February 2nd, 2277 A.D.
Dear Rainbow,
I know you don’t like that I took an assignment so far from home in the Crystal Empire, but Shining Armor was injured worse than we’d believed during Sombra’s attack. He needed somepony there who knew how to keep things running, and he’s an old friend. I’m not alone though, Zero’s here with me. He says to tell you he’ll be sure to keep me away from other mares, not that he needs to. I love you, and I miss you so much. I should only have to stay here a few months. Tell the rest of the girls I say Hi, and tell Spike I’ll have a present for him.
I love you, so so much. I can’t wait to be with you again. I’ll write you every week.
With all of my heart,
Maj. DonnE Starside, Lunar Guard.
February 9th, 2277 A.D.
Dear Rainbow,
Zero and I are settled in, and have started setting the C.E.’s new military though their training. From today, they’ve got four months of training. I got news that something interesting happened in ponyville and that Twilight became a Princess! Tell her Zero and I are very proud of her. I’ll be sending a package with a few coronation gifts for her, as well as little gifts for the rest of you as well. I got spike a hoofball signed by his favorite player, and a certain fiery-maned idol of yours is here to train the pegasi combat flight maneuvers. I convinced her to sign a couple things for you. (It didn’t take much convincing, she considers you a friend.)
I miss you very much. Maybe soon you can get some vacation time and come visit me here. Things are starting to pick up, so I may not get time to write every week, but I’ll write whenever I can, I promise.
To my favorite Rainbow,
Maj. DonnE Starside, Lunar Guard.
February 29th, 2277 A.D.
Dear Rainbow,
Things aren’t much different around here. I’m pretty much bored off my flanks. My stealth training won’t start for two more months. I’m mostly here for paperwork, and training basic swordplay. I don’t even get to train that often, only once a week! *Sighs* Oh well, it’s part of the job I signed up for, I suppose. I hope you got the package I sent, and I hope you liked the plushie of me I commissioned from somepony here.
Missing you every single day,
Maj. DonnE Starside, Lunar Guard.
March 17th, 2277 A.D.
Dear Rainbow,
I’m sorry I haven’t written much, there have been some worrying signs that something isn’t right. Ponies are agitated for no reason, and constantly feel like something is watching them, just out of view. I’ve felt it too, and I know it’s not our minds playing tricks on us. Don’t worry though, between Zero and I, I’m sure we can handle whatever it is. I’ve sent a box with this letter full of crystal berry liquor. Whatever you do, don’t let Pinkie Pie get her hooves on it. You know how she is on apple cider, much less this stuff, it’s stronger than anything you’ve ever had, trust me!
I love you, and can’t wait to be home.
With glass raised to love,
Maj. DonnE Starside, Lunar Guard
March 26th, 2277 A.D.
Dear Rainbow,
Good news! The schedule was re-arranged and I’ve started the guards’ stealth training! In another month, my part will be finished and I can come home! On another note, that feeling is getting worse. Several of us see shadows darting past in our peripheral vision, and I’ve been having strange dreams. I’m honestly worried, something just isn’t right. I’ve sent a letter to my mother and aunt to see if they have any idea what this could be. I have my own suspicions, but I can’t voice them without proof, it would cause a panic.
I’ll let you know what I find out.
With love, as ever,
Maj. DonnE Starside, Lunar Guard.
April 1st, 2277 A.D.
Dear Rainbow,
The dreams are getting worse, I’ve sent a letter to my mother to ask her if she can help. I keep dreaming that I’m doing horrible things to everypony. I keep dreaming that I’m killing everypony I love and can’t stop myself. I think I know what’s causing it, or rather who. I think Sombra survived. I’m looking into this, hopefully I can find out before something bad happens. I’m scared, if he does what I think he might... No, I doubt he can do that.
I love you, so very much, and I hope to see you soon
With so much love it hurts,
Maj. DonnE Starside, Lunar Guard.
April 13th, 2277 A.D.
Dear Rainbow,
I was right. By the moon, I wish I wasn’t, but I was right! He’s coming back. He told me, in my dreams. Well, ‘dreams’ implies they were somewhat pleasant, these were nightmares. I feel angry all the time, I snapped at Zero today because he offered me a glass of water. I didn’t mean to, it just happened! My mother warned me what this might be leading too, that I might become the next nightmare. I just pray with all of my heart that she’s wrong… That I’m wrong. If I’m not, then I won’t be the pony you know and love. If that happens, and the princesses ask you to stop me, don’t hesitate.
I will always love you, even if I don’t remember.
With love and desperate prayers,
Maj. DonnE Starside, Lunar Guard
April 19th, 2277 A.D.
Dear Rainbow,
Sweet moon, I wish I didn’t have to tell you this. I wish this was all just a bad dream, and that I’d wake up from it. Sombra wasn’t dead, and he used dark magic to force DonnE to become the new Nightmare. Luna and Celestia were there when it happened. They had to… They had to kill him. DonnE is dead. I’m so, so sorry Rainbow. I couldn’t stop it, no matter how hard I tried! The Princesses and I will be home tomorrow with his body. We’re setting up his funeral.
He told me that if this happened, to tell you he loved you more than anything in the world, and that he would never leave you if he could help it.
With more sorrow than I can imagine,
Gen. Zero, Lunar Guard.
Well, Fillies and Gentlecolts, I hope you liked it. It's had absolutely no editing done to it, so if you notice something, let me know.
I got the idea for this from something my father wrote when he was in school. It was about a soldier gone to war who wrote home to his mother. The final letter was from one of his squad-mates, and told her he had died in a battle.
Naturally, my mind threw ponies into the mix. Because magical pony land, that's why!
On another note, I do plan on writing more, so watch out for those shenanigans.
Anyway, it's 3:35 in the morning. I'm going to head to bed.
