John pushed through the front doors to the hospital and walked into the lobby. The waiting room off to the side wasn't full, which was a good sign, but it wasn't completely empty either. A family with a sick foal, a stallion with some cuts and bruises, and a trio of nurses watching over a group of bandaged guards who were conversing merrily with a pair of knights, completely oblivious to everyone else in the room.

He made his way to the receptionist's desk, who looked up, eyes widening at the sight of the large human.

"Good evening, sir. How may I help you?"

He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it, looking over the names he had written down. "Can you tell me where I can find Corporal Lightning Flash, Corporal Star Streak, Lieutenant Blackout, Private Swift Strike, Private Quick Quill, and Sergeant Nightly Haze?"

The receptionist's smile turned into a small frown. "Are you related to any of them?"

John deadpanned. "Does it look like I'm related to anyone?"

A loud cry of laughter from the guards caused the receptionist to jump a little. "I'm sorry to say that only family and relatives are allowed to visit at this time."

"Ma'am, in the past forty-eight hours, I've been chased by a pissed off Manticore, bitch slapped by a pissed off Manticore, nearly eaten by a pissed off Manticore, burnt to a crisp, fell from a second story window, had to explain to a kid why he can't see his parents anymore, had to explain to a group of Marines where the fuck they are, got mindfucked by a GPS, and to top it off, had to deal with another pissed off Manticore. All on two hours of sleep. So I'm not in the best of moods right now" He paused to let that sink in, and to take a breath. He also thought he heard a door open and close, but he paid it no mind "Now, I've got three guards and three knights in the hospital. One of the knights is a friend, and two of the guards are under my direct command, one of which is in critical condition. As their Commanding Officer, I need to know-"

"OFFICER ON DECK!"

Upon hearing the word 'Officer', one of the knights in the waiting area looked up and immediately recognized him. Said knight decided it would be best to let everyone in the room know about his discovery in the loudest voice he could muster.

The effect was instantaneous. All the guards and knights in the room stood, if able, and saluted, startling the room's other occupants and causing everyone to become silent.

John whirled around and eyed the guards, not pleased at how he was interrupted. Even though they weren't technically required to salute, as they were off duty and patients at the hospital, but they did so anyway. If he didn't have more pressing matters, he probably would've marched over and chewed up the stallion that interrupted him. However, deciding that it wasn't worth the time and effort, he reciprocated the salute, wanting to return to what he was doing. "As you were."

It was then that he noticed the rather imposing figure that was now standing a few feet away from the front door, having just entered. The expression on his face let John know that the Gunnery Sergeant had been present for the knight's outburst.

And he wasn't happy about it.

The Gunnery Sergeant pointed at the offending stallion and made a "come here" gesture with a finger. Not knowing what to do, the knight cast a nervous glance at John, who nodded in response. Pupils dilating, he slowly crossed the room and followed the Sergeant as he exited the building.

The guards slowly returned to their conversation, one stallion short and more reserved in their reverie than before, and John turned back to the receptionist.

"Who-*ahem* Um... Who did you need to see again?"

"Ugh... This sucks."

"Tell me about it."

"Oi, quit yer bickerin'. 'Taint gonna make it any better."

John approached the first room and checked his paper.

...
Cpl. Star Streak - 112, Overnight
Pvt. Quick Quill - 112, Overnight
...
Sgt. Nightly Haze - 112, Overnight
...

"That's easy for you to say, this is the second time I've been here in the past week, and last time, it was for a month."

With a slight smirk, John recognized Star's voice as he grabbed the door handle and pushed the door open. "Yeah, but you got to leave whenever. I was the one stuck in bed."

The room was long and had three beds spaced evenly with curtains separating them. Star was in the middle bed, a brown Pegasus, who John assumed was Quick Quill, was in the bed on the left, and a batpony, who John assumed to be Nightly Haze, was occupying the bed on the right.

Upon seeing him, Quick and Haze attempted to sit up and salute, but John held up a hand halting them. "You're in the hospital, knock off the formal crap."

"Yes, sir."

"Now," he walked into the room and pulled up a chair that was resting by the doorway. "how is everyone holding up?"

Star opened his mouth to speak, but he was cut off by Sergeant Haze.

"Oh, I'm bloody peachy. Got thrown through a wall, only t' wake up in the hospital with these two panzies. One measly Manticore makes 'em piss themselves."

John was slightly taken aback by the stallion's forwardness. "Well, to be honest, I'd probably be scared shitless too if I was in their position." He turned toward Star and Quick Quill. "It looked like that Manticore almost had you three."

Star and Quick exchanged glances. "That wasn't it."

John raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Oh? What was it then?"

"We've seen what your rifle can do, and staring at the business end of three of them..." Star slowly shook his head.

"And don't forget about the big one." Quick piped up.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I heard evil laughter over the sound of the world exploding around me, right before my brain decided to shit itself."

John was surprised. "You actually heard that?"

"You mean..." Star's eyes dilated to pinpricks and he started hyperventilating.

"I think ye broke 'im."

From spending close to a month in the hospital himself, having nothing better to do than examine his surroundings. As a result, John was acutely aware of the layout and positioning of every object in his room. Even though his room and the room he was currently in weren't exactly identical, he did remember one particular object on the wall of his room that, he was told, was on the wall of every room in the hospital.

Quickly rising from the chair, he walked over and slapped a large red button on the wall. Almost immediately after he hit the button, a pair of nurses swiftly entered the room and made their way to Star's bed.

"It looks like a panic attack, get the bag." One of the nurses said while checking the Unicorn's blood pressure. The other nurse ran out of the room, only to return a few moments later holding a brown paper bag in her teeth. Taking the bag and inflating it, the first nurse placed it over the stallion's muzzle.

The bag immediately began rapidly expanding and contracting with each breath, and soon, Star was back to normal.

"I'm going to leave this with you." The nurse handed Star the rather crumpled paper bag. "If that starts happening again, just breathe into it and you should be fine after awhile."

"Ok." Star croaked.

"Alright," John returned the chair he had used back to its place by the door. "I'll get out of your hair, before I break Star again. I've got to check up on the others. Come find me when they let you leave. We'll have a drink or something."

Star and Quick nodded. "Of course, sir."

Opening the door and turning to leave, John paused.

"And you." He pointed a finger at the Sergeant. "Don't be a stranger, you're invited too."

The batpony smiled. "Aye, that sounds mighty fine, sir."

Without further prompting, John exited the room, shutting the door to the room and pulling the paper from his pocket.

...
Lt. Blackout - 202, Inpatient
...
Pvt. Swift Strike - 202, Inpatient

One hallway and a flight of stairs later, he was standing in front of the next room. Opening the door and walking in, he noticed that this room, unlike the one downstairs, only had two beds. Both were occupied; one by a tired looking Private, the other by a grumpy looking Lieutenant.

"Well, it is about time! Nurses here are bad company, and all he wants to do is sleep!"

Both knights were wrapped in bandages and had various limbs in casts. However, Blackout was the worst, by far, causing John to whistle in appreciation.

"Jesus, Blackout, what'd you do? Take out a house with your face?"

"... Da."

He facepalmed. "Well, I guess it could be worse."

"Yeah, he could be the Manticore." Swift spoke up from the other bed, causing Blackout to start laughing. "They took us past that mess on our way here. The cleanup crew had to use shovels to pick everything up."

"Yeah, apparently my Staff Sergeant, Annie, doesn't like cats." John had spoken with her earlier, when she had told him that she was, in fact, a dog person, and had three German Shepherds.

Blackout's laughter stopped rather suddenly. "You mean... A GIRL did that!?"

"Yeah. A girl. With a really big gun."

"... But... But... But..."

"I think you broke him."

John threw up his hands. "First Star, then you!" He smiled and shook his head. "Alright, well, I still owe Blackout, so when you two get out of this joint, beers- or whatever you all drink- are on me."

Swift gave a mock salute. "Will do, sir."

"... But... But..."

Sighing, John turned around and left the room. Pulling the paper out of his pocket again, he looked at the last name on the list.

Cpl. Lightning Strike - 220, ICU
...

He slowly walked down the hall, reading the room numbers as he went.

205...

...

209...

....

214...

...

218...

219...

...

220

Slowly, he reached out and grabbed the door handle. He wasn't a very religious man, but he said a silent prayer regardless.

Without any pomp or flair, he eased the door open and stepped inside.

One bed.

One occupant.

The dark blue Pegasus was quietly slumbering, completely oblivious to the world around him. A nurse, who was silently watching the monitors, looked up when John walked in.

"Can I help you?" She asked in a whisper, so she wouldn't disturb Lightning's rest.

Without taking his eyes off the Pegasus, John replied. "How's he doing?"

The nurse picked up a clipboard and skimmed through it. "He's stable, for now. They managed to remove the "bullet", as your medic called it." She gestured at a small glass jar on the bed-side table. "His armor took most of the brunt, but it smooshed it up, causing it to effectively shred anything in its path, including part of his left lung. The surgeons fixed it as best they could, but he'll still have trouble breathing for a while."

John walked over and picked up the small jar. Inside was a mashed-up blob of copper resting on a small wad of cotton. Sighing, he placed the jar back on the table. "Let me know if anything happens."

The nurse nodded, and John left.

He took a few steps then leaned against the wall, closing his eyes and running a hand through his hair.

The sound of footsteps caused him to look up. He was surprised to see the Gunnery Sergeant standing in front of him.

"Sir, Princess Luna wants to talk with you at the library."

Wondering what the Princess could possibly need, he nodded at the man. "Alright, thanks."

John made his way through the hospital and back to the lobby. Returning a wave from the receptionist, he pushed his way through the double doors and stepped outside, followed by the Gunnery Sergeant.

"Lean at rest."

Confused, John turned to see the Gunnery Sergeant standing over the prone, sweaty form of a batpony.

"Y-yes, *pant* sir." The knight ceased his push-ups and locked his elbows, keeping his body locked in the upright position.

"Now, what have we learned?"

"N-never *pant* interrupt *pant* a superior *pant* officer *pant* while *pant* he's *pant* speaking, *pant* sir."

"Good. Will it happen again?"

"No, *pant* sir."

"Outstanding. You are free to go."

THUD

The stallion's elbows buckled and he fell face-first into the dirt.

John was standing in the library across from Princess Luna. "So, tell me if I'm understanding this correctly... You want my aircraft, on the next train to Canterlot?" The Princess nodded. "Which leaves at seventeen thirty hours, today?" Another nod. "Ma'am, it took us two full days just to get the wings, engine, and other pieces into the field, which is only a few meters away. We haven't even started on the main fuselage yet, but you want everything moved at least two, if not more, kilometers away, onto a train that gets here in..." He glanced at the clock on the wall. "Two hours? It's not going to happen."

The Princess merely smirked, causing John to give her an incredulous look. "Which is why we have sent a message to our sister. It is also why the train will be accompanied by two contingents of guards, four squads of engineers, and the heavy-lift detachment of the Royal Engineer Corps."

John shook his head in disbelief. The Princess was putting some serious action behind getting his aircraft operational. And that made him a bit nervous. "Ma'am, is there any particular reason you want to get my aircraft out of here so quickly? Also, even with all the help, how will we get everything on the train before it leaves?"

The Princess' smirk turned into a small frown. "We are sorry to say, but that information is... classified. Even if we could tell you, we would not do it here." She gestured at the library they were currently standing in. John opened his mouth to protest, but she stalled him. "However, if we believe that your knowledge and skills are beneficial to our predicament, you shall be summoned to discuss the matter. In regards to the train, it shall not be leaving without your aircraft aboard. It shall remain at the station for as long as need be."

John thought for awhile. He was rather loath to leave the town in its current state so soon after the attacks. A lot of the rubble had been piled up, but there were still areas that looked like a warzone. To make matters worse, the vast majority of the town's guards were in the hospital. There were a few knights wandering around, the rest having been sent back to Canterlot, but they were only there until proper replacements could arrive.

"How many guards will be arriving on the train?"

"Two full contingents. About thirty guards total. Fifteen are to remain in town while the remaining fifteen are to provide security during the trip."

John shook his head. "The Marines can handle security. I want all the guards to stay here. If this town is attacked again, there's nothing stopping them from getting completely rolled over."

Luna's brow furrowed. "I do not think this is a good idea, but I will defer to your judgment on the matter. If you believe your handful of Marines is more capable that fifteen Royal Guards, then so be it. I leave you to sort out the details." With that, the Lunar Princess stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

John couldn't help but think that if the Gunny were there, he'd catch flak about the way he spoke to his Commander-in-Chief. It would probably come back to bite him in the ass later, but he didn't have time to dwell on it now. He had just two hours to prepare for one of the largest moving operations in Ponyville history.

After leaving the library, John had gone to the hotel where the engineers were staying and arranged for every pony that had helped with his aircraft, as well as the Marines, meet at the small amphitheatre next to Town Hall.

Needless to say, the turnout wasn't too great, but John had expected as much. Many of the ponies standing in front of him were bandaged and bruised, but offered to help nonetheless. After waiting a few minutes for stragglers to arrive, he began to speak.

"Alright, I bet you all are wondering why I've called you here?" Nods and murmurs of agreement trickled throughout the group. "Well, I've been informed by Princess Luna that, in roughly one hour, a train will be arriving to transport my aircraft to Canterlot." He could see a few of the engineers go bugeyed, and decided to nip that in the bud. "Before everyone starts freaking out, no, we're not moving everything by ourselves. There are several squads of engineers accompanying the train, and they'll be able to assist." The assembled ponies visibly relaxed. "However, I'm going to assume that they think they're just moving a large chunk of metal, and not a multi-million dollar death machine. I do not have the time to give them the same safety brief that I gave everyone here, so, you will be divided up and assigned to a group to ensure that everything is handled correctly." One of the engineers raised a hoof. "Yes?"

The stallion gestured at the group of Marines lounging around toward the back of the group of ponies. "Why are they here? Are they helping with the move too?"

"In a matter of speaking, yes. The Sergeant Major and his Marines will be in charge of security. At least one Marine will be accompanying each major piece of aircraft, as well as any ordinance, at all times. In addition to the Marines on the ground, the helicopter will be providing air cover once the move actually starts, providing they have the fuel for it?" John raised an eyebrow at the two helicopter pilots. After a quick discussion, they nodded at him. "Great. Now, is everyone following me so far?" Another round of nods and affirmations came from the group. "Are there any questions?"

"After everything is loaded onto the train, what do you want us to do?" Ratchet spoke up from the front of the group.

John leaned against the podium. "Well, you were sent here to help move my mess, so I guess you and your engineers will be free to go."

"Actually, sir, we've been reassigned to you."

"Same for me and my boys, sir." Sergeant Ironhoof spoke up.

His eyebrows rose. "Really? Huh. In that case, Ratchet, I want you and your guys to pack whatever stuff you have. You'll be accompanying the wreckage to Canterlot, along with myself and the Marines. Ironhoof, I know you've got guys in the hospital from the attack, so as of now, you and your guards are on leave. Stay here, make sure everyone's alright. Oh, and keep an eye on Star and Lightning for me."

Ironhoof smiled. "Thank you, sir."

John scanned the crowd. "Are there any more questions?" Nobody spoke up. "Alright, I need one volunteer, but other than that, you're all free to go. Engineers and Marines, be sure to be at the crash site in an hour." He left the podium and was about to descend from the small stage when he realized that not a single being, person or pony, had moved. "Erm, free to go means you're allowed to leave and go do stuff."

Everyone was quiet for a few moments until one of Ironhoof's guards spoke up.

"We know, sir, but you asked for a volunteer."

John facepalmed.

The guard station was eerily quiet... and empty.

Other than the pony at the front desk, there wasn't another soul in the entire building. The majority of the knights, as well as Princess Luna and Shining Armor, had returned to Canterlot with the airship. The rest were to leave with the train.

John was in the process of packing his gear into his duffle bag and pulling together everything that couldn't fit and placing it on his bed.

He was slightly startled when the door burst open and a rainbow-maned pegasus flew in, but he recovered quickly.

"Hey, whatcha doin'? Some guard came by and said you needed me for something."

John sighed. "Hey, Dash. I'm just packing up, but I wanted to talk to you before I headed out."

Rainbow's attitude took a nosedive. "Y-you're leaving? Why?"

"There's a train coming in about half-an-hour, and the Princess wants my aircraft on it. She's pulled out all the stops to make it happen."

The Pegasus' head fell and her ears drooped. "Oh..."

John pulled the last item out of his chest and put it in the bag. He then closed the lid and sat on it, facing Rainbow and leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Unfortunately, this means I can't make up for that black eye." He pointed at the slight discoloration around her eye. "And helping out with Cloud and Scoots is gonna be a bit difficult."

"They really like you, ya know."

He smiled. "Yeah."

They were silent for awhile.

Rainbow looked up at him with sad eyes. "Do you know when you'll be back?"

"No." John shook his head. "But I can write to you, if you want."

She perked up a little. "Sure, that'd be cool."

He smiled. "Alright." He checked the small alarm clock on the shelf above the head of his bed and frowned. "Well, I've got to be at the train station soon. Are you going to watch us move the wreck?"

"I might."

He nodded. "Ok."

Not sure of what else to say, he stood. Picking up the duffel bag and placing it on top of the chest, he turned and started walking toward the door.

As he passed Rainbow, he paused and looked down at the somber Pegasus. He knelt beside her and threw an arm around her in a friendly hug, startling her.

"You're a good friend, you know that?"

Author's Note

Yay Comcast! Yet another update delayed because of crappy internet service.

Oh well. It's up now, so yeah...

Sorry about the wait. Had a rough couple of weeks. Had a period of time where I just couldn't sit down and write to save my life, and then my dog, Amber, passed away on the 20th of December, and that ate up another week or two of writing.

Classes start on Monday, so I'll try to have the next chapter out before then. It's already been planned out an I've started writing it, so I just need to sit down and finish it, which I might do tomorrow since I have nothing planned.

Also, I know not everyone reads my blog posts, so for those of you that have somehow missed it, I'm accepting ordinance requests here.