Chapter 1: At War's Start
It was of a cold night, of early morning, and of times we wish we could go back to. The darkness of the night came over the city of Fillyadelphia like the wings of Princess Luna. In a small bakery near a car factory, a young stallion lived with his mom. Every morning and night, workers from the factory would stop by and pick up rolls for breakfast or a loaf for dinner. They didn't have much, but he thanked Celestia that he didn't work in one of those industrial prisons. On the morning in question, his mom and him were working on the bread for the bakery, when she got a call. It was his brother, Private First Class Sliver Eye of the Canterlot Royal Guard. The stallion was mixing some dough when he caught a look at the shock on his mom. She put the phone down and looked down with a frown, “Fire Flank, we are at war.” War?
“What is going to happen to Sliver?”, Fire asked with an alarmed tone.
“Your brother doesn't know yet, but he is thinking he is going to stay in Canterlot. He said that the front line is still at the boarder, but the invaders have momentum. He also said that they are going to put up defenses up in Canterlot.” his mother told him.
“What is going to happen to us? Will Fillyadelphia be safe?”
“Fire, the line is closer to Canterlot then Fillyadelphia, but Sliver did say that there might be a draft,” she said with a pale white face, and just then they knew that he was going to war. They stood in silence,Thinking deeply, and then slowly got back to work.
War, all of Equestria thought that we were beyond this, now what? What's Jackie going to think, where am I going to be sent to, will I live? These thoughts dashed through his head as he kneed a bit of dough, knowing all the while that these may be answered sooner then he wanted them to be. Fire got back to reality and got to work; all the while keeping these thoughts on the back of his mind.
The next day, the morning rush of factory ponies came through our doors, and by the looks on their faces, the word got out. The whole city of Fillyadelphia was still coming to grips with the reality of the whole thing. The flow of ponies into the shop seemed to be slow that day, so Fire went outside to see where everypony was. After looking over to the local T.V. shop, he could see a group of ponies around the window looking to a T.V. set with the news on it. He walked over and then heard a reporter give the low down.
“On Wednesday, a regiment of soldiers from the Kingdom of Minos attacked the broader town of Coltvill, forcing us into war. Reports from the town says that Minos forces has taken full control of the town. Princess Celestia is calling for a emergency meeting with top level Brony generals to discuss counter attack. The Princess is also calling for a draft in the first time in 73 years. All able body Stallions between the ages of 18 to 21 are to report for service, or face the force of the law. Sign up by Friday March 22, your kingdom needs you.”
Fire looked back, and walked back into the bakery, giving a look to his mom. “There has been a draft called, and I am to report for service.” The look on his mom's face almost brought him to tears, but he knew he must fight.
“I didn't cry when Sliver signed up, I thought we wouldn't go to war again. Yet, now I know that both of you are going into harm's way. Listen, I want you to be safe O.K.? Can you just promise me this one wish?”, she yelped as her voice cracking trying to hold in tear.
“I want to promise you that, but I can't lie. I'm going to go into this war, and I may never come out. Just know this, I am doing it to protect you and the kingdom. It might be tough holding down the business, but hay, you raised me, and did one hell of a job,” Fire said within his sorrow.
She looked down hoping I was just lieing, but Celestia called for me. Slowly a tear formed into her eye. It grew bigger and bigger until it broke the banks. It ran down her cheek, and dripped off her chin. More tears broke free and soon a torrent of water came rushing down onto the ground. Her hoof became weak and broke under the weight of her grief. Onto the ground came the mare who worked day and night to make sure her colts were safe, and now... they were going to war. Fire tried to confront his mom with a hoof over her, but only seemed to hold onto a mare of grief.
“Fire, I came as soon as-” Jackie stopped as soon as she saw fire and his mom. She became silent, and came around to pick up Fire. She gave him a big kiss and then hugged him. Her touch was what Fire needed. All a while, a stallion on the other side of the shop was placing a loaf into a small bag.
Fire opened his eyes to see this display, and yelled out “Thief!, Put that back!” the stallion froze for a second, and then dashed out of the shop, dropping a roll in his rush. Fire tried to run after him, but then got a hoof on his side.
“Let him go, he has the same thing in store for himself as for you.”, Jackie said softly. Fire loosed up and watched as the thief ran out.
The thief's name was Mike, Mike of the Nelason clan. He wasn't always a thief, before that he was one of the best warriors of the the Northern Winds, a mountainous region north of the Minos Kingdom. Five years ago, His clan and 11 others joined forces, the Talos Alliance, to drive out the Minos from the Southern Winds. A short war followed, and within 6 mouths, the Minos where closing into Mike's home city of Talos. Mike and his fellow soldiers had had time to set up defensives around the city, but the massive force of the Minos pushed through them in two days. What followed was heavy fighting in the streets of the city. There wasn't a hour in the day when there wasn't gunfire echoing in the background. Brutal hoof to hoof fighting, and other unpony acts became the way to survive in the hellhole that formed in the chaos. Mike's company took out Minos like they where at the range, but they just kept on coming. Soon, only a small pockets of the city stayed in clan control, having the Nelason being broken into small enclaves. Mike's company knew they were defeated, so along with some civilians, the company left the city.
They got out in the dead of night, by the cover of booby traps and barbaric mines. The company made their way thought by the old and forgotten tunnels that crisscrossed under the city streets. After two days of the darkness, the company got it's first look of the burning city. The skyline of towering walls and packs of houses glowed with the fires of war. His company soon made their way south (to the boarder with Equestria). It was the middle of winter, and snow came down hard. Hoofs froze and eyes turned into ice. Food and ammo became low as the march to Equestria went on. With contact with Minos patrols, the company's forces' where melted away. When the rolling hills of Equestria could be seen in the distance, the company got it's final bump with some Minos. The whole army of Minos seemed to be hidden in the hills, before exposing them selves to engage the weaken force. For an hour, the contact lasted, and the whole of Minos' ambush was defeated. The only surviver of the battle was Mike, who pushed on and got to Equestria. Mike has been filled with rage ever since that battle, and has always waited for the day when he could get revenge.
Mike galloped out of the shop, but bumped into a shocked mare. He stopped, and saw how the mare hasn't even looked back to him. Mike looked over to what the mare was focused at, and saw a poster that shocked him too. The poster read “ War has been declared in Equestria by the kingdom of Minos. Princess Celestia has order a draft. Every able bodied Stallion from the ages 18 to 21 is here by ordered to sign up for service.”
Mike's mouth dropped; he had waited so long for a chance like this to get revenge on the Minos, and this was prefect. Mike, quickly ran thought the streets to the local Equestria Military installation and signed up. Mike wasn't going to be drafted, but he was getting tried of being a criminal. All he want was to free Talos from the grips of the Minos, and he is going to fight for it.
“Big Mac, the train will be coming on down soon sugercube,” Applejack told Big Mac. The draft had effected Ponyvill too. On this day all the stallions that have been drafted had to report to the train station, and Big Mac was one of the new soldiers.
“Eyup, we should go”, replayed the Stallion. Applejack and Big Mac started to move, leaving Applebloom and Granny Smith weeping at the door way. It was the time of year that the apple trees started to bloom, turning Sweet Apple Acres into a ocean of pink/white flowers. Some of the flowers started to lose their petals, causing the sky to fall with them. The two made there way through the array of color with their heads down. This beautiful display was only a background for the sadness that held Applejack and her brother in it's spell. Mac has been even more quiet as of late, and was generally not acting like himself. Applejack wanted to cheer up Mac some how, and she thinks she has an idea.
Applejack opened her mouth, “Hay Big Mac, how bout a race for old times;” and as soon as you can say Appleloosa, Big Mac started to gallop off leaving his sis in the the dust. Applejack soon got up and dashed up next to him. The two ran neck and neck through the town, but the hole town was empty. The two slowed down a little, and looked a round; No pony was in sight. The two looked at each other, and soon saw a herd of ponies by the train station. They entered the mass, and looked around. Everypony had a expression of grief on the their faces. Lyra was holding back Bon-bon whom was trying to take hold of her brother. The Muffin Pony gave Derpy Hooves one last hug before loading onto the train. Ahead, Applejack saw Twilight Sparkle talk to her brother Shinning Armor. Applejack turned to the two and said “Why howdy y'all, so where you taking my brother to.”
“They are all going to Great Gorge Military Base just outside Las Pegasus. They are going to do basic training by a handful of my brother's men. Shining armor is going to be looking over the training, then take them to the front lines”, replied Twilight.
“Then shining armor, y'all better take good care of Big Mac you hear.” Applejack giving a look over to shining armor.
“Don't you worry, he is going to get the best training on this side of the Manenissippi. Anyways, Big Mac we are loading soon, so say your goodbyes to Applejack. You have one hell of the mouth ahead of you.” Shining armor reassured them. Big Mac gave Applejack a big hug, and then got onto the train. Soon everypony else got on and the engine started to hiss. The big wheels started to slowly rotate, pulling about 20 carts of newly drafted soldiers. Everypony Stuck their heads to say some last words to their love ones. Big Mac pushed his way through the wall of ponies to say a few words to Applejack.
“I'll come home Applejack, don't you worry about me,” yelled Big Mac. Very soon the train sped up, going faster and faster; leaving the herd of loved ones in the dust. Applejack looked to Twilight who gave her a hug right away. Applejack wasn't the pony to start crying, but this was different. She really worried for her brother, and she hoped that one day he will return too.
Meanwhile on the train, Big mac looked around, not one word came out of anypony mouths'. He looked to the stallion who had taken up the seat next to him. It was a brown pony with a hourglass as a cutie mark. Mac never really talked to Dr.Whooves, but he knew he was a good pony. He was a good man going to war, they were all good men going to war.
At day break, the train hissed to a stop. A member of the Canterlot Royal Guard came on. “Everypony up, welcome to Great Gorge, you new home for the next mouth.” Big Mac's head ached from sleeping on the hard wood of the seat in front of him. “Now, come with me so we can put you ponies into your companies.” Everypony got up and walked out of the train. The sudden blast of light hit Big Mac's face, blinding him for a second. Then, once he got his eyesight back, he looked around. The whole place was a dust covered base with groups of ponies marching around. In the distance, buildings that seemed to be the mess hall and rooms for the officers. Even farther then that, the towers of Las Pegasus came into the background, rising from the desert sands.
“What are you doing, get moving soldier.” blasted an officer. Big Mac got his flank moving to the herd of ponies near a table. There, a young filly was giving company assignments to the ponies. Mac waited in the line, looking all the while at the amazing camp around him. Then, Big Mac was up.
“Name?” asked the filly.
“Macintosh Apple” said Mac.
“O.K. Then Mr. Mac, you will be serving in the 9th company. Go into the messhall, and look for the banner that says 9th on it.” replyed the filly. Mac filled into the hall, and the harsh light of the sun came to a end. He looked around and saw the 9th banner that the filly was talking about. He walked over there, and sat next to a blueish earth-pony and a red pegasus.
The red pegasus looked at Mac and then said, “who are you?”
“I'm Big Macintosh, but you can call me Big Mac or just Mac.”
“Well I'm Fire Flank, I'm From Fillyadelphia. Were are you from?”
“Ponyvill, I live and work at my family's apple orchid.”
“I see, well I work at my family's bakery. So were you drafted too?”
“Eyup, I think we were all drafted.”
“I volunteered.” exclaimed the blueish earth-pony next to Mac.
“Wait, why did you volunteer to join the military?” asked Fire.
“Well, years ago my clan and home city of Talos were destroyed by the Minos. I escaped, but everypony I every knew are either slaves to the Minos or dead. I did this so I can get revenge on those bastards . Oh, and it's Mike, Mike of the Nelason Clan.” Mac and Fire looked at Mike with open jaws. This pony wanted the Minos dead, they were just there because the were told to be here. “ I know you were drafted, but one day you will learn why you Fight.”