Gathering before the march.
There was a din in the air. Soldiers talking and laughing. It was the night before deployment. While it wasn't a party, it was a get together. It was to boost morale. One last hoorah before they had to be serious. And I was about to ruin their mood.
That really wasn't my intention, but that would undoubtedly be the result. But I wasn't here for me, I was here for them. I hummed a bit and ran a few notes through the magic of my horn to get myself warmed up.
I am a unicorn, at least now I am. It took a while to get used to that. That isn't important tonight though my experiences with my human life do play into my cutie mark. Turning around to look at the image of a cell phone with a large blue music note on it's screen set against the drab green background of my fur still felt like bitter irony. I'll be reminded of my previous life for the rest of this one. Running a hoof through my orange mane, I was about as ready as I could be.
The audience of soldiers grew quieted a bit at a time as I climbed the stage. There were a few hundred in attendance. I even had the attention of the Princesses of Equestria. They looked on from their raised platform, intrigued but curious. They knew my origins and my desire to share a song from Earth, but I managed to avoid giving them details. Only that it was meant for a time of war.
As I came to center stage a hush fell to the audience and I raised my voice. “Good evening fine mares and gentlestallions. My name is Claude, though most know me as Foreign Beats.” To that there was a fair amount of applause, more than I expected. My talent allowed me to recall music from Earth and recreate it with my magic. I could even recall the words to songs, though they got 'ponified'. Still, the music I put out wasn't all too popular, or so I thought. “I got a song for all of you tonight. I hope it serves you well.”
Many looked up eagerly, though some in confusion with my last statement. I really did hope they took the lyrics to heart. The war they were going to against the griffons was going to be ugly. It would be in their home with guerrilla tactics. These were simple guards, turned into soldiers. They had no idea what they would face. The words I would sing, would they act as fair warning or insidious inspiration? I had to place my faith in the good in ponies.
I channeled magic into my horn and crisp sounds from a solo acoustic guitar started to play.
He said "Son, have you seen the world?
Well, what would you say if I said that you could?
"Just carry this spear, you'll even get paid"
I said "That sounds pretty good"
Smiles and chuckles spread around some of the soldiers, though some of the officers got a pinched look to their muzzles.
Shiny gold boots
Spit-shined so bright
They cut off my mane but it looked alright
We marched and we sang
We all became friends
As we learned how to fight
They were starting to sway to the beat. Some leaning on others. Camaraderie seemed to be the mood. But a pit in my stomach started to form as I knew it would.
A hero of war
Yeah, that's what I'll be
And when I come home
They'll be damn proud of me
I'll carry this flag
To the grave if I must
'Cause it's a flag that I love
And a flag that I trust
I could see it in some of the older officers and some of the veterans too. Their mood sobering. Celestia still had on her neutral mask, but Luna seemed distant.
I kicked in the door
I yelled my commands
The children, they cried
But I got my mark
We took him away
A bag over his face
From his family and his friends
The smiles started to disappear. The mood in the air chilled. Yes, this is when things become clear.
They took off his clothes
They pissed in his hooves
I told them to stop
But then I joined in
We beat him with spears
And batons not just once
But again and again
The veterans started to look away. The younger soldiers looked at me with growing horror. Celestia's brows came down in grim understanding. Luna closed her eyes with her head down.
A hero of war
Yeah that's what I'll be
And when I come home
They'll be damn proud of me
I'll carry this flag
To the grave if I must
'Cause it's a flag that I love
And a flag that I trust
No more did they sway. No more did they have their legs over each other. Now they waited in dread for the next line to start. As I started to tear up, I continued.
She walked through arrows and haze
I asked her to stop
I begged her to stay
But she pressed on
So I lifted my bow
And I fired away
I heard a few audible gasps. A few put hooves to their mouths. More were starting to cry.
And the bolts jumped through the smoke
And into the sand
That the blood now had soaked
She collapsed with a flag in her hand
A flag white as snow
There was hardly a dry eye now. The horrors of war laid bare. The truth of what they may face in the days and months to come. I was glad to wrap it up.
A hero of war
Is that what they see
Just medals and scars
So damn proud of me
And I brought home that flag
Now it gathers dust
But it's a flag that I love
It's the only flag I trust
One of the officers, a grizzled old stallion, wept openly into the crook of his foreleg. Luna gave me a haunted look while her sister, a slight nod of understanding.
He said, "Son, have you seen the world?
Well what would you say, if I said that you could?"
As I finished up, I had to stop and compose myself. After coughing to clear up my lungs I addressed the crowd. “I'm sorry to bring the mood down, but I sung this song for a reason. You are not used to war or how ugly it can get. Don't let yourselves become worse than those you fight. You are there as peacekeepers, to stop conflict, not to eliminate your enemies. Never forget in the power of friendship.”
Amidst the sounds of muffed sobbing I left the stage, trying to not let the emotions overwhelm me until I was back in my tent. But when I lifted the flap I was only mildly surprised to see the royal diarchs waiting for me. I coughed into my fetlock. “Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, good evening. I hope my song wasn't too distasteful for you?”
There was a brief moment that Celestia took a breath as if she had to collect her thoughts before she spoke. “No. No it wasn't. It was a song filled with harsh truths that humans saw?” I nodded to her. “While we ponies haven't dealt with war for centuries, I and the rest of the armed forces sent into this conflict will not act without honor. But we do appreciate that warning for our little ponies.”
Luna took this time to speak up. “Indeed. We have seen how war can bring out the worst in creatures and we will not let that happen here or any time in the future. That song was quite poignant. With how kind and gentle you have been it still shocks us that your humans were capable of such...nightmares.”
Both Luna and yourself shudder a bit when you both recall the early days of your arrival when you let them know about Earth and your opinion of your fellow humans. That and the bloody history of humanity. “Thank you both for giving me this opportunity. The last thing I want is for what happened on Earth to ever happen here.”
With that both Celestia and Luna stood up. “No need to thank us. No, we thank you for the service and wonderful music you provided this night. But we have much to do in preparation so we must bid thee good night.”
We said our farewells as I sunk onto my bed for the evening. A military cot at the staging ground for the first war in Equestria in centuries. I didn't get much sleep that night.