A Heroes Always Welcome

Chapters

War
Nurse... WAIT!
But I'm Not a Pony!
Celestias Warning
To Walk Again...
Magicks and Magic
Memories
Stronger Than Steel
Remember

War

War. It's a simple enough three letter word right? But why are we so quick to throw it into argument as a solution, the answer to that one still to this day remains unclear. But either way, when war breaks out the military is called in. And that's why I'm here, I'm a marine, my wife and I that is. My name is James Johnson, my wife is Caroline Johnson. They call me "The Candy Apple". I'm the negotiator of my squadren of misfits, I was dubbed the nickname when I sweet talked a terrorist group into giving up one of my men for a candy bar. That was a difficult talk, the story is still lauged about in the mess hall with new recruits. I had two daughters and a son back at home staying with their grandmother, she was old but she was a tough old bat. My wife had the picture of our family with her, she kept it for good luck. I can still remember the day we got shipped out for duty.

"Ok, kids, we gotta get going." I called to them as we got into the car.

My eldest, my son Jeffry was crossarmed standing in the driveway not looking at us, I knew he was angry to see me go. My youngest a seven year old bright eyed red- headed girl, Madyline was in my arms begging me not to go. I looked over to my middle, Steffanie came to retrive her sister. She wrapped her armes around her and hugged her little sister. We lived on this cattle ranch, we did work all day and came in for dinner at night.

Steff looked up to me with her green eyes, "Your coming back all right aren't you?" she said. It was our sign off, I went overseas all the time, this wasn't supposed to be any different.

"Don't I always?" I said with my usual gusto. I saw my son still staring out to the sun setting. I got out of my Ford and walked over to him.

"What's eatin' ya kid?" I asked him.

"Nothin'" he replied.

"Sure?" I asked him.

"Eyup." he stood his ground.

I shrugged, "Alright." I began to walk away.

"Dad?" he said, I smiled and then turned around, I saw the brief glint of worry in his eyes quickly change to hard teenage touhness, "Come home in one piece ok?" he said.

I saluted him and walked to te truck.

It was up to them to take care of the ranch while we were gone. We drove off headed for the base.

A tray slammed in front of me, the innitial shock woke me out of my daydream.

"Thinkin about the kids again?" my wife asked me taking a seat in front of me at the tables and shoveling mouthfulls of mashed potatoes. I had gotten used to lack of table manners here, after all we only had four minutes to eat. We were already two minutes in. I did the same scarfing my beefaronie down.

"Yup." I nodded.

She took a sip of water, "I think about 'em all the time." she said not taking her face up from the tray.

"Ready for the IED hunt today?" I asked.

"No." she laughed.

An IED hunt was when we all got out special tanks and headed out looking for "improvised explosive devices". They were bombs that the Iroqis used during the war. Cheap and made out of everything from soda cans and lighters to frag grenades and blow torches, they were everywhere. We had to watch out for them so every now and again, we got a couple of squadies in an armored tank that had a long handle that would scrape the ground looking for wires of any kind. The thing was our tanks weren't equipped enough to take on an IED from below, so if we got hit it was over. It was a risk we all had to take.

The patrol went on without a hitch, a couple others radioed the locations of where they found some but for the most part our path was clear. Caroline was in the front seat barking orders at a rookie, I didn't want him here bad luck to bring a rookie on an IED hunt. It was almost the end of the hunt when...

"Uh... I think we got one!" the green horn said.

The car stopped, we all got out to survey the find. I walked over to it accompanied by my Caroline, the rookie and Sarge. He wasn't really a seargent, he was actually the medic, but he acted like he was. Like I said were a band of misfits, the rest of the squad stayed inside to radio for help in case anything got out of hand.

I walked over to the arm and tugged the wire. I found where it was and followedit to it's place in the ground.

"Alright everyone let's head back and radio the squads about the location. I'll get the bug."

We jogged back to the car Rooks, we called all rookies rooks until we found a proper name for them, radioed base camp. I grabbed the bug, it was a small remote controlled probe that we used for this job. Best to loose one of these than a man on the job. I pushed the throttle to make it go forward. The little car zoomed into the IED zone, I watched the mounted screen as the dirt zoomed past the monitor. It reached the wires running into the dirt in a few seconds.

I used the probes other controls to dig at the ground, it kept going but after a few minutes I had nothing I used the claw to grab at the wire, I pulled it out and the wires came straight up, there was nothing attached

"What the f***" I swore.

I put down the controller and walked over to the wires. I pulled them up and saw that they were never attached to anything, no sign of sauter ar even someone getting to them. What the hell was going on here? That's when the realization hit me, it was a trap.

I shouted to my men to take cover as I ran back, that's when I heard it. Mortar screams coming from the sky.

BOOM! One really close by landed and blew me back. I got up limping as I ran back to the jeep. Everyone had their wepons drawn. We could hear the gunfire from the enemies.

Tank, the power of my squad got out.

"I was hopin' fer some action." his deep voice boomed as he gripped his MP-5. He deserved the nick Tank, he never even got called Rook, at three hundred and fifty pounds and standing at six eight he WAS our tank.

"Ready to get out there soldier?" Caroline said snapping on her helment.

"Goin' in alive." I replied.

"Comin' out in one peice." she said back.

We got up and rushed, firing back at the oposing direction.

I heard the whistle of the mortar again. The rest jumped down the slope, I reacted too slow. The mortar it the jeep, blasting me into a pit. I lay there stunnded, I didn't feel anything and my ears were ringing. My vision was blurred and it was going dark. Sarge was in sight I could here his voice.

"You ok son?" he asked, "Respond soldier."

I heard Rook getting on the radio for backup.

"Uh.. private Demetrie here, uh requesting back up-" I heard Caroline take over.

"Gimme that you idiot, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, requesting immediate back up, Beta, well feed you coordinats. We have a soldier down were pinned. Requesting back up."

Base radioed with their response, "Copy that sending units to you now." That's when I was out. Everything went dark.

Nurse... WAIT!

I woke with a jolt shooting staight up, then I was forced back down by the pain in my legs. I looked down and saw I was in a bed with blue sheets. Looks like I was in a hospital, just my luck. I pulled up the covers.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." A doctor who just came into the room said, he was holding a clipboard flipping through m what I assumed was my medical file. "Might not like what you see." he said finally looking at me. He took a seat on a stool next to my bed.

"Please," I brushed him off, "I'm a marine nothing scares me."

I pulled up the covers.

"Not about scaring." he mumbled as I saw what he was afraid I would see. My feet were black with gashes cuts and scrapes. All which seemed to have yellow infection set in.

The doctor stood and walked over to my feet

"You've been out for several weeks." he said, "We put you in a chemically induced coma to sleep out the most painful part of your treatment." he said nonchalantly, I already didn't like this guy.

"Gangrene has already started to set in," he said, "if the infection doesn't clear we're going to have to amputate them." he said looking straight into my eyes.

I felt my heart drop. I was going to loose my legs? I remembered the promise I made to my son. The words echoed in my head.

'Come back in one piece ok?'

He proded my soles with a scalpal.

"Feel that?" he said.

"No!" I shot with a sour attitude.

"Not a good sign." he wrote something on his clipboard, "I'll come back with some more results soon, in the mean time the nurse will be in shortly with breakfast. If the results are too severe..." he took off his glasses to look me in the eye, "we're going to put you into surgery. We'll try to dig out the infection, but if we can't we're going to have to amputate." he said. I glared daggers at him.

He sighed and took his seat, "Look I get a lot of marines in here son," he said, "war injuries like this are part of my job. I have to act like this, but I honestly want to stop this." he said clapping a hand on my shoulder, "I don't want to take your legs, but I don't want to let you die either." I eyed him, but saw in his eyes he was sincere.

He left the room, the nurse came in carrying a tray. She came in and place a tray on my rails and began to leave. I saw a remote control on her cart. I looked into the corner and saw a TV, probably best not to be here with nothing to do right?

"Nurse." I called.

"What?" she said annoyed.

"Mind turning on the tube?" I asked.

She sighed, she held up the remote to the television and turned it on. As it powered up she left, hopefully something good was on.

I heard the voice come on "We now return to the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic seven hour marathon."

Oh... SH***

"NURSE!!!"

"Sorry kid I'm off duty." I heard her call from the hallway.

Oh no, what the hell was I gunna do now.

I tried to avoid listening to the things going on but certain things caught my eye and ear every now and again. It started off with some little purple one walking around with a little dragon on it's back. I laughed at that, a dragon and a friggen pony, ya right these directors needed to get there facts straight. I looked away remembering that I wasn't interested in these kinds of things. It went on her talking to other ponies the first one was a yellowish orange one. She approached the horse. To be totally honest I thought it was a male at first, after all she had a cowboy hat on.

"Good afternoon my name is Twilight Sparkle-" she was cut off by the orange pony rapidly shaking her hand. I snickered at the burst of random behavior. The little orange mare went on and on the two talked and it seemed Applejack, wanted Twilight to stay for brunch with her family. I quickly turned my head away, great now I was learning there friggen names.

I wasn't watching but I could here it, I tried to tune it out but I kept hearing things that got my attention and brought me back to the screen. At the end of the episode the little dragon came in with a lamp shade on his head. He told Twilight that they had to go to the Summer Sun Celebration. Which from what I had heard was some kind of annual marker for the first day of summer, and apparently the rising of "The Mare in the Moon" Oooooh, creepy right, ha. Stupid kids tv show.

She got there and as they all prepared to see what was apparently some kind of Princess appear a smoke came out and turned into a big horse. Woah, now that I can honestly admit I wasn't expecting. She questioned all of them that they didn't know who her princess was. That's when I though, wait how can there be another princess. Then I remembered I hadn't seen the beginning. Twilight stepped forward, "I know who you are," the others all watched her.

"Your the Mare in the Moon, Nightmare Moon!" the all gasped.

"Well, well, well, somepony who remembres me, then you also know why I'm here?" she asked her.

"Your here to... to..." Twilight gulped.

What the hell, this was way too intense to be a kids show.

Nightmare Moon laughed maniacally, "Remember this day little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last FOREVER!" She let out an evil laugh that made lightning shoot from the sky.

The episode ended, I found myself watching the next one. Where they faced the Everfree forest to find the Elements of Harmony and defeat Nightmare Moon. Well they didn't really beat her, but she was transformed back to her original self Princess Luna. Her sister Princess Celestia came in and she forgave her and they had a warm embrace. It was a touching moment I did admit. I found myself following it and acctually getting into it, I wasn't sure if it was boredom or just the fact that somewhere in this kids tv show there was a deeper meaning to it. Acceptance. Love. Freindship. It was a relief to the world outside I experiecnced. Out here there was war that ripped families apart, crime that was unpunished and hatred all around.

But whenever I looked at this screen, there was bright colors and smiles. Something I haven't seen in a while... ever actually. Smile come, but then they fade away when something bad happens. These six ponies had a more simplistic way of living, they just... lived. They didn't worry about things they just did what they did and didn't care what anypony had to say about it. I thought to myself, how can a generation raised by such corruption produce something with this kind of light. It was getting near the end of the seven hour marathon. I was near the end of where they were facing some guy named Discord. Things were getting super intense, seriously busted up laughing at Pinkie Pie in this episode. Her random demeanor reminded me of the antics my little one pulled at home.

The doctor finally came in, I noticed him watching me laughing at the tv show. I cleared my throat.

He walked over and turned off the television, to be honest I was a little sad to see it turn off. I acctually wanted to see what happened to the gang and Discord.

"Sorry you had to see that, our nurses can be a bit boneheaded at times." He told me pulling out my file.

"Well I admit it was acctually entertaining." I told him.

He laughed, "Well we'll make a brony out of you yet won't we Mr. Johnson."

"Brony?" I questioned, "What in Gods name is a brony?"

He laughed again, "My son is a brony that's how I know about this, it actually a community of men, average ages between I'd say 16 to 25. They watch this show." He replied.

Well it looks like I'm not the first to be drawn in by these silly antics of tecnicolor equines, huh?

"Yes I thought he was strange at first too, I even began to question his orientation. But then I met some of his friends who also shared his interest. They laugh and joke just like anybody else, there normal kids, they just watch ponies." He laughed as if he told a joke.

"Alright well it looks good from here, surgery will begin in two hours, in the mean time we need to get you all prepped and ready to save those legs." He told me patting my sholder.

He exited and came back in with a stretcher a couple other paramedics and nurses. They lifted me up and onto the stretcher. As they wheeled me into the OR I watched the ceiling. I listened to their medical talk as we went. One put a mask on my face, I could taste a slightly minted cool air coming from it. It was a little sweet, I knew this taste it was nitrous oxide, laughing gas. I began to get drowsy breathing in the sleep inducing gas. I felt a prick in my arm as they put an IV in. The last word I heard before I went under was my doctor.

"This doesn't look good..."

I was out

But I'm Not a Pony!

I kept seeing those ponies, images of their wacky adventures. The doctors words echoed in my head about that brony thing. It kept going around until I heard someone calling someone.

"Mr. Apple?" it sounded like a mans voice, "Mr. Apple?" it repeated. I slowly opened my eyes. My vision was so blurry. I saw my doctor in front of me, why the hell was he calling me Mr. Apple.

"Mr. Apple are you ok, can you hear me?" he asked.

I nodded my head, it hurt, I put my hand up to it but stopped when I noticed it wasn't a hand. I looked at it, what the... I had a hoof? But I'm not a pony, it must be a dream, or some kind of side effect from the drugs.

I looked at the doctor he had a horse face, after my vision cleared I noticed he too was a pony. This was some wicked bad morphine.

"Ah, your with us now." he said, "listen, Mr. Apple-"

"Why do you keep calling me that!" I protested, interupting him, "My name is James, James Johnson."

"Well your file says your name is Buck Apple, are you sure your just not experiencing any head trauma?" He said putting his hoof to my forehead to feel my tempurature. I smacked his hand away, I threw the sheets off and jumped down. I was surprised when my feet didn't stop me. I hit the floor, hard.

The doctor reached down and picked me back up.

"I was trying to tell you," he said, "The injuries you sustained from the war were too extensive, we uh..." he paused, "We had to amputate."

I looked down at the bandadged nubs at the base of the bed. I couldn't belive it, my legs... they were... I couldn't even bear to think about it. I looked away.

The doctor put a hoof on my shoulder, "It will be tough to adjust," he said, "but you'll make it through these times." he said, "with rehabilitation we can get you through this. Eventually we may even be able to build you prostetics." he assured me. But it wasn't enough to bring my legs back.

I bit my lip, I was on the verge of tears, even if this was some sort of cruel dream it hurt all the same. But I thought if there was one source of solice and world had ny injuries copied into it then my wife was here too.

"Where is she?" I asked bitterly.

"Who now?" the doctor asked.

"My wife," I asked, "where is she?" I repeated.

"Well..." he began, I shot my attention to him now, "She uh..."

"Tell me what happened." I demanded.

He sighed, "From what I heard she died bringing you to the paramedic."

The words hit me hard, it brought on a flashback.

I remembered the mortar, when it hit it blew me into a pit. Shards of metal and dirt were logded in me from the knee down. The rook was on the com trying to signal backup, my wife snatched it from him and gave the coordinates. I was dazed the entire time, fading in and out of reality. My ears rang from the explosion, I heard the return fire, the grunts from Tank throwing grenades. I heard choppers coming in from the south, I saw two giving return fire. One of them a medic chopper came down several yards away. Tank and my wife lifted me up and began carrying me. We were almost there. I was hoisted onto the chopper, Caroline came in next to me and knelt down she took off her helment. I smiled up at her, her face was dirty as all hell. But she still looked as beautiful as the day I met her, twenty years ago. That's when it happened, as soon as the chopper began to take off the enemied began to fire at the open hatch.

One bullet went straight into Caroline's head and she fell twenty feet to the ground. I feinted, and couldn't remember anything. So while she was dead in reality, I was watching a kids tv show and dreaming about being a friggen pony.

I was later released from the hospitol and given a special wheelchair and a taxi home. It drove up to the ranch, it looked just like the real ranch I'd become accustomed to seeing, except one, I wasn't in my Ford Super Duty, and two, Caroline wasn't at my side. I looked to my right and at the wheel chair. I wondered if when I got out of this crazy dream, would things be the same? Would I have to live with the constant reminder that it was my fault that my loving wife was now dead.

I looked up at the sign as the driver helped me into the wheelchair. "Sweet Apple Acres"

Sweet Apple Acres? My ranch was Johnson's Acres. I was going to call to the cabbie but one he had already gone, and two I heard a familiar voice calling me.

"DADDY!" the little country accent came running to me her red hair and pink bow was the only thing I saw. I embraced my daughter, if there was one thing I loved more than anything was to see my family smile.

"What happened to you?" she asked, I looked down to see a little foal looking up at me with big honey colored eyes. I realized she was from that show, Applebloom was her name. What the hell was going on. I was supposed to be her father? I tried to form my explanation to her while trying to make sense of myown confusion. I guess it made sense that I could be there father, after all none of the episodes I watched had the Apple families mother and father in it.

"I uh, got a little boo boo." I told her that's what I would have told my daughter back at home.

"So what?" she looked at me curiously, "Are they gunna grow back or sumthin'" I couldn't help but laugh at that, it was adorable to hear her have the same response as my daughter was, almost as if she was.

It was almost enough to make me forget about the loss of my limbs.

"No sweetheart, they won't grow back." I told her.

She looked disheartened, "Then how are you gunna help us applebuckin' this year?" she asked.

Applebuckin'? Oh ya, I forgot in the show they called it applebuckingwhen it was time for harvesting. I decided that I would play along with this silly world as long as I was here. Then after I came back to my own world I would deal with what came with it. After all this was just a dream... right?

"I... uh? I...." I stuttered trying to come up with a solution to explain this to her.

"Don't worry AB, he'll just help out with sortin' with granny, after all he was gettin' to old for it anyways." I looked up to see Applejack. She winked at me, looks like my family was based with the Apples in this world. It was kind of ironic acctually, the fact that I saw my little girls in these two. The only thing that was missing was my son, who I assumed was Big Macintosh.

I saw him slowly walking towards us, he looked at me with a scowl.

"What's the matter big guy." I asked him. He gave a quick look at my wheel chair.

I remembered my son was the same way, he didn't talk much either.

"Where's the rest of ya?" he said.

"Well technically I did come back in one peice." I told him, assuming that I had made the same promise here as I did in the real world.

He scolwed turned and walked away.

"Don't worry dad, he'll get over it, so where's mom, they gunna send her up in a different taxi?" Applejack asked.

I looked down, I really didn't want to break their hearts, even if this was a figment of my imagination.

"What?" AJ asked looking at my head go down with shame.

"She uh... she didn't make it back." I told her.

I heard Applebloom choke up with tears suddenly.

I looked up and saw that Applejack too had tears in her eyes.

"What?" she said, "mama's dead?" she asked.

I couldn't bear to see her sad face, it reminded me too much of my little ones. How they would react if they heard that kind of news.

Celestias Warning

I looked into the big sad eyes of the little filly looking up at me, wondering why her mother wasn't coming back. I sighed knowing that if when I got back home to my real life and the memory I had was real, this would be much harder looking into the eyes of my real daughter. I wanted to relate to this little pony... at least to comfort her, but I didn't know them.

"Common dad, let's git ya up ta bed yer probably tired after a long ride." Applejack said, recognizing my discomfort.

After we got out of earshot from Applebloom Applejack looked me in the eye, "Listen, AB's still not grown enough ta know what's goin' on," she said, "Ah know Ah'll never see her again, an' you probably been through some stuff yerself." she said glancing at my chair, "But don't worry pa," she told me, "we Apples always make it through."

I went up to the room she showed me and went to the bed. I saw a small rustic picture frame and the bedstand, a red colt and a yellow mare stood in it smiling and holding a baby red foal. I assumed that was the real father, their mother and Big Macintosh. I smiled, I had a picture just like this. Just me my wife and Jeffrey, I just hoped I would get to see it again soon. I don't remember falling asleep but I did, when I woke up it was totally dark. Well that is except for two rather large ponies who seemed to emit a light glow. They both stared at me, I recognized them both. Luna, goddess of the moon, and Celestia goddess of the Sun.

These two royal mares always ment buisness, something was definatly going down.

"Uh, hi?" I said uncofortable with the whole situation.

"We know who you are." Luna said, she spoke more softly than she had in the episode I saw her in. Probably shouldn't have fallen asleep I could have figured out what happened there.

"You do?" I asked now curious as to why they were telling me this.

"Yes," Celestia confirmed, "and we want to send you back as soon as possible."

I jumped out of the bed, probably should have remembered I didn't have legs. Once more I hit the floor... hard. "Well what are we waiting for!" I yelled, "Let's get my flank back to my world." I should probably go soon, I was starting to talk like them.

Celestia looked back at her sister, "We... don't yet know how to do that." Luna told me.

I was dumbfounded, "You gals are supposed to be the most powerful entities in this whole land what the hell do you mean you can't send me back?" I protested.

"Listen creature," Luna scolded, I was scared now, "Although our magic is great, we cannot just go around ripping holes in the dimensional rifts of time. It is dangerous."

I guess she had a point but I didn't know how magic worked, especially because I was sent here as an earth pony.

"What my sister is trying to say," she scolded back at her sister for being so abrupt, "is that although we rule this land, it is our parents who created this universe. So only they have the power to control the magicks of it."

"Wait did you just say magicks?" I asked severely confused. I thought this world was run by magic.

"Yes," Celestia confirmed, "Magicks is different from magic, unicorn magic," she began a cloud appeared from her horn portraying a picture or a little unicorn, "has the ability to control objects and items, along with situations and living creatures." she explained, "Magicks, on the other hand, is a rare gift, it can only be used by a very powerful unicorn. Sometimes among alicorns, it controls time space, and the very existance of reality." she said, there were pictures appearing and disappearing rapidly across the cloud.

"Our parents were the only ones to truly understand how this worked, thus we cannot send you back until we learn how to do it without splicing reality." she finnished. I saw myself running on two legs as a human to my loving children at home. I wanted the picture to last forever, but it dissipated in front of me.

"So what," I asked, "I'm stuck here until you can figure out how to send me back?"

"We must find out how you came to be here, only then can we send you back and retrieve the real Buck Apple through means of which made you come to our world at first."

"Oh that's easy you see-" I was inturpted.

"SILENCE!" Luna whinnied.

"It is not safe to disclose information until we know how this works, Magicks is very powerful, treking information from one world to the next can have dire consequences on the very fabric of ours, and possibly YOUR reality." Celestia told me.

So I couldn't talk to anyone about this?

"My student is a freind of your 'daughter' here, her name is Twilight Sparkle. She is a unicorn prodigy, she is working on a way to send you back." Celestia told me.

Good I'd have a talk with her later to see what the hell was going on, or at least to keep me updated on what was going on. I just hoped I didn't spend the rest of my life here.

"Sleep now." Luna ordered, "You have a day of hard work ahead." she said.

I looked at her confused, her and her sister left. What were they talking about, "hard work ahead"

I ignored it and went to sleep, I was awakened several dreamless hours of sleep later be a loud rooster. Good to finally hear a familiar sound. I got upright and fixed myself in the wheelchair and rolled out to the dining room.

Granny Smith, Applejack and Applebloom were already eating.

"Eat up Pa, ya'll got a big day a sortin' apples with granny. Then we got a doctors apponitment later on."

I looked around, this room was one pony short.

"Where's Big Macintosh?" I asked.

"Oh, uh..." Applejack looked out the window, he was already busy bucking trees. He looked angry, he was just like my son. I had to go out and see how he was doing.

I wheeled outside and down the three steps, almost tripping in the process. Big Macintosh saw me and turned around, not wanting to face me.

"Hey son." I said, "How's it going?" no response, "You ok?"

"Eyup." he said, I laughed to myself inside my head, he was just like my son. Always trying to be strong, but we both knew the real side of him.

I may now know much about magic or magicks but this world was awefully similar to mine, maybe I could get used to this, but only for a little while.

"Just let me know if you wanna talk, ok?" there, seed planted just like I used to do with my son.

He never wanted to talk unless you pretty much gave him a pass. It might be a few hours it might be a few days or even weeks, I never knew. But when he came around we were best freinds again.

I smiled as I walked back to the dining room for some breakfast.

To Walk Again...

Watching the kids applebucking was fun, I just wished that I could join them. Unfortunately I was forced to listen to the longwinded Granny Smith. I had already heard her story of how she helped the foundation of Ponyville, it seemed to be the only story she had that didn't compleatly have to do with apples. I tried to make it obvious that I wasn't interested in her stories but I don't even think the old mare was pating attention to whether I was or not. In a way she reminded me alot of my grandmother, she didn't care whether you were listening or not, she just wanted someone to be there for her before she passed. She knew her time was coming, she just wanted to spend it with the people she loved the most. So I decided to humor the old bag for her own sake, after all she was a nice old mare.

Applejack approached me, I was fake laughing at what was supposed to be a humorous apple pun. I looked at her, she was waiting for Granny to finnish her story.

"We'll if yer done bondin' with yer mom we gotta git goin' to yer doctors appointment to get fitted fer some prostetic pony legs!" Applejack said excitedly, it got me excited as well.

I jumped down the three stairs and forgot I was still in a chair. I took a tumble which AJ helped me up from, she laughed.

"You ok pa?" she asked.

"Uh... ya." I said embaressed that I had looked like such a fool.

"Take care ya hear son." Granny waved me off.

I nodded, I looked into her eyes, she had the same look as when my grandmother sent me off. Usually she had an inextinguishable fire in her eyes, a will to live. But everytime she said goodbye, the fire died down a little, as if perhaps she wouldn't be there when I got back. It was the same thing she did when I was shipped out. I made a note to myself that I would hug the old bag when I got home, to my real home.

I began to walk away, then I looked back to see Granny lounging back into a chair. It really wouldn't be right if I did come back and the last thing she heard from her son was nothing. I wheeled back and up the stairs, I hugged the old bat. She was shocked at first, but then returned the embrace.

"Love you mom." I said it not because I personally ment it, but because it was what the real Buck Apple would say.

She hugged me back, "I love you too son." We broke away and I trotted off.

Applejack laughed, "What was all that about?"

"Well," I said, "you never know when your never going to see your family again." I told her, she looked confused at first but realized what I ment. She nodded.

It was a long walk to the hospital, and an even longer wait. I hated waiting rooms, nothing to do but look at old magazines and the ceiling. Personally the ceiling was actually more interesting to watch, at least I could imagine like a movie playing in my head. Magazines were just full of idle gossip and slander, apparently even in the pony world.

When the doctors called my name I was so bored I acctually didn't react, I'm still not sure if it was really boredom or just the sudden name change. Applejack had to nudge me to get into my chair and get going. As I went I saw a little light purple unicorn filly looking at me. I stopped and knelt down.

"What happened to you?" she asked.

I laughed, "Well I got hurt in a war overseas." I told her.

"My mommy is different too." she said pointing to a grey mare over by the reception table. Her eyes were in opposite directions, I thought it was strange her mother had a mental condition and yet her daughter seemed perfectly fine. The mare came over and saw me, she smiled.

"Cool chair dude." she said, I laughed, her voice was a little derpy but she seemed normal for the most part. I watched the two playing for a bit, I remembered seeing her in an episode. She was a silly little thing, btu here she didn't seem like she even had a mental condition, it was more like her personality. I had to admit it was precious, AJ nudged me to get me moving again.

I sat on the doctors examination table until he came in.

"Ok, Buck Apple." he said, "here for a prostetic fitting, huh?" he said reading a file.

"Yup." I told him.

"Got a little injury in that battle over there, huh?" he asked.

As he made measurements he wrote his results on a blank paper. After about twenty minutes he wrapped his tape up and closed my file.

"Ok, just come back in three weeks and we'll have your new legs ready for you."

"Uh, doc?" I asked.

"Yes." he replied.

"Can I make a request?" I asked.

He sat down in his stool.

"As you know I run an apple farm." I said, "Would it be possible to have them be made to help with the applebucking?"

Applejacks jaw dropped.

The doctor scratched his chin.

"I'm sure we can see what we can do, it may take a little longer." He told me.

I thanked him, he told me it may take a little longer and that he'll contact me as soon as he got them right.

As we left the hospital AJ turned to me.

"Have you gone, cattle lickin' MAD!?" she boomed.

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"It's gunna take ferever fer them ta git legs strong enough to buck a tree fer apples." Applejack said.

"Listen, I don't want to be stuck on a porch the rest of my life." I told her. I turned and began walking.

"Dad," she said, I turned around, "Ah understand yer mad about loosin yer legs, hay I'd probably go crazy without Bucky and Kicks muhself." she said, "But ya cain't go on in a wheelchair fer much longer, things'll get... complicated." she said.

I realized that she was right, but I had to persist.

"If anypony's going to make adjustments it's me." I said.

Her emerald eyes that reminded me so much of myown daughters looked at me, I smiled. She nodded.

We got back to the farm, Applejack attempted to help me up the stairs but I swipped her hoof away. After such a long walk it was a little more of a struggle than usual. The family watched as I panted at the top of the three stairs, they all looked at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Dad," Applejack said, "ya'll know yer rooms on the second floor right?"

I grumbled about sleeping on the couch as I went over and plopped down on the lumpy sofa.

It was getting late, AJ brought me out dinner. Salad, and fruit. I was a little questioning of why there was no meat, but then I realized, ponies don't eat meat. I began to eat and realized, for some reason this was better than any steak I'd ever had. It was probably the pony taste buds.

After dinner I pulled a blanket over myself and snuggled into bed.

"Dad?" I heard Apple Bloom behind me. I turned around to face the pale yellow filly, she jumped up and threw her hooves around my neck, "I'm glad yer finally home dad." she told me, "Even if mom's not comin' back."

I put a hoof on her back to comfort her, what was one supposed to say in times like this.

"Don't worry honey, you'll see her again." She looked at me teary eyed, "Maybe not soon, but one day you'll see her again, ok?" It seemed to calm her down a little.

She gave me a weak but brave smile.

She trotted off to her room, she looked back and told me, "I love you daddy."

I smiled, this world wasn't so bad, "Love you too sweetie" I found myself saying.

It was strange, I didn't feel awkward saying it to her, if anything it was as if I was talking to my real daughter. Like anyother night when I told her goodnight. I shook the feeling away and settled into bed.

I was a human again, back home. But was I really or was I just dreaming. I couldn't tell, I was in an all white room, on the other side facing the opposite wall was a colt. Well it was the body I hosted, I walked over.

"Heya stranger." his country accent was thick.

"Uh, Buck Apple I assume?" I asked him, he nodded.

"And you must be James Johnson." He replied. I nodded this time.

"So... uh, what are you doing here?", he looked aff into space.

"Talkin' to muh wife." he said.

"I don't get it." I asked.

"Listen somehow we got crossed," he said getting straight to the point, "this is the only way we can communicate, probably the only time. Let's make use of the time we have, what's goin' on on my side?" he asked.

"No, you first, I want to know how my girls are doing!" I demanded.

"Listen!" he said, "We may not have all that much ti-"

We were inturupted by the sound of a rooster crowing.

I woke up suddenly back in my pony body. I looked at my stubbs, for a few brief minutes I was walking again. What was up with the other side though, it seemed our worlds were entangled in the same reality, only... different species of creatures. there were too many questions and not enough answers.

My stomach growled, I couldn't find answers on an empty stomach. I had to find this Twilight Sparkle and get some answers, but first things first. Breakfast!

Magicks and Magic

I told Applejack that I wanted to get some hoof work done out in the town. She told me it probably wasn't a good idea but I ignored it and went on my way. I was really going to try and find that Twilight girl Celestia had mentioned. I should have thought ahead of time, Celestia had also mentioned she was AJ's friend. I probably could have avoided a lot of stares if I had just asked for directions. Then again, I didn't want to upset any of the precious balances that she was talking about, after all I didn't know how much the real Buck knew. I finally got some information from a rather attractive white mare that had a purple mane. She told me she lived in the local library, I thought that was wierd but then again I was in a world inhabited mainly by friggen miniature horses.

She was also kind enough to give me directions, I looked up at the big treehouse, er, treelibrary... whatever it was. I knocked on the door. A purple mare opened the door, oh ya, she was the main character the first few episodes. She greeted me with a smile.

"How can I help you, any particuar subjects your interested in or just browsing?" she offered.

"Well actually I'm interested in, interdimenional travel. Would you possibly have any information on that?" I asked, she seemed to get the hint.

She walked over to the window and switched the sign to closed, then locked the door and took a few steps toward me.

"The Princess told me you might stop by, you must be Buck. Nice to finally meet AJ's dad." She held out a hoof toward me, I shook it.

She walked over to a stand where she already had a book placed on it.

"I've been reserching what little ponykind knows about alternate dimensions, but..." she stopped.

"But what what's wrong?" I pressed.

"Well... it's just the only thing we know is that we can only see into another dimension with very powerful magic. Its exreamly rare for somepony to be able to use magic to see one... but..." she was hiding something.

"Please," I looked her in the eyes, "I need to return to my family."

"Magicks has been known to be more powerful and able to do more, but it's a lot more unstable and requires... well, a sacrifice. For that reason alone Magicks has been dubbed the name Black Magic and thereforth forbidden for practice."

I sighed, "So there's no way I'm getting back."

"Not exactly," she hovered a book toward her, "Equestiran Law 101 states that if the Monarch finds reasonable substance for it he or she can overturn any law or punishment." she read.

"So she can let you use magicks to let me go home!" I said.

"True," she paused, "but first I have to find out how to send you home."

I once again faced the floor, ears down in defeat.

"The only thing I know is that most crossovers are made through a midpoint." she went back to her book. I walked over and took a glance. I pony and a human stood in a white room looking at each other.

"It's a place among the dimensional rift where both dimensions share common ground." she explained.

"Common ground." I repeated suddenly realizing it, both our lives were similar. Buck and I had common ground because in this dimension he was the equine version of me.

"I've seen this place before." I said placing a hoof on the page.

"Really! Where!" she was overly excited.

"Uh, a dream... I saw it in a dream Buck was there he said he was talking to his wife I don't know I only saw it really briefly." I explained to her.

She was obviously deep in thought.

"What is it?" I asked.

"If we can induce sleep, we may be able to have you cross onto the Common Ground to talk with Buck and get a little more information on his side. Also I can use my magic to figure out how to send you back." she told me.

It sounded crazy and I didn't understand it, but at this point I was willing to try anything.

The next thing I knew I was on my back on a bed, looking up at the ceiling.

"Ready?" Twilight asked.

I nodded, her horn lit up, a bright purple aura around it. I felt myself getting dizzy, then drowzy. My eyes closed, as if under anastesia.

I opened my eyes and found myself in that familiar room again, I got up. I was on two legs again and it felt good. I looked over and saw Buck in the corner, I walked over to him. I sat down next to him.

"I'm back." I told him, neither of us made eye contact.

There was an awkward silence.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"So you haven't figured it out yet?" I asked.

"Not really, I've been here the whole time." He told me.

Wait a minute if I had gone to his body and he wasn't in mine... what did that mean?

"I've uh... been in your body." I told him.

"I know I can see it." he said, "I'm not sure what's going on but you have to know how I lived to understand."

"Understand what?" I told him, "From what I've been understood your the version of me in this dimension."

"No." he said simply.

Now I was confused.

"I've been able to see your life, your memories, I can see them I don't know how I just do. Your life is... a lot different." He got up and started walking.

I followed him.

He stopped and stared at the floor.

"What am I looking at." It looked like any other part of this desolate place. I couldn't imagine being here.

He tapped the area with his hoof, the floor rippled. An image of a family of happy ponies around a table were around it. I watched the pool for a few seconds watching the ponies eating and laughing.

"It's time for you to see the difference." he said.

"What?" I asked.

He backed away, I watched him, "The difference between you and me."

He charged I tried to get out of the way but my legs seemed frozen in place. I fell into the pool.

I was suddenly in a table full of laughing ponies surrounding me. It was as if I was behind my eyes, I was laughing to. Enjoying the meal, I heard a voice in my head.

'Watch, listen, understand.' I didn't seem to have much of a choice.

Let the memories begin.

Memories

The laughter died down, it was a more serious tone. I wasn't controling anything it was as if I was watching now. I opened my mouth to adress the table.

"You all know this is our last dinner together for a while..." I told them all.

They seemed to stop eating as they took in the information. I got the feeling that this was a subject we had all tried to avoid, like the first time I was shipped overseas. This must have been Bucks first time out, his first time away. They all sat in silence.

"May Ah please be excused!" Applebloom said, you could tell she was on the verge of tears. She was holding them back as hard as she could. I nodded and she swept up her plate and left the table.

We all sat there still in silence, Big Macintosh looked at me. His eyes were pleading me not to leave, I had always been there for my son. Although he had never talked much I knew better than anypony else the struggles he went through on a daily basis to maintain stability. He wasn't ever all that bright, he stayed in the back of the class to avoid being called on. He really wasn't like my real son, my son was head of the football team. He got straight A's and never faultered. Mac was different, he needed somepony to be there for him, Buck was right. He was different, now I understood how Macintosh was different than Jeffry. Applebloom was still a kid, but she still had similar ways to my little Madie.

"Dad, Ma...." AJ said, we both looked at her, she didn't look up she stared at her plate, "Ya'll come home safe ok?" I could see the tears welling up in her eyes.

AJ never asked for much, she mostly gave everything she had to help others out. She really didn't need much to go by. I saw now that she was a different card than my spoiled middle Steffanie. She couldn't go a day without her phone. My family would probably crumble without the kids' mother, and me without my legs I knew I was in for a rough ride.

Granny Smith seemed to be the only one who still hadn't let anything off, then again she was the only one who WAS like my mother. I could see now that our lives were different.

I felt myself thrusted upwards back into the white room. I was flat on my face, I looked up and saw Bucks hooves in front of me.

"You see now?" He asked.

I got up into a sitting position to look him in the eyes, I nodded. I realized now that I couldn't ever truly understand how he would react to his family. Or base myown families reaction on his.

"Your friends callin' so I guess I'll see ya later. But make sure you talk ta Mac, he ain't to bright but he's honest, just nod yer head and listen."

I was going to say ask what he was talking about but my eyes shot open and I was looking into the face of Twilight Sparkle.

"Buck are you ok?" she asked.

I rubbed my forhead a sudden headache had ensued. "My real names not Buck." I told her, "I just have this body, my name is James." I told her.

She nodded, "Ok then James, you wanna tell me what happened?" she asked.

"What you didn't see it?" I asked.

"Well... no," she admitted sitting down, "I mean I saw you talking to a human, and then you pushed him into a pool. I lost your presence for a while for some reason, even though I saw you right there."

"That human was me, for some reason only in that place I can be in my real body." I told her, I looked down and stared at the face of my hoof. Wishing it would transform into a hand.

"So then where did you go?" she asked.

I pondered telling her, "I don't know." I lied. It was probably best to leave family issues between Buck and his family. "Why am I here?" I asked aloud.

The question seemed to puzzle Twilight.

"You get the info you needed on that place?" I asked.

She nodded, "Yes, now that I know a little about it I can start studying how to send you back." she said.

I nodded and began to leave.

"One more thing," she said I turned around, she pointed a hoof at an owl in the corner, "That's Owlisious, if I ever need to run any more tests I'll send him to get you ok?" she asked I nodded and let myself out.

The walk back to the farm seemed to be longer than the search for the library. I trotted onto the farm, it was strange it was as if the family had deserted the place. I went up to the barn door and opened it, the lights were all off. I clicked them on.

"SUPRISE!!!!" I heard dozens of voices call. They were the entire Apple Family here at the party, Pinkie Pie, the mare that cracked me up every time on the screen was at the front.

"Oh my gosh, you must be Applejacks DAD! I've heard so much about you, well not really. AJ doesn't say much about you but I bet you have a bunch of cool war stories you can tell me. Oooh I love stories can you tell me one right now please, please, please, pleeaaaasseee!" I was staring at the pink mare, it was a lot more annoying when her attention was directed straight at you.

"Alright Pink, that's enough." AJ shoved her away, "Sorry dad, she's a friend a mine. She's always like that don't pay her any mind. Anyways, uh..." she looked around, "Big Mac wants ta talk to ya in the back a the farm." she said. She walked away.

I stood there like an idiot, I wheeled over to the back of the barn through the thick crowd of ponies. Greeting them as the told me their congragulations, I finally made it. I opened the back door, into the cool night air. I saw Mac sitting over by a barrel staring into the moon. I went over, got out of my chair and place a seat next to him.

"Luna did a great job tonight, huh?" I asked.

Pause, "Eyup."

There was an awkward silence for a few minutes, the both of us staring at the moon like idiots. Finally Big Macintosh looked at the ground I turned to face him. He didn't look up to me he just mumbled.

"I'm leavin' tamarra." He said.

"Huh?" the news caught me off guard.

"They need somepony ta take yer place, ah volunteered ta go." he said.

I nodded, he was already enlisted so there was no turning back now. We both knew the penalty for desertion. He had to go, he was taking my place where Buck got injured.

We sat there not saying anything, but then again guy code you never had to. He got up and turned around then looked to me and dug his hoof into my shoulder.

'Love you dad.'

I nodded.

'See you when you get back?'

He nodded.

'Won't let ya down.'

I nudged him back.

Stronger Than Steel

Applejack ran into my room to wake me up the next day.

"DAD! DAD, BIG MAC IS GONE!" she pounced on my bed to get me up, I turned over.

"I know." I replied.

"What? You know how can ya'll already know he's gone?" she sounded confused and hurt.

"'Member when you told me he wanted to talk to me last night," I told her getting to look at her, "He told me last night he was going overseas for the war."

"But-"

"But nothing," I told her, "your brother is an adult he can make his own decisions." my lips curled into a smile, I ruffled her already messy hair, "He'll be fine ok?"

"Ok..." she choked out holding back her tears.

I looked out the window, I really did hope he would be ok.

Two months passed and we haden't heard from Big Macintosh. Applebloom was devastated when she heard he had left to take my place. She kept looking down the path that led off the farm just to see if he was coming back, every time she saw that he wasn't she'd look down and sigh.

One day while the family was on a break from applebucking we saw little Applebloom running down the orchard two letters in her mouth. She stopped on a dime at the foot of the steps.

"WE GOT MAIL!" she shouted.

We all got down off the porch to see what had gotten the little filly so excited.

"Well who's it from?" AJ asked.

"Big Mac!" Applebloom said happily.

Applejack snatched the letter away from Applebloom, "Hay!" she pouted.

AJ ripped open the letter and began reading.

Hey ya'll,
It's me Macintosh, Ah'm doin' fine here. Course Ah wrote this ta tell ya'll Ah miss ya and can't wait ta come home. Grubs not the same as home cookin'.

Granny chortled.

Ain't much ta do here when we're not off fightin' off enemies. Sarge say's the war'll be over real soon, he say's we'll all be goin' home here in the next two weeks. Until then Ah'll see ya'll later, Ah'll be home for cider season.

We all looked at each other relived that Big Mac would be home soon.

"So what's that other letter for?" I asked Applebloom.

"Oh!" she said leaning over and picking it up off the ground, somehow it had gotten dropped in the struggle for Big Macintoshes letter.

"It's from Ponyville Intensive Care." she said.

I took it and opened it and began reading.

Dear Apple Buck,
We are pleased to tell you that your specially made prostetic legs have been compleated. You may come in at any time and present this letter and we will scedual you for a fitting and reahabilitation. Once more thank you for your services to your country.

Sincerly,

Dr. Cureall.

I finnished reading it and the whole family cheered.

"Well we gotta get you in for yer appontment, dad." Applejack prompted.

So much good news in one day. I stopped myself when I realized it. I was becoming attached to this family, it was Bucks family this should be his moment. I felt sorry for having taken it away from him. I just hoped one of my dreams would allow me to talk to him soon.

The family and I took a cab to the PVIC unit. I presented the letter and the nurse told me to take a seat and the doctors would be with me shortly.

I sat down and waited. And waited. And waited. Have I told you how much I hate waiting rooms? I have? Ok, well I hate waiting rooms even more now. I began getting drowsy, hay why not if I'm gunna be here much longer might as well take a...

I don't remember falling asleep and I don't remember waking up but I was here again. Buck was waiting, was he expecting me, had he called for me?

"Had a good time?" he asked.

"Well I have to admit your family is quite entertaining, yes." I told him.

He chuckled but I heard the strain of him holding back his real emotions.

"What's wrong Buck?" I asked placing a hand on his shoulder.

"That's MY family," he began to tear, "that's supposed to be MY moments with them, MY happyness."

I thought about what he said, he had a point. I was taking his precious moments away from his family while he wasted away here in this desolate place.

"So that time I visited here and you said you were talking to your wife..." I trailed off.

He didn't answer for a while. He got up and trotted over a few feet ahead, I followed and watched him tap the ground as it rippled.

I saw a picture of his wifes face, he got choked up seeing it.

"Hey there Cinnomon." he said with tears straining out.

I watched him, I knew I would feel the same way if I had lost my wife. Although right now I knew I just might have. I had a sudden empty feeling, I knelt down and placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at me.

"You loved her more than anything in the world." I told him, he nodded and looked back at the puddle, the image dissapated.

"It's not enough just to see her," I said he sat quietly and listened, "but the bond you share is stronger than steel. You will always see her again." I told him.

I was suddenly hearing my name being called, I snapped to attention. I went in and got the legs fitted on, it felt good to walk on them.

"Now we're going to have to do a little rehabilitation." the doctor told me.

I ignored him, I broke into a gallop. I was out the door, Applejack fast on my tail. I was dodging and weaving out of the way of passing nurses until I burst through the doors of the hospital. I reared up and let out a roar of pride.

I looked back at the doctor and Applejack both staring at me, I was breathing heavily.

Doc smiled, "Ok, I think that concludes the rehabilitation. Here's your perscription for some pain killers if it starts to hurt just take two and lie down."

I nodded. I took a determined look at Applejack, my shiny new high tech legs glistening in the evening sun.

"Wanna race?" I asked.

And like that we took off towards the farm.

Remember

The next two weeks went by like a dream, Applebucking was more fun than it looked. AJ and I had a competition going on to see who could make more apples fall off with one kick. After Big Macintosh came back it was as if everything was perfect, the whole family was back together and everypony was smiling and happy. One day AJ decided to invite her friends over for a family picnic.

Rainbow Dash and AJ engaged in friendly competition, although at times I had to break it up. Pinkie Pie played with Apple Bloom. Rarity and Fluttershy were off in their own conversation. I looked out into the horizon and let out my breath, it all seemed so peaceful in this world. Twilight hadn't come, she told Applejack that she was really behind on her studies, I sort of felt bad for holding her back so much. I saw something flying over the horizon towards the farm, I watched it for a while and still couldn't make out the shape.

Pinkie noticed it too, her tail started twitching.

"Twitcha, twitch! Twitcha, twitch!" she said.

Everypony scrambled to find something to hide under, in my confusion Owliscious came and landed on my back.

"Who!" he cooed.

"Oh, it's just Owlicious." Rainbow Dash said.

They all seemed relieved and came out of hiding. I looked at the little barn owl, it nodded at me.

"Uh, sorry to end the party early girls but uh..." I paused, "I should probably return Owlicious to Twilight." I walked off, they seemed confused but I ignored it and trotted on.

Twilight had said she would send Owlicious only if she really needed me. I walked the distance to the library and knocked softly.

The door flung open, Twilights mane was a mess.

"Oh, good your here!" she pulled me inside, "I've been up for weeks, I think I've found out how to send you home."

"Home?" I said, suddenly remembering... this isn't my home.

"Yes, while your in the other relm there is a slight spell I can preform to switch you and the real Buck." she proclaimed proudly.

"Oh..." I said a little glum, "great!" I didn't sound convincing.

"Is everything all right?" she asked, "This is what you wanted isn't it?"

I thought about Buck, this was his family after all, the more time I spent here the more time I took away from him.

"Yes," I told her, "alright let's do this."

I layed down on the couch once more, Twilight pressed her horn to my forehead. I felt drowsy and fell asleep almost immediately. I was once more in the white room, there was Buck waiting for me again.

"Hay there stranger." he greeted me.

"Ready for this?" I asked. He nodded.

A purple flash appeared and Twilight apperated in front of the both of us.

"Ready?" she asked us.

Her horn glowed brightly, it expanded and suddenly burst through the room in a blinding flash. I closed my eyes to the sudden flash of even more white colour.

I opened my eyes, I was staring at the ceiling again. Did it work? I heard beeping, slow steady.

"Doctor, doctor he's coming to." I heard a voice say.

I looked over to see a human face looking at me.

"Hello James, your back with us now how do you feel?"

What kind of question was that, I felt like shit. I was nautious drowsy, groggy, I had a terrible migrane. But I was back in my world.

"I feel great!" I told her.

"Good." she said.

The doctor came over to me, it felt good to see another human face.

"Hello James, you were out for quite a while. Longer than usual anastesia to wear off." he told me, "Now during the surgury we did encounter minor complications-" I didn't let him finnish I threw the covers off.

I looked down and laughed, I wiggled my toes.

"Yes, we saved them in time. There was a blood clot but we were able to save your legs." he told me.

"What about my wife is she here?" I asked.

"Well just look right next to you." he said.

I looked over and saw Caroline looking at me with a smile on her face. A small four inch scar ran across her forehead.

"Why didn't you say anything?" I told her wrapping her in a warm loving embrace.

I broke the hug and looked at her, she didn't say anything, she just smiled.

"Honey? Is everything all right?" I asked starting to get worried, that's when I saw the tears in her eyes.

"The bullet that hit her grazed a portion of her brain that held the speech center," the doctor said, "with some treatment we may be able to restore some of her ability to talk."

I looked at her, the tears were flowing. "At least your alive." I said wrapping her in another hug.

She let out her sobs, apparently that wasn't taken away. At least she could let out her emotions.

"We also have this for you." The doctor said handing me a rather large, heavy for it's size envalope.

I looked at the address, it was from home base.

I ripped it open and saw a laptop, not any laptop it was rooks laptop. I laughed and looked at Caroline, "They sent me Rooks laptop.

I opened it up and immediately saw base camp, a few of the men in my squad packing up ammo and guns.

"Hey guys Candy Apples awake!" I heard Tank call in his booming voice.

They all surrounded the camera.

"Hey Candy Apple guess what?" Tech, he was our engineer said, "WAR' FRIGGEN OVER MAN! WE'RE ALL COMIN' HOME!" they all cheered.

Rook came onto the screen, "I will have to have my laptop back though you know that John." he told me.

"Ya ok, Rook I'll give it back." I told him.

"Actually I'm not Rook anymore," he said, "after you passed out I went comando and took out the enemy firing squad by tossing seven grenades at once." he said.

I laughed, "So what are they calling you over there now?" I asked.

"HEY GUYS, CANDY APPLE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT YOU CALL ME!" he called to the otheres cheering in the back.

"BOOMER!" they all called in unison, I laughed at the new nickname.

We pulled out in front of the house in my good old Ford. I got out, our kids and my mom were waiting for us. My little girs ran to hug me.

"I missed you daddy." Madyline said.

"I missed you too baby." I told her lifting her up and spinning her around then setting her on the ground and planting a big kiss on her cheek.

I looked at Steffanie who opened her arms for a hug. I hugged her hard, "You didn't think I wasn't coming back did you?" I told her.

I had already had a talk with my kids on the phone, they had already heard about what had happened to their mother. I walked over to my son who was once again leaning against the garage cross armed.

I stood in front of him and put my hands in my jean pockets. He lunged at me and wrapped his arms around me.

"It's good to have you back dad." I hugged him back.

"It's good to finally be back, son." I told him.

We all went inside, Madyline took over the living room telivision as the others went up to their rooms. I saw a familiar face on the TV that made me stop.

"... it's good to see you again dad." Applejack said.

Right there on the television was Buck. "It's good to be back kidoes." he said, he winked at the screen and the episode ended.

"Awww, I missed the ending!" Madyline complained.

I laughed as I thought about it, Buck was back with his family now and I was back with mine. I would never forget the time I spent there, how it taught me that every moment is precious. No matter how small it was, I would always... remember.