PONIES IN ARMS-3. MARECENARIES

DATE- CLASSIFIED
TIME- IRRELEVANT

After our a.a.r I had every pony quickly grab all they would need for a semi long march to Appleloosa, and say goodbye to any ponies they would be leaving behind. It was going to be a few hours’ march to the town and we all were exhausted but we had to be there in a hurry because we had no clue as to when the n.l.r were going to turn the town into a slaughter. I had all Pegasus ponies with me flying ahead of us to the town and told a few of them to stay overhead of us as well. I was going to make arrangements with Smoky to pick us up with the train, but I completely forgot about that as we started training and was kicking myself in the flank for forgetting about doing so as I heard the sound of the train coming down the tracks. "Speak of the devil, ask and you shal receive I guess" I thought with a chuckle. Grey Hoof along with Black Widow was somewhat surprised at the fact that the conductor knew me. Smoky told us that Major Read had made the arrangements with Smoky to check up on all of us so I asked him if we could get a ride to Appleloosa and he agreed to take us.

"Now this is the way to travel why do we trot, or canter everywhere when in fact we have our very own personal train?" Grey Hoof asked us all, to which I simply told him that Major Read was the one to thank for that. He looked at me and smiled, "that Major Read boy I have got to give credit where it is due and it certainly is due, I mean to go from military pony to nothing, and then to adapt to life as a mercenary its impressive, also the fact that anywhere he goes ponies are willing to drop everything to follow him, his compassion for any and all he comes across as well is something to be admired. I hope one day after this entire war is behind us that I can just sit with him, and chat, the stories he must have to tell. Growing up in Ponyville joining the military at the age of 18 and now being in command of a military all his own due to circumstances beyond his control and yet taking it on as though it was what he was meant to do in life, he truly is an amazing pony and I will follow him into the depths of hell if need be."

"He really is a kind hearted pony and I am extremely glad to know him, he showed Harmony compassion when he simply could have killed her on the spot something that I more than likely say I would have actually done if it were me. The way he interacts with any pony he comes in contact with makes one wonder if he even has any enemies at all, I often wonder where I would be had I never met him and often find myself with tears in my eyes thinking such thoughts and quickly change the subject to better thoughts, and memories. I know that I’ll see him again I feel it in my heart and I hope to Celestia that I can prove to be just half the leader he is when it comes down to it, I don’t want to lose any ponies in combat but I know it may happen, I just hope I can comfort every pony the way he does anytime anything happens to any of us. I also hope that I can prove to be a great leader as he is in combat and that my ponies will follow me into the depths of hell if need be as well, it would be a reassuring thing to know that they would, I know that a lot of the ponies I have been with since meeting the major will but as for any new ponies I am not too sure." "Don’t worry Ruby your an amazing leader and I know you will do an awesome job at keeping your ponies safe. Just remember everything you have been taught and learned throughout your time with the major and you will all be fine trust me. He has trained you to be a leader and it shows with each choice you make follow your instinct and you all will be fine I know it."

We sat and talked for what seemed like a few hours until Smoky made his usual announcement he would make anytime we were nearing a destination. "NEXT STOP IS APPLELOOSA, I WILL BE STOPPING FOR AN HOUR THEN THIS TRAIN IS HEADED FOR HELL,, ER OLD MANEHATTEN. AGAIN MY NEXT STOP IS APPLELOOSA” I made my rounds waking every pony up and telling them to be ready for anything in the town, I had told my Pegasus ponies to meet me at the train depot after gathering any and all Intel they could in the time it took for us to get to the town and they had actually gotten a lot for me to go through. The town wanted the n.l.r out and were all too willing to aid us in whatever way they could. This worked to our advantage it meant that we were trusted enough that we had free roaming abilities throughout the town and outlying places as well. We learned that the n.l.r had set up a post in the sheriff's office and had quickly taken over the duties of the law enforcement just as we all had a feeling would be the case.

The Apple family had a settlement on the outskirts of the town and told us we were just like family and if we needed anything at all, all we would have to do was ask and we'd have it. This made me very happy seeing as I had met Applejack in Ponyville and had talked to her a bit about things that we somewhat had in common, she loved to farm and work hard just as I did in fact that’s what I would sometimes do in Bitter Creek when I wasn’t on guard duty at the border, I had a small garden at my house which I often would eat from to save cash. Applejack had told me that if I needed any advice on anything plant related all I had to do was just ask and she would help me.