Equus: World at War

The days after their return would afford time to recuperate. Having to spread little more than two days of rations over a week and having had poor quality of food even before that for over a month, the officers made sure they were given their fill. The Royal Equestrian army had learned from prior experience, an army fights on its stomach and they couldn't push their soldiers anymore.

As such, they were given a week leave from the front in the closest town of Oak Hollow, the first night affording them time to be merry with large quantities of alcohol being provided, though military law enforcement were stationed about, to prevent 'the stress of war and liberation of drink causing unwanted attitudes to rise', or so it had been put by Colonel Mulberry Merlot, in command of their eastern portion trench line.

As such, despite the high spirits that many would have as they drank, they were under the constant eye of those trying to ensure nothing went too far. They were still in a war after all, and the tides could change in an instant. Then what would they be left with, over a thousand inebriated soldiers who could barely tell friend from foe in the late hour. Though that would have had to be a massive disaster for the enemy to push past their trenches and move all the way to the town some 50 miles away… though it was better not to take any chances.

Star could already see his cousin was one-drink-too-many deep, already laughing and giggling at almost any comment, though it was infectious, making the rest of his company laugh with him even if he never answered their questions in the end. Surprisingly, Star also found Jacob joining in more than he would have thought, only needing two pints to make him somewhat tipsy.

The unicorn glanced down to his own, mostly untouched mug. He wanted to join but... the constant threat of who knew how many people wanting a chance to get at him now put him off drinking all together. He would keep up the act though, taking small drinks from his mug when he thought he'd taken too long, pretending to go up and get refills here and there. He did his best to join in, even if he did feel eyes looking at him amongst the crowded pub.

He looked up, noting the pause in the conversation, finding the table looking at him, "What's up?" the unicorn asked, putting on a grin and looking between them all.

"You're all depressed... you worried orange is still going to get you?" Jinx grinned and missed his mug as he tried to grab it, hands grasping in the air briefly before he'd eventually find the handle a few inches to the right.

Before Star had a chance to reprimand his cousin for being so loud about the matter, one of the other stallions at the table, who they only recently found out was called Pond Runner and a member of a tank division, leant in, "What's this about orange?"

Star kicked Jinx in the leg to keep him quiet, but his cousin would only make it more obvious, "Ow, fuck why'd you kick me!" eventually grinning and turning to the Earth pony regardless, "Orange is pissed with Star because he blames him for Willow dying whatever week or something ago," Jinx finished off his remaining mug of beer.

Growling at the other unicorn being so obvious about it, Star already reared his leg back to kick him again despite the previous attempt having failed to get the message across though he’d stop soon enough as he did a double take, the Earth pony turning sharply to him, "You killed willow!?" The stallion leant in somewhat angrily, eyes blinking as they adjusted.

"What!? No... I... griffins attacked us and he got stabbed by one of... you know all the Griffins that attacked us and...," Star stopped as he tried to think of what to say, though Pond Runner eventually sat back in his chair roughly.

"Oh okay... yeah I mean... not being insensitive or whatever but Willow was an ass, no offence... but I'm... not an actual ass like a donkey, but I mean like an ass...ass. Yeah, you know it…” the Earth pony stumbled over what he was saying before sighing as his head hurt trying to think of what he’d said wrong, knowing he’d made a mistake somewhere.

Jinx looked at him somewhat confused before grinning, "yeah yeah, I know... he was a dick half the time." the unicorn grinned, draining what drops remained in his mug. "Hey Star, it's your turn to go do fill ups."

Jacob stood up "It's fine I'll get the next lot," he'd say, taking Star's mug, seeing it was full practically, but said nothing. The human collected everyone else’s cups, taking them over to the bar where beer was being passed out, a reward for their efforts, before the soldiers even needed to touch their drinking rations of rum or gin. The Bartender had cleaned up the half-bombed establishment and opened up his cellars to them, as a measure of thanks for what they’d all done to free the town and for New Equestria’s promise to aid in rebuilding. On occasion, the military police would quickly move in to remove anyone becoming too rowdy or problematic, sending them off for the night to their regiment’s sleeping arrangements, normally sleeping bags in an abandoned building or in tents on the outskirts of the town for the time being.

Star eventually held his head in his hands, ears moving in the direction of various conversations, though he paid little attention to what was being said. Soon enough he felt like his head was spinning, opening his eyes quickly and sitting back, taking several deep breaths as the alcohol was starting to get to him, even though he’d been pacing himself through the night.

Jinx continued on; the conversation having deviated, "oh... had too much to drink already Star? But we haven't even started on the rum or urr...," Jinx pointed to Pond Runner with a raised brow.

"Tank crews get gin. None of that… tar you army lot get," Pond answered with a laugh.

"Hey, real stallions can handle big boy drinks! That's why we... we..., " Jinx waved his hand as he thought of something to retort with, licking his lips as something came to mind, "We are brave enough to go over without being in shitty metal boxes like you guys."

Pond turned to him, "They are the only thing advancing us. The skill you need to control the 40mm gun and precision for it all is way more than just shooting one of your crappy bolt actions," Pond Runner countered with a grin.

"Excuse me, but we don't even get those, we get the fucking twenty fucky year old breech rifles," the large unicorn replied in turn “Ain’t that right Star,” Jinx patted his cousin’s arm hard.

Looking up, Star glanced between them, “Hmm? Oh yeah, the breech loading rifles are all we have at the moment. Though I guess we are new so we might get some eventually.” the unicorn would say, looking back to Jacob as he returned, the human handing back Star’s mug, having been half emptied to help the stallion along. Star would look up and give an appreciative nod to the man who gave smile in return.

"Everyone quiet down, it's the Royal speech," a senior officer called out from the bar, looking about before calling at one group still talking, "Private Flannigan and Salt Marsh, you better not be talking or..." he'd stop mid-sentence, satisfied by the almost immediate silence from the end of the room, giving a final once over of everyone before turning the volume up on the radio resting on the bar, the pub’s TV which normally would have been in the top corner of the room having been destroyed.

"... find that we give out our hearts to soldiers down in the south after that travesty, and again extend our invitation to any refugees of the cities to come to Canterlot where we can provide housing and shelter for your families. Now we go on to the Royal speech from both our Queens in the Royal Palace." the speaker went quiet and after several seconds of static, which soon faded away, a voice came through.

"Hello creatures of New Equestria," the voice began. It was one that spoke in tones and inflections of the old Ponish, bearing with it a sense of power and control with every word and an almost parent like aspect at times, "I would like to begin by thanking each and every one of you, from the armed forces fighting on the fronts, through to citizens of our noble country and especially those at the tragedy of West Albarna this last week. Our world as it is now, is suffering untold strife. Dark times pervade and the only way we may push through this horrific time is through our unified effort, which is seen in every aspect of life. Unity between all creatures from the battlefield between soldiers and comrades, to workers and colleagues in businesses and even the children in our schools as they make friends and learn. It is through this solidarity that we shall push past this war and into a brighter future of prosperity and equality.” the queen paused briefly.

“I'd like to note that though they are the enemy in the field of war, at their heart they are our kin, our country ponies and people. It is important we remember that this war is not about differences or where we originate from, but on our very beliefs and ideology. For these armies, of potentially familiar faces, strike at our way of life, all that is good and just, fair and right, they wish to tear down and replace all of it with their own warped doctrines. Some for greed, their lust for power or simply because they believe what they do is the correct way. I would ask you not forget what we hear from refugees daily... of the violence, murder and other heinous acts that occur within the enemies’ dominion, where theft, narcotic usage and assaults have grown uncontrollably, where crime is rampant and lives of all stallions and mares, males and females, as well as children, are destroyed irreparably, some who do not originate on this world suffering more so due to who they are. I speak of these things to remind you all of what we represent and of what we stand for. That is the reason we fight. For the good of all creatures.”

“Though this may be our countries darkest hour, we shall prevail and what we shall enter will truly be a new age, where equal rights, safety in the law and quality of life will accumulate into a golden age. Remember, for all your hardship we fight for a better future. Never let your heart falter or your resolve fail my citizens. Stand strong and stand firm, for braving this adversity will mean a better future, for our families, our friends and our children." there was a moment of silence before she continued, "I shall now pass you on to Queen Chrysalis for her final words during the Lunar Celebration tonight."

There was the sound of movement before a voice spoke, echoing, even over the radio, with a husky and haughty tone to it, "New Equestria... I speak to you now. I believe there is little more to say that Queen Nightmare Moon has not already spoken of. Yes, these are perilous times for any creature, but victory holds in it a future for all of us, one that is far greater than any that could be offered by those we fight, be they enemies on the frontlines around our country or in the streets of our home. I believe that I may put myself forward as an example of what had happened and may happen once more. I am a changeling... I am no pony... prior to thirty-five years ago my people were outsiders because of one creature’s decision. We were treated as monsters, beasts and worse. My kind were persecuted and hunted till we had little where else to go, starving in the outlands.”

“I believe you will also recall the loss of the fourth pony tribe, the Thestrals. Like my kind, they too were targeted and attacked because of their differences. They too were chased into the hidden places of Equestria and dare not leave lest face death. This was allowed to happen because one creature did not fight for their rights lest face ridicule from her subjects. To avoid conflict, they willingly gave permission for countries to claim vast swathes of Equestria’s land... they paid tithes of millions to these countries and in doing so near led to this country becoming destitute, its people having to face increasing taxes and cutbacks on funding for various economic sectors. I believe any old enough to remember will recall a time of stagnancy, no? When the stories of the wealthy, the technologically advanced and powerful were perpetually from outside Equestria's borders. New Equestria isn't just a way to lay some level of control and claim over the country, as the enemy may criticise, it represents what we are... we are a New Equestria, we are in a new age and a new way of life. Every day, hundreds of creatures come to our world, bringing with them new ideas and new cultures, all giving us a greater understanding of each other and people from different worlds. With them our world has become just so much bigger, and I am proud to be this country’s Matron of the Otherworlders and represent their wonderful differences and talents they bring to our land. As spoken, never faulter and never succumb... We fight this war for all of us." she'd finish before she took a breath, "Thank you... and let the celebration commence,"

From outside the moon would be held high in the sky and almost seem to grow bigger and brighter, staying as such for the rest of the night, bathing the world in a bright, silvery night, the cool night air seeming to gain a spark of energy to it as the soldiers performed their religious sermons dutifully before erupting into cheerful song and drank deeply, celebrating the holiday. Merriment continued late into the night as the full moon remained bright for all to see and enjoy the celebrations.

Far away in the cities the streets were alight with markets, festivals, restaurants, bars and theatres, which remained open much later than normal as singing and dancing spilled outside on occasion. Creatures not native to Equestria held their own forms of celebration, many attracting the attention of ponies who would join in with them, giving their prayers, minutes of silence or performing contests of mind and body. For a time, many would forget the war and the last three years, just enjoying themselves, this luxury only afforded, however by the soldiers who still fought at the very fronts, holding back the enemy hordes tirelessly so others may find some level of peace.

********

Three days passed by faster than any would have liked and soon enough the soldiers were redeployed to the frontlines, replacing several battalions located further West. Now located comparatively closer to one of the city’s main gates, the soldiers of the 95th regiment would mostly fall into the routine they had before, though would adjust quickly to the far more intense fighting that was taking place along this trench line with far more artillery and soldiers populating the enemy lines. Bombardments were far more frequent than what they had grown used to and the sheer volume of bullets being fired towards them made it almost impossible for the soldiers to ever put their heads above the parapets and fire back at times as they not only had rifles but machine guns amongst their numbers it seemed, in emplacements along their lines.

The fighting persisted continued for days, soon enough becoming two weeks as, neither side advanced far from their lines which seemed almost indefinitely set in the mud and earth of the battlefield.

Jacob held his head in his hands, hunched over in his seat, eyes down at his dirty boots which sunk into the mud that had built up on the hard flooring. The human soon breathed out heavily, knee constantly bouncing and making his body shake. His ears were ringing from the shelling that they had just received, even though he had covered his ears for the majority of it.

A hand suddenly touched his back, making Jacob sit upright sharply, though he relaxed as he made out their face, "Oh hey Jinx."

Sitting down next to the human, Jinx looked into his eyes deeply before wrapping an arm about Jacob's shoulders, "You alright?... Is it getting too much?" the stallion soon summarised.

"Yeah, it's just non-stop, round here isn’t it," Jacob sat back, glancing about, noting no one else was with the unicorn, "Where's Star?"

"He's fine. Smoking and having a talk with that shark. Whatever his name was." Jinx motioned off to the side where his cousin had gone, "Went off that way I think" he’d say before eventually grumbling at the thought, shifting in his seat, "I don't... trust him yet"

Jacob nodded, "At least he's not alone. I think we should give him a chance though. If it weren't for him-"

"I know, he did help us," Jinx interrupted, "He's just... I don't know. Something just smells, heh, fishy," the stallion gave a small grin at the joke, nudging the human for a response

"Haha yes, fishy," Jacob gave a half smile, rolling his eyes.

"Cause he’s a shark!" Jinx pressed for me.

"Yes, I get it, he's a shark and something smells fishy," the man replied, shaking his head with a bemused smile.

Jinx crossed his arms, sitting back "Just thought of that as I was saying it... Damn I should be a comedian after all this,"

"Yeah, well I mean, if you do end up in comedy you've got to make sure you don't offend anyone with your jokes," Jacob would point out.

Jinx turned to him, "Come on I'm just saying fishy. It’s like when you said don't look a gift horse in the mouth, I didn't go weird or anything,"

"Yeah well... Just make sure you check your audience before you start. I'm guessing something like 'two birds with one stone' really wouldn't go down well with a crowd of c-" Jacob stopped immediately, the pair jolting in their seats as a shell suddenly landed twenty metres to their right, the explosion sending debris into the air as it tore through their trenches.

After a moment of shock, they both took cover, lying down on the duck planks as another shell landed closer, feeling the mix of concrete, wood and soil landing on their backs as they could do nothing but hide and pray. Another shell, only metres to their left would explode, the turn of the trench only just protecting them from receiving the full force of the blast, having been on the other side of the fortified trench wall.

They remained low for several minutes, holding onto each other for dear life as the bombardment on their position went on, decimating their trench line. All the while they could hear the screams of soldiers from around their area, both in pain and those of officers trying to gain some order amongst the REAF soldiers.

As suddenly as the attack on their position had begun, there was silence. Jinx would lift his head first, looking about them, "... What's going on, why did they stop?" the stallion called to the human, gritting his teeth as he could see the nearby dugout had collapsed, a bloody leg hanging out of the earth, as well as one of the trenches wall, completely decimated and gaping, revealing the dark, almost black earth that had been behind it, now piled along their bay.

Jinx pulled the human up onto their feet "Come on we need to get moving, they're... STAR!" the unicorn suddenly realised, turning around, "STAR! WHERE ARE YOU STAR!" the stallion pulled Jacob's arm briefly to get him moving, climbing on the mound blocking the trench before rushing down the line to where his cousin had been.

The human clambered over the line, glancing to the person who was buried in the dugout behind him, knowing they could not have survived before moving on. He soon began looking about as well, pointing to an arm just barely hanging out of a mound of soil, "Jinx! That's not... " the human dared not continue, shaking his head as he pressed himself to a wall.

Already Jinx was rushing to the body, digging with his hands, "Star come on don't be fucking dead, don't be fucking dead!" the unicorn pulled hard on the arm, dragging out the body of a green maned, yellow furred stallion.

For a brief moment the stallion felt relief before realising how horrifying that thought was, immediately letting go of the soldier who was missing his shoulder and half his face, crawling back from them quickly.

Jacob looked over his friend to see the corpse, the left side of their body practically missing. The sight was enough to make the human's stomach turn, immediately turning away and taking a deep breath as he held himself together just barely as the image of the dead stallion’s inner body stayed with him.

After several seconds of staring at the body, Jinx finally pulled his eyes away from the gruesome sight, "S-Star, STAR!" once more the stallion pulled himself up, walking over the body as he looked for any other limbs, glancing back to see Jacob following.

The man kept his head turned away from the corpse, calling out for Star as well, as he kept pace with Jinx, beginning to see unharmed soldiers pulling themselves out of their hiding places, searching for their own companions.

Eventually they heard a voice, "Over here! Jinx, Jacob over here! Help guys!" Star's panicked voice called out from further down the line.

As the human and unicorn rushed down, keeping their heads low, they would come across Star knelt next to the shark, Habben. The unicorn was desperately tying a belt around the shark’s thigh where everything below the knee was missing, leaving only a bleeding, open stump.

The unicorn looked up, arms and chest covered in their blood, trying to speak but no words came from his mouth as he soon gritted his teeth and looked back down to the unconscious shark, the side of their coat peppered with blood stains from shrapnel and debris, not knowing how else to help him.

"Shit!" Jinx rushed to his cousin's side, looking at the wounded shark, holding his hands up but knowing how to help, "Urr fuck, what do we do when this happens again," he went to unbutton the shark’s overcoat to see how bad his other injuries were, but stopped suddenly, looking up along with the others as a sharp, loud whistle filled the air.

It was soon followed by calls for everyone to "Get back to the front they're storming over! BACK TO THE FRONT!!" as officers continued trying to regain control of their soldiers before the coming charge of Van Hoover forces arrived.

Jacob pushed his way between the stallions, "I'll deal with him, both of you just do what you need to!" the human rolled up his sleeves as best he could before pulling out his medical kit from a side pouch, tightening the tourniquet belt as he focused solely on trying to keep the shark alive, despite the sickness in his stomach at the blood that soon covered him, not knowing fully what to do but what his mind desperately tried to remember from his first aid course.

For a brief moment the two stallions would stare at the human as he worked before pulling themselves up, moving to what positions weren't destroyed and cautiously looking over the cratered land between them and the enemy trenches.

Soon enough, they would see figures running across the scarred space, ducking and diving between cover as they advanced, slipping down into the deep holes in the ground or occasionally behind ruined tanks.

Jinx would fire almost immediately, aiming at any figures that were growing too close, pulling back down behind the parapet to reload before moving to fire once more. "Come on Star!" Jinx called out after seeing his cousin staring out, almost frozen for a moment at the sheer number of soldiers rushing towards them.

Star turned to look at the other unicorn, gulping and covered in blood, hands clenching and unclenching. His eyes were wide and dazed from lingering shock, though eventually he pulled himself to the present, aiming at the figures and beginning to fire as well, gritting his teeth with every shot as his fingers fumbled to pull the rounds from his ammo pouch at times as his mind kept thinking back to Habben, the stallion looking back occasionally which only made it worse.

Despite their efforts, and those of the fellow REAF soldiers that would arrive to reinforce their position, the advancing Van Hoover soldiers, like a swarm of ants rushing from their nests, drew closer and soon enough began returning fire as they saw their enemy within their bunkers, throwing up large clods of dirt and sand.

It seemed like they would be overrun, Star attaching his bayonet already in preparation after ducking into cover once more, glancing back and feeling relief as he'd see more reinforcements filtering in next to them with junior officers directing them to their posts and medics already beside Jacob. The creatures would push the human away from the Shark, Jacob having managed to bandage up their stump as best he could, though the white linen was completely soaked through with blood and dripping.

One medic would check the shark's pulse before immediately beginning CPR, pressing down forcible on Habben’s chest with their hands interlocked, the other calling out for a stretcher to be brought immediately as he pulled a spray can out of his bag, pulling the bandages back and began spraying it on the wound to coagulate the blood.

Jacob was given little chance to make a decision by himself before a stallion, chest and helmet adorned with a red cross, grabbed the human's shoulders, "Are you a medic?" they shouted over the din of battle.

Taking a second to understand the question, the human quickly shook his head, "N-no!" he would answer, wiping his hands over his uniform, wiping rougher as the stain wouldn’t come off them.

"Then get up there and shoot!" the soldier would say, grabbing a rifle off the ground and pushing into Jacob's hands before forcing them to the firing steps to join the combat, returning immediately to the shark’s side as he pulled them onto a stretcher and began carrying them away with a fellow medic, squeezing past the soldiers as he moved towards the rear lines.

Jacob found himself pressed beside a stallion, eventually seeing it was Star as they pulled back down from firing to reload once more, seeing the shock still on their face and how they were fighting to stay focused, shaking his head to gather himself.

"Star! Star! What's it like?" the man motioned his head up towards the parapet as he struggled to attach and lock his bayonet on the end of his rifle, seeing that several others had already done so, flicking off the safety for his weapon as he was hesitant to take his first shot and expose himself to the retaliatory fire raining down on them from the enemy.

"There's thousands of them over there I mean… they just keep coming!" the unicorn shouted back to Jacob, standing back up to fire once more, knowing that every second spent not firing meant that a Van Hoover soldier was just that more likely to break through into their ranks.

The human breathed in deeply, pulling himself up finally to gaze out across the battlefield at the swarms of stallions that were less than a hundred or so feet away, close enough that he could almost make out their faces in the dawn. Bodies were strewn about which they climbed over, moving as an endless horde, some firing their sub machine guns, others bolt actions and others still running with their bayonet tipped muskets, shots already spent as clunking and heavy suits of power armour struggled to keep pace with their fellow soldiers. Jacob fired at one, not even waiting to see if the bullet made contact, immediately loading a new round and hiding behind the sandbags.

Star ducked briefly as a bullet hit just shy of where he was, seeing a shape falling at his side and realising a fellow soldier had been shot in the throat, lying on their back on the floor of the trench. He stood swiftly fired at one stallion who sprung up from a crater in ground, watching them fall backwards into the pit once more, rifle flung from weak grasp. Pressing on, the unicorn would manage to take down three more before reaching his hand into the leather ammo box on his right side, fingers running across the rough bottom of the container, searching the corners for any rounds but finding none. Swearing loudly, he knelt down further behind the cover, setting the rifle aside and scrambled to pull his other ammo box around on his belt, tugging hard till slid around to the front of his hip.

He chambered another round roughly, coming up to see stallions and gryphons running headlong at their position, barely twelve metres away and covering the short space in seconds. Their bayonets were pointed at the heads of the REAF soldiers that they saw over the parapet line, others waving clubs, axes and knives as they began jumping into their trenches with abandon, almost recklessly as they ran headlong onto the points of bayonets pushed out to meet their charge.

Firing a round up into the chest of one soldier, only metres away, Star stepped back and suddenly tripped, falling backwards off the firestep to land atop a pony who had part of their face missing, lying dead and sprawled out on the ground. Immediately the stallion scrambled up to his hooves, aiming his rifle up to the parapet that was being swarmed as his fellow soldiers stepped down into the trench, unable to hold the elevated position against the enemy.

Star didn't know where his friends were, only seeing a mass of bodies and weapons shifting as the two forces clashed, gunfire sounding amidst the waring soldiers as knives stabbed through trench coats, axes were buried into soldiers’ necks and arms while others were pierced horrifically by long bladed bayonets that punched through stomachs and chests. Star would be shoved to the side as soldiers scrambled to get into position to fight back and reinforce their wavering line, colliding hard with their enemy and leaping upon them in an unorganised melee.

Shouting out in anger and panic, Star would thrust his weapon up, into one stallion trying to shoot at them with his submachine gun before they could get more than three shots off, his bayonet easily puncturing their grey uniform and burying into their chest, tearing through muscles and puncturing their lung in an instant. Twisting and tearing out the blade, Star immediately stabbed up once more, piercing further up their torso, slicing across their collar bone and neck, watching the enemy drop down in pain, before a bullet from a REAF soldier finished them off for good.

The unicorn stared, eyes wild and teeth gritted for a split second before snapping his attention up to see a griffin in plate armour, descend upon them. The armoured griffin raised their axe above their head, burying it into a Royal soldier's neck who turned to face them, almost decapitating them in that first blow. They raised their axe up once more, practically ignoring the clubs that crashed against their tempered steel armour and the knives that were thrust aimlessly to glance across their breastplate. The griffin grasped high on the haft of his weapon, cutting into the jaw of another stallion sharply before turning their avian eyes upon Star and immediately swung for him, missing by inches as the unicorn fell backwards through the mass of bodies till he hit the back wall of the trench.

The griffin brought his axe down on the exposed head of a soldier that was in his path as they tried to stand, shoving his way towards Star, intent on killing the unicorn in particular now that he had set his eyes upon him, a particular glee in his eyes at the slaughter about him. It would be his downfall however, as an officer grabbed onto the back of the distracted griffin, pressing their revolver to the side of their helmet and fired. In an instant the griffin went limp, blood and bone spewing out from the other side of their head as they fell limply to the ground in a crumpled heap.

Star didn't know why but that shot to the griffin seemed to ring out louder than the rest, immediately gasping for breath as he looked at the dead griffin, heart pounding in his chest for a moment as a pair of hands moved into the unicorn’s field of view, forcing him to look up, "KEEP FIGHTING! KEEP FIGHTING!!" the officer screamed into unicorn's ear over the gunfire, shoving the shaking stallion forwards, narrowly dodging a stallion letting loose with his sub machine gun, riddling several soldiers with small caliber rounds before being shot at himself and slumping down into the trench along with the others.

Star eventually felt that wave of shock and panic give way to a deeper anger. He let it well up and used that to drive him forwards as his hands still shook with adrenaline, instantly driving his bayonet into the neck of one griffin that was tackled to the ground, forcing it in till the barrel of his rifle pressed just under their chin, struggling to wrench it free for a moment.

Stepping over the corpse, Star set upon an earth pony beating one of the fellow soldiers of his battalion with a club, letting go of his rifle and pulling his trench knife free of its sheath. The unicorn grabbed hold of the earth pony, pulling them back by their mane and buried his knife into their neck repeatedly. Star wouldn't let go as the pony struggled to protect himself, stabbing down into them more till they didn’t resist any more before finally shoving them over, looking down to find Jacob had been the one being beaten, their arm raised to protect themselves and shaking as they looked up to Star in relief at being saved, blood leaking from a gash across his temple.

The stallion immediately reached a hand down to help his friend up to his feet so that they could both continue the fight, eyes looking about for his next target, struggling to find an enemy that wasn’t disappearing into the throng of waving weapons of limbs as they leapt upon soldiers, or ones that weren’t being slaughtered themselves...