Das Vierte Reich

Eight Years Ago

CRACKKKkkkkk!

His adrenaline surged through the back of his head, seemingly slowing down time briefly. A soldier examining the wreckage of what used to be a sort of vehicle, a mechanical device used for transportation, dropped to the ground in slow motion, as a spray of red and white burst from his helmet. A fast-moving small yellow object that pierce through his former comrade's skull, while blood exploded in a manner that nearly made him throw up. He had to remain strong.

“Dammit, sniper!” His friend and comrade in war Gerd screamed. The two companies of Prussian troops, including his own division, scrambled to cover and took up defensive positions. It was obvious what the Prench was attempting to do, and it happened to so many unfortunate souls all across forest area, as it appeared his companies were suddenly ambushed out of nowhere, on their Blitzkrieg siege. This wasn't supposed to be the plan! He shouted to himself, covering behind a tree, reloading his gun that had previous run out of ammunition.

Another vehicle of some sort with a tripwire would be rigged where his own were steam-rolling through. It was supposed to be easier than this. War ain't easy. After it was triggered, all troops in the area would come running to investigate. Once all their victims had neatly assembled for them, Prench snipers would pick off as many Prussians as they could before they were sent to their deaths, an inevitable defeat meant to hold-off the oncoming armies that caught themselves off-guard. The original plan was to outflank the Prench from the Maginot Line wall they had built several years prior once more. Now, the tables were turned, if only for a short amount of time.

His troops were currently in cover in the forest, while more snipers took place inside the buildings across the local river. There were few losses at this point, but he knew more were to surely follow if he didn't do anything.

"Sniper!" Immanuel shouted near him, alerting everyone. "Southwest, third story window, to your left!" Another gunshot went off before he could get any sort of opportunity, this one from a different direction, burst across the river.

He could see the direction the bullet originated from. "Shit, there's another one! Second story spider hole, southeast!" Quickly peaking out from behind the tree with his rifle, he aimed his weapon southwest towards the second sniper. He only got off a few shots before the sniper retaliated, while he moved back into cover, his body standing fully and straight, which made him grunt a little from his spine extending.

"Okay Berger, blow his ass up!"  barked, while Berger nodded, undoing a fragmentation grenade from his tactical vest, removing the safety pin and squeezed the trigger.

"Now! Covering fire!" Gerd screeched, shooting off his weapon while Bravo Company rose from their cover and began firing upon the building on both floors. He did as well, though mainly watching in awe from the sight of destruction.

RA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA

The deafening, automatic 5.56mm assault rifle fire rattled the small village that resided from beyond the large building, and it even rattled him.

The Prench snipers, surprised at the sudden troops that appeared out of nowhere, and the sudden burst of fire, missed their shots and ducked back into their cover, unable to do anything else.

"Fire in the hole!" Using the covering fire to his superb advantage, Berger loved the ball of green metal as hard as he possibly could, first in to the second story window, almost a block away. Less than a second after landing, it detonated, causing some of the second floor's stone material to crack. A second of pause before, everything went silent for a few moments, everyone freezing, expecting something to occur.

Nothing did.

"Damn," He looked towards Berger. "Nice throw."

“I honestly didn’t think it was going to make it, either,” Berger only replied with a shrugged, not caring in the slightest, while the sound of gunfire abruptly died down.

CRACK-PINGGGG!

Gerd's head jerked back and he collapsed to the dusty pavement.

"Shit, no!" Berger yelled as the three dashed over to his body as they pulled him to cover.

“Is he…?" He held his breath, hoping for the best.

Gerd's helmet was dented in just above his right eye. The metal had cut into his forehead, but it deflected the sniper’s bullet. The impact had smashed the lens of his goggles strapped to his helmet.

“Lucky son of a bitch,” He helped Gerd up, though shaken by the event as well.

“Snap out of it men, you’re good,” Berger patted both on the back, but they both were traumatized to different lengths, as Gerd ran his hoof over the dented part of his helmet.

CRACKKKKKK

“We’ve still gotta take care of that sooner or later,” Calus nudged him, as his only response was a breath and a nod.

Immanuel led Charlie Company, including him, from cover to cover, where they met with Bravo Company behind street corner a block from the sniper’s position. Gerd, badly shaken, had to be left with Bravo Company.

Bravo Company sent waves of suppressing fire as him, Berger, Immanuel and Claus dashed through the street and stacked up against the door.

"It could be booby-trapped," Immanuwel warned.

Everyone was aware. But after this sniper had killed one of their own, and almost pegged Gerd to death, it got personal.

“Mate, you lead,” Berger decided, as his response was a quick nod. Patrick nodded.

He waited until the sniper tried to make another shot at US troops, and using the cover of the soviet sniper rifle’s characteristic discharge, he kicked in the door. It reduced the slab of wood to scrap and splinters.

It was dark inside the Prench's hidey-hole. Dusty beams of sunlight fluttered down from barred windows, almost resembling a prison. A worn-down prison, with nothing but the stone keeping it from falling.

As they climbed the stairs to the third story, hehad picked out a trip wire set up in the stairway, connected to the safety pin of a hand grenade. It only added to his anxiety, but they pressed on, stepping as quietly and carefully as they could. No point dwelling on it here. Had to get the job done.

Occasionally, shots still rang out from above and below. When they finally reached the third floor, he could smell something resembling gunpowder. The sniper was definitely around here somewhere. It's not like he was going to make it out alive.

Each gunshot appeared to be leaking out of a slightly ajar door. He stacked up against it, his comrades in arms doing the same.

“Breach!” Berger hollered, where kicked down the door. A very surprised sniper, sporting only a green cap, spun around from his perch against a window, swinging his rifle around towards him.

He placed his illuminated crosshair on the Prench sniper, and mercilessly opened fire, not giving a care in the world. Ear shattering blasts filled the small, contained space. There was no sympathy for someone who had just tried to kill his best friend. Even if he knew it would be unforgivable to few. He wasn't sure if he could deal with that.

The sniper dropped to the ground, miraculously still breathing, but disabled. His friends stood around the Prench sniper, who was trying to reach for his rifle, but lacked the strength to do so. He muttered something in his native language, before reciting something that resembled a dying prayer to him.

“Should we... ya know...?” Claus stuttered, as he unhooked a combat first-aid kit from his tactical vest.

Berger shook his head. Even though the wounded sniper only had a cap laying on his bloody head, Berger saw anger and murder in the Prench's eyes. "Do it."

"Do we have to?" He enquired, feeling sympathetic of the fallen soldier. "We can't keep him as a prisoner of war?"

"We can't! Not what after he did to our friend..." Berger rebutted, leaving him to stay silent. He would regret this, but he didn't have much of any choice.

Patrick withdrew his Beretta M9, and cocked it to fill the chamber. His fellow soldiers nodded, as he took a silent breath.

He stepped forward, the sniper’s eyes glowing with fear. His eyes telling the young soldier to not do it. The young soldier took no joy and what he was about to do. And maybe he never would.

He lowered the hammer, and took aim directly at the masked gunman’s forehead. He and the Prench insurgent locked eyes. As he looked into those fleshy orbs, a cloudy, unwelcoming feeling pooled into his mind. If he didn’t know better, he’d say demonic voices were whispering in his ears. Or maybe it was the Prench sniper's pleads of something resembling mercy.

Bravo Company, still securing the perimeter outside, heard the unmistakable sound of a 9mm execution. He couldn't be merciful. Not anymore. And maybe never again.

=====

I could feel several things from what I assumed was my exhaustion-induced slumber. The first was something warm. Something tolerably hot, that balanced out my body temperature from what was freezing cold. I hadn't opened my eyes to check, the reasoning due to the fact that I can barely feel my eyes. The second thing I could feel was pillows beneath the back of my head. Am I... sleeping in a bed? I must, but who's exactly. The memories of last night, I presume, still haven't came back to my mind. It's currently all a blur. Something about pelting water. A third thing that instantly came to mind is that... my clothes seemed... off to me. It's just an instinct.

I could smell something as well. Something... unique. Like it had just been baked out of a oven. The smell... of pie. Sniffing, it had the scent of red apple. There was only a few places where I had smelt something similar. Maybe even too similar. So I must be in some house, taken in from... actually some memories are coming back to me. That ugly foxhole, more like a hellhole. Walking through that ominous forest, in the rain and in the dark... the medieval buildings of a village engulfed in darkness. Getting weaker and more exhausted... a red barn in an apple orchard.

That mare took me in, instead of leaving me out on the street? That... is an incredibly dangerous thing to do of her. Yet I'm still thankful for it. I finally open my eyes, getting a look at the room I'm in. It looks... to be a Queen's size bed. Quite big for a bunch of farmers. Unless this is the adult's bedroom... why would they let me sleep here? They can't be that nice to foreigners... I guess that myth is proven to be busted. They will still ask questions about my language and my accent for sure, though. And I'm getting the sense that these ponies really love their apples. It seems that the bed covers have a few red apple symbols over them, woven together elegantly. There's a lamp to the left of me, as well as a window, with the sun only beginning to rise. As well as a... foal's toy chest. Right, so this is the foal's room. I guess that makes sense. A lot, in fact. Wouldn't want to be rude to house guests and give them the couch... I'm seen as a house guest? That's another surprise.

I could see the apple orchard in the distance, and it is further away than I expected. I guess I'm on the second floor of this barn... turned into a house. Creativity of the southerners.

Wait, I remembered what the mare was speaking before. In a language they call... 'Equestrian'? I heard it is a form of the dialect that Griffins use. And their language differs from ours in numerous ways. I only know the basics. And suddenly another thought strikes my mind...

She was naked. I fought to shove the new facts into a puzzle that I was constructing in my head, sitting up from where I was lying down. This creepy realization of horror truly chipped through my mind. She was naked. Is being naked a common thing around here. Was every single one of these ponies, without exception, naked by cultural means? Maybe it wasn't the mistake of passing out in front of a stranger on their private property, which is trespassing, that was the main thing I had concern with. It was that everypony was naked. Shivers were sent down my spine. Including that mail stallion, who was a pegasus, was naked as the day he was born.

"In the name of all that is sacred..." I murmured to myself, trying to control my hastening heartbeat. This created even more problems for me. And that fact that I might stare... "Whatever you do, don't ever stare. They'd probably start suspecting you were a pervert of some kind, or at the very least not from this country. It doesn't matter that you've been on your own for however long now, that even..." I choked to myself. "...the colts are starting to look good. Remember... Do. Not. Stare." I don't have anything against homosexuality, but I don't swing that way. But considering the way that I was raised, makes it hard to shake of old traits. And this trait is one I despise.

Attempting to hold back another perfectly reasonable urge to freak out and maybe punch the wall, an uncomfortable thought crossed my mind. "Does that mean... the Princesses are naked to? All four of them? Oh Mother above, that's going to be excellent." I rubbed my face with my right hoof, that wasn't throbbing right now. I guess rest heals you over time, in the land of magic. How long was I out for? Must be only a couple of hours. I felt good during my blacked-out slumber, if I do say so myself. Then the Princesses came back into mind, and I felt like puking a little. But not without wit. "Why, hello there, so-called deities of sun and moon. No, I swear I wasn't leering creepily at your haunches." I paused for a second. "I can't even say I know what 'leering' means. Gazing while cringing, isn't it? Or is it a type of frog? I'm going to be leering at everypony..." "I wonder if Celestia even exists, and if Luna ever existed at all. Or were they just fairy-tales? No they must be real. Mustn't they?" My head is starting to hurt again. "Oh remember when your head was hurting again? That wasn't a pleasant time..."

You're doing that again. You're talking to yourself, once more. Why talk to yourself when you have me, the friendly voice in your head? You know, other than the fact that I'm not really a voice in your mind, just idle thoughts. And the fact that I insulted you the last time I was here.

"Yeah, you've got a good point. On the other hoof, monologuing aloud is quite grand, only at certain times. And as we all know, reality is flexible when something is aroused." I blinked. That sounded wrong. But whatever, its... cool. "Cool!" Why did you just spurt that out for the whole world to hear? "The Equestrian word is 'cool', ours if geil. Wait, that actually means aroused. Or was that geweckt? Do not get those two confused. Especially not when these Equestrians are all..." I cringed again. "...naked." I'm too polite for my own good. Some back home would have leapt at the chance of being around mares who were naked, and when it was the social norm. I'm too 'nice' to be perverted, I guess.

I sighed as I pulled the covers over my body, rubbing my face with my hooves in the process. Before I noticed something else... I'm completely naked. I stared at myself for a few good seconds, trying to process this information through my mind. Before shrieking like an idiot in shock, throwing the covers back over me. "Scheiße!" I'm naked! Did she see me naked? She must have! Maybe the other ponies did as well! That means... they also must have noticed my... oh that isn't good. Though maybe it isn't as bad as I'm making it out to be. But I'm panicking, alright! Stallion, you need to clam down. I will not calm down! I can't get used to this social acceptance! It's just too... foreign?

"You're speaking to yourself again." Okay, I took a few deep breaths before thinking again. Maybe it won't be as bad as I think it might be. Possibly. You'll just have to get used to it if you want to survive in a foreign land... adapt and survive. That doesn't sound as good as I want it too be, but it's a length that I have to take.

"I think this is productive, just you and I speaking in Equestrian. Though perhaps not much on the thinking side of social conformity..."

Oh, of course. Further proof that you have the only two things that you need to succeed in life: ignorance and confidence. And if anything about you is ignorant, it's speaking foreign languages. For example, country.

"Ayep, pardner. Ah dun been thinkin' a'this problem fer a mighty while, yeh partin' bucuker, wha' 'bout ya, don't cha know?"

Do you even know what half of those words meant?

"I'm so clever that I don't even know what I'm saying half the time," I replied, before bursting out snickers. I somehow manage to have fun in the possibly worst of situations, but I guess being that shocked wasn't the worst situation I've had on this continent. Not by a long shot.

"You seem a little lonely, stranger." I froze, that wasn't my own voice. No, it was too different. Too... feminine, for lack of a better word. I think my eyes might have widened in shock. Turning slowly towards the doorway. I could only stare at the smiling, blond mare with a... cutie mark... and a Stetson on her head. After staring blankly down at her hoof every so often, nothing continued to happen. Damn, I wished this was a dream. I stared at her, like an idiot actor waiting to be spoon-fed his lines. Do ya for? Oh Gott von oben, that’s an idiom, right?

She frowned. Odd expression to make, if I was you. “Are you alright, sugarcube? Your cheeks just went all red-like.”

Finally, I managed to squeeze out something... “Huh-bu-wha’?” I stammered.

Bravo. A brilliant performance. What a brilliant introduction to the first pony you meet in Equestria. Granted, it is better than those other times, but it was still embarrassing. Damn, you are lonely.

The mare cocked a brow, before looking away for the slightest of moments. She didn't say anything else, and remained silent. Like she was expecting me to say something.

I faked coughed a few times, attempting to find something. "Pardon me?" Well, its better than bar none.

“I said, you seem a bit lonely here.”

"Yes..." What's your point, Erde? Of all the possible ponies that had to take me in, why in Gottes Namen did Gott Allmächtiger in fact send one pony that looked highly attractive, a mare... and naked... He's trying to test my cool, isn't he? Oh, am I staring at her? I must have been. I turn away from her gaze, still trying to act calm. Now what do I say? Spark up some conversation. "I assume you would like to know a... anzahl of things about me?" I enquired, just getting this over with. I think that might be one of the reasons, among many, of why I don't have friends. I was never really as social as the others. Then again, most of them were bat-shit crazy anyways.

"Yes, I do." That is a very distinct voice, you have there Erde. And I'm going to assume that you don't know what that word means. "I must ask, why were ya all alone under mah tree last night, shivering in the rain?"

Mental cogs still slogging through the muck of confusion. My eyes shuffled to her entire body, her muscular, normal-sized body... peering at it, as if expecting it to suddenly slug me upside the jaw. Just don’t ogle her naked body. Just don’t ogle her naked body. Pretend she’s wearing something. Anything! I don’t care. Just don’t stare! I ambled in my mind for a moment. “I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I lack a satisfactory answer. But were I to make one up, I would say, ‘sitting’.”

“I could see that,” she didn't seem amused. “But why were you sitting out in the rain?”

“I had nowhere to spend the night. I had wanted to get a rest tonight, to leave tomorrow morning, but there were... complications.”

The mare flashed me a look, one that seems like intrigue to me. Though I could be wrong, considering I don't know what foreigner's facial expression really mean. “What do you mean?”

“I had no Equestrian money, plenty of money from pretty much everywhere else. What was I to do?”

She paused, angling her head up to me. “What does that mean?”

Inclining my head, I replied, “When the total amount of time you’ve spent in Equestria is less than two hours," Or in this village rather. "You don’t find much in the way of... Bits.” An odd and possibly stupid name for a type of currency. Then again, some of the others back on my own continent isn't that much better.

Now it was her turn to stare like an idiot. Blinking as well. Huh. “What?”

Maybe this mare has memories issues. Aw shit, that's only gonna make things worse. “I said—”

“No, no, no. I know what you said. The other thing. What do you mean?”

I let the question hang in the air for a moment. She can't tell I'm foreign? Maybe I should just let it drop. But not being honest might be a bad thing... “I’m not... exactly from around here.” What's with the hesitation? I mean sure, you haven't seen any ponies in this nation yet, and more like any pony for months, but you didn't lose your social skills, or lack thereof, didn't you? Maybe it's because she's a mare, and you're incompetent when it comes to mares. It might be due to that. I hate talking to myself. Shut up! Let me try and handle this as best as I can.

Her mouth creaked open, then shut again. I must of done something “But, but, but... no way.” She approached me closer. I realized something else that will be brought up. Where is my coat?

“Have I done... something wrong?”

“There’s no way you’re not from Equestria. You’re even speaking Equestrian!” So what? Maybe Equestrians are xenophobic to foreigners. Or can't understand the concept of foreigners moving to Equestria. Either one is true.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “I learned how.” And forgot after not bothering to speak it in a country that kinda outlaws speaking that kind of language. Also, I didn't care.

“How?” she demanded. Why are you so serious all of a sudden? I'm leaning towards xenophobic.

“Studying hard.” In various ways.

“But you don’t even have a foreign accent at all!” she countered, shaking her head. Again, so what?

“Neither do you,” I said, with my tone flat. That might be a slight lie, but southern are from around here, I believe. Somewhere... east, oddly. South-east?

The Erde rubbed the bridge of her noses. “Look, I know ponies from up north with brogues that are almost unintelligible." How did you manage to speak that word with that accent? "I mean, you sound like you’re from Equestria. Maybe even somewhere in the North.”

“I had a good teacher.”

She put a hoof to her chin. “Well, well, if you’re not from Equestria, obviously. Then... then you must know another language, right?”

I nodded, then cleared my throat. Need to look presentable as always when you attempt to come off as elegant. “Ich würde dir doch niemals belügen. Ich werde immer ehrlich sein. Ich würde dich doch nie etwas sagen, was nicht der Wahrheit entspricht.” I lifted my hoof and pounded it once over my breast. “Hand aufs Herz. Ich gebe dir mein Ehrenwort.”

The sun that shined its light applauded me, and a singing cricket shot me a decent review, along with the trees in the orchard possibly giving me a few nods as well. But even so, the mare before me held her tongue.

“My apologies; should I just leave now?” I asked.

Nothing. Well done, you've somehow broken her. I see why you don't have friends, they break too easily. Must be a weakness thing.

“Miss?”

“Oh, mah,” she almost crooned, her eyes sparkling. Then she suddenly coughed and looked away. Blushed, perhaps. I didn't know that speaking my native language triggers them in... a certain way. I'll keep that in mind the next time I meet a foreigner. Actually, I might just use that against her in the future, potential blackmail. Nothing can go wrong with a little bit of blackmail. "Ah'm sorry, what did ya say?"

A weight rose from my breast. “All in all, what I said was: I would never lie to you. I will always be honest. I would never tell you something that was not true. Cross my heart. I give you my honour-word.”

She ran a hoof through her blond mane, even touching the Stetson that laid upon her head. “I, I just... wow. I’ve never met somepony from outside Equestria before. I mean, wow!”

“Is it really that big of a deal?”

“Um, it kinda is!” She leaned towards me. “Where ya from?”

A certain place, I wanted to say. But I should be truthful, somewhat. “Teutschland,” I offered with some degree of hesitance. The name isn't entirely true, really the nation's name has changed several times over the years. I just prefer it to call country as such. “And therefore am I ein Teutscher.”

“Toych-lahnt,” she slowly repeated. “Toych-uh.” This is going to be a long day, isn't it? She coughed again, shaking her head. "Well, anyways, how ya feelin' after last night? I hope ya sleep was mighty warm."

"Um..." I hesitated. "Yes it was fine. Er, thank you for such... hospitality." Never thought I'd say that. "But I must ask, why would you take a complete stranger with a coat into your homestead?" Because that sends off alarm bells in my mind.

She even paused for the slightest of seconds, before returning a warm smile. Remember, don't stare! "Well I couldn't just leave ya out there in the rain." I assume that southerners are really nice ponies. That might be a downside in the future... "Which leads me to ask, what are ya doing here? Why did ya leave your country?"

"Various reasons, among others." I instantly answered. "Let's just say, I wasn't really welcomed there after I... did something." I looked away with shame on my face. But the mask hid it well. "I must thank you for letting me stay in such a fancy... barn, and not letting me die of exhaustion." She gave me some sort of look. I didn't get to see it. "I... believe that I have to give back something in return..." Which is the only way to really get on her good side, along with the rest of the family, I guess. "Which reminds me, where did you leave my coat?"

"Now, now, ya don't have to give something back." She smiled at me... I feel like something bad is going to occur, if I don't die all of a sudden due to mysterious reasons. And being too nice makes me suspicious. "I think ya need to take it easy as well. You don't need to give anythin' back."

"But I must." Musn't I? "You saved my life, or at the very least, gave me somewhere to stay for just a night." In a foal's room. Still better than outside, I won't complain. "Also, where did you place my coat?"

"Ya don't need to. A thank you and a smile is fine." For you, and that isn't good enough. Not for me. I really want to get on her good side, for many reasons. As long as I'm not seen as any threat in this village, or in this nation rather, everything should go according to plan. Though her being stubborn about not accepting anything from be is a slight setback. Maybe she needs help on the farm?

"What about... I need a place to work and stay. Are you accepting any job offers at the possible moment?" Take it. I really do need it. I'm sure the work can't be that hard. Can it? I mean, it's only apple trees.

"Hmm... well I do need somepony to help with carry the loads of buckets." Buckets of apples? That shouldn't be too hard. No, don't make assumptions. Remember the last time I did that? Yeah, that wasn't the best of times in my life. Fuck the Prench.

"So it is settled then, dear." I proclaimed, about to jump out from under the covers, before remembering that I am still naked. I'll have to get used to this. Eventually. But for now, paranoia it is. "Um... would you be willing to fish out my coat, from wherever it currently lays?"

"Why? Are ya scared of sometin'?"

"Um..." I paused. "Not necessarily. I'd just... rather be seen with my coat on than being completely naked, mind you."

"Naked?" She raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with wearin' no clothes?"

"It's a social anxiety of mine. Or, at least back in my homeland. Being naked is outlawed. We all had to wear clothed. Also, for more personal reasons."

She seemed to want to ask another few questions, now that I'd doubt she wouldn't want to ask after hearing something about the Motherland, but she gave a shrug in response. "Well alright. I'll fetch if for ya. Stay comfy under those blankets then!" Oh you're toying with me now, but I'll have you under my grasp. Just you wait. There won't be anymore joking! Just you wait!

"Man, you really are lonely."

Shut up. Things can't get worse from here. At least no one has tried to kill me yet.

"Don't get you're hopes up. Remember that time involving a bucket, a cat, a table, forks, and a bottle of wine?"

Shut up. I'll end you.