Shellshock

Name: Echo

Rank: Specialist

Date: 11/6/2013

Time: 1745 Hours (5:45 pm)

Location: Ponyville General Hospital

2 Weeks Later

I was cleared to leave the hospital after two more weeks of observations tests, and physical rehab.

As Ember and I left, I couldn't help but notice that nopony was treating me like they use to. In fact they treated me like a soilder then a freak.

I was decked out in a new set of urban fatigues: pale blue cargos, a matching compression shirt with grey stitching and blue digital camo sleeves under my light tactical vest (just to be safe, my ribs are still healing).

During my last day in the hospital, Fuse and Shadow Fang promoted me to Specialist for my actions at Sugarcube Corner and my marksponyship skills. My parents and Silver would’ve been proud.

Ember and I were heading to the town library for a 'special surprise'. Ember was the one who wanted go while I was hesitant on the matter... until she used the damned puppy look on me.

Normally, it would take us about fifteen minutes or less to get to the library from the hospital, but he wasn’t focusing on getting there, just on spending time with Ember.

As we approached the library, we heard the steady beat of music in the distance as he was walking. Confused, I started to follow the noise while Ember hung back a bit. I noticed that all the lights were on and there was the strong aroma of cake in the air.

Must be another Pinkie party, I thought to myself, this should be interesting, I say as I feel for my knives, the commando dagger and one of my most prized possessions: my combat knife from Rook.

“SURPRISE!!” screamed several ponies, followed by joyful cheering.

Pinkie quickly approached me, dragging me into the house as Ember snickers at me. “Hi E! I’m so glad you could make it to your party!” she cheered. “I threw this party just for you cause you’re a hero and everypony in town wanted to come and celebrate and I was all like --GAK!!  She was suddenly gagged by a hoof full of cake that Twilight shoved in her face.

Twilight rolled her eyes and gave me a friendly hug. “I’m glad your back and feeling better,” she said.  She was happy I was out of the hospital and alive.

I smiled, hugging her back. “It’s good to be back.”

“Now come on Twi!” said Fuse, shouting over the crowd. “Let the boy go, he can’t enjoy the party with y’all holding him like that!”

“Sorry,” Twilight said as she let go of me with a red face. “It’s just that we were so worried about you.”

“It’s okay Twilight.  I'm a soldier, it's part of the work hazards,” I said with a chuckle.

Looking around I noticed the members of my team were here, but not 1st Infantry. That kind of puzzled me since they were based in Ponyville also. I also noticed that Lyra, Vinyl, Roseluck, Bon-Bon, and a ton of other ponies were here.

Pinkie had really gone all out on this party. Ponies were dancing and mingling to the steady beat of party music, and a group of ponies were at the makeshift bar taking, from what I could tell, body shots. Everypony seemed to be having a good time. I walked over to the bar and grabbed a bottle of hard cider, before walking to one of the tables Pinkie had set up. Shadow Fang was there taking shots of Stalliongrad proof vodka. As I can see, he went through about ten shots and still going strong.

Hm, guy sure does love his vodka, I laugh to myself

I hadn’t even opened his drink when an all too familiar voice whispered in my ear.

“Guess whoooooooooooo?” Ember asks as she nuzzles the back of my neck.

“Ember. Enjoying the party?” I asked my marefriend. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were trotting behind her

“You know it!” the blue pegasus said. The three took seats next to me. “So how was the hospital?”

"Don't know. I was out for three weeks, remember?", I say with a smirk as the Ember and Applejack laughs at Rainbow Dash's expence as she facehooves before laughing.

“So tell us partner, what exactly happened?” asked Applejack. “Pinkie tried to explain it, but she’s not the most... reliable.”

Sitting up straight, I take a deep breath before explaining what happened.

“Well, there we were. I was smashed up against the wall, the fucker had just busted my ribs, hoof and wing.” The three ponies gasped as they listened my story. “I tasted blood in my mouth and my vision was fading. But that punk Thunderlane had Pinkie as a shield.” My tone was getting darker and I started using military terms, the ponies were completely engulfed in my tale. “I counted three remaining hostiles and one civ. He was about to have his two butt-buddies kill me and rape her, but I had a plan."

“What?” the cyan colored pony asked, fear in her voice.

“Kill the two closest tangos and use my... lets say, special technique on Thunderlane”

"What was this 'technique'? From what I heard, you put him in an institute." asked Ember.

"I was getting to that," I say, "It's a extremely powerful psychological attack that allows bat ponies, like myself, to distort the target's perception of time, torturing their psyche for what seemed like days in a matter of seconds. Only about two percent of my race can use this ability by natural means. The reason I was in that state for so long was because I trapped him for ten months as opposed to the limit of one week."

The three mares were dead silent, impressed by my natural abilities, but also a bit fearful.

"This ability also causes user's eyesight to worsen the point of blindness. I haven't used my ability that much beforehand, so I think I'm still good," I add.

"Wait, if the limit was one week, how did you trap him for ten months," asks Dash.

"We try to limit ourselves to the equivalent of one week because prolonged use not only accelerates my blindness, but causes a psychological strain," I answer back.

Our conversation was interrupted as Vinyl and Fuse came up to us.

"Yo, Echo!" greets Vinyl, "how's the party for ya?"

"It's great. Thank ya so much. This means a lot to me," I say with a grin.

"Ya know, almost everypony heard that rap of yours back at the club right?" asked Fuse.

"I figured... y'all want me to go up there don't cha?", I ask.

"Yes, yes we do," Ember cuts in, brushing her tail under my chin.

"Fine. I've been working on a new one anyways," I say as Vinyl and I head for the booth.

"You sure your gonna be alright? Your ribs aren't too sensitive are they?", she asks me. I reply back with a laugh.

"They're fine. It only hurts if something slams into them or I twist around."

"Oh, okay, cool," she mumbles as she starts looking for the beat.

Once she finds it, she, like in the club, announced to the entire party who I was and what I was doing, I could see the crowd watching me. This time instead of waiting for me to fuck up, they're curious to see what I got in store for them. My team, Ember and the mane 6 were all were cheering me on.

As the beat started up, I began to sing.

Youtube Video

XxX

Name: Echo

Rank: Specialist

Date: 11/6/2013

Time: 2100 Hours (9:00 pm)

Location: Ponyville, Golden Oaks Public Library

After I finished, the crowd started to die down. Ponies still had to go to work tomorrow. Me included.

Giving my thanks to the mane 6 and Vinyl, my team, Ember and I start to head home.

As we trot home under the starry skies, I check my watch.

2120, It's too late for her to get home by herself. I wonder if she'd wanna stay with me

Looking over, I see her trying to get closer to me and that she was shivering. Instinctively, I wrapped my wing around her (after swapping sides, my right wing was still in a cast) as she snuggled me. A blush started forming on my cheeks as her tail flicks side to side happily, unknowingly brushing the smooth hairs over my thigh.

"Hey, Ember", I call.

She looks at me, "Yes?~" She asks in that sing-song voice... Dear Celestia, I'm gonna get diabetes from that amount of cuteness.

"I notice how cold and late it was getting... and I had an idea... I mean feel free to say 'no', it won't offend me or anything... I was just wondering if-", she places a hoof on my lips, giggling softly.

"You really need to stop that. You don't have to be afraid to ask me questions. Just, go ahead and ask," she tells me as I look into her beautiful golden eyes.

"Al-alright," I clear my throat, " Ember, I noticed how late it was getting, and since my house is closer, would you wanna crash at my place?", I ask cautiously. I didn't want to creep her out.

She looks at me in a stunned expression, "Ar-are you sure? I mean I can walk. Besides I don't wanna be a burden," she says timidly.

I chuckle a bit. "I don't mind. Besides, your apartment is on the other side of town right? And the temperature is at least 20 degrees. In fact, I'd be honored if you spend the night at my house."

"Are you sure? I mean if you don't have room, I don't wanna take your-", I cut her off with a kiss.

"I'm positive."

Ten minutes later, we make to my house.

"Sorry it's not much. The army really doesn't give single soldiers a lot of room," I chuckle nervously.

My house is a two story, old school, Bay-and-Gable house with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small kitchen/ dinning room an a finished basement.

"Babe, it's perfect." Ember look around, brushing her tail under my chin.

I blush. Thousands of thoughts (mostly dirty) run through my head.

I smiled for it was the only thing I knew how to do.

“Now hold on there cowcolt. I’m gonna run this upstairs.” as she motioned to her purse. I watched get up and walk into the bedroom, she must've known I was watching because she started to sway her hips as she trotted upstairs, not even thinking twice about it. All I could think of was smile on my face and how happy I was at that moment.

“E!” Came a cry from the bedroom a few minutes later. “I need some help here!” I had to keep myself from laughing as I got up and starting trotting to the bedroom.

“Alright Ember, what is?” I can faintly see a flickering light under my bedroom door and a sweet scent that reminds me of cinnamon. As I opened the door, I couldn’t formulate the next word. Not with what I saw in front of me.

I opened to see her sprawled out on the bed with her hair down and her front hooves cuffed to the bed, twirling a rose with her magic. She had a lustful look in her eyes.

“I was playing around with these hoof cuff and I accidentally locked myself to the bed post. Could you go and get the key, sir?” she said in an innocent voice. I trotted over to her with the key in hoof and had a smug grin on my face.

“Well what do I get if I let you go?” I said in a sly tone.

“I’ll show you.” she said.

The ambiance of the setting helped as well. A few candles gave the room a sweet smell. For lack of a better description, I was at awe.

Laying the rose down and levitated a book up from beside her. She giggled cutely, “I even studied the Pony Sutra~”

My mind was slowly trying to process what just happened. With the candles, the rose, Ember lying out in front of me looking quite beautiful, my mind froze up. Then something clicked in the back of my mind. That click told me to answer her, how to answer her, and very simply as well.

“Oh hell yes.”

As I crawled on top of her, she then wrapped her back hooves around my sides and flipped me down onto the bed. She then cuffed me to the bed. She straddled herself on my chest and looked down into my eyes and licked her lips.

“I think it’s time I finally give my hero the reward he’s deserves from me.” she said with a sly smile, she pressed her lips against mine. I was working his tongue inside of the he mouth keeping her distracted as I snuck the spare key into the lock. I then grabbed the mare's shoulders and slammed her back onto the bed with our lips still touching. Ember then looked at me in surprise and started to pant heavily as I broke the kiss.

“How was that?” I asked with a nervous grin on my face.

“Oh just shut up and buck me!” she said as she pulled me closer to her and locked me in a passionate kiss.