Once a Soldier always a soldier

Doing a dying wish

“For Hog.” Shield said raising a glass of beer.

“For Hog.” Me and Water said at the same time taking a drink. I sighed and pulled out my MP3 player and started to play Johnny Cash, The Man in Black. I could tell that Shield and Water could hear the music that was coming from my headphones. They looked at me with a confused look on their faces. I Sighed. It’s like teaching a five year old kid how to juggle it is just complicated. “It’s my music play that I had on my Music player. It is a device that stores and plays music and video. Here this will explain it.” I said handing out my earbud. Shield picked it up in his hoof. (Ok, Pause again. I need to ask how in the hell do hoof pick up items when you have no fucking fingers. I could never get my head around that.) I began to look around in my MP3 Player for a good song and I found I won’t back down by Johnny cash.

Shield began to bob his head a little as he got into it. As Water saw Shield with the earbud he grabbed the other one placed it in. I rolled my eyes as I got onto my hoofs and placed five bits on the counter. The Skillet nodded. I turned around and went out the door. I looked back and forth on the street. A thunder storm was wrecking havoc on the snow around me as I made my way down the south end of town. As I made my way down the ever on going maze of buildings in the slums of Canterlot I looked at my watch that somehow stayed on my ’wrist’ after the RPG blast. 0539 hours. I sighed at the fact that I am going to have to brake a mare’s heart. I could already feel the slap that was to come. I have been through some of the worst hell holes that the universe could throw at me and I’m still afraid of the slap of a broken hearted woman or mare.

About an hour of wondering the slums I made my out to the main road of Canterlot. I looked at the restaurant’s sign. Damn good eggs. I sighed and entered. The bell attracted attention to me for a brief second before everypony went about their business. The smile of cooking eggs made my mouth water. Thank god I am not a vegan. I looked around and froze in place as I saw the blue unicorn. Her mane kind of looked like toothpaste to me. She looked like the was waiting for somepony. I sighed and trotted over to next to the table.  “Colgate?” I said in as sincere as possible.

She looked at me with a raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”

“May I take a seat?” I said. Motioning to the seat.

“Yes, but you have to make this quick I am suppose to meet my husband in a little bit.” she said totally unaware to what I’m about to say.

I took a seat on the soft pillow and looked her in the eye. “That is why I am here Colgate.”

Tears started to build up as she began to realize to what I am about to say. Her eyes were saying ’no no it can’t be.’ “I’m sorry to say that Hog is dead. He wanted me to give you this.” I reached in my vest pocket of the jacket I was wearing and took out his Dog tags and locket. I slowly placed them on the table.

Tears began to pour out when she opened the locket. From what I could see it was a picture of there wedding photo on one side and a picture of her holding a small colt. She became silent other then the occasional sniffle. But, the silence was broken of my jaw popping out of place as she slapped me across the face. The force of the hit knocked me to ground. She jumped on top of me and began to pound on my chest. Her punches weren’t as strong as the slap but, I can tell she need to be comforted. I just laid there as began to slow and collapse on my chest.

I began to lightly hug her. “It’s ok. It’s ok. He wanted me to tell you that her loves you and that he was thinking of you when he died. He is in a better place now.” I whispered in her popping my jaw back into place. I nearly screamed in pain but, I held it back.

I was a little surprised when she began to hug back. “I… I just miss him now.” she said in between sobs.

“I know you do, darling. I know you do. Now, lets get off this dirty floor and let me buy you breakfast.” I said helping her off the floor.

She wiped her eye with her foreleg. “I would like that.” she said. Starting to a small smile on her face.

“Alright, Now just order anything you like.” I said. I looked around to see everypony in the restaurant looking at us. I began to get a sheepish grin on my face.

I sat there across from Colgate for a couple of hours as she told me how her and Hog met. There lives together and their colt Light breeze. Who was about five now. I never like to talk about this kind of stuff but, it made her feel better.

But, before I could even stand up. Shield and water came bursting into the restaurant. Shield’s face was pale as he saw me. “Nightwing we have problem.”

I shot up at the sentence. “What happened?” I said trying to do my best to keep calm.

“Appleoosa is under attack.” was the only sound in the entire place as he spoke those words.