Author's Note

Dawn: did you know that the conversational transfer from one subject to another isn’t spelled Segway, but segue? I didn’t before reposting this chapter… I still see it and hear in my mind “Seg-goo”…
Jeron: You would have goo on your brain wouldn’t you?
Dawn: *blinks and gets a look of confused revulsion, as if she can’t process what just happened*
Jeron: See, it’s even in your head now.

Original thing intended for AN...

Jeron’s Entry:
Meanwhile, back at the Day after the Fallen, while still in Canterlot… It was a dark and stormy night… Dusk Shine and Storm were banging…
Dawn: Jeron, what are you doing with my journal?
Jeron: Huh? Nothing Legate, just setting the mood.
Dawn: *reads the thing* huh? Who’s Dusk?
Jeron: *blinks* Oh! Right! That’s the other timeline! *zaps the paper away*
Dawn: Are you trying to give away spoilers for something?
Jeron: I plead the fifth.
Dawn: You can’t plead the fifth in the hive. Besides, we’re not in A-mare-ica.
Jeron: … Did you just ponify your old country?
Dawn: *smirks* are you done interrupting my journals?
Jeron: Probably not.

6 - PFC Tulip

Day 80, May 29th, Tuesday

So, the commander let me know she had one place she needed to go to before we went back. I didn’t want to intrude, but they gave an invitation, and I was curious. It wasn’t like I had much else I planned on doing and maybe the commander wanted company...

Twilight worked on cooking breakfast, having carefully extracted herself from under Dawn, who still laid on the bed. Dawn yawned and stretched, waking up at the smell of food, nearly purring at the thought.

Twilight said nothing as she worked in the kitchen.

Dawn soon got up and drifted over, waking up enough to move at the smell of good food. "Mornin…" she tried to mumble out.

"Oh hey! Morning." Twilight said, focusing on the omelets they were cooking.

"Morning." Dawn repeated, smiling as she saw food being made and waking more at the sight of it, "So, what's on the agenda for today?"

"Not a lot. Rest… a little later, I have somewhere to go."

"Oh? Mind if I ask what?" Dawn asked.

"Just visiting someone… nothing major. I try to swing by when I’m in town."

"I see. Would you like me to stay out of that visit? I don't want to intrude if it's more personal." Dawn said.

"It a fine either way. Shouldn't hurt."

"I see." Dawn said, thinking, 'I know she says it's fine either way, but I don't want to just invite myself along. It'd be very rude of me to, but I’m also curious.'

'If that’s how you feel then don't.' Chrysalis told her, having heard their thought through the link.

'It's how I was raised.' Dawn said once she realized it was loud enough to notify the link. She tried to explain herself by reminding Chrysalis of a reprimand she had gotten for asking her grandfather if she could join a golf outing with her dad, and he gave her a talking to when she wanted to take a break for having invited herself but not wanting to play all the way through.

'Dawn, stop that. You know Twilight prefers to be direct.' Chrysalis said firmly, 'While it is a personal visit, she wouldn’t say it was fine either way unless it was.'

'Right… Sorry mom, I just need to get used to not second guessing like that. Honestly, I would like to learn.' Dawn replied before speaking out loud again, "Then I would like to join you please. I have a lot to learn and if nothing else, it will be nice to learn more about your friends and anyone else you've found important enough to visit if they’re ok with it too."

Twilight nodded as she cooked.

"Thank you.” Dawn said, developing a mischievous smile. “I'd give a hug, but never interrupt the chef!"

"Yeah,” Twilight chuckled in agreement, “that’s usually a bad idea."

"Yup." Dawn smiled, "Stalwart is allowed to because he makes my food better when he gets involved… and we won't even talk about what happens to it when he mounts me!"

"Heh… That’s an interesting idea you have there… Makes me think he’s adding a little ‘secret sauce.’"

"Nah, the food stinks, but we're in too good a mood to care." Dawn smirked.

"I meant when he cooks."

"I’m aware,” Dawn smirked, shaking her head after, “but he doesn’t do that. Neither of us are interested in that yet. Still, I'm thinking of taking on cooking as my next hobby. Any good ideas of who I should look at for that?"

"Hmm… Poundcake I'd say. I'm sure he’d like to pass on the family recipes to someone." Twilight suggested.

"Oh? You mean Sugarcube corner? I already visit there enough for my chocolate to be a familiar face." Dawn smiled, "Then again, maybe he'd like the idea because he already knows me… What would the best way to go about asking him be?"

"Um… asking him I'd say." Twilight said simply. "Not sure how else to ask someone if you can learn from them rather than just asking him."

“I mean, there's being direct, indirect, bringing gifts… I’m realizing just how silly I’m sounding now.” Dawn said with a facehoof.

“Yeah, don’t use diplomacy on a friend. That doesn’t end well.” Twilight said.

"I wasn’t thinking when I asked, sorry." Dawn said quietly, disappointed in herself for the near blunder she made.

Twilight blinked at her and then went back to cooking.

'I think you almost took your lessons a bit too far.' Chrysalis warned.

'Maybe… sorry.' Dawn relayed, feeling disappointed that she still almost had done exactly that.

Chrysalis patted her head. 'It is alright, you are still learning.'

'Thanks mom…' Dawn relayed, still contemplating how to take her lessons better next time.

'Usually you don't need to apply them to friends unless you wish to use them for political gain.'

'I think I understand.' Dawn replied, going over to the restroom to groom herself until breakfast.

Dawn readied herself and brushed everything into place before coming to the table. The food was already there with Twilight waiting for her.

Dawn smiled, sitting down before she gave her thanks and dug in. The two royals ate on, Twilight finishing later than Dawn, then took the dishes to the sink to clean up after their meal. Dawn’s mood had improved, though it was no surprise. A good meal always made her more contented and calm.

Twilight washed the dishes and then started to head for the door.

"If you're coming, then come." Twilight warned.

Dawn nodded and quickly moved to follow. The two mares didn’t wear any of their royal attire. Twilight had went to the door without anything, so Dawn followed their example.

They left the castle and walked the streets, quickly approaching a building that was near the edge of the city. Nothing seemed out of place, it was a nice neighborhood, though the building they were approaching was far larger and taller than any others in the area.

Dawn watched, trying to figure out what the building was as they walked in. She was greeted with a nice waiting room. There were comfortable chairs and a small couch arranged in the room while gentle music played and a tv in the corner displayed a sitcom. The pair of them headed to the desk in the center, gaining the attention of a mare sitting behind it and working at a computer.

Dawn stayed close to Twilight, though with enough distance to be polite and then heard the mare speak up at them.

"Ah, is it that time again Twilight?" She asked.

Twilight gave a small smile and nodded. "Yeah, it is Clarity. I hope it’s no trouble I brought a friend."" she asked, gesturing with her head to Dawn.

Clarity looked at for a few moment critically then smiled as she pulled out a clipboard. "I don't see why not. It might do some good having a new face visit."

Twilight accepted it, wrote on a line, and then held it out to Dawn.

Dawn took the pen and assumed she was signing in. Sure enough, it was a sign in sheet, and she noticed as she signed in and placed her entry time that the top read, "CANTERLOT PSYCHIATRIC CARE INSTITUTE."

The mare behind the counter took it back. "Head right in. You know where to go, and please make sure your friend doesn’t wander off." She said as she clicked a button and a light buzz came from the door to the right as Twilight started to head toward it.

"Don't worry, I'll try not to." Dawn smiled back at them before moving to stay close to Twilight, just in case.

The entered a hall that was well lit, with potted plants and other things decorating the halls and interspersed between the occasional door. Twilight knew her route well, leading on with confidence. The pair of them passed different checkpoints with orderlies and passed by others that were going from place to place.

They soon reached a small room with a view out over the landscape beyond the city. There were plants in the room on the bookshelf, along with a few books between them, while a table, couch, and chairs were placed in comfortable positions in the room.

Twilight moved and took a seat at the table. Dawn joined Twilight, sitting next to her.

After a bit, the door opened and a dark tan unicorn mare with a light brown mane entered, wearing a worn out military jacket and a suppression ring on her horn. She saw Twilight and snapped to a crisp salute.

"Ma'am, PFC Tulip reporting as requested!"

"At ease Private. This is just a friendly visit as usual. Come sit. I made tea." Twilight said, having already pulled out her teamaking things onto the table, preparing tea while they waited. "This is Dawn. She’s a friend of mine."

"Nice to meet you." Dawn smiled, giving a gentle nod of her head.

The mare hesitated before slowly lowering her hoof. She moved over to the other side of the table, pulling out a chair and sitting across from Twilight as the purple princess poured a cup of tea for them.

"So, how have you been Tulip?" Twilight asked, sliding the cup to them.

The mare shrugged. "Well, from what they tell me."

Twilight nodded. "I'm glad to hear that."

"Yeah, they let me go outside in the garden for a bit a couple days ago. It was nice getting to smell the flowers… been a while since I got to work out there."

"I am definitely glad to hear that. That must mean you are doing well."

"Yeah… I guess. They won’t let me work out there, but I was able to take a walk. Sarge said I need to keep doing what they tell me, like a good soldier."

"I see… What else has Sergeant Dancer been saying?"

"Just that I need to listen to the doctors. Greeny keeps wanting me to try and get back out to the garden, says it would do me good since I always felt relaxed out there, so it doesn’t make sense why the doctors won't let me out there more often. Though, Ice keeps arguing with him about the fact he keeps wanting me to sneak out there. I had to break up a fight between them last night. I was worried they were going to really hurt each other.

"I see…" Twilight said, listening attentively.

Dawn stayed quiet, only listening since she wasn’t sure what she should say or when.

"So, how do you know the Commander?" Tulip asked, looking at Dawn.

"She landed in my living room and I looked out for her and her family until she could get home again." Dawn answered formally, figuring it would be best not to mention they were displaced, just in case it was related.

"Ah, yeah. Training accidents can be bad. Glad she landed somewhere friendly." She said nodding.

"Yeah, pushed myself a bit too hard." Twilight said chuckling.

"Yeah,” Tulip nodded, “Sarge said forcing things like that is bad and can make things worse."

"And i got a new friend out of it." Dawn chimed in.

"Friends are always good." Tulip approved.

"Definitely." Dawn agreed, debating if she should ask about the gardens or move to some other subject.

Twilight watched the two of them silently as she sipped her tea, measuring how well the two got along.

"So, you like the gardens?" Dawn asked, recognizing Twilight wanted them to socialize when she stayed quiet.

"Yeah, I like tending to the flowers.” Tulip smiled, “Always did."

"I see, what’s your favorite part of tending to the flowers?" Dawn asked.

"I don’t know… They don’t really need a lot, just some water and sun and a bit of TLC. Just nice, simple work."

"Ah. So it is a nice relaxed hobby." Dawn said with a small nod, gesturing with a hoof. "I know some ponies who enjoy it because it gives them control over something, or time to center themselves when life is hectic."

"Though usually it's just a nice relaxing hobby." Twilight quickly said. "It’s just peaceful and enjoyable is all. Nothing more."

Tulip blinked at what Dawn said, but seemed to relax when Twilight spoke.

'Hm... Perhaps I stepped close to some sort of line?' Dawn wondered. "True. I haven’t tried it myself yet, but it is peaceful."

"Yeah.” Tulip nodded and began to smile, “I'm eager to get back to it."

'Going very close to a line, my daughter.’ Chrysalis informed before pausing at Dawn’s surprise at a ‘line’ she nearly crossed. ‘It is not my place to tell you. Follow Twilight’s lead. She will keep you safe.’

‘I… okay…’ Dawn frowned, more confused now than ever. “So, any favorite flowers you like most?”

"Not really. I like all flowers." Tulip answered with a small smile.

"What about you? Do you like plants?" Tulip asked.

"I have tried once or twice.” Dawn answered, the mystery looming over her mind. “When I was little, I didn’t like getting too dirty, and I was way too easily scared from bugs and spiders and the like. It’s silly of me, and I still am sometimes."

"Oh…" she said, ears dropping a bit. "What do you do then?"

"I’ve been doing a lot of studying, and I look after my foals. In a way, they’re like my flowers." Dawn smiled, trying to stay closer to the subject they liked.

"Hmm… I guess.” Tulip said, frowning slightly as her posture grew more rigid. “More loud, and… running around… screaming. … Bloody… lead, screams, movement outside!"

Twilight slammed her hooves together, making a loud clap, causing Dawn and Tulip to jump at the sudden noise. Dawn had her ears splayed backward and Tulip began blinking as she looked around, only to see Twilight calmly smiling.

"How's the tea Tulip? I didn't put too much sugar in, did I?"

She blinked several times, then shook her head as she picked it up to drink it some more. "No… no the tea is fine… Excellent as always Commander."

"Tulip, if I were to start learning how to garden, what would you say I should learn first?" Dawn asked, worried if bringing up her foals had caused an issue. She took Twilight’s Segway as a cue to change subjects to safer territory as she tried to act like everything was normal like Twilight did.

"Hmm… I'd say learn about the plants in your area. What they like, don't like, the soil and all that." She said.

"Ahh." Dawn nodded. "Any plants that might be better for beginners?"

"Hmmm. Roses are rather hearty."

"I see. I will have to give them a try sometime." Dawn said, desperately trying to figure out what else to talk about.

"Yeah. Roses really are tough, but are so worth it. Though technically dandelions are even better."

"I see. I'll have to give it a try… I remember growing up that dandelions were a weed for several yards growing up… them and another one." Dawn hummed.

"Oh, they are a weed, but doesn't change the fact they are still flowers."

"True." Dawn nodded.

Tulip nodded, waiting a moment as Dawn struggled to think about what was safe to discuss until she ventured to ask, "So, what have you been studying?"

"Well, been getting some physical training in, got some general courses in history, science, mathematics... there's a lot." Dawn said.

"Oh… um, no hobbies?"

"Well, that’s what I study.” Dawn reminded them, “When I have time, I enjoy playing games or reading books. Probably will learn how to cook in the near future."

"What do you read?"

"Usually had been fantasy or sci-fi, often with space travel." Dawn said. "Almost thought of being a writer for a while too."

"Why don't you?"

"Just been extraordinarily busy." Dawn said with a shy smile.

"Huh… Guess that makes sense. Icey always has her muzzle in a book when she isn’t fighting with Greeny. Always think she's going to ruin her eyes worse than they are, but she says as long as she wears her reading glasses when reading for long periods of time, she is fine."

"Yup. I know how that goes. Had to wear glasses growing up for a long while, till I became a pony anyway."

"Became a pony?" She said and then looked at one of the empty spaces at the table and then nodded. "Hmm… I guess you're right." she then looked at Dawn. "So, you're displaced huh?"

"In a way. I am much better off as a pony anyway, even before I became a princess." Dawn smiled. "I wouldn't look back except for missing hands, but what I’d use them for is handled by magic anyway."

"So you were a biped?" She asked.

"I was born that way, yes." Dawn nodded.

"Huh… interesting." Tulip said.

"How so?" Dawn asked.

She suddenly looked to another chair. "What? By Celestia really?" She said face hoofing and blushing and then looked at Dawn. "I am so sorry Dawn. Greeny literally has no filter between his brain and his mouth, I swear he's a teenager."

"It's not a problem." Dawn said, trying to take this sudden change in stride.

She looked at the chair. "Because you act like it… … You literally just asked her what it's like to sleep with someone as a biped… … No, I am not going to use your phrasing." she said and then sighed looking at Dawn apologetically. "And there they go… I'm sorry." She said, speaking loudly as if trying to talk over someone.

Dawn chuckled, "It can be very creative, for sure, not that I had tried while I was a biped."

"Oh please, don't encourage him!" She said, blushing harder and sighing, seeming to relax and looked at another chair. "Thanks Sarge."

"I understand. I just don't want the subject to be avoided like it had in my childhood, leading me to be so awkward in life about it. Sometimes, it's not that big a deal or as big as others make it, and if everyone is ok talking about it, I will be supportive." Dawn said gently, thinking 'I think I'm starting to see part of the reason for their being here… as sad as it might be.'

"There is being okay talking about it when appropriate, and then there is asking someone you just met that!" Tulip squeaked, clearly embarrassed.

Dawn chuckled, "I mean, if that's what we want to talk about when I was a biped, I'm all for it if everyone is ok with it. Really."

"We’re not. It's just Greeny being a pervert, like usual." She said and sighed. "I was afraid there would be someone like him… Or at the least who encouraged his behavior."

"Honestly, my support comes less from being a pervert than being repressed for something that is natural and doesn't have to be a big deal." Dawn explained. "Having said that, I will respect your right to not have it be discussed and I'm sorry if I made things more awkward for you." Dawn apologized. Dawn paused and a compromise came to mind, "So, perhaps there are other questions about me when I was a biped that might be better?"

Tulip shifted, showing how uncomfortable she was with a very red face and ears folded back slightly. "No. Nothing…"

"Oh? Nothing about what things can be done with hands or the like? Perhaps complete lack of magic then?" Dawn offered.

"I SAID NO!" She said then winced ears going back as she looked down. "Sorry Sarge…" she looked at Dawn. "I am sorry for yelling."

"It's fine. I'm sorry for pushing the matter." Dawn said, feeling very tense and frozen from being yelled at, her fears and instincts surging to have her want to run and hide from the sudden yell. She was unaware of her ears folding back on her head again as she tried not to cave to her instincts.

'Calm yourself Dawn. Relax.’ Her mother reminded her. ‘You are safe. Twilight is with you.'

"So what would you write if you had the time?" Tulip asked.

'I'm trying... trust me I'm trying' Dawn relayed, still feeling like a terrified child that is trying to keep it together as the emotions slowly dissipated, "I've had a few ideas I would love to get back to, though they'll still say focused on characters that were of the race I was before just for familiarity."

"Hmm… interesting." Tulip said.

Dawn felt herself surrounded in the link by dozens of soldier drones, all facing outward, ready to attack anything that dared try and harm a single hair on her head. It was their way of telling her she was safe.

'Thank you...' She said to them, feeling herself slowly calm, though feeling apologetic at the need for soldier drones to protect a Legate who otherwise should be stronger than this. "How so?"

"Well, I mean… stories about a whole other world… Sure it's been done, but making something up and actually having experience in it are two different things."

"Yup… The worlds I'd write about would be mostly made up, but heavily based on that experience. I have one story where the bipeds could transform into one specific animal of their world and back at will for example, or another where a biped gets pulled to another world I'd been working on for a year or two, where she gets turned into something more akin to a centaur and has to cope with the change. Still stuck on some of the various creature designs and the magic systems it would follow."

"Hmm....interesting." she repeated.

"In what ways?" Dawn asked, secretly eager for more details on what others found interesting about the idea.

"It just… is?" She said blinking.

"Oh." Dawn said, mildly disappointed, but wasn't about to show it if she could help it.

Tulips blinked at her, confused by the question.

"I guess I was hoping to know if it was the creatures involved, the premise, or anything else like that. No big deal." Dawn said gently.

"Uh… Well I don't know anything about it really. What little I do know, it sounded interesting."

Twilight refilled their teas, remaining quiet to observe them interacting and supervise.

"Ahh, did you want me to say more on any part of those?" Dawn offered.

"If you want." She shrugged. "Icey is listening with rapt attention, I know."

"All right, then I’ll go over it for them and see what they think if that’s ok." Dawn said, beginning to explain the plot of the second story, and how it would involve the character dealing with being on the not so friendly side of society and the villain was just trying to get the heroine back at her side because they were another world's version of their lover.

Tulip listened, but it seemed more out of politeness, though the way she kept glancing at "Icey" indicated the other mare was listening intently.

Dawn finished with details about the 'heroine' from the bipedal groups who realize the world isn't as black and white as she thought and that the ending is still being figured out how to come to a satisfactory ending yet still have a good conflict at the end outside of the 'heroine' needing to chase down the 'monster' and realizing how the 'monster' wasn't one.

Tulip nodded at the end. "Well, sounds like you got it mostly figured out."

"I try at least." Dawn said with a shy smile. "The other one is less figured out, just know that there's some sort of crystals acting as catalysts for changing the world that fell from space, but also enables the bipeds to use magic. So if they were to destroy the things corrupting their world, they destroy their convenient abilities that made the heroes stand out beyond just turning into an animal form.'

"Huh....weird."

"Oh." Dawn said, ears folding back slightly in disappointment. It was the first time she had expressed the ideas outside of Stalwart and the hive, and that one word hurt a little more than she wanted, and she knew she was overreacting.

Tulips eyes went wide. "No, no! I didn’t mean it like that, just… world where you need something to do magic? That’s… that's just weird and… the other stuff… and… I'm Sorry, I'm so sorry."

"It's ok. I guess it would be an odd concept here.” Dawn said, trying once again to take it in stride. “Growing up, there were always those who dreamed of what it'd be like to use magic, and rather than picturing having horns, they would imagine just an item they could use as a focal point or a conduit for the magic inside them. It was just an extension off that cultural thought."

Tulip looked really upset she seemed to have hurt Dawn’s feelings, and she looked around at the other items at the table for inspiration. "Um… uh… So right, plants in your area. Where do you live?"

"Well, I'm currently over with Twilight at Castle Friendship, but I have a home over in Van Hoover." Dawn said, wanting rather badly to console them now.

"Right, Ponyville and Van hoover." She said, beginning to launch into a detailed list of the sort of plants one could grow in Ponyville and what they needed, along with other relevant details.

Dawn nodded, trying to listen to what they were saying. 'Hey mom, is this maybe what Twilight had in mind? Is this why she's so quiet?'

'Twilight is the only person who visits her. I think Twilight is hoping more contact with someone else will help her.' Her mother said.

Tulip talked quickly and detailed as if trying to bury her blunder under a mountain of information. Dawn tried to react as if it was doing the trick to cheer her up, and after nearly an hour of the information barrage, a knock came to the door and a pony entered.

"I am sorry to interrupt, but it is time for Mrs. Tulip's appointment." The mare said in a friendly tone.

"That time already?" Twilight said as she glanced at the clock.

"Oh…” Tulip said with transparent disappointment as she turned to look at Dawn again, “guess we have been here for a while.”

"Yes Tulip, it is. I'm sure your friends will come back to visit another time." The mare at the door said encouragingly.

Dawn smiled and nodded. "I would like that."

“Really?" Tulip asked looking back at her hopefully.

"Yes, really." Dawn said, "As long as Twilight approves, I’d enjoy visiting again."

"I don't see why not.” Twilight said. The mare at the door looked relieved, as did Tulip.

"Okay, see you next time then Dawn." She said happily as she got to her hooves and trotted toward the door.

Dawn smiled at them gently and waved at them as they left. 'I hope I did ok…'

Twilight waited a few minutes before she stood and started to walk toward the door. Dawn followed, thinking about the encounter. Soon they were back at the lobby and Twilight signed out and had Dawn do the same. Before long, they were back outside walking along the street and Dawn had to voice her thoughts.

"So, did I do ok?"

"Seeing as she wanted to see you again, I'd say yes.” Twilight answered. “Bit of a hiccup here and there, but Tulip is a bit of a minefield."

"So, since I only almost stepped on one, that went well then." Dawn tried to confirm.

"Yes, and to let you know, your foals aren’t the issue or bad, just… thinking about certain things isn’t good for her."

"Ah."

She walked on.

"So… was it intended that I was the one to talk with your friend so much?" Dawn asked, not sure how to better phrase her question.

"Pretty much. Having more than just me visiting her these days would be good for her. … She used to have a colt-friend, but one day he stopped showing up… wasn't able to deal with her."

"Oh.” Dawn said sadly, “I can see how it would be stressful."

"Yeah..." Twilight nodded solemnly.

"Still, I liked parts of it, and it’s bound to be a bit rocky to start as I learn what to talk about or not talk about. I'm willing to give it another go like I promised. If it ends up bringing them more hope, by all means, let’s keep at it!" Dawn said cheerfully. "So what should I keep in mind about them and their situation?"

"Well, as you saw, she hears voices in her head and has full on hallucinations. As a fair warning, the people she’s seeing are all dead, but she doesn’t remember that detail. Do not bring up Zebras. Let’s see…"

"Hm. I would have thought multiple personalities, but I guess hearing voices seems about right too." Dawn nodded, compiling an internal list.

"The ones she is seeing are her squad… were her squad. … Probably should explain how she ended up like this huh?"

"If you want…" Dawn said hesitantly.

She sighed and then explained. "Tulip and her squad were assigned as part of a task force with the Zebrican military to go after some insurgents who were threatening trade routes and the Caesar asked for our help.

“The task force got some intel on a possible high value target, but when they went in after them, it turned out to be an ambush… Tulip and her squad, along with a couple others, got separated in the firefight. Radio contact was maintained for a time, so we knew they were taking cover in a small store, but by the time reinforcements arrived, they’d been in a firefight for over an hour…

“Tulip was found in the store front, out of ammo, magic reserves depleted, and surrounded by about a dozen insurgents she killed with her bare hooves as she defended the door to the backroom where the injured were…" Twilight sighed and looked down. "A stray bullet went through the wall and killed the medic, and none of the others made it… Tulip didn’t know they’d died sometime before help arrived… she had been defending a tomb with everything she had, thinking she was keeping her friends safe.

“It… it broke her.” Twilight said sadly, looking away from Dawn for a moment. “When she learned of the fate of her squad, she suffered a full break from reality and regularly gets visits from them on top of her PTSD… She is fully convinced she is only being treated for PTSD and that her squad made a full recovery and has special permission to visit her at all hours."

Dawn gasped and went solemn as she tried to imagine what that was like for a brief moment until she knew the link would try to do it for her. She took a deep breath and let it out slow. "So don’t bring up anything related to that I'm assuming, which is why no zebras, running and screaming…"

"Yeah…” Twilight said quietly, “I was the one who assigned her to the task force, so in a way, I am responsible for her being like this, so I visit here every time I'm in Canterlot."

"I see… well, I would still enjoy visiting them again more. Maybe once or twice a month if I can manage." Dawn relayed.

She nodded. "Yeah, it would do her good having more than one actual person to talk to besides the doctors."

"Agreed." Dawn said, "I saw how much they cheered up when I said I would come back. I think they might be a bit lonely too."

"I honestly like to think that somewhere in her head, she is aware of things, but just can't face it yet…"

"I'd like to think that too…" Dawn said, "Or even realize that they've passed away but she's been kept company by their memory… any sort of compromise to be honest."

We went home after that, and it really got me thinking. That’s just… I don’t have the words right now for what they went through. They went through so much, and it only makes the weight of my becoming a princess all the heavier. I am trying not to think about how it feels like I don’t deserve it, with the hell that everyone else has to go through, or so much more that others might be doing to earn the title of hope-bearer compared to me, but even so, I was chosen, so I need to keep working at it so I can do what I was meant to do and live up to that title. I can start on the one on one cases like with Tulip and spread out from there.