Cpt. Armor, Canterlot castle, war room:

“Lieutenant Daffodil, a word please” I ordered the lieutenant and he immediately trotted over to me. “Sir?” he asked as he saluted, “At ease, tell me how you would feel if Clare replaced you as platoon leader?” I asked hesitantly.

“It would be an honour sir. I’d rather it be him than someone else that I don’t know” he informed me. “Lieutenant would you consider yourself an incompetent leader?” I asked and he shook his head. “No sir, just an inefficient platoon leader. I proved myself to be a good squad leader but I can’t handle the responsibility of an entire platoon under combat stress” he told me.

“So why not tell your superiors? I asked, “I did sir, they said that I’d get the hang of it eventually and to just listen to my platoon sergeant. I’ve tried multiple times to get him promoted to platoon leader but the general says he’s insubordinate” he told me. I sat down and sighed, “And why exactly does the general say he’s insubordinate?” I asked.

“Well that would go back about… oh shit I guess it was the second day that I was part a platoon leader of the shadow guards” Daffodil began.

6 months ago:

Third person, firebase Everfree:

“Sergeant, I’m lieutenant Daff…” Daffodil trailed off as Clare walked past him, a canvas sack on his back. “Sergeant, aren’t you forgetting something?” Daffodil asked, Clare stopped in his tracks and turned around. “I don’t think so” Clare replied causally, Daffodil stepped forwards. “You are speaking to an officer and I want a proper salute” Daffodil ordered, Clare smirked and tossed a sloppy salute then turned and walked towards the barracks.

Daffodil trotted along to the firebase CO’s office, which was actually just a large tent with flaps for doors. “Sir” Daffodil said outloud to the captain and saluted. Captain Jameson turned around and returned the salute. “What can I do you for lieutenant?” the captain asked as he continued to look over some maps of the area.

“Sir I wish to talk about my platoon sergeant” Daffodil began and Jameson looked over his shoulder to Daff. “Your sergeant… he doesn’t happen to be uhm… Clare perhaps?” Jameson asked and Daffodil nodded. “Yes sir, I just thought it was odd how he talked to a superior officer and why a regular sergeant was my platoon sergeant” Daffodil complained.

Jameson sighed and turned back to Daffodil. “Lieutenant, I hate to say this but Clare is one of the most experienced fighters we have, sure he may be a bit… brash, but he is by far one of the best platoon sergeants you’ll ever meet” Jameson told him. “Yes sir but I” Daffodil began but Jameson cut him off. “Lieutenant, do you have combat experience?” Jameson asked.

Daffodil shook his head, “No sir” Daffodil replied. “Well lieutenant, most of the men will see you as a cherry. When the fighting starts you might freeze up and that could lead to ponies getting kill, but your sergeant… he’s seen so much combat he knows what to do during the fight. Listen to your platoon sergeant, he’ll guide you along” Jameson told Daffodil.

“Well lieutenant if that will be all” Jameson said and Daffodil gave him a salute then left the tent to try and make friends with the other stallions.

Days later:

“Okay lieutenant, when we set down we should” Clare began but Daffodil cut him off. “I know what to do sergeant” Daffodil yelled back as the helicopter began to set down. Incoming fire from the treeline opened up and bullets pinged off the helicopter’s hull.

“Lickety, let’s go” Clare yelled out to Lickety Split, who was one of those hippy fighters that didn’t believe in the war and had been drafted. “I don’t believe in” Lickety began but Clare shot him a cold look. “GET OFF THE GODDAMNED CHOPPER” Clare yelled into his face, Lickety Split nodded and was about to get off the chopper when he looked to his M16 and left it on the chopper.

“Bakers get that M60 firing on the treeline. Connors, Sunlight: supressing fire” Clare ordered. “You’re giving a lot of orders sergeant” Daffodil said in a serious tone, Clare looked over to his lieutenant. “Just trying to help you out sir” Clare said casually then looked to Lickety Split, “Split I want you to… where the hell is your rifle?” Clare asked.

“I left it on the chopper, I’m not fighting this war sir” Lickety Split informed him, “Well shit specialist, do you have a goddamned death wish. You know what fine” Clare said as he grabbed the radio operator and brought him over. “Give him the radio” Clare ordered and the radio pony took off the radio and handed it to Lickety Split. “You’re going to be our radio operator” Clare said “I’m gonna keep you real close to the lieutenant and myself” Clare said.

Clare rushed up to the front line, the enemies were just out of range of his Thompson and he wanted to get a little closer before he began popping off rounds downrange. “Every-pony up, come on get up. Move forward. Come on move up, that’s an order” Daffodil yelled. “LT… LT get down” Clare yelled but the lieutenant didn’t listen.

Clare grumbled to himself as he lept forward and tackled the lieutenant to the ground, possibly saving his life. “LT, stay down. Listen we don’t need to die today, get the artillery boys to handle it” Clare said as he motioned for Lickety Split to come up beside him. “Oscar Whiskey, I need artillery on Romeo Alpha 1-0-2-0-6-2, over” Clare ordered. “Roger that, firing rounds on Romeo Alpha 1-0-2-0-6-2, over” the pony on the other end of the radio transmission replied.

The gunfire continued but was soon drowned out by the thunderous BOOMs of the artillery strikes which decimated the treeline. Daffodil looked back to Clare and Lickety Split. “Where’s your rifle specialist?” Daffodil asked, “I left it on the chopper sir, I’m not going to fight this war” Split said defiantly. “Well that’s just great, I’ll have you both court martialed when we get back” Daffodil hissed as he got up.

Clare looked over to Split. “Jesus Split, you’re just fucking incredible you know that” Clare said angrily as he stood up. “Alright stallions, bring it in” Clare ordered as the artillery barrage stopped, Clare got on the radio. “Oscar Whiskey, thanks for the support. 2-1 out” Clare said then hung up the radio.

“Alright listen, there’s a small zebra village just up the way. Intelligence says that they are friendly but a large force of communist zebras is on the way down to annihilate the village. We have to move the zebras further south to a little town here and link up with Alpha Company and” Clare began but Daffodil interrupted. “That’s enough sergeant, I’m the platoon commander so I make the orders. There’s a small zebra village just up the way. Intelligence says that they are friendly but a large force of communist zebras is on the way down to annihilate the village. We have to move the zebras further south to a little town here and link up with Alpha Company and they’ll take it from there. Any questions” Daffodil told the platoon.

Smoky raised his hoof. “Yes private?” Daffodil asked. “Sir isn’t that exactly what the Sarge just said” Smoky replied, a couple of the other soldiers started to chuckle. “ALRIGHT, that’s enough. We move out, now” Daffodil hissed angrily.

Sergeant Clare turned to the rest of the platoon, “Line formation. Eyes open and ears listening. No sounds” Clare ordered, Daffodil scowled to himself that the soldiers paid more respect and gave the platoon sergeant a higher authority than they gave him.

The platoon trotted through the heavy jungle in the Everfree and even though it was supposed to be a forest in some regions it was thick and tropical. The platoon reached the village by nightfall and began to tell the villagers what was going to happen tomorrow morning.

Though some of the villagers were unhappy about the whole predicament they eventually agreed. Some of the platoon sat around a fireplace and conversed, Clare on the other hand sat alone and watched the villagers.

Anderson, one of the other sergeants in the platoon, trotted up beside him and handed him a cup of some sort of liquid then leaned against the wall beside Clare. “Don’t thank me until you try it” Anderson said and Clare took the cup, taking a careful sip of the liquid. Clare gave a disgusted face, “Yeah I know, tastes like cat piss but it’s good for you” Anderson said. Anderson watched as Bakers and Applesauce conversed, despite her name and family background Applesauce was more of a gang member like pony. She had gotten drafted when police arrested her during a drug deal and offered her two tours of duty rather than the jail sentence.

“What do you think she’s talking about?” Anderson asked curiously, obviously having a sort of attraction for the young yellow mare then stood up and began to walk over to her. “Anderson… don’t get too attached” Clare called out, Anderson looked back then nodded.

Despite not being on night watch duty, Clare stayed up the entire night and kept watch from a roof top.

Morning came almost all too quickly, they had fifteen kilometers to travel through the jungle and there were elderly in the village along with young foals. Clare hopped down from the roof, “Alright, leave nothing for the zebra communists. Burn everything to the ground” Daffodil ordered, despite being a rather peaceful nation Equestria had its moments.

Clare walked along and saw an elderly zebra trying to carry he life possessions with her but was too old to be able to lift them. Clare walked over to the zebra mare, “Ma’am, allow me to carry these for you” Clare said as he knelt beside her. She said something in native tongue. “I carry bags for you” Clare said slowly and made the gestures for her to understand. She smiled then said something but Clare couldn’t understand, “She said you are a crazy” said a younger zebra from behind him. “Tell her that’s what happens to all us grunts” Clare said as the elderly mare allowed him to put the heavy sack on his back.

The elderly mare trotted close beside him and said something. Clare looked to the younger zebra, “She asked why you are so kind to her, most ponies despise zebras because of the war” she informed him. “Tell her that… I know she’s one of the good zebras” Clare replied as they continued on.

Throughout the entire movement there were no problems and they stopped at noon to allow the elderly and children to rest. “Mama Z, you need food and water” Clare said and offered her his canteen and ration. She said something then tried to speak English “No, you need more” said the elderly zebra, who Clare had begun to call Mama Z. “She is trying to say you need it more” the younger zebra said, who happened to be the daughter.

Clare shook his head, “No Mama, you need it more. Please take it” Clare said and the elderly took the ration gratefully. Clare stood up, “I’ll be back soon, I just need to check on the others” Clare informed the younger zebra and she translated it for the elderly mare.

Clare walked over to Daffodil who was trying to get the general on the line. The general was the officer in charge of this operation. On his way he saw Anderson and Applesauce making out, ‘So much for not getting attached eh Anderson’ Clare thought to himself as he approached Daffodil.

“Alright LT, what’s the word?” Clare asked and Daff shot him an irritated look. “HQ says we have another three kilos to the town but it’s already been secured so there is no resistance. It’s just a matter of getting these zebras there” Daffodil informed him.

Daffodil stood up, “Alright sergeant let’s get these zebras ready to move” Daffodil ordered. “Sir we’ve only been resting for a few minutes, with all due respect sir these zebras need to rest” Clare said, Daffodil scowled at the fact that if the sergeant said wait then the soldiers would wait and refuse to follow his orders. “Twenty minutes sergeant, that’s all” Daffodil replied then walked away.

Clare looked to Lickety Split, “Don’t ever talk to the LT the way I do” Clare said as he too walked away, leaving Lickety Split alone with the radio. A zebra mare had been watching and trotted over to him. Lickety was rather stunned at her sudden approach and found her to be quite attractive. “Why don’t you carry a rifle like the others?” the mare asked, “I’m a non-combatant ma’am” Split stammered. She rested her head on his shoulder.

“You are not like the others, you are kind and thoughtful” she whispered. Split felt like he had butterflies in his stomach. Clare walked over to Anderson, “Psst, Anderson” Clare called out and Anderson quickly broke away from his passionate kissing with Applesauce. Clare motioned for Anderson to come over and he obliged.

“Sir?” Anderson asked, despite being the same rank he gave him respect like he was an officer, all the soldiers in the platoon did. “I want these zebras ready to go in twenty minutes okay” Clare ordered and he nodded. “Yes sir” Anderson replied and began to walk back to Applesauce who was waiting for him. “Oh and Anderson… good job on not getting attached” Clare joked heartily, “Hey come on Sarge, you don’t know what it’s like to be in love” Anderson called back. No he did know but that didn’t mean he wanted to again, he’d had relationships before and they always ended with a break-up due to his military service.

Clare went and stood watch close to Mama Z, waiting for the twenty minutes to pass. Time seemed to pass all too quickly and Clare walked over to Mama Z and her daughter. “I’m sorry but we have to keep moving” Clare told them, they nodded and Clare grabbed Mama Z’s bags as the platoon and the villagers continued their trip towards the town.

Clare was having a moderately difficult time carrying the bags along with his gear but he couldn’t live with himself if he let the elderly mare try to carry all of this. The elderly mare continued to say things in native tongue while her daughter translated it. “She says that you are a good man and must’ve had good parents that brought you up properly” the daughter told him. “I never had parents, I was raised in an orphanage and was never adopted, when I was sixteen I enlisted for the military and have been fighting ever since” Clare informed her. She translated it but he figured she didn’t tell Mama Z what he had told her because the elderly mare still had a happy face and nodded happily. She had probably told Mama Z that he said he had wonderful parents that they loved him or something.

“You didn’t tell her did you?” he asked and the daughter shook her head. ‘Figures’ Clare thought to himself.

After what seemed like hours they finally arrived at the town which looked to be barren. Clare quickly rushed up to the front of the platoon. “Alright, Bakers Anderson: flank around from the left and” Clare began but Daffodil interrupted him once again. “No, we’ll move up together, HQ indicates that this place is secure” Daffodil replied and led the platoon straight into the town, leaving them exposed.

“Shouldn’t there be others around?” Lickety Split asked and Bakers nodded. “I don’t know man, this whole war seems fucked up to me” Bakers muttered as they continued into town.

In one of the shanty shacks two zebras readied an old machinegun and aimed it at the platoon, around the town zebras readied AK47s along with other such weapons. The machinegun team opened fire first and cut down three of the shadow guards who screamed out in pain.

“GET DOWN, Bakers: fire on that machinegun, Destiny: fire the M79 at the roof on my nine” Clare ordered and the platoon did just as he ordered as a seemingly huge force of zebras just appeared out of nowhere. The zebras had chosen to let them get close to attack but that just made Clare’s Thompson all the more deadly.

The zebra fighters were stupid enough to all charge in one clustered group, trying to overwhelm them. Clare leveled his Thompson on the group and held the trigger back, the Thompson rattled in his hands and .45 caliber rounds screamed through the air and chopped away at the group.

Bakers shifted his aim from the machinegun house and concentrated his fire on the large group. Destiny fired the M79 and the 40mm grenade round devastated the small home that the sniper group took cover on. “LT, we gotta get these villagers out of here, head three kilos west, there’s a clearing. We’ll get a chopper out” Clare yelled to the lieutenant. “Are you nuts sergeant, they’ll be right on our ass the entire time” Daffodil yelled back.

“Bakers and Sunshine will stay with me and we’ll keep them at bay, you get the others out. Anderson, you carry Mama Z’s bags. LT, I’ll meet you by the treeline by the field, don’t leave without us” Clare ordered, everyone seemed to follow Clare’s order before Daffodil even gave the order a go.

The platoon along with the villagers quickly left, Clare and the others kept the enemy supressed while the others quickly retreated from the overrun town. “Split, radio” Daffodil ordered and Split quickly galloped up to him and handed him the radio. Daffodil dialed in the radio and called the general.

“General the town has been overrun, we have six dead and several wounded, we’re heading to coordinates: Alpha Zulu Foxtrot, 9-2-4-3-0-1. We need a chopper to meet us there, go” Daffodil told the general. “You’ll have a chopper but it can’t wait overnight, you’ll have until 1830 to get there over” the general told Daffodil. “Yes sir, we’ll be there over” Daff replied then hung up the radio.

“Alright, we move out, double time” Daffodil ordered, the platoon did what he said and moved out, some of the wounded groaned in pain as they galloped along.

Back in the town things had settled down and it was relatively peaceful. Clare lay in the mud along with Bakers and Sunshine. “Alright, Bakers, Sunshine: you guys head out while I give you supressing fire” Clare whispered and they nodded. Clare loaded a fresh drum magazine into the sub machinegun and began to fire it wildly at the town, soon return fire from the zebras shot back.

Bakers and Sunshine quickly raced into the cover of the jungle brush as Clare emptied the magazine then chased after them. “Alright they’re gonna be hot on our tails so let’s keep moving” Clare ordered and the duo nodded as they followed the platoon sergeant.

Elsewhere by the clearing that Clare had spoken of, the platoon, along with the villagers, sat and waited for Clare to show up. “Where the hell’s the chopper?” Danvers asked and Daffodil shrugged. He hadn’t noticed the extraction choppers weren’t waiting until Danvers had mentioned it.

Time passed by at a seemingly slow rate until Anderson called out to Daffodil. “Sir, it’s Clare and the others” Anderson called out and the lieutenant quickly scurried over to him and watched as Clare, Bakers and Sunshine ascended up an incline towards the platoon’s position.

“Sarge, hey Sarge” Anderson whispered and Clare looked up to him then proceeded up to their position. “Sergeant we have a problem” Daffodil informed him. “Bakers take defensive point here, it’s the only way they’ll get to us without making a large amount of noise” Clare ordered, he was right. The place that Daffodil had picked was perfect, they were surrounded by trees and brush from the sides and the only practical way of assault would be from the incline because through the clearing the zebras would have no cover.

“What’s up LT?” Clare asked and Daffodil pointed to the field. “Okay… where’s the choppers?” Clare asked, Daffodil simply shrugged. “Shit, get me on the horn with the general” Clare swore and Split handed him the radio. “HQ, HQ this is Sergeant Clare do you read me over?” Clare asked into the radio piece. “This is HQ, what’s wrong sergeant?” the radio pony on the other side asked, “Where’s our choppers out of here? We’re at the LZ but there aren’t any choppers over” Clare informed the radio-pony.

“Sergeant, all flights into and out of the Everfree have been cancelled for the night, tomorrow we’ll have your chopper bright and early over and out” the radio-pony said then hung up. “Well fuck you to then” Clare muttered and hung up the radio, “What’s the skinny?” Daffodil asked. “No extraction until tomorrow morning” Clare sighed in disappointment.

Night came around almost too quickly and all the soldiers were on edge, knowing that the zebra fighters would be coming for them. Clare leaned against a tree close to Mama Z, who was exhausted like most of the others. Clare closed his eyes to try and get some sleep but it was short lived.

Bakers’ M60 roared to life, “CONTACT” Bakers yelled over the sound of his machinegun. The others quickly lept up and rushed over to the front line and began to fire at the zebras who were trying to advance. Clare rushed up beside Bakers.

“Sarge there’s too many… we’re gonna get overrun” Bakers yelled out, Clare swore to himself then rushed over to Lickety Split. Daffodil was already contacting the general. “General this is Lieutenant Daffodil, we need immediate extraction. We are about to be overrun over” Daffodil informed the general.

“Lieutenant you are in a hot zone, no helicopters are available for pickup. If you move your platoon seven kilometers due south we can get you a pickup over” the general replied. “Negative sir, we have wounded and elderly with us. We wouldn’t be able to make that journey” Daffodil replied. “Leave them lieutenant” the general ordered.

Daffodil’s face went pale, “Sir?” he asked curiously. “I said leave them lieutenant, the mission has been aborted. Get you and your platoon out of there” the general ordered. “LT, we can’t do this” Clare said. “Sergeant this isn’t your call to make. Yes sir I will” Daffodil began but Clare slammed a punch into Daffodil’s face and knocked him out. Clare looked to Lickety Split who was gawking at the fact that he had just knocked out the lieutenant. “When he wakes up tell him that a mortar round blew up close to him and knocked him out” Clare said as he picked up the radio piece.

“General?” Clare asked, “Sergeant? Where’s the lieutenant?” the general asked. “Uh sir he’s knocked out, a mortar round just struck nearby, he’ll be fine” Clare assured the general. “Sergeant get the platoon out of there” the general ordered.

“Negative general, we can’t leave these villagers like this. The other zebras will slaughter them” Clare told the general. “I don’t care about those worthless zebras, you will follow my orders or I will have you” the general began but Clare redialed the radio and the general’s voice crackled away. “Guess the radio broke” Clare said as he redialed it further.

“Shining Armor?” Clare asked, “Clare? What the hell are you” Shining began but Clare cut him off. “Listen there’s no time captain, you need to get me a helicopter out to coordinates: Alpha Zulu Foxtrot, 9-2-4-3-0-1” Clare informed him. “Uhh… why don’t you” Shining began but Clare interrupted him again. “Listen Shining the general is leaving us out to dry and I need your help man, if you don’t help us than several guards are going to die” Clare told him. “Okay: Alpha Zulu Foxtrot, 9-2-4-3-0-1 right? I’ll have you extraction choppers within the hour sergeant” Shining Armor replied then hung up the radio.

“Sir?” Split asked, “We can’t leave these zebras out for the wolves. We forced them out of their homes and dragged them all this way so I’ll be damned if some general tells me I can’t save them” Clare said. Split nodded then Clare nodded to back. Clare reached over and grabbed Daffodil’s M16 and tossed Split the rifle. “Sir I’m a non-combatant” Split said and Clare smirked. “Ain’t no such thing today” Clare said then rushed off to the front line of the fighting.

Applesauce and Anderson fired at a group of zebras as they tried to charge up the side of the hill front. “Fall back” Clare ordered, both Anderson and Applesauce lept to their hooves and began to fall back with the rest of the platoon but Applesauce was a little trigger happy and would constantly stop and fire at zebras as they came up the hill. Her foolishness was punished as a stray round clipped her knee and sent her to the ground in agonizing pain.

Anderson heard her cry of pain and turned back to rescue her. He rushed forward valiantly and fired his M16 wildly at the zebras as they seemed to just flow over the hill side. Anderson grabbed Applesauce by her combat jacket and attempted to pull her to safety but soon zebras took aim and fired upon him.

A round passed through his leg and sent him to the ground in pain. “Fuck” Anderson swore as he brought up his M16 and fired at the advancing zebras. Several of the advancing zebras fell to the ground and Applesauce fired wildly at the advancing zebras.

A lone zebra charged at them with a bayonet fitted rifle, Anderson took aim but his M16 was empty. At the last possible second he rolled sideways as the zebra tried to impale him with his bayonet but ended up just stabbing the dirt. Anderson used his good leg to kick the zebra’s knee sideways. The zebra screamed out in pain and fell on top of Anderson as yet another zebra charged with a bayonet fitted rifle, Applesauce did her best to try and keep the zebras at bay but they seemed relentless.

Anderson grabbed the wounded zebra and put the zebra’s body in front of his as the zebra charging him tried to impale him with his bayonet but ended up stabbing the other zebra that Anderson used for cover. Anderson unholstered his Berretta and shot the bayonet attacker then directed his shots at zebras as they approached but as he went to roll the body of the zebra off his own, another zebra charged forward only this one succeeded in stabbing Anderson in the lower stomach area with his bayonet.

Anderson gagged in pain but was able to grab the rifle barrel and keep the zebra from stabbing him numerous times. Applesauce fired at the zebra and chopped him down with a burst of 5.56mm rounds. Anderson crawled up beside Applesauce and reloaded his empty Berretta, “They’re gonna kill us” Anderson whispered in pain. Applesauce silenced him as she leaned forward and kissed him.

“Dammit ANDERSON!” Clare yelled as he realized that both Applesauce and Anderson had stayed behind for whatever reason. Clare lept up to his feet and charged back towards the zebras, firing his sub machinegun as he ran. Several zebras tried to shoot him down but they were unsuccessful, Clare returned fire and took them off their hooves.

Anderson heard a zebra charging from behind Applesauce and broke away from the kiss, he lowered her body and pointed the pistol at the charging zebra. He pulled the trigger multiple times and 9mm bullets cut through the zebra and took away his life. Applesauce saw hooves running up behind Anderson, “Anderson behind you” Applesauce yelled. Anderson turned around and readied his pistol, he pulled the trigger back but it clicked, he was out of ammo. His face went dire as the zebra swung a katana sword and sliced of his head. His head went tumbling to the ground and his body slumped over, blood squirting from his neck where his head used to be.

Applesauce reached for her pistol but the zebra kicked her in the face and knocked her back. He was about to stab her when another zebra officer approached. “No, do not kill her. Take this one prisoner. I could use a new… entertainer” the zebra said with a sickeningly evil smile.

Clare rushed through the jungle and saw Applesauce thrashing as several zebras dragged her away, he had heard what zebras do to female prisoners and there was no way he was letting her go that way. He spotted Anderson’s decapitated body by the zebras that dragged Applesauce away and cursed to himself. He brought his Thompson up and pulled the trigger but it clicked. He reached for a spare magazine but realized he had none.

He quickly slung the Thompson and drew out the mighty Smith and Wesson 500 magnum but he only had five shots and there were eight zebras, minus the ones that hadn’t noticed him and were advancing towards the platoon.

Clare cursed himself for not having taken a more suitable pistol, something with more ammo capacity. He lined up a shot, KA-BOOM, the mighty magnum thundered through the air. The mighty round slammed through a zebra and tore a large hole through his body, the others scattered but the one zebra held on to Applesauce as he continued to try and run. The massive magnum revolver thundered off three more shots. Clare took careful aim on the zebra holding Applesauce and fired. The round tore right through his back and killed him instantly.

“APPLESAUCE, COME ON” Clare yelled out. She quickly lept up and began to gallop towards Clare when a stray bullet caught her shoulder and sent her tumbling to the ground by Anderson’s body. Clare’s face went dire as he saw a large swarm of zebras approach over the hill. He looked to Applesauce who looked behind herself and saw the group advancing, she looked back to Clare and nodded solemnly and he returned the nod. She then turned to Anderson’s body and crawled up close to it then pulled the pin on one of his grenades.

Clare cursed to himself, there was no way he could’ve saved her. Not now anyway. The explosion erupted violently and Clare had already turned and began to run as fast as he could back to the platoon.

Daffodil was finally awaking from his unconsciousness, he was awakened rather abruptly as the chattering of Bakers’ M60 deafened him. The helicopters could be heard approaching.

“Don’t shoot the Sarge” Bakers yelled then soon after Clare lept over the fallen tree which he had taken cover behind. “Keep a supressing fire on the jungle and don’t let up until the choppers get here” Clare ordered.

The choppers landed in the clearing, “Bakers give me the M60 and a fresh belt, I’ll hold them off” Clare ordered, Bakers nodded and handed him the machinegun with a fresh belt magazine loaded. “GET TO THE CHOPPA” Clare yelled and the platoon along with the zebra villagers began to retreat to the choppers. Clare focused his attention to the advancing zebras and held back the trigger on the M60.

It chattered in his hands and cut down several zebras, Clare would constantly look back to see if they all made it to the chopper yet. Finally they got close enough and Clare lept to his feet and began to quickly back pedal towards the choppers while firing the M60 from his hip.

He quickly ran out of ammunition and dropped the machinegun to the ground figuring it was only weighing him down. As he rushed towards the chopper he saw Mama Z collapse to the ground. “Mama Z” Clare yelled out as he turned his direction diagonally and ran towards her body.

He reached her and saw that she had taken a bullet to the back. “Come on Mama Z, you’re gonna be okay” Clare whispered and he cradled her body then rushed to the closest chopper and embarked it. “Let’s get out of here” Clare yelled.

The choppers all ascended into the air and departed for Canterlot. “Mama Z… Mama Z, you’re gonna be okay” Clare said as tears came to his eyes. She whispered something in plain English, “I… am at peace, you live long” she whispered then passed away. “No Mama Z, please don’t die” Clare cried, she was so innocent and she had been stripped of her life for nothing.

The choppers reached Canterlot late at night. The wounded were rushed to the hospital and Captain Shining Armor had come out to see what sort of disaster had been adverted.

“CLARE!” Daffodil yelled and rushed over to Clare who was smoking a cigar. Clare had an expressionless face, he hadn’t been traumatized by Mama Z’s death but he had still received a major emotional strike from her death. “Sergeant you disobeyed my orders, you took over command of my platoon and… SERGEANT ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME” Daffodil roared, Clare remained expressionless and shook his head.

“Well… I was going to say I could have you court martialed but… you may have saved all our lives along with these villagers so I have to say: thank you” Daffodil informed him and held out his hoof. Clare looked up and shook his hoof. “Since we were never properly introduced. Nice to meet you Clare, my name’s Daffodil” Daffodil said, Clare nodded. “Uh oh, here comes the general, he’s still steamed as hell” Daffodil muttered, Clare chuckled. “What’s wrong with him, the death toll not high enough yet” Clare said, despising the general for his lack of support during the mission.

“SERGEANT” screamed the angered voice of the general as he stomped over to Clare. “You think that was a funny fucking joke huh? Turning off your radio so that you wouldn’t have to listen to my orders, well I’ll have you know I’m going to have you court martialed for that” the general yelled then turned to leave. “You better court martial me to then” said Lickety Split, the general’s face turned red with rage and he turned around.

“Who said that? I demand to know who said that” the general roared. “I did sir” Lickety Split said but suddenly Bakers stepped in front of him, “No he didn’t say it, I did” Bakers said. Suddenly the entire platoon stepped forward saying they said it. The general stepped back but ended up stepping into Captain Shining Armor. “And you better court martial me as well, because I authorized those choppers to go in and get them out of there” Shining Armor said coldly. Despite being a higher ranking official in terms of political outlook, his word meant nothing against Shining’s. The general stuttered then turned and left.

“Jesus Christ sergeant… what the hell happened?” Shining Armor asked as he sat down beside Clare. Clare took a puff on his cigar and blew the smoke into the air “War happened”