Author's Note

This is based on the Hearts of Iron 4 Equestrian At War mod and takes place in the border town of Acornage.

Also i don't actually know anything about MLP, everything I've learned and or know is from the mod mentioned above.

Chapter 1: Jurek Vivianus's 'First Day'

Me and Mateo readied our LMG’s and he started the count.

“One.”
“Two.”
“Three!”

I took a deep breath with what air I could and turned the corner.
BABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABANG--
Was that two?
BABABABABABABABABABABANG--
Definitely four.
BABABABABABABABABABABANG-- *Click*
Fuck me.
“YOU’RE UP!” I got behind the corner to clear the jam, being replaced with Mateo.

BABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABANG--
It took a few seconds to clear the jam, all my focus on getting it done quickly, and right when I cleared it.
BABANG--
“Fuc- OOOUT!”

After they yelled out, we acted and swapped places again as if it was second natu--
BABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABANG--
Could I even count if it was just dead bodies I was lighting up?
“THAT’S THE LAST OF ‘EM!”

Staff Sgt. Jaume nudged me with their hoof to make sure I knew I was done, not that he needed to, being on that corner was scary enough knowing I might end up dead at any moment. I had personally nicknamed corners like that ‘Death Corners’.

What else would I even call them? I had already seen three (Or was it four?) ponies drop down in an instant, dead, one of them being lit up for a good five seconds with a constant stream of bullets. All of them doing what I had just done. I mean fuck, the last one only happened one building up the road, where the damn Changelings were, which reminded me that I needed to probably get a new belt loaded.

Mateo was already doing that himself and when I was getting the new belt in, it turned out I was only one bullet away from being out, but as I got a new belt in, the same typical argument broke out with Staff Sgt. Jaume and one of the soldiers we just saved.

“He’s right there! Just, FUCK, just have ‘em spray some bullets real quick and I can gr-” He was interrupted by the Staff Sgt with louder yelling.

“If you round that corner, you’ll have ten guns pointed at you in a second, with fifty more the next and the whole area you’re in will be lit up, which includes your dead friend! Don’t--”

I already knew what would happen, the pony was about to get dragged away in a few moments for cutting off the staff sergeant, plus for keeping up the argument.

“I saw him breathing! He’ll be fine i-”

The staff sergeant put a hoof around the pony and started dragging them down the street to where the other ponies we just rescued were catching their breath and checking themselves for any unexpected holes while the rest of my squad was already at the ready to move.

“It was the air escaping his lungs, I saw them get hit and drop while your asses were running for cover, now make sure you got your shit ready to move ‘cause WE’RE MOVING RIGHT NOW!” He yelled out so everyone in my squad could hear, “Through the alleyway and to the next building! Check for civilians quickly and make sure you don’t have any bugs jumping you or a buddy's ass!”

A few of the soldier's buddies made sure he didn’t try to run for his dead buddy, at least they knew he was gone, but they still looked pretty upset about the death of their unicorn friend and squad leader.

We were still in a combat zone, the bugs were only at max, what, charging around the corner and stabbing us? Who knew, but just like every other pony so far who has wanted to be the hero within their small group of friends, they either complied and left them or just ended up dying a dumbass. This was only the beginning of the first major war in 1000 years or something, I guess I should’ve paid attention in history class, but I guess I can’t blame them for not understanding the situation, none of us did. A threat to Harmony and Friendship hasn’t been at stake like this in forever.

It didn’t help that two small sized Changeling Division were pushing the city, making it near impossible to stay in one spot too long. What the hell was one underponied division going to do before reinforcements came? Nothing! That’s why we were slowly retreating while making sure to evacuate every citizen possible. I mean FUCK, the average front line in the city was apparently being pushed back a building every 5 minutes.

As we started to move from our position and to the alleyway, I heard our squad medic, Tuuli Hope, yell out for us and the other squad, they were following us, not like they could go another direction. “I need a sound off on everypony and deer!”

She had just become our squad medic last week and was obviously new to the position and the military, but she was the 2nd highest rank in the squad now by being a Corporal.

Slowly, all 22 ponies, or well 20 ponies and two deer, yelled out their status. We were quick about it. Our squad called off in the normal order we had been doing it, the other squad following, yelled out their own order for their own medic. We were all in the alleyway, leaving behind our position we had just been holding for the past five minutes when the last pony called out their status. No one was hurt enough to where medical attention would be needed.

It was these brief moments where you weren’t shooting or being shot at that the reality of the whole thing set in. I mean, we legit did just leave behind that other squad’s friend without a second thought, I mean, when’d he even die? He wasn’t dead when Mateo went to spray after my jam, it must’ve happened right as the last few ponies rushed to cover as I was spraying after Mateo. That could’ve been me that bullet hit. Fuck…

“Alright, Ashes Squad, I’m taking command until we’re better situated to figure out who can.” yelled out a Deer soldier who had a heavy Olenia accent. He was a part of the other squad and had corporal markings on his uniform, as well as a marking showing he was a medic. Same rank and roll as Tuuli.

No one from ‘his’ new squad commented besides what I could only assume was the thoughts of a few wishing that a new squad leader didn’t have to be chosen.

Our squad only had 10 people in it at the moment and we somehow managed to not lose anyone so far, but we had already all seen someone killed in the few hours since this war started. The other squad had 12 now, total. I wasn’t able to get the name of the one who just got killed or their previous squad lead, too occupied trying to focus on the retreat and being on the lookout for any Changelings or civilians.

I’m surprised no one else spoke out to take the position, for a squad that size I would definitely think they’d have more higher-ranking people at the ready for such a thing, but then again it’s not like the 2nd ‘Equestria Division was full size. The new leader being made dwelled on my thoughts about the fact that our division wasn't big enough to handle the current push. Not that the thought would stick as in a few minutes when we were most definitely being shot at again...