Fire Base Zebra

Everypony was running around like a headless chicken. Fire base Zebra was full of activity, and the officers were yelling at their soldiers face red. It looked like they were preparing for a battle, but they weren't. They were actually cleaning the base.

Everypony had been ordered to wash their uniforms day before.

Engineers were repairing the buildings, to make them look more representative. The staff of the aid station had arranged their workstation so that it looked more like a real hospital. The guards standing at the gates were all standing in a perfect attention, holding their rifles from the barrels with their left hoof, so that the rifles stock touched the ground. Normally there were no ponies guarding the gates, because officers saw it unnecessary when they were so far from the border.

Nopony actually knew why they were cleaning the base, but they could guess it.

"I bet that it's general Triumph, we wouldn't be so damn formal if it would be anypony from a lower rank," a pony carrying planks on his back said to Riff and Crack Shot. Riff was Sitting on a roof of the barrack C. He had a hammer in his hoof and he held nails in his mouth, so he wouldn't need to take new ones from his bag every time he needed one.

Crack Shot was on the ground with the pony who had the planks.

"It must be somepony even more important, just look at the fuzz around here!" Crack said and waved his hoof at the running ponies around them.

"Like who?" the pony asked.

"Maybe marshal Toughie?" Crack suggested.

"Ofh mhayfb af phinfesh," Riff lisped on the roof. Crack and the pony on the ground looked at him with a questioning expressions. Riff banged the hammer onto the roof one more time, and then spit the nails from his mouth.

"Or maybe a  princess," he repeated.

"No way, why would one of them come to visit this place?" Crack said smiling to the thought of princess Celestia walking around the base. Riff shrugged and said: "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Crack passed a new plank for Riff, who started to patch a hole in the roof with it.

Crack started to smile again, then he said: "But I wouldn't mind if princess Luna came to visit us."

"I can remember when I saw her at one of her speeches at Manehattan," Crack continued. He sighed while remembering about the princess.  A sly grin appeared on his face. Crack Shot turned to the pony next to him and said: "And those flanks... I could just.."

"Ahem.." they heard somepony clearing his throat behind them, and Crack stopped his daydreaming. they turned around and saw Rough Gunner looking at them with a raised eyebrow. Crack's eyes widened and he quickly saluted.

"Uhh.. Captain! I.. I was just about to.. to.." Crack tried to think of a explanation, but failed. Rough looked at him from behind his aviator glasses.

"At ease, I am just checking the barracks," Rough said.

"Oh.. Hehe.. Well were just about to finish with her," Crack said. He immediately noticed what he had said, and quickly corrected:  ."..THIS! We were just about to finish with this."

Rough looked at blushing Crack, who was smiling sheepishly at him. He then looked at Riff and the pony carrying the planks, they were clearly holding a laughter. He then turned back to Crack and said: "I see. Well when you're ready, start fixing the B."

"Yes sir!" Crack said and saluted. Rough nodded and left them.

When Rough was far enough, Crack turned to Riff and the pony next to him. They looked at each others for a second, then Riff burst in laughter. The pony who carried the planks joined him, and the planks fell from his back, rumbling on the ground.

Crank blushed again and shouted: "Not funny!"

But the two ponies still kept laughing.

Healing Horn was polishing the surgeon instruments in the first aid station. He had leaned to be careful when he did that. Healing remembered how his hooves were full of cuts when he cleaned the surgeon scalpels for the first couple of times.

After Healing finished cleaning the instruments, he marveled at his handiwork.

All the scalpels, clamps and occluders, retractors, distractors and other tools made from stainless steel were now shinning. He could see his own reflection from their surface.

Healing Horn then placed the instruments back to their places in the nearby cabinet. He looked around himself. The aid station was cleaner than he had ever seen it. Even the papers on doctor Sawbone's desk was in perfect order. Nopony had told Healing what was going on, but he guessed that somepony important was coming for a visit.

Healing was just about to leave the tent, when a sea green colored unicorn dashed trough the door. He stopped by Sawbone and take couple of deep breaths. The winded pony then leaned closer to the surprised doctor Sawbone, and whispered something to doctor's ear.

Doctor's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. He turned to the unicorn, and asked: "Are you sure?"

The unicorn nodded his head up and down furiously, looking at least as shocked as Sawbone. They stared at each other, then Sawbone nodded and gestured that the pony was now free to leave. The sea green unicorn saluted and left the tent.

Healing Horn was confused. He looked at the grey old pony sitting behind the desk. Doctor Sawbone was still quiet, rubbing his hooves against each other. Healing was first to speak: "Sir? Can I ask what that was?"

Doctor winced and looked at the Healing Horn. His expression changed from surprised to his normal calm stare.

"It's nothing important," Sawbone lied. He then started to rise from his chair. Healing dashed to help the old stallion.

"Oh, how mighty nice of you," doctor said when Healing helped him up to his legs.

After getting up, Sawbone looked at Healing Horn, who still had the same confused look on his face.

"Corporal Healing Horn, could you help me dress up in my uniform?" he asked from Healing Horn, who looked even more confused now.

"But sir, you are already wearing your uniform," Healing said, pointing at Sawbone's doctor jacket.

"Oh, I don't mean this one. I mean my better uniform," Sawbone said and pointed at his personal quarters. Healing knew that doctor never used his better suit. This had to be something really important.

"Of course doctor," Healing said.

"Maybe I can fill in some gaps for you after we're done," doctor said. He probably knew how much Healing Horn wanted to know what was going on. Healing's face lit up and he said: "Thank you doctor,"

Sawbone smiled and they started to walk towards Sawbones quarters.

A loudspeaker started to howl, just like when major Valor told them that they were in a war. Riff and Crack looked at each other, and started to walk towards the sound. Their quest must be arriving soon. They actually had a small bet going on. Crack Shot bet that the quest was general, while Riff bet that it was a marshal.

"How much was the bet again?" Riff asked, even he clearly remembered how much it was.

"one hundred bits," Crack answered.

Riff Smacked his lips. He looked at Crack with a wry grin.

"I am going to get so wasted with those bits, when we get our holidays," he said teasingly, but Crack didn't react. Riff frowned. He wanted Crack to get angry, it was his favorite pass time.

"But don't worry Crack, I will remember you when I drink," Riff continued his provocation, with no result. Riff drooped his ears and stared at Crack, eyes squinted. Crack was a thought one, but so was Riff, and he wasn't gonna give up.

Riff decided to stop trying for now, because they arrived at the loudspeaker near the landing pads.

Like last time, the team leaders were standing so, that they were facing their soldiers. The ponies formed ranks of seven ponies in front of their team leaders. Riff and Crack stood in the front row. Rough Gunner was standing in front of them, motionless and in attention. His uniform was ironed and clean. His aviator glasses crowned the outfit.

Crack noticed Healing Horn walking with doctor Sawbone, and he was smiling stupidly. Riff saw that Sawbone was wearing a army uniform, instead of the usual doctor jacket he had. Healing helped Sawbone to sit down on a chair that was brought there for him. Then he trotted next to Riff. He still was wearing that annoying smile.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Riff whispered to him from the corner of his mouth.

"I know who's coming here!" Healing replied whispering. Riff looked at him with a surprise in his eyes.

"Who?" Riff asked curiously. Healing just smiled at him stupidly, and said: "Sorry, Can't tell you."

"Come on!" Riff pleaded.

"Nope, sorry," Healing said teasingly. Riff looked at him angrily and raised his voice: "You're an assh..."

"TEN-HUT!" Rough and other team leaders shouted in unison, and everpony quickly stood in attention. Major Valor pushed the lever of the loudspeaker up, and the howling stopped. He then walked in the middle of the team leaders. He had his army uniform like always, but there were now different kind of medal attached to it's chest. He also had a army green peaked cap with army logo in it.

"Soldiers of 2nd platoon, 3rd platoon and the staff of fire base Zebra, we have gathered here today because we are going to have a special guest today!" Valor started. He looked around himself.

"Our quest is very important person, and we need to be at our best. So no fooling around!" Valor shouted, he emphasized the last sentence.

"You must also behave after we have welcomed our guest, remember that!" Valor said. Healing noticed that the same sea green colored unicorn he had seen earlier walked to Valor. He saluted and said something to major, who nodded. The pony then disappeared somewhere again. Valor looked around the ponies in front of him, then he said: "Our guest will arrive in five minutes. Remember what I told you!"

Everypony were anxious to see their mysterious guest. They all scanned the skies with their eyes, but they didn't see anything. After couple of minutes, somepony behind Crack whispered: "There it is."

Now they saw it too. It was still far away, but they saw that it was a small wagon, so there would be only couple of passengers in it. As it came closer, they saw how it shone golden glow. The wagon was pulled by two white royal guard pegasies in their golden armor.

Rough Gunner thought that it was stupid, their golden armor could be seen miles away, and even the wagon was golden! He though that it was really stupid, with such a important cargo on board.

The wagon started to descent. Now Riff and Crack could almost see the logo in it's side, but it was on the other side, that was facing away from them. They saw Valor was standing at the landing pads. The wagon made a long curve, and started to slow down. Now it was in line with the VIP landing pad. It flew even lower and slower, and everypony could see the logo on the side of it.

Their jaws dropped when they saw the royal logo. It was a princess.

"No way!" somepony said behind them.

Riff looked at the wagon, he then turned to Crack and said: "I think it's a tie?"

"Yeah," Crack muttered and stared at the approaching wagon. It was now almost at the landing pad, and the soldiers could see two figures standing inside it. One of them was a royal guard in his golden armor. The other one was light purple alicorn.

The two flying pegasies pulled up just before the pad, stopping the whole carriage, making it land on the pad with a small thud. The two pegasies unhitched themselves and walked to positions in front of the carriage.

The light purple alicorn sat in the carriage, while the royal guard besides her rose from the wagon. He was a pegasus too. His coat was orange, and his helmet had a dark blue crest on it. He helped the princess from the wagon by offering her a hoof, which she gladly accepted. The Royal guards pulled long spears from the carriage, and some of the soldiers chuckled at the sight.

They all were silenced by their team leaders, who angrily stomped their hoof on the ground.

The princess was now standing side by side with the orange peagasus, while the two white ones were standing behind them. They then started to walk towards major Valor, who knelt down in front of the princess. The purple alicorn said something and Valor rose up. Now he shook hooves with her, and then with the orange royal guard.

Healing thought that the guard must be somepony important too. Maybe a personal bodyguard?

After they had introduced themselves, major Valor walked towards the ponies with the princess and the three guards. Crack saw the princess better now.

She wasn't wearing any clothes, which was usual. Her straight mane was sapphire blue with violet and rose streaks. Her tail had the same coloring and style as her mane. Her cutie mark was a light purple star with smaller white stars around it. Her eyes were large and violet, and there were a bit of nervousness in them, that actually made her look very adorable. She looked at the ponies standing in attention. Crack couldn't take his eyes of her.

"Soldiers," Valor started.

"KNEEL!" Team leaders shouted, ending Valor's sentence. The sudden loud shouting made the princess jump, and a small blush formed on her face.

The ponies quickly knelt down, and then team leaders turned around and they too knelt. The princess nodded, and then the soldiers rose up and stood in attention again. Now major Valor turned to princess and gestured that she would begin now.

Everypony's eyes were now fixated to the purple alicorn. She walked forwards and stopped couple of meters from the ponies. She was shaking a bit. Healing actually knew the princess, she had been a librarian in Ponyville, an he knew that she wasn't too good in speaking in front of ponies.

Then the princess cleared her voice and started: "G.. Greetings, b.. brave soldiers from.. from,"

She looked at the orange pegasus next to her for help, and he leaned closer to the princess and whispered something to her ear.

"From fire base Zebra and 2nd and 3rd platoon of.." she stopped and looked back at the orange pegasus, who again whispered something to her.

"of 503rd Infantry Regiment," She finally finished. Her cheeks were getting redder. The ponies waited silently for more.

"Me and other princesses are visiting the near the border bases," she said. Then she looked like she remembered something. She smiled a sheepish smile and said: "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Twilight Sparkle."

"Good afternoon, princess Twilight Sparkle!" soldiers shouted in unison, starling Twilight again.

"Heh.. Good afternoon," she said.

Crack shot watched the purple alicorn, who started to walk in front of the ponies, looking at them shyly. She was just about to pass him . Crack was glad that he was standing in a front row. He could stare at the mare without anypony standing on his way.

Princess was now getting closer to them. She stopped in front of Healing Horn and Riff. Her expression was surprised, but the she started to smile.

"Healing! I can't believe you're here!" she said happily and turned towards the smiling Healing Horn. Her nervousness seemed to fade away when she saw Healing. She smiled at him for a moment, but Healing didn't answer. Twilight looked at him confusedly, but Healing Horn just rolled his eyes at Rough Gunner.

Twilight turned to see Rough. He looked back at the princess, who gave her a lovely smile. Then he turned his head to Healing Horn and nodded.

"Nice to see you to, princess Twilight," Healing said after he got permission from Rough. Twilight smiled to him sweetly and said: "You don't need to call me that,"

"Yes I do, princess Twilight," Healing said sternly. Twilight frowned, but was still smiling.

"I command you not to call me that," she said smiling victoriously. Healing Horn sighed, then he said: "Yes, Twilight."

Twilight smiled. She then asked: "How are you doing in here?"

Healing Horn didn't want to make Twilight worry about them, so he said: "We're doing good, nothing to complain about."

"Well that's good to hear," Twilight said happily. She then peeked behind Healing, looking for something.

"Didn't you enlist with Spade? I heard you two got assigned into same platoon," Twilight said and still tried to look around for Spade. Healing's smile vanished, and he said: "Yes we were,"

Twilight didn't notice change of Healing's expression. She was still smiling at him.

"Well where is he? I'd like to see him too," Twilight asked excitedly.

Healing didn't answer, he turned his eyes to the orange pegasus, who seemed to know what was going on. He quickly leaned to Twilight and said: "Princess, we should move on now."

Twilight turned to him. She had a disappointed look on her face, but it changed into a small smile when she turned to Healing and said: "Well, I really need to go now, but hopefully I can speak to you later."

Healing flashed her a quick smile, and then Twilight started to walk forward with her bodyguard.

Crack Shot was jealous for Healing Horn. It seemed that he knew the princess personally. Crack soon forgot Healing Horn, because the princess now walked past him. He looked at her, and for a second she looked back at him. Crack Shot smiled at her, but she shyly looked away from him, and walked past him.

Crack Shot frowned in disappointment, but soon a small smile crept on his face. He could now her from behind. He saw how princess's tail and hip swung rhythmically as she walked. Crack's nature got better of him, and let out a small whistle, without thinking about it.

Everything froze for a second. Princess Twilight's eyes were wide, and she had stopped walking. A violent blush had appeared on her cheeks. Riff and Healing Horn were wide eyed too. They couldn't believe Crack was so thoughtless. Even Rough's jaw was dropped.

Just as Crack realized what he had done, a wooden shaft of spear hit him in the side of his head with a loud smack. Blood burst from his mouth when he bit his tongue. There was also blood running from a small cut in the side of his forehead, where the shaft had hit him. Crack fell down to his knees, spitting blood.

Princess yelped and held her hoof on her mouth.

The pony who hit Crack was the orange pegasus, he was standing on his rear legs, holding the spear in her front hooves. He looked furious.

Riff crouched next to Crack Shot, to help him up. As soon as he touched Crack, he too felt how the spear's shaft hit his jaw. A white flash occurred in his eyes, and blinding pain made him fell to his stomach. Riff held his jaw and rolled over to his back. Crack tried to stood up, and the furious royal guard lifted the spear for another attack, but then the princess shouted frightened: "Flash, stop!"

The orange pegasus turned to see the princess, who was on a edge of tears. He lowered his spear and looked confused.

"But princess, they..." the guard started, but then the purple mare walked closer to the guard.

"Flash.. I'm not mad to them," princess said softly, and placed her hoof on guard's chest. He looked at her, and then nodded slowly.

Everypony was so confused that they didn't even breath, even Rough's mouth was still open. Princess Twilight remembered the two beat up ponies, and turned to them. She quickly walked over them, but now her bodyguard stayed behind.

Twilight knelt before them and asked, with genuine concern: "Are you alright?"

Crack Shot drooled blood and Riff was still lying on his back, holding his jaw. Crack Shot lifted his head, and said: "I've been better."

Healing Horn could see Rough taking off his aviator glasses. Even his eyes were green, Healing Horn could have sworn that he saw a red glow coming from his eyes.

"I'm sorry about that.. Flash Sentry can be pretty short-tempered sometimes," Twilight said with a apologizing smile. Crack chuckled and said: "I think I deserved that, princess."

Twilight smiled and turned to Riff, who had rose to a sitting position, but was still holding his jaw. Crack too looked at him.

"Sorry Riff, you shouldn't have tried to help," Crack said to Riff. Who looked at him angrily.

"Hfe bfoke mha fjaw, bfechaufe oh you!" Riff mongered. Crack and Twilight looked at him confusedly. Riff held his jaw, but when they didn't seem to understand, he rolled his eyes and clumsily stood up, back in attention.

Crack Shot looked at his friend, then at the princess in front of him.

"I think you should go now," Crack said. Twilight smiled at him.

"I hope they won't punish you because of this," Twilight said sadly. Crack Shot chuckled.

"I will get even worse flank whooping than your friend there gave me," he said smiling stupidly, while blood ran down his face.

Twilight smiled at him, then she stood up, and so did Crack. He was back in the attention, like everypony else.

Twilight looked at him for a second. Then she turned around and walked back to Flash Sentry. She said something to him, and he nodded. Then they walked to major Valor. They spoke for couple of seconds, then Valor showed them their way towards the major's living quarters.

Crack Shot still looked at the princess, but then his eyes met with Rough Gunner's death stare. He gulped and drooped his ears. He looked at Riff with corner of his eye, Riff looked calm, but his jaw was hanging weirdly. Was it really broken? If it was, he did a good job of not showing that he was in pain.

Crack saw major Valor walking next to Rough Gunner with princess and her three royal guards. Valor said something to Rough, who nodded slowly, without breaking his stare. Princess Twilight looked at Crack and Riff, she had a sad smile on his lips.

"Dismissed!" Valor shouted, and ponies started to move back to their posts and jobs. Healing Horn looked at his friends. He patted Riff on the shoulder and said: "Take care."

Riff nodded, and Healing Horn left them. They didn't move. They knew what was going to happen to them.

Riff was acting as cool as he could, but inside he was like a thunderstorm. His jaw hurt like hell and now he was going to get punished, all because of Crack Shot's stupidity.

"I fhucking hhate you," Riff mongered.

"Sorry," Crack Said and swept blood from his forehead.

Riff didn't answer, because he didn't want to speak with Crack now, and partly because speaking hurt his jaw.

After everypony had left, only they two and Rough Gunner were standing at the landing pads. Rough stared at them with his green eyes. He blew air from his nostrils, and started to walk towards them.

Rough Gunner shivered from rage. He crunched his neck, before he started shouting: "CORPORAL CRACK SHOT AND CORPORAL RIFF..."

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

Rough Gunner was sitting on the top of the watchtower in the middle of the fire base. He was sitting there with his rifle, watching at two ponies running around the outer defense lines. He looked at his watch, they had been running for last four hours. Rough thought that two or three more hours of running would teach them not to mess around anymore. After all his reputation was at sake here too. They were his soldiers, and it was his job to keep them in order.

Rough sighed.

Other officer would be looking at him judgmentally in the canteen, and it wasn't even his own fault. He looked at the running ponies again. He didn't enjoy punishing his own soldiers, but this time he had to do it.

Rough saw Crack running around the barbed wires, with Riff behind him. They looked exhausted, but they hadn't even tried to stop running. They were tough, he had to give them that.

Rough lifted his binoculars to his eyes, and watched at the running ponies. Riff was running with his head down. Rough saw how his jaw was hanging unnaturally. Rough had asked if he wanted to go to a medical station to get it checked out, but he had refused.

Now Rough saw that Crack's pace was getting slower, and how Riff passed him. Crack was now only jogging. Rough frowned and muttered to himself: "That won't do."

He lifted his aviator glasses onto his forehead, and took a sniper rifle into his hooves. He pulled the bolt back, and saw a bronze bullet in the chamber. He slid the bolt back to it's place, and held the rifle's stock tightly against his shoulder.

He aimed trough the scope, and the cross hair hovered over Crack Shot. He lowered the rifle a bit, and squeezed the trigger.

Shot fired and bullet ripped the ground under Crack Shot's feet, making him jump. He quickly started to run again at full speed. Rough smiled a mischievous smile and laid the rifle sideways on his lap.

After a while he heard somepony walking up the stairs. He turned his head to see who it was, and quickly stood up with the rifle in his hoof, when he recognized the two ponies rising the stairs. It was princess Twilight and her bodyguard Flash Sentry.

He knelt and said: "Princess, nice to see you,"

"Likewise," Twilight said cheerily. Rough stood up and looked at the two ponies.

"Why do I have a the pleasure of your presence?" Rough asked over politely. Twilight giggled and said: "You don't need to speak to me like that captain..."

Twilight stopped, she didn't know Rough's name. Rough perked up and said: "Captain Rough Gunner, at your service"

Twilight nodded and said: "You don't need to be so formal with me."

"As you wish," Rough said calmly. Then they were silent for a moment. Rough noticed princess staring at his rifle, that was still in his hoof.

"We heard you shooting at something. What was it?" Twilight asked and looked at Rough with questioning look. Rough pointed his hoof at Crack and Riff, who were still running. He then said: "Just reminding those two idiots not to slack."

Twilight, Flash Sentry and Rough looked at the two running ponies.

Rough immediately noticed that now Riff wasn't running as fast as he could. Rough loaded a round in the chamber quickly, and leaned the rifle against the handrail.

He aimed for a second and then shot.

Princess yelped and they saw wooden splinters exploding from a tree near Riff, making him duck. Rough watched Riff stumble back to his feet, and then starting to sprint towards Crack.

"How long have they been running?" Twilight asked.

Rough looked at his wristwatch and said: "About four hours and twenty minutes."

Twilight's eyes widened and she turned to Rough Gunner.

"Four hours? They are going to die from exhaustion! How much longer are you going to torment them?" she asked with a shocked voice.

Rough looked at his wristwatch again, then he said: "Couple of hours more, that should teach them."

Twilight's jaw dropped, she looked at Rough, and then at Flash Sentry.

"I can't accept that captain!" she said with a stern voice. Rough looked at her with a confused look on his face.

"I don't mind what he did! And that white pony just tried to help his friend!" Twilight continued, she had a angry look on her face.

Rough looked at her, then at her bodyguard. He seemed to disagree with the princess, but didn't say it out loud. Rough turned back to princess, who now had a pleading look in her eyes. He couldn't disobey her.

"Yes mam," Rough said, sounding defeated.

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

Crack Shot and Riff were now walking towards their barrack. They both were sweaty and still panting. Their legs were like jelly, and it was hard for them to even stand up.

All the ponies were turning their heads towards them, but they didn't care. They were too tired.

Crack's face was covered in dried blood, and his tongue hurt. Riff's jaw was still hanging weirdly, and he couldn't act like it didn't hurt. He whimpered from pain.

When they reached their barrack, Crack turned to his friend.

"You should really go to the aid station," he said to Riff, who was almost crying from pain.

"Okhay," Riff answered. He then started to slowly make his way towards the aid station. Crack looked at him for a minute, then he shouted to him: "I'm sorry Riff! Really!"

"Fhuck you!" Riff shouted back, but then yelped from pain in his jaw.

Crack Shot looked at him, and felt bad for him. He just tried to help Crack, but now his jaw was dislocated, or even broken. He must be pissed at Crack.

Crack didn't see Riff anymore, so he turned around and entered the barrack. There he washed his face and put a band aid over the wound in the side of his head. He looked at his reflection in the mirror.

His mohawk was out of shape and flattened. He shaped it back to somewhat representative shape, then he walked outside and light a cigarette. He sat down, because standing up hurt his legs too much. He took a long drag from his cigarette, and pondered how Riff was holding.

"Keep him down! Don't let him move!" doctor Sawbone shouted to Healing Horn and one other pony, who held Riff in place, while one of the medics took a good grip of Riff's jaw. Riff tried to struggle, but Healing and the other pony kept him down. In a swift motion, the pony holding Riff's jaw crunched the jaw back to it's place. Riff shouted trough his teeth, and then collapsed onto the floor, panting and whimpering.

"Sorry mate, how's the jaw feeling?" asked the pony who placed Riff's jaw back to it's place. Riff looked at him angrily. He pointed at him and said: "If I only had my gun.."

The pony started to laugh and lifted Riff back to all fours. Healing stood next to him. Riff looked at him, while holding his jaw with his hoof.

"I'm going to go back to the barrack," he said to Healing, who nodded. Then Riff started to wobble towards the barracks.

"Don't kill Crack!" Healing shouted after him.

Riff turned around and shouted back: "I'll try, but can't promise anything!"

Healing Horn and the other ponies started to laugh. After they finished laughing, they went back to their work.

Healing started to do the every week inventory. He levitated a piece of paper and a pen in front of him.

He counted the morphine they had, and scribbled the numbers on the paper. He then walked to the medicine cabinet, and started to count all the different pills and mixtures.

He continued that for a good ten minutes, before he heard a familiar voice saying his name: "Healing!"

He turned around and saw Twilight Sparkle walking towards him, with her bodyguard Flash Sentry.

"Your highness," Healing said teasingly, and knelt.

Twilight looked annoyed, she waited for Healing to stood up before saying: "I already told you that you don't need to do that!"

"I know Twilight," Healing said and grinned. Twilight rolled her eyes, then she looked around herself.

"So this is where you work, huh?" she asked.

"Yep, nothing glamorous, but it is best we could get," Healing said.

They were silent for a while. Twilight looked around the tent, then her eyes fixated to something in the corner of the tent.

"What are those?" she asked and pointed at something. Healing Horn turned around and saw a table full of dogtags and papers. Both Healing and Flash Sentry were silent, they looked at each other.

Twilight turned to them.

"They are.. dogtags." Healing said. Twilight looked confused.

"identity disks" Flash Sentry said, but Twilight still didn't get it. Healing dug his own from under his uniform and showed it to Twilight, who started to examine it.

"It has your name, ID and place of birth," Twilight said. She hold the tag in her hoof, and looked at the table. She pondered something.

"Why are they there? Shouldn't soldiers carry those with them, like you?" she asked confused.

Healing was silent for a moment, then he said: "They don't need them anymore."

Twilight looked even more confused.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Princess, what corporal is trying to say is.." Flash started, and whispered the rest to her ear. Twilight's expression changed to a mix of surprise and sadness.

"oh.." she said. They walked to the table and looked at the pile of dogtags on it.

"So all these ponies have died?" Twilight asked quietly and turned to Healing, who slowly nodded.

"There's so many of them," Twilight said sadly.

"And these are from only one battle." Healing said. Twilight looked at him, then at the dogtags. She stared at the tags for a moment, then she turned away from them and asked: "What are those papers?"

"They are infos from every fallen pony." Healing said and looked at the papers. Twilight shivered. She turned back to Healing, who noticed that she almost cried.

"I don't want to talk about those anymore.." she said an swept the small tears from her eyes.

Healing nodded.

Twilight started to smile a little when she asked: "Now where's Spade? You said he was assigned here."

Healing froze. He didn't know what to say. Flash seemed to understand the situation.

"Princess, I think that major is waiting us," he said, but Twilight waved his hoof at him and said: "He can wait, I haven't seen Spade since he enlisted."

Healing Horn opened and closed his mouth couple times, but when he couldn't say anything he closed his eyes and drooped his head.

"Healing, is something wrong?" concerned Twilight asked. Healing looked at her, and then he turned at the pile of papers. He flipped trough them, until he found the right one. Twilight looked really confused when Healing gave the paper to her.

She read it for a second, and then her mouth opened, eyes widened and ears drooped. Healing saw how tears started to run down her cheeks. Twilight started to shake and the paper fell down from her hoof. She looked at Healing Horn, who just sadly looked at her.

Twilight turned around and threw her hooves around Flash Sentry, who blushed. It seemed that Twilight caught him off guard, but soon he placed her hoof around Twilight's back and hugged her back. Twilight sobbed against his chest.

Flash looked at Healing Horn, who too looked sad.

Healing noticed Flash's questioning look. He flicked his head towards the door.

Flash nodded, and started to walk towards the door, with still sobbing Twilight. They disappeared from the tent.

Healing sighed and lifted the paper from the floor. He swept dust from it and looked at it.

Private second class, Spade, Ponyville

Deceased after the battle of ursa valley.

Died due a gunshot to the chest. Medic Healing Horn tried to revive him, but private second class, Spade from Ponyville died to his injuries on the way back to the base around 3am.

Medic tried to revive him.. Healing Horn shivered. He placed the paper back to the pile. He then noticed that everypony in the tent was looking at him. They no doubt had seen the princess crying, and that he was the one who made her cry.

"She was a friend of Spade," Healing explained quietly, and a understanding seemed to spread on their faces.

Healing saw doctor Sawbone walking towards him. The grey stallion stopped in front of Healing Horn and said: "You can go back to your barrack now, I bet princess want's to speak you more, after she calms down."

Healing nodded. He took his bag from a chair close to him, and swung it to his back. He then started to walk towards the barrack C.

Crack Shot was sitting outside their barrack, with Riff by his side. They had sat there for almost twenty minutes, without saying a word to each other. Crack nervously glanced at Riff, who looked really annoyed and angry. Crack didn't want to lose a friend because of his own stupidity.

"Riff, I'm really sorry. I know I shouldn't have done that, but it just slipped!" Crack started, but Riff just grunted back to him. Crack took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and opened it.

"Here, take one. I'm really sorry!" Crack said again. Riff looked at him and said: "you keep saying that."

"And I mean it!" Crack said and offered Riff a cigarette again. Riff looked at the pack, and took one cigarette from it.

Crack too took one and they light them.

"What do you want me to do, to prove that I'm sorry?" Crack now asked. Riff looked at him, thinking about something. He scratched his beard, and then said: "Stub that smoke into your face, then I'll believe you."

Crack looked confused. He looked at his cigarette, and then at Riff.

"Really?" he asked from Riff, who said: "Yeah, prove me that you're sorry."

Crack looked at the cigarette again. He knew that it was gonna hurt like hell, but not probably as much as a dislocated jaw. He gulped and thought about it. He then sighed and closed his eyes.

"The hay with it.." he muttered and started to move the light cigarette closer to his face. He felt the heat from the cigarette.

Just as it was about to touch his face, he felt somepony grabbing his hoof. Crack opened his eyes and saw Riff holding his hoof, and looking at him, surprised.

"You we're really going to stick that into your face?" Riff asked. Crack lowered the cigarette from his face, and nodded to Riff, who chuckled.

"So you're sorry huh?" Riff asked from Crack, who said: "Yes, really sorry."

Riff looked at him for a second, and started to smile.

"Apology accepted," he said and patted Crack on the shoulder. Crack's face beamed. He placed the cigarette back to his mouth.

"Isn't that Healing Horn over there?" Riff suddenly asked. Crack saw him too.

"Yeah, what's he doing here at this time?" Crack pondered.

Healing horn walked to them and said: "Hey fellas."

He sat down next to Crack Shot, who noticed that Healing Horn had something on his mind.

"What's wrong?" Crack asked. Healing looked at him and Riff, then he said: "I made Twilight cry."

Riff started to cough wildly and Crack's eyes went wide. They bot looked at Healing Horn.

"You made her cry?" Riff asked in disbelief. Healing looked at him and said: "Yeah. I sjowed Spade's papers to her when she asked where Spade was."

"Oh. That explains. Was she a friend of Spade?" Crack Shot asked. Healing nodded.

They were silent for a moment, then Riff asked: "So you know her?"

Healing looked at him and said: "Yeah. She was librarian in Ponyville, until she became princess. She still visits there almost every week though."

They were silent again.

"She's pretty good looking," Crack suddenly said. Riff and Healing looked at him angrily.

"What!? I think shes cute! There's nothing bad in that!" he defended himself. Riff seemed like he was going to attack Crack.

"You little.. All you think is pussy, and look what happens!" Riff hissed to him and poked him on the wound, making him yelp.

"What the f.." Crack started and grabbed Riff from his uniform, it looked like that they were really going to fight.

"Let go!" Riff shouted to Crack.

"No!" Crack shouted back. They started to struggle on the ground. Riff's long mane got loose and it got messed, while Crack's mohawk got flattened again.

"Guys.." Healing tried, but the two were too busy wrestling to notice him.

"Guys!" Healing shouted and kicked them. They both angrily looked at him, but their expressions soon changed when they saw why Healing tried to make them stop.

Princess and his bodyguard were standing there.

They quickly stood up and knelt before the princess.

"I'm really sorry about that princess," Crack said nervously.

"And that thing that happened earlier," Riff added, looking angrily at Crack from the corner of his eye. Twilight giggled and the two ponies rose up. They looked at each other confusedly.

"No need to be. I'm not mad at you," Twilight said, and then she saw the cut on Crack's head.

"Are you alright by the way? That cut look's pretty deep," Twilight asked from Crack.

"It's fine, you guy here can use his spear pretty well though," Crack said and chuckled nervously, while looking at the orange pegasus. Twilight giggled and said: "Flash sure can use his spear pretty well, don't you Flash?"

Flash's cheeks were getting redder. Healing noticed that. Was there something going on between those two?

Healing shook his head to clear his thoughts, he then asked: "Hey. About that at the aid station, are you alright?"

Twilight stopped smiling. She looked Healing into eyes and said: "Yeah, It's sad, but I don't have time to worry about it now."

Healing gave her a sad smile, which she returned.

"Look what you did with my mane!" they heard Riff complaining to Crack. He brushed dust from his mane and started to tie it back to a ponytail.

"What I did to your mane!? My mohawk's all messed up!" Crack said to him angrily and tried to straighten his mane.

Twilight giggled. He looked at the two stallions.

"Are those two always fighting?" she asked from Healing Horn. Crack and Riff both blushed when princess spoke of them.

"All the time," Healing Horn chuckled, he saw how a wide smile appeared on Twilight's face.

"You were Riff, right?" Twilight asked and looked at Riff, who was still tying his mane.

"Yes mam, Riff Frost actually" Riff answered. Twilight smiled to him, and then asked: "How's your jaw?"

"It's good, thanks to Healing and his 'mates'," Riff said and glared angrily at Healing Horn, who smiled sheepishly at him.

Twilight nodded happily, and then turned to Crack and said: "I never got your name."

"I'm Crack Shot, at you service" he said and nodded, earning a giggle from Twilight. She smiled and said: "Nice to meet you. Where are you from?"

"I'm from Manehattan," Crack said.

"Ooh, from a big city. I bet it's a bit different than small town like Ponyville," Twilight said and glanced at Healing Horn.

"I never been in Ponyville," Crack said.

"You should visit there sometimes. There's best parties ever!" Twilight said exited.

"maybe I will, after we get this mess sorted out," Crack answered smiling

.

"How about you Riff?" Twilight asked with a happy voice. Riff finished tying his mane and said: "I'm from Crystal mountains, mam."

"Crystal mountains? I never been there. What is it like?" Twilight asked interested. Riff thought for a moment, and then said: "There's a lot of snow."

Healing Horn and Twilight chuckled. Healing then said: "You always say that."

"I don't know how else I could say it. There is a lot of snow," Riff said to the smart mouth. Healing just smiled annoying smile.

They spoke about everything they could come up with. The weather, war and the food they served at the fire base. Their conversation went on for a good fifteen minutes.

After a while Flash Sentry leaned to Twilight and said: "Princess, we really need to go now. We still have three bases to visit for today."

Twilight seemed disappointed. She would have wanted to spent more time with her new friends. She sighed and turned back Healing Horn, Riff and Crack Shot. She smiled sadly and said: "It was nice meeting you, but now I really need to go."

The three ponies stood there, then they said in unison: "Princess, we thank you for your visit."

They all knelt before her. Twilight let out a annoyed grunt, and said: "Why are you irritating me like that, Healing Horn?"

They stood up and Healing was first to speak: "I am going to miss you Twilight."

Healing saw that small tears formed in Twilight's eyes, but she still smiled.

"Oh come here you," she said and hugged Healing.

They broke the hug, and now Twilight gestured Riff to come closer. They too hugged.

"It was really nice meeting you Riff," Twilight said when they broke the hug.

"Likewise, princess. I hope we see again," Riff said happily.

Twilight nodded, and now was Crack's turn. Crack came closer and hugged the princess. He looked at Flash Sentry, and winked at him while hugging Twilight.

Flash exhaled trough his nostrils angrily and hit his spear into the ground. Crack quickly broke the hug and said: "Whoa big guy! No need to get mad here!"

Twilight giggled, and Crack backed next to Healing and Riff.

"Goodbye! I'm going to miss you!" Twilight said to them and started to walk towards the landing pad with Flash Sentry.

"Goodbye!" the trio answered in unison.

After a while they saw the carriage taking off, and Twilight waving at them in it. They waved back, and soon they couldn't see the wagon anymore. Crack looked on the sky with a sad look on his face.

"I miss her already," he said.

"Yeah," Riff agreed with him.

"Well after this is over, you can come visit me in Ponyville. I'm sure she will come too," Healing Horn cheered them up. They both turned to see him. Their faces beamed.

"Really?" they asked in unison.

"Yeah! Totally!" Healing said smiling.

Both Crack and Riff looked at each other, and then at Healing Horn.

"It's a deal then!" Crack Shot shouted and patted Healing on the back so hard that it hurt.

"You better not forgot that!" Riff said and patted Healing on the back too.

Healing laughed, but then he felt his stomach growl. He looked at hid friends and asked: "Wanna go get something to eat?"

They both nodded, and then they started to walk towards the canteen.