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The shackles around Marble's ankles slunk along the stone floor as he was led down different hallways to where he was to meet the princess. As he walked, he passed several others guards going about their business. Most turned their noses away, however one caught his eye. A beige colored unicorn with a golden mane watching him with a look of sympathy.

'I-I know him.' Marble says to himself. 'But from where?' Glancing back to the unicorn, Marble noticed that he went back to his post. Marble was torn from his thoughts as the guard behind him gives him a quick shove to keep moving. Though, no one else could hear it, there was one thing that kept ringing into Marble's ears, the residual sounds of misery from the griffin POW camp. As they walked, Marble thought to himself, glancing out a window trying to clear his head. 'Things 'round really changed from the last time I was here.'

We rode in a fancy carriage all the way from the train station to the palace. There were three of us; myself, a medic from the 77th infantry, and a chopper pilot from the 23rd infantry. We rode, all dressed in our red dress uniforms, and myself in my beret. Ponies lined the streets smiling and cheering for us. We smiled and waved back

"Hey beret." The pilot called over, motioning towards the castle. "What do you think it's gonna be like in there?"

Shrugging, I reply. "Don't know. Never been here. Never really left Manehatten till this war."

"H-Hey hey! There's my family!" The young medic suddenly calls out. We look out to where he's waving and see what we can assume is his family. A slight frown meets my face. While we rode to the castle I was only able to pick out my brother from the crowd.

Eventually, we reached the castle. We were led into the throne room where the award ceremony would be. Finally we reached a set of double doors. The threes of us did a quick check to straighten our uniforms. I noticed that the medic also had a Purple Heart pinned to his uniform, as did I. Letting out a deep breath, the pilot looks over to us and says. "Let's do this." The door handles are surrounded by a blue aurora as one of the guards opens the door.

The room was filled with ponies, those from Canterlot, family, and other military officers. All attention was on us as we marched to the front where a waiting Princess Celestia was. Proudly marching up. We stop and bow to the princess,

"Rise my little ponies." She says. "It is my greatest pleasure to bestow apron you three, the Royal Medal of Honor, for your acts of bravery, heroism, and selflessness. You three have put yourself in danger to protect...." as the princess talks, I can't but glance around the room seated In the first couple of rows were the officers and generals. Off to the side was the royal advisors. One caught my eye because she looked really young to be an advisor. She was an orange unicorn with a red and yellow mane. 'I'll have to ask that medic who that is since he's from here.' I say in my head. I'm torn from my thoughts as Princess Celestia levitates three golden medals over.

"Captain Windseeker, for heroically risking your own life, to ensure the safe withdrawal of your fellow ponies, I hearbye award you with the Royal Medal of Honor." Windseeker gives a stiff salute before falling back in line.

"Corporal Marble Force, for heroically sacrificing yourself by staying behind to ensure your platoon's safe departure, I hearbye award you with the Royal Medal of Honor." I follow up by also giving a stiff salute.

" Private Redhawk, for staying behind, ensuring that every last wounded soldier be saved before worrying about your own injuries, I hearbye award you with the Royal Medal of Honor." He also gives a stiff salute. I could see a slight tear working in his eyes." Let us congratulate our heros!" The officer rise and salute while the civilians stomp and clap.

The road leading to Fluttershy's house was busy with activity. Twilight, Spike, and Fluttershy volunteered to help the guards to clear the road from last night. Lifting a broken wheel, Spike notices a ripped saddle bag with a small book next to it.

"Spike, did you find something?" Twilight says over Spike's shoulder, causing him to jump

"Gah! Oh, yeah, um this." He says hold out the book. Twilight takes hold it in her magic, and notices that there's no title. The front looked like it did have a title but was worn off. Flipping to the first page, she sees a small message was written in the corner that read "To Marble, from Silver Maple. Come home safe brother." A little ways down, another long message was scribbled down

-April 21, 3812 in the era of Celestia,
Today's the day we finally ship out. Before I boarded the train to Fillydelphia, my brother gave me this journal. I've never see such a crowd at the train station of either city. So many families were there, seeing off loved ones. The bands were play all the way to the harbor. Ponies cheering everywhere. Through all the shouts, tears, and cheers; we boarded the ships and headed off to war. My ship was the HMS Star Swirl. Everypony on board seems eager to get over there, though should probably get comfortable. Somepony a few bunks down from me and Onxy is blaring music. The COs told us it takes at least two days to sail to the griffin lands.....-

"It's his journal." Twilight mumbles with a sigh.

"He keeps a diary!?" Spike laughs." Him? From what you told me, he didn't sound like the type to keep diary."

"No Spike! It's his journal that he apparently kept while he was at war. From the first page, it looks like it was a gift from his family, or at least his brother...... and there's nothing wrong with keeping a journal." Looking down at the book in her grasp, another sigh leaves Twilight's breath. "I wonder, if we're allowed to, if we should return his journal to him."

"I think that would be the right thing to do, if that's ok with you." Turning around, they see that Fluttershy standing behind them. "Oh, I didn't mean to startle you. I'm sorry."

"We're fine Fluttershy, but your right." Twilight says.

"Oh, I- I am?"

"Yes, we should return Marble's journal to him." Twilight states proudly before faltering ." Just... whenever we get a chance. I'm sure the castle is very busy at the moment."

"Oh." Fluttershy and Spike say in unison.

Marble is thrown into a chair. His hooves are chained to the table in front of him. He was told the princess was waiting for him, however no one else was there. A few minutes later, the door opens revealing Princess Celestia. Marble expected her to have a face of anger, but he was met with a face that showed small amounts of concern as she moved to sit across from him. Time slows to a crawl as she takes her seat.

After what felt like hours, Celestial broke the silence." Marble, I know there has been some confusion in the past couple of days about what happened."

"No kidding." Marble scoffs, rolling his eyes.

"Well," Celestia continues" we have the reports from the two pegasi you assaulted, and the reports from bystanders. We even have reports from the guards the arrived on scene."

"What would they know? They didn't see who or what started it. And I acted in self defense." Marble countered.

"That's... what we want to hear, your side of the incident." She said.

"Well." Marble says, shuffling in his chair." I was walking through Ponyville, when I decided to get something to eat. So, I stopped at a shop that had sandwiches. Since I was new in town, I didn't really know the menu so I was slow. Too slow, I guess for those two behind me as they were making all kinds of remarks about how I didn't have a lot bits, how Pegasi were the best, and all kinds of crap." Celestia cringed inwardly at Marble's choice of words, but kept it to herself." I could tell they were looking for a fight. They were the ones that threw the first hoof. I merely dodged and training took over."

"Thank you. Now then, my sister has informed me th-" Princess Celestia starts before being cut off.

"Woah woah woah. Your sister? As in Nightmare Moon. The mare in the moon. Haha! You mean to tell me she somehow can talk to you. And you can somehow talk to her! Ha!" Marble laughs.

A slight frown slowly creeps on to her face. "My sister, Princess Luna is no longer Nightmare Moon, and has been living here for the past seven months." Princess Celestia says sternly. "As I was saying, my sister, Princess Luna has informed me of a disturbing dream she found coming from you. Would you like to explain it. Talking about your feelings is better for you mind."

Rolling his eyes, Marble replies. "You wouldn't understand. You can't understand the things I've seen, the things I've done. There was one time over there, we were held up in a cave on Eaglecrest mountain. There was three platoons: Dingo, Raven, and Noble. Anyway, we were stuck in that cave for almost eight days. The griffins had a nonstop artillery barrage for all eight of those days. Deafening explosions all day and all night. Almost enough to drive somepony...... mad. Well it worked for one pony. On the fifth day we were in there. I was sitting against the wall, cleaning my rifle, when the pony across from me pulls a grenade from his vest, pulls the pin and shoves the grenade into his mouth........I spent the rest of the day picking bones and teeth from my face and limbs."

Princess Celestia shifts in her seat. A very faint shade of green finds its way on her face."Well Marble, it would seem that your actions were in fact, an act of self defense, however there is still the matter of what you did to several of the guards in Ponyville."

"Maybe you should teach them how to fight guerrilla, then they'd stand a chance." Marble mutters under his breath.

"What was that?"

"You should teach your guards how to fight in a guerrillla style. Teach them the ways of the berets."

Celestia ponders this for a moment before responding." You bring up a good point, but Equestria has no need for a large standing army. Until tomorrow." With that, Celestia stands and heads out the door. Another guard comes and leads Marble back to his cell, where his meal is being left. Marble releases a massive sigh of relief.' Feels as though the weight of the world was lifted off me.'

About ten minutes later, Marble finds another pony wanting to talk to him. The same beige pony from before was standing outside."Is that really you? After all these years?" The pony says. Marble just looks up from his food, still trying to remember him." You don't remember me. I guess we can let that slide. I dont even think you said one word to me at the Manehatten station."

Marble's eye widened at the realization of who was standing in front of him." Your- your the one from the train station. The one who commented on my beret. T-that's you!"

"Sergeant Bronze Star at your service." He says doing a goofy bow.

"Sergeant?"

"Yeah got promoted a couple of times in the pass years." Bronze laughs." Soooo what exactly happened that your here?"

"Well if you really must pry."

"Oh I must. I must."

"Well..." with that, Marble began retelling the whole ordeal from him meeting Fluttershy, the party, the fight, the final standoff, and ending with him waking up in this cell. Bronze Star was captivated by it all, hanging on to each word.

Princess Celestia makes her way back to the throne room only to be stopped by Princess Luna.

"So, how did thee go? We hope it went well."

"Hmm, he told me his side of the incident, didn't know you were here, and told a story about how one of his friends blew their head off."

"He didn't know who I was?" Princess Luna stammers.

"He did bring up a good point, and I think that it would be a great idea."

"And what might that be, dear sister." Luna asks. Celestia leans in and whispers her idea to her sister who agrees with it

Author's Note

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(This is the type of ship Marble was on in his journal part for those wondering) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/SS_Pretoria_LOC_det.4a15908.jpg/1200px-SS_Pretoria_LOC_det.4a15908.jpg

There a longer chapter!