9/12/97

1230 hours…

Saddle Arabia…

As I walked through the crowded streets of the dense Marketplace, I found myself bumping into to everyone and everything that just happen to be in my way. Squeezing through crowded ponies as they stand around market vendors, trying to locate my men, and trying to keep an eye on Fluttershy as she flew above, almost made me lose my mind. Eventually, I made myself through the Market and found myself under a decorated archway. I moved over the the left side and slammed my back against and took a few deep breaths. The Marines that followed me into the market were still in sight, they were spread out amongst the crowds trying to catch anyone to ask a question. The first one to break free was a Corporal, he made his way over to me and saluted. I saluted back.

“Sir, I was not able to obtain any information. I couldn’t even think straight in there, too many ponies talking and moving around, I couldn’t even get anyone to look my way an-,” I put my hand up to stop him as I pushed off from the wall. I moved over to him and tapped him on the shoulder.

“You’re good, I couldn’t talk to anyone either, Corporal, uh, Corporal…” I made my hand turn in a spinning motion and looked at him like, “go on.” He raised a brow, then realized I was asking for his name.

“Oh, uh, Dunniham, sir.” He said and nervously saluted again. Now I knew something was up. He was saluting for no reason and acting all skittish, like I was gonna jump down his throat if he didn’t… oh.

“Hey, Dunniham, am I making you nervous?” I said looking him dead in the eyes. He trembled with fear as I could see a lump slide down his throat.

“Aye, sir.” He said, his voice shaked a bit.

“Uh, why?” Like saying a death note he began trembling as sweat slid down his forehead and his eyes moved in every witch way, except my way. His hands got clammy and shook uncontrollably.

“W-well, I always get nervous around, h-high ranking officers, l-like yourself. I always think I’m gonna get a beating if I slip up and down show respect.” Well, I could see his reasoning. I sometimes get nervous around my superiors, to them I’m nothing, but to me, they are everything, and I need to show respect too. But, he didn’t half to fear me, I’m not like those, hardass, no joke captains. I let my men speak up if they half too. Putting my hand on his shaking shoulder, he shook even harder and flinched.

“look, listen, I’m not like one of, those captains, I’m not a hardass, don’t be nervous. You have a lot worse things to worry about besides formalities, so knock it off.” Saying that, he stopped shaking and looked up to me again, a small smile on his face.

“Thank you sir.” He said standing up taller than he was before. Conversation time.

“So, what company you in son?” I asked moving back to the wall as I leaned up against it, crossing my arms. He moved closer, but kept his distance.

“Bravo Company sir, I joined two months ago when we were stationed on land, back in europe. Then, five weeks ago, command order us to sea as sort of a protection force for a ship. Your ship, and, well, here I am.” He said finishing as he shot his arms down toward his legs. I placed a finger on my chin as I tried to remember my time in europe. Remembering, I snapped my finger and smiled again.

“Ah, I remember now, I knew your face looked familiar, I saw you board. You dropped your rifle on the gangway cause some ass hat bumped into you. Then the sarge behind him, knocked him on the side of the head with his hand.” I laughed a bit, he joined in.

We joked around for a little bit more until all the marines exited the Market place and joined us under the arch.

“Sir, we're sorry, but we couldn’t find anything on the ship.” A marine called out. I looked down to the ground and placed my right hand on my face as I cleared my forehead of sweat. I took my captains hat off and gripped it by my side.

“Great…” I said softly. Then the sound of pounding feet and shadows reached my sight as I looked up to find three marines and Charlie standing there.

“John, We might have something.”

1235 hours…

Shipping Yard…

“So, what is it?” I said surveying the shipyard. “I don’t see anything.” I looked around the nearly empty shipyard looking for, well anything. But, I didn’t see anything. Then I saw Charlies had pull up alongside my head.

“Over there.” He said pointing to an Island not to far off shore. It was mostly rocky with a beach on one half and just a straight rock cliff on one side. Again I looked like a mad man trying to find the reason he brought me over here. But, like before, I saw nothing.

I shrug my shoulders, “Nnnnnnope, don’t see it… what am I looking at?” Charlie face palmed and handed over a pair of binoculars.

“Look at the rocks.” I snatched them out of his hand and lifted them up to my eyes. I began scanning the rocks. Then, I did see it. the rocks had a distinctive black shading on them which singled them out from the rest of the island. But, a few rocks looked different. Them had grey lines scraped down them, about five lines, all different sizes and shapes. Then it hit me. Those lines weren’t part of the rock. They were put there but something smashing into them and then scraping along side. Something metal.

“Oh, shit you don’t think…” As I pulled the binoculars down from my eyes, I looked over to Charlie and he shook his head, “yes.”

“Alright gather your men and the elements, I'll go grab the princesses and, i’ll also try to find Fluttershy at the sametime.” He nodded his head.

“Okay, good deal, when I head back to the Yarnell, i’ll send a chopper for you, then you board and ride it back to my ship, but first drop your men off at the Boston, then we will ride the ship to the island to inspect the scrapes. Got it?” I Nodded back.

“Alright, lets MOVE OUT!” I yelled as I ran back towards the town.

1245 hours…

Landing Area…

“Come on, I don’t have all day…” I said tapping my foot near the edge of the water bank of the spot where we first landed. The princesses waited with me as fluttershy was hovering above. My men stood close by, and with the news of the first sightings of the Missouri in the air, they chattered away with possibilities. Of course, I wasn't happy about any of this. The thought of a Iowa Class Battleship, being a Ghost ship. Just made my blood run cold. Fluttershy came down from flying as I sat down by a rock near the waters edge. She flew down next to me, and sat on a smooth rock.

“So, uh, I couldn’t find any information from the seagulls, if you wanted to know.” She said in her soft fragile voice. I looked over to her as I spoke.

“Oh, thats okay, I got all the info I need.” She dug into the sand a bit with her hoof as she looked around for something to look at.

“Fluttershy?” I asked timidly. She stopped digging and looked to me.

“Yes John?”

“How do you talk to animals?” I asked a little carefully, not knowing if she could even answer that.

“Oh, I just, ya know, talk… I don’t really have a special way of doing it. I just started doing it when I was young. I was in cloudsdale and Rainbow Dash was defending me from these bullies that were making fun of me. She challenged them to a race, but unfortunately for me, I had to be the one with the flag to wave them off. When I did wave them off, their speeds knocked me off my cloud and I feel toward the ground below. But, before I hit, these butterflies caught me and stopped me from falling, then I found myself flying like it was nothing, they sort of, well, gave me the confidence to fly.” She looked away from me and stared out into the ocean.

“While I was doing that, Rainbow Dash was still racing those bullies in the clouds. She got enough speed and created a sonic rainbow. Down on the ground where I was, it was loud and it shook the earth below. The animals scattered away into the forest and I had to get them out again. I had to try and softly calm them and help them out of hiding. And when it worked, my mark appeared.” She smiled a bit, and sighed. “And that's how I got my cutie mark.” I look down to her flank and spot the slightly out of place, three pink butterflies on the tallest part of her back leg.

“Oh, thats pretty cool, so, does everyone else get their mark when they're young, or is it like… what?” I said, turning my hand around in circles, waiting for her to continue.

“Well, yes, everyone gets their mark when they are young, except for a very small amount of ponies, who, unfortunately never found their, special talent. Some call them, blank flanks.” Saying that she looked down to her flank.

“Of course, only mean people say, ‘blank flanks’ to make fun of them, course, I don’t, I don’t think it’s funny, some ponies just need a little motivation.”

“Good, I’m glad to hear that, I hated bullies, I really did.” I didn’t notice it before but, when she sat down next to me, she’s been slowly getting closer every time we talked. It was starting to make me uncomfortable but, at the same time, I sort of liked it.

“Well, I think your cutie mark is very, good looking, it suits you well.” Saying that she blushes a bright pink under her eyes and moves a bit closer.

“T-thanks.” She said looking over toward the sea again.

“No one ever told me that before.” I raised a brow and gave a small half laugh, and turn toward the sea too.

“I doubt that…” I say crossing my arms. Still looking toward the sea, she tilts her head.

“Huh?”

“I said, I doubt that. Anyone can agree with me. That mark is very cute.” Now she turns to me and blushes even redder.

“Y, you really think so?” She asks, now I turn and meet her eyes.

“Of course, I have nothing to lie about.” Shes now leaning up against me and her fur rubs up against my arm. It’s softer than I thought before now. Her long pink mane rubs against my neck as her head rests on my shoulder. Then it hits me. She does have feelings towards me. But, when did this happen? Was she always like this, or was this really her feelings? I didn’t know what to think of it. As a matter of fact, I couldn’t think of it. My mind was racing with what to do next, lucky, fate found me and chose for me.

“Sir, if I’m not interrupting…” Came a voice behind me. I turn my head the opposite way of Fluttershys, and look up to the Marine that stands before me.

“The chopper is on it’s way, we should get ready.” Saying that he walks off back towards the group. With my new found information on Fluttershys feelings, I turn my head back around so that she on my left again.

“Fluttershy we should get moving, the chopper will be here soon, but thanks for talking with me though.” Saying that I turn my head and place a quick kiss on hers. I hear a little gasp as her head shoots up in surprise. She turns to me with her face in awe. I look at her and smile and her face turns from surprise, to a blushing shy smirk.

“Oh, okay.” I get up and a extend an arm down to her. She grabs my hand and pulls herself up. We walk the short distance back to the group as the black Helicopter appears in my sight, a little ways off shore. Fluttershy moves off and goes over to her friends. As I stand near my Marines.

“Nice.” Came a voice that sounded a little too familiar. I turn my head and I see a Marines who singled himself out from the others to talk to me. Dunniham.

“W-what?” I said becoming a little defensive. He crosses his arms and throws his M1 Garand behind him on his sling.

“I said nice, yeah I saw sir, no one else did though, don’t worry your little crush is safe with me.” Saying that he made a zipper motion in front of his mouth. I became very nervous, knowing that someone knows, but, at the same time I trusted him.

Soon enough the chopper arrived and we had dropped of my Marines at the Boston and we flew toward the Yarnell. When we landed, the Yarnell sailed off toward the Island in the Docks. Upon arrival we took the same raft as before to the beach and then hiked to the rocks.

“So, what should we look for?” A marine said. A few Marines surrounded him.

“Anything thats looks like something from a Battleship, anything that may have fallen off, anything that could be floating around in the rocks, just anything that makes these scrapes, legit.” The men broke up and began searching close to the coastline for any debris from the Missouri. I joined them. Charlie was on the other side of the scrapes checking them out.

“Paint.” He said. I turn to him and walk over.

“This is paint?” I say feeling the scrapes. But before he could answer, I pull my hand away, and sure enough, the tip of my fingers are coated with dried grey paint.

“Great, shes lost, has no crew, and she needs a paint job.” Charlie said putting his hands on his hips and shaking his head. Fluttershy and some of the other elements are checking the waters near the scrapes. I climb down on the rocks and find a flat surface for me to stand on, Rainbow Dash is searching on the same rock I landed on.

“Find anything?” I ask as I walk over to the end shes on. She turns her head around and looks at me. She wrinkles up her lips and shakes her head.

“All I found were these paint chippings.” I turn and look up at the scraps on the rock above. This really isn’t looking too good. The scraps look pretty big for a small dent.

“Uh, Charlie!” I yell. His head pops out from a rock and looks over to me.

“Yeah?”

“I think the Missouri, went,” I stop and turn around and point straight over Dashes head. “That way.” Turning back, he looks to where I pointed, and rests a finger on his chin.

“Yeah, okay you’re right, lets get a move on before she gets to far.”

“Okay, lets get going.” Dash flies of back toward the Yarnell and Charlie heads off, and I start the climb back up the rocks to the top of the Island again. But, unfortunately for me, as I was climbing my foot must of loosened a rock from the wall, and I lost my footing.

“Shit!” I quickly grab for another rock with my right hand,but when I do grab a rock, that one comes loose too. Now I find myself dangling from the rocks edge trying to get my footing again. It was a losing battle, I couldn’t get up. And to add insult to injury, I climbed so high, that, if I fell, I was going to break bones, important bones. My fingers clenched tighter to the cracking rock as I tried with everything I could use to regain my footing. My fingers were gripping so hard, I began bleeding.

“Charlie? Dash? ANYONE??? HELLO??!!” I yelled at the top of my lungs. The rock shifted as I went down maybe a inch, adding more downward pressure to my hand. I couldn’t hold on for much longer. Then finally, my hand gave out, I fell from the rocks and fell toward my even rockier death. But, why wasn't I falling? I open my eyes to find that I appear to be floating in mid air, something was holding me by my arms. Fluttershy. I look up to hind the yellow mare holding me as she tried to carry me to safety.

After dropping me off on top of the grassy top of the Island, and I felt the grassy earth below me, I couldn’t help but stumble around for a bit. My head was still in, “SHIT SHIT SHIT I’M GONNA DIE,” mode as my feet seemed to have a mind of their own. Clearing my mind I stopped moving around as I regained my stance. Looking around I saw Fluttershy gasping for air. I ran over to her and gave her a bone crushing hug.

“Thank the lord above! Fluttershy, I can’t thank you enough, you saved my life!” I could feel her hoof tapping on my shoulder indicating that she was still dieing for air. I let go and let her regain herself. As she stood there, getting herself back together I looked around for the raft. It was still there, the Marines were just beginning to board.

“Y-you’re, quite, welcome, John.” She said as her breathing was still a little erratic. “I had to, do it, if, if I didn’t, t-then you were, gonna… … die… I guess.” She said finally calming her breath. I laughed a bit as I picked her up in another hug.

“Yeah, I guess you did.” Letting her go a little I let her come loose as her head and mine were face to face. Now was my chance, I lean in and our lips connected in a kiss, but rather quickly, because my mind was still racing a bit about me nearly dieing. Fluttershys lips were a lot softer than mine, and were the perfect size, not to big, and not to small, just right, well for me at least. Not like I’ve been going around kissing everyone. I guess it was the fact that, I was kissing a pony, on the lips, and the lips were almost human, it freaked me out a bit, but, I didn’t care.

Fluttershy was still a little tensed up, she wasn't expecting me to kiss her, but after a few seconds, she gave in to the temptation of my gesture and kissed me back. We kissed for what seemed like an eternity, but again, it only lasted a few seconds. I breathed heavily as I pulled away from Fluttershy as she reopened her eyes.

“I take back what I said earlier, I guess you can thank a little too much huh?” I said giving a little laugh, as did Fluttershy.

“Yeah, I guess and I, w-wait, whys my mane beginning to get wet?” My eyes opened a bit, just for my right brow to sink back down.

“What? Lets me see.” I let her go and she hits the floor. But as she Turned around, I got sick and shocked. Her hair was covered in this red liquid, blood, my blood. I quickly glanced down at my hand, sure enough, it was bleeding from the palm and my fingers. What the fuck were those rocks made out of, razor blades? I look back up to Fluttershy and I braced myself for what came next.

“Uh, Fluttershy?” I said rather cautiously.

“Y-yeah?”

“Uh, I don’t know how to say this, without freaking you out, but, your mane is covered in my blood…” And like that she dropped like a stone, and fainted.

“Ah, Shit.”