Jul/15/04...

Iraq Airways...

0034pm...

As I sit on the chopper with my empty rifle laying in my lap, I pan around the chopper looking at the faces of the Marines. All I saw were blank stares, they looked into space itself, as they wondered for a purpose. I knew they were scared, and relieved at the, same time. They were glad to be out of that hell hole of a battlefield, they were glad they had their lives, there eyes showed it. Of course, so was I, but I wanted to see what they saw, their perspective on the mission. Did they think we won, did they think it was a success, did they think the could have done more?

Everyone could have done more, there is always more you can do. Nothing is ever finished, nothing is ever complete, everything can be improved and destroyed, you just need to know when the time is right.

Turning toward the window, I peered out into the desert looking out over the landscape. Smoke rose from smoldering bomb craters in the sand as the smoke swirled through the air and dived and moved with the current of the wind. It was a depressing sight to see. The choppers engines changed tone as I noticed our rapid descent from the sky.

We were closing in on the base, I could start to see the flag pole as the bunks came into view, everything looked still, nobody seemed to be walking around from what I saw. The chopper landed with a bound as the engines began there shutdown process.

The door slid open as we exited, Some soldiers came running up to us with medkits and went for the POWs with stretchers. Seeing they didn’t need them they hurried them away into the central command center, leaving us behind. Walking off the pad as the blades of the chopper stopped kicking up sand as the ground settled down as the chopper's blades slowed to a stop. Now taking in the surroundings I could see many different people wandering around. Pilots, Marines, Mechanics and Engineers. The Mechanics rushed over to the chopper assessing the damage, and giving the pilots hell for fucking up the UH-1Y with bullet holes. The engineers aided them in fixing her up. Exiting the air strip area, I was greeted with the same welcome I always get from Michael when I return from these things.

“So, you fuckem up, er, what?” He asks nudging me in the ribs. I look at him dead in the eyes and say it.

“Three of Bravo1-2 are dead, Miller, Granger, and Gillaven, Miller was shot to death and the others were killed by a RPG, anything else you want to know?” I said giving him a, ‘Fuck off,’ stare. He didn’t get the message, like always.

“You find all the POWs?” He asks motioning for the Command Center.

“Weren't you looking? Yes there fine, minor injuries, they’ll be back on there feet in no time.” I say with an annoyed tone.

“Jesus, what crawled up your ass? You're never like this.”

“Look,” I said stopped and turning toward him. “I just saw my commanding officer give his life for my own safety, he died for my survival, do you know what thats like?” I said poking him in the chest.

“No... I, I don’t.” He said backing up from me, I walked closer.

“Of course you don’t, it feels horrible, he died for me, he died cause I wasn't there for him, I didn’t help him, as soon as that chopper arrived I was out of there. He ran back into a firefight to get us to safety,” I start to become louder as I walk closer to Michael as he keeps backing up. “I now have to live with his soul on my shoulder, breathing down my FUCKING NECK.”

I yell causing a few heads to turn my way and stare. I turn and look at the faces, most of them were in shock, others in worry. Re collecting myself, I turn back to the scared private.

“Look, I’m sorry, I, I just need to lie down, I have too much on my mind, seeya.” Walking away, I could here him say something, but I didn’t ask what he said, I didn’t care.

I walked through the crowd of people pushing some people out of my way. I reach the bunk house kicking in the door, the darkness of the room was shattered by the light of the sun flooding in through the doorway. Some Marines were in, there some were standing around, listening to music, and just talking, but my presence made them quiet to a low murmur as I passed by them. I made my way to my bunk I threw myself on to it. I didn’t sleep I sort of just lied there staring at the top bunk. I could hear the blades of the choppers landing and taking off from outside the building. The sound echoed through the bunkhouse.

I couldn’t rest, the sound kept me from doing so. Ten minutes passed and, seeing no other option, I got up and left. The rest of the day was calm. I got a few words in from the command center thanking me for the mission, they were going to send a search party for the missing troopers, but, I was sure they were dead. I tried convincing them otherwise, but, they didn’t listen and sent out two more squads,  Alfa 1-1 and Charlie 1-2, this time, they took Humvees.  

Jul/15/04...

Canterlot Castle...

12:34pm

I woke up to the sun shining through my window as the birds chirped a lovely tune. I picked  my head and looked around, I was in my bed, but I wasn't under the covers like always. I was lying on top, the sheets still folded under me like I hadn't slept yet, and the pillows were still in there decorative manner. I sat up on my hind legs and took a gander at the room, nothing had changed, good. I got up brushed my mane, fixed the little wrinkles in my bed, unlocked my door, and headed out of my room. Shutting the door behind me, I made my way down the hallway staring at the seemingly empty halls, even the guards didn’t seem to move, but they weren’t supposed to, but I kind of with they were, everything was too calm. Reaching the door to my sisters throne I opened the door and looked inside, nothing had changed, it was just like any other day, nobody knows about my findings, nopony was with me. My sister hearing my hoofsteps looked up from a scroll she was reading.

“Ah, sister,” She said giving a small smile, “I am glad to see you are alright.” I didn’t understand what she meant.

“Alright? What does thou mean, alright?” I ask moving closer.

“ You didn’t show up to lower the moon to make way for the sun last night, when I went to get you, you were fast asleep, you seemed so tired, are you alright?” she came again, this time with more urgency in her voice.

“Oh, sorry about that sis, I didn’t mean to sleep, I was, uh, tired, yah! I was tired, l-lots of paper work.” I say as I move towards the balcony. I could hear sis getting up as her hoofsteps echoed around me.

“Luna, what were you doing, before you were asleep?” she asked joining me on the balcony.

“Just, viewing dreams thats all.” I don’t think it was working for tia grew, curious again.

“In that case, whose dreams made you so, tired, was it really bad?” I didn’t want to tell her, actually, scratch that, I couldn't want to tell her, she might not be ready for it. But, I couldn’t lie to her anymore, I had to show her the dream. Us alicorns and, pretty much any unicorn can view into any ponies dreams and store it away to remember to help them later on, but in this case, it was very different.

“ Before I tell you, what I saw, I think you might want to take a seat, this might be rough.” Saying this she gave me a confused look as she sat down next to me.

“Do you remember the night Re-Vision spell?” I ask taking a seat with her.

“Why of course I do, while you did your time on the moon I had to cover for you and help ponies with their dreams.”

“Well can you read the dream from a pony who has already seen the dream?” I asked as she put a hoof to her chin.

“Yes, why do you want me to watch the dream with you? Luna please, just tell me.” I put a hoof to her mouth.

“Just, please, sister, thou must see it to believe it.”

I closed my eyes tightly beginning the spell. I had to wait for a few seconds, finally, the dream faded into my mind, and all of its horror. I tap Tia on the shoulder and she began the spell as I could see her appear in my dream realm. She and I both floated around until planets began to zoom by us until they stopped at earth.

“First, I’ll be the one asking the first question, what is Earth?” I ask motioning toward the green planet.

“Earth, the home of the Human, I thought I wouldn’t have to re visit this world in my studies, don’t get me wrong from what I could tell, last time I saw it, the Humans were a peaceful race with a very large amount of, something they called technology, it’s very hard to explain,.But the best part is, they don’t have magic.” she said as I could see flashes of what she was talking about, big gleaming cities, with carts that rode by themselves and many other things that, even to me were stranger than the dream itself. But the part that really stung me was the peace part, from what i saw, they are very far from it. So saying nothing I turned the planet east and reached, Iraq again. Getting even closer I reached the dream. But I stopped before we entered, and I turned to sis.

“Did you ever, research, these other countries?” I said pointing to the sandy wasteland.

“No, why?” She said, a hint of worry appearing on her face.

“Because, you missed a lot.”

We entered the dream as the heat of the sun overwhelmed me once again, but for Tia it seemed not to faze her at all.

“This area, seems a lot poorer than what I saw, tell me, who is having this dream?” She said turning toward me. I look at her with my eyes filled with tears as they streaked down my face at the familiar scenery.

“From, what I have seen, this dream belongs, to a Soldier.” I said looking back toward the street, where he was shot. I didn’t want to look at sister, for the dream started. Again the group of Humans came back into the Alleyway as the group broke off toward the others behind cover. Then the banging of the weapon echoed back as the flashes of light shined of the walls as I could hear the cries of the Humans behind cover.

“What is this? I never saw this when I researched the Human race? This is all new to me, I must watch.” Sis said as her eyes widened. “They are, Soldiers, those are weapons, but who is attacking them?” I turned toward sis, with tears in my eyes, as I spat out the ugly truth.

“Another human.” I pointed to the tower as the flashing slowed down to a near stop as we saw the face of the attacker. Celestias eyes widened even more as they soaked up the dream like a sponge as it returned to normal speed. I looked over to the human behind the building as he pulled the green ball, pulling the pin once more.

“Fire in the hole!” He yelled again as the ball's pin came loose in his hand as it soared through the air toward the towers open window.

“Tia, get back!” I yell yanking the shocked alicorn from the entrance of the alleyway. The sound of the explosion cut the air as dust flew into each direction surrounding us. Then like that it became quiet. Then came the cheers as sis got back to her hooves, her ears perked at the change in tone of the humans. I re adjusted her vision to the Soldier coming out of cover. His suit now in full light, it’s sandy nature blending in with the background. Then came the nightmares purpose. As Tia almost leaped for the Soldier the sound of the Distant weapon slipped through the air as his shoulder exploded from the force as a cloud of blood shot out and covered the air around him. Looking at Tia her eyes now with tears as she had her mouth covered by her hoof, as she tried to hold back a wall of tears.

I couldn’t see her like this anymore, I broke the spell bringing us back to the balcony where we last were. Tia, was so distraught she stumbled over to the railing of the balcony and just rested there and let her eyes drain of the held back tears as her chest shook violently as she tried to steady her breathing. I rushed over to her and put my wing around her, trying to calm her down. She lifted her head and joined me in a hug.

“How could I have been so blind.” she said through her hyperventilation.                      

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