What? You thought the only skirmish in Canterlot was between Blueblood and Fancy Pants? Please there is more to large battles like this, and even then, I only gave you a view on what happened between Blueblood and Fancy Pants, that is what I asked of him, not about the battle, no if you want to hear about the battle then we need to look to the New Lunar Republic Airman 1st Class Hotshot, before he went into service for the NLR he was an avid Motocross competitor, but when things turned sour he needed a way to save both his image, and hopefully, his family’s lives. So, just a few days after he enlisted he was assigned to Canterlot to work under Filthy Rich, who retreated to Canterlot when Ponyville started dividing itself, but instead of fighting the Empire he was fighting the Twilight Crusade, and unlike the first battle of the war, Hotshot, who mind you was a pegasus was engaged in an Aerial attack on a passing Company of Twilight Crusade Magic Division troops.

Oh you want to hear about my first battle huh? The Battle for Canterlot, yeah that was one of the NLR Air Force’s shining moments, a squad of 9 Pegasi taking on 80 TC Unicorns, and suffering no casualties no less! Ah, moments like those make me glad I supported Luna! Hey, if I am going to recount this, mind if I light up? Thanks, ahh yeah, love this brand. Anyway, so back in the first day of the war Canterlot was divided up into 12 districts based on where the supporters of Luna won or lost, the problem was, most of these territories were separated so frequent patrols were done to ensure that any infidels trying to link up their territories weren't going to do it through NLR space. I was apart of Lunar Squad Delta the squad in charge of the NLR’s second zone it was mostly ruined merchant shops, we were flying in a V formation with me in the lead to break the wind for the others, as I was just a Private at the time, and since Equestria hadn’t had a war in many many years, the technology wasn't as good as it was during the end of the war, so we were stuck using old-fashioned rifles, you know the ones that you fire once then have to spend two minutes reloading? Yeah those lame things, so when we encountered the company of TC unicorns heading directly toward our front operating base, we called in and started our work, using the stealth of the night that Luna has graced us with, we silently took a prone position on a cloud, our barrels peeking out just enough for the gun to fire, which we did, we took off in formation as we reloaded and landed on another cloud, the TC were furious as we started taking down their comrades in small groups, their blood staining the cobblestone below them, within an hour there was only three left and they were scared shitless! I mean they were fucking aiming at leaves as they blew in the wind they were panicking so bad, they were also covered in the blood and, if the Sergeant killed ‘em, the brains of their allies and friends, they were too busy to actually cast the basic killing spell, they just turned whatever they hit into oranges! It was hilarious! Anyway we finished them off, but we left one alive to take back to base, the look on his face when we flew from the clouds, you could have put him in snow and he would have been whiter! Such a wimp! We returned to base and were given Medals of Outstanding Service as well as an extra ration token! Still don't know which was worth more. Anyway, that Mr. Inkblot, was the first time I kicked ass and made the NLR proud! If you want my autograph, please don’t hesitate to ask!

As you can see the Battle for Canterlot was not only detrimental to some friends, but it was also a chance for young soldiers to prove themselves, but what about the losing side? What are their stories? Was the Battle for Canterlot so ruthless that no one on the losing side was spared? Thankfully not, as we can hear the tails of Longtail, a Twilight Crusade Private in the Army, he was the only one in his Platoon that survived.

That day was the worst one of my live, I wasn't a Private because I was new, as I served the united Equestrian Army before hand, I was a Private because I constantly failed the mental exam, you see before I was a member of the Twilight Crusade I was addicted to blood, not like ingesting it, but I craved to see it run from the bodies of my foes, even those whose only crime was being 3 minutes late for a meeting, I wanted them all do die, and I wanted to do it, I never surcomed to those thoughts, however, it prevented me from being a command officer, as they thought I would gut those under my command, after that day everything changed, that day I saw blood, that day the gore of my friends and allies were splattered on my coat. Those days in a POW camp where some of the most sober days of my life. So, what do you want to hear? The battle, or the about the camps? The battle huh? Yeah I figured as much, it was a sunny day, and we were patrolling the border of TC zone 1, also known as the market district, it was directly adjacent to NLR zone 2, and we shared a border with both, there were tall buildings and narrow streets, it was a nightmare to patrol and a common excuse for a late patrol was getting lost, on the second one hour patrol of my Platoon that day, we would be more than late.

We turned onto Filthy Street from Hoity Plaza, those two streets were actually named in honor of the rich ponies who helped plan that part of the city, when we were ambushed by some Solar Empire joint forces, they had air support as well as the basic squad of ground units, were weren’t outnumbered, but since we were still using the old rifles from long ago we only got in one shot per few minutes, quickly we took cover with my Sergeant lying next to me, he told me to keep down and aim for the throat, as the kickback might cause the bullet to go high, I did as he said with four other members of my platoon resting besides me, Pvt. Hands he was a masseuse, so when we were stressed we would go to him, he was one of my closest friends. Three others were lying beside me, I didn't even really know their names, but their faces will always be etched into my mind, because they were the ponies whose blood I had on my face, within minutes the ground forces of the SE were eliminated, but with the air support still having both rounds and their lives, we were still under great distress, as with every bullet missed, we had to wait two minutes to get a second chance, soon I felt something warm and wet on my left, one of the privates heads just exploded, covering the ponies directly next to them in both brain and blood, both of them wretched, and while Hands was doing the same, another bullet flied, and landed in his temple, causing more red and pink to join, but this time, it landed in my eyes I SAW his brain and his blood covered my eye and I shut down, not able to function. What? You think I should have toughed it out!? Well... you know what! You try having your face covered with the insides of your friends HEAD! HIS BRAIN CONTACTED MY EYE! I JUST... I just... shut down, I didn't even notice when my commander was killed, or the remaining private in my position, I just sat there with my mouth agape, when the remainder of the air squad landed, I counted 3 left, we four are the only ones who survived, they took me to their forward operating base, and handed me over to their commander, Tech Sergeant Mill. From there I can only tell you of being a POW for the SE. But not today, I just want to be alone. If you want to know more, come tomorrow at 10.

As you can see, all sides had different tales to tell, but ultimately it was the Solar Empire that took control of the city. All others taken as POWs, killed, or were lucky enough to retreat, little of importance followed, well that is an understatement, lines were drawn, and a lot of logistical information began to be created, with this brief lull in battles, another power came from the ashes, the Crystal Empire and their Conclave of Love.

Author's Note

Wow, a bunch of short one shots. If only there was some pony we could follow, or a branch of someone's military, or something of that nature. Well you're in luck!... after the next chapter.