“Captain, infantry is calling for support against a mortar site in the hills.” The radio operator calls out.

“Come to heading 355, give them ten rounds from the main gun, have the Bushmasters on standby.” Captain Stevenson calls out.

The ship makes its turn as the gun swings around, the five inch cannon putting out naval rounds deep inland against the requested target. The rounds detonated above the target area, showering it with lethal shrapnel.

“Okay, the helo is back from the USNS Comfort. They dropped of the pegasus there.” The radio operator calls out.

“Okay, turn us into the wind for helo recovery. Any idea who she was?”

“Electric Blue,” The radio operator says, looking over, “Part of the JSDF pegasi that joined us. They had a few pegasi from their carrier that joined the operation.”

“How is she?” The Captain asks, the little pegasus had sacrificed herself to save his ship.

“They don’t expect her to make it.” The radio operator says solemnly.

*** USS Ronald Reagan ***

“32 injured, 6 dead on the Hobart; 18 injured, 2 dead on the Zumwalt; 93 injured, 12 dead on the Port Royal. 12 injured on the Ronald Reagan.” The Admiral sighs softly.

“We still haven’t got numbers from the ground forces yet.” The XO says, “But we knew it was going to be bad. This was the stronghold for the region. They have been funding terrorism, piracy and such for most of the South Pacific and Indian Ocean for years from this location.”

“I know, it was a high value target. Biggest outside of Somalia.” The Admiral says mournfully, “I still hate the loss of life.”

“How’s the rescue numbers?” The XO asks, looking over at the papers.

“43 sailors from three ships, one German, one Japanese, and one Spanish. 275 women bound for the slave markets, nearly 50 of them school girls taken in one raid from Africa. 67 ponies from mixed locations. 12 griffins, all from Russia.” The Admiral reads down the list.

“Wait, have there been any Griffins in the US?” The XO asks, looking over.

“Not that I know of, none in the military, wonder why they tend to show up more in Russia?” The Admiral muses.

“Might be the cold climate.” The XO chuckles.

“No, then we’d have had a ton of Griffins show up in Minnesota.” The Admiral says, shaking his head.

“Any news on the Captain?” The XO asks.

“He was transferred to the USNS Comfort after surgery. Blue Lagoon went with him. He took the brunt of it though. They said they need to operate again after he’s more stable.” The Admiral shakes his head.

“The ground forces are still fighting both in the city and in the hills. The enemy combatants are trying to punch a hole to escape.” The XO said, “There are still lots of strong points though.”

*** 2nd Tank Battalion, Bravo Company ***

The tank shakes hard as the gunner pulls his head back from the scope. Smoke rose from the front right side of the tank, partly blocking the optics. The loader adjusts his headset and shakes his head, his hand stinging from the vibrations.

“What the hell was that?” Sargent Kent says, and looks out the scope.

“We got hit by something. There’s a chunk of reactive armor missing from the front. That wasn’t an RPG though.”

“Pop smoke and let’s back behind that wall. We’ll use it for some cover.” The Sargent says.

The gunner turns the turret and fires off some smoke canisters to provide cover. The driver throws the vehicle into reverse and begins backing up and turning to protect the damaged plate from another attack. As the tank backs up a beam of energy lances out from the smoke, blowing off a huge chunk of reactive armor and cutting a deep trench through the depleted uranium plate.

“Turn the turret right twenty degrees and fire the coaxial.” The commander yells.

“I can’t see anything.” The gunner responds, turning the turret.

“Match to my mark and fire suppressing, Command, the enemy either has a laser cannon, plasma blast, or we have a hostile unicorn.”

*** USNS Comfort ***

The Comfort is a floating hospital, though in actuality, it puts most hospitals to shame. With a thousand beds, twelve operating rooms, dental, optometry, burn wards, radiology, and labs for diagnostic medicine, the only thing missing is a golf course.

Blue Lagoon sits beside her Captain, one hoof on his hand, looking at him with tears in her eyes. They had him out of surgery for the second time today, and don’t know if they should try a third. He’s hooked up to a dialysis machine as well as other support systems.

“You shouldn’t have done this for me.” She speaks softly. “You didn’t need to.”

Walking up, a nurse puts a coffee down beside Blue Lagoon, “Here you go ma’am.”

“Huh?” Blue Lagoon blinks and looks at the nurse who is checking the Captain’s IV.

“Coffee for you, you’ve been up for hours.” The nurse says softly.

“Oh thanks.” Lagoon says before taking a sip, “Any idea how he is?”

With a sigh the nurse shakes her head, “Not good, swelling in the brain, shredded kidneys, liver, spleen. The docs are working hard, but there’s only so much human medicine can do.”

“There has to be something we can do, why isn’t there magic that could heal him?” Blue Lagoon says, slamming a hoof down on the deck hard.

“Magic is as magic does. It would take a magical healer to help him. A pony who’s special talent is healing, or one that is very, very, good with healing spells. Your talent is weather control. Don’t blame yourself or say you have the wrong talent now.” The nurse says.

“Thanks miss?” Blue looks up at the nurse, blinking.

“Lieutenant Harwell.” She says and shakes her head, “There are unicorns like Dr. Gregory Horse that might have been able to help. Or Star Crossed, Star was a natural healer, special talent and all. During the battle of the Gate and afterwards, he helped a ton of ponies, often without realizing just how much he was doing.”

“Really?” Blue Lagoon perks her ears forward.

“Yes, he didn’t stay there though, he was so funny, he had problems with hating his fur color.” The nurse says with a smile.

“Wait, that means he’s on Earth. As a human, but on Earth, maybe he can help. Wait a moment, how do you know all this?” Blue says, blinking.

Looking around the ward, the nurse lowers her skirt a bit on one side to show Blue Lagoon her cutie mark. She has a red cross with a little red heart in each of the corners of the cross on her hip.

“You’re a…”

“My real name is, or was, Tenderheart. I’m an Earth pony.” She says, pulling her skirt up and looking around.

“But why? Why did you choose to come back?”

“I had to go because I knew there would be casualties there. I had to come back because I have family here. A husband and daughter who I can’t abandon.” Sighing softly, she shakes her head. “I’m trying to convince them to come through the gate the next time it opens and try living there for a few years. I want them to see if they can accept it.”

“How would I find this Star Crossed?” Blue asks looking up.

Shaking her head the nurse shrugs, “Not sure, when he was in Equestria, he was with the US Rangers, 2/75th I think. He was a medic, went by Henry, he just hated the name Star Crossed.”

“Well there can’t be that many Henry’s that that went to Equestria in the Rangers.” Slamming her hoof on the deck, horn glowing as she looks at the nurse. “Where’s the coms room? I am NOT letting my captain die.”

*** 2nd Tank Battalion, Bravo Company ***

“They’re using hit and run tactics. They aren’t trying to break through, they are trying to force us to move, either pursue or withdraw.” The commander says, over the radio. “Hold your ground, call out targets, no different than any other combat.”

The Iron Horses are combat vets. They’ve seen combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, as well as other countries. They study and train together. They know their jobs, and they know what they have to do.

“Hold the line. Have air support ready if they try more probing attacks, have the gunships take them out.”

“Roger that.” Comes over the radio.

Swinging the main gun around, the gunner zeroes in on target. “HE, one round.”

Firing, he watches the round impact into a truck that is mounting a recoilless rifle. The vehicle explodes, one burning wheel bouncing and rolling downhill.

“Reverse.” The commander calls up, and the tank backs down the slope a bit, under cover. The next tank in the line rolls up to take its shot. This way, each tank minimizes the fire it takes.

“Any sign of that unicorn?” The tank commander calls out.

“Nothing, haven’t seen a blast in ten minutes now.” The gunner calls out.

“Thank gosh it wasn’t a harder shot or hitting us on or flanks.” The commander says, searching for targets with his scope.

*** JSOC Command ***

I blink, feeling confused as I trot into the HQ building. Sugarberry looks up at me and nods, “Take a seat, I have no idea what’s going on, but it’s big.” She says.

Walking over, I climb up onto a chair and turn around and sit down. “I have my class practicing gears while I’m away.”

Sugarberry cringes and giggles. “Oh, they must love you.”

“They do, I even got an apple today.” I say smiling, “Then I was called Cheerilee.”

Henry walks in and blinks before sitting down beside me, “You called in too?”

“Yeah, all of a sudden I’m having this, principles office, feel.” I say blinking, and start to drum my front hooves on the chair.

A few moments later, the General walks into the lobby. Quickly, I stop drumming and sit at attention. Honestly I don’t know where I picked up the drumming habit from. Looking at me and Henry, the expression on his face tells me it’s bad news.

With a deep breath he turns, “At ease, my office.”

Hopping down I follow him with Henry into his office. Closing the door behind us, he takes a seat and sighs. “Have a seat, you two.”

Gulping, I take a seat in the chair, slowly it starts spinning until Henry grabs it to steady it. Honestly the chairs in this office are oiled or something, they spin so easily. Henry takes a seat beside me and we both look at the General.

For some reason I keep expecting Henry to point at me and say ‘It’s her fault.’

“Velvet, can you replicate that transformation spell? On a smaller scale?” The admiral says, looking at me seriously.

“Umm transmogrification, yes sir.” I say, looking around a bit nervously again. “It’s doable.”

Taking a deep breath he sighs. “There was a major assault against a pirate strong hold, several humans and ponies were badly injured.”

I nod slowly, “High casualties?”

“In this case it isn’t the numbers. Instead, there are favors being called in, requests and demands made. The captain of the USS Reagan was critically injured.” The General states, “He’s not expected to live.”

Henry blinks then shakes his head. “Oh come on they don’t expect...”

“This came down from the Secretary of Defense, through the Joint Chiefs. Apparently some pony knows you used magic to heal injured after the battle of the Gate.”

“Sir I didn’t even know how I did it let alone how much I helped.” Henry says.

Shaking my head I sigh, “Innate or special talent spells of unicorns are often hard for them to judge. It usually comes to them with their first sparks or at the time they get their cutie mark. They need to practice it a lot to understand it enough to teach others… and even then others might not be able to use it as well as the natural talent.”

“So he might be able to heal, just not understand it enough to teach it?” The General asks.

“Yes sir. Magic is a little confusing.” I say.

Shaking his head, the General looks at Henry, “Okay, well they want you there to try.”

“Sir, I’m not a unicorn. And honestly I don’t want to be one. I’ve had enough of pink fur for a while.” Henry says.

“It’s… Not a request, Corporal.” The General says softly.

“What? You can’t mean they are…”

“It’s a direct order from the Joint Chiefs.” The General says, leaning back in his chair a bit.

“With all due respect sir, they can’t order me to have my form changed. That would be a very serious violation of my rights.” Henry says, blinking.

“Sir, I don’t know if I could, or should, change an unwilling subject. It would be like a doctor practicing medicine on an unwilling patient.” I say.

“No, they are saying because this is temporary and the pony form is needed, it’s a valid order. I’ve taken it under protest, and demanded clear rules be laid down about forcing the use of special abilities against a ponies will. I’ve suggested the powers are intimate and personal, so it would be akin to ordering a soldier to have sex against their will.” The General shakes his head slowly. “They are going to discuss the issue but since this is time critical they are ordering it now. Your plane leaves as soon as you are on it. You’re both being flown to Okinawa, and from there you’ll be crammed into F-18s and flown to the carrier battle group.”

I groan, “Yes sir.”

“You can change him to unicorn at his convenience either en route or when you get there. If you can help the Captain, that’s your primary order. Anyone else you can help is your choice or call, unless further orders come in.” The General says solemnly.

“Understood sir.” Henry says and sighs, looking at me.

“I know, it’s my fault.” I say, getting up.

*** 2nd Tank Battalion, Bravo Company ***

A pair of RPGs slammed into the ground in front of the tank. Dirt and mud is flying as it hard reverses behind the building. The third RPG hits the side of the building, sending rocks and debris over the tank.

“Any smoke left?” Sargent Kent calls out.

“Nope, used the last of it.” The gunner calls out as he swings the turret.

“5 rounds of HE left.” The loader growls.

With a pull of the trigger, the the coaxial machine gun starts up again, the gunner puts down fire over the RPG position. This gives the second tank in the group time to move up and fire a HE rounds into the building.

“Here come the reinforcements.” The Sargent calls out, “Okay, let’s back out of here slowly, keep your eyes open.”

With a groan, the tank slowly turns. Moving back down the roadway, keeping its front to the enemy positions. Its turret slowly moves side to side as the gunner scans for signs of trouble.

The Sargent looks though his scope before pulling his head away. Bright light from the optics filled the tank as it shudders.

“Keep backing up, were not out of the fight yet.” The Sargent calls out and looks back to the scope. “I’ve lost my optics! That shot though came from one of the buildings at one o’clock.”

“Got it, HE!” The gunner calls out and is answered by the sound of the breach closing.

Firing a round, he turns the turret slightly. “HE!”

The breach opens, ejecting the spent casing and the next HE round is slammed into place.

The gunner fires and a gout of flame erupts from the barrel. In moments the second building is reduced to a pile of rubble.

“Anything?” The Sargent asks.

“No movement, that doesn’t mean anything through.” The gunner says, “Now 28’s pulled in front of us, were in the clear.” The gunner adds.

At best speed, the tank makes a break for the supply area. It had taken a beating but it was still there and kept its crew safe. They had expected RPGs, but a unicorn working for the rebels is not in their playbook.

*** Velvet ***

“Velvet, whatever you think, this isn’t your fault.” Henry says. We’ve slept most of the flight.

Due to the length of the flight, the air force actually has two different flight crews on board. So not only are we sleeping, but for most of the flight the second crew was asleep also. Inflight food has been kindly provided by the US Army in the form of MRE P-rations and MRE standard rations.
The G650 was fast and fairly posh, a long range VIP transport, it could easily get us half way around the world. The problem is, it can’t land on a carrier. Instead it flies us nonstop from Fort Brag straight to Okinawa. From Naha Airport in Okinawa we were told we would be shifting to another aircraft for the final hop to the carrier group.

“If I hadn’t flipped out and turned you into a unicorn at the gate… they wouldn’t be expecting this now.” I say and sigh.

“I still don’t think it’s your fault, and I don’t blame you.” Henry says, “I’m just frustrated.”

“I know the feeling.” I say, “So when do you want to… you know.”

“Pink out? Let’s put it off till we get to the hospital ship please.” Henry says sadly, “I’d like to keep my dignity as long as I can.”

Leaning over, I give him a quick hug before feeling the bump of the wheels hitting the runway. Looking out the window, I see us turning off the runway onto a side ramp and roll to a stop.

“Ok ponies and gentleman thank you for flying Air Force Air, you will see a door to your right, use it quickly.” The captain calls out.

Blinking, I unbuckle and get up to head outside of the plane. Once outside, I shake myself out, blinking. “Bright light, bright light.”

“Specialist Coralis?” A rampy calls out.

“Here!” Henry responds and turns, seeing the flight suit and helmet being held out for him.

“Put these on quickly. Sergeant, help him get suited up.” An officer calls out, before he turns to me. There is no flight suit for ponies, instead he kneels down, strapping on what looks like a vets oxygen mask and modified bike helmet on my head.

Looking at the cobbled together parts including a tube hanging down to where it’s been spliced onto an aircraft oxygen hose, I can’t help but feel this is up there with the worst idea ever. Even the radio and headphones I have look like they were bought at a Best Buy and glued on with a glue gun about half an hour ago.

Henry said something about keeping his dignity, he’s the lucky one. I wish I could have kept mine. Instead I find myself lifted off the ground without warning and handed to a tech on a scissor lift. In moments the lift is raised and pushed up against the side of an F-18 E/F.

“Hey what’s… ACK!” Is about all I have time to say before I’m picked up by two techs and shoehorned into the back seat of the fighter. These aircraft are NOT meant for ponies in the slightest, and the five point harness is even less forgiving of my pony form. I find one of them pushing my belly in sensitive spots as they lock everything down.

“Don’t touch anything, don’t move, and don’t speak.” The tech says as he plugs in my oxygen hose and coms. “If pilot calls for a bail out, he will say eject, eject, eject. I don’t care how you manage it, but if he does pull that handle there only. Do not ask questions because he will likely be gone.”

The pilot slides into the cockpit and lowers the canopy as the scissor lift is backed away from the plane. You can cross flying in a fighter jet off my bucket list; you can also add the sub note, never again.

*** HMAS Brisbane ***

“Special Forces have pushed on the center of town, they’re still coming up with more hostages.” The XO says.

“There was an estimated thirty thousand people in that city, starting to feel like ten percent were actually prisoners.” Captain Stevenson says, shaking his head.

“It’s big business to them.” The XO says softly.

“Flash traffic from command, two F-18 E/F’s crossing our course, they are listed as friendly.” The radio operator calls out.

“Got ‘em. They aren’t part of our group.” The radar operator says, “They are moving fast though.”

“Strawberry 4 is tracking them, they are cleared for pass though and landing on the Reagan.” The radio operator calls.

“Tracked, listed as friendly.” The radar operator adds and gets back to searching for aircraft entering the destroyer’s zone of control.

*** Cipher ***

“Missing?” Cipher sits up in her chair, blinking.

“Yes she was kidnapped,” Mindy says on the big screen.

Cipher shakes her head vigorously, “By who?”

“Not sure, I think it was Spectrum but we don’t have any proof, yet.” Mindy says, looking worried.

“Oh this is unacceptable, one moment.” Cipher says as she leans back in her chair. Her horn glowing brightly as she grabs ‘windows’ and starts throwing them at monitors. Within moments Fleur dis Lee with Army Criminal Investigations, Goldie with the Air Forces Office of Special Investigations, and White Lightning with the 520th Air Police are up on the screens.

“What’s up?” Fleur asks. She blinks a few times, “And how the heck did you do this on my desktop?”

“Questions later, girls. I need you to get in contact with your friends at the Coast Guard, Navy Criminal, and FBI.” Cipher says in a determined voice.

“Um, what’s going on?” White Lightning asks.

“Lightning Dust was kidnapped. We are doing an All Ponies Bulletin.”

*** Velvet ***

“Are you ready?” I say spreading my forelegs and bracing my rear legs.

“Just do it.” Henry says with a sigh.

Closing my eyes, I hit him with the spell, the magic wrapping around him. It lifts him off the ground as it reshapes his form and turns him back into his unicorn self. In a moment he stands blinking, with his pink fur and his two tone brown and purple mane. A moment later he is gently set back down on the deck.

Grumbling, he looks himself over, then quickly looks between his legs.

“Yes, it’s still there.” I say, rolling my eyes.

Sitting down I blow at my bangs, “Phew, it takes a bit out of you.”

“So what now?” Henry says.

“Where did I leave those gears and that puzzle.” I say, looking around.

“Oh hell no, I don’t need practice or training I need to be… GAH!!!” Henry never does finish that sentence. I wonder what he needed to be? My guess is he was going to say human, though done with this might have worked. In any event the magical aura that wrapped around him gives him little time for thought.

Blue Lagoon turns and starts running down the hall with Henry in her magical grasp. Her strength is more than enough to hold him as she gallops towards the ICU.

Blinking, I look around for a moment before shaking my head. “Hey bring me back my unicorn!” A moment later, I’m chasing after the grabby mare.

The USMS Comfort is huge. It’s over 270 meters long, 30 meters wide, and 30 to 40 meters high. Put into perspective, that’s about 900,000 square feet of real-estate. That space is spread over 10 to 15 decks.

“Hold up! Put him down and let him catch his breath and get used to his hooves first!” I yell.

“No time!” Blue Lagoon says, skidding around the corner, “It took you so long to get here!”

Turning the corner, I follow her into the room panting. “And you shouldn’t make a pregnant mare run like that.”

“I’m sorry but he shielded me from a blast that would have killed me, I’m NOT going to let him die in my place.” She says firmly and puts Henry down beside the bed.

Henry shakes himself out and goes to take a step forward, before falling on his face. “Oh, hello floor.” He grumbles.

“He’s supposed to be the unicorn healer? He can’t even walk.” Blue Lagoon says, starting to look panicked.

“Calm down, I just turned him back into a unicorn. Unlike us, he was always a human, so it takes him a bit longer to remember how to walk.” I say sternly.

“I thought he was a natural healer.” Blue Lagoon says, looking like she’s really getting ready to panic now, her horn alights and I can feel the humidity level change, and an electric feel in the room. She gasps and looks up at her horn. She moans and her horn quiets, calming down the room.

Sighing, I nod, “He is, he was never a cursed pony though. He went through the mirror and somehow found his natural talent to be magical healer.”

Pushing himself up, Henry looks down at his legs. “Alternating right?”

“Front right, rear left.” I say with a smile.

Slowly Henry starts walking forward, then he looks at the Captain. “Okay, I got it. I wanna try a few things first just to make sure I remember how to do things.”

“Should I have brought the puzzle and gears?” I say innocently.

“Not on your life.” Henry grumbles and works to get his horn lit. His horn flickers softly a few times before its glow builds up and shines brightly.

“It’s been a few months since you last used your magic.” I say, watching carefully. “You are probably going to need a huge amount of sugar and such after your first spells.”

“I know, trust me, I know.” Henry shakes his head, his horn glow fading then growing brighter again. “I think I’ve got it.”

Walking up, I touch my hip to his, rubbing my cheek against his face. “Calm down, relax.”

Closing his eyes Henry lights his horn again. Leaning forward, he touches his horn to the Captain’s arm, letting his magic wrap around and envelope the injured officer. A moment later, the heart rate monitor shows a strong rise, and the Captain’s breathing becomes deeper and more regular.

Henry finds himself wobbling and sitting down hard. Shaking my head I hug him, “Come on, relax and breathe.”

“I really don’t want to sound like Cipher but… I need coffee.”

Moaning softly, the Captain opens his eyes.

Blinking, Blue Lagoon squeals and hugs Henry tightly. “YOU DID IT!”

*** 2nd Tank Battalion, Bravo Company ***

The Sergeant pushes on the hatch and grumbles, “Nope, it’s totally jammed.”

The loader works his hatch before it pops open and he pokes his head out. “Forget it, Sarge. There’s no way you’re opening that without a cutter.”

Climbing out of the loaders hatch, Sargent Kent whistles. For the first time he’s getting a clear view of the damage that his tank has taken. One impact to the front had taken off the track guard as well as cut right through the depleted uranium plate and part way through the composite armor. The second has cut a gouge diagonally through his front plate, almost ten centimeters wide and nearly a meter long.

The last impact, though, had ripped off the commander’s sight, the right side smoke dispenser, and melted the hatch. His tank will be in the shop for weeks. It has survived and kept them safe, but it has taken a terrible beating.

Walking down the front, the Sargent rubs his hand across the words written across the barrel. They are the Second Tank, The Iron Horses. He couldn’t think of a better name for this beast when he first saw it. Today it proved itself yet again, able to push through anything and keep on moving. Giving the barrel one last pat he hops off the tank, to the ground. “Good job Big Mac.”

*** Velvet ***

“That is SO unhealthy.” The doctor says, sternly.

Blinking I look up at him, “Excuse me?”

“All of those sweets, that’s just so wrong.” He says.

Lieutenant Harwell shakes her head and looks over, “Actually doctor, not for ponies. Magic uses a lot of calories, and sugars help provide a quick energy boost. Donuts, cakes, cupcakes, high sugar fruits, are a big boost in calories for ponies.”

Blinking I huff as my speech is taken away from me, “Yeah, what she said, sir.”

“I still think it’s not healthy.” The doctor says, firmly.

“When you’ve eaten enough, there’s a pegasus down the hall. She sacrificed herself to save an Australian destroyer. I know it’s asking a lot but would you be able to help her?” Lieutenant Harwell asks with a hopeful look.

“I can’t heal everyone.” Henry says, looking at her sadly.

“I know, trust me, I know how much energy it takes, I’m just asking for one or two of the worst cases before you go. Some ponies that really deserve a chance.” The nurse asks softly.

“You really care about us don’t you?” I say, blinking.

Nodding slowly the nurse looks at her coffee, “Yeah, and I’d like to see us have a chance here.”

Author's Notes:

Art as always by Alkarasu