Author's Note

! Warning mature content, not explicit content but mature :

Death, execution and war crimes !

Warning : this chapter has song too

Chapter 4 : Hope and repressions (Warning Mature)

A month had passed since the tragic events, and the situation had evolved dramatically over the past weeks.

A decisive Changeling breakthrough had forced Equestrian troops to retreat as far as Las Pegasus and Cloudsdale. The Crystal Empire fared no better—the Changelings had reached the outskirts of Crystal City and seized control of the entire western region, known as Crystal Farmland.

The Changeling occupation was brutal and systematic. Their aggressive policies led to the mass arrest of all ponies deemed fit to fight, their criteria ranging from 12 to 50 years old—practically the entire population. To eliminate any resistance, vast numbers of ponies were forcibly relocated to other occupied territories, primarily Olenia and the Polar North.

Yet, as the war dragged on, an unprecedented wave of patriotism surged across Equestria, compelling its people to take desperate measures.

During a Canterlot National Orchestra concert, conducted by Octavia Melody, a song specially composed for the war effort was performed:

"Equestria is calling us"

Singing victory opens the gate;
Freedom guides our steps;
And from north to south the war trumpet;
Has sounded the hour of battle;
Tremble, enemies of Equestria
Changeling drunk with blood and pride;
The sovereign ponies advance;

Equestria calls us;
Win or perish;
A pony must live for Equestria;
For Equestria, a pony must die;

The song quickly spread across the nation, rallying both ponies and Crystal ponies, who adapted the lyrics, replacing "Equestria" with "Crystal Empire."

In New Mareland, a patriotic anthem, directly inspired by "Equestria is calling us," emerged during the conflict. "The Song of the Marelanders" became a symbol of their devotion to the homeland.

We were in the heart of Griffonia;
Jealous guardians of our land;
When under a magnificent sun;
Sounded those victorious cries;
Shouting, singing, onward;

It's us Marelanders who've come from afar;
We've come from the colonies to save the land;
We've left everything, our parents, our friends;
And our hearts are full of invincible ardor;
For we want to carry high and proud;
This beautiful flag of our whole Equestria;
And if somepony should touch it;
We'll be there to die at his feet;
Beat the drums;
To our love;

For the country;
For the fatherland;
To die far away;
We are the Marelanders!

As the Changeling invasion neared, thousands of ponies formed volunteer militias to reinforce the shattered regular army.

Yet, the real turning point came when Stalliongrad declared war, sending its Equalist Red Army to reinforce the Equestrian front. Meanwhile, a second army, joined by soldiers from the Egalitarian Republic of Nova Griffonia, mobilized alongside Yakyakistan to launch a northern offensive against the Changelings.

Meanwhile, in Vanhoover, the Changeling occupation had transformed the once-vibrant city into a nightmare of repression.

Summary executions and arrests became daily occurrences. However, the worst atrocity inflicted upon the ponies was the "Love Tax", imposed by the Reichskommissariat of Changeling Occupation. This brutal levy involved the forced extraction of love energy, a painful and exhausting process, leaving ponies weak, disoriented, or worse—dead. Famine ravaged the city as the Changelings confiscated all available food and supplies.

The little filly's life had been turned upside down. Many of her friends had vanished, either taken with their families, imprisoned, or executed. Just last week, her neighbor and childhood friend had been publicly executed for treason and rebellion.

The Changelings took sadistic pleasure in their methods—some prisoners had their love drained until death, a long and agonizing execution. This barbaric practice was carried out by the most fanatical Changelings, particularly the VOPS, the dreaded Changeling intelligence and secret police.

As regular Changeling forces departed for the front lines, they were replaced by VOPS agents and brutal occupation troops, escalating the crackdown even further. Yet, resistance movements quickly formed, and soon, every region had its own underground network of freedom fighters.

In Vanhoover, a song of defiance and resilience emerged, becoming the anthem of the Equestrian Resistance:

"The Song of the Free Ponies"

Friend, can you hear the black flight of the Changelings on our plains?
Friend, can you hear the muffled cries of the country in chains?
Resistance fighters, workers and peasants, the alarm is sounding!
Tonight the enemy will know the price of blood and tears!

Come up from the mines, come down from the hills, comrades!
Rifles and grenades out of the straw!
Murderers with pistols and knives, kill quickly!
Saboteur, watch your pack, dynamite!

A vicious cycle of escalating violence had begun. As the resistance attacks grew bolder, Changeling repression grew bloodier.

Meanwhile, a black market thrived in the occupied territories. Ponies willing to exploit the suffering of others were known as BSC—"Butter, Straw, and Cheese"—named after the most sought-after black market commodities.

As 1011 drew to a close, the year ended in darkness and despair.

Yet, amid the bloodshed and suffering, a moment of unbelievable humanity occurred—an event so surreal that it would become a legend.

During the year-end festivities at the front, something unexpected happened.

One cold evening, Changeling soldiers began singing from their trenches. Across the battlefield, Equestrian soldiers listened in silence. Then, one by one, they joined in—singing their own song in response.

A spontaneous ceasefire spread across several sections of the front, from the northern territories to the southern battlefields.

Near Bales, something even more astonishing happened. A Changeling unit, an Equestrian regiment, and a battalion from the Crystal Empire agreed to halt hostilities for one night. Soldiers from both sides gathered to bury their dead, paying respect to their fallen comrades. That evening, they even played an Equestrian sport together, setting aside their hatred, if only for a few hours.

The event shocked the world. Equestrian newspapers reported on the "Miracle of the Front", while Changeling authorities denied it, calling it propaganda.

The reaction from military commanders on both sides was swift and unforgiving.

On the Changeling side, the entire unit was sent north, far from Equestria, to prevent future desertions or rebellion.

On the Equestrian side, the commanding officer was demoted and reassigned to a distant training camp. His soldiers were dispersed, sent to remote garrison posts in southeastern Equestria or deployed to Griffonia.

It was a harsh reminder—in war, there is no place for mercy.

But in the face of death, we are all equal.