Into the Fray

Chapters

Ch1: Welcome to Fillynam
Ch2: The Calm
Ch3: Acrimonious Engagement
War Time (WIP, Progress Currently Halted)

Ch1: Welcome to Fillynam

“And though I wish not to interfere with the nations of other ponies, the situation in Fillynam has escalated to a point that cannot be ignored by those who care. The constant government abuse dealt by the Fillynam government to its citizens has reached a breaking point and caused a civil war. The Fillynam government has used this war as an excuse to kill those that oppose them, which is the majority of the nation. It is time, my fellow Equestrians, to step in and deal with the matter. At an unannounced point this week, Equestrian Royal Marines will storm the shores of Fillynam and aid the rebels. We will NOT take a combative stance from the get-go. If the Fillynam Army decides to attack, then we will have no choice but to attack back. And with this, I conclude my speech on the Fillynam crisis; goodbye for now my faithful Equestrians.”

-Princess Celestia, 17-02-1963

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Carousel Boutique, 19-02-1963

Rarity had just gotten an order finished for an important client of hers. the customer had just walked out the door with her new dress when Sweetie-Belle came in the room.

“I’m booored!” She exclaimed, having done nothing all day aside look out the window while Rarity put the final touches on the dress.

“Hmm, why don’t you make yourself useful and get me the mail?” She asked her.

“Uggggggh, fine!” With that, Sweetie-Belle left the room to retrieve the mail for Rarity.

Rarity then walked over to her television. She had just bought it a week ago, at a price though, since they were introduced into the markets about a month prior to her purchasing hers. She used her magic to press the on button, feeling lazy because of the rush to finish the dress earlier that morning. It was a news report on the concerns Canterlot citizens had with Celestia’s speech two days before.

“Oh what complaining. She’s the princess, she can decide what to do with her Army. Besides, I support her decision; the Fillynam slaughterings must simply meet their end. How could any government DO such a thing to the citizens?”

By this time Sweetie-Belle had returned, using her magic to carry the mail.

“Here you go big sis!” She said, full of energy because she actually got to do something.

“Thank you dear, why don’t you cleaning my crafting room. If you do I promise to talk you out through the town today,” Rarity said, using her magic to get the mail from Sweetie-Belle.

Sweetie-Belle’s face lit up; “Really? Let me do that then!” With that, she left the room and went downstairs to clean the crafting room.

“Ah, lets see what we have today, junk, junk, junk, ju-...” Rarity completely stopped when she saw a small, olive card with “Equestrian Royal Marine Corps” printed in stencil in black lettering. She flipped the card over, and read the small, black stencil words.
“Rarity, you are summoned by the ERMC to appear at the Ponyville Bus Depot on 21-02-1963 at 100 hours (1 AM). This is a draft card, and failure to appear will result in imprisonment. Signed, General Arshings”
By the time she had finished reading, tears were streaming down her face. “B-but, I don’t want to be drafted. I want the slaughter to end yes, but, I don’t want to do it myself, it’s wayy too filthy.”
Then panic and frustration kicked in at the same time. “WHY CELESTIA?! WHY WHY WHY! I’M NO SOLDIER, I’M A TAILOR! I DON’T DESERVE TO BE DRAGGED INTO THAT DIRTY LAND TO SEPARATE REBELS AND MONSTERS!” She then slumped to the floor and sobbed.
Sweetie-Belle had walked in halfway through Rarity’s fit. “W-what’s wrong big sis? Why are you crying?”

Rarity quieted down to whimpers and looked up, eyes red already from the crying. She tried to talk, but nothing came out. After a few more minutes of crying, she got up and walked to her phone.
“Sweetie-Belle, dear, could you please go back downstairs? I’m okay, I- I just got scared for a second. I’m going to call mom and make it all better though.”
Sweetie-Belle responded, “Yes big sister,” hugged Rarity, then left to go back downstairs.
Rarity then called her mother, not wanting to share the news, but wanting to at the same time.

Her mom picked up after three rings. “Hello?”

“Yes, mother, it’s Rarity. I... I got drafted into the Royal Marines...”
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Ponyville Bus Depot, 21-02-1963

There were about twenty other ponies here at the depot. Nopony had to ask why there was a large group at the bus depot at one in the morning, they all knew. Some had socialized, others sat and stared into space. Nopony dared to cry, in fear that the bus would arrive to them crying. At exactly 100 hours, a bus pulled into the lot. It was a shiny silver coach bus with a red stripe down the side. Inside the stripe in yellow letters read “Equestrian Royal Marine Corps”. The bus came to a halt and a tall, muscular, brown pony wearing a service uniform Class C, thick black web belt with a large brass buckle across his naval line, and brown campaign cover got off the bus. Almost instantly he let all of them know who was boss.

“GET YOUR ASSES ON THIS BUS! LET'S MOVE, MOVE, WE AIN’T GOT ALL NIGHT! GET YOUR BAGS AND GET ON THIS BUS GODDAMNIT! DO WE LOOK LIKE A HIRED SERVICE?! YOU’RE OUR HIRED SERVICE, AND WE’RE VERY DEMANDING. MOVE DAMNIT MOVE!”

It didn’t take long for everypony to rush onto the bus. The bus was filled with about forty other ponies soon to go through hell. Rarity sat down next to a golden pony with an orange mane and tail who was from Ponyville. She had seen her a couple of times here and there around town.

“Excuse me, but you seem oddly familiar,” the golden pony said.

“I- I don’t think we know each other,” Rarity replied.

“No, I remember you. You’re that dressmaker that called my hair color ugly.” The golden pony said, slight tone of anger in her voice.

“Oh, yea... I do say I’m terribly sorry about that. I didn’t mean to offend you, I just didn’t like the way my hair looked when it was green,” Rarity said nervously.

The golden pony sighed. “Oh well, guess I’ll have to let it go, since we’re now having to be allies. My name’s Carrot Top by the way.”

“Mine is Rarity. Even though the circumstances aren’t the best, it’s nice to meet you.”

Rarity just barely got the sentence out when the brown pony got on the bus. He again, showed who was boss.

“ALRIGHT EVERYPONY, LISTEN UP. WE’RE ON OUR WAY TO CAMP PONYTON FOR BASIC RECRUIT TRAINING, OR BOOT CAMP. YOU WILL ALL STAY QUITE DURING THIS TRIP, DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!”

The ponies on the bus replied, “Sir yes sir.”

“WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?! SOUND OFF LIKE YA GOT A PAIR!”

“Sir, Yes sir!”

And with that, the bus began to drive to Camp Ponyton.
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Camp Ponyton Groomers, 21-02-1963

All the ponies were getting their manes shaved off, and their tails down to one one foot. All; including Rarity.

“You honestly expect you to do that to me?! Heavens no, I’m a lady, and we love our hair.” She turned around only to see the brown pony staring her down.

“One second thought, just make it quick.”

She shed silent tears during the ordeal, but not too long later, she had no mane and her tail was about one foot long. She got off the seat and went through the door marked “Fresh Maggots”.
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Camp Ponyton Barracks 12, 21-02-1963

Barracks 12, a one story building. There were four rooms, the sleeping quarters, the head, the hall, and the Senior Drill Instructor’s bunk. Upon entry you would be in a small hall. To the left is the SDI’s bunk, the right is the head, which has thirty showers, thirty toilets, and ten sinks. Then straight down the hall was two double doors, which lead to the barracks. The sleeping quarters was a large rectangular room with two support beams in the middle, one a fourth of the way into the room, a second three fourths into the room. There were thirty bunk beds, fifteen on each long wall. Each bunk bed had two footlockers at their feet. All sixty ponies we lined up, standing at attention. They were taught by the brown pony after getting the haircuts, who identified himself as Sergeant Maverik. He also assigned their bunks. The ponies were also in two lines in front of those bunks, thirty to each long wall. Sergeant Maverik and another pony, a mint pony named Staff Sergeant Vicky, who was wearing the same thing as Maverik, were on both sides of the entrance to the sleeping quarters standing at parade rest. After about five or ten minutes of standing like this, the double doors opened and a gray pony entered. He was wearing a Class A Service Uniform, thick black leather belt with a brass buckle across his naval line, and brown campaign cover, and had medals above his left breast pocket.

He broke the silence with a firm voice while walking along the lines. “Good morning maggots. I am your Senior Drill Instructor, Gunnery Sergeant Kudrick. To start off, the first and last things out of your filthy portholes when addressing me will be ‘Sir’, do you maggots understand?”

“Sir, yes sir.”

“Bullshit! Sound off like you got a pair.”

“Sir, yes sir!”

“Bullshit I still can’t hear you!”

“Sir, Yes Sir!”

“That’ll do for now. Drill Instructors Maverik and Vicky will now take over and teach you how to wear your utilities. After that you are to report to The Grinder. Can’t miss it, giant black top area with sixty hoof prints in yellow on the ground, just down the road to the left. Is that understood?”

“Sir, Yes Sir!”

With that, Kudrick left the sleeping quarters.
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Canterlot AFB, 05-12-1963

The new rifleponies stood waiting to board their C-130s. Some were being sent to other countries. Some were being deployed around Equestria. Most of them, however, were being sent to Fillynam. Rarity was one of those being sent to Fillynam. She stood next to her battle-buddy, Carrot Top. They decided to become battle-buddies during boot camp. This meant they would be deployed together as a team. Every Equestrian Marine had a battle-buddy they went everywhere with.

A Sergeant Major entered the room and spoke up. “Those going to any foreign country other than Fillynam follow me. The rest, stand at, ease!”

Most of them moved to the At Ease position, while some exited the room and followed the Sergeant Major. When the last pony exited, she let the doors close behind her. Rarity saw herself in a large mirror on one of the walls.

“What happened to you, sweetums?” She thought to herself, looking at how she stood there, in a military position, wearing her OG-107 shirt, jungle trousers, and leather boots. “This just isn’t you. You’re not a killer, you’re a designer. I guess you have to be one now.”

After half an hour, the Sergeant Major came back. “Those being deployed around Equestria, follow me this way.”

Another small chunk of ponies left, the doors closing behind them. This time it only took about twenty minutes. In that time, Rarity kept thinking about how her life has been completely changed. She would be stuck in Fillynam for the next year, not being able to see her family or friends. Just as she started to think about where she might go in Fillynam. the Sergeant Major returned.

“You all will be deployed to Fillynam. Like it or not, that’s where you’re going. We have a C-130 awaiting for you all on the blacktop. Follow me this way.”
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74 miles Southeast of Ke Sanh, 05-12-1963

“Yo, Dash, having fun yet?” asked Mikey

“Hardly,” she replied, “It’s too fucking hot in this goddamn country, and this pig is too fucking heavy.”

“Ahh it’ll get better, been here since we first deployed, third plane to land in this country. Besides, you’re a Lance Corporal, you’ve still got some growing time,” said Mikey

“Yeah I guess,” replied Dash, readjusting the way she was holding her M60, “I just hope there’s some room for a goddamn corporal, I’m this close to promotion.”
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Da Nang Air Base, 07-12-1963

Rarity and her group had just landed and stood on the blacktop at attention for three hours while command decided who goes where. She and Carrot Top were being sent to a minor installation, a camp in the hills North of Ke Sahn.
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Ke Sanh Marine Base, 25-12-1963

All of the marines were gathering inside the base, including the small camps in the Northern hills. MPs were the only ones not gathering. They were patrolling the base and camps’ perimeters.

“When do you think the festivities will begin?” asked Rarity to Carrot Top.

“Hm, not sure,” she replied.

A distance away, Rainbow Dash was talking with Mikey, her battle buddy. She was extremely excited about her recent promotion to corporal, and Mikey, a corporal himself, was excited for her. Then, she spotted and white pony with a purple tail a ways away.

“No shit,” she said as she started walking towards her. As she got within talking range, she notice the three diamonds on her flank. “No shit Rarity.”

Rarity turned her head, only to see Rainbow Dash before her, soldierized too, no mane and foot-long tail. “Dash!” she exclaimed, running to her and hugging her.

“Um, am I missing something here?” Mikey asked.

Carrot Top shrugged. “Dunno.”

Dash, having finished the embrace, turned to Mikey. “This is Rarity, my friend outta Ponyville, remember that one I mentioned, fancy, dressy, the sorts?”

Mikey thought. “Oh yeah! Rarity!” He turned towards Rarity. “She’d mentioned you when we were still in boot. I’m her battle, Mikey, by the way.”

“Nice meeting you,” replied Rarity. “This is my battle, Carrot Top.”

After greeting each other, they all began to talk. Shortly afterwards, an announcement was made saying that a feast was ready in the mess. Everypony rushed to the mess hall, but many had to wait outside. The entire ordeal took most of the day. After their feast, the ponies got to call home, which took up the rest of the day. Dash got to call Scootaloo and her ‘friend’ Applejack, who was 1st Cavalry with the Army, which was deployed near Saigon at the time. Rarity was able to get the phone after Dash. She called Sweetie Belle, who was with their parents. She also got to speak to her parents and asked them to keep the shop clean while she was overseas. Mikey called home as well, but Carrot Top didn’t use the phones with no reason.
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Ke Sanh Camp Charlie(In the Northern Hills), 13-03-1964

With nothing but sitting around camp, Fillynam wasn’t too bad of a time for Rarity. The camps did nothing but have guard duty in the camps guard towers to help with security for Ke Sanh and do PT (Physical Training). The Marines in Ke Sanh were the ones who went out and patrolled the jungle. Ke Sanh was near the Northern border of Fillynam, thus it didn’t see any action. Those who saw the most action were those in or near major cities or decent sized towns. The cities saw skirmishes that Equestrians were late to and the towns were receiving Equestrian aid. The only town/village under Equestrian aid attacked by the Fillynam Army was one that had the Equestrian Army and Air Force exit a week before the attack. After the enemy, who lost almost all of their fighters, pushed the town's militia out temporarily, the 3rd Infantry Division for the Equestrian Army re-entered the town in M113 APCs, guarded by Patton tanks. Seeing this, the commanders for the Fillynam forces near the town discreetly fled. So far, for the entire year and month that Equestria had entered FIllynam, only five Equestrians were killed, and twenty-two wounded, and those were from accidents.
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Ke Sanh Marine Base, 18-04-1964

When she wasn’t on patrol in the jungles or doing PT, Rainbow Dash spent her time joking around with Mikey and the rest of the platoon. They would do all sorts of stuff. One time, Dash and another pegasus had an airborne jousting competition, which Dash won. Today, Mikey and all the other colts in the platoon were playing basketball while the mares drank water and watched. Dash opened a C-Rat B-1 kit, which contained seven crackers and two chocolate dishes (solid chocolate).

“You sure you wanna waste that when you can go to the mess?” asked a mare a ways down.

“It’s not like I ever eat this stuff on missions, I have plenty of B-1s in my footlocker,” Dash replied.

A colt overheard this and stepped to the sideline. “Hey I’ll trade you a D-2 (poundcake) for two or three B-1s.”

“Hm, a D-2 and a D-1 peaches (sliced) for four B-1s,” replied Dash.

“Deal,” said the colt, who then re-joined the game.
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Ke Sanh Camp Charlie, 16-07-1964

Many had been forgetting that a war was going on in the country. Aside the fighting in populated areas, the country had a lax mist in the air. Nopony really believed they would fight. However, some minds have changed due to the afternoon broadcast of Sun and Moon, a military news agency. They were reporting what many hoped wouldn’t happen, a direct conflict between Equestria and Fillynam. Earlier in the morning, three torpedo boats launched a failed attack on an Equestria aircraft carrier. Around midday, three more torpedo boats attempted to attack a battleship else were.

“It just scares me though, you know,” said Carrot Top to Rarity. “What if it becomes infantry vs infantry?”

“It’ll be fine dear,” replied Rarity in a soothing voice. “Even if it does, we most likely won’t see much if anything since we’re out here in nowhere.”

“Still, our year is almost up, and I know you want to extend, but I’m just not a fan of it with the recent events,” said Carrot Top.

“We can talk about that later. For now, let’s go get some food, spend some of our cash that we never really use eh?” said Rarity, leaving the hooch (barrack) with Carrot Top.

Ch2: The Calm

Bien Hoa Air Base (Equestrian in Fillynam), 01-11-1964

In the early hours of November 1st, 1965, a guerrilla force called the FillyCong, who were untrained fighters that supported the government and fought for them, launched a surprise attack on this Equestrian Air Base. Of its three runways, one was put out of service, and another was damaged enough to temporarily be out of service. There were also four Equestrians killed in the attack. This event infuriated the soldiers in Fillynam, but no changes in patrol patterns were made.
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Dash’s Hooch, 30-11-1964

“I think me and Carrot Top are going to extend,” said Rarity to Dash.

“What?!” Exclaimed Dash, who swore that Rarity would leave ASAP.

“She’s really mad about that air base, we heard it over the Sun and Moon radio. She has it in her heart to avenge those four killed, and she’s also been inspired by those naval attacks on Equestrian ships; I don’t want to be the thing to stop her. We’ve both decided to extend by two years,” explained Rarity.

“Yeah, me and Mikey did the same thing. Not for avenging though. We did it because no other spots are available other than Fillynam,” said Dash.

The radio interrupted, “That was Yesterday by the Beatles, and this is FIMR your number one voted military radio in FIllynam. If you call it, we’ll play it. This is a shoutout song to Private First Class Whooves by her family back home, Eve of Destruction by Barry McGuire; enjoy Whooves and those listeners out there.” The song started playing.

“Yeah, we may be on the eve of destruction, we may not. Even if we are, even if we’re distanced, even if I’m relocated, I’ll be beside you, and I’m only a short walk away,” said Rainbow Dash.

“Yeah, I may have to walk frequently; good exercise,” said Rarity. For the rest of the afternoon until about 2000 hours Rarity, Dash, and the rest of the mares and fillies in the hooch sat and talked. Some cleaned their rifles, others gossiped about the stuff in their magazines. After California Girls by The Beach Boys finished playing, Rarity left Ke Sanh and walked back to her camp.
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Pleiku Air Base, 07-02-1965

Another Equestrian air base was victim of a surprise assault by the FillyCong. This one, however, was deadlier than Bien Hoa. Eight Equestrians were killed, and over one hundred were wounded. All runways were put out of commission for at least a week, the base’s security measures were destroyed, and troops started becoming enraged. They all started wanting to kill those responsible for both attacks.
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Saigon (Outside the Equestrian Embassy), 30-03-1965

It was early in the morning, the sun barely lighting the dark sky, when Marine MPs got a call of suspicious activity a few blocks southwest of the embassy at the local eatery. As Corporal Bunker and Sergeant Pillbox got out of their vehicle, automatic fire rang out. Bunker, who was getting out of the passenger side (facing the eatery door and windows), was killed in seconds. FillyCong fighters stormed out of the eatery and other buildings. Pillbox showed no resistance, throwing his pistol down and rushing to get to Bunker. The FillyCong fighters pulled him off of Bunker and slit his throat and threw him down next to Bunker. For hours after this, the embassy was on lockdown and Marines were in door-to-door combat with the fighters. Around midday, Equestria Army 2nd Infantry entered the area to aid the Marine Company, who had lost a good number of soldiers in the attack. Before dinner time rolled around, the FillyCong fighters were killed off (375), thirteen army & sixteen marines were injured, and four army & twenty-seven marines were killed. The attack enraged all of the Equestrian soldiers in the world and made the Equestrian public support the war effort. Patrols thickened and covered more area. The CIA even began operations in Fillynam, though EMI (Equestrian Military Intelligence) was still the primary intelligence supplier. The Marine Corps increased their drafting, but the army didn’t start drafting even after the embassy attack.
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Ke Sanh, 02-04-1965

It was activity day again for those in Ke Sanh, but today, unlike others, Camp Charlie members had their turn to be on-base for the day. While the stallions were playing football (American), the mares sat on the sideline and talked or whistled at stallions that passed, since most had removed their jungle jackets (which had just been recently given to those in Fillaynam) and undershirts.

Rarity, Dash, and Carrot Top were all seated in a group with a couple of other mares from Ke Sanh. Everypony was having a good time. It was even better for the mares when an argument between two stallions led to a fight, which ended in one stallion having his trousers fall down (since he took his belt off earlier in the game) and is boxers ripped in the side. MPs were quick to arrive and took the two away, and the game resumed.

“So how’s the hill camps?” Dash asked Rarity, “I’ve always wondered what it is like.

“Not so grand. If we’re not doing guard duty or doing PT, we mainly sit around and talk or maintenance our gear. Two mares three tents down from us were busted with pot yesterday,” she replied.

“Oh man; I bet the MPs tore them up,” Dash said.

“Oh no, their Command Sergeant Major busted them.”

“Daaaaaaaaaaaamn. I bet they really hate their lives right now.”

After an hour, the game was winding down. A mare that designated herself as referee was laying down a call.

“Offsides, Bare backs, five yar-”

An explosion rocked the field.

Immediately, everypony ran to where their gear was laid out. The stallions didn’t even try to put their shirts or jackets back on, they just went straight for their gear and rifles. Rarity and Dash split up so that they could get their gear. The raid siren started up, piercing the air with its screeches. Seconds afterwards, another explosion shook the ground, and three other raid sirens joined the fray. This was a major issue, as there were four camps; one couldn’t activate its siren.

The next minute was absolute hell. Every Marine in Ke Sanh was mobile and running to their guard stations. NCOs were yelling, sirens were piercing the air, explosions rattled the ground, and every step Rarity took made her tremble. Her and Carrot Top’s post was the gate that had a path leading to Camp Charlie. As they reached the bunker, a machine gunner had already occupied the bunker’s mounted M60. The sirens died down so that troops could hear. For what seemed like an eternity, all was quiet. It lasted only seven seconds, though. Ponies could be seen charging down the hill from the camp. The gunner opened up, as did Carrot Top. Rarity raised her rifle and took aim. She picked a pony out, he was wearing civilian clothes, but was charging with an AK47. She pulled. Two rounds came out of her rifle. The first hit the colt in his shoulder, spinning him around. The second hit him in the neck, an explosion of pink mist splattered out of his neck as he fell to the ground. Rarity started to shake violently. She just killed a pony. Fear filled her, and she started to tear. Then, a stallion jumped over the corpse, and Rarity shot him by instinct. Four rounds hit him in the chest, not as bad as the first. Then, wetness splattered her right side as screaming of bloody murder filled the bunker. She looked to the gunner. He was laying on the ground, not wearing his fragmentation vest, his entire left chest a mush of blood, meat, and bone fragments.

Carrot Top faced the door and yelled as loud as she could, “MEDIC!” She then faced the slit and began firing again.

A medic entered the bunker and started to treat him. Shortly after, a big, meaty Staff Sergeant entered. His rifle looked like a twig to him, Rarity thought.

“YOU, GET ON THAT 60!” He yelled at Rarity.

“AYE SIR!” She yelled back, slinging her rifle and occupying the machine gun.

She pulled the trigger, and the gun let loose. It vibrated harder than the helicopters during turbulence that she experienced during training. She tried to stop, but she couldn’t. When she saw a pony drop, she moved to the next one. One pony had her arm fly off, but Rarity paid no attention to it. The killer instinct that she absorbed during training had kicked in, and she only cared about dropping as many ponies as possible.

After a minute of firing, her body was filled with a tingling sensation. It took her a second to realize that the 60 had finished off its belt and stopped firing. She didn’t know how to reload it, but gunfire all around had stopped. No ponies continued charging down the hill. Even the explosions stopped.

It had been about eight minutes from the first explosion to the last bullet shot.

After recuperating, Rarity’s company went to their camp. They stayed off the path, and stayed kneeled the entire way up, ready just in case there were enemies left. Rarity couldn’t help but noticed the bodies that laid dead and torn on the ground.

Camp Charlie was the base that hadn’t deployed its siren. Every MP in the camp was laying dead, and a good portion of the camp laid destroyed. Fortunately, Rarity’s tent was still semi-standing.

Her company commander started talking. “I want the Equestrian bodies in Tent 5, and get all of your belongings into your footlocker, 5 tons (flatbed trucks) will be here in ten minutes.” They were to stay in temporary tents erected in the field that was used to play football, along with Ke Sanh members and camp members that lost their hooch or tent in the attack. Twenty four were evacuated to the nearest hospital, and seventeen body bags laid in the multi-purpose building. On the radio, Rarity heard that the army started drafting again. She also learned that the ponies attacking were FillyCong. The war had begun....
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Da Nang Airbase, 15-08-1965

Twilight Sparkle was sitting in an ACed tent, waiting for word on where she was to go. She was asked by Celestia to enter the Army Officer Corps. She did, and after completing basic, cavalry training, and OCS, she was sent to Fillynam. While the grunts stood on the blacktop in formation, she was sitting in a folding chair in a cooled tent. She finally got word two hours later. She was to be deployed to Forward Operating Base Saigon, four miles Southwest of Saigon. Her and the 1st Cavalry Airmobile were to load up in 5 tons in twenty minutes, and would be situated in the base before nightfall.
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Dash’s Hooch, 15-08-1965

Rainbow Dash sighed. “I just wish these mares or colts would work with me here. Everypony I’ve tried for, I got nothing. Closest I’ve gotten to what felt right was with AJ, which ended whenever we had that night where I tried to tease her. Fucking life.”

“I’m sorry Dashie, maybe you’ll get lucky after this war. Good things comes to those who wait,” Rarity said while hugging Dash to try and comfort her.

“Yeah, sounds crappy. I wouldn’t even know the feel though. I’ve just spent my time on my farm trying to make a living. Some living it’s turned to be, huh?” said Carrot Top.

“Yeah. I don’t know about you all, but I wasn’t really made for this kind of stuff,” said a unicorn towards the rear of the hooch smoking a cigarette.

A mosquito bit Rainbow Dash. “Goddamnit! There’s a tear in the screens somewhere!”

“No, that was me, sorry,” said Mikey, who just entered the hooch.

“Way to knock on a ladies’ hooch Mikey,” said Dash.

“Ain’t got time for knocking, I’ve come to give y’all a heads up, and Dash a note.”

“What is it?” They all asked.

“Now this isn’t confirmed, but rumor has it we’ll be doing a mission with 3rd Infantry Division of the Army in a few days twenty five miles north of Saigon. I don’t know when though. It could be a span from tomorrow to a week from now. Dash, I’m here because of that. Here, take this.” He handed her a piece of paper that had a red tab on it.

“Why are you writing your death note?” Dash asked?

“I’m point man for both MC and Army if this things launches,” he replied.

“Oh...” Dash said, looking depressed at the fact.

“Hey, don’t worry about it kid.” He ruffled the fuzz on her hair.

“Hey! Knock it out!” She giggled and shooed his arm off.

“You mares sleep well, and make sure your gear is prepped,” Mikey said to the hooch.

“Bye Mikey/Mike/Michael,” the hooch replied, not everypony using the same name for Mikey. With that, he left for his hooch.

“I guess we should get back to our camp to assemble our gear,” Rarity said to Dash.

“Okay, I guess I should arrange mine too,” Dash replied.

Rarity then got up with Carrot Top and left to walk back to their camp, which had been repaired physically from the failed siege of Ke Sanh.
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FOB Saigon, 16-08-1965

Twilight was awoke by the sound of helicopters taking off. When she left the officers’ quarters, which was an apartment building, she saw members of the 3rd ID (Infantry Division) moving about in utility uniforms to the mess hall. Twilight looked at her watch, 400 hours. “Too early,” she said, and returned to her room. About an hour later she was again awoken from the sounds of chatter and laughter. She looked out her window sleepily and saw 3rd ID in their gear and with their weapons. Twilight went outside to try and find their commanding officer.

“Hey sweetheat!”

“Hey baby, turn around!”

“Aw damn, dat flank!”

Twilight was about to turn around to yell at them, but it was about this time she realized that she took her jammies off before falling asleep. Heavily blushing and embarrassed, she ran back to her room and threw her jammies and slippers on. When she went outside again, her jammie pants almost fell down from the force of the Huey rotor blades. Hueys had just landed and the 3rd ID members were mounting up. Guess she wouldn’t know until the daily briefing. With lack of sleep and remaining embarrassment, she went back her room and slept until morning.

When she woke up, she put on her dress uniform Class B and went to the Briefing Barrack. It was there that they were informed that 3rd ID and Marines were patrolling an area north of Saigon. Those IDs remaining on base were to continue their weekly plans. 1st Cav was to become acquainted with the facility. They all got up to leave except for 1st Cav Colonel Moore and the Base Commander. Twilight was the last to leave, but before she got out of the doorway, the colonel spoke up.

“And Ms. Sparkle, refrain from giving ID a show. How you feel at night is your business, but I don’t want to hear of you roaming base in the nude again. Are we clear?”

“Yes sir,” she replied sheepishly.

“Speak like you have some confidence. Resume your daily plans.”

She quickly left after that, searching for her company commander to get the daily plans.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FOB Saigon, 16-08-1965

Sparkle had just gotten the daily plans for her platoon. Though 1st Cavalry was supposed to be familiarizing themselves with the base, they had new orders to rehearse helicopter assault, also known as airmobility. She set out to find her platoon sergeant.

From across an open patch of concrete, she could hear a pony speaking at her formation with an elevated voice. When Twilight looked over, she saw her platoon. She decided to head on over to read off the plans and meet her platoon sergeant, which she was unable to meet until this moment. When she got closer, she saw everypony in their utility uniforms and wearing their olive headgear (ranging from a military version of the ball cap to bandanas to wool caps). Then she saw an orange pony walk in front of the formation, still speaking loudly. She was in utilities too, but she was wearing her Cavalry Stetson. She had a Sergeant First Class rank on her sleeves, and she looked very familiar to Twilight. The SFC noticed Twilight and immediately turned to her and saluted her.

“Lieutenant Sparkle,” she said before dropping her salute.

Twilight turned towards the formation. “Alright listen up everypony,” she said, “Today we’re going to be practicing air assault again. I know you all have been working on the same procedure over and over again, but command really wants us to get it right, and being realistic with you all, if you don’t rehearse the procedure, you’ll make an error. Errors is what gets soldiers killed. We’re looking to minimize casualties, so do good today, hooah?”

“Hooah!” the platoon replied all at once.

Twilight turned to the orange SFC. “Sergeant, resume your activities.”

“Yes ma'am,” she replied.

Twilight saluted the sergeant real quickly, and after the sergeant raised hers and dropped, Twilight dropped hers and went to her office to plan the rest of the week out based on the company commander’s weekly guidelines.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

25 miles north of Saigon, 16-08-1965

Around 400 hours that morning, roll call was called at the parade grounds of Ke Sanh after early colt’s breakfast. Rarity’s battalion (which also included Dash) was being picked up by Army ID slicks (Hueys) and taken to the landing zone to clear it. Once the helicopters landed, they would rush into cover and wait for things to go quiet before determining if the LZ was hot or cold. Once secured, both battalion in the 3rd ID would land and offload. Once completed, they would all patrol the area all day looking for FIllyCong installments, personnel, or both. When the slicks arrived, her battalion loaded up into 18 slicks and flew to the LZ. It took about half an hour, but the helicopters started to descend.

“One minute!” Said Rarity’s squad leader in their slick. She checked her gear to make sure it was ready. Then she checked herself; it was her first time outside of base, and she might be shot at. Finally, she checked Carrot Top, who was ready to go.

“Ten seconds!”

You could practically jump out now and be fine. Rarity did notice that the LZ was a field, which could only hold six slicks at a time. That meant her platoon would be the only ones on the ground for about a minute.

“Go! Jump! Jump!”

“Rarity grabbed her rifle by its carry handle, and leaped out the side of the Huey. It was only a three to four foot drop, but she could still feel her weight crash onto her hooves, which proved that jungle boots weren’t ideal for jumping around. Once her hooves touched down though, she ran alongside Carrot Top to a small mound where they dove behind and aimed their rifles down range. Ten seconds after getting into cover, Alpha Company’s Hueys lifted off, making room for Bravo Company. It took them only a minute to offload, but it seemed like forever to Rarity. Bravo left, and Charlie Company’s Hueys came in to offload. Charlie’s offloading seemed even longer than Bravo’s even though in real time it was actually faster. Once Charlie Company’s slicks rose, all 18 Hueys left, leaving the LZ in a haze of dead silence. Five minutes passed, then ten. Once it hit around the fifteen mark, Gunnery Sergeants and Lieutenants were yelling at their formations to get ready. 3rd ID was dropping, which would take a long time.

3rd ID’s drop went smoothly. They had six slicks left. When they came in to offload, Rarity though she saw something move in the brush ahead. She instantly focused on that spot. After a few seconds of focusing, she saw an eye peering back at her. She shot. She held the trigger down and sprayed the treeline. Others did the same. Many rifles started firing, and numerous machine guns started chopping into the trees.

After Rarity finished off one and a half magazines, she could hear her LT yelling at everypony.

CEASE FIRE! CEASE FIRE! CEASE FUCKING FIRE GODDAMNIT!”

It took a few seconds, but firing eventually stopped. Rarity and a line of her platoon members cautiously moved towards the treeline. When they reached it, they had killed two ponies. Her Gunnery Sergeant searched the one to her left by a few paces, and she searched the one she spotted. Despite the fire, the first only was only hit once in the chest. His bleeding had stopped, but there was a decent amount of blood soaking his clothes and the dirt underneath them. She eventually found a knife that had the Fillynam Government Seal engraved into the blade.

Her GySgt walked over. “You found the same knife huh?”

“Yes sir,” Rarity replied.

“Must be FC,” he said, and took the knife from Rarity. He gave them to the platoon’s LT, and he put them in his web gear’s buttpack, and wrote something in a notebook.

They continued their patrol without much action. The most action after the LZ incident was when they had to cross a creek. Dash walked over to Rarity and said she could cross first via log. Rarity tried it, but fell in. When they pulled her out, her legs were soaked and there was mud all over the seat of her trousers.

“Ha! Rarity shit herself guys!” Dash exclaimed through her laughter.

“Real funny Dash,” Rarity replied. She noticed Rainbow Dash had set her M60 down, so she pushed her into the creek. When Rainbow Dash got out, her face and throat was covered with mud.

“Aw man, I ate some and it’s down my jacket and undershirt!” she said.

Rarity started to laugh. “Look everypony, Dashie ate and is wearing shit!”

After cleaning themselves up, the two along with their platoon built a bridge with multiple logs.

Most of the patrol, Mikey was in front of everypony. There were moments where he had everypony stop and take cover because he thought he saw something. They were all false alarms though. At around 1545 hours, the Marines started asking their commanders for a break. After practically every Marine asking for one, everypony, Marine and 3rd ID, took a break. Dash, Rarity, Carrot Top, and Mikey ate C-Ration meals in a circle. There wasn’t much chat other than Mikey expressing his concerns with being pointman. At around 1630 hours, everypony resumed the patrol. Once the Joint-Op Commander declared the area as clear, they all went back to the LZ. 3rd ID left while Marines kept the LZ perimeter clear. Once the army left, the Marines loaded up into their helicopters and rode back to Ke Sanh. When Rarity and Carrot Top finished their hike back to camp after landing at Ke Sanh, it was 2047 hours. They woke up around 300 hours.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FOB Saigon, 16-08-1965

After planning and training all day, Twilight was looking forwards to sleeping that night. She had learned that her platoon sergeant was none other than Applejack, who had joined the army about ten years ago. Twilight took a shower, brushed her teeth, and wrote to Celestia about her first day on base. She set the alarm in her wristwatch for the next morning, and remembered her jammies before crawling into bed and falling fast asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Ch3: Acrimonious Engagement

FOB Saigon, 17-08-1965

Just an hour before her watch would alarm, somepony knocked on Twilight’s door. She stumbled out of bed and answered the door to see the Commanding Officer for the 2nd ID.

“Hey, I know it’s on short notice, but I really need your platoon’s help. You see, on of my platoons was able to kiss ass their way to a beach RnR Station, and the battalion they’re in is having to patrol a village and surrounding areas just outside of Saigon. Normally I would go to 3rd for this help, but as they were deployed yesterday, I thought I’d come to the cavalry. I’ve already talked to your colonel and he’s approved your platoon deploying with us if you accepted,” said the officer.

Twilight didn’t hesitate to answer. “Of course, when and where is the rallying point sir?”

The officer grinned. “That’s what I like to hear. After Cav’s breakfast, have your platoon gear up and report to the helipads. We’ll be waiting,” he said.

“Yes sir,” said Twilight. After the two saluted, the CO left and Twilight threw her Class B on and left to tell Applejack about the change in plans.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chút ít Làng, 17-08-1965

Members of the 2nd Infantry and 1st Cavalry were patrolling a tiny village on the outskirts of Saigon. There were rumors about FC being hidden in the village. The objective was to search every square inch of the village, arrest any FC member they found, and destroy any munitions they found. So far they hadn’t found anything. After an hour of searching, they were finishing up. All they had to do was march to the other side of the village. Just a three minute walk. Twilight was happy that it was almost over. Carrying their gear was exhausting like Applejack said it would be because of the gear’s weight. Twilight was also considering not wearing her fragmentation vest like most others because it was hot. The choppers could be heard coming inbound. Twilight thought it would be worse over in Fillynam. So far all she’s gotten is sweat, bugs, and rifle cleaning supplies. She was thinking about what she’d say in her letter to Celestia. She almost didn’t notice. Notice the sniper shot. Notice the blood mist emit out of the nineteen year old Lance Corporal in front of her’s head. Notice the loud thud she made as she dropped like dead weight. She was dead and she was weight, fitting. It even took awhile for her to realize what happened, even as she was throwing herself to the ground yelling for the others to do the same.

About twenty M16 shots could be heard in front of her before somepony shouted out “Sniper down!”

“MEDIC!” Twilight yelled as loud as she could, rushing to the soldier that was shot.

When she got there, all she saw was a gory hole about half the size of her head and brains and blood pouring out. She was dead. No medic could fix that, it had already been done. When the medic, along with a few others, arrived, they used the medic’s poncho as a makeshift gurney to get the body to the LZ. The choppers had arrived and were starting to land when they got to the field that was named the LZ.

“Load her up on our slick,” Applejack said over the sound of the rotors to the incoming team carrying the dead.
Like they were told, they loaded the body onto 1st Squad’s Huey. Those who were in other squads went to their chopper as 1st Squad, Applejack, and Twilight got onto the chopper with the body. Applejack crawled to the body and fastened a squad leader’s poncho to the medic’s so that it created a makeshift body bag. By now the bleeding had stopped. Twilight wanted to keep her eyes aimed at the city below, but she couldn’t look away from the ponchos that held a young member of her platoon. Her name was Starfire. She had two younger brothers, a fiancé , and four best friends at FOB Saigon. She always wanted to be in the army to be a band member. Whenever she went in, though, the only available job was infantry. It felt like forever, but Twilight could feel the helicopter lower. She looked out and saw a MUTT awaiting at the helipads. When their chopper landed, two medics approached and put it in the MUTT. They drove off with what remained of Starfire. All Twilight could do was watch as they drove off.
“Don’t let it get to you,” Applejack said after approaching Twilight. “As a leader, you have subordinates sacrifice everything. It’s hard at first, and you never get used to it. C’mon, let’s get this gear off and get some coffee if it’s not flank-poor.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FOB Saigon, 22-08-1965

“Starfire’s replacement just arrived,” Applejack said entering Twilight’s office.

“Alright,” Twilight said. “Take them to their squad, I’ll be making a statement later today and will meet them then.”

“Alright, I reckon that’ll work,” Applejack said, leaving Twilight’s office to meet up with the new soldier.

Half an hour passed before Twilight’s phone rang. She picked it up.

“Hello?”

“Sparkle, Colonel Moore, we found out who was responsible for Starfire’s death. We were able to collect the body of that sniper, and turns out he was a part of the Fillynam Army’s sniper school. Intel is still being found, but it’s believed that he had orders to attack. His rifle and ammunition were all registered to the Fillynam Army.”

“Thank you colonel,” Twilight said.

“And Sparkle, if you need to talk, about Starfire, or coping with the death of anypony, don’t be scared to talk to me. I’m always closeby.”

“Yes sir,” she said before hanging the phone up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ke Sanh, 24-08-1965

News of the army soldier killed by a Fillynam Army sniper had spread quickly, especially to Ke Sanh. Marine and Army Hueys were constantly landing to refuel and rearm. Hueys and their crews had been going on gun runs (since there were M60s on either side of the chopper) for the past few days. Nopony knew what their targets were, but most figured it was sniper training areas and known FillyCong hideouts. Nothing else had changed though, other than one thing. Those in Camp Charlie and another company from in Ke Sanh were swapping. This meant a few things for Rarity, mainly positives except for one thing. She would have to start patrolling out in the jungle now that she wasn’t a part of the base’s perimeter. When she got settled into her new hooch, which she thought was better than her tent from Camp Charlie, she and Carrot Top headed to their favorite spot in Fillynam, Dash’s hooch.

“I’m so excited you guys finally got moved down here!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed when they arrived

“Yes, as am I. I get to actually sleep in a bed. It’s been dreadful sleeping in an inflatable bed. Though I dread patrols more,” Rarity said back.

“Eh, you get used to it. Hey, come in before the bugs get you, they’re bad this time of day,” Dash said.

They went into the hooch and talked like they usually did when they could leave camp. That’s all Rarity had done in this country really. She got into one small fight and one small patrol. The rest was standing in a tower, cleaning her rifle, doing PT, and being in Dash’s hooch.

Somepony knocked on the screen door and walked in, it was Mikey. “I found out some news, and a few of you won’t like it,” he said. The hooch was dead silent. “The soldier killed was Starfire, a member of the 1st Cavalry Division, her platoon sergeant was a mare named Applejack and her officer is a new lieutenant named Twilight Sparkle.”

Rainbow Dash and Rarity were both silent. Neither of them knew how to react.

“Dash, Rarity, Carrot, or anypony, if you need somepony to talk to, I’m always in my hooch.” With that, Mikey left.

Rarity’s eyes were glued to the floor. Hearing of two of her friends losing somepony in their command made her think of what would happen. Who would be next? Would it be her friends? Would it be her? For the first time in years, Rarity started wanting to get back home as much as possible. She looked at Carrot Top. Her face was showed just as much worry as Rarity had.

“Hey, I know it may seem tough, and it may sound terrible, but it’s war,” Dash said to Rarity. “Ponies die, and we all take that risk, even if all we do is sit around all day. You’ve seen it before, football turned into a few ponies going home in boxes. The chances of it happening to you are one in however many soldiers we have over here.”

Rarity couldn’t speak. She silently rose and left. She went to her hooch, grabbed her gear, and went to the on-base tactical range known as “The Pit” to train. Carrot Top quickly joined her. Until MPs dragged them out of The Pit they trained. They trained in as many ways as possible, with the help of regulars to The Pit. They learned tactics to keep them and those alongside them alive. Sleep wasn’t to come easily, though. When they got back to their hooch, a notice was posted on the door. It said that their battalion was patrolling an area believed to be high traffic for government supply trucks in three days. Rarity and Carrot Top vigorously trained until that day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

47 Miles south southwest of Ke Sanh, 27-08-1965

There was one road and seven off-road trails in the AO. Charlie company had remote detonated C4 on the main road. Bravo company had the trails to the north. Alpha company, Rarity’s company, had the trails to the south. Her platoon had set up claymore mines along the trails, and were in the brush on the sides away from the blast areas waiting for anything. Rarity was in a bush, and Carrot Top was behind a tree to Rarity’s right.

“Psst, hey,” Carrot Top whispered to Rarity, since they were supposed to remain silent, “Do you think we’ll catch anything?”

“I don’t know,” Rarity replied.

They spent hours hiding in the brush. After three and a quarter hours in the field, an explosion was heard to the north. Before anypony could say anything, they heard rustling in the brush south of them. They figured it was the platoon below them, as they were the farthest south. They thought that, until small arms fire broke out.

Rarity was next to the RTO and platoon leader. She could hear the radio. “1st platoon, we are under attack! I say again, under attack! There’s at least a battalion of tangos!”

“Roger 1st platoon,” the company commander said. “2nd platoon (Rarity’s platoon), hump it to 1st platoon and relieve them. I’m contacting battalion commander now.”

“Copy that!” said the RTO from 1st platoon.

2nd platoon’s RTO spoke up into the phone, “2nd platoon moving out.”

“Alright, strap up!” Her platoon leader started yelling out. “1st platoon is under attack, and we’re moving to them to relieve pressure until reinforcements arrive!”

“I want 1st and 2nd squad with me and 3rd and 4th with LT!” Yelled the platoon sergeant.

Rarity, Carrot Top, and 1st and 2nd squad regrouped on their gunnery sergeant.

“Alright here’s the plan, we run like hell into the fray, take cover, and spray the woods. Stay low, and stick to my ass. Oorah?!”

“Oorah!” replied the squads.

“Alright, let’s go!”

They charged. It wasn’t long before Rarity could hear rounds smacking the trunks they ran past and saw dirt fly from rounds hitting the dirt. Eventually they made it to the defensive line without any casualties. They took cover and started firing.

Rarity just sprayed. She didn’t even bother aiming. She just sprayed. The sound was absolutely horrendous. There was firing from them, firing from the enemies, brush being shot, ponies screaming in pain, NCOs and officers trying their best to lead and comfort. Rarity was looking left while reloading and saw a young looking squad leader get shot in the throat while he was dragging an even younger looking PFC out of a danger zone. She looked right and saw Carrot Top engaging. Her face was a mixture of dirt, sweat, and condensation of the smoke that had gathered over the battlefield.

Rarity had fired off all of her magazines when she heard a jet fly overhead. Then a second, third, and finally fourth, all the same time napalm was exploding in the brush up ahead. It just added a new sound, an immense roaring sound. The smoke started to form a wall that couldn’t be seen past, and they didn’t appear to be under fire.

“Cease fire,” Carrot Top said to Rarity, who passed it down the line.

Some ponies stood up, trying to figure everything out.

“Stay down!” Rarity yelled at them, remembering that the guys in The Pit told her to always stay down and make sure those around her did the same.

They all quickly squatted back down, thinking it was an NCO. 5 ton trucks could be heard arriving but they stopped.

“Alright 1st platoon, get these mines up, trucks are trying to get in!” yelled 1st platoon’s gunnery sergeant.

It took about ten minutes, but all of the mines were finally collected. The trucks came in with soldiers and supplies. When they were offloaded, the dead and wounded were loaded up. It looked like seventeen-ish dead and wounded from Rarity’s perspective. Once they were loaded up, the trucks left, leaving those able-bodied behind.

It was a busy scene after the trucks left. Soldiers moving which way and back, getting water, ammunition, and trying to figure out what to do. The freshly arrived soldiers had set up the defensive line. Once her platoon was cleared to leave to restock, she and Carrot Top first left to get water. They drank all of the water from their 1 quart canteens and refilled them, then they resupplied on ammunition. Rarity noticed that the troops who came in on trucks didn’t use M16s, yet, they used M14s, like what they trained with at boot camp.
“Odd, how we use the 16 and they’re using the 14,” she said to Carrot Top who nodded her head in response.
There were rumors that counter-offensive was about to take place. Rarity looked around for her platoon leader. When she found him, she went up to him to ask him to not fight again.

“Lieutenant Compass, sir.”

“Yes?” He said.

“Is it possible for us to stay out of combat again? I heard rumors of a counter-offensive.” She asked.

“I’m not sure, we’re, the officers, are about to have a meeting and talk with HQ to see what to do. It may, it may not happen. I’ll let all of you know as soon as I can.”

“Yes sir, thank you, sir.”

Compass walked about after that, leaving Rarity standing there.

“Hey,” said Carrot Top, approaching her battle buddy. “Try to not run off on me again. I’m lucky I found you in this crowd.”

“Sorry about that, I was seeing if we were to counterattack,” Rarity replied.

“Oh okay. Are we”

“I don’t know Carrot, I don’t know.”

Two Hours Later

Rarity’s platoon was gathered around their sergeant and lieutenant.

“Alright, listen up everypony,” their lieutenant called out. “The reinforcements that came by truck will be counter-attacking whoever was out there. We’re going to follow them. Ou-”

“BULLSHIT!” A colt yelled from in the platoon. “I almost got blown to bits, and you expect me to fight again?!”

“Why don’t you grow a pair and fight you goddamn motherfucking cunt ass weak flank pussy!” Yelled the platoon sergeant.

“All of you!” the platoon leader yelled. “Get your shit together. We won’t be serving as front line. We’re behind them and our primary job is getting supplies to the front lines and pulling out. I want complete cooperation. If anypony gets confused or needs to relay me something, find the pony with the radio pack, we’re setting up a command post on the other side of the path. Stick with your squad leader, and squad leaders keep in touch with the platoon sergeant. Buck, stay with the platoon’s RTO and make sure your squad leaders know what their squads’ jobs are.”

...

Her head was ringing. Rarity had just regained consciousness. She couldn’t remember anything and she felt sore. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the ceiling of her bedroom. She got up and tried to walk to her door, but she fell down. She got back up and hobbled towards it. She opened the door and proceeded down the stairs. She went past the kitchen, but she began to smell something burn. She went back and entered the kitchen, the sound of fire was roaring. She saw her stove engulfed in flames. All she could do was stare at it. When she looked away from the flames, she saw Carrot Top looking down at her. Then she remembered everything.

She and members of her squad were running from the supply staging area to a squad of Marines pinned down. They were going outside their role to aid the pinned Marines since her squad had automatic rifles and their squad weren’t allowed to use the automatic feature on their M14s. As she was approaching the squad, a mortar round exploded ten feet in front of her, knocking her backwards. As she was being thrown back, she could feel her chest feel compress and shrapnel hitting her vest, face, and helmet. By now, she had regained full hearing. The battle she was in was tremendous.

“What happened?!” She asked Carrot Top.

“You were hit by shards of an enemy mortar! The medics gave you morphine and searched you for wounds! The only injuries you got were three smalls sites to the face and five to both arms! You’re not bleeding; we need to go!” Carrot Top replied.

She helped Rarity up and they ran back to the staging area. Just as they arrived, jets could be heard above. Rarity counted three jets that looked like Thunderchiefs, but she was sure that there was at least one more. Once again, the sounds of napalm exploding filled her ears. This time the explosions were more distant and more muffled. There also wasn’t a roar to them.

She was just about to ask a question to Carrot Top, but as she opened her mouth an A-1 Skyraider flew right overhead and began firing its guns.

“What the hell is going on?!” She asked.

“There’s a ton of them! We were almost overrun! They called in all available air support within ten minutes of here!”

Two Super Sabres flew overhead by 500 feet and delivered four 500 lb bombs.

After an hour of continuous low altitude bomb runs, Rarity’s platoon gathered around their Lieutenant.

“Alright, listen up. Some of you know, others don’t. Rarity, Saddlebrook, Wave, and Longshot were all injured, all minor. But that’s not why we’re here. Candy Stripe was killed.”

Utter silence fell over the platoon. Some began to tear, others from Stripe’s squad began to softly whimper.

“I know that some of you knew him, others didn’t. But either way, we’re all family here, and we just lost a brother. But let that not hinder us, for if we continue to mourn, we will add a second to that list. So instead of mourning, let us continue our operation, our minds clear. Tomorrow we have the day off, we’ll hold a ceremony for everypony who’s died from Ke Sanh at the parade grounds. In the meantime, we still have a job to do. 1st platoon has taken over the role of transporting supplies. We now are on guard of the flank for the staging and command post areas. Though I tried getting them and their BBs out of guard duty, those who are injured need to be on guard duty.” He ran down the list of who goes where. When he finished Rarity and Carrot Top went to their area. They guarded that area for three more hours until trucks arrived to take them and 1st platoon back to Ke Sanh.

War Time (WIP, Progress Currently Halted)

FOB Saigon, 01-09-1965

A knock came to Twilight's office door.

"Come in," she called out.

Colonel Moore entered the room with a large gray pegasus.

"Sparkle, this is your new squad leader to replace Lovelace. His name is sergeant Wave. I'll let you two get acquainted for now. When you're done Wave I want you with your squad, hooah?"

"Hooah, sir," Wave said.

"Alright, play nice now," Moore said before leaving.

"Okay, take a seat sergeant," Twilight said to Wave.

"I'll stay standing, thanks. Oh and also, last LT to call me by my rank and not my name got hit with his own helmet," said Wave in a calm, but firm tone.

"Oh... kay. So, what's your name then?" Twilight asked.

"Aren't you a bright one like the rest of the butter bars? I believe Moore said my last name when he brought me here. Is that too little for you, or are you gonna get us killed out there?" said Wave, still in a calm and firm tone of voice. "Listen, I'll be nice some since I don't know you, but I've been here longer than you, seen more action then you, and have been in the army longer than you. I heard your platoon sergeant is good friends with you, which is cute and all, but if you want to know the straight up Nam facts, being daft will get you and me killed, and I ain't dyin because a butter bar doesn't know how to comprehend things. Now, a little brief about me, spent the past year with the 25th Infantry, the eight before that was spent in West Germaney and patrol duty here with the 3rd Infantry. Oh and I went through Marine boot, but was kicked because of a knee injury that put me out of the Corps but not the army. Any questions?"

"No...." Twilight said. "Well my name is Twilight Sparkle, and I'm your platoon leader. You'll be working with 1st squad as their squad leader. Right now they should be wi-"

"I know where they are. Are you done?" Wave cut in.

Twilight sighed on the inside. "Yes, I'm done."

"Good. One last bit of advice, last LT to lose it in the field went home due to injuries from my buttstock," Wave said as he left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Camp 579, 13 Miles away from Camponian Border, 01-09-1965

A Huey swooped down into the open dirt field, kicking up dirt everywhere. Pinkie Pie, along with three other ponies she didn't speak to during the flight got off and watched as seven body bags were put onto the chopper along with one happy, departing soldier jumping on.

She was a part of the 101st Airborne Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol platoon. This was the in-field camp that they had called home. She looked around, seeing hooch like structures and outhouses. Watchtowers and wire. Medical tents and command tents. She then saw a sergeant that was waving her and the other ponies over. They walked to her.

"Pie, Beats, Proof, and Colt?" the sergeant asked.

They all nodded in return.

"Sergeant First Class Wind, I'm the platoon sergeant for the LRRP platoon y'all are in. No formalities for now, let's get y'all over to the supply sergeant."

They all then walked to a tent with three bullets in a circle painted on the front and roofs. They entered the tent to see a small standing area outside of a cage containing equipment, weapons, and three ponies maintaining the gear.

The supply sergeant stopped working and moved to the cage's slit. "You, pink one, step forward." He then walked back to the gear.

Pinkie Pie moved to the cage's slit. The sergeant returned with field gear. "Name?"

"Pie, Pinkamena D."

"Rank?"

"Private."

"Serial?"

"EQ55746574."

He then handed her her field gear, which was the basic field gear.

"Is this supposed to last me in a lurp?" Pinkie asked.

"Or how about I only give you a bayonet and a flask?" the sergeant snarled back. "I don't decided these things, I just give them out." He then walked back and got an M16 and five 20-round magazines and gave them to her. "456834867, that's your rifle serial, remember that."

"Yeah," Pinkie replied.

"Now get out my face," the sergeant said.

Pinkie walked back to sergeant Wind and waited for the other three to receive their gear. Once they were done, they all walked out of the tent and were broken up. Pinkie and Colt were going to be a part of 1st squad, Beats was going to be a part of 2nd squad, and Proof was going to be a part of 3rd squad.

Pinkie and Colt were taken to their hooch, which was an underground structure that had its roof just inches above ground level. When they entered, they were immediately hit with the smell of sweat, gun oil, and burning marijuana.

There were seven ponies inside. They had all stopped and stared at Pinkie and Colt. One stepped forward with his shotgun.

"If y'all gon make it through Nam, y'all gon follow us n get sum." He opened his shotgun's action and put it up to Pinkie's snout. "Get a whiff of this." He took a long drag from his pipe and blew it into the action of his shotgun. When the smoke of whatever it was tickled Pinkie's snout, she breathed it in. She began cough and teared up some.

"Is it gud?" the shotgunner asked.

Pinkie nodded and said faintly while still trying to get it down, "Hell yeah."

The shotgunner grinned and did the same with Colt.

When Colt inhaled, he was able to say with ease, "Dank kush brah."

The ponies in the hooch grinned and continued what they were doing. A sergeant stepped forward.

"Welcome to the smoke hut, allow me to introduce you to your wives," he said. Pinkie could tell he was high as a kite.

He walked them over to two hammocks that were empty.

"You both decide who has who, and just set your stuff on the floor when it's decided."

Pinkie muttered to herself, "This is going to be a long year."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FOB Saigon, Officers' Briefing Room, 02-09-1965

Officers from the two infantry divisions on base and the 1st Cavalry were crammed into the officer briefing room. Generals were there to present a new method of going into the field.

"The army has decided to change how we go into the field," spoke up a 3-star general. "Instead of hiking and patrolling out with all of our gear on, the army decided to copy the marines and allowed ponies to scratch going out into the field with their rucks on, using the buttpack as a replacement instead. This is highly recommended, and I doubt anypony would wish to continue using their rucksack. Also, unlike the marines, the army has decided to make wearage of the fragmentation vest optional."

Twilight silently thought to herself that she wouldn't have to carry as much out into the field. Then she thought of Starfire and the thud she made as her body hit the ground, because of all of the weight she was carrying. Twilight hoped to never heard that sound again.

"Now that you've all been briefed on those changes, we're going to go over some routine figures. So far the only ponies the marines and us have fought are FillyCong. No regular army yet, and we're hoping it stays that way...

... That's all for now, I'm going to let the division commanders dissmiss you all by division. Don't forget to inform your peeps of the vest and ruck changes."