//------------------------------//
// Discussion of plans 
// Story: Of a German and American soldier in Equestria 
// by redspark 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 8


Discussion of Plans

 
The nearly empty palace of Canterlot echoed as an American officer made his way through its many corridors. He had taken some time to memorize the ones he began to use most often (the kitchen interestingly being one of the ones he remembered the most). He was now going randomly though, as he began to feel sometimes the need to be alone.
 
It had been three days since the meeting with the generals, and he still felt like it had been barely yesterday that he had been back on earth, commanding his small force of men... new recruits most of them... to 'protect' a position that the generals had not thought would be a target to the Germans. How wrong they had been...
 
He stopped as he passed beside a window. The clear and dark night sky was faintly lit by the moon's light, which wasn't very strong that particular night. He wondered for a second if the Princesses really controlled the celestial bodies, but he immediately tried to think about something else.
 
All those thoughts of magic... they overwhelmed his mind even if he knew he could take it without going mad or anything.
 
It was just...
 
"Stop thinking about it!" he told himself quietly, then realizing he had spoken out loud, even if in a whisper. The palace hallways where very good at carrying echoes.
 
Once he made sure that nopony had seen or heard him talking to himself, he looked once again at the window. The city of Canterlot stood all around the palace, and beyond the walls (which he wondered what they were for, since the city was technically suspended on platforms and an attack from there was technically impossible) laid the rest of the land.
 
He knew he could only see a small fraction, since the mountain wasn't big enough to literally see the whole of Equestria, but still he was first surprised at how much he could see.
 
In the distance, not too far away, stood the little town of ponyville. He sighed, remembering that town. He had just been there for a couple of hours and he really preferred it to the city of Canterlot. He always preferred open fields than enclosed streets.
 
He turned to look at the foot of the mountain. There was a small encampment being installed there. Tents with fluttering banners that moved with the night breeze could be seen faintly.
 
The army was there, the army he was supposed to advise strategically.
 
He felt a high pressure beginning to build inside him. He had felt that same feeling in the stomach once they appointed him in command of a hundred men back at the war against the Germans. He knew he could lead them, but he still felt weird.
 
He was turning around to keep walking when a soft yet warm and merry voice spoke.
 
"I see you are a night walker," Luna said from behind. Davis turned to her with a neutral expression. He knew most men would have jumped in surprise, but he was just too used to sudden explosions and rifle shots that he was expecting them all the time.
 
"Good night, princess," he answered, giving her a small bow of courtesy. Luna chuckled.
 
"No need for pleasantries with me, Davis. you should know that at night and alone with a friend I  like to talk normal." Her eyes turned to the window Davis had been looking at seconds ago. "Beautiful, isn't it," she said softly.
 
Davis nodded. "Yes, the night looks very pretty tonight."
 
Luna shook her head smiling. "I wasn't referring to the night, though I must admit I did put on special effort tonight..." she made the last with a pompous air jokingly. ”I was talking about Equestria." She looked down, then said with a threatening voice "I can't believe those foul creatures want it for them."
 
Davis, a little surprised by the change of mood on the princess, said "Yes, it’s beautiful." The princess looked at him. "And I will make all that I can and have within my power to help you fight that evil."
 
Luna smiled sadly. "I'm glad to hear that." Her mane shone with a dark brilliance and, Davis noticed, seemed to get more alive as the moonlight that was filtering through the window touched it. "I heard yo spoke wisely the other day. It's not often that somepony manages to shut down the generals at the same time, less getting their admiration the same day."
 
Davis smiled. "I'll take it as a compliment then."
 
Luna nodded "It was one," she said, moving her hoof as if to walk away. "Pray, would you like to come with me for a walk around? It's always much nicer to have a night stroll with somepony rather than alone."
 
Davis hesitated for an instant. He wanted to be alone for some time, and night seemed the best time for it, but now, taking it on that way, Luna was, technically, the night herself. He also felt that he would like some company.
 
Also, saying no to royalty didn't sounded like a good idea.
 
"Sure, I'll tag along," he answered. Luna smiled.
 
"Great." She began to walk. Davis walked beside her. They went on without saying anything, just roaming the palace, contemplating it all around and thinking to themselves. Finally, Davis broke the silence (which surprisingly, in difference with many awkward silences between people, wasn't uncomfortable).
 
"Princess, shouldn't you be doing... royalty things, you are the princess of the night after all."
 
Luna nodded. "Yes, I normally have a very busy night, but tonight it is different. I don't have night court, which greatly increases my personal time, and I finished all the papers I had yesterday, so I'm free tonight." She stopped for a second to scratch her chin. "I wonder how Celestia manages..." she then returned to walking.
 
Davis chuckled. "I don't think I'd be able to rule a country." He said that truthfully. It seemed like an overwhelming job to do.
 
"Pray that you don't, Davis," the moon princess said laughing. "It is excruciating."
 
Both laughed for some time. They walked for a couple of more hallways until they reached the doors that led outside into the palace gardens. Luna opened the door with her magic and exited the palace with Davis following close behind.
 
The cold breeze relaxed Davis, even if he already felt relaxed. Luna stopped, feeling the air. "I always like that funny feeling of my fur when brushed by the night breeze."
 
Davis smiled. "Yes, the breeze does feel relaxing," he said. The walked around the gardens in silence. Luna seemed to be thinking about something as her brow darkened, making Davis stop. They were beside the southern wall of the palace. There was a big tree and a small cliff just before the castle walls rose into the sky.
 
"Is everything okay, princess?" he asked. Luna sighed.
 
"I'm just worried. It's been a long time since war has been upon us, and... I'm afraid to say that last time I caused it," she said slowly. Davis looked confused.
 
"You caused it? How?"
 
The princess nodded, looking at the tree. "I... I allowed dark thoughts into my mind. Thoughts about power, mostly because I felt my sister had the real power and I was just there, without any use. I wanted... I wanted eternal night and even changed my name to Nightmare Moon, though that part of me is gone now, since it was all dark magic."
 
Davis nodded. "I'm sorry to year that."
 
She shook her head. "I just don't want to see more ponies dead by war, not when I remember how they died when I tried to overthrow my sister." A small tear fell on the soft grass from the mare's head.
 
Davis wasn't sure what to say, so he remained quiet. The princess looked at him.
 
"You seem like a good leader, Davis. Not that I've seen you on battle, but you know things... And you know about leading, even if it's not something you have much experience with." She unfurled her wings. "I trust that we will be able to make it through this war, and I believe you will he an important key for victory." She smiled. "Have a good night, commander," she jumped as her wings pushed her up and away. Davis saw as she became a tiny black dot in the darkness and soon disappeared.
 
He was surprised by how fast she had simply left, but what began to make him think about more was that she had called him commander.
 
A commander...
 

***   ***   ***

 
The way to his room proved to he without any delays or unexpected meetings, like the one he had with the princess. He opened the door and entered the dark room.
 
There was a large bed. The ceiling wasn't very high up, but still much more than his house back in the US, much more compared to his little tent...
 
There was a door that led to the bathroom (which had a whole yet empty dressing room) and two large glass doors that went to a balcony that looked to the north side of the city. There were some bookshelves with books that he had not actual interest in reading, as a table with a chair. He saw the sleeping clothing they had made for him. He took it and changed quickly and quietly.
 
He was finally ready to sleep. He got into his bed, still feeling surprisingly good at the soft texture, since he was used to hard floor back in the war. He closed his eyes and soon drifted to sleep...
 

***   ***   ***

 
The sun was shining high up in the sky when he woke up. The sound of city activity was the first thing that reached his ears. There was the distant toll if bells, announcing what he did not know. He yawned as he stretched his arms. He felt slightly tired due to the other night's stroll.
 
He yawned once more and then proceeded to stand up. He went to the balcony and opened both doors wide, letting air flow into the room. He walked over to the railing and looked around at the city.
 
Ponies, ponies everywhere.
 
That still made him wonder sometimes if he was really awake or asleep. This still seemed too incredible to believe it completely. Of course, he pretended he was not having problems adapting, but he knew that he still saw it unbelievable.
 
He looked one last time at the busy city before going back into his room and changing to his usual military clothing. As he was about to change he noticed that it was no longer dirty. He slowly picked the jacket up, smelling it. Yes, it was clean. He saw that the dirt and even the wear were gone from the fabric. He looked at his boots and noticed that they were... Polished? He put on the uniform slowly. He finished and headed for the kitchen.
 
The way there was as the other days: silent with nopony to bother him. He as turning on a corner when he accidentally ran into someone... actually, somepony. He saw a mare he could swear he had already seen before...
 
"Derpy?" he asked at the grey mare. She opened her eyes, since apparently she had fallen backwards. Davis had had no problems because he had good balance and had not suffered a fall. "Oh! Let me help you," he said, helping her up. Derpy smiled.
 
"Hello! I didn't expected seeing you here." Her voice was slightly tired. Perhaps she had flown a lot? Davis noticed that she had a bag full of letters.
 
"Well, I came here after leaving ponyville after all. You... you kind of disappeared once we met the princess and the elements."
 
Derpy nodded. "I remembered I had to get some deliveries..." she said, patting the bag. "Which reminds me..." she looked into the bag and pulled out a letter. "This one's for you."
 
Davis took it slowly. "For me? Who would write me?"
 
Derpy shrugged. "I don't know, but I can't waste more time. Do you know where is princess Luna?"
 
Davis looked around. "Err... I don't know. Probably in her chambers sleeping." He looked at the grey pegasus again. "Why?"
 
"There's a letter for her."
 
Davis looked suspiciously. "But shouldn't the letters be delivered at the palace gates to be brought by the servants to the princesses?"
 
Derpy nodded. "Yes, that was until the princesses ordered the guards that I was to deliver the letters personally." She didn't waited for any response from Davis as she lifted off and flew away.
 
"Wait!" Davis said, but she was already gone. That was... unexpected... he thought. After looking back at where the mare had gone, he resumed his walk.
 
He finally reached the wooden doors of the kitchen. He entered and saw that there was nopony around. Strange... it was always full of servants going around preparing food or taking treats to the princesses... Where could they all be.
 
He looked at the table he normally ate breakfast on. There was a plate with food, et nothing else. The kitchen seemed to have been emptied of staff right after cleaning. He sat down and began eating silently.
 
He finished pretty fast and was out of the kitchen. He turned around, expecting something to attack him in any moment. Everything, even the kitchen, empty felt… wrong.
 
He shove those thoughts aside again as he went to walk to the war room. There was an appointed meeting of the generals and he had been asked to join them. Louis was probably going to be there as well.
 
His thoughts wandered into the German Private. He had never liked a german soldier, even less after the start of the war. Still, Louis seemed to make him feel that the image he had of Germans wasn't completely on the right place… Maybe not all Germans were so bad. He shook slightly his head, trying to stop thinking of that. He disliked thinking like that. Many of his fellow men had fallen after the German guns. He wasn't about to forgive one of them.
 
He stopped in front of the door. He breathed, calming himself and then pushed it open. The room was exactly the same as the other time he had been there, and the same ponies stood in it. The only one that was there that had not been before was Luna. The princess of the moon acknowledged Davis with a nod.
 
“Davis, we were expecting you,” Celestia said with her usual kind smile. Davis nodded as he walked over to the table, sitting on his chair. Louis was there as well. Silver Ink looked at him with a neutral expression, but Davis was sure there was a hint of anger on his eyes. He stopped looking at the general pegasus.
 
“Alright, since we are all here, I believe we should begin,” Celestia announced. Everyone nodded in agreement. “I believe that the enemy has begun their approach, is that correct general Fire Strike?” She turned to the mare.
 
Fire Strike nodded slowly. “Yes princess. The changelings have begun their advance on the south, approaching the town of Green Lake. It is a small village, barely one hundred inhabitants. They dedicate mostly to corn plantations.”
 
Celestia nodded. “We can´t let the changelings reach it, or at least give enough time for the inhabitants to evacuate.”
 
Surprisingly, Louis spoke. “It won't be easy to evacuate people from their homes, princess. It will take time to convince them all to leave and, if I'm not mistaken, we don't have that time.”
 
“That is true sister. The ponies that live there won't leave their homes just because we told them to,” Luna said. Celestia looked at the table. Immediately, the table turned into a map portraying what was labeled as southern equestria.
 
“We must convince them, there is no other way, unless the generals assure us that a victory is possible,” she said, turning to the rest of the ponies.
 
General SeaStorm looked at the map. “From the intel we have gathered, the enemy has us by three to one. We would need super soldiers or good luck to win something like that.” He turned to the princess. “I´m afraid I can't assure you that a victory is possible. Delay them from reaching the village, yes. Defeat them… highly unlikely, though there are slim possibilities.”
 
The solar princess sighed. “Alright.” She turned to Luna. “Sister, I believe that only we can convince ponies of leaving their homes. I need you to go with the army to that village and get them to accept the evacuation.”
 
Luna nodded. “Of course sister. It shouldn't be much of a problem.”
 
Davis heard Louis cough falsely, obviously in disagreement.
 
General Silver Ink looked at the map intensely. “If I may suggest…” he began, placing his left front hoof on the table. Immediately red and blue little blocks appeared portraying the two armies. “The enemy has ten thousand strong. We have two, most of them… no, all of them have never seen battle before. Still, I believe there is a way we can win this.” There were ten red blocks right on the Equestrian boarder. The small village of Green Lake had a large label to make itself noticeable. There were two blue blocks behind the village. “I believe that if we make two companies of five hundred ponies from one of a thousand…” one of the blue block divided into two smaller blocks. “...we can try to surround the enemy. I don't believe they will be coming with a special strategy. For all they know, we only have the royal guards.” The two smaller blocks moved to the sides, while the big blue one moved to confront the enemy. The two blocks crashed against two sides of the back while the main equestrian force stopped the red advance. He looked at everypony, waiting for any commentaries.
 
“That could work,” SeaStorm said, looking at Celestia.
 
“That won't work, at least not with the soldiers we have right now,” Fire Strike immediately said. “We have inexperience soldiers, Silver. If we had veterans from the crystal war we might have a chance of succeeding, but we have ponies that the most dangerous tool they've used in their lives is a kitchen knife.”
 
Davis looked at Silver Ink. The general seemed slightly angry, but he contained himself. “I don´t think that will be a problem, I mean… they are being trained right now and they will know what to do the moment we make this.”
 
“Maybe we should give it a try, sister,” Luna said, supporting Silver Ink. “We must have faith in our own ponies, because if we don't… then we are doomed for defeat.” Fire Strike looked at Luna and sighed. Celestia nodded.
 
“I believe that will be the plan then. Any other objections?” the solar princess asked. The generals nodded in agreement.
 
“No princess.” SeaStorm finally said. Only Fire Strike remained with her head low. Celestia began to rise when Davis stood up.
 
“No, this is too risky.”
 
Luna and Celestia looked at him, as did the rest of the generals.
 
“Pray tell, why?” Luna asked.
 
Davis sighed. “Look, I know that we need to trust our own men… err, I mean, ponies, but this is taking it to the limit. I know the enemy won't be prepared for this, of course that is if they are not expecting such a move from us. If there is a general with half the brain of a military man he'll know that a back attack is the most obvious course of action from an enemy, and if he knows his job he'll know not to underestimate his enemy… which is us.” That made both Luna and Celestia sit down again.
 
“That… is true,” Celestia said.
 
“Know your enemy and know yourself, and in a hundred battles you won't lose,” Davis quoted. “I believe it was something like that a general, the same from from what I said before, said. We would be launching an attack against someone that we don´t know. We´d be throwing our troops blind with just possible outcomes and guesses.” He moved his hand to the table and hesitated. He knew how that table worked. It read his mind in order to portray what he was thinking. Still, magic was still something alien to him. He touched the table and imagined the equestrian army divided into four blocks. Immediately, the two blue blocks that were on the back of the enemy disappeared as well as the other blue block divided. Two other blocks appeared, showing the equestrian army divided into groups of five hundred.
 
“I believe that we should slow down the enemy on their advance and give time for the villagers to evacuate. We would be falling back slowly, of course. We can´t hold a wave of ten thousand with barely two, but if we attack blind it will be worse. The smaller groups of five hundred is to make it easier to make guerrilla strikes against the enemy lines. We would jump in, kill as many as we can in little time and leave as soon as possible. That will slow the enemy.” He stopped to look at everyone around the table and allow them to think what he had just said. Nopony said anything, so he continued.
 
“One of the four groups will do that job of raiding and guerrilla. The other three will engage the enemy as little as it is possible, still trying to keep the enemy from moving forward.” In the table, the red army began to move forward as the three blue blocks began to fall back. The other blue block move at the enemy´s side, occasionally moving into it and the back again. “If we do that, by the time the enemy reached the town the inhabitants will be gone and we will probably have reinforcements to push them back again and out of our land.”
 
When he finished the whole room was silent. Nopony was saying anything and he could swear he could hear the heartbeat of every pony present.
 
Silver Ink looked at him finally after finishing to analyze the table. “That… might actually work.”
 
Davis was surprised Silver Ink was the first one to speak… and not only that, but supporting him. That was something good.
 
Fire Strike smiled confidently. “I think we have a plan then.”
 
SeaStorm nodded without speaking. General Ace smiled and stood up. “I believe we should go to oversee the training of the soldiers. Commander Davis, care to accompany me?” Davis shrugged.
 
“Anything to get out of this palace,” he said, earning a chuckle from Fire Strike and a curious look from Luna.
 
“Alright. Princesses, if you'll excuse us…” Ace said, bowing.
 
“Of course. I´ll go there myself in some time. I need to do some things first. I call this session out,” Celestia said. The generals and Luna stood up. Only Louis remained on his seat, looking at the table. As everypony began to leave the room, Fire Strike noticed Louis. She waited for the room to empty before she approached the table again. She stood beside the german.
 
“Louis, anything on your mind?”
 
Louis looked at her and chuckled, turning back at the table. “If there was nothing in my mind I'd feel like in heaven. Right now I just have too many things… But ya, there is something special that´is bothering me.” He looked at the blue blocks. “Not vith the strategy, but vith the enemy. I believe that, whereas ve zon´t know them, they know us.” That earned a confused glance from Fire Strike.
 
“What do you mean?”
 
Louis stood up and walked to a window. “You say that they can change forms, ya?” Fire Strike nodded. “Zhat is the problem. They can be in our very line of command, and we vouldn´t know…” Fire Strike looked at the floor.
 
“That is true, yes, but we have a special spell that reveals if you are really yourself or a changeling in disguise. I don't think any important officer could be replaced without us knowing.”
 
Davis looked at her and sighed. “I hope so, because if it isn't that vay… Ve are in serious trouble.”