August 1941 Hamburg, Germany
“I’m tired of this rehab, I’ll be fine doctor.” exclaimed Robert in a hospital robe.
“You can hardly walk on your left leg Leutnant. I’m sorry but you’ll never go back onto active duty.” the doctor explained bringing a frown to the Robert’s face.
“See I can walk aka k aaah owwwww!” yelled Robert as he attempted to place weight onto his damaged knee.
“You had a piece of a gun barrel in your leg along with multiple other wounds Leutnant. Did you really expect to get back on the battlefield within no time?” asked the doctor as he helped Robert back onto the bed.
“No, I guess I just want to do something aside from sitting on a bed or lying on a bed. There’s a war out there and I have to prove myself to my father!” exclaimed the Leutnant from his bed.
“I would guess your father would be proud of you Leutnant.” added the doctor as he attempted escape the conversation.
“Hmmm, did I miss something?” Robert said with a curious face and his eyebrow quirked.
“Fine, I’ll tell you; you are going to receive an Iron Cross Second Class and a Knight’s Cross for your valiant and heroic act of destroying a tank while saving five other soldiers.” confessed the doctor.
“Wow, are you just pulling my leg? I guess that would explain why my Iron Cross Third Class medal is MIA." asked Robert as a smile appeared on his face.
“Yes Leutnant, it’s true. Now can I leave without you trying something stupid?” the doctor added.
“You can leave Dr. Hertz , I apologize for delaying your other patients.” Robert said as he began to re-adjust his pillows for a better night’s sleep.
The next morning he woke up with new vigor and a couple ideas that he was going to ask the doctor about. He had come upon his ideas as he slept; one of his dreams was about his time in England for secondary school. He then knew something he could do that would allow him to help the war’s cause. He was fluent in English so why couldn’t he interrogate prisoners. After making up his mind he told his intentions to his doctor in a quick list.
1. Ask the High Command for a transfer to an interrogation unit.
2. Get his leg to the best it can be post-injury.
3. Interrogate until they achieve victory.
He felt like some sort of professor at a university after the three months he had spent in the hospital. With a lack of things to do, Robert had read the entire hospital library on Archeology, History, and Military tactics. Robert had grown up planning to visit the ruins of Greece and studying the battlefields of the Napoleonic Wars, but the war threw a wrench into that plan. So instead he picked up the profession his father had in WWI, a military officer. He still hoped though that after the war he could explore Waterloo and other major battlefields from the early 1800’s. Robert’s biggest hope was that his interrogation unit would be set up in Athens interviewing the prisoners from the Crete fiasco.
August 1942 Dregen, German held Austria
“I believe we have done it Hans. We have solved not only our oil problems but furthermore a new place to colonize.” gloated a man with a lab coat and a large scar over his left eye.
“Really, do you really think the SS would risk one of its English speaking agents going off-world to fool with something trivial like this?” questioned Hans, another man with a lab coat but much younger than his mentor, Dr. Gruben.
“Yes, Hitler always had a soft spot for these kinds of journeys. If he sent men to Tibet, I think he’ll be fine with exploring a new world.” the older doctor chuckled.
“What if there’s beings still alive there sir?” questioned the younger doctor.
“If they are Aryan they shall live, anything else and we shall purify the planet of their existence.” Dr. Gruben said with an acidic voice. “They can’t be that smart anyway, they worshipped horses from what we could tell from our brief scouting expeditions. Also they use a dialect of English in their writings.” the doctor said as he looked at a picture of a ruin showing what appeared to be two flying unicorns on either side of a sun.
“But wouldn’t it be a better idea if we find these horse worshipers, to study them? asked Hans hoping for a less bloodthirsty reply.
“What could we possibly learn from them Hans; how to scratch behind our backs easier or neigh at the sun gods?” trailed off Dr. Gruben as he began laughing maniacally. “You my young assistant are far too naïve in your thoughts; didn’t the schools teach anything about our superior race?” said Dr. Gruben as he gave Hans a frightening cold stare.
“Ummmm no not really,” he said with a shrug “I was taught to assist people through technology not to murder people sir.” responded the now shaking young doctor.
“O really, well if that’s the case then I should send you to a hospital ran by the SS. You might learn something…..” threatened the older doctor.
“Am I interrupting something Drs. Gruben and Kritz?” interrupted a tall dark haired man with a swastika on his left arm. “I was intrigued by the message of a new super-weapon.”
“No, you are not interrupting anything Oberst Fransheim. My underling was just having trouble understanding basic genetics, that’s all.” as he glared to his younger partner.
“Good, then tell me how the hell this archway door will help the Reich against its enemies!” yelled the impatient SS officer.
“It is a portal to another world Oberst!” exclaimed Dr. Gruben.
"You had better not be fooling with me doctor. I'm a busy man." the officer said angrily.
"It is, it is truly a inter-planetary portal." Dr. Gruben replied reassuring the SS officer.
“Is it able to be colonized? Exploited?” questioned the now interested Oberst Fransheim.
“I can prove its worth, Dr. Kritz please enter the portal and then return in two minutes.” commanded the older doctor.
“Alright, let me grab my equipment!........” Hans yelled as he was thrown into the now glowing bluish green portal.
“The report said you knew about some of the ruins you claim to be near this portal’s exit?” the Oberst questioned while looking at the bag sitting at the portal door.
“Yes, the now deceased scouts I sent reported drawings of horses on the walls. They had to be disposed of though since this is a completely secret operation.” snickered the doctor as he went over to his desk and grabbed a gun from its top compartment.
“Good, let me tell you then what we have planned for this portal.” Oberst Fransheim said as he stood looking at the doctor intently.
“Yes?” the doctor questioned hoping he could see some experiments in the near future.
“We are going to bring in some soldier to butter up the locals on the planet, if there are any, then after he’s gained proof of oil reserves the SS shall invade and conquer the people of the planet.” he said as he fiddled with his holster.
"Seems more involved then it should." the doctor replied.
"Why hunt a planet's entirety when one can just coerce the locals to do it for us." the SS officer said with a devilish grin.
“Why let them live at all? They aren’t worth talking too!” yelled the doctor.
“So there are intelligent creatures on the planet…… how many humans were there and what do they look like?” the Oberst grinned as he had made the doctor slip up.
“Uh um well I don’t know anything more than one of my scouts said he saw at least five small horses working on a massive farm of what appeared to be apples. He said he could hear English being spoken but only saw the small horses. That is all.” replied the doctor as he scrambled to regain his composure and control of the situation.
“Interesting, you have done well and you shall be rightfully AwarDEAD.” The Oberst said as he began to unlock his holster.
“Thank you, I can’t wait for my mansion and visit with Hitler!” the now gleeful doctor said as he turned to the portal.
"Your welcome, but you haven't listened; there won't be any meeting." Oberst Fransheim said as he drew his pistol on the doctor.
"What! I have done as the Fuhrer had wished, I was promised a great reward for suceeding!" the doctor angrily spat back as he stepped back from the officer.
"Yes, doctor you did succeed... but you broke the rules." the Oberst said with a stern glare.
"What do you mean?" the doctor said confused.
“I'm sorry but you have overstayed your welcome doctor." the Oberst said as six soldiers walked in from the hallway outside.
"You can't do this to a high ranking party member!" the doctor yelled as drew his pistol only to be cut down in a hail of rifle and pistol fire. The doctor then collapsed to the ground in a heap in front of the portal.
The younger doctor then came back through the portal to see the dead doctor at his feet.
"What the hell happened here?" Dr. Kritz asked as he pointed to the corpse of Dr. Gruben.
"Tying up loose ends.." Oberst Fransheim said as he put a round between the younger doctor's eyes.
"Someone clean up this mess!” yelled the Oberst as he though to himself, {now I am the only ranked man on the project.}
Outside of Ponyville, Equestria
“Can I go check on the others, little squirrel? Are you sure?” whispered a yellow and pink pony said to a squirrel.
With that the squirrel nodded its head and the pony went on to another animal.
“May I please check your paw? That is if you don’t mind.” inquired the pony to a puppy which was staring up at her. Then as the pony lifted up its paw a grayish rabbit came out of the forest and rammed into her side knocking her off balance. Surprised and a bit timid the pony walked up to the grey rabbit which appeared to have sap all over it and blood.
“Are you ok little one?” the yellow pony asked.
Immediately the rabbit began attempting to pantomime the events which had just taken place.
FLASHBACK
Near a small hole in the ground Little Grey was collecting his carrots when a large Manticore popped out of the bushes behind him. Immediately the rabbit sprung from his stash of carrots and began hopping for his life. The two ran a good mile before coming to the old castle where Grey hoped to lose the beast. The all appeared lost when he tripped on a vine while turning a sharp corner and the Manticore jumped him. Digging his claws into the side of the rabbit the Manticore growled and began bringing Grey to his mouth when suddenly the Manticore’s eyes went wide open and claws released Grey. After being dropped Grey ran to the Pony’s house for she was known to help injured creatures.
“Oh that sounds scary.” the pony said as she began to cringe at the thought of it.
Immediately the rabbit began grabbing at her hoof and attempted to pull her to the forest.
“I…..I can’t go into the forest alone….. it’s dark and scary.” said the pony as she began to shake.
"I’ll go get Twilight, she’ll help. Wait here little guy.” she told the small slightly bloodied rabbit. “Oh your hurt too, Angel could you help me fix this little one up?” said the pony as she glanced over to another rabbit gladly chomping on a carrot. At the sound of work though, Angel the rabbit sighed and pulled a first aid kit out of his house and began walking to the pony’s position.
After fixing the small rabbit up the pony headed to her friend Twi’s house and to her delight found the rest of her friends were already there.
“Umm hello everypony, would you mind helping me solve a problem in the forest? That of course if you don’t mind.” whispered the shy yellow pony at the door of the tree/house/library which her friend lived.
“That must be why Pinkie alerted us to her twitches.” said a purple with a pink streaked mane pony near a pile of books.
“Are you sure Twilight, must I dirty my hooves again. I just had my spa visit yesterday.” said the white pony with a purple mane with a bothered look on her face.
“Are you sure Twilight?” added a small purple and green dragon with hearts for eyes.
“Yes Rarity, Fluttershy needs our help.” Twilight responded as she glared at the small dragon.
“Ah see nothin wrong with halpen ya Fluttershy. Ah’ll even get some appals for the road.” added the orange pony with a farmer hat.
“Ooh maybe I’ll get to fight what evil creature is out there, that would be so cool. Or maybe the Shadow Bolts will be out there again!” gleefully exclaimed the cyan pony with a rainbow mane now flying in loops above the others.
“Aah Pinkie Pie, where’d you go?” asked Twilight.
“Right here! Right here!” said the jumping pink cotton candied mane pony on outside the door holding a cannon.
“How did you get outside, oh never mind.” Twilight said as she sighed and led the group outside.
After a long walk into the Everfree Forest the six ponies and one grey rabbit wrapped in gauze arrived at the former castle. After arriving the rabbit bolted to a clearing in the ruins where there lay what appeared to be a sleeping Manticore. Upon closer inspection the ponies then notice a blood pool around the once mighty predator. Fluttershy jumped immediately behind the rest of the group and Rarity began to check her hooves while looking further downtrodden.
“No party now.” the pink pony sighed as her cannon seemingly disappeared as fast as her smile had.
Laying in front of the six was a bloodied Manticore with its arms in odd positions.
“What in tarnation could have left a Manticore like this?” questioned the orange pony as she adjusted her hat trying to take in the sight.
Fluttershy quickly squeaked before hopping behind the stone wall to their left while the others just stared at the creature in with disturbed faces.
“I don’t know guys; I have never seen a Manticore with these strange wounds before. None of my books have ever displayed similar holes.” Twilight said as she raised a hoof to her mouth and began to ponder. “Can’t be a spear, too small….” trailed off Twilight as she began to talk to herself about the possibilities.
“Hey guys, there’s something wrong with these trees.” the cyan pony said in a startled tone as she hovered near a tree.
“Rainbow Dash, this is no time…….. what the hay…” said the orange pony.
“What is it Applejack? Oh what is that?” said Twilight as Rainbow Dash picked up a strange metal crushed cylinder from the wall below the tree.