Anaylizing… Corporal Snowflake… confirmed.

Computer, I wish to make a video call.

Video call confirmed… Please input destination.

Equestria, Baltimare, home number 2-670-004-3367.

… Please confirm 2-670-004-3367.

Confirm.

Sending… Please wait one moment.

*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*

Hello? Oh Honey it’s you!

Hi Mom I was just callin-

I know I’ve already heard the news from your father. You’ll be finally coming home after almost nine years of tour.

Yes I know mother but-

I also heard a rumor from your father that you and Torch are engaged, is that true?

Kind of… but mo-

Oh this is so exciting my little Flake is growing up so fast. Now I know it’s tough at first but trust me I’m sure you two will make the perfect couple.

Mom I was trying to ask-

Oh I know you probably want to see your little brother. He’s finally getting the hang of school and making plenty of friends. He’s even gotten his first ‘A’ on a Math test can you believe it. I’m afraid he’s not here right now. He’s with your Father learning about weather. Oh that reminds me how is the weather over there.

Mom its fine but I need to tell you about Yo-

And the-

MOM!

… Yes Honey?

I know your happy and all about me coming home to be with the family but the entire family isn’t coming.

What do you mean dearie?

Mom, I was trying to get some advice from you. It’s about York.

… What about him?

I can’t take him with me. I need advice on how to… you know, let him know he won’t be seeing me much longer.

Oh-… I see. Flake remember the time you went off to Cadet school…

****

All the figurines were in place, thanks to the help of Nightwatch for setting up the battle scene. This was a battle before York’s time as Nightwatch told him. The battles name was Desert Stripes, a long drawn out war that was made of Ponies and Zebra’s.

“Now York were going to pretend the earth ponies you have here are Zebra’s and the unicorns and pegasi are our forces.” Nightwatch pointed out. “This is how we were taught during history class, how it all played out. The Zebra’s outmatched us 5 to 1 and this was the line drawn between who could possibly win the war.” Nightwatch stated.

York questioned the battle “But you won right?”

“Of course we did. I’m just telling you how much of a disadvantaged we were at. You see the Zebra’s were always ones to have many tribes. Yet they always had a head tribe which would decree if all should unite and fight a common foe… which was us in that matter.”

“Oh…” York looked back at the battle as Nightwatch continued.

“So here is there Commander or Wise One as they say.” Nightwatch pointed the earth figurine in the far back. “He was making a divine speech to his fellow warriors saying they would crush our army and head straight into Dodge Junction.”

York slowly played the battle out in his mind through his imagination as he believed the figurine was actually speaking. He was shouting to all his warriors and swinging his hoof wildly as paint marks of battle were drawn across his face.

“Our Commander known as Renegade made a tough choice in the battle. He knew he had pegasi and unicorn archers at the ready plus a strong line of shield earth ponies. He came up with a strategy that would make him famous and also a traitor.”

York looked at Renegades forces and imagined how terrified they all must have been seeing how large of an army the Zebra’s had. Yet one earth pony in the far back seemed to show no sign of fear. York labeled him as Renegade, the Commander.

“The Zebra’s cheered and clashed there shields against one another’s. While our forces remained still and awaited orders that they all believed would lead them to their graves… which many would see. Yet our Commander seeing this as an opportunity he struck first. He ordered all Archers to fire a volley seeing how the Zebra’s were unprepared due to their cheers. When the first arrows flew the chaos would soon commence.” Nightwatch knocked down a few figurines on the Zebra side.

Many of the Zebra’s fell in York’s imagination, you could hear the faint screams. The Wise One was yelling back at his men changing every inch of his mind that this was no laughing matter anymore. It was time to just end Renegades forces and push to Junction.

“And then-.”

“Nightwatch!” Came a loud familiar voice

Nightwatch and York stopped what they were doing and turned their head’s to see Torch coming towards them. “Sergeant Torch sir!” Nightwatch saluted. York stood very still and brought down his head.

“What is the meaning of this!? Why are you fooling around!?” Torch shouted

York could hear a gulp sound coming from Nightwatch. “Today was my day off sir. I thought I could-”

“Excuse’s Excuse’s private. Now get back to your post! The night will be upon us soon.”

“Yes sir!” Nightwatch swiftly took off leaving York and Torch mainly now alone. York kept his head down though. He didn’t want to look at Torch’s face, not even for a second.

“As for you.” Torch pointed his hoof at York “My Snowflake wants to have a word with you. So pick up this shit and get home. Now!”

Torch walked away and York just screamed in his mind wanting to just hit Torch and make him cry so badly he would never show his face again. Yet, York knew that would never happen, Torch would never leave like that no matter how hard he could try, he could only imagine.

York picked up all his figurines using the bottom of his shirt as a pouch to carry them. He quickly made his way back home where he supposed his mother would be waiting. Unless Torch had lied to him and just wanted York out his sight. It has happened before, couple of times to say the least.

****

“Mom?” York said as he looked around the living room.

His mother’s voice soon called out from the hallway. “I’m in my room honey; can you give mommy a moment?”

York shrugged he wasn’t really allowed in his mother’s room anymore unless told so now. He was a ‘big boy’ as his mother said and big boys need to learn to take care of themselves. That is exactly what York guessed in his mind. He guessed his mother wanted him to learn something so he can use it himself.

Hoof steps soon came from the hallway and his mother quickly appeared. She had her head hung low and sacks under her eyes. She seemed to be very tired and that made York question her look.

As she raised her head her brow went up. “York, what’s curled up in your shirt?”

York looked down and completely forgot about his figurines and smiled “Nightwatch was showing me another historic battle. The one called Desert Stripes which saved Equestria! I’ll put them away.”

“Yes and when you’ve finished that please meet me back here. We need to have a serious talk.”

York froze as soon as his mother said ‘serious’. Serious is a word his mother would only use if something was going to happen to him or if he got in trouble at the base. Well York just blamed Torch immediately; he must’ve had to do something with this.

After York put away his figurines he came back into the living room seeing his mother sitting on the couch looking so melancholy.

“Mom?” York tilled his head in confusion. Did he really do something wrong? He had never seen his mother so hurt in all his life.

“Have a seat by Mommy.” York did and once seated his mother took her forelegs and wrapped them around him, holding him close to her chest. York felt his shoulder moisten, she was crying. What could have made her so upset like this?

York didn’t move a muscle, he just let his mother cry and cry still confused of why she was acting this way. He didn’t know what went wrong. What is making her act this way?

York stayed close to his mother’s chest feeling her soft warm fur up against his cheek. Yet York had to pop the question “Mom?” York looked up at her confused. The only response was his mother tightening her grip.

York asked again. “Mom?”

“Give… Mommy a moment.” She responded through tears.

After a few minutes York felt the grip of his mother loosening and she finally let go. York pulled himself away not by much but could see tear stream marks on her cheeks and muzzle. She brought up a hoof wiping some away.

“York…” his mother spoke softly “remember how I told you about Equestria, how I’d take you home, so you could be safe and have fun and explore wherever you wanted?”

York nodded. “Is?” then York’s mind exploded. “Are we going!? Is it today!? I’m going to Equestria!?!” York jumped off the couch and landed on the floor, he wanted to do a little dance to basically show how excited he was.

His mother gulped. “York… it’s going to be… a little different.”

Different? York smile soon dropped and he looked directly at his mother. What did she mean by different? She had planned this for both of them when he was just a baby.

“You’re… not coming.”

York shrugged but felt scared at the same time. “So? Don’t we just stay at Queens like you’ve always said?”

She shook her head. “I mean York… you can’t come. There sending me home, without you. I know you can’t really understand right now but, my tour is over and Princess Luna won’t allow human children to come back with their mothers to Equestria. York please tell me… you understand.”

Everything in York’s body froze once more. This is what she meant by a serious talk. He wasn’t going to go with his mother back home, back to Equestria. First York felt sad knowing that he couldn’t go… but anger soon took that over. A mix feelings of emotions swarmed York.

“You-you promised…” York said softly.

“I know I promised York but-”

“And you lied!” York felt himself get misty eyes.

“York I didn’t lie, it just-”

“You made a promise to me and you broke it! You broke it!” York found himself shouting like he never did before.

“Calm down” his mother said as she got up to hug him but York quickly pushed her away “York… I promise-”

Right then and there when she said ‘promise’ York fled the living room and ran to his own. He didn’t need to here another promise that would be just another lie. He slammed the door shut and fell on his bed sobbing.

He didn’t know what to do anymore. The promise was broken and so was everything else he ever planned. He felt a piece of himself slip away inside.

A knock came at his door. “York? Sweetie?”

“GO AWAY!” York shouted through tears.

His mixed emotion got the better of him and he just continued to feel anger and sadness just sweep over his body. He couldn’t handle anything right now besides lay on his bed and watch all his daydreams he ever had from Equestria slip away.

****

Anaylizing… Corporal Snowflake… confirmed.

Computer… make a call.

Call confirmed… Please input destination.

Are you alright Love?

No… no Torch I’m not, my own son now hates me! HATES ME!

Shhhh Shhh, don’t say that. He’ll get over it; all humans do sooner or later.

Please input destination…

Torch, do you think I did the right thing? Telling him just the truth?

I think you did the perfect thing. He’ll be sent to Old Town and I’m sure he’ll be taken well care of by his own kind.

Torch, I don’t want that for him. I want him with me… with us.

… Snowflake it’s going to take a very long time before humans can ever be forgiven by Princess Luna or any Equine Official in the matter. It may even be after our time.

They need to understand that not all of them are cruel. They need to see it for themselves Torch, when will that ever happen. Why can’t they just see it in Celestia’s eyes that they can be forgiven.

In all honestly I wouldn’t know Love. Yet look on the bright side, we both get to go home. Think about it for a minute.

Please input destination…

Am I doing the right thing?

… Yes. You’re doing the right thing letting him go like this. He’ll come to understand that you’ve actually helped him.

But what can I-

*sirens*

Attention Attention Unidentified personal have entered Queens Territory all personal are required to report to their posts, repeat all personal to their posts.

Is this a drill?

Please input destination…

Author's Note

After a long stressful month I finally get this done. Sorry everyone, I had work and now I just got into College, and I know for a fact I'm not going to be getting any breaks. So don't expect Chapter five for a month or two. Sorry everybody for the long stressful wait.

If you find any problems or errors in the chapter. Please leave a comment, I only proof-read it once which is not my normal routine.