Once a Soldier always a soldier

The shit hits the fan

Afghanistan, location classified. December 24, 2013 1942 hours

“Are you fucking sure, Josh?” I said. Looking out at the valley that the two hummves where blazing through. This place was giving me a bad feeling.

“Yes, I am fucking sure, Parker." Josh answered mockingly. "We got this guy where we want him. The Intel says he’s here in a cave.” Josh said over the radio.  What a shocker! A Taliban leader hiding in a cave. “All we have to do is just go in there, grab him and any other Intel those bastards have with them. Easy Peasy, no need to worry.”  I sighed and nodded slightly.

“I know but, worrying is what got me this far in life and this place is giving a bad feeling. I just want to get out of here in time for new years.” I replied as the convey went to this side of the tree covered mountain side.

“I know we all we-” he couldn’t finish his sentence as his hummve was sent flying over the side of the mountain by an explosion nearly doing the same to my hummve but, it went back on its front wheels.

“JOSH!” I yelled. My hummve stopped just as bullets started to hit the glass making it web. I jumped out of the back seat in the driver’s side with my M4 slapping my side. I knelt behind the engine and started to squeeze off rounds at the direction of the enemy fire. My ears were pounding from the explosion but, I could hear the mounted gun going off. I looked up to see David on the gun firing. Crazy black bastard I love ya. I looked to the right of the hummve to a figure with a long tube on top of its shoulder. “RPG! David get do-”  he couldn’t even hear me as the rocket hit the hummve; blowing half of the thing off along with David. “DAVID!”  but, before I could act I felt someone pulling on my shoulder down to the tree line. I turned to see Mark dragging me to the mouth of a cave.

“Parker are you ok!?” he said almost taking out his med bag.

“I’m fine. what about Dylan, Josh and Cameron?” I replied placing a mag in my rifle.

“I’m sorry but, Josh and Cameron were killed in the explosion and Dylan is at the hummve half way down the mountain. Sir, what do you want me to do?” I peered from the mouth of the cave to get chucks of rocks to the cheek.

“Shit!” I yelped recoiling i turned to see Mark waiting for instructions. i thought for a moment before speaking “Mark, I want you to take Dylan, Ryan, Eric and yourself to get the hell off of his mountain and back to the nearest friendly base. This was a trap from the beginning.” I said blasting rounds blindly around the lip of the cave; pressing my back on the wall of the cave.  I noticed that Mark was still there.

“What about you, Sir?” Mark replied.

“I am going to stay here and cover your ass.” I answered as calmly as possible but, I sucked at that.

“No, I am going to stay here with you.” Mark said shooting off his rifle taking down two men.

I grabbed him by the collar. “THAT IS AN ORDER, PRIVATE! NOW GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE OR WE WILL BE BOTH DEAD AND FED TO DOGS!” I yelled at Mark nearly making him jump out of his skin.

“Fine, just be careful boss.” he replied. He looked left and right before sprinting down the mountain leaving me by myself.

I took a deep breath. 'In out in out' I thought slowing my heart rate. I turned around the corner to a see the same man with the RPG that blew up David. “You bastard” I thought as I put the ACOG on the motherfucker’s chest. Me and him shot at the same time. Time seemed to slow as my bullets struck home. I could see the force of the bullets ripple on the man’s body.but, his rocket was close as it hit the ground ten feet away from me launching me through the air into the cave. My life flashed before my eyes. From being bullied in grade school, High school prom, joining the rangers, my dad’s funeral, now today. Well shit. After this I am going to get a fucking drink. I closed my eyes as I was engulfed by the ever darkness of the cave. But, instead of my head being busted open by rock I rolled over soft plushy grass. “What the hell?” I thought as I pushed myself up. I looked back the cave, ignoring the fact that it was disappearing instead limping to the surrounding forest. I could feel my M4 hit my side as I got as far away from the cave that I felt that was safe. I found a clear spot and I plopped down building a fire. Once, it caught the warmth of the flames started to me fall asleep. A twig snapping made me aim my rifle in the direction nearly firing but, i luckily had an empty mag in the rifle. I lowered my weapon setting it across my lap and I began to stare at the embers that jumped for the crackling wood. My eyelids began to have minds of their own as they began to close. I popped them open trying to stay awake. 'Fuck it.' I thought as I closed my eyes for the night.

My Dream was really weird. I was back at home with my mom, brother, sister, uncle and grandparents. We were having a Nice thanksgivings meal then, all of a sudden it went all to black.

“what the hell is going on?” I looked left and right seeing nothing but, blackness. I looked at my hand and I could still see it. I looked over to see that I was in some kind of fancy dining hall. I could see a blue horse with a horn and wings. Its mane was flowing in an unnatural wind and had what looked like stars shining from it. It was sipping tea. “what and who are you?” I raised and eyebrow instinctively trying to draw the non-existent pistol. "What the hell?" i said looking down seeing just my normal fatigues of mulit-cam.

It sat the cup on a little plate and back on the table. It looked at me with a pair of blue eyes that could freeze the sun but, also warm it too. “I am Princess Luna and I’m an Alicorn. I was also about the ask you the same question. I have never seen you before and I have been in everypony’s dreams at least once.”

I raised an eyebrow at this. “What are you telling me that you are in my head?” she nodded. “Well, can you please, w-wait what did you say?”

It was her turn to raise an eyebrow. “What?”

“You said everypony, does that mean that you are implying about everypony as everyone is a pony?” she nodded. “But, I am not a pony. I am a human being. But, if I am a pony that means I have refer everyone I meet as everypony?” she nodded. “But, I am not a fucking pony."

“No, you are a pony my guards say so. They surround you right at this moment and you are indeed a pony. Just wake up and see for yourself.” she replied and went back at sipping her tea.

I woke up to see about five ponies with some kind of rifles resembling M-16s aimed at me. All of them seemed to have bat wings, grey coats and wearing purple armor. “Well, guess who’s wake.” one of them said nearly making me jump out of my skin.

“What the fuck is going on here!” I yelled scattering birds.

“Well holy shit, it looks like our friend here has a rifle, pistol and four grenades.” he eyed my rig on my chest. “Where are you going a war zone?” he said then he started to laugh along with his friends.

“uhh, I just came from one, smart ass.” I replied that seemed to shut them up. “If you excuse me I need to get going." I tried to get up but, the moment I got on my feet I fell down on my face, getting some of laughs from the guards.

“Is this your first time walking?” he said. His face looked like it was going to burst in laughter. I got on my feet and realized that I was shorter then, earlier. i felt something on both sides of my back. every time i tried to get on my feet i just wind up going back on all four. Confused, I ran to the near by lake with the guards following close behind snickering the entire way. I looked down and saw my reflection from the rising sun. I was a black stallion with fucking wings! “HOLY SHIT!” I yelled making the guards rub their ears in pain.

One of the guards, it seems that this one has been hanging back as his friends were making fun of me, came up to me. “The Princess wants to see you.” he said with some kind friendliness in his voice but, mostly professional.

“Fine, it seems like I don’t have a choice. How do we get there?” he said nothing but, just pointed at the wings at my side. I sighed. “How do you do this?” i said looking at my 'wings'.

He turned around. “Just follow my lead.” he said before he flapped the leathery wings rising into the air. Well, I be a son of a bitch.

“Alright, lets see if I can do this.” I said. I began to flapped my wings. It felt like when you were a kid trying to fly by flapping your arms it felt the same way kind of. My eyes went wide as I began to fly. “well, this is something you don’t see everyday.”

“Just follow me and please don’t try to crash into anything along the way.” I nodded.

“Hey, I’ve got a question.” I asked.

He stopped and turned around in mid air. “what?” with an annoyed tone to his voice.

“what’s your name? If I may ask.” I said. Almost loosing what little control I have.

“Name’s Sunshine shield.” he said flatly. That is literally too funny to laugh at. I thought. He looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “What? No, hey sunny, oh something is shining in my eye?”

“No, I don’t make funny of people’s or pony’s names.” I said realizing my mistake.

“What’s yours?” he asked raising an eyebrow.

“Name’s Parker but, something tells me that I am going to need to change it so i don't stand out. Don't I?” I said. He nodded. i sighed before thinking for a moment “So, how about Nightwing?" i asked.