The mail slot clinked as it was pushed open and the clean white envelopes fell to the old blue carpet. I moved to the mail and gathered it up and placed it under my wing. I moved through my modest home, looking about with some fondness. I passed my cozy little den where I had a large overstuffed chair which sat before a cold fireplace that had fallen to misuse in the past few weeks. I made a mental note to take a night off and relax in there, maybe even let Scootaloo come in and sit with me.
I stepped into my small kitchen and I placed the mail atop the dark, wooden table. I began to sort through the various pieces of junk mail and the few actual personal sentiments. I smiled as I picked out a letter from my mother who was traveling about Equestria. Her last stop had been in the thestral city of Noc'tren. I had warned her against staying there but she was a determined old mare and had braved the city of eternal night.
I chuckled at her letter.
She went on about how the city was amazing, the ceiling was covered in giant glowing stalactites that were the color the bright sky. The buildings were built downward, and how they all led to Luna's palace at the bottom which was carved from mother of pearl, coated in black marble and studded with blue gems of different cuts and sizes. I folded the letter back up, making a mental note to write back to her the same night I made use of my den.
I placed the junk mail into the trash bin under my sink and returned to the one letter that made my gut tighten up and my feathers begin to tingle.
I heard the front door open and slam shut.
"Papa, I'm home!"
"I'm in the kitchen sweetheart."
She came in with a big smile on her face and some rolled up papers in her saddlebag. I knelt down and wrapped my forelegs about her.
"How was your day, sweetie?" I asked her as she hugged me tight.
"I made something for you!" Scootaloo said excitedly as she turned to pull one of the rolled scrolls from her bag. She stepped back from me and let the scroll unroll.
It was a picture of me in my armor standing next to both princesses.
"Today Miss Cherilee had us draw what our parents do for work," she said excitedly. "She says that later this week we're going to have career day!" she looked up at me excitedly. "Can you come and talk to my class?"
I sighed and turned my head back to the table with the letter.
"I don't know."
I stood up and stepped up to the table, taking hold of the letter. I turned to the knife drawer and opened it, pulling a short paring knife out. I placed the edge beneath the lip and sliced through the paper. I set the knife down and pulled the envelope open. I upended the envelope, allowing the thick parchment to fall onto the kitchen table. Out of the corner of my eye I could see my daughter's look of dismay. I laid down the envelope and lifted the letter.
The parchment was thick and definitely from the palace. The letterhead was professional with a stylized version of the Sun Guard insignia, showing two pegasi with flared wings on either side. I began to read. As usual it began with my name and rank and continued with the usual jargon and then I came to the sentence I dreaded.
…ordered to hereby report to Canterlot…
That was as far as I got.
I set the letter down and sighed. I turned my head to see Scootaloo sitting on the kitchen tile with tears in her eyes.
"You're not leaving again, are you papa?"
I knelt down again and gathered up my daughter, holding her to my chest.
"Papa has to go again," I told her. I kissed her on top of her head as she began to cry into my chest, matting my fur with her tears. I felt a lump form in my throat. "It says I'll be gone for a year this time," she began to cry harder.
"I don't want you to go, papa!" she wailed into my fur. "It's not fair, it's not fair!" she continued to cry. She leaned back and looked up at me, her face was covered with tears. "Don't go, papa, please," my daughter begged me.
"I have to go, sweetie," I received no answer as my little daughter continued to sob loudly into my fur. I held her there as she cried, I felt just as she did but I did not vocalize it.
"Everything will be alright," I tried to assure her.
Scootaloo closed the lid to her suitcase with an audible 'clunk'. Her father stood at her door, watching her pack. The little pegasus did not wish to speak, she wished this day was just a bad dream that she would get to wake up from.
Ever since her mother had passed she had relied on her father for everything and he had done his best. He went to every school play, he helped her every night with her homework and he told her he loved her and how proud he was of her. He had even begun looking into special flight schools for when she finally got off the ground. But now that would all have to be put on hold.
He moved to grab the heavy suitcase, lifting it off the bed with ease. Scootaloo fell in step behind her father and followed him out the door. Over his back his saddle bag clinked as his armor shifted about. They exited the house, he paused for a moment to turn and lock the door with a key he produced from his bag. He then turned back to Scootaloo's suitcase and placed the key inside.
They continued on in silence for awhile. Inside her mind Scootaloo was still denying that this was happening to her again. The last time her father had been called away was soon after her mother had died. Scootaloo had to live with her aunt Miss Cherilee only this time it would be for a year.
"Scootaloo!" came the high pitched call. The two pegasi turned their heads to see Scootaloo's two friends, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, racing towards them with their Cutie Mark Crusader capes flapping in the wind. Scootaloo's father smiled warmly.
"Hello girls," he greeted them. He sat down as both of the girls leaped at him and embraced him. He chuckled as the two little fillies chattered excitedly at him. Ever since the three had become friends they had spent many a night at Scootaloo's home where her father had been more than happy to care for them. In fact, before the girls had been gifted the clubhouse they had come to his home every day after school to plan on their next adventure and whenever they came back covered in scratches and cuts he would take care of them, they had grown close. He had hosted Applejack and Granny Smith as well as Sweetie Belle's parents.
"What are you girls up to today?" the big stallion asked cheerily.
"We're going over to Rarity's!" Sweetie Belle told him.
"Yeah, we're gonna learn stuff about fashion, it was Sweetie's idea. Come on Scootaloo!" Applebloom dashed over to her friend, pulling a third cape from her saddle bag. Scootaloo sighed, she didn't feel like crusading today, she just wanted to curl up and pretend that today wasn't happening.
"I don't know guys," she looked down and rubbed one hoof with the other. "I don't feel like doing anything today."
"Go be with your friends," her father told her, still smiling warmly.
"But, papa," Scootaloo looked to be on the virge of tears again.
"It'll be okay, sweetheart," he said, still smiling. "Just be at your aunt's before sunset, alright?"
Scootaloo jumped at him, crying aloud. "Papa!" she called out. They held each other as Scootaloo wept into her father's chest.
"It'll be okay, sweetheart," be reassured her. "It'll all be okay."
There was no goodbye as Scootaloo released her father and walked away, tears streaming down her cheeks. Both of her friends looked up at him in confusion but they didn't ask any questions as Scootaloo ran off wailing. Her ta friends took off after her.
"Scootaloo!" Sweetening Belle called after the tiny Pegasus. The two chased their friend across town and into a small clearing surrounded by tall trees. Scootaloo sat down on an old stump and cried into her hooves.
"Scootaloo," Applebloom sat down next to her friend. "What's goin' on with your dad?"
Scootaloo didn't answer right away, she sucked in air between blubbering quietly. Sweetie sat on the other side of the little pegasus and put a hoof over Scootaloo's shoulders. They sat there like that for several minutes as Scootaloo cried.
She finally managed to calm herself down enough to speak.
"M-my d-dad is g-g-going back to C-canterlot," she sniffed and rubbed her eyes.
"What!?" Sweetie's voice cracked in surprise.
"But I thought your dad only got called when things get bad?" Applebloom leaned into Scootaloo. Scootaloo didn't answer.
The three of them sat there as Scootaloo fell into another bout of weeping.
"I don't want him to go," Scootaloo moaned.
I sighed as I watched my daughter sprint off. I wished I could do just as she was, just disappear and pretend that I don't have to leave my darling daughter behind. I gripped her suitcase in my mouth and unfurled my wings. I launched myself into the air and I could feel the joint on my right tighten some. It was an old injury from my days as an initiate when I had been speared on accident. I had been patched up but the medic who had magically put my wing back together told me the wound wasn't going to be the same again.
I flew over Ponyville and landed on the front porch of my sister-in-law. I set down Scootaloo's suitcase and knocked on the door. I heard rummaging and the sound of a crashing plate and a series of carefully toned down pseudo-cursewords. I chuckled some and then the door opened.
Before me stood Miss Cherilee, the school teacher for Ponyville and my sister-in-law. Her mane was a mess, half covered in ketchup and flecks of mustard. She smiled as she saw me then she looked down and saw the suitcase.
"Don't tell me..." she put a hoof up to her mouth. Her eyes moved back up to my face. "You got called back?"
I nodded. Cherilee's eyes widened in fear.
"Do you know what's happened?"
"No."
"Do you know how long you'll be gone?"
"A year."
"Oh," Cherilee gasped. "Where's Scootaloo?"
"She'll be in by sunset, she's with her friends, I hope they can comfort her some."
"Do you have time to come in?"
"No, I'm supposed to be in the capitol tonight," I looked up at the sky to see the sun had just passed its zenith
"Are you really going to be gone for a year?"
"I am," I held a hoof up as she tried to speak, cutting her off. "I have to go, but I would like to thank you for allowing this arrangement and allowing my daughter to stay in your home."
"Anything for family," Cherilee said, a sad smile on her face. I hugged her, covered in ketchup and all.
Without another word I turned and left her home. I heard the weight of the suitcase scrape over threshold and the door slammed shut. I took off again and turned towards the train station.
The day was a beautiful one, not a cloud in sight and the sun shone brightly. I inhaled the sweet air, savoring the taste. Soon enough I'd be breathing in the air of Canterlot. It was still fresh but not the same as Ponyville. It had something that almost hid beneath the freshness, something I could not explain.
I landed next to the ticket counter of the train station.
"One ticket to Canterlot, Guard discount," I asked the thick glasses wearing pony behind the glass. I placed a few bits on the counter and slid them beneath the half-circle cut into the bottom of the glass. A ticket was slid back out to me and I grabbed it. I turned about and moved up the short set of steps to stand on the platform proper.
I smiled as I stepped up onto the platform and saw a familiar face.
"Sergeant," I greeted my old friend with his rank, knowing that it bothered him somewhat.
"Well, well," the officer turned to me and smiled. He stuck out his hoof and I shook it. "You're late, Bones."
I looked away. "I know, sir, I had to move my daughter's things to her aunt's."
"How is she?"
"She's not happy about it."
I reached into my saddle bag and rummaged for a moment, digging around my armor to find the one thing I wanted. I felt a little of the unhappiness that had settled over me lift as I pulled the locket free. I held the little oval up before my face and opened it to see the two pictures, one of my daughter Scootaloo and the other of my beautiful wife. I slipped the pendant over my neck and I immediately felt better even though I knew my daughter would be dealing with my leaving for at least a week.
"Do you know why we were called in?" I asked my superior.
"Twitch said some scary words are being thrown around command meetings like 'preemptive', 'insurrection', and I believe 'annihilation' even," the sergeant turned his head as heard the train down the line.
"Wait, the lieutenant sent you a personal letter?" I asked with some exasperation.
"Indeed he did."
"All I got was a form letter."
"Huh," was the sergeant's only reply before the train pulled up alongside us.
More ponies were exiting rather than boarding and the sergeant and I were lucky enough to have a car all of our own. We sat around the middle facing each other.
The sergeant turned to look out the window. " This reminds me of when we were headed to the Trial a few years ago."
I nodded in agreement. That was some time ago though, Scootaloo had only been seven then and the sergeant hadn't lived in Ponyville yet and neither of us had been promoted yet.
The train whistle blew and the train lurched as we got underway. As I watched the scenery of my town roll by I felt my heart sink. I leaned forward and put my head in hooves and felt a tear roll down my face.
"I prayed this day would never come, Waller, I had hoped that this promotion would mean no more time on the front line."
"Why didn't you put in a transfer request?" Waller looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
"I have a three year minimum here," I sat up and wiped the tear away. "This is my last, heh, guess they were determined to get some use out of me."
Waller crossed his forelegs over his chest. "Are you saying that you didn't earn this promotion then? I read your service record, I was rather impressed," Waller leaned back and shifted his body in his seat. "Competed in several events during the Trial, fought in the changeling invasion with more than ten confirmed kills, which means you more than likely took out more than thirty, and not to mention earning a Silver Sun medal for bravery during the Red Moon Uprising."
"Got me on the mind, sergeant?" I smirked, talking with Waller helped pull my thoughts from my daughter. "You know I'm not getting married again, right? As flattered as I am."
Waller laughed. "You're just like the lieutenant, you know that? Well," he leaned forward some. "You're not quite the ass he is, but I'm sure with enough hard work and determination you can become just as insufferable as he, and who knows, maybe you could drive me into retirement like Twitch did with Chief," we both laughed at that.
Chief was the officer in charge of Waller's squad and had retired the previous year. Once he had gone Waller's squad had been split apart and he had been promoted to handle the new specialist squad. Twitch, the other officer, was permanently assigned to the dull job of city patrols and coordinating all the assets within Canterlot and Trench, the squad's youngest member, had been shipped off north to work with the Legion of the Heart in security measures around their capitol city.
We managed to while away a few hours on the train with idle chit chat about our lives. I asked the sergeant how he was getting along in Ponyville. He talked to me about a particular mare he was interested in. I asked him about some girl he had started dating some few years ago.
"Wasn't in the cards," he sighed. "She was something though."
"I'll bet," I said, placing hoof over the locket around my neck.
"She must've been wonderful," Waller gestured at my locket. I looked down and popped it open, taking another look at both of the pictures within.
"She was," I sighed again. "If it wasn't for my sister-in-law I don't know what I would've done when she passed, and Scootaloo," I shook my head remembering just how devastated my daughter had been over the loss of her mother. She had spent the next few months out of the house, away from where her mother had lived, away from painful memories. She had taken up residence with her aunt who was more than willing to help.
I however had fallen off the wagon and I had fallen hard. I had stopped shaving and showering, after a month I had looked and smelled like a dead, rotting corpse that had been soaked in alcohol. Cherilee had found me in my home surrounded by empty bottles and broken pictures. The ride to the hospital had been a blur as had the two weeks in intensive care.
Afterwards I had been released and I had gone home to see just what I had done to my house. I was shocked to see the level of filth and destruction. The inside of my home had been torn apart with the exception of Scootaloo's room and the things that had been my wife's.
I had cleaned up my home and I had brought Scootaloo back. This had been about the time she had made friends with Sweetie and Applebloom and soon Scootaloo had begun coping with the loss with her friends. The little fillies had helped me deal with the loss as well, I doubted that I would ever fully be over losing my wife, but those fillies had helped bring some light back into my life and even more so for Scootaloo which I was even more grateful for.
"It was right after her death I got my promotion," I looked up at the other pegasus. "Do you think they gave this to me because of her?"
Waller shrugged. "Doubt it. We're the first squad of our kind, we were told to our faces that we'd only get called back if things got really bad or things are about to."
"Why us though?" I asked.
"We're deemed the best."
"By who?"
"The same ponies who say you don't take orders, save from me and Princess Celestia."
Waller reached beneath his seat and began to rummage about in his bag. He smiled as he pulled out his helmet. The armor was almost identical to mine except for the sergeants bars. He huffed the metal some with his foreleg before turning to show me the same blue badge stamped on my helmet. It was a blue circle with a simple red 'S'.
"I know what the damn thing looks like," I turned away from the helmet. "I just... I just don't want to go off and die and leave my daughter alone, she's all I have."
Waller didn't have time to answer as we pulled into the station. We each reached beneath our seats and pulled our gear out. We stood and I followed the sergeant out onto the platform. We stood there for a moment, looking at the city. I inhaled deeply, smelling that unidentifiable undercurrent that hung there, bothering me with its anonymity.
"Wall!" a pony called as he waved to us from down the platform. We turned to look at him.
"Lieutenant," Waller smiled as he greeted his old squadmate.
"Ha, ha," Twitch laughed as the two embraced. The lieutenant was midway between black and white along the length of his coat. He was dressed in full armor which was identical to mine and sergeant's except for his rank bars and instead of a blue circle his was black with a gold starburst. Twitch's past was somewhat of a mystery, and that badge only added to it. He was the only member the Sun Guard to have ever worn it, unlike my badge which had been given to several stallions of varying specializations.
"Good to see Bones here decided to join us as well," the officer stuck out his hoof which I shook. "How's your daughter?"
I shook my head. "Not well, she's going to be living with her aunt while I'm away."
Twitched turned and beckoned for us to follow.
"Sorry to hear that," Twitch said to me over his shoulder.
We walked on in silence for a few moments, heading for the palace.
"Why were we called in, Twitch, and why the short notice?" Waller asked, breaking the silence.
"Things have changed since you left Wall," the lieutenant said. "Been real boring without you or the rookies about, hell, I even miss Chief," Twitch snorted. "But things are happening, those big scary words are turning into big scary actions," Twitch pointed with his wing as he walked. "We've had some reports from the Empire's northern border. Up from the south there's been word of changelings, some new horde with a different queen," Twitch paused and turned east. "There's something happening out at sea as well, not sure what, but we've got some troubling stuff coming in from the Moon Guard about it," he looked af Waller. "You know that's big coming from them," he paused and turned again. "Most disturbing of all, though, is what's coming in from Tartarus. Something has Cereberus all worked up so we put an outpost up a d spotted monsters moving about on the other side of the wall," the lieutenant shuddered. "That frightens me most of all."
Twitch turned and started walking again. I sighed aloud, thinking of what all that meant for me before I could get back my home and back to my daughter. The sergeant looked at me, from the look on his face I could tell he was thinking the same thing. Waller paused and reared up. He placed his hooves on his chin and the back of his head and with a quick twist he popped his vertebrae.
"Let's get to work then.
Scootaloo sat at her aunt's dinner table, staring down at her untouched food.
"You need to eat, dear," Cherilee said, doing her best to encourage the filly. "You've still got class tomorrow."
"I'm not hungry," Scootaloo mumbled.
"Won't you eat just a little, please?" Cherilee asked, nearly pleading.
"I'm not hungry," the little pegasus repeated. Cherilee sighed, she had been afraid of an outburst or physical destruction from Scootaloo after seeing how she behaved in class, this quiet moping was rather unlike her.
"It's not fair," Scootaloo said under her breath.
"What's that, dear?" Cherilee smiled at her niece again.
"IT'S NOT FAIR!" Scootaloo yelled as she slammed her hooves onto the table. Cherilee jumped a little, surprised by the outburst.
"He said they'd never need him again," tears poured down her face. "He told me he'd never have to go back, he promised!" she screamed. "And now," she sucked in loudly. "He may not come back!" she descended into uncontrollable sobbing. Cherilee moved to her niece and hugged her tightly.
"He's coming back," Cherilee said softly. "He's going to be alright."
"How do you know," Scootaloo said between sobs. "He said the only way he would go back is if things were bad, if things were dangerous," she continued to cry as Cherilee held her.
The school teacher felt warm tears begin to gather at the corners of her eyes.
"Everything will be okay," Cherilee cooed, not sure if she believed herself.
