gripped me tight. "Alright come on! Just breathe slowly! Deep breaths!" She said. I just couldnt catch my breath even for a moment. My breathing did slow a bit but not enough for me to be at normal breathing.
My vision blurred but my hearing sort of stayed the same. Only a little muffle. "...Tell not of what you hear... Follow paws...." The voice said. "...i'll allow the speaking of the voice and paws to squad mates but nothing more.... Let it be known that things might be bad if you even try.... You'll see what I mean.... its just a taste of my power...." As my vision and hearing returned I couldnt help but just pant more. My breaths were slower but I still panted heavily. I saw Pepper looking me in the eye.
"General! C'mon... Say something!"
I coughed hard making my entire body just hurt. ".... The fucking... paws... and voice..." I said. "...I just.... I just.... nobody... says... anything... to anyone...." Pepper nodded.
"Alright... I'll talk to Rouge and Shadow when we get to Canterlot.... Just half way there.... Convoy's going on now..." She peaked up out the windows. "Two exits out. Castle is in sight... Just hold on!" I gave a nod and forced myself to sit up even if Pepper was having me lay down slightly. Still I just had to get a look for myself. Yeah... We were on the high way... I could see Canterlot right out the right window. The afternoon sun actually made things just look nice. I kept an eye on the outside just with a constant mix of feelings. Pain, hope, fear and... Hunger a bit... But I wasnt worried about that.... I was just a mixing pot of just physical pain and emotions. I dont remember much after this moment... All I remember is we pulled up to the castle and Pepper helping me out and up the stairs. Rouge and Shadow opened up the doors and there on the steps was Scootaloo talking with Luna who was in a wheel chair... Celestia and Cadence were nearby but just a few feet of difference.
As we came in I felt really weak... All I heard before blacking out was a scream and my little sister calling out. "RYDER!" She yelled. And then I was out...
I woke up hours later in a hospital bed feeling both refreshed and a little uncomfortable. My window was opened a bit revealing a large white tower illuminated by a light. The sky was a little dark but... It was good to see. My room was dimly lit but it was enough to see I was dressed in a hospital gown and I was in a harness keeping me upright. There was a couch to my right with Princess Luna napping on it to my surprise. I looked around a bit more and found a little remote on a little side table. The remote seemed to be for a TV in the corner of the room. I just reached over grabbing it before just biting my tongue and tossing it at Luna hitting her in the cheek. She jumped a bit snorting and looked around scared. She saw me and huffed a bit smiling slightly. "...Thank mother and father you're alive...." She said standing up a bit. She wore baggy black sweat pants and a grey tank top.
I huffed and looked around. "...I'm lucky to be alive considering what happened...." I said. "...What was going on when we got here...? I saw you guys and then... nothing..." Luna sighed moving parts of my mane out of my face.
"...I watched your plane crash on the mountain.... I didnt know you had escaped.... How did you escape...?" I shrugged.
"...Dunno... One minute I'm napping waiting to land and next thing you know I wake up to seeing the hatch open and my friends waiting for me to get up and out.... I got out at the last possible second but I didnt get my chute to open... I was forced to ditch it and try and cushion my fall... didnt end up going well considering I busted my wings...."
"I would say so.... Doctors said the only wing you had was broken but not totally useless. Pepper told me you had to do a field amputation for your other wing... why do such things?" I felt all emotion drain from me. I looked to her and just grabbed her hand squeezing it a bit.
"...because.... because it was going to be cut off anyways... Why not then....? Get it out of the way before we get back to just have it cut off anyways...?" She hummed a bit intrigued by my answer.
"....Well... You had something there....But... with that out of the way I have good news and bad news.... Which do you want to hear first?" I didnt answer. I just stayed silent waiting for either. She sighed. "...Well... Bad news first.... You're going to need to go into surgery for that wing amputation.... They could've tried to save the wing but... You did it the way you could. Good news is..." She used her magic to make a hand mirror appear. She handed it to me and pointed behind her. I put it over my shoulder and saw my wing stub healed like it had been that way for a while. My other wing was all bandaged against me and not even through the little hole that was made for it. All I saw were the bandages. "...I healed your amputated wing stump.... I needed to get those blood stained rags off of you and well... Pepper had told me someone at Foal Mountain Mansion told her that those impromptu bandages were helping with the bleeding and removing them would've caused some blood loss. Even if we did have a way to patch it up it still might've lead to you bleeding out...." I handed the mirror back to her.
"Well... I'm glad it didnt come to that... I might need to get something into my system here.... After I cut my wing off the pain just made me throw up.... Can I get a little food please...? I dont care what it is as long as its light and helps me here...." She smiled.
"Well... I guess we can keep you in here for a few days before that surgery... Give you time to rest and recooperate..." She started walking towards the door. "I'll be right back with your food but... I'll have somepony sent in to keep you company while I'm out. 'Kay?" I nodded.
As she left I sighed just feeling good that I wasnt getting in to surgery right away... even in my condition. Maybe a few minutes had passed waiting for someone. In that time frame I thought about the voice and the paws and what they were doing. But once that door opened and i looked over I just stopped thinking about that and just was glad I was home. In comes Princess Celestia and Scootaloo both wearing work out clothes. Scootaloo looked tired and teary eyed seeing me but Celestia was looking as if nothing had ever happened. "...Welcome home General..." She said. "Sorry to have that happen... It was so sudden I just..." She looked to Scootaloo. "...I just got worried about this one here..." She looked back to me. "How are you feeling? Any pain?"
I nodded a little. "Just a bit... Everything's okay though..." I said not even taking my eyes off Scootaloo. I watched as Scootaloo turned to Celestia and whispered into her ear. The princess looked to the filly a bit weirdly and confused.
"...Are you sure? I just.... I dont mean to say this but... I dont think you'd be able to do it at the moment..."
Scootaloo whimpered a bit. "....Please Princess?" She asked. "I know I can do it! Just trust me!" Celestia sighed and set Scootaloo down onto the floor.
"Alright but... I'm right here if anything happens...."
Scootaloo nodded and then looked to me looking as confident as ever. I watched as her little wings started to flap a bit and it didnt take long before I saw the most amazing thing.... My sister... Was off the ground... Flying... She struggled a bit to stay stable and at a good distance from the floor but she flew over my bed and just dropped onto me both hurting my wing, landing where the sun dont shine and... Well sore muscles. I groand a bit as she hugged me sobbing slightly. Celestia gasped a bit and tried pulling her off but I wrapped my arms around Scootaloo and stopped her. "...L-Leave her... I'm... Fine...." I said. "...Screw my pain... It doesnt matter anymore... I just... I saw her fly and... I'm just so proud...." I looked to Scootaloo. "...I'm proud... and so are mom and dad...."
Scootaloo looked up at me. "....Maybe but... what about your wings....?" She asked. "...You're missing one... doesnt that mean... you cant teach me to fly....?"
I honestly didnt know what to answer. But Celestia helped answer that. "....Scootaloo he still will be able to teach you to fly..." She said. "After that surgery he's going to have a prosthetic wing to replace the one he lost... It'll feel and act just like a real wing but it might take a little time to get used to once installed... Until Ryder is back at home you're going to be with me... I'll have Cadence with us to help out..."
I looked to Celestia just thinking a bit. It was either the pain or what ever meds they had me on but... It sounded good to me. "...Princess... Scootaloo...." I said. "....Why dont you two just spend about a week more together... Take time to say your goodbyes and have one last week of fun... and just give me a week to rest after this... How does that sound?" Celestia and Scootaloo looked to each other.
"Well it sounds alright to me but... its all about what Scootaloo thinks.... I dont want to keep her any longer without at least spending a little time with her brother..."
Scootaloo sniffled and looked back at Celestia. "Let him rest...." She answered. "... He's here... He's going to be okay.... but... I just want my big brother to rest...." She looked back to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "...I love you Ryder..."
I just lost it there. I sniffled tearing up fast. "... I love you too Scoot.... Forever and always..." I replied starting to sob. I guess Celestia couldnt help but join in on this. She avoided my injuries only to hug me. That hug lasted for maybe a minute before She broke off only to leave me and Scootaloo without a word. I guess she couldnt take the emotion.
It wasnt long there for our sibling time which felt oh so sweet.... Maybe after ten minutes of gripping to each other crying a bit in came Princess Cadence and Shining Armor. Shining was just wearing black jeans looking a little big around the waist, a red and black baseball Jersey opened up a bit revealing an extra large white shirt underneath. Cadence was just wearing a nice dress. Yet they both looked worried and kinda glad to see me. Cadence used her calming magic on us and it felt good... She took Scootaloo who didnt even wanna put up a fight about it.... She went and clung to Cadence like it was mom... I guess she does have that aura to her... She sighed. "...Good to see you alive and well General..." She said. "...We freaked out when we heard of the destruction...." She glanced at Shining a bit who blushed. "...Some more than just freaking out... But hopefully your presence can help rectify that problem..." The stallion at her side blushed harder whimpering a bit.
Shining looked to Cadence. "...Cadie.. can... can you leave me and Ryder alone for a bit...? Please?" He asked. Cadence nodded and just held Scootaloo close before just walking out with her and shutting the door behind her. Shining walked over to the couch and sat down like he had been on his feet for hours. He just looked to me looking a bit sad. "...you... I just... I had a feeling you were going to do good things and now look at you... a wounded war hero... you helped stop a war... I was happy to hear you did that and were on your way home but... the thing I didnt know until I got to Canterlot was your plane going down... Luna yelled at me saying it and... I just didnt wanna believe it... I could swear she was dream walking before this and Scootaloo had a nightmare but... the smoke from the mountain explains it.... When Cadence ran to the room I was in just yelling at me saying you're alive I just... I didnt know what to think but... Right as we came out of the room there I see you being rushed down the hallway on a gurney being followed by Luna, Celestia and Scootaloo who was just bawling hard...." He started to tear up. "....I honestly had to take her and just hold her down so Cadence could use her magic.... I did something that I promised to my own wife that I would never do... especially to my best friends only family...."
I sighed as a sob escaped from him. "...It's arlight..." I said. "If I said I didnt force my sister to do something she didnt want to I'd be lying... I've had to hold her down for a shot before and she's even hit a doctor before because of that... My dad had to apologize to the guy so he wouldnt sue us and that was when I was called to hold her down so she could receive the shot... I didnt like doing that or seeing my sister cry but... she knew it was for the best...." I just huffed. "Where are my squad mates?"
"Sent home hours ago... They were glad to see you get some help... I gave Pepper your number so she can check on you.... You did have your things on another plane right?" I nodded. Yeah. Our belongings were on another plane heading to Manehattan. Our things should be sent out soon. Hopefully.... Anyways I spent the rest of the time with Shining and he told me everything that had happened since I left including the times he's pissed himself and gotten drunk thinking about me... Gotta say he's a good guy even if he's kinda weird... Scootaloo said goodnight and I just felt all good. Maybe I cried while eating my food but... at least I wasnt extremely bored... I got a little laugh out of watching Shining getting a diaper changed by Cadence. But then I just wet myself because of a sharp pain that hit my wing... then I was diapered. Even though it was emberassing it still felt good to be cared for. But other than Shining giving me a laugh Luna gave us a little game system to go head to head on for a while and even do a bit of coop play. After we went to sleep I couldnt help but sleep lightly. I didnt want to go too deep into sleep because since an attack on my compound i was afraid to sleep heavily not being able to hear any enemy come through. But even when sleeping lightly I slept well knowing I was back home. But that was just one hell of a homecoming... not even the fireworks I even expected. Just glad to see my little sister again....