New Year 2024- New Projects 1939 · 5:42am January 1st
Still working on everything else this year, but I've got a sequel/prequel to Equestria: 1940 in the works, both a series of short stories set in the 1940 world up to the Equestrian moon project, and a war story showing some behind the scenes details about the war. For a little country the size of Ohio in the northern Atlantic, it has a lot of potential. Explosive, mostly. Snippets after the break.
(a section out of the draft notes)
Prime started to respond, paused to rest a hoof against his horn, then turned to the human visitor who had been waiting at the doorway. “She’s yours,” he said bluntly. “They’re yours. Nothing said in this lab is to go outside the door, but I want you three to devote your full effort into decrypting those German messages.”
“Beg pardon, sir.” Sherbert Lemon cleared her throat. “I thought the Germans are our allies?”
“Officially, we are neutral. Much like the Americans are neutral. Remember that. Don’t say anything otherwise outside of your lab. Celestia willing, it will stay that way.”
And with that, Prime strode away at a rapid trot, much like he was fleeing the scene of a murder rather than passing a new responsibility to Sherbert. The human in the doorway watched him leave, then turned back to her.
“Miss Lemon,” he started in the slow but deliberate way he spoke Equestrian, with only a hint of his German accent. Sherbert did not let him continue.
“Germans are our allies,” she muttered under her breath as she returned to her soldering.
There was a short period of silence that did not end with the interloper leaving her laboratory. Instead, her half-brother gave off the long-suffering sigh that she had become accustomed to when he was dealing with Sherbert’s perfectly logical actions.
“Mister Guttman, this is my sister by another mother. Another much less stubborn and obstinate mare. Sis, this is Herman Guttman, formerly of Poland and currently employed by—”
“I don’t care,” said Sherbert from around the handle of her favorite screwdriver. The wooden grip was a comforting and familiar taste on her tongue. It had been her mother’s. It was hers now, and with it came with memories.
“Sis?” Mixed State waved a hoof in front of her eyes until she turned her head away.
(and a section out of Chapter 4)
Mister Guttman had reacted in a very non-pony fashion. He froze, remaining completely immobile except for breathing.
After a certain amount of time spent staring at the ACACD structure, Guttman took the beaker of water that Sherbert floated to him, took several small sips, then managed in a very small voice, “You put your own mother into…” He rather redundantly pointed at the complex amalgam of stainless steel pipes and wires that made up ACACD.
“It was her last wish. She wanted to continue her work.” Sherbert patted the top of the last steel flange holding the plexiglass cover secure. “I thought that maybe when I’m too old to continue, or if there’s some sort of accident—”
“It’s not that bad,” said Mix once he saw Mr. Guttman was at a loss for words. “Madame Venier has gone on to the Eternal Pastures. ACACD is only a shadow of her mind, an echo if that helps you understand.”
“I understood Mary Shelly did fairly well in Frankenstein,” muttered Guttman. He remained quiet for a moment, observing the metallic mother and the faint clicks that came from inside as various discs rearranged to different configurations.
“Mother has been listening to reports coming in from Europe,” said Sherbert, who had returned to her soldering. “The printout is in the bin.”
The human sat down with the stack of paper and seemed to gain some grasp on his wits by reviewing the plain text of the teletype. It kept him quiet, which was fine for Sherbert because she had work to do. The circuit she was working on had little chance of solving the issue, but it made a good practice piece while waiting.
It took less time than Sherbert expected for Guttman to reach the bottom of the printout, and she was relatively unprepared for his simple question.
“A crossword puzzle?”
“Oh, tear that section off and we’ll send it to the Canterlot Sun. Mother always loved crosswords, so she’s been making them for the newspaper over the last few months.”
He eyed the last section of grey-bar paper and asked another question that made Sherbert up his estimated intelligence by a few notches.
“Are you certain she is not passing information to the Germans by way of this?”
It was a logical extension of the classification process which she could not answer, but ACACD responded before she could give the question full consideration.
NEVER STOP INFORMATION SENT TO FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE COULD COMPROMISE OFFSPRING SAFETY STOP
There was a brief pause while the teletype whirred, then added, INCLUDING MIXED STATE STOP
Looks like Celestia has some ponies who are not as loyal to her as she thinks. Then again they probably don’t realize the dangers the Nazis are.
5761889 Remember, this is the period of time when Equestria is going from Ally to Carefully Getting All Our Citizens Out Before Switching Sides For Good Reason.
5761889
When the nazis start making sausage of ponies, then they will understand.
Yes! Finally
The 1940 universe was one of the best Equestria on Earth concepts to ever come forth.
Especially with the vague Biblical tie in.
For a one shot story, "Weird Gifts/Bequests To The Royal Family"
For the Brits, weird animals are high on the list.
From the Brits
Elephants, Duck Billed Platypus, Black Swans, Kangaroo
5774395 The King blinked several times. What he saw did not change, even when he asked, "Is that a...?"
"Unicorn," said Lyra. "I'm a gift."
"I... um... From Celestia?" he had to ask.
The unicorn nodded.
It only brought up a second question. "Is she still a little upset about Our gift of that breeding pair of swans?"
"Of course not," scoffed Lyra. "They only bit her once, and they didn't even draw blood."