Chapter 11

Day Three

“Wake the fuck up lads!” Ian hollered into the barn.

The Americans shot up and looked around at their dimly lit surroundings.

“What time is it?” Matt groaned.

“Five past four.” Ian helped Jeff to his feet then moved on to Zeus. “We will be boarding a train in Ponyville in three hours.”

“Three hours?” Matt rubbed his eyes and looked at the Lieutenant questioningly. “Why did we wake up so early if we don’t have to be at the town in three hours?”

“Training,” Ian sighed. “Patton wants us to hone our skills and start acting like a real tank crew. Or what he said, I finely oiled killing machine.”

“Fuck,” Matt and Zeus hissed simultaneously.

“Starting now we are to clean our uniforms, polish our boots and wipe our asses.”

“Could you wipe my ass for me Momma?” Matt asked jokingly.

“And smart ass remarks like that will have to stop when we are around Patton and the pony royalty. Understand?”

The other Americans nodded and shrugged.

“Do I make myself clear?” Ian snapped, slightly irritated in his men’s behavior.

“Yes sir!” They replied as one.

“The Germans are already awake and by their tank. We are to join them in exactly one hour for exercises. If we are going to be working together then we better start getting along. But it doesn’t mean we have to become friends. We are still at war, just not right now. We might have to kill them when we get back.”

“I have a question sir,” Matt raised his hand and Ian rolled his eyes.

“Yes?”

“Can I still be a smart ass when Patton and the princesses aren’t around?”

Ian glared at the loader before replying. “Sure.”

“Hoorah!”

“Everybody get ready.” Ian headed back out of the barn. “I will be inside the house eating breakfast with Patton and the ponies, and getting some sleep.”

“What do we get to eat?”

“You have K rations right?” Ian chuckled then disappeared into the darkness outside the barn.

“I am going back to sleep,” Matt yawned.

“No,” Zeus growled. “You will be cleaning our uniforms for us.”

“Not this again!” Matt cried. “When we all first met you guys, you instantly made me the work boy!”

“You still are the work boy!” Zeus tussled Matt’s hair. Then in his best Irish accent. “As our lovely Lieutenant would say. Get to work lad or the bad fairies will haunt you forever and you will be forced to clean their knickers.”

“I don’t think Momma would say that,” Matt said quietly. His usual joking mood gone. “And you only hear his Irish accent when he is angry or yelling.”

“Just clean our stuff and get us some K rations from the tank.” Zeus shook his head, annoyed.

“And get us some cigarettes,” Bill put in.

Matt grabbed his jacket and stomped out of the barn. When he stepped into the cool morning air he relaxed. But only momentarily.

“Hello American.”

Matt turned and noticed Frederic relieving himself by the barn.

“Oh,” Matt said flatly. “Hello Freddy.”

“Do not call me Freddy,” the German said, fastening his pants.

“Whatever you say Fred.” Matt walked away as Frederic contemplated the easiest way to kill the American when the appropriate time arose.

Luna watched the humans from the guest bedroom window. She had elected to stay while her sister prepared Canterlot and the royal guard for the humans’ arrival. Having raised the waxing moon just hours before, she now sat on her bed talking to the only pony at the house other than her four guards and the Apple family.

“The Doc says that I will be almost good as new in a week or two,” Rainbow Dash was saying. “But I still don’t intend on forgiving the one named Matt.”

“He seems to be sorry for doing it,” Luna said quietly. “Mend past hurts so new ones don't arise.”

Dash shrugged. “I guess so.”

Luna smiled then turned her attention back to the humans talking by the barn. She found the bipeds quite interesting. The fact that they were such a disharmonious group yet seem to work together so fluidly boggled her mind. One second they could be threatening to kill each other then moments later they are working together to build a shelter for their war machines because the barn turned out to be too small.

“Uh Princess?”

Luna turned and faced rainbow Dash. “Yes?”

“Is- is the enemy Equestria facing really as terrible as Celestia says it is?”

“We think so.”

“What is going to happen if we can’t stop them? Whoever they are.”

Luna smiled, “we are going to stop them, do not fret about that.”

The Princess mentally berated herself. She was starting to sound like her sister and though her sister was the most loving and caring pony she knew. But being too much like her was not a good thing in Luna’s eyes.

Luna noticed that Dash was on the verge of asking another question but couldn't bring herself to say it.

“Is there something else you want to say?”

“Uh,” Dash began slowly. “if we have allies, like the griffins and zebras, then why did you go through all that trouble to bring a small group of apes from another world?”

Luna was about to give another dismissive reply that would keep the pegasus worry free and happy but she decided that would have been something that her sister would have done.

“Because,” Luna said reluctantly. “They refused to help us.”

Rainbow Dash’s mouth dropped. “All of them said they wouldn't help us? Why?”

“In truth we don’t know. But from what we learned they were being held back because something or someone was preventing them.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Neither do we,” Luna said sadly.

Downstairs they heard the door open and human footsteps walk in. Then moments later they hurried out. Luna looked out and saw Matt and Zeus pass by her window carrying an ill-gotten barrel of cider. Luna shook her head and chuckled.

Outside Bill was talking to Zeus next to the recently swiped cider.

“What I need next is some yeast,” Bill said patting the barrel. “I would prefer brewing yeast but bread yeast will work fine enough I guess. And while you are out, get me some honey.”

“Sounds easy enough,” Zeus looked longingly at the cider. “How long will this take?”

“Around nine weeks if we want it to be good.”

“Nine weeks.” The gunner sighed. “Well, I will be back before the sun rises.”

Zeus rushed off, tucking his hands into his pockets to protect them from the cool air. While he was gone the rest of the Americans retrieved their K rations from their tank, gave the Germans a share and situated themselves around the yard. Zeus returned with Bill’s ingredients just as they were getting ready to begin their exercises. Applejack and Rainbow Dash watched them from the front porch as they did pushups, ran laps around the yard and other types of physical activities for an hour. All of which the Germans outperformed their American counterparts. They were finishing up when Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Spike arrived.

“God damn, I feel like an infantryman again,” Bill groaned loudly as he drank from a canteen.

“I hate Patton even more now,” Matt gasped for air. He then noticed Patton watching them in through a window, eyes locked on Matt. The loader guessed that Patton had heard him and he saluted nervously. Patton just nodded passively in return.

“You Americans are out of shape,” Frederic laughed. “Now I feel more confident if I ever need to fight one of you vis my hands.”

“Fuck you,” Bill growled through several gasps of air.

Frederic laughed and walked away, followed by his men. Ian and Patton walked out of the house.

“Clean your uniforms men,” Patton said. “We are leaving soon.”

“Yes sir,” the five lower ranking tankers replied.

Patton went for a walk with Luna and her guards to pass the time. As they disappeared into the apple trees everyone turned to Matt.

“So we all agree that Shelly is cleaning our uniforms?” Ian smiled.

“Yes sir,” Zeus laughed.

“Fuck you guys!” Matt cried.

Fishy ended up helping Matt clean the uniforms while the others helped Bill with the barrel of future hard cider with the ponies watching. The Germans observed from a distance as they cleaned their uniforms.

“Did ya ask to have that barrel of cider?” Applejack inquired.

“Yes,” Zeus replied hesitantly.

“Who did ya ask?”

“I asked the pony with an apple on her ass,” Matt yelled from across the yard and the other Americans chuckled.

Applejack decided to cease with the questions.

Patton returned just as Matt finished up polishing his own boots.

“Alright men,” Patton said happily. He appeared to have enjoyed his conversation with the Princess. “Get your things together and prepare to march to the train station.”

“Did he just say march?” Matt asked Zeus quietly.

The Americans saluted the General and packed anything they believe they needed for the trip. They then formed a double file line on the road, Americans on the right and Germans on the left led by Luna and Patton and followed by the ponies. Matt noticed rainbow Dash limping along.

“Your walking!” Matt exclaimed. “How the heck?”

“My leg is mostly healed up,” She smiled half heartedly.

“But it has only been a few days!”

“We heal quickly,” Dash shrugged.

As they entered Ponyville, ponies stopped to watch them pass in the growing sunlight. To them, they were a mismatched parade of royalty, heroes and otherworldly beings. Luna looked at the curious faces of the ponies and felt a pang of guilt that she could not tell them the true reason the humans were in Equestria. Panic was an all too common reaction. They reached the train station with an entourage of curious ponies close behind.

“Why pink!” Bill groaned when he saw the train. “Why a pink, colorful train?”

“Why not?” Pinkie Pie laughed as she passed him and entered the train first.

They took their seats and as the train lurched forward Ian turned to Patton.

“Sir,” he whispered. “When do we get our guns back?”

“Hopefully soon,” Patton replied. “But I do not know where they are holding them. And they better not have damaged my babies.”

“Also,” Ian continued. “How do you expect to train an entire army of ponies?”

“The same way you were trained.” Patton smiled. “Make them fear me, hate me then I will turn all that hate on their enemies. The pony commanders will do the rest.”

Ian nodded his head in agreement. He did hate the General but it was a type of hate that made you like the guy.

“Is that Canterlot?” Matt exclaimed, pointing at the distant towers and walls set against the mountain side. “I thought that was just part of the mountain!”

“That is Canterlot,” Twilight replied. “Most wonderful city in the world.”

“It’s on a cliff!” Zeus said nervously.

“Zeus has a fear of heights,” Matt stated.

“Comes from his time in the Navy when he had to climb up the mast thing and sit in a box all day,” Ian chimed in.

“No,” Zeus growled. “My fear of height arose when you guys locked me in some old British farmer’s outhouse then called in a crane and lifted me nearly fifty feet in the air!”

“And then we blamed it on Shelly,” Bill chuckled.

“And Zeus tried to kill me with a shovel,” Matt laughed, elbowing an annoyed Zachariah.

“We almost let him too,” Ian pulled a Hershey’s chocolate bar from his jacket and started to chew on it all the while reminiscing.

Patton shook his head, stifling a chuckle. He then turned his attention to the Germans who sat uncomfortably in the back.

“Do you have any stories that you find humorous?”

“There vas this one,” Frederic began with a smile. “Ven I first took command of the my Panzer. Ve were training and Benjamin vent out into the range to chase a donkey out of the vay. Felix decided that he needed help so he fired a shell over Benjamins head, in an attempt to scare the donkey avay. The animal instead turned on Benjamin and chased him around the range all the while screaming for his mother. Felix stood up in the tank and called out. Benjamin, all the beast vants is to get some romance on an equally beautiful ass!”

Everyone except the ponies started laughing.

“I don’t get what's so funny.” Twilight rubbed her head in confusion. The other ponies looked equally puzzled. Except for Luna.

The Princess shook her head, remembering a joke she heard many years ago. From a time when the world was less propper and civil.

“We will be arriving in Canterlot in five minutes!” Called the conductor.

They peered at the imposing city and palace as the train drew near. While everyone was distracted Zeus leaned over to Bill.

“Where did you put the cider?”

“Under a large pile of hay.”

Fifty royal guards stood at attentions as the train pulled up with Celestia at the center. They filed out of the train and Patton and the Americans saluted the Princess.

“Welcome to Canterlot,” Celestia greeted. “I am sorry that we do not have time for a tour because of more pressing matters to attend to.”

“Show me to your army Ma’am,” the General said politely as he followed the Princesses toward the Palace. The guards, humans and other ponies followed behind.

They entered a wide garden courtyard filled with roughly two-hundred pegasi and unicorn guards.

“Before you stands the First Royal Guard,” Celestia beamed. “The Second and Third Guards are stationed at Appleloosa.”

“Are they about the same size as this regiment?” Patton asked as he paced in front of the warrior ponies.

“If by regiment you mean every group of two-hundred soldiers. Yes,” Celestia replied. “Each one of these soldiers comes from very prominent families of warrior ponies.”

“Like the Roman Praetorians?” Jeff asked.

Celestia tilted her head, puzzled.

“The Praetorians were highly trained bodyguards and soldiers of the Roman Empire usually recruited from powerful nobles.”

“Yes,” Celestia replied.

“That explains why they look so much alike and why there are so few,” Patton observed as he paused before the only different looking pony. A unicorn in decorated armor. “Are you the commanding officer of this regiment?”

“Yes sir I am,” the unicorn replied. “My name is Captain Shining Armor.”

“Hello brother!” Twilight called.

Shining waved in reply. Patton turned to the Princess.

“You need to recruit more ponies into your army,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Already preparing to do that.” Celestia nodded. “We are making an announcement in half an hour explaining the looming war, your role here and a call for volunteers. It will be sent out to every city and town.”

“Very good.” Patton turned to the other humans. “Ian and Jeff, you are with me. You two seem to be the most intelligent of the group. The rest of my men get acquainted with the pony soldiers while we are away preparing the announcement. When I return I want a full overview of their training and military ability. Frederic, you can do what you wish.”

“My men vill stay here and I vill come vis you,” Frederic replied.

Celestia, Luna and the humans walked into the palace as the rest of them remained outside. Zeus took command of the situation and started asking Shining Armor questions with Twilight at his side.

“What is the fighting style of your men- ponies?”

“Spears,” Shining replied. “And magic. The pegasi act as lancers while the unicorns back them up and provide magical support.”

“Uh,” Zeus scratched his head. “What does magic suport look like?”

“We send long range spells towards the enemy lines.”

“Can I see a demonstration?”

Shining nodded then aimed his horn at one of his soldiers who was preparing a protective bubble. He fired a bolt of fiery pink energy at the shield and it shattered into many pieces before disintegrating.

“Alrighty then.” The American had no idea what kinds of questions to ask. “Can I see your armory?”

“Sure,” the Captain replied as he turned and walked away with Zeus and Twilight in tow.

Inside a thick walled building Zeus looked around at the pitiful selection of pony weapons. A large assortment of spears lined the walls and on the ground sat five small, rusty cannons. In the back sat an old sleeping pony next to what seemed to be a dusty and cluttered forge and foundry.

“Is this everything?”

“Yes,” Shining replied.

“Is this equal to the weapons of your enemies?”

The pony captain shrugged. “We don’t know. But we can presume that their weapons technology is far greater because they come from more violent places.”

“A tiny army with tiny weapons.” Zeus shook his head. “From what I have seen so far, you guys are doomed.”

“I don’t think so,” Shining stated as he hugged his nervous sister. “We have a secret weapon on our side.”

“Can I see this secret weapon?” Zeus asked, his curiosity peaked.

“You are looking at one of them,” the stallion replied as he squeezed Twilight harder.

Patton stood next to his men, the Princesses, and the six ponies that he had come to learn were a type of weapon called the Elements of Harmony. Below them gathered a large mass of ponies who looked up at them with curious eyes. Next to them a pony jotted down every word that would be spoken so that it could be sent off to other cities.

“My faithfull subjects,” Celestia began. “I stand before you now with terrible news. An enemy stands on the borders of our lands with the intent to destroy Equestria.”

The was a murmur of fear and confusion from the crowd as Celestia continued.

“Our allies have refused to help us and the only assistance I could find was from these beings you see next to me. They are called humans and they are experienced in the waging of war. If we follow their example then we will have a fighting chance. General Patton, would you like to speak?”

Patton nodded and stepped forward. He looked at the ponies and prepared to say the most courage inspiring speech he could think of.

“Ponies of Equestria, I am General George S. Patton of the United States Third Army. Your country stands now on the brink of destruction. Your enemy will not hesitate to destroy everything you hold dear. But the fear I see in your eyes though is the greatest enemy you have. If you overcome your fear you will in turn inspire fear in your enemy’s hearts and you will prevail! Me and my men will work with your army to train you into the most skilled and deadly fighting force on this world. You will protect the land you love and you will be victorious!”

There was a loud murmur from the crowd of ponies as they processed the information they were just told.

Celestia spoke again. “I ask everypony above the age of sixteen and under the age of sixty healthy enough to join to please do so. To join please stop by the local town hall and speak to the military representative. I want the factories and workshops that develop trains, machinery and other metal related products to switch at least half of their production to the war effort. A military representative will be sent to your company to oversee the production. A document with more information will be sent to every city and pamphlets will be in everypony’s mailbox. The future of Equestria is uncertain and your help is greatly needed! Without it I fear we won’t-”

“Your Highness!” A pony yelled from the crowd. The other ponies parted revealing a bruised and bloody pegasus soldier.

“What happened?” Celestia sounded horrified.

“Appleloosa has fallen,” he wobbled unsteadily and gasped for breath. “And the Second and Third Guards have been destroyed!”

He slumped heavily to the ground as his helmet clattered across the cobblestone.

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What a very long chapter. Please leave a comment and If you see any mistakes of any kind please tell me. I feel like I forgot something but I just don't know what!