3: For The Glory Of...

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Station Echo 12. The first line of desert defense. The first place you were stationed.

The first thing you saw when you got off the bus was the emptiness. You were the first batch of soldiers in the camp. You didn't know what that would entail, but you knew you'd probably end up having to dig.

"Alright men! Your First assignment is to dig a trench out around the south perimeter! I want it 5 feet deep and 100 feet across the camp, hop to it! You never know when those griffin bastards are going to come!", a voice barked behind you.

You looked behind you to see the source of the dreaded order, you hated having to dig. It was a member of the royal guard, no big surprise there. Even the drill instructor in boot camp was a royal guard. You assumed most of the CO's out here are going to be since no one has had time to rank up yet.

Without you realizing it, the other recruits have left you behind and gone off to do their orders, leaving you accidentally staring down the royal officer.

"Since you decided to ignore your first standing orders, you can help the engineers set out the tank traps!", he says, pointing you to an assortment of metal bars welded together in trios.

"Yes sir!", you blurt out, quickly racing over to the contraptions, trying not to mess it up again. Well at least you didn't have to dig anymore.

"Hey there kid, since you got stuck with us you get to load up the tank traps on the trailer and push them off when we tell you.", a greasy engineer said to you, happy that he no longer was tasked alone with that particular job. Those things looked heavy as all hell.

After loading up the heavy metal chunks with the help of the other men there, you climb up on the back of the trailer, ready to drop off the things onto the would be battlefield. as you ride out into the desert, you can see guys a few yards in front of the trenches setting up barb wire, and in the opposite direction you can see two more APC's with trailers doing much of the same thing you're about to.

"Alright boys, drop the first one.", a man sitting at the front of the trailer instructs you.

You heave the first one out onto the ground with the same engineer from earlier across from you.

"So whats your name kid?", the dirty mechanic asks.

"Its (your name), what 'bout you mister?", you ask in return.

"The names Caramel, bud." he tells you.

"Alright boys, drop the next one.", you hear from the front of the trailer.

As you heave the next one into the sand, you decide to start up this time.

"So where ya from Caramel?", you ask him, just to relieve the silence.

"Ponyville, actually, its a nice place, a lot different from the desert out here.", You haven't been too many places outside of the desert, maybe you should look it up after the war.

"So why are we out here doing this? Shouldn't we be taking the fight to those bastards?", you inquire.

"Don't worry about that kid, they're coming.", he says to you ominously.

Besides some idle chat and getting to know each other, you dont really talk too much through the rest of your task. You like Caramel, he seems like a cool guy, must mean you guys are friends by now. Hopefully hes the first of many out here. Things seem like they could get boring quick.

The sun was hanging low in the sky when you got back to the camp with the empty trailer. getting off, you go to join the new recruits over by the newly created trench.

"Alright men, these trenches will be your new home, so get comfy, cause this is where you'll be sleeping tonight!",

You didn't like the sound of that at all, but it sorta made sense. If they were going to come in the night, you might as well be in position and ready to fight.

You attempt to settle into a spot in the trench and set down some of your belongings. A rifle, a canteen, and a sleeping pad are laid out underneath you with two others right beside it and so on down the line of that trench, better get to know the guys next to you, maybe in the morning though, the moon is starting to rise, and you sure want to get some sleep after heaving tank traps all day.

With one last look out into the desert, you see some mountains in the distance and barb wire obscuring the desert floor. You start to daze off into the sleeping pad.

....

An odd sound snaps you out of your slumber. Perking up from your prone position, you attempt to listen to it more closely.

whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrr...What the hell is tha-BOOOOOM

Twenty feet down the trench, an entire area is blown to hell, landing you on your ass with your ears ringing. Pieces of the soldiers who resided in that area rain down on you in a blood red mist, you can taste the blood and dirt.

Attempting to get up, you see the entire camp light up with gunfire towards the south. Every soldier is racing up to the front and raising their gun. Returning to your feet, you look over the side of the trench.

There were hundreds of them, all marching towards the camp. Tanks and technicals in tow. And they were all firing back too.

With a swift hand, you grab your gun and begin firing into the army on the other side of the borderlands. When your hearing returns, you hear most of the camp doing the same. Canons roar out against the onslaught, and AA guns chatter, attempting to keep the griffins out of the air. You do your best to keep your wits, but its hard, seeing the people around you fall and not get back up, and the bullets buzzing past you.

The battle continues with the griffins making headway, the camps firepower doing nothing to stop them. Eventually the creep up on the trench and cut through the barb wire separating the two sides. You don't think much of it, and keep firing until you see one fly into the air and land somewhere behind you.

Very close behind you. Right behind you.

The griffin pulls out his side arm, but you were faster. You take out your knife and quickly grab his hand and twist it out of the way so the two shots he fires end up in the dirt behind you, after hitting him with your left hand, you embed the knife into his shoulder and scramble out of the trench. Around you the griffins are engaging the other soldiers in the trenches, through your scrambling you can see the griffins getting the upper hand over a soldier, and shoot him in the stomach. You high tail it to the nearest spot you can think as good cover, a nearby APC.

Sliding to the ground behind it, you hear the hatch open, in it is Caramel.

"Hey kid, get in and man the gun. We got a battle to win.", he yells at you triumphantly.

You oblige and crawl up into the gunners position in the APC, attaching the ammo box, you unload it into the now griffin occupied trench while caramel directs the APC to a better position.

"Your doing great kid, keep at em!", he yells from the driver seat.

The AA guns have turned their attention to the ground, with most of the griffins to close to care about becoming airborne. As two of the enemy tanks roll over the trench, one of them gets obliterated by explosive flack rounds, with the other soon to follow. You continue to barrage the front line with fire from the turret.

After what seems like hours, the griffins who aren't dead, take to the retreat, leaving the camp full of broken equipment and dismembered bodies.

Covered in blood, dirt and gunpowder, you fall back into the APC absolutely drained.

Caramel pats you on the shoulder while parking the APC in what he thinks is a safe place

"Good job today kid, looks like we won this one." he congratulates you.

"Thanks, couldn't have done it without ya.", you say to your new found friend.

He smiles at you and lowers the back hatch. Stepping out into the new morning light.

Only to be met by a volley of shoots emanating from a lone griffin that didn't think to retreat with his comrades and was huddled beside a building shakily clutching his rifle.

"NOOO!", you yell as you catch Caramel when he falls backward into you. You look into his eyes and see that hes already dead, not even spared long enough for a last word.

You lay down his bullet ridden body and darkly stride towards the young griffin. He backs away from you with fear in his eyes and raises his rifle to you and aims, but...

Click...click...click

"No, please, I'm sorry,", he squeaks out in a cracking voice. trying to crawl away from your enraged figure.

But it falls on deaf ears, you no longer care for mercy as you pull out your sidearm and take aim at his head. This was much more personal, it wasn't like being behind the gun on that APC, you were going to look into this kids eyes when you kill him. He looked younger than you, he had tears in his eyes, pleading for you to spare him. You hesitated for a moment. You almost didn't do it.

With hate in your eyes you squeeze the trigger and then...

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BANG

The sudden interruption loudly jolts you out of bed.

"LYRA WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT TOUCHING THOSE!", you can hear Bon Bon yell on the other side of the house.

"Sorry, they just looked so cool.", you hear Lyra retort.

"Lyra, you could've killed somebody, who knows what the neighbors are thinking right now. And on top of all that there's a hole in the floor now." Bon Bon gripes.

"I'm sorry Bon Bon, Ill fix it, I promise." Lyra replies.

"Alright, well go get our guest and see if he wants to help with breakfast.", with the thought of food, you rise out of bed and head towards the rooms door.

The door opens before you reach the knob. Revealing Lyra on the other side.

"Hehe, sorry did I wake you?", she says as she gives you an innocent smile.

"I reckon you just woke half of Ponyville with that .45.", you joke.

"I'm sorry! I wont mess with it any more! We washed your clothes for you by the way.",

"Well that's mighty kind of you, I hear you need some help making breakfast." you tell her.

"Well you heard right!", she smiles at you.

Bringing you into the kitchen, she begins to make some pancakes and eggs, with your assistance of course. By the end of your task Bon Bon walks into the kitchen and sits down at the table as you put out their dishes.

"I apologize for my behavior yesterday. But you were quite filthy.", Bon Bon tells you.

"Don't you fret none, I completely understand, thank y'all for your hospitality again.", you tell her.

"You are quite welcome to our home, you may stay as long as you like. However if you decide on a more permanent residency here, don't be insulted if we ask you to help with the rent a bit.", Coming from Bon Bon, that sounded like the nicest thing any one could do for you. You liked Bon Bon as well, she seemed more refined than Lyra, but just as polite.

"We wouldn't mind you staying one bit.", Lyra pipes in as she smiles at you coyly. Bon Bon just rolls her eyes at her playfully.

"Well, I certainly cant be staying here if i ain't got a job. Y'all know anywhere 'round town?", you tell them.

"I'm sure the princess has something for you, shes always has something new shes trying to do to build this town up and keep it safer.", Lyra tells you.

"Ill take you to the library to see her if you'd like!" she continues.

"That sounds like a plan.", you tell her.

After breakfast you help Lyra put away all the dishes. Then you put on your other clothes. A pair of combat boots, Your old uniform pants, a shirt padded with Kevlar across the chest, abdomen, back and shoulders, and finally the cape you wear over it to keep the dust out. Suiting up, you head out the door with Lyra leading you to the library.

"So what do you think Luna'll have in mind?", you ask Lyra.

"I don't know, she has a lot of random things she orders of the people that usually come to her. Bon Bon cooks for a restaurant, and I make music and play in shows we have in town sometimes, so we don't really need to see Luna much, so you'll just have to find out."

After a short walk, you end up at what Lyra says is the library, it looks more like a giant tree with a door and windows. She knocks on it.

A girl with purple hair with a pink streak down the center and with her bangs cut across opens the door.

"Oh hey Lyra, what do you need?", the girl says.

"I met this guy yesterday, his name's (your name). Hes looking for a job and me and Bon Bon thought that the princess could use him. What do you think Twilight?", Lyra tells her.

"Actually, the princess has been looking for someone for something special she really needs done, come on in.", Twilight says, as she leads the two of you into the library.

Wow. you're actually going to meet Princess Luna, one of the royal sisters. You always thought she was the more beautiful one ever since she returned from her banishment, and would always hope she'd come to you in a dream one day.

Twilight enters a separate room in the library, and peeking over her shoulder you see the majestic princess, sitting at a desk, looking over files with a bored look on her face.

"Princess? There's a man here that wishes to help you with those things you told me you needed.", Twilight tells her.

"Marvelous, send him in immediately.", her voice is just as amazing as she is.

Twilight motions you to come talk with her and you oblige, leaving Twilight and Lyra outside of the room. The door shuts behind you. You bow to her majesty.

"Rise soldier, I had sensed you last night, you seem quite troubled by your past which we must address later, however, I remark thee on your past duty and humbly thank thee for thy sacrifice.", she oh so beautifully tells you.

"Thank you ma'am, and let me just say what an honor it is to finally meet you.", you say, trying not to mess up the encounter.

"Likewise, but to the point. I require your particular skill set for a task this town greatly needs. Last week, the town generator overheated, and in the process severely damaged the gem, conversion core. Repairs have been made but the core must be replaced. The second thing we need are the basic components to a water enchanting talisman, so that we may reuse water, since our demand is much higher with the addition of the second farm. I will require of you to go to the city of Manehattan to retrieve these objects. I have the general location of the manufacturing facility that created them, all i need from you is to retrieve them, I do not know of the state of the city, so i will be sending with you two capable escorts. What do you say soldier." she says as she looks at you in an expectant manner, but almost as if shes very afraid you'd say no.

Normally, being forced out of this paradise into the dark, war torn country-side will elicit a very violent counter-reaction of refusal from you. But this is the Princess of the Night, how in Equestria could you possibly say no?

"It would be my pleasure to help you with this your majesty." you say as enthusiastically as you can manage.

"Marvelous, I will have your supplies and team assembled by the evening, you shall leave on the morrow! Thank you again dear soldier, I know not how I will repay you.", she says to you genuinely.

"Think nothing of it, Princess.", you say as you tip the hat you don't have yet again and turn around to leave the room.

Seems like there ain't no rest for the wicked, you thought.