“Any child soldier has to go through a lot of love, care and understanding to become normal.” -Emmanuel Jal

The day finally has arrived that Ginger and I have to return to school. Part of me looks forward to it, but part of me is dreading it. I want the education, sure. But after all I have experienced lately, I am not sure if I can once again simply return to a classroom.

Father and I have had several talks about this lately. In fact, just two nights ago as we sat outside the rear entrance to the stable. I think back to that moment as he told me, “Xochitl, my son, I know it is hard for you right now, It is hard for me. Please do not tell your mother, but tonight is the most alive I have felt since we got back.”

He smiled at me as he said this and pulled a couple of pieces of dried meat out of his saddlebag and hooves one to me. As we are chewing it waiting for the Major and Ginger, we are kept company by Sunny and his parents.

I like Sunny a lot, he is a good foal, but he seems to have some kind of hero worship for me and Ginger. I keep telling him that we are not heroes, just ponies.

His parents start to talk to my father and I overhear, “I really appreciate your son being willing to walk to school with Sunny.” It seems his father is unsure how the other foals and calves will react to a pegasus colt.

My father tells them, “I am sure he will be fine, after all they have already had the shock of a zony, what is a pegasus compared to that.”

This seemed to help them. Meanwhile, I have Sunny hovering next to me, he asks me, “What is school like, do we all get to read all day, or do we do expereements, what do we do?”

I smile and tell him, “Sunny, most of the day we sit at our desk. While Miss Blackboard teaches a lesson to one grade, the students in the other grades work on assignments, like writing, math or history.”

I see Sunny make a face and he asks, “Xochitl, what is math?”

I am surprised that he does not know this then I ask, “Sunny do you know your numbers?”

He raises a forehoof and moves it in an arc, “Of course, mama taught me my numbers so I can buy an sell things. Why?”

I smile, “Well, that is part of math. As you go up in grades you will learn more of how to work with numbers.”

I see the look of surprise on his face as he blurts out, “There is more? Whoa.”

I laugh, “Yes Sunny lots more, and I am still learning it too. But don’t worry we can help each other sometimes too.”

“Oh, thank you Xochitl, I appreciate it.” He tells me.

After a while I see Ginger coming out with the Major. Ginger has that cute little smile on her face. I do not know why, but I feel so close to her. But then again, I remember what the Mareigan told me the day I got my glyphmark. I best not think about it, she also told me not to tell anypony, and I am afraid if I think about it too much, I may tell others.

As we walk back home, I am next to Ginger and she reaches over and holds my tail with hers. Sunny continues to fly next to us. Ginger asks him, “Sunny, do you ever walk anymore?”

He giggles, “Yes, but I like flying more, besides, you two are so special already, I need to show off what makes me, me.”

“Sunny, you are special no matter what my friend. I do not know of any other foal who would dare do what you did at the Valley that last day. You are very brave.” I tell him.

I hear him squeak a little then answer, “You think I am brave? I’m not, I just did what I thought you two would do.”

I nod my head yes and before I can answer Ginger tells him, “Very brave cousin. You did it bare hooved. Just try to remember, no fighting at school.”

I accidentally laugh and she looks at me with a dirty look as she asks, “What? What was that for?”

I put my head down slightly as I tell her, “I was just thinking of you getting in trouble for fighting before we left when Cowlick was teasing me and pushed me down and you protected me.”

I see Sunny’s eyes go wide, “You protected him like that Ginger?”

She nods her head, “Yeah I did. I would do it again too,” she says as she shrugs her shoulders.

Sunny then asks, “Would you do that for me, or only cause he is your coltfriend?”

Now the last part really got my attention and I wait to hear her answer.

Then she tells him, “I would do it for you too Sunny, you are family. But Xochitl was not my coltfriend back then, only a friend, so for friends too, I would risk it.”

I feel my heart soar faster then Sunny on sugar when she says this, I am her coltfriend. Then I realize that if Sunny tells anyone that we will be teased very badly.

Then Ginger tells Sunny, “Sunny please keep Xochitl being my coltfriend secret, I don’t want to get picked on for it. I don’t need to get into more trouble for fightin’.”

He floats down and gives her a hug as he flies backwards at her pace, “I promise Ginger, this will be just our secret.”

She stops and gives him a hug and says, “Thank you Sunny.”

Once we get back to the farm Sunny and his family all say their goodnights to Ginger’s family. Then Ginger gives me a quick hug and kisses me on my cheek in front of everypony. Ok, I will admit I was a bit embarrassed, but It felt so good to have her kiss me like that. I want to kiss her back, but I am afraid of what our parents will say. After all, we all know how adults get weird about things. They might not have let us play alone anymore.

Then my father and I head back to the bunkhouse we live in. Sumac has let mother and father put up some walls inside so we have our own rooms now, but we are still using blankets for doors, and when it is really cold father says we may have to all sleep in the main room next to the woodstove. But hopefully, those cold days are still a ways away.

I hear mother and father have a slight argument as I am trying to fall asleep. Mother is not happy with father having taken off on another useless lark, and especially she is upset that he has taken me, once again from her.

I am stunned when the argument ends after father tells her, “I know of no stallion I trust at my back in a bad situation then our son. I am sorry, but he is more than just your little colt now.”

Yesterday was a fun day with Ginger, Sunny and me getting together over by the new settlement. Ginger wants to figure out where we may be able to find more radhogs. While I enjoy bacon myself, there is a part of me that worries about her almost constant craving for it. For better or worse that is a part of Ginger, besides, we can make some caps if we take down and butcher a radhog and sell the meat. I know Stir Fry has already told us as much, but she has suggested no more than one radhog every two weeks for now.

I am laying in my bed awake when mother comes to wake me for school. She is surprised to see me awake and asks, “Oh, you're already awake. How long have you been up dear?”

I smile as she hugs me and runs a hoof through my mane. I then tell her, “Not long mother. I was just thinking about what school was like before.”

She ends the hug and looks at me as she asks, “Was it that bad before Xochitl?”

I smile, “No mother, just different, I had a bit of difficulty with the bullies back then too.”

She has a worried expression on her face, “Are you worried about the Bullies now?”

I smile sadly at her, “No mother, they are nothing I cannot handle now.”

She nods her head, and then tells me, “Good, I am glad to hear that, I have some hot oatmeal with some dried berries in it for you.”

“Thank you, mother,” I tell her as I get out of bed, stretch my muscles and then walk to the main room of our home.

After I eat and am ready for school, she gives me a hug and tells me, “Have a good day and play good with the other colts and fillies.”

I smile at her and comfort her by telling her, “I will mother, I will.” Then I am out the door and I head over to the big house to wait on the porch for Ginger and Sunny to be ready. As I am sitting there, I am amused by the almost parade of Ginger’s parents that come out as they head to work. First comes Badger, he quickly finishes his cup of coffee and leaves the cup on a window sill of the porch. He sees me, “Oh, Hi Xochitl, Ginger should be ready in just a minute. I will see you later, I am running late.” Then he takes off down the road at a quick trot.

Soon afterward I see Magpie come out. She is wearing a nice dress and has a small blue ribbon tied in her mane just behind her forelock. She sees me, smiles and lets me know, “Ginger should be out in a bit, she is just finishing breakfast, you can go in and talk to her if you like.”

“Thank you, Magpie, I appreciate it. Do you mind if I ask why you are dressed so nicely today?”

She continues to smile, “You are such a little gentlecolt, our Ginger will be so lucky to have you someday,” then she pauses and tells me, “I have a big meeting with the Co-op board of directors concerning the archives today. So, I want to look my best, sometimes our appearances affect how others look at us when they make decisions based on what we say.”

I think about this briefly and tell her, “That is not really fair that the way you dress determines their opinions of what is best to do.”

She nods her head and tells me, “You are right about that Xochitl, but unfortunately it is the way a lot of grown-ups think.”

“You know Mrs. Magpie; adults really think weird sometimes.” I tell her.

She giggles slightly and tells me, “Xochitl, you don’t know the half of it. Well, I best get going, have a wonderful day at school young sir,” she tells me as she gives me a slight curtsy and a wink.

I return her curtsy with a bow and tell her, “and you have a wonderful day as well fair mare.” After which she giggles a bit more, goes down the steps and heads into town. Next comes Lieutenant Archer and the Major. I really like the major, I think in a way my mother is jealous of her because while we were gone, if my father was not around, she would be like a surrogate mother to me as well as Ginger. I have seen the caring side as well as the mare who is tough as nails. I have noticed that Ginger has started to copy a lot of her mannerisms lately.

As the Major comes out, she puts a hoof on my shoulder, “Good Morning Xochitl, you can go in if you would like. Ginger has finished getting dressed. Besides, Sumac has some extra pancakes and bacon leftover if you would like some.”

“Thank you Major, I appreciate it, but I am ok. My mother made me a large breakfast already this morning,” I tell her.

“Ok dear, I was just offering as I do not want to see the extra food go to waste is all. Have a good day and be careful trooper.” She tells me with a smile.

Archer is next to her and tells me, “Let me know if you need any help with your math, ok. I know a lot of ponies and cattle have a hard time with it. I always had a knack myself and I enjoy it.”

This surprises me, I have never met a pony who liked math before. “Ok Sir, If I have difficulty I will ask,” I tell him and stick out a hoof which he takes and shakes. Then I watch as they both head in towards the stable.

I am sitting there watching them go when I feel her come up to me and put her forehooves around me and kiss me on my cheek, “Good morning Xochitl, how are you doing today,” Ginger asks me.

I put a hoof onto hers and lean back into her, “I am doing fine now, Ginger. Although I hope Sunny gets here soon.”

She then sits beside me and after a little bit, I see Sunny’s dark silhouette in the distance flying towards us. He comes in quick and low and makes a landing that ends with him skidding to a stop and laughing.

“Hiya Ginger, Hiya Xochitl,” He says to us, “Sorry I am running late.”

Ginger and I both stand up, and Ginger tells him, “It’s ok Sunny, we all are once inna while.”

Then we begin the trek to the schoolhouse.

As we walk up I see Cowlick as well as some of the other cattle and ponies playing outside the school.

I see a smirk on Cowlicks face when he sees me, and he walks over and gets in my face as he tells me “Poor little filly going to cry and run away? Is that what it is?”

I just look at him and then I can not resist, I tell him to his face, “So that is your problem, you can’t tell a boy from a girl. I guess that tells us why you are such a disappointment to your herd.”

Behind and above me I hear Sunny giggling. Cowlick then pushes me with one hoof, “What your little blackbird up there going to have to protect you, that or your marefriend?”

I simply look at him with a cold expression on my face, “What, jealous because I have one and you might as well be a steer, oh, I know you probably are one,” Then I pause and put a hoof under my chin and I ask, “or did you have a male twin and you are a freemartin?”

I can see his face turn red. I see most of the others around us jaw open and they back up. I hear him start to breath deep as he becomes angrier. Then I calmly tell him, “It will be your funeral, but anytime you want to throw down, let me know, I could use a mild workout.”

It is then that Miss Blackboard rings the bell for classes to begin. He shoves me one more time, which I tolerate only because I do not want to be late for class, and he tells me, “I will get you little filly.”

I laugh at him as we walk in and I tell him just low enough for only him to hear, “So you really don’t know the difference, remember the bull goes on top. For you, I am not sure which it might be, I am not going to look to let you know.”

Then Ginger grabs me and drags me over to our set of Desk.

Miss Blackboard then says, “Good Morning class. I would like to welcome Ginger and Xochitl back. Perhaps later you can tell us of your exploits,” she pauses and then says, “I would also like to introduce our newest student, Sunny Water. Some of you may be related to him, as his father is Trouble Water.”

I see several of the students point toward Sunny who is sitting next to me and Ginger. I also notice that Cowlick licks his lips and acts slightly nervous when he looks at Sunny after that. I guess being a Water carries some weight around here.

During lunch Ginger and Sunny sit with me as we eat and some of the others start to come over and talk. One of the mares is named Twinkle Hoofs. She is a pretty pink unicorn whose family works a farm just north of the school. She is a couple of years younger than us. About the age of Sunny actually. Ginger has known her for a while.

“Hi Ginger, glad to see you are back,” she says with a smile.

“It’s good to see you too Twinkles. How you been?” Ginger asks.

“Oh, I have been good. Our farm hit a rough spot this year, Dad found some tainted areas in a low land. So, we cannot use it. He says we can’t even let the dog or cats down that way now.”

“I am sorry to hear that Twinkles,” Ginger tells her.

As they are talking, I keep seeing her glance at Sunny. Her and a couple of the other foals. Finally, I ask, “Twinkles would you like to meet Sunny?”

She nods her head and Ginger raises an eyebrow, turns her head and introduces her, “Twinkle Hoofs, this is my cousin Sunny Water. Sunny, this is my friend Twinkle.”

She holds out a hoof to him, “It is a pleasure to meet you Sunny, please call me Twinkles, everypony else does.”

He smiles, “It is nice to meet you Twinkles. You got a farm too?”

She smiles, “Yes my family's farm is just a half-mile north of here.”

“Cool, my family has one too. Well, we are reclaiming one that is.” He tells her.

Then she looks at Ginger, “I didn’t know your family was related to the Water family.”

Ginger shrugs, “Well my birth family isn’t but my dopted family is,” she says as she takes a bite of a sandwich.

I see the expression on Twinkles and the others faces when she says this. Then Twinkles asks, “Adopted family? Where is your mom?”

I put a hoof on her shoulder as she lets out a sigh, then she looks at Twinkles and tells her, “My mother was killed at the Battle of Targhee. Mollygirl adopted me.”

I see a weird look come over Twinkles face, “So the mare who killed your mom adopted you?”

Ginger looks like she was bucked in the gut. Then she very slowly tells her, “Twinkles, I like you and I know you weren’t there, so you don’t know better, but if you ever say that again, I will beat you until your horn falls off.”

I see the expression of complete surprise come over Twinkles face. I also hear several of the others suck in their breath.

Ginger then tells her, “Mollygirl loves me like I am her own daughter, we were close before, but as my mom was dying, one of the final things she asked was for Mollygirl to take care of me, then she told her I was both of their daughters now.” I see tears start to form in the corner of her eyes, but she refuses to let them fall. I can also see by the expression on her face that part of her is back there at Targhee. I understand. There are too many places that I visit like that myself.

Finally, Twinkles tells her, “I am sorry Ginger, I had not heard about your mom, and I will not talk bad about Mollygirl then.”

Ginger reaches out a hoof to her, “Thanks Twinkles, I appreciate it,”’ she pauses then continues as for how we are related, “It seems that Mollygirl, shares a Great Grandma or something with Sunny’s dad.”

I see Twinkle nod her head and she sits down with us and we continue to talk until the bell rings to go back to class. The rest of the day goes really well. When we get home that night, I see Sutures is on the porch with the rest of Ginger’s parents. Ginger squeals with excitement and tells me “See you later Xochitl,” after which she gives a quick hug and gallops up onto the porch and all but throws herself at Sutures almost yelling, “Mama Sutures, it's so good to have you home.” At this point, I continue on to my house and settle in for the night with my parents.

The first couple of days go well, but on the third day, it happens. Cowlick decides to pick a fight. I am standing there on the playground talking with Ginger and Sunny when he comes up and starts to try and pick on me.

Sunny tells him, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Cowlick laughs, “Why? You afraid I am gonna hurt the little filly?”

Sunny laughs, “No, because I am trying to keep you from getting hurt, I have seen him fight.”

Cowlick laughs again and gives a hard shove to Sunny who quickly recover and says, “Ok, I have five caps, who wants to bet against Xochitl?”

Cowlick looks at him and says, “You sure want to lose some caps,” Then I see a couple of the foals and cattle take him up on the bet.

I back up and I tell him, “Cowlick, don’t do this, I am serious.”

He laughs at me and shoves me again. “I mean it Cowlick, Don’t.”

Still laughing he smacks a forehoof across my muzzle and I taste blood in my mouth and something inside me snaps, I know I am in the schoolyard, but my mind doesn’t seem to really understand that. Part of me is back in the valley and as he goes to smack me again. I am on my back hooves, I shift just enough his hoof misses my face and I use my one for forehooves to grasp it and I use my other to slam against his knee joint, He lets out a bellow, and I follow up with three quick strikes to his muzzle, He tries to swing at me with the injured leg and I leap into the air and grab his horns and twist as hard as I can, craning his neck and driving him down to the ground. Once he is there, I keep one forehoof twisted around his horns and I keep striking him in the face with my other one.

I am seeing red and I don't really know where I am, when I hear Ginger yell, “Xochitl, stop it, It's done.” I keep hitting him, Then I hear her yell, “Ceasefire trooper.”

That brings me back. I am breathing hard and I see Cowlick has one eye completely swollen shut. His left ear is torn as it seems sometime during that fight, I bit his ear and twisted. He has blood all over his face. Then I hear Miss Blackboard come running out and she yells, “What is going on here?” then she gasps, puts a forehoof in front of her face and she says, “Oh my Goddesses, what have you done?”

She looks at Sunny, “I need you to go get Xochitl’s Parents right now,” She looks at one of the calves and says, I need you to go get Cowlicks parents. She looks at us and asks, “What happened children?”

Twinkle Hoofs steps forward, “Miss Blackboard, Cowlick started to pick a fight. Xochitl told him to leave him alone, but he didn’t, he actually got worse. He slapped Xochitl across the face and that’s when he finally reacted. He was protecting himself,” she says.

I see Miss Blackboard close her eyes and shake her head. Then she takes a deep breath and lets it out. She looks at the rest of the students, and asks “Is that what everypony else saw too?”

At this point, I am sitting on the ground my head down and tears in my eyes, "I didn’t want to hurt him. I tried to tell him. Why wouldn’t he listen? Why?” I say to no one in particular.

I feel a hoof go across my shoulder, “It’s ok Xochitl, it's ok. You didn’t mean to and he will be ok eventually.”

That is when I see him get up. He shakes his head, “What, what happened?” Then he sees me through his good eye. It goes wide in terror, and he starts to scoot along the ground away from me, dragging his one foreleg. “Keep him away from me,” he screams over and over.

I see Miss Blackboard go over to him and put a hoof on his shoulder, “Relax, it’s done now. He won’t hurt you anymore,” She tells him.

She has all of us go back into the schoolhouse, except Cowlick and me. She tells the others what she wants them to read or work on. Then she sits down with us and waits for our parents to arrive.

Cowlicks parents get there first, His father storms over to Miss Blackboard and demands, “Who did this to my son. What kind of monster are you allowing to go to school with my son?”

His mother coddles him and is checking over his wounds. I keep hearing her say, “My poor calf, my poor calf, Mommies here for you.”

Miss Blackboard tells his father, “It seems you son was bullying another student and picked a fight, according to the other students he drew blood first and kept attacking the other student when he was told repeatedly to back off.”

His father looks right past me, “Where is the one who did this to my son? Where?”

It is then that Sunny comes flying back with my parents and the Major right behind them.

My mother gets there and demands, “Xochitl, what have you done?”

“I’m sorry mom, I told him not to, he kept at it.”

Then I hear Cowlicks father ask, “Him, he did this to my son?” His voice is incredulous.

I simply nod and I hear our teacher say, “Yes, your son was warned though several times beforehoof.”

From inside the classroom I overhear Sunny say, “Ok, those of you who bet with me, give me my caps now.”

Then I hear Ginger, “Really Sunny, couldn’t you wait till after school at least?”

“But Ginger, they wanted to bet against Xochitl and I warned them all. They owe me so they can pay up, besides they would want my caps if he had lost.”

I see my father’s head go up, and his ears turn toward the schoolhouse door, “Xochitl, you were not fighting for caps, were you?”

My jaw drops, I have never imagined such a thing. “No Father I was not. I warned him to leave me alone, He kept pushing and I tried to back away. Then he hit me in the mouth, drew blood and he came at me again,” my voice becomes shaky then as I tell him, “Father, I, I was back in the Valley. I, I was fighting for my life again. I am sorry.”

From the side, I hear Cowlick's mother asks “What Valley? What is he talking about?”

Then I hear the Major say, “I think he thought he was back in Serenity Valley, your son decided to buck with a combat veteran.” I feel her put a hoof around my shoulder and she tells me, “It’s ok Xochitl, I have been through it too. We will get you help if you want it.”

I simply nod, and she hugs me. Then my mother comes over, “I will take him Mollygirl,” she says with a tone sadness to her voice.”

I then hear Sutures voice. She sounds very tired and out of breath. “Sorry I am late, let me check them both out.

As she is checking out Cowlick I hear her suck in her breath, “Damn son, you picked on the wrong buck.” Then she asks his parents, “He could use a couple of stitches on the face and ear, I will put them in if you would like and treat them.” Then she laughs to herself, “I almost forgot were home, Actually I have a couple of healing potions with me, would you mind if I give him one?”

His parents agree and she does so. Then she checks me out. She sees the blood from the corner of my mouth and has me open it. As she is looking, she sees what is left of a broken-off tooth. “That was quite a blow to break off that tooth like that, Xavier, Persimmon, may I give him a healing potion? It should help the tooth regrow as well as heal the injuries to his mouth.”

As I am drinking the healing potion, I hear his father ask, “Cowlick, did you start this fight?”

I hear Cowlick quietly answer back, “Yes sir.”

“Son, why would you do that?” his father asks.

Cowlick does not answer. Then his father tells him, "I think you owe him an apology son. I thought I raised you better than that. For the love of Sweetcream and the Goddesses son,” he trails off.

My father then asks, “Miss Blackboard in light of what all has occurred today, would you mind if I took my son home?”

She shakes her head, “No, not at all. In fact, after this disruption, I do believe I will send them all home early.

We wait until she lets the rest of the students out and we are walking home when my father asks the Major, “Major, I wonder what they have Miss Textbook doing? Perhaps we could have her set up a schoolhouse over in the settlement by Trouble's place.”

I hear her sigh as she answers back, “I will see what I can find out, maybe that would be best for now.”

I continue walking home with my head down. I am so ashamed of what I have done. Then I feel a tail intertwine with mine and I hear Ginger whisper in my ear, “I am proud of you my buck. You tried to avoid it, but when you couldn’t you stood up for yourself.”

For some reason her saying this makes the world seem a little bit less dark. She whispers again, “Later I will give you some of the caps I won today.” Then she gives me a peck on the cheek and we continue walking home in silence.

Behind me, I hear Sutures tell the Major, “Looks like our little mare is starting to grow up dear.”

Then I hear the Major tell her back, “Yes it does, but let’s not rush things. All good things in their own time dear.”

I felt it was time for perspective from one of the other characters again, as well as a good time for a bonus chapter. This time Xochitl has his time to speak so to say. As we can see he too has changed quite a bit, but he also has a very strong support network behind him.

For those who don't know, a freemartin is a female calf that is born with a male twin. They display masculine traits and are infertile, with non-functioning ovaries. This is caused by their having picked up some of the male twins XY chromosomes while in utero through the blood exchanged in the placenta.