Battle of Canterlotby ThranxChaptersThe Calm Before the StormBattle of CanterlotThe Waning ResistanceThe Calm Before the StormI took a break after my team of engineers had finished installing anti-air gun sites throughout downtown Canterlot. I brought a newspaper from a newsstand. Canterlot Courier had been my prime source of information about this war besides the radio. The headline was rather interesting, it was about the person who dragged me into this war. Prince Blueblood or should I say Field Marshal Blueblood in this matter had been relieved of command. His strategic blunders had caused us Equestrians a series of costly defeats. The Coltfoalnian Campaign and the Breakthrough at Mariposa were his last faults before he was replaced by Princess Luna and the newly promoted Field Marshal Thunderbolt Sentinel. Apart from the princess, I have no information about this newly promoted Field Marshal save his valiant effort in the Battle of Acornage, where he held for a week against a foe triple his strength. He was also one of the commanding armies on the front who somehow managed to bring his army in one piece after the twin disasters at Mariposa and Coltfoalnia. A decorated officer indeed. As I continued to skim the newspaper, Sergeant Hard Hooves had ordered us to head to the train station to unload some more material for the fortifications. The only thing that I had been building since I got drafted into the 3rd Canterlot Garrison. As we trotted our way to the Canterlot Central Station, we trotted past the homes of the nobles. They were the last batch of cowardly nobles of Canterlot fleeing from combat. I could not help but watch them as they pack up their precious belongings on their trucks and fancy cars. These nobles had spent their bits, not on the war effort but their flight to various places to flee, Manehattan and New Mareland being the most picked choice. My squad reached the Central Station five minutes later. ******* The station was filled with soldiers, with the sergeants and lieutenants barking orders to green recruits, engineers waiting for the supply train to reach the station and the arrival of more soldiers from wherever they came. Then we joined the other engineers on the platform and waited for the supply train to arrive. After a few minutes of waiting, the supply train was in sight. It was the Friendship Express. It has been a week since the Friendship Express services in Central Equestria had been relegated for military purposes only. The supply trains were one of them. If you happen to fight the changelings on the front, you may spot an armoured train or two. If you go further back, supply trains and rail artillery were the ordinary locomotives there. If you were heading to the frontlines, you will be taking the Friendship Express there. The trains were the lifeline of the ERAF supply line as the entirety of Equestria is still riddled with narrow dirt roads and small bridges that could barely hold two Muletildas. After we finished unloading the material from the train to a convoy of trucks, we followed the trucks to the outskirts of Canterlot where most of the outer defence fortifications were built. We then proceed with our work of digging trenches, planting landmines, building pillboxes, installing anti-tank sites and anti-tank barriers. It was a tiring job, no doubt. But, while listening to Octavia's mesmerizing cello performance in the Grand Canterlot Opera through the radio gave me a pleasant and calm sensation to continue working. Of course, the performance did not last forever. So my comrades and I tuned in to other channels to look for more tracks to listen to. Then, we continued to work until it was 6:00 pm and went back to the barracks to rest. After eating dinner, I was walking to my barracks to retire for the night. Suddenly, I came across a large convoy of trucks heading out of Canterlot via the main road. Funnily enough, all of them were pegasi soldiers. I watched the scene with great confusion along with the rest of the garrison. "Did any of you realise that they were only pegasi soldiers there?" said somepony in the crowd of soldiers. It was followed by a lot of chatter and murmurs, some were doubtful and some agreed. But I was too exhausted to think about the whole situation and decided to return to the barracks to get some sleep. ******* When I woke up, I took a shower and prepared myself for the day. When I arrived at the canteen, last night's subject was the topic of the day. Many were worried because a quarter of the Canterlot Garrison were pegasi and all of them left Canterlot last night. I took no care and left the canteen after I finished my breakfast. Although, I did wonder why the high command sent the pegasi soldiers only out of Canterlot. Then the answer came to me. News had finally arrived and everypony was shocked with it, myself included. It turns out, Cloudsdale, home of the pegasi and the important weather factory operating for the weathers in Central Equestria was under attack by more than 130,000 Changelings supported by more than 800 planes. All pegasi divisions in Canterlot, Whinnyapolis, Ponyville and Bales were sent to protect it including all the elite Wonderbolt fighter pilots from the already stretched thin Royal Air Force. The Royal Air Force was so stretched to its limit that it needed to pull all air support from the Crystal Front to support the Whinnyapolis Army Group and the Las Pegasus Army Group. But that wasn't the most shocking news. There was another news that truly took everypony aback. Cloudsdale as known to everypony in Equestria is a mobile city. Previous news had informed that Cloudsdale had started moving southward weeks ago en route to Appleloosa with its current location about 40km southwest from Ponyville. Somehow, the changeling forces managed to catch up to the floating city. This had certainly struck fear to everypony due to the sheer speed and strength of the changelings. None can comprehend the firepower and the so-called 'super soldiers' the changelings had. Recent news had told us that the Cloudsdale Garrison were horribly outnumbered with their numbers consisting of merely around 30,000. Hence, the High Command's decision to protect the important city that provided rain and snow to Central Equestria and the spot of the second largest airport. the first being the Canterlot Military Airport. This had significantly weakened the Canterlot Garrison with a quarter of them gone. High Command had absolutely made a gigantic gamble to protect Cloudsdale at all costs while leaving the other cities weakened. All I hope then was the gamble to work and to finally stop the changeling advance then and there. But, I was proven wrong. ******* Two weeks after the news, we were horrified with the arrival of the pegasi soldiers retreating from Cloudsdale with almost half of them were wounded. Some had lost a hoof or two, some of them lost an eye or pair, some became deaf and some had burn marks on them the rest suffered minor injuries. It was a gruesome sight to all of us. They had retreated to Canterlot to merge with the Canterlot Garrison. They claimed that they had lost half of their numbers with a lot of them had surrendered or killed after the brutal close-quarters combat in downtown Cloudsdale and the weather factory. It turned out that the Ponyville General did not have enough medical supplies for the retreating pegasi. So, they headed to Canterlot to seek treatment from the Canterlot Garrison which certainly had all the provisions. As I was happy that some of them made it out alive I was also demoralized at the scene and it turns out I was not the only one. Everypony's face in the garrison turned sour and they frowned. ******* Three days after the pegasi retreated I heard a noise that I didn't want to hear. I heard faint sounds of explosions so do the other soldiers. Everypony was wondering where it had come from until a distressed unicorn ran to the canteen and shouted "Ponyville! It's under attack!". That sent almost the whole garrison into a frenzy and all of the garrison headed out of the canteen with some binoculars and headed to the South Gate which was facing Ponyville and was only 15km from Ponyville. I fetched my binoculars to see what in Tartarus the Ponyville Garrison was facing. As I looked through the binoculars I tried to assess the situation. I saw several platoons of the garrison in action with a changeling platoon and two changeling tanks in which both of them seemed like Panzer IVs. As I spectated the battle from afar, I observed their Panzer IVs and Panthers and saw on the side of their turrets bore insignias that I'd hope I didn't see. I didn't believe it at first, then I hurriedly tried to find another changeling panzer and saw the same insignias. I watched it in disbelief and tried to spot another panzer. Panzer after panzer I looked had the same insignias. They were the insignias of the 13th and 14th Panzer Division and they were only 15km from Canterlot. Battle of CanterlotMy brother sent me a letter a few months ago when he was stationed in Applewood during the Coltfoalnian Campaign. It was the last letter he sent to me before he went missing. I rummaged my belongings to find the letter and once I found it, a reread the letter. Hi Brother, I received your letter yesterday, don't worry I'm fine and dandy here with my boys from home. I'm in Applewood, by the way. Applewood! The place where Marelyn Maneroe and Chris Hoovesworth do their movies! Fantastic right? I hope you don't get jealous. I know you've always wanted to go here since you're still a colt. Worry not, little brother! coz I'll take you here when this whole war is done for. Turns out, the 35th division(my division if you didn't know) is about to have a rumble with the 13th and 14th Panzer Divisions known to our boys at the front as 'Pharynx's Tormenting Twins'. Very fitting. I believe you've heard about the news of Blueblood's defeat in Vanhoover and Salt Lick City more than a month ago. Just so you know, they were the hammer in those two battles. However don't worry, right now we've stocked as many AT rounds as we can and we'll bust those changeling tanks in record speed. Their units had special insignias to distinguish them and the other changeling units. I've seen their insignias, they look sick! I had my unicorn buddy draw them for you at the back of the paper. Anyway, enough about me. How's the farm? I hope you no longer mad about taking my chores there! Do tell me about everything interesting happening at the farm in your next letter. I'd love to hear it. Sorry bud, I gotta pen off(not because I don't know what to write!). Anyway, give my prayers to Ma and Pa. I promise that all of you don't need to fret about me. I'll be heading home in one piece after I get my souvenirs from Vesalipolis. Your big brother, Greengrass That was the last letter I received from my brother days before he was reported missing. A week after my brother's disappearance, Princess Celestia had passed a decree to begin the fourth recruitment drive or conscription drive from my point of view and that was when I got drafted into this war. This letter somehow appeared in my bag when I was unpacking moments after I arrived at my barracks. Maybe Pa slipped it in. But I digress. The two insignias that I spotted engaging the Ponyville Garrison were the exact if not much neater compared to the horn drawn drawing. Unsurprisingly, other ponies noticed that too and they immediately broke the news to the other uninformed recruits. Of course, some were trembling out of fear, some were confident like my brother and some were deadpan about the news. ******* It was 11 PM and engagements at Ponyville still hadn't waned. In fact, the battle was in full swing as I heard the thundering sounds of artillery bombardment getting more and more intense. One can only wonder the agony the Ponyville Garrison was under. The whole garrison was in full alert and the trenches were filled with soldiers watching the light show at Ponyville helplessly. The High Command had decided to not send reinforcements to Ponyville and the defenders there was ordered to delay the changeling advance for as long as possible to make more time for the Canterlot Garrison to prepare for the inevitable. However, the Ponyville Garrison could only hold for so long. After three perpetual days of fighting, they finally broke. General Applejack had ordered a retreat to Canterlot while she and her few elite comrades acted as a rearguard and to hod the changeling advance while the rest of the garrison retreated. The whole operation only took a full day. After the battle, the 13th and 14th halted their advance. Probably to lick their wounds and to wait for the arrival of the also crack Jägers, specialized primarily in urban combat and close-quarters combat and the elite Queen's Guard. They finally resumed their advance to the Jewel of Equestria a day after the arrival of the Jägers and the Queen's Guard. They were accompanied by an artillery bombardment and a large air wing of bombers, close air supports and fighters. Our morale had severely plummeted after the shattered Ponyville Garrison arrived to merge with our garrison and it depleted further at the sight of the large army heading towards the capital all eager to conquer the majestic Equestrian capital. However, it was relieved when the Royal Sisters announced that they will be personally involved in the imminent battle along with their veteran group of Solar and Lunar Guards. ******* We waited in our trenches and pillboxes as we braced the deafening artillery bombardment. I was stationed at the inner city defences. Thankfully, the changelings did not target the city yet, most of the bombardment was aimed at the unfortunate ponies at outer defences. Five minutes after the bombardment, machine gun and small arms fire were heard throughout the entire city. I could see the whole battle happened in front of my very eyes as I was stationed at an elevated position of the city. Explosions and tracer rounds were clearly seen searching for its target. However, the changeling panzers spearheaded through the line breaking any effective resistance it faced in a quick stroke. Soon, the outer defences finally succumbed to the sheer firepower of the changeling army in a mere hour. The tanks did not stop there, they continued to push forward and overrunning the stubborn defenders at the edge of the city and began to push into the outskirts. More and more reserves were activated and sent to halt the changelings from advancing deeper into the city. I could only watch hopelessly from my post along with other ponies stationed with me. Dozens of half-tracks, trucks and tanks rushed to patch up the holes in the front only to be target practice for the changeling aircraft. Anti-aircraft sites were rendered useless against the numerous changeling aircraft due to their lack of mobility and agility. The Equestrian Royal Flying Corps(ERFC) were still an hour away to have any impact on the ongoing battle. Until the arrival of the ERFC, we were to beat back the changeling advance while being picked off from the sky. As casualties mounting on both sides, the battle was not going well for the Equestrians. The changelings finally arrived at my part of the front. I had to duck several times to avoid any changeling shots. The gunshots were deafening as if they almost pierced my eardrums. Every time I pop back up from my cover to find a target, I was forced to duck again. Suddenly, an explosion blew about four meters in front of me. I was thrown to a wall and was concussed for a good minute. Fortunately, the sandbags in front of me had protected me from any shrapnel. Then a changeling emerged from the blown-up cover. I quickly grabbed my Lavender Rifle and aimed at his shoulder. I dare not to kill any creature regardless if it's a changeling or a pony. I pulled the trigger and a loud bang followed it. The changeling fell and was screaming in pain. Only to be silenced with a bullet in the head. Another pony had killed it mercilessly as he continued firing at the deceased with his automatic rifle and emptied an entire magazine on the dead changeling. "Die you merciless bug!" the pony shouted as he finished his magazine. I watched the scene with horror after witnessing the irony of the situation. As I recovered the changeling attack still hadn't wavered instead it got more intense. the panzers began to outnumber the defenders and the line was nearing its breaking point. Some ponies began to flee to the next defensive line. I was about to follow suit until a large blast blew up behind me. Then I looked to the back of me and saw hundreds of Royal Guards consisted of earth ponies and unicorns blasting the changelings with their magical weapons. I then turned to the sky above and saw Princesses Celestia and Luna charging the changeling army supported by an army of pegasi Royal Guards and the thestral Lunar Guards, all armed with magical weapons except for the princesses. Princess Celestia was wearing a helmet gold in colour much like her regalia and a golden breastplate with her cutie mark on it both looked like they were enchanted by some protection spell. Princess Luna also wore a helmet and a breastplate with her cutie mark on it. But it was dark blue in colour and her breastplate was much more similar to the armour her Lunar Guards wore. Together they attacked the changeling army by blasting rays of magic blue and yellow in colour to the surprised changeling attackers. As the princesses and her loyal well-equipped guards finally intervened, the line began to recuperate. Hundreds of ponies arrived to reinforce the nearly broken line and some of the fleeing ponies returned to join the fight. The changeling attack was almost blunted. It was until the Queen's Guard arrived in their multitudes. They were armed with magical weapons too. But instead of firing violet magical pulses like the Royal Guard ones, it fired green ones much like their queen's magical aura. I was shot by a magical weapon at one of my back hooves. I was picked up by a medic and was tended about 100 meters from the battle. The battle was still raging even if it's evening and the princesses were forced to leave and recover after their armour was nearly broken as the result of constant hits from the magical pulses and armour-piercing bullets, they also had to return to raise the moon and set the sun. But the Royal Guards didn't leave and continued fighting. As the medic tended me, I could see the beautiful yet terrifying colours of green and purple magical pulses firing at each other and yellow and red tracer rounds going out and about followed by several orangish-yellow coloured blasts. The battle slowly faded until it finally ended at around 10 PM then I was transported to a field hospital at the Castle Courtyard when it was safe to move around. After I finished my surgery, two medics lifted my stretcher and put me on a somewhat comfortable bed in a space in the courtyard that was filled with all kinds of wounded soldiers. From there I saw heard disturbing sights and sounds. It was much more prominent than it was when I was at the front as gunfires drowned those sounds. At my left, a pony was sleeping with a bandage on one of his eye and an amputated hoof. At my right, laid a pony with his forehead wrapped with cloth and a stitch on his left flank. He's also looked like he was shellshocked as he was looking everywhere with a fearful demeanour. I tried to sleep but was unable to after hearing all sorts of screams, groans and wails. One of my comrades visited me and he told me that the changeling attack had stopped at the whole city. He explained that Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns became the "Jägers Grave" as many Jägers died trying to clear out the area filled with ponies armed with shotguns (the weapon that the changelings didn't possess somehow) and machine guns. Fighting took place in classes, halls and courtyards and the ponies managed to hold back the changeling attack. He also said that the area at Restaurant Row, the street filled with 5-star restaurants became the "Panzer Scrapyard" as many changeling tanks and half-tracks were destroyed by the lurking ponies armed with anti-tank rifles, grenades and anti-tank guns. Many changeling mechanized and armoured columns were ambushed by the Equestrians hiding in every nook and cranny in Restaurant Row. Besides, the ERFC finally arrived at 5 PM and managed to stave off the changeling aerial attacks and gave the much-needed air support for the battered Canterlot Garrison. Although we managed to hold the attacks of the day, we were besieged in the city with the changelings controlling all entrances to the city in front of us and the gigantic seemingly impassable for non-pegasi ponies Mount Canter behind us. It was only a matter of time before the changelings managed to wring every ounce of strength from the garrison. The changeling would try and try to break the Canterlonian defence for more than a month only to face defeat after defeat and sustaining heavy losses and casualties. It was when Queen Chrysalis had finally reached her breaking point and ordered the Changeling Supreme Command to capture Canterlot be it by hook or by crook. From that point on, the changeling had begun to use extreme measures to neutralize the Canterlonian defenders and to reduce their mounting casualties. The Waning ResistanceAs the Changeling Army had suffered immense casualties at Canterlot. General Pharynx was not happy nor he was impressed, he had filed a request for Queen Chrysalis to allow him to use brutal methods, chemical and biological weapons on the defenders at Canterlot. The queen unsurprisingly agreed. Various chemical weapons such as chlorine and mustard gasses were developed in masses in factories around Soryth. They had also developed a modified version of Anthrax and got their hooves on the Purple Plague, both imported from another dimension and Griffonia respectively. They also began using prisoners-of-war as meat shields to cover their advance and their air raids now included the incessant use of phosphorus bombs and napalm bombs to clear out the city. The ERFC was outmatched with the appearance of the latest changeling aircraft models which were more agile, faster and could carry more bombs to jettison. As time progresses, the ERFC was slowly losing its momentum in dogfights and interception missions. Eventually, the ERFC could no longer keep the skies above Canterlot clear and could no longer give air support to the Equestrians on the ground. The changelings started a new offensive. This time with the use of new methods, tactics and technologies, the Canterlot Garrison began to lose ground and eventually break. The changelings had finally cleared out Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns and Restaurant Row with the help of the ever-increasing use of flamethrowers, chlorine gasses and flame tanks, burning and suffocating everypony that stood in their way. The changelings had also cleared out the Noble Residents, the now-abandoned home of the Canterlot upper-class ponies with relative ease the Noble Residents was also the final defence line before the Royal Palace. Most of the city had fallen under changeling control except for the Royal Palace. It was a matter of time until it happens. ******* I had recovered from my wounds and returned to the front a month after the changelings had adopted the heinous tactics, I had a new gun but it was an old Lilia Rifle that was equipped with a scope. after months of putting bullets in changelings' heads, I was assigned with the other abled ponies that can aim a gun to the rearguard under the command of Princess Luna though she will not personally participate. Princess Celestia and the medic was helping the wounded ponies evacuating Canterlot through the secret passage through Mount Canter that was enlarged in the past week so that manoeuvrability will be easier. The passage leads to the Foal Mountains where it was still under Equestrian control. All of us can see her dispirited demeanour before she turned away and headed for the passage. Some said that she was angry at the changeling atrocities towards her subjects, some said that she was devastated by the sheer destruction that had befallen her capital. Some said that it was both. However, before the princess left, she announced her apology to the garrison for her inaction in the years leading up to the war and promised to take more extreme yet practical measures for Equestria to gain the upper hoof in the war. The rearguard consisted of any abled ponies and the Royal Guards, all of us were spent after months of brutal fighting. We were equipped with old Lilia Rifles and magical prototype rifles as the latest weapons were all used up. Ammunition was getting more and more scarce. Food was no exception either, the rations were getting lesser by the day. It had been 7 months since I have eaten a normal military ration, The ration was only 10% of what it was seven months ago. Many of us doubt that we could hold on for much longer if the changelings attack. Some said we would only last 5 minutes if the changelings attack. Almost the entire rearguard had been in the state of "the glass is half empty" but from that point on the soldiers grew more vengeful. I was not exempted. There were some points that I wanted to end my life there and then but I was only stopped by my comrades. They reminded me of the consequences that would befall my parents had I take my own life. My brother's letter reminded me that I still have a family and I was not willing to let it go just yet. Almost all of my comrades in my platoon had been killed or succumbed to the changeling biological weapons. That was then my hatred towards changelings grew. It generated a renewed vigour inside me and a revelation that I must kill to survive this ordeal. It would be either me or the changeling that would make it out alive of Canterlot. This time I was a sniper taking cover in one of the Palace's keeps, picking off any exposed changeling that was behind their lines. The keep had given me the perfect vantage point, I could see the whole city from the keep. Sometimes I shot a captain or a lieutenant but usually, I only kill low-ranked Jägers and soldiers due to their numbers being so numerous that it was hard to not spot one. But, I left the keep that I had occupied for the past three months to be on the ground to support the rearguard as the keep was no longer safe from changeling air attacks after the princesses cancelled their protection spell from the palace. ******* After the changeling artillery barrage had receded, we waited for the arrival of the final changeling attack. The ground started to tremble. The cacophonous noise of tank engines and whirring propeller of changeling aircraft were getting louder by the second. Everypony knew that this will be the final battle and the changelings fully-equipped, well-fed and confident were not willing to let the ponies retreat just yet. They were in this for the kill. Then rounds after rounds of poisonous gas fell near our position releasing the deadly gas on the defenders. However, this time we had our gas masks but our sight were severely limited to no more than a few meters. Then the changelings emerged as they charged in the gas cloud. Changelings do not suffocate if they breathe poisonous gas which meant that a changeling sight was not limited by the gas mask as they didn't need one. Regardless, we opened fire at every changeling insight. We continued shooting at the changelings until they stopped attacking. That was the first wave. The second wave arrived five minutes after the first wave had concluded, this time they were accompanied by the new King Tiger tanks. The new panzers blasted all the Equestrian tanks without much effort. But armed with the new anti-tank guns we managed to knock out some of the tanks with several lucky shots. However, the attack was still going strong, although the changeling tanks had pulled back the infantry did not. It kept pushing relentlessly. I kept shooting them but they kept coming. It was almost endless. As I continued shooting any changeling I spot, my rifle ran out of ammo. So, I quickly reached for my handgun and continued to offer resistance. I looked to my left and right and saw that more and more ponies had begun using handguns, some had even resorted to using bayonets and hooves as the changelings finally reached our line. Then my handgun also ran out. I grabbed my out-of-ammo rifle and fixed my bayonet and I used it like a spear. I stabbed every changeling that got up the barriers effectively killing most of them. As more changelings scaled the barriers we charged with bayonets and shovels at the changelings who were unprepared for melee combat. Then brutal melee combat ensued. Everypony and ling killed each other without mercy. I snuck behind a changeling who was preparing to stab a knocked down pony. Before he could do it I grabbed his neck and slit throat thus saving the pony from killed. I helped him up and we continued fighting as we slowly retreated. The melee fight got bloodier and deadlier as more ponies and changelings joined in. Most of the changelings did not expect to be charged by the vengeful Equestrians at close range. Therefore, many were killed until the changelings managed to form a line and began firing at the charging Equestrians. Many ponies were shot dead in their attempt to reach the changeling line. It was then Princess Luna came to our rescue and launched rays of blue magic on the changeling attackers and shouted at us in her Royal Canterlot Voice. " My gallant soldiers, you had done your part. Now retreat to the passage! I shall hold them off until all of you had evacuated,". We then rushed to the passage and boarded military trucks that were waiting at the entrance of the tunnel. Then the trucks started moving, going deeper into the mountain. As we were moving deeper into the mountains Princess Luna entered the passage and blew up the entrance with her magic, effectively blocking the entrance for the chasing changelings. The battle had been a catastrophic defeat for Equestria, although the changelings suffered heavy casualties the Equestrians fared worse. One out of ten of the garrison made it out alive. The loss of the Equestrian capital had made some of the defenders sobbed. It was truly a heartbreaking moment to see the once majestic marble dominated structures of Canterlot were reduced to heaps of rubble and littered with dead bodies, ponies and changelings alike along with the destroyed tanks and planes from both sides. The many white buildings were now charred black after the effects of napalm bombing and the increasing flamethrower activities. Some would say that even the backwater city of Griffonstone had more lustre than the current Equestrian capital. Even though I was devastated by the loss of the capital and I felt the growing need of going home, I did not feel returning to my family just yet. I will return home once the changeling menace had been crushed once and for all. The changelings had done crimes that cannot be left unpaid and I will support any policy the princesses would pass to bring the changelings to their knees. Their species do not deserve to live after the atrocities they had committed on the Equestrians. The Purple Plague and the modified Anthrax they brought from Griffonia and the other dimension had killed more than 20% of our garrison in two months. Nearly all of my comrades succumbed to these diseases. If anything this war has taught me, it is that the changelings will use any method they can get their hooves on to squash our ponies. They needed to be defeated.
The Calm Before the StormI took a break after my team of engineers had finished installing anti-air gun sites throughout downtown Canterlot. I brought a newspaper from a newsstand. Canterlot Courier had been my prime source of information about this war besides the radio. The headline was rather interesting, it was about the person who dragged me into this war. Prince Blueblood or should I say Field Marshal Blueblood in this matter had been relieved of command. His strategic blunders had caused us Equestrians a series of costly defeats. The Coltfoalnian Campaign and the Breakthrough at Mariposa were his last faults before he was replaced by Princess Luna and the newly promoted Field Marshal Thunderbolt Sentinel. Apart from the princess, I have no information about this newly promoted Field Marshal save his valiant effort in the Battle of Acornage, where he held for a week against a foe triple his strength. He was also one of the commanding armies on the front who somehow managed to bring his army in one piece after the twin disasters at Mariposa and Coltfoalnia. A decorated officer indeed. As I continued to skim the newspaper, Sergeant Hard Hooves had ordered us to head to the train station to unload some more material for the fortifications. The only thing that I had been building since I got drafted into the 3rd Canterlot Garrison. As we trotted our way to the Canterlot Central Station, we trotted past the homes of the nobles. They were the last batch of cowardly nobles of Canterlot fleeing from combat. I could not help but watch them as they pack up their precious belongings on their trucks and fancy cars. These nobles had spent their bits, not on the war effort but their flight to various places to flee, Manehattan and New Mareland being the most picked choice. My squad reached the Central Station five minutes later. ******* The station was filled with soldiers, with the sergeants and lieutenants barking orders to green recruits, engineers waiting for the supply train to reach the station and the arrival of more soldiers from wherever they came. Then we joined the other engineers on the platform and waited for the supply train to arrive. After a few minutes of waiting, the supply train was in sight. It was the Friendship Express. It has been a week since the Friendship Express services in Central Equestria had been relegated for military purposes only. The supply trains were one of them. If you happen to fight the changelings on the front, you may spot an armoured train or two. If you go further back, supply trains and rail artillery were the ordinary locomotives there. If you were heading to the frontlines, you will be taking the Friendship Express there. The trains were the lifeline of the ERAF supply line as the entirety of Equestria is still riddled with narrow dirt roads and small bridges that could barely hold two Muletildas. After we finished unloading the material from the train to a convoy of trucks, we followed the trucks to the outskirts of Canterlot where most of the outer defence fortifications were built. We then proceed with our work of digging trenches, planting landmines, building pillboxes, installing anti-tank sites and anti-tank barriers. It was a tiring job, no doubt. But, while listening to Octavia's mesmerizing cello performance in the Grand Canterlot Opera through the radio gave me a pleasant and calm sensation to continue working. Of course, the performance did not last forever. So my comrades and I tuned in to other channels to look for more tracks to listen to. Then, we continued to work until it was 6:00 pm and went back to the barracks to rest. After eating dinner, I was walking to my barracks to retire for the night. Suddenly, I came across a large convoy of trucks heading out of Canterlot via the main road. Funnily enough, all of them were pegasi soldiers. I watched the scene with great confusion along with the rest of the garrison. "Did any of you realise that they were only pegasi soldiers there?" said somepony in the crowd of soldiers. It was followed by a lot of chatter and murmurs, some were doubtful and some agreed. But I was too exhausted to think about the whole situation and decided to return to the barracks to get some sleep. ******* When I woke up, I took a shower and prepared myself for the day. When I arrived at the canteen, last night's subject was the topic of the day. Many were worried because a quarter of the Canterlot Garrison were pegasi and all of them left Canterlot last night. I took no care and left the canteen after I finished my breakfast. Although, I did wonder why the high command sent the pegasi soldiers only out of Canterlot. Then the answer came to me. News had finally arrived and everypony was shocked with it, myself included. It turns out, Cloudsdale, home of the pegasi and the important weather factory operating for the weathers in Central Equestria was under attack by more than 130,000 Changelings supported by more than 800 planes. All pegasi divisions in Canterlot, Whinnyapolis, Ponyville and Bales were sent to protect it including all the elite Wonderbolt fighter pilots from the already stretched thin Royal Air Force. The Royal Air Force was so stretched to its limit that it needed to pull all air support from the Crystal Front to support the Whinnyapolis Army Group and the Las Pegasus Army Group. But that wasn't the most shocking news. There was another news that truly took everypony aback. Cloudsdale as known to everypony in Equestria is a mobile city. Previous news had informed that Cloudsdale had started moving southward weeks ago en route to Appleloosa with its current location about 40km southwest from Ponyville. Somehow, the changeling forces managed to catch up to the floating city. This had certainly struck fear to everypony due to the sheer speed and strength of the changelings. None can comprehend the firepower and the so-called 'super soldiers' the changelings had. Recent news had told us that the Cloudsdale Garrison were horribly outnumbered with their numbers consisting of merely around 30,000. Hence, the High Command's decision to protect the important city that provided rain and snow to Central Equestria and the spot of the second largest airport. the first being the Canterlot Military Airport. This had significantly weakened the Canterlot Garrison with a quarter of them gone. High Command had absolutely made a gigantic gamble to protect Cloudsdale at all costs while leaving the other cities weakened. All I hope then was the gamble to work and to finally stop the changeling advance then and there. But, I was proven wrong. ******* Two weeks after the news, we were horrified with the arrival of the pegasi soldiers retreating from Cloudsdale with almost half of them were wounded. Some had lost a hoof or two, some of them lost an eye or pair, some became deaf and some had burn marks on them the rest suffered minor injuries. It was a gruesome sight to all of us. They had retreated to Canterlot to merge with the Canterlot Garrison. They claimed that they had lost half of their numbers with a lot of them had surrendered or killed after the brutal close-quarters combat in downtown Cloudsdale and the weather factory. It turned out that the Ponyville General did not have enough medical supplies for the retreating pegasi. So, they headed to Canterlot to seek treatment from the Canterlot Garrison which certainly had all the provisions. As I was happy that some of them made it out alive I was also demoralized at the scene and it turns out I was not the only one. Everypony's face in the garrison turned sour and they frowned. ******* Three days after the pegasi retreated I heard a noise that I didn't want to hear. I heard faint sounds of explosions so do the other soldiers. Everypony was wondering where it had come from until a distressed unicorn ran to the canteen and shouted "Ponyville! It's under attack!". That sent almost the whole garrison into a frenzy and all of the garrison headed out of the canteen with some binoculars and headed to the South Gate which was facing Ponyville and was only 15km from Ponyville. I fetched my binoculars to see what in Tartarus the Ponyville Garrison was facing. As I looked through the binoculars I tried to assess the situation. I saw several platoons of the garrison in action with a changeling platoon and two changeling tanks in which both of them seemed like Panzer IVs. As I spectated the battle from afar, I observed their Panzer IVs and Panthers and saw on the side of their turrets bore insignias that I'd hope I didn't see. I didn't believe it at first, then I hurriedly tried to find another changeling panzer and saw the same insignias. I watched it in disbelief and tried to spot another panzer. Panzer after panzer I looked had the same insignias. They were the insignias of the 13th and 14th Panzer Division and they were only 15km from Canterlot.
Battle of CanterlotMy brother sent me a letter a few months ago when he was stationed in Applewood during the Coltfoalnian Campaign. It was the last letter he sent to me before he went missing. I rummaged my belongings to find the letter and once I found it, a reread the letter. Hi Brother, I received your letter yesterday, don't worry I'm fine and dandy here with my boys from home. I'm in Applewood, by the way. Applewood! The place where Marelyn Maneroe and Chris Hoovesworth do their movies! Fantastic right? I hope you don't get jealous. I know you've always wanted to go here since you're still a colt. Worry not, little brother! coz I'll take you here when this whole war is done for. Turns out, the 35th division(my division if you didn't know) is about to have a rumble with the 13th and 14th Panzer Divisions known to our boys at the front as 'Pharynx's Tormenting Twins'. Very fitting. I believe you've heard about the news of Blueblood's defeat in Vanhoover and Salt Lick City more than a month ago. Just so you know, they were the hammer in those two battles. However don't worry, right now we've stocked as many AT rounds as we can and we'll bust those changeling tanks in record speed. Their units had special insignias to distinguish them and the other changeling units. I've seen their insignias, they look sick! I had my unicorn buddy draw them for you at the back of the paper. Anyway, enough about me. How's the farm? I hope you no longer mad about taking my chores there! Do tell me about everything interesting happening at the farm in your next letter. I'd love to hear it. Sorry bud, I gotta pen off(not because I don't know what to write!). Anyway, give my prayers to Ma and Pa. I promise that all of you don't need to fret about me. I'll be heading home in one piece after I get my souvenirs from Vesalipolis. Your big brother, Greengrass That was the last letter I received from my brother days before he was reported missing. A week after my brother's disappearance, Princess Celestia had passed a decree to begin the fourth recruitment drive or conscription drive from my point of view and that was when I got drafted into this war. This letter somehow appeared in my bag when I was unpacking moments after I arrived at my barracks. Maybe Pa slipped it in. But I digress. The two insignias that I spotted engaging the Ponyville Garrison were the exact if not much neater compared to the horn drawn drawing. Unsurprisingly, other ponies noticed that too and they immediately broke the news to the other uninformed recruits. Of course, some were trembling out of fear, some were confident like my brother and some were deadpan about the news. ******* It was 11 PM and engagements at Ponyville still hadn't waned. In fact, the battle was in full swing as I heard the thundering sounds of artillery bombardment getting more and more intense. One can only wonder the agony the Ponyville Garrison was under. The whole garrison was in full alert and the trenches were filled with soldiers watching the light show at Ponyville helplessly. The High Command had decided to not send reinforcements to Ponyville and the defenders there was ordered to delay the changeling advance for as long as possible to make more time for the Canterlot Garrison to prepare for the inevitable. However, the Ponyville Garrison could only hold for so long. After three perpetual days of fighting, they finally broke. General Applejack had ordered a retreat to Canterlot while she and her few elite comrades acted as a rearguard and to hod the changeling advance while the rest of the garrison retreated. The whole operation only took a full day. After the battle, the 13th and 14th halted their advance. Probably to lick their wounds and to wait for the arrival of the also crack Jägers, specialized primarily in urban combat and close-quarters combat and the elite Queen's Guard. They finally resumed their advance to the Jewel of Equestria a day after the arrival of the Jägers and the Queen's Guard. They were accompanied by an artillery bombardment and a large air wing of bombers, close air supports and fighters. Our morale had severely plummeted after the shattered Ponyville Garrison arrived to merge with our garrison and it depleted further at the sight of the large army heading towards the capital all eager to conquer the majestic Equestrian capital. However, it was relieved when the Royal Sisters announced that they will be personally involved in the imminent battle along with their veteran group of Solar and Lunar Guards. ******* We waited in our trenches and pillboxes as we braced the deafening artillery bombardment. I was stationed at the inner city defences. Thankfully, the changelings did not target the city yet, most of the bombardment was aimed at the unfortunate ponies at outer defences. Five minutes after the bombardment, machine gun and small arms fire were heard throughout the entire city. I could see the whole battle happened in front of my very eyes as I was stationed at an elevated position of the city. Explosions and tracer rounds were clearly seen searching for its target. However, the changeling panzers spearheaded through the line breaking any effective resistance it faced in a quick stroke. Soon, the outer defences finally succumbed to the sheer firepower of the changeling army in a mere hour. The tanks did not stop there, they continued to push forward and overrunning the stubborn defenders at the edge of the city and began to push into the outskirts. More and more reserves were activated and sent to halt the changelings from advancing deeper into the city. I could only watch hopelessly from my post along with other ponies stationed with me. Dozens of half-tracks, trucks and tanks rushed to patch up the holes in the front only to be target practice for the changeling aircraft. Anti-aircraft sites were rendered useless against the numerous changeling aircraft due to their lack of mobility and agility. The Equestrian Royal Flying Corps(ERFC) were still an hour away to have any impact on the ongoing battle. Until the arrival of the ERFC, we were to beat back the changeling advance while being picked off from the sky. As casualties mounting on both sides, the battle was not going well for the Equestrians. The changelings finally arrived at my part of the front. I had to duck several times to avoid any changeling shots. The gunshots were deafening as if they almost pierced my eardrums. Every time I pop back up from my cover to find a target, I was forced to duck again. Suddenly, an explosion blew about four meters in front of me. I was thrown to a wall and was concussed for a good minute. Fortunately, the sandbags in front of me had protected me from any shrapnel. Then a changeling emerged from the blown-up cover. I quickly grabbed my Lavender Rifle and aimed at his shoulder. I dare not to kill any creature regardless if it's a changeling or a pony. I pulled the trigger and a loud bang followed it. The changeling fell and was screaming in pain. Only to be silenced with a bullet in the head. Another pony had killed it mercilessly as he continued firing at the deceased with his automatic rifle and emptied an entire magazine on the dead changeling. "Die you merciless bug!" the pony shouted as he finished his magazine. I watched the scene with horror after witnessing the irony of the situation. As I recovered the changeling attack still hadn't wavered instead it got more intense. the panzers began to outnumber the defenders and the line was nearing its breaking point. Some ponies began to flee to the next defensive line. I was about to follow suit until a large blast blew up behind me. Then I looked to the back of me and saw hundreds of Royal Guards consisted of earth ponies and unicorns blasting the changelings with their magical weapons. I then turned to the sky above and saw Princesses Celestia and Luna charging the changeling army supported by an army of pegasi Royal Guards and the thestral Lunar Guards, all armed with magical weapons except for the princesses. Princess Celestia was wearing a helmet gold in colour much like her regalia and a golden breastplate with her cutie mark on it both looked like they were enchanted by some protection spell. Princess Luna also wore a helmet and a breastplate with her cutie mark on it. But it was dark blue in colour and her breastplate was much more similar to the armour her Lunar Guards wore. Together they attacked the changeling army by blasting rays of magic blue and yellow in colour to the surprised changeling attackers. As the princesses and her loyal well-equipped guards finally intervened, the line began to recuperate. Hundreds of ponies arrived to reinforce the nearly broken line and some of the fleeing ponies returned to join the fight. The changeling attack was almost blunted. It was until the Queen's Guard arrived in their multitudes. They were armed with magical weapons too. But instead of firing violet magical pulses like the Royal Guard ones, it fired green ones much like their queen's magical aura. I was shot by a magical weapon at one of my back hooves. I was picked up by a medic and was tended about 100 meters from the battle. The battle was still raging even if it's evening and the princesses were forced to leave and recover after their armour was nearly broken as the result of constant hits from the magical pulses and armour-piercing bullets, they also had to return to raise the moon and set the sun. But the Royal Guards didn't leave and continued fighting. As the medic tended me, I could see the beautiful yet terrifying colours of green and purple magical pulses firing at each other and yellow and red tracer rounds going out and about followed by several orangish-yellow coloured blasts. The battle slowly faded until it finally ended at around 10 PM then I was transported to a field hospital at the Castle Courtyard when it was safe to move around. After I finished my surgery, two medics lifted my stretcher and put me on a somewhat comfortable bed in a space in the courtyard that was filled with all kinds of wounded soldiers. From there I saw heard disturbing sights and sounds. It was much more prominent than it was when I was at the front as gunfires drowned those sounds. At my left, a pony was sleeping with a bandage on one of his eye and an amputated hoof. At my right, laid a pony with his forehead wrapped with cloth and a stitch on his left flank. He's also looked like he was shellshocked as he was looking everywhere with a fearful demeanour. I tried to sleep but was unable to after hearing all sorts of screams, groans and wails. One of my comrades visited me and he told me that the changeling attack had stopped at the whole city. He explained that Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns became the "Jägers Grave" as many Jägers died trying to clear out the area filled with ponies armed with shotguns (the weapon that the changelings didn't possess somehow) and machine guns. Fighting took place in classes, halls and courtyards and the ponies managed to hold back the changeling attack. He also said that the area at Restaurant Row, the street filled with 5-star restaurants became the "Panzer Scrapyard" as many changeling tanks and half-tracks were destroyed by the lurking ponies armed with anti-tank rifles, grenades and anti-tank guns. Many changeling mechanized and armoured columns were ambushed by the Equestrians hiding in every nook and cranny in Restaurant Row. Besides, the ERFC finally arrived at 5 PM and managed to stave off the changeling aerial attacks and gave the much-needed air support for the battered Canterlot Garrison. Although we managed to hold the attacks of the day, we were besieged in the city with the changelings controlling all entrances to the city in front of us and the gigantic seemingly impassable for non-pegasi ponies Mount Canter behind us. It was only a matter of time before the changelings managed to wring every ounce of strength from the garrison. The changeling would try and try to break the Canterlonian defence for more than a month only to face defeat after defeat and sustaining heavy losses and casualties. It was when Queen Chrysalis had finally reached her breaking point and ordered the Changeling Supreme Command to capture Canterlot be it by hook or by crook. From that point on, the changeling had begun to use extreme measures to neutralize the Canterlonian defenders and to reduce their mounting casualties.
The Waning ResistanceAs the Changeling Army had suffered immense casualties at Canterlot. General Pharynx was not happy nor he was impressed, he had filed a request for Queen Chrysalis to allow him to use brutal methods, chemical and biological weapons on the defenders at Canterlot. The queen unsurprisingly agreed. Various chemical weapons such as chlorine and mustard gasses were developed in masses in factories around Soryth. They had also developed a modified version of Anthrax and got their hooves on the Purple Plague, both imported from another dimension and Griffonia respectively. They also began using prisoners-of-war as meat shields to cover their advance and their air raids now included the incessant use of phosphorus bombs and napalm bombs to clear out the city. The ERFC was outmatched with the appearance of the latest changeling aircraft models which were more agile, faster and could carry more bombs to jettison. As time progresses, the ERFC was slowly losing its momentum in dogfights and interception missions. Eventually, the ERFC could no longer keep the skies above Canterlot clear and could no longer give air support to the Equestrians on the ground. The changelings started a new offensive. This time with the use of new methods, tactics and technologies, the Canterlot Garrison began to lose ground and eventually break. The changelings had finally cleared out Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns and Restaurant Row with the help of the ever-increasing use of flamethrowers, chlorine gasses and flame tanks, burning and suffocating everypony that stood in their way. The changelings had also cleared out the Noble Residents, the now-abandoned home of the Canterlot upper-class ponies with relative ease the Noble Residents was also the final defence line before the Royal Palace. Most of the city had fallen under changeling control except for the Royal Palace. It was a matter of time until it happens. ******* I had recovered from my wounds and returned to the front a month after the changelings had adopted the heinous tactics, I had a new gun but it was an old Lilia Rifle that was equipped with a scope. after months of putting bullets in changelings' heads, I was assigned with the other abled ponies that can aim a gun to the rearguard under the command of Princess Luna though she will not personally participate. Princess Celestia and the medic was helping the wounded ponies evacuating Canterlot through the secret passage through Mount Canter that was enlarged in the past week so that manoeuvrability will be easier. The passage leads to the Foal Mountains where it was still under Equestrian control. All of us can see her dispirited demeanour before she turned away and headed for the passage. Some said that she was angry at the changeling atrocities towards her subjects, some said that she was devastated by the sheer destruction that had befallen her capital. Some said that it was both. However, before the princess left, she announced her apology to the garrison for her inaction in the years leading up to the war and promised to take more extreme yet practical measures for Equestria to gain the upper hoof in the war. The rearguard consisted of any abled ponies and the Royal Guards, all of us were spent after months of brutal fighting. We were equipped with old Lilia Rifles and magical prototype rifles as the latest weapons were all used up. Ammunition was getting more and more scarce. Food was no exception either, the rations were getting lesser by the day. It had been 7 months since I have eaten a normal military ration, The ration was only 10% of what it was seven months ago. Many of us doubt that we could hold on for much longer if the changelings attack. Some said we would only last 5 minutes if the changelings attack. Almost the entire rearguard had been in the state of "the glass is half empty" but from that point on the soldiers grew more vengeful. I was not exempted. There were some points that I wanted to end my life there and then but I was only stopped by my comrades. They reminded me of the consequences that would befall my parents had I take my own life. My brother's letter reminded me that I still have a family and I was not willing to let it go just yet. Almost all of my comrades in my platoon had been killed or succumbed to the changeling biological weapons. That was then my hatred towards changelings grew. It generated a renewed vigour inside me and a revelation that I must kill to survive this ordeal. It would be either me or the changeling that would make it out alive of Canterlot. This time I was a sniper taking cover in one of the Palace's keeps, picking off any exposed changeling that was behind their lines. The keep had given me the perfect vantage point, I could see the whole city from the keep. Sometimes I shot a captain or a lieutenant but usually, I only kill low-ranked Jägers and soldiers due to their numbers being so numerous that it was hard to not spot one. But, I left the keep that I had occupied for the past three months to be on the ground to support the rearguard as the keep was no longer safe from changeling air attacks after the princesses cancelled their protection spell from the palace. ******* After the changeling artillery barrage had receded, we waited for the arrival of the final changeling attack. The ground started to tremble. The cacophonous noise of tank engines and whirring propeller of changeling aircraft were getting louder by the second. Everypony knew that this will be the final battle and the changelings fully-equipped, well-fed and confident were not willing to let the ponies retreat just yet. They were in this for the kill. Then rounds after rounds of poisonous gas fell near our position releasing the deadly gas on the defenders. However, this time we had our gas masks but our sight were severely limited to no more than a few meters. Then the changelings emerged as they charged in the gas cloud. Changelings do not suffocate if they breathe poisonous gas which meant that a changeling sight was not limited by the gas mask as they didn't need one. Regardless, we opened fire at every changeling insight. We continued shooting at the changelings until they stopped attacking. That was the first wave. The second wave arrived five minutes after the first wave had concluded, this time they were accompanied by the new King Tiger tanks. The new panzers blasted all the Equestrian tanks without much effort. But armed with the new anti-tank guns we managed to knock out some of the tanks with several lucky shots. However, the attack was still going strong, although the changeling tanks had pulled back the infantry did not. It kept pushing relentlessly. I kept shooting them but they kept coming. It was almost endless. As I continued shooting any changeling I spot, my rifle ran out of ammo. So, I quickly reached for my handgun and continued to offer resistance. I looked to my left and right and saw that more and more ponies had begun using handguns, some had even resorted to using bayonets and hooves as the changelings finally reached our line. Then my handgun also ran out. I grabbed my out-of-ammo rifle and fixed my bayonet and I used it like a spear. I stabbed every changeling that got up the barriers effectively killing most of them. As more changelings scaled the barriers we charged with bayonets and shovels at the changelings who were unprepared for melee combat. Then brutal melee combat ensued. Everypony and ling killed each other without mercy. I snuck behind a changeling who was preparing to stab a knocked down pony. Before he could do it I grabbed his neck and slit throat thus saving the pony from killed. I helped him up and we continued fighting as we slowly retreated. The melee fight got bloodier and deadlier as more ponies and changelings joined in. Most of the changelings did not expect to be charged by the vengeful Equestrians at close range. Therefore, many were killed until the changelings managed to form a line and began firing at the charging Equestrians. Many ponies were shot dead in their attempt to reach the changeling line. It was then Princess Luna came to our rescue and launched rays of blue magic on the changeling attackers and shouted at us in her Royal Canterlot Voice. " My gallant soldiers, you had done your part. Now retreat to the passage! I shall hold them off until all of you had evacuated,". We then rushed to the passage and boarded military trucks that were waiting at the entrance of the tunnel. Then the trucks started moving, going deeper into the mountain. As we were moving deeper into the mountains Princess Luna entered the passage and blew up the entrance with her magic, effectively blocking the entrance for the chasing changelings. The battle had been a catastrophic defeat for Equestria, although the changelings suffered heavy casualties the Equestrians fared worse. One out of ten of the garrison made it out alive. The loss of the Equestrian capital had made some of the defenders sobbed. It was truly a heartbreaking moment to see the once majestic marble dominated structures of Canterlot were reduced to heaps of rubble and littered with dead bodies, ponies and changelings alike along with the destroyed tanks and planes from both sides. The many white buildings were now charred black after the effects of napalm bombing and the increasing flamethrower activities. Some would say that even the backwater city of Griffonstone had more lustre than the current Equestrian capital. Even though I was devastated by the loss of the capital and I felt the growing need of going home, I did not feel returning to my family just yet. I will return home once the changeling menace had been crushed once and for all. The changelings had done crimes that cannot be left unpaid and I will support any policy the princesses would pass to bring the changelings to their knees. Their species do not deserve to live after the atrocities they had committed on the Equestrians. The Purple Plague and the modified Anthrax they brought from Griffonia and the other dimension had killed more than 20% of our garrison in two months. Nearly all of my comrades succumbed to these diseases. If anything this war has taught me, it is that the changelings will use any method they can get their hooves on to squash our ponies. They needed to be defeated.
