Rainbow dash sat contently outside of her high school, she only had a few weeks left of her last year at the cloudscape flight school. Her Schoolmate Fluttershy had left already, the shy Pegasus had been one of her friends since she was just a filly, Rainbow sometimes flew with home With Fluttershy to give her friend more confidence. She was currently sitting on a bench watching the world below in all its wonders. Down the road a little sat another Pegasus with white and brown splotches for his coat, rainbow hasn't gotten to learn the colts name, she didn't really hang out with his group, so why would she bother knowing him.
She glanced down the street again, she noticed something strange about the young stallion, he was dressed in complete camoflage with a green beret on his head, he had a duffle bag with him. Rainbow couldn't help but feel like he seemed sad, she looked down the street towards him, his eyes were a mixture of green and brown, they met her gaze from the distance inbetween them, rainbow made a slight hoof gesture towards him encouraging he came to sit with her. He obeyed and sat up and walked over.
He sat down beside her on the bench she knew defiantly he was sad, she couldn't think of anything to do but approach him about it.
"H-hey, are-are you okay?" She asked
He store down at his shining black boots he looked up with a sigh "Not really miss--"
"Rainbow dash"
"Okay then miss Dash"
"So what's got you down uh-- shoot I should know this" she remarked
" 'names Thunder Chaser, miss dash"
"Ah yes that's right- I was thinking it was like Thunder flash or something dumb like that"
He chuckled slightly at her wondering mind.
"Still what's got you down, Mister chaser" she mocked slightly
"I've been deployed overseas onto the front lines, I-I'm just slightly scared..."
"That's nothing to be afraid of."
"Really? You-You really think so"
"I know so I mean like c'mon now what's to be afraid of..."
"Bullets, death, destruction."
"Still, I don't know why your so down about it"
"I don't know entirely myself-- I guess just jitters..." He sighed "Thanks for the confidence boost I guess... Miss dash?"
"Yes?"
"W-would you mind just sitting down with me and talk for a while?"
"Sure, how long till you leave?"
"About an hour maybe more..."
"We might as well go get ourselves a drink while we wait then"
"We?" He questioned
"Yeah I mean You didn't expect me just to get a drink by myself??"
"Thank you for your hospitality miss dash, I really apreiciate it" he said as they got up.
"Hey?" She asked
"Yeah?"
"I'll race you to the cafe in town"
"OH your going down rainbow!!!" He shouted as they took off flying mock ten towards a small cloud building
Rainbow dash had won the race by just a nose, they were sitting in a window seat drinking milkshakes, talking of there greatest achievements and past.
"-- And thanks how I got my cutie mark." Rainbow finished
"Impressive, I think I was there, my cousin told me about seeing that flash, course that was yeas ago so I don't remember the highlights of the story just a flash..." He replied glancing at his watch
"Don't tell me you have to leave already!!"
"Not right now but our time is quickly drawing to a close..."
" I forgot to ask, what do you do for a living?" She questioned as she took a swig from her milk shake
"I'm a pilot"
"So kinda like the wonder bolts?" She questioned but her tone of excitement couldn't be concealed
"Kinda, except they fly around at break neck speeds-- while we do this with bullets and missiles flying at us from every direction-- so yeah kinda except more intense"
She was amazed and slightly mad that he wonder bolts had just been dissed.
"That's amazing! I don't think I could do that... Well I can just not with bullets and stuff shooting at me..."
"You actually get use to it after awhile..." He smiled "what do you do?"
"I'm a weather pony" she said proudly
"That's a good job, I was one once-- didn't work out too well..." She started to giggle and they began laughing together, He sighed "Miss Dash, I have a question for you..."
"Yes?"
"I know you probably have a boyfriend, but I don't have anyone to send letters to, would you mind if I-I sent them to you?"
Rainbow dash thought for a second, she had taken a shining to the young stallion in front of her, and she would love to learn more about him.
"Sure I'd love to..." She said sheepishly
The stallion smiled and hugged her before he left the cafe, she watched him walk down the street, he had leg some bits on the table to pay for their drinks.
YEARS LATER OUTSIDE OF PONYVILLE
Rainbow dash quickly went about her home, she was cleaning it up, something no pony ever thought she did. She was having her friends over for dinner tonight, recently they had defeated nightmare moon, and rainbow wanted to throw a sort of party (thanks to pinkie pie she had got it set up) it was a small get together. They were having the food being delivered for them tonight.
She swept feriously as she came towards a closet, she set the broom aside and cleared out some old boxes she had lying around inside, as she set them aside she looked up at a box on the top shelf she grabbed the corner of it and it fell straight down onto her.she grunted as she moved the papers aside and began cleaning up-- but these weren't normal papers-- they were letters, she grabbed one from the kerfufle around her and read it.
"Dear Miss Dash
To the cyan young mare I met out side of the school. Originally we were peacekeepers, here to make sure the peace was kept, but it has turned out to an all out war of blood and destruction. Last night while we were in the barracks we were hit by an air raid. Not every pony made it out alive.
I Wish nothing more then this living hell to end. But that wish shall not be dealt to me without the dealing of death aswell.
In your last letter to me, you mentioned you moved to ponyville, If I remember correctly, I have family there cousins. I can't think of them of this moment, the battle fogs my mind...
But with this comes hope, a new day dawns in the time I write this to you, everyday is a blessing miss dash, remember that and you shall never stray from your course.
-Thunder chaser"
Rainbow dash paused at the parchment that was in front of her, small tears started to form in her eyes, she remembered that colt. Memories began to flood her mind... All she could do was sit and look at the pile of memories in front of her...
'What have you got your self into now dash' His voice sounded in her memory, crisp as a bell.
She sat an picked up the next letter.
As rainbow dash sifted trough the letters of a soldier, she picked up one that was dated after he last one she read.
"To Rainbow Dash
The air raid had done a number on out morale. It feels horrible to know we're helpless against falling bombs... We can stop them, but the enemy doesn't like to play fair. We've received our orders, as the "multi tasking division" were to bomb and take on a foot assault of the enemy base, We leave at dusk or 2200 hours, I don't know the difference any more, Iv only minutes left before I depart, I have no fear, no fear in my heart, if I am to die and fall in battle I know it shall not be in vain.
But I know I mustn't die, for the heart of a young filly at home will be broken that I'm gone forever. you need not your pretty little head dash, we've got this planned out to the second, and hey, we've raced before, I'm too good to get shot down :).
I've been ordered up so ill leave this here but just encase I don't make it back, I'll sign it off
-Army dude A.K.A. Thunder Chaser"
Rainbow dash ran her hoof along the paper, it was strange, she remembered her feelings for the young colt, but couldn't quite explain why she didn't feel super sentimental over this. There was a second paper clipped to the back of the note she had just read.
To Cyan rainbow pegasus- RD
I've returned alive (I think?) the attack was a smashing success, we took out their entire fort. All in a matter of hours, many surrendered when the armoury exploded, the largest threat is destroyed. Many of us have been awarded handsomely for our service, I have been awarded a new promotion to master corporal, which is pretty big. I received this promotion because I saved many lives, I flew ahead and disabled many large guns that would've killed tens of ponies at a time.
Also I has a surprise for you, for my service in battle, I'm being temporarily released from duty to come home!!
-see you soon, Master Corporal Thunder Chaser
Rainbow dash felt something weighing down the paper she flipped it. On the back of the paper was 2 single chevrons with a trick it saying
"I don't need these any more, find a use for them dash , I know you will -TC"
She looked at the fabric the composed the ranks, it was well made. She shook the thought from her head as she looked at the clock, she quickly gathered the papers and took them up to her room and left them here as she quickly finished cleaning before her friends arrived. One question burned in her mind:
"What happened to my soldier?"