Baker
I didn’t talk much on the walk back. Everyone kept asking what was going on; I just kept saying I saw another crow and shot him. I also asked the princess to keep the…event between us. She agreed, but advised I listen to the ghosts to try and find out why they’re here. I don’t know if I should. They might not leave me alone, but it’s probably better than what could happen if I tell the men what happened.
September 24th
The march back home was quiet. A few of the men tried to ask Baker what had happened; he just shrugged them off and said it wasn’t anything worth worrying over. Still, as they walked through the forest, Baker saw more figures; Allen, Garnett, George, and the others. They didn’t talk to him, just stood where they were and watched.
They exited the forest’s opening, seeing it was the end of the day and the sun was setting. It was getting darker by the time they entered town and walked through the square. All the while Baker kept to himself; looking down at the ground and not responding to anything.
“Matt, hey Matt! What’s wrong?” he looked over to see Pinkie walking next to him. “You look kinda worried. Did something bad happen at the castle?”
“No, it’s noth-”
“Oh, did you see something scary in the forest?” she asked. “Sometimes I think I see scary stuff in there; monsters, demons, ghosts. Did you see a ghost? This one time I-”
“No!” Baker jumped. “I mean, I’m just tired is all, Pinkie.”
“Oh, ok,” she said. “Well, why don’t you come over to Sugar Cube Corner? The girls and I were going to have diner there, anyways. I could cook for you guys, too! Does that sound relaxing?”
“Yea, yea sure.”
“Ok! Just follow me and I’ll get cooking!”
Pinkie bounced off towards the building.
“Well, hopefully it’ll take my mind off things,” Baker thought.
Baker and the men walked into the building, greeting the others. Since the party, the men had also explained their eating habits and, since griffons and others already ate meat, it received a lesser amount of shock than some of the other things.
“Hi Matt!” Twilight jumped as the men walked through the door. “How was the mission?”
“Fine,” he said blankly as he took a seat next to her.
“Did anything new or exciting happen?”
“No.”
“Oh, well did everything go alright?”
“Yea, we took care of it.”
“Matt,” she said in a worried voice, “is there something bothering you?”
“Just tired.”
“Oh,” she sighed. “It just…seems like something more than sleep.”
“I’m just tired of everything,” he replied, only starring at the table as food began to make its way around. “I just want to stop fighting, to go home, to stop seeing my friends die.”
“Well, you’ve earned that, at least.”
Baker finally gathered enough moral power to drag himself from his depression and thoughts for a few minutes. Looking back up, he figured obsessing over it, at least right now, wouldn’t help. It was also this time he noticed something dangling around Twilight’s neck.
“What are those?”
“I think they’re what you call dogtags,” she said, floating them up to Matt’s face. “General Taylor gave them to me earlier today.”
“Why?”
“Princess Celestia made me the official liaison between us,” she said proudly. “So, the general made me an official member of the division.”
“Well good for you!” Baker said. “So, does this mean you’re ready to come out with us in the field?”
“What!? They told me I wouldn’t have to fight!”
“I’m just joking, Twilight.”
“Oh,” she said, relieved. “Sorry, I just don’t think I would last very long out there. My duties are a bit more official.”
“I know, I know,” Baker said. “Someone’s got to keep this chaos in check.”
“Yea, Discord probably loves this.”
“Hm?”
“Oh that’s right; I haven’t told you about him yet,” she said. “Discord is a draconequus, sort of like a combination of several different creatures, and is the God of Chaos.”
“Ah, ok,” Baker replied simply. “He must be a real pain.”
“Well, he was reformed earlier in the year. He used to actually cause the chaos, now he just enjoys seeing it whenever it pops up. And he really savors it when it does.”
“So he’s nothing to worry about?”
“Not really,” Twilight replied. “Still, it’s odd that I haven’t actually seen or heard of Discord since this all began.”
“Did someone say my name?”
Sure enough the god of chaos appeared in a flash in the room.
“Speak of the devil,” Twilight moaned.
“So, you’re the Discord character she was talking about?” Baker asked. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Baker was trying to stay neutral as he didn’t really know what to expect. Being the god of chaos, Baker figured anything crazy could happen. His appearance was certainly odd, but Baker was calmer knowing he wasn’t a threat; at least not immediately.
“And it’s wonderful to finally meet you, Mr. Baker,” he replied. “I’ve been dying to thank you for all the madness you and your men have been causing lately. It feels…Wonderful!”
Now Baker was getting angry.
“What do you mean?” Baker asked politely through the tension in his voice.
“If you hadn’t arrived, the griffons would have easily taken over this area,” Discord explained. “All the fighting and chaos that has been caused by your men is greater than any I’ve ever seen! This little war of yours is great for me.”
“Is that so?” Baker rhetorically said, standing up to the god. “Could I have a word with you?”
Without waiting for a response, he dragged the god over to an empty part of the room while the others went back to chatting amongst themselves.
“The hell is your problem!?” Baker hissed. “There’s a war going on and you’re treating it like a game!”
“I’m thanking you like everyone else is,” Discord replied cheekily, “just in a different way.”
“Do you not care that people are dying? Does death mean nothing to you!?”
“If you weren’t paying attention earlier, I’m a god,” Discord pointed out. “Nothing can kill me.”
Baker crossed his arms and lowered his head, taking this back in. It didn’t last but a few seconds, but he saw something on his side. He grabbed it, uncrossing his arms and holding it in his hand.
“This thing could,” he said, looking down at the M1911 in his hand.
“That little thing?” Discord chuckled. “You think that little thing can put a hole through me?”
“Not exactly,” Baker replied. “This pistol was given to me by my father; hence my name engraved on the side. As I grew older, it just became a sad reminder of him; so, I gave it to one of my friends.”
Baker looked back up towards the god, who seemed a bit confused as to where this was going.
“During Normandy, he was killed and the pistol was picked up by one of my squadmates, who was also killed,” Baker explained. “Somehow, it always made its way back to me.”
Baker looked Discord square in the eye.
“Everyone who has ever touched this pistol, everyone, has died one way or another,” Baker said. “Including my father.”
Discord was a bit shocked by this, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
“But you’re a god, right? Surely you must be immune from this little curse.” Baker taunted. “So go ahead and break it. Prove to me this myth is just that.”
Baker noticed Discord’s eye go wide, then start darting left and right. He was nervous.
“Ok, I will!”
“Go ahead, then,” Baker said, sticking the grip out towards him.
“I will,” Discord replied, “It’s just…I forgot something important…something big! I’ll do it later! Goodbye!”
Before Baker could reply he vanished in a flash, drawing the attention of the rest of the group. Returning the pistol to its holster, he returned to the table. Returning to his seat, he went back to his previous mood, as if nothing had happened.
“What was that all about?” Twilight asked.
“Nothing,” Baker replied.
“Are you sure you’re ok, Matt?”
“Yea, I’m fine. I’m just tired; tired of everything, really. Being away from home, kill and be killed, I’m just trying to push through it all.”
“Just try and take your mind off of it if you can.”
“I suppose I should,” Baker said. “Hey Daws, you have any more records? Something peaceful, maybe?”
“I think I’ve got something a little hopeful.”
Dawson placed the record in place and let it begin. Soothing music filled the room. The men didn’t sing this time, allowing the lady’s voice to flow uninterrupted.
“There’ll be blue birds over,
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow,
Just you wait and see.
There’ll be love and laughter,
And peace ever after,
Tomorrow,
When the world is free.”