The Boss simply froze at the sight of it all, not because she is in a different world, but because of the sheer beauty that this place had, this was the view that she always dreamed of seeing. Since almost all her life, all she saw was the battle zone, though there was a view that was more beautiful to her eyes. That was Earth itself.
She was able to see the Earth from space, something that, to other people, only something that they can only dreamed about. She remembered all her training during the 'Mercury Lady Program', all the test she went through, all the pain, and then even after succeeding it, she was the one to blame for not being the first in space. But to her, the view of the Earth made it all worth it.
That giant blue and green ball, surrounded by pitch black background while radiating that eerie, but beautiful blue glow, and also seeing a revelation. Before that, she thought that lines were everything, that her Country must win. But after seeing that, she thought to herself, what is the need of lines? When in the end, we are all just one big community, living together in that beautiful planet.
At that moment, she question the need for war, the need for soldiers, and the need of conflict, then came to the conclusion that we don't need it, but alas, mankind has stepped to far, we are creatures of conflict, and will always be, but she always has hopes for mankind, maybe someday, maybe if compassion can surpass conflict, then perhaps, mankind can finally achieve true peace.
She shook her head after she had just realized that she was reminiscing and thinking for quite a while now, and decided to get back on the task at hand..or hooves? Anyway, after thinking some more, she come to a decision.
“Well, the first thing I must do is to get some info on the place, it would definitely help me search for this 'gift' that The Sorrow has for me, so I must head for the town now then” She told herself.
After she decided that it was the best course of action to take,then typical for a soldier to pick the fastest and the most effective route, she slowly slide down with all four of her legs from the small hill that she was on, and then walked toward the town while enjoying the scenery around her.
The scenery that The Boss saw was beautiful, all the birds flying around, The leaves on the trees slowly moving, and all the different flowers that was spread across the field, heck she could even smell their fragrance in the air. It was something that she was not used to feeling, and she liked it.
The Boss simply looked around at just how beautiful this place was, until she didn't even notice that a pony crashed into her suddenly.
The Boss of course didn't even flinch when the crash happened, but the pony that she crashed into did, in fact she fell. The Boss looked around after that happened and she saw vegetables and fruits laying on the ground, the she quickly looked to the pony that hit her, and it was a yellow pony with a pink mane, and a mark with 3 butterflies on her flank and wings, apparently.
“Oh, i'm sorry, I didn't mean to crash into you” A soft voice coming from the yellow pony rang while she was getting up.
“I'm the one that should be sorry, here let me help you with those” The Boss said, and then quickly after that she grabbed the fallen items.
“Oh, nonono that's okay, I can do it myself” The mare said.
Though The Boss, seemingly ignoring her words, quickly picked up all the items that was dropped with her hooves, though no idea how she did that with hooves, she has done it somehow and then placed the items in her saddlebags.
“Thank You” The yellow pony thanked The Boss for picking up her items.
“It was no problem, so what's your name dear?” The Boss asked while putting a smile on her face.
“Ummm...it's Fluttershy” She said it shyly.
The Boss wonder about why she is afraid of telling her name, and then figuring out that she must be shy, and just let it drop.
“It's okay, i already got it, Fluttershy is it? A very nice name” The Boss said gently, she was used to hearing faint noises so she was able to pick up that line quite easily.
But when the Boss said that, Fluttershy simply hide behind her long pink mane and looking back while dragging dirt with her front leg, and an awkward silence fill the air, with only sounds of winds can be heard.
“Well, this is the way to the town, isn't it?” The Boss ask while pointing to a direction.
“Yes” Fluttershy simply said.
“Thank you then, umm..Fluttershy was it? Perhaps we will meet again” The Boss said while walking down the path to the town.
As she walked, she looked back to see the shy pony, she was looking at her for a moment, but then continue to walk, towards her home most likely, it could be that she is living at the Cottage the she saw on the hill back there.
Though, while walking she started thinking about that pony, she had wings, so this world is definitely not her world in case that wasn't obvious enough, but why didn't she just flew that time, that would be quicker and more efficient, but then again, it was their choice, perhaps it was her war mindset that made her think things like that, she would guess that flying is a perfect way to travel since it would be efficient and fast, but she digress.
And besides, she needs to let go of that mindset, it might cause some unwanted delays and inconvenience, and then she laughed for a bit, something that she rarely done before, what made her laugh was that she was, at that moment was about to throw away, or at least move out something that she thought was the up most importance to her, an over critical mindset.
She thought about it and decided that she should act much more relaxed and just enjoy the things here, at least, she will try to do that.
The path to the city was quite far, and she had nothing to do while walking except just enjoying the scenery, so she thought about what is going to happen after 'Operation Snake Eater', she was worried about her apprentice, Jack, the boss questioned about how he will take the truth about her death.
The Boss remembered that she told a girl named Tatyana or should she say EVA to tell the truth about her death, and also making her promise to not kill Jack after her mission was done, she remembered that she was a spy that was sent out by China to retrieve the “Philosophers Legacy', she knew that she was a spy because she remembered that saw her once during a lesson when she was lecturing in the Philosophers Charm Schools.
She told the spy everything about her and gave her a duty to tell this information to him, she also told her to let Jack know that The Boss wanted Him to forget about Her and just live his life as it is.
The world didn't have to know about what she did, the world will be better off without knowing it, they don't have to know that the whole Operation was a ruse to cover up America intentions to steal the Legacy and to keep their innocence, it was just better off that way, she only wanted this truth, this legacy to be only kept within Jack heart.
The Boss train of thought stopped when she realized that she was already at the town that she was going to, it felt quick, though in reality it probably wasn't. She thought again for a short moment and decided that she should ask one of the peop..ponies of this town for help or some information.
She walked into the town, and saw another pony coming her way, oddly enough the pony was bouncing. As she got closer to the pony, she started examining the details of this pony, she was pink, bubblegum pink all of it, her body, her tail, her mane, and she is also humming a tune.
“Excuse me” The Boss said.
After that, the pony stopped bouncing and was standing right in front of The Boss, and she was looking at her with quite a happy look.
“Yes?” The pink pony answer.
“Could you perhaps tell me about this place, please?” The Boss ask.
“Ohh~~~, you wanna know Ponyville huh? Wait..If you wanna know ponyville, that means, you're not from around here” After that she she checked the Boss from different angles at blinding speed “, And i've never seen you before, that means you AREN'T from around here, and if you're not from around here then *GGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAASSPPPPPPP!!!!!*” Then she quickly run from her, just like that.
The Boss simply froze there, unable to respond to that, that was one of the few moments in her life that she was unable to comprehend nor react with anything, she just froze at how crazy it was, and this is coming from a person that has a comrade that can control hornets and has a husband that can commune with the dead.
The Boss shook her head, and thought about that 'encounter' and just decided to figure it out later since there are bigger task at hand right now, or hooves, she wasn't going to get used with these new terms soon.
She looked around to see if there are other ponies that she can ask information from.
“Geez, what's that Pinkie Pie up to again?” A voice with a thick country accent rang from behind her.
The Boss turned around to see another pony standing there, she had orange body, a blonde mane and tail like hers though lighter, and a mark of three apples on her flank and a stetson hat of all things.
“So you must be the new pony, the name Applejack, what's yours” Applejack introduced herself.
“Hmm? Well Applejack, people call me, well 'Boss'” The Boss replied.
“What kind of name is that?” The orange country mare wondered.
“Well, it's more of a title really, my real name is something that I don't want other people to know about” She explained, though by giving that explanation, she sounded like a criminal, and of course as soon as she thought about that, the country mare continued.
“Wait, are you a criminal or somethin?” Applejack asked.
“No, of course not, it's an army title, my name is just something that I tend to forget” The Boss replied while staying as calm as ever.
“Army? I thought we only have royal guards around here, well alright then, you don't seem to be lyin, sorry for accusing you there, can't have a criminal wondering around these parts you know” The Mare apologises.
“It's alright Applejack” The boss comfort her.
“Say, how old are ya?” Applejack asked.
“42, why?” The Boss replied.
“Oh, nothing, it's just that you sure look strong for quite an old mare, I mean I know you're from the, uh army and all, but it is quite impressive, RD would probably be jealous of you” The Country Pony said.
“RD?” Boss ask.
“Oh, she's a pegasus friend of mine, athletic and competitive, and a real knucklehead sometimes, but I guess i'm also one sometimes, hehe” Applejack answer.
The Boss thought about one word that caught her attention, pegasus, from what she can tell, those are probably those winged ponies, that means that Fluttershy was a pegasus then.
“Well, I got some errands to do, so i'll catch you later then, uh Boss, and also, you might wanna stop by Sugarcube Corner, it's the building that shaped like a cake, you won't miss it, I bet there's some real good treats for you there, see ya” Applejack informing her and also saying her goodbyes.
The Boss on the other hand only waved her..legs to gesture a goodbye to Applejack. Then she realized something, did she just converse that well with another Pony that easily? It wasn't a feeling she was quite used to, she was a complete stranger, someone that, to these ponies shouldn't trust so much, she knew that and and everyone else really, will always cautious to people that they just met, but it was different here, much different, and then she also realized that she also forgot to ask about information of the town from her.
But, when they converse they just seem to have this built in trust in them, something about these ponies that made them so easily trusting, and kind to other people, like that just now. Then she thought about her first meeting with Fluttershy that didn't go to well, even though she was shy and afraid to converse with me, and it is probably because of her build and how she didn't even flinch when Fluttershy hit her, and also because she is a pretty old woman or mare.
It was so different, but nice, very nice, in fact this is something that the Boss always wanted to see, other people compassionate and trusting to each other, it was something she thought she could only dream about.
She let out a sigh of relief, knowing that she was in a world where she could relax, at least more relaxed than Earth that is, then she remembered that Applejack told her that she should go to the Sugarcube Corner, for a...treat, she didn't exactly know what's in store for her, cakes perhaps, but she let out the thought and just decided to just simply went over there.
As she walked to the store, she looked around the building of the town, and she has to admit, that this place did looked like a children fantasy book, but there was something charming to it, all the colors are all well placed and the the colors itself are very well picked, it was bright but subdued, and the architecture complements one another, it is as if this world was created with a universal harmony in mind, and it could very well be.
Then she looked at the other ponies, and then she realized that she was the only one that actually wearing clothing, or suit at the moment, it was a combination of strange and not strange, at the same time she was so used to always wearing clothes so it is a strange feeling to see many other of the same species, not wearing clothing, but at the same time, these are different species, and since they have fur, it doesn't really matter if they wear clothes or not.
Then she let out another giggle, she made so many observation about the place since she got here, Probably due to habit of being a soldier, everytime she was at a new place, she always had to gather as much information about the area, though of course not for 'touring' reason like these, and more for battle situations.
And then before she knew it she has arrived, the place is certainly unique, it's shaped reminded the Boss of that one story, Hansel and Gretel where they found a gingerbread house, but as if the store itself wasn't strange enough, what awaited her inside was even stranger.
As she walked in to the store, she suddenly hit with the loud combination of noises sounding “SURPRISE!!!”, The Boss, of course with her horned warrior instinct, didn't jump in surprise but instead flinch a little.
“Hey, i'm Pinkie Pie, I saw you earlier when you asked me to tell you stuff about Ponyville, but then I realized that you must be new here, so remember how I like check on you first, just to make sure that you're really new, then i'm really sure and i'm like *GASP!!*, and so I just had to throw you this big surprise party to welcome you to Ponyville, so are you surprised huh? Cause you sure didn't looked like you was” The Pink mare that she saw earlier ask in a lightning fast speed.
“Uh, Yes Pinkie Pie I was surprised, definitely” The Boss answered her lengthy question.
“Oh, with the way you reacted though, I thought you weren't, here have some cake!” Pinkie Pie offered.
“Uh, Thank You” She thanked the mare and then putting the cake that Pinkie Pie gave her on a table.
After that Pinkie continued her stream of question, she asked about things that were odd to the Boss, like types of cakes she liked, Colors she liked, flavors, and just many random things that The Boss found strange to ask.
Of course after she is done with the series of random question, it's time for The Boss to ask about this place, she ask about the ponies here and she learned that there are three types of ponies, her and Pinkie Pie being earth ponies, Winged one like Fluttershy was indeed a pegasus, and the one with horns are unicorns.
She also learn the name of the land 'Equestria', The Rulers, a Princess not a Queen, two actually, it was Princess Celestia and Luna, and also the mark on the flank on the ponies are called cutie mark, which in Pinkie's case three balloons, which symbolized their special talent, come to think of it, she haven't check what's hers yet, though she could do it later in the day.
And for now, that was the only answer she need.
Then she saw a familiar face, a yellow pegasus with pink mane, it was Fluttershy, and then The Boss decided to talk to her, and hopefully know more about this shy pony.
“Hello Fluttershy” The Boss greeted.
Fluttershy slowly turned around and was quite surprised when she saw The Boss standing right in front of her.
“Oh, it's you, umm, I..oh i'm sorry, I haven't asked for your name yet, how rude of me” Fluttershy said with a gentle voice.
The Boss thought for a moment, it seems that this mare, was not as shy anymore, not as much as when they first met anyway.
“You can call me..uh, well people call me 'Boss'” The Boss replied.
“Uhh, Boss? What do you do exactly, if you don't mind me asking that is” Fluttershy said.
“It's a title, and you shouldn't be so shy around me Fluttershy” The Boss answer.
“Oh, i'm not really shy with you, you're a really nice pony from what I can tell, it's just that I don't want to hurt your feelings, that's all” Fluttershy explained with her usual quiet and gentle tone.
The Boss smiled at this, this pony just didn't want to hurt others feelings, perhaps that is why she was shy.
“Oh um Boss, how are you enjoying the party?” Fluttershy asked.
“It's nice, i've almost never been to a party like this in all my life before” The Boss replied.
“So, where do you come from?” Fluttershy asked.
The thought about it for a second, and she would guess that telling her that she was from another world would be weird, so she just said the next thing that would work.
“I'm a retired army member, I was traveling and I decided to stay at Ponyville to stay, though I haven't exactly found one yet” The Boss answered.
“You don't have a place to live yet?” Fluttershy asked again.
“No” The Boss answered.
“Huh? Well that's unfortunate, you can stay at my house for a while, if you don't mind that is” Fluttershy offered.
The Boss wondered about this offer, did this pony just offered her to stay at her home, just because The Boss didn't have a place to live, the ponies here really are easily trusting, but she still couldn't pinpoint why though.
“That would be nice, but I don't want to trouble you” The Boss tried to reject the offer politely.
“Oh, nonono, you're not bothering me at all, besides taking care of the animals, I don't usually have many things to do” Fluttershy insisted.
“Well, it's just the fact that I don't want to be a freeloader, getting a place to stay isn't going to be easy” The Boss explained.
“Oh, actually, I could probably talk to Twilight about that, she could probably give you a place to stay, and besides if you don't want to be a freeloader, I guess you could, maybe, help me with the animals, If you don't mind that is” Fluttershy explained.
The Boss thought about this offer, The Boss didn't want to be a freeloader, she felt that if she does, she was just wasting her abilities, but now that Fluttershy said her friend could get The Boss her own place to stay, and also finding a job couldn't be too difficult, so for now The Boss accepted the offer.
“Oh, excellent, I will love somepony for company, and my friends said that this could also help become braver” Fluttershy said happily.
The Boss simply smiled, at least she won't feel like a complete freeloader, Fluttershy said that she could help her with the animals and she said that she wanted to be braver by having company.
“Oh and uh..Boss, enjoy your party, by the way..umm.. never mind” Fluttershy shyly said it.
“Thank you Fluttershy, and also for letting me stay at your house” The Boss thanked her, though perhaps, She could give something else to Fluttershy, and considering how she acted, it would be perfect, and she knew exactly how she would give this gift to her.
But she decided to wait until the right time to give it to her. For now though, she could enjoy her party, it's a weird feeling, 'enjoying this party', she never really liked parties that much, even after completing a difficult mission she usually threw down the invitation for a celebration party, because she felt that it was her duty, and there was no point celebrating it.
But here, it was simply a surprise party for welcoming her, and yet she felt no intention of turning it down, she felt no reason to, and she couldn't understand why, she wanted to know, but for now, there's no need.
Then she looked around and saw the ponies talking to each other, playing with each other, eating cakes and many other things, of course this wasn't strange, it's just that The Boss was so used with war and tragedy, until something as simple as this amazed her.
This world was something that The Boss always wanted to see since she went to space, not specifically, but just the fact that everyone was happy and loving to each other, it was beautiful in her eyes, she even almost felt like crying .
And then quietly she said.
“I suppose True Peace can exist after all.”