Pvt. Fluttershy

The day ended with the equipment being loaded up on the beach, and looking over the area littered with bodies, guns, and shrapnel. The blood from several ponies covered the ocean in a murky red color, as the waves crashed in and took the dead from the beach, cleaning it from the trash lying down around the beach. Taking in all of the evil that has happened, and locking it away to only be relived in history books.

Fluttershy sat on the cliffside, looking across the beach, watching the peaceful sea take in everything bad. She watched as bodies rocked back and forth from the waves crashing into them. She felt an emotional pain inside, one that she can't describe. It was eating at her, but, she didn't think it mattered. She shifted her eyes to the hill, where changlings laid there, lifeless. She thought about shooting her Garand again, the power of the rifle, it felt like a entire new experience. The long trigger pull, the sound of the gun shooting the round, and the ping at the end. She began to close her eyes, locking her head down, hoping to get the feelings out of her system. Moments pasted, when she felt a hoof on her shoulder, it was the Captain.

"How you doin' Private?" Twilight asked.

"I'm fine sir." she said in her quiet, but understandable tone.

"That's good, it's been a long day."

"Yes sir." There was an awkward moment of silence, until Twilight began to sit down next to Fluttershy.

"You know, this invasion, is a sign of the end." Twilight said.

Fluttershy nodded, not knowing how to reply.

"I mean, I can go back to my studies within a year or two. See Spike, the Princess, and even my brother."

Fluttershy nodded.

"You did well out there today, Private, hell, I think you've gotten yourself your first kill."

Fluttershy looked in disgust as she turned her face away from the Captain. Twilight noticed and put her hoof on her shoulder again.

"Listen here, Private. Don't be afraid to ask me anything, alright? I am your superior, you may ask me anything you want, whatever is on your mind."

"I got it sir, thank you." Fluttershy said, hoping she could be alone soon.

"C'mon Private, come get some chow, you deserve it."

Fluttershy got up, and took one more good look to the sunset, before setting off to go with her squad. The sun began to fall down and the sky began to turn dark. The moon began to come up, and with that, Fluttershy left. Her pink mane flowed with the wind as it caught speed and began to sound off with the calm, peaceful, sound it gave off when pushing against the grass and bushes of the cliffside. Fluttershy slowly trotted down to the hangout, where the other ponies laid there, laughing, reminiscing, and having a good time, as it might be their last.

"Hey! There she is!" shouted Rainbow Dash.

"Mare of the hour." said Pinkie Pie.

"Congrats on your job today, Fluttershy." said AJ.

"Ummm...thanks everypony." Fluttershy said quietly.

"Come sit down darling! Pinkie Pie is making some of her best coffee." said Rarity.

"Yes sir-rie! I make some of the best coffee in the whole Equestrian Army!" Pinkie rushed to get the next batch ready for Fluttershy. The smell had a relaxing scent to it, like a warm blanket wrapped around a ponies body, on a cold winter's day. The smoke felt warm against Fluttershy's coat, and her hairs raised on her coat, the warm smoke brushed her coat, and Fluttershy began to calm down, and join the others. Applejack pulled out a small package of sorts, it had a red design on it and red "Mareboro" on it, and when she opened it, 12 packs of orange and white sticks held proudly in the box.

"You wanna smoke?" asked Applejack to Fluttershy. She never smoked before in her life, but, knew that they give a pony cancer in the lungs. But, still, Fluttershy grabbed the cigarette and put it in her mouth. Applejack took out her lighter and she lit the cigarette. Fluttershy inhaled as the warm smoked filled her insides and flowed throughout her body. She exhaled with a calm, patient, and slow breathe. Fluttershy felt fully comfortable now, here sitting in the dirt, around a lantern with several other ponies she vaguely knew. She finally felt something that she hasn't felt in a long time, acceptance.

"So, where you from Fluttershy?" asked Sgt. Cheerilee, with one hoof on a rock.

"Oh," said Fluttershy, caught up in the moment of her first cigarette, "um... Cloudsdale."

"Get out of here, ME TOO!" shouted Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy looked in surprise at the blue pony with the multi colored mane.

"Oh really?" she asked.

"Yeah, but, I've never seen you in junior flight camp though."

"Oh, well, I never took it."

"Why is that?"

Fluttershy began to feel uncomfortable, she wasn't a great flier, but didn't want to admit it to the group. So, in turn, she fumbled for an answer, until Rainbow dash withdrew her question.

"Actually, never mind." she said. Fluttershy sighed in relief, she didn't want to spoil her moment on talking about her fillyhood. She took another inhale of her cigarette, she now felt completely calm, she began to sink down in her seat. Her back hit the ridges of the rock she leaned against, and she went into a new comfortable position. She sat down, the dirt feeling as soft as a pillow and she remained in that position. The 6 ponies laughed around the lantern, until the Captain appeared.

"How's everypony doing?" she asked.

"Good sir, coffee?" asked Cheerilee.

"No, I'm good. Listen up, we gotta get up early tomorrow, we're on a scouting mission, up near the changling village about 20 klicks from here. Alright?"

The ponies agreed with the Captain's orders, either nodding their heads, or simply saying "yep". Twilight looked down to Fluttershy, she smiled and nodded in approval of Fluttershy, acknowledging that she is on the way of becoming a soldier, and fighting this war. Fluttershy nodded back, and she turned her head to see what the other ponies were doing.

"Well, I outta be gettin' sum rest. This pony's gonna hit the hay." Applejack said in her heavy southern accent.

Rainbow Dash yawned and got up from her seat too, "Yep, I'm gonna sleep, night everypony."

The group disbanded and Fluttershy trotted to her sleeping spot, and laid down. She began to doze off, feeling satisfied of doing her job as an Equestrian Crusader. She fell asleep smiling, even after the death and destruction of day on the beach of the changling empire.