Applejack's Returnby Slice141
Chapters
Meet the Boys
A women watched from her door looking at the coming snowstorm heading her way while she watched the snow blow over the tundra. She had on a white uniform with a armored vest on and eight pouches for her rifle that was slung across her chest.
She had blonde hair that was in a bun and sharp green eyes that seemed to capture everything. She had a strong curvaceous build to her with D cup breast that were wrapped under her uniform standing at 5' 8".
"AJ? What are you doing out here?" She turned to see a man in a Russian white camouflage uniform. He had white hair and blue eyes, he was built from his work as a farmer standing at 5'11" before he joined the military and met AJ
"Watching the storm come in, it looks like a really bad one." She stated moving back over to her fellow captain patting his shoulder as she past.
"Artyom, lets go see how the umnik are doing before we hit the sack." She suggested getting a nod Artyom as he followed her down into the base as a few soldiers walked past them snapping a salute to them getting one in return.
"Artyom, what do you think they are doing down there anyway?" AJ asked watching him shrug.
"Don't know but the official report was that a new energy source that's suppose to replace fuel. If it works we will be the most powerful nation in the world, even the Americans will come begging to get a taste of what we have." He smiled as she laughed.
"You will make a great leader one day comrade captain if you keep that attitude up." She smiled lightly punching his arm as they walked down a narrow passageway that little cubby holes dug into the ice for firing positions incase they were ever attacked and they got in while two more soldiers came up beside them smiling.
"Ah, AJ good to see you comrade! We missed you last night for cards." The man behind her said as she huffed.
"Yall just like an easy win Mihail." She grumbled hearing him laugh as she turned back to glare at her fellow captain. He had brown hair and was tanned with greenish eyes in the standard snow uniform. He was built and powerful like the rest of them standing a good head taller than AJ at 6' 3".
"Oh ease up, AJ he's only messing with you." She sighed and turned back to Artyom with a smile.
"I know but it's so easy for him to do it." She grumbled when she felt a hand on her shoulder making her look back at Mihail.
"Hey AJ, you know I don't mean anything by it. You're like my little sister, I have to bug you every once in a while." He grinned while she sighed.
"I know Mihail, I don't know why I let it get to me." She grumbled as the others laughed while Artyom threw a arm over her.
"Don't worry AJ we all know that even if you can't keep a poker face for shit, that you can still beat us all in the ring." He smiled as she nudged him with her shoulder smiling.
"Alright you two don't get all lovey dovey in front of us." Mihail said winking at them as they blushed.
"How much longer do you think it will be before these two will be retired and married with 4 kids Nikolai?" Mihail asked looking over at the shorter man. He had blonde spiky hair with aqua colored eyes with a small stubble decked out in standard gear besides his old school M-4 and a special carbon colored DE .50 on his hip.
"Don't know Mihail, I give it another 6 months. What do you think?" He asked smiling at the two blushing.
"I give it the next 2 months with the way these two are." He chuckled only to get a punch in the arms by the two.
"Shut it Mihail." AJ grumbled as she turned to glare at Nikolai who raised his arms in surrender.
"Don't encourage him Nikolai." She growled while he smiled and nodded.
"Of course ma'am." He grinned getting a huff from her.
The three fell into silence as they walked down the hall and down further into the ice.
"Brrr, why do we have to guard these civilians while our friends are enjoying some nice liquor back home?" Mihail asked grumbling as he rubbed his arms.
"I've told you before Mihail, orders are orders. Now hush up and look presentable, we're about to head down." She stated getting a nod from the others as they once again fell silent as they boarded the elevator down.
The elevator opened show a massive room long with blue orb in the middle of the room making them stare in awe.
"That's incredible! I've never seen anything like it before." Artyom said getting nods from his friends.
"Indeed, what you are looking at is pure energy. with just that size of a ball we can power our whole nation for another 1000 years on it alone and once that is in effect and our nation adapts to it, our cars, planes, and military will run non stop with the need of fuel to slow us down. We may even be able to weaponize this for our military." AJ looked back and smiled at the head researcher Dr. Luka.
"How long do you think that will take sir?" She asked while the older man smiled.
"Oh not anytime soon I'm afraid. Would you like to see it up close?" He asked getting a nod from the group as the doctor led the way through the security scanners.
AJ looked amazed at the large orb while she ran her in front of the orb as lights went across it while she got the readings from it.
"What did you find captain?" He asked as she looked at the numbers.
"The energy readings are beyond off the charts sir. I can't even begin to explain it." She said as he chuckled.
"Well captain if you could I would gladly give you my job." He smiled looking back at the orb.
"So AJ, what do you think of the future of our nation?" Artyom asked as she smiled up at him.
"I think it's looking very bright." She said and heard their two friends chuckle.
"Oh that have that look in their eyes Nikolai." Mahail laughed as the two blushed.
"What did I tell you about that-" BOOM!!!
The four heard the alarm sounding as they looked around.
"We're under attack by a unknown military group! They've cut our communications, there's no way we can't call for help!" She looked up to see one of her soldiers running up to them.
"Der'mo! Mihail, Nikolai secure the room no doubt those bastards have already got inside and will be heading this way. Evacuate the research team and secure the power source." AJ ordered as they all nodded while they radioed for their troops to regroup inside the hallways to slow them down while they took care of the project and the researchers.
She could hear gun fire as she watched a lead casing start to seal around the power source while a few of their men made it inside the room to help with the intruders.
"Sargent take your team and set up near the elevator, they will have to use it to get to the project." She ordered as they saluted and set up in front of the elevator as the last of the researchers were evacuated.
AJ and the others set up in front of the orb as the casing slowly started to close just as the elevator came down and she saw her troops firing into the elevator while they were being fired on by the unknown attackers.
"Be ready boys, here they come." She stated pulling off her heavy winter gear showing a heavy armor plated body suit that had the rest of her gear under it. She watched as her troops were blown apart by a rocket making them duck down before looking over the computers to see blood and body parts all over the place.
(Area secured no hostiles in sight.) She heard making her grit her teeth.
'American's?' She thought as she watched 12 soldiers walk around the room heading towards them as she ducked back down and looked at them and nodded. Using her hands she signaled for Mihail and Nikolai to flank from the right while she and Artyom would flank from the left.
She looked over the top again spotting them huddled up around one of the computers.
'Arrogant pricks.' She thought as she moved down further where she could get a clear shot and could see her other friends from where she was.
"OPEN FIRE!" She screamed standing up behind her cover as she unloaded into the soldiers along with Mihail and Nikolai taking down half of them while the others were hit by shrapnel from a mini rocket out of Nikolai's shoulder launcher.
"Haha! Don't mess with the best stupid dogs!" Mihail shouted rushing up to them kicking away their weapons.
"Who are these guys?" Artyom asked aiming down the sights of his LMG while Mihail came to his side.
"I bet they're American's, bastards are greedy and want to take what they can't have." He growled jabbing a soldier who was lung shot.
"Try to get communications back up Nikolai, I want command to know what's been going on here. Also I want a full count of our dead and wounded." AJ ordered as she looked down at a black masked soldier that was pointing a pistol at her.
"SHIT!" She dived out of the way as he fired while the others blew holes in all of them.
"Captain are you ok?" Artyom asked rushing to her side with fear and worry in his eyes.
"Yeah I'm fine!" She yelled before they all heard the sound of creaking metal making them all turn slowly to see the orb was starting to bulge and bubble making them stare at it in fear.
"RUN!" Mihail screamed as they all jumped to their feet and sprinted to the emergency exit before a blinding flash swallowed them.
[Unknown snow field]
AJ woke up with a groan and looked around to see the remains or the lab while she rolled over trying to stand up only to fall as she felt a pain in her leg and a weight on her back.
"Damnit! Mihail! Nikolai! Artyom!" She called out to her friends hearing a groan to her left.
"Artyom! Are you ok?" She asked watching as he sat up.
"Yeah I think I'm ok." He said rubbing his head as they heard two more groans behind them.
"Mihail! Nikolai! Are you guys ok?" She called out to them as they rolled over looking up at the sky.
"Yeah we're ok captain." They said looking around.
"Well could one of you help me out here I thank one of my legs are broken." She said as she heard Artyom get up and moving over to her.
"I got you captain." He said hefting whatever was on her off before he gasped.
"WHAT THE HELL!" She heard Mihail yell making her start to panic.
"What?! What is it?!" She screamed crawling away before she looked down to check herself and froze.
"WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO ME!?" She screamed looking down at a horse body starting to freak out.
"What happened to me, where did my body go?!" She cried as Artyom came to her side.
"Whoa easy AJ calm down." He said while trying to keep come himself as they heard the others rush to her side.
"What happened to her Artyom?" Nikolai asked in shock.
"How the hell should I know?" He snapped while holding the small mare in his chest as she sobbed.
"What's going on?" She whimpered while he ran a hand through his captains mane.
After a while he pulled back to see she had exhausted herself from the emotional shock of what had happened.
"What are we going to do Artyom?" Mihail asked while the man picked AJ up while they gathered their weapons and ammo from their dead comrades.
"I don't know but we need to find shelter before we freeze to death, grab the others gear and anything salvageable and we'll set up camp here till we figure this out." He said as they nodded and began to gather up as much gear as they could before digging into a snow dune not to far from where they were.
A few hours later AJ woke up with a moan as she looked around to see Mihail and Nikolai sound asleep in little cubbies that they dug into the snow. She looked to her left to see Artyom near the entrance of the small cave just looking out into the blizzard that was raging outside.
"Artyom?" She called out making him jump and turn to her pulling down his face mask smiling at her.
"Hey AJ, about time you woke up." He said crawling over to her wrapping her in a hug while he felt her hooves go around his back.
"What's happened to me?" She asked as she pulled back with tears going down her face before she felt them wiped away.
"I don't know AJ but we'll find a way to fix it." He smiled down at her running a thumb over her face and wiping the tears away from her face.
"Thanks Artyom." She sighed leaning into him as before he pulled back and covered her with a few heavy winter coats.
"Stay here and keep warm." He suggested while she smiled and nodded snuggling into the coats catching his scent making her smile and burrow her face into it.
"Hello?! Is anypony out here?!" She heard outside the cave making her look up as Artyom came in with a confused look on his face as he took his coat.
"I'll be right back, I hear some horses outside, so maybe there is someone out there that needs help. Stay here with these two and stay warm." He ordered as she looked at him worried.
"Be careful Artyom." She said trembling a little from the cold while he smiled and nodded.
"Be back in a minute." He said crawling out of the cave.
"Hello? Is anyone out there? Do you need help?!" She heard him yell before his voice was lost in the blizzard. She got up and moved over to a pack and rummaged through it looking for a flare so he could find his way back to the cave.
"Ah ha!" She cheered finding a green flare grabbing it somehow with her hoof and crawled to the mouth of the cave and cracked it making it flash and burn at the top before tossing it just outside the cave.
Before long she heard the sound of a rifle crack through the air making her jump up along with Mihail and Nikolai as they grabbed their rifles and ran out the cave.
"Artyom! Where are you!?" AJ called out as they heard two more shots from over the dune.
"Go move!" She ordered as they rushed over the dune to see five white ponies surrounding Artyom.
"Stay away from me!" Artyom screamed and fired another shot into the air making the ponies jump back.
"He's can't take all of us! Let's rush him." She heard one say.
AJ panicked and pulled the trigger guard from her rifle off as she took quick aim at the one in the purple armor.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you!" She screamed at them making them all stop and turn to her while her other two friends picked a target.
"Lay down your weapons and come quietly monsters!" She heard the purple armored one yell as she chambered a round.
"Lower yours first freaks!" She yelled back and looked at Artyom and smiled.
"Pick a target boys we got us some horse meat to cook tonight. I'll take Mr. Purple." She sneered while she heard them lock and load. She looked out of the corner of her eye to see a figure moving through the snow towards Purple.
She smiled as she recognized Michael a fellow captain as he grabbed the stallion disarming him and put a pistol to his head while he held his rifle in one hand aiming at another stallion while AJ switched targets to the stallion closest to Artyom.
"Lay your weapons down or your leader dies." Michael ordered while the mutant horses looked at each other tensed.
"You heard him! Lay your weapons down or the loud mouth gets a hole in his head!" She shouted watching them drop their weapons with a grumble while her team tied them up. She smiled trotting over to Michael stumbling every once in a while because of the snow and being in a horse body.
"Michael!" She squealed wrapping her arms around him.
"AJ?" He asked looking down and blonde and orange horse in front of him as she nodded.
"What the hell happened to you?" He asked shocked as the others walked up to them dragging a horse behind them.
"We don't know, after the orb went crazy we found her like that. Maybe these things know something about it." Artyom said as Mihail nodded while Nikolai headed up the dune.
"Where are you going Nikolai?" AJ asked as he smiled back at her.
" Going to make room for our comrade, you don't want him freeze in the snow do you?" He asked getting a smile from the mare as she waved him away.
"Carry on then." She stated and looked at Purple.
"Ok buddy boy you're going to tell me everything I want to know or I'll let Mihail skin your friends one at a time till you do." She said while the stallion stared at her like he's seen a ghost.
"Applejack?" He asked while she looked at him confused.
"Who? Look who are you and why did you attack Captain Artyom?" She asked.
"AJ, Twilight's friend? Element of Honesty? Any of this ringing any bells?" He asked as she growled.
"I'm gonna ring your bell if you don't start answering my questions." She snarled making him jump.
"My name is Prince Shining Armor of the Crystal Empire, we felt a massive surge of energy in this sector and came to investigate. You friend over their came out of no where and scared the crap out of us! When we tried to talk to him he started yelling so we took that as aggression." Shining stated as she looked at Artyom.
"What? They scared the crap out of me and purple over here started to used some kind of energy on me before I made him taste the bottom of my boot." He stated getting a nod out of her.
"Let them up, it seems we have a misunderstanding here." She stated and held out a hoof to Shining Armor who took it as she hauled him to his hooves.
"My name is Captain AJ of the the third Spetsnaz unit. This is Captain Artyom, Mihail, Michael, and the big guy that walked away is Captain Nikolai." She introduced him to the others who nodded to the prince.
"Sorry for ruffing you up but you have to understand the situation." She said getting a nod from him.
"Well why don't we all head back to the empire where we can talk and get warmed up." He suggested getting a nod from AJ as she looked back at her men.
"Ok boys lets pack it up and move out we got some walking to do." She said as the soldiers nodded and ran back to get their gear while she stayed with the horses.
"So Applejack, you don't remember anything about us?" Shining asked while she looked over at him.
"I think I would remember if I was a horse." She said are they huffed.
"We're ponies captain." Shining huffed looking offended.
"Same difference to me." She shrugged as a few of them grumbled
"So what are those things if you don't mind me asking?" Shining asked as she watched one of the stallions reach for a spear and she moved quickly digging the barrel of her rifle into his head making him freeze.
"Don't even think about it, just leave it there and stay by your friends." She ordered as he moved back to the group while the others glared at him.
"To answer your question Prince Armor, they are my comrades in arms and some of the most elite of my nations military and have killed many people for our motherland." She said just as her men came back.
"Captain what of our dead?" Mihail asked as she sighed.
"We'll collect them once the blizzard is over, did you already mark them for pickup?" She asked getting a nod from Mihail.
"We moved them into the cave so no animals with get to them and gathered their weapons as well." Artyom said as he handed her, her gear as she slipped it onto her back before securing the straps around her front.
"Ok lets go." She said and looked at Shining Armor who nodded while his soldiers gathered their weapons and led the way to this empire.
As they walked AJ started to hum making the men smile as they joined her in singing.
Unbreakable Union of free-born Republics
Great Russia has welded for ever to stand,
Thy might was created by will of our peoples,
Now flourish in unity, great Soviet Land!
Sing to our Motherland, home of the free,
Bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong!
The Party of Lenin, the strength of our peoples,
To Communism’s triumph lead us on!
Through tempests the sunrays of freedom have cheered us
Along the new path where great Lenin did lead.
To a righteous cause he raised up the peoples,
Inspired them to labor and heroic deeds.
In the victory of Communism’s deathless ideals
We see the future of our dear Land,
And to her fluttering scarlet banner
Selflessly true we always shall stand!
As the group trudged on they kept looking at AJ curious at how she could talk to these strange creatures and from the way she looked at one of them she was very attracted to him.
"So what are those things around your chests?" One of the guards asked Mihail who just looked at him confused.
"What?" He asked.
"He asked about our rifles, didn't you hear him?" AJ asked while Mihail shook his head.
"I heard him but it sounded like a bunch of horse noises to me, I guess you get to be the translator." Mihail chuckled as she groaned.
"Just great."
Battle in the Blizzard
AJ and the others stared in awe at the empire as they moved through the streets at a slower pace before they heard Shining chuckle.
"You act like you've never been here before Applejack." He said as she groaned.
"How many times do I have to tell you, my name is AJ." She said as he sighed.
"Sorry just seeing you back after all this time, I know that your family and friends will be more than happy to see you." He stated while she looked at him confused.
"Sorry but I don't have any family that I know of. As for friends these are the only real friends that I have. Now you said that your wife was the ruler of this land, we need to talk to her and see if we can find a way back home. We need to get back to our units and let them know what happened." She said as he looked at her strangely.
"But this is your home Applejack, it has been up until 6 years ago when you vanished because of Discord." He stated as she grit her teeth.
"NO!" She cried as her friends took aim at them.
"What is it AJ?' Michael asked hearing her growl.
"This guy is saying that this is my home, but it's not. I was born in Russia and am a proud member of her armed forces, so don't tell me that this is where I belong." She growled as he patted her back while he kneeled down.
"Don't worry about it AJ you know where you belong and it's back home with all of us." He said getting a smile from her.
"Thanks Michael." She stated and looked back at Shining.
"Lets just go find this Discord guy and have him send us back." She stated getting a nod from the men.
"I'm sorry but Discord was imprisoned when he sent you away. I doubt that Princess Celestia will let him do it again." He said as she grit her teeth.
"Then let me talk to her, I have a duty to fulfill to my country and I want to go home. This place is too weird for me." She said looking around at the ponies that were staring at them.
"Alright but I'm telling you it's not going to happen." He said as he led the way to the large castle that rose up into the sky.
"We'll see when I meet her." AJ stated and waved the boys on as they took up defencive positions around her making her smile.
"Guys, you know I can take care of myself right?" She giggled while Mihail grunted.
"Doesn't mean that these little horses won't try anything, they seem to know you AJ or at least someone that looked like you." He said getting a nod from her while they all scanned for any threats.
Once they made it into the castle they were led to a large throne room where a pink mare sat listening to her subjects talk before she spotted them and froze.
"Hey Cadence, look who I found out in the ice and snow!" He yelled across the room pointing at AJ with his hoof.
"He didn't find anyone, we found each other." She corrected before she felt something slam into her. Thinking fast she flipped while she was still in the air grabbing the knife that was on her side and slammed the pink blob into the ground and was about to deliver the killing blow when she felt her hoof grabbed.
"Calm down AJ." Nikolai said gently taking the knife away as AJ looked back to see the frightened face of the pink pony from the throne.
"Cadence!" She heard the sound of hooves rushing towards them only to hear a thud as one of her boys took him down.
"GET OFF ME YOU STUPID THING!" He yelled.
"Shut up and stay down." She heard Mihail growl as the click of the safeties went off.
"Stand down boys." She ordered as they lowered their weapons a little but kept their fingers on the triggers.
"Applejack what are those things with you?" Cadence asked as she was helped to her hooves.
"They are my teammates and friends. They're the only family I've had since I woke up." She said while the mare looked at her confused.
"But what about Applebloom, Big Mac, and Granny Smith?" She asked while AJ tilted her head.
"Who?" She asked while the mare looked at her shocked.
"Your brother, sister and your grandmother! How could you forget them?!" She cried making her step back.
"Look I don't know who you guys think I am but I'm not this Applejack. My name is AJ that's it. Now Shining Armor said something about a Princess Celestia that could help us get home, we have to let our commanders know that we are still alive and what happened at the research center." She said as Cadence gave a slow nod.
"Of course, I'll need to send her a letter so it may take some time till they get here. Why don't you and your, friends take a look around the empire till then." She said as she nodded.
"We also have some dead out in the fields that need to be taken home for burial." She said as the mare gasped.
"Oh I'm so sorry. I'll let her know that it's urgent." She said as a paper and quill appeared before her shocking the others.
"How did you do that?" AJ asked staring at the floating quill and paper.
"It's magic." She simply answered while AJ gave her a none too amused look.
"So seriously how are you doing that?" She asked getting nods from from her boys.
"I am serious!" She pouted as Artyom tapped AJ's should.
"Telekinesis comrade." He stated getting a nod from AJ.
"Ok, well you do your 'magic' thing we'll take a look around." AJ said rolling her eyes as Cadence huffed.
"It is magic." She grumbled as they passed by her chuckling as they left the room.
Outside the group made their way through the streets feeling all the ponies eyes on them making them sigh.
"I don't think I will ever get used to being stared at like that." Mihail said nodding over to the group of ponies staring at them.
"Yeah well you're not getting stared like a piece of meat." AJ stated nodding her head to a group of stallion that were smirking at her.
"They have to get through us if they want you captain." Artyom growled as the others nodded.
"Thanks guys I really- "
[This is Sokov, is anyone reading this! We are in heavy combat and request immediate support!] AJ's eyes widened as she grabbed the radio on her hip.
"Sokov this is Zvezda. Hold your positions comrades we are on our way. What's the situation over?"
[Zvezda, this is Sokov. We are engaged my mutant horses! I repeat mutant horses. Marking our location on your MCT.] She heard.
"Lets go, our comrades need us!" AJ ordered as the five took off through the street heading into the icy blizzard outside.
[This is Odessa, to Sokov. We are on our way to you comrades, hold your positions!]
[Roger that Sokov will hold.] AJ heard getting a smile on her face.
[This is Red Dawn to all red army elements, I have you all on our scopes. Zvezda, we will be linking up about a half click from you before we reach Sokov's postion. How copy over?]
"Red Dawn this is Zevzda, we copy. Is that you Romanov?" AJ smiled as she galloped ahead of her friends.
[Roger comrade captain. We have tanks and light armor with us, what are your orders?] The sergeant asked.
"Send a troop transport to our location and then head to Sokov's position." She ordered looking back to her friends who were lagging behind.
[Roger that Zevzda, sending a CV-99 your way.]
"Roger we'll hold position here and wait for our ride, Zevzda out." She stated as she stopped and waited for her friends to catch up.
Just as her friends made it to her they saw their ride come over a snow dune.
"Lets go boys, our comrades need us!" She yelled running to the small tank and opened the back doors watching as they climbed inside.
"There's no more room comrade captain!" Artyom said as AJ nodded and closed the doors before climbing onto the back just as the TC (Tank commander) opened his hatch and stood out.
AJ crawled trotted up to him tapping him on the helmet making him turn and gawk at her.
"No time to explain, we have a fight to win sergeant!" She yelled at him watching him nod.
"Forward comrades! Lets get there before the fight is over!" He yelled.
[This is Alfa group we are coming around their left flank Sokov hold your fire in that direction.]
[Roger that Alfa group, you are clear to make your attack when ready.]
[This is Odessa, we're coming to your rear now comrades hold your fire.]
"Red Dawn this is Zevzda, we are joining you at this time" AJ radioed as she saw a large convoy of tanks, BMP-8s, CV-99s, troop transports, and supply trucks ahead of them. She tapped the TC and waved him ahead of the convoy.
[Roger that we see you. Captain there is something on the top of your vehicle.]
"That's me, I'll explain later. For now we need to save our comrades." She said passing the lead tank.
'Sokov, this is Zevzda. We're coming on you right flank comrade, hold your fire." She said as they smashed through a small dune to where she could see tracer rounds and green beams being fired at each other.
[Roger that we see you, help us out here. We're almost out of ammo.]
"Gunner rotate 20 degrees left." The TC yelled down to his gunner as AJ hopped off the tank while her friends jumped out the back while the others pulled up and soldiers started to pile out and run to the nearby tanks for cover shouting orders.
AJ slid next to a group of soldiers followed by the others as the group looked at her.
"DON'T JUST SIT THERE FIRE YOUR DAMN WEAPON SOLDIER!!" She screamed snapping them out of their staring as they started to fire at the enemy.
AJ moved down the dune followed by ten soldiers as she turned to them signaling for them to keep low as she heard the tanks open fire.
[Zevzda, this is Alfa. We are in position.]
"Copy that move in and take the heat off our comrades." She ordered as the tanks ceased fire doing their job of keeping the enemies head down.
AJ came around a corner to see a pony hunched down before she fired a round into his face before moving on.
"On me comrades, this day is ours!" She yelled after them as they surged forward killing anything that wasn't human.
AJ watched as her soldiers caught them by surprise trapping them between her forces and Alfa group before they threw down their weapons and held their hooves up.
"WE GIVE UP PLEASE! WE SURRENDER!" She heard a mare yell as AJ smirked trotting up behind her soldiers.
"Good work men." She called to them as they looked back at her.
"Regroup with the others and check on Sokov." She ordered as Alfa continued to stare at her.
"THAT'S A ORDER!!" She screamed glaring at them as they scrambled to check on their comrades while Artyom, Mihail, Nikolai, and Micheal jogged up behind her.
"Mihail take command of the armored unit here, Nikolai you're in charge of Alfa group. Micheal you're in charge of Sokov, and Artyom take command of the soldiers with Red Dawn. Find out how they got here and see how our supplies are in food, ammo, and fuel." She ordered watching them take off to their assigned tasks as she walked up to the the prisoners who were staring at her.
"What are you doing here and why were you trying to kill my soldiers?" She asked as they looked at her with glares.
"Captain Snowflake, 1st pegasus division Equestrian guard." She stated as AJ smiled bending down to look at her in the face.
"Oh me and you are going to have a fun time." She laughed before punching her in the face and grabbed her by the mane before she could hit the ground.
"What are you doing here and why did you fire on my soldiers?" She asked only to get the same answer while she responded with a backhand to her face.
"I can keep this up all day. The quicker you answer me the quicker you and your friends well get medical treatment." She smiled watching the younger of the soldiers fidget watching their commander get beaten.
"Your soldiers lives hang in the balance captain. All I want to know is just those few things and I'll leave you alone so you can get treated. Do you have a family captain? Children, a wife or husband? How do you think they would feel if you die over some simple information and in vain hm?" She asked as the mares eyes teared up and looked away.
"I-I have a wife and child." She whimpered.
"I see and do you think the information I want will put your nation at risk?" She asked as the mare slowly shook her head.
"Then tell me what I want to know." She stated softly.
"We were sent by Princess Celestia to extend our borders when we ran into your friends over their." She said pointing to Sokov.
"When we saw them we felt threatened when one started to shout at us and we couldn't understand when one of our recruits fired a beam hitting him in the chest." She continued pointing to one of her soldiers that lay dead in the snow field.
"She panicked and that's when his friends started to shoot those orange things at us killing a few of our own before you showed up." She whimpered looking down as a soldier ran up to them while AJ let the mare fall to the snow.
"Report." She ordered.
"Captain AJ, we have four dead and five wounded from Sokov. They are out of ammo and are severely dehydrated." He said getting a nod from her.
"I see, get them what they need and back on their feet. We have a few dead ourselves that need to be picked up from ground zero." She sighed.
"Lets get everyone packed up and ready to roll. We'll take our comrades with us when we leave here. I have to talk to some this Princess Celestia about her ponies killing my troops." She growled looking down at the sobbing captain as a few of her soldiers came to comfort her.
"You are weak, you have no place on the battlefield. Only the strong will survive as you learned today, now get up. We are heading back to the Crystal Empire" She snarled marching the eight guards towards the trucks and had a few privates chain them to the insides of them.
She sighed and looked over to see her men taking their dead off the battlefield as she heard the crunch of boots behind her.
"Hello Captain AJ, I assume you will be taking command yes?" The bearded soldier asked as she nodded.
"Yes I will be taking command Romanov, until we get back home. Command needs to know what had happened. How did you get here anyway?" She asked as he sighed.
"We got your distress call and were on our way to the base when a light engulfed us. We've been lost in this damned storm with no radio contact for hours. I'm just glad we were able to make contact with everyone before they froze to death." He stated getting a nod from her.
" I'm happy to see you all made it out alive then. I think some Americans attacked the base, black ops most likely. They came in under the storm that had hit our sector, they were their to either take or destroy the orb. They succeeded in destroying it after we got the scientist out alive. So the project isn't dead we were even able to recover much of the research paperwork on disks and drives for when we return home." She smiled getting a grin from him.
"Good job comrade. Now lets head to this empire after we pick up our other comrades." He said as they headed for the vehicles where she was smiled and waved at from her soldiers, getting thanks for the quick response.
[This is Sokol 1 to all elements, I will be taking over until we get home. There is a friendly place not far from here that has food, drinks, and warm beds along with plenty of drink to warm you up. The locals will not understand you so don't bother unless I'm with you and can help you, report to me if any of the locals wish to talk and I'll translate. Sokol 1 out.] She said as she hopped onto the top of a T-109.
She sighed as they turned away from the battlefield and headed to ground zero to pick up the last of their dead before they headed for the empire.
'I can't wait to see what they have to drink when we get there.' She thought.
New Contact
AJ sighed as she looked over at the glaring Captain Armor with the captured mares and stallions behind him.
"So let me get this straight Captain AJ, your people killed mine over a accident?" He asked as she growled.
"A accident caused by undertrained privates that can't even keep their cool during a encounter with a lost and dehydrated group of soldiers that were only asking if they could help them. Now take how you feel right now and think back to our meeting and what would have happened if you would have charged Captain Artyom? You and all of your soldiers would have been killed and then what?" She asked looking at the Equestrian guards with a glare.
"What am I suppose to tell the princess when she arrives?" Shining asked as AJ looked away from the guards and to Shining.
"The truth, I followed my orders from my own commanders and only returned fire at her pitiful soldiers, that resulted in the deaths of four of my soldiers and wounding another five. Before we killed 35 of her soldiers." She smirked looking back at the mares that looked at her in fear as Shining glared at her.
"I can see the same undertrained rookies in your own ranks captain. Your military needs to be trained all over again to use caution not attack first and ask questions later." She said looking back at him.
"Get out." He growled while she smiled and looked back at her guards.
"We're leaving. Have the men be ready to move as soon as they are ready." She ordered getting up as one ran to relay his orders.
"Comrade commander where are we going to go?" He asked as she sighed walking the halls towards where her soldiers would be waiting.
"I don't know comrade be we need to find a way to get back home, Shining Armor said something about a creature named Discord that might be able to send us all home. But we need a plan to get him out of his prison. I'll talk with the others and then we can see about a way home." She stated getting a nod from the soldier.
After a while they came outside where her soldiers were piling into their transport before they spotted her as she climbed on top of one of the tanks and came running to the front before standing at attention.
"I'm glad to see you all are here today ready for duty after such trying times and the loss of friends." She said as they all narrowed their eyes thinking of their losses.
"But we have shown these pitiful horses that the Red Army are no pushovers and as of now I have found out that they are allies to the ones that attacked and killed our comrades!" She shouted letting that sink in for a minute.
"So we have been told to leave these lands. So we will. We are not going to start a war with these stupid horses over there idiot soldiers, no matter how much I would love to." She smiled as they all chuckled nodding.
"Trust me I would love nothing more than to show them what real soldiers are, but we have neither the supplies or manpower to accomplish this. So we will leave and see if there is anything we can find at ground zero. Everyone load up and be ready to move in 10 minutes. The storm looks like it's letting up soon and then we will take our leave." She ordered as they snapped a salute before heading to their vehicles.
AJ turned to see Princess Cadence standing by a spinning crystal heart with wide eyes making her smile.
"Dasvidaniya Princess Cadence." AJ smirked and joined her soldiers in preparing for their departure.
A few hours later the convoy came to a halt after they had scavenged ground zero taking any documents they found along with weapons and equipment from the dead unknown soldiers, before continuing on.
AJ sighed as they broke through the storm and could actually see. She smiled hearing the laugh coming from her TC as she rode the back of the lead tank.
"How are we on fuel comrade?" She asked as he sighed.
"About half a tank now commander, the others are about the same. What are your orders?" He asked as he shifted from side to side trying to get feeling in his legs.
"We'll stop here and let the soldiers rest, I know they're tired and I need to talk to the other commanders." She said as he nodded and called it up as they tank ground to a halt while the soldiers jumped out stretching and walking around in the snow.
AJ sighed as she hopped down from the tank and walked over to to her friends.
"Artyom, have the soldiers take shifts on overwatch. Nikolai have your soldiers do a recon of the area and see if you can find anything. Mihail have your tanks set up in defensive positions till we figure out where we are." She ordered getting a nod from them as Michael came up to her.
"How are your men?" She asked as he sighed.
"They are a little shook up but are better than they were." He stated as she nodded.
"Maybe if you go talk to them AJ they might get some spirit back in them." He suggested getting a nod from her.
"Ok I just want them ready for anything, we can't afford to have a platoon down at a time like this." She stated getting another nod from him.
"I'll leave you to it then commander." He said walking away.
AJ sighed as she moved over where Sokov was. They spotted her as she trotted up to them jumping up and snapping to attention.
"Commander." One of the soldiers said as she sighed.
"Go ahead and take a seat boy, I want to talk to you all about what happened." She stated plopping down in the snow as they took a knee.
"Now listen I want you to know that what happened back there was not your fault ok?" She asked getting some disbelieving looks from them.
"You couldn't have known that it would go down like that. I myself nearly lost Captain Artyom today to some of those freaks." She growled as they nodded with narrowed eyes.
"You're soldiers of Russia, and we are expected to die for our country but I know that it doesn't make it feel any better when you lose a comrade." Her voice became hollow as she sighed and looked back up at them.
"I lost a lot of my own soldiers today as they tried to defend the station that you were headed to. A lot of friends died protecting research that was valuable to the motherland and I'll never forget their faces. Captain Jordan’s death along with your other brothers were not in vain, they will be honored and I made damn sure that those that did that to them paid." She growled as they smiled a little and nodded.
"Thank you captain, we'll be ok. It's just the first time we've ever been in combat before, never expected it to be with horses." A soldier chuckled humorlessly as she nodded.
"It will get better, I promise. You never forget the first time you fire a weapon at another living being and wonder if what you did was right. What you did was right so don't think for a second that you were wrong in the least, now I want you boys to relax a little ok? I want you at a 100% by the time Alfa comes back from their recon, you will be rotating out with the others so be ready." She said patting one of the soldiers knees before getting back to work.
"Yes captain." They said before starting to chat with each other.
AJ sighed heading back to her tank, she just wanted to be alone for a bit and rest. For the first day in this place she had never felt so tired before in her life.
"Commander?" She pulled herself together and turned to see one of the few females in the group walk up to her giving a stiff salute.
"What is it sergeant?" AJ asked as the girl looked nervous for a few seconds.
"A lot of the troops were wondering what happened to you and how you came to be like this. I didn't want to trouble you since we all know it's the real you but we were still curious." She mumbled the last part as AJ looked down at her pony body and sighed.
"I don't know why it only affected me and I hope that when we go home I go back to normal. I have to say this has been a experience but I miss being human so much. I miss my hands and my feet, I can't stand these stupid hooves and how I have to walk on all fours. I hate being this way and looking like one of those damn freaks, so tell them that if they're really curious." She said getting a nod from the women before she hurried away as AJ plopped down and leaned up next to the tank.
'What a day.' She thought looking out into the endless ocean of white just staring out into the setting sun.
"Commander." AJ blinked and realized how late it was. It was bitch black outside besides the fire in the center of the formation where she could see her troops by trying to stay warm.
'Did I fall asleep?' She thought.
"What is it Artyom?" She looked up at the human who was smiling at her.
"Alfa just returned they said that they found a settlement of dogs about 40 miles to the east of here, they've already marked it on your MCT." He stated getting a nod from her as she stretched and yawned.
"Good I want them rested so they can lead us to the settlement in the morning. Did they say how advanced they were?" She asked getting a nod from him.
"He said he saw a few vehicles here and there, they looked like a pretty normalish people if being 5 foot tall dogs can be called normal." He said getting a smile from her.
"Ok anything else?" She asked.
"Yes Alfa reported they could hear heavy machinery in the town, like construction vehicles." He stated getting a nod from her.
"Thank you Artyom, now go get warmed up. I want to be alone for a little while." She said turning her back to him and looked back out to the icy lands in front of her as she heard Artyoms retreating footsteps.
AJ sighed as she got up and headed out into the darkness making sure to keep the camp in sight. She needed to clear her head if she was going to talk to the pack leader or whatever in the morning.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" AJ turned to see like she heard in the reports, a five foot white dog grinning at her.
"I see someone got curious about the ape things." It was male that was for sure if the deep voice was anything to go by.
"Um no I'm not, I lead those ape things. Oh and we're called humans, dog." She said as the dog growled.
"What did you call me!?" He growled as she raised a eyebrow.
"A dog, it's clearly what you are. Or do you call yourself something else? I'm just going off the reports I got from my recon squad." She shrugged watching him relax and walk up to her on all fours bringing him down to at least a head taller than her.
"We are wolves pony, tell that to your humans and never forget it." He corrected as she nodded.
"Oh like back home, we used to have a few packs that came around the village. I actually met the algha family I think. I miss Sasha, I hope my roommate is keeping her fed." She sighed and looked up at his shocked face.
"This wolf is your pet?" He asked as she shook her head.
"No, Sasha is wild, she and her pack come by my house back home just to hang out I guess. The first meeting didn't go that great when she tried to kill me on our running trail but after I was able wound a lot of her pack and herself they left me alone till a few years ago they just started to show up." She smiled thinking of all the times she and her friends would go hunting with the pack.
"Got to say, I love having them around. When we go hunting it's amazing to watch them stalk their prey." She smiled wider as the large wolf studied her.
"You speak the truth." He stated as she raised a eyebrow at him.
"Um yeah I do, I can't lie to save my life. Never could." She sighed and looked back at her camp.
"I hate being here, I just want to go home." She sighed to herself as she heard the wolf sit down beside her.
"Then why don't you?"
"It's not that easy, I can't just pack up and go home like you can. I have to find some guy called Discord in Equestria so he can send us back home where we belong." She stated not seeing him look over at her shocked.
"So the god of chaos brought you here or something?"
"No, there was a accident today in the lab where we were ordered to guard. We were attacked and something went wrong, now I'm stuck in this stupid body and my men are here with me away from their families and there's nothing I can do till I talk to Discord." She growled stomping a hoof into the ground making him jump.
"Well ma'am, if you need help getting to Equestria and some supplies maybe we can help each other out." He stated as she looked at him with a hard glare.
"I may not be able to lie but I spot them like shit on snow. Don't try it wolf." She growled making him blink.
"Of course, we're having a problem with pony savages from a village not to far from ours that is raiding our supplies and destroying our equipment. If you can talk them down or just kill them, that would be a load off my peoples minds and my father can breath easier." He stated as she nodded.
"I'll talk to my other leaders and we will visit in the morning." She stated getting a nod from him.
"COMMANDER! WHERE ARE YOU!?" She looked up to see one of her soldiers with a flashlight looking around.
"I should go." He said and started to get up.
"Why not stay, meet one of my soldiers?" She asked as he looked back to the human calling out for her commander.
"Why not." He shrugged watching her smile.
"I'M OVER HERE KLARA!" She called out to her waving her arms around as the light shown in their direction.
"WHO'S THAT WITH YOU?" She called running over to them.
"Um I never did get your name." She smiled at him.
"I am Savva, Chief Rolan's son of the Eastern Snow tribe." He proudly stated as they heard the crunch of boots.
"Commander what are you doing way. up. here?" She stopped as she spotted the huge wolf beside her commanding officer.
"Wow, I've never seen a wolf this big before." She gasped as Savva puffed out his chest.
"Thank you." He stated watching her eyes bug out.
"Oh wow you can talk to and I can understand you!" She squealed.
"Sergeant, tone it down." AJ smiled.
"Oh sorry ma'am, sorry sir." She apologized as the wolf chuckled.
"Sergeant Klara, this is Savva of the wolf tribe that Alfa reconed earlier." AJ introduced as Klara stuck out her hand.
"Pleasure is all mine comrade Savva." She smiled as he stuck his large paw out and shook hers.
"Charmed Klara, would you like to sit with us?" He asked as she looked at AJ who nodded.
"Go ahead sergeant, as far as I know it's a free world." She stated getting happy smile from the sergeant.
"Wow, I can't believe I'm having a real conversation with a wolf." She giggled as Savva looked over at AJ confused.
"Where we come from we are the only creatures that can talk to one another, Sasha the wolf I told you about? She can't talk, she's just a animal on our home world." AJ explained as Savva nodded.
"I see, a pity. I would have enjoyed talking with your Sasha." He stated and looked back at Klara.
"So sergeant, tell me about yourself." He smiled as she grinned.
"Well I work at as a sniper, currently under the command of Captain AJ....
(A few hours later)
Savva listened to Klara in amazement as she showed him some of her things from earth like her MCT and radio along with some of her tales of battle and having worked with AJ a few times.
"Truly amazing. I've never heard of a MRE before, and you say that it can store food for a few years?" He asked as he felt a weight on his back, he turned to see AJ sound asleep snuggling up against him making him blush.
"I guess the commander has finally run out of steam." Klara stated getting a grunt from AJ.
"I haven't run out of anything sergeant." She stated as she looked up with heavy eyelids and pushed herself away from Savva.
"Come on, lets get back to the camp. It's late and I need to go over some plans for tomorrow." She grumbled jumping and sliding down the side of the dune.
"See you in the morning Savva!" Klara called out waving over her head while she held her rifle following after her commander.
"See you then." He called out waving to them, never taking his eyes off the mare and female human.
"Hm, what a strange thought." He said to himself before heading back home.
(That morning)
AJ sighed as she felt the tank she was in moving making her get up and look around. She spotted her TC standing up out of the hatch while the radio was a going off every once in a while.
She stretched and yawned making the gunner look back and smile at her handing over a cup of coffee.
"Here you go commander, I saved one for you when you got up. It's been on the heater for the last 20 minutes." He warned getting a bleary nod from her.
"Thank you comrade, you're a life saver." She sighed taking a sip of the black coffee and let another sigh out.
"Still tastes like shit with mud mixed in with a hint of tar." She grumbled taking another sip.
"I hate mornings." She groaned seeing the smile of the gunner out the corner of her eye.
"Don't you smile at me like that, I know your secrets Private Prachovske." She grumbled hearing him chuckle.
"Worth it seeing you like this commander, makes me feel a little better that the Queen of the Spetsnaz isn't a morning person." He stated watching her smile.
"Well don't pass it around comrade, I have a title to uphold." She said downing the rest of the coffee in one go.
"Ugh, I don't know how the general can take this stuff all the time." She stated standing up and opening a hatch.
"How far are we from the village?" She asked letting the cold wind wake her up even more.
"About three miles out commander." Prachovske replied turning back to her as she put her gear back on along with a helmet with a headset.
"Everyone hear me?" She called into the mike.
[We read you commander.] She heard Mihail along with the rest of her commanders.
"Good, what's the status of our fuel?"
[All about half a tank or more ma'am.] Artyom reported.
"Ok, once we get there the locals should be expecting us. Klara, I want you to take position with your spotter and one of the privates and provide overwatch for the town. Savva said that there were hostile ponies in the area, if you see any take them down." AJ stated with no feeling in her voice.
[Yes ma'am, I won't let you down.] She stated.
"Alright, as for everyone else I want you to wait outside the vehicles besides gunners, TCs, and drivers. Once we're in the town I want a parade formation, I want them to be in awe when we get there." She stated.
[YES COMRADE CAPTAIN!] She smiled as she saw village come into view.
"Alright everyone dismount and parade formation." She ordered as she climbed out of the tank herself and headed for the front of the formation while Klara and her team headed up a hill beside them to carry out her orders.
Once everyone was in formation she marched them down the road where she saw a group of wolves standing at the gates waiting for them. She smiled when she saw Savva there with a serious look on their faces.
As they came to a halt in front of them she stood on her hind legs and put her hooves behind her back.
"Hello sir I believe your son has told us about you." She stated getting a nod from the older wolf.
"My father wishes to speak with you." Savva said as AJ nodded.
"Of course, Mihail." She called over to her friend who looked up at her.
"You're in charge while I'm in this meeting, Artyom, Micheal, Nikolai. You're with me." She ordered and turned back to the elder wolf.
"Do you mind if my men come inside away from the cold?" She asked getting a nod from the elder.
"OPEN THE GATE!" One of the warriors called back while Mihail took the head of the formation and headed inside with the rest of them.
"Mihail, make sure everyone stays by the vehicles and doesn't wonder off" She ordered getting a nod from him as she went to join the others towards one of the larger buildings.
A few hours later Mihail was with some of his soldiers as the locals watched them or talked a little to the men.
"Um hello." Mihail looked up to see a female wolf that was white with gray spots on her coat and a black tipped tail smiling at him.
"Hello, how can I help you?" He asked as she got a nervous look on her face.
"Uh I was just wondering, could you tell me what you are? I've never seen anything like you before." She said while he smiled.
"I'm a human." He simply answered as she nodded looking at the tank he was leaning against.
"Is it ok if I sit by you?" She asked while a few of the locals watched the interaction.
"I don't mind." He stated leaning back against the tank as more locals started to talk to his soldiers.
"So where do you come from?" She asked looking over his uniform, never having seen anything like it before.
"Far far away from here." He stated rubbing his hands together to keep warm as a male wolf came up to them.
"Lucy, what are you doing?" He asked as she smiled up at him.
"Hey Yakov, I was talking to one of the humans is all." She said and smiled back at Mihail.
"I see, so human what do you think of our town?" He asked as Mihail looked around.
"It reminds me of Artyoms village back home to tell you the truth." He said as they smiled.
"So you have a friend that lived in a place like this?" He asked as they heard a squeak from on top of the tank making them look up to see Kira one of his mechanics that had her finger in her mouth.
"Ow, ow, ow!" She hissed glaring at one of the hatches.
"Kira? What are you doing on the commanders tank?" He asked as she looked back at him with tears in the corner of her eyes.
"The captain told me that one of the hatches were sticking and wanted me to take a look at it, but I just slammed my finger in it." She sniffed shaking her hand again before putting it back in her mouth as Lucy jumped onto the tank and went to her.
"Let me see, I can help you." She gently cooed as the girl took her finger out of her mouth and showed the already purple digit.
"I think I might have broken it." She whimpered as Mihail climbed up with Yakov.
"Are you ok?" Yakov asked as she nodded.
"I'll be fine, sorry sir I forgot to lock the latch." She winced as it throbbed.
"Here maybe this might help." Lucy stated pulling out a bottle and pouring some clear substance on the wound.
The human hissed as it hit the wound while Yakov smiled watching the purple finger fade back to white while Mihail looked on amazed.
"Lucy is our town healer, she can heal anything from cuts to even the most serious of wounds." Yakov smiled at the other wolf who blushed.
"It's just what I do." She stated before she was hugged by the human.
"Thank you! I would have been out for weeks with that thing broken like that." She smiled at the blushing wolf before she lifted the hatch back up and locked it this time before getting back to work.
"Hey captain! Maybe the commander will let us take some things home with us once this is all over! I know I wouldn't mind getting a bottle of that stuff once we get back to the motherland! She called from inside as the other human smiled.
"I doubt they take the same kind of money we do corporal." He said and looked up at Lucy who was still blushing while Yakov had a funny grin on his face.
"So soft." Lucy mumbled as Mihail raised a eyebrow.
"What's so soft?" He asked as she blushed more.
"Um well her um skin." She stated.
"Uh ok." He said confused as Yakov chuckled.
"Sorry it's just that we've only been around each other and a lot of fur gets in the way so I guess it's a new sensation to feel." He mused as Lucy nodded.
"Yes, I've never felt that before. It's, nice." She said shyly as Mihail nodded.
"Alright then. Well why don't we let her get back to work." He suggested as they heard laughter from a few trucks down making them smile.
"Why don't we go inside where it's more warm?" Mihail suggested as they nodded.
"My house isn't far from here and my mate should be cooking up some rabbit about now." Yakov stated but Mihail shook his head.
"Sorry I can't leave this area, come on I'll show the inside of one of these beasts while we're at it." He stated and led the two, to one of the CV-109s that had the ramp down.
Kira sighed as she fixed the hatch and looked up to see a female wolf looking down at her.
"Hello." She smiled as the wolf stared at her.
"Can I help you?" She asked as the wolf smiled.
"Sorry, I was just curious about this thing. I didn't mean to stare, my name is Nina what's yours?" She asked while Kira climbed out of the hatch.
"I'm Corporal Kira, nice to meet you." She smiled sticking her hand out as Nina stared at it.
"What do I do with that?" She asked as Kira blushed.
"Um you grab it and shake it." She instructed while the wolf stared at for a second longer before gently taking her hand while Kira shook it.
"I see, so it's a greeting from where you come from." She said as Kira got a good look at her.
She was black on her stomach and white on her back with black tipped ears and paws. She had on brown shirt on that covered her assets and a black bandanna that her ears poked out of.
" So what do you want to know about it?" She asked as the wolf's eyes lit up.
" As much as you can tell me." She smiled.
"Ok climb inside and we'll get started." Kira stated motioning for her to follow.
Klara sighed as she watched all the fun happening down in the town while a wolf was next to her laying on his stomach with her binos looking around.
"I've never experienced something like this before." He grinned getting up and looking east and growled.
"What is it Yuri?" She asked.
"Ponies, they're coming in from the east to try another raid." He stated as he heard her chamber a round.
"Distance?" She barked to her spotter.
"1200 yards and closing." He stated as she lined up on the lead pony there had to be at least 40.
"We have to warn the town!" Yuri said as they smiled.
"They'll know as soon as the first shot is fired, you might want to cover your ears." She suggested.
"I see the target."
"Send it."
THOOM!!
Mihail and everyone heard the thunder of Klara's rifle as they jumped up.
"WE GOT HOSTILES CLOSING IN FROM THE EAST!" One of the soldiers on the radio called out.
"1ST AND 2ND PLATOON WITH ME!!" Mihail ordered as they rushed to the east of town while Klara's rifle continued to thunder from the hilltop.
[Solov, Alfa stay with the vehicles and defend the town. Get everyone inside till this is over.] Mihail heard AJ bark in his ear making him smile as he cleared the town and could see the ponies being blown apart by Klara's anti-tank rifle.
"We'll hold here, don't let any of those bastards get by you comrades!" He ordered watching as Klara continued to take them down one by one as wolf warriors came up behind them with swords out along with old muskets from what he could tell.
As the ponies drew near he could see their line faltering making him smile.
"OPEN FIRE!!" He called as LMGs and assault rifles barked in response to his order shredding the remaining ponies while the warriors stood in awe.
"By the spirits." One of the rifle wolves gasped.
"CEASE FIRE, CEASE FIRE!" He ordered after the last pony was down.
"Move in and finish the rest of them." He stated before looking back at the warriors.
"Unless you want to do something if there's any survivors?" He asked as the lead wolf smiled.
"With pleasure." He grinned.
"Lets go warriors, it's chow time!" He ordered as they jumped over the humans and headed to the kills.
"Come on lets go back to the convoy." Mihail ordered leaving the wolves to their feast.
Mihail and and his soldiers were welcomed with cheers from the locals making them smile as AJ trotted up to him with a proud grin on her face.
"Good work Mihail. The elder has asked us to join them for the feast that your kills brought, this is a great honor to newcomers in their village." She smiled as he beamed.
"Artyom will be going in my stead since last time I tried to eat any meat I nearly puked my guts out because of this body." She sighed.
"God I can't wait to get back home." She said as he patted her head making her growl.
"I don't know AJ, I like you more like this. You're all cute and stuff." He chucked before yelping as she stomped on his toe.
"Cute and stuff huh? I dare you to say it again Mihail." She growled as he whimpered while she applied more pressure.
"Sorry ma'am won't happen again." He squeaked.
"Good, now go eat with the rest of the men. I'll watch the trucks, oh and have Klara come down from there to eat as well." She stated as he nodded and called Klara back while she headed to her tank and had the driver take her to the outside of town so she could watch it incase of another attack.
A few hours later AJ could still hear the laughter and music from town as she scanned the area for another attack.
Clank clank clank.
She turned expecting one of her friends to be opening the back hatch but they never did.
"Um Captain AJ? How do you open this thing?" Savva asked making her smile and clamber back and opened the hatch to see him smiling.
"Everyone is enjoying the party for your mens victory, why aren't you there?" He asked as she moved back to the gunners seat.
"I don't like crowds that much is all." She sighed and continued to scan the area.
"I see, then you and me are alike in that way. I hate crowds and not to much of a fan for parties either." He stated as she nodded but said nothing.
"I'm surprised your mate isn't here with you." He stated as she chuckled.
"Let me guess, thought that me and Artyom were together yes?" She asked giggling again at his confused look.
"Yes, the way you are together just screams that he is your mate." He replied as she shook her head.
"No, we dated once before but it was just too awkward and we called it off. I see him as a brother and we just get each other and connect on another level than everyone else." She sighed and looked back at the monitor.
"Besides no one wants to date the Queen of the Spetsnaz anyway. I work to much and people just don't understand me is all besides the few friends I have and they only scratch the surface." She sighed and looked back at him with a apologetic smile.
"Sorry didn't mean to dump that on you." She said while he just waved her off.
"It's fine, if you keep things bottled up then it'll eventually break you." He stated looking over at her watching her sigh.
"Maybe but I don't know you to just let all my emotions out and even then that's not the kind of person I am." She shrugged and looked back at the screen until she felt him pull her out of the seat.
"HEY WHAT THE HELL!!" She screamed as he set her in one of the seats.
"I may not know you Captain AJ, but I would like to. You have to be one of the most interesting beings I've ever met." He said taking her spot and moved the turret around scanning the area as she was.
"So talk to me, AJ." He stated as she sighed.
"You know I could just walk out of here right, and let you take over so I can get some sleep." She said raising a eyebrow.
"But you won't, deep down AJ you want to talk about it and I can see it's really bothering you." He stated as she looked down shuffling her hooves.
"Am I that easy to read?" She asked as he shook his head.
"The fact that even your closest friends don't see it just shows how well of a mask you have put on for them and the soldiers under your command." He said looking back flashing a fanged grin.
He stopped smiling and watched the mask she put on for so long be taken off for the first time in many years. She look like death warmed over and just really tired.
"I guess you might as well be my shrink then." She stated taking off her armor setting it on the side then her heavy coat.
Savva swallowed a lump in his throat as he looked at the harden and toned muscle on the mare that was under the tight body suit before shaking his head.
"I guess I should start at the top huh?" She asked while he nodded not trusting his voice.
"I have to say it all started back at the hospital when I woke up....
The morning sun rose over the snow fields bathing it in its orange glow, inside a lone tank were two figures curled up on opposite benches while a third sat in the gunners seat scanning the area for the enemy.
"Ugh, I hate these stupid benches." AJ stated holding her head and looked around the inside and spotted Savva sound asleep with one of his large paws twitching every once in a while.
"Morning commander." She turned to see a smiling Artyom handing her a cup of coffee.
"Good morning Artyom, how was the party?" She asked her mask slipping back on with ease as he shrugged.
"Pretty fun, some of us got hit on by the females and even some of the males hit on Klara and Kira at the party." He chuckled as Savva rose with a groan while Artyom looked over at him with AJ letting a smile cross their faces. But something was different about her smile, almost like a fond smile she used to give him.
'Yeah right.' Artyom thought as he looked back at Savva and then at AJ to see it gone making him doubt himself.
"Good morning Savva, how did you enjoy the bench?" She asked as he groaned.
"Worst sleep of my life." He chuckled and looked over at her smiling.
"Well Captain AJ, I need to go and wash up. I'm sure your soldiers and yourself would like one as well?" He asked as she nodded.
"Thank you." The mare and human sighed getting a laugh out of him.
"We have a very large hot spring not far from here that he village uses on a regular bases. You're more than welcome to it." He stated getting a nod from the them.
"Thank you Savva." Artyom stated as the door to the tank opened.
"Sir I'm here to relieve you." One of her soldiers stated when he spotted Savva.
"Oh hey I didn't know you had guest, good morning." He greeted when he spotted his CO.
"Good morning commander." He smiled as she nodded.
"Sergeant. Go round up everyone and let them know to get ready to take a bath, we all stink." She ordered as he beamed.
"YES MA'AM!" He cried and shot off to round up everyone.
It didn't take long before she had everyone ready and they would go out group by group. Enlisted females then males and finally officers.
AJ sighed as she floated around the large hot spring on her back, she had scrubbed herself as much as she could and now she just wanted to relax for a while before she went back to her duty.
"Hello captain." She looked up to see Savva getting into the water.
"What are you doing?" She asked as he looked at her confused.
"Taking a bath like you of course." He stated as she covered herself and dipped low in the water.
"What your people have co-ed bathing?" She asked moving far away from him and to one of the walls.
"Yes, don't you?" He asked still confused.
"No, it's mostly a private matter." She stated as realization came to his face.
"Oh I'm sorry, I'll leave." He stated and started to get out till she sighed.
"No it's fine, I guess." She said making him pause.
"Are you sure, I don't want to offend you." He stated not looking at her as she blushed.
"As long as you don't try anything, I guess I can cope." She stated watching him get back into the water and stay on the far side away from her.
There was a awkward silence that hung in the air before AJ finally had enough of it.
"Thank you, for last night. I feel much better now that I actually talked to someone about it." She smiled a little as he looked up and grinned.
"You're very welcome, I was happy to listen." There was still tension in the air but not as much as there was.
"So I heard that you used to help Artyom on his farm before you enlisted in the Spetznaz." Savva mentioned as she smiled.
"Yeah, like I said last night, Artyom and I are thick as thieves and brother and sister in all but blood.."She sighed before getting up and heading to get her uniform on.
AJ grunted not seeing a towel before she shook herself dry not seeing Savva staring at her.
He stared at the toned muscle and battle scars that littered her body, he could feel her strength rolling off her as she turned looking at him with a smirk.
"See something you like Savva?" She asked with with a raised eyebrow watching him blink and then look away.
"SORRY, SORRY!" He yelped as he heard her grunt.
"Hmph." She threw her uniform on covering up her past and her pain. She looked back at him before she grabbed her weapon heading back out into the snow.
Savva groaned sinking into the water while he ran his paws down his face letting them fall and slap the water.
'Idiot.' He growled to himself.
Troubling thoughts
Applejack smiled as she walked away from the burning village that housed the bandit tribes. She looked over to see some of the wolves warriors helping the mares and stallions that were kept as slaves for the camp.
"AJ!" She looked over to see Savva running up to her making her smile a bit.
After their awkward moment a week ago, he had come and apologized to her profusely for insulting her in anyway. She in turn gave a playful punch to his shoulder and told him that she thought he was disgusted by her body.
After everything calmed down the two could be seen almost everywhere together around the village.
"Hello Savva, did you help with the other refugees?" She asked getting a nod from him as he took his position by her side making her smile a little at that.
"So what is your plan now AJ?" He asked while she rolled her eyes.
"Nothing has changed Savva, I need to get to Equestria so I can get home." She stated as he sighed and nodded.
"I see, so you still plan to leave?" He asked looking down at her while she looked away.
"I would be lying if I told you I didn't enjoy my time here with you and the other villagers." She sighed.
"Then stay AJ, stay with us once you have Discord and your soldiers are safe." He said as they saw Artyom walking towards them.
"I can't Savva, I have a home and a duty to my country first before my own feelings." She stated as he growled.
"No you don't, you served your country more than any of these soldiers around you. Don't you want happiness or a feeling of safety AJ?" He asked while she fell silent as Artyom got closer.
"Commander, we have secured the village and the slaves will be returned to the empire as soon as they get medical attention from Lucy and the other healers in the village." He stated only getting a nod from his commander.
"AJ?" He said as the mare continued to think as she looked up at him.
"Understood captain, begin moving them to the healers." She stated looking over at Savva and then back to him before moving away from the both.
"Tell the other captains that I want them in my office as soon as we get back, we need to plan on a way to find Discord and get home." She stated and looked over at Savva who sighed and began to walk away.
"Savva! Wait a second." She called out to her friend who turned with a raised brow.
"What is it AJ?" He asked watching her trot up to him.
"I want you to come with us, we need your help finding Equestria and we might need it later on for the mission." She said as his eyes widened in shock before he started to think about it.
"I need to talk to my father when we get back to the village." He said while she nodded heading over to one of the trucks where a most of the former slaves were huddled close together and hopped inside.
She moved to the radio in the back as the other ponies moved out of the way of her.
[Lets load up and move out.] She radioed and felt the truck lurch as they started to move back towards the wolf village.
While she rode in the back with the other ponies she began to ponder Savva's words.
'Will going back really make me happy?' She thought not noticing the whispering from the ponies as they kept glancing at her until one was shoved towards her making her whimper looking at the soldier in front of her. She had witnessed the mare herself kill many of the bandit mares and stallions in the camp in some of the most gruesome ways.
"Um excuse me?" She called out to the mare breaking her from her thoughts and look at the shaking mare.
"Yes, what is it?" She asked harsher than she intended.
"Um well I was wondering if you could tell me where you are taking us?" She asked.
"To the wolf village to be healed and then to the Crystal Empire, from there most likely back to your homes." AJ stated getting excited murmurs from the group.
"Thank you for saving us." She said smiling as AJ nodded looking back at the burning village in thought.
Meanwhile in the Crystal Empire things were not looking so well for the Captain of the Crystal Guard.
"So let me get this straight. You sent one of the elements of harmony out into a blizzard with some type of ape things that she helped kill a whole platoon of my ponies, some of the most elite of my guard. Explain yourself captain." Celestia stated as she, her sister, along with Twilight looked at him with neutral expressions to the sweating captain.
"We have been searching for Lady Applejack for years and you may have sent her to her death with things that no pony has ever seen! What in Equestria made you think that was a good idea?!" Luna yelled now glaring at the captain.
"Captain Armor, do you not realize the magnitude that you have messed up on? You find the element of honesty and in a matter of hours you send not only one of my best friends that's been gone for years, but one of the nation's heroes and our nations key to our greatest weapon, out into the frozen tundra." Twilight snarled at her brother who winced at her.
"Not only that but you let her leave with creatures, that from what you put in your report had highly advanced weapons and equipment. You should have summoned us the instant you realized who she was." Twilight growled as he looked away.
"No excuse princess'." He stated as they all sighed.
"Consider yourself on leave for the next four months." Celestia stated as he looked back at them in shock.
"Please princ-
"SILENCE!!" Twilight yelled glaring at Shining.
"Don't push your luck brother, you should be thankful that you have a job at all still or not in a cell awaiting trial. I will be taking a team and will find Applejack myself." Twilight stated making the other two princess' look at her in shock.
"Twilight? What are you talking about? We didn't discuss this." Celestia said as Twilight looked at her from the side.
"There is nothing to discuss, Applejack will know me more than she would my brother. I'll take a pegasus flight with me to save time, the captain said that she seemed to have some sort of memory loss. Maybe I could jog some of her memory." She said looked back at Shining.
"Captain bring me some of your best fliers, Sgt. Dash from the Wonderbolts Reserves we help me in leading the squad. We leave in three hours." She said nodding to the princess'.
"I'll them at the train station in three hours, once you have done that you are on forced leave captain. Dismissed." Twilight stated walking out the door heading to go talk to Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow had a serious look on her face while she flew in formation next to Twilight.
"Twilight, which way do you think they went?" Dash asked as they flew across the tundra.
"No clue we'll keep going west I guess until we see some- Dash look over there!" Twilight pointed to the large billowing cloud of smoke that rose in the air. The group shot towards it finding a burning village in its wake, at least what was left of it.
As the group landed they saw a few large wolves going through the wreckage.
"Excuse me, is anypony hurt?" Twilight called out making the wolves turn and snarl at them.
"More damn ponies." One growled snapping it's jaws at them making them step back.
"Alright! What's going on? Ambrosii, report!" They all turned to see Mihail come around a corner.
"Sorry captain, some more ponies just landed. What do you want us to do?" Ambrosii asked, he was a pure white wolf with a black snout.
"Ask them what their business is here today. None of them can understand russian." Mihail said flicking his arm at them.
"I can understand you perfectly captain." Twilight stated making the soldier look at her surprised before a frown came to his face.
"Very well, what do you want? I'm a bit busy if you can't tell, we are trying to find anymore survivors." He stated waving his hand out to the burnt village.
"What happened here?" Twilight asked as the wolves seemed to be circling them.
"We destroyed a bandit camp, freeing several slaves and who are at the moment about to be heading to the Crystal Empire after they are healed." He smiled as she nodded.
"It's alright boys, stand down." He stated as the wolves relaxed.
"Besides our guessed here couldn't hope to cast a spell or fly out of her if their life depended on it." He said as Twilight raised a eyebrow.
"What makes you say that?" She asked as he smiled.
"Because I hold all the cards my dear along with all of your lives." He stated waving his hand while a T-105 appeared behind the group.
"What is that thing!" Twilight yelled as the others screeched in a panic.
"That is the T-105 main battle tank of the red army. Now, you are going to tell me why you are here." He stated as she glared at him.
"Don't look at me like that, I lost comrades because of your soldiers. I won't make the same mistake again. What do you want?" He asked as she looked at the ape and sighed.
"I'm looking for one of my own, her name is Applejack Apple. She has a blonde mane and a orange coat. usually wears a hat." She stated as he looked at the wolves.
"Don't know anyone with that name." He stated as she narrowed her eyes.
"But you have seen one correct?"
"Maybe, it depends on your intentions with her."
"I want to take her back home."
"Oh good, that's what we've been trying to do since we got here. We just need someone called Discord to get us back home."
"I'm sure my fellow princess' and I will gladly find a way to send you home. But we may need Applejack to do that."
"Hold on and I will call her." He stated putting a finger to his ear.
"How are you going to call her, is she nearby?" Twilight asked as Rainbow growled.
"UGH! What's going on Twilight? I can't understand a word you or that thing is saying!" She yelled pointing at Mihail.
"Calm down Dash, it said it's going to call Applejack here us." She stated watching the ape nod.
"You will come with us horses, we will take you to Commander AJ." He stated as 12 more all black apes appeared pointing their strange weapons at them.
"We have a transport for you and your friends." He stated while a CV-99 pulled up lowering the back ramp.
"What is Equestria is that?" Dash yelled while something on top turned to them with a single red eye.
"Everypony climb inside, it's like a large carriage." Twilight stated eyeing the black apes along with the wolves.
"Alright everyone load up! We are heading back home!" Mihail said clapping his hands.
After a silent trip back Twilight and the others were greeted by ponies, wolves, and the ape like creatures walking all around the village exchanging greetings with one another like old friends.
"So I take it you bunch are the ones looking for me?" Twilight and Rainbow spun around in surprise to see Applejack looking at them with a small smirk.
"APPLEJACK!!" Dash screamed as she shot towards the mare only to be grabbed in Twilight's magic.
"Hey what gives Twi!?" Rainbow protested before she glanced at the ponies, wolves, and apes that seemed ready to attack.
"Why don't you calm down Rainbow until we met with the commander." She suggested as AJ smiled.
"Finally, someone with a bit of sense." She said and stuck out her hoof.
"Names, AJ. Just AJ, and you are?" She asked as Twilight's heart sank a little.
"My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle. On behalf of Equestria and the Crystal Empire, I can't tell you how sorry we are for the loss of your soldiers and to be thrown into a blizzard by one of our soldiers." She stated as AJ sighed.
"Thank you, your highness. We buried them in the Plains of Honor were the other warriors are buried." She sighed as Twilight looked away.
"Besides if you want to apologize, do it to their friends for your soldiers lack of control." AJ glared as Twilight winced.
"Where are they?" She asked while AJ pointed to a group of soldiers by a tank with some of the female wolves and ponies around them.
"Don't know if they will accept it but, it would help." She stated watching the mare trot away and head over to the group calling for their attention. She watched as the wolves and ponies walked away so they could have their conversation in private.
AJ could see how scared Twilight was but she put on a brave face looking at each her soldiers in the eye and apologized, and meant every word of it if the tears going down her face was anything to go by.
A lot of her soldiers glared or shouted at her while most stayed silent before nodding and trying to calm friends of the deceased down while Twilight bowed to them and took it all.
One of her soldiers took a knee beside her putting a hand on her soldier whispering something to her making her nod and smile a little as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
Twilight sniffed as she rejoined them looking back at the soldiers before giving a shaky sigh trying to calm herself.
"That was a great thing you did princess, in all my years of being a soldier I've never seen the one responsible for something like this own up to it face to face with who was wronged." AJ said putting a hoof on the mares shoulder only to be pulled into a hug surprising her as the mare started to cry. AJ sighed and wrapped her arms around the mare patting her on the back.
"Hey everything is gonna work out princess." She stated as the rainbow mare smiled down at them.
"You know she really missed you AJ." She said as the mare looked up at her.
"Missed me? What are you talking about? I was never her to be missed so how could she?" AJ asked as the mare sighed and landed beside them running a hoof through Twilight's mane.
"What do you know about since you got here AJ?" She asked as Twilight's horn lit up and touched AJ's head making her eyes go wide.
"Remember. Please." She heard Twilight desperately whisper as memories flooded into her mind.
"COMMANDER!" She heard as everything went white.
AJ groaned and started to sit up putting a hoof on her head only to be stopped by a large paw.
"Whoa there AJ, just lay back and rest. Whatever that princess did to you really knocked you down." Savva stated
"Where are they?" She asked as he sighed.
"Being held in the town jail till you woke up and decided what to do with them. Many thought they should just shoot them for assaulting you but I was about to calm them down with the help of some of your soldiers and friends." He stated getting a nod from her.
"What did she do to me?"
"Something about a memory spell and it would help you remember your time here before Discord sent you away." He stated smiling at her while holding up a glass of water.
"How long have I been out?"
"Just about a hour, maybe a hour and a half at the most. Just changed shifts with Nikolai." He smiled getting a tired one in return.
"Thanks Savva, bring them to me. I want to see them in private, her and the rainbow one." She said taking a sip of water while he nodded and left the room.
Ponyville
(Two days later)
AJ looked out over the endless ocean of snow while she looked down from the commanders hatch to see the mares Twilight and Rainbow Dash sitting on one of the benches in the back of the tank.
[Commander? Are you ok?] She looked over and smiled at Savva who in her opinion looked cute in his Spetsnaz uniform.
[Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking of what that mare said and all these memories that's been going around in my head.] She said getting a nod from him.
[I see, is it giving you any trouble at all?]
[No. Just faces and names I don't really recognize.]
[Hn.]
[What do you know about these Princess' that we're going to meet?]
[Just that the oldest is some kind and caring ruler while her sister used to be a bit more to the dark ages before the unification of the equine races. She was imprisoned by the oldest after she betrayed her or something for a thousand years.] He said getting a whistle from AJ.
[That's a little harsh.]
[I suppose but a thousand years ago I guess it was expected.]
[Hn]
(Four days later)
As the convoy finally made it they saw lush green on the other side of the pass as the troops let out a cry as they came through the on the otherside.
[Finally something other than white! Commander, what do you think?] Nikolai asked.
[......]
[Commander?]
[She's fine, I think she's just taking in the sights] Savva said chuckling.
AJ looked around in wonder as she took in her surroundings as images and memories rushed her making her grab her head.
[Commander? You ok?] Savva asked as she looked down into the cabin of tank.
"Twilight, what is this place? I know Equestria but where in it?" She asked as the mare looked up along with Dash.
"We're on the outskirts of our hometown, Ponyville." She said as AJ heard a few soldiers snicker.
'What a name. Really?' She thought.
"Should I be expecting anything when we get there?" She asked as they shook their heads.
"Not that we know of. But you mind if Dash heads there to let the towns ponies know about you guys so there won't be a panic. The town ponies are very skittish, trust me I know." Twilight grumbled as AJ raised a eyebrow.
"Alright."
[Convoy all halt.] She called as she felt the tank come to a halt.
[Ramp down and let Ms. Dash out so she can get the welcome wagon started.]
[Yes, ma'am.] AJ watched as the ramp went down and Rainbow took to the sky heading for Ponyville.
[Ma'am? Do you think it is wise for her to do that?] Mihail asked while AJ grunted.
[You know what to do if they try something.]
(Ponyville)
Twilight and AJ walked through town after she had her troops hold back except for Savva, Mihail, and Artyom.
"Wow this place is a ghost town, are you sure anyone lives here?" AJ asked watching her surroundings along with the others.
"I don't know what's going on. Dash should have told the mayor about you coming." She said as they others tightened their hold on their weapons.
"Commander I don't like this." Mihail said shouldering his rifle.
"I know but with what the princess told me I want to see for myself if it's true." AJ stated as she looked over at Twilight and a flash went off.
(Flashback)
"Come on AJ! You said you would show me yesterday." Twilight grumbled folding her forelegs and pouted as the other mare laughed.
"I know I did sugarcube but you got to wait for Granny Smith. I know how you are at learnin things.Ya just got to be patient." AJ smiled over the princess who sighed.
"Fine. But you know." Twilight smiled stepping towards her friend with a playful look on her face watching the mare raise an eyebrow at her.
"Know what?"
"Since it's just me and you till Granny Smith gets here maybe we could you know." She smiled wagging her eyebrows loving how fast her face turned red.
"Just teasing AJ!" She laughed listening to the grumbling mare as she looked away.
"Damn blabber mouth unicorns." She mumbled trying to get her face to cool down.
"Why you gotta tease me so much sugarcube?" She asked turning to find Twilight close to her face.
"Do you think I'm teasing you?"
(End Flashback)
"Captain? Are you ok?" AJ shook her head and turned to Twilight who had a worried look on her face while her own was starting to heat up.
"Yeah I'm fine, lets get this over with so we can go home." AJ stated marching forward to put some distance between her and Twilight.
'The hell was that?!' She thought as the others caught up to her.
"You sure you're ok AJ?" Twilight asked.
"I'm fine! Can we please get this over with so I can go home?!" She growled not liking the feeling in her chest at the moment while the others looked at each other.
"APPLEJACK!!!" They all turned to see a young mare sprinting towards them passing Twilight and the others as she slammed into AJ wrapping her forelegs around her neck while the two hit the ground.
"HEY! GET OFF THE CAPTAIN NOW!!" Mihail roared but was stopped as AJ raised her hoof.
"It's ok." She said in a stunned voice as flashes went off in her mind of a little filly.
"Captain?"
" I missed you sis! Where have you been!?" She cried while AJ looked stared down at her.
(Flashback)
"Applejack! Come on sis help me out with this crusade!" The filly yelled.
"Applebloom come on now, you know that I'm really busy today." She said as the fillies cheeks puffed out.
"Please AJ!"
"Fine, but afterwards I want you to start your chores that you been skippin out on to do your little crusadin." She said as the filly beamed and pulled her out towards the orchard.
(End Flashback)
"A-Applebloom?"
"You know me! You remember!" The mare cried squeezing AJ while tears streamed down her face while she had a huge smile on her face.
"AJ?" They turned to see a large red stallion looking at her before he smiled at her and trotted towards her pulling her into a hug.
"You're finally home." He choked on a sob as the mare blinked looking up at his smiling face.
(Flashback)
"BIG MAC! Where the hay are you!?"
"I'm over here sugarcube!" She turned to see him walking towards her from the fields.
"Mac, what's this I hear about you talkin to some mare named Vinyl Scratch?" She asked as he scoffed.
"I just talked to her AJ, what's the big deal?" He asked glaring at her as she snarled.
"The big deal is that I wanted to meet her Mac! I just wanted to meet the mare that my brother has his eye on is all." She said as he rolled his eyes.
"Why?"
"Are you kiddin me? She's one my favorite artists." She said as he blinked watching her glare at him.
"I didn't think you were into that kind of music AJ."
"Well when my brother has it thumpin all through the house I usually find myself noddin my head to it. Now, you're to bring her here so I can get a autograph and talk to her." She said as he laughed shaking his head.
"Alright sugarcube, I'll bring her by if she ain't busy." He smiled as she beamed at him.
"Thanks big brother."
(End Flashback)
"Big Mac." She whispered getting a squeeze from him and felt him nod.
"It's good to have you back Applejack." He said trying to keep his emotions in but was failing miserably.
"Is that my name? Applejack?" She asked as they both stared at her confused.
"Of course it is sugarcube. Why would you ask that? And why are you talkin funny?" He asked pulling back to look at her spotting the scar on her face making his eyes widen.
"AJ what happened?" He said cupping her face.
"Don't worry about it. It's not important." She said.
"Commander?" She looked over to see Mihail and Artyom looking at her with worry.
"Sorry everyone." She said pulling back from the two and stood up.
"Twilight, where is Discord?" She asked slipping on the commanders mask.
"Um he's in the gardens serving his time in stone." She stated getting nod from her.
"I must speak to him and get home. My soldiers are eager to return home to their families." She said with a unreadable expression on her face.
"It's going to take some time and I need you to come with me to Canterlot." She said getting a nod as they turned to see a crowd of ponies walking towards them.
"Commander. Our orders?" Mihail asked bringing his weapon up along with Artyom.
"Stand down. They are no threat." She said watching them for any weapons.
"Big sis?" She looked over to see the teen looking at her with worry.
"Artyom, gather our forces and have them come to the town. I want a security detail around the town. I also want Nikolai get stock on our supplies. Mihail get your company ready, you will be my escort." She said getting a salute as he began to relay his orders to the others.
"What about me captain?" Artyom asked.
"Get you soldiers and have them help Nikolai secure anything we need." She said getting a nod from them.
"Roger that." He said as she waved her hoof at them.
"Go, you're dismissed." She said as they gave a salute before heading to carry out her orders.
"Applejack? What's going on? What are those things?" Applebloom asked.
"They are my soldiers and under my command." She said as they blinked.
"What? Since when did you join the military?" Big Mac asked confused.
"Since I woke up in a hospital with no memory or past. I found a new family that accepted me with open arms when I was but a ward of the state. I gave my everything to cause and for the motherland. If you think putting these memories in my head and having these ponies act like my family and some long lost kin will make me believe that these are my brother and sister you are sadly mistaken." She growled and rounded on Twilight.
"Take me to this Canterlot so I can go home. I have a country to defend." She said as they all looked at her shocked while she turned to Savva.
"I want you to come with me Savva." She said passing them and heading back to her soldiers as the first tank rounded the corner and disappeared heading towards the fields followed by a few other vehicles before one came up the road towards them.
The group shuffled back as he came closer till it stopped in front of them as two raised up towards the sky.
"Lets go. Get this thing ready Sasha." They heard from the inside as four of the ape things scrambled out.
"What are you doing?" Twilight asked as one turned to her a little shocked that he could understand her.
"Setting up defences for the town." He said before getting everything ready.
"What are your orders?" She asked making him turn to her.
"Are you Twilight Sparkle?" He asked as she nodded.
"To defend the town from any airborne targets that aren't ponies." He said getting a nod from her.
"I see."
"Twilight? What's going on? Where did my sister go?" Applebloom asked as the princess looked back at her.
"She's getting her forces to set up protection around the town until she can meet with princess Celestia about getting her soldiers back home. Don't worry AB maybe the princess can see about finding a way to help AJ." She said getting a nod from the teen.
"We'll get her back sugarcube." Big Mac said looking down the road to see Applejack talking to some of those apes.
"I hope so." Applebloom said.
(Hours later with AJ and Savva)
AJ sat outside on a hill while the wolf laid beside her.
"So do you believe that this is your home now?" He asked as she sighed.
"I don't know Savva, I have all these memories and feelings going around in my head. I don't know what to think." She said as he put a paw on her shoulder.
"It's gonna be fine AJ. But what if it's true?" He asked as she looked over at him and then back into the sky.
"I don't know Savva. If it's true I want to get it from this Discord that supposedly sent me to the human world." She said as he nodded.
"And the family that hugged you?"
"I'll want to connect with them. I want to know about my past and where my parents are." She said getting a nod from him.
"So you'll stay?" He asked as she nodded missing the small smile on his face.
" I wonder what life will be like here? I've gone from one battlefield to another most of my life after I was given citizenship and then joined the reformed Soviet Army and then the Spetsnaz. All my life I've been fighting one battle or another either mentally or physically." She said looking up at the darkening sky.
"What was it like? Not knowing your past I mean." He said.
"It was hard at first, I want to every doctor there was and even went to some questionable people to see if I could unlock my past but no matter what nothing helped."
"Why's that?"
"They couldn't find what was wrong with me no reason why I had amnesia. I had no injuries besides the few scrapes and bruises from where ever I fell from. If Discord is the one who sent me there, I want to know why and also thank him. I learned a lot while I was there." She smiled as she pulled out some kind of square thing from her vest.
"I will miss having cell reception though." She grinned as he looked confused.
"What is that?"
"It's a cell phone, we use it to call loved ones and friends. Well the only thing this is good for now it music." She smiled at the confused look on his face as he stared at.
"How does that tiny thing have music on it?"
"Easy, I downloaded it from the net."
"What's the net?"
"The internet? You don't have that here? I saw those machines and mining equipment when we came into your village. But now that I think about it they looked really old, like back in the 1950's era type of excavators. Hm. But anyway the internet is like a social network where you can do just about anything!" She smiled.
"Anything?"
"Just about. You can shop, talk to people from around the globe, do business and tons of other things. I'm sure our world wouldn't really know what to do if we lost the internet for a while. It just makes things a lot more easier." She said flipping through her phone.
"What are you doing?"
"Looking for a song."
"Oh?"
"Da. I have over 4000 songs on here. Oh here we go." She smiled singing with the artist.
(Katyusha)
"Apple trees and pear trees went into blooming,
River mists began a floating flow,
She came out and went ashore, Katyusha!
On the lofty bank, on the steeply shore.
She came out and sang she song about
Her young friend, the bluish eagle from steppe
All about the one she dearly loved,
The one whose letters she treasured and kept.
Hey, a song, the song of the young girl,
Fly and go after the bright Sun,
Find a soldier on the distant borderlands
Say hello from Katya waiting long for him.
Let him remember the young and simple maiden,
Let him hear the song she now sings,
Let him protect his Motherland for sure,
And their love Katyusha will protect."
She smiled as the song came to an end and looked over at the stunned face of Savva. She cocked her head and smiled at little.
"What? Is something on my face?" She asked while he smiled and shook his head.
"No, you have a beautiful singing voice. Katyusha." He smiled as she blushed.
"I'm anything but pure." She sighed looking away.
"Maybe but you are a little one." He laughed as she puffed her cheeks out blushing harder.
"I AM NOT!"
"Compared to me you are."
"EVERYONE IS SMALL COMPARED TO YOU!" She yelled as his laughter filled the air.
In a patch of bushes Applebloom looked on with worry.
"Twi ain't gonna like this." She mumbled as she continued to watch as her sister laughed with the strange wolf as some strange music continued to play.
(Next day)
That morning Twilight was looking all over the place for Applejack. She had asked everypony around before she sighed and decided to take flight and see if she could spot her from the air.
'Where could she be? None of her soldiers would say and nopony else has seen her.' She thought while she flew over the apple farm spotting that wolf that left last night with Applejack carrying apples.
'What in the world?' She banked right and dived towards the ground before coming to a stop near the house.
"Hey Twilight." She turned to see Applebloom carrying some apples towards the cellar.
"Hey AB, have you seen AJ?" She asked as the teen nodded with a smile.
"Yeah, she's in the west field helping Big Mac." She said getting a excited look from Twilight.
"So she remembers?!" She asked as AB shook her head.
"I don't really think so, if she does she don't believe that her memories are her own till she can talk to Discord. Did you send that letter to the princess?"
"Yes I had Spike send it last night. I went to see if I could talk to Applejack about some things but I couldn't find her anywhere." She sighed as Applebloom schooled herself.
"Oh, well I don't know she went either. She came by here this morning and asked if we needed help on the farm. The wolf, Savva offered to help to so we put them to work." She shrugged getting a nod from Twilight.
"Ok well I need to talk to her about her soldiers." She said.
"It's weird seeing her in charge of those things." AB said before continuing on her way to the cellar.
Twilight made her way over to the west fields where she saw Big Mac carrying some apples towards her.
"Mornin sugarcube. What are you doin over here this early?"
"Just came by to talk to AJ about her troops and what we can do with them."
"Ah well she's in the back rows finishin up. She's a lot faster at this then I remember." He said before going on his way.
Twilight walked through the trees with a smile on her face remembering her times here with Applejack just spending time together. She blushed a little spotting the mare who had her short mane in a bun as she slammed her hooves into one the trees.
"Applejack." Twilight called to her as the mare turned back and nodded to her trotting up to her.
"Hello princess." She said huffing a bit from the days work.
"Hey AJ, listen I need to talk to you about your soldiers." She said getting a nod from the mare as she took off her uniform top showing a stripped blue and white shirt under it.
"Did something happen?" She asked going over to a cup of water and poured it over her head letting out a sigh.
"Been a while since I worked a farm, now what is it you wanted to talk about with my troops?" She asked and looked over at the blushing face of Twilight.
"Princess?"
"......"
"Princess Twilight."
"........"
"TWILIGHT!!!"
"Wow."
"What?"
"Nothing. Anyway I wanted to ask you about your supplies and such for your troops." She said as AJ grunted.
"We need fuel and we're running out of food, and I can tell you that stuff you guys had isn't going to work. Humans don't eat hay. We need meat and vegetables, we can't survive on greens forever." She said as Twilight blinked.
"So your omnivores?"
"Yes. I can understand if you are uncomfortable with it being herbivores and all. But the fact is unless you have some meat then we'll have to hunt." She said sitting down to rest easier while Twilight was in thought.
"I see, well we have a few griffons here in town so I can ask them where they get their meat from and charge the treasury for payment to outfit your soldiers to keep them fed." She looked over at Applejack who nodded.
"Ok, well that solves that problem. Anything else?" She asked getting back up and heading back to work missing Twilight's wince.
"Um no. Do you need any help before I head back to get things in order?" She asked as AJ turned back looking her over.
"Take care of the men first and if I'm not done by the time you are come back. We still have six rows to do." She said getting a smile from the mare as she shot into the sky.
"What is it about that mare that makes me feel all weird." She said to herself watching the mare disappear behind the trees.
A few hours later Applejack sat down to rest on the last of the rows of trees just as Twilight landed.
"Sorry it took so long Applejack, but everythings been taken care of." She said as AJ smiled over at her.
"Thanks. I'm sure my men really appreciate it." She said getting a smile from Twilight.
"Well I still need some help so if you want to help go ahead and find you a tree." She said while Twilight gave a big smile.
"Ok!"
By the time they were done it was almost time for lunch.
"Commander!" AJ looked up to see Mihail walking up to her.
"Hey Misha." AJ smiled while he groaned.
"Oh come on captain, you're not gonna start that again are you?" He asked running his hand through his hair as she just grinned.
"Misha? I thought his name is Mihail?" Twilight asked as the man groaned.
"It's a pet name for me that she's given me a while back when we were still junior spetsnaz." He sighed as AJ grinned wider.
"Anyway what do you need Mihail?" AJ asked.
"Ma'am there's a Princess Celestia that arrived here earlier and wants to speak with you along with a Princess Luna." He said getting a nod from her.
"Very well, finally we're getting somewhere. Lets go Mihail." She stated grabbing her top and rifle before following Mihail grabbing Savva along the way.
'I wonder what they're going to say to me about their pitiful soldiers that we wiped out.' AJ thought.