The Good soldier.
*Part One*
“I am a good soldier.” That was always the first thought the little pony thought each morning. The pain form his leg was the first thing he felt each day. The leg that was mostly gone.
Once more the pony who had taken the name Good Soldier, force himself up from his sleeping spot. The hunt for food and clean water once more started.
“Attention!” The little Pony told himself. “To days mission is to try and find something worth living for. You will not die until you find something to live for. Do you understand your orders, soldier!”
Slowly he worked his way up out of the rocky hiding place that he had found the night before. The air seem strange today. Not the usual smell of death and decay, but pure and clean. But, that was the wastelands, playing trick on his mind once more. Good Soldier was sure it was just a memory of times long ago. Before the war, and the aftermath. War. War never changes. Nor dose the suffering after the peace comes. Still something did seem strange.
Walking the path was risky, but it was easier. If some pony came up on him, Good Soldier, could just jump off into the ditch that ran along side, and hind until they pass by.
Not that speed matter, but Good Soldier thought he was making some good time today. The Sun was on even that high up and….."THE SUN?" Good Soldier jerked his head sky word. "Oh! Sweet Celestia, you have return? Or, did the Pegasus Enclave find mercy in their hearts" The little pony Good Soldier said to himself. “Attention! Your mission is complete. Now you may die.”
Looking around, Good Soldier, went over to a field and found a sunny spot. Funny there seem to be grass growing. Sweet green grass. The Sun felt warm and happy on his coat. What was left of his mangle left front leg even felt better. He lay down and started to breath slowly. It felt good, the air was sweet, the Sun was warm, and Good Soldier even thought of going back to his old name, just this one last time. He miss being Pudding. Just good old Pudding. He like that name. All Pudding had to do was close his eyes, go to sleep and never wake up. "That might be nice." He thought. A sad little smile came over Pudding's lips.
“What ya looking at Sweetie Bell?”
Good Soldier eyes snapped open. There looking down at him was a white unicorn filly with a pink purple mane. Her light green eyes fill with horror.
“It’s an earth pony, Apple Bloom, and he looks very badly hurt!” She said. Calling back to some other pony.
At once the old soldier pony roll away form the filly and got to his feet. But, almost fell again due to his bad leg. The filly, named Sweetie Bell, jump back away for the wounded Good Soldier.
The two of them just looked at each other for a short time. Then Good Soldier said. “I am sorry. I did not mean to scare you.” He look behind her and saw two other fillies come towards them. One was orange with a reddest mane and wing?
"It could not be," Thought, Good Soldier. "They were to small to be wings and all the Pegasus ponies had abounded all the ground ponies long ago." The other little filly was yellow and red with a pink bow in her mane. She also had what looked like apples in her open saddle bags. “They must be Crusaders.” Thought Good Soldier. Young colts that had lost there parents to the wasteland and had formed bands to keep themselves safe.
Good Soldier smile. “I am so very sorry. I was just sleeping and you wake me up.”
“That alright, mister.” Said Sweetie Bell. “I made the mistake. I am very sorry.”
Still trying to smile, Good soldier, bow as best he could. “Then all is forgive. Say, um, what would I have to do to get an apple. I sort of hungry.”
The filly with the apples backed away. “We ant’ suppose to talk to strangers.”
“I can understand that.” Said Good Soldier. “Tell you what. I will lay down the stuff I got, and back away. Then one of you can look it over and take what you think is fair price for an apple. Then just drop the apple and walk away.”
That seem fair to the little group of fillies. The old soldier dump his bags out on the ground. Mostly just junk, but it was all he had. Other than the weapons that he keep with him. Good Soldier, then slowly limp away. Deep in his heart he wanted the fillies to be nice and only take what they would need, but he knew this was not the old Equestria. Not the Equestria he had grown up in.
The orange filly walk up to the pile, and looked it over. “You got a few bottle caps in here, but I found a bit. So,he gets what for one bit, Apple Bloom?”
The filly with the apples counted. “He gets three apples, now get out of there Scootaloo.” The filly name Apple Bloom then drop the apples and all three fillies ran off.
Alone, Good soldier, looked down. “That was my last bit, form my last pay roll. I don't understand why they did not take the caps?” Three apples lay on the ground, just pass his small pile of junk. Slowly he stated to repack his things into his make shift bags. Ten bottle caps, an old radio, two spark batteries, and a tooth brush. That went in one bag, the other was filled with rages and water bottles. Two of the three apples went into the rage bag. The third one was Good Soldiers meal for the day.
*Part Two*
After eating, Good soldier had found a small brook and fill his bottles with water, then took a good long drink.
Back on the path way once more. Good Soldier thought to himself. "It had been a strange, but good day today."
Sunlight, good food, and clean water. It was like the Royal Sister, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, had return form the dead. Or, maybe Good Soldier was dead and he had just not founded out about it. That clean air smell sure did seem a lot like haven.
All that changed when he saw the road sine that read: “Welcome to Ponyville.”
That put an end to all the good feeling. Ponyville, the raiders capital of Equestria, if raider had a government. The best thing to do was go around, but with the Everfree forest on one side and open fields with no cover on the other side. Going up the middle of town seem the best call. Good Soldier had an old bed sheet that he could cover himself with and act like he was a raider. “Just keep your heard down and do not stop walking until you make it thought the village.” He told himself. He check his side arms, just in case. Three rounds for is pistol, a knife and one flash bang grenade. “Why the ‘F’ did they hand out flash bang grenades to front line soldiers?" Good Soldier mutter to himself. "A police grenade in a war zone is useless.” Even now with all that had happened, Good Soldier could not swear. He was raised to think that swear words were used by fools and drunks. It was like the last part of himself that his soul he could still call pure.
With the bed sheet cloak over most of his head and body, Good Soldier trotted as best he could on his bad leg in Ponyville. Keeping his head low and only looking up when needed. The quick glimpse of the village seem sort of nice, like the prewar Equestria. Seem that the mega weapons had not hit this part of Equestira. However Good Soldier he had been hear before, he was sure that he had walked this very roads. On his way to check on ‘Stable 2’.
The first time came to Ponyville was to make sure the door of the Stable had been closed, hard and tight. This orders had come form Steel Hooves himself. Steel Hooves had been Good Soldier's C.O. and everyone knew that his lover was in Ponyville. Good Soldier's mind started to recall things, he could hear Steel Hooves shouting the orders. “Get to Stable 2. Make sure it is secure. Then return to your action station. If Stable 2 is not secure, make it secure. That is an order.” Canterlot was burning that day. And, all Steel Hooves could think of was making sure ponies, if only one some pony special, was safe.
Steel Hooves was not a just a Steel Ranger, but a Star Paladin. And, even before he put on the armor, he was one mean pony. Just thinking about Steel Hooves made Good Soldier that much more jumpy.
Good Soldier then started to have a panic attack, he started to repeat his name / montra to clear his mind and slow his heart.
“I am a good soldier. I am a good soldier. I am a good soldier.”
Good Soldier keep telling himself. But memories keep welling up. The next time he come to Ponyville was to help open Stable 2. “Sir! Our order are to protect the ponies of Equestria, not kill them for there pip bucks!” That argument did not set well with Good Soldier’s commanding officer at the time, Long Knight. “YOU WILL CARY OUT YOUR ORDERS. OR, YOU WILL BE DISCIPLINE YOU DISGUSTING GHOUL PONY!”
“I am a good soldier. I am a good soldier. I am a good soldier.”
The long dead mare looked up at him from his memories. “I sorry I had to do that mama, but there a war on and we need this pip buck. Try and understand! I have to follow orders.”
She was so young. Lie to by her over mare. When the stable was open, and the Steel Rangers march in guns blasting. “WHY!”
Good Solders mind started to race.
“I am a good soldier.”
“Ghoul pony are only good for cutting up the dead and gathering up pip bucks.” Shouted Long Knight.
“I am a good soldier.”
“WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?! STOP, IT HURTS!” Begged a colt that had only been wounded, but was stomp to death by Long Knight.
“I am a good soldier.”
“Pinkie Pie is always watching you forever.” Posters. Always those posters.
“I am a good soldier.”
“Zebra started this war, and we will end them!” Another commanding officer form another time.
“I am a good soldier.”
“HI! WHAT YOU DOING!”
That last one was not in Good Soldiers head. His eyes filled with fear. "It could not be. How could it be?" Good Soldier blood ran cold. "The Ministry of Morale herself? Pinkie Pie!" The only thing Good Soldier to think to do was run. "I am a good soldier!” Screamed Good Soldier.
At once Good Soldier turn and ran, his bed sheet cloche falling away. The remains of his uniform and barding hanging form his body. He could hear screams. At once another ministry mare was right in front of him. Rainbow Dash. “What the hay happen to you? Are you okay?” Backing up all the little pony could say was “I am a good soldier!” He then turn and ran away once more.
“I am a good soldier.” “I am a good soldier.” “I am a good soldier.”
Applejack came into view. “Sweet apple sugar cube! You need a doctor.”
“Oh Goddess! Steel Hooves is going to kill me!” Cried Good Soldier. “I am a good soldier.”
“I am a good soldier.” “I am a good soldier.” “I am a good soldier.”
Retreat was the only thing Good Soldier could think of. He back away. And he ran. As he ran in a blind panic he came upon Rarity. “My word! Are you alright?” Good Soldier could only scream. “I am a good soldier!”
Once more turning and running Good Soldier saw something out of the corner of his eye. He had to stop and look to make sure of what he saw. "Twilight Sparkle! An Alicorn?!" He stop dead in his tracks. His mind could not even process what he was looking at. Good Soldier was looking at the Alicorn princess Twilight Sparkle? His mind raced. “The administrator of the Ministry of Arcane Sciences dare to elevate her self to the position of Goddess? That was blaspheme!” He thought
The others were starting to close in around him. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack, he could plead his case before them, but Pinkie Pie? The others would give him a quick death, but the stories about what Pinkie Pie did to ponies were just evil. Then there was Twilight Sparkle the Ministry of Arcane Sciences, what sick things could she do to a pony? At one time they were all that was once good about pony kind. Now they were all like King Sombra of the north lands. They had turned evil and corrupted by power. Was there any kindness in anymore?
A soft sweet voice came from behind Good Soldier. It was Fluttershy, who had just step out of a small bakery shop. “oh my. Are you hurt? Can I help you?”
Good Soldier turned around and drop to his belly. “I am a good soldier! I beg you to kill me! Don’t let them hurt me any more! No more pain! JUST KILL ME! KILL ME! OH NO MORE PAIN! No more pain. Please, oh please.” He sobbed.
Fluttershy bow down to look at the pony. “oh my you are hurt and very badly. Look at all thus cuts and…oh my. Look at your poor hoof. Even little booboos hurt, and you got a lot of big booboos. I think you need a doctor.”
Good soldier sob more. “NO! They will hurt me more. Don’t let them. I am a good soldier. I am sorry I ran away. But, the officers had me kill those litter colts. Young colts, why, Fluttershy? I did as I was told. I did as I was told for a long time. I marched, killed, even murdered for the good of Equestria. Don’t let them hurt me more.”
The others had stated to close in. They were going to take Good Soldier away form his only protector, and torture him. Good Soldier was sure of that.
"I'm sorry! Fluttershy, please! I just could not go deep into the stable! I'm sorry I ran away. I did not mean to wake up the Ursae Major. I just has to get away! I just ran into the cave to hide for the others. Please I can't do this any more!"
Begging was getting him no where. The last stand had come and he was ready. He pull his weapon form his holster and place the barrel in his mouth. The hot pain would not last long.
“GET BACK!” a voice came form behind the Ministry mares. “GET BACK NOW! OR I WILL USE THIS!” It was a brown earth pony with a weapon of some sort. The Ministry mares back away and the earth pony came up to the fallen Good Soldier. And sat down next to him. The Earth pony smile and said. “Hello! I am the Doctor. Call me Time Turner. And we are going to run away form them. Sound good to you?”
Good Soldier slowly shook his head. “They have eyes all over the place. They will find us, and once they have us they will burn our souls. That is what they do.”
Rainbow Dash then said “What is he taking about? Burning souls?”
“Stay back! I don’t want to use this.” warned Time Turner.
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “You are going to use a carrot on us?”
Good soldier counter. “How about a grenade? With your dear Doctor and Fluttershy in the kill zone?”
“You could not play along this one time, Rainbow Dash. It is just beyond you to work with some ponies.” complained Time Turner.
Fluttershy eyes got big. “mum. Time Turner, what does the thing do? If you don’t mind me asking?”
Time Turner explained. “It is called a Flash/Bang grenade. It is a less lethal weapon, use by police to knock ponies out.”
“So, it dose not deadly.” Smile Rainbow Dash.
“Will you lesson, Dash? I said, less lethal weapon. We are in the kill zone of the grenade. If this pony pulls that pen. The grenade goes off and all three of us die.” Said Time Turner.
Fluttershy started to freak out. “And, you want to die? Why?”
“I am a ghoul pony. Changed when the mega spells blow up Canterlot, and killed the Goddess. I was bonded to my armor until I could no longer murder in the name of Equestria. I ripped it off my own skin. Goddess the pain. I have been murdering for two hundred years in your names. As you order me, because I am a good soldier! I AM SICK OF BEING A GOOD SOLDIER! AND, WHAT IS MY REWARD FOR BEING YOUR BUTCHER? YOU ARE GOING TO DROP ME INTO THE GRANDER AS WELL?! I BEG YOU TO KILL ME AND LET MY SOUL GO FREE, BUT NO YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT AS WELL!”
Time Turn reached over, pulling the pin on the grenade. “Us or them?”
Good Soldier lob the grenade at the small group of ponies. Only to see the weapon drop to the ground and not explode. He looked over to Time Turner who held up the guts of the grenade. “That is the fastest I have use my sonic screwdriver.”
Good Soldier then went for his side arm only to find that is was field striped, the parts lay about him. His knife was all he had, and that was gone also. He looked to Fluttershy who said. “Knives can hurt ponies if not use wisely.” She then pitch the blade far away.
With that Good Soldier gave up. He was sure this soul would be taken form him and put in a jar, until it was ready to go into a robot and he would have to start killing once more. “And the day started off so well." He said. "I though the Goddess were alive, and that the grass was green and water clean. I even got to eat an apple.” Once more the Good Soldier started to sob.
Time Turner hugged the ghoul pony. “I know. I know. I forgive you, my little pony. I forgive you.”
*Part Three*
Nurse Redheart checked the ghoul pony over. “What happen to you?”
Time Turner answered for, Good Soldier. “He been though war and back. Poor soul.”
The nurse exited the room.
The hospital room was clean and the bed was soft. Warm Sun light came though the window. Still softly weeping Good Soldier ask. “When do you start? I am scared and I just want it over with.”
Time Turn brush the mane of Good Soldier. “I have a blue box called a TARDIS. I have a very long story on how I got here but that does not matter. The real point is that the TARDIS has a computer inside that tells me things. One of the things it told me today was that you fell thought something called a time reality tear, from your reality into mine. In this world, my world, the war never happened. The zebras are our friends, and trade with them is good. No one knows about mega spells weapons. And the Keepers of the Elements are still good ponies. And both Celestia and Luna are still alive. The air is clean, the food good, and the water fresh. And all is right with Equestria. And, we are going to make you well once more and you will no long have to be Good Soldier. You can be who ever you want. That is why I love this place.”
“I want to believe.” Said Good Soldier. “But, how do I know you are telling me the truth?”
Time Turner smile. “Time will show you the truth. Now rest, my friend, you have earned it.”
The last thing Good soldier thought before going to sleep was. “I was a good soldier, now I want to be a good pony. I am Pudding.”