"Hey Mark, are you and AJ free this Saturday?" Rainbow asked as Fluttershy fidgeted next to her. I was actually surprised that the rainbow colored mare had voluntarily walked into the Spa, though she didn't seem to want a massage or facial.

"Yeah, the war games aren't for another couple weeks and I got nothin' better to do. What's up?" I got behind the two and started washing my hands. They had been blocking my way to the sink since they came in, but neither of them didn't want to interrupt Lyra's weekly session to talk to me. They think I can't bloody multi-task.

"We're going to visit Dash's father, and we were wondering if you wanted to come." Fluttershy said. Over the years, she had been warming up to me, and I've been able to clearly understand her. Finally.

"Alright, I can definitely make it." I said. "Who is he, anyway?"

"Wing Commander Blitz." Rainbow Dash stated proudly.

"Hm. If I were ignorant, I'd ask how the hell he became Wing Commander in a time of peace." But I wasn't ignorant, since Dawn ensured that I handled troop deployments and shipping supplies to outposts and the like. Training and requisitioning funds are my secondary job, but I usually put those on my priority list.

"He's been in over two hundred skirmishes, but he's retired now." Dash explained. These skirmishes always involved sentient creatures (because I know the difference), but there weren't any skirmishes involving sapient beings on both sides.

Yet.

"Yeah, I'll have a talk with AJ and see if she can come, but I'm definitely coming." I shook my hands free of excess water. "Always enjoy talking to veterans." They gave me directions to where they were gonna meet up and left, thanking me for taking time out of my schedule to do this.

[Schmidt]

"Remind me to tell you what I think about your book organization." I muttered, placing some book onto a shelf. I wouldn't know what it was; I can't read English worth a shit.

"What was that?" Twilight only heard a mumble, she wasn't trying to find a reason to hit me with a book again.

"Nothing, Twi." I promptly responded. For all she cared on organization, I could arrange the books by the color on the spines. She may be plagued by what Mark called 'OCD', but she ignores book organization from what he said. He also muttered something about pushing a thing called the 'Dewy Deciple System' or something onto this nation. His accent is tough to understand at times. Especially when he's irritated.

"Hey Twi, hey Schmidt." And then Rainbow Dash nearly knocked over my beloved. I rushed over, scooping up my MP-40 before it could be scratched by the wooden floor. "Can we speak to you two for a second?"

"Sure, what's on your mind?" Twilight came over while I slung the strap to my machine pistol over my shoulder.

"We were wondering if you could go somewhere with us Saturday..." The shy one mumbled. Verdammt, I hate the fact that she can't speak louder when I'm around.

"Where are you two going?" I asked, pulling up one of the chairs that only seemed to be there when someone needed it.

"To visit my dad." Dash answered. "And it'll be at least four; I've already talked to Mark and he said he'll talk to AJ to see if she can go as well."

"Well, I have nothing planned for this weekend, so I guess it's fine." Twilight smiled a bit. "And we'll finally get to meet your parents!"

"Who's your father?" I asked, leaning forward a bit.

"Wing Commander Blitz." Dash grinned, before clearing her throat. "I believe that would be a Major in the other forces."

"Where do we meet up?" I asked, rubbing my hands.

"We'll meet up at the fifth train platform, the one that heads southwest." Fluttershy said softly.

"Thanks for this, you two." Dash smiled a bit as the pair left.

"Southwest, huh?" Twi mumbled, rubbing her chin. "I haven't heard of any veteran homes southwest... Spike! Could you find me a book?"

[Doc, Saturday]

"Are you sure they don't need you at the hospital?" Fluttershy questioned me as we waited on the platform.

"I've answered this every week, 'Shy." I chuckled a bit. "No, they don't need me there. Everyone knows that people usually get injured from Monday to Friday." In Ponyville that's pretty much a fact. Especially for Rainbow. She's in at least twice a week.

"I'm surprised it took you this long to tell me where you were 'sneaking' off to every Saturday, Dash." Duffy said from over by a trash can, finishing up a cigarette.

Speaking of cigarettes, I had accidentally gotten Fluttershy hooked on them, and Duffy got Dash addicted, also accidentally. With how much Mark smokes, I'm surprised AJ doesn't. Don't know about Schmidt, considering he pretty much hovers around the library when we're not doing PT and we can't smoke then.

I knew it was bad, Duffy knew they were bad, both pegasi knew they were bad, and we still smoked them. Fluttershy is doing her best to quit, but she smokes three to five a day. Which isn't too bad, considering.

Better than being an alcoholic, though.

Anyway, Schmidt and Twilight were the first to arrive, both being early.

"Are we late?" Twilight questioned, worry lacing her voice.

"You two are early, actually." Fluttershy spoke up, lightly stomping out what remained of her 'cancer stick' (as Mark calls them) and throwing it away. Twilight stared at the can for a moment, before shaking her head.

"I didn't know that you smoked, Fluttershy." She said, shifting a bit awkwardly.

"Being an animal caretaker is very stressful." 'Shy explained. "I love doing it, but I used to be extremely stressed. I noticed Isaac smoking one day after coming home, so I tried it myself."

"And she got hooked." I added. "Very addictive, so don't try one."

"Er, I'm not too keen on trying it out." Twilight said. "If that's alright with you all."

"If you don't wanna try one, no biggie!" Rainbow called out from her cloud, having brought one down to lounge on while waiting for the others. "It doesn't make you a chicken in our eyes!"

"Precisely." I said, getting up as Mark walked onto the platform. "AJ couldn't come?"

"Too busy." He shook his head. "There's a lot of corn to harvest, and Granny thinks the zap apples are coming soon." Odd, I thought the corn had already been harvested.

"Oh, the zap apples are going to bloom?" Fluttershy smiled a bit. "We'll have to reserve a few jars of jam, then."

"Same here!" Dash said, sticking a hoof into the air. Mark pretended to write down something, before throwing the pencil he got from somewhere over his shoulder. I didn't see him reach into that damnable pocket of his.

"Is anyone else coming?" Mark questioned after a moment, looking around the platform.

"We're just waiting on Rarity, Pinkie, and Blake." I answered, looking behind him. "Speak of the devil, there's Rarity and Blake now." The two stepped up behind Mark, Rarity wearing a scarf. Blake had on his armor, as usual, and seemed content to just bring his revolver along for the ride.

"Now we gotta wai—" Rainbow Dash was cut off by Pinkie, who popped out of the train car we had reserved.

"What's taking you guys so long?" She questioned, frowning happily (I don't know, she just did) at us. "The train's about to leave!" That got us to get on board as quickly as possible, Dash abandoning her usual cloud in favor of being on time. We didn't question as to how Pinkie got on board without us noticing her.

"So, Dash." I overheard Mark say as we took our seats. "I looked up where your father was posted last." Glancing over, I saw her blink a bit. I couldn't make out what he said after that, because he leaned over and whispered something into her ear.

"So, where are we going, darling?" Rarity questioned.

"We're heading to Brewer Ridge." I said, scratching my nose. "It's a few hours out, so you all might as well get comfortable." Everyone nodded and shifted around in their seats, while Mark pulled an odd contraption out of his pocket and pushed at a small switch on the side.

"Hey, Twilight." Mark's voice woke me up from dozing off. "Do you think you could make me something?"

"Depends." She answered from somewhere behind me. "What do you want?"

"I... want a glove. That shoots lightning." He answered, his tone telling us that he was completely serious.

"A-Are you serious?" Twilight questioned.

"Yep. A glove that shoots out lightning whenever I yell 'unlimited power'. You can even make it have a stun setting, if you want to." He elaborated. At that, I actually had a thought.

"If you make one for him, make one for me as well." I said, and felt Fluttershy stare at the back of my head. "Though make it to where it's like one of those 'defibrillators' that Mark told me about. And don't make it have to be used by yelling 'shock a bitch' or whatever."

"That... Actually sounds doable." Twilight finally said. "You two might have to wait a while, though."

"Fine by me." I mumbled, shifting and trying to get some more shut-eye.

[Mark]

I didn't even know if Sparklebutt was able to make a glove like that; I was just fucking around with her! But if she was able to, I'll have a glove that allows me to be Darth Sidious whenever I wanted to. Score!

Anyway, while Duffy, Dash, and Fluttershy quietly talked among each other, Doc slept, and Twilight nerded, I went back to playing Pokemon Emerald. I don't know what Pinks was doing.

---

"Oi, you lot!" I shouted, startling everybody awake. "We're here!" As I got up, the train slowed to a stop. With a groan, the others got to their feet/hooves/wings and we slowly filtered out into Brewer Ridge's station. A quick look around revealed only two or three other ponies in the station, all of which were departing.

"There's not many ponies around." Pinkie noted.

"There usually aren't." Rainbow answered, before beckoning us to follow her. "This way, guys."

Once exiting the train station, we made our way down a path towards the only other building for miles; Brewer Ridge.

"Oh, is this like a veteran's home?" Rarity questioned.

"Something like that." Doc replied, shifting his red cross armband a bit. Dunno why, but he was wearing his BDUs to this place. Then again, Blake was wearing his armor, minus the helmet.

I, on the other hand, was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. I decided to go all damn casual about this.

"Seems nice." Twilight said, before pausing at a statue of a Royal Guard in full BDUs. Their BDUs were different than their 'guarding' uniform (the gold crap that couldn't block paper cuts), as in they actually looked like the plate armor they were supposed to be. Almost complete, full body protection except for the head, and that's where the helmet came in at. The helmet had a visor that was detachable, instead of a visor that swung upwards, at my insistence.

"This statue represents the stallions and mares who served at the Battle of Bulging Arrows.
Over two hundred lives were lost that week.
Four hundred were seriously wounded.
More than two thousand Harpies were driven out of Saddle Lake."

"People think that the Guard and Army are all fun and games." I stated, causing the ones who haven't been here to look at me. "In fact, it is the complete opposite. C'mon, we have a Wing Commander to see." With that, they slowly followed after me, though Twi hesitated for a moment.

On the way to the large building ahead of us, we had to pass by several more statues, detailing important border skirmish victories. The battle for the settlement of Appleloosa (Rarity gasped and stared at it for a while), in which the few guards stationed there had repelled a bunch of large scorpions with the help of the buffalo. The first (but not nearly the last) skirmish at Vanhoover against colonies of wyrms. Giant locusts swarming Cloudsdale. All won, with the wounded and killed numbers etched into a gold plate on the base.

"How many battles has Equestria seen?" Twilight questioned, looking around remorsefully.

"More than I care for." I sighed, rubbing my hands due to the chill in the air. "And almost all of them never reach the public until decades have passed. Celestia doesn't want the ponies that don't live in frontier towns to worry about being attacked, so she has me move them around discreetly."

"So that's why you fight against the nobles wanting to cut back on defense funding." Twilight muttered.

"Exactly." I sighed, before cracking my back and opening the front doors, noting on how well they were decorated. Beyond the first doors were another pair, though these weren't made of marble and instead simply made of maple. Yeah, I know my damn wood doors.

"Oh, General Durnkinscoff!" A receptionist mildly panicked, clearing what was obviously pony porn off of her desk. After stowing the dirty mag away, she cleared her throat and gave an unconvincing grin. "Are you here for an inspection?"

"I'm here for Wing Commander Storm Blitz." I answered, moving to the side to allow her view of Rainbow Dash and the others. "I'm sure you're familiar with these three already." Upon spotting them, she let out an 'ah' of understanding and started fishing for something under the counter.

"I had forgotten that it was Saturday..." I heard her mumble, before her head popped back up, nine lanyards in hoof. "Here are your passes. Take as long as you need to." We thanked her and collected them, before heading down a hallway, Rainbow Dash in the lead.

"He's down this hall." Dash told us, taking a glance up at the sign on the ceiling. I did as well, and frowned at the 'intensive' part.

"What is this place?" Rarity quietly asked, probably dreading the answer.

"Veteran hospital." Doc answered quietly. "For severely wounded guards and grunts. These guys are lucky that non-sapiens don't use IEDs. Bloody fire breath is bad enough."

"Yeah..." Dash muttered distractedly, looking through a few doors. "Hey Fluttershy, do you remember if he was able to leave his room?"

"I think so..." She mumbled, causing Dash to pause. "Yeah, I remember he was cleared three weeks ago."

"Then we're off to the rec rooms first." Dash did a 180 and did her best to not brush up against us, to keep from being rude. She did invite us here, after all.

... Though I was considering stopping by for actually inspecting this place for a while. I can consider this a discreet inspection.

Anyway, we looked into a few recreation rooms, before Dash slipped into the last one.

"He's in here." She quietly said. "And so are a few others, so don't disturb them if you can help it." With my rank, that was hard to do. And the fact that I was well known at this point for being one of the most competent generals besides Dawn was also going for me.

... And for sending these ponies here, however indirectly it was.

Inside, there were a few veterans and orderlies milling about. The veterans were in various states of injury, the worst being a pegasus with only one wing and both forelegs. Over in the corner, staring out of a window was Dash's father, who was missing a hind leg and had a nasty burn scar webbing across his face and neck.

"Officer on deck!" A veteran with only one eye called out, causing everyone who could achieve it to stand at various states of attention. Those who couldn't, sat as rigid as possible.

Hell, with the reactions drilled into them, Isaac, Brandon, and Blake also snapped to attention.

"At ease." I said softly. "With what you all have been through, I should be the one doing this to you." They relaxed a bit, but were a lot more orderly than before, I bet.

"What can I do for you, sir?" An orderly came over, standing in front of my group. "Are you here for an inspection?" What is it with these ponies and expecting me to evaluate them? Christ.

"Personal visit." I answered, nodding towards Wn. Cm. Storm Blitz. "I'm here with a friend to visit her father, on her request." The unicorn's eyes widened a bit in realization, and she smiled softly.

"I should have remembered Rainbow was visiting today." She beckoned us to follow, and we did. Stopping in front of the quiet pegasus, she cleared her throat. "Storm? Your daughters and son are here to see you." That actually got me to do a double take, as did everyone save Doc, Rainbow, and Flutters.

"You never asked about her family." Doc shrugged in reply to Duffy's stare. The sniper narrowed his eyes slightly, but didn't say anything.

"And you have an important visitor as well." The orderly concluded, before leaving us alone.

"Sorry for not saluting, sir." Storm croaked out, holding out a slightly shaking hoof. "Wing Commander Storm Blitz at your service." I firmly and carefully shook his hoof, causing him to grunt in approval.

"I'm off duty, so I prefer to be called Mark." I said, taking a seat on a stool while the others gathered 'round. Pinkie and Marshmallow were being uncharacteristically quiet, ever since we walked in.

"Alright, Mark." He shifted a bit, before holding out his forehooves. Almost like it was rehearsed, Fluttershy and Dash sunk into his grip, hugging him tightly.

"So, dad." Dash cleared her throat. "You remember when I told you about my husband?"

"Yeah, I remember." He said, before squinting at Blake. "Is this him?"

"Actually, that's Rarity's boyfriend." Duffy cleared his throat. "I'm Rainbow's husband." Storm looked him up and down, before grunting.

"You don't look like much." He stated, causing me to hide a snort. "What'cha good at?" Shooting towel heads.

"Reconnaissance, assassination, evading the enemy, and being quiet." Duffy unhesitatingly answered. "I was trained as a Marine, just like Mark, but I specialize in those areas."

"Oh yeah?" Storm's attention turned back to me. "What'd you train under?"

"Explosive ordinance disposal, alongside with making bombs with toothpaste, an MRE, and a paper clip." I answered, before pausing for a moment and reaching into a bag that I brought along with me. "I have two things for you, and for most of the others here." That got him to raise what little eyebrow he had left, as they both had been mostly burned off.

"What is it?" He grunted, shifting a bit in his seat.

"The highest honor my country's military can give to a soldier." I answered, fishing out a pair of boxes. "And the other one is a little more standard, and one everybody that works for me has." I glanced at Duffy, before handing the first box to him. "I hereby present to you, Wing Commander Storm Blitz, the Medal of Honor. For actions that went above and beyond the call of duty." Duffy and Doc instantly snapped to attention with a salute.

"Why're my sons doin' that?" Blitz questioned as he accepted the first box, eyeing the medal inside.

"It's standard procedure to salute those who've earned the Medal of Honor, dad." Doc answered, slowly sitting back down. "Like Mark said, it's the highest honor a United States soldier can receive."

"I'm not in your old country's military, though." He shot back. "I don't know if I can accept this."

"I had a talk with the princesses." I informed him. "She said that she'd slowly integrate the Medal of Honor into the Equestrian forces. So in about two months or so, you're going to be highly honored."

"Then take your damn honor back." He snorted, pushing the box away. "I did what I did to save that family, not for honor." At that, I allowed myself to chuckle.

"That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say." I said once I was able to control myself again. "It's an honor to have one. A soldier doesn't earn this by being honorable, they earn it by, like I said on why you received it, going above and beyond the call of duty."

"I don't know..." He finally said, gently rubbing his forehead. "Who else here is getting one?"

"Those who did similar acts to yours." I answered. "And all of them, including you, are also getting the Purple Heart."

"Don't tell me," he held up a hoof, "it's for getting injured in a battle." At my nod, he rolled his eyes a bit. "Whatever. Like I said before, I didn't do what I did to be awarded medals, I did it because it was the right thing to do."

"I know." I rubbed my face. "You happened to get some medals in the process. Been there and done that. Celestia thinks its a good idea so she's having me do it."

"You know," Duffy began, turning to look at me. "You never told us exactly how you got that Purple Heart of yours, anyway. I know you didn't issue it to yourself."

"I don't want to talk about it." I muttered, looking down for a moment. When I looked back up, I saw Duffy's eyebrow had raised. Without a word, I stood and walked out of the room, feeling a sudden spike of misery. "There was nothing I could do." I muttered, rubbing my forehead. "I couldn't stop it in time, and the fucking ROE was bullshit." Spending a couple minutes out in the hallway to cool down, I laid my head against the wall, shivering despite the temperature.

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