Hero of War

Chapter 7: Blame

She approached with a steady gaze, eyes locked on her target. Moving with speed and a steady course, she let out powerful flaps of her wings, which propelled her faster and faster as she flew low, her body nearly touching the ground. She had trained for many assaults like this before and this one was no different from the rest. Silently and swiftly, she drew closer to her target, never once blinking her eyes throughout the flight.

I got you now. She thought to herself, as the orange form of her target grew bigger as she approached.

By the time Rainbow Dash was on top of her target, the poor mare was caught by complete surprise, as she was flung off of her hooves before being slammed down into the ground by the rocketing pegasus. Looking down on her now pinned down target, Rainbow Dash stared down on the shocked face looking up at her before giving her a powerful punch on the face.

“That’s for bucking me right on the face for no reason at all!” Rainbow Dash growled, the anger clear in her voice.

“What the hay do you think you’re doing.” Applejack hissed, her eyes seemingly glowing with anger.

“Settling a score.” Rainbow Dash said, a harsh tone in her voice as she stared at Applejack. “Do you think you can just do what you did and get away from it?”

Without any further word, Rainbow Dash raised a hoof and, in a swift and powerful motion, slammed it on Applejack’s face once more, making a loud impact as it hit her. A grunt of pain was let out by the orange pony, as she looked back at Rainbow Dash with more anger than she had before. Opening her mouth, she was about to say something in complaint but was immediately cut off as Rainbow Dash’s hoof slammed on her once more.

“And that’s just a portion of the pain you gave me when you kicked me half way across the room!” Rainbow Dash grunted, venting out her anger with each punch of her hoof.

Rainbow Dash had been trained a dozen types of torture methods and she was very tempted to try them on the orange pony and during that moment she was tempted to try some of them on the pony below her. She let her mind entertain the thought, but ultimately she decided against all of it. She realized that it would be too over the top, as well as controversial, especially if the press gets any wind of it, which they mist likely will. So instead she satisfied herself with the few blows she had given the earthpony, feeling better that she was now even with her.

Seeing that the mare already got what she deserved, Rainbow Dash decided it was time to get off of her and leave her by. But before she could do so, she heard a gently mumble from the mare beneath her, making her curious as to what the pony said. Due to the weakness of the voice, she was unable to hear what exactly she said, and she immediately demanded for the pony to repeat what she said.

“What was that?” She asked.

Meeting her gaze, Applejack gave her a stern stare as she spoke up. “First you get my brother killed and now you humiliate me by attacking me on my own property? Will you never stop hurting me?”

Staring at her with disbelief, Rainbow Dash shook her head, not believing what just heard. Remembering that time at the tavern, she could remember the pony giving her the same acquisitions. Why does she keep on saying that I have something to do with her brother’s death? She thought, irritated at the mare.

“There you go again, saying that I killed your brother.” Rainbow Dash growled. “You must be delusional! What makes you think that I had anything to do with your brother’s death?”

“I ain’t delusional!” Applejack spat. “Cause I know for a fact that you are the reason for his death! You could have saved him.” By now, tears were evident on the mare’s face, but that didn’t stop her from continuing on her rant. “Tell me, does Operation Black Hoof ring a bell to you?”

As if hit in the head, Rainbow Dash paused and stared. That was something she hadn’t heard for a long, long time.

“That…” Rainbow Dash said, a stutter in her voice. “…that was a top secret operation. How do you know that?”

“Correction.” Applejack said in a firm voice. “A top secret cancelled operation! And as for how I learned of it… Well, my family is an important contractor for the Equestrian Ministry of War and we have connections. So, when I inquired about my brother’s death, they gave all the information I needed to know, just as long as I promise to keep it a secret. So I know all about Operation Black Hoof and how you decided to cancel it.”

Feeling the world around her spin, but trying her best to fight it, Rainbow Dash gazed at Applejack and tried to counter her challenge. “But I had to cancel it. It was for the better for all the ponies involved in the operation.”

“For the better of all the ponies involved? If it was for the better, then tell me why my brother and about a hundred more soldiers died from starvation inside a POW camp?” Applejack demanded. “The Crystal Empire was running out food and supplies and could barely feed their ponies, let alone our ponies, whom they captured! They all starved to death! Do you understand that? Starved! You could have saved them, you could have rescued them! But no, you cancelled the entire operation!”

“I had too…” Rainbow Dash said, lowering her head and suddenly feeling weak. “I just had too…”

Raising her head, she tried to meet Applejack’s face. But after seeing the tears rolling down from the devastated and angry face, she quickly looked away. She was the reason for the death of a hundred Equestrian soldiers…and she was unaware of it until now.

Guilt suddenly filled her as sorrow and anger flowed in her blood. Why did she have to cancel the mission? Why?

It was for the better…

Her words hung in her head as she realized why she cancelled it, on why she didn’t go with the deadly operation. She remembered now why she suggested that it be cancelled, why the operation to save so many ponies never went through. It was for the better…for the betterment of the ponies who served under her. She wanted to protect them, spare them from such a deadly operation. But now…now she realized the consequences of her decision.

“I’m sorry…” She said in a fragile voice. “I’m very sorry, I didn’t know…”

But she did know, she was full aware of it. Yet she still made the decision, for something she believed was better.

It was for the better, right? She thought to herself, suddenly feeling some doubt regarding her decision.

“Why did you have to go through with your decision? Couldn’t you have taken the gamble, couldn’t you have taken the risk. My brother could have been saved!” Applejack cried out, in anger and despair. “He wasn’t even supposed to be there, in that camp, in the army… We begged for the Ministry to exempt him, but apparently not even our connections could stop the needs of the war effort! So they conscripted him and threw him to the frontlines. He could have still been here if it weren’t for that blasted war! And he could have been rescued if it weren’t for you!”

Throwing an accusing hoof at her, Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but stare at the mare in front of her. At first she felt the urge to explain herself, to tell her the reason on why she didn’t continue with the operation. But she soon decided against that, realizing that Applejack was too overcome with emotion.

She wouldn’t understand… She told herself. They never do. They’ll never understand the decisions we had to make. The decisions that will always haunt us…

Instead of arguing and facing another volley of accusations from the earth pony, Rainbow Dash decided to turn her back and walk away.

Despite the insults and calls Applejack called out to her as she walk away, Rainbow Dash did not turn her head to face her. She was too angry inside. Too angry at Applejack for blaming her too much and too angry at herself for making bad decisions. She had made mistakes, she knew that, but it seems she had made bigger mistakes without fully realizing it.

Opening her wings as she trotted away, she was about to make flight and get away from this place when she noticed an orange filly approaching as fast as she can.

Having galloped all the way there from the distant hill, it was clear that Scootaloo was exhausted. But it seemed that no amount of exhaustion can overcome her curiosity, as her eyes gazed between the angry Applejack and the quiet Rainbow Dash.

“What…” She began. “What happened? I saw that there was a scuffle but I couldn’t really tell what was going on.”

Keeping silent, Rainbow Dash shook her head and motioned the young filly to get on her back. She didn’t want to explain these things to the young filly, she just couldn’t. It was too complicated, too depressing and shattering.

“Ah, Captain Rainbow Dash, I’m glad that you could join us.” General Shining Armor said, retuning the salute Rainbow Dash gave him and giving her a small pleasant smile. “Now, Captain, I would like to introduce you to Captain Line Draft, Army Intelligence.” General Shining Armor told her, motioning towards the grey unicorn who stood at the opposite side of the table. “Captain Draft-“ General Shining Armor continued. “-this is Captain Rainbow Dash, officer in charge of all Special Air Action Corps units and operations in this sector while Colonel Spitfire is away for special business.”

Both Rainbow Dash and Line Draft gave each other a curt nod, acknowledging each other’s presence without bringing any delay.

“So, what’s the meeting about, sir?” Rainbow Dash asked, once the introductions were over. “The courier you sent for me seemed very eager to get me here as soon as possible.”

“Well, that’s because Captain Draft here has something interesting for us.” General Shining Armor said, as he glanced at the Intelligence Captain. “Now, why don’t you tell the good Captain what you just told me earlier?”

“Yes, General.” Captain Draft said, nodding. Then, turning his attention towards Rainbow Dash, he said: “Captain Dash, what I have here is top secret information and anything that is said should not leave this tent, is that understood?”

“Fully.” Rainbow Dash pledged.

“Alright then. Captain, I would like you to bring your attention towards the map before you.“ Captain Draft said, gesturing towards the large map of the sector’s frontline displayed in front of them as it lay on top of the table they were using. “Now, I would like you to take special note of the red cross marked fifty miles behind enemy lines.”

“I see it.” Rainbow Dash muttered. “Now, what is it?”

“That, Captain is a POW camp used by the Crystal Empire.” Captain Draft said plainly.

“A POW camp?” Rainbow Dash said, her interest sparked because of this. “You’re telling me that the Crystal Empire has Equestrian ponies locked up at the camp over there?”

“Yes Captain, and it seems that they’re having quite a hard time there.” Captain Draft said. “About a month ago, a small team of Army Scouts wandered into the camp, when they followed a caravan of our soldiers being brought there after they were captured in out last offensive. Locating the camp and observing it for three days, they found that a large amount of prisoners gathered in that there camp.” He said, pointing at the map. “And we want them back.”

“And that’s where I fit into the picture, isn’t it?” Rainbow Dash said.

“Exactly, Captain.” General Shining Armor said. Pulling up a file he had in front of him, he carefully slid it in front of her and urged her to open it. “In order to rescue our soldiers Captain Draft and his team created a plan to pick them up and bring them back to friendly lines, it’s called Operation Black Hoof.”

“Black Hoof?” Rainbow Dash said, opening the file in front of her and scanning through its pages.

“Yes, Black Hoof.” Captain Draft said with a firm nod. “The operation calls for a long range infiltration making use of your SAA teams, assisted by ponies from the Army Scouts. Your unit, Captain, would be the striking force of the operation, in charge of striking the camp and rescuing all of our soldiers found within it. The Army Scouts in the other hoof would-“

“Provide transport, using twenty large army wagons.” Rainbow Dash interrupted, looking up from the file she was reading. “I’m sorry, but do we really need twenty wagons?”

“It’s the necessary amount, if we want to extract all our ponies from that camp.” Captain Draft replied. “It is estimated, from observation, that there are about a hundred plus ponies in there, most of them wounded and unable to make the long trek back. So we must be able to provide them transport in order to get them back to friendly lines safely.”

“Alright, I understand that, but it would be too difficult to conduct an operation with so many carts. The task force would be too bulky and difficult to maneuver behind enemy lines.” Rainbow Dash said, turning her gaze towards the map. “I doubt it that we would even make it to that camp.”

“And how come, Captain?” Captain Draft said, giving her a curious look. “The Army Scouts seemed to have gotten there without a problem, so why can’t the SAA unit do it?”

Looking up, she took a quick glace towards Captain Draft, before turning her gaze towards General Shining Armor. She didn’t like this operation, she didn’t like it one bit, and she hoped that the General understood her feeling towards it. Giving him a discouraging look, she shook her head before look back at Captain Draft.

Although she understood the importance of this operation and how it might help those soldiers captured by the enemy, she found that the entire thing was just too risky, if not plain suicidal. There were too many avenues for mistakes to happen, to many times where the ponies involved could die. Such a plan could get ponies killed, ponies like her team members.

Thunderlane, Lightning Dust, Cloud Chaser…

No, she couldn’t risk this operation, they all can’t. It mustn’t be approved, it mustn’t get off of the ground, unless she wanted them to be killed.

“My unit can reach that camp, in fact, any SAA team can! But only if they go there as only one team, nothing more, nothing less.” Rainbow Dash informed him. “The problem I see in your operation is that the task force you plan on sending for it would have great difficulty getting there, if not finding it impossible to get there. The Army Scout unit that found that camp got there because they were small and could easily hide from enemy patrols. But this-“ She said, gesturing towards the file. “-this operation would call for a big task force, a big and bulky task force. It would be near impossible to hide them from enemy patrols and once they find us, then we’ll sure be in trouble from a lot of attacks! Which brings me to another problem…”

“In order to protect this large task force-“ She stated. “-we’ll need to bring in a lot of SAA Teams. According to the report on this file here, the task force would need six SAA units. Six! Do you understand how many units that is, Captain?” She said, turning her attention towards Captain Draft.

Captain only shook his head.

“This sector alone only has three SAA teams.” Rainbow Dash informed him. “So if this operation is to happen, then we would have to call in teams from other sectors, which would be quite a problem. Taking away those teams would mean that we’re depriving the army of support those teams are giving them. Supply raids, convoy disruptions, and various other missions would all have to be cancelled in order to fulfill this operation. I think that this would be a risky tradeoff for an operation that I believe would never work.”

“So are you saying that we not continue with this mission, Captain?” General Shining Armor asked her.

“Speaking plainly, sir, yes.” She said with a nod of her head. This mission should be stopped, this mission will not be approved. For the sake of her team, for the sake of everypony involved. “The camp is just too far off, too far for our forces to get any support in case something goes wrong. If we continue with it, I think the only things we’ll get are deaths and more captured ponies.”

“But what about the soldiers trapped in the camp?” Captain Draft asked. “Are we just going to forsake them there, trapped and with no hope of freedom?”

“Well, how about my soldiers, Captain? What about them? It’s their lives we’re risking too!” Rainbow Dash said, slamming her hoof on the table.

Cancel the operation!

The sound of her hoof hitting the wooden table echoed loudly within the room, as the impact of her hoof on the hard wood was strong and powerful. Turning their heads to stare at her, as they gave her curious glances the ponies within the tavern wandered what could have angered her so much that she would attack her table with such ferocity.

But after giving a quick glance and seeing her drunken state, the ponies soon looked away from her, seeing that she was just another drunken fool, lost to the effects of alcohol.

Being brought back to reality and away from her thoughts of the past, Rainbow Dash felt a sudden drop of her heart once more, as she made a grab of her mug and drained its remaining contents. She wished she could do the same for her memories, drain it away from her body so they can leave her be, but such gifts were not for her.

“You did a great job on the decision, Dash…” She muttered to herself, slumping on her chair as the alcohol drained her off of her energy. “…you traded the lives of those POWs so your team could live.”

Shaking her head, she threw a frustrated hoof in the air before hitting it right on her forehead.

“Oh wait, never mind!” She said. “It’s not like your team lived through it all! You still got them killed, remember?”

Tears rolled down her eyes, as her vision became mixture of blurry images and flashbacks from the past. She saw Thunderlane, Lightning Dust, Cloud Chaser, they all appeared before her. But they got farther, moving away and away till they faded from her sight.

She tried to extend her hooves to touch them, to bring them closer to her. She wanted to apologize, she wanted to say sorry and tell them how much she missed them. But they were gone, never to return.

“You killed them…you killed them all.”