(A1) - Prologue: The News

No Glory Won

Introduction: The News

“Things fall apart in a blink of an eye, better keep yours open wide.”

It is difficult to remember life in the past, before the Great War. But it wasn't impossible.

In my case, I have snippets here and there--of Pre-War Equestria. I can remember how green the pastures looked from the clouds as I flew home from my job to my home in Cloudsdale. It looked a lot less... artificial than it did nowadays... metallic silos and barns freshly constructed, in appliance with the advancements of technology. I recalled how open and spacious the fields and farmlands were before urbanization and modernization settled in.

That day... I knew it like the back of my hoof. It was hard to forget. The day where everything changed in a blink of an eye. My memories of the past are foggy, and it only made it more difficult to remember any memories that were unpleasant. But that particular day; I knew it all too well. I distinctly remember sitting in a restaurant when it happened. I was listening to the Radio as cheerful music was coming out of it. I was eating lunch in Canterlot. I can't remember what I was eating at the time.

Up until that moment, things had been pretty good in my life. I had recently moved into Night Light's new house in Cloudsdale. She and I had planned to move in for quite some time, and last month was when we finally did it. It was a chore having to move all my furniture from one house in ponyville to another in Cloudsdale, and have them be reorganized later on. But we got the job done together, and in a way bonded a little more with the small amount of comradery we had during the move.

She was my Marefriend, though we had preferred to keep our relationship to be not so... open. We would frolic and do whatever we like indoors, but when in public with one another we had this facade of innocent friendship. Not that Equestrian society undermined same-gender relationships. It just felt somewhat... awkward to be out in that sort of way with one another, in broad daylight.

The summer of 1011 was probably one of the more pleasant ones I remembered really, now that I think about it. Not too hot with no heatwave; it was windy in just the right speed for Pegasi; precipitation was at its Annual peak for the growing of the crops after Spring; School was out for younger fillies and colts, allowing them to play and thrive outside in their respective communities.

I had always thought that life was mundane and boring in my youth years before I turned into a Mare. My life, from the moment I was born, was mostly uneventful and quiet. My Fillyhood especially was not that particularly interesting. I would walk around town and explore a little bit in the streets of ponyville. Obviously I wasn't to go into the everfree, that place had a mind of its own it seemed. Most of my days when I wasn't in school comprised of me just wandering around town, maybe kicking a pebble down the dirt path.

... Not that I was complaining. I liked the peace and quiet that had accompanied my lifestyle. It made me feel like everything was taken care of, or that there were no loose ends left to be tied. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and everything had a sense of 'familiarity' to it.

But that summer of 1011, before it happened, felt almost perfect. Night Light's job was a standard WSR Operator, responsible for keeping an eye out for any anomalous weather readings. She brought home good money, which didn't really require me to do much of anything. But I still felt bad for her, having to be the only one working while I easily cleaned the house and did chores at home. Night Light repeatedly told me time and time again that it wasn't necessary, but I thought differently. I wanted to split the responsibility equally. It only felt right for her.

So for the past few weeks, I had been trying to apply for several different jobs across Cloudsdale. It didn't really take long, of course. Unemployment wasn't a big issue, but it was somewhat hard for the common Earth Pony or Unicorn to earn a job as a WSR Operator like how Night Light is. And with travel across Equestria being as easy as it's ever been in history, it made it easier for other ponies who had no luck finding a job in - say, Baltimare for example and you wanted to go to Canterlot - even if you're not a Pegasi, the now numerous railroads, interstates, and highways across Equestria make it easier for the common pony to move than ever before, especially if you own a vehicle.

Eventually, I found a job, and I was ecstatic. It was the afternoon that day, and I knew that Night Light wouldn't be home for a few more hours. I wanted to celebrate. I flew to Canterlot on my own (which wasn't really far away, only about an hour's flight or less) and I wanted to eat a good luncheon to celebrate my recent employment.

Hayburgers. I remember now, I was... I was eating Hayburgers.

...

I...

... That was the first time I’ve heard of it. Of what happened.

The radio's music was silenced to a halt, sudden and blatantly. This captured the attention of a couple of Ponies, myself included. The Radio then gave out a horrendous screeching noise that lasted about a second or so and repeated that said noise for about 30 seconds. At that point, all eyes and ears were on the radio. It gave three more small chirps before finally a disturbed tinny stallion's voice could be heard through the speakers.

“We interrupt this Program for an Emergency Civil Alert Broadcast. We are just now receiving reports of heavy fighting taking place in the City of Acronage. Many reports are confirming that the Changelings are advancing Eastbound. We do not know the details of such provocations at this current time, but it is concluded by eyewitnesses and several radar reports from the area that there is a massive influence of Changeling Aviation present in the area. Princess Celestia herself is declaring a state of emergency.”

Despite the voice being artificial, the painful quiver in his tone was undeniable. whatever was happening, it was not a hallucination.

"It is with deep condolence that I must report to you that this is an act of war against Equestria."

The radio continued to speak more details but by that point, I was not paying attention and his words became white noise. I felt like someone bucked me in the stomach, and a cold fearful vine was squeezing my soul.

'This couldn't be real. It can't be real. This is just a dream. Everything was going great and now all of a sudden, we were under attack?'

I was half-expecting Princess Luna to reveal herself somewhere throughout my internal soliloquy. I even gave myself a small pinch on the abdomen. Nothing changed, and no Midnight-hued Alicorn to reveal this is as just a ploy for her lesson.

It was the first concrete, definitive evidence I heard that thrust me into the painful reality that we were now at war. Ponies around me looked horrified and stunned, some of them quickly packing up their belongings and leaving their food on the table without paying.

'No... this... t-this is real? How? Why?'

I remember the feeling of despair that washed over me when the realization dawned upon me. We never had a war in a Millennia. Equestria was always known as a place for Harmony and Peace. Now, as if out of nowhere, we were thrust into conflict. The word itself sounded alien to me, war.

“In light of this sudden event, Princess Celestia herself will give a speech regarding the Changelings, and her plan of action. The speech will commence in 1 hour, and will be broadcasted for all frequencies.”

I could hear clearly once more as I snapped out of my panic attack. I realized that I was among a select few ponies still sitting here, most of them leaving the building as they heard the news.

I remember dashing out of the restaurant and opening my wings and taking off to cloudsdale, leaving my lunch and the restaurant I was in behind in a dash. Night Light, I had to get to her. It felt weird and out of place, but it felt like a race against the clock. For some reason, I conjured the mental image of a sickly dark storm in the distance rolling towards me, and it was a race to see if it would get there first or me.

I remember a long and rushed flight, with a million thoughts soaring through my head. Most of those thoughts were panicked and illogical. As the flight dragged on into the hour, more collected thoughts started to assemble in my mind. Questions were the first to emerge.

'What happened? Why did this happen? What will we do now? What can we do now? What about our peace? What about our Harmony? Can the Elements do something? Where is our safety now? What will happen to us later on?

'What will the Princesses do?

'What will the Changelings do if they get here?

'Where do we go from here?

'When could have we prevented this?

'How can we prevent this?

'Why is this even happening?'

I remember the surreality of the situation; the frustration, the fear, the anxiety, sobering nausea wracking my stomach, and the drive to find Night Light - all in a conglomerate of emotions swirling around like a carousel of negative thoughts.

The flight was more exhausting than I initially thought it would be, but I didn't stop for a moment's respite. there wasn't any incentive to wait, I had to move.

I remember - when I had finally arrived there in Cloudsdale and in her home - I saw her in her room, laying on the bed weeping. My heart sunk at the sight of her. I immediately knew at the sight of her that she too had heard the news. I remember sitting down next to her, and embraced her with my wings as she wept. And soon, I joined her.

I remember that moment as the last time life had ever felt... normal, I guess. Everything from that day forward changed forever, and not in a good way.

And lastly, I remember hearing the radio play more music as we wept. It was inappropriate and terribly unfitting music for the situation, spewing happy-go-lucky Jazz non-stop. Until it fizzed, and the music was replaced by the Princess’s solemn voice.

“... My Little Ponies,

"Today marks the beginning of a new age. The beginning of a new trial for Equestria, possibly the most critical in our History. For whatever motivated reason, Queen Chrysalis has ordered an ambassador to travel to Canterlot within the week to issue an ultimatum to Equestria. My Sister and I were the first to hear the Queen's offer: Surrender Equestria or be eradicated. My sister and I have answered - along with the consent from Princess Mi Amore Cadenza of the Crystal Empire, and of Twilight Sparkle - that Equestria belongs solely to the Ponies. Hours later, the Changeling Hegemony has officially declared war on Equestria.

"By this declaration, she also as officially Declared War on the Crystal Empire as well. And it pains me to a great ordeal to announce the battle of Acronage is already over. The Changelings have broken through..."

In my weeping episode with Night Light, I almost hadn't noticed the Princess pausing for a moment, taking a reassuring breath. Her voice morphed, from sounding meek and tired to sounding determined and jaded.

"We hoped that this day would never come. We truly believed that Friendship and Harmony would help solve our problems. But we were wrong... We believed that if we banded together, to siphon through the bog of interspecies diplomacy, we would find peace to be further established within these lands... we were wrong.

"The enemy is now assaulting us in times of peace. For this reason, let us take up arms! Equestria has never before been overwhelmed by a foreign entity, or country, and we are not planning on starting today. As Princesses of Equestria, my sister Luna and I solemnly swear to do anything and everything, in our power and duty to defend Equestria and our way of life. We will prevail against our invaders until there is nothing left to fight for. For if Equestria stands together united with its allies, we will push back the Changeling threat!

"The Changelings sought for nothing but for obedience to their Queen, as she wants to enact revenge against us. Although they fight because they have the will to do so, I want to make something absolutely clear for us all. By any means necessary, we are to hold on to the magic of Friendship and Harmony. Even in the face of war... and death, we must never lose sight of what made Equestria whole today. In times of dire circumstances, we are to never lose sight of who we are, and who we were. We are to be Kind, to be Loyal, to be Unwavering, and to be Hopeful of our future. Equestria will survive! We will overcome, and we will fight back! And we will survive against a world of enemies!

"The fate of everything we've ever known is hanging in the balance. But you, my brave little ponies, are to be strong in the face of danger! For from this day forward, We will take back what is ours!”

Sounds of Cheering then blared out of the speakers, the transmission ending abruptly then and there.

“Sunshine?” A voice snapped me back to reality.

The Horizon ahead of me had this most beautiful sunset I had seen. I was sitting atop a relatively large cloud and facing west over the mountain range. Their smooth crests making for a perfect view.

And in front of me the most beautiful Mare I had seen.

“Are you alright?"

“What?” Was all I could say, feeling dumb. I looked at her and saw her curiously worried features, before shaking my head and added, “I... Yeah. I’m good. Just... remembering. That’s all.”

“Remembering what?” She pressed.

I should just drop it. There was no need to continue this conversation. There was no point. It felt weird for me to even consider continuing.

"... Do you remember the day where it all began? The war, I mean--When Celestia gave a speech? That's what I was remembering."

There was silence for a while as we sat together. The floating city of Cloudsdale could be seen on the horizon to the north, as Night Light and I watched to the west and basked in the sunset. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her worried features.

“Why would you want to remember?" Night light asked again. "Isn’t it horrible enough to go back to that again?”

“I mean... yes, of course. I really don't want to go back. But It can't be helped. Sometimes my mind wanders." I paused. "And... I can't really forget what happened. It's a part of me now."

“I, for one, don’t want to remember anything. It was horrible.”

“I know, I know." I reassured, scooching closer to her.

She wrapped her wing around me, scooching closer to me.

We sat in silence once again. We were watching the sun cross under the western horizon. It was always pretty when you were sitting on a cloud. It made you feel disconnected from the rest of the world for a short amount of time. And a few seconds with Night was all I need, after nearly a decade of war. I felt something I haven't truly felt for the first time in nearly a decade: Tranquility. It felt like sunshine with clouds and feathers. It was... nice. Really nice.

The subtlety of the peace and quiet only lasted for a brief moment though, as my mind wanders back again. I'm greeted with the sights of Vanhoover's Dark and Clausterphobic Streets. I began to breathe a little bit unevenly.

"You okay?" She asked, her tone gentle and sympathetic.

Her words sparked a different thought in my head. In all my time of fighting in the war, I was uncertain of a lot of things... mainly how I might survive the next day. But there was one thing I was never truly certain of since the beginning of the war. Her.

In all my time, I had only received one letter from Night Light since I first started fighting for the Army. Since then, I had never heard of her. And I have kept that letter close to my heart since the day I first received it. Yet since then, I had never once heard back from her or had heard any hint of whether or not she was still alive.

Years. It had been years before I would find some sort of evidence that she was alive. And in all my time before hoof, I felt like I was racing against the clock. Sometimes, when things seemed bleak; When I feel like I hit absolute rock bottom, I would take that letter out and read it again from time to time. It helped me sometimes. I never lost it. It made me think of home. And of her.

That same thought hadn't come back me for a long time. I had finally found my answer, after so long. But I knew the memories would stick with me forever, however haunting it may be.

The one thing I wanted to go back on was how she, Night Light, was able to stay alive. I knew she was a pilot, but that was literally all I knew about her. everytime I had tried to talk to her about her military past, she remained adamantly closed about. I respected that notion.

But... for some reason, today I wanted a definitive answer.

"Sunshine, are you alright?" Night Light asked once more, clearly worried.

“Hey, Night?” I interrupted her.

“Yes?” she graciously responds.

I wanted to ask her, without trying to evoke painful memories.

“You said you served as a pilot on a carrier, right?”

Her features somewhat retracted sourly at that. “That’s... that's right.”

“What was life like there? Out there in the open sea? Being able to travel out there?”

She looked at me quizzically. “What brought this up?”

“Oh, nothing. I was just... I dunno, I was always curious. I mean, I imagine life on the sea was always more serene than life was on the frontlines. Like where I was.”

“Well. There were moments of peace, yes. And the ocean was quite beautiful to look at if we weren’t under any immediate danger.” She sighed. “Which wasn't often.”

“I am very interested to know about what happened during those times. When you were at sea.”

She was staring into space when I made my request. At nothing in Particular. “Well, I can’t remember everything at the top of my head, but I have a pretty good memory. I’ll let you know about it sometime.”

"But I want to know now... Please?" I asked. Admittedly, it was a little bit selfish. But before I could backtrack my words, she looked at me with a pained expression.

“Why are you so interested to know? I don’t want to remember everything, I want to savor the good moments. Before the war, and after.”

That wasn't really a good answer. I tried again.

"... What were you feeling like, back then in the open sea?" I pathetically asked.

“I was scared to death!" she pulled her head away from my neck, staring at me with a pleading look on her face. "I was terrified of coming back, only to find you in a... in a coffin. I didn’t want to think about it. I had to focus on the task at hoof! I was trying to stay alive, I…” She stuttered. Her mane was draping over her features, but I could see her neck and whithers heaving as she quietly sobbed.

Seeing the sight of her crying was a rare sight. but of all the times I did witness it, my heart ache for her. Now that I was the one who caused her to cry, I felt like I was punched in the throat.

I shouldn't have asked this. I was stupid. Supid Stupid Stupid!

I couldn't think on what to do. Instead, I cradled her with my hooves and wings. She openly accepted the embrace and cried into my chest. Trying not to tear up myself, I gently stroked her make. This went on for several minutes before her breathing calmed down. Only then did I ever say something.

"I'm sorry."

I kept stroking her mane.

"I didn't mean to hurt you, I was just... worried for you. I wanted to know if you were okay. I'm sorry."

She tightened her grip around me and cried a little bit more into my chest. The sunset was now dipping fast below the horizon, thanks to Celestia's magic. Soon, it was now Dusk.

"We can go inside if you'd like." I asked gently. She didn't answer back. I stayed patient, no reason to rush an answer out of her. I just kept stroking her mane.

Finally she relented.

"... That's good."

We made it home and we made ourselves comfortable. I prepared two slices of buttered toast for her, as she was just sitting in bed waiting for me. She stared at the floor as I walked in, but gave a genuine yet faint smile upon my arrival.

She ate both slices, and I didn't mind. I wasn't hungry, and she was clearly troubled by my perturbed questions. It was the least I could do. I could only sit in silence beside her on the cloud bed we owned. She quietly ate her snack, and I sat by her side. Neither of us said a word, yet the silence was comforting.

That silence was not meant to last, as Night Light broke it first. "Hey, Sunshine?"

"Hm, yes?" I answered quickly.

"... thinking on what you said earlier... you said you were also worried for me."

"Of course I was." I answered honestly. I wanted to say more, but I bit my tongue.

"I want... I know you are curious about what happened, and... so am I. But, I also don't want to go down the bad parts of memory lane."

"Me neither."

"So... If I tell only bits and pieces, will you be satisfied?"

"I Promise." I responded truthfully.

“Okay...” She looked at the cloud floor. She contemplated long and meticulously. “You know I was a pilot for a carrier. I was stationed on the ‘ERNS Blueblood’. It was the more advanced of the carriers that we had in our battlegroup.”

She looked away again. “I guess... I should start from the beginning. When I was drafted.”

Author's Note

This Fic takes place in the "Equestria at War" Universe, a mod for HOI IV. I recommend, though not forcing you, to check it out. (link to the Fic Group: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212917/folder/60596/wartime )