War-torn Love

Chapters

Prologue: March to war
Chapter 1: Call to Arms
Chapter 2: To Ease the Pain, Part One
Chapter 3: To Ease the Pain, Part Two
Chapter 4: Leaving Home

Prologue: March to war

All men should owe loyalty to their country. No man should ever be called upon to show it.

Thomas Michler

Canterlot Palace, Private access balcony, 2000 hours

"Mr. Ambassador..." Princess Celestia began, like she had the hundred times before when addressing the griffon who had been with her all evening. He had a name, of course, but she couldn't bring herself to use it. Having a name usually meant sentience. Sentience meant that he had feelings. And if he had feelings, it made it that much harder to see him for the animal he was behind that silver tongue.

Yeah, that's right. Princess Celestia, the guardian of the sun and keeper of love, light, and happiness, the paragon of justice, hated someone. Granted, when that someone is a representative of a nation which was never on good terms with her own, it was justifiable. Still, she couldn't help but feel as though her thousand years of attempting to maintain peace along the border of Equestria and the Griffon Kingdom were about to jump down the drain, not even having the courtesy to wait to be pushed there. As princess of that nation, it was her job to protect all of her little ponies, not send them in to a pointless war with a physically superior force when all that would be needed for the two to avoid the conflict was for a single griffon to admit that he was wrong, and that a tribe of raiders did in fact cross the border and burned down a mining camp. That wasn't so much to ask, was it?

But no. Turns out, you can't really negotiate with a war-minded species like that. Instead, you'll just end up arguing over the state of your borders. It got frustrating, to see the least.

Thankfully, before things could get explicit within the confines of the solar alicorn's mind, the griffon ambassador spoke up. Unfortunately, it had to be the griffon ambassador that spoke up before things got explicit. Oh, Celestia, she thought, recognizing immediately the irony of thinking that to herself. Oh, me, why did it have to be him?

The ambassador may or may not have noticed the princess's distraction, but if he did, he didn't care. "I don't know about you, Celestia..." he began saying before quickly being cut off.

"Princess Celestia," she corrected him. True, she frequently pointed out to everypony who talked to her that she didn't particularly like being called princess, but that was just the thing about it- those were ponies. Not to say that she was racist, it's just that on diplomatic visits like these- it was always a diplomatic visit when a griffon was invited into the palace- she wouldn't hesitate to pull rank. "Or Princess, if you're feeling like using some kind of shorthoof, but never just Celestia. 'Tis informal."

"Of course, Princess." The griffon all but spat the words, as though he was sure that they would leave some kind of foul taste in his mouth. Granted, it was in his nature- no, his species' entire culture- to show some disdain to those whom one should consider their enemies, to do so to a princess of Equestria was unspeakable. Celestia noted the tone, but decided against mentioning it. "As I was suggesting, I would greatly appreciate it if we were to move to your palace's dining hall for dinner, as well as possibly moving on to less... violent subjects?" His voice had quieted, though it wasn't quite ready to fade away yet. Too much needed to be done.

Almost surprisingly to him, Celestia shared that sentiment- at least, the one about being hungry. "Very well, then. Please remember, I expect the same formality while you are addressing the other princesses."

The walk through the hallways of the palace was long, tedious, and terribly, terribly, boring. Neither of the two spoke to the other as they made their way to the dining hall, the only noises being the occasional sound of armor shuffling around as the guards would snap to attention at Celestia's presence. He did his best to remain silent, choosing to admire the paintings and tapestries adorning the hallways rather than attempt conversation. He was so intimidated by Celestia at this point that he feared he may not be able to complete the one task he was sent here to do. He had to say, he would miss that palace when his own military burned it to the ground. These painting were beautiful, and even better, likely priceless. He passed one such painting, containing two young alicorn fillies, one white, one midnight blue, flanked by two fully grown alicorns, one jet black, the other a stark white. Below the painting there was a small brass plaque denoting the only known interpretation of the celestial sisters from their fillyhood. Such a shame, he thought. That's a four thousand year old painting.

Finally, after what seemed like hours but was likely no more than a few minutes, the two finally found there way to the dining hall. As the ambassador looked at it from the grand doorway at the top of the stairs leading into the room, he couldn't help but notice how... modest it was. He couldn't possibly imagine that many of the servant's quarter's were bigger than this room (after all, he came from a place where there were quite a few servants, there needed to be a very large amount of space to accommodate them all). A small dining table was placed in the center of the room, adorned by several bowls full of salads and fruit, with silver plates placed at five places along its length. From the looks of it, the table could accommodate no more than eight ponies at any given time- there must have been another hall in the palace for the times when the princesses needed to entertain more guests. There were another three alicorns seated at the table, in case one wasn't enough for the ambassador. All, however, were looking very impatient, as though they had been waiting for quite some time for the two to come back.

Fortunately, before he had to explain anything, Celestia spoke up. "I'm sorry, everypony, but things took longer that we expected them to. I won't bore you with details, worry not." she said as she took her seat at the head of the table, opposite a violet colored alicorn, whom he presumed was Twi- er, Princess Twilight Sparkle. She wore gold horseshoes labeled with a magenta, six-pointed star and a small gilded chest plate with the same design, though he noted the lack of a crown on her head. He had heard quite a bit about her since her Ascension- and knew enough to understand she hated wearing the thing. To her right sat a pink one. with purple tipped wings. She wore much the same outfit, save for the material and insignia- a light blue crystal and a gold-trimmed crystal heart of the same color, respectively. Cadence, then.

His eyes then fell upon the real reason he wouldn't enjoy the fall of Equestria- the midnight blue alicorn seated next to the head of the table, whereupon Celestia would soon be seated. Princess Luna, the lunar alicorn, truly the most beautiful mare in Equestria- no, of the entire planet. Of course, he would never say that to her face- the last stallion who tried that ended up with the hospital with both eardrums blown right open, with internal bleeding causing serious damage to his brain. Apparently, Luna didn't like it when ponies tried to flirt with her. Or maybe, she just doesn't like stallions. Either way, the ambassador knew he had no chance, which is the only reason he was possibly able to justify the future his King had in store for her.

Only now just noticing how much of a fool he looked like, standing at the top of the stairs admiring the view, he slowly waked down the stairs and took his place at the table, across from Luna. He hardly spoke throughout the meal, listening intently as Celestia explained to her fellow monarchs the situation along the border, right down to the last bloody detail. The scariest part was that she got almost all of it right.

"That's horrible!" the pink and violet ones half-screamed in unison, glaring eyes like daggers shooting towards the ambassador. Finally, he had his chance. Here goes, then!

The griffon there never really bragged about it, but he had served his own nation faithfully for twenty years in their own pseudo-military. He was not afraid of anything his King asked of him, even if it meant intentionally starting a war, going against everything his political studies had taught him. Above all- and he would brag about this part- he was not afraid of death.

"That's hardly the entire story, Princesses," he began to say. A smile, while hardly capable of physically appearing across his beak, began to take hold of his mind. He was going to enjoy this. "I completely understand Princess Celestia's concern here, mind you all. I'd be worried, too, if a hostile force came over the border and started not only living, but mining on my own people's land. And in fact, I am quite worried that such a thing has already happened. That mining camp was, by any reasonable means, our land!" The ambassador was standing at this point, as though being on all fours would somehow allow him to get everypony angrier.

Luna soon joined him, her magically augmented voice echoing throughout the halls of the palace despite the all the doors being closed. "WHAT!" she cried, causing the other princesses to recoil in fear, though the ambassador stood his ground. Undeterred by his newfound resolve, however, Luna pushed that fight. "YOUR LAND? YOU DARE TO WALK INTO OUR CASTLE, NAY, OUR HOME, AND ACCUSE US, MY SELF, MY FAMILY, MY NATION OF STEALING YOUR LAND!"

A simple response. "Yes." The griffon was doing his best to appear calm and collected. He failed miserably, to say the least.

"WE DEMAND YOU RETRACT SUCH CLAIMS IMMEDIATLY!"

"I'm afraid I cannot do that, Princess Luna. In fact, I come with a demand of my own." He knew full well, of course, that it was actually Equestria's land. He knew as well that this would be the reaction. "I stand to demand that you remove your subjects from our land at once."

"No." To everypony's surprise, it was Celestia who spoke up now, joining her sister in standing, herself an intimidating height above the griffon.

"You refuse to relinquish our territory to us? This would mean war, Princess."

How quick these animals are to move straight to violence in the face of the unfamiliar, Celestia thought to herself. She looked over at Twilight and Cadence, who sat with worried looks on their faces, though nevertheless indifferent when faced with the option of war. Looking at Luna, she could tell her sister obviously approved. "So be it." she said.

Before the griffon could even begin to formulate the question of whether or not she should take the council of the rest of the princesses, however, Twilight's voice spoke up as she too stood. "So be it."

Cadence stood, joining her sister-in-law. "So be it."

Luna did her best to calm her voice before saying in a much quitter, if no more polite, tone, "So be it."

Celestia spoke once again. "Then we have an agreement. Guards, if you would escort this... thing to the dungeon. While you're at it, call for a royal messenger- I have a letter to write."

The griffon was dragged away by two unicorn stallions, there golden hued magic grasping tightly onto every inch of his body. "So be it!" he continued to call as he was "hostilely escorted" from the premises. "SO BE IT!"

Several hours later, the two celestial sisters had joined each other on a balcony overlooking the city of Canterlot. Cadence and Twilight had retired for the evening, though the solar alicorn doubted they'd get to much sleep. After a long, though not necessarily uncomfortable, silence, Celestia spoke up. "Sister, you will need to being training Twilight and Cadence the ways of war."

"Sister, are you sure Equestria is ready for war? I mean, it has been a thousand years since we've even spoken of the possibility. Are you certain our military forces are competent?"

"It is not our military I worry about- they are well trained and well armed, if inexperienced. It is those two who concern me."

"If I am to teach them, what will you be doing?" Luna's expression displayed genuine concern. Though she had always been the more militarily minded of the two, she didn't enjoy the concept of war itself.

"I will stay here, in Canterlot, to oversee the political side of things. Now, go. Get some rest."

Luna left without another word. She had a long ways to go before she would feel that Twilight and Cadence were ready for battle. It's going to be a long war...

Author's Note

Yay, another one! I know, Fearless is on hiatus, and a lot of you are probably mad at me for it. But just for the hay of it, let's see how this one does! EDIT: I kid you not, first fave in 14 seconds. That means a lot to me.

Chapter 1: Call to Arms

Outskirts of Ponyville, 1730 hours (no ongoing operation)

A familiar wind rushed up to greet Rainbow Dash as she continued to accelerate, cutting through the clouds high above the field as though they were butter. She stole a glance back at the ground, remembering to catalog everything she saw there, as she always did. Today, however, was different. As she looked down, she made special note of the pony watching her, whose mouth was gaped open in admiration. Like it had all those times before upon seeing, Dash's mouth couldn't help itself but to creep into a smile, slowly at first before it suddenly overcame her entire muzzle. Fluttershy never really came with her when she flew, choosing instead to sit on the ground and watch, so every single time they came out here, Dash went one hundred and fifty percent to impress the mare. And every single time, she felt like she would need a week long nap to get rid of the knots in her wings from pushing them so hard. But every single time, it was worth the pain to see that smile draped across her mouth.

Of course, Rainbow Dash would do just about anything to make any of her friends smile, short of flying across Equestria. But there was something about Fluttershy's smile that just did it for her, no matter how often she got to see it these days. Though she doubted it was the entire reason, she knew it played a big part in saying "yes" two years ago, to the day, when to her surprise, Fluttershy had flown up to her door to ask her to dinner. When Dash had tripped on her words at first, she'd gotten the opportunity to see sad Fluttershy- something she hoped to never need to repeat.

Flying at such high speeds, nopony could have reacted any better than Dash did when she slammed into a cloud, not causing any lasting damage to her routine, but nevertheless snapping her back into consciousness of what she was doing. Right then, she silently cursed herself. Routine now, cute flashbacks later. Letting herself get distracted was usually such a big "don't" for Dash, but she couldn't help it, at least not this time around.

Suddenly, she turned her attention straight up, her wings following her eyes, her body following her wings. She flew higher and higher, making sure to enjoy the feeling of the brisk wind that always blew at that altitude. When she finally reached her target height, she felt a slight updraft push against her, letting her know it was time. Almost immediately, she stopped flapping her wings, allowing herself to be carried mere feet by said updraft before falling backwards into a nose dive. She used her wings to gently glide slightly off where she had started her fall from, carefully positioning herself directly over Fluttershy before pushing as hard as she could. As she raced towards the ground, a familiar cone formed around her outstretched forelegs, the tip becoming more refined as she picked up speed. The cone itself seemed to become stressed under the pressure, its inanimate mind knowing that Dash would outlast it. Its resistance proven futile, it gave out in a massive, ringing explosion of colors behind Dash, directly above Fluttershy's head. A halo, then, Dash thought to herself, noticing the Rainboom forming above her marefriend's head. For my angel...

Another cloud, another shattered thought. Why does this keep happening to me? That thought, however, was quickly dismissed. Seeing that Rainboom over her head would undoubtedly have already made Fluttershy feel just as happy as any moment of her life (and she was very happy, very often), But Dash couldn't let herself stop there. No, that would make her a one-trick pony, and she was anything but. She wouldn't accept that from herself, and she knew all to well neither would the Wonderbolts.

Instead, she took herself back up to altitude, entering a slightly over-dramatic ninety-degree turn back into the air. Finally having room to not crash no matter what crazy stunt she was thinking about trying at these speeds, Dash began the higher risk portion of her routine- granted, said portion had yet to be planned. In fact, looking back on it, Dash had quickly decided that this was a very bad idea. She never really meant to sound like Twilight, but noticing that she thought it was a bad idea simply because she hadn't planned it reminded her of the violet alicorn, a fond memory welcomed by her mind. Oh come on, she thought. When has "bad idea" ever stopped Rainbow Dash? A series of barrel rolls and loops followed the thought, the wind against her face causing Dash to grin like a madmare.

The insane maneuvers finished, Dash decided it was time to gather a second opinion on the routine. Still flying at super sonic speeds, she ceased flapping her wings and pulled up, not allowing herself to be carried up with her body, but instead continuing to go forward. Pain coursed through her body as she felt her wings almost get torn straight off as she allowed her former momentum to catch up to her. Her forward motion finally stopped, she quickly succumbed to the laws of gravity, going into yet another dive straight towards her observer, this time at a much more gentle pace. As she arrived at the top of the hill whereupon Fluttershy was perched, she flared her wings one last time, bringing her hind legs down to the ground before she stood on all fours. Having only now realized just how much the routine took out of her, she turned to Fluttershy and managed to ask her in-between gasps for air, "How was that?"

The cyan mare didn't know what to expect, and thus was caught extremely off guard when her question was met not with words, but with a deep, passionate kiss from the other. Not wanting to be outdone, Dash gathered her remaining strength into her hind legs, thanking any powers-that-be that she hadn't actually been working them. Taking Fluttershy into her embrace, forelegs draped around the yellow pegasus's neck, Dash pushed off the ground, taking her lover onto her back as she showered the other mare with kisses. To the dismay of both parties involved, Dash was simply too out of breath to continue the kisses for any extended periods of time. When she did pull away, Fluttershy looked deep into her magenta eyes and whispered to her, "it was at least twenty percent cooler than last time." She wrapped her own forelegs around Dash's neck and pulled her closer, gently nuzzling the inside of her neck.

"Oh," Rainbow replied, only the slightest hint of irritation in her voice. Really, who could stay mad at Fluttershy? "So you're resorting to stealing my lines now?" She shot a look of "Really, 'Shy?" down at the other mare, an eyebrow raised questioningly.

"Oh, yes." The response came as little more than a whisper from behind Fluttershy's mane, which had been converted into something of a shield, the timid mare constantly hiding behind it. Her jade eyes barely poking out, she added a catchphrase of her own. "If... um... if that's OK with you..."

The cyan pony let out a small elation in response, as though to subconsciously say that it was. Her breath now fully restored, she leaned down from her position and pulled her marefriend into another kiss, this one lasting much, much longer. Their tongues danced for a while until Dash slowly pulled away, causing Fluttershy's head to follow her own upwards, not wanting the moment to end. "Happy anniversary, 'Shy. Do me a favor and never change."

She finally relieved herself from her position, stepping off to the side to allow Fluttershy to stand with her. She looked out on the horizon once more and saw the sun coming dangerously close to setting- there was still so much more to do that day, they would be running out of time if they didn't hurry. Extending a hoof to the pink-haired pony, who graciously accepted, Dash said to her, "It's almost sunset. We should get going if we're going to make it to dinner."

Fluttershy, now standing, gently brushed her mane out of her face. "Right then. Let's get going. If, you know..." she began to say, but was quickly cut off.

"Don't even think about it." Of course she'd be expecting that, Fluttershy thought to herself as she felt the other pegasus drape a wing over her body, using it to pull her closer. I just used it.

After a couple of minute of walking- the two walked almost everywhere to better accommodate Fluttershy's half-fear of flight- the rolling hills finally gave way to a view of the small town of Ponyville.

Alas, the timid one couldn't take it anymore. "So..." she began, surprised by Dash's sudden reaction, turning to Fluttershy almost immediately. Not letting herself be phased, however, she pressed on. "Where are we going, exactly?"

"So impatient, 'Shy." The yellow pony almost began apologizing instantly until she noticed the expression on her marefriend's face wasn't one of annoyance, but content. "First off, I need to stop by Rare's to pick something up. Then it's off to dinner at Garcôn's place." Dash looked deep into the other mare's eyes, and said softly, "Plus a special surprise later."

"Why would you need to go to Rarity's?" Fluttershy asked, her brain only being able to process one thing at a time before suddenly noticing the second part. At that moment, she performed a small dance that may have seemed normal to any passerby, but was known to her friends as "Fluttershy freaking out". It felt to her as though her heart had exploded, put itself back together, then exploded again. "We're going to Garcôn's?" Her voice, while audibly timid, contained an unbridled excitement, detectable only to a trained ear.

That glee, however, was cut off when the two of them bumped into a strange unicorn stallion for having not paid nearly enough attention to the road in front of them. Glancing up at him, Dash suddenly realized that he was staring back. "Miss Rainbow Dash, Miss Fluttershy?" He spoke in a low, monotone voice. Fluttershy took a few steps back, obviously intimidated by the stallion, so it was up to Dash to answer the question.

"Yes, that's us. Can we help you?" And would you be so kind as to get out of our way? She tried to keep the irritation out of her voice, she really did, but it couldn't be helped at this point.

Fortunately, the stallion didn't seem to notice. Or, he just didn't care. "Princess Twilight Sparkle requests your presence in the Council Chambers as soon as possible."

Twilight knew we had plans, though... "Yeah right. We're busy, Twilight can wait." Dash took a look back at her marefriend, who looked like she was getting ready to cry. It would probably take some time to console her. So much for a perfect night...

"She had feared that would be your reaction, and instructed me to pass on a message. Twilight can wait; Princess Twilight Sparkle can not." With that, he began to walk away, leaving two very confused ponies in his wake. Both of them knew exactly what he had meant by that- if Twilight was pulling rank, this was important.

The cyan pegasus turned around ever so slowly, an obvious look of dismay now adorning her almost always smiling face. "Come on, 'Shy. Let's go see what she wants."

Ponyville Castle, 1830 hours (no ongoing operation)

It was a short walk to Twilight's castle at the edge of the town, which left little time to think about just what it is that Princess Twilight Sparkle could want with the two lovers on the most important night of the year. The more she thought about it, though, the more Dash realized it was probably for the best that the stallion had gotten to them before they reached the Boutique- better to see Rarity here than having to search the town for her.

Dash's wing hadn't left it's position on Fluttershy's back since they had received the message, and to both parties delight, it seemed to do an pretty good job of calming her nerves. Opening the door into the castle itself, the two were met by Applejack, who wore an expression of impatience- a lot of impatience- on her face. "Well there ya two are! We've been waitin' for ya, come on!"

Walking into the council chambers that day was no different that any other, even the first- that is to say, nopony could help themselves but to feel pretty insignificant while they stood in that room. Applejack retook her seat, with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy doing the same. After a moment of extremely uncomfortable silence, Rarity finally spoke up. "Twilight, darling, are you going to tell us WHY you called us all here?"

Twilight, for her part, simply sighed a rather loud sigh. "I called you here today because I bring very bad news from Canterlot," Twilight began saying, slowly trying to get back into the "Princess" setting. "To put it in the words of Princess Luna, and I quote, 'Diplomacy has failed, like it always does for some reason. Now will be the time for action, the time for loyalty- the time for heroes.'"

A rather awkward silence filled the room, growing only stranger as the seconds passed, questioning looks on everypony's faces as they waited for Twilight to continue. "Girls, for the first time in a thousand years, Equestria is going to war." Twilight hung her head, as though ashamed to say the words aloud.

"That's bad an' all, but Ah really don't see what it has to do wit' any of us, Twi." Applejack broke the geas that had come over the friends.

"As Princess of Equestria, I'm to serve as a sort of military commander. That's the reason I was in Canterlot for a week rather than overnight- I practically locked myself in the library reading all the books I could find about stuff like that. Combined with Luna's teaching me, I feel as though I'm pretty ready.

"No matter how ready Equestria is, however, we lack the numbers to do this. The griffons themselves we can handle, but recent reports suggest they've allied with the zebras, and we don't have the kind of force to take them both on. I've read the reports myself, and despite my limited understanding of the situation, they seem to be legitimate. So, Luna and Celestia decided on a draft.

"After the whole Tirek thing, my influence in this nation expanded greatly. I worked my hardest to keep you girls out of it, but it only goes so far. The census bureau has far more power than me in the case of a draft for war."

Twilight breathed out yet another heavy sigh, reluctant to say the words she had spent so much time practicing, freaking out and losing sleep over. "All but one name was kept out of it. I'm sorry, I truly am, but Rainbow Dash is coming with me to the border to serve on a base out that way."

Everypony's jaws hit the floor, literally in the case of Pinkie Pie. No words were spoken for quite some time, Twilight's head hung low as the other five simply stared at her.

"I'm really sorry, Dash," Twilight finally spoke up. "You've always been loyal to your friends. Now I have to ask you, hopefully only once, to be loyal to your country."

Author's Note

Universe, thank you for letting me finish this. That makes me really freaking happy. As for all of you, I hope it makes you all happy too! Please, let me know what you think!

Chapter 2: To Ease the Pain, Part One

Carousel Boutique, Ponyville, 1845 hours (no ongoing operation)

"So then... If you're not going to use them..." Rarity finally said, breaking the welcomed silence. She had only been sitting with Dash and Fluttershy in the Boutique for a few minutes before no longer being able to control herself. However, as she always told... well, anypony, really, ignoring a problem never actually fixed it. Be it as it may that ignoring the problem certainly made it feel better, that kind of "feeling better" was a lot like spending the day at Sugarcube Corner with no spending limit- sure it would feel good, but unless your name was Pinkie Pie, your heart was going to explode due to the sugar intake. Really, you can't go to Sugarcube Corner without blowing your entire budget at Sugarcube Corner. It was like a Sonic Rainboom, or Dreamwalking. Sure, it was possible, but only one pony out there could do it without hurting themselves. Stay focused, Rarity, the white unicorn thought to herself, noticing her thoughts going off on such a tangent. This is about Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, not... cupcakes.

Dash gave a long, heavy sigh, not like the others she had given all these years. It wasn't like a sigh she would give when she lay down for a nap after a long day of training of cloudbusting, nor was it like the sigh when she had told the rest of the girls about her and Fluttershy. No, this was different- for the first time in her life (as far as she could remember, at least), she was genuinely depressed, and it wasn't something a good flying session would fix. "Yes, Rarity. You can have our reservations."

Dash didn't want to talk. Fluttershy could see that. She could also see that Rarity didn't see that. Love the mare though she may, sometimes that unicorn could be so... oblivious to the needs and true desires of others short of physically hurting them- quite unbecoming for the former Element of Generosity and current representative for Selflessness on Twilight's Council of Friendship. Dash usually enjoyed talking so much, and Fluttershy was a pretty good listener, never being able to bring herself to interrupt when her marefriend was regaling her with a tale of her own aerial exploits. So much did the cyan pony enjoy talking that Fluttershy remembered one date night the two had a while back, where she wanted to say so much that dinner had been prepared, gone cold, and needed to be reheated before she remembered the reason she was at the cottage.

So fond were those memories that the other pegasus was frightened when Dash didn't want to talk, even if was just idle chatter. Timid as she may be, she was more than willing to interrupt Rarity if it meant at least trying to make Dash a little more comfortable. "That does seem a little excessive for a first date, doesn't it, Rarity? With a stallion who just caught your eye and you knowing nothing about him?" Silently, she cursed herself for even bringing that up. While it was true at this point that she had far more romantic experience than the unicorn, she really needed to learn how to watch her tongue when she talking about Rarity's love life, lest she live in the fear of having it ripped out in a light blue magical haze.

"First impressions are everything, darling. You of all ponies should know that." Rarity glanced away from the chromatic mane that now found rest atop her table towards Fluttershy. "Though I suppose that you two really have known each other forever, haven't you?" A groan escaped from Dash's mouth, causing the two other mares to look at her with concern. She said nothing, but Rarity nevertheless was able to take *that* hint. "Well then, dears. It's still your anniversary tonight, and if I must, I will force you to make the most of it." With that, she stood up from her seat and began to walk towards the foyer of the shop, calling out a small "I'll be right back" to the couple in her dining room.

Slowly, Fluttershy wrapped a wing around the other pegasus, just like it had been done to her all those times before, leaning in and gently nuzzling the inside of the cyan neck. "So... no Garcôn's." Undoubtedly, the response would be negative. Fluttershy hated negative. Thus, the only logical thing to do was continue without waiting for a response that was going to be something she hated. "You're coming to my place then. I'll cook us something, and we can cuddle by the fire and read, or go stargazing, or..."

Dash lifted her head from the table for the first time since they had gotten to Rarity's place. She looked over at Fluttershy, instantly greeted by the deep blue eyes of the other mare, so full of caring and passion. A small giggle, not big enough to pull her out of the depths of despair but certainly enough to relieve some of the tension in her aching heart, left Dash's mouth. "You're starting to remind me of Twilight. It's... It's kinda freaking me out."

Those words almost literally made Fluttershy's heart melt. Not because of what was said, but because it almost sounded happy coming from the mouth of a newly appointed- and utterly disappointed- soldier. Knowing that she could make Dash happy was all she ever really wanted from herself, all the way back to when she was just a little filly. She leaned over and rested her muzzle on the cyan neck beside her as Rarity proudly marched into the room, Rainbow Dash's saddlebags covering her own cutie mark.

The fact that Rarity not only had, but was wearing Dash's saddlebags confused Fluttershy beyond what any reasonable mind would have thought possible. She stole a look away from Rarity back towards the cyan pegasus, but quickly let down her guard upon noticing that Dash wasn't in the slightest bit worried or confused. If anything, she seemed to become re-depressed upon seeing them. That special surprise she mentioned, maybe?

Using her magic, Rarity lay the saddlebags next to the exit of her shop, then turned to face the kitchen. She caught sight of her houseguests and motioned for them to come to the door, saying to them, "Come on now, darlings. I told you before, it's your anniversary. Making the most of it is not spending the night in the Boutique, marvelous though it may be." A friendly, though somehow mischievous grin crept upon her face. "Besides, I've got a date to prepare for as well."

Fluttershy was out the door when Rarity turned to face Dash, who was still in the boutique, though she was getting ready to leave any moment. Her saddlebags secured firmly secured on her flanks, she began walking out the door, only to catch Rarity whispering in her ear. "Are you sure you're ready for this, Dash? It's a big jump..."

Dash sighed once again, knowing how disappointed her friend was going to be with the bad news. "Not tonight, Rares. I just... I can't do it." With a heavy heart, she left the boutique. All that planning, thrown out the door by five little words.

You're going to war, Dash.

Fluttershy's cottage, Ponyville outskirts, 1930 hours (no ongoing operations)

The rest of the night went about as expected- that is to say, it would've been a wonderful evening if it weren't for the foul mood in the air. True to her word, Fluttershy had cooked up a small dinner for her and her marefriend, and true to her word, Dash had barely touched it before claiming to be full. Not willing to argue, Fluttershy let it go. True, it was something of a regular occurrence for Dash to come over and almost devour the house (even for a pony as athletic as her, Fluttershy couldn't help but wonder how much of Dash was actually pony with an appetite that strong). After clearing the small table outside the cottage, the two pegasi sat it comfortable silence, watching the sunset, huddled together as close as the could be without suffocating each other.

Just as Celestia's sun fell below the horizon to make gangway for Luna's moon in the skies over Equus, a sudden sigh escaped the butter pegasus. "It's our first date all over again, isn't it?"

Rainbow Dash, for her part, simply lay there, her read resting upon the other's chest. Fluttershy was right- it was there first date. They'd had dinner, followed by watching the sunset, albeit that evening was for more romantic than awkward. She remembered Twilight remarking how cute the demiromanticism of the situation was, but Dash just didn't get it. Then again, she never really gave much thought to any romance, let alone one with her long-time fillyhood friend. She learned that night just how wrong she was- and never had she been so happy to be that wrong. Usually, being wrong meant being seriously injured, and thus being in the hospital. Fluttershy made that illusion come crashing down around her, something she would forever be grateful for. Despite whatever anypony might think of her, Dash understood that she didn't know everything. That was supposed to be reason for the special night, apart from celebration of the two year mark.

She needed answers.

Several minutes passed before she was ready to get them, though. The stars poked their shiny heads through the veil of the blackened sky, one by one, as the night began to take its hold over the nation. Luna brought them all out for the occasion, after Twilight wrote a letter to the Princess of the Moon to call in a favor. Rarity may have been the Element of Generosity, but even with Twilight being a princess, having another of them owe you a favor was a big deal- the kind of big deal that could get you really far in life. Of course, Twilight refused to tell Dash what all that favor encompassed, though, so it came as a bit of shock to everypony when the sky began to bleed all the colors of the rainbow, a beautiful aurora covering over some of the stars, replacing them with something much prettier- and rarer. As the ribbons of color danced through the sky, Dash turned to her marefriend.

"Hey, 'Shy?"

Fluttershy took a moment to respond, immediately recognizing the cyan pegasus's voice but not wanting to give up the moment, so enamored was she with the sight before her. She did, however, sense a slight hint of worry in Dash's voice, and no amount of beauty in the sky was going to keep her from the beauty at her side. She turned to her side, met with questioning, innocent magenta eyes, if such a thing would have been possible for a mare like Rainbow Dash. "Hm? Oh, what is it, Dash?"

Rainbow Dash swallowed, the gulping noise piercing through the silent night, save for the chirping of the crickets from the edge of the Everfree Forest. Dash would never know how, but Fluttershy had somehow been convinced, likely by herself, to get the animals out of the cottage for the night, adding to the romance of the evening. After all, if Dash's happiness meant more to Fluttershy than the animals, there wasn't likely anything on earth that would stop that pegasus from doing whatever it took to see her marefriend happy. "Why do you love me?"

Fluttershy hesitated. True, in the two years they had been dating, Dash had never told Fluttershy that she loved her, too. But she had always assumed that it would eventually come down to Dash breaking up with her or Dash coming to the conclusion that she did in fact love her too. Either way, Dash would be able to be happy- and that was all Fluttershy ever asked for. That being said, right now, what was going to make her happy was an answer to a question the pink-maned pegasus never expected to hear nor answer. It was unquestionably, undeniably true- she did love Rainbow Dash, and made it a point to say so quite frequently. Why she loved her though... hopefully something would come to her on the spot.

Unfortunately, Dash noticed the hesitation before she could begin to give her answer. "Never mind." Depression leaked into her voice, cracking it up as small tears found their way into the cyan pony's eyes. "It was a stupid question."

"No, it wasn't." Fluttershy took advantage of the fact that Dash was looking right at her, seizing the opportunity to plant a quick kiss on her lover's lips. "I love you because... well, because you're you." Ignoring the look of confusion on Dash's face, she pressed on. "Rainbow Dash is kind. She's caring, she's generous, she's honest, she's happy almost all the time. She's loyal, too, of course. Do you remember way back when we were just little fillies, during that race when I fell from Cloudsdale?"

Dash nodded in reply as Fluttershy lay down on her haunches, maneuvering herself into facing the visibly brighter face in front of her. "When I fell off that cloud, I was scared beyond belief. Sure, I was so happy when I got to see the butterflies and meet all the animals, but still." Dash couldn't help herself but smile as Fluttershy slipped into her "storyteller" mode, any semblance of the shyness that had formerly dominated her persona melting away as she finally settled down. "An hour passed on the ground, and I had just started wondering how I was going to get home. That wonder slipped to worry, which turned to fear. Then, the most incredible thing happened. I saw you." Rainbow's cheeks flushed as she remembered flying down from Cloudsdale to see if the filly she'd never even bothered to learn the name of was OK. After all, it was technically her fault that Fluttershy had fallen in the first place.

"You came and found me that evening, and you stayed with me that night. Seeing how helpless I was, I'm not sure I would have blamed you if you just left me there and forgot about me. I probably would have just left me there and forgotten about me. But not you. You stayed the entire night with me. I actually woke up before you- you never left my side. When I told you I couldn't fly back up to Cloudsdale, you tried to carry me. You tried the whole day, and conceded on 'resting' rather than giving up. You just wanted to get us home.

"When morning came again, I told you to stop, and you argued. So you carried me over the forest to look for somepony to help me. You carried me all the way to Ponyville. You never left me, and I could never thank you enough for it. That's how loyal you were- loyal enough to stick by a pony you barely even knew whereas everypony else had simply given up on her. I've always loved that about you. But that's not the reason I love you.

"I love you because you are unquestionably, undeniably Rainbow Dash. My marefriend, Rainbow Dash."

It didn't even take a second before Fluttershy's back became pinned to the ground, her wings flaring out as Dash sprang forward and pushed her down, a deep, passionate kiss planted firmly on her lips. "Thank you. For that. It's just what I needed," she whispered into Fluttershy's ear as she broke the kiss.

"It's no problem. You should know that by now."

It was well past eleven o'clock by the time the two had found their way from their positions in front of the cottage's fireplace into bed. It was their anniversary, after all, and it would have been such a shame to let the day's more intimate moments go to waste. After the more passionate parts of being a couple, though, Rainbow Dash was at a loss. She couldn't help but worry, maybe for the first time in forever, for her own safety. She'd made her life goal to join the Wonderbolts, Equestria's premier show team, after all. Personal risk was to be expected from them, and honestly, she'd never really paid it any mind. Until war, that is.

Maybe she wasn't as egghead- well-read, Dash reminded herself- as Twilight, but after being introduced to Daring Do, she'd broadened her horizons considerably. She'd read war novels before, and she had to admit, she loved them. They were good reads, until she was confronted with the idea of practically participating in one. She understood death. And Rainbow Dash was afraid.

She was snapped out of her thoughts by a pair of yellow hooves wrapping around her chest. She mumbled something incomprehensible, only to be met with a soft whisper from their owner. "You know, Dash, the way I see it, you've got two choices. Either you fall asleep, here and now, in my hooves, or you fall asleep on the train tomorrow without them and probably get laughed at by that commander Twilight was talking about. You know which one I'd prefer."

Hearing the words, Dash couldn't stop herself from smiling. "I know, 'Shy." She sighed in contentment, adding, "I love you."

Half expecting Fluttershy to explode from hearing those three words for the first time from her mouth, she was only about two percent disappointed when the only words that met her back "I love you, too."

The yellow pegasus's grip around her tightened, and Dash thought back to the conversation she'd had with Rarity earlier that day. I just... I can't do it. She wanted to, she really did, but she didn't think that she could. Until she heard those four words back. I love you, too. They served to strengthen her resolve, turning the thread of her mind into solid steel. She was ready. She really was.

"Fluttershy, will you..." she began, but was stopped as a soft snore, almost imperceptible, caught her ears, signaling that Fluttershy was fast asleep. "You're right, 'Shy."

She let out a sigh and lay her head on the pillow bellow her. Just before sweet sleep overtook her, she whispered into the nothingness of the night, "It's a bad time for that, anyways."

Author's Note

Continuity. It's a thing that happens now.
Well, I'm two days late on this chapter, at least. Honestly, I thought one of my editors/proofreaders was going to kill me in my sleep before today, but it turns out that none of them have really been doing their jobs lately. So, this may actually be full of mistakes that cause me to end up with 100 dislikes. Thanks a lot, guys.

demiromanticism- how many of you actually know what that word means? if you do, congrats. Seriously.

I really do apologize. I try my best all the time, but I'm just not that good at writing "fluff". Hey, I guess we call it a learning experience, right? Enjoy, everypony!

Chapter 3: To Ease the Pain, Part Two

Fluttershy's cottage, Ponyville outskirts, 0600 hours (no ongoing operations)

Dash woke up that morning to a surprising feeling- or rather, a surprising lack of feeling. She glanced down at her chest, noticing she was no longer held tight in Fluttershy's embrace. Looking over her shoulder, she caught no sight of owner of the bed she now lay upon. She did, however, have a pretty good idea of where said pony was, hearing the scamper of little paws dashing across the floor downstairs.

She got out of bed gently as not to disturb herself from her still dreary state of consciousness, and let out a deep yawn as she stretched her wings. Slowly, she walked over to the window, as though silently wishing that by walking slowly time would stop for her. Gently, she grabbed the curtains of the cottage's window and pulled them open, recoiling immediately as the bright sun shone right into her eyes. Note to self, remember to tell Princess Celestia that the sun doesn't need to be at full brightness at... She shot a peek over at Ponyville's clock tower in the distance, giving silent thanks to her unnaturally incredible eyesight. ... six o'clock in the morning. She turned around and began to walk towards the stairs, only to suddenly realize the first thing that was wrong that morning. Why am I awake at six in the morning?

Giving up searching for such answers, she resumed her walk, albeit with slightly more determination in her step. She was, after all, a soldier, or rather, airpony now, so she assumed that she'd better start acting like it. Complaining about waking up this early for once around ponies who had been doing it their entire professional lives was no way to make friends, if the novels she read were any indication of the truth. After all, they got published, so they had to be at least somewhat accurate, right?

As she neared the bottom of the staircase, she caught sight of the source of the noises she had heard earlier- the animals, every single one of them, were back at Fluttershy's place. She had told them only one night, after all. Rather than continue to mentally complain, however, Dash decided to try to have the morning enter a more positive note in her book, smiling as she caught sight of the caretaker, who was flying around between the living room and kitchen, trying to get the meals ready for all the animals. She smiled even brighter when Fluttershy began to fly over to her, and her smile was accompanied by a slight blush when she planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Nice to see you, too, 'Shy." Dash said as she herself kissed the cheek of her lover. "How'd you sleep?"

Truth be told, neither of the two had slept particularly well for the same reasons. Worry, however, would not serve either of the mare's purposes. Part of the reason she'd woken up so early to feed her animal friends was, in fact, to take her mind off of that worry. Be it as it may that it failed miserably, seeing her marefriend's smile that morning was all Fluttershy needed to justify her sudden elation. "I slept fine, Dash," she lied. "And I have something for you." She extend a hoof towards the middle of the living room.

"And what might that be?" Dash replied, following Fluttershy's hoof, suddenly finding her heartbeat quickening as the excitement began to boil over in her veins. As such, she was completely crushed when there was nothing exciting in the center of the living room. Rather, there was a clothes rack, with but two garments hanging from it- a navy blue jacket with several small, gold plates adorning it in various locations, and a white cover, emblazoned with a gilded representation of the symbol for the Equestrian Air Force on its front above the brim.

"Twilight had these sent over sometime last night with this note." Fluttershy began flying back over to Dash, somehow having gotten over to the clothes rack and back before the ever-attentive pegasus even realized she'd moved.

That's an Equestrian Air Force uniform, Dash thought to herself, silently hoping this was some kind of sick joke Luna was playing on herself, hoping she would wake up at any moment. A second passed, then two, and nothing happened. She didn't wake up, and she didn't hear any of the Princess of the Night's famous laughter, a tell-tale sign of when she was playing a joke on somepony. This is really happening...

She took the note in her wing and opened it up, instantly recognizing the flawlessness of Twilight's magical writing. Slowly, her mind began to process that the letter was written in cursive, and her eyesight adjusting accordingly.

Rainbow Dash,

I needed to say this, and it seemed more appropriate to do it in a way that could be deemed private, rather than giving some kind of speech in front of all our friends at the station. I am sorry, just so you know. I know that you had big plans for last night, and it was never my intention to ruin that for you. I won't bother asking if you'd prefer I waited, because I already know the answer. But I really do believe that it's better this way. It wouldn't do to have her waiting for that, would it? Last time I checked, she was oblivious to your intentions.

Yet, I digress. I'm writing to you rather than waiting to see you sometime later today to invite you to Pinkie Pie's send-off party for the soldiers here in Ponyville. For a pony like her, she seems to be handling this idea pretty maturely. It starts at noon, ending at three when the train leaves for Canterlot. Show up in uniform, would you? I know you hate this idea, but that uniform is the entire idea of the party. I'm sure it would mean a lot to everypony.

Your friend, Twilight Sparkle.

P.S. I'm not your commander until we reach Astral Harbor. Please continue to consider me your friend.

Dash was abruptly pulled back into the land of the living by the sound of her marefriend's gentle voice, only barely loud enough to hear. "What does it say?"

Met with Fluttershy's jade eyes as she looked up, she understood what Twilight meant. She had such an innocent soul, if there ever were such a thing. She didn't deserve that kind of pressure on her, especially not while Dash was away for what very well might be months on end. "Nothing important," Dash replied, her voice dropping its usual tone to match Fluttershy's volume. As far as the cyan pegasus was concerned, she hadn't lied. Nothing in that letter was of any consequence until noon that day. "Just an invitation to a party Pinkie's throwing at noon today." She shot a quick look at the jacket in the center of the room, then looked back at Fluttershy, as if refusing to acknowledge its existence.

Of course, the sun and stars be damned if Fluttershy was going to let that happen. It wasn't the uniform that made a soldier- it was a drive, or in Dash's case, an overabundance of paperwork. "Are you at least going to try it on?"

The cyan pegasus' eyes almost- almost, mind you- shuddered at the idea of actually wearing it. She was more than content to simply allow it to stay where it was and never bother her again. Go bother somepony else, would you? she mentally screamed, as though somehow that thought would make it grow wings and fly away, never to be heard from again.

To her surprise, and not a little concern for her sanity, it did no such thing, but rather resigned to taunting her. Can't go bother somepony else, Dash. See the nameplate? I was made just for you. Get over it.

"I'd really rather not." The statement was met with no amount of understanding, every last ounce of any semblance of clarity devoured by uncertainty and confusion. There was a sudden tension in the room, a kind of feeling deep inside the pit of Dash's stomach that made itself known by way of a knowing that Fluttershy wasn't about to let it go. Worry though she may for her marefriend's safety, she had a responsibility to Dash to help her get accustomed to her new future. "We have six hours before I technically have to do anything with it, anyways."

"Really, Dash? Procrastination? What would Spitfire think if..."

"You do not get to use her name. Not here, not anywhere, not now, not anytime."

"I was just going to ask what the Captain of the Wonderbolts would think is she caught you saying things like that..." Fluttershy countered, now firmly planted on the floor and recoiling away from the harsh noise that had become Rainbow Dash's voice at the mention of her mare- er, ex-marefriend. Really, she'd meant nothing by it. She wasn't even aware it was still that sensitive of a subject.

Suddenly, the yellow one noticed Dash staring blankly at the ground, eyes closed, a tear beginning to well up between her eyelids. "I know, 'Shy. I'm... I'm sorry I freaked out like that." She turned her head around as if to look at the door, despite not moving an inch otherwise, as though she was ashamed to even hold her head in Fluttershy's direction. After all, it was Dash's fault she'd snapped, it was her fault she'd put off reality for so long. And here she was, trying to give the single most innocent pony in Equestria part of her punishment for it. Disgusting, Rainbow Dash. Just disgusting.

For all her wallowing, though, she was met with a most unexpected, but certainly not unwelcome, response- Fluttershy being Fluttershy. "It's ok, Dash. I shouldn't have brought it up..." she replied, her own head mimicking the other mare's, staring off into the distance to the other side of the couple.

That picture right there made Dash just about as happy as anypony would be under her current circumstances. "You really want me to try it on, 'Shy?" She was met with a nod in return, suddenly faced with bright jade eyes looking right at her. It wasn't to say that Fluttershy's head had simply teleported into place; it was simply to say that Dash had no recollection of the space in between looking away and looking right at her. "Fine, then, I guess. But only for you, you hear me?"

As she began walking away towards the clothes rack, she heard Fluttershy's voice behind her calling, "Until noon today, that is." She shot a glare back towards the base of the staircase, now noticing the note the other pegasus held in her hooves. Dash rolled her eyes and re-began her progress towards her worst nightmare. She was met with yet another small note resting gently atop the hanger, and added it to her ever-growing list of things about her friends that she may need to know some day- Twilight REALLY liked sticky notes.

Welcome to the Air Force, Second Lieutenant Rainbow Dash.

Second Lieutenant? That can't be right. Suddenly, those war novels became much more helpful than Dash would have preferred anything book-related to be- it meant that she would have to admit Twilight was right. Books actually did usually have an answer, more often than not the right one. Officer's rank, officer's bars, but no officer's education. I'm not an academy graduate... Then it clicked. Wonderbolts Academy, right. Taking it off the rack, she gently draped it over her back, for some reason wanting to keep it professional looking. She was no Rarity, but she could certainly understand the term "presentable" when it served her own agenda.

Slowly, she turned her head over her shoulder. Fluttershy took the hint and said ever-so-softly, but loudly enough to be heard, "Remember, it's for me. Plus, if it doesn't fit, we'll have to talk to Rarity about getting it so it does."

"Why Rarity? Everypony knows you've got all that freaky knowledge of sewing in that brain of yours." Dash rebuked, knowing full well that the timid mare wouldn't feel comfortable doing any adjustments herself. Without any response, however, she took the jacket off her back and got ready to put it on. It was also the first time she'd took the time to really feel the uniform- it wasn't exactly the most comfortable thing on earth, but then again, she'd been "flash-dressed" by Rarity in the middle of a flight before, and could have sworn that whatever stuff came out of that unicorn's mind was purely for looks, never to make the pony wearing them comfortable. It might not be so bad, after all.

Ponyville, 1200 hours (no ongoing operations)

Curses, Fluttershy. Remind me how you got me to do this? Of course, it would have looked extremely suspicious to say that out loud, so Dash was forced to keep her discontent to herself. As the two walked through the streets of small, old Ponyville, Dash's mind was barely able to comprehend the number of soldiers, sailors, and airponies that lived in the town. Given its, well, pathetic population, it shouldn't have been possible for there to have been that many of them. Of course, the more she thought about it, the more it seemed possible, if not likely. After all, it wasn't so small a village that the pegasus mare knew everypony's name, let alone their backgrounds.

That didn't make it any more bearable, walking through Ponyville for four hours in that Celestia-forsaken uniform. Not that Dash of all ponies enjoyed using the goddess's name in vain, but come on. She knew for a fact that she would never need to wear that thing for more than a couple of hours at a time, not four. Not once did she complain though, at least not since the two had left the Boutique, anyways. She'd complained quite a bit during breakfast. But no more- after all, there was a party going on, and sour moods worked like no other to ruin the mood.

Stepping into Sugarcube Corner, however, the couple found it surprisingly almost devoid of ponies, apart from the Cakes, glimpsed though the saloon-style doors at the back of the shop. There was, however, a low, beating noise coming from the back, sounding like it might have been outside. While they were in the process of wondering why they hadn't heard it from outside, however, Mrs. Cake's voice called out to them from the kitchen. "Hello there, girls! Party's in back if you're here for that." She came though the doors to the kitchen, a platter of small pastries on her back. For the life of her, Dash would never understand how she did that. However, she settled on it being "like Pinkie Pie- you just don't ask". "If you're not, can I get you two anything?"

"No thanks, Mrs. Cake," Fluttershy replied. "We actually are here for the party." It wasn't until then that Mrs. Cake actually turned to face the ponies who had come into her store. Seeing Dash in dress blues, her jaw nearly hit the floor. That was saying something- she did live and work with Pinkie Pie, of all ponies. Of course, living and working with Pinkie Pie had taught the earth mare how to pick her jaw up off the floor very quickly, and just as suddenly she put on her friendly smile. After all, this was Rainbow Dash she was seeing. She should have been to busy either napping or training for the Wonderbolts to have even considered the Air Force.

The two pegasi walked through the shop's back door out into the yard behind the small building and came to the answer of why they hadn't heard the noise. Somepony must have complained about it, because Twilight had erected a large-area soundproofing spell around the yard. There was a small stage set up towards the back, edging the wall of the spell, and atop it was a DJ's table and Ponyville's very own Vinyl Scratch working it. The song had been switched, however, and Vinyl looked bored beyond belief with the slow, formal dancing type music she'd been requested to play.

"Dashie, Fluttershy! You guys made it!" Pinkie Pie didn't quite shout at them, as not to ruin the mood of Equestria's heroes having sharing a dance with their special someponies, but it was loud enough to convey the excitement in her voice.

Fluttershy was a split second from responding before being pre-interrupted by Rainbow Dash. "Wouldn't miss it for the life of me, Pinkie, but," she shot a quick glance to Fluttershy, who was now swaying gently with the soft beat of the music, then looked back at the pink party pony. "Could you give us a few minutes? 'Shy's really liking this song, and I'm not about to let my last three hours with my marefriend go to waste"

"Oh, I get it!" Pinkie nodded her head in an almost violent fashion before turning around and walking back towards the food table, seemingly intent on speaking with Twilight for some reason or another.

Dash turned back to said mare, and quietly asked over the music, "May I have this dance?"

Fluttershy hid behind her mane, as she usually did when confronted by those kinds situations, but held out her hoof and nodded anyways. Dash took it in her own, and not quite dragged Fluttershy out to the makeshift dance floor.

Pinkie had, for her part, found her way over to Twilight, and both now stood watching the couples swaying to the music. With no warning at all, the pink earth pony turned to Twilight and asked her, not loudly enough to be heard by anypony else, "Have you ever noticed how out of character Dash acts when she's around Fluttershy? It kind of freaks me out, Twi."

Eyes widened, the alicorn looked down at her confused, and said without mimicking the tone, "I'm not even going to ask what that means." She shoved her hoof into the now opening mouth next to her, and continued. "I gave up asking means I really don't want the answer, Pinkie." She withdrew her hoof and began walking to... somewhere.

Pinkie Pie just tilted her head to the side. Maybe nopony else saw it, but she knew what was going on, and it confused her beyond belief. "What is with everypony all of a sudden?"

Ponyville train station, 1500 hours (no ongoing operation)

Three hours passed without incident. The party got more upbeat as time went on, much to Vinyl's delight. At about two thirty, though, it died down as ponies began to migrate from Sugarcube Corner over to Ponyville Station. Dash was one of the last ones there, having been one of the last ones to leave the party. The party was comfort, familiar. It made sense she would want to stay there, but Twilight's reminder had gotten her up and over to the station. Not being there means dishonorable discharge. Dishonorable discharge means the Wonderbolts would never even think about accepting me, Dash thought to herself as she trotted towards her inevitable fate.

As the station drew into view, Dash was met with a most welcome sight- all of her friends- minus Fluttershy, who was at her side- had shown up to see her off. Or maybe it was to see everypony else off. One could never be sure about things like that. There was Rarity, and lined up next to her were Applejack and Pinkie Pie, and... Is that Zecora? Haven't seen her in forever.

"There ya are, Dash!" It was Applejack's voice calling out to them from the lineup, her unmistakable accent more of a signal than her lips actually moving. As Dash and Fluttershy drew nearer, she trotted over to them, now walking by their side, and started speaking again. "We all came to see ya'll off. Even got ya some gifts to keep yer company out there." With that, the farmpony reached into her saddlebag with her mouth and pulled out a rather large glass of cider- the hard stuff, not the pansy stuff she would give the foals. Dash was a bit of a lightweight, but that was no reason why she couldn't have some of the fun brew. Slipping it into Dash's saddlebag, she said to her, "That's for if ya need ta' take yer mind off something later on. Or if ya need to remember home. Either one works, Ah suppose."

They finally reached the loading platform, and Dash replied, "Thanks, AJ. That means a lot, actually." The liveliness in her voice from the party was gone, replaced with a mixture of depression and dread. She turned to the other ponies assembled there and said, "AJ says you girls have got something for me?"

While the others simply nodded, Pinkie Pie's face became redder that normal, not out of embarrassment, but out of rage. "Applejack! You Pinkie Promised you wouldn't ruin the surprise!"

Ignoring the looks of confusion from everypony else, the tan pony responded simply by saying, "Ah didn't tell 'er, Pinks. Calm down."

With that, Pinkie Pie's mood did a one-eighty. "Oh. Okie-dokie, then!"

Meanwhile, Dash had walked off to speak with Zecora, who seemed to be getting impatient. "Hey, Zecora. Feels like I haven't talked to you in forever."

"Indeed it does, Dash, my friend. We must find time to 'hang' again." Dash tried her best to suppress a small giggle at Zecora trying to do the whole "cool talk" thing with her, and was only barely able to hide her amusement. She smiled, though, and the zebra continued. "I'm sure you have things to do, so let me present this gift to you. I have with me this mighty brew, to stop the pain when it ensues. You'll think clearly until the day is done. A spoonful a day and the battle is won!" Zecora now wore a massive grin across her face, obviously quite proud of herself for brewing such a powerful potion. And for such a powerful potion brewer, that was saying something.

"Wow," Dash replied. Though she would never admit it, her amazement for the amount of talent that went into mastering potion brewing or the arcane arts never really ceased to grow. "Thanks, Zecora. That sounds pretty useful, actually."

"No need to thank me, Rainbow Dash! I'm happy to help with your appointed task."

Dash walked over to Rarity, who seemed to be in a much better mood than the zebra was originally. "What about you?"

Rarity reeled back. "Rainbow Dash, manners!" Seeing no response from the pegasus, however, she let it go. "As for your gift, I actually resigned to helping dear Fluttershy with hers."

Rainbow turned around and was met with the sight of her marefriend stretching over her, putting something around the top of her ear. With her wing, she reached up and grabbed it, then pulled it in front of her eyes. She was met with a small ring, the kind newlywed unicorns would wear around their horns. "It's beautiful, 'Shy, but there's a problem. I'm not a unicorn."

Fluttershy just giggled, but soon realized it was a legitimate question. "Well, since you're not actually allowed to wear jewelry while your out there, a lot of soldiers wear rings like this around the chain of their dog tags. It seemed kind of awkward picturing you with a hoof ring dangling from your neck is all." The shy mare came back to the ground, and looked deep into her marefriend's eyes. "But you have to promise me one thing, Dash."

For Fluttershy, Dash was more than prepared to promise the world, and would happily die trying to get it. Well, maybe not happily, but willingly. "Anything at all."

The statement was not met with words, but rather a kiss, planted firm on her lips. Not a sweaty, passionate kiss, but a gentle, loving one. Several seconds later, Fluttershy pulled away and whispered into her marefriend's ear, "Remember me."

Dash smiled, wrapping a hoof around Fluttershy's neck and softly nuzzling her. "You'd be too hard to forget, anyways."

She was just about to go in for another kiss when the conductor suddenly shouted out his famous "All aboard!" She sighed and stood up, making sure to add, "I love you," in a gentle whisper to her lover's ear.

Just as she got through the doors of the train, she heard Fluttershy calling out behind her. "I love you, too, Rainbow Dash." The doors closed, and the train took off towards Canterlot. She glanced down at the small vial of potion and smaller ring next to her dog tags and immediately felt the pain of leaving. It's going to be a long war.

Author's Note

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. A thousand words accomplishes much less than they think it does.
Credit for Zecora's speaking part goes to Rough_Draft at http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Rough_Draft
I encourage you all to go read his stories!

Sorry for the slow updates, I really do try to work on them more often, but I get distracted so easily! As always, your criticisms are most welcome, be they constructive or destructive, friendly or explicit, et cetera. If it is destructive, however, please stop being a jackass. I won't delete your comment, but it's still not nice.

Also, I wonder how long this pattern of my chapters getting progressively longer is going to go on. It'll probably end next chapter, anyways.

Chapter 4: Leaving Home

Open track between Canterlot and Ponyville, 1530 hours (Report assignment, Operation Invictus [Fourth Fleet])

Thirty minutes. It was a mere thirty minutes along the three hour train ride to Canterlot before Dash could no longer take it. There was a Fluttershy-shaped hole in her chest, and fortunately for her, liquids like hard cider would conform to any shaped container given enough of it. Why do I even know what any of that means? She groaned to herself, taking care to make it quiet enough that nopony else could hear her. Twilight's really getting to me, isn't she?

She'd never admit it to herself, Dash really did owe a lot to Twilight- without her coming to Ponyville all those years ago. Without the threat of eternal night, she never would have met four of her greatest friends on earth. Fluttershy, of course, was excluded from that group. Not for being outside of the group of Dash's closest friends, but for having known her since she was just a filly.

"Two minutes," she mumbled, under her breath but still out loud. "Two minutes before I thought of Fluttershy." New record, I think. It was becoming increasingly obvious she'd need more cider if she was going to make it through the what would likely be months without her. Turning her head, she reached into her saddlebag, which still sat upon her flank. She reached in with her mouth, biting down on the rim of the bottle. As she pulled it up, however, she was met with everything but the peace and quiet she desired for herself. Rainbow confetti and various candies rushed forth from the bottom of the bag, exploding outward and covering the space of floor in front of her.

The laughter was stifled and first, just small giggles escaping from hoof-covered the mouths. That is, of course, until a stallion Dash didn't recognize decided to shout out, "Hey, everypony! Party on Rainbow Dash's flanks!"

Depression was abandoned the instant that phrase hit the cyan mare's ears, replaced by a blinding sort of rage that had been rivaled only on rare instances throughout Equestrian history- the only two coming to mind being when the celestial sisters faced off against Discord and when Luna transformed into Nightmare Moon. The pegasus wouldn't be able to tell you why she was mad for the life of her, but for some reason, she was mad.

An image flashed through the mare's mind, one which prominently displayed her hind legs going straight through that stallion's face and impaling him on the wall of the train car. Fortunately for him (ponies should really stop assuming that she wouldn't do it. Just because she'd never actually hit somepony doesn't mean she'd hesitate to legitimately do it), before that image could become reality, a tall, beige-coated earth stallion dressed in a stark white jacket came through the door at the head of the car and called out for her.

"Second Lieutenant, Dash, Rainbow, Equestrian Air Force?"

Dash's ears perked up at the sound of her name, not like they did when the other stallion called it. This one sounded of respect. Respect that, as an Equestrian hero, Rainbow Dash felt she deserved. She shot another look at the first stallion at the rear of the car, who seemed to be walking towards her, head hung low. She turned back to the head and stood up. "The one and only!" Her usual boastful attitude restored, she stood and planted a forehoof firmly on her chest, raising her own head high in her signature pose. Well, her signature pose minus the wind blowing mercilessly in her mane. After all, it only looked that cool while she was outside at a higher altitude, like Cloudsdale. She just couldn't do it anywhere else. But it was her signature pose, and don't let anypony tell you otherwise.

Absolutely none of it was noticed by the sailor. He kept his neutral expression throughout the entire display, but waited as patiently as he could for it to be finished. Without looking away from her, he continued. "Petty Officer, apologize to the Lieutenant. Ma'am, Commandant Sparkle desires to speak with you, and has directed me to send you to her at your earliest convenience."

"Aye, aye, Ensign." The petty officer had finished his walk over to Dash, still hanging his head low. Ever so slowly, he looked up and attempted a second, more polite introduction. "Forgive me, Lieutenant. I spoke out of hoof without bothering to check whom I was addressing. I'll be reporting this to my superior as soon as I can and will be subjecting myself to formal discipline."

A few years ago, the airpony would have never even considered accepting that apology. Maybe he would report it, but he wasn't sorry- it had taken an ensign to get him to apologize. And he certainly knew who he was saying it- he knew her name, after all. But something about him made her want to. Rarity was right. Fluttershy really was wearing off on her. "It's-" She caught herself before she said something informal. She had the feeling that if she wanted these ponies' respect, she would have to be doing that a lot. "Consider your apology accepted, Petty Officer. Just don't let me catch you doing it again."

"Yes, ma'am!" The stallion let go of his attention and walked back to his former position.

Dash didn't care at this point- she was already out the door and into the next car, a private setting put into the train specifically for the purposes of transporting royalty after Twilight's ascension. Inside, there was a small desk pointed towards the wall, and a slightly larger than usual- for a train- bed in the corner. Twilight sat at the former, looking over some papers. She began to close the door behind her, but was stopped by a hoof in the way of its path. The sailor walked through after her and walked over to Twilight, who hadn't seemed to notice what was going on yet. She seemed to be completely oblivious to the fact that anypony was even in the car with her.

The sailor reached into a bag on his flank that had seemingly popped out of nowhere and pulled out a think manila file folder with white papers stuffed disorderly into it. He's going to give that mess to Twilight? Dash thought. I hope he wasn't looking forward to going home. She almost giggled at the thought, but quickly caught herself. Really, Dash? Do I really think like that now?

"Ma'am, personnel rosters from Combat Team Arclight, Equestrian Air Force, as requested." The sound of the ensign's voice snapped Dash from her thoughts back into the realm of reality. "Further, Lieutenant Dash is her to speak with you."

"Hey, Twi. What's up?" A friendly greeting, like so many times before, usually met with a warming smile and a "hello", was met with neither sentiment. Rather, it was met with a very disapproving glare from a very disapproving sailor.

"Lieutenant, with all due respect," With all due respect. The words echoed through the mind of the cyan pegasus. She could seriously get used to the whole military thing if ponies would keep calling her "ma'am". "I'd suggest that you learn to show more respect while addressing your commanding officer."

Twilight spoke up before Dash could refute the statement on her own. The violet alicorn walked over to the two, saying as she went, "It's fine, Ensign. She has more than enough permission to address me however she wants. You really need to lighten up."

A grin, not quite large enough to be considered a smile, crept onto the stallion's face. "Aye aye, ma'am. I guess I'll just have to work on that." With that, he took his leave of the mares, instead choosing to take post in the corner, facing the middle of the car. He sat on the floor and squirmed around a little, like he was trying to get comfortable.

"Let me get this straight, Twi," Dash began, finally coming to the purpose she was invited into the car for. "You tell him he needs to lighten up right after you call him by rank? Doesn't really make sense." She shot a look over her shoulder to see that he hadn't even perked up at his own mention. He just sat there, not unlike a statue.

"No, he refuses to tell me his name. I think he's afraid I'll start using it." The mares shared a laugh at that. "Actually, I just thought of something. Ensign, I order you to tell me your name."

The stallion gave a short sigh, knowing that he'd been beat. Try as he might to preserve some semblance of military discipline while in the presence of the Princess, he couldn't disobey a direct order to the contrary; that would have violated military protocol, something much more important to him. "Full Stern, ma'am." He mumbled something indistinguishable under his breath, but Dash was pretty sure it sounded something like "you could have just read the nameplate."

Before she could say anything, however, Twilight spoke up again. Dash got the feeling that she would be doing that a lot. "Come on, Dash. Come sit down with me. Full Stern, would you be so kind as to fetch us some glasses?"

The sailor visibly blushed at the sound of his own name, as though embarrassed to hear it. "Of course, ma'am. If you don't mind, though, I do prefer Ensign." He left out the rear of the car, his destination unknown but unimportant.

"Glasses?"

"Don't tell me you were thinking about drinking it alone?" Twilight gave Dash a slightly mischievous smile, fully aware that she had, in fact, planned on drinking ALL the cider.

"Well, a pony can only hope." Twilight giggled a little at the response, thankful that the sailor was no longer in the car to hear such an unprofessional elation. Rainbow giggled a little as well, but did a much better job of keeping it to herself that Twilight did. Giggling was far too uncool for such an awesome pegasus. That, and there was far too heavy a burden on her soul for such good times to be shared.

And it showed in everything she did, from the way she walked to the sulking tone of her voice. It showed to the point that even Twilight Sparkle was able to pick up on it. "That's it," she suddenly said, a hint of irritation plaguing her voice, the rest consumed with audible worry. "I can't take it anymore. Sit down and tell me what's wrong."

The shift in conversation was startling to other mare, but she did as she was told, hitting the floor like a stone hits water. She was vaguely aware of a violet alicorn taking a seat across from her. Honestly, her mind was just sort of out of it. There were a million and one things wrong, as Twilight had put it. She felt angry, of course, that a punch of uncouth pencil pushers decided she would be good for war. She also felt angry at the griffons for deciding now was a good time to declare it. At the same time, though, she was about to jump off the walls, ecstatic that she would have a chance to prove herself to the Wonderbolts. She was frightened, for the first time in her life confronted by death or failure. Above all, however, she was saddened. No, saddened wasn't the right word, it wasn't strong enough. Depressed, that was more like it. She was depressed about leaving home, leaving her friends- leaving Fluttershy.

As Rainbow began to tear up, she shut her eyelids tight, sealing off her magenta eyes from the world around her. Rainbow Dash doesn't cry, she told herself, first once, then at least ten times before she lost count. After a couple of minutes, when she felt as though she wouldn't cry anymore, she opened her eyes once again, only to be met with deep violet ones staring back at her, as though her friend hadn't moved an inch since it all began. Her sight darted to the left, in the space between them, and saw a familiar brown bottle, as well as two glasses. When she looked around the room, however, the sailor was nowhere to be found.

"Whenever you're ready, Dash." Twilight was worried, but did a surprisingly good job of concealing that worry in her voice, wrapping it up in that cool, newfound confidence that had become only somewhat familiar to the princess- the control of which was still something needed to be mastered by the studious pony. "Whenever you're ready," she repeated.

Rainbow Dash was once again reminded of how lucky she was to have a friend like Twilight. Despite the fact that the mare had spent the first twenty years of her life without friends apart from her brother and foalsitter, that pony was probably the best friend anypony could ask for. She was so caring to everypony who needed it, always willing to make friends, and always trying to strengthen the bonds with the ones she already had. And now, here she was, trying to comfort Rainbow Dash on the train ride to what felt like certain doom.

The cyan pegasus looked right into her friend's eyes and finally spoke. "How long do you think we'll be gone, Twi?"

Twilight, during the time it had taken Dash to get over her "liquid pride", had considered, evaluated, and formulated a response to a wide variety of questions that the pegasus might have asked. The one she had most expected had been along the lines of "why me?", not "how long". That frightened Twilight, not because she was unprepared for something, but because there was a question asked of her that the alicorn had no answer to.

It took her no more than a few seconds to get over her shock, however. As she stepped forward more and more in the political working of Equestria, Twilight had found that there were actually quite a few questions that she didn't have an answer for. She breathed out a deep, heavy sigh. "I don't know," she began, head hung in the direction of the floor. "Luna says no more than six months- we go in, show them a little bit of force, and they'll back off."

"But you're not so sure?"

"No, I'm not. I might have known next to nothing about military operation a week ago, but I'm a fast leaner. Like I said yesterday, the griffons we could handle. But with the zebra's by their sides and no small amount of ponies living in the kingdom, they've considerably stepped up their own military strength. The first six months of this war will likely be spent in stalemate.

"But enough of that. We've got cider here, and you were planning on drinking it." She lifted the bottle in her magic and poured it into the two glasses, almost to the rim. "We're two hours out from Canterlot, so let's make the most of it."

Dash took the opportunity to use something she'd learned while back in Ponyville. "Hooah."

In response, Twilight rolled her eyes and said to her drinking partner, "That's actually a Legion thing."

Correcting Dash whenever she made a mistake so simple? Yeah, that was definitely Twilight's thing. If she can still be herself, Dash thought as she drank deep of her cider, letting the burning sensation trickle its way down her throat. So can I, Right? She smiled at the thought.

Maybe it won't be so bad, after all.

Author's Note

Sorry guys, it took me forever to get this up. And it isn't that long (I mean, there's only so much one can do with a train ride, right?). I've been going through some tough shit lately, but I think I got it figured out. So go forth and have War-torn Love, like I know you want! After all, if you've read this far into the story, I'm doing something right! Right?