Family Reunion (filler)

    Applebelle and her mother looked through the RSVPs happily as they listed off the names of family members. Applebloom, Big Mac, Babs seed, Applesauce, and many others. The scent of apple pie filled the air, luring in a certain rainbow haired stallion into the kitchen. "Hi guys!" said Dasher.
    "Oh good you're here," said Applebelle. She handed Dasher a large stack of letters with a seductive grin. "Can you help us go through these letters Dashie dear?" Dasher pursed his lips because he couldn't resist when Applebelle did that.
    "Okay." he replied. When he began looking through the letters, Apple Jack gave her daughter an approving wink. Minutes later, Dasher saw a name that made his blood run cold. "Sarge," he mumbled. Applebelle took the note from him and let out a high-pitched squeal.
    "Daddy's coming home!" she shouted. Her and her mother jumped up and down with excitement at the news. Dasher saw another name that was familiar to him: Capitan Yabloko of the Crystal Empire's Task Force 813. He kept the military portion to himself, but he did inform the two Apple-loving mares of his impending arrival.
    When Dasher finished with the letter sorting, he began to walk out when Apple Jack stopped him. "Where the hay do you think you're going Soarin R. Dash?"
    "Home. I don't wanna intrude on your reunion."
    Apple Jack put a hoof on Dasher's shoulder and gave him a warm smile. "You've been best friends with Applebelle since you two were foals and now you've been dating for how long?"
    "About five or six months now." Dasher replied.
    "Six and a half." Applebelle retorted.
    "My point is," said Apple Jack. "You are family boy. Now get your flank in here and help us out."
    Dasher couldn't help but smile at the caring mare. "Yes'm!" he replied.

    Apple Jack paced back and forth as she thought of ways to tell Applebelle about her brother. Her husband, Sarge, had arrived shortly after Dasher went home the previous night. Sarge was a large green furred pony with a grey buzz-cut and a small scar across his nose. "What's the matter dear?" asked the stallion.
    "Well, I haven't exactly told Applebelle about Sir Plus yet."
    "What about him?" the large colt asked. "Is he okay?"
    "Yes Sarge," Apple Jack replied. "but that's not the issue." She handed Sarge the RSVP their son had sent from Manehatten. Sir Plus plus One.
    "So she'll just find out when he gets here." said Sarge.
    Apple Jack sighed and looked at her husband. "That's not how I want her to find out. I promised Sir Plus I'd tell her when she's old enough to understand."
    "And she will when he gets here with his 'plus one.' Now come to bed and stop worrying."

    Only three days until the reunion and Dasher was eager to help with preparations. He got the tools needed from the top of the farm and helped Sarge build a wooden table for extra people. "Dash," said Sarge. The rainbow haired stallion looked at his former drill sergeant with a nervous look in his eye. "I heard you were in Valkyrie Task Force." He lit up a cigarette and offered one to Dasher. When Dasher lit his smoke, Sarge smiled at him. "You've come a long way probie." Dasher felt some pride when Applebelle's father said that.
    "I like you Colonel, and I know you've been friends with Applebelle since childhood," Sarge got three inches away from Dasher's face with an icy look. "but if you hurt my little girl, you're gonna wish you died in Fillylujia."
    Dasher didn't break a sweat as he said "Understood drill sergeant." Dasher then took out the RSVP Yabloko sent. "Also, what do you make of this?"
    When Sarge took the letter, he read it like he was going to burn in soon after. "What do you know about Yabloko?" he asked. Dasher explained every relevant piece of information he knew about the Crystal soldier. "Task Force 813, the group Valkyrie was originally supposed to be in. They specialize in hostage rescue and protection. Very different from Valkyrie Task Force."
    "Harder to be in 813 than in Valkyrie I suppose. They have to deal with winey political officials while we 'clean them up.'"
    "Capitan Yabloko was caught smuggling Changistanian refugees into the Griffon Kingdoms and the Coltic Republic. He knew he could be court marshaled, but he knew what the old regime did to their prisoners." Dasher's mind quickly flashed to his confinement in Fillylujia and shuddered. "If it wasn't for Celestia's investigation into the matter, Yabloko would've been exsicuted and tossed aside like garbage."
    "And the refugees?"
    "They're alive as far as I know." Sarge replied. "Enough talk about this unpleasantness, we got a reunion to prepare for."

    The day of the reunion had come at last and Apple Jack still hadn't told Applebelle about Sir Plus. When her son showed up with his plus one, they strolled up to the apple fritter table and greeted Applebelle. When Applebelle saw her older brother, she hugged him tightly. "I missed you so much Big Brother!"
    "I missed you too AB." When the siblings parted, Sir Plus turned to his plus one and introduced him to his sister. "Moneybags, this is my baby sister, Applebelle." The brown stallion said hello to the young mare.
    "I'm glad Sir Plus has a nice friend like you." said Applebelle. The two stallions looked at each other uncomfortably.
    "You didn't tell her?" asked Moneybags.
    "I thought she knew." Sir Plus replied. "Don't worry sweetie, I'll fix this." Sir Plus turned to his little sister and took a deep breath. "Applebelle, I have to tell you something." He put a hoof around Moneybags and smiled. "Moneybags and I are more than friends." Applebelle cocked her head to the side. "You see, he's VERY special to me." Applebelle continued to stare blankly at her brother. Finally, Sir Plus came out with what he was trying to say. "Applebelle, I'm gay." Applebelle's mouth gaped open in shock. Sir Plus was about to try to comfort his sister when he was suddenly hugged by the mare.
    "You know, I'm a little hurt that you didn't tell me sooner." said Applebelle. "You big jerk."
    "I'm sorry," Sir Plus replied. "I honestly thought that you knew." When they let go of each other, Sir Plus sat next to her and Moneybags smiled at the pair.
    "How long have you two known each other?" asked Applebelle.
    "He was originally a client at my bank. He was having some trouble with an identity thief and I helped him out. He kept reminding me that he was rich, but I wasn't interested at first. But he wouldn't leave me alone, so I eventually agreed on one date." He leaned up against Moneybags and smiled. "And I'm glad I did." Moneybags looked at the fritters with a slightly hungry look in his eyes.
    "Something wrong sweetie?" asked Sir Plus.
    "I know I'm on a diet, but those fritters look so good." Moneybags replied.
    "If you want one, have one." Sir Plus replied.
    "I dunno."
    "Quit being a bitch and eat one." Sir Plus snapped. So Moneybags tried a fritter and was in ecstasy. "What did I tell you? Now you have lived."
    "You're not kidding Plussy," said Moneybags. "I'm glad you made me try it." The couple walked away to talk to other family members, leaving Applebelle thinking about what she just saw.

    As Dasher poured himself a mug of cider, a black stallion with a stark white mane approached him. "Where did you serve?" he asked.
    "I beg your pardon?" Dasher asked.
    "You were in the Equestrian military right?" asked Yabloko. "Where did you serve?"
    "Changistan. You?"
    "Same. I wonder why we didn't cross paths."
    "Capitan Yabloko of Task Force 813, I am Colonel Dasher of Valkyrie Task Force." Yabloko, as well as other ex-military ponies that heard the statement, turned and gazed at Dasher. The other veterans surrounded Dasher and starred in awe of him. "What?"
    "You're the Angel of Death?" asked Yabloko in disbelief.
    "Is that what they call me?" asked Dasher. "As for why we never met, I'm sure it's because no one you babysat was on my kill list."
    Hours later, Applebelle walked over to where a large crowd was gathered. She pushed through the crowd to see Dasher swinging his hooves around as he told a grizzly story. "...and the bomb blows the bottom of the carrier sending me hurling into a Chuckie camp!" The way he told his story made Applebelle question if Dasher was telling a story or if he was living it. When Applebelle got Dasher down from the table, she saw something she'd never seen before. It was the phenomena some called "Veteran Mind-melding." Dasher looked at Yabloko and they seemed to understand each other without using words.
    "Are you alright Dashie?" she asked.
    "Yeah, why?" he asked.
    "I'm just making sure, I wasn't sure if you were re-living the past."
    "I'm alright Applebelle, don't worry." As the pair walked, they bumped into Sir Plus and Moneybags.
    "Oh, Sir Plus," said Applebelle. "You remember Dasher, right?"
    Sir Plus looked at Dasher as if he was trying hard to remember someone. "You look... different. I almost didn't recognize you."
    "Don't feel bad," Dasher replied. "Sapphire didn't recognize me at first either."
    "Well, that's not all that's new," said Applebelle. "I just found out my big brother's gay."
    "Oh thank god!" said Dasher. "Can you please tell my mother that I'm not gay? Seriously, she still thinks I'm gay." The four ponies had a good laugh at his comment, but then Dasher said "N-no seriously."