February 27th XXXX
5:38 am
Twilight Sparkle woke up in her tent panting and sweating profoundly. She had had the nightmare again, it had happened every night since the true nightmare occurred. After panting for a few minutes trying to stop herself hyperventilating, she got up out her bed. She grabbed the mechanical leg Zecora had designed for her and clicked it into the key like hole where her front right leg had been, it still pained a little to walk. She put on her eye patch and walked outside.
Most ponies where still asleep in the huge expanse of tents that met her. There was only a few patrols out to keep watch, though they were mainly watching their breath hang in the cold air. Twilight looked up and saw Canterlot. So close yet so far. It had a white forcefield around it, preparation for the coming battle. It was once Twilight's home, then it seemed beautiful, a gem. Now it was the authority over the land, looming over ominously, this "jewel" lived at the price of so many other's lives. Twilight knew this now.
Twilight walked over to Rarity's tent, enjoying the moment's peace before the oncoming hustle of the day. Fires burned low with dim orange glows and flicked in the wind, the only noticeable sound. She opened the tent door and saw Rarity working away at the armour, alone, before any of her dozens of workers arrived. She barely noticed Twilight for a second and had to double take with her weary eyes. Once she was beautiful, so much effort put into her appearance, but this war had made her obsessed with work, now she had no time for such frivolous things. She smiled at Twilight sadly before saying,
"Hello Twilight, how can I help you?" Twilight leaned against the wooden frame before replying,
"Couldn't sleep either?"
"No no, no darling I was, dreaming about Spike, too painful you know?" She said this looking at Twilight with her large lightless eyes.
"Yeah, I get what you mean."
"I've been trying to put it off, thinking about him, I'll do it afterwards. The little darling loved me, I knew it but I didn't accept him, not even a straight answer, I-" Twilight walked over to her and put her metal hoof on Rarity's shoulder, Rarity had tears in her eyes.
"He knew, and he was happy about it." Rarity smiled wiping away her tears.
"I'm sure he did, now, I take it you want to be outfitted in your armour, General?" Rarity said teasingly.
"Sure," Twilight said giggling slightly.
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8:12 am
Twilight stepped out it her metal suit. It was a pattern of stars the mirrored her cutie mark, and fit perfectly with her metal leg. By now the camp was up. Squires and fillies ran around with swords and armour, getting ready for the oncoming night. Twilight went over to Zecora's tent, to see how the potions were getting on. She entered a tent with a huge line of ponies waiting with wooden bowls by a huge black cauldron, behind it, Zecora was serving out a bright green soup like substance.
"Wow Zecora you got so much ready fast." said Twilight seeing the incredible amount of potion.
"I worked quickly into the night, to prepare for the oncoming fight."
"Are you sure it will still deflect most swords and spells if you serve it now, won't it wear off?"
"The potion is weak but lasts 48 hours, it will protect most lives and retain it's power. But what about you, my litte egghead, how are you doing, with that mechanical leg?" Twilight looked down at the ornate right robotic hoof.
"It's fine, still pains a little but works great." Zecora grimaced and said,
"I'm afraid it's a pain you must endure, if it still hurts, I can do no more." Twilight smiled and said,
"You've done more than enough already Zecora, we're all so grateful for your help."
"The pleasure is mine," Zecora said returning to her simmering pot, "I simply hope we will be ready in time."
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9:23 am
While returning to the tacticians hut Twilight saw Pinkie Pie laughing among the troops. She was entertaining them with a few jokes and impressions of "Grumpy Old General Twilight, I tell you what she was nowhere near that serious at my parties." Twilight didn't mind this. Pinkie needed to keep troop morale up, if that meant some silly impression of herself being so grumpy, it was more then worth it. One pony was not enjoying this though, a light blue pegasus mare with a green mane was getting edgy. She was twitching and had a foul expression on her face, eventually she broke out shouting,
"What the hell does this matter anyway?! This war is useless I wanna go home!" There was a murmur of agreement from the troops but Pinkie quickly stepped in.
"Private Sky Line you have two fillies at home do you not?" Pinkie said with a serious expression.
"Yeah, so-"
"So do you want them to become changelings?"
"No of course not bu-"
"Then stop your yammering, we all wanna go home, but if we don't win there won't be a home to go to!" Sky Line looked around for support but found none, then, looking at Pinkie, she broke down crying about her children. Pinkie put Sky Line's head on her shoulder stroking her hair saying,
"There there, I know it's hard but it's gonna be alright." When the mare had topped crying Pinkie went straight back to entertaining the troops. Sure she looked happy now, but at night Twilight was right next to her tent. She could hear the crying, the silhouette that once had cotton candy hair, deflated before bed, all straight and dropped. Pinkie was a pony of happiness and joy, war was a pony of pain and misery, Pinkie found it a hard concept to accept no matter how just the cause. Twilight walked on.
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10:01 am
"Ah, General Twilight, welcome." Said Major Luna. Having betrayed her sister and not desiring to take the throne for herself, Luna's princess title had become null. "We need to go through the battle plans." Twilight entered the tent to find three ponies waiting to meet her, the two others Where Rainbow Dash and Applejack.
"Okay," said Twilight, "But first, Applejack how are the food stocks?"
"They're mighty fine Twilight, enough apples for eve'pony." replied Applejack.
"Good, Rainbow any word from Fluttershy?"
"Yes sir, she sent message this morning that the animals will not aid either side of the war effort, but some dragons may be loyal to Celestia."
"Good send her message to return after the fight. Now lets see this war map."
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4:27 pm
"So this is the final battle plan. The unicorn team headed by me will break the forcefield with heavy magic artillery, then they will take out the source of the spell by a tracking spell."
"Do you think Celestia will be the source?" said Rainbow.
"No," said Luna, that would make her vulnerable to attack, she'll be at the heart of the castle, the chamber where the elements of harmony are kept, drawing her power."
"Good point, then the unicorns will join the earth pony platoons, they will charge at the defenses as a distraction from the pegasi who will bomb the defenses. Then we will push forward to the castle. Collateral damage is fine, but leave civilians alone. Okay?"
"But Twilight," said Applejack, "What if their changelings."
"Changelings are transformed ponies Applejack, they can be saved, only finish those who attack you. Now everyone go relay the battle plans to your platoons, Applejack Earth, Rainbow Pegasus and I'll talk to the unicorns. Go."
As they left Applejack could be heard saying, "Hoooo-eeee! How did that take six hours?"
"We had to triple check the double check." said Rainbow.
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5:02 pm
Twilight entered her tent, tired but fuelled by nervous energy. There she found Rainbow Dash laying there on her bed. Twilight smiled and said,
"You alright lover."
"Yeah, just thinking." Twilight nuzzled next to her.
"'Bout what."
"I never expected all this, the changelings, the war, all those starving ponies, and all by Celestia's hooves. It's a mind boggle."
"Yeah, but you saw it just as I did, the chambers, the dust bowls."
"You think we'll find more chambers like that in the castle."
"Without a doubt, maybe we'll find him, the one who told us all this."
"I hope so, I don't know how to rebuild, do you?"
"I have an idea, but it would be useful to have professional help eh?"
"Yeah... I love you Twilight, you know that right?"
"Yeah I do, I love you too rainbow."
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6:13pm
The air was still the calm before the storm. Thousands of scared ponies stood, ready to die. Then out of the stillness came one voice, her voice, the voice that had rallied the masses against the tyranny of Celestia. Twilight Sparkle's voice.
"CHAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!"
