A Twinkle of Hope

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 11

"Come on Rainbow, just a few feet more! You can do it." The blue pegasus had been trying relentlessly for the past week to beat a record. Her mentor's record. No matter how fast she went, no matter how hard she flew, she was always a second or too away. Cloudrunner wasn't kidding about being the fastest thing in the sky.

She crossed the mock finish line etched in the dirt. The General stopped the watch. Rainbow's heart raced in anticipation. Was this going to be the time? Did she finally beat it??

The charcoal officer pony opened his mouth, and crushed Rainbow's hopes, knocking her off her pedestal in one decisive sentence. "I'm afraid you're off by 1.5 seconds." Rainbow Dash, exhausted from flying all morning, was already having difficulty standing. This soul-crushing news was the straw that broke the camel's back. She collapsed into the dirt, reveling in her own despair.

Cloudrunner's heart ached at seeing his protege like this. Leaning down, he placed a hoof on her shoulder. "I can't do it. I've lost to you." Her voice was muffled in the ground.

"Dash, you only lose if you give up. I believe in you, and you believe in yourself, I'm sure."

Raising her head up she smiled. Looking at the General's injuries always made Rainbow feel petty when she complained. "At least I can fly." she thought. The large stallion helped his student up with a hoof.

"Now! Time to train, cadet."

"Sir yes sir!" Rainbow's leg automatically saluted now.

Rainbow Dash's progress in her training astonished all those who drilled her. Sergeant Napalm had watched her go from a doubtful soft pony to a regimented soldier. By the end of her week of basic training, Rainbow had outperformed the rest of her nit at the gun range, firing the quickest and most accurately. Never again did she spilled cider on her uniform, and did her drills flawlessly. After her unit ran ten miles every night, Dash would run another ten out into the woods, and fly the other ten back. She had bested her teacher in hand-to-hand combat, and even earned a medal for "Outstanding Achievement in Training."

The second week was flying. She wanted to be an airpony. So her next sergeant had Rainbow flying all the time, learning formations and maneuvers. She was taught how to properly deploy bombs and shoot while airborne. In this leg of training too she was the best in her unit. Flying camp was her favorite, not the least because of a fateful encounter with someponies she thought had perished in the war.

The Wonderbolts.

Famed fliers Spitfire and Soarin' were the ones in charge of training the soldier ponies in military flight. Rainbow rose early every morning to see her idols, and stayed up late very night to talk and even for private flying lessons. By the end of the second week she had flown faster and farther than either airpony. Once that happened, Cloudrunner knew it was time for the next phase; officer training.

The General knew it took years to properly induct a pony into the officer corps, but he didn't have that kind of time. To compensate, he personally oversaw Rainbow Dash's training, mentoring her in the arts of strategy, tactics, and commanding. He was sure he could mold the cyan pony into a capable commander.

"Now remember, cadet. Seemingly random attacks can lull the enemy into thinking there is not method to your madness. Deception is a key part of war. Make them think you're going left when you're actually going right." He lectured as he played his chess piece. "Checkmate."

"What! H..How? But my...what?" Rainbow had become a competent chess player over the week, and beaten many officers in her off duty hours. But while training, she had to play Cloudrunner. He had won every single time, the most recent time by making Rainbow concentrate on his Queen while forgetting about the rook lying in wait. "Ooooh now I see. Damn I should've paid attention to that. But I almost had your knights!"

"Haha true!" The General laughed as he took a sip of water. "Another diversion. I made you think I was in retreat, that you had me cornered in that particular sector. That feign made you arrogant. Sloppy. And that lead to your downfall."

"Whatever! I saw the look in your eye. You were scared I'd take them away." Rainbow was never content without pointing out her victories.

"Yes I was, but I didn't back down. I assessed the situation and made my moves accordingly to reverse it." He leaned back in his chair with a smug smile.

Rainbow Dash put all the pieces back onto their original squares. "Best two outta three!"

Before Cloudrunner could agree, a pony came into the tent. "General sir! We've hit up another train! The contents are just outside."

The two got up out of their seats and went to the congregated mass of ponies, busy unloading crates and cataloging contents. As the General walked to a unicorn levitating a clipboard. She saluted and read the items recovered.

"Sir we have fifty one crates of ammunition, mixed between regular rifle and artillery shells. Charge bags for the howitzers too. Four new pieces of artillery. TWO extra trucks. Fuel cans were inside. Also twenty bombs, three 'dragonroasters', and there was a railway gun. But it was blown up. Too heavy to move but to valuable to leave intact."

"Excellent Steno! Three heavy bombs huh? Oh...nonono. They're building up. They plan to attack us soon."

"Sooner than we think. Scout have spotted at least three divisions amassing near Canterlot. Estimates say we have a day or two."

"Damn! Tell all the officers. Have them mobilize their units. We leave tomorrow at 8 o'clock sharp. That's an order!"

"Right away, General!" Steno quickly ran off to alert the officers.

Cloudrunner turned to the crowd and announced his orders. "Everypony! We need to get ready! Start loading the trucks! Consolidate everything into crates! Hitch up artillery! Your officers will be available shortly if you need any help. Come on, we've got work to do!" At once everypony got to business, carrying out the General's orders. He turned again to Rainbow Dash. "It seems your training has been cut short, but I think you're ready. Now it's time to introduce you to the unit I've arrange to have you command."

The recently appointed officer pegasus recoiled at her new responsibility. "But...but sir I thought I was gonna be more of..a lieutenant or something. Are you sure I can command?"

"My dear Rainbow, you give yourself too little credit. You're a natural born leader. I've heard of what you did, rallying Ponyville's pegasi to create that tornado. Now go meet your unit. That's an order!

Rainbow Dash giggled at this praise. "Yes General. Um...but where?"

"Check your tent. They should be over soon."

So Rainbow Dash ran off to her own tent, one of the perks to being an officer-in-training, or former rather. There she impatiently waited to see what battle-hardened soldiers she would have to order around. A few minutes passed, and the pegasus laid on her bed, fiddling with her uniform's tie. Just then an all too familiar voice called out, "Captain! Captain!"

Rainbow Dash stepped out an stood, mouth agape at what she then saw, for the ponies expecting her to lead them were none other than the Wonderbolts. "Oh. My. Gosh!" Her wings stuck out in excitement. "You're here to tell me the General made me you're guys' captain??"

Soarin' spoke up. "Yeah Rain...er I mean sir...ma'am! Though technically we aren't Wonderbolts right now. Just a squadron of airponies."

"That's right. And I'll be your Lieutenant. Let me just say It'll be an honor to fly into battle beside you, Captain." Spitfire spoke to Rainbow Dash as a friend, a consequence of their time a week ago. "Now I believe the General gave all his officers orders, hm?"

"O..Oh. yeah! Let's get to work! We're off to the garage! Move out!" Rainbow Dash was still nervous, but toughened up and ordered her new troops.

At the garage sat dozens of trucks, each being driven outside and loaded up. Mechanics carried out repairs and refueling. Rainbow Dash and her unit her put to work by the garage chief. For the next few hours all the armories, barracks, and offices would be liquidated, their contents placed into boxed and crates and loaded up on trucks. All the artillery was hitched to the backs of vehicles. Dinner was forgone so the food could be loaded as well. Anything of even minor military usefulness was gathered up.

During all this Cloudrunner would help, but first he had somepony to see.

He walked into the familiar bunker and walked down the steel staircase. He called out to his Princess. She came from another room, looking quite puzzled.

"General Cloudrunner! What brings you here? It's only 2 p.m."

"Princess Luna, rightful Co-ruler of Equestria," She was surprised hear him using a formal address. "I'm afraid we don't have as much time as we thought. Even as we speak, we are preparing to leave in the morning. I officially grant you command, your highness. It's time." He bowed.

How could it be time? Whatever the reason Luna decided it WAS time. She saluted Cloudrunner as he walked up that stairs. "Very well. I shall be ready soon. Be ready for my speech."

Princess Luna was partly astonished at her boldness. She hadn't acted like that since...Canterlot fell. She opened a wardrobe and looked at her royal blue uniform. It WAS time.

Everypony who saw her was absolutely stunned. Many eyes found themselves staring at the regal alicorn galloping to a platform, ready to give her speech. She hopped up and stood facing the crowd, distracted from their current tasks. She wore her uniform, studded with golden buttons, ropes, medals, and epaulets. She was nervous, but knew what she had to do. After what seemed like an eternity, she opened her mouth, prepared to use her Royal Canterlot voice, but instead opted for a less loud, but still powerful voice:

"Dear ponies, it is I, Princess Luna, Co-Ruler of Equestria. I am sure my presence is nothing short of surprising. You all must have thought I perished during the battle for Canterlot. In truth I have been here the whole time. Forgive me, my secrecy was a necessary security precaution. My loyal General, Cloudrunner has told me that you are ready to go to battle. I am here to tell you all, my fellow Equestrians, who fight for freedom, that I shall follow you into the fray! I have resolved myself to the same fate as you! I shall do all I can to aid in your preparing. The earth shall quake at our endeavor, for united nothing shall stop us! We fight for Equestria!" She saluted to the crowd.

Everypony stood, listening to her words. Many were still shocked by her sudden appearance. They looked around to see what their officers were doing. Nearly every single one of them was saluting back, especially their former supreme leader, Cloudrunner. They followed suit, and then an uproar of cheer emerged. Princess Luna could not help but smile.

Morale was higher than ever. Everypony now knew one of their Princess' still remained. By nightfall, all the trucks were loaded up, and everything was ready. Ponies were encouraged to go to sleep early, to be well rested for the morning.

Rainbow Dash however could not sleep, she was too anxious, excited, nervous. She was now the commander of her idols. They irony always gave her a shiver. She walked around, lost in her thoughts. Would they win? Would she ever see her friends again? While she imagined all the things the future held, a large pony appeared n the scene.

"General! Why are you here, shouldn't you get some sleep?"

"I could ask you the same. But I'm old enough to tell something’s on your mind. What's up, Captain?"

"Oh...just uncertain about...stuff. The war"

"We all are. And I don't know if we'll even win. But if we give it all we got, those rebel bastards will have one hell of a time shooting at us." He laughed. Dash did as well, though weakly.

They sat by a pond, looking up at the sky. Cloudrunner looked up. "I hope we'll get to see the stars soon. I always loved the starry night sky."

"Me too. Hey General, who are we fighting? I mean nopony in Ponyville had any idea what  life was like on the other side, or who the leader was."

"The 'Democratic Republic of Equestria' is a vile mockery of the ideas preached by one insane pony. I don't know his name. He's just a regular earth-pony. From what I've heard he was jealous of not being able to fly, or use magic. He paid little regard to his own earth-pony talents. Anyway he was crazy enough to do something about it and charismatic enough to gather a following. That’s when the war started. He talked about a country where equality was king, so to speak. A republic was declared in their new base Fillydelphia. At first the only equality was political."

"From what I learned in school, a republic is a form of government were leaders are elected to represent their constituents. Did they become corrupt?"

The General was surprised this athletic little pegasus knew a thing or two about politics. He had heard Rainbow Dash was never one for such things. "Very much so. The war convinced the 'senate' to grant this pony emergency powers. A terrible move. As they gained ground, at our expense, he got more and more powerful. Next came economic equality. He took over industry for the war effort. We sort of did the same, but he took it to an extreme level. The elites, tycoon, bourgeoisie, proletariat, they were all made 'equal'. To ensure this, freedoms were curtailed and knowledge was restricted. But the time Canterlot fell, total social equality was enacted. Ponies were now forbidden to fly or use magic."

"Who was gonna stop them? I mean you can't tell a pegasus not to fly."

"Not without backing it up with force. Rebellious ponies were captured, detained, and 'cleansed'."

"What do you mean 'cleansed'?

"They had their horns of wings cut off." The General looked down, ashamed that ponies could do something so horrible.

Rainbow Dash was disgusted, offended, and above all else raging. "WHAT? How...how could they?? I feel so angry I could...calm down Rainbow...why didn't anypony stop the leader?"

"The Premier, as he is called, grew so powerful he could afford to disobey the senate. The military was his alone to control. Now the 'republic' is just a perverted shell of what it once was. It is just a tool with which an unstable ideologue can implement his so-called 'utopia'. His instruments of 'equality' spread only fear, oppression, ignorance, and suffering. That's why I fight, to remove that murderer, and restore Equestria to what it once was."

"If he's so evil, or corrupt, whatever he is, why do ponies still follow him?"

"He's so charismatic. His followers hang onto every word he says. Though many have become disillusioned because of what he's done, they put him on such a high place that they can no longer do anything about it."

"That's tragic. If I ever see him I'll plant a hoof in his jaw."

"He's got over a thousand angry ponies armed with guns wanting the same thing." He smiled, looking behind him at the fort.

"You got that right! Um...sir...I have another question. I wanna know...if you'd answer...what happened to you?" She had been dying to know, and now she had a moment when he wasn't busy training her or working on something else. But she wasn't sure how comfortable he was to be asked such a personal question.

"Well...I think you deserve to know."

"Really??...I mean thank you." she sat eagerly awaiting another story.

"Let's go back to the day Canterlot fell..."