Chapter 11: Madness
Dinky, Katja and Blau awoke with a gasp, panting heavily. When they got up, they all thought they had died and gone to Tartarus. They blew up the mountain. They buried the Allies. They buried themselves.
Getting up with a grunt of pain, the children looked around. The crashed plane was next to them, still burning, it was night and raining, small fires were scattered around the area.
Despite being in shock, they looked for their three friends, hoping they were still alive after this.
“Over there!” Blau yelled, seeing them lying next to the wreck of the AA-gun, checking for a pulse. “They are still alive!”
Barely he had finished, the three soldiers also awoke gasping, looking around in shock. “Jesus Christ…” Duffy mumbled in shock as he got up, seeing the destruction, the William and Cutting did too.
“Are you hurt?” Katja asked and they checked themselves, shaking their heads.
“We’re fine,” William replied as Dinky looked down, towards were the fuel depot was.
“This is Madness! They blew up this mountain and buried themselves!”
No...this isn't just like last time. The Austro-Hungarians were desperate, surrounded, they'd do anything to hold the line. The SS...They did this just to show they could.” The Captain replied, slightly trembling. “I have read the reports about the Austro-Hungarians and saw how brutal the SS fights when we landed at the beaches."
“W-wait… Fletcher!” Dinky exclaimed as she realized he had been down there.
“Christopher!” The siblings exclaimed in unison, “We have to find them!”
“But-but do you think anyone could have survived this massive rock-slide at all?” Cutting asked, fearing the worst and Hill picked up his Sten.
“There’s only one way to find out.”
They had to find them – so they all went into that hell. It was the only choice.
Slowly moving down the hill, the group reached a trench system, German soldiers were patrolled around. They all had their back towards the intruders, so it was easy to sneak past them.
As the kids moved toward a corner, they noticed a shadow coming from it towards them, freezing in place as they realized they couldn’t get away in time. Strangely, a sharp stench entered their nose too, coming from the same direction.
A SS soldier came stumbling around the corner, almost running into the wall, catching himself barely before he dropped his MP40 and fell to the ground, falling asleep to the surprise of the children.
“Drunken fool,” Duffy whispered as they stepped over him, the stench coming from him.
The way apparently led closer to the front, confirmed by the bullets that hit or flew over the trenches and the behavior of the soldiers.
Some were aiming at the enemy front ready to shoot, some were leaning against the wall for cover, while others were using helmets as sniper decoy, only to see that the decoy got shot instantly.
But it also meant some of Able Company had survived and were still fighting, boosting the morale of the kids that Fletcher and Ford had survived.
Yet, what the saw was behind their imagination.
A wasteland, littered with wrecks of vehicles, fires and corpses in the mud, screams and gunfire echoed in the distance.
Dinky took a deep breath, Katja and her brother did too. They had to go through here if they wanted to find their friends.
“Stay low,” William warned as they all crouched to avoid getting hit, moving carefully as they saw raiding parties of both sides trying to get behind the enemy lines but got mowed down by MGs before they had a chance to get far.
“Careful.” Cutting said as spotlights moved around, they stayed in cover, moving to the next when the light went past them, repeating the progress until they came closer to the other trench.
“It’s one of ours! Cease fire!” It was the voice of Ford, looking relieved to see them “You’re alive! I thought nobody had survived up there!”
The Captain waved a hand. “Aye...fortunately. What’s the situation?”
“Well, a small number of us just barely survived by taking cover into those lodges here. The rest got cut off but they try to get here. 3rd Battalion also tries to attack the rear of the Germans to join up with us.”
“Where’s Fletcher?” Dinky asked with worry in her eyes.
“The unit he supported had made it further up before the Mountain came down. Jerry’s still holding the fuel depot though and we are not enough for an attack.” He told with regret.
“Then we try to flank them, the front isn’t the only option.” Duffy suggested, “Is there anyone else?” Ford just pointed to one of the lodges and the kids took a look.
It was horrible.
Those that were still alive, huddled against the wall, crying, completely shocked, no longer able to fight. There were also some dead bodies, bloodied, scattered everywhere, the stench terrible, hard to bear, causing them to cover their noses but it didn’t help.
Still, they needed everything they could get to Fletcher. “Listen…please.” Dinky started and to her surprise, the soldiers looked up. “I know this is bad, but there is still hope.”
Blau tried to think of the right words. “They may think they have won, that we all died, but we are still alive. We got the elements of surprise on our side.”
“And you all want to see your families again, don’t you?” Katja said, “Only together you can achieve this.”
The Americans looked at each other, then slowly nodded and stood up, grabbing their weapons.” Right. Let’s do this! There is a side entrance we discovered, we can use this to sneak in.”
“Lead the way.” Christopher took his rifle and they moved out, coming to what seemed to be an underground tunnel. He entered first, only to see a hostile at the end, getting spotted.
“Alarm!” The German yelled before taking a bullet to the head and the Allied troops moved in, not wasting any time, taking the defenders completely by surprise as they moved up the stairs.
“Hey! He's getting away” Dinky yelled as she spotted a German running away and Ford gave chase.
It didn’t take long until we found out why. At the end of the corridor was a detonator, the SS-soldier wanted to blow up the fuel depot, almost reaching it.
“Oh, no, you don’t!” The private took aim and fired.
Blood splattered from the head of the enemy, staggering from the hit.
“No, no, no!” The private yelled in fear as the body threatened to fell on the detonator, killing everyone.
Christopher held his breath as the German fell forward, landing next to the detonator. “That was a close call.”
The kids stayed in cover, hearing shots for a few minutes before William yelled, “Clear! Depot is secure!”
They didn’t know how, they just knew that Fletcher wasn’t here.
Dinky and her two friends walked to the front door, opened and walked outside.
They'd almost stopped looking-started giving hope that Fletcher had escaped. And then...
"No! No!" Dinky yelled as they saw the unicorn lying against a tree, not moving, his eyes closed.
She checked his pulse.
There was none and she shook her head.
“No…It can’t be…” Katja sniffed.
“F-Fletch…” Her brother stuttered, not able to believe it.
Overcoming with grief, they mourned the loss of their friend, a hoof/ hand wrapped around him as they collapsed beside him, tears leaving their eyes.
Their friend, their only hope of getting home was dead. They would be stuck here, forever, separated from their families.
But suddenly, They felt a hoof around them.
"Ouch...In all my years in the military and the civil war, I never saw an enemy force doing something like this. Not even Celestia's forces had dared to blow up a mountain to stop us in the war.”
“F-Fletcher?” Dinky asked through her tears.
“I’m alright…” He couldn’t finish as they hugged him tightly.
“We thought you died!” Tears of joy were leaving Katja’s eyes.
In that moment, Ford and Hill joined them, gently grabbing the stallion by his forelegs to assist him, bringing him to a medic to check him. “Only a few bruises and scratches, you were very lucky to have survived this so well.” The medic said after the check was done.
The unicorn smiled weakly. “I survived a lot I thought I wouldn’t survive. What’s the situation?”
“Well, we managed to capture the fuel depot, and while the rest of Able Company and 3rd Battalion are still struggling to get here due to the rockslide, they both managed to get some troops through to secure the area, having broken through the trenches,” William explained.
As soon as he finished, they all saw American soldiers wearing gloves and backpacks, also having googles on their helmets, armed with SMGs that looked similar to the MP40, together with British soldiers wearing the same equipment but carried Lee-Enfield rifles instead.
“Combat Engineers and Sappers reporting!”
“Set up defenses, we don’t know if the Germans attempt to counterattack,” William ordered and his fellow soldiers saluted, building up trenches and sandbags, with the kids and Fletcher helping as good as they could.
“What’s that?” Blue asked one of the American Engineers, pointing to his weapon.
“Oh, that? That’s the M3 "Grease Gun’, a cheaper alternative to the Thompson.”
“Guys! Guys!” Duffy yelled as he ran towards them, completely out of breath.
“What is it?” Ford asked.
“One of our forward positions got attacked…It's hell out there, guys. It looks like a whole division of SS has moved in and they aren't giving up this fuel.” He finished, slightly terrified.
“Then get into position! Fletcher, you and the kids get in the back.” They nodded and saw how a weapon crew set a heavy MG in the first trench.
“Muniplo, Williams, weapons and ammo!” The American manning it ordered and the siblings helped to carry an ammo crate to it as a British weapon team also set up an HMG, before the kids and Fray went into the trench at the back.
“Here they come!” Duffy yelled and they all opened fire at the incoming enemy. Dinky, Katja and Blau trembled but felt safe with Fletcher, he had his MP40 ready, watching how the SS troops fiercely tried to break through, getting mowed down but still pushed on.
William, Ford and the others fight bravery, firing at every enemy they saw, barely keeping them from their trench as the enemy retreated. “Don’t let your guard down! They will come again!” The Captain warned and only a short moment later, smoke was dropped and the next wave came.
But this time, the Germans managed to reach the trenches, engaging in brutal melee combat with the allies. Ford grabbed the knife of his attacker as he got pushed against the wall, struggling as he drew his Colt M1911 and fired the SS-soldier into the head, throwing the body off him. Hill was thrown back to but managed to block the strike and punched his opponent into the head, knowing him out and the enemy retreated again.
“Jesus Christ! That was a second wave…They’re just throwing themselves at us!” Duffy exclaimed in shock as suddenly, a loud shrieking greeted their eyes. “Nebelwerfers!”
Out of instinct, Fletcher cast his shield spell as the artillery hit the ground, creating explosions everywhere, the kids screamed, it was deafening.
None of them could count how long it lasted before it stopped and they heard screams.
“Medic!” A few soldiers had been unlucky to be thrown out of the trenches by direct hits, bleeding badly.
Before anyone could do something, Fletcher and the kids ran to them to help them.
“Don’t worry, it’s gonna be fine,” Fletcher spoke calmly as he cast a healing spell, with the kids bandaging the wounds.
The battle seemed over for now, so they could help the wounded without trouble.
Or so they thought.
“Watch out!” Ford warned as the enemy made another push and the four quickly tried to get the wounded into the trench as suddenly…
Kaboom!
A big explosion threw them over, screaming as they wondered what had just happened. “Ow…What…” Dinky turned around, her eyes went small at what she saw. “Oh my…”
The entire fuel depot went up in a giant fireball, even the SS-soldiers turned around in surprise and shock, some were unlucky to get caught in the explosion, screaming in pain as they burned to death.
Fletcher just stared at the gigantic fire, frozen in shock. “Fletcher?” Katja asked concerned.” Are you okay?”
He started to shake and without out warning, roared.
“SOLOMON!”
What happened next, terrified everyone.
The stallion switched to his spear and charged towards the Germans, dealing mortal strikes, giving them barely time to react. Those who managed to react by trying to block his attacks, got thrown to the ground by his magic and he violently stabbed them it the chest, not stopping even after they were dead.
Neither of the youngsters could ever imagine him being so brutal and mercilessly as he slaughtered the attackers.
“No! Wait! I beg you!” One of the Germans pleaded as the unicorn had him at his mercy against a rock, raising his spar to strike.
“Fletcher! Stop!” The kids yelled and he flinched, allowing the terrified SS-soldier to flee, yet they froze as he now looked at them with an angry expression, Cold blankness in his eyes.
“Fletcher! Stop! Don’t hurt us!” Dinky yelled as he came closer towards them in a slow, threatening walk.”
They covered themselves as he raised his spear.
Was this the end? Would the die by the one who was tasked to protect them?
Faintly, they noticed that he trembled, or twitched.
The stallion stumbled, like he was having trouble keeping his balance.
“Dinky...Foals...Yes...Save-foals...For Luna...For...For home...Save the foals...Get them home...” Fletcher mumbled and they slowly uncovered themselves, looking up.
They saw how he looked at his spear, wide-eyed and shaking, it and his forehooves were covered in blood, then he looked at the dead bodies in shock before turning back to the kids, dropping his spear with a loud clang!
“Children…I….I…” He stuttered and without warning, buried his head in his hooves, starting to cry, having a breakdown.
Dinky looked at her friends, blinking at each other and nodded.
“Shh...Let it out…” She hugged him with her two friends, trying to comfort the stallion.
Out of the corner of their eyes, the kids saw the ghostly Royal Guard again, standing on a small hill in the distance. The ghost looked at the crying knight, then lowered his head as if he had sympathy, or felt guilty.
The Allied soldiers looked at each other, still trying to process what had just happened, unsure what to say.
“Fletcher…” Hill started to speak, still shocked. “What you just did was beyond anything I’ve ever seen….. But I understand your pain. We all saw horrible things that haunt us.”
His pony friend said nothing, making a barely noticeable nod as he slowly got up with the kids, collected his weapons and walked slowly back to the trenches.
“What…What could have caused the fuel to blow up?” Cutting wondered as he looked at the flames.
“I guess it was a misfire by the Nebelwerfers. It can’t be caused intentionally by the SS, otherwise, they hadn’t been shocked by it too or pushed forward.” Duffy suspected. “It also seems to have blocked their way to attack us.”
“Well, that’s one advantage for us I guess,” Ford replied as he sat down, breathing heavily. “That was one battle…”
“Yes, it was.” Fletcher took a deep breath. “I’m so sorry, children. I lost control over myself. Ever since a battle against Solomon where things went very bad, I can’t stand large fires.”
Dinky, Katja and Blau hugged him again. “Everypony has his fears, Fletcher, It’s no shame.” The filly said with a weak smile.
He returned it. “Thanks.”
“Uhh…guys? I think I see something coming through the fire.” Duffy pointed to something but nobody could really see anything.
“You sure?” Ford asked him.
“Pretty sure…”
“We are better safe than sorry.” William grabbed his weapon and aimed into the direction the SS troops had come from, all others did too.
Dinky tilted her head as she could swear she saw something moving in the fire. But nothing could prepare them for what happened next.
Bodies rose out of the fire, burning and screaming, charging at them.
“Mother of…” Fletcher’s eyes went wide as he realized what was happening. The Waffen SS soldiers stormed through the fire, a last desperate attack, wanting to take the Allies with them
“Fire!” William ordered and they all opened fire, Fletcher did too with his MP40.
Katja, her brother and friend trembled at the sight, their eyes small in fear at the horrible sight. It looked they're charged out the gates of Tartarus, still firing their weapons.
“Why won't you bastards just sodding die?!” Hill screamed in frustration as the Germans kept coming, no matter how many they killed.
Fletcher couldn’t tell why he joined, maybe it was just instinct. His breath was rapid, slightly shaking to his fear of fires, but he knew he couldn’t let the children die and if the burning soldiers would reach the trenches, it would all be over.
I can do this, I can do this… He assured himself over and over again, despite looking very grim.
Wave after wave came and he realized this wasn’t enough, taking a deep breath.
“I go out!” He yelled and climbed out of the trench, fired his bow at the burning enemies, switching to his spear as he charged at them.
His allies and friends just watched in awe as he single-handily killed many of the burning soldiers, preventing them from getting through.
Yet some soldiers made it past him, and the kids screamed as they saw one burning soldier coming right for them. “Die by the flames of the Führer!”
He was about to jump on them, their lives flashed before their eyes.
Bang!
Blood splattered from the head of the German, falling into the trench, just inches before them, they looked at the body in shock.
“You don’t die by my side!” It was Christopher, the barrel of his pistol smoking, having a determined expression.
“Watch out!” Blau warned as another SS-soldier reached the trench. The private shot him also in the head in mid-air, jumping to the side to avoid getting burnt.
Fletcher just stabbed another burning soldier before he felt a hard hit on the back of his head, falling to the ground. It belonged to the shovel of an SS-soldier. He was not burning, raising his shovel to finish the knight.
“Artillery! Get down!” Someone yelled before shells smashed into the ground, the soldier looked up in fear, being distracted, and the stallion crawled backward before an explosion knocked him instantly out.
Fletcher slowly regained consciousness after some time. The battle was seemingly over. Dead bodies of both sides were scattered around.
He wasted no time to check on the kids, relieved to say that they also just regained consciousness. “Ugh…my head…” Dinky mumbled as she got helped up my Fletcher, happy to see that William was alright too.
“That was something…” He mumbled before he spotted a lone German soldier.
They both pointed their rifles at each other.
At the same time, Fletcher and the kids blinked in confusion, as they could swear they saw two ghostly soldiers wearing WW1 uniforms right beside them, doing the same action. The was dressed like a British soldier, looking very familiar to William, the other one had a spiked helmet, making then realize it was a German soldier
After a short moment, William and the German realized the pointlessness in adding ourselves to the high body count of the battle and lowered their weapons, the ghostly soldiers did the same before they vanished.
“Konrad, never thought I’d see you again,” Hill said surprised and smiled.
“Me either.” They then checked for any survivors, but sadly, only Ford, Cutting and Duffy had survived, still knocked out.
“I can’t believe I did something familiar as my father did in the Great War,” Konrad mumbled.
“Uh-huh, if I remember correctly, my father told me he did the same in the war,” William replied and the ponies realized that the ghosts they saw that been the fathers of the two men, barely able to believe how things could repeat itself like that.
Knowing that there wasn’t much else they could do, they made a campfire, waiting until the others would wake up. Fortunately, it took only a few minutes before Christopher groaned. “Ugh...mother of all headaches…”
“Glad to see you’re still alive,” Konrad said in English with a smile and the American looked at him puzzled before smiling too.
“Konrad? Long time no see.” He replied and Fletcher and the kids realized he was the third man on the photo they had been shown in Africa. Just after that, Cutting and Duffy woke up too.
“That Artillery strike was right on point…” Duffy mumbled Dazed before seeing Konrad, blinking puzzled. “Okay…Never thought I’d meet you again.
“Same here. How’s it going, Ford, apart from the war”
“Apart from it, well, except now of course with the mountain and blow up the fuel depot. Your family okay?”
“As well as they can be. Though I wish we would have met under better circumstances.” The Sergeant told with regret in his voice.
“How did you two met?” Dinky asked into the round, although it was obvious for her.
Christopher chuckled. “During the Berlin Olympics in 1936 as I took part in it.”
The others smiled warmly upon hearing this and Blau turned to Escher. “How did you end up here?”
“Well, I woke up at the hill after knocked out from the crashing plane, separated from the others. I know this city is very important for supplies and as a bridgehead, but I never thought they would go as far as blowing up the mountain, or so determined to stop you through fire.” He slightly shivered.
“Yes, it was crazy, but finally over. Yet I doubt the city itself will be easier.” William feared.
“I fear so too. Heavy losses are to be expected, so I hope you all will survive.” Konrad replied as he stood up.
“Where are you going?” Katja asked him and he sighed.
“Finding the others. It was good to see you again. Good luck, and keep them safe.”
“Of course, my friend,” Ford assured him before the German walked away.
Shortly afterward, the sound of engine greeted their ears and they saw a convoy of Allied tanks pulling up, together with trucks.
“Dear god….You were very lucky.” An American officer walked into view, his expression slightly shocked, grim, grey-eyed, angular face and Ford saluted him.
“Captain Mackay. We managed to secure the area with heavy casualties.”
“At ease, private. Conti, give me a casualty report and report to HQ that the hill is secure.”
“Yes, sir.” Conti walked into view, a man with a sullen, furrowed, square-jawed face with prominent stubble, saluting, then walked out of view before Major Blackmore” walked up to the group.
“Get some rest, you've earned it. We move at Dawn. Thanks to you, the liberation of Elio-Gabalo is at hand. Bomber Command makes sure that by morning, all enemy positions will be rubble.” He paused with a smile.
“Today, Elio-Gabalo. Tomorrow, Rome.”