The healthy mind, human or pony, doesn't wake up one morning thinking that today is its last day on Earth. Or Equus, as was the case. Are we calling this planet Equus? I guess we are now.

But I was still filled with worry. I was slow to rise, even with the bugle ringing through the skies and cutting through the thin fabric that made this excuse for a tent. I yawned, tried to stretch as best I could, and then got up, briefly bumping into a tent pole as I did so.

Good thing it was properly anchored and secured, or else I may have knocked it over. And that would have been awkward, right?

Oddly enough, the words I had thought got me thinking once more as I got my senses up and running. I had thought of the phrase 'the healthy human mind'. But I had been a pony for quite a bit now, which raised a number of interesting points as to the state of my brain.

Was I really of the sort that could be considered to have a human mind of any description any more?

Possibly not. When I had first arrived in Equestria I had had no difficulty at all getting used to moving about. I had been able to talk without producing massive amounts of slobber, as is depicted in some stories (despite having flatter teeth and a differently shaped mouth, not to mention a thicker tongue inside my mouth). Nor had I stumbled about and wobbled all over the place when trying to work. I had also had no trouble at all eating.

So, did that suggest something else was going on? The fact I knew how to do those things without making a mess of doing them suggested I had some sort of existing knowledge of how to do them despite having been human for most of my life. So had the process of becoming a pony and ending up here reconfigured my brain to be able to perform these tasks with no difficulty?

If that was the case, I could no longer really be considered human on that front, which was a bit of a problem. I was effectively a pony, a pony who had memories of life as a human. As did any of the others who might have ended up here (read: Misty). So, that was basically that.

I emerged from the tent and looked about to see the camp in a state of preparation. Hammers rang with last minute modifications to weapons by the blacksmith, should they be needed. Soldiers were finishing last bits of food and collecting together supplies ready for the march. I also noticed some moving shells about- these were probably for the tanks, as I hadn't spotted any artillery when we had arrived here.

I drove onwards and stepped towards the large tent, which had a large cover on it. I noticed my friends going the same way, and as a result decided to follow them inside.

Once inside, the room couldn't have been more different to yesterday. It had been changed from a cozy tavern with benches, tables, and a warm fire to a command room. Machines beeped and buzzed, and tactical plans poured over screens, numbers marching across displays like soldiers engaged in their own battles. I glanced again at the room and saw a large table had been set up in the centre, with plenty of dots and glowing lights on it.

The Colonel guy and the Queen were looking at it, and the Colonel looked worried. Or as far as I could tell under all the heavy armor and helmet. "There's only one road in and out of the city that could handle our armour column," he said, "given that most pegasi fly in or out of the city on planes. This rather limits the armour support that we can receive."

The screen above him suddenly changed to show some pictures. "A recon drone was dispatched last night, and revealed the road approach has been turned into a fortress." He shook his head. "Pillboxes, machine guns- it'd be suicide mounting a frontal assault with our full force."

"What do you propose?" The queen asked, glancing at the table once and again to try and figure out what was going on.

"I am aware that we must liberate the city," the Colonel replied, "but it is my duty to minimize casualties as much as I can- I owe that to my men." Suddenly, dots began to move across the map in several sets of colors that denoted different offensive plans. "As a result, and I am aware this is a risky strategy, but we must divide our forces into seven groups. That way we can hit our targets all at once with the enemy barely able to mobilize their troops against us."

Queen Haven seemed to approve of this plan, based on her body language. "A bold strategy indeed," she said. "But nothing ventured, nothing gained. Where do we fit in?"

"That's up to you and your friends, of course, your Majesty," Opwinden replied, pointing at the map. "I feel, though, that having key figures by their side will help with morale."

And so, we each got dumped into a different attack role. Zipp got sent to an airbase, Misty, Hitch, and Pipp were all sent into battle at the broadcast station for ZBS, and the Queen and the Colonel were all dispatched to launch an assault on the palace.

Which left me. I knew Misty was going on a dangerous mission, and I wanted to be there just in case. "Sir?" I said.

The Colonel looked at me. "Yes, um-"

"Sprout."

"Yes, Sprout?"

I looked up. "I wish to join the mission to the ZBS broadcasting station. I know it's risky, but Misty is close to me and it'd hurt me deeply if she were hurt."

The Colonel looked stern. "Permission denied," he said.

"What?" I said. "But you can't be serious!"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" he said, in return. "We need to hold some of our force in reserve in case something goes wrong and we need to reinforce the lines, or failing that retreat. We are left with no tactical flexibility if we cannot continue the fight. After all, you can only prosecute war if you still have soldiers.

"As such, you are to remain here with the relief force. We have a relief force equipped with choppers that will move in if needed, and you are to be attached to that. Be ready to move when needed, but do not try to sneak into one of the other attacks. I will not tolerate insubordination. Do I make myself clear?"

"Well, if that-"

"Do I make myself clear, yes or no?"

I sighed. "Crystal."

"I thought so. You'd best get moving, Sprout. We won't wait."

I was stuck here behind the lines, with some reserve troops. I made my way to the armour pool, as radio messages continued to play in the background. It seemed almost all of us were getting ready to go, with soldiers climbing onto tanks and forming up alongside them.

I saw Sunny and Izzy talking on the backs of one, and several other soldiers climbing onto others. "Hopefully we'll get back from this!" said one.

"Your food will still be warm when we return!" said another. "That's how quickly we'll beat that runt's ass and drag him in front of the courts!"

I then saw Misty moving across the front, and I dashed over to her. "Misty?"

Misty turned to me. She looked a bit weird in all that spy gear, but then again she did need it for what she was doing, which was breaking into a building. "Sprout?"

I moved forward to hug her. "Misty, please be careful out there," I said. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Misty nodded, which I could figure out from her fur rubbing against mine. "Don't worry, I'll watch my back," she said. "And my front. And I'll come back and we can pick up where we left off. Sound good?"

"PREPARE TO MOVE!" shouted a voice.

Misty moved back. "I gotta go," she said. "I'll see you soon."

I stood there and nodded, calling back. "Be careful out there! And good luck!"

"Thanks!"

Misty climbed onto one of the tanks and took her position. The Colonel and his soldiers (and the Queen) were now in position, and with one move the formation got underway.

Soldiers alongside the tanks were marching again, without the music that had characterized our journey across the country the previous day. Still wild to think we were in Bridlewood a day earlier.

The tanks moved off, their engines roaring and smoke belching from their exhausts. As they gradually grew smaller and smaller, I continued to watch as the formation vanished to a smaller size.

And then they were gone. I could only hope that wouldn't be forever.

Author's Note

Another day.... another chapter of course for this week's leg for of Sprout Cloverleaf :3