Decades of Sorrowby BronyWriterChaptersPrologue: The First WarRumors and DiplomacyCamp ArawakThe FrontPrologue: The First WarAuthor's note Now, this isn't going to be a perfect representation of the human 20th century, particularly in terms of time between major events. I am merely taking events that happened in the last century and applying them to Equestria. Some disbelief must be suspended in terms of things like the ponies holding weapons, but it isn't a huge detail. A trio of ponies stood in a train station in the small town of Ponyville. They were surrounded by dozens of other families, saying goodbye to loved ones, potentially for the last time. Equestria was at war with the Changeling race, and Celestia had called every able-bodied pony to her side to fight this new threat. The youngest pony in the trio hugged her father's front legs close to her. "But Pa! I don't want you and Big Mac to go!" said Applejack with a whine. Applejack's father adjusted his hat and gave Applejack a small smile. "And you know that I don't want to go sugar cube, but do you remember why we have to go?" Applejack nodded and a tear fell from her eye. "Because the Changelings are goin' to attack Equestria if we don't stop them now," said Applejack. "But Pa, we need you here now!" Applejack's father sighed. How should he explain this to her? He leaned down next to her and placed a comforting hoof on her shoulder. "Listen sugar cube, I hope that you never have to experience this yourself, but as an able bodied Equestrian pony, I have a duty to protect my land. Not only that, but I'm doing this to protect you too. I'm trying to do my part in making sure that nothing bad happens to you or your other or your baby sister." "But you could die!" said Applejack desperately. "Yes, that is true. But I'd rather die fighting to protect you than live with the knowledge that I could have helped the ones I love and I did nothing. Your brother too." Big Macintosh looked on an nodded. "Eeyup," he said. Not event he thought that he was about to go to war phased him much. That was just the way he worked. Applejack began crying in earnest now. Her father was about to say something, but the train whistle behind them blew, signifying that it was time for them to go. Applejack's father pulled himself away from his crying daughter. "Even if I don't make it, it's only goodbye for a little while. Even death doesn't tear families apart forever. I know it will hurt, but always know that I am with you. Big Mac too." Big Mac nodded. "Eeyup." The whistle blew again and Applejack's father and brother went to go board the train. Just before Applejack's father got on board, he turned back and ran towards Applejack, pulling her into one final hug. "I'll miss you sugar cube," he said. Applejack was shocked to detect...fear in her father's voice. Was he truly afraid? Her father broke away from the hug. He reached up and took his cowpony hat off of his messy red hair. He placed it on Applejack's head. "Now you take care of that for me sugar cube. Don't let anything happen to that." "I won't Pa, it'll be just like it is now for when you come back," said Applejack. Her father nodded and boarded the train. * * * * Applejack woke up early to the rooster's crow. She groaned and sleepily shuffled out of bed. Time to pick apples. With her father and brother gone, she had to be the one to do the majority of the work on the farm. Her mother was not very strong and couldn't really contribute much to the farm. Besides, most of her time was spent taking care of a fast-growing Apple Bloom. It was Apple Bloom that had made her mother so weak. The pregnancy and delivery had taken a lot out of her mother. It was a miracle that either had survived. Her father and brother had been gone for almost a year now. Her father sent letters whenever he could, but there was no easy way to get letters to small towns like Ponyville. The war had hit everypony hard. Even now there was no real way to tell which side was winning the war. Casualties on both sides were high and the first thoughts of peace began formulating in the minds of both Celestia and the Changeling Queen. Or so the rumors went anyway. Applejack collected every ounce of information on the war. Ever since her father and brother had been drafted, she had started a quest to gain as much knowledge about the war as she could. The sheer size of the war meant that it was often difficult to sort out the truth in between all of the rumors, but Applejack collected all of the knowledge that she could at any rate. Every day at 10:00 on the dot, the news carriage would come through town to drop off the newspapers and every morning at 10:15, The Mayor would read the list of any Ponyvillians who were killed, injured, or missing in the war. Since Ponyville was such a small town, this was a thankfully rare occurrence. Applejack smashed the nearest apple tree with her hind hooves, causing about a third of the apples on the tree to plummet into a trio of waiting buckets stationed under the tree. It would be nearly time now, time to make the trek back to Town Square to hear if her father and brother were okay. She hit the apple tree once more and the rest of the apples came tumbling off the tree. Applejack took the nearest bucket in her teeth and dragged it towards the nearby barn, hoping to sort the apples later. As she walked over to the second bucket to drag it towards the barn as well, she heard the bell ring in Town Square. It was 9:45, the news would be arriving soon. She dropped what she was doing and immediately ran towards Town Square, hoping that today wouldn't be the day that she had dreaded would come ever since her father and brother had left. * * * * Applejack made it into the Town Square just in time to see The Mayor come out of Town Hall. Applejack nudged herself as far forward into the crowd as she could, still hoping that today would not be the day that she often had nightmares about. The Mayor stood behind a podium, a single sheet of paper in his mouth. He placed it on the podium, adjusted his glasses, and began reading. "I regret to inform this town that we do have some casualties from this dreadful war today." Applejack's heart dropped into her stomach and began beating at a million miles an hour. Please Celestia, not today. Not any day. "We have two wounded ponies today. The first is Bookworm, who was shot in the left shoulder. He will recover just fine and he is being sent home. The second wounded pony is Big Macintosh who was shot in the side. The bullet hit one of his ribs so there was no significant damage. He'll be just fine too and he is also coming home." Applejack stared forward in shock. Big Macintosh had been wounded! Applejack found little relief right now in the fact that he would heal up and that he was coming home. There were still the names of the dead to be read. The Mayor adjusted his glasses once more. "And now for the names of the ponies who gave their lives for our country. As with the wounded, there were two ponies I receive news about. The first, is Moneyspender, son of our dear town benefactor, Filthy Rich. The second, is Apple Harvester, whom many of you know works Sweet Apple Acres, not far from the main town. That is all." The town square was silent for a moment while they processed the news that two of their fellow townsponies were dead. Suddenly, an anguished wail pierced the silence. The wail confused Applejack. Who was the pony who was screaming? The cries sounded vaguely familiar. Applejack felt the sounds home in on her, getting closer and she suddenly realized, the she was the one who was screaming. Her father was dead. Her father was dead and her brother had been wounded. The world around her seemed to spin as her legs gave way beneath her. She stopped screaming and fell to the ground. The townsfolk looked on in sympathy at the sobbing, hyperventilating filly, curled up in a ball on the ground. She didn't notice them. She didn't notice anypony right now. Nopony mattered right now. Why hadn't Applejack tried harder to get her father to stay that day on the train station? She could have pressed the issue more, made him see that he should stay and be there for his family! If she had just begged him a little more, then he would have come to his senses and not left. There were plenty of other able-bodied ponies who could fight this war. He didn't need to go. It was all her fault, she should have begged and pleaded more. As she continued crying on the ground, she became vaguely aware of two fillies her age standing over her, looking at her sympathetically. One was a cyan Pegasus with a rainbow colored mane. Rainbows, just like the kind she used to admire with her father. He had always called her out of the house to look at Rainbows with her whenever they appeared. The other was a bright pink pony with a poofy pink cotton candy looking mane. Cotton candy, just like the kind her father used to get her whenever the carnival would come to town. It was a tradition that the two of them shared, going to the carnival and getting cotton candy, just the two of them. The rainbow one spoke up. "Hey uh..." she clearly wanted to comfort Applejack but had no idea of what to say. "I'm really sorry about your dad...Applejack is your name right?" Applejack barely mustered the strength to calm down long enough to nod. "It's super-duper bad what happened. Anything we can do to help?" asked the pink one. Applejack began regaining focus on her senses. She realized that the wind was blowing through her blonde mane...but that wasn't right, her hat usually blacked the wind. "My hat, where's my hat!?" she said, standing up and looking around for it wildly. The pink one and the rainbow one both looked around for it before the pink one gave a grunt of satisfaction and she walked back over to Applejack with her cowpony hat in her mouth. Applejack immediately grabbed it back from her and placed it back where it belonged on her head. The hat was hers now she supposed. "I'm Pinkie Pie and this is Rainbow Dash," said the pink one. Applejack nodded. "Look, if there is anything you need, anything at all, just let us know," said Rainbow Dash sympathetically. Applejack nodded again and stood up. "I...I think I need to go home now," she said. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash nodded and let Applejack begin the journey back to her farm. * * * * The walk back to the farm seemed like it took forever. Part of Applejack wanted it to last forever. She didn't know how she would tell her mother and Granny Smith about her father's death. She had to do it somehow. Rumors and DiplomacyThwack A dozen apples fell from the tree above and landed in carefully arranged buckets below. Applejack turned around to inspect the tree to see if any apples remained on it. Seeing none, she gave a satisfied nod and began dragging the apples into the barn. It had been a hard seven years for the Apple family. The war had ended a mere six months after the death of Applejack's father. The Changeling forces had been nearly decimated by the end and they had been driven out of their homeland. Granted, it wasn't like Equestria had gotten away scot-free from the war. Nearly two million of Equestria's sons and daughters never returned home from the front. Another three million had come back wounded in some way, including Applejack's brother Big Macintosh. Two million dead and three million wounded of the seven million soldiers who had gone off to fight. Applejack's mother had been so devastated by the news of her husband's death that she had never fully recovered. The birth of Apple Bloom hadn't done wonders for her health in the first place. She passed away just before the war ended. Three months after that, Granny Smith followed. Granny Smith had been old though, she had passed on at the age of 96, a ripe old age for anypony. The Ponyville Apple family had endured, much like they always had through the hard times. Big Macintosh was able to get back to work within a month or two of returning from the war. In those few months, the town had rallied to help Applejack take care of the farm. She had met many fillies her age from those workdays, fillies that she now considered her dearest friends in the world. Their names were Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, and Rarity. Together they had grown into as close of a family as any friends can and without them Applejack knew that she wouldn't have gotten through these past seven years. Apple Bloom was a fast growing filly now, eager to explore the world and squeeze as much out of it as she could. Applejack often saw a lot of herself in her sister. Applejack finished apple bucking for the day and went back inside the farmhouse, making sure to close the barn door tightly as last time she had failed to do so...well...pigs could be greedy sometimes. Big Macintosh had finished his portion of the apple trees earlier than Applejack and was now sitting at the table, reading a newspaper. "What's the world like these days Big Mac?" asked Applejack, sitting across from him at the table. He continued reading the paper for a brief moment while formulating his answer. Big Macintosh was not one to speak unless he knew what he was going to say. "Not good AJ," he said. Applejack rolled her eyes but she gave her brother a break. If he had been silent and contemplative before the war, after he came home he was practically mute. Even his normal 'Eeyups' were fewer and far between in those first few years. he had gotten much better since then, but Applejack had never heard a single detail about the war from him. "Care to elaborate?" asked Applejack. Big Macintosh paused for a moment. "Peace talks not looking good." "With which country?" "Both." Applejack grimaced. There had been rumors circulating that the Changelings were formulating another invasion of Equestria and this time they would be enlisting the help of the Diamond Dog territories. Celestia and Luna both were trying to negotiate peace but more rumors circulated that the talks were falling through. "It seems that they want reparations for the war," said Big Mac. "Reparations!?" said Applejack, her blood beginning to boil. "They invaded us! We didn't do anythin' to them and they just plum attacked us outta nowhere!" "You know that it's more complicated than that." "No it aint!" said Applejack angrily. "If anythin' they should be givin' reparations to us! In fact, we should have slaughtered every Celestia forsaken one of 'em! Then we wouldn't be dealin' with this mess!" "Eeyup, we'd be dealin' with a million other worse messes," said Big Mac in his usual calm demeanor. This occasionally irritated Applejack. How in Equestria could Big Mac be so calm like that after the horrors he had seen!? But nope, he was still his usual calm self these days. Even after the war, Big Mac suffered his scars quietly and calmly. Applejack couldn't figure out for the life of her how he did it. Applejack gave a frustrated groan. She knew Big Mac was right though...still, what she wouldn't give for the changeling race to be extinct. Big Mac turned a page in his paper. "I miss 'em too," he said. Applejack looked at him quizzically. "Huh?" she asked. "You want the Changelings eradicated because one of them killed Pa which tore our family to shreds for a while there. You want vengeance for what they did because they took our parents away from us. I miss 'em too." Applejack paused for a moment, and not because Big Mac had just said the longest sentence that had come out of his mouth...ever, but because she knew he was right. She sighed and banged her head on the table a little bit. "What'll we do if we go to war again Big Mac? The last one was barely seven years ago and that was just against the Changelings! I don't know if we can win if it’s the Changelings and the Diamond Dogs," said Applejack worriedly. "Well, we have the Griffins willing to go to war with us and the Disciples of Discord have also pledged their support." Applejack raised an eyebrow at this piece of news. "Why in the hay would the Disciples of Discord want to join us?" Big Mac shrugged. "If Celestia trusts them then so do I," said Big Mac. Applejack nodded. "I gotta go meet the girls at the spa," she said, the last word bringing a look of mild contempt to her face. It was a running joke among the townsfolk that it was Rarity who single-hoofedly kept the spa in business since she was there so often. "Eeyup." Applejack walked out the front door and made the fifteen minute trek into town towards the spa. Truth be told, despite how much she hated the spa, she did love seeing her friends there so it almost balanced out...almost. With a ring of the bell over the door, she entered the spa to see her friends all chatting away with each other. Applejack even spotted Rainbow Dash there, a rare occurrence to be sure. Seeing their farmer friend come it, the five of them stopped their conversation and went over to greet her. "Howdy, y'all," said Applejack "Hey Applejack," said Twilight greeting her with a grin. Applejack raised an eyebrow as she sensed something was off. "What were y'all talkin' about when I came in?" she asked. "What everypony is talking about these days, the impending Second Changeling War," said Rarity. Fluttershy shrank back at this. "I don't want to go to war! I don't want to be drafted, I would never hurt anyone!" she said worriedly. "You don't need to worry about that Fluttershy," said Rainbow Dash comfortingly. "With your medical training with animals, they'd put you to work taking care of the...sick ponies." Fluttershy nodded, only slightly comforted by the thought. The two spa ponies led them to the steam room where they were left to relax in the steam for a while. "So," said Applejack, breaking the customary silence as everypony got settled in. "What are the odds that this is really happenin'? Twilight, you're close to the princess, what do you know about it?" Twilight sighed and looked at the floor sadly. "Princess Celestia has basically given the Changeling Empire and the Diamond Dogs until the..." tears began forming in Twilight's eyes, something that unnerved the other five greatly. "...until the end of today to back off or we go to war again." Silence ruled the room. Even the hiss of the steam seemed to mute itself as the gravity of the news sunk in. "Are...are you even allowed to tell us this darling?" asked Rarity. Twilight merely shrugged. "It doesn't really matter anyway the way I see it. In my mind, we're already at war. It's only a matter of making it official." Tears of fear began falling from the eyes of the other ponies in the room too. The last war had been devastating for all of Equestria. With the Diamond Dogs, the griffins, and the Disciples of Discord in the mix, the war would undoubtedly be the most brutal war in the history of any of those countries. "Should we just call it a day then?" asked Rainbow Dash, standing up to leave. "I don't really feel like going to the spa when we're about to go to war." "No," said Applejack to the surprise of everypony. "Let’s...let’s just enjoy this one small comfort as friends. If this is the last day of peace, we should spend it doing something peaceful and relaxin' don't ya think?" the other five heads in the room nodded and Rainbow Dash sat back down. * * * * The rest of the spa day had passed in relative silence. Despite the best efforts of the spa workers, nopony was very relaxed. Even Pinkie Pie hadn't felt like smiling which was, for them at least, the biggest reminder of the gravity of the situation. The friends had gone to Twilight's house for the rest of the day as they knew that Twilight would hear about the verdict one way or the other immediately. They did their best to pretend that the war was not coming, feeling that maybe if they pretended hard enough, then it wouldn't. They all knew the folly of it but they kept pretending, if only to keep themselves sane for a little while. * * * * "Okay, Pinkie Pie, do you have any threes?" asked Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie examined her cards, searching for a three to give to Rainbow. Finding none, she turned to her Pegasus friend. "Nope, go fish!" said Pinkie. Rainbow Dash gave a good-natured grunt of frustration and picked up a card, hoping that it was the three she needed. No dice. She placed the card into her hand. Pinkie's turn came and she reciprocated. "Rainbow Dash, do you have any sevens?" Rainbow Dash gave another good-natured groan of frustration as she handed Pinkie Pie the card that she had just drawn from the top of the pile. "Woohoo!" said Pinkie placing four cards down on the ground. “Book of sevens for me!" she said happily. It was Applejack's turn now and she examined her cards. Unfortunately for her, all of her cards were different so there was no one card in particular that she was looking for. "Uh, Fluttershy, do you have any nines?" she asked. Fluttershy looked at her hand and grabbed two cards and passed them to Applejack. She examined the cards before nodding and putting them in her hand. "Uh, Twilight?" asked Fluttershy. "Um...do you have any sixes?" Twilight nodded and slid a solitary card over to Fluttershy. Fluttershy picked it up and placed four cards down on the floor. "Umm...I'm out of cards then...I guess..." The other five ponies laughed and gave Fluttershy congratulatory high-hooves. Twilight used her magic to put the cards back into one deck. "Play again?" asked Twilight to the approving nods of the rest of the group, sans Rainbow. "I don't know. Fluttershy has won the last eight games! How does she keep doing it!?" asked Rainbow in a slightly irritated manner. Fluttershy blushed and looked at the ground, obviously embarrassed. "Oh um...well, we don't have to keep playing if my winning makes you feel bad," she said quietly. Twilight glared at Rainbow before turning her attention to Fluttershy. "Don't mind her, we don't care that you win Fluttershy. What matters is that we're all hanging out having a good time! Isn’t that right Rainbow?" said Twilight. Rainbow mumbled something but nodded just the same. Before Twilight could shuffle the cards once again, Spike came into the room. Everypony froze and stared at what was in his hand: a scroll from Princess Celestia. Twilight put the cards down and grabbed the scroll from Spike. The entire room held their breath and waited for the verdict. "Dear Twilight," said Twilight, reading the scroll. "Our scouts have reported that the Changeling army is mobilizing for an attack on Equestria. I sent messengers to the Changeling capital with the declaration of war. I just received one from both the Changelings and the Diamond Dogs. We have the full support of the griffon lands and the Disciples of Discord. I will make the official announcement tomorrow. You may tell your friends but nopony else." Twilight put the scroll down. And the room was silent once more. For the second time in the decade, Equestria was at war. * * * * Applejack was given a letter from Spike the next day, telling her to meet back at Twilight's house. Being Celestia's protégé automatically made her a high ranking officer in the war and she was being sent back to Canterlot. Applejack was sad to see Twilight go, but she hoped that they would all be together again when the war was over...whatever that meant. Applejack went back inside the house for a quick bite to eat before she headed off to Twilight's. She only had the stomach for a hay bar at the moment so she sat at the table alone and chewed it in silence. A few minutes later, Big Mac came in with the mail. "Mail's here," he said, placing it on the table. Applejack nodded and glanced down at the pile that Big Mac had placed down on the table. The most prominent piece of mail was a special report from Princess Celestia herself explaining the war and what must be done for Equestria to survive. Applejack tossed it aside. She really didn't have the stomach for that right now. She took a bite of her hay bar and turned her attention back to the pile of mail. She sorted through it while Big Mac got a hay bar for himself too. Applejack was just about to take another bite of her hay bar when she saw it. It was an envelope with the official stamp of Celestia on it. Applejack would have recognized a letter of that type anywhere. Tars began to fill her eyes as she began trying to hold back sobs. This wasn't fair! They had already asked Big Mac to go to war for Equestria and he had been wounded doing his part! How could Princess Celestia have the nerve to ask him to go to war again? Big Mac picked up on her emotions and spotted the letter on the table. He wordlessly picked it up and examined it. Applejack was shocked to see tears beginning to fall down his eyes. Although, she shouldn't really be surprised; the horrors of war had already ripped him to shreds emotionally once and now they were asking him to go through it again. Big Mac took the letter in his teeth, walked over to Applejack and placed it in front of her. Applejack closed her eyes as tears streamed down her face. She pushed the letter away, not wanting to read the horrible letter that could very possibly send Big Mac to his grave. "It's not for me," said Big Mac simply. Applejack's eyes snapped open and she brought the letter back over to her. Sure enough, the letter specified whom the letter was for on the front. Applejack stared at the letter, horrified to see that her name was emblazoned on the front. * * * * Applejack ran towards Twilight's house, letter in her teeth and tears falling down her eyes. As she ran into town, she saw ponies checking their mailboxes. Applejack knew that many would receive the same letter as she had just received. She banged on Twilight's door and within a few seconds, Twilight opened the door. Applejack saw that she was crying too. Twilight wordlessly beckoned Applejack into the house. Applejack entered to see Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash all sitting on the floor. Applejack's jaw dropped at what she saw. Each of them had identical letters in front of them. "Celestia no," said Applejack, sitting next to her friends. "Not you too!" she said. The other four said nothing as Twilight sat next to them. "Well hold on everypony, we don't even know what they say yet. They may not even be draft notices or...uh...maybe we'll be sent to a department where we won't have to do any fighting," said Rarity. "Well, the only way to know is to open them and find out," said Rainbow Dash. "I guess that I'll go first." Rainbow Dash picked up the letter and broke the seal on it. She scanned it briefly before reading it aloud. "Dear Ms. Rainbow Dash. We are writing to inform you that you have been chosen to be a member of the Equestrian Armed Forces in this time of war. You will report to Camp Arawak in Canterlot in two days’ time. Failure to do so will result in strict disciplinary action." Rainbow Dash re-read the letter a few more times before looking up. "Well," she said. "I guess I'm going off to go kill some Changelings," she said shakily. Fluttershy opened her letter next. "Dear Ms. Fluttershy. We are writing to inform you that you have been chosen to be a member of the Equestrian Medical-Combat Corps in this time of war. You will report to Camp Stonewater in Canterlot in two days’ time. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action." She looked up at the group, shaking in fear. "Well look on the bright side, you're a medic," said Twilight. "Medic-soldier!" said Fluttershy. "I have to be a medic sometimes and a soldier at others! I can't kill anypony, I won't kill anypony!" said Fluttershy who began sobbing hysterically. Twilight moved over to Fluttershy to comfort her. Rarity picked up her letter and opened it. She scanned it. "I don't understand, there must be some mistake! It says here that I'm going to go into the armed forces like Rainbow Dash! I...I don't think I can do that!" "You have to," said Applejack. "We all have to do our part for Equestria. Don't worry girl, they're gonna train you up so that you'll know what you're doin' out there." Pinkie Pie nodded and opened he letter up. She read it and frowned. "Dear Ms. Pinkie Pie, you are to be sent to officer's training with Twilight Sparkle. You will be stationed wherever she is. You will report to Camp Manabe as soon as possible. Your Pinkie Sense is required in these dark times." Pinkie read the letter once more. "I'm gonna go be an officer because they want to use my Pinkie Sense?" she said. "I suppose so," said Twilight who was just as confused as everypony else in the room. Their eyes all turned to Applejack who slowly opened up her letter. "Dear Ms. Applejack. We are writing to inform you that you have been chosen to be a member of the Equestrian Armed Forces in this time of war. You will report to Camp Arawak in Canterlot in two days’ time. Failure to do so will result in strict disciplinary action." Applejack put the letter down on the ground. "I guess it's infantry for me, just like Rainbow and Rarity." said Applejack simply. The room was silent for a moment before the six ponies gathered together in a large group hug. Each pony in the room wondered if it would be the last time they would ever have one. Camp Arawak"But I don't want you to go!" said a young filly as she hung on to her older sister's legs. Applejack placed a comforting hoof on her sister's shoulder before wiggling out of her tight embrace. "I don't want to go either Apple Bloom, but I have to. We are at war now and I've been called by my country to fight the Changeling invasion," said Applejack sadly. "But you may die! What'll I do if you go off and die?" said Apple Bloom worriedly. "Well, you'll do what our family has done through all hard times, you'll endure. Besides, you have Big Macintosh here to work the farm and Ponyville will send some workers to help us out while I'm gone. It'll be okay," said Applejack. "But what if it isn't?" asked Apple Bloom worriedly. Before Applejack had to respond, the train whistle blew and the conductor called everypony on board. Applejack slung her bag over her shoulder and gave Apple Bloom one last hug. "It will be, we're a tough bunch." said Applejack with a small smile. She stood up and thought for a moment before taking her hat off of her head and placing it on Apple Bloom's. "Now you just take care of that for me while I'm away." Apple Bloom nodded. "I will sis. Goodbye." Applejack adjusted the bag on her shoulders and nodded before boarding the train. * * * * Applejack's introduction to life in Camp Arawak had been interesting to say the least. The minute they all got off of the train their bags were taken from them and they were ordered to report for 'beautification' as one soldier put it. They were led to a room where a group of ponies waited with razors and...gardening shears? Applejack didn't like the look of that. She was in line between Rainbow Dash and Rarity, waiting her turn for whatever they were doing in there. She had a pretty good idea though. Soon, Rainbow Dash was called forward and she was told to stand completely still. A pony with a razor took her mane and cut it off so it was midway down her neck. Applejack didn't quite know why, but there was something kind of sad about seeing the severed rainbow mane fall to the floor. Next, the pony grabbed the gardening shears and cut Rainbow Dash's tail in half before motioning that she could go wait with the other new recruits. Applejack was called forward. The feel of the razor cutting through her blonde mane was strange to Applejack. However, it wasn't as strange as how cold her neck felt without her long mane to cover it. Her tail was unceremoniously cut in half just like Rainbow's was and she was motioned forward. However, before she could reach the room that she was directed to, she heard a commotion behind her. "Oh no, no, no! I won't let you ruin my beautiful mane!" said Rarity defiantly. The barber pony was standing in front of Rarity who was using her magic to create a sort of shield around her mane and tail. All at once a gruff Pegasus stallion came forward. "What in the name of Celestia is going on here?" he said angrily. "Oh, you seem to be in charge here, can you tell these ruffians to not cut my mane and tail off? I like them just the way that they are," said Rarity. The pony stared at her in shock for a brief moment before he became livid. "What is your name, Private?" he asked. "Oh, well my name is Rarity," said Rarity. "Private Rarity, you seem rather vain to me, from now in you're Private Vanity!" "I hardly think insults are necessary!" she said crossly. Rarity for the love of Celestia, just stop talking. thought a horrified Applejack. "Private Vanity you have three seconds, and I mean three seconds to let the barber cut your hair or I will hold you down and make him shear off every single hair on your entire body!" Thankfully Rarity seemed to get the hint that this sort of behavior wouldn't fly and that she would get no special treatment here because she was a 'lady'. The magical aura around her mane and tail disappeared and soon her hair was cut like the rest. Applejack left the room and was followed closely by Rarity who was seemingly about to cry. "Now just calm down Rarity, gettin' your hair cut isn't the end of the world by a long shot. Besides, after the war is over you can grow it back. But for now I'd say just leave it alone.," said Applejack. Rarity nodded. "You are right of course. I don't know what I was thinking. I hope that doesn't come back to bite me any more than it already has. 'Private Vanity', the nerve of him!" "I wouldn't cross him if I was you," said Applejack as the two of them moved to stand next to Rainbow Dash. "He seems to have your number right now." "What took you two so long?" asked Rainbow Dash as she looked over the new looks of the two of them. "Rarity had some...hair troubles. She ran afoul of the pony who I think is our drill sergeant and she's 'Private Vanity' now," said Applejack. Rainbow Dash stared at Rarity for a brief moment before she burst out laughing. "Oh, Private Vanity, that's just priceless!" she said. Rarity frowned at her. "Laugh all you want, I think it is simply ghastly what is happening right now," said Rarity. Rainbow Dash continued to laugh until a loud vice boomed through the hall. "ATTEEEENTION!" Instantly everypony in the hall stood up straight with a stoic look on their face. Sure enough, the pony that had reprimanded Rarity earlier walked into the hall. He walked back and forth, inspecting the line of new recruits. "I am Drill Sergeant Durkin and let me tell you all now, you had better follow every order I give you unless you want me to bring down a world of pain upon your unfortunate heads! now the first and last words out of your pathetic mouths had better be 'sir' and Celestia help you if they aren't, is that clear?" "SIR, YES, SIR," said the entire hall of recruits. "Good! Now I fought in the First Changeling War and I know a thing or two about killing those idiotic sons of guns. It is my job to teach you all to be almost as good as I was at killing them and Celestia help me if you hinder my job in any way! Now, over the next two weeks I will mold you all into the finest bunch of Changeling killers that Equestria has ever seen! You will have no sympathy for them, you will not hesitate to kill them, and above all, you WILL kill them but the hundreds! Is that clear!?" "SIR, YES SIR!!" Sergeant Durkin paced up and down the new recruits, doubtlessly looking for somepony to yell at. Unfortunately, he landed on Applejack. "You there, what's your name?" "Sir, Applejack sir!" said Applejack. "Applejack, what do you pick apples all day, are you an apple farmer?" "Sir, yes sir!" said Applejack. "Well isn't that interesting? I knew an apple farmer back in the war, his name was Apple Harvester and boy did he get some bad luck. Didn't quite make it out of the war so I guess being an apple farmer isn't the best thing when fighting Changelings don't you think Private!?" Applejack was shocked to her her father talked about in this setting, much less so disrespectfully. "Sir he was my father, sir!" said Applejack. Sergeant Durkin was briefly taken aback by this but recovered quickly. "Well you don't say!" he said. "Is that why you're here, to kill Changelings, to get revenge for them killing him?" "Sir, no sir!" "NO!? Well then why are you here?" "Sir, I was drafted, sir!" "You mean once you found out that you got the opportunity to kill Changelings you didn't jump on the opportunity? Well, what a way to honor your father's memory!" said Sergeant Durkin. Applejack felt the anger rising inside her every time Sergeant Durkin talked so disrespectfully about her father, but at this last statement, she could stand it no longer. "YOU KNOW WHAT, BUCK YOU!!!" she said before calming down a bit. "Sir." Sergeant Durkin looked absolutely livid. "WELL BUCK YOU TOO PRIVATE! YOU MAY NOT SPEAK TO A SUPERIOR OFFICER THAT WAY!" he said. "I don't like the name Applejack, from now on you're Private Buck! I'd say Private Buck You but that doesn't roll off the tongue as nicely. Now Private Buck I want you to drop and give me 100 pushup and so help you Celestia if you can't!" Applejack glared at him but started doing pushups all the same. 100 was no problem for her at all. Sergeant Durkin directed his attention towards Rainbow Dash next. "Well, what's your excuse?" "Sir, I was drafted too sir!" said Rainbow Dash who just wanted to avoid his wrath. "Well aint that just too bad. What's your name Private?" "Sir, Rainbow Dash sir!" "Private Rainbow Dash, well what did you do for a living back in whatever hick town you came from?" "Sir, Weather Patrol sir!" "So you moved around clouds all day is that it?" "Sir, yes sir!" said Rainbow Dash who was getting a little embarrassed by this negative attention. "Well I'd say that makes you Private Cloud then doesn't it?" said Sergeant Durkin. Rainbow Dash faltered for a second, obviously hoping for a cooler nickname. "Uh, sir, yes sir," she said glumly. Sergeant Durkin continued to yell at various recruits for a little while, stopping briefly to yell at Applejack some more when she finished her pushups. He finally let them go to the mess hall for lunch after another hour of initiation. * * * * Applejack carried her lunch tray over to the table where Rainbow Dash and Rarity sat. Rainbow Dash was ranting about her nickname. "'Private Cloud', I'm 'Private Cloud' now! How uncool is that!?" "Hold your horses girl, I'm sure it'll go away once we pass basic training," said Applejack. "Easy for you to say, you got 'Private Buck', that's way cooler than 'Private Cloud'!" "I'd rather have a wimpy name than a profane one," said Applejack irritatedly. "Well I am rather surprised at your outburst Applejack," said Rarity, doing her best to eat the below mediocre food that they had been given. "You would to if he had insulted your father like that," said Applejack angrily. "Possibly. But even if I did I would restrain myself from using such vulgar language. I mean really, was that necessary?" said Rarity. Applejack turned her full attention to Rarity. "YES!" she said with anger and sorrow in her eyes that Rarity had net seen in a while. Rarity was silent for a moment. "Oh, I see. Well I'll stop talking about it then," she said quietly. Applejack began eating her food and nodded. "So," began Rarity once more. "What do you suppose these next two weeks will be like? I don't relish the prospect of holding a firearm." "Rarity based on your experiences so far, I'd say that this is gong to be the most demanding two weeks of your life. Applejack did 100 pushups no problem, but can you even do one?" asked Rainbow Dash. Rarity blushed and looked away. "Well, I never really had any need to do anything like that before," said Rarity. "That's exactly my point," said Rainbow Dash with a nod. "I remember the one year you entered The Running of the Leaves. You lasted exactly 30 minutes going at a slower speed than the rest of the group before you collapsed from exhaustion!" "And that is exactly why I don't belong here!" said Rarity. "I belong back home making uniforms for the soldiers or doing scrap drives or something. I'm not a soldier!" Applejack swallowed the food that she was chewing and turned her attention to Rarity. "Just you wait Rarity, I have a feeling that this war is going to bring out somethin' new in all of us." * * * * As it would just so happen, Rainbow Dash was absolutely correct about the physical toil that basic training would have on Rarity. The very first drill that Sergeant Durkin do, 50 pushups, absolutely wiped Rarity out. She collapsed on the ground from sheer exhaustion after only ten which prompted yelling from Sergeant Durkin. Rarity collapsed once again from exhaustion during their first ten mile run after only one mile which prompted more yelling from Sergeant Durkin. She got stuck in an obstacle course after only a few seconds...which prompted more yelling from Sergeant Durkin. Each night Rarity would fall asleep immediately, every joint in excruciating pain from the toils of the day. However, in that at least she wasn't alone. Applejack would crawl into bed feeling as if she had just harvested her entire orchard in a single day. Each morning the recruits would wake up and each morning they would feel as if somepony had been hitting their joints with hammers while they slept. And so the days went by, running, pushups, obstacle courses, yelling, pushups, running, pushups, obstacle courses, yelling, yelling, yelling, obstacle courses, more yelling, another obstacle course, more pushups, on and on and on until the day ended. However, on the fifth day of basic training, they got to something that everypony, except Rarity, had been looking forward to the entire time. "This, is an M1 Carbine semi-automatic rifle. This is the weapon that most of you morons will be carrying with you when you go to kill. It should be easy enough to use for even the most inept soldier and I can pick some of those soldiers out from this group right now," said Sergeant Durkin. Sergeant Durkin spent the next half hour explaining how to use the rifle before taking them out to the firing range. Applejack was a little freaked out that she was holding an instrument of death in her hooves. If she used it right, she would kill Changelings with it. Still, she was surprised to discover that it just felt natural in her hooves, like it was something that she had been holding all of her life. The group was instructed to lay down on their stomachs and fire at the targets in front of them. Applejack looked down the range towards the target that she was supposed to be firing at. She could hardly see it! How was she supposed to actually hit it with any accuracy!? Still, she didn't want to incur Sergeant Durkin's wrath any more than she had to so she hooked her hoof over the trigger, steadied the rifle with her other hoof and shoulder and began pulling the trigger. Her first thoughts were about how loud the rifle was. It left her ears ringing for a little while after her clip was empty. She peered down the range to see how well she did but the target was too far away for her to see. She noticed a button next to her. Hoping that it was what she hoped it was, she pressed it. Thankfully it did what she hoped that it would and the target came towards her. A few other recruits, including Rarity and Rainbow Dash, noticed what she had done and pressed their own buttons. Applejack became acutely aware that Sergeant Durkin was standing behind her, eager to examine her work. As the target came closer, Applejack noticed that it was a picture of a basic Changeling unit. A few seconds later it came close enough that Applejack could start seeing the bullet holes that she had made. Once the target came to a stop in front of her, she examined her work. Her clip had had 15 rounds in it and Applejack was delighted to see that all 15 rounds had hit the target. Nine rounds hit the Changeling's torso area while another two hit it in its front leg. One round had penetrated its neck while the final three had torn through its head. "Not too shabby Private Buck. I guess you aren't totally useless after all," said Sergeant Durkin. Applejack allowed herself a smile. Rainbow Dash had similar successes with her rifle except she got two rounds in the Changeling's neck and a fourth in its head. She got a lopsided compliment from Durkin as well. Durkin moved over to Rarity and Applejack expected the worst. Sure enough, Sergeant Durkin's yell rang throughout the range. "Private Vanity will you explain this target to me!?" he said. "Well," said Rarity. "I just shot it like you told me to." Applejack detected something odd in Rarity's voice. Was it...pride!? "Can you explain to me why you hit its head fourteen times including one through the eye!?" said Sergeant Durkin. Rarity cocked an eyebrow at him. "Why whatever do you mean fourteen? Don't you see the hole through the eye? it's a bit bigger than the other holes meaning I shot it in the eye twice," said Rarity. Rainbow Dash turned back to Applejack, her mouth hanging open in shock. Sergeant Durkin seemed at a loss for words too. He walked over to a table and grabbed a fresh target, only the Changeling was a little smaller. "Do it again!" he said before moving the target back way farther than it had been before. Rarity shrugged and reloaded her weapon. She got into position and fifteen shots rang throughout the range. Sergeant Durkin moved the target back towards Rarity for them to examine. To the surprise of everypony, the result was exactly the same: fifteen rounds in the head. Sergeant Durkin stared at the target in total amazement. "Well, it seems you actually are good at something Private Vanity, but your hair is too purple!!" he said before storming off to examine the other targets. At dinner that evening, Rainbow Dash and Applejack questioned Rarity about her marksmanship. "How in Equestria did you manage to be that accurate!?" asked Rainbow Dash incredulously. "Well, I have an eye for detail is all and when you combine that with the steady hooves that I need to do certain sewing jobs and the amount of perfection that I need for that, well, I suppose that might be it," said Rarity nonchalantly. "Maybe they'll give you a prize for your shooting skills. Maybe they have a stuffed seal toy that they'll give you," joked Rainbow Dash. Applejack and Rarity gave Rainbow a quizzical look that Rainbow ignored. "At any rate, maybe you'll make it out of this after all." * * * * Things most certainly did improve for Rarity for the remainder of basic training. Sergeant Durkin kept records of how well the troops were shooting and Rarity consistently topped the charts followed by Rainbow Dash and Applejack who would switch off for second place. Rarity even got better at the physical aspects of boot camp too. She could complete the obstacle courses without a problem now and she would only collapse after thirty pushups. Of course, this measly number still did nothing to get Durkin to lay off of Rarity. Finally, the day of completion of basic training arrived. The recruits lined up in their usual formation in front of their beds and Sergeant Durkin came to debrief them. "Alright recruits, you all passed basic training. If it were up to me, I'd have Private Vanity stay until she could complete every single pushup and mile that she could not do but you're all needed at the front lines. Every single one of you has been assigned to combat areas. You will be deployed to fight in battle against the Changeling army. You will not all survive the war but my final order to you is to exterminate as many Changelings as you can before you do die. You will be deployed to the front lines immediately so pack your bags and your guns and get to the killing. DISMISSED!" Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack slung their packs and rifles over their shoulders and filed in with the rest of the troops onto the train, headed for the front lines. "Well girls," said Applejack grimly. "This is it." The FrontThe three friends sat silently in the large chariot that was being pulled towards the front lines. They had been traveling for three days now and they were only a mere hour from the front lines now. Soon it would be time to fight. Soon it would be time to kill. "How soon do you think we're going to be in a battle?" asked Rainbow Dash as she cleaned her rifle. "I imagine in the first few days or so, these are the front lines after all," said Rarity. "So...this is potentially our last day alive?" asked Applejack. Rarity opened her mouth to answer, but immediately closed it as the realization of what that meant hit her. Rainbow Dash seemed more focused on cleaning her rifle after Applejack said that. Applejack examined the behavior of the Pegasus. "Uh Dash, that's not loaded right?" she asked. The chariot ride was bumpy and Applejack didn't want Rainbow's first kill to be friendly fire. Rainbow Dash didn't change expression but she silently shook her head. Applejack decided not to press Dash any further and the chariot ride was silent for the most part apart from the occasional whisper from another recruit. As the chariot ride continued, the three friends saw a truly terrible sight that was made worse by the fact that they knew that they were still in Equestria. The land was scorched to the point where Applejack wondered whether or not any plants had grown there in the first place. It looked like a forest fire had raged through the land. The only indication that it was the result of war was the fact that there were craters from shells and other explosives littered around. The three looked on in horror as they saw a line of ponies advancing from the other direction. all of them were bandaged up in some way. The new recruits looked on silently as the lines of wounded slowly walked away from the front lines. Applejack wondered if they took comfort in the fact that most of them would be going home now or if that fact was marred by the heavy sacrifice that they had paid to achieve that. One stretcher in particular caught Applejack's eye. It was being carried by two Unicorn ponies that were using their magic to lift it up. On the stretcher was a completely deformed pony. He was a little younger than Applejack herself but three of his legs had been blown off. A bandage was wrapped around his eyes indicating that he was blind now. Applejack could only tell that this pony had been a Pegasus because of the torn up wing that was sticking oddly from his back. Applejack couldn't look at the lines of wounded any longer so instead she chose to look at the floor of the chariot, hoping that those images wouldn't haunt her forever but knowing that they wouldn't because they would be replaced by ones even worse than that. Eventually the chariot ground to a halt and the Pegasus drivers yelled out to the recruits. "We're here now everypony out!" Applejack adjusted her helmet and slung her rifle over her shoulder before filing out of the chariot. The three friends saw rows and rows of tents and hundreds of ponies rushing about. Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash wondered what was going on but they were soon greeted by a friendly sergeant. "Well hello there girls, first time on the battlefield?" "How'd ya guess?" said Applejack. The sergeant shrugged. "After a while you can just tell. You obviously didn't come here from the Diamond Dog front. You haven't bathed in Changeling blood quite yet." "Uh...'bathed in Changeling blood’?" said a rather disturbed Rarity. The sergeant gave a weak chuckle. "Only an expression although it is a decently apt one. Those buggers come by the thousands but we've got the advantage from where we are which is why they attack once every few days at least." "When is the next attack?" asked Rainbow nervously. The sergeant's grin faded from his face and he looked out towards the horizon and pointed. "Within the hour I think," he said glumly. "We're not sure how much longer we can hold out, even with the new recruits we just got. We need a thousand reinforcements, not a few hundred." The trio looked out to where the sergeant was pointing and sure enough, a large black mass was advancing towards the camp. Rarity's eyes widened and she backed away. "No, no I can't be in a battle, I'm not cut out for this!" she said hysterically. "Rarity, you're the best shot in the entire company, you have to fight!" said Applejack. "It's fight or die, private," said the sergeant simply. "Come on, we'll be right beside you the entire time," said Rainbow Dash comfortingly. Rarity continued to panic at the thought of imminent battle but when the order came to take positions for the fight, she did so willingly. Applejack walked up behind a pile of sandbags and pointed her rifle towards the black mass that was drawing closer. this is it she thought. do or die. "Wait for my signal, then fire!' said the commanding officer. Applejack gripped her rifle tighter and began breathing quickly. She reprimanded herself, this was no time to panic. She was able to make out individual Changelings now; they were disgusting insect like creatures with black rifles in their hooves. They were hissing and snarling at the wall of pony defenders as they drew ever closer. Applejack took aim at one in particular; ready to shoot him on command. "Steady men," said the officer. "Steady..." Applejack tensed up and centered her aim. "FIRE!" Applejack pulled the trigger and the Changeling that she had been aiming at instantly dropped from a round to the skull. Applejack didn't even have time to realize that she had just killed another being as wave after wave of Changelings charged and were shot down. Applejack noticed a Changeling aim his rifle at a pony and she instantly shot him out of the sky. However, she only managed to shoot the one Changeling as the entire front row of Changelings aimed their rifles at the pony defenders and fired off a round. Applejack heard the screams of ponies as they lived their final moments in agony as they were slain by volley after volley of Changeling bullets. It was all that the Equestrian forces could do to keep the Changeling army at bay but their numbers seemed to be infinite. Within a few more minutes, the Changelings broke over the defenses. Now the fighting was at really close quarters now. Ponies pulled out pistols and shot Changelings at close range while the Changelings attached bayonets to their rifles and were now stabbing anypony that came close to them. Applejack saw three Changelings come straight for her, an unmistakable thirst for her blood in their eyes. Applejack spun her rifle around and dropped two of them before the third reached her and tackled her to the ground. Applejack struggled with the Changeling, trying desperately to not be in the wrong end of the bayonet. However, the Changeling was surprisingly strong for something half her size and Applejack realized that she was fighting a losing battle. The Changeling let go of his rifle for a brief moment and slammed a hoof into Applejack's face, stunning her momentarily. He raised his rifle and brought it down hard. Applejack only barely managed to roll out of the way in time for the sharp blade to miss her throat but not fast enough to avoid all damage. The sharp Changeling bayonet sliced through the side of her shoulder. Applejack cried out in pain but she managed to kick the Changeling away from her before he managed to stab at her again. Applejack stood up and looked around for her weapon or anything really that she could use to stop the attack. The Changeling saw this distraction as an opportunity and Applejack noticed too late that he was charging her. She wouldn't be able to get away without serious damage this time. However, to her utter surprise, the back of the Changeling's head exploded and he fell to the ground. Applejack looked behind her to see a mare behind her with a rifle in her hooves, giving a satisfied smile. Applejack nodded in thanks before she picked up her rifle to join the fray once again. She turned back to the mare that had just saved her life only to see her dead on the ground with a Changeling gleefully pulling a knife out of the back of her neck. Applejack immediately shot him in the face and he dropped to the ground on top of the pony he had just killed. Applejack pulled a fresh clip out of a belt that she was wearing and reloaded her weapon. She realized that from her position she had merely been at the edge of the fighting. The real battle had been to her right the entire time. Applejack was shocked to see the pure carnage unfolding before her. Ponies and Changelings alike lay slain on the ground while others cried out in pain from missing limbs or bullet wounds that had not instantly killed. Everywhere ponies and Changelings were fighting for their very lives and with each passing second, scores of soldiers from both sides dropped to the ground. Applejack unloaded her clip into a group of Changelings that were advancing towards a trio of ponies who were trying to protect a wounded comrade. Most of the Changelings fell down dead but there were still many left and within a few seconds, the trio lay dead on the ground in a bloody heap. Applejack reloaded once more and charged directly into the fray. The chaos of the battle was even worse in the middle of it than it was simply watching. Applejack suddenly became disoriented as the screams of the wounded or the soon to be dead of both sides rang around her. She took a few seconds to gather up a few clips form dead soldiers before shooting at any Changeling that she saw. She didn't know how she did it, but pure instinct took over as the battle raged on around her. She wasn't even aware of what she was doing, she just killed. She saw a Changeling run towards a mare, who had her back turned as she was fighting off another Changeling, with his bayonet poised to sever her spine at the neck. Applejack raised her rifle and shot at the Changeling. She missed his head but the bullet hit his right foreleg and the force of the impact tore it off completely. The Changeling fell to the ground, screaming his head off. Within a few seconds, the mare that he was trying to kill in the first place fell down dead with her throat slashed by a bayonet. Applejack shot the Changeling that had killed her before turning around just in time to see another Changeling charging at her with a knife. She raised her rifle but to her horror, she heard a single click as she pulled the trigger. The Changeling had briefly stepped back when he saw the rifle being pointed at him, but he grinned and charged once more once he realized that Applejack was empty. Applejack threw down her rifle and reached towards her belt to pull out an army knife that she had been issued. Thankfully it had not fallen out in the chaos. She charged towards the Changeling and ducked his bayonet swing before she smashed her shoulder into the Changeling. She used the temporary advantage to stab the Changeling in the chest. She sheathed her knife and took a brief moment to relocate and reload her rifle before rejoining the fray. Applejack didn't know how long she fought but she kept fighting as long as her aching body would allow. Her shoulder was killing her but any weakness in a moment like this could mean death for her right here and now. She merely ignored the pain and fought as hard as she could. Eventually, she heard a terrifying noise: the remaining Changelings all buzzed their wings at the same time and took off. The terror that Applejack felt at the noise was replaced by one of joy at the sight of the Changeling army in full retreat. The pony soldiers cheered as the opposing army fled. Applejack cheered right along with them. * * * * Applejack was sitting in a medic tent, waiting for her shoulder to be treated. In truth she didn't really care about her shoulder right now. The only thing that mattered to her was finding out about Rainbow Dash and Rarity. Nothing else mattered at all. However, a medic that had seen it had insisted that she get checked out so she was pushed towards a medic tent and told to wait for the next available medic. Applejack groaned in frustration. Surely the medics had bigger issues than a cut on her shoulder. After a half hour of waiting, the tent flap opened at to Applejack's delight, Fluttershy walked in! "Fluttershy!" said Applejack happily. "I can't believe it's you!" Fluttershy gave her a small smile. "Yeah," she said simply. Applejack frowned. This was Fluttershy, no doubt about it, but she seemed different somehow, like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. Fluttershy wordlessly got to work patching up Applejack's shoulder. "Fluttershy, what's goin' on with you? How long have you been here?" asked Applejack. "About a week," she said blankly. "How many battles have you seen?" Fluttershy began blinking very fast now. "Six," she said. Applejack didn't feel the need to say anything else. The one battle was bad enough for Applejack but six battles and then having to patch up the wounded as best as they could afterwards? Six times! Fluttershy worked on Applejack's shoulder in silence for a few minutes before Applejack noticed that Fluttershy had a pistol on her hip. She couldn't resist herself; she had to know everything about Fluttershy's experiences here! "H...have you ever used that thing?" asked Applejack. Fluttershy was about to pick up a bandage to wrap around Applejack's shoulder but at that question, she put them down almost a little angrily. "Yes," she said. She was breathing heavily now, almost as if she was about to begin yelling at Applejack. Applejack knew that she had pushed too far and began to apologize. "I--" she was immediately cut off. "EIGHT APPLEJACK, I'VE KILLED EIGHT CHANGELINGS! IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW!?" screeched Fluttershy. "N...no Fluttershy, I was gonna apologize for bringin it up in the first place," said Applejack who was a little shaken up by Fluttershy's outburst. Fluttershy took a moment to calm herself down before reaching for the bandages again. "It's okay I guess," she said quietly. "I just..." she sighed. "Just what?" "I dunno, forget I said anything," mumbled Fluttershy. Applejack nodded and left it at that. Within a few more minutes Fluttershy finished bandaging up Applejack and stood up to leave. "Wait," said Applejack. "Have you seen Dash or Rarity?" Fluttershy stopped for a brief moment before turning back to Applejack with a sad look on her face. "Um, yeah, Rainbow Dash is with Rarity now. She didn't get hurt at all," said Fluttershy. Applejack breathed a sigh of relief. "How is Rarity?" asked Applejack. To her horror, Fluttershy began to cry. "I...I...tent twelve," she said between sobs before she ran out of the tent. Applejack's heart sank and she immediately ran out of the tent. She ran around looking for tent twelve before being directed to it by a passing stallion. She bolted towards it and to her horror, she heard uncontrollable sobbing coming from inside. "No," said Applejack quietly, "Oh Celestia no." However, as she got closer to the tent, she realized that the crying wasn't coming from Rainbow Dash, but Rarity. Applejack burst into the tent to see Rainbow Dash holding a sobbing Rarity. Rainbow Dash seemed to be doing her best to comfort her. Rainbow Dash looked up when Applejack burst in and a look of relief spread over her face followed by one of concern when she saw Applejack's shoulder. "It's nothin'," said Applejack. "How is she?" "Well, she got grazed by a bullet in her left foreleg, but nothing serious. She’s just in shock from everything, that's all," said Rainbow sadly. Applejack nodded and she moved in closer to Rarity. "Rarity, how ya doin' sugar cube?" she asked. "Blood...th...there was s-s-so m-m-much b-b-blood. I s-s-s-shot h-him and he just d-d-died...just like that. So much blood, so much blood," she said. Applejack looked up at Rainbow who gave her a grim look. "She's never harmed a fly before and she just killed Changelings. She's talking it pretty hard," said Rainbow. "Yeah...I'm not too sure how well I'm goin' to be takin' it myself later," said Applejack. "Did ya kill a lot of them?" asked Rainbow. Applejack nodded. "My fair share I guess. I lost count after six I think. Didn't really see the need to keep track," said Applejack. Rainbow nodded this time. "Yeah, I lost track after about eight myself," she said before rubbing her forehead. "Did you hear the stats from the battle?" she asked. Applejack shook her head. "Our side, five hundred and forty-three dead, eight hundred and ninety-one wounded. Theirs, roughly eleven-hundred head and we took about 100 prisoners most of whom were wounded." The statistics sounded hollow to Applejack. She couldn't even comprehend those numbers right now. Heck, she couldn't comprehend much of anything right now. "It um, it wasn't quite what I was expecting," said Applejack quietly. Rainbow Dash nodded vigorously. "You're telling me! I mean, I didn't expect it to be fun or anything but that...I don't even know what that was. I don't even think we were ponies in that battle we were more like...bloodthirsty animals. There was no dignity to it, there was no honor, no class, just animals slaughtering each other," said Rainbow. Rarity seemed to have calmed down a bit during the conversation. At any rate, she was sitting up now. "Why did that have to happen?" she said shakily. "Why?" "Well, if we don't fight them then they take over Equestria and enslave the pony race," said Applejack. Even though that was the reason why, it still sounded like a hollow reason, like even a reason such as that could not justify what was going on around them. Night began to fall over the camp and Applejack went back towards her tent. She was grateful that Luna made the nights peaceful even in these dark times. She collapsed on her cot, wondering when the next slaughter would be but still, she was grateful that she had survived today. Could she survive another battle like that?
Prologue: The First WarAuthor's note Now, this isn't going to be a perfect representation of the human 20th century, particularly in terms of time between major events. I am merely taking events that happened in the last century and applying them to Equestria. Some disbelief must be suspended in terms of things like the ponies holding weapons, but it isn't a huge detail. A trio of ponies stood in a train station in the small town of Ponyville. They were surrounded by dozens of other families, saying goodbye to loved ones, potentially for the last time. Equestria was at war with the Changeling race, and Celestia had called every able-bodied pony to her side to fight this new threat. The youngest pony in the trio hugged her father's front legs close to her. "But Pa! I don't want you and Big Mac to go!" said Applejack with a whine. Applejack's father adjusted his hat and gave Applejack a small smile. "And you know that I don't want to go sugar cube, but do you remember why we have to go?" Applejack nodded and a tear fell from her eye. "Because the Changelings are goin' to attack Equestria if we don't stop them now," said Applejack. "But Pa, we need you here now!" Applejack's father sighed. How should he explain this to her? He leaned down next to her and placed a comforting hoof on her shoulder. "Listen sugar cube, I hope that you never have to experience this yourself, but as an able bodied Equestrian pony, I have a duty to protect my land. Not only that, but I'm doing this to protect you too. I'm trying to do my part in making sure that nothing bad happens to you or your other or your baby sister." "But you could die!" said Applejack desperately. "Yes, that is true. But I'd rather die fighting to protect you than live with the knowledge that I could have helped the ones I love and I did nothing. Your brother too." Big Macintosh looked on an nodded. "Eeyup," he said. Not event he thought that he was about to go to war phased him much. That was just the way he worked. Applejack began crying in earnest now. Her father was about to say something, but the train whistle behind them blew, signifying that it was time for them to go. Applejack's father pulled himself away from his crying daughter. "Even if I don't make it, it's only goodbye for a little while. Even death doesn't tear families apart forever. I know it will hurt, but always know that I am with you. Big Mac too." Big Mac nodded. "Eeyup." The whistle blew again and Applejack's father and brother went to go board the train. Just before Applejack's father got on board, he turned back and ran towards Applejack, pulling her into one final hug. "I'll miss you sugar cube," he said. Applejack was shocked to detect...fear in her father's voice. Was he truly afraid? Her father broke away from the hug. He reached up and took his cowpony hat off of his messy red hair. He placed it on Applejack's head. "Now you take care of that for me sugar cube. Don't let anything happen to that." "I won't Pa, it'll be just like it is now for when you come back," said Applejack. Her father nodded and boarded the train. * * * * Applejack woke up early to the rooster's crow. She groaned and sleepily shuffled out of bed. Time to pick apples. With her father and brother gone, she had to be the one to do the majority of the work on the farm. Her mother was not very strong and couldn't really contribute much to the farm. Besides, most of her time was spent taking care of a fast-growing Apple Bloom. It was Apple Bloom that had made her mother so weak. The pregnancy and delivery had taken a lot out of her mother. It was a miracle that either had survived. Her father and brother had been gone for almost a year now. Her father sent letters whenever he could, but there was no easy way to get letters to small towns like Ponyville. The war had hit everypony hard. Even now there was no real way to tell which side was winning the war. Casualties on both sides were high and the first thoughts of peace began formulating in the minds of both Celestia and the Changeling Queen. Or so the rumors went anyway. Applejack collected every ounce of information on the war. Ever since her father and brother had been drafted, she had started a quest to gain as much knowledge about the war as she could. The sheer size of the war meant that it was often difficult to sort out the truth in between all of the rumors, but Applejack collected all of the knowledge that she could at any rate. Every day at 10:00 on the dot, the news carriage would come through town to drop off the newspapers and every morning at 10:15, The Mayor would read the list of any Ponyvillians who were killed, injured, or missing in the war. Since Ponyville was such a small town, this was a thankfully rare occurrence. Applejack smashed the nearest apple tree with her hind hooves, causing about a third of the apples on the tree to plummet into a trio of waiting buckets stationed under the tree. It would be nearly time now, time to make the trek back to Town Square to hear if her father and brother were okay. She hit the apple tree once more and the rest of the apples came tumbling off the tree. Applejack took the nearest bucket in her teeth and dragged it towards the nearby barn, hoping to sort the apples later. As she walked over to the second bucket to drag it towards the barn as well, she heard the bell ring in Town Square. It was 9:45, the news would be arriving soon. She dropped what she was doing and immediately ran towards Town Square, hoping that today wouldn't be the day that she had dreaded would come ever since her father and brother had left. * * * * Applejack made it into the Town Square just in time to see The Mayor come out of Town Hall. Applejack nudged herself as far forward into the crowd as she could, still hoping that today would not be the day that she often had nightmares about. The Mayor stood behind a podium, a single sheet of paper in his mouth. He placed it on the podium, adjusted his glasses, and began reading. "I regret to inform this town that we do have some casualties from this dreadful war today." Applejack's heart dropped into her stomach and began beating at a million miles an hour. Please Celestia, not today. Not any day. "We have two wounded ponies today. The first is Bookworm, who was shot in the left shoulder. He will recover just fine and he is being sent home. The second wounded pony is Big Macintosh who was shot in the side. The bullet hit one of his ribs so there was no significant damage. He'll be just fine too and he is also coming home." Applejack stared forward in shock. Big Macintosh had been wounded! Applejack found little relief right now in the fact that he would heal up and that he was coming home. There were still the names of the dead to be read. The Mayor adjusted his glasses once more. "And now for the names of the ponies who gave their lives for our country. As with the wounded, there were two ponies I receive news about. The first, is Moneyspender, son of our dear town benefactor, Filthy Rich. The second, is Apple Harvester, whom many of you know works Sweet Apple Acres, not far from the main town. That is all." The town square was silent for a moment while they processed the news that two of their fellow townsponies were dead. Suddenly, an anguished wail pierced the silence. The wail confused Applejack. Who was the pony who was screaming? The cries sounded vaguely familiar. Applejack felt the sounds home in on her, getting closer and she suddenly realized, the she was the one who was screaming. Her father was dead. Her father was dead and her brother had been wounded. The world around her seemed to spin as her legs gave way beneath her. She stopped screaming and fell to the ground. The townsfolk looked on in sympathy at the sobbing, hyperventilating filly, curled up in a ball on the ground. She didn't notice them. She didn't notice anypony right now. Nopony mattered right now. Why hadn't Applejack tried harder to get her father to stay that day on the train station? She could have pressed the issue more, made him see that he should stay and be there for his family! If she had just begged him a little more, then he would have come to his senses and not left. There were plenty of other able-bodied ponies who could fight this war. He didn't need to go. It was all her fault, she should have begged and pleaded more. As she continued crying on the ground, she became vaguely aware of two fillies her age standing over her, looking at her sympathetically. One was a cyan Pegasus with a rainbow colored mane. Rainbows, just like the kind she used to admire with her father. He had always called her out of the house to look at Rainbows with her whenever they appeared. The other was a bright pink pony with a poofy pink cotton candy looking mane. Cotton candy, just like the kind her father used to get her whenever the carnival would come to town. It was a tradition that the two of them shared, going to the carnival and getting cotton candy, just the two of them. The rainbow one spoke up. "Hey uh..." she clearly wanted to comfort Applejack but had no idea of what to say. "I'm really sorry about your dad...Applejack is your name right?" Applejack barely mustered the strength to calm down long enough to nod. "It's super-duper bad what happened. Anything we can do to help?" asked the pink one. Applejack began regaining focus on her senses. She realized that the wind was blowing through her blonde mane...but that wasn't right, her hat usually blacked the wind. "My hat, where's my hat!?" she said, standing up and looking around for it wildly. The pink one and the rainbow one both looked around for it before the pink one gave a grunt of satisfaction and she walked back over to Applejack with her cowpony hat in her mouth. Applejack immediately grabbed it back from her and placed it back where it belonged on her head. The hat was hers now she supposed. "I'm Pinkie Pie and this is Rainbow Dash," said the pink one. Applejack nodded. "Look, if there is anything you need, anything at all, just let us know," said Rainbow Dash sympathetically. Applejack nodded again and stood up. "I...I think I need to go home now," she said. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash nodded and let Applejack begin the journey back to her farm. * * * * The walk back to the farm seemed like it took forever. Part of Applejack wanted it to last forever. She didn't know how she would tell her mother and Granny Smith about her father's death. She had to do it somehow.
Rumors and DiplomacyThwack A dozen apples fell from the tree above and landed in carefully arranged buckets below. Applejack turned around to inspect the tree to see if any apples remained on it. Seeing none, she gave a satisfied nod and began dragging the apples into the barn. It had been a hard seven years for the Apple family. The war had ended a mere six months after the death of Applejack's father. The Changeling forces had been nearly decimated by the end and they had been driven out of their homeland. Granted, it wasn't like Equestria had gotten away scot-free from the war. Nearly two million of Equestria's sons and daughters never returned home from the front. Another three million had come back wounded in some way, including Applejack's brother Big Macintosh. Two million dead and three million wounded of the seven million soldiers who had gone off to fight. Applejack's mother had been so devastated by the news of her husband's death that she had never fully recovered. The birth of Apple Bloom hadn't done wonders for her health in the first place. She passed away just before the war ended. Three months after that, Granny Smith followed. Granny Smith had been old though, she had passed on at the age of 96, a ripe old age for anypony. The Ponyville Apple family had endured, much like they always had through the hard times. Big Macintosh was able to get back to work within a month or two of returning from the war. In those few months, the town had rallied to help Applejack take care of the farm. She had met many fillies her age from those workdays, fillies that she now considered her dearest friends in the world. Their names were Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, and Rarity. Together they had grown into as close of a family as any friends can and without them Applejack knew that she wouldn't have gotten through these past seven years. Apple Bloom was a fast growing filly now, eager to explore the world and squeeze as much out of it as she could. Applejack often saw a lot of herself in her sister. Applejack finished apple bucking for the day and went back inside the farmhouse, making sure to close the barn door tightly as last time she had failed to do so...well...pigs could be greedy sometimes. Big Macintosh had finished his portion of the apple trees earlier than Applejack and was now sitting at the table, reading a newspaper. "What's the world like these days Big Mac?" asked Applejack, sitting across from him at the table. He continued reading the paper for a brief moment while formulating his answer. Big Macintosh was not one to speak unless he knew what he was going to say. "Not good AJ," he said. Applejack rolled her eyes but she gave her brother a break. If he had been silent and contemplative before the war, after he came home he was practically mute. Even his normal 'Eeyups' were fewer and far between in those first few years. he had gotten much better since then, but Applejack had never heard a single detail about the war from him. "Care to elaborate?" asked Applejack. Big Macintosh paused for a moment. "Peace talks not looking good." "With which country?" "Both." Applejack grimaced. There had been rumors circulating that the Changelings were formulating another invasion of Equestria and this time they would be enlisting the help of the Diamond Dog territories. Celestia and Luna both were trying to negotiate peace but more rumors circulated that the talks were falling through. "It seems that they want reparations for the war," said Big Mac. "Reparations!?" said Applejack, her blood beginning to boil. "They invaded us! We didn't do anythin' to them and they just plum attacked us outta nowhere!" "You know that it's more complicated than that." "No it aint!" said Applejack angrily. "If anythin' they should be givin' reparations to us! In fact, we should have slaughtered every Celestia forsaken one of 'em! Then we wouldn't be dealin' with this mess!" "Eeyup, we'd be dealin' with a million other worse messes," said Big Mac in his usual calm demeanor. This occasionally irritated Applejack. How in Equestria could Big Mac be so calm like that after the horrors he had seen!? But nope, he was still his usual calm self these days. Even after the war, Big Mac suffered his scars quietly and calmly. Applejack couldn't figure out for the life of her how he did it. Applejack gave a frustrated groan. She knew Big Mac was right though...still, what she wouldn't give for the changeling race to be extinct. Big Mac turned a page in his paper. "I miss 'em too," he said. Applejack looked at him quizzically. "Huh?" she asked. "You want the Changelings eradicated because one of them killed Pa which tore our family to shreds for a while there. You want vengeance for what they did because they took our parents away from us. I miss 'em too." Applejack paused for a moment, and not because Big Mac had just said the longest sentence that had come out of his mouth...ever, but because she knew he was right. She sighed and banged her head on the table a little bit. "What'll we do if we go to war again Big Mac? The last one was barely seven years ago and that was just against the Changelings! I don't know if we can win if it’s the Changelings and the Diamond Dogs," said Applejack worriedly. "Well, we have the Griffins willing to go to war with us and the Disciples of Discord have also pledged their support." Applejack raised an eyebrow at this piece of news. "Why in the hay would the Disciples of Discord want to join us?" Big Mac shrugged. "If Celestia trusts them then so do I," said Big Mac. Applejack nodded. "I gotta go meet the girls at the spa," she said, the last word bringing a look of mild contempt to her face. It was a running joke among the townsfolk that it was Rarity who single-hoofedly kept the spa in business since she was there so often. "Eeyup." Applejack walked out the front door and made the fifteen minute trek into town towards the spa. Truth be told, despite how much she hated the spa, she did love seeing her friends there so it almost balanced out...almost. With a ring of the bell over the door, she entered the spa to see her friends all chatting away with each other. Applejack even spotted Rainbow Dash there, a rare occurrence to be sure. Seeing their farmer friend come it, the five of them stopped their conversation and went over to greet her. "Howdy, y'all," said Applejack "Hey Applejack," said Twilight greeting her with a grin. Applejack raised an eyebrow as she sensed something was off. "What were y'all talkin' about when I came in?" she asked. "What everypony is talking about these days, the impending Second Changeling War," said Rarity. Fluttershy shrank back at this. "I don't want to go to war! I don't want to be drafted, I would never hurt anyone!" she said worriedly. "You don't need to worry about that Fluttershy," said Rainbow Dash comfortingly. "With your medical training with animals, they'd put you to work taking care of the...sick ponies." Fluttershy nodded, only slightly comforted by the thought. The two spa ponies led them to the steam room where they were left to relax in the steam for a while. "So," said Applejack, breaking the customary silence as everypony got settled in. "What are the odds that this is really happenin'? Twilight, you're close to the princess, what do you know about it?" Twilight sighed and looked at the floor sadly. "Princess Celestia has basically given the Changeling Empire and the Diamond Dogs until the..." tears began forming in Twilight's eyes, something that unnerved the other five greatly. "...until the end of today to back off or we go to war again." Silence ruled the room. Even the hiss of the steam seemed to mute itself as the gravity of the news sunk in. "Are...are you even allowed to tell us this darling?" asked Rarity. Twilight merely shrugged. "It doesn't really matter anyway the way I see it. In my mind, we're already at war. It's only a matter of making it official." Tears of fear began falling from the eyes of the other ponies in the room too. The last war had been devastating for all of Equestria. With the Diamond Dogs, the griffins, and the Disciples of Discord in the mix, the war would undoubtedly be the most brutal war in the history of any of those countries. "Should we just call it a day then?" asked Rainbow Dash, standing up to leave. "I don't really feel like going to the spa when we're about to go to war." "No," said Applejack to the surprise of everypony. "Let’s...let’s just enjoy this one small comfort as friends. If this is the last day of peace, we should spend it doing something peaceful and relaxin' don't ya think?" the other five heads in the room nodded and Rainbow Dash sat back down. * * * * The rest of the spa day had passed in relative silence. Despite the best efforts of the spa workers, nopony was very relaxed. Even Pinkie Pie hadn't felt like smiling which was, for them at least, the biggest reminder of the gravity of the situation. The friends had gone to Twilight's house for the rest of the day as they knew that Twilight would hear about the verdict one way or the other immediately. They did their best to pretend that the war was not coming, feeling that maybe if they pretended hard enough, then it wouldn't. They all knew the folly of it but they kept pretending, if only to keep themselves sane for a little while. * * * * "Okay, Pinkie Pie, do you have any threes?" asked Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie examined her cards, searching for a three to give to Rainbow. Finding none, she turned to her Pegasus friend. "Nope, go fish!" said Pinkie. Rainbow Dash gave a good-natured grunt of frustration and picked up a card, hoping that it was the three she needed. No dice. She placed the card into her hand. Pinkie's turn came and she reciprocated. "Rainbow Dash, do you have any sevens?" Rainbow Dash gave another good-natured groan of frustration as she handed Pinkie Pie the card that she had just drawn from the top of the pile. "Woohoo!" said Pinkie placing four cards down on the ground. “Book of sevens for me!" she said happily. It was Applejack's turn now and she examined her cards. Unfortunately for her, all of her cards were different so there was no one card in particular that she was looking for. "Uh, Fluttershy, do you have any nines?" she asked. Fluttershy looked at her hand and grabbed two cards and passed them to Applejack. She examined the cards before nodding and putting them in her hand. "Uh, Twilight?" asked Fluttershy. "Um...do you have any sixes?" Twilight nodded and slid a solitary card over to Fluttershy. Fluttershy picked it up and placed four cards down on the floor. "Umm...I'm out of cards then...I guess..." The other five ponies laughed and gave Fluttershy congratulatory high-hooves. Twilight used her magic to put the cards back into one deck. "Play again?" asked Twilight to the approving nods of the rest of the group, sans Rainbow. "I don't know. Fluttershy has won the last eight games! How does she keep doing it!?" asked Rainbow in a slightly irritated manner. Fluttershy blushed and looked at the ground, obviously embarrassed. "Oh um...well, we don't have to keep playing if my winning makes you feel bad," she said quietly. Twilight glared at Rainbow before turning her attention to Fluttershy. "Don't mind her, we don't care that you win Fluttershy. What matters is that we're all hanging out having a good time! Isn’t that right Rainbow?" said Twilight. Rainbow mumbled something but nodded just the same. Before Twilight could shuffle the cards once again, Spike came into the room. Everypony froze and stared at what was in his hand: a scroll from Princess Celestia. Twilight put the cards down and grabbed the scroll from Spike. The entire room held their breath and waited for the verdict. "Dear Twilight," said Twilight, reading the scroll. "Our scouts have reported that the Changeling army is mobilizing for an attack on Equestria. I sent messengers to the Changeling capital with the declaration of war. I just received one from both the Changelings and the Diamond Dogs. We have the full support of the griffon lands and the Disciples of Discord. I will make the official announcement tomorrow. You may tell your friends but nopony else." Twilight put the scroll down. And the room was silent once more. For the second time in the decade, Equestria was at war. * * * * Applejack was given a letter from Spike the next day, telling her to meet back at Twilight's house. Being Celestia's protégé automatically made her a high ranking officer in the war and she was being sent back to Canterlot. Applejack was sad to see Twilight go, but she hoped that they would all be together again when the war was over...whatever that meant. Applejack went back inside the house for a quick bite to eat before she headed off to Twilight's. She only had the stomach for a hay bar at the moment so she sat at the table alone and chewed it in silence. A few minutes later, Big Mac came in with the mail. "Mail's here," he said, placing it on the table. Applejack nodded and glanced down at the pile that Big Mac had placed down on the table. The most prominent piece of mail was a special report from Princess Celestia herself explaining the war and what must be done for Equestria to survive. Applejack tossed it aside. She really didn't have the stomach for that right now. She took a bite of her hay bar and turned her attention back to the pile of mail. She sorted through it while Big Mac got a hay bar for himself too. Applejack was just about to take another bite of her hay bar when she saw it. It was an envelope with the official stamp of Celestia on it. Applejack would have recognized a letter of that type anywhere. Tars began to fill her eyes as she began trying to hold back sobs. This wasn't fair! They had already asked Big Mac to go to war for Equestria and he had been wounded doing his part! How could Princess Celestia have the nerve to ask him to go to war again? Big Mac picked up on her emotions and spotted the letter on the table. He wordlessly picked it up and examined it. Applejack was shocked to see tears beginning to fall down his eyes. Although, she shouldn't really be surprised; the horrors of war had already ripped him to shreds emotionally once and now they were asking him to go through it again. Big Mac took the letter in his teeth, walked over to Applejack and placed it in front of her. Applejack closed her eyes as tears streamed down her face. She pushed the letter away, not wanting to read the horrible letter that could very possibly send Big Mac to his grave. "It's not for me," said Big Mac simply. Applejack's eyes snapped open and she brought the letter back over to her. Sure enough, the letter specified whom the letter was for on the front. Applejack stared at the letter, horrified to see that her name was emblazoned on the front. * * * * Applejack ran towards Twilight's house, letter in her teeth and tears falling down her eyes. As she ran into town, she saw ponies checking their mailboxes. Applejack knew that many would receive the same letter as she had just received. She banged on Twilight's door and within a few seconds, Twilight opened the door. Applejack saw that she was crying too. Twilight wordlessly beckoned Applejack into the house. Applejack entered to see Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash all sitting on the floor. Applejack's jaw dropped at what she saw. Each of them had identical letters in front of them. "Celestia no," said Applejack, sitting next to her friends. "Not you too!" she said. The other four said nothing as Twilight sat next to them. "Well hold on everypony, we don't even know what they say yet. They may not even be draft notices or...uh...maybe we'll be sent to a department where we won't have to do any fighting," said Rarity. "Well, the only way to know is to open them and find out," said Rainbow Dash. "I guess that I'll go first." Rainbow Dash picked up the letter and broke the seal on it. She scanned it briefly before reading it aloud. "Dear Ms. Rainbow Dash. We are writing to inform you that you have been chosen to be a member of the Equestrian Armed Forces in this time of war. You will report to Camp Arawak in Canterlot in two days’ time. Failure to do so will result in strict disciplinary action." Rainbow Dash re-read the letter a few more times before looking up. "Well," she said. "I guess I'm going off to go kill some Changelings," she said shakily. Fluttershy opened her letter next. "Dear Ms. Fluttershy. We are writing to inform you that you have been chosen to be a member of the Equestrian Medical-Combat Corps in this time of war. You will report to Camp Stonewater in Canterlot in two days’ time. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action." She looked up at the group, shaking in fear. "Well look on the bright side, you're a medic," said Twilight. "Medic-soldier!" said Fluttershy. "I have to be a medic sometimes and a soldier at others! I can't kill anypony, I won't kill anypony!" said Fluttershy who began sobbing hysterically. Twilight moved over to Fluttershy to comfort her. Rarity picked up her letter and opened it. She scanned it. "I don't understand, there must be some mistake! It says here that I'm going to go into the armed forces like Rainbow Dash! I...I don't think I can do that!" "You have to," said Applejack. "We all have to do our part for Equestria. Don't worry girl, they're gonna train you up so that you'll know what you're doin' out there." Pinkie Pie nodded and opened he letter up. She read it and frowned. "Dear Ms. Pinkie Pie, you are to be sent to officer's training with Twilight Sparkle. You will be stationed wherever she is. You will report to Camp Manabe as soon as possible. Your Pinkie Sense is required in these dark times." Pinkie read the letter once more. "I'm gonna go be an officer because they want to use my Pinkie Sense?" she said. "I suppose so," said Twilight who was just as confused as everypony else in the room. Their eyes all turned to Applejack who slowly opened up her letter. "Dear Ms. Applejack. We are writing to inform you that you have been chosen to be a member of the Equestrian Armed Forces in this time of war. You will report to Camp Arawak in Canterlot in two days’ time. Failure to do so will result in strict disciplinary action." Applejack put the letter down on the ground. "I guess it's infantry for me, just like Rainbow and Rarity." said Applejack simply. The room was silent for a moment before the six ponies gathered together in a large group hug. Each pony in the room wondered if it would be the last time they would ever have one.
Camp Arawak"But I don't want you to go!" said a young filly as she hung on to her older sister's legs. Applejack placed a comforting hoof on her sister's shoulder before wiggling out of her tight embrace. "I don't want to go either Apple Bloom, but I have to. We are at war now and I've been called by my country to fight the Changeling invasion," said Applejack sadly. "But you may die! What'll I do if you go off and die?" said Apple Bloom worriedly. "Well, you'll do what our family has done through all hard times, you'll endure. Besides, you have Big Macintosh here to work the farm and Ponyville will send some workers to help us out while I'm gone. It'll be okay," said Applejack. "But what if it isn't?" asked Apple Bloom worriedly. Before Applejack had to respond, the train whistle blew and the conductor called everypony on board. Applejack slung her bag over her shoulder and gave Apple Bloom one last hug. "It will be, we're a tough bunch." said Applejack with a small smile. She stood up and thought for a moment before taking her hat off of her head and placing it on Apple Bloom's. "Now you just take care of that for me while I'm away." Apple Bloom nodded. "I will sis. Goodbye." Applejack adjusted the bag on her shoulders and nodded before boarding the train. * * * * Applejack's introduction to life in Camp Arawak had been interesting to say the least. The minute they all got off of the train their bags were taken from them and they were ordered to report for 'beautification' as one soldier put it. They were led to a room where a group of ponies waited with razors and...gardening shears? Applejack didn't like the look of that. She was in line between Rainbow Dash and Rarity, waiting her turn for whatever they were doing in there. She had a pretty good idea though. Soon, Rainbow Dash was called forward and she was told to stand completely still. A pony with a razor took her mane and cut it off so it was midway down her neck. Applejack didn't quite know why, but there was something kind of sad about seeing the severed rainbow mane fall to the floor. Next, the pony grabbed the gardening shears and cut Rainbow Dash's tail in half before motioning that she could go wait with the other new recruits. Applejack was called forward. The feel of the razor cutting through her blonde mane was strange to Applejack. However, it wasn't as strange as how cold her neck felt without her long mane to cover it. Her tail was unceremoniously cut in half just like Rainbow's was and she was motioned forward. However, before she could reach the room that she was directed to, she heard a commotion behind her. "Oh no, no, no! I won't let you ruin my beautiful mane!" said Rarity defiantly. The barber pony was standing in front of Rarity who was using her magic to create a sort of shield around her mane and tail. All at once a gruff Pegasus stallion came forward. "What in the name of Celestia is going on here?" he said angrily. "Oh, you seem to be in charge here, can you tell these ruffians to not cut my mane and tail off? I like them just the way that they are," said Rarity. The pony stared at her in shock for a brief moment before he became livid. "What is your name, Private?" he asked. "Oh, well my name is Rarity," said Rarity. "Private Rarity, you seem rather vain to me, from now in you're Private Vanity!" "I hardly think insults are necessary!" she said crossly. Rarity for the love of Celestia, just stop talking. thought a horrified Applejack. "Private Vanity you have three seconds, and I mean three seconds to let the barber cut your hair or I will hold you down and make him shear off every single hair on your entire body!" Thankfully Rarity seemed to get the hint that this sort of behavior wouldn't fly and that she would get no special treatment here because she was a 'lady'. The magical aura around her mane and tail disappeared and soon her hair was cut like the rest. Applejack left the room and was followed closely by Rarity who was seemingly about to cry. "Now just calm down Rarity, gettin' your hair cut isn't the end of the world by a long shot. Besides, after the war is over you can grow it back. But for now I'd say just leave it alone.," said Applejack. Rarity nodded. "You are right of course. I don't know what I was thinking. I hope that doesn't come back to bite me any more than it already has. 'Private Vanity', the nerve of him!" "I wouldn't cross him if I was you," said Applejack as the two of them moved to stand next to Rainbow Dash. "He seems to have your number right now." "What took you two so long?" asked Rainbow Dash as she looked over the new looks of the two of them. "Rarity had some...hair troubles. She ran afoul of the pony who I think is our drill sergeant and she's 'Private Vanity' now," said Applejack. Rainbow Dash stared at Rarity for a brief moment before she burst out laughing. "Oh, Private Vanity, that's just priceless!" she said. Rarity frowned at her. "Laugh all you want, I think it is simply ghastly what is happening right now," said Rarity. Rainbow Dash continued to laugh until a loud vice boomed through the hall. "ATTEEEENTION!" Instantly everypony in the hall stood up straight with a stoic look on their face. Sure enough, the pony that had reprimanded Rarity earlier walked into the hall. He walked back and forth, inspecting the line of new recruits. "I am Drill Sergeant Durkin and let me tell you all now, you had better follow every order I give you unless you want me to bring down a world of pain upon your unfortunate heads! now the first and last words out of your pathetic mouths had better be 'sir' and Celestia help you if they aren't, is that clear?" "SIR, YES, SIR," said the entire hall of recruits. "Good! Now I fought in the First Changeling War and I know a thing or two about killing those idiotic sons of guns. It is my job to teach you all to be almost as good as I was at killing them and Celestia help me if you hinder my job in any way! Now, over the next two weeks I will mold you all into the finest bunch of Changeling killers that Equestria has ever seen! You will have no sympathy for them, you will not hesitate to kill them, and above all, you WILL kill them but the hundreds! Is that clear!?" "SIR, YES SIR!!" Sergeant Durkin paced up and down the new recruits, doubtlessly looking for somepony to yell at. Unfortunately, he landed on Applejack. "You there, what's your name?" "Sir, Applejack sir!" said Applejack. "Applejack, what do you pick apples all day, are you an apple farmer?" "Sir, yes sir!" said Applejack. "Well isn't that interesting? I knew an apple farmer back in the war, his name was Apple Harvester and boy did he get some bad luck. Didn't quite make it out of the war so I guess being an apple farmer isn't the best thing when fighting Changelings don't you think Private!?" Applejack was shocked to her her father talked about in this setting, much less so disrespectfully. "Sir he was my father, sir!" said Applejack. Sergeant Durkin was briefly taken aback by this but recovered quickly. "Well you don't say!" he said. "Is that why you're here, to kill Changelings, to get revenge for them killing him?" "Sir, no sir!" "NO!? Well then why are you here?" "Sir, I was drafted, sir!" "You mean once you found out that you got the opportunity to kill Changelings you didn't jump on the opportunity? Well, what a way to honor your father's memory!" said Sergeant Durkin. Applejack felt the anger rising inside her every time Sergeant Durkin talked so disrespectfully about her father, but at this last statement, she could stand it no longer. "YOU KNOW WHAT, BUCK YOU!!!" she said before calming down a bit. "Sir." Sergeant Durkin looked absolutely livid. "WELL BUCK YOU TOO PRIVATE! YOU MAY NOT SPEAK TO A SUPERIOR OFFICER THAT WAY!" he said. "I don't like the name Applejack, from now on you're Private Buck! I'd say Private Buck You but that doesn't roll off the tongue as nicely. Now Private Buck I want you to drop and give me 100 pushup and so help you Celestia if you can't!" Applejack glared at him but started doing pushups all the same. 100 was no problem for her at all. Sergeant Durkin directed his attention towards Rainbow Dash next. "Well, what's your excuse?" "Sir, I was drafted too sir!" said Rainbow Dash who just wanted to avoid his wrath. "Well aint that just too bad. What's your name Private?" "Sir, Rainbow Dash sir!" "Private Rainbow Dash, well what did you do for a living back in whatever hick town you came from?" "Sir, Weather Patrol sir!" "So you moved around clouds all day is that it?" "Sir, yes sir!" said Rainbow Dash who was getting a little embarrassed by this negative attention. "Well I'd say that makes you Private Cloud then doesn't it?" said Sergeant Durkin. Rainbow Dash faltered for a second, obviously hoping for a cooler nickname. "Uh, sir, yes sir," she said glumly. Sergeant Durkin continued to yell at various recruits for a little while, stopping briefly to yell at Applejack some more when she finished her pushups. He finally let them go to the mess hall for lunch after another hour of initiation. * * * * Applejack carried her lunch tray over to the table where Rainbow Dash and Rarity sat. Rainbow Dash was ranting about her nickname. "'Private Cloud', I'm 'Private Cloud' now! How uncool is that!?" "Hold your horses girl, I'm sure it'll go away once we pass basic training," said Applejack. "Easy for you to say, you got 'Private Buck', that's way cooler than 'Private Cloud'!" "I'd rather have a wimpy name than a profane one," said Applejack irritatedly. "Well I am rather surprised at your outburst Applejack," said Rarity, doing her best to eat the below mediocre food that they had been given. "You would to if he had insulted your father like that," said Applejack angrily. "Possibly. But even if I did I would restrain myself from using such vulgar language. I mean really, was that necessary?" said Rarity. Applejack turned her full attention to Rarity. "YES!" she said with anger and sorrow in her eyes that Rarity had net seen in a while. Rarity was silent for a moment. "Oh, I see. Well I'll stop talking about it then," she said quietly. Applejack began eating her food and nodded. "So," began Rarity once more. "What do you suppose these next two weeks will be like? I don't relish the prospect of holding a firearm." "Rarity based on your experiences so far, I'd say that this is gong to be the most demanding two weeks of your life. Applejack did 100 pushups no problem, but can you even do one?" asked Rainbow Dash. Rarity blushed and looked away. "Well, I never really had any need to do anything like that before," said Rarity. "That's exactly my point," said Rainbow Dash with a nod. "I remember the one year you entered The Running of the Leaves. You lasted exactly 30 minutes going at a slower speed than the rest of the group before you collapsed from exhaustion!" "And that is exactly why I don't belong here!" said Rarity. "I belong back home making uniforms for the soldiers or doing scrap drives or something. I'm not a soldier!" Applejack swallowed the food that she was chewing and turned her attention to Rarity. "Just you wait Rarity, I have a feeling that this war is going to bring out somethin' new in all of us." * * * * As it would just so happen, Rainbow Dash was absolutely correct about the physical toil that basic training would have on Rarity. The very first drill that Sergeant Durkin do, 50 pushups, absolutely wiped Rarity out. She collapsed on the ground from sheer exhaustion after only ten which prompted yelling from Sergeant Durkin. Rarity collapsed once again from exhaustion during their first ten mile run after only one mile which prompted more yelling from Sergeant Durkin. She got stuck in an obstacle course after only a few seconds...which prompted more yelling from Sergeant Durkin. Each night Rarity would fall asleep immediately, every joint in excruciating pain from the toils of the day. However, in that at least she wasn't alone. Applejack would crawl into bed feeling as if she had just harvested her entire orchard in a single day. Each morning the recruits would wake up and each morning they would feel as if somepony had been hitting their joints with hammers while they slept. And so the days went by, running, pushups, obstacle courses, yelling, pushups, running, pushups, obstacle courses, yelling, yelling, yelling, obstacle courses, more yelling, another obstacle course, more pushups, on and on and on until the day ended. However, on the fifth day of basic training, they got to something that everypony, except Rarity, had been looking forward to the entire time. "This, is an M1 Carbine semi-automatic rifle. This is the weapon that most of you morons will be carrying with you when you go to kill. It should be easy enough to use for even the most inept soldier and I can pick some of those soldiers out from this group right now," said Sergeant Durkin. Sergeant Durkin spent the next half hour explaining how to use the rifle before taking them out to the firing range. Applejack was a little freaked out that she was holding an instrument of death in her hooves. If she used it right, she would kill Changelings with it. Still, she was surprised to discover that it just felt natural in her hooves, like it was something that she had been holding all of her life. The group was instructed to lay down on their stomachs and fire at the targets in front of them. Applejack looked down the range towards the target that she was supposed to be firing at. She could hardly see it! How was she supposed to actually hit it with any accuracy!? Still, she didn't want to incur Sergeant Durkin's wrath any more than she had to so she hooked her hoof over the trigger, steadied the rifle with her other hoof and shoulder and began pulling the trigger. Her first thoughts were about how loud the rifle was. It left her ears ringing for a little while after her clip was empty. She peered down the range to see how well she did but the target was too far away for her to see. She noticed a button next to her. Hoping that it was what she hoped it was, she pressed it. Thankfully it did what she hoped that it would and the target came towards her. A few other recruits, including Rarity and Rainbow Dash, noticed what she had done and pressed their own buttons. Applejack became acutely aware that Sergeant Durkin was standing behind her, eager to examine her work. As the target came closer, Applejack noticed that it was a picture of a basic Changeling unit. A few seconds later it came close enough that Applejack could start seeing the bullet holes that she had made. Once the target came to a stop in front of her, she examined her work. Her clip had had 15 rounds in it and Applejack was delighted to see that all 15 rounds had hit the target. Nine rounds hit the Changeling's torso area while another two hit it in its front leg. One round had penetrated its neck while the final three had torn through its head. "Not too shabby Private Buck. I guess you aren't totally useless after all," said Sergeant Durkin. Applejack allowed herself a smile. Rainbow Dash had similar successes with her rifle except she got two rounds in the Changeling's neck and a fourth in its head. She got a lopsided compliment from Durkin as well. Durkin moved over to Rarity and Applejack expected the worst. Sure enough, Sergeant Durkin's yell rang throughout the range. "Private Vanity will you explain this target to me!?" he said. "Well," said Rarity. "I just shot it like you told me to." Applejack detected something odd in Rarity's voice. Was it...pride!? "Can you explain to me why you hit its head fourteen times including one through the eye!?" said Sergeant Durkin. Rarity cocked an eyebrow at him. "Why whatever do you mean fourteen? Don't you see the hole through the eye? it's a bit bigger than the other holes meaning I shot it in the eye twice," said Rarity. Rainbow Dash turned back to Applejack, her mouth hanging open in shock. Sergeant Durkin seemed at a loss for words too. He walked over to a table and grabbed a fresh target, only the Changeling was a little smaller. "Do it again!" he said before moving the target back way farther than it had been before. Rarity shrugged and reloaded her weapon. She got into position and fifteen shots rang throughout the range. Sergeant Durkin moved the target back towards Rarity for them to examine. To the surprise of everypony, the result was exactly the same: fifteen rounds in the head. Sergeant Durkin stared at the target in total amazement. "Well, it seems you actually are good at something Private Vanity, but your hair is too purple!!" he said before storming off to examine the other targets. At dinner that evening, Rainbow Dash and Applejack questioned Rarity about her marksmanship. "How in Equestria did you manage to be that accurate!?" asked Rainbow Dash incredulously. "Well, I have an eye for detail is all and when you combine that with the steady hooves that I need to do certain sewing jobs and the amount of perfection that I need for that, well, I suppose that might be it," said Rarity nonchalantly. "Maybe they'll give you a prize for your shooting skills. Maybe they have a stuffed seal toy that they'll give you," joked Rainbow Dash. Applejack and Rarity gave Rainbow a quizzical look that Rainbow ignored. "At any rate, maybe you'll make it out of this after all." * * * * Things most certainly did improve for Rarity for the remainder of basic training. Sergeant Durkin kept records of how well the troops were shooting and Rarity consistently topped the charts followed by Rainbow Dash and Applejack who would switch off for second place. Rarity even got better at the physical aspects of boot camp too. She could complete the obstacle courses without a problem now and she would only collapse after thirty pushups. Of course, this measly number still did nothing to get Durkin to lay off of Rarity. Finally, the day of completion of basic training arrived. The recruits lined up in their usual formation in front of their beds and Sergeant Durkin came to debrief them. "Alright recruits, you all passed basic training. If it were up to me, I'd have Private Vanity stay until she could complete every single pushup and mile that she could not do but you're all needed at the front lines. Every single one of you has been assigned to combat areas. You will be deployed to fight in battle against the Changeling army. You will not all survive the war but my final order to you is to exterminate as many Changelings as you can before you do die. You will be deployed to the front lines immediately so pack your bags and your guns and get to the killing. DISMISSED!" Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack slung their packs and rifles over their shoulders and filed in with the rest of the troops onto the train, headed for the front lines. "Well girls," said Applejack grimly. "This is it."
The FrontThe three friends sat silently in the large chariot that was being pulled towards the front lines. They had been traveling for three days now and they were only a mere hour from the front lines now. Soon it would be time to fight. Soon it would be time to kill. "How soon do you think we're going to be in a battle?" asked Rainbow Dash as she cleaned her rifle. "I imagine in the first few days or so, these are the front lines after all," said Rarity. "So...this is potentially our last day alive?" asked Applejack. Rarity opened her mouth to answer, but immediately closed it as the realization of what that meant hit her. Rainbow Dash seemed more focused on cleaning her rifle after Applejack said that. Applejack examined the behavior of the Pegasus. "Uh Dash, that's not loaded right?" she asked. The chariot ride was bumpy and Applejack didn't want Rainbow's first kill to be friendly fire. Rainbow Dash didn't change expression but she silently shook her head. Applejack decided not to press Dash any further and the chariot ride was silent for the most part apart from the occasional whisper from another recruit. As the chariot ride continued, the three friends saw a truly terrible sight that was made worse by the fact that they knew that they were still in Equestria. The land was scorched to the point where Applejack wondered whether or not any plants had grown there in the first place. It looked like a forest fire had raged through the land. The only indication that it was the result of war was the fact that there were craters from shells and other explosives littered around. The three looked on in horror as they saw a line of ponies advancing from the other direction. all of them were bandaged up in some way. The new recruits looked on silently as the lines of wounded slowly walked away from the front lines. Applejack wondered if they took comfort in the fact that most of them would be going home now or if that fact was marred by the heavy sacrifice that they had paid to achieve that. One stretcher in particular caught Applejack's eye. It was being carried by two Unicorn ponies that were using their magic to lift it up. On the stretcher was a completely deformed pony. He was a little younger than Applejack herself but three of his legs had been blown off. A bandage was wrapped around his eyes indicating that he was blind now. Applejack could only tell that this pony had been a Pegasus because of the torn up wing that was sticking oddly from his back. Applejack couldn't look at the lines of wounded any longer so instead she chose to look at the floor of the chariot, hoping that those images wouldn't haunt her forever but knowing that they wouldn't because they would be replaced by ones even worse than that. Eventually the chariot ground to a halt and the Pegasus drivers yelled out to the recruits. "We're here now everypony out!" Applejack adjusted her helmet and slung her rifle over her shoulder before filing out of the chariot. The three friends saw rows and rows of tents and hundreds of ponies rushing about. Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash wondered what was going on but they were soon greeted by a friendly sergeant. "Well hello there girls, first time on the battlefield?" "How'd ya guess?" said Applejack. The sergeant shrugged. "After a while you can just tell. You obviously didn't come here from the Diamond Dog front. You haven't bathed in Changeling blood quite yet." "Uh...'bathed in Changeling blood’?" said a rather disturbed Rarity. The sergeant gave a weak chuckle. "Only an expression although it is a decently apt one. Those buggers come by the thousands but we've got the advantage from where we are which is why they attack once every few days at least." "When is the next attack?" asked Rainbow nervously. The sergeant's grin faded from his face and he looked out towards the horizon and pointed. "Within the hour I think," he said glumly. "We're not sure how much longer we can hold out, even with the new recruits we just got. We need a thousand reinforcements, not a few hundred." The trio looked out to where the sergeant was pointing and sure enough, a large black mass was advancing towards the camp. Rarity's eyes widened and she backed away. "No, no I can't be in a battle, I'm not cut out for this!" she said hysterically. "Rarity, you're the best shot in the entire company, you have to fight!" said Applejack. "It's fight or die, private," said the sergeant simply. "Come on, we'll be right beside you the entire time," said Rainbow Dash comfortingly. Rarity continued to panic at the thought of imminent battle but when the order came to take positions for the fight, she did so willingly. Applejack walked up behind a pile of sandbags and pointed her rifle towards the black mass that was drawing closer. this is it she thought. do or die. "Wait for my signal, then fire!' said the commanding officer. Applejack gripped her rifle tighter and began breathing quickly. She reprimanded herself, this was no time to panic. She was able to make out individual Changelings now; they were disgusting insect like creatures with black rifles in their hooves. They were hissing and snarling at the wall of pony defenders as they drew ever closer. Applejack took aim at one in particular; ready to shoot him on command. "Steady men," said the officer. "Steady..." Applejack tensed up and centered her aim. "FIRE!" Applejack pulled the trigger and the Changeling that she had been aiming at instantly dropped from a round to the skull. Applejack didn't even have time to realize that she had just killed another being as wave after wave of Changelings charged and were shot down. Applejack noticed a Changeling aim his rifle at a pony and she instantly shot him out of the sky. However, she only managed to shoot the one Changeling as the entire front row of Changelings aimed their rifles at the pony defenders and fired off a round. Applejack heard the screams of ponies as they lived their final moments in agony as they were slain by volley after volley of Changeling bullets. It was all that the Equestrian forces could do to keep the Changeling army at bay but their numbers seemed to be infinite. Within a few more minutes, the Changelings broke over the defenses. Now the fighting was at really close quarters now. Ponies pulled out pistols and shot Changelings at close range while the Changelings attached bayonets to their rifles and were now stabbing anypony that came close to them. Applejack saw three Changelings come straight for her, an unmistakable thirst for her blood in their eyes. Applejack spun her rifle around and dropped two of them before the third reached her and tackled her to the ground. Applejack struggled with the Changeling, trying desperately to not be in the wrong end of the bayonet. However, the Changeling was surprisingly strong for something half her size and Applejack realized that she was fighting a losing battle. The Changeling let go of his rifle for a brief moment and slammed a hoof into Applejack's face, stunning her momentarily. He raised his rifle and brought it down hard. Applejack only barely managed to roll out of the way in time for the sharp blade to miss her throat but not fast enough to avoid all damage. The sharp Changeling bayonet sliced through the side of her shoulder. Applejack cried out in pain but she managed to kick the Changeling away from her before he managed to stab at her again. Applejack stood up and looked around for her weapon or anything really that she could use to stop the attack. The Changeling saw this distraction as an opportunity and Applejack noticed too late that he was charging her. She wouldn't be able to get away without serious damage this time. However, to her utter surprise, the back of the Changeling's head exploded and he fell to the ground. Applejack looked behind her to see a mare behind her with a rifle in her hooves, giving a satisfied smile. Applejack nodded in thanks before she picked up her rifle to join the fray once again. She turned back to the mare that had just saved her life only to see her dead on the ground with a Changeling gleefully pulling a knife out of the back of her neck. Applejack immediately shot him in the face and he dropped to the ground on top of the pony he had just killed. Applejack pulled a fresh clip out of a belt that she was wearing and reloaded her weapon. She realized that from her position she had merely been at the edge of the fighting. The real battle had been to her right the entire time. Applejack was shocked to see the pure carnage unfolding before her. Ponies and Changelings alike lay slain on the ground while others cried out in pain from missing limbs or bullet wounds that had not instantly killed. Everywhere ponies and Changelings were fighting for their very lives and with each passing second, scores of soldiers from both sides dropped to the ground. Applejack unloaded her clip into a group of Changelings that were advancing towards a trio of ponies who were trying to protect a wounded comrade. Most of the Changelings fell down dead but there were still many left and within a few seconds, the trio lay dead on the ground in a bloody heap. Applejack reloaded once more and charged directly into the fray. The chaos of the battle was even worse in the middle of it than it was simply watching. Applejack suddenly became disoriented as the screams of the wounded or the soon to be dead of both sides rang around her. She took a few seconds to gather up a few clips form dead soldiers before shooting at any Changeling that she saw. She didn't know how she did it, but pure instinct took over as the battle raged on around her. She wasn't even aware of what she was doing, she just killed. She saw a Changeling run towards a mare, who had her back turned as she was fighting off another Changeling, with his bayonet poised to sever her spine at the neck. Applejack raised her rifle and shot at the Changeling. She missed his head but the bullet hit his right foreleg and the force of the impact tore it off completely. The Changeling fell to the ground, screaming his head off. Within a few seconds, the mare that he was trying to kill in the first place fell down dead with her throat slashed by a bayonet. Applejack shot the Changeling that had killed her before turning around just in time to see another Changeling charging at her with a knife. She raised her rifle but to her horror, she heard a single click as she pulled the trigger. The Changeling had briefly stepped back when he saw the rifle being pointed at him, but he grinned and charged once more once he realized that Applejack was empty. Applejack threw down her rifle and reached towards her belt to pull out an army knife that she had been issued. Thankfully it had not fallen out in the chaos. She charged towards the Changeling and ducked his bayonet swing before she smashed her shoulder into the Changeling. She used the temporary advantage to stab the Changeling in the chest. She sheathed her knife and took a brief moment to relocate and reload her rifle before rejoining the fray. Applejack didn't know how long she fought but she kept fighting as long as her aching body would allow. Her shoulder was killing her but any weakness in a moment like this could mean death for her right here and now. She merely ignored the pain and fought as hard as she could. Eventually, she heard a terrifying noise: the remaining Changelings all buzzed their wings at the same time and took off. The terror that Applejack felt at the noise was replaced by one of joy at the sight of the Changeling army in full retreat. The pony soldiers cheered as the opposing army fled. Applejack cheered right along with them. * * * * Applejack was sitting in a medic tent, waiting for her shoulder to be treated. In truth she didn't really care about her shoulder right now. The only thing that mattered to her was finding out about Rainbow Dash and Rarity. Nothing else mattered at all. However, a medic that had seen it had insisted that she get checked out so she was pushed towards a medic tent and told to wait for the next available medic. Applejack groaned in frustration. Surely the medics had bigger issues than a cut on her shoulder. After a half hour of waiting, the tent flap opened at to Applejack's delight, Fluttershy walked in! "Fluttershy!" said Applejack happily. "I can't believe it's you!" Fluttershy gave her a small smile. "Yeah," she said simply. Applejack frowned. This was Fluttershy, no doubt about it, but she seemed different somehow, like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. Fluttershy wordlessly got to work patching up Applejack's shoulder. "Fluttershy, what's goin' on with you? How long have you been here?" asked Applejack. "About a week," she said blankly. "How many battles have you seen?" Fluttershy began blinking very fast now. "Six," she said. Applejack didn't feel the need to say anything else. The one battle was bad enough for Applejack but six battles and then having to patch up the wounded as best as they could afterwards? Six times! Fluttershy worked on Applejack's shoulder in silence for a few minutes before Applejack noticed that Fluttershy had a pistol on her hip. She couldn't resist herself; she had to know everything about Fluttershy's experiences here! "H...have you ever used that thing?" asked Applejack. Fluttershy was about to pick up a bandage to wrap around Applejack's shoulder but at that question, she put them down almost a little angrily. "Yes," she said. She was breathing heavily now, almost as if she was about to begin yelling at Applejack. Applejack knew that she had pushed too far and began to apologize. "I--" she was immediately cut off. "EIGHT APPLEJACK, I'VE KILLED EIGHT CHANGELINGS! IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW!?" screeched Fluttershy. "N...no Fluttershy, I was gonna apologize for bringin it up in the first place," said Applejack who was a little shaken up by Fluttershy's outburst. Fluttershy took a moment to calm herself down before reaching for the bandages again. "It's okay I guess," she said quietly. "I just..." she sighed. "Just what?" "I dunno, forget I said anything," mumbled Fluttershy. Applejack nodded and left it at that. Within a few more minutes Fluttershy finished bandaging up Applejack and stood up to leave. "Wait," said Applejack. "Have you seen Dash or Rarity?" Fluttershy stopped for a brief moment before turning back to Applejack with a sad look on her face. "Um, yeah, Rainbow Dash is with Rarity now. She didn't get hurt at all," said Fluttershy. Applejack breathed a sigh of relief. "How is Rarity?" asked Applejack. To her horror, Fluttershy began to cry. "I...I...tent twelve," she said between sobs before she ran out of the tent. Applejack's heart sank and she immediately ran out of the tent. She ran around looking for tent twelve before being directed to it by a passing stallion. She bolted towards it and to her horror, she heard uncontrollable sobbing coming from inside. "No," said Applejack quietly, "Oh Celestia no." However, as she got closer to the tent, she realized that the crying wasn't coming from Rainbow Dash, but Rarity. Applejack burst into the tent to see Rainbow Dash holding a sobbing Rarity. Rainbow Dash seemed to be doing her best to comfort her. Rainbow Dash looked up when Applejack burst in and a look of relief spread over her face followed by one of concern when she saw Applejack's shoulder. "It's nothin'," said Applejack. "How is she?" "Well, she got grazed by a bullet in her left foreleg, but nothing serious. She’s just in shock from everything, that's all," said Rainbow sadly. Applejack nodded and she moved in closer to Rarity. "Rarity, how ya doin' sugar cube?" she asked. "Blood...th...there was s-s-so m-m-much b-b-blood. I s-s-s-shot h-him and he just d-d-died...just like that. So much blood, so much blood," she said. Applejack looked up at Rainbow who gave her a grim look. "She's never harmed a fly before and she just killed Changelings. She's talking it pretty hard," said Rainbow. "Yeah...I'm not too sure how well I'm goin' to be takin' it myself later," said Applejack. "Did ya kill a lot of them?" asked Rainbow. Applejack nodded. "My fair share I guess. I lost count after six I think. Didn't really see the need to keep track," said Applejack. Rainbow nodded this time. "Yeah, I lost track after about eight myself," she said before rubbing her forehead. "Did you hear the stats from the battle?" she asked. Applejack shook her head. "Our side, five hundred and forty-three dead, eight hundred and ninety-one wounded. Theirs, roughly eleven-hundred head and we took about 100 prisoners most of whom were wounded." The statistics sounded hollow to Applejack. She couldn't even comprehend those numbers right now. Heck, she couldn't comprehend much of anything right now. "It um, it wasn't quite what I was expecting," said Applejack quietly. Rainbow Dash nodded vigorously. "You're telling me! I mean, I didn't expect it to be fun or anything but that...I don't even know what that was. I don't even think we were ponies in that battle we were more like...bloodthirsty animals. There was no dignity to it, there was no honor, no class, just animals slaughtering each other," said Rainbow. Rarity seemed to have calmed down a bit during the conversation. At any rate, she was sitting up now. "Why did that have to happen?" she said shakily. "Why?" "Well, if we don't fight them then they take over Equestria and enslave the pony race," said Applejack. Even though that was the reason why, it still sounded like a hollow reason, like even a reason such as that could not justify what was going on around them. Night began to fall over the camp and Applejack went back towards her tent. She was grateful that Luna made the nights peaceful even in these dark times. She collapsed on her cot, wondering when the next slaughter would be but still, she was grateful that she had survived today. Could she survive another battle like that?
