A Lost Cause

As the two armored ponies made their way to the Apple family farm, Elite finally spoke a brief statement, "Don't be too harsh, with this, Shruko. We both know how... direct you can be."

Shruko brushed it off. "Sorry, there wasn't a 'letting down lightly' class in my training."

The family farm came in sight, and Shruko sighed. "Have you ever...wondered about why Discord hates ponies so much?" Said Shruko, trying to spark a conversation.

"How would I know? Aside from being trapped in stone... Twice, I guess he just decide to eradicate us. Of course, that wont work." Elite said, his helmet drawing back to show his face.

"Some even said he was Celestia's friend, then he went... Crazy." Elite gestured. He started panting as they got to the entrance to the barn, where Big Macintosh was getting ready for his day; He was injured again, so he had to work short hours.

"Hey Big Mac, you seen Applejack anywhere?" Big Mac nodded, and gestured towards the orchard.

"Thanks, tell Granny Smith I said hi, ya know, when her 5 hour nap gets interrupted by something; like it always does." Big Mac nodded again, and the pegasus and unicorn disappeared around the barn headed towards the orchard.By the time they got to Applejack, Elite had his head down and was sweating.

Shruko thought to himslf. "Elite may be tough... But he does have a pitch black coat. poor guy."

Applejack turned around. "Hey y'all! Back so soon? Is it over?". Shruko nodded.

"For now at least, We came here to tell you something...Very important." He said, taking his own helmet off

"What happened, Shruk? Who's that you got on your back there?" The orange mare asked.

"It's... It's..." Elite chimed in, but being to weak to talk, he had lost a lot of hydration. Again, pitch black coat, not a good thing.

"I got this, Elite, go get something to drink, I'll meet you at the castle." Elite nodded, put his helmet on, and flew up and sped of towards, what was gonna be a  water-hole, but that's another story, er, chapter.

"Well, Shruk, what happened, don't tell me any lies now, we are too good of friends to have lies between us."Applejack said, worried, partially for Elite, and partly who was on Shrukos back.

"True... Ok, here's who it is." Shruko said, setting the body down, and disengaging a lock on the outside that lets the helmet come off in the event of the suit becoming too hot on the inside and the inside mechanics melted, or if the solider inside is dead. The helmet came off with ease, and Applejack gasped, putting a hoof to her mouth and teared up.

"I-Its..." She muttered.

"Yes, it is Riku.. I'm sorry for your loss..." Shruko put the helmet back on Riku's dead body, and lifted it onto his back.

"The funeral will be in a week, would you like to say some words about him there?" Shruko asked, and Applejack simply just nodded.

"OK.. I'll be going now.. get some rest, please, you look exhausted." He said, his wings expanding.

"I will..." She said.

As Shruko lifted up he waved bye to her. She waved back."I'm on my way to the castle Elite, hurry up." Shruko said.

"Ok, *commander*" Elite said mockingly.

"Shut up." Shruko shot back, and raced towards Canterlot Castle.

--------------------------------------------End of Chapter 1.5, official end of Chapter 1------------------------------------