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Chapter 1: Am I crazy?1,205 words
Chapter 2 Introduction1,702 words
Chapter 3 Factory1,750 words
Chapter 4 A mother's worries2,448 words
Chapter 5 The other side of war4,662 words
Chapter 6 Winter is coming1,872 words
Chapter 7 A happy Christmas and Hearts Warming Eve2,336 words
Chapter 8 Getting out of Stalingrad2,053 words
Chapter 9 A new beginning1,447 words

Chapter 9 A new beginning

Chapter 9: A new beginning

The last thing before Ruby passed out felt was cold. Nothing but cold.

“Ruby…” a voice ringed through her ears, but there was just darkness.

“W-ho is there?” She asked scared.

“A Friend.” Her eyes were blended by a white light and a Stallion that looked like an Angel appeared out of the darkness. “Hello, Ruby.”

“Do I know you?”

“No, but I you. Has your mother ever told you of me?”

It clicked in Ruby’s head. “D-daddy?”

“Yes my dear, I’m your father.”

“DADDY!” She hugged him tightly without warning.

“Shh, my dear. I know we’re never met but I’m so happy for you. I watched over you since you were born. I became your Guarding Angel after my death and your birth.”

“Am I dead?” the foal asked, afraid that she had died and would join him in heaven.

“Don’t worry my dear, your friends and the Princesses found you just in time. Want to know how I met your mother?”

“Yes, please!” Ruby exclaimed.

“Okay.” White cleared his throat and told his daughter how he met Berry all those years ago. She was amazed by the details as he could remember perfectly how he met Berry and good times it were all those years ago.

“I’m sorry for what happened to you, Daddy. It’s all my…”

He father putted a hoof on her lips. “It wasn’t your fault. And I’m not mad at you for seeing Frank as your father. If fact, he reminds me of myself in many things. I can tell he will be a good Stepfather for you.”

“I hope mommy and the Princesses will think so too. I don’t want that he gets sent back into that…bad war.” She explained worried.

“I’m pretty sure they will accept him. After all, he saved your life. I’m very grateful that he did everything he could to keep you alive.”

“I’m too, daddy. I’m just feeling sorry for him that he lost all his friends and his family.” She had her ears lowered.

“Me too, but I’m sure you and your friends will make sure that he has a happy life here in Equestria.” White smiled at her.

“Tell me daddy, can you help me with making mommy’s gift?”

“Sure. I’m not an expert like Twilight but I should be able to help you with that. Breathe calm and concentrate.”

Ruby took the advice from her father and tried it. “It worked! Thank you, Daddy!” She hugged him.

“You’re welcome. I’m sure she will like it.”

“You think so? I was afraid that it would make her sad.” Ruby was worried.

“I beg to differ. I think that she will love it when she sees it.”

“What makes you so sure?” the filly was confused how her father could be so sure.

“You know how hard my death was for her. And your gift will show that she should think of the good times not the bad times. But now, I think it is time for you to wake up.”

“Bye, Daddy!” Ruby exclaimed as he left.

Ruby opened her eyes slowly. She was in a hospital room, white walls and beds. In a bed next to her was Frank, a heart–lung machine, also known as Cardiopulmonary bypass, CPB for short was warming him, an EKG showing his heart rate. He was still unconscious. She looked around to notice that she had one too, a CPB warming her also in addition to it.

Nurse Redheart walked in. “Ah, you’re awake, Ruby. Let me inform your mother and friends. How are you?”

“Good so far.”

“Glad to hear it. I’ll be back soon.” The white earth pony trotted out. Ruby let out a sigh of relief. They both had survived and got out of Stalingrad.

I hope Frank makes it.

She closed her eyes to take a nap.

After a while, she awoke by the voice of her mother. “My little Ruby, I had almost lost you.” It sounded sad yet happy.

“Mama? MAMA!” Ruby and Berry embraced, overjoyed to see each other again.

“I missed you so much! I thought I would never see you again!”

“We too,” Berry pointed to her daughter’s friends as they came in.

“Hello Ruby, we brought you some gifts.” Dinky putted a big basket filled with sweets of all kind on the nightstand.

“Thank you. How long was I out?” Ruby took a muffin out of the basket with her magic to take a bite.

“A few weeks. The Princesses found you very weak, strongly subcooled, and almost frozen. As you can see you both were on life support via the CPB. Still, we are so happy that you made it!” Colgate had joined them, hugging Ruby too.

“How did you found me?”

“I can answer that.” Princess Luna walked in. “If a teleport spell with a lifeform goes wrong, it leaves a trail, so others can track it and find the lifeform. It took some time however. You’re both were really lucky.”

Princess Celestia joined them. “Indeed and very glad to hear that you are well and healthy. Now, my dear subject, what is your story that he protected you?” she asked in a curious and motherly tone.

The EKG beeped faster. “W-well, I-I landed in a town that Frank called ‘Hell on Earth.’ I-I…” she buried her head into her mother’s chest.

“Shh…Ruby, it’s over, you’re safe, calm down.” Berry patted her back.

“Ruby, allow me to try something.” Luna came closer to her.

“I have seen things my friends shouldn’t see…” The filly warned.

“We are your friends Ruby and we help you no matter what!” Scootaloo raised her hoof into the air.

As Luna’s horn touched Roby’s forehead, they saw in a dream-like scene what happened and even saw what Frank had been through.

Colgate covered her mouth. “Oh my…”

The foals were shocked but Celestia comforted them by putted one wing over them.

“My poor daughter!” Berry hugged the unicorn tightly.

“Can’t breathe…”

Berry let go. “Sorry, but I’m just so glad that you’re survived and that I didn’t lost another family member. I guess I owe Frank one.”

As Berry said this, the human moaned and groaned as he woke up. “Oh…my head. Where am I?”

“Greetings, Mr. Lange, I’m Princess Celestia, this is my sister Princess Luna. We are very grateful for keeping our young subject safe.”

“I’m Ruby’s mother Berry Punch, this is my friend Colgate and Ruby’s friends Dinky, Noi, Tootsie Flute, Scootaloo Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. We are all very grateful that you kept Ruby safe.”

“I only did my duty. This is Equestria, right?” He looked around.

“Yes and you’re welcome to stay.”

“No way, I get back into this war after I lost everything. I would like to stay here, your Highness.”

“Please, Celestia and Luna are just fine.”

“Mr. Lange, if you want, you can become a part of our family.” Berry offered.

“How could I refuse?”

“Mommy, can I show you something?”

“What is it, my dear?”

Ruby took a deep breath and concentrated, her horn glowed. It sparked, the sparks flew around the room and built the words “Happy anniversary!” Berry let out tears.

At first Ruby thought her made was sad until she noticed that it were actually tears of joy.

“It’s so beautiful!” The Violette Mare exclaimed happy.

So that was Ruby’s gift. Her Congratulation to her mother’s wedding day. Frank couldn’t help but smile at this.

A few months later

Frank enjoyed every second of his new life. He worked in Sugarcube corner at the counter. He married Berry, she was similar to his wife and he to her husband. Ruby loved it to have him as father.

He didn’t care about the war but knew that Germany would lose it after the Battle of Stalingrad was lost. He missed his friends but knew they were now in a better place.

With the help of her friends, Ruby could get over the terrible things she experienced in Stalingrad. “Mommy, Daddy, I’m home!” she called out.

“Welcome home, sweetheart. How was school?”

“Great! I eat something then meet with my friends in the park!”

“Have fun, my dear.” Berry loved it to see her daughter happy.

“Of course! I love you!” She hugged both before she left.

Frank looked smiling after her until she was out of sight.

Berry got a bottle of Champaign out of her cabinet and poured her and him a glass. “Cheers!”

They clink glasses and drank it together.

After all the struggle and hard work, Frank could begin new. He couldn’t think of a better gift for him.

Author's Note:

You really thought I let a filly die in one of my stories? Think again. Now, you also know what Ruby's gift was. Let me remind you, of the 260,000 soldiers of the 6th Army, 91,000 became POWs in Russian captivity, only 6,000 of them returned to their homeland years later. Originally, I had in mind that Ruby also becomes a POW of the Sowjets, but given the bad conditions, I don't think she had survived for long and if she did, the last prisoners returned in 1955, so I doubt she had survived for that long, and even if she did, it would be a shock for Berry to see her daughter traumatized and aged up.

My second thought was that Tanya manages that Ruby gets brought to foster parents but I'm pretty sure that this would be seen as treachery. What do you think of those two options?

Anyway, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the story.

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