Storms of War

        “And so, the soldiers of the 143rd Armored have re-taken the town of La Marei, pushing back against Imperial Gryphon armed forces. Our best estimates place casualties on the enemy side at nearly two hundred from that engagement, while our mares and stallions in the field only took half that number. And now a word from Major Maple Leaf, Hero of that same engagement to follow:

        ‘Our troops are more than a match in dedication and training to the Gryphon soldiers, but we need all the help we can get, both locally, and from home. Any of you fillies having trouble with the colts at home remember: they CAN’T resist a girl in uniform!’”

        I smiled, listening to that. Cable Tie, my best friend ever since primary school, sat next to me at the table with my mom, Angel Wing, and his parents. We had been together ever since the hospital where we were born. In many ways, we were practically brothers, although we had seen less of eachother since he started work at the factory with his dad. The war demanded a bit from everypony, and earth ponies were in short enough supply as it was here at home, most of them having gone overseas to join the war. Still, it seemed like that might end soon with how well our forces were doing.

        “Steel, dear, are you ready for your surprise?” asked my mother, smiling at both of us. Ever since dad had left, she had raised me by herself, and I could not have asked for a better role model. She was kind, caring, and fussy about doing things the right way. Blue Tie, Cable’s dad, had often joked that she had more in common with an earth pony that a pegasus in that regard.

        I looked up nodding, smiling around a mouthful of icecream. I might be seventeen now, but I still enjoyed plenty of sweets. The cafe we were at, The Jasmine Rose, served all sorts of tea and pasteries, and was a favorite here in Las Pegasus for birthday parties and the like. I had come here every year since I was ten, and still enjoyed it.

        She reached down into her purse, before pulling out a small envelope. “Happy birthday, you two. Twenty bits! You two go out and have some fun today, okay? See a movie or something!”

        Cable and I looked at eachother and grinned. The new Captain Equestria film was out today in the cinemas, and was something the both of us had been wanting to see. Ever since the war started, there had been comics, books, and now two films about her and her exploits.

        “Your folks and I are going to be going out to a small get-together after this… we thought you two would want to enjoy your day to yourselves. Behave, okay?”

        We both nodded, and as we all left the Cafe, mom embarrassed me with another hug before leaving with Mr and Mrs Tie.

        Cable and I looked around, before I focused on him. “So… three bits each for the movie?”

        One grin and nod later, we were on our way.

        The movie was everything we had imagined, and the popcorn was great as well. As we wandered out with the others, Cable looked at me and grinned.

        “Can you imagine what it must be like to do that sort of stuff? Jump out of a plane, kill a bunch of beakies, and save all those kids? I mean… I guess most ponies can’t do that, but still! Remember that recuiter that showed up our last day of school? You gotta admit that was some uniform!”

        “Yeah, and that mare wasn’t bad looking either…” I said, remembering her.

        “She was like two feet taller than you!”

        “Hey! Who ISN’T two feet taller than me! Jerk…” I said, punching him on the arm. He winced, rubbing it.

        “True enough. So, whadda ya wanna do with the rest of the money? We could go to the comic book store.”

        With that sounding as good an idea as any other, we headed out down the street, just another couple of colts on their way to pursue a more intellectual activity than most others. I mean, who in their right mind would spend all day working out, or trying to make money, when you could instead read about the exploits of the Power Ponies against the evil Maneiac? Some ponies were just crazy.

        As we walked around the corner, Cable nudged me, pointing. “Hey man… lookit the recruiting station!”

        Indeed, there it was, with two mares and a stallion standing around in the lobby looking bored. Both seemed a bit older than us, but not by much, and the grizzled looking soldier behind the desk was nodding and talking to a unicorn standing in front of him.

        “Hey… ever thought of enlisting? I mean… your brother went in, right?”

        I nodded. Swift Wing, my brother, had joined near the beginning… but we had gotten word a week after he was deployed that he had been killed in action. Mom said that Dad hadn’t been able to handle it, and so had just left one night. I was never very close to my brother, as he was several years older than me and had totally different interests. While he was way into mares and sports and drinking, I loved to sit at home and curl up with a good book. And as for mares, I had no idea how to even BEGIN talking to them. Besides, with the gender ratio, if they were interested, they usually approached you, and I was happy to wait for the perfect special somepony.

        “He did but… I dont think mom would EVER forgive me if I enlisted, and they probably won’t draft me until next year. Besides, in a month or two I can start working at the factory with you and your folks, just like mom does. Wouldn’t that be fun?” I said, rolling my eyes at the end. The factory was about as boring as one can get, simply standing there at an assembly line all day turning out parts for tanks and guns.

        We shared a laugh, and proceeded to the comic book store, intent upon the copy of the book that followed the movie. After all, the logical next step to watching a movie based on a comic book is to re-read the comic book!

        “Mom! I’m Home!” I called out as I pushed the door open, my paper prize clutched in one hand. The smell of dinner was in the air, and my mouth watered at the thought of potato chowder with rice. It may sound strange, but it was my favorite meal, and nopony could make it the way mom did.

        I walked into the kitchen to find her there, humming in time to a song on the radio as she stirred the pot. “Evening, sweetie. Did you and Cable have fun? Meet any fun ladies?” she said, winking and ignoring the rosy tint to my cheeks.

        “Mommmm…..” I groaned. This was one subject she would not stop razzing me about ever since I tried asking Rosy Leaf out to senior prom four months ago. Even though we had now graduated, I still could not look Rosy in the eye after her polite, but firm letdown. Still, she had gotten her just desserts when her coltfriend had dumped her a week later for a different mare. Not that I would be satisfied at anyone else's discomfort.

        “Actually, Cable and I saw the new movie. It was pretty great!” I said, sitting down as she served us both dinner, setting the pot on the table. The food was EXACTLY as good as I had imagined. “Both of us-” I started, before mom sat up and cocked one of her ears, then got up and leaned over to the radio, turning it up a bit.

-can confirm…. the western flank… yes, we can now confirm two pieces of information. For those of you just tuning in, Neighpan has just signed a full treaty of military cooperation with the Gryphon Empire and the Sibearian Republic. The Imperial Neighpaneese Navy made a surprise attack on the coastal city of La Marei, and from the reports we have gathered, there were… no survivors. Information is still coming in, but we expect Her Royal Highness, Princess Celestia or Princess Luna to make a full statement later. Once again, Imperial Neighpan has allied with Gryphony, signing a full military agreement.

The other piece of news is that, following that treaty and expected reinforcements, the country of Prance has declared an unconditional surrender to Imperial Gryphony. Their Prime Minister has requested that Equestria remove its troops to allow for ‘liberation’ by its newfound ‘ally’, so as to minimize bloodshed. Princess Cadance of the Crystal Empire, which has already seen several air attacks in the last two years, vowed that she would continue to send aid and supplies, but that she would not send any more Crystal Soldiers to the front lines in Prance, as she believes that an escalation of force will not help.

Please tune in four hours from now for a word from Princess Celestia. We expect to hear information on changes to the draft, as well as her assurances of victory.

        Mom looked back at me before sighing and sitting back down. I just sat there, stunned. “Mom… how did that happen? I thought we were winning over there?”

        “Eat your soup, dear. The war is on the other side of the world, and not your concern right now.”

        At my look, she finally sighed, seeming to deflate a bit. “Look, Gryphons and Bearfolk are nothing like us Ponies. They are predators, and used to prey on us. Even once the Royal Sisters freed us from slavery under them, they never forgot that at one time, it was creatures of their type that ruled most of the known world. Once we had mastered magic, however, we had a weapon against their claws and fangs, and were able to push back.

        Even though we now are safe and free, and wish only for peace, to them, that just makes us look weak. While we only fight when necessary, they only STOP fighting when necessary. War is a part of their culture, and they cannot forgive that they lost thirty years ago.”

        Even though it hardly made sense, I simply nodded and went back to my food, finishing while waiting for the rest of the radio announcement.

        Four hours later, Mom and I were in the living room of our small apartment next to the fireplace while waiting for the news to come back on. The radio channel had been silent for the last four minutes, usually meaning they were changing to a different receiver so all networks could receive the same broadcast. Finally, it started.

Our dear subjects. Though it pains us, we do not bring words of comfort and peace to all of you. Instead, we bring words of conflict and strife. Prance has been forced to surrender to a government that, once it finishes devouring its current prey, will move on to the next one, and the one after that. Despite the atrocities you may have heard of, we ask that you remember that not all gryphons are the same. Many live in Equestria, and lead productive lives of fishing, farming, and pest control, adding value to any community they exist in.

The Gryphon Empire, however, is a threat to our way of life, and to our lives. They seek to control and enslave, to dominate and consume. They have polluted their own land with unchecked progress in coal and oil usage, and when what they have could no longer support them, they looked to fresher fields to satisfy their needs. Although an alliance of nations pushed them back, they have ignored their treaty and have attacked, unprovoked, once again. This time, we do not offer them quarter unless asked for. To that end, we ask that anypony of able mind and body volunteer to serve Equestria in her hour of need.

The following who were previously exempt from the draft are now eligible: The recently married of more than one month, those earlier than their second year of secondary education, and those who are between seventeen and twenty nine. We do not make this choice lightly, but it is one that needed to be made for the preservation of our nation. My own sister, Luna, has taken to the front lines to lead our soldiers and sailors against the enemy. We will not ask more of you than we ask of ourselves.

Many have already given their lives to the altar of freedom, and we fear many more may be required to do so. However, on every front where Equestria has been deployed, the enemy has had to fight for every inch of ground they have taken. Each of their victories required many lives, and each of their defeats many more.

Once again, We, the Crown, say with a heavy heart that the darkest part of the war is yet ahead, but that on the other side of it is a bright new day of Harmony, Friendship, and Cooperation. We thank you for your time.

        The radio went silent again, before I looked at mom, who looked down at a letter in her hands, both of which I now noticed were trembling.

        “Mom?”

        Without a word, she handed it to me. The address and stamp were both of a government style, and the paper was slightly off-white.

        “This came for you this afternoon… I thought it was for a tax form, but… after the radio from earlier… I read it… I had hoped I was wrong…”

        I looked down at it, feeling numb.

To: Steel Wing

From: Equestrian Office of War

Re: Conscription

Per Her Royal Majesty, Princess Luna, you are hereby given notice of Conscription into the [Royal Army]. Based on lack of other skills, you will be drafted to [11-B Infantry] unless otherwise directed following your successful completion of Basic Training.

You are to report to your local recruiting office on or before [16MAR44] to be transported to [ARMY TRAINING BASE CAMP HOOFINGTON] for Basic Training and Indoctrination. Following this, you will be given your final designation and transported to Advanced Training.

Under Executive Act 1453, you no longer qualify under Exempt From Draft (EFD) status, and have been selected for active service to be determined at the behest of the crown.

Failure to report on the designated date to your recruiting office in [LAS PEGASUS] will be classified as a Type-3 Felony of Dodging the Draft under Article 23 of the Uniform Code of Military Law (UCML). Any attempt to avoid the draft by falsifying records, including medical records, will fall under ‘Malingering” and result in a fine and/or imprisonment.

Equestria thanks you for your service in advance. Answering the Call of Duty is the responsibility of every good citizen just as is paying taxes and reporting crime. Good luck, and Celestia Speed.

Office of Colonel Iron Hoof

Commander, Armed Forces Personnel

1240 Royal Road

Canterlot 244-1519

        I looked up at Mom. “Is this… I…”

        She nodded, one tear falling down her cheek as she wrapped me up in a tight hug.