Equestria, suburbs of Fillydelphia, 1050

Everything was perfect the sun was shining the birds were chirping I was on my rocking chair, I look at and old photo from decades ago during the Great War, it was me, my brother it was when we had finished our first battle, the battle of Canterlot. I had a life, family, and love... Oh! I see my grandcolt Gold Clover approaching me, he always was so adventurous, let's see what he has to say now.

Grandpa!
He greets me, but I know he has more then that to say, he looks at the photo I was holding in my hooves.
Who's that in that photo?
Always such a curious bugger he is...

That's me on the right next to the tree.
I say as I point at myself, I looked tired for obvious reasons point at myself with my hoof.
And my brother right next to me.
I point at my brother who was on my left in the photo.

You had a brother? I never saw him, he looks like you.
Gold Clover says as he looks at the photo and points at him.
Why are you wearing that silly hat?
He points at the helmet I was wearing... A funny colt...

That was my helmet, it protected me back then.
I say, it didn't protect him though...

What happened to your brother?
Of course he will ask that, maybe I should tell him the truth, but he will barely understand it, I sigh.

He... died.
He tilts his head, seemingly not knowing what I said.
Always so difficult he died end of story. Just go away.
I shoo him away and he trots out of the porch, I sit there in silence as I ponder and think about my past...

Equestria, suburbs of Fillydelphia, autumn, 1011

After a long day at the newly built automobile factory I trot home, I think about what my dear's cooking and what's for dessert, oh how naïve I was...

Blossom I'm home!
I opened the door and see her in the kitchen, I hang my coat and trot up to her.
What are you making dear?

Blossom... the prettiest mare alive even if she was a thestral, she had rosy pink fur and a nice long well kept sky blue mane coupled that with her emerald eyes, I really stood no chance when I saw her, I couldn't be too picky and she was near perfect, she looked at me with a smile, I can see that she is cooking up some nice stew of some sort and of course her favorite, mango's

Sssome of your favorite sstew my love.
Oh her hissing, it was beautiful and perhaps one of the reasons I fell for her
And ssome mangoss I got from the market today.
How was work dear?

I smile and tell her the truth.
Lovely dear absolutely lovely.
She smiled and after a few minutes she's done cooking, she brings the food to the table and we eat, she had... almost a sad look however.
What's up Blossom?
She looks up from her food and right at me.
Nothing, just remembering ssome memoriess.
I nod.
If you need somepony to talk too, y'know the right guy.
She nods and we continue to eat, soon we finish and eat our dessert, the mangos she bought, we savored every bite they were absolutely delicious, soon we finish and we talk... it was all a blur, we talked about whatever came to mind I barely even remembered that conversation

We listen to the radio, and turned up some music, we danced, however the night always has an end, so we finish our dance and clean our dishes and do some final chores around the home, then we go to bed.
Dear... I've been thinking... what do you feel about foalss?
Blossom asked me and I answer.
I think they're lovely, why do you ask Blossom?
She blushes and in hindsight it was obvious what she was asking.
Oh... do you think we sshould have some foalss? Three perhapss?
I blush as I finally get what she means.
I-I'm not sure dear...
She looks at me with pleading eyes and I sigh.
Fine...
You can guess what happened that night, but it was tomorrow morning that had the more... eventful stuff.

I wake up to a knock on the door, I get up from bed and exit the bedroom where Blossom was sleeping, I go downstairs and open the door, I see a stallion in a military uniform and he gives me a letter, I hear hoof steps coming down the stairs and see Blossom as tired as ever, I open the letter with the Equestrian seal and my face instantly drops...

"Dear citizen we regret sending you this but the enemy had left us no choice, and they had begun to invade us, you are one of the many granted the honor to serve her highness, you are to be drafted, we will pick you up later today among many others use this time to say your goodbyes, and remember, you are the sword and shield of not only her highness but all of Equestria."

I hand Blossom the letter... her face turns from serious to sad and her eyes shine as tears approach.
What... thiss... this isn't real, thiss hass to be fake, I heard that the Changelingss had done ssomething... but no you can't go.
She looks at me with teary eyes and I sigh, pulling her into a hug
I have to dear...
She pushes me away.
But you can't! I won't let you and I won't let them!
I sigh.
I have no choice, it's an order from her highness.
She begins to cry.
Pleasse you can't. What about me? What about our future?
I attempted to reassure her
I'll be back home before Hearth's Warming. I promise.
I smile at her as I reassure her, she reluctantly nods, Oh how naïve I was...

Author's Note

This was originally supposed to be for the 2024 contest but I think this isn't valid for that so enjoy!