Forget About Freeman

Three Days Later.

I stepped out of the train, ignoring the few odd looks that were cast towards me. After a week, I got used to it. What concerned me right now was a nap, seeing as I had spent the last three days training a bunch of unorganized privates to use a weapon unlike anything in this world. I hadn't gotten any sleep on the four hour train ride either, somehow.

A drowsy smile flickered across my face at the sight of a certain alicorn approaching me. My happiness turned to confusion as soon as I saw the pony behind her. Is it even possible for a horse to bounce like that?

"Hey Twi, who's the friend?" I asked with a wave. The princess waved back.

"Hi, Dutch! This is Pinkie Pie." She introduced. The so called "Pinkie Pie" gasped at the sight of me.

"IS THAT HIM?!" Her voice was adorably annoying.

"Yes, Pinkie." Twilight sighed.

"Why's she so excited?" I joked. It took the princess a moment to recognize it as sarcasm. The bubbly, poofy-haired pink mare, however, didn't catch on at all. Jesus, did I just use the term "poofy"?

"Because you're new and I have to throw you a welcome party! DUH!" the pony said. I chuckled at first, but quickly realized she was serious.

"Well Pinkie, that's awfully nice of you, but I have soldier stuff to do." I said, a little upset about it myself. She looked like she could be the first pony I wouldn't piss off within one day! Unless, of course, I ended up killing something in her presence. It seemed these pony folk weren't big fans of the human problem solving method. I, of course, begged to differ.

"Aww, but I just can't let anypony come to Ponyville without a party!" She sat down and her lower lip wobbled. Agh! My heart! I hesitated before giving in.

"Ok, ok, fine. We'll have a party." I sighed, patting her on the head.

"WOOHOO!"

"But AFTER I'm done with my next two ops." I said, holding out my hands in a "chill out" way. The pony's grin faded, being replaced by a small smile.

"Pinkie promise!" she said suddenly. I scratched the back of my head, confused by what she meant. She glared at me, and I felt a strange chill run down my spine. Did I do something wrong? I turned towards Twilight, but all she gave me was a look practically saying "play along".

"Well, how does one Pinkie Promise?" I asked Pinkie, raising an eyebrow. She matched my confused gaze, and played out a series of hoof motions.

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" I could only assume what the last gesture had meant.

"Ok, I'll cross my heart while hoping to fly, and then I'll mash the cupcake in question straight into my retina." I said, holding back a smirk. I wonder if she'll make any sense of that?

"You're weird." she said, before sighing and looking at the ground with disappointment. Or is it you that is the weird one? "Anyway, see ya' later!" she said suddenly, smiling widely once again and trotting off in a seemingly random direction. I turned towards Twilight.

"What was that all about?" I asked.

"With Pinkie, I've learned not to ask anything like that." the princess replied, shaking her head.

"So, where am I staying?" I asked. It sure wouldn't be Fluttershy's place.

"You're staying at Fluttershy's house again." Oh. Well then. Twilight seemed to notice my confused expression. "She forgives you."

"I see." I mumbled. I didn't see why she forgave me so quickly, unless it was because of peer pressure. She wasn't very assertive from what I had seen. "Well, I guess I'll go drop my stuff off there." I said. "Bye!"

I knocked on the door and waited. After about two minutes, the door slowly opened to reveal Fluttershy's staring face.

"Hello, Dutch!" she greeted, smiling softly.

"Hi." I replied, not sharing the warm gaze. For some reason, a guilty feeling inside of me wouldn't allow me to smile. What are you doing? The mare seemed taken aback by something, and I quickly realized I was glaring at the floor. Forcing a smile, I stepped into the house. "How are you, 'Shy?" I asked, taking off my vest and helmet and dropping them on the sofa.

"I'm well." she said calmly.

"I'm just stopping by to drop off my stuff, before I go to the castle. Twilight wants to speak with me." Fluttershy nodded. I went upstairs and walked into the guest room, promptly dropping my stuff on the bed lazily. I went downstairs, said goodbye to Fluttershy, and walked to the castle.

-Perspective of Grusha Bogdan, VDV member-

-Two days after the 7 hour war-

My slumber was interrupted by a hand firmly shaking my shoulder. I opened my eyes to see a familiar face staring back at me.

"проснуться!" (Wake up!) the man said. I sighed, pushed his hand off my shoulder and got off of the mattress that acted as my bed.

"остановить торопится меня." (Don't rush me.) I mumbled. The soldier glared at me.

"мы под атакой получить свое снаряжение , черт возьми!" (Get your gear! We're under attack!) Under attack? I sprinted to the armory, grabbed the nearest rifle and rushed outside. It was just as I had feared; the aliens had already arrived. Although NATO had surrendered to the strange invaders, the CSTO and PLA weren't done fighting. Chinese infantry arrived at the base just yesterday as an effort to help the fight, but we were surely outnumbered.

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A sudden bullet zipping straight past my head woke me up, and I dove for cover. A series of loud "plinks" rang out from the barrels I was sitting behind, and in the confusion I almost shot a nearby friendly. I'm glad I learned Chinese, I thought.

"给我盖!" (Give me cover!) I ordered. The rifleman hesitantly complied. After a series of bursts of fire, I ran from my cover to dive next to the soldier.

"有什么计划?" (What's the plan?) the soldier asked, once the fire had died down. I thought for a moment, and scanned the surroundings. A fortified guard tower was pretty close by, but there was little cover. I could go back in the barracks, but there wasn't a lot of windows to fire from. But I sure as shit wasn't staying here.

"我会掩护你，去塔!" (Get to that guard tower, I'll cover you!) I instructed, before popping out through a spot untouched by the hostile fire. I sighted in on the hostile MG, and opened fire. Sure enough, the target ducked behind his cover, and the Chinese soldier made a mad dash for the guard tower. I was glad I picked up a PKP, rather than a basic rifle. Even after my suppressing fire, I still had enough ammo to take out the gunner. After a few moments, he peeked out. I breathed in, took aim, and pulled the trigger. The force of the gun kicked into my shoulder, and the enemy soldier fell, blood spraying out behind him. I took the opportunity to rush for the guard tower.

Once I had gotten in, I ran up the stairs. Halfway up, I almost tripped on the dead body of my Chinese ally. Fuck!

Upon the sight of him, I instinctively slowed down and pointed my gun up the stairs. Ever so carefully, I crept up the tower. Upon getting to the top of the stairs, I was shocked and confused to see an enemy soldier standing before me. After a moment of hesitation, I shoved him over the side of the tower and watched him fall to the ground. Finishing him off with a shot to the back, I turned my attention to the rest of the base, and after a quick scan, I had determined that we were losing. Hostile APCs were dangerously close to the perimeter, most of the Chinese forces were dead, and we only had one intact vehicle, and even it wasn't doing so well.

I sighted in on the first line of hostiles approaching the base, and mowed them down with my machine gun, watching as blood flew out behind them and spattered the grass. A few days ago I wouldn't have dreamed of finding joy in such a sight. However, after the destruction they had caused, I could see this as a new pass time, rather than a job.

I moved on to the second line, only for a bullet to shoot through my arm. Falling to the ground with a thud, I clenched my teeth in pain. Fight it, dammit! You're a full grown adult! I gathered up my strength, and brought myself to my feet. Luckily for me, the enemy had turned their attention to the other remaining soldiers. There was one problem, and that was the plain fact that lifting up a PK with a shot up arm was impossible.

I was about to give up, but remembered that since the enemy was focused on something else, I had a chance to get back to the armory. There was a risk, but it was worth it.

I sprinted out of the tower and into the barracks, rushing for the armory. Something light... I settled for an SVU.

Running out of the building, I was about to turn towards the guard tower. My idea was ruined by the sight of what was once a tower. At this point, it was a smoldering ruin. Back to the drawing board.

I dove for cover when a rain of bullets hailed down upon me. Pain rolled over me like a wave upon landing.

After I had gotten my bearings (And after the enemy stopped shooting at me.), I peeked out of cover to observe the scene. Fear coursed through me upon the realization that I was the last human alive at the base. I shot back into position, my heart pounding with fear. I heard approaching footsteps, causing my heart to beat even faster. I tried to run, but I was frozen in place.

"We've got a live one." one of the aliens said. I was about to run, until I had realized that the alien just spoke English.