"Your Highness, these are all the reports that you requested." The diplomat dropped a stack of papers on the desk in Canterlot Castle's conference room. Celestia sat at the head of the table, caressing her chin in thought as she quickly scanned over each one. 'Zebras massing weapons and tanks!' 'Griffons building fleets of armored vehicles near our borders!' 'Civil War still going on in Barklin!' One caught her eye that made her smile. 'Crystal Empire, Caneighdia, Braytish Isles, and Sydneigh pledge their support!'

"Good news is welcome in these dire times..." Celestia looked over the group of diplomats, spies and high ranking officers of the Royal Guard that she entrusted to help her in this complex time. "So let me get this straight..." She gestured to the reports in front of her. "The newly crowned Griffon King is looking to expand his domain in the neighboring Diamond Dog kingdom due to the war of succession taking place, and Zebraca are likely to do the same, except they wish to place a king that will sign a treaty for the Diamond Dog kingdom to become a protectorate of the Zebras." Celestia once more turned to her advisers. "What should we do in this hour of crisis?"

One Officer of the Guard cleared his throat. "Well Princess, we are stuck in between all three of these problems, and we believe that to aid their respective allies in Barklin, the Zebras and Griffons might invade us. So we of the Guard believe that we should reinstate the Royal army."

As soon as the words left the officer's mouth, the diplomats let a clamor about how they would be invaded sooner if Griffonia and Zebraca see them building up arms as well. Celestia held up a hand to silence all the bickering. "I agree with the Guard on this one, if we don't grow our standing army, the Zebras and the Griffons will steamroll our entire nation. I'm not letting that happen to my little ponies." She stood up and walked through the conference room. "Captain Armor, do we have the facilities to train a sufficient army in a couple of years?"

Shining Armor thought about it for a second. "We should have enough training facilities to train approximately 250,000 soldiers in 3 years if we stretch our resources." Celestia nodded

"That will have to be enough. How fast can we develop our own armored forces and get those ponies trained?" More discussion throughout the room before another officer answered.

"Around the same amount of time, we can use some of our tanks to help train recruits till we get some more produced."

Celestia nodded. "Now, who here believes we can win a war on two fronts?" Not a single one spoke up. "So, we need a plan to knock out one faction quickly so that we don't get overwhelmed in months of a war starting."

Shining stood up. "Your Highness, with all due respect, we could hold back the Griffons and Zebras for a year or two before we potentially lose, so we have plenty of time to think of such a plan."

Celestia gave a small nod. "Good thing I already have a plan to take out the Zebras quickly." She walked up to a chalkboard set up on one wall as the the Guard and diplomats expressed their confusion. Celestia started drawing a diagram on the chalkboard. It showed a large winged flying device that had ponies jumping out of it, mainly pegasi, but a few unicorn and earth ponies were with them, dangling from large pieces of...something. The ponies on the ground were brandishing weapons and firing into the distance. Everypony in attendance looked at the diagram confused at what they were looking at.

Shining Armor was the first to speak up. "What, may I ask, is that?"

Celestia smirked. "Why Shining Armor, this is how we'll beat back the Zebras and the Griffons. The ability to drop soldiers behind enemy lines, soldiers with training in demolitions, stealth, with the ability and will to cause mischief and disorder, to weaken enemy defenses so that the main force can move up easier, and with less loss of life." She looked back to the gathering before her. "Fillies and Gentlecolts, I present to you," She gestured to the ponies leaping out and gliding to the ground. "The Airborne."

There was silence before one pony raised his hand. "But Princess, what is that device they are leaping out of, and those things the unicorns and earth ponies are dangling from?"

Celestia paused and looked back to the diagram. "Technically that information is classified, but seeing as they will be made public after their first mission..." She gestured to the flying device. "This is a C47 Transport plane, and these," She gestured to the dangling ponies. "These are parachutes for earth pony and unicorn pilots of the C47s. I've had this plan in mind for years in case of such a dangerous time. These ponies will spell out victory or defeat in so many battles, they will aid in this war more than any tank or gun. These are the new heroes of Equestria. Now all we need are faces to fill these roles..."

2 years later...

It was a nice sunny day out. Ponies walked up and down the street, trucks and cars made their way along the roads as I stepped out of my modest house.

I breathed in the small town air as I turned back to the front door. "Bye Mom! I'll be back with stuff for supper! Anything you need me to get?"

My mother, Hazy Night, poked her head out the door. "Just the paper, maybe something for your sister if you see anything nice!" As if summoned, my younger sister, Eclipse, peered around our mother at me, adding "And don't be late! Mommy hates it when you're late!"

That got her shushed while I just laughed it off. I made my way down the street of Vanhoover, watching and listening to anything I could. You can always hear something that can make you laugh or just start wondering about other unrelated topic as you walk.

"Well... not that you heard this from me..."

"So I say 'What do you mean there's no cheese?'..."

"I haven't gotten my weekly letter from Cross Beam yet, hope he's ok..."

"Where is he posted again?"

"On the Border, he said it's been quiet recently but I don't understand why it seemed he was nervous about it.."

That made me freeze. I had done a few years In the Guard Reserves after high school and the only time my mother didn't get my letters was when we moved bases or we went on exercises, and we were told that mail would be slowed or even halted if we ever volunteered to serve overseas as volunteer troops in foreign wars, a few of my buds served in Olenia during a coup to overthrow a corrupt monarchy. Letters were always a few weeks late, mostly because they had been on the move often and other supplies were prioritized.

So Border Patrol mail would only be delayed or stopped if...

I began to run. News Print, my block's local Newscolt wasn't too far away. As I approached him, I heard the colt yell a phrase I never wanted to hear.

"EXTRA, EXTRA!! READ ALL ABOUT IT! GRIFFON SOLDIERS CROSS EQUESTRIA'S BORDER!! QUEBUCK SURRENDERED WITHOUT A FIGHT!! ARMY MOBILIZED TO FROM A QUICK RESPONSE!!"

He was surrounded by dozens of others, all muttering about the news. Almost on cue, an army truck pulled up and a handful of Reservists began to move boxes and office supplies into a hotel across the street. A pair of Reservists held rifles and made sure ponies kept a short distance away from the working troops. Very little force was needed but everypony knew it was best to keep back. I quickly hurried back home, frightened for what the next few weeks and months would be like..

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

"CRESCENT!! BE A DEAR AND GET THE DOOR!!"

I put down the dish I was washing and made my way toward the front. I had no idea who it could be but due to yesterday's news I had a bad feeling.

I opened the door to reveal a Royal Guard Lieutenant with two Guards standing at attention behind him. "Mister Half Crescent?"

"Yes sir, how can I help you?"

He pulled a fairly thick envelope from a satchel, "Due to your service in the Guard Reserve, you have been conscripted to serve in the new Equestrian Royal Army. You must visit your local recruitment center to receive your deployment orders." As I took the envelope from him, my eyes wide, the Lieutenant smartly saluted before turning on his heel and continuing down the street, likely on his way to deliver the next pony's draft orders.

I slowly closed the door as he left, staring at the orders in my hand. I had wanted to join the Royal Guard when I was younger, using the Reserve as a stepping stone to serve in Canterlot but left after my dad died. I had never thought those years would rear their head like this again. I looked back into the house to see my mother staring at me. She glanced from the envelope back to me. She read my face like a book. Shock and horror quickly overtook her as she realized what I held. I quickly dashed over and hugged her tight. We stood there, me hugging my mother like I would never see her again all while she held me quietly mumbling "Not my poor baby... no no no.."

Slowly I broke the hug, my mother 's eyes full of tears. As I opened my mouth, she quickly shushed me. "I understand, you have to go. Your Father and Grandfather were the same way, and this is a Royal Order." She began to cry softly again. "I just wished it never happened to you." She looked back, a hard look in her eyes. "You better come home after all this or I'll go to Tartarus itself just to tan your hide!"

We shared a soft laugh at that. "I'll head over tomorrow, the war will be over before you know it, I'll make sure of that!"

The Vanhoover recruitment center was filled with ponies. Young mares and stallions stood in four lines, Earth, Unicorn, Pegasus and Other. A few grumbling Thestrals, Griffons and even a Zebra stood in the 'Other' line. I made my way into the Pegasus line, watching the world and listening again.

"Service should get me into the Wonderbolts in no time!"

"Navy? No. Air Force? Nah.. Maybe Armoured?"

"My father was so excited to see my draft orders, He always said that the Military life was the way to go, but I just want to come back and play Jazz again.."

"THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T SIGN UP!!"

That commotion drew the attention of almost everyone in the crowd. A rainbow haired pegasus mare stood at the front of the line, yelling at the recruitment officer. "For the last time Miss Dash, Celestia let a decree out that the Elements and their families cannot join up. You and your friends are important to the morale of Equestria, we can't have any of you dying in a foxhole in the middle of nowhere. Now please move along so i can deal with this gentlecolt."

'Miss Dash' left out a huff of anger as I moved up to the officer. He looked at me and pulled up a paper and started moving down the list of questions. "Name?"

"Half-Crescent."

"Age?"

"23."

"Any relation to the elements? None of this second cousin crap, direct relation only."

"No sir."

The officer looked through an attached paper, looking through my official record. His eyes focused on what I can only assume is my Reserve Service. He lowered the paper before he looked back up into my eyes. "You have any interest in joining Equestria's elite corps?"

I nodded. "Yes sir, I wanted to join the Royal Guard since high school. Tried using the Reserve to springboard my career to Canterlot but left when my father died to help my mother raise my younger sister."

The officer let a small smile cross his lips. "Well son I got some good news, enter the door to the right and speak with Colonel Golden Oak."

I nodded and walked towards the door the officer indicated as he called out "Next!"

I opened the door slowly and saw a middle aged stallion sitting back in a chair. His desk was covered in papers and photos of his family. He turned around after I stepped into the room, his golden eyes and deep yellow coat caught my eye, along with the silver eagle on his shoulders. "So son," He started. "Since you're here and you appear to be a pegasus." I gave my wings a tiny flap in affirmative. "How would you like to join the Airborne? The closest thing you can get to the Royal Guard nowadays..."

I smiled. "What would the Airborne entail?"

The Colonel grinned. "Jumping out of an airplane, behind enemy lines, no confirmation of assistance, besides your fellow Airborne, flying at night and destroying enemy hard points to let ground forces punch through easier. So, what do you say?" I gave one last smile before proudly saying.

"Count me In!"

Author's Note

Ok, so after my first story kinda ran amok in terms of plot, this idea came to mind and it decided, 'Why not?'. Also it was slightly inspired by a comment i had on the first story about Luna and a Thompson SMG.

Anyway, same thing as the last story, if you have an OC you want to put in, send me a message and i'll plonk them in somewhere. (No alicorns or other such nonsense.) And any criticisms leave them in the comments! (Please keep it positive, or at least pleasant)

-Canadian Pony OUT!

Edit: 16th March 2016