A Twinkle of Hope

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 3

The defeat at Fillydelphia disheartened many ponies early on, especially those living in the neighboring towns. Some immediately surrendered to the "Equalists", and the Rebels grew in strength. Morale grew low when a long string of battles produced nothing but defeats for Equestria. The Princesses grew worried. Something had to be done to change these feelings of futility. Therefore a national propaganda campaign was launched.

Victories made the headlines in every paper in Equestria, and triumphant pictures of generals parading through liberated cities empowered everypony. They happily rationed and mobilized, wanting to feed and supply a glorious military. Defeats were kept classified, and presses were payed off to keep quiet.

But as the war dragged on, headlines of decorated commanders grew few and far between. The Equestrian military was steadily being pushed westwards, until they were defending the gates of Canterlot itself. Fighting raged for days until...the royal capitol finally fell. In that decisive blow, Equestria had fallen, and her military retreated to a secluded, unknown location.

Because of the censorship, nopony really knew what happened to the princesses, or any conquered pony for that matter. Much of free ponies' knowledge came from hearsay. Especially mysterious was the Republic. It's leaders heavily censored the press, much more than Equestria did. Movement from city to city was restricted. What little information made it across the border was all based on rumor, which by now had evolved into legends and lore. And the biggest legend was who was in charge of the Republic.

It was called the "Premier". That was all anypony definitively knew. Was it a stallion or a mare? Was it an earth-pony, a pegasus, or unicorn? Some said it was another Alicorn, strong enough to defeat Celestia and Luna, combined! Others thought the Premier was a former Equestrian general who slaughtered his officers and descended into madness. Still others...

This was how Rainbow dash and her friends spent the war years, trying to figure out who this pony was, or come up with the most ridiculous story about "it". It kept their minds off the War, which progressively grew worse every day. And it kept their minds off the fates of all those ponies conquered by an unseen enemy. Twilight of all was ever anxious about the Princesses, sometimes staying up for hours into the night wondering what happened to her beloved mentor.

But even so the horrors of the Civil War never blighted Ponyville...until now.

The seven of them heard the blood-curdling ring of the sirens, placed there to warn of an attack. They looked out the window of the Sugarcube Corner to get a better look outside. Faint sounds could be heard, almost like...explosions. Large plumes of smoke and fire erupted in the distance. All of them understood what was happening. Rainbow Dash had the courage to say it aloud; "We're being bombed..."

Bursting out of the bakery, all six ponies rushed home to secure their things, and check on anypony nearby. Applejack raced to Sweet Apple Acres as fast as her gallop would take her. Were Applebloom, Big Mac, and Granny Smith alright? Could they make it in time? She didn't want to think about that now. Now was the time to just do, not think.

Rarity was no less quick in her movements, arriving at her boutique. There, behind a chair, huddled Sweetie Belle, absolutely terrified. Rarity thanked Celestia, and told her sister to come with her. The meeting place was at Sugarcube Corner. The generous mare prayed her friends would make it in time.

Fluttershy checked on her cottage, and grabbed Angel. All the other animals fled into the woods. There they would be safer, Fluttershy thought. Subsequently she jetted back to the meeting spot.

Pinkie Pie ran upstairs and warned Mr. and Mrs. Cake about what was going on outside. Hastily the pink pony grabbed her dear Gummy and waited anxiously downstairs and started preparing food for the journey, worrying about her friends, her heart pounding in her chest.

Twilight Sparkle couldn't go to her home. It was too close to the bombing. She therefore stayed behind and helped Pinkie Pie. Twilight knew she shouldn't bring it up, but she could not help herself;

"What's going on? I thought they were going to evacuate us!" she was borderline hysterical.

"I dunno...I dunno...Twilight? I'm so scared..." the usually jovial mare was crying heavy tears from her blue eyes.

The bell rang above the door. It was Applejack and her family. "Ah'm here to help! We can't take too much time! Big Mac! Get all the food you can carry!"

"Eeyup!"

Applejack took charge like nopony's business. She was in full survival mode, trying to protect her friends and family. Fluttershy, Rarity, and Sweetie Belle soon came inside. they too were put to work.

Ten minutes passed and the group seemed to have all the things they needed. Except for one thing. Where was Rainbow Dash?