Stalingrad, a town both sides call hell. A Squad of German soldiers find something that should not be here.
Stalingrad,1942. The Germans have captured most of the city but the Soviets won't give up. Both sides have heavy losses. Can a squad of German soldiers prevent a lost filly named Ruby Pinch to becoming one of the losses?
Note This story is still being edited, so there could be some errors in in that will be later corrected.
“In three days of the hell of Stalingrad, one has no idea what has happened in there. This surpasses everything experienced so far. The city is continually getting smaller, and the ruins are getting bigger. Every house must have been destroyed, and often battles are fought for mounds of rubble. The artillery is smashing into it. Tanks and infantry comb the streets and this is the toughest work. Everyone who gets out alive may thank God.”
Gefreiter Otto Lanz, 305th Panzer Jäger Abteilung
Frank Lange, a Rifleman from the German 6th Army, 27 years old, married and a father, was patrolling the seemingly endless streets of Stalingrad with his friend Manfred Stein who was a SMG gunner.
They both were young, full of enthusiasm and patriotism. As everyone else, they were confident of victory and wished for a swift victory and swifter journey home. But it was not so.
As the conquer of Moskau failed in 1941 thanks to the winter, High Command sent the 6th army to secure the city of Stalingrad. It’s capture would cut the Russians off their vital route to the Caspian sea, lower their moral as it was named after their leader, and would allow Germany to access the oil-rich city of Baku.
While it sounded simple and the German Army was highly-trained and well equipped, the Russians were very stubborn, making every fight hard and bloody.
Frank and Manfred both served in North Africa, and were on leave before they got sent to the Eastern Front.
Frank could still remember how they joked on the train to the front.
“Stalingrad? Oh please. Then we cut the Ivan's coat. Such a lousy city, we'll take it in three days!” Manfred joked.
“Yeah, the world has never seen a highly-trained force like us! I just can’t wait to see my family again!” Frank exclaimed.
“Don’t worry about that. I am with you. And with me, you all will return healthy!” His squad leader Nick Fischer assured him. He was in his late 30s and had served on the Eastern Front since the beginning of Operation Barbarossa.
Apart from him, there was Klaus their MG gunner, Kevin their Marksman and Lars, also a Rifleman who used a semi-automatic rifle. They were played cards.
But reality was different.
The Russians defended every corner of this city with everything they had, which resulted in heavy losses for both sides. Also, neither of both sides cared for the civilians which pained Frank as every time he heard a child crying, it reminded him of his daughter. The last time he had seen her and his wife was in August 1942, shortly before he was sent to the front.
“I will miss you, Daddy!” His daughter, Jana, hugged him tightly.
“I will too.” He returned it.
“Be careful.” His wife kissed him and gave him a small family photo.
“Of course I will.” He said before getting on the train.
The Situation was getting worse and worse for the German Army every day in Stalingrad, and his family was the only thing that kept him from going nuts. But still, his chances of survival were low and he expected every day to die. Sometimes, he even dreamed of his death, a bullet to the head.
“I know but someone has to do it. Besides, still better than freezing at -40 degrees like last year. If we had attacked earlier or if the winter had not been so cold, we would have captured Moskau and it would be over.”
“Yeah, and we and the Russians have lost too many already.” Manfred commented as there were many bodies lying around from previous battles.
“You’re right, all those deaths for this city. I’m looking forward to the end of this.”
“Me too. Ideas on how to fight homesickness?”
“I just imagine that we win and I am finally able to sit with my wife and daughter in front of our fireplace. That helps.”
“Well, then pray that you see them again. There were soldiers who thought the same and died.” Manfred reminded him of the many who had a family and died.
“Hey, together we can make it through this!”
“Damn right!” They got to know each other in Africa, expect for Nick who became their new leader after their previous Squad Leader was fallen during the battle of El Alamein. They enjoyed each other’s company. Back then, Frank was responsible to get enough water as he was a bartender before the war. The heat never bothered any of them, neither did the cold here as they got used to it.
“The MP40 is a reliable weapon but you should take a PPSH-41 when you can. Those things never jam even though our weapons are superior to theirs.”
“Yeah, maybe. You never told me how you got a Mauser C96 or better said, a M712.”
Frank chuckled. “A very naive soldier used it as stake in a game of cards which I won. He said I was cheating, but I countered that he couldn’t play cards.”
Manfred laughed. “That’s right, you’re a master at this game! Already got an idea for a Christmas present for your daughter?”
“She likes ponies, so I thought, what about a plushie? Unicorn or Pegasus, I still need to decide.”
“Why not both? A…an Alicorn, get it?” He joked.
“How did you come up with that? I hope your mind isn’t broken.”
“No, not yet. But if you think about it, combining it that would be a Breakthrough and miracle in Greek mythology!”
“Yeah, after we banish one to the moon. I know you like mythology but how do you get such ideas?”
“Just popped in there.”
“Uh-huh. Anyway, stay sharp, the Bolsheviks could be anywhere.” Frank warned him.
“Of course, it’s not like they can turn invisible or something.”
While they made their round, Frank could swear he heard a child crying.
“Hey do you hear that?” he asked Manfred.
“Yeah, and…?”
Frank looked around, the crying came out of a bombed building. “Check it out? Help this poor child?”
“Fine. But if this is a new trick by the Reds, I make you pay for this!”
They entered slowly and with caution.
They saw something wrapped in a blanket, calling for his mother. It was not in Russian but In German. Both Soldiers looked to each other before Frank opened his mouth. “Hello?”
The blanked flinched. “P-please don’t hurt me. I’m scared.” It sounded very scared.
“We won’t hurt you, kid.” Frank and Manfred lowered their weapons.
But as the blanket fell off, they couldn’t believe their eyes.
The child was a unicorn filly with pale rose coat, matching mane and lime green eyes. It cried and hugged Frank for comfort.
“Shh, calm down, we’re here for you.” He said instinctively as he did the same with his daughter when she cried.
After a while, the foal calmed down. “Thanks. I’m Ruby Pinch. You?” she looked up.
“Private Frank Lange and this is my friend Private Manfred Stein.” Frank introduced himself and Manfred but both had the same thought.
Both men shook their heads, thinking it was just their imagination, but the filly was still here.
Frank patted her. “Here, take a sip.” He gave her his canteen.
“Thanks.” She said as she took a sip and enjoyed it clearly.
“What should we do?” Frank asked his comrade.
“Bring her to a safer place. I’m sure our friends will understand.”
“Right. Trust us Ruby, you’re safe with us.” Frank wrapped her into the blanket and they walked back to their Forward HQ.
“Where am I?” Ruby asked.
“In Stalingrad, also known as Zarizyn, a city near the river Volga.”
“Judging by your uniforms, you are soldiers, am I correct?”
“Indeed but it is better if we tell you the details later, okay?” Manfred suggested which Ruby acknowledged with a nod.
At the HQ, they saluted Nick. “Report obediently, everything is quiet.”
“At ease. Did you found something?” He pointed to the Blanket.
“Well…yes, sir.”
Frank took a deep breath, showed him Ruby and told how he found her. She trembled a little bit. “Your poor child. Here.” He gave her some chocolate.
“Thank you. Now Manfred, what is happening here?” she asked innocent.
“Well…” He told her without going too deep into it, what the Second World War was, which year it was and why they were here.
“That’s terrible. In Equestria we never had such a war, or such a battle. Mama…” she broke down.
Franz took her on his arm. “Shh, don’t worry, I’m here for you. Want to tell us more about you?”
She sniffed. “I was born in a small town called Ponyville. My mother is an earth pony called Berry Punch, she was a Wine Taster before she got me. I never knew my father, he died before I was born.
His death hit her very hard, she is very protective of me. But she cares for me deeply, and I am really all that she has left ever since my father died. She never told me much about him.
She has a friend called Minuette but I call her Colgate. She’s the Dentist of Ponyville and sometimes like a sister to me.
She’s a unicorn. Apart from unicorns that can use magic, we have Pegasus ponies that can fly and manipulate the weather.
Equestria is ruled by Princess Celestia and Luna. They control the sun and moon. They’re Alicorns.
We ponies have Cutie Marks on our flanks which represent our special talents. I still haven’t got it.” Ruby explained.
“Interesting. The Sun and moon aren’t controlled, they raise and lower on their own on Earth. You just got very bad luck to end up here.” Nick explained.
“Y-yeah. I practiced a spell to make a gift for my mother and it appears I accidently casted a teleport spell and landed in that building. I found myself in that blanket after I passed out and woke up. You’re humans, I studied that in school.” She looked at Frank who had brown hair and green eyes and at Manfred who had also brown hair but blue eyes. Manfred chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“It’s just, I studied Greek mythology where Pegasus ponies are part of it and unicorns to some extent. I joked earlier about an Alicorn.”
“Uh-huh.”
Frank cleared his throat. “You know Manfred and me already. This is our Squad leader Nick, Klaus our MG gunner, Kevin our Marksman and Lars, also a Rifleman like me.
I use the Mauser Kar98. It’s the standard issue rifle of the Wehrmacht. The Kar98 is a stripper clip-fed, five round bolt action rifle meaning I have to bolt it after each shot, which results in a slow rate of fire. But it’s very accurate, reliable and packs a punch. I carry sixty rounds, two five round clips carried in each of the six pouches on my belt.” He pointed to it.
“As sidearm, I have the Mauser C96. Like my rifle, it has a stripper fed magazine. This is the M712 version with a detachable 20-round magazine. She is fully automatic and hard to control but I can handle it. I carry 5 magazines with me.
Manfred is our SMG gunner and uses a MP40, our standard issue submachine gun but also used by officers like Nick. 32 round magazine. Low rate of fire but easy to control. He and the others use the Walther P38, our standard issue sidearm. Two eight round magazines are issued, one loaded and the other held in a pouch on the holster. Moderately high damage but also high recoil.
Klaus our MG gunner uses the MG 34 LMG.” He smiled at Ruby and had blond hair and brown eyes.
“The MG 34 LMG is a belt fed light machine gun that can lay down impressive amounts of fire. 50 rounds per belt and has 5 belts in reserves. The recoil is very low once set up. When it is fired for sustained periods of time, the barrel may overheat and burst and render the MG 34 unusable. To compensate for this, the barrel can be changed. It can be also fired in single fire for more accurate shots at longer range.
Kevin uses the same rifle as me but with a telescopic scope to engage enemies at longer ranges.” Kevin had green eyes and black hair.
“And Lars uses the Gewehr 41.” He had blond hair and blue eyes.
“It is semi-automatic, meaning he hasn’t to bolt it after each shot but is still reloaded via stripper clips. 10 rounds.”
“URA!” echoed suddenly in the distance.
“The Russians! Schnell, get her to the bunker!”
Frank simply nodded and picked Ruby up who trembled in fear.
He brought her to the bunker where the battalion commander usually had radio contact with the recon planes of the Luftwaffe and the division artillery. But the commander was busy somewhere else at the moment.
“I don’t want to die!” Ruby cried.
“Stay here, you will be safe here.” Frank said in a comforting tone before he leaved outside. Taking a look over his shoulder, he saw how Ruby had curled up into a ball, crying and trembling.
It pained him to see her like this. She reminded him of his daughter.
His squad mates and other comrades already fired on the advancing Russians.
Klaus managed to mow many of them down but for every killed Russian, 4 others took his place.
Even worse, apart from normal Conscripts armed with Mosin-Nagant rifles, also Shock Troops equipped with light body armor and PPSh-41 SMGs attacked, making them deadly at close range.
Frank and the others had learned to go for headshots to kill them quickly. As the MG34 overheated and Klaus changed the barrel, a soldier next to Frank got hit. He screamed loudly in pain before he died. Another got hit. “Jesus Maria! I’m cold!”
A third soldier was hit, blood sprayed like a fountain from his head as he fell to the ground. Russians that made it through were engaged in brutal melee attacks with Germans.
Frank either hit them with the butt of his rifle or with his Shovel.
The German managed to fend off this attack with heavily losses.
Some soldiers had trembling and crying. PTSD. Frank had seen this way too often. His family kept him sane.
As he was about to help the wounded and collect the dog tags from the dead, Nick just said, “We got this, you better look after Ruby.”
“Thanks.” All 6 had deployed a good friend and –comradeship after they met.
As Frank reached the bunker, his heart broke. While the bunker was intact, Ruby was crying, eyes closed, hooves over her ears. She was also covered in dusk.
“Ruby?” He knelled down. She looked up shaking.
“F-Frank? I-s that you?”
“Yes.” He took her in his arm and rocked her.
“I-I was so scared…that you would…die…” She cried her heart out.
“Shh, I’ still alive, shh…” It took a few minutes.
As this bloody and brutal battle could even bring the toughest soldier to tears, Frank didn’t want to know what this could do to her young mind. If she gets PTSD then…
“The screams, the explosions and gunshots…that was too much…” she sobbed.
“Calm down, it’s over for now.” He carried her to the beds and set her down.
“You know, you remind me of my daughter.” He sat down next to her.
“You have a daughter? What’s she like?” the unicorn asked curious as a child could be.
The soldier showed her the family photo. “Great. She and my wife are what keep me sane and going.
You know as it is November and Christmas comes closer, I already thought about my daughter’s Christmas present. She likes Ponies and plushies, so I thought that would be good. She also likes Unicorns and Pegasus ponies but I can’t decide what I should give her. That’s why Manfred came up with the Alicorn.”
The filly giggled. “She would love to have me as friend, I’m sure of that! How old is she?”
“7.” Frank let out a sigh. “This war against the soviets was meant to be a fight to stop Communism. They want to defend their home, I can’t blame them.
So many of us thought this war would be our rite of passage, our great adventure. That we would be seen as heroes. Let me tell you, it was no adventure. We fought for months, losing many men and no progress so far. Everything just for a lousy city. We call Stalingrad the ‘hell of Earth.’”
“War is always terrible, no matter why it’s fought.”
“Yeah it is.” They ate some bread for Dinner then went to bed as it was getting late.
While Ruby fell asleep with a yawn, Frank stayed awake to talk with his buddies.
“We take the night guard, you earned some rest.” Nick ordered in a friendly tone.
“Keep her safe.” Manfred said.
“I will.” They all smiled at him.
The young filly was asleep, looking like an angel.
Frank couldn’t help but smile as he putted the safety on, and putted his weapons aside and putted an arm around her, as he fell asleep too.
Stalingrad is no longer a city. By day it is a cloud of burning, blinding smoke; it is a vast furnace lit by the reflection of the flames. When night arrives, one of those scorching, howling, bleeding nights, the dogs plunge into the Volga and swim desperately to the other bank. The nights of Stalingrad are a terror for them. Animals flee this hell; the hardest stones cannot bear it for long; only men endure.
From the diary of an unknown German Soldier
Frank woke up in the night as he heard sobbing. Ruby was shaking, small tears leaving her eyes.
“I-I had a nightmare…” she sobbed as Frank hugged her.
“Shh, it was just a dream, shh…”
“I-I dreamed that I was restrained standing next to other humans, a high-ranking soldier ordered you and the others to shoot me as he called me a Saboteur. He said anyone who would refuse would be shot too. I closed my eyes as you raised your weapons. I-I…” she buried her head into his chest.
“Shh, I would never do that, neither would my comrades.” She cried herself to sleep.
I will protect you from all harm, I promise. The young soldier thought as he fell asleep too.
In the morning, he yawned and stretched himself. Ruby was sleeping peacefully.
He got up and breakfasted with the rest of his squad.
“She had really bad luck to land here.” Nick felt sorry for her.
“Yeah, but I’m afraid the attack yesterday damaged her mind already. She had a nightmare where she was about to get executed and we were the Firing Squad.”
“Oh my god…If this becomes reality, I will kill the bastard who ordered this!” Klaus exclaimed in rage.
“And I will make sure that won’t happen to her. I could say that she’s the daughter of a high-ranking General who had a front visit and she got separated from him. Our task is to keep her safe until she can be evacuated.” Nick suggested.
“I’m not sure if this works.” Lars had doubt.
But it’s worth a try.” Kevin added.
“Yeah it is.” Manfred smiled.
“I look after her.” Frank walked back to Ruby.
She stirred in her sleep and let out a cute yawn. “Good morning, Frank.”
“Morning, sweetheart. Slept well?”
“Uh-huh. Time for breakfast.”
They breakfasted and the Commander gave them their new orders.
“Good morning, men. This attack is intended to capture a nearby factory. We were on our own now, but StuGs are on their way to support us. Thank you, men. Good luck.
Private Lange, your little friend stays safe with me.”
“Thank you, Commander.”
They moved out.
Ruby stayed in the bunker and watched how the Commander used his binoculars to oversee the assault. The soldiers stopped and he used the radio.
“Battalion, this is Platoon Commander, Battalion, this is Platoon Commander. Fire support needed. Coordinates 1, 9, 9, 3, 2, 0, 1, 1, requesting Artillery fire. Battalion to Platoon Commander.”
“Battalion to Platoon Commander, understood. Target 1, 9, 9, 3, 2, 0, 1, 1 accepted, Artillery fires as requested, out.”
“That should shake the Ivan up.” The Commander said as the artillery fired. Ruby prayed that Frank would survive.
“Are they stupid!? They fire on their own men!" A soldier complained.
“Boys, stay calm. Just do exactly the same like me!” Nick said to Frank and Manfred.
He used his Binoculars. “Men, that’s our primary objective. We have to capture it at any cost. Our first objective is the Russian MG right in the front.”
Lars laughed at the explosion. “That should blow them out. Nothing to see, Hauptmann?”
“It’s always suspicious.” A soldier gave him the radio.
“We’re ready. Where are the 5 StuGs? Here is none to be seen, as always. Understood, Commander.”
The soldier took the radio as Nick gave out new orders.
“Fire only on my command and be quiet. Forward, men! Follow my lead!”
They moved from cover to cover. A young recruit vaulted over debris as he accidently pulled the trigger.
“Great, now the Ivan knows where we are!”
“Sorry!”
The MG opened fire.
The Germans went to cover and returned fire but took heavy casualties.
A soldier dragged his comrade to cover as he screamed in pain, his right arm was blown off.
Another that was prone got hit. A comrade checked him, the neck was covered in blood. “He’s dead.”
Manfred’s MP40 jammed. Frank gave him a PPSh-41. “They never jam.”
“With that you can mow some Russians down.” Lars commented with a smile.
They all gave an Engineer cover as he rushed to the building the MG was in to place a satchel charge. “Smoke ‘em out!” Klaus yelled.
“Get out! Take cover!”
The explosion set the entire building ablaze.
“Keep moving, men. We’ve getting closer.” Nick commanded.
Kevin spotted a soldier that cowered in a crater. “I don’t want to get out!” he yelled.
“Pull yourself together!” Kevin yelled but the soldier was too scared. He couldn’t blame him, still, Kevin took his dog tag and got out.
An explosion hit the crater. “Poor guy.” He commented.
“Follow me!” Nick waved as they came closer to their objective.
Another MG mowed the Germans down. “We can’t make it, Hauptmann. It’s impossible.” Frank reported as was prone next to Nick, correcting his helmet.
“Nothing’s impossible, Frank. Smoke grenade!” he threw his smoke grenade.
“How’s your name, recruit?”
“Müller.”
Now you can make up for your mistake. You want your wife to be proud when you return, don’t you?” Müller nodded and grabbed a grenade. “We’ll cover you.”
Covered by his comrades, Müller got close enough to throw the grenade but got hit as he threw it. Blood came out of his mouth as he collapsed but the MG was destroyed.
“We had never made it. He owned me that. Forward, men! Follow me!”
As the outside was clear, Reinforcements arrived. They escorted Ruby.
“Artillery! Get in!” A soldier pushed into a doorway before an explosion hit him.
She was disoriented for a moment. As she realized what happened, she decided to find a safer spot.
“Mother, please.” She looked at a dying Russian soldier next to her. “Don’t go. No, stay momma. Please. Just for a little longer. No... No…” He mulmbed before he died. It shocked her and was frozen in fear, unable to move.
To take out the last MG, Frank and Manfred pushed a wagon with a Petrol container towards it. As it had enough speed they dived to cover.
The Russians tried to stop it, to no avail. “We got iron crosses for that.” Manfred commented.
Ruby was startled by a big explosion. A door opened and a very severely wounded Russian soldier stepped out and walked towards her.
“Stay back! STAY BACK!” She yelled in fear and crawled backwards. A shot to the chest from behind but to sheer adrenaline he felt no pain, he only flinched and walked in a zombie like manner towards her but collapsed in front of the foal. She looked down as she felt something wet. “I wet myself…I wet myself…”
Frank took a cloth out of his pocket, dried her and took her on his arm.
“It’s alright. You're not the only one. That happens also to us.” He comforted her.
After it was over, they sat down in a nearby building.
“I want my mommy…” Ruby sobbed. Manfred booped her nose, causing her to giggle.
“Sorry, it’s just… I miss them so much.” She sniffed.
“Only with good lubrication the engine runs.” He smiled at her.
“Food comes!” a soldier exclaimed as two other with Food containers on their backs entered the building.
They also brought the mail.
It was soup, Ruby enjoyed it as she ate it. “Poppy.” Frank gave her some which she enjoyed with a smile.
“Delicious! You wife is a really good cook!” she exclaimed.
“Thanks. Before the war, I used to be a bartender. The bar itself was very popular. It’s gone. The English bombed it last month. But it can be rebuild.”
“How did you meet your wife?” the unicorn asked curious as she took another bite.
“We were in the same school and class. I got a crush on her, she on me. We dated and married after we’re grown up.” He read the latter and had a horrified expression.
“What’s wrong? Bombing?” Klaus asked.
“Yeah, house is destroyed but they were brought to friends in the neighbor city.”
Ruby hugged him. “But at least, they’re still alive.”
Frank stroked her hair. “Yeah. You were very lucky, the Commander must have a misinformation, the area wasn’t secure as he sent you with the Reinforcements.”
The Time passed and it was night. Ruby slept in Frank’s arms as a young soldier fired.
“What’s going on?” Nick asked as he got his weapon.
“The Russians went outside to get their wounded. So I fired.” The young man explained.
“Can someone Russian?”
“Me, Hauptmann.” Klaus responded.
“Ask if they’re agreeing with a Momentarily Truce, so everyone can get the wounded.”
“Excuse me Hauptmann but that is forbidden.” The young man said.
“Be quiet!” Klaus yelled.
“In this city none cares how you do it normally. I and Manfred go out.” Frank suggested.
“Alright.” Klaus asked and the Russians agreed.
Manfred, Frank and two Russian soldiers got slowly to the wounded.
Klaus traded bread and cooked chicken with an Ivan, Ruby suddenly ran out to give Frank bandages.
She wanted to help in any way she could. She was disgusted yet whispered to the wounded that they would be okay. “Don’t worry, you’re going to be fine, soldier. The medic will fix you up.”
The Russians looked confused at her, shaking their heads. Regardless, they took care of their wounded. The soldiers in the buildings lowered their weapons. “You’re going to be all right, comrade.” A soviet said to a wounded comrade who, despite the pain nodded.
“Thank you, Ruby.” Frank assisted Manfred in lifting a wounded German up, Ruby smiled.
Suddenly a shot got fired and hell broke loose.
The soldiers retreated to their comrades covered by them. Ruby panicked and tried to follow Frank but felt pain. She putted a hoof to her chest at stared at it.
It was covered in blood, a bullet had hit her into the chest.
She collapsed. As her vision faded to black, she said weakly, “Oh… Mother… Please help me…”
Berry Punch had difficulties to sleep after her beloved daughter vanished. Either she dreamed that Ruby was dead or wasn’t the foal she had born.
In the Night, she whimpered quietly while tossing, and turning in the bed.
“Mommy!” Ruby yelled scared.
“Mama’s coming!” Berry ran as fast as her legs could carry her.
She found herself in a ruin town, Ruby was laying on the ground, bleeding pretty badly from the chest.
“Ruby!” Berry yelled shocked at the state of her daughter.
“Oh… Mommy…Please help me…”
“Hold on! You’re going to be alright!” Berry pressed her hooves on the wound to stop the bleeding.
“I’m so cold…” Ruby got weaker.
“NO! Stay with me!” Berry panicked.
“I am…so sorry, mama…” The filly’s body went limp. Berry stared at her hooves, covered in blood and cried.
“Ruby…No…You’re the only thing I had left…”
The Mare awoke with a gasp, panting heavily, cold sweat on her face.
“R-ruby…” She buried her hooves in her face. “I miss you so much…”
She cried herself to sleep.
She didn’t know how long she had slept and didn’t care as she was very depressed.
Tears leaved her eyes at the fear that her daughter would die. Ruby was everything for her.
She stayed in the bed until it was 2PM in the afternoon. With a messy mane, she got slowly out of the bed.
I’ve sworn to never drink again to be a role model and a good example to my daughter. But now, it’s the only thing who could cheer me up.
She got a bottle of wine out of her wine cabinet and poured herself a glass.
After taking a sip, she sighed. Why do I deserve this? First my Husband, now my daughter. Oh, Ruby, I pray wherever you are, that you are save.
After she almost emptied the bottle, her friend Colgate walked in.
“Berry my friend, I know you’re worried about your daughter but drinking won’t help you.”
Berry sighed. “I know it’s just, I have nightmares that she dies and my gut tells me that she’s dead or really hurt. She is the only thing I have left after I lost my husband.”
“Berry, look at me!” Colgate sound serious but still polite and friendly.
“I know how worried you are about her but drowning it in Apple Cider won’t make it better. She’s like a sister to me. And she knows how much you care for her and that you will search for her. And you’re a good friend. So cheer up!” She hugged her.
“Have I ever told you how I met my husband?” Colgate shook her head. “Then, it’s time that I tell you.”
“Did you ever tell Ruby about her father?”
“No, it hit me really hard, it took me years to get over with. And I also should tell you how I got my Cutie Mark.”
Berry took a deep breath and counted to 10. “It happened all these years ago…”
Ruby was about her daughter’s age when she got her Cutie Mark. “Mommy, daddy, I got my Cutie Mark!” she exclaimed. It was a punch of grapes and a strawberry.
“We’re so proud of you! How did you get it?” Her mother asked.
“Well, I mixed grapes and strawberries and it appeared. A new punch I made.” She exclaimed blushing.
Her father took a sip. He smiled. “That’s delicious! I think you made a new punch we can sell!” He hugged her.
“Thank you, Daddy!”
When she was old enough to be on your own, Berry became a wine taster.
A new bar had opened in Ponyville. The name was Berry Pinch. Berry entered it.
“Hello and welcome in Berry Pinch, how can I serve you?” The bartender, a young unicorn with Pink coat and purple mane asked. He had green eyes.
“Hello, my name is Berry Punch, I’m a wine taster. As I saw this new bar, I thought I check it out.” She introduced herself.
“I recommend this red wine from 1920.” He poured her a glass. “My name is White Ruby.”
Berry tasted it and her eyes went wide. “That’s the best red wine I ever tasted!”
“Glad to hear it. My family is in the wine business for years and understands her job pretty well.”
“What a coincidence! My family too!” Berry exclaimed and looked at White’s Cutie Mark. He had mug of cider and a barrel as Cutie Mark.
It was still in the morning, so they talked how much they had in common.
As White opened his bar, Berry offered to help out. “Of course you can help.” He replied politely.
While the bar was new, it quickly became a popular place, thanks to Berry’s recommendations. “Thank you, Ms. Punch. Without you, I had never been so successful.”
“Please, Berry is just fine. And I must say, you’re a polite and handsome Stallion.”
Her heart beat faster as she couldn’t help but feel love and kissed him on his lips which he returned.
“I think this is the beginning of a beautiful partnership.”
“So that’s how you meet him. I can still remember your wedding was.” Colgate smiled at the memories. She was Berry’s foalhood friend and they were bests friends ever since.
“Yes, it was wonderful. But I will never forget this one night…”
After a wonderful night, Berry got pregnant. The time passed fast.
“You’re going to be a wonderful mother.” White kissed her.
“And you’re a wonderful father.”
White nuzzled her belly, causing the foal to kick.
They lived upstairs above the bar. They went to bed, snuggling with smiles.
But that night, they awoke as they sniffed something.
“Smoke!” White exclaimed. “We have to get out!”
They coughed from the smoke but made it downstairs. The exit was blocked by the flames.
“We’re trapped!” Berry yelled in shock.
“Not on my watch!” White tried to use a teleportation spell, but he couldn’t concentrate with all the smoke he was inhaling.
He coughed. “I can’t cast it on both of us! But at least I can safe you and our foal…”
“What!?” Before Berry could precede this, White lit up his horn.
“Promise me, you take care of your foal.” He teleported her out.
“WHITE!” Berry yelled as he never came out and the house collapsed. “NO!!!!”
The fire department and police were quick on the scene. Colgate saw also what happened.
“Berry! Oh my gosh, are you alright?” She hugged the mare who was still in shock.
“My…my husband is still in there!” Berry shouted in tears.
“Don’ worry ma’am, we will find him!” a firefighter said to her as they started their work.
A younger Nurse Redheart and Doctor Stable took Berry to the hospital to make sure she was fine.
At the fire was under control, Winona ran to the debris followed by Big Mac who shouted, “Winona! Stop!”
She sniffed on the ground and began to dig. She barked as a pink hoof came to the semblance. The fire fighters got him out of the ruble. White was hurt pretty badly but still alive. His horn was still glowing, a shield around him.
“Get him to the hospital!”
Thanks to her husband, Berry and her foal were unharmed. She waited outside with Colgate at the OP, worried if her husband would make it.
Nurse Redheart joined them. “His condition is critical. It’s a miracle he survived. A bar fell on him, knocking him out. But as unicorns have a natural survival instinct that kicks in when in serious danger, he could survive. Even knocked out, his horn casted a shield spell, that protected him from the flames. But he got severe internal bleeding.” She explained.
Suddenly the doors opened and Doctor Stable walked out. “I'm sorry but we couldn't do anything else for him.”
Berry broke out in tears and hugged Colgate for comfort.
Yet there was something beautiful. After the funeral, Berry had labor pains and she got into the hospital. Shortly after in the evening, her water broke.
Redheart was holding her hoof, Colgate was also by Berry's side.
She gasped heavily. “I never thought it would be that painful!”
“It’s over soon. Push!” Redheart ordered.
Berry screamed in pain louder than ever before in her life. Then she heard crying.
“My goodness…” Colgate gently picked up the newborn foal, tears of joy in her eyes.
“Congratulations, it’s a filly.” Nurse Redheart also cried in happiness. Colgate handled the filly over to the happy mother.
“It’s a unicorn like her father and has my colors mixed with his.” She looked with tears of joy and a smile at her baby. It had green eyes.
“What’s her name?” Colgate asked wiping a tear out of her eye.
“Ruby. Ruby Pinch. As honor to her deceased father and his bar.” She said still happy. Even with the insurance, it will take some time to build a new home.”
“You can live with me, Berry.” Colgate offered.
“Thank you.”
A police officer walked in. “Ms. Punch?”
“Yes?” she looked at him.
“We found the reason the fire broke out. It was arson. It appears you husband had a difficult time with somepony who lighted your house as revenge. We believe that he is also after you.”
Berry’s expression became worried. “B-but you’re protecting us, right?”
“Of course, until the suspect is arrested.”
“Don’t worry Berry, you’re safe here. We got guards.” As she said that, a medium build earth stallion with brown coat, black mane and brown eyes walked in. As Cutie Mark he had a cigar and a glass of scotch on top of some books. He was wearing a blue shirt with tie and a belt.
“Hello Ms. Punch, I’m Dust Dunes and I will guarantee you and your daughter’s safety. Who’s a cute filly? You are! Yes you are!” He ruffled her mane and she giggled.
She yawned and fell asleep in Berry’s arms. “I think it is time to leave.” Redheart said quietly.
“Yeah *Yawn* see you tomorrow.” Colgate said goodbye and left.
Berry also fell asleep, smiling. “I will protect you from all harm, Ruby.” She whispered in her ear, happy to be a mother.
The floor was dark, only the light cones of Dust’s flashlight illuminated it as he did his rounds. Every time he was at Berry’s room, he looked after her it to make sure everything was alright.
“2-5 to control, reporting in. Nothing's out of the ordinary.” He said into his radio.
While doing another round, he used the coffee dispenser. “No nightshift without coffee.” He whistled while patrolling
Unknown to the staff, somepony managed to sneak in.
Berry woke up as she heard a strange noise. The door was open and she spotted a shadow.
Before she could react, the shadow rushed to her and pinned her down, a knife close to her throat, a hoof on her mouth. “Scream and you’re dead.”
However, this had awoken Ruby, she started to cry.
Dust was drinking his coffee as he heard Ruby crying, causing him to spit it out. “Maldita sea!” He trotted to Berry’s room, his baton ready.
“FREEZE!” His flashlight pointed at the intruder. An Earth pony with green eyes but his head was covered by a Mask, the rest by a black suit.
“Stay back or she’s dead!” the pony threatened but overlooked the infant whose horn lighted up.
“What the?” He asked as the knife was levitated out of his hoof, dropped on the floor, and the intruder was thrown to the ground too, away from the scared mare.
The intruder got up and rushed at the guard, but Dusk blocked his attack and knocked him out with the baton. “That’s the best you came up with? Give me a break.” He cuffed the intruder and sounded the alarm. “2-5 reporting in, we got a situation. Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine. Shh, calm down, shh…” Berry rocked Ruby until she was asleep again.
By the noise, Redheart and Doctor Stable checked her.
The police arrived quickly and took the intruder away.
Berry heard that her attacker died on the way as the transport had crashed but that way, he couldn’t harm her or her daughter.
Dusk got transferred shortly after the incident to a facility in the south near Appleloosa. She thanked him but he said that he only did his job. She tried to stay in contact with him, but eventually it broke away due his job.
Berry lived with Colgate together who helped her to raise Ruby well. The dentist was like a sister to her and the young filly got taught how important dental care was.
“Colgate, thank you for always being here for me… for us...”
“Anytime. You should catch some fresh air.”
“Yeah, I should.”
As she took a walk, everypony greeted her and expressed his condolences. She thanked them in return. That was what she liked so much about Ponyville. Everypony helped each other, no matter what.
As Sugarcube Corner was in sight, Ruby’s best friends Dinky, Noi, Tootsie Flute, and the CMC greeted her.
“Hello, Berry! We sorry to hear what happened to Ruby!” They all exclaimed.
“Hello, girls. I know what a good friend my daughter is too you.” After that, Berry decided to go into Sugarcube Corner. It was built where the bar once was.
The mare couldn’t complain, the bakery and confectionery as popular as the bar once was and she liked it too.
Inside, Pinkie Pie greeted her. “Welcome to Sugarcube Corner, how can I serve you, Berry?”
“A cupcake, please.”
“One Cheer up Cupcake, It’s on the house. I’m really sorry about your daughter.” Pinkie had a sad tone, showing her condulences and concern.
“Thank you.” Berry let out a sigh. “I’m just so worried.”
“Pinkie.”
“Pie.”
Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake came out of the back.
“Hey, you two.” Pinkie rubbed their bellies, causing them to giggle. Berry let out a weak smile, as it remembered her when Ruby was a baby and she did the same.
Pumpkin Cake lighted her horn up, a heart formed above her head, her brother formed a heart in flight. “See, even they want to cheer you up. Guess they learned something from me despite their young age.” Pinkie smiled proudly.
Without warning, she twitched, her hair deflated and her color became grayish pink.
“No…something very sad happened…”She looked down at the ground.
Berry felt a stinging pain in her heart, her pupils went small.
Beyersdorf is now in hospital for the third time – wounded in the arm. Soon there will be no more men left. The 5th has lost its seventh commander! All hell’s been let loose in the city. We face each other at 20 meters… Our men often hit the Russians on the head with spades. Yesterday, a soldier pulled at one end of a machine-gun, a Russian at the other. A hand grenade finished it off…”
Oberleutnant Hans Joachim Martius, Sturmschwardron 24
As Frank and Manfred got back, Klaus helped them in. “For that you get the EK 1!”
Frank didn’t listen. “Who opened fire? WHO OPENED FIRE?!” He asked enraged.
“Me.” The young soldier raised his hand and explained why.
“…The Russians wanted to attack us, I saw that. There I fired.”
Frank grabbed him by the shirt collar and pulled him close. “Do you know what you just did?! You’re endangered the live of a child! I will bring you before court-martial!”
“Do that and I tell what you gave done!”
“Speaking of Ruby, where is she?” Lars wondered.
“I-I think she was still outside when you opened fire.” Kevin realized what happened.
Frank’s eyes went small, lighting through his pupils and he collapsed. “RUBY! NO!” he broke out in tears.
Klaus smiled at the young soldier. “We do not need a court-martial. We send the sow just one floor up ... even get listed in the newspaper, in proud mourning.” He spat the young man into the face and slapped him. “I hope you’re happy with ending a child’s life!”
Frank had cried himself to sleep.
He woke up the next morning by an explosion. “Secure the entrances!” Nick ordered.
Klaus used the Radio. “Connection interrupted, Hauptmann!”
Frank, Manfred, Kevin, Lars! Get down there and go for help!”
“Yes, sir!” They went down, unware that Ruby had survived.
I am so sorry mama… Ruby thought as she was getting cold.
She remained in a void of Darkness. Out of nowhere, she felt something warm.
With a groan, she slowly opened her eyes. Getting up was painful but getting up slowly was possible.
Looking around, she was in a building she didn’t knew. Her chest was bandaged.
She was on a bed. The door was closed but voices were on the other side.
“Poor child. I’m glad we could safe her, brother.” It sounded like Russian and it was a female voice.
“Yeah, me too. We should check on her if she’s awake.” The other voice was male.
The door opened, a man and a woman stepped in. They both wore khaki colored uniforms, the man an olive green helmet, the woman a hat. She had brown hair and blue eyes, the man had the same hair and eyes as Frank.
Even if they’re had saved her, the young unicorn felt fear. “Please don’t hurt me.”
The woman knelled down. “Shh, calm down sweetheart, we won’t hurt you.” She reached for her pocket and took an apple out. “Here.”
“Thank you.” Ruby took a bite, Juice on her lips.
“Now my dear, what does a cutie filly like you here?” the man asked curious
She took a deep breath. “It’s a long story.”
She told them who she was, where she came from, how Frank found her and such. The Russians had sympathy for her.
“You poor child.” the woman gave her a hug. “Don’t worry, you will be safe with us. My name is Tanya and this is my brother Yuri.”
“Why did you save me?”
“Well, we’re both pacifists by nature and my sister used to be a mother. She just couldn’t let you die out here after she saw you and heard how you called out for your mother.” Yuri explained.
“Used to be?”
“Da. My daughter got killed by the Germans.” She sounded sad. “But they will pay!” she exclaimed angry.
“K-killed? Frank would never kill a child or civilian!” Ruby replied disgusted.
“She wasn’t killed by Wehrmacht soldiers but by Waffen-SS soldiers. They’re known for brutality and fanaticism. Cold and merciless.”
“T-then I hope we don’t run into them.” Ruby didn’t want to imagine what they would do to her.
“Don’t worry, we won’t. Now let’s meet up with the others.” Yuri picked his rifle up. Tanya had the same rifle but with a scope.
Ruby could tell that they used bolt-action rifles. “What rifles do you use?”
“We both use the standard issue rifle of the Red army, the Mosin-Nagant. Bolt-action 5 round magazine. Like the German K98, it is loaded via clips.
As sidearm, we both use the standard issue sidearm, the Tokarev TT-33. Magazine of 8 rounds. Nearly identical to the German P38.” Yuri explained.
Outside, a Commissar gave Order 227 out. “There is no retreat! Not one step back! By order 227, anyone who retreats will be shot on the spot! Executed as a coward and a traitor!”
“Perhaps the enemy should have save their bullets and just let us shoot each other. But really, comrades, there is no other option. The only way we’re going to survive this day is to advance.” Yuri’s and his sister’s Captain was a caring and easy going man.
“Who are you?” He asked with a smile, kneeling down to Ruby.
“Ruby, sir.”
“That may sound crazy.” Yuri told him everything after taking a deep breath.
“Your poor child. Don’t you worry, I will guarantee your safety.” He patted her.
“Comrade Captain, what is this?” The Commissar asked in a strictly tone.
Ruby hid behind Yuri’s back out of fear.
“A lost child we found. I think we had too much vodka as she looks like a unicorn.” The Captain joked nervously.
“I’m too aggravated for this! As long as she can fight, I don’t care if she’s a unicorn or whatever!” He shouted.
“We understand Comrade Captain. We are with you to the end and keep her safe!” a soldier smiled at Ruby.
She overheard a conversation between two other soldiers.
"Heh! The She-Bear herself is coming down from the fold ? Those Fascists will be quaking in their boots! There's a reason the Premier favours her. One thing for certain, she loves her job.
"Kallistrovich?! Don't tell me the Premier's sent that maniac in again?! I saw what she did at Krasnodar! By the time she's done, you're lucky if there's rock and steel still standing!"
She couldn't ask who Kallistrovich was, as the Commissar blew his whistle, the soldiers advanced. But to their bad luck, the Germans and fortified their positions well.
The conscripts got mowed down in seconds. The second wave attacked.
“You are soldiers of the Soviet Union; Not. One. Step. Back.” The Commissar commanded.
Also, all German troops were Waffen SS, making this battle bloody. The second wave got pinned down. “Retreat! Fall Back! Fall Back!” One Russian shouted and they retreated.
“By orders of Comrade Stalin… All who retreat are traitors to the motherland! Turn back and fight damn you!” The Commissar shouted.
No…He wouldn’t… Ruby thought, afraid what the Commissar would do.
“FIRE!” He ordered and Yuri, Tanya and the other soldiers fired at their comrades with closed eyes.
“They were warned… Now… ATTACK!” the Commissar ordered and Yuri vaulted over sandbags as part of the next wave, covered by her sister.
Ruby was shocked. “W-why did they kill their own comrades?”
“That’s order 227. Fight and die on the front, or die by the Commissar and your buddies.” The captain patted her to calm the filly down.
The Waffen-SS showed heavy resistance but the Conscripts supported by Shock troops broke through.
The Germans retreated. “Commander, we’ve found a German Command post but no sign of the enemy.” Yuri reported.
“Good. Yuri, Dimitri and Chernov, you come with me.” The Captain ordered as the Commissar spoke with Tanya.
“We got reports that a high-ranking General is in the area. You have the honor to take him out.”
“Da, Comrade Commissar. See you, brother, Stay safe and keep her alive.”
“Of course.”
“What about me?” Ruby asked.
“I think it is best if you stay with us. We move our HQ forward.”
“Okay.” The young child couldn’t complain, she felt safe with Yuri and his commander.
They all moved into the Command post. There were dead Germans everywhere.
“Gather it all up men.” The Captain looked at a piece of paper.
Suddenly, he looked up in shock as a Tiger Tank was moving up. “Out! Everyone out now!” He shouted as the Tiger fired. The explosion blasted Ruby away, she landed with a cry of pain on her back, smoke and dust blocked her view.
Ruby coughed from the dusk but was unharmed. Yuri was unharmed too, but Dimitri and Chernov were dead.
“Ruby, are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine.” They got up, the Captain was trapped under debris.
“Comrade Captain! Hold still, we’ll get you free!” Yuri knelt down to him.
“No…leave me, Yuri.”
“But…” Ruby couldn’t finish.
“I’m pinned, and Fritz will be here any minute, go on, that’s an order.”
They got back to the HQ as fast as they could.
“We have to go back for the Captain. The Germans don’t even know he’s here!” Yuri said to an Engineer.
“Are you certain, Yuri? The Commissar will not permit a rescue attempt.”
“They haven’t seen him; I’m certain! We must free the Captain! I won’t let him to die!” Ruby exclaimed. “He cares for you and you should care for him!”
“As you say, Ruby. We go free the Captain.” The Engineer agreed and they moved out.
However, German troops were moving in.
While the Engineers worked on freeing the Captain, the Shock troops and Conscripts kept the SS troops off them. While Ruby stayed in cover, she heard how fanatical they were.
“Germany above all! For the Führer!” They screamed but got defeated.
“Comrade Captain?” Yuri asked as kneeled down to him.
He turned his head. “Yuri? I ordered you back to base.”
“Yes, sir. But you did not order me to stay there. I brought help.”
“The Commissar let you do this?”
“The Commissar was busy, Comrade Captain. We exercised initiative. Now, let’s get this building off you.”
Even Ruby got small debris off him with her magic.
Yuri and another soldier assisted the Captain back to the HQ.
“Where have you been, private?” The Commissar asked in his strictly tone.
“Preventing the capture of a valiant Soviet officer, Comrade Commissar!”
The Commissar raised his revolver and shot Yuri in the head. Ruby looked shocked and horrified at the body.
“That is no excuse for deserting your post. I want the rest of these soldiers executed in the morning, in front of the battalion.” The Commissar ordered.
The Captain became angry.
“You should remain quiet, Comrade Captain, this had nothing to do with you. Or did it? If Kallistrovich had got here any earlier, you'd be in this fool's place...and in far more pain. I believe this Captain is becoming a bad influence. Put him to the next train to Moscow.”
“And the child?” a soldier asked.
“Her too. She shouldn’t be here.”
They got on a truck. Then he drove.
“I can’t believe he’s dead. She sobbed as the Captain wrapped his arm around her.
“Sadly my dear, so it is in war.”
"May I ask who Kallistrovich is? I overheard two soldiers talking about her."
"It's best you don't know."
She rested her head on his soldiers. He smiled and so did the other soldiers on the truck.
“Russians! Communists!” A SS-soldier yelled and a Panzer IV fired at the truck.
Ruby was thrown out of the truck by the explosion and landed in a fountain. She tried to get up but her vision went black.
Sometime later, her vision comes and goes. The filly was surrounded by dead and dying Red Army soldiers.
A Panzer IV with Waffen-SS soldiers sitting on top of it drove past. Unlike the Wehrmacht soldiers, who wore grey-green uniforms, they wore green camo uniforms and helmets, but used also MP40s and K98s.
They executed the wounded Russians. A soldier with a MP40 stood on a ledge and shot a dying soldier beside her. Another dying soldier beside her tried in panic to crawl away but got also shot. W-why are they k-killing them? They can’t fight back, they wounded! Why are they doing this? She was confused yet horrified.
After they leaved, Ruby let out a breath of relief that they hadn’t noticed her. I-I need to get out of here! She thought scared and crawled forward.
One of the bodies moved. It was Tanya. “Shhh…stay with me and quiet when you want to survive this massacre. How did you end up here?” She asked worried.
“After the battle, I got with your commander on a truck to a safer place but it was destroyed by that thing on tracks. Y-your brother…he’s dead!” She cried but the woman covered her mouth.
“Shh, or this fountain will be our grave. We can mourn him later, Ruby.” She said with sorrow but gave her a smile. “You will return safe and sound to Frank, promise.”
They crawled towards an opening in the fountain. Many SS-soldiers patrolled outside, a car with a General in a black uniform stopped next to them.
“The man in the car is General Heinrich Amsel architect of Stalingrad's misery. He is responsible for the cold blooded murder of men, women and children... Not just here, but throughout the motherland. He also killed my daughter. For days we have hunted him. For days luck alone has saved his life. But now, I have the honor to end his life and put a stop to the cold blooded murder.” The General walked with a soldier inside a house.
Tanya loaded her rifle and waited until bombers were directly overhead. Then she fired as the sound of their engines drowned out her shot.
“Let’s get a little bit closer.”
They leaved the squared and used the car as cover. An armored patrol slowly made its way towards the two, unaware of their existence.
“Damn! Armored patrol... We must find another route. Stay low, and follow me. This way, before they discover their dead.”
Ruby followed her into a bar. She looked around as Tanya smiled. “This place once echoed with conversations of friends and lovers. No longer. But one day things will change and the SS will pay for their crimes.”
They moved to the backdoor of the bar. “General Amsel is a creature of habit.”
They moved outside. “He inspects each German garrison every day.”
A sniper shot almost hit Ruby as a small object flew by, a hiss next to her ears. “Sniper! Get inside now!” Tanya clenched her protectively as she jumped through a window to avoid that the foal gets hurt by splinters.
“We'll have to flush him out before we can move on. Follow me.” She sat the filly down. Upstairs, Ruby stayed in cover.
“The shot came from across the river! There... The building with the banners! Now the game is cat and mouse. He knows exactly where we are.” She spotted a glint from the second floor.
The SS-Sniper prepared to fire but the Russian had the faster trigger finger and putted a bullet right through his scope.
“The patrols will surely have heard those shots. We need to get moving.” Ruby nodded, trembling lightly.
She followed Tanya through a door and down a set of stairs. A Waffen-SS patrol was outside. “Shhhh... German patrol. Let them pass...” The sniper hid behind a grandfather clock.
Ruby held her breath as the grandfather clock chimes, and a soldier walked over to a window of the building they were in to inspect the sound.
“They have found us! We need to leave now! Hit the floor!!!” Tanya dived to the ground as Flamethrowers burst through the windows, Ruby did the same and crawled after her, scared.
“They are trying to burn us out! Stay low, try not to breathe!”
A book case fell and almost crushed the filly had it not landed on a table. They got up.
“They are surrounding the building! We must hurry! Move! Upstairs! Quickly! Before we are burned alive!” Tanya shouted.
A flaming beam broke apart upstairs and landed on top of Ruby. She tried to lift it up but burned her right fore hoof and cried in pain.
Tanya removed it and helped her up. “I need you alive. We need to find a way out!”
As they moved on, Heavy machine gun fire tore through the wall.
“Armored car outside! Keep moving before it tears us apart!”
They came to a giant hole in a wall of the building. “Jump!... GO!”
Ruby jumped out, she was dazed from the landing, Tanya was blasted out of the hole by an explosion.
2 Waffen-SS came down the streets. Tanya reached for her rifle but one soldier kicked it out of her hand.
“Bring on the flamethrower, burn these Russian pigs!” one soldier pointed at them as a third one with a flamethrower joined them.
As the flamethrower came closer, he fired a few jet of flames into the air to show its effectiveness in a deadly and intimidating way. Ruby was still dazed, all she could do was closing her eyes, waiting for the new level of pain.
Instead of fire or pain, the young pony heard loud, quick shots and the sound of bodies hitting the ground.
A squad of Shock Troops came to their aid.
“Ruby? We thought you were among the dead in the massacre at the square!” The squad leader was relieved to see her.
“She was. Among them, but not one of them.” Tanya took a bandage out of her pocket and took care of Ruby’s hoof.
“We're about to assault the communication post north of here…”
“Good. Such a move will prevent the German command calling for help. I will provide cover from above.”
She helped Ruby the ladder up. “Stay in cover while I take care of this.”
“Uh-huh.”
The woman waited until a flamethrower was close to a squad of Germans, then fired at the fuel tank. The explosion incinerated anyone standing nearby.
The Shock Troops advanced.
“They are retreating! Forward!!! Ura!!!” The squad leader shouted.
Ruby moved up with Tanya. As she got into position, a Tiger Tank appeared, firing his turret gun and MGs at the Soviet soldiers. As they had no weapons against it, they got slaughtered by the tank, Ruby watched in horror. “There must be something we can do for them!”
“There is nothing we can do for them.” Tanya patted Ruby. Suddenly the turret of the Tiger Tank raised and pointed in their direction. “Ruby, get out!” Tanya pushed her as the Tiger fired.
The explosion was so massive that the filly was thrown out, landing hard on her chest, coughing from the smoke and dust. Her vision was blurry but she had survived. Ruby checked the Russian. The foal was relieved that Tanya was just knocked out. Just then, she heard the sounds of boots and weapons being cocked.
A Squad of SS-Soldiers arrived. As they surrounded the knocked out woman and Child, Ruby begged for her life “I surrender! I surrender! Please, please! Show mercy!” as she remembered the fountain. Seeing that the soldiers were still pointing their weapons at her, she said quietly, “I’m sorry, mommy…” as her life flashed before her eyes.
The soldiers looked confused at each other before one of them knocked her out with the butt of his rifle.
She awoke with a headache, blood running down her nose. She tried to move but was restrained, Tanya, still knocked out, was beside her. They were in a building.
Then she heard yelling in German, beating and a Russian screaming and moaning in pain. It repeated in this pattern for a long time.
Ruby was shivering, huddling in the corner. Please…mommy…help! She missed her home, wished that her mother was here comforting her, saying everything would be okay, like she always did when Ruby got hurt.
“I can’t bear this any longer! When do they stop?” A Russian voice asked from outside.
Ruby was restrained but still could peek out the window. The Russian voice belonged to a man wearing the same hat as Tanya but a uniform in the same color as the Wehrmacht. Next to him were 4 more soldiers with the same uniform, all armed with K98 rifles.
A Waffen-SS soldier with a MP40 replied to him, “When you hear a gunshot. They tell prisoners that they will not be harmed. It’s a lie. They take only prisoners to extract information. They extract it painfully and slowly. Once they have what they want, they will grant their victims mercy with a bullet to the back of the head. I have seen it.”
Oh my…NO! Ruby trembled harder.
She startled by a gunshot. “Bring the next prisoner!”
“Yes, General.”
As the door opened and a soldier looked at her, she begged, “P-please don’t hurt me! I don’t know anything!”
The soldier showed no signs of emotions as he dragged the crying and scared foal into the room.
The General looked at her, incapable of basic emotions. “Is this...the other prisoner?”
“Yes, general, she can speak.”
“Please don’t kill me!” Ruby pleaded more scared than ever before in her life.
“She’s no use to us. Get rid of her and the woman.”
“Yes, Sir!” the man dragged her out of the building to the other SS-soldier and the other men. Another SS-member dragged Tanya out as she came to.
“The General wants that you take care of them.”
The Squad leader sighed. “Osttruppen will carry out orders.” The SS-soldier that replied to him earlier came with them.
After leading them both to a wall and where alone, Tanya pleaded, “Spare her, she’s still a child!”
Surprising to them both, the soldier and the Osttruppen did nothing.
“We’re not as cold and brutal as they are. They forced us to fight us for them. You free to go.” The Waffen-SS soldier untied them, while the squad leader opened an entrance to the sewer.
“Good luck.”
“Thank you.” Ruby was relieved.
In the sewer, Tanya carried her.
Frank got separated from his comrades and walked aimlessly through the Sewer. He was disgusted by the bodies.
He leaned against the wall as he heard a Russian voice.
As it came closer, he leaved his cover. “Freeze!” a woman and a child covered their eyes from his flashlight. He couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Ruby? I thought you died!”
“Frank!” She hugged him tightly. The woman smiled warmly.
“I couldn’t live with myself letting her die.”
“Thank you! Can you lead us out of this place?”
“Da, but in return you let me alive.”
“Of course. Lead the way.” At first, Frank didn’t trust her, but Ruby changed that after she told him how she saved her and that she promised to get her back to him.
While walking through the sewer, Frank noticed something. “Wait, how are you able to speak German and Russian? I learned it from Nick.”
“I never understood how it works, but the magic allows me passively to speak your and Tanya’s language and to understand it.” She explained blushing.
After a while, they came to an exit. “We must now go separate ways. Keep her safe.” Tanya said goodbye.
“Of course.”
After she left, Frank heard footsteps.
He turned around the corner. “Frank!” It was Lars and Manfred. They were relieved and also glad to see that Ruby was alive.
“Where’s Kevin?” Frank asked as there was a loud explosion, followed by screaming.
They followed it until they came to another exit. It was Kevin, his left leg was blown off from an explosive trap. Frank covered Ruby’s eyes. “Don’t look.”
“My leg!!!” Kevin screamed in pain, as Lars and Manfred took care if his wound as good as they could.
After that, they made it to a crowded aid station.
“Medic!” Lars yelled.
“What is this, a pigsty? Why won’t anyone treat these wounded?” Manfred couldn’t believe his eyes.
“I don’t know, those Russians broke through somewhere! I believe at the damn Romanians!” a wounded soldier said.
The thought that the flanks were guarded by Romanians and Italians filled Frank and his friends with unease. Now it was clear that the Romanians and Italians were no match for the Russians.
Ruby had to vomit at the sight of the many wounded. “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry Kevin, you gonna be alright.” Lars tried to calm him but he didn’t respond. The rifleman checked his comrade. Kevin’s eyes were wide open, his body was limp, Lar’s hand covered in blood.
“He’s dead.”
“This is just unreal. All in vain.” Manfred couldn’t believe it.
The filly started to cry. Frank rocked her. “Shh…it’s alright.” She cried herself to sleep.
“She has more seen then she should.” Lars looked sad at her.
“Yeah, I bring her to the beds.”
At the HQ, all soldiers were glad that Ruby was okay and smiled at the cute sight that she was asleep. “Sweet dreams.” Frank said as he gently putted her into the bed.
Nick had somehow managed to get some colored pencils and paper who he putted on the table beside the bed.
The HQ got reinforced by Osttruppen.
“Kevin…he was such a good friend.” Lars muttered.
“At least he’s in a better place now and not in this hell.” Frank comforted him.
“Yeah.” Klaus sniffed.
“Men, listen up. We got reports that the Russians are planning another attack. We don’t know when but be prepared for everything.” Nick sounded worried.
“What’s wrong?” Lars asked.
“I will not lie to you, men. The thing is not going well. Supplies are scarce.”
“No problem, sir. We will teach them a lesson they will never forget!” Klaus exclaimed.
“I know you won’t fail me.”
It was getting dark, so Frank looked after Ruby. His heart melted.
She was asleep with a drawn picture in her hooves.
On it were Berry and Colgate. Berry’s eyes, Mane and coat were Violette, her Cutie Mark were a punch of grapes and a strawberry. Under her was the word “Mother.”
Colgate had blue eyes, a blue and grey mane and a Light blue coat. Her Cutie Mark was an hourglass.
She had the word “Sister.” Above them were the words “I miss you.”
Frank wiped a tear out of his eye and putted the picture in his pocket.
This night he had the night guard with Manfred.
“I hope this ends well for us. I don’t want to end In a Russian Prison camp.”
“Relax Manfred, I’m sure General Paulus will find a way. It’s getting colder. We should find some winter clothes for Ruby. You know how cold the last winter was.”
“Yeah, good that I am a shoemaker. I can make some winter shoes for her in no time.”
“An idea for the…” They were interrupted by shell impacts and a screech.
“Katyushas!” Manfred exclaimed.
“Attack!” Frank rushed to Ruby as the soldiers get their weapons.
It’s slowly getting colder here, long lasting rains, yes even snow showers announce the coming season – the Russian winter. Will we experience it here? All this now adds to the difficulties of the battle. The losses in men and materiel haven risen so high, that it simply cannot be imagined that the units that led the attack from the beginning are to remain in operations.
Lieutenant Joachim Stempel, Panzer Grenadier Regiment 103
Not bloody, more like hell. They all knew it. After the rocket barrage died down, Frank got up and carried her to the bunker.
Ruby was cowering not saying a word. “Stay safe.” Frank said before he got out fight the battle.
It was the Russian Steamroller. They sent waves of infantry.
The German and their Russian comrades did their best to hold them off.
Klaus fired at every enemy soldier he spotted. For every killed Ivan, 6 others took his place. Frank, Nick and Lars fired their weapons as enemy infantry advanced.
“Do they ever run out of men?!” Lars shouted as he reloaded.
“There are too many of them!” Frank switched to his sidearm as his rifle jammed. While the Automatic version was hard to control, Frank was used to it and could handle it with ease.
There was a metallic cracking sound, Klaus MG had burst, so he used his P38.
With heavy losses, they managed to hold the line. A drying Ivan was killed by the commander with his MP40. “Well done, men. Those Bolsheviks will think twice to attack us like that. Now-“
He was cut off by an engine sound. Several T34 moved in. “Tanks? Recon never said anything about tanks in the area. Hold them of, I call for Reinforcements!”
Manfred manned a Pak 38 with Nick, an Osttruppen soldier used an PZB 784(R) Anti-tank rifle and fired at the tracks. He managed to immobilize a T34, the Pak finished it off with a shot to the ammo rack, making it explode.
“See? We can do the job as good as a REAL German.” He was happy.
Inside, the Commander tried to call for help.
“Battalion, this is Platoon Commander, Battalion, this is Platoon Commander. Armored support needed! We-“
A sniper bullet to the head killed him. The officer stumbled for a moment before collapsing, a red puddle forming on the ground.
“Is there anybody? Hello!? over.” The radio buzzed.
Seeing no other option to survive, Ruby used the Radio.
“Please, send help!” she yelled.
“This is a child? Never mind, little girl why are you on the radio? Where is the commander?”
“Dead! We’re getting overrun! Please, I don't want everyone to die here!” she pleaded.
“Calm down, Kind, we will help you, where are you at?!!”
“At the HQ!”
“Wait what!!! The HQ is lost? Rear command is sending reinforcements, we are coming to reinforce their position, just take cover and we will be there shortly. Did you hear me!!!”
“Yes!!! HURRY!!!!”
“We be there as-“ a bullet destroyed the radio. Ruby turned around to see a Russian soldier standing in front of her, his rifle pointed at her. “Hello? Hello!? Sound alarm!” the operator yelled before the radio died.
“No, please, don’t shoot!” she begged.
As Frank heard Ruby scream, he turned around. Once he saw how Ruby was held at gunpoint by a hostile soldier, he was enraged and charged at him. “AAAAARGH! DIEEEEEEE!”
He stabbed the soldier into the heart with his bayonet. The Ivan struggled for a few seconds but eventually collapsed.
Ruby had her eyes covered, expecting to die. She flinched as Frank putted his hand on her mane.
As she realized that it was him, the filly wrapped her hoofs tightly around her.
A T34 destroyed the Pak, knocking Manfred and Nick over. They got up quickly, only to see that the Soviet tank aimed at them. They both knew they would die, closing their eyes.
Suddenly, the tank exploded, the turret was blown off. “Pride of the Fatherland!”
A Tiger tank escorted by a StuG III and a Panzer IV destroyed every T34 and killed any infantry with their pintle-mounted MG42s. While primary against aircraft, it was also strong against infantry.
An Opel Blitz was behind them, loaded with winter gear.
Frank lifted Ruby up and held her close to his chest. She didn’t say anything, she just stayed curled up in his arms.
While Manfred, Klaus, Nick and Lars had survived, the Osttruppen had heavy casualties.
Bodies of them and the enemy everywhere, destroyed tanks, anti-tank guns and buildings from the artillery.
“Jesus. What a mess.” Nick saw the damage. “But at least you’re alright.” He patted the filly who gave him a weak smile.
“The next outpost it not far from here, but it will take some time to reach it.”
“We have to walk?” Ruby asked scared that something bad could happen like with Kevin.
“No, not you, there is no need for you to wear your little legs out walking. Ride on one of the tanks. You have earned the rest.”
Frank climbed on the Tiger Tank. Nick, Manfred, Lars and Klaus climbed on it too, while the other soldiers climbed on the StuG and Panzer IV. The Osttruppen used the truck or walked. “Let’s do as the Americans would say, put the pedal to the metal!” The StuG commander said as they moved out.
Ruby pressed herself against the young soldier to stay warm as the cold wind brushed against her fur. She enjoyed the ride with a smile.
She heard how the Tiger crew had a conversation.
"A shot into our side hit the ammo there, see! Kaboom! ”
“Nein, tank's battle is not at all like boxing!”
“If you're afraid, you'll die. Guaranteed!” That last sentence scared Ruby, making her blood freeze. She was scared but didn’t want to die.
It started to snow. Ruby giggled as a snowflake landed on her noise.
Frank smiled, he liked when it snowed, especially at Christmas. It suited so well.
At the outpost, one of the Osttruppen made some winter clothes for her.
“Here, for you.”
“Thanks.” Ruby putted them on. A blue jacket and shoes, with a red scarf and winter hat. The scarf covered her face making only her eyes visible. It warmed the hearts of the Germans as it looked very cute.
“Looks good on you.” Manfred smiled.
The unicorn blushed. “Thank you.” She shivered for a second. “Never thought that it would be so cold here. Can’t remember that Equestria had ever such a cold winter, except for the time before its founding.”
“That winter is nothing compared to the Russian winter in 1941. It was the coldest winter the world has seen so far with -40 degree. Unprotected flesh would freeze within 5 minute. If General winter hadn’t come, and the Red Army so stubborn, we had captured Moscow and it would be over.”
Ruby then had a happy conversation with the Russian soldier in who had like all others, switched to a German white winter uniform. The day was quiet.
In the evening, Frank tucked her in. “Goodnight, my dear.”
“Goodnight, Frank. I hope my mother finds me soon.” She sounded sad and worried.
“I’m sure they will. And if this is over before that, you can enjoy Christmas with me and my family.”
Ruby smiled. “I’m convinced that your daughter will like me.” With a yawn, the filly fell asleep.
The same Osttruppen soldier who made her clothes smiled at her.
Before Frank left for a mission briefing, she said, “Keep her safe.”
“You can count on Osttruppen. No, really, you can!” He sounded like he had no self-confidence but still, he sounded ready to protect the child with his life.
Nick gave the briefing.
“Good evening, men. This is one of the last Bolshevik strong-holds – and we have been chosen to break it. The factory has been fought over weeks and is ruined, so there is plenty of cover for the enemy. This will be a night attack, so the swine can’t see us coming.
I don’t need to explain to you all how important this is. I know you all are tired. But we really are close to the end now. If we can break them here, there won’t be much resistance left.”
The Russians got caught by surprise as the Germans took the Sheet Finishing hall. The resistance at the Forging Area was stronger, but still the Germans took that too.
The Calibration Workshop was heavily defended. A German soldier was hit and fell to the ground next to Frank. “I sorry I let you down…I’m sorry I won’t… either watch your backs…”
“Shh…you don’t need to apologize, save your strength.” Frank applied pressure on the chest wound, but despite this effort, his comrade died in his own blood.
Making the catholic cross, Frank moved on after closing his comrade’s eyes.
The soldier’s squad mates had secured the workshop, only the Finished Product warehouse was left.
As expected, the Ivan was fighting to the last man. But as the warehouse was not far from the river, they’ll have nowhere left to run.
An MG pinned the German Squad at the entrance down. Frank was in cover at the right, Manfred at the left.
Frank saw how an Ivan prepared to throw a grenade. The German shot him into the head, but the grenade landed next to Manfred.
The explosion buried him under debris but the MP40 landed next to Frank.
He was shocked and yelled, “Manfred! Manfred!” He was about to check his friend but the Ivan’s fire kept him from doing so.
Frank sobbed for a second before he picked the MP40 up and charged at the Russians screaming. “AHHHHHHH!”
In rage, the man single handedly secured the warehouse.
His comrades followed him.
After calming down and realizing for what this was, Frank laughed.
“For that? For that. For that? God! For that! Ah!” he kicked a chair in frustration.
In anger he threw his helmet against the wall and sat down. Then he tried to regain his breath and buried his head into his hands.
Nick, Klaus and Lars looked at each other, not sure what to say.
Nick stepped forward. “That was…impressive. We checked Manfred before we followed you. He’s unharmed and just knocked out.”
“So it wasn’t in vain this time.” Frank replied referencing to Kevin’s fate.
They all got back to Ruby. She was still sleeping peacefully. Frank was tired so he got into bed too. She hugged him in her sleep and smiled. “Daddy…I love you...”
Frank couldn’t help but smile too.
He and his comrades couldn’t help but feel that the hard work is finally behind them, that soon all of Stalingrad will be in German hands. There is every chance they will be soon able to return home, welcomed as heroes, back to the loving arms of their wives and children and able to enjoy a warm Christmas! After months of struggle, they can think of no better gift for themselves.
But also, Ruby would be out of this hell and warzone and at a safer place.
Chapter 7 A happy Christmas and Hearts Warming Eve
Chapter 7: A happy Christmas and Hearts Warming Eve?
There is nothing but the rhythm of explosions, more or less distant, more or less violent… there are the cries of the wounded, or the agonizingly dying, shrieking as they stare at a part of their body reduced to pulp… There are tragic, unbelievable visions, which carry from one moment of nausea to another: guts splattered across the rubble and sprayed from one dying man into another… This is how we took part in the German advance…
Unknown soldier, 6th army
Frank had a wonderful dream. He dreamed that he was sitting with his wife, daughter and Ruby at the fireplace, enjoying the heat of the fireplace.
Jana was playing with Ruby, they both enjoyed cookies and gingerbread Wafers. Carmen, Frank’s wife, always made them to advent and Christmas.
“I’m so proud if you. Without your help, Ruby had never survived. You’re honestly earned the iron cross.” She kissed him.
“I’m just glad it’s over and I’m reunited with you.” He smiled as Jana tickled Ruby who broke out in laughter.
“And I’m happy to enjoy another Christmas with you.”
The young man smiled in his sleep, knowing that he could soon be home.
But in reality, it wasn’t so.
He woke up in the morning, the body heat of the filly against his, sleeping peacefully.
Frank got up carefully to let her sleep and got to the other to breakfast.
Yes. Remember how much Hans’s coffee sucked? I won't miss his coffee after he got sent to France.”
“I do remember and I won't miss it too.”
Frank took a sip and breakfasted then looked after Ruby. She yawned and blinked her eyes open. “Good morning, Frank.”
“Morning, sweetheart. Slept well?”
“Of course! I dreamed that I was enjoying the heat of the fireplace at your home, playing with your daughter and enjoying cookies and gingerbread Wafers!” She smiled.
Frank chuckled. “I had the same dream. Now, let’s get you some breakfast. The most important meal of the day.”
“That’s right!” she exclaimed.
The others greeted her. Nick had made her some hot chocolate. “Thanks.”
The young foal enjoyed it with a grin.” Warm and refreshing!”
“Glad to hear it.
The day was quiet, Ruby was building a snowpony which earned her the soldiers' compliments. They even had a snowball battle.
It warmed and melted the German’s hearts as the unicorn made a snow angel with a wide smile.
But little they did knew, that their dream to return home, was foiled by the Russians.
A few weeks passed, it was December and the 6th army was surrounded by the soviets.
While the food supply was bad, Frank and his squad mates could still find enough to keep themselves and Ruby from starving.
Frank got a letter. Ruby saw that he was shocked once he had read it. “What’s wrong?” She asked with worry.
“M-my w-wife and daughter…they died in a bombing raid…” He sobbed and Ruby hugged him tightly.
“Sorry for your loss, but you’re still having me.”
Frank patted her. “Indeed, I still have you.”
And I will do anything to get you out of here! For now, his only goal was to keep her alive, even if it meant to sacrifice his own life.
In the evening, they all warmed themselves at a campfire. “Looks like we won’t enjoy a warm Christmas after all.” Manfred was sad, looking into the sky, sighing. He thought of being at home, warming himself at his fireplace.
“My mother told me much about humanity. In Equestria, we have a holiday similar to Christmas. It’s called Hearth's Warming Eve. This holiday celebrates the founding of Equestria. We have 2 songs if it, want to hear it?”
“Yes please.” The soldiers smiled at her.
Ruby cleared her throat.
“Ponies' voices fill the night.
Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again.
Happy hearts so full and bright.
Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again.
Oh, what a sight!
Look at the light!
All for tonight!
Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again!
Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again.
Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again.”
By that point, it felt natural by the Germans to sing along, adding a deeper bass to the foal’s higher voice.
“Ding-dong, ding-dong-ding!
Ding-dong, ding-dong-ding!
We're so busy making merry.
Windigos should all be wary.” Ruby singed as the soldiers sang,
“As our mighty voices carry!”
“Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again!
Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again.
Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again.
Hearth's Warming Eve is here once a—
Happy, happy Hearth's Warming Eve!
Happy, happy Hearth's Warming Eve!
Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again!”
Everyone had a happy look on his smile, arms around each other’s shoulders as Ruby cleared her throat again to start the second song.
“The fire of friendship lives in our hearts
As long as it burns, we cannot drift apart
Though quarrels arise, their numbers are few
Laughter and singing will see us through (will see us through)
We are a circle of pony friends
A circle of friends we'll be to the very end!” Everyone smiled as the song ended.
“That was beautiful!” Frank exclaimed happy, his comrades too.
“Glad to hear it.” Ruby blushed light.
“Hauptmann, General Paulus has a task for you.” Nick walked with an officer away to talk.
“I wonder what he wants,” Ruby commented surprised and curious.
“He will tell us soon,” Klaus replied feared what it could be.
After a few minutes, they got order to report together with other soldiers.
Before he could say anything, the soldiers complained about having enough and being used as Cannon fodder.
“Quiet!” Nick ordered. “Listen. Yesterday, the Russians tried all day to capture our post at a strategic important position. With heavily casualties, we managed to hold it.
I’m sure they will try it again when it becomes light. We have to hold the line with little we have – and you are it men. Without your help, we can’t make it. Why is this position so important?
It’s the best position were an outbreak and Union with the Armor group of General Hoth. She’s just only a few kilometers away from here. And you all know that we must get out of here.
I ask you: Do you want to starve, die of exposure? Do you want to be responsible for the doom of 3100 comrades? Think about it.”
“We will fight to protect her ad as long as you lead us.” The Osttruppen leader said to him.
“Okay. You are all what we have – sorry, men, but this has to be done. We have no choice…”
“What about Ruby? We can’t put her into danger,” Klaus pointed out.
“I’m sorry to say this, but as we need all of you, we have to take her with us. Her safety rest on your determination – so don’t let the deaths of your comrades be in Vain!”
They prepared everything. The leader spoke to Nick, “We have no chance. Why don’t you surrender?”
“You know exactly what awaits us then. Do you want that Ruby has this fate?”
“No. But we deserve nothing else but that.”
They all waited the next morning for the Russian attack. An Anti-tank gun and several foxholes. Ruby was with Frank and Klaus in a foxhole.
“T-tanks.” Lars managed to say as multiple T34s moved in with Infantry sitting on top of them.
“Ruby, get Limpet mines,” Frank ordered.
“Yes.” She didn’t like it but it was the only way to survive.
“Lars, Limpet mine!”
“Have fun.” He gave her a mine, which she carried with her magic back to Frank.
Nick commanded the Anti-tank gun. “Fire!” the first shot missed. “Fire!” The second shot also missed.
“Where’s our artillery?” a soldier exclaimed.
“You are the artillery!” his comrade replied.
The tanks stopped and the infantry jumped down. They overrun the first foxhole with the two soldiers.
As Klaus fired his LMG, Ruby covered her ears at is was very loud.
“Out! Out! Lars yelled at a young soldier who fired with his MP40 at a T34, only to be buried alive by the tank.
One soldier lost his nerves and tried to flee, only to be grabbed by his comrades. “Let me go! I want to go home!”
“Fire! Nick ordered at the Anti-tank gun destroyed a T-34, the one who had buried the young soldier fire at the gun but missed.
It putted Ruby into shellshock for a moment, blurring her vision and deafening her hearing.
As it stopped, she heard a scream. She peeked out of the foxhole and regretted it immediately.
The screaming came from Lars, his abdomen was blown off. He still screamed in pain for a few seconds before he fell silent.
An Osttruppen soldier died as he threw a Molotov Cocktail at a T-34. Ruby was shocked as she saw how the crew climbed out and screamed in pain as she rolled around to put the fire out.
Suddenly, Frank pulled her down as one of the remaining T-34 as above them and placed a mine on the back. It exploded and destroyed the tank.
The MG jammed, Klaus and Frank tried to fix it. “Come on, man!” Frank tried desperately to fix it. As two Russian soldiers passed them, they managed to fix it and fired.
The weapon crew destroyed another tank.
“Frank, Klaus, out!” Nick screamed as the one of the 2 remaining tanks closed in on the foxhole.
They jumped out as the tank came closer but Ruby tripped.
“Hilfswilliger doing it!” the Osttruppen leader shouted as he rushed over to Ruby, grabbed her and rolled out of the tanks way as it got destroyed by a Molotov Cocktail.
The last tank got destroyed by the field gun. “Thank you for saving me.” Ruby thanked her savior.
“It’s my duty.”
They walked over to Nick, making a silent prayer for Lars.
“Damn it! Why does that keep happening to me?” Nick complained, he was holding his right arm for a second.
“You all right, Hauptmann?” Frank asked.
“The Russians can only hit my right side! I was lucky.” He laughed and gave Ruby his chocolate. “My Last. You were very brave.”
“Thank you.”
“Back to camp, men. Now we wait for Hoth’s army. We’ll bring the gun with us.”
“Where are the horses?” Manfred asked. Ruby wasn’t offended, they told her once that they used horses to pull it sometimes.
“We are the horses,” Klaus replied, letting out a laugh.
“Ready as we’ll ever be.” The Osttruppen leader helped them, dragging the gun with his men.
As Ruby’s mother was an earth pony, she had inherited her mother’s strength although the filly was a unicorn. While not as strong as a grown up earth pony or unicorn, she still had some strength in her to drag the gun. Now we wait, until they’ll free us. And then, Frank can get me to a safer place. She thought relieved that it was over.
They got to a Village and took shelter in a house.
A Waffen-SS soldier opened the door. “Get out, quickly!” he ordered with a strictly voice.
“Close the door, it’s getting cold, Klaus replied calm.
“Out, I won’t tell you again! Furlough cancelled, we all stay here!”
“Are you insane?” the Manfred asked.
“How often did you wet your pants before the Russians, huh?” The SS-soldier asked offending.
“YES, I’M SCARED!” Manfred exclaimed in rage, his friends were grabbing him to hold him back. “THIS SUCKS SO MUCH! I go home…by foot.” He calmed down.
“Calm down. We’ll be home soon,” Frank calmed him down.
Outside, Waffen-SS soldiers rounded up the villagers, bringing them out of the village to a backyard, burning the houses. Ruby got lost in the crowd, nobody noticed it.
She got to a house where she heard voices.
“What have you found?”
“Only cheap junk, which would remind them of their homeland. Let’s get out of here.”
Ruby backed up as another 2 soldiers of the Waffen-SS came out and pumped into a third who knocked her out with his MP40 before she had a chance to scream.
Frank, Manfred and Klaus got rewarded with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by General Paulus. They all got the iron cross earlier, their first Iron cross before they got here, back on leave in Italy and the EK II for their actions at the Factory.
“Where’s Ruby?” Frank wondered.
“With Nick I guess. He said he still had something to do.”
General Amsel walked towards them. “Follow me.” They followed him into a backyard where several civilians lined up against the wall.
“Frank, they can’t do this!” Manfred was shocked.
“Listen up, everyone! These men and women are saboteurs. They are to be shot immediately. Execution.”
“They’re no Saboteurs. They got only shot because we run out of food,” Klaus whispered.
“I refuse.” Manfred didn’t want to do this.
“If you refuse, you standing against the wall too,” the Russian leader replied to Manfred.
“Frank.” Manfred spotted Ruby along the “Saboteurs.” She trembled heavily in fear.
“Herr General, I know this girl, she belongs to me, for her I pledge myself,” Frank explained.
“Ah, you’re the one who said she is the daughter if a high-ranking General. Nice try, but I looked through it upon first hearing it. She worked for the Ivan and you know the punishment for it.”
“Spare the child.” Frank tried to bring the General to good sense.
“If you miss even once, you will be standing next to her. We aren’t on the market. Now back in line.”
“I kill this sow! Klaus whispered as Frank got back.
This can’t be happening! Ruby thought scared that her nightmare would become true.
“Take aim!” General Amsel ordered. Ruby trembled harder, tears leaving her eyes, Frank and his friends hands were shaking.
Ruby was petrified with fear. Please no, please no, please no! Her mind raced.
Then several shots. She felt no pain or anything else, but the cold wind.
Several bodies could be heard falling to the ground.
She slowly opened her eyes. The foal saw the body of the general and his loyal soldiers dead in the snow, their heads covered in blood. Frank, his friends and one Waffen-SS soldier with a MP40 had determinated faces, the barrels of their guns were lightly smoking from the recently fired shots.
She recognized the Waffen-SS soldier, it was the same who spared her weeks earlier. He stepped forward.
“You all are free to go.”
“What?” One of the men asked confused.
“This battle is almost over. Nobody else needs to die in this battle, now go, and don’t get caught.”
“Thank you!” The civilians leaved after the soldiers untied them.
Ruby just hugged Frank tightly, crying. “I-I don’t want to die! I was so scared!”
He took her on his arm. “Shh, you know I would never do this to you.”
She also recognized the Osttruppen leader. “My name is Anton. Let’s get out of here.”
“Kurt is my name.” The SS-soldier introduced himself.
They moved into a hut, Nick was nowhere to be found.
“We didn’t kill the General to save her life, only to let her rot here. Come, let’s go.” Manfred said to Frank, who patted Ruby. She was resting her head on his lap, dosing.
“Somehow we come to the airfield. We’ll get a fly home for sure!”
“Is good.” Klaus replied sarcastic, knowing that is was crazy.
“I’m serious, I’m leaving.”
“I’m in. I feel no longer tied to my oath after all what happened here, I think that everyone has the right to leave.” Frank smiled at the sleeping unicorn.
“You’re right.” Nick stepped in. “If you want to get her out of here, do it. Do what you think is right, I won’t stop you.”
“What about you, Nick?” Manfred asked.
“I stay behind to clean the mess up. You did a messy work.” He sounded proudly that his men hadn’t killed the civilians and Ruby.
“Well, everyone who doesn’t want to die here is free to join me.”
Ruby had heard everything. “It’s worth a try. I’m in.”
“Me too.” Klaus got up.
“What about you two?” Frank asked Anton and Kurt.
“I know it sounds crazy, but I can’t. I just can’t. A year ago, I would have come with you, but now…After all the Waffen-SS did, I deserve to die here.” Kurt grabbed his MP40. “I help the Hauptmann.”
“This used to be my home. I was born here, I will die here. I’m dead anyway, no matter if it’s the SS or Stalin,” Anton explained.
“Good luck,” Kurt said as they leaved.
The four walked through the Snow covered landscape until they saw Russian civilians at a campfire. It were the same they had saved from the execution.
A woman hugged her children to keep them warm.
“I ask for the way.” Klaus walked over to the father of the two children.
Ruby felt sorry for them and walked over to them. “Here.” She gave them some bread and chocolate she had left.
“Thank you.” The mother thanked.
“What are you doing here?” One of the children asked her.
“Trying to get to a safer place. Frank said there is an airfield nearby. Do you know where?”
“Head west and you should see it soon,” the mother explained, her husband confirmed it to Klaus.
“Thanks.” Ruby was happy that she could help.
“Good luck!” the children called out.
After a while, Ruby stumbled over something. She looked a dead German into the face, he was frozen. Still, she yelped in fear and crawled backwards into Frank.
He took her on his arm to comfort her.
“Looks like an Association place.” Klaus looked around, it was littered with bodies of dead Germans.
Manfred examined a body. “Frank! This one has still a medical tag!” he showed it to his friend.
“The signature from the doctor can still be readied. Dr. Bonn. That is a free ride ticket! With that signature, we come home!” he exclaimed happy.
“Go, everyone searches for one of these and puts on a bandage. We are injured!” They laughed and searched the bodies.
Ruby used her magic to get a tag from a body. She was disgusted but knew it could work. Rest in peace. She thought as she took the tag from the body.
Frank had a bandage around his left leg, Ruby around her right foreleg, Manfred around his head and Klaus around his right hand.
Frank carried the foal in his arms, they weren’t the only ones trying to get out.
The airfield was crowded with wounded soldiers trying to reach the only plane. Every once and then, artillery sounded in the distance, causing everyone to duck, Ruby winced instead.
The Stabsarzt examined a wounded soldier without tag. “Be quiet, you’re not the only one!” the soldier had a bullet in his leg. “Aha, knew this already, clear case of self-mutilation. Get rid of that traitor.”
A soldier of the Feldgendarmerie, the MP of the German Army shot the traitor in the head with his MP40.
Ruby trembled at the sight and sounds.
Frank was next in line with Ruby in his arms. “What’s wrong, fever, my girl?” The doctor looked at her tag. “The signature can hardly be deciphered, what’s the doctor’s name?”
Ruby was too scared to give an answer. “Can’t you answer properly?” The Stabsarzt asked.
“Dr. Bonn. Excuse me Herr Stabsarzt, she has a terrible shock. Anti-tank battle. She saw how my friend’s abdomen got blown off,” Frank explained.
“Ah, the daughter of the General I heard about. Here my girl, against the fever. You’ll be home soon. Keep the little one save.” The doctor gave him a wink after he gave her some medicine.
“Jawohl, Herr Stabsarzt.”
Both smiled at each other, glad that they would make it out of here. But it came to tumultuous scenes and warning shots, as the desperate soldiers tried massively to get into the plane. Only a few officers were allowed to get in.
Not wanting that Ruby gets hurt in the crowd, Frank didn’t try to chase the plane and get onboard as the others tried to do. Like his 3 friends, he just looked after the plane as it was about to take off, chased by the desperate soldiers.
“You could have made it!” Manfred said to him, before they walked back to the hut in defeat.
Some of the wounded that got left behind collapsed on the way back.
Ruby quietly sobbed, she couldn’t believe what she saw at the airfield.
As they reached the hut they saw how Nick was held by Kurt. The squad leader grunted in pain.
“Looks like there was no flight for you.” Anton looked sad at Ruby. She had given up as she was still sobbing, her head lowered.
“My foot…Those damn pains!” Nick grunted in pain.
Klaus was about to remove the right boot as Kurt warned, “I wouldn’t do that.”
Klaus did it anyway. Ruby gasped and looked away, Nick suffered from severe trench foot. “I told you not to do it!” Kurt scolded Klaus.
Nick laughed. “I just don’t have luck with my right side.”
There was a sound of an engine. A German plane brought a container full of supplies via parachute.
Ruby rushed with Frank and Manfred to it. They ate the chocolate, giggling and hugging each other.
“Hey, what’s this?” the filly found a note inside of the container. Manfred read it.
“It says that those supplies are for General Amsel’s house that is nearby. We should check it out.”
“Yes.” All other agreed, even Nick. The cellar was stocked full of food and bottles of all kind.
Kurt let out a whistle. “Typical. The Generals live in heaven and let us starve. No offense, Nick.” He sat him down on a couch.
“None taken, I never liked this kind of Generals anyway.”
Suddenly, they head someone yelling, “Killing me will not save you. My comrades show no mercy!” It sounded female and was behind a closed door.
Manfred opened the door with Kurt, MP40s ready.
Behind the door was Tanya, restrained on a bed. Without saying a word, they untied her.
“Tanya? Ruby was surprise to see her again.
“Ruby?” the woman was surprised too.
Frank told her what happened between after they met each other.
“You’re a good man, Frank. Stay that way.”
They enjoyed the food and water, the General had stored here.
“They captured me again. Amsel should decide my fate. Thank you for saving me.”
“I guess we’re even now, but it’s nothing.” Frank was glad that he saved the young woman from a terrible fate.
Still, they all got desperate from the good felling by the unexpected luxury after a few days.
“I go back to the front. Buying you some time to bring Ruby to safety.” Nick tried to get up, the pain was too much.
“Let me help you, Hauptmann.” Nick helped him out.
“Good Luck.” Both said as they leaved.
Outside, they collapsed. “Let me catch my breath,” Klaus looked at Nick who looked like he was asleep.
“Don’t fall asleep, Nick. Where’s the front?” Klaus asked General Hentz who walked past them with some other officers and soldiers.
“There is none. Come with us. Gentleman.” The General walked out, hands up in surrender with his follow men
Realizing that it was lost and Nick dead, Klaus looked after the surrendering Germans with severe cough.
“I don’t wanna die!” Ruby broke down.
“No way we gonna going into a Russian prison camp!” Manfred realized that Ruby probably wouldn’t last long in Russian captivity.
“I’ll help you. I will vouch for you, I won’t let Ruby or you suffer in the hands of my comrades.
Frank comforted Ruby. “Thank you. Shh…Ruby, please calm down. I promise you won’t land into a Soviet Prison Camp. You in?” Frank asked Anton and Kurt.
“Thanks but you better go without us,” Kurt replied.
As Frank, Tanya and Ruby left, they heard two gunshots from the inside.
Kurt knew that he wouldn’t survive the war, not after the crimes the Waffen-SS did. He would be executed by the Russians.
Anton on the other hand, would be executed as well, sentenced to Forced labor or exiled for “Betraying” his motherland even if he got forced to do it. Both had one last duty to perform. They earned a bullet.
But the least they deserved was to choose which bullet. So they’ll take Ruby’s. They owed it to her after saving her from getting executed twice.
Ruby walked with the humans through the Endless expanses of the snow-capped landscape.
Tanya spotted a flare in the distance. She tried to call out to the Russian position, but the soviet soldiers opened fire from the distance.
The Germans and filly dived to the ground, the woman fell on her back.
Manfred checked her and shook his head as she was dead.
While they walked through the snow, Manfred stuttered from the cold, “I…just need so stop to warm up a bit.” He puffed into his hands to keep himself warm, shivered and fell on his back, dying of exposure.
Eventually they got caught in a blizzard. Frank was sitting on the ground, shielding Ruby.
She had buried her head into his lap, pressed against his body. She was still breathing as Frank told her about his time in North Africa.
“It’s so cold out here.” She shivered.
“…You won’t get a sunburn here…Have you ever been in the desert? It’s sickening sometimes, even when used to it…It’s so hot…that the sweat…pours down your body all the time…You feel like you melt like a piece of butter. I tell you, the desert really sucks sometimes! But the stars, they're so close…you know, Ruby?”
She gave no reply, her eyes were closed.
The Blizzard covered them more and more with snow. Frank’s head was fallen on his chest, Ruby had her head lowered too. They had given up, but at least they tried.
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.
“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.