Chapter 21

Day 16

Graves. Never before had she seen so many in one place. Rose’s eyes slowly looked over them as she sat on a bench in the old Ponyville park. Though, it was no longer the joyful place it once was. Far from it. Now it was the largest military cemetery in Equestria and somewhere in its rows of hastily constructed markers was the mass grave filled with the dismembered remains of her parents along with the other torn bodies of those destroyed in the blast. The grave contained not only the crew of the train but what little remained of the bodies of both the ponies and enemy soldiers pulverised in the explosion. Rose still tried to forget the image of the limbs and body parts being scooped up in shovels like so many pieces of dirt.

If Rose hadn't been crying so hard, she would have gotten sick.

“It reminds me of Arlington.”

Rose lifted her head just as all the humans, including their leader Patton, the Elements of Harmony and the Princesses passed her.

“Arlington?” Celestia asked in a voice weary with sadness.

Patton sighed, appearing to be equally mournful. “During the American Civil War the United States requisitioned the house of Robert E Lee, the General of the enemy army, and turned it into a military cemetery. Many soldiers that have died during that war and since then have been buried there. Its quite larger than this with the headstones stretching as far as the eyes can see.”

Celestia looked over the grave covered fields, trying to imagine one even larger. Her mood had been increasingly sorrowful when they had arrived at Ponyville that morning. The name of Robert E. Lee though tugged at her memories but she remained quiet.

“All Europe is now a grave.” Frederic said absentmindedly.

Patton looked at him and nodded his head. “That it is.”

“How do you humans stand it?” Twilight asked.

“Stand what?” the General turned to face her. “Death?”

“That,” Twilight chewed her lower lip. “And killing each other. How do you grow use to war?”

Patton thought about it then shrugged. “For the soldier, in the end we just grow numb. Death becomes nothing more than a step of life and taking it from someone else nothing more than an action that needs to be done. But I don’t think humanity ever grows use to war, we just accept it as inevitable. As long as there’s something to fight for, we’ll fight for it.”

“What could possible be worth killing each other for?” Twilight asked. She noticed the warning glance from Celestia that now was not the time to ask the darker questions.

Patton answered anyway. “Many things. Conquest, politics, religion, social injustice or hurts against honor.”

“I wonder what this war is about?” Applejack said quietly to no person in particular.

Ian turned and faced her momentarily as they continued walking. “I think we can find out. General, princesses, remember how I told you that we captured a pony who appeared to be one of the enemy?”

“Yes,” Celestia and Patton echoed.

“Well, it seems that he is more than just a member. The others we captured keep telling us that he is their leader.”

They stopped and Patton along with the ponies stared at him with disbelieving eyes.

“Why would a pony lead such terrible actions against his own kind?” Twilight asked, bewildered.

“Why don’t we go ask him?” Ian said. He turned to his fellow crew members and the Germans. “How ‘bout you lads go and see if Zeus is awake and keep him company or do whatever while we go and chat with our new friend.”

There was a murmur of agreement and they split up into three separate groups. Patton, Ian and the Princesses going towards Ponyville, the Germans towards the Apple’s house and the remaining Americans walked away heading for the hospital with the six Elements of Harmony in tow.

Zeus was asleep when they entered the room he shared with twenty wounded ponies. They made their way through the cots and stopped at his bedside. The gunner opened his eyes and coughed.

“Hey,” he said in a barely audible whisper.

“He lives!” Matt cheered.

“Shut the fuck up, Shelly,” Bill hissed and Matt stepped backwards in shock. “Ponies are trying to sleep.”

“Sorry.” Matt stepped closer to Zeus. “So, what’s the damage?”

“That I’m still alive to hear your voice,” the gunner replied with a smile. It was obvious to the others that he was having trouble speaking. “Nah, just a concussion, torn ligaments in my shoulder, five broken ribs and a collapsed lung. Nothin’ serious.”

“You must be made out of some strong stuff.” Bill huffed happily.

“Does it hurt?” Fluttershy asked as she looked over the human’s bandages. The wounded in the room was starting to bring tears to her eyes.

“Hurts like a bitch, but I will recover.” Zeus noticed the tears and he softly tousled her mane. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

“Well, time for news,” Bill stated, accidentally drawing the attention of every conscious pony and human in the room. “The enemy army has stopped and we are going to be moving out sometime today to go to the west coast. Then we are going to board some ships and head to an island.”

“England,” Matt whispered to himself, deep in his own thoughts. Bill rolled his eyes.

“How are they going to evacuate everypony in Equestria and put them on an island?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Thats the only problem.” Twilight answered. “We will have to leave hundreds of thousands behind.”

“Basically the only ponies that are being saved are the ones in the military, government, factory workers and those with their own boats.” Bill stated as he noticed an empty chair and took a seat. He pulled out a small bottle of whiskey and took a sip.

“Are you going to share?” Applejack eyed the bottle of alcohol in Bill's hand.

The human raised an eyebrow in surprise then handed her the bottle. “Don’t drink it all and don’t give Shelly any. That little girl can’t handle alcohol.”

“Fuck you,” Matt growled.

They passed the whiskey around until everyone except for Matt, Fluttershy, Twilight and Rarity had a drink. The ponies that did have some only took a small sip and all of them, except for Pinkie, coughed as the firewater hit their throats.

“Zeus, you can have the rest of it. It’s my last bottle.” Bill gave the half full bottle back to the gunner.

“Thanks.”

“I might be going crazy but I think Bill is becoming nice.” Matt gave Bill a wary bump on the arm with his fist.

The Virginian turned his head slowly and glared murderously at the younger human. Matt backed away quickly before Bill could punch him. “Touch me again and I will rip out your guts and strangle you with them.”

Zeus sighed, “well, it has been nice being visited by you guys but I really need some sleep. Plus, all of you smell like shit and it is making me sick.”

Rarity let out a gasp of horror and started to smell her mane feverously.

“Not you. You ponies smell fine.” Zeus let out a pained chuckle. “My friends here, I don’t think they have changed their clothes or bathed the whole time we’ve been here.”

“I know Ian and Patton have been.” Matt said flatly. “Both of those bastards are as clean freakish as my mom.”

“We don’t know your mother, Shelly, so that comparison means nothin’ to us.” Bill groaned.

Rarity spoke up. “If you gentle fellows need bathing and temporary clothing, as your current ones are being cleaned, I know just the place.”

“Uh, no, that is fine.” Bill started to back away with his hands up defensively. “We will just go and wash off in the river or something.”

“We would love to accept this offer!” Matt said excitedly. He smiled at Bill who shot a fiery glance at the Californian. “Isn’t that right Bill?”

“Oh, you're right! It’s a wonderful idea,” Bill spat. Sarcasm overflowing alongside the rage.

“Oh this is fabulous!” Rarity squealed, ignoring the sarcasm. “Lotus and Aloe have been busy lately bringing water to the wounded. But some traditional... well, somewhat traditional customers will be just what they need to relax. And while you are getting freshened up I will be making you wonderful new sets of clothes! Oh, maybe a nice pair of dress uniforms too!”

“Rarity,” Twilight interjected. “I don’t think you will have enough time to get all of that done. We are leaving for the west coast tonight.”

“Yes, yes you are right.” Rarity put her hoof to her chin and thought for a moment. “I guess the dress uniforms will have to wait. But I’m still going to make you some relax wear. Oh, come now, let your friend rest and lets get you all cleaned up! I wonder if your German friends would want to join us?”

“Doubt it.” Bill said to no one in particular.

Rarity bounced out of the room and Twilight sighed. Applejack noticed the irritated look on her friends face and the country pony placed her hoof around the lavender unicorns neck.

“Oh sugarcube, let her distract herself. Ah bucked apples for five hours straight just tryin’ to distract myself. Ah think all of us need some form of distraction.”

“I guess so.” Twilight slowly followed after Rarity. “I guess an hour or two at the spa couldn’t hurt.”

“Wait! A spa?” Bill hissed.

“Yep!” Pinkie laughed. “You’ll love it! I love the bubble baths the most!”

As they walked away from the already sleeping Zeus, Bill slid up beside Matt and growled in his ear. “I’m going to kill you and mount your smug head on the side of Lucky.”

Matt walked faster and put Jeff between himself and the vengeful Virginian.

“Protect me Fishy,” Matt whispered.

The Texan shook his head slowly and continued walking.

“How do you say clouds?”

Frederic looked up from a book he had borrowed from twilight’s library and at the little pegasus named Scootaloo. He spoke to the filly and her two friends like a grandfather speaking to his grandchildren. “Wolken.”

“Cool,” the little pony said. “How about apples?”

“Äpfel.”

“How about my name?” Sweetie Belle chimed.

“Süß Schöne.”

“Wow,” the three fillies chorused with wonder filled eyes.

Sweetie Belle decided to ask a question that was on all three of their minds.
“Mr. Frederic, why wont my sister let us go to ponyville and what was all of that noise yesterday?”

Frederic sighed and decided to tell a watered down version of the truth. “There vas a battle yesterday. A small force of enemy soldiers attacked your town and they vere driven off by us. The city is a mess and there are some injured.”

“I bet we showed them! Right?” Scootaloo beamed.

“Yes,” Frederic replied with a smile. But in his mind the reports from yesterday’s battle played in his head. More than one-hundred ponies dead and three-hundred more were wounded. Staggering casualties for such a quick fight.

Felix walked into the house before the fillies could continue their questions. The young ponies watched with curiosity as the two humans spoke to each other in German.

“Sir, we are done with the routine maintenance check on the Panzer.” Felix stated as he saluted. “The Black Wolf is ready to be loaded onto the train for transport.”

“Very good.” Frederic nodded his head and took a quick sip from a mug of cider. “We will drive it to the town when the Americans get back.”

Felix nodded, saluted then walked out of the room. The German commander returned his attention back to the ponies.

“Do you girls like to sing?” They nodded and Frederic continued. “Vell, how about I teach you a song from Germany. It is a song me and my children would sing together.”

“That sound like fun!” Sweetie Bell smiled widely and the other two nodded.

“I will sing the first part in German then in English, or Equestrian.” He took a deep breath and started to sing softly. “Backe, backe Kuchen, Der Bäcker hat gerufen! Wer will gute Kuchen backen, Der muss sieben Sachen haben,...”

He paused to let the words sink in, then with a smile, repeated in English. “Bake, bake a cake, the baker has called! He who vants to bake good cakes, must have seven things...”

The memories of his children singing the same song played in his head as he continued. Barely visible in the corner of his eye a tear began to form that he wiped away before the three fillies could notice.

“Hey, is anybody home?”

Frederic stopped singing and turned towards the human that stood outside the window. Matt peered through the glass, saw Frederic and came inside.

“Hey Freddy, and you three!” Matt smiled widely.

“What do you vant, American?”

“Oh, I was sent here by the others to see if you guys wanted to join us on a day to the spa. It was Bill’s idea by the way.”

“No, we will find our own ways to stay fresh.” Frederic replied flatly. “Maybe if we were French.”

“Okay then.” Matt turned and left the building.

Udo peered through the kitchen door, a piece of pie in one hand and a confused look on his face. “Did that American just say they are going to a spa?”

Frederic nodded and Udo laughed.

“Stupid Americans.”

The pony’s eyes stared at them from the other side of the door’s window. Inside them could be seen a hint of something that Celestia could only describe as insanity.

“The town’s small jail is already full of the other prisoners so we just brought him here to the town hall basement and tied him to a chair.” Ian opened up the door. “He was also using magic against us and we didn’t have time to get another unicorn to help us put a spell on him or something, and we were already angry as fuck, so we just broke off his horn. I’m happy the bastard finally stopped screaming.”

“I would imagine,” Celestia said. “A broken horn is the most painful thing a unicorn can experience. And it could have side effects.”

“Side effects?” Patton asked as he stepped closer to the pony.

“It could cause insanity and magic rebound.”

“So the Princesses came to talk to me in my happy little room,” the pony finally spoke in an unstable voice. “Special me, oh special little me! I get special visitors!”

Patton took a step back and allowed Celestia and Luna to get closer.

“Who are you?” Celestia demanded.

“My name is a name, I have a little name, oh yes I do! Call me Razor!”

“This bastard has lost his marbles,” Patton muttered to Ian.

Razor seemed to have heared the human and he looked Patton in the eyes. “And the sisters bring monkeys with her! Big scary monkeys in their iron beasts! Who are you monkeys?”

“You have earned no answers from us,” Patton hissed.

“Oh,” Razor laughed, feigning insult. “You're a mean old monkey!”

“Silence!” Celestia growled. “Tell us why you are attacking Equestria.”

“Hmm, because I want to.” The insane pony smiled widely.

“Tell us the truth!” Celestia’s eyes started to glow brightly in her anger. “Now!”

“That was the truth, but only part of it. Shh! But I can’t tell you the full truth or master will get angry. Angry as a storm!”

The glow lessened in the older princess’ eyes. “Your master?”

“Master is good, and kind. Oh so nice to me. He brings freedom to Equestria!” His eyes darted between Celestia and Luna “Freedom from you!”

“From us?” Luna asked, surprise evident in her tone.

“He told me what you did! Long ago you did bad things and now you hide them behind order and peace! He comes now to rip off your masks and free Equestria!” Razor broke into a wild laugh.

Patton and Ian were surprised with the sudden expression that momentarily crossed the sister’s faces. A look of shock and fear. Razor continued.

“You act as gods in your thrones, high in your shiny towers!” The unicorn spat at Celestia. “Now he comes and your demise is just starting! Fall, fall, fall you will! My master will make you pay!”

“Who is your master?” Celestia screamed as Razor continued laughing.

“We could beat it out of him,” Patton stated.

Their prisoner stopped laughing. “Before you start with your mean old torture, let me show you a magic trick. Get ready for the show!”

The broken stub of Razor’s horn glowed slightly then suddenly exploded inward. The unicorn’s forehead split open and blood splattered across the room and it’s inhabitants.

“The fucking bastard,” Patton growled as he wiped blood from his face. “Damn, now there is blood on my uniform. What did he just do?”

“He most likely used a spell that would rebound,” Celestia said flatly. “Come sister, we need to discuss everything we heard from this traitor.”

“Princess Celestia, Princess Luna,” Patton tried to stop them as the sisters turned to leave. “What was he talking about? What evils did you commit?”

The princesses didn’t reply as they walked away. The two humans stood in silence for a minute, the sound of Razor’s blood dripping onto the floor the only noise in the room.

“Sir?” Ian said quietly. “I don’t like this.”

“Me neither Lieutenant.” Patton fiddled absentmindedly with his revolvers. “From now on we need to be more wary. I have a feeling hell is about to break loose and I bet we are going to be smack dab in the fucking middle of it.”