Even a Diamond can break

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 2 Convoy
Chapter 3 Facility and Kaiser-Friedrich Museum
Chapter 4 Opernplatz
Chapter 5 Flak tower
Chapter 6 Karlshorst Command Post
Chapter 7 Kreuzberg
Chapter 8 Köpenick
Chapter 9 Village of the Dead
Chapter 10 Cathedral of Resurrection
Chapter 11 Labyrinth of Death
Chapter 12 Library of Evil
Chapter 13 Subway to Hell

Prologue

Berlin 1945

Josef Becker, a young man at the age of 20, was on his post in Berlin. Germany was close to defeat and he knew that.

He had a family but they escaped out of Berlin. He did not know if his family managed to get of Berlin. All his friends were killed in the war. Still Josef wanted to survive this.

“Did your wife get out of Berlin?” a comrade asked.

“I don’t know. Non-essential communications are banned.”

“Well, no news is good news, right?”

“It’s no news, that’s all it is. I don’t want to think about it,” Josef replied worried about his family.

Then there was a sound. “What was that?” The two Soldiers investigated the sound.

“Must've been my imagination.” Josef returned on his post. “It’s just a matter of time until the Russians break though.”

“Agreed. I’m looking forward to the end of all this just like you.”

Josef let out a sigh. “We should not have pushed this far east. We could have won if we hadn’t attacked them.”

“I know. But on the other hand, if would be much worse if they attacked us first.”

“Does this matter now?” Josef didn’t want to talk about this.

He looked at a family picture he carried in his pocket. “My wife, I pray that you made it out. And I will survive for you.” He kissed the picture.

“You’re really missing her, aren’t you?”

“Yes. She’s everything for me and the only thing I have left. All my friends are dead.”

“Sorry to hear that. If I may ask how your friends were?”

Josef chuckled, “I had two friends. Harry and Otto. We were together in school and went through everything. But then both were sent to the Western front, were they were killed. I can still remember how they said goodbye to me.”

“I know that you are worried about us Josef, but don’t worry, we will come back in one piece.” “Yeah, Harry is right, with our superior weapons and glorious leaders, we will push the Allies back where they belong.”
“Just be careful okay?” “Careful is our middle name Josef.” Otto and Harry hugged him for the last time before they went to the front.

“Sorry to hear that. It’s always painful to lose someone that is very close.”

“I know, I have to live with that.”

A truck was driving by. A Soldier stepped out.

“Soldier of Germany! You should be grateful to fight!”

Josef disagreed. “It’s hardly a fight anymore, Allies from the west, Russians from the East…”

“This is not the time for such talk. Keep it together, Soldier.”

“But we can’t win on two fronts!” “You’re a disgrace!”

Josef didn’t care anymore. Berlin was a Ghost Town in ruins. Explosions, Gunfire and Air raid Sirens could be heard from a distance. He felt sorry for the civilians, especially for the Children. They did not deserve something like this.

He had a flashback of his life before his wife left Berlin.

“Be careful Josef. I don’t want to lose you.” His wife hugged him with tear-filled eyes.
“I will always be careful my dear. Even if I get captured by the Russians, I will stay alive for you.”
His wife gave him a family picture. “So you’ll think about me.” His wife said with a smile, though the tears continued to flow down her cheeks.
Josef smiled, “I would never forget you my love.” He gave her a goodbye kiss.

Then he was back in reality.

“You’d better stay awake; they’re everywhere now… we have to stay ready.” The fanatic Solder scolded him.

“Can’t I think about the safety of my wife? She’s everything I have left.”

“The safety of the fatherland of more important than your wife.” Enraged, Josef grabbed him by the shirt collar and pulled him close.

“Do you think I do this for the fatherland? I do this only for my wife and the civilians, especially for the Children! I bet you even have no Family, otherwise you would understand my feeling!”

Scared by this reaction, the Soldier whimpered, “S-sorry, I-I didn’t meant that so personally. I have lost my family long ago. If I die for the fatherland, then I can die with honor and join them.”

Josef let him go. “Next time, think before you saying anything about other people.”

Despite the war, Josef loved his wife. They met first in in January 1944 and married in the same year. They even planned to have a Child but they wanted to wait until the war is over.

Josef hadn’t much experience. When he was recruited, he was mostly deployed behind the frontlines for guard duty. This spared him from being captured or killed.

He never believed in Hitler’s message, but followed orders for the sake of protecting his wife.

Now, he was on the frontline. He hoped that he would survive, but the chances were low and he knew that. But if he refused to fight, he would be executed. He had seen what happened to deserters.

The young Soldier had lost the will to fight long ago. Berlin was his home since his birth. Now it would be probably his grave. His wife was however what was driving him.

At first when Germany was victorious, he believed in a fast ending of the war. But that hope dropped with every year closer to defeat. The battle of Stalingrad was a sign that Germany would lose the war.

Josef deployed a great dislike in the SS and Waffen-SS. He was a Soldier not a murder.

He would never harm a civilian. He even had planned with his wife to get back into their home. If there’s anything left.
Suddenly he heard a whistle. “Artillery!”

The three men got to cover. The impact was far away from their location but close enough to be heard.

Then Josef heard something. It sounded like a child scared and calling out for her parents.

It came out from the building in front of him. “I check this out.” He walked into the building. The sound was under the stairs. “Hello?” He called out.

After a brief silence an answer came. “P-Please…please don’t hurt me. I’m…I’m scared. I don’t know where I am.” Josef could tell that the child was a girl and was crying.

“You’re in a house.”

"I know…I ran in here when I heard that scary noise.”

Scary noise? Oh no, She must been around when the bomb exploded. He thought before he heard another whistle followed by an explosion.
“Shh, you can come out, I will not harm you.” Josef lowered his K98 to show he meant no harm.

The girl slowly came out. But once he saw the girl, his brain shut down.

It wasn’t a human girl but a filly with a magenta coat, blue tear-filled eyes and a violet mane with white streaks and a Tiara on her head.
She stopped to cover her ears from another bomb. Josef kneeled down to her.

“Shh, calm down, I am here for you.” The young German reached in his pocket to give her some chocolate. “Here. These are my last rations but you need it more than me.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“Just call me Josef. What’s your name?”

“Diamond Tiara.” Josef rubbed her back.
She cried a little bit more before she said to him, “I just want to go home.”

Author's Note

There's my next story. I selected Sniper Elite V2 as I loved the music, it fits the battle of Berlin perfectly! And the Story is better then in Sniper Elite 3. When it comes to history, the Battle of Berlin is one of my favorite subjects.

For some reason, I always stop to listen to the NPC conversations in games. And Rebellion did a very good job at this. The Germans know that the war is lost, while the Russians are looking forward to victory.

Children suffer the most in war, but I hope you enjoy it!

If you want to know more about the game, go here.

Chapter 2 Convoy

Chapter 2: Convoy

Josef looked at her, not sure what to say. He wasn’t sure how he should be able to get her home, but refusing would scare her even more.
“I will help you, my dear.”

“Oh, thank you so much!” Tiara hugged him.

“Now, let’s get you to safety, okay?”

“Yes, sir!” She did a playful salute to the soldier with brown hair and matching eyes.

Josef was an optimist and hoped that the other Soldiers wouldn’t freak out.

“There you are! Everything all right, comrade?” The Soldier that asked him about his wife sounded worried.
The other Soldier spotted the filly. He shook his head in disbelief.

Diamond Tiara seemed a bit frightened. “There’s no need to be afraid. These are my comrades. They aren’t going to hurt you.”

She relaxed, then stuck her hoof out towards the two Soldiers and smiled.
“Hello, I am Diamond Tiara.”
Both men didn’t know what to say. This confused her. “What? Haven’t you guys ever seen a pony before?”

“Not one that is talking,” Josef comrade muttered.

“Or one that is wearing a Tiara,” The fanatic one added.

In a blink of an eye, the filly realized that she was far from home now and collapsed on the ground.

“M-mommy… D-daddy…” she sobbed.

“Shh, don’t worry, I will help you. Do you want some water?”

“Yes please.”

Diamond took a sip of Josef’s canteen. Now, even the other two Germans had sympathy for her. “You’re right. Protecting the civilians is more important that the fatherland. I am Bruno.”

“And I am Gustav.”

“I am Josef. Do you know a safer place for her?”

“Of course. We could take her to the Tiergarten Flak Tower.”

“What’s that, Bruno?”

“One of the safest places in Berlin,” Gustav explained.

“You’re Soldiers, right?”

“Yes. I promise I will protect you.”

“Thank you, Josef!” She hugged him. Then she spotted his rifle. “What’s that on your back?” Diamond asked with curiosity.

“This is the Mauser K98 rifle. Single shot, bolt-action. It has five rounds in its clip. It is the standard rifle of the German Army. Gustav is using the Gewehr 43. Unlike the K98 it is semi-automatic and has a magazine of 10 rounds. Bruno is using the MP40 the standard submachine gun. It has a magazine of 32 rounds and is fully-automatic. I also have a sidearm the Luger P08. It has a magazine of 8 rounds.”

“Interesting. We don’t have such weapons where I am coming from. I am no expert but shouldn’t you wear helmets?”

“We are using patrol caps as helmets are not fitting for urban warfare. I also like it more than a helmet.”

“Oh, ok”

“We can take the truck. Since Berlin is a debris field, it could take some time until we get there. But a convoy is heading for the Mittelwerk Facility. If we make a layover there we should reach the Flak Tower in the next day.”

“Ok Bruno ,let’s go. Who knows when the next bomb will explode.” Josef helped Diamond Tiara into the back of the truck.

As the truck started moving, Josef told her where she was, which year it was and told her about the Second World War without going to deep into it.

She trembled. “That’s terrible. Equestria had never a war like this.”

“Don’t worry, I am here for you. Do you want to tell me about your family?”

“That would be a nice change. I was born in Ponyville a small village in Ponyville. My family is one of the richest in Equestria. My daddy is a very successful businesspony and a caring father. My mother on the other hoof is overbearing.

She always told me to stay away from ponies with a lower social standing than her families. This resulted that I became the school bully. I always bullied other ponies with no Cutie Mark.”

“What’s a Cutie Mark?”

She showed her flank. “A Cutie mark represents the special talent of a pony. I called ponies without Cutie Mark ‘blank flanks’. But I changed after I confronted my mother after losing the election for school president.”

“Very interesting.” Josef looked at his family picture.

“Is this your wife?” Tiara looked at the picture. It showed Josef and a woman a few years older than him, both smiling.

Josef let out a sigh. “Yes. We married last year. I live in Berlin since my birth. My wife attempted to get out of Berlin as the Russians came closer. I hope she made it. After I lost my friends, she is the only thing I have left.”

“My condolences, Josef. I have a friend called Silver Spoon. We met first in school and were best friend ever since.”

“Glad to hear it.” He looked out of the back. “This was such a beautiful city. Now it’s a warzone and a shatter city. Ah, there is the convoy.”

The truck joined two other trucks that were leaded by a SdKfz. 222 Light Armored Car.

Diamond Tiara closed her eyes to rest. She snuggled herself into Josef’s arms. His heart melted and he smiled.

Then he had a flashback

He and his wife were on a bench on the balcony watching the sunset.
Such a beautiful sunset, isn’t it, Josef?” His wife asked him. “Yes it is Jenny. I just hope this war is over soon.” His wife didn’t respond. She had her eyes closed and had snuggled herself into Josef. He smiled and gave her a kiss in the check. “I love you.”

Then he was brought out by an explosion “What was that?!” Tiara's eyes shot up in shock and fear.

“We’re under attack!”
Josef jumped out of the back, Bruno and Gustav stepped out of the driver cabin, Weapons ready.

The truck in the middle of the convoy was destroyed and in flames. The Soldiers were dead stuck in the burning wrack. The corpse of a civilian Josef didn’t know was thrown out, dead but unharmed. “Sniper, in the building!” Josef pointed to a building here he saw the glint of a scope.

“Get her out of here!” We cover you!” Gustav ordered.

Josef hesitated no second. He wrapped his left arm around Tiara and drew his sidearm with his right arm. She whimpered in fear.
Josef fired a few times to force the sniper into cover.

A Tiger tank was driving by. Before he was able to shot, he was destroyed by a shot to the fuel cap. The explosion took Gustav and Bruno with him.

The adrenaline pushed his heart to the limit.

A Soldier that was standing a few meters away from him was shot into the head.

Blood sprayed from his head as he fell dead to the ground. Josef hadn’t much medical knowledge but could tell that the bullet cracked his skull like a knife would butter.

“Don’t look sweetie.” Josef covered Tiara's eyes. She didn’t respond, she was holding onto him for dear life and was crying the entire time. It pained him to see her like this.

He had seen the looks of pain and sorrow of civilians whose family members were killed in battle or in air raids. But seeing a child crying over the loss of his parents, or a mother crying over the loss of her child pained him the most.

Eventually, he made it out of the battle. As the adrenaline wore off, he checked himself and Diamond. He was unharmed. She was too but had cried herself to sleep.

He was in a street he didn’t know. Sure, he lived his entire life in Berlin but the debris made it difficult to recognize the streets.
Another truck stopped next to him. “Hey comrade, where are you heading?” the driver asked him.

“Mittelwerk Facility. My truck was ambushed.”

“Sorry to hear that. I was heading there myself, hop into the back.”

“Thanks.” Josef climbed in, laying the sleeping filly gently down.

The driver was oblivious to her presence, the back was empty.

I could be wrong but was that the famous Desert Ghost? The young man asked himself as he had heard stories about this famous Allied sniper. If he was right, he hoped he wouldn’t get shot by him.

Author's Note

Another one done! Karl is known as the Sniper in Sniper Elite V2 and as the Desert Ghost in Sniper Elite III which is set before V2. Makes me wonder how the Germans call him in Sniper Elite 4. I'm looking forward it.

Chapter 3 Facility and Kaiser-Friedrich Museum

Chapter 3: Facility and Kaiser-Friedrich Museum

It was late evening as the truck arrived. The young private gently shook the filly’s shoulder. “Diamond, it’s time to wake up.” She let out a cute yawn.

“We’re here Dad- I mean Josef?”

He giggled. “I wouldn’t mind of you would call me your daddy. Besides, I would help us to avoid suspicion.” She nodded in understanding.

“Wow… I never saw such a Facility before.” Tiaras eyes went wide.

“Neither did me.”

A loudspeaker turned on. It was incomprehensible; Josef only understood that someone should report.

He showed his ID to the guard at the checkpoint. The guard looked at Diamond. “Just my imagination.”

“Should I show you the Facility?”

“Please daddy.”

“Ok, just stay close.”

They entered through the north-entrance. An officer greeted them.

“Sir.” Josef saluted.

“At ease. Why are you here?”

“I was heading to the Tiergarten Flak Tower to get my daughter to safety. A comrade said to me it would be a good idea to rest there, if you give us permission.”

“Permission granted. I see you wanted to show your daughter the Facility?”

“Yes sir, if you don’t mind.” Josef was little bit nervous.

“Not at all, private. The war is over soon anyway and this Facility isn’t a secret anymore.” The officer kneeled down to her.
“That’s a cute costume you know that?”

“Thank you, sir.”

Josef showed Tiara the Facility and how the V2 rockets were produced. “Even if it’s designed as a weapon, I am sure it will be of great use for humanity after the war.”

“Let’s hope so, daddy. Let’s eat something for dinner, ok?”

“Right.”

Diamond Tiara didn’t complain about bread. Apart from the chocolate Josef gave her when he found her, she hadn’t eaten anything. And she understood how bad the Food supply was because of the war. She was just glad to have something in her stomach.

“Hey, do you want to play cards with us?”

“No thanks, comrade. I need to sleep; I’ve been awake for two days straight now. I can barely keep my eyes open…”

“You deserve some sleep, daddy. After protecting me from the bad guys, you earned it.”

“She’s right, follow me.”

The Soldier leaded them to an office with a bed. “Good night, you two.” The Soldier tipped his helmet at the filly and left.

Josef laid his gear aside and was fast asleep. Tiara laid the bedcover over him. “Goodnight, daddy.” Then she snuggled herself into the bed and fell asleep too with a sigh. The German almost forgot how beautiful sleep was. Relaxing and nice.

Josef had a beautiful dream.

He was sitting with his wife in the grass. They watched happy as Tiara chased some butterflies.
“She is not our daughter but still we should enjoy every minute with her.”

“I know, Jenny. She is already a daughter for me. I just hope her parents aren’t too worried about her.”

“You worry too much. Besides, I must say for a filly of a rich family, she is very polite.”

“Yeah, she really is.” A bird landed next to them. He opened his beak. Instead of a normal chirp, the bird made a sound of a siren.
The man’s eyes shot open as he heard an explosion.

He jolted at the sound almost knocking Diamond off the bed. “Hurry, get up!” She pleaded. The Soldier from earlier ran in.

“What’s happening?!” Josef grabbed his gear.

“This Facility is gonna blow! We must evacuate!”

They ran down the stairs. Red lights were on and Alarms sounded.

Parts of the Facility were in flames. Other soldiers and officers tried to evacuate but were caught in explosions.

The north-entrance was the only exit as explosion and flames blocked all other exits. Josef slipped but caught himself with his left hand.
Almost at the exit, an explosion knocked Tiara over. It also killed the other soldier, his body landed next to her. “He’s dead. Come on, we’re almost made it!” Josef grabbed her.

With a sprint he made it out in time. Another explosion caused him to land on the ground.

“That was too close…” Josef looked back as the entrance was also in flames.

Diamond shivered in his arms. Both hearts were pumping so fast that they both passed out.

“Ohh… my head.” Josef tried to get up but the pain kept him from doing it. He grunted.

“Ah! You awake!” a soldier exclaimed.

Josef looked around. He was lying on a mattress, his gear right next to him.

He recognized the building. It was the Kaiser-Friedrich Museum. Then he panicked, as Diamond Tiara wasn’t around him. “Where’s my daughter?! Don’t tell me she…”

“Died? No she’s safe and sound.” He stepped aside to a reveal a still unconscious filly on a mattress beside him. She was bandaged around her chest.

The soldier corrected his helmet before helping Josef up. It was painful but he made it up.

“My sweet daughter, I had almost lost you.” Josef and his comrade let out a tear.

“D-daddy? Daddy!” She hugged him with tears. “I thought we had died!”

“No, we’re safe thanks to him.” Josef pointed to his comrade.

He smiled at Tiara. “Hello little one, I am Ben. I helped you because I couldn’t live with myself if you had died. A sweet girl like you doesn’t deserve to die so early.”

“Thank you very much, Ben. Wait, where’s my Tiara?”

“I am afraid it was destroyed as the Facility exploded.” Her eyes began to tear up.

“It was a birthday gift from my mother.” To cheer her up, Josef putted his cap on Tiara. She smiled at him.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. Ben, you know where we heading?”

Ben looked worried at him. “Yes. But there’s a problem: Berlin isn’t a ghost town anymore. The Reds have broken through our lines and a tank unit is heading here. You were both unconscious for the rest of the night. ”

“Then we better get moving.”

“Not so fast. You won’t make it far in this condition. I suggest that you rest for a while before going.”

“Alright Ben. Should I show you the museum, Dana?”

“Yes, daddy.” She smiled.

Most of the paintings and other parts were already taken away, but there were still some sights.

What caught Diamond's interest was the Numismatic of Berlin. There were Ancient coins, medals, Medieval and post-medieval coins and other stocks.

“Quite surprising how coins change over time, isn't it?”

“Yes, daddy. I think I still need some rest.” Tiara trotted back to the mattress.

“Okay, I will patrol the museum.”

“Just don’t leave me.” Tiara looked into his eyes, pleading. Josef booped her nose causing her to giggle. “I will come back for you.”

Josef walked through the museum. He loved every visit when he was a kid. Now it was in ruins too. It was such a beautiful building once. Now it’s a half-destroyed building.

He leaned against the window. Will be there anything left after the war?

He thought before someone shouted in German, “Hands up, drop your weapon!”

Josef dropped his rifle. He raised his hands and trembled in fear. “P-please don’t kill me, I have a family!”

“Turn around. Slowly.”

Josef turned around. A muscular man with blue eyes with brushed back brown hair, wearing olive drab coat and pants and black boots was holding him at gunpoint with a silenced pistol.

“How old are you?” the man asked.

“I got 20 this year. Please let me live, nobody will know that you were here, I promise!”

The man lowered his weapon. “You’re still young. You don’t deserve to rot here. You should get out of here as fast as you can.”

Josef relaxed. “I know I and my daughter are just here to rest. You’re the famous Desert Ghost, aren’t you?”

“Yes I am. You know, I was raised in Berlin. It’s really pity that my former home is now a shatter city.”

“What a coincidence, I live in Berlin too.”

“Guess we aren’t so different from each other. Even if I am happy to let the Germans rot, I can’t say it feels good to kill a fellow countryman.”

“Say that to the SS. They execute anyone who says that the war is lost or refuses to fight. I just want to get my daughter to safety. I was planning to get to the Tiergarten Flak tower.”

“Do that. I suggest you heading west to get out of Berlin as soon as possible. I am very dedicated to my missions and will eliminate anyone who stands in my way of completing my objective. However, I will disregard orders when I uncover new information and change my objectives, for the greater good. You’re a good guy. I am planning to destroy the bridge to slow the Reds. It will buy me and you some time. When you see the bridge exploding, get out of here, understand?”

“Yes.”

“Despite she isn’t your real daughter, you care for her as she is your daughter. You have my respect.”

“Wait! Before you go, can I know your real name?”

“Karl Fairburne. And you’re Josef. I have my sources.”

Karl took the stairs up. Josef grabbed his rifle. It took him a minute to process this.

Then he looked after Tiara. “How are you?”

“Much better, Daddy.” She smiled at him.

“The Russians!” a soldier screamed.

“Diamond listen, I have an escape route. When the bridge explodes, we’re leaving through a hole upstairs got it?”

“Got it.”

The bridge exploded. Russian soldiers dived for cover. 3 IS-2s were falling into the water as they tried to cross the bridge. “Now go! We buy you as much time as we can!” Ben shouted before firing his MP 40.

A few other soldiers escorted them. “He must be on the roof! Storm the roof! Stop him!”

The squad leader shouted as Josef helped his daughter down.

They were stopped by a higher ranking soldier. Josef couldn’t see what his rank was exactly. “You there, stop!”

“Why? I just want to get my daughter to safety!”

The soldier hit him with the butt of his Gewehr 43. “You are going nowhere, traitor! Bring them to the Opernplatz for immediate execution!”

“Yes, sir!” The other soldiers forced them on a truck.

“Daddy, I am scared!” “Don’t worry, we won’t die, I promise.”

Before the truck moved, Josef looked at the Soldier with the Gewehr 43 again.
“SS-Hauptsturmführer, should have known it.” He mumbled to himself as the truck rolled towards the Opernplatz.

Author's Note

They got captured! Looks like they need a miracle to get out of there.

I loved the music that plays while sneaking through the museum. It fits the situation.

And the music when escaping from the facilty...dramatic good!

Chapter 4 Opernplatz

Chapter 4: Opernplatz

Josef lost time how long the ride was. The entire time, he patted Tiara's head to calm her down.

The truck stopped. “Get out!” A Soldier pointed his rifle at them.

“Relax man, I am going already.”

“Don’t do anything stupid now.” He threatened as Josef helped the filly out of the back. “Get in there!” The human and the filly were locked into a basement.

“I don’t wanna die!” Diamond broke down on the floor, crying her heart out.

“Shh, don’t worry, we will find a way out.” It wouldn’t be simple as soldiers patrolled the Opernplatz and snipers were on the rooftops.

Karl was on his way to the Opernplatz. He overheard two Germans. “I can understand why the SS-Hauptsturmführer wants to execute Schwaiger, but a private that only wants to get his daughter to safety?”

“Sucks. I would want to help them, but escaping from here would be impossible.”

“I feel sorry for them.”
“Me too comrade. I pray that it will be quick.”

Bastards! It wasn’t Karl’s objective but none of them deserved this. He felt a little bit guilty after he saw both passed out after they made it out of the facility and the convoy.

The basement had no windows. Josef couldn’t see what was going on outside.
He had to smile at the memories when he was a kid. He always came with his parents to the Opernplatz as the library had books about almost everything.

He never thought that this place would be his grave.

Tiara hadn’t stopped crying. She feared for her life. Josef just prayed that she would be spared. After all, she didn’t do any wrong.
Jenny used to work on the library. That was the place where they first met.
Josef had a flashback.

He was on vacation as he served the fatherland well. The young private decided to visit the library. History was his favorite subject in school.
“Hello, I am Jenny, how can I help you?” The young woman asked. “Greetings, I am looking for the history section.”
“Just up the stairs.”
"Thank you. Did anybody tell how beautiful you are?”
She blushed. “Thanks for the compliment.”

Josef walked upstairs. As always it was quiet. While he was reading, he heard Jenny, “Please leave me alone.” He walked down to see what was wrong.
She was harassed by an SS-Hauptsturmführer. It was the same who called him traitor. “Why don’t we go to a nice restaurant?”
“I said, leave me alone! I am not interested in a cold-blooded sadist! The Hauptsturmführer grabbed her arm.
“WHAT did you just call me?! If you think you can push me around, you’re wrong!” he was about to slap her.
“Hey! Leave her alone! This is a library where things go quiet.” Josef blocked him.
“Are you questioning my authority private?!”
“No, but I think you had a little too much. I ask you kindly to leave her alone… NOW.”
“You think you’re scaring me? I show you what happens to people that are standing in my way.”
He let go of jenny to get his SS dagger. Josef however was faster, as he grabbed the arm of the Hauptsturmführer and twisted his arm causing him to drop the dagger.
“You force me to do this.” Josef threw him out of the library.
“You gonna pay for this!” The SS-member screamed.
The visitors watched everything. They clapped their hands in applause.
“Thank you, sir.”
“I just did my duty. Name’s Josef.”
Jenny looked at the soldier with brown hair and green eyes with an amorous glance.
“Do you want to go to a restaurant after my work is over?” Josef returned the glance at the women with brown hair with matching eyes. “Sure, why not. I am on vacation anyway”. After this, they dated and married.

Josef never thought that this would be his punishment.
He hummed a lullaby to Tiara.
The door opened. The SS-Hauptsturmführer escorted by to soldiers with MP 40 walked in.
“Time for your execution.” He looked at both with a sadistic look.

They were forced outside. Next to them was a man with glasses and a suit.

“Please, don’t kill me!” The filly begged for her life.

“Your father will pay with your blood! I waited a whole year for this.” He cocked his Luger. “On your Knees.” She got on her knees, her eyes closed.

“You can’t do this to her! She didn’t do anything!” The man was enraged.

“I can do this. Anything is fair to punish a traitor.

I make it quick. I always do.” Before he was able to execute her, a sniper bullet to the head killed him.

“Sniper, take cover!” One of the soldiers shouted, before he was killed. Using non-lethal force, Josef knocked the other out and took his MP 40.

“The shot came from the library. We should meet our savior.” The man cocked his Luger.

“Right. After you.” Diamond was trembling.

“I- I am still alive?” She slowly opened her eyes.

“Yes, you’re still alive. Let’s go to safety.” Slowly recovering from her shock, she nodded and got on her hoofs.

The sniper covered their path from the library. “For the Fatherland!” a still loyal Wehrmacht soldier took cover but was killed by the sniper in the head.

As all soldiers they encountered used MP 40s, ammo was plentiful for Josef.

Diamond Tiara followed him close and took cover whenever he told her. Still he could see how scared she was.

Josef himself did not want to kill his own comrades. Instead, he tried to suppress them or only to incapacitate them. He killed before but that were resistance fighters trying to sabotage the area he guarded. But even back then, he tried to make them surrender or tried to incapacitate them without killing them, just as he tried now.

After a while, the small group reached the library.

The sniper was no one else then Karl.

He noticed that the man was bleeding. Josef and fortunately Diamond Tiara were unharmed.

“You’re hit. Let me take a look.”

“No time. The Reds are coming. You hold them off. We’ll be fine.”

“But I need information.”

“Hold them off. If you don’t, we’re all dead!”

“Tiara, go with him upstairs, I will help Karl out.”

“B-but Daddy!”

“I’ll be fine. Now go! I don’t want that you get hurt. For your own safety.”

“Okay, daddy, I understand.” Josef could hear that she was afraid of the Reds.

“I managed to get your gear.” Karl gave him his trusty K98.

“Thanks. I owe you one.” Your owe me nothing. Let’s get into position before the Reds arriving."

Both men took position on the upper floor.

“Is that a Mosin-Nagant?” Josef hadn’t noticed this before.

“Yes Josef, a Mosin-Nagant 1891/31. Beautiful.”

“The Russians are here! There’s a truck coming from the North!” The man exclaimed.

An Opel Blitz was stopping. Josef acted as spotter. He saw that this weren’t normal Russians. They wore thick uniforms and had ammunitions belts around the torso. “Damn! Those guys are Elites! Be careful. Had the misfortune of fighting them at the Battle of the Seelow Heights, before I was, sent back to Berlin.”

“Thanks for the tip.” The Elites were all armed with PPSch-41s. Josef fired his K98 at them and said where the Elites were. They returned fire but the PPSch-41 wasn’t accurate at this distance.

It would be all over if they would reach the entrance.

Together, they took the Elites out. “Another truck from the North!”

A second truck rolled in. 4 Elites stepped out. As before, Karl and Josef managed to take them out.
As Josef reloaded his rifle, he saw an Elite soldier near the entrance. Wanting to protect his girl, he grabbed his MP40 to intercept the Russian.

While the Elite, was a well experienced veteran, he still was taken by surprise as the young private took him out at the stairs with a burst of the MP40.

He returned to Karl. “Good shooting I must admit, for a young private like you.”

Josef blushed at the compliment. Tiara was holding her ears. “The assault is over. We are safe. For now.”

“Really?” She uncovered her ears.

The man was bleeding and coughed. “Thank you for the rescue. But I fear that it was…” he coughed. “… a waste of time. Wolff… has a plan… V2s… Tabun.”

“Tabun? Where’s that?” Karl asked.

“Not a…” The man coughed again. “Not a place…”

“What is it then? What’s Tabun?” The man died before he could give an answer.

Josef hugged Tiara as he cried over his dead. “I am afraid I can’t help you either. I don’t know what Tabun is.”

“You don’t need to apologize. You better get going. Thanks for your help.”

“And I thank you for saving my life.” Diamond Tiara gave Karl a big and tight hug.

“I only did my duty.”

Josef used one of the trucks. He helped his sweetheart on the passenger seat.

She looked sad. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s my Tiara. For me it was something special.”

In an attempt to cheer her up, Josef putted his cap on her head. She giggled.

“Let’s go, shall we?”

“Yes, sir!” She saluted.

On the way to the flak tower, private Diamond Tiara had pulled the cap over her eyes to doze.

“Finally, we’re here!” Josef exclaimed as the flak tower was in sight. It was already evening, but after a long journey that had made it. Finally.

Author's Note

Finally they made it! When it comes to WW2 and WW1, I prefer bolt-action rifles and the Mosin Nagant was my favorite in the game as it is the most balanced of the three rifles. But my personal favorite is the K98.

Chapter 5 Flak tower

Chapter 5: Flak tower

“Sweetheart, we’re here.”

She yawned. “We’re here?” She saw the flak tower. “Wow. Never saw such a huge building. Apart from the facility.”

“It is huge but it offers protection against air raids. And I am sure you find some friends of your age.” Tiara giggled as she heard this.

“Thanks for cheering me up and making me hope.” She gave his cap back.

The soldiers at the entrance greeted both.

Josef took her to the accommodations. It was surprising that they were almost empty.

Only a young woman with black hair and green eyes with her two children, a boy and a girl was there. The boy had brown hair and blue eyes, the girl black hair with blue eyes.

“Hello, can we come in?”

“Of course,” The woman replied to Josef. The Children looked confused at Tiara.

“Hello, I am Diamond Tiara.”

“She can talk?” The girl was surprised.

“It’s a costume my dear sister.” The boy said to her.

“Actually, it’s not. She’s not from this world.

“For real?” both asked eyes widened.

“Yes. I am from a country called Equestria. What’s your names?” Diamond asked politely and with joy.

“I am Erwin and this is my sister Dora. This is our mother Elsa. Our Daddy died in the battle of Stalingrad.”

"Sorry to hear that. At least you still have your caring mother. My mother isn’t so caring.” Tiara lowered her ears.

“That’s just rode. But you have a caring father?”

“Yes I have.”

For the rest of the evening, the three children had a happy conversation. The rich filly told her new friends about her life, family and Equestria. Elsa and Josef smiled.

“May I ask how your husband was?”

Elsa sobbed. “Great. He cared about me and our kids above everything else.”

“He was a good husband. I am Josef by the way.”

“Yes he was.” This remembered Josef of his wife. He showed Elsa the picture.

“This is my wife Jenny. She’s everything I have left. I hope she made it out of Berlin.”

They were interrupted by Diamond Tiara. She was laughing as Dora and Erwin tickled her. As she was lying on the ground trying to catch her breath, Josef remembered that she hadn’t told him how exactly she landed in Berlin.

“I don’t want to upset you, but how did you end up here in the first place?”

The filly took a deep breath. “Well, after I changed, a unicorn colt named Night Star became the new bully. He said that I am a freak to be friends with the CMC. Enraged, I said to him he should learn how to use magic probably and not for bulling other foals.
What I didn’t expect was that he said to me that his magic was working fine. As proof, he fired a spell on me and… here am I. I am able to understand your language, as the magic in Equestria makes this possible. For me it sounds like my native language, while for you it sounds like I speak German or in Karl’s case English.”

“This idiot! I hope his parents are punishing him very hard!” Erwin was angry.

“I am sure they will, brother.” Dora calmed him down.

A German Elite Soldier walked in. “Josef, I have a message for you.”

“Message? What message?”

The soldier cleared his throat. “I am sorry to tell you, that your wife…did not make it out of Berlin. She was in Prenlau when the Reds attacked. There were no survivors.” As proof, the soldier gave Josef Jenny’s wedding ring. Josef looked him into the eyes. He could tell that the Soldier was honest and sorry.

As he left, Josef broke out in tears. “Jenny… no. She was everything I had left.” He collapsed on the ground.

“Josef?” Tiara felt sorry for him.

His sadness became anger. “Screw this war, screw the Russians, screw the Führer, screw everything! If he had surrendered, my wife would be still alive, but no instead he says: ‘No retreat, no surrender defend this city until the last men and bullet!’”

He shouted, throwing his cap on the ground. “JOSEF!” Tiara cried out. She, Dora and Erwin hugged him tightly. “My condolences for your loss, but you still have me.”

Josef smiled at her and was running his hand through her mane. “That’s right. Sorry about my outburst. I am a calm man but sometimes, the fury must be released.”

“That’s okay. Maybe a walk should feel you better.”

“Yeah, would not hurt.” He let go, putted his cap up and walked to the entrance. Before leaving the room, Josef turned around.
Diamond Tiara was playing with her friends. Elsa smiled at him and the kids.

Downstairs, an Elite soldier asked him, “Did you hear about what happened in Prenlau?”

“Yeah, no survivors.” “I hope our Glorious Leaders have a plan, I don’t know much longer we can hold out.”

This made Josef thinking. Diamond Tiara was like a daughter for him. And he would get her home safe and sound or die.
Worried about her safety, he checked her.

His heart melted. Tiara, Erwin and Dora were asleep on the ground. A picture was in her hoofs. Elsa looked at it with Josef. Their hearts melted.

She had drawn a picture of her family and Silver Spoon.

Her father had blue eyes, a grey mane that looked similar to black and brown coat. His Cutie Mark was three sacks of money.
Her mother had opal eyes, a magenta mane and a pale pink coat. Her Cutie Mark was a Diamond ring.

Silver Spoon had a grey coat and mane, glasses and violet eyes. As her name suggests, she had a spoon as Cutie Mark. The spoon was adorned with a heart.

Above them were the words “I miss you.”

“She really misses her family and her friend.”

“Yeah.” Josef kissed her on the forehead and tucked her in. “Goodnight, sweetheart. I promise I will get you out of this warzone.” He putted the picture in his pocket. Elsa tucked her children in.

“Goodnight,” Josef said before he walked upstairs to the roof.

“Bombers coming from the north. Redirect all guns.” The commanding officer ordered.

The guns were deafening but Josef was used to it. The night was here.

Josef leaned on the railing as he looked into the city. Berlin was burning but still had some beauty. Even the night maintained his beauty. A plane was shot down. It crashed burning into the woods.

Walking down stairs, the young “father” spotted something strange on the wall.
“Kilroy was here.”

“What?” Before his mind was able to process this, an alarm ringed.
The Russians! Wasting no time, he ran down to the accommodations.

“What’s wrong, are the Reds coming for us?” Dora was scared.

“I don’t know. Anyway, I think it is better if we get you to safety!”

“Agreed, let’s move!”

They all got into the truck that Josef used to get here.

Josef drove as fast as he could. However, he didn’t’ came far as Russian troops stopped them.

“Out of the truck, now!” The Squad leader ordered in German with a strong accent. They all got out with raised hands. “On the ground!” They obeyed, hands/hoofs behind their heads.

“Sir, those are civilians! We can’t take them prisoner!”

“Shut up private. Bring them to our command post in Karlshorst. The Commissar should decide what happens to them.”

With that, the private took them into a truck with the destination Karlshorst Command Post. He felt sorry for the Children.

“Daddy, I am scared!” Tiara trembled in Josef’s arms. Erwin and Dora in their mother’s arms.

“Shh, don’t worry, nothing, bad will happen to you. The Russians will not harm you.” Josef and Elsa tried to make their children hope. Both prayed and hoped that the Russians would spare their children but still they prepared for the worst.

Author's Note

Let's hope and pray the russians spare them. But at least, Tiara has made some friends here.

The Flak Tower is my favorite level. The music with the night fits that level perfectly.

About Killroy was here, that's a Achievement that says you have to make it through the tower to the winch room without being spotted, which i did. Also on the roof the fire of the AA guns, the burning city and the night sky... just beautiful to me. Sometimes you could see a plane going down.

The conversation Josef had with the soldier is also ingame in the level, But you already guessed, right?

Chapter 6 Karlshorst Command Post

Chapter 6: Karlshorst Command Post

The truck reached the Command Post. It was guarded by soldiers normal and Elites and an IS-2.
The prisoners were brought to a Russian officer. “Comrade Commissar, we have prisoners. What should we do with them?” The officer looked at the children.

They were trembling and had a pleading look on their faces. “Put them all into the cells! We will deal with them later!”

“Yes, comrade. Move it.”

A Russian shoved Josef into the cell. In the cell was another German soldier.

Elsa hummed a lullaby to calm the kids down. Josef hugged Tiara tightly and rocked her. She cried her heart out like Erwin and Dora. Their eyes were already red.

The cell opened and a soldier dragged the German out.

Josef could see and hear everything.

“Do not kill me!” The soldier begged as two Soldiers and the officer interrogated him.
“He wants mercy!”
“You do not deserve mercy!” The second soldier slapped him.
“What mercy did you show to our people?!” The officer kicked him.

The German cried in pain. “Please!”
The officer aimed his pistol at him. “Time to die!"
“Wait... Wait! He may help us!” the first soldier pushed the pistol away.
“HELP US?! He can DIE for us!" The officer shot the horrified German in the head. His helmet flew off and blood splattered on the ground, the officer showed no emotion but hate. “Mudak!!” He exclaimed in anger. “No German deserves mercy!”
The children looked in shock at the body, not able to process it. Tiara trembled hard, close to breakdown. The first soldier looked horrified at the body. Elsa hugged her children tightly, also horrified, worried about their safety. Josef gasped, trying to process what just happened.

"This is not war! This is murder!!” the private that told his squad leader that they were civilians was horrified by this.
The officer just said, “THIS is how you end a war, Chernov!”

Josef couldn’t believe what he just saw. The Reds were merciless. If not a miracle would happen, this would be the end.
“I regret everything! I regret everything I ever done!” Traumatized, Tiara began slowly to lose her nerves.
“Shh, everything is gonna be fine.” Josef patted her.

The young private came and gave them something to eat. “Here. I don’t want you to starve.” He gave the kids some candy.

“Thanks.”
The private looked at the crying and sobbing filly, then at Josef.

“Hey, you’re not such a bad guy after all. I… I guess not all Wehrmacht soldiers are dogs as the propaganda told me.”

"You mean it?”

“Yeah. You know, before the war started and the third Reich was created I used to live in Germany. I even had a wife and a kid…”

"You must be pretty lonely.”

“Yeah, I am pretty lonely… REALLY lonely.”

“What’s your kid’s name?”

"Chernov.”

“Chernov… nice ring to it.”

“Really? You like it? …Well, if you say so, I’ll believe you. Actually, my name is Chernov, too. You already know it from earlier.” He took out a family picture. “All the first-borns sons in my family are called Chernov. My Dad’s a Chernov, and my son’s son will probably be a Chernov too.”

“A whole clan of Chernovs.”

“Why do we have a Second World War anyway…” He did a long pause. “… our countries used to be such good friends and helped each other.”

“Yeah, I hear you.”

Chernov sighed. “I just want to see my family again…”

“Must be rough.”

“Yeah…not as rough as you have it though.” He took something out of his pocked to give it Josef. “Here.” It was the picture of Jenny and the picture Tiara had drawn. “I filched them from your stuff when the Commissar wasn’t looking. It’s the least I can do…”

“You’re a pacifist by nature. Just like me.”

“You are? Guess we aren’t so different from each other.”

“My daughter is everything I have left. But tell me, why did you give me this?”

Chernov was about to reply as two soldiers had a conversation that answered Josef’s question.

“Do you think we can keep anything we find?”

“No, they’ll be requisitioned by command.”

“Damn. You wouldn’t tell them if I just put a little something in my pocket, would you?”

“No, but if you do it just means you’ll end up hanging it yourself. They always seem to know...”

“You see, I didn’t want that the Commissar would destroy these two pictures.”

“Thank you. After my wife died in Prenlau, this picture is anything I have left.”

“Prenlau? I was there when we attacked. The Commissar told us, ‘kill them all, the women, the children, the old, they deserve no mercy.’ Look at us. These men are cold-blooded now. We have lost all of our humanity at Stalingrad along with our innocence. They want revenge for what the SS did in Russia. But in the end, it doesn’t matter as we are now doing the same, making us no better than they are.”

“I understand your feelings.”

The Commissar shouted, “Bring me the next prisoner!”

“You.” He pointed at the foal.
“Me?”
“Yes you. And with you fraulein, I will have some fun.” Elsa knew exactly what he was meaning.

“No, please mercy!” Diamond Tiara was snatched out of Josef’s arms.

“I beg you, spare the children!” Elsa pleaded.

“They’re as equally guilty as your soldiers. What a waste of time. I should kill you right now.”

“OK THAT’S IT!” Chernov couldn’t bear this any longer. “I will not tolerate that you will kill a child!” He stood in front of the filly protectively.

“Are you questioning your commanding officer?! Now let me do this.”

“No more. I can’t take any more of this.”

"Get out of my way, private!”

“Not this time, comrade. No move.” He aimed his rifle at the officer.

“Then die, traitor!”

There was an explosion. “The sniper, its him!”

“Get him! I will deal with her later!” the officer ordered.

All soldiers except Chernov moved out to kill the sniper.

Even outnumbered, the sniper gained the upper hand. “Kill him!” the Commissar shouted swapping his pistol for a PPSch-41.
“Kill him or I will you myself!” he threatened his men.
By the sounds it was clear that more Russians were killed. “Shoot him! What are you doing? You are all useless!”
The Elite soldiers tried to stop him but were also killed, one by one. “He is only one man!” The Commissar couldn’t believe what he saw.
“I don’t think so!” As he was the only one left, he used the child as shield. But he forgot Chernov. Chernov hit him very hard from behind with the butt his rifle.

Then he freed the prisoners. “Thank you. I thought we were done for.” Elsa’s children were crying by the sounds of battle.

Josef took Tiara on his arm and patted her back. “Shh, no more tears.” Karl searched the body of the officer. He found something.

“Why are you here?”

"Remember the word Tabun, Josef?”

“Yes why?”

Karl looked at the paper. “Tabun is a nerve agent. Powerful and lethal."

“How lethal?” Tiara's ears stood again.

“Breathe it, touch it, even look at it and your body shut down in all sorts of gruesome ways.” She didn’t want to image how painful this death would be.

“It comes worse. Wolff is a chemical weapon specialist. His plan is to fill with the Russians the last of Germany’s V2 rockets with the stuff. Their target is… London. The Reds would make it like Germany’s final revenge. I have to stop that launch.”

“Wait! You can’t go out there! The Commissar has made a call for help. A Sniper Team is on his way here.” Chernov warned him.

“Don’t worry. I will clear the way for you with my Gewehr 43. ZF 4 telescopic sight, four times magnification. A nice toy and enough to deal with them.”

“Good, we wait here.” Elsa had calmed her children down.

“There’s a truck outside. We can use it to escape.”

“Good idea, Chernov. But what will you do?”

“I’ll think of something.”

Karl took two snipers out that entered the Command Post. Then, he walked outside to take out the rest of the Sniper Team. After this was done, he gave all clear and leaved.

“Where are we heading, Daddy?” Tiara climbed on the passenger seat.

“Kreuzberg. It is nearby and still under German control. Damn Reds. They want Germany for themselves. But I never thought that they would do something terrible like this.” He said as he started the engine and left the Command Post.

Author's Note

They made it out alive thanks to Karl. This Chernov is based on the Russian with the same name in Call of Duty World at War. His conversation with Josef is based on this.

The two soldiers talking keeping the things they find, was heard in the beginning of the flak tower level.

Chapter 7 Kreuzberg

Chapter 7: Kreuzberg

On the way to Kreuzberg, Josef stopped to let Eva, her children and Chernov out. It pained Tiara to leave them but they said they would find another way out.

Kreuzberg was the place where Josef used to live. It was in the heart of the city.

It was dangerous as the Battle of Berlin was at its height now. But the truck was running low on fuel and Kreuzberg was the only place where the truck could go before running out.

The two reached the docks. “Either we find fuel for the truck or we go on foot.”

“I could need some rest, Daddy.”

“You earned it, my dear.” Josef smiled.

Despite being in a warzone, he enjoyed every minute with her.

“Do you think if I ask the Princess that you can stay or to safe Elsa and my friends, that she will do it?”

“I am sure she will do it.”

The Germans they met were normal and elite soldiers. Their uniforms and faces were dirty.

Tiara whimpered as she saw hanged civilians and Soldiers. They all had signs. “The Soldier can die the deserter must die. I had to die.”

“This is horrible.”

“But unfortunately true. Everyone who says that the war is lost or refuses to fight is ending like them. But for you I will fight until the end.”

She gave a light smile. “Thank you for helping me.” The other soldiers had sympathy for her.

“Your poor child. You don’t deserve being trapped in this warzone. Getting out now will not be easy. There are Close quarters fighting on every street, snipers on every rooftop and tanks on every bridge and square. We managed to hold this area so far, but who knows when the Reds will attack.”

“I know. Our truck has no fuel, do you where we can get fuel?”

The Elite pointed to the Subway. “If you can make it through the subway, you can reach our HQ. From there, you should find a way of transportation.”

Josef opened his mouth to say something, as three soldiers were trying to send a message to a General.

“The Russian soldiers keep on advancing.”
“We are almost entirely surrounded.”
“Our situation is hopeless.”
“Is this what I am supposed to tell the General?”
“He should have figured this out by himself already ...”
“Except he is as arrogant as the Führer himself!”
“They will try to flood the underground tunnels as they fear the Russians will attempt to reach the Königsplatz this way.” The third soldier explained.
“God help us.”

The first soldier who started the conversation said before another soldier shouted, “The Russians!”

An IS-2 broke through the barrier at the other side of the street, accompanied by several soviets.
The tank opened fire on the Germans.

Josef was thrown to the ground. His ears were ringing and his vision was blurry from the shellshock.
As he stood up, he was shocked.

Diamond Tiara was cowering behind a crate, trapped between the firefight of the two sides. “Help! Medic!” She screamed in pain as she was bleeding from her gut. She was incapacitated, bullets missed her barely.

NO! I will not lose another member of my family! “Cover me!”

“You heard him, covering fire!”
“Coming to your aid!”

Josef dodged gunfire and explosions. The IS-2 was destroyed by a German with a panzerfaust.

As he reached the wounded filly, an Ivan screamed, “I will kill you!” Then the German heard a metallic bang. It was the sound when a bullet hit the helmet of a soldier.

The Ivan fell dead to the ground; his head was a bloody mess.

In a destroyed building, on the side where the soviets were, Josef saw Karl.

He waved to show Josef to get moving.

Tiara was holding her gut, tears leaved her eyes. “The pain…make it stop!”

She was losing blood. She would die without medical attention.

There was no time to get the bullet out, so Josef just stopped the bleeding and carried her to safety.
“Get her to the HQ!”
Josef wasted no time.

At the HQ, a medic helped Tiara. “I have to remove the bullet. Would you hold her to calm her down?”

Josef took gently her hoof and spoke in a calming voice, “Still. Lie still. And don’t cry. The pain will be over soon.”

“Daddy… its hurts… so much.”

“Shh, my friend will take care of the pain.”

Tiara struggled and screamed in pain as the medic pushed the tweezers into the wound. Josef said calming words to her. She calmed slowly down.

The pain was great but her screams of pain reduced to cries through gritted teeth.

The medic had finally found what he was looking for, tightened the tweezers and slowly pulled back.

Tiara let out a final scream as the medic removed the tweezers from the wound and held up an almost intact 7,62 × 54 mm R Mosin-Nagant bullet. Then he bandaged the wound.

“You were a very brave filly, Diamond Tiara.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” She had to grunt in pain as Josef helped her up.

Josef looked around. Almost all buildings he saw, where damaged.

With a sigh, he told Tiara, “I used to live near here with my wife.”

“You hoping to go back after the war?” Tiara asked her arms wrapped around him as she was grateful for helping her.

“If there’s anything left.” He saw a bar in the distance. “This place once echoed with conversations of friends and lovers. No longer.”
He smiled at the memories when they build their home.

The neighbors were always friendly and helping each other when someone needed help.
“Shh, I am here for you.” He patted her as she startled by the sound of a bomb.

Suddenly he heard a whistle. Actually, it was more a screech than a whistle, he would recognize immediately.

“Katjuschas! Quickly, into the metro! This way!” Being careful of her wound, he picked Tiara up and ran as fast as he could to the metro.
Tiara heard a strange screech. She looked into the sky and saw rockets.

The two made it, but the medic was crushed to death as the ceiling collapsed from the barrage.

“Is he… Is he…?” She whispered shivering in his arms.

“Don’t look.”
Tiara looked away. Josef saw blood coming out of the rubble and a severed hand could be seen.

The lights were on but went off from the loud rumbling.

“Let’s wait a few seconds to give our eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness.” Josef stopped.
After a few moments, their vision improved.

Except for a few German Soldiers that guarded the metro, there was nobody else.

“What are you doing down here?”

“Defending the metro. And you?”

“I and my daughter had to escape from a Katjuscha barrage. Do you know a way out?”

“Of course. We’re abandoning the metro anyway.”

Parts of the metro were collapsing.

“The place is collapsing!” Josef was worried.

“We are going to be crushed... Or buried alive!” The soldier realized the situation.

Tiara didn’t want to image this kind of death, before she realized something.

“Daddy, didn’t your comrades say that they flood the underground tunnels?”

“Yes, but I don’t think it would be this part of the metro.”

The soldier led them to a gate.

Josef gently sat Tiara down to open it. “It’s stuck! Verdammt!”

Out of nowhere, Soviet soldiers appeared at the other end.

“Where’re they coming from? Never mind, Hold them back!”

The soldier that led them putted Tiara to cover behind a wall.

The Germans returned fire while Josef beats on the door in an attempt to open it.

Tiara heard a rumbling noise.
“What is that noise?!”

“Return fire! Keep them off me!”

Rats were running past them.
“Rats!!!” Tiara hated rats.
“Almost got it!"

“Hurry, Daddy!”

A huge wave of water came straight towards them.
“Daddy! LOOK OUT!!!” She screamed as she saw the water.

“Got it!!”

“My Gosh!!!” Tiara screamed in fear as the wave hit her.
Her vision went black.

Author's Note

Did they survive? Anyway, the ending was inspired by the level in Call of Duty World at War wher it ends the same way. I love this music. so epic, don't you agree?

In the game, I always waited and let Germans and Russians fight each other. Saves ammo and you have less enemies to fight. And when I incapacitated an enemy, I always showed mercy, I'm a mercyful person. If no other soldier is around, the incapacitated soldier will die but if a comrade is near, he will carry him to safety, gives him a adrenaline shot I believe, in the same way you revive your buddy on coop and he can resume fighting.

Chapter 8 Köpenick

Chapter 8: Köpenick

“You will be okay... Do you hear me?” Tiara awoke by the sound of Josef’s voice.

She was panting heavily from the flooded metro. Josef carried her to a truck. “They flooded the metro in an effort to kill anyone down there, Russians and Germans alike.”

He set her down into the back of the truck. “You will be okay. Relax for a few minutes. Breathe deeply.”

As the truck started to move, Tiara hugged him tightly. “I thought I was drowned!”

Josef patted her back. “Actually… you were almost drowned hadn’t I a adrenaline syringe with me. Plus knowledge in CPR.”

“Where are we going now, Daddy?”

"Köpenick. It’s a launch site for V2 rockets outside of Berlin. I used to guard it.”

It was always amazing when a rocket was launched, but also terrible as he knew that civilians were the victims.
Because of this, Josef was always glad when a launch failed, and even had to suppress a giggle, when the rockets were doing funny loops before crashing.
Jenny never knew that he was guarding a launch site. Instead, she was told that her husband was guarding Factory’s or fuel depots.

Unlike others, Josef wasn’t drinking, or thought of suicide as the Battle of Berlin started.

This is a promise he did to his wife and he kept it no matter what. Now, he kept it for Diamond Tiara.

She was resting her head on his shoulder.

“Daddy,” she began, “Did you want to do a different job then being a soldier before the war started?”

“Yes. Since I loved to read and history, I thought of the same job my wife had or as an historian. My wife even told me she could get a job at the library for me when the war would be over. And you?”

“I would get into the family business and lead the business of my parents once I am a mare.”

“Sounds great. You know, my wife had loved it to see you. She always helped children and smiled happy whenever she saw a happy child.”

“She would be a great mother. And you would be a great father.”

“You think?”

“Yes. You’re already like a surrogate father for me.”

“And you’re like a daughter for me.”
They shared a laugh.

“You know despite the war, I enjoy every minute with you Tiara.”

“So do I. I just hope that Elsa, Erwin and Dora are safe and out of the city.”

“I hope so too.” He patted her in a tight hug.

It was getting dark, so both decided to sleep.

Tiara had a beautiful dream.

She dreamed that she was playing with Silver Spoon, Erwin and Dora.
Her parents, their parents and Josef and Jenny were smiled as they watched the children playing in the grass.
Josef had somehow managed to get a gramophone here and it played a nice song she didn’t know. But she didn’t care as she was overjoyed to see Silver Spoon again.

“How about go the Sugarcube corner? I invite you.”

“Sounds great, Diamond!” Silver Spoon exclaimed.

Everypony greeted the humans with big smiles. The CMC was at the Sugarcube corner.

“Hi guys, how’s it going?” Scootaloo asked.

“Good. And you?” “Also good.” Sweetie Belle responded.

“Hello Mr. Rich, what leads you in our beautiful bakery?” Mr. Cake greeted him.

“Just a visit with our beloved daughter and her friends. I pay for everything.”

The kids enjoyed some muffins and talked about what they should do next.

The sun was here and no cloud in the sky. The weather was beautiful.

Back on the grass again, the kids played tag.

“Working for a Princess is a real honor.”

“Yes it is, Jenny.” She rested her head on Josef’s shoulder.

Elsa smiled not only at them, but also at her children. All friends they had were killed by air raids. Still, she was happy that they had Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara as friends now.

A friendship that would never break apart. Still, she wished that her husband was here to see this.

She could feel that his spirit was behind her, smiling at the heart melting scene.

“If there is one thing that money can’t buy, it’s you and friends.” Mr. Rich kissed his wife.

“I know but all the money in the world is priceless compared to our daughter’s happiness.”

“Got you!” Erwin said as he tackled Tiara playfully to the ground and tickled her.

“Stop it! Please, I give up!” She laughed.

Eventually, they laid down into the grass and watched the sky.

“It’s such a beautiful day.”

"Yes, Tiara. I wish this day would never end.” Silver Spoon looked into the sky.

“Hey, look.” Dora pointed to the sky. She saw two clouds. One looked like a Tiara, the other one like a Spoon.

“Looks like a… a Tiara Spoon! Get it?” Erwin joked.

They kids burst into laughter. “I have to remember that joke!” Tiara wiped a tear out of eye. Then she heard a whistle that turned into an explosion.

She woke up with a scream.

Josef was awake too. “We’re under attack!”

More explosions shook the truck.
Suddenly an explosion hit the truck.

Tiara and Josef were thrown out. She passed out from the impact.

She slowly regained consciousness. The truck was destroyed and in flames.

She was unharmed and looked around. Everywhere were wounded Germans and destroyed trucks.

It was the Launch site. Her coat was dirty; she had multiple scratches and bruises.
It was night and a thunderstorm was ruling the sky.

“Josef!” He was incapacitated on the ground.

“Diamond Tiara…” He was holding his chest and tried to get up but the pain was too much.

Tiara galloped to him. “Hold on, you’re going to be fine.” Despite the pain, he let out a smile.

“I like your… optimism but… you have… to get out of here.”

“I won’t leave you.”

“Leave me. There’s nothing else you can do me for. Save… yourself. Run…”

Before she could reply, she saw a Russian in the distance. “I love you, daddy.”

She let out a tear and trotted away.

“Fan out man, check bodies. No survivors!” The Russian said.

Scared to death, Tiara hides herself in a destroyed building.
Cowering, she curled herself into a ball.

She could saw how Josef raised a hand to beg for mercy, but the Russian shot him as the thunder came. Daddy, no!
In a sotto voice she whimpered, “please...please...please do...not find me.” The Russian walked past the building.

“Come out, filly… I’ll find you! We know you are somewhere! You cannot hide forever. There is no point in hiding. If you come out now, I promise your death will be quick and painless!” One of the officers called out.

Tiara didn’t move, just sobbed. This was her end.

However as she saw another Russian that was about to enter the building, she slowly walked backwards.
She bumped into another soldier.

“Please don’t kill me! Please don’t kill me!” She begged for her life.

She closed her eyes as the soldier pointed his weapon at her.
She heard no bang as the thunder came again but pain for a second, before she passed out.

Author's Note

Did she died?

I originally wanted to use the track the gramophone plays in the game but I couldn't find it anywhere, so I used the track from the spin-off, but if anyone knows where I can find it, please tell me.

Chapter 9 Village of the Dead

Chapter 9: Village of the Dead

The filly awoke with a gasp and panted heavily. She looked around.

She wasn’t at the Launch site anymore, but in a destroyed building that was different from that she was hiding in.
The building was mostly intact except for the roof. The sky was dark. Too dark for normal circumstances. Also there was green fog everywhere.

Tiara also saw a blood trail on the ground. She could see it was her blood.

Did someone dragged me to safety or did I crawl here? She thought as she couldn’t remember that she crawled away.
Then she noticed a second blood trail. It leaded to a dead German soldier on a bed. A Luger pistol was lying next to him. His face was covered in blood.

Diamond Tiara had to throw up. She winced as she heard the scream of a woman in the distance.

Outside was not better. Bodies were littered on the street, destroyed and burning trucks and the buildings were on fire and collapsed.
Too scared to move, she curled into a ball and cried.

“I am dead! Everyone is dead and I can’t go home! I am in Tartarus! Is this my punishment for being a bully even after I changed?!”

She heard another scream. It sounded horrible. She peeked through the window.

Some of the bodies rose. Their flesh was rotten, their eyes glowed yellow.

At some of them, the thorax could be seen. Their skin was pale grey.

“Zombies!” Tiara exclaimed but silenced herself to avoid getting spotted by them.

Some Zombies wore gasmasks, other wore helmets, and some wore caps like Josef, while some Zombies had no headgear at all, but a knife in their head.

As weapons they had meat hooks, flashlights, wrenches and many other things.

Some Zombies even used Luger pistols and MP40s. However the Zombies couldn’t use them effectively. They tended to wave them around and randomly pulled the trigger indiscriminately.

Then they started to feed on a body. Tiara couldn’t watch this. She closed her eyes and covered her ears.

Then she heard gunshots and the Zombies were killed. (If you can call a destroyed undead killed as he is already dead.)

“Check the buildings! I don’t want that some of those undead are ambushing us! Check also for supplies.” A man ordered in English with a Russian accent.

In panic, Tiara grabbed the Luger. She hadn’t fired a weapon before but still she had to defend herself somehow.

A Russian entered the building. He wore the uniform of an Elite soldier and had a Moustache. He wore an a yellow-orange colored arm band around his left upper arm, bearing a logo, which was a skull and crossbones with a bullet piercing the skull, and the initials “S.B”.
“Stay away from me!” Tiaras hoof trembled as she aimed at him.

The Russian looked at her calm. “Kid, put the pistol away. I won’t hurt you.”

“You’re lie! One of your comrades shot me!” Tears leaved her eyes.

“Boris! What’s going on?” Karl entered the building. He wore the same clothes but also had forearm guards and shoulder pads. He had a bloody bandage wrapped around his head. He also wore black fingerless gloves. There was a large black container attached to his belt, as well as additional ammo pouches.

“Tiara?”

“Karl? What’s going on? Where’s Josef?”

“Did somebody say my name?”

“Josef!” The filly dropped the pistol and ran to him for a tight hug.

“I thought you died!”

“No. The shot wasn’t fatal. Karl fixed me up. You need medical attention right now.”

He pointed to her chest where she was bleeding. “It’s a miracle that you didn’t bleed to death.” He took care of it.

“I can’t remember how I even got here.”

“By the blood trail, you seemed to crawl here.”
Josef had a bloody bandage around his left leg.

“Daddy, what’s going on out here?” She asked scared.

“I don’t know. Whatever it is, it is a thousand times worse than the war itself. Germany is shrouded in in darkness. Zombies walk the earth. We’re one of the few remaining living souls in Germany.
We are in an abandoned village, en route to Berlin, hoping to find a working vehicle.
Don’t worry; we’re protecting you from the bad Zombies.”

“Okay Daddy, let’s get out of here.” She looked around.

“These poor people. They didn’t deserve this.”

“I know. Hadn’t I assisted them in their occult research, this had never happened.”

“You never told me your name.” Tiara looked at the man with a fedora and a revolver in his hand.

“Dr. Efram Schwaiger.”

“And I am Boris Medvedev.” The Russian introduced himself. “Josef hoped that we would find you still alive and not dead or… as one of them.”

“Anyway, let’s move.” Karl took the lead. The female screams reminded Tiara too much of Elsa. She prayed that she and her kids were still alive.

Whatever the group fought Zombies, Diamond Tiara noticed that they always tried to headshot them.

She wondered why until she saw the answer.

One Zombie that was killed by a shot to the chest, resurrected after a strange symbol appeared under him. Josef killed him by stomping his head before he could get up.
They made it to a safe room where they restocked on ammo.

Leaving the safe room, they came to a building with a Skull on a desk.

Out of curiosity, the filly investigated the Skull.

The Skull started to float and the desk glowed red.

“Carnem consumatur!”

A scream could be heard in the distance. “Hide upstairs until we killed all the Zombies!”

“Ok, daddy!” She trotted upstairs and hided in a bathroom.

Waves of Zombies attacked.

The group killed them with headshots and explosives. “Tötet Sie!”

Diamond looked out of the window. She saw a screaming Zombie.

He was glowing red, wore a headband and was holding a grenade in his right hand. He also had dynamite on his belt.
Karl managed to kill him in the middle of a group of Zombies. He exploded.

“Don’t let those Suicide bombers near us! Kill them before they reach us!”

“Got it!” the other three replied to Karl.

After some more the assault was over. “You can come out now, sweetheart!”

Diamond walked down. They made their way to another safe room.

Tiara noticed that when a Zombie was killed, he disintegrated after a few seconds. Even his head gear.

They next area was a gas station.

This time Skeleton attacked. Tiara saw that their hearts were glowing.

“Aim for their hearts! It seems to be their weak spot!”

“Will do!”

Schwaiger shot a Skeleton in the heart and it fell into a pile of bones. Boris found out that kicking them was also very effective.

Even a buck from the filly was enough to destroy them. This pleased Tiara as she could help the survivors against the undead.

Then normal Zombies in combination of Skeletons attacked.

Diamond focused on the Skeletons, while the humans took care of the normal Zombies.

Boris threw a grenade. Two Zombies lost their limbs. The second also lost its head but was still walking.

“Get away from her!” Josef screamed and stomped the crawling Zombie as he was after Diamond Tiara. The other was about to attack her. She screamed in fear as he fell on her back, but the Zombie collapsed before it could harm her.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

Josef helped her up. “A parent must protect his child.” She smiled despite her fear.

The next safe house was in view.

Outside, Josef saw the glint of a scope in the distance. “Watch out!” He grabbed Tiara to drag her away. The Sniper missed. He grunted angry in disappointment.

Looking through the scope, Josef saw a Sniper that wore a gas mask with green goggles and a lighter colored jacket. Josef fired and hit him.
A second Sniper appeared. He jumped from vantage point to vantage point, but as his goggles glow green, he could be easily seen. And he leaved a green trail when jumping.

Karl killed him this time.

“Okay, Zombie Snipers? That’s ridiculous!” Josef commented.

The way leaded to a church with a working truck.

Josef helped his daughter into the back of the truck.

A Zombie scream could be heard in the distance.

“Stay in the truck, you’ll be safe there.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

Hordes of Zombies, Skeletons and Suicide bombers attacked.

They didn’t notice the filly, only focused on the humans inside the church.

“Fire the panzerfaust!” She saw an explosion as Josef fired a panzerfaust at a large group of Zombies, blowing them all over the place.
Another wave attacked.

Tiara saw from the back, that a tall Zombie was with them.

His eyes were glowing red and he carried a MG42, as well as multiple belts of ammunition across his chest. He also wears a helmet and a swastika arm band on its left arm.

Unlike a normal Zombie, he could take a lot of headshots. He also screamed in pain when he was hit.

“An Elite Zombie?!” Josef shouted in surprise as the Elite fired his LMG.

After a few headshots the helmet of the Elite flew off and it shook his head it pain.

“In the name of the lord, EAT my Preacher!” Schwaiger fired a Preacher. It was powerful enough to shot the Elite's head off. It fell on its knees and disintegrated.

“Phew, be glad that’s over. Now let’s get out of here!” Josef climbed into the back with Boris and Schwaiger while Karl took the driver’s seat.

“Daddy, I am scared.”

“Shh, I am here for you.”

“No, I mean Elsa and her kids. I hope they’re still alive.”

“Me too, sweetheart. Me too.”

Author's Note

What in the hay happened? This is is a thousand times worse than the war itself if you're ask me. When I played this level and heard the screams in the distance, I felt sorry for the civillians, especially the children.

Chapter 10 Cathedral of Resurrection

Chapter 10: Cathedral of Resurrection

The group reached Berlin. It was unbelievably. Berlin was burning and all souls were remaining here were damned. The streets crawl with Zombies.

Still as Berlin was the origin of this apocalypse, there had to be something that was the source of this unearthly scourge.

Inside a barricaded building was a radio. A woman tried to send a message.

“If you can hear this please help us get the message out. Do not attempt to come to Berlin. Hitler has raised an army of the dead. They can’t be stopped! They are apparently gathering at the Memorial Cathedral. I don’t know what this means… but it can’t be good. We don’t know how long we can hold out before we fall. All hope is lost. Lord, please save our Souls.”

“Mommy I am scared.” A boy interrupted her.

“That’s Elsa! At least she is still alive.”

“And Erwin and Dora are also safe.” Tiara was relieved.

Josef took his MP40 to clear the building.

Fear took fully over. If this was a nightmare, the rich foal just wanted to wake up. But apparently it was true.

“I-I just want to wake up from this nightmare.” She sobbed.

“Shh, look at me.” With tears she looked Boris into the eyes.

“I have survived much worse than this and I will make sure that you will survive too. You got my respect. That was some impressive fighting you did. And I am only respectful to those who deserve it.”

“Thanks, Boris.”

Tiara let put a breath of relief. They all were here for her. And all would make sure that she would survive.

Josef returned. “Rooms are cleared.”

Outside Suicide bombers screamed, “Tötet Sie!”

The group took them out with the Zombies.

Josef hadn’t fire a sniper rifle before, but it was not so different then without scope.

On the street, an Elite slammed the door open as Tiara was about to open it.

She scrawled backwards and got up, as the Survivors concentrated fire on him.

As he was dead, they got to the safe room.

The streets were littered with bodies and Zombies.

There were many Zombies but with grenades and mines, the group even mastered this.

They all could see the fear in Tiara's eyes, but she said where she found supplies and helped to took out Skeletons.

Still, there was something strange. Schwaiger died before her eyes. Still, he was alive here.

Was she somehow landed in an alternative universe? Or was this just a dream?

It couldn’t be either of it as Josef and Karl remembered her and it was far too realistic for a dream.

She was so lost in thought, that she didn’t noticed that they reached the next safe room.

In a basement was another radio. It looped, “All hope is lost. Lord, please save our Souls.”

It pained Tiara to hear Elsa in such a frightened voice. It was obvious that she wanted to safe her children.

Despite heavy resistance of Zombies, Suicide bombers, Skeletons and Snipers, they managed to reach the next safe room.

“Stay inside the building, we take care of the Zombies.”

“Ok, Daddy, I follow your orders.”

The humans had to fight waves of Zombies and Skeletons. They even brought two Snipers down and a Elite. Josef was satisfied as he managed to shoot a Zombie Sniper right into the scope.

Inside the Cathedral, a demonic voice welcomed them. “Welcome.”
It was like an echo.

“So, what now?” Karl looked around.

“Maybe that?!” the filly pointed to the middle of the Cathedral.

A spirit came out of the ground. It looked like a high-ranking General of the SS.

He summoned Zombies. “Join us!” He said is his demonic voice.

As he was transparent bullets couldn’t harm him, despite seeing blood when shot.

“Hey what about those floating Skulls?”

“Tiara, you’re a genius!” Josef shot the Skulls.

After the three Skulls were destroyed, the General became vulnerable.

Karl shot him in the head. The General screamed in pain before he became transparent again and laughed.

Diamond stayed upstairs and watched the fight. The second wave were Skeletons.

The group stayed with her. Together, they destroyed the Skulls again. They sounded like glass when they were destroyed.

After making him vulnerable and shooting at him again, the General spawned Zombies with an Elite.

The group took him out before his army was able to move out.

The General fell to the ground and disintegrated.

“No! Curse you!”

A Zombie was about to attack the filly from behind but fell death to the ground as the General was defeated.

“That was close.” She signed in relief.

Under the altar was an entrance.

“We’re waiting for you…” The demonic voice sounded.

“Ready to see what’s down here?” Boris asked. All nodded.

If this would lead them to a way out of Berlin they would take it.

Author's Note

Whatever is the source of this, it must be down there. Let's pray they find it.

Chapter 11 Labyrinth of Death

Chapter 11: Labyrinth of Death

Josef helped his filly the ladder down.
It was an underground facility.

But even there, the Zombies waited for them.

At the Engineer office, a man could be heard. “…We are all lost…”

Fighting through groups of Zombies, they found a small office with a body on a chair in it.

Schwaiger saw a map and took it. The man they heard earlier was on the radio.

“I will hang for saying this but I’m dead anyway. Hitler is insane! Plan Z should never have been instigated without the fail-safe manuscript: The Book of Souls. It is still in the Berlin Central Library but there’s no way to get to it now. The irreversible opening of a Hellmouth is inevitable at this point.”

“What’s a Hellmouth?”

"I don’t know kid, but it can’t be good. Anyway, according to this map, there is a way outside. Let’s go,” Schwaiger said to her.

An alert sounded and a gate opened. Josef used the MG to fight the Zombies while his daughter stayed in the office.

After fighting them and some Skeletons that came out of a burning train wreck, they reached the safe room.

Outside in a corridor, a Zombie was beating a damaged V2 rocket. The engine malfunctioned and killed him.

At the end was another gate. “Diamond my dear, would you be so nice and activate the manual door override?”

“With pleasure!”
Music started as the gate opened and a horde of Zombies and Skeletons came out.

The darkness in the tunnels made them difficult to see, but the glowing eyes and hearts were enough to spot them.

Dealing with that, they moved on. Parts of the facility were on fire, there were bodies of Germans everywhere, rare, there bodies of Russians too.

At another gate, a Zombie ambushed the group and was after Tiara. Josef killed him with a shot to the head from his Luger pistol. “You have to get through me if you want her!”

Moving on, Tiara stopped in a corridor to catch her breath. Out of nowhere, a bomber appeared from the ground right next to her.

Josef grabbed her by the tail so that she didn’t get caught in the blast radius. Still, her ears were ringing for a few seconds.
After this, the group reached the next safe room.

Outside, Tiara had to throw up, as she saw bodies on a cart and another one hanged on a hook.

“Sorry everyone. It’s just; I can’t see something like this.”

“It’s alright.”
Karl killed a Zombie that jumped out of a locomotive.

Schwaiger got her to cover, as several Snipers attacked.

Not able to bear the sounds of the Zombies, she covered her ears as good as she could. Josef gave her a smile. “I know it’s hard but how about some ice scream when this is all over?” She nodded with a smile.

In the Factory, Josef switched to his MP40 as the Zombies were summoned from the ground.

Despite this obstacle, they reached the safe room.

Boris switched the radio on to send a S.O.S. signal. “Just in case, that someone can get us out of Berlin.”

This time, Tiara opened the door, only to be greeted by Zombies. They were quickly defeated.

“Watch out that they don’t bite you. I would hate it to end your life.” Schwaiger reloaded his revolver.

“I will.”

On the premises was a truck, next to him were dead soldiers that tried to escape with him but had failed.

“It has no fuel. But there must be fuel here somewhere.” “Yes Josef. But’s its better if we stay together.

Fighting off an Elite and several Snipers, they found the fuel they needed.

However, back at the truck, green fog appeared. “Here we go again. Get in the truck, quick,” Josef complained.

Together, fighting this horde was no problem. After a short break, even more Zombies appeared.

Josef was near the truck when he heard a scared voice from the back of the truck, “Why…why are there so many of them?”

Then, he saw how many Zombies were attacking. It was hundreds of them if not thousands.

“I don’t know.” He replied before Boris fired a panzerfaust.

Then Josef fired his K98 at a Gasmask Zombie. The bullet went through his head and through at least 5 more Zombies that were behind him.
Almost overwhelmed, they managed to survive this siege.

Getting in the back, he patted her and hummed a lullaby as the truck moved to the library to find the Book of Souls.

Author's Note

Now they know what the source is. Let's hope they can find it and use ot to reverse this nightmare.

I putted the links in for those who want to know how the scenes ingame sound/look like.

For me it is strange that the city is littered with dead Wehrmacht soldiers, destroyed Tiger and IS-2 tanks but rarely you see dead Russian soldiers.

Chapter 12 Library of Evil

Chapter 12: Library of Evil

Karl stopped at a metro entrance. Everyone got out.
“Alright, let’s find this book and get out of here!” Boris was ready.

Some Zombies tried to break through a gate with no success.

With a terrifying scream, Zombies raised from the ground.

With good aim, the group defeated them.

The streets were littered with bodies. Every time she saw one, she had to think of Elsa, Dora and Erwin. Also it disturbed her.

“Elite!” the youngest member of the group pointed to a shadow of an Elite that came round the corner.

“Don’t worry, we got this.” Josef fired at the head of the Elite with Karl, while Schwaiger and Boris took care of the other Zombies.

The safe room was next to a car whose lights were on and the engine was running.

The floor of the building they entered after leaving the safe room was covered in blood.

On an upper floor, the library could be seen.

“Stay inside; we take care of the Zombies.”

Josef shot all Zombies he spotted at the exit to the Plaza.

After the coast was clear, all were about to enter the Library but the door stayed closed. “Oh come on!” the filly complained before it winced as the demonic voice spoke again.

“Did you think it would be that easy? See if you can find the key. We dare you.”

“Can hardly be so difficult,” Karl said as the door to another building opened.

Fighting to the upper floors, they found the first key fragment.
Ghostly laughs of children could be heard. As Karl took the key, a little girl rhymed a nursery.

“One, two, Hell is coming for you…”
The voice reminded too much of Dora.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s just, the voice of this girl and the ghostly laughs remind me so much of Dora and Erwin. I hope they’re still alive and not a part of those… undead.” Diamond shivered at the thought.

“Sweetheart, I am sure they’re in a safe room safe and sound.”

“You’re sure, daddy?”

“100%.”

They were surprised by an Elite that came out of the ground down the stairs.

Startled, Tiara fell on her back and crawled backwards. “No, please, don’t eat me.”

The Elite was distracted by Karl, so that she could get up. “Thank you.”

“It’s alright, no need to thanks.” He said after killing the Elite

A safe room was down the stairs where the Elite came out and another part of the key was also there.

“Three, four, you opened the door…”

After entering and leaving the safe room, an assault was about to begin.

“You know what to do.” She obeyed and stayed inside until the assault was over. Still, her mind was thinking nonstop. Where her friends safe and sound? She couldn’t bear it to image what the Zombies would do with them, if they would find them.

The bodies of half eaten soldiers showed that the Zombies were relentless to everything that was still alive.

The last two key fragment where in the building where they came from.

Fighting through, they found the third part of the key.

“Five, six, up the River Styx…”

Near the next safe room was the last key.

“Seven, eight, it’s way too late…”

Restocking in the safe room, the group made its way to the Library again.

Karl placed the key on the door. It vanished.

“Do come in.” the voice said to them.

After defeating a group of Zombies, the girl rhymed the full nursery.

“One, two, Hell is coming for you… Three, four, you opened the door… Five, six, up the River Styx… Seven, eight, it’s way too late… Nine, ten he’s risen again…”

“Who’s risen again?”

“I don’t know Boris, but it can’t be good. Anyway, let’s find this book. Can’t be that hard.” Schwaiger knew that this book had to be here somewhere.

The bookshelves were completely undamaged but none of them had the Book of Souls.

“Could it be that?” Tiara pointed to a large book on a table that had the same symbol as the key.

“Yes, that is the Book of Souls!” Schwaiger picked her up and kissed her on the cheek. “You’re a good filly, you know that?”

Blushing, she replied, “Yes.”

“Do you think that will help you?” the voice taunted. “You are wrong.”
Outside, a horde prepared to attack. Seeing no other option, Josef picked Tiara up and carried her to one of the bunkers.

“Stay here, and no matter what happens do NOT leave this bunker.” She nodded scared.

Suicide bombers blew themselves up in strategic good positions before the normal Zombies attacked.

Tiara was safe from the explosions but she was holding her ears as it reminded her when she was shot in Kreuzberg. None of the Zombies entered the bunker but still, it was horrible for her.

Josef focused on killing the Zombies but was worried about her.

A Zombie with a wrench and the same cap as him surprised him, but he reacted by punching him with his fist in his face as strong as he could.

The head of the Zombie was gone, still Josef shook his hand in disgust.

“Nice punch!” Boris commented.

As no more Zombies came, they thought it was over.
A Zombie Sniper managed to incapacitate Josef and laughed. Karl took care of the Sniper while Boris helped the German up. “Thanks.”

“That’s what partners are for.”

After taking out the Snipers, a second horde attacked. An Elite was with them.

They took all Zombies out.

“No! Impossible! This cannot be!” the voice couldn’t believe it.

Josef looked after Tiara. She was crying and curled up, cowering.

“It’s over, sweetheart.” He patted her to calm her down.

“It’s just, I can’t bear those sounds!”

“It’s alright, my dear.”

Schwaiger placed the Book of Souls on the Plinth that was in the middle of the Plaza.

“What have you done?” the voice screamed as a beam of energy was pointed in the sky. Also another beam could be seen in the distance.

“We should take a look at this. It could be the key to salvation,” Schwaiger suggested.

“Right, let’s go.” Josef picked the filly up to carry her. She gave him a smile as they moved to the beam, unware that they would meet their friends again.

Author's Note

I never understood what placing the book on the Plinth did. And yes, they will meet her friends again. Promise!

Chapter 13 Subway to Hell

The beam came from the subway. “Ready?” Karl asked.

“Ready.” All responded.

Walking the way down was no problem. A Zombie ambushed them but was quickly defeated.

At ground level, Zombies came from both sides. The group formed a circle so they could effectively defend themselves.
Then, Josef killed a few Zombies and a Skeleton that were walking aimlessly on the street through a window, before vaulting and helping Tiara through.

The entrance to the subway was blocked by an Occult Seal.

“There must be some keys to open it. We should look in the other subway entrances.”

“Ok Schwaiger, let’s roll.” Karl reloaded his rifle.

In the subway, Zombies attacked from both sides but using the same formation as before, they were eliminated. The formation broke apart as an Elite came from the right.

As he was defeated, Josef asked, “Left or right?”

“It doesn't matter. Both directions are leading to the same key,” Boris explained.

At the station where a burning train was, the survivors found the first Key. It was a Skull. They had to clear the area to get him.
Having success with that, Schwaiger walked closer to the Skull. Again ghostly laughs of children could be heard. As he took the Skull, a little girl said, “One,” with a giggle.

Getting some ammo in the safe house, they looked for the next Skull.
On the surface, Josef and Karl took care of the Snipers while Boris and Schwaiger took care of the bombers.
Tiara looked up. A plane flew by.

The next three Skulls were in the subway on the other side of the road.

Killing any Zombie they found, they made it to the next Skull. After clearing the area, both Skulls could be picked up.
“Two.” The girl’s voice sounded like an echo. “Three. Four.” The girl chuckled.

“Just one more to go.” Tiara was relieved as they reached the next safe house.

Again, Karl and Josef took care of the Snipers while the others took care of the Zombies.
The last Skull seems to be in the building we came out.” Schwaiger pointed to an Elite that came out of the door.
Together, they killed it.

The last Skull was inside as Schwaiger suspected. “Five.” The girl chuckled again.

“Impressive… But now you must place them correctly…” The voice of the General was impressed.
As Schwaiger placed the Skulls, the girl repeated her words.

The General laughed as soon as the entrance was unlocked.
“Let’s get out of here.” Josef took care of two bombers.

In the safe room was a woman with a boy and a girl on some cots.
“Elsa?”

“Josef?”

“Diamond Tiara?”

“Guys!” The kids embraced.

“I was so worried about you!”

“So were we! At least you’re still alive and not one of them.” Dora cried tears of Joy. She was bandaged around her left arm, Erwin around his right leg and Elsa around the head.

“How did you survive?” Josef hugged her as he was glad that she was still alive.

“Chernov...He stayed behind...Made sure we all got out safe.”

The radio received a message.

“Hello? I hope you can hear me! We spotted you from the air and I’m coming to pick you up. You’ll have to open the gates at the canal dock so I can get through but then we’ll be home dry! Chin up; we’re getting you out of there!”

“Finally! Rescue at last!” Elsa was glad.

“Yes. Can you shoot?”

“I never killed before Karl, but I have a MP40 and a Luger pistol to defend my children.”

“Okay, let’s go! And aim for the head!”

“I know why Josef. Ready, my dear children?”

“Ready, mommy!” both said, glad that they would get out of here, but still in fear.

“Your children will be safe with us I promise.” Josef smiled at them before they got into the street again.

Karl, Josef, Boris and Schwaiger took care of the Zombies, while Elsa stayed with the kids behind. Tiara recognized this part of Berlin as Kreuzberg. It was the same entrance that Josef used to get her to safety after she was shot.

It was raining and there was thunder and lightning. The boat sounded his horn to show it was here.

Josef opened the first gate. “Come on! Chop chop!” the boat driver said via loudspeaker.

Karl took care of some Snipers as Josef opened the second gate.

“Join us!”

“Another Occult General?!” Boris complained.

“Nice work! Now clear the docks or I won’t let you on board!”

“Boris, Schwaiger! Protect the children! I and Josef will take care of this guy!”

"Da!” Boris said and brought the kids to cover behind crates.

Dora and Erwin covered their ears from the explosion of the Suicide bombers.

“Shh, Mommy’s here,” Elsa comforted them.

Josef and Karl managed to hurt the General so much, that he summoned an Elite.

They killed the Elite and ignored the Zombies and shot the Skulls.

Two Suicide bombers rushed towards the kids. “Mommy!” Dora screamed as she saw them.

They came from behind so they couldn’t run. Elsa was about to shoot but it was too late.

In an attempt to protect them from the explosion, Elsa hugged all three tightly. But it never came. They heard the General scream, “No! Curse you!”

“Stop your dawdling and get over here!”

They all got on board. “Mommy, we made it!” Erwin exclaimed relieved.

“Yes, my dear son.”

“I can’t believe that this is reality!” Tiara was shocked.

“But it is sadly true.” Dora and Erwin hugged her.

“But at least we got out of here alive. Right, Josef? Josef?” Tiara got no answer.

Instead, she saw how all the adults turned into zombies.

The kids hugged each other as the Zombies came closer. “Mommy, please! You have to fight it!” Dora pleaded.

They closed their eyes as Josef lifted his MP40 over his head to bring it down with considerable force.

“Get away from them!” a female voice could be heard.

Everything faded. Now they were in complete darkness. “W-what’s happening?” Dora asked scared and confused.

Tiara saw a figure coming towards them. “Please don’t hurt us.” Erwin begged.

“Shh... don’t be afraid little one.” Diamond recognized the figure.

“Princess Luna?”

“Yes my dear subject, it’s me.” Without warning all three hugged her.

The Princess of the Night saw how scared they were.
“Fear not, young ones this is only a dream. You are very much safe I assure you.”

“Really? What a relief. I thought already where were dead.”

“Sadly Diamond Tiara, you’re almost died, as you were half bled to death when we found you.”

“B-but I am still alive, right?”

“Yes. You’re lost a lot of blood but your friend Silver Spoon donated her blood for you, as she has the same blood type as you.
I never saw such a terrible nightmare before. My guess is that the shock you suffered from blood loss triggered this.”

Now the kids were confused. Luna giggled.

“I have the ability to enter one's dreams to communicate. You are NOT dead. None of you.”

“I never knew that you were able to the dream of a pony or a human. And why’re you here?”

"To protect my subjects from nightmares, a dread one cannot easily escape, in waking or in sleeping. I am Guardian and Ruler of the Night for a reason."
Immediately, the kids bowed. Luna smiled.

“You don’t have to be so respectful young ones, but I see your parents raised you well.”

“If this was just a nightmare, why it was so real?” Erwin asked.

“Well, I don’t know why, but this was a very intensive nightmare. I had to fight through those undead to get to you. What's your name?”

“Erwin, your Highness. And this is my sister Dora.”

“Is our mommy and Josef all right?”

“Don’t worry Dora; they are both safe and sound as you are.”

“Then, what happened?”

“You both were hit by an artillery strike. The one you called Chernov wanted to stay to return to his family. But he said he will never forget you. I believe the Combat stress reaction you suffered from it was responsible for your nightmare.”

At the mention of Combat, Tiara looked at her gut with a sad expression.

Princess Luna extended her right wing over her. “I just want to wake up.”

“You all are still unconscious. Why don’t you tell me how you met your two friends, Tiara?” She smiled and took a deep breath.

Then, she told how Josef found her and how he took care of her and how she met her new friends. Princess Luna lowered her jaw in shock and disgust at the details Tiara explained. She even told her with the help of Dora and Erwin what happened in their nightmare.
“And that’s how we got here.”

“My sympathy for what happened to you. I will stay with you until you wake up.”

“Thank you, Princess Luna!” The kids hugged her again.

“How did you find us?” Dora wanted to know.

“The Spell that Night Star used left a trail on you and your friends. That’s how we were able to find you. And I heard how you were praying for their safety, so I saved them. No child should suffer in the middle if a warzone.”

“Thank you for saving us!” they embraced the Princess of the Night again.

Suddenly, they heard a voice. “Please don’t die, Tiara. You’re my best friend.”

“Silver Spoon?”

“It’s seems you’re waking up. I see you in the real world.” The Alicorn flew away.

Diamond Tiara was in a bed in a hospital. Her chest was bandaged. Erwin and Dora were in the beds next to her.

Silver Spoon was sitting on a chair next to her with Diamond's parents.

Ignoring the pain, Tiara embraced all three. “Silver Spoon, father, mother! I thought I was never going to see you again! It was…so…horrible!”
They returned the hug as her mother had tears of joy in her eyes.

“My dear daughter, we had almost lost you. “My little Diamond.”
She had changed after Diamond stood up to her. She was a caring mother but barely showed it.

“We were so worried about you, after we found you.”

“I appreciate your care for me Silver Spoon, and I am grateful for your donation.”

“How did you know that?”

“Princess Luna told me about this in my dream. May I introduce you my new friends Erwin and Dora?” She pointed to them as they got up.

“Hello Silver Spoon.” Erwin greeted politely.

“Hello, you two.”

“You are Diamond's parents, right?” Dora asked the two adults.

“Yes I am Filthy Rich and this is my wife Spoiled Rich but you can call us Mr. and Mrs. Rich.” Filthy Rich smiled at them.

The door opened and Princess Luna with her sister and Night Star walked in.

“I see you’re awake. Now, apologize to her young stallion.”

He grumbled, “I am sorry.” He had no remorse in his voice.

“Can you tell me, where he sent you?” Silver Spoon was curious.

“You don’t wanna know. All I can say is, if Josef hadn’t found me, I had never returned home. Wait, where is he?”

Princess Celestia putted the curtain away to show that he and Elsa were still asleep in two beds.

“We’re managed to save him. And don’t worry; I can do the talking for you. And you Night Star will watch this too as punishment for what you did!”

“Oh no.” he complained as Luna used her spell to show what Tiara has experienced.
It even showed her nightmare.

“Oh my… My poor daughter!” Mr. Rich couldn’t believe what he saw.

“That’s what you get! Ow!”

“Don’t say that! You teleported our daughter in the middle of a warzone where she almost died! We will discuss your punishment with your parents when they arrive.” Mrs. Rich slapped him.

“It’s weird, I really do feel much better!” Josef and Elsa awoke.

“Mommy!” Her kids hugged her.

“Mr. Becker we are very grateful for taking care of our daughter,” Mr. Rich said to him.

“And I thought I died.” He and Elsa smiled that Tiara was reunited with her friend and parents.

“Mommy, I thought we could him make a part of our family, is that okay? He would be a good surrogate father for us.”

“Of course my dear Erwin. What do you say, Josef?”

“I would like it. You’re reminding me of my wife.”

“And you remind me of my Husband.”

“And we would love it to make you a part of our family. But for now, we should celebrate,” Mr. Rich said.

“Yes father. To Sugarcube Corner!” Tiara exclaimed as they left, overjoyed to be home again.

A few months later

Josef lived happily together with Elsa and her kids. Josef helped Princess Twilight Sparkle in her castle. True, you could get easily lost in there but Josef liked his job.

Erwin and Dora were both friends of Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara. They also were in the same class and good friends of the Cutie Mark Crusaders and members of them as well.

They all knew that the war was lost, but none knew what happened to Karl.

Elsa and Josef were married and Erwin and his sister were overjoyed to have him as father.

They were all glad that they survived the war. The post war years would be difficult no doubt, but that was another reason why they loved their new life. Sure, the war left its scars, but Tiara came over it. She saw him as a second father.

“Daddy, mommy, we’re home!” Erwin and Dora called out.

“Welcome back, kids. How was school?”

“Great! Miss Cheerilee is a very nice teacher!” Erwin was happy.

“Now, we’re joining Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara at the Sugarcube corner for some milkshakes.” Dora smiled.

“Are you two coming?” Tiara called out.

“Hello, Daddy!” She hugged him.

“Hello sweetheart, have fun, okay?” she ruffled her mane.

“We will, daddy!”

They leaved with smiles. Tiara's parents bought her a new Tiara.

Josef was watching them smiling. Then he turned the gramophone on.

“May I have this dance?” He asked his wife.

“But of course.” Elsa took his hand and they danced together.

Unknown to them, they were watched by two spirits.

“They are so happy together.” The first spirit was wearing a winter uniform of the Wehrmacht.

“Yes they are. I am not mad at him for loving her, since she’s like a clone of me. And as long as he is happy, so I am happy.”

“Me too, Jenny. And as long as they live, we will watch them and protect them from any harm.”

“Hey, let’s watch after the kids, okay? I always love it to see happy children.”

“You’re read my mind, Hans.”

The spirits leaved.

This was the beginning of a new life. A new life of peace and happiness.

Author's Note

It was just a nightmare. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it! I couldn't find a better song for the ending but if you know a better fitting song, tell me.