//------------------------------//
// Shallow Water: Chapter 7 
// Story: Conflict in Bloom 
// by aDerangedBrony 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 7




Checkpoint Charlie was a small clearing around the Everfree River, surrounded by a tall wooden palisade to keep the creatures of the forest out. A path ran through the camp, coming in from the west gate, crossing the river with a sturdy wooden bridge, and exiting through the eastern gate. It was one of the only safe crossing points in the Everfree Forest. Apart from the gates, the only way in or out was via the river. For this purpose, there was a small dock right in the middle of the checkpoint. Rows of barracks, mess halls and offices ran down the camp, all either crudely constructed with logs or permanent tents. 

As the PBR approached the checkpoint, all ponies onboard gawked at the amount of activity. Every pony was wearing Expeditionary Force uniforms, the same as Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, and running around in a frantic chaos. They were carting supplies to a fro or hurrying off to new posts as officers stood by and barked orders. A bit over two hundred ponies were stationed at the checkpoint, and all of them seemed to be running around madly. The sight would have made Discord himself grow green with envy. 

“What the hay is going on here?” the skipper mused, steering the boat parallel to the rickety wooden dock, “Hey, we’ve got a wounded pony over here! Medic!”  

A scared looking stallion, his red diamond insignia denoting him as an ensign, galloped up the dock. Two stretcher bearers followed closely behind him as he called down to the marines “Don’t worry, we’ve got the knowhow and facilities to stabilise her. We can take care of her from here,” he helped load the wounded marine onto the stretcher before continuing, “These the two mares we’re expecting?”

“Yea, we’re dropping these two off and picking up a few more for rec leave in Baltimare.”

“There’s been a change of plans. We need all hooves on deck here, all leave passes have been cancelled. Your new orders are to head down to Baltimare yourself. We’ve organised everything over landline; it’s all very secret and can’t be said over radio. They’ve got a new gunner for you, and you’ll be ferrying marines all around the Hayseed Swamps. Something big’s about to go down,” he turned to face the two new arrivals before continuing, “you chose a hay of a time to enlist. Report to Ensign Riggs, one of his squads isn’t quite full. You can find him on the west side of the bridge. Move it, privates, that’s an order!”

“Well,” said Apple Bloom, turning to the marines, “it’s been-“

“Shake a leg, privates!" the ensign interrupted with great volume, "Get moving, on the double. Can’t you see it’s all hooves on deck?”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle disembarked the vessel. They hustled down the dock with only a hasty farewell, conscious of the impatient stare from the ensign who wanted to get the marine vessel off the base as soon as possible. They halted where the wooden dock joined the land, where Sweetie Belle turned to face the boat one last time. She winked and blew a kiss to Juvenis, who blushed and shrunk away from the pretty white mare. 

The skipper shook his head and smiled before bidding farewell to his faithful chief sergeant and pulling away from the dock. As he sped away, he waved back at the three ponies he had left at the checkpoint, but didn’t make eye contact. He never liked having to leave good ponies behind.

Before the dock officer had a chance to snap at them again, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom trotted towards the bridge. Smiling at each other, the two young mares eagerly hurried off into their new hell.