//------------------------------// // Chapter IV: Soldiers In Canterlot // Story: World War Equestria // by brony at war //------------------------------// Chapter IV: Soldiers in Canterlot [Corporal Samuel Burns, 0013 hours] "I hope you have something nice to wear." I turned over on the Apple Family couch, doing my best to not fall off. Of all the guys in the squad, I had to be elected to find us some type of suit. And I had to have it done in two weeks. AJ had suggested asking Rarity, but I didn't know if she would be able to do what I had in mind in the time period we had. She said that she had no orders and that she would gladly help me 'get out of those raggedy old articles', along with the rest of our squad, but I was still nervous. Unable to sleep, I stood up and went out onto the porch, where I was overlooking the entire Apple family orchard. I heard the howling of timberwolves, as Granny Smith had called them, from the Everfree forest. The moon was high in the sky, illuminating the apple trees with an eerie kind of light. Had it been a bit more desert-like, it would have reminded me of the ranch back home. I heard a creak behind me and turned to see Big Mac watching me. "Good night, isn't it?" I said, earning his trademark 'Eeyup'. "What're you doing out here so late?" I asked him as he sat down on the porch bench. "Ah' might ask the same of you." he countered. Fair enough. "Just coming out here to think." I said. "The quiet atmosphere usually helps with that." "Same here." Mac said. He took a deep breath, then said "You know, ma' sister's taken a likin' to ya'." "Copy that, Mac." I said. "Your sister and your family are a good people. Heck, you're almost like a brother to me." "That ah don' mind," he replied, "but if you go off and break her heart or pull funny business, know ah'll be comin' fer you." I nodded in understanding, then went inside and went to sleep. It was going to be a long week. "No sign of First Squad sir. Just the two Jeep wrecks we managed to salvage." The major nodded and said, "Call it off. I'm not losing any more men. They had to die sometime, we just didn't expect it to be here. Not in this war. They were the 'Four Horsemen', after all, right captain?" The captain showed a small grin as the major sat down and began writing a letter. Date: November 30th, 1944 To the Parents of Corporal Samuel J. Burns, ID10131647 The Department of the Army is deeply regretful to inform you that Corporal Samuel Burns, along with his squad, after multiple weeks of searching, is reported MIA after his squad was ambushed by German forces while on a routine patrol outside of Schmidt, Belgium. If he is found, I will make sure that you know of the development as soon as possible. For now, the Department expresses our deepest sympathies towards you in this time of loss. Signed Most Sincerely, Major General Clarence R. Huebner Department of the Army I watched as my parents opened the same letter the major had just been writing in front of a Christmas tree, reading it as my kid brother opened up gifts in the background. Of all the days to receive that letter... I watched as my mother started crying into my father's chest as he hugged her and looked up, as if silently praying for me to be found. I wanted to tell them that I was alright, to tell them all the things I hadn't been able to since I left on that ship to North Africa, but I couldn't speak or move. So I simply watched. Despite my midnight walk around, I woke up before any of the other Apple family did and left a note saying where I had gone. With the dream still fresh in my mind, I left for Carousel Boutique to get the squad's uniforms. As I walked into town, I received less stares than normal, if any at all. Some of the ponies even waved at me before going about their business. Finding Carousel Boutique not too far from the outside limits of town, I walked in to a silent room. In the next room over, I heard the sound of water and clanging metal. Walking in, I saw Rarity doing dishes and cleaning up a total mess of what looked like breakfast gone wrong. I cleared my throat, causing Rarity to jump and a pot to splash into the sink. "Mr. Burns, you should know better than to startle a lady like that." Rarity reprimanded, turning to face me. "Is there anything you need?" I excused myself and asked "Would you like help with those?" while motioning towards the dishes. "Oh no, please don't exert yourself." Rarity said as she levitated the remaining dishes into the sink. "Sweetie Belle just took the opportunity to make breakfast this morning, but…she isn't the best." She smiled a bit before shooing me out of the kitchen and shutting the door behind her. "I can finish that later." she stated. "So, I presume you wish to give me that design of yours." I nodded and pulled out a few drawings that I had Schmitty make, then made some pointers on what went where, giving her the exact way it should be. She agreed and tried to make me not pay for it, but I knew that Sarge would knock my ass into the dirt if I came back with money and no drawings. When Rarity went upstairs with the drawings and I heard a door slam, I left a stack of bits AJ'd loaned me on her table before leaving. [Evening of the Gala] "So, Hawk," the Sarge asked. "Do you have our suits?" "Even better, sir." I replied as I brought out the US Army Service Uniforms, complete with dress shoes from the local cobbler and our garrison caps. Rarity had managed to make the uniforms the exact way our original uniforms were, and I even managed to have our few service medals and ribbons made. "This explains why you wanted those measurements from us last week." Vic commented as he received his uniform. We all found a private place to change and re-emerged in our new dress uniforms, whereupon, accompanied by Twilight and her friends, we left for Canterlot by way of the train. [Canterlot Castle Courtyard, 1800 hours] We walked through the front gates into the castle proper, where the human members of our party, myself included, looked up at the sheer size of the castle before us. AJ, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie all dispersed into the crowd as Twilight led us into the castle itself, navigating us through the corridors. Along the way, there were multiple white and grey pegasi roaming the halls or standing guard. "They're just like the guards at Buckingham Palace." Brooklyn said. I thought back to the time where we had visited London while training for D-Day, and Brooklyn had tried everything short of striking one of the guards to get a reaction. We came to a massive set of twin double doors, on which Twilight knocked and received an 'Enter' from inside. We walked into the throne room of the castle, walking towards the two figures at the far end. They looked to both be ponies, but with flowing manes and tails, and with wings and a horn. We walked up to the throne, where Twilight knelt while the rest of us simply snapped to attention and observed the two ponies while they reciprocated. "Twilight Sparkle." the larger of the two ponies said with a small smile. Twilight got off her forelegs and ran to the said pony. "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, it's been so long!" she said excitedly. I saw Vic and the smaller princess, I suppose Luna, were having a minor staring contest, and I leaned over and slapped him. "Snap out of it." I said. "Jake, this is Princess Celestia, co-ruler of Equestria and princess of the sun." Twilight said as the pony I supposed was Celestia walked around the Sarge, who remained standing at rapt attention. "And this is Princess Luna, other ruler of Equestria and princess of the moon and night." "Are these the alicorn sisters you told me about Twilight?" Schmitty asked. He really has been spending too much time with Twilight in that library. "Yes, young human." Celestia replied, still holding a small smile. "We are the alicorn sisters of legend." She took the Sarge into the back room with Twilight while the rest of us waited with Princess Luna, who began talking to Vic, and a few of the royal guards. I started analyzing the uniforms Rarity had created, trying to find anything off, which I didn't. I made a mental note to give her some more bits next time around. After all, we'd need repairs sometime, right? As the night grew old, our 'dates' came in from the party and joined us, telling us about their experiences. Finally, the sergeant came back out, followed by Twilight and the Princess, and we gathered to hear her verdict. "I have asked your 'Sergeant' the questions needed." Celestia stated. "Is it true that your world is in total conflict with each other now?" We all nodded firmly. "And is it true that you were part of that war in order to protect what you thought what was right?" We all nodded again, but the Sarge spoke up. "In war, everything thinks that what they do is right. It just depends on who wins." Celestia nodded understandingly before asking one last question. "I understand you all have a sense of right and wrong, and that your weapons have come with you. While I will not be confiscating said weapons, will you swear not to harm anypony, as long as you are here?" We all nodded once more before Celestia motioned for us to leave. We headed towards the train station and caught the last train to Ponyville. On the train, we started getting on Vic's case about him and Luna. "So Vic, you finally find your special someone?" the Sarge asked. "More like special somepony, Sarge." Brooklyn said, actually earning a smile from Vic. "For once Brooklyn, that thick skull of yours said something intelligent." Vic said. "Besides, I know about you and Pinkie, the Sarge and Fluttershy, Schmitty and Twilight, and Hawkeye and AJ." Said ponies were in the sleeper car behind us, so they couldn't join in on this subject. "The Sarge and Fluttershy are old news, Vic." I said. "Remember the way she was clinging to him our second day here?" He nodded and replied with a small chuckle. "It don't help that we've all been crashing at their houses. And last time I checked, Fluttershy only has one bed." We all looked towards the Sarge, who was looking outside of the train. "I take the couch, dumbasses." he said. We continued our banter as the train made its way towards Ponyville as the moon shined in the night.