All Types of Rain [Original]

All Types of Rain

By: The Grey Pegasus

= 2 =

...Paid For By the Equestrian Government

Ponyville Recruitment Offices

June 12, 1015 A.B.

12:16 PM

The six mares and one dragon of Ponyville stood outside the recruitment offices. Only one really had a true purpose to be there. Twilight felt her gut twist at the sight of the posters advertising enlistment. They were patriotic, she'll give them that. They had an adverse effect on her though. Instead of the urge to go in and ask to be enlisted and help Equestria go onward to victory, her mind was racing through the recent events that led her to have to be there.

"Come on, Twi, let's jus' get this over with. We're all in this together," comforted Applejack. She took a look around at the group. "We'll go in with you if you'd like. There ain't any rules 'gainst that. 'Sides, we've already got our tickets to 'Nam... heh," she said, trying to keep an encouraging attitude.

"Yeah, free tickets to Vietnam, courtesy of the Equestrian government. All fares and fees are free, paid for by the Equestrian Treasury. Even comes with your complimentary rifle, dog tags, and helmet," Rainbow ridiculed from beside Applejack.

"Dash, do ya always got to take us two steps back like that?"

"Yeah, yeah. Come on, Twi, let's get this over with. Then we can head to lunch. Just go in and fill out the stuff for the Equestrian Marine Corps. Then we can eat!"

"Well, this distressing morning has made me quite hungry. I never even had anything to eat since that confounded letter arrived," Rarity agreed.

Still, even with the conversation behind her, Twilight couldn't deny that she was essentially signing a waver that clearly stated that it was possibly a one-way trip. I never thought I'd be living out one of those ancient journals found over there. She remained stuck in her place, so one of the group tried a different approach.

"Alright Twilight, I don't know if you're going through with it or not, but in any case, this office is going to have some business today," Spike informed her. In Twilight's current mental state, it took a moment for the meaning of that sentence to register in her head.

"Wait! Why... why would you..." Twilight stumbled in her speech.

The dragon gave a toothy grin. "I knew that'd budge you from where you're standing."

"But the library! And... you're not even-"

"Twilight, we've been through this already. The last time you could play the age card was five years ago. And I'm pretty sure you could hire one of the younger ponies to fill in. The town's book club you started a couple years back really ramped up business for the library. I'm sure at least one of them is up for it."

Defeated, Twilight walked up beside him. She looked up at the one she formerly looked down on.

"It'll be fine. If you're worried about me being in danger, well, I'm sure you've read enough about dragons to know that we're made for taking heat." At that, he showed himself off. The six ponies around him giggled at his vanity, but it did have a better impression than his attempts at bravado as a baby dragon.

With her laugh ending in a sigh, Twilight headed towards the door of the recruitment office behind Spike. "Alright. I'm convinced. I'm not letting any of you leave without me. It would just be wrong for me to cower in safety while the rest of you don't have that option. Except Spike, but he's being the noble knight he's always wanted to be."

==+==

With that ordeal finished, the group set off for lunch. With a week before they were sent off to boot camp, they wanted to cherish as much time they had remaining.

Rainbow started some conversation. "So did they say anything in there to you, Twilight?"

"Well, not too much," the unicorn in context replied, "All they told me that it was a brave choice to go for the Marines. Even more so being the Princess's one and only student. I just told them that it was an obligation to my friends that just got drafted. The recruiter just nodded after that. Oh! And he did say one last thing while I was leaving. He told me, 'You're a noble pony, Miss Sparkle. Don't think we've forgotten all that you and your friends have done for us all those years back', and sent me off with a good farewell wish." Now that she thought about it, it really was quite touching how the stallion remembered their acts as the Elements of Harmony from so long ago, in an age ruled more by the mystic rather than the machine.

"Wow, tha's... quite an honor," Applejack echoed her thoughts. "Shame that it still doesn't actually keep us out of all this ruckus. But still, 'nice to see that not everypony needs a fancy glass window to remember us."

"Yeah, but do we have to throw the ponies up in Canterlot through the window to knock some sense into them, then figure out that we're still important? What if Discord breaks out of his prison or something again while we're gone?" Rainbow said in annoyance.

"Rainbow, they've kept Discord in an anti-magic vault deep in the mountain for years. I don't think he's going to bother anypony unless they drag his statue out of there." Twilight noted.

"And Rainbow Dash, dear, no matter how worked up you get over that, they're still going to send you down to Gazelland one way or another. There's really no longer any point in protesting," Rarity pointed out.

"Hey Twilight, we never even planned a place to go to for lunch. So where are we eating? I'm starving," Rainbow said, typically diverging from a serious matter she clearly could not win.

Seeing that there was no point in returning to the topic of controversy, Twilight put up some restaurant suggestions. One more week, and that's it.

==+==

Ponyville

June 18, 1015 A.B.

11:41 AM

The group of seven met for one last time on their favorite hill. Each made sure to bring something to their last picnic on the green grass of Ponyville. A place close to their hearts, so it was only right that this would be the last place they eat at. They had so many memories made on the simple patch of land. Once lunch was eaten, conversation dissolved into the unavoidable topic.

"So, how do you think Ponyville will manage without us?" Twilight asked the gang.

"Well, I know for sure that Applebloom's ready to take on the farm without me or Big Mac, 'specially with all them new, fancy machinery," Applejack answered. "She's gonna have to take care o' ol' Granny, though. Old mare's runnin' low, but still going. I hope she doesn't take me and Big Mac leavin'... too hard. Still, Applebloom's grown to be a great pony, and I'm proud of her."

"Well, the Carousel Boutique's going to have to be closed for business, but Sweetie Belle still lives there with me, and she's matured to be quite the responsible mare," said Rarity. "I know I can trust her with the household."

"Ponyville's going to have a lot less parties... but I'm sure Aunt Pinkie's rubbed off enough on the two young Cakes for them to fill in. I think the Cakes can find some other great pony to take over my spot," Pinkie responded. "But nopony will ever be better than The Great and Powerful Pinkie Pie!" she mockingly added.

"I can't believe you even still bothered to make fun of her, Pinkie," Rainbow said through her giggling. "Well, this town will be a lot more boring without me here, that's for sure." The others rolled their eyes. "Aaaannd, I know there's enough pegasi in the Weather Patrol, so I don't need to worry about that."

Spike came forward to answer Twilight's contingency plan. "Well, me and Twi are gonna work it out later, but I think we've settled on handing over business to some of the book club ponies."

"Twilight?" Fluttershy spoke up. "What about your brother? Have you told him that you enlisted?"

"Yeah, I sent a letter to Shining three days ago. He just told me that it was brave and that he and Cadence wish us luck." She let out a breath of depression. "He's pretty lucky. Captain of the Guard in Canterlot meant he was already on duty, being in charge of the defenses of the city. I talked to him a year after the war started." Twilight looked up as she recalled the memory. "He said that they offered him a commander's post on the front lines, but declined so that he could stay with his family. So instead, they placed him in an advisory position on the War Ministry alongside being in charge of the Canterlot Guard."

"Hey Fluttershy, you're the one with a family. How are you holding up?" Pinkie questioned.

At the mention of her family, Fluttershy's heart sunk. She tapped her forehooves together in uncertainty. "Oh, I'm not actually doing too well. What if I don't come back? What will my kids do then..." she trailed off into incoherent words.

"Twilight, are you sure you looked into all possible ways of staying out?" Rarity questioned once more.

"Yes, I tried to find as many ways as I could, even the highly reckless ones. But it's too dangerous. There isn't anywhere near that the government wouldn't hunt us down. Escaping to territories like, say, Caneighda wouldn't work because they're still under the jurisdiction of the Equestrian Kingdom."

"Darn. That worked the first time," Pinkie mumbled.

The others gave her a quick glance, but they were accustomed to the random outbursts after many years, and just disregarded it.

"Well, girls, it was a nice lunch while it lasted. I'm going to miss this. Let's head home and say our goodbyes. After that, just head over to my treehouse and stay the night. We'll travel to the train station tomorrow together." Twilight solemnly announced. The hill was empty after those words.

==+==

7:00 PM

Sweet Apple Acres

Applejack was in her room, packing what little she could bring from home. Probably a small picture or two, able to be hid away in a hat. Some other small miscellaneous items. And her unmistakably prized Stetson. Wherever she went, that hat was coming along for the trip. That hat belonged on her head just as much as her own blonde mane did.

Once finished with that business, she trotted down the stairs into the kitchen. The other three ponies that shared the house with her were already in their places around the table. Once this was all over, only half of them would remain in the household.

"Well, Applebloom. This is it. This is goodbye," Applejack said through oncoming tears. "Take care o' Granny there, will ya sis? She ain't what she used to be back when you were a little filly."

Applebloom nodded.

"And take care o' the farm for me and Big Mac. You've always wanted to," Applejack continued, "Like when you an' your rowdy friends were always Crusadin'. 'Sides, I've seen you work them big and shiny machines." Applejack forced herself to keep a smile. "I want this place to be pourin' with bits when me an' your brother get back. Now get over here and give your brother and sister a nice tight hug."

The younger sister complied, saying nothing. She was wordless for the situation. Her siblings she always looked up to were now leaving her life, and hopefully not for forever. So she let her cries speak for her.

"You got anything to say Big Macintosh?" the orange pony asked.

"I think you got it covered, sis," the quiet red stallion answered.

Applejack and Big Macintosh released their younger sister and started out the door of the family farmhouse. Wiona came running to Applejack, and clearly, the faithful dog knew what was going on also.

"Goodbye, Wiona. You've been a great lil' helper 'round here on the farm. Better than any other pet out there. Applebloom's goin' to take care o' you now, 'kay girl?" Applejack told her prized pet. The dog whined in return, but her owner only gave back a sad smile.

The two ponies kept walking away from the porch. Then, Applebloom's hooves was heard thudding against wood from behind them. The younger mare looked up with pleading eyes to Applejack before gaining the courage to speak.

"Sis, can ya promise me one thing?" She paused to catch her breath. "If you're ever in any big trouble, just please run away as fast as you can," Applebloom requested.

"Alright. I will."

"Don't try to be no hero and get yerself killed. I don't wanna get one of those telegrams..."

"Don't worry, Applebloom. Your big sis and big brother are goin' to take care o' themselves, and Twilight and the others, too."

"Big Mac, Applejack, please write back some letters from the jungle, will ya? To let me and Granny know yer alright."

"Sure thing, Applebloom."

"Eeyup." Big Macintosh then turned to his other sister. "Come on, sis, Vietnam ain't gonna wait for us forever."

With those last words, the two older ponies cantered toward the gate of the farm. Applejack took one last look back. The old sign, once marking a happy family-run business. The wooden fence, keeping pesky onlookers out. The barn, trusty and dependable like the farm owner. Lastly, the sea of apple trees, from which many juicy, delectable fruits hung, gleaming in the summer's afternoon sun. Applejack had one last remark for her home.

"I'm gonna miss you, Sweet Apple Acres. I'll be back soon." She paused, turned towards her brother, then took one last view at the orchard. "'Least I became nice friends with trees."

"Eeyup."

==+==

Carousel Boutique

Rarity was taking one last stroll through her own shop. She was absorbing the fragrant atmosphere once more, and admiring the work she'd done over the years. She took in the sight of her work areas, where she had her organized messes of materials. She'd already root through her trunk of belongings and only found a couple photographs to take along, but that would suffice. She heard a bell jingle downstairs, indicating that somepony had entered. As the store was already announced as closed and her friends taking care of their own affairs, Rarity knew exactly who this pony was.

"Ah, Sweetie Belle must be home," she told herself out loud as she climbed down the stairs. "No better time to talk to her then now, I suppose. Get it over with instead of putting the inevitable off."

"Hey there, sis. How are you?" a white unicorn mare with green eyes greeted Rarity at the foot of the staircase. She, too, along with her friends had become a fully grown adult. As was the same case as Applejack, Rarity was pleased with her now-matured younger sister.

"Hello, Sweetie. I suppose that you figured that this chat was coming eventually, right?" the elder sibling asked.

"Me, Applebloom, and Scootaloo knew it the moment you and your friends left for lunch," her sister replied in a downcast tone. "It's only right that we're the last ones you talk to before you leave."

Rarity sighed. Her memory flashed through the images of the two from many years back. A simpler time, when they had their many moments of quarreling and their treasured days of loving sisterhood. She recalled the early years when she was more focused on work, and left Sweetie Belle to her own devices because of her negligence. The condition of their relationship improved after Applejack's help on how to be a good sister.

"Look, Rarity, I'll always keep you in my mind. You've been the best sister I could've asked for, minus those years a long way back. I don't even blame you much for it now, ever since I got those music jobs. It's all been concerts, and being hired to play at bars and restaurants, and parties, and all those," Sweetie Belle admitted while going through a menagerie of gestures. "I never realized how busy work could be at times. I'm probably even busier than you every once in a while. If you were the younger sister, you'd probably would've ran away eventually," she added, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "So I don't think I can blame you for much, anymore."

The older unicorn managed a smile. She truly had a reason to have pride in the mare in front of her. Rarity walked over and held her in an embrace. "Well, I know I can trust you to take care of the Boutique while I'm gone." A meow came from the upstairs bedroom. "And Opalescence as well. I'll miss her, despite how finicky that cat could be at times."

"Come on, sis, this is my home too. I've got enough income to prevent it from rotting away. And to be honest, your cat never really grew on me."

The two broke away. Ignoring the last comment, Rarity spoke up again. "Well, I'll be taking my leave now. I told Twilight we'd meet her at the library."

"Then at least take this," Sweetie Belle said, taking an object out of her saddlebag. "It's the latest record I made while playing with that jazz group. I'm sure you would want something to remind you of home while you're out there. I bet the other mares and stallions would like some new music to play also." She levitated it into the departing pony's own saddlebag. "Oh! There's also this one," she exclaimed. "Of course you remember Vinyl Scratch, right?"

Rarity nodded.

"Well, this turned out to be one of those old music records dug up back in Gazelland, when stuff wasn't exploding over there. I helped Vinyl recreate some parts that she couldn't fix," she explained as she placed another record in the saddlebag. "I heard that those ancient songs are real popular with the soldiers over there."

"Thank you, Sweetie Belle."

"And sis? Make sure to come back, nice and sound, will you?"

Rarity gave a nod of confirmation, and trotted out the door of the Carousel Boutique. She listened to the door bells ring one last time, and took in a final glance at the decorative exterior of her shop and residence. The flowing metalwork and carpentry framed the large windows from which her tailor work was displayed for all to see. The pony statues adorned the roof like a crown. She spoke a last goodbye before turning towards Twilight's library, her saddlebags with a little more added weight, laden with parting gifts.

After a couple steps forward, she reflexively took a last look back. The motto she ran her store with came to mind, and brought forth one last comment on her soon-to-be former profession.

"I wonder if military fatigues are in style."

==+==

Somewhere Above Ponyville

Rainbow Dash was putting off going to her cloud palace for the last couple hours. She wanted to feel the rush of the clean air that blanketed Ponyville for so long one last time.

She went through the acrobatics she always trimmed to perfection in an attempt to possibly impress the Wonderbolts. Sadly for her dreams, though, that chance never came after even after so long. Well, it did, but it turned out that there was quite an entry list Rainbow didn't account for. She'd been on that queue for around eleven years, and the top-grade quality of the flyers meant that most weren't leaving the team until retirement. Only on one occasion about six years back did a flyer ever have to resign due to an accident, but even after that, Rainbow was still three down on the waiting list.

So she left her crushed dream in a closet and finally just slowed down to appreciate the quiet life Ponyville had to offer. As quiet as it could get, at least, with the random nuisances that plagued the town. But even those eventually stopped, surprisingly. Rainbow continued her fast lifestyle by joining in any competitions and races she could find and sign up for, and accumulated a nice amount of wealth from her winnings. Yet, despite all she could have done with it, her loyalty to her friends was ever-present, and so, to the town as well. No regrets, either.

Rainbow Dash was finally content with the numerous laps she had taken in Ponyville's airspace, and circled back towards her cloud home. She had already taken care of her concerns for the Ponyville Weather Patrol a couple days ago, receiving a nice party in her name. Also promised by the director was a plaque to commemorate her actions as a weather patrolmare. So her last business was seeing if she had anything to take along to Vietnam.

Landing on her cloud front lawn, she was greeted by a certain orange pegasus. "Hey Scoots," Rainbow greeted her number-one-fan.

"Hey there Rainbow. So, me and Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were talking earlier about you and the others earlier, and..." Scootaloo said. She stopped at her loss of words.

"Look, Scootaloo, we're leaving tomorrow morning. You've got to have something to say to the greatest pegasus in Equestria," Rainbow playfully prodded.

"I can't believe it. After all this time, you never made it into the Wonderbolts, you stuck around Ponyville, and now I know almost all your tricks! Except for your Sonic Rainboom. I still can't get that down..."

"Yeah, fourteen, fifteen years? Long time ago since that got famous, and I'm still the only pegasus in Equestria that can do a Sonic Rainboom. But you started flying around eleven years ago, and look how far you've come!" the cyan pegasus congratulated Scootaloo.

The orange pegasus knew she had to get to her farewells eventually, and, as a mare of extreme action, much like her idol, decided that the time to get this challenge over with was now. "Hey, Rainbow Dash, stay safe down there. This town wouldn't be the same without you," Scootaloo finally said. "And kick some gazelle butt down there while you're at it," she added.

Rainbow smiled. They never really were the ones for sentimental moments. Well, more so on the younger one's side, but still. "Sure thing, Scoots. Hey- take care of the awesomeness department up here in Ponyville while I'm gone, 'kay?"

"Awesome!"

"Alright, come 'ere and give me a hug," Rainbow said as she motioned towards herself. "Take care of my house and Tank while I'm gone."

Once they finished holding each other, Scootaloo gave a nod to the last proposal and said her goodbye, then leapt off of the cloud residence. Left alone with herself, Rainbow Dash walked into her cloud house to look for any small possessions she might want to take along. After a couple minutes of searching, she settled on the usual luggage- a few pictures, and, oddly, a small bottle filled with liquid rainbow, just to keep a little bit of home with her. Rainbow tied on her saddlebags, then took to the air.

After flying a small distance, Rainbow hovered in place to look at her home once more. It would be a while until she saw it again, if ever. She turned and flew in the direction of the library, maintaining her usual high flight speed. Rainbow remembered what Scootaloo requested of her while in the jungle, and decided keep a bright outlook on the future.

"I'll make sure those gazelles won't know what hit 'em."

==+==

Sugarcube Corner

Pinkie Pie had a lot of things to wrap up on her end. She had to say goodbye to the four ponies she shared the household with. Luckily, she already held a going-away-to-war party for herself and her friends. So all that was left to do was her packing and personal goodbyes.

Pinkie already decided on the valuables to bring along. The mare still needed to think of a way to somehow smuggle her Party Cannon down to Vietnam. As much as she'd like to bring other party supplies, however, as the reigning master of that profession, she knew that she would be able to improvise and do without them. After packing a few more items, she headed downstairs to the living room.

Waiting patiently for Pinkie were two earth ponies, a pegasus, and a unicorn; the Cake family. Still, nopony in the room could deny that Pinkie was just as much of a family member as any other one of them. She had, in fact, lived at Sugarcube Corner longer than the two youngest ponies in the room. Through the many years Pinkie lived there, she watched Pumpkin and Pound Cake grow, and were now in their teenage years.

"Well, Pinkie, I guess this is goodbye for now," Mr. Cake said.

"You've been the best employee we could've ever asked for," Mrs. Cake added.

"Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, this has been the best place to work ever! I'm gonna miss the cupcakes and sweets and cookies and so much more! But I'm going to miss you four the most," Pinkie politely replied. "And you two especially!" she directed towards Pumpkin and Pound."

"Do you really have to go Aunt Pinkie?" Pumpkin Cake asked, even knowing that it was rhetorical.

Pinkie replied with a simplified explanation. "Well, you remember how Princess Luna started asking ponies to join the army?"

The two young ponies nodded.

"Well I got one of those letters too. And Rainbow Dash and Applejack and the others did too. And when Twilight found out, she and Spike signed up to come with us."

"Pinkie, please know that when you come back, we'll give your job back straight to you. You've been too good to us," Mrs. Cake decreed.

"Sugarcube Corner never would've been as successful without you," Mr. Cake agreed.

"Well since I can't stay here at Sugarcube Corner, I'll just have to bring a little bit of Sugarcube Corner with me," Pinkie exclaimed. "I'm sure they have some sort of way to bake some cakes down in Vietnam..."

"That's the spirit, Pinkie," Mr. Cake said, "I'm sure they'll love some of your best baking down there every now and then. And don't forget to throw your parties either."

"This party pony would never dare to forget to throw parties!" Pinkie Pie gave a grin, then scrunched her face. She lifted one of her forelegs and reached into her mane. "Gummy!" She exclaimed as she pulled the toothless reptile out, "I already told you, you can't come with me!" Pinkie then looked over to the two teenage Cakes and trotted over to them. "Pumpkin, Pound, can you take care of Gummy while I'm gone?"

"Sure thing, Aunt Pinkie," Pound told her while being given the pet reptile.

"Yeah, anything for the greatest aunt in Equestria," Pumpkin said.

"Pinkie, please stay safe," Mrs. Cake spoke. Mr. Cake had a look that expressed the same thing.

Pinkie answered with a small smile and a nod. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. I Pinkie Promise to come back in one piece and alive. Goodbye Pumpkin, goodbye Pound. Goodbye Mr. and Mrs. Cake. Good luck with the bakery!"

After speaking her last promises, she turned to leave out the door. She passed the glass counter, displaying confectionaries for ponies to buy, hungry or not. Tables placed around for gatherings of all sort. She exited Sugarcube Corner's door, and looked back at the lively gingerbread house-themed bakery. The appetizing appearance alone could bring a pony back from the dead, Pinkie thought. But hopefully it won't have to. She quickly pushed away all depressing thoughts and turned towards the library. Pinkie wanted to keep optimistic ideals for the future.

"I wonder if military-grade explosives make good fireworks..."

==+==

Outskirts of Ponyville

Fluttershy was up in her room. The cottage was not only a home to the many animals she took care of, but now also the residence of a happy family. She had met a nice stallion nine years ago, and soon pieces started falling into place, until they were wed. It was a wedding as joyous as the Royal Wedding of Twilight's brother a few years prior. Fluttershy obviously had a nice amount of photos to root through, and time was not on her side.

"Hey there, honey," she heard a stallion call her from the door frame. She turned to see a dark blue pegasus trot up next to her. He was the one. The one that was able to nudge her out of her timid self, and live with her in the quiet outskirts of Ponyville.

"Hi Feather Breeze. How are you?" Fluttershy asked her husband.

"How am I?" Feather Breeze asked as he nuzzled up to the mare. "I should be asking how are you." He took a look at the trunk of prized possessions, then over to the saddlebags. "Need any help packing?"

"Oh, well, no. I'm not really going to be bringing much with me. Not that I can, anyway," Fluttershy replied.

"Hmm," Feather hummed in thought. He took a look at the contents of the saddlebag, noticing... nothing. It was still empty. "You haven't packed anything yet."

Fluttershy burst into tears. "I don't want to go! What if I get hurt, or worse? What will you and our fillies do? Why'd I have to get drafted..."

Feather held his wife in a loving embrace, and tilted her eyes to face his. "Look, I'm having a hard time dealing with this, too. But please stay strong for us. Now you get to help the stallions and mares who really need a motherly figure down there. You're so kind, and they need some of that," he comforted the trembling pegasus.

He let go of Fluttershy, and trotted over to their dresser. He scanned over the items on top, before picking up a certain picture frame. "Here, take this with you," he said as he gave the frame in the yellow pegasus's shaking hooves.

Fluttershy wiped her tears, then looked down at the picture. It showed four winged ponies- her family. They stood on the sides, bordering a baby colt and filly. They were all in a pose depicting a brighter time, just before the war started.

"Hey, if it makes you feel better, my older brother's still writing back, right? He's still alive, and he's got one of the dangerous jobs. You'll be fine, Fluttershy. Can you trust me one this?"

Her expression lightened, and gestured her understanding.

"Good. Now are you sure you won't stay for the night?"

"No, sorry, I promised my friend we'd go to her and stay the night there, then go to the train station in the morning. Besides, I think we woke the little ones last night."

Feather Breeze smirked. "Okay then, I know how important your friends are to you. Look at me- I'm lucky to marry one of the Elements themselves! Well, then there's not much left to do here. Let's just get you ready to go." They spoke no words after that, until they finished filling the saddlebag. The two headed downstairs, where the two baby ponies awaited, as well as the assortment of animals Fluttershy had housed for many years.

"Feather, are you sure you can take care of the kids and all the animals by yourself?"

"Come on, Flutters, what else can I do?" he replied in a confident manner. "Relax, we'll all be fine. I can take care of business around here while you're absent. We already figured out even before we got married that your animals love me just as much they do to you."

Fluttershy smiled. That was, in fact, one reason she grew a liking to this stallion. His heart for the critters was just as large as her own. Animals flocked to him with the same magnetism his wife had.

"And if you're worried about Angel being pushy, well, you remember what changed when I started living here," Feather Breeze stated. It was true- that bunny's attitude around him was always one of respect, probably because Angel finally found a pony to relate with. Poker nights didn't hurt, either.

"Okay... well, I guess this is it." The mare turned to her two younglings. "Mommy's going to be gone for a while, okay? But don't you worry, because I know Daddy's going to take care of you while I'm gone."

"Where are you going, Mommy?" one asked.

"I have to go on an important trip for the Princesses. They... asked me to help ponies that are hurt," she simply explained.

"When are you coming back?"

The question hit the pegasus hard. It wasn't an assured fact that she even would. "I'll be back soon, don't you worry."

The two young pegasi looked content, and so she left them be.

Fluttershy and Feather Breeze started towards the front door. They faced each other and locked lips, before the yellow pegasus took her leave, speaking no words throughout the experience.

Though even after all those years, Fluttershy had always preferred to travel with her hooves on the ground instead of wingpower. Her steps were quiet, the clops of contact with the ground were silent, like the personality of their owner.

Her eyes trailed back to observe the landscape. The Everfree wasn't that far off. Closer to her was the small, quaint cottage she had owned for years. Scattered around were various cages, pens, and perches for the numerous animals. Also, the landscaping job hadn't even deteriorated over time; it still held the same welcoming air. Fluttershy hoped that she, too, would experience that when she returned. She continued on her way towards the town.

"Oh... I think I'll need a medic for myself when this is over."

==+==

Ponyville Public Library

The treehouse was filled with the sound of hooves and claws alike scuffling across the floor. Three hours ago, the book meeting called on short notice was called to an end, resulting in the vice president being promoted as the manager of the library, starting the next day. The ponies of the club were saddened to see their president have to leave for military duty, but supported her and Spike as much as they could.

The unicorn went over her checklist, as was tradition. She had already sent letters to her parents and Shining Armor and Cadence, as well as received their respective replies. The library management had been taken care of. Spike was coming along, so she didn't have to figure out what to do with him. All that was left was to find some possessions she'd like to take.

Twilight was up in her room, finding all sorts of small belongings to carry with her. She was putting a few quills and ink bottles in her bags when Spike belched out two letters. They were responses to earlier correspondences sent by the unicorn in the previous hour.

"Hey Twilight, the Princesses sent back their answers to your earlier letters," Spike called from the door frame.

Twilight expressed her gratitude as she took the parchments in her magical grasp, and brought them over to read. She opened the first seal, emblazoned with the icon of a sun.

My Dearest Twilight Sparkle,

The news of your deployment beside your friends bears heavy weight to my heart. I wish there was something I could do, but, alas, the only thing that can be done by me now is to maintain the state of Equestria, so that when you and your friends return, you will return to a home that is as you remember, or better.

As for when you are on duty, I leave you in the protection of Luna. She has always been the better one at taking the necessary actions, and has earned the title of Commander-in-Chief. She is the one that coordinates with the War Ministry, and by that, I relinquish your fate over to her.

Goodbye, Twilight, and I await the safe return of you and your friends.

Princess Celestia

It was clear by the smudges of ink near the signature that the sun princess went though great efforts to write the message. Twilight placed it in her saddlebag, then opened the other letter, this one with the motif of a moon.

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

It is I, Princess Luna. I have heard of the news about my sister's student, and what has become of you and your friends. She is stricken with grief, and has refused the company of others, preferring to lock herself in her room.

I have never felt as much pain about the war until now. I have not forgotten what you and the other Elements had done for me fifteen years ago, and the other measures you and the others had taken to help society accept me back. Therefore, as Commander-in-Chief of the Equestrian Armed Forces and head of the War Ministry, I will do everything in my power to repay those favors, by assisting the Ministry to bring the Vietnam operation to a swift, victorious closure. You have my word.

Regent of the Night,

Princess Luna

Twilight rolled up the letter from Luna neatly, and snuggled it next to the letter from Celestia in her saddlebag. She considered Luna's letter as an official statement ensuring their safety down in Gazelland-Vietnam, and felt her worries slightly lighten for the time being.

This was her last night in the library. Her home of knowledge, carved into a living tree. She was going to miss her long studies past midnight. The nights observing Luna's night through her special balcony. The treehouse had served her well during her time in Ponyville. She looked at the doorway leading downstairs. She sighed, and asked a question directed to no one in particular.

"Either nopony or everypony, right?"

==+==

Once she and Spike finished packing, they descended to the first floor. Without warning, a blue blur rushed passed them, landing in an adjacent shelf of books.

"Oh! Hey Twilight! Well, I'm here now. And whoever you promoted to take your job, I hope they oil that window. It's getting a bit rusty," Rainbow said as she stood from the pile of spilled books.

"Rainbow..." Twilight decided not to finish that sentence, instead just leaving the antics let be. It was their last time there, and she might as well enjoy every moment.

Within the next hour, the rest of the ponies arrived. They talked through the night, discussing their past memories to their heart's content. Each of them knew, that when they walked out the front door of the library the following morning, they were closing the door on their old lives.

==+==

Ponyville Train Station

June 19, 1015 A.B.

8:00 AM

Today was the day. The day they leave Ponyville and might never come back to see their homes and their family. And they did so by obligation.

The group of six mares, one stallion, and one dragon made their way to the train station early that morning. The train they would board would take them directly to the training camp, then, once basic combat training was done, be taken by airship down to Gazelland-Vietnam.

Twilight was naturally deep in thought. Not even the bitterness of the predicament they were in could rouse her from her own private room in her mind. She thought back to the letter from Princess Celestia. About how the Elements of Harmony no longer needed to be held in a stand-by state in the town of Ponyville.

Also, friendship reports were no longer an issue. They were sent on rare occasions in the recent years, for the amount of time Twilight had held her friendships was long enough to encompass most of the possible lessons. Perhaps the front lines would give her inspiration for new letters.

So what did they mean to Equestria? They were residents of Ponyville that stole newspaper front pages a couple times. What were they to Ponyville? Normal, average ponies that had jobs around the town as a living, and participated in public events and celebrations. Especially those of Pinkie Pie's.

They were also the ponies that solved the strange and unusual problems that plagued the town. Some of which were even caused by one or more of the six mares. But seven or so years ago, the little dot on the map in the shadow of Canterlot stabilized.  It truly became a place where one could really settle down and not have to worry about their home or lives getting destroyed by some random evil that would be vanquished in the matter of a couple hours, and days at most. So were they able to be shoveled into the same pile of expendable citizens as many other Equestrians?

"Alright ponies! Get your identification out and we'll check you against the list," a stationmaster called, yanking Twilight out of her mental sanctuary. She was so entrapped in her thoughts that she didn't notice the station fill up with other Ponyville recruits. She recognized a few ponies in the crowd, one being Vinyl Scratch herself, in the flesh. She looked like most others in the throng of ponies, carrying a saddlebag with a few possessions, and wearing her distinctive purple sunglasses. I guess she didn't quite get high enough with her celebrity status to escape being drafted, Twilight thought.

"No waiting in line for the ticket booth, courtesy of the Equestrian government!" the ponies heard an announcer say over the chatter. The group of mares, other company in tow, walked over to one of the pony officials. They handed the necessary paperwork, and were allowed through.

"Well, fillies and gents, enjoy the train ride as best you can. It's one of the few rare times your train fare is going to be paid for by the Equestrian government. Good luck out there, hope you return safely," the pony told them. They nodded their thanks, and boarded the train. It was going to be a long ride, and a long month.