Brothers Forever

Echo's P.O.V

It had been about two hours since we'd been welcomed to the cabin of Key Lime and Shining Spear, and, I was starting to get hungry. And, the delicious aromas floating in from the kitchen really didn't help. The only thing I'd ever really eaten were Coruscant protein sticks, and... well, they tasted like sand wrapped in dirty cloth. Not very appeasing, but you somehow got used to it. No one in their right minds would actually like them, and the sad thing was, I had known a few troopers who did. Poor fellows, no sense of taste whatsoever. They probably would've eaten Bantha Pies if they had the chance.

"Whatever she's got cooking... I think it's going to be good," I said. "Smells good, anyways."

"No kidding!" said Fives.

"ECHOOOOO! FIIIIIIIIIL!DINNER'S READY!" rang Key Lime's voice.

"Well, should we go?" I asked.

"Sure, you go ahead, I'll be there in a moment. Klarking leg..." said Fives.

I exited the bedroom and let my nose do the rest. Soon, I found myself in what would be best described as a dining room and kitchen with cute decor. Somehow, I understood a small sign on the wall that read, 'Home is Where Heart and Hoof Are'. I pulled out a chair and sat down, looking around the room and observing the table as well.

"Oh, you came! If I may ask, what's the story with that shoe-print on your chestplate?" asked Key Lime as she sat down.

"Well, I'd rather not talk about it... It just has stuck with me ever since," I said.

"So you're a soldier?" asked Shining.

"Yes, but... well, it hasn't been easy," I said. "Where we live, there's death all around us. It truly tests you, and this place is a bit... odd for me."

"Oh my! I couldn't stand the thought of someone dying, much less many people!" said Key Lime.

"We have no choice. It's do or die, shoot or be shot. Our enemy has already taken so much ground, and their armies are vast, and are able to recover much faster than we can," I said.

A brief silence ensued before Key Lime offered some food to me."Oh... um... would would you like some french onion casserole?"  she said, opening up a large container.

"Sure, I'll take a piece," I said, holding out my plate. The piece of casserole I received was a whitish-yellow cube, and the top was browned to a slight crisp. It smelled, distinct, and the taste could be best described as a combination of being crunchy, firm, creamy, and something else I couldn't quite put a name to. It was good, and my piece was gone before I even knew it.

"Oh, glad you like it," said Key Lime. "Not many ponies are fond of my casserole. Well, except for Shiny of course."

"I'm coming!" came the familiar sound of Fives's voice. He walked over to a chair and sat down.  "Sorry, I spent half the time getting out of bed and limping in the hall," said Fives before taking off his helmet and hanging it on the back of his chair. On his face he had a grin that I translated into, 'I said something funny, laugh!' Nobody responded, and Fives's grin disappeared and he cleared his throat.

"Anyways, what chow have we got tonight?" said Fives.

"Well, we have french onion casserole, fresh garden salad, baked brussel sprouts stuffed with butter, feta cheese, and cream cheese... and... for dessert... my special lime pie!" said Key Lime.

As I began munching on hoof-fulls of baked brussel sprouts, Fives got piece of casserole for himself. Upon the first bite, he said,

Suddenly, Fives chuckled, grinned in a devious manner, and said, "Yeah, I'd like your 'special lime pie' with extra cream, too."

"Watch it, mister. I'm not putting up with talk like that at this table," said Shining.

"Oooooo, I'm so scaaaaaared," said Fives, his sarcastic tone intolerable.

"Shut up, Fives. I don't need to hear your perverted comments," I said, staring to get angry at his rude behavior. "You're acting like the one cadet fapped at the thought of Taun We."

"Didn't we all!" said Fives, cackling and uncaring about how absurdly inappropriate the conversation had suddenly been turned.

That was the straw that broke the eopie's back. "Fives, I said: shut up!" I yelled enraged while bolting up from my chair.

Fives suddenly stopped, and the mischievous light in his eyes was suddenly quenched by one of sadness and shame. "My deepest apologies, ma'am. That was incredibly... I... excuse me," said Five as he got up, grabbed his helmet, and walked out.

I sat down, shocked at what I'd just heard. I knew Fives wasn't a strict protocol follower, but what he did a few moments ago was inexcusable. Then the awkward silence followed. All three of us sat silently for a few moments, and I could tell Shining was just as mad as I was.

"I'm very sorry, I don't know what happened to my friend there... " I said, blushing a bit, surprised at how I had needed to intervene for Fives's sake.

"Well, that it's not the first time someone has said something like that to me. Just glad he realized his mistake," said Key Lime.

"I hate ponies like those," said Shining. "Think they can get away with anything they want."

"He's not a bad pony," I spat. Now I was starting to get angry at Shining Spear. "That was a once-off. He isn't like that all the time."

"I'm sure his friends are worse," said Shining.

That made me furious. "SAY THAT AGAIN!" I yelled, bolting up again. "I DARE YOU!"

"Honey, you really should provoke Mr. Echo! He didn't do anything wrong! Sit down!" said Key Lime, trying to diffuse the situation.

"I think you need to sit down, your unruly friends would agree as well," repeated Shining, also getting up.

That made me lose it entirely. "WE HAD BROTHERS! THREE OF THEM, AND THEY'RE ALL DEAD! YOU THINK THEY WERE MEAN TOO? HERE, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT ONE! HIS NAME WAS CUTUP, HE WAS THE MOST CARING AND COMPASSIONATE BROTHER I EVER KNEW, AND HE WOULDN'T HURT A FLY! HE WAS EATEN ALIVE BY AN EEL AND I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO SAVE HIM! AND THEN THERE WAS HEVY. HE KNOWINGLY GAVE HIS LIFE PROTECTING ME AND MILLIONS OF OTHERS! SO LET ME TELL YOU THAT THEY WEREN'T MEAN OR EVIL. THEY WERE FAMILY, THE ONLY ONE I KNEW! THANKS FOR DEFILING THEM AND YOURSELF, YOU'RE LUCKY I DON'T BRIX YOU UP FOR LIFE!!!! AND WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU? NOTHING!" I ranted at the top of my lungs.

Both Key Lime and Shining Spear sat speechless as I tried to catch by breath.

"THANK YOU FOR THE HELP, WE'RE LEAVING!" I said as I abruptly ran to the guest bedroom. When I entered, Fives looked at me with a surprise in his eyes.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Fives's P.O.V.

"Echo... brix... that guy really pissed you off! I heard everything, I'll be ready in a moment. never really wanted to stay here anyways. Oh, I found these in the closet," I said, pointing a hoof at two DC-15S carbines laying on the floor.

I nodded, trying to comprehend what had just happened. I also grabbed a carbine and put my helmet on, Echo following suit.

"How did those blasters get in that closet?" said Echo.

"I really don't know, or care. Let's get outta here," I said.

"You said it," replied Echo, sounding more calm and relieved. "I went up the wall out there. Sorry."

As we began walking out of the cabin and down a windy mountain dirt road, I looked at Echo and said, "What happened at dinner... I apologize. I really don't know what got me there, I guess it was just..." but Echo interrupted me.

"Your perverted mind? I can't blame you, really. Were an army of identical guys, and... we get feelings, and... they begin to pile up. I know that both you and I have figured out to relieve those feelings sometimes, but unfortunately, we don't get the chance very often. You just  basically got a bit horny and expressed it... but at the wrong time and place," said Echo. "I should be the one to apologize, I shouldn't have snapped. Still, it was inappropriate according to regs."

"Okay, 'Dr. Echo', whatever you say." I said.

"And neither should you, Fives," said Echo.

At that moment I felt compelled to hug him. And so I did.

"Whoa! I forgive you! No need to... to... oh Fives," said Echo, hugging in return.

"Don't speak of that to anyone, understood?" said Fives. "I think I'm going soft."

"That's good, I don't want you hard," said Echo. Under his helmet, I imagined he was grinning.

"Watch it, mister. I'm not putting up with talk like that at this table!" I said, grinning and pulling off the best Shining Spear imitation.

We both laughed and continued walking. Who knows when we'd reach civilization (shortly, but I didn't know at that time), but I did know that we would get through this together.  And, we had high spirits.