Grey Tiger

Opposition. Who do I go along with? Which is the good side in this War? Them, or us. But who is my allegiance to? Equestrian Flag, or, the flag of the New Third Order, far superior to them, leaded by the Supreme Leader Poner. Should I… No, yes?

Shaking my head of these thoughts. We continue our long trot to their forward operations base. About ten more kilometers to go my best guess. I don’t smell the cordite, but, the smell of trees, the grass, the foul tasting clean fresh air. It is foreign to my lungs. Refusing its impure feel. I start hacking softly. My lungs yearn for the cordite, the blood, the death.

*** *** ***

They hustled me in a small confining room, the light is dim and dull. They took my Panzer Commander Outfit I worn since before this war. Worn it everyday. And now, they’d taken it from me. I hate not being covered up. Everypony can see me!

I sit there, legs crossing with great care to not be seen. I’ve been sitting here for hours now. I’m cold, damn it! At least they could have given me a blanket! I look, watching the clock on the wall.

Tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock

Shuffling at the door, crossing my legs back up as they walk in. Dash, Stardust, and -- Stardust! Oh, what a good guard pony that she is. She, used to be my guard pony before Mother sent me away. I wonder if she’d missed me. Stardust is wearing an officer's uniform. Well, this couldn’t be good. She grabs a chair and pulls it in front of me. Oh, and a red stallion in the same green uniform. How generic?

She sighs, then smiles. “Do you know why I’m here, Revy?” She asked, then whispers something under her breath that I couldn’t articulate. Seconds go by. Falling from my gaze into her eyes. With a proding hoof, knocks me out of my trance. “Rev, hello, you there?”

“Ah, yes, I am. As great as it is to see you. I’m quite cold. Could I have my uniform back,” I turn to look at the blue pegasus, then back to Star. “I don’t want to have Dash look at my privates. And, did I mention I’m cold? Because I’m not talking until I get my things, including my weapon.” I said plaintively.

Dash blushing a hue of red that is brighter than the red in her mane.

“Sorry, we can’t. We are looking through the pockets to see if you have future operation battle plans to get our stallions out of those blood baths you make with your troops and tanks. We don’t want to cause that, now would we?” Her eyes beaming. Her eyes as a dark red as mine. “And, we want to hinder your advancement to the west of Prance.” Star said, chuckling.

I don’t respond. I’m no foal, but, I didn’t leave my plans in my uniform, I keep that in Ginny. But what I carry on me is, a fake, designed that they would be going into the lowlands, but no. We’re going to make an ensnaring move and put them in a kill zone. Their 12th Infantry Division will be destroyed. “We found your plans and we have our troops sent there as we speak, reports will show that we will defeat your tanks and infantry. You could have your uniform back, but your weapon, no. We cannot afford risks with a high-ranking official like yourself now would we?” She said happily. She’s walking those bucks into my trap and it is sent and tripped. HA!

“Oh,” I make the best sad face I could muster. “I guess there will be a bloodbath indeed. I want my weapon. I’ll won’t mind being without my ammo. Please, then I’ll talk.”

“Rev, listen. You have no other options, Face it, work with us or be tried for treason and be hanged. So please, I’m asking you. Do this for your mare. What would she think if she found out that you helped them?”

I didn’t respond. Instead, my gaze going up after 'mare'. She has me now. I ought to listen now to what she has to say....

“Good,” she continued. “I have your attention now.” She sat back, “now, wanna see your little marefriend of yours, do as we say.”

“S-she’s not little,” I rebutted. “I’ll agree if I keep my uniform and my gun and… I’ll tell you you should withdraw your troops from that valley, your wee little ponies will die from our ambush.” I smile by their looks of uneasiness. “It’s no lie, those plans you found are fraudulent. They’re a trap. A trap.”

Her brow begins to sharpen. “You’re lying to us, wasting your time. Now stop playing games--”

“No,” I interjected. “I’m not, I wouldn’t lie for the cost of your troops. A stake of lives I can’t lose for the side I’m--” I stop myself for this; I can’t believe what I’m saying… “on. I’ll be on your side, and for that matter I cannot lose our beloved foot soldier.”

Their maws hang low. Taken aback from my statement. The cream colored mare in her dark green uniform leaned closer. “Rev, this true? All of it? You, want to help us?”

I nod. I hope this is the right choice I’m making.

After a brief moment of silence. She gestures to the red stallion to come over close to her. “Yes General Star?”

She leaned to him. “Yes, send word to 12th to withdraw, and do it now. Go.” With that, he salutes and leaves. She turns back to me. “You can have your things. Even your ammo.”

Now I’m taken aback now. I nod.

“We’ll have your things brought in shortly,” She said. Her smile turns into a scowl. “If you betray us, you know what happens.” She gestures a slashing motion with her left foreleg across her neck.

I nod, they’ll kill me if I default from them. “I’d be on my bestest behavior.”

Stardust and Dash exit the tiny room that I’m in.

*** *** ***

I feel like an outcast here. I’m wasting here. There’s no smell of cordite here, I’m lost, no sense of my direction, cordite guides me.

I miss my Ginny, it’s scary being out of her. I wish I would die in there I could be with my fallen crew in the Everafter. I need to come home to my mare.

Sadly, the Equestrian Army has taken me away from my beloved Panzer. Now forcing me to work for them to defeat the nation I swore to defend. They made me the top Armoured Combat Commander for the Allies, but I asked for being in the field; I just can’t stand being a desk commander. It’s been three weeks since our deal has been made. They’re just moving some ponies around so they could fit me in. The bloodbath at the ridge was avoided in time and our 12th thwarted our -- I mean our enemy’s 19th Battalion…

I shake my head of this, taking a sip of this new thing called Sprite Cola. They told me this came out a week after my Mother told me to leave Equestria. I drank ten. After setting down my bubbly drink, I field-strip my C-96. (I’m glad to have her back.) Moments later, I get up and trot over to the door, knocking five times. Not to my surprise that who awaits me on the other side is Staff Sergeant First Class Citrus Lemonade.

“What is it now?” The yellow mare said, grumbling. “It’s the ninth time this hour. And this time you better not screw with me,...again.”

Oh, am I that bad? “...Uh, yes. Yes, I do.” I said happily.

“And that is?” She said scowling.

“My body aches. I would like to go for a trot. If that’s alright.” Giggling, but at what? Nothing in particular. “I’ve been in my room for a week, and I’m not wanting the pony whom is my foalsitter, you, that is.” I think for a moment. “Oh please do come into my room.” I flail my forelegs. “I’m bored too. Nopony to talk to. You understand, right?” I asked.

Her maw gapes. “...Sure. ...Wait, where is this going to?” She said while trotting in to my very tidy room. Everything organized and is in their right place.

“Please sit down too. I need to speak to you about something.” She does so; I also do take a seat across from my little table where my C-96 is.

“What is it that you need to speak to me about?” She asked. “Is it about the threats the officers are making? We already told them to stop slipping notes under your door. I’ll see what I can do about tha--”

“It’s not that.” I interrupted, “I wish to go… You know...battle. I planned out a huge offensive against Poner’s 87th hoof battalion. Then push hard to their flanks and do a pincer move and take P.O.W.’s. And send our Panz-- I mean tanks… into the gap we made and do a full five prong attack in the lowlands to the East.” I think for a moment. “If we’re all alright with using the mass amounts of our half-tracks to carry the troops. And I’ve estimated the casualties and the deaths is going to be a tad bit high on our part. But if we work hard at the combined coordination, then we'll have those numbers way down.”

The orange-maned mare stared at me, gawking. “Th-the 87th? YOU’RE NUTS! The 87th is the most battle-hardened unit they have right next to the Waffen SS battalions, and your Heavy SS tank battalion. You know that’s a foalish move, right!”

“Y-yes, I know that but the last time I got a report from them before you foalnapped me, their line is stretched thin. And we’re in command of the Big Red One. And our crews are now equipped with the better and newer version of the M4. They call it the ‘Easy Eight’ or something. And I’ve been looking at the requisition orders and we’re the ones last to get them. Ugh!” I get up. “And I heard recently the Trots captured a Tiger. I want it. I will not sit in the death trap your tanks are. And I--”

“You’re not even put into the direct combat commander role.” She said. “But they’re deciding right now. They’ll give you word tomorrow morning.”

I take a deep breath. “Alright. Could you do me one thing… Well, two things?”

“What is it?”

“Give them the plans tomorrow and could you stay here with me tonight,” I blush. “...In bed. I don’t want to sleep alone again tonight.”

She quickly blushes. “Ummm… Yes and…” She smiles. “...maybe.”

“Thanks. You can go now.”

“I think I’ll stay.” She said. Making my white face turn red, blushing hard.

This is going to be a strange night, I’d better not tell my mare when I’m back home from this war, if it ever ends.