Chapter 10

“A thousand years without war.” Patton sipped from his mug of apple cider. “That definitely is enough time for a nation to become complacent and weak. Your highness, you summoned the right son of a bitch to get the job done.”

Celestia nodded in agreement though she didn't like how he used the word “weak” to describe her nation. But she wasn't going to deny that it was true.

“So do we have an agreement?” Celestia asked eagerly.

“If you promise that we will be sent back to our world at the moment we left. Then we do,” Patton replied with a wide grin.

Ian, who had been silently watching Frederic for most of the conversation, interjected.

“What about the others?”

“Go round them up,” Patton ordered. “I will tell them about the change in plans.”

Ian saluted. “Yes sir.”

“I vill go with him to retrieve my men,” Frederic said and Patton nodded.

The two tank commanders stood and prepared to leave.

“Ring Mail,” Celestia said to one of her guards. “Go with the two humans and retrieve Twilight and her friends.”

The young pegasus looked startled that he was being picked to travel with the humans. The older unicorn guard raised a questioning brow.

“Wouldn't it be better if I went instead?”

“Ring Mail will be alright.” Celestia smiled reassuringly. “The humans mean no harm.”

“That one named Bill seemed to wish a lot of harm,” he continued. “I think you should have me go instead.”

“I think it is time for lesson number one in military doctrine and procedure,” Patton groaned, glaring at the unicorn. “Do not question your superiors. Even if the things they are asking of you could result in your death.”

The unicorn opened his mouth to retort but Celestia stopped him.

“Captain Stonetower,” Celestia said harshly. “I chose Ring Mail and that decision is final.”

“Yes ma’am,” Stonetower snapped at attention and fell silent.

Frederic, Ian and Ring Mail took their leave and left Patton, Celestia, Luna and Stonetower alone. Eager for more conversation and information from the ponies Patton asked a question that had been bouncing around his mind ever since they found Rainbow Dash.

“I can't help but wonder, but why does every pony I see have a strange picture on their flanks?”

Luna decided to answer. “They are what we call cutie marks. They represent our personal talent.”

Patton looked at the Princesses marks intently. “If they reflect your skills then why do you have a sun and you a moon instead of a crown, throne or some other image relating to royalty?”

Celestia smiled, “I raise the sun and my sister raises the moon.”

Patton raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

“It is true,” Celestia said, noticing his doubt. “My sister and I have the power to move the sun and moon.”

“The Cherokee believed they could summon their ancestors to adjust the weather but that didn't mean that it was ultimately true,” said Patton doubtfully.

“Someday I will show you that our powers are not figments of your imaginations.” Celestia smiled. “How does the sun rise in your world?”

“And what is a Cherokee?” Luna included.

“Our world, Earth, orbits around the sun.” Patton stood and headed into the kitchen to refill his mug as he continued. “The Cherokee were a Native American tribe.”

The princesses looked at him, a tinge of confusion played across their faces.

“Someday I will tell you about my world.” Patton returned and took a long sip before sitting back down.

“That would be a lovely treat,” Celestia nodded. “Why not tell me about it now, untill your men return?”

Patton shrugged. “Very well. Where should I start?”

“Just start from the beginning of your kind’s existence and go from there.”

“That will be a long story.” Patton chuckled. “But I have nothing better to talk about as of now.”

He was reaching the rise of the first empires and major nations when there was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Celestia called, still thinking about the information Patton had been telling her.

The door opened and Ring Mail entered.

“The humans and five elements are all accounted for in the yard.”

“Thank you,” the elder sister replied. “Go wake Rainbowdash and help her outside.”

Patton pondered the use of the word elements to describe the five ponies. The word gave them a sort of militaristic feel. Outside he could hear the Americans arguing.

“If you have such a weak stomach then why did you eat so much food at the party!” Ian groaned loudly.

“Because it's so tasty!”

“God damn- Matt you are an idiot.”

“Hey, at least I threw up on the road and not on you!”

“The vomit just kept coming and coming! I didn't think it would ever stop streaming from your mouth.” Zeus laughed.

“That was pretty amazing!” Matt laughed in return.

Patton chuckled, stood and followed the princesses out of the building. The humans and ponies were spread out in three groups. The Americans lingered by the barn, the Germans talked among themselves by their tank and the ponies stood outside the door waiting anxiously. Patton didn't see Bill as he stepped into the fading sunlight. He motioned for the nearest American to come closer.

Matt jogged up to the General and saluted. “Yes sir?”

“Go wake Bill.”

Matt’s face fell and a look of horror filled his eyes.

“Can, can I take Fishy with me?”

Patton nodded and the loader hurried away. When Matt and Jeff entered the barn they automatically knew Bill was awake. The smell of cigarette smoke lay thick in the air.

“Bill?” Matt hissed fearfully. “Bill!”

“The fuck do you want?” Bill demanded flatly as he stepped around a stall door, puffing on his last cigarette.

“Uh, Patton wants us in the yard.”

Matt expected some form of hostile reaction but all Bill did was shrug.

“Sure,” Bill extinguished the cigarette in a trough of water. “Just get me more cigarettes and I’ll promise that I won't react badly to the unholy horses.”

“Deal,” Matt rushed out of the barn followed shortly by his companions.

When he stepped outside the humans and ponies turned and watched him nervously. Bill raised his hands in defense.

“I promised to remain calm and civil,” he smiled. “As long as there is a steady stream of cigarettes and access to alcohol in the future.”

Patton huffed angrily then noticed three small fillies trotting up the road towards the house. Applejack and Rarity noticed them too and she galloped out to meet them.

“What in tarnation are you gals doin’ here?”

“Ah live here!” Applebloom said smartly.

“And we wanted to hear more of the funny stories Matt has to tell!” Scootaloo chimed.

“And we want to meet the others too!” Sweetie Belle peered past Applejack towards the humans.

Applejack sighed. “Fine, you can come to the house. Just stay out of the way.”

“Yay!” The three fillies cheered.

Everyone stood waiting for the two remaining individuals to arrive so the princesses and Patton could start with their announcement. Rainbow Dash was the first one to arrive looking excited for anything other than laying in bed.

“Hey guys!” She called happily as she was helped out of the house by Ring Mail. “What did I miss?”

“A party!” Pinkie sang.

Dash’s smile disappeared and she found herself disliking Matt even more. Matt returned a few minutes later carrying a bottle.

“I didn’t know we had any of the soda you stole from that British convoy left,” Zeus exclaimed.

“I have quite a bit of stuff hidden away throughout the tank that you don’t know about.”

“What is that?” Twilight asked.

“Root beer! Want some?” Matt popped the cap off and held the glass bottle towards the unicorn. “Though it is called beer, it isn’t alcohol.”

Twilight shrugged and magically took the bottle from Matt who quickly pulled a second drink from his coat. Immediately after taking a sip Twilight squealed with joy.

“This stuff is amazing!” She took another sip, savoring the flavor.

Matt smiled and took a drink from his.

“Ponies and humans,” Princess Celestia began to say, her regal voice snapping all eyes to her. “I have much to tell you and from the looks in your eyes you have many questions. Indeed there is the prospects of war looming over our nation and I do not believe we are prepared to defend ourselves. That is why I called the humans here. Their race has much experience with war and how to wage one. From what we know, our enemy is an alliance of many races but they do not seem to be funded by their home nations. Some other power leads them and drives them to our borders in preparation to destroy us. The necessity of having the humans assist us is great. I will now allow General Patton to speak.”

Patton nodded and stepped forward. “Men! I have decided to stay here and assist the Equestrians with their war. Me and Lieutenant Ian have also decided that all of you will be staying as well.” There was an angry sigh from Bill as the General continued. “The Germans have yet to make up their minds on the matter and I will be allowing Frederic to speak when I am finished. The Princess tells me that she has the ability to send us back to our world and it will be as if nothing even happened. We will arrive back at our world at roughly the same time we left so we can get back to our own war. We will be leaving for the pony capitol, Canterlot, tomorrow morning to assist in the training and preparations of the defense of Equestria. I do not think we will be fighting in the war but that has yet to be finalized. The tank will be taken into the barn a kept safe under the watchful eyes of the Apple family. When the war is over you will each receive three bars of gold and a medal as a reward that you can take back with you to Earth. ”

Patton stopped and looked at the Americans. Some of them looked happy to be staying here, away from the more terrible war they had been fighting days earlier but Bill looked like he wanted to kill someone. Though at the mention of a gold bar he did look more interested.

Patton continued. “We will be staying for the entire war and I do not know when it will be over. But, with our assistance we will drag it to a swift victory.”

Patton motioned for Frederic to step forward. The German stepped in front and made his announcement.

“After much talk ve have decided that ve vill be staying as vell,” He said said slowly, as if he didnt believe what he was saying. “The Princess has promised us a fourth gold bar. Ve vere unintentionally dragged here along vis the Americans and for that I asked for more compensation.”

Frederic returned to his men and Celestia spoke again.

“As General Patton has said we will be leaving tomorrow morning for Canterlot. Every pony and human should get their rest, we have a long day ahead of us.”

Matt turned to Zeus. “Three gold bars! My ma' is never going to believe this!”

Bill walked past on his way to get more cigarettes from the tank. “Sure, three gold bars as a prize for being good humans that we can sell in our world for money and comfort. That is if we live long enough to go back.”

They disgusted him. The scum of every nation and race he could gather into his army camped out before him. Minotaurs, griffons, diamond dogs, a few dragons, and even an exiled tribe of zebras spread through the desert wilderness. He had promised them so much. A new country for their own. Plenty of land and pony slaves to do their bidding and to be their food. Being a pony himself though raised some questions. Why would he betray his kind?

The answer was easy. The promise of becoming more than just a pony.

Penitent Razor shook his head in disbelief at the size of the army. Penitent Razor hadn't been his true name but one does not gather an army by being named Glimmer Eyes. The army he had gathered was terrifying. He had no idea that there were so many cruel and dark hearted creatures in this world. Back when he was a foal he thought the world was a place empty of evil. Back before he learned the truth about the cruel and dark tendencies of the world outside of equestria. Before he learned of the crimes committed by the Royal Sisters thousands of years ago.

But enough reminiscing of the past, there was a war to wage and Penitent swore he would not stop until the bodies of the sisters lay at his hooves, and his master sat on his rightful throne.

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I do not own MLP:FiM. This story is getting good! Sorry it took me longer than usual.