"I can still hear the screams, I can hear the voices ringing in my eardrums, I can still see their faces, I can see the empty shells that once held life, burned and mangled, deprived of their soul by my own hoof. Every heartbeat screams of pain, as if feeding off of the torment of others, even now the war still rages inside, begging for relief, as I hold this rifle...this weapon, made to rip flesh, turn wives into widows, take sons from fathers, turn children into orphans, my hooves tremble at the very thought of taking life...yet again. The sins of our fathers, will lead to the wars of our sons"
"I am a soldier, I am a warrior, if something needs to be destroyed, I will cease it"s existence, If there is an enemy that threatens me, my brothers, sisters, and my way of life, I will eliminate them...and if I am lucky I will die thousands of miles from home, for that will be the closest I will ever get to being a hero. Only the dead have seen the end of war."
The long train screeched to a halt, as steam shot out of its brakes, with a loud Woosh.
I excitedly looked out the window as nervousness and excitement filled my gut, I was home, after 6 long years, I was finally home. The evening sunlight danced across the sky, My mind began to race, "How much has changed since I have been gone? Who still is around?" These questions filled my head, for I knew nothing besides what Scootaloo wrote to me during the war.
"Ponyville station! Ponyville statiooooon!" the well-dressed conductor yelled out, his booming voice seemed to echo throughout the train. I quickly threw my saddle bags onto my back, and my Calvary hat onto my head, a big grin stretched across my face, as I trotted to the front of the train.
A few other ponies on the train stared at my Army uniform with a look of uncertainty as I made my way to the front of the train, I ignored this, I just wanted to see who was waiting for me in the crowd outside.
there were a few others in front of me, but as I made my way off of the train, I felt a hoof gently pat my shoulder. I looked over and noticed the conductor looking at me through his glasses, he spoke in a low, raspy voice, "Hey son, I just wanted to say that your service is appreciated," he went silent for a moment, I opened my mouth to speak, but he spoke again, " You're a war hero now...go live your life son."
The words,"War hero," echoed through my head, I wanted to tell the old pony that I was not a hero, I just nodded and thanked him, and made my way into the clearing crowd.
I looked around, and my happiness began to fade with the crowd, I didn't recognize anypony around, I was expecting, Sweetiebelle, Apple Bloom, or Scootaloo, to be waiting on me. "Hmm, there's no way that they forgot about today," I said to myself.
Suddenly I felt hooves wrap around my neck from behind, and pull me into a hug, along with a high pitched squeal...Sweetie Belle.
"OHMAIGOSHOHMAIGOSH!" she squeaked, I laughed and returned the hug.
"Well, hello to you too!"
"Wow!" she said breaking the hug, "Little Rush isn't so...little anymore!"
I chuckled, "neither are you," Belle was absolutely beautiful, she had...developed since high school, "you look great Belle!"
She smiled, "Thank you! You're a handsome stallion yourself, all the mares will be eyeing you!" she exclaimed.
"Heh, I guess, anyway where is Scoot and Bloom?"
Belle just gave a nervous look, "Well, they said they are busy today and would catch up later,"
I wasn't buying it, they were up to something, just like the ol' CMC, "alright then,"
We began to walk out of the train station, when belle asked, "So what are you going to do now Rush?"
I shrugged, "I guess I'm going to the old house, I'm exhausted from the long trip today,"
Belle just nodded, "can I come along?"
I raised an eyebrow, "you don't need to ask, let's go,"
My old place was right across the street from the market, It's pretty noisy outside during the day. I watched as the ponies of Ponyville, go about their day, I felt the eyes on me as Belle and I walked through town, then I heard a another familiar female voice.
"RUSH!" Belle and I looked around and didn't see the source of the voice, "CAVALRY RUSH!" the voice repeated, but it was louder, then I heard a Voosh! followed by a bone-crushing squeeze around my neck.
"ack," I let out and took a step back, I saw a blonde mane brushing against my face, and a set of wings happily flapping, "Derpy?" I asked from my crushed windpipe.
"Little Rush!" she happily said, her stuffed mailbags on her side, "you're not little anymore!"
I chuckled, "It's good to see you too Derpy!" I patted her on the back, and she broke the hug and hovered in front of me, her golden, crossed eyes looked into mine...I think.
She looked down at her mailbags, "I'm sorry, I will get back with you, I'm kinda busy at the moment,"
I nodded, "I'm home for good now so I will see you around," she waved and zoomed into the sky, I waved back looking up, then when I looked back down...there it was...a place I had long forgotten about; my home.
Belle and I approached the house, I stared at the door as memories flooded my mind, flashed in and out, I snapped back to reality when I heard a blood curdling scream behind me. I spun around quickly, breathing heavily, sweat began to bead from my head, "di-did you hear that?!" I asked Belle.
Belle looked at me confused, "Rush, are you alright? hear what?"
"Thhhe th-" I saw a mare among the crowd, she was pale white, she had no eyes...and blood seeped from her eye sockets, the horrific sight send a cold shiver through my spine, she opened her mouth and let out another terrifying scream, all the other ponies walked by like she wasn't even there. A sharp pain zipped through my head as my ears rang, I slammed my eyes shut, "augh!" I let out in pain.
"Rush!" Belle put a hoof on me.
I opened my eyes, and the pain faded, the...mare was gone, I shook my head, "I'm fine,"I said magically pulling my key out of my saddlebag.
"Rush, are you sure you're ok?"
I nodded, and turned the key in the keyhole, the tumblers didn't activate...unlocked, my eyes widened, and I focused magic on my .45 pistol in my bag, "Belle, step back," I ordered, as I slowly opened the door, I saw nothing but darkness, "the hell?" I whispered to myself, I took one step in and suddenly all the lights flashed on.
"SURPRISE!" many voices cheered out, which nearly made me jump out of my uniform, I took a sigh of relief, and stepped into my house, all decorated. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were the first one's to swarm me with hugs, "I knew y'all were up to something!" and happiness flooded me.
Pinkie Pie bounced up to me, "Little Rush! you're not little anymore!"
I laughed, "I've heard that one many times today!" Bloom and Scoot still latching onto me, followed by Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Flitter, Lyra, and almost everypony in the room surrounded me. Welcoming me home. I wasn't used to this sort of attention.
Almost everypony I knew was there...except for two, Apple Jack, and Twilight Sparkle.
The welcome home party was great, I barely ate anything, I just gathered around the ones I considered family; my friends, even though I was in great company, I could still hear the gunshots echo in my mind.
____________________________________________________________________________
The party lasted into the night, and I could barely keep my eyes open, everypony hugged me as they left, Cloudchaser was the last to leave, she approached me with a seductive look in her eyes. I couldn't help but blush, she knew I used to have a crush on her back in high school.
"Soooooo Rush," she said, "I hope your welcoming was enjoyable," her face was very close to mine.
I could feel the warmth from my cheeks, and my ears perked down, "I really did...thank you Chaser,"
She giggled, "My, My Little Rush, such a handsome stallion you have become," I opened my mouth to speak, but my heart skipped a beat as she planted a kiss on my cheek, my eyes widened, "if you are ever feeling...lonely, come find me," she brushed her white tail under my chin as she walked by, and she winked back at me as I slowly closed the door.
"I'll clean up tomorrow," I said to myself marching upstairs to my bedroom, and I threw my uniform shirt off along with my dogtags, I plopped down onto the bed, and I let out a sigh of comfort. Finally a real bed with real pillows and blankets.
I slowly shut my eyes, I was exhausted but I couldn't sleep, I tossed and turned, I just laid with my eyes closed. The room felt like it began to spin, the war filled my mind, I could see the bodies...the blood on my hooves, a great feeling of discomfort filled my gut...I know this feeling...I'm being watched...
Then I heard a scream.
