> Paradise
>  by John 117
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> Paradise 
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	I have been in Equestria for some time. I used to live on a planet called Earth, but was I abruptly taken from my original home by a freak accident, one which I honestly don’t regret at all. On the contrary, I love it, and wish that it had happened sooner. I was once a soldier- a marine, to be precise. I served a country called The United States of America. My country had been at war for decades, but then again, who hadn't been?Resources which humans had depended on so greatly were running short. Hoping to protect my friends and family, I joined up, my intentions honorable and noble. I wanted to serve not to kill, but to protect. Well, that’s what Celestia said she had seen when she examined me.

She had gone through my past; how I was raised. She saw my parents, my lonely childhood, a friend from a distant country, the wars, and most of all,  my character through it all. She forgave me for all of it; the killing, the wars, and the bloodshed, because she understood why- to protect. Well, I had to protect once again, for now that the changelings were back. Those wars were horrid. Many ponies died during it, all of them for the same cause: to protect.  I helped Celestia and her sister win, of course. My training in the art of war was far greater than that of the ponies was a great asset for the Princesses, and they took advantage of it. I didn’t feel used. On the contrary, I wanted to help. I understood why.

I remember the day I returned home from the war. The peace treaty to end the war had been signed and Celestia had asked what I wanted in return for my service. It had been voluntary, but I had done so much that she felt that I deserved something. I looked down at the feather I had in my pocket and drew it out, remembering the mare I liked back home in Ponyville. I told her and she nodded with a slight smile. I never found out what she meant by it, but I didn’t’ care. A bright light enveloped me. All of a sudden, I’m standing in front of a small cottage outside of Ponyville. I feel my knees give out from under me I and fall to my knees, dropping my M240B ( I had been a squad support gunner back on Earth). I knew I was here, but I couldn’t move. I didn’t want to move. I was afraid that if she saw me with my matted hair, bloody MCCUU, and grime-covered face that she wouldn’t take me. I knew that she was terrified of things like me.

Killers, monsters in the night. That’s how I felt about it all; monstrous. I had done and seen so many horrible things, for which I could never forgive myself. I was a monster, but only she could decide if I could be saved. The door popped open and a yellow head peaked out. Her face was half covered by her pink mane and she didn’t look directly at me. I shivered and looked down at my hands. Grime and blood covered them because I hadn't been able to bathe in quite a long time; a shower isn't something you come across on the front line.She opened the door a tiny bit more and looked at me quizzically. Then she spoke. 

“Aren’t you going to come in, Matt?” I just stared at her. Then, I broke. I finally broke and couldn’t hold back. I cried and she held me. I held her as I cried and she didn’t say a word. She let me, knowing I needed to. Never had I broken, not even during my time on Earth as a Marine. But now was different. I could let go and she would catch me. She never asked about what had happened during the war, nor was she curious, and for that I was grateful. I could never forgive myself if I scared her with my deeds.

I looked down at the small Pegasus under my wing. I smiled at her, noticing how she was sleeping. We were both lying on a blanket on a hill, and the night sky was beautiful. When ever I had nightmares, we would go outside to this hill and just lie there, watching the night sail by until I felt better. The stars shone brighter than usual and the moon was at its fullest, bathing the ground below it in radiant beauty and light. I’ll have to thank Princess Luna for that later. I nudge Fluttershy awake with my muzzle, nibbling at her hair. She wakes up and smiles up at me.

When I had first met Fluttershy, she was horribly afraid of me. I was so much larger than her in both weight and size. I had my gear on and everything, with my M240B slung over my shoulder. I had been brought right out of a combat zone, by accident, of course. She eventually got used to me, and my having to save her a few times didn't hurt either. Before I left for the war, she had given me one of her feathers. I would take it out and look at it whenever I was going to break. In a way, she kept me alive and sane without even being there.  Looking at it she always brought me back from the darkness.

Once the war was over, Celestia told me of a certain spell. It had the power to turn me into a pony, if I so desired. I happy accepted and was turned into a Pegasus. Overall, I'd describe my new body as a smaller Clydesdale. I have wings, of course, and my coat is black. I have tips of white and grey in my mane and tail. I have always loved to fly, so I guess that manifested during the transformation. Once it was all finished and done, I had gotten to get used to the new body. Once that was over, I moved to Ponyville.

Fluttershy and I began to hang out more and I even started to form a crush on the sweet mare. Eventually, I asked her out on Hearts and Hooves day. She happily accepted, and so she became my special mare friend. This was one of the happiest times in my life. The relationship jas lasted for 2 years. Well, I’ve wanted to take it further, knowing that she was the one. I chose this night to ask her, and had set everything up. Now we lay here, looking up at the stars and the moon, and occasionally each other, content with one another’s company. I finally get the nerve to ask. Sitting up on my haunches, I turn to her. She does the same, a bit confused.

“Fluttershy, these last two years have been magical. I have never felt like this in all my life, and never has anyone evoked so much emotion and love in me as you do. Humans have a tradition, that when a stallion asks a mare to marry him, he gives her a ring,” I pull out a small box from underneath me. I crack it open, revealing a large diamond ring. Fluttershy gasps, knowing what’s coming. “Fluttershy, will do me the honor of marrying me,” I ask her. She nods happily, a small tear falling down her face, the moon bathing her in light. At this moment, she never looked more beautiful.

"Yes, Matt, oh yes, you silly stallion,” and with that, she jumps on me, hugging me tightly and knocking me over onto my back. I laugh happily, and nuzzle against her head. Ours eyes met and we kiss, knowing that the future looked bright.