//------------------------------// // Burning Out // Story: Operation Iron Hoof // by thewookie1 //------------------------------// Much thanks for the comments. Also a thank you to Wanderer D; for giving me some helpful writing techniques. Twilight’s House/ Library Last time: “What’s all the commotion?” Robert said as he came through the door. “An old “friend” of ours is in need of some help.” Twilight said putting emphasis on the word friend. Then the light blue pony walked out of the room past Twilight and said, “Who’s the nice-looking colt?” It then dawned on Robert, this Trixie was the same as the one who had attempted to kill him. “The man who will end you!” Robert yelled as he reared up his front hooves and grabbed Trixie in his magic. “What?” said the three others in the room in near perfect unison. “She’s the one who tried to capture me! Now she will pay for her actions since I can’t trust your “police” can do any better than the morons in the SS.” yelled Robert as he began choking the showmare. “I….don’t…… know…….who……you…..are.” gasped out Trixie as she grabbed at her throat. “Stop that Oberst. Stop that Robert! You’re going to kill her!” Twilight yelled at Robert. “That’s the point Miss Sparkle!” Robert yelled back in an acidic tone. Chapter 9 “Why can’t we talk about this?” Twilight pleaded with the enraged officer. “And what then, she walks! How does that make me feel any better!” Robert exclaimed as he shot a stare at Twilight and Spike who stood near the floating Trixie. “Killing her isn’t going to solve anything! Stop choking her!” Twilight yelled back now begin to become worried. “Ple … ase……..stop………I…… beg………of …….. you.” Trixie gasped out as she began to look pale. “I couldn’t avenge my parent’s death, so I will get revenge on my attempted murderer!” Robert belted as he got ready to finish the showmare. “Now you’re just being the murderer, I thought soldiers had honor.” Twilight continued attempting to reason. “Stop!” Spike said running at Robert with a scroll. “Not so fast Spike!” Robert said menacingly as he levitated Spike off the ground and held him in place while still levitating Trixie. “You have to stop him Twi!” Spike yelled as he was spun to face the wall. Twilight’s horn began to glow and then said, “Stop Robert or else!” “Or else what?” Robert gloated. Twilight then began to unleash a massive magic disruptor spell but was stopped by a massive gust of cold air. “Freeze!” Robert laughed as Twilight stood frozen in place inside of a large ice cube. “Twilight!” Spike yelled. “Now as for you Trixie, your miserable existence shall be ended!” Robert said as his horn began to glow brighter. Trixie made one last squirm for freedom and magically jerked her cape at Robert causing a medal to fall out and land at his feet. “What’s this? How did you get this!” Robert said curiously. “I…..fo…..und” Trixie kept gasping until she was suddenly released from a choke hold. “I, I found it outside my cart, and I hoped to return it to the pony whom owned it.” Trixie honestly explained. Robert just stood there in complete confusion while millions of thoughts ran through his mind. Why would she attempt to kill me, than try to return something of mine after she had failed. Why isn’t she speaking in the third person? Could she really have amnesia? Will this really avenge my parent’s death? He consumed himself in though and then just collapsed into a lump on the floor dropping Spike and Trixie in the process along with unfreezing Twilight. Twilight then ran over to Robert to figure out what had just happened. “I’m done, “ Robert mumbled in a defeated tone. “Huh” Twilight said unable to hear the mumbling. “I’ve finally broke God! Make it stop! Make it stop!” yelled Robert as he raised his front hooves into the air. “Twilight, what is he doing?” Spike said both confused and a bit scared. “Have I gone insane!? Ponies that talk, dragons, portals, MAGIC. Have I fallen into the Fantasy section of hell!?” Robert continued to rant. “Yes, you’re in…..” Spike said before a purple hoof silenced him. “Oh yeah I’m a pony now to myself…. “ Robert said looking at his hooves angrily. “Calm down, Robert you are far from dead.” Twilight said attempting to comfort the distraught officer. “Oh thanks magical pony… How would you feel if your parents died and then within the year your entire perspective on reality was completely thrashed?” Robert yelled while gesturing wildly. “Not to mention the SS seem to be hiding something from me, along with all of Germany. Maybe I should have listened o those officers who wanted to kill Hitler. Would that be treason though?” Robert continued to rant as he vented a massive quantity of frustrations. “Umm well everything isn’t set in stone, even as much I wish it was...” Twilight said thinking about the whole “Pinkie Sense” ordeal. “Well it has to be! The idea that all planets don’t fall-in on the same set of rules of science is completely absurd. It’s like saying there’s a planet with creatures that can generate random elements from nothingness and are used for battling. Better yet, people who can manipulate water and fire with their hands!” Robert continued while acting out a creature generating electricity and then using his hooves to shoot imaginary fire. “Holy guacamole, send me there…” again Spike was silenced by a purple hoof. “Physics can’t be that different on your world; you haven’t seemed stressed about gravity or motion.” Twilight commented. “No, aside from that pink pony everything seems right in the Physics department,” Robert said with authority while thinking in the back of his head, based off my one Physics class at university. “Then why are you so distraught?” Trixie said attempting to add herself to the conversation. “Didn’t I already say, this world has magic. I cannot explain how it works but I just manipulated gravity and condensation.” Robert replied confused. “Well magic is created by….” Twilight began before Spike shoved a sock in her mouth. “My so-called overload must have been corrected, I can finally think clearly.” Robert said with a small smile as he rubbed his forehead. “ I apologize Miss Sparkle and Spike for my anger issues, this entire situation is hard to take.” “Phew, I forgive you Oberst Robert, now are you calmed down now?” Twilight said after spitting out the sock. “I believe so, but I still would like a damn good explanation from you, Trixie.” Robert said with authority as he pointed to the showmare. “You shall be explained to err, name again?” Trixie said embarrassingly rubbing the back of her head. “Oberst Johansson to you.” Robert stated sternly. “Alright Oberst Johansson, I shall explain everything that I know.” Trixie replied modestly worried. “You better girl, I have a couple years of experience in interrogations, I can see a lie on anyone’s face.” Robert responded as he stretched the truth. Robert had actually had trouble reading ponies’ facial signs. “Tea…” Twilight interrupted attempting to diffuse the situation some. “Alright I guess, two sugars please.” Robert replied. “Yes, please do so Twilight.” Trixie said rubbing her throat which still ached. “Good. Spike, what would you like?” Twilight said as she entered the kitchen. “Two red gems and a sapphire please.” Spike said as he begant o drool. “Spike…” Twilight responded as she rolled her eyes. Robert then stared at Trixie with only one thought running through his mind, you shall tell me everything… Cave south of portal in Everfree Forest “Regimentskommandeur, the Opels are here.” a SS soldier said as he pointed to the small walkway being fully occupied by three trucks in a row. “Good, what did they bring with them?” Regimentskommandeur von Falst replied with a nod. “Three Pak 40s sir, along with assorted provisions.” the soldier replied as he looked at his clipboard. “Isn’t that a bit heavy, we haven’t seen any armor in the area.” von Falst said curiously. “Oberst Fransheim must have wanted them sent, my clipboard states we were to get three cooking platforms.” the soldier said pointing to the clipboard as he displayed the list to the officer. “Well, when those trucks get here have them dump the equipment over there, then send two of the three back for more. We’ll fill the third with gems.” von Falst said signing the clipboard. “Yes sir!” replied the soldier before he ran off towards the slowly moving trucks. Regimentskommandeur von Falst then headed over to the cave to inspect the progress on the moving of the gems out of the cave. He glanced about the massive cavern and finally saw the mass of gems he had seen mere examples of. “Wow, I didn’t expect so many gems.” the officer said to himself as he slowly walked deeper into the cave towards a group of soldiers. As he walked he began to imagine the pile of gems in a mansion of his own. “What is the status of the gems’ movement?” he asked a soldier carrying a pile of gems. “Sir, we are moving the gems at a steady pace. They should be outside within a couple hours.” the soldier replied with a salute and heel clap. “Good, once we’re done with the gems’ movement, take up sentry duties. 2nd Battalion will be handling the moving of the supply into the cave.” von Falst added before saluting briefly and continuing his supervising of the process. Meanwhile back at the portal, six armored vehicles slowly made their way out of the former room which the portal was held. Behind them had twenty soldiers with assorted sweeping and cleaning devices making sure that there was no evidence to the vehicles arriving. 2 hours later The last of the armored vehicles arrived at the cave and were turned off to conserve gasoline. “Good, it’s always nice to see German engineering at its finest.” Regimentskommandeur von Falst said as he rubbed a tank’s hull. “Sir, all three Panzer IV Gs are fully armed. The two Panzer II Cs are lacking the main gun ammo. The captured H-39 is fully operable.” a soldier informed the officer. “Then what’s the Matilda minesweeper for?” von Falst questioned as he tapped on the hull of a damaged minesweeper tank. “The Oberst sent it to help level the ground in the cave of spikes so that the trucks can go inside.” the soldier replied as he knocked on the armor. “Where’s its turret?” the officer asked as he tapped figuratively on the area lacking a turret. “It’s a captured tank sir, we don’t have British tank turrets just laying around. The steel sheet on the roof is all we need for its job.” a tank crew member retorted from behind the Matilda trying to take a nap. “Alright.” the officer said sourly as he debated giving the smart talker a punishment. But his thoughts were broken by the sudden sound of a gunshot in the forest. “That’ll teach you to bite my knife you goat.” said a SS soldier standing over a corpse of a goat. “What the hell was that!” yelled Regimentskommandeur von Falst as he ran to the location of the gunshot. “Some damn goat bit my knife.” the soldier answered as he kicked the body. “So you shot it!” yelled the officer as he raised his arms in the air. “It’s just a f***en animal. What’s wrong sir?” the soldier replied pointing at the dead goat at his feet. “Haven’t you read the intelligence report on this planet? There are intelligent ponies, what’s to say that goat wasn’t a leader of some goat nation!” the officer said grabbing the goat’s corpse. “We haven’t the killed human equivalents? “ the soldier replied sarcastically. “Well here, we can’t just be killing; our mission is to trick the pony’s country into helping us find oil and then we surprise attack them.” the officer responded. “Go bury the corpse and then get back to sentry duty!” “Yes sir.” the soldier replied as he grabbed the corpse and went off deeper into the woods to get rid of the body. Inside the cave a large dragon began to stir due to the gunshot’s noise echoing through the cave. The dragon began stretching its wings and claws and then a growl emitted again from the massive creature. This time though it wasn’t from his voice but rather his stomach. So the dragon made his way toward the mouth of the cave where he kept his gem stored. As he approached the cave entrance he saw lights and heard strange voices ahead so he began to creep quietly to the opening. When he arrived though the dragon was stunned by what he saw, or rather, what he didn’t. In front of him he saw hundreds of bipedal creatures and a lack of gems. With that he roared loudly and unleashed a massive flame. “Gah! Aaaah!” a large group of soldiers, in the cave, all began yelling as they became suddenly engulfed in flames. “Roaaaaaaaaar!” “What the hell is that?” one soldier yelled as he drew his gun. “A dragon I think!” another soldier yelled as he opened fire. Just as fast as the dragon unleashed its first flame the SS troopers returned fire with their assorted rifles and sub-machine guns. “The rounds aren’t doing anything!” one soldier noticed as he reloaded his MP-40. “You grab a MG-42!” yelled one soldier to another as he pointed to the machine gun on the crate at the cave entrance. Another burst of flames swept over the soldiers as the dragon charged into the more open cave entrance. Another slew of soldier s lit on fire while three were impaled by the dragon’s tail. Outside the cave the officer began to run toward the commotion after making sure that the other soldier buried the goat. He reached the opening outside the cave and saw something he couldn’t believe. “A dragon!” he yelled as he pointed to the cave in horror. “Get the panzers! Man the Paks!” he yelled again as he began to command the scared soldiers in the shallow trenches around the cave. The 2nd Battalion started with 1,000 men, but within one mere minute the battalion had been cut by a tenth. Tank Crews were woken from their naps by the commotion and began hopping into the armored monsters. Ten soldiers quickly rushed toward the anti-tank guns sitting near the provisions while other soldiers began to charge the cave.3rd Battalion was non-existing though due their orders were to guard the portal/watch for Robert/load goods onto the Opels on Earth. The dragon then spoke to the soldiers in rage between flame burst causing some men to just take a tail to the face due to the shock. “Where are my gems!” he yelled. The soldiers desperately began scrambling to find cover to which there was little to none aside from the few supply crates which were useless as it was. Bullets continued to deflect off the hard scales of the dragon causing rounds and bullet fragments to skip off the cave walls and kill other soldiers, but due to the chaos no one could hear the few soldiers who had began yelling to stop firing. “Take this you overgrown lizard!” yelled one soldier as he fired a panzerfaust which ripped a hole in the dragon’s wing causing it to yell loudly in pain. “Yes we can….” the soldier yelled before being crushed by the dragon’s foot. “Find the crate with the panzerfausts!” yelled another as assorted soldier began scrambling to open crates for the weapon. The dragon then aimed at a group of boxes near the entrance and unleashed a fire ball which incinerated few soldiers but lit the boxes on fire. “Fire!” yelled one soldier as three more panzerfaust round ripped through the dragon’s wings but one bounced off the Dragons chest. With that the dragon flapped what was left of his wings causing a gust of wind to stir the flames higher and he swung his tail into the group of soldiers nearby flinging them into the boxes. Suddenly the boxes exploded. The dragon grinned with delight as he watched a large group of people scatter from the burning mess as limbs and blood rained from the heavens. Over the moaning and roar of many machine guns came another though, the sound of a panzer tank which when it came into the dragon’s sight surprised it. The dragon thought to itself, what is that? But by the time he was about to shoot flames he felt a sharp pain in his neck and then a sudden burning sensation. “We hit it!” yelled the gunner to his driver who hadn’t quite turned to the cave yet. “F***en thing dead?” yelled back the gunner. “Not sure, it’s just stumbling around and spewing flames.” he replied. Suddenly a substance began spraying from the dragon’s wound causing existing fires to rage further and burning the soldiers nearby. “It burns aaah!” yelled one as he began to show signs of burns. The dragon finally fell to its knees but continued to spew an acidic spray along with a fire stream that reached over 25 meters. The growled loudly once again but this time blood came out too causing a slight gargling noise. With that the dragon was pelted with several 75mm inch AP rounds to the face causing it completely stop. The acid continued to leak out of its neck causing the ground to begin lighting on fire and engulfing the cave entrance in flames five meters high. Rejoices were screamed along with profanities as the remaining non-wounded soldiers began cheering at the sight of the dead dragon. “This isn’t going to be as easy as I had hoped.” said the Regimentskommandeur as he gazed toward the sight of a dragon and many men burning in the night. All he could smell was burning flesh mixed with beer and provisions. “This is truly a completely different world…” Twilight’s House/Library The two mares and the baby dragon slept without a worry in the world in their respective master or guest bedroom, except one officer who lay staring at the ceiling from the couch. “Oh God, please help me survive this without killing myself or one of these “ponies”. I beg of you God, and Mom and Dad I miss you two very much.”