Canterlot. Equestria. August 1013, 17:00
Everything was depressing in the capital of Equestria. The streets were patrolled by the Royal Guard, who had exchanged their gilded magic armor for green uniforms with "plate" helmets, which could be distinguished from ordinary soldiers only by special badges showing that they were guards. The city itself was slowly preparing for defense, and the residents, along with refugees from other areas of Equestria, were packing their things and preparing to retreat further and further east, to Baltimare, Manehattan or other cities that remained in the deep rear.
In the distance, the cannonade was barely audible, and more and more columns of soldiers and equipment were heading west. Completely green recruits, with different cutie marks, who had exchanged their hobbies for a rifle and military clothing. The young population of Equestria fought and died for the Princesses. The neutrality and radical pacifism of the Equestrians turned against them when the air wings and tank fists of the Changelings entered the country's territory, crushing the barriers, surrounding those who were in the fortifications on the border and destroying them after the fact, left without reinforcements, ammunition and very scared, not accustomed to war. After 2 years of war, from 1011 to 1013, the Changelings are already almost under Canterlot.
Princess Celestia turned the palace into the headquarters of the supreme command, while Luna leads the troops on the frontlines, but, unfortunately, even Luna herself noticed that they began to prepare for war too late, and it would turn out that everything was over.
Celestia herself, in her artifact armor, stood and looked at the map. Canterlot is defended by only a dozen "half-dead" "divisions" of infantry and 2 tank divisions, while the changelings have 2-3 times more regiments, divisions, and other things. The situation was becoming critical. Among the command, there were even proposals to raise a shield over the city, like during the first attack on Canterlot Wedding. Only... it would turn out that the shield would be useless under the power of artillery and tanks, when it was simply broken through by one huge onslaught of the changelings themselves, who had covered the shield from all sides.
In the headquarters itself, there was a bustle, pony messengers were walking, telegraph operators were receiving something, printing and receiving it again, the few unicorns were writing reports and orders with the help of their magic.
Suddenly, Shining Armor entered the headquarters at a fast trot, by the will of fate, he found himself again in Equestria together with Cadenza and their crystal guard.
— Princess Celestia, I think we should not waste time and evacuate. The defensive lines around Canterlot will not be able to hold out for long.
Celestia turned her tired gaze to him. The princess of the day had long since stopped counting days and weeks (except for that ill-fated day of the changeling invasion), had managed to lose some weight, and she also had to remember their old spells together with Luna in order to activate their artifact armor sets, which had been waiting for their time for 1000 years.
— Shining, I understand perfectly well that the changelings will soon be at the walls of Canterlot, but I can’t just up and abandon the city. As long as I’m here, the Equestrians have at least some hope of holding out. If rumors of my “retreat” spread, then all the fronts will crumble. Maybe the Canterlot defensive front under my sister’s command will hold out, but it will only be a reprieve. Chrysalis' tank divisions will encircle and destroy the Luna forces one way or another, and then their guns will start firing at the city. We can raise the shield, like last time, but we have absolutely no idea how it will work against modern weapons. So retreating is out of the question. These are my ponies, and I swore to protect them. If we start leaving the city, it will only be with the others.
— I... understand, Princess. I'm sorry we couldn't hold the front. We barely retreated from the bombed Crystal City, covering ourselves with warm domes and managing to evacuate the Crystal Heart... At least those bug bastards won't be able to settle in the city... — The former head of the guard sighed. Despite the bitter cold and the resilience of the crystal ponies, who remembered the suffering under Sombra and did not want to surrender and submit to the changelings, they still rolled back. Every now and then on the borders of the Severyana squads and regiments of crystal ponies appeared, going to Equestria. Only a miracle helped them, since there were no traces of infiltrators (which had diminished due to the general course of the war in favor of the bugs) among the retreating ones.
Suddenly, Twilight ran into the headquarters. She was Celestia's assistant, thanks to her knowledge of technology, as well as the fact that she was a unicorn, she was put in charge of the signalmen and telegraphers.
— Princess! Princess Celestia! - she ran almost point-blank to her mentor, and slightly nodding to Shining, out of breath, she reported. — An urgent... urgent telegram has arrived... from Aris!
— A telegram from Aris? - Celestia was surprised, along with Shining Armor.
All that was known about the hippogriffs was that they were attacked in March 1012. There was talk about the desert people of Zarantia, the Colthhagen "republic" of zebras, and.....even about thestrals and the ponies of Chiropterra, soldiers of the Nightmare Moon legions, who, after the loss of their leade, hastily evacuated to Zebrica. Already in May 1012, the victory of the hippogriffs was announced, who stood firm and were able to defeat their traitorous neighbors.
— Here! — Twilight magically hands over a piece of paper with a message on it. Celestia unfolds it and looks at it. The message was short.
— The people of Hippogriffia will not abandon Equestria in trouble. We will answer the call of harmony. We will turn the tide of war and defeat the changelings. — And there were 2 signatures - "Queen Skystar, ruler of the North Zebrican Federation", and "Queen-Mother Novo".
— Hmm ... I think we can send a message to Luna, I hope she can hold off the front while the hippogriffs are sailing to us. - Celestia nodded to herself, and began to dictate a message to Twilight.
Several months later. November 1013. Morning.
The ponies of Manehattan woke up as usual and went to work. Some to military factories, some to ports, and some to the few leisure facilities. Suddenly, long beeps were heard from the sea. The dockers, throwing down their tools and boxes, began to peer at the horizon. The military police and garrison soldiers also began to run to the port to watch. There was a stir among the pony. What if these were changelings? But why were their ships beeping as if in greeting? What was going on?!
The military pegasus took off and began to look through his binoculars. He saw the hippogriff flags on the ships. There were a lot of ships, all of them moving to the port of Mainhattan. A coast guard reconnaissance plane flew higher than the pegasus. It flew over the transports and... was escorted by a pair of fighters. Where did the fighters come from? Then the pilot of the plane saw... a huge CSG, consisting of 4 aircraft carriers, several battleships and many escort ships.
— "Manehattan", this is "Pegasus-1". I see the Hippogriff fleet, as well as a bunch of troop transports! — the pilot reported.
— Received, "Pegasus". RTB. Hippogriffia has entered the war. — they answered him. The pilot obediently took the plane to the city.
After the message that the hippogriffs had arrived, the sailors and dockers immediately began to clear the port of all unnecessary things in order to make room for the troop transports. Soon, they, having crammed absolutely everywhere, there were so many transports, they began to unload.
Hippogriff soldiers, both veterans and youngsters, in brand new uniforms and with M2 Carbine combat rifles, Thundersplash submachine guns, and many other weapons, including machine guns, mortars, and AT guns, were leaving the other transports. Light tanks M3 Stuarts were leaving, having "veteran marks” on them - stars or other signs showing the number of enemies destroyed. They all unloaded, got into trucks or formed the columns, and went to the front. The ponies saw them off with joy and reverence.
In just a few weeks of November, they found themselves at Canterlot, presenting a VERY unpleasant surprise for the changelings. The residents of the capital (who remained in small numbers, since almost everyone had evacuated), soldiers and officers watched with all their eyes as the marching and tank columns of the "Middle Sea Treaty", mainly consisting of hippogriffs, and a few Colthagen marines (heading along with their hippogriff comrades to the Las Pegasus area, to prepare and begin the landing in Olenia occupied by the changelings). Fighters and attack aircraft flew in orderly wedges in the sky, a small part of which was brought by the hippogriffs. As soon as they get settled here, they will start using larger and larger calibers, including strategic bombers.
Along with the MST troops, the hippogrifian Field Marshal arrived with his guard of the Royal Guards-Legionnaires of Hippogriffia. The Equestrian officers saluted.
— As I see, you have huge problems with the bugs here, Princess Celestia, — the Field Marshal states. She nods.
— I am Stratus Skyranger. As Field Marshal of hippogrifian armed forces, i declare that we will drive these damned changelings from the approaches to Bales to their damned Vesalopolis. Where can we set up headquarters here?
In short time, Hippogriffs set up headquarters right next to the Equestrian one, and officers began to arrive there. A global offensive was approaching that would break the back of the changelings and their “allies” in the Canterlot front.
To be continued?!
Author's Note
Translate would be a little messed up, but generally it must be normal for looking. As it was said in description - the entire fic was made because of my HOI4 situation.
UPD: I think there’s could be the continuation of this thing, if i ever want to do it, xD
