//-------------------------------------------------------// I only need one bullet... -by Chambered- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter One: All's Fair... //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter One: All's Fair... Name: Henry Rodes Rank: Corporal Military: ~~US Army~~ Royal Guard Serial Number: 22346 Date: Sunday, June 4, 1949 The sound of cries of pain reached my ears. My eye's darted around as I looked for any of the changelings to shoot. I winced at the immense pain in my gut as I continued to limp on through the once great city of Canterlot, now turned war-zone. I looked at my hand I had covering my wound only to see it was covered in the crimson liquid. All around me are familiar faces... I continued onward, grunting in the sheer agony. I was the last of my squad, the only squad of humans in the royal guard. In my left hand I had a death grip on my M1 Granand rifle. I found myself near a brick building and slumped against it. I pulled a photograph of a young guard mare out. The photo was black and white, but I know what her true colors are. Red coat. Blue mane. Green eyes. Cutie Mark of a spear-tip. She was not just any mare to me. She was MY mare. I loved her to all corners of hell. And She felt the same. Worn out places... Worn out Faces... I sighed and set the picture on my lap. I looked up into the sky, hand still placed on the stab wound. I can hear my own heart beat in my head. I thought of her. What would she do if I died like this? "No. I'll live to see her again." I said aloud. "I'm on my way, Scarlet Strike." With that, I stood up and continued limping in the direction of the Castle, only one mile away at this point. Bright and early for the daily races... I rounded the corner to see a squad of Royal Guard patrolling the city. Among them was Scarlet. None of them noticed me... Yet. Going nowhere... "HEY! HELP!" I called out to them, and they looked my way. The familiar red pegasus zipped over to me in a heartbeat. Going nowhere... "HENRY!" She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw my blood covered hand on my gut. "HEY! We need to get him to the castle, NOW!" The young Lieutenant cried out, followed by 'Yes, ma'am' From the squad. "Hey... Scarlet?..." I was feeling weaker by the moment. I wiped the blood off my lips onto my sleeve. "Yes, Henry?" Their tears are filling up the glasses... "...How... bad is it?" I mutter before removing my hand, revealing a five inch deep stab wound. The precious life fluids running out of the wound like a stream of water. She winced at the sight as if it is very bad, but wasn't going to tell me it was bad. No expression... No expression... "It's not that bad... We're taking you to help, Okay?" I nod and limp with along side her as we made our way to the castle. Eventually I felt tired. Very tired. I find it kind it kind of funny, I find it kinda sad... "S-scarlet... I feel... tired..." I manage to get out. We were only about a quarter mile from the castle now. She looked at me in horror before speaking. The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had... "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! Don't sleep yet! We're almost there!" She said, and I nod again. I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take... "Good. Stay with me." When people run in circles it's a very... very... Soon we reached the the castle and were let in after a screening to make sure we were not changelings. I fell flat on to the ground, and everything went black. Mad world. Mad world. Mad world... Tuesday, June 6, 1949 I slowly awoke in a cot. I heard the door creek open and I stopped staring at the Blood bag hooked to me. "Henry?" Scarlet said quietly as she rested her head on my pillow. "Hi... Scarlet." I said with a week smile. I was safe. "You scared me so badly back there. You have know idea." "Sorry... How's the battle going?" I asked my voice was quivering. She shook her head. "Not very well. We lost a lot of ponies."She sighed in defeat. "The Major wants you out on a scouting mission... And we don't have much time. Your gonna be leaving as soon as possible. Try to come back, okay?" I nod as she helps me out of bed, offering me my rifle. "I will try." I handed her my pair of dog tags. "But if I don't... Keep these close, okay?" She nods and takes them as I take my rifle and leave the room. This... This will not end well. I looked around me. I was surrounded by the bastards. I had my rifle raised, and it was ready to fire. I looked all around at the changelings. The main fighting force didn't use the shape-shifting ability... thing. One changeling charged at me with a knife... Cra-bang! Only to be cut short by a 30-06 round to the head, blowing it's brains out the back of his head. I begun to fire on the others. Cra-bang! Cra-bang! Cra-bang! Cra-bang! Cra-bang!Cra-bang! Cra-bang! Cl-ching I heard the distinctive noise of the M1 Granand clip ejecting out the top of the rifle. Instead of trying to reload, I dropped the rifle and pulled a round, pineapple shaped object, and tossed it. That took the changelings attention off of me long enough to run. KA-BANG! The sound of the MK II fragmentation grenade going off, along with the screams hit my ears as I made my way to the castle. All is fair... Author's Note Hey guys, hope you enjoyed. If you didn't, tell me why. If you did, also tell me why. Feed back is very important.