Applejack opened her eyes. Sunlight was streaming through her open window. She stepped out of her bed and looked out at her farm. Everything looked so nice. How could things be this happy when there was war all around them?
One month ago, the Crystal Empire returned, bringing King Sombra back with it. Sombra quickly turned his slaves into an army and fought against Equestria, taking half the land with it. Everypony was taken unprepared, but now that they have had a month, they're ready to fight Sombra.
Aj walked out across Sweet Apple Acres, and into town. She needed to buy wood for barrels.
Ponyville was almost deserted. Doors and windows of all the houses were barred with rotting wooden planks. 'Those wont protect yeh, ya know that, righ'?' Thought Aj. 'Ah could easily buck those off in one kick! Do yeh honestly think a whole army o' ponies couldn't rip em off?' The thought of the Crystal Army destroying ponyville was too sad for Aj to bear, and she stopped, crying, over the war, the devestation, and, most of all, the dead ponies. All of them dieing for no reason! Why shouldn't she be sad? She ran to the old market place. There were still some open stalls. she went to the one selling wood, and bought twelve planks.
"Hey, are you okay?" Asked the stallion running the stall.
"Yeah," Sniffed Aj," Ah'm fine."
"Ya don't really look like it. It's this war, isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"I'll give ya four bits off, okay? As a little somethin' to cheer ya up."
"Thank you."
"Aw, it's fine. These days I seem to be gettin' alot of purchases, what with everypony wanting to bar their windows an' all"
The stallion gave a small laugh. Aj nodded and walked back to Sweet Apple Acres to make the barrels.
~~~~~
Twilight Sparkle walked through the halls of the Canterlot hospital, looking for Zecora, a zebra who had the great ability to mix almost any potion.
Twilight had been in the hospital since nightfall yesterday, and she was craving a nap.
"Zecora can wait..." She said sleepily to herself. "I just need to... lie down for a m-minute." Twilight gave a huge yawn and collapsed into one of the chairs lining the long hallway.
Twilight Sparkle was a nurse, though she more reffered to herself as a doctor. She had been working hard ever since the war started, treating wounded and injured ponies with her zebra friend, Zecora. The war had only started a month ago, but Twilight was always constantly exhausted. She couldn't find much time for sleep these days it seemed, and was often caught, dozing in the hallways by somepony.
"Twilight!" called a voice. "Are you alright?"
"Wha'? Oh! Zecora! I've been looking for you!"
"It doesn't seem so. You've been napping, no?" Asked Zecora.
"Er, I only just fell asleep. I've been exhausted these past few days, you know? With all the hurt ponies coming our way?"
"If you are napping in the halls you're so tired, shouldn't you take a break and sleep before you're fired?"
"I would, Zecora, but I just can't afford to leave! Too many..."
Twilight collapsed again suddenly, leaving Zecora wide eyed and open mouthed on her own.
~~~~~
Fluttershy put down her shears. She had just finished taking all the wool off of an ewe, which was now completely bald and hairless.
"Oh, lambies, I'm so sorry I have to take off all of your woolly coats! But I need to, what with the war and all. The sewing mares need it for the soldiers' uniforms!" Sighed Fluttershy sadly, motioning the next sheep forward with her hoof. Behind her, Fluttershy heard a door creaking open slowly. 'Oh no. Here comes Rarity.' Thought Fluttershy.
"Fluttershy?" Asked a voice, slowly.
"Yes, Rarity?" Sighed Fluttershy.
"Well, I just came out to say sorry."
Fluttershy turned, "It's okay, I'm sorry too, for being rude."
"Thank you for accepting my apology so graciously, Fluttershy. You really are kind, though I might have thought otherwise earlier."
Earlier that day, Rarity had come outside, complaining of the war, and all the work she had to do.
"Everything is just so... Dirty!" She cried, avoiding the dusty floor by using her magic to make a floor of Opals under her hooves.
"Rarity, You're going to have to cut it out, you know." Said Fluttershy.
"Cut what out?"
"Being lazy!"
"I am most certainly not being lazy!"
"Think about this. You haven't done anything for the war effort."
Rarity wrinkled her nose in disgust. "All the jobs are disgusting!"
"What about nurse work?" Fluttershy asked.
"I'm not trained! I'm not good at anything that could be useful! And what about the blood?!"
"Yes you are! I know you're an expert on sewing! Why don't you help make uniforms for the soldiers?"
"Er, I'd love to help but they're so boring. Lacking in imagination, you know."
"IF YOU WANT TO HELP, THIS IS HOW, RARITY! YOU CAN SEW ANYTHING! I KNOW YOU CAN!" Cried Fluttershy.
"But the sewing gazebo is so far away..."
"You're just looking for excuses, now! Come on Rarity, I know you can do it! Sewing those uniforms is cleaner than what I'm doing! Please, just do it!"
"Oh, Okay.
"Don't! Please don't! Go and sign up to be a sewing mare! GO!"
"FINE!"
...
Rarity rose.
"I really am sorry. It wasn't ver generous of me to deny my skills to the cause. See you, Fluttershy." Said Rarity
And now, sitting in the dusty sheep pen, Fluttershy felt sorry.
"Bye."
She walked slowly to the small stall where her boss kept tabs on who was working and who wasn't.
"I'm checking out early, Small Paw." Said Fluttershy.
"Oh, Fluttershy, you deserve it. You've been working those hooves of yours to the bone shearing all those sheep. Go on, get outta here. Take a nap or something."
Fluttershy walked to her hut, which was only three down from Rarity. She unlocked the door, went inside, drew all the curtains shut, turned off the lights, and fell, face down, onto her lumpy bed, trying to block out thoughts of the war and her argument with Rarity.
~~~~~
Rainbow Dash flew through the sky, dodging the rocks that went hurtling past her head and body. She had to reach the finish line first. Spitfire flew just as hard a few meters behind her. She was trying to get past that line first aswell. Rainbow wouldn't let this happen. she dived to avoid a heavy cannon-ball sized boulder.
'Just a few more meters!' Thought Rainbow 'Come ON!'
Spitfire was gaining speed. She would beat Rainbow. She couldn't lose.
But she did.
Rainbow Dash rocketed upwards, and as soon as Spitfire was in line with her, she dived again, hard as possible, and went plummeting across the finish line, five meters ahead of Spitfire.
"Thats was some good flying out there, Soldier Dash." Said Spifire.
"I'm a soldier now?! Not just a scout, but a Soldier?!"
"Yes, congratulations Soldier Dash."
"Thank you so much!"
"Not a problem. If anypony can fly better than me, they deserve a higher title than scout. Besides, I like your attitude. You're with me, Soldier."
"Wow! Even better! I won't let you down, Commander!"
"Good to know! Now, lets go. I want you to train more with those lances."
~~~~~
Pinkie Pie Rolled over on her shale framed bed, looking across the room at her sisters Limestone and Marble Pie. Below her was her other sister Maud. Pinkie was very tired, but she couldn't fall asleep for some reason. She had been training hard all day, smashing rocks to pieces and launching them into the air for the race between Rainbow Dash and Spitfire. Then she had collected all of them for she and her three sisters' dinner. They had used to live on their parents' rock farm, and often had rock stew for dinner. Everypony always cringed when Pinkie told them that their family had given them the freaky ability to eat and digest stones.
Pinkie sighed and rolled over again, looking out of her small window. She could still see some ponies training in the firelight. Her eyes refused to close even when she rolled onto her face and accidentaly rubbed them on her pillow.
'This is going to be a looooooong night.' She thought sadly. 'Oh, why can't I fall asleep?'
She forced her eyes shut and lay there, mind blank. She felt immensly depressed. Finally, after what felt like a century, Pinkie Pie fell asleep.
