The Mane Six Militia and The Shadow of a Phantom

Alsvid walked throughout the streets of the newly born military town as the sun rose over the mountain range to the east, starting to have doubts about the effectiveness of these supposed soldiers. Even the official military that had arrived were showing signs of incompetence and it disappointed her. This was her first real impression of soldiers, she'd imagine them being more disciplined, machine like killers. Instead they were all to emotional, had to many opinions and feelings. The only thing that stopped her from leaving was her own curiosity on how they had made it this far.

She noticed Rainbow Dash trotting by a ways up the rode, she seemed to know quite a bit and who better to ask than the pony she had been most acquainted with since she had been here. “Hey! Hey Rainbow wait up!”

Rainbow turned her head and saw the zebra running up behind her. “Ohhhh why today.” Dash groaned just before the zebra caught up and met her stride. “How are you Alsvid?” Rainbow sighed.

“Don't sound so happy to see me.” Alsvid rolled her eyes. “I have a question.”

“Oh gee, what a surprise.”

Alsvid ignored the sarcasm in her voice and thought for a moment on how to word her inquiry. She shrugged and decided she may as well just come out with it. “So, are all soldiers this soft or is it just you guys?”

“What!? Why would you even ask something like that?” Dash didn't attempt to hide her anger as she snapped at the zebra mare and halted.

Alsvid halted alongside Dash and turned to face her. “Its so easy to upset you, this is kinda what I mean.”

“Well you find a new way to piss me off every time we meet. What makes you so crude?” Dash sneered.

“I like to think of it as being direct, not crude. I tend to get better answers that way, which reminds me, you haven't answered my question yet.”

Rainbow stamped her hoof and shot a nasty glare at a couple of ponies who had stopped to watch sending them on their way before turning back to Alsvid. “Were not soft, I'm not soft.” Dash fought to lower her voice to avoid anymore attention.

“Then what is with all this emotional bull shit? Hell over the past few days staying with the 'actual' soldiers even a couple of them were crying and bein all depressed and what not over their mare or stallion friends back home. Apparently those four guards that died the other night were somepony's friends cause a few of them still haven't stopped moping around. I thought soldiers were supposed to be stone cold killers.”

Dash almost couldn't believe what she was hearing from the mare that stood in front of her, she had half a mind to strike her on the spot but kept her bearing for the most part. “First, what do you mean actual soldiers? Second, picking up a sword and putting on armor does not change the fact that these ponies have a heart, loved ones, friends and family. When somepony dies that you care about it is natural to mourn for them. When your away from somepony you care about for to long its natural to feel a little lonely. The fact that your even saying shit like this right now just proves how ignorant someponies can be.”

“Would you calm down?” Alsvid was becoming a bit uncomfortable with the tension that had suddenly come between them.

“Calm down? Calm down? I will once you stop insulting everypony I know!” Dash stomped her hoof again.

“I never insulted anypony you know, I asked why you guys were so soft. I guess that might have been a bad word, maybe emotional would have been better?” Alsvid looked down to the ground in thought. She was not accustomed to such strong emotions. She'd spent more time traveling the unknown than socializing with ponies, which in-turn reminded her why she was here, her need for adventure. She shook her head to get her mind back on the topic at hoof. “I did not mean to offend you or anypony else. I'm sorry. Lets, get some breakfast and talk things over, yeah?” It was apparent she had crossed some sort of line in their brief conversation and she had wanted merely to learn about their emotions, not become entangled in them.

Rainbow's initial instinct was to proceed with cussing her out and flying off but she had learned a bit of patience from Flutter Shy. She took a couple of deep breaths to slow her breathing before answering. “Okay.” The rational side of her brain told her to give Alsvid the benefit of the doubt seeing as there would be a good chance they would be spending time together in the future despite her objections.

Their trot to the chow hall was quiet, and awkward. Alsvid was relieved the line was not long as of yet and that Dash's pink pony friend was giddy as could be. Maybe she could put a smile on Rainbow's face before they talked. However Dash merely grumbled as her friend greeted her, killing Alsvid's hope on the spot.

The two mares took their seats, one across from the other. Neither actually started eating. To Alsvid's relief, Rainbow initiated the conversation.

“So... Alsvid.” Rainbow started. “Why are you still here?” The question had come off as rude but Rainbow didn't care considering the earlier confrontation.

If Alsvid had been offended it didn't show. “Something new.” She shrugged.

Rainbow was still dumbfounded at this prospect. “Sooo... you're risking your life in a war for the hell of it?”

Alsvid shrugged. “I guess. What is life without a little thrill?”

Rainbow could relate to that statement. She sat back and thought on the concept of thrill and how she had experienced it with all of her aerial acrobatics.  She could boast no argument without being hypocritical and so instead, began eating her food.

Alsvid took the opportunity to turn the conversation around. “Now... I don't mean to sound rude. I am just quite direct with my statements and questions. See, while you do not understand why I would risk my life for adventure I do not understand risking your life for others. Don't get me wrong, I am quite fond of some ponies but no real emotions tie me down to such a commitment that I would be ready to die for them.” She half expected for Rainbow to get angry once more but was relieved that all she got was an impatient sigh.

“I would defend any of my friends with life or limb if need be, and I am sure they would do the same. None of us have a perfect relationship with the other but our acceptance in each others differences make our bonds so much stronger... Like Fluttershy and I.” She took a breath and smiled at the thought of the canary colored mare. “My friends mean everything to me, and if I were to lose them my life would be hollow, forfeiting my will to live even. I would have no reason to. So I fight, I kill to defend them. I'll kill anypony who try's to take them away from me.” Her voice rose with a hint of anger. Rainbow took a second to calm herself.

“I guess I can see where you're coming from.” Alsvid got the meaning of her words, yet she just simply didn't feel the same way. “I just don't think I could enjoy life if I were always so worried for somepony else's.” Alsvid replied.

Rainbow's anger had not vanished but sub-sided greatly. 'She just doesn't know.' Rainbow did not know whether or not to envy her, or feel sorry for her. “I get it.” Rainbow answered. “We're just a bit different is all.” Rainbow decided she was just going to practice what Twilight used to preach and what Fluttershy had taught her first hoof. Love and Tolerate.