A House Divided

Chapters

Chapter 1: Southern Wind
Chapter 2: A Ponyville Day
Chapter 3: The Meeting
Chapter 4: A Royal Council
Chapter 5: The Trench
Chapter 6: The Redoubt
Conclusion: Triage

Chapter 1: Southern Wind

Braeburn stood atop one of the many mesas that overlooked the arid Appleoosan landscape, a strong desert breeze waved his orange mane and flowed through this yellow coat. Summer was almost over and the days didn’t seem as long as before, not that it mattered much in the south. He looked over his hometown. Appleloosa, the former small southern town, was now almost unrecognizable from its former self. The small frontier hamlet had grown exponentially in the last few years. Especially after her secession from the celestial government. Impelled by southern capital, work ethic, self-exiled northern business ponies, as well as mutually beneficial trade deals with Las Pegasus the south and her capital had prospered. He saw her recently erected street laps, beginning to light up in the falling darkness of the evening. At the same time, the supply train that had been delayed at Pinto Creek was finally pulling into the newly enlarged appleoosan train depot.

“That ought to fix the ammunition problem, at least till’ the next couple weeks,” he remarked to himself with a slight chuckle. The still new-looking congress building seemed to shimmer as its dome reflected the fading glow of the sun as twilight began to approach.

“She truly has earned her title” he proudly thought to himself, “the jewel of the South!”.

Slowly, he turned around and began to walk back to what with pride the whole South now called their capital city. His day off had been a welcome reprieve from drilling the newly mustered volunteer units and the mounting tension up north; he wished he could stay admiring the view for longer. However, the way back to army HQ in the center of town was quite a long one, and he had to get up early for what earlier in the day had been described to him by fieldmarshal Neigh as “a meeting of the utmost urgency and importance” the next morning.

As he trotted into the center town, dusk had settled and the clear southern sky was dotted with stars as far as the eye could see. The evening breeze had mellowed, having cooled the temperature of the passing hot summer day. Braeburn approached a small shop, and his head dropped in disappointment as he noticed the bakery’s lights were already off.

“Darn it, I took too long!” he let out in annoyance.

He had planned to visit uncle Evercrisp and buy some pies at his bakery, but the relaxing nature of his countryside excursion had delayed him more than he anticipated. He stopped and stared at the recently hung poster on the glass window illuminated by the glow of the streetlamp behind him, “Before Tyrants, NO SURRENDER!” it read in bold letters on the top. Below, a confederate flag waved defiantly, over a battered trench, rifles and bayonets glistening from its parapets ready to face the foe; “ For freedom and liberty, enlist now!” read on the bottom. The scene was reminiscent of the tenacious and bitter fighting in Las Pegasus. The southern-led allied victory over the changeling southern army group had galvanized the southern ponies and showed Equus and the world the army of the confederacy was not to be trifled with. Yet such things always come at a cost. Besides the poster, behind the shop’s glass window, soberingly hung a blue and red pendant with a lonely gold star. To everypony that passed by, a reminder of the cost of liberty. To Braeburn, a lost family member and friend as well as a testament to the decimated state of the once vast and united Apple clan.

The yellow colt approached the place where the main saloon once stood, five years ago it had been purchased alongside a few surrounding buildings by the then new Neighvis government and rebuilt as the Confederate Army high command. Melancholy and worry once again creeped into his head, the field marshal's words and uncharacteristically worried expression returning to his head, he did not wish to think that conflict and war could come to Equus yet again. Looking up at the sky he recalled how he used to brag that “there were Apple family members all over Equestria, like there are stars across the night sky”. And, though the Sister’s War hadn’t shattered the sky as many had feared at the beginning of hostilities between the two celestial alicorns, it did shatter the pony principality and the Apple clan.

The war between the royal sisters had torn Equestria and by extension Equus asunder, the Apple family, always a microcosm of the nation, went along with it. The eastern coastal cities also seceded, yet they were soon consumed by radicalism. Yanhoover, saw a markcist sailor’s revolution storm into power, placing the former admiral of the Lunar Sea squadron as the “helmspony” of the revolutionary city-state. Meanwhile, the gambling capital of Equestria, Las Pegasus, had consolidated into a bastion of virulent anti-marksism, and right wing-populism were the self-exiled southern baron Rockfeller had managed to gain political supremacy. The south-east had burst into its own inferno of fighting between a mosaic of factions. From royalists adventurers, zealous moonspeakers, war-like natives, unscrupulous mercenaries, fanatical anarchists, and radical marksists. In the end, it was the thestral armies of the ‘Disciples of the Night’ and their unrelenting moonspeakers who carried victory in the blood washed jungles of the south-east; the casualties rivaling those of the ‘main’ fighting up north. Their warrior-priests had marched into socialist Baltimare only a month after the royalist armies of Celestia had taken Manehattan, crushing the rebellion of their northern cousins. For a brief time, Equestria was again at peace but her unity, much like that of the Apple family, seemed severed indefinitely as the once great family was divided along many different loyalties.

After entering the Confederate High Command building, Braeburn quickly passed by the front offices, reported his arrival to the saluting guards, and slowly strutted upstairs to his quarters. As he walked, the former cowpony turned southern general thought of his extended family, and a heavy knot formed in his throat. He had tried to keep in touch with aunt and uncle Orange in Manehattan, but the New Marelander blockade of the Lunar state and later on the cutting off of Lunarist territory from the confederate border had made any correspondence all but impossible. Not to mention the heavy censorship by Nightmaremoon’s authorities. The last he heard of them, uncle Orange had been drafted in one of the final waves of conscriptions and sent to defend Fillydelphia from the advancing Royal Army. He did not return home. On the other hoof, he knew from Applejack's letters that lil’ cousin Babs was at least alive, but that was very much it. It didn’t seem like his younger Manehattan cousin had any interest in contacting the rest of the family, even now.

Even his contact with the once close Ponyville Apples had become tenuous. During sister’s war he had tried to keep in touch with his favorite cousin up north. Yet, following his decision to not join cousin Autumn Glory and uncle Honeygold in the royalist ‘Flanchard Brigades’ going to Equestria to fight, their relation had strained. Though he had agonized over the decision, the pleas of his family and alongside the deradicalizing influence his friendship with the then freshly promoted Fieldmarshall Silverstar, had convinced him to throw in his lot with his homeland. This, as well Braeburn’s role in the brief Second Apple War against the Buffalo and his inaction during the suppression of the radical pro-royalist ‘Equestrian Brotherhood’ had also further placed stress on the relationship. Their friendship seemed to strain and even wither, as his own view on southern independence shifted. Their letters had become more infrequent and they had even argued with each other in their correspondence over the Buffalo reservations, and although they had made up, a lingering feeling of something having been broken remained. Things seemed hopeful however, during the Changeling War they had resumed their letters and even been able to meet a few times, even if it was always more as circumstantial colleagues than close family.

The short peace that followed Celestia’s victory had always been expected to be brief, an Equestrian reconquest of her former territories seemed inevitable. Yet, it wasn’t the Solar Princess’ troops that broke it, but rather the panzer armies of the Changeling Queen. The whole of Equus rallied, all states of the shattered kingdom had to work together or be swept away by the seemingly unstoppable force of the Changeling onslaught. From Staliongrad and her newly conquered northern puppets, to the still rebuilding, young, southern thestral kingdom of Tzinacatlia, all had to work together. The “All Ponies United Front'' under Canterlotian leadership had provided the framework for this. For a time old animosity was replaced by friendship, cooperation, and harmony. The dark horde had made it all the way to the weather city of Cloudsdale before being ground up into a stalemate by fierce Royalist resistance. It was Confederacy however that gave the bugs their first real taste of defeat, standing like a stone wall in the outskirts of Las Pegasus the southern thrust by the Changeling forces to control the vast southern oil fields had been shattered and pushed back along the coast, and slowly out of western Equestria. Victory was costly, many like cousin Fireside never came home, the pendant in his father’s shop was a solemn testament to that fact.

As he entered his dark room, Braeburn let out a deep sigh. As he turned on the light, the dreaded sight of the still unfinished letter to his Ponyville cousins greeted him from his desk. Since the victory over the bugs earlier in the year his correspondence with Applejack had once again petered out. He had been trying to pen that letter for over a month now hoping to once and for all reconnect with them, yet he struggled to get the words out. What should he even say? He wasn’t going to apologize for his role and position in the confederacy’s army nor his now more sympathetic stance on southern independence, not after all he had gone through. But, he still strongly believed in harmonist principles and didn’t wish to antagonize the only part of the Apple clan he still had left outside the south.

“If only things could go back to being as simple as before” he muttered to himself with a frustrated sigh. The memories of all the rodeos and Apple family reunions they had shared together, coming back like a flood to the forefront of his mind.

“Why can’t Celestia just let us go? Especially after all they had been through” he let out as he laid on his bed, the heaviness he had been feeling for the past day returning to him.

“Maybe, if we try, we can live in harmony again” he optimistically murmured to himself as he turned off the lights.

With this he resolved himself to finally finish the letter by tomorrow, it was the least he could do. Though, if his suspicions on the nature of the morning’s planned meeting were correct, the next day he’d have to reckon with much more than a letter to his estranged family.

Chapter 2: A Ponyville Day

Applejack woke up uncharacteristically late for the normally diligent earth pony. The summer sun illuminated her Ponyville room in a warm glow as it shone its bright rays through her curtains. Her family had decided to let her sleep in even though she had specifically asked them not to let her skip out on the morning chores, everypony could tell she needed the rest. Summer had finally brought what most hoped would be peace on the continent. After almost six years of constant fighting, it seemed like nopony wished for more conflict; especially the exhausted farm mare turned commanding officer of the Royal Army. The one-month leave she had been granted four days ago had been well earned; no sooner had her request been approved she boarded the first train from Canterlot back to Ponyville. After a tearful reunion with her family at the station, she was ready to enjoy a well earned break from her duties to Equestria at her beloved farm. Stumbling out of bed, she could hear Applebloom excitedly droning on about something downstairs in the kitchen. The annoyance of being allowed to miss most of the morning began to fade away and with a smile, the earth pony put on her hat and made her way downstairs.

Victory had come in late spring, as Equestrian forces finally raised the royal flag over Chrysalis’ bombed out palace in Vesalipolis. And, though Applejack hadn’t been there during the final assault on the bombed out Changeling capital. The following months had been hectic for the element of honesty. After the unconditional surrender of fieldmarshal Thrax and the Changeling Oberkommando, she was hastily relieved from her posting on the army group in Olenia and was flown into the destroyed Vesalipolis. The princess and the Royal Ministry of War wanted all the element bearers present at the signing of the articles of surrender, a powerful message to Equus and the world. Though she was glad to see her friends again, their tight schedules left them no time for each other. From treaty signings, to military parades and ceremonies, to meetings and photo-ops with the new Thoraxian provisional government and the transitional allied occupation authority; she barely had gotten a moment to herself, much less a full conversation with any of her old friends. The hardest part of the whole ordeal had been the allied parade through the former grand royal avenue of the Changeling Capital, as she had to see her cousin.

As AJ made her way downstairs, her mind still waking up from her unusually deep sleep, a small framed picture caught her attention. One of the many old photos Granny Smith had hung up throughout the years; nothing she hadn’t seen a million times before. This time however it stood out to her, it was a picture almost the entirety of the extended Apple clan posing before the barn, of one of the last Apple family reunions they had hosted on the farm. Her heart sank, she realized just how many of them were no longer with them, or no longer wished to be with them. Motionless, she stood looking at the image of the Appleloosan yellow colt with his brown hat, his light green eyes staring back at her from among the familiar faces in the frame.

“Sis you woke up!” Applebloom called from the kitchen door, snapping her back to the present.

“You ought to have woken me up sooner, Apple Bloom,” Applejack answered back with a small smile on her face.

“Sorry sis, we just wanted you to be rested up, that’s all” The now not so young filly responded, with a bit of guilt in her voice.

“It’s fine, I don’t suppose it’s too late for breakfast?” AJ, asked jokingly as she finished coming downstairs to greet her younger sister.

The Apple family kitchen was a bit stuffy due to the late morning summer heat and Grannysmith’s cooking, but AJ didn’t mind one bit. Bigmac had gone to town to buy some materials to patch the barn’s roof, Apple Bloom sat beside her sister as she ate some fritters granny had made. Granny Smith was finishing washing the dishes in the sink.

“Granny, you ought to let me help ya with them dishes.” Applejack said in between bites.

“Oh nonsense, it’s no trouble dear. I’m just happy to have you with us again” the old mare answered back with a smile that almost entirely hid her tired complexion.

“Did you write to Babs?” Applejack asked his sister.

“A-ah did,” the now almost grown filly answered. Her voice trailing off, her red caramel eyes looking down at the table, and her ears drooped back at the mention of the topic of cousin Babs Seed, “She don’t really want to talk to us again sis…”.

Realizing her mistake the Orange mare struggled to switch the topic of conversation. “Eh, how are Sweetie and Scootaloo?” She quickly asked, trying to switch the topic.

“They are doing good sis, busy like everypony nowadays. Sweetiebelle is managing the CMC’s fabric and textiles collection drive for the army. Scootaloo is looking to train to become a fighter pilot, Rainbow Dash even wrote her a letter of recommendation!” The younger Apple family member responded, picking back up at the mention of her friends.

“Good morning” a deep voice spoke from the outside-facing kitchen door. “Good day, I should say,” Big Macintosh said with a mocking tone to his sister, as he placed the day’s newspaper on the kitchen table alongside some groceries he’d brought from town.

“I told yall to wake me up if I overslept!” she shot back, a hint of annoyance in her tone.

“You earned your rest” the normally stoic stallion simply replied with a sympathetic smile.

The element of honesty continued with her late breakfast, for a brief moment things seemed to have returned to normality. She had a nice day with Rarity ahead, “just like old times sake” she thought. That was until she shifted her gaze and read the frontline heading of the recently arrived newspaper.

“Vanhoover reintegrates! Stalliongrad backs down!”. The headline, like Trenderhoof’s annoying past advances, had kept creeping back into her head throughout the day. She had done her best to ignore it, she had made plans to have a spa day with Rarity, and wasn’t gonna let the worrisome headline ruin her the only real time with her friend that she’d had in a long while. She had almost succeeded. Walking back to town from the spa, through the apple orchards, the elegant white mare finally asked the question to her friend she had been dreading since the morning.

“Did you read today’s paper dear?” the white unicorn asked with barely disguised concern.

“Yeah, Ah did,” the farm mare answered. “Hey, ain’t the trees beautiful in this light” she continued quickly, hoping in vain that shifting the conversation to an aesthetic topic would distract the fashionista. Though the trees were indeed beautiful as their vibrant green leafs were illuminated in the sun that now hung lower in the sky. Yet, Rarity wasn’t that easily dissuaded. The element of generosity had suffered particularly in the last years of chaos. A small and barely visible scar on her flank, from the bomb that tried to kill princess Luna on that fateful winter day at Manehattan, was a tangible reminder of that.

“Do you think the princess will try the same ultimatum with Las Pegasus? Or heaven forbid, the Confederacy directly?!” Rarity continued undissuaded by her friend’s attempt at distraction. “And if they don’t agree? Wouldn’t that mean…” she stopped as the realization of what she was about to ask dawned on her.

“Rarity, I’m really tired of politics can’t we talk about something else?” Applejack responded with a flat tone that tried to conceal her concerns.

“Of course dear, I am sorry. I’m just exhausted from so much conflict and suffering” Rarity said in an apologetic tone.

“It’s ok, Rarity, I understand. Say, how is Sweetiebelle? Apple Bloom mentioned she was helping with one of the CMCs initiatives.” Applejack responded, a faint smile on her lips, glad to finally be able to change the topic of conversation. Through the apple trees, the warm sun illuminated the two friends as they talked and walked back to Ponyville.

The evening sky was light yet vibrant blue, and the clouds above the small Equestrian town were already darkening as dusk fell. Though, their bottoms seemed to glow in a deep orange hue as the setting sun threw light upon them from in between the far away mountain peaks. The warm summer air was filled with fireflies, and the sounds of singing birds and of the creek had made her walk through Ponyville back to the farm, particularly relaxing. She looked forward to being able to spend the following weeks in her beloved hometown. Tomorrow she would bake some apple fritters and have a nice picnic with Fluttershy; she hadn’t seen the meek yellow pegasus since the ministry had flown her in for the changeling surrender ceremony. The earlier preoccupation regarding the possible ramifications from the morning news had all but subsided. “Nothing will happen” she had assured herself with confidence “The Vanhoover situation was unique, Equestria critically needed that port back, even the Staliongrad government had understood this and not pushed back” her reasoning followed. “Nothing will happen with the southern block, the cost is too high, nopony wants war” She had reassuringly concluded. Things would blow over and it’d all be fine. “I can’t wait to see what Granny Smith and Apple Bloom cooked up for dinner” Applejack eagerly thought as she walked into Sweet Apple Acres, fireflies lighting up the white fence line. Opening the farmhouse door she soon was greeted by her younger sister, a worried look in her face.

“Sis, this letter came in this afternoon” she said with a concerned tone, “The soldier that brought it said it was urgent.” She added dejectedly. The element of honesty’s heart sank as she saw the seal of the Royal Army High Command stamped in blue ink on the envelope.

Chapter 3: The Meeting

Morning had scarcely broken over the southern Appleloosan sky when a knock at the door woke up the southern general. “General, your meeting is in an hour!” his adjutant called out through the door.

Braeburn had requested his adjutant to wake him up early for the meeting with Confederate High Command, and he had dutifully complied. “Thank you Thunder Bolt! I’ll get ready, please fetch me the report on the supply situation in our section of the fortifications of the Dason-Mixon line!” Braeburn called back as he slowly got up from bed, the half-written letter on his desk would have to wait.

“Yes sir!” the pegasus NCO answered and trotted off, his hoofsteps rapidly fading down the corridor.
After getting up from his officer’s bed he groaned, the army had decently furnished his quarters yet he still longed for his bed; at his farm. Yet, orders were orders, and due to the mounting tensions with Equestria president Neighvis had ordered all generals in reserve to sleep in the central army HQ.

Just after he had finished getting ready his adjutant knocked again, “Breakfast and the report, sir!”.

“Come in Thunder Bolt!” General Braeburn called back.

“I’ll give you a rundown of the report as you eat sir!” the blue pegasus told him as he put the tray with coffee, eggs, and apple slices on his desk.

“Thank you, let’s start.” the general said as he took a freshly cut apple slice with his mouth. The partially penned letter having been set aside in a corner of his oak desk.

The meeting took place in one of the large briefing rooms. Four armed soldiers, in their well kept gray uniforms stood guard on both sides of the towering dark oak doors with the government seal of the Confederacy masterfully carved into its midrails. And though their presence had been a visible signifier of the VIP attendance at the morning's meeting, Braeburn was still surprised by the presence of the high ranking ponies at the meeting; this was no mere situational briefing. President of the Confederacy and leader of the Coltlumbia party, J.D. Neighvis sat on the center of the long wooden table, his stoic ash gray face showing a glint of both frustration and determination. Sitting to his right were the secretary of war and supreme commander of the Confederate Army field marshal Trotbert E. Neigh, and former sheriff of Appleloosa field marshal Silverstar. Both stallions were hurriedly discussing something amongst themselves. However it was the ponies sitting on the left of President Neighvis that truly shocked Braeburn and made his ears drop back in concern. Besides the conscientious gray stallion sat secretary of state Yume Spurs, the light green mare looked like she hadn’t slept at all last night. Her blue eyes darted from page to page as she shifted and organized a stack of papers before her. Besides her sat Lucky Streak, the elegant white unicorn mare had served as the Las Pegasus ambassador since before the Great War. She had worked for both the Pine Chest and Rockfeller governments, becoming somewhat of a celebrity across the confederacy throughout the war. She was listening attentively as the thestral ambassador, Tetecuhtin Tliltic Ocelotl, whispered something into her ear. The dark azure noble bat-pony had been sent as representative of the thestral Tlatoani when Tzinacatlia formalized the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Confederate States three months ago.

On the opposite side of the table sat a good portion of the Confederate Army’s generals. As Braburn walked into the room, he saw his cousins general Apple Ale and quartermaster general Apple Fitter talking to each other. Their high positions in the Confederate army, along with Braeburn’s, was a testament to the prominence of the Apple clan in the south. Seeing him, the two mares pointed to an empty chair beside them. As the yellow stallion took his seat the room fell silent as President Neighvis stood up to speak.

“Fillies and gentlecolts, the purpose of today's meeting is to discuss the now imminent threat that Canterlotian revanchism poses to our continued independence and existence!” The gray stallion solemnly stated as he put down a copy of the day’s edition of the Appleloosa Whig on the table, the headline read “Equestrian imperialism encroaches!”; a photo of Equestrian soldiers entering Vanhoover printed below it.

“The princess issued a reintegration ultimatum to Vanhoover and they folded, I have little doubt the attention of those northern carpetbaggers will now turn to us, we must be ready!” The President finished, his anger uncharacteristically showing in his face.

For a brief moment a tense silence fell upon the room as the gravity of the situation fell upon everypony, Braeburn felt his stomach sink as he looked at the uneasy expression on Apple Ale’s face.

“As you are all aware we have always been conscious of this possibility” Neighvis continued, his voice once again calm.

“We have constructed the Dason-Mixon line for this very scenario, and I’m confident all members of the southern block, including the confederacy, are willing and able to come to each other's defense.” He said, turning to the two ambassadors; the thestral and unicorn nodding in agreement.

“Mr. President, wait. What about Stalliongrad? Why didn’t they intervene to keep the royalists from Vanhoover aren't they both marksists?” General Burnside Ale interrupted, her confusion showing in her tone as she tried to process the situation.

“The Stalliongradians are more concerned by the threat of the Griffonian Empire to her socialist satellite in Nova Griffonia. We think Celestia’s diplomats used possible support or guarantees as leverage. Additionally, chairpony Pentsushenko is keen on cooperation with Celestia. ” Yume Spurs answered.

“So much for marksist solidarity” Lucky Straked scoffed with a chuckle.

“We will not fold so easily” The ash gray stallion continued “For whichever of our nations they come for first, we must answer back as one.”

Braeburn hoped this was just a bad nightmare and that at any moment he;d just wake up in his room. No such relief came. As he looked around the room everypony that had been surprised by the news seemed to have recovered from the initial shock. Apple Ale still looked somewhat concerned but her expression had now become one of acceptance of the situation. Apple Fritter looked more worried though this was most likely due to her contemplating the daunting logistical task ahead of her. Burnside Ale and the other generals simply listened attentively as field marshal Trotbert E. Neigh started laying out the overarching defensive strategy for the confederacy. The meeting carried on, yet now the air in the room now seemed heavy and suffocating.

“... and general Braeburn will continue to command the positions north of the capital, we’ll divert more funding to shore up and expand the fortifications. We believe they will come with the most force here. Every mesa must be a redoubt, there must be a gun behind every rock, we must bleed them dry.” The experienced southern field marshal continued, looking at the still reeling stallion.

“General, are you ok? Do you understand your assignment?” Field marshal Neigh asked, noticing the apprehensive state of his subordinate.

“Sir, those are ponies you are asking me to ‘bleed dry’, were our friends and family from past years, our allies from the Changeling invasion!” the yellow colt answered back trying to form into words all the feelings that raced through his head.
“Is there really no other option? The whole continent has already been ravaged by two great wars, do we really wish to push it into another conflict? The cemeteries across Equestria and Equus are already full! How many friends and family are not going to make it home this time?!” He continued letting out, the mounting frustration that had been building through the meeting spilling out in his words. He could have phrased it better, since president Neighvis immediately spoke up.

“General Braeburn, are you stating that you are refusing to carry out the orders explicitly given to you by your commanding officer?” the president asked, the apparent calmness of his voice did little to hide the implicit threat of the question.

“No, sir. It’s just… are there really no other alternatives? No way to negotiate with Princess Celestia?” Braeburn responded, calming down and trying to give a more measured and satisfying response to his commander and chief.

“General Braeburn, we will certainly try to exhaust all diplomatic options. No one wants another war, but I must remind you of the oath you took to defend the Confederacy, its constitution and her citizens.” The veteran southern politician said more calmly, gesturing to his secretary of state. The green mare nodded in agreement. “Like you said, many have paid the ultimate price, but they fell defending their country, their homes, their freedom. We fought to keep these things safe from an authoritarian foreign monarch, I’ll be damned to tartarus if we are just going to give them up to another.” The dignified gray stallion concluded, the conviction of his words reflected in his determined gaze.

“Braeburn, I am aware you and the Apple family as a whole have lost a lot in the last years.” Silversar spoke up, his tone more sympathetic to his old friend’s anguish. Looking at the three members of the Apple family present, the former sheriff continued “Years ago, when I asked you to stay in the south I told you that it was here where you could protect and serve those nearest to you. I know it wasn’t easy for you then and I ain't gotta be easy now. So I must ask you again, are you willing to stay and defend the South?”

The question felt like some pegasus had dropped a ton of bricks on his chest. The meeting had already been going on for hours and the scorching southern summer sun was already beating down upon the jewel of the south, the air in the room felt stuffy and heavy. For a moment Braeburn thought he would faint, that he would falter. After a brief eternity of silence he finally the reluctant general spoke “Yes sir, I’ll defend the capital as ordered.” The Equestrian Royal Army and the Apple clan would be bled dry on the arid hills of Appleoosa.

Chapter 4: A Royal Council

The sun already hung high over central Equestria as the train pulled into the central station of the royal capital. The colorful gilded domes and spirals of the mountainside royal city glistened in the warm summer light, and her waterfalls filled her canals and ponds with cool crystalline water; cooling the regal metropolis before continuing their flow down hill. The sight was idyllic and tranquil, completely divorced from the tensions far away in the peripheries of the country. Applejack and Big MacIntosh had taken the earliest train from Ponyville, and though the ride to Canterlot wasn’t very long, they had been held up halfway through by a large army cargo train heading south, they seemed to have become a more frequent sight as of late. The relentless summer sun was bearing down on the two Apples as they got off at the platform. Applejack fidgeted with the collar of her uniform, aside from her hat the farm mare was unaccustomed to wearing clothes on a regular basis and today her officer’s garb felt more uncomfortable than usual.

“C’mon Big Mac, we are still on time, though we oughta head straight for the castle” The orange mare told her brother as she looked at the clock post in the platform.

Before the large red stallion could answer with his predictable “Eyup”, a familiar voice called to them from the entrance of the platform.

“Applejack! Over here!!” the excited pink earth pony called out bouncing towards them. She had a big grin on her face and her pink mane was curly and spunky, a sight that had sadly become rarer and rarer since the war. Besides her, Princess Twilight Sparkle walked accompanied by four armed royal guards, their golden armor gleaming in the early noon sun.

“Applejack!! Bigmac!!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she hugged her friends, and (maybe) distant relatives. “I missed you soooooo much! How is everypony in back home? How is Rarity?! Did you see Fluttershy? How are Mr and Mrs Cake? Did you stop by Sugar Cube Corner? You have to tell me everything!!” The pink mare excitedly rambled, not giving anypony a chance to respond.

“Pinkie, we’ll have to catch-up with Applejack later” the purple alicorn said calmly after hugging her recently arrived friend. “This meeting can’t wait, Princess Celestia is waiting for us at the castle”.

“Oh right… the meeting” Pinke responded in a deflated tone, her gaze dropping to the ground. “Let’s go.” she finally said, raising her head; her main turning back to its now more habitual long and smooth way.

The council was being held in one of the castle's grand meeting halls. The tall white walls of the room seemed to radiate in a pearly gleam in the colorful summer light that flowed in from the stained glass windows, each one depicting an event or moment in the history of the realm. As they entered the room Applejack’s fears seemed to materialize. Princess Celestia sat in a throne bearing her solar cutie mark at the opposite side of a massive marble round table, on her flanks two other thrones also bearing the cutie marks of their royal owners. At the monarch’s left sat Princess Cadance, the sovereign of the Crystal empire, a smile formed in the pink alicorn’s face as she saw her sister in law and friends come into the room. The right throne had the cutie mark of the element of magic and princess of friendship, it was empty as it waited for its owner to arrive. Around the huge stone table sat the entirety of the Equestrian government and military high command. Looking around the gathered council Applejack saw many familiar faces, Prince Blueblood, supreme commander of the Royal Equestrian Army as well as generals Soarin, Fast Clip, Whiplash among others. However three present personalities betrayed the topic of today’s discussion. Fancy Pants, the rich noble unicorn and canterlot socialite, had been serving as minister of Foreign affairs since the Civil War; his charisma and tact had proven invaluable in shoring up foreign support. Next to him sat Charging Hooves, the imposing buffalo was dressed in a fine canterlot style suit but he maintained his traditional Buffalo headdress. The large bull had emigrated from the south and in the past years had become an activist in Canterlot rallying against the confederate reservation system and the southern confederation as a whole, which he constantly denounced as anti-harmonic and illegitimate. Besides him sat A.K Yearling, better known as Daring Do. The renowned writer and explorer had gone to the distant jungles of the south-east at the beginning of the war with Luna to lead the Celestial forces there. After the fall of their capital at Stableside to the thestral armies, she had returned to Equestria writing extensively about her experiences, the brutal fighting of the jungle campaigns and the importance of the harmonic cause. Using her pre-war literary fame she had also become a passionate activist against “Nightmare-Moonism” and frequently agitating for an expedition “to restore harmony and legitimate royal rule to the jungles of the south-east". Naturally, this made Dearing Doo a vociferous critic of the Kingdom of Tzinacatlia and the council of Moonspeakers calling them “a corruption of south-eastern religious traditions and a poorly veiled bastion of Nightmare Moon worship, little better than Chipterra.

As they approached the table, Pinkie Pie immediately rushed to sit beside Maud Pie, the stoic Pie sister had joined the army alongside her sister. At one extreme of the table sat Rainbow Dash besides commander Spitfire. With a smile, the blue pegasus waved at her friends as they came in signaling to two empty seats besides her. As princess Twilight took her seat next to Celestia, Applejack and Bigmac quickly took their places at the table. Without wasting a second, Princess Celestia rose and addressed her council.

“Since my sister’s rebellion Equestria has been shattered, friends and families torn apart; harmony and friendship disrupted. Though we have endured much and surmounted every challenge, Equestria cannot remain separated.” The white alicorn paused and looked at her gathered subjects, everycreature silently hung on her words.

“Thanks to Fancy Pants' masterful work we have successfully enforced Equestrian sovereignty by negotiating the peaceful return of Vanhoover to Equestria. The task falls before us to do the same with the rest of the nation.” The solar princess continued.

Applejack felt her heart sink as her fears became realized. Looking at her brother his expression remained as stoic as usual, but she knew he felt like her.

“The situation with the various separatist regimes across the south has become untenable, Equestria cannot continue to exist separated. A house divided cannot stand, and I trust that you will help me in making it whole. With this the alicorn princess sat down, her eyes scanned the faces around the table before gesturing to Fancy Pants to begin. The element of honesty simply sat, almost paralyzed in her seat.

The noblepony turned diplomat arose to address the military council with his usual friendly and charismatic demeanor, “Thank you your highness. As her majesty already recounted the Vanhoover resolution was a show of Equestrian diplomatic might, and while it is everypony's hope that the southern question shall likewise be resolved without bloodshed, yet we must recognize that the situation at hand is more complex and thus we must prepare and anticipate a military solution to the issue. That is why you have been summoned here”.

With this Applejack snapped out of her stunned stupor, “Y-your highness is this really a good idea?!” The element of honesty quickly interjected, somewhat struggling to find her words. “Those ponies were our allies, they fought against the Changelings alongside us. Their dead sleep besides ours in every military cemetery from Las Pegasus to Vraks! Are we really going to start a new war with ponies that used to be our family and friends just like that!?” The orange mare continued, her anger towards the perceived nonchalant attitude of the wealthy canterlot diplomat beginning to show in her tone. The room fell silent for a brief moment at the unexpected outburst. Princess Celestia and Twilight looked at Applejack, a slight look of shocked surprise in their faces.

The first to respond was Daring Do, “Those states, in their current form, represent danger to Equestria and Harmony as a whole! Do you forget that the current ‘king’ of the southern ‘thestral kingdom’ was a general in Disciples of the Night? What are we supposed to do? Wait until they coordinate an invasion with Chiroptera? Leave lunarists to rule over Celestia’s subjects in the south-east?” The former explorer shot back.

“Ah ain’t saying that. But do we even have evidence they have an interest in working with Chiroptera? Aren’t we being paranoid? Applejack tried to argue back before being cut off.

“No! My nation agreed to join Equestria because we were promised friendship and harmony. All we have gotten from southern treason is second class status and reservations!” The imposing buffalo interjected. “I am here because I believe in Equestria and the harmony it promised us with the old treaty of friendship and cooperation. Equestria must honor her promise to the tribes and we will honor ours to her.” The whole room felt silent once again, various ponies present nodded in agreement with the two warhawks.

“Isn’t this something we can talk out with them? Haven’t we had enough war?” The orange mare replied, looking around the table. Her desperation only grew as she found little to no support among those gathered, even both Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash avoided looking at her in the eyes. Turning to princesses she pleaded “Princess Celestia, Twilight. Please.”

The purple alicorn looked at her friend sympathetically. “Applejack, I’m sorry. Ofcourse we will try to solve this without bloodshed. Yet every intelligence report, and every diplomatic overture we have made point to the fact that no state in the south seems willing to negotiate. It just isn’t a realistic option at this point.”

Before the element of Honesty could respond, the sovereign of Equestria spoke to her. “Applejack, you have served Equestria faithfully for years. I have asked from you and your friends more than anypony in defense of the realm. I am sorry I must ask you to sacrifice for the nation once again. However, if you so wish, I will dismiss you from service with full honors; You do not have to participate.”

Applejack looked at her friends, her green emerald eyes conveyed her dismayed ambivalence at the princess’ proposal. “I-I’m sorry Applejack, we can’t just abandon chief Strongheart and the other buffalo.” Pinkie Pie simply said her eyes turned to the ground, unable to meet her friend’s.

“Sorry Aj, Daring Do is right. We can’t just wait for a new invasion of Equestria, we have to act now.” Rainbow Dash followed, her magenta eyes likewise looked away from her friend’s. Bigmacintosh simply remained seated, seemingly resigned to the task ahead.

The room waited for the element of honesty’s response. Finally after a long pause the earth pony turned to the princess and responded “If Equestria needs me I’ll serve, I’ll do my duty your highness.”

With this she sat back down on her seat as field marshall Blueblood took out a map and began explaining the planned offensive against the confederacy. “General Applejack shall make a rapid advance north of Appleloosa to secure the rebel capital. If we can capture the city quickly we should be able to force them to the negotiating table and shorten the conflict. General Soarin and Pinkie Pie shall drive south along the railway and secure Doge Junction…” As the field marshal continued with his preparation for the coming slaughter Applejack looked at the many scenes in stained glass windows. The element of honesty wondered if one day there’d be one of today’s events, one for the final sacrifice she had to do for Equestria.

Chapter 5: The Trench

Sargent Ginger Gold clutched her rifle against her chest as a cold wind blew along her trench and dark heavy clouds rolled across the sky. Her blonde mane was messy under her royal army helmet, her yellow apple cutie mark covered by the royal seals in the flanks of her dark blue uniform. The fact that summer was fading into autumn seemed more evident by the day, even here in the south the weather had become considerably cooler, especially in the chilly southern nights. However, it was the anxious waiting marked by the constant week-long artillery bombardment and its incessant shaking of the earth, that concerned the earth pony mare. From her trench she could hear the batteries firing from behind their lines, outgoing shells and the distant explosions against the rebel positions. Daily, formations of bombers flew overhead and pounded the rebel lines, though many times not all the planes came back. Two days ago a flaming bomber had crash landed behind her trench, they did their best to rescue the crew but only the tail gunner was able to crawl out before the metal wreck was fully engulfed in flames. The silhouettes of the trapped pilots in the cockpit and the blood curdling screams being drowned by the roar of the flames still haunted her sleep.

Additionally, more and more units seemed to arrive each day, just yesterday a fresh company arrived at her section of the trenchline, alongside a squadron of brand new heavy tanks. She had understood very well what this meant, so when the order to prepare to go over the top arrived she wasn't surprised. Nevertheless, she tried to be confident and reassure her unit. She was being led by the element of honesty herself, and she knew cousin Applejack was both a hero of Equestria as well as an experienced commander, they had nothing to fear.

“Units to your positions!” She heard the order as captain White Shield trotted down the trench line “ten minutes to advance, synchronize your watches! Wait for my command!” Ginger Gold pulled out her small golden pocket watch, an old apple family heirloom her mother had given her when she signed up.

“Sergeant Gold, tell your ponies to fix bayonets. Good luck!” the unicorn captain said as he passed besides the earth pony and her unit.

“You heard the Captain, fix bayonets!” Ginger Gold cried out to her squadron.

“S-sargeant, a-are we going to attack now?” Amber Hoof, the youngest member of her squad asked, fear clearly showing in the young mare’s eyes.

“Yes, but don't worry. You heard our bombardment, I’d be surprised if there was anything left at this point. We are practically gonna stroll into Appaloosa, you’ll see.” She answered reassuringly with a smile, “Stay with me and you’ll be safe.”

Three minutes, she noted as she looked back at her watch. Her heart pounded against her chest. “Everypony to the ladders, on my command we advance! Remember, don’t huddle up and keep low.” She called out to her squad as the artillery seemed to suddenly die out and an eerie silence washed over the line, only the rustle of the cold winds and the far away humming of the tank engines could be heard .

“One minute! One minute!” The cry broke the silence as it was repeated down the line.

“One minute!” Ginger Gold shouted to her soldiers as she took her position on the ladder, taking out her whistle.

FWEEEEEEEEET, the sharp sounds of whistles rang across the line. “Forward!” the earth pony sergeant shouted as she climbed over the trench. The view of the field ahead seemed almost tranquil save for a few impact craters from sparse rebel counter battery fire. An arid open plain with a few rock formations seemed to be all that laid between them and the bombarded enemy trenchline and desert mesas turned redoubts. The equestrian forces advanced confidently in formation, no sniper fire, no incoming mortar rounds, not a single sign of life from the rebel line.

“You were right, sarge. I don’t think there are any rebs left on those lines” a confident voice called from behind as Ginger Gold’s unit marched forward, reaching one of the larger rock formations in the midpoint of the opposing lines. Impact craters became more and more common as they approached the confederate line.

Before she could turn to respond, the sight of hundreds of thin white streaks rising from behind the enemy line caught her eye. She watched the rising thin lines, until with horror she realized what they were. But before she could scream the command to take cover, the ground seemed to violently explode around her. Tartarus itself broke loose upon the advancing soldiers as the rebel line lit up with the flashes of rifle, machine gun and cannon fire; the incoming rockets soon falling on the advancing royalists. The confederates had been ready for them.

Chapter 6: The Redoubt

Honeycrisp panted as he placed down his heavy machine gun on the firing position, the dry cold air filling his lungs as he took deep breaths. Likewise the rock and concrete of the desert mesa turned redoubt sent chills up his spine as he sat down to assist in loading and prepping the gun; the two pies in his cutie mark being pressed against the cold stone. Since the week-long Celestainite bombardment had finally stopped a few minutes ago, everypony was leaping out of their bunkers and running around radying their positions for the coming royalists, the young appleloosan colt was no exception. His gray uniform was already damp from sweat, and his black mane was dripping from under his helmet. As his assistant gunner ran to fetch more boxes of ammunition, Honeycrisp began reviewing the list of pre-sighted rock formations and adjusting the machinegun’s sights. Looking out from the parapet, below to his flanks he saw deep lines of concrete reinforced trenches and pillboxes with ponies frantically taking up fighting positions. Below and in front of him, under dark rolling clouds, stretched the almost empty vast arid plain mangled by artillery craters and torn barbed wire; all the way to the royalist lines.

Redoubt 17, or “Fort Braeburn”, as the division had affectionately nicknamed it in honor of their commanding officer, was one of the of the key strongpoints in the first line of defense of the confederate capital. Tunnels, pillboxes, bunkers, and fighting positions had been dug and constructed into the mesa turning the large desert rock into a fortress. Honeycrisp had never thought about signing up, especially after the death of his older brother. He had planned to stay at his family’s Appleloosa bakery, but after the Canterlot ultimatum he wasn’t just gonna sit by and let Celestia destroy what they had built; what his brother fought and died for. Though his parents and sister begged him not to go, he couldn't just sit back and do nothing. In the end, his mind was already made up, though the fact that he was posted under his cousin’s command did ease their fears somewhat. This was something Honeycrisp took immense pride in, he’d add to the Apple Family’s new but distinguished line of martial heritage just like cousins Braeburn and Apple Ale; just like his brother. He’d make them all proud.

Honeycrisp snapped back to attention as Oil Slick came running back carrying two boxes and various belts of munitions. The ebony Hoofington unicorn was also levitating a couple grenades with his horn.

“For if the bastards manage to get close” he said with a grin, as he sat down and loaded a belt into their gun, and cocked it.

“Sweet heaven, I can see them coming! Look!” Honeycrisp exclaimed as he took another look out the parapet. Far away formations of hundreds if not thousands of small figures moved towards them as they advanced.

“Everypony at the ready! WAIT FOR MY COMMAND!” The raspy voice of their sergeant reverberated through their pillbox.

Below the small forms of the equestrian soldiers slowly grew larger as they approached, they were about to reach the first group of marked boulders. The distant muffled sound of the rocket batteries firing came in from behind confederate lines, Honeycrisp’s coat hairs stood on end and his heart began to race. Time seemed to stand still as cold sweat dripped down his back and he took aim at the silhouettes of the ponies moving on the plains.

“FIRE!” The command reverberated through the redoubt, and in a flash the rebels opened up on the advancing mass. Tartarus was unleashed as the confederates rained fire on the still advancing royalists, their silhouetted forms being torn apart amongst the hail of exploding rockets and burning lead.

Conclusion: Triage

The light taping of rain against canvas droned on as the distant light flashes of artillery illuminated the night sky. Prayers, pained screams, and agonizing groans, as well as the distant rumble of battle filled the air as Apple family general approached the series of tents that made up the field hospital, the adjutant and escort following close behind. The assistant tightly clutched the clipboard with the general’s schedule as the official entourage approached the scene of butchery before them. The equestrian push for the confederate capital had just begun about a week ago, with only a few points falling in the confederate first line of defensive positions. Yet, casualties were already mounting faster than expected; the crudeness of the hospital reflected that.

“Make way!” a group of stretcher bearers shouted as they passed the general’s group, advancing between the rows of beds.

“Take them to the triage area!” one of the doctors ordered, not even looking up from the large shrapnel wound in the flank of a barely conscious pegasus that he was frantically stitching up.

The grounds around the field hospital were a quagmire of mud and blood. The rain mixed with the blood and waste as nurses dumped the dirty water that had been used to disinfect the surgical tools that were in almost constant use.

The visit had been planned to raise morale among the soldiers, show them that even at their lowest point their officers were with them. To this effect, it seemed to have been a mixed bag. Of the ponies that noticed their presence, some would smile and react positively, one stallion with a bandaged eye and head exclaimed,

“General! Don’t look so concerned, we gave 'em tartarus!” a weary smile on his tired face.

Others weren’t so glad to see their commanding officer, a badly injured pegasus mare glared at them with tearful eyes before she turned back to sobbing over her missing hind leg. Most however were too busy to even notice them. Some doctors with bloody hooves quickly saluted as the general’s retinue passed by before quickly resuming their work. As they moved past one recently vacated blood-stained cot. One earth pony nurse with pink mane and light blue eyes stopped and begged the general to halt the offensive,

“We can’t handle the volume! Please, look at the carnage! General, these aren’t Changelings we are fighting! They are ponies! Please, can’t we talk it out?!” She begged impotently, her snow white coat and face splattered with droplets of blood. She was quickly admonished by her accompanying doctor, before being forced to move onto the next patient.

As they moved in between the groups of tents that made up the field hospital, the retinue reached an open area. The scene before them seemed like it came from the worst of nightmares. On one side, piles of filled bags laid arrayed beside and atop each other waiting for transport, on each one of them written in white paint were a city or town, and an id number. On the other side of the field was a scene that made everypony in the general’s staff stop. Rows upon rows of lifeless ponies, some whole, others with their severed or mangled limbs placed on top of them, and others little more than barely recognizable piles of flesh. Yet it was two forms among the hundreds that made the Apple officer freeze.

“No, please, no!” the general let out as a cold hollow sensation filled the earth pony’s body.

“General, are you ok?” the adjutant asked with concern as the general stumbled forward towards the line of corpses.

“Please no, no more, not them” the general said in an increasingly panicked tone, tears filling the Apple pony’s eyes as he approached two of the forms stretched out on the mud.

On the right a mare in a royal army sergeant's uniform laid with a large hole in her chest, a yellow apple cutie mark was discernible from under her torn attire; her tattered blond mane rested on the muddy ground. Her eyes, that once lighted up the festive family reunions gazed emptly at the starless night sky.

On the left, a young colt laid in a bloodstained gray uniform, his dark mane a bloody tattered mess. Though his face was badly disfigured by shrapnel, the blood spattered pies in his cutie mark left no doubt of his identity, for the general had seen it in many Apple family reunions.

The Apple clan member in high ranking uniform could only weep, his entourage silently watching, the sounds of falling rain, distant artillery fire, and screams from the nearby tents barely concealing the sobs of the general. Besides the two Apple ponies, many more ponies eternally slept, some in royalist blue, some in rebel gray; they all rested on the same muddy field.