Cold.
It was the kind of cold that could be produced in no other place. You couldn't sit in one place too long or your coat would freeze to the ground. Unfortunately, you also couldn't stand up unless you were willing to risk getting your dome shot off by an enemy sniper.
Worse still than the risk of death though, was the cold. The soldiers of the the 12th airborne were huddled in groups of three and four in their foxholes and covered in so many layers of clothing that they could barely move even if they wanted to.
Small fires burned for the sole purpose of melting ice from people's canteens to drinkable water. The lack of pots and pans meant that soldiers had to use their steel pot helmets for the task.(not that they were good for much more anyways) But, such was the life of anyone who was assigned to the task of protecting this Celestia forsaken mountain at the edge of the gryphon kingdom.
Why the Changelings had chosen to occupy the frozen north, and use it as a foothold, the soldiers on that mountain would never know. Fortunately, for their mental states, they would never need to. All they were was "a bunch of dumb grunts following orders" as the more experienced soldiers liked to say.
It was honestly a "glory" assignment. Some general in a comfy office decided that the side of this mountain was the perfect spot to hold off a changeling invasion due to its position in overlooking a valley that may or may not be used for troop movement. If the operation was successful, he could look back and say to his buddy's "Hey, remember that one operation? I came up with that." If it failed, what did he care? He was still a general making the big bits.
The sound of weapons going through functions checks woke up one Caduceus "Cad" Guardian. He sat up, looked around, and quickly began his own functions checks while shaking the ice and snow off his coat. This had become a routine for him now. Every two hours everyone would perform weapons checks to ensure the internal components hadn't frozen. Afterwards, Cad would move around the camp and check on everyone to make sure no one had trenchfoot or frostbite, and then mosey on back to his foxhole and wait again.
'At least it's only cold weather injuries instead of gunshot wounds' Cad thought to himself as he checked his three weapons. Enfield-check. Webley-check. bayonet-rusty, but check. With all his weapons accounted for and functioning, mostly, he moved on to an equipment check. As the combat medic of his platoon, It was his job to keep his men healthy and fit to fight, and that meant his equipment had to function. Unfortunately, one look inside his bag, confirmed his fears. A bag full of frozen gauze and crevats was about as useful as a block of ice in a snowstorm, which ironically, it was at the time.
Slowly, Cad got up from his foxhole and moved over to the nearest fire to thaw out his gear. As he walked by foxhole after foxhole, he looked inside to see soldiers huddled together. Some waved or nodded as their fellow avian walked past. Cad returned the gestures and approached the location of the nearest fire pit. The pit's had to be few in number and burried deep, lest they give away the position of the group to any enemy nearby.
Cad dropped into the pit and was met with disappointment as he saw the pile of ash that had once provided sweet, sweet warmth. Looking around, he spotted some semi-dry logs and a half used flint. He pondered whether to simply move on to the next pit, but then he remembered that the other soldiers needed this pit to thaw water from frozen canteens and keep warm.
Scraping his bayonet on the flint, Cad attempted to ignite the logs, but was met with nothing but failure. The wood was simply to wet, and there was simply no dry kindling.
"AWWW, COME ON!!!"
Cad was getting more and more frustrated by the minute. If only there was a mage nearby to ignite the fire. Magic fire was much hotter than regular fire.
'Well, maybe just this once.'
Cad looked left, then right to ensure he was alone before going about with his task. Ungloving his right hand, he revealed a matrix of runic tattoo's usually reserved for mages. Avians would never be seen with runic tattoo's on any part of their body's. However, Caduceus was no ordinary avian.
With a pulse of concentrated magic, Cad extended an index finger and a spell matrix formed in front, aimed at the logs. Suddenly, the logs burst into flame as the magic took place.
Cad quickly covered his hand back up with a glove and series of muslin wrappings. He looked around to ensure that there were no witnesses to the act that he performed and, once he was sure he was alone, got to thawing his medical equipment and water supply.
After the task was completed, he reluctantly, climbed out of the fire pit. As he made his way back to his foxhole through the snow and fog, a sudden wind picked up. The wind was harshly cold, and Cad had to duck down low to keep from catching too much of it. He simply sat there hunched over with his eyes clamped shut and waited for it to pass. When it had, he stood up and looked around to behold a breathtaking scene.
The wind had blown the snow clouds and fog away that had plagued the 12th for so long. Cad could see the entire mountain range now, It was a breathtaking and beautiful site to behold. Multiple snow capped mountains surrounded a small green valley built around a thin river of blue. Small puffy clouds of white cotton littered the sky and seemed to meld with the mountain peeks. It was the most peaceful site anyone could behold, and was completely contrary to the frozen wasteland that was the cliff face the unit occupied. Cad actually found himself lost in the serene view of nature in all its glory.
Then the shells began to fall.
~~~
Cad's eyes shot open. Sitting up he gathered his surroundings. A small bedroom was his place of occupation at the time. All in all, it was pretty barren. A long coat hanging by the door, and a small footlocker at the foot of the bed. Such was the lifestyle of the Man occupying the small apartment. He always preferred to keep things simple. It kept cleaning to a minimum, and left him less likely to lose things.
Then he saw the clock and his heart sank. He was already fifteen minutes late for work.
Moving out of bed, he quickly made his way to the footlocker to grab out his normal items for the day. A pair of loose brown pants, a loose v-neck black shirt, a pair of long gloves, and a shoulder holster with a loaded webley mk iv. Not the most subtle of concealed weapon's, but easy to hide under his long coat.
After checking the weapon, Cad grabbed his coat, threw on his boots, and paused at the door. It was the same coat he wore back then.
'Forget the dream' he thought to himself.
He made his way to work. Approaching the ponyville hospital, he noticed his boss standing at the door tapping her foot. He was in for it now.
"Nurse Redheart, how are you today?" Cad asked with the worst poker face he had ever mustered.
"You're late."
Cad imaginged literal daggers flying from her icy stare and impaling him. Nurse Redheart was a wonderful person to be around, and overall a very nice person. However, if you got on her bad side for a second, you would rather fight through Tartarus armed with a butter knife.
"Would you believe my clock broke?" bad poker face
"No." death stare
Cad sighed, he knew why he was late. Nightmares about the past always tended to make him sleep in for some reason. It was like his mind wanted him to remember a past he was eager to forget.
'Forget the dream'
"So are you going to tell me the real reason why you are late?"
Cad's attention was brought back to the pink haired nurse in front of him. She knew about his situation, but if he told her, she would simply send him to talk to the therapist again. As much as he needed it, he just needed to see another person right now.
"I just need to talk to her for a bit."
The nurse huffed and pouted in defeat. Cad always knew that if he just brought her up, Redheart would yeild. She stepped to the side and let him pass.
~~~
Cad made his way through the halls of the hospital. After two years of working here, if was easy for him to find his way to his destination. Soon, he found his way to the veterinary ward.
It was a little odd for a veterinary ward to be at a hospital, but with the amount of animals in ponyville, and the lack of a proper vet's office, an old section of the hospital had simply transformed into a veterinary ward a couple years back in order to accomodate.
There were a few nurses who waved to him as he walked by. They were all used to him coming in regularly now, even though he was an EMT during regular work hours. He made his way past the array of dogs, cats, turtles, and rabbits that occupied the area along with a number of other animals.
Soon he found a small office with an engraved name on the door of the person he needed to talk to. She was the one person who he had always been able to speak to about his past and had been able to comfort him. She was one of few left who understood his pain. And finally, she was the only other person who he had revealed his secret to.
The door simply read.
FLUTTERSHY
HEAD VETERINARIAN
The door slowly, silently opened and a young woman was revealed sitting behind a desk, completely occupied by her paperwork. She was a lovely woman with long pink hair and beautiful cyan eyes that one could easily get lost in. She wore a butter yellow sweater and long pink skirt under a white lab coat.
Cad slowly made his way into the room, silent as a mouse. Working his way around the office, he made his way behind the young woman, and ever so gently...
*poke*
"EEEEP!"
Fluttershy squeaked loud enough to almost be normal speaking volume.
"Well, good morning to you too." Cad said with a light smirk.
Fluttershy slapped him lightly on the chest in a playful manner. An almost imperceptible smile gracing her lips.
"You always do that when I least expect it." she said playfully.
"Well, you always leave yourself so open." Cad retaliated.
Shy slowly got up from her desk, gave Cad a light hug, and graced him with a soft kiss on his cheek. Cad graciously returned the gesture to the young woman.
Cad took a moment to admire the Avian in his arms. Shy had grown so much since he first met her, and not just physically. She carried herself with more confidence now. She was still timid and easily startled, but she now had an air of maturity around her. It was almost a motherly feeling that seemed to emanate from her.
"So," she said in a quiet but cheery voice. "What brings you here today?"
Cad's smile almost instantly faded as he remembered why he came.
Seeing this, Fluttershy suddenly got a serious look on her face.
"More dreams?"
"...Yeah."
"The same ones?"
*nod*
"Which one?"
Caduceus sighed and slumped into a chair in the office. "The mountain." he said plainly.
Fluttershy knelt at his side and simply nodded in understanding.
Having been together for over two years, Shy knew all of his nightmares by heart. That, and having taken part in the very war he spoke of, she had a greater understanding than most of the feelings he was experiencing.
"Do you need anything?" Her voice was soft and polite.
Cad shook his head. "No, I'm fine now. I just needed to see you, that's all. For some reason, seeing you seems to make the pain go away."
Fluttershy giggled a little.
Cad finally stood up."Anyway, I need to get to work as it is."
"Okay." Shy said softly. "Have a great day, and if you need to talk, you know where to find me...that is if you want to.eep"
Cad chuckled as he nuzzled her.
After a brief hug. Caduceus left the office and made his way down to the locker room. He removed his Coat, Webley, and brown pants, to don a pair of black cargo pants and a blue shirt with EMT written on the shoulders and his name over the right breast pocket. Afterwards he locked up, and grabbed his handy medical kit.
He made his way outside, focused his magic to his back to form his wings, and took off to catch up to his partner.
As he flew, he couldn't help but feel like today would be different than normal. Like today, something would change.
With these thoughts going through his head, Cad sent a new burst of speed to his wings to catch his partner and start his day.
Explosions rocked the mountain. Snow and ice fell from the overhead peaks and littered the cliff side with debris. Soldiers were awakened from their foxholes both afraid and confused while all tartarus broke loose on the mountain.
The changelings had taken the opportunity of the clearing in the clouds to spot the airborne unit and open fire with artillery. Well placed shots were raining down and blowing foxholes filled with troops off the mountainside. However, the troops of the 12th airborne would not be killed so easily.
All at once, the remaining soldiers took flight towards the adjacent mountain. Cad was among these troops, and was ready for some payback for all the men they just lost. As a medic, he would have normally stayed back to tend to the wounded. However, there weren't any wounded to tend to. Everyone that was hit was killed, or blown off the mountain.
Suddenly, flak opened up and began blowing soldiers out of the sky. Cad narrowly dodged a shell that took out three other troops. Cad fixed his bayonet to his rifle and dropped in using his unit's trademark technique of dropping at terminal velocity and using avian magic to slow his descent at the last minute. Cad twisted and turned his body for the descent alongside the remaining soldiers, and fell.
1500 feet.
Cad flew like a missile, towards his intended target.
1000 feet.
Cad could see that the changeling was unaware, as he continued to load a new shell into the artillery cannon.
500 feet.
Cad aimed his bayonet at the changeling and started to slow his descent.
250 feet.
The changeling looked up, and saw, with horror in his blue tinted eyes, his end approaching.
0 feet.
The bayonet in cad's hands punched through the changelings chest and drove him into the ground beneath him. Blood and gore splattered from the wound and onto Cad's face.
Then the slaughter began.
Dozens of avians dropped from the clouds and impaled awaiting changelings in a spray of blood and gore. Then pulling their bayonets from the corpses, they began to open fire on the fleeing enemies. Changelings fell by the dozens as Cad and his comrades opened fire. A lone Changeling came running at Cad with a bayonet fixed to his Kar98.
Employ left block.
Cad's left hand moved low in a blur to sweep the bayonet away from his abdomen.
Use momentum, follow through with left elbow.
Cad heard the bone crack as his elbow collided with the changelings jaw.
Fireball to abdome...//Fire secondary weapon to abdomen.
Ignoring his mental hiccup and almost blowing his cover, Cad drew his Webley and fired into the enemy's stomach, effectively ending his life.
Cad looked around and saw his comrades finishing of all the stragglers and securing the landing zone. All in all, the firefight lasted about 3 minutes with well over a hundred combined casualties.
~~~
Cad was milling around the enemy corpses. Intel was important after all. Every once in awhile, someone would find a map or a file laying around. Every bit helped in the long run. Eventually, maybe someone would find intel on a stronghold or FOB that could be struck to actually make a difference in the war.
Eventually, he made his way back to the corpse of the changeling he dive bombed. He couldn't have a lot of intel on him. Judging by his rank, he was just a drone, and probably would not have any sort of intel worth mentioning.
Cad didn't like the changelings. They were basically bug people. They could use magic like royals but to a lesser extent. They had this weird black skin and wore weird leather armor. The worst part was the eye's though. Those blue pupil-less eyes just gave Cad the creeps.
Intel had very little on changling culture, which left a lot to speculation. Most believed that they had basically no social structure, and possibly operated on a hive mind. Cad could accept this. It made it easy to fight them if he knew that they were just mindless drones.
Cad milled around in the changelings leather coat trying to find any intel. He didn't expect to find much. Reaching into his pocket's he found a small notebook. Inside were some simple notes on artillery calculations, nothing major or life changing. In between some of the pages though, was a small stack of photographs. What was on the top photograph made Cad lose his breath momentarily as he studied it.
It was an image of the changeling in front of a fireplace with another more slender changeling. They were both in an embrace and were smiling. In front of them both was an image of a smaller female changeling making a funny face at the camera.
Cad couldn't stop the few tears that fell as he looked back at the man he had slain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*poof*
Cad landed on the cloud next to his partner. She was lounging on the cloud in her usual manner. Legs crossed and hands behind her head supported by her aid bag.
"Good morning Grace."
Saving Grace shot up from her cloud.
"I'm up! I wasn't sleeping! Please don't fire me!"
"Relax Grace, it's just me." Grace turned to face the source of her panic.
"Oh Cad, why do you always have to be late." She said while crossing her arms.
Cad was late at least once a week. Normally he would have been fired by now if it wasn't for his...condition. Grace still hadn't caught on to the source of his tardiness, and if Cad had anything to say, she never would.
Cad threw his hands up defensively. "Hey, a face this good looking needs it's beauty sleep, right? In fact, it looks like you could use some more yourself."
*smack*
"You're lucky I'm in a good mood, or else I might have hit you in some place more sensitive." The evil smirk Grace had was enough to cause Cad to lose a few shades of color in his face.
Saving Grace was a bit of a prodigy in the medical field. She never cracked under pressure, and had all the skills of a full-time surgeon, though she would never admit it. Despite all the offers to go to medical universities and be a surgeon, she had still chosen field work. She said that she preferred it over "being a stuffy office jockey,"as she liked to call it.
"So what has you in such a great mood." Cad was still tending to his wounded face.
Grace flashed the back of her hand in Cad's face and threw on the biggest grin imaginable. On her finger was small ring with a white spinel placed in the center surrounded by topaz stones in a star burst pattern.
Cad threw on a big grin of his own. "So, Thunderlane finally proposed?"
"Who else?" Grace's smile was threatening to split her face in half.
As they both flew off to travel their route, Grace continued to blabber on about how Thunderlane had proposed. She told her story again and again how he had taken her out to a wonderbolts show and had paid Rainbow Dash to write his proposal in the clouds and blast through it with a sonic rainboom. Honestly, it was a bit over the top.
"And then, Thunderlane started pointing up, and I didn't understand why until I looked up and saw the words in the sky!"
"Yes, Grace you already told..."
"And then, just after I read the message, Rainbow Dash flew through the words and KABOOM!"
"I know Grace. You just..."
"And then, I looked down and he had the ring!"
...
...
"Are you done?" Grace smiled sheepishly
Cad rolled his eyes, "As much as it thrills me to hear about how you're relationship is booming, I believe it's almost quitting time, and I need to stop by this store first."
Grace followed Cad to a small pawn shop towards the middle of Ponyville. As they entered, Cad made his way towards the counter as Grace continued to talk in her normal, hyperactive fashion.
"Soooo?" Grace said with a big grin on her face.
Cad merely cocked an eyebrow at her amazingly cryptic question.
"When are you gonna ask her?" Cad just rolled his eyes at the question and continued conducting his business with the man behind the counter.
"You're question needs to be more specific." Cad stated bluntly.
Grace crossed her arms across her chest and pouted. "You know exactly what I'm talking about mister."
Cad just continued with his business, pointing at items behind the counter, and checking prices of others.
"C'mon Cad, you two have been together for like forever now." Grace continued to rant. "You need to go ahead and pop the question."
"Grace..."
"I mean, it's not like it needs to be flamboyant."
"Grace."
"Just take her out to the park, or ask her at the door to her cottage, or..."
"GRACE!"
"WHAT!"
Cad just stood in front of grace holding a small black box in his hand with an annoyed look on his face.
"I was waiting to get the right ring." Grace couldn't help but notice the small smirk threatening to break through at the corner of his mouth.
Then suddenly(Courtesy of Grace) Grace lost all sense of hearing.