Letters From War: the Complete History of the War for Solar Resurgence

by Jade Ring

Rating: teen
Tags: Cutie Mark Crusaders, Big Macintosh, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Sad, Main 6, Princess Luna, Drama, Princess Cadance
Length: 9179

A story of love, loss, victory, and defeat told through a collection of letters spread across the War for Solar Resurgence.

When history books chronicle wars, individual names and faces are often lost in the translation. This is especially true for the War of Solar Resurgence, that brief, brutal, and bitter struggle that claimed so many lives.

On this, the one hundredth anniversary of the war's end, it is our sincerest hope that this collection of letters helps readers to connect with those who were there for that awful conflict.

We must never forget; ponies lived, ponies died, and our land was never quite the same.

-Staff of the Canterlot Archives

Published 2015-10-12 23:20:02 UTC
Last updated 2019-09-30 07:15:02 UTC

Introduction

Two years after the return of Nightmare Moon, and mere months after the restoration of the Crystal Empire, the land of Equestria was changed forever.

It was just after Hearth’s Warming when word reached Canterlot that a vast army was marching upon the capital. The army, over ten thousand ponies strong, flew a banner emblazoned with a crescent moon, a unicorn’s horn, and a pair of midnight blue wings. This was the Grand Army of Nightmare Moon, forged one thousand years ago on Equestria’s farthest western borders in order to act as the corrupted princess’ foot soldiers. Now commanded by one General Black Bolt, they had halted their centuries of preparation and started to march when they’d learned of their glorious leader’s return.

Princess Celestia panicked, terrified that these ponies would have some way of returning her beloved sister to her altered state. So, with seemingly no other recourse, she summoned the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony and bade them to turn the entire army to stone.

It was Twilight Sparkle, Celestia’s most faithful student, that was the first to refuse.

Twilight called Princess Celestia irrational and insisted there had to be another way. Overwrought with fear, the Princess of the Sun struck her most ardent supporter. It was a moment so sincerely shocking that all who witnessed it remembered it years later with stunning clarity.

It was Princess Luna herself who intervened in the budding confrontation. She learned of the army’s existence and followed her older sister when she fled for the castle’s inner sanctum. Terrified for Luna’s well-being, Celestia gave all of her power to create an impenetrable shield around the city.

It was exactly what Luna had been waiting for.

She took the crown from her sister’s head and slew her with it utterly.

After the shield fell, the Bearers of Harmony leapt into battle. It was days of fighting before anypony realized that the army was not invading. They were trying to swear fealty to Luna.

The sun set on the day that the Bearers were told to stand down… and did not rise again.

Princess Luna reorganized the entire kingdom into what she called the New Lunar Republic. Major cities were appointed governors that answered directly to the Moon Princess. New trees bearing ‘moon fruit’ were planted, replacing most of the now dying from sun deprivation crops.

Equestria tried to endure under its new leadership, but the transition was not easy.

Some ponies flourished under the moon. Applejack Apple, Bearer of the Element of Honesty, became one of the most prosperous ponies in all the Republic following her marriage to local business magnate Filthy Rich and the choice of Sweet Apple Acres as the primary grower of moon fruit. Rainbow Dash, the Bearer of the Element of Loyalty, was made Commander of the newly formed Shadow Bolts after turning over her former mentor Spitfire for the crime of treason. Rarity, the Bearer of the Element of Generosity, was named the Royal Dress-Maker and was allowed to keep her home in the evacuated town of Ponyville.

Some ponies simply did the best they could do. Pinkie Pie, the Bearer of the Element of Laughter, willingly relocated to her family's rock farm. Fluttershy, the Bearer of the Element of Kindness, retreated into the depths of the Everfree Forest in order to stay out of any and all conflicts.

And some ponies became enemies of the state. Princess Cadance was accused of committing anti-Republic crimes and was stripped of her titles. She escaped to parts unknown with her husband before her arrest could be carried out. Twilight Sparkle, the Bearer of the Element of Magic, was arrested after the publishing of her book ‘the Fall of the Solar Kingdom.’ Luna claimed the book was slander and ordered every known copy to be burned.

The endless night went on… and the temperature continued to drop.

As the one year anniversary of the Shift approached, General Black Bolt was killed by, of all things, a bee sting. Suspecting a possible coup, a loyal Lunarist named Jade Ring took it upon himself to interview the former Bearers of Harmony. In doing so, he uncovered a plot on Princess Luna’s life. Applejack Apple-Rich and Rarity were arrested for their roles in the planned assassination. Fluttershy vanished before she could be captured. Pinkie Pie was formally banished from Equestria as a whole.

The following was posted around Canterlot two weeks later.

Proclamation

Let it be known that on this night, July 17th, the traitors Twilight Sparkle, Applejack Apple-Rich, and Rarity will be executed for crimes against her Majesty, Princess Luna, and the New Lunar Republic as a whole.

The condemned have all been justly convicted by a jury of their peers, in accordance with the bylaws of the New Lunar Republic. These charges are listed below;

Charge 1: High Treason

Charge 2: Sedition

Charge 3: The Spread of Rebellious Ideas

Charge 4: Slander against the Crown

Charge 5: Attempted Murder of a State Official

Charge 6: Attempted Murder (14 Counts)

Charge 7: Murder in the First Degree (4 Counts)

Charge 8: Misuse of Government Property

Charge 9: Misuse of Government Funds

For their crimes, the condemned are sentenced to be hung by the neck until dead. Sentence will be carried out by General Rainbow Dash, Commandant of the Shadowbolt Air Forces and Grand Marshall of the New Lunar Army. After sentence is carried out, the heads of the condemned will be severed and posted at the gates of Canterlot as a reminder that these crimes will not be tolerated by anypony.

The execution will be public. All citizens are encouraged to attend.

-Jade Ring, Personal Chronicler to the New Lunar Republican Council

Little did anypony know at the time that this event, this execution, would be the catalyst for all that followed.

-Staff of the Canterlot Archives

Part I: Prelude to War

Contents

The Condemned
-The last letters written by Applejack Apple-Rich, Rarity, and Twilight Sparkle.

‘I Was There’
-An excerpt from the autobiography by Fancy Pants concerning the execution.

The Governors
-Letters of correspondence from Braeburn Apple, Governor of Appleoosa, Lyra Heartstrings, Governor of Ponyville, the Lady Bon, Governor of Manehatten, and Lightning Dust, Governor of Las Pegasus, concerning the fallout of the executions.

Royal Decree
-The message sent by Princess Luna threatening the invasion of the Crystal Empire.

The Empire
-Letters from Prince Shining Armor, the refugee Diamond Tiara, and the Empress Cadance

The Condemned I- Applejack Apple-Rich

To my dear brother,

I hope this letter finds you well. Twilight tells me that the stallion taking this letter can be trusted, that he knows exactly where to find you. I guess that means that you really are a member of the New Dawn. Yer a part of that hell-raisin pain in Princess Luna’s flank.

I’m so proud of you, ya lummox.

I’m glad that I have the chance to tell you that. I never did get the chance to tell Filthy (mostly coz the fool stallion never saw fit to mention exactly what he was getting up to on Fridays. I figgered he was seein’ that batpony that oversaw the west orchard. Never liked the way she looked at him, no sir. He may’ve just been my husband outta necessity, but he was still my husband.) Aw well, he’s dead and so will I be soon enough.

Now don’t yourself all twisted up about this. I’ve made my peace and I’m ready to go. I’m just sorry that I won’t be around to watch the sun rise beside you and App…

Mac, you have to save our sister. No matter what your little group is up to, no matter the cost, you have to save her. I was doing my best to protect her, ya have to believe me. When I sent off the poisoned moon-fruit shipments, I turned right around and put her on the first train to Trottingham.

But they found her, damn them.

The guards keep mocking me by telling me they’ve put her to work on the farm. I can’t stand the thought. It’s getting so cold out there and I just know the overseers are gonna single her out now that I’m not there to protect her. I think about her, shivering in the mud and planting more of those damned moon-fruit trees, and it’s the only time I really feel sorrow. Like I’m a failure.

I don’t know if you’ve seen the farm since the Shift, but it’s not in great shape. The youngest trees are already dead, and the oldest ones won’t last much longer. Even if we get the sun back up in the next year or so, we won’t have apple bearing trees for years to come.

Luckily we have the seeds.

Twilight cast a spell on em that’ll keep em viable for at least a decade, maybe more. As soon as the sun rises again, those need to be planted as soon as possible. Use the special fertilizer I got from Zecora. It’s in the secret cellar in the south orchard.

I’m runnin out of time. Gotta make sure I get everything down. My damn teeth are chattering. I guess I am a little scared.

Diamond Tiara! That little prima donna never thought too much of me, but she was still an honorary Apple. I have no idea where she ran off to after her pa was arrested, but try and bring her home too. And make sure that she knew that, for what it’s worth, her step-mama loved her.

Just a little bit.

Huh, I actually laughed. Calmed my nerves somewhat.

I guess that about covers it. Hoo boy.

This is really it, isn’t it?

I love you, big brother. I don’t know if I ever said it enough. You were the best brother anypony coulda asked fer.

See ya at the end of the trail.

Your little sis,

Applejack

The Condemned III- Twilight Sparkle

Dear Moon Dancer,

When I was studying under Princess Celestia, she tended to hand me off to different tutors when she had royal duties to tend to. My favorite was easily Mr. Wrinkled Page. Mr. Page shared my love of reading and introduced me to some of his favorite books… that then became my favorite books in turn. He also introduced me to the wonders of the oldest game in existence.

The game of chess.

I devoted every analytical bit of my mind to learning all I could about the game solely for the purpose of beating my old teacher only once. But no matter how hard I tried, no matter how carefully I practiced and calculated each and every move, he would always beat me. One day I broke down and demanded to know how he always beat me. How was he always three steps ahead?

The old stallion just laughed and revealed that it was simple faith; faith in an old good luck charm his teacher had once taught him.

He said “Luck lies with them that sets the board.”

As the hours countdown to my imminent death, that quote keeps rattling around my skull. “Luck lies with them that sets the board.” Such a simple concept. And such a simple sentence. Just eight words. But in those eight words rested more power than in any magic spell I’ve ever learned. I set the board for my next twelve games with Mr. Page, and I won every single time. He may have let me win the first two or three, but he was visibly upset by game ten.

He’s dead now.

Luna ordered his library burned and he refused to leave. His ashes are now mixed together with those books for all time.

Now I have set the board again.

Applejack and Rarity must never know that their coup was always destined to fail. I didn’t plan on their capture nor their convictions, but their plan had far too many holes to succeed. I needed something to scare Luna, something that would force her to move my own execution up.

I was the only one supposed to die today. The only one who needed to die today.

Luna suspects nothing. In her zeal to force us all to worship her night, she has overlooked one simple fact… and it will be her undoing. And it all starts tonight.

I need you to accompany this letter to the Crystal Empire… and take the book with you. I know you’ve kept it secret and safe. Get it to Cadance. And give her this message; “the gods may only be undone by their truest selves.”

Moon Dancer, I’m sorry to ask you for so huge a favor. I was never the best friend to you in the old days. I didn’t understand how important friendship was. Friendship can move mountains, it can boil oceans, it can do wonders…

…and it can topple a tyrant.

Luck lies with them that sets the board.

I have set the board. The pieces are moving.

The game has begun.

Your friend,

Twilight Sparkle

Excerpt from 'I Was There' by Fancy Pants

Originally published several months after the war’s end, Fancy Pants’ autobiography ‘I Was There’ became the first new book published in Equestria when the moon was finally lowered. In the book, Fancy Pants goes into details about his operations as part of a heretofore unknown resistance group who called themselves “The League of Un-Gentlepony Warfare,” Canterlot nobles who used their wealth and social status to weaken Luna’s powerbase and wage underground war on the New Lunar Army. Any doubts about the book’s authenticity were dashed when Fancy Pants was able to lead investigators to the site of the League’s pitched battle with Colonel Firebrand’s forces in the Canterlot sewers… where the bodies of the New Lunar soldiers were still sealed in suspended animation spells.

Fancy Pants’ book helped to clear the Canterlot nobility’s names, as they were previously known as collaborators.

Early in the book, Fancy Pants details the events of the so-called Execution of Harmony.

With the moon full and shining overhead, we made our way to the Wonderbolt’s stadium. The crowd was abuzz with chatter. There had been public executions previously, of course. I had been in the back row of Spitfire’s and I can still remember the sound of her death rattles. But these executions were not to take place in the city square where the gallows had been erected in the first days of Luna’s reign.

Luna wanted as large an audience as possible for this one.

My beloved Fleur and myself found our seats in the upper rows and observed the scene around us. There were hundreds of ponies here, possibly thousands. Easily the entire population of Canterlot were filling up the stadium’s many seats. The center field was now dominated by a huge and new set of gallows. Three nooses hung from the beam above three separate trapdoors and three separate levers. Each of the condemned would die alone.

Sitting in her private box directly across from us was Princess Luna. On her left was her secretary, the dark maned Raven. On her right was the newly promoted General Rainbow Dash of the New Lunar Army. Months later, I would personally engage General Dash in combat. I still consider her to be the finest warrior I have ever had the pleasure of doing battle with. Her resolve was nothing short of extraordinary.

On this day, she looked like she wanted to die.

A gong was sounded and General Dash made to don a black hood so as to hide her identity to the crowd. Princess Luna stopped her and gestured enthusiastically at the gallows.

With her shame covered face visible to all, General Dash glided from the box to the gallows.

The gong sounded once again and the condemned were led out, their hooves chained and dragging. The chatter faded into silence as we watched the three little ponies, heads held high, escorted to the gallows by several enormous members of the New Lunar Special Forces. Twilight Sparkle and Rarity had silver rings affixed to their horns; magic nullifiers. Applejack’s head was crowned by her beaten old Stetson, a gift from somepony special I’m sure. The three, all on steady hooves, climbed the steps of the gallows and took their places below each noose.

As attendants set about affixing the nooses about the three necks, General Dash reread the charges against the condemned. Applejack was forced to remove her hat so the rope could be lowered. She kissed it and tossed it into the crowd where it vanished into a crowd of ponies. It was not seen again until it was donated by an anonymous donor to the Museum of Harmony years later.

When the charges were finally finished, General Dash made her way over to the condemned. She checked the rope’s stability and looked Applejack in the eyes. In a monotonous voice, she asked if her former best friend had any last words.

Applejack spat in her face.

General Dash didn’t even bother wiping it off. She just made her way to the lever, hesitated for a moment, and pulled.

The trapdoor gave and Applejack plummeted. The rope went taut and the farmer’s neck snapped. She didn’t suffer.

Fleur’s anguished gasp drew my attention to our dear friend Rarity. It seemed the sound of her friend’s death had shaken her resolve somewhat. Her knees were now trembling uncontrollably and she appeared to be hyperventilating. General Dash stood before her and asked if she had any last words.

Rarity’s final words in this world were a choked and pained gurgle, her streaming eyes focused on the dangling corpse that had once been one of her closest friends.

General Dash found the lever and pulled.

Rarity did not have Applejack’s luck.

She dangled there as the rope tightened about her lovely pale throat. Her eyes bulged as she gasped for air that would not come. Her hooves kicked wildly, desperately seeking some form of purchase.

I had seen enough. I subtly lit my horn and reached out with my magic, intending to grasp my friend’s legs and put her out of her misery with a single hard yank.

But there was somepony else’s magic there already doing exactly what I had intended to do.

When Rarity’s death throes had ceased, I looked around in desperation. Who had my fellow caring soul been?

My attention was returned to the gallows for the proverbial main event. Twilight Sparkle didn’t even look in General Dash’s direction. Her gaze was focused entirely on Princess Luna. She ignored General Dash’s request for any last words and just stared at Luna.

General Dash pulled the lever… and the mechanism jammed.

That’s when it happened.

Twilight’s horn lit. The magic nullifier melted to nothing before her immense power. I understood then that it had been Twilight who had aided her suffering friend. Her eyes never left Luna’s, even as the princess started to order her guards to descend and attack. Her horn’s light grew brighter and brighter, almost blinding us all, before the light broke into a thousand smaller beams that lanced into the horns of every unicorn in attendance. In that instant, I found I had learned a new spell. My beloved Fleur’s confused gaze confirmed that she had had the same experience. In the days that followed, we would learn more about Twilight’s final gift, this False Sun Spell.

I looked around the stadium, scanning the faces for my friends and contemporaries. The same ones who the next week would join Fleur and myself in a blood oath, dedicating ourselves to Luna’s downfall. Jet Set, Upper Crust, even that dandy Blueblood, he who knew of my dislike for him and still took a lance in the heart for me during the Siege of Canterlot.

Twilight, visibly strained by the effort, inhaled deeply. Then she spoke her last words.

No. She roared them. Directly at Luna.

“CELESTIA LIVES!”

Then she took a running leap off the scaffold. The rope held. Twilight’s neck did not.

And as she who had once been Equestria’s savior swung from rope’s end, a look of peace and satisfaction on her dead face, chaos descended upon the stadium.

The Governors I- Braeburn Apple

General Soarin,

Know first that you have my sincerest condolences. The position of Grand Marshal belongs rightly to you, not to that traitor Rainbow Dash. I and the other governors protested her appointment as strongly as we could, but her majesty was unwavering. She is thoroughly convinced of Dash's loyalty. I fear for my Princess' life, but I must abdicate to her wisdom. If she believes that Dash can be trusted, then she must have her reasons.

A shame, sugar cube; you would've looked so dashing in the uniform of a Grand Marshal.

Things are going well here in Appleoosa. The mining operations have picked up considerable steam since we received the latest shipment of Diamond Dogs you sent us. Luna willing, you will have their paltry rebellion crushed in no time at all and we will be able to triple our production. The Dogs are natural miners and seem happiest when allowed to dig to their heart's content. So much so that they almost forget that they now have the same rights and privileges as the other prisoners.

Which is to say none at all.

The prisoners themselves could learn a thing or two from the Dogs. It seems that my threats of sending them to Sweet Apple Acres are losing their sting. I have a meeting later today with my overseers about possible alternative threats. That sicko Whiplash and his brothers keep campaigning for the return of flaying, but the last time we tried that the Buffaloes damn near rebelled.

The damnable Buffaloes.

I will never understand Her Majesty sometimes. Why do we not simply do with the Buffaloes as we're doing with the Diamond Dogs? Their intelligence is not that much greater after all.

And now she has ordered me to marry one.

Little Strong Heart and I have never seen eye to eye on anything, and yet Princess Luna has decreed that a union between us would solidify relations between our kind. What value can be found in an alliance with Buffaloes? The Griffons and Minotaurs I understand, but the reasoning for becoming bedfellows with bison is beyond me.

I know, in her wisdom, she knows my heart belongs to another. I cannot help but feel that her forcing me into a loveless marriage is some form of cruel joke on her part. I wonder, if you could speak to her...

Forgive me, I know you have greater thoughts weighing you down these days.

It appears I must end this letter rather quickly. My assistant has just informed me that another gem storage building has been set on fire. I have no doubt that those responsible are members of that damn New Dawn resistance group. They've really become bolder since the execution.

Perhaps I'll let Whiplash have some fun where the Buffalo can't see.

Yours always,

Braeburn Apple,

Governor of Appleloosa and Her Surrounding Lands

Archivist Note: History tends to look on Governor Braeburn less harshly than some other members of the New Lunar Republic. In truth, he was the second choice for Governor after the former sheriff, Silver Star, was discovered to be an informant for the fledgling New Dawn. After Silver Star's hasty trial and execution, Braeburn was chosen by Luna because of his familial connections to the Apple Family, trusting that the ponies of the area would be more willing to serve if somepony from a family they respected was in charge.

Braeburn was largely viewed as a simpleton with slightly racist tendencies and a surprisingly soft heart. For example, his personal journal includes omissions that he gave the more sinister of his staff large portions of his personal salary so they would not physically harm the prisoners. It would appear that his talk of flaying in this letter is simply "tough talk," probably to impress the subject of his heart's desire.

By war's end, when he fled to Zebrica with several other war criminals, he apparently trusted Little Strong Heart enough to name her Governor in his stead. His last written message to his wife included an admission that perhaps he had judged the Buffalo too harshly and instructions for her to fight to the last soldier.

There are no records of his reaction when he learned of her unconditional surrender the very next day.

The Governors II- Lyra Heartstrings and the Lady Bon

My love,

I don't know what I did to get on the wrong side of Princess Luna, but it must've been pretty horrible.

Ponyville has been ashes for weeks now and still I've been told to remain here. I always thought it was foolish that I was made Governor of Ponyville since the village is nowhere near big enough to need a provincial Governor. When the razing of the town was ordered, I was sure that I was soon to be given some kind of promotion or reassignment.

Well, if it's coming it had better hurry up.

Ponyville Town Hall is the only building still standing and that's only because I use it as an office. I tend to spend my days staring out at the empty land that will soon host more moon-fruit trees to distract me from the nightmare Sweet Apple Acres has become.

Applejack. That idiot. With her gone the farm is completely in control of some low ranking nimrod Thestral who calls himself Bladewing. Say what you want about the farm using political prisoners as a workforce, but at least Applejack made their lives comfortable. Not so with Bladewing. Do you know how many injury reports I get a day? Notices of untimely death?

Almost always followed by requests for more workers.

That psychopath had better curb his appetite for bloodshed. Canterlot's going to get curious pretty soon.

I miss you terribly, and know that you are always with me in my dreams. I hasten the day that we can be together again.

Forever,

Lyra

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

My dearest,

I'm sorry this letter has taken so long to get to you. Things are not going great here in Manehatten. The details of Twilight's execution have gotten out somehow, despite Canterlot's best attempts, and the New Dawn is getting bolder and bolder by the day. My chief of police insists he has things under control, but I don't trust that gelding as far as I can throw him.

The Grey Mare keeps me truly up to date with what's going on in my city. Apparently, New Dawn sympathisers have seized the Lower East Side and Red Hoof. The area leaders are either paid off or too terrified to inform me of these attacks themselves. It sickens me to see such worms placed in such positions, even if what little power they wield is completely laughable in the grand scheme of things.

Soon I will turn the Grey Mare and the rest of my enforcers loose. Then we will see who truly holds power in this city.

Oh, Lyra; sometimes I miss how things used to be. I often find myself thinking wistfully of our days lounging in Ponyville Park. Once this bitter business is finished and this paltry rebellion crushed once and for all, I know we can have those good times back. Central Park is lovely, especially with the new trees finally starting to bloom.

I look up at the moon and I miss you.

Write me soon,

Bon Bon

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

My sweet Bonnie,

My worst fears have come to fruition.

Bladewing's bloodthirst has attracted attention from Canterlot. Jade Ring himself is on his way here to examine conditions at the farm. Somehow I know that Bladewing's sins will fall to me.

My secretary has given me the idea of throwing that psychopathic Thestral under the proverbial bus. If I exposed his crimes to her Majesty's own Chief Reporter, it would look favorably on me.

It might even grease the wheels of that promotion I've been after.

Bonnie, I miss you so much. I know how this conflict is affecting you. I see how cold your words are and how those thoughts consume you. I will do everything in my power to see you soon.

Perhaps even permanently.

Still yours,

Lyra

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Beloved,

It cut me to the bone when I read of what happened. Thank Luna that you and Master Ring were unharmed in that explosion. I am sorry to hear about your staff. I'm sure they were loyal members of the Republic.

I understand that the Princess has arranged for the hasty re-assigning of the Thestrals assigned to Sweet Apple Acres. It's probably for the best, but some small part of me wonders if there's some other reason. I know it seems obvious that City Hall was destroyed by the New Dawn, but one wonders where they got enough explosives. And then I remember your bad dealings with one Bladewing, a creature I'm sure would not take kindly to being thrown under anything, let alone a bus.

I'm sending this letter via my Grey Mare. I'm more than certain she will get to the bottom of things.

Write me soon,

Bon Bon

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

My wonderful Bon Bon,

I just received the letter from Canterlot. Whatever Jade told the Princess did the trick; I've been promoted! Apparently Governor Starburst was found rather forcefully removed from her position and Fillydelphia is in need of new leadership. It isn't Manehatten, but at least I'll be closer to you.

I'm keeping this short so I can be on my way all the quicker. I wonder; since Fillydelphia lays directly between us, could you find some time to come and see me? I ache for you, my love, but there are also things we must discuss.

Like the circumstances surrounding my promotion.

Always,

Lyra

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Lyra,

Of course I will welcome you to Fillydelphia, but I must beg this of you; do not ask questions that have answers you will not like. Choose to see Starburst's end as befitting somepony of her gluttonous and perverted nature. Her end does nothing but benefit us, so surely it must be a blessing.

Speaking of blessings, the Grey Mare is due back sometime today. I'd pay attention to the papers if I were you. I imagine you'll be seeing some good news from the Macintosh Hills.

See you soon,

Bon Bon

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Bon,

...Did you have something to do with this? Do you realize what danger you might have put us in?

I'm scared, Bon Bon. Scared of this world. Scared of what we've become.

I miss you. I miss Ponyville.

I miss the sun.

Lyra

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Lyra,

We have something to discuss.

Welcome to Fillydelphia.

See you soon,

Bon Bon

////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Archivist's Note: It would appear from these letters that it was the Thestral's assassination attempt that pushed Lyra Heartstrings against the New Lunar Republic. We know from secret correspondences that the Lady Bon Bon was one of the founding members of the New Dawn. Under her code-name 'Sweetie Drops,' Bon Bon had been a member of Princess Celestia's Special Ponies Elected Against Revenge (or S.P.E.A.R.) for years before the takeover. Those members not immediately sniffed out by Luna's secret police escaped into their aliases and found their way to different positions of power in the Republic.

The identity of Bon Bon's 'Grey Mare' has never been fully confirmed. Eyewitness accounts describe a statuesque mare with piercing eyes and a detached, almost bored, manner of speech. These eye-witness accounts are hard to come by, as the Grey Mare was a cold-blooded and remorseless killer who rarely left anypony alive to witness her terrible deeds.

But even monsters can be heroes.

Working together, Lyra and Bon Bon made Manehatten and Fillydelphia havens for members of the New Dawn as their numbers grew. When their activities were finally noticed, just days before the war, it was Princess Luna herself who led the charge against them with more than half of the Republic's military at her back.

The ponies who died at the legendary Last Stand at Red Hoof, Lyra, Bon Bon, and the Grey Mare among them, would inspire generations of ponies to come with their acts of bravery and self sacrifice.

When New Ponyville dedicated it's new park last year, a special memorial was erected; it depicts Lyra and Bon Bon in their happier times, relaxing together on a park bench. Inscribed on the memorial are the words to a song that, according to legend, the pair sang to each other just before Red Hoof fell;

You Are My Sunshine,
My Only Sunshine.
You Make Me Happy
When Skies Are Grey.
You'll Never Know, Dear,
How Much I Love You.
Please Don't Take My Sunshine Away.

The Governors III- Lightning Dust

Dear Jade Ring

Do not think I'm ungrateful for my new position as Governor of Las Pegasus. Quite the opposite. I'm thrilled that her Majesty saw my record of exemplary military service and saw fit to place me in such a position of authority.

My concern is that I never requested this appointment. My request, that I filed through you personally I should add, was for a position in the Shadowbolts. How that request transfigured itself into my current position is quite baffling to me. I would hope that you could shed some light on that particular situation.

Oh well. Her Majesty works in mysterious ways, I suppose.

I saw your last communique requesting weekly reports of possible New Dawn activity in the area. In that regard, I regret to inform you that rebel activity has spiked since the execution of Twilight Sparkle. Several recruiting stations have been bombed and new graffiti appears on an hourly basis.

Of greatest concern, I would think, is something that you yourself might not have heard about. The rebels are calling it the False Sun Spell. We discovered the spell's existence upon the arrest of a rather notorious pair of con-artist unicorns known as the Flim Flam Brothers. Under...intense interrogation, we discovered that the brother known as Flim was himself a low ranking member of the New Dawn. This spell, which Flim would only tell us about but flatly refused to cast for us, is apparently being spread across Equestria from unicorn to unicorn. As enthusiastic as our interrogations became, he still refused to cast the spell for us or even tell us what it was capable of.

His resistance is quite strong. It's a shame he isn't a loyal member of the Republic as his brother was. He simply would not reveal anything about the spell... even when I personally slit his brother's throat in front of him. He's been inconsolable since, weeping and senseless in his cell. Poor fool. His brother would still be alive if he'd simply told us what he'd known.

I presume that her Majesty will want this sorted out quickly. Please assure her there will be no issues in that regard. I have scheduled the traitor's execution already for the next full moon in a fort-night's time.

Please assure Princess Luna that Las Pegasus is safe and in capable hooves.

Luna Nobis Providet,

Lightning Dust,

Governor of Las Pegasus

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Governor Dust,

Your enthusiasm is appreciated, believe me. I do question your brashness and willingness to act rashly. You executed a loyal member of our Republic for... no reason then? I had hoped a bureaucratic position would curb your rash behavior. Apparently I was wrong. In any case, you've proven me correct for not sending you to the Shadowbolts. I daresay you don't have the right temperament.

You are, however, correct in that we have no intelligence at all when it comes to this False Sun Spell you mentioned. As it happens, I am visiting our Zebrican allies and have recently made the acquaintance of a rather skilled medicine zebra. He's given me an experimental truth serum he's been working on, and now it seems that you have the perfect test subject in your cells.

I am leaving for Las Pegasus immediately. Do not, under any circumstances, execute the prisoner until I have a chance to speak with him.

Sincerely,

Jade Ring,

Court Reporter and Adviser to Her Majesty

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The transport carrying Jade Ring's letter to Las Pegasus was intercepted and looted by New Dawn forces. Governor Lightning Dust carried out the execution... five minutes before Jade Ring's arrival.

Within the hour, Lightning Dust had been relieved of her position and sent to Canterlot to speak with Princess Luna directly. She never returned to Las Pegasus.

Jade Ring was ordered to assume control of Las Pegasus until an appropriate new governor could be named. He ended up remaining there for the entire duration of the war.

Breaking News: From the Canterlot Times

FIRE RAVAGES THE CANTERLOT ARCHIVES

MOST OF THE POPULAR 'LETTERS FROM WAR' EXHIBIT DESTROYED

CULPRIT BELIEVED TO BE SILVER RING, CURATOR OF THE EXHIBIT

SILVER RING REVEALED TO BE DIRECT DESCENDANT OF JADE RING OF THE NEW LUNAR REPUBLIC

STATEMENT FROM THE ARCHIVE'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXPECTED SHORTLY

The War for Solar Resurgence I - The Attempted Assassination of Princess Mi Amore Cadance

It was not long after the Republic learned of the existence of the False Sun Spell that definitive evidence was found linking members of the New Dawn with secret safehouses based in the Crystal Empire.

After Princess Luna eliminated her sister and seized the throne, she demanded fealty from all members of the family tree. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, more popularly known as Princess Cadance, was the most notable to refuse and, as punishment, had her title stripped from her. Fearing execution, she fled Canterlot with her husband, Captain Shining Armor of the Royal Guard, in tow and escaped to her home in the Crystal Empire. As Luna had no interest in the Empire at that time, and also thoroughly believed that all would come around to loving her endless night if given enough time, she allowed Cadance to remain there so long as she swore to harbor no enemies of the Republic.

It now appeared that the uneasy truce had been broken.

Word was sent to the Empire that Cadance was to surrender any and all members of the New Dawn under her protection or the whole of the Empire would be snuffed out in a single blow. When Cadance requested that a dignitary be sent to negotiate the release of the rebels, Luna agreed.

In what was seen as an attempt to appeal to Cadance’s familial ties, Luna sent Twilight Velvet, mother to the traitor Twilight Sparkle and the now also exiled Shining Armor, as ambassador.

The true reason for Twilight Velvet’s selection was much more sinister.

The night after her arrival in the Empire, Twilight Velvet waited until her son had left to check on the night patrols, snuck into her daughter-in-law’s chambers, and slid a dagger between her ribs.

Had Cadance been a normal pony, she would have died from the wound. But Cadance was no fool and had taken precautions against possible acts of assassination. Using ancient and arcane magics, Cadance bonded her heart with the sacred Crystal Heart, that powerful relic that protects the whole of the Crystal Empire. She was bonded to it, and no wound inflicted on her mortal body could end her now.

As she later revealed, this did not mean that she could not feel the pain of Twilight Velvet's betrayal.

Her cries summoned Shining Armor and the truth was laid bare; Twilight Velvet’s brilliant mind had been twisted and broken by the magic of the Night Princess, a final insult to the memory of Twilight Sparkle. She had become the very knife that Luna had intended to use to snuff out the pony that she viewed as the last real threat to her reign.

The pony who had once been Twilight Velvet was no more. All that remained was an empty shell, a weapon to be used to break the hearts of those she loved just as much as pierce them.

In an act for which he truly never forgave himself for, Shining Armor ended his own mother’s life that night.

As word spread through the growing rebellion (thanks to Sweetie Belle’s pirate broadcasts) that the Republic had attempted as cowardly a move as this, the news reached Canterlot and was rewritten to serve Lunar Republican needs. In their telling, Twilight Velvet had been murdered in cold blood by her own son.

It was all the ammunition Luna needed to push the next part of her plan for total and uncontested domination. Twilight Velvet was a beloved pony in Canterlot, and her death fanned the flames of rage in even the most reluctant of soldiers.

When word reached him of his wife’s death, the stallion Night Light did the only thing he could; he accepted a position in the New Lunar Army and made a solemn vow to the Princess of the Night herself;

He would bring her the head of the traitor Cadance… and that of his own murderous son.

The War for Solar Resurgence II - The Last Stand at Red Hoof

As the whispers of war began to grow to open shouts and cries for bloodshed, spies in Fillydelphia at last revealed their findings to the Moon Princess; the great twin cities of Fillydelphia and Manehatten had become safe havens for the New Dawn. Every day, more and more territory was seized by the rebel group, more ground was given, and more ponies began to hope that the sun would one day again rise.

Luna could not allow this to stand.

A regiment of thestrals led by Captain Black Wind was dispatched to Fillydelphia with explicit instructions; purge the city of any suspected members of the New Dawn and reclaim it in the name of the New Lunar Republic.

They were ordered to execute Governor Lyra Heartstrings on sight.

Lyra fled Fillydelphia with as many members of the New Dawn as she was able before the army could arrive. The city was retaken in a single day, the number of executed members of the New Dawn a paltry twenty. The New Dawn members that had escaped raced to Manehatten and prepared for the assault that would inevitably come.

Not even they could imagine what was coming their way.

Perhaps in an attempt to show her strength in the advent of the now seen as inevitable conflict with the Crystal Empire, Princess Luna herself led her elite troopers to Manehatten and surrounded the city, destroying the bridges and trapping the ponies there like rats in a trap.

The difference was that these rats fought back.

As the New Lunar Army attacked from all sides, the New Dawn fought unceasingly while they sought some way to escape to their base in the Crystal Empire. They died by the score, their bodies defiled and left out as an example to all who would defy the New Lunar Republic.

When their numbers were barely above fifty, Lyra and Bon Bon led their rebels into the depths of the Red Hoof district. The New Lunar Army’s officers were jubilant; the rebels had finally chosen their own graves. The battle was all but over.

The New Dawn resisted for five long nights.

Against every conceivable odd, they continued to fight and to survive beyond the point that most thought they would surely surrender. They had no food but mushrooms, no water but sewer runoff that they boiled, and yet they fought back unceasingly. They gave not an inch, not a meter of ground. For every stallion or mare who died with the name of Celestia on their lips, at least fifteen New Lunar soldiers fell.

It is said that even Luna herself was moved by their tenacity.

On the fifth night, she ordered a stop to the assault and personally offered one final mercy; if the remaining rebels surrendered, they would be allowed to live and sent to be in exile over the Macintosh Hills.

One mare stepped out to face the princess; Bon Bon, the city’s Governor, one of Luna’s most trusted allies…

…and an always loyal soldier of Celestia.

Eyewitnesses claim that Bon Bon charged the Princess, dagger in her teeth, and actually managed to cut Luna’s face before the magic of the Night Princess struck her. Her prone body was dragged back to safety by her most dedicated soldier, the mysterious pony known only as the Grey Mare, even as Luna gave the order to burn the district to the ground.

Many of the last Manehatten rebels, the Grey Mare among them, died in a final glorious charge at their attackers… but not Lyra and Bon Bon.

The two rebels who survived the Last Stand at Red Hoof claimed that as they left the safety of the inner district, two ponies remained behind even as the flames began to consume everything around them. Painting an image that was used to rally all the free ponies of Equestria in the long nights to come, they told how Lyra held her love, already dead or dying, and sang to her as the building burned around them.

Even in death, they did not surrender to the darkness of the night.

The War for Solar Resurgence III - The Declaration of War and the Battle of Leviathan Chasm

The Last Stand at Red Hoof was the match that finally lit the fuse.

Before the smoke had faded from Manehatten, a proclamation was sent to the four corners of Equestria; Cadance summarily denounced Luna, the whole of her Republic, and reclaimed her title of Princess.

It was seen for what it was; a declaration of open warfare.

It was an invitation that Luna was not about to pass up.

When her aerial reconnaissance revealed to her the paltry size of Cadance’s army (composed almost entirely of New Dawn members and Crystal Ponies) Luna issued orders to General Soarin of the Shadowbolts to lead two divisions of the New Lunar Army to march out and burn the Empire to the ground. Messages between troops reveal that most loyal Lunar Republicans expected any resistance to be minor and the scuffle to be more of a slaughter than anything else.

Try to imagine their surprise when Shining Armor himself, now proclaimed General of the Army of the New Dawn, marched out into the snows, the full force of the Crystal Empire’s army behind him. The two forces set up camp at Leviathan Chasm, some twenty seven miles from the Empire's borders.

Still fully believing that any battle would be short, General Soarin had most of his forces remain behind to repair the train tracks (previously sabotaged by New Dawn forces fleeing from Manehatten) and entrusted the crushing of the enemy to Major Shatterpoint and several small platoons.

Within three hours, the platoons were decimated and Shatterpoint was dead.

Thoroughly embarrassed, General Soarin ordered the whole of his forces to sweep over the smaller army at once, hoping to take advantage of their weakened state.

Nopony expected Princess Cadance to reveal her first secret weapon; diplomacy. While many of Equestria’s neighbors had bent to proverbial knee to Luna, they weren’t about to pass up the opportunity, no matter how small, to restore order to the world and see the sun rise once more.

Three new armies descended to join the forces of the Crystal Empire; from the North came the tenacious warriors of the Yaks and from the East came the heavily-armed Minotaurs and the warrior-bred Griffons.

Suddenly, the odds were not evened. They were solidly against the New Lunar Republic.

The War for Solar Resurgence had officially begun.

An entire division was crushed in a matter of hours. Panicking, General Soarin ordered his forces to pull back to the walled city of Stalliongrad, the New Lunar Republic’s strongest Northern stronghold. By the time they managed to get inside and sealed the gates, General Soarin’s forces had been cut nearly in half. Even with those losses, General Soarin felt no fear. Stalliongrad had stood for nearly a thousand years and was said to be impregnable. He sent a message to Grand Marshal Rainbow Dash requesting reinforcements. That done, he settled in to wait out the siege, confident in his imminent victory.

One wonders what his reaction was when Grand Marshal Dash denied his request… per the personal command of Princess Luna herself.

Despite strenuous objections from her advisors, Luna stood her ground. She maintained that the remainder of the army could be put to better use strengthening defenses in locations closer to Canterlot, such as Sweet Apple Acres and the Everfree Field. The Last Stand at Red Hoof had shaken her, and she believed that any success incurred by the Army of the New Dawn, no matter how fleeting or small, could inspire others to take up arms against her. Trusting in Stalliongrad’s reputation as impenetrable (and trusting in General Soarin to a lesser extent) Luna believed that her forces could withstand the assault… at least until she could gather allies of her own.

Envoys were sent to Zebrica and the Dragon Lands; send assistance at once, or retribution would be swift.

The Battle of Stalliongrad and the War for Solar Resurgence

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

The Eventual Fates of Some Notable Figures of the War

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

The Condemned II- Rarity

Dear Sweetie Belle,

It feels like it’s been ages since I last heard your voice. The magic nullifier they fitted on my horn upon my arrest prevents me from using even the simplest of spells, let alone tapping into your frequency. I hope you realize how important your resistance radio show is to the cause, and I trust that you are in safe hooves with the New Dawn.

I’m not silly enough to write where the New Dawn is based out of, of course. Twilight says that she trusts this courier, but you can’t take any chances these days. I thought for sure that reporter fellow was one of ours.

Forgive me. I’m not used to mouth-writing. This won’t be nearly as long as my other letters usually are.

I know that my execution draws near, and I shall meet it with as much dignity as I can bear. It’s the least I can do for you. I can leave you a legacy of courage. I pray that it will be enough to wash away the shame of our failed coup.

I know that it’s customary for the condemned to have a last request. I shall bequeath it to you, my darling little sister.

Fight on.

Fight on for me. Fight on for father. Keep mother safe and give her all my love.

I would ask you to leave a flower on father’s grave, but I suppose it too was lost in the razing of Ponyville.

Oh Sweetie Belle, just keep fighting. Be the light in this endless darkness. Let your voice guide those lost in the valley of despair back home. Inspire them to join the fight, to struggle against the forces that work against us.

Fight on. Do not fight in the name of vengeance, but in the name of what is right. Fight on for every filly and colt whose bones are already thinning. Fight on for every mare and stallion who even now forget the warmth of the sun.

Fight on for yourself.

My jaw hurts. I could almost laugh. I should relish this pain in my jaw. I should relish every feeling, no matter how insignificant.

I love you so much, Sweetie Belle. And I’ m sorry. I’m sorry for every fight, for every unkind word. I’m sorry I never got to see your lovely face again. I’m sorry that all this has happened.

I’m so, so sorry.

I fear I can write no more. The courier is waiting for this letter... and the hangmare waits for me.

Your loving sister,

Rarity

P.S. Enclosed is my last design. It’s for you. I trust you to wear it when the time comes. You'll know when.

Archivist Note: Rarity’s final sketch now has a place of honor in the Equestrian National Museum. The dress itself, worn at the Ceremony of Social Resurgence, was donated upon Sweetie Belle’s death by her great-granddaughter to the Fillydelphian Fashion Academy.

Official Statement from the Board of Directors of the Canterlot Archives

To the patrons of the Canterlot Archives;

We, the Board of Directors, wish to extend our most sincere apologies in light of recent events. The loss of any historical record is painful, and to lose so many all at once is tantamount to a sort of agonizing torture. It is our sincerest hope that we can work together to move forward and beyond this terrible event.

But before we carry on, certain facts must be brought to light.

Rumors that we have formally and forcefully retired a seasoned member of this board can now be confirmed. Out of respect for his family and in recognition for his years of service to the Archives, we shall not name him here. The reason for our colleague’s termination is as simple as it is terrible; he knowingly and willingly allowed a radical dissident to have access to numerous priceless records, particularly those in the now former ‘Letters from War’ Exhibit. This board member confirmed to us that he discovered Silver Ring’s ancestry and zeal for the deposed New Lunar Republic during a routine background check. He claims that, due to an ancient favor he owed the Ring family, he brought him on anyway and saw that was placed as the curator for the then-upcoming exhibit.

While full blame cannot be placed on him and him alone, he had a part to play in this disaster and must pay the price for his actions.

It is unclear at this time what Silver Ring’s motives were for his act of vandalism. Indeed, because of his recent suicide, we may never know what he was thinking when he set so many letters, journals, and historical texts ablaze.

All we can do now is carry on.

The ‘Letters from War’ Exhibit is sadly beyond repair and most of the featured texts were either totally destroyed or so badly damaged that they are no longer fit for public viewing. We extend our deepest apologies to the devoted patrons of these Archives.

In the only act of contrition we can give, we have commissioned Distant Memory, Chief Royal Historian, to prepare a special, one of a kind text that will summarize the events of the War for Solar Resurgence in full for those who were in the process of exploring this tumultuous period in Equestrian history. We expect the text to be completed quickly and we will have it available as soon as possible for you, our devoted patrons.

We thank you again for your patience and understanding. We hope that, in time, we will regain your trust and good faith.

Thank you,

The Canterlot Archives Board of Directors