As Celestia, Spike, and Twilight were escorted via boat back to Ponyville beach, Twilight couldn't help but look once more at the various bodies covering the beach the humans had stormed. Twilight grimaced slightly at the sight of dead humans, lying where they had fallen.

"So young." Twilight said. "So young."

"It's true." Paige said, walking over. "We normally recruit or conscript people once they reach eighteen. Many career soldiers are older."

"How'd you even find out about Equestria?" Spike asked.

"Well, after the Second World War ended, we were investigating a Salt Mine in Merkers, Germany. THe Nazis had used the mine as a Cache for all the Gold they had looted. We found a secret passageway leading to the lab where the Germans had developed Unendlich. A military program developed to make the impossible...possible. Unendlich gave us the needed resources to make the Exoskeleton Combat Armor that most infantry wear. The suit's a real marvel of engineering, really. Most suits are made by Brett-Conrad, the firm that we tasked with developing the Unendlich tech from notes, schematics and protoypes into working models. Later, a soldier assigned to guard the lab discovered the Reality Device, which the Germans were developing to move large amounts of troops long distances in a short while. Eventually, we got a message from no known location, pleading for help. We made a Reality Device Mark II thanks to Unendlich tech, and we triggered a reality storm that would send the fleet through the the message's origin."

"How'd you meet Celestia?" Twilight asked.

"Well, Celestia came to us. She told us she was in Your capital when she saw our ships emerge from the storm. She came over and boarded the Traveler, and things just went from there." Paige said.

"Why are you being so casual about all...this?" Twilight said. "We're in the midst of a war and you're acting as if it's a five-star vacation!"

"Well, to be honest, we've fought more wars then we can count, so It's fairly easy to get used to fighting. Plus, since we've existed for a couple million years, we've grown to like new things and new places." Paige said. "It doesn't make fighting the wars any better, but It at least gives us reassurance that they'll end one day."

"I see." Twilight said. "Apparently King Dainn has made me his next...conquest."

"Damn him." Paige said.

"I know. Plus, the Peace Groups are sending petitions daily for peace with the Caribou. If they had their way, we'd just be a stepping stone for total Caribou domination."

"That's not going to happen. Trust us." Eisenhower said.

I do trust you." Celestia said. "But will my citizens?"

"Leave that to us." Paige said cryptically.

Then, as the boat docked and the ponies stepped off, Celestia and the human leadership exchanged goodbyes. As the humans returned to the Traveler, Twilight yawned loudly.

"Let's head back to Canterlot." Celestia said. "I daresay we've been up all night."

"And I bet everypony in Equestria is going to want an explanation as to the giant fleet of ships in the Bay." Twilight sighed.

"We'll handle that when we need to." Celestia replied. As they teleported to Canterlot, meanwhile, in the Caribou lines, General Doruse watched as the bodies of the dead were gathered. The human assualt had brought significant casualties, and many more wounded. Doruse sighed and summoned a Communication ritual with King Dainn.

"What is the matter?" Dainn asked.

"My king, we have counted the dead."

"And?"

"Half of our forces are dead or wounded. Many are missing. Allow us to retreat to safer territory, sire."

"I shan't allow it." Dainn said. "No matter the casualties. Press the attack. Equestria will fall by my will, no matter the cost."

"We cannot press any further." Doruse said. "We have no available warriors left. Every warrior is gathering the dead, treating the wounded, or guarding the lines. We simply do not ahve the needed troops to launch another attack."

Dainn was silent for af few moments.

"Then wait. Wait for the humans to advance. When they do, I order you all not to fight, but to DIE. I order this. Any warrior who deserts or flees before the enemy shall be killed. Anyone who attempts to join the enemy shall be killed. There will be no mercy."

"Sire, there are no warriors left!" Doruse said. "We do not have the forces to whistand another assault!"

"Those are your orders." Dainn said. "Obey them."

As the ritual ended, Doruse sighed sadly. Dainn, ever since launching this conquest of Equestria, had grown mad with delusions of taking over Equestria and its riches. "There can never be too many does in the harem.", Dainn could be quoted as saying at one of his most recent war councils. Doruse groaned as a warrior came in.

"General, you asked for me?" he said.

"What is the total?"

"Worse than expected. We've lost a third of our forces to the humans and the ponies. Many warriors are calling for a mutiny."

Doruse sighed.

"Consolidate our forces and abandon the line. We are retreating to the Blue Cliff River."

"And disobey the king?" The warrior asked.

"It is a death sentence, I know." Doruse said. "But a sentence I will bear. Tell the generals at the other defensive lines that we are now in a defensive war. Ask for aid and reinforcements, but nothing more."

The warrior bowed and walked out. Doruse looked down at his sword, made of black ebony, given by the King himself to his most trusted generals. Doruse sighed and sheathed his sword, knowing that if his actions were made known, and they definetely will be made known, he will be expected to fall on it.

"I pray to the stars above..." Doruse said. "That the Iron Liberators spare our souls from the Underworld."

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EARTH
ATLANTIC OCEAN
REALITY SITE, CLASSIFIED COORDINATES

General Ashurkov watched from the bow of his ship as the Soviet World Fleet lay strewn before him. Allowed passage through the Dardanelles by Turkey, the fleet may have only been thirty in number, but on each ship were fresh, battle-hardened Soviet troops, armed with the latest Unendlich weaponry. Ashurkov smiled as the Reality device began to warm up from its position off the front bow.

"All ships, this is the Great White." Ashurkov said over the radio. "Prepare to enter!"

As the replies came in, the Great White lurched forward into the reality storm, ready to enter the fight. Next Chapter: Chapter 4-Red Winter Estimated time remaining: 25 Minutes