Dieter had never like flying. He was willing to fly if it was absolutely necessary, but otherwise he shunned being airborne. It wasn’t fear, it wasn’t even trepidation, it just felt...unnatural. Dieter had flown once, during the invasion of Crete. He had been glad to jump. He did not like the helpless feeling that inherently came with sitting in the back seat of a plane while being hit by anti-air fire. Dieter honestly didn’t know how the American Airborne put up with it.

If planes were bad, the royal chariot was worse. It was open to the air, and was pulled by pegasi. Dieter knew that if they slowed past a certain point, the chariot would tilt downwards and deposit its contents all over the ground. It was all well and fine for Celestia, who sat beside him, since she had wings. Dieter did not. True to form, Dieter didn’t let any of his feelings show. To show feeling was to show weakness.

Dieter clenched his fist around his combat knife. It was not a threatening sign. It was a movement born of habit. The habit truly was born of necessity. While on the Eastern Front, Dieter had to make sure that he was continually prepared to fight. The movement caught Celestia’s attention. She began to regret bringing him along. He was always silent, and continually threatening.

In the distance, Dieter saw a castle-city built into the side of a mountain. It reminded him of pictures he had seen in school when he was a child. He could only assume this was the famed “Canterlot” that the ponies were always mentioning. Looking down at the city, he found its layout wanting. It was certainly beautiful, and had a theatrical flair, but it was not a defensible position. There was very little exploitable cover, and the streets ran parallel to each other. There were no exploitable choke points to be had. Dieter scoffed out loud. Celestia’s face reddened at Dieter’s mocking.

They put down in front of the Royal Pony Sister’s palace. Once again, Dieter noted its focus on ostentation rather than military efficiency. At least the Reichstag had some tactical use alongside its ostentation. The gates were opened when the guards noticed that it was their ruler that wished access. Dieter received odd looks. They had never seen anything like him before. Captain Shining Armor, notably, regarded him with paramount hostility.

Celestia glanced at him, “Well, what do you think?”

Dieter snorted, “The palace is poorly defensible, and your troops are poorly trained and equipped. Furthermore, the nobility is too heavily concentrated at this city. If this place were to be destroyed, your nation’s head would effectually be severed, leaving no one in a leadership position. The power vacuum would result in continual warfare, eventually leading to the degradation of the Equestrian power base. I noticed it in a few minutes. What took you so long?” This speech was delivered with curt, logical matter-of-factness.

Celestia was flabbergasted. The human always thought of warfare before all other things, didn’t he? What kind of world did he come from for such violent thinking to manifest itself? Celestia couldn’t imagine what “Earth” must have been like.

“SISTER! WHAT CREATURE HAST THOU BROUGHT HERE?” The shout carried across the palace, strangely resonant. Looking up, Dieter saw a midnight blue “alicorn” glide from the topmost spire.

Celestia sighed, “Luna, keep it down!”

Luna frowned, “What, pray tell, is this? Hast thou brought us another subject for experimentation?” Celestia was about to respond, when she heard a clicking noise beside her. Turning, she found Dieter with his large weapon aimed directly between Luna’s eyes.

Dieter spoke in even tones, “Touch me, and you will die.”

Luna blinked, she was not used to being spoken to in such a way. Her ethereal mane quickened in its movements, the stars shining brighter in response to the surge of adrenaline that came with the creature’s statement. Her horn began to glow, and Dieter’s finger began to tighten on the trigger. Celestia quickly stepped between them.

“Luna, this is Oberführer Dieter Heinrich of the Waffen- Shutzstaffel, our guest. Oberführer, this is my sister and co-ruler, Princess Luna.” Dieter did not respond. He stood still for a moment, like a statue, before flicking the safety on his gun back on, and returning it to his shoulder. Luna shuddered. What was the weapon capable of?

Entering the throne room, Dieter was suddenly confronted by a pure white unicorn with a golden mane. From the unicorn’s proud bearing, he assumed that it was a noble. The unicorn stopped in front of him, blocking his path.

“I see you, abomination! How dare you defile the sanctity of this throne room! I bid thee leave at once, heed me, or I will strike you with my magic. Flee before Prince Blueblood!” The unicorn spoke haughtily. Dieter ignored him and pressed further into the room.

Blueblood was obviously offended by Dieter’s cold demeanor, and came to stand before him again. “You refuse to obey your betters? Gua-!“

The royal was cut off when Dieter’s fist encircled his horn, pulling his head back. In a swift movement, Dieter’s knife was against his throat.

Dieter paused before hissing into Blueblood’s ear, “I was at Stalingrad, you know. We ate horses.” Blueblood gulped. Dieter continued, “I haven’t eaten for some time, and when I see you, my mouth waters. You are so plump and fat; I imagine that you must be delicious. You look quite appetizing too. I can see you when an apple in your mouth, with you on a platter, throat slit. You are, after all, a horse.”

Blueblood began to pull away from Dieter with all his might. He was squealing incoherently, his fear of being eaten overriding his normal regality. Dieter suddenly let go of Blueblood’s horn, sending him crashing to the ground. Dieter glanced back at the two sisters, noting their looks of stunned indignation. Dieter turned, and continued further into the palace, indifferent.

Luna whispered into Celestia’s ear, “I have a bad feeling about this!”

Author's Note

As people requested, I have included Blueblood bashing. Enjoy!