//------------------------------// // How Ugly Can it Get? // Story: Don't Leave Me // by ArtsyUnicorn //------------------------------// The sun shone brightly over the purple sky, it was early in the morning and the train was full of soldiers ready to fight again in the crystal empire. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, and Maud sat together, watching the Recruits betting on which one will get scared and try to run, or which one will be crystallized by Sombra. Rainbow Dash still has her bet on Flash being the first one to die, Maud writing down things in her notebook, today was a normal day. Of course the peace won’t last long once they reach enemy lines, but it’s one of those things where you should enjoy the peace while you can. As they reached their target Captain Spitfire ordered them to take their spots by ducking behind crystals to avoid fire, crystal unicorns have very powerful shots of magic, most of the time if you were shot on sight it would be fatal and soon you’d be dead. Sweet Celestia war was full of so much learning, training, blood, and grief, mourning the ones that once stood by you is terrible, it leaves a hole in you. Soon after it happens so many times, you’re just empty after so long and no longer able to trust anyone, knowing that they will soon leave you. That’s what it can do to someone. “Guys I don’t think I can do this anymore, I just wanna leave.” Flash started up, “I wanna go home to my wife and daughter, let them know I’m okay” Maud overhears him while taking down a minion, and trots over to him and grabs hold of him. “You listen here and you listen good Sentry, nobody can give you freedom now, nobody can give you justice either, nobody can save your sorry plot if you just cower in the corner crying for mommy, if your truly a man, act like it and take it like the man you say you are” she drops him and runs back charging at more crystal minions. “Wow Pinkie, Maud may have broken my bet with Flash dying!” She gave him the talk just now.” Dash yells to her, suddenly she sees about three minions run after her. “You guys wanna go down the hard way don’t you? Well may Celestia have mercy on you, because I won’t!” The minions leap one by one, Dash kicking at them, keeping them away as much as possible. With one swift kick to the face all she can taste is the bittersweet tangy taste of blood, she returns the kick as she jumps up and swings one hoof down, bashing the minions face into the dirt ground. Other enemies spotting her, run trying to take her down right away. ‘Well, I can’t possibly take down all of them myself, calling for help would make me sound like a coward, I guess this is how it is’ Dash thought in her head as the minions slowly close in and surround her. A crystal unicorn getting ready to shoot an icy blast of death at Dash, she takes one swing and kicks the unicorn in her jaw making her shoot at a couple boulders up above. Seeing the rocks get ready to fall her body freezes, ‘why can’t I move right now? I should be running right now or at least flying out of the way, what’s stopping me?’ she thinks as the rocks falling, everything slows down, all sound completely disappears, what exactly is going on right now? Suddenly she is pushed out of the way by a quick blue blur and the rock is being dismantled by Pinkie all by her own two hoofs. “Ugh my back, what just happened right now?” Rainbow Dash asks, finding herself on her back behind a large crystal. “Oh nothing really, you almost dying caused rocks to start falling so I decided to save your gap mouthed face from a rock induced death!” Soarin practically yelling the last part as he explained “Ok, there is no need to yell right now soldier!” she yells, “why did you even save me? You could of easily have stayed behind and saved Flashes plot! Because I know that unicorn killed him before he could even cry to his mommy.” Dash states, the anger boils inside now, she can take care of herself, but the others couldn’t that’s why they had to be there for each other, that’s also how they came back with so many casualties. “I don’t know why I saved you! I- I just felt this urge to protect you, it was like an instinct, but with Flash, I didn’t feel that urge, I just don’t know what happened. But since you’re ungrateful, I guess my instincts are a mistake. See you back at base Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow Dash couldn’t register what just happened back there with Soarin, he took the risk of dying just to save her life and she yells at him? ‘What have I done just now? Someone saves my life and I yell at them for it, some pony I really am.’ The sound of screams and unicorn blasts can be heard through the air, images of missing limbs, soldiers’ crying once a close comrade dies right before their eyes, and lost emotions through the entire thing, this is war, but it can’t be described because you have to witness it at its fullest. Knowing you have family that won’t return, or a friend you won’t ever see the smile of again. Why is the world so cruel and unforgiving, but also so beautiful at the same time? The sound of retreat has been heard, now everyone turns to go back to base camp and rest another night. Dash at the very end of the group, trots slowly seeing the ponies that won’t be seen again. Blossom Forth, her head covered in dried blood and both of her wings nearly ripped off, Flash Sentry a new recruit, half of his lower body missing because of a crystal unicorn, parts of him are still steaming a little from the force of evil magic, and finally Braeburn because he believed that showing the minions his perfect hair and flank would make them fall in love with him, his injuries were too gruesome to even say. Her face still staying emotionless, there was nothing she could do about all of them; the hardest part is always telling the dead soldiers family about it. Now feelings have developed inside of her cold caged heart, feelings of love, protection, and worry, for a certain Pegasus named Soarin. maybe it would be good for Dash to care for somebody, know that someone else shares the same feeling and cares for her too, but when it comes to war you need to keep these feelings caged up, but for some reason Dashes won’t stay caged, they have to come out. That night after dinner, Rainbow Dash once again went outside to stare up at the stars again, to mourn the loss of the soldiers that have fallen today. The stars were even brighter that night, shining down on her. She kind of hoped that Soarin would come outside for a visit too, but after the outburst today it might not be a good idea. “I expected you to be out here tonight Dash, how is everything tonight?” Soarin appeared behind her. “Nice to know I’m so predictable softie, I’m just watching the stars; I guess it’s my way of mourning everybody today.” Dash explains “Well, I’m pretty sorry about that whole argument we had earlier today, especially during a battle against those crystal weirdos or something. Pals again?” he says while putting out his hoof, “Yeah that fight back there was pretty stupid after all, of course we back be pals again. But there was something else I wanted to talk to you about. What are you going to do after this whole war is over? I mean do you have a family of something waiting for you back at home?” Dash asks as he sits beside her. “The family I have left are just a few friends I went to flying school with, the rest were captured or murdered right there during the invasion of Cloudsdale last year. I guess after the war I could find someone and start my own family, because then I would know they are truly safe.” “ Well softie, that does sound like something nice to look forward to, but I’ve never really started thinking about what I what to do with my life after this. So for now I guess I’ll try not to die like I’ve been doing every day so far, maybe even with you hanging around because you know me, always getting into danger.” The two laughed at this, everybody has dreams for after the war, but what exactly is put into their destinies? A pony could have this dream of living a normal life after the Crystal War, but they may end up dying the next battle. So are dreams worth having anymore in this world? Yes, because as long as you have that one thing on your mind that you look forward to at the end of the day, it might just be enough to keep you fighting. “Sweet Celestia look at the time! I loved this little moment we were having softie, but I’ve got to get some sleep tonight since we have to ship out again in the morning, Good night” She says as she trots back to her dorm. The next morning won’t be so easy though, and there are only so few recruits left, because tomorrow there are going to be scouting teams.