//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11-The Letter 
// Story: Eight days under the Zebrican sun 
// by The Cheeser 
//------------------------------//

Concord Wings had arrived back in Equestria only two days after the battle had finished. Some ponies who excelled were to continue to help Zebrican forces overthrow the Storm King's remaining forces, although the storm king himself had perished. Concord Wings hadn't done well in battle. He had fled halfway through after he saw the first few casualties of the battle. After having been demoted to Airpony 3rd class for his cowardice, he had considered himself lucky to have not been dishonorably discharged from the Equestrian Air Core. Luckily for him, he was only one of around 50 aircraft that had fled. Since the Princesses didn't want to have national backlash due to the cowardice of their pilots, they simply demoted those who fled.

Concord Wings had waited for the return of Swift Glaze, whom he thought would surely return.

He had gotten around a dozen or so Airponies that knew Swift glaze together for a "Veteran" return party. However as the days went by, Swift Glaze did not return. Instead, he received two letters. One from Squadron Fluffy Mittens, and one from the Equestrian Air core.

He had been one of the few ponies to request the casualty list once it was available to the public. However, the arrival of it along with a letter from the Squadron Swift Glaze was in made him nervous.

Opening up the letter from Fluffy Mitten Squadron his heart sank.

"Dear Concord Wings. My name is Scalding Controls. I have been assigned the regrettable task to inform all of Swift Glaze's family and friends that Airpony 1st class Swift Gliding Glaze has been MIA since he participated in Operation Milkshake. He was shot down near the beginning of the battle, and due to conditions in the Eastern desert, located in Zebrica, all rescue missions have been denied by the Ministry of Defense. All of us in Squadron 27 "Fluffy Mitten" are greatly grieved by this loss. I want to offer the Parents of Swift Glaze my great condolences for their loss. Signed -Scalding Controls" he read to himself,

At the bottom of the letter was a patch, along with another note "We are giving the original squadron patch with his nickname on it to Swift Glaze's parents since it wasn't able to be delivered in time to him before the battle. Instead, I sewed every friend of Swift Glaze a patch with the Squadron insignia. I know this cannot replace Swift Glaze, however, may his memory be eternal through this patch" On the bottom of the note he read - Waning Mechalany