//------------------------------// // Before Bed // Story: Warfare is Magic // by AnondulusianBrony //------------------------------// It was late at night, and i was getting ready for bed. I sat in my bed, looking around the room. I could only make out the general shape of the furniture in the darkness. The only light visible was from a street lamp, which at its angle shone into half of my apartment bedroom, much like those old 50’s detective movies. I unsure of how I should be feeling…should I have been excited, nervous, or terrified? I had received word last week that in two week’s time, my deployment into a foreign army base would send me into a land unknown, filled with hostiles that would like nothing more than to see me dead. I felt as though I had just received my death warrant, yet I did not feel afraid. My six months in army camp had prepared me well for the fight ahead, but they say that no matter how prepared you are, you just aren't prepared for what’s coming. I glanced over to my nightstand, and picked up my family photo. There I was, with my father, mother and younger brother. They stayed in the countryside when I moved to the city, closer to the base, so I regularly video chat with them to stay in touch. With all the work I've had, I could never find the time to go down and visit them. My parents had mixed reactions when I told them I had signed up for the army. At first my mother fought me for not having told them about it, till it was too late. My father, a stern man, simply said to me “If you think it’s what you want in life, then be sure of it and do it.” I knew his tough way of being was his way of showing his affection to me. My younger brother couldn't accept it. “Why do you have be a soldier? Why do you want to kill people for a living? Why do you want to leave me?” I took me a while to calm him down and assure him that I wasn't doing this to leave anyone that I had wanted to serve my country and to make myself a better person. “But you are already a great person….you are the best brother I could ever have…” He told me between his tearful gasps. It broke my heart to see him like that, but I was determined to see this through to the end. I couldn't sleep. With those memories flooding back, I was too emotive to sleep. I pulled my laptop out of its case by my bed, and started it up. If I was lucky, my younger brother would still be up and we’d be able to video chat for a while. It’s been due, since I haven’t spoken to him in a few days. Luckily, he was online. I sent him a video call, and waited for about 15 minutes before he accepted. “Hey bro, how are you?” He eagerly asked. I chuckled, “Hey, little bro, it’s been a while. I can see you’re excited.” “Yeah, I had been waiting all night to see if you went online so we could talk.” “Really? Because you didn't answer my request until 15 minutes after I sent it. Shows how much you wanted to talk…” “Sorry about that. It’s just that I was watching an episode of a show I really like, and wanted to finish it before we talked.” “Oh? Well it has to be a pretty good show if it was more important than talking to your brother who’s been away for several months. What show is it?” He hesitated for a moment. “Well… if I told you, you’d make fun of me for liking it…” I snickered. “Why? Is it one of those saucy animes you like to watch? You know I like anime too, depending on what it’s about.” “No it’s not an anime…it’s a cartoon show.” I grinned, “Well if it’s a cartoon show, then why would I make fun of you for liking it? Everyone likes cartoons.” He got flustered a bit and looked over his shoulder, no idea why; he does have his own room. “I like this show called My Little pony: Friendship is magic.” It took a moment to sink in, and then I had to bite my hand to stifle my roaring laughter before I cause a noise complaint. “My little pony? You mean the really, really girly show about the colorful horses who learned about the magic of friendship and stuff?” He was obviously disdainful to my reaction. “It’s actually a really cool show! The animations are great, the dialogue is really well written, and the characters are dynamic and fully developed!” Tears almost began forming from how badly I wanted to laugh out loud, but I didn't want to hurt my brother’s feelings, so I collected myself and managed to ask him through giggles and chortles, “So have you asked mom to buy you some pony toys so you can play with them in an enchanted castle?” My brother began to lose his patience. “I knew you’d make fun of me if I told you I liked it! “I’m sorry, but seriously? My little pony? Dude that show is ridiculously girly and frilly!” “I bet you’d like it if you tried it…” I couldn't help but let a laugh out. “You want me to watch that show? Seriously? My brother grinned. “Tell you what: I’ll send you a link to an episode. Watch it. If you don’t like it, I’ll never speak to you about it again, OK?” I thought about it. It couldn't be that bad to watch a single episode. Besides, if I don’t like it, and I wouldn't, he won’t talk about it again. It doesn't bother me that he does, but what the heck, I’m game for it. “All right little bro, send me the link. I’ll watch it before I go to sleep. For now, let’s keep talking…” We talked for another twenty five minutes before I heard mom call him, telling him to go to bed. “Remember to watch the episode, and tell me what you think tomorrow.” I replied, “You know what? As soon as I’m done with it, ill text you the reply. That way, you’ll know I won the bet even sooner.” He laughed mockingly, then said, “We’ll see bro…We’ll see….” I logged off after that; he knew I wasn't good at goodbyes, even casual ones like these. I closed the video chat window, but not before I opened the link he had sent me. I honestly didn't know what to expect…a show for little girls that appealed to older men? What could it possibly have to cause that? As I watched the opening theme, I thought to myself, “Wow that was the most unmasculine thing I've ever experienced. I think I need to punch a brick wall to feel manly again.” After the first ten minutes, I found myself mildly entertained by what I was watching. For a moment I forgot I was watching a kids show and it felt like any other cartoon show to me. I liked the characters and how they behaved. They really did seem well developed and voiced. By the end of the episode, I wasn't sure whether my initial skepticism kept me from actually liking it or if I actually didn't like it. Either way, I wasn't going to tell my brother I was now into girly ponies, so I whipped out my phone and texted him, “It was OK…but I still win the bet. :D” I put my cell on the nightstand, by the family picture. I stared up into the ceiling and smirked to myself. “My little pony…Hehe a really childish show that I think I liked. The characters weren't half bad.” I felt myself slowly diving into a deep sleep. “Especially that purple pony…what was her name….twilight…something…” I closed my eyes, finally asleep.