Red Glare was long gone. He stared deep into the lavender mare's eyes. He felt his heart grow warm and his stomach do back flips. This can't be right, Red thought to himself, we just met. Just then Twilight, put down the chart to notice a yellow stallion staring at her blankly.

"Ummm...Sir? Can I help you?" said the purple nurse.

"I was just...uh...just." Glare couldn't speak. He was struck silent. Where's that switch, Glare thought, you know. The one labeled 'swag'?

"You were just what?"

"I-I...Uh..."

Glare looked around the room frantically as a steady "uh" sound flowed out of his mouth. He need a way out of the awkward conversation he was currently in. Any combat scenario was no problem for Red after the forest incident. Awkward situations on the other hand were another matter entirely. Celestia must have been smiling down on Red at that very moment though, for his prayers were answered in the form of a voice coming from the doorway.

"So this solider we have heard so much about," said a cyan mare now walking through the doorway and into Glare's room. She had a rainbow colored mane and she wore aviator sunglasses. Around her neck hung her dog tags hanging out over her bomber jacket.

"I must say, when I was told of his feats, they conjured up a vision of something...more," a second mare said as she filed in behind the first mare. This second one had a long, flowing mane. One a darker color purple than Twilight. She was dressed in a pristine white navy uniform. Glare noticed her tone of voice resembled that usually stereotyped against the high class snobby type.

A third mare entered last. This one was different though. She had a presence about her. One that actually scared Red. She was orange in color and wore a brown uniform reserved for the high echelon army officers. Upon her blonde hair sat an old brown stetson style hat. The look on that mare's face told Glare that if there was one place she didn't want to be, It was in this room.

From the moment the 3 new guests entered the room, Red Glare knew exactly who the were, despite never meeting them in person. The cyan pegasus mare with the rainbow mane was Air Marshal Dash, head of MLP air force. The white clad mare was Admiral Rarity, leader of the MLP navy. Finally, the terrifying orange mare was General Applejack, top dog of the MLP ground forces. At the first sight of the three officers, Glare snapped to attention.

"At ease solider," stated the Air Marshal.

Glare exhaled and replied with a, "Thank you, ma'am."

"Oh no no no," added Admiral Rarity, "thank YOU for your service...Commander."

"Commander?!" Glare almost shouted. He was in a total state of disbelief. He messed around with the idea in his head for awhile.

"Yes sir," responded Twilight. The sound of her voice brought Glare back to the situation at hand. The lavender nurse continued, "You must have done something pretty amazing in that forest to be promoted all the way from Private First Class right to Commander."

The mention of the forest caused the young Commander's heart to instantly sink. "Amazing...I wouldn't use that word. Nothing even close to that word happened in that damn forest," Red Glare replied as he lowered his gaze. Any sense the mares had of hearing a story filled with bravery and action was quickly dashed.

The Air Marshal then asked what everyone in the room was thinking. "Well then, what did happen in there?"

Red's mind drifted back to that faithful morning in the Everfree Forest.. "It was my first combat assignment. I'll never forget that battle...no...it wasn't a battle...it was a massacre." Glare then looked up just enough to notice the pristine nature of Admiral Rarity's uniform and that fueled his rage. "It must be easy to sit behind a desk or on a ship's bridge and send others to fight and die." Glare clenched his hooves. "You three never see it. You never see the blood thirsty monster that is war first hand. I've seen it though. I saw the blood and entrails pouring out of another living being with my own two eyes. I've heard the gunshots and screams and cries of mercy with my own two ears. The whole thing was just so...so..." Glare couldn't hold it back anymore. The vivid sight and sounds, still as fresh in his mind as though they were happening again at that very second, were too much. The young Commander leaned over the side of his bed and vomited.

After the vomit stopped flowing for good, Red's gaze met that of the four fillies at the foot of his hospital cot. He had to stifle a laugh at the disgusted expressions on their faces. His mood lightened a bit though as the lavender nurse rushed to his side. "Shit...I'm sorry ladies," Glare said as he wiped his mouth.

"It looks like you need some rest Commander," Dash said.

"I agree darling. You simply MUST be in the best possible condition for tomorrow," added Rarity.

"Hang on a second ma'am...s," Red said in a state of minor confusion, "What's happening tomorrow?"

The stone faced General finally spoke up. "Listen...since the warlords are down to just you, we need five new members for you to take command of."

Red's eyes widened. "Me?! Commander of The Warlords?!"

"Yes sir," replied the Air Marshal, "You have the best training in the MLP. There isn't anyone better. That's why you were promoted in the first place Commander."

"I just feel that..." Glare pleaded.

His pleas fell on deaf ears as Applejack interrupted. She moved away from the wall she'd been leaning on for this entire interaction and started walking toward Glare. "Ah don't give a darn what ya'll 'feel' Commander. This is a direct order. Are we clear?!" The General screamed.

Red was taken by surprise. He snapped to attention and said in a shaky voice, "Crystal ma'm."

"Good. Be on the parade grounds tomorrow at 0800 hours sharp. As you were," Applejack stated. With that, the orange General left the room, closely followed by the other two officers. This left only two ponies in the hospital room: Red Glare and Twilight Sparkle. She broke the silence.

"So Commander, you never answered my question. What were you looking at?"

'Buck. I thought she forgot.' Glare thought as he gave himself a mental facepalm. The yellow stallion's face turned red. "I...I was...uh..."

Twilight giggled, which sent the Commander's cuteness meter off the scale. "You already said that," she stated.

Just then, Red Glare found the "swag" switch located in the dustiest corner of his mind and flipped it with much vigor. "I was just lost in your beautiful eyes, Miss Sparkle."

Now it was the nurse's turn to blush. "Oh...I mean thanks!"

"No need to thank me. I'm only telling the truth."

"Well, you should get some rest. I'll be back later with your lunch Commander."

"Please, call me Glare. I just have one question before you go."

"Yes?"

"Any plans for Saturday?"

"Well, not at the moment. Why do you ask?"

"I was hoping we could both take leave this weekend and go on...ya know...a date?"

"That'd be lovely Glare."

"Great. I'll pick you up at eight?"

"Sounds good. See you then...Commander," the nurse said with a sultry grin. As she left, Glare swore she shook her hips on purpose to tease him. As he watched Twilight leave, the imaginary crowd in his head chanted "Swag! Swag! Swag! Swag!"

Next Chapter: Training Daze: Breakfast with Ms. Sparkle Estimated time remaining: 5 Minutes