Shellshock

Name: Echo

Rank: Specialist

Date: 3/4/2014

Time: 1400 Hours (2:00 pm)

Location: Ponyville, Echo's House

5 Months Later

My house was no longer dark and lonely. Since that day, three months ago, Ember has moved in with me. The house has been warm and inviting and we even painted a majority of the house. We end up getting a majority of the paint on each other, laughing and chasing each other with the paintbrushes. That took a few weeks but it was well worth it though. I even helped her move stuff into the apartment. It was mostly clothes and some... let's say 'essential' mare products, but it was something we did together. It may sound like I’m moving too fast at this point, but it just felt right, I never had my heart feel this way before. I hold her every night, praying for these moments to last forever, but it’s only a matter until I get redeployed. The unit's has been stepping up the intensity in training and adding combat maneuvers. Rumors also says that we're to head up to Canterlot for our next AO. Sadly, rumors turn into truth. I have a month left before I ship out, back in the shit.

Now as I was sit here on the couch, Ember laying her head on my shoulder, I was wonder how to tackle this subject.

“Hey Emmy, I have something important to tell you.” I start.

She turns to get a better look at me. Her eyes question what I’m about to say and await more.

“What I’m trying to say is that I probably won’t be here for nine months.”

She looked confused.

“I’m being redeployed.”

She sat up and kissed me with the same feelings felt on that first kiss.

“I know, I’ve always known you would have to go back.” She wrapped her hooves around me, the smell of her fur is intoxicating. “There was no stopping you, it’s what you do.”

“Ok, I just wanted to tell you. Tell you that this solider has one last shooting match before he gets out.” She smiled at me as I rub her stomach. It's a new habit I started.

We sat there in silence for some time. It seemed right. Just let a few things settle in. I really didn’t know what to say.

Ok, I'm gonna be a gone for nine months if everything goes right. I'll be in Canterlot with my unit doing whatever mission is assigned to us. If the shit does NOT hit the fan, I'll be home with her again. I'll retire from the army, be husband-

As I'm thinking of the situation at hoof, I hear Ember's stomach start to growl. As I look at her, I see her start to blush from embarrassment.

"Sounds like somepony's hungry~" I joke in a sing-song voice, "How about we go out 'n' about and get something to eat?"

She smiles at this, standing up.

"Sounds good to me! Kind of hungry, anyways."

"Kinda?" I joke raising an eyebrow.

"Shut up!" she giggles as she punches my shoulder.

"Ok, ok," I laugh, "Just take it easy babe. I'm only teasing."

And with that, we head out.

XxX

Name: Echo

Rank: Specialist

Date: 3/4/2014

Time: 1430 Hours (2:30 pm)

Location: Ponyville

We left the house at 2:30. I donned my black cargos and tan, short sleeve compression shirt, and armed with my dual kusarigamas and knives. I wasn't about to take a chance with safety; especially with Ember.

"So, where do you want to go? Tavern? Café?" I look at Ember, who's standing next to me.

Her head resting on my shoulder as we walk down the street.

"I think we should head to a nice restaurant." Ember suggests, her large golden eyes begging quietly.

I smile and close my eyes, enjoying the moment as we start walking.

About 10 minutes into the walk, we run into my team with Fuse and Vinyl along with Stunner and Fluttershy. Stratus Breaker, Specter and Shadow Fang were out making their rounds (and knowing Breaker, trying to pick up some mare).

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the lovely couple," jokes Fuse as we laugh, "How've y'all been?"

"We're doing great sir. Everything's perfect," I answer with a salute.

"E, there's ain't no need for the formalities. We're off duty, remember," he says with a laugh.

"Right. Sorry, old habits die hard ya know?"

"True that. How've ya been Ember? Echo was telling us you two moved in together."

"Yes we are and couldn't be happier", she answers him before planting a kiss on my cheek.

Vinyl d'aawed at us while Fluttershy blushed and looked away.

"So... when's the wedding?" Vinyl asks jokingly.

"..." we remain silent but have deep blushes on our faces

"I'm so happy for you two. If you don't mind me saying... Stunner and I are living together also," Fluttershy practically whispers.

We look at them in shock as Stunner holds her in a warm embrace.

"Congratulations son," Fuse says

"Congrats bro," I say

"Wow, nice Stun," Vinyl says

"Hm, looks like I won't be the only one throwing crazy house parties," Ember jokes.

We all laugh until I spoke up.

"Ok guy. It's been fun, but me and Emmy were gonna grab a bite, see y'all around?"

"Ok, just don't stay out too late. We're up for patrol tomorrow and a unit training session," Fuse reminds me.

I snap a salute and respond, "yes sir"

Ember and I left before heading to the restaurant. The Rising Sun.

As we go through the door, I can't help but feel for my weapons.

"Aw ain't that sweet? The freak and the slut having a heart-to-heart moment!" Thunderlane yells. His little gang of five all laughing at this.

I can feel Ember shaking in fear. She has every right to be afraid, Thunderlane and his gang is a notorious hate group. They target any non-equines in Ponyville.

I do a 360 degree sweep. That voice in the back of my head spouting standard room clearance procedures.

Check your sectors, watch the doorways, keep your head on a swivel, scan the faces, use your judgement on their probability of violence-

I was cut off as the greeter had to wave his hoof in my face. Shaking my head to regain my focus, I notice that I trotted right through the waiting area. Ember had a concerned look on her face as the waiter gave me a confused look.

"Sir, are you alright?" He asks.

"Yeah. Yeah I'm fine. Sorry," I try to shake off the wave of paranoia but failed.

"Are you sure? You look dazed. Would you like to take a seat and I'll get you some water?"

"Uh, sure. Thanks," I answer.

I hope I'm not losing it like the Lieutenants. I wonder to myself.

Shadow Fang and Carbon share a similar history:

From his (somewhat) declassified files, Shadow Fang was experimented on for a super soldier project codenamed "Project Titan X" during his time in Spetsnaz, the Rushian equivalent to Equestria's Special Forces, hence his Bodark mark on his shoulder. According to his files, the mark allows his to turn into a werewolf for an unlimited amount of time at the cost of fatigue and psychological damage. Rumor has it that he also suffers PTSD, caused by when he lost every member of his unit and was later captured and tortured for info for 4 months before fellow members of his SF unit saved him during the Serbneigha War. Although he tries to pass himself off as fine around us, he has been a emotional wreck since then.

Carbon on the other hoof he lost his parents in a mugging attempt at the age of 5. He was originally a member of one of the most feared special operations force in the world, the Nightstalker Unit. However, he has been sent to Ponyville for RnR for his PTSD when he was captured and tortured for 3 months. The declassified mission debriefing detailed the mission and failure.

Carbon's team, Team Guardian, was deployed to Saddle Arabia on a stallion hunt for a wanted and dangerous terrorist hiding in the mountain chain in the Frozen North. This terrorist was not only linked to detonating a bomb in Appleloosa and killed 50 ponies and cost the EOD operator his leg (Then, Sergeant First Class Fuse), but also an assassination attempt on both Celestia and the Saddle Arabian ruler.

The mission was simple, capture/kill the terrorist with the Saddle Arabian National Army acting as support. That is until until the terrorist led Guardian and the SANA into an ambush. A large IED wiped out the SANA and left Guardian disoriented where they were captured as POW.  As part of the torture: Carbon and surviving teammate Mobius were forced to watch as their team was tortured, slaughtered, and butchered. Carbon and Mobius were rescued 2 months later by the a squad under Phoenix Unit, another special operations force, the 33rd Squad "The Damned 33rd" under Phoenix Unit, consisting of SSgt. Combust, Cpl. Pyro, Sgt. Skyline and PVT. Sparky. As punishment for their resistance and defiance: Carbon's eyes were destroyed and had lacerations on most of his body and Mobius had his wings and a majority of the bones in his body broken.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I see the young waiter return with the water. I thank him and start taking small sips as I hold my head in my hoof.

"You ok?" Ember asks me.

"Yeah. Yeah, it's just a flashback," I answer back, "I just don't wanna risk your safety again."

She hugs me before whispering to me, "Don't worry, We're fine. Nopony's gonna mess with us," she says before adding in a husky tone, "Especially with my big, strong soldier guarding me, right?"

I blush. She always does this to me but damnit... I love it.

"Yes ma'am," I whisper before giving her a kiss.

After my whole episode, we get a table and place our orders.

"What're you getting?" I asked politely.

"Mmm... I think I'll get a veggie burger. Haven't had one in a while and I think I deserve it." She set down her menu, "what about you?"

"Uhhh... Probably a veggie soup and a salad. I'm not that hungry." I say with a smile.

Our waiter returns to us. It's the same kid I scared the mess out of.

"Hey everypony, how is everything today?", he asks with a smile.

"We're good, thanks" Ember says with a smile.

"Sir, are you ok?", he asks in a worried tone.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks kid. And sorry for the scare, " I say with a weak smile.

"It's no problem. It's not the first time I've had to deal with... let's say 'interesting' individuals," he reassures.

"Alright... I'll have the-" I was cut off by a series of loud gasps.

Instinctively, I reach for my knives until Ember stops me with her magic and gesturing to the commotion behind me.

A large group of ponies were crowded around a large video crystal.

"- and we are just getting word that Las Pegasus has been overran. We do not know if there are any survivors, but we do know that the death toll is currently at 300,000. The force behind the attack is said to be a large number of canine like being unlike anything we have ever seen before," the news anchor said before showing the picture of the beasts, taken from a survivor's camera.

I go over to the bar and ask what happened.

"It's these things man!" a brown earth pony stallion says, his voice shaking with fear, "Seaddle, Manehatten, and now Las Pegasus! Rumor has it that even Saddle Arabia's next!" the frightened stallion says.

Just before I can respond, a scroll appears out of nowhere with the Equestrian Military seal on it.

Upon opening it, I notice the top is stamped with the word "URGENT".

This day just keeps getting better, I sigh to myself.