//------------------------------//
// Chapter 23 
// Story: One Soldier's Twilight 
// by Dr.Shisno 
//------------------------------//

 	The rifle felt heavy in my hands as I fired a burst downrange, watching the man fall, roll, and then remain still on the road. Bullets whizzed overhead and around the car I was behind. The ping of a round off the hood the car sent me back to cover. I popped up again and fired another burst; the bolt locked back, the magazine empty. Changing mags under cover of the car, the firefight intensified as more insurgents hopped into the fray. Slapping the bolt release and hearing the satisfying click of the action hitting home, I pop up again, firing.
                “MILLER!” Sergeant Darvon called out over the increasing amount gunfire. “TAKE PAUL AROUND THROUGH THE ALLEY AND TRY TO GET A NEW POSITION AND HIT THOSE BASTARDS! WE GOT YOU COVERED!”
                “YOU GOT IT SARGE!” I nodded to Paul; he was at the car next to me, spent cartridges were littered around his feet, his rifle steaming heat from overuse. He nodded in affirmation to me. “SARGE! COVER ME WHILE I MOVE!”
                “COVERING FIRE, MOVE!” At that I hopped up and moved across the road, taking position just forward of the entrance to the alley. “IN POSITION! PAUL, MOVE!”
                “MOVING!” He called out through the smoke and the haze, vaulting over the car’s hood. He took position behind me, facing toward the entrance of the alleyway. I felt a light shove; signaling Paul was in position and ready. I shoved back, turning to follow Paul into the alleyway.
The alleyway was much darker than the street we were just on, yet just as nerve-racking. Paul took on the right side, facing behind, while I was on the other side facing forward. Slowly we paced forward, the sound of the raging gunfight behind us growing less predominate. We scanned high and low as we walked forward.
A man holding a rifle jumped out from a doorway into the alleyway, firing a burst at Paul; he hit ground with an agonized cry. Moving quickly, half from adrenaline, the other half from instinct, I crouched and brought my rifle up. I must’ve dumped over half a mag into the insurgent. The target slumped in the alleyway, unmoving. I shuffled over to Paul’s slumped body, keeping the insurgent covered with my rifle, Paul was still breathing, thank god. 
“Paul, you alright? Talk to me.”
His answer was strained, “Damn Haji just got the vest. I’ll be fine. I’ll be bruised, but I’ll live.”
“Good,” I extended my arm, which he received, and pulled him to his feet, “‘Cause I sure as hell ain’t telling your wife how her husband’s best man failed to save you.”
“You wouldn’t make it out the door,” He laughed. “Besides, I still owe you for the speech you gave at the wedding.”
“Hey, hey,” I voiced innocence. “All fair play. You’ll get your chance someday.” 
“I better.” 
We took our positions back on the wall. Slowly, but with all due haste, we worked our way down the hallway. By the sounds of the firefight on the street, our two squads were in a bad place. They were holding their own, but how long until the rest of the city took to the street? We needed to move. Wary of doorways, we made it down the alleyway where it made a ninety degree turn left. I motion for Paul to stop, which he does. I peek around, it was nearly a dead end and empty, save for the door. Pointing to Paul, then the entrance, we moved in unison to the door, taking positions on either side.
                “Paul, you ready?” I spoke just loud enough to be heard by him.
                “As always,” he replied, reloading his rifle in the process. “Let’s hit ‘em.” 
Paul kicked in the flimsy wood and I was through the door before it hit the ground. And suddenly, I wasn’t in the alleyway anymore, or a house. I was in a forest and Paul was no longer with me. One blue unicorn, however, was. A sly grin spread on her face as she walked towards me. Sighting my rifle on her, I pulled the trigger, but the rifle merely clicked. Taking a few steps back, I pulled the charging handle and tried again. Once again, I was rewarded with a click. My hands shaking, I heard again and again the rifle just click as I pulled the trigger. Suddenly, my rifle fell away as my hands morphed into hooves. My gear and equipment fell from my body as I found myself on her level, on four hooves. A pony. My pace quickened, trying to back away faster as her grin grew wider on her face. To my perpetual luck, my back hoof found a tree root and tripped and fell. Soon, I was on my back, facing this blue unicorn. Struggling to get away, I began to pull myself away with my front hooves, watching the unicorn slowly stalk towards me, her coy smile gleaming now.
Back up against a tree, I tried to call out, yell, scream at the top of my lungs. Anything at all, but no words would resound from my lips. I tried to move, roll over and run, but my body failed to respond. I could only watch in horror as the unicorn approached closer and closer until she was directly in front of me, her face mere inches away from my face.
                “You knew and Trixie knew, she would find you again.” A knife surrounded in blue aurora floated next to her head menacingly. “Why did you leave? Trixie only wanted to share some cake.” Her lips slowly pressed against mine. I couldn’t move, couldn’t scream, in protest nor fear. Only watch in terror as the knife went up high then plunged into my body.
 

* * *


 

I shot up, heavily breathing. It was still dark out; the moonlight flickered through the window next to the bed. I was in Twilight’s house, remembering that I was brought here after the doctors had checked me out and spent a day recovering in the hospital at Canterlot. Though I wanted to stay and finish what I had started, the Princess had ordered me at least two days bed rest before seeing her. She wanted me to be 110% recovered, no matter what I wanted to do.  There was so much I wanted done, but I needed my rest. At this rate, it would seem like that was never going to happen.
Twilight was still sound asleep next to me, the moonlight glistening off her mane. Her body quivering with every breath she took. I rubbed my hooves though my mane. It was only a dream, I thought, only a goddamn dream. Rolling off the bed, I made my way to the balcony, trying to ease the unrest in my head.
I rested my forelegs on the balcony’s rail and look up. The night was brilliant, the clouds were few, but still managed to hide part of the moon from view. Stars glimmered, seeming to want make up for the moon’s small absence. I just couldn’t help but sigh, taking note of how different my head felt from the painting above me.
Goodness, Toby, my brain began. You leave home for a few days and look what happens. Hell, you’re not even here a week and you made yourself public enemy number one in the eyes of the Captain of the Guard and been held against your will by some crazy unicorn in the woods. Some R&R you received... I rubbed my hooves into my temples, trying to ease the pain of the nightmare. You can’t keep going on like this. Something is going to break and you know it.  I wanted to breakdown, to cry, to wish this pain away, but pain of what? Pain of my previous nights? Pain from my previous suffering? Pain of the loss of a great friend? Seemed to be pain of everything. The light breeze rustled through my blonde mane, helping push a tear from my eyes to the ground. Take a deep breath... Come on, Toby, calm those nerves down.
A pair of hooves lightly wrapped themselves around my midsection and a head laid itself on my shoulder as the smell of lavender entered my senses. I fought against my standard reaction to be drawn into action. I sighed; old habits are hard to break. Besides, it was only Twilight.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Her voice sung into my ear. “I forget that sometimes. Sad that some ponies don’t appreciate this sometimes.”
“Well, they’re probably smart and fast asleep.”
She giggled slightly. “Why aren’t you then?”
“I don’t know, I just can’t sleep,” I say, looking over the quiet town of Ponyville. Why shouldn’t it be? It was still the middle of the night.
“Then what brought you here?”
“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “I thought I could come out here and think. Try and clear my head. Though, thinking only perpetuated the emotional conflict in my noggin.”
“What seems to be eating at you this time?”
I thought about what had happened; everything from the past day or two. Left alone, nearly wanting to die out there with her. The things that happened between us and in that room, that bedroom from hell. Unable to do a thing against it. I shook those thoughts away as quickly as they appeared. No, not now, I only thought.
“Twi,” I spoke softly. “There’s a lot I don’t know and what I do know still confuses me to no end. And personally, these last few days have been quite rough. Both on mind and on soul.”
Twilight moved from her position behind and came beside me, taking my hoof in hers. “You… you want to go back, don’t you.”
Looking her in the eyes, I managed to smile. “Ms. Sparkle, I’m not going anywhere. Let that be known. It’s fair to say, I’m having a hard time adjusting.” I chuckle a bit. “Not that the welcoming committee was to blame for it or anything.”
She too laughed a bit, “Speaking of the welcoming committee…” She let the sentence drift.
“Let me guess,” shaking my head in amusement, “Pinkie’s got a party for me? Tomorrow, no less?”
She smiled wide and placed a kiss on my cheek. “Well, she wanted to do it earlier, but seeing as you were… well… away at the time. She decided to have it when you felt somewhat better.” Her hoof gingerly traced the scar on my foreleg. “But if you aren’t feeli-.”
“I’m fine,” I meekly replied, nuzzling her gently. “Besides, I’m sure getting out for a bit would do me some good.” I gestured to the door with my head. “Come on, you and I both need our sleep if we’re going to last through one of Pinkie’s parties.”
 

* * *


 

The party was in full swing by the time the sun was down. It seemed most of Ponyville was there to greet me, if not just stop by and say hi. My right forehoof was sore from shaking what seemed to be nearly everypony’s hoof. A warm smile here, a friendly greeting there; it was all so very welcoming. I even had a nice conversation with one brown earth pony. His talk of, in his words, “wibbly wobbly timey wimey” stuff was quite entertaining. I had to keep myself from laughing; time travel seemed so ludicrous! Although, I traveled across dimensions so maybe there might be some truth to it.
Though at the same time I was being constantly bombarded with ponies, surprising myself with greetings, a flinch for every unexpected hoof on my shoulder, a twitch from any accidental bump. Pinkie’s party cannon alone nearly sent me diving to the floor, wanting to scream out.
Why can’t there be anything harder to drink, I think to myself, looking at my cup of punch. Might do my nerves some help. Shaking my head lightly, Damn nightmares, why now? Part of me wanted to curl into a ball in one of the corners of a closet and hide. Why now? I was fine before, but why are these dreams coming back now? Sipping on the punch did little to further my thoughts. Maybe you’re just getting old... that argument nearly made me laugh aloud. Or your nerves are shot to who-knows-where, and your stress has finally caught up to you. And why is every little thing now startling you? Gosh, you’re starting to act like Flutters-
A gentle hoof on my shoulder stopped my train of thought and nearly sent me through the roof. Taking a breath in, I turned to the user of the hoof. It was Twilight with a concerned look on her face.
“Come on,” she said with a smile of reassurance. “Somepony needs their rest.”
“Yeah,” my head sagged. “You’re probably right.” A small smile and a chuckle found its way out. “Like usual.”
“Well, not about everything,” she responded humbly, playfully rolling her eyes. “Just about most things. And besides, you have a busy day scheduled at Canterlot tomorrow; partying all night long is probably not a smart thing to do.
I lightly nodded in affirmation, “… Yeah.”
“Come on, then,” Twilight pulled for me to follow. “Let’s get you home.”
Home, I thought. What a two-sided word.
We said our goodbyes, though most were disappointed to see me go, especially Pinkie. I assured her that I would party ‘til the cows came home next time. One Pinkie Pie Promise later, Twilight and I were out the door. It was another brilliant night that Luna blessed us with; a clear sky with bright stars and moon, both working in unison to light up the sky.
“Like an artist,” I blurted my thought aloud.
“Huh?” Twilight gave me a strange look.
“The, um, sky...” I pointed out, trying to recover from my outburst. “I was commenting on Luna’s work on the sky tonight.”
“Oh,” she looked up, also admiring the sky.
We continued to walk back in silence, I could only wonder if her thoughts were as disconnected as mine. If you could figure out what is slowly eroding your sanity, my mind spoke, then maybe if you put that threat to rest, you wouldn’t have to wait for the knife in your back. A small shiver shot down my spine.
Her home was, thankfully, warm; with symptoms of fall in the air, the weather was growing colder. Struggling to even get up the stairs and into bed, it was I could to do to keep from collapsing face first into the pillow in exhaustion. After awhile of laying there, I felt a warm body lay itself next to me. Twilight was apparently done getting herself ready for bed. Her hooves rubbed patterns in my back. Glancing up from my pillow, her amethyst eyes met mine, her mane was up in a bun, and her smile was coy. A fresh smell entered my senses; she apparently just came out of washing herself.
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up over whatever it is you’re thinking of,” she spoke softly.
“I’m trying,” I rolled onto my back, staring up at the ceiling. Her hooves still drew circles on my chest. “For some reason there’s a lot that I seem to have on my mind.”
She moved herself onto my stomach, propping her head on her hooves, looking down on me. “You just need to relax a bit, okay?”
Before I could formulate a response, her lips found mine, interlocked in a passionate kiss. Slowly, my thoughts drifted away, and my emotions ceased to be troubled. All I was focused on was here and now and the pony I now share this bed with. Wrapping my hooves around the pony on top of me, I brought her closer to me. What a beautiful night.

* * *


 

“Lord Swift, sir,” A guard approached and began. “Scouts report that the target has begun to show signs of delusion before, during, and after the party. Reports also indicate that the target has been unable to sleep well as of recently.”
The pegasus made a scoffing sound in the darkness of his office. “And what would the target happen to be doing at this time?”
“Sir?”
“What is that pony doing at this very moment!” Lord Swift yelled.
“Um, Sir,” The guard was hesitant to respond, fearful of the response. “The target is now engaged with one purple mare unicorn in…” the guard let the sentence hang.
“That pony doesn’t know when to keep it in, does he?” Lord Swift mumbled to himself.  “You are dismissed, leave me.”
“Yes, sir,” The guard performed a crisp about-face and exited Lord Swift’s office, closing the door behind him.
“It seems we’re going to have quite a show tomorrow.” He took a slow drink of his tea, savoring the herbal flavor. “What a beautiful night to celebrate.”