Before I begin, I would like to address a few readers who have decided to voice their opinion against my story via comments and messages.
Yes, war in this story is going to be an important factor. But for the most part, its going to be less about war and more about the losses and changes that the characters are going to go through. I'm sorry some of you feel disgusted and dislike what I have written.
I know that war is something that would never even be in the My Little Pony franchise. But I feel as though I have a message to express, and will continue to do so in this little fimfic. I only hope that some find it enjoyable, and will always be waiting for my next update.
"Dr. Whooves?..." The stallion could hardly hear the familiar voice, his mind on other things as the colts continued to cry in front of him. He knew he had to apologize, and he knew that they didn't deserve to be yelled at in the way that he did. They were too young, too naive to understand what he had been through...and was currently going through. It was him that was having the problem.
He turned to face the owner of the voice, expecting to see an angry mother of some sort. But what he found instead was Twilight Sparkle, the Ponyville Librarian and magical genius. And Twilight's expression was far from anger. Her eyes were big, and he could see them glisten with sympathy. She knew. She knew what he had been through.
He found a new kind of determination and turned to the colts, his ears flattening as he walked up to them, "I'm so sorry, dear boys. It was wrong of me to act like that. I promise you that it will never happen again." One of the colts sniffled, looking up at him.
"Then...then will you play with us later?"
The stallion smiled, "Of course, little one. Now run off. Soldiers don't cry, you know." He winked. The colts all grinned and trotted away, returning to their previous happy state. But he felt a tense feeling in his heart as they ran away. He had seen many soldiers cry.
"I'm sorry for that little situation..." Dr. Whooves said as Twilight walked up beside him, "I'm...I'm not the same way that I used to be." The other ponies around him nodded silently and each of them went about their day like usual.
"It's alright. There aren't many stallions who used to be what they were two years ago." Twilight said, giving him a small sad smile. Whooves nodded back, watching the colts play from a far distance away.
"It's because of all of you that they can go about their day without worry and fear, you know." Twilight smiled, "Each of you who fought made a difference. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise." Memories of soldiers and friends who he couldn't save flashed through the former medic's mind, making the stallion cringe and shake his head.
Twilight noticed his reaction and nudged him a little, giving him another one of her beautiful smiles, "Come on, doctor. I'll treat you to some tea at my house. Spike also makes awesome cookies." Dr. Whooves looked up at her, studying the young mare.
Two years ago, Twilight Sparkle had seemed like a bit of a misfit coming from Canterlot and all. But after making friends, she finally managed to settle down peacefully with her and her dragon assistant. She was a wonderful pony, and he had never seen a unicorn use magic quite like her. She was very intelligent, and he found himself in her library many times a week. For that time, he could say that he had been interested in her, and he knew that she was interested in him as well.
But could he feel love, now?...After seeing all the wives, the children that he had let down? Sure, he had saved many stallions. But he couldn't save enough.
The stallion cleared his throat as he looked at the young mare. There was no way he could say yes. He didn't feel like he deserved it. But for a moment as he stared into her eyes...the load on his back seemed to lessen.
"That sounds lovely, Twilight."
Dr. Whooves was walking around patiently in the library, looking up at the towering bookshelves before him. Honestly, he had read more than half of the literature here. Knowledge entertained him, and he found that sometimes the simplest things that you can learn can really help you later down the road. He heard Twilight hum quickly to herself, the sound of the teapot whistling in the kitchen.
While Twilight was busy pouring the hot tea into the cups, she couldn't help but think about Dr. Whooves. When she had first arrived in Ponyville, he was one of the first Stallions to come into the library. The library was still an unorganized mess at the time, but he had helped her get every volume in order. She appreciated it very much, and their relationship had started from there.
When she brought the tea out, her eyes found the form of the stallion. It didn't seem like anything changed, but there was a definite difference from the Dr. Whooves she knew from two years ago. Before, he walked with a sort of intelligent confidence, his smiles bright and his head high. His voice was rich, and he had a knack for telling great stories that he had experienced or read. He was friends with practically all of Ponyville, and he always kept an ear open for any problems they wanted to discuss.
Looking at him now, she could feel the guilt that was filling his heart. He walked as if he was wearing saddlebags that weighed twice as much as he did, and she noticed that he would often stare off into space, a look of regret and sadness filling his eyes.
She set the tea onto the table and Dr. Whooves took a seat, taking a small sip from the cup. He gave Twilight a smile of satisfaction, and the mare had to hold back a light blush.
"So, miss Sparkle...how have things been these past two years?"
"It's been quiet, for the most part." The purple mare sipped her tea, "Everyone of us were waiting on letters, on news of our stallions. Whenever one came in, all of us were there." She had her own questions to ask the doctor, but was a bit afraid to ask.
"I see..." Whooves said, taking another sip of his cup. There was an awkward moment of silence, and neither pony knew what to say. Twilight wished to speak with Whooves about personal matters while the doctor thought of any interesting topics to converse about.
Twilight finally broke the silence, looking up at the doctor, "Dr. Whooves...this might be a bit personal...but I would like to hear of your experiences of the battlefield." The stallion cringed. He knew he would have to answer a question like this sooner or later...and he wished to not speak of the horrors he had seen. But for Twilight...
The doctor set out his cup and cleared his throat, "I'm sorry...But I don't wish to speak of such things..." His gaze met the the floor, "I don't want to relive those moments. Every single one of them...I wish I could forget."
"Doctor...." Twilight said, her eyes glistening as she looked up at him, "But it's painful to see you like this! You used to be full of life! You were always there when somebody needed you! You were the proudest pony I have ever met! But now-
"But now WHAT?!" Dr. Whooves cried, standing up and knocking over the stool, "I'm a guilt ridden, depressed pony who lets the past swallow him whole?! Are you telling me to forget everything, to forgive myself?! To forgive the fact the fact that I let all those soldiers die?! What are you asking of me?!" Twilight's eyes began to tear up, and the doctor managed to calm himself down.
"I...I see them Twilight. Everyday. Every time I close my eyes, they are right there in front of me. The ones I couldn't save. I know there was nothing I could...And that sometimes all I could do was pat their head and watch them go..." Tears began welling up in his eyes and he bit his lip, shaking his head, "I...have never felt so helpless...They all had families...loved ones...and I feel as though I let them down...."
He felt a warmth overtake him as Twilight through herself on him, pulling him into an embrace as tears rolled down her cheeks, "I'm so sorry, doctor..." She choked, "But you didn't let them down...you tried your hardest...you never left their side, did you?...You stayed with them. You didn't let them go alone...You were always there for them...And you will always remember them...." The doctor buried his face in her shoulder, their tears flowing like one great river.
And it was there they sat, crying in each others arms as time seemed to pass ever so slowly. Dr. Whooves had never felt so soothed in his life...the images of the soldiers he had seen die before him were still there, but he would always hold them in his heart. Twilight was right...he would NEVER forget them.
He finally pulled away, giving her a said smile, looking into her red puffy eyes, "Twilight....thank you. I fee like I can go on again..." He laughed lightly, giving her one last hug, "You poor thing...you have been through tough times as well, haven't you?" She said nothing, but he knew her too well to know that he was right. He nuzzled her gently before pulling away.
"Twilight, there is something I have to do today...But I hope that I can see you again really soon. Is that okay?" Twilight smiled, wiping her eyes with her hoof.
"Yes..." She sniffed, "I'll be waiting, doctor." Whooves nodded before picking up his saddle bag, looking back at Twilight one more time before walking out of the door.
The sun was starting to fall into the horizon, Celestia's brilliant magic ending for the day. As the sun grew orange and beautiful, Whooves couldn't help but think about the soldiers who would never see such a sight again. But as long as he carried them into his heart, they would never disappear.
He walked back into the town, kicking up dust lightly as ponies passed by him. Shops were beginning to close, and he once more found himself looking into the window of Sugarcube corner. Mrs. Cake was staring into a photo on the counter, her eyes glimmering with sadness. He didn't have to guess who she was looking at. He made a note to go and visit her soon, to share stories of her brave husband, and to let his children know about how great of a father he really was.
He saw Big Mac one more time, pulling a heavy cart through the streets. He couldn't quite read the large stallions expressions, and wondered what was going through the red pony's mind. The war? The farm? Dr. Whooves would never really know.
It had taken a few more minutes, but he arrived at his destination. He felt his heart thumping in his chest, but he ignored it as he knocked on the door with his hoof. A few seconds later, the door opened and he saw a young mare with blue and pink hair looking back at him.
"Bon Bon..." Dr. Whoove said, making a sad smile, "I have something for you...from your husband..." The mare blinked, opening her mouth to say something at first and just shook her head.
"I...I see...." She glanced into her living room and back at him, "...Please come inside..." Dr. Whooves nodded, making sure to close the door behind him. He watched her take a seat at the couch, her eyes a bit teary. He seated himself at a chair in front of her, taking a small box out of his saddlebag and placing it onto the table.
"...I'm guessing you want to tell me how he died..." Her eyes looked up at him, and Dr. Whooves gave her a small smile.
"No...I wanted to ask you how he lived."