The Price of Peace

Prologue

On the continent of Aryte, there lie four countries that have co-existed with each other for millennia on end. These four countries have never ceased to bicker betwixt one another about anything and everything for an untold amount of time, with skirmishes and even a war almost breaking out among them as a result.

Internal affairs always seem to halt their feuds though and every so often, there comes a time of peace and harmony between the four nations.

The first country, The Kingdom of Vers, is home to the race known as the griffins. A proud and arrogant breed of warriors, the griffins rely on an eons old tradition of the hierarchy system based on their religion to keep their kingdom from falling into chaos and ruin. They control the mountainous western half of Aryte and are the most technologically advanced among the four races.

The second country is known as The Land of Equestria. This large nation takes up both the northern and central parts of Aryte and is home to a race called the ponies. The ponies are a peaceful and kind-hearted breed of herbivores that, though have faced hardships and battle in the past, prefer to try and be the sowers of peace and harmony among the four kingdoms. Their nation follows a much kinder version of the hierarchy system and have been ruled by a dynasty of alicorns for ages untold, being interrupted only once by the rule of Discord.

The third nation that lies on Aryte is known as The United Republic of Zebras. This country is made up of large, nomadic tribes of a white and black striped race known as zebras. These tribes banded together some time ago and formed a loose democratic government made up of elders from the different tribes. Zebras are a very mysterious and superstitious race that prefer to keep to themselves unless provoked. They inhabit the southern half of the continent, which is filled with mostly desert and few forests.

The last kingdom that calls the land of Aryte home is known as The Kingdom of Skriiod. This imperialistic country is home to the power hungry race named the darastrixs or the dragons. They occupy the eastern sector of the continent, with a line of volcanoes marking their border. Out of the four races, the dragons are by far the most dangerous and cunning of them all. Their kingdom was built upon the soul purpose and idea of both militarism and imperialism. The government is a totalitarianism dictatorship that is constantly changing leaders, depending on which war lord has the most power. Dragons, like griffins, are a proud and arrogant race of warriors, that have an innate lust for battle. The one thing that sets the dragons apart from the other races though is this: they are the pinnacle of greed. Most conflicts among the four kingdoms have started and ended with the greed of the dragons.

Greed fueled them for countless years until, a few centuries ago, they retreated behind their borders and inadvertently ushered in one of the rare eras of peace on the continent; a respite from the usual bickering and threats. Though sadly, it seems the centuries long peace will soon be at an end...

Pipsqueak shuffled his hooves in both overwhelming excitement and mind numbing nervousness.This was it, this was the day he'd finally be done with it. It had been a good run but now he was ready for everything to be resolved. He was ready for high-school to be over and all he had to do was walk up those steps and he'd be free.

He smiled at the thought of never having to endure it again, he was was able to finally forge his own path in life. School would never trouble him again! Well, except for college that is. He sighed and rolled his eyes a little as he thought about the lecture his parents had given him the night before about the importance of going to college. It was only the fifteenth-billion time they had reminded him of it.

Coming back to himself, Pip noticed that his friend in front of him, Spike, was in the process of climbing the steps to the platform and claiming his diploma. He grinned a little at the sight before him because, unlike Pip and the rest of the senior class, Spike was almost seven years older then them all.

About four years before, Spike had decided that he wanted to try and find a job outside of helping Twilight around the library. When he started looking around and applying though, every potential employer informed him of the fact that he needed a high-school degree before they could hire him.

So he had to go to school all over again, even though he was, at the time, twenty-one by pony standards. Though their differences in age were definitely substantial, Pip and Spike eventually became friends. Almost brothers, some might say about the two of them.

As Spike received his diploma and began shaking the hooves of the different ponies that represented each of their high-school classes, Pip's ears perked as he heard, "Our next graduate is Mr. Pipsqueak Advenicci, graduating with Magna Cum Laude!"

Their was applause as Pip walked up the wooden steps and took his diploma from his principle and proceeded to shake the hooves of many who congratulated him with warm smiles and encouraging words. The young stallion beamed as he descended the exit stairs and took his seat among his peers.

Once every pony had received his and her dues, the principle made his closing remarks, reminding them of their duty and responsibility to the world that they were about to head into. When all was said and done, the principle smiled at the young ponies before him and announced, "So I conclude and declare, that this, the 75th graduating class of Ponyville Highschool, has made us all very proud and finally passed!"

Their was momentous applause from the parents and relatives present as the former students stood with a cheer and threw their hats into the air, not caring where they landed or if they would find them. There was a great many tears, congratulating, excitement and much more.

Pipsqueak made his way through the bustling crowd of ponies towards Spike, his parents, and Twilight Sparkle. He was greeted with hugs and kisses from his mom, a smile and firm hoof shake from his father and a bro hoof from Spike. Twilight pulled both Pip and Spike into a hug, saying, "Congratulations to you both! How does it feel to have graduated?"

Both young males broke the hug with the mare and looked at each other before saying in union, "Awesome!"

They all laughed as Spike went up and, putting an arm around Twi's neck, said, "Speaking of me graduating, this means that I'm finally free from school work, which also means we can have some little... one-on-one time after the grad party"

Twilight blushed as she playfully elbowed Spike in the stomach, giggling while she did so. Pipsqueak smiled at the two. It had been almost two years since Spike had had a change of heart towards his friend and found that he harbored affection for her. It had taken a day and a half for Spike to work up the courage to ask Twilight to dinner and the two had been inseparably ever since.

Pip, still grinning a little, rolled his eyes and said, "Alright, if you're done flirting like a school filly, we should be getting to the after party or else Rumble's gonna eat all the pie AND somehow get drunk at the same time like the last party."

Spike chuckled and replied, "Yeah, I guess you're right, though it was pretty funny last time..."

Pip and Twilight both gave the drake a hard look, to which he responded with a toothy smile. "Fine."

Kissing Twilight, Spike started on his way towards the center of Ponyville, where the high school always had their graduation after party. Hugging his parents a again, Pipsqueak promised he'd be home soon and started after the dragon, who was already half-way down the road.

Catching up to him, Pip saw that Spike had lit a cigarette and was in the process of smoking it. As the pony gagged a little from the fumes, he had the odd thought about how Spike's scales weren't as bright as they once had been, due to the smoking.

It was somewhat startling to look back over the years and see how the two of them had changed. Pip had gone from a tiny, pirate loving colt to a young, handsome stallion; a globe for exploration proudly displayed on his flank as his Cutie Mark. Spike, on the other hoof, had gone from a little dragon assistant to an adolescent drake who stood almost six feet, six inches tall and with a pair of wings proudly displayed on his back.

Pipsqueak was interrupted from his thoughts as multiple, loud voices could be heard coming from the center of the town. The sweet sound of laughter filled the area around the pavilion as ponies, graduates only (the center had been barred off to all but the newly former students), partook of the food, drink, and games that had been set up all around for the enjoyment of the many.

Spike and Pip were let through the make shift entrance that had been set up and immediately were swarmed by friends who wanted to either talk, offer a drink, or share in a drink. Before either could answer any of the questions thrown at them, they all heard somepony shout over the noise, saying, "Drink off!"

Everypony laughed and cheered as they all headed towards the drink table, Spike extinguishing his cig along the way. Reaching the table, the ponies formed a circle around the two drinkers, Rumble and Featherweight. They both had already started on the hard cider and were slowly turning redder by the half minute.

The two stallions went to the rhythmic chant of, "Drink! Drink! Drink!", to which they happily obliged. After a while though, it looked like Rumble was beginning to sway a little and became slower in his gulping. A few minutes later, Featherweight followed. They both progressively became slower and slower in their drinking until Rumble simply stopped and stood still for a moment.

He then promptly fell to his for knees and regurgitated everything he had just drank. So in other words: he puked his guts out.

There was a mixture of disgusted "Ew's!" from the mares and roaring laughter from the stallions as Rumble was helped up by others and supported as he swayed dangerously, threatening to topple right onto his face. Pipe and Spike shared in the laughter as the crowd began to break up to different parts of the party.

The two of them enjoyed themselves and the company of their friends for hours until, when they both were exhausted and a little buzzed, found a table to sit at to contently sip their drinks.  Mind wandering, Pipsqueak decided it was about the right time to try and convince his friend to reconsider his career choice.

Again.

"Hey Spike... What do you think you'll be doing in the next, oh, five years from now?" Not the best approach but I've tried everything else he thought.

The dragon sighed and replied, "Pip, for the last time, yes, I am still going to join the militia. No matter how many times you or Twilight try to get me to do something else, it will all be for not in the end. Besides, you know what's going on near the northern borders. I can't just sit around and do nothing about it!"

Pip stayed silent for a few minutes. He could think of no other argument to make. Except maybe a fool's one. "You would fight against your kin?"

Spike's demeanor hardened as he replied curtly, "They are no kin of mine. I might be of the same blood and look like them but I am NOTHING like them. The ponies are and always have been my kin."

Before the young stallion could say another word, a booming horn sounded all across the slowly expanding town. Silence came upon the all the ponies present as another call vibrated through the air, followed by a voice amplified by magic. It said, "TO THE EDGE OF TOWN: COME! TO ALL PONIES WHO HEAR: COME! I BEAR AN ORDER FROM THE PRINCESSES! COME!"

There was hesitation for but a moment before everypony began making their way towards the place from where the herald's voice had come from. Spike, Pip and the rest of the grads all left the center of town and followed the flow of ponies to the edge of the town, where the road to Canterlot met Ponyville's.

As the ponies walked, the reactions to the summoning could be clearly seen on their muzzles. Some wore an expression of confusion, others of anxiety, still more of excitement. In everpony though, there was an underling fear that could be seen no matter how hard they tried to hide it.

The town's ponies all arrived at where the herald had voiced his calling and were met by a rather large, white unicorn garbed in the armor of the Royal Guard. He wore a grim look in his face that sent murmuring through the entire crowd that was gathered before him.

When the guard saw that all from the town were before him, he once again began to speak in his booming voice but without the help of magic this time. Clearing his throat, he proclaimed, "At war! Equestria is at war! By decree of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, all able bodied stallions over the age of sixteen are required to serve in the newly formed Equestrian Nation Army, excluding the infirm and disabled! The officer that has been put in control of this district will be here in a matter of hours to collect those who are to join! If you have a musket, bring it along! A representative will also be with him, to help organize the war effort in this town!"

Immediately, there was a roar of both questions and outrage following the startling announcement. One question that pierced the air though hushed the uproar of uneasiness and was thus: "Who in the name of all things good and holy would declare war on Equestria?!"

There was silence as the unicorn took a moment before answering with only two words.

"The dragons."