Soldiering on

Walking over to his washbasin, he unsheathed his bowie knife, and using the reflection a small mirror had lent him, he set about with the destruction of a forest of bronze hair that had taken his muzzle hostage. Alloy was a big stallion, no doubts there. He had griffon’s proportions, standing 5’2 hoof to horn and 5’5 from his chin to his flank. His jaw, as well as most of his features, looked as though they were wrought from his namesake material, with a chiseled jaw, powerful neck, Enormous chest and barrel, all made of pure muscle. His cutie mark was a picture of an anvil and tongs. He had a short bronze mane and tail and a broken off, but sanded smooth, horn. All this would paint a picture of a gruff-gritty veteran warfighter (he would be guilty on that charge) except his eyes. They were bronze, as well, and possessed a stern fire that seemed never to leave them. However, if you saw him when he thought nopony was looking, you’d see big, sad eyes, full of sorrow and pain, drooped ears and a lowered head. When looking, however, he seemed strong and  happy, willing to lend a chuckle or two to one of Mochas barrel-busting jokes, making small talk with anypony who passed by.

He finished scraping his muzzle clean, and put on the uniform of the LTST(lunar tactical strike team), midnight blue combat pants with an army tee, the option of boots being left to the individual pony to sort out on his or her own, putting his desert eagle in its hip holster. He left his tent, last in the row, and began to trot to the briefings tent where Rainbow Dash was giving the week’s tactical summary. Being an insertion specialist entitled him, and roughly ten others, to the honor of mandatory attendance at these meetings, as well as any fireteam captains LTC. Dash had appointed. Making his way up the row, he saw his comrades beginning to stir. Thunderlane shuffled reluctantly out of the tent, shook his wings, and took to the air; Bon-bon tiptoeing out of her tent, and snapped right back in by a tendril of mint green magic, the owner of which was not willing to relinquish her cot-warmer and pillow so easily. Many other of his equantiances and air force ponies he didn’t know milled about, running this way and that helter skelter.

He eventually made his way to the tent where he saw his friend Mocha duck into the tent, followed by several others. Mocha was a big stallion, strong by most standards, with short white hair and tail, a light tan coat, and coffee brown eyes. He had a very nice manner about him, he was always happy and warm even when somepony else wasn’t. Still, there was fire and iron just beneath the surface, waiting to be used. He entered the tent and took his seat next to Mocha, who was already focused in on the mare in the front of the room.

“Fillies and Gentelcolts, I suppose you’re all wondering why I brought you here today,” Rainbow Dash said, mimicking a former member of the base senior staff, which elicited a few chuckles from the audience. “Anyway, the brass has decided that we must reinforce the 451st infantry at Desilberg, in an attempt to tip the balance of power in our favor” A collective groan went through the crowd, mutterings of “lunacy” and “Suicide mission” could be heard over the dull roar. The 451st had been entrenched in Desilberg for over two months with no hope of victory in sight.  “Ok, ok, I get it” Rainbow yelled, making a “settle down” motion with her wings. “We have been analyzing the situation and this is the time we have to push. The dogs lost three strongholds, countless cities, and enough personnel to fill Tartarus to the brim. Which is why, Strike teams Alpha thru Lima will rendezvous with the 451st and break the stalemate.” “We set up a line of defense here at granite square, along the remaining uncontrolled fourth of the city.” She announced, tracing the location out on the pull down map of the city. “From there we push up through Granite, Shale and Obsidian streets, converging on the last remnant of the resistance. When there, we force them to either surrender or we kill on sight. Now, this is going to be a complicated mission, as such I’m pulling Blitzkrieg to lead teams Alpha thru Indigo and Alloy to lead Lima thru November. If we can take Leonberg this frees the 55th armored to push through, and there aren’t no stopping the 55th.Shooting up into the air Rainbow finished her speech, “WE WILL WIN Leonberg AND WE WILL WIN THIS WAR” she yelled, prompting the rest of the crowd to join her.

When he was satisfied every pony had left, Mocha strode over to Rainbow dash. She was fairly tall, with a lean, well-muscled frame, her shock of Rainbow main sticking out deliberately from under her officer’s cap. Mocha thought she did look pretty in that uniform, her innate playfulness dominating the imposing nature of the outfit. He shook himself out of his wanderings, now was not the time “What the buck?” Mocha asked, slamming his hoof down on the table. “Why won’t you pull me for combat?” Rainbow had had this conversation many times with many ponies, giving her ample time to practice her reply.

“Mocha, you’re more useful here as a field operative. And you’re too valuable to the outfit to risk.” She said striking her best “sorry but it’s out of my hooves” face.

Mocha snorted, “Horse-Bucking-Feathers! I have the second best success to deployment ratio, right up there next to Alloy himself. Now we both know that the high brass is gonna pull him for some dumbass shit. This leaves me and blitzkrieg, and if you split the command, I could take a section. And you tell me that I’m more useful here. If the 451st needs one thing, it’s a leader. Seriously Rainbow…” he trailed off, Rainbow dash, gently sniffling

“I know… I should pull you…but…,” she sniffed. “But what?’ Mocha asked, his expression softening and squatting down on his haunches and wrapping a hoof around her. “Bucking idiot…do I have to say it?” she asked, pulling him down for a kiss. He felt the warmth of her muzzle on his, the hot pressing sensation coursing through him. He felt their tongues touch.  She had tautness, a firmness that he found so beautiful. Even though she was ripped, he felt nothing but warm softness. He smelt rainwater and lilacs, combined with the natural sent of pony. She kept him in this embrace for a minute, breaking it off, saying “I’ll do it, but please, for my sake, don’t die.”

“Yes ma’am” was Mocha’s reply, his goofy cockeyed grin perfectly matching his ruffled mane and uniform. Both of them from what had just happened. Mocha stood to leave, straightening uniform, looking wistfully at Rainbow dash.

“Mocha,” she said, shyly walking over to him, “I really do love you. Try to stop by my tent soon” she finished staring at the ground.

Mocha raised Rainbows face up to meet his, bringing her in for a peck on the cheek, “a good soldier always follows orders. I’ll be by soon.”

As Mocha started for the door, Rainbow called out “by the way, tell Alloy I need to see him” Mocha nodded his compliance as he exited the tent.

DAMN! Did that really just happen? Mocha asked himself, still in shock from the ambush make out. He stopped for a moment, savoring the feeling of her breath is his lungs, the tingling sensation on his muzzle. He began walking, trying to find Alloy amongst the throngs of ponies. Everywhere he looked was a sea of tan canvas studded with exceptionally brightly colored islands. He saw some of his friends chatting, Fluttershy walking Dust Devil into the infirmary, and Gilda, seemingly out of place in the swarm of ponies. She, even by griffon standards, was big. As tall as Alloy and even, somehow, more muscular, some would consider her too big, but not him.

“Hey, Gilda” he called, tearing her shortly away from cleaning her combat shotgun. Gilda looked up, somewhat startled at what she saw. Mocha was attractive, there is no getting around that. He was tall and reasonably strong, a certain goofy handsomeness that he possessed . He didn’t have Alloys bulk or blitzkriegs wings, but damn if she didn’t want to pin him down and… NOPE, she thought, he’s just a friend; I don’t want anything more than that. Yea, sure, another voice in her head prompted. And I’m not the only griffon in this outfit.

“Damn, Mocha, you look like you've been run through the wringer, what happened?” she asked in her deep, but still feminine voice. Mocha whistled and pulled up a chair.

“What happened?” Mocha rhetorically asked, his smile still glued to his muzzle. “Rainbow and I made out” he half-said, half-sighed and setting his chin down on his hooves, his eyes still out of focus.

Gilda internally sighed, great, now it’s both of them, can’t I catch a break? NO! Another part of her yelled. This is a great day for your two best friends, now BE HAPPY FOR HIM. Noting Gilda’s sudden silence, Mocha spoke up, “Hey, Gilda you ok?” he asked trying to gently probe the issue.

“Nah it’s nothing” she said, her voice indicating that it was just the opposite.

“Bullshit, I’ve honestly never seen you so crest fallen” his serious tone contrasting sharply with his general demeanor. Gilda chuckled; he always knew just what to say. He might not be the , he was still the best stallion she knew.

“ugh fine,” she sighed running her talons through her hair, “it’s just…well I thought that maybe Rainbow and I could’ve gotten back together, but… but what matters is that you’re happy” she finished, trying to put on a smile and pretend she wasn’t hurt. He brought Gilda in for a hug, not a marefriend/coltfriend hug, but a comforting embrace, enough for Gilda to know she was still his friend. “Gilda, look, I’m sorry, but I know you’ll get there. And between you and me, It was Rainbow’s loss” Mocha said, trying to restore confidence to the lonely griffon. “Oh!” he cried, “before I got, I almost forgot to tell you, See that Thestral over there?” he said, pointing his hoof to a mare chitchatting with fluttershy in front of the infirmary. Gilda nodded, the mare in question was reasonably good looking, with big blue eyes and a deep black coat. “Yea, what about her?”

“Well, I’ve heard that she's on the market, thought you might give it a go” Mocha said, giving Gilda a go-get’ em punch on the shoulder. Gilda shrugged, never given much thought to the Thestral, but was she in a position to be choosy?

“Ok, what the hay, I’ll go for it” she said, Mocha lighting up like a Christmas tree.

“Well then,” he said, rubbing his hooves together,” I’ll let you do that voodoo that you do” Gilda chuckled Dammit, just when I thought she was done stabbing my heart.

The general mood in the camp was happy, despite the somewhat grim circumstances that surrounded their occupation. The LSTS seemed to have a better chemistry than the Celestial regulars, with most everypony in the camp having served with each other prior to being enlisted. That, and the more liberal interpretation of certain regulations. Primarily the ones  regarding how soldiers behaved toward one another, and how the sleeping arrangements were decided. The LSTS was comprised of those who were more suited to insertion missions that required quick thinking and combat excellence than following orders to the letter. Seeing as they were put into the most dangerous situations at the worst times, Luna saw fit to ignore what happened behind tied canvas.

The camp itself was a large city of tents and makeshift buildings, spanning close to 5 square miles of tarps and canvas. The reason for the camp existing was the landing strip, and its cluster of hangars, housing the might of the 55th royal air force division. Before he knew it, he found himself in front Alloy’s tent, the last in the dual rows. Mocha rapped on the middle post eliciting a gruff “Come in” from inside the tent. Mocha ducked through the canvas flap, revealing a rather Spartan interior. The room had a washstand, a small stool, Alloy’s Mammoth assortment of weaponry, ammunition and guns ready to go. The tent also had bedside table and the stallion himself, stretched out on a cot, reading the art of war. “Hey Mocha, watcha need” Alloy said, without looking up from the text.

“Rainbow wanted to see you.” He said, snatching the book out of Alloy’s hooves. Alloy sat up, turning to face the thief.

“Well, Son of a… Damn, who happened to you?” He said, deriving the nature of Mocha’s disheveled appearance.

“Give you three guesses” Mocha replied, sitting down and putting his hooves behind his head. “Hmm, lemme think. Gilda?”

“nope, but I did talk to her today”

“Midnight?”

Mocha face hoofed. “I get it; you know I’m ok with bigger mares, but really, a Thestral?”

“As if you haven’t wanted to run your hooves over that glossy black flank.”

“Touché”

“so third guess. OH I know” Alloy said clapping his hooves together

“Shoot”

“Fluttershy?”

“Nope, that ship sailed and sunk a long time ago”

“who then?” Alloy asked, honestly intrigued at this point.

Mocha smiled, savoring the moment “Rainbow dash”

Alloy’s face hoof could be heard around the world “Dear Gods!” he exclaimed, “How far did you get?”

Mocha shrugged “we made out, kinda rolled around on the floor of the command tent.”

Alloy put hooves to his forehead, “Ok, so what would any sane mare have read into that?” he asked, continuing to massage his brow.

“That I kinda like her, that we're more than just good friends?” he said, somewhat tentatively.

“Now, in Rainbow dash-ese, this means that you are now her coltfriend and will be forever and ever.”

“And? What’s so bad about that?” Mocha asked, cocking an eyebrow incredulously.

Alloy looked up, “because you done set yourself up with a psychotic, prismatic train wreck. How many colt/fillyfriends has she had?”

Mocha shrugged and replied “I don’t know, two, three?”

“Ten. Thunderlane, Cloudchaser, Lightning Dust, Raindrop, Roseluck, Vinyl, Pinkie Pie, Lyra, Myself, and Gilda. And do you know what happened with each relationship?” Alloy asked rhetorically, letting his anger seep slightly into his tone.

“No, what happened?” Mocha asked, becoming more and more frustrated.

“She single-hoofedly torpedoed all of them. See, I got thrown in when I decided to talk her through her breakup with Lyra and then she got attached. When I finally had enough, she went crying to Gilda, and now look where she is. Rainbow turned a strong griffon into a sobbing mess.”

Mocha sighed, “Alloy, I know you’re looking out for me, but Damn man, I got control of my love life.”

Alloy shrugged, you can show a stallion a land mine, but you can’t make him avoid it. “Maybe you’re just what she needs, but good luck.” He said clapping Mocha on the shoulder. “Speaking of Rainbow dash, tell her I’ll be by later. And Mocha, don’t take that the wrong way, I’m just trying to help.” Mocha nodded his thanks. Alloy might be somewhat blunt, but he'd take frank and helpful over eloquent and keniving. He ducked out, planning his evening with Rainbow.