I woke up with the familiar, dull, pain that liked to linger in my skull after a night of hard drinking. I sat up, clenching my aching head.

Bad idea! I thought, as my gut threatened to expel its contents.

I leapt from my rack and into the air, flying as fast as I could to the bathrooms.

I sat down in front of the toilet, feeling as empty as I was after a constant ten minutes of vomiting.

“This is gonna be a great day.” I said sarcastically.

“Sure is Cap’n, ” Quick said with his usual easygoing drawl, startling me a bit. “It’s our day off!”

“Morning Quick.” I deadpanned.

“Cap’n.”

I stood and opened the stall door. “How was Mistys’ bunk?” I asked with as best a smirk I could put on.

“Now what kind of gentlecolt would I be if I spoke of it?”

“Oh, I see, you didn’t go back to her bunk.”

“I don’t think that’s something I should be discussion with a superior officer.” Quick replied.

I could only laugh.

Before hitting the chow hall, Quick and I decided to stop in at the gym, neither of us had been recently. Then again, combat was one hell of a workout.

“Getting tired already Quick?” I smirked at him, both of us doing wingups in unison. Though he was showing strain continuing. Pushing that much muscle has to wear you down.

“Oof!” Quicks wings gave out and he flopped onto his stomach. I kept going, wearing a triumphant grin. “Yeah, alright, you win that one you show off.”

I was still going.

“Sorry i don’t do my wingups every night before bed.” he said with a roll of his eyes.

I set my hooves on the ground and let my wings rest. “You should be, I noticed you’ve been a bit slow in formation.” Despite how this day started out, I was smiling a lot.

Quick gave a snort. “You try flyin’ with a couple hundred pounds ah’ gear.”

“I’ll pass. Besides, I don’t think anypony enjoys firing that launcher as much as you do Quick.”

“Yer damn right! No one fires it better either!” Quick gave a strong nod.

I twisted my head, rewarding myself with a relieving ‘pop’. “Well, let’s grab some chow.”

“Copy that, sir.”

Once we arrived in the chow hall, we got our food and took our seat at our usual spot. Misty had already eaten, I assumed due to the lack of chow in front of her.

“Morning Misty.” I Greeted.

“Morning Captain. Morning Quick.” She gave him a peck on the cheek.

I grinned again. “So Misty, who’s the stallion you mentioned of last night? Anyone i know?”

Again, Quicks hoof met my shin, and too bad for me, his leg muscles out did his wing muscles. “Ow! Goddess damn it Quick!” I hissed, much to their enjoyment. Through the pain, and the minor hangover, I was still smiling. As horrible as yesterday ended, both Quick and I were still smiling, and for that I was grateful. No matter what, I couldn’t let this war beat me, or my friends.

The pain in my leg was receding, and the rumbles in my stomach were growing. I looked down at the sky food on my tray. I still think food might taste better on the surface, but this will do.

I sat back down after taking Quicks tray and my own up to the disposal window. “So, what are you two doing today?”

“Probably linger up top for a bit. i dunno, whatever she feels like doing really.”

“He’s bigger than us both, yet I choose what we do.” Misty said with a humorous roll of her eyes.

“Honestly, I think all that size is fat.” I said with a chuckle, earning a glare from Quick.

Bang! “Ow!” Quick yelped as his hoof struck the hard metal pole under my seat.

“Ha! I expected it that time.” I laughed. I stood up from my seat. “Well, before Quick get ahold of me, I’m gonna go visit Steel.”

“Yeah, that’d be-” Quick stopped as he looked to his right, then stood up. Misty started to rise as I looked over and saw Lightning Arc, with Captain Flux in tow, approaching us.

“Thunder, Quick, Misty.” He greeted us with a salute, which we all returned. “i need you three to come with me immediately to my office.”

This is our day off! I thought. “What’s going on, Sir?” I really didn’t want anything to go wrong today. I just wanted to spend the day with Steel and relax. Just one day, thats all i wanted. “We were-”

“It’s about Corporal Rod. We have information that may lead us to the location of him and other POWs.”

My words died in my throat as that news bounced around my head. I looked back at my teammates, and they wore the same shocked look.

Author's Note

It pains me to have to release such a short chapter, or part of one. But it pains me even more to go three months without releasing anything at all. Though I've been a bit busy, it's no excuse. I'm sorry, but I want you all to know I'm still with you and this story! I hope you all have a Happy New Years! One of my resolutions is to write more XD If you have any feedback, leave a comment or send me a message, whichever you prefer. I thank you all who are still reading, and apologize to those who have stopped.