Everypony hates war. This is clear. Everypony strives to avoid it, and for the past thousand years, peace has reigned at Equestria, thanks to a clever combination of diplomacy and the threat of military action. But now, a new threat surfaces, a threat everypony though was impossible. A rift is forming, and civil war is brewing.
I'm going to assume you, the reader, have seen the show to the end of season 4. If you haven't, then SPOILERS!!! Also, I will assume that you know about the mane six, so I won't describe them in any real detail.
Special thanks to Evening Star for inspiring this work with two of his pieces: A United Land and Land of Equestria
Chapters (9)
And thus is how dissention in the ranks causes trouble down the road. Looking forward towards more of this.
Pony Protesters Protesting Princess's. Say it with me thirty times fast.
5162505
...I'll pass
Its odd, I can see Rainbow Dash and Rarity supporting a expanded military and even Applejack might support the idea, even expanded tax's could be offset by selling supplies to the military and Rarity would love men in uniform though she would hate the taxes but would look forward towards maybe a few commissions making custom uniforms. Fluttershy would hate the idea I would think and Pinkie Pie would most likely be neutral or looking forward to partys as yet unplanned.
5179246 So, here's the thing. I assume that both Rarity and Applejack barely make ends meet. Running a fashion shop and a farm is hardly cheap, after all. Plus, a low profit margin explains why the barn renovations took so long to be completed. Add this to the fact that farmers are traditionally (at least in the USA) conservative, and conservatives tend to hate taxes with a passion, Applejack would be...less than excited with an increase in taxes by eighteen percent. Also, I can't see Rarity being excited by the prospect of having to make bland, monotonous, and repetitive uniforms for soldiers. After all, she's one for flamboyancy, right?
As for Fluttershy and Pinkie, well, I kind of pulled their motivations out of my plot. Seeing as I have something...special...planned for Twilight and Rainbow, I felt it only fair to give the Solar Empire two supporters as well. Given that Fluttershy is so timid, I justified that she would appreciate the extra protection, as much as she would hate the tax spike. And Pinkie, well, if everypony's safer, I suppose they would be more comfortable and more willing to party! Plus, ponies probably pay her a fortune to have her throw a party. I know I would.
Hopefully this cleared some stuff up. I kind of rushed this chapter, if you didn't notice. Maybe I should have given a small debate to clear up any confusion...oh well! Next chapter!
I think if any of them had a sense for budgets, they could use the 5 billion that was not in use and still have a sizable army fit for war.
To Celestia, All that is a bit overkill don't you think?
To Luna, While knowledge is important, it certainly does not call for 5 billion Bits. 2 billion would be more than enough.
To Cadance, Don't you have some Bits to spare? You could donate some to the war effort.
To Twilight, Propose a not-so steep tax increase of 9%, find out what you can make do with, and assure everypony that this is for their own safety and peace of mind.
To all of them, TRAIN YOUR ARMY BETTER! Your guards need to be more inquisitive. They didn't notice that the PRINCESS OF LOVE was spiteful as hell during her wedding! There was almost no one guarding the gardens. They charged an Alicorn, A FUCKING ALICORN, head on! Tactics are need- No, REQUIRED for an army not to fail miserably!
Ooooooh! Here we go!
Loyalty stays loyal to Twilight and not either Princess. Interesting. Glad to see this get updated. Thought it was going to become a dead story.
5272417
Oh no. I've outlined way too much of this for it to become a dead story.
Updates may be a little slow, but rest assured, they are coming.
I think I agree with Twilight and Rainbow on this one. Their other friends are traitors as well as Celestia and Luna for going against the Equestrian Constitution. They need to be arrested for their treasonous ways.
Great story so far, can't wait to read more!
5162737 Ponies can't handle real world problems. Their economy rating is somwhere between Somalia and North Korea!
There's a problem with this fic. It's a problem with most war fics set in MLP, but it's still a problem: it catapults Equestria into militarisation and war far too quickly, and so loses the suspension of disbelief.
Based on the show, we have no reason to believe that Equestria has or needs a standing army. The Royal Guard appears to be just that, a very small protection force restricted to Canterlot, and the threats Equestria has faced tend to be truly supernatural ones that are beyond the power of an army to contain and have to be dealt with by either the Elements of Harmony or comparably powerful magical champions. We have every reason to believe that Equestria has been totally at peace since Nightmare Moon was banished. Thus a pony war fic needs to answer why Equestria has suddenly built an army.
You try to do this with Celestia's military bill, but the rapidity with which it is passed, and the method Celestia passes it, defies credulity: such rapid militarisation after such a long period of peace would be being questioned at every turn. Hell, Celestia herself would probably be questioning why such a thing was necessary. After all, prior to the events of Season 1, Episode 1, hadn't she managed to keep Equestria peaceful and prosperous without the Elements of Harmony? The level of militarisation Celestia proposes is utter overkill. A more realistic scenario would be to moderately increase the size of the armed forces, while at the same time building the recruiting system, mobilisation structure, and cadre units that could rapidly be filled with a large number of new recruits when a clear and present danger to Equestria presents itself.
Likewise, the way Celestia circumvents constitutional procedures to pass the bill can't work. Celestia couldn't just pass the bill because she wanted to: in the real world, exercises of power that are unconstitutional (i.e.: Watergate, or the NSA wiretapping everyone) are done with resources that the government already has, not those that they have to face a vote to equip themselves with: Historically, nearly every monarch has had to have the approval of their Parliament before they spent public money. Such an immense increase in taxes and expenditure would have to have the support of whatever legislature Equestria has, elected or not. For the reasons I gave above, such a vote would presumably come down to the wire. Equestria: Total War chronicles Equestria's response to militarisation very well: they have to abandon half the country to buy time to mobilise, and even given the scale of the very obvious Griffon threat to Equestria, there are still those who refuse to accept the reality of what's happening.
Do not be disenheartened! A political crisis where Equestria's parliament has to decide on a military bill with Celestia on one side and Luna on the other and the population of Equestria divided on it is potentially an incredibly interesting story. If you want to write an Equestrian Civil War fic, then such a political battle could be the thing that truly drives Celestia and Luna apart and causes Luna to start the New Lunar Republic. Civil wars don't just come from nowhere: the Confederacy did not take up arms against the Union just because Lincoln became President in 1860. It came about after nearly half a century of political divisions over whether to extend slavery into the new territories, whether to restrict it to the South, or whether to abolish it entirely, which stretched North and South so far apart that Lincoln's election was merely the breaking point. The English Civil War did not break out just because Charles I tried to arrest five Members of Parliament. It took nearly twenty years of frictions between the King and Parliament over the King's religion, what taxes he could levy, and what sort of liberties Parliament had, before Charles' invasion of Parliament to arrest the Five Members was the final straw.
I know you want to get straight to the battles, and having written a pony war fic myself, that's understandable. But chronicling the tragic series of events that drives Celestia and Luna totally apart is a potentially brilliant story, and the events that lead to wars are just as compelling as the heroism within them.
5670949
I'm sorry, you apparently mis-interpreted my proposed political system of Equestria. Don't worry, that's my fault, not yours, and I really should revisit this before I continue.
Equestria has no parliament, or congress. rather, the four Princesses are only allowed to enact large bills (like militarization) with the consent of their fellow Princesses. But they don't have to ask the general population.
That being said, I do understand what your saying, and this fic is on hiatus until I think of a good solution. Thanks!
This is the FIRST actually good Solar Empire vs Lunar Republic Civil War fic that I have seen so far. I always know if I get hooked by the first chapter, then its a good one. WIll continue reading.
Celestia using fascist tactics. Somebody knows their politics.
Inevitable Mane Six split is coming. I can already sense it, this is getting more and more interesting.
5765404
Hope to see you return from your hiatus soon. This highly underrated story has a lot of potential and it's the first time I have seen somebody with actual political knowledge write a civil war fic. Will favorite and track this story in the meantime.
6093049
Why thank you! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about this story. Just also been working on another story (one that is starting to get complicated as well), and it diverted my attention.
Right now, I'm working on the next political scene, which is proving to be a complicated process. But again, I haven't forgotten you guys, so never fear!
Short, but sweet. And this is how Civil Wars between power hungry siblings begin.
I thought Twilight would take Celestia's side naturally but instead is taking her own side. I think she will definitely be instrumental in stopping all of the madness in the end, but I think that both Celestia and Luna will escape by either breaking free or that the guards will be taking sides assuming they havent already.
Reminds me of Rotk Ancient China
Hmmm a Twilight Faction color me intrigued
A three way civil war. And Twilight can wave a bloody flag with that guardspony's blood on it to rally her supporters. Interestingly Luna and Celestia by the description have been escorted out of Canterlot. Leaving the Capitol in Twilight's hooves, hence legitmency. But what cities will Luna and Celestia move to take as there bases of operations?
6108424
Lol, no. Just outside the town square.
Outside the capitol?
Just because this one random crowd joined Twilight does not mean that the Solar Empire or New Lunar Republic doesn't have a tremendous amount of influence in the city.
Anyways, sorry if I came off as a bit of an ass there. As always, thanks for reading!
EDIT: I changed the relevant passage to better reflect this idea.
Dang, this is looking good. Also this story is highly underrated, I see a feature in the near future. When I looked at the title and description, I couldn't think of any possible way to make the two sisters lead a civil war, but you have done a superb job.
I hope there doesn't end up being somthing bigger at play (mind control or somthing), because that would ruin what has begun (I'm mostly thinking about changelings, because I've seen mind control and bigger players ruin many a good story).
Keep up the good work!
6108438 True, out of the square works. But the news that one of there supporters killed will get around. Literally everyone in the square stopped in there tracks when it happened. Public opinion will turn against them.
Hey, if you want some new cover art, I might be able to cook somthing (would take time though)!
6108469
Thank you! I welcome you aboard!
Oh, and don't worry. I'm not going to use a cop-out like that. Not a chance. All three of the Princesses are themselves, and in full control of their minds.
The first casialty on what is to be a very bloody civil war. His death will have an impact on the rest of the story and I wouldn't be surprised if Cadence was captured. Part of me also thinks she went back to the Crystal Empire to prepare her own military and will assist Twilight later and like the other poster said, this may get a feature in the near future.
Celestia is going to see this as an act of aggression and will officially declare war on Equestria United. That's my prediction and I'm sticking to it! Can't wait for the next chapter!
6123505 I see Discord either eating popcorn or dead in a grave because of a heart-attack
6123570 Forgot about him, he's gonna go crazy over all of the chaos. I wonder what role he'll play in all this.
Suprised Rarity would support Luna. She would probably be more on the side of the nobles and Celestia. Pinkie Pie as well is the odd one as Celestia is the more controlling and would the least be willing to follow a control freak like Celestia. RD's loyalty is odd as well, picture her being more loyal to Celestia than Twilight as it would be more of a chance to join the wonderbolts.
And another cliffhanger. I sense a major battle and some more fatalities around the corner.
What can I say I like we're your going with it
Ayyyyyyyeeeee. This story is back!
6551458
Maybe with your add, this story will move from the underrated category and will be featured on the front page as more people read it. This story deserves a flame icon next to it instead of those gross fetish stories.