"All the arms we need are for hugging."
-Unknown
Baltimare 4:56 PM
"Mail call!"
After the bloody battle that had ensued only days ago, the occupying Equestrians were granted some much deserved RNR. The post service was commissioned only a few days ago and the eager troops wrote immediately to their loved ones. The humans were permitted to write whatever they wished as long as the letters dictated nothing concerning the specifics on the war they were fighting and after days of earnestly waiting for a return letter the anxious troops were relieved to learn their letters had received replies from numerous family and friends. Private Espinosa sifted through the ranks calling out name after name of any marine that had written a letter and was to receive one in return.
"O'Neil!"
A letter.
"Klein!"
A note and a stack of game-informer magazines.
"Avery!"
Three letters and a parcel containing frozen Hebrew National hot dogs.
This went on for about ten more minutes and all Ross could do was sit and watch. He wrote only one letter and one letter only. He didn't expect to get a reply though. He figured that-
"Ross!"
Ross snapped back to reality and looked up to the blank stare of Daniel Espinosa holding a brown envelope out to him. Sighing, Ross sat up and reached out for the letter.
This oughta be good. Ross thought to himself.
Ross slipped open the letter and read the address it was sent from. His hometown Waleska, Georgia. Arthur Ross came from a well-to-do family living in the foothills of the southern Appalachians. He left for the marines without consent from his father who wanted nothing to do with the military. But Ross saw it as an opportunity to expand his general knowledge and find something to do with his life. Ever since then Ross has had a rather distant relationship with everyone in his family except for one. His thirteen-year-old younger brother Dennis. Dennis had always looked up to Ross as a role model and the perfect older brother and Ross admired him for that. When he was younger, Dennis was always more interested in heading outside with his brother Arthur to go on some crazy adventure which usually ended in hiding in a dumpster or cutting through alleyways and backyards to avoid pissed-off adults. He didn't care though. In the end, he got to hang out with Arthur and that was all that mattered. Whereas their older sister Janice was more interested in boys and texting and their even older brother Billy was into his WWE wrestling video games.
"Anything interesting sir?" Asked Espinosa.
"Why do you care?" Said Ross.
But Espinosa was already up and about passing out more mail. Ross began reading the document, unsure whether he would be happy with it's contents.
Dear Arthur,
I cant tell you how much it sucks around here without you. Dad is still kinda pissed at you for leaving. The same can be said for mom but I don't think Janice or Billy really care. That letter you sent was pretty much tossed aside but I got ahold of it before it could get lost or thrown away. That was some serious black-ops stuff you were writing about and all. Why cant you tell me what's going on over there? Wherever you are. Anyways, I hope you write more. I'll make sure I hang out by the mailbox so I can get your letter first. Don't worry, I can mail them all by myself too. I think you'd be pretty proud of me.
Stay safe,
Dennis
Ross chuckled lightly and set the letter on his lap. He had a new pen-pal and more importantly, something to keep him sane and busy during this godforsaken war. Looking up, he gazed across the small encampment eyeing his fellow allies laughing and reading their own personal post. The British were conversing with some Germans while the ponies sat off to the side receiving their own mail. Shining Armor, Applejack, and the spry one with the rainbow mane huddled in a close group reminiscing about something. Curious, Ross stood up and walked over.
"...and that's when I told him, not a chance feather brain!"
Ross crunched a twig, raising the attention of the three ponies.
"Oh, hey there captain! We was just having a little chat." Said Applejack.
"Take a seat Ross." Said Shining Armor patting the empty space beside him.
"Sounds like a plan to me!"
Ross plopped down on the ground beside Shining Armor and Rainbow Dash and surveyed the group. Shining Armor's cuirass was tarnished and dirty, covered in slash marks and dents. Applejack's Stetson was torn and stained with dark spots. Rainbow Dash's mane was no longer the beautiful, multicolored spectacle it once was. It was now a ruffled mess, dirty beyond all recognition.
In a sense, they looked like marines. Raggedy-ass marines.
"So what brings ya over here captain?" Asked Applejack.
Ross pondered that for a second, thinking of an acceptable answer. He didn't actually have a reason to be in their group. He just looked over and decided to join.
"Well, I cant quite say captain Applejack. I guess your little congregation over here just looked too welcoming to pass up. Most of the guys over there are too scared to talk me being a higher rank and all."
"Well that's a darn shame. If it's conversation yer lookin' fer you'll gladly find it here!" Said Applejack.
"Yeah, unless you think you're to cool for us!" Said Rainbow.
"Heh I don't think-"
"Sir! Colonel Seaton's on the radio with Urgent orders!"
Ross was interrupted by his new first lieutenant. It had now become the division curse, seeing as though the first two bearing the title had been killed serving in the line of duty. Sighing, Ross stood up and followed his comrade to the tent housing the radio. There, he hastily picked up the receiver and answered accordingly.
"Colonel Seaton?"
"Good, Ross. These orders come down from the top. You are to move north towards the capitol city of Canterlot and hold till further orders."
"Yes sir. We'll leave as soon as we're ready."
"Excellent, Seaton out."
After a short pause, Ross faced his lieutenant and spoke.
"Lieutenant Ward, gather the men. We're moving north."
"Where to sir?"
"To war."
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