Author's Note

The next chapter will involve Edward's choice, and the story will be on pause until I get enough answers.

Thank you for waiting.

I'm Sorry

Thorax stood with Ahti, disguised as a human Finnish soldier holding a ZB vz 30. He looked behind, to see at least a hundred Changelings disguised as soldiers as well.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?", Thorax asked.

"Yes, our forces are worn thin enough as it is, and we're kind of desperate.", the tank commander said. "I hope your brother can manage."

Pharynx waved with the other Changelings as the tank convoy prepared to move out.

"OK...but if you're all soldiers, why don't you take a fighter? I may be assertive, but...I don't fight.", Thorax said.

"We wish to avoid conflict. I do like fighting just like the rest of my men, but even I know when it's time to let go of the trigger.", Ahti said.

Thorax didn't know what that meant, but he knew the concept of it, and he nodded. He turned to Pharynx and smiled. "I trust you'll take care of the kingdom while I'm gone?", he asked.

Pharynx grinned. "You can trust me, brother."

Thorax climbed up the tank, with some effort, considering he hadn't walked on two legs under these circumstances before.

"Well, ready to explore Equestria?", Thorax asked.

"Yes, let's go.", Ahti said. He held up a hand, before yelling.

"ETEENPÄIN!!"

The Vickers tanks rolled out, with the "troops" sitting on the tanks. Pharynx watched as the tanks left the kingdom, before turning around.

In the Crystal Empire

Jack watched as the ponies were held up in a line, troops with MP-40 and MP-18 submachine guns guarding them.

The Flammpanzer III and Panzerkampfwagen IV tanks were strategically surrounding the castle, and the royal guards had Flammenwerfers aiming at them. In the center of the castle area, two Hummel self-propelled guns and a Sturmgeschütz III were aimed outwards. Overall, there were twenty German tanks and about a hundred and fifty troops, about thirty of them armed with Flammenwerfers.

Jack looked out at the lead Flammpanzer III that he commanded, a black chassis with flame emblems painted on the side.

"There's something about fear, denkst du nicht?", Jack asked.

He turned to see Shining Armor and Cadence guarding Flurry Heart from the German sergeant holding a Gewehr at them.

"What do you want?", Shining Armor asked.

"Simple. We need your cooperation. We'd like you to tell us where the Americans went.", Jack said.

"What are Americans?", Shining Armor asked.

"Listen, I have nein time for jokes, talking horses. Where. Are. The. Allied. Forces?", he asked with a tone that got more intimidating with every word.

"Listen, we don't even know what you are. You're the first of your kind to come here! Why would we know what you are looking for-", Cadence cried, before the sergeant swung his gun at the Princess of Love, knocking her to the ground.

"Cadence!!", Shining Armor cried. Flurry Heart began to cry at the sight of her weakened mother.

"Hey! Say you're sorry!", Jack said, smacking the sergeant on his helmet.

The sergeant grumbled, before looking sourly at Cadence. "Ich entschuldige mich.", he said.

"He said he's sorry.", Jack said.

Cadence felt a bruise on her face, and she winced. She looked at fear at the sergeant, who was currently being chastised by Jack.

"I apologize, Din here can be quite impulsive. but believe me, he's a very good soldier, efficient at his job.", Jack said.

"Please, don't hurt anypony.", Shining Armor said.

Jack sighed. "People call Germans monsters. That the Schutzstaffel is evil."

They have a right to!", Shining Armor said.

Jack looked to Shining Armor. "Our leader...our Führer is a father figure, and I admit, his methods are questionable, but after what happened to us, we need this. Too many Germans have died under tyranny of the Allies, and it's time for us to retaliate.", he said.

Cadence sensed a rage in his voice compared to none other than the dark aura of King Sombra himself. "What...what happened?", she asked.

Jack rubbed his eyes. "Do you really want to know?", he asked.

"Yes. Revenge is never the answer.", Cadence said.

Jack turned around, before taking off his helmet. He had a large burn on his forehead, with singed hair and burnt off flesh.

"Ever since we lost World War One, the Allies took our land, and we had to pay each Allied country millions in reparations for the war. We used our resources to pay the Allies, and millions died in overworking themselves. Money was worthless, and we needed to do everything unimaginable just to survive.", Jack explained.

He pointed to the burned scar on his head. "I worked in a vehicle factory, making Panzers to rebuild our military force in secret. Work was a lot riskier because of our economic downfall, so machinery would break down a lot.", he said.

"What caused that?", Shining Armor asked.

"You want to know? A crane carrying a heated fuel rod broke, and the fuel rod burned into my head. They had to peel the rod out of my head slowly and painfully.", Jack said. "And nobody cared!"

Cadence suddenly felt empathy for Jack. "I-I'm so sorry-", she said.

"Sorry? For what?", Jack spat. He was more angry than ever, and his tone frightened Cadence.

He sighed and put his helmet back on. "I'm sorry, this memory is just schrecklich.", Jack said.

Cadence ignored his occasional German in his sentences. It wasn't like she could understand anyway. "I know what it's like to be neglected, even if it was unintentional.", she said.

Cadence explained how on her wedding, she was abducted by the impostor known as Queen Chrysalis, and how Twilight had saved her from death in the caverns.

"I was thinking about revenge, but I remembered I had friends at stake. I didn't, nor will I ever want to lose them for my own personal gain.", Cadence said. She stepped forward towards Jack, who didn't move.

"You can save yourself before it's too late.", Cadence said. "Revenge is a one way trip."

Jack growled and sighed. He walked away, as the sergeant walked over to him.

Shining Armor wiped a tear from his face. Cadence trotted over. "What?"

"I just remembered...at the wedding. I never got to apologize to Twily...", he sniffed.

Cadence blinked. "Why would you need to apologize?"

Shining Armor froze. He never told Cadence about what happened at the wedding rehearsal. "I...I have something to tell you.", he said.

Shining Armor proceeded to tell Cadence at the rehearsal, when Chrysalis was still the impostor. Her eyes widened in shock when she heard about what Shining Armor, Celestia, and Twilight's friends had said to the Element of Magic before Twilight was teleported to Canterlot's lower caverns.

Although Shining Armor wasn't saying anything about cheating on her, her reaction could very well be an equivalent.

"You kicked her out?!", Cadence cried. "And you kept this from me for so long?!"

"I know, I've been feeling horrible about it ever since!", Shining Armor said.

"And you never checked on her?!", Cadence yelled. "How could you?!"

Shining cowered in fear. "I...I tried to, but by then I was completely brainwashed!", he protested.

"I can't believe this!", Cadence growled, as she walked over to a crystal pillar and kicked it. It didn't crack, and Cadence fell to the floor, clutching her hoof in pain.

Shining Armor just sat there, tears streaming down her eyes. Neither of them heard Flurry Heart's cries as Jack came back into the room.

"Hello?", Jack asked. The sergeant walked in with them, and the two stared.

Cadence was angrily cursing while holding her hoof, Shining Armor was doing nothing, and Flurry Heart was crying on the floor.

"...ponys sind seltsam.", the sergeant said, as Jack came over and picked Flurry Heart off the floor.

"Yes, they are...although, some of them are exceptions.", Jack said. He tickled the foal alicorn's belly, and she giggled.

"You know, Din? I've always wanted a tochter.", Jack said, as Flurry Heart cooed in his arms. He stepped out of the throne room, unnoticed by the angry pain induced Cadence and the sorrowing Shining Armor.