January 3rd, 1973 0800 Hours (8:00 AM)
Las Pegasus Nexus, Las Pegasus Equestria, Equuis

Light filtered into the building as Colonel Duc, Lieutenant Colonel Truc, Captain An, the armored officer, and the ANZAC officers sat in their uncomfortably small chairs, staring at the opposing party, consisting of an ornately decorated Freiheit, Princess Flurry Heart, and Scootaloo, in addition to several Caribou officers. Freiheit cleared his voice before he began to speak.

“In light of your actions in the defense of Las Pegasus, we, the people of the Caribou Empire, and its dominions are forever in your debt. We shall now conduct the terms and negotiate.”

Truc nodded, “Let us begin.” The ANZAC’s nodded as Crystal Clear spoke with Colonel Duc in Vietnamese, after which he, too nodded in agreement of negotiations.

Freiheit sat down, along with his staff and equals, “We shall begin with the bugbear in the room. Governmental jurisdiction of the municipal government. The previous battle has left our city watch and our provisional guard in tatters, as is the regular army. That combined with my defection leaves the responsibility of maintaining law and order to you and your coalition. What are your plans, Colonel?”

Truc turned, talked with the officers, and then turned back to Freiheit. “As we speak, we are deploying more troops and engineers to bolster defenses on the outside. In addition, each of our nations are deploying several battalions of military police to uphold law and order within the city. Each patrol group will consist of a police officer from South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and South Vietnam. Half of the patrol group will be knowledgeable in English, or Equish as you call it, and therefore will be able to solve disputes reasonably.

Freiheit nodded, “And how long is this period of occupation?”

“The occupation will only last until the government’s police force is sufficiently built up to combat crime again. Though in terms of military protection, we intend to build an air base nearby as not only a defense against enemy attack, but as a hub for the coalition forces within the area. We also intend to establish a naval base for our patrol boats to protect the city by sea, and to enforce maritime laws.”

“So there will be some form of occupation for the duration of your war with the Caribou Empire?”

“That is correct.”

Freiheit nodded and said, “Very well, as for your proposition on the treatment of prisoners, we do not understand the term, ‘humane’.”

Truc nodded, “It means that you treat your prisoners as if they are a guest. They should never be tortured in interrogation, be worked to death or be used as slaves, or be given living conditions that make life impossible to attain.”

“That’s preposterous!” A Caribou officer said, “They killed several of our men! Why should we give them luxury? They need punishment!”

“And they shall, within the reasonable terms of a court of law with due process. They will be tried for their crimes by the government in power, and be punished accordingly, but they must never be punished cruelly without good reason.”

“Understood.” Freiheit picked up a piece of parchment and read closely, “Those seem to be our only concerns, the rest are reasonable, tax exemptions for Coalition forces and the establishment of consulates for Coalition and allied nations in exchange for protection and aid to build modern infrastructure, you mentioned your ambassadors will fill in the details?”

“Yes, we are out of our jurisdiction in terms of legality on that aid, the ambassadors will clear that up.”

Freiheit nodded. “Good, good.” Freiheit turned to Flurry Heart. “It’s your choice. As of now, I am relinquishing command of all armed forces and governmental control over the city of Las Pegasus to Princess Flurry Heart: as of now, you are ruler of this city.”

Flurry Heart nodded. She picked up the parchment with the terms in her magical aura, and read closely, before she picked up a quill, and signed it with Freiheit. They passed it over to the Coalition officers, who signed their end of the deal.

Freiheit stood and drew his sword, swishing it left and right before holding it back up, blade pointing outward. He then lowered the sword so it pointed levelled itself, and offered it to Colonel Duc. The colonel accepted it with both hands, and bowed to the former governor. He then turned to Crystal Clear, and whispered to her before she turned to speak for him.

“The colonel accepts your offer of defection, we will begin questioning immediately, and you will be given a position and amnesty with the Republic of Vietnam, from there you have the will to do as you please within legality. Do you understand these terms?”

“Understood. May I have a word with Colonel Truc before we begin?” Whispers exchanged between the unicorn and the colonel, before he nodded. “Thank you.” Freiheit then walked towards the ARVN officer, and pulled him out the door.

“What is it do you want from me, Freiheit?”

“I just wanted to express my gratitude for what you have done to protect the people of this city in their time of need. The times are changing for the better.” Freiheit looked at the floor morosely before he said his next piece. “It is because of these times, that I am offering you guardianship of Scootaloo.”

Truc stared agape in surprise at the offer. “Why?”

“Colonel, as a new defector from the Empire I am a target, and they will do whatever they can to gain leverage on me. My new life will be dangerous, it is with this pretense that I believe she will be in better care under you. She is sixteen, colonel. She should be given the chance to grow up and have a life she hasn’t had for nearly a decade now.”

“What happened to her immediate family? Her relatives?”

“According to government records, her biological mother was an officer in the Wonderbolts, the Equestrian Government’s equivalent of your ‘Air Force’. She had to quit due to...fallout from her daughter. She died of cancer in the early years of Scootaloo’s life. Her father’s whereabouts are left to be seen as obviously noted, and there appears to be no apparent extended family traceable as of the last I’ve checked I few weeks ago. I’ve had records on her aunt and her partner, but those records have vanished. Her adopted mother was a friend of her biological mother’s, but as of late, I had lost track of her status within the slave system. The next best candidate, Captain Rainbow Dash, is also lost within the bureaucracy. Last I’ve heard, she had been sold off to the highest bidder. Colonel, she truly has no one left.”

The lieutenant colonel stood there contemplating on the decision he had to make. One thing was for certain, he had to make it quick.

“And that’s what happened?” Scootaloo asked, her head leaned over in interest as she heard Crystal regale the tale of how the Rangers caused the Caribou to turn tail. Daleering politely nodded in confirmation to some of Crystal’s facts.

“Yep. The next thing I know, we went to their fort, and it was sooo impressive, the ha-Colonel Nguyen.” Crystal shifted her gaze to the ARVN staff officer as he apporoached the group, Freiheit in tow. His face was sunk in a downcast, concerned frown.

“Good morning, may I talk to Scootaloo for a moment? Alone?” He said.

Crystal nodded nervously, her eyebrows raised in concern and befuddlement, “I-If she’s alright with it, why do you ask?”

“Something has come up, and I want to keep this private.” Truc replied. Crystal was about to raise her hoof to question further, but with a strong forehoof, Daleering wrapped her forehoof around the unicorn’s abdomen and dragged her away from the discussing duo. Scootaloo looked up, frowning in worry.

“What’s going on?” Scootaloo asked, dropping the excited overtone she’d had just a moment ago.

Freiheit looked straight into her eyes and, face contorting in near emotional collapse, began to spill everything out, “Scootaloo, you know I have cared for you for years. I’ve saved you from a life of horrific slavery, I’ve watched you grow up in the absence of your guardians, and I watched you grow into a beautiful mare.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?”

Freiheit raised his hoof, silencing Scoots for the time being. “Times are changing, my dear, I’ve left the Empire, and now my life is in danger. I can’t force you to live a life in hiding or fear any longer. You need to grow, you need to experience the things you were supposed to experience when I was your age. You need to be in a place safe enough to discover yourself.” Freiheit began to tear up as he concluded his statement. “It is because of this, that I’m handing custody over to Colonel Truc. You will be with him now.”

Scootaloo switched her sights, from her now ex-adoptive father, to the Lieutenant-Colonel, and soon, her cool yet crestfallen demeanor fell into a fit of ever-increasing rage. “This, this is because I didn’t service to you, wasn’t it?”

“What are you talking about, my ch-”

“All the other mares kept talking about the strange mare who never got bucked by her owner. They kept telling me how I was useless. Is that why you’re letting me go? Because we never serviced you?”

“My dear, we’ve been through this for three years, I said-”

“That bucking mares by force was beneath you, I know. But who knows with buckers like you!” Scootaloo snapped, “For all I know, you were waiting for us to make a move on you and jerk your rocks off!”

“Scootaloo-”

“And now you’re giving me away as a sort of trophy to the men in green, how dare you!”

“Scootaloo I-” the teenage mare bucked Freiheit in the face, blood spewing from his muzzle as his adopted daughter ran off.

Truc quickly rushed to the ex-governor’s side. As he tried to take a look at the muzzle for trauma, Freiheit simply, but gently, shoved him away. “Even with my good intentions, I can never truly win the hearts and minds of the Empire’s subordinates. Go, Colonel, I will follow not far behind.”

Truc nodded, and turned, rushing down the hall, asking staff where Scootaloo ran off to.

January 3rd, 1973 0900 Hours (9:00 AM)
Las Pegasus Governmental Residences, Las Pegasus, Equestria, Equuis

It took the Lieutenant Colonel long enough to gather information that Scootaloo had in fact, left, and headed to a location the locals noted to be where many soon-to-be-former Caribou government officials resided. Together with Freiheit, he rushed through tired pedestrian traffic. Truc was only able to see glimpses of the goings on since their defense of the city.

In the center of an intersection, a South Vietnamese MP, decked out in his shiny black helmet and armed with only a pistol, a truncheon, some sunglasses and white gloves, directed traffic, both military and civilian. Such a job was a miracle considering that both motorized and horse-drawn traffic shared the streets. The roadways were filled with M113 APC’s and MUTT jeeps, rumbling along as they patrolled the city streets. ANZAC and ARVN patrols marched through the debris-filled sidewalks.

Some of the prisoners, being kept a close eye by coalition Military Police, toiled in the hot sun to clear away the rubble they themselves had caused. Overhead, the helicopters roared, and filled the air with the distinct sounds of the chopping and whirring through the air.

Something nudging against his right shoulder prompted Truc to return his attention to their current situation, and so he faced the presently perplexed parent. “Scootaloo, Flurry Heart, and I have lived here for three years, not once have we had an argument in our time here… I guess I haven’t seen how deep her scars are.” Freiheit grabbed his keys with his telekinesis, and promptly unlocked the door. “Go. I’ll wait out here if you need me.” Truc nodded, and entered.

The room was in disarray. Some papers were strewn about: newspapers, government documents, several letters of correspondence. Books, candles, and various other items littered the floors, some of it neatly set aside. Looks like Freiheit has a part-time maid. Truc thought. He waded through the mess to a narrow hallway, and soon found a door labelling it as Scootaloo’s property, the sign was hand-crafted and painted white, with a combination of orange and magenta cuneiform decorating the sign in her name, the signature of the artist, a simple ‘F’, on the bottom right corner. He even had the respect to paint the sign for her, he mused, as he raised his fist and gave the door a gentle knock.

“Can’t you get the bucking message and buck off!?”

“It’s me, Colonel Truc. Can I come in?”

No response. Truc cautiously jiggled the doorknob, finding the door to be unlocked and free of booby traps, VC or otherwise (like there were Viet Cong here anyhow) he gently opened the door to find-

CRASH!

Truc took cover behind the door, then peered back in to find the remnants of a vase. He walked in gently, the glass crunching beneath his jungle boots, and took in the sight before him.

For a teenager in a war-torn world, her adoptive father had pulled out all the stops to satisfy her needs: a writing desk sat near the window, sports pendants plastered the walls, as did pictures of Caribou athletes and soldiers in heroic poses, Must be fear for his daughter’s safety if someone ever found anything pony-related, Truc noted. Scootaloo sat on a bed, plain due to budget, but not basic to the point where it was simply a sack full of hay. She was hugging something, a red cloth. Whatever it was, any further details were blocked by her form.

Truc slowly moved into the room, his jungle boots making heavy thumping sounds, only occasionally being interrupted by the crunch of glass. “Is that something special to you?” Truc asked, trying to get a look at the red cloth.

Scootaloo looked up, revealing the rest of the red cloth. Sewn on crudely to two sides was a simple blue shield coat of arms, in the center of those emblems were the yellow silhouette of a foal rearing on its hind legs. “What are you doing here?” Scootaloo asked, she glared at the ARVN officer as he slowly walked up to pull out a stool and took off his helmet.

“Making sure you are alright, may I take a seat?” Scootaloo bit her lip in thought, and hesitated before she nodded. Truc took a seat, and placed his helmet on the desk. He looked around the desk, finding pencils and papers strewn about haphazardly. His gaze returned to the budding young mare in question. “You never really answered me.” Truc nodded to the cape, “What is that?”

“Why would you want to know?”

“It just seemed important to you. Your step-father mentioned you had been through a lot when you were younger.”

Scootaloo looked down at the cape, and stared at it forlornly, taking time to take in the details of the stitching, as if the article itself brought back fond memories, only for them to be suppressed by the world around her. “Just something my friends came up with when we were little, before the war.”

Truc nodded, and gestured for Scootaloo to continue talking.

“There were three of us, Applebloom, me, and Sweetie Belle. I suppose you know why we have these marks on our flanks, right?”

Truc nodded, “Captain An filled me in on some things before we fought back the bandits.”

“Well, when we were young, the most important day in your life was the day you found your cutie mark, At the time, none of us had our mark, even though our friends were getting them all over the place.” Scootaloo ran her hoof through the cape, “We created a group called the Cutie Mark Crusaders, so we could help discover what our talents were, and to maybe hurry things up.” Scootaloo paused, then grinned slightly, “We tried everything, even magic, I remember Applebloom actually tried one of Zecora’s potions, and nearly died trying to get hers quick. We scared half the town with that one.”

Scootaloo fondly traced her hoof around the stitching of the CMC emblem. “Eventually, we got our cutie marks, but we decided to keep the group so we could help others find their purpose in life.” Scootaloo frowned and sighed, “When the Caribou came, we got split up, and we’ve never been able to find each other since.” Scootaloo turned towards the Lieutenant Colonel, “What’s going to happen to me? I can’t just leave them behind.”

Truc rested his left arm onto the table, and rubbed a thumb against the grain of the wood, “Well, we’ll need to fill in the paperwork necessary to transfer custody over from Freiheit to me, then we’ll have to figure out where you’ll live.” Scootaloo stared at him in confusion. “It is common practice for some of our troops to bring their families with them on the base, like camp followers. Our WAFC, our Women’s Armed Forces Corps, takes care of them by providing food and supplies, and by taking care of any children on the base with their respective mothers. I have the option of either having you live with me on the base in the Undiscovered West, or to send you back to mainland Vietnam to Saigon so that my family can take care of you, and you can live a relatively normal life.”

“What if you get killed?”

Truc shook his head, “It’s highly unlikely, I mainly receive radio transmissions from the field to relay them to the higher officers, then relay their orders back down the chain, and dispatch units accordingly. In other words, I mainly work in an office.”

“But what about the time when I found you?”

“Those assignments are rare, for me at least.”

The teenage mare relaxed at that answer, “What is Saigon like?”

“Oh it’s a crowded place, full of people, cars, and scooters.”

“Scooters? Like the one’s you push?”

Truc shook his head, “Motorized scooters, more faster and more long-lasting. The streets are safe if you know the basic rules to walking in the city. It has its ups and downs, and might need some work when the war we’re fighting back there ends, but it’s pretty safe. I have a family with seven children living there.”

Scootaloo looked back at the cape, “Would you be able to help me find my friends and family?”

“I can’t guarantee you that, but I can try.”

Scootaloo paused, then looked back up, “Why are you doing this? Why are you saying yes?”

Truc delved deep into his own mind, then answered back, “You are a child who’s been through a lot. Freiheit is in a lot more danger now that he’s decided to work with us.” Truc looked at the bed before he turned back to Scootaloo, “You may no longer be innocent, but you can still live your life. The base is pretty secure, there’s plenty of food to eat, and you’ll go to school again, though you might need to know the new language.”

Truc nodded to the window, “Or you could go to Saigon, it isn’t that much safer considering we are fighting a war over there as well, but you’ll be able to live a normal life, though it will be among aliens.” Truc look back, and patted the red cape, “Or you could go out and search for you friends, I’m sure we can help you somehow, but if you want to go out on your own, it might not be safe.”

Truc fiddled with the chinstrap on his helmet, “My point is, because even if I have known you for a short time, I care for you. It may be difficult because my salary isn’t better than my wife’s, but I’m sure we’ll find another way around this. It’s up to you, Scootaloo, you decide your own fate, but let me remind you that the reality outside would’ve been a lot worse if you had no one to go to, and if Freiheit didn’t buy you, even if slavery is wrong.”

Scootaloo picked up her CMC cape, and stared at it, her brow furrowing in contemplation, as she chewed her lip. After several minutes, she looked back up and asked,” Is it better if I sleep on it for tomorrow?”

Truc nodded, “We’ll be leaving in the late morning, you’ll have time.”

“Thank you.” Scootaloo replied back, A knock broke through the silence. The colonel glanced at the door, then returned his gaze to Scootaloo.

“Do you want me to-”

“Yes, he can come in.”

Truc nodded, sat up, then walked to the door and opened it, and in the doorway stood Freiheit’s towering frame. “Is it safe to come in?”

“Yes governor, but watch your step.”

As Truc walked back to the desk to pick up his helmet, Freiheit walked in and looked at the relatively messed-up room, he had to walk carefully as he tread through the field of broken glass and hastily thrown toys, notebooks, and figures strewn on the floor. He turned to the lieutenant colonel, and nodded, “You may leave now, colonel, I will let you know when she’s ready to go.” Truc nodded, and left to return to the Nexus.

Freiheit clambered on the bed, and turned to face his adopted daughter. “My child, you do understand that I am doing this only for your own good. It pains me so that I have to do this.”

Scootaloo nodded, “Truc said that you’ll be in more danger after the others find out about how you switched sides.”

“And with good reason, you understand that Diann, the selfish bucker, he is one who does not like any kind of opposition, whether they be his kin or not. He will go to no end to try to snuff out any sort of insolence and create an air around him that speaks of demented agreement.”

“But Freiheit,” Scootaloo interrupted, “Do you think the men in green will protect you?”

Freiheit blankly stared off into the distance, he pictured the streams of orange light, the clouds of dust, the amount of the resulting blood and gore that flew around the battlefield with abandon, the roar of the steel dragon and the fire of the metal birds, and how viciously the men in green fought to what was thought to have been the bitter end. “Frankly my daughter, after what I had seen earlier today, I am confident that they will be able to protect me in whatever I do.”

“What will happen now?”

Freiheit looked around the room, eyes misting in tears. “I’ll help you pack up your things, everything you owned. We’ll move them onto one of those motor carriages if we’re allowed to, and we’ll leave Las Pegasus for good. I am being asked to report to their divisional headquarters, and you’ll need to go with your new father.”

Scootaloo leaned onto Freiheit and mumbled, “Will I be able to see you again?”

“I should hope so.” Freiheit looked down and affectionately ran his hoof between her ears, “Do not think of what you’ll lose, my dear daughter, you’ve hardly lost a thing. Think of what you’ll gain: a chance to find your family, a chance at a life, and if you’re really dedicated and want to free your friends, an opportunity to join a side that will defeat this evil once and for all. Who knows, maybe they’ll accept you into their air force, you seemed awed when you saw their craft fly around and land.”

“Bah, they go slower than Rainbow does in a few seconds flat.” Scootaloo said with a grin fuelled by superior air, only to promptly fade and die as it morphed into a frown, another memory of another loss.

“I know how close you were to Captain Dash, there was nothing you could’ve done to save her.”

“I still think I should’ve done something.”

Freiheit patted Scootaloo’s head affectionately, “There’s still a chance you can free her. But you must wait until you are older, I’m afraid.” Freiheit stood up from the bed, and looked around the room, “Now then, let us clean this room, and begin packing your things. The Lieutenant Colonel said he is leaving with some of the forces tomorrow morning.”

“So soon?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“What about Flurry Heart? Who’ll take care of her?”

“I’ve already arranged it so that the royal guard will be reinstated, and that they will work with the men in green to provide for her care and protection. Now then, let’s get started, we won’t have all day.”

Scootaloo hesitated, but nodded nevertheless, “Alright then, let’s go.”

January 4th, 1973 0600 Hours (6:00 AM)
Las Pegasus Nexus, Las Pegasus Equestria, Equuis

Activity stirred in the streets in front of the Nexus. As troops by the truckload rolled past them from the entrance, An watched as his troops mounted onto the APC’s, the surrounding tanks roaring in wait as their mounts looked around or concentrated on what they were doing. Crystal Heart approached the captain and joined in on the spectating. “Going home at last.”

An looked down at Crystal and smiled, his eyes gleaming with delight, “I thought you were still getting used to our human ways.”

Crystal tiredly nodded and said, “You wouldn’t believe what several days riding inside a metal beast would do to you.”

“I understand, it’ll only be a few more hours.”

Crystal turned and her eyes widened in surprise, as she saw a mixed group of caribou, diamond dogs, minotaurs, and even griffons boarded onto a truck. The sight of such a mixed group of species boarding a carriage wouldn't have bothered her, had the occasional few that were boarding not been wearing an assortment of the same green uniforms that the men in green were wearing.

“What are they doing in your uniforms, An?”

The captain turned to look and his eyes widened in recognition, “Oh yes, some of the mercenaries and troops that we captured accepted our offer. Since we’ve been here, they’ve been given an interview and some light background checks. Some of them have been issued uniforms that fit in their size, others we’ll just have to figure how to fit them. After their questioning they’ll be on probation, and then we’ll see from there. But officially, they are now soldiers of the ARVN.”

“Are you sure it’s okay to trust them like that at their word? You would never believe what they’ve done to us so far.”

“I can imagine, but everyone needs a chance, besides, this is the reason why we have intensive interviews and a probationary period, the army might not work for everyone, and some may only be trying to subvert the war effort. If that’s the case, we’ll deal with them accordingly.”

An focused his attention on the lead APC, where in the line of troops waiting to board the vehicle was a certain Caribou cow, looking around anxiously in the crowd. “Looks like Daleering is getting pretty nervous on her own, might want to go to her. I’ll be with you in a second.”

Crystal nodded and gave a little wave, “I’ll see you on board then.” An nodded, and waved her away, he grinned as Crystal walked up behind Daleering, tapped her on her shoulder, and then outright hugged her. From this angle and distance, An couldn’t tell what was on Crystals face, but he was certain that her Caribou companion was a little more relieved every time Crystal was near her. He disregarded the thought as he took out a map of the region and walked off to talk with his officers on their movements.

Several blocks away, a different conversation was taking place, as Truc helped lift the last of the boxes onto the back of the bed of the trailer connected to the MUTT.

“That should be the last of them.” Truc sighed as he wiped his dusty hands onto his utility fatigues. “I’ll go back to the Nexus, there seems to be something I need to pick up as well. I’ll be back.” Freiheit nodded, and soon Truc was gone.

“Well then my child, it seems like this will be a new day for us, a day where each of our lives will change.” Freiheit said, as he processed the hustle of various green vehicles following the flow of crowded carts and pedestrians. Various trucks filled with troops and weird vehicles that the men in green called APC’s sped by, further fortifying the town. An MP MUTT wailed by with a weird sound as it responded to some emergency or another.

Scootaloo nodded, then turned to face Freiheit with a frown, “Are you sure Flurry Heart might be able to take care of herself?”

“She’ll be able to, I’m sure of it. She’s a capable girl, and I haven’t wasted all of my time tutoring her in how to lead.”’

“Even though she fell asleep in your lessons sometimes.”

“Even th-” Freiheit realized what Scootaloo was saying, and slightly pouted in his own brand of mock offense. “I never realized that lessons of how to win an audience with the power of wit and cunning would be considered sleeping material.”

“Your way of ‘winning an audience’ was made up of long-winded speeches that put everyone to sleep.”

“That may be so, but I see that it’s often a good idea to explain yourself. Point being, my dear daughter, I feel confident that I’ve prepared you and your sister to live out your lives as you see fit. Are you nervous of what will happen?”

“How can’t I be? I’ve known Equestria for all of my life, now we’re going to a completely different world. I don’t even know what to expect, and now I won’t be able to see anyone familiar.”

“I understand.” Freiheit said, as he leaned against the trailer. “Ponies, Caribou, every being moves to new places, sometimes it’s to move to make a new life, sometimes it’s to escape from something, but sometimes, you just want to roam. Nevertheless, there will always be someone there to guide you. Besides, I don’t think you’ll be seeing us off so soon.”

“What do you-” Scootaloo’s train of questioning stopped as she turned around and faced an impressive sight.

Standing next to the returning colonel was a familiar pink alicorn with a tiara that seemed like it had been molded only a day or two ago. It was still impressive: the tiara was a simple silver thing with jagged angles in zig zags, and an assortment of blue and yellow gems adorned the points. Her mane was kept at an updo, her coat pristine and clean. Though even with a sort of regal air to her, there were only a few things keeping this stranger from being a complete snob. The fact that she was (but only slightly, maybe about a doughnut or two) shorter than Scootaloo, and the fact that she had grown up with her for the past five years.

Flurry Heart was as beautiful as ever, yet her appearance was surprising.

“F-Flurry Heart!” What are you doing here?” Asked Scootaloo in complete shock.

“The military leaders thought it would be a great idea if I introduced myself to their leadership, to kick off our relationship with South Vietnam and her allies.” Flurry answered with eyes twinkling in a childish, mirthful air. “I also wanted to see what their world might be like.”

“She’s got the channels.” Truc said, breaking into the conversation by walking into the group. “She’s already assigned someone to run the city while she’s away, and elections should be starting soon anyhow.” Truc took out the orders to show them to Scootaloo. “Either way, it gives you some more time to be with you family before you separate. If things go well, you might still be able to see each other.”

Scootaloo returned the papers and smiled. She hugged the colonel, causing him to slightly jolt in surprise. “Thank you. Thank you for this.”

The colonel smiled, but hesitantly broke the hug. “Right! Everything looks like it’s packed.” Truc gestured towards the MUTT. “Ladies first.” Flurry heart climbed on board first, giving a little curtsy before Truc helped her into the back seat. Next was Scootaloo, and then Freiheit clambered onto the passenger's seat. When all was said and done, Truc climbed into the driver’s seat, flipped several switches, then flipped the ignition. Nearby, the last of the ARVN troops, including An, Crystal, and Daleering, and the new recruits, boarded onto their respective vehicles. Engines roared, and many heartfelt goodbyes were exchanged between the former governor and his staff, filled with tearful waves and shouts of goodbye. With the simple gloved gestures of ARVN MP’s, the convoy was off, the surrounding crowd cheering as they saw their liberators off, off into the unknown, back to an unknown home, to an unknown future.

Author's Notes:

AAAAAnnnnd I'm back ladies and gentlemen! Sorry for the long wait, I have a lot of school work to do right now, also, college apps. We'll return to your regularly scheduled programming in winter. Don't worry, I may not be consistent, but I'm still dedicated to this story. Granted I'm planning to kick some other stories off first, but I'll still continue with this one.

Long story short, you'll hear from me...eventually. Anyways, happy late Thanksgiving, and see ya in country.