Fallout Equestria: Into the Abyss

We settled down at our company street when we made back to the FOB. The best word to describe our state was zombie like, the rear echelons and new arrivals only stared at our ghastly appearance. None of us cared what they thought, we were done, fatigued, our minds were so rattled by the trauma we had just experienced. The ponies who lived through the Siege of Stalliongrad that past us by when we arrived to relieve them, we understood now what they had gone through. It was totally incomprehensible.

A group of journalist and combat correspondents swamped us as we entered camp. They asked all sorts of questions. What happened, how do you feel about the victory, what does feel like to be a hero. These ponies will never understand or fully know the scope of the madness we had gone through, save for those who were there. A reporter held her camera and snapped a picture, she then levitated a notebook and pencil to ask me the same stupid questions. I looked at her in confusion, my mind was so benumbed by the shock and violence that seeing an innocent reporter who had no business there felt insulting. I just stared at her, she must have noticed that my buddies and I bore the same hallowed vacant expressions on our faces. She began to feel uncomfortable and inched away from us. An officer from some rear echelon group shooed them away. This was at the time the most bizarre experience I have had since joining the army. We had seen and done terrible things that was nothing we've experienced before that we couldn't comprehend these civilians and what they were doing. We continued on and sat where ever we could as we waited for orders.

After being dismissed, Buck and I returned to our tent, Daisy and the other females in our platoon went to theirs. The place felt empty, before we shared it with Jazzlight and Lemon Squeeze. Their rucks and other personal affects were still stored in our lockers, their racks now vacant. We would have to mail their personals home to their families, the saxophone that Jazz promised to play for us when this blitz was over was still there. There would be no music for the remainder of our stay. I had ran off of short rations, little sleep and adrenaline for a month, I stank enough to kill a bird flying by me mid flight. My uniform was practically rags, it was torn in several places and heavily stained with dried blood and mud. I stripped everything off and laid down on my rack to sleep.

The next day we were told the news that Captain Silver Mane was dead. The news shocked us, we cursed, some throwing their helmets to the dirt. Many of us simply cried, sitting on our buckets and buried our faces with our hooves. Silver Mane was like a parent we relied on, he kept up our morale up when things were at their worst, he had the better judgement to question than act on the orders given that would have surely gotten us all killed. Many of us believed that he was the finest officer that had ever lived, that if anyone who could get us through what we had been through, it was him. Now he was gone. His Executive officer, Dark Oak would assume command of us, he was a good squared away officer, he knew that he would never live up to Silver Mane, he was irreplaceable. Like all things in army, we just had to accept it and move on.

"That fire mission was danger fucking close and they knew it, it was the fucking officer who called it in who got the Captain killed! If I ever find that mother fucker I'll shoot him!" Buckminster cursed under his breath.

"The captain wouldn't like it" I said quietly.

"There's no point anymore, mistakes were made and we just have to carry on. Even if we're the ones who got shitted on."

Finished the LT to us when he asked how we were feeling. There would be no further discussion on the matter, however myself and many others believed justice needed to be served for those who were blown up by our own side. The arty wasn't to blame, they didn't see what what was going and only followed what they were given on the fire mission. We did however found out which company called it in from our last surviving RTOs. Circuit Breaker was about to call for a break on the net when overheard from Golf calling in the firing grid. A short time after the coordinates was relaid was when the our own guns fired down on our battalion's position. His radio was damaged before he could call in that their rounds were landing short.

Later that day we received our mail as well as the cold BDUs we desperately needed. We couldn't care less for the white camouflaged and warm uniforms anymore, it came too late and the winter weather here was well regulated. I received letters from my parents as well as my sister, I was glad to hear that she was finally home sporting new prosthetic legs. It would take time for her get use it but she'll be up and about like her old self, she conveyed how odd it was being back in civilian life. She couldn't adjust or relate to anypony anymore, her experience changed her quite like how I had felt when I saw those journalist. My heart sank to find the letters for Jazz and Lemon, we never opened them out of respect, by now they would receive telegrams that they were killed in action.

Hot showers and the DFAC were opened to us, upon the news we rushed over to get cleaned from the filth we had lived in for a month and get the bountiful of hot chow. I hadn't been able to shave for over past few weeks that my muzzle was a greasy tangled stubble. After getting cleaned and donning on cleaner ACU barding, we rushed, half stumbling to the chow line. It only took good chow to get us motivated again, after we had gone through it was all we could think about. I hadn't had a good meal in me since receiving our orders to Stalliongrad, the hay burger never counted since I was nearly blown up let alone eat it.

The rumour spread that we were looking to pick a fight with 3rd battalion, we wanted to but it was too risky considering the only ponies here was our regiment as well as the 91st and 108th. It wouldn't take long to figure out who was fighting who and the MPs would be on us in ten seconds flat. When command got word of this, an immediate safety brief was given about why this was a bad idea to do and that nopony should even attempt it or face getting a court martial or in most cases a slap on the hoof with an Article 15 and reduction of pay. We still toyed around with the idea, then again it spread like wild fire and the whole regiment was on lock down, MPs patrolled our camp, taps out at 22:00 and no pony was allowed out of their tents after dark. There goes our short lived liberty. Further more we began having regular formations and inspections. It was frustrating that after everything we had gone through together, our commanders still thought we didn't trust each other enough to do the right thing and that we had to be baby sat.

Another rumour which was happily welcomed with obvious suspicion from Headquarters circulated that the Brigade was to return to its home station in Hoofington with the rest of the 28th Division. We got the news before but only to be sent back to the line, so we didn't hold on to it as tight until we had concrete orders proving it. There was still pockets of holdouts on Stallion Hill giving the Wild Runners a tough time, it could be at any moment when the orders change to send us back to help. Another worrying fact was that Hoofington had became a hot spot for zebra attacks. Right after Littlehorn, Hoofington was razed prompting the escalation of the war. If we were to be sent there, there was a good chance that we would have to defend it from another zebra invasion.

We received the orders to go to Hoofington soon enough, we'd only been off the line for a week and now being sent to another battleground. The 28th Division been garrisoning the region as well aiding in its reconstruction. We knew it was only a matter of time until the zebras attacked it being ordered there in haste, something drew them to hate Hoofington for some reason. 1Lt. Dark Oak briefed us on the what the area was like and what to expect even its history that wasn't classified. It was still winter but a pocket was created around the city so as to not interfere with reconstruction, making it still feel like late fall. We would be in close proximity to military and civilian contractors as well as ministry property and personnel, in short we were to stay out of their way unless we were ordered otherwise from our superiors. We were also to be put in barracks with all the necessities we needed as well as a Post Exchange, PX for short. It didn't sound too bad after hearing what was in store waiting there for us, the threat of another zebra attack did loom over us and sooner or later we would be sent out to fight again. After squaring away our gear we assembled what was left of the regiment to board troop transport vertibucks bound for the Hoof.

We arrived in Hoofington a day later, railroads to city was still under construction since the last Zebra attack a year ago. Our pilot gave us a scenic flyby over the city and nearby settlements and factories. The city itself was shaped like a hoof, it stood like a growing fortress flanked by two river dams sourced from the Hoofington reservoir. A black tower stood out in the skyline, towering several feet into the clouds. Surrounding the tower in the sky was the city of Thunderhead, the only permanent cloud structure in the area local cloud busters when winter was to be wrapped up. We didn't fly above the clouds to give us a view of the city, only selected Unicorn personnel working for the ministries were allowed up there. Grunts like myself had to settle for the dirt beneath us, no exploring in the clouds.

The vertibucks landed in Miramare Air Staion, further away but not far away from the city limits. The air space was teaming with pegasi many of which was the same unit that was attached to us in our first action, the 1st Sky Corps. Overhead were pegasi practising areal manuevers, one of them was the rainbow maned pegasus I remembered speaking to the late captain. She landed with her squadron on the tarmac as our vertibucks came in for our landing. Their uniforms differed from the others looking much like the Wonderbolts but darker. On the ground was the welcoming party of unicorns and earth ponies. They didn't look much enthused but glad to be relieved of duty when we would take over.

Much to our surpise the rainbow maned pegasus was indeed the Ministry of Awesome mare herself, Rainbow Dash and not some look alike. We never really knew what her ministry was about nor did we cared, she did however greeted us warmly and introduced her outfit: The Shadowbolts, go figure. I had lost all trust in politicians for dropping us in hellholes with a care for well being but Rainbow Dash had a charismatic personality and being an combat leader herself, I respected her and felt motivated for the fight again. She showed off the Shadowbolts and bragged that her Spec Ops team will turn the tide of the war like at Stalliongrad before and after the megspell was casted. She had stressed the word megaspell, leading me to believe that she had very strong opinions on what the MoP had let loose. They dusted off to perform manuevers in the sky and destroyed cloud targets with their hooves as well with their heavy fire power. The pegasi cheered, as for us ground pounders we just gaze up at the sky either impressed or couldn't care any less. The enemy were not clouds who couldn't shoot back. As much as only a spectacle it was, I admit the show they put on was something to behold for their skill. They landed back down in a perfect wedged formation with a smoking trail to a thunderous applause and cheers, among the pegasi mostly.

The Shadowbolts were already a highly decorated and effective combat team before Stalliongrad. Formed personally by Rainbow Dash at the start of the war, hoof picked the best flyers in Equestria and funded by her ministry. This leaving me to believe that this was all the MoA was good for. Their name was a play on the Wonderbolts, who were disbanded after a successful but costly rescue mission before the war. This Special Operations team would fly hundreds of mission throughout the war, many of which had the tables turned by their very presence. Their base of operations was Shadowbolt Tower, the tall black tower that stood over the Hoofington's skyline into the clouds of Thunderhead above.

The 3rd Brigade was on parade at the air station before the ministy mare and officers to inspect us before being dismissed to our barracks. The formalities only bored us as we were too tired and earned for some R&R as soon as we could get it. The general of the 2nd Army gave us a unit citation for our actions, we were still in our ACU barding and not in dress uniforms for the occasion. He told us not to worry about it and just put the pins and ribbons on later on. He concluded with telling some dirty jokes and he salute us, we saluted back and were left under charge of our company commanders. As soon as we were dismissed we gathered our duffel bags and reported to our assigned barracks. Skeedadle and I reported back to Battalion headquarters for our next assignment. SPC Skeedadle would continue to act as Senior medic until the promotion orders were approved making him a Sergeant or some other pony to be transferred to the company to fill in. I was relieved with the fact and being the most experienced veteran medic of the company, I wouldn't be given the job. I would probably stumble on the news and be fired just as soon as I got the rank up. Instead I would return to working in Company sick call.

The rumour mill was back in operation that we were to be given liberty to go to the city. We didn't wait for any official word to be given, as soon as we dropped off our bags in our barracks we rushed out the wire towards the hoof. The MPs were confused and didn't stop us. There was only two of them taking on a mass of highly enthusiastic combat veterans and just let us by. We didn't receive any passes to be on liberty to which we would be considered going AWOL, that being Absent Without Leave, a punishable offence. At the time we couldn't care less, we had survived the hell hole that was Snowdrop Forest and Hill 300, we deserved a break.

Much of Hoofington was still under construction, it had once been a small settlement belonging to the Zebras and later the ponies before the war. After the devastating attack, the settlement was rendered to ruins. The ponies would then rebuild it to become one of the greatest cities in Equestria. At our first outing at we didn't go around admiring the sites, most of it were still blocked off by construction or prohibited. What was open, were the bars.

Buckminster, Daisy, myself as well as others from ours and other outfits piled into the closest bar, when that was full the rest left to go to find another bar, clubs or other establishments with high contents of alcohol. We took a table and began ordering drinks, the poor bar tenders and waiters were having trouble keeping up with the orders. Some soldiers began to become a little too familiar with the local mares in direct competition with the Marines who were stationed at Ironmare Naval Station. Our drinks arrived and we set them on the table, Daisy and I weren't even old enough to order or even be there but somehow Buckminster took care of that matter. We had our beer, vodka, whiskey, gin and whatever Buck had ordered for us. We set up three glasses of beer before us and we toasted it with ours in our hooves.

"Lemon, Jazz, Sandbar. This is for you."

I had never drank before and the taste of our drinks was not the best to put it kindly, but after developing a buzz it made me feel more relaxed, cheery and loose. After we got a good buzz in us, the members of Delta toasted to our Captain and fallen comrades. It was a sombre moment when the survivors told stories of good friends now gone but the stories told were of the good times. In the table behind us were a rowdy bunch bragging that credit for taking Hill 300 was theirs, Golf company as it turned out who it was.

"We were there first" Buck slurred.

"Yeah but did you hold it?"

"No, some ass hole called down a fire mission on us before we could secure the top!"

"Oh that sucks, perhaps ya'll should have let everypony know you where there first."

The conversation ended with a beer glass shattering on the pony's face. Buck's blue coat was somehow red with a mixture of alcohol consumption and rage. The pony's buddies got up to face us, we got up as well as the occupants had quieted down with anticipation. The fight was on, members of D and G companies who were in the bar began to fight it out smashing bottles, chairs and stools at each other. The marines not wanting to let this opportunity of a good rumble to go to waste began fighting whoever they came across. The bar's owner didn't appreciate the drunk angry soldiers making a mess of things and ran to the back room. Minutes later the MPs showed up to break up the fight. Many were taken away to brig while my team and many others bolted out as soon as we heard them arrive.

Drunk, battered and bruised, we stumbled around the streets of the Hoof singing and laughing much to the annoyance of the residents. We somehow broke into a construction site of what looked like a ministry building before being shooed off by the security guards. By night fall the Military Police began to crack down on the loose soldiers who couldn't produce a liberty pass back to Miramare Air Station, we were eventually caught and escorted at the back of a wagon.

We woke up to a bugle call, I checked my hoof watch to find it was 0630. My head throbbed from the hangover of night's outing. The bugle was sounded into a microphone to the loud speaker in every room. I groaned and covered my head with my pillow, it was unbearable. The sun wasn't even up yet. The bugle was followed with banging of every dorm room door and busted open to haul ass on the double outside for first formation.

We assembled in the parade grounds, freezing, sick and half dead. The air force stationed with us assembled on the opposite side to the base facing us, they looked just as bad as us. We stood at the position at the attention though just barely holding on for an hour in the cold damp morning of Hoofington, the sun finally peaked when the senior NCOs decided to show up, they were clean and squared away while we looked like a mess of half shaven and unhygienic appearance. Lt. Dark Oak stood in front of us for the morning roll call, he was half dressed, mane unkempt and face unshaven. We stood as still as we could, others in the company were having trouble from the swaying. My vision in particular was blurry and my stomach ached, I made a mental note to go report to sick call.
As I felt just about to vomit out the contents of my stomach, a stallion to my right drop to the dirt and passed out right where he fell. The LT just looked at him unflinchingly.

"Company dismissed" He deadpanned, trying to cover up a belch.
Upon the dismissal I fell on my haunches and threw up until my insides ached.

The others rushed to me for help, they also had suffered a bad case of hangover. I didn't have any magical cure for them and Skeedadle disappeared with a pop of his magic as soon as we were freed. Aquamarine never even showed up if I remember the episode correctly. I never restocked my aid bag so we stumbled over to Sick Call, to our demise we were met with a long line to acquire sick call slips only to be told that the battalion was out of them because a hangover wasn't a serious enough injury to warrant the Med bay staffs's time. The PX pharmacy was cleared out of pain killers before mid morning. Our remaining option was to just drink plenty of liquids, water specifically.

After a bath, shave, and donned fresh fatigues I went down to the DFAC. Buckminster fell back asleep on his rack and Daisy I knew not where she had gone since morning formation. I got some chow to finally fill my stomach but the scrambled eggs and oatmeal looked like what I had threw up that morning. I only managed to force myself to eat two spoon fulls of the stuff before settling with the apple and hot coffee. By 1000hrs we were ordered to do another formation, we hurried up and waited in an assembly hall that looked like a high school gym.

The general of the instillation and their infinite wisdom had nothing really important to say, we were given an hour long safety brief that was clearly regarding our excursion out the wire yesterday. They tried to soften the blow by making up hypothetical scenarios but it was clearly from last night. I would rather have been anywhere but listen to a safety brief that babied us, Buck was still missing, he was lucky that he didn't sit through the monotony. Another officer took over and laid everything down about the results of our asinine behaviour as he had put it. Thousands of bits worth of property damage would have to be paid and repaired by the military, with that we were now ordered that we had to assists in the clean up duties in and around the city. Even wrecked areas where our soldiers and marines were never even at were somehow now labelled as "our fault". This is something the recruiters don't tell you about, the military will try to screw everypony over when ever they could. Adding insult to injury our pay would be docked to cover the expenses. Outside of work party details, no pony was allowed to leave the base for the next month.

On the day of my 19th birthday, I was greeted with a posse of engineers looking to get out of the reconstruction detail. I observed them as they gaggled outside with their DD-689 forms, the Sick Call slip to relieve to notify their command that they were going to Sick Call. They weren't from my unit nor any unit I recognised being in my regiment, I was hesitant to accept them. Better yet they looked like they didn't look like they had any injuries at least in the physical sense. Regardless of what I thought, as soon as they entered premises the group of soldiers began to give the appearance that they were ill or injured. They had the forms in hoof, so I had to take them. Dodging work was a regular occurrence I came to expect from working as company sick call medic. As soon as something comes up.

"Break out the rifles from the armoury, they need cleaning"

"Barracks inspection"

"Clean the mess hall and latrines

"Paint the rocks outside HQ white"

"Trim the grass with scissors"
A group of ponies would show up at my desk claiming to be hurt. I asked them questions to describe their hurt then write them a profile, prescribe some sort of medication. In some cases for more severe patients I would refer them to a Physician's Assistant or an actual Doctor. I may be endearingly called Doc by my soldiers, but my level of practice was of an EMT. I let the engineers through for further examination effectively making it my new Senior Medic, SSG Bed Pan's problem. I was about close up shop for the day when Buckminster bursts in smelling like he was on waste burning detail came in with some news. The type of news that that would make anypony who had served either laugh or cringe at the news. It was a company level activity, forced was putting it lightly.

To keep us shape and what was believed to boost shared comradere, a ruck march was ordered by powers beyond a simple private's understanding. We groaned and complained at the order and we fell into a road march formation with weapons and packs. In our saddle bags, a list was sent out of what was to be packed to meet the minimum standards and of course then some. Saddle bags were topped off with tenting equipment, boxes of ammo and one unfortunate foal had rocks. With that we marched for three days around Hoofington, we would have enjoyed the snow covered scenery if it weren't so miserable. We crossed the wire outside the limits of Miramare Air Station with Hoofington to our backs in the west as we rucked down the road to the open country. There wasn't a whole lot of trees in the area, it looked similar to Camp Rock Hoof just with snow. The landscape was bare, when it wasn't snowing it was bare open fields of rolling hills with dry prairies and dust for miles all around. The only signs that ponies lived out here were farms, homesteads and small neighbourhoods the closer we ventured south or near the city's factories and research facilities.

We passed by a the Rosehoof Academy when we wheeled south to Brimstone's Fall, a gem mine not too far away. The foals inside waved and cheered us on. Even though we were all tired, worn and despite the cold temperature we sweated under our uniforms and gear, but we smiled and waved at the kids. The sliver of hope for the future was with these fillies and colts, the hope that they could build a brighter future and not continue our mistakes. They were who we were fighting for. I then felt a sense of dread overcome me at that moment. If the war did continue on, it would be the next generation to step into our shoes, many of these children may not ever see Equestria back to her former glory.

The gem mine at Brimstone's Fall was a high value target through out the Equestrian Zebra Empire war. The zebras needed gems to power their technology and what strange magic they had, the operations and settlements around Hoofington being close to the boarder made the area a prime real estate assets for raids. Protecting all of the Hoof before our arrival was tasked to the 2nd Marine Division who were posted at Ironmare Naval station, home to Equestria's greates naval vessels: The HMS Celestia and HMS Luna. The Luna was much more larger than her sister ship and twice the fire power. In my time at my duty station at Mirmare Air Station, the Luna was still under construction and yet to be the scourge of the Caesar's navy.

Further to the north of the Gem mine and the Academy was Fluttershy's Medical Center, the only medical facility in the area for anypony or zebra in need of medical attention. The foundations were being laid when the 28th arrived in Hoofington. Shadowbolt tower was the Ministry of Awesome's hub in Hoofington, the Shadowbolts themselves operated from there. Thunderhead was home of the bulk of the pegasi that worked above and in the area. Their military presence primarily remained above us while the shared assets such as the Vertibucks, troop transports, armour parade ground and Head Quarters remained on the ground at the air station. Their own motor pool of vehicles for their own use were stationed in Thunderhead. Though we are not attached to the Maraunders, we shared a base with them. Their quarters was inside the station itself while the 28th division's barracks remained outside. They were a different breed of soldier and the brass encouraged us to not go out of our way to interact with them. A few mares got put in the brig for sneaking in to meet the SSG Big Macintosh. The Shadowbolts and Marauders could sometimes be seen training together in the nicer facilities the base provided.

Further out in the frontier closest to the boarder was an outpost that watched and observed enemy movements on Hill 225, the surrounding landscape was mostly flat and arid with no cover to hide an approaching force on both sides. It was heavily mined and patrolled daily from both land and air daily. Every couple of weeks a platoon sized unit would rotate with another to the outpost, in the clouds above the pegasi had their own. The rotation allowed everypony to take their turn on the front, one rotation would be a marine detachment, the next an army detachment and repeat. Everypony gets a turn and everypony has to watch. Back towards the road was an Ironshod R&D facility, they had a contract with the armed services and delivered fresh munitions and parts to the outpost or the nearby bases when needed. The only nice area nearby was Lake Hoofington just a couple kliks to the north east rear the outpost. It contrasted greatly being green and peaceful compared to the yellows and browns of No Pony's Land and the rest of the Hoof. It was a popular place to cool off during the summer heat before going back to base.

I had soon learned how the labyrinth of tunnels under the entirety of the Hoof and surrounding areas were made. During my company's turn to patrol the work that had us go below ground, we came across scores of large bipedal dogs with large paws and nasty looking claws on them. We were acquainted to them as Diamond Dogs, they were tasked to dig the tunnels and in return would have a share of the gems from Brimstone. Why they were there and not at Splendid Valley where they lived and could harvest more gems there was kept hushed by Military Intelligence. None of us found any rubies, diamonds, or any sort down at the tunnels at all unless they were deeper down to the restricted zones. They would dig and we would simply scout for infiltrators hiding out in the catacombs. The MPs prohibited any interactions further than a pass by and somehow kept the creatures in order. I wouldn't envy their detail, they smelled fowl, practically being wet dogs mixed with punjant ordors of whatever they came across. One day during a routine patrol, a sewer line was accidentally breached and the contractors rushed in to fix it, we were voluntold to assists them. That particular tunnel was knee deep with sludge of who knows what. I kept close to a buddy through out the ordeal, the tunnel network was vast and dark and I didn't want to get lost down there.

The Diamond Dogs were housed in a secluded area where nopony knew where it was. They detested us ponies, naturally understandable because they were dragged from their homes for a season no one knew why and tasked to build tunnels for us for some reason no one knew why. It was scary being around them, their eyes looked like they glowed yellow in the dark and their aggressive nature towards ponies made me feel uncomfortable. Every time I tried to speak and be friendly to one the thing looked like it wanted to swipe my head clean off with it's claws, I had no doubt that they could if they wanted to. I believed that the Diamond dogs would take the first chance they got to fight back when zebras come. The fact of it was terrifying, they could dig and attack anywhere and we wouldn't know until it was too late. These creatures were best to be left alone and anypony smart was best to stay clear of their business.

"Pony stay away from dogs. Dogs do not like pony, forced to do pony's work." A diamond dog snarled at me when I was tending to her injuries.

"Um okay" I gulped averting my eyes from the diamond dog during one our clean ups.
A foreman told me to get clear away from the the beast as soon as I was done. I hastily agreed, grabbed my trash and inched away. They were a complex and surprisingly intelligent species, enough to rationalise their distrust of ponies. I felt sorry for them while scared enough to empty my bladder just being next to them. They weren't all smart or bright, but we respected them. Better they be on our side than the zebras. A thoughtful buddy put in that if the tables were turned the stripes would be care to be sensible to not provoke these creatures.

We had finished our duties and rotated out of the vast underground and back to the surface when word was brought to us that we were to help with the Hearth's Warming preparations. I remembered just wanting to take a nap in my bunk. Each company in the 184th competed in putting on the best Hearth's Warming show, decorations, festive spirits to be judged by the regimental staff.
We quickly bathed and got into fresh fatigues and went straight to work. D company set on to decorating our company street with lights, trees, plastic candy canes, wreaths and bells. Somepony even paid a pegasi to give a light gentle snowing when the commanders arrived to check our work.

We had completed the decorations by 1950hrs, the Princess had long past lowered the sun leaving us in the dark. All together the lights were flipped on and all at once the festive season began. The brass came to see our work, we greeted them and we sang some carols through out the night. The snow fell gently giving it a truly magical atmosphere. Impressed by our work the General told us there would be a hearty feast on Hearth's Warming eve, a magic show, a play performed by the students of Rosehoof Academy, presents from the Ministry of Wartime Technology and a 48 hour pass to go on liberty. We cheered at the news, our torment of trivial duties were over, at least for now. H Company won the competition. They somehow managed to build a scaled model of Canterlot out of snow and even used food colouring paint it.

Hearth's Warming eve came soon enough. We had a good feast at the DFAC and watched the kids perform their play and sang to us. We gave them a tour of the base and gave them rides in the tanks and Armoured Personnel Carriers. A lucky few got to ride in the vertibucks around the base. The Shadowbolts even made an appearance for a show. When the children left was when the real party began. Those who opted to stay behind threw their own parties, some even fired off flares as fireworks and drinking any hooch they could get a hold of. Buck, Daisy and myself went to Hoofington, anypony leaving the base had to promise to not make any trouble.

We stopped first at the Hoofington Sports Arena to watch the Reapers dominate the Crusaders and continued on when the game ended. A chapel was giving a Hearth's Warming service, Daisy wanted to go and dragged us along. I was never much of a church going pony but the church itself was a calm and peaceful place, away from the war where one can find meaning to their lives under the watchful guidance of the Princesses. Daisy helped explain what was happening and I tried to follow along, she even had me sing along to the hymns much to my mild annoyance. I never could sing very well. Buckminster on the other hoof didn't get off easy either as he was ordered to since Daisy was senior. It wasn't about sorrow, or rousing like the songs that played over the radio. The songs felt like it spoke to me at a deeper level, songs that saved oneself from the horrors of the world and the war around them, it was heavenly.

I spent part of the night thinking about the good times I had spent with my friends now long gone. The whys of the war I would never fully know, but looking at the congregation and the ponies around me gave a reason to keep going. There was something left in us that was still worth fighting for, there was still love for each other and hope for a brighter future. I guess I found a semblance faith that day. A tear fell from my face and I smiled a little, Daisy rested her head on my shoulder and smiled with me. Buck hung back at the pews near the back and probably slept through the mass.

When it was over, some of the soldiers, sailors and marines continued on to the city, others went else where their liberty allowed them to. We continued on to the bridge to Hoofington. Daisy and I talked about faith to the Princesses for a while, Buckminster joked sardonically at us and went a little ahead of us to the rest of our fellow Company D ponies to "give us a little space". Hoofington greeted us with two large security laser defence turrets, the largest I have ever seen. They looked like they could vaporise anything that dared make trouble.

We entered the crowded city to a scene of chaos, completely opposite to the serene peace of Chapel. Streamers were being tossed around, drunk ponies partying like it there was no tomorrow. The mood lighten after passing the terrifying guns outside, cider was plentiful and everypony was having a great time. Towards the ministry square there was a concert playing. The headlining musician was Octavia, she played several numbers with her cello, or was it a contra-bass? Jazzlight would know these things and he would have enjoyed the performance even though it was classical. We applauded and she bowed, then things started ramping up when DJPon3 took the stage. The two played together for about ten or so minutes, blending DJ's electronic noise with the melody of Octavia's notes. They complemented each other very well, some may even say intimate, but couldn't care less we just partied to the music and what else the night had to offer until the sun rose on Hearth's Warming Day.