Red Winter

Chapters

Chapter 1 A Odd discovery
Chapter 2 introductions
Chapter 3 Moving to battle
Chapter 4 Claws of the She-Bear
Chapter 5 Standards
Chapter 6 A odd helper

Chapter 1 A Odd discovery

Chapter 1: An Odd discovery

It was a nice, sunny day as a young periwinkle unicorn filly awoke from her peaceful sleep as the sun shined in. She stretched herself with a yawn.

“Time to start the day.” She said to herself with a smile, making the bed and walked out of her room for breakfast.

“Good morning!” She greeted her parents at the table in the kitchen.

“Morning, muffin,” Derpy smiled at her daughter.

“Good morning, sweetheart.” He father smiled too and they breakfasted together.

“That was delicious!” Dinky exclaimed in glee after having eaten and helped with the cleaning.

“Thanks, Dinky. Looking forward to see your friends today?” Time Turner asked her.

“Of course!”

“Then have fun, Dinky!” Derpy said to her daughter and she nodded before walking out.

The residents of Ponyville also enjoyed the nice weather to the fullest, getting the foal and each other with happy smiles.

For today, Dinky had in mind to spend the day with Katja, Blau Streifen and another good friend of her, enjoying the sun in the grass just outside of the town.

It had been a few weeks after Italy and Isenstadt, recovering well from the traumatic experience.

“Dinky!” Both siblings exclaimed happily as they saw her, hugging her, which she returned with a smile of her own,

“It’s nice to see you again.”

“Hey, what about me?” Another female voice asked and she gently broke the hug to see a pink Earth pony with darker mane and blue eyes, a Hedgehog as Cutie Mark.

“Lily!” They two hugged each other with smiles. “Glad you could come!”

Lily Longsocks was one of her best friends, having met each other in school. The Earth Pony had been introduced to Katja and Blau Streifen before but as her parents were very busy, they could barely spend time together until now.

“I was looking forward to this; I really missed having fun with you,” Lily replied with a grin.

“So did we. Now, let’s enjoy the day, shall we?” Blau asked his two friends and they nodded.

“Have fun, Lily.” A female voice said and they looked up to see a cream-coated Earth pony mare with a salmon-pink mane and a bandage as Cutie Mark. Next to her was a maroon coated stallion with a wine-red mane and a tree behind a shield as Cutie Mark, being also an Earth pony.

“Of course, Mum!” Lily said, hugging the mare, with the stallion smiling.

“I know you will. Dinky’s such a good friend.”

“Yep! One of the best friends I have, Dad!”

Dinky and the siblings also smiled at Lily’s parents. Her mother, Pin Cushion, was a nurse at the Ponyville hospital. Her husband and Lily’s dad, Pine Marten, was a Park Ranger, both caring deeply for their daughter.

“We know. Enjoy the day, we see you later, sweetheart. And remember, if you get hurt, come to me.” Cushion reminded.

“Yes, mum!”

They did a walk through the grass, enjoying the wind brushing against their skin and the sunrise.

The knights crossed their way. “Hello, uncle Fray!” The young unicorn greeted him.

“Good day to you, Dinky. Slept well?” Fletcher asked her.

“You bet!”

“Glad to hear it. We were just about to visit your parents for a lovely time of coffee and cake.” Fray explained before hearing Wolf slightly grumbling. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing, I just found out that my prospects have an ‘Impact’ since the gala, and that I am more popular than I thought. But the real problem is to make Sweetie Belle clear that my storm magic isn't connected to weather,” She explained and Midnight raised an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

The mare rolled her eyes. “Apparently, Rarity keeps complaining how I am ‘stealing her thunder.’”

Her fellow knights and the children snickered as they got it. “Hey, it isn’t that bad and you got through worse.” Midnight reminded her.

“Yeah…I just hope it ends quickly.” Wolf mumbled as they walked away.

“I know it’s been a few weeks since then but I still can’t believe what happened to you.” Lily looked at her friends with pity. “What you went through and still survived.”

“Yes, it was quite…exiting and terrifying…we must have been very lucky…” Dinky shivered a bit. “But it was nice to see when Fletcher saw his parents.”

“I couldn’t agree more. After all he went through, I think he earned it.” Katja said with a smile.

“Indeed. I can’t wait to train with him again, it’s so much fun to use a bow. Maybe I get a bow Cutie mark, just like him.” Blau added, grinning at the thought. “By the way, have you ever told us how you got your super strength, Lily?”

“There isn’t really much to tell. I got it inherited by a distant relative of my family. And it got it’s uses.” Demonstratively, she grabbed Dinky and held her above head with ease, both giggled and the siblings looked at it awe.

“Wow…What else can you lift?” Blau asked fascinated, his eyes wide.

“What about that rock?” Lily pointed to a very big rock and also picked it up with ease. “Tada!”

“Hey, what is that?” Katja pointed to something that had been covered by the rock and Lily put it down, taking a look with the others.

“Looks like a hatch.” Dinky suspected at the form and tapped it, hearing a metal sound. “Definitely a hatch.” She tried to open it, grunting but it did not move. “Can you help me?” She asked her friends and they nodded.

Grabbing the handle, they managed to open it with a loud creak, seeing a ladder leading down.

“I wonder where it leads.” Blau was curious, yet Lily shook her head.

“Shouldn’t we report that in?”

“Of course, but a quick look wouldn’t hurt.”

“We can do that, but we should be really careful.” His sister warned.

“Yes, better safe than sorry. Or as my mother said once: Safety first.” Dinky took the lead, using a flashlight spell as it was very dark, the ladder ended at a corridor.

“It’s scary…” Lily shivered slightly as they carefully moved through the corridor, nopony in sight or anything else.

“It appears to be abandoned, probably a long time ago.” Dinky suspected before coming to a door with a power sigh on it and opened it. Inside was a generator with a switch and she used it.

“Power levels critical...” A PA system informed before the voice faded away, “shutting down the teleporter.”

“Teleporter?” Dinky asked puzzled. “Uncle Fray told me they experimented with that during the civil war. Could it be?” She wondered as there were no symbols or anything that hinted of either side of the civil war.

“It could be very likely, but we better now report that in,” Katja suggested and they nodded.

“Yes, we should,” Dinky replied and they walked back to the corridor, seeing that the lights were now on.

However, they all stopped at a very big door they hadn’t seen before, it opened on its own. Inside was a machine with a circle in the middle.

It didn’t look like anything they had ever seen before. It was a very old design, like a rounded box with antennas on top of it. An eerie chill went through them all as they looked at it.

Something them then not to enter, but they couldn’t help themselves to enter to take a closer look, their eyes wide in awe.

How old was this machine? Who built it and why? Why so close to Ponyville? What could be the reason for it to be abandoned?

“That must be that teleporter.” Blau suspected. “I wonder if it still works.”

“It’s…fascinating, yes but we should leave that to your uncle and his friends,” Lily replied, feeling uncomfortable about it.

“Yes.” Dinky nodded and they turned around, but Lily tripped and tried to catch herself, accidentally pushing a button on the wall.

“What did you do?!” Katja asked in alert as the door closed, leaving them trapped on the circle, as a loud powering up sound followed, the teleporter starting to glow.

“I’m sorry!” Lily cried as the intercom sounded again.

“Power re-established. Engaging Teleporter.”

“No! No! No! No!! Dinky looked around in panic as the machine glowed brighter and brighter and then everything went white.

“Teleport successful.”

“Ugh…” Dinky groaned as she came to, seeing her friends dazed next to her. “Everyone alright?”

“I…I think so…” Lily replied, looking around. They were now in a house. “Where are we?” She wondered.

“Hello?” A voice called out, sounding German. Before they could react, the creak of a door sounded and they saw a human in German uniform before them, armed with a K98. His expression was one of surprise as he saw them.

A man who must have been thirty but looked past fifty. His face wasn't so much wrinkled as weathered, as if hardened by frost and looked as if it hadn't been washed for some time. His scraggly flour-blonde hair hung in matted strands way past his shoulders but he must have shaved himself as his lower face only possessed a thin stubble. His eyes were rheumy and pink with slight bags and he'd lost more than a few teeth. Despite this, Dinky, Katja and Blau saw nothing malicious in him. His was a sight that invited not revulsion but pity.

But it made Dinky and the siblings realize: They were on earth again, during the Second World War. The Question was when and where.

“P-please, don’t hurt us.” Fear overcame Lily and the man took a step back in shock.

“Sir, can you help us? We are lost.” Dinky asked the man but he only stared in shock before shaking his head, muttering something.

“Where are we?” Blau asked.

It seemed like hours until the man sighed and said, “The Soviet Union, late autumn 1941.”

Author's Note

An story idea by my friend Purple Patch.

Chapter 2 introductions

Chapter 2: introductions

The four children looked at each other, unsure what to say, or what to think.

Slowly, Lily started to shake, her head lowered, sniffing. “Mama…Papa…”

Her friends did not hesitate to give her a comforting hug. “Shh, it’s gonna be alright, Lily.”

“By staying together, we’ll make it through this,” Blau added. None of them could blame her, she hadn’t the experience as they did.

The Earth pony looked up with tears in her eyes. “O-Okay…”

They all looked at the soldier, which blinked several times then said, “Come with me. Call me Casp.”

“I am Dinky, those are my friends Lily, Katja and Blau Streifen.” Dinky introduced herself and her friends, the man nodded.

Without a word, they all followed him, a cold wind brushed against them, seeing the yellow/golden color of the trees and also noticed they walked out of an abandoned village.

Yet, it was only a short walk until a German camp was visible in the distance, several trenches around it, together with a few trucks, Halftracks and tanks.

“There you are. What took you so long?” A new voice asked and the kids saw a man in officer uniform.

Rangy and loose-shouldered but clearly an able-bodied man. His hair was closely-cropped but his upper lip boasted a trim, auburn moustache that was just turning silver at the tips (Though that may have been the cold). His grey eyes looked tired but mindful and his nose was tilted in a way that suggested it had been broken once at some uncertain time. He had stubble on his heavy jaw and chin and small bandages around his knuckles.

“Well, while on patrol, I found…someone in need,” Casp replied with unease, looking at the children.

The officer’s eyes and those of the other soldiers went wide in confusion. “Uhh, do I see that right?”

“Yes, you do.” Dinky took the word, earning shocked expressions.

“Did the pony just talk?!” The officer exclaimed.

“Yes, I did,” Dinky replied calmly.

All soldiers expect for Casp stared or looked at each other for a moment.

Then the officer broke the silence. “Okay…and I thought the Eastern Front couldn’t get any weirder.” He pointed to a tent. “Why don’t you tell us over hot chocolate?”

They nodded with smiles, appreciating it as they could warm themselves up.

Still, Dinky and the siblings looked at each other with uncertainty, knowing they couldn’t tell about their previous experience with humans. Lily just nodded, she understood quickly.

So, they did only tell about their home and that they did meet humans before as reason why they were so calm around the soldiers.

There was a moment of silence before the officer spoke up. “I see…Sounds interesting. But you don’t have to fear anything from me. My name is Alexander. And you know already Casp. He’s a Sergeant, just promoted recently.”

Hearing that filled Dinky and her two friends with unease. Karl had told them that Alexander had been a good friend if him, having fallen on the Eastern Front. As they were now here, could they be responsible for his death?

“Anyway, you should catch some sleep, I’ll make some warm clothes for you,” Alexander added and they noticed the sun was going down.

Had telling about their homes and such taken so long?

Still, they felt tired, having bread as dinner before going to bed in the tent on cots, enjoying the warmth of it.

Yet, Lily looked at her friends with a slightly scared expression. “Do…do you think our families will look for us?

“I am sure they will, Lily. Fletcher looked for us back in Italy and Africa and I have no doubt he will look for us here too.” Dinky gave her an assuring smile.

“R-right…” Lily replied and closed her eyes with her friends.

Despite her worry, the little filly slept well for the night.

In the next morning, they had breakfast as Alexander walked up to them. “Good morning. I hope you like them.” He said and showed them the winter clothes he had made.

Caps and coats in four different colors. One in dark grey, the other in greyish-blue, a cream-colored version and a light rose version. “The dark gray is for you, Blau Streifen, the other one for you, Dinky. Katja, you have the cream color and the rose one is for you, Lily.”

“Thank you. We appreciate it and they look very well made.” Dinky smiled and the officer returned it.

“It’s the least I can do. My mother’s a tailor, so I did learn one thing or two from her, despite my father coming from an officer family.”

“And you did well. Mind if you tell us about you, Casp? Dinky asked the Sergeant as he joined them.

“Not at all. I am the son of a Finnish ambassador to Germany before the war broke out, and was raised in Berlin. My experience in several languages due to my father was recognized by the Nazis and before I knew it, I was conscripted by them, serving as Interpreter on the Eastern Front. I used to have a girlfriend, but sadly, she and my parents were killed during an Air raid.” Casp lowered his head and Lily gasped slightly.

“Oh my…sorry to hear that.”

In response, he raised his again, weakly smiling. “It’s okay. I comfort myself that they are in a better place now. I never wanted to be here, but here I am now. I just hope it ends quickly.”

Before any of the children could answer, another soldier walked up to them. “Sorry to interrupt but I got a report for you, Kommandant.”

“Okay. Excuse us, children.” Alexander said and they nodded as he walked away with Casp, so they continued their meal, yet noticed he had a worried expression as he read the report. “Oh dear...”

“What’s wrong?” Casp asked.

“The recon troops have come back. We sent out ten. Two returned and one died of his injuries on arrival. It would seem that, perhaps for the first time in years, the Fuhrer's fears are well-founded.” His superior explained with unease.

“You mean...it's true? What they're saying about the one leading the Soviets? Why they've pushed forward so suddenly? Killed so many?” Casp asked in disbelief. “It's...it's her, isn't it?"

“I'm afraid so.” The officer showed him a picture, but the kids couldn’t see what it was.

“Katyusha Kallistrovich. Real name was Katjana Josevna Gruvna before she joined the Soviet Armed Forces. The SS stumbled upon her village in Golenishevya, murdered her entire family and passed her around the regiment. She broke free one day and slaughtered the lot of them. Don't ask me how. She's spent the rest of her life hunting down every German Soldier in Russia. She was promoted to Colonel after her victory at Krasnodar.” Alexander explained with dread in his voice.

“Krasnodar? The SS had a frontier force there.” Casp replied a bit surprised.

“Used to. When the SS struck out first into Russia, determined to lead the charge, they were commanded by three formidable lieutenants, claiming victories for the Hitler's chosen and brutalizing the residents.”

He produced three photos, yet the kids couldn’t see them exactly at this distance.

“Ernst Breinnman, a member of the Thule Society, hung on Hitler's every word and declared himself 'Vanquisher of all Slavs'. Hugo Strolle, a dog-lover, took in strays and fed them cripples in a pit below his bunker. And Eidelbert Von Gisstler, nasty piece of work, word was he had a fondness for little Russian girls he'd drug, dress up like dolls and...play with. They weren't popular outside of their organization but they'd camped out and staked their claim so we weren't arguing. They'd held off Timoshenko and gave Zhukov himself a few nasty encounters. The Reichstag was all set to regard them as Guardian Sentinels against the Red foe.” The officer explained with clear disgust in his voice.

“So...what happened?” The Sergeant asked cluelessly.

“Katyusha Kallistrovich happened!” His NCO exclaimed with fear. “She took command of one of the artillery battalions and had them make some noise to draw the SS out. Breinmann was first. When he heard the Soviets were led by a Fraulein, he must have thought they'd be a pushover. Damn fool led his troops straight into her firing line. He was captured alive, though. Kallistrovich likes...making statements.” He shivered as he finished.

“Statements?” Casp did still not understand.

“Breinmann claimed to all Germans and Russians that he was invincible. Kallistrovich wanted to prove to the world that he was a liar. She had him tied up on a raft, weighed down with the remains of his retinue, and sent him to the bottom of the icy river. At the banks, she had a tombstone made. It reads “Here Lies The Fool, Colonel Breinmann. Vanquished By The Slavs.”

Casp now stared in shock and disbelief for a moment. “...And the rest?”

“Strolle was next. Hard and fast as a blizzard, Kallistrovich stormed the base and took him prisoner. Word is she forced him into a knife fight in the pits he kept his dogs. Both of them fought naked if you believe the rumors. To give him credit, the old man fought well apparently. He must have impressed her for her to make sure he was dead before she fed his corpse to the dogs. After which, she used them as target practice...then ate them.” Alexander sounded disgusted and Casp shared his reaction.

“Evidently, not a dog-lover. And Von Gisstler?”

Alexander shook his head. “You almost feel sorry for the man. When his base fell, Kallistrovich left him in a cell, hanging from chains around his wrists for days. Until one day she asked herself a question; What happens when I take a pair of shears, heat them over a fire until they're glowing red, and use them to feminize and sodomise that man I've got in the cell?”

“...Christ...” His fellow soldier could only stare in shock.

“Yeah. Broke his limbs and tossed him in the latrines when she was done. Fellow troops found him still alive when the Soviets abandoned the base but there was nothing they could do for him. He died a few nights later of shock and infection, squirming in agony, screaming her name in his last moments. They didn't want to stick around long after that. Got were pushed out of Krasnodar and the Soviets took to calling Kallistrovich the She-Bear. Our fellow troops call her Bloody Katja. Either way, the message is clear. You do not mess with that woman and expect mercy.”

Hearing this all reminded Dinky and the siblings what Konrad had told them about her, Lily shivered. “I…I don’t want to imagine what…”

“Shh, I am sure Casp and Alexander will make sure it won’t come to that.” Dinky tried to calm her down, although she didn’t want to meet her either.

“Then mind if we switch subjects?” Blau asked. “I wonder who owned the lab we found…” He put a hoof to his chin.

Dinky also thought for a moment. “I can only imagine it’s from the civil war. Fletcher said Celestia’s forces were only focused in magic but Solomon introduced technology and they controlled the area where Ponyville would be.”

“Maybe…it’s the House of Grye?” Lily thought out loud. “Did you hear the stories about them?” She asked slightly trembling and Dinky nodded.

“Yes, why do you come up with them?

“I don’t know, just popped in but there was a legal construction in the area some time ago, wasn’t it?” Dinky just shrugged with the siblings, a puzzled expression as none of them could remember.

“My mum says they're all mad. And dangerous. One of them was sent to prison for life for giving 'cursed candies' to the foals on Nightmare Night. And another tried to summon Discord years ago but something must have gone wrong 'cause he disappeared. Poof! Gone! Nopony ever saw him again.” Lily told with fear in her voice.

“Yeah. And my dad tells me there's this mother of their family from years and years and years ago who was so mad she made some spell that put her in a portrait.” Dinky started to gesture frantically. “So-so she's still alive as long as the portrait survives and-and hangs above the main hall so she can keep an eye on all her family no matter how old they get and make sure nothing changes from how she liked it.”

The siblings couldn’t help but holding each other, slightly trembling at the story.

Suddenly, there was a loud scream, making them all jump up as they startled.

“What was that?” Alexander drew his Luger and took a look at where the scream had come from, freezing with Casp in shock as he saw what it was.

“W-what’s wrong?” Katja asked scared as she slowly came out with her brother and friends, gasping as she looked at a trench.

A group of profoundly unwell soldiers in the trench stared at what was before them.

It was three bodies of officers, flayed and strapped to wheels, having landed in the trench, their tags had been drilled into the back of their necks.

“Dear God…” Casp muttered shocked at the sight.

Chapter 3 Moving to battle

Chapter 3: Moving to battle

Nobody could say a word, just staring in shock and horror at the bodies.

“Oh…my…” Lily muttered, not able to believe what she saw. Her friends could only stare with horrified expressions.

They found themselves hugged by Casp. “Don’t look.” He said, and led them back to the tent, then got back to Alexander. “Who were they?”

The officer noticed that one of the bodies had a message in his mouth and pulled it out, reading it loud.

“I write to the swastika-painted walking dog der'mo cowering in the trenches in pools in their own urine in what little remains of their territory here in our motherland.

I come for you.

Receive now these three delusional Nazi trakhayetsya who died under my knives weeping for mercy and asking why their Fuhrer had forsaken them.

I told them why.

It is because the shambling, paranoid, syphilis-ridden konchil you hilariously call your 'Glorious Leader' made a grave oversight.

When he sent the goose-stepping armies of Germany's Overcompensation into Mother Russia, he didn't notice the bear in his path.

A she-bear with bloody claws.

The she-bear comes for you.

And you will be her meat.

Should you wish to escape her claws, I highly recommend putting a bullet in your head right now.

Maybe those flimsy armaments will work better at close-range seeing as how poorly they've defended you from us from afar.

I am here.

I am the She-Bear.

And I will tear you apart.

Yours sincerely, with the best of luck in the battles to come, Colonel Katyusha Kallistrovich of the 13th Artillery Regiment of the Soviet Armed Forces”

It was stamped with a crimson star-shaped seal of the hammer and sickle.

“Those men were commanders of a skirmishing force that went out to face Kallistrovich. Wilmut Von Fruttz; SS Sturmbannführer with a reputation for extravagant gestures and grand shows of the Nazi ideal. He once made an execution of a deserter last ten minutes with his posturing.

Narbert Selvian; Artillery Commandant. Once an academy rival of Gunther von Kluge, he was passed over for promotion and hoped to coddle favor with the SS recently.

Major-Count Clodyek Bielisti. Known among the ranks as 'The Silesian'. Impoverished Pro-Fascist Polish aristocrat and honorary Thule Society member. Said to be completely mad.”

“They never stood a chance,” Casp commented horrified.

The Kids could just stare in horror at what they heard. Whoever that Colonel was, she was definitely not to be underestimated and would not hesitate to kill.

It sounded like from a horror movie.

“I-I don’t want to end up like them…” Lily trembled at the thought before Dinky gave a hug with an assuring smile.

“Don’t worry, Casp and Alexander will make sure it won’t come to that.” Katja and Blau nodded with weak smiles.

Just as she said this, Casp walked in with a guilty expression. “I am so sorry you had to see this. But I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe. It’s the least I can do.”

Slowly, Lily started to smile weakly. “T-thanks…”

He waved a hand. “I am just doing what is right. Now, try to relax, a bit.” They nodded and played a round of Mau-Mau as he looked after Alexander, who was on a radio.

“Anything to report?” He asked his superior, who nodded.

“Yes. I received new orders, we’re moving out.”

“Okay. Still, we should get those children to safety as soon as possible. Is she gets them, who knows what will happen,” The interpreter shivered just to think if it but Alexander laid a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t worry, I already work on it. Until them, we do our best to keep them safe. But, first, we have to free our vehicles from the mud. Damn mud.” He groaned and Casp rolled his eyes.

“Yeah… Always annoying…”

“Can I be of assistance?” Lily’s voice tore them out and they turned around in surprise, seeing her with an innocent smile.

“And how?” Alexander asked clueless before the filly grinned.

“Watch.” She walked up to one of the tanks, a Panzer III and pushed it. To their surprise, the tank slowly moved and was out of the mud, with the foal barely breaking a sweat as she did the same with the other tanks, not forgetting the Halftracks and trucks, with her three friends watching proudly.

“I guess her super strength has its advantages…” Alexander mumbled in surprise before he pointed to a 251 half-track and the kids got in with him and Casp. As the roof was covered by a thick canvas sheet, plus the half-track had heating, it was quite comfortable inside, despite the cold.

“Driver - a Reichsmark extra if you turn this around and head for Germany.” A soldier said as he entered the half-track too, together with three others, all armed with MP40s.

“First gear. Ja, ja, up and to the left.” They heard one of the crew members advising the half-track driver.

“Panzer III moving out.” One of the tank commanders informed on the radio before there was a cracking noise. “Stop with that junk, go!”

The journey was quiet, no enemy in sight, only the landscape and the rain until they drive past a deserted village with a farm after a while.

Dinky’s eyes and those of her friends went wide as they saw some children coming out of the hog house. They watched the German convoy with scared and desperate looks as he fought with the muddy terrain.

Their eyes became lively as Casp threw them some rations from the Halftrack. Strangely, they didn’t take the food right away but remained motionless until a little girl dared to come forward with a weak smile.

Neither Dinky now the other children could imagine the misery of the Soviet children, yet looked at Casp with smiles.

“That was very nice of you.” Dinky praised him and he sighed.

“I know and it’s the least I can do. We were told we would enter to free those people from the Bolsheviks and to create room to live here.” He let out a sneer and pointed at one of the buildings that were half collapsed. “Lebensraum? Who's gonna be left to live here?”

“You have pity for them?” Lily asked, it just slipped out.

“Yes, I had a friend once that is Russian-German, so it pains me what misery we cause to the Russian people. All that, just to defeat communism.” He lowered his head with another sigh.

Still, Dinky and the siblings looked at each other. Escher had told them once how brutal the Eastern Front was at times and because of that, he feared to get ever deployed here. Now they knew why.

Boom!

A loud explosion started them, the half-track rumbled from the shockwaves. “What was that?!” Lily yelled in alarm.

“Artillery! Everyone out!” Alexander ordered and they did as told, wasting no time.

Getting out, they pressed themselves against the transport as soldiers in khaki-colored uniforms with olive green helmet fired from both sides on the field.

“We must take out this artillery!” Stay behind us!” He yelled at the kids and they nodded, being covered by the other soldiers, a Panzer III joined them.

However, just as they got away from the fire, a whistle sounded and the tank exploded, only a burning wreck was left.

“Damn!” The officer cursed as they moved on, encountering a Soviet squad in a trench. “Lob a grenade and flush them out!” He ordered and as Casp went with two other soldiers and the kids behind a wrecked car as cover, he fired a rifle grenade.

The explosion took out the entire squad and they heard MG fire up ahead. Next to a bridge was a Soviet MG crew, firing a very old looking MG at some Germans that hid behind a stone wall.

“Soviet machine-gun has then pinned!” Alexander pointed out and aimed at the gunner.

Pulling the trigger, the bullet went right into the head. Blood splattered and the Russian fell backwards, startling his comrades.

They tried to aim at the Germans, with one trying to replace the gunner, but Alexander’s squad was faster, shooting them before they could do anything.

“Thanks!” The squad leader of the other squad said to them and pointed to a bridge, but a red flare was thrown on it.

“They have the bridge targeted. We must find another crossing.” The officer pointed out as artillery fire destroyed it.

Dinky noticed that Lily looked slightly scared around but put a brave face on. “You’re doing great.”

The Earth pony returned it as a railway bridge was just next to the normal bridge, a derailed train on the other side. The Germans took the MG squad that guarded the destroyed bridge by surprise, the children noticed how Casp aimed for the chest or head, realizing he wanted to give his enemies a quick and painless death.

After the Soviets were no longer a threat, Alexander pointed to a bulky looking rifle next to some Soviet supplies. “Casp, grab that Anti-tank rifle!” He did as told as they heard more artillery fire, getting louder. “I can hear the guns firing. We must be close.”

Barely he had spoken, they took cover behind two stone walls as more Russians blocked their way, firing behind sandbags.

The Germans returned fire, only to hear the sound of an engine, seeing an armored car driving up. For the kids, it looked like a converted truck as the turret was placed on its back.

“BA-10, take it out, Casp!” Alexander ordered and the Sergeant took aim. He fired at the engine, saying low to avoid it’s MG fire. After three shots, the car caught fire and exploded. The defenders retreated in disarray.

“We should flank them. Let’s go around those trees.” The officer suggested and his fellow soldiers nodded.

Just going around it, they spotted two howitzers, firing, guarded by two squads. The Soviets were completely taken by surprise, unable to react in time as the Germans opened fire, killing them quickly, also neutralizing the howitzers.

“Good job! That should take the pressure off the rest of our convoy. Now, let’s scout ahead, the Luftwaffe has bombed the area, so the enemy should have disappeared.” The officer said to his men.

To his word, there were no further enemies up ahead, coming past a trench the Soviets seemed to have given up before Lily’s ears peered up at another engine sounds. “Something’s coming.

Alexander’s eyes went wide as a small green colored tank came down the road. “Verdammt! T-26, into the trench, quickly!”

The tank fired, missing but the explosion still made the ears of the kids ring as they jumped in and pressed themselves against the wall and Casp took aim, firing the Anti-Tank rifle at the ammo rack and the T-26 caught fire, exploding in a small fireball.

“Damn Luftwaffe did a lousy job…again. You just have to do everything yourself.” Alexander mumbled with annoyance as it was over.

“One foot after the other, Kinder.” Alexander gave the kids a smile as they moved on.

After a short walk, the came to what looked like an abandoned camp of the Red Army. “They must have forgotten it in their hurry. Check for Booby-traps.”

They all did as told, even the kids, being very careful, but luckily, there were none. “Okay, we’ll make this our Forward base.” The officer smiled at the children. “You did well. Get some rest. You earned it.”

Lily was breathing heavily. “I-I don’t think I felt to such adrenaline before…”

“It’s okay. We felt the same in Africa.” Blau calmed her down with a weak smile.

After a short while, it started to snow, with the rest of the convoy arriving, having two more trucks in tow.

“Our winter gear, just in time. Casp commented with relief and changed his uniform with other soldiers. His Winter uniform was almost the same as his regular in color, save for a long coat, gloves and a scarf around his head. Some soldiers wore a white uniform for camouflage instead.

“Originally, the attack was planned for Spring, but as the Italians needed help in Africa, everything got delayed until summer. The goal was to capture Moskau before winter and…you saw how that went. The Red Army furthest into the front are normally the dregs of the 'motherland', usually conscripted straight from the gulags. But we need to watch our step from here on out. If we run into the She-Bear's lot, it'll be a very different story. One without a happy ending.” Casp explained.

“Okay…I guess we were lucky.” Lily replied before a shoulder looked inside what looked like a workshop.

“Hey! There’s a T-34 in there!”

The kids took a look, seeing a tank much larger than the T-26, roughly the same size as a Panzer III.

“It would make a good addition to our force,” Alexander commented and a tank crew entered it, starting the engine. Dinky and her friends saw how it drove out of the workshop, then stopped abruptly, the engine smoking.

“Damn Russian tank! We only got a couple of meters and it’s already given up the ghost!” The commander of the crew cursed and Alexander sighed.

“Was worth a try. I guess it was here for repairs.”

“Hey, what’s that?” Katja pointed to something in the distance, it looked like the top of a tower.

“Must be the spires of the Kremlin. It’s a miracle we came so far with this weather.” The officer replied.

Still, all children let out a sigh, relieved that they made were so far okay and hoped Fletcher soon catch up to them.

Lily caught her breath, huddled in her winter gear, wiping her moistening muzzle. She hoped she wasn't catching a cold, her three friends did too.

Then a voice called up. “Message from command for you, sir.” A thin, pale, nervous-looking man with a radio strapped to his back walked up to Alexander and gave him the earpiece.

“Thanks, Mardner.” Alexander said, then spoke into the earpiece, “Yes? Acknowledged, command, I move out a once and we secured an enemy camp.” Alexander gave the earpiece back and turned to Casp. “Command wants me to take the tanks to assist a nearby unit further up ahead. You hold this position, the children stay with you for their safety.”

“Alright, good luck!”

As the tanks moved out, the Sergeant checked his pocket for a cigarette, tired of seeing his own breath in vapor out his mouth but decided against it for the sake of the children.

Looking around, he saw an expanse of sheer white hills, surrounded by a wall of thin, pale winter-worn trees before them, the gaps between them black as night.

“Any idea where we are exactly?” He asked the radioman.

“Hold on, let me get the map."

As Mardner fumbled with his equipment, Casp groaned and slapped his forehead hard.

"Don’t tell me we’re took a wrong turn or something!"

“Hold on, sir. I think I've worked it out." Mardner piped up, "We're not too far. Those forests over there tell us where we are." He pointed to the tress "So that would put us here!"

"No. We're facing west of the forests, not south."

"Are you sure?" Mardner reached for a compass as Casp facepalmed a second time.

"Ja. You're right, sorry sir." he mumbled "So that would put us a bit further away but if we just acro-"

Bang!

Lily, Dinky, Blau and Katja blinked on impulse as the sudden sharp cracking sound cut through the winter wind.

Casp stared as Mardner jolted suddenly, the navigator's face twisting morbidly.

The map had a hole in it.

And so did Mardner.

Lily and her three friends screamed as the man fell dead, painting the snow below his head with blood and brains.

One of the others gave a yell.

"Snipers! In the for-"

More bangs filled the air and all hell broke loose.

Eight men died at once, flailing or flying back as the forests fired lead from the shadows.

"Get to cover! All of you!" Casp bellowed as the soldiers scrambled for safety. They fired back, uncertain if they hit anything. The trees splintered or scraped at their shots but held firm.

"We're not going to hit anything at this rate." Casp said, shaking his head "Bring up the heavy fire. Flush them out."

Three men with an anti-tank gun stepped forward.

It was the wrong decision.

A hellish rattling rang in the childrens' ears as lead rained down, peppering the snow and six men upon it, two weapon crew among them. The last one managed to duck and scanned the horizon.

A Maxim gun, half-hidden in the hilltop, was firing its rounds from up-high.

"Take that thing out! Now!"

Some soldiers manned the broken T-34, taking aim, and in the distance, Lily and the others saw two men in thick beige coats jump free of the machine gun as the shell hit home.

"Reload fast. We're pinned down." Casp ordered as his ear pricked.

A yell came from behind the smoking Maxim gun.

One of its operators, maybe both of them, were signaling someone.

Someone above.

There was a screech.

Piercing the grey haze, faint dots appeared in the sky, steadily expanding.

His heart felt grabbed by cold talons as he positively screamed a warning.

"Katyushas! Get down!"

Fire leapt out of the ground where the missiles hit. The T-34 went up in flames along with four others, screaming as the cold of Russia's winter was suddenly, painfully robbed from them.

A rocket hit right next to the kids, the explosion blasted them away.

Lily cried in pain as she rolled around before coming to a stop. Her entire body ached, vision bury, ears ringing, barely able to see her friends next to her, also lying on the ground, dazed.

Despite her blurry vision, she could see another explosion. Three men in front were practically shattered by the blast, falling to pieces all around their compatriots who struggled for breath and vision as the smoke cleared.

A rumbling sound filled the air.

The children’s eyes went small as a line of tanks came down from the fold, T-34's by the looks of them, but modified somewhat. Painted camo white and grey and fitted with a toothy metal snow pusher that opened up to form a two-foot barrier on either side of their front. Two or three Soviets with rifles were marching along behind them, guns at the ready.

A big silhouette stood atop the closest tank recklessly and rained leaden death from an automatic rifle, roaring with laughter. Despite their ringing ears, they could hear it faintly.

"Welcome to Russia, you sons of bitches!" he hooted.

Alongside him, his comrades gave out yells and curses which he, as an interpreter, knew well.

"Die screaming, you Nazi pigs!"

"Justice for Leningrad!"

"The She-Bear will have your blood!"

Then a man stumbled in front of them, apparently dazed, yet managed to hold up a hand in a protective stance.

“Casp…” All four managed to say in unison before they saw him getting knocked out.

A faint voice ringed in her ears and she looked up to see a silhouette before her. She could only recognize it was female by the shape before everything became black.

Chapter 4 Claws of the She-Bear

Chapter 4: Claws of the She-Bear

“Ugh”… Lily groaned, rubbing her head as she woke up. Looking around, she found herself with her friends and Casp in what looked like a prison cell. “Wh-What happened? Where are we? She asked slightly scared, seeing her friends had slight scare expressions as well and the soldier sighed.

“I am afraid that I have to tell you that The She-Bear got us.”

Lily’s eyes went small in shock. “No…No…” She whimpered, hoping it was only a bad dream.

Then she felt something warm, noticed Dinky and the siblings were hugging her. “Shh, we are here for you. Together, we’ll make it through this.” Dinky gave her a weak smile, although she sounded just as scared.

The Rosa pony took a deep breath.

“R-right…”

A loud, terrible creak make them flinch, followed by footsteps. The children and man held their breaths as a woman stepped into view.

She looked young in build, about a head shorter than most of the soldiers, lean and slender but with hard, firm shoulders and a heavy step as she paced forward, hands behind her back. Her hair was a reddish-brown, tied in a spiky ponytail just below her cap. But her face was different.

She wasn’t wrinkled or even worn-looking but something about her made her look like an old woman. Perhaps it was the unsettling crease in her lips that set them in an expressionless frown. Perhaps it was the biting coldness in her piercing blue eyes as she scanned the room. But something about her gave the impression that this was a young woman who’d seen war, tasted of it and developed a thirst for more.

Lily, Dinky, Katja and Blau held their breaths as she looked at them with a neutral expression, then turned her head. “Tartikoff.”

A man stepped into view. He looked more bull than man. His scalp was bald but his beard was simply enormous, coal-black and tangled, blotting out his lower jaw and neck almost entirely from sight. Barrel-chested with arms like logs, he was certainly an intimidating sight which was made all the more effective by the ominous scar over his left-eye. The side of that face was charred black, the eye colorless, by what must have been a fire, most likely a directed one. The other eye was small, yellowed by drink but still alert and fixed on any who looked to be stepping out of line.

He opened the cell door and they recognized his as the same one they had seen on the tank.

“I take the German, Colonel.” He said to the woman and she nodded.

The children looked at Casp with worry but he gave them a look that said, “’ll be fine.” Despite being scared, they walked out of the cell without hesitation, fearing what would happen if they would not follow.

“You’re coming, lieutenant Lemkin?” She asked another man behind her.

“Yes, Colonel Kallistrovich.” He replied with unease in his voice.

Tall, taller than his commanding officer at any rate and yet somehow appearing not so much shorter but smaller. Slender-faced with an angular nose and chin, slightly sunken cheeks and wide, forest-green eyes that looked childish and a head of black hair that hung near his shoulders. His overall appearance had a slightly feminine look, coupled with the light, pattering steps as he kept pace with his formidable Colonel. It didn't take long to see that this man had very little authority in the company of Kallistrovich and perhaps even less without.

Slightly shaking, the kids got brought to what looked like an interrogation room, with the woman pointing to some chairs, her expression without any emotion.

For a time she just sat there, occasionally tilting her head or squinting, examining the children in front of her, measuring how useful or threatening she could be, all without moving from her chair.

“You can make it easy on yourselves.” She said in a neutral tone.

Breathing deeply, gathering some courage, the children managed to tell her about where they came from. They left the lab out, just calming it was an accident with magic, also leaving out the previous adventures.

Kallistrovich’s expression was neutral throughout the entire story. “And the outpost?” She just asked.

“It…It was only a few trenches before we moved on, a temporary base.” Lily explained, slightly shaking.

“And who did you see? What did you see? Any artillery? Any armaments? Radios? Spare no details, for your own sake.”

At this point, fear took completely over. “Please, I don't know. Don't hurt us, please, I...”

She couldn’t finish as Kallistrovich threw her chair to the ground, taking a corkscrew from her coat pocket, grabbing Lily by the jaw and held the corkscrew right next to her eye. Lemkin, watching, was shocked, Dinky and the siblings startled, shrieking.

“SAY PLEASE AGAIN!” The woman yelled, her eyes blazing in rage, causing Lily to shiver, her eyes one of terror.

“Wh-wha...”

SAY PLEASE AGAIN! SAY IT AGAIN, YOU WHINY LITTLE TRAKH! I DARE YOU! SAY PLEASE ONE MORE TIME! SEE WHAT HAPPENS! SAY IT!” The woman screamed.

“Colonel!” Lemkin raised his voice, sounding terrified.

It seemed like hours before the female officer let Lily go, straightened up and sat back down as if nothing happened. “Miss Lily...Mercy is not something that I consider professional. And my men will not show any unless I tell them to. So, just so we are clear Miss Ruby, you beg and plead one more time...and you'll wish you hadn't.” She warned with a cold voice.

“Colonel,” Dinky spoke up, her expression slightly unsettled. “With all due respect, there is no need for this. We are just lost and Casp helped us. He didn’t tell us anything.”

“We swear.” The siblings added.

Katyusha was silent for a moment. “You can talk.”

The words sunk in. Lilly shuffled awkwardly on her chair.

“Yeah...Yeah, I guess that’s true.”

“You're certainly not from here, that much is certain.” The woman added, pausing again, making them fear what it would mean for them.

“However, that is not an immediate concern.” This made the kids wonder what she meant with that. “You have a nice voice. My little sister, Anya, had a sweet voice too, and was pretty and kind and helpful and would never wish harm upon anyone. When the SS came for her, she knelt and cried and pleaded, just as you have done...It didn't help her...And it won't help you.” She added.

Katyusha gave then a strange smile. Or not-a-smile as it seemed.

"I shall tell you a little about myself," she said quietly, almost purring like some predatory cat.

"I grew up in a little village not too far from Yelninsky. I was fifteen when the wolves from Germany came howling at our door. When it was clear to us that they would reach us before Timoshenko's men did, we prayed it would be just the soldiers or even the tanks. Men like Rommel or Goering who we heard could be kind and honorable. Alas, men like Rommel and Goering were far away. The ones who found us first...were the SS"

She sat back in the chair opposite her, her eyes appearing to glaze over and Lilly could swear they were slightly moist.

Was she crying?

"Have you ever seen what happens to those who fall under the SS? When they're let off the leash? When there's no-one around to stop them shaming their fatherland? Their commanders eager for easy conquest and their henchmen wild with bloodlust? My father was a carpenter. They thought it would be funny to cut him up on his own work-table and feed him in bowls to the other prisoners. And my mother was always known to be a beautiful woman, my little sister also. She was thirteen...But that didn't bother them" Her pale eyes twitched "I was not quite as beautiful. I looked more like my father, I am told. But that didn't bother them either though they took care of my mother and sister first"

"You mean..." Lilly stammered, uncertain whether her story or her expression was the most terrifying "...k-killed them?"

Katyusha gave that not-a-smile again.

"No, little one, they did not kill them" She gave a sharp exhale that could have been a laugh if it didn't sound so...dead.

"They wouldn't get around to that for a long time"

Lilly and Her friends didn't quite understand what she was trying to convey but, if what had happened had made Katyusha the way she was, it couldn't have been good.

"Eventually..." she stood up again and reached for a small drawer by her desk "It was my turn. My father, mother and sister had died. Now it was my turn to die...I should have felt ready. I should have been happy that the time had come to join my family and all those I grew up with...Except...I wasn't. I didn't want to die. I didn't choose to die" she took a deep breath and pulled something out the drawer. Some form of necklace.

"I chose to live...To fight...And to pay for their hospitality...in very much the same way as it was given"

She held up the item.

It was a small leather band. Strung through it were a dozen thin, black sticks. It didn't take much else than the stench to know they had once been body parts, torn off, burnt and dried.

Katyusha's non-smile widened, twisting into a sadistic leer as her pale eyes glinted like a scavenger.

Lilly's, Dinky’s, Katja’s and Blau’s eyes widened with horror as she shuffled back uncomfortably in her chair.

Please, please, PLEASE Celestia, let those be fingers!

"Oh, how the little pigs squealed..." the formidable Soviet sighed "when the crying little bear-cub grew big...and strong...and hungry.”

Then she looked at Lily with a cold glare. “You have a nice voice. My little sister, Anya, had a sweet voice too, and was pretty and kind and helpful and would never wish harm upon anyone. When the SS came for her, she knelt and cried and pleaded, just as you have done...It didn't help her...And it won't help you.”

They gulped, knowing they shouldn’t say anything wrong before she made a sign to Lemkin. “But we are done here.”

Casp said nothing as he got led to another interrogation room and sat down on a chair.

“So, what can you tell me? I am not like the Colonel.” Tartikoff asked rather calmly, yet a neutral expression.

“Not much, really. I am a simple interpreter that was ordered to scout ahead and await further orders. Still, I have seen what The She-Bear does, the horrific acts of violence.” Casp replied a bit disgusted and the officer chuckled.

“I always find it funny when Nazis talk of horror and violence. I wonder if you know Colonel Kallistrovich. She just a little girl when your men burned her village, cut up her father and took her and her mother and her sister again and again and again.”

The Sergeant took a deep breath. “...Alright, I did hear about that and I wish to make one thing very clear. They were not my men, nor was I with them. If they were, I would have put them to justice for their disgrace...in a manner that would make whatever Kallistrovich did to them seem kind. I am a regular soldier, not part of the SS.”

Tartikoff just laughed. “I am having a hard time imagining that.”

“I keep my men disciplined and ensure no civilians are harmed at their hands. This is war, standards must be maintained.” Casp started firmly.

“You misunderstand. I am willing to believe your men are better than those who burned her village. That is not hard to imagine. What is hard to imagine is how, in any possible way, what she did to those who hurt her could be seen as kind. There is a reason we call her the She-Bear.” The Soviet countered.

“Indeed. And there is a reason we call her Bloody Katja.” Casp replied with unease in his voice before he saw the Colonel entering, her icy glare fixed on him.

“Ah, good timing, Colonel. He’s very cooperative but I haven’t got any valuable information yet.”

“Then allow me.” She said coldly and he nodded.

“All yours.” He walked out and she sat down on a chair, not letting her glare down.

Casp’s heart started to race, yet he knew he had to keep the children safe, as Katyusha stayed silent for what seemed like an eternity before breaking it.

“Your pets aren't telling me anything I like the sound of. You do not want me to lose my patience with them. What do they know?” She asked stern.

“Nothing. I found them while on patrol and just did the right thing, helping them.” The interpreter replied truthfully.

”Why do you even care?”

“They are lost, what else was I supposed to for? I just operated on instinct and we were awaiting orders, so there was no time to tell them, had been there things to tell. I am no Nazi.”

As he said this, the woman saw in his eyes that the flames of the Reich had died long ago.

“I grew up with Russians, as such, I was horrified to hear we would attack the Soviet Union. I only followed orders for protecting my patents and girlfriend, never believing in Hitler’s messages.” Casp told with a tired voice. “But in the end, I lost everything. Keeping them safe is the least I can do I don’t care what happens to me as long as they are safe. If it means my death, so be it, I have nothing to lose anymore.”

Kallistrovich said nothing, just eyed him for a moment.

“I wouldn't be so sure of that if I were you, Sergeant. Is that all?” He nodded. “Then you may go back to your cell.”

Tartikoff did escort him back without a word.

Once back in the cell, Casp saw that Lily trembled, looking at her friends with guilt, although they had expressions of sympathy. ”S-sorry, I… I… I just wanna go home…” She sniffed, a tear left her eyes before her friends hugged her.

“Shh, it’s okay to be scared. We are all in this together.” Dinky gave her a weak smile.

“And I’ll do what I can to keep you safe,” Casp added with a weak smile of his own.

Before Lily could form an answer, they saw Lemkin walking up, carrying bread and water. “It’s the least I can for you.” He said with pity in his voice and placed it inside.

“Thanks.” Katja smiled at him and they ate their meal, glad to have something their stomach, despite it wasn’t much.

Seeing it was getting dark outside, they decided to hit the way, the children huddled together to keep themselves warm, as it was slightly cold.

The next day was quiet, Lemkin brought them breakfast and some cards, so they could pass the time.

While it helped them to keep their minds free, Lily still was lost in thought. “Do…Do you really think Fletcher comes for us?”

“Yes. It took him a few days to catch up. It’s very likely that the cold weather slows him down.” Dinky tried to make her hope.

“I-I hope that it did not get him or was buried by an avalanche or something…” Lily trembled at the thought.

“He survived worse, Lily.” Blau pointed out and she sighed.

“Yeah…Maybe…I just worry too much.”

Lemkin also brought them lunch and dinner.

As the next day came, they awoke as they heard the cell door being opened. It was Tartikoff.

“Outside. Now.” He said without any emotion, the kids gulped, fearing the worst as they and Casp got led out, together with other prisoners.

Lilly and her friends clutched Casp's arm tight as yells and holler sounded across the camp, all Russian.

A door from the lowest, darkest cells was opened and five men were dragged out, their wrists bound behind their backs. Each one bore the badge of the SS on their belts and had it tattooed into their backs where their shirts and jackets had been ripped open, the twin lightning bolts running blood down their bodies

The first prisoner was a middle-aged man with an auburn perm and a cracked monocle. His uniform was shiny and decorated in the design of an officer, perhaps a Major or even a Colonel.

"Lieutenant Hubert Von Steigler" Casp named him quietly "The Soviets must have taken Ostmark Point."

Beside them, another prisoner cursed.

"Damn...That's the last radio tower for miles."

Lilly watched as the officer stumbled to his knees and fell before Kallistrovich, who stood over him patiently, glaring with those icy eyes of hers.

"Please...listen..." he said, trying hard to keep calm "I am an Obersturmbannführer of the Schutzstaffel. I am worth a lot to you as a prisoner. If you let the Reichstag know you have me detained, they will negotiate..." He withered under the woman's steely gaze "I...I can convince Herr Fuhrer to show mercy to your regiment after Russia is conquered"

Kallistrovich tilted her head.

"That's like convincing Carthage to show mercy to Rome. They were the ones who ended up begging for it. They received none. And neither shall you" She clicked her fingers and Von Steigler was hauled to his feet.

"No, please! I am a leader!" he protested as they dragged him forward "Herr Hitler wants me alive!"

"Too bad for him"

The next couple of prisoners, from the looks of them Captains or Commandants, said nothing, but looked into the She-Bear's eyes with despair, hoping to find some pity.

"Listen, it's all a mistake! If you'll let me speak to the Kremlin, I am sure they will understand!"

A reedy whimper sounded loud as the Soviets dragged out the fourth prisoner.

This one was different. He was a fair few decades older than the rest and wasn't in uniform. He was dressed more like a dinner guest than anything else, wearing a grey jacket with gold cufflinks, a black tie with the SS insignia and a small badge of the Nazi eagle. He was wearing glasses and his grey hair was thinning on his scalp. He was weeping as the two soldiers held him firmly by the shoulders and marched him forward.

"Who's that?" Lilly asked "He's not a soldier"

"No. But he is a Nazi" Casp answered "I never got his name but he's some kind of bureaucrat. Fancies himself a philosopher, spouting the Aryan theories and such. Word is, he manages the camps."

Lilly watched as he tottered around on bandy old legs, desperately trying to get the Colonel's attention.

"Miss Gruvna, ah...Colonel Kallistrovich, you mustn't do this. I am just a clerk. I'm not involved with the war effort at all. Please, send me back to Westphalia, I am a civilian. The Geneva Conventions clearly state-"

He was cut off by Kallistrovich spinning round and backhanding him hard across the cheek. His glasses flew off his face in pieces as the woman barked, teeth bared in fury.

"Heinz-Walder Schneifenberg. Dean of the Reich Education Ministry and Head of the Department of 'Purist Research', Judge of the People's Court, Senior Inspector of Sobidor Extermination Camp and unofficial Oberfuhrer of the Schutzstaffel." She paced forward and stared him the eye, the old man quavering, knowing the woman was under no delusions that he was a simple clerk.

"You signed the death warrants of over twenty-thousand men, women and children of Russia." she hissed "You had them tortured, mutilated, experimented on, your ventures in the field of human suffering were beyond speaking of, you created hell on earth before our border...And you speak of the Geneva Convention?" Every word that came out of her mouth poured with malice and contempt.

"You...Dare...Speak...Of...Mercy"

Lilly and the other children looked at the old man. He seemed so normal. Looking at his weeping face and quivering posture, one could easily be convinced into pitying him, asking why the Soviets were treating a scared old man so harshly.

They found it so difficult to look at him and see a mass-murderer.

"No, no, no, please, Colonel! You don't understand!" Schneifenberg broke down into a sobbing wreck "They made me do it! Herr Himmler threatened to torture me if I didn't help him! Actually, I've always supported the Communist Agenda! You wouldn't kill a fellow revolutionary, would you?! Please let me go! Do you want money?! I have lots of it! Please, in the name of God, don't do this!"

Kallistrovich turned away from him as the fifth and final prisoner was brought out in quite a different manner.

The sounds of struggling came from the cells as an old, weathered man with the look of a veteran in a uniform far more authentic than others, bearing more similarities to the Kaiser's Guard than the SS, was dragged forward, kicking and cursing, the soldiers at his arms barely keeping hold of him.

"To hell with you, Bloody Katja!" he screamed with fury "And to hell with all you hairy Communist bastards! You think you've won?! The German people will stomp you into the ground like the worms you are!"

"Shut up, Captain Wilderschmidt, they'll kill us all!" Steigler's cry could be heard.

The veteran, Wilderschmidt, gave a derisive chuckle.

"These fools?! Probably blind drunk! You think you can scare me? I was at Amiens with Ludendorff! They didn't call me Fearless Klaus Wilderschmidt for nothing! I've fought boy scouts bigger than you lot!" He sized up Tartikoff "Look at you, you big dumb bastard! I heard your mother got ploughed by a bull, Gordy, you stupid, unshaven oaf!"

Tartikoff said nothing, raising a great bushy eyebrow with what could have either been derision or amusement.

Lemkin, meanwhile, stepped forward and cuffed the old man round the head.

"Hold your tongue, sir, or lose it" he snapped.

The veteran eyed him as if he'd been hiding before.

"Lemkin..." he muttered "Hector Lemkin. God, what a stupid name! Who was your father? The village idiot?!"

Lemkin drew back, stunned. Lilly ad her friends could swear he heard Tartikoff chuckle. So did the veteran, carrying on in his stride.

"No...I bet your father was a woman! You look like a goddamn school-girl! Is that what your Colonel's into then? Little girls? Does she dress you up in frilly skirts like that dirty old bastard, Von Gisstler, used to do?!"

"Shut up!" Lemkin clouted him with the butt of his pistol.

"What's taking so long?" Kallistrovich approached with an unamused glare "Does this old man fancy himself an actor?"

"Oh and don't get me started on you, you sick Russian bitch!" Wilderschmidt roared "Is it true every man in the SK 7a had your mother and sister twice?! I bet they enjoyed it! I bet you enjoyed it when it was your turn! I bet you asked for more, you little-"

Bang!

The children gave a scream, falling against Casp's shoulder as the man hugged them tight.

The next instant. Captain Klaus Wilderschmidt lay on his side, his eyes wide open, his face expressionless, as a dark red pool spread over the snow beneath his head. Kallistrovich placed away her pistol as quickly as she had removed it and signaled her troops to walk on, taking the children and the observers with them.

"Why did he do that?" Lily whispered, tears running down her cheeks, Dinky and the siblings watched horrified. "Why did he make them angry?!"

"Because he was smart" Casp answered quietly "He goaded them into killing him before they could really get started. Maybe he wasn't so fearless after all...Though I can't say I blame him."

Tartikoff gave Casp a shove to get him and the other prisoners moving but no other harm came to them as they walked into the courtyard.

The snow was falling heavy. Lilly could see her breath pour out her mouth in a cloudy vapor, her friends too.

Yet that wasn't why they were shivering.

"Are they...are they going to shoot them?" Lily whispered to Casp.

"Shoot them?"

Tartikoff's chuckle indicated he heard her.

"Silly filly. Shooting's for wimps"

The four chosen prisoners stopped as Kallistrovich turned to them and smiled in that unsettling way.

"It's a cold winter up here," she said, "But we'll make sure you're kept nice and warm"

The terrified captives stared at a great mound of tinder, piled high in front of them, wet with oil, with four enormous wooden poles jutting out at odd angles.

"No...no...you can't be serious!" Von Steigler screamed "You're insane! You're goddamn savages!"

Kallistrovich tilted her head.

"And what does that make you who fell prey to these savages?" she asked. Before the man could reply, she answered her own question.

"Dead meat."

There was a rusty metal box before her feet with a loose lid she kicked open. Reaching in, she withdrew what looked like belts of gold, like little sticks of shiny gilded trinkets she began carefully wrapping round the four men, struggling and wailing. Tying them round their legs, waists, arms and shoulders, it dawned on the filly what they were.

Bandoliers of cartridges.

In the fires, they'd blow, one by one, all over their bodies.

She stared in horror at how gleeful the woman seemed.

"You never used these when we stormed Ostmark Point," she told the men. "Not to worry. We'll put them to good use"

The guards dragged each man to one of the poles and bound them tightly. By the end, Von Steigler, Schneifenburg and the two others were writhing at their bonds like mackerel in a fisherman's grasp, screaming for mercy.

It still hadn't dawned on them that Katyusha Kallistrovich did not know the meaning of the word.

Tartikoff strode forward and handed her a burning torch. She raised it high, the fire bathing her ecstatic face in an ochre hue, as her regiment cheered.

Bar one.

Lilly, Dinky, Blau and Katja noticed Hector Lemkin, the young lieutenant, looking pale, almost ill. There was something about his expression that seemed so sullen, as if it were Kallistrovich herself about to burn.

He blinked and did his best to subtly look away without anyone noticing.

All around, Soviets of all shapes and sizes. Men and women, pumped their fists in the air, vengeful grins wide on their faces.

"Burn!" they kept chanting "Burn! Burn! Burn! Burn!"

Kallistrovich nodded, lowered the torch to the tinder and gave the prisoners one last glance.

"You can't do this!" Von Steigler ranted "The Fuhrer will have your heads for this, you primitive psychopaths! Let me go!"

"Please! Mercy! For pity's sake, mercy!" Schneifenburg wailed "I'll give you anything! Anything you want! Mercy!"

The word made the woman's eyes flicker for an instant, though that might have been the torch.

"As our mighty Premier Stalin said," she declared "Suffer not a Fascist to live!"

The next instant, she stuck the torch in the pile, twisted as if turning a key in the lock, and withdrew it.

The wood lit up swiftly and soon became a blazing pyre, the four screaming victims little more than extra kindling.

In the blaze, the four friends noticed the cartridges wrapped around them glowing brighter and brighter.

As she gave a horrified whimper, Casp put a hand over their eyes and did his best to shield their ears with the long sleeves of his coat.

"Don't look" he whispered "Whatever you do, don't look"

As the cartridges blew, there came a piercing, crackling sound not unlike a soda can being crushed and the screams of the burning prisoners rose several octaves, growing wilder and even more agonized.

Casp stared, nauseated.

The cartridges had peppered their bodies with hideous gashes all over, one by one. It was as if a great invisible beast had raked its claws across them again and again, ripping off clumps of their flesh.

The smell was the worst thing.

He hadn't eaten proper food in weeks.

The scent of the roasting flesh before them was feeling unsettlingly inviting.

Casp found himself looking away, tending to the shivering children beside him as the screams finally stopped, the blackened, featureless faces of the dead men locked in a silent howl of agony.

Kallistrovich threw the torch on the pile and marveled at the blaze, warming her hands in front of the four charred corpses, before turning to her men.

"Who's hungry?" she asked, as if she were a playful mother.

"You bet I am!" Tartikoff bellowed merrily "Let's roast up some of those pigs we found at Ostmark! Fresh pork, vodka and burning Nazis. Here's to a fine evening, comrades!"

The Soviets cheered, dispersing to the mess hall.

A small crew of them marched the prisoners back to the pits as Hector Lemkin made his way forward, looking very unwell.

He met Casp and his young friends and stood with his hands behind his back expectedly.

"Casp, is it?" he began "You stopped them witnessing the execution?"

Casp paused, gave the kids a sullen look and answered.

"Yes, lieutenant, I did. No child should ever have to watch that"

There was a pause. Lemkin was a man who found it hard to look threatening but whatever he knew, Kallistrovich would know the next day.

He spoke at last.

"That is something we agree on, at least," he said flatly, "Thank you, Casp. I'll put in a good word. You'll get a decent blanket for the night and extra rations"

Before Casp and the children could register their surprise, and indeed gratitude, Lemkin spun on his heels, nodded to the guard and left briskly.

"Casp, you lucky bastard," a nearby prisoner said with a begrudging chuckle.

"Don't worry" Casp replied, smiling, "I'll let you do it next time."

Chapter 5 Standards

Chapter 5: Standards

Trembling.

Lily, Dinky, Katja and Blau Streifen could only tremble at what they had seen, hearing how the Soviets were singing their Colonel’s name as they got led back to the cells.

“I…I can’t believe she did that…” Dinky whimpered.

“Yeah…I can’t imagine how painful it must have been…”Katja replied with a scared expression and her brother hugged her, she did too.

“I…I don’t wanna die like that…” Lily sobbed, “W-what if we are next?” She feared before Casp wrapped them all in a tight hug.

“Shh, calm down. She won’t do that to you, you have nothing done wrong. As far as I know. Those SS prisoners did terrible things I cannot imagine to describe. And I heard she only did such things to those who she thinks deserved it, but no Wehrmacht soldier has suffered familiar so far.”

It made some sense and they tried to take deep breaths before they saw Lemkin bringing lunch. Instead of water, there were cups of hot chocolate and apples next to the bread; his expression was one of guilt.

“I am so sorry you had to see that, children. I can’t imagine what pain she went through when the SS reached her home but I think returning what the SS did to her but I think it’s her way of dealing with her pain.” He sighed.

“And still, she’s caring for those under her command. And since the first day I saw her…” Her mumble before catching himself and the eyes of the kids went wide in surprise.

“You...love her?” Lily asked, blinking and the man lowered his head, red like a tomato.

“I admit...it's difficult. I can’t really tell why, maybe it’s her caring for her troops or her appearance, maybe even her voice…”

“If you want advice, I had a girlfriend,” Casp spoke up, a slightly puzzled expression. “I have met her in school, so I can’t speak for your Colonel but I suggest do the best you can whenever you can and try to confess in a calm moment.”

I er...I think the Colonel's a bit different. I can't exactly send her flowers, can I? I mean, even if this was the season for them. I don't want to imagine what she'd do. But thanks anyway.” Lemkin replied uncertainly.

Despite being surprised, the kids smiled. “Good luck!”

“Thank you.”

As he walked away, they saw Tartikoff walking towards them, a neutral expression. “You've never seen Premier Stalin before have you?” They shook their heads.

“Funny man with a big moustache, eh? Heh...Premier Stalin alters your view of humanity. There are folk in the West, they all think they're clever in the West, who are saying Hitler and Stalin are men with no differences. Ha! Shows what they know. Once, when we took a German bunker, we found a projector with a few rolls of film showing his speeches. Funniest thing I ever saw, seeing him rank and shriek, waving his hands like he was having a damn seizure. I suppose you can't be a Fascist dictator unless you look like you're swatting away flies all the time.” He chuckled.

“Stalin's different. He doesn't need fancy speeches or frantic gestures to be seen or heard. He's not a very big man in himself but he somehow appears a giant in the crowd. And he's cold. Cold as the Russian winter and bites twice as hard. Hitler needs his armies swinging their legs in the air through the streets to show he has control. Stalin, he doesn't need to show anything. He doesn't need any proof that his power is absolute. Nothing escapes his gaze. Everywhere in Russia, everywhere there are Russians, his eyes, ears and hands are there. He says a man's name and that man's never seen again, none of those poor bastards ever escape him.” Tartikoff started to smile.

“Nothing seems to sway him. Nothing gets in his way. He'll survive this war, that's certain. Even if the Nazis take Moscow, they'll never be able to kill that man. Immovable, impenetrable, he earns his name well.”

Man of Steel indeed.” With a small laugh, the officer walked away.

None of them said a word, processing what they just had been told. “It is true?” Dinky asked the German soldier, who nodded.

“Yes. He had everyone killed that stood in his way to become leader of the Soviet Union, talented officers among those people as far as I have heard. But this weakened the Red Army, so at the start of the Winter War in November 1939, they had poor leadership and logistics and this made our early successes possible. I think the She Bear will save his head.”

Then he chuckled. “Ironically, he and Hitler made a nonaggression pact before the war and you see how that went.”

“I can imagine,” Dinky replied.

As it became evening, Lemkin brought them soup for dinner and as he had promised, larger blankets, making it more comfortable to sleep.

The following day was quiet, they passed the time by playing cards until it was afternoon as the Lieutenant paid them a visit again. “It’s not as cold as it was in the last days. Want to catch some fresh air?” He offered with a smile. “Don’t worry, I got permission for this.”

They looked at each other, then nodded. “Why not? Better than to be stuck in here all day.” Casp commented.

The group got led to the courtyard, seeing how the woman and her superior trained soldiers, with the man explaining to the recruits.

“Welcome to basic training comrades! If you wish to survive, you'll do exactly as I say. Now - walk over to that table and pick up those weapons.” He pointed to a weapon with pistols and Bolt-Action rifles, the recruits did as told. “Ready comrades? Shoot those targets. Imagine that they are the enemy!” He pointed at the targets, being at close range.

The recruits fired their pistols at it, having no trouble to hit it.

“Pistols and submachine guns might be good for short range, comrade, but for long range targets, our rifle is better.” Tartikoff explained and pointed at the targets that were further away.

Switching to their rifles, the recruits also hit them without trouble.

“Good comrades. Now come over here and bash this mannequin with your rifle.” The officer now pointed to a mannequin that was wearing a German officer uniform.

Once a soldier bashed it and it fell over, it was picked up by Lemkin, so the others could bash it as well until every recruit had done it.

“That's enough, comrades. Come over here and pick up a grenade.” Kallistrovich’s commander ordered ad the soldiers walked over. The kids and Casp became surprised to see that potatoes were inside of it.

“These are potatoes, comrade commander - why are we using potatoes instead of real grenades?” One of the recruits asked confused.

“Because real grenades are valuable! In fact, they are worth a lot more than you are!” Tartikoff yelled, pointing at the recruit, who nodded, slightly scared by his yelling.

“Oh, of course, comrade Commander. M-my mistake.”

“Now throw a potato into each of those marked target areas.” The officer pointed to two windows of a half-collapsed hut and a bathtub on the ground, commenting their throws. “Good throw! Not bad, not bad...”

Suddenly, Blau had to giggle and he looked at the colt stern. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, I had just to imagine the reactions of the enemy, if you throw potatoes at him.” Blau explained calm, his sister and friends had to giggle too at the thought, Lemkin did as well, Tartikoff grinned slightly. The Colonel rolled her eyes but they noticed a weak grin, as if she got the joke too.

Then an engine sound greeted them and they turned into its direction, seeing a staff car driving towards the camp and Kallistrovich made a sign to Lemkin.

He walked over to Casp. “Sorry, you have to go back.”

They nodded, understanding that the high ranking officer shouldn’t see them. Once back in the cell, Lemkin joined his fellow officers.

“I wonder who it could be,” Lily mumbled as they looked out of the window.

Out stepped a formidable figure; A rugged, cleft-chinned, pale-eyed powerhouse of a Russian. His chest was massive, looking ready to break the buttons on his jacket, and his arms looked thick as telegraph poles. His hair was close-cropped, almost clean-shaven, while his thick eyebrows were furrowed in examination. His face was flat and lacked much emotion but the way the man carried himself told stories of war with every step.

He approached the Colonel with open arms and to everyone's surprise, Kallistrovich ran up and hugged him as if she was a little girl hugging her favorite uncle.

The man laughed, patting Kallistrovich on the back. “Little Katya! You sweet old bundle of mayhem! I haven't seen you since you were this high!” He held his hand flat against his bicep.

Katyusha chuckled. “Just tall enough to look at your medals. You've got a few more since then.”

As she said this, the four friends and soldier heard a jingling sound from the guest, no doubt coming from the impressive collection of medals decorating his left bicep.

“So have you. Come, young miss, we've much to discuss. News from the front is growing steadily more promising.” The man replied with pride in his voice.

“Indeed. We held the Germans back so far.” She replied.

“I'm afraid it's getting worse at home however. Comrades Khrushchev, Molotov, Radanovich and my good self vouch for you but...there's word spreading around. Sad to say, Beria expresses concern for your...methods.” He told with worry in his voice but she growled.

“I doubt it's my methods that bloated dunghill is concerned by. More likely it's the things under my shirt!”

“Da, probably.” The man mumbled in response.

“He sent a commissar round just the other day,” Lemkin added, having a nervous expression.

“Without the Premier's leave? He'll have me to answer for that!” The visitor exclaimed.

“That...will be difficult to explain, sir. Beria is a man many of the Russian people admire.”

“'Admire' my butt!” Kallistrovich taunted.

“Can I?” Lemkin asked before paling as he realized what he's just said. Kallistrovich stared at him with an incredulous glare, the visitor apparently too. “I mean...I'll...just...go and check the patrols and prisoners.

“You do that...” She mumbled before walking out of view with the visiting officer.

“Who was that?” Dinky asked Casp and he thought for a moment.

“Georgy Zhukov I believe, one of the best commanders of the Red Army. It seems he’s Katyusha’s mentor.”

“And he taught her well,” Katja commented before Lemkin came back to them. “Hello again. Had you success?”

“Um...I don't want to talk about it. But if you don’t mind, could you tell me about Fletcher?” He sounded curious and the children smiled.

“He’s one of Princess Luna’s best soldiers. When I first landed on Earth, he was sent to get me back home. During our time together, we grew on each other and since then, he’s my uncle and I couldn’t be any happier with him.” Dinky told the Russian with glee.

“Sounds like he is a great soldier, just as Zhukov is. And I am sure he’ll find you here too” Lemkin replied with a smile of his own before they saw the Staff car driving away. “Well, I should try my luck now.” He added with confidence.

“I am afraid this won’t happen.” A new voice said and he turned around to see a man in an officer uniform. But Lemkin saw he wore a white long coat with red flecks and realized it was a political commissar.

“What is the meaning of this?” He asked the Commissar with distrust.

“I am here for those prisoners.” The Commissar pointed to the children. “I found out they gave the Germans information about us.” He explained, his expression stern.

The eyes of the children became wide in horror, trembling, with Casp taking a protective stance.

Lemkin stared for a moment, he had checked on them regularly, they would never do something like this. “Commissar, I swear to you, they’re of no threat. They haven’t told the Germans anything useful and they haven't told them anything useful. There is no point in killing them.” He tried to explain.

“I beg to differ, comrade. I have been watching them, they used every moment you weren’t there to pass information to the enemy. They were with this hostile the entire time, aiding in their cause to destroy us.” The political officer countered in a dark tone. “Capturing them was a mistake, you should have executed them on the spot.”

“W-what?” Lily stuttered. “We did not!”

“Silence!” He yelled, bashing in a threating manner against the door, making the filly shriek.

“And how far are you involved with this?” He asked Lemkin with suspicion. “Perhaps, you should leave interrogations to us from the NKVD. Or is the colonel really so weak?”

“No, sir, we did only the standard procedure, all as per orders. I haven’t told them anything.” Lemkin swore.

“The Union must send a message. For spying on the People's Army and their commanding officers, the Death Penalty. For aiding others in spying on the People's Army and their commanding officers, also the Death Penalty.” The Commissar countered, eyeing him with disgust.

Lemkin couldn’t believe it, this had to be a misunderstanding.

“Sorry, did I hear you correctly?” It wasn’t his voice.

The Commissar turned around, seeing the Colonel, together with a small squad. “What?”

“Are you saying Lieutenant Lemkin is guilty of aiding an enemy of the Union?” She asked stern

“Yes, yes I am.”

Kallistrovich gave a barely noticeable grin. “Heh...Lemkin? A traitor? Have you seen him? Lemkin's not guilty of anything except being a sentimental little idiot and we can't go around killing people for that.”

“I decide who, among your regiment, is guilty, not you.” The political officer stated, yet she was not impressed.

“...Am I to presume then...that you are overriding my command?”

“Yes, you stupid woman, I am overriding your command!” The Commissar yelled slightly aggressive.

Kallistrovich kept her grin. “Then we're going to have a problem.” She slowly stepped forward, hands behind her back.

“What are you doing?” The officer asked in surprise, drawing his revolver as she came closer. “No closer!

She just looked down the gun and smiled. “Oh, you silly trakh.” In response, the squad pointed its guns at the Commissar.

“Wh-wh-what are you doing?!” He asked in shock

“From the looks of it...They're overriding your command.” She countered grinning.

“You can't do this! I am a Commissar!” He yelled angered, but she stayed calm.

“A new Commissar. A new Commissar who went into the contested frontier, ahead of his colleagues, and chose to investigate areas he was not technically allotted to. A Commissar who is convinced that three small, talking, brightly-colored horses and a girl with unique hair is going to bring down the Union. A Commissar who has been spying on and threatening commanding officers of the Soviet Armed Forces deployed in our most crucial battlegrounds. And, very importantly, a Commissar who has just pointed his gun at a Rudimentary Colonel who Premier Stalin himself appointed in charge of this campaign.”

The Commissar paled, staring at Kallistrovich, then the gun, then all the guns trained on him.

“DROP THE TRAHK GUN!” She yelled berserk without any warning. The Commissar threw it down, terrified. “Good boy.” She praised, calm again. “Now here's how this is going to go. You're going to go back to your superiors and tell them all is well here at the frontier. If you lay a finger on me, Lemkin or the children, you aren't leaving this base until every man and woman here tears off a hunk of your useless flesh.”

“You...when I make my report at the Kremlin, they will hear of this outrage.” He tried to threaten her, still shaking.

Kallistrovich just rolled her eyes. “Oh yes, please feel free to go to the Kremlin and tell them about talking ponies and Premier Stalin being mistaken in his choice of officers. If he doesn't sling you in a camp then I'll make you wish he would.”

The man stayed silent.

“Get the trakh out of my base.” She ordered in a strict tone and he nodded, shaking.

“...Yes, Colonel.”

He walked away, trembling, Casp and the kids could only stare at what happened for what looked like hours.

“T-thank you…” Lily smiled weakly. “But…why?”

Katyusha opened the cell door. “Because it’s the right thing to do. And things have changed.” She explained as she made a sign to follow her.

While being still confused, they did with hesitation, wondering what was going on as they got led outside.

“Axis forces are getting close to Moskau and Zhukov needs my help and this camp is close to the capital. For your own safety, you will be brought to Moskau, I got some good contacts here that will take care of you until your friend arrives.” The Colonel explained to them.

”And what about me?” Casp asked confused.

“You will go with them, your caring honors you. Don’t worry, I have already arranged for your safety too.”

“None of this will be necessary.” Another voice said, and the Soviet squad trained its weapons at the source.

The kids and Casp turned around to see a unicorn stallion in white clothing, carrying a bow “I mean no harm.” The stallion claimed calmly and the woman made a sign for the squad to lower their weapons.

“You must be Fletcher Fray.” She said in a neutral tone and he nodded.

She then looked at the children. “This is where we part ways.”

They gave her a tight hug, smiling. “Thank you!”

For the first time, they saw her returned a friendly smile. “I am just doing my duty, what is right.”

“Wait…” Dinky said and turned to Casp. “What about you?” She sounded worried, yet he waved a hand,

“I’ll be fine.”

Still, the little unicorn turned to Fray with a pleading look in her eyes. “Can we at least get him to a safe place before we go?”

Her uncle gave her a smile. “I have no problem with that.”

“I had the idea that one of my best scouts brings you to Moskau. Yuri!” Katyusha called out.

“At your service, Colonel!” A Russian in winter uniform saluted, a scarf covering his lower face, only blue eyes were visible.

“Thank you, Colonel Kallistrovich.” Casp saluted her, she returned it before the group walked away, led by Yuri.

She, Lemkin and Tartikoff watched after the group until it was out of sight. “Your caring honors you, Colonel.” Tartikoff praised her.

“I know. Prepare the troops, I and Lemkin join you shortly.” She said and he saluted before moving out with the squad.

“Why the sudden change?” Lemkin asked dumbfounded after Tartikoff was out of hearing range.

His commanding officer looked at him and for the first time, her eyes showed uncertainty. “Why did I hesitate? Was I about to let children die?”

Lemkin took a deep breath. “It was the right thing to do, as you said yourself. And…I must admit…” He stuttered, starting to shake. “Since the first day I saw you…”

He couldn’t finish as she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close, kissing him tightly on the lips, completely catching him off guard. “I know.” She replied, having an amorous glance. “And once this is over, I will tear the clothes off your body, throw you onto my bed and warm out the winter with you for the remainder of our posting.”

Lemkin was blushing furiously. “Uhh… duly noted. But we should focus on the task at hand and win this battle.”

“Da, Lieutenant.” She acknowledged having a determined expression.

The group got led by Yuri through the snowy landscape, coming towards a frozen river, many other refugees were crossing it.

“Is the ice thick enough?” Lily asked with concern.

“Don’t worry it is and that’s the shortest way,” Yuri assured her as they got on the ice, the civilians paid them no attention, it was slippery, but they managed to keep their balance, walking to the other side of the river.

It seemed like they would make it without any problems, the ice was holding indeed.

Suddenly, a loud roaring sound greeted their ears. “Air raid! Yuri yelled, “Run for it!”

They wasted no time, bullets missed them by inches and the kids felt how Fletcher and Casp pushed them onto the nearest shore as an explosion followed. “Are you okay?” Fletcher asked.

“We are fine,” Blau replied but his sister’s eyes went wide in shock.

“Yuri!” She yelled and pointed to the middle of the river. The others gasped as they saw that a bomb had created a hole in the ice, the soldier had fallen into the water, trying in panic to swim for his life, but he was doomed as it was too cold and drowned. Also, the hole separated them from the civilians, who had made it to an shore to their far right.

“No…What are we gonna do now?” Lily asked in disbelief.

“We try to find shelter or the nearest German base before we die of exposure,” Casp replied and they moved on.

The interpreter did slightly hiss in pain, noticing that he was bleeding from his left leg, probably a bullet, but he knew he had to get the kids to safety first and in this weather, it was too risky and difficult to treat it.

They walked through the snow for some time, their coats becoming heavier the more they walked, the cold crept through their clothes and bones.

“It’s c-cold!” Blau’s teeth clattered.

“What are you complaining about? You're the one with fur!” Katja remarked as she puffed into her hands, the wind was getting stronger.

“A Blizzard is coming.” Casp realized and used his coat to shield the siblings, Fray did the same with Lily and Dinky.

Within a minute, the blizzard was upon them, they could barely see anything staying together, shivering from the cold, knowing they hadn’t much time.

“I…I think there’s a cave up ahead.” Fletcher pointed to it, getting weaker as the nanomites were only able to keep harsh temperatures from damaging him for a short time.

Shivering, he reached the cave, Casp gave him and the kids a gentle shove.

The children huddled together to keep themselves warm, both soldiers tried to make a campfire, freezing.

Come on, Come on! Fray thought as he and the kids struggled to stay awake, barely feeling their bodies.

But he started to stutter, seeing out of the corner of his eyes that the children were not moving anymore.

Then, his body was shivering and he fell on his back, his vision blurry, slowly blacking out, not seeing Casp anywhere.

The last thing he heard was a faint voice.

“Your work isn’t finished, Green Knight!”

Chapter 6 A odd helper

Chapter 6: An odd helper

Cold.

Fletcher could fell nothing. Only the cold

Dying of exposure

Was this his fate and those of his friends?

Had it been in vain?

Slowly, he felt warmth, struggling to open his eyes, feeling rather stiff. “Ugh…”

“F-F-Fletch?” Dinky said weakly, awaking too with her three friends. They all four saw a campfire in the middle, warming them up.

“We’re…alive?” Lily wondered.

“Yes, you are.” An unknown voice said, startling them. “Looks like I just came in time.”

They looked around and then noticed, the voice came from the fire, strangely having the form of a pony, being set aflame, lying on the ground. “W-what?” Blau was lost for words, just staring in confusion at it.

“Who…What are you?” Fletcher demanded to know, sounding suspicious.

“I mean no harm I am here to help. Call me the Ifrit, or just Ifrit if you want.” The flaming pony replied. “I am…a spirit, here to assist you, Fletcher Fray.”

As they looked closer, Dinky noticed that the spirit was wearing armor and she connected the dots. “Wait, are you…”

“Yes, Dinky, I am the Royal Guard you saw in Italy from time to time. Back then, I was still learning how I could help you.”

Fletcher, while being also surprised and confused, could swear that Ifrit was familiar to him. The speech pattered was similar to a certain pony he knew once and could see a horn, meaning the spirit was a unicorn, having seen it before but he couldn’t really put a hoof on it.

Then the sound of engines greeted their ears. “Help! Over there!” The children called out in an attempt to signal whoever was driving outside, hoping they would be heard.

They heard the sounds of brakes, followed by footsteps, a light shining in their direction.

“You’re alive! Thank god, I feared the worst!” It was Alexander, happy to see them.

The children were overjoyed to see him too, turning to Casp who had his head lowered, leaning against the wall. “Casp, we are saved!” They exclaimed but he did not respond.

“Casp?” Lily asked and managed to walk over, tapping his shoulder. He fell over, staying lifeless. It took her and her friends only seconds to realize. “No…No…” She started to cry, Dinky and the siblings did too.

Fletcher hugged them for comfort, seeing how the ghostly stallion lowered his head.

“I am afraid any help came too late for him.”

“Damn it.” Alexander mourned his fellow soldier. “He was a good friend and soldier. But he knew the risks, children, you hadn’t made it without him.”

Dinky sniffed. “At least…he’s in a better place now.” She then told the officer what had happened after he had moved out from the abandoned camp.

“I see. Sounds like the She-Bear isn’t so merciless at it seems. But I’ll make sure Casp gets a proper burial. It’s the least I can do. Come, I take you to the nearest base.

Fray waved a hoof. “Thank you, but it would be better I get them home right now.”

“As you wish. Fletcher Fray, right?” The pony nodded. “It was nice to meet you. Have a safe journey home.” He saluted and grabbed Casp’s body, carrying it outside.

After a short moment, Katja asked, “How are we gonna get home?”

“Don’t worry. After our experience with the Veil, Luna created a spell that gets us right back home if something goes wrong, or if I am too weak to cast the normal spell. As sort of a safety to ensure nobody can use us again.” Fletcher explained and lit up his horn.

It only sparked and he stumbled before Ifrit caught him. “You are still weakened. Let me help.” Despite being transparent, Fletcher could feel the warmth from his body and the touch but was not burned at all. And despite the flames, he could still recognize a helmet and face behind it.

Then his horn lit up, blinking like a Morse code and a short moment after, a white light engulfed all.

Lily couldn’t tell how long she was out before a faint beeping sound echoed in her ears as she slowly managed to open her eyes.

The filly had to blink a few times for her vision to become clear.

He was in a hospital room, white walls and beds. In the beds next to her were her friends, heart-lung machines warming them, EKGs showing their heart rates.

She let out a sigh of relief, happy it was over now.

“Lily!” Her parents ran in, hugged her with tears of joy, she returned it.

“We were so worried!” Pine Marten exclaimed.

“I have seen ponies on life-support before, but my own daughter…” Pin Cushion shivered.

“Mama…Papa… missed you!”

With slight groans, the others awoke too, with the parents looking grateful at Fletcher. "Thank you for saving our daughter, we owe you something, Mr. Fray.” Marten said and he waved a hoof.

“I did only my duty.”

Just then, the parents of the other children walked in and hugged them, Midnight, Wolf, Wagensroll, Patch and Luna followed after, looking at the stallion with relieved expressions.

“Fletch, you’re awake…I feared you would never wake up.” Wolf told him.

“But I did. How long were we out?”

“A few weeks. When Luna teleported you here, you were very weak and strongly subcooled.” Wagensroll explained with a hint of fear in his voice. “I know you have been through a lot but seeing you on life-support was…terrifying to see.”

“Still, what happened?” Luna asked as her sister brought the other foals in and Lily started to tremble.

“Y-you shouldn’t see this…” Her three friends nodded before Luna walked up.

“Shh…It’s alright,” She spoke in a comforting voice and lit up her horn, touching Lily’s forehead and again, everyone was transparent.

“That was very nice of him,” Derpy commented with a smile as she saw how Casp helped her daughter, yet she and the others gasped at the dead bodies, Luna and Celestia used her wings to shield the other foals.

“Oh dear…I have seen a lot but that…is scary…” Midnight commented at the sight.

“Yeah…” Fletcher replied, slightly unsettled himself.

“Quite an effective tactic, I give her that.” Wagensroll was slightly impressed at the tactics of Katyusha.

“Yes, I have to agree,” Fletcher admitted before the interrogation was shown, causing everyone to startle slightly at the woman’s outburst.

“Oh my… better not talk to her when she’s not in a good mood,” Wolf mumbled with unease, yet even she and Midnight had to look away at the executions, everyone else did too.

“That’s….sick….” Patch could only shiver at this sight.

“Yes,” Fletcher added, before the rest was shown and that they moved out.

“It honors her.” The Doctor said with pride in his voice.

“Yes, daddy, it does,” Dinky replied before she and her friends saw how Casp got grazed at the river, leaving a bloody trail in the snow. It made her, Lily and the siblings realize: His fate had been sealed, it hadn’t been their fault.

“Who, who is that pony?” Midnight asked confused upon seeing Ifrit.”

“I can’t really tell but someone, he is familiar,” Fray replied as they were back in the hospital.

“What about this lab we discovered?” Katja asked into the round and Celestia stepped forward.

“It’s hard to tell. The fact it's near Ponyville and has the design that was characteristic for my engineers during the civil war, hints it was built by my side. But I’d have known that and I couldn’t discover any documents from it. Maybe they were lost, it requires further investigations. But there are also suspicions that the Grye family could be involved…”

After the lab had been discovered and that the children went missing, Celestia and Luna ordered Midnight and Wolf to investigate the house of the Grye family for anything useful, thinking they could have something to do with this.

From the outside, it looked like a normal two-story building, very old, yet not out of place for a town like Ponyville. Still, the building was graying out in color, slightly in disrepair and the trees around it were dead. It looked like out of a horror movie

Cloudy Quartz, Pinkie's mother, was from the last-living strand of the Grye family, thus she took the task of guiding the two knights and the parents of the missing children through the house. They looked in awe and fear at the house, as it was somehow terrifying.

It was dimly-lit and the wallpaper's decaying along with most of the woodwork. There were no cushions or blankets or even carpets either as they came past a portrait of a mare.

“Just through yonder hall and herein, we find...” Cloudy pointed ahead before there was a loud scream.

“FREAKS!”

Startled, Wolf stared up at the mare in the painting. “What the?!”

It was clear from a glance the painting was old by how the mare was dressed. Her hoop-skirt, though dully colored slate and sepia, was ornate, fastened with black ribbon and smoky lace. Her cinereous mane was bundled high over her head, curled into funnels sloping over her scalp, pinned with great needles tipped with jet.

But if it was possible for a mare to look as if she'd been brought back from the dead without actually having died, they were looking at the proof right now. Her ash-grey skin didn't look so much wrinkled as frayed like rotting parchment. Her eyes were so sunken they looked as though they were disappearing into the wall behind. Her hooves were cracked and mangy-looking, her back was twisted and creaky. And her face would be seen forever in the nightmares of any foal who beheld it and even possibly a few grown mares and stallions.

“Witches! Heretics! Foul-Breeds! How dare you besmirch the house of my forefathers with your filth!!!” It yelled with an anger expression

Cloudy Quartz in response, sighed. “My good ponies. Mayhaps thoust not yet hadst acquainted with my...grandmother;” She pointed upwards at the portrait. “The Grandama Mrs Mesothelae Grye and mother of my own mother, Mormoria, by her cousin Mordstreick Grye III.”

“You! You bring the filth to our hallowed halls! Blood-Traitor! Apostate! Abomination! Hooves Of The Old Blood curse you and break your very bones!” It yelled at her.

“Has she...always been like that?” Midnight asked surprised.

Cloudy Quartz lowered her head, a weary expression. “Verily so. About your question regarding teleport and dimension jumps, it is very likely. They did such experiments in the past, but little information about it still exists today. We will probably have to search every room for any information about those past experiments.”

“It is still undergoing if they were involved with this. Still, I am more curious about that Ifrit.” Celestia explained.

“I am still here.” They heard a voice and turned around, seeing that the spirit was behind them, still being a pony aflame. “I have returned to serve you once again, your Highness.” He bowed respectfully.

All others could only stare in surprise, but Celestia’s expression became surprised, as if she knew him. “How...how is it possible?”

“I've had...a lot of time to think... In war, the first casualty is truth. Always. And I want to atone for my sins.” Ifrit explained with guilt in his voice, head slightly lowered before Celestia pulled him into a hug.

”Shh…It’s over…I am happy too to see you again…”

Despite the awkwardness, everyone smiled slightly at the heartwarming scene.

None of them could tell who Ifrit was. A Royal Guard Celestia had been close? A good friend?

Not that they would ever knew.

But Dinky could already tell one thing.

I am sure his assistance will come in handy.