War in Equestria

Chapter 2

        After enlisting, the six friends got two months of basic training before being sent to aid Manehatten. The instability made it an easier target for the less experienced members.  The initial rally had stopped the griffins from advancing into Equestria but so far, the ponies had been unable to drive them back creating a stalemate.

        Apple Bloom, Noi, and Diamond Tiara got standard earth pony training, with Apple Bloom getting additional training for engineering and Noi got training in communications. Scootaloo being unable to fly almost limited her to just infantry but her speed on her scooter got her a spot in reconnaissance and scouting.

        Starbloom and Sweetie Belle got training with the other unicorns for long-range combat and support before being attack to an infantry unit with Apple Bloom, Noi, and Diamond Tiara. Scootaloo was placed with the infantry unit as well before it unit was sent to Manehatten.

        “Well girls, this is it…” Apple Bloom sighed as the six sat together in a passenger car as it rolled out of the Ponyville train station headed for the outpost near Manehatten. “Guess it’s too late to back out now huh?”

        “Uh huh,” Sweetie Belle answered looking over at Apple Bloom, “Don’t worry it’s just nerves, once we get there you won’t have time to be nervous.”

        “Did you ever get any word from your cousin?” Diamond Tiara asked looking out the window, before looking at Apple Bloom.

        “Not yet… we’re still hopin ta hear something from Babs but we’re startin to lose hope…” Apple Bloom answered softly sighing. “We don’t think she made it out of Manehatten”

        “Don’t worry Apple Bloom I’m sure she’s still alive,” Starbloom smiled over at her friend. “Knowing her she joined the resistance and she’s giving them griffins and diamond dogs a hard time.”

        The group chuckled softly but Apple Bloom was still worried about her cousin, because she hadn’t written her to let her know she was safe. She didn’t care if she was with the resistance or in a prison camp; she just wanted to know she was safe and alive. The train shuddered before starting to move as it left the station to make the trip to the outpost set up outside of Manehatten.

        “How did your families take it when you told them you was going to join?” Noi asked, “My sister was upset at first, but understood why I wanted to join.”

        “Rainbow Dash was proud of me; I think her only regret is that Princess Celestia won’t let her join as well.” Scootaloo smiled before sighing. “My dad… I don’t think he even remembered who I was when I went to the hospital to tell him.”

        Apple Bloom put a hoof on Scootaloo’s shoulder giving her a comforting smile. “I am sorry to hear bout your pa Scootaloo.” Apple Bloom said before sighing, “Applejack was both worried and proud when I told her. She wants me to write her every night so she can be sure I’m safe.”

        “My dad wants me to do the same thing,” Diamond Tiara nodded at Apple Bloom smiling, “He’s so worried something will happen to me and I’m all he has left. He was against me joining me at first, but I convinced him it was the right thing for me to do.”

        Sweetie Belle and Starbloom looked at each other for a moment before Sweetie Belle spoke. “Well, you guys know how my sister can be. Especially with my parents death… she got protective of me. It took a lot of convincing before she finally agreed to let me join. She still thinks it’s a bad idea, but she said she supports my choice.”

        They all looked over to Starbloom to see what she had to say since she was the only one in their group who hadn’t spoken yet. “My mom was supportive enough… though I think she would of preferred if I had followed in my uncle’s hoof steps and joined the royal guard instead. However, she does understand my wanting to stick with my friends.”

        “I still can’t believe the griffins and the diamond dogs did this,” Sweetie Belle sighed looking out the window. “At least not the diamond dogs, they can be… aggressive I guess but I always heard they were disorganized.”

        “They are.” Starbloom agreed nodding her head, “The griffins are main force behind the invasion, my mom believes the griffins are behind the attack and are using the diamond dogs to strength their numbers.”

        “Which makes the griffins more cowards then anything right?” Scootaloo asked looking at Starbloom.

        “No, it makes em smart.” Apple Bloom answered before Starbloom could causing every pony to look over at her. “All-out war with Equestria is gonna cost lives on both side, the griffins are using the diamond dogs to cut losses.”

        Noi nodded in agreement, “Apple Bloom is right, more diamond dogs are getting killed then griffins right now. At my paper, we got war reports that came in from the front lines. Most of the reports said the griffins would send the diamond dogs out front letting them take the most loses.”

        “So do the griffins ever do any fighting?” Scootaloo asked.

        “They only engage in air combat for the most part, up in the sky they seem pretty evenly matched with the pegasi air teams… though we have an edge with our unicorn ground to air specialist.” Starbloom answered shifting in her seat. “Neither me or Sweetie qualified for that position though.”

        She pointed a hoof out the window towards Manehatten, which was just visible on the horizon. “If you look though, you can see them in action.” Starbloom said and the group all crowded to look out the window towards the city, every so often a bright bolt of magic would flash from the ground into the sky hitting something. “The magic needed for that type of spell takes a lot of focus under battle conditions as well as near perfect aim.”

        “That is pretty amazin stuff though,” Apple Bloom smiled as the group moved back and took a seat, “Think either of ya ever will manage to be able to do it?”

        “Sweetie Belle might be able to, but not me my magic is only good for levitation.” Starbloom smiled at Sweetie relaxing back into her seat after the group moved back. “I’ll be happy to stick with the infantry division though.”

        Sweetie Belle nodded, “Same here I don’t want to be separated from you girls to join the surface to air group. Besides I earned my medic qualification you girls need me.”

        The door to their sleeper cabin opened. “Alright ponies, thirty minutes for dinner then get some sleep as soon as we arrive at Manehatten you move out.” A large earth pony stallion stated before moving to the next sleeper.

        Once the stallion moved, another pony came up behind him to deliver the meals to the group. They knew it would be the last meal they would be able to sit down and really enjoy for a long time. After arriving in Manehatten meals would be quick and death could come at any time.