SGM. Clare:

“You’ve got to be fucking with me Sarge” Lickety said, obviously somewhat intoxicated. “No Lickety I’m not. Orders came in from the brass. We’re to engage the zebra hostiles on the peak and take over so that they can get a mortar crew up there and give us support tomorrow. The chopper leaves in an hour so I expect you all to be suited up and ready” I said then dropped the transmission into drive and drove off just as Bakers kicked up some dirt and swore.

Orders were that some of Celestia’s royal guards would be assaulting first then we would come in after them. Whoever made these orders had probably never seen combat before because if I was in command I’d sent both platoons in for a pincer movement.

I drove the Jeep up to the armoury and turned off the engine. I sighed to myself then walked into the armoury. “Can I help you?” the armoury sergeant asked and I nodded. “I need a handgun, preferably a .50 caliber Desert Eagle” I told him and he rose an eyebrow.

“You hunting Ursa Majors or something?” he asked and I shook my head. “Zebras” I replied and he chuckled as he went into the back of the armoury and soon returned with a finely polished Desert Eagle. “This bitch kicks a lot so I wouldn’t suggest using them in a combat situation” he told me and I nodded as I slipped it into my hip holster along with the extra magazines.

“Trust me, I can handle it” I told him then gave him a nod and left. I had this feeling that told me things were going to get real ugly up there. I unslung my Thompson and gave it a once over. I didn’t want this thing jamming on me while I was in combat and by the looks of it I wouldn’t have any problems.

Moon Crater walked up beside me. “Sir, can I speak with you?” he asked and I nodded and turned to him. He had an M14 slung across his back with a high magnification scope. “Whatcha yah need?” I asked and he gulped. “Uhm, sir this mission. I uhh don’t know anything about Hill 959. What’s it like?” he asked and I thought to myself.

“Hot, sticky and shitty” I said plainly but I could tell that wasn’t what he had meant. I let out a deep sigh, “The enemy sets up lots of booby traps and you can literally feel their presence. You might want to switch that rifle for an assault rifle. Snipers usually end up getting killed on Hill 959 because the zebras literally get so close you could hoof fight them” I told him and he nodded. “Tomorrow though, maybe bring along that rifle. It might come in handy” I told him and he nodded again.

“Here come with me, I’ll get you a more suitable rifle” I said as we walked into the armoury. “Back so soon? Told you that pistol was a mean bitch” the armoury sergeant commented and I shook my head. “What kind of assault rifle do you prefer?” I asked and I could tell he had to think about it. “Well sir I only really like sniper rifles” he replied and I thought to myself for a moment.

“Hey, get this guy one of those M14s with the Juggernaut X-14 conversion kits. And throw in some fifty round drum mags would yah” I told the armoury sergeant and he nodded. He soon returned with just what I asked for.

I handed Moon Crater the assault rifle and gave him a wink. He looked at the rifle with fascination as I walked away. I hopped in the Jeep then quickly drove away to suit myself up for the battle that I knew would be bloody.

One hour later:

“Alright, every-pony on the choppers, go-go-go” I yelled and the platoon members loaded into the choppers. Daffodil wanted me to command the platoon today and said he’d stick around as an advisor. Something must’ve happened because he wasn’t looking the greatest today.

As the helicopters departed for the deep Everfree I pulled out my harmonica and started playing. It sounded terrible compared to Moon Crater and Cloud Dasher put his hoof on my shoulder. “Sorry, I’m just learning” I laughed and he nodded with fear in his eyes. “Hey man. I might die today and I don’t want the last song I ever listened to be some badly played blues, no offence” he said and I put away the harmonica and tapped the pilot on the shoulder.

“Play some tunes” I yelled over the loud helicopter engine. He flicked on the cabin radio and some depressing lyrics started playing.

I looked over to Hammerhead who was praying to Celestia silently. Cloud Dasher gave his M16 one last final check before holding it close to his chest. Moon Crater checked the holographic sight on his newly acquired M14 Juggernaut.

Third Person:

In one of the other choppers Corporal Bakers patted Corporal Presell on the shoulder. Bakers had a smile on his face but when Presell looked to him with a fearful face Bakers smile turned dire.

First Lieutenant Daffodil sat in another helicopter and held a pendant close to his mouth and kissed it. The pendant was given to him by Posey when they were still dating. It was the only thing he had left of her and he planned to keep it with him until his dying day.

Corporal Hart sat and looked down at the treetops below. He figured that zebras where probably looking up at them as they passed. A few of them probably even had rocket launchers but he quickly shook off the idea and looked back inside the helicopter cabin figuring he was letting his imagination run wild.

Corporal Dickens sat by himself and placed an ace of spades on his helmet strap. Inside his helmet sat the two queens of spades that he always used to cheat during poker. He smiled to himself and looked to the others.
Maybe then I’ll fade away and not have to face the facts
It’s not easy facin’ up when your whole world is black…

Specialist Lickety Split looked at his helmet which had a white peace sign painted on it. Why he still fought in this war was beyond him. He’d rather be court martialed then have to kill again but when he thought about it, killing was probably the smarter thing to do.

Corporal Enders looked at the inside of his helmet. He had a picture of his wife and daughter stuck inside. He gave a quick prayer to Celestia then placed the helmet on his head.

Gunnery Sergeant Aussie checked the sights on his scope. Though most fighting happened so close that sniper rifles were impractical, he still couldn’t bear to part with his rifle. He pulled out a white feather from his slouch hat and gave it a lucky kiss before placing it back on the hat.

As the group of choppers entered the valley the lead chopper pilot radioed the other pilots. “Two miles out and dropping into the valley” he informed the others and the choppers dipped into the valley.

Corporal Presell tapped his chest and forehead in beginning of a prayer and quickly prayed to Celestia. He took off his helmet and looked at the picture of Octavia he had kept from when they first started dating. “I love you Tavi” Presell whispered then placed his helmet back on his head. He loosened the fuel valves on the M2 flamethrower and the flamethrower hissed to life. He breathed slowly to himself as he could literally feel the fuel traveling through the handle of the flame rod.

Private First Class Derpy Hooves looked out to the Everfree jungles and shivered. Never in her life would she think that she’d be fighting in a war. She looked up to the roof of the helicopter and whispered a quick prayer.

Sergeant Major Clare lit up a cigar and chuckled to himself as the helicopters got ready to land. Lance Corporal Moon Crater tapped him on the shoulder. “Sir, what do you tell yourself to make you feel less guilt when you kill a zebra?” he asked and Clare thought to himself. “If you love something enough, you’ll be willing to kill for it” he told the young stallion as the helicopters landed. Clare was the first to step off the helicopters.

Author's Notes:

Probably gonna make me shed a tear when some of these guys die. Damn shouldn't have made it so touching cause now I don't want any of them to die