It had been about three minutes since that civilian was taken away. It was starting to worry me a little that I hadn’t seen any Changelings through the window. I thought they were supposed to be pushing hard. The last rounds shot from the guys outside happened about two minutes ago, but I wasn’t to leave my position until we were called from the house by Staff Sgt. Jaume once he got word from the other fireteam. The reason being because we were in the house that was closer to the front.

I ended up breaking the silence, “Hey Luiz!” I spoke loudly so Luiz heard.

“Viv! Whatcha got?” He went straight to aiming his gun out another window that was facing the same direction as mine.

“Nothing right now, but just wondering how many you think you’ve gotten so far?”

He looked back at me, but I was still focused on looking out the window, “How many I’ve gotten?”

“How many Changelings? I reckon I’ve at least 7 so far.” I was honestly just trying to keep myself from stressing out and it seemed like a ok question to ask with it being way more than relevant right now.

“Killed? Fuck… One? A sniper ain’t that good when you’re doing urban fighting like we are now. You’re definitely going to be getting more than me, that’s for sure.”

I smirked at the comment he made, “Heh, yeah.”

We went back to silence, which only lasted about 10 seconds before Ilja came running up the stairs, stopping halfway up, enough so he could yell up to us, “Yo! Other team’s done and we’re good to start moving back!”

“We hear!” I yelled back. Ilja yelled something back downstairs, but I was to focused on getting my stuff and moving to the stairs, along with Luiz, to even notice what it was.

Ilja looked back right as we both started trotting it down the stairs, himself going back down as well to move out of the way.

When we got to the 1st floor, Staff Sgt. Jaume was waiting by the door to the alleyway where he started yelling out orders at a fast pace, “Jurek, there’s a smaller alleyway between this house and the one we searched, make sure no Changelings try to come through the other side. We got Mateo and two others in that bomb crater and another on the opposite side of where you’ll be. They’re set up to shoot any bugs who come down the main alleyway. Everyone else is hoofing it further down where we’ll set up to give y’all cover! We’ll call when ready and y’all are gunna be running down either side of the alley in case we gotta shoot. Got it!”

Enormous chunk of info he said right there, but I got it all, “Yeah!”

We had already left the building, I was already getting set up, halfway around the left side corner of this smaller alleyway, just as Jaume finished up saying his plan.

“Alright! Let’s GO GO!” Jaume yelled before he and the remaining ponies who were with him set off.

I had my gun aimed down the smaller alleyway for about thirty fifteen seconds before we heard the signal yelled,

“YOU GUYS ARE GOOD!”

Whoever said it was really loud. I’m pretty sure the Changelings could’ve heard the yell if there were close enough.

I was turning, making sure the three in the crater were getting out, they were. Mateo and another pony were making their way to my side of the alleyway while the deer, not the medic one, was going to the other side with the pony.

Right then the 100pound bomb that was hidden beneath the bottom of the crater, that itself had made, exploded.

Pavement and dirt went flying up into the air from where the crater had been, bringing the three soldiers, who weren’t out yet, flying.

I was knocked down to the ground within half a second, which hurt a lot, as debris started falling down onto me. It hurt a lot as it hit areas on my body, definitely leaving some bad bruises on my hind legs, but thankfully my helmet kept anything from hitting my head.

After what seemed like forever, the debris finally stopped falling and the echo of the explosion had vanished, I let out the breath that I somehow had been holding ever since I was laying down. I then pushed myself up, looking down at myself and feeling around with one hoof to make sure I was alright, I was, before I looked at the damage.

There was a lot of dust in the air, giving me good concealment from any possible changelings, but they weren’t on my mind. I looked around at the larger crater that had been made and the destruction it had done, trying to find the three who had still been inside it before the explosion. I only saw the other pony who had been making their way out towards my side, who looked fine as I trotted over, a bit dazed from the explosion still, I put my front hooves on them, feeling around for any straps I could grab onto so I could drag them.

I found them and started to drag them towards the direction where everyone else was before the realization came in that this pony was missing both their right front and back legs, which was leaving behind a mess of blood along with their guts that were falling out as I dragged them.

…

...

Wait what.

I quickly let go of the pony and tripped on some debris with my hind legs as I was backing up at a fast pace, away from the body, but I got myself back up and continued backing up.

“Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck--” I whispered on repeat for a good five seconds before I turned around and turned to a gallop in the direction of everyone else.

A few of my squad mates were galloping, or flying towards the direction of the crater, along with some from the other squad. Ketilrior stopped me from moving and was asking, “Thank Celestial you’re not dead! Are you hurt in any way?” There was a lot of concern in her voice.

I shook my head a little for ‘no’, still in shock from the event before eventually answering, “U- Uhh.. NO- no.” I was still shaking my head, “Yeah no. No.”

Ketilrior, who we called Kettle, was pulling me, a hoof around my back, taking me to where everyone had been waiting for us and sat me down behind a small depression in the wall.

“Hey Tuuli! Get here and check Jurek! The other medic is up there with everyone else!”

“Already here!” She responded. She was next to Kettle, moving her out of the way so she could check me. She began right away at her main job but asked me, “What in the Tartarus happened!?” She sounded terrified by asking the question.

“Uhh, th-- the uhh,” I was trying to piece together what happened myself, “The crater just went up… Up like… Up. Exploded.” What did happen? “Then I found myself pulling a p- pony and their guts-- yeah, guts coming out…”

“Listen, you’re in shock, it hasn’t even been a minute since it exploded. So going to need you to take five deep breaths and five slow exhales for me. Ok?” Tuuli was putting her hoof on my mane, “You’re fine, but I need you to collect yourself. I need you to do those deep breaths for me Jurek. You’ll be ok.”

I was staring at her for a second before I swallowed and nodded my head a few times. I brought a hoof up to push my helmet up a little before I took my first breath.

I took everything in I could and closed my eyes and held it for a second before letting it slowly escape.

Was that… all under a minute? That--

I was taking my second breath and filled my lungs and let out slowly without holding it this time.

I didn’t even see Mateo, or that deer… Or that other pony. Did I have tunnel vision during that hole event? Did I still have it? So much just happened. The explosion, the guts, this breathing…

I let out my last exhale and heard Tuuli say, “That’s five! Excellent job Jurek!” She was rubbing the back of my mane lightly.

When’d I get to my last inhale and exhale? Was I lost in thought for the remaining ones?

“Alright! Listen up, we just lost three ponies and a deer!” Someone yelled out.

I was collected enough now that I looked at who had yelled it, it was a medic, the deer who was the new squad lead of the other squad.

“Lorens, Olivia, Jocjo and Mateo! Mateo was with the other squad!” The medic continued.

Rostislav and Luiz came into view, along with the rest of the ponies that had gone out to the explosion site, getting back into cover.

“Fuck me…” Kettle whispered. She were still nearby watching Tuuli tend to me. “Just like that.” She didn’t say anything else. I didn’t say anything. Tuuli didn’t either. I have no clue if anyone else did because I started replaying the whole event in my head when I heard the names.

We got the clear to move, we were moving back, then the explosion, then I was stopped by Kettle.
We got the clear to move, we were moving back, then the explosion, then I was stopped by Kettle.
We got the clear to move, we were moving back, then the explosion, then I was stopped by Kettle.

My thoughts were interrupted as Staff Sgt. Jaume yelled out to everyone, “ALRIGHT! Listen up, Ashes, send four people to clear that building. Me, Ilja and Luiz are clearing the one right here, the rest of my 2nd fireteam is getting the building further down!” He then came over to me and Tuuli, “Make sure he’s good to go by the time we’re out. Got it?” He was directing his statement to Tuuli.

She nodded, “Got it!”

Jaume nodded back, “Good.” Then turned and went with the other two he named and went into the building I was leaning against.

Tuuli looked back at me and kept rubbing my mane, “Just sit for a minute.” She gave me a reassuring smile, “You deserve it.”

How’d I deserve it? All I did was survive a bomb exploding… I should be back to clearing the houses for civilians or making sure no Changelings attack. But here I was. Getting a more than needed minute of rest.

Author's Note

This is a map posted on the Equestrian at War discord that shows the languages of everything. idk what's canon and what isn't but it's what I'm using for for reference if I ever use languages/accent/whatever.

this is a image of where the town Acronage is at the mouse cursor, little green square near the black territory. Once again, i have no clue what actual MLP lore is.