Battle Scars

"Ever since that day. I have just one objective, kill 'em all." said Applejack to Fluttershy, as she lit up a new cigarette. Fluttershy remained silent, after hearing the events of Applejack at Troina. The only thing that could be heard was the breathing of the two ponies, and the slight wind breezing along the watch tower. It wouldn't be a few minutes until Fluttershy broke the silence.

"Um...I'm gonna go to the bathroom." she said. Applejack said nothing, as her eyes stayed glued to the scenery. As Fluttershy climbed down, AJ moved her hoof and stopped Fluttershy.

"If theres anything I should tell you, it's this..." said Applejack. "Keep your morals 'Shy. But fear nothing in battle. Kill 'em with no feelings whatsoever. That way, you can keep your morals, and your sanity." Fluttershy stared into the war beaten Applejack. She nodded and continued to climb down the ladder. Her hooves hit the ground as she slowly trotted to the bathroom in the house. She dropped her rifle and dropped her pants.

"You're better off outside, private," said Cheerilee, "this place's plumbing is straight to hell."

Fluttershy got off the toilet and pulled up her pants. She trotted outside and found a nice bush. She closed her eyes and exhaled as the urine flowed out of her body. She's been holding this in since the battle. Fluttershy looked around to find the sky being consumed by darkness. She pulled up her pants and grabbed her rifle. As she was walking towards the house, she heard a crack of twigs within the trees. She ducked down and pointed her rifle towards the forest. It reminded her a lot of the Everfree forest. It was dense, dark, and scary. She flicked off the safety and kept her Carbine pointed in the woods. More branches and twigs snapped in the woods. Fluttershy's nerves began to rise as her emotions began to go wary.

"Hello?" she said loudly. She heard no reply. She pulled the trigger once, and the barrage began. Small arms fire erupted in the forest. Bullets richoceted off the house and broke the glass in windows. Fluttershy ducked down in the ground to avoid gunfire. She kept a firm clench on her Carbine and fired more volleys of shots.

"Fluttershy, get out of there!" shouted the Captain. Fluttershy ran into the building as she ducked down with her rifle.

"Get up there to help out AJ with the 30!" shouted Twilight. She ran up the stairs and climbed the ladder to the watch tower.

"Help me feed the gun shy!" AJ shouted. Fluttershy cradled the bullets of the gun. The machine gun fire it's powerful bullets down towards the forests. The bullets pierced the branches of the trees as the tremendous roar of the 30 Cal echoed through out the night. Along the line, the rest of Apple Company set up the defensive positions around the house and repelled the attack. Small arms fire ravaged the forest and the small house as bullets ricocheted off trees and bricks. What seemed like an eternity of fighting only lasted 10 minutes, until the changelings fell back.

"Cease fire! Cease fire!" shouted Captain Twilight. The word was passed around as the fire fight slowed to a halt. Fluttershy and Applejack still stared at the woods, breathing heavily as the barrel of the 30 Cal smoked from large amounts of fire. The two didn't bother to talk, they just stared into the forest, looking startled, scared, and lifeless.

By day time, Fluttershy and Applejack were resting from the recent firefight. They sat down and smoked their cigarettes. They were tired, but didn't dare to sleep, with the looming threat of death over their heads.

"Shy, AJ." said a voice. The two looked up, half awake and feeling really lazy. It was Rarity.

"Ammo for the 30. Supply drop to come in at 0300 minutes." she said.

"Thanks Rarity." said Applejack, picking up the ammo box. Fluttershy was still seated as AJ finally got up to clean the 30. Rarity sat down next to her and pulled out her pipe.

"You did good, Fluttershy. I'm proud of you, darling." she replied, trying to comfort the war torn yellow pony.

"Tell you what. I'll take over watch for you, darling. You go down stairs and get a cup of joe." she said. Fluttershy looked up with admiration at Rarity's request. She smiled a little and trotted down the latter. She felt tired, but was thankful she was still alive. She trotted to the kitchen to find Pinkie Pie making some coffee.

"How yah doin' shy? Want sum joe?" she asked.

"Um...yes please." she said in her modest tone. She cupped the hot coffee in both of her hooves, the brown liquid flowed down her throat as she drank it, feeling once again, relaxed. "Thank you." she simply said and trotted away to the door step. She sat down, looking up at the beautiful blue sky. Not a single cloud was seen. It felt like she was back in Ponyville, having one of her critter picnics. The sun shot down a beautiful beam of light and warmth down on her as she took another sip of her coffee. She smiled as she turned her attention to the small garden near the house. Still in good condition even after the horrors of war, the garden had tiger lilies, marigolds, blossoms, and much more as they slowly moved with the breeze of the wind.

"Whatcha doin' private?" said a voice. Fluttershy turned around to find a purple pony. It was Staff Sergeant Cheerilee, standing above her.

"Nothing much Sarge, just, um... looking around." she replied.

"Oh yeah, what do you see?" Cheerilee sat down next to Fluttershy. Her M1 Garand laid right on top of Fluttershy's Carbine. The two different firearms laid down and rested as they enjoyed the slight breeze of wind. While both have different looks, both shoot different calibers, the two of them have one purpose, to defend their country.

"I see just some tiger lilies, some marigolds, and blossoms." said Fluttershy, calmly.

"Oh yeah? Very pretty."

"Yeah, reminds me of home."

"Well, I think differently."

"Oh? How so?" Fluttershy had a rather confused look on her face as she stared at the purple pony.

"Seeing these trees... these bushes, jungles... reminds me of Guadalcanal." she replied.

"Where's guad...guadal...gua...?" Fluttershy had a hard time pronouncing the hard name of this place. She's never heard of Guadalcanal.

"Guadalcanal, it's one of the islands by Australia. In the pacific..."

"You were in the pacific?" asked Fluttershy. Cheerilee slowly nodded.

"Lemme tell you private it was a completely different kind of war..." Cheerilee began.