Author's Note

reference image for the the areas that i talk about

Chapter 8

“What were you doing when it started?”

We were driving back home from Fillydelphia after buying our first vehicle. It took us a few days to get there but we also stayed a few days, like a mini vacation. We explored the city, saw its famous Dragon Town and learned about its history a bit more. The city had the cheapest cars nearby, due to it having many factories made to produce military vehicles for the war. They were converted to civilian factories for car making afterwards.

“What do you mean what I was doing? What started?” I asked.

We had just passed through the town of Mareway making our way to Buckcastle. I was driving.

“The war. What were you doing when you found out it started?”

I stared ahead at the road as I processed the question, “T- the war…?”

There was another question asked before the other two started talking back and forth about something, I couldn’t understand whatever it was as I was deep in thought now at the question, with memories flooding back about the whole thing.

I started to slow down and pulled over to the side of the road once I realized I couldn’t keep my focus on driving and stopped.

“Is everything alright?” I felt somepony touching my mane with their hoof.

“I uhh… Just can’t focus right now.” I paused for a good few seconds before saying, “You can drive.” It wasn’t really a suggestion as I was already getting out of the car and trotting around to the other side where Tuuli was getting out herself now. We didn’t really trade any looks with each other, or I didn’t so I never saw if she did. I got into the passenger seat and Tuuli got in as well. After a few moments we were off again.

“I’m sorry…”

“It’s ok.” I replied softly.

“It’s not ok. For neither of you.” Tuuli said, “You shouldn’t just ask questions like that, like… you shouldn’t, you might not know why you shouldn’t now but… Regardless, you can’t either. Celes--...” There was a long pause with her, “She doesn’t want us to… We’re not allowed. Mom and dad... neither of us can say anything… ever…”

Nothing else was said. Nothing until we were at Buckcastle where it was a simple, “Anypony need to stop for anything?” kinda thing. But after that it was just the sporadic chit chat that only lasted a few seconds occasionally for the rest of the drive.

It was getting late as we approached our home back in Hoof City. I finally broke the much awkward silence by saying, “Once we’re home, make sure you eat your Hay and berries right away, we’ll need to get up really early for Sun church. I know we should’ve planned better to avoid coming back the night before service…”

I have no clue what either of them said, after that everything was just a blur until we got home. All I know was I didn’t help with unloading which caused Tuuli to get mad but she didn’t stop me. I just went to my bed and plopped down on it, not even staying up for the hay and berries.

Then I awoke. I woke up in a cold sweat in my own bed, breathing heavily, panting, weak.

“Fuck… fuck… Curse Luna for that nightmare… Right?” Wasn’t she supposed to protect me from nightmares? Maybe she just didn’t get to me in time…

It took a minute of laying in my bed to collect myself before stretching as best I could be sitting up on my hind legs. I was still a bit groggy from waking up so I sat for another minute before I was good. I saw sunlight coming in from the window and into the room where I was alone. Fuck I was hungry.

I finally got up and I got myself ready for the day, eating my simple meal, ironically being hay and berries. I did a few other small tasks like looking at my hooves and teeth before finally taking a cold shower. Hot showers never really became my thing after the war. Just about all the showering and bathing I did was all with cold or air temperature water. Sure we rarely got the chance of hot showers but, they always felt... off putting?

I was then ready for my day. I went to my shitty car, it wasn’t as nice as the car in the nightmare but it was still mine. I got in and drove off towards the city.

City? I thought it was just a large town, at least during the war I did. It had grown in size since the end. It was Hoof City, like in my dream. I drove around looking for the place I was supposed to be going to once I got to the main city, which took about thirty minutes. I eventually found it and parked in whatever open spot I could closest to the building and then trotted my way there.

I made my way in and was instantly greeted by a pony inside who had a brown coating, “Hello! Are you here for the Great Therapy?”

I nodded my head a little, “Yes. I already made an appointment. Uhh… Sergeant First Class Jurek Vivianus, with The Rumble Crew Squad with the 5th Rifle Company, 2nd ‘Equestria’ Division.” I said almost robotically.

The other pony looked at me blankly as I said my name and such while going through some files that I couldn’t see before she said, “Jurek Vivianus… Yep, gotcha right here. You were just on time as well. You can head further back to room 3 so you can start. The therapist will be in in a minute.”

I gave her a nod and smiled, “I-- Thanks… Ok.” I don’t really know why I thanked her, but I turned and went through the door and to the room I was told. I found it and went in, it was about the size of my bedroom, but some chairs and a couch. I sat on the couch and waited only about forty seconds before another pony came in.

“Jurek Vivianus?” They said while looking at me.

“Yep, that’s me.”

“Good! You’re ready to begin then?”

“Ready as I can be…” I gave off a faint smile.

We were in there for three hours. The other pony asked questions, I answered them, explained things, told them what I thought. A lot of it dealt with the war, the whole Therapy program was named the Great Therapy for a reason and was being funded by the military.

“Uhh... thanks.” I was looking down, “That really helped... Thanks.”

“After what everypony went through fighting that war, the only right thing to do is help you all. It’s thanks to y’all that we won.” The other pony said, giving me a smile, “You’re welcome.”

I looked back up and was greeted by their smile. It made me feel warm.

I stood up and headed out back to the front where there was another pony in place of the one from before, “You can sign up again in two weeks. Three hours just as today.”

I looked back at them and said, “Don’t worry, I will.”

We both said simple farewells before I headed off. I got back to my car and drove back home, which didn’t take long.

Once I got home I went to sit on my couch and sat there for a minute before whispering to myself, “It’s truly over...”

I then started to cry. The first time in many years.