Reality and War

Ponyville

year 1013

Nov, 4th

3:30pm

Depressed, That was the state of ponyville. In truth, that was the state of all Equestria. Dreary depression was not wasted on anypony. Even the young yellow mare, who slowly walks in the thundering rain. She kept along the dirt trail, each hoof step falling into deep mud, making it hard to walk. No matter the young mare did not waver, she was strong and stubborn minded, much like her older sister. The young mare sighed as she thought of the older mare, out on some battlefield, fighting for the rule of the princess.

Still she had a job to do as well, organize a group of ponies for a mission. One that isn’t militaristic nor political in value, it was a pure equestrian cause stemming from three filly’s dreams long ago. Only now has those dreams inspired many more beyond those three, and thats why the young yellow mare trudges through the mud, negating the weather. For her work and her trial has yet to begin, not until she reaches the doors of the Cutie Mark Crusaders headquarters.

“Heya girls, I’m not late am I?” The drenched young yellow mare inquired while walking into a massive treehouse like building shaking her mane and tail, doing her best to dry off without having to search for a blanket or two. Also she couldn’t have thought of anything else until she straightened out the huge red bow that was fastened uptop of her head. Until then she didn’t bother looking up to realize that everypony that was suppose to be attending the meeting was already preoccupied with what seemed like a struggle in the middle of the room.

        “She is trying to join the war again and I don’t think my magic is strong enough to hold her this time?!” An equally young white unicorn mare desperately calls out.

        Now the earth pony looks upon her surroundings far differently than before. She sees everyponies faces and their absolutely stressed expressions. Then she looks towards her two other friends who were in a complex situation all in their own. The white unicorn mare, whose voice is as beautiful as her mane and her orange pegasus companion who is constantly riled up by the current conflict. However before she could continue thinking the restrained Pegasus started to growl.

        “LET ME GO!” The orange Pegasus blurted out while attempting to break free from her friends magical grip. Leaving the unicorn restraining her worried, yet the still soaking wet yellow mare was far from affected by the pegasus's bostorious display.

        “Let the chicken go, ya know we gotta go through this every month.” The earth pony said while letting out an audible sigh.

        “B-but…” The unicorn wailed in a strained voice

        “NO, let her, she outta know this isn’t our fight, it never was.” The earth pony sternly says, mimicking that of her older sister, which was brought to the forefront of her mind after making that strong statement. Yet she still continued to speak, “We as Cutie Mark Crusaders are dedicated to guiding lost fillies and colts home throughout equestria… No matter what territory we reside in, meaning if any one of us became active in this darn conflict that only means restricted movement for our organization!”

Silence filled the room, and the orange Pegasus immediately stopped struggling as the white unicorn  let down her magical grip. All attention was paid to the straight forward earth pony while she was preparing to speak again, articulating the words in her head. She begun to gaze at the few but diverse group of ponies that she saw sitting and awaiting the conclusion of her speak she wasn’t prepared to give.

“The Cutie Mark Crusaders were first created to solely help find our true talents, yet over the past few years we have grown and our missions have changed. The same goes for the world we live in and every member of our organization… Don’t ya understand… Lives are being lost along with the hope we all hold to us and Twilight, Rarity, and A-applejack seek to restore it.” The yellow mare had much more to say, but she just couldn’t put it to words. She looked in the eyes of everypony, testing their reactions, testing their faith to her words. And everypony seemed satisfied, all except for one.

“MISSIONS, we have failed at everyone of them ever since we became what we are today!” The now infuriated orange Pegasus yelled, spreading her wings to show the full span of her anger. “Our very first one was preventing this whole thing in the first place, DON’T YA REMEMBER…Don’t you, Rainbow Dash… SHE KILLED SPITFIRE AND TRIED TO DO THE SAME TO TWILIGHT!!!” The mare was now screaming. “ SOME ELEMENT OF LOYALTY SHE WAS, and now look what she is…” The screaming quickly turned into solemn weeping as she found her way into the embrace of the alabaster unicorn that was once restraining her.

“She was suppose to be my sister, she was suppose to help me find my true talent and help me learn how to fly… Instead, she betrays us all.” With that statement coming from the broken pegasus, the once stern yellow earth pony could do nothing but step back and let her distressed friend continue all while the the unicorn did her best to console her friend. This time planting a small kiss on orange Pegasus's check, causing her to fluster slightly, still her anger had yet to subside.

“Twilight, even after everything that has happened, she does her best to protect Equestria, to protect us. She taught me how to fly and helped me get my cutie mark, but if i’m not allowed to protect her after all she has been through as well, Betrayed by Luna an-and Rainbow Dash… FORGET THIS I’M JOINING NOW!” She yells, quickly sliding out of the young unicorns embrace.

“Ya can forget it!” An even sterner voice than the young earth mares from before rang out. Everypony once again returned to their previous silence, until one pony said softly.

“It’s General Applejack?!”

None other than Twilight's star general. Applejack and her heroic figure, she donned specially fitted royal armor that didn’t glisten in the sunlight as you would expect, it was rather dirty and dented from constant combat, yet the fact that she still had it one meant that she had recently returned to Ponyville. Especially if they all remembered correctly twilight’s regime had been skirmishing with the rebels main forces and if Applejack was already back, it must have been an overwhelming victory, as always expected from the hardy earth pony general, She had yet to lose a battle and was bringing the conflict to a quick end. However her presence was still extremely unexpected.

Applejack looked towards the three in the center of the group and addressed them with the utmost clarity. “Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.”

The three of them stood as still as trees as they looked up at the encroaching general. But it seemed that Applejack was more interested in the young pegasus, Scootaloo. Despite the overwhelming imitation factor Applejack had, Scootaloo stood and looked the her directly in the eyes with a fire raging in them. It was clear that she wouldn’t take back her former statements, even in the face of a general.

“Scootaloo, it’s the beginning of the end.” Applejack dead-panned, looking the all to serious Scootaloo in her eyes. “We have located the last of their hide outs and have specifically located… Rainbow Dash, it’s over.”

Some gasped, others started bickering, and the rest stayed very silent. Sweetie’s eyes grew frighteningly large at Applejacks words as she turned to observe Scootaloo who was doing nothing more that gritting her teeth in pure anger. It was clear that scootaloo wasn’t nearly as satisfied as she should have been.

“Then what… what of all of those who betrayed us!” Scootaloo says furiously. “We can’t just act if nothing never happened!”

Applejack only rose a brow to the young mares comment as she knew exactly who she was referring to, yet she didn’t exactly know what to tell her. However the unyielding pegasus demanded an answer and Applejack caught herself in a situation where she was the one that had to give it.

“When a apple becomes rotten most ponies throw it away, still it’s seeds can grow to bear a strong tree, do ya see what I’m gettin at youngin.” Applejack unambiguously responds.

“Huh?” Applebloom was the first to express her confusion at what her older sister had said, and if she was unable to interpret the quote than everypony else was hopeless.

“What my darling Applejack was trying to say is that all we need to do is contain those filthy ponies so that our Twilight can work her magic and return Equestria to it’s old beautiful self.” A luxurious alabaster mare chimes in while stepping into the room accompanied by two strapping stallions that were exactly identical to each other in every way.

“RARITY!” Applejack knew that sly and smooth voice all too well. She cut an eye at the now innocent faced Rarity who begun fluffing her main as if she hadn’t said anything important. But everypony heard her words well. Applebloom and Scootaloo pondered at her words as Sweetie Belle gave her sister a frightening stare, one that could be compared to looking at a masked stranger. Just the fact that Rarity hadn’t acknowledged sweetie had already filled the room with much more unwanted tension.

“Now now Applejack, I’m not here to meddle in the childrens fun… You know very well why I’m here, sometimes I think you're harder to find than myself.” Rarity turned her back to them as she was beginning to take her early exit with her entourage. “What would I have told Twilight if you was late to our little get together dear.”

Applejack huffed and turned her hat down so no pony could see the expression on her face. She slowly but surely followed behind the eccentric mare and her boy toys. Still she had one last thing to say as she walked out the door.

“Y’all got something going here, don’t any of ya forget that, especially you Applebloom.” And just as quick as she came, she was gone. Leaving the many of them who were holding their breath the whole time to all exhale with a great force.

Applebloom had an unchanging expression of disbelief as Scootaloo held even stronger to her previous words. Although Sweetie had a much different reaction, her flank fell straight to the floor with fearful look on her face. One that even broke Scootaloo from her enraged trance leaving the three of them in the center of a flurry of questions that would mostly not be answer.

“Beginning of the end…” Sweetie Belle murmured just loud enough for Applebloom to make out, even though Scootaloo was still oblivious to the statement.

Applebloom couldn’t see a simple solution to this conflict, just not how her sister and Rarity had put it. It just made it sound to easy, yet the way the two of them said it made is sound far from it. So the thoughts of forced peace raced through her head and if it was possible or should she be in the same disposition that Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are in. But she knew she had a role to play and her family will would show her the way.

vVvVv

The air was still very tense as the two very different leaders of Twilight’s Regime made their way to castle where there were already a many of ponies amassing at the helm of the castle awaiting their Princess’s presence. The regime guard were on a very strict protocol today, Applejack could clearly see the intensity engraved in their faces, for the last time the princess gave a speak their was an attempt on her life. This caused the earth’s pony’s steps to grow ever more heavier with every passing memory, despite Rarities casual trot to the castle, Applejack could almost cringe at was to come. But before the depression could hit her, Rarity stopped in her tracks.

“Darling, you do know your wishful thinking won’t change the world.” The almost glistening mare quotes, not even turning around to address Applejack directly. However she bore a strange hint of seriousness in her voice. “Only our actions can make it beautiful again.”

Now continuing her trot, Rarity signaled one of her stallions to accompany Applejack behind her. The former farm pony looked disgustingly at the unnamed stallion who had a very creepy but bright smile on his face. Just the sight of him next to her made her pick up the pace, besides she knew at her previous speed she surely would have been late.

Making their way through the main road of ponyville, it was evedently clear that every and anypony were preparing to attend the speech. Every stall was closed and every house was empty for the grand announcement. The only ones that weren't attending was the likes of the CMC for very clear political reasons, they're allowed to freely roam in rebel territory. And even despite the recent de-expansion of the rebels, their mobility is vital to their mission and neutrality is something they have to keep. So with one fatal slip they could be prisoners of the rebels, or even worse an enemy to Twilight. Still most of their loyalties resided with Twilight as did everypony who lives west of Ponyville.

The sky’s are filled with Pegasi who clamors to the conflicts call to support the princess, from Las Pegasus to Cloudsdale. The hearts of them all are filled with vengeance and anger for the lose of the great Spitfire, and the fact that one of their own caused that tragedy. It was clear that the loyalist were fed up with the terrorism of the Rainbow Rebels. Who often time raid farm land and destroy Regime communication hubs. All of them were minutes away from hearing what they have awaited for what has seemed like so long. The end of this conflict, the end of tragedy that Twilight has sought to remedy.

Although none of them know of the princess’s current condition. At least not like Applejack, and Rarity. The two of them have stood by her side during the depression, insanity, and paranoia. Twilight had lost a conflict in her head long ago, something that has spawned a monster with in her, leaving those closest to suffer. But any at a distance to prosper of her vast intelligence and ability to rule a kingdom and that was enough reason for the population to ignore her violence.

Still within that great looming figure there's a pony that once embodied friendship and magic. Every once in a while, in those rare times where Twilight feels safe. Applejack, and many ponies alike receive a glimpse of what once was a strong and caring mare. The former farm pony will always hold guilt in her heart for Twilight, for the simple fact that she knew it could have all been prevented, they all could have been saved.

However as the two arrived at the castle, Rarity called off her strange entourage and had no words for Applejack as she entered the castles secure gates. Leaving the earth pony look at the cheering crowd, causing her to grimace at what was to come. But for now Applejack knew her job and she had to get into place for the speech as she saw a purple figure step out onto a high balcony overlooking everypony below.

On the balcony a alicorn of rather fair height with a very unkempt mane and coat that showed little rest and a lot of physical strain on her body looked down speculatively at her subjects. Her eyes were dull and her left pupil was a disturbing red, the side effect of exhausting magical power. The alicorn seemed as though she had been waiting an eternity for heads of her army as the Rarity and Applejack took the stage with their queen.

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“I shouldn’t have to send Rarity to go retrieve you.” The Alicorn was visibly upset and clearly unsympathetic for anything Applejack would have had to say in response.

“Twilight, you know farm ponies, always have to be moving about.. Never indulging in the grander pleasures of life.” Rarity says in a casual tone, clearly nicking Applejack in the hooves. The two exchange a very long silent stare, until Rarity said one more thing. “Now we shouldn’t keep them waiting any longer should we?”

Twilight gave Applejack a cold look as she also turned towards Rarity, but then her expression was very annoyed. however her attention soon reverted to the crowd that has a massed before her, making her give a grim smile before starting her speech.

“Now everypony rest assure, with these words I’m getting ready to speak, harmony will be restored. Equestria will once again be a great nation, and as your princess I ensure you this is the end… The traitors known as the Rainbow Rebels are on their last leg and are in a CORNER!.” Twilight yells out, her voice echoing through ponyville, striking a chord with them all. She looked once more back at Applejack and continued. “ These stressful times have not been without pain and lose, The esteemed and great Apple family have lost many to assist Equestria and have gave everything necessary to bring this conflict to a quick end… Tomorrow will be the last day you hear the word Rebel and those who created this conflict will be brought to swift justice!”

The crowd began shouting at the tops of their lungs, “ TWILIGHT, TWILIGHT, TWILIGHT!!!” At the same time Twilight was looking up into the sky, almost as if she was staring into the sun and Rarity was waving at the raving crowd. But Applejack lingered on the words of twilight, the Apple family. Her and Applebloom were the only ones left, it was almost impossible to imagine, and Applejack still denies is all too often. Yet they all have sacrificed themselves for the legitimacy of Twilight's power, her legacy. And now she stood next to her princess, ready to do the same. For the Apples are as solid as the trees they once tended.

“I ain’t forgot what you said granny, just not yet..” Applejack whispered under her breath, however Twilight wasn’t deaf and could hear very well over the roaring crowd. But instead of addressing Applejack directly effectively causing a scene, Twilight decided to wave Rarity and Applejack off the balcony as she resumed her speech.

“Apples or Oranges, neither are worth a pony’s life.” Applejack