Battlefield: Equestria

by Capanna925


A Little R&R

My hooves found themselves tracing patterns in the dirt below me.

A small heart and the initials S.B. set inside.

Talk of Applejack's little sister has got me worrying about my own, again.

Only Sweetie Belle wasn't so little anymore. With a full fledged cutie mark and long, dainty legs that refuse to stop growing, she's well on her way to becoming a mature mare.
I just can't believe I'm not with her now, at the most important stage of her life, helping her to age properly and with guidance.

It's been months since Iv'e seen her.

But every few weeks she sends letters from the factory. Along with other fillies who are too young to go into combat, she makes weapons and equipment in exchange for food and shelter. Although I always wish she were here by my side, I'm much more thankful she's in the factory, where it's far more safe than anywhere out here.

As my eyes start to trail sideward with my daydreaming, they lock on with another's.

Applejack's bloodshot eyes glance up from her patient's wound for just a moment, then jerk upward to find a light blue pony stride right through the flaps of the tent.

"Lieutenant General Lyra!"

The country pony stood up tall as she addressed the officer. I got to my knees and walked over to where she stood.

"I heard about Bon Bon and got here as quickly as I could! Where is she?"

Oh, Bon Bon. The poor sap who I saw about an hour ago go under from the deadly sedative. Lyra and Bon Bon had been very close long before the war. I feel sorry for Lyra no more than I should, knowing every single one of us feels that same numbing pain inside of losing a loved one.

Applejack stayed silent, her eyes explained everything to Lyra.
The General stared back at Applejack, then shifted her gaze downward.

"I'm too late."

"I'm so sorry, Lieutenant. But there really was nothin' anypony could've done for her. The infection spread far too quickly for any meds."

"Celestia will pay for this." Lyra said with a firey glow in her eyes.

"Her... wound wasn't caused by Celestia's soldiers, General Lyra.." AppleJack said, unsure if she had the right to talk back to a commanding officer.

"..We have reason ta believe it was Timber wolves. There seems t'have been several attacks recently from the West Forest."

Lyra nodded solemnly and looked up at Applejack again.

"Thank you. I know you tried your best, Applejack. You always have."

And without another word, she slipped back out into the cold morning haze. Applejack sighed, obviously very sleep deprived.

"You're on a break, or somethin'..?" She said wearily.

"Twilight went down to get us something to eat, said I should stay here and rest. I couldn't sleep a wink, though. And you're the one who needs rest, anyways. Why don't you let sompony else take over for awhile?"

"Rarity, all the other doctors and nurses are way too busy to spare a hoof to pick up my slack."

"I could help!" I pleaded.

"Please! You wouldn't know a bonesaw from a roll 'a gauze." Applejack retorted.

"Hey, I have my fair share of knowledge about needles and thread." I said.

"But'cha can't even stand the sight of blood alone."

My cheeks were hot and flustered at this point.

"Look! I'm not the prissy little pony that I used to be! Iv'e got dirt under my hooves just like everypony else-" My voice was still horse from the gasses, and the end of my sentence went high pitched as I began coughing uncontrollably. Which then caused my nose to run, and my eyes to water. Darn it!! I thought.

"I am NOT crying!!" I shouted viciously at her.

She just stared at me for a second then started chuckling, and went onto a hearty laugh.

"W-what..??" I said as I surprisingly started to smile as well.

"Oh, Rarity. Defensive, prideful Rarity." She said with a smile.

"You haven't changed one bit."

It was strange, almost foreign to be laughing like this. Especially after everything both of us are going through.

"What are you two pansies giggling about?"

We both turned around to see Twilight with a sack of food in her mouth, coming towards us.

Sometimes I wondered why Twilight was like this. We've all been through a lot, and lost many friends, but Twilight was one of
the most friendly ponies I knew.

The unicorn set down the sack of breads and fruits on a medical table. A loaf of rye tumbled out of the sack, falling on the floor, and revealing an emblem on the bottom of the sack, right where it had been sitting.

This bag must have been fairly old; the emblem was the Equestrian United symbol, of two alicorns spinning around the sun and moon.

Twilight picked up the loaf, blew off the dirt, and set it back on the table.

She must have noticed the emblem as well. She gave it a glare and bundled it up with her hooves.

Applejack broke up the bread and tossed me an apple. We all began to eat quietly, even with groaning and crazed ponies trying to be calmed down by weary and exhausted doctors in the background.

"There's too many. Just too many of 'em." Applejack said as she shivered.

"Too many of who? Half conscious doctors, or half dead soldiers?" Twilight said while swallowing a bit of her apple.

"The soldiers. I was talking to Violet Spin a few hours ago, she said that th-"

Applejack's voiced dropped down to an almost whisper when Red Heart passed by.

"She.. She said that our numbers are dwindling faster than we can draft and train new soldiers. I just don't even want to think about what might happen if we don't..."

Applejack's last words hung in the air a moment, and her gaze was glued to the floor.


Despite my tightening throat, I gulped down my last bit of the rye bread, and left the rest for the others.


"Applejack, you know Violet Spin. She's always been one for starting rumors."

Twilight said with a slight condescending tone. Whether Violet was just making a rumor or not, I couldn't help but feel that it was true.