I know I said that I was taking a break, but I think that this turned out alright, so I'm posting it. I remembered that somepony wanted to see ghosts, so here ya go. More on that next chapter. We meet another familiar face. It's funny how it can be familiar when it isn't even real, this is a very interesti-
Monty Python: GET ON WITH IT!
Me: Okay, okay, sheesh.

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"Fluttershy. Fluttershy!" Fluttershy wakes to a hushed whisper in her ear, her eyes drifting slowly and gently open.

"Yeah?"

"We're going, and I just wanted to say thanks for everything," she feels a warm pair of forelegs wrap around her stomach in a thankful embrace. She pats the pony on the head softly in return.

"Ya know you're welcome to come with us, if you want. You'll always be welcome with us, but if you want to stay here, I totally understand." Her ears perk up at this. Leave the station she so well calls home? It would be nice to be with her old friends again, braving the unknown, just like the old days. She sits up slowly, her eyes meeting those of Rainbow Dash, caring and friendly. She smiles.

"Zat sounds great. I've been at zis station for a long time. It's been good, but It'll be a lot better with my friends, years back in Ponyville proved that time and again. Just let me get some things first." She gets up, stretching her arms out, waking the groggy muscles and joints. Reaching over to a lonely corner of the tent, she picks up a surprisingly large vest for the little mare, covered in pockets front and back, filled to the brim with bandages, wipes, ointments, etc. Pulling it on, she reaches back over again and lifts two small pictures. One is a small copy of the very familiar picture taken so many years ago, that same picture of the little group of friends that Twilight sent a copy of to the princess. The other, a more resent picture. Just her and a young adult colt, smiling with his arm across her shoulders. His brown coat patched with dust, his short-trimmed mane pressed against his head with helmet-hair, a bandage stretching across his forehead. Fluttershy smiles at the memory it carries, wiping a single tear from her face.

"Who's that?" Rainbow's voice pierces her reminiscing. Fluttershy draws a shaky breath, again swiping her foreleg across her eyes.

"He's a colt I liked. I met him on ze frontlines vhen I vas a field medic. I bandaged an injury of his, and dragged him back to ze main medical center. We started chatting, and eventually we got together." Dash 'daww's at her explanation.

"About sree monts later, zough," Fluttershy continues, her smile fading to nothing, "I got a letter in ze mail. Ze mailpony gave it to me, saying that he vas sorry. Inside, zere vas a letter he wrote to me, and… and a dea… a death note." Fluttershy's voice is shaky as she finishes, her vision blurred with the tears that now streak down her face.

"Aw," Dash's smile is also long gone, a look of sorrow taking its place, "I'm so sorry Shy."

"He vas too young!" Fluttershy chokes out, "He had so much left! Vhy did it have to be HIM?" She breaks down in a new wave of sadness, pulling her hind legs up to her chest, plopping her head onto her knees, her shoulders shaking. She feels the comforting embrace of her fillyhood friend again. She hears the reassurance of her voice, telling her it's alright.

"Guys, it's 09,20. We've gotta get a move on," Koldan says, poking his head into the tent, "Is everything okay?"

Rainbow looks at him and mouths 'Reminiscing'. He understands, nodding and leaving the tent again.

"Come on Fluttershy, I know how much it hurts. But what's passed has passed," Dash says, standing and reaching a hoof down to help her friend up, "But right now, it's time to go, if you still want to." Fluttershy nods, taking Dash's hoof and standing up again.

"I know, and you're right." She sniffs, letting one final tear fall, "I just wish I could see him again."

The dank, dark air of the tunnels is filled with songs of joy and excitement once more as the group moves past the Red Line, leaving the Union until they pass again to return home. Twilight and Dash entertain and are entertained by Fluttershy, exchanging stories about life and other silliness. Pinkie Pie and Koldan talk with each other, the limitless energy mixing with the take it slow and observe.

There is a strong flash that overtakes the entire tunnel, coming from everywhere, lasting just the smallest fraction of a second. When the light is gone, the tunnel is dotted with half-running figures, colts, mere silhouettes. They move freely around them, never touching them, shouting to one another.

"For the glory of Russia!"

"Urrah! Uraah!"

The voices are strange though, as if with a very heavy, but unidentifiable accent. Through the chaos, the group continues. There is another flash, and the colts are gone.

"Vh-vh-vhat's going on here?" Fluttershy asks, hiding behind her mane, wincing as if anticipating pain.

"I've heard the stories, of course. But those are just that, stories, right?" Koldan is muttering to himself, placing a hoof on his chin thoughtfully.

"Wh-what stories?" Twilight asks.

"Ghosts. Trapped in this world, they tell stories of the past, tell stories of their deaths," he says, shaking his head, "But those are just stories that old drunks tell the children to scare them. This makes no sense!"

"Well, sense or no sense, let's just keep going." Dash walks on, the rest following close behind.

Another flash, and more waves of the silhouettes. They run the opposite direction as last time, though. They look different, sound different, wield different weapons.

"For the Füherer!"

"The Reich of a thousand years!"

Just as last time, a flash, and they're gone. The voices keep strong though, joined again by the cries of the first waves of ghosts, playing out the parts of dying men. The sounds of gunshots echo throughout the tunnel, loud and clear as if the weapons were discharged right next to them in this tunnel, void of life. The shadows of falling men appear as they are hit, twisting and reflexing around the point of impact, disappearing again as they hit the ground. A slow, creeping layer of fog spreads from the ground, eventually coating the floor with its thick presence. It suddenly feels like they are traveling through a shallow pool.

It's just fog, Rainbow thinks, How can it be this thick? It's like a liquid…

"Run!" Koldan shouts above the madness of the tunnel, and takes off as quickly as he can through the horrible scene, the reddening fog splashing under his hooves. They all start running in sheer terror, Pinkie screaming bloody murder the whole way.

The fog is completely red now, and it starts to fade away into nothing. The panicked group doesn't slow at all though. A small fire is burning on the side of the path, an older stallion sitting calmly beside it.

"What frightens you so?" he calls as they approach, eyes wide and full of terror.

"Gh-gh-ghosts! And fog! A huge battle in the tunnel!" Koldan pants out, doubling over into a coughing fit, supporting himself on his knees.

"Ghosts, you say?" the stallion says with a risen eyebrow, "Yes, yes, they do tend to appear in this tunnel from time to time." He stands, dusting off his pants.

"My name is Khan. Who are you ponies?"

"HI Khan! Our names are Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Koldan, Fluttershy," Pinkie half-yells, jumping up right in front of the older stallion, pointing to the ponies in turn, "And I'm Pinkie Pie! It's really nice to meet you! Where're ya from?"

Khan chuckles. "Such energy in you. You need a way to vent, is what you need. Also, may I recommend switching to de-caf?"

"Amen," Koldan says in hearty agreement, nodding along with the rest of the group. Pinkie glares daggers at him, then bursts into laughter at the whole situation.

"Come, my little ponies. The next station is only a few hundred meters more." Khan collects his things and starts off at a brisk jog, matched just barely by the winded ponies behind him.

The ponies arrive at the station in just a minute or two, stopped by the common guards. Suddenly, there is another flash that overtakes the tunnel, accompanied by the steady thud of marching men. A large block of ponies, marching in perfect step and time materialize, coming straight at the station holding long poles, sharpened to a lethal point.

"Get behind the perimeter, my new friends. I'll take care of these fellows," Khan says to the mortified ponies and guards behind him, and walks towards the advancing columns and roes of ponies.

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Wise Guys is almost solely responsible for this being uploaded today and not, ya know, in a week from now. If you are writing something somewhat somber, I recomend listening to 'Wir hatten eine gute Zeit', even if you don't speak any German at all, it helps. have a good morning/day/afternoon/evening/night everypony, I'll write ya later. /)*(\