I remember when times were better, where nopony had a care in the world. Now it's gone, lost in the pages of history. Some worlds flourish, and others are left for dead.
War had ravaged Equestria, forcing it back into the Dark Age. Nations fight for power while killing themselves in the process. New technology is the way forward, and new tactics are the future, but the more forwards they go, the more closer they are to extinction. This universe is doomed, ever since a rainbow maned filly was struck by a dimension hopping maniac during a race.
"Some worlds flourish, and others are left for dead."
Follow Rainbow Dash, Flash Sentry and Soarin as they live through the horrors of the great Equestrian war. (This story is my idea of how the "doomsday" timeline in the season 5 finale came to be.)
Rainbow Dash deeply breathed in and out. I'm not a coward, I'm not a coward, She said to herself. Corporal Rainbow Dash along with the rest of her unit were preparing to go over to take the enemies' position. The unit was that of the 52nd Light Calvary, a unit which prides itself on the ferocity of it's pegasi fighters. However, ever since to start of the great war, it was quickly figured out that with the easy-to-aim crossbow, air confrontation was useless and all flying units were to be stationed on the ground to reduce casualties.
She gripped onto her crossbow peering over her shoulder to see her section loading their weapons and gripping their spears tightly, muttering prayers to non-existent gods.
"Celestia won't save us this time,"she thought to herself.
They were crouching in a line in a small trench behind a broken concrete wall, of what was once the grand wall between Canterlot and the Everfree Forest, with a wide opening closest to Rainbow Dash. She had her orders to lead her platoon, with her section going first, and charge the fort just on the edge of the forest.
She peered around the corner, peeking at the fort that laid ahead and studied to terrain. The fort was a small and temporary military base stationed on top of a small hill at the edge of the forest, made up of a heap of tents and a thin, but tall barrier wall made of logs hammered into the ground. A large opening was present on the side facing towards them, barricaded with all sorts of junk ranging from tables, chairs and broken ladders. The distance between them was about 75 metres (82 yards) with relatively flat ground.
We should be safe if we can get to the wall quick enough before rushing the defenders, she thought. Psyching her self up, readying to lead to charge.
It was important that she made headway on the fort as an attack can be easily mounted for Canterlot from the position, and reinforcements haven't arrived at the fort yet, giving them the best opportunity to attack them when their weak.
"Corporal," a voice muttered behind her. She turned her head and saw her Lance Corporal, Thunderlane. He pointed over to the approaching Sergeant Featherwing, who was slowly making his way down to her, patting a few backs and giving some words of encouragement to a few of the soldiers.
"Corporal Dash," He spoked as he arrived at the front.
"Yes, Sergeant?" She replied.
"Change of plans: I'll be leading the charge. Lance Corporal Thunderlane, you'll stick with me as we advance."
"Sergeant," Thunderlane acknowledged whilst adjusting his leather chest plate.
"Corporal," he continued. "You'll be sticking behind us leading the your section forward, the rest of the unit will follow behind."
"Sergeant," she acknowledged.
"Good, I'll just give to briefing to the soldiers, and we'll go over." He drew his sable and took out his whistle.
"Alright ponies!" He boomed, "We'll go over very soon. But first, I'll give the mission briefing one last time." He cleared his throat, "Follow your Corporal out through the opening. Your first objective is to get behind to walls of the fort and take cover. From then on, you will charge through the opening and onto enemy fortifications. Remember to rush quickly and together as one. Do Not hesistate or the attack would be halted, giving the enemy time to reposition. News has come in that the enemy has a few hand guns in their arsenal, so don't be afraid of the gunshots ringing out." Featherwing put his whistle in his mouth, "Our job is to capture their frontal defenses so that the rest of the unit will secure to fort." He turned back and made his way to Thunderlane, who was readying is charge.
"And as always, stick to the ground! Air support will be provided by the Wonderbolt 2nd platoon. Unicornian spell casters will be provide cover and artillery!" He sealed his lips around the whistle.
"Three section! With me!" Rainbow Dash shouted, then Featherwing blew the whistle and ran forwards, followed by Thunderlane.
The defenders were caught by surprise but news spread around the fort of the incoming attack quickly. The alarm bells were blaring from the fort, soldiers patrolling the fort ran to their posts. But then, huge blasts of magic teared through the fort, ripping down the tents and disintegrating off unexpecting defenders.
The charge was under way as Rainbow led their troops forward towards the walls of the fort. The spell casters firing shots into the opening, tossing about the defenders. Unfortunately, the defence of the fort was kicking into gear; crossbow bolts, magic bolts and arrows started to rain on the attackers, causing a few casualties. However, as they came closer, the firing was getting intense as more defenders came to fight, eventually cutting down the attackers.
"Quickly! Get to the walls!," Rainbow yelled, advancing towards the fort. The casualties were mounting, the screaming became louder, and the green fields slowly became red with blood. A shot of a magic bolt blew up the ground in front of Featherwing, causing him to stumble before being caught by Thunderlane.
"Don't worry about me kid! Stick with Corporal and get to the wall!" he ordered, shoving him forwards before following him.
As Rainbow led her troops closer to the fort, magic powered turrets were loaded and opened fire on the advancing pegasi, rapidly firing wooden bolts, impaling the attackers one by one. She couldn't believed what was happening, the fort was supposedly an easy target, but as more and more defenders came to the fight, the fight was turning into a massacre. She ran forwards, three arrows hit the ground around her, one nearly getting her extended wing. She noticed that her wing was extended in shock and tried to pull it back to her side as an explosion blew up on her right, covering her with dirt and the guts of an unfortunate pony just next to her. Bolts impaled the chest and necks of the attackers and rocks were being rolled down the hill, crushing anything that came in their way. A few attackers tried to shoot their crossbows at the enemy, doing little use before being picked off.
She stumbled and fell before picking herself back up and forcing her legs to push up the hill. Rainbow was so tempted to use her wings but she would be shot instantly by the opponent.
Gunshots rang out from the fort, ripping apart bodies as they approached the wall. Finally they made it, specifically what was left of the attackers did. Screams were everything. Explosions and bloodshed litter the battlefield. They were up against the wall of the fort, only having a third of the original force left. The artillery bombarded the fort as the attackers regrouped.
"Alright you all!" Featherwing bellowed."Behind this opening is a fortified position! We are to charge in there and rush the defenders!" The attackers nodded, still shivering in fear from the horrible experience.
"Truth be told!" Fetherwing continued, as a massive blast occurred within the fort, causing some defenders to scream in pain for having their limbs ripped off. "The reason why I decided to lead the charge, is because I cannot stand you being cut down in this suicide mission without your trusty sergeant! You see, this was a suicide mission from the get-go, but we're forced to do it anyway or risk execution!" He sighed and dropped his saber. "I don't know about you, but I'll rather be blown to bits by the enemy than by our own guns." He picked up a spear off the ground. "I wish you all good luck, and to see you all in paradise. I thank you all for letting me being your sergeant." He turned to the opening and readied to charge. The artillery bombardment had stopped, and new defenders quickly replaced the casualties with freshly loaded weapons.
"Stay safe my little Featherweight." He muttered.
He blew his whistle and charged, throwing his spear at the defensive line, taking out one defender before being shot by an bolt in the neck and falling on the ground.
"Move! Move! Go! Go! Go!" Rainbow Dash screamed. The attackers were cut down as on after another fell, barely reaching the actually fortifications.
"Thunderlane! Get your butt out there!" Rainbow ordered, watching Thunderlane shivering, holding on to his spear like a colt with a blanket for comfort. He looked at Rainbow, tears in his eyes, stuck out a hoof onto her shoulder.
"It was nice serving with you Rainbow Dash."
He charged out of the cover of the wall and was instantly shot in the forehead, instantly dead with his eyes still open, staring up at the endless sky.
Rainbow was in horror, she then went to grips with herself and charged out, screaming a loud battle cry as she ran towards the fortifications. She kept running until she felt pain throughout her right body. Rainbow Dash looked over to see the injury; her wing was shot right through, the feathers had fallen off and parts of her bare muscle and bone were sticking out. She fell over, the blood lost and pain was too much to bear. She tried to get up and stay conscious as she saw her troops being shot down, only a few made it to the defenders but were quickly taken down by spears while climbing the makeshift wall. The shock of the situation hit her and then she fell unconscious.
Nopony was prepared for this war, and nothing could of prepared anyone.
She could feel pain and bandages all over her body, especially her right wing and eye, which were heavily covered.
Looking around, she could tell that she was in a makeshift hospital, lying on a wooden board padded with cloth that was soaked in blood.
"Probably from me," she muttered to herself, thinking about how much blood she had lost. Then she realised that she could be in danger; the hospital could potentially be the enemy's.
There was nopony in sight, at least nopony who was still alive. On the 'beds' around her were either empty, or occupied by a failed patient, whose body was left to rot until somepony decided to dump it away.
She heard a rattle outside and looked over at the entrance of the tent. First the sound of a piece metal being hit by a hoof and then spilling of liquid on the ground. The liquid seeped through the walls of the tent to Rainbow's clear view; it was blood along with a few bits of guts.
"Fricking! Son of a Bach! That F*cking hurt! Who put that 'ere?!" a young stallion cursed. After no response, he sighed and went into the tent. "Seriously?! Who puts a bucket of organs in the way of the entrance of a normally busy area along with another bunch of crap?!" he muttered to himself. Rainbow Dash looked up onto the oncoming stallion.
He was a very young stallion who looked to be in his adolescence; he had a very skinny frame along with a newly grown pair of wings. He was covered in soot and blood, which was mainly on his hoofs. But even with the pain in her eye, she could make out his colour scheme; orange coat and blue hair.
At least it's a pony, she thought hoping that he would treat her not as bad as the regular prisoner of war.
"Oh, hello 'ere!" The stallion chirped with a much more happier tone as a spotted the conscious casualty looking down her surroundings. "You've been out for a week! Never though I'll have conscious company till now!"
Rainbow Dash looked at him with a confused look on her face. This was noticed by the stallion, who gave a frown back at her before realising the reason of her confusion.
"Oh!" he gasped with realisation, "I'm not the enemy, you were brought back from the 'attle with a blown up wing, scars and bruises. Barely made it out alive I 'eard."
She let out a sigh of relief and looked onto the roof of the tent, trying to recount what happened.
"They always want to know, don't 'ey?" The stallion said, "Every single one of 'em." He sighed and started to tidy up her surroundings; picking up guts and loose bandages. "Well you would expect yourself to be in enemy hooves after falling unconscious deep in enemy territory. Do you remembered what 'appened?" he asked, looking at her one bandage-less eye.
She opened her mouth before a massive headache hit her head, and ended up shaking her head slowly and biting her lip, trying to sooth the immense pain.
"Can't talk eh?" He commented, putting down a medical kit full of supplies next to her.
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth, feeling the same pain, but pushed through and tried to utter a voice before feeling a much stronger headache before shutting her mouth and shaking her head again.
Bloody hell, I can't even talk! How long have I been out? she thought to herself, wiggling her other body part to see which she can move or not.
"Probably the fatigue, don't worry, I'll cook up some 'ing" He pulled up a couple ration packs from his pack and prepared a stove. "Hurts?" he asked as he lit a match.
She nodded and silently sighed, her bones and muscle were aching from staying still for so long, along with the battle wounds she received. "Just relax and lie 'own," he said preparing a metal bowl. "I don't need any help; It's my job to take care of ponies like you." He poured water into the bowl, along with some dried vegetables, which he quickly chopped with an issued, blunt butter knife, and then putting it on the lit stove after a quick stir.
She lowered her head onto the 'bed', watching the stallion doing his work. "You like spice or sweet? or none of 'em, nod up for spice, down for sweet, and side to side for none."
Rainbow nodded slowly up, then down, earning a grin from the stallion. "Both!? I like your style, just like the taste of a rainbow!" he joked, adding a few drops of condensed milk, a hint of paprika, a drizzle of vinegar and a little dip of alcohol from his ration pack. After letting it simmer, adding a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and adding a few drops of fresh tomato paste.
Rainbow rolled her eye (single) at the joke. Still, she was surprised that the stallion would give up his alcohol and fresh paste for her, giving him a curious look.
The stallion gave it a quick stir before looking at Rainbow Dash and noticing the look on her face. "Don't worry, you're consisdered as a war hero now. Everyone knows about what you did. You deserve it; consider it a treat," he said, giving her a reassuring smile.
After a few more seconds of simmering, he approached her with the hearty soup in his hoof. Rainbow Dash was about to get up by herself, but her lack of strength forced her to be helped up by the stallion's free hoof. She groaned; she wasn't use to be feeling so helpless and requiring assistance for even the most basic of actions. She couldn't even talk! And of course, she has a reputation to maintain.
At least nopony else is here to see me like this, she thought as the bowl of soup came closer to her lips.
"Sorry, I don't have my spoon with me. It probably fell into a pile of sh-ait, I hope you can handle the heat," he said apologetically.
Rainbow gave him a small smile, as if saying; its alright. She pressed her lips on the bowl, gulping down the hot and fresh soup. It tasted quite good actually, with a bit of spice and sweetness, but mostly the feeling of relief as she had her first meal of a week. The piece of vegetables just slipped down her throat, relieving the thrist she had when she woke up, and before she knew it, the soup was all gone.
"Quite the hungry one eh? Not surprised; you've been in a coma for a week, especially after that battle you had." He took away the bowl and scraped the bottom for the spare vegetables and dunked them into his mouth.
The battle.
Thoughts came streaming through her head about her last memories before she fell unconscious. Featherwing. Thunderlane. All the bolts and arrows, all the ponies, all the dead.
"Need another?" the stallion asked, snapping her out of the thoughts. She shook her head and sighed out loud.
The stallion pulled out a several medical equipment and started to survey Rainbow. " 'At soup really did a miracle eh? You look much more livelier." He began to check her pulse, her throat and her abdomen. Rainbow couldn't agreed more, see was starting to regain her strength and her head felt much better. Her stomach felt warm and comfortable; she never felt so happy for food.
"Looks alright..." He muttered and began checking her wings. Dash felt really uncomfortable about the experience, but she knew he was just doing his job.
"Oh... dang, looks like you'll have to have a mechanical," he muttered. Rainbow initially thought, worst medic ever.
What type of doctor says "whoops!" and "Oh crap!" during a surgery or check?!
Well... he had to be a bit blunt, you can't sugar-coat; "Oh... you'll need to have your wing sawed off awake without any painkillers because we can't afford them. And then strap on mechanical wing on the side cause we can afford a fully functional, aerodynamic, mechanical wing but we can't afford a jar of painkillers, and most healing unicorns with numbing or painkilling spells are shot dead or captured."
She sighed. "What's your name?" She uttered, the soup having its affect on her fatigue. The stallion paused, and looked towards her. "You're Rainbow Dash, right?" he asked, before slowly continuing on preparing medical equipment.
She nodded. "Ever heard of the name; Sentry?" He asked, only to have her dumb folded; history was never her strong point, especially with the Wonderbolts. He sighed, "That's my family's name, as well as my brother's." He picked up a small bandage and dabbed it with salt water. "Name's First Base," he said, taking a peek under the bandage of her eye.
"Funny, I never heard of you in Cloudsdale."
"That's cause I live in Ponyville," First Base muttered. "When my parents died, my brother decided 'at he couldn't supply both of us, so he took me to Ponyville Orphanage and left me there under the care of a teacher. After that, he moved to Canterlot to join the Guard."
"What happened after that?" Rainbow asked
"He just rose up the ranks to Sergeant, while I never knew I had a brother." First Base continued to treat Rainbow Dash's eye. " 'En, the disaster struck and I left to help in the war effort along with everypony else."
"Did you meet here?" She questioned.
"Yes, I was volunteering to fight on the front but the officers thought that it would be better if I was just a back-line medic because they needed more of us." He rolled his eyes and sarcastically mocked the recruiting officers, "We 'on't want yah to experience the 'orrors of war!"
He chuckled, "and here I am; sawing of ponies' limbs and hearing 'em scream."
Rainbow Dash looked at what would of been a young and innocent stallion, who was covered in blood and making jokes about the destruction of the war. How things could've been different, she thought. How did such a glorious nation like Equestria, became this hell hole? She sighed at the thought.
"And 'en one day, He was brought to my post along with his platoon, who needed medical attention. And 'at's where he saw me," he concluded, whilst removing the bandage.
Rainbow Dash pondered about what to ask about as First Base began to tie the new bandage on her face. All they could hear was the clip-clopping of hooves that belonged to ponies running supplies and messages past the tent, along with the sound of constant artillery fire in the distant with the occasional scream.
Finally, Dash decided to speak up. "Who brought me here?" Dash asked. "The last thing I remembered was passing out in the middle of the battle."
First Base paused and thought, "Umm... I think... It was a Pegasus stallion by the name of... Oh crap, I don't remember." He sighed and continued to wrap up her eye. "I was busy treating the others when you were brought in," he explained. "But 'at looked to be a waste of time," he said while pointing at the blood, dead corpses and amputated limbs that were scattered around the tent.
"Oh, I do believe he was a Wonderbolt," he thought out loud.
"Wonderbolt 2nd platoon?" Dash asked.
"Yeah, you were from the battle of Rambling Rock Ridge... Yeah, the Wonderbolt 2nd platoon was with you. It's possible." First Base concluded wrapping her eye and examined her other minor wounds.
"What is it this time?" A white unicorn stallion with a blue mane sighed as mare began to read the report.
"110th Unicornian regiment was decimated at Galloping Gorge." A grey mare with a blond mane responded and continued to list down the incidents.
"the 32nd platoon of Unit 512 is missing in the proximity of Neighagra Falls, the 233rd Hoof Regiment was pushed back from Macintosh Hills, the dragons have been reported to have landed within the Haysead Swamp, and the 67th Apploosian Regiment is reported to have routing members." The mare stopped and looked up from her pages of reports to the stallion behind the desk in front of her.
He sighed, "Always bad never the good," he muttered. "Thank you for the hourly report, Lance Corporal Hooves."
The mare saluted and walked out of the office. The stallion sighed and looked towards the picture of his once happy family; his father, mother, sister and himself, all together went times were different.
"General?" a voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Uhh... yeah. Come in." he responded.
A dark blue unicorn stallion entered the room with a report in hoof. "We have lost the Castle of the two Sisters, all troops who were stationed in the everfree are reported to be missing or dead except for a handful of survivors who managed to make their way to Ponyville Fort. They are currently waiting for orders."
The white unicorn sighed, "Tell them to add themselves to the existing garrisons, there's not much else they can do."
After receiving the order, the unicorn left the room, leaving him to think over the events of the war. He glance at the map on the table which was covered in boxes, arrows and scribbles. He sighed and focused on the situation on the map.
Ever since the start of the war, the Kingdom of Equestria had lost many lands. It first started out as a civil war between the bat-ponies and the ponies, but as the war raged on, the nations surrounding Equestria took the opportunity to take some lands as their own. First, the dragons decided to take part of the Badlands and the Forbidden Jungle, followed by the Griffons taking Baltimare and Fillydelphia. Because of this, Reinforcements had to take position at Manehattan, leaving the Bug Bears to Ravage the north. Since then, the Yaks took the initiative to take the lands north of Vanhoover and the Buffalos to take Macintosh Hills. The changlings decided to base themselves all over Equestria, undercover and ready to strike at any time.
"Shining Armour?" a voice called from outside.
"Don't call me that! It's anything, but!" he snapped.
"Look! I know you're still mad about all this, but there's nothing you could of done!"
"Yeah... yeah, yeah. HOW is that meant to help me in ANY WAY! My parents died! My sister DIED! MY OWN DAUGHTER DIED!!! ALL THOSE I LOVED DIED BECAUSE OF ME!!!! BEACAUSE I COULD OF PROTECTED THEM!!!!!" he boomed. "'Knight in Shining Armour'? My parents gave me the wrong name." he muttered to himself.
Realising his sudden outburst he apologetically said, "I'm sorry about it Cadence." He took a deep breath, pulling his right hoof towards his chest before extending his hoof as he exhaled. He had been getting intense mood swings and a shorter temper ever since his coronation.
The alicorn mare watched him as he continued to take deep breaths. He had been in his office for five entire days, planning, sending ponies to run errands and organising the military forces. The pressures of his position had clearly taken its toll on him; his hair was messed up, his eyes were baggy and bloodshot, and worst of all (in her opinion); he smelt like crap. For sitting in an office and thinking, he sure does sweat a lot from the stress of his position.
"It's just that I... I..." He drooped his head, unsure about what to say next, before peering over his shoulder at the painting behind him. There hung a full portrait of himself in royal armour at his coronation, armed with a decorated sword and holding his helmet in his hoof, confidently to the side with his nose pointed up; the opposite of who he is now.
He sighed and drooped his head and ears, "Ever since my coronation, Equestria is just plummeting into destruction. More troops are landing on our shores, more of our troops are dying, ground is being lost every second, and the bat-ponies are currently at the door-step of Canterlot. What can I do?!" He put is head in his hooves and sighed, before weeping quietly to himself.
Cadence walked toward the weeping stallion, she felt sad for the poor prince in front of her as he wept to himself, thinking about his failures. She walked to his side and put a hoof onto his shoulder. "If anyone of us had the power or ability to stop all this, the war would've ended by now."
He looked up at her with a tear stained face. Nods slowly and sighs, drooping his head and ears back down to the ground. "Do you think we are helping Equestria, or delaying the inevitable?" he asks her with a deep and monotone voice.
Her reassuring smile faded away as she looked towards the ground, deep in thought, before putting her hoof on his shoulder.
"I don't know."
First base was writing down details of Rainbow's condition on a clipboard, humming a tune with Rainbow lying down on a brand new 'bed'. As the colt was writing away, she was in deep thought. What happended to the rest of my section? How the battle?
A knocking an a piece of wood was heard from the entrance of the hospital. First base put down his clipboard and walked towards the front of the tent. Pulling the cover open, he was stunned to see who was standing in front of him.
"Sergeant?! What are you doing here?" he asked in utter amazement.
"I was told that Corporal Rainbow Dash is recovering here. I have orders to bring news to her about her new platoon," a stallion's voice replied.
Rainbow peeked over towards the front where First Base was, curious to who this sergeant is.
"Yes, at once sergeant! you may come in, she is currently well and conscious." First Base answered and pulled the cover of the tent open to the newcomer.
Rainbow Dash was supprised at who the stallion was. He has a light blue coat along with dark blue mane, dressed in tin aerial combat armour and armed with an iron lance. Three cheverons engraved onto his shoulder plate to signify his rank.
"Soarin? The Soarin?! Wonderbolt 2nd platoon Soarin?!!" She question with excitement, fueled by her inner fangirl of the Wonderbolts.
"Somepony's quite excited to see me," he chuckled, making Rainbow shut her mouth and continue to internally squeal.
First Base smiled, at the encounter before focusing his attention on Soarin. "What are you here to tell Dash here about?" he asked.
"There are some changes that are being put in place during your recovery that must be known to you." He said, turning to Rainbow. "Due to the sear amount of casualties recently, The Equestrian Military is reorganising sections and platoons universally." He continued. "Because of the lack of survivors from your unit's recent attack, new ponies are going to be put in place to fulfil empty positions. These ponies with vary in origin from all over Equestria from decimated units. That includes your privates, Lance Corporal and Platoon Sergeant."
As that was said, Rainbow would recall her old platoon's mates, who'll no longer serve by her. Especially Thunderlane, Featherwing and many members of her old section; and to just have them replaced was a stab in the heart.
"Your Lance Corporal will be chosen by you after a week of training under your new Platoon Sergeant."
Rainbow took the information in and thought it through. Then she came across a few questions. "Where will my new unit be stationed?" She asked out of curiousity.
"I believe your unit will still be the 52nd Light Calvary, but your unit's stationing is currently unknown. Your week of training will held somewhere on the borders of the Everfree Forest." Soarin replied without hesistation.
"Okay, umm..." Dash thought to herself about the next question. "Who will my new Sergeant be?"
Soarin looked down onto his list in his hoof, he bit his lip as he searched throught, flipping page after page on his clipboard. "Platoon Sergeant... Sergeant, Sergeant... Sergeant," he muttered as he scanned page after page before striking gold. "A-ha! There we go!" he shouted, catching First Base off-guard as he flinched hard at the sudden outburst.
"It seems your new Sergeant will be a Pegasus by the name of Flash Sentry!" He finished.
Rainbow nodded her head up and down, and then looked towards a surprised First Base with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. "My-m-mm-my Brother?!" he exclaimed with surprise.
"It seems so." Soarin gave the paper one last time before putting it away.
"Wow! didn't think his new platoon would be stationed so close to me!" First Base cried out.
"I think we will be moving away from here," Dash said pointing at the ground. "And to somewhere else after the week of training."
"Well, we can always just keep in touch," he replied smiling at her.
"If not, I can always get severely wounded again." She joked.
"It seems that your week of training will begin in two weeks," Soarin continued. "How would the injuries hold up?"
Her smiled faded as she was unsure if she could even heal quick enough considering the injuries were quite life threatening. She turned her head towards First Base with a worried look on her face. Sure enough, he still standing there with a grin on his face.
"I bet Dash can pull through, after all, she did survive a blown-up wing as well as extremely blood loss on the front lines." He said confidently. "If we replaced her wing, at the end of the fortnight, her eye should heal nicely and then she'll be as good as new except with a few cuts and bruises."
The medic's report put an ease through her mind as she checked her other injuries.
"Good, then I think I'll be on my way now. It was nice meeting you two again," Soarin chuckled as he turned to leave.
Again?, Dash thought. No, it can't be!
"Wait! Wait again, umm... Soarin!" She called out, making Soarin turn back.
"Yes?" He responded.
"Your from Wonderbolt 2nd Platoon, right?!"
"Umm... yeah. So...?"
"Who pulled me out of the battle when I fell?" She asked with the same intensity as her eye glared at him.
Soarin was taken aback. He turned to First Base, "You didn't tell her?"
"I mind blanked, alright!" First Base excused himself.
"Alright, I think that would be all." First base smiled at his recovered patient after looking up from his clipboard.
"Thanks for all your help," Rainbow Dash replied, gratefully.
"Aw... it was nah-thin'," he replied blushing.
"Really, thank you."
"Just... doin' me job."
Rainbow smiled at he as he gave a grin back, then she turned away and walked towards her new platoon, armed with a metal wing on her back. Giving is a stretch before flopping it back down, testing it for the umpteenth time.
First Base grinned at the mare walk away. Nothing was more satisfying for a field medic to watch a pony who came in on the verge of death, to walk out recovered. He sighed as he watched her trot away and thought; My first successful patient.
It took a while to navigate her way towards her unit, which was allegedly about to depart for Canterlot. She trotted pass many different ponies from different units on the way. Ponies of all different races and hometowns eating, chatting, reporting, performing surgery and running errands; another day of the war.
She sighed and stretched her limbs and wings as she made her way around other ponies wandering about. The whole time, she could only think about how would she approach re-engaging in combat, especially with a new platoon.
Would she be more cautious? Or more aggressive next time? Can she cope with another group of friends? Or would she be not as lucky?
After wandering around and asking a few ponies for directions, she finally spotted a pony with a '52nd Light Calvary' insignia on their armour and made her way towards him. As she came closer, the pony turned out to be part of a section, with was part of a platoon milling around, chatting and mucking around with one another.
"Hey! It's Corporal Dash!" A pony cried aloud as he spotted her, causing a crowd to form.
She wore a small grin of pride as the ponies recognised her, as well as showing her egotistical side. Wow, for only a few weeks since, word has gotten around of her 'heroic actions'.
"I heard that she led her section on a suicidal charge at the Rambling Rock ridge and barely made it out alive," a mare muttered to her friend right next to her along with uver mutterings in the background. After hearing that, Rainbow's grin only grew larger.
"We're gonna kick the bat-ponies' butt now! We got Rainbow Dash on our side!" A stallion cried out.
"I've heard that you killed 10 griffons without breaking a sweat!" A mare said aloud.
The cheering and the praising went on and on, getting loud by the second. Until suddenly, a loud voice boomed over them all.
"WHAT THE BUCK IS GOING ON OUT HERE??!!! I JUST LITERALLY TOLD YOU GUYS TO SHUT UP FIVE MINUTES AGO!!!
Everypony went silent and looked towards the pony who shouted.
Rainbow peered over the crowd to see a particular battle-scarred orange stallion with a blue mane. Her eyes crawled down from his head to see his rank slide on his shoulder, which consisted of three chevrons. This was definitely her new Sergeant.
The Sergeant scanned the crowd of ponies and picked up a mare with a rainbow mane within the crowd.
"CORPORAL!!! Care to explain?!!" he boomed.
Rainbow fumbled with her reply. Should she answer him truthfully or defensively? How should she answer him? First Base said that this was his brother; but he never mentioned that he would be such a big arse.
"Well?!!"
"Umm... Sorry Sergeant..." She replied.
"Get in here!" he gestured towards a tent. "Get your stuff ready and we will go at 1200 sharp! Understood?!!"
"Sergeant!" Rainbow acknowledged and rushed inside a tent, hoping to not cause any more trouble.
During that exchange, the crowd of ponies started muttering quietly in disapproval.
"How dare he treat her like that!" A mare muttered.
"Rainbow Dash doesn't deserve that treatment." Another said in disapproval.
"I bet she's seen more action on the battlefield than he has!" A stallion chipped in, trying to be smug.
Flash's ear popped up at that comment. From what one could tell; it hit a soft spot. He slowly turned to face the stallion who made the remark and marched up to him with a harsh glare.
He stopped in front of him, directly muzzle to muzzle, exhaled deeply and said, "May you repeat your last comment Private?" with a strangely calm voice without gritting his teeth.
The stallion who was clearly crapping his pants, puffed his chest forwards and tried to intimidate Flash without looking intimidated himself.
"You don't scare me!" He remarked suddenly.
Flash looked at the stallion with a disapproving gaze. After a moment's pause he continued.
"Are you stupid?" Flash asked. "Or do you think I'm stupid?"
The stallion decided not to take the risk of angering the Sergeant in front of him and managed to squeeze out a, "No...?"
Flash tilted his head with a confused glare and went on, "Then why didn't you answer my question?"
"I... I... Um..." The stallion stuttered. His legs started shaking slightly and he looked at the ponies around him for any sign of an idea or support. Finding nothing, he just looked back at the stallion in front without an answer.
"That's what I thought." Flash muttered as the stallion failed to get an answer out.
Flash turned away and started trotting towards the tent. The struggling stallion watched helplessly as some ponies, started giggling at his futile attempts against the Sergeant. The he mustered up the rest of his courage and blurted out as a last ditch attempt to save his dignity.
"You... You... You're A BULLSHIT FUCKING PILE OF SHIT!!! YOU... YOU... YOU ABUSE US ALL! EVER SINCE WE MET YOU!!!!! YOU NEVER GIVE US ANY CHANCES!!! YOU... YOU MISTREAT US!!!! AND THEN YOU MISTREAT A WAR-TIME HERO!!!!! YOU'RE A DISGRACE!!!!! I BET THAT YOUR... YOUR... your..." The stallion ran out of lines as Flash approached him again. This time, the stallion was visibly shaking in fear.
Flash stopped in front of him calmly and waited for him to finish, which he never did as they stood face to face in silence.
Finally, after a few seconds of standing, Flash broke the silence.
"One, Can you listen to yourself? All that crap you just blurted out? Tell me... What do you have to back it up?"
The stallion stood in silence, instantly regretting his decision to go up against the Sergeant. He thought back to what he said and instantly regretted ever trying to blurt out crap. His plan to save his dignity, made him loss more of it.
"And Two, If that's how you really feel, then you got some problems."
He paused for the slight off-chance that the stallion would look at his actions logically, but that was an 'off-chance'.
He sighed, "Tell me Private. Have you ever been on the battlefield? Have you ever seen any action? Have you even seen the dead and wounded from the battlefields?"
The stallion stood in silence.
"Did you ever see your mates slowly fall apart from you and die? Have you ever killed a pony? Have you ever beaten somepony to death in front of your very eyes?"
Every pony was silent.
"War is unforgiving. You think I abuse you? You think I never give you chances? You think I mistreat you?"
Flash's stern glare was as hard as ever. "Go onto the battlefield and see for yourself that I'm not lying."
Even the units next to them were silent and looking at the exchange.
Finally Flash sighed as the Stallion stood there, frozen and was stubbornly holding in his voice.
"Get out."
Those words cut through the silence like glass smashing in the middle of the night.
"Get out, Now. I've given you chances, I've let yourself redeem yourself for the past month, I've treated you as a fellow pony for the past 2 months. If this was real war, you're the equivalent of a recruit straight out of his recruitment, getting shot through the head as he took his first steps towards the enemy. Now, Get out. I've had enough of this shit."
The stallion just stared at the glaring Sergeant in dread as he knew; Flash Sentry never kids around. He looked at around him again for any sign of defence, but came up with none.
The ponies just watched and thought about it all.
Even his 'friends' didn't step in. Partly from fear and dread, but mostly from seeing the proof in the Sergeant's words.
A part of his brain told him that he was right and to step down. Another suggested that he would go onto his knees and beg. Unfortunately for the stallion, 'Stubbornness' was in pilot seat today.
He took a deep breath in and shouted aloud, "FINE THEN!!! I'LL GO AWAY FROM THIS STUPID PLATOON AND UNIT AND FIND A BETTER ONE!!! AS LONG AS I AM AS FAR AWAY FROM YOU, YOU ASSHOLE!!! ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN THIS!!!!!"
He tore of the insignia, as well as a large, embarassing chunk of his uniform off and threw it onto the ground. After giving it a couple of stomps on it, he stomped away with as equally as much force into the ground.
The ponies watched in surprise as the event occurred. Flash deeply exhaled and picked up the insignia and marched over to a gapping-mouth Rainbow Dash who as at the front of the tent with her new gear on.
"When possible trim this up and wash it," he muttered and gave it to her.
"Oh... Yes... Sergeant..." She answered quietly in surprise.
"ONE PLATOON!!! FORM UP!!!" he commanded as Rainbow put the insignia into her pocket.
This was one interesting Sergeant. Things will be very different.
"Sorry Sarge... but you guys can't make the trip. There ain't enough carriages and the tracks got sabotaged. For safety purposes, we reject your request to board." A pony said towards the Sergeant.
Flash sighed and looked back to the pony and asked, "When's the next train to Canterlot?"
"Not too sure, but we estimate that the train's gonna be back at late afternoon tomorrow."
"How long's the trip?"
"About two hours with the reduced safety speed."
Flash thought in silence and looked back towards his platoon, then back to the pony.
"Alright, thanks any way," he muttered and headed off towards his corporals who were waiting for him with the rest of the platoon.
"NCOs over here!" he commanded as Rainbow Dash and two other ponies walked up to him.
"So what now?" A corporal asked.
"We'll walk," Flash replied.
"WALK?? it'll take twelve hours even without a break!" Another Corporal cried out.
"Look," Flash said. "We are due to arrive 1800 tomorrow! The train can be earlier or later. If we march and set up midway for the night, we'll have enough time to eat, sleep, pack up and arrive before six. It'll give these recruits some basic training while we're at it."
Rainbow looked towards the clock on the station, and back towards the platoon and asked, "Is everypony packed?"
"Yes," Corporal Whiplash replied.
Rainbow grinned and said, "It's one right now, if we leave now, we'll arrive halfway before eight."
The two corporals looked at one another in disbelief.
"We're seriously walking from here to Canterlot, along with these bastards?!" Corporal Silver Streak cried out, pointing to the platoon.
Flash grinned towards Rainbow and let out a chuckle, "There's this thing called marching, you may of never heard of it."
"Let's get this show on the road!" Rainbow cheered.
"What are you guys standing here doing?! Get the buggers over here and literally get a move on!" Flash commanded as the two corporals went towards their respective sections the prepare for the march.
Flash gave a small smile to Rainbow and complimented her, "It's good to have somepony who actually has initiative."
The air was filled with soft grunting, hooves hitting the battered earth and clanging of armour and equipment. Some ponies were groaning with exhaustion, while others kept to themselves and pushed forwards, tugging their heavy kits. Each corporal lead their squads of ten in columns of two right behind each other while been overseen by a sergeant oberserving the whole line.
A pony fell towards the ground onto their knees, giving up to the heat of exhaustion. Those beside him rushed to his aid of helping him back up, and some offering to take some of his load. The commotion attracted the attention of the whole line, and the movement grinded to a halt. The sergeant signalled to the other corporals to carry on forwards and marched quickly towards the exhausted pony as the other sections reorganised themselves.
"You guys! Stand back, he can stand by himself!" He ordered the surrounding ponies.
The surrounding ponies, slowly and hesitantly took a couple steps back as the sergeant stepped right in front of the pony who had just fallen, as he struggled to stand back up with the weigh of his gear.
The sergeant looked at the pony and sighed, before simply stating. "Keep it all on, don't take any off," as the pony was about to drop his load off his back.
As the pony obeyed the commands and stood straight up, his legs were visibly shaking under the stress of the equipment.
"It takes up more energy to put your pack on and off than it is to keep it on," the commander spoke. "It is also easier to keep moving forwards than to keep stopping and going."
The pony slowly nodded at the statement and acknowledged with a weak, "Yes, sergeant."
"There's only two more miles to mid-way," The sergeant said. "Come on. The sooner we get there, the sooner you can take it all off."
The ponies all just stared at the sergeant, before he looked at the corporal ahead of the group.
"Whatcha waiting for? Form them up!"
The corporal quickly acknowledged and signalled for the group to line back up into their original formations as the pony picked up all his gear onto his legs and trudged forwards with the group.
"NOW GET A MOVE ON!!! YOU GUYS ARE QUITE FAR BEHIND!!!!!" The sergeant boomed as the ponies shuffled forwards, groaning as much as they had started the march with, continuing the sound of metal clanging and hooves stomping.
Eventually, the platoon arrived at the point together. The ponies were tired, exhausted and were extremely hot and sweaty under the Equestrian and their heavy kits and armour. Flash Sentry then ordered a construction of a camp in full armour and equipment, pushing many ponies to their breaking points. Those who weren't involved in building were on sentry duty, scouting out the surrounding lands while being taught field movements and practice under the weight of their kit. By mid afternoon, the camp was 50% constructed.
Rainbow Dash was leading her section through the edges of the Everfree on the south of the camp. She creped silently into the woods and then signalled her section to form an arrow-head formation, but only a few ponies immediately complied. The rest were delayed by slow reaction time.
"Not good enough!" she cried out to her squad. "By now, we should've been through that clearing! If this is the best you guys can do, then we are as useless as a shell-less turtle acting as live bait!"
The ponies groaned as they pushed onwards under the effect of exhaustion and the heat of the sun shining through the sparse leaves above.
"Crystal Frost! Get lower! Your white mane is like a beacon of light for the enemy!" Rainbow commanded, as a mare complied and ducked her head lower into the surrounding vegetation.
"Shadow Blade! Get up here! You're dragging us behind!"
A black and grey stallion's head shot up from his cover he heard the command and ushered forwards into formation.
The ponies trudged through the forest as Rainbow kept giving orders around to exercise her section's mobility and stealth.
"Blue Lightning! You're too far away! Do you want to get shot first or what?!"
A blue stallion ducked down at his position and waited for his section to catch up.
Suddenly a crossbow bolt came flying through the trees and narrowly missed his head, impaling itself into the tree next to him.
"Get down!" Rainbow shouted as her whole section hit the dirt.
Some laughing was heard in front of the section, before some ponies, especially Rainbow Dash, slowly lifted their heads to look at the source of the sound, while others were still deep in the vegetation, attempting to look through the tall grass.
Then, a pony pulled back on his crossbow, loaded and aimed it before quickly shooting it at the source of the laughter, which was followed by a collection of screams.
"Snap Back! Get down! I did not tell you to fire!" Rainbow ordered strictly as the pony who shot reluctantly lowered him self down into the bushes.
The section stayed low in the bushes before a shout was heard.
"CASAVACT! CASAVACT! CASAVACT! NO DUFF! NO DUFF! NO DUFF!"
"Stay down!" Rainbow Dash ordered as some ponies were about to raise their heads.
Rainbow sighed and said, "Silver Wing, stay here and make sure none of them does anything stupid." as she glared at Snap Back, who looked away with no emotion on his face.
"Corporal," Silver acknowledged before Rainbow crawled forwards to Blue lightning's position.
"What's going on?" Rainbow asked the blue stallion who was trying to peek through the tall grass without exposing himself.
"I'm not sure," Blue Lightning replied.
"Load your weapon," Rainbow ordered. "If anypony sees me and tries to shoot me, knock them dead."
"Corporal," the stallion acknowledged as he placed a bolt on the weapon and laid it in the tall grass.
Rainbow Dash crawled quickly behind the tree which the bolt impaled and stretched her metal wing out before pouncing, then swooping into the cover of the tree's leaves.
Peeking out, she could see a squad of ponies surrounding a stallion who had a crossbow bolt in his shoulder.
She sighed and said to her squadron, "Fall back, get to base." She turned her head towards Snap Back, who was emotionlessly looking at the vegetation, and sternly said, "Snap Back, you're coming with me."
