Author's Note

This one goes back to Equestria, after this little piece of "fluff" we'll be right back to the war, now the big battle is here.

Life Goes On

April 21st
Ponyville, Principality of Equestria

Ponyville sat between Canterlot and Cloudsdale as a quaint agricultural town surrounded by fields, pastures, and orchards that were connected by driveways and paths leading to barns and farmhouses. The driveways extended out and connected to winding dirt roads that were frequented by foot traffic and horse and buggy traffic more than anything. While the large population of farmers and ranchers made their homes in the many farmhouses.

Those who weren't in the business of agriculture found their homes at the center of town. Tall thatched roof buildings made up homes and shops for the less country of the rural Ponyville denizens. The railroad tracks sat on the northeastern edge of town, serving the Canterlot, Manehattan, and Cloudsdale Railroad with passenger and freight service. A large mixed-traffic depot sat along the tracks, serving the farms of the region.

Also on the northeastern edge, next to the Everfree Forest and away from the farms was a quaint cottage covered by earth and grass on its roof with a stone exterior of odd shapes. It was surrounded by birdhouses and even had a small stream flowing out front beneath a wooden bridge. Living in this quaint and comfortable cottage were Fluttershy and her partner Rainbow Dash. It was rather late in the morning at nearly a quarter-hour from ten o'clock.

Now, Rainbow Dash was stirring awake to start her morning. She rolled over in the shared bed from her position facing the wall, reaching for her timid lover. She was shocked to find Fluttershy's spot empty, with the covers neatly put at their positions just below the pillows.

"Fl-... Flutters?" Rainbow Dash groggily called as she opened her cerise eyes to the blinding white light of the morning. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and stretching with a yawn, blinking a few times to desensitize her eyes. Rainbow Dash threw the warm covers off her body and climbed out of bed, going downstairs in nothing but an old oversized t-shirt. "Fluttershy?" She called yet again as she reached the foot of the stairs.

It was quiet, the only sound she heard was the quiet chirping of birds outside. She looked in the modest kitchen, there was no one. She looked around the living area and in the bathroom, but still, she found no one. Rainbow Dash heard a small bark from outside, she knew it as the bark of Dusty. Dusty was a stray dog, a mutt to be exact, who lived in the Everfree Forest alone. He often came by to eat whatever Fluttershy would give him.

Rainbow Dash went outside through the cottage's side door where she finally found Fluttershy, fully dressed in her old patched coveralls and worn-out sneakers. She was leaning over to pet the shaggy gray dog that was Dusty. "He sure likes you, huh?" Fluttershy jerked up, a look of pure surprise on her face as Rainbow Dash finally greeted her.

"Well I-it's nice to see you're finally awake," Fluttershy responded in her usual kind soft manner. Rainbow Dash huffed.

"Finally? What do you mean by that?"

"It's... Almost ten o'clock..." Fluttershy answered with a small smile.

"Oh..." Rainbow Dash chuckled nervously. "Why didn't you uhh... Wake me up?"

"The alarm clock didn't go off, and you looked so peaceful that I didn't want to disturb you," Fluttershy answered, seeming somewhat apologetic. Rainbow Dash went up to her, giving her a quick peck on the cheek.

"Thanks, Flutters, I needed that," Fluttershy's face went red, even after all their years together Rainbow Dash still managed to make her blush with each kiss.

"Y-you're welcome... Uhm..." Fluttershy tried finding something to say. "Have you um... Had breakfast yet?"

"Nope,"

"Great," Fluttershy waved goodbye to Dusty, sending him back into his Everfree Forest home, and went inside with her partner in tow. Rainbow Dash took her seat at the round kitchen table as Fluttershy made their breakfast.

"You sleep well last night?"

"Oh, I slept wonderfully," Fluttershy answered joyfully as she dropped some bread into the toaster. "I guess you slept well too,"

"Yep," The toast finished and Fluttershy sat it before them with a jar of apple butter. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. So I was thinkin'," Rainbow Dash began as she smeared apple butter on her toast. "After breakfast, we go into town," Fluttershy tensed up at the proposition.

"T-town?" She asked horrified, it wasn't that she hated Ponyville or the people there. It was the number of them, the idea of them all looking at her, bumping into her, or trying to talk to her sent her blood cold. "Are you sure?" she asked fearfully.

"Yep, it'll be nice to get out a little," Rainbow Dash answered trying to calm Fluttershy's nerves. "And after we get back, we won't leave the house for the rest of the weekend," Rainbow Dash smiled warmly at the nervous girl across from her. Fluttershy eased up.

"I guess... It won't be that bad... Alright, we can do it, I need to pick up some things anyways," The two finished their small breakfast in silence and got ready for the day. Rainbow Dash threw on a pair of jeans and her worn-out shoes, one thing she loved about being on leave was not having to follow a dress code. Fluttershy grabbed her satchel and a small wicker basket, and the two left, locking the door behind them.

Their small walkway ended at the wide dirt road into Ponyville that was sometimes frequented by loggers going into the massive Everfree forest. Right now it was quiet and peaceful, the couple walked the winding road hand in hand. Their walk took them to the railroad tracks on the edge of town. They crossed the tracks, getting a quick glimpse at a very distant steam train coming from Cloudsdale. Ponyville wasn't very busy that day, few people were walking the dirt streets with most at the cafes or shopping.

Few people were working in Ponyville that day aside from market owners and restauranteurs with store goers being among them. They walked for some time before reaching the town's larger grocery store.

"We'll just stop here real quick," Fluttershy said as they walked up to the glassy storefront. The two went inside, it was a modest store, with crates of produce and other fresh goods at the center with more nonperishable goods lining the walls. A counter at the back where a single old man stood. Fluttershy went about the shopping, stopping at the produce crates, and Rainbow Dash stayed near the exit next to the newspaper rack.

Normally, she would have paid the morning paper no mind, but for some reason, she found herself curious today. She picked up a folded copy of the Ponyville Harold and was immediately greeted by large letters reading: Crystal Falls Shootout Leaves 34 Dead and Untold Wounded . Rainbow Dash's morbid curiosity peaked. While Fluttershy hated reading about such things, Rainbow Dash could not get enough of it.

It had been a shootout between some gang and local law enforcement, nothing super interesting. Rainbow Dash turned the page, finding yet another article that piqued her interest. Just above an advertisement for dishwashing soap was a photo of soldiers in steel helmets marching along a road, the article was titled. The River is in Sight. It was the Confederates, Rainbow Dash remembered the meeting in Canterlot a short time ago.

She remembered what old Governor Thatcher had said: Spare me the talks of peace, these savages have used up the last of my mercy. Apparently, he was being truthful, the article proved this. Two great battles and they were on the road to the Traat River, Rainbow Dash had no clue where that was. Anything outside of their home country and few allies was a mystery to her.

"Alright, I'm ready," Fluttershy said cheerfully as she approached the rainbow-haired girl. Rainbow Dash folded the newspaper and laid it back on the rack.

"Good, let's go," The two of them left the store and started down the road. "So... Anywhere else?" Rainbow Dash asked as they strolled along.

"Umm... Nope, I think that's it,"

"Good, I guess that means we can head back-" Rainbow Dash was cut short as they almost bumped into somebody walking in the opposite direction.

"Pardon me, ma'am," They said in a southern accent as they halted just inches from the two. They took a step back, giving the young couple a better view. It was a man, a Confederate for sure with his peach-white skin. He was older than them, maybe in his fifties with a crooked nose and wrinkled face sporting a dark gray goatee and short well kept hair. He was thin and dressed in all black with a white collar wrapping around his neck and hidden partially under the shirt collar.

In his large rough hands was a brown leather book depicting a gold inlaid cross and gold lettering spelling out Holy Bible tucked in his arm with a large guitar case and a black duffle bag in his other hand.

"Oh sorry," Rainbow Dash said with a chuckle.

"It's nothin', I'm new to town, so I'm tryin' to get a lay of the place,"

"I can tell you're new here, I'm Rainbow Dash," She extended her hand out to the man.

"James Parker Whitaker," The man responded meeting Rainbow Dash's hand with a firm handshake. "You can call me Brother Jimmy, or just Jimmy, it don't matter," He said with a warm smile.

"Well, Jimmy, it's nice to meet ya, this here's Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash gestured to her partner, who stood close to her. Rainbow Dash chuckled. "She's... Shy,"

"Well, that's quite alright, Ms. Fluttershy and Ms. Dash, lot of folks ain't too good with strangers,"

"So what brings you to Ponyville, Jimmy?"

"What brings anybody to a foreign country," Jimmy said with a laugh. "Evangelizin' for the most part, here on behalf of the Lord. I'd love to sit down and talk a bit more,"

"Maybe... W-we can go back to our cottage," Fluttershy recommended, much to their surprise. "We can have tea,"

"Well, that sounds like a fine idea, at least till I can find somewhere to stay," The three of them left town, largely in silence, and made their way to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash's shared cottage. Eventually, they made it there, the afternoon sun still high in the sky. Fluttershy unlocked the door and the three of them entered, settling down in the living area. Rainbow Dash sat on the oblong green couch while Jimmy took a seat in a chair nearby while Fluttershy went to the kitchen.

"It's nice to sit on a proper chair, the ride here wasn't so comfortable," Jimmy stated.

"Why's that?" Rainbow Dash questioned.

"I rode in on the mornin' freight train, and I sailed in on some little freighter, I'm just lucky the passage was cheap," Jimmy laughed out loud. "Travelin's always been my thing ya know," Fluttershy came in with the tea and other things needed. She lit a small tea candle inside a wooden holder and sat the pot on top. Jimmy continued as Fluttershy prepared their cups. "I don't think I've lived anywhere for longer than a few months,"

"Really? So you're a drifter?"

"Yes ma'am, a travelin' preacher, spreadin' the good word anywhere I can and doin' whatever I can do for work. What about you Ms. Dash? What do you do for a livin'?"

"I'm a pilot, Royal Equestrian Air Corps," Rainbow Dash answered with pride.

"I was a pilot too," Jimmy said as Fluttershy handed him a cup and dish, he thanked her and continued as she took her seat next to Fluttershy. "Service is mandatory back in the states and I got in on the Army Spottin' Corps. I flew artillery spotting planes, I spent a lot of time up in the Midwest fightin' their war," He took a sip from the tea. "This here's nice tea, Ms. Fluttershy, ya did good,"

"Th-thank you," She cuddled up to Rainbow Dash with hers, this caught Jimmy's eye.

"I see y'all are... In a relationship with one another..." Jimmy said with a bit of discomfort.

"Yeah, there's nothing wrong with that is there?"

"No... No, it's all fine... Let's move on from that," Jimmy shifted gears. "Let me tell ya somethin', are you a fighter pilot?"

"Sir yes sir," Rainbow Dash answered.

"Well let me tell you somethin', you've got it easy 'cause they'll ignore you," Jimmy started chuckling "Forget the fighters, forget the bombers, the spotters are what they want. If you're tellin' the artillerymen where to drop their shells, they're gonna try and drop you,"

"Sounds rough," Rainbow Dash replied with some feeling of indifference.

"Rough doesn't begin to cover it," Jimmy laughed and took another sip of his tea. "Yeah, I got out after doin' my five years and went to seminary. After that, I became a ramblin' man, goin' wherever the freight trains and willing drivers could take me," Jimmy leaned back and took a deep breath. "Yep, I've been all over North America, I spent some time in Deseret, and let me tell you somethin' Mormons ain't too kind to Pentecostals," Jimmy let out a hearty chuckle.

"I got the bejesus beaten out of me in Salt Lake City and ran off to Sacramento for a couple months. They're a bit kinder over there, and I hitchhiked all the way to San Diego, San Fransisco, Los Angeles, and then I rode up to Portland which... Is a long haul,"

"Um... I don't know where any of that is." Rainbow Dash gave an apologetic chuckle.

"Oh yeah, I forgot y'all ain't from Earth. So anyways I ended up goin' to the Great Lakes for a while, it's a beautiful country up that way. Those lakes truly are great," Jimmy gave yet another chuckle. "I eventually went down to Pittsburgh and back down into the CSA. That was all about four or five years of travelin' and preachin', I stayed in Dixie for a while after that and went about as far west as Cananae in the state of Sonora. I spent the longest time in Kentucky, which was only about a year,"

"Seems you're quite the adventurer," Rainbow Dash told Jimmy with a hint of envy.

"Yes ma'am," He said with pride. "I traveled across Dixie for the rest of my time, the last place I was holed up before comin' over here was a little town called Whynot Mississippi, it was about like this town. It was nice and quiet, they had a little church called Water Valley Pentecostal Holiness church being preached to by a guy named Jimmy, I helped 'em out of course," Jimmy started laughing. "It was funny whenever somebody'd call out 'Brother Jimmy' and the two of us would turn around. What's even funnier is we didn't look the least bit alike, that Jimmy was a big fat man with a mustache who didn't wear one of these white collars. He worked in the tile industry, he was an alright guy,"

"So how'd you end up here then?" Rainbow Dash pried.

"Well, the Confederacy and just about all of North America was Christian, and if I went out east they'd kill me, so I joined up with the immigration program. I had planned on runnin' around in the south near Zebrica till... The war... So I decided to come over here without a dollar to my name," Jimmy sat his tea down. "I reckon I need a job, so I can pay for a hotel or somethin'. Till then I reckon I'll camp out, y'all got a creek nearby?"

"Now h-hold on, Mr. Jimmy," Fluttershy began. "I think we know somebody who could help,"

"Oh yeah," Rainbow Dash said as if a lightbulb went off in her head. "We have a close friend named Applejack, I feel like her family could use some farmhands,"

"Well alright then, let's go meet her," Fluttershy put away the tea set and the three of them set off on their long walk through and away from town to the orchard that was Sweet Apple Acres. The place was marked by a bright red two-story farmhouse preceding an equally red barn surrounded by luscious apple trees. They found Applejack walking around the barn with a burlap sack of chicken feed thrown over her shoulder.

Applejack spotted the three as they came up the road and went to meet them up at the side of the house.

"Well howdy there," She greeted, setting the sack on the ground. "Who's this gentleman?"

"I'm Jimmy Whitaker," Jimmy greeted, extending his hand to Applejack. "You must be Applejack, they tell me you might have some work and boardin',"

"I don't know 'bout that now... Hold on a sec," Applejack went inside through the back door and emerged a moment later. "I talked to Granny Smith, and she said she'd like t' meet ya first,"

"That's fine by me, let's meet her," Jimmy and Applejack started off inside.

"You two wanna come in?"

"Sorry AJ," Rainbow Dash said apologetically. "We're... Busy right now,"

"Oh that's alright, I don't wanna interrupt your time together," Applejack gave them a wink "See y'all later," She said leaving the two and going inside with Jimmy.

"Bye," Rainbow Dash said with a quick wave.

"Bye," Fluttershy said alongside and they started back home. By the time they reached the modest cottage, the sun was going down. The sky had turned brilliant red orange and deep blue as twilight began to set in. Fluttershy unlocked the door and the couple stepped into the dimly lit house. Rainbow Dash turned on the lights, casting a dull glow across the living area as a small fixture in the ceiling came to life. "I'm gonna give the animals dinner, ok," Fluttershy said as she headed toward the back door.

"Do you need help?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"No, I think I can get it," Fluttershy answered with a smile, going outside and leaving Rainbow Dash alone. Rainbow Dash kicked off her shoes and went over to the wooden radio sitting on a table between the chair and couch.

"Good evening, Canterlot and surrounding areas!" The voice of a young and wild DJ belted out through the radio "Today we're doin' things a little different. With the arrival of aliens from another planet we've decided to get in contact with one of their radio stations. Please give a hearty Canterlot welcome to John Granger, on-call call from station 107.6 The Rebel"

"Hello?" A voice with a southern accent calls through heavy interference

"You're on the air, Mister Granger,"

"Right... So do you wanna kick off with a little music?"

"Yes sir, what do you think we should play?"

"I reckon since that war's goin' on... Let's play something for the soldiers, this here's Travelin' Soldier by Cody Johnson,"

"You heard it from him folks, your first taste of Earth music is Travelin' Soldier sung by Cody Johnson," The song started with a slow drum beat and soft guitar playing before the soulful voice of a southerner began.

"Two days past eighteen. He was waiting for the bus in his army green," He continued on singing about a girl and a soldier in love, picking up speed as he went along. Rainbow Dash found the song surprisingly enjoyable, if not a little sad near the end. Fluttershy came back inside right as the song finished.

"Whatcha listening to," She asked, dusting her hands off.

"Just some 'Earth music', it's actually pretty good,"

"I guess I'll join you then," Fluttershy took a seat next to Rainbow Dash, cuddling up real close to her to listen.

"So, Mister Granger, what's our next number for the night?" the DJ asked.

"Well... I reckon we ought to listen to a song called When The Stars Come Out by a man named Chris Stapelton," The song that played was yet another one that started softly before a man with a rough voice began singing about love and traveling. The song went on as the two sat nestled with each other on the couch, embracing each other after a long day. Eventually, Fluttershy fell asleep snuggling against her lover.

"Goodnight Flutters," Rainbow Dash said, giving her partner a kiss on the cheek.