Shadow, Love and Pride

XXVIII

Declaration of War

Spike was cleaning the library early in the morning. He tried to keep busy since his closest friend was down and refused to even get out of bed. His duties were interrupted by a knock on the door. He made to answer.

“Oh hey Kido. I don't think Twilight is up for a visit.” Spike said.

“I've come for you my friend.” Kido said.

“What? Me?”

“I have a critical mission and need all the help I can get. As part of the Guard Reserves, would you answer the call to duty and do what's right to protect the town?”

“Uh... YES!!! TOTALLY!!! I'll get my stuff.” Spike ran off back in the house to get his Knife Belt and Badge.

“Spike who's at the door...? Oh... hey.” Twilight heard Spike talking to someone else and went to see. She was a mess. She hadn't even brushed her teeth.

“Good morning Twilight.” Kido politely said.

“Morning. What's going on?”

“Official Guard business. I need any help I can get for a critical mission.”

“Mission? Where?”

“The Everfree Forrest. I'm sorry I can't say more.”

“You can't...” Twilight tried to protest but Spike suddenly burst out the door. He was now wearing his badge and belt with knives. Spike saluted his boss. She got concerned.

“Reserves Guard Spike reporting.” Spike said proudly.

“At ease soldier. We head to the station.” Kido turned and started to make his way. Spike behind him.

“WAIT!!! Spike I thought the training was only for exercise. You never said anything about missions and going away for Celestia knows how long.” Twilight walked out of her house stopping the two guards.

“Twilight I told you I accepted Kido's offer to be part of the reserves and help when he needed me. I have to do my part for the town.” Spike said.

“Spike your just a baby.”

“I can do this. I HAVE to do this Twilight. I feel like this is something I can do. Like I have a purpose.”

“But you already have purpose, you're my assistant and friend.”

“I meant a purpose for myself. Twilight...” Spike took a deep breath. “Do you expect me to be your assistant forever?”

“No but. This is dangerous.” Twilight could see her friend was determined. As much as she hated the thought of him going. She wouldn't be able to bare having Spike hating her. After a moment in silence. “Okay Spike, You go on your mission. Just be safe.”

“I will.” Spike ran off to follow his boss to the station. Twilight couldn't do anything else but go back into her house and cry.

A few hours later, Kido and his three guards were in the station lobby and were about to discuss the upcoming mission. They were all dressed in their patrol clothes. Kido stood in front of his soon to be soldiers, who were standing in a perfect row in attention. He brought out a large cardboard with several pictures of ponies, monsters and maps with marked locations.

“Thank you all for waiting. I know you're all anxious to know what is going on so...” Kido was interrupted by a knock on the station door. Kido went to answer it. “After noon Applejack, I'm sorry but for a while we won't be taking complaints.”

“I'll cut to the chase. I want to join you on the mission to the Everfree Forrest.” Applejack said with a serious face.

“Applejack what could you possibly want from this?”

“I know what your mission is. Twilight said you needed all the help you can get. So I'm here.”

“I know why you need to do this. But it will be dangerous.”

“I can fight. And besides you're taking Derpy and Spike.”

“I've been training them.” Kido then grabbed Applejack's neck and lightly applied pressure. “So if you want to come, prove yourself right now.”

Applejack didn't give a second thought to getting loose from Kido's grip and then horse kicking him in the chest knocking him feet away. While he was down, Applejack rushed him taking one of his knives putting it in her mouth and putting it to his throat. Kido could feel her rage as she harshly breathed into his face.

“Good job. Your hired.” Applejack got off him, dropping the knife. Kido stood and headed to his desk, he grabbed some things and walked back to Applejack. “Applejack, I offer you a position in the Guard Reserve. When you are needed, would you answer the call?”

“Yes.” Applejack answered proudly. Kido gave an odd look. “Yes, sir!”

“Then your country thanks you. Your badge and knife belt.” Kido handed over a small vest with the guard symbol and a knife belt adjusted for a pony. “Welcome to the good fight. I'll need you to set aside your differences with Bellz for this mission. We will fail if we don't trust and work together.”

“I will.”

“Stand in attention with the others, I was just about to do a briefing on our mission.” Applejack stood next to Bellz, not looking at her. Kido went back to his spot to continue the briefing.

“As you already know, with my new rank, I was able to interrogate two ponies of interest. The purpose was to aid in a case I have been trying to work for sometime. Where we're going, what were going to put a stop to... Is a Slave Training and Transportation Base in the beach close to the Everfree Forest.” Kido pointed to a spot in a map pinned to the cardboard.

“WHOA!!! You can't be serious!!!” Spike exclaimed.

“Usually I would need you to ask permission. But for now. You may speak freely guards.” Kido said.

“Boss I hate those guys as much as anypony. But they have Diplomatic Immunity, they're untouchable. Going in there, especially as Guards... It would be a declaration of war with Inferos. Princess Celestia herself has been avoiding war with them for centuries, at high cost, but still.”

“Yes... Inferos. My fellow guards what do you know about this country?”

“I know their responsible for some disappearances, not just here, but all over Equestria.” Derpy said.

“Civilians are forced to fend for themselves and if they take you inside their camp, the guard can't do anything to help.” Applejack said angrily.

“The ponies from that country are almost as twisted as many of the creatures locked away in Tartarus. Their magic is to be feared.” Bellz said.

“All very true.” Kido sighed. “But it gets worse. Applejack, if the Elements of Harmony are the most powerful instruments of magic. Why doesn't the Princess allow their use against the Slave Traders or Inferos itself?”

“The Elements of Harmony are by all means a weapon of the Canterlot military. The use of the Elements in the defense of Ponies not from Inferos, would be an offense to their Diplomatic Immunity and therefor... a declaration of war.”

“Now the reason I am planning this attack now, is because we couldn't get involved before. But we have two investigations that link their activities to two residents of Ponyville. Bloodberry Smoothie's wife last known location is that camp. As for Filthy Rich, were actually just investigating tax fraud, but still an investigation nonetheless. We have our ticket to strike.”

“Kido we can go investigate due to Filthy Rich's tax evasion, but if they did take Mrs. Smoothie, we can't do anything.” Spike said worried. Kido stayed silent for a moment.

“Spike what if it was Twilight that was kidnapped one day because she was on her way to visit Zecora in the forest?” Spike couldn't answer. Kido pointed to a picture on the cardboard of two earth ponies on a farm. Spike recognize that the male was wearing Applejack's hat and that they were in Sweet Apple Acres. “Two years ago, Mister and Misses Sweet Apple went missing, yet the guard didn't do a thing. This is because the condition for the slave traders Immunity is to only take no more than two ponies a month.” Applejack lowered her head in sadness.

“I didn't think of it that way.” Spike felt like he just got punched in the gut by the severity of the situation, his own ignorance and lack of empathy.

“Spike. You and Twilight have never experienced the dire situation since you lived most of your lives in Canterlot. But away from the protection of the capital city, every month, across many countries two ponies are taken. Taken from their loved ones, never to be seen again. Is this the price of peace, to live in fear? Is it a fair price my friends?”

“No!” Spike said angry.

“My fellow guards... My friends. I won't lie to you. Today we are declaring WAR on a country our very leaders fear. An enemy who's evil knows no bounds. But I can't fight alone and I don't have the support of our government who promised to protect us. Will you help me to protect the good ponies of our town? Will you help save suffering ponies who are awaiting their fate to be slaves? WILL YOU HELP ME DO WHAT'S RIGHT!?”

“YEAH!!!” The four young guards shouted in fury.

“I know most of you have never taken an enemy's life before. But remember your enemy won't hesitate to take yours. Be prepared to defend yourselves. If not, feel free to walk away.”

“I'm not going anywhere, I'm gonna make those bastards pay!” Applejack said. The rest rallied in excitement. Kido raised a hand asking for silence

“This mission isn't about vengeance. This mission isn't about doing what's right. This mission is not about justice. It's about making them regret. For too long good ponies have been living in fear, while most chose to live in ignorance as a way to not deal with the reality. Or enemy views their suffering as a form of amusement. Their blood and sweat is their gold. They feel no remorse or guilt. So it's up to us to make them regret.”

“Why regret Wolfboss?” Asked Derpy.

“We'll make them regret every life they stole. Every child left without a parent. Every parent who lost a child. WE'LL MAKE THEM REGRET THEIR EVIL AND WE WILL DEMAND PAYMENT IN BLOOD AND FEAR!!!”

“YEAH!!!” The guards yelled.

“IS FEAR THE PRICE FOR PEACE!!!?”

“NO!!!”

“ARE WE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE FOR FREEDOM!!!?”

“YEAH!!!”

“THEN TODAY MARKS THE DAY, WE DECLARE WAR!!!”