Walking. That's all I ever do anymore, just wander from city to city, town to town. Can't take the train 'cause I need to save my bits for motels and inns. Work's hard to find when everypony sees you as a monster and a killer. I'm on my way to meet up with a friend of mine, Timberhoof. We were in the same platoon. While we were over there in the Griffon lands, he told me that if I ever needed a job to look him up. From what he told me, he used to run a lumber business over in Neighton, before he got shipped over. The walk here has been pretty quiet. It really helped clear my mind, giving me a little peace. The road was empty, though that may be because it's about four in the morning.

Now, you're probably wondering who I am. Well, my name's Marble Force. Used to be in the Solar Berets before our Wonderful princess saw no need in having them anymore, since from what the paper said, we have the Elements of Harmony. Before I got shipped over to the Griffons, I was a map maker out in Manehatten. The only problem was when I got back, I was run out of town. Some respect.

About 5 or 6 hours later, I can't really tell, I come up to my destination about 10 minutes out of town. A simple little saw mill and a small cottage right next to it. Looking around I saw two fillies playing in the yard. Over by the saw mill I saw an older mare. The mare saw me and told the two fillies to go play inside.

"Morning," I call over to her, as she makes her way over to me," is this the residence of a pony by the name of Timberhoof?"

"Yes." She says almost apprehensively, "Um, who are you?"

"My name's Marble Force. You see, we fought together over in the Griffon's land." I answered," I think I have a picture of us together over there." I dig through my saddle bag and pull out an old wrinkly picture of my team. We were all gathered together in our combat fatigues and slouch hats. We were in a small market in one of griffon villages." Ah, here. See there's me, and then Shadow Bolt, then on the other side of me is Colbalt, then White Room. Over in the middle is Bright Mac, then to the left is Rolling Thunder, Onyx, then finally Timberhoof."

She stares at the picture for a second. I stare at it too, I knew why this picture was taken. I knew what happened only about an hour afterwards. This picture was when Bright Mac found out he was having another daughter. Later that day, he and Onyx would be killed in a mortar barrage.

"So," I say breaking the silence," is Timberhoof here or out in town?"

"Dead." She answers coldly

"What, how?" I was stunned.

"Illness. Doctors think it was a virus. They told us he caught it over there. It's a shame, it just withered him to nothing. Lost all his strength and just became a shell of his former self."

I was dumbfounded. I just stared down at picture in my hoof. Timberhoof was one of strongest ponies in the company, well except for Bright Mac. " I'm...sorry." I choke out." I didn't know. I'll just let my self out." With that I turn and leave

About another hour of walking I came apon a fork in the road. One going north and one going south. Not really caring I chose north. Eventually I reached a sign of life. A sign, in fact, that read 'Ponyville 10 miles'.

'Guess I'll stay there till the locals kick me out like every other town.' I mutter to myself as I start going up the road following the signs.

Author's Note

BTW the griffon civil war is supposed to be like the Vietnam war where the veterans were rejected and mocked in public just for serving in case you didn't catch that.