Minuette's Visit

You ever had a sandwich made of dandelions? No? Good.

They sat around, drinking tea and eating on a nice little picnic blanket outside with a few sandwiches (I didn't partake of any as they were made of fucking dandelions, I also didn't partake of the the little tea party when they offered. Mostly because i'm not three. I'm also a guy.) and tea cups. My Ka-Bar knife was strapped to my thigh should I need to use it, be I highly doubted I would. I originally was going to use it to chop carrots, but soon realized I had none. I mostly just sat there and listened to Fluttershy and Minuette chat. They talked about current events and stuff, how the Grand Galloping Gala (whatever the hell that was) was coming up and how they were both invited. It seems that they were good friends, and had became friends long before I even showed up. They talked about this mutual friend named "Twilight Sparkle".

"You want me to talk to her?" Fluttershy's soft, calming voice had spoken. I swear, you could be down in the dumps with worst depression ever, and her voice would make you feel happy and calm again.

"No. Me and her have been distant friends since Junior High. I'm used to this behavior from her and I doubt she has forgotten me." Minuette had replied. She must have great patience, as distant friendships, in my experience anyways, never work out. "She never forgets."

This whole thing had continued for a while, long enough to where I was beginning to lose interest. At some point during their chatting I lost all focus and began to just let my mind wander. I was brought back probably minutes later by Minuettes voice. She was talking to me.

"So, Sergeant. Fluttershy had said you have been a great helper, despite your injuries. I have to ask, even though you have morphine in your system, is your kind always this resilient?" She asked. I turned and looked at her, with a smile.

"No." Was all I had to say. What I had spoken is true. While men and women of the human race do have a good tolerance of pain, it doesn't mean there are not a lotta drama queens or pussies. I had met my fair share of both. But Minuette did not push the matter on what she had asked, probably sensing that I really didn't have much to say. If I wanted to talk, then lets talk. But my answers and replies are my own.

They continued their conversation, occasionally mentioning me. I overhead Fluttershy talking about how Angel hated me with a passion and that she "...can't keep him around much longer, or a fight might break out. I can't have that.". At first, I assumed she was talking about Angel starting a fight with me, but her next choice of words slapped me in face for being wrong.

"Sergeant is a strong thing, indeed. And I worry for Angel's safety while he is around."

Of course, I naturally felt a little insulted, but I also understood what she meant. I was bigger and tougher than Angel by a wide margin. I almost stepped on him my second day here, and he takes every opportunity to try and trip me. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to punt the fucker as far as I could, but I didn't for the sake of my friendship with Fluttershy.

Were it not for that, Angel would be half a continent away, and still flying.

I mean it.

My mind began to wander again, tuning out the conversation halfway through.

"I just can't keep him aroun-"

My thoughts turned to Fluttershy and her wings. She had proven to me that should could indeed fly with them. Something I was amazed at. When she asked me if my kind could fly, I just simply told her "Kinda.". But for me? I was terrified of flying. I liked the water better. See, with flying, I get scared when i'm too far from the Earth. With swimming? At least I know i'm on the Earth. But, I digress. Fluttershy's wings proved useful to her in a wide variety of situations. Mostly, though, I've only seen it used in household tasks. She has been readying for Winter. She had preparing the bird houses in the top of her cottage -- Which is a tree, I might add. Should've noted that earlier, but I did not -- and the garden was finally completed today. In the next few days, she told me, she would go out and help prepare the animal burrows in and around the fields and clearings that surround the nearby town and her cottage.

Look at you! Friends with a Pegasus. And you have been here what? Five? Four days? If you told a story like this in your world, your buddies would call you crazy!

My thoughts then turned to Minuette. She was a nice Unicorn. Friendly and caring. I mean, I think she is caring seeing as how she didn't let me bleed out and came to check on me every few days while I was out. You kno-

"Oh hey, Harry! You're back, and guess who is awake!" I heard. I then smiled and turned my head to greet my final rescuer. But panic overtook my feelings of warmth and content.

It was a goddamn grizzly bear.

I yelled a warning to them and instinctively reached for my M9 but realized it was not on me. So, instead, I drew my Ka-Bar and took a defensive stance, all the while the two ponies just looked at me. Confused.

"That's a bear! Get away from that thing!" I yelled. But they just sat there, looking at me.

"Uhh." Minuette looked visibly confused. They both looked at me, then back at the bear, then, after a few seconds, Fluttershy smiled and looked back at me. Realizing my reasoning for getting hostile.

"Oh, no. Its OK! He's Harry." She said. But I did not drop my stance, but rather, I looked at her. "He is friendly! Also, he isn't a grizzly. Those things, unfortunately, can't be shown love." She affirmed. But nonetheless, it looked like a grizzly to me.

"That's Harry?!" I yelled, my stance not faltering.

"Well... yeah..." Fluttershy said, turning to pet the bear. "Your a good boy, aren't you, ehehehehe. Yes you are." She said in a puppy-dog voice before turning her head to me, giving me that calm smile she is so good at giving. "He really is friendly. Come on up and pet him." She offered. Harry made that noise a bear makes before sitting down next to Fluttershy and across from Minuette. Smiling....

Smiling.....

I, with the comfort of the knowledge that it isn't eating either of them right now, eased up. I didn't drop the knife, but rather tightened my grip and took a step forward. Cautiously, I closed the gap between me and the bear... Harry. Step by step, I approached him, keeping my grip on my knife. All the while he just watched me, smiling.

There was something off about that. A bear smiling. It just didn't fit. Whether its the image of them literally mauling someone to death, or the fact they are big animals that could kill you with the flick of their paws. A smile from an animal like that could ruin the whole facade. It didn't comfort me any more knowing that it wasn't killing these ponies in territorial dispute or something, and it didn't comfort me any more knowing that they expected me to be nice and warm to it.

But, would anyone really approach a bear and try to pat it on the head, or would they turn tail and run like hell? You guess, there is only one wrong answer.

I stood at level with the bear. While it was sitting down on its rear, and I stood up. We both were then at eye level. It continued its warm smile and looked at me, and I it. I looked over to Minuette.

"Go ahead, he is real sweet." She said, urging me to pet him. But I didn't feel so comfortable patting him on the head. For more than one reason. So...

I put my knife back in its little sheath on my leg, and started scratching its belly. Cautiously at first. It acted....unexpected. I really expected it growl with anger and try to tear my head off, hell my heart was beating so fast it was wonder why it didn't pop out of my chest. A miracle, I guess. It acted much like you would expect a fun-loving dog to react. It started making those sounds a dog would make should you scratch somewhere where it was itchy. Pleasurable sounds. Then came the back paw kicking at the air. Fluttershy chuckled.

I added my other arm and started scratching faster. It hasn't killed me yet, so I felt a little bit more secure. I was even starting to enjoy this, ehehe. Reminded me of a dog I used to own....

But anyways, a smile formed on my face. And the bear continued to enjoy the belly scratch I was giving it. About ten seconds later it did something that was unexpected (again). It actually picked me up and held me close in a hug. At first, I began to panic. Fearing that I had pissed it off as I had started to slow down due to my arms were getting tired, I began to struggle in response, trying to get to my Ka- Bar. But I calmed down when I finally realized what it was doing. It had its eyes closed. And its head resting against my chest. My feet weren't even touching the ground, that's one thing that continued to scare me.

"See? He likes you." Fluttershy said, smiling all the while.

It lifted its head and...

Oh god!

Its began licking my face. Showing me its slimy, drooly way of showing love. I closed my eyes in response and struggled. Hoping it wouldn't last long. I knew internally that it would My struggle was useless, as my strength didn't compare to that of a fully grown bear. I felt its slimy tongue making its mark on another part of my face. I felt a wave of hot breath smash my face before it licked my face again.

Both the ponies made an "awwww" sound.

Oh jeez.

Eventually, the bear let me go. The lick turned into a hug again and I then eventually regained full control of my body, releasing myself from his grasp. My face....euuuugh. His breath was nasty and...and... fuck! My face was wet, nasty-smelling, and sticky. I could smell his breath on my face... It was horrible.

I looked up at the bear with an expression of fear mixed with disgust, but it continued its smile. Unaware of my disgust. I looked at Fluttershy, who smiled.

"Eh... Good...Harry..." I muttered

<><><>

I sat in the bathroom, washing my face with a warm wet rag. Minuette and Fluttershy are downstairs, chatting. Catching up, more like. The bear wandered off and according to Fluttershy, this is usual with him. The belly scratch I gave him was my way of saying thanks for assisting in my rescue but I don't really think the end result was worth it. A nasty smelling and sticky face.

I stopped rubbing my face and started rinsing the rag once more under the faucet. Wringing it to be rid of the excess water. I applied it to my face and began rubbing once more, enjoy the warmth it provided. It was a nice change, considering this house had no air conditioning and it was a little chilly outside (according to Fluttershy, its gonna drop to freezing tonight. Apparently the first cold night of the winter). I at first wondered why air conditioning was alien to this house but soon realized Fluttershy had fur. She wouldn't require artificial warmth.

I dropped the rag into the sink, and looked into the mirror. It has been days since I last shaved and I noticed some hairs growing on my chin and above my lip. My hair has grown only slightly and wouldn't require a shave for a while. But my buzz cut would disappear soon. A problem I always had in MCROTC. My face still smelled, but it was less apparent, so now I at least won't stink around others. Unless Ponies sense of smell is heightened. Greater than humankind's.

I could see a slash mark healing on my cheek, showing where that giant timber wolf has slashed at my face days ago. It was healing fine as Fluttershy had applied some kind of salve on it. Stitching it as well but those broke yesterday. She didn't apply anymore as she had very little and I told I could make do. Her primitive salve worked wondered though. It stopped the bleeding on the cut and quickened the scabbing process.

When I asked her why she didn't apply the salve to all my wounds, she replied with the same reason why she didn't re-apply the stitches. She had very little of it. But, the morphine and gauze/bandages and antibiotics worked wonders as well, so when she asked if I would prefer the salve, I stated that it was fine and that I could make do. Besides, the antibiotics did what the salve could not. Fight infection. And i'm pretty sure that I had an infection somewhere.

I turned towards the door and started for it, but stopped and remember to grab my blouse before leaving. I my arms through the sleeves and buttoned it up. Making sure to make it look presentable, my ranks centered on the collar and my sleeves buttoned as well. I then went to the opened it, and walked out. Closing it behind me.

As I walked down the stairs, I could hear their hushed voices. What they were saying was beyond my hearing, but I could tell they were doing this so I couldn't overhear. I kept a light step and continued down the stairs, hoping to catch the end of their conversation. I stopped before I got to the bottom and kept out of sight. Sounded like they were wrapping up their conversation.

"...adopt him. I can't keep him here any longer and Angel is getting more.... whats the word? Errr, belligerent? Yeah, that. He is getting more belligerent towards Sergeant and her isn't taking the reception so well. I won't be able to stop him should he try to kill Angel. So, do you think-"

"I'm open to it. But, how do you suggest I get him to Canterlot? Let alone through town. Ponies wont exactly react all that well to a creature alien to them. I mean, you remember how they reacted when that Zebra whats-her-name showed up in town? There were murmurs of a witch hunt in town before Twilight settled things."

"Yes, I know. But... please. I know all the risks, but you took a big risk in bringing me to him when he was hurt. I can't keep him here, you know this."

"Yeah. You're right. Give me some time to think, maybe I can get my friend to help. We'll talk to him tomorrow about this, but for now, I'll go to Berry's house and discuss this with her."

"OK.... Uhhh, hey Sergeant, you alright up there?" I heard Fluttershy call out. It was still a soft voice, and I admit, I had a little trouble hearing it from where I was. After I remained silent for a few seconds, I heard Minuette speak up.

"Here, let me do it. Sergeant! Are you done yet?" Minuette called out with a much louder voice.

"Errr. Yeah! Yeah! Just, uhhh, just buttoning my...ranks... and...blouse. Err, give me a second!" Nice save, idiot. But I doubt they knew what "ranks" were. And that buttoning them weren't really wasn't the proper term. Doesn't matter. Still an idiot.

I took a second to digest what they had said. As I had only caught the end of it all. Were they really just talking about moving me out of here? What the hell! For fucks sake, I just got here and I still feel a lot of pain whenever I moved! I took a deep breath and tried calming myself. Honestly, I did feel a little insulted. As if I wasn't wanted here.

Being forced out to be alone. One of my greatest fears was being alone. I developed it back in Parris Island but I don't know how, and I would be always start to panic if I was alone on the field of battle. Hell, one time when the Taliban launched an attack on a FOB, I couldn't find my squad in the confusion and ended up holding my ground at the main gate. They weren't attacking the main gate, but I stood there anyways while I was trying to regain my mind from the great fear I was experiencing until Kelley found me. Why I feared being alone didn't exactly make too much sense to me, I also never really questioned it. Maybe I have a fear of dying and no one knowing? Or being captured by the enemy and turned into a POW? I don't know.

But then, I was alone in that clearing days ago, before I met Minuette. But I didn't feel too much fear if I remember rightly. Why was that? I fear being alone, but I didn't fear it back there... Wait...

I thought I was in a coma... right... Now it makes sense.

Was I going to be alone? NO...no no no. Minuette had said that she might take me in. But what she also speaks is truthful. How will she get me to her home unseen? I'm not exactly that covert when it comes to sneaking around, especially when the inhabitants are half my height. I can't exactly hide in plain sight either, if i'm being honest. I mean, how could I? Put a damn lampshade on my head and stand perfectly still? Allow some pony to carry me? Hell no.

I took another deep breath. And exhaled slowly, deciding to deal with this when it happens. I got bigger problems anyways. I took a step downstairs, into full view of the ponies below.

"There you are. Was wondering if you had died or something." Minuette said, chuckling. I lightly chuckled as well, but Fluttershy didn't. Flatly stating: "I'm sorry.. But..errr.... that's-that's not funny.". Minuette just gave her a blank stare before receiving a sheepish chuckle from the other party.

"Nah, just...just cleaning up. What-err-what were you two talking about?" I asked as I came down the steps.

"Nothing much. Just talking. My job is getting hectic lately, what with all the foals eating their candy from Nightmare Night and getting cavities.... oh but i'm sure you would rather not hear about that." Minuette said, smiling. Cavities? That's a dentists job. I sat down next to Fluttershy and pondered at the idea of a pony dentist... how the hell would that work? Then I pondered about Nightmare Night...

"What is Nightmare Night?" I asked.

"Oh... Nightmare Night..." Fluttershy muttered with a frown. But Minuette? She smiled.

"Nightmare Night? Its a wonderful festival, you see... It was a festival about...." The pony began a small story about the origins of Nightmare Night. About a princess who became corrupt and became a monster called Nightmare Moon. And how the festival was a way of appeasing her or something. She was fuzzy on those details there. She told her of how little foals collect candy from homes and that some would offer it to a statue of the evil entity on the outskirts of the Everfree, near this pony named "Zecora"s home.

Sounds a lot like my worlds "Halloween", but instead of a statue where you offer candy, Halloween was originally a little thing where superstitious folk would dress up to scare away an evil entity. I don't know the whole story though.

We ended up talking for a good while, probably.... I don't even know how long. It was dusk when the conversation started, but its dark now. We talked about many things. Or, really, Fluttershy and Minuette did and I just listened. What they talked about really isn't interesting, but what was interesting was when they kept referring to me as "Sergeant". Like "Oh, Sergeant helped me with this." or "Sergeant helped me with that.". I had noted that Fluttershy always referred to me as my rank, but never thought much on it until now. Sergeant...

Sergeant....

My rank in the United States Marine Corps. But not my name. Had they assumed Sergeant was my name? Or was it easier for them to remember?

"Hey guys." I piped up after a long time of silence. They both looked at me.

"Why do you keep calling me Sergeant?" I asked. Minuette frowned. "I'm sorry, its just that... well... Fluttershy has been calling me that for a while now and now your doing it... Do you not know my name?"

"Is that not your name?"

"No. Its my rank, not my name." I corrected. She pursed her lips for a second before replying. Fluttershy just looked at me with quizzical eyes.

"Rank? Well, what is your name?" She asked.

"My name is Daniel... Daniel Lemmings Crouse." Fluttershy frowned at this. Although I don't understand why. She began mouthing something, but I was never good at reading lips so I had no idea what it was, but I had an idea. Minuette just looked at me, before cracking a smile.

"Dan....yel. Danyel... ha. That's kinda funny to say... Daaaaaaaanyeeeeel. Danyel Lemon Crwowse. Hahahaha." Minuette laughed. "So that's your name, huh? Kinda funny, hehehe."

"I could say the same." I said replied, feeling a slight blush coming on. Whether it was anger or embarrassment bringing it on, I had no idea.

"Excuse me?" Minuette said. But I dodged the question fast.

"By the by, its not Danyel... Its Daniel. Daniel Lemmings Crouse. Not lemon, not Crwowse. Lemmings Crouse." I corrected. Minuette shared the blush this time. Smiling sheepishly and looking away.

"Oh, sorry... Ehehehe. It just... Its hard for me to pronounce. You think-you think I can just call you Sergeant?" She asked, stammering. But I nodded to give a yes. I've had names it was hard for me to pronounce too, like... well.. maybe I shouldn't say. I looked over at Fluttershy, whom was no longer mouthing the same thing over and over.

"Is it hard for you to pronounce too?" I asked. Knowing what she was mouthing.

"Errr.... Kinda." She also said with a sheepish smile.

I looked back at Minuette, who looked like she was about to say something, but the light that the window was no longer showing caught her attention, and she whistled in response to what she saw out there.

"Wow, I spent that long here? Well. Its getting late." Minuette noted, looking out the window she was sitting next to. "I think I better get going. Ill see you tomorrow Fluttershy, Sergeant. Sleep well."

"You too." I said.

And with that, she got up and went for the door, opening it, leaving, and closing it behind her. I, myself, stood and stretched and started for the upstairs. But stopped at Fluttershy's soft voice.

"You're not gonna eat dinner?"

<><><>

"Hey Kelly.... Kelley! Are you alright man?!" I yelled, tuning out the gunfire all around.

"Crouse... fuck... what happened?" Kelley said, spitting blood with every breath he took. It was nighttime, and a full scale battle was taking place at an American FOB. Australian Army forces radioed saying they were trying to relieve us, but so far, no one has shown up. At least, no one but more insurgents. Me and Kelley were defending a gate, where heavy Taliban resistance was met. A few other Marines were nearby, but not with us. Kelley was shot during our gunfight and he is in critical condition and bleeding out.

"Taliban! They are overrunning our position! Can you move?"

"Crouse... I-" He said, ending his sentence abruptly and gave a yelp, pointing behind me. I gripped my M9 harder in response and turned to meet an insurgent wielding a scimitar. He was running at me, hate and rage burning in his eyes. His mouth screaming an Afghan battlecry. I ended his charge with three rounds to the chest. He fell without resistance, blood spurting out of his newly formed wounds. I turned back to my fallen comrade, grabbing him by his arms.

"Kelley, hold on i'm getting you out of here!" I yelled, hoisting him over my shoulders. "Your not gonna die today!"

"Crouse! Crouse! Let me down! FUCK! Let me down, it hurts! It huuuurts!"

"No can do! I'm getting you to the corpsman! Fall back! Fall back!" I yelled, hoping any nearby soldiers would hear me. I turned my M9 on an approaching insurgent rounding a nearby tank and I ended his life with a single shot. He dropped to the ground, and I heard an unseen insurgent shout a warning before rounding the corner, firing at me as soon as he turned. I knelt and fired at him, but missed. He ducked back around the tank, and I fired again, backing away as I did. I continued to tune out the gunfire all around as all that mattered to me as of this moment was Kelley's life.

"Come on you fuckers!" I yelled, ignoring Kelley's screams of pain and fear. "Come on! Come on!" I yelled again, firing off two rounds at the tank to give the insurgent a reason to stay down. I felt a presence behind me and turned to greet it with a gun to its head.

"Woah! Chill! Chill Crouse, chill! Its me!" Cunningham yelled, raising his arms in an attempt to not get shot.

"Fuck! Announce yourself next time, I could've killed you!"

"Sorry sir! But, the insurgents are beating back the Australian relief force and the brass has issued a full retreat and evac choppers are on the way! Go! Ill cover you! Get Kelley our of here!" Cunningham yelled. I heard a scream and turned to see the insurgent running out of cover, charging towards me and Cunningham with a knife. Cunningham quickly took a knee and dropped him.

"Go! I'll be right behind you!" He yelled. And so I ran. Following a group of nearby soldiers who were on the run as well. Two of them were carrying wounded soldiers. I looked back to see Cunningham gun down another insurgent before turning and running to catch up with me. And I could hear the faint noise of helicopter rotors over the sound of gunfire, and the screams of the wounded...

I never noticed the strange dark equine figure standing on the Abrams tank, which was only five feet away from where I was defending.

Author's Note

Some brownies sound nice right about now.

Hey, btw. If your all wondering why these short chapters take so long to make. Well, I got other things going on in my life. As I do have a life.

Remember, I work on my own time. When you favorite any of my stories, you basically sign a contract saying "I will not whine or piss or moan when it comes to how long each chapter takes to be published."