//------------------------------// // 34. Hurting // Story: Guardians of the Elements of Harmony // by mcb893 //------------------------------// Just Outside of Ponyville... Moore groggily walked along. His mind and body both yearned for peace. Soon enough, his body could rest easily, but his mind would continue to be tormented. How could he let Hank die? How could he let so many Guards and civilians die? Was he doing the right thing as leader of the squad? As commander of the liberation effort? Clearly not... He couldn't even free the town from the grasp of the creatures. How could he be trusted? Looking back, he saw the rest of his men carrying the same shame he did. Seeing a kid die in war took the spirit right out of you. It was never easy. Never right, seeing someone so young and full of life fade away. They didn't deserve that. As they reached the town, Moore stayed back and waited for the wagon that was carrying Hank's lifeless body. Moore looked away. "John!" He heard someone call. Looking to his right, he sees Twilight observing the soldiers and the guards with horror. He sighs and looks down to the ground, this was awful. He hadn't even thought about how he would break the news to the ponies. Especially Rainbow Dash... "John... What happened?" She asked as she reached him. Moore walked forward, trying to avoid her. This did no good however, as she just teleported in front of him. She asked again, and Moore shook his head. "It wasn't good... We lost a lot of men... We weren't able to liberate the city..." He said as he rubbed the back of his head. "Well I gathered that much, but what went wrong?" Twilight asked. Moore sighed and explained everything. The Chaos Ponies, the infection, the ambush, everything. "He didn't make it... He bled out... He's gone..." Moore sighed and hung his head. It was his job to get him out of there, and what did he do? Lead him right to his death... "Oh no... Are you sure? Maybe he's still alive?" Moore shook his head. Eventually he managed to proceed onward, with Twilight trying to say comforting words along the way, but it didn't work. He found the soldiers each talking with families of Guards who were killed. The children all ran to each other and their mothers for strength, and while some were strong for them, others were overcome with grief. Moore looked away in shame, this was just as he was afraid it would be. Injured, bitten survivors were taken into the hospitals, where a few ponies had recovered enough to return outside. When the men were done telling the bad news, they just sat around in town, pondering their thoughts. "Hey John?" When Moore heard this voice, he froze. He recognized it instantly. It was that of Rainbow Dash. How would she respond? She didn't seem like the one to deal with bad news particularly well. He turned slowly, not bothering to hide the grief from his face. To his surprise, Rainbow also had a look of sadness. Almost like she already knew what had happened. "Hank?" She asked. The way she said... She sounded like a 5 year old who had lost their teddy bear. It was heartbreaking... Moore let a few tears fall from his face as he reached into his back pocket. Slowly, he took Rainbow's hoof and brought it forward. ... Rainbow looked to the hand that was coming back from John's back. In it, she saw a small chain, although she wasn't sure what it meant. Gently, he placed his hand on top of her hoof, and gave it a quick pat before taking it away. It revealed the pendant of her Element of Harmony necklace, as well as a tag that read: DANIELS HANK, A 213-543-813 O POS CHRISTIANITY It didn't take long for her to realize what John was trying to say. She felt tears well in her eyes as she fought to hold them back. Hank was dead... She clenched her eyes shut, trying to block out the pain she was feeling. But she just couldn't do it. She cried. With sadness guiding her, she reached out to John, and he took her. She cried into him, and he didn't pull away. "I'm so sorry Dash..." 1 Hour Later... Fluttershy's Cottage... Adams folded his hands together and brought his chin to them. He stared down at the ground, trying to make sense of what had happened. Seeing John walk away traumatized was one thing, seeing Rainbow Dash cry was another thing entirely. He knew that she was tough as nails, so seeing someone like her cry... devastating. Fluttershy sat to his right, merely trying to ease his mind with her presence. "So... How are you doing? You don't look too good either." She said. Adams looked over to the mare, who was looking at him with sad eyes. He sighed, and shook his head. He didn't know what to feel. He had to be strong, but what was the balance between being strong and being heartless? "I guess I'm just in a fog..." He said as he rubbed his hands. He removed his helmet and tossed it to the side. Fluttershy placed a hoof on his back and asked him to keep going. "Well... I just don't know what's going on... Why this is happening... I just don't know... I hate all this uncertainty..." He said as he placed his head into his hands. He rubbed his face as he tried to sort out his emotions, and Fluttershy wrapped her forelegs around him. "It'll be alright... I promise." Rarity's Fashion Shop... "Frank..." Rarity said as she slipped her hoof to his hand. Barns looked up slightly to see her hoof touching his hand. He sighed and stood, leaving his seat. Rarity looked up to him, and tried to calm him down. "No, that town was really the best way to go wasn't it?" He asked. He walked over to the countertop in the kitchen and looked out the window. Rarity got up from her chair and walked over to him. "After all that was the... Patriotic thing to do eh?" Rarity sighed and stood next to him, only for him to walk away again. "I mean heck, it's not like we failed miserably or anything. And we only lost one of our guys going for it." He said as his fist clenched shut. Rarity backed away slightly, frightened by Frank's behavior. He turned, and she saw his face. Outlined with fury and rage. "I swear I hope those things are real FREAKING happy knowing that they're causing all this sadness and grief!" He shouts as he punches a wall. Rarity backs away again, watching as he punches a vase, causing his hand to bleed when it shatters. "BUT THEN AGAIN THEY WOULDN'T FREAKING KNOW WOULD THEY? WOULD THEY?" He shouts as he marches over to her. "Frank please! Stop! Everything will be alright!" She says with a fearful voice. Upon hearing her, he pauses. Looking down to his hand, he sees it stained with blood. Guess his big brother instincts got the best of him. "I... I'm sorry... I just need some time alone..." Sugar Cube Corner... Hans tossed his weapon onto a table in the center as he walked up to the room upstairs. He closed the door behind him, and sat at the desk in the guest bed room. Looking over to the squad photo taken just four months ago, he sees Daniels, holding out his right hand two fingers pointed upwards. This was meant to represent the sign for victory, and was always encouraging. He had that goofy smile that made him so likeable, so friendly. Looking over to the marker, Hans sighed and grabbed it. He blacked out Hank's face, showing that he was dead. He dropped the marker as someone came into his room. When he looks over, it's Pinkie Pie. Fortunately for him, she seems to understand the seriousness of this situation and simply sits next to him. "Do you want to talk about it?" "Where do I begin..." Sweet Apple Acres... Connors walked into the farm house and was greeted by Applejack. The others were also there, and he sighed. He'd probably need the company, it was always easier to deal with things when he had someone to talk to. Probably the reason he was so rebellious as a kid. "Hey AJ..." He said as he set his backpack down by the door. Taking a glass, he turned on a faucet and let the water fill the cup. He sat down at the table and just held the glass for a while. For some reason unable to bring himself to drink it. He just sat there with a depressed look. "What happened out there?" Applejack asked as she took her seat. Connors looked up. "Daniels died." He said bluntly. Applejack apparently already knew. "Rainbow tol' me when Ah ran into her in town. She was mighty upset, and John didn't look like he was holdin' out to well either." She said as she looked him in the eye. Connors sighed and dropped his head. He should have figured John would be having a hard time with this. Whenever something went wrong, we would always blame himself. "Well... I just can't help but feel partially responsible. I was the overwatch... I should have seen them coming..." He said as he finally took a sip of his water. Truth is, Hank probably would have made it if he had just paid more attention. Applejack placed her hoof on his free hand as Granny Smith shook her head. "Now, now Sonny, you have no reason to feel that way. You done tried yer best, an' that's all we can ask." She said. "Eeyup." Big Macintosh said in agreement. Connors sighed. "So why do I still feel this way?" "Because Hank was a friend of yers. And you wanted him to make it. So you're putting blame on yerself to try to make sense of what happened." Applejack said. Connors looked over to Applebloom. She was silent, but gave understanding eyes. Like Daniel would so many times in his childhood. Connors just sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "I wish this bloody war was over..."