Author's Note

Hello guys, sorry for the waiting. I hope you will like this chapter! See you soon.

CH 3: We all need to choose a Path.

After the warlord's death.

The warlord body fell to the ground, the two sides were silent. The fight ceased when everyone heard William's rifle shot the last bullet of the battle. William was the first to go out of the trench, he looked around and saw all the enemy soldiers who were still alive surrender to his troops. He walked toward the dead body of the warlord, being watched by each side. He stopped before the body and made something no one thought he will do: he knelt and with his hand, close the eyes of the dead pony.

He stood up and walked toward where all the prisoners with some guards were. He saw Shadow Star talking with two ponies. They noticed him and Shadow Star smiled and approach him as well.

"Good first battle won warlord. I'm glad you are on our side and not the side of the now-dead flankhole that was the other one over here."

"Trust me Shadow, I'm happy that I wasn't with him. I think I would have died faster with him than being with you. And, please call me William, we are friends don't forget that."

"Alright, William. So... what should we do with them?"

William looked at the prisoners. They were not in great condition: some looked like they didn't eat for 3 months, others were beaten and have a lot of wounds and others were too young to see the atrocities of war so why were they here? Well, just because the crazy pony wanted to take the city at any cost. William was angry right now but at least he killed him, he doesn't really know if they are happy because they face don't let any emotions show but only fear.

"Take them somewhere where they can rest and make sure they eat something and that their wounds and injuries are healed. Don't forget to order some soldiers to watch them."

Shadow Star nodded and immediately order what William wanted. Feeling tired from the fight and all the stress which was brought by it, he decided to go to sleep so he asked Shadow Star where he could find a bed and she guided him to a house. He goes into it and finds the bed and sleep on it.

The next day, William POV.

I swear sometimes you can be under too much pressure. It's only the first day I spent in this world and I already lead a group and a town for God's sake! Now, I have to make sure the new ponies I have under my care are well treated. I leave the house I used to sleep and walk toward where the "prisoners" were. Two guards were outside the building and when they saw me, one of them open the door and the other one informed me about our guests' health.

Before I could do anything, time stopped and a screen appeared before me. On this screen was something that looked like the compliance mechanics in the game. I saw that it was pretty good: 57 percent of compliance. After sometimes, I heard Walter's voice.

"I think you have guessed it was the compliance like in your game. Here it represents the compliance of the ponies you take from the other warlord. How it is already so high? Well, you give them everything they didn't have for a long time, plus you treat them well unlike the other warlord. Unlike in the Hoi4 game, the compliance increases thanks to your actions and not by days. It will be too long. It's the same things when you decide to build factories or to do a national focus."

After he said that, two more screens appeared, it was the construction list and the national focus part you can find in the game. Actually, I don't really have any factories available, I think I need to make sure someone is willing to help me with that. The national focus was named "To gain their trust". There was a little description and the effect when it will be done is 30 percent more compliance. That's cool. I need to help them more and we will have it very quickly.

"And for the factories? How do I have at least one?"

"For that, you need to make sure the State and/or the government, here it will be only you, have people who are willing to help you with that. In the beginning, they will give you civilian factories but later they can give you military factories or you can convert a normal factory to a military one, also don't forget the consumer goods. You people will need to have things to live after all. See ya later!"

Everything was back to normal. There were some guards inside the building to make sure random ponies come inside and do something to them. I walk toward the prisoners and knelt before a family. They looked at me in fear, so I decided to give them some food and tell them everything will be alright and it worked. They started to relax and I thought questioning them could let me know what they have been through.

"Can I ask you some questions?" They looked at each other before nodding.

"Just to know you, I won't force you to answer my questions but if you answer I can make sure to help you." They nodded again.

"Very well. First of all, what was wrong with the warlord earlier? He was the craziest guy I saw in a while." The father decided to answer first.

"Well, he was a supremacist. Not the kindest part of it. He was a kleptocrat, the one who wants to install a nation based on stealing and the one at the head of it is a thief. He and his sympathizers came each day to take something from us and if we had nothing, they would send us to a mine or do manual works. Plus the education was impossible for us. Only the ponies born by the superior class like he called it could have an education and the others were just like slaves."

I feel bad for them. Just like in the game. When you have an ideology and when you pass your mouse on the symbol of your ideology, you always have a description of the actual sub ideology like I called that, for example, ideology: communism and sub ideology: anarchism or marxism to only say some of it. And all this stallion said was true and it was in the description of a kleptocrat who is also a supremacist.

"Don't worry, here you will be treated as living beings and not like tools. I will also make sure you can have a proper education, well at least the children. I think most of the adults had an education before... you know."

All of them nodded and smiled. A screen appeared showing the compliance's bar increase to 60 percent. Well, the best thing to do is to find a school for them and trying to have at least a factory.

I was walking toward the school with two soldiers since some ponies didn't really like the idea to have an unknown creature as a leader and I can understand that. I just became a warlord in one day! I could defend myself but it's more intimidating when soldiers are with you. Since we were in an industrializing time, you could see cars and all this type of stuff. I asked Shadow Star to find someone willing to help with the industries we need.

The principal of the school greeted me and we go to her office. Before that, we did a visit to the school, and all the students and teachers were happy to see me. Inside the principal's office, we talked about the education issue with the new ponies. I tell her the story I was told earlier and she quickly understood the situation and agreed to make sure the children were educated.

After that, Shadow Star met me with a stallion with I presume his wife who looked a little rich. Sometimes, rich people make me sick. They are the type of person who sometimes makes you feel miserable. Maybe I can give it a try, they are our chance I think.

"William, meet Jackpot Star and his wife River Breeze. We are friends since school."

"It's an honor to finally meet you, warlord. It's good to know we have finally someone to guide us in these dark times." Said River Breeze.

"Don't worry. I only did what I thought was right. I just came out of the principal's office and I have good news, the foals of the ponies we have saved from the enemy warlord will finally have an education." They smiled at this news.

"I'm happy to hear that. I think their nonexistent education comes from the fact the bastard was a kleptocrat, right?" Asked Shadow Star.

"Indeed, the type of freak I hope is not too much present in the whole Riverlands." We all agreed about that and Jackpot Star decided to bring the main topic of our conversation.

"Shadow Star told us about your factory problem. It seems we can give you a civilian and another one which was going on sale, we can make sure to give it to you and arrange it to be a military factory."

Two factories, it's a beginning plus one of each type. Sounds fair to me.

"Sounds pretty good. The problem is I don't really have the things to pay you for this generous offer."

"Please dear, we give it to you for free. After all, it's to show you our gratitude to have defended Coltstream and its ponies." Said River Breeze.

I smiled and moved my hand toward Jackpot Star gesturing a handshake.

"Deal?"

He shook my hand answering just after that.

"Deal."

Somedays later.

Everything was perfect, the foals were in classes, the old prisoners are now fully integrated and they have homes now thanks to the help of my civilian factory which is also with the military factory working thanks to the help of the ponies we have integrated.

I was at my house which was also the best one and the most noticeable in Coltstream. Some guards were outside to make sure no one sneaks in it. I was thinking about Shadow Star. She was an independent and strong mare who can make others respect her. It's something I like to see in a woman or mare in this case. It's not every day you saw that. Did I mention she was a pegasus? (I don't remember saying what type of pony she was. Tell me if I'm wrong and also precise what I said she was so I can change this and not confused everyone. Thank you if you do that!)

At the same time, someone knocked at my door. I opened it to found one of my guards with Shadow Star behind him. I dismissed the guard and welcomed Shadow inside.

"Make yourself at home." She nodded and take a place at the table.

The room was big with an open kitchen. There were a TV and a radio. My weapons were in my chamber right now. I need to find a room where I can put them.

"Do you want anything to eat or drink?"

"Do you have some alcohol by any chance?" Wow, I didn't think her the type of drinking beer or alcohol. I know for sure I'm not like that. It can happen I drink some during parties or something like that but other than that then it's a no.

I looked in the fridge and found one. I place it before her and take a seat.

"So, why did come to see me?" She opened the bottle and started drinking before answering.

"A pony came here and claimed to be a messenger sent by the two other warlords in the region. You know, the ones who control the last provinces of the region."

"Yes, what about that?"

"When they heard you defeated our enemy so easily, they started to freak out because they thought you would come for them so they allied. The problem is the warlord who controls Rjekograd, the old capital of the ancient River Republic, decided to attack them. It's all the pony said and he gave us this letter. Apparently, there is everything else in it."

She gave me the letter she spoke about and I started to read it.

Dear Warlord William,

We hope this letter will find you soon! We have heard about your strategy skills and we beg you to help us! The Rjekograd's warlord decided to attack us in our weak state from the fighting we have done recently. If you help us, you will be also get read of this threat for a long time and we are willing to reward you in the best way possible!

Sincerely, Warlords Saphire and Starry Diamond.

"Interesting. First of all, what type of reward could it be, and second... how the fuck did they know my name?!"

Shadow started to laugh at my reaction and soon I joined her. I stand up and walk to my room and take my weapons. Shadow saw me and finished her bottle before standing up. She walked toward me and also take the rifle she always has with her.

"So, William what's the plan?"

"Make sure to take a good number of soldiers and also make sure we have a good garrison. I'll make sure everypony knows about this."

She nodded and started walking away. I said to my guards at the front door to follow me and they were replaced by the ones who were patrolling. Some minutes later, Shadow was followed by a large number of soldiers with the 4 machineguns. I also order them to make sure everyone was here to listen to what I had to say before we left Coltstream. When everyone was here I started my speech.

"My friends, I thank you that you came here. I know what you might think. What the fuck is just happening right now? Well, it seems that our neighboring warlords in our region have asked for our help. The Rjekograd's warlord has sent an army to conquer the region. I know you might disapprove that we are going to our neighbors' help but think about it? What will happen when they will be conquered hmmm? We will be the next and the problem is will we be able to win this fight? So this is the best thing we can do right now plus the warlords promised to reward us for our help! My friends this is maybe the time where we are going to show the world, our determination to win and to reunify the Riverlands under one banner! So who is with me?"

All the ponies scream their enthusiasm and the soldiers cheered. We have a bigger army thanks to the ponies who wanted to join and now we have trucks thanks to the new factories. I met Shadow with another pony who was the one who will guide us to the battle and also the messenger send by you know who.

The soldiers started to go into the trucks with everything they needed and the machineguns were also taken. Shadow Star and I were in the same truck the guide was. After making sure everything was ready, we left Coltstream toward the next step of unification.

Some hours later. Third POV

William's army can be seen on the road, not too far away from its destination. Thanks to its man/ponypower, Coltstream provides a big army to William. At least 100 hundred soldiers with him go to the other warlords' help. In reality, Coltstream has more than one thousand ponies inside of its borders but William doesn't and can't force them to go to war. If he does that, he will lose everything he did till now.

The guide made the convoy stop itself before what looks like a town. Some ponies saw the convoy and panic started to gain the town. Soldiers take positions, ready to defend all the ponies inside of it. Before anything could happen, two mares decided to walk toward William's position. The guide went out of the truck followed by William, Shadow Star, and some soldiers as well.

(You can easily have 10 soldiers in it. Also creators link.)

The two mares looked at each other before looking at William with interest. To be fair, William was a little taller than everyone. Humans were a little taller than all species in this world except the dragons, yaks, minotaurs, and the Princesses.

One of the mares was a unicorn and the other one was an earth pony. The guide walked toward them and tell them who the "visitors" were. The mares smiled and walked toward the group.

"Finally, I thought we were out of hope and luck! Thank you so much for coming, please follow us."

The mares guide them into what looks like a temporary base. They walk toward what should be a war room with a map of the region on the table. William and Shadow Star were at one side of the table and the two mares on the other side.

"Before we start anything, thank you for coming, your help is our only chance to fight the warlord who wants to invade us right now. The name's Saphire and her here it's Starry diamond."

Saphire was an earth pony, the strongest of all the ponies except for the alicorns. Starry Diamond was a unicorn, the only type of pony who can use magic except for the alicorns again.

"Well, nice to meet you. I think you already know my name, the pegasus with me is Shadow Star, my second in command."

Shadow Star looked at him surprised. Never before she thought William would make her important like that, she smiled at this and thank William internally. The four of them looked at the map and where the enemy should pass. The enemy should pass through a ravine before they can attack William and his allies. But thanks to his strategic skills, William came up with a plan, make an ambush. All of them agreed and they packed everything they need and their little armies started to go where the ravine was.

Timeskip.

The Rjekograd's army was in the ravine, marching toward its target. Nobody expected what would come next. After some time, the army was at the end of it but the thing, there is a lot of vegetation and what was in the vegetation? Hiding machineguns only waiting for the signal to open fire. The other part of the plan is that all the pegasus were on the height of the ravine waiting to take the enemy by surprise.

William thanks to his rifle's visor, saw who was in the charge of the army. The pony looked like a pure military guy with the uniform of an officer, maybe taking him as a prisoner could be important for the warlords of Wild-Vodina. Taking a deep breath and aiming at the officer from his position, William shot at his leg.

The officer screamed in agony after he felt a sharp pain in his right leg. All the ponies started to panic, asking what was that and where did it come from. The machine-gunners take this as the signal and started to shoot at their enemies, killing a lot of them. It was a massacre. The other ponies of the warlords started to shoot as well. Panic was in the rank of the enemy army but some officers successfully regain a normal state in some part of it.

The resistance to survive the ambush was strong. The enemy warlord has for sure a competent army compared to the last one. Seeing this, Shadow Star saw the opportunity to launch the assault. She made the signal when she takes her rifle and a grenade and launched it into the mess, killing a lot of ponies. The screams of pain were heard, some were crying. The unicorns under the warlords' command used their magic to create shields to protect the others from the bullets. The pegasuses were launching grenades, destroying the enemy lines. Saying this, the second in command of the Rjekograd army ordered the retreat and all the ponies were running for their life.

All the wounded enemies were still laying on the ground while William and his allies' army cheered in their victory. The most important thing is that Saphire, Starry Diamonds, and their soldiers cheered in William's name. Before doing anything else, William ordered to take care of the wounded.

After sometimes, William was told to see Saphire and Starry Diamond. When he arrived the two warlords were with their entire army waiting for William, when he arrived all the ponies started to smile. Saphire was the first to talk.

"William, today you saved us all thanks to your strategic skills. Some hours ago you decided to help ponies you didn't even know and in the letter we sent you we said we will reward you."

Everypony looked at each other smiling like never before and looking at William with hope and pride.

"Warlord William, will you accept us in your group?"

"Today you proved us you were the one who can unite the old River Republic and maybe even the whole Riverlands. Please accept our loyalty to you."

William was shocked, he didn't really know what to do. Maybe some ponies don't want to do that but the only way to know is to accept. He looked at Shadow Star when he saw her smiled he knew what to do. He walked toward the two warlords and put a hand on their shoulders.

"Let's make sure we unite all of this mess."

Everyone knows what it means and everyone cheered in joy. The whole region was united now the next stape was the River Republic.

After that, William saw that the time stopped and a screen appeared. It was like in the Crusader Kings when you can create a duchy, a kingdom, and an empire. William didn't know what does this means until Walter explained it to him.

"Here you can proclaim the unification of the region like in the Crusader Kings game the different here it's that duchies are replaced by regions, kingdoms, and empires by nations. Like in the game you need to have some conditions before doing that thing."

"I thought it was only Hoi4 game thing."

"It happens when you choose a world, the said world will also take things from a world where it looks very similar and since these two games came from... Paradox studio thing I think well I think you know what I mean. Also, the name change thanks to the type of ideology you have."

"Interesting."

"Now, I think about it, it's time you choose your path."

After Walter said that, a screen appeared before Walter with different choices.

"How do I know the ponies will agree with me?"

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't have problems."

(Very Important: This is where I need you guys, like the last time you will be the ones who choose William's future! Choose carefully because the ideology you choose will change things and will not have the same possibilities you can have with another ideology.)

The choices were:

Communism.

Supremascist. (Fascism if you want)

Harmonic. (The one which looks like a little democracy but not entirely)

And Non-Aligned. (Could be a lot like oligarchies or monarchists.)

"I choose..."