Black Powder

Mobilization

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Day

-526

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Ponyville

****

War has been declared.

Ponyville was in a frenzy preparing for the upcoming struggle. Food was hoarded, ponies were moving supplies and weapons, and recruiting tables were set up in the middle of town. The news had just come in recently and the ponies of Equestria were doing their best to figure out what exactly they were supposed to do.

It was a heartbreaking sight to see an entire nation's innocence ripped away from it.

Many ponies were volunteering, mainly in anger and impulsively in response to the bombing attacks around the country that had killed over four hundred Equestrian citizens collectively. Many were young ponies looking for adventure, thinking that joining the army was the best way. Others were self-righteous ponies that believed in the defense of Equestria.

This was good for the Equestrian Army. It was a widely accepted fact that volunteers generally fought better and were more resilient than conscripts. With the inherent peace that had been cast over this country for a thousand years, the army was hurting for volunteers. No pony wanted to join because either no pony cared and there was no incentive. There were no wars that needed to be fought, implying that a soldier's job would be pretty boring in a peaceful nation. But now, the army was getting all the volunteers it needed, this way they could avoid conscription...at least for now.

"I know y'all are tryin' to protect me but I'm enlistin'! And that's that!" the mare said as she stormed away from Big Mac and headed towards the recruitment tables for earth ponies.

"Apparently, Applejack feels the same way I do," Rainbow thought, remembering how similar her's and Applejack's responses to the train bombing almost a week ago.

Although, Rainbow Dash didn't blow her top, which surprised her greatly. But both them shared similar ideals, that was for sure.

She flew towards the recruiting booth and saw the line for the Pegasi Cavalry. Rainbow darted into line and frowned. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she was nervous. She had never done something like this before.

This was kind of like joining the Wonderbolts, right?

While she waited, she took a look around the square. It was carrying on usual daily business. Shops were selling foods, products, tools and the like. Foals were playing and shopping with their parents. Smiles and laughs were still shared and the usual conversation hadn't changed much at all.

It seemed almost like a normal day in Ponyville.

But the difference was obvious.

Rainbow Dash could feel the tension in the air, from a populace that has to deal with the fact that their nation is now at war. Of ponies that have to deal with this new phenomenon with hardly any time to adjust. Behind their smiles and within their laughs was fear, uncertainty and apprehensiveness. No pony knew what was going to happen or how this would affect their lives. Beneath the faux peace that the town still desperately tried to preserve, was an underlying sense of dread.

She didn't like the feeling.

Hopefully, she could give those Red Maners a quick whipping and be done with it soon. That would be cool.

"Next!"

Rainbow now realized that it was her turn in line.

As she stepped up, she noticed a familiar mare staring back at her.

"Spitfire?"

"Well, I can't say that I'm surprised, Rainbow Dash."

The orange mare was dressed in a forest green uniform with white crossbelts running across her chest, and she was wearing a golden helmet that Dash had never seen before. She noticed that Spitfire had a parchment laid out before her that contained two different lists of names. One of them was significantly smaller than the other.

Dash stared at the lists, trying to see if she recognized any of the names. Spitfire cleared her throat.

Rainbow looked up in surprise.

"Oh, right. Put me in the army!" Rainbow Dash demanded as she pounded her hoof on the table.

Spitfire just rose an eyebrow at her and shook her head.

"You have no clue what you're signing up for, do you?"

Rainbow Dash shifted nervously.

"I don't care, as long as I get to fight Red Maners."

Spitfire scoffed and rubbed her head with her hooves in disdain. She leaned in closer to Dash, her eyes wide with worry.

"Dash, look. I know you okay? But I can't play favorites here. Now, is the only reason you're joining the army, to 'get to fight Red Maners'? I hope not," Spitfire whispered to her as she sunk back into her chair.

Rainbow Dash bowed her head with guilt as she realized what she just said.

"Look, I'm sorry okay. My friends got hurt by these guys and I want to stop them before they can hurt anypony else," Rainbow pleaded.

Spitfire smiled.

"Now that, is the correct answer. Now, what type of squadron would you like to sign for? We have Lancers, Royal Guard, and Dragoons for the pegasi options," Spitfire finished.

Rainbow stared at her blankly for a second. She had no idea what any of those words meant, except for Royal Guard, that was.

"Did...you say dragons?"

Spitfire facehoofed.

"No. Dragoons. Basically airborne infantry."

Rainbow ran a hoof under her chin.

"Hmm...that sounds pretty good to me. Sign me up for that one!" Rainbow exclaimed with a smile.

Spitfire looked up at Rainbow Dash apprehensively.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

Rainbow groaned.

"Yes, I'm sure! Now sign me up!"

"You're absolutely positive that you want to do this? Because, when you sign your name, there's no going back. So, I'm gonna ask you one last time...are you sure?"

Rainbow sighed.

"Yes ma'am, I'm sure."

Spitfire looked down at the roster as she nodded her head. She handed Rainbow Dash the quill.

"Alrighty then. Sign under either officer or enlisted and you're golden, Rainbow."

"What's the difference?"

"Well, enlisted you're basically just another soldier on the field. And an officer is usually the one in command of the enlisted. That's a very simplified explanation, mind you. There's certainly a lot more to it than that."

Rainbow Dash thought for a second. Surely, the officer one sounded a lot cooler but honestly, she just wanted to help-

"May I also add that we are very short on officers. Just saying," Spitfire interrupted with a sly smile.

She raised her eyebrow at Spitfire.

"Fine. Officer it is then."

"Great! Sign on the left side of the parchment."

As Rainbow Dash did so, she could see Applejack from the corner of her eye. The cowpony was the next one in her line. Rainbow finished signing the roster and set the quill down on the table.

Spitfire looked at the list satisfied.

"I'll see you at the Academy, Cadet Rainbow Dash."

Spitfire smiled at she took Rainbow's hoof in her own and they shook.

"You've got two days before you ship out for training. I'm sorry, you would get more time to prepare but General Crimson Fields wants a full-stack army ready by spring," Spitfire told her.

"It's fine. I'm cool with it," Rainbow Dash replied as she zoomed off to tell her friends.

****

"Militia or regular army?" the tan stallion sitting at the table asked.

Applejack looked confused.

"Um...army?" she said, not confident in her decision.

The stallion gave her an annoyed glance.

"You don't know the difference, don't you?"

Applejack just stared blankly at the stallion who appeared to be getting irritated. He glared at her and handed her his quill.

"Okay then, army it is. What type of regiment?" he inquired.

Applejack stared blankly. What was a 'regiment'? She knew she should have paid more attention in school.

"Excuse me?"

"What. Regiment. Do. You. Want. To. Serve. In?" he spoke coldly and deliberately, looking like he was going to lose his cool.

"What kinds are there?"

He looked around and sighed heavily.

"Dear Celestia...okay. There's the Jagers and Chasseurs for skirmishers. Then you've got your normal Hoof regiments and Grenadiers for line infantry. And the Royal Guards for elite infantry."

He furrowed his brow at her.

"So...what'll it be?"

Applejack thought for a second, removing her Stetson as she scratched her head.

"What do they do exactly?"

The stallion looked at her like he was about to blow his top. His face grew redder as he contained his anger.

"If you're a good shot and don't mind being deployed as a vanguard, then be a skirmisher. If you're an idiot that can stand in a line, then go for Hoof. If you're tough and good at bucking, be a Grenadier. And if you're feeling especially bold today, try for Royal Guard. Do you understand now?"

Applejack's eyes lit up the mention of bucking.

"I've been buckin' since I was just a little filly. I think I'm pretty okay at it too."

The recruiter sighed in relief and rolled his eyes.

"Great. Just sign on the right side over here and you'll be a Grenadier," he said, poking a certain area of the roster with a hoof.

As she signed her name, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and saw her Big Mac, standing right behind her. He gave her a lighthearted wink and a smile, breaking his usual stoicism.

"Mac, what're you doin--"

"Sign me up for the Grenadiers as well, sir," he spoke calmly with his signature deep voice.

The stallion jabbed a hoof at Big Mac as he glared at Applejack.

"Do you see how easy that was?"

Applejack ignored him and finished signing her name. Big Mac took the quill from her and moved up to sign his.

She gazed up at her big brother, completely stupefied. What was this big, dumb oaf doing? Applejack knew that she wanted to commit to this to protect her friends, even though she had no clue what to expect or what it might bring. But Big Mac?

What purpose could he have for joining the army?

"If you're gonna do this, then somepony needs to keep an eye on you," he explained.

"But what about the farm?"

Big Mac smiled.

"Don't worry about that, Caramel will fill in for me. Besides, we're just crushin' a rebellion. This'll be over in a week," he said confidently.

****Canterlot****

Twilight Sparkle's hooves clicked against the cobbled roads of the capital city as made her way to the palace. She had to move fast, she had to know that the princesses were okay.

When she had gotten the news of everything that had happened in both Red Mane and train stations around Equestria, her being shocked was a dreadful understatement. Especially, after seeing Pinkie and Fluttershy, she knew that she had to come to capital to get the answers she wanted.

Canterlot was buzzing with activity.

Ponies were rushing back and forth as the local militia started putting up defensive emplacements along the outskirts of the city. Royal Guards patrolled the streets, much like they had when her brother had gotten married. This time, she noticed, they shouldered muskets rather than the ceremonial spears that they used to carry. Guess they learned something from the changeling assault. Luckily, Canterlot was a natural fortress, thanks to its precarious perch on the mountain range.

Twilight could see many of the ponies in the streets reading newspapers and some of the upper class ponies speaking about the upcoming conflict. The news of Red Mane's revolution sure did stir up the Equestrian populace, the shock value was very effective.

She turned a corner and entered a new block, now able to see the spires of Canterlot castle once again. The white, beautiful giant that stood guard over the land of Equestria. Twilight had always felt a certain power coming from that place, no matter how often she had stepped through its gates. As curious as she was, she could never figure out what that power was.

Protection?

She passed by citizen and soldier alike as the unicorn entered the main breezeway to the castle's front entrance. The commotion on the streets did nothing to her as her focus was averted to the castle.

As she approached the gate, the Royal Guards that flanked the entrance recognized her immediately, and opened up for her. She nodded her thanks to the elite soldiers and entered into the Canterlot gardens. She swerved through the labyrinth, taking turn after turn and passing contingents of Guards as she attempted to make her way to the courtyard. The labyrinth was a defensive marvel in of itself, this was proven to her when she and her friends tried to navigate it when they had tried to defeat Discord.

After a minutes of taking turn after turn, she had reached the courtyard, filled with statues of ponies and various other creatures alike. Ponies where touring the landmark as always, and Guards stood nearby, ever watchful. In a massive field that flanked the courtyard, she noticed an entire battalion of Royal Guards conducting training exercises. Likely, these ponies would be shipping out with the two Equestrian armies that were being put together.

Twilight always knew that Equestria always maintained a small standing army for emergencies and as a deterrent, usually consisting of a mix between Royal Guards and local militias. But after a thousand years of peace, Princess Celestia had assumed that there was no longer a need for a proper regular army, one that Equestria hasn't had for hundreds of years. Disbanding that army to save funds, she used the budget surplus to build a new capital city to replace the one destroyed by Nightmare Moon...

Canterlot.

"Twily!"

She recognized that young stallion voice anywhere.

"Shining Armor!" she cried as she galloped to her brother.

He was at the head of the battalion, who were all standing in line formation, still as statues. Every Guard was in their gold-plated armor, muskets being held like spears, barrels pointed to the sky. Twilight could see Royal Guard cavalry practicing saber charges on pony-shaped dummies further down the field.

The captain was wearing his traditional purple-plated armor, emblazoned with a pink six-pointed star encased in a shield. The design was on his chest plate, which was connected to the rest of the armor by dual white crossbelts. A curved saber was sheathed and dangled from his belt like the flintlock pistol that was on his opposite flank.

Both siblings came together and hugged each other. As they separated, Shining Armor turned back towards his formation of Guards, watching a different battalion of unicorn Hoof marching up behind the earth pony Hoof battalion. He turned back towards her with a smile. It was a pleasure to see his sister here.

"So Twilight, what brings you to Canterlot?" he asked, his lighthearted voice shadowing his stress.

"Actually, I just came here to talk with the princesses if I could. Just want to make sure that they're doing okay. And getting some clear answers about the current situation would be nice."

Shining Armor sighed as he removed his helmet to wipe his forehead.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Its been pretty hectic here for the last week or so. I heard about your friends, are they doing alright?"

Twilight nodded as she tried to smile.

"They got hurt but at least they're still alive. The doctors told us that Pinkie and Fluttershy will need some time to recover. Both of them have been improving, which is good," Twilight said, forcing down the choke in her throat.

Shining Armor read his sister's body language and frowned.

"Hey, it's okay. I know you care about them deeply but you said they're recovering right?" he said as compassionately as he could.

Twilight smiled at him, fighting a tear.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Thanks."

"Not a problem, little sis."

Twilight nodded as she sighed to calm herself. She gazed up at the immense castle in front of her and took in a deep breath. When she turned back to her brother, she exhaled.

"I'm off to the castle now," she stated.

Shining Armor nodded as he looked over his shoulder to see the unicorn Hoof battalion form up on the other battalion's right.

Unicorn artillery batteries pounded away even further away than the cavalry. The new batteries that were practicing their accuracy across the field were mostly twelve-pounders, if he remembered correctly. According to command, the seven-inch Howitzers that he was expecting to arrive this morning were still not ready or even produced yet.

The mobilization of Equestria's military might was sloppy and he could already foresee that they were going to have logistical problems in the future. If his sister wasn't here, he would have vilely cursed at Equestria's lack of preparedness.

"Well, if you need anything, and I mean anything..." he said as he turned back to her.

"I'll be down here, okay?" he finished as he slipped his helmet back on.

Twilight nodded before she took off in a dead gallop to the castle.

Shining Armor turned back to the now-complete Royal Guard regiment. He drew his saber and pointed at the line of pony dummies across from the Guards.

"First rank! Make ready!" he bellowed.

He took a deep breath in as he thought about the upcoming struggle.

"Present!"

"Present! Present!" two lieutenants parroted.

As the muskets clicked into position and faced the targets, he now realized that he would actually have to perform the duty that  his job was originally intended for. The unicorns took aim with their horns and charged death spells.

He had spent years training for this moment.

Shining never thought it would actually happen though. It was...a wake up call.

"Fire!"

****

Inside of the main hall, the large glass windows were ornate of ponies and their accomplishments, a few of them belonging to her and her friends. The hall shined with multicolored lights, amplifying the lavish decorations that showed off the wealth of one of the richest nations in the world.

The entire hall was mostly empty, the throne with no alicorn seated on it. She expected this when she saw that all of the nobles, government officials, and guards were occupied other sections of the castle. However, she did see a tan mare in glasses scribbling in her notebook from across the room. As Twilight approached her, the mare seemed to be mumbling to herself, almost frantically.

The timid pony heard the clopping of Twilight's hooves and recognized her with surprise.

"Oh! You're Twilight Sparkle, aren't you?" the mare asked her with a nasally voice, reminding Twilight of a filly back in Ponyville named Twist, except that this mare's voice wasn't as pronounced...or obnoxious.

"Yes, how--"

"General Masterstroke was just about to call you over actually. He is visiting the princesses as they are recovering in the Royal Medical Wing. Please, follow me," the mare said as she stuffed her notebook into a saddlebag and led the way out of the Royal Hall.

They trotted together throughout the castle, weaving through groups of concerned officials and stoic guards. Twilight also noticed the increased presence of higher-ranking army officers as well, which she would have found odd if she didn't already have an idea on the situation. She gazed at the awkward mare with curiosity.

"I'm sorry but, who are you exactly? I've spent a lot of time in this castle and I've never seen you before."

The mare replied with a nervous laugh as she dipped her head forward.

"My name is Glade Spinner and I'm one of the new accountants here. My job is to help manage Equestria's treasury and taxes, but I was also told to bring you to see the general. This is my first day," she said and chuckled sheepishly afterwards.

"Oh. Well, do you like it here so far?" Twilight asked, attempted to make the mare more comfortable.

"It's a little unnerving to be honest. Well first off, let me tell you that Equestria's economy is now a bloody mess. We lose our income from Red Mane, then our trade rail lines get blown to smithereens. And on top of that, now we have to fund a war?" the stressed out mare sighed.

"It's utter craziness--"

Twilight frowned.

Now that Glade Spinner had mentioned it, she did realize that Equestria is now in a pretty unfortunate predicament. She didn't know that Equestria's budget depended so heavily on Red Mane. Those ponies in the southwest must have finally seen that they can do without Equestria, and all it took to awaken them were the economic pains of having to serve Equestria's needs with their resources. They hadn't had a problem with it until now.

But the question stills begs itself, what inspired the Red Mane ponies to become so violent? Despite the circumstances, ponies did not have that kind of malicious revolutionary ideals injected into them over night. Twilight wasn't buying it, something was at work here.

And the railroads...that attack was awfully well-synchronized.

She knew that the Red Maners did it to both hurt Equestria's foreign trade and also to make a statement but there was more to it than that. Even if they had been planning to rebel for years and implanted agents, how would they have the coordination to orchestrate an event like that?

It was too perfect.

But then again, she wasn't a Red Maner. Maybe Twilight, like many Equestrians, have simply just underestimated them...

"--I mean really, me working in Canterlot? In the Royal Castle? I'm surprised I haven't wet myself," the accountant droned on.

Twilight giggled at the notion as they reached the large purple door that led to the medical wing. It was easy to pick out, mostly from the blatant red cross painted on the front.

"The princesses are in beds four-one-two and four-one-three. Princess Cadance and General Masterstroke are waiting for you there. Good luck," the mare wished well as she dashed off.

Twilight smiled at the socially awkward mare, she reminded her of herself to some extent.

The unicorn entered the castle's hospital and noticed that curtains covered the entrances to what she guessed were the patients' beds. Between the sheets, a walkway was formed in the middle of the makeshift hospital. She trotted her way down the insanely large hospital inside the castle. The Royal Castle was known for having buildings within buildings, which Pinkie Pie found silly.

The groans of wounded ponies and the clanging of metal tools and the rolling wheels of gurneys filled the entire complex. Many of these ponies were victims of the nationwide railroad attacks on Equestria's railroads.

Her thoughts of her injured friends was pushed out of her mind as she read off the numbers pasted onto the privacy curtains.

"Four-one-two and four-one three. Where are they? Four-zero-eight, four-zero-nine..."

Twilight sounded off the numbers in her head as she continued the search for the princesses' sections. It was only a few seconds before she located Celestia's section on her right, directly across from Luna's. She let in a deep breath as she reached up a hoof to move aside the curtain with number 'four-one-two' slapped on it.

When she looked inside, she saw a nurse standing over a bed, watching the patient sleep. To her left, stood a disheveled Princess Cadance. The young alicorn looked like had stayed up all night over a nightmare. Given the situation, this wasn't much different.

Dried tears stained her face, from what Twilight saw as her old foalsitter turned to the nurse and nodded.

"You said a month right?"

"Uh, yes. It will take them around a month to fully recover," The nurse replied.

On the right side of the bed stood a well-dressed army officer. Even though his face wasn't tear-stained, it was filled with concern.

"Alicorns must be pretty damn tough. The princesses took at least fifty rounds each, probably more...and yet they still survive. Amazing as that is, it's a shame that we ever had to discover that in the first place," the older light-gray unicorn general shook his head in disdain.

The nurse passed Twilight as she left the makeshift room.

The general was wearing a military uniform that Twilight had only seen the militia wear. Except, that this one looked much nicer. It was a forest green coat with golden lapels, buttons and bright gold shoulder boards. A single white crossbelt ran diagonally across his chest and back. A sheathed saber hung from one of his flanks as a flintlock pistol dangled from the other side. The crossbelt seemed to be holding the cartridge boxes that he wore on his waist. He had tucked his tricorne hat under a foreleg and held it in place.

"What is it with the officers carrying sabers? I thought only pegacav did that. I see it everywhere. Is it tradition or what?"

"If they would have taken a few more shots like that, then they wouldn't have been able to teleport out of there. They could have been at the mercy of the Red Maners...and I don't even want to think about that," Cadance replied, her voice soft and almost ghostly.

Twilight took a good look at her mentor for the first time today. Immediately, she wanted to turn away in disgust.

Princess Celestia was covered in red-blotted bandages and wrapped in many places by them, including her head, legs, and torso. She still smelled of smoky gunpowder and two of her legs and horn were in a cast. The nurses had done a good job cleaning off the blood that was matted to her ethereal mane and wiping the visible lesser injuries. As awful as it was to see a pony that she had loved and known for years in a condition like that, she couldn't help but to be as fascinated as the general was concerning her survival.

She walked in knowing it was bad but, seeing it first-hand...

"Twilight?"

The unicorn turned her head to find Cadance looking back at her. The pink princess tried to give her a reassuring smile but Twilight saw right through it.

"It's uh...good to see you here," Princess Cadance said, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

"Is everything okay Cadance? Princess Celestia doesn't look too good."

Twilight frowned bitterly as she stole another glance at the recovering sovereign laying on the bed.

"Yes, everything is fine Twilight. We're just...trying to get over the shock is all."

Twilight gazed at her sister-in-law with heavy concern. Cadance was obviously trying to be strong for both her and the officer present but the grief and uneasiness practically oozed from Cadance's being.

"This is awful. How could they? I--its just not fair," Cadance sighed, letting out a hollow whine.

Twilight nuzzled her neck. She wanted to comfort her sister-in-law so badly but simply could not come up with the words.

"And if that's not enough, now I have to run this entire country until they heal," Cadance nearly spat out, not knowing whether to feel sad or frustrated.

Cadance then pushed herself away from Twilight and wiped away the tears that had been forming in her eyes. Taking a large breath in and out, she reasserted herself and managed to work a small smile onto her face.

"Anyway, I'm glad you could make it. This is General Armchair Masterstroke," Cadance announced abruptly, jabbing a hoof at the army officer standing at the opposite side of the hospital bed.

"And he has a proposal that he would really want you to consider," she finished as the middle-aged gray unicorn nodded in affirmation.

Twilight rose an eyebrow at Cadance as the love princess tried to recollect herself.

The officer smiled at Twilight and nodded again.

"Hello Twilight Sparkle, esteemed personal protege of her majesty Princess Celestia. It is an honor to finally meet you," he announced, adding a curt bow in respect.

Twilight was shocked by this. No pony had ever addressed her with such chivalry and poise. Everything was happening too fast. First Pinkie and Fluttershy, then the Princesses, war, and now this sudden 'proposal'...she wasn't even sure if she could trust everything she was experiencing as real anymore.

"Uh...thank you sir. It's an honor as well," she smiled nervously as she dipped her head.

"Miss Sparkle, I am dreadfully sorry that we had to meet under such distasteful circumstances, but there is a favor that I need to ask of you. Surely, you understand."

She bit her lip.

"What is it sir?"

The general let a deep sigh before he continued.

"As you know, my second-in command, General Stone Leaf was a born Red Maner. After he...defected, I was left without a second-in command."

Twilight noticed that Masterstroke was deeply disturbed by the betrayal of his right hoof. Were they good friends?

"Now, I've heard some amazing things about you, bearer of the Element of Magic. You've saved our great country twice, and aided a third. Your magical and analytical skills may have been even great enough to rival the legendary Star Swirled the Bearded. You have become Princess Celestia's personal protege..."

The flattery was making Twilight's cheeks blush in a such bright shade of pink that even Cadance gave a short chuckle, despite her internal heartbreak.

"...And I want you to become mine as well," the general finished.

Twilight blush broke away as it was replaced with sudden shock.

"What?!" she cried, her mind now blank and frozen.

The general smiled in understanding.

"You are a very fascinating mare, Miss Sparkle. And you would be a valuable and massive strategical asset in the field, given the proper training of course. Your potential as a commander is unrivaled. It is your choice of course."

Twilight blinked her eyes repeatedly in confusion.

"You want me to...be a general?" she asked apprehensively.

Who did this stallion expect her to be? She glanced back at Cadance and frowned with uncertainty. Cadance gave her look that she interpreted as 'it's your choice Twilight'.

"No. Not yet at least," Masterstroke replied.

"What do you mean by that?"

"First, you would spend a month at the Officer Academy as a cadet. Normally, it takes two years to make a proper officer but we simply do not have the time. Hopefully, your expertise and talents can help even those odds a little bit," he spoke articulately and elegantly.

He was truly a gentlecolt.

"But...I can't become a general after a month! There's no way!" she protested, fear in her eyes as she thought the amount of responsibility taking on a position of that magnitude.

The general held up a hoof to silence her. Then, with a fatherly tone, he explained.

"Of course not. That's why after your cadet training, you will be placed under General Crimson Fields's command for six months as a second lieutenant. Then, you'll earn your rank as colonel and we'll see where things go from there."

Twilight shook her head.

"Only six months? Doesn't it take years for somepony to become a colonel or a general. Why do I have to be special? Can I just earn it like everypony else?" she said, sounding like an inquisitive filly.

Masterstroke chuckled.

"Miss Sparkle, anypony that can survive six months under Fields's command without taking canister shot to the face deserves a generous promotion right off the bat. Trust me, you will earn it. In fact, I'm hoping that you survive long enough to get it."

Twilight eyes went as wide as saucers as she thought carefully about what he just said about Crimson Fields. Was he really that bad of a general? At this point, she was uncertain if she would take this offer or not. On one side, she had never fought in an actual battle before so she would have no experience. Also, this would be very dangerous, especially considering what general she would be serving under.

On the flip side, Equestria was in trouble. Just by leaving, Red Mane had already been crippling Equestria. The entire nation depended on the reassimilation of Red Mane and if becoming a general would help that process along, then so be it. There was also the subject of the princesses and her friends. They were attacked ruthlessly by these ponies. Surely, Princess Celestia would want Twilight to do this, wouldn't she? Somepony needed to stand up to Red Mane after all. Also, her hunger for knowledge and the urge to exercise her brain called out to her as well. What would she learn from an experience like this? This could be an excellent opportunity to practice her strategic thinking and accomplish a major goal in the process.

After a few more minutes of musing over her options in thought, she had made her decision. It was a tough choice, the points and counter-points in her mind were nearly even.

"Okay."

"Okay?" Armchair repeated in surprise.

"I'll do it. I'll join and do my part." Twilight said resolutely, her doubts in her mind effectively being eliminated with the points of logic that she used to attack it with.

The general scrunched an eyebrow with an astonished smile. He looked most pleasantly surprised.

"Great! Now as for your regiment, I believe that the 20th Manehattan still needs another lieutenant..."