Timeline of the Eclipse War

647 BW- Lunar and Celestia defeat Discord. His constant medalling in the environment has caused Equestia to experience an environmental disaster, ending a constant day and night cycle, as well as stopping the season. Lunar and Celestia start to us magic to raise the sun and moon manually. Since they are now the most important ponies on the planet, they are voted in as the new rulers.

645 BW- Celestia and Luna take the crown as equal rulers however due to the classification reasons neither are technically queens at this time, so they are called princesses.

602 BW- Lunar starts to feel unappreciated. She asks Celestia for a day to celebrate the moon. She is given a day called “New moon day”. The celebration consistent of ponies watching the stars at night, while entertainment is also provided.

347 BW- Three hundred year anniversary anniversary of Discord’s defeat. The sisters arrive in Cloudsdale to receive gifts from the children there. One particular filly would impact the cause of history greatly. Snow Drop presents the first snowflake, an object the princesses liked so much the changed the weather teams schedule in order for them to make more each winter with Snow Drop assistance.

346 BW- Winter comes around again and Luna is given the job of overseeing Snow Drops creations. As the years slowly go by, she is forced to spend more and more time with Snow Drop. Soon eventually, she befriends the filly and as she grows older, they grow closer.

340 BW- Now old enough, Luna invites Snow Drop to become her representative in court and moves her to Canterlot, allowing them to see each other every day. Celestia also befriends Snow Drop as the years go by and all three end up being very close.

243 BW- Snow Drop finally dies of old age, her final wish being that once a year, one of her specially made snowflakes to be dropped along with all the others. Luna s devastated and becomes distant, but Snow Drop had taught her over the years about friendship and doing what is right even if it meant hurting yourself in the process. She recovers in time and is eventually unaffected by her death. Celestia on the other hand took her death hard. Being one of the few friends she had ever had, she comes to the conclusion after many weeks of thinking that it is her duty to rule equestrian and if that meant outliving everyone she held dear she would simply distant herself from them. She became much colder and unwilling to socialize unless it benifited the Empire. Some could argue this started her road to becoming a tyrant.

235 BW- the Changelings attempt a cue after their 41st queen was killed by zealots. They are pushed back, but cause enormous damage and put Equestia’s protection into question. Celestia declares marshal law and bids to unite all ponies to prevent this from ever happening again. This new government, strictly under her control is called the Solar Empire. The Changelings would eventually grow a deep hatred for ponies after this event. Lunar expresses her dislike for this “empire” but is ignored. Celestia believes it’s the right thing for her people. Now Celestia is in control, she takes the mantle of queen, although still sharing her power with Luna, Luna does not have complete control like her sister.

220 BW- Lunar comes up with the idea of a republic and shows Celestia in court, but is shot down. A rebel group starts up called the black hoof. At this point it consists of twelve members compared to the Solar Empire’s army of two hundred thousand. They believe in a free Equestia by any means, and are led by their founder, Blackmare. Not much is known about his past or his family, but this is what Solar Empire spy’s found out. Blackmare, or Lumber Jack as he was known at the time, was born in a lower class earth pony family who all worked in lumber. When Celestia came to power over the region which they lived, special government licences were commissioned, and had to be signed by the queen herself.

His family did not qualify in the queens eyes, due to their “lack of quality” despite his family making a living on selling inferior but cheap lumber. His family did find work in other industries, but Lumber Jack found it frustrating that the so called queen can do stuff like this while still being portrayed as a god. When his family split ways, he spent time unemployed, and lived on the streets for some time, working odd jobs for criminals. Not much is known about this time, or what convinced him to change his name, dye his coat grey, his mane black, forcefully remove his cutie mark and tattooing a new one (a black hoof mark). It is known that he cut ties with his family, who were believed to think poorly of his beliefs, and soon reappeared as leader of the Black Hoof rebel group.

203 BW- Over the years the Black Hoofs have become a problem. Their members are now in the hundreds and know have access to weapons and armour. Blackmare’s plan is not to defeat the empire, but to bring people aware of their ideal of free Equestria, hoping for the people to overthrow their dictator. In the meantime, they fight a Guerrilla war, using hit and run and destroy supplies. They have little impact asset wise, but are merciless and don’t think twice before killing. This, ironically, stop public support, who see them as bloodthirsty monsters. Lunar asks Celestia to call a compromise. She refuses.

147 BW- The Black Hoof now number in the thousands, but hit a wall. Despite, their growing recruitment rate, public opinion is at an all-time low. More so, despite their numbers the Solar Army is always a step ahead, attack secret outposts and headquarters in all major cities. The Empire is at a loss to how they could take such a betting (both militarily and publicly) while still having increasing numbers. Blackmare starts dying of old age but is contacted by the changelings who make a deal with him. They would show him the trick to immortality if he promises to give the changelings large quarters of land when the queen is removed from power. He agrees. It is not known how it was accomplished, but rumours claim that it involved changeling blood, which allowed his cells to self-regenerate, stopping age and healing wounds, but not making him invincible. Despite the changelings keeping their side of the bargain, he plans to assault the changelings when he gets into power. Little to his knowledge however, a changeling had entered his ranks to spy on him.

107 BW- It is now clear that the rumour that Blackmare was now immortal are true. Celestia orders his bounty raised from 50,000 bits to 500,000 bits. His threat is now taken seriously.

87 BW-Skirmish at the Red Wood- The first, and one of the few, full on battles between the Black Hoof and the Solar Empire. Red Wood was a forest to the south of Canterlot , known for its unique environment of hot whether populated by unique water saving trees who bark was red, hence the name.

It was the first forest that Blackmare's family started to harvest, and had big sentimental value to him personally. When he found out that a descendent his brother had sold the rights to the forest to the Solar Empire for access to resources there, Blackmare ordered a full assault to take it back for his family. Comprising of a force of three thousand, led by Blackmare himself, sneaked as close as they could through the forest before attacking the government payed foresters from the tree line. The surprise attack gave security no change to even slow them down and the forest was taken quickly. Blackmare thought that the Solar Empire would not bother with a counter attack due to its low strategic value; however the local commander took it as an insult and sends the 107th royal guard to take the Red Wood back.

Taking by surprise in turn, Blackmare, for the first time in the organisations history orders his men to stay their ground. However, outnumbered three to one, they are swarmed and forced to retreat. Blackmare stayed the longest of any officer, but escaped when victory became impossible. Lunar personally brings the news to Celestia, as well as the casualties of 1,500 Black Hoof and 2,500 royal guard, security and workers. Celestia is shocked, but becomes more determined to crush the Black Hoof. Lunar suggested exploring a peaceful option, but the queen believes the Black Hoof must pay for the lives it has taken.

47 BW- The fortieth year anniversary of the skirmish at the Red Wood, Celestia opens a memorial to the royal guard who gave their lives. Lunar asks that the Black Hoof who also gave their lives be remembered as well. Celestia is insulted and questions Luna’s loyalty. She expresses that she has no loyalty, since they are both sisters and equals. Celestia keeps an eye on her. She didn’t want her sister to get any ideas on doing something she might regret. Over the last forty years the royal guard have tried their hardest to stomp out the Black Hoof, but find it far more difficult than expected. They did, however, slowed recruitment to a standstill, enough to keep the group strong, but not enough to grow stronger. Sword and Shield, latter to become General of the Solar Empire during the Eclipse war, is born.

41 BW- Black Dye, Second to Blackmare during the Lunar Republic, and General of the New Luna Republic, is born.

39 BW- Sun Shine, Major and war hero of the Solar Empire is born.

30 BW- Sword and Shield joins the royal guard.

27 BW-Violin Heartstrings, General of the United Communist Ideal is born.

25 BW- Black Dye joins the Black Hoof.

23 BW- Sun Shine joins the royal guard.

18 BW- Whispers start-up of a two legged giant, who was found knocked out in a farmer’s field. Luna begins to look for alternatives then to simply follow her sisters orders, but her options are limited at the time.

17 BW- More whispers appear about the giant waking up, but upon hearing about Equestria’s history and political situation, decide to stay hidden and wait. Luna stops looking for an alternative for a time, eventually convincing herself that her sister’s kindness and reasonable thinking to win out. The Black Hoof recruitment numbers start to increase for the first time in thirty years.

14 BW- The Battle of Ponyville- Blackmare discovers that his sister’s great, great, great granddaughter has died, and that the family name has died with her. He decides to go to her funeral in honour of his past life. Taking no chances, he takes over ten thousand Black Hoof rebels, most of his organisation, which he disguises as a protest group against Celestia’s reign. The Solar Empire gets word of this and decided to set a trap. They expect him to be guarded, and so send an additional four thousand troops to the outpost within the city, making a total of five thousand guards on station. After attending the funeral, Blackmare is stopped by a group of guards who ask him to follow. Black Hoof rebels trailing their leader attack the group.

In the chaos, all Black Hoof rebels show themselves and start attacking guards. The royal guard soon mobilise and form a counterattack, but are pushed back by their numbers. Blackmare is taken out of the area, but most of his commanders refuse to retreat, cannot be reached or are too busy to direct a retreat. Out number, the royal guard set up a defensive line around the outpost, planning to hold out to reinforcements arrive. Throughout the night, Black Hoof rebels throw themselves at the defensive lines, but are pushed back. Reinforcements do arrive, but when they begin the attack the Black Hoof believe it only to be the weak defenders trying to break out. The battle goes on for another day, in which the use of combat magic causes most buildings to catch fire and burn down. By the end of the battle, over eight thousand Black Hoof, four thousand royal guard and one thousand five hundred civilians are dead or mortally injured with five hundred Black Hoof rebels taken prisoner.

More so, Ponyville has taken so much damage that trying to rebuild would be fruitless effort, so the city is destroyed to make way for a road while its surviving owners are relocated. The battle of Ponyville goes down as the most violent and horrible battle between the Black Hoof and the Solar Empire. Both Celestia and Lunar are horrified, but Celestia says it was worth it to destroy the majority of the Black Hoof. Lunar is horrified by this remark, saying that no life would be worth it. Celestia ignores this, and orders the prisoners executed. When she is told how they infiltrated the town disguised as a protest group, she removes the right to public gathering and starts propaganda campaign to reinforce her position, introducing such famous posters as “obey”.

10 BW-The Black Hoof have stopped all aggressive action until they can build their numbers back up. Blackmare takes the blame for the disaster to begin with, but he defends his case, shifting the blame to the unorganized commanders that lead the attack. Celestia and the rest of the Solar Empire believe that the lack of activity is due to the group splitting, resulting in lax security in all settlements. Lunar starts to distend herself from her sister.

5 BW- The Black Hoof are now at the strength they once were before the battle of Ponyville, but believe they should use political situation to their advantage, striking a killing blow when they number in the hundreds of thousands, even if it take hundreds of years. This does not go unnoticed, as spy’s start sending reports of the recruitments, but are ignored, believing that they are simply a small, weak fraction that had broken from their old group.

0 BW-21st of January- Blackmare finds that he cannot wait while his numbers slowly grows. He comes up with a plan. He sends a message to the queen writing that he would give himself up in the Red Wood forest if she promises to spare the remaining Black Hoofs. In reality, he is planning to bring his soldiers and assassinate the queen, believing that her sister would be easier to bargain with. Upon reading this, the queen quickly comes up with her own plan to bring an army with her and wipe out Blackmare and all his Black Hoofs. When Lunar hears of this she starts an argument between her and her sister. She believes that this could be the only chance to achieve peace, while her sister argues that that’s exactly what she will do. Lunar expresses that she believes that peace is not made with more blood. In the end, Celestia confines her sister to her room, a mocking and embarrassing gesture. Luna sends a letter warning the Black Hoof of the queen’s plans, getting them to cancel the meeting. Blackmare is convinced that Lunar could be a good ally, if she is shielded from the horrors they have committed.

0 BW-13st of May- Celestia finds out through contacts in the Black Hoof that Lunar warned them. Celestia confronts Luna, who admits to it. Instead of being mad, Celestia tries to make Luna understand that while what she does is tough, it’s the only way to secure the safety of the empire. Luna then suggests a compromise. A way to end the rebellions. She offers for herself, the Blackhoof and some willing citizens to break off and form a republic. Celestia refuses, explaining that splitting the empire, even on good terms, could lead to a war between the two as time goes on. There was dozens of reasons this could happen, resources vital to both groups, dispute over land, the splitting of family’s and many others reasons that could eventually lead to such a conflict. Luna agrees with her sister....but little did she and know her sister had finally realised what she needed to do.

0 BW- May 29- At the dead of night, after casting a sleeping spell on the population of Canterlot. Luna magically takes every orphan in Canterlot and the outlying villages. She then fly’s off with them, collecting more from Baltimare and Manehatten and disappears over the ocean. Celestia is both infuriated and afraid. She would have sent every single available guard after her, if it was for what happened the next day...

0 BW- May 30- The Battle of the Night- Although a short conflict with few casualties on both sides, it marked years of war and set the pieces for the conflict to come. Celestia was in her study when a bribed guard opened the gate for the Black Hoof. The original plan for the attack was simple, to sneak as quietly as possible into the throne room and take the princess hostage to avoid a counter attack. This plan would have probably worked, if the Black Hoof was more organised. Believing this to be a last chance to get even with the empire, the Black Hoof rebels rushed in and attacked anyone they found.

Blackmare lead an attack on the barracks, while Black Dye, his lieutenant led an attack on the throne room. While many guards are caught by surprise, the disorganisation and noise created by the attackers allowed for an organised defence. The barracks was held, barely, but the way to the throne room was swept away. When word of the attack reached Celestia, instead of running she decided to make a stand in the throne room. While the Black Hoof's outnumbered the guards, Celestia blew many of them away with her magic, and the castle was held.

0 DW-1 June- Celestia, knowing what her sister has planned, has no choice but to concentrate on the Black Hoof. If they had taken the castle, which they would have if she wasn't there, they would have overthrown the whole empire. Instead of the conflict simply finding and capturing Blackmare, it become official that the Solar Empire is in a state of civil war.

0 DW- 5 June- Over the next hundred years not much else happened event wise. Many battles and skirmishes happened, but otherwise it stayed the same, Celestia tried to destroy the Blackhoof, but they always regroup a few years later and begin another bunch of attacks. However, everything changed with the first battle of Baltimare.

0 DW- 6 June- The first battle of Baltimare – Blackhoof rebels attack royal guards in the city. While the royal guard are deeply entrenched they had no idea an attack was coming and instead of an organised attack, they literally come out of the houses and sewers in disorganised groups. Despite outnumbering the attackers, the guards panic and try to escape the city, only for them to be run down.

0 DW-7 June- Blackmare decides, after centuries of fighting, to finally make a stand. He declares the city the city state of Blackmark, a nation ruled by the Black Hoof.

0 DW- 8 to 13 of June- Blackhoof groups in other nearby cities as well as minor unrealised rebel groups take the news as a sigh that the time to act was now. They all attack their relative city. In the panic most cities fall in the same way as Baltimare but a few manage to hold their own. However they are weakened and become easy targets for the groups that were successful in their own cities. Soon, almost an entire nation is formed in only a couple of days. People didn’t think something like this could happen including the Blackhoof but it seemed like almost overnight a nation was born.

0 DW- 14 of June- Celestia finally manages to organise a proper invading army. Hoping to end the war quickly they march straight to Baltimare.

0 DW- 15 of June- Blackmare organises the defences but does not trust the new militia to hold. None the less he chooses to stay his ground in a do or die battle.

0 DW- 17 of June- the Second battle of Baltimare. Long before the war the Griffin Empire and Equestria had a mutually beneficial alliance, mainly for trade then military needs. However, when a set of key islands where found between the two nations, the two governments bickered over who would get this newly discovered trade hub. Celestia eventually forced the Griffin Empire to give up on them.  Baltimare, being the closest city, was expected to become an international trade hub because of them and the nobility decide to cash in on it. The city had a huge renovation, greatly increasing its size and docks.

They did know that if they did become such a huge trade hub they would become a target for not just pirates, but also the griffin empire if they ever invaded. As such, they also built a huge defence system. They knew they couldn’t afford huge amounts of guards at the time so instead they build massive and complicated defensive walls, that crisscrossed and which had multiple layers within the city. To an attacker, the city would be a maze of hard points and keeps.  However when they were finished they found out that the griffin empire had the last laugh, banning trade to Equestria and making the island useless except has a military post. Blackmare did not know this little history and maned only the front walls.  When the Guard attacked lead by Sun Shine, they were stalled by the Blackhoof but instead of attacking in organised waves they charged at once on the left walls, leading to them breaking through before the blackhoofs could reorganise. Royal guards flooded the city but they soon became lost and confused. Despite this, the Black Hoof should have been defeated...If it wasn’t for a timely arrival.

Luna leading a platoon of her new Night Guard come in by sea and support the Black Hoof, eventing the odds and forcing the battle into a stalemate. The battle lasted three whole days before arriving reinforcements made from other militias who formed upon hearing how the battle was going. Not risking being trapped between a rock and a hard place, the Solar Empire commander orders the retreat. Overall the battle was won by the Blackhoof due to their unique defences but also because of the arrogance of the royal guard’s leader. Two officers are promoted to fill the command role, Swordn Shield due to his cool, calculating nature, and Sun Shine known for her bravery and courage. The pair were not  good match, but in time over the years they eventually became close friends.

0 DW- 18 June- The occupants and soldiers celebrate Luna as the saviour of Baltimare, much to Blackmare’s displeasure.  What he or Luna did not expect however, was as the crowds came out to celebrate, a whisper rushed through the crowed that Luna should lead this new government. Reluctantly, with the people backing her, the nation of Blackmark becomes part of the Luna Republic. Apparently, when Luna left with the orphans, she founded a small island to the south east of Equestria. There, they built the Luna Republic from scratch. While the Solar Empire was always at war with the Black Hoof, the Luna Republic was free to grow and build, eventually constructing a city state with magical blue towers and reached into the sky.

Although Luna was content with her new life, her followers and commanders convinced her that she needed to spread this paradise to the rest of Equestria that she needed to give the people a choice on who they followed. As such, she had returned to Equestria to free it from Celestia's tyranny. Her overall plan is to capture her sister and force her to stand down. Her follows are fanatically loyal to their princesses. While Celestia's follows were simply taught at a young age to worship her, the so called children of the night consider Luna their mother, being decedents of the orphans, and almost praise her as some kind of prophet.

0 DW- 20 June- Celestia and Luna exchange messages on her new empire. After refusing to surrender and Celestia refusing to acknowledge their independence, they eventually agree of a cease fire. This is done for a number of reasons. First, both sisters have to come to terms that they are about to fight a war against each other. Second, they both need to learn about the others capabilities.

0 DW- 20 of June to 15 of July- Voting campaigns begin and run. Ponies are to vote for their president who will act as their leader on major matters as well as five representatives to will run more basic affairs. Blackmare tends to be a lot more aggressive in his campaign then others and targets Luna quite a bit. Despite the temptation and even other telling her to stoop to his level, she keeps with telling her supporters the truth of how she will rule instead of lashing out at others.

0 DW-16 July- Luna is voted in president and Blackmare Vice president. Black Dye is voted in as general and representative of the armed forces, Paper Note as representative of the earth ponies, Quick Wit as representative of the Pegasus, Glitter Dust as representative of the Unicorns and Blackmare is also voted in to represent the Blackhoof as well. Blackmare feels cheated but a deals a deal and he lets Luna lead the now newly formed Luna republic.

0 DW- 20 July- Celestia organises a meeting to gain support from the other distant states so together they could organise an army to destroy the republic threw share numbers. However, the representative of Stalliongrad brings up the fact that this whole war could have been stopped easily if Celestia gave them more leeway, and even if she couldn’t, this whole thing was believed to be caused by a spat between two sisters, not two nations. Stalliongrad eventually convinces a number of nations to the north and east to join them in an alliance of neutral nations and they abandon Celestia. The Chrystal Empire also declares neutrality, but they chose to stand on their own. Celestia makes a note to punish these states once the war is over.

0 DW- 20 of July to 25 of August- Both nations build up weapons and recruit soldiers. The Solar Empire is already ahead due to already having an established army and plenty of stockpiled weapons, while Luna has to build one from scratch from the local militia, as most of Luna’s forces were left behind, to protect it from pirates, keep order, oversee recruitment and militarization, and while they will sailed for Equestria as soon as they can, that will take time that Luna does not have, and as such relied on local forces. However, after the second battle of Baltimare they are short on experienced officers. The battle truly did serve a mortal blow to the empire and had it not been for the ceasefire. The battle itself was a disaster and officers would be analysing it for year.  The build-up, while necessary, did mean both nations were paralyzed while it was occurring.

0 DW- 27 of July- The first reveals himself- The Village of Red Creek, named due to the way the lake the village was based on looked when the sun set. In was at midday that a dozen stallions and mares where bright red clothing, led a creature threw the market. A two legged, hairless creature announced himself as the saviour of Equestria. He then begins to talk about how both the Empire and the Republic have cheated on the people. Now even though Red Creek was in neutral territory, they did have strong opinions on who would be a better leader, Luna or Celestia. They were at first, very negative at this creature’s accusation. However, as more and more people point out benefits of the two governments, they are quickly countered. The Solar Empire brings order to the nation! Yes but there’s no point in order if the government is just a big a threat then the monsters! The Luna Republic represents freedom! But they have taken land by force and even their leaders, while voted in, only got there threw vast use of bits and will have power over every aspect of live for the next four years!

The Solar Empire is the most powerful force in Equestria! It once was but now they can’t even hold Equestria together, splitting the whole nation in three! Then the Luna Republic will take over! But they are split into bickering leaders who will never think beyond the people they represent! He continues by pointing out that both governments still hold racial prejudice. Earth ponies work the fields, the unicorns work the weather and the Unicorns rule over the two. People can’t help but agree with this, though when he asks for volunteers to join his group, the crowd goes silent. However, Violin, a unicorn who had very little history beyond being the daughter to a blacksmith, joins.  They would leave together  but although the occupants of the village did not throw there lot in with the stranger, over the next couple of days he would return to give more speeches about the governments and slowly turn the people to his side.

0 DW- 7th of August- The Red Creek Revolution- The previous night, the bakers son was arrested for being a Luna Republic spy by Royal guards, despite the village being in neutral territory. There was some visual evidence that suggested he did in fact write a report of Royal Guard forces in training before going back over the border, but there was no documents found in his home. Despite this he was sent to execution. As the crowd roared in anger as it his noose was being made, the First and his guard made their move. Knowing this was the spark they needed, they snuck around the guard and when he started hanging, the first fired a single round; the first bullet shot in Equestria and sometimes called the shot that sparked a revolution, fired from a revolver. Freeing him, both the crowd and his band of misfits charged the guard.

The local law enforcement, under orders that the guards were not to be harmed to keep in good favour with the princess, attempt to calm the crowed, but eventually try to stop the crowd threw force. The first announces this is the chance to take back the land for the people, the beginning of a revolution, and threw all they had seen and heard over the last couple of weeks, they believe him.  A massive civil uprising forces to mayor to step down or risk being killed by an angry mob, the local law enforcement either beaten or down right killed, and one of the Firsts guards raises what will be known as the Ideals flag above town hall. The first speaks of how this is the beginning of a new age, and asks the people to spread the fire of revolution, and they do.

0 DW- 7th of August to 20th of August- Believers of the First’s new way of life speak out in a number of villages. In time of war, especially when it doesn’t seem to serve any purpose and affects the people directly, revolution is always taken seriously. In time, isolated sparks like that of Red Creek started village and city wide revolutions along the west coast, all in the neutral zone. As number grew, those who did not revolt on their own were swallowed up my self-commanding militia fighting for the “New red way” took these cities by force. On the 20th the First invited all leaders of these new red faction to  meeting were what is known as the Unity Pact was formed, meaning all factions would unite under the command of the First to start a new government. All they needed was a capitol, and the first had his eyes on one for a while…

0 DW- 22nd of August- The Mayor of Stalliongrad asks Celestia for assistance. Apparently, rebels were marching in force to take the city and if he did not get support from a major power, the city could fall. Celestia just sends a laughing reply. He also sends this request to Luna but although she wishes to help, by the time forces arrives by going around Solar Empire boarders, the battle would have already been over. She does offer sanctuary to anyone within the city if they make it to her boarders.  The Mayor takes this up and leaves with a number of royals and wealthy, offering his captain of the guards a three hundred percent pay increase if they manage to defeat the invaders.

0 DW- 24th of August- The first battle of Stalliongrad. While most battles involving cities of this size during the war usually involved tens of thousands fighting each other, this battle was on a much smaller scale. It involved only a couple hundred guards and conscripts formed from civilians against just over a thousand poorly equipped and trained revolutionaries. If anything it was just an oversized brawl between police and gang members. The guards did not have access to many bows and crossbows, after all they were armed to deal with criminals not invaders, and while they did thin the numbers, the revolutionaries did hack the wooden gate open with axes. Most of the battle did happen at this gate. Since the revolutionaries did not bring any siege equipment and only a few ladders, they had to force their way through the gate, which was where most of the guards were, taking a defensive phalanx.

Through multiple assaults, they managed to fight off the revolutionaries and for ever guard and conscript, they were worth three revolutionaries. Victory seemed possible if they continued to wear their assaulters down, but then the First intervened. Walking in front of the defenders, announced that any who would lay down their arms would not just be spared, but would be given a place amongst his new order. However, despite the mayor abandoning them, and that a majority was forced into service, after all they had been through, and incredibly, none take his deal. The first would then lead a final charge against the line. This time the first fired a number of rounds into the line directly in front of him before both forces clashed. Killing number of guards in the front, it opened up the formation for revolutionaries to charge threw, splitting the forces in half and destroying them. The first would build a statue in honour of their brave last stand suggesting he respected these men for what they did. When they made it into the city, the remainder defenders gave up and surrendered.

The mayors and nobles houses were looted but civil looting was kept to a minimum, mainly since they were he to “Free the people of their tyrants and kings!” After the battle, when red flags flew from most of the buildings, the First would announce the dawn of a new age. A red age. And in this age Equestria would follow the red ideal. He then declared this “United Communist ideal formed!” The name stuck and they become the UCI for short. The name became somewhat fitting as they followed many ideals from communism, such as taken the wealth from the rich and giving it to the people, but did not follow the communist way of government, allowing free speech, religion and free trade, although there would still only be one party.

0 DW- 28th of August- Both Luna Republic and Solar Empire hear of the uprising. They assume the leader to be a diamond dog due to descriptions from refugees. They do send representatives to meet with this new leader but they only get to see Violin. She gives each side the same story. This new uprising wishes to assist the respected side but with support not fighting. As a gift of good will, half of the stockpiled weapons to each side, claiming it to be the first of many shipments, though due to their weak mining system after the fall of Stalliongrad (A complete lie) they cannot send the next one anytime soon. The weapons are in fact all the guards armour and weapons including those in storage, leaving the new government defenceless…However, it would soon be revealed that such weapons would have been obsolete soon enough.

0 DW- 30th of August- All three factions begin a huge recruitment program to build up an army. Luna republic propaganda chooses to concentrate on “the people” way of thinking, portraying Celestia as a dictator and that it’s the “people will” to free Equestria of her. Solar empire concentrates on Celestia bringing a “golden age” to the nation, both when she defeated discord and in the future. Luna republic is portrayed anarchists, those who wish to destroy order and bring Equestria back into a dark age. The UCI used unity above all else in its propaganda. Red pictures of ponies of multiple races standing together in industry, economics and military. They also, especially in areas under control by the two empires, send propaganda to insight revolution, a call of arms to “TEAR IT DOWN!”

Most successful was arguably the UCI, as it not only set a new sense of nationality and pride, but also caused a number of towns in other territories to rise up in arms and revolt. How neither nation found out about the UCI is a mystery even to specialists, though they all have their theories. One is that it was bad communication between their intelligent agencies and the faction’s leaders. Other excuses include UCI spy’s keeping this information from the leaders, each faction thinking it was the work of their arch enemies instead of a new contender, the fact that each factor was far too busy worried about said arch rival to even care about another faction, that since the empire was based so far north west, away from major cities of the Solar empire and Luna republic distance ended up playing a part.

What everyone can agree on, is while the major factor has not been decided on, it was a large group of tiny factors, or perhaps all these factors combined that kept the UCI hidden and would lead up to the military disaster that was the battle of the red dawn.  Overall, the three faction’s ideology could best be described as order, freedom, and unity.