All Types of Rain [Original]

Jungle Air Mail

By: The Grey Pegasus

= 1 =

Always Been On The Government's Payroll

Approaching [Re-Classified Destination]

Gazelland-Vietnam

December 1, 1015 A.B.

1805 Local Time

"It's been a while since we got one of these assignments."

"Well some ponies have to carry the mail, right?"

Captain Ditzy 'Derpy' Doo answered her co-pilot, 2nd Lieutenant Sharp 'Sharpie' Stargazer, through headsets. If it weren't for the headpieces, they would have to yell over the sound of the helicopter.

"They usually leave us on transport or attack duties though." Sharp looked back at the carrying hold- it was currently filled with bags of letters and mail. "Oh well, change of pace is good sometimes."

Their missions were always subject to change- one day, they could be transporting ponies out into a random field, and the next, they could be assigned to fly ground attack missions. Helicopter piloting didn't seem to attract all that many ponies, and so the existing pilots had to do all sorts of things, instead of being specialized in a certain task.

"Well I love this flight, because I adore the smell of mail. It makes me feel at home when on the job."

"Oh yeah, you were a mailpony. That's right."

"Well, if you think about it hard enough, every flight we do is a delivery. We bring ponies from one place to another."

"I suppose you could say we deliver pain to the enemies on combat runs..."

Ditzy gave a look of brief thought, resulting in her right eye pointing down while her left eye looked up. "I... guess you could say that. Kinda dark humor," she answered. "But such is our life," the grey pegasus added with a non-caring tone and happy face.

"Though I'd be lying if I said I didn't appreciate assignments for the PX every now and then. At least flights for the Postal Exchange means we don't have to land in hot zones."

"As long as I help ponies, I'm happy. That's why I signed up for, anyways. If it means landing with gazelles shooting at us, so be it... but I'm not going to deny that I like delivering mail every now and then either."

"Hey- you're the pilot. I'm just a crew member. A lucky one at that," the lime green pegasus declared.

"Well, being one of the most well-respected chopper pilots and having one of the best flight records wouldn't have been the same with out a good co-pilot," Ditzy replied. They'd probably been over this conversation many times over, but it kept their own morale high, and so it didn't hurt to repeat it for who knew how many times.

Sharp smiled. "I still think the one of the best parts about it is when they learn about your eyes. It's funny when they ask me how I deal with it." The pilots had a good chuckle. Then, Sharp's keen eyes noticed some distinctive objects roughly 20 miles out that heavily contrasted against the vast, wild landscape. "Alright, base in sight. Seems to be around 30 klicks. ETA 10 minutes."

"Alright. Not bad." Ditzy tapped a button to turn on the communications radio. "Okay ponies, this is Captain Doo. Listen up. Base is in sight, we're about 30 klicks out. ETA 10 minutes. Just a heads up. Out."

The comms echoed with messages of affirmation. "Copy that flight lead."

"Alrighty then Cap'n, I read ya."

"Good to know Derpy."

As the stream of confirmations ended seconds later, Sharp brought up another logical topic of conversation. "So what're you gonna do after we check in and all the standard post-flight procedures? You gonna visit your Ponyville friends right out, or go find Sergeant Steel Crate?"

"What are you gonna do when we land?"

"Not sure."

"Then it's settled! You go find Crate, and I'll go see my friends. I mean, since you can cover it, there doesn't have to be another pony on the job, right?"

"That's what I thought," the stallion said with a grin. "I'd do the same if there were any ponies I knew 'round there. Change in pace in audience is something I'd like too."

"Well you're always welcome to tag along with me," Ditzy offered. "I'm sure they'd love to meet you!"

"Before or after I find Steel?"

Ditzy shrugged in her seat. "Your choice."

"They seemed like a nice group of ponies. Of course, being the bearers of the Elements of Harmony..."

"Come on, Sharpie. They're just normal mares with lives too you know. They're nice by nature, not because they're the Element bearers."

"Just sayin' that they're an interesting bunch to meet."

"Ah, well that's one quality of any Ponyvillian you'll meet," she replied with a pleased smile.

<<+>>

1844 Hours

"Der- I mean, Captain Doo!"

"Rainbow, I already said we can drop formalities. So at ease, Sergeant."

Ditzy smiled as she walked towards the group of Ponyvillians and other companions. She had on an eye patch over her right eye and a beaming smile.

"Alright! Cool. Well I think I speak for all of us when I say, wow, are we happy to see you!"

"Feeling's mutual Rainbow."

"So Ditzy," Twilight started, "Do you mind telling us the story of how you got here? After all this time, we still haven't heard it."

"Yeah," Rainbow agreed, "I mean, when you left Ponyville, all you told us was that you were thinking about enlisting in the military. You never left any specifics."

"Sure thing! Well first it started out with me figuring out it would be great to help ponies down here. Pretty funny considering being a postal worker already puts me under a government position kind of... A transfer in job, I guess you could say. You know what, here's how it went." Ditzy replied.

<<+>>

Ponyville

Equestria

February 15, 1013

5:39 PM

Ditzy Doo had just finished her mail route, and started heading home from the post office. Her mail runs consisted of all sorts of things, but lately, there was a new addition to what she carried- drafts. Princess Luna had just called for one two weeks ago. Granted, with Ponyville being a mid-sized town, there wasn't much, but Ditzy estimated that she must've had to carry at least five in the past two weeks.

As she flew, she was in deep contemplation. A war had been going on for three years, down in the southeast, far away from Equestria. Soldiers a long way from home. Before the conscripting, the Equestrian Military had completely consisted of ponies who chose to be soldiers, and always held the expectations of a possible war. Though ponies only dreamed of such a thing after such a long reign of peace, things happen, and war breaking out was still possible. And now here they were, involved in one. With the new decree at the beginning of the month, there were now also ponies in Gazelland who never asked to be in the army.

Though those thoughts made Ditzy uneasy and sad, she knew the government was only doing what was necessary. It was for the greater good- to stop a country from being invaded, they had to intervene. Also, there was the fact that it was technically their fault a war started. Though there was no intention in doing so, they didn't expect to unearth ancient weapons of war.