Chapter 1: Missing In Action

Chapter One: Missing In Action

Living in Equestria? Definetly not the place i had expected to live the rest of my life. Oh,well let me tell you the story how i got here, and who i am... so let's start, shall we? I don't even know when exactly it all started... We were sent to some barely populated town after many reports of an explosion like sound, 12 of us were sent to investigate. When we arrived we immediately started asking around the locals... at  least the ones we found. When we were preparig to leave an older woman, about her 80's ran up to me and patted me on my back to get my attention. "Hey, young man, did you check that dead end road?" Said the old lady pointing behind me. "There is supposed to be a kid about your age living there, alone maybe he can help you!" Back then i was only about...what? Maybe 24 or 26 years old.

"Thank you ma'am, i'll go look around" I replied. "Wait! Which house is he supposed to be living in?" I asked in my confusion.

"It should be the last one to the right... i think...or was it the one one the..." She anwsered while not sure about the anwser. I guess that was enough, considering she was around her 80's afterall and her memory was going.

"Thank you again ma'am, be safe!" I tried to pull a smile at her, but i just somehow couldn't. After searching all the houses on that road, alone, since the others were too lazy, i got to that door and knocked. "Excuse me, is anybody home?!" I shouted, then the same old lady came up to me.

"I'm glad i found you young man, i think i saw the kid i told you about heading towards the forest!" She pointed to the forest near the landing zone.

"All right lady, that's enough for us to know, please now go and stay home" Said an all too familiar voice, it was Staff Sergeant Barns. "Now, you heard the woman, pick up your rifle, load your pistol and take Mike and Bob with you." He told me in almost a shout like fashion.

"SIR, YES, SIR!" I forgot he's not the drill instructor, and i just wanted to yell back at him.

"Very well, move it Corporal, understood?"

"Yes sir!" Still felt like yelling at him, it was a good enough excuse.

"One more thing..."

"Yes sir?"

"You have a lot of potential"

"Thank you, sir!" Didn't feel like yelling anymore and began to look for Private Mike Smith and Private First Class Bob Cooper.

*5 minutes later*

"Bob, Mike, get your equipment ready and move it, we have a target to find!"

"Sir yes sir!" They responded in unison. As we reached the edge of the forest it started to rain, the trees blocked the light coming from above as well. At least our tactic lights were working... At least mine, im the only one who had one. These guys should think more about the details...

"Hey, Bob! Do you see that white thing on that tree over there?" Mike asked.

"If any of you would happen to see a tall figure with no face, just ignore it. At this pont it would be just too late..." I said out loud with a chuckle. I mean, come on, what? Is the *Slenderman** going to be around here ?*

"Heh, nice one Corporal" Bob laughed.

"This place is getting darker and da..." Then, Mike suddenly went silent. Bob and I turned around to see what happened. When we saw Mike sitting on the ground, we almost laughed. But soon we noticed why he was on the ground. The poor bastard stepped into a bear trap.

"What the hell is that thing doing here?!" Bob wondered, i sighed.

"Bob, stand back. Mike, hang on it's going to be loud" I reached out to Bob. "Give me that thing for a sec"

"Are you sure this will work sir?"

"Any brighter ideas?" Bob shook his head in response. "Thought so..." I prepared to shoot the chain of the trap off with Bob's shotgun. "Ready guys?" I asked them, not wanting to have metal shards flying onto ther faces.

"Yes sir!" The chain blew into seweral pieces, and we yanked his leg out of the trap.

"Bob, go help him get a medic, i'll go on looking for the target. If i don't return in 2 hours, leave without me"

"Without you? Are you sure sir?"

"This is an order, now move it soldier before he bleeds out"

"Best of luck sir, and thank you" Said Mike while saluting me. I saluted back and replied.

"You need it better" After 10 minutes of walking i came to a clearing with a huge tree. I saw a figure under it, just sitting there. Was he asleep? Was he dead? I got my pistol ready just in case and slowly crept towards the figure. I was about to ask him who he was when suddenly a loud *BOOMM* shook the ground. For first i thought it was just lightning, but then suddenly... everything went blurry. What the fuc... I looked back at the tree, the figure was gone. "What? Where did he go?" Then, a mysterious and distorted voice said behind me.

"You... Will... Never... Return" I turned around to see nobody behind me, when i turned back and went towards the tree suddenly i heard a loud crack. *BAM* I collapsed as everything went black.

*Hours later*

I have no idea how long i've been out for, but i bet they already left, so there's just one thing left to do. I thought of going back to that house, maybe he'll be there this time. But as i got out of the forest i noticed it was about noon, we came in searching at about 10 p.m... Was i out for half a day? or a day AND a half? I was confused... After 10 minutes of walking i suddenly had a terrible pain in my head and heart, then i

heard a screeching noise, it was literally like the sound people use in horror games for jumpscares or screamers... "No, i can't die just yet!" I fell to my knees, yelling and then everything went black, yet again.

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Strange, we got back about an hour and a half ago, 30 minutes left, i hope the corporal is fine. Mike wobbled his way out of the medical tent and stood next to me. "You think he's fine? Shouldn't we go or send reinforcements looking for him?"

"You know what he said, don't you? Besides, he can take care of himself" I was hoping he would make it.

"Yes, but, he saved me. The least thing i can do is worry about him, i know he is a corporal afterall but, still..."

"Anyways, how is your leg?" I was worried for him as well.

"No infection, a shattered bone"

" Uhhhmmmm.... Mike, i think i saw something move in those bushes"

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I woke up again, this time i was sure they must have left me behind, like i told them. But when i opened my eyes i saw 2 familiar faces, it was Bob and Mike. "Sir, are you all right?" They asked at the same time, i just gave them a thumbs up.

"How long was i gone?"

"You have been deemed M.I.A for a week, but by command of Staff Sergeant Barns a team was sent for you, it took them 3 days to find you sir" Said a medic who just walked in.

"3 days!?!? How did that happen?"

"Bob and Mike found you in a bush, in a small pool of blood and an open wound on your head, you are lucky they found you sir, it could've got infected badly under all that time"

"Bob, Mike, i will make sure you both get a promotion" Then, i closed my eyes.

"Everything okay sir?" Asked the medic.

"I'm fine... but i'm tired as all hell"

"Truth be told, you could use some sleep anyways sir" They all left my tent, and i fell asleep. While i was sleeping, i dreamed with my parents.

"It wasn't your time yet son, we are happy that you still remember the promise you made to us."

"Oh, you mean the one about..." I was cut short by my father.

"Yes son, that one, the one to find your brother" I saluted to him.

"Yes, dad"

"Calm it son, im not your superior officer"

"Yes, si... Okay dad" Then, my mother spoke.

"Well son, it's time for us to go... Yet again..." I knew what she meant, i gave mom a hug and shook hands with dad.

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"What's the situation? Will he make it?"

"He had a bad stroke, he's unconscious at the moment, but he should make it" Another medic ran up, saluting to me, the other medic was on a break.

"Hello Staff Sergeant Barns"

"Always good to see you know what you do doc" Then one of them exclaimed.

"Hurry, he's giving high blood perssure and stopped breathing, get over here and help me! " The medic nodded, and ran off towards the corporal's bed.

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I woke up, bolting up from the stretcher, grasping for air, covered in sweat and flailing my arms around. "What happened sir? You just stopped breathing, followed by a stroke, close call sir " I looked to my left, i had not 3 but 5 srynges in my arm.

"Since when did i become a drug addict?" I asked the medic's looking at the with a grin.

"Wait, we didnt put those there... by the looks they had adrenaline in them, that must be what saved you sir, looks like your heart started failing as well." We both looked at each other.

"Who could it have been then?" When i got up, i thanked the medics and got my equipment back and ready, but when i left the tent i was surprised to see we were still at the landing zone. "Was i in THAT bad condition? It was too risky to transport?" I asked myself and then it hit me, it was dad and mom who saved me. I looked at the sky. "Thanks" Then i reached into my pocket for a picture of my parents, my brother, and me. "Hang on brother, in coming to see you, no matter what" I said out quietly when nobody was in earshot. But when i tried to put it back i noticed something else in that pocket. Probably a spare clip. Much to mysurprise it was a feather, a thick , strong cyan feather. "How the heck did this get in there?" I just put both of them back into the pocket, still smiling at my parents. Then, i remembered that door, there was something about that house, i just had to go back and check again. I nearly forgot to report for duty to Barns.

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I think it's time to see how the medics did on the corporal, he should be fine by now. If there's something that would kill him, it's not a heart attack or a stroke... i know him better than that. Then i walked over to the supply crate and took out a small box, i opened it and nodded.

"I think it's time"

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When i was going to see the Sergeant i saw him walking towards me, apparently he was just looking for me. "Reporting for duty si..." He slapped my hand out of the saluting position to make me stop and pay attention.

"Glad to see you are all right, Sergeant" Wait, i'm just a corporal...

"Sergeant? I'm not a sergeant sir"

"From now on, yes, you are. Congratilations, soldier" We both saluted.

"Sir, if i may..."

"What is it, sergeant?"

"I propose a promotion for Private Mike Smith and Private First Class Bob Cooper, sir"

"Well, you see... i was just about to do so, care to accompany me?"

"Yes sir" Great minds think alike... i guess.

"Before we tell them the good news, however i'll need you to come with me. It's time to change the tag on your uniform, and to pick up your new equipment" He said.

"Yes sir" As soon as we got to the supplies he asked me to give him my colt and handed me back a D.Eagle and 3 magazines for it, with the company of a Benelli M4 shotgun. I was happy enough from the promotion, but now i get new weapons too? It was too good to

be true, the fact that i was a gun nut just added onto it. It was time to reward Bob and Mike, their faces beamed of happiness, Mike even forgot that he needed crutches and saluted without them. Things got a bit wierd lately, tomorrow i'll go and check that house again, i hope i'll find soomething worth the time.

*The following  morning*

"Rise and shine, Mr. Miller, Rise and, shine..." Said a shadowy figure.

"Who the hell are you?!" I pointed a pistol at him, i shouldn't be pointing a firearm at an unaremed civillian but... basic reactions and all that.

"Listen closely... When you see your brother, tell him these words..."

"What are you talking about?"

"Preapare... for unforeseen...consequences..." Then, as the figure appeared, so did it disappear. I got up, got equipped, loaded up on ammo, the usual morning routine. When i was about to leave the camp suddenly i heard a groan... i looked around and realized it was my stomach.

Hah, i guess i didn't eat anything for those 4 days i guess... I went over to the mess hall, thinking there should be some rations left behind, much to my surprise when i walked in i saw a figure walking around inside.

*Pans hitting each other* "Oops, that's not it" *The figure bumps his head into the wall* "Shit" I turned my flashlight on and pulled my pistol out. Who the hell is that? It could be a hobo or a newbie... I shined my flashlight at the figure.

"Identify yourself! Name and Rank! now!" I yelled, not too loud, wouldn't wake the whole camp.

"Yyes si...ssir, Private Ryan reporting for duty sir..."

"Ryan...Ryan, Ryannn... uuugh i can't recall you being on the chopper on the way here"

"Yes sir, you are right, i arrived 10 minutes ago, i was sent to replace Private First Class Mike Smith, he is to be realocated back to base due to his injuries, sir"

"Well, since we are here, let's find some breakfast, shall we?"

"Of course sir" We sat down, ate some soup while we traded stories about our past, and a few stories back from the boot camp.

"Hey, Ryan i just realized something, wanna hear it?"

"Yes sir"

"Don't you find this situation funny?"

"What do you mean sir?"

"Well, i am Sergeant John Miller and you are Private Ryan... Does it ring a bell?"

"I think it does sir" He replied.

"That's one of my favourite movies" I exclaimed.

"Yeah, Saving Private Ryan is a good movie sir" When we were done eating we stood up, i gave him a tour around the camp. At the end i offered my hand for a shake.

"Good to see there's still hope in our generation" There was about 3 years between the two of us.

"It's an honor serving along you sir" He shook my hand.

"Hang on, what's this on your hand?" I saw some sort of wierd triangle tatooed onto the back of his hand with a half circle on the bottom. I just smiled, and awkwardly looked into his eyes. "Laa shay'a waqi'un mutlaq bale kul'un mumkin" He had no idea what i sad... either did i.

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The sergeant patted me on the back, then went off to his tent. How did he know? He said the whole thing correctly... On the first try too...

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I left to get some more rest but woke up again at about 10 am. "That was a good one" I got out of bed, then realized that i just fell in face first into the bed last night, i slept as i fell in. Is the bulletproof vest really that comfortable? We were there for a week now. I went back and checked on that house "I swear if they don't anwser i'll just break the fucking door down" I said out quietly. I got to the door, and knocked, immediately putting my ear next to the door and heard:

"I'm comiing, give me a sec" A man with black hair and brown eyes opened the door.

"Yess? Can i help you sir?"

"Yess, i'm afraid you can. May i come in for a minute?"

"Sure but, eehm could you please put your gun on the table there?"

"I think that would go against my orders, but if you keep a secret i guess i can do that" I put the shotgun onto the table in his living room, in front of the TV. On my way there one of the floor boards must have caught my boots, and i fell to the ground while i was unloading the shells back into my ammo bag.

"Son of a..."

"Heh, that one gets me all the time too" He grinned.

"So, i have a few things to ask sir, if that's allright" I looked at him as he offered me a bottle of beer, then looked me in the eye.

"I'm sure this is a secret" He said to me with a warm smile, i was wondering why he was so friendly.

"Could be, thanks" We said cheers and drank it down, but at the last sip, i noticed there was a feather on the TV. It was big and thick, with a cyan color, like the one i have in my pocket. I almost choked on the beer, then i turned to him. "So, where is that pretty feather from sir?"

"It's fromm... my daughter"

"Daughter?"

"Yes, we got... separated for a while recently"

"Oh, what happened?"

"She's... away...at her friends"I knew that he was lying, i passed interrogation training a while ago as head of class, but i decided i won't question him, since his daughter is the topic.

"Wait a second " I said, reaching into my pocket for the feather. Just as i showed him the feather i found he picked up the shotgun from the table and pointed it at me.

"What... have you done... to her?" He asked agressively.

"What are you talking about?

"My Das... daughter! What did you do to her?!" Now he was pressing the barrel into my face.

"First of all, what does she look like?"

"You should know by now. Where is she!?"

"I don't know"

"I won't ask again"

"Sir, take that out of my face or else i'll be forced to respond agressively" I warned him.

"By all means, try..." He pulled the trigger, apparently he forgot that i unloaded it in front of his eyes. I pulled my pistol out and loaded a full magazine into it so he knew i'm not bluffing. He threw the gun away and holded his hands up.

"Now it's my time to ask..." He nodded. "Have you been to the forest recently?" He nodded. "Have you sat under a tree during a thunder storm?" He nodded. "You know i should just pull the trigger right now, right?"

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I didn't know what came over me, but now i had a military offical pointing a gun into my face. "Where did you get that feather?"

"I was in the forest, something hit me in the head and i fell unconscius, when i woke up at the medic's tent i had it in my pocket" Did she help him get back? Is she still on earth? Why? How? "I came here with my squad to investigate a sound that was like an explosion" No way, is he talking about the... rainboom? "I think you know why i'm not pulling the trigger, exept for the fact i don't want to" I looked into the barrel, then all the memories i had with her came through my mind, i felt tears making their way down my face.

"Sorry, i just... remembered her"

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"It's all right, i have no more questions, thanks for your...hospitality..." I bent down to pick up the shotgun he trew on the ground, the picture of my parents my brother and me fell out onto the ground.

"Here's your photo, they look just like my parents used to..."

"Used to?" I asked.

"They died in a car accident"

"Also did mine"

"It was on 1995.05.24..."

"Same here?" What a coincidence...

"What about your, brother?"

"I never knew him"

"Do you miss him?"

"Eeeeyyuppp"

"Do you miss your daughter?" He nodded.

"When is she supposed to be back?"

"2 hours ago..." He lied again... I know he did.

"Shouldn't we go and... look for her?" The man shook his head violently.

"How old is she?"

" She's... 16 "

"Then we must go and find her!"

"Look, sir. I appreciate the offer but..." I cut him off mid sentence.

"This isn't an offer, but my duty sir" He nodded.

"Something particular about her?"

"She has... rainbow colored hair..." One of those punks, eh?

"I think the two of us should be enough, my squad wouldn't care much, no offense"

"Indeed" I loaded the shotgun back and asked him to follow.

"Let's go, we need to find her" I was actually worried for his daughter.

"Sure..."

End of Chapther One