Same Heart, Different Days

“Soldiers! Ten-hut!”

Rain’s ears perked up as the sergeant barked the order. He looked around at the other soldiers, finding a similar sense of relief painted on their faces. He shakily got to his worn hooves, then began to fiddle with his helmet. Once he got it off and his light blue hair flowed down his neck, he trotted toward the voice who’d summoned them.

Despite summer coming in full swing, the day was cool. A nice breeze swept through his armor and brushed along his coat. As everyone lined up in rows, that breeze blew the fatigue they’d built up away. Rain took a deep breath, then turned his attention to the sergeant.

For a few moments, he stood in front of them without a word. He looked back and forth, meeting eyes with each soldier before he even opened his mouth.

“As many of you may know… today marks the end of your basic training.” The soldiers around him couldn’t help but let out an excited hoot or holler. but Rain kept quiet. “As such… today also marks the day you’ve become fully fledged soldiers. Your blood and sweat got you where you are now. It is my honor to have taught the Equestrian Allied Force's newest talent.”

Again, there was a small celebration. That sergeant had put them all through hell. The look of pride beneath their fatigue was genuine and earned. Even Rain held his chin a bit higher. With a loud clear of his throat, the sergeant once again got everyone’s attention.

“You leave here as soldiers, which means that you must uphold certain responsibilities.” He scanned the crowd with a stern look. “Failure to carry yourself in a manner befitting the force's finest will land you right back here.” Finally, he finished peering through the crowd. Rain did his best to look straight ahead, but the sergeant’s piercing gaze was impossible to ignore. “And you’ll find that I will not be as forgiving of mistakes on the second… or third go through. Do I make myself clear?”

“Sir, yes sir!” Rain joined the other soldiers in their confirmation chant. With a nod, the sergeant acknowledged their shout.

“Good,” he said. “Officer Rain, stay back. I have something to discuss with you. Everyone else, dismissed!”

A familiar sense of dread washed over Rain’s body. He tried his best to keep it from showing up on his face, but he was sure that at least some of it slipped through the cracks. A few soldiers around him looked on with pity or confusion, but none spoke up. Instead, they filed out of the fields to enjoy their freedom. As the door closed behind the last soldier, Rain felt the grip of the snake he was fighting tighten around his neck. With a deep breath, he approached the sergeant as ordered.

“Officer Rain, reporting.” The sergeant’s gaze was enough to break his spirit when he first arrived here. His training had made him somewhat resistant. Yet, instead of his usual intimidating aura, he greeted Rain with a rare smile.

“You seem quite tense, soldier. Why don’t you take the edge off?” He chuckled. “Don’t worry. You’re going to like what I’m going to say.”

“I-I see.” Of course, his words alone weren’t enough to put him at ease. Regardless, he tried to keep himself from seeming too tense. “What do you want to say?” The sergeant smiled again.

“The higher-ups wanted to see you.” Immediately, the tension returned, and the sergeant spotted it. He put his hoof up, then continued. “Relax, soldier. They've told me that they'd only like to reward you for your work.” Rain raised an eyebrow. On the day he was set to return from his punishment, he was to meet with the same people who’d punished him in the first place. There was no way anything they could offer him could be a reward.

“W-With all due respect, sir… what have I done to receive something?” The sergeant hummed as if he didn't know himself.

“It seems as if your former superior officer had a chat with the commander.” Rain’s eyes went wide. Being removed from the medical team meant he hadn’t seen Crimson Cross for months. “As I understand it, Cross wants to apologize. So, you will be offered a reward.” He raised his hoof again, this time pointing behind Rain. “You’ll find them in the central meeting room.”

“Y-Yes, sir.”

With a grunt and a wave of his hoof, the sergeant dismissed him. Without a second thought, he turned away and trotted toward the gate. After opening it and stepping into the camp proper, a new sense of relief washed over him. Though the grip around him was still tight, he could at least spread his wings a bit further, now.

“Oh. There you are.” Surprised, Rain turned to the side of the gate, finding a familiar face there. Behind a set of piercing yellow eyes, he spotted a twinge of worry. “I saw everyone else leave a bit ago. Thought they might have been keeping you there for some dumb reason.”

“Hey, Grace.” The worry from before fizzled out, replaced by a comforting warmth. She approached him, rubbing her body against his. Even her tail draped over his back. “Sorry about the armor…”

“I don’t mind.” She lifted her claw and placed it over his hoof. “I haven’t seen you all day. I want to indulge in you a little bit.”

“Hahah. Fair enough.” Rain leaned into her embrace. Her toned body gave him a sense of comfort and security he rarely felt elsewhere. Even a few moments with her was enough to make any worries fly away.

“How was your last day?” asked Grace. The question reminded Rain of his summons. He sighed, then shook his head.

“I’m glad that it’s finally over. No muscle pains for a while will be a godsend.” He pulled away from Grace enough to look her in the eye. “But it doesn't look like I’m free yet.”

“What do you mean?” The worry returned to her eyes. Rain chuckled, then placed a hoof on his chest.

“The commander asked me to meet him after my drills.” Immediately, he could feel her tense up. “It’s nothing bad, or so they say. I'm being offered a reward as an apology for Cross' poor treatment of me.” As he expected, Grace raised an eyebrow.

“They don’t seem like the type to apologize,” she grumbled. Her claws dug at the dirt underneath them. “Why won’t they leave you alone?” Rain moved his hoof from his own chest and placed it on Grace’s. Just this small gesture seemed to calm her down.

“It’s alright. It doesn’t matter what they say or do.” The worry behind her eyes wavered a bit, but it was still very noticeable. It took Rain’s best smile to put her at ease. “If it’s for you, I’d go through training twenty more times!” He chuckled nervously. “L-Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, though…”

“I’m coming with you.” Grace backed away from him, her worry replaced by determination. “I’m not letting those guys do whatever they want.” Just as her hug did moments ago, her words gave him a sense of comfort. He smiled again.

“I’d be glad to have you there,” he responded. With a hoof, he pointed in the direction of the locker room. “Let me get out of this armor first, though.”

With a nod, Grace fell in line with Rain’s stride, and the two made their way to the locker room.

As they walked through the camp, Rain felt the wayward glances of the ponies and griffons they passed. He wasn’t sure if he was attentive, or if those around him just did a poor job of hiding it. Some looked with disdain, an emotion Rain had gotten very used to as of late. Most glanced as they walked by, before returning to whatever they were doing. But, there was also a different kind of glare. One he had no explanation for.

“Rain.” He looked up to Grace at the call of his name. “Have you been… approached by any griffons recently?” He shook his head.

“No…” he answered skeptically. “Approached how?” Grace hummed.

“If you don’t know what I mean, don’t worry about it.” She turned to those they passed, no doubt showing them her most intimidating glare. “Just… be careful around other griffons, okay?”

“Alright…” he hummed his agreement. Curiosity threatened to get the better of him, but he decided to keep his questions to himself for now. Thankfully, they reached the locker room before any awkward silence could fester.

Rain walked in alone, and quickly made his way to the clerk’s desk. As he approached, he had already begun removing his armor. He was almost finished by the time he reached the counter. He pulled the helmet he had hanging from his side up and onto the table, then slipped out of the rest of the armor.

As quickly as he’d entered, he was back outside, feeling much less constricted than before. He took a deep breath and waved his tail back and forth. Grace looked him up and down, a curious hum escaping her lips.

“You look stronger.” Grace pressed her claw to his back and glided over it, feeling his newly defined muscles. “I should take you as my new sparring partner.” Rain’s eyes went wide.

“I don’t think I’m your equal yet…” He chuckled nervously. Grace’s eyes narrowed, and she leaned in closer.

“We can start slow by testing your stamina.” Rain felt the heat build up in his cheeks. The feeling behind Grace’s eyes was unmistakable. Her passion made his heart flutter a bit quicker. “Let’s leave that for later, though.”

“Y-Yeah,” he agreed. “Don’t want to leave the commander waiting… he’s already not very happy with me.”

The walk to the central command center was just as short as the first one. This time, though, Grace kept her attention on Rain. She walked so close to him, he could feel the heat coming off of her feathers. Her tail flicked back and forth, brushing up against his back and flank. The words from before echoed in his mind. It looked like he was in for quite the wild ride tonight…

But eventually, his focus returned to his surroundings. Standing in front of the command center, he took a deep breath. After a brief sideward glance at Grace, he pushed open the doors to the building and walked in.

Not much had changed since he’d last been here. The front entrance was an open area with several doors leading to different areas. Near the back wall was the front desk, attended by a secretary pony muzzle-deep in paperwork. Behind him were two giant doors on either side leading to the auditorium for meetings. Rain took another deep breath, then approached the desk. The secretary briefly looked up to see the two, before returning to his work.

“Hi, we’re here to see the commander?” Almost before he finished speaking, the secretary raised a hoof, pointing to the right. A long hallway with several doors on both sides.

“Down there, second-to-last door on the right.” Rain nodded his thanks, before following her instruction. As they neared the appropriate door, he took another deep breath to calm his nerves. Grace put her claw on his back again, helping a bit.

The two stopped in front of the commander’s room. A large wooden door with an ornate golden plaque with his name on it. After clearing his throat, Rain raised his hoof to the door and rapped against it. There was silence for a while before a muffled voice called from behind the door.

“Come in.” Rain pushed the door in, stepping into the cool air of the office. Like the entrance, against the back wall was a desk stacked high with papers and supplies with a pony behind it. He looked up as Rain stepped inside. “Ah, Rain Remedy. You took our time.”

Wildfire Brigade, commander of the camp. Rain had seen him in passing a few times. He even came face to face with him before. Yet, this was the first time he'd gotten a proper look at him. The older officers say that he was once a perfect soldier, racking up accolades left and right. As of late, he’d gotten cozy with his laid-back lifestyle. His toned and lithe body was now pudgy and wide. Still, his eyes and hair burned red and orange as his namesake implied, with a bit of gray mixed in.

“Apologies, sir.” Rain stood at attention, attempting to keep himself as proper as possible.

“The commander doesn’t have all the time in the world, you know?” Rain turned to the speaker, finding a smug grin belonging to an old acquaintance. Crimson Cross had propped himself near the edge of the desk and joined the commander where he stood. “Don’t you think you’ve… wait.”

“Grace, reporting.” Grace took her place beside Rain, a blank expression on her face. Cross furrowed his brow.

“Only you were summoned, Officer Rain,” grumbled Cross. Though he kept it hidden well, Rain could still see the anger rising on his face. “Is... this why you were late?”

“Well, let’s not get too hung up on the unimportant details.” The commander cleared his throat after speaking, then eyed the two down. “This might turn out for the better, actually. Having a griffon here might make this easier.” Cross looked as if he wanted to object, but decided against it at the last moment.

“Understood.”

“Good. Now then, let’s talk.” He approached Rain. “Do you know why you’re here, Officer Rain?”

“I was told to expect a reward, sir.”

“Ah, then you’re well informed.” He smirked. “After talking it over with Cross, we’ve decided that your current position… isn’t exactly right for you. We believe that you deserve a promotion.” Rain’s eyes widened and his focus faltered.

“A p-promotion?” he asked. “S-Sir.”

“Yes, a promotion... I've been told that the search for a griffon wing specialist hasn't gone well since the last one was KIA.” He turned to his side. “Cross has briefed me on your actions during that battle. Overlooking your blatant rule-breaking, he was… inspired by your skill.” Rain’s eyes widened. He could already see where this was going. “And so, until further notice, you will serve as the griffon medical team wing specialist.”

All types of emotions ran through his head all at once. Surprise, at the commander’s praise, excitement at the new opportunity before him. Fear, at how easily he’d been promoted. What could the catch be? He instinctively looked over to Grace, who turned to look at him. He blinked a few times before returning to attention.

“T-Thank you for this opportunity!” He called. The commander hummed, a hoof scratching his graying beard.

“As a member of the griffon’s medical team, you’ll need to be relocated.” He hummed again, then continued. “Your quarters need to be empty before Noon tomorrow, understand?”

“Yes, sir, but… where will I be going?” Cross chuckled.

“Isn’t it obvious?” he asked. “If you’ll be working with the griffons, you’ll have to sleep with them, too.” Rain wasn’t sure, but he swore he could see Cross’ eyes flicker over to Grace for a brief moment.

“New sleeping quarters have been arranged for you,” said the commander. “If it’s up to par… I cannot say.” He cleared his throat again, then looked back at the pair. “In any case… I hope that you use this opportunity accordingly. Improve your knowledge. Perhaps you'll truly experience the relationship between ponies and griffons here.” With a chuckle, he walked behind his desk. “You may even learn a thing or two about them.”

“Yes, sir.” The commander hummed, then tapped his hoof against the desk.

“Alright, then. You’re dismissed.” With a nod of acknowledgment, Rain turned and made for the door. Behind him, he heard Cross’ dark chuckle but continued through without looking back. After he heard it close behind Grace, he finally took a deep breath to calm his nerves.

“That was suspicious.” Grace was the first one to speak up. Rain turned to her, finding a troubled expression on her face. “They wouldn’t just give you a promotion out of the blue. They’re planning something.”

“Agreed.” Rain nodded his head, then raised a hoof to his chin in thought. “This is definitely a trap, but... I can’t help but feel a little excited.”

“Why?” asked Grace. He smiled, then began walking toward the door, with Grace right behind him.

“I don’t have to come up with any excuse to see my mare friend anymore.” Grace’s eyes widened, and a small blush flooded her cheeks. Rain chuckled as he saw her flustered expression. “Besides, I already told you. They can send me through hell and back and I’d gladly do it if it was for you.”

“You’re a natural little flirt, aren't you?” grumbled Grace. She raised her claw, wrapped her foreleg around his neck, then pulled him in close. After hugging him tight, she sighed. “Just… be careful, alright? I don’t want to hear you’ve ended up like the last wing specialist.”

Rain hummed a somber tune. Being with Grace was almost enough to distract him from the reality of war all around him. It was nice to feel safe in her embrace, but it was important to remember how fleeting life could be. He raised a hoof and hugged her back.

“I promise.” Grace let out a satisfied purr, then let him go. “I’ll stay determined, not reckless.”

“Good.” She smiled at his answer. Her cute expressions never failed to make his heart skip a beat. “Now, I think a celebration is in order, no?”

“Hm?” Grace poked his chest with the back of her claw.

“You just got a promotion, even if it is shady.” She pulled her claw back, then jabbed one at her own chest. “Dinner’s on me tonight. Then after that…” She chuckled, lowered her voice, and narrowed her eyes. “I’m gonna rock your little world.”

“I-I see…” Rain chuckled nervously, feeling heat returning to his cheeks. He noticed the door in front of them and quickly trotted up to open it. After the two finally broke into the open air again, Rain finally responded. “I’ll have to pack my things soon, then. It shouldn’t take that long.”

“I have to report to afternoon training, so I guess we’re both busy.” Grace flapped her wings, then hovered off of the ground. She turned back to Rain, giving him another warm smile. “I’ll see you later, Rain.” She paused, then looked down at the ground. “Love you.”

“I love you too.” Rain returned the smile with full force. The warm, fuzzy feeling in his chest returned, stronger than before. With a final wave of her claw, she turned away and took off towards the training fields. Rain watched in silence as she melted in with the others heading in that direction.

He took a deep breath, then spread his wings as well. After taking off in a new direction, his mind began to catch up with the events of the day. A surprise promotion, a promise with his loved one, a celebration with his name on it. Even one of these was enough to make the pegasus’ day great.

But all the while, that nagging feeling returned. A cobra wrapped around his body, gripping his neck. Everything wasn’t as it seemed. It couldn’t be.

Rain shook his head, clearing his mind of those thoughts. He focused only on his route as he made his way in silence to the barracks near the top end of the camp.

“You’re looking pretty chipper, aren’t you?”

As soon as she heard the voice at her side, Grace’s smile dropped to a frown. She turned to it and glared, finding the smuggest grin imaginable staring back at her. She looked away, ignoring her friend’s clear provocations.

“Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you cheese like that.” Georgina hummed in thought. “Rain must be one lucky griff… er, pony.” She chuckled. “Sorry, I'm still getting used to that.”

“Hmph.” Grace turned away from Georgina and continued walking. The warm colors of the evening sun began to wash over the camp. A cool summer breeze ruffled through Grace’s feathers. Around now, plenty of soldiers just like her were being allowed a bit of free time to themselves. Grace remembered the times when all she did was eat, shower, and look forward to tomorrow’s training. Now, as she made her way to the camp’s canteen, she enjoyed every moment of the summer afternoon.

“There, you’re smiling again!” Grace grumbled and returned her expression back to neutral. Grace raised her claw, balling it up into a fist.

“Shut up, or I’ll punch you.” Georgina raised a claw of her own in defense.

“I-I didn’t mean anything bad by it! Really!” She chuckled. “You look so nice when you smile!” Grace leered at her for a bit longer before dropping her fist. Georgina sighed in relief. “How’s it been going, by the way? Between you two, I mean.”

“It’s fine,” she answered. To avoid any more taunting, she looked at the ground, careful not to show her face. “I… like it. Having someone I can relax around, other than you.” Georgina huffed with triumph and grinned from ear to ear. “Hey, Georgina?”

“Hm?” Grace took a moment to form her question.

“I don’t pay attention to the gossip, so I wouldn’t know…” She paused to turn toward her friend. “But what have people been saying about us? About… Rain?” Georgina’s smile began to fall, replaced with a worried glance.

“Well… the normal ridicule and such,” she sighed. “You already know this, but your relationship is bound to rub some griffons the wrong way.”

‘Hmm.” Grace turned away and continued walking without a word. What others believed about her didn’t matter. What worried her were the glances she’d noticed pointed at Rain. Specifically... who was doing the glaring. She shook her head, then grumbled under her breath.

Before long, the canteen came into view. Soldiers flocked to the wide entrance from all over, all hoping to get a bite to eat before lights out. Thankfully, that wouldn’t be for another few hours.

As they got closer, Grace noticed a pair of ponies nearby the entrance. A pegasus with light blue hair flapping in the wind was speaking to a large stallion. He had a cream-colored coat and short, dark red hair.

"That's Rain, right?" asked Georgina from behind. "Know who he's talking to?" Grace nodded.

"A friend of his," she answered. Georgina furrowed her brow. "What's wrong?"

"Ah, nothing! I just thought it'd be the three of us." She hummed in thought. "You know I get a bit... cautious around ponies I don't know anything about."

"Hmm..." Grace nodded. "He seemed fine when I met him. I'm sure it'll be alright." Georgina changed her expression, replacing it with a friendly smile.

"Probably," she responded.

As they were speaking, they'd gotten close enough to hear their conversation. Neither seemed to recognize that they'd approached yet.

“—not sure, but I think it’ll be okay.” Rain was the first one they heard. He nodded with a smile. “I’m taking this chance to learn more about them.”

“That makes sense, I guess.” The other stallion reached up and scratched his chin. “Just be careful, alright? You’re a little too trusting of everyone.” Rain chuckled.

“You know, Grace kinda said the same… oh!” Rain’s eyes met Grace’s, and he descended to the ground. After landing, he stepped forward and grinned. “Speak of the devil.”

“Hey.” Grace returned with a smile of her own. “What were you two talking about?” Rain looked back at Front Line, who joined him at his side.

“The rumor mill has been working overtime,” he said with a sigh. “The news about my promotion and relocation has already spread through the camp.”

“I mean, I knew something was up when you were packing up all your stuff,” said Front Line with a chuckle. “Either you got canned or you were moving out.”

"Really glad it was the latter in this case..." he chuckled. His gaze wandered to her side, and his eyes widened. "Oh, hello! You must be Georgina, right?"

“Yep, that's me. Grace's friend.” She looked between the two ponies quickly, then nodded her head.

“Nice to meet you, Georgina.” Rain extended his hoof. She glanced at it for a few seconds before she carefully took in her claw. After a shake, Rain looked to his side. “I’m Rain, and this is Front Line.”

“Nice to meet another third wheel to these two lovebirds.” Front Line extended his hoof, and Georgina shook it as well. “It’s good you guys showed up when you did. I was starting to get hungry.”

“Food is always the number one thing on your mind, huh?” asked Rain, chuckling. “Well, since we’re all here, why don’t we head on inside?” All three gave some kind of confirmation before the group headed for the entrance.

After entering, Grace scanned the hall. There were tables laid out in a huge area, large enough to fit all the camp’s soldiers at once. A line had formed near the back where the kitchens and serving station were. To her left, there were griffons. Her right, ponies. There were a few that sat with the opposite group, but for the most part, the separation was clear.

The four got in line and waited. Though it was a long line, it never stood still. The staff behind the counters were getting people out in record time. Once they arrived, Rain got a deluxe salad and a muffin as his meal of choice. Though Grace tried to get him to splurge a little more, he insisted that was all he wanted.

After everyone had gotten their meal, they searched for a table. The edges of the cafeteria were packed, while the middle was much less sparse. They made their way to one, then put their trays down. Grace took her place right next to Rain while Georgina and Front Line took spots across from them.

“Hmm… this looks delicious.” Grace looked from her own plate to Rain’s. She could almost see the hunger radiating off of him. He turned to her and smiled. “Thanks, Grace.”

“It’s the least I can do,” she said, with a smile. “I never repaid you for fixing my wing, after all.” He hummed happily, then turned to his meal. He dug into the leaves, chewing with an elated expression. “Now that I think about it, they docked your pay, right? Have you been eating well?”

“Well, they couldn’t take that pay away from me, no matter how much they despised me.” He swallowed down what he chewed, then continued. “They were nicking a bit off the top each time, though. Said it was a reserve fund I’d get after I finished basic training. But I doubt they even remember that they gave me that excuse.”

“You... seem to attract a lot of attention, huh?” asked Georgina, slipping a strip of meat down her beak. “For the past few months, all griffons have been talking about is you and Grace.”

“I wish they’d mind their business,” grumbled Grace. Rain laughed.

“I’ve definitely noticed the stares,” he responded. “But it’s fine. I choose to believe that people are curious.”

“To be fair, there’s a lot to be curious about if you ask me.” Front Line, who’d been stuffing his face in silence until now spoke up. He wiped his mouth with his hoof. “I mean, do you two kiss? Since griffons have weird mouths and all.” Georgina's brow furrowed, which Front Line noticed. He pursed his lips. "Uh, sorry."

It’s fine…” Georgina cleared her throat. “Griffons don’t really show affection that way. We’re a lot more, uh… physical than sensual, like you ponies are.” Grace looked over to Rain, catching the beginning of a blush on his face. He cleared his throat.

“S-Should we really be talking about this at the table?” he asked. “Speaking of curiosity, though. Georgina, have you heard about my situation?”

“Not until earlier, no.” Rain calmed down as the subject changed. Something about the previous conversation stuck with Grace, though.

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll be working with the griffon medical team.” He frowned a bit, then looked down at his food. “It’s weird, but the commander also had me relocated to the griffon’s barracks, so I’ll be spending a lot of time there, as well.” Georgina raised an eyebrow.

“You’re with Gideon, then?” Georgina hummed, a clearly worried expression on her face. “He’s a tough cookie. Not exactly the nicest guy, even to other griffons.”

“I’ve had my fair share of those. I’m sure I can handle it.” Rain returned his attention to his plate, enjoying another mouthful of greens. “I know the commander’s got it out for me, but I think this is a pretty good opportunity to show that we don’t have to be at odds.” After swallowing, he put on a more serious expression. “Basically... this could be the start of a better relationship between us.”

The four fell into silence. Grace focused on her meal, mulling over his words in her head. It was a lofty goal, but looking at the fierce determination behind his eyes, Grace couldn’t help but believe it.

“Someone’s been reading a bit too much Power Ponies.” Rain flashed an exaggerated frown in Front Line’s direction, who laughed. “What, are you gonna try to change the world?”

“I think it’s nice,” said Grace. “At the very least, it’s a good mindset to have.” She raised her claw and placed it on Rain’s back. He looked at her, flashing a smile twice as bright as her own. Just that made her heart skip a beat. He returned to his food, savoring another big bite of leaves. Grace chuckled, then followed suit.

Just then, her nagging feelings and worries faded away into nothing.