Remembrance (Veteran's Day Special)
Remember Those Who Served
The Battle of Canterlot 20 years ago was a success, with the defeat of the Nazis and the liberation of other occupied cities, this day, November 11 (According to the Equestrian Calendar) became a national holiday. But this is also a day to mourn, for those who did not see the final victory.
20 years later, Lance; grandson of Jacob Wilson, came to Equestria. His world is yet dragged into another war, and his enemies had tracked their way here. After visited Princess Twilight Sparkle, Lance checked the Calendar and realized something.
"Hm? Today is November 11? What a minute..." he smacked his forehead, "Oh fuck me for almost forgetting one of the most important holidays; Veteran's Day."
But he then scratched his chin in thought, "But... Do the Equestrians even have Veteran's Day?"
"Lance, what's in your mind?" Twilight asked.
"So, Twilight, I was wondering," Lance said, looking up at the purple Alicorn, "Since today is November 11, do you guys have Veteran's Day?"
"Do we have Veteran's Day? OF COURSE WE DO!!!" Twilight exclaimed, using her royal Canterlot voice, but then she realized it and smiled sheepishly, "I mean, yes, we do have Veteran's Day ever since our victory against the Nazis under the lead of your grandfather and the humans."
"Oh that's good," Lance sighed, "you see, I'm a soldier, and Veteran's Day is something a soldier can NEVER miss."
"By the way Lance, since Veteran's Day's today, you should visit the Royal Military Cemetery at the back of Canterlot. Also, there's three Veterans from the Battle of Canterlot that'll come with you." Twilight said, which grabbed Lance's attention.
"Huh, so far I only know that Gallus served in the Battle of Canterlot, who else?" he asked.
"You'll see," Twilight winked, "Gallus would come and take you to the Royal Military Cemetery. And there you'll meet the two other Veterans."
------(~*~)------
The Royal Military Cemetery is located the back of the Canterlot Mountain, it's almost at the peak. Lance asked Gallus the reason behind its construction attitude, and the answer he received is that the ponies believed that if the Cemetery is built closer to the sky, the souls of the fallen ones could visit their beloved anytime without becoming wondering lost souls. Lance found this story very intriguing.
Later, Lance and Gallus met up with his wife, Silverstream and another veteran; a Changeling name Ocellus. Silverstream had her Purple Heart medal on; she received that when she was injured on the battlefield and was dragged back by her husband Gallus. Ocellus was a sharp-shooter back then, her top kills were more than 100 enemies; but she's not viewing this as a trophy, to put it in her words, she said that this is has to be done to protect her friends. The veterans gained permission from the guards outside the Cemetery. There's literally guards everywhere outside the cemetery; because it's viewed as a sacred place for the souls of the heroes to rest.
Gallus brought a bottle of Apple Cider, Silverstream and Ocellus had flowers, while Lance is in his military uniform he asked Rarity to make.
They entered the cemetery, Lance did a cross across his chest, while the veterans stood in silence for about two minutes before moving on. Gallus stopped in front of a gravestone, and on the stone it carved: HERE LIES LIEUTENANT STEEL CLAWS, A BROTHER AND A FATHER, MAY HE RESTS IN ETERNAL PEACE.
Gallus kneeled down in front of the stone, "Hey bud," he said, "miss me? Cuz I do."
Steel Claw is Gallus's best griffon in his 1st Equestrian Rifle Battalion, and even before this war, he's Gallus's best buddy at Griffonstone and the only Griffon who don't hate him. However he did not see the final victory; Steel Claw was shot in the head by a shard of a shard from a bomb when the Germans bombarded them. As if this is a coincidence, nothing else got him.
"Don't worry about your wife and little Claw," Gallus continued, "they're in good condition at Ponyville. Little Claw is making lots of friends at the friendship school, and your wife is working at the Ponyville Hospital."
He then took out the Apple Cider, uncapped it and drunk some of it. Then he hand it over above the gravestone.
"Yo, want some?" he then poured the rest of the cider onto the stone, "Amen brother, amen." he muttered. Gallus stood up and saluted to his fallen comrade and friend.
The veterans then moved on, Silverstream and Ocellus were all over the Cemetery, placing flowers to the ones they known and unknown during the battle. Lance was saluting at the gravestones, suddenly, he heard a buzzing sound coming from the air. He immediately recognized those engine sounds. He looked up and saw a squadron made of two Supermarine Spitfires, one Lancaster, and two Hawker Hurricanes. They're flying over Canterlot in the parade formation, with colorful smoke trails behind them.
The WW2 squadron were followed by yet another squadron made of American planes; three B-17 Flying fortresses, two Mustangs, and two Warhawks, in the form of a parade formation, slowly flying over Canterlot. Then, the sounds over afterburners came in, which Lance liked the most. The jets soon came into view; they're from four countries; The E-4 Phantom, Drag-21, the J-8 from the Kirin Air Force, and the Saab JAS 39 Gripen from Griffonian Empire. The jets left four different colored smoke trails as they quickly flew pass the skies above and disappeared into the horizon.
After visiting the Cemetery, the Veterans went back to Canterlot, there's a Veteran's Day festival going on, Air Show, and military exhibition. Lance will be flying his F-35B, followed by the Thunderbolts. (They're actually Wonderbolts, if you want to know why their name changed, please read "Supermarine Spitfire." Here's the link: https://www.fimfiction.net/story/473731/supermarine-spitfire)
The Thunderbolts were led by no-other than their Commander Rainbow Dash, who's flying F-16 Fighting Falcon. (Yes, I got the idea of the Thunderbolt from the "Thunderbirds".)
This day is honorable, to those who's serving and served the military. Thank you for your service, working hard to protect us and keep us safe.
Author's Note
Here's my thanks for the military bronies out there: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, FOR KEEPING US SAFE. YOU HAVE MY GREATEST THANKS. Here it is, a short story, Veterans' Day Special.
This story is for every Military Bronies out there. Remember those who served and in service. Stay safe and brony on! 
