Princess Twilight Sparkled walked down the halls of the castle looking for the Commander as after explaining to Shinning what had happened and why there were two of her she had gone to Celestia’s study and been surprised to find the Commander hadn’t been there. Celestia had been concerned when Twilight told her that the commander had said she was coming to Celestia’s study while Twilight visited with Shinning and also how she had been acting at the time.

Celestia had said they should look for the mare and Twilight knew the older Alicorn well enough something had her very concerned but also knew she probably wouldn’t tell the younger Alicorn if she asked.

They had split up and Twilight had been searching for about thirty minutes when she heard MUSIC coming from a lounge and she recognized it as nothing that was normally in Equestria which meant it was the Commander. She had figured the mare had snuck off the play a prank on her, however what Twilight found when she opened the door was nothing close to what she had expected.

The Commander was clearly drunk as she held the bottle of her whiskey that Twilight had known hadn’t been open a few hours ago and her eyes were blood shot. However what concerned the young princess the most was the appearance of her unicorn self’s uniform. Her cap and sunglasses lay on the floor where they clearly had fallen and her uniform was wrinkled mess and Twilight knew the Commander took great care in the uniforms care, explaining that she had to look presentable at all time and no matter what the uniform always looked freshly ironed and cleaned.

“Oh…..Hey Princess, come to join me in a drink?” The Commander slurred and shook the whiskey bottle slightly making its contents slosh before taking a large drink. “Whiskey is just the thing for today.” The Other mare said and held out the bottle as tears started to fall from her eyes.

Twilight looked on in wide eyed shock as she looked into the other mare’s eyes, they were filled with the most profound sadness the princess had ever seen in her and the unicorn didn’t seem to notice she was crying. After a few moments of Twilight not moving as she wasn’t sure what to do the commander shrugged and pulled the bottle back. “Suit yourself, more for me.” She said before taking a drink and wiping her eyes. “Damnit why is everything so blurry.” She questioned under her breath.

This snapped Twilight out of her stupor and she walked into the room. “Commander are you ok?” She asked as she slowly approached.

The Commander gave her a smile that held no joy or happiness what so ever. “Never better, I got good whiskey and good music, what’s there not to be ok about?” She asked as she gestured to each item as she mentioned it.

As she got close Twilight saw the other commander Datapad was displaying an image of a large group of ponies all dressed in the same uniform the Commander wore and saluting the camera, the Princesses were in the picture as well and so was Twilight’s friends her parents and her Brother and his wife. And right in the middle looking as happy as she had ever seen her was the Commander, she stood tall with her hands behind her back and Twilight could tell whatever the picture was taken for meant a lot to the military mare as she looked to be filled with pride.

Looking behind the gathered ponies the Princess saw what looked like a large gate with a simple sign above it. “What’s Camp Mendez?” She asked gesturing a hoof towards the picture hoping that what was a clearly a happy moment in the other mare’s life would help her. She had to ignore how strange it was to see a picture of everyone she knew at an event she didn’t remember.

The Commander looked at the image and a small smile graced her muzzle as she looked at it for a moment. “Camp Mendez was the first EDF base to be brought online and acts as the training ground for all EDF soldiers to learn how to be soldier.” The Commander said not looking up from the image. “This was taken the day the base officially opened with a small staff of instructors and a few guards has to be one of the proudest moment of my career, right under my promotion to Commander. I had to do a lot of work to get the base open and there is nothing like the feeling of seeing something you worked towards for a long time coming into reality.” With the last part the Commander looked up at Twilight and the smile fell from her face. “It is both one of my greatest accomplishments and my greatest failures as a soldier.”

Twilight blinked at this as how the Commander normally spoke of the EDF she was extremely proud of the organization and all it did and represented, as far as she could tell the other mare didn’t have any failures like what she seemed to indicate. “Why was it a failure? Did it not train the soldiers how you wanted?”

The unicorn laughed bitterly. “Oh it trained them exactly how I trained the first batch and continues to do so and produces some of the best soldiers on Equus.” She said and looked at the princess smiling sadly. “You aren’t going to just leave me alone are you?” She asked.

Twilight blinked and shook her head. “No, I’m not. I can tell something is bothering you and I want to help.” Twilight said with a bit of determination.

The unicorn laughed bitterly. “Well seems you have my same level of stubbornness.” She said and placed an elbow on the end table beside her and rested the side of her head in her head as she looked at the Alicorn. “You have to be the biggest idealist I have ever seen and I am not sure if that is a strength or a weakness.” She said.

Twilight blinked in confusion at the sudden change in topics. “What do you mean?”

“Well the world you seem to believe in and want sounds absolutely perfect and you hold fast to that image no matter what despite the fact reality is so far from it.” The Commander explained. “And you want the world to be like that that you hold yourself to that standard that you follow it with a conviction few would have for anything, you won’t even kill one such as Tirek after what he had done to your life, choosing to imprison him instead.” She said and Twilight nodded.

“Then there is me who is on the other end of the spectrum, I’m a soldier who has faced some of the most messed up shit reality can throw at a single person and managed to get through it relatively unscathed and I know how the world really works and will do what I have too to achieve my goals.” She said and took a drink. “I mean look at me.” She gestured to herself. “I’m a cybernetic, bipedal, war machine who specializes in laying waste to my enemies and has no remorse for the lives I’ve taken.”

Twilight slowly nodded as she listened to the other mare talk about herself. “We are complete opposites and yet we are also the same, two sides, same coin if you will.” The Commander said swirling her drink. “We both have firm ideals and stand beside them with a conviction that is unbreakable and are both very dependable to our friends.” She said and looked back up at the Princess. “And yet how we go about doing the same actions couldn’t be more different even if the motivation is the same. We live parallel lives that couldn’t be more different.”

She gestured to the picture on her Datapad. “Camp Mendez was the first EDF base brought online and it certainly wasn’t the last, I built dozens of bases and garrisons across the nation with the simple goal of protecting the nation from everything.” She said and smiled sadly. “The EDF grew in size and power and soon we rivaled the Griffin Kingdoms in military might and took out place as the second military super power on the planet.” She looked back up at Twilight with that same sad smile as fresh tears formed in her eyes.

“We were safe, we were secure and though we lost soldiers from time to time it was better than the alternative.” She said. “However things weren’t as great as they appeared. While as a whole the Griffins didn’t mind sharing the title of best military there were those with in the military who resented us for daring to rise above the “peaceful sods” we are supposed to be.” She said and laughed bitterly and Twilight got the impression she was quoting somepony.

“It was just talk, whispers at the edge of hearing, nothing concerning as there is always talk.” The Commander looked at Twilight and the smile dropped. “Till is wasn’t.” She said seriously. “One year, one month, zero weeks, three days, one hour, nine minutes and thirty-two seconds ago it wasn’t just whispers, it wasn’t even just talk anymore.” She said and looked back at the picture and reached out and touched the part that showed Shinning Armor before wiping her eyes again and looking back up at Twilight.

“Some Griffin Commando, led by a Colonel Razorwing broke off from the military and declared war against Equestria.” She said and smiled sadly. “Their first act in their was to try and assassinate Cadence in the Crystal Empire.” She said and Twilight eyes widen but before she could say anything the Commander hand up a hand. “She’s fine all things considered but we did suffer our first casualty in that brief war.” She said and dropped her hand. “The griffins were dressed as tourists and moved through the market district, Cadence and Shining armor were there to by a birthday gift for me as at the time my birthday was in a week.” She said and shook her head. “They drew rifles they had hidden in the packages they carried and open fired on Cadence who was just turning around to see what the noise what.”

“And Shining Armor always having to be the hero did the only thing he could.” The unicorn smiled sadly as the tears flowed freely. “He threw himself into the path of the bullet meant to kill his wife and took her place.” She said and Twilight blinked as the words sunk in.

“You…you mean?” She asked slowly.

The other mare nodded sadly. “Yes, the first casualty of the war with the Separatists was my own brother Shinning Armor.” She said and Twilight jaw worked uselessly. “There were many casualties, both soldier and civilians as the Separatists employed terrorist tactics by bombing civilian centers crowded with unarmed civilians and sometimes employing seconding bombs placed to kill the first responders who arrived to help the injured.” She said and shook her head and her face grew hard. “The fucking cowards.” She spat out.

“I’m…I’m so sorry…” Twilight managed to say as tears threatened to escape her eyes at the thought of what the other her had been through and the thought of what would happen if she lost Shinning. “What…what happened to the separatists?”

The Commander’s face grew cold. “The EDF hunted them down like the animals they were.” She said. “During the final assault on the Separatists base they had done so much to harm Equestria with their bombing that we were not interested in taking prisoners, we showed them the same mercy they showed ever single civilian they killed.” She said firmly and Twilight could see the sadness replaced by a raging fire of anger for a moment before it was snuffed out by the sadness.

“But even still with the separatists wiped out it doesn’t change the fact that the creation of the EDF lead to the separatist forming in the first place which lead to them trying to kill Cadence and resulted in me losing my brother.” She said and smiled sadly. “Because of me my brother is dead.”

Twilight couldn’t stop herself as she wrapped the other pony in a tight hug. “You couldn’t have known that would happen, it’s not your fault.” She said holding her tightly.

The Soldier laughed and patted the Princess’ back. “There’s that Idealist again” She said. “Whether I knew it or not it doesn’t change the fact that if not for the EDF existing then Shinning would still be alive.”

Twilight hugged the unicorn tighter. “You can’t think like that, what you have told me of the EDF is amazing and they have done things I have never even imagined being possible.”

“That maybe so but the whole reason I created the EDF was protect the nation and her people as well as those who are important to me, instead it resulted in a war with terrorists.” The Commander said and Twilight pulled away slightly. “Shinning’s death as well as every single EDF soldier, Royal Guard and civilians that died to the Separatists actions blood is on my hands and there is no getting it off.” She said with a small smile. “The fact is I’m a bad pony who failed in her du—“

The room echoed with the sound of a hoof smacking another pony across the muzzle. The Commander blinked and looked back at the Princess who looked at her sternly. “Did you just slap me?” She asked dumb founded.

“Yes I did. “Twilight said firmly. “You were talking non-sense and it was the only thing I could think of to get you to listen.” She said. “Now I haven’t known you long but I think I’ve seen enough of who you are to make a proper assessment of who you are Commander and the facts are you are a good pony, yes you kill and I know you have no remorse for those action but the facts I have seen is you only do it in defense of others, to protect them from harm.” She said more gently. “You do what you have to keep others from having to bear the burden. You raised an army with the sole purpose of protecting everypony in Equestria and though it led to a war the fact stands you lead your army against the threat and saved many live that those griffins probably would have taken in their war against innocent ponies.”

“And from what I’ve heard you say you carry with you every soldier who falls in battle with you so they are not forgotten, that is the mark of somepony who deserves to lead and protect others as you are willing do to what is needed to ensure that safety but you won’t needlessly send your soldiers to their deaths if you can avoid it.” Twilight said and pulled the Commander into another hug. “The facts stand that you are a great pony who had had to face some very difficult situation Commander and I think you have come through them better than most would have.” She said gently.

Twilight blinked when the commander started to laugh, it wasn’t the same bitter laugh as before but a true laugh. Twilight broke off the hug and blinked at the other mare.” What is it?”

“Nothing, it’s just that has to be the single most shit filled speech I have ever heard in my life.” She said and laughed harder.

Twilight frowned at her. “Well so sorry it doesn’t meet your standards.” She said in a huff.

“OH no it’s exactly the same crap I say in my speeches.” The Commander said after regaining control of herself and she smiled at the Princess, a genuine smile. “Gods you really are a lot like me if we both can come up with such crappy speeches on the spot.” She said and laughed again. “Least I know that somethings about myself haven’t changed.” She said with a chuckled and patted Twilight head. “Thank you Princess, really, I know I shouldn’t be wallowing in sadness like that, believe me the Major always gets onto me about it when I do. It’s just I hadn’t even thought of seeing Shinning Armor alive and well again, the thought had slipped my mind completely so I wasn’t prepared for it.”

Twilight nodded and hugged the unicorn who returned the hug. “I’m sorry for your loss but I want you to know that if you ever need to talk, don’t hesitate ok?” She said.

The Commander nodded and smiled. “Alright, I’ll keep that in mind Princess.” She said and looked around. “I do recommend we stop hugging though as if someone sees they may get the wrong impression and think we are marefriends and that would be beyond awkward.” She said and Twilight blushed brightly before quickly separating herself from her counterpart.

“Yeah that would be really awkward and hard to explain.” She said with a small chuckle.

The Commander nodded and got to her feet, dusting herself off she replaced the stopper in her whiskey before it vanished into her pocket dimension and she retrieved her cap and sunglasses from the floor. “Well I believe we have a meeting to attend, knowing Celestia she is concerned about our lack of arrival.” She said as she did her best to straighten her uniform.

Twilight blinked as she got to her hove as she just noticed the lack of a slur in the military mare’s voice. “Weren’t you drunk earlier?” She asked.

The Commander waved a hand dismissively. “Please, I’m a soldier, if I let a little thing like being drunk prevent me from doing my job then I should hang up my guns permanently as I’d be a rather poor soldier.” She said with a smile. “Anyways shall we go Princess?”

Twilight looked at the other mare, not for the first time thinking how absolutely strange she was before nodding her head and heading for the door with her counterpart beside her. She couldn’t help but have the distinct feeling that things had changed between the two of them for the better and she had the vaguest idea that the Commander now saw her as a friend, which brought a smile to the Alicorn’s muzzle.

Author's Notes:

And now we see how PTS and CTS became friends, and we all know how CTS feels about friends and what she will do to those that threaten them.