Battle Cry was flying home from the airship port, he had just returned from his tour in Saddle Arabia. That wasn’t why he was happy though, Battle Cry hadn’t seen his family in over a year but his early return gave him the ability to surprise them As the sun began to set he saw his hometown of Ponyville come into view. He adjusted his uniform as he neared the sleepy little town. His light brown fur and grey and black mane fluttered in the wind.
“Battle Cry!?” A very excited pegasus shouted, the rainbow maned mare flew up to him and blocked his path. He smiled.
“Sup RD, been a while.” Battlecry said with a chuckle, the rainbow maned pegasus had always held a special place in Battle Cry’s heart. Ever since they had become friends in flight school he had had a small crush on her until he met his wife.
“You don’t write me in over a year and all you have to say is ‘been a while’?” Rainbow Dash said with a fake pout.
“Well I would have written but you said Reading is for Eggheads so i didn’t think it was worth it.” Battle Cry said with a shiteating grin.
“Yeah about that....I may have started reading Daring Do...” Rainbow Dash muttered, Battle Cry would be rolling on the ground if he didn’t have to fly.
“Well seems a lot has changed, guess I’ll have to catch up with you when I’m finished talking to Berry and the little one.” Battle Cry chuckled, Rainbow Dash suddenly realised something about Battle Cry. He had a lot of scars and he had mentioned Berry Punch ,his wife. But wasn’t she seeing thunder- uh oh.
“Hey I uh I gotta go. If you need anything just stop by my house okay?” Rainbow Dash asked, Battle Cry nodded before flying towards his home. When he arrived he noticed something odd, loud, masculine laughter emanating from the home. He straightened his mane and approached the door. Wrapping his hoof three times before waiting.
“Just a second!” A familiar female voice called out, the door swung open and immediately Battle Cry could tell something was off. his wife looked different, more relaxed but more...different. “B-Battle Cry?!” She stammered, her face blanched when battle cry nodded slowly before raising an eyebrow.
“Who is it darling? One of yo- Oh can I help you?” Another Pegasus appeared in the doorway, Battle Cry shook the shock off of his face and it was replaced with anger and pain.
“No...I must be at the wrong house.” Battle Cry muttered before beginning to turn away, he felt a hoof touch him but he shrugged it off.
“Dad?” A young filly asked, Battle Cry visibly winced but kept walking. then he opened his scarred wings and took to the sky, Thunderlane looked at berry Punch.
“Who was that?” He asked, she was staring at the spot where Battle Cry had just been and without averting her gaze she muttered.
“No one.” it was so low thunderlane could barely hear it.
“That was dad!” The filly shouted. Thunderlane turned to her and raised an Eyebrow.
“Dad? What do you mean Flower Petal?” Thunderlane asked
“Dad, My dad! Didn’t mom ever tell you! He’s in the Air Force, he wasn't supposed to come back for a while....why did he leave?”
(~~~~~)
Battle Cry landed a punch on the punching bag in the Barracks, his new assignment to Ponyville had seemed like a dream come true but now he hated it. He landed blow after blow on the poor punching bag until the seams began to split and sand fell to the floor. He continued to hit it as the image of the pegasus from the door began to fade. He sighed and turned from the bag before doing a spin kick and sending it flying. A grunt escaped the muzzle of a older looking pegasus, on his flank was the mark of a Lieutenant Colonel and he had an olive green coat. he was scarred much like Battle Cry and had a look of sympathy like that of an uncle or a grandfather.
“Rough night son?” He said with a depressed sigh, Battle Cry nodded. “Come on and tell me whats up? Far from home?”
“No, I live in Ponyville. Or least i used to. Guess I’ll just stay in the barracks.” Battle Cry said with a similar sigh.
“Your girl cheating on you isn’t she?” The old Pegasus said, Battle Cry remained silent and just sat on a bench. He felt a hoof on his shoulder and looked up to see the older pegasus. “You gotta let that stuff go.”
“But what about my daughter!?” Battle Cry shouted suddenly, the pegasus muttered something but sighed.
“Whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll work out fine kiddo. Now come one before the janitors find this mess, drinks are on this old Stallion.” The pegasus said, Battle Cry nodded and the two started for the door. “Names Epluribus, Most people call me uncle though.”
“Battle Cry.” Battle Cry replied.
(~~~~~)
Rainbow Dash and her friends were at sugarcube corner, the recent addition of alcohol had made the place an even more famous gold mine.
“Oh darling! What seems to be the trouble?” Rarity asked Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash shook her head and looked at her friends.
“What? Nothings wrong...” Rainbow Dash lied, Applejack glared at her “Ugh Fine.” She groaned before motioning for her friends to lean in closer. “You know Berry Punch right?”
“Yeah.” Her friends said in unison, the town drunk was kind of hard to miss.
“You know how shes dating thunderlane?” Rainbow asked, the girls nodded. “Well I totaly spaced the fact she was married to one of my friends from flight school. Who just so happened to return from Saddle Arabia tonight.”
“Oh we should throw him a ‘glad-the-saddle-arabians-didn’t-kill-you’ party!” Pinkie Pie shouted extatically
“As I was saying, what do you think is gonna happen when the poor colt finds out?” Rainbow Dash asked, her friends looked at her for a moment before Twilight spoke up.
“I guess you won’t know until you see him again...” She said putting a hoof on her friends tense shoulders.
“Speak of Discord.” Rainbow Dash said pointing at the door to Sugarcube corner, to pegasi entered and went over to the bar.
“Gimme the hardest drink you have.” Battle Cry could be heard saying, he sighed as his companion tried to talk him out of his stupor.
“Look, you filly will be alright. Its not like she can keep you from seeing her.” The older one said.
“Unless she moves! Then I won’t see my filly or my wife ever again. What do I do Epluribus.” Battle Cry said before the bartender returned with his drink, Rainbow Dash knew what was going to happen if she didn’t intervene.
“Be right back girls.” She said before getting up and going towards the bar. “Battle Cry...”