“You have no idea how much fun it was.” Macintosh excitedly jabbered into the phone. “It was-I dunno. Liberating? Is that a good word?”

“We're so proud of you Big Mac!” Applejack shouted over Granny's shoulder so Macintosh could hear her.

“I wish you could be here.” Mac sighed into the phone.

The last two weeks passed like lightning, except for the other jumps Mac performed. He could remember events here and there, but most of the last two weeks were a blur. His friends had been there for him, and he had been there for them. They had completed their mandatory number of jumps and were now ready to graduated.

So there they stood. On the parade square. Those who were left at the end of the training course were there to receive their wings. They all stood in a straight rank, with Lieutenant Wing as their parade commander. It wasn't just Mac's squad there, the rest of the squads in the Company who had finished their training stood with them. The room was dead silent, except for the quiet congratulations offered by the CO as he pinned the para-wings on the new troops. The parade would have been boring to watch, but to those involved in it, it was one of the most exciting days of their lives. Macintosh could hardly contain himself as Lieutenant Wing came nearer. This was it, the reason he spent so long on this base. He had done so much, seen so much. He had made new friends, had new experiences, learned new things. All of it culminated in this.

After what seemed like an eternity, Lieutenant Wing had come to him. Macintosh saluted and received his wings from the CO.

“Great job, Private Macintosh.” Wing smiled as he pinned the wings to the red stallion's chest. “You've earned this.”

With that, Lieutenant Wing moved on to the next recipient. Macintosh had a burning pride in his chest. He had deserved those wings. He had worked hard for those wings. They were his now, and he could go on to do so many good things with them.

Though the parade had dragged on through speeches and had lasted nearly an hour and a half, Macintosh still felt as proud as he had when he had received the wings. He congratulated his friends, and even some stallion's he did not even recognize. Macintosh was just about to leave the parade hall with his friends to celebrate, when he heard a familiar voice behind him.

“Big Mac!”

Macintosh turned to see his little sister charging over towards him. She leaped into him in a warm embrace and held on tight. She was just like he remembered her back when he left for camp. He didn't know what he had expected, but she hadn't changed a bit. She finally broke the embrace and wiped a tear from her eye.

“I am so happy to see you, big bro.” Applejack sniffed.

“I am so happy to see you too, short-stack.” Macintosh gave her a pat on the head. “Where's Granny? You're not here by yourself, are you?”

“No, she's here, just talking to some of the other parents and families.” Applejack smiled. “She said I should surprise you.”

“I am.” Big Mac almost felt a tear come to his eye. “I am so surprised.”

They hugged again as Mac could hear someone coming over towards him.

“How's my soldier boy?” It was Granny, and Mac had to fight not to shed a tear of joy. He didn't want the other guys calling him a sissy. Taking one hoof off of Applejack, he reached around to hug Granny too. Nothing could ruin this perfect day.

Macintosh told his friends to head on back to base without him. He decided that he would sign out and go for a nice hot meal with his family. He brought them to one of his favourite local restaurants, he had only been there a couple of times, but the food was great. As he was leaving base, he heard the familiar sounds of an announcement coming over the loudspeaker. For the first time in weeks, he could safely pay it no mind. His course was over, and soon he would be no doubt assigned to a military base near home. He had specifically requested it, and the CO said he would do his best to make it happen.

The three farming ponies walked into the small restaurant. It wasn't much to look at, almost a mix of a sports bar and a burger joint. Applejack was sold on the idea of eating there as soon as she saw that they had some memorabilia from a rodeo. Macintosh offered to pay for the meal, but Granny would have none of it, and insisted that she pay. It was a farmer thing. They enjoyed their meal, and Macintosh never stopped smiling through the whole thing.

As they were joking and having a good time, a breaking news bulletin came on one of the many televisions stationed around the restaurant. Everyone in the restaurant stopped talking and tuned in. One of the waitresses turned up the volume. There was no newscaster on screen, simply the words breaking news and a narration.

“This just in! Just to the east of Equestria, the civil unrest in northeastern Equestria has exploded into an all-out war! The terrorists known as “Shades of Grey”, a group originally from the Zebra Republic, have taken the city of Furlin, which borders with the Zebra Republic. It has been proven that these terrorists are not what they seem. They are, in fact, members of the elite Republican Armed Forces, and are working under orders from the latest dictator of the republic, General Koren. Ever since this dictator took hold of the once peaceful country, Zebras have been stampeding into Equestria to escape the malevolence of this madman. Already, the Equestrian military is mobilizing to defend it's borders and, if necessary, invade the Zebra Republic.”

At that, the room went dead quiet. After a moment of silence as the patrons took in what they had just heard, the conversations in the room started once again. Macintosh sat in silence, contemplating what this might mean. He had joined to defend his country from all of the civil unrest, but never expected that it would go so far. Macintosh pulled out his wallet and removed a little more than the bill would be and dropped it on the table. He stood up and looked Granny in the eyes.

“I should probably go.” He said solemnly.

“Can't you stay to finish?” Applejack asked, looking innocently at the half eaten plate of food Macintosh had been eating from.

“If I have to move out soon, I should probably start packing.” Macintosh sighed. “I am so sorry. Granny, Applejack. I'll see you guys around.”

He gave them both a quick hug and started out the door, running back to the base to hear if they had to move out. His heart was racing, but not in the way it had been the first time he had jumped. This time it was pure fear. There was no doubt about it. Big “Mac-Gun” Macintosh, was scared.

He tore through the gates, not even having his ID checked by the guard, who recognized him immediately. Macintosh had no time to stop, he needed to hear if they had to move out or not. Crashing through the door of the barracks, he found his friends stripping their beds and packing up their duffel bags. Macintosh stood silently for a moment before asking the dreaded question.

“Are we going?”

“I'm afraid so, Mac.” Biggs nodded, tossing his bag over one shoulder.

“We thought you knew.” Splintstitch said. “The announcement came over the loudspeaker not soon after we left the Wings ceremony.”

“Celestia help us all.” Marktime added. He looked the worst out of all of them. If Macintosh had been as white as a sheet, Marktime would have been like a bleached sheet in a snowstorm.

Without another word, Mac made his way over to his barrack box and began sorting his things into his duffel bag. As he did, the calendar he had been counting on fell out and drifted across the floor over to Splintstitch's feet.

“What's this?” He asked, picking it up. His face got very serious as he read over what the page was.

No longer caring what they thought of him, man or not, Macintosh let a few tears idly fall from his eye as he looked over to his friend. “I was going home tomorrow.”

“Mac.” Reelin shook his head. “You shouldn't have been keeping track, we warned you.”

“I know, and it was stupid.” Macintosh shouted, kicking his barrack box.

The room fell as silent as the restaurant had been. They all felt the way Mac did, disappointed, kind of betrayed. They had all been expecting to go home the next day, but they were going further away from their families than they had ever before. They all finished packing and waited for further instruction. The other new soldiers had returned to the barracks and had packed their things as well.

The sun had set, and the door to the barracks swung open. Lieutenant Wing stepped in to the barracks, his parade boots clicking on the tile floor. He was still in his dress green uniform from before, like everyone else. His mane was a mess, obviously having been stressing about the upcoming mission.

“You guys are the last of them.” He shook his head and looked at them. “The last bus will be here within the hour, and we'll be heading to a base close to Furlin.”

“Aren't they just going to station us there?” A Private on one side of the barracks asked. “This is a training Company, after all.”

“Not any more.” Lieutenant Wing shook his head again. “We're now 761 Airborne Company. I'm your Commanding Officer.” As he said the last words, he removed his green forage cap and replaced it with a red beret, matching the rest of the soldiers in the room.

For a moment, the room seemed more depressed. Until, at last, someone broke the silence by applauding. The room all began to applaud. Some for their CO, some for their Company, and some for the honour of first combat. Macintosh applauded because it raised his spirit, and the fact that him and his comrades were all now officially part of a real Company, 761. The clapping continued until someone started chanting “7-6-1” over and over again at a marching cadence. Eventually, the room changed from applause to a moral boosting shout for 761. The entire barracks sounded like a rock concert, with every stallion shouting in their drill voices for their CO and their Unit.

Now, Macintosh looked to his friends, his allies. They all chanted with him, and they all felt the pride he did. Macintosh no longer felt sad that he would be leaving, he felt as proud as he had that morning.

When the bus pulled up, the room was still chanting, simply throwing their kit over one shoulder and running out to get on the bus. Lieutenant Wing was the last one on the bus, ensuring that the barracks was vacant. Macintosh sat with his friends, eventually dozing off as the bus rolled towards their new adventure.

Author's Note

And so it begins, the adventure of a lifetime. I can't wait to start writing the exciting bits. Any feedback would be much appreciated.
-Cog Out