SGM. Clare, Canterlot military base:

The helicopters landed and we disembarked them. Most of the mares and stallions were pretty steamed about this whole pre-battle operation that was a success but at the same time it was an utter failure.

“Alright, I want every-pony to get lots of rest tonight. Oh and there’s some kind of get together at the royal castle tonight” I told the platoon but they were too exhausted and pissed off to care. I couldn’t blame them, I too was mad but unlike them I had learned over the years that was how war worked. You win some but you lose some at the same time.

I walked along to the grave yard where ponies were putting up posts for their fallen comrades. I saw Presell weeping by a post that I figured was probably for Enders. I walked up to him and knelt down beside him. “Hey… is this Enders?” I asked and Presell nodded. “I couldn’t even find the ring man… I can’t even give his wife anything to keep to remember him by” he wept and I reached into my pocket and pulled out The Distinguished Service Cross.

The Distinguished Service Cross was one of the highest honourable medals a service stallion/mare could receive. I took his hoof and lifted it up. I put the Service Cross in his palm and nodded. “Give that to Enders wife” I said then stood up and walked away. Shining Armor was looking at me.

I walked along through the military base and Captain Shining Armor trotted up to me. “Sergeant Major, can I speak with you?” he asked and I stopped to talk with him. “Whatcha need?” I asked and he sighed. “It’s about tomorrow, I don’t know if I can do it” he told me and I gave him a nod. “Don’t worry, I’ll be right next to you to help you command the troops if you need my help” I reassured him but he shook his head.

“I meant actually going over there. I just turned into a dad yesterday and now I could die tomorrow” he said and I sighed deeply. “Well, if that’s the case come with me” I said as I continued to walk towards the exit of the military base.

“Where are you going?” he asked and I looked over to him. “To church. Pray to god for forgiveness and what not” I said and he shook his head. “I know the goddess of Equestria personally. If I had anything I needed to tell her I would just go talk to her personally” he told me and I chuckled.

“I didn’t mean Celestia. I meant god. Like the ruler of heaven, the place you go after you die” I told him and he gave me a curious look. “Trust me, sometimes just going to church and praying gets a load off your mind” I told him as we left the base and continued down the streets of Canterlot.

“Anyway on a lighter note. Where’s your wedding ring?” I asked and he pulled out a ring that dangled from a necklace around his neck. “I keep it on this necklace. If I ever lost this ring, Cadence would kick my ass across Equestria and back” he stated and we both chuckled.

We arrived at the church and entered. “Okay, wash your hooves in the holy water” I said as I dabbed my hands in the holy water dish then dried them with the white towel next to the bowl. As Shining washed his hooves he looked to me. “What’s so ‘holy’ about this water?” he asked and I shrugged. “I don’t know, the priest must praise it or something cause I see him fill up that dish with the garden hose out back” I told him and he looked at the water.

“So basically I’m just washing my hands with water gotten from a garden hose outback?” he asked and I nodded. He shook his head in disappointment and laughed as we walked up to the front of the church altar. No-pony was in the church but us, not even the priests or fathers. I guess every-pony was saying goodbye to their loved ones tonight.

We knelt before the candles around the cross statue of Jesus Christ. “Who is he?” Shining asked and I shrugged. “I don’t know. They say his name was Jesus Christ and that he sacrificed his life to make up for the sins of everyone. I’m not sure if it’s true or not but either way, people and ponies worship him” I said as I clasped my hands together.

“Follow my prayer” I said and Shining nodded as we began a prayer. “Dear lord, forgive us our sins, atone us for our anger and frustration as we kneel before you and ask for your forgiveness” I prayed and Shining echoed my prayer.

“We kneel before you not as soldiers but as a man and a stallion, begging for your forgiveness. Please in our time of darkness aid us by showing us the light, please watch over our families as we leave to make peace. We apologize for we must sin to preserve peace in the world. If you can find it in your heart to forgive us than please, we beg of you. Show us the light. Amen” I whispered and Shining chanted my prayer as well.

I stood up and Shining followed me. “Is that it?” he asked and I nodded. “Did he hear us?” he asked and I shrugged. “Who knows? Christianity could just be a legend that was passed down from generation to generation as folklore and eventually made its way into society as a way of life” I said as we walked away from the Altar. “You know, you’re right. I feel a little better” Shining informed me, I gave him a pat on the shoulder.

We walked back into the streets then proceeded to the Canterlot royal castle. “So Clare, tell me. Who are the Joint Task Force Two?” Shining asked and I gave him a curious look. “Why?” I asked and Shining took out a script of paper.

“Well because Celestia said that they, along with these other groups, will be helping us tomorrow during our battle” he said and handed me the script of paper. My jaw dropped in pure astonishment. On the paper Celestia, or whoever had written it, had written a small piece of information.

‘Dear Captain Shining Armor, tomorrow you will be commanding the Equestrian army as they engage the communist zebra army. I order you to order your stallions and mares not to fire upon humans in the area. I have signed an agreement with the planet Earth’s leaders and they have agreed to help us in our time of need. The groups that they are sending have called themselves: The Joint Task Force Two, 75th Ranger Regiment, Delta Force, SOCOM Navy Seals, Special Air Services (SAS) and Spetsnaz. Please inform Clare of this and he will give you more details’

My jaw simply stayed gapped open. There was no way. No way in hell. Well maybe. “So…” Shining trailed off as he watched me stare in pure amazement at the script of paper. “They… they are the best. They’re the best of the best. I can’t believe that Russia, Canada, USA, and Britain would actually all work together to help Equestria though. It’s insane” I said and he looked to me.

“So they’re good?” he asked and I nodded. “Fuckin A they’re good. They’re better than good, they’re just unreal” I said and his eyes widened. “Well, anyway. I guess we should be getting to that ceremony thing. Cadence is out of the hospital and she wants to spend some time with me before tomorrow” Shining said as we walked through the streets of Canterlot.

Finally we arrived at the Canterlot royal castle and I could tell that festivities were high despite the depressing times. “Well Shining, I’ll see you later” I said and he smiled. “You’re not coming out back to dance?” he asked and I raised an eyebrow. “Cadence can dance right now? She just gave birth yesterday” I replied and he nodded.

“Alright, I’ll meet you back there” I said then walked into the castle and to the change rooms. If it was a party then I had to look spiffy. I opened my change locker and grabbed my dress uniform. I quickly changed and made sure I looked presentable then walked back out to the castle hallways.

I began walking to the garden and I finally had time to think to myself. What the hell had caused this war anyways? I quickly shook off the thought and thought of more appealing things but all I could think about was negative things. I stopped thinking and focused my mind on Luna.

I walked out into the royal garden where ponies danced with each other. There were even some humans about, some civilian, others military. “Sergeant Major Clare” Celestia called out and I looked over to see Celestia with a few human soldiers. Celestia said a few things to the humans then they walked away to join the festivities.

I walked over and gave her a salute. “Put that hand down” she ordered and extended her hoof. “Gonna break my hand?” I asked jokingly and she sighed depressingly and lowered her hoof. “Sergeant, please don’t make this any harder than it already is” she said and I could tell she was holding back her tears.

“Listen Celestia, I’m a good listener. If you want a shoulder to cry on, I’m here. Just don’t stab me in the back” I chuckled and she tried even harder to keep her tears back. “Please Sergeant Major… enough with the jokes… This is very difficult for me” she said, stifling her crying that I knew would probably end up happening by the end of our conversation.

“Alright… lay it on me” I replied and she tried to speak her apology. “Sergeant… I… I almost killed you in my anger… and my sister… I was just trying to do what was best… but I… I…” she trailed off as tears began to seep out of her eyes. She went to turn away but I grabbed her and held her close to my chest as she began to cry.

“Shh, hush now. It’s alright, it’s alright” I cooed as she began to cry into my shoulder. My dress jacket’s shoulder became soaked with tears and I could feel the wetness on my skin. Jeeze it was like she had never cried before and only now was she just letting it all out.

Several ponies and humans stopped and looked over to us. I motioned for them not to pay attention and leave us alone. Ponies and humans went back to their activities as I held Celestia and swayed our bodies back and forth. “Sergeant… I almost killed everyone I hold dear… I almost killed you… I can understand if you never forgive me but I swear from the bottom of my heart that I’m sorry” she sobbed, he voice was somewhat muffled by my jacket.

“I forgive you” I said casually and she immediately pulled back when she heard the comment. She gazed into my eyes with her own teary eyes. “What?” she asked, shocked that I had forgave her so easily. I chuckled and stifled a laugh. “Why are you forgiving me so easily?” she asked and I shrugged.

“Well considering that I usually am faced with death several times a day, one near death experience doesn’t bother me” I replied. “But… but I almost killed you and Luna” she said, why she was arguing that I forgave her was beyond me.

“Yeah well lots of zebras try to kill me all the time and it doesn’t bother me… but I usually end up killing them” I told her and she continued to look into my eyes as I tried to explain my reasoning. “So why did you spare me?” she asked. “Well because you’re you… and because I kind of like you, trust me if I didn’t like you I would’ve killed you” I said jokingly and she sighed. “Clare you are to kind” she said as she rested her head against my chest and sniffled.

“Nah, I’m just a guy trying to get along” I said as I brushed my hand through her silky mane. Eventually we both stepped back from the embrace and I held out my hand. “Let’s live and let live. I figure that we ought to put the past behind us and move forward as friends not enemies” I offered and she shook my hand. “Thank you” she whispered softly and I nodded.

“Well if you don’t mind I have a certain beautiful night princess to dance with” I said as I looked around for Luna and spotted her in a beautiful blue gown. “She’s lucky to have you” Celestia whispered and I shook my head. “Nah, I’m lucky to have her. She could’ve chosen any guy or stallion but for some reason she chose me of all guys. I assure you that I am the lucky one” I said as I walked away, giving her a wave.

I walked over to Luna who stood there alone. As I approached she stepped forward. “Ms. Luna, if I could have the honours?” I asked politely and she nodded. She lept to her hind legs and we stood face to face. I held her right hoof in my left hand and wrapped my right arm around her waist as we slow danced.

“How long will this last?” she asked. “Not long, those military groups that offered to help are really top notch” I told her but she shook her head. “I meant tonight?” she asked and I thought to myself. “As long as we make it last” I whispered. She nodded as she rested her head against my chest. We danced until 9:30 then decided it was time to go inside.

Author's Notes:

Okay, "I lied". So I didn't finish the story today but that was because I put some thought into it and figured they had to take Hill 959 one last time and get screwed over one last time before the big battle. Now before I go to sleep I gotta ask all you readers who are still reading this, who I thank dearly for putting up with the story all the way through, if you want me to make a romantic-y sex scene before the battle. Now I despise myself for asking but I could live with it because I figure well you know it would seem apropriate. Now I doubt there will be a threesome between Celestia, Clare and Luna but I do have to say the thought crossed my mind. So I'll leave this for the comments, Yes for sex scene or No for

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs_OacEq2Sk

, basically If you guys and gals want I'll can write the sex scene or just skip the whole romance and get right to the next morning