June 24th, 1422 E.F
I...I don’t know how to write what has just happened. I don’t even know why I am writing this here and now. All of it happened so fast and soon...
Maybe because it's all I can think of doing after going through what I can only describe as a tragic nightmare made manifest. One moment I was sleeping in my bed at the hospital. The next, I found myself thrown to the floor by the force of an explosion. The glass on my windows shattered as I heard screaming and panic.
The first thing I wondered is if I’m back on the battlefield, but then I see doctors and nurses trying to get patients out or checking upon them. More explosions can be heard both far and near. The feeling of their impact is close to the point where the very ground starts to shake.
Having been through so many bombing raids in the past, I knew already how we were being attacked, but I needed to know just how screwed we were. To my horror, it wasn’t only the hospital. The entire town of Ponyville was being bombed by the humans.
I rushed outside to see how many bombers there were, but the sky was too dark to see. Plus, the smoke was too thick from the fires spreading across the entire town and beyond its borders. The Sweet Apple Acres farm was like a sea of embers and destruction as its once prideful apple trees lit up like candles. From a distance, I could see Princess Twilight’s castle crumble into shattered crystals as I prayed the princess made it out alive. Even the rivers nearby looked to be sparked and burning like the fires of Tartarus. All of this happened while the sounds of Ponyville's citizens, panicking in terror, could be heard in all directions.
At first, I thought about flying up to better look at the enemy and their numbers. Then I remembered I didn’t have wings anymore and felt utterly useless. Looking back on it now, such an action would have been suicide to do so even if I did have my wings. Besides, what countermeasures did we have to deal with a bombing raid? Ponyville wasn't even thought to be a prime target for an attack!
Princess Twilight’s voice soon echoed across the entire landscape with what had to be a spell. She ordered everypony to evacuate the town and make for the train station to retreat to Canterlot.
My first thought wasn’t to run for evacuation but to instead help out those at the hospital. There were so many ponies injured and sick who were unable to leave on their own. How could I leave them behind when I was better off than most of them despite my loss of wings? I don’t remember who I helped or how many, but I just did it without thinking. I listened to whatever the doctors told me to do while praying a bomb didn’t blow up the hospital while we were all inside of it.
It soon became clear that we couldn’t save all the patients. There just weren’t enough helpers, and some of the staff members had already run off in fear. Bastards. They had a duty to their patients and their fellow workers, but they left them to die out of concern for their own lives.
Thankfully, I didn't have the challenging responsibility of choosing who was to be saved and who had to be left behind. I pity those who had to do so. I can’t help but wonder the feelings of those we left behind and what they thought in their final moments. Feeling betrayed and left to die like that? Such a thing should be unthinkable to an Equestria's citizen, but everything has changed because of the war, huh?
Leaving the hospital proved to be just as dangerous. All of Ponyville was in flames. Even now, off in the distance while riding the train, I can see the fires still burning. All those ponies...burning in their homes...their guts spilled out into the streets. Nopony was safe from the bombs that fell from above. It just happened so fast.
Why did the humans target Ponyville? It holds no strategic value in a militaristic sense. Was this a means to break our spirit and attack us culturally? It was the home of our great heroes and the iconic location for many recent events. It was a town looked upon with pride for embracing the lessons of friendship that was part of our nation’s heritage and ways.
Or maybe humans are just sick and twisted flankholes.
It’s a miracle the train was able to escape, but that’s thanks to Princess Twilight Sparkle. Her shielding spell protected so many, but not all of us. So many are just dead or had to be left behind to save what could be saved. I can hear families crying for their loved ones just outside my passenger room, including foals trying to find their moms and dads.
I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I just hope that there is a plan.
-Corporal Halberd Wings, 139th Arial Spear Regiment, 2nd Platoon
***
June 25th, 1422 E.F
It’s been a full 24 hours since the bombing, and I haven’t been able to sleep. I don’t think I’ll ever sleep again after what happened last night. After arriving in Canterlot, we were all put in a refugee section. It was already filled to the brim of ponies from all over Equestria. Some of them were giving us glaring or fearful eyes. I've never seen so many cold and despairing eyes before.
Not long after I arrived, they picked all soldiers from the train, including myself, to be given new orders save for those too critically wounded. I was quickly told that I’ll report to a new captain and her unit consisting of Canterlot soldiers and new recruits starting tomorrow.
I was so confused by this because, as far as I knew back then, my commanding officers were still alive along with the rest of my division. While I had been sent to Ponyville to recover, they were all sent to fight the invading forces near Dodge City. Only there isn’t a Dodge City anymore. There was a bombing there as well, except the humans in that raid killed everyone. My entire division was gone.
If I'm being honest, I barely knew anyone else there that was alive save for a few faces. Thundershot was the only friend I had left, and with him already dead...
Buck. Am I cursed to lose everypony I know in my life?
I later learned that the bombing runs were everywhere in Equestria. A massive attack from the air has crippled the war effort and ruined cities beyond even the most basic repairs. Even here in Canterlot, I notice that entire sections are destroyed or closed off. Apparently, they were hit with some kind of strange chemical attack that I later learned was called White Phosphorus. It burned the skins off its victims while others choked to death as the fumes burned inside their lungs. Rumors are going around that Princess Twilight’s parents were also killed this way. Still, then again, there are dozens of stories going around.
Rumors of entire armies being wiped out or surrendering. Cities from across the nation are submitting or being captured by human troops. Most of the generals and higher staff are either dead, captured, or have committed suicide. There are even rumors that the Elements of Laughter and Generosity, Pinkie Pie and Rarity, are dead.
That last one I...I sadly found out to be true just moments before writing this. Somepony, who was there, told me that they saw Sugarcube Corner blew up with everyone inside. Another pony told me they saw the bodies of Rarity and Sweetie Belle while running away. Two of our greatest heroes are gone. One is a traitor, and only three remaining.
Sweetie Belle. I only talked to her once, but she was a good pony, and I can’t help but weep for her. I hope she and Scootaloo are together again if there is an afterlife after death. It honestly feels like I don’t know anything anymore. Like...are we even going to survive this?
The only city that seem to still be left standing are Canterlot, but how soon until they come? How many of us are already dead or enslaved to humanity? What hope is there left with so much loss?
The Equestrian army is all but destroyed save for what remains in Canterlot. The only remaining force still active in fighting outside of Canterlot with a sizable army is Lt. Colonel Blazehoof, who is fighting his way towards Canterlot from the north. All others are too small to make an impact.
This means...Canterlot is on her own.
I remember reading about these events in history when the Equestrian Army fought against the predator invaders in its past wars. How the last of our enemies refused to surrender. They fought to the last with their backs against the wall in a desperate attempt to survive.
The last stand.
And now it was our turn.
I swore that I would fight to the end and not live in a world where humans rule us. I guess it's time to test that resolve, huh?
-Halberd Wings
***
June 26th, 1422 E.F
Some refugees from Clousdale have arrived. They couldn't stand the surrender of Cloudsdale so they all left for here.
I still can't believe that my home city has given up to the monkeys.
The home of so many great heroes and achievers in our history, including the military. The prideful home city of the Wonderbolts and its legacy. All of it is dead to me. To surrender without a fight. To give up without a single shot. It’s a disgrace to every pegasus hero we ever had, from Commander Hurricane to Rainbow Dash.
All that’s left standing is Canterlot, who shall make its final stand in the coming days. Everypony who can wield a weapon is being recruited save for foals. There isn’t any training or proper lessons on how to fight. They just get a weapon, armor if they’re lucky, and are told to prepare themselves to die for the sake of Equestria.
Equestria.
A utopia that once had the cleanest weather, safest homes, and happiest citizens. A land that was perfect with strong leaders, a philosophy of love and friendship, and a government system where everyone had the means given to them for what they needed. Now it was all ruined by the evil that is humanity. Their greed, hatred, and ignorance have destroyed something so pure that should we even come out of this alive, it will take centuries to fix. The only thing standing before them and total victory are us, the few still willing to fight, and Princess Celestia, who is protecting us all with her shield spell. Some of the more veteran soldiers say they haven’t seen a shield this strong since Prince Shining Armor’s during his royal wedding.
This is the moment of truth—the final battle of good vs. evil.
And I know that I am not going to survive this. Deep in my heart, I know my fate is sealed, and I am done running. I will die here, but I will die a true stallion of Equestria.
To do anything else is a disgrace.
-Halberd Wings
***
June 27th, 1422 E.F
I finally met my new commanding officer: Captain Hope Diamond. Of all the commanding officers I’ve been under, I’ve never met somepony like her. She is one of the few who are still smiling and urging us to never give up. Perhaps it has to do with her name or cutie mark, a golden smiling sun upon a diamond-encrusted shield. Maybe her talent is giving hope to those of us in the darkest of times. I can’t think of a darker time than now.
Since I’m an established soldier, she’s given me some troops to command as a unit. Honestly, I was just a corporal, but it looks like I’m going up in the world. The ponies under me look to me for guidance and some kind of protector. Most of them have never killed or hurt anything in their life, and one of them is only fifteen years old.
I do what I can to teach them how to use a spear and a sword, but it's clear that they’re lacking any fighting ability. Well, they’re going to have to train quickly. We don't have any more access to the guns or tanks or any other human-based weapons and equipment. All the factories for those were in the other cities. What little there is are now in the hands of specific guards and units.
Since Canterlot consists of many levels, we’re charged with guarding one of the gates leading from the third to the fourth. Our job is to prevent any human soldiers from entering, should they breach the gate, but I wonder how long we can even last?
Regardless, this is the duty I am given, and if it means that I must die standing, so be it.
I keep wondering what’s happened to my family: my father, mother, and sister. My father told me that should the worst happen, he planned on all three of them dying together. He wouldn’t let my mother or my sister be raped and brutally murdered by those damn monkeys. It’s funny, I should be in tears or in sorrow, but I’m not. Maybe it's because I’m glad they know peace and no more war. Or perhaps after all the losses I’ve suffered since the fighting, I’ve just become so numb. Who knows?
-Halberd Wings
***
July 3rd, 1422 E.F
Been a while since I wrote in this, but guess what? I’m not dead yet. Not that casualties aren’t happening. The humans have been shelling us for the past three days. Every few hours they attack with missiles and artillery to break the shield, but by Princess Celestia’s willpower, she continues to hold firm and protect us. While this happens, I can see the entire human army surrounding us on all sides.
There are some hoping that Lt. Colonel Blazehoof and his army can help us, but word has it that we lost contact with them two days ago. We don’t know if they are dead or alive or surrendered.
Everypony is on edge, and things just get worse and worse each day. Food and water are scarce, and fights or riots break out every so often to the point where the guards are forced to use lethal force to get everyone to stop. When the citizens aren’t rioting, starving, or weeping, they’re killing themselves. Some just jump off high buildings. Others take whatever weapons they have and end their lives that way. One of the mares under my command, Twist, said she saw the corpses of a pony she knew from Ponyville named Silver Spoon with a vial of poison in her hoof. Twist said that, even though she was once a bully, she didn't deserve such a fate.
One or two of the ponies in my command have already slit their own throats. We don’t even bury the bodies; we just burn them without a service or anything. It would be worse if a disease was to break out now.
Some ponies are talking about how this is the end that the humans will kill us all. A few think we should surrender or try to escape.
Then there are those like Captain Hope Diamond who refuse to give up. I’m not giving up as well. Giving up means that my friends, my comrades, my...lover, died for nothing.
I’ll never give up, nor will Equestria do so. Harmony in life or Harmony in death.
Nothing in between.
-Halberd Wings
"Silver Spoon. The who had"
What happened there? Seems a sentence was cut off?
that last sentence just cuts off. Was that intentional or editing oops?
I've got an idea how this is all going to end. Not sure it's right, but I've got an idea. Still waiting patiently.
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My bad, fixed
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Is that what you meant?
Didn't you mention cloudsdale already surrendered in the last chapter?
no strategic importance my ass. Ponyville is a bloody crossroad between canterlot and the other town nearby + the railway is important to send food and whatever supply there. Not to forgot since it the element home that town is a symbol.
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And you're right. This is what happens when you don't work on a fic for a month or so while overwealmed by work
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Fixed with some quick adjustment
No strategic value? My ass a major rail network home to a member of the leading government and a huge farm providing food for soldiers? Ponyville is a dream target
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Uh... not to be rude... But didn't Reunited, state Diamond Tiara survived?
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Uhhhgh... excuse me a moment
media.tenor.com/images/7e12efd2ce42f96a3a843576486f515e/tenor.gif
are there multiple cities called Canterlot in this Equestria? If not than this should be "The only city that seemed to still be left standing is Canterlot"
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Fixed.
I know a one possible type of bomber that was been used to bomb Ponyville into submission: The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, due to its large bomb load capacity of 70,000 lbs (31,500 kilos).
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Working alongside the TU-160 Blackjack or even the TU-95 bear?
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Sorry if i caused trouble....
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nah your good
10562130
They are equestrian the only thing that is considered strategic assets are magic McGuffins
Fuck you, you goddamn featherbrain. Like you fucking ponies didn't destroyed two of our most religious cities with a WMD and destroyed most of our major cities and towns with that damn magic barrier of yours.
This is just paying you back ten fold and we're bombing your sorry asses in the most slow and painful way possible.
It didn't had to go down like this... it fucking it didn't had to go down like this!
If you had just came in peace and actually made the afford to understand humanity. Your country would've still be standing and no pony civilians wouldn't had to die in vain!
You got no one to blame, but yourselves. Especially, your god damn ruler Princess Celestia! That solar tyrant bitch!
You all got what you fucking deserve!!
"Enemy pegasi scramble hopelessly to try and defend their friends and family, and you take them out. You hear the sounds of screaming and of air raid sirens and just like every target before, you take them out. You take them all out, burning everything until there is only silence. Is this worth it?
How many points did you get?
Well, if PR-humanism is ultimately non-issue that brings back the question of why not actual humanism with nukes.
Why did you target our two holy cities? This is karma, plain and simple.
Aside from being the home of one of your last national leaders AND of several national heroes who double as living superweapons AND a major agricultural center.
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And also this. Pseduo holy city.
In the next chapter, the Human army commander should say something like this for all Canterlot to hear
Yes I got that from Call of Duty: World at War
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“That’s for Jerusalem and Mecca bitch”
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Possible, but the Human tech became more advanced would it not? Those bombers would be obsolete by then.
With the powers of Mitsubishi, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, Airbus, Sukhoi, Tupelov, MiG, Xi’an, British Aerospace, Dassault, and others combined, Humanity has created a Supersonic Stealth Bomber that can disguise itself. To the naked eye, one can only see a giant flying WAALUIIGI!
Oh yeah, and I can only imagine the Human invasion like this:
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And the potion fueled chemical-warfare. Don’t forget that chemical-warfare that pretty much on all of pony military seemed to have equipped during the war.
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And it will be one heck of a brutal bombing of Ponyville. Yes.
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I already mentioned that in the last few chapters ago. But yeah. Ponies did all that during their campaign of human genocide. So they shouldn't act so god damn surprise when humanity decides to fight back with twice the ferocity and brutality onto them.
They stirred up the Japanese Giant Hornet's nest and now they dealing with the repercussions. The Geneva Convention only applies to humans, so all bets are off for ponies. We didn't start this god forsaken war, but we'll sure as all fucking hell we're going to finish it!
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The Boeing B-52s are still being used to this present days as a stratigic bomber of the US Air Force. That aircraft was in service since the Vietnam War, and stll being used today becuase of its load capabilities. Even different payloads are being carried by the B-52s like laser guided bombs, radio guided bombs, sea mines, guided missiles, and even nukes.
Even its outdated, the ponies hasn't reach that kind of tech yet. This bomber has 8 engines and it was so huge, but still can do very serious damage.
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Yes but in terms of fuel consumption, future us would’ve created something new that can carry the same load.
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Actually no. The Geneva and Hague laws apply to all signatory nations regardless of whom they are fighting.
Next do us a favor and unlike this writer do some bloody research.
Dude hopes the upcoming battle will be a "miracle on the Vistula", he doesn't know this is the battle of Berlin, and that didn't go well for the defenders
Damn...
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I just like after so many years of building tension it would be kinda symbolic and badass if the two previous enemies weapon and machines would be fighting side by side.
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Oh yeah? Well considering the amount of war crimes and atrocities against humanity, that the ponies committed with this little genocidal war of theirs. I doubt anyone would make any objections.
Twilight and the rest of them are damn lucky there were several humans, who actually wanted to carryout peace negotiations with them after the end of the war.
I wonder how his parents are doing? I'm guessing they stayed behind since he didn't mention seeing them among the refugees from there. Don't know exactly what they're thinking, but I'm guessing they're doing a lot better than Canterlot is. Funny how he doesn't seem to think about their decision to stay under human control, but that would probably mean admitting something that would hurt himself. Perfectly in-character for him to ignore it.
Now we know that this'll end with a bombardment that Celestia goes comatose from, until then I guess we just sit back, drop a few artillery shells on them every now and then and watch in amusement as ponies kill each other from starvation, thirst and panic. Should be good times.
Humans be like:
While Ponies be like:
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My guess? His father's temple got burned down and he almost perished with it. Only it was ponies who set it on fire and human soldiers were the ones to pull him out. At this point, the liberated areas are getting treated semi-decently, and much of the faith in the Princesses has been destroyed. There's going to be a lot of anger, especially once the war is over and the size of Celestia's crimes becomes clear.
It is... just not the way he thinks.
Yes, because that shield worked so well.
Right now, I'm hoping that at least one of the two remaining chapters sees Halberd reflect on the war, perhaps come to realize that it was all in fact utterly pointless, and that Celestia ruined everything for everyone.
Then again, if he's going to continue being a blind bigot, no big loss.
Looks like its getting late in canterlot...its almost Tank'o'clock
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You people disturb me.
Man, this chapter shows how horrific modern warfare really is.
In an entire instant, the place you and your entire family grew up can be utterly destroyed.
Your traditions, your monuments, your leaders, and your neighbors can be destroyed in an instant.
This is why I hope WW3 never ever breaks out.
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To be fairness if this was anything like WW3 the island would've been glassed
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Much as I admit it's unhealthy to wish pain upon the ponies, it's hard not to sympathise with the humans on this one. Celestia summarily decided they should convert or die, and many of the ponies showed themselves to be arrogant or morally myopic, effectively blinding themselves willingly or unwillingly to the mass suffering they've inflicted upon the humans - not to mention their complicity in condemning everyone else back on Equus to slow death. Halberd himself showed a rather unsympathetic side, blaming the humans for his nation's losses several times despite him being part of an army that tried to invade and destroy human cities and civilization (admittedly, he joined at the tail end of the endeavor, and after Luna's death no more teleporting assaults were made before the barrier came down, but still).
But yes, we should be better than this. It's a bit hard not to feel angry every time Halberd condemns the humans, especially knowing what we know as the audience (but that's OOC information). Which is the main reason why I want Halberd to survive this war and learn the reason for all his losses and sacrifices, so that he'd learn who's truly at fault, and to see if ponies truly were above reproach after all.
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Kinda like the Axis. Despite everything it's pretty fucked that millions of civilians died and or lost their homes and possessions
Haha artillery go brrr
I think we all know who dropped the willy petes..🇺🇸
The end comes and soon all shall see the fate of Equestria
Funny thing is, the "Hope Diamond" is allegedly "cursed," bringing death and destruction upon any individual who claims ownership over it.
I cant tell if that was intentional on the authors part or just a hiliarious if not unironic happenstance.