"Is that everything?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Yes, I believe so." Eisenhower replied. "Are you hungry, thirsty?"

"A little." they said. "But we don't eat meat."

"I figured." Eisenhower said. "Come on, you three. Let's see what we can find."

As they all exited and headed for the mess, soldiers all around them stopped and stared, until glares from Patton made then resume their work.

"General?"

They turned to see Sergeant Redford approach.

"We've got a group of war correspondents at the mess hall. Some bastard spilled the beans about those three being here."

"Damn." Patton cursed. "I'll deal with it."

As the eight of them entered the mess, several men were speaking with the troops, all wearing a jacket marked with "PRESS", and bearing cameras.

"All of you!" Patton boomed, making everyone jump. "Outside, now!"

As the soldiers made a hasty exit, the press noticed the three fillies sheltering behind Sergeant Redford and General Eisenhower. They approached warily, not sure if they were hallucinating.

"Alright, take a seat." Eisenhower said. "I can explain."

"We can explain." Scootaloo said, drawing the reporters' attention.

"Scoots…" Applebloom said.

"I'll be fine." Scootaloo said. "The Caribou can't get to us here. I'm not scared of telling about what happened to Equestria."

As the reporters murmured in shock and disbelief, Scootaloo eyed the cameras.

"Are you taking notes?" she asked.

"Yes…" one man said.

"Good." Scootaloo replied. "You'd better."

She and the others, for the third time, told the reporters about Equestria and the Caribou conquest, and ending with a solemn plea for help. As Scootaloo sighed when she finished speaking, General Eisenhower came up.

"Rest assured, these three are in the protective custody of the US Army, and will remain so until they reach Washington and speak with President Roosevelt. I also ask you not to release this information until they are out of the combat area, and out of harm's way. Am I clear?"

There were nods and voices of affirmation.

"Good." Eisenhower said. "Now, I bet Sweetie Belle and her companions are hungry, thirsty, and tired, so let's give them some privacy, shall we?"

As the reporters exited the tent, the fillies sat down and sighed as one.

"What's wrong?" Sergeant Redford asked.

"It still seems like yesterday that we were just school-age foals." Sweetie Belle said.
"Now, we're stuck in another world, without a friend to be seen."

"Not true." Redford said. "I think you're a friend."

The three fillies flinched.

"As much as I've seen, you three could really use a welcoming hand, and I'll make sure you get one." Redford continued. "Besides, if you're worried about meeting the President, don't be. He's a great example of mankind's best qualities."

"Why's that?" Applebloom asked.

"Well, back in the 30's, the US and the world with it was stuck in a really bad economic depression." Redford said. "Really tough times for everyone. A lot of people credit President Roosevelt with helping to end it. If anyone will know how to work this whole thing out, he will."

"Thanks." Scootaloo said. "I didn't get your name."

"Redford." he replied. "Sergeant James Redford, US Army. Now, I've got some rations with me, so eat up."

As he produced several boxes and various canned foods, the three fillies smiled.

====

"How are we going to handle this?" Bradley asked once the Generals were back in the command tent.

"I'll handle telling the President." Eisenhower replied. "We'll need proof, but a series of good photos should solve that problem. But the people back in the US? That's the real kicker."

"I agree." Patton said. "We can say all we want, but there are going to be people out there who are going to think we're insane, or worse."

"True." Eisenhower said. "We'll leave that to President Roosevelt. Now, I've got a letter to write, and ask one of those reporters if they can take a photo."

"Right." Patton said as he and Bradley headed to the mess.

====

To the amusement of both Generals, the three fillies were having a good time listening to some of Sergeant Redford's stories about the mena in his team.

"So, Nash walks right into that hedgerow, all gung-ho and shit…" Redford said. "He's expecting a German MG nest, but guess what's actually there."

"What?" the fillies asked, holding their breath.

"A snake." Redford laughed. "A really big, motherfucking snake, and Nash just yelps, swears at the top of his lungs, and he fell right on his ass trying to get away from it. The rest of us just start laughing our asses off, and he's silent the rest of the patrol. The snake just moved away like it didn't have a shit to care about."

The fillies laughed, and Scootaloo sighed in amusement.

"Is Nash okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, he is." Redford said. "Guy hates snakes more than anything. Says one could bite clean through his thumb if they wanted. Personally, I'd rather not find out."

As the two Generals came over and sat down, Patton chuckled.

"That's quite a story, Sergeant." he said. "You three okay now?"

"Yep." Applebloom said. "What now, Mr. Patton?"

"We'll be taking a photo to send to the President." Patton replied. "And then you and your team, Sergeant, will be taking them to Washington when the President is ready to receive them."

"Yes, sir." Redford replied. "Anything else?"

"Not that I know of, soldier." Bradley said. "Let's get that photo taken, shall we?"

====

After the photos were taken, the fillies were ready for bed. Lo and behold, the only available room was in Sergeant Redford's tent. After finding some blankets and setting up a makeshift pillow, the three of them slid under the covers.

"Thanks, Sergeant." Scootaloo said.

"No problem." Redford replied. "I'll wake you in the morning for breakfast at 0700 hours. That's 7 AM. You fine with that?"

"Yep. Goodnight." Applebloom said.

"'Night."

Soon, all of them were asleep, and as Eisenhower put the finishing touches on his letter to the President, he sighed, knowing that the results of this were completely unpredictable.

"Here goes nothing, or everything." he said as he gave it to the soldier in charge of the mail. "Make sure this is on the first ship back to the US. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sir." the soldier replied. As Eisenhower headed to bed himself, he looked up at the stars with a wistful sigh.

Author's Notes:

Update!

Next time-The President receives Eisenhower's letter, and the the show begins...