The Cause: One Blanket at a Time

                It was now four days until war would begin and all of Equestria was busy preparing.  Canterlot was filled with many stallions and some mares who were in line to sign up at the newly organised recruiting office that had been set up in a room right off of the entrance hall of the Canterlot Castle. Royal Guards walked around all of Equestria’s towns and cities to keep up the spirits of the citizens,  trying to show them that Equestria would remain strong.

Fluttershy woke with a start,  shivering she sat in bed contemplating her dream.  Angel hopped up and rubbed his head against her hoof.

“Oh Angel Bunny,” Sniffed Fluttershy.  “I dreamed that I was on the battlefield and- and then- then Sombra was looming over me, he kicked me to the ground th- then he stuck a helmet on my head!  All I could hear was his voice, commanding me to- to k- kill Celest- Celestia!”  Fluttershy put her head on her pillow as her body shook with sobs but she was interrupted by a knock on the door.

“By order of the princesses come to the marketplace!” Yelled  a stallion at the door, Fluttershy recognized the voice as the gray royal guard.  Fluttershy got out of bed and flew to the door.  She hovered by the door and opened it carefully looking through a window next to it.

“Hello? Oh, I’ll be at the marketplace in a moment.”  She said pulling herself  together.  “Thank you.” Fluttershy closed the door then grabbed her bag of bits and keys off of the table.  Fluttershy was about to leave when she heard Angel thump his foot.  Fluttershy turned around and looked at him questioningly.  Angel pointed at himself then the door, so Fluttershy scooped him up and put him in her basket.

Fluttershy walked to the market as usual though her mind was full of worries.  She couldn't stop thinking about her dream and snippets of it raced around her head You Will Kill Celestia! Said sombra voice over and over again inside her head.  She tried in vain to remove the helmet that was issuing the command.  Sombra repeated himself again and again, more forcefully now the words washed over her until she thought in the back of her head, growing and growing until she was about to open her mouth and murmur the terrible command.

“Fluttershy! Are you ok?...Fluttershy?”  Fluttershy looked around, then up to see Flitter.  Flitter was waving at her though she looked concerned.

“Oh! Hello Flitter, Sorry I was lost in thought.”  Answered Fluttershy forcing a smile.  Flitter flew down until she was hovering right next to her.

“I heard through the grapevine that they have an announcement, something about the drafting pool.”  Explained Flitter.

“I hope I’m not drafted,” squeaked Fluttershy.

“Oh I wouldn’t worry about it,” answered Flitter, “they probably won’t draw names for a while yet, war hasn't even begun we still have four days!” Said Flitter, trying to comfort the shy mare.

“I suppose,” muttered Fluttershy, “thanks for walking- er flying with me.  What do you call it when one pony is walking and the other is flying anyway?”  Fluttershy wondered aloud.

“Wying?” Offered flitter with a giggle.  Fluttershy smiled for the first time all day.  Leave it to Flitter to keep up everypony’s spirits she thought.  They had arrived at the market and the first thing that Fluttershy saw was a podium and a crowd of ponies standing around it.

“Oh my”, was the only thing fluttershy could say before Mayor Mare walked onto the podium and the crowd quieted.