Mission Impossible?by bud467ChaptersWaking up.The Delaywell this is interestingThe Arrival!The partyThe Torn Stallion.Apology accepted.My life Part 1New job.BONUS CHAPTER! Treads war story.love is a strange thing.A new friend.A not-so-old friendA visit to school. Uncovered Thoughts.A nice life.The BeginingMy life part 2/ A unsure futureWaking up."Watch out!" I sat up suddenly, startling the nurse causing her to jump and drop the ice pack she was changing out to keep my fever under control. “Good morning Mr. Tread." she greeted with a cheery attitude and a small giggle kind of cute... “I am Nurse Warm Heart. I will go tell the doctor you are up.“ She turned and began walking out of the room before turning back around.”Anything you would like me to get for you?" I shook my head and quietly thanked her. I turned on my right side to look out the window only to be halted by a sharp pain on my flank. "Ow!" "I see you found your wounds." commented the doctor, a fairly tall Unicorn with a stethoscope for his cutie mark. "How long was I out?" "You were unconscious for about a week." "A WEEK?!" I began panicking. "I nee-" The doctor raised a hoof to stop me. "The war is over. You’re going home." "..." "*sigh* but the Princess wants to see you first." I thought for a few seconds.” So I am going to Canterlot?" Wow I went from the front lines to the hospital to seeing royalty. The doctor nodded. You are well enough to leave now. Don't worry Nurse Warmheart will be with you. The doctor smiled turned around and left to start the discharge papers. "Looks like we will end up getting to know each other" I said trying to break the silence the doctor left us in. Nurse Warmheart blushed and walked out quickly. Nice going Tread, this will be one awkward trip. Rolling out of the bed, I carefully began walking around the room and stretching my tired muscles. "Let me remove your bandages so I can check how it is healing." I turned around to see the doctor levitating a pair of scissors. I obliged happily as he cut the bandages off and threw them in the trash. I trotted over to a mirror, a giddy smile being worn. As I turned and looked, the smile quickly disappeared. "My... my cutie marks. They are gone." I looked at the doctor only to be met with a saddened expression. “Yes, the shrapnel destroyed both of your cutie marks unfortunately." the doctor confirmed as he began re wrapping the wound with a new bandage. "Will you want your uniform for the trip?" I stretched a little more then nodded. As the doctor left, I noticed a small pile of letters on the bedside table. Upon examination, I realized there were from my family. Tearing them open one at a time and reading them. Soon, I came across the most recent one. It was from mom: Dear Tread, The entire family is worried about you. When Charcoal came off the train without you, we began to panic until he told us about the incident. But that is also when we found out about Princess Celestia wanting to personally award you and your squad the Iron Horse. The Iron Horse! Sorry for such a short letter, but we have to go visit the grandparents. Love, Mom A soft hoof tapped on my shoulder. "Are you ready?" I swung my head around and was almost nose to nose with Nurse Warmheart. Both of us blushed and apologies were exchanged. Seeing that my uniform was on the bed I walked to the laid out uniform and attempted to pt it on. After several attempts I sat down frustrated. I guess Nurse Warmheart found that funny as she giggled then fixed my uniform and nudged me with her head for me to get up. "We got a long trip ahead of us." she said guiding me out the door. Authors Note: expect another chapter later tonight. I am on a creative roll. The DelayWhile waiting at the train station, Nur- I mean Miss. Warmheart , she insisted I call her Miss. instead of Nurse. Anyways, Miss. Warmheart and I had decided to have lunch together where the usual personal questions were asked, How’s your family, how did you get involved in the war, blah blah blah. That's when the rather bothersome question popped up. "How did you get wounded?" I was in mid chew when the question was asked. Suddenly I felt as if all the eyes in the cafe' were turned towards us. She didn't notice it but ponies were leaning in to hear better. I finished my bite and took a sip of my water. "You didn’t know?" She shook her head. She has a beautiful mane! "Are you sure you want to know?" she nodded, along with several other ponies who decide the question was directed towards them. I sighed and made myself comfortable. "About a week ago, while the enemy artillery was rumbling, I was in my squad’s bunker, Charcoal my childhood friend was writing a letter at the desk. I couldn't sleep so I decided to wander up and down the trenches under Luna's beautiful moon to ponder life." More ponies were in the cafe' now. It had fallen silent. “That’s when I ran into my buddy Coil. We had just begun to talk and Charcoal had joined us when the artillery ceased." Several ponies listening gasped. "We had paused, having suddenly taken concern. Then a whistle followed. Coil ran to an alarm bell, Charcoal woke our squad, and I ran down waking the other squads." I paused and waved a hoof for a waitress. When one came over I asked "can I get this to go?" The mare nodded and ran into the kitchen to grab a to-go box. I looked back into the cafe'. A weather team of Pegasi had stopped by and had taken interest. "Every pony was on their toes. Several ponies muttered their prayers and kissed pictures of their loved ones. Soon an irritated pony commented he couldn't see them. Down the line ponies began to agree until the pound of artillery was heard again. I turned to Charcoal and asked if artillery had been called in. He shook his head. When we both realized it we gave to order to take cover. However the artillery had stopped as soon as it started." Several ponies had pulled their chairs closer to our table. "Before we knew it, we were over run. We fought in the trenches until we had to fall back. I grabbed two wounded and dragged them to the hospital where they were treated then I ran back. My squad had joined me on my charge to the trenches when Trooves was shot." My voice was wavering. I put my head in my hooves then regained my composure. Several mares were crying. The waitress was leaning against our table; the food was boxed up also. “We took the trenches back and began collecting the wounded. I had turned when I heard a thud. I realized it was a grenade and pushed my men down and that is when it exploded." Multiple gasps were heard including the waitress and Miss. Warmheart. I stood up and stretched my legs and paid our bill. "That's the story on how I got a piece of Iron in my flank and ended up here so far." Some pony began to pound his hoofs on the floor and soon many of the ponies were joining him. I raised a hoof and shook it to acknowledge them and to stop them before the building fell down. I put the food box in my saddlebags and nudged Miss. Warmheart. "Let’s go. I am starting to get uncomfortable." Turns out, the train had just arrived. We boarded and as soon as I reached my seat, I fell asleep. The train sudden stop startled me out of my sleep. Miss. Warmheart had fallen asleep next to me. She is so cute. I should ask her to dinner tonight. I slid out from under her and trotted up to the front car to find myself face to face with an armed and angry pony. well this is interestingThe pony seemed to have backup as well. There were two other earth ponies and a unicorn that had a pistol. "Your wallet and your valuables." I shook my head. "No can do." That got the attention of several hostages and their takers. The leader huffed and pulled a combat knife and pointed it at me. "Mhrny." "I cannot hand you my money and from the looks of it you are about to atta-" He swung the quickly and with some skill, but nopony said that being in the trenches for a year didn't have its perks. I dodged his series of attacks and bucked him in the jaw, breaking it with a satisfying crack. I picked up the knife and threw it behind me and charged the unicorn. ***** "Mmm... Tread?" I sat up. "Tread?!" I began panicking. I could have sworn I fell asleep and Tread was here. Suddenly there was a series of loud pops several carts down followed by screams. “Oh no. No no no no NO!" I ran down the train carts, carrying my first aid bag in my teeth when I stopped at the door to one cart. The glass window on the door to it had a bullet hole and blood splattered on it. Shaking, I carefully opened the door and an earth pony who was wielding a knife in his mouth fell against the floor and moaned. I looked up and Tread was fighting another earth pony that had a knife. "Tread!" The earth pony looked over and Tread administered one quick and heavily powered kick to his head, knocking out the aggressor. I picked up and threw out the knife the wounded pony next to me had and began tending to his wounds. Tread walked down the rows checking if any pony was hurt before passing out. “Ah! He passed ah'out!" I looked up and saw a group of mares trying to wake up Tread. "Some pony tell the conductor to get the train moving NOW!" I began yelling trying to gain control of the situation. Two of the mares who were trying to wake up Tread, one with a blonde coat and hat, and a cyan Pegasus with a rainbow colored tail and mane, looked up, nodded then ran off. As I finally stabilized the pony with the gunshot wound. The train jerked and began to move. I quickly checked the other aggressors and then quickly ran to Tread. "What?" His wound had reopened as that was evident by the blood in the bandages that were next to him, but when I reached him the wound was closed. " I used a healing spell to close the wound. A purple unicorn with -IS THAT A BABY DRAGON?! Anyways, this unicorn walked up to me. "My name is Twilight Sparkle." "I am Nurse Warmheart. Thank you for attending to Tread." She blushed a bit and smiled. Maybe she thinks we are a couple. “I was tasked to attend to him until we reached Canterlot." That raised the group’s curiosity. “Oh! Does he live in Canterlot?" I shook my head. "The Princess is awarding him and his squad the Iron Horse." "WHAT?!" The six mares yelled in unison. The white unicorn was stamping her hooves. "He is a war hero?!" she levitated a brush out of her bag and ran towards the bathroom. "That's Rarity fer ya. I am Applejack." Applejack put her hoof out and I shook it. The Arrival!Authors Note: I am dropping a plot bomb. you will know it when you see it. "FWAHH!!!!" I sat up suddenly, startling Nur- Miss. Warmheart and... Some guest's. Wow. If this keeps up I am going to have a hell’uva time choosing. (Author:*Cough* COUGH) then I realized.... I am in a..."Horseapples!" I yelled as I pounded a hoof on the bed. The unicorn with Diamonds for a cutie mark spoke first. "Do please watch your language!" I blushed at that. "Sorry about that." she apologized." My name is Rarity." Then the pink mare began jumping up and down" YAY! He is awake!" One by one they introduced themselves. I nodded and greeted them with a warm smile but quickly dropped it. I quickly clambered out of bed and stood at attention. My flank is hurting. A lot. The girls followed my gaze and jumped when they spotted Princess Celestia and her Royal guard in the doorway. "P-P-Princess! Why are you here?!" The girls stammered as the Princess laugh, a rather cute laugh I dare say. "Sergeant Tread. Please, this is a casual appearance." She turned to the girls. " I heard about the incident on the train. So I had to see if the war hero was doing fine!" every pony in the room laughed... well one of the guard chuckled while the others were silent. We all sat down for a few minutes and chatted before the Princess excused herself and went back to the castle. "Hey Tread?" Twilight's voice softened. "Where" she paused hesitating "... are your cutie marks?" the other girls looked at her then at me. "Oh uhm. My cutie marks?" The girls nodded. I pawed at my bed. Shit. "When the grenade went off, some shrapnel had passed through both cutie marks... destroying them." I never got mine... Most of the girls gasped but Applejack was staring at me. Crap she can see through it! Wow she is cute! Thank Celestia, the doctor peeked in and said I was cleared to go to the ceremony. A nurse trotted in and laid a new uniform on my bed, smiled and trotted out. I rolled onto my hoofs and looked at Warmheart with a needy expression. Raising a hoof to her snout she cleared her throat and the girls, blushing, walked out. ***** "And finally I present YOU, Sergeant Tread, for honor and conduct in the heat of battle the Pony Iron Cross." The entire crowd erupted into cheers as Princess Celestia gently draped the medal over my neck. Several long minutes passed and the ceremony was over. That is when the Princess pulled me to the side. "I want you to go and live in Ponyville. My pupil and her friends live there. I want you to relax, Tread." Several hours later Miss. Warmheart and I were walking into a small inn in Ponyville. "Hello!" a voice chimed from behind the counter and an older brown Mare walked out form the backroom." My name is Coco! May I help you?" I trotted up to the counter. “Do you have any room here?" Coco nodded looked at both of us then flipped open a book. "One room?" she asked with a wink. Miss. Warmheart and I blushed deeply and began spilling excuses. Coco raised a hoof. "So two rooms." we sighed in relief and embarrassment and nodded. "It is 25 bits a night. Alright?" I nodded and she handed over our keys. "Sleep tight!" she said as she walked into the back. After escorting Miss. Warmheart to her room, I locked my door behind me, dumped my saddle bags, pulled off my uniform, crawled in under the covers and promptly fell asleep. The partySomething warm and soft is on top of me. W-wait its getting off I opened my eyes and spotted Miss. Warmheart's tail slipping out the door just as it closed. I got up and stretched before walking over to the window. That's when I saw a blue streak pass my window, causing me to fall on my back. "Damn that hurt." I said clambering up. I looked out the window again then walked out of my room after putting my uniform on again. “Tread dearie! Oh do please stop!" I turn around to see Rarity running after me. I stopped and turned. There is a filly right behind her trying to catch up interesting. "Hello Rarity." I said greeting her with a warm smile.” Who is this little lady?" The filly had a slight blush her face. "That is my sister, Sweetie Belle." "Nice to meet you Sweetie Belle." My stomach growled. "You should join us for breakfast!" Rarity insisted as she began pushing me toward the cafe'. I could not turn down the invitation. As soon as we chose a table, I looked at the menu. "Oh my. There are... a lot of choices. Too many for me." That got me strange looks from Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and the waitress. I put the menu down and sighed. "Surprise me." Everybody ordered and the waitress walked away with our orders. "Mr. Tread?" I turned my attention to Sweetie Belle. "Yes?" Rainbow dash was spying from a single cloud. I could see her head as strange as that seems. "Are you alright?" Rarity became visibly uneasy. I shifted and rested my head on a hoof. "Well Sweetie, war is a horrible event for any pony to experience." I explained trying to find a way to skirt around nightmares. "Then why did you go into the war?" Rarity cut in. " I don't think that he is in a mood to talk about it Sweetie Belle dear." Oh thank Celestia and Luna the food is here. The waitress put the plate in front of me. "For you, pancakes." I looked up and smiled. "Thank you." I received a smile back and she gave the girls their orders as well. As I was chewing a bite, Sweetie Belle asked another question. "Mr. Tread, How did you get your cutie mark?" Oh horseapples... I finished my bite then leaned back. "I don't really remember getting mine." "WHAT?!" This time it was Rarity. Sweetie Belle's mouth was wide open. "How do you NOT remember how you got your cutie mark?!" I shrugged and took another bite. "I geush mhen I wassss wounded I had forgoden." I swallowed "Man these pancakes are good!" Sweetie belle and Rarity laughed at my reaction. "Have you never had pancakes before?" Sweetie Belle asked. I fell silent. I finished my food and paid our bill. "I got to go." I thanked them for inviting me to breakfast and walked out of the cafe' fairly depressed. "Hey Tread?" I sighed and turned around. It was Twilight Sparkle. "Hey." I turned back around and began sauntering my way back to my room. "I need help picking up a cupcake order. Do you want to help me?" she asked softly. "Sure!" I felt a little less depressed. We walked the little distance to Sugarcube Corner. What surprised me... and scared the living daylights out of me, was when the lights turned on and everypony was in there. When I recovered from my panic attack I realized the party was for me. "Well of course it was for you silly. Did you think that I would not let you go without one of my famous welcome parties? No I wouldn't. Anyways welcome to Ponyville! This is Bon Bon, and this is..." I smiled and nodded. I was so... happy. I have never been this happy since well... ever. That was until I saw the girls talking Even Miss. Warmheart was there. I walked over to the punch bowl and poured myself some punch and listened to the conversation. "Ah don't think he evar got his cutie mark Twi'." "He did act strange when Sweetie Belle asked him about it." "He seemed to avoid it when i had asked him in the hospital." Oh no. I drank the punch quickly. Holy- this is some good stuff! I poured myself another cup then walked outside. "Shit. 15 years old with no cutie mark. If they find out, I will go an-" I turned around and was looking at a group of 6 shocked mares. The Torn Stallion.Authors note: There will be a fairly gory( in my opinion, as I was slightly nauseated while writing this) Dream in this chapter. I will warn where it begins and ends if you wish to skip it. It is in here to help you all understand a tad bit more of what Tread had seen in the trenches. "You lied!" Rarity was furious. Rainbow Dash began snickering "You don't have a cutie mark?! And your fifteen?!" She had been flying but she fell to the ground, full on laughing. I was extremely red. "I-I..." I let my soldiers sense take over. My eyes began scanning the area and possible spots to hide. then Applejack stamped a hoof on the ground and looked at Twilight. "Ah knew he was a lying fool Twi'. Ah knew it." My face was getting very deep red from embarrassment. I turned and bolted off. "He's running!" "Well catch him!" "Rainbow!" "What?! This guy is really fast!" Shit. Forgive me Princess Celestia. Tears were running down my face and my embarrassment was keeping my hoofs pounding at the road. I ran straight into the Everfree Forest. "He ran in!" Rainbow Dash stopped at the edge of the forest. Applejack shook her head "He's ah fool." That is when Twilight spoke up. "Well we can't leave him in there!" Rainbow Dash turned toward her and began arguing. "Twilight. He is a freak of nature! He is fifteen and he doesn't have a cutie mark!" I sauntered away. I kept walking deeper and deeper into the forest. When i reached the ravine cliff I sighed and laid down under a nearby tree. " I can't go back now." "And why is that Tread?" I turned to find Celestia right next to me. "C-Celestia?!" She smiled and laughed.” Yes. That is my name. Now why is it do you think you can't go back to Ponyville?" I sighed. "I-I.... I don't have a cutie mark. When the girls heard me talking to myself outside of the party, Rarity and Applejack called me a liar. Rainbow Dash began laughing." Man, I was beyond depressed. "There is more." Celestia had put a wing around me. "When I ran into the forest, Applejack called me a fool and Rainbow dash called me a freak of nature. Twilight... she tried to convince them to help her find me." Celestia nodded. "Sleep now Tread. You will need your strength." I raised an eyebrow then nodded then closed my eyes and drifted to sleep. ***** "Tread?" Celestia raised her head and called out back. ”Twilight I have Tread with me." Twilight ran through some brush and came into the clearing to see Celestia holding a sleeping teary eyed Tread under one of her wings. "Princess, why are you here?" Twilight was confused as to why Tread was sleeping at Celestia's side and why Celestia was in the Everfree forest. Celestia smiled, "I have been following Tread to make sure he was adjusting to normal life. Sit down my student, and I will explain Tread's strange case." Twilight nodded and sat down. The Princess looked at Treads sleeping body and sighed. “Tread is an extraordinary pony. He excels at almost any task." She paused and shifted. "When you were chasing him, was he not faster than Rainbow Dash?" Celestia looked at Twilight for an answer. She nodded her head. "Yes. He-he was faster than Rainbow Dash." Celestia smiled in the fight on the train; did he not take down the aggressors by himself? One even had a gun." The Princess let that sink in. "He can walk on clouds without spells, yet he is an earth pony.” She paused before continuing “He has on occasion, used magic. Although that has only happened twice. Both occurred during the war." Twilight was speechless. The Princess smiled "I guess you could say he is the literal jack-of-all-trades." Twilight looked an him with regret. “We should bring him back to his room." she whispered quietly as she walked over and nuzzled him. The Princess levitated him onto her back and folded her wings around him to protect him. "Good Idea. You go first." With that, they started back to Ponyville ***** NOTE: This is Tread's Nightmare involving the war. THERE WILL BE AN SMALL AMOUNT OF GORE!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED ******* BEGINNING OF DREAM!******* "Incoming!" Charcoal ran down the trench yelling as artillery fire rained down upon us. I grabbed the closest recruit and pushed their mortified heads down. An artillery shell landed right in front of me, the blast wave and screams of my men piercing my ears. I ran to the nearest wounded stallion and began administering what aid I could. "Medic!" I began yelling as I placed both forelegs on the wound to control the bleeding. "I need a Medic!" I threw the already filled field dressing away and tore open a new one. The stallion was shaking. "Come on mate stay with us." A medic unicorn had rushed beside me and levitated a pair of rabbit toothed grips. "On three remove the dressing and I will clamp the artery." I nodded. "One, two, THREE!" I removed the dressing and put pressure above the wound to slow the bleeding. Blood squirted past up and the Medic clamped the artery. I applied two dressings to keep the clamp still. We patted him and moved to the next one. "Oh Luna!" Cries of the wounded and dying were filling the air. The medic and I had worked through the closest of the wounded and came across the worst of them so far. The stallion’s entrails had spilled in the trench. We rushed to him and we both knew he was beyond saving. I diverted the stallion’s eyes and the medic, managing some how to keep his breakfast, washed the entrails off and placed them back in their cavity. As he tied a large field dressing on the abdomen, I gave him a shot of morphine to ease his pain. "M-m-m-m-Mama... M-MAMA!" He was screaming in fear. I tipped his head up and gave him a drink from a canteen. I sat back as the medic took over. I was exhausted. Charcoal rushed over to me and checked me out. He removed my helmet then pulled my canteen out and poured it over my head, making sure to wash out my mane. I stared, emptily into the trench floor as the red and black liquid as it ran off my body and pooled on the trench bottom. *****END OF DREAM! ******** *Gasp* I was panting and sweating. "Damn. It was just a dream Tread." I murmured to myself as I clambered out of the bed and walked to the bathroom. “Damn I look like a mess.” I mumbled to my self after a quick glance in the mirror. I turned on the shower and stepped in the cold water. I sat down and began crying as I washed the sweat off of my body. After turning the water to warm and washing myself, I turned off the water. I sat there for a couple minutes pondering my life before I heard a knock. "Tread? It’s Twilight. We need to talk." Apology accepted."Yeah we are REALLY sorry Tread." Rainbow Dash pawed at the ground with a slight blush. Applejack's head had been slung low the entire time. "Ah'm really sorry about what ah said." she looked me in the eyes at that point. "Can ya ever forgive me?" I smiled and walked over to them, and embraced them. "All is forgiven." Twilight had informed me of Celestia's explanation of my lack of a cutie mark. The girls were fairly surprised. The girls apologized a few more times and excused themselves. They had to get back to work. I turned to Twilight sparkle. "Do you want to go to breakfast?" She blushed slightly and nodded "I would love to, but first we should go visit Rarity. When I informed her of Celestia's explanation, she felt horrible." I nodded and we went on our way. "So, you have even used magic?" Twilight was extremely confused over the fact that an earth pony had used magic several times. I smiled and nodded "Yes. Celestia and Luna both have their theories as to why." I looked at Twilight and tried to change the subject. "So where does Rarity work?" Twilight looked up and smiled. "She owns a place called the Carousel Boutique." I looked around and pointed with my hoof. "You mean that place?" She raised her head and the wind blew at the right time. Her mane began to flow with the wind. Hot damn. Now that’s a mare. "Yes that it is!" she laughed and we made our way to see Rarity. "No Sweetie Belle! Don't touch anything!" Rarity was scolding Sweetie Belle for a reason lost to the moment. I decided to play with Rarity and I put on my best Canterlot voice. “I am looking for Miss. Rarity." Rarity shooed Sweetie Belle out of the room. "Welcome to Car-" Rarity spun around and frowned. I began to laugh. “That is hardly funny dear." She looked at Twilight who just shrugged. Sweetie Belle trotted in, her hooves making a small pit-pat noise. "Rarity, can I go and play with Apple bloom and Scootaloo?" She looked around the room until she spotted me. "Tread!" I looked up and was tackled by a fairly excited filly. I stood up and regained my posture. "I actually have two questions for you Rarity." Rarity looked as if she was slightly afraid. "I would love to order some WORK clothes." Rarity and Twilight both looked slightly surprised. "W-Work clothes?" she began to light up as ideas began flowing to her head. I nodded and raised a hoof. "Simple work clothes, and a pair of casuals." she walked up to me levitating a measuring tape and began measuring my dimensions. "And that second question dear?" She had put on some glasses that resembled reading glasses. I tapped a hoof on my head as I was thinking. "I really don't remember it. Sorry." I kicked at the ground. "Don’t worry about it dear." Rarity was pulling out fabrics. "If anypony should be sorry it should be me. I am very ashamed of how I acted last night." I walked over and nuzzled her in a friendly way of course. She looked at me and was blushing slightly. Twilight was too. "Its OK." I paid after insisting she didn't have to make it up for me. As me and twilight were walking out, I stopped. "Rarity, do you mind if I treat Sweetie Belle to breakfast? I would like to tell her of my story." I winked at Rarity who looked like I was an angel. Sweetie Belle was bouncing around as we walked toward the cafe'. After we ordered, I reached inside my saddle bags and pulled out a picture of me as a little colt inside the Cloudsdale weather factory taking a tour. Sweetie Belle and Twilight looked at it then back at me. "YOU WENT TO CLOUDSDALE?!" Sweetie Belle's jaw looked like it was about to fall off. I could tell we were going to have another audience. Twilight picked up the picture and levitated it towards her. "I see Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. They are both fillies..." I smiled and nodded. "They both have no idea I was the colt they fell for when they were fillies. We will get to that eventually." I sighed and leaned back. I pondered for a few seconds. "My real story begins when I was about five years old." My life Part 1Note: This chapter has gone through a LOT of check reads. I have read all the previous and decided from the overwhelming amount of errors in grammar, I will be revamping the chapters. I encourage everypony to find errors and report them! Anyway, enough chit-chat LETS READ THIS STORY! " I was born 17 years ago in a small town much like Ponyvillle outside of Canterlot." I smiled as memories flooded back. " I was like every other little foal, I loved to play." I nodded and chuckled a little. The waitress must be taking her break now, she was sitting next to us and had taken her apron off. This will be written in first person of Treads story, so heads up. This: **** signifies the changing from the story to present time and vice versa. ******* "Hey Tread!" I turned around to see Charcoal, Trooves, and Coil running up to me. "Yeah?" I raised an eyebrow. I as getting excited because they were excited. "The weather team pulled in a new group of clouds for the storm. I dare you to jump through them." Charcoal had a mischievous grin on his face as he pointed with his hooves to a short building which had some clouds next to it. I looked at it and smiled. "OK!" I ran down the street and between grown ups legs as I took off towards the building. Fairly quickly I spotted a stack of boxes and I began my climb to the roof. ****** Twilight raised a hoof. "Your telling me you accepted a dare to jump onto a cloud as a young colt." I nodded "Everypony else probably has." ******** As I reached the top I could hear Charcoal Coil and Trooves cheering me on. With this new found courage I charged forward and leapt. Oh no! I am going to fall! I closed my eyes and I began screaming. I stopped when I realized I wasn't falling. "TREAD! Your walking on a cloud!!!" I opened my eyes. My hooves.... I-I feel like I am walking on pillows! "Guys this is so cool!" I was yelling and my voice squeaked. "What the hell?!" I turned around and saw the weather team captain right behind me. "H-How did you get up here?!" he rubbed both his eyes with his hooves. I walked around. "I jumped on it!" I was so energetic. "Is that Tread on the cloud?" "Yeah! It is!" Everypony sure is excited down there. ******* "I guess that is when Princess Celestia. was told about me." I shrugged and pushed my plate away. I had finished it. Twilight, Sweetie belle and almost everypony was staring at me in disbelief. I poked twilight and joked a little. "Do you want a kiss or something?" She blushed and mumbled something. I shrugged it off and sipped on my water. ******* Things have quieted down since I walked on that cloud. I was happy to be back at school. "Tread?" I looked up to see Ms.Carn. She seemed... frightened. "Somepony special wants to see you." I scooted out of my seat and trotted out the door and ran into a Pegasus who had on gold armor. "Are you Tread?" He has a deep voice. I was shaking. "Y-Yes." He looked behind him and several guards rushed up and moved around me. "We are taking you to Canterlot to see Princess Celestia as her order specifies." I-I am going to Canterlot! I was feeling so energetic. "WOO-HOO!!" I ran between their legs and ran towards the wagon. "T-Tread Wait!" the guards ran after me. "Tread." I felt a poke and I shifted on the seat. "Tread. Its Princess Celestia." My eyes flew open. Sure enough The Princess was sticking her head through the doorway. I blushed She is so pretty. She giggled and nudged me again. "I want to talk with you." Sorry for such a short chapter. It was what I could muster. New job."Mmmm..." Something warm is on top of me. I yawned and opened my eyes. Some purple hair fell in my face so I huffed and it flew out of my face. I paused. I fell asleep with Twilight. Slowly I slipped out from under her, slowly placing my hoofs on the floor. I pulled the blanket up with my teeth and nuzzled her. I turned around and saw books littering the floor. Shaking my head and smiling, I tiptoed down stairs and walked into the kitchen. "Whoa dude. Somepony is up early." It was Spike. "Oh morning, Spike." I trotted over to the refrigerator and opened it. "Breakfast?" I pulled out some bread and other condiments. "What are you going to make?" He walked over and looked at the counter. I placed the items on the counter and turned. "A trenchermens favorite." "Tread?" I looked up from making breakfast to see Twilight in the door way. Holy- She even looks cute with bed mane. "Morning sleepy." I greeted her and turned back to the food. "No. The bread goes with the jam." I redirected Spike who seemed slightly confused. "I'll do it. You take the soup to the table." I laughed and nudged him toward the pot with soup in it. "Tread this is amazing!." Twilight was awake and spike was on his third serving. "Thanks. Its something I picked up from the trenches." I was wiping off the counter top. "Well." I nodded in satisfaction and looked around. "Pension only goes so far. I am going to go to Sweet Apple Acres to see if they can use another worker." I began walking out of the kitchen. "Tread." I stopped and turned. Twilight finished her soup and walked up next to me. "I need to go talk to Applejack too." The trip to the Apple family farm was fairly uneventful. When we arrived I saw Applejack walk out of the barn. "Hi'ya Twilight, Tread." She said approaching us."What can Ah do fer ya?" I cleared my throat. "I need something to do. Need any help around the farm?" I felt fairly calm to tell the truth. Applejack thought for a second and called out behind her. "Big Mac!" "So ya want Ah job?" I feel a little threatened by this stallion. "Y-yes... I guess." I was sitting in their farm house. Applebloom was looking at me with huge eyes. "We can see what ya' can do. Follow me." He stood up and we walked into the barn. "Big Mac?" I looked at the roof. It was leaky and filled with holes. "Eeyup?" He turned his head. "You need to get that roof fixed. I think I can do it. It seems you have the right supplies." He was looking at me like I was stupid. "So, your gunna climb up there, and fix that there ruf." I nodded. "Give me a rope and I will show you." He shook his head and picked up a rope with his teeth. I lowered my head and he set it on my neck. "Watch." We walked outside and I backed up to gain space. "I just don't know why I feel like this!" I shook my head. "Applejack. I never felt like this before." I sat down on the grass next to a tree and Applejack joined me. "Well Ah don't know nothin about that. You should ask Rar'." We sat in silence for a few minutes. "Sorry to bring you into this AJ." I was feeling slightly scared. "I am going to ask Rarity." I stood up. "If he asks where I am, Tell him I am talking with Rarity." She stood up. "Ah'll try mah best." "Looks like new." I was standing next to Big Mac. "Eeeyup." I had finished reroofing the barn when AJ joined us. "Wow. how much do we owe the carpenters?" She hadn't seen me climb down. Big Mac shook his head. "Nothin'." "Nothin'?" Applejack was looking at us suspiciously. I stepped forward. "I roofed it." That got a strange look from Applejack. "Pardon?" that southern drawl is cute. "I re-roofed the barn." Mac joined in. "Eeyup." I laughed at the look I recieved from Applejack. After acquiring Twilights location, the Apple siblings insisted they pay me. When I told them my price their jaws dropped. "24 bits! Thats not enough!" I raised a hoof to stop their protest. "You insisted I get paid. Its six bits an hour, and I worked for four hours." After convincing them on the price, I thanked them and made my way to the Library. "Hey Spike." I walked through the doorway and closed the door behind me. "Hey man." He was reshelving books. "You know where Twilight is?" I nodded and set my bit bag on the table remembering that I had retrieved my stuff earlier. "She's doing something with Rarity." I looked around the room at the scattered books. "Need help?" "So Twilight, you have feelings for Tread?" Rarity seemed the best pony to go to for this. I nodded. "I don't know why. I have never felt like this." She smiled and looked at me with slightly probing eyes. "He is attractive dear. I thinks its the fact he has been through so much already in his life." She seemed to know so much about what she was talking about. "To be honest Twilight, I feel the same way about him." I was surprised. "I-we-" I shook my head. " We should have a picnic. I want to only have to say this once." Rarity nodded her head in agreement and stood up. "I will get Applejack and Fluttershy. You get Pinky Pie and Rainbow Dash." She ran out the door and I got up and ran to get Pinky Pie and Rainbow Dash." "Dude your are so awesome!" Spike was sitting with me on the couch as we ate lunch. "Your so good at everything!" I laughed and took another bite of my daisy sandwich. "If you say so!" We laughed and finished our lunches. I placed my plate in the sink. "Hey Spike." I sat down at the table. Spike caught on to my sudden change of mood. "Hey man are you ok?" He sat across from me. "Can I tell you something that nopony knows of but my Trench mates?" I was extremely saddened. Spike clambered down from his chair and pushed it next to me."Sure man." Note:Thought that you guys would love a new long chapter. I will have a bonus chapter of Treads war story. BONUS CHAPTER! Treads war story.This chapter is a Bonus chapter! I was going to skip this and write the next one but I decided you guys deserved a little love. And for the first time, I am revealing the name of the country that Equestria was in war against: Datria ******* "Hey, Tread" I turned my head and Charcoal was marching next to me on the dirt road. I could hear explosions in the distance. "You excited?" A smile betrayed him and broke onto his face, showing how excited he was. "Yeah a little." Coil ran up and joined us followed by Trooves. "Man, am I ready to whoop some Dartrian flank." Some 'Hoorah's echoed down the group of recruits. A stallion in the back added to it. "I also hear their mares are nice! I'll beat those flanks!" Some cheers also ran up and down the line. My ears perked up. Coil and Charcoal looked at me slightly concerned. "You OK?" My ears flicked around then I shook my head."I thought I heard a whistle." A group of dirty stallions with their rifles and helmets ran through us, bumping into some of us. "Lads!" We all turned towards the Unicorn stallion with a Canterlot accent. "Incoming!" He began pushing and shoving us toward the ditches on the side of the road, and that is when the first shell hit. "Fuck!" I heard voices yelling orders and voices screaming. My ears were ringing. I could barely hear. I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned and looked to see Charcoal. "You good?" I blinked and looked around as my hearing returned slowly. "Tread you OK?" I looked back. "Yeah." I ran over to a veteran whom was helping remove debris to clear the road. "What can I do?" "Shit, what a day to start out." We had been moved to the front lines to relieve D company. " Well you signed up for war Coil." Charcoal was unpacking his stuff into his trunk. I nodded "We all did." The bunker shuddered with a rumble and some dirt fell from the ceiling. We all jumped to our feet, ready to run. "We should sleep." I kicked my boots off and layed down on my bunk. "I have a feeling we will need it," "C'mon lads! Wake up!" I felt a nudge. I groaned and opened my eyes against their immense will. "That's it." I rolled out of bed and stretched. "What time is it?" I rubbed a hoof to clear the sleep out of my eyes. It was the Stallion who pushed us into the ditches. "Its time to wake up and eat." He chuckled at that then regained his composure. "I am your squad leader. Call me 'Wings'." He walked over and pushed the door open. "gear up and come out." We looked at each other. "Well lets do what the Sarg' said!" Charcoal put on the hoof socks we were issued and slipped his boots on. We nodded and followed suit. Not long after we were following 'Wings' to the mess line and were waiting for our food. That is when we noticed a rather nice and clean looking stallion trot over to us. "Sargent Wings." 'Wings' stepped forward and tipped his helmet at the officer. "How are ya doin' sir?" The officer smiled and laughed. "I am doing fine, Wings." That's when we heard a cough. We looked at the cook who was impatiently tapping his hoof on the table. "Sorry." We quickly apologized and grabbed out mess kits. We carried our now filled soup cans and coffee cups back to the front lines. Coil pushed it around with a spoon that was surrounded by his green aura. "What the hell is this stuff?" He raised an eyebrow as Charcoal tasted it and grimaced. "Its not the best but its better then anything." I shrugged and began eating it. I picked some hay up with my teeth and dropped it in the soup. "This is disgusting." I tried the coffee and coughed. Holy shit this is strong. "You boys are better than the last group." I swallowed and saw Wings levitating his food. "So you boys are from Candell?" We all nodded and I sipped on the so called 'coffee'. I grimaced and swallowed. "Yes sir. I-" I paused and looked at the guys. "Do you remember hearing of a little earth colt from a small town that walked on a cloud about..." I paused to do the math in my head. "10 years ago?" Wings thought for a minute. "Aye, I do." He nodded and all of our eyes connected. "Sir," I leaned forward looking him in the eye. "I was that colt." Then an officer swung the door open suddenly. "Wing! Get your boys to the wall now!" The officer turned and began out the door the turned back. "We are under attack." Our eyes must have lit up because Wing frowned. "Well you heard the man. Go!" He motioned with a hoof. We scrambled around and gathered our helmets and weapons before we ran out into the war. "Holy shit!" Coil was yelling as he fired and pulled the rifle bolt back with his magic. "They keep coming!" Charcoal had mounted the machine gun with Trooves who was feeding the belt. Wings had been firing his rifle without saying a word. I ran beside Coil and propped my rifle on the ledge and I placed the bar that popped out of my boot into the trigger guard and pulled back. I smiled as the rifle fired. The dirt in front of me kicked up and I ducked. I raised my head again and a bullet ricocheted off my helmet. "Damn." I grumbled. I fired back. "Here they come boys!" Wings was wielding his knife."Get ready!" I pulled the bolt back and pushed it forward when the casing ejected. I fired then put my rifle down and removed my knife. when the first enemy jumped in the trench we looked at each other. Suddenly I was over come with a rage. I yelled the best I could with the knife between my teeth and charged at him. I swung my knife at him and he jumped back and bucked me in my chest. I yelped from the pain but my rage increased. I swung again and our blades connected. Our blades repeatedly connected, causing sparks to fly. Others had jumped into our trench but were met with resistance like mine. I spun and kicked out both of my back hoofs and felt them connect with the stallions skull. I turned back around and slashed. I felt the knife meet the resistance of flesh and my snout twitched as warm blood sprayed from the wound. My eyes met with his surprised expression as he stumbled back, bleeding from his neck and head. I looked around and the enemy was retreating. As I realized the result of my rage, a enemy medic ran to the heavily wounded stallion and dragged him out of the trench in a stretcher. I dropped down and the boards lining the trench bottom voiced as my flank connected with them. "You OK, lad?" Wings ran over and searched my body for any signs of serious wounds. I was a mess, I was cut, bruised, covered in blood and mud from the fight. My knife was laying on the floor boards, bathed in the spilled blood. Charcoal ran over and joined him. "Lets get you cleaned up." I silently complied as I was nudged to a corner of the trench. I sat there as they sprayed water on me. I scrubbed my snout and the stubborn blood broke off in chunks. I couldn't get the face out of my thoughts. "Tread, is something wrong?" Coil trotted up, he too covered in mud. I shook my head, knowing well that I would be forever bothered by this image. love is a strange thing.This chapter I have been debating about. This chapter has gone under the most amount of rewriting I have ever done. I changed the plot so much in this story *shakes head.* I lost count how many times. **** "What?" "What?" "Holy smokes!" "Beg yer pardon." Everypony's jaws, except Rarity and mine, had dropped. "I thought I was the only one!" Pinky Pie was hopping up and down. "Pinky dear can yo-" Rarity raised a hoof to calm her down. "But I mean wowie zowie! He is something! He is so-" Rarity's eye twitched. "Pinky Pie! Do calm down!" I was slightly startled. Pinky Pie giggled and put a hoof to her mouth. "Hehe. Sorry." "So Twilight." AJ sat up. " Your actually in love with Tread." I nodded blushing. You have no idea. "Not just that feeling of admiration you told me about?" I nodded again and pawed at the ground a bit. "I- I like Tread too." A certain quiet pony admited. "F-Fluttershy! You too?!" Rainbow dash was flabbergasted. "D-dont you like him Dash?" Fluttershy was hiding behind her mane to hide her blush. Dash's pupils constricted and she blushed. "N-No! Why would I like someone like that?" I looked at Applejack who was staring Rainbow dash down. She shrank back and began stuttering. "I-I" she sighed in defeat and sat down with her head hanging. "Yeah. I do." Rainbow dash has been dating trying to find a stallion, but none of the pegasi are intrested. Then Tread shows up. An earth pony who can walk on and control clouds without the use of a magic spell. "Ah'll go ahead and confess too." Applejack sighed and tipped her hat back. "Ah like him, but not as much as yall do." She finished her sandwich. "But that boy sure is something." We all agreed and packed up the picnic. After exchanging goodbye's we went our own ways. I headed to the library. "And I just can't forget that image, Spike." I stopped. T-thats Tread. What image? I backed out of the library quietly and opened the door again. "Hello?" I made sure to make some noise. "I am back." Tread popped his head around the corner. "Oh! Welcome back!" He gave a somewhat forced smile. Spike walked around the corner. "Hey Twilight." I waved a hoof and smiled. "Hey Spike." I turned to Tread. "So how did your job go at Sweet Apple Acres go?" I sat down at the table and put on my best questioning look. "It went well. I fixed the barns roof." He sat down across the table and quietly tapped the table top with his hoof. "Well thats something." I giggled. "I need to write a letter to the princess." I walked past him and suddenly nuzzled him. What did I just do?! Slightly suprised, he nuzzled me back then walked into a library room. I was frozen. D-Does that mean he- I ran to my room and levitated a peice of papaer, the ink and a quill over. Dear Princess Celestia, I have two things to tell you. the first is that today I realized friends are willing when it comes to listening. The second is this. Sargent Tread has been in Ponyville for almost a week. He is doing fine I assure you, but my friends and I all- I paused unsure of how to write it. I was nervous and my heart was beating very fast. I dipped the quill in the ink again and went back to writing. - have discovered that we have feelings for Tread. We talked about it today, but I still am afraid to know what will happen if he fnds out. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle I placed the quill in the ink and read the letter through. It was short, but it should do. after I rolled it up, I sent it away with a burst of magic. I sighed andclimbed onto my bed. Suddenly there was a yell and then a thud. I rushed out of my room and into the library room where Tread had gone into and found him pulling Spike, whom had fallen when the Princess sent her reply and subsequently gotten stuck. I wandered over and levitated the scroll into my room. I watched as Tread finaly pulled Spike out of the floorboards. A smile crept upon my face as they broke into laughter. I trotted back up into my room. "Tread is a good pony." I said quietly to myself. Picking up the scroll, I unrolled it infront of me as I got comfortable on my bed. My student, It is wonderful that you have learned that about friendship. However, about Tread. I cannot help you as it is a part of growing up. I will tell you this though, do what you feel is right. Sincerely, Princess Celestia My heart dropped. Do what you feel is right... Then somepony was walking up the stairs. "Twilight?" It is Tread. I rolled up the scroll and threw it under my bed. "come in." I answered cheerfully. Tread's head appeared as he came closer to the top. He walked up with a snoring Spike on his back. I put a hoof to my mouth to hide my smile as he carfully placed spike in his bed. I love you Tread. ***** I looked at the clock. It was midnight. I couldnt sleep so I silently climbed out of my bed and tip toed to another room to read. As I entered the room, a shape on the couch shifted. Cautiously I walked closer and realized it was Tread. I walked closer and sat on the floor, watching him. What if he wakes up? I shook the thought out of my head. I levitated him up and opened the couch. Using my teeth, gross, I pulled out the folding bed from the couch. I straightened the sheets and placed him down on it. I pulled the sheets over him and before I knew it, I kissed Tread. That night I slept the best I ever had slept in a long time. ***** "Twilight." something bounced my bed. "Twilight!" Slowly I opened my eyes to see Spike tapping his foot impatiently. "Oh." I yawned. I feel amazing. "Good morning." I yawned again, my hoofs making a clop as I slid out of my bed. "Hows Tread?" I rubbed my eyes with my forehoofs to wake up. "Still sleeping." I raised an eyebrow and walked down the stairs and into the room he was sleeping in. Sure enough, he was still there. Sprawled out on the couch-bed. I wandered over with a huge stupid smile on my face. "Cmon Tread." I nuzzled him, My heart beats fast and strong everytime I am near you. "Wings, its to early..." He mumbled as he placed his forehooves over his face and shifted. "W-Wings? What is he talking about?" Spike froze and his eyes widened. " He mumbled something unintelligible and clambered onto the bed. "Come on Tread." Spike was shaking Treads head. After failing that attempt, he pulled back one of Treads ears. "Blow in it." "What?" I looked at him like he was crazy. "Blow in it. It should wake him up. With a skeptical look on my face I leaned forward and blew a puff of air into Treads ear. It fluttered and his eyes slowly opened. "Wh- Oh." He let out a large yawn. "Good morning." I smiled. This is going to be a beautiful day. Note: This is my attempt to show Twilight's thoughts, and how strange Tread seems to the others. You guys.... ugh. I am on a creative streak but school is killing me. I cannot wait till I graduate. A new friend.Back to Tread! My ears fluttered. Damn it. I slowly opened my eyes and found myself on a couch bed. “Wh- oh.” I yawned. Wow, that was a good sleep. Twilight smiled. “Good morning.” I gave a sleepy smile. “Good morning.” Spike shook his head and walked out of the room to make breakfast. Twilight stepped up onto the bed next to me and laid down with her hoofs folded under her. You’re a tease. With an raised eyebrow, I sighed. “I am going to go for a run.” I stood up and stretched my sleepy muscles. My body trembled from the endorphins being released. Twilight seemed mesmerized as I did so. I trotted out of the room with a slight smile. Such a strange mare. I informed Spike of my run and he nodded. Content so somepony knows where I might be if I were to go missing, I opened the door and was face to face with Rainbow dash. “Oh. Hello!” I greeted her with a smile and stepped aside for her to come in. “I was just going to go for a run.” I received a slightly quizzical look from her before she finally spoke. “Where is Twilight?” She was blushing slightly. What is with all these mares? I pointed to the room I slept in with a hoof. “She should still be in there.” Dash forced a smile and thanked me before heading to see Twilight. I shook my head and noted I need to get my mane cut. “Tread, are you sure?” Rarity was levitating a pair of barber scissors in the air. “Yes. I like having a buzz cut.” She pouted and huffed. “You have such a beautiful mane. ‘Tis a shame.” I felt a brush run through it before I heard the snipping of the scissors. “Pinkie Pie was right” Rarity was admiring my coat from what I could see in the mirror. “You ARE something.” I gave her a confused look. “What?” She snapped back to reality. “Oh nothing Tread.” She smiled and finished the rather short task of cutting my mane. “There, just how you like it.” I looked at it in the mirror. “Thanks.” I turned to her. “Now, how much?” I trotted out of the Carousel Boutique after the heated argument of payment. I smiled and made my way to the Everfree forest. As I made my way through the forest a hooded figure appeared. I halted and took a defensive stance. The figure began to speak. “You must be Tread, the one whom some dread.” The figure slowly walked closer. “Who are you?” I asked my hooves a little shaky. The figure chuckled. “I am Zecora. You and I are strangers no longer.” Zecora tilted her head up and her hood fell off. I was a bit surprised, but recovered quickly. “I am honored.” Zecora trotted closer and smiled. “Do not bother with that.” She turned and began walking away. “You should really get a hat.” She laughed and trotted away. “A hat?” I shook my head and felt something move. “AHHH!” I flicked my head and a snake flew off and hit a tree. It shot me a angry look and slithered off. I sighed and began my way back to Ponyville. A few minutes later, I was still going through the Everfree forest. I was starting to become annoyed. “Come on!” I plowed my way through a bush and was face to face with a pack of wolfs. One was tall. He must be the Alpha. The wolf tilted an inquisitive head. “Who are you?” My eyes widened and I fell back onto my flank as I tried to back pedal out of there. “Y-You can talk?” I was shaking out of pure fear. The wolf nodded and the others laid down. “Yes. Do not fear, for we do not hurt ponies.” I sighed and the shakes slowly began to subside. Now it was just a little tremble from the adrenaline. “Rarity, have you seen Tread? Twilight was standing in the doorway of the Carousel Boutique with Rainbow Dash behind her. Rarity looked up from the dress she was making. “Yes, earlier today. He came to get his mane cut.” She nodded and went back to hemming the dress. “Why?” Rarity levitated the dress to a mannequin and stepped back to get a better look. “Because the sun is setting and he hasn’t come back!” Twilight stomped a hoof in frustration and her voice cracked, causing Rarity to become worried. “Oh. H-Hello, Twilight. Rainbow Dash. Rarity.” The girls turned and saw Fluttershy standing there. “Hi Fluttershy. What’s going on?” Twilight put on a smile as not to scare Fluttershy. “You have an interesting past young Tread.” The wolf looked at me. “You have experienced very much, but you are so young.” His eyes and voice gave off the feeling of sadness. I scooted closer and gave a friendly nudge. “What about you?” I asked as one of the young pups worked up the courage to investigate me. The wolf huffed. “I have lived for a thousand years.” I looked at the sky. “Sorry. I need to let my friends know not to worry.” The wolf nodded. “You’re a good pony Tread.” I smiled and removed a pad of paper from my bag I had with me and scribbled down a quick letter. I rolled it up and whistled a short tune. A small bird flew down and I attached the letter to its leg. “Take this to Fluttershy please.” The bird chirped and flew off. I turned back. “So where were we?” Twilight was shaking in anger and fear for Tread. “Y- Yes. He went into the Everfree forest.” Fluttershy was sitting on the floor, Rainbow Dash was flying circles, Rarity was working on her dress, and Twilight was pacing the floor. Fluttershy’s ears flickered around. “Oh.” She got up and carefully opened a window and a small bird flew in. It chirped and whistled. “Really? It’s for me?” Fluttershy carefully removed the note from the bird’s leg with her teeth and placed it on the window sill. “Thank you Mister Birdy.” The bird chirped and flew out. Fluttershy opened the note and read it. Girls, Do not worry. I am staying at a friend’s place for tonight. I am fine. Tread “Oh thank goodness.” She let out a sigh before Twilight walked over and read it. "Oh thank Celestia. Tread is fine everypony.” Rarity and Rainbow Dash sighed in relief. A not-so-old friendI yawned and slowly opened my eyes. I realized I was under a blanket of small pups, sleeping on top of me. I gently moved them off on me then grouped them together. I walked out of the cave they slept in and into the morning light. I sat on a log and took in the beauty of nature. Unguided and free. A smile crept upon my face and I laughed. “What is it you find amusing?” I turned my neck and saw Rafe (The wolf) standing at the cave entrance. With the smile I shrugged. “Nature always excites me for no reason.” Rafe smiled and turned into the cave. “One moment.” I nodded and turned my attention back to the sunrise. “Tread.” I turned and Rafe was standing with a female wolf. “Do not be alarmed, but you mane is a mess.” Rafe stated as his mate walked up and began to lick and clean my coat. My eyes widened as my inner instinct to run began to scream. I must have looked ridiculous because Rafe’ began to roar with laughter. “Now THAT is amusing.” He walked over as my “cleaning” was finished and sat down next to me. “Our time together was interesting, Tread.” He looked into the morning sun. “But you should get home so your friends do not worry.” He turned his head and our eyes met, his those have seen and learned many things, mine that have seen many horrific things. I nodded and stood up. “Thank you Rafe for giving me knowledge and a place to stay last night.” I flung my saddlebags onto my back and tightened the straps. “Follow my mate. She will show you out of the forest.” Rafe advised and began turning back into the cave. “You may visit anytime, Tread.” He smiled and walked back into the cave. A warm body brushed against mine and I look down. The wolf, one of Rafe’s mates, whined and began into the forest. “Thank you for showing me into the forest.” I bowed and the wolf nodded before running back into the Everfree. I looked at the sun and sighed Well that took about 20 minutes. I shook my head and began to make my way back to Ponyville. As I began passing other ponies, I greeted several and continued my way to the library. I passed Applejack at the apple cart and after a little small talk I bought an apple which I happily munched on as I finished the rest of the way to the library. I noted that Twilight was passed out on the couch as I made my way into the bathroom to take a shower. Quietly closing the door, I removed my saddlebag and turned on the shower and waited for it to warm up. I stepped in and sighed as the warm water eased and relaxed my muscles. Then I began the meticulous task of cleaning wolf saliva and dirt from my coat. I turned the water off and shook my body to get any excess water off. I stepped out onto the mat and looked up. “T-Tread!” I was tackled by an ecstatic lavender mare whom had just woken up. “T-Twilight.” My face was beginning to warm up. “OH my gosh. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and I were so worried when you didn’t return.” “Twilight!” “But then we got your letter from the bird an-“ “ TWILIGHT!” She stopped and realized where she was sitting. She stood up immediately and her face turned a shade of red I didn’t know existed. “S-Sorry.” I smiled flipped myself over and stood up. “No harm done.” I dried myself off, picked up my saddlebags with my teeth and walked into the main room. That’s when I heard a knock. I opened the door. Oh boy… “Hello Tread.” So here we are… almost five minutes after I opened the door. “Have you been getting in any fights recently?” Miss Warmheart asked as she sipped on her tea. Why is she back? I shook my head and put on a fake smile. “I am not stupid.” I shot her a piercing gaze. “You’re here because of me.” She sighed and nodded. “Yes and no. I was offered to work at the hospital here. Until I get a place of my own, I will be staying with my aunt, Nurse Redheart.” “Oh! Nurse Warmheart!” Twilight walked into the room. She REALLY washed. Our eyes met and I smiled. Miss Warmheart laughed at Twilights surprise. “Hello Twilight Sparkle.” She smiled and Twilight laughed and nodded. “I just wasn’t expecting anypony.” She said as she raised a hoof to emphasize that point. I rose out of my chair and smiled. “If you excuse me ladies, I would like to go visit a friend.” The two girls nodded, Twilight with a slight frown on her face. I turned and walked out of the library and began my way to Rafe, seeing as I felt I needed some advice. “So, Tread.” Rafe was sitting across from me outside the cave almost 20 minutes later. “You like several females…that is the message you are trying to explain. Am I right?” I sighed and nodded “Yes. I don’t know how to deal with the feelings and emotions that come with it.” I hung my head somewhat in depression and defeat. Then a pup seemed to sense my emotions and snuggled up to me. It looked up to and met my eyes. I nearly fell prey to his begging eyes but I managed to pull out of the piercing gaze just as the pup tackled me. “So.” Twilight opened a cabinet and levitated out a cup and bowl. “You’re going to be working at the Ponyville hospital?” she asked as she poured some of the tea and soup Tread had made not long ago. Nurse Warmheart nodded and sipped on her tea. “Yes I am staying with my aunt Nurse Redheart, until I get a place of my own.” Twilights eyebrows rose with interest. “Oh really? I guess I will see you around then.” She smiled as she sat down and blew on the spoonful of soup she levitated up. Nurse Warmheart smiled and giggled a bit. “I guess so.” Then a mischievous smile played across her snout. She leaned forward and placed her two forehooves together. “So what’s been going on with Tread?” Twilight smiled. Let the Gossip begin. AN: Thanks to Coal Buck who is letting me use Rafe from his story! been meaning to put that on here A visit to school.“So did you guys…” Nurse Warmhearts white coat did nothing to hide her blush. Twilight was blushing too, but her blush turned a deeper shade of red upon hearing the inference. She brought her forehooves in front of her face. “N-No! We wouldn’t!” she moved her hooves away from her face a bit. “W-We aren’t even dating.” Nurse WarmHeart’s eyes widened. “Ooh.” Other pups had joined in the play and now we were lying on the ground panting. Rafe was roaring with laughter as we played. “You are good with children Tread.” He was still chuckling every once in a while after the pups tired out. All of the females began to clean the now dirty young ones, with the exception of one who seemed to have just entered adulthood and who seemed to have a interest in me. Almost as tall as me… I waved a hoof to Rafe as I departed and followed the young female out of the forest. When we reached the edge of the forest but far enough inside so nopony could see us, the young female stopped and turned towards me. “Tread.” Holy sh- my eyes switched to “What-in-Celestia” mode. The wolf took my face in both forepaws. “Stop it.” I quickly obliged and looked her in her eyes. “Y-yeah?” she smiled and pressed her muzzle to my snout. Wh-what? Whats- I recovered and pulled out of the ‘SURPRISE!’ kiss. “What was that for?” I could still feel the spot where our noses met. Still tingling… Her eyes had softened a little. “I always wondered what kissing a pony would be like.” She turned her back and began making her way back towards the den before stopping. She turned her head and looked at me. “I find you interesting, Tread.” She continued her way, her tail swishing happily from joy and love. A few minutes after she disappeared from view, my mind cleared. “WHAT THE BUCK JUST HAPPENED?!” “Oooooh.” Nurse Warmheart eyes widened in interest. “So you came close?” Twilights face had turned very red after her recounts of what has happened recently. “I guess that could be said. Even though it was an accident.” She was tracing imaginary shapes on the table with a hoof. Then in a whisper, “Very close.” Setting the event that had unfolded not even 5 minutes ago on the backburner, I stood up, I have more important things to worry about. I walked through the remaining foliage and found myself just down the road of where I needed to be heading, the school. I began my way down the road with a good pace. Slowly, I approached the school house and noticed that the fillies and colts had been let out for lunch and recess. I smiled, my memories of my time as a young colt flooded my mind. I was pulled back to reality by several gasps. “Wha-“ I looked around and realized the entire class was staring at me. “Who are you?” a small colt asked. I opened my mouth to reply but a certain small filly beat me to it. “He is the awesomest pony in the entire world!” Sweetie Belles voice cracked from excitement. I laughed and she blushed. “Thank you Sweetie Belle. My name is Tread” I felt a small poke on my flank and I looked to find a small filly with a big red bow on her mane. “Mister Tread?” I turned and sat down to try to be more at her level. “Yes?” She suddenly had a large smile on her face. “Why are ya here?” I sat straight up and smiled. “Sweetie Belle invited me.” The filly’s and colts ‘oohed and aawed’. A mare walked up to me and smiled. “You must be Tread.” She looked me over as if examining if I was stable. “Please come inside.” “I really must be going.” Nurse WarmHeart said sliding off the chair she was occupying. Twilight stood up too and nodded. “It was nice seeing you again, Miss WarmHeart.” The two mares gave their farewells and Nurse WarmHeart departed for the hospital. Twilight sighed and walked into the library room where Tread had been sleeping and pulled a book from the shelves. As she was walking out, Twilight passed a book laying on the table. Spike must have been reading. Putting down the one she was currently levitating, she lifted the book and examined the cover. “Huh, no title. I should see if the title is inside.” She opened the cover and froze when her eyes caught the first couple words. May 14th I guess I am- She closed the book and shook her head. “No, I can’t.” Her curiosity was killing her. “The first entry and no more.” May 14th I guess I am going to start writing in this to let things out and for boredom. A couple days ago I think I killed my first enemy. Slashed him right across the throat. The poor bastard was pulled out of the trench by one of their medics on their retreat. Since then I have killed many. On the charge Yesterday, we gassed the enemy lines. When we reached the trenches, we fought hoof to hoof. I kicked off several of their gas masks. I watched them writher in pain and the feel of suffocation. I cannot write more as I have guard duty tonight. Twilight was at a loss. “T-That’s not Tread. He must have had grabbed the wrong journel.” She nodded her heart heavy. “It can’t be true.” “And that’s how we subdued and calmed the Ursa Minor during basic training.” The colts and fillies clapped their hoofs together and were yelling. Cheerilee stood up and waved her hoof for the class to quiet down. “Any questions for Mr. Tread?” A sea of hoofs shot up in the air. I laughed. I raised a hoof and pointed to a young filly who was wearing a tiara. She looks like a snob… “Go ahead.” She put her hoof down. “How much money does a war hero get?” Cheerilee moved to shoot it down almost immediately. “Now asking another pony how much money they make is impoli-“ I put a hoof on her back, “Its alright.” She raised her eyebrows as if to say ‘Are you sure?’ I nodded and turned to the class. “Ms. Cheerilee is right. Asking another pony what they make is impolite, but I will answer this once.” I moved to the center of the classroom. “A Soldier.” I shot a look at the filly, who humfed. “Makes about 5000 bits a month.” “But you’re a war hero!” some colt added from the back. The class began to agree. I raised a hoof, but the children did not stop. I brought the hoof down on the floor and a sharp thud pierced the noise and the children quieted. “I just remembered something and I have to go.” The class protested but I smiled and thanked them for listening. I walked out of the classroom and toward the library. Uncovered Thoughts.Uncovered Thoughts. AN: Sorry for the sudden slow down. I have been really busy with school. I threw in a character everyone loves. I pressed down on the door handle and walked inside, closing the door behind me. "Hello?" Twilight's voice came from the back. The sounds of her hoofs walking around the corner followed. "Yes, I am back." I turned toward the sound of her voice. Our eyes met and I studied her gaze. They there was some pity in them. "Tread." She walked over as if she were on a minefield. "Yes?" I approached her and she seemed to shrink back. "I-I found your journal." Her voice was drowning in pity and guilt. "I thought it was a book Spike left out. It didn't have a title so I looked inside to see if I could classify the book and I read the first entry." My face morphed with the pain that came along with remembering the first entry. Upon seeing that, she shed a few tears. I moved forward to try to explain and comfort her. She backed away and looked up. She was close to breaking down. "Why don't you tell anypony Tread?" I opened my mouth but she continued. "Tread, why do you keep this to yourself?" Tears were streaming now. Her voice lowered almost to a whisper. "You have seen bad things Tread." I went from walking in happy to being attacked emotionally? I was on the defensive now. "Twilight. War is something horrible. I keep it form the ones I love and care about to protect the ponies I love!" I lifted her head with a hoof. "That includes you." I gave her a hug and then let go. I looked at her face. It was in a surprised state. I smiled and gave a small laugh. "Expecting a kiss?" She snapped out of her trance and shook her head, her messy mane trailing her head. "I thought you would be mad." I shook my head. "I was at first but I forgave you after I realized you were telling the truth." I gingerly moved Twilight onto my back and carefully walked up stairs. She exasperated herself from her emotional fit. I laid her on her bed and moved her around so it was possible to put her blanket over her. I smiled then walked back down the stairs. I walked into the kitchen and picked up a pencil. Twilight, Reading something old doesn't mean that person has regrets. I don't talk about the things I have done because of how painful it is. I want you to read an entry though. Page 23, that is the story of my promotion to Sargent. -Tread I read over the note and nodded. I glanced at the clock. Five O'clock. The post office should be open still. P.S. I'm going to the post office. __________ "You sure Mr. Tread?" The gray wall-eyed mail mare asked after she had swung open the post office and slammed it into my face. I nodded and continued writing with the pencil between my teeth. The bleeding had stopped a little while after she had gotten ice. I finished the letter and folded it up. The gray Pegasus whose name I learned was Ditzy Doo, (She said I can call her Derpy.) walked over with an envelope in her teeth. I cautiously took it, to avoid the inevitable nose bump that would send my nose into a spasm of pain. I fussed with the envelope before Ditz- Derpy helped by keeping the envelope open. I smiled then picked up the letter and slipped it inside. I picked the envelope up with my hoofs and licked the glue on the flap. I picked the pencil up once more and scribbled the addresses on it. "Thanks." I handed it to the mare and she placed it in the 'Out-going mail' after I paid for the proper stampage. "Thanks again." I said once more as I smiled. "I feel like I am forgetting something..." I mumbled, just standing there in the post office. The door opened and closed behind me and I heard the little pittle pattle of a foals hooves. "Hey mom!" Derpy turned and her face lit up when she saw the foal. "How was school, Dinky?" My ears perked up at that name. I looked over and sure enough there was the filly who was in the class I talked to. "It was awesome!" The filly was bouncing up and down. "Sweetie Belle invited the war hero Mr. Tread to talk to us!" Derpy looked over at me and I nodded. "Is this Mr. Tread?" she asked motioning toward me with a wing. Dinky stopped bouncing and followed her mothers gesture. "Yes!" she started to bounce seemingly higher. "Why didn't you tell me?" Derpy said shaking her head with a slight smile that was caused from her daughters reaction. "There is a discount for active military." She said walking to the counter. "But I'm not active military." Derpy stopped and so did Dinky. "Why not?" they both asked at the same time. "You look fine to me." I lifted a saddle bag and showed the patch of missing coat Still hasn't grown back... Derpy nodded and walked back from the mailpack. One of her hooves caught on a floor board and she tripped, I walked over and helped her back up. "You OK?" She nodded and looked down. "Now you know why they call me 'Derpy'." I frowned. "That's not nice." She shrugged and laughed it off. "I don't mind. It makes others laugh." She ruffled the feathers on her wings. "Tread are you doing anything tonight?" I paused and thought. "No, you have something in mind?" Derpy nodded and looked at the clock. "How about dinner?" It seemed she caught my torrent of thoughts. "Its just a casual dinner. Don't worry, Dinky will be with us." The fillies eyes lit up."Really?!" Derpy nodded and looked at me. I shrugged. "I guess." Twilight yawned then stretched. She moved to sit up and rubbed her eyes with her hoofs. "Tread." Silence. Twilight clambered out of her bed and almost ran down the stairs. "Tread?" She looked around the room and spotted a peice of paper on the kitchen table. She surrounded it with her magic and levitated the note over. As she read she mouthed the words quietly to herself then laid down the note. "Page 23..." She walked into Treads "Room" and levitated the book. She flipped open the page and began to read. A nice life.“So Tread.” I looked up and Derpy was leaning on the table with her head on her hooves. “You served?” I nodded and sipped some water from the cup. Dinky was practicing her magic and lifting up the crayons the waiter gave her. “Yeah, I volunteered.” I looked back at Derpy and gave a little chuckle. “All of the guys I grew up with made it through also.” Derpys face seemed to lighten up at the mention of that. “That’s wonderful!” I smiled and looked over at Dinky whom frowned when the crayon fell from its place in the air. “How are you coping with, our life?” Derpy seemed a little uneasy asking that. I sighed and turned back to her. “I’m having trouble finding a job, seeing as I really don’t know how to do much more than war.” “Oh…” Derpy looked down and nodded. “Gotcha.” Her ears folded back down in sorrow, then they perked back up. “I just remembered. My boss, Mr. Menk, Wants to hire another sorter.” I looked at her like she was a blessing. “I’ll stop by tomorrow.” I walked through the library door after dinner and gently closed it behind me. “Tread.” I turned my head and spotted the lavender mare. “Twilight.” She walked up to me and brushed her neck against mine. “ I’m sorry for my freak out earlier.” I opened my mouth to say something. “I don’t care what you did.” She pressed a hoof on my snout. She pulled it away and looked in my eyes. “That was the war.” I sighed and my ears flopped. “I know.” I began walking to the room I had been sleeping in. “I have a resume’ to write.” I walked up to the post office, my nicely groomed coat and mane, thanks to Rarity. My military saddlebag, with my sergeant insignia patch sewn on the flaps, resting on my backside. Just as I was about to open the door, I heard tumbling and shouting coming from behind the door. My mind flashed to the day before. I jumped aside and the door flew open, and a gray blur flew out behind it. Shaking my head with a smile, I walked inside. “Are you Mr. Tread?” A mare at the desk asked leaning forward. “Yes ma’am.” I nodded and walked forward. “Mr. Menk would be glad to see you.” I nodded and walked around the desk, following the mare. The mare tapped on the door with a hoof. “Mr. Menk, Mr. Tread is here.” The door swung open from the inside and there was an older stallion with a pair of readers on. “Ah you must be Tread.” He stuck his hoof out and I placed mine against his. “Yes I am. You must be Mr. Menk.” The older stallion smiled. “You seem better off than the other stallions that went off.” I shrugged and he motioned to a seat. “Please take a seat.” I slowly walked over to a chair and Mr. Menk’s chair squeaked as he gently eased into it. “So your experience in the military expands to a good amount of everything.” I nodded and Menk sighed, restacking the papers. “As far as I see, you’re the perfect candidate.” My heart fluttered then. “Congratulations, you’re in charge of our new loading team.” “When Derpy told me you were in the war, I thought you would be a good candidate.” Menk explained as we walked to the back. “Our loading team has colt who served in it, but the war changed them.” We stopped and I looked up. There were stallions with short manes carrying packages to a carriage. “They need someone who understands their pain and to give them order in their lives.” I looked to where Menk was, but he had already turned and began walking to his office. I turned and looked back at the colts. Some guidance and somepony who understands them… I nodded and shook my whole body so my coat was no longer “neat”. I walked toward the colts. “Officer on deck!” I yelled and the stallions froze in attention. “C’mon boy!” I dropped my saddle bags and walked over to the packages. “We got a Carriage to load!” I took a bite out of my daisy sandwich and observed the boys.” One Pegasus swallowed and looked up at me. “What’s your name sarg?” the others looked up at me. “My name is Tread. Sargent Tread.” One unicorns mouth dropped open and his food nearly fell out. “The Iron pony cross winner?” One of the earth pony’s muttered in slight disbelief. “The one and only.” I took a bite out of my sandwich again. The Pegasus who asked me nodded his head then looked at me. “I’ll follow you anywhere.” The others nodded. I looked at them all. “I’m also here if you need to talk.” They received the message buried under that sentence perfectly. “Thanks Sarg.” A unicorn said quietly. I stood up and finished my drink. “One last thing,” The boys looked up. “Call me Tread.” “Twilight. I’m back.” A lavender head popped around the corner. “How did it go?” I set my saddlebags on the holder. “I got the job.” I felt the warmth as she brushed against me. “That’s wonderful!” I looked around for Spike. Twilight seemed to read my mind. “Spike is away spending the night at Rarity’s.” I brushed my neck on hers. “C’mon I want to look at Lunas moon.” “Wow.” I looked over at the three little foals on the carpet. “Dad. Your memory hasn’t changed” I turned to a unicorn stallion lying next to his children. He had the brown mane of his father, but the posture of his mother. “Uncle spike.” A certain purple dragon uncurled from a ball and yawned. “Yeah Wings?” My son looked at me then at the purple mare in the kitchen talking with his wife. “Did dad and mom really meet like that?” Spike grunted. “Yeah.” “Dinner is ready!” Two voices rang out from the kitchen. What a wonderful family Thank you for reading this story.Yes this is the end of it! The BeginingThe distant rumble of artillery and the muffled explosions accompanied small bits of dirt falling and landing on my helmet as I slipped my hoofs in the boots. Looking over to Charcoal who is writing a letter at a desk, I slipped out into the trenches. The fighting always calmed in Luna’s night. “Having trouble sleeping again Tread?” A voice inquired from behind me. I turned around to see my friend Coil leaning against the dirt trench walls. “Eh. The nights are calmer than-“ My ears immediately flicked toward No-Ponies-Land and Coil turned and his pupils widened. The shelling stopped. Charcoal had just finished his letter and sent it away and stepped out. We all turned to each other, each of us knowing what was coming. A faint whistle could be heard followed by an enormous amount of yells. Coil sprinted to the nearest bell as I ran down the trenches. “Everypony up!” I ran down the trench line rousing them for the onslaught. Charcoal had turned back inside and the men from my group were already at the trench wall. Charcoal had mounted the machine gun and the others with their rifles pointing into the land of death. I walked over to my rifle inside and tapped my boot on the ground and a little bar shot out from the side. Dear Celestia, protect us. “Here they come!” A yell sounded from down the line. The clicks of the rifles being flicked off safety broke the awkward silence followed by some prayers. “I don’t see them…” soon the air was full of agreements. “This is strange.” I muttered before my thoughts were interrupted by the rumble of distant artillery. “Charcoal…” “Yeah…” “Did you call in a-“ “No.” The thought struck us both. “Incoming!” we yelled in unison as the shells started landing. And as quickly as it began, the shelling stopped. We all looked up to see the enemy charging at us. The fighting was brutal. After several minutes of bucking and trench fighting an order was issued. “Fall Back!” the order repeated down the trenches as I grabbed a wounded pegasi and laid him across my back and grabbed another by his saddlebag straps with my teeth and joined the fall back. The few minutes it took to reach the back lines felt like hours from the bullets whistling by, the yelps and screams of the wounded and the adrenaline. Upon reaching the hospital I was greeted “We got them.” The medical Unicorns assured me as they placed the two I picked up on carts and they were wheeled away. I nodded and turned back and began running toward the abandoned trench. I turned my head to see Charcoal and the men of my squad joining me, with stretchers. I smiled as I turned my head back to the trenches and charged. One of the enemies popped his head over the trench wall, began yelling something and took a potshot. I heard a yelp and I turned my head. Damn. Trooves is down. “Canter! Go get Troves!” “Sir!” Canter peeled off and returned to bring Trooves to the Hospital. Bullets began passing us again as we charged at the trenches and landed inside, bucking, kicking and swinging our knives. Charcoal had mounted a machine gun and began firing at the enemy. as soon as it was safe I gave the order to collect the wounded and turned to see where they were. I followed them and began helping until a grenade land next to some of them. I broke into a gallop. “Grenade!” I yelled as I reached it and pushed every pony to the ground. Then it exploded. *********************************** “We need a Medic!” Charcoal called as reinforcements poured from the back lines. He had attended to the already wounded and was frantically attempting to stem the flow of blood from Treads wound’s. A young unicorn stallion ran over and began applying field dressings and joining in the call for a medic. Soon several ponies marked by red crosses on their helmets rolled Tread and the other wounded onto stretchers and rushed to the hospital. Authors Note: Any corrections will be graciously accepted! tomorrow is the next chapter. Gotta write that one My life part 2/ A unsure future"OK." I jumped down out of the carriage and landed on the floor with a soft pat. I looked around and was filled with excitement. I am at the castle! I felt a nudge as Celestia nudged me toward the castle door. "I have somepony you should meet." I hugged close to the princess. She makes me feel safe. We began walking; well I had to walk really fast to keep up. We walked through a set of doors and THE WONDERBOLTS! ****** "Thats so cool!" Sweetie Belle was bouncing up and down on the ground. I smiled and patted her head with a hoof. "what happened next?" she asked crawling up into my seat next to me. I thought deeply for a moment then I looked at Twilight who had been taking notes. "Well, I guess I passed out from excitement, because I remember waking up in a bed." ****** "Tread?" I hear several voices. Then I felt a nudge. "Come on Tread." I opened my eyes to see a nurse, the Princess, Spitfire, Soarin, and the other wonderbolts! "Oh thank goodness you woke up kid." Spitfire walked over. "We were worried." I wiggled out from under the blankets and sat on top of the bed. I looked at the wonderbolts and scooted closer to Spitfire. "Why are you here?" I asked. I was kind of scared. I don’t like being from my parents that much. "Well. Princess Celestia wanted us to see if you can walk on clouds all the time." Spitfire said obviously trying to phrase 'scientists want to study you' differently. Skip several minutes and I was on a cloud tackling Soarin. "Whoa!" Soarin was rolling and laughing with me on a fairly large cloud. "You’re a cool little guy." He said looking over at me. He raised a hoof and I bumped mine on his. A sudden Idea surged into my mind "Watch this!" I ran to a cloud corner and broke the corner off. "Wha-" I heard some voices below me. I looked over the edge and saw Spitfire gaping. I watched as she told a guard to get Celestia. I looked at Soarin, he was gaping too. "Soarin did I do something wrong?" He shook his head. "No. Y-your SO AWSOME!" He was jumping on the larger part of the cloud. "Spitfire. You called for me?" I looked down below me. Princess Celestia had walked out of the castle. I looked at my cloud. I wonder if I can move it. I leaned forward and the cloud began moving very slowly. "Yes, Princess. Tread broke off part of the clo-" she looked up to point. I was moving! I can fly! "Oh my." Celestia was suprised. I heard somepony flapping and I turned my head to see Celestia flying next to me. "You are one special pony Tread." ******** I turned and saw Rainbow Dash. She was shocked. "You can control clouds." I looked back to see Twilight. She was levitating her quill. I shrugged and nodded. "you could call in that." I stood up and stretched. “I can walk on clouds, break parts off, and fly around using them. Anything other than that I cannot do." She nodded and scribbled that down. “That was really the most of my childhood." I said placing my saddle bag on my back. “The rest of it was probably like anypony elses." I patted Sweetie Belles head. "Except for me traveling to Cloudsdale. I would have to jump 10 years to when I join the wa-" I stopped. Everypony was looking at me. "Tread, I thought you were seventeen." Twilight was packing up but was looking at me. "Sorry. Thats right. I wasnt counting right." I laughed and was joined by several other ponies. "TWELVE years." The rest smiled. "Lets get you home Sweetie Belle." I said as I walked out of the cafe' after paying. "Thank you for taking Sweetie bell out, Tread. Your order is done also." Rarity ushered Twilight and me into the work room. The two of us exchanged looks as Rarity ran into the back to pick up my order. "Here we go." Rarity was levitating a bag in front of her as she trotted through the doorway. She pushed me to get up. "Why do I have to-" She undid my uniform with her magic and lifted a pair of boots out of the bag. I lifted each hoof and she placed then on them. I was amazed at how Rarity can make something so simple so amazing. After trying on the clothes somewhat against my will. Twilight and I departed from the Carousel Boutique. Celestia's sun was going down. When our fairly silent walk I escorted Twilight to her library. "Tread..." I looked up and saw her face had softened. "Yes?" I smiled and raised my eyebrows. "Do you... want to stay here for the night?" I looked at her. Even in the evening light I saw her blushing. Don't mess this one up Tread. Remember the girl on the train to deployment? I smiled "I wouldn't want to intrude." Her eyes met mine and she walked closer. "I insist." Her eyes meant it. I gave in and followed her into the library, unsure of the future. And NOTHING SEXUAL HAPPENED. Had to make that clear.
Waking up."Watch out!" I sat up suddenly, startling the nurse causing her to jump and drop the ice pack she was changing out to keep my fever under control. “Good morning Mr. Tread." she greeted with a cheery attitude and a small giggle kind of cute... “I am Nurse Warm Heart. I will go tell the doctor you are up.“ She turned and began walking out of the room before turning back around.”Anything you would like me to get for you?" I shook my head and quietly thanked her. I turned on my right side to look out the window only to be halted by a sharp pain on my flank. "Ow!" "I see you found your wounds." commented the doctor, a fairly tall Unicorn with a stethoscope for his cutie mark. "How long was I out?" "You were unconscious for about a week." "A WEEK?!" I began panicking. "I nee-" The doctor raised a hoof to stop me. "The war is over. You’re going home." "..." "*sigh* but the Princess wants to see you first." I thought for a few seconds.” So I am going to Canterlot?" Wow I went from the front lines to the hospital to seeing royalty. The doctor nodded. You are well enough to leave now. Don't worry Nurse Warmheart will be with you. The doctor smiled turned around and left to start the discharge papers. "Looks like we will end up getting to know each other" I said trying to break the silence the doctor left us in. Nurse Warmheart blushed and walked out quickly. Nice going Tread, this will be one awkward trip. Rolling out of the bed, I carefully began walking around the room and stretching my tired muscles. "Let me remove your bandages so I can check how it is healing." I turned around to see the doctor levitating a pair of scissors. I obliged happily as he cut the bandages off and threw them in the trash. I trotted over to a mirror, a giddy smile being worn. As I turned and looked, the smile quickly disappeared. "My... my cutie marks. They are gone." I looked at the doctor only to be met with a saddened expression. “Yes, the shrapnel destroyed both of your cutie marks unfortunately." the doctor confirmed as he began re wrapping the wound with a new bandage. "Will you want your uniform for the trip?" I stretched a little more then nodded. As the doctor left, I noticed a small pile of letters on the bedside table. Upon examination, I realized there were from my family. Tearing them open one at a time and reading them. Soon, I came across the most recent one. It was from mom: Dear Tread, The entire family is worried about you. When Charcoal came off the train without you, we began to panic until he told us about the incident. But that is also when we found out about Princess Celestia wanting to personally award you and your squad the Iron Horse. The Iron Horse! Sorry for such a short letter, but we have to go visit the grandparents. Love, Mom A soft hoof tapped on my shoulder. "Are you ready?" I swung my head around and was almost nose to nose with Nurse Warmheart. Both of us blushed and apologies were exchanged. Seeing that my uniform was on the bed I walked to the laid out uniform and attempted to pt it on. After several attempts I sat down frustrated. I guess Nurse Warmheart found that funny as she giggled then fixed my uniform and nudged me with her head for me to get up. "We got a long trip ahead of us." she said guiding me out the door. Authors Note: expect another chapter later tonight. I am on a creative roll.
The DelayWhile waiting at the train station, Nur- I mean Miss. Warmheart , she insisted I call her Miss. instead of Nurse. Anyways, Miss. Warmheart and I had decided to have lunch together where the usual personal questions were asked, How’s your family, how did you get involved in the war, blah blah blah. That's when the rather bothersome question popped up. "How did you get wounded?" I was in mid chew when the question was asked. Suddenly I felt as if all the eyes in the cafe' were turned towards us. She didn't notice it but ponies were leaning in to hear better. I finished my bite and took a sip of my water. "You didn’t know?" She shook her head. She has a beautiful mane! "Are you sure you want to know?" she nodded, along with several other ponies who decide the question was directed towards them. I sighed and made myself comfortable. "About a week ago, while the enemy artillery was rumbling, I was in my squad’s bunker, Charcoal my childhood friend was writing a letter at the desk. I couldn't sleep so I decided to wander up and down the trenches under Luna's beautiful moon to ponder life." More ponies were in the cafe' now. It had fallen silent. “That’s when I ran into my buddy Coil. We had just begun to talk and Charcoal had joined us when the artillery ceased." Several ponies listening gasped. "We had paused, having suddenly taken concern. Then a whistle followed. Coil ran to an alarm bell, Charcoal woke our squad, and I ran down waking the other squads." I paused and waved a hoof for a waitress. When one came over I asked "can I get this to go?" The mare nodded and ran into the kitchen to grab a to-go box. I looked back into the cafe'. A weather team of Pegasi had stopped by and had taken interest. "Every pony was on their toes. Several ponies muttered their prayers and kissed pictures of their loved ones. Soon an irritated pony commented he couldn't see them. Down the line ponies began to agree until the pound of artillery was heard again. I turned to Charcoal and asked if artillery had been called in. He shook his head. When we both realized it we gave to order to take cover. However the artillery had stopped as soon as it started." Several ponies had pulled their chairs closer to our table. "Before we knew it, we were over run. We fought in the trenches until we had to fall back. I grabbed two wounded and dragged them to the hospital where they were treated then I ran back. My squad had joined me on my charge to the trenches when Trooves was shot." My voice was wavering. I put my head in my hooves then regained my composure. Several mares were crying. The waitress was leaning against our table; the food was boxed up also. “We took the trenches back and began collecting the wounded. I had turned when I heard a thud. I realized it was a grenade and pushed my men down and that is when it exploded." Multiple gasps were heard including the waitress and Miss. Warmheart. I stood up and stretched my legs and paid our bill. "That's the story on how I got a piece of Iron in my flank and ended up here so far." Some pony began to pound his hoofs on the floor and soon many of the ponies were joining him. I raised a hoof and shook it to acknowledge them and to stop them before the building fell down. I put the food box in my saddlebags and nudged Miss. Warmheart. "Let’s go. I am starting to get uncomfortable." Turns out, the train had just arrived. We boarded and as soon as I reached my seat, I fell asleep. The train sudden stop startled me out of my sleep. Miss. Warmheart had fallen asleep next to me. She is so cute. I should ask her to dinner tonight. I slid out from under her and trotted up to the front car to find myself face to face with an armed and angry pony.
well this is interestingThe pony seemed to have backup as well. There were two other earth ponies and a unicorn that had a pistol. "Your wallet and your valuables." I shook my head. "No can do." That got the attention of several hostages and their takers. The leader huffed and pulled a combat knife and pointed it at me. "Mhrny." "I cannot hand you my money and from the looks of it you are about to atta-" He swung the quickly and with some skill, but nopony said that being in the trenches for a year didn't have its perks. I dodged his series of attacks and bucked him in the jaw, breaking it with a satisfying crack. I picked up the knife and threw it behind me and charged the unicorn. ***** "Mmm... Tread?" I sat up. "Tread?!" I began panicking. I could have sworn I fell asleep and Tread was here. Suddenly there was a series of loud pops several carts down followed by screams. “Oh no. No no no no NO!" I ran down the train carts, carrying my first aid bag in my teeth when I stopped at the door to one cart. The glass window on the door to it had a bullet hole and blood splattered on it. Shaking, I carefully opened the door and an earth pony who was wielding a knife in his mouth fell against the floor and moaned. I looked up and Tread was fighting another earth pony that had a knife. "Tread!" The earth pony looked over and Tread administered one quick and heavily powered kick to his head, knocking out the aggressor. I picked up and threw out the knife the wounded pony next to me had and began tending to his wounds. Tread walked down the rows checking if any pony was hurt before passing out. “Ah! He passed ah'out!" I looked up and saw a group of mares trying to wake up Tread. "Some pony tell the conductor to get the train moving NOW!" I began yelling trying to gain control of the situation. Two of the mares who were trying to wake up Tread, one with a blonde coat and hat, and a cyan Pegasus with a rainbow colored tail and mane, looked up, nodded then ran off. As I finally stabilized the pony with the gunshot wound. The train jerked and began to move. I quickly checked the other aggressors and then quickly ran to Tread. "What?" His wound had reopened as that was evident by the blood in the bandages that were next to him, but when I reached him the wound was closed. " I used a healing spell to close the wound. A purple unicorn with -IS THAT A BABY DRAGON?! Anyways, this unicorn walked up to me. "My name is Twilight Sparkle." "I am Nurse Warmheart. Thank you for attending to Tread." She blushed a bit and smiled. Maybe she thinks we are a couple. “I was tasked to attend to him until we reached Canterlot." That raised the group’s curiosity. “Oh! Does he live in Canterlot?" I shook my head. "The Princess is awarding him and his squad the Iron Horse." "WHAT?!" The six mares yelled in unison. The white unicorn was stamping her hooves. "He is a war hero?!" she levitated a brush out of her bag and ran towards the bathroom. "That's Rarity fer ya. I am Applejack." Applejack put her hoof out and I shook it.
The Arrival!Authors Note: I am dropping a plot bomb. you will know it when you see it. "FWAHH!!!!" I sat up suddenly, startling Nur- Miss. Warmheart and... Some guest's. Wow. If this keeps up I am going to have a hell’uva time choosing. (Author:*Cough* COUGH) then I realized.... I am in a..."Horseapples!" I yelled as I pounded a hoof on the bed. The unicorn with Diamonds for a cutie mark spoke first. "Do please watch your language!" I blushed at that. "Sorry about that." she apologized." My name is Rarity." Then the pink mare began jumping up and down" YAY! He is awake!" One by one they introduced themselves. I nodded and greeted them with a warm smile but quickly dropped it. I quickly clambered out of bed and stood at attention. My flank is hurting. A lot. The girls followed my gaze and jumped when they spotted Princess Celestia and her Royal guard in the doorway. "P-P-Princess! Why are you here?!" The girls stammered as the Princess laugh, a rather cute laugh I dare say. "Sergeant Tread. Please, this is a casual appearance." She turned to the girls. " I heard about the incident on the train. So I had to see if the war hero was doing fine!" every pony in the room laughed... well one of the guard chuckled while the others were silent. We all sat down for a few minutes and chatted before the Princess excused herself and went back to the castle. "Hey Tread?" Twilight's voice softened. "Where" she paused hesitating "... are your cutie marks?" the other girls looked at her then at me. "Oh uhm. My cutie marks?" The girls nodded. I pawed at my bed. Shit. "When the grenade went off, some shrapnel had passed through both cutie marks... destroying them." I never got mine... Most of the girls gasped but Applejack was staring at me. Crap she can see through it! Wow she is cute! Thank Celestia, the doctor peeked in and said I was cleared to go to the ceremony. A nurse trotted in and laid a new uniform on my bed, smiled and trotted out. I rolled onto my hoofs and looked at Warmheart with a needy expression. Raising a hoof to her snout she cleared her throat and the girls, blushing, walked out. ***** "And finally I present YOU, Sergeant Tread, for honor and conduct in the heat of battle the Pony Iron Cross." The entire crowd erupted into cheers as Princess Celestia gently draped the medal over my neck. Several long minutes passed and the ceremony was over. That is when the Princess pulled me to the side. "I want you to go and live in Ponyville. My pupil and her friends live there. I want you to relax, Tread." Several hours later Miss. Warmheart and I were walking into a small inn in Ponyville. "Hello!" a voice chimed from behind the counter and an older brown Mare walked out form the backroom." My name is Coco! May I help you?" I trotted up to the counter. “Do you have any room here?" Coco nodded looked at both of us then flipped open a book. "One room?" she asked with a wink. Miss. Warmheart and I blushed deeply and began spilling excuses. Coco raised a hoof. "So two rooms." we sighed in relief and embarrassment and nodded. "It is 25 bits a night. Alright?" I nodded and she handed over our keys. "Sleep tight!" she said as she walked into the back. After escorting Miss. Warmheart to her room, I locked my door behind me, dumped my saddle bags, pulled off my uniform, crawled in under the covers and promptly fell asleep.
The partySomething warm and soft is on top of me. W-wait its getting off I opened my eyes and spotted Miss. Warmheart's tail slipping out the door just as it closed. I got up and stretched before walking over to the window. That's when I saw a blue streak pass my window, causing me to fall on my back. "Damn that hurt." I said clambering up. I looked out the window again then walked out of my room after putting my uniform on again. “Tread dearie! Oh do please stop!" I turn around to see Rarity running after me. I stopped and turned. There is a filly right behind her trying to catch up interesting. "Hello Rarity." I said greeting her with a warm smile.” Who is this little lady?" The filly had a slight blush her face. "That is my sister, Sweetie Belle." "Nice to meet you Sweetie Belle." My stomach growled. "You should join us for breakfast!" Rarity insisted as she began pushing me toward the cafe'. I could not turn down the invitation. As soon as we chose a table, I looked at the menu. "Oh my. There are... a lot of choices. Too many for me." That got me strange looks from Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and the waitress. I put the menu down and sighed. "Surprise me." Everybody ordered and the waitress walked away with our orders. "Mr. Tread?" I turned my attention to Sweetie Belle. "Yes?" Rainbow dash was spying from a single cloud. I could see her head as strange as that seems. "Are you alright?" Rarity became visibly uneasy. I shifted and rested my head on a hoof. "Well Sweetie, war is a horrible event for any pony to experience." I explained trying to find a way to skirt around nightmares. "Then why did you go into the war?" Rarity cut in. " I don't think that he is in a mood to talk about it Sweetie Belle dear." Oh thank Celestia and Luna the food is here. The waitress put the plate in front of me. "For you, pancakes." I looked up and smiled. "Thank you." I received a smile back and she gave the girls their orders as well. As I was chewing a bite, Sweetie Belle asked another question. "Mr. Tread, How did you get your cutie mark?" Oh horseapples... I finished my bite then leaned back. "I don't really remember getting mine." "WHAT?!" This time it was Rarity. Sweetie Belle's mouth was wide open. "How do you NOT remember how you got your cutie mark?!" I shrugged and took another bite. "I geush mhen I wassss wounded I had forgoden." I swallowed "Man these pancakes are good!" Sweetie belle and Rarity laughed at my reaction. "Have you never had pancakes before?" Sweetie Belle asked. I fell silent. I finished my food and paid our bill. "I got to go." I thanked them for inviting me to breakfast and walked out of the cafe' fairly depressed. "Hey Tread?" I sighed and turned around. It was Twilight Sparkle. "Hey." I turned back around and began sauntering my way back to my room. "I need help picking up a cupcake order. Do you want to help me?" she asked softly. "Sure!" I felt a little less depressed. We walked the little distance to Sugarcube Corner. What surprised me... and scared the living daylights out of me, was when the lights turned on and everypony was in there. When I recovered from my panic attack I realized the party was for me. "Well of course it was for you silly. Did you think that I would not let you go without one of my famous welcome parties? No I wouldn't. Anyways welcome to Ponyville! This is Bon Bon, and this is..." I smiled and nodded. I was so... happy. I have never been this happy since well... ever. That was until I saw the girls talking Even Miss. Warmheart was there. I walked over to the punch bowl and poured myself some punch and listened to the conversation. "Ah don't think he evar got his cutie mark Twi'." "He did act strange when Sweetie Belle asked him about it." "He seemed to avoid it when i had asked him in the hospital." Oh no. I drank the punch quickly. Holy- this is some good stuff! I poured myself another cup then walked outside. "Shit. 15 years old with no cutie mark. If they find out, I will go an-" I turned around and was looking at a group of 6 shocked mares.
The Torn Stallion.Authors note: There will be a fairly gory( in my opinion, as I was slightly nauseated while writing this) Dream in this chapter. I will warn where it begins and ends if you wish to skip it. It is in here to help you all understand a tad bit more of what Tread had seen in the trenches. "You lied!" Rarity was furious. Rainbow Dash began snickering "You don't have a cutie mark?! And your fifteen?!" She had been flying but she fell to the ground, full on laughing. I was extremely red. "I-I..." I let my soldiers sense take over. My eyes began scanning the area and possible spots to hide. then Applejack stamped a hoof on the ground and looked at Twilight. "Ah knew he was a lying fool Twi'. Ah knew it." My face was getting very deep red from embarrassment. I turned and bolted off. "He's running!" "Well catch him!" "Rainbow!" "What?! This guy is really fast!" Shit. Forgive me Princess Celestia. Tears were running down my face and my embarrassment was keeping my hoofs pounding at the road. I ran straight into the Everfree Forest. "He ran in!" Rainbow Dash stopped at the edge of the forest. Applejack shook her head "He's ah fool." That is when Twilight spoke up. "Well we can't leave him in there!" Rainbow Dash turned toward her and began arguing. "Twilight. He is a freak of nature! He is fifteen and he doesn't have a cutie mark!" I sauntered away. I kept walking deeper and deeper into the forest. When i reached the ravine cliff I sighed and laid down under a nearby tree. " I can't go back now." "And why is that Tread?" I turned to find Celestia right next to me. "C-Celestia?!" She smiled and laughed.” Yes. That is my name. Now why is it do you think you can't go back to Ponyville?" I sighed. "I-I.... I don't have a cutie mark. When the girls heard me talking to myself outside of the party, Rarity and Applejack called me a liar. Rainbow Dash began laughing." Man, I was beyond depressed. "There is more." Celestia had put a wing around me. "When I ran into the forest, Applejack called me a fool and Rainbow dash called me a freak of nature. Twilight... she tried to convince them to help her find me." Celestia nodded. "Sleep now Tread. You will need your strength." I raised an eyebrow then nodded then closed my eyes and drifted to sleep. ***** "Tread?" Celestia raised her head and called out back. ”Twilight I have Tread with me." Twilight ran through some brush and came into the clearing to see Celestia holding a sleeping teary eyed Tread under one of her wings. "Princess, why are you here?" Twilight was confused as to why Tread was sleeping at Celestia's side and why Celestia was in the Everfree forest. Celestia smiled, "I have been following Tread to make sure he was adjusting to normal life. Sit down my student, and I will explain Tread's strange case." Twilight nodded and sat down. The Princess looked at Treads sleeping body and sighed. “Tread is an extraordinary pony. He excels at almost any task." She paused and shifted. "When you were chasing him, was he not faster than Rainbow Dash?" Celestia looked at Twilight for an answer. She nodded her head. "Yes. He-he was faster than Rainbow Dash." Celestia smiled in the fight on the train; did he not take down the aggressors by himself? One even had a gun." The Princess let that sink in. "He can walk on clouds without spells, yet he is an earth pony.” She paused before continuing “He has on occasion, used magic. Although that has only happened twice. Both occurred during the war." Twilight was speechless. The Princess smiled "I guess you could say he is the literal jack-of-all-trades." Twilight looked an him with regret. “We should bring him back to his room." she whispered quietly as she walked over and nuzzled him. The Princess levitated him onto her back and folded her wings around him to protect him. "Good Idea. You go first." With that, they started back to Ponyville ***** NOTE: This is Tread's Nightmare involving the war. THERE WILL BE AN SMALL AMOUNT OF GORE!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED ******* BEGINNING OF DREAM!******* "Incoming!" Charcoal ran down the trench yelling as artillery fire rained down upon us. I grabbed the closest recruit and pushed their mortified heads down. An artillery shell landed right in front of me, the blast wave and screams of my men piercing my ears. I ran to the nearest wounded stallion and began administering what aid I could. "Medic!" I began yelling as I placed both forelegs on the wound to control the bleeding. "I need a Medic!" I threw the already filled field dressing away and tore open a new one. The stallion was shaking. "Come on mate stay with us." A medic unicorn had rushed beside me and levitated a pair of rabbit toothed grips. "On three remove the dressing and I will clamp the artery." I nodded. "One, two, THREE!" I removed the dressing and put pressure above the wound to slow the bleeding. Blood squirted past up and the Medic clamped the artery. I applied two dressings to keep the clamp still. We patted him and moved to the next one. "Oh Luna!" Cries of the wounded and dying were filling the air. The medic and I had worked through the closest of the wounded and came across the worst of them so far. The stallion’s entrails had spilled in the trench. We rushed to him and we both knew he was beyond saving. I diverted the stallion’s eyes and the medic, managing some how to keep his breakfast, washed the entrails off and placed them back in their cavity. As he tied a large field dressing on the abdomen, I gave him a shot of morphine to ease his pain. "M-m-m-m-Mama... M-MAMA!" He was screaming in fear. I tipped his head up and gave him a drink from a canteen. I sat back as the medic took over. I was exhausted. Charcoal rushed over to me and checked me out. He removed my helmet then pulled my canteen out and poured it over my head, making sure to wash out my mane. I stared, emptily into the trench floor as the red and black liquid as it ran off my body and pooled on the trench bottom. *****END OF DREAM! ******** *Gasp* I was panting and sweating. "Damn. It was just a dream Tread." I murmured to myself as I clambered out of the bed and walked to the bathroom. “Damn I look like a mess.” I mumbled to my self after a quick glance in the mirror. I turned on the shower and stepped in the cold water. I sat down and began crying as I washed the sweat off of my body. After turning the water to warm and washing myself, I turned off the water. I sat there for a couple minutes pondering my life before I heard a knock. "Tread? It’s Twilight. We need to talk."
Apology accepted."Yeah we are REALLY sorry Tread." Rainbow Dash pawed at the ground with a slight blush. Applejack's head had been slung low the entire time. "Ah'm really sorry about what ah said." she looked me in the eyes at that point. "Can ya ever forgive me?" I smiled and walked over to them, and embraced them. "All is forgiven." Twilight had informed me of Celestia's explanation of my lack of a cutie mark. The girls were fairly surprised. The girls apologized a few more times and excused themselves. They had to get back to work. I turned to Twilight sparkle. "Do you want to go to breakfast?" She blushed slightly and nodded "I would love to, but first we should go visit Rarity. When I informed her of Celestia's explanation, she felt horrible." I nodded and we went on our way. "So, you have even used magic?" Twilight was extremely confused over the fact that an earth pony had used magic several times. I smiled and nodded "Yes. Celestia and Luna both have their theories as to why." I looked at Twilight and tried to change the subject. "So where does Rarity work?" Twilight looked up and smiled. "She owns a place called the Carousel Boutique." I looked around and pointed with my hoof. "You mean that place?" She raised her head and the wind blew at the right time. Her mane began to flow with the wind. Hot damn. Now that’s a mare. "Yes that it is!" she laughed and we made our way to see Rarity. "No Sweetie Belle! Don't touch anything!" Rarity was scolding Sweetie Belle for a reason lost to the moment. I decided to play with Rarity and I put on my best Canterlot voice. “I am looking for Miss. Rarity." Rarity shooed Sweetie Belle out of the room. "Welcome to Car-" Rarity spun around and frowned. I began to laugh. “That is hardly funny dear." She looked at Twilight who just shrugged. Sweetie Belle trotted in, her hooves making a small pit-pat noise. "Rarity, can I go and play with Apple bloom and Scootaloo?" She looked around the room until she spotted me. "Tread!" I looked up and was tackled by a fairly excited filly. I stood up and regained my posture. "I actually have two questions for you Rarity." Rarity looked as if she was slightly afraid. "I would love to order some WORK clothes." Rarity and Twilight both looked slightly surprised. "W-Work clothes?" she began to light up as ideas began flowing to her head. I nodded and raised a hoof. "Simple work clothes, and a pair of casuals." she walked up to me levitating a measuring tape and began measuring my dimensions. "And that second question dear?" She had put on some glasses that resembled reading glasses. I tapped a hoof on my head as I was thinking. "I really don't remember it. Sorry." I kicked at the ground. "Don’t worry about it dear." Rarity was pulling out fabrics. "If anypony should be sorry it should be me. I am very ashamed of how I acted last night." I walked over and nuzzled her in a friendly way of course. She looked at me and was blushing slightly. Twilight was too. "Its OK." I paid after insisting she didn't have to make it up for me. As me and twilight were walking out, I stopped. "Rarity, do you mind if I treat Sweetie Belle to breakfast? I would like to tell her of my story." I winked at Rarity who looked like I was an angel. Sweetie Belle was bouncing around as we walked toward the cafe'. After we ordered, I reached inside my saddle bags and pulled out a picture of me as a little colt inside the Cloudsdale weather factory taking a tour. Sweetie Belle and Twilight looked at it then back at me. "YOU WENT TO CLOUDSDALE?!" Sweetie Belle's jaw looked like it was about to fall off. I could tell we were going to have another audience. Twilight picked up the picture and levitated it towards her. "I see Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. They are both fillies..." I smiled and nodded. "They both have no idea I was the colt they fell for when they were fillies. We will get to that eventually." I sighed and leaned back. I pondered for a few seconds. "My real story begins when I was about five years old."
My life Part 1Note: This chapter has gone through a LOT of check reads. I have read all the previous and decided from the overwhelming amount of errors in grammar, I will be revamping the chapters. I encourage everypony to find errors and report them! Anyway, enough chit-chat LETS READ THIS STORY! " I was born 17 years ago in a small town much like Ponyvillle outside of Canterlot." I smiled as memories flooded back. " I was like every other little foal, I loved to play." I nodded and chuckled a little. The waitress must be taking her break now, she was sitting next to us and had taken her apron off. This will be written in first person of Treads story, so heads up. This: **** signifies the changing from the story to present time and vice versa. ******* "Hey Tread!" I turned around to see Charcoal, Trooves, and Coil running up to me. "Yeah?" I raised an eyebrow. I as getting excited because they were excited. "The weather team pulled in a new group of clouds for the storm. I dare you to jump through them." Charcoal had a mischievous grin on his face as he pointed with his hooves to a short building which had some clouds next to it. I looked at it and smiled. "OK!" I ran down the street and between grown ups legs as I took off towards the building. Fairly quickly I spotted a stack of boxes and I began my climb to the roof. ****** Twilight raised a hoof. "Your telling me you accepted a dare to jump onto a cloud as a young colt." I nodded "Everypony else probably has." ******** As I reached the top I could hear Charcoal Coil and Trooves cheering me on. With this new found courage I charged forward and leapt. Oh no! I am going to fall! I closed my eyes and I began screaming. I stopped when I realized I wasn't falling. "TREAD! Your walking on a cloud!!!" I opened my eyes. My hooves.... I-I feel like I am walking on pillows! "Guys this is so cool!" I was yelling and my voice squeaked. "What the hell?!" I turned around and saw the weather team captain right behind me. "H-How did you get up here?!" he rubbed both his eyes with his hooves. I walked around. "I jumped on it!" I was so energetic. "Is that Tread on the cloud?" "Yeah! It is!" Everypony sure is excited down there. ******* "I guess that is when Princess Celestia. was told about me." I shrugged and pushed my plate away. I had finished it. Twilight, Sweetie belle and almost everypony was staring at me in disbelief. I poked twilight and joked a little. "Do you want a kiss or something?" She blushed and mumbled something. I shrugged it off and sipped on my water. ******* Things have quieted down since I walked on that cloud. I was happy to be back at school. "Tread?" I looked up to see Ms.Carn. She seemed... frightened. "Somepony special wants to see you." I scooted out of my seat and trotted out the door and ran into a Pegasus who had on gold armor. "Are you Tread?" He has a deep voice. I was shaking. "Y-Yes." He looked behind him and several guards rushed up and moved around me. "We are taking you to Canterlot to see Princess Celestia as her order specifies." I-I am going to Canterlot! I was feeling so energetic. "WOO-HOO!!" I ran between their legs and ran towards the wagon. "T-Tread Wait!" the guards ran after me. "Tread." I felt a poke and I shifted on the seat. "Tread. Its Princess Celestia." My eyes flew open. Sure enough The Princess was sticking her head through the doorway. I blushed She is so pretty. She giggled and nudged me again. "I want to talk with you." Sorry for such a short chapter. It was what I could muster.
New job."Mmmm..." Something warm is on top of me. I yawned and opened my eyes. Some purple hair fell in my face so I huffed and it flew out of my face. I paused. I fell asleep with Twilight. Slowly I slipped out from under her, slowly placing my hoofs on the floor. I pulled the blanket up with my teeth and nuzzled her. I turned around and saw books littering the floor. Shaking my head and smiling, I tiptoed down stairs and walked into the kitchen. "Whoa dude. Somepony is up early." It was Spike. "Oh morning, Spike." I trotted over to the refrigerator and opened it. "Breakfast?" I pulled out some bread and other condiments. "What are you going to make?" He walked over and looked at the counter. I placed the items on the counter and turned. "A trenchermens favorite." "Tread?" I looked up from making breakfast to see Twilight in the door way. Holy- She even looks cute with bed mane. "Morning sleepy." I greeted her and turned back to the food. "No. The bread goes with the jam." I redirected Spike who seemed slightly confused. "I'll do it. You take the soup to the table." I laughed and nudged him toward the pot with soup in it. "Tread this is amazing!." Twilight was awake and spike was on his third serving. "Thanks. Its something I picked up from the trenches." I was wiping off the counter top. "Well." I nodded in satisfaction and looked around. "Pension only goes so far. I am going to go to Sweet Apple Acres to see if they can use another worker." I began walking out of the kitchen. "Tread." I stopped and turned. Twilight finished her soup and walked up next to me. "I need to go talk to Applejack too." The trip to the Apple family farm was fairly uneventful. When we arrived I saw Applejack walk out of the barn. "Hi'ya Twilight, Tread." She said approaching us."What can Ah do fer ya?" I cleared my throat. "I need something to do. Need any help around the farm?" I felt fairly calm to tell the truth. Applejack thought for a second and called out behind her. "Big Mac!" "So ya want Ah job?" I feel a little threatened by this stallion. "Y-yes... I guess." I was sitting in their farm house. Applebloom was looking at me with huge eyes. "We can see what ya' can do. Follow me." He stood up and we walked into the barn. "Big Mac?" I looked at the roof. It was leaky and filled with holes. "Eeyup?" He turned his head. "You need to get that roof fixed. I think I can do it. It seems you have the right supplies." He was looking at me like I was stupid. "So, your gunna climb up there, and fix that there ruf." I nodded. "Give me a rope and I will show you." He shook his head and picked up a rope with his teeth. I lowered my head and he set it on my neck. "Watch." We walked outside and I backed up to gain space. "I just don't know why I feel like this!" I shook my head. "Applejack. I never felt like this before." I sat down on the grass next to a tree and Applejack joined me. "Well Ah don't know nothin about that. You should ask Rar'." We sat in silence for a few minutes. "Sorry to bring you into this AJ." I was feeling slightly scared. "I am going to ask Rarity." I stood up. "If he asks where I am, Tell him I am talking with Rarity." She stood up. "Ah'll try mah best." "Looks like new." I was standing next to Big Mac. "Eeeyup." I had finished reroofing the barn when AJ joined us. "Wow. how much do we owe the carpenters?" She hadn't seen me climb down. Big Mac shook his head. "Nothin'." "Nothin'?" Applejack was looking at us suspiciously. I stepped forward. "I roofed it." That got a strange look from Applejack. "Pardon?" that southern drawl is cute. "I re-roofed the barn." Mac joined in. "Eeyup." I laughed at the look I recieved from Applejack. After acquiring Twilights location, the Apple siblings insisted they pay me. When I told them my price their jaws dropped. "24 bits! Thats not enough!" I raised a hoof to stop their protest. "You insisted I get paid. Its six bits an hour, and I worked for four hours." After convincing them on the price, I thanked them and made my way to the Library. "Hey Spike." I walked through the doorway and closed the door behind me. "Hey man." He was reshelving books. "You know where Twilight is?" I nodded and set my bit bag on the table remembering that I had retrieved my stuff earlier. "She's doing something with Rarity." I looked around the room at the scattered books. "Need help?" "So Twilight, you have feelings for Tread?" Rarity seemed the best pony to go to for this. I nodded. "I don't know why. I have never felt like this." She smiled and looked at me with slightly probing eyes. "He is attractive dear. I thinks its the fact he has been through so much already in his life." She seemed to know so much about what she was talking about. "To be honest Twilight, I feel the same way about him." I was surprised. "I-we-" I shook my head. " We should have a picnic. I want to only have to say this once." Rarity nodded her head in agreement and stood up. "I will get Applejack and Fluttershy. You get Pinky Pie and Rainbow Dash." She ran out the door and I got up and ran to get Pinky Pie and Rainbow Dash." "Dude your are so awesome!" Spike was sitting with me on the couch as we ate lunch. "Your so good at everything!" I laughed and took another bite of my daisy sandwich. "If you say so!" We laughed and finished our lunches. I placed my plate in the sink. "Hey Spike." I sat down at the table. Spike caught on to my sudden change of mood. "Hey man are you ok?" He sat across from me. "Can I tell you something that nopony knows of but my Trench mates?" I was extremely saddened. Spike clambered down from his chair and pushed it next to me."Sure man." Note:Thought that you guys would love a new long chapter. I will have a bonus chapter of Treads war story.
BONUS CHAPTER! Treads war story.This chapter is a Bonus chapter! I was going to skip this and write the next one but I decided you guys deserved a little love. And for the first time, I am revealing the name of the country that Equestria was in war against: Datria ******* "Hey, Tread" I turned my head and Charcoal was marching next to me on the dirt road. I could hear explosions in the distance. "You excited?" A smile betrayed him and broke onto his face, showing how excited he was. "Yeah a little." Coil ran up and joined us followed by Trooves. "Man, am I ready to whoop some Dartrian flank." Some 'Hoorah's echoed down the group of recruits. A stallion in the back added to it. "I also hear their mares are nice! I'll beat those flanks!" Some cheers also ran up and down the line. My ears perked up. Coil and Charcoal looked at me slightly concerned. "You OK?" My ears flicked around then I shook my head."I thought I heard a whistle." A group of dirty stallions with their rifles and helmets ran through us, bumping into some of us. "Lads!" We all turned towards the Unicorn stallion with a Canterlot accent. "Incoming!" He began pushing and shoving us toward the ditches on the side of the road, and that is when the first shell hit. "Fuck!" I heard voices yelling orders and voices screaming. My ears were ringing. I could barely hear. I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned and looked to see Charcoal. "You good?" I blinked and looked around as my hearing returned slowly. "Tread you OK?" I looked back. "Yeah." I ran over to a veteran whom was helping remove debris to clear the road. "What can I do?" "Shit, what a day to start out." We had been moved to the front lines to relieve D company. " Well you signed up for war Coil." Charcoal was unpacking his stuff into his trunk. I nodded "We all did." The bunker shuddered with a rumble and some dirt fell from the ceiling. We all jumped to our feet, ready to run. "We should sleep." I kicked my boots off and layed down on my bunk. "I have a feeling we will need it," "C'mon lads! Wake up!" I felt a nudge. I groaned and opened my eyes against their immense will. "That's it." I rolled out of bed and stretched. "What time is it?" I rubbed a hoof to clear the sleep out of my eyes. It was the Stallion who pushed us into the ditches. "Its time to wake up and eat." He chuckled at that then regained his composure. "I am your squad leader. Call me 'Wings'." He walked over and pushed the door open. "gear up and come out." We looked at each other. "Well lets do what the Sarg' said!" Charcoal put on the hoof socks we were issued and slipped his boots on. We nodded and followed suit. Not long after we were following 'Wings' to the mess line and were waiting for our food. That is when we noticed a rather nice and clean looking stallion trot over to us. "Sargent Wings." 'Wings' stepped forward and tipped his helmet at the officer. "How are ya doin' sir?" The officer smiled and laughed. "I am doing fine, Wings." That's when we heard a cough. We looked at the cook who was impatiently tapping his hoof on the table. "Sorry." We quickly apologized and grabbed out mess kits. We carried our now filled soup cans and coffee cups back to the front lines. Coil pushed it around with a spoon that was surrounded by his green aura. "What the hell is this stuff?" He raised an eyebrow as Charcoal tasted it and grimaced. "Its not the best but its better then anything." I shrugged and began eating it. I picked some hay up with my teeth and dropped it in the soup. "This is disgusting." I tried the coffee and coughed. Holy shit this is strong. "You boys are better than the last group." I swallowed and saw Wings levitating his food. "So you boys are from Candell?" We all nodded and I sipped on the so called 'coffee'. I grimaced and swallowed. "Yes sir. I-" I paused and looked at the guys. "Do you remember hearing of a little earth colt from a small town that walked on a cloud about..." I paused to do the math in my head. "10 years ago?" Wings thought for a minute. "Aye, I do." He nodded and all of our eyes connected. "Sir," I leaned forward looking him in the eye. "I was that colt." Then an officer swung the door open suddenly. "Wing! Get your boys to the wall now!" The officer turned and began out the door the turned back. "We are under attack." Our eyes must have lit up because Wing frowned. "Well you heard the man. Go!" He motioned with a hoof. We scrambled around and gathered our helmets and weapons before we ran out into the war. "Holy shit!" Coil was yelling as he fired and pulled the rifle bolt back with his magic. "They keep coming!" Charcoal had mounted the machine gun with Trooves who was feeding the belt. Wings had been firing his rifle without saying a word. I ran beside Coil and propped my rifle on the ledge and I placed the bar that popped out of my boot into the trigger guard and pulled back. I smiled as the rifle fired. The dirt in front of me kicked up and I ducked. I raised my head again and a bullet ricocheted off my helmet. "Damn." I grumbled. I fired back. "Here they come boys!" Wings was wielding his knife."Get ready!" I pulled the bolt back and pushed it forward when the casing ejected. I fired then put my rifle down and removed my knife. when the first enemy jumped in the trench we looked at each other. Suddenly I was over come with a rage. I yelled the best I could with the knife between my teeth and charged at him. I swung my knife at him and he jumped back and bucked me in my chest. I yelped from the pain but my rage increased. I swung again and our blades connected. Our blades repeatedly connected, causing sparks to fly. Others had jumped into our trench but were met with resistance like mine. I spun and kicked out both of my back hoofs and felt them connect with the stallions skull. I turned back around and slashed. I felt the knife meet the resistance of flesh and my snout twitched as warm blood sprayed from the wound. My eyes met with his surprised expression as he stumbled back, bleeding from his neck and head. I looked around and the enemy was retreating. As I realized the result of my rage, a enemy medic ran to the heavily wounded stallion and dragged him out of the trench in a stretcher. I dropped down and the boards lining the trench bottom voiced as my flank connected with them. "You OK, lad?" Wings ran over and searched my body for any signs of serious wounds. I was a mess, I was cut, bruised, covered in blood and mud from the fight. My knife was laying on the floor boards, bathed in the spilled blood. Charcoal ran over and joined him. "Lets get you cleaned up." I silently complied as I was nudged to a corner of the trench. I sat there as they sprayed water on me. I scrubbed my snout and the stubborn blood broke off in chunks. I couldn't get the face out of my thoughts. "Tread, is something wrong?" Coil trotted up, he too covered in mud. I shook my head, knowing well that I would be forever bothered by this image.
love is a strange thing.This chapter I have been debating about. This chapter has gone under the most amount of rewriting I have ever done. I changed the plot so much in this story *shakes head.* I lost count how many times. **** "What?" "What?" "Holy smokes!" "Beg yer pardon." Everypony's jaws, except Rarity and mine, had dropped. "I thought I was the only one!" Pinky Pie was hopping up and down. "Pinky dear can yo-" Rarity raised a hoof to calm her down. "But I mean wowie zowie! He is something! He is so-" Rarity's eye twitched. "Pinky Pie! Do calm down!" I was slightly startled. Pinky Pie giggled and put a hoof to her mouth. "Hehe. Sorry." "So Twilight." AJ sat up. " Your actually in love with Tread." I nodded blushing. You have no idea. "Not just that feeling of admiration you told me about?" I nodded again and pawed at the ground a bit. "I- I like Tread too." A certain quiet pony admited. "F-Fluttershy! You too?!" Rainbow dash was flabbergasted. "D-dont you like him Dash?" Fluttershy was hiding behind her mane to hide her blush. Dash's pupils constricted and she blushed. "N-No! Why would I like someone like that?" I looked at Applejack who was staring Rainbow dash down. She shrank back and began stuttering. "I-I" she sighed in defeat and sat down with her head hanging. "Yeah. I do." Rainbow dash has been dating trying to find a stallion, but none of the pegasi are intrested. Then Tread shows up. An earth pony who can walk on and control clouds without the use of a magic spell. "Ah'll go ahead and confess too." Applejack sighed and tipped her hat back. "Ah like him, but not as much as yall do." She finished her sandwich. "But that boy sure is something." We all agreed and packed up the picnic. After exchanging goodbye's we went our own ways. I headed to the library. "And I just can't forget that image, Spike." I stopped. T-thats Tread. What image? I backed out of the library quietly and opened the door again. "Hello?" I made sure to make some noise. "I am back." Tread popped his head around the corner. "Oh! Welcome back!" He gave a somewhat forced smile. Spike walked around the corner. "Hey Twilight." I waved a hoof and smiled. "Hey Spike." I turned to Tread. "So how did your job go at Sweet Apple Acres go?" I sat down at the table and put on my best questioning look. "It went well. I fixed the barns roof." He sat down across the table and quietly tapped the table top with his hoof. "Well thats something." I giggled. "I need to write a letter to the princess." I walked past him and suddenly nuzzled him. What did I just do?! Slightly suprised, he nuzzled me back then walked into a library room. I was frozen. D-Does that mean he- I ran to my room and levitated a peice of papaer, the ink and a quill over. Dear Princess Celestia, I have two things to tell you. the first is that today I realized friends are willing when it comes to listening. The second is this. Sargent Tread has been in Ponyville for almost a week. He is doing fine I assure you, but my friends and I all- I paused unsure of how to write it. I was nervous and my heart was beating very fast. I dipped the quill in the ink again and went back to writing. - have discovered that we have feelings for Tread. We talked about it today, but I still am afraid to know what will happen if he fnds out. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle I placed the quill in the ink and read the letter through. It was short, but it should do. after I rolled it up, I sent it away with a burst of magic. I sighed andclimbed onto my bed. Suddenly there was a yell and then a thud. I rushed out of my room and into the library room where Tread had gone into and found him pulling Spike, whom had fallen when the Princess sent her reply and subsequently gotten stuck. I wandered over and levitated the scroll into my room. I watched as Tread finaly pulled Spike out of the floorboards. A smile crept upon my face as they broke into laughter. I trotted back up into my room. "Tread is a good pony." I said quietly to myself. Picking up the scroll, I unrolled it infront of me as I got comfortable on my bed. My student, It is wonderful that you have learned that about friendship. However, about Tread. I cannot help you as it is a part of growing up. I will tell you this though, do what you feel is right. Sincerely, Princess Celestia My heart dropped. Do what you feel is right... Then somepony was walking up the stairs. "Twilight?" It is Tread. I rolled up the scroll and threw it under my bed. "come in." I answered cheerfully. Tread's head appeared as he came closer to the top. He walked up with a snoring Spike on his back. I put a hoof to my mouth to hide my smile as he carfully placed spike in his bed. I love you Tread. ***** I looked at the clock. It was midnight. I couldnt sleep so I silently climbed out of my bed and tip toed to another room to read. As I entered the room, a shape on the couch shifted. Cautiously I walked closer and realized it was Tread. I walked closer and sat on the floor, watching him. What if he wakes up? I shook the thought out of my head. I levitated him up and opened the couch. Using my teeth, gross, I pulled out the folding bed from the couch. I straightened the sheets and placed him down on it. I pulled the sheets over him and before I knew it, I kissed Tread. That night I slept the best I ever had slept in a long time. ***** "Twilight." something bounced my bed. "Twilight!" Slowly I opened my eyes to see Spike tapping his foot impatiently. "Oh." I yawned. I feel amazing. "Good morning." I yawned again, my hoofs making a clop as I slid out of my bed. "Hows Tread?" I rubbed my eyes with my forehoofs to wake up. "Still sleeping." I raised an eyebrow and walked down the stairs and into the room he was sleeping in. Sure enough, he was still there. Sprawled out on the couch-bed. I wandered over with a huge stupid smile on my face. "Cmon Tread." I nuzzled him, My heart beats fast and strong everytime I am near you. "Wings, its to early..." He mumbled as he placed his forehooves over his face and shifted. "W-Wings? What is he talking about?" Spike froze and his eyes widened. " He mumbled something unintelligible and clambered onto the bed. "Come on Tread." Spike was shaking Treads head. After failing that attempt, he pulled back one of Treads ears. "Blow in it." "What?" I looked at him like he was crazy. "Blow in it. It should wake him up. With a skeptical look on my face I leaned forward and blew a puff of air into Treads ear. It fluttered and his eyes slowly opened. "Wh- Oh." He let out a large yawn. "Good morning." I smiled. This is going to be a beautiful day. Note: This is my attempt to show Twilight's thoughts, and how strange Tread seems to the others. You guys.... ugh. I am on a creative streak but school is killing me. I cannot wait till I graduate.
A new friend.Back to Tread! My ears fluttered. Damn it. I slowly opened my eyes and found myself on a couch bed. “Wh- oh.” I yawned. Wow, that was a good sleep. Twilight smiled. “Good morning.” I gave a sleepy smile. “Good morning.” Spike shook his head and walked out of the room to make breakfast. Twilight stepped up onto the bed next to me and laid down with her hoofs folded under her. You’re a tease. With an raised eyebrow, I sighed. “I am going to go for a run.” I stood up and stretched my sleepy muscles. My body trembled from the endorphins being released. Twilight seemed mesmerized as I did so. I trotted out of the room with a slight smile. Such a strange mare. I informed Spike of my run and he nodded. Content so somepony knows where I might be if I were to go missing, I opened the door and was face to face with Rainbow dash. “Oh. Hello!” I greeted her with a smile and stepped aside for her to come in. “I was just going to go for a run.” I received a slightly quizzical look from her before she finally spoke. “Where is Twilight?” She was blushing slightly. What is with all these mares? I pointed to the room I slept in with a hoof. “She should still be in there.” Dash forced a smile and thanked me before heading to see Twilight. I shook my head and noted I need to get my mane cut. “Tread, are you sure?” Rarity was levitating a pair of barber scissors in the air. “Yes. I like having a buzz cut.” She pouted and huffed. “You have such a beautiful mane. ‘Tis a shame.” I felt a brush run through it before I heard the snipping of the scissors. “Pinkie Pie was right” Rarity was admiring my coat from what I could see in the mirror. “You ARE something.” I gave her a confused look. “What?” She snapped back to reality. “Oh nothing Tread.” She smiled and finished the rather short task of cutting my mane. “There, just how you like it.” I looked at it in the mirror. “Thanks.” I turned to her. “Now, how much?” I trotted out of the Carousel Boutique after the heated argument of payment. I smiled and made my way to the Everfree forest. As I made my way through the forest a hooded figure appeared. I halted and took a defensive stance. The figure began to speak. “You must be Tread, the one whom some dread.” The figure slowly walked closer. “Who are you?” I asked my hooves a little shaky. The figure chuckled. “I am Zecora. You and I are strangers no longer.” Zecora tilted her head up and her hood fell off. I was a bit surprised, but recovered quickly. “I am honored.” Zecora trotted closer and smiled. “Do not bother with that.” She turned and began walking away. “You should really get a hat.” She laughed and trotted away. “A hat?” I shook my head and felt something move. “AHHH!” I flicked my head and a snake flew off and hit a tree. It shot me a angry look and slithered off. I sighed and began my way back to Ponyville. A few minutes later, I was still going through the Everfree forest. I was starting to become annoyed. “Come on!” I plowed my way through a bush and was face to face with a pack of wolfs. One was tall. He must be the Alpha. The wolf tilted an inquisitive head. “Who are you?” My eyes widened and I fell back onto my flank as I tried to back pedal out of there. “Y-You can talk?” I was shaking out of pure fear. The wolf nodded and the others laid down. “Yes. Do not fear, for we do not hurt ponies.” I sighed and the shakes slowly began to subside. Now it was just a little tremble from the adrenaline. “Rarity, have you seen Tread? Twilight was standing in the doorway of the Carousel Boutique with Rainbow Dash behind her. Rarity looked up from the dress she was making. “Yes, earlier today. He came to get his mane cut.” She nodded and went back to hemming the dress. “Why?” Rarity levitated the dress to a mannequin and stepped back to get a better look. “Because the sun is setting and he hasn’t come back!” Twilight stomped a hoof in frustration and her voice cracked, causing Rarity to become worried. “Oh. H-Hello, Twilight. Rainbow Dash. Rarity.” The girls turned and saw Fluttershy standing there. “Hi Fluttershy. What’s going on?” Twilight put on a smile as not to scare Fluttershy. “You have an interesting past young Tread.” The wolf looked at me. “You have experienced very much, but you are so young.” His eyes and voice gave off the feeling of sadness. I scooted closer and gave a friendly nudge. “What about you?” I asked as one of the young pups worked up the courage to investigate me. The wolf huffed. “I have lived for a thousand years.” I looked at the sky. “Sorry. I need to let my friends know not to worry.” The wolf nodded. “You’re a good pony Tread.” I smiled and removed a pad of paper from my bag I had with me and scribbled down a quick letter. I rolled it up and whistled a short tune. A small bird flew down and I attached the letter to its leg. “Take this to Fluttershy please.” The bird chirped and flew off. I turned back. “So where were we?” Twilight was shaking in anger and fear for Tread. “Y- Yes. He went into the Everfree forest.” Fluttershy was sitting on the floor, Rainbow Dash was flying circles, Rarity was working on her dress, and Twilight was pacing the floor. Fluttershy’s ears flickered around. “Oh.” She got up and carefully opened a window and a small bird flew in. It chirped and whistled. “Really? It’s for me?” Fluttershy carefully removed the note from the bird’s leg with her teeth and placed it on the window sill. “Thank you Mister Birdy.” The bird chirped and flew out. Fluttershy opened the note and read it. Girls, Do not worry. I am staying at a friend’s place for tonight. I am fine. Tread “Oh thank goodness.” She let out a sigh before Twilight walked over and read it. "Oh thank Celestia. Tread is fine everypony.” Rarity and Rainbow Dash sighed in relief.
A not-so-old friendI yawned and slowly opened my eyes. I realized I was under a blanket of small pups, sleeping on top of me. I gently moved them off on me then grouped them together. I walked out of the cave they slept in and into the morning light. I sat on a log and took in the beauty of nature. Unguided and free. A smile crept upon my face and I laughed. “What is it you find amusing?” I turned my neck and saw Rafe (The wolf) standing at the cave entrance. With the smile I shrugged. “Nature always excites me for no reason.” Rafe smiled and turned into the cave. “One moment.” I nodded and turned my attention back to the sunrise. “Tread.” I turned and Rafe was standing with a female wolf. “Do not be alarmed, but you mane is a mess.” Rafe stated as his mate walked up and began to lick and clean my coat. My eyes widened as my inner instinct to run began to scream. I must have looked ridiculous because Rafe’ began to roar with laughter. “Now THAT is amusing.” He walked over as my “cleaning” was finished and sat down next to me. “Our time together was interesting, Tread.” He looked into the morning sun. “But you should get home so your friends do not worry.” He turned his head and our eyes met, his those have seen and learned many things, mine that have seen many horrific things. I nodded and stood up. “Thank you Rafe for giving me knowledge and a place to stay last night.” I flung my saddlebags onto my back and tightened the straps. “Follow my mate. She will show you out of the forest.” Rafe advised and began turning back into the cave. “You may visit anytime, Tread.” He smiled and walked back into the cave. A warm body brushed against mine and I look down. The wolf, one of Rafe’s mates, whined and began into the forest. “Thank you for showing me into the forest.” I bowed and the wolf nodded before running back into the Everfree. I looked at the sun and sighed Well that took about 20 minutes. I shook my head and began to make my way back to Ponyville. As I began passing other ponies, I greeted several and continued my way to the library. I passed Applejack at the apple cart and after a little small talk I bought an apple which I happily munched on as I finished the rest of the way to the library. I noted that Twilight was passed out on the couch as I made my way into the bathroom to take a shower. Quietly closing the door, I removed my saddlebag and turned on the shower and waited for it to warm up. I stepped in and sighed as the warm water eased and relaxed my muscles. Then I began the meticulous task of cleaning wolf saliva and dirt from my coat. I turned the water off and shook my body to get any excess water off. I stepped out onto the mat and looked up. “T-Tread!” I was tackled by an ecstatic lavender mare whom had just woken up. “T-Twilight.” My face was beginning to warm up. “OH my gosh. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and I were so worried when you didn’t return.” “Twilight!” “But then we got your letter from the bird an-“ “ TWILIGHT!” She stopped and realized where she was sitting. She stood up immediately and her face turned a shade of red I didn’t know existed. “S-Sorry.” I smiled flipped myself over and stood up. “No harm done.” I dried myself off, picked up my saddlebags with my teeth and walked into the main room. That’s when I heard a knock. I opened the door. Oh boy… “Hello Tread.” So here we are… almost five minutes after I opened the door. “Have you been getting in any fights recently?” Miss Warmheart asked as she sipped on her tea. Why is she back? I shook my head and put on a fake smile. “I am not stupid.” I shot her a piercing gaze. “You’re here because of me.” She sighed and nodded. “Yes and no. I was offered to work at the hospital here. Until I get a place of my own, I will be staying with my aunt, Nurse Redheart.” “Oh! Nurse Warmheart!” Twilight walked into the room. She REALLY washed. Our eyes met and I smiled. Miss Warmheart laughed at Twilights surprise. “Hello Twilight Sparkle.” She smiled and Twilight laughed and nodded. “I just wasn’t expecting anypony.” She said as she raised a hoof to emphasize that point. I rose out of my chair and smiled. “If you excuse me ladies, I would like to go visit a friend.” The two girls nodded, Twilight with a slight frown on her face. I turned and walked out of the library and began my way to Rafe, seeing as I felt I needed some advice. “So, Tread.” Rafe was sitting across from me outside the cave almost 20 minutes later. “You like several females…that is the message you are trying to explain. Am I right?” I sighed and nodded “Yes. I don’t know how to deal with the feelings and emotions that come with it.” I hung my head somewhat in depression and defeat. Then a pup seemed to sense my emotions and snuggled up to me. It looked up to and met my eyes. I nearly fell prey to his begging eyes but I managed to pull out of the piercing gaze just as the pup tackled me. “So.” Twilight opened a cabinet and levitated out a cup and bowl. “You’re going to be working at the Ponyville hospital?” she asked as she poured some of the tea and soup Tread had made not long ago. Nurse Warmheart nodded and sipped on her tea. “Yes I am staying with my aunt Nurse Redheart, until I get a place of my own.” Twilights eyebrows rose with interest. “Oh really? I guess I will see you around then.” She smiled as she sat down and blew on the spoonful of soup she levitated up. Nurse Warmheart smiled and giggled a bit. “I guess so.” Then a mischievous smile played across her snout. She leaned forward and placed her two forehooves together. “So what’s been going on with Tread?” Twilight smiled. Let the Gossip begin. AN: Thanks to Coal Buck who is letting me use Rafe from his story! been meaning to put that on here
A visit to school.“So did you guys…” Nurse Warmhearts white coat did nothing to hide her blush. Twilight was blushing too, but her blush turned a deeper shade of red upon hearing the inference. She brought her forehooves in front of her face. “N-No! We wouldn’t!” she moved her hooves away from her face a bit. “W-We aren’t even dating.” Nurse WarmHeart’s eyes widened. “Ooh.” Other pups had joined in the play and now we were lying on the ground panting. Rafe was roaring with laughter as we played. “You are good with children Tread.” He was still chuckling every once in a while after the pups tired out. All of the females began to clean the now dirty young ones, with the exception of one who seemed to have just entered adulthood and who seemed to have a interest in me. Almost as tall as me… I waved a hoof to Rafe as I departed and followed the young female out of the forest. When we reached the edge of the forest but far enough inside so nopony could see us, the young female stopped and turned towards me. “Tread.” Holy sh- my eyes switched to “What-in-Celestia” mode. The wolf took my face in both forepaws. “Stop it.” I quickly obliged and looked her in her eyes. “Y-yeah?” she smiled and pressed her muzzle to my snout. Wh-what? Whats- I recovered and pulled out of the ‘SURPRISE!’ kiss. “What was that for?” I could still feel the spot where our noses met. Still tingling… Her eyes had softened a little. “I always wondered what kissing a pony would be like.” She turned her back and began making her way back towards the den before stopping. She turned her head and looked at me. “I find you interesting, Tread.” She continued her way, her tail swishing happily from joy and love. A few minutes after she disappeared from view, my mind cleared. “WHAT THE BUCK JUST HAPPENED?!” “Oooooh.” Nurse Warmheart eyes widened in interest. “So you came close?” Twilights face had turned very red after her recounts of what has happened recently. “I guess that could be said. Even though it was an accident.” She was tracing imaginary shapes on the table with a hoof. Then in a whisper, “Very close.” Setting the event that had unfolded not even 5 minutes ago on the backburner, I stood up, I have more important things to worry about. I walked through the remaining foliage and found myself just down the road of where I needed to be heading, the school. I began my way down the road with a good pace. Slowly, I approached the school house and noticed that the fillies and colts had been let out for lunch and recess. I smiled, my memories of my time as a young colt flooded my mind. I was pulled back to reality by several gasps. “Wha-“ I looked around and realized the entire class was staring at me. “Who are you?” a small colt asked. I opened my mouth to reply but a certain small filly beat me to it. “He is the awesomest pony in the entire world!” Sweetie Belles voice cracked from excitement. I laughed and she blushed. “Thank you Sweetie Belle. My name is Tread” I felt a small poke on my flank and I looked to find a small filly with a big red bow on her mane. “Mister Tread?” I turned and sat down to try to be more at her level. “Yes?” She suddenly had a large smile on her face. “Why are ya here?” I sat straight up and smiled. “Sweetie Belle invited me.” The filly’s and colts ‘oohed and aawed’. A mare walked up to me and smiled. “You must be Tread.” She looked me over as if examining if I was stable. “Please come inside.” “I really must be going.” Nurse WarmHeart said sliding off the chair she was occupying. Twilight stood up too and nodded. “It was nice seeing you again, Miss WarmHeart.” The two mares gave their farewells and Nurse WarmHeart departed for the hospital. Twilight sighed and walked into the library room where Tread had been sleeping and pulled a book from the shelves. As she was walking out, Twilight passed a book laying on the table. Spike must have been reading. Putting down the one she was currently levitating, she lifted the book and examined the cover. “Huh, no title. I should see if the title is inside.” She opened the cover and froze when her eyes caught the first couple words. May 14th I guess I am- She closed the book and shook her head. “No, I can’t.” Her curiosity was killing her. “The first entry and no more.” May 14th I guess I am going to start writing in this to let things out and for boredom. A couple days ago I think I killed my first enemy. Slashed him right across the throat. The poor bastard was pulled out of the trench by one of their medics on their retreat. Since then I have killed many. On the charge Yesterday, we gassed the enemy lines. When we reached the trenches, we fought hoof to hoof. I kicked off several of their gas masks. I watched them writher in pain and the feel of suffocation. I cannot write more as I have guard duty tonight. Twilight was at a loss. “T-That’s not Tread. He must have had grabbed the wrong journel.” She nodded her heart heavy. “It can’t be true.” “And that’s how we subdued and calmed the Ursa Minor during basic training.” The colts and fillies clapped their hoofs together and were yelling. Cheerilee stood up and waved her hoof for the class to quiet down. “Any questions for Mr. Tread?” A sea of hoofs shot up in the air. I laughed. I raised a hoof and pointed to a young filly who was wearing a tiara. She looks like a snob… “Go ahead.” She put her hoof down. “How much money does a war hero get?” Cheerilee moved to shoot it down almost immediately. “Now asking another pony how much money they make is impoli-“ I put a hoof on her back, “Its alright.” She raised her eyebrows as if to say ‘Are you sure?’ I nodded and turned to the class. “Ms. Cheerilee is right. Asking another pony what they make is impolite, but I will answer this once.” I moved to the center of the classroom. “A Soldier.” I shot a look at the filly, who humfed. “Makes about 5000 bits a month.” “But you’re a war hero!” some colt added from the back. The class began to agree. I raised a hoof, but the children did not stop. I brought the hoof down on the floor and a sharp thud pierced the noise and the children quieted. “I just remembered something and I have to go.” The class protested but I smiled and thanked them for listening. I walked out of the classroom and toward the library.
Uncovered Thoughts.Uncovered Thoughts. AN: Sorry for the sudden slow down. I have been really busy with school. I threw in a character everyone loves. I pressed down on the door handle and walked inside, closing the door behind me. "Hello?" Twilight's voice came from the back. The sounds of her hoofs walking around the corner followed. "Yes, I am back." I turned toward the sound of her voice. Our eyes met and I studied her gaze. They there was some pity in them. "Tread." She walked over as if she were on a minefield. "Yes?" I approached her and she seemed to shrink back. "I-I found your journal." Her voice was drowning in pity and guilt. "I thought it was a book Spike left out. It didn't have a title so I looked inside to see if I could classify the book and I read the first entry." My face morphed with the pain that came along with remembering the first entry. Upon seeing that, she shed a few tears. I moved forward to try to explain and comfort her. She backed away and looked up. She was close to breaking down. "Why don't you tell anypony Tread?" I opened my mouth but she continued. "Tread, why do you keep this to yourself?" Tears were streaming now. Her voice lowered almost to a whisper. "You have seen bad things Tread." I went from walking in happy to being attacked emotionally? I was on the defensive now. "Twilight. War is something horrible. I keep it form the ones I love and care about to protect the ponies I love!" I lifted her head with a hoof. "That includes you." I gave her a hug and then let go. I looked at her face. It was in a surprised state. I smiled and gave a small laugh. "Expecting a kiss?" She snapped out of her trance and shook her head, her messy mane trailing her head. "I thought you would be mad." I shook my head. "I was at first but I forgave you after I realized you were telling the truth." I gingerly moved Twilight onto my back and carefully walked up stairs. She exasperated herself from her emotional fit. I laid her on her bed and moved her around so it was possible to put her blanket over her. I smiled then walked back down the stairs. I walked into the kitchen and picked up a pencil. Twilight, Reading something old doesn't mean that person has regrets. I don't talk about the things I have done because of how painful it is. I want you to read an entry though. Page 23, that is the story of my promotion to Sargent. -Tread I read over the note and nodded. I glanced at the clock. Five O'clock. The post office should be open still. P.S. I'm going to the post office. __________ "You sure Mr. Tread?" The gray wall-eyed mail mare asked after she had swung open the post office and slammed it into my face. I nodded and continued writing with the pencil between my teeth. The bleeding had stopped a little while after she had gotten ice. I finished the letter and folded it up. The gray Pegasus whose name I learned was Ditzy Doo, (She said I can call her Derpy.) walked over with an envelope in her teeth. I cautiously took it, to avoid the inevitable nose bump that would send my nose into a spasm of pain. I fussed with the envelope before Ditz- Derpy helped by keeping the envelope open. I smiled then picked up the letter and slipped it inside. I picked the envelope up with my hoofs and licked the glue on the flap. I picked the pencil up once more and scribbled the addresses on it. "Thanks." I handed it to the mare and she placed it in the 'Out-going mail' after I paid for the proper stampage. "Thanks again." I said once more as I smiled. "I feel like I am forgetting something..." I mumbled, just standing there in the post office. The door opened and closed behind me and I heard the little pittle pattle of a foals hooves. "Hey mom!" Derpy turned and her face lit up when she saw the foal. "How was school, Dinky?" My ears perked up at that name. I looked over and sure enough there was the filly who was in the class I talked to. "It was awesome!" The filly was bouncing up and down. "Sweetie Belle invited the war hero Mr. Tread to talk to us!" Derpy looked over at me and I nodded. "Is this Mr. Tread?" she asked motioning toward me with a wing. Dinky stopped bouncing and followed her mothers gesture. "Yes!" she started to bounce seemingly higher. "Why didn't you tell me?" Derpy said shaking her head with a slight smile that was caused from her daughters reaction. "There is a discount for active military." She said walking to the counter. "But I'm not active military." Derpy stopped and so did Dinky. "Why not?" they both asked at the same time. "You look fine to me." I lifted a saddle bag and showed the patch of missing coat Still hasn't grown back... Derpy nodded and walked back from the mailpack. One of her hooves caught on a floor board and she tripped, I walked over and helped her back up. "You OK?" She nodded and looked down. "Now you know why they call me 'Derpy'." I frowned. "That's not nice." She shrugged and laughed it off. "I don't mind. It makes others laugh." She ruffled the feathers on her wings. "Tread are you doing anything tonight?" I paused and thought. "No, you have something in mind?" Derpy nodded and looked at the clock. "How about dinner?" It seemed she caught my torrent of thoughts. "Its just a casual dinner. Don't worry, Dinky will be with us." The fillies eyes lit up."Really?!" Derpy nodded and looked at me. I shrugged. "I guess." Twilight yawned then stretched. She moved to sit up and rubbed her eyes with her hoofs. "Tread." Silence. Twilight clambered out of her bed and almost ran down the stairs. "Tread?" She looked around the room and spotted a peice of paper on the kitchen table. She surrounded it with her magic and levitated the note over. As she read she mouthed the words quietly to herself then laid down the note. "Page 23..." She walked into Treads "Room" and levitated the book. She flipped open the page and began to read.
A nice life.“So Tread.” I looked up and Derpy was leaning on the table with her head on her hooves. “You served?” I nodded and sipped some water from the cup. Dinky was practicing her magic and lifting up the crayons the waiter gave her. “Yeah, I volunteered.” I looked back at Derpy and gave a little chuckle. “All of the guys I grew up with made it through also.” Derpys face seemed to lighten up at the mention of that. “That’s wonderful!” I smiled and looked over at Dinky whom frowned when the crayon fell from its place in the air. “How are you coping with, our life?” Derpy seemed a little uneasy asking that. I sighed and turned back to her. “I’m having trouble finding a job, seeing as I really don’t know how to do much more than war.” “Oh…” Derpy looked down and nodded. “Gotcha.” Her ears folded back down in sorrow, then they perked back up. “I just remembered. My boss, Mr. Menk, Wants to hire another sorter.” I looked at her like she was a blessing. “I’ll stop by tomorrow.” I walked through the library door after dinner and gently closed it behind me. “Tread.” I turned my head and spotted the lavender mare. “Twilight.” She walked up to me and brushed her neck against mine. “ I’m sorry for my freak out earlier.” I opened my mouth to say something. “I don’t care what you did.” She pressed a hoof on my snout. She pulled it away and looked in my eyes. “That was the war.” I sighed and my ears flopped. “I know.” I began walking to the room I had been sleeping in. “I have a resume’ to write.” I walked up to the post office, my nicely groomed coat and mane, thanks to Rarity. My military saddlebag, with my sergeant insignia patch sewn on the flaps, resting on my backside. Just as I was about to open the door, I heard tumbling and shouting coming from behind the door. My mind flashed to the day before. I jumped aside and the door flew open, and a gray blur flew out behind it. Shaking my head with a smile, I walked inside. “Are you Mr. Tread?” A mare at the desk asked leaning forward. “Yes ma’am.” I nodded and walked forward. “Mr. Menk would be glad to see you.” I nodded and walked around the desk, following the mare. The mare tapped on the door with a hoof. “Mr. Menk, Mr. Tread is here.” The door swung open from the inside and there was an older stallion with a pair of readers on. “Ah you must be Tread.” He stuck his hoof out and I placed mine against his. “Yes I am. You must be Mr. Menk.” The older stallion smiled. “You seem better off than the other stallions that went off.” I shrugged and he motioned to a seat. “Please take a seat.” I slowly walked over to a chair and Mr. Menk’s chair squeaked as he gently eased into it. “So your experience in the military expands to a good amount of everything.” I nodded and Menk sighed, restacking the papers. “As far as I see, you’re the perfect candidate.” My heart fluttered then. “Congratulations, you’re in charge of our new loading team.” “When Derpy told me you were in the war, I thought you would be a good candidate.” Menk explained as we walked to the back. “Our loading team has colt who served in it, but the war changed them.” We stopped and I looked up. There were stallions with short manes carrying packages to a carriage. “They need someone who understands their pain and to give them order in their lives.” I looked to where Menk was, but he had already turned and began walking to his office. I turned and looked back at the colts. Some guidance and somepony who understands them… I nodded and shook my whole body so my coat was no longer “neat”. I walked toward the colts. “Officer on deck!” I yelled and the stallions froze in attention. “C’mon boy!” I dropped my saddle bags and walked over to the packages. “We got a Carriage to load!” I took a bite out of my daisy sandwich and observed the boys.” One Pegasus swallowed and looked up at me. “What’s your name sarg?” the others looked up at me. “My name is Tread. Sargent Tread.” One unicorns mouth dropped open and his food nearly fell out. “The Iron pony cross winner?” One of the earth pony’s muttered in slight disbelief. “The one and only.” I took a bite out of my sandwich again. The Pegasus who asked me nodded his head then looked at me. “I’ll follow you anywhere.” The others nodded. I looked at them all. “I’m also here if you need to talk.” They received the message buried under that sentence perfectly. “Thanks Sarg.” A unicorn said quietly. I stood up and finished my drink. “One last thing,” The boys looked up. “Call me Tread.” “Twilight. I’m back.” A lavender head popped around the corner. “How did it go?” I set my saddlebags on the holder. “I got the job.” I felt the warmth as she brushed against me. “That’s wonderful!” I looked around for Spike. Twilight seemed to read my mind. “Spike is away spending the night at Rarity’s.” I brushed my neck on hers. “C’mon I want to look at Lunas moon.” “Wow.” I looked over at the three little foals on the carpet. “Dad. Your memory hasn’t changed” I turned to a unicorn stallion lying next to his children. He had the brown mane of his father, but the posture of his mother. “Uncle spike.” A certain purple dragon uncurled from a ball and yawned. “Yeah Wings?” My son looked at me then at the purple mare in the kitchen talking with his wife. “Did dad and mom really meet like that?” Spike grunted. “Yeah.” “Dinner is ready!” Two voices rang out from the kitchen. What a wonderful family Thank you for reading this story.Yes this is the end of it!
The BeginingThe distant rumble of artillery and the muffled explosions accompanied small bits of dirt falling and landing on my helmet as I slipped my hoofs in the boots. Looking over to Charcoal who is writing a letter at a desk, I slipped out into the trenches. The fighting always calmed in Luna’s night. “Having trouble sleeping again Tread?” A voice inquired from behind me. I turned around to see my friend Coil leaning against the dirt trench walls. “Eh. The nights are calmer than-“ My ears immediately flicked toward No-Ponies-Land and Coil turned and his pupils widened. The shelling stopped. Charcoal had just finished his letter and sent it away and stepped out. We all turned to each other, each of us knowing what was coming. A faint whistle could be heard followed by an enormous amount of yells. Coil sprinted to the nearest bell as I ran down the trenches. “Everypony up!” I ran down the trench line rousing them for the onslaught. Charcoal had turned back inside and the men from my group were already at the trench wall. Charcoal had mounted the machine gun and the others with their rifles pointing into the land of death. I walked over to my rifle inside and tapped my boot on the ground and a little bar shot out from the side. Dear Celestia, protect us. “Here they come!” A yell sounded from down the line. The clicks of the rifles being flicked off safety broke the awkward silence followed by some prayers. “I don’t see them…” soon the air was full of agreements. “This is strange.” I muttered before my thoughts were interrupted by the rumble of distant artillery. “Charcoal…” “Yeah…” “Did you call in a-“ “No.” The thought struck us both. “Incoming!” we yelled in unison as the shells started landing. And as quickly as it began, the shelling stopped. We all looked up to see the enemy charging at us. The fighting was brutal. After several minutes of bucking and trench fighting an order was issued. “Fall Back!” the order repeated down the trenches as I grabbed a wounded pegasi and laid him across my back and grabbed another by his saddlebag straps with my teeth and joined the fall back. The few minutes it took to reach the back lines felt like hours from the bullets whistling by, the yelps and screams of the wounded and the adrenaline. Upon reaching the hospital I was greeted “We got them.” The medical Unicorns assured me as they placed the two I picked up on carts and they were wheeled away. I nodded and turned back and began running toward the abandoned trench. I turned my head to see Charcoal and the men of my squad joining me, with stretchers. I smiled as I turned my head back to the trenches and charged. One of the enemies popped his head over the trench wall, began yelling something and took a potshot. I heard a yelp and I turned my head. Damn. Trooves is down. “Canter! Go get Troves!” “Sir!” Canter peeled off and returned to bring Trooves to the Hospital. Bullets began passing us again as we charged at the trenches and landed inside, bucking, kicking and swinging our knives. Charcoal had mounted a machine gun and began firing at the enemy. as soon as it was safe I gave the order to collect the wounded and turned to see where they were. I followed them and began helping until a grenade land next to some of them. I broke into a gallop. “Grenade!” I yelled as I reached it and pushed every pony to the ground. Then it exploded. *********************************** “We need a Medic!” Charcoal called as reinforcements poured from the back lines. He had attended to the already wounded and was frantically attempting to stem the flow of blood from Treads wound’s. A young unicorn stallion ran over and began applying field dressings and joining in the call for a medic. Soon several ponies marked by red crosses on their helmets rolled Tread and the other wounded onto stretchers and rushed to the hospital. Authors Note: Any corrections will be graciously accepted! tomorrow is the next chapter. Gotta write that one
My life part 2/ A unsure future"OK." I jumped down out of the carriage and landed on the floor with a soft pat. I looked around and was filled with excitement. I am at the castle! I felt a nudge as Celestia nudged me toward the castle door. "I have somepony you should meet." I hugged close to the princess. She makes me feel safe. We began walking; well I had to walk really fast to keep up. We walked through a set of doors and THE WONDERBOLTS! ****** "Thats so cool!" Sweetie Belle was bouncing up and down on the ground. I smiled and patted her head with a hoof. "what happened next?" she asked crawling up into my seat next to me. I thought deeply for a moment then I looked at Twilight who had been taking notes. "Well, I guess I passed out from excitement, because I remember waking up in a bed." ****** "Tread?" I hear several voices. Then I felt a nudge. "Come on Tread." I opened my eyes to see a nurse, the Princess, Spitfire, Soarin, and the other wonderbolts! "Oh thank goodness you woke up kid." Spitfire walked over. "We were worried." I wiggled out from under the blankets and sat on top of the bed. I looked at the wonderbolts and scooted closer to Spitfire. "Why are you here?" I asked. I was kind of scared. I don’t like being from my parents that much. "Well. Princess Celestia wanted us to see if you can walk on clouds all the time." Spitfire said obviously trying to phrase 'scientists want to study you' differently. Skip several minutes and I was on a cloud tackling Soarin. "Whoa!" Soarin was rolling and laughing with me on a fairly large cloud. "You’re a cool little guy." He said looking over at me. He raised a hoof and I bumped mine on his. A sudden Idea surged into my mind "Watch this!" I ran to a cloud corner and broke the corner off. "Wha-" I heard some voices below me. I looked over the edge and saw Spitfire gaping. I watched as she told a guard to get Celestia. I looked at Soarin, he was gaping too. "Soarin did I do something wrong?" He shook his head. "No. Y-your SO AWSOME!" He was jumping on the larger part of the cloud. "Spitfire. You called for me?" I looked down below me. Princess Celestia had walked out of the castle. I looked at my cloud. I wonder if I can move it. I leaned forward and the cloud began moving very slowly. "Yes, Princess. Tread broke off part of the clo-" she looked up to point. I was moving! I can fly! "Oh my." Celestia was suprised. I heard somepony flapping and I turned my head to see Celestia flying next to me. "You are one special pony Tread." ******** I turned and saw Rainbow Dash. She was shocked. "You can control clouds." I looked back to see Twilight. She was levitating her quill. I shrugged and nodded. "you could call in that." I stood up and stretched. “I can walk on clouds, break parts off, and fly around using them. Anything other than that I cannot do." She nodded and scribbled that down. “That was really the most of my childhood." I said placing my saddle bag on my back. “The rest of it was probably like anypony elses." I patted Sweetie Belles head. "Except for me traveling to Cloudsdale. I would have to jump 10 years to when I join the wa-" I stopped. Everypony was looking at me. "Tread, I thought you were seventeen." Twilight was packing up but was looking at me. "Sorry. Thats right. I wasnt counting right." I laughed and was joined by several other ponies. "TWELVE years." The rest smiled. "Lets get you home Sweetie Belle." I said as I walked out of the cafe' after paying. "Thank you for taking Sweetie bell out, Tread. Your order is done also." Rarity ushered Twilight and me into the work room. The two of us exchanged looks as Rarity ran into the back to pick up my order. "Here we go." Rarity was levitating a bag in front of her as she trotted through the doorway. She pushed me to get up. "Why do I have to-" She undid my uniform with her magic and lifted a pair of boots out of the bag. I lifted each hoof and she placed then on them. I was amazed at how Rarity can make something so simple so amazing. After trying on the clothes somewhat against my will. Twilight and I departed from the Carousel Boutique. Celestia's sun was going down. When our fairly silent walk I escorted Twilight to her library. "Tread..." I looked up and saw her face had softened. "Yes?" I smiled and raised my eyebrows. "Do you... want to stay here for the night?" I looked at her. Even in the evening light I saw her blushing. Don't mess this one up Tread. Remember the girl on the train to deployment? I smiled "I wouldn't want to intrude." Her eyes met mine and she walked closer. "I insist." Her eyes meant it. I gave in and followed her into the library, unsure of the future. And NOTHING SEXUAL HAPPENED. Had to make that clear.
