Fire Base Zebra

Day 6

2nd platoon was asleep, all except, Riff, Healing Horn and Crack Shot, who couldn't sleep. They all were going over the events of the night when they had been attacked.

Healing couldn't shake the image of dying spade from his head. He remembered how he did all he could, but still couldn't help Spade.

Healing had helped other medical staff to carry Spade to aid station. There they cleaned him up and placed him into a wooden coffin. Everyone was silent, then doctor Sawbone placed folded Equestria flag over the coffin.

"First victim of war," Sawbone said.

"What do you mean doctor? We're not in war with changelings," blue unicorn next to Healing said.

Sawbone looked at the blue unicorn with sadness in his eyes.

He pointed at Spade's coffin and asked: "What does that look like to you?"

Blue unicorn was silent. Then Sawbone turned to healing.

"What was it like out there? Hm?" Sawbone inquired from Healing Horn. Healing looked at the coffin in front of him.

He remembered how many times he got shot at and almost lost his life, how frightened he was when his gun jammed...

and his first kill.

Then he turned back to Sawbone and said: "it was like war."

Sawbone nodded.

"There you have it! Soon there will be more incidents like this and then we find ourselves in total war," Sawbone said to the rest of the ponies, who were all silent.

"Now get out of here, all of you. Get some sleep," Sawbone said and sat down behind his table and started to fill some papers.

Healing quavered in his bed. It was first time he realized that they were going to be in war.

Crack Shot was lying in half sitting position on his bed.

He saw small red glow of Riff's cigarette, so he was awake too.

Crack knew what Riff  was thinking. Riff had been talking about Spade for the last twenty-four hours.

Crack Shot turned his head towards the only window in their barrack. Night was almost over, and the horizon was starting to turn orange.

Crack wasn't thinking about Spade, they barely knew each other. He was thinking about what happens next.

If they were going to war, could they win the changelings, and what if they couldn't, what would happen next? Would changelings conquer whole Equestria?

These were the questions rampaging trough Crack's head.

He wasn't worried about himself. He was worried about the fate of Equestria.

Crack had always wanted to join the royal guard, to serve and protect the country he loved.

He went to the try-outs when he was seventeen, but when he went to the test, they said he wasn't fitting for the job. '

He got really upset and started train. He went to try-out for three more times, with the same results.

Crack enlisted to the army after that, he wanted to serve Equestria in one way or another.

Crack Shot rested his head on his pillow. He looked at Riff, who was still smoking.

Riff was lying in his bed, slowly smoking a cigarette.

He looked at the empty bed on his Right side. It was Spade's bed.

He then looked on the floor next to his bed. There were three empty packs on the floor. He then looked at his fourth pack. It had two cigarettes in it. He took one cigarette from it.

"I'm going to more likely die from a nicotine overdose than changeling bullets, but hay with that," he said to himself with a hushed voice and light the cigarette with the stub of the last one. Then he returned to his thoughts

"Ready Spade?"

Those were his last words to Spade. Riff was feeling guilty.

Even at the carriage he didn't say anything to his dying friend. Actually he didn't even know that Spade was dying, he thought that Spade's injury wasn't anything serious, just a flesh wound or something.

It had been on Riff's mind ever since. He wanted to make it up to Spade, somehow, that's why he couldn't sleep.

He light another cigarette and threw the empty pack on the floor to others.

Riff looked around himself. He noticed that Crack Shot had fallen asleep, so was Healing Horn.

Riff sighed, took last, long drag from his cigarette and stubbed it on the floor. He then turned to his side and pulled the blanket over his head.

Day 7

Rough Gunner and other team leaders were standing next to Major Valor outside of Valor's tent.There was also three royal guards with them. They were standing still, waiting for Valor's sing.

The old grey pony just watched at his wristwatch, standing next to a long wooden pole with a loudspeakers attached to it.

Exactly at six o'clock in the morning Valor pulled the switch used to activate the loudspeakers, that started howl.

Rough stood still. After a moment he saw sleepy ponies trotting towards them, arranging in rows in front of their team leaders.

Rough soon spotted Healing Horn, Crack Shot and Riff in the formation. The trio looked really tired, Rough knew that they hadn't slept last night.

It had happened to himself too, when he was in his first battle with the griffons many years aback.

"Good morning soldiers!" Major Valor greeted the ponies in front of him.

"Good morning Major!" they answered in unison. Valor looked at them. His expression was a mix of tiredness and sadness. Valor waited for a moment before continuing: "Even I said 'good morning', this morning has been everything but good."

Rough saw ponies looking at each other confusedly.

"Today, at zero five hundred we got a letter -" Valor pauses for a second "- From all three princesses," Valor said.

There were quiet speaking within the ponies standing in front of Rough, but they silenced when Rough stomped his hoof in the ground.

"Thank you captain," Valor said. He then continued: "The letter was pointed to all the soldiers who are stationed here, in fire base zebra. It has very grim news in it."

Valor took a piece of paper from his pocket and opened it. It had a royal seal in it.

He looked at the paper and started reading:

To all Fire Base Zebra's brave soldiers.

We, your princesses have really sad and frighting news for you. After your incident with the changelings the day before yesterday, incidents similar to that have occurred all around the Equestria - Changeling Kingdom borders.

We are sorry to inform you that we have declared a war against the Changeling Kingdom.

You will soon receive your new commands.

Be safe our little ponies.

Princessess Celestia, Luna and Twilight Sparkle

When Valor finished reading, he folded the paper in half and put it back to his pocket. He looked at the now silent ponies in front of him. He waited for a minute to let the message sink in, before he continued talking.

"Observation post Alpha has reported activity around the changeling camp. We we suspect that they are planning a large-scale invasion, but we won't let that happen." Valor said.

"Hooah!" team leaders shouted, and so did the rest of the ponies.

Major Valor smiled a small sad smile.

"What will we do?" shouted somepony from the second group, and Valor turned towards him.

"What we will do is attack first!" Valor shouted to everypony, who stomped on the ground and started to cheer.

"We will strike them down before they even reach our borders!" Valor continued and the soldiers stomped the ground and cheered even louder.

"Tomorrow, with the help of royal guard, our base and our neighboring bases fire base Charlie and combat outpost Echos will be attacking changeling's near border camps!" Valor explained.

"We will also have air support from the military airbase Bravo, It will be helluva show!" Valor said to ponies, who were still cheering, but Valor gestured them to be silent.

When everypony was silent, Valor said: "Now I have some other things to say."

Rough perked up, this was it.

"Private Healing Horn, Private Riff, Private Heavy and Private Crack Shot," Valor said.

"Step forward!" Rough commanded in his deep voice, and soon they all were standing in front of him. They had puzzled looks on their faces when Valor took another piece of paper with a royal seal from his pocket.

Valor opened the message and started reading:

By the orders of princesses, all soldiers who fought the changelings at the Ursa valley, are to be promoted instantly due their heroic actions under harsh conditions and enemy presence. Private Spade is to be treated with hero's burial at his hometown.

Shining Armor, Captain of the royal guard.

"Ten-hut!" Rough shouted and the four ponies were now standing in perfect order. Valor walked to them and stopped in front of them.

"Private Heavy, Private Healing Horn, Private Crack Shot and Private Riff Frost," He said again.

"Yes sir!" they answered.

"You are promoted to corporals at this moment," Valor said and shook hooves with them all.

After that they said in unison: "Thank you, sir!"

Valor nodded and walked back to stand next to the royal guards.

"Back in line!" Rough commanded and Riff, Crack, Healing and Heavy quickly returned to their places.

Rough was proud of them. They had earned their promotions.

"Now your team leaders will inform you about tomorrow, Fight well and die brave!" Valor finished and walked inside his tent with the royal guards.

"HOOAH! Ponies shouted.

                                                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rough Gunner was now inside the Barrack C with the rest of his soldiers. He was standing next to a big map that had some raw sketches drawn on it. His soldiers were sitting on the floor and beds.

"Okay listen up! We're almost done here," Rough said, and the ponies perked up.

"This here -" Rough points at big A on the map "- is our target. It's one of the three major changeling camps near our borders," Rough explained. He then drew a circle around it with a red pen.

"Other bases will attack camps B and C, but that's not our concern," Rough said, earning couple of chuckles from the ponies.

"We will have one group of royal guards attacking with us, and military airbase Bravo will give us air support, so this should be a in and out kind of a job, but I don't want to see anypony being a hero. Shoot only from cover and stay low," Rough said with a serious tone in his voice.

"Any questions?"

"Sir, When will the royal guards come?" somepony asked.

"They will be here tomorrow morning, anything else?" Rough asked and looked around the room.

Everypony was silent for a moment, but  then Crack asked: "What happens after this?"

Rough thought for a moment, but didn't come up with any good answer.

"I don't know. Hopefully changelings will be smart enough to stop the plans for attack," Rough said.

"And if they aren't?" Riff asked. Rough was silent again.

"Then we have to start advancing until they surrender, but hopefully we don't need to go that far," Rough answered.

Riff and Crack nodded.

"Okay. Now go get something to eat. Tomorrow we will leave at four o'clock," Rough said.

Day 8

Clock was quarter to two, and fire base Zebra was in total chaos. Everypony was running around, checking their equipment and loading their magazines. Pegasies were landing on the pads nonstop, dropping ammunition and other supplies, while officers were shouting at them to hurry up.

Crack Shot was loading his magazines just outside the barrack C. Riff was sitting next to him. They didn't seem to care about the ruckus around them. They just kept inserting a bullet after bullet into their clips, until they were full, when they laid the full clip inside their combat vests.

"Hey Riff," Crack said suddenly.

"What?" Riff asked while reloading his last clip.

"What's your home like?" Crack asked. Riff stopped reloading. He turned to look at Crack, who had also stopped realoding his clips.

"You really want to know right now?" Riff asked, looking confused.

"Yeah, I thought that small talking would lift the atmosphere," Crack said grinning.

Riff turned away and started to insert more bullets to the magazine. After a while he said: "Well, it has lots of snow."

"Yeah I reckon," Crack said.

"You asked, I answered," Riff said annoyed.

"Just messing with ya," Crack said and hit Riff in the shoulder playfully. Riff frowned, but continued.

"Like I said, there's lots of snow. Almost all the time, but you get used to it after living there your whole life. I can't stand this heat. It's driving me crazy," Riff said and looked up. Even the clock was only two in the morning, the temperature was at least over twenty degrees.

"What about you? What is your home like?" Riff asked from Crack, who was now cleaning his rifle's firing mechanism.

"In Manehattan you're always busy, and I don't like it. I'd move away if I had money," Crack said.

"After this you will have pretty good sum of bits in your pocket," Riff said and started to attach grenades into his combat vest.

"Yeah, If I ever get away from here alive," Crack said sadly.

They both went silent.

"Well there's pretty good looking mares around there," Crack said after a while and smiled.

"I bet," Riff said, taking his rifle into his hooves and opening the ejection port.

"You have a marefriend?" Crack asked from Riff.

"I've had couple, but they weren't my type. They were too... cold," Riff said while cleaning his rifle.

Crack chuckled.

"I is legal to do it with a body in Crystal mountains?" He asked with a big grin.

"What? No! You're sick!" Riff said and blushed. He then continued: "I mean they were always so cruel and they just used me. I wan't somepony who is.. How do I say this.. caring," Riff said.

"I hear ya" Crack said and assembled his rifle back together.

Suddenly Healing Horn walked to them. He sat next to Riff.

"What were you talking about?" Healing asked and started to roll bandages into neat rolls.

"About our homes." Riff said.

"Yeah. Hey you were from the Ponyville right? What is it like over there?" Crack asked.

Healing placed the bandages in his bag, he then said: "Pretty normal, one ursa minor attack, one rampaging dragon and one time discord changed it to a chaos capital."

Riff and Crack were silent. They looked at HEaling with wide eyes, and then they looked at each other.

"Yeah that's how I felt couple of years back, but you get used to it."

Everypony started laughing. After a long laugh Healing said: "I miss home."

"Yeah, Me too," Crack said.

Riff stood up and quickly went inside the Barrack . Crack and Healing looked at each other in confusion. Was it something they said?

Soon Riff returned with his guitar on his back. He sat down and took the guitar into his hooves. Riff started to play, he played couple of tests before he stopped. Then he started the actual song.

He strummed the guitar and played couple of seconds before he started to sing:

"Feels like longer than forever, yeah

My home is now a distant land

If I had one wish, I wish I could be

Back on that snowy rock in the middle of the snow

My Heart is calling me to the mountains

Blue skies, and cold breeze

I wanna go back home....

You can take the boy from the mountain,

But not the mountain from the boy

Because the mountain stays in your heart

And I'll never forget where I'm from

Oh no, I'll never forget

No I'll never forget

Where I'm from..."

Healing Horn and Crack Shot looked at Riff in amazement, while Riff light a cigarette and started to play another song, probably his own.

"That was amazing!" Healing said.

"Yeah, how can you play so well?" Crack asked.

Riff looked at him and said: "I dunno. I just started practicing and then I joined the band."

"Band? You have a band?" surprised Healing said.

Riff just nodded.

"So you play in a band, I never would  have guessed," Crack Shot said and looked at Riff, stunned.

"I think I have seen you play in Ponyville," a new voice said.

They all lifted their heads and saw black pegasus wearing thunderbolt uniform, standing in front of them. He had a blue mohawk and aviator classes resting on his forehead.

"Thunderlane!" Healing Horn said excited  and jumped up to hug the pegasus, while Riff and Crack looked at each others.

"What are you doing here?" Healing asked when he released his friend from the hug.

"I am stationed to the airbase Bravo. I came here to plan the attack with your officers," Thunderlane explained.

"So you will be helping us today?" Crack Shot asked.

"That's right." he answered smiling.

"You guys better bomb the place good, I don't want to get killed today," Riff said and placed clip into his assault rifle.

Thunderlane looked at the trio. He seemed to think about something.

"Weren't you the ones at ursa valley?" he finally asked.

"That's us," Healing said.

"Hay, they told that it was pretty intense there," Thunderlane said seriously.

They all were silent for a while. Then Healing said: "Yeah.. You know Spade from Ponyville?"

"I think I remember, how?" Thunderlane asked.

"Well, he got hit and it was pretty bad... He died," Healing said. Thunderlane went silent.

"That's.. that's bad," was all he could say.

They were silent for a minute longer, checking their equipments.

Silence was broken by Healing asking: "Well, how is it going back home?"

Thunderlane seemed to perk up when he said: "Really good, met a really nice mare just before I left here."

"Really, who is it?" Healing asked.

"Oh I bet you know her," Thunderlane said smirking.

"Come on tell me," Healing pleaded.

"Okay okay. It's R..." Thunderlane was interrupted by the loudspeakers howling. Riff and Crack stood up and took their weapons and equipments. Healing too packed his things, then he turned to see Thunderlane.

"We need to go now, It was nice talking to you," he said.

"Yeah, be safe out there," Thunderlane said to Healing, who nodded.

                                                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rough Gunner was standing in his battle gear outside the gates. He was facing twenty-two soldiers. They were all ready for battle, at least physically. Rough examined his soldiers. All were young, almost colts, and still they were going to their first real battle.

Rough sighed and started to speak: "Soldiers! -" everypony perked up "- Today we are going to attack the changelings at their own ground, which they know better. We must be at high alert when we cross the border.

They probably have scouts, so they will know when we start our attack, but we are one of Equestria's finest soldiers, so they don't have a change!"

Everypony were silent.

"We will meet the royal guards when we reach the changeling camp, then the pegasies will bomb the enemy, then is our time to move in the camp and capture it. Remember changelings can be dangerous, even if they are wounded so don't take any risks. Understood?" Rough asked.

"Yes sir!" ponies answered in unison.

"Good, lets get moving!" He shouted