Author's Note

Just a heads up, this chapter has some heavy stuff in it. Depression, PTSD, mentions of suicidal thoughts and the like.

Chapter 17

Camp Everfree.

According to the brochures, it is an idyllic camping ground that has been family run for the better part of fifty years after they opened up land of the family farm. A nice lake to take a boat out on to enjoy the scenery or go fishing.

Trees and mountains surround the campground, allowing one to return to nature.

Of course, the brochures fail to mention that apparently the owners have gotten into debt with the bank and are on the verge of losing their family’s legacy.

They also don’t mention that one of the counselors had found some magical gems that have turned her into some sort of Poison Ivy-esque magical villain that wants to keep us all here forever so the camp won’t be turned into a luxury resort for yuppies and hipsters.

I don’t want to see that either, but there are better ways to go about it. But it seems that Gloriosa has decided to go bad guy to protect what is hers.

Hence why I am currently dodging vines that are trying to trap everyone while hacking away at the ones heading towards my classmates.

“Gloriosa! I know that this places means a lot to you and your brother and that Filthy Rich is probably in the running for the world’s biggest dick, but all this is going to do is wind up with you either in prison or dead and you’ll lose the camp either way!” I yelled out as I sent a fireball at a group of vines about to grab Lyra and Bon Bon.

“There is no other way! This camp is ours! No one will take it from us!” Gloriosa yelled, running high on the power of the gems.

I was about to reply when vines grabbed me from behind and yanked me back, causing me to drop the Fusion Sword. More vines restrained me, some thorns digging into my skin, causing me to grunt and forcing me to divert my focus to my cure materia to keep from getting torn apart, rendering me unable to use my offensive materia.

I looked around and saw Rarity defending a group of students with her new shield ability as Rainbow Dash and Applejack did their best to get others out of the way.

Hearing dull thumps, I turned my head the other way and saw Pinkie defending Fluttershy and some other classmates with her exploding sprinkles until she was knocked back and dropped the container which promptly exploded.

Then suddenly, I wasn’t at Camp Everfree. I was back on Earth, in some little village in Afghanistan. I was wounded and could only watch as my squad was fighting for our lives as our medic was patching me up the best she could.

I don’t know how long I was in the flashback, but the next thing I knew, the scene bled back to camp and Sunset and Twilight were kneeling next to me calling my name.

I took a great shuddering breath as I returned to reality.

I barely took note of the new outfits that Sunset and Twilight had on as I was pulled into a hug by the pair. I wrapped my arms around them tightly and fought to keep the tears at bay.

“Talisman, are you okay?” Sunset asked quietly.

I shook my head. “Flashback.” I whispered. “Bad one.”

The pair held me tighter.

I don’t know what it was that dragged up that memory, but I hadn’t had a single flashback or night terror since I had come to this world.

‘Gods above. Please let this be a one time thing. I don’t know if I can handle it again.’ I thought as I embraced my girls.

Later that night, I was sitting in front of my tent meditating, trying to get myself centered again, when footsteps broke my concentration.

I looked up to see Gloriosa approaching with a bottle in one hand and a pair of glasses in another.

I raised an eyebrow.

“When I came back to myself, I saw what was going on with you and I recognized it as what happened with my grandfather.” She said simply. “He served in Vietnam.” She clarified.

I nodded.

“I guess you know that I’m not exactly from around here then?” I asked as she poured two glasses from the bottle.

“We told her a bit.” Came Sunset’s voice. “Just the basics though. It’s not our story to tell.” She said as her and Twilight sat on either side of me.

I smiled tightly before running my hand through my hair.

“Before I came to this world, I was a soldier. When I ‘died’, I had been medically retired for almost five years. On my last deployment my squad was ambushed and I was seriously injured. Half a dozen bullet wounds and my right leg took some shrapnel from an IED that killed the two guys that were on that side of the road. The medic and a Specialist dragged me to cover and Doc started patching me up the best she could in the situation. Once backup got there and medivac got us wounded out, half the squad were in bags. I passed out on the helo and woke up in recovery at the CASH. I got transferred a few days later to the big hospital in Germany and spent a couple of months there. My right thigh was pretty chewed up, but thankfully the artery was missed and the nerve damage was minimal.” I said, wiping my eyes as moisture leaked out of them. “Once I got back stateside, I had more physical therapy. Spent a lot of time hobbling around with a cane and hopped up on pain meds. I hated it.”

“What happened after that?” Twilight asked quietly, resting her head on my shoulder.

“Once my physical therapy was done, the medical retirement paperwork went through. I went from being in the military to being a civilian again. Went to school, got my associates, and found a decent job. Had a few friends, but I didn't really get close to anyone. Didn’t really date either. Not a lot of people could get past the scars and the limp. One reason I knew something was up when I woke up here. I wasn’t in pain.” I said.

“So what changed with letting people in?” Gloriosa asked.

“I realized that I had been given a second chance. I wasn’t going to waste it by being an unhappy recluse.” I replied as I accepted the drink she passed over. I tossed it back and savored the familiar burn of hard liquor. “Not bad. Whiskey?”

Gloriosa nodded. “Local distillery. I’m friends with the owner. He gets me a good deal. I don’t drink often though.” She replied.

“I didn't either. Mostly because the meds I was on interacted with alcohol. Made that mistake once. Never again.” I said with a shudder.

“Bad reaction?” Sunset asked.

“Bad trip is more like it. Shit acted like acid or something. Spent the night tripping balls.” I said.

Sunset chuckled a bit, causing me to join in as I handed the glass back to Gloriosa.

“That’s all for me. Don’t need to get you into trouble for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.” I said with a smirk.

The older woman laughed. “Fair enough. You looked like you could use it though.” She said after a moment.

I nodded. “Thanks for that.” I replied.

She nodded and got up before walking off.

“Are you going to be okay?” Twilight asked.

“Eventually.” I said with a sigh.

“Was this what you meant about being low?” Sunset asked quietly.

I nodded. “I had some bad patches. One night I spent an hour staring at a loaded gun on my coffee table before I realized I was being an idiot. Suicide is just a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” I said.

Both girls hugged me tightly.

“Do you want us to stay with you tonight?” Sunset asked.

I smiled slightly and nodded.

That night I fell asleep in the arms of my beautiful girls and slept soundly. My dreams weren’t of the past, but of the future, with my Phoenix and my Raven at my side.