Chapter 14: Camp D-24

As we entered the camp I instantly felt the mix of defeat and sorrow hit my body, like a large cloud of depression hung over the camp. The girls followed my lead into the housing area and were shocked to see that most of the populous consisted of children and teenagers, with only a few adults to be seen. I saw that numerous other ponies were with the majority of the children, volunteer caretakers I took it, and they seemed to be taking the job seriously. Twilight came up to my side and looked at me with a confused face.

"I don't understand," she started, "where are all of these children's parents?"

Her innocence struck me so that all I could do was give a shake of my head and she seemed to understand, a look of sadness developing on her. Some of the occupants looked up to see us with tired and war torn faces, expressionlessly and silently they stared, and I knew the pain some of them felt on the inside. At that moment a human female approached us and gave the first smile I saw there, she had bright blonde hair with crystal blue eyes and she looked to be about my age.

"Well, hello and welcome to Camp D-24, my name is Katherine," the girl began, "I was told that your group had a possible volunteer for us and I have the pleasure of escorting you around."

She had a thick accent, hearty and filled with an odd cheer to it. She was a wealthy girl, she hadn't seen the war in person, her face still young and innocent. The youth of Karkland regularly volunteered for work when called upon, one of the only good changes during this age.

"Yes Katherine," I said, "My friend here, Nurse Red Heart, would like the tour of the medical facility."

The girl's eyes seemed to darken a bit, but she still held her tone.

"Of course! Now if you'll kindly follow me," she said to Red Heart before turning to us uneasily, " And I apologize but only volunteers and employees may enter the hospital area,"

"Oh, well what can we do in the meantime?" I asked, my plan now over so quickly.

"Well, I will come find you when I have the papers for the Nurse here filed, for now you may talk with some of the children, they like visitors," she said and went off with nurse Red Heart.

I turned around to talk to the group and found Dash right in my face, an angry look across hers.

"Whats the big deal! I thought we were going in?" she said rather loudly.

"Hey hey, calm down Dash. I know I said that, the plans have changed. Why don't you stay out here, you're really good at pep talks and such," I said and moved my head towards the camps many children.

She understood what I meant and she changed her attitude quick and flew off to one of the kids who was all alone in a corner. The others broke off in a flash as well, except for Fluttershy who took off at what would be a normal speed, leaving me with Twilight and Scootaloo.

"Welllll looks like its just us three!" Scootaloo said, a grin coming across her face.

"Oh no, you're staying here with everyone else. Why don't you go with Dash, play with some of the kids?" I suggested.

"Fine...I never get to do anything with you.." she pouted, but it was for the best.

As Scootaloo trotted away towards Dash I gave a quick thumbs up to Applejack to know she was off the hook. I then turned my attention to Twilight, who was staring off into the camp, looking at its occupants, not truly knowing how they got here. Her large purple eyes glistened in the bright sun, her mane swayed in the gentle breeze. As I looked at her I caught a little smile form on her and she blushed a tiny bit.

"You're really bad at being sneaky you know. I could see you looking a mile away," she laughed and looked back to me.

"Well what if I wasn't trying to hide it?" I asked. Her face reddened even more and she giggled.

"Got you," I said and gave her a friendly wink.

"Oh whatever," she said rolling her eyes, still blushing. "Why don't we walk around and talk before that girl comes to get us?" she suggested and I agreed with a nod of my head.

I looked around me, looking for a child that looked like they needed a talk the most. Twilight was looking with me as we both sat both our eyes on one boy in a wheelchair, sitting by himself on the outside of a tent. I didn't have to say anything to Twilight as she made her way after me. As I neared the boy, I looked him over better. He looked to be a couple years younger than me and he was holding something in his hands; I finally realized that it was folded repulser board. At least I had a conversation starter.

"Hey there buddy, how ya doin?" I said as I neared him, Twilight offered a big smile and said hello as well.

"Hi, I'm okay," he said blankly, almost as if he wasn't there.

"Whats your name bud? How old are you?" I tried again.

"I'm Corso, and I'm fourteen," he said. Twilight began to look uneasy as he answered short again, so I decided to bring out the board.

"Well Corso, that's a really nice repulser you got there. What model is it?" I asked, and I finally got something. His face shifted down to the board and back up to us, his hazel eyes seeming to glow.

"Uh, it's a Skyrider 20 XL; why? Do you ride too?" he asked this time.

"Well I used to, but all I had was a ol' hover board model, never got into the sky like yours," I said, smiling at myself for getting him interested.

"Well there's nothing wrong with hover boards, what happened to it?" he asked, now committed.

"Ah, well I lost it when I had to leave Karkland, woke up here in Equestria and I've been hoverless ever since," I explained vaguely.

"Yeah..this board is the only reason I'm here. Lost my family when I was twelve, been a 'feral' ever since, just riding around the country trying to get by on my own..and then I got into a stupid accident," he finished, his eyes getting heavy.

"Mind if I ask what happened Corso?" I asked.

"You can call me Core, that's what everyone called me. And no I don't mind, one day I was riding through a forest and just got too reckless. It was stupid, but my fault, I just slammed into a tree and fell and that was it. Good thing that caravan was passing through and I wouldn't have made it. I can't use my legs without mecha legs...and they hurt, haven't flown since," he finished.

I saw that he was upset but also relived to talk to another human, getting it off his chest. I gave him a smile and turned toward Twilight who looked to me with a warm face; she knew I had more to talk about than her. At that moment a light blue pegasus with an aqua mane swooped down from above, surprising Twilight and me, but gaining a slight smile from Core.

"Well, looks light someones been making friends, how are you doing honey?" the pegasus asked.

"Free Wind! Uh..yeah," he started, embarrassed, "This is...actually I don't know your names."

I gave a smirk as the pegasus, Free Wind, went over to Core and nuzzled him. He more or less tried to shrug it off, but the young mare simply smiled and continued. I could guess that she was his caretaker.

"Oh right, well my name is Evan and this here is my friend Twilight," I answered.

"Well hello to you two, glad to meet you!" Free Wind said, "So are you new here to the camp?"

I was confused at her question, then it dawned on me that she thought I was a refugee.

"Uh no, I actually live over in Ponyville, I'm just here visiting with friends," I said.

She seemed surprised but answered with a happy nod.

"Well, I just came back from Cloudsdale to get some food for a few days, and it's time for physical therapy for you Core. Do you have the legs on?" she asked, a hint of sadness in her voice now.

"When don't I, Free Wind?" Core sighed and lifted his pant leg up, showing a metal brace that gripped on his legs for support and slight ability to walk. He then stood up, rather wobbly, and began walking towards me, board in hand.

"You seem like a really good guy, and you know how to ride. So do me a favor and look after mine, I now know you live in Ponyville, so whenever I get better and can use my legs right, I'll come back and get it. Sound good?" he said.

"Uh, wow Core. That's a huge and sudden request, are you sure?" I asked, thrown off completely.

"Yeah, I'm sure. You lost yours, and I lost my legs for now. You seem like the trustworthy type, so do me the favor of not letting it collect dust alright?" he almost demanded.

"Yeah. Yeah I'll look after it Core. And it'll be waiting for you when you can ride again," I said and held out my hand, which he took and turn. Unknowing to him, I sent a burst of energy through him to give a little energy and relax his tired muscles; he needed it. After that he began making his way in the direction that he needed to go, leaving Free Wind here with us.

"Wow, he's very blunt but never have I seen him like that. I don't know what you did but he likes you, and that proves it," she said, pointing at the board.

"I don't really know what I did either, but humans make friends rather easily," I said.

"Well I'm glad to hear that...he's such a strong boy, but he hides everything in him, all of his past and pain," Free Wind said, real sadness coming out.

"I know that much to well, but don't worry, you're good to him. He'll come around soon enough," I said.

"I hope. I've been with him from camp to camp for the past couple of months and I love him like my own. I want him to be happy again," she said, her eyes brimmed with tears not fallen.

I was about to say something, but she perked up again in an instant.

"But I know one thing. One day, I'll get him out of here and I'm going to take care of him. I'm going to help him start new, a life filled with friends and happiness again. And even if he can't ever walk normally again...I can still help him fly," she said, a bright, hopeful smile spread across her face.

With that Twilight and I exchanged goodbyes with the pegasus as she went off after Core, asI looked at the newly acquired repulser board in my hands with admiration. Twilight prodded me with a hoof and I turned to see her beautiful eyes looking at me and I felt my heart skip a few beats.

"Want to go around some more, or do you just want to wait for the tour lady to come back?" she asked me, her smile bright.

"Actually Twi..I think Nurse Red Heart is right. She belongs here, these ponies are making a difference. I think I want to go home now, I've seen enough to know this is right," I said.

"I have too," a familiar voice said behind me. "And I'm glad you agree with me."

I turned to see Nurse Red Heart and the girl Katherine looking at us with the rest of our group with them. Katherine held a binder in her hands, which I guessed was paper work they had already done. Red Heart was set on this place with or without my approval. I got up and made my way with Twilight towards her and gave her a tight hug.

"Thank you for all you did for me Nurse Heart; thank you," I said.

"You don't have to thank me dear, but do me a favor and try to avoid getting into hospitals again please?" she smiled as she teased.

"I'll do my best, you know my luck...goodbye and good luck here, I know you'll make a difference," I finished as I let the rest of my friends say goodbye before we boarded the train to Ponyville again.

We all waved as the train chugged away, the camp and nurse soon out of view, the scenery of the landscape in view again. I sat down next to Twilight as the rest of the girls shared what they talked about and done with the children of Camp D-24, all of them happy with what they had done. I was busy looking at the board again, wondering if Core would live up to his word about coming to get it. Whether or not he would, I promised I would look after it, and I was going to. Scootaloo snapped me out of my thinking when she hopped up onto my lap.

"Ugh I can't wait to get home, I'm so tired, I just wanna sleep all day," she whined.

"You? Tired? That's strange. Well just take a nap here, Scoot," I said.

"Yeah, he's a pretty good pillow if I say so myself," Twilight said next to me, laying her head against me again.

Scootaloo laughed as my face turned red but quickly got tired herself and ended falling asleep herself on my lap. Stuck between sleeping filly and mare I couldn't do much but start to wonder off into my thoughts; the rhythm of the train seemed calming now for some reason. I found my eyes getting heavy as I began to drift off to sleep, the last thing I felt before I finally fell into slumber was a pair of warm, silky lips peck my cheek, then I caught an almost unheard whisper.

"I love you Evan," Twilight said.