“Liquidification”
Captain Rarity
Equestrian Death Head Units
Earth Pony Relocation Zone 4 “Sweet Apple Acres”, Ponyville, Equestria
September 4th, 15 ALR (After Luna’s Return)

“Captain Rarity, the squad is waiting at the entrance to the farm. We’re expecting things to go smoothly with how little food the earth ponies are getting; they’ll be far too hungry to question where we’re taking them,” Sergeant Steel Resolve reported as Rarity stepped off her personal wagon and looked around at the massive orchard spanning out in front of her behind the fence. While she didn’t want to go back to the muck and filth that was Sweet Apple Acres, Princess Twilight had personally ordered her to oversee a squad of troops charged with liquefying the relocation zone and transporting the inhabitants to the “Processing” camp known as Everfree Point, making sure the job was done right.

Having joined the Death Heads right after they were formed in 10 ALR, Rarity would watch the organization grow from a simple personal guard for Twilight to a nationwide police force, executing Twilight’s will with deadly efficiency. She ended up proving herself a capable commander, quickly rising to the rank of Captain and earning herself a position in the elite Special Activities Unit, a section of the Death Heads that only went out to camps that Twilight considered “problematic”. Along with her rank, she earned a fearful reputation amongst her comrades and civilians alike as a cold, deadly efficient officer who showed no mercy to the ponies that dared defy her and generous to those who pleased her.

Rarity took a moment to fix her helmet and inspect her glistening purple armor for any dust before turning her attention to Steel Resolve. “Very good, Sergeant. Are your soldiers ready to move?” she finally asked him.

Steel nodded, walking with Rarity as they approached the main gate where four other soldiers were waiting. “Yes ma’am, they’re just awaiting your word to move in.”

Once Rarity reached the gates, she turned to look at the squad that would be overseeing the transfer, taking note of the determined looks on their faces before chuckling. “Wonderful, then let’s get to it! The less time I have to spend here, the better!” she exclaimed as she turned around and pushed the gates open.

However, in the deep pits of her mind, Rarity felt uneasy. For located in this camp, was none other than Applejack. The mare that was once her best friend was now considered a threat for the fact that she was a Bearer of Harmony, and Twilight demanded that Rarity make sure she didn’t weasel her way out of the relocation, or kill her if she proved uncooperative. Rarity prayed to the Goddess that it didn’t have to come to this, that Applejack could be left alone here in Sweet Apple Acres where she would be safe, yet here she was with orders to bring her to processing.

It hurt... it hurt Rarity so bad. Even if Applejack was an earth pony, and a potential threat to Twilight, she was still a friend in Rarity’s eyes and that was something that was very hard to look past. The fearsome Captain Rarity, cruel and unforgiving, had a softspot, and her friends happened to be it. Despite all her inner turmoil, she knew she had to do this or face the excruciating wrath of Twilight, something that would spell certain death to not only Rarity, but her entire family as well.

The squad advanced through the orchard in silence, watching the trees around them as they headed for the center. They all knew their mission, and with the exception of Rarity, had no regrets. To the other soldiers, this was just another camp of filthy mud ponies that needed to be removed completely from society.

In no time at all, the squad finally arrived at the central clearing, finding a huge gathering of earth ponies, all clustered behind Applejack and a strange creature that vaguely resembled a minotaur. The soldiers quickly came to a halt, forming up behind Iron Hooves and Rarity as they kept their eyes trained on the crowd, spears out and ready to attack if needed.

Rarity stared at the creature standing next to her friend, studying it carefully as she formulated what she would say. The one thing about the creature that worried her the most was the object it held firmly in its hand; a long object made of steel and wood with a long, sharp knife fixated on the end of it, something she assumed was used like a spear. Taking note of all the factors, Rarity finally cleared her throat, and spoke.

“Applejack darling, it’s nice to see you’re alright and well. You do know why I’m here, don’t you?”

Applejack snorted in response before nodding her head. “Why of course ah do Rarity. You’re here to make sure that we’re behaving ourselves and fulfilling our roles as productive members of society. It was a waste of time coming here though, we’ve been doing everything the way the Department of Food wants us to and haven’t deviated one bit.” she replied harshly, almost spitting out Rarity’s name.

Rarity flinched a bit at Applejack’s response, then shook her head. “I’m afraid not, Applejack dear. By order of Princess Twilight herself, this Relocation Zone is to be liquidated and all of the inhabitants moved to Processing Camp Epsilon in the Everfree Forest. Your cooperation is required, and I am allowed to use deadly force if you choose to resist,” she announced.

After hearing this, Applejack’s face visibly fell as she sat down. “I… what will happen to mah ponies in this ‘Processing’ camp? Can you guarantee their safety?” she asked slowly.

Rarity took a few moments to think of an answer, then slowly nodded. “I can try my best, but I’m ultimately not in charge of the camps.”

The crowd of earth ponies behind Applejack murmured softly amongst themselves as Applejack got to her hooves. However, to Rarity’s surprise, Applejack was cut off by the strange creature reaching out its hand to gesture that Applejack get back down as it took a step forward, and spoke.

“Ms… Rarity, is it? I’m awfully sorry to interrupt, but you can’t honestly expect to take any of these ponies anywhere in their current condition. Many of these ponies are starving. If they were forced to march anywhere they would probably perish on the journey,” it stated in a calm, yet determined voice. Rarity assumed that this thing was a male by its voice, but couldn’t quite wrap her head around the fact that this thing spoke in a language that she could understand. She tried to formulate how to respond to his statement when Sergeant Resolve stepped up next to Rarity, giving the creature a hard glare.

“They’re certainly going, we’re not giving them a choice. As for you, I think you should come with us as well. I don't know what you are, but I certainly don’t like the way you’re speaking to the Captain. So I ask that you drop your weapon and be quiet so that the Captain can conclude her conversation with Ms. Applejack over here,” he growled. Rarity shot him a glare, but the damage had already been done as the creature chuckled.

“I’m sorry, but there’s no way that’s happening. My rifle will stay with me, it’s the only thing that keeps me safe. And to answer your curiosities about what I am, I’m a human. Name’s Conrad Schmidt, soldier in the German Wehrmacht,” he replied flatly.

This response only angered Sergeant Resolve, as he lit his horn and drew his sword. “How dare you defy me? Mr Schmidt, I’m only going to give you one last chance to comply and drop your weapon, or I’ll bucking kill you where you stand.”

Loud murmurs escaped from the earth ponies as the tension in the clearing reached a climax, nopony knowing if Conrad would stand down or not. Rarity thought of intervening, but ultimately decided to see where this went. Certainly this human would see that he was biting off more than he could chew and stand down, but there were doubts in Rarity’s mind that this human would continue his defiance and this could turn bloody.

Unfortunately, Rarity’s doubts were confirmed as Conrad shook his head, raising his spear and pointing it straight at Resolve. “I doubt you would sir, you clearly don’t know what you’re up against. I suggest you stand down before you end up regretting it,” he replied calmly. This was met with gasps from the crowd as they waited for Resolve to attack... they didn’t know what to expect, but many feared that Conrad probably would be killed.

Sergeant Resolve growled, then readied himself and shook his head. “You’ll regret your words human. Now die!” he shouted before rushing forward.

He made it about half way across the clearing before the end of Conrad’s spear erupted in a loud explosion, followed closely by Sergeant Resolve’s head exploding in a mess of blood, bone, and brains. Everypony gasped as Resolve’s body skidded to the ground, a mix of horror and amazement in the air as Conrad fiddled with his spear for a brief moment before levelling it at Rarity.

Rarity was speechless, unable to comprehend what had just happened. One moment Steel Resolve was running at Conrad, the next he was lying dead in a growing pool of his own blood. The rest of her troops were quick to turn tail and run for their lives, leaving Rarity alone in the clearing with the earth ponies and the humans.

The clearing went deathly quiet as everypony waited for Conrad to do something, all eyes on the human. Then, after what seemed like an eternity, Conrad lowered his weapon and cleared his throat.

“I tried to warn him, but he didn’t listen. Let’s hope that you are more sensible Ms Rarity.”

Author's Note

I've gotten questions on how language works, so here I am to clarify. The answer to that question, along with how Conrad even got to Equestria all tie together, and will be explained in a later chapter by a special character. You can speculate who it is, but until that chapter happens, you're just going to have to formulate your theories and wait for that chapter.

Special thanks to SolidFire for putting up with my terrible writing skills and proofreading this chapter. He's a real bro, go check him out and follow his shit. Also, while you're at it go convince him to write a fic. He's a great writer, he just doubts himself and it's quite annoying to see such talent go to waste.

Also, I think this is one of the longest chapters I've written. Slowly, ever so slowly, I'm getting better at extending what I write. Let's hope I can break 1.8k next time!