For Princess and Country

Chapters

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Epilogue

Part 1

By Nocturn Dreamwrite

Part 1

This story is set at about 95 years before Episode 1 of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. Technological changes have only just begun to modernize the Equestrian Lifestyle, but outside the major cities, pony life to the north, south, and west of Canterlot still continues as it has always: quiet, and rural. New towns such as Ponyville and Dodge City are only in their infancy. Not long after the dawn of the 20th Century, a great war between Equestria and the Changelings tested the strength and endurance of the Equestrian pony race, and technology made its first debut, proving its usefulness, and its worth as progress. After five years of battles, The Great Changeling War finally ended with Equestrian victory, but the price of freedom is not cheap. Even as Equestria begins to explore the newer, safer uses of technology, such as steam locomotives and light bulbs, some ponies find the war not so easy to forget.
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Forester lived in Equestria’s White Tale Woods. He had been living there for about five years. To describe him, He was a full grown pegasus pony, but still young. His coat was apple green, and his mane and tail were of a shade of light brown. He had sky blue eyes, and his cutie mark was pine tree signifying that Forester was close to nature.

Forester had always had an interest in the natural world for as long as he could remember. Despite being a pegasus, the woods gave him a sense of peace that the sky, although beautiful in it’s own way, could not give him. For one thing, cities like Cloudsdale had no flora such as trees, and second there was as no such fauna as deer, a species that Forester admired intimately. In fact, ever since he had come to the White Tail Woods, he had been living among a herd of deer that had accepted his presence and his friendship. They had even let him study their way of magic, and how they helped bring life to the woods. Whenever his friends were threatened, Forester would always rush to their aid. Being a pegasus did have its advantages. Timberwolves simply couldn’t keep up.

For five years now the White Tail Woods had been Forester’s home, and he had lived a quiet and happy life learning all he could about the beauty and wonders of the woodlands. However, this wasn’t the only reason he had come here. Deep down Forester knew that he was here hiding from the rest of the world. Obviously these past five years didn’t cover his entire life. His past however, had left an imprint on him, and it had been strong enough to cause him to distance himself from the Equestrian world in which he had been brought up and served passionately. Despite his distance from the ponies of Equestria, and all his studies, Forester had never been able to shake off the ache he felt in his heart. There was one other thing that he couldn’t deny. After being gone for so long, Forester could feel a pull to return to his fellow pony kind.

It was a quiet summer night. Forester sat high up on a tree branch gazing up at the stars. The moon was bright, the stars sparkled, and there was a comfortable breeze. Forester sighed as he sat there thinking.

“I’m happy here,” Forester thought aloud, “I have friends, and there is still so much to see.”
He picked up his notebook and spun the pages, stopping to look over a few.

“But,” he said as he closed the book, “There is also so much more to see out there, and…well…am I being selfish by not sharing my life with my kind? It has been a long time. I know I needed this, but now…Is it time for another change?”

Forester looked up at the stars. His eyes watered. “What would you have me do?”

“Forester!” someone called with a loud whisper.

Forester looked down to see Odo, his best friend on the ground looking up at him. Odo was a young white tailed buck. His coat was reddish-brown like most deer with a dark brown stripe down his back. He had turquoise eyes, and had just grown his third pair of antlers that spring. He had been born only a couple of months before Forester had arrived, and soon after fell down a ravine. It was Forester who flew to his rescue and returned him to his mother, but ever since, Odo had stuck to him like glue. To this day Odo believed that Forester had saved his life, and he never strayed from his version of the story. Odo admired Forester for being a pegasus just as much as Forest admired him for being a deer. As time had passed, they had become best friends, and Odo would even help Forester with his studies. Wherever Forester went, Odo was never far behind.

Forester smiled. He should have known that he wasn’t alone.

“Forester!” called Odo again, “Are you all right?”

“Sure Odo,” Forester called back. “I’ll be right down.” He quickly gathered his notebook then spread his wings and glided down to the ground, landing softly.

Odo looked at Forester’s eyes. “Are you all right?” he asked. “You look as though you’ve been crying.”

Forester quickly wiped his eyes with his hoof. “I’m fine. I just…well…I have a soft spot for the night sky. You know. Ha, ha,” He laughed.

“Want to talk about it?” Odo asked.

Forester knew what Odo meant. He had wanted Forester to tell him about his past life for over two years now. Odo had figured out, that it had something to do with the night sky and with Forester being involved in some kind of war, but Forester still wasn’t ready to tell that story yet.

“No,” replied Forester, “Not tonight. It’s still…you know…personal.”

Odo nodded his understanding, then without warning, he smiled, and wrapped his forelegs around Forester’s neck and pulled him into a tight hug which Forester returned.

“Thanks Odo,” said Forester.

“Anytime,” replied Odo with a smile.

“Let’s go home,” said Forester.

With that, the pegasus pony and the deer walked silently side by side beneath the trees, until they came to the small hut they lived in. It really wasn’t much of a house; just a simple one room dwelling made of wood, big enough to fit the two of them, with one door, and a grass roof. Inside, there was a pair of grassy beds, a small wooden table, and a few other things.

“You sure you don’t want to talk about it?” asked Odo as he climbed on to his bed.
“Yes, Odo,” answered Forester. “I’m sure.”

“All right,” said Odo. “Good night my friend.”

“Good night…my friend,” replied Forester as he watched his friend succumb to sleep.

There was still a lot on Forester’s mind. He sighed, but decided to think it over in the morning. For now, it was time to try to get some sleep. Forester lay on his bed and sighed again before he closed his eyes and entered the dream realm.

Forester walked carefully through the section of the trenches that were under his command inspecting the dirt walls and his soldiers as he went. He stopped when he came to a pony who was sitting on the bottom step of one of the ladders. Forester tapped him lightly on the shoulder. The pony rose immediately and saluted. Forester returned the gesture before carefully ascending the ladder. When he got high enough, he adjusted his tin derby, and looked over the trench wall. About a mile away, but still visible, he could see the other trench which protected the Changelings they were facing.

The war with the Changelings had begun over two years ago. It was now summer of the third year. There had already been several major offensives on both sides, not to mention the hundreds of skirmishes that had taken place. This was already the single largest war in Equestrian history. Sure, the original three tribes, before they joined to create Equestria, had hated each other, but that conflict was a cold war, considering that they never actually had a battle. This was different. This war had already claimed the lives of many victims. The Changelings had gathered the largest foreign army ever seen, and after crushing the forts and outposts along the boarder, had made their intention clear: to invade Equestria. The only thing stopping them now was the Equestrian Army, or rather officially known as the EPU United Forces. When the attacks began, the EPU responded, but even with their reserves, they couldn’t hold back the enemy advances. A call for enlistment was sent all over Equestria. This brought several hundred more ponies including Forester into what was now called “the Army.” These ponies were now soldiers, and Forester had risen to become a Lieutenant in command of a regiment of almost 100 soldiers.

As the war had progressed, new technology had been brought to the front lines. Most of the fighting was still hoof to hoof with swords, spears, and magical horns, but a new weapon had taken the forefront of the battle with the hopes of reducing the length of the war: the gunpowder cannon. This weapon could fire a heavy metal ball at a target a mile a way or more and strike it. The effect was heightened by the fact that each ball had gunpowder on the inside and a fuse that was lit before the cannon was fired which resulted in a large explosion after the target was hit. On the other hand, as if the Changeling’s dreaded slime that they emitted which could stop a pony in their tracks wasn’t bad enough; they had introduced a new weapon too, known to ponies as the “black arrow.” The Changelings had invented a large, heavy arrow, which, when fired from an even larger crossbow, was launched with enough force, it would plunge down from the sky like a lightning bolt and bury it’s head in the ground before exploding and throwing slime everywhere. In short, it was scary out on the battlefield that stretched the two trenches also known as “No Pony’s Land.”

Satisfied to see that the Changelings had not made any move for the time being, Forester climbed back down the ladder. Waiting for him at the bottom was his younger brother Kepler, Sergeant Kepler to be exact. The two officers saluted each other then proceded to walk down the trench. Forester couldn’t help but take note of the humor of two brothers, two friends for that matter, saluting each other, but it was order.

“How’s it look out there,” asked Kepler.

“I’ve seen worse,” said Forester.

“So have I,” answered Kepler, causing Forester to chuckle. No matter how you looked at it, war wasn’t pretty.

Just then a currier came rushing down the trench toward them. He stopped in front of Forester, saluted then gave his message.

“Lt. Forester, Sir!,” said the currier, “General Corn Pipe has returned and wants to see all the commanding officers in his tent at once.”

“Thank you” replied Forester. Then with a salute, “Carry on!” He turned to his brother.

“Take over here. Will you? I shouldn’t be gone long,” said Forester.

“Right, Sir!” answered Kepler as Forester hurried away.

After navigating through several trenches, and splashing through a few mud puddles, Forester found himself along with several other officers in General Corn Pipe’s tent which served as his headquarters. They all hushed with General Corn Pipe stepped through the canvas that separated one side of the tent from the other. General Corn Pipe was the highest ranking officer in the EPU and the entire army, and he was the most respected. As he approached the table which held the map everypony was standing around, he adjusted his cap, removed his iconic pipe, and then said:

“Gentlecolts, I have returned.”

Everypony waited to hear what was next.

“I tell you the truth, you would not believe the way some of those fancy ponies back in Canterlot are acting. Those morons! They don’t seem to understand the gravity of our situation. Perhaps if the war was taking place over Canterlot, they would have a different attitude. At least Princess Celestia appreciates us. The good news is we will receive reinforcements, but the bad news is they won’t arrive until the end of the month. More importantly, while I was away, I managed to come up with a new strategy.”

He motioned for everypony to pay attention to the map.” “Captain Stone Wall’s artillery will begin the engagement. They will concentrate fire on the enemy’s center. Twenty minutes later, Lieutenants, Light Armor and Forester will advance with their troops to engage the middle of the enemy’s line; Light Armor from the left, and Forester from the right. The artillery will then concentrate fire on the enemy’s left and right flanks to keep them from reinforcing the middle.”

The General paused, and then said, “Now Gentlecolts, this is a risky move, but we have already fallen back twice, and Dodge City is right behind us. This must end here and Now! Now we begin the push back. The offensive begins in one hour. I’ll give the word to Captain Stone Wall when to open fire. Lieutenants, mark your watches, and prepare your troops.” General Corn Pipe stood at attention and saluted his officers who did the same in return. “Good luck to you all,” said the General. “Dismissed!”

Forester wasted not time in getting back to his regiment. He was almost out of breath when he found Kepler. They greeted each other with a salute, then Kepler asked “What is it Sir? Are there orders?”

“Tell the men to prepare for battle,” answered Forester.

Kepler was surprised. “You mean we’re attacking?! Now?!” he asked.

“You better believe it brother,” replied Forester, “And we’re on the front lines!”

“Sweet Celestia!” exclaimed Kepler.

“Prepare the troops,” continued Forester. “Helmets, weapons, any armor they can find, everything! And tell the unicorns to warm up! I’ll join you once I catch my breath.”

“Yes Sir,” replied Kepler, and with another salute, he adjusted his tin derby and hurried away.

Sure enough, exactly one hour later, the cannons opened fire. Forester, Kepler and all of their regiment was ready and waiting, all of them wearing the traditional tin derby, all armed with a sword or a spear, and all anxious.

Forester checked his watch. “Ten more minutes!” he said. He turned to Kepler. “I want you to lead the ground troops. I’ll lead the pegasi and cover you.”

“Yes Sir,” replied Kepler. Though, he knew that Forester had made this decision in order to protect him. Leading the battle from the air was much more dangerous than leading it from the ground. Forester would have to monitor both the ground and the air, and watch his tail at the same time all while in flight. The enemy’s attention would mostly be on the pegasi, but providing this shield would give the earth ponies and the unicorns a chance to get much closer before engaging. In all honesty, Kepler had wanted this position for the same reason as Forester, and had mentioned it to him, but Forester had decided otherwise. Kepler was a little disappointed, but he still respected Forester for deciding to take the risk upon himself. Kepler saluted and took his position.

Forester carefully climbed the ladder and looked over. The cannons had torn up the Changeling position all right, but the Changelings still hadn’t even made a move. He climbed back down and checked his watch again. “One minute!” he called. He counted the seconds silently to himself. The time was now. He looked at Kepler and they silently wished each other good luck. Forester drew his sword, and then placed the whistle that had been hanging around his neck to his lips and blew five times: the signal and order to advance. Immediately, the Equestrian soldiers began to climb or fly over the trench wall and out into “No Pony’s Land.”

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Forester woke up with a start. He was sweating. He looked around. There was no war. He was still in his hut in the middle of White Tail Woods. He looked over to check Odo. Odo was still fast asleep. Forester took a few deep breaths to calm himself, then he laid back down again. He lay awake for a while, before he went back to sleep. It was a dream, but Forester knew that it wasn’t just a dream. It was his past; the past which troubled him. The war had once been very real indeed.

Part 2

For Princess and Country

By Nocturn Dreamwrite

Part 2

The next morning Forester and Odo awoke, and had a quick breakfast. Then while Odo was having a drink, Forester popped back into the hut to have a moment for himself to think, and so he sat on his bed and thought. If he was going to consider returning to the Equestrian world, he had to look at the pros and cons.

Pro: He would be able to reconnect with his fellow pony kind.

Con: He would be leaving his deer friends behind. That would hurt. Especially leaving Odo. It would be very hard to leave Odo, and just how would he tell him? How would he take it?

Pro: He would fill that nagging, restless desire to return. It would be an adventure.

Con: He really had no idea what he’d be returning to, whether Equestria had changed for better or for worse.

Pro: It would be interesting to see how Equestria had changed regardless for better of for worse while he’d been gone.

Con: He really had no plan for what he would do once he returned to the world of ponies. He’d arrive and then what?

Pro: He could share all that he had learned in these past years with his fellow ponies. That was a start, but how exactly would he do that?

Con: There was no guarantee that he would find a purpose, and he did need a purpose. Forestry was his passion, but he needed to get involved in something. Something bigger than any one pony.

Something bigger than himself.

Those words rang a bell in Forester’s memory. He looked over toward the far corner of his bed. He hesitated. Then he slowly reached over and brushed aside some leaves, which he bunched in a pile so that he could easily cover that corner again. He then reached into the corner and pulled out two items that had been hidden: a saddlebag and a sword.

Forester first picked up the sword, his sword, the saber of a Lieutenant. He drew the sword out of its sheath. It had some dirt on it, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed. He tested its weight for a moment in his hooves, and looked at his reflection in the blade before returned the sword to its sheath. He put the sword down, and then opened the saddle bag.

There were two items inside the bag. The first, a small wooden box he tenderly dusted off and then opened. Inside were two white sashes. Each of them had a medal shaped like a royal pony guard, a bronze medal for service, and a gold one for honor. Only one had a silver medal. Forester put the sashes back into the box, closed it, and then returned it to the saddlebag, before picking up the third item, his tin derby.

There’s a special connection between a pony and his hat. It might seem strange to some, but this hat brought back lots of memories for Forester, some good, some bad. Forester held his tin derby over his heart and hugged it while he starred off into space at nothing in particular as he recalled the events of another time.

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Forester flew through the Cloudsdale airways, as quickly as he could with a paper folded in his mouth. It was a clear, moonlit night, but there were still some pegasi out and about. Forester had to dodge a few ponies and clouds until he arrived at his destination: The small cloud house that he and his shared with his younger brother Kepler, a sky blue pegasus with a dark purple mane and tail, and light green eyes. He rushed through the door and stopped so suddenly when he came into the study, that he almost toppled head over heels when he ran into the stack of books that Kepler had sat in the middle of the room. Forester managed to stop himself, but the books fell over like a stone pillar.

“Ow,” said Forester, as he rubbed his head.

“Yikes,” said Kepler as he jumped up from the desk where he had been drawing. “Are you all right big brother?”

“Yeah, I fine,” answered Forester. “Sorry about that. I should have slowed down sooner.”

“I’m sorry too,” said Kepler. “I should have moved that stack out of the middle of traffic.”

The two brothers set to work picking up the mess of books, each one on the subject of astronomy, Kepler’s passion. His cutie mark was the ringed planet of Stableurn.

“Oh, by the way,” said Forester, “Have I got a lot of interesting news for you! The Changelings have attacked Equestria!”

“What?!” exclaimed Kepler. “When?” he asked.

“Just day before yesterday,” answered Forester. “Anyway, The EPU isn’t strong enough to stop them, so they’ve put out a call for anypony and everypony willing to join the Equestrian Army.”

“Wow,” replied Kepler. “That is something.”

“This is one of the flyers I found on the streets,” said Forester as he picked up the folded paper he had dropped and opened it to show Kepler its message. The flyer showed a picture of Princess Celestia standing on a rock holding a large Equestrian banner which fluttered behind her from a pole she held firm with one hoof and pointed onward (a picture she never would have actually posed for) with the other as a troop of pony soldiers, unicorns and earth ponies marched in front of the rock, while pegasi flew past Celestia on the opposite side. The words above the picture read “For Princess and Country!” and those below read “Preserve Equestria and Harmony! Enlist Today!”

“That’s really impressive,” said Kepler. “A real eye catcher.” Then he realized something. He looked at Forester and asked, “Are you thinking about joining?”

“Yes Kepler,” replied Forester. “We all have our special talents, and you know how much I’d love to move away and live in the woods below, but now our country is in danger. I believe it is both our right and our duty to answer her call for help, or there may not be a country to celebrate cutie marks at all.” He paused for a moment then added. “This is bigger than any of us. Now it involves all of us. If we all stand together now and serve our country as passionately as we search for our place among ponies I am sure we can not fail. Besides, it’d be better to join now ourselves than wait to be drafted.”

“You make a very good case,” said Kepler, “And you’d make a good promotional piece yourself,” he joked. The two brothers chuckled at this.

“When were you planning to go enlist?” asked Kepler.

“First thing tomorrow morning,” answered Forester. “I plan to be one of the first.”

“Well,” replied Kepler, “You won’t be going alone.” He smiled. “Somepony’s gotta look after you,” He teased.

“All right, L.B.B.F.F.!” said Forester as he caught Kepler up in a hug and patted his back with his hoof.

“You mean, “brothers in arms,”” Kepler jokingly corrected Forester as he returned the gesture.

Suddenly Kepler’s eyes widened and he looked directly at Forester’s face. “By the way, today’s right in the middle of the week right?”

“Yeah,” replied Forester, “Why?”

Kepler quickly pulled away and scrambled to find a specific book and grab a telescope. He looked at the clock. It was about to strike 8 O’clock at night. “Just in time,” he said. “I gotta show you something, and it happens tonight. You’re gonna think this fabulous.” He rushed outside with Forester right behind him, and quickly set up the telescope, pointing it at the night sky, and then he scanned through the book until he found the page he was looking for. He studied it for a moment then, adjusted the telescope, first without looking into the eyepiece, and then while looking into it. Forester wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but with Kepler it was always something beautiful and incredible. Finally, Kepler said, “I got it! Take a look Forester.”

“What is it?” asked Forester.

“Brother,” said Kepler with a smile beaming with pride, “You are about to see the planet Mares pass and eclipse the planet Stableurn.”

Forester didn’t have to be told twice. He quickly looked into the eyepiece, and sure enough, he saw the spectacular phenomena taking place before his very eyes. The planet Mares slowly moved in front of the planet Stableurn as they orbited around Equestria, and with the sun on the opposite side of the Earthen planet, Mares cast it’s shadow across Stableurn as it passed. For a moment it looked as though Mares had rings.

“This is Amazing!” said Forester. “Here look before it’s gone.” He said as he turned the telescope back over to Kepler.

“Ah, yes,” said Kepler. “Fantastic!” He said as he watched Mares move pass Stableburn, then he turned to look at Forester.

“Thanks, L.B.B.F.F.,” said Forester.

“Anytime, big brother,” said Kepler.

. . .

The next day, Forester and Kepler enlisted into the Equestrian Amy. Since they had both achieved the rank of Knight in the Colt Scouts they were both immediately enlisted as corporals. They attended a training camp outside of Canterlot, and then were sent off in a troop of their own. Each soldier was given a red and white uniform, but these were only used in drills and on formal occasions. In actuality, with little metal to be found for armor, the new traditional field uniform was just a tin derby, and whatever else a soldier could find.

The day they marched away from Canterlot, was the day that Forester and Kepler met General Corn Pipe for the first time. He was personally leading the new divisions out to the Macintosh Hills. This allowed for their first actual parade as the army marched through the newly build Ponyville. The soldiers made a grand sight as they marched through. General Corn Pipe was at the front with the flag bearer holding the Equestrian banner and two drummers right behind him, and then unicorns, earth ponies, and pegasi all marched by in rows of three. Even the pegasi marched as a way to keep discipline. There wasn’t much of a town of Ponyville then, but Forester noted a nice sized apple orchard, a bakery, a tailor shop, and a cobbler shop among other things. It was definitely a town on the rise. The citizens of Ponyville all came out to see the soldiers parade past. Some waved and cheered, while others remained respectfully silent.

Forester and Kepler saw action at the long Battles of the Macintosh Hills, and the Southern Plains. Both ended with an Equestrian retreat, but Forester and Kepler were both recognized by General Corn Pipe for outstanding service when they worked together to organize the retreat from the Macintosh Hills. Had they not regrouped several other ponies to give cover to the retreat, the center of the Equestrian line would have fallen apart due to panic when the Changelings began to overwhelm them. The two brothers were promoted to sergeants and were both decorated with the bronze medal of service by General Corn Pipe himself.

Forester’s leadership was late recognized again with another promotion to Lieutenant just before the Battle of Dodge City began. He did make one condition though for this promotion: wherever he was stationed, Sergeant Kepler would be stationed with him. He explained that if he was going to take command, he needed the best help he could get, somepony he knew he could trust. Forester promptly received his Lieutenant’s saber.

“That really is an impressive sword,” said Odo suddenly bringing Forester back to the present.

Forester jumped, he hadn’t noticed Odo approaching. “Yes, Yes it is,” he said nervously.

He quickly brushed off the tin derby and put it back in the saddlebag. Then he grabbed both he bag and the sword and turned to return them to the hole, but then he stopped and thought for a moment. He had felt, after all, that pull to serve ponies again; to be part of something bigger than himself. That eagerness and resolve he felt in his past, he felt now. What he was holding represented his past, but it was still part of him, and…it could help him find a new purpose among ponies. It was time.

Forester quietly leaned his saddle bag and his saber against the wall, then the turned to Odo.

“Odo,” said Forester solemnly. He paused. It was now or never. He had to tell him. “I have something to tell you. I’ve made a decision,” he continued. “I’m going to be leaving the White Tail Woods, and return to the pony world of Equestria.”
Odo’s smile faded, and his tail fell limp. He was trying to think of what to say. Forester braced himself. He wasn’t sure what to expect.

“Oh,” said Odo, “Well…okay. When do we leave?” he asked brightening up again.

Forester was taken aback by this. “I…I plan to leave tomorrow,” he said. “But, wait, did you say we?”

“Yes, of course,” replied Odo. “I’m going with you. We’re friends, and friends stick together. It’ll be an adventure. I’d love to see the Equestria outside of the woods.”

“Don’t you think you should stay here?” asked Forester. “I mean, this is the White Tail Woods. You were born and raised here. It’s where the herd is.”

“My friend,” said Odo, “I wouldn’t miss this even if I were crowned Grand Duke of the Forest. Besides, I know how nervous you’ve been whenever you talked about the pony world. I can only imagine how nervous you must be now to actually go back after all this time. It is very brave of you to take such a step, and follow it through, you may need some help. Somedeer’s going to have to look after you.”

Those last words rang a distant bell for Forester, but Odo was right, it would be a comfort to him to return with a friend. “All right Odo,” said Forester. “We leave tomorrow morning. If you’re sure that’s what you want.”

“It is my friend.” Said Odo as he approached Forester and gave him another hug. “And don’t worry,” he said. “Everything’s going to be just fine.”

After a moment, Odo pulled away and said. “Well, if today’s going to be our last day in woods, let’s make to most of it. Come on Forester. Let’s join the herd for one more run through the meadow. Race ya!”

“Oh, you’re on!” said Forester as they rushed out of the hut and down the woodland paths laughing as they went.

(L.B.B.F.F. = Little Brother Best Friend Forever.)

Part 3

For Princess and Country

By Nocturn Dreamwrite

Part 3

After an exciting day, Forester and Odo returned home. For dinner that evening, Forester decided to try cooking over a fire again. After securing a small ring with stones, Forester and Odo gathered some sticks and lit them with flint rocks, but Forester’s attempt to twist some long grasses around some sticks with certain leaves and flowers stuck between them in a kind of shish kabob fashion did not turn out as well as he thought it would. To say it nicely, dinner ended up a bit more ‘well done’ than cooked, but, on the bright side, it wasn’t too terrible, and after a good laugh over it, Forester and Odo put the fire out, and grazed for a short while.

When night fell, Forester and Odo turned into their hut, and spoke for a time about the day’s events, who they saw, and how they would prepare to leave the White Tail Woods in the morning. When they were ready, they climbed onto their beds.

“Good night my friend,” said Forester. “Big day tomorrow.”

“Good night my friend,” replied Odo. “I’ll be ready.”

And with that the two friends drifted off to sleep.

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Lieutenant Forester flew out of the trench and hovered slightly above the ground, with his saber drawn and pointed toward the enemy in his right fore-hoof, while he beaconed his soldiers onward with the other.

“Come on colts!” Forester shouted. “Over the wall! Over the wall! Forward!”

Unicorns, and earth ponies hurried forward, climbing up the ladders and over the trench wall while pegasi flew up and into the air circling around the ponies below. Once everypony was present, a regiment of 96 armed soldiers, they were divided up and organized.

“All right!” shouted Sergeant Kepler as he rushed past the ponies on the ground. “Unicorns! Take the center! Prime you horns and prepare to fire! Earth ponies! I want two equal assemblies on both sides! Prepare to march!”

Forester meanwhile flew up to join the pegasi. “Come on now colts! Let’s give them some cover! Take formations! Let’s look sharp now! Two by two! Steady!” He looked down at his brother below him. “All set Sergeant?” he called.

“All set Lieutenant!” answered Kepler.

“Forward march! Forward fly!” ordered Forester.

“Forward march!” repeated Kepler.

With that the Equestrian regiment forged ahead. The trenches, which had served as a means to hide the presence of an entire army and reduce casualties, were now left behind as the army advanced into “No Pony’s Land.” Their goal: to storm over the changeling trenches and flush them out. They made a grand sight on the field indeed. Together the unicorns and the earth ponies made a long battle line, two ponies thick with the pegasi flying in similar formation just above. Behind them, the cannons fired once more to cover their advance.

Just a short distance away, Forester could see Lieutenant Light Armor advancing with his ground soldiers in like manner with Sergeant Skillet leading his pegasi. There were now four strong Equestrian lines out in the open in “No Pony’s Land,” advancing rapidly on the changeling’s position. The only question that bothered Forester was: why hadn’t the changelings launched a counter attack yet? Surely they could see them coming. He didn’t have to wait long for an answer. As soon as the ponies reached the center of the field, they all saw several long, black objects suddenly shoot out from the changeling trenches, straight into the air. Nopony needed to say the words. They all knew what was coming. The “black arrows.” They only had seconds to react.

“Double time!” yelled Forester. The Pegasi pumped their wings, and the ground ponies below changed their pace to ‘quick step’ to avoid the “black arrows.” The arrows overshot the lines, crashing into the ground behind them, but the following explosions did spray some of the solders with slime, causing some confusion.

It was then that the changelings made their attack. Some took to the air, while others charged the ponies from the ground.

“Company halt!” called Kepler. “Ready unicorns!” Each unicorn lowered his head, his horn glowing.

“Hold!...Hold!...Hold!...Fire!!” yelled Kepler. Instantly the unicorns fired a volley of blast rays into the changelings, stunning and killing some instantly. Then they began to fire at will, with the earth ponies guarding their flanks.

“Let’s give them some cover colts!” called Forester. “Attack!” With that, Forester and the pegasi charged ahead to engage the changelings that had taken flight. Forester made the first score. He slashed his saber across a changeling’s neck and then punched the lights out of a second with the back of his hoof. The battle was on!

“Remember colts!” shouted Forester as his pegasi fought hoof and weapon with the changelings “Hit ‘em hard and hit ‘em fast! But stay over the ground lines! They’re depending on us!” he said as slashed a wing clean off another changeling sending him spinning into the ground.

Meanwhile, on the ground, try as they might, the changelings simply could not break through the lines. Kepler managed to organize one volley of magic blast rays from the unicorns after another between periods of free firing while the earth ponies engaged the coming changelings with all their strength.

“Keep it together!” shouted Kepler as he himself stuck a changeling with his sword on his rump and then punched him when he turned around. “Do not fire into the air! Don’t hit our own! Fire when you can see the green of their eyes!”

On ground and in the air, some ponies feel, but far more changelings were falling. It looked as though the battle was going their way, but then the changelings fired another row of “black arrows.”

“Heads up!” shouted Forester. “Ponies! Wheel!”

“Ponies! Wheel!” repeated Kepler. Instantly the entire battle line turned to their right and trotted in a complete circle, avoiding most of the arrows, but not all of them. Several hit their marks. The line still managed to complete it’s full circle and was soon right back where it began. Unfortunately, the explosions had weakened the Equestrian line, and the battle seemed to slowly turn to favor the changelings as they simply kept coming. Amazingly, Kepler still managed to keep the line together, but it was falling apart regardless.

Up in the air, the pegasi were either chasing the changelings, or being chased by them. Forester had one behind him. He flew up into the air, and then came soaring down at full speed with the changeling right behind him. For a moment, it looked like the changeling was gaining on him, but the changeling did realize until too late that Forester had slowed on purpose so that he could pull up while the changeling instead crashed into another of his own kind now suddenly right in front of him. They had been set up, and both slammed into the ground. Forester then saw one of his pegasi being chased and having trouble shaking the changeling. Forester rushed ahead to assist his soldier head on, and before the changeling knew it, Forester had passed both of them, and Forester’s saber had slashed across his chest. Two changelings tried to attack Forester at the same time, but he punched one dead center of his forehead, and then spun around to kick the other square in his gut.

Forester flew higher to observe all the activity. His lines in the air and in the ground were holding, but they couldn’t hold for much longer. Across the field, he could see Lieutenant Light Armor and Sergeant Skillet stuck in the same position. They needed reinforcements; anything at all if there was any chance of winning this fight.

Then Forester saw it, the most incredible sight imaginable. There, marching onto the battlefield to join them in the center, was General Corn Pipe. He was personally leading the cannons himself right into the thick of the fight with Captain Stone Wall and the Equestrian banner flying right behind him. The General was literally defying death as he boldly marched on.

“It’s the General!” Forester called down to Kepler. “General Corn Pipe is coming to our aid!”

It didn’t talk long for other ponies to notice this as well, some of them almost forgot they were in the middle of a battle, almost. It didn’t take not for the changelings to notice the general either, and several charged him. What happened then became legendary. With his bare hooves, General Corn Pipe grabbed the first changeling that came near him by his tail, spun him around several times like a yo-yo and then flung him back into the air hitting three others. Another changeling tried to attack him from the side, but, as if on cue, the General simply drew his saber and with out even turning his head, slashed the changeling across his chest, and all this with out even breaking his stride. When he was later asked how he did both of these he answered, “I don’t have the slightest idea how I did either. I just did it. Though I probably couldn’t do it again in a thousand tries.”

As soon as the cannons had reached the center of the field, General Corn Pipe ordered Captain Stone Wall to open fire at once. The sudden cannon fire at half the distance from before caught the changelings by surprise. The cannons were actually close enough that the changeling’s trenches did little to protect them now as the cannon shots could not penetrate right through them. No more lucky hits. The battle immediately turned once again in favor of Equestria. It was now time for the word everypony had been waiting for.

“Charge!” yelled Forester, and the pegasi flew at full speed directly toward the changeling trenches.

“Charge!” yelled Kepler, and the earth ponies and unicorns ran toward the changelings trenches as fast as they could.

The ‘charge’ could be heard all over the battlefield as the Equestrian army overran the remaining half of “No Pony’s Land.” The changelings, finding themselves for once overwhelmed, began to pull back. “No Pony’s Land” was quickly turning back into Equestria. The battle still waged on the ground and in the air, but it was coming to a close.

It was then that a certain changeling, larger then the rest, and well protected was suddenly seen flying out of the changeling defenses and off into the distance.

“It’s the Queen Chrysalis!” shouted Kepler. “She’s running away!”

While he was saying this, the changelings began to retreat, though a number stayed behind to cover the rest. Instead of fighting, the remaining changelings now reverted to spitting their green slime directed at ponies’ hooves to slow them down. Several ponies were hit, as the changelings had pretty good aim. Even Kepler suddenly found his hooves slimed to the ground while he was freeing another pony, but he still directed the soldiers on while he worked to free himself.

“Come on Colts!” directed Forester. “We’ve got them now! The field is ours! Storm those trenches.”

Then the whole world suddenly seemed to slow for Forester.

As the last of the changelings were pulling out, one final found of “black arrows” was suddenly fired.

“Heads up!” shouted Forester.

The “black arrows” shot into the air, and then came back down. One of them landed right beside Kepler.

Forester eyes opened wide as he made eye contact with Kepler.

“NO!!!” screamed Forester as he rushed toward his brother, but he was too late. There was a horrible explosion that shot slime everywhere, and the force blew Forester back. Then the dust cleared. Kepler was lying on his side.

“Kepler!” gasped Forester as he rushed to his side. Kepler hooves were from the slime that had trapped him, but now his back was bent out of shape in a most unnatural way.

“No! Kepler!” said Forester. “Say something!” He looked toward the fleeing changelings. “You Monsters!” he yelled and chunked his saber at them. He looked back at his little brother. Tears began to steam down his face.

“Forester?” said Kepler.

“I’m here.” replied Forester as he carefully removed Kepler’s tin derby, and cradled his brother’s head in his hooves.

“Did we…” Kepler’s voice was becoming fainter. “Did we get ‘em?” he asked.

“Yeah, we got them,” said Forester. “We did it Kepler.”

“That’s good,” answered Kepler.

“I’m really sorry about all this,” said Forester.

“Forester?” asked Kepler, his voice now but a whisper.

“Y-yes Kepler?” asked Forester.

Kepler’s eyes flickered as he said, “Look…for me…in the…stars.” And with that he breathed his last. Somewhere in Equestria a candle flickered out.

“No! No Kepler! Please! Don’t go,” cried Forester, and then the reality of it all came crashing down on him, and it all came out of him in a loud, wailing cry.

______________________________________________________________________

Forester woke up with a gasp. He was still in his hut in the middle of White Tail Woods. It was a dream, but it was exactly how it happened. It was just too much. Forester rushed outside and fell to his knees sobbing. “Kepler” he whispered. Maybe leaving the Woods wasn’t a good idea. Maybe it would be better over all if he just stayed and…

“Forester?” came a hushed voice.

Forester glanced behind to see Odo.

“I heard you,” said Odo. There was concern in his voice. “Are you all right?”

“I…I don’t know…I…” said Forester. Then he looked up at the stars. He saw something. It was a constellation, one he knew very well: the Pegasus, but to Forester it wasn’t just any pegasus. To him, it was Kepler. His brother who had found his in the night sky among the stars he loved, and was now watching over him.

A smile slowly spread across Forester’s face, and with that smile came hope. Hope that there was a future for him, a purpose among ponies. Kepler would want him to go. Forester would never forget Kepler, his (L.B.B.F.F.), but the time had come for healing. The woods had served their purpose, and now it was time to move forward. He would return to Equestria and seek out the new life that awaited for him there.

Forester wiped his tears, and turned back to Odo, still smiling.

“Yes Odo,” said Forester confidently, “I’m all right.” He said as he put his right wing over Odo’s shoulders. “Everything’s fine. We still have a big day tomorrow.”

“Yes we do,” agreed Odo.

Epilogue

For Princess and Country

By Nocturn Dreamwrite

Epilogue

The Battle of Dodge City ended in Equestrian victory. It is in fact known as the turning point of the Great Changeling War. Two days later, Lieutenant Forester led the honor guard that buried Sergeant Kepler among the rest of the fallen with full EPU honors. It was the single most difficult task he ever had to do. A week later he was called to Canterlot where, with several other officers, he and, posthumously, Sergeant Kepler were awarded the Royal Golden Medal of Honor by Princess Celestia herself. When Princess Celestia presented him with the two medals she said to him, “I’m truly sorry for the loss of your brother. I truly am.” He wanted to thank her, but he couldn’t find the words, so he simply saluted.

The war continued for another two years, ending in the spring of the fifth year of fighting. After Dodge City, Equestria won battle after battle in which Forester fought with a vengeance alongside his fellow soldiers. The War came to an end when the Equestrian forces pushed the changelings out of Equestria’s boarders, over the Macintosh Hills and into the forest beyond. General Corn Pipe had wanted to continue the pursuit, but despite his arguments to finish the job, Princess Celestia ordered him to withdraw his troops. It was enough, and that was the end of it. Every soldier who survived the war was presented the silver medal of victory by General Corn Pipe who went down in Equestrian history as a great hero.

After the war however, Forester felt worse than ever before. The war, the terror, the loss of Kepler, it had all been too much for him. At the end of his fifth and final year of enlistment, he was offered a promotion to Captain, if he reenlisted, but he refused it. Instead he simply walked away from it all. He needed some time alone, away from that world, and eventually found himself in White Tail Woods. The rest, as they say, is history.

_______________________________________________________________________

The following morning, after a quick breakfast, Forester took a moment to look through his notebook, reviewing everything he had learned one more time: trees, flowers, shrubs and bushes, deer, birds, small animals, seasonal effects, natural herbs, deer magic, etc. Yes, everything was here, notes, drawings, and all. He then packed it along with his few belongings in his saddle bag which he belted around his barrel. He attached his saber to his belt, on his left side, and finally placed his tin derby on his head. All Odo needed to bring was a wooden bottle that held some of the magic herbal water of the deer, in case he ever needed it.

Forester and Odo, then said their good-byes to all their friends as the walked through the woods one more time. Odo said good-bye to his mother and father, and the he and Forester paid their respects to the Grand Duchess Glorianna, ruler of the White Tail Woods whom had allowed Forester to stay with the herd and study their magic. They then made their way to the forest’s edge and looked back. Behind them, they could see some of their friends who had followed them to see them off, with them were Odo’s parents. Forester looked to see a small tear form in Odo’s eye and he put his wing over Odo’s back to comfort him, only to find that he was beginning to tear up himself. These woods had been their livelihood and their home. Five years ago, Forester first came to this forest to live and to learn, and now he was leaving with his best friend beside him. Forester and Odo then turned back toward the forest’s edge. Just beyond was the pony world of Equestria, and a new life.

Forester sighed and took a deep breath.

“Are you ready?” asked Odo.

Forester nodded and said, “Yes, I am.”

And with that, Forester took a step outside the White Tail Woods, with Odo right behind him. He took another step, and then another, and another.

Forester and Odo journeyed all that day, and slept that night in a field beneath an elm tree. The next day they finally came across a dirt road, their first sign of civilization, and began to follow it. On the way they saw a signpost which read that they were headed toward Canterlot, but they would reach Ponyville, and Canterbray first.

They arrived in Canterbray late that afternoon. Canterbray was a small town, and for Forester, that was good. He wanted to slowly get used to living and being around ponies again before entering a big city like Canterlot, the capital of Equestria. Admittedly though, Forester didn’t really have a plan. Simply that they would integrate among other ponies and then, as he told Odo, get involved in something so that they could have a sense of belonging. Odo, on the other hoof, was amazed by everything and everypony he saw. To him, this was a whole new world that he was seeing for the very first time.

There was a local inn that also served as a tavern, and Forester decided it would be an ideal place to rest, and perhaps try to mingle, though Forester’s nervousness was starting to build within him.

“Well,” said Forester as they entered, “Here goes nothing.”

As they entered, Forester and Odo received a few odd looks, obviously because it wasn’t every day that they saw a strange pony walk in with a deer. They sat down at a table in a corner, and began to observe what all was happening. One of the first things Forester noticed was the fact that ponies were using bits to pay for their food and drink, something that he didn’t have any quantity of, since you don’t need bits in the woods, but then something else got a hold of his attention. On the other side of the room there were two mares sitting at a table. Both appeared to be earth ponies. One was green, with a black mane and tail, and a gray cloak draped over her back. The other was light brown with a red mane and tail. Her mane she had braided around her head and she was wearing a smart black and white dress, but what had really gotten Forester’s attention was her silvery shoes. Forester found them so intriguing that he found it hard to look away, try as he might, and he had a good reason too.

“What’s up?” asked Odo.

“You see those two mares over there?” asked Forester, “You see the one with the silvery shoes?”

“Yeah,” answered Odo, “What about them?”

“Well,” said Forester, “The time I saw shoes like that, they were on the hooves of a princess.”

“Wow, really?” said Odo, “You think she might be a princess?”

“I don’t know,” replied Forester, “But last I heard, there was only one princess in Equestria, unless that’s something that’s changed while I’ve been away.”

“Well, why you don’t you go over and ask her?” asked Odo.

“Nah, they look busy, better not,” replied Forester nervously. “Besides I’m getting thirsty. I hope they don’t charge for water here. Give me a moment while I ask a waiter.”

Forester called over a waiter and asked him whether or not they charged for water. He was relived to learn that they didn’t, but he didn’t realize till too late that Odo had left his seat was walking over to talk to the two mares.

Odo walked casually over to where the two mares were sitting and asked the one wearing the smart black and white dress and the silvery shoes, “Hi. Pardon me, but are you a princess?”

Author's Note

And thus, an new adventure begins!