Chapter 1: Volcanic ash and Fillies don't mix
Sato Haruto, a soldier of the Imperial Japanese Army, was patrolling the Forest near the capital Manila. His school friend, Suzuki Aichi, a paratrooper, was with him.
The war was not going well for Japan and they know it. In fact, the war was lost.
After the battle of Midway, Japan lost every battle. But giving up was against their honor.
Giving up would mean shame to the family. That was the Concept of Yamato-Damashi, the Japanese people's spirit.
It is an honor to die in battle but exactly that scared Sato on the inside, as he had a wife and daughter which he wanted to see again. For him, his friend and squad mates, it was more Honorable to survive and return to their families. Also, they saw it as their honor to keep civilians safe.
Also, unlike their comrades, they knew that the Americans were not primitive, stupid savage. Their teacher in school was American descent and taught them much about American culture. They fought and survived many battles together and respected the Americans.
They were a coequal enemy. And they also fought for their families.
Before the war, the now 26-old soldier used to be a Musician.
The music was what connected him with his wife and was the reason they got to know each other.
While the Japanese used outdated tactics and had Inferior armament, their honor and fanaticism made them a dangerous enemy.
Satō and his friends never shared that fanaticism, they just wanted this war to end, so they could see their families again.
Had the USA not cut off Japan’s Oil imports, Pearl Harbor wouldn’t have been attacked and the USA wouldn’t fight against Japan.
But it happened and the USA entered the war. Japan’s ally, Germany, was having a bad time fighting against the USA and so had Japan.
Sato’s family was everything for him. He lived with his family in Tokio and prayed every day that they wouldn’t be victims of the bombings.
The young soldier used the standard issue rifle, the type 99 Arisaka. A bolt-action rifle with low rate of fire and moderate power, 5 rounds. It had a Bayonet attached for melee and Banzai Charges. As sidearm, he had the standard issue pistol, the Nambu. While the Americans had the M1 Garand, a semi-automatic rifle with a faster rate of fire as advantage, the Arisaka could be reloaded faster.
His friend used the Type 100, the SMG of the Japanese Army, also used by their officer. It had also a Bayonet and while not as powerful as the American Thompson, it had a thirty-round magazine while the Thompson had only 20.
In their squad were also a Sniper and a MG gunner with a Type 99 LMG. It was a powerful, formidable and versatile weapon, useful against both nearby and especially long-range targets. He used also a Bayonet but that was rare due his role.
Suzuki let out a sigh. “I know the Americans want to free the capital but wouldn’t it be better if we were AT the capital instead near it?”
“Would be, but orders are orders and our commander can’t disagree with High command and the Emperor.”
“Hai, but our survival chances were better in the city then here, if you ask me. How’s your daughter?
“She’s doing fine. I miss her and she misses me. I just hope I can see her again.”
“You’re caring for the wounded and civilians honors you. I sometimes wish our comrades wouldn’t be so brutal towards prisoners and civilians. Such brutality is dishonorable!” He exclaimed angry.
“Yeah, I sometimes wish that too. I think the war will soon be over, maybe in a few months or so.”
“Maybe. If the Americans don’t destroy us with some kind of mass destruction weapon or some other powerful weapons. Those flamethrowers are deadly. I don’t want to burn to death.” He shuddered at the thought.
“Hey, we survived so many battles, I’m sure we can survive this battle too.”
The paratrooper smiled. “Always the optimist. I have some weird feeling that something’s Unique happens today and we got transferred to Iwo Jima.”
“Whatever you say. Fighting on Iwo Jima would be hard, as the Americans could bomb our home more effectively should they have success capturing the island.”
“Yeah but we won’t make it easy for them, should we get here. We’re masters in ambushes after all.”
Sato chuckled. “Yes we are. And masters in using traps. They won’t even know what will hit them.”
Rope traps were most effective as they were hard to see and many US soldiers were victims of it.
“Speaking of ambush, do you remember what a mess it was when they got under fire as they landed on Peleliu Island?”
“Don’t remind me if that, it was so brutal that I felt sorry for them.”
“Me too but Iwo Jima would be like that too or even worse, I’m sure of it.”
Suddenly, there was a sound of something getting caught in a rope trap.
Sato and Suzuki didn’t hesitate to investigate it as it could be the enemy.
As they reached it, they looked up and were confused.
It wasn’t a Gl but a pony with a baby-blue coat, a lavender mane, and purple eyes. It hanged headfirst in the air, the left hind leg stuck in the rope.
“P-please don’t hurt me.” It begged.
A speaking pony? Both men thought confused but nodded at each other to help her.
“We won’t hurt you. Let us get you down from here.” Suzuki climbed up the tree and cut the rope with his knife.
Sato caught it as it fell and sat it down. Now they noticed that the filly was a unicorn, as it had a horn on his head.
“Thank you. Where I am?” She looked around.
On the planet earth, on the Philippines, a state in the pacific. I’m Sato Haruto, but you can call me Sato, and this is my friend Suzuki.”
“You’re humans, right? My mother is fascinated by them. She's the best mom ever! Caring and loving.” Sato nodded and the foal’s eyes watered, as it realized how much it missed his mother already.
“Wait, m-mama…” it collapsed on the ground and sobbed.
Sato kneeled down. “Shh, it’s alright…” He patted the foal and it looked into Sato’s brown eyes. He had black hair.
“T-thanks, Sato. My name is Tootsie Flute.”
“Nice name.” Suzuki smiled, he had brown hair and eyes.
Flute jumped into the air as they heard an explosion in the distance. “What was that?” She exclaimed scared.
“The enemy. Let’s get back to our squad. Don’t worry, you’ll be safe with us.” Suzuki assured her.
“You’re at war?” Flute was scared.
“Yes but by our Honor, we will keep you safe. Stay close.” As Sato was father, he cared for children and their safety.
His commander and squad mates weren’t on the frontline but at the rear.
They walked through the forest until they saw the Japanese flag in the distance and a Scope Glint on a tree.
“Don’t shoot, Hiroto, it’s me and Sato!” Suzuki yelled.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Hiroto poked his head out of the tree. He wore a ghillie suit composed of a camouflaged uniform and netted helmet covered with lots of leaves and natural foliage as he was the sniper of the squad. He climbed the tree down.
“Is that…a unicorn?” He shook his head as he spotted Flute.
“Well, yes. We found her caught in a rope trap,” Sato explained.
“Okay…you don’t see that every day.”
“Where I’m coming from, you don’t see humans every day,” Flute countered, which surprised Hiroto.
“By the Emperor, she can talk?!”
“Yeah, everypony can where I live.”
Sato cleared his throat. “We should get to our Commander, he will know what to do.”
“Right, I’m right behind you,” Hiroto replied.
The other soldiers were too busy to notice the filly.
The officer, called Chiba, was talking with the MG gunner, Osaka.
“Reporting.” Sato and his comrades saluted him.
“At ease. We will fight the Americans another day, we will be needed on Iwo Jima. Who’s this?” Chiba pointed at Flute who was nervous.
“A unicorn filly called Tootsie Flute. We found her caught in a rope trap. By our honor, we would never lie to you,” Suzuki explained.
“I know you never would. You’re not in trouble my dear, why don’t you tell us more about you on the way to Iwo Jima?” He smiled at her.
“Yeah, I should, Mister Chiba.” She looked at the officer with glasses, black hair and brown eyes.
“Chiba is just fine.”
“Wait, how do we get her on the cruiser without anyone noticing her?” Osaka asked. He had also black hair and brown eyes. The gunner was also muscular.
“I could hide her in my carrying case,” Suzuki suggested.
“Good idea,” Sato smiled as it was cute as she got into the case.
Flute stayed low but was amazed by the cruiser.
The sailors and crew members didn’t notice her at all.
As the cruiser moved and they were all in a cabin, Chiba cleaned his glasses as Sato gave the filly some chocolate.
“Thank you. I was born in Ponyville, a village in Equestria. I’m a unicorn who can use magic. We have also earth ponies and Pegasus ponies that can fly and manipulate the weather. Equestria is ruled by Princess Celestia and Luna. They control the sun and moon. They’re Alicorns.
We ponies have Cutie Marks on our flanks which represent our special talents. I still haven’t got it. My mother is a unicorn called Lyra Heartstrings She’s a Musician. I never know my father. We live together with her friend Bon Bon who makes candy as her name suggests.” She cried a little. Sato took her on his arm and patted her back.
“It’s alright. How does a cute and sweet child like you end here?”
Flute sniffed. “Well, a bully named Dry Ice said my mommy is a freak for believing in humans and being fascinated by them. As I yelled at him to take that back and said that everypony has the right to believe in things, he said, ‘oh if you like them so much why don't you go find them!’ and fired a spell as he is a unicorn like me. I passed out and found myself in this forest.” Flute let out a sigh, her ears down.
“This guy has no honor!” Osaka exclaimed angry.
“That brings me to the question, you’re soldiers, right? Am I landed in a w-war z-zone?” Flute asked trembling.
Sato took a deep breath. “Yes…” and told her what the war was and how he begun and such with going too deep into it.
“In Equestria, the last year was 1000 years ago.”
Sato patted her. “I know it’s terrible but we protect you, I promise.” She smiled at him.
“Thank you.”
As Iwo Jima was in sight, Chiba said, “Welcome to Iwo Jima.”