The Cutie Mark Crusade
By Regal Tome M.F.A.
I’ve always loved the majesty of the desert, have I ever said that? The pristine shifting dunes, the way the moon reflects off of the elegant sandy slopes. But most of all, it is clean; almost clinically so. The white sands stretch on as far as the eye can see, an ocean of endless granules, so infinitesimally small as to be almost uncountable. The horizon is filled with a multitude of a different kind, gliding leviathans of war, all oak and polished brass, white sails branded with a radiant sun emblem flapping regally in the wind. The Equestrian armada sails for vengeance.
As I stand on the prow of the airship “Her Celestial Grace” I appreciate the time the shipwrights took in lovingly engraving the hulls of these majestic vessels with all manner of heroic reliefs, cut from scenes out of history. Much like the stained glass windows in Canterlot castle they displayed the great achievement of Equestria. The alliance of the three tribes is born proudly on “The Hurricane”, the petrification of Discord emblazoned on “Nightingale’s Song” and me and my friends as the Elements of Harmony on the “Gentle Rebuke”.
I’m not really too flattered by that one, I think we look better in stained glass than wood honestly. I, Twilight Sparkle, bearer of the element of magic, Princess of Friendship and Liege-lord of Ponyville stand arrayed in my flowing war robes and regalia on the prow of this testament to Equestrian innovation as the nation, and I go to war.
But I’m getting ahead of myself; this record is to stand as an account for the ages, so I should start at the beginning. This is my firsthand account of the Second Cutie Mark Crusade.
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“Twilight!” A little dragon yelled as his clawed feet scampered across the crystal floor of the castle. I looked up from my coffee just in time to catch him in mid air with my magical grip as he was sent airborne. A quick glance reveled he had one again tripped over the small crystal lip at the entrance to the room.
“Spike you really need to watch where you are going, I’m not always going to be able to catch you” I chuckled as I set him down. Spike, panting and out of breath hands me a scroll before replying, “ This is from Princess Celestia, Twilight! It’s marked with the Alpha level urgency seal!”.
I turned the scroll over in my telekinetic grip, noting the broken scraps of orange wax that once constituted a royal seal, “Have you been reading my mail again Spike?” I say with one raised eyebrow in what I hope is a convincing authoritarian glare. Spike twiddles his fingers and looks down at his feet, “Only the interesting ones” he hedges.
“Alright then, let’s see what all the fuss is about”.
My Dearest Twilight-
Something has occurred that requires your immediate attention in Canterlot. Luna and I are convening a council of the realm at the castle and would like you, along with the other elements to attend, post haste.
Her Royal Highness,
Princess Celestia of Equestria
I rolled the scroll back up, taking a moment to try and mentally calm myself before I figuratively and sometimes literally explode with anxiety. “SPIKE, gather up the girls, we’re going to Canterlot!”
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The girls and I sat in the first class train car in route to Canterlot. Pinkie fidgeted, Rainbow Dash looked forlornly out the window, Rarity went through her standard “Going to Canterlot” primping session. A little fidgety myself, I trotted over to Applejack on the other side of the isle.
“The Princess said nothing about the reason for this summoning Twi?” the farmer implored. “I’m afraid not, other than it being extremely urgent I haven’t the faintest clue” I replied. “I think I…may, uh , know” said a timid voice from the booth directly behind me. “Fluttershy?” the so-named pegasus pushed a crumpled newspaper over the top of the seat. Taking it in my magical grip I quickly scanned the front page, several things striking me at once as I read-
EQUESTRIAN VASSAL ATTACKED
THE CITY OF NEIGHCEA OCCUPIED BY FOREIGN FORCES
SADDLE ARABIANS POSTURINGS FOR FURTHER CONQUEST
EQESTRIA MOBOLIZES FOR WAR
“War…” I whispered to myself, paralyzed; yet also tantalized by it as well. Equestria had not been to war in over a hundred years. As a historian and a scholar I’ve always loved reading and researching about the great conquests of the past but I never thought I’d ever get to see one for myself.
The closest I’ve ever gotten was when the Yak diplomats threatened Pinkie and I. But now….a thousand possibilities flitted through my mind like pages on a book caught in a gale, no….a thousand pages in a hundred books in a hurricane!
I looked over to Applejack, her eyes alight with concentration as she finishes reading the FrontPage. “War Twi?”, I nod. “Well if these Saddle Arabians wanna tussle then the Apples are in!” Applejack stomps her hoof into the compartment floor for emphasis.
Rainbow Dash, awaken from her reverie by the sudden action flits over, “What’s up?”. Applejack pushes the brim of her Stetson back up with one hoof while replying “I’m not rightly sure, but I reckon this here paper means the meetin’ in Cantelot just got a whole lot more interesting.”
“Oh uh” Fluttershy squeaked from behind me, “I guess I’m ready to purge as well, I mean if that’s okay with you”. With my friends behind me I felt a growing sense of confidence alongside my enthusiasm, as I glanced out the window up the mountain at the spires of Canterlot I reflected on the glorious achievements of Equestrian civilization and how much they meant to me.
The mid day sun glinting off the peaks of Canterlot castle reminded me how proud I was to be a citizen of Equestria and of the privilege my friends and I had to serve our great nation. The Saddle Arabians won’t know what hit them. Celestia wills it!
