All Types of Rain [Original]

All Types of Rain

By: The Grey Pegasus

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Prologue-What Lead Up To This...

'We went through all types of rain. Normal wet rain, drizzles, floods, lasting various lengths of time. It *was** a tropical area, after all. But we also went through different other kinds of rain. In the jungle, you'd find leaves and stuff falling on your head. Some tree bark if they got knocked off. In the urban battlefield, you'd find it showering wood and concrete. But then, there was the worser types of rain. There was the flaming rain. Napalm that we'd drop on top of the enemy lines. Artillery fire also rained on both us and them plenty. Then, the one that could even be called a hailstorm at times. The times when the raindrops weren't made of water, but of metal and lead. Always accompanying it was a rain of blood. This was the most frequent type of inclement weather we'd face in the region- the rain of bullets. Everyday, the rain of death.'*

==+==

Equestria, 1003 A.B. (After *B*anishment of Princess Luna)

Princess Celestia had just made a new decree. It caused an uproar of national pride when it hit newspaper headlines, especially among those who were... intellectually inclined. Those of Ponyville residence could recall Twilight Sparkle running around that day having conversations with herself, Spike, and some of her friends about the 'new academic knowledge it could bring in'. What was this announcement about?

Simple. The Princess announced that ponies were encouraged to join research teams to travel outside of Equestria. To douse their fears. If they didn't volunteer, they had a chance of being reassigned to a job. After all, they were in fact, a race easily roused by anything even moderately unsettling. The excursions would be to places that had previously only been mapped by intrepid ponies. Each expedition would set up a base of operations from which scientists and others of the like would stay for a few months.

One of the important ones of these expeditions would be exploring and studying the regions of and to the east of Zebrica, of which itself was to the southeast of Equestria. Some ponies speculated about what would come of it, but they knew the Princess put down guidelines and procedures so that any new contacts would not get off on the wrong hoof. But they could not predict accurately without anything to work off of.

These teams were sent off with good wishes, leaving behind a renewed sense of patriotism.

==+==

Global stage, 1004 A.B.

In light of relatively recent events, as well as her own personal experiences learned during reintegration back into society, Princess Luna had taken the initiative to gather the governments of their neighboring countries and begin an international court for the countries to handle affairs, between the countries of the United Kingdom of Equestria, Griffon Kingdom, Dragon Homeland, and other neighboring countries. This year would be the year it is officially established.

In the southeast, research teams packed up and moved further east out of Zebrica and into relatively unknown territory. All they knew about it was gleaned from Zebrica. Apparently the region was inhabited by a race of gazelles, and that they lived peacefully with their northeastern neighbor, populated by a mix of feline races. It was a situation much like that of the ponies. A predatory race living in peace with what could essentially be called 'food'.

On arrival at the border, they traveled along a run-down, scarcely used mountain pass to cross through the Gazelland Mountain Range, which then lead into rolling hills and tropical jungles. They made first contact with the gazelle civilization at an open plains area. The race of gazelles were generally at about the same technological stage as the ponies, give or take 10 years in places. From there, the researchers negotiated an audience with the leadership, to express their intent and word of Princess Celestia.

Once any foreseeable hostilities were extinguished, they were free to set up base out in one of the uninhabited plains of their country of Gazelland. Permission to examine the area for any ruins and such was granted. They had no clue at the time how significant the things they would discover would be.

==+==

Gazelland, 1005 A.B.

The research teams made much progress in the one year they had been there. Excavation sites revealed remnants of a lost civilization, an extinct race of tall bipedals often found in many other places. Wherever these remains were found, there were always some sorts of strange artifacts in the surrounding areas. Some were easily recognized, such as helmets or knives, and even vinyl records, but others were a mystery. Some were large metal husks, of which some parts, such as gears and wheels, were already known about, but the rest was much to be studied over. Equestrian scientists received wagon loads of all sorts of shipments. There were some successful attempts to also send some of the metal monstrosities, but not many.

Inspired by the strive of the foreign ponies, the gazelles also started combing the lands they restricted to the ponies. They, too, came up with many of the strange findings. Of course, they had the advantage of being on their own soil, so naturally they had easier access to the digs, and therefore had more time to study.

==+==

1006 A.B.

Referenced against what they knew about the extinct creatures, studies reach the the final logical conclusion. The entire country of Gazelland was a site of a major conflict.

On top of all this, Equestrian archaeologists find the answer key to everything. A cache of documents were found detailing nearly everything in the area. Due to the presumed time span they had been buried, the paper documents were found in various conditions. Luckily, being encased in metal boxes and not exposed to much air, many were legible enough to glean hoards of information. A whole new front of technology was opened for Equestria.

==+==

1008 A.B.

Equestrian expedition in the southeast halted after attempts to move northeast. They were refused entry by the predatory nation in the north, and so they turned back. Teams regrouped back in Zebrica and set up an outpost site a couple miles away from the path from which they entered. The Equestrians began convoy operations for the rest of the excavations they brought from the other side of the border.

Back in Equestria, along with ferried items came word of the return from Gazelland. Even though they have left the borders in peace, Celestia sent scouts to maintain a peaceful contact with the gazelles.

==+==

Gazelland Border, 1009 A.B.

Equestrian scouts report possible suspicious behavior. Early in the year, multiple diplomatic talks are attempted, and the Gazellanders admit to all facts presented. Later in the year, apparent military movement arose. Scouts are granted permission from the Princesses to enter the country. They report back with the information that the government-influenced northerners are militarizing. The southerners are generally neutral. Further attempts at discussion reveal that the Gazellanders want no hostility between them and the Equestrians. Their only goal was solely their own business.

It is hypothesized that buried strains from the predatory nation in the northeast had pushed the Gazellanders to take action. They might have wanted more land, to get space from the tigers and such from the northeast, but even if invasion of that country was initially successful, sooner or later, it would only end disastrously. The predators would not sit tight and be pushed around by a meal, and would eventually revolt and take back land, and perhaps not even stop there. So the only other place available to the water-locked country was the native tribal areas of Zebrica. Of course, they were denied peaceful purchase of land by the zebras whenever they tried.

Luna took caution, seeing that diplomacy was most likely soon going to be beyond reason at that point. Steps were taken for response, and began sending over some of the Equestrian military to the original research site, now converted to support armed forces in the likely case of hostile action. Equestria still had a standing military, though small, and had not been used in conflict in many centuries, but was nonetheless sent over.

It was soon obvious that the Gazellanders had a malicious intent in their eyes. They could not go north. They had a civilization they could contend with in the west. If they were not allowed a peaceful negotiation for land, they would take the other option- conquest.

==+==

Global stage, 1010 A.B.

Gazelland-Zebrica Border

Gazelland military forces build up behind the border, and begin their offensive. Equestrians take defensive action. They barely push back their new enemies. Their battle was basically like bringing a knife to a gunfight. It seemed the artifacts discovered a couple years back have been reengineered by the Gazellanders for use in anger once again. Narrowly defeated, the gazelle forces retreated back into their borders.

Equestria

After news of the attack reaches the public, Princess Celestia is pushed to officially declare Equestria at war with Gazelland, then relinquishes all affairs relating to the conflict to her sister. Celestia, though aware that the friendly neighboring country of Zebrica was attacked, wanted no involvement in it; it didn't have to be their fight. Luna, however, realizes that it is a threat, and that they could help with it. Princess Luna is then appointed as the head of the newly formed War Ministry.

Luna calls the Alliance for assistance. The griffons give the strongest response to send soldiers to the front lines. Other countries agree to do the same, to a lesser extent. The dragons, though, agree to assist with production with their volcanic forges. Efforts are made for militarization. Existing Equestrian cannons are set to the southeast to help repel attacks.

Meanwhile, scientists are ordered to engineer the excavated weapons known of for use once again. Others such as carriage mechanics and airship engineers are hired to see what could be done with the other things, known only to be modes of transportation. Sometimes, they didn't even have any scraps to work with, but instead just plain pictures. They set those aside for later, once they had their momenntum moving and mastered what they currently had. Working models that were made of any of the ancient devices were sent to productions lines or immediately to the war front.

Princess Luna, in charge of all the affairs having to do with it, chooses to name the war not after the current name of the country, but instead after the former name found on the unearthed papers. Out of respect to the devices brought out of their slumber and being wielded again, Luna fully titled it the Second Vietnam War

==+==

Present Year: 1015 A.B.

The Vietnam conflict has been ongoing for five years. Coalition forces lead by the Equestrians have pushed back into Gazelland, and the bulk of the forces are based in the southern region. The enemy army is holed up in the north of Gazelland. The downscaled military of Equestria could not keep up with the war effort. Princess Luna had agreed to the drafting of ponies two years ago. Whom of the population will be the next to be sent to hell?