Fire Base Zebra

Riff slowly opened his eyes. He saw a white ceiling, and there was blue curtains around him. He looked around himself, and noticed he was laying in a very uncomfortable bed. Even a pillow was flat and hard, and it made his neck hurt. The air smelled like chemicals and there was small talking behind the curtain.

"Where the hell am I?" he asked from himself.

Then he remembered. He was in the same uncomfortable bed, where he had been laying so long that he was sure he had been rooted into it.

He was in the Canterlot's rehabilitation hospital. He had been moved there right after they had arrived back to fire base Zebra, from the fateful mission almost five weeks ago.

Riff looked down, towards his legs. They were cast in plaster, and they were strapped to racks that held them motionless. Riff noticed that they were getting really itchy, but he couldn't scratch them.

He sighed and dropped his head back to the flat and hard pillow.

He looked at a clock, that was in the night table besides his bed. It's pointers showed that the time was half past twelve in afternoon. Another day to spent doing nothing, Riff thought.

"It's been two days, since the changeling forces surrendered to the Equestrian forces, when they stormed the..." Riff heard a silent voice speak behind the curtain. He knew it was coming from the old radio they had in the ward.

"Most of the equestrian soldiers are meeting their family and loved ones for the first time in long.." the voice continued, and it started to annoy Riff.

He pulled the curtain aside, and looked at the direction of the sound. The radio was on the other side of the ward, on a table. There was a deep blue pegasus sitting on his bed near the radio. His right front leg was in plaster, and there were bandages around his upper body.

"Turn that thing off!" Riff said to him loudly, starling one of the ponies who had been sleeping.

The blue pegasus looked at him annoyed, but then his eyes met with Riff's. The pegasus drooped his ears and clicked the radio shut. He looked at Riff with a look that said 'You happy now'.

Riff didn't say anything. He just pulled the curtains shut, and laid back to his bed.

He laid there for a while, but something seemed to be wrong. Riff thought what it was for a minute. He then realized what it was.

Riff leaned over the edge of his bed, and lifted his duffel bag to his lap. He opened it and took a pack of cigarettes, and a bottle of clear liquid. He placed the pack on the table, and looked at the bottle.

There was 'Crystal Vodka', written with big letters on the label.

Riff hadn't had a sober day since he had persuaded one of the nurses to get him booze from the city. It helped him to forget the pain in his legs, and the nightmares he had during the nights.

Riff shivered when he remembered the one he had seen last night.

In his dream, Riff had been alone in the trenches. All his friends were lying around him, dead and mutilated.

Then the changelings had come, and his gun didn't work. His dreams usually ended to him getting shot, and he always woke up sweating cold sweat. It had started to eat him from inside.

Riff shivered again, and opened the bottle. He lifted it to his lips, and drank it straight from the bottle. He frowned due the strong liquid burning his throat. He lowered the bottle, and swallowed the rest of the booze. He couched after that, and looked at the bottle. There was one fourth of it gone.

He placed the bottle back to the table, and took the pack of cigarettes from it.

He took one cigarette from it, and placed it onto his lips. He then light it with matches he had on the table. He took couple of long drags from it, and then relaxed on the bed.

He heard couple of annoyed hmphs from the other side of the curtains, when the smoke from his cigarette started to spread to the rest of the room.

Riff didn't care. The nurses had tried to make him to go outside for a smoke, but Riff had just pointed at his legs. The nurses had looked at him embarrassed, and apologized from him. They hadn't bothered him about that after that.

Riff smoked his cigarette, and looked at the table next to him. Next to the clock, there was a small pile of letters that Riff hadn't bothered to read yet. He looked at the letters for a moment, and then reached his hoof towards them.

"Maybe I should get trough these," he said to himself, and took the letters to his lap.

He started to browse trough the letters.

"Army, army, army.." he said, and threw every letter that had the army logo on them to the trash bin next to him. He then stopped browsing. He quickly checked the rest of the letters, and noticed that they all were from the the army.

Riff sighed, and threw the letters to the trash bin.

He had gotten only one letter he had actually read. It had been from his family. It said that they all missed him, and were devastated about the news of Riff getting wounded. They said that they would visit him soon, but the letter is already three weeks old, and nopony had visited him.

Riff took one last drag from his cigarette, and stubbed it to a empty bottle, that was on the floor next to his bed. Riff started to feel the booze kicking in, and felt a bit dizzy. He decided that it would be stupid to stop there. then opened the vodka bottle again, and took another long sip.

Before he finished drinking from the bottle, one of the Nurses popped his head from behind the curtain. She starled Riff, who almost inhaled the liquor. Riff gagged and couched like crazy, and the nurse looked worried.

Riff soon calmed down, and managed to breath normally. He looked at the earth pony in front of him, who was wearing her nursing cap. Riff recognized the mare as one of his favorite nurses.

Her name was Cinnamon Smooch.

"You shouldn't be drinking this early," the smiling nurse said to him.

Her coat was creamy yellow, and she had a red mane. It was naturally curled, and hanged down her shoulders. She  swayed her red tail, that was too naturally curled.

She looked at Riff with her eyes, that were dark orange, and they had caring look in them. Her eyelashes fluttered cutely every time she blinked. Riff noticed the freckles on her cheeks. They highlighted her beautiful eyes.

"You know what they say. Early bird catches the worm," Riff said, and put the bottle on the night table.

Cinnamon looked at him, smiling heartily. She then looked at Riff's legs and asked: "How's your legs feeling?"

Riff looked at him annoyed. He then said: "Like they'd been shot."

Cinnamon raised her eyebrow, and smiled at Riff. She leaned closer to him and said: "I mean is there any pain? Or do they feel swollen?"

Riff tried to frown and look irritated, but he could help himself, and he smiled back at Cinnamon Smooch.

"Nah, they're fine," he said, And Cinnamon nodded at him happily.

She turned around from Riff, and walked to the night table. Riff saw her cutie mark. It was a thermometer inside a heart. Riff looked at it for a second, but then Cinnamon looked behind her. Riff quickly looked at the ceiling, and felt heat rising on his cheeks. Cinnamon just giggled a little.

Cinnamon threw some empty packs of cigarettes into the trash bin. she then noticed that it was full of letters from the army.

"Aren't you going to read those?" she asked, and looked at Riff.  He looked at the letters, and then shook his head.

"Nope. I do not want to have anything to do with the army anymore," Riff said, staring at the ceiling.

Cinnamon looked at him with a upset expression.

"How about old friends from the army?" they heard somepony saying from behind the curtain.

Riff looked at the curtain confusedly. He then turned his head towards Cinnamon, who giggled happily.

"Oh, I think I forgot to tell you that you have a visitor," she said giggling, and holding her hoof over her mouth.

The curtain started to slide, revealing a light green stallion, with a brown mohawk, that had green stripes in it.

He had a crosshair as his cutie mark.

"Crack Shot!" Riff exclaimed.

Crack Shot moved closer to the white pony laying in the bed, and they hoof bumped. Crack then spent a moment, looking at Riff, and his legs. He then smiled a mischievously, and said: "You look like shit."

"So do you," Riff sad, smiling back to him. Cinnamon giggled behind them.

"I'll leave you two alone now," she said and started to trot towards the door of the ward. Crack Shot looked after her, until he couldn't see her anymore.

"Wow," Crack said aloud.

"Yeah," Riff said. They looked at the door for a second, hoping that Cinnamon would appear from there again, but she didn't. Crack turned to Riff, and now he had more serious look on his face.

"How are you holding up?" he asked from Riff.

"Crippled, bored and drunk." Riff said, and reached for the bottle again. Crack gave it to him, and Riff nodded as thanks. He took a quick sip from the bottle, and then offered it to Crack.

"you want some?" he asked, but Crack Shot shook his head and said: "Nah, I really need to be sober today."

Riff looked at him questioningly. He then asked: "Why's that?"

Crack Shot perked up, and said proudly: "I'm being promoted to sergeant!"

Riff looked at him for a second, and then started to smile a little. He saluted, and said: "Corporal Riff Frost at your service!"

Crack Shot chuckled, and said: "At ease."

Riff leaned back to his pillow. And took a cigarette from the table. He offered one to Crack Shot too, but he looked around himself nervously.

"Aren't they gonna be mad?" he asked from Riff, while looking at the other patients. Riff just waved his hoof at them and let out a small 'pfft'.

"What can they do about it? They're just some cripple's and nurses! What can they do?" he said more loudly than he had planned, probably due the alcohol. They heard some mumbling from around them.

"Well, give me one," Crack said, and took one cigarette from Riff.

They light them, and enjoyed the cigarettes. They smoked in silence for a moment, before Crack spoke again: "When are you getting out?"

Riff looked at his hind legs, and then said: "Not for a while I guess."

Crack nodded sadly, and then stubbed his cigarette into the empty bottle. Riff did the same. Then Riff asked: "Were you in the attack to the hive?"

Crack was taken aback by that question. He stared at the wall blankly for a moment, and then said: "Yes. Yes I was."

Riff noticed Crack's expression, and asked with concerned voice: "You okay?"

Crack winced, and then quickly said: "Uh.. Yeah. Just saw some pretty messed up shit there."

"Wanna talk about it?" Riff asked, but Crack just shook his head. He looked at Riff, and smiled sadly.

"I don't want to make you feel any worse than you already must feel," Crack Shot said, and looked at the bottle, that still had a one fourth of booze left in it.

Riff noticed that, and said: "Take it if you want, I'm feeling drunk enough myself."

Crack Shot nodded, and lifted the bottle from the night table. He opened it, and emptied it at one long sip. He pouted and grunted, but managed to swallow the booze. He looked at Riff, and said: "Thank's.. ugh.."

Riff laughed loudly, earning some annoyed looks from the other patients.

"It's pretty strong huh?" he asked, still chuckling lightly. Crack was now too smiling, and he said: "Yeah, what the hell is this thing?"

"It's vodka from Crystal mountains," Riff said, while Crack Shot inspected the bottle in his hoof. He looked at Riff confusedly.

"How did you get this here by the way?" Crack asked. Riff smiled, and said: "Cinnamon brought it to me."

Crack's eyes widened, and he looked at the Riff surprised.

"That nurse?" he asked. He didn't seem to think that Riff was telling the truth.

"Yep. I just had to wink for her, and she got it for me from the town," Riff said, leaning into his pillow.

Crack started to smile at Riff, and then he said: "I know you're trying to fuck with me now."

"Yeah, I am. I really needed to peg and give some bits to her," Riff said smiling sheepishly.

They laughed for a moment, and then Crack seemed to remember something.

"I brought something for you!" Crack said excited. He then disappeared behind the curtain, leaving confused Riff all alone. He tried to look what Crack was doing, but couldn't see behind the curtain. Riff grunted and leaned his head back to his pillow.

After a minute Crack came back, carrying Riff's guitar in his other front hoof.

Riff's face lit up as he recognize the instrument in Crack Shot's hoof. He reached his hooves towards it, smiling widely. Crack too smiled, and gave the guitar to Riff, who looked at it with his blue eyes full of excitement.

"What.. where.. how.." Riff started, but the alcohol in his brains made the words get stuck in his throat. He calmed down for a second, and then asked: "How did you get this? I thought I'd never see it again!"

Crack smiled happily and said: "I grabbed it before we left from the base."

Riff beamed at Crack, and then he took the guitar into his hooves, and gave it couple strums. He played a short melody, and then laid the guitar onto his lap. He looked at Crack Shot, and had a thankful smile on his face.

He was just about to say something, but then they heard somepony clearing her throat. They turned towards the sound, and they saw Cinnamon Smooch standing there. She looked at the two ponies, smiling lovely.

"I'm sorry, but visiting time is over," she said.

Crack Shot looked at Riff, who turned to Cinnamon and asked, slurring slightly: " Can't Crack stay just a little longer.. I promise.. that we won't be loud..."

Crack smiled, when he noticed how drunk Riff had become.

"Sorry sweetheart. I have my orders," Cinnamon said, and winked to Riff, who's cheeks blushed deep red. Crack chuckled, and patted him on the shoulder.

Crack Shot looked at his drunken friend, who looked back at him.

"Corporal Riff Frost!" he said and saluted. Riff chuckled, and saluted back.

"Sergeant Crack Shot!" he said, slurring and wobbling a little. They then laughed a little. Cinnamon looked at them, smiling a bit confused.

"Okay buddy, try to take care of yourself," Crack said, and reached his hoof towards Riff. Riff looked at the hoof for a moment, and then grabbed it with his hoof. They shook hooves for a second, and then Riff said: "You too, and don't forget to write me."

"I won't," Crack said, smiling happily.

They then said farewells, and Crack started to walk towards the exit with Cinnamon Smooch. Crack Shot turned to look at Riff for the last time, and he saw how Riff took the guitar to his hooves, and started to play it.

Crack Shot and Cinnamon Smooch walked out of the room, and into the corridor. They heard how Riff started to play a sad melody with his guitar. Crack was surprised, that he could play so well, even he was pretty drunk.

Crack noticed that Cinnamon too listened to the melody, and smiled gently.

Crack got an idea.

"You know, Riff really likes you," he said to Cinnamon, who looked back at him confused.

Crack didn't give her time to answer anything, and he continued: "He's really nice guy, even he's pretty ugly."

Cinnamon giggled, and said: "He's not ugly!"

"Anyway, you have to look hard for somepony like him," Crack Shot continued with serious tone. Cinnamon Smooch looked at him, and they stopped. They were at the front doors, that lead out to the streets of Canterlot.

They still heard Riff playing his guitar, and the sound echoed in the hallways.

"Do you understand what I'm trying to say?" Crack Shot said, looking at the red maned pony in front of him.

Cinnamon Smooch smiled at him, and said: "I think I did."

Crack smiled a goofy smile, and then said: "His too shy to do the initiative."

"I know, but I don't know how to do it," Cinnamon said shyly. Crack Shot's jaw dropped. She really liked Riff? He thought that this could actually work.

"Just ask him out.." Crack Shot started, but stopped when Cinnamon looked at him with a serous face.

"Uhm.. I mean when his legs get better," he corrected himself quickly, and Cinnamon started to smile again. Then her smile vanished, and her ears drooped.

"What do I do before that?" she asked, and Crack just chuckled.

"Well you shouldn't bring any more booze to him," he said to the mare, who looked surprised, and she smiled a sheepish smile to Crack Shot.

"Heh.. Maybe I shouldn't," she said. Crack just smiled to her, and said: "Don't worry, you'll figure something out."

Cinnamon smiled to him sadly, and then said: "I'll try at least."

Crack Shot looked at the clock on the wall, and his eyes widened.

"Oh sh.. I'm already late!" he almost shouted. He looked at Cinnamon, he then nodded and said: "Goodbye, and good luck!"

Crack Shot the disappeared behind the doors, into the crowned streets of the Canterlot.

Cinnamon Smooch, looked at the door for a second.

She then turned around, and listened. She heard that Riff was still playing the melody, that was pretty sad in her opinion.

"Maybe I can make it a bit happier," she though out loud, and checked if her mane and tail was alright. He then straightened the nursing cap in her head, and started to walk towards the ward six.

She had found a new spring in her step, and she was humming with the melody that echoed trough the corridors.