Princess Twilight Sparkle,
Admiral Full Steam said he could get this letter to you. I figured you deserved to know the whole story, not just what the higher-ups put into a mission report for you. It’s the least I could do.
If you’re wondering, we’ve never met. I’ve never even seen you in the flesh; just pictures. My name is Ensign Crystal Forceps. I’m a Navy Corpspony assigned to the 434th Marine Special Forces Reconnaissance brigade currently serving my first combat tour out in disputed Griffon territory.
On the evening of the twentieth of March, in an area we only ever called Forest 47, my platoon and I came under heavy attack by a group of local rebels we’d been trying to track back to their base of operations. They saw us coming, and before I knew it we had two dead and three injured; that was my fault. Being on point, I should have been more aware. More lives on my hand.
Several battlemages managed to clear the trees away from the ambush point as two Corpsponies dragged our casualties to a safe place. The rest of us took whatever cover we could behind the new clearing. These rebels were smart, though; they had several unicorns with them, as well. Using their own magic, they took the fallen trees and made themselves cover. Our pegasi couldn’t take off without exposing themselves to crossbow fire. Our unicorns couldn’t poke their horns up without taking countermagics. Our earth ponies couldn’t move without being torn to shreds. Lacking any other options, we radioed for air support.
The Thirty-Second High Altitude Warfare Wing, ponies most would know as Wonderbolts, was flying combat air patrol in our sector when the call came in. Thirty combat fliers, four Hummingbird tiltrotors, and two Forest Razer helicopters were standing by to bring the full might of the Equestrian Air Force upon our attackers. The Marine to my right was able to use his magic to throw a beacon on the enemy position. All things considered, it’s a miracle that it wasn’t shot out.
I heard the helicopters first. As I looked up, I was greeted by an amazing sight: a streak of orange fire blazing across the sky above our position. The first of the bombers had arrived. I don’t remember much after the first bomb fell. I remember screaming, blood, the smell of burning flesh. It was... not pleasant. Our Commanding officer told us that we had to push up; our clearing was the only place the Hummingbirds could land and get us all out of there. I offered to lead the charge, in an effort to avenge my fallen comrades. It was a foolish move. I’m not a leader. I know that. But I wasn’t thinking properly.
We took the clearing with minimal resistance. Most of the rebels had fallen back to the treeline after the first bomb. Under shieldspell cover, we began marking our position with flares for the choppers. By no fault of their own, somepony didn’t get the memo. I felt a light bomb strike, and thought that was it for me.
When I managed to open my eyes, I was being dragged along the ground, one missing hoof but otherwise intact. My rescuers were not to happy to see me awake, however. I saw a brief glimpse of steel, which I later learned was a combat knife. They were going to kill me right there before she showed up. Underneath all the armor, the wingsuit, the breathing mask and goggles, there was an airpony coming to save me. Your wife, I’m told. Major Spitfire. She killed one immediately with the impact, dragging the second straight into a large tree about three meters from our position. She checked neither body. Her immediate reaction was to turn to me and shout a single world.
“Run!”
I hesitated. I know I shouldn’t have left. As soon as she said that to me, the griffon came back with a right hooking, knocking her mask off her face. I didn’t think after that. I just ran. I was lucky enough to pick the right direction; I made it into a Hummingbird with seconds to spare. But I left her there. I left your wife to die in Forest 47.
Nopony can confirm her death yet. Just missing in action. I hope she’s alive, Princess. If you find her, and you can stand to look at me, I owe her my life, and I always pay my debts. No second thoughts, no hesitation. I’ll be a real sailor this time.
If you see it fit to lock me up for the rest of my days, then that is the price I pay for what I’ve done. I just thought you should learn it from somepony who was there.
Ensign Crystal Forceps
434th Marine Special Forces Reconnaissance Brigade,
Third Equestrian Fleet,
Equestrian Marine Corps, Equestrian Naval Service
Know that I will never forgive myself.
As much as she tried to distance herself from the horrors of her wife’s chosen profession, Twilight Sparkle wasn’t stupid. Her personal guard had once stood in front of her and pledged before the Songs themselves that they would each lay down their lives before any harm would come to Princess Twilight Sparkle. This was their duty. This was expected of them.
Spitfire once swore an oath to lay down her life for the Crown, as well. That was her duty, she said. It was expected of her, she said.
"You don't have to leave. You can retire, and stay here in Ponyville with me. Starstreak misses you."
Her last words to her wife were begging Spitfire to come home safe. Now she wasn't coming home at all. She gave her life to her duty. As was expected. This was the last of Twilight's letters from war.
It would be almost sixty years before she ever met Ensign Crystal Forceps, living out his days in a retirement home in Baltimare. She signed her name on his prosthetic. He barely spoke to her, only mumbling his requests forgiveness. He never got it.
Instead, he received the princess's thanks. Somepony made it out. Somepony made Spitfire's sacrifice worth it. She couldn't ask for a better lesson for her daughter. She couldn't ask for a better reason to dedicate the rest of her immortal lifetime to making sure nopony ever needed to give their lives again.
It all had to be worth something in the end.