A Soldiers Story: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

5:00 A.M.

The air stood cold in the early morning sky. The stars were still shining in the sky, but quickly fleeing due to the arrival of the morning sun. The fog accompanied the night sky, covering the war-torn capital in a blanket made of clouds. On any other morning, this quite would have been peaceful and charming. However, for men like John, they could only think of one thing.

It was quiet.

Too quiet.

John stood quietly on top of a mountain of rubble, purposely placed for a barrier that the ponies could use as a defensive tool against the changelings. Against the judgement of Soarin, John was given command of the Tenth Division of the Lunar Guard. He immediately prepared for the worst, ordering the construction of a barricade, which he was standing on top of right now. He had also put in place a night watch to watch for anything suspicious. Thankfully, nothing was reported so far. John silently prayed that the battle would have less bloodshed and minimal casualties. However, the only thing that he could do was wait.

8:00 A.M

The sun had finally raised above the horizon, vanquishing the cloudy blanket that covered the city, only to reveal the destruction and damage that the Changeling Army caused. In fact, it was less of taking off a blanket, and more of taking off a bandage covering a badly cut wound. Just as the sun peeked over the horizon, John finally noticed movement coming from the streets below.

“Look alive boys!” John shouted, turning back to look at the group.

“Here they come!” a scout shouted, looking through his binoculars.

Grabbing the other pair of binoculars on his neck, John put it to his eye, revealing the force currently charging up the hill. If he had to estimate, John would say that the Changelings were about 1,000 strong, compared to their 500. John held his hand up in the air, as the unicorns looked at it in preparation, a soft glow beginning to illuminate their horns.

“Wait for it,” John ordered, letting the opposing army charge up the hill with no resistance. When the changelings were close enough, about 1 mile away, John threw his hand down and shouted, “NOW! DO IT NOW!”

What happened after was truly a sight to behold.

The unicorns fired their magic, causing beams of vibrant colors to launch into the sky. They formed an arch, resembling a beautiful rainbow, causing some of the ponies to “oooh” and “aww”. John frowned a little as he watched them look at the bolts of light with awe. They had truly no idea what destruction they had just unleashed. The blots rained down from the heavens, mimicking the artillery shells from Czechoslovakia, and began to rain down upon them. When they hit the ground, a sound formed that John was awfully familiar to.

“BOOM!”

A large explosion followed the beams of magic, displaying a sight of pure and utter destruction. The changelings had no idea what hit them. Some of the ponies began to cheer, patting John on the back, telling him things like, “Good Job,” and “Nice call!” John slowly began to smile. For the first time in a long time, he felt genuinely proud of his decision. He had somehow managed to avoid all casualties and save the lives of his soldiers. Now, it was only a matter of time before-

“SIR!” a pony yelled amid the crowd. She stumbled forward, her wings arched in pain for having flown so hard and for so long. She finally stopped in front of John, panting as she tried to catch his breath. He looked at John, fear and concern filled her eyes as she informed, “We have a problem!”

8:00 A.M.
Wonderbolts Position

Lieutenant Clear Sky looked over the calm morning weather as she stood watch, carefully following any movements from the ground below. The Wonderbolts, per Luna’s orders, had to comply with John’s orders, something which Captain Soarin was not fond of. They had moved to this position late last night, opting to set up camp on top of a cliff, overlooking Canterlot.

Standing on this ledge, one could fully realize the true damage that had been done to Canterlot. The once beautiful city, the pride of Equestria, was now reduced to nothing but smoldering ruins and a burnt castle. Three days ago, this city looked magnificent. Its pearl white buildings shimmered in the sun, overlooked by the beautiful royal castle. This place was once the center of knowledge, innovation, and magic. Now, all of that has disappeared, like dust in the wind.

Clear Sky had been in the Wonderbolts for two months before the attack started. Before that, she was a rising star amongst the team. Rainbow Dash, the best flier within the group, had even complimented on her skill! But now, all those compliments were reduced to nothing but memories. Stupid, useless, memories. When they were called to arms, she was both excited and nervous. She finally had the chance to serve her Princesses!

However, when she finally landed in the battlefield, that perception had changed from excitement, to fear.

Killing was not easy. The day after the first fight, she was a quivering mess. She cried uncontrollably for hours. She only managed to stop when Spitfire managed to comfort her. She heavily relied on the support of her fellow Wonderbolts after that day. Eventually, by day three, she had gotten a lot better, resulting in less emotional trauma from dealing death blows with her sword. However, the Wonderbolts had almost lost all morale when it was reported that Rainbow Dash was missing. They had temporarily gone into panic mode, desperately grabbing on to any resemblance of hope. By day six, most had lost that hope, believing that this would be a fight that they could not win.

That is, until they heard the stories of the “human.”

It happened on day seven, when they finally went back to the castle for some much-needed rest. However, stories began to spread amongst the troops of the Tenth Division of the Lunar Guard. These rumors attracted crowds of ponies, both refugees and soldiers alike. They told of a strange being who called himself a “human.” They spoke of him saving the 1rst Platoon from a deadly enemy attack, using a new form of magic that was contained in some kind of stick to defeat the Changelings. This device supposedly called upon the magic of the user, firing a supercharged bolt of magic that could pierce even the strongest of armor, instantly killing its target in the process.

These rumors were instantly proven to be partially true, when this “human” busted through the castle doors, holding none other than Rainbow Dash in his arms. Seeing this incredible sight, her fellow soldiers had rallied behind this “human”, who she had learned was named John. In fact, he was the one who had ordered them to this position, much to the dismay and anger of Captain Sorin.

Speaking of the Captain, Clear Sky was beginning to have a suspicious feeling about him. It seemed as if, whenever John was mentioned amongst the soldiers, his mood would instantly sour, scoffing and even yelling at other soldiers for even mentioning the name. Nopony knew why, but Clear Sky had a theory. Everypony knew that Soarin had the hots for Rainbow Dash, everybody except her, that is. She theorized that, because John had saved Rainbow's life, Sorin held a deep grudge against him, probably due to jealousy.

Speaking of Soarin, he stood watch over the decimated city, his eyes carefully scanning the skies. So far, no enemies had been detected and Sorin appeared to be in a glad mood, for some odd reason. She continued to focus on the skyline, watching the stars dance in the night sky, as trails of smoke rose to the heavens from the city.

Suddenly, another soldier walked past her, holding some kind of document in his hands. Batting an eye at him, Clear Sky watched as he walked up to Soarin and, after saluting, handed him this document. Ripping open the envelop, Soarin looked it over, carefully guiding his eyes across the paper. Then he gave a smile to the soldier, but this was not a smile of good will. She thought that it was a wicked smile. He was planning something, and whatever that something was, it was probably not going to be good.

He then shouted at those around him, including Clear Sky, “Alright, listen up! We need to move out to aid Celestia on the other side of the castle.”

Clear Sky then asked him “But sir, what about the Tenth Division? Didn’t Luna order us to help out John?”

The moment that she mentioned John, Soarin’s face instantly darkened, although he tried to hide it behind a poker face. He then said to her, “They will be… fine.” He then spread his wings and started to take off. “Alright everypony. Let's move out!” he shouted as Clear Sky’s fellow comrades took off to the sky. She was about to spread her wings when she noticed the letter that Soarin had read. Curious, she closed her wings and grabbed the note. Flipping the folded paper open, she began to read the following.

“To the Acting Commander,

We have just received reports that the Changeling army has sent a special unit to flank the Tenth Lunar Division to destroy their magic support, thus granting them safe passage to the castle. As you already know, if they reach the castle, then all hope is lost. They cannot be allowed to defeat the Tenth Lunar Division under any circumstances. Your orders are as follows: assist the Tenth in the defense of their unicorns, so they can keep their bombardment going. I pray that you receive this note in time.

With Great Concern,

Princess Celestia

Clear Sky’s eyes widened as she read the note, the weight of the situation finally dawned on her. She looked around, trying to find any Pegasus that was left. She became frantic. How could he do this? she thought to herself as she searched frantically through the abandoned camp, has he doomed us all? She began to breathe heavy when she saw all the tents empty, their campfires slowly burning out.

Suddenly, she noticed a few ponies left at the far end of the camp, slowly putting their armor on. She noticed that it was, in fact, her squad. For the first time in my life, she thought as she ran towards them, I am GLAD that they are slow. When her squad first noticed her, they began to stiffen up, preparing to be yelled at. However, that fear turned into concern when they saw the panicked look on her face. “Sky?” one of them asked, slowly lowering his pack to the ground, “What’s wrong?” She then skidded to a halt in front of them, dirt being kicked up from her boots. “WE HAVE TO HURRY!” she shouted, throwing them their helmets. “MEET ME AT THE TENTH DIVISION ENCAMPMENT IN 10 MINUTES! HURRY! WE DON’T HAVE MUCH TIME!”

another word, she launched up into the sky, flying as fast as she could to the Tenth’s position.

She could only hope that she would not be too late.

Location: Tenth Lunar Division
Time: 8:30 A.M.

“HE DID WHAT!” John shouted as he heard Clear Sky relay the events that took place earlier. Turns out, not only did Soarin betray him, but a unit of the Changeling Army was moving to flank them. I thought we were on the same side! Why did he betray us in a moment like this? These questions would have to wait, however, as the looming threat of the flanking unit came upon them. “How many pegasi do we have?” John asked, looking at Iron Will.

He appeared to pause for a moment, slowly calculating the number in his head. He then looked at John and responded, “If we include Clear Sky and her squad… about 15.”

John then turned around, facing the Changeling Army that was currently being bombarded with a torrent of magical attacks. “Shit,” he muttered under his breath, bringing his hands up to cover his face. The loss of the Wonderbolts cut their man/pony power down by 90%. Their chances of countering the flanking troops were extremely low. However, it was not impossible. John racked his brain, going back to the preparations for D-Day back in ‘44. He remembered that most of his troops had to be reassigned due to a lack of troopers in the other divisions. He remembered that he had created a unique group whose main purpose was to be a example for the others and to raise morale within the Company. That memory caused him to get an idea.

John turned around and ordered, “I need all available pegasi and members of 1st Platoon to follow me. If it is a fight they want, it’s a fight they'll get." After saying that, the camp sprung into life, soldiers frantically put on their uniforms while pegasi double checked their supplies. John ran back into his tent, flipping it open and reached for his rifle. He slung the weapon on his back, the barrel of the gun barely touching the back of his head. He reached for his green helmet; his only protection forms the torrent of magic that could be coming their way. Strapping it on his head, he ran out of his tent to find the rest of the group prepped and ready to go.

As he approached the front of the group, Iron Will and Clear Sky approached him. Halting just in front of him, they both gave a salute and said, “Sir, the unit is formed!” John then raised his hand and saluted them back. The pair of three dropped their arms all at once, as John asked them, “So, are you ready for this?” Both gave a nod and motioned their troops to start following them. With a smile on his face, John and his unit began the long march to confront the approaching army.

Location: Tenth Street, Canterlot
Time: 9:00 A.M

The city streets were quiet as they silently marched through the city. Each pony gripped their spears tightly, anticipating an attack at any moment. As they walked, Iron Will took a long glance at John. He strode with such confidence and purpose, straining his ears to hear even the quietest of sounds. His eyes were trained on the road, constantly flickering between buildings, rubble, and the empty alleyways. His hands gripped his weapon tightly, his finger hovering right above the trigger.

As they walked, they could practically feel the tension in the air. Feet hit the cold cobblestone, its cracks filled with green and red blood. As they walked, each soldier began to feel more and more nervous. Suddenly, John’s hands bolted upwards in a fist, causing each pony to stop dead in their tracks, their breaths hitching in the process. Ears perked up, carefully listening to the area around them.

Then, they heard it.

A soft noise soon began to make its presence known, as it soon began to grow in volume. The ponies gripped their spears and swords tightly, as sweat began to trickle down from their heads. John bent down on one knee, grabbing his rifle off his shoulder. Checking if the weapon was loaded, he stranded his eyes down the empty street, towards the direction where the noise was coming from. Cocking the rifle, he brought it up to his head, prepared to fire at a moment's notice.

Suddenly, a single changeling rounded the corner, seemingly talking to somepony behind him. Everypony held their breaths, wondering what would happen next. John smirked, put his finger on the trigger, and whispered,

“There you are.”

‘BANG!’

The rifle threw out smoke as a bullet pierced through the morning sky. It soared through the air, flying over the smoking rubble, heading straight towards the unsuspecting changeling, just as the rest of their platoon rounded the corner. The bullet slammed into the changeling’s chest, connecting with a strangely satisfying ‘THUNK’. The changeling's eyes widened with terror, before he crumpled to the ground, gripping his chest with pain. The rest of the changeling platoon watched the event with a mix of awe, anger, and terror. They whipped out their weapons, looked down the street at the awaiting ponies, and charged at them.

The ponies then ran towards the attacking force, opting to meet the changelings head on. John ran ahead, leading the group, his rifle gripped firmly in his hand. As he ran, he reached into his pocket, and pulled out a sharpened blade from his pocket. Attaching it to his gun, he charged headfirst into the enemy, letting out a war cry in the process, generating more adrenaline for his fellow troops.

John made contact first, thrusting his bayonet into an unprepared changeling. The changeling shouted in pain, before John ripped the spear out, green blood trickling down the blade. Realizing the ineffectiveness of a rifle in close quarters combat, John quickly shouldering his rifle amidst the chaos, he gripped his Colt M1911 and raised it to another changeling, firing another bullet into its skull.

Using his peripheral vision, he assisted other soldiers struggling with other changelings, using his pistol to get them off the ponies. However, to say that it was a bloodbath would be an understatement. Ponies and changelings alike were covered in each other's blood, their swords drenched in the blood of their victims. As they fought, ponies and changelings alike became wounded, their bodies piling over each other, making combat more difficult.

John kept firing with his pistol, dodging swords, and spears as he went. Sweat poured down his blood drenched face. He panted as he kept firing his pistol, stepping over bodies and leaning in multiple directions to avoid sword cuts. However, as John fired a pistol at an enemy, a changeling took the opportunity to charge up a bolt of heavily charged magic. Unleashing its destructive power, the ponies could only watch as the bolt of pure magic soared straight towards John, connecting with him on his waist.

A loud explosion echoed across the battlefield, signaling that the hit was successful. Clear Sky watched in horror as the smoke enveloped John’s last known location. Both changelings in ponies stopped fighting, looking at the spectacle with awe. The changeling that fired the bolt, who appeared to be the leader of the group, smirked with happiness. Now, the changelings could defeat this small force of ponies and move to the location of their unicorns. Then it would be only a matter of time until-

A loud ‘BANG’ rang out, a single bullet flinging towards the cocky changeling. Right before the bullet connected, his eyes widened with horror. The bullet lodged itself into his head, instantly killing him. The changelings shook in horror as they looked at the clearing smoke and saw a horrifying sight.

John stood there; an angry look plastered on his face. His pistol, which still smoked from the gunshot, was slightly blackened by the magical explosion. His entire uniform was ragged and torn, especially on his right side. However, the most shocking thing about him was his right hip. The impact zone of the magic bolt was bloody, a large circular wound opened on his hip. Blood seeped from the wound, causing most of the ponies to feel nauseous, some of them even began to puke. His right arm, the one that held the gun, was burned, some charred skin peeked through the tattered uniform. His eyes though, his silver eyes, were burning with pure rage and anger. It sent goosebumps down everypony's spines, causing them to freeze in place with fear.

His glare also had a reaction from the changelings. Seeing this strange creature, with pure hatred in his eyes, look at them with such negative energy, caused them to immediately surrender. Changelings began to flee, some running as far away as possible from the human, while others threw up their hands to surrender. Clear Sky, who saw the entire event unfold, reeled in shock when John spoke to her in a dark voice, "Get these prisoners to a secure location. If they try to escape, kill them.” When she didn't move for a couple of seconds, he used his hands to grab her by the collar, bringing her close to his mouth, and asked, “Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?” She then frantically nodded, fearing his fiery gaze. “Good,” John said, dropping the mare and retreating his right hand to his wound.

Medic ponies, who had been called in earlier in the battle, rushed to John and tried to help him. However, before they could even get near to him, John shouted, “NO! Take care of the wounded soldiers, on both sides. Once they are secured and safe, then do me.” Hearing the utter anger and pain in his voice, the medics winced a little bit, especially while they looked at his wounds. Nevertheless, they nodded and proceeded to do their job. They began to lift soldiers onto cots, and started to move back to base, along with the frightened captives.

Seeing that the attack had been stopped, John let out a sigh of relief, his head beginning to feel lighter due to his injuries. Watching the last of his troops depart, John collapsed against the ground, his breath becoming shaggy and his eyes beginning to droop. He laid on his back, his eyes gazing up towards the heavens. Smiling to himself, John closed his eyes, and waited for death to take him.

Location: Tenth Street, Canterlot
Time: 12:30 P.M.

Iron Will walked amongst the burning city, his feet carefully stepping over the rubble. Flying by his side was Clear Sky, her eyes scanning the road ahead, carefully looking at every nook and cranny in the city. A small squad of 15 ponies, all of whom had fought at Tenth Street earlier that day, was spread out amongst the street, looking under fallen buildings and rubble.

John’s attack plan had been a massive success. With the power of the unicorns’ magic, the Changeling Army’s final assault failed miserably. Their solders could not get past the sheer bombardment that the unicorns gave them. Therefore, once the soldiers from Tenth Street returned to the camp, everypony cheered, for they knew that they had won.

At approximately 12 P.M., it was reported that the Solar Army had achieved victory with the help of the Elements of Harmony (excluding Rainbow Dash). It was a massive relief for the Royal Sisters that the battle was over. The battle resulted in about 5,000 casualties over the course of five days, 2,000 of those casualties resulting in deaths. This solidified this battle as the bloodiest in Equestrian history.

However, that dark thought was shadowed by the utter joy and relief that they had won. The forces of the Solar Army were celebrating, along with the Elements of Harmony (especially Pinkie Pie), and the Wonderbolts, who had randomly appeared on the Solar Army’s side of Canterlot. They were partying with the civilians in the Royal Castle, overseen by Celestia, who was relieved that the battle was over.

However, for the Lunar Army, there was a lot less celebrating.

The Lunar Army originally celebrated with the others, for approximately 15 minutes. However, after news broke out that John was not with them, and that he was M.I.A., Luna became immediately concerned, ordering that he had to be found as soon as possible. The entire Army, much to the confusion of the Solar Army, sprang into action. They spread throughout the decimated city, checking every nook and cranny. According to Luna, it was imperative that he be found, and hopefully still alive. While the rest of the Lunar Army searched randomly throughout the city, Iron Will and Clear Sky knew exactly where to go; Tenth Street.

That led them to this moment, walking amongst the former battlefield, carefully avoiding the small amount of blood that pooled on the ground. Noticing the crimson fluid, Iron Will followed the small trail of blood around a corner into a dark alleyway. The blood led to a body, lying against the wall, his hands drooped by his sides.

Not too far off, his green helmet lay there, blood still fresh on its green paint.