The Equestrian Civil War

It was about four in the morning local time when the plane touched down in Jerhoofalem for fuel. Fluttershy, Rarity and Applejack stepped out of the plane to stretch their legs and get something to eat.

They walked into the airport, and ordered a small breakfast. They ate at a round table, and waited around for Honey Song to get them back in the plane.

“I am so glad we’re out of that plane.” Rarity brushed her mane behind her neck. “It was too cramped in there.”

“Ya think?” Applejack replied, “Ya weren’t the one who was stuck in between the two of ya. Ah nearly suffocated mahself back there in that plane!”

Everypony chuckled at Applejack’s statement, and took a bite of their breakfast. It really was just a bagel, a cup of coffee and orange juice. They were told they would get something more suitable when they arrived in Stalliongrad, another two hours to the northwest.

“This desert is terrible for my mane!” Rarity scoffed, “It’s going to get frizzy in this heat! And this airport’s lack of air conditioning is not helping at all!”

“It is a bit hot.” Fluttershy said, “It never got this hot in Ponyville. The mountains always kept us cool.”

“Yeah,” Applejack muttered. Her thoughts immediately went to her home. She could only think of what Granny Smith, Big Macintosh and Applebloom were doing right now. It broke her heart to leave, but she really had to. It would have been selfish to stay.

“What do y’all think is going on in Ponyville right about now?” Applejack asked.

“I hope Sweetie Bell is fine.” Rarity said, “She must feel so terrible right now. I wish I could’ve left something for her, at least a note.”

“Ya think the others are lookin’ for us?” Applejack sipped her coffee. “Ah think they would be.”

“Of course they would.” Rarity said, “Why wouldn’t they? They’re probably trying to piece it together right now.”

“I would hope they would.” Fluttershy agreed. “We did leave with no trace.”

“We did.” Rarity said. She looked down into her coffee, and put in a packet of sugar and cream. She watched it swirl and sink into the coffee, and stirred it with her straw. She felt terrible for Sweetie Bell; she really did wish she left her at least something.

No, that would have exposed her. It was better this way. Oh, but it tore at her heart! Why was it so hard?

The minutes went by terribly slowly. Rarity could only hope it tore at her friend’s hearts like it did hers.
***

Twilight and Rainbow Dash had spent most of the morning looking for their missing friends, until Rainbow Dash found a large clearing outside of Ponyville with large tracks.

“It looks like a plane took off from here.” Twilight said after inspecting the grass in the field. “Do you think they left on this plane?”

“Seems like it.” Rainbow Dash said, “I mean, we have looked all over Ponyville for them. This is the only thing we’ve got, Twilight.”

“Alright,” Twilight sighed. “Should we tell Pinkie now?”

“I don’t see why not.” Rainbow Dash agreed. “She’s in the cake shop, right?”

“She should be.” Twilight said, “I’m going back to the library. I need to find out what tracks these were. You go tell Pinkie.”

Rainbow Dash nodded, and took to the skies. She steadied herself, and flew back towards Ponyville. It was still a mystery where they went, but now they had at least something.

Rainbow Dash touched down at the Ponyville Square, where a large statue of Celestia and Luna stood. Only Luna was now trashed and desecrated. Seeing it made her anger boil. Why would Luna do something like this?

As she was brooding, she ran into a Unicorn. She fell down on her back, and got up almost immediately.

“Hey what’s your problem?” Rainbow Dash yelled, “Can you see at all?”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” The Unicorn replied. He had a black coat, and a green mane. He also had a moustache of the same color.

“You better be,” she said, walking away.

As she walked into the cake shop, she was muttering insults under her breath, when she was greeted by Mrs. Cake.

“Hello Rainbow Dash!” She greeted, “How are you today?”

“Fine,” Rainbow lied, “Where’s Pinkie Pie? I need to talk to her.”

“Oh, she’s upstairs.” Mrs. Cake smiled, “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“No, thanks.” She replied, already heading up the stairs. As soon as she knocked on the door, it was opened.

“Hi Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie Pie said, “What are you doing here? Is it some sort of game? Can I play? Oh, I love games? But is it a game? Or is it a party? Oh my gosh, is it a party?”

“Pinkie,” Rainbow Dash said, “Calm down. I need to tell you something.”

“Okie dokie loki!” Pinkie Pie sat down in a chair immediately. “What is it, Rainbow Dash? Is it a secret?”

“Sort of.” Pinkie Pie nodded, and leaned closer. “Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack and Rarity…”

“Want me to throw a party for them?!” Pinkie Pie jumped up, “Oh boy! I can’t wait! What should the theme be? Maybe I should do an all pink party! What do you think, Rainbow Dash?”

“Let me finish, Pinkie!” Rainbow Dash cried. “Now, they have gone missing. We think they might have left in a plane. We don’t know where they are, and it might take us awhile.”

“Oh,” Pinkie Pie dropped her head, but snapped it up. “Do you think they were kidnapped? They could’ve by Luna spies! I saw them talking to a black-coated Unicorn, did you see that?”

“No,” Rainbow Dash said, “But I just ran into one back in the square. Did he have a green mane and moustache?”

“Yes!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, “We got to find him! Let’s go!”

Pinkie Pie dashed down the stairs, and Mrs. Cake didn’t do anything except shrug and let her go. Pinkie knew that if he was a Luna spy, she had to catch him quick. He could be on his way to Stalliongrad right now!

She ran as fast as she could, with Rainbow Dash trailing behind. She could hear her yell at her for something, but Pinkie Pie didn’t stop. She just kept running.

She came up to the square, and stopped immediately. Rainbow Dash ran into her she stopped so quickly.

“Shhhh,” Pinkie Pie said, “I think I see him.”

She looked past the corner, and saw the black Unicorn walking across the square. She walked out casually, and walked up to him.

“Hi,” she said, “I’m Pinkie Pie! I don’t think I’ve met you, which means I have to throw you a party!”

“Oh,” the Unicorn said, “I actually need to be somewhere right now. So if you would just let me…”

Pinkie Pie stepped in front of him, and Rainbow Dash stepped behind him.

“Listen,” Rainbow Dash said, “Come with us. We need to talk to you for a moment.”

“Alright then,” he smirked, “Is this about your friends?”

“Come with us.” Pinkie Pie said. She picked him up, and draped him over her shoulder, and walked beside Rainbow Dash.

They walked back into the cake shop, where Pinkie Pie put him in a chair, and tied him to it.

“Alright,” she said, “Spill the beans! We know you kidnapped our friends! Tell us, where are they?!” She grabbed a toy pistol (but the Unicorn didn’t know that), and held it to his head.

“You wouldn’t shoot me.” He said, “You don’t even know who I am. Besides, would you want to go to jail to rot for killing me? I’m just a passerby you kidnapped. I could have you arrested right now.”

“But you won’t,” Pinkie said, “Because I could always shoot you.”

Her eyes flared, and the Unicorn looked away for a second.

“I don’t know where your friends are.” He said, “I don’t even know their names.”

“Talk!” Pinkie Pie said, pistol-whipping him across the face. Blood splattered on the floor, and the Unicorn looked to her.

“You think I’ll talk?” He spat at Pinkie Pie, “I wouldn’t tell you tomorrow’s weather!”

“Really?” Pinkie Pie retorted. She pulled the hammer back on her (toy) revolver, and pushed the Unicorn’s head with it. “I can do worse, you know.”

“Do it,” the Unicorn said, “You won’t. Too many witnesses.”

“Try me.” Pinkie’s hair straightened itself, and her voice turned sinister. “Tell me, or I will blow your brains out, and paint the room with your blood!”

“You sure?” Pinkamena only nodded. “Alright, your friends weren’t kidnapped by Luna spies. They contacted me for transportation to Stalliongrad. I complied, and now they should be heading to Stalliongrad to speak with Luna right now.”

“Why you little…” Pinkamena blinked, and her mane became curly again. She threw the gun away, and said, “You fell for it! That was a toy gun! You fell for it hook, line and sinker!”

She then began to roll on the floor laughing while Rainbow Dash cut the ropes binding the Unicorn.

“Tell nopony about this,” she whispered in his ear, “And we won’t either. Continue on, we don’t want to interfere.”

“Thanks,” he whispered back. “What’s with her?”

“Don’t bother.” Rainbow Dash replied. She cut the last rope, and the Unicorn got up.

“My name’s Tuxedo,” he said, rubbing his wrists, “Tuxedo Masquerade, by the way. Talk to me if you want to join your friends. But I’ll be leaving tomorrow for Baltimare, so decide quickly.”

Rainbow Dash nodded, and let him go. She turned to Pinkie Pie, and shook her head.

“The toy gun trick, again?” She chuckled, “Where did you get that anyway?”

“I really don’t know.” Pinkie Pie jumped up, and said, “Let’s tell Twilight! Does she know? What if she doesn’t?

How will we break it to her? Should we throw her a consolation party?”

“No,” Rainbow Dash sighed, “She knows. We just need to tell her that we know where the others went.”

“Okie dokie loki!” Pinkie Pie smiled, “Let’s go!”
***

“This is Breaker 9-2-3-niner, coming in for my final approach.”

Fluttershy looked out at the window, and saw Stalliongrad Comrade’s Airport, where they would land, and a limousine would be waiting to take them to Luna. Suddenly, she felt apprehensive. She hadn’t seen Luna since the party; she had no idea what to expect.

As the plane dipped down onto the runway, Fluttershy was still glued to the window. The city was beautiful, but the thick black smog hovering over the factories detracted from it. There was a heavy overcast; it would rain soon.

The plane jostled as it hit the runway. Honey Song pulled back the throttle, and the plane came to a stop a few feet from the limousine. Honey Song killed the engine, and turned around to the three mares in the seats behind her.

“Well, girls,” she said, “It’s been a good one. I guess I’ll see you blokes around then.”

“Yes,” Rarity said, “We shall. Let’s go, Applejack, Fluttershy, we have Luna waiting for us.”

The others followed Rarity into the limousine, which immediately started its engine and pulled out of the runway. Rarity sat in the sofa facing the back of the limo, while Applejack and Fluttershy sat opposite of her.

She grabbed the coffee pot, and poured the glass halfway. She grabbed the cream, and filled it to the top. She put in three sugar cubes, and stirred it into the cup with her straw.

“So,” Rarity took a sip of the coffee, “We’re here.”

“It would seem so.” Applejack said, “Ah think this city is a real beaute if ya ask me.”

“Except for that smog.” Fluttershy said, “It’s really unattractive.”

“Well it is an industrial city of the Hooviet Union,” Rarity said, “These ponies really don’t care for the environment. Though they make some good material in those factories.”

The limo left the airport, and police cars began to flank it. They turned on their sirens, and all other traffic pulled over.

Rarity was surprised. She knew that they were important, but she never thought she would be a target for assassination! It was really an honor when she thought about it. The fact that somepony cared enough about her to kill her was disturbing, but strangely rewarding at the same time.

She happily sipped from her coffee. She really couldn’t wait to speak with Luna. She was itching to prove her worth. Everypony she knew knew her as somepony who wouldn’t get her hands dirty. But she was willing to if she believed in the cause enough.

She didn’t know why her mind was racing this much. Maybe she put too much sugar into her coffee, but she knew she never thought like this. Not even when she was brimming with inspiration while working on a dress.

Oh, making a dress. How long would it be before she sat down and made a new one? She figured it would be months, possibly years, before she would. She sighed, she knew she believed in the cause and all, but was it worth sacrificing her livelihood?

Before she could answer her own question, the limousine stopped in front of a large mansion. The door was opened by an Earth Pony, and held Rarity’s hand as she climbed out.

“Here we are, girls.” Rarity said, “Now, let’s go. We shan’t keep Princess Luna waiting.”

They nodded in agreement. They were saluted by Republican soldiers, and they opened the door for them. They were escorted through the mansion, which was obviously built during Stalliongrad’s founding.

Stalliongrad was an old city by normal standards, but when compared to Zebra or Camel cities, it is just reaching its adolescence. It was founded along the Sarcidano River six hundred years ago, to be the capital of the Hooviet Union. This mansion was built by the Great Strong Soldier to be both his residence and office.

The halls of the mansion were decorated by artifacts and souvenirs of past conquests of the East: pickaxes from the long-lost Penguin Empire of the Far North, swords from North Camelu fortresses, and now, rifles from the Great War, an all-out war between Zebras, Camels, Griffons, and Equestrians. Equestria was the sole winner, and established its place as the world’s superpower.

A large door opened, and guards saluted their entry. There was a large desk with a small Republican flag at all corners. The chair was turned towards the window, but Rarity could see Luna’s reflection.

This was it, the moment they were all waiting for. There would be no going back now.
***

“Princess Luna,” Thunder Roller said, “I introduce to you Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity of Ponyville.”

Nightmare Moon turned the chair around to face them. They were all nervous. They had no idea to expect. She smirked for a second, and addressed them in Luna’s voice.

“Hello, my dear friends.” She said, “You can relax. Sit down; might I get you a drink?”

“No thank you, Your Highness.” Rarity answered for them. Nightmare Moon saw that she regarded herself the leader of the group. She might have to change that.

“Please,” she held up a hand. “Call me Luna. I wish to shred my royal ties. Now, I believe I know why you all stand before me, I presume?”

“Yea,” Applejack responded, “We’re all here to join ya.”

“Good.” Nightmare Moon smiled. “That is very good. Now, as you may know, we are making good progress in the East. But,” she motioned for a large world map to come down behind them, “We are having trouble breaking through Celestial lines near Jerhoofalem. I would very much enjoy taking Jerhoofalem, but I couldn’t. Until you three stepped into my office today.”

They looked nervously in their chairs, and shifted.

“What do you mean?” Fluttershy said, “Are we going to fight so soon?”

“No, not at all, that would be too harsh of me!” Nightmare Moon said, “I wish to let you get over your jetlag. Once you are able, I will dispatch you to our forces near Jerhoofalem and Damarescus. I will be putting you under the control of Major General Thunder Roller. Applejack, I present you with the rank of Major. Rarity, Fluttershy, you will be Lieutenants. I want Applejack to be the leader of your group.”

Fluttershy nodded. Nightmare Moon inferred that she didn’t want to lead. But Rarity looked a bit annoyed. She could see it in her eyes, but she didn’t show it in her body language. She was good at hiding her emotions, she would give Rarity that.

“Now,” she said, “Do any of you have special characteristics that would make you stand out?”

“Well,” Applejack said, “Not really, no. Ah am a good shot with an AR though.”

“I used to fly helicopters.” Fluttershy said. Everypony looked at her; they had no idea. “I used to fly aid to the Zebras once the Zecor War was over. It was before I moved to Ponyville.”

“I guess I could be a good shot with a sniper rifle.” Rarity said. “I just can’t fire an assault rifle properly; there’s no way for me.”

“Good to know, all of you.” Nightmare Moon said. “Rarity, you will be part of the Sniper Detachment for the 15th Infantry Division. Fluttershy, you will be integrated into the Fourteenth Attack Helicopter Squadron. Applejack, you will be part of C Company, 15th Infantry Division, along with Rarity. You are all dismissed now.”

They got up, thanked her, and walked out of the office. Once they closed the door, Nightmare Moon could not keep down her satisfaction. The very fact that three of the six she needed to win the war came to her willingly had surprised her so!

But, she still needed to get the other three.

That would be a problem.

Tell me what you think! So, now the Mane 6 are split in the Civil War: Three with Luna, three with Celestia. Now, the real war begins. Alright, since I forgot to explain it last chapter’s Author’s Note, I’ll do it with this one! Basically, Equestria is supposed to represent a real-world equivalent to most of Eurasia, North America and some of the Middle East. The Zebras are supposed to embody a real-world equivalent to Africa. The Camels represent the Middle East, and the Griffons, I really don’t think they embody any real-world places. So, glad I got that cleared! Also, Pinkamena may or may not appear in later chapters! Next chapter: Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity begin their fight for Luna, while Rainbow Dash, Twilight and Pinkie Pie try to figure out what they will do. Will they join their friends in Stalliongrad, or fight for Celestia? Find out in the next chapter!