Equestria: The Days of Blood and Steel

Chapter IV

Nightwing and Crimson returned to their shared home, Crimson had a spark in his eye, what had just happened had inspired him somewhat if not having put him in a thoughtful mood. On the other hoof Nightwing was angered. How could Silver just blatantly put other ponies in danger like that? Especially for something so stupid. How could he just rise up ponies for a lost cause without thought? Nightwing just scoffed as he thought about it.

The two ponies kept walking not uttering a word, but when they reached the entrance to the housing block Crimson broke the silence.

“So what did you think? I personally thought-”

“He is a idiot! What if Peacegivers came?! What if a riot started?! What if-”

“Well nopony did any of that, and everypony came out fine, so I think it’s all right.”

Nightwing just rolled his eyes but said nothing and entered the building.

He went up the stairs, went straight into his chair, and fell asleep after unsuccessfully trying to get comfortable. He finally fell asleep, but had troubled dreams. Crimson didn’t wake him, lest he suffer a backlash of fury of some sort.

They both awoke the next morning, went to work and came home, each day more and more ponies, not just in their factory but just on the street would pat them on the back or give them a friendly nod. Night didn’t like this but just tried to ignore it. The week moved by agonizingly slow, but the work week finally came to an end.

Just as they began to head to home on the last day Silver Dust approached them,

“Hey Night, you can write right?” Night cocked an eyebrow,

“Uh just a little why?”

“If possible, bring some writing tools and parchment with you tomorrow.”

“Hey I never-”

“I’ll understand if you can’t get any, but i’m sure Crimson can, thanks! See you!” with that he ran off.

Night started to fume, who did Silver think he was?! His boss? Like Hell he would just roll over like that, especially when he wasn’t even sure if he wanted to go.

“I wonder how much he’ll need? I brought some sheets and the like with me, I could always ask mum for more.”

“I don’t know, or care.” And with that Night walked home.

When they got home Crimson went right to his saddle-bags and began to write on the parchment he pulled out, Night shook his head and ate the normal small amount of dinner mush. As he headed to bed there was a pop followed by a flash of green light, and a package landed on the floor by Crimson.

“It’s dragongel, i’ll explain later.”

Night just shook his head and settled down for some sleep. He wasn’t looking forward to going to this meeting, but he knew he had to too... And something inside of him was nudging him to go tomorrow. Nightwing sighed,

“We are going to get ourselves killed, I know it.” and with that he drifted into sleep.

The sun rose and Night awoke from troubled sleep. Crimson was still dozing off in his chair, he looked peaceful as if he was sleeping well. Night just wondered how he could sleep like that on this day. Night prepared himself some food and slowly ate it, he drifted off in his own thoughts, thinking about his mother. He looked down at what he was eating, he had barely touched it, but he couldn’t finish it now. He sighed and and placed it down. He then heard a yawn behind him.

“Leave any for me? I’m starving.” Night just scowled and pointed to the food he had made and Crimson began to devour it.

Once Crimson had finished they headed out of the building and towards the park, the streets were all but empty. Most ponies were getting much needed sleep. The park was no different, at first they saw nopony in the park but once they came to the central plaza sure enough Silver Dust was there waiting for them.

“Oh hey guys! I knew you would come!”

“Silver what in the blazes are you doing here so early in the morning?”

“I could ask you the same Night! Haha, I just couldn’t sleep, I still don’t know what I just got myself into, this week went by fast.”

Night nodded, he was worried about himself but he should have realised that Silver Dust must be just as, if not more, stressed than he was. I mean he was the one who had called this meeting together, and he was the one who would be giving a life threatening speech in front of a crowd of ponies he did not know.

The day slowly dragged on to noon when ponies began to file into the park, Night gasped, he expected only a small group around last week’s size, but instead he saw a large group of ponies, from all around the city it seemed.

“We are going to die at this rate.” Night slouched and was ready for Government agents to pop out of corners or fly down from the sky and kill them all.

“Silver, where did all these ponies come from?!”

“Let’s just say... I get around.” Silver winked as he chuckled. Nightwing just face-hoofed.

When Night looked up he noticed a familiar maya coloured coat, as he looked he noticed it was the same mare that had encouraged on Silver Dust last week. Night was going to ask Crimson if he knew her... Not that he should, but then Silver jumped up on the fountain and clearing his throat he called out,

“I want to thank you all for coming, this is way more ponies than I had expected!”

    Some ponies stamped their hoofs, and let out some encouraging cheers.

“We have gathered here because we know we have been lied to and cheated! We know our Government truly does not care for us, they throw us in the street when we need help, they barely feed us, they do not give us proper housing for our large families! They have money, clean air, and nice parks. We have no personal possessions, I dare say the dirtiest air in all the nation! And we have ruined places to relax in, like this park. We have worked hard since we were young and have been obedient to the Government and their whims our whole lives! I say no more! NO MORE!”

    Silver scanned the crowd making sure everypony was paying attention, the tension built up and he yelled out,

“NO LONGER SHALL WE BLINDLY FOLLOW THE WHIMS OF A STALLION OR A GOVERNMENT WE DON’T KNOW! IT IS TIME FOR US TO TAKE ACTION! AND TAKE WHAT HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM US!”

    The crowd cheered and stamped their hoofs Silver had spurred them, he had lit a spark in their hearts to want to take action now.

“We must think of our future! Of our foals, will we let them grow up in this... disgusting city and not be cared for? Not live their lives as they choose? Or will we sit back and do nothing?!”

Night looked at the crowd, they yelled out “No” and “Never”, but he noticed a group of ponies on the edge of the crowd mumbling among themselves. It seemed not everypony agreed with Silver Dust, or with how he was going about it.

“What now? Shall we storm the capital?!” Some pony yelled out and other ponies yelled out other things, the crowd was getting on the edge.

“I have an idea! I have an idea!” The maya mare in the front called out,

“Everypony quiet! This mare has a idea!” The mare made her way next to Silver.

“What have you to say-”

“Ice Charmer”

“-Ice Charmer?”

“I say we form a council! A group of ponies elected from each sector who will lead this movement and help dictate what we will do! I say we vote now! With ponies we know and trust leading us, we can change this nation better than we can all on our own!”

Many ponies began to murmur their agreement, voting! They had never voted for anything really expect for which pony should be their supervisor, like Night, who had been elected by his fellow factory workers into his work position.

“What say you ponies?!”

    The crowd cheered and stamped their approval.

“Then form into your respective districts and vote on the pony you want to represent you in this... Council.”

Ponies from six different districts had shown up to this meeting, and six leaders were elected. It had been decided that Silver Dust was already the leader and need not be elected. Crimson, being a citizen pony had no district to be elected from, so he was permitted in the council on Silver’s good whim. Silver closed the meeting with a short speech and dismissed every pony to go home, the elected ponies would stay however so Silver could talk with them all.

All the ponies eventually left and all that were left were Silver, Crimson, and Night, who reluctantly had accepted the vote for leader of his district.

“So everypony, each of you has been chosen for different reasons, and you all now sit on the edge of a knife. This ‘freedom’ we fight for is treason, and any moment we could be killed. Are you willing to accept this fact?”

Of the ponies gathered, there was a grey earth pony stallion with amber eyes, the maya unicorn , a white stallion with fire red eyes, a purple mare unicorn with blue eyes, a red earth pony stallion with tan eyes, then of course there was Silver Dust, Crimson, and Nightwing.

Each pony nodded as he looked at them, they were ready to fight. Ready to take what might be thrown at them... They were ready to fight for... for “freedom”.

“Then let us commit to take the role we have been elected to and lead these ponies to change the land which we live in... if necessarily through violence, until the Government gives us the rights we deserve. Nightwing, would you write us a declaration, here and now so that we can make it permanent that we will stand?”

    Nightwing was taken aback, why would they want him to write it?! He barely even wanted part in this... revolt.

“We want you, as our fellow working pony... as my brother to write this.”

    Nightwing heard this and knew he had to, he could not let Silver down.

    He sighed and took the writing tool Crimson gave him.

“What shall I write then?” Crimson placed some paper down in front of Night as he asked this, where Crimson got all this Nightwing could only guess.

The group talked, revised and discussed. Crimson helped add more complicated grammar so as to make it sound more professional. After a long meeting it was done, and Silver read out the finished document.

“On this day, we, the elected representatives of the ponies that gathered today,

Vow to fight, and petition for the rights we know we deserve.

We simply ask for real food, the right to move as we please, the right to receive at least a minimal education,  and the right to medical care should we become inquired in our fields of work.

We do not ask the current Government to step down, but if needed we will fight to have it do so, to gain the basic rights all ponies are deserved too.

We also ask that we will not be forced to marry against our will,

And that we have the right to walk and talk without being watched.

We understand that this nation runs on the separation of citizen and working pony classes, but ask for basic rights so that instead of slaves, that we can be free workers.

We know that a Government that cares for it’s ponies will grant these rights that should be part of any society to begin with, will grant them to us.

Here signed are the newly elected leaders who will stand for this.”

Silver Dust then lowered the paper and looked at each pony.

“Do you accept what has been written here today? Would you sign it, so that our cause may be known to those who would read it?”

    Each pony nodded in their turn and with help from Crimson learned to spell their name right and to write it right. In turn each pony signed:

“Silver Dust, of district four.

Steel Strider, of district two.” The grey earth pony signed.

“Twilight’s Blessing of district three.” The purple pegasi signed.

“Dawn’s Blaze of district seven.” the red earth pony signed.

    Then the white stallion earth pony grabbed the tool he held out his chest in pride and in large letters wrote,

“Fire’s Return of district one.”

Then with her magic Ice CHarmer the maya mare took the tool. Being a unicorn her writing was much better than the others. But having just about never written before it was still to be improved on. Working around Fire’s Return’s signature she fit in,

“Ice Charmer of district six.”

    Then finally Night took the tool,

“Nightwing of district four.”

    Lastly the tool came to Crimson. Sighing he took the pen and wrote,

“Crimson Whooves of the citizen class.”

The other ponies stared at him, they had just promised to overthrow his kind if needed. Plus how did he even come among the workers and why was he joining a rebellion of workers?!

But Crimson simply held his head high. Each pony simply nodded, maybe their latter questions could be answered later, all they knew for now was that he was with them.

“We have now pledged to this cause, let us stand by it till the end.” Silver rolled up the document and placed it in Crimson’s saddle bag.

“Could you make a copy later? If possible?”

“Of course. I’ll try Silver.”

“Good, thank you.”

Finishing this whispered conversation Silver placed his hoof in the air. Following his lead each pony placed their hooves in the middle. Nightwing however was reluctant.

“We need you brother. Join us.” Silver smiled, but what finally brought it home was a beautiful smile from Ice Charmer.

Sighing he placed his hoof on the pile. The movement had now started. Little did these ponies know it would change their lives, very soon.

‘What have we gotten ourselves into?’ Night thought as they broke their hoof pile.

A brown unicorn ran down a dim metal hallway. There were no windows, only a small dim light above metal doors that lead off this hallway at random intervals. There was no colour save for the occasional poster depicting the “Great Leader”.

But the unicorn had no time to look, with his magic he held a important note that could change the fate of the nation if action was or was not done.

He reached the end of the hall and took two quick breaths. He then knocked on the metal door. A gruff voice answered,

“What is it?”

“Sir, Secret Service demanded I deliver this to you-”

“Come in. Shut the door behind you.”

The brown unicorn swallowed and entered. As he shut the door he gasped. The room was made out of polished mahogany, on the far wall a large bay window covered it, on each other wall tall windows reached from ceiling to the floor, but the curtains were drawn over these. Form each end of these windows large bookshelves stretched to the roof and wound to the door.

“Quite a lot? Well come in. Read the report.”

The unicorn dipped his head and began to approach the desk, once he was just feet away he could better see the stallion behind the desk. He was white with dark sunglasses that hid his eyes, making it seem as if he no emotions. Both intimidating but inspiring at the same time.

“That’s far enough. Read it.”

    The unicorn cleared his throat and started,

“To our great esteemed high Revolutionary,

It came to our attention last week that a worker named ‘Silver Dust’ was speaking out against the Government and our great leader. We gained enough information to know when they meet next, (which was today) they formed a council and signed a document demanding basic equal rights with Citizens. We have collected all information possible on the leaders of this movement and give them to you.

Your loyal subjects,

The Secret Equestrian Service.”

The stallion read through the note twice then placed it down.

“I have the files sir. Let me get them.”

    Using his magic he took each file out of his saddle bags, and placed them on the desk. There were eight, each with a picture and all the information about anything related to that pony available.

    The stallion looked through each one slowly, he then came to one of a grey earth pony.

“Hmm, this ‘Crimson Whooves’, he is a citizen? I wonder why he is with the workers... Hmm...”

    The brown unicorn shuffled in place and tried to look at the documents. After failing to see much he asked,

“Great leader, what shall we do? How will we stop them?”

The stallion laughed and walked over to the bay window. He scanned all he had worked for and all he fought for to make, he had done as well as he could to create a nation that would be rivaled around the world for it’s industry and size, he wanted to give these ponies a chance to work unlike in the Celestian monarchy. The only reason they had less rights was to protect them, and food was becoming scarce. There just were not enough farms to feed everypony. If only they knew. But he had worked hard to make Equestria what it was today, if only they could understand that. He sighed and removed his glasses, he turned back to the brown unicorn. The unicorn gasped, he was... beautiful, his features were strong and resolute, the scar over the stallions left eye showed that he had fought hard for what he felt... no knew, was right. His eyes were a deep red colour that looked like a deep pool. Even though the pony was almost fifty years old, he held a youth and beauty around him, the unicorn bowed, he was glad he followed this great pony.

“Bowing shows that one is loyal to the monarchy, even if it is respectful to me.” The unicorn quickly stood and stammered,

“No, no sir, sir I-”

    The stallion chuckled,

“I was just joking. Anyway, I want you to get as much information on these two. And bring whatever you find straight to me.” He slid over the folders titled for a pony named “Silver Dust” and one named “Crimson Whooves”.

“I’ll do what I can sir, but i’ll leave these here for you, I can remember their faces and names easy enough.”

“Excellent, I am glad that I can rely on you.” the white stallion put on his glasses.

“Now go, please shut the door after you.”

“Yes revolutionary.” he bowed his head and backed out of the room.

    The stallion took out a cigar and lit it. He breathed in the smoke and blew out a ring.

“Silver Dust you will not ruin what I have worked for. Before you are successful I will rain fire on everything you know love.”

He took the cigar from his mouth and shoved it into Silver Dust’s photo, burning it to a black crisp. He then turned around and gazed once again over his city.

“For now I will let you fools fester for now. But at the right moment, the trap will close and before you know it, all you ponies know will be gone. I will not have my worked wasted.”

Silver’s burning picture broke apart as it turned to ash, all that remained was his small scowl. Soon it might just be Silver’s life that would burn.

END OF PART I