//------------------------------//
// Lest We Forget Pt 1 
// Story: The Great Trial Continues! 
// by Dimitri2278 
//------------------------------//

Dec 9th, 1978
Omsk, Russia
0720

Cpt. Ivan Kiselev could not believe his ears as he stared at the two ponies from the open hatch of his BMP-1K. "What?" he asked in confusion as his continued attempts at wrapping his head around the fact that these ponies had spoken perfect Russian.

The aged grey stallion and his red-coated companion both seemed to be equally confused. "Did you not hear him? We wish you greetings, Comrade! Welcome to the village of..." the Red stallion seemed to pause for a moment before turning back to the soldiers. "Ozyokovo, Comrades!" he announced as he beckoned them to follow him into the small village.

Cpt. Kiselev, unsure of what to do. Quickly sunk back inside the cramped turret and got on his radio. "Attention all units, you are to wait for my signal to enter the town. Over?"

"Yes, Comrade Captain," came the response as he switched the channel on the radio. 

"This is Cpt. Kiselev of recon company alpha, requesting permission to speak to Maj-Gen. Sergeev. Over?"

After a moment of waiting- "Go Ahead, Cpt. Kiselev" was the response.

"Comrade General, I wish to report that, as we were preparing to capture the village of Ozyokovo. We have run into an unexpected problem. Over?" he said as he tried to think of the best way to describe his awkward situation.

"What kind of problem?" answered the General.

Cpt. Kiselev nervously shifted his collar as sweat began to run down his forehead from his tankist cap. "Well, Comrade General. It would appear that some of the ponies still speak Russian. Over?" he said in as calm a tone as he could.

"What!? How the hell is that possible!?" bellowed the General.

"I don't know, Comrade Commander! But, they have invited us into their village. What are your orders, Over?"

The General gave an audible sigh. "You may enter the village. But, if they prove to be traitors, you are free to engage," 

With that, he took a deep breath before nodding. Even though the only one who could see him was the gunner in the turret with him. "Understood, Comrade General. Cpt. Kiselev, out," with that, he switched the radio so he could communicate with his unit. "Comrades, you are free to enter the village. However, if they try anything, you are free to engage," with that, he pressed his throat mic. "Dimitri, move forward. But try not to hurt any of the ponies...yet,"

"Understood," as soon as Dimitri responded, Cpt. Kiselev nearly smacked his face into the gun breach as the vehicle began to move. When he settled, he once again stuck his head outside his turret to get a better idea of how things were going, just in time to see the white, red, and blue of the Russian flag be hoisted above the village. Normally, he would expect his own soldiers to do this. But instead, he was shocked to see it was the group of ponies he had spotted earlier. 'Maybe they are on our side after all...' 

Once Cpt. Kiselev felt they had gotten close enough. He pressed his throat mic. "Okay, Dimitri, stop here," he ordered, this time making sure to brace himself as the BMP lurched slightly before stopping completely. Once he was sure they weren't moving, he carefully lifted himself from the turret before dismounting off the side. He landed on the dirt road before walking up to the group of ponies.

"Long live Russia! URA, URA, URRAAA!" they cheered as he and his men got closer before slowly walking up to them. As they got closer, he could see several had tears flowing from their eyes, while others looked upon them with hope or longing. "Come Comrades, let us celebrate the rebirth of our nation!"

Cpt. Kiselev, try as he might, could not help but feel something within him begin to stir, and while he couldn't put his finger on it. He allowed a slight smile to grace his features as he turned to face his men. "Comrades! While we may not understand what has happened to our glorious motherland, let us celebrate its return!" he yelled before turning to the ponies and gesturing for his men to follow. "Company, Form up in two columns!" he bellowed as his soldiers nervously, though quickly, formed up in two lines to his right, a good few paces from the ponies. "Company, to the front, MARCH!" with that, they all began marching into the town. As they did, the ponies moved to give the soldiers space as they cheered while several mares threw flowers at them. 'This was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one,'
-

Dec 9th, 2042
Maresk, New Stalliongrad
0730

'This can not be happening!' Gold Dust could only gawk at what she was seeing as she stared out the window as her neighbours tore up the Equestrian flag. She quickly turned and rushed down the hall, her hooves creaking on the wooden floor, as she turned and opened one of the doors. Inside was what appeared to be a nursery, with two cribs inside. She walked over and carefully reached into one and pulled out a waking grey pegasus colt with a lighter grey mane. "Ooh?" sounded the colt in confusion as Gold carefully placed him on her back. 

"Shh, it's okay, mama's got you," she said as she turned and reached into the other crib as she used her wings to keep the colt occupied. Inside the other was a cyan unicorn filly with a golden-grey mane. 

As soon as the filly was touched, her eyes shot open, and she began to cry. "No, no, shh, we have to be quiet, Star," she whispered in a futile attempt to keep her quiet. Then, just as it seemed things couldn't get any worse, the colt began crying as well. "No, we-" the colt then pulled out one of her feathers as he continued to thrash in response to his sister's panic. "Ow! No! Stop. Swift Saber, you stop that right-" 



"High the tri-colour banner is waving,
March is thundering over the ranks,"

At that moment, her ears perked up as she heard a faint sound coming from outside. She was so confused that she hadn't noticed that both of her foals had also stopped to listen. She put Star on her back and proceeded to make her way to her room. 'What is that?' As she entered her room, it only seemed to grow louder.

"In a thin haze, the columns are fading,
In the morning, the battle awaits."

Gold Dust had quietly snuck over to her window cill and peeked out. She had to hold in a gasp as she beheld the impossible scene below her. In place of the Equestrian flag now stood a tri-coloured flag of white, blue, and red. Below that stood a large group of ponies who stood in a circle around a young, white earth pony mare with a black and white mane. 'Is that, Shade Maker?' 

"Soldiers' Mothers and wives, darling sisters,
Left in sorrows will never forget,
How the regiments marched toward sinister,
Distant glow of the purple sunset."

She once again was forced to hold in a gasp. 'She's the one who's singing!?' As she stared, she noticed something off to her left, and when Gold saw them, she could not believe it. "Are those humans!?" It was only when they all turned towards her that she had realized what she had done. 'Uh-oh,'

She saw the crowd begin to advance towards her house. "I think that's my signal to go," she quickly turned, went down the stairs with her fouls in her mouth before putting them in their previous position. She then grabbed a pair of saddlebags, stuffed them full of food and water, and was about to make a run for it. When her door was kicked open, and one of the now armed humans approached her. Had she been thinking clearly, she could have tried to go some other way. However, her maternal instinct had reminded her to put her foals before herself. So, she sat in shock as the human struck her with the butt of his weapon. "Come, Comrades! Let's make sure there are no others!" he yelled as her vision faded to black.