World War Equestria

I should start by introducing myself. My name is Cold Steel. In the Army it was just Steel. My natural look is a silver coat with a gray mane with a silver stripe through it, and my cutie mark is a steel ingot. I was born in Baltimare as a 5 generation steelworker in our mill outside of town, and moved to Cloudsdale two years before the war. This story will follow the course of World War Equestria through the eyes of 4 ponies, including myself. Now gather ‘round your fires and hear the story of love, loss, tragedy and the folly of pony.

   The war started with strained relations between Equestria and Yakyakistan and the overthrow and murder of King Thorax. Not all the changelings supported his rule and still followed Chrysalis. In the middle of a hearing, he was struck in the heart by another changeling. Chrysalis took power again and they reverted to their old ways. Meanwhile, an equestrian visitor to Yakyakistan was killed by a Yak, but he was never punished. Prince Rutherford, not wanting to start a war, traveled to Canterlot with the ambassador to meet with Celestia. However, the night before the hearing, they were both mysteriously murdered in their hotel room. Nopony was ever caught. Celestia’s government denied any part in the murder, but many suspect otherwise. Personally, I can't say because I don't want to go to the Moon.

    The whole thing might've blown over, except Celestia reactivated a reserve army unit and sent it to our border with the Yaks. They became enraged and declared war. The changelings, spoiling for a fight, declared war soon after. There brethren the Northern Changelings, changelings who went north into the mountains then became albino and extremely warlike also declared allegiance to the Yaks. The Crystal Empire joined on the side of Equestria, along with Thorax’s few left supporters. There was one more player left; the Arabians. Nopony is really sure why they joined (no suitable explanation was given to Canterlot) but we rolled with it. The stage was set.

     A poster went up in the center of Cloudsdale. It featured everyone's favorite Wonderbolt Rainbow Dash, standing at attention in full uniform as a formation soared through the sky behind her. The poster read; JOIN THE EQUESTRIAN ARMY! BECOME TWENTY PERCENT COOLER IN TEN SECONDS FLAT! It drew quite a crowd. A stallion stood next to it, hollering for volunteers. “Join us! Fight for your home, your country, and your princess! Adventure and glory await!” What a spiel he had. Of course it was all patriotic bull crap. But it excited me, and I drew closer. “Those who don't join are cowards! Prove your stallionhood!” That did it for me. I approached and requested the enlistment papers. A brief look of surprise flashed across his face. He thanked me and continued yelling for volunteers. I trotted home with my papers. Now, I can hear them. Whether it was or is in my imagination doesn't matter. Then I was deaf to it but now it's clear as day. They were the drums of war, and they were spreading across the continent.

Now for the other ponies. In the San Palomino Theater was a Pegasus named Hustler. Born and raised in Los Pegasus with a “small” criminal background, he said he joined for much the same reason as me, swept up in the wave of patriotism. Personally, I suspect he joined to escape persecution, but I kept that to myself during the interview. Anyway, most Los Pegasians joined to protect their homes, for directly to the southwest laid the San Palomino Desert. It's the closest point in Equestria to the Arab homeland, and they would strike there. The Desert would swallow many souls throughout the war.

Serving in the Badlands Theater was a earth pony named Hard Cider, a member of the Apple Family and a farmer from Appleloosa. His reason for enlisting was simple, he was bored at home. If he knew the horror that the war would bring, he would've chose boredom. He was the first Apple ever to become a soldier.

  And finally, serving in the Northwestern Theater (fighting in Yakyakistan) was a unicorn named Big Money. Born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth in Vanhoofer, he was forced to join by his father to prove his stallionhood. He and I shared similar experiences fighting the Yaks, but I also had the Northern Changelings to deal with.

     These are the other ponies who we will be following their stories. We all entered training with no knowledge of what lied ahead.

   Training flew by for all, and nopony had any stories about it. At graduation, we changed our appearance and joined a unit. I changed into a white and joined the 5th Regiment of Whites. It would become one of the finest units in the army. Hustler also became white and joined the 1st Royal Cavalry Regiment. Cider became a gray and joined the 9th Regiment of Grays. Lastly, Big became a gray and joined the 2nd Regiment of Grays. Just days after we joined our units, mobilization on both sides were complete and we marched of to war.