Chapters Saving Private Bloom: The Captain's Logs
Journal Entry: Omaha Beach
Journal Entry
Capt. Twilight Sparkle
June 6th, 1944
Omaha Beach
The smell of fear and salt water was in the air. Dozens of boats were headed to the shore of Omaha Beach to send dozens of soldiers to either victory, or death. I was in one of those boats, with my friend Whooves, who was a Sergeant, and was going to be leading a few squads onto the beach. Most of us, not including me, weren't used to the being on boats for long periods of time. Here and there a pony would gag and lean over the boats to vomit. The boat trip was nearing the end as the beach came closer and closer. My right hoof started to twitch again as I brought my water can to my mouth and drank two mouth fulls of water.
Saving Private Bloom: The Captain's Logs
Journal Entry: The Eight Soldiers
Journal Entry
Capt. Twilight Sparkle
June 8th, 1944
The Eight Soldiers
Military carriages were being pulled by big Pegasus ponies down the road as I walked to Lieutenant Scratch's headquarters. It was just a small tent pitched up near the road, about the size of a small drug store. I approached the guard pony, who was sleeping on a tool in the front of the tent. I tapped her on the shoulder, and she woke up.
"You and I are taking a squad over to Neuville on a public relations mission," I said to Whooves, a half hour later as we walked to our tent.
"Attention!" some pony yelled when I walked into the center ten minutes later. Every pony there stood up quickly with their backs straight and noses up.thunk . She blushed, and turned to me and said, "I'm Fluttershy."
About four hours later, the squad and I were walking along a grassy slope in a farmland. Sheep were bleating and running past us as we walked. Trees were coming up in front of us, and Fluttershy kept talking to different squad mates, apparently trying to make friends. At one point, she tapped Apple Jack on the shoulder, startling her.
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Saving Private Bloom: The Captain's Logs
Journal Entry: Braeburn and the Seven Soldiers
Journal Entry
Capt. Twilight Sparkle
June 8th, 1944
Braeburn and the Seven Soldiers
The weather started to take a little turn once we got out of the farmlands. Things were bright and sunny before, but now, the sound of thunder and the patter of rain drops could be heard. As we entered the forest headed into Neuville, the sound of distant gunfire hit our ears. As the rain poured down upon us, we galloped through the muddy ground as quickly as we could, slipping and sliding on the slippery slope. As the gunfire became louder, it was easier to tell which direction we needed to head towards to get to Neuville. The gunfire grew even louder, and we came across a big stone wall with a hole blown right in the center. The gun shots could be heard loud and clear now, and that meant we had reached Neuville.
Saving Private Bloom: The Captain's Logs
Journal Entry: Private Bloom
Journal Entry
Capt. Twilight Sparkle
June 9th, 1944
Private Bloom
Scootaloo died yesterday. She was shot in the shoulder by a sniper and bled to death, we couldn't make it to her in time. It took us a couple of hours to dig a grave for Scoot, and since her death was my fault, I was the one who placed her body in the six foot deep hole in the ground. We had a small funeral for her, with just us, the squad and I, there. Rainbow Dash said a few prayers for Scoot, and when we were done, we placed a grave stone above where her head would be, saying:
Private, First Class Scootaloo
A brave and loving hero
After that, there were no more sighs of the Germane Pozis. Braeburn led us under an arched alley, and stopped us.
"So, how was the road in?" Toity asked as we walked into the square. It was no longer raining, and the sunshine was quite enjoyable.
"What's wrong with your hoof, Twilight?" Whooves asked. It was dark out, and we're inside the curch, which was lit up by candles.
Saving Private Bloom: The Captain's Logs
Journal Entry: The Airfield
Journal Entry
Capt. Twilight Sparkle
June 10th, 1944
The Airfield
It was still dark when I aroused the squad, and the sound of distant gunfire echoed throughout the night when we left Neuville. Captain Toity gave us a refreshment of ammo and food before we parted, and as we left the Neuville boundaries, we heard Braeburn speak.
Several hours of walking later, the sun was rising above the trees in the east. We were walking through a forest leading to Vierville, when we saw a huge helicopter had crashed in a clearing. It must've been the helicopter described by the wounded pony at Neuville. On the other side of the helicopter, we saw that a tent had been pitched up, and a few dozen moaning ponies were lying under it with all kinds of injuries.
Saving Private Bloom: The Captain's Logs
Journal Entry: The Six Soldiers
Journal Entry
Capt. Twilight Sparkle
June 11th, 1944
The Six Soldiers
It took us about an hour to get all our gear together before we left the airfield, and by that time it was after dark. I was prepared long before any pony else, so I relaxed a bit and read a field manual while every pony else was packing. I read a very interesting section of the manual, something about sticky bombs and how to make them. It included socks, and my mind immediately thought of . I decided I wanted to see the effects of a sticky bomb, so I asked , while she packed her medical equipment, if she could find some time to make a few socks. She said she'd do what she could, and that was satisfying enough for me, so I went back to the manual, a little more giddy from excitement.
Saving Private Bloom: The Captain's Logs
Pinkie Pie and Mayhem
Everything went still. Nothing could be heard. It was as if time itself stood still. Everyone was gazing at Rarity, her lifeless body coated with blood. Finally, Spike put his head down, and Fluttershy sank to her knees, sobbing quietly into her hoofs. Rarity was gone, and nothing could change that. I stood up, wiping my eyes with my twitching hoof in order too wipe away any tears that could've sneaked past me. Spike laid his head on Rarity's chest, which was still covered in blood, and he fell into a crying wreck. Rainbow put her hoof over Rarity's eyes and closed them, so she could sleep peacefully. I reached into Rarity's jacket pocket and pulled out Scootaloo's letter, which had been re-written. I put it into my own jacket and turned to walk to the building.
Saving Private Bloom: The Captain's Logs
Bonus Chapter: Luna's letter
Dear Ms. Moon dancer,
No doubt by now you've received full information about the untimely death of your son. No words of mine can ever relieve the grief you must be feeling. Our outfit has felt his loss tremendously. He was a fine soldier, and believed very strongly that he would make it back home to you. It's no secret any more that we were involved in one of the most important operations in this war. AI was the one who held us all together. He was always the first to volunteer and the last to put his hoof down. We were coming near a road where over 4,000 troops had passed. Your son had served in a combat unit whose dangerous duty is to place itself beyond the element of surprise. We all have relatives whom we all cherish and hold so dear. The loss of Ponderson and others like him is a distinct blow to the regiment. I fully understand your desire to learn as much as possible regarding the circumstances leading to his death. I'm afraid his entire squad died with him at the time, so even we can't guess as to how he perished. Again, we are very sorry for your loss. The Army has lost a very fine soldier.
Sincerely yours,
Princess Luna, Chief of Staff for the Equestrian Army
Princess Luna read and re-read the letter she had written herself, checking places for errors. The Equestrian Army was losing too much, and the proof of that she had just written. Sons, fathers, husbands, cousins, uncles, nephews. They were all dying. If this war ever ended, than who would be left?
Dear Mrs. Junebug,
I have been shown in the files of the war department a statement of adjutant general of Bassachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine, that would attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the republic they died to save. I pray that Our Heavenly Mother may assuage the anguish of your bereavement and I leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost. The solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the alter of freedom.
Yours very sincerely and respectfully,
Princess Celestia
Luna sat back down in her chair and looked up at the three ponies in front of her. They all had shamed looks on their faces. Luna folded the letter and put t back in the book.
