After all the recruiting concluded, all ponies seemed to have a side, there was no neutrality, there was only with us or against us. Of course, when dividing a country where ponies follow princesses, not a regional power, figuring out which city belongs to which faction, who gets the food shipments from this farm, or other logistical issues tends to be a bloody mess. Such was the scene at many locations in Equestria, and news of it spread like wildfire, during this time the other nations were still looking at each other sizing up their weapons, manpower, and resources, all that ceased with the situation in Equestria coming to light. First contact of Pony and Pony came first, within 4 weeks, the only ponies not at conflict were those under Princess Cadence’s command, the so dubbed, Conclave of Love, but we’ll get to them later. First contact between the Solar Empire and the New Lunar Republic began on the streets of Canterlot itself, and to this day, nopony will ever call the Upper Class pompous windbags. This was the most bitter of fights, and one that destroyed the first friendships. Blueblood and Fancy Pants, one of the Sun, and one of the Moon, just like the princesses, these two fought in the past, and they fought against each other in the war, unfortunately, the loser’s destination was not the Hospital, it was the morgue, this was the beginning of the Equestrian Civil War.

At last the time for the retribution of the heathens who see Luna above Her Royal Majesty Princess Celestia will pay for their insubordination, they will be laid to rest, and Canterlot will be cleansed of filth once again! Oh today will be most certainly glorious! These thoughts and more ran throughout my head on that bitter day. It was less than proper, but at the time social norms meant nothing, Princess Celestia and Canterlot was the only thing that mattered to both me, and the entire Solar Empire’s Canterlot Division. However, I was not aware that my friend of a long time was one of the others. Unlike the uncivilized ruffians of Hoofinton, Trottingham, and Seaddle, we at Canterlot met with banners raised, in an orderly line, much like the the battles of old, there was honor, and order. Myself, the Commander of this particular company met in the center of Canterlot, but who I saw step from the ranks of the New Lunar Republic shooked me to my core. Fancy Pants, my friend from my foalhood, the only one to have been with me not as someone to please, not a Prince, but a pony. We stared at each other, and we exchanged words, “F-Fancy Pants! What are you doing among those... filthy-hoofed, insignificant traitors! You belong with those who see the light of the sun and love its feeling! You deserve better than what Luna and her New Republic can offer!”

“That my friend is where you are wrong, the sun’s pale radiance provides the citizens of Equestria no warmth. You are the one who is mistaken, and if I must, you will die by my hoof, what I fight for is greater than my own needs, it is an inescapable fact. Prince Blueblood, I am sorry, but fate has decided that only one will walk away from this, and by Luna’s name it will be me.” Even though he has a strong face, I remember the fear and remorse that arose from his lecture, I began to tear up, choking out the words,

“But... Fancy, what about our foalhood!”

“I know. Blueblood, I will cherish those times till my end, but the need of the many tromp the need of a few I’m afraid, and as such, this will be our final goodbye.”

With that we walked back to our lines, both of us suppressing tears, at least, that is what I like to think, and picked up our rifles. We raised to firing position, and fired. The first volley took out most of each army and the next minute was spent ordering my soldiers. The front crouched and my second rank fired. Decimating most of the Lunar’s second before they even fired a shot. By this time the first has finished reloading a round, and fired as well. This continued for many more minutes, before the only ponies left on the battlefield were some Privates I didn’t know on my side, and Fancy Pants on his. He was alone, the lone soldier to survive. I walked to him, and gazed upon his matted fur, his disheveled mane. Before I extended a hoof to him. “Fancy Pants, I hereby capture you as a Prisoner of War to the Solar Empire, and thus demand your immediate surrender of Canterlot, and any remaining soldiers under your command. Do you agree to these terms? However, I can promise you will be treated with the utmost respect and honor a fair opponent and a good friend deserves, Fancy, we both can walk away from this, we can still be friends! Please, agree.”

He stared at me, his voice riddled with defeat, “Of course,” A sudden change in his demeanor shocks me as he utters the next sentence, “magic squad, please won’t you come out and greet our captors?”

In seconds, deep blue magic bolts are flying threw the air striking down the remaining of my lines, the 20 or so Republican unicorns walk from the shadows, a feel the blood of my fellow Loyalists run down my back, and a tan hoof lands in my mane, I pull it out and look at it in disgust, and I stare at Fancy Pants, the Magic Division subdues me, as they are taking me away, I see no remorse in Fancy’s stare, whatever he had thought of me, whatever feelings of friendship we had were gone, that day I vowed to end him for the sake of the Solar Empire, but I never got that chance, I remained a POW for the remainder of the war. I lost a dear friend that day.

As you can see, the war started killing ponies physically and emotionally almost immediately, however that was the most organized attack for many weeks, while the territories were being drawn out in “assaults” the rest of the world took a keen interest, when all was said and done, the Solar Empire had the east and Canterlot, the Lunar Republic resided in the west, and the Twilight Crusade in the south, everyone seemed to forget the crystal empire, to the north, but they wouldn’t lay in shadows for long.

Author's Note

I might rewrite this chapter later, go more into detail about the other battles in Canterlot and others, meh don't know yet. Thanks for the comments and likes!