*Saint Trottersburg, War Orphanage*

Fluttershy peeked her head around the corner very carefully. The hallway was very quiet, without even her mice friends making a sound. She noticed a small shadow shuffle in the door far down at the end of the hallway. She then started to move towards the shadow very slowly and carefully and made it so that she was behind it. She saw the small shadow stiffen and she unfurled her wings to maximum length and held her hooves up high and brought them down.

She gently tapped the shadow on its head and said, “Found you.”

“AH!” The young filly yelled as she took off through the hall with Fluttershy hot on her trail as they both laughed. Fluttershy kept her distance as the filly slid into the kitchen where many other fillies and colts were as they yelled for their friend to hurry just as Fluttershy scooped her up as the two laughed.

“Noooooo!” The filly yelled as Fluttershy began to tickle her before the others came to save the filly tackling the mare turning the tables on her.

“Oh my, it looks like you have me trapped. I surrender, you win this time everypony, but next time i'm going to win. But a promise is a promise. Ill make you all some nice cake for dessert for after dinner tonight.”

The foals cheered as they go off her and ran to go play besides the filly that stayed by her side as she got up. She was one of the orphans like all the others that were there from the Great War and the current Civil War. She had seen her parents die in the shelling of her hometown. After that day she never spoke but only to Fluttershy and was glued to her side at all times.

“ Ms. Fluttershy?” The filly asked very quietly.

“Yes? Is something wrong?” Fluttershy asked in a worried voice.

“No. I need to tell you something.” She motions for Fluttershy to come closer.

“Yes honey? What do you need to tell me?” Fluttershy asked very softly,close to the filly.

The filly jumped at the mare knocking her over making her squeak in surprise and fell back as the filly giggled at her.

After the initial shock wore off Fluttershy got a small mischievous smile on her face and said, “ Oh its funny is it? Well I dont think thats funny. I think THIS is funny!” Fluttershy then grabbed the filly and started tickling her. And said, “I'll stop when you say sorry for what you did.”

“Noooo! I’m sorry hahahahaha! I’m sorry!” The filly howled with laughter as Fluttershy blew raspberries on the fillies stomach.

“Sorry I cant hear you, what was that again?” Fluttershy said as she continued to blow raspberries on the fillies stomach.

The filly squealed with laughter as before Fluttershy pulled back smiling as the the filly panted giggling. She got up as Fluttershy went to make went to make some dinner with the little filly by her side as she pulled a chair over next to her to help.

After a while dinner was served as the children all gathered around to eat at the dining table while the filly took her spot by Fluttershy’s side.

“Now before we all start to eat, remember your manners, no yelling, no food fights And No trying to take other ponies dinner or dessert okay?” Fluttershy said, meeting all the young colts and fillies eyes.

“ Yes Ms. Fluttershy!” They all yelled before digging in.

*Later that night.*

Fluttershy gave the filly closest to her a kiss on her head and said, “Good night little one, sweet dreams.” The filly smiled and closed her eyes and yawned said in a sleepy voice, “Good night...Mommy.” Fluttershys breath caught in her throat and was shocked by this but small tears of joy started to form nonetheless as she went around and found that many other colts and fillies felt the same way towards her.

When all of them were sleeping she noticed one of them was missing, the filly who was always by her side. Fluttershy began to look for her before she noticed her bedroom door was open and the filly was crying on her bed. Fluttershy approached her slowly and asked, almost frantically “What's wrong? Why are you crying? Did you get hurt?”

“No I couldn’t find you momma!” She cried turning and rushing into her chest.

“Oh...Oh my, I was with the others. I was putting them to bed, I thought you were with the others too. Im sorry I didnt notice you werent. But don't worry I promise you Ill always be here for-” The filly cut her off

“NO!NO!NO! My mommy and daddy said that before! They told me that they would never leave me either! But then the loud boom came and….and… I can't lose you too momma! I can’t!” The filly sobbed into Fluttershys chest and Fluttershy hugged the crying filly close.

“ Shh,Shh. Its okay, let it all out. I won't leave you alone in this world. I wouldnt do that to any of you...No I couldn't do that to any of you. I WILL be here for you, for as long as you need me.”

“ You’re lying! My mommy and daddy said it and they never came back! Please don’t leave me. I’ll be good I swear! I don’t want to be alone again!” The filly sobbed gripping the mares chest while Fluttershy cradled her close to her.

“Shh, Dont think that right now. Don't ever think that again,

Hush now, quiet now

It's time to lay your sleepy head

Hush now, quiet now

It's time to go to bed

Hush now, quiet it now, it's time to lay your sleepy head.

Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed.

Hush now, quiet now, close your sleepy eyes.

Hush now, quiet now, my how time sure flies.”

The filly slowly stopped crying as Fluttershys song went on, until she was lulled into sleep and was resting peacefully in Fluttershys hooves. Fluttershy then pulled her blanket over the two of them and held her close as she felt sleep take over her last thoughts were.

‘She carries such pain inside. So do many others here, this is my life now. I have to help them, all of them.’

*Manehatten Colosseum*

In Manehatten a large arena was packed full of ponies cheering on the current spectacle. Many nobles and other members of high society were gathered near the edge, the best seats too see the spectacles that were occurring.Among them was Rarity, now showing signs of age, having grown a few superficial wrinkles and some gray spots in her mane next to her was a young mare, with a mane and tail of similar color.

The two of them watched the current championship battle, DarkSteel the current student of Celestia and the arena champion was facing 3 large and powerful stallions in heavy armor wielding heavy weapons. While steel was only in his lightly armored robes and a simple sword and shield.

As a horn was blown as they charged at the stallion. He smirked and sided stepped a mace, ducking a sword, and dodged a spear as he bashed his shield into the spear users face knocking him out cold from the heavy blow. He blocked the mace user and spun using the butt of his sword to hit him in the side of the head stunning him. Before Steel could move in for the knockout he was blocked by the sword user as they began to fight back and forth.

Dodging, ducking, parrying, and weaving around each others attacks as Steel saw the mace user start to get up making him grit his teeth. He spun around the sword stallions stab and got into his guard giving him a vicious bash with his shield before spinning and bucked him off his hooves breaking the stallion jaw as he hit the ground out cold.

He brought his shield up in time to block a heavy blow from the mace user making him skid back as his arm went numb from the shock. Steel grunted shaking his arm to get feeling back as the mace user charge and stood up on the hind legs swinging the mace like a baseball bat while Steel ducked and used his shield to bash the brute right under his chin as he flew in the landing in a heap and didn’t move.

The horn blew as the crowd went wild as medics came and checked on the stallions while the announcer called out Steels victory.

Steel smiled and held his sword up at the sky as the crowd started cheering his name. Steel then walked over the edge of the arena and took out a beautiful blue rose as he walked by the edge. Many young and beautiful mares held their breath as he walked by them and then he stopped by Rarity and her daughter, he used his magic and placed the blue rose in Rarity's daughters mane as she blushed furiously and looked away. Steel then smiled and walked to the center of the arena.

“ I hereby dedicate my victory in this tournament to lady Ruby, daughter of lady Rarity and name her the most beautiful mare in this arena.” Ruby was nearly red by this point in embarrassment and turned to her mother and asked her, “MOM! What do I do?! Everypony is expecting me to say something!”

“Well darling say something. The young stallion is waiting. Accept it, see where it goes dear.” Rarity smiled at her daughter who was even redder since her mother was hardly any help.

Ruby was on the verge of panicking and quickly said , “I hereby accept DarkSteels dedication and am very flattered that he finds me to be the most beautiful mare here.”Ruby could see that what she said wasn't enough and quickly added, “And I would like to say that I in turn find you to be far more handsome than those brutes you were fighting.” Laughter then burst out across the arena and Ruby looked to her mother for support.

“Wh-Wh- Why why are they laughing what did I say?!”

“ SILENCE!!! You would dare laugh at my daughters heartfelt words?! For shame you would down a mare for putting her heart on the line for love. You think you could come up with some amazing speech on the spot? Most of you are jealous that it was my daughter he chose! Be silent and respect your betters!” The whole stadium went silent as even Steel stared at the mares mother.

“ What? Nopony is going to make a fool of my daughter.” She flipped her mane grinning at her daughter.

Ruby stared at her mother and then noticed that many ponies in the arena also had looks of shame of their faces and said, “Thank you mom. Im sorry about what happened today Darksteel, I’m afraid I may have lessened your victory today.”

Darksteel only smiled and said, “I think not, honestly its nice to see that you have a strong mother. Most would stay quiet and let you handle this yourself. Besides Its nice to see somepony stand up to all these jealous haries that call themselves nobles.” Steel galred at many of the noble mares he walked past not 5 minutes ago.

“Thank you Lady Rarity, something tells me that you wore the pants in your marriage to her father..I apologize, it is rude of me to bring such a thing up here. May I come by you home later this evening?”

“We would be delighted to have you over. When should we expect you to come by?” Rarity asked smiling.

Darksteel thought about it and said,” I should be there around Sundown, as I have other duties as well. But to name time Id say around seven.”

“That would be lovely darling. I’ll be sure to cook something wonderful while you two talk.” She said as the two got with Rarity heading for the exit as the rest of the nobles cleared out while Ruby talked to Steel for a while.

“ I apologise for putting you on the spot like that. It was rather uncouth of me Lady Ruby.”

“N-No it’s ok. It all worked out in the end… So why did you choose me?” She asked blushing.

Darksteel smiled and said, “I already told you, I found you to be the most beautiful mare in the arena. And I find you even more so up close.”

“Thank you. You’re very charming. Um I hope I’m not being rude but… What’s Princess Celestia like? I’ve heard so many mixed stories about her.” Ruby asked tapping her hooves together.

“......A very regretful mare. If you have heard bad things about her, they are most likely true...But shes trying to fix her mistakes. But the good things you've heard about her are also very true...Sometimes I wonder if she can even look at herself without...I apologise am I confusing you Lady Ruby? Its not exactly easy to describe my teacher easily.”

“ No…. Just curious is all. Well I better go, I’ll see you tonight.” She smiled and grabbed her purse as she headed to the exit looking back at him and waved before disappearing from sight.

“Hmm, its good to finally be able to talk to somepony who doesn't want to gain influence or power for once. What do you think Lady Rarity?”

“Indeed darling. I hope you don’t find me snooping. After so many stallions lusting for my daughter I’ve become a bit overprotective of her.” She appeared next to him looking where her daughter left. Oh," mused Darksteel, "Such as?"

"Prince Blueblood," Rarity said, sending DarkSteel into a laughing fit.

"Blueblood? Ha!" Darksteel said, "Didn't he try to marry you?"

“Before I came back to my senses, at least, darling."

Darksteel nodded. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Rarity. I'll be sure not to be late."

"Best you do, darling," Rarity said, "But really, how is Celestia these days?"

Darksteel sighed a long sigh. "Not too good,what, with the war and all. Still, I hope she'll pull through, what, with all the support she got from up north."

"You mean Solstice and The Crystal Empire?"

"And Diamond Shimmer Hive," said Darksteel, "I do find it remarkable how they still ally themselves with her. Perhaps they really believe she can change for the better."

"Can't we all hope," Rarity said, "Well, I best be off. I'll see you this evening, darling."

*Canterlot Military outpost*

In a large military encampment outside of Manehattan, a group of new recruits are awaiting their drill instructors arrival and stand at attention as best as they can. One of the recruits turns to his comrade and asks

“You hear anything about whos supposed to be our drill sergeant?” The other shakes his head.

“No, im as in the dark as you are.” Another recruit lets out a bored yawn and says, “ Whoever it is, they should have been here about what? 5 minutes ago? What's taking them so long?” Another recruit then said,

” Hey, be careful about what you say. The sergeant might overhear and who knows how they might punish you.” The other one rolls his eyes and says, “Yeah right, I grew up in the slums. I've seen plenty of stallions and mares that I would be more afraid of then some drill sergeant.”

Before he knew it he was slammed into the ground with a hoof on the back of his head.

“That so fuck stick!? You a badass from the streets huh?! I kill little shits like you every fucking day I was on the line! You’re nothing but a two bit punk with a chip on his shoulder! I see bitches like you die all the time thinking you got something to prove!” The young stallion looked back to see a scarred mare glaring down at him.

The young stallions ears fell flat on his head and fear filled him, but still tried to sound brave. “So what? I'll bet none of them were even half as good as I am at fighting or scavenging! I learned how to survive on my own before most colts knew how to use a toilet! You dont scare me!”

“Then why are you breathing so hard? Why are your pupils dilated? Why are you shaking? It’s because you’re scared. I’ve seen bitches like you cry for their mommies the first time they get shot at and quit. You know what I do? I MAKE them fight. Nine times out of ten they die. But you know what? Better them then these stallions and mares that know their job. Little shits like you make me sick because it’s not you that dies, it’s everypony around you. You’re just another little cunt that’s going to die in the first engagement.Why are you in my army? HUH!!! You got two seconds to tell me before I crush your fucking skull into the ground.” She snarled putting pressure on his head.

“Because I want to fight!”The young stallion said.

“ What the fuck makes you think I’ll let you!? You’re gonna die as soon as we get in a fight anyway since I’m sure you think you’re Celestia’s gift to the army! Why the fuck should I trust you to watch these stallions and mares backs huh?!” She yelled in his face.

“Because, unlike the rest of them Ive actually fought before! And I've seen things they never have!”The young stallion yelled back,fear quickly growing in him, and something else to.

“You know how many times I’ve heard the same story from little shits like you? Hundreds. It’s the same thing, oh I grew up on the street. I’m a badass, I know how to fight better than anypony else.” She said mockingly before growling.

“ I know your story and I’ve seen your kind. You shrimp dick little fuck! You want to grow your ego more than anything. You want to be a hero right? You want to win medals colt!? Huh? ANSWER ME YOU LITTLE FUCK!!” Dash screamed as her eyes bored into his.

“I dont give a damn about medals or glory! I just want to fight! Nothing else matters to me!” The stallion yelled back, Dash could tell, he was hiding something.

“Why do you want to fight huh? Why did you join if it’s not for glory or medals. Big shot like you could own the streets right? So why come here? You could be a mob boss and get killed by one of your buddies faster than on the battlefield if you got a deathwish. So why are you here?” She snarled slamming a hoof in his chest.

“Because I-I-I” The young stallion was clearly fighting himself more than anything, so Dash turned up the heat to get him to talk.

“You better tell me right now or I’ll have you out of my army so fast it’ll make your head spin you understand me!? TALK YOU LITTLE SHIT!” She screamed in his face.

“BECAUSE I CAN'T BE WEAK ANYMORE!” The young stallion screamed back.While struggling, desperately.

“ IM SICK OF BEING WEAK!! IM SICK OF ALL THE STALLIONS BACK HOME LAUGHING AT ME ALL BECAUSE I'M NOT SOME SCARRED VETERAN OR SOME COLD BLOODED KILLER OKAY!!! IS THAT WHAT YOU WANTED TO HEAR!?!?” The young stallion now had tears of frustration streaming down his face.

“Get the fuck out of my army. I don’t need bitches like you here. What? You want be a real stallion so you can beat up the ponies the bullied you. I don’t need you and Celestia sure as hell don’t need you. Get the fuck out.” She said getting off him glaring.

“You'll have to drag me out. I dont give a damn, about beating the crap out of those stallion, they can go to hell. Im here for ME. Until, I know I’m strong enough to fight anyone who tries to stop me from being who I am. Im staying right here, you want me gone?Just try and MAKE me leave.” The stallion growled back, with a fire in his eyes.

He watched as she pulled out a pistol and aimed it right at his head with a icy glare in her eyes.

“You got two seconds to get the fuck out of my sight or I’ll blow your fucking brains out all over the floor. Either you walk out of here or carried out in a body bag.” He hears her chamber a round into the gun and turned him around so he could see that she was deadly serious from the calm scary look on her face.

“It’s little shits like you that’s gotten countless good mares and stallions killed because they want to be strong. It’s because of shit stains like you that I lost my right eye! I watched good ponies die to save worthless cum stains like you. Ponies ten times the stallion you will ever hope to be! Get the fuck out.” She said calmly as she pulled the hammer back.

“Go ahead, I’d rather-

BLAM!!!

The stallions and mares around them stared at the hole that was by the stallions head as MP’s came to see what happened.

“ Sergeant Dash! What’s going on?!” A mare yelled busting into the barracks.

“ Take this little shit out of my sight. I won’t have shits like him in my ranks, I won’t be responsible for the deaths of these stallions and mare because of this little fuck.” She growled putting her pistol back in it’s holster.

“Clean that shit up. Pissing all over the place.” She said and walked out as the MP’s stood aside.

All of the recruits had looks of shock on their faces and then one said, “ I can't believe you just did that. He might have his issues, but doesn't he at least deserve a chance? He just told you that he came here to be more than some street punk. So, why just kick him out like that?”

He was slammed into the ground by the mare as she stared down at him.

“BECAUSE I’VE SEEN HIS KIND! ARE YOU FUCKING DEAF!!! Tell you what. He’s your responsibility from now on. When he fucks up it’s your ass, you’ll get his and you’re punishment. Better yet, all of you will. He gets you killed in combat and I know he will because chicken shit fuck thats all talk and wants to be a bad ass. I wash my hooves of your deaths. My conscience is clean. “ With that she looks down the piss puddle that is under the stallion.

“Clean that up.” With that she left.

“What happened to her that she is so harsh and critical? Have that many ponies she's cared about died around her?” One recruit asked a MP.

“It’s none of your Celestia damned business maggot. She used to be a captain before she came here to weed out punks like this. Now shut the fuck up and clean this mess up.” The mare growled as they all shrank back.

All of the recruits went to go clean up the mess, except one. A young mare that had stood in the far back, she looked down and then around her and said.

“ I can’t do this. I can’t be trained under somepony like her, I have a father who was in the war, he saw his whole team die in front of him. He’s never even said ‘I love you’ once to me. I came here to get away from him, but...I can't be trained under a pony like her. I went through a lifetime with a pony like her and I can't just get reassigned, I'm leaving.” The young mare turned around, and started to walk away, her head hung in shame.

“Then leave. If you can’t handle me then you can’t handle a battlefield. You are the second kind I hate. Cowards the somehow make their way through basic and in my opinion are worse than him. Get out.” Dash came from the shadows in the other side of the room as she looked at the mare with nothing but a calm fury

“My problem isn't basic training, its you. I could deal with a drill sergeant who made me so exhausted that I couldn't even sleep every night. But...I've been around a pony like you my entire life. I’m not afraid to go through through training that could kill me, but I just...Can't be trained by somepony like my father. He said, his drill sergeant was like he is now and his fathers too. I don’t want to turn out like him.” The mare said sadly, realizing how cowardly that actually sounded.

“Well then by all means theres the door.” Dash stared at her as she left with one of the MPs escorting her out.

“ Understand this. When you leave this place, you will be train on how to survive, how to show no mercy to the enemy, how kill without hesitation, and how to protect your fellow soldier. I don’t train recruits. I train soldiers. I train warriors that will leave this camp as soldiers. Not recruits. When I’m done with you, you will be the most feared stallions and mares in this army. Hooah?” She called out looking at each recruit.

“Hooah!” Was the chorus of the remaining recruits.

“Good. Now get this all cleaned up and we’ll start the day. You have a long six months ahead of you.” She said before leaving for good this time giving one last look to the stallion on the ground.

“You better surprise me boy or I won’t miss next time.” She said before leaving.

“Yes ma’am, I will.” The stallion said before going back to cleaning. Dash couldn't help but notice that the fire was still in his eyes that she had seen before.

As the mare left the barracks, she was approached by a stallion in shining silver armor, the likes of which she'd never seen before. "Tough day?"

The mare signed. "That mare....she's so much like my father that....I just can't."

"I know the feeling," the stallion said with a sigh, "His majesty has considered killing her, but to kill an Element of Harmony? That's insanity. Anyway, I'm General Arcturus, 3rd Solstice Royal Guard."

"Oh," said the mare, taking a cautious step back, "I've heard of Solstice."

"I'm sure you have. If you still want to fight, I think we can fit a new member into the 3rd Royal Guard. What do you say?"

The mare had heard the rumors about Solstice from the previous war, how they'd crushed Equestrian opposition with ease, but had been merciful to their prisoners, and had treated them as guests over prisoners of war. As such, it took her only a moment to decide. "I'd like that."

"Well then, welcome the Solstice Grand Army, Private. I'm sure you'll do just fine.”

Author's Note

I do not own MLP. Wish I did.