In the dark of the early morning the Canterlot train station was packed as Stormy Morning and Strong Wind made their way to their platform to wait.
“Crowds,” Stormy muttered disdainfully, “Ich hasse Massen.”
Strong simply hummed in agreement after a fairly rotund mare nearly knocked him off balance as they looked for any others of their new unit when they finally hit platform number nine.
“It would seem that we’re early,” Strong mused as they both noted that the platform was empty.
Strong went to sit on a bench at the far end of the platform, only for Stormy to stop him at the last second, “Wait Tsuyoi, your tie is messed up.”
“Hmm? Oh, thank you,” Strong said as he noted that his uniform tie was, in fact, ajar and loose rather than straight.
As he fixed the problem Strong noted that other ponies coming to the platform, a Thestral and an earth pony.
“I’m trying to help you have a think about this, mate. Just because you chuck a sickie now and aren’t caught doesn’t mean that you’ll never be caught,” a mare with a thick accent reprimanded an earth pony who rolled his eyes.
“Nopony cares about that. I get the job done all the same, who cares if I need a few more minutes of rack a few days a year,” the earth pony retorted, making the mare angry.
“Fine, get discharged. See if I care,” the mare yelled back only to blush in embarrassment when she finally noted the two others staring at her.
The mare cleared her throat and smiled before she got her bearings, “G’day, you blokes off to Ponyville too?”
“Yes,” Strong answered simply, making her even more embarrassed.
“Names Golden Wattle, and this figjam is Heavy Rain,” Golden introduced herself with a grin, “Now, who’re you two?”
“Strong Wind,” Strong introduced himself to the loud mare and opened for Stormy to speak for himself.
“Stormy Morning,” he answered stoically, not liking the way that the earth pony was sizing up Strong.
“A slant, just perfect,” Heavy muttered not caring that he’d insulted the oriental stallion. Both bristled visibly at the remark but remained in control, even as Heavy opened his mouth to continue with the insult.
That was until a cigarette butt bounced off his head as a pegasus landed next to them. Heavy grunted in pain as the hot ash touched his coat.
“Oi, watch it, buddy,” Heavy shouted to the newcomer who had placed himself in between the four.
By the time Heavy had gotten the words out the pegasus had slicked his mane back with a comb and had another cigarette in his ear as he leaned against a wall. He paid the earth pony no mind even as he shoved his muzzle into the pegasus’s own.
“Hey, I’m talking to you!” Heavy shouted before he was finally noticed by the newcomer.
“You want to back up?” the pegasus asked in an accent reminiscent of Manehattan.
The pegasi’s body tensed as Heavy hit the wall behind him.
“Apologize for throwing your smoke at me,” Heavy reiterated, only to feel a tug and was then shoved up against the wall by the pegasus.
“One more word out of your mouth…” the annoyed pegasus muttered, only to be stopped by a loud voice.
“What in the blazes is going on here?”
Then the source of the voice appeared, an older pegasus, Stormy noted, as she stepped onto the platform. She held a hard demeanor as befitting the rank of master sergeant that she wore on the sleeve of her uniform. The mare took in the scene and growled at the younger male.
“Silver Piece, drop him this instant! And the rest of you, look sharp, our commanding officer is on his way,” She barked, which had the desired effect.
The grey pegasus let go of the earth pony, and the rest checked each other over for any defects in their uniforms. And were hastened by the sound of hoofs coming up the ramp.
“Group, attention!” the mare bellowed making every pony stand straight as a skinny unicorn came up from behind her.
“S-sergeant Nimbus, Captain Shield won’t be here for another hour,” the small, confused unicorn said as he readjusted a pair of thick glasses.
“…Right, thank you Seaman Hematoma. Well, as you were then,” Nimbus said as she cleared her throat, accepting her mistake.
Stormy’s thoughts were a blur after that, as his mind drifted to other concerns, ones that would surely come up during the trip. Like his kin for example. At the mere thought Stormy's face went from neutral to angry as he felt his brothers letter in his jacket pocket.
“Stormy?” he heard Strong’s voice before he looked up and found that he was on the train.
The Thestral came out of his thoughts as he grunted and honed in on the voice.
“Huh? Yes?” Stormy questioned his friend who stared at him in concern. They’d apparently had sat across from each other without him noticing.
“Are you alright?” Strong asked with a concerned brow, as out of nearly everypony he could read Stormy with near perfection every day.
“No,” Stormy admitted, somewhat reluctantly, “My brother sent me a letter yesterday… attempting to speak on our Mother’s behalf, again.”
Strong nodded, as this was nothing new. He could tell that the matter weighed heavily on Stormy’s mind as he rarely was lost in thought. He decided to alter the topic from one subject to another, as dwelling on familial matters wasn’t healthy for Stormy Morning.
“And what of our new station?” he asked Stormy.
The small, reminiscing smile of Stormy’s was enough thanks for Strong, and if he was lucky, perhaps he could coax a laugh out.
“An interesting change of pace, of that I am certain,” Stormy answered, grateful that the slight tweak was something relevant then shot a question of his own, “And your father? How is he?”
Strong opened his mouth to answer when their sergeant called the car to attention.
Everypony stood as still as they could even as the train began to move. And in strode a unicorn, tall and proud as he headed down the isle and sat in the front of the car. Only when he was satisfied did the give a command.
“At ease, take your seats,” he said, allowing everypony to relax.
Stormy took his seat but twisted so that he had an eye on the officer.
“Gentlecolts, Ladies, I’m Captain Steady Shield, your new Commanding Officer. Today, as all of you are aware, we are heading to Ponyville to act as the guard to Princess Twilight Sparkle. Now I know that some of us are from different branches, some from the Army, some Air Force, a couple of Marines, and even a Navy corpsman. Which makes our chain of command near shot to shit,” Steady informed, which got a few verbal agreements and even a laugh before he continued, “With that being said, Master Sergeant Nimbus will be my acting second in command and we’ll go down in the rankings from there."
The Captain paused for a brief moment before he spoke again, “Now, I don’t know about any of you, but I find it awkward to work with strangers. So, lets go around and introduce ourselves.”
It was then the Master Sergeant Lightning Nimbus stood and introduced herself, “Good morning, I’m Master Sergeant Lightning Nimbus. I’m from Las Pegasus, and I serve as an attacker in the thirteenth support squadron.”
She sat back down and pointed to Strong Wind who stood up and gave a short bow before he spoke, “My name is Tsuyoi Kaze, or Strong Wind in Equestrian, a Sergeant in the Army. I’m from the island of Neighpon, and I’m a sniper.”
Strong sat to a number of greetings as the Captain spoke, “Glad to have you aboard, son. Next.”
Stormy took a shaky breath before he spoke. No going back now, he figured.
“I'm Staff Sergeant Stürmischen Morgen, which translates to Stormy Morning in Equestrian. I’m from Pferdlin and I too am a sniper,” he said, which made a few cringe at his name.
Silence followed, which made Stormy even more anxious as he sat down. It was near suffocating when a loud voice boomed.
“G’day ladies and gents, my name’s Golden Wattle. I’m an senior airman from Sydneigh, and I’m a fighter in the Air Force,” the mare sounded to break the tension and decided to relocate with her fellow Thestral.
“Pleasure to meet you,” Lightning said with a grin, pleased that she wasn’t the only mare on the team, “Who’s next?”
The question was answered by a cloud of smoke, followed by a male voice, “Name’s Petty Officer Silver Piece, I’m from Manehattan.”
He stopped, and proceeded to look out of the window only for the Captain to clear his throat, which made Silver continue, “And I’m a Navy fighter.”
Several others introduced themselves before the Captain stood and excused himself to the restroom. It was then that Stormy noted the look of annoyance that Steady Shield shot his way as he passed.
Stormy pretended to not notice the look and decided to stare out the window, towards where Ponyville lay. He could already feel the headache coming on as sunlight trickled out from the horizon.
He was just about to close his eyes for some much needed sleep when Captain Shield spoke to him.
“Sgt. Morning?” he asked, not bothering to hide his displeasure.
Stormy blinked and turned towards the sound. The sunlight made the officer out to be a haze, but he was still able to make him out.
“Put your sunglasses on and follow me,” Shield ordered and moved briskly to the next car.
Stormy did as he was ordered and rummaged in a pocket before putting on his glasses. He gave a look to Strong as he passed, and received a confidant nod. There was no backing down, he would show no fear to the unicorn, Stormy resolved. The Thestral steeled himself for what was most likely what would happen next.
He controlled his breath as the captain held his file on a seat.
“Sit down,” Shield ordered as he pointed to the seats across from him.
Stormy did so before the captain spoke.
“Sgt. Stormy Morning. Born in Pferdlin to Cold Morning and Midsummer Night.” He stopped to glare at the Thestral with a glint in his eye, “Tell me, why in the name of God should I let the likes of you next to the princess?”
“Are you questioning my loyalty sir?” Stormy asked, careful to keep his tone in check, as much as he wanted to wipe the glare from the captain’s face.
“I’m a cautious pony, sergeant. Just making sure that we won’t have any issues if push comes back to shove up north. The apple doesn’t fall far,” Steady Shield replied, eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
Stormy was silent for a moment at the bait before he glanced at his file and to a photo of his mother, “My loyalty lies with Equestria. If we do have trouble with my colony then I will act accordingly.”
Steady looked at the photo, a mug shot of Midsummer and the disfiguring scar on her left cheek, then spoke again, “I’m sure you will.”
Stormy recognized the look of contempt but said nothing before the officer nodded and continued, “Be that as it allegedly may. Keep in line, and we won’t have problems. Understood?”
“Perfekt, Captain,” Stormy replied, careful to keep his tone at an amiable volume.
“Good, dismissed,” Steady ordered as he put Stormy’s file away.
The Thestral stood and reentered the car, a swirl of emotions whirled through him as he strode to the other end and closed the restroom door behind him.
“I knew it was coming…” he muttered to himself while he washed his hooves and then buried his thoughts. It wouldn’t do to make a bad reputation because of his current mood.
Only, it didn’t necessarily work as the apple remark drilled into his brain. Then Stormy's thoughts shifted, to more pleasant memories. Take the last Gala for example? A lopsided grin broke his sneer and Stormy shook his head. He hated crowds, that was for certain, too stuffy. But the Gala on the other hoof was something of a… revelation of sorts. The stupid annual lottery had selected him to go, much to his annoyance, and ironic fortune. He’d grumbled around the first hour and didn’t enjoy himself. He sat, bored as he took in the sights.
Nobility, in the most careful term, stuffed their faces and bellies with cheap wine and food while inflating themselves. Then they came up, three fillies, all in dresses. Not as numbly made as the rest, and not nearly as pompous. They stared for a moment before one in a bow asked him a question.
Apparently, they’d never seen a Thestral up close before, or most likely not at all. He could understand their curiosity, and most certainly didn’t mind their probing, when she came.
“Stormy?” Strong’s voice sounded in his ears.
“Hmn?” He grunted as Golden waved a hoof in front of his face.
Stormy blinked to gain his bearings and huffed in annoyance as he’d been on autopilot, again.
“You alright, mate?” She asked, concern lacing her voice.
“I should be, once we get to Ponyville,” Stormy answered, finally able to recline in his seat.
***
Applejack yawned as she glanced at the plates that lined the dining area were set, ready to be filled with breakfast foods. Pancakes, hash browns, and the like were placed on another table as all of the elements and three princesses, chatted amongst themselves, with Princess Celestia trying to calm a nervous Princess of Friendship down. Something about the news being told to her at the last second.
“Aw man, this is gonna be so cool. You think they’re all athletes, AJ? Oh, oh, oh, maybe they’re into high altitude cardio.?” she asked, excitement laced her voice.
She’d just filled a cup full of steaming hot coffee to soothe herself, “I don’t know, Rainbow. I reckon that they gotta stay in shape somehow.”
She went to put some sugar in her drink when Princess Celestia called, “Ladies, please gather in the foyer. They’re here.”
Applejack poured the sugar and swirled it around in her drink as she joined her friends. She took a gulp as the doors opened and in filed a group of uniformed ponies. One, off to the side of the line, ordered for them to stop and “Form up”. The farmer watched in curiosity as the line were put into rows of four.
“Present arms!” the leader called, and all at once the soldiers saluted.
It all seemed strange to the elements, ponies saluting Twilight, at least Applejack thought so as she listened to another order. And like that the ponies lowered their legs.
“Highnesses, Captain Steady Shield and the new… friendship guard reporting as ordered,” the captain sounded, voice thundering throughout the castle.
“W-Welcome, um, you all must be tired…” Twilight froze mid sentence as the critical eyes of the clean cut guards washed over her.
For a moment AJ watched as the Captain stood there in silence. When she was about to move and offer a word of encouragement did another voice speak.
“Captain, permission to speak?” a pegasus from behind said, gaining his attention.
Applejack sized the pegasus mare up as the stallion answered her.
“Granted, Sergeant.”
“Perhaps the princess would be better suited to a less strict greeting, considering her title, sir,” she whispered to the unicorn.
Realization dawned on him, and he nodded in agreement.
“Platoon, at rest!” he commanded before bowing to Twilight.
“Please princess, forgive my overtly professional tone. We didn’t mean to make you nervous,” He said with a small smile before he began again, “I’m Captain Steady Shield, pleased to meet you.”
Applejack smiled at the scene as Twilight eased and began to introduce herself and them all.
“Nice to meet you too, Steady,” Twilight said with a smile.
In the instant that the tension was cut an excited Pinkie Pie was in front of a short pony at the back of the group. Applejack noted immediately what she was, a bat pony, three of them, three of every race of pony in fact.
“Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie! What’s your name?” Pinkie questioned in glee as she shook the bat mare’s hoof and was greeted with just as much enthusiasm.
“G’day, I’m Golden Waddle,” Golden introduced herself with a fang filled smile and shook the pink mare’s hoof just as roughly.
Applejack tuned them out as her belly growled, quiet enough to not be noticed. Thankfully, Princess Celestia answered an unspoken plea.
“Well, now that we’re all comfortable we can eat. I’m sure you’re all hungry,” Celestia invited with a twinkle in her eye as she motioned to the dining room.
Applejack was so relieved at the news that she had to restrain herself from rushing over to the buffet. Soon enough Applejack found herself putting food on a plate, pancakes covered in syrup and haybacon, with black coffee. When she turned around nearly every seat was taken, save for a spot in between a couple of hats on the table, each where a plate was supposed to be.
Applejack sat her plate down and went to sit, only to bump into somepony.
“Oh. Sorry about that, partner,” Applejack apologized, as she turned towards the pony who had to work to balance his plate of food.
She stopped momentarily as she took him in. A bat pony in a blue jacket with stripes on the sleeve, and sunglasses.
The stallion chuckled as he balanced himself and replied in a familiar accented baritone, “Not a problem, Frauline Apfeljack. No harm done.”
Applejack stood there for a moment and remembered who that voice belonged to.
“Stormy Morning?” she asked, a rather medium part of her wanted the stallion to be him.
“Genau, Apfeljack,” Stormy replied with a tired smile before he set his plate down.
Applejack smiled back as she shook his offered hoof and sat down while another bat pony sat on the other side of her. She was about to chow down, politely, when Stormy attempted to introduce her to the pony beside her.
“Apfeljack, may I introduce you to a friend of mine? This,” Stormy said as he motioned to the other bat pony whom smiled at her, “is Strong Wind.”
Applejack had just taken a bite of a syrup soaked pancake before she turned and swallowed.
“Hi there, welcome to Ponyville,” She greeted the other Thestral, whom had taken a sip of orange juice.
“Thank you, Applejack. I can speak for both Stormy and I when I say that we are grateful for the hospitality,” Strong said as he nodded to his friend who averted his attention to his plate.
Applejack then turned back to Stormy and asked, “So, how’d ya’ll get to be out here, protecting Twilight?”
Stormy quickly swallowed a helping of hash browns before he answered, “Princess Luna asked for volunteers, and believed my partner and I were… Suited for the task?”
“Hai,” Strong interjected with a laugh, as if a joke had been told.
Applejack was lost as the two stallions chuckled and questioned, “Why’s that funny?”
The chuckles slowed and Stormy decided to explain, “Ah, forgive us Apfeljack. We make puns about our job.”
Despite a slight sense of confusion, Applejack smiled at the joke then turned back to Strong Wind, “So where’re ya’ll from, Strong?”
“Neighpon, an island in the Lunar sea,” Strong answered with a proud expression.
“Sounds nice,” Applejack commented as she pictured an island paradise in her head.
“Beautiful, yes. But if you visit, do not drink the water,” Strong remarked with a frown.
The mere mention of water nearly made Stormy turn green.
“…Why?” Applejack asked carefully, as morbid curiosity filled her.
“Sulfur in the water,” both stallions said in unison.
Applejack paused and shivered at the implications, but resumed eating nonetheless.
“Well,” she began after a splash of coffee was down, “Pinkie Pie wanted to give a tour of Ponyville after y’all are squared away.” Applejack said after a moment of silence.
Stormy and Strong both furrowed their brows in thought as they chewed, before Stormy swallowed his food and answered, “We would like that very much, after our briefing with the Captain.”
“Stormy, we cannot. The briefing will run all day,” Strong interjected after he swallowed a mouthful of orange juice.
Realization dawned onto Stormy’s face after Strong had said this, and glanced apologetically at Applejack.
“Oh, well, maybe tomorrow? I’ve got to help with the fence at the farm today, putting up barbed wire.” Applejack replied with a nod of understanding.
“Barbed wire? What for?” Stormy asked, perplexed that an apple farm would need it.
“We’ve got an infestation of timber wolves. They keep getting through the fence, scratching up the trees, and getting too close to the house. So we’re going to try and keep ‘em out,” Applejack answered matter-of-factly.
It was then that Stormy swallowed a sip water and hummed as he watched the rest of the newly formed unit preparing to leave.
Applejack followed Stormy as he stood and gave the stallion a farewell as he prepared to leave.
“ Well, I’ll be seeing y’all around,” Applejack said as she left the castle.
“Auf Wiedersehen, Apfeljack,” she heard Stormy call after her.
She sent a smile his way before she opened the castle doors and headed back to the farm.
***
A few minutes after all of the newly formed “Friendship Guard” had finished eating did the real meeting begin. A map of Ponyville was placed over the cutiemap, as was blueprints of the castle, courtesy lf Twilight Sparkle herself. Stormy had to stop himself from letting out a groan as the first order of business was being discussed, lodging.
“We have plenty of room here to house everypony, captain. Princess Celestia sent over a few bunk beds for the basement,” Twilight suggested with a pleasant smile, “It’s clean, and has a lot of space.”
Steady Shield hummed, as he studied the layout of the town, and castle.
“Princess, we are grateful for the kindness, but we can’t simply stay here in one spot. The guard will have to be spread out slightly, with a good chunk being here,” Steady replied before he went back and forth from two portions of the ponyville map.
“Where would you suggest?” the princess asked, after she studied the map herself.
“…Sweet Apple Acres has a very large area, easy to move through undetected. And the sparse housing to the north is a big weak spot,” Steady mused for a moment before Twilight finished his thought.
“Therefore, somepony needs to guard the north region and another, the south,” Twilight summarized, much to Steady’s surprise.
“That’s about the size of it, Princess,” Steady remarked before he continued, “Two guards for the day, and two at night. Which would mean eight patrolling around the clock. But where to station them?”
Stormy could already see the wheels turning in the captains head. And listened as Princess Twilight brought up sugestions for barracks. The windmill to the north and Sweet Apple Acres to the south.
Then the Thestral got an odd feeling, deep in his gut as Steady Shield nodded in agreement and looked into the group of ponies behind him, directly at him. Stormy’s heart sank when the Captain spoke next.
“Heavy Rain, Stormy Morning, Soft Breeze,” the captain called over his shoulder.
“Scheiße,” Stormy thought, as he glanced over to the Earth Pony who stared ahead, not paying attention till the calling of his name.
Stormy went over to the Captain, followed by the blue earth pony whom stood a few paces to Stormy’s right and a green Pegasus to his left.
“After the finalizations of this meeting, the three of you will be stationed together in one of the barns of Sweet Apple Acres. The three of you will then patrol the south end of Ponyville. This is a lot of ground to cover, I know. But the defense of this town will be as sharp as possible, understood?” Steady Shield relayed before getting a confirmation from each of them.
When Steady Shield’s back was turned Heavy Rain stuck out in the corner of Stormy’s vision. Stormy glanced in his direction as a look of outrage and loathing was framed to the Earth Pony’s muzzle. A single word was mouthed that no pony else caught.
Stormy glared back as the others were assigned to differing sectors of Ponyville, then it happened.
“Your luggage is in the foyer, get it then report to your assigned barracks when the go ahead is given,” Steady Shield bellowed out to which many, including Stormy had to wait confirmation that the nearby farm was available.
***
Steady Shield adjourned the meeting and watched as everypony made their way to the assigned destinations.
He watched as Heavy Rain went to get his luggage, and called him over, “Private Rain, I’d like a word,” He called to the earth pony who reacted immediately to the order.
“Yes, sir?” Heavy answered, clearly not expecting to be called.
“I hear that you’re the best support gunner in the Army, and one of the most reliable stallions out there. I have a… special assignment for you. If you’re interested,” Steady offered the stallion who puffed up at the complement.
“Yes, sir. What can I do for you?” Heavy asked, curiosity piqued.
“I need you to keep an eye on Stormy Morning for me. Anything out of the ordinary, anything off, or even if you just have a bad feeling. You report to me, understand?” Steady ordered Heavy with a smile.
“Yes, sir. I can do that, no problem,” Heavy replied, wheels turning in his head.
"Good to hear. Thank you, son," the officer replied as he turned back to the map.
Stormy Morning’s eyes gazed up at the heavy pair of thick, polished doors. He still ached, not as bad as the day before, but scrapes didn’t heal overnight. The young colt knew that well enough. Stormy breathed uneasily as his brother slept behind him. His wings shook, agitated at what was to come.
“Stürmischen,” his father called from the end of the hallway.
Stormy turned to his father, Cold Morning, surprised to see him standing there in full uniform.
“Ja, Vater?” Stormy asked nervousness seeping through him.
Cold knelt down as he looked his son over before looking the younger Thestral in the eye.
“Are you nervous?” Cold asked, concerned, “I know that this is asking a lot from you, but you must have courage. They will question you, and you must answer them, honestly.”
“W-what will they ask, Vater?” Stormy asked as he shook in terror of unfamiliar ponies questioning him.
Cold brought his son in close, and hugged him with hooves and wing both, before he whispered words of comfort into his sons ears.
“They will ask you questions about your mother,” Cold revealed, “And what happened during….”
Cold trailed off as his son shook and his eyes turned to pinpricks.
“Mutter? What if she finds out? I’m in trouble to begin with!” Stormy babbled, nerves getting the better of him.
“Stürmischen Morgen, get a grip and listen to me right now!” Cold shouted at his son who quieted at his fathers volume, “You did nothing wrong. It is your mother who is at fault, not you, versteht ihr mich?”
Stormy nodded, tears in his eyes before his father hugged him again.
“Good,” Cold comforted, wiping Stormy’s tears away before another pony called out to him.
“Well, it would seem that we’re up,” Cold murmured as he put Rainy on his back and motioned for Stormy to follow him.
***
Stormy blinked rapidly as he was gently roused from slumber. He looked up from his chair and looked at a clock, thirty minutes had gone by.
“Sarge, the Captain said to wake you and to head to the farm. He said it was south of here,” she said with a small smile, one that her earth pony companion did not share.
He stretched as he stood up before he looked around for his luggage, and soon spotted his green saddle bag. He then slipped it over his barrel and wings.
“Welcome back” came the voice of the Captain who stood easily a good length away.
“Your equipment is at the farm. Weapons and ammo included, stowed in the barn. Now, before you three go I’d like to make one thing clear,” Steady said before he got closer to the trio, “Anypony that gets into a firefight will write an incident report. Everything that happened, number of bullets fired, that sort of thing. Sergeant Morning, these two are under your command. Day shift runs from zero five hundred hours to nineteen hundred, after which the night shift begins. Watch will begin tonight at nineteen hundred. Unfortunately, due to a slight oversight, you will not be getting any nights off until we get another Thestral down here. Any questions?”
Stormy held his tongue and shook his head in the negative.
“Good,” the captain said with a nod and turned away from the group.
Stormy wasted no time as he put on his sunglasses, “We should not waste any time.”
With that he strode briskly into the midday sun, followed by his new team.
***
Applejack huffed as both her and her brother, Big Macintosh, wrapped barbed wire around their south-most stretch of fence. The task, once considered easy had cost both brother and sister much pain wise. They’d been nicked by the sharp needle-like protrusions more than they’d like to admit.
Big Mac, who had got the worst of it, held the spool of wire before he wrapped it around the horizontal posts back to Applejack who pulled up as she rotated the wide spool to let out more.
She gave the spool back to her brother and hissed as her fatigued forelegs brushed against a barb. This made the spool drop, before Mac caught it. But brushed his own leg against the barbs.
“Aw horse apples, sorry Big Mac. Ya’ll alright?” Applejack apologized to her brother who breathed in deeply.
“Eeyup,” he replied with a nod.
“Well it’s noon now, and we’re about half finished. You want to get some lunch then finish up?” she asked, hopeful that he’d agree.
Despite the momentary pain and holding his own hoof Big Mac answered, “Eeyup.”
Applejack then helped her brother set rocks underneath the spool so that it wouldn’t knock the fence down in case if the wind kicked up.
The trip back to the farm was uneventful, but when they got to the house their Granny Smith held a tight frown on her face as she rocked in her chair. As soon as they saw the look both siblings knew for a fact that something was off.
“Granny, y’all ok?” Applejack asked, almost hesitatingly as she took note of her grandmother’s expression.
“One of them guard stallions came by about a few minutes ago. Wanted to use a barn for sleeping. And since there’s a law against them intruding, he had to pay. Five hundred bits a month, till they get their racks up,” Granny Smith revealed with a disapproving tone.
“But are Y’all ok?” Applejack pressed as her grandmother’s face morphed into one of anguish.
“Eeyup, I’ll be fine,” Granny Smith said, her water filled eyes turned down, “Brings back a lot of memories of your granddaddy John is all.”
Applejack went to sit by her grandmother, as Big Mac went into the house to get some tissues.
“Let me know when they get here,” the elder mare mumbled as she wiped her eyes
As she did so, Applejack spied three ponies out of the corner of her eye.
“They’re here, Granny,” Applejack relayed as she stood by her grandmother’s side.
Granny Smith looked up to see a trio of ponies enter the threshold of the farm and walk up to them. She kept her eye on the big winged one who seemed to be the leader.
“Good morning, Frau Smith. I’m Staff Sergeant Stormy Morning,” he introduced himself before turning to his fellows, “This is Airman first class Soft Breeze, and Private Heavy Rain.”
“Morning to you. Got some ground rules for Y’all,” Granny Smith said as she sized up the stallion, as if trying to place his accent.
“We shall adhere to any rules that you want us to abide,” the sergeant replied as he tried to cut the tension.
Granny Smith, however, was adamant about saying her piece, “Good to hear, Sonny. Breakfast is at six in the morning, five-thirty on Sundays, feel free to grab a bite. Any language in front of my grandfoals, or any kind of lewd talk. I’ll kick you out faster than y’all can blink. We understand each other?”
“Perfectly. The offer of breakfast is very kind, thank you. And as I’ve said, we will adhere to your rules,” Stormy responded, near impassively before his gaze flicked to Applejack, smiled, and gave a slight nod to her.
“Carry on then,” Granny Smith replied before she rocked in the chair.
Applejack smiled back, before the trio trotted away.
“That the Stallion y’all were gushing about Applejack?” Granny Smith whispered to her granddaughter after noting the interaction.
Applejack felt heat bloom in her face and tilted her head down in embarrassment.
“G-Granny,” Applejack tried to ward off, only for Granny Smith to chuckle.
***
Stormy tuned out Heavy Rain as he started to complain.
“Lady could be a little more grateful. I mean, the place gets a monster attack pretty much every week,” he said acidly when they were far enough away.
“Her house, her rules, Heavy,” Soft reminded the earth pony.
Heavy rolled his eyes before they saw the barn in a clearing. Red in color, with boxes outside of it.
“A nice, fat target,” Heavy muttered before he bumped into a now stopped Stormy Morning.
Stormy glared at the private before he silently agreed and swiveled his gaze to the supply crates and a duffle bag with his ghillie suit inside no doubt.
“Alright, let’s get things organized,” Stormy said before he placed his saddlebag next to a support beam and turned to begin the preparation for his patrol.
He opened a small box that was labeled with his serial number and grimaced at it’s contents. A carbine stared him in the face as the other two brought out three collapsible cots and worked on placing them into the barn.
Stormy closed the box that held his weapon and entered the barn. It seemed smaller than he envisioned, with several barrels stacked in straight order around them, or so Stormy thought as he passed through a gap in them.
“Oh, nice,” Soft commented as she entered through a gap in the back corner of the barn.
It slowly dawned onto Stormy that he was standing in a makeshift room. With this realization, Stormy went to work, and opened his cot, before he focused on getting everything into the room.
Stormy began with the weapon crate that was labeled with his serial number. His thoughts, however, attempted to go back to the dream, as he hefted the rectangular box onto his back. Stormy shook his head and focused on the task. Once the box had been placed on his cot Stormy went to work opening it.
The latch easily came off and the Thestral opened the box. Stormy nodded to himself as he saw the carbine before he let out an involuntary yawn.
It was late, and he needed sleep for his patrol. But first...
“Heavy Rain,” he called over the barrels before another yawn nearly made itself known.
“Huh?” came the reply of the private.
“Come here,” Stormy replied, agitated that all he received was a grunt.
It took a few moments of shuffling, but soon the earth pony stood in the threshold of Stormy’s room.
“Yeah?” he asked in a near bored manner.
The Thestral pointed to a patch of straw in the interior of his room and said, “Sit.”
Heavy’s brow furrowed but he did as he was told. He sat in the room as his new superior gazed at him for a moment, before he spoke.
“Are we going to have problems, Private Rain?” he asked with steel in his tone.
“Problems, Sergeant?” Heavy asked, innocent in his manner.
“Yes, problems. Like waking up on time, doing the bare minimum, or your believing me to be a Nazi?” Stormy elaborated with a smoldering glare over his features, now firmly fixated to him.
Heavy opened his mouth to reply, “Uh, I don’t understand-“
“Spare me, private. I can read lips quite well. Do not take me for an idiot. If you have something to say to me, spit it out,” Stormy hissed before he went silent for a moment.
Heavy remained quiet and stiffened up his lip, “No, Sarge. I don’t have anything to say.”
“You’re sure?” Stormy asked, still agitated, “Tell me now, and I can switch you for another pony.”
“…I just don’t like the idea of your kind being brought back so easily after what you did,” Heavy responded stiffly as his own gaze hardened as it met the thestrals own, “I don’t like you, and sure as hell don’t trust you.”
“I see. Now, as for your reputation for sleeping in, and slacking around. If I catch you sleeping on duty, there will be consequences. You might not like me, and I might dislike you, however being liked does not effect my job, nor will it effect yours. Keep in line, and we will not have any problems. Is this understood?” Stormy asked, his glowing eyes boring holes into the earth pony.
Heavy nodded, “Yeah, I get it.”
Stormy then motioned for Heavy Rain to leave and watched as he stalked off, stewing in his thoughts. He turned back to the darkness of the room and began to change out of his uniform. At the brass buttons he felt the letter from his brother. He paused and sat down on his cot before he laid his jacket down on the canvas.
Thoughts swirled in his head as he remembered that day, after the rebellion ended. So many probing questions, and by the end he had it, a cutiemark. Stormy dared to steal a glance at his cutiemark, and glared. It mocked him, it always mocked him. An iron cross, in a white circle.
***
“Do you, Stormy Morning, remember how your grandfather was killed?” an earth pony in a suit and tie asked as he paced around the stand that the colt sat in.
Stormy nodded and leaned into the microphone, “Y-Yes, sir.”
“Young colt, can you please tell the court what happened to Icy Morning when he resisted the Party?” the stallion asked in response, uninterested in the colts increased level of discomfort.
Stormy leaned in to answer again but crossed gazes with his mother as she sat in the defendant’s chair. The colt quieted as he became entrapped in his mother’s cold glare and froze.
It petrified and locked him in place, blaming him for the bandages that covered her head.
“Stormy,” a serene and regal voice spoke, which snapped him out of his daze.
It was Princess Celestia, who sat on the tallest stand, next to him.
Stormy looked up and back to the attorney who waited patiently for his answer. He felt it still, his mother’s hate filled glare on him as well as other party members, wishing him dead no doubt.
The young Thestral gulped loudly then took a breath, gathering himself for what he was about to do.
“Mother shot him,” Stormy answered stiffly, this time he stared directly into her eyes.
The court atmosphere changed instantaneously, from quiet and docile, to gasps and murmuring throughout.
Stormy’s locked eyes formed a glare, a hard one at his mother, and by extension, to the rest of the party members.
It was only when Princess Celestia’s gavel rang out that he broke eye contact.
“Order. Order, please,” Princess Celestia called, before the room fell into silence, “Thank you, Stormy Morning. You may step down.”
The rest of the trial was a near blur to Stormy who had answered a few more questions, then there was a call for recess.
Stormy sat, in the same stark white hall, in utter silence before his father sat beside him with a groggy Rainy on his back.
“Stürmischen Morgen”
Stormy jumped at the sound of his name and looked in the direction that it had come. His eyes widened, it was Princess Celestia herself walking towards them.
Stormy and his father went to bow, but was stopped by the princess’s rapid Deutsche.
“Please stand, Stormy Morning. I do not wish to interrupt, but I would just like to say that you were very brave,” she said with a warm smile as her gaze flicked to something, “And, congratulations are in order.”
“Thank you, Princess. But what am I getting congratulated for?” Stormy asked, confused at her words, and silently wondering if she was incorrect in her language.
It was then that Rainy piped up, “Sturmischen, you have a cutie mark!”
***
Stormy had taken his uniform off as he’d gone down memory lane. It hung from a nail that had been lodged into a beam. He continued to climb up into the rafters and faced away from the door.
Only when satisfied with the position did Stormy set his small alarm clock to his right. Loud enough to be annoying, not to send him into the dirt. Stormy then lowered himself, to where he was hanging from the rafter upside-down. His eyes grew heavy and soon he closed them.
***
It was sunset when Applejack sat on her front porch, eying the farm fence that lead to the freshly put out barbed wire. She was quiet, save for the squeaking of the chair as it made contact with the wood floor. Soon, she knew that the howling would begin, and this time those timber wolves wouldn’t be getting through.
“Even if they did, I’ve got a little surprise for ‘em,” she thought as her mind went to her daddy’s shotgun, in the trunk by her bed.
Applejack’s features turned into a frown as she saw a flock of birds shot off of a tree in the distance.
“Applejack?” called an elderly voice from behind.
“Woah!,” Applejack yelled out as she jumped.
Granny Smith jumped too at her granddaughters reaction.
“Now what in tarnation are Y’all doing out here, girl?” the elderly mare asked, not knowing why AJ was acting jumpy.
“Sorry, Granny. Just waiting to see if the wire works in keeping those wolves out,” Applejack explained as her grandmother sat in the rocking chair beside hers.
“Y’all asked one of them guards to check on it?” Granny Smith asked with an eyebrow raised.
“N-No, I can do it,” Applejack admitted to her grandmother who was quick to respond.
“Not at night you ain’t, missy. Y’all can check in the morning when them wolves are asleep,” The elderly mare said as she put her hoof down on the matter.
Applejack, despite her wanting to protest, was silent and began to relax again.
“So, what does he do?” Granny asked after a moment of silence.
“Who?” Applejack asked, slightly confused as to who her grandmother was talking about.
“That bat pony, the one that y’all met at the gala. What does he do?” Granny Smith clarified with a teasing smirk.
“Um, well, he said that he was in the army,” Applejack said with a light blush.
“I could see that, anything else?” Granny pressed, only for Applejack to shake her head.
“No, but he can dance I know that,” the blonde mare admitted with a blush.
This made her grandmother chuckle, “So, he got Ya’ll to dance, did he?”
When Applejack nodded Smith continued, “I remember when you were just a little filly and you hated to square dance.”
Applejack closed her eyes in embarrassment, and her ears swiveled to the orchard as a flock of birds shot up into the air.
“Eeyup,” Applejack responded, almost too late as she wondered what would make the birds just rocket away like that. She made a move to get up, but halted when she heard her Grandma’s voice.
“Ya’ll better not be going to get your daddies shotgun,” the older mare said in a tone of warning.
“But Granny,” Applejack tried in vain to explain but She wasn’t having it.
“Applejack Smith, need I tell you again?” Granny Smith uttered with a withering stare.
“No,” AJ replied as she sat back down.
“Good, we’ll just keep the doors bolted tonight. And tomorrow we’ll talk to those guards ‘bout keeping an eye open for wolves,” Granny Smith said with a fatigued tone, before she stood, “I’m going to bed, AJ. Lock up when you come inside.”
Applejack watched as her Grandmother went back into the house and called, “Night, Granny.”
It wasn’t long after that AJ herself decided to turn in. After shutting the screen door and bolting it, she headed to her room. Passing by the different rooms, one for Granny, lamp light on, soon to be clicked off. Big Mac’s, he was snoring. Good.
It was when she passed by Applebloom’s room that an alarm went off in her head. Applejack’s heart filled with a cold dread as she pushed the cracked door open.
AJ’s eyes nearly popped out of her head as she saw it, an empty room.
“Mac!” Applejack cried as she burst into her brother’s room.
Big Mac started awake before his sister yelled, “Applebloom ain’t in her room!”
***
“This is Stormy Morning, beginning my patrol southeast,” Stormy said over the radio as he scanned the area in the outskirts of the farm for threats.
“Roger that, check back in every thirty minutes, or if you run into anything. Meanwhile, keep in contact with Sgt. Wind,” a female voice filled the line and went quiet afterwards.
Stormy took a moment to survey the area ahead of him. Thoroughly sweeping below with his weapon, breathing slowly as he did so.
“Wind, everything is quiet on my end. How’re things on yours?” Stormy spoke into his radio, just above a whisper as he swept.
“Hai, passing by the water tower now,” Strong answered, no doubt getting a better vantage.
“Roger that, moving out of the farm,” Stormy replied, giving the south most fence a once over.
It was covered in barbed wire, crude and uneven. Put there by Apfeljack, if he recalled correctly. Not too terrible for a first try at fortification, at least in his opinion.
Stormy prepared to move over the road but slowly spun as he heard rustling below him. He tucked his carbine below a leg as he moved from one branch to another.
“Command, I might have a situation, standby,” he whispered into the radio.
“Understood, Sergeant. Standing by,” the voice on the other end replied as Stormy peered through the foliage.
A small filly stood in front of a club house, looking up.
“Hello? Who’s there?” she called out, unable to detect him in the gloom.
Stormy exhaled, and prepared to reveal himself (slowly) when another rustle wafted into his ear, from directly below him this time.
He peered down, a timber wolf was watching the filly from behind a bush. Stormy reacted before even a single thought passed through him. Seven years of experience super charged his reflexes as he shouldered his weapon, aimed downwards, and fired.