//------------------------------//
// Second Division 
// Story: South of Somewhere 
// by The Red Parade 
//------------------------------//

“So she’s gone?”

Wind Rider squinted at the pegasus in front of him, who shifted uneasily on her hooves. The tension was so thick he could have cut it with a knife.

“Yes, sir. She didn’t report to role call this morning,” she replied.

“Sergeant, I think you know as well as I do that ponies don’t just disappear from the face of the cloud,” Wind Rider replied tersely. He turned his attention back to the sparse dorm room, organized and cleaned to perfection. Wind Rider turned behind him, forcing the other pegasi to snap to attention. “If the commander gets word of this, I do doubt he’d be pleased, Sergeant Spitfire,” he remarked evenly. “What is it that they say about deserters?”

“Desertion is betrayal,” Spitfire replied, trying to hide her disdain.

“Very good,” answered Wind dryly. He snatched a clipboard out of her hooves. “Keep that up and you may keep your stripes when this is all over.” Wind scanned the list quickly, eyes locking on a particular name. “Daring Do.”

“Sir?” replied a mare, stepping forwards.

“You are the bunkmate of the charged,” stated Wind Rider without looking at her. “And you have not a clue as to where our traitor went?”

“No sir,” replied Daring nervously. “She was gone when I woke up.” 

“Oh, I’m sure,” he drawled. “If you were perhaps a little more convincing I’d have offered you immunity. Sergeant, who is the best tracker on your team?”

“It’d be Daring, sir,” Spitfire answered. 

“Very well then,” Wind replied, tossing the clipboard aside. “Private Daring, you will accompany me in search of our missing friend. An example must be made, and a standard must be set: one does not simply betray the Second Division.”

Daring nodded slowly, biting her lip. “Sir yes sir, but… where are we headed?”

“Where else?” replied Wind with a scoff. “To the south, that cursed land where fools believe we can’t reach them.” He turned on his hoof sharply, leaving the gathered pegasi behind. “Gather your things, private, we leave immediately.” 
As soon as he left the barracks building, the pegasi let out a collective sigh of relief. Several immediately flocked to Daring, who cast her eyes on the ground worriedly. 

“Hey, I’m sorry you’ve got to deal with that dirtbag,” Spitfire murmured. 

Daring shrugged. “It’s no problem, sarge.” 

Spitfire offered her a sympathetic pat on the back. “You better get going, you know how he is.”

As Daring entered the barracks to grab her supplies, Spitfire frowned, glancing up at the rising sun above them. “Can’t blame her,” she said. “I think every one of us would take that chance if we had it.”

“You think they’ll catch her, sarge?” asked another pegasus.

Spitfire looked over her weary ponies sadly. Most of the ponies under her command had been forced to enlist in search of work, without reading the lifetime contract involved. Spitfire herself had been forced into the Division out of desperation, as had Daring, Rainbow, and hundreds of others. 

“I’d hope not. Wherever you are, I hope you fly hard and fast,” she whispered. “And I hope to Celestia that you never, ever come back. Godspeed, Rainbow Dash. Godspeed.”