Chapter 1: The First Patrol
France was a sight for sore eyes, especially the country side. The grassy hills, the wide open plains, and the gorgeous weather makes the French countryside one of the most peaceful places in the world. The sun showned brightly, the birds chirped lovely tunes as several others joined in. The wind was mild, blowing at a calming pace, so it wasn't too hot or too cold, it was perfect. Everything looked perfect, and Fluttershy knew that. She looked around the scattered trees that stood up high in the air, as she watched the birds fly all around in the sky. She trotted slowly down the grassy hill, the slight wind blew clamly in her face, blowing her flowing pink mane slowly and in an elegant fashion. The grass tickled her coat a little with every step she took, and Fluttershy was happy. As she reached the base of the hill, she saw a grey object sitting on the ground, it was some kind of rock building. Fluttershy trotted up to the stone structure, there was a black object sticking out front of it. It had a cone on the front of it, but no end. Instead, the cone was attached to a long, black pipe that reached inside of the structure. Fluttershy examined closer, the pipe was enclosed into a metal box, with holes on every side of the metal box. The box stretched the length of the barrel, where both stopped at a giant block of metal. It looked like it had a billion small pieces to it, each interlocking with each other. Fluttershy looked down the side of the object, her blue eyes widen when she saw what this metal object was. She saw a trigger, it was a gun. She backed up a little, looking at the metal gun, but, before she knew it, the gun was now pointed directly at her. Fluttershy backed up slowly, her heart raced faster and faster. She heard a loud crank noise and she looked at the gun. She closed her eyes, and she heard a loud buzz noise that tore her ear drums apart. She had never heard a more defining sound. It sounded like a piece of cloth being ripped in half, but a million times louder, and scarier. Fluttershy saw a bright flash of white light, was she dead? Was this heaven? Fluttershy looked around, but the white began to fade into black. Pitch black. She began to panic, her breathing increased more and more. The sweat began to roll down her face faster. Was she asleep? Why couldn't she wake up? She tried with all of her force to open her eyes, but they remained shut. Then, she couldn't exhale any more. Fluttershy began to panic even more, she felt her heart racing, faster and faster. She felt like her heart would explode. As she tried for one final time, she felt something push her back. It caught her by a great surprise, as she fell back, and landed against something. Fluttershy tried to open her eyes, and it worked this time. Her heart began to slow down and she exhale heavily. She looked down at her hooves, her uniform on. Her vision began to concentrate once more, and her sight was restored. She looked down at her hooves and back at her uniform. It had two hooves crossing each other, with a diamond black and yellow patch covering them. The patch read: "75th Rangers" on it. She looked to her right, it was some type of wooden gun. It had a small external magazine, with metal on top with a small pipe. She looked back up, and she saw a pony with a purple mane and a dark pink coat hold her hoof out. Fluttershy was puzzled, who was this mare?
"You okay Shy?" said the pony, Fluttershy remained silent and motionless. She just stared up at the purple pony, with a blank expression. Without even thinking, she put out her hoof, and the purple pony pulled her up. Fluttershy still had a very confused look on her, as the purple pony now handed her a helmet. She grabbed the metal head piece and put it over her head, she looked around more, and saw other ponies beyond the purple one. Fluttershy's mind became more clear as the seconds passed. As she tried to regain her thoughts, she felt a nudge on her shoulder. The purple pony was holding the gun at Fluttershy. She was puzzled, why was this purple pony giving her this gun?
"Shy, for pete sake ready up, grab your rifle." said the blue pony with the multicolored mane. Fluttershy grabbed the rifle from the purple pony, she read the text on it. CANTERLOT ARMS .30 M1 CARBINE SERIAL:1256079. She looked at the weapon once more, the gun felt pretty light and fit well in her hooves.
"You okay private?" asked the lavender pony, at the end of the small group. They were all crouched down, in a small oval like position. Every pony that was in the oval, all looked at the yellow mare.
"Um...yes...I-I'm good," she said softly.
"Good. Listen, here's the plan. We take out the 42, and then we clear the rest of this house. Command wants us to hold here for the night, wait for resupplies to come and the rest of the division, got it?"
"Crystal clear sir!" said the pink pony excitingly. The lavender one just rolled her eyes a bit, while some smiled a little, even Fluttershy.
"Okay, AJ on point."
"Eeyess suhr," said the orange pony, as she got up from the crouching position. She opened the door and pointed her gun around the room.
"Cleah." The lavender one got up, they slowly trotted out of the room they were in. Fluttershy's head began to refocus once more. She was with the Equestrian Army, in Captain Twilight Sparkle's squad, with Staff Sergeant Cheerilee, Corporal Applejack, Private First Class Rainbow Dash, Private Pinkie Pie, and Private Rarity. She crouched down, and slowly trotted down the room. Fluttershy began to hear that noise again. That ripping sound in her dream. The sound that scared every fiber in her body, every cell, and every hair trembled in fear when they heard that sound.
Applejack pointed her rifle down the hallway, and started to trot down it once more. The squad moved up once again, slowly down the hallway. The sound was getting closer and closer to Fluttershy. Her heart began to race as her nerves started to control her once again. She began to breathe heavily once more, the sweat rolled down her face. The sound came to an all time high, when they reached the top of the stair case. The sound was defining to Fluttershy, she couldn't stand it. Applejack pulled out a small little ball shaped thing. Fluttershy looked up, and saw she was holding a grenade. She watched as the orange pony pulled the pin and threw the hand held explosive. Fluttershy looked at Applejack, who was too busy concentrated on the grenade. Moments pasted, and Fluttershy heard the buzzing stop, and instead, a loud kaboom. The grey dust overtook the air as the dust settled down. Fluttershy looked up as the ponies began to trot up the stairs.
"Clear the house, let's go," said Twilight, jumping out of her cover. Fluttershy got up to, just because everypony else was doing it. She looked over and saw her squad mares firing their weapons into the changelings bodies. The sound of explosions raged on inside the house, as the squad killed every changeling inside, much to Fluttershy's dismay. She stood in the doorway at complete disbelief. How could anypony just go up and kill another creature that easily. She couldn't even kill a gnat, let alone a full grown changeling. Fluttershy looked at the pool of blood that was gathering in the kitchen. The red consumed the white tiles as it ferociously plowed it way through and expanded, taking every bit of white spec with it. Her eyes were captivated at the blood expanding out from the changeling's body.
Her attention was interrupted when Twilight stepped in front of Fluttershy. Her hooves landing in the pool of blood.
"Are you okay, private?" asked Twilight, putting a hoof on her shoulder.
"Um...uh..." murmured Fluttershy, not really knowing what to say.
"Listen, focus soldier. I want you to help Rarity clear the upstairs of this house, alright?"
"O-okay."
"Good, Rarity, get moving," Fluttershy saw a white pony with a flowing purple mane trot up next to Fluttershy.
"C'mon darling, let's go," she said. The two ponies hugged the wall and slowly climbed up the stairs up. Each hoof step was made to be as silent as possible, as they trotted up the squeaky wooden staircase. The tension began to rise up in Fluttershy, she began to panic, her breathing increased, and she trotted slower and slower.
"You okay?" whispered Rarity.
"Um...well...yeah," said Fluttershy.
"Okay dear. We got two rooms, let's clear out the master first." Fluttershy nodded and the two trotted up the stairs further. What felt like an eternity came to an end when they reached the top of the stairs. Rarity checked each corner as the two moved up. Her flowing purple mane swiveled with every head turn she made. Finally, she emerged from the staircase and pointed her rifle down the hallway, and into the master bed room.
"It's clear darling. Move up," she said. Fluttershy took a quick peak, and ran towards the room. She leaned against the wall, practically on the door frame as she looked inside.
"Cover me," said Rarity, hoping to move up. Fluttershy pointed her M1 Carbine into the room. Rarity moved quickly and before Fluttershy knew it, she was adjacent to her, adjusting to a new position.
"It looks clear Rarity, can we go now?" asked Fluttershy nervously.
"Darling, I know your nervous, but, Captain gave us clear orders, so we have to follow them," said Rarity.
"Okay." The disappointment struck Fluttershy as her nerves began to overtake her. Rarity nodded and Fluttershy approved. She got up and ran towards the dresser in the room. As she entered in, a changeling emerged and fired a burst of automatic fire. Fluttershy dropped to the ground, and Rarity fired a round from her rifle, killing the changeling instantly. Rarity saw another one try to fire a round from his bolt action rifle, but, it looked like he was having trouble with it. Rarity pulled the trigger, but nothing came out, her rifle was jammed.
"Shy! Kill him!" shouted Rarity. Fluttershy's eyes widened and her hooves trembled. She began to shake more and more, and finally, she began to cry.
"I can't!" she shouted. The changeling came running towards her and smacked Fluttershy with the butt of his rifle. She flew forward and smacked against the dresser, knocking over the decor on top of it. The pain felt immense, like a train ran her over and hit her square in the face. When she fell against the ground, she vaguely saw the changeling fighting Rarity, in close hoof to hoof combat. The two sides of both good and evil couldn't come any closer. Rarity felt battered quickly, this changeling was well trained. He pulled out a knife and trotted towards Rarity, who was pretty weakened on the ground, and Fluttershy knew it. She crawled to her M1 Carbine, lying not far from her. Her vision faded in and out as she grabbed hold of the small rifle. She sat up against the wall where her Carbine used to lay near by. She took a deep breathe and closed her eyes faintly. Her sights were lined up to the changeling, leaning up against Rarity, who was still trying to put up a fight. Fluttershy pulled the trigger on the small rifle. The Carbine screamed as it fired a round, directly in the changeling's chest. He was paralyzed, still in his place, as if timed stopped itself. Fluttershy fired another round, piercing the body once more. Finally, one more round went threw his head, and he collapsed on top of Rarity. Fluttershy's vision began to come to once more, and she crawled to Rarity, who had some bruise marks on her face.
"Um, are you okay Rarity?" she asked, quietly.
"Yes darling...I'm fine. Thank you." she said, beaten and bewildered, but alive. The two leaned up against the wall, breathing heavily after the events that occurred. The two just looked at the dead changelings body, now starting to pour out blood from his wounds. Rarity took a look at Fluttershy's head.
"Oh Celestia, you're bleeding Fluttershy," she said.
"Oh...I didn't notice, I'm sorry Rarity," she said shyly.
"It's not your fault darling. Come on, let's have somepony get that checked out." Rarity got up and held her hoof out to help Fluttershy out. She grabbed the white pony's hoof, and they trotted down the stairs. Fluttershy looked up at Rarity, her beautiful and chic look was still there, even after the severe beating from the changeling. Fluttershy's heart began to warm up to Rarity, as the two met up with the rest.
"Jeez. What happened to you two?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"Long story darling, but, Fluttershy here just had her first kill," said Rarity.
"No shit. Congrats Shy," Dash patting her back. Fluttershy had a confused look on her face, why was she begin congratulated for killing another living thing. She just remained silent and trotted off to the window, to look out at the French scenery. How could a beautiful place hold such a violent conflict Fluttershy wondered? She sat down, contemplating this thought, until she was interrupted by some other pony. It was Twilight Sparkle, the Captain.
"How you doing Fluttershy?" she asked, still standing up.
"Oh, I'm fine sir," she replied. The two remained silent, as they looked out at the sunny scenery, the wind slightly blowing into the house.
"You did good Private, nice job saving Rarity's life when it counted the most."
"Thank you sir..."
"I know, it isn't pretty to witness your first kill like that. I know how you feel."
"Really sir? How?"
"Well, it was a long time ago..."
"Captain, 2nd platoon is here," said Cheerilee, interrupting Twilight's story.
"Roger, I'll be there soon," she replied. Twilight got up and grabbed her weapon. Fluttershy looked down at her hooves once more, somewhat disappointed not being able to here Twilight's story. "Next time Private, I'll tell you."
"Okay sir," she replied softly.
"Oh, by the way, go up to the second floor, meet up with Applejack, help her with the 30 cal."
"Yes sir." Fluttershy took one more stare out the window, and trotted up the same flight of stairs her and Rarity climbed that same day, even though it felt like days have pasted since that moment. Fluttershy turned into the same room, where Applejack was sitting on the bed.
"Oh, the'e y'all are Fluttahshy. Come 'ere an' help meh with the 30 cal," she said, picking up the ammunition box and a tripod.
"Okay," she said. She trotted up to the machine gun, which looked like a box with a pipe at the end of it. She grabbed it and immediately had trouble lifting it up. It weighed more than she expected. Fluttershy used her strength and swung the machine gun over her back and trotted behind Applejack. She looked up to find another staircase, which led up to an attic, with an exposed part of roof, most likely blown out by an air raid. Applejack rest the tripod and looked over at her. She trotted with the heavy gun and placed it on the tripod. Applejack screwed the gun in and loaded the gun with the ammo. The long string of bright, brassy ammo hanged out one side of the gun. She then closed the feed cover and pulled the bolt back. The bolt made a typical "cha-ching" sound, as it locked back forward. Applejack aimed the gun, and swiveled it all around, until she finally let it down. Applejack rested on a pile of crates in the attic, as she pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
"Well? Y'all jus' gunna stan' t'ere, or y'all gunna sit?" she asked in her heavy country accent. Fluttershy looked back up blankly and trotted up next to Applejack, sitting down on the ledge of the broken window. Applejack handed her a cigarette, Canterlot Redwoods. Fluttershy never smoked a cigarette before, but, as if it were instinct, she grabbed the cigarette, and put it in her mouth. Applejack lit the stick of tobacco, and Fluttershy inhaled. The smoke entered her lungs as she felt the stream of calmness flow down her throat and out through her entire body. As she exhaled, she looked up at the sky, watching the puff of smoke she breathed out float up in the air, and eventually disappear. From that moment on, all the two ponies did was smoke their cigarettes, looking out at the scenery. It was calming, but, the looming sense of awkwardness lingered in the air as well.
"So, um...Applejack..." said Fluttershy, breaking the silence.
"Yes, sugah cube?" Applejack replied.
"What was it like?"
"What was what like?"
"Your first time in battle. How...how did you feel at the time?" The looming sense of awkwardness came back. Fluttershy noticed that Applejack's bright orange coat around her face, turned into a darker tone, as if some dark force took over her body.
"Oh, I'm sorry. It's fine. You don't need to..." began Fluttershy, nervous Applejack would do something bad.
"Nah, it's fine sugah plum. It's jus', I ain't thought 'bout that day in a lon' time," she replied.
"Um...what happened?"
"Well, it was 1943, I was jus' a private, we were part of the Sicily campaign..."
August 5th, 1943
Troina, Italy
Pvt. Applejack
It seemed like a normal day in the hills of Troina. The sun shown brightly as the summer air seemed perfect. The tall hillsides loomed high and above, it was a great scenery. But, for the 26th Infantry, it was a bloody ground of bullets and burnt souls. For three days, they've held the position from constant German artillery, food was low, and casualties were rising. Applejack had been around the area for a while, but, she still has yet to fire her weapon. Applejack had a toughen exterior, but never had the thought of killing another living thing. She just sat in her foxhole, jotting down her experiences and the general gist of what was happening. In her journal was a picture of her and her two siblings, Applebloom and Big Mac. She felt her emotions run through her heart as the recent memories of the times they had flood her body. She closed her eyes, hoping to get them out of her head, but she couldn't. Applebloom's sweet yellow face kept a crystal clear image in her head, her smile, her looks, Applejack missed her little sister a lot. She opened her eyes once more and took a deep breathe. She looked around the hills and around her squad mares. She put the journal away and pulled out a cigarette, Equestrian Redwoods. She pulled out her lighter and inhaled the stick of nicotine. As she exhaled with a deep breathe of satisfaction, she heard the sound of hoofsteps behind her.
"How you holding up AJ?" asked the pony. Applejack looked up, it was Sergeant Colgate of her platoon.
"I'm fahne Sarge, you?" said Applejack.
"Doin' good. We're pretty spread thin though, changelings cut off our supply route. We have told hold this position for as long as possible."
"Gotcha Sarge."
"Okay AJ. Keep your head down." Colgate ran off to another foxhole. Applejack then looked back by the hills, as she watched the slight wind blow her mane back. She took out her journal once more and grabbed her pencil. She thought hard about what she would write, but as she just thought of what to write, she heard a whirring sound from the air. It was soft at first, but grew louder as it approached. Applejack turned around and heard a pony shout: "Mortars!" Applejack dove down in her fox hole and grabbed her rifle, an M1 Garand. The ground shot up and shook with every mortar impact that shot up. The dirt kicked up and fell down to the ground seconds later. It felt like an eternity of explosions. it was like the end of the world for Applejack. She crouched down in her fox hole deeper, as she heard the constant sounds of her comrades shouting.
"Changeling's in the open. Take 'em out!" shouted a pony, and a volley of gun fire shot in the air. Applejack remained ducked down in her foxhole, the gun fire frightened her dearly. She began to hyperventilate as she closed her eyes tighter and tighter.
"No!" she shouted repeatedly, wanting out of the place. She tried to dig herself deeper down into her foxhole, dodging the bullet fire even farther. Finally, she felt a hoof try to pull her up, it was Colgate, standing up tall with her rifle.
"C'mon private! Get up, show 'em that you've got some guts!" shouted Colgate. Applejack grabbed her rifle and held it in her hooves.
"That's it Applejack! You can do it! Raise your weapon AJ! Look 'em down the sights and fire, you can do it AJ! C'mon!" Applejack looked down the sight of her rifle as her hooves shook with nerves. Finally, she fired off a round. The gun spat out a round with a distinctive crack. She pulled the trigger once more, another round fired off. She kept pulling the trigger with each shot, the recoil jolting her forward a bit, but she remained stable for the most part. As she pulled the trigger, the gun didn't respond. As if it was instinct, she pulled the bolt back of her rifle to clear the jam. Then, she fired off the round. The gun ended it's magazine with a distinctive ping noise, and the clip ejected out of the gun. The ping was that metallic noise that sounded completely out of place in a war zone, much like bell in a silent town. Applejack felt a hoof on her shoulder, once more, it was Colgate.
"That's how you do it AJ! Keep up the fire! Lay it on 'em AJ!" she shouted. Applejack watched Colgate fire off her rifle. That same one as hers. She grabbed an ammo clip and loaded it into her rifle, she smacked the bolt forward as she raised the rifle again. Once again, she fired off more rounds. One after another, Applejack felt the power course through her body as she kept on firing. Applejack was like a machine, spitting out one round after another and when she wasn't firing, she was reloading her rifle. Before she knew it, Applejack felt something knock her down. She collapsed on the ground and pushed the thing off of her. She looked down at what landed on her. Her emotions began to course through her body once more. She from feeling power to feeling anger. She looked down at Colgate's bloody body. Applejack began to feel the anger course through her body. She loaded her rifle once more and ran out of her foxhole. She ran down the hill, the whistle of bullets passing her head surrounded her as every changeling was aiming at this orange pony. Applejack didn't think anything of it as she fired off another round of her rifle. With every shot, the Garand spat out one round after another. Applejack could feel the rush of adrenaline pulse through her body as she charged towards the nearest group of changelings. She gave off an evil, crazed smile as she drew closer and closer to the wall of changelings.
"Go, get out of there!" they shouted as Applejack smacked one across the face with the butt of her rifle. The changelings fired off random shots hoping to hit the crazed mare, but she didn't flinch one bit. They ran down the line and back up into the hills as they tried to fend for themselves. Applejack raised her rifle, and one by one, a changeling would fall to the ground. The sweat ran down her face the longer she ran. She breathed heavier and heavier the closer she came to the next changeling, and exerting all of her anger on each one she caught. She reloaded one more time to find she was out of ammo from her Garand. One by one, she fired off round after round, until the eighth round where the gun spat out the metallic clip.
"Y'all bettah run yah pussies!" she shouted as the changelings escaped into the woods. Applejack began to feel herself calm down, the rush was over. She dropped her rifle and looked behind her. In her path laid a pile of dead changeling bodies. Her emotions began to get the better of her once more, as she began to feel the pain of her kills enter her body. She fell on the ground as she tried to get the thoughts out of her head. She screamed once more and everything went blurry. Applejack rocked back and forth, trying to get her sight picture back, but she couldn't. She saw the familiar green uniforms trot up near her, as she tried to trot back to them. The last thing Applejack would see was the ground closing in on her as she fell down. Her world then turned pitch black, she felt nothing anymore. No pain, no headache, no agony. Nothing.