SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM
ORDER TO REPORT FOR INDUCTION
Your Royal Highnesses of Equestria
To: Big Macintosh_______________
You are hereby ordered to report for induction into the ARMED FORCES of EQUESTRIA, and to report at PONYVILLE TRAIN STATION on 6/17/2015 at 08:00 for forwarding to an EQUESTRIAN FORCES INDUCTION STATION.
Signed: __Dust Maker____________________
IMPORTANT NOTICE
(Read Each Paragraph Carefully)
IF YOU HAVE HAD PREVIOUS MILITARY SERVICE, OR ARE NOW A MEMBER OF THE E.Q. NATIONAL GUARD OR A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE EQUESTRIAN FORCES, BRING EVIDENCE WITH YOU. IF YOU WEAR GLASSES, BRING THEM. IF MARRIED, BRING PROOF OF YOUR MARRIAGE. IF YOU HAVE ANY PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CONDITION WHICH, IN YOUR OPINION, MAY DISQUALIFY YOU FOR SERVICE IN THE EQUESTRIAN FORCES, BRING A...
Big Macintosh sat under an apple tree as he read the letter over and over. He had known about the insurgency back in the Crystal Empire, how Sombra had risen again and had taken control. Nobody knew how he did it, but Luckily Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and her husband, Shining Armor had escaped. Rumors had spread about how the Crystal Empire's Military tried to stop him, but were ultimately obliterated when coming to blows with King Sombra's new army.
When the Crystal Empire fell once more, Sombra saw his chance to not only rebuild his empire, but expand his dark grip. Once more, he took control of the freed Crystal Ponies, bolstering his ranks with the enslaved thralls. When his preparations were complete, he marched his newly formed and strengthened troops into Yak Yakistan, crushing them beneath his ever mighty hoof.
...they never even stood a chance.
With Yak Yakistan assimilated into Sombra's ever-growing forces, Celestia, fearing the safety of Equestria, formed a mandatory draft. Each family in Equestria, if they were able, were to send a stallion to enlist into the newly founded Armed Forces of Equestria.
Big Macintosh read the letter one last time before setting it down on the ground next to him. He stared wistfully into the setting sun, wondering how he'd explain this to his family. Though mandatory, he didn't feel forced. This was something he wanted to do... no. This was something he had to do. This was going to be his way of proving to others and himself, that he wasn't just some farmpony. This would be his rite of passage. He would enlist, he would serve his country, and he would make them proud. Not only his family; he'd make everypony whose life he fought to protect proud of every one of them.
Mind made up, Big Mac continued to watch the sun set beneath the horizon until the stars arrived, fiercer than normal, as if to give their approval. He understood the risks, understood that there was a chance he'd never come home; but he also understood that this may be his only chance to be greater than he was. Standing firm in his resolve, he snatched up the letter and trotted back to the farm, heading silently to his room to begin packing.
"So, ya just gonna go and join the Army?" Applejack asked, her voice brimming with anger. She glared at Big Mac from his door; he didn't turn to face her. "Y'all is just gonna go and leave Granny and Applebloom and me?"
"..." Big Mac stops his packing, his back towards her for a moment before turning to meet her glare straight on. "Eeyup," he starts. It wouldn't be enough though, not for this. "Ah need to do this, sis. Ah've got no choice."
Applejack took a step towards Big Mac, eyes softening just a touch. "Big Mac, there's always a choice. Ya don't have to make this one." Big Mac turns aside, and AJ raises her voice. "This ain't yer fight. Ya don't have to go out there, go risking yer life for this! Ah'm sure me and the girls can-"
"Applejack!" Big Mac says, his voice filled with a deepness she hadn't heard before. Applejack backed down, ears flattening against her head. This... wasn't like the Big Mac she knew. "Applejack... Ah need to do this. Ah can't just stay on the farm forever." He turned back to his bags, continuing to pack.
Applejack's eyes hardened once more. "That's our history yer talking down on. Apples have been apple farmers fer generations. Y'all just wanna throw that away fer some gran-di-ose ambitions?!"
"Nope," Big Mac says, not facing her, not facing her words. "Ah'm not alone, neither."
"Ah don't care if every stallion in town is going! They aren't my brother!"
"And yer not my boss." Big Mac finally turns to look back at her, his eyes alight with a fierce pride. A sense of duty AJ had never seen from him. Had this side of Big Mac always been there, buried beneath his sense of obligation to the family's work? AJ seemed to shrink, tears fighting to leave her eyes. Crying wasn't a battle she'd lose so easily, though.
"...ya know Applebloom is gonna take this the hardest. When're ya tellin her? What will ya say?"
"Dunno," Big Mac says slowly, as he closes his trunk. "But ah'll tell her tonight."
The news was difficult to break, and neither Applebloom nor Granny Smith took it very well. Before Big Mac could even finish, Applebloom was out the front door, sobbing as she cried "No no no!" Granny simply sat silently, looking into the fireplace as she absorbed the news. An eccentric one, she seemed strangely calm in light of Big Mac's news.
"Applejack," Big Mac mutters, giving her a look before nodding to Granny. AJ nods in understanding, going to sit beside the old mare as Big Mac heads out the door. Searching for Applebloom was no simple task; despite how well he knew the farm, she had always been a champion at hide-and-seek. He searched the clubhouse, the barn, the trees; he even returned to the house to check if she had slipped back to lock herself in her room. Finding her nowhere, he finally realized where she would have gone off to: the place where they'd deeply connected for the first time.
Big Mac made his way up the hill to the large apple tree, where Big Mac had confessed that he was afraid of losing Applebloom after he embarrassed himself trying to make her feel special. It seemed a fitting place to find her, seeing as she was now at risk of losing him. Staring into the star-filled sky, Applebloom's sniffles were the only sound besides the slow clop of Big Mac's hooves on grass. He moved to sit beside her, staring at the sky as well, the two silently stargazing.
"Y'know ah'm not mad, right?" Applebloom's tears had already dried, but the streaks still remained in her fur.
"Eeyup." Big Mac couldn't stand to look at her.
"Ah mean, ah understand how ya feel. Everyone is worried about ya, but yer heart's telling ya to do it. It's just like when me and the Crusaders wanted to earn our Cutie Marks."
"...eeyup."
"So... so ah know that you gotta do this..." As she speaks, her voice trembles. Tears begin to come down again as she chokes on her tongue; she was saying this for herself, not for him. "Ah know... ah know how it is... b-but...."
"..."
When she can no longer fight the tears, she presses her face into his flanks, letting out all the pain. "But, but why you!" she wails. "Why do they have to take you!"
Big Mac lets her cry, his own throat tight. But his heart was resolved. Once she started to calm, he lifted her chin to meet his eyes. "Applebloom... ah love ya, little sister."
Applebloom wipes her eyes, brushing his hoof aside to look at him herself. "Ah know, Big Mac."
"And this is just temporary."
"Ah... ah know." She was still sniffling, but her eyes showed her own resolve. "And when yer done, y'all will be right back, right? And we can go back to normal?"
"Eeyup."
"Ya promise?"
Big Mac's throat tightened even more. He couldn't lie to those eyes. He wouldn't lie. "Ah promise." As he wraps her in a hug, he makes a solemn vow.
Ah promise, Applebloom, Granny, AJ. Ah promise ah'll see y'all again.
Applejack walked through the front door, wiping her brow as she went to the kitchen. Dropping the mail onto the table, she casually glanced from letter to letter: bills, ads, spam. Thank Celestia she got the mail before Granny Smith could look through it; she had a tendency give bits first, read the fine print never. While Granny was asleep in her chair and Applebloom was at school, AJ was left on her own to do chores and attend to the farm. Without Big Mac around, her responsibilities had drastically increased; grabbing the mail gave her a much needed break to relax and unwind... Even if it meant just reading through mail.
Looking from bill to bill, she noticed a different letter mixed into the bunch. The edges of the envelope were striped blue and red, and it bore the official stamp of the E.Q. Military. It was addressed to Sweet Apple Acres and had her name on it; the return address was the Baltimare military base, where Big Mac had been stationed.
Without delay, Applejack opened the envelope and proceeded to read the folded up letter inside.
Recruit: _______Big Macintosh_________________
_2nd_ RTBn __E__ Co. Plt. ___1005____
MCRD Baltimare, EQ 54322
Dear Applejack
Hey y'all. Sorry for not writing sooner; the Drill Instructor's been working us double time to prepare us to ship to the front lines. Hoof Camp ain't as tough as ah expected; we're up by 0500 and have our beds tidied by 0505, so ah sleep in a bit. Yesterday, Time Turner didn't make his bed proper, and the D.I. looked like he was right gonna have a fit. He was so mad in fact that we all made our beds again, then didn't get any breakfast. Had to trot double miles too, so we ended up doing twenty. End of the day came and we were right ready to kill 'im, mahself included. Still, it's a good laugh now. The food here is alright, but ain't got nothing on yer home cooking. Ah'm craving some fritters right now.
Applejack considered sending Big Mac a few fritters, then knitted her brow. She didn't know if they'd make the trip, much less if they'd even reach him; lots of food and supplies were being shipped to soldiers. Who could tell if Big Mac would get receive them himself, or if they'd just be rationed out? She decided to simply read on for now.
Mah drooling aside, how's the farm? Are ya able to keep up with those orders from Mr. Rich? Ah wish ah could help ya; ah know Applebloom is still in school and can't buck too well, and Granny is starting to lose her touch, but ah've got faith that you can handle yourself. Ya always get the job done, and ah know yer friends are always happy to help ya in a pinch.
Aj smiled. Sure, it was harder than before, but she could manage. It wasn't the first time she'd taken care of Big Mac's chores, and she doubted it'd be the last. She remembered when they were younger, and she'd dared him to try eating an unripe Zap Apple. When he got sick, all his chores ended up (quite rightly so) being dumped on her. She gave a small chuckle at the memory as she continued to read.
Some of mah buddies found a picture of you and just wouldn't stop gawkin. Had to wrestle your picture away from one of em. They all say you're the "prettiest farm gal they done ever seen." Nearly bucked one of em into next Tuesday when he tried to get me to ask for more pics of ya. Let's just say that he won't be gone till next Tuesday, but he'll certainly be feeling it in the morning.
Applejack laughed a little, blushing.
How are yer friends, anyways? I assume ya told em about mah getting drafted. Be sure to tell Twilight ah said thank ya for the book, and sorry it didn't last all of five seconds before the D.I. snatched it from me and ripped it to shreds. Hadn't even been in camp twenty minutes yet; ah'm sure he'll regret it more when he finds out who it belonged to.
Another thing ah learned is how great mah bed was. Never thought ah'd miss it, with how it always creaked when ah turned. The beds here (if'n you can call em beds) are so hard and small ah can't right lay on em without bending my head down, since my hoofs just hang off the side. That said, if ah could make just one complaint, it's the lack of apples. In the last nine weeks, ah ain't seen a single one! Seen oranges, seen cherries, and ah've even seen pears, but not a single darn apple! Anyways... ah'll be deployed to Neighagra Falls, right by the front lines with Pvt. Time Turner (he likes adding the Pvt. part even though we're all Pvts) and a few my other friends. So if'n yer feeling up to it, ya can send letters to the Neighagra Falls E.Q. Military Base. There's just the one, so shouldn't be much trouble to find... Please, write back. Ah hope to hear from ya, all of ya. Dunno when ah'll be able to write ya next.
Love ya,
Big Macintosh
Finishing the letter, AJ places it close to her heart and sends a silent prayer to Celestia, to bring her brother home safe. After a moment, she carefully folds the letter and places it back in its envelope, setting it on the kitchen table and heading back out the front door. As she looked up to the blazing midday sun, she had a smile on her face.
