Equestria is in panic, war is coming, and no one knows what to do or what is going to change. One thing is known for certain, Celestia can't protect Equestria from the enemy at it's door.
Equestria has been blessed with peace and harmony for centuries. Time and time again enemies and danger arises and time and time again they have been defeated. Now It's protectors have grown older and some have families of their own. But as the Golden Age grows, it's eldest defender, Celestia, suddenly goes ill. Now, a dark shadow begins to envelop Equestria, and no one is ready for what may come. Only one thing is known, Celestia and the Bearers of Harmony cannot defend this great land alone, and Luna is ready to do something about it.
(this is an episodic fic, so just sit tight for mini-hiatuses)
We have been under a lot of stress from the war. The guard is now being required to make a report on all important occurrences for the ponies of Equestria so the hysteria can go down. This letter is an order to do this for us, and enclosed are a few pre-war documents that may help you complete this task. Completing this may not only give you a better shot at becoming the captain of the royal guard, but also assist the guard, and hence all of Equestria, to investigate and combat the nation's threats. We need these ponies to calm down so we can proceed.
Thank you,
Cpt. Shining Armor
I haven't been awake for 30 minutes when a package came to my cramped Canterlot home/detective office. I checked the door to see a large metal suitcase on my doorstep, the mail pegasus already flown away. I brought the mysterious box to my office and checked the note atop it.
I frankly am not surprised my uncle, the captain, said there where "a few" contents in this massive suitcase.
The thing was about half my height and it took all my strength to haul it up on my desk, let alone bring it into my office; the contents shifting about inside. If Uncle Shining was being serious in "a few", then I may have "a few" pre-war artifacts that may be PRICELESS. AND my work may be quick.
If not, then Celestia help me.
After setting the letter down, I just.... stared at the suitcase in front of me. I usually see these kinds of things in the hooves of the Equestrian Military, not the Royal Guard. But now that I think about it, what would the Guard have for their personal suitcase? They have variations of EVERYTHING for the different groups of the E.D.F these days. Guns, armor, vehicles, rank titles, everything.
After looking at the container for about a whole straight minute, I began to click the latches to open the box. The latches where off and my hooves were ready to pry the suitcase open, but I took a deep breath to brace myself for the contents inside. One big heave, and the suitcase was open.
Newspapers; magazines; audio cylinders; diary entries and diaries themselves, original and copies; the thing was stuffed with it all.
I released my breath and took a good look at everything within the metal container. It was a lot to take in, and I had my work cut out for me.
"Well, no time like the present," I said while shuffling through the mess of documents.
(Newspaper article, Equestrian News, Headliner, "The Sun Returns!")
Open your windows, remove your barricades, dance in the sun! The whole five years of pain and devastation, agony and death are now finally over! "I am overjoyed to announce," Said Celestia, earlier this beautiful morning, "that today marks the end of the Dark ages, and now the beginning of an Equestrian Renaissance!" You heard her, unlock your doors, open your shops, water your flowers, today is a new, spectacular day! The Golden Age! Nopony is sick, no pony is contagious, the only fever going around is the return of happiness!...
I couldn't help but laugh at this single sheet of newspaper in front of me. It was like one big run-on sentence divided only by exclamation marks! It was blissful and cynical, especially with marking the end of five years of... well... it's not called the "Dark Ages" for nothing. It was dark.
Four separate events make up the Dark Ages. The first was Equestria defending itself against it's greedy neighbors; Yaks, Zebras, Saddle Arabians, Gryffons, and Dragons. The second tore the nation in two, radicals fighting each other, under the flag of either Celestia or Luna. The princesses themselves had to call off the attacks, announcing that they promoted neither side. The third was a side-effect of the first two. A great famine after many of Equestria's resources were diminished. Finally, a Plague came through the nation, wiping out a great deal of the population. Today, they still have an inaccurate number of ponies who died in total, but it's said it's around a million.
So, this was the little harbinger of the Golden Age? One sheet of newspaper with nothing on it but "come on out, the sun is warm!" and "It really isn't that bad now!". Seems... silly. Foal-like. I was six when this single folded piece of paper came to every doorstep in Equestria. The ironic thing is that that day was still pretty dark and bleak, though, of course, not as much as the day prior.
Being a pegasus, I naturally love air travel. But nothing beats travel via airship.
I was born with wings larger in proportion to other pegasi, probably because I was born to an unnatural alicorn and a pegasus. My older sister and many of my cousins also had over-sized wings, but none of them stuck quite like mine. On one hoof, they give me the fastest vertical lift of the entire regiment, and even faster than most Wonderbolts; plus a satisfying "boom" when I hard land. On the other, when I try to fly straight it looks like I just drank a full bottle of whiskey. Even now, I have trouble with flight.
But with all my difficulties in personal flight, I am eternally thankful for airships. Giant balloons with room for a hundred ponies and built for both transportation and combat. They give a beautiful view of Equestria, have wonderful rest quarters, and they are simply magnificent. They also are unfortunately faster than I am. And they fix the age-old question that unicorns and earth-ponies ask themselves every day, "Why can't I fly like pegasi"? Well, blimps are the answer.
I was just sitting in the rest area, near the front so passengers can have a gorgeous view of the world ahead. I loved it when ships had these, even when it's just a view of unending clouds. I heard the common chatter of folks on board, along with an orchestra of clanging plates and cups of tea and coffee. A lovely experience to behold.
"Sir, we are nearing Canterlot," My Royal escort said.
"Very good, old sport. Very good," I responded, still watching the endless expanse of clouds as he marched away. He was escorting me from a trip to the Ponyville Officer School. I was getting the last of my homework, seeing how I am completing school from home. I won't get to it anytime soon, seeing how I would have something else holding me back.
"Fillies and Gentlecolts, we will be approaching Canterlot soon. Thank you for flying with Cumulus," Said the announcer over the loud-speakers.
I managed to pry my eyes away from the rolling clouds to go to my other vantage point. I walked by my guard and, without command, he followed me. I trotted through wooded, carpeted halls decorated with fancy lights and paintings towards the starboard side of the airship. After a while of walking, I met a metal door I have seen at least a dozen times this trip. I walked up to it, and it opened with a reassuring kling kling kling. Within was a small metal room with another, similar door on the opposite side. Airlock, for precautions sake, Luna's order.
"Stay out here. If anyone calls for me, bring them out," I told my guard.
"Yes, sir," He said, instantly taking up his stalwart post.
I faced the room again and entered, the door klanging closed safely behind me. A moment later, the door to the outside klanged open, and I received a big blast of refreshing air. I walked on the balcony and toward the railing. I threw my front hooves over it, taking a closer look at the world ahead.
What a sight. The clouds rolling over themselves. A sea, held in the sky. The airship no more than a vessel, traveling atop the ocean defying gravity. It was something I could watch for years. It was then interrupted by the golden spires of some city lost to the sea reemerging through the endless expanse of clouds.
Canterlot.
I heard the gears of the door open as I heard my bodyguard.
"Sir, you should come back in before we begin our final descent,"
I took a moment to take in my surroundings before I responded, "Yes, I should. Thank you, old sport,"
I began my trek in to pack for landing. It was smooth as always, and the shuffle out was calm and orderly as per the norm. Everyone was lugging around heavy luggage or having difficulty keeping it all afloat with their magic. I carried all my stuff in two saddle-bags on either side of me. I led the way as my escort followed in close pursuit.
"Thank you, but I think I'm good for the rest of the trip home," I told the guard as we touched solid ground again.
"Are you sure sir? These are dangerous times. I wouldn't want you to get hurt," Said the guard, clearly concerned.
"No, I think the roads are safe enough in Canterlot. I'll be fine," I reassured.
"O...of course, sir," he gave a salute and started toward the barracks.
That was the first time I have seen a Royal Guard hesitate from a direct and mundane order, and it won't be the last.
The trip to my house was quick and uneventful. The occasional group of kids playing in the street, ladies chatting about their stallions out at war, gentlecolts boasting the same about their mares, and trucks full of those soldiers rolling by; nothing unusual for a Canterlot evening. I reached my house, the giant version of my cutie mark (a black hoof-print on a purple shield with a flurry of six four-pointed stars around it) hanging above my door as always. I entered my home and I instantly felt a blast of fatigue. The trip to the castle and back was peaceful and calm, but the tensions of war were overwhelming me. People asked "Where will Sombra strike next?", "what is keeping them from destroying us completely?", and the big one, "why isn't Celestia getting any better?"
I don't like being reminded that war is at our doorstep.
Before I chose to hit the hay, I thought I would check the office to see if everything is as it was when I left. When I flicked the light on, I saw the place was still as glorious a mess as it used to be. I almost flicked the lights off and walked away when I saw an army of small, red cylinders staring at me from the suitcase
Audio cylinders. Records messages much like a record holds music.
I walked over to the suitcase and took a peek at the cylinders to see what was written on their unhallowed side.
Nothing of interest, but I was nonetheless intrigued.
I should be going to bed, but this is so important to me. I need to sleep, but this is so cool.
I didn't care, let's see what this box of goodies holds. I have more than a whole moon to do so.
Scientist: "...Power core, test 2..." Engineer 1: "Wah are we doin' this again?" Engineer 2: "The big cities don't have enough power t' light them up. They got all excited from the Golden Age that they needed more lights to blind themselves with." E1: "Heh, suits 'em" S: "If you two are done, we can get started." E2: "right..." (rustle of metal is heard) E2: "...electric output online." E1: "Arcane cycler stabilized, waitin' fer input." S: "Ready?" E1: "Ready." E2: "Ready." (magic effect is heard, sounds like a laser beam. Power core begins to crackle with magic) S: "Stabilize, stabilize!" E1: "Whoa, Nelly! Hold together fer me, now." (Crackle intensifies) S: "Abandon the experiment. Evacuate the area. NOW!" (sporadic shuffle of hooves) S: "That means you, Cactus!" E1: "Hold on, hold on, ah think ah got this." S: "That was not a suggestion, come on!" E1: "Almost..." (crackling slows down, stops and is replaced with a melodic hum.) E1: "...There" S: "Wow,...I...that was...impressive. H...how did you...?" E1: "Tuning crystals were out of alignment, quick fix an' boom! Power fer a thousand moons, an' then some." S: "But I thought..." E1: "That it was a lost cause? Hah! Mah'nd tellin' that lil' mic over there what ah did?" S: "...Huh?...O..oh...sure." (rustle of the microphone) S: "Operation, successful. Experiment saved by miss..." (Distant)E1: "CACTUS!" S: "...Cactus. Results being reported to Applejack."
Power Cores.
Meter long and a hoof and a half wide cylinders of steel, glass, and crystals. Works by taking a single powerful unicorn blast being infinitely looped around the inside of the capsule, giving a constant stream of electric energy. They are so powerful, ten can power all of Manehattan for as long as you want. They're also inexpensive, if you know someone with the proper spell for it. It can be a bit messy otherwise.
They were invented not long after that little newspaper floated around. And the engineers were not kidding when they explained their existence. Manehattan soon became the city that didn't want to sleep, and Las Pegasus was a circus of bright lights with a massive influx of bits. And with AJ at the reigns of some of the best and most powerful technology in all the existence of Equestria, we have more things to put those cores into. Be it domestic or military, there will ALWAYS be a demand for power cores.
"Hey, Detective? You awake?"
I awoke at a start. Topaz, my assistant, was staring at me through her dark-blue eyes.
"Yeah, been awake all day, old sport," I quickly responded, trying to hide the fact that I was still worn out.
Smiling, she took a quick glance at the clock on the wall, "It's six in the morning, Nova," she said as she looked back to me, a sly grin spread across her face, "You've been working on this all night."
Really? All night? A quick glance at the clock confirmed her statement.
"Want me to get you something to wake you up?" Topaz asked.
"Coffee, please. You know how I like it," I answered. I don't usually drink coffee, but I felt especially desperate for a few more hours of consciousness.
"Coffee, coming right up!" Topaz responded as her tail disappeared behind the doorway.
Being a highly-depended upon detective isn't very easy, so having somepony to assist me in chores big and small is wonderful. Topaz Shine is just the mare for those chores. A blue crystal pony, she has helped me out on countless investigations and mishaps. She is also really good with foals as well, which I can't easily say the same for me. But as far as crystal ponies go, Topaz is an odd case. She is a crystal pony with a unicorn horn. Not that it is inherently bad, but she obviously garners a lot of unwanted attention.
She is a good companion, and friend. And I certainly can't say I'm not interested in her.
"Your drink, monsieur," Topaz said as she hovered over to me a mug of hot coffee.
"Ah! Merci beaucoup," I said as I took the mug in my hoof and began to blow on it.
"What are you working on, anyways?" She inquired as I began a few careful sips of my drink.
"A 'project' given to me by my uncle Shining," I said, grumpily, as I began to set my mug down on the table.
"Pretty extensive stuff. Let me see," She said as she used her magic to help set my mug on the table and began shuffling through the letters and what-not, "'richest mares in Equestria', 'Why I couldn't come to work today, captain', I think you need to get to the nitty-gritty of this."
"'Nitty-gritty'? What do you..."
"HERE!" She interrupted, floating over to me a journal with three butterflies assembled in an unmistakable pattern. The diary had a couple tabs pointing out some entries of interest.
"Fluttershy's diary? What is so 'nitty-gritty' about this, old sport?" I asked, taking a look at some of the tabbed entries. Nothing much of interest, for me.
"I remember hearing that she lives near Applejack's house," She said, "and that the plane flight tests were not quiet, so you might see something in there about that."
She was right. When AJ got her fortune from selling metal and tech (and produce) she moved to a giant mansion not far from Ponyville. It's also where many of her company's inventions get tested. And Fluttershy's house is not too far away, so she gets a great view of the runway.
"Alright, I see. Sure, let's see if there is something in here about that," I said, my curiosity peaked.
"Hey, do you need any help?" Topaz asked.
"Please. If you could look in there and see..." my response was rudely interrupted by the front door bell jingling.
"Oh! I'll go get that!" Topaz said as she darted off to greet the visitor.
I was alone again.
"Well, I'm sure that they would need her more than I do," I said to myself as I began looking at more of the tabbed entries.
...I was laying in the park near my cottage for a picnic. Some of the little changelings playing with some of the other foals in the park, others curled up next to me along with my own foal. It was a lovely, cloudless day. Nopony in the park was alone, either with a friend, lover, or a foal; or perhaps a combination. I had half of a generation of newborn changelings and my little one, too, so I was far from alone. The birds were chirping a little song that I could listen to for hours. It was just something that I got used to and I could never get tired of.
Oh, right. I heard some loud machinery out in the distance. I thought It was just a truck driving by, so I paid no mind to it. I was just snuggling my little pony when It was getting louder. I was so distracted from the cute ponies around me when I heard the vehicle come flying above me. It was so loud! The sound from it was so scary, it scared all the changelings, and they came to hide under my wings. After a moment we saw it pass by, I didn't know what to make of it. It was made out of metal, and it flew! Without flapping it's massive wings! After it passed, I wanted to see what it was. I asked the others with me, and they were curious too. I got up, and trotted over to the clearing it was headed to.
When we reached the clearing, we saw it on the ground in a proud-looking position. As we got closer, a little door on the top opened up. And out came Applejack! "Hoo-wee, that was fun!" called out AJ, to nopony in particular. "A...AJ?" I called out. "Oh, hi, sugarcube!" said Applejack to me, "Did we scare ya?". I looked at the changelings around me and they all wore faces of happiness to see the Mare of Industry herself again. "You did, what is this thing anyways?" I asked. "Aircraft, model 5 type c, dubbed the "Thunderbird"" said a voice from below AJ. Out came another pony, a unicorn; she looked a lot like one of Rarity's fillies.
"Well, What do you think?" asked the newcomer. "It's, well, it's..." I began, "IT'S SO COOL!" said one of the changelings. I don't know who it was; it's kind of hard to keep track of 12 changelings at once. "Well, Fluttershy, ah was wonderin' if you would mind joining us back at mah place later this afternoon for some tea," Said AJ, "Wanna join me?". "oh, um, I...I don't think so, i...if that's okay with you..." I said. I didn't want to be rude, but the changelings have nowhere to go today. "That's fine, but ah think we should hang out again sometime. Yer place tomorrow?" asked AJ. "I...think that would be good," I answered. "See, ya tomorrow, then." said Applejack as she crawled back into the "aircraft", the other pony following behind her. when the door shut, the aircraft started again and flew away. Now it was just me and the changelings standing alone in the clearing; they were chasing the aircraft until it left the ground...
Planes are a series of heavier-than-air craft that have two long, static wings on either side of it, and at least one propeller in the front. They were built shortly after the new designs of airships came to be. They consist of many types: fighters for aerial combat like the Shadowbolt, bombers for air-to-ground supremacy like the Empress, and heavy fighters to balance the two roles like the Thunderbird. The modern Thunderbird (Model 10 type B) is considered one of, if not the, best planes ever built. Able to house a crew of six and have either a tank or two whole squads of troops (or a ton of cargo) in it's cargo bay, it outclasses all other heavy fighters, and some bombers too. It was the leader in aviation for a good long time. The Thunderbird recorded (model 5 type C) was the first plane ever flown. It's still in the museum at Applejack's estate.
And an explanation of Fluttershy's "situation": when the Changelings were reformed, Chrysalis left some unhatched eggs in the hive when it collapsed. They were brought to Fluttershy's cottage by guards for her to take care of the changelings inside. They didn't hatch until near the end of the Dark ages, as she didn't know how to take care of changeling eggs. They hatched their normal, bitter selves, but before long they acted not unlike any normal pony baby. Playing, crying, not much eating, because they got enough love from the element of kindness. Nowadays they (secretly) protect her as bodyguards, and spread her lessons of kindness to Equestria.
Nitty-gritty, huh?
I was in the middle of a fencing lesson with Fleur de Lis, the greatest swordsmare in Equestria; and with a parry and riposte, I lost again.
"My goodness, Nova! You are quite the adversary!" proclaimed Fleur, lifting her fencing mask of her face with her magic.
"Merci, but I have a ways to go to defeat you," I said, removing my own with my hoof.
"No, you don't, you just need a little," she thought for a moment, "'push,'"
Combat with blades grew in popularity since the Barbarian Wars when the Gryphons used them against us. We already had them in a minority, supplied to us from Prance, and used exclusively by unicorns. But when the Gryphons attacked us with their swords, they became popular with the other pony races. I have a blade of my own, a captain's falchion, hung on my wall, but I shudder to think of using it for real. In order to use my foil, I had to stand on my hind hooves with my wings extended for stability, leaving my fore hooves free to hold and use my foil. Training in the human world with Sunset Shimmer really paid off, but like everypony else, I still prefer all four of my legs.
"What kind of 'push' are you thinking of?" I was curious as to what my teacher was thinking. We thought of everything from aerial strikes to distractions to see if I can beat her.
She looked unsure about what she was about to say, "Two words: 'Dirty fighting'. use your hooves to hit away my sword, physically push me around..."
"But that would be uncouth!" I began, "I wished to learn how to be gentlecoltly with fencing, and now..."
"Sometimes, Nova," interrupted Fleur, "We have to play dirty to get clean. Now," She levitated her mask back over her face again, "Get your mask on, and let's do this again, but don't be afraid to use your hooves,"
I was worried. What if I'm too rough and hurt her? What if I do that to somepony that I really care about? What did she mean "to get clean"?But with the look she's giving me says that I can't leave this room until I raise my foil again. I reluctantly pulled my mask over my face, sprung onto my hind hooves, and raised my foil.
We exchanged en gardes and prepared for combat. She took the first attack, lunging towards me, her blade flying forward towards my heart. Her signature starting move. Having used it against me countless times, I instinctively dash to my left and block the strike with my right, leaving my unscathed and safe, if for a moment. I swing my blade upwards quickly, knocking her's out of the way and giving me an opening to strike, which I took. A single rotation of her blade and my strike was stopped. She took a slight jab at my unprotected side. I panicked, and met the side of her foil with my hoof. That is what saved me the match; with her sword out of the way, I can take a perfect strike for her head.
And I won for the very first time.
"VERY GOOD, NOVA!" exclaimed Fleur, who, after literally ripping her helmet off, came and embraced me, "That was some grade A work there, a quick match and a quick victory, I knew you could do it!"
I was in a strange bittersweet mood. On one hoof, I just beat the greatest swordsmare in, maybe, the world. I had to feel great about that, right? On the other, I just destroyed all of the dignity that I had sought to gain through fencing.
"Nova? Are...are you okay?" asked my calmed down mentor, who understood more than anypony the reason I chose to try fencing, at least most days.
"Yeah, I just..." I started, trailing off. I want to be happy, I really do. But for some reason, I can't.
"I'm sorry," said Fleur, whispering in a quiet and calm voice I maybe never heard from her, "It's just, I think that this would be good for you, both as a mental lesson and a physically one, especially in this day of age..."
"'This day of age'? What do you mean by that?"
"Well, I mean, because of this war, we all need a way too..." she began.
"I don't like hearing about war," I said with an inch of seriousness.
"O...oh, sorry," She said, "I didn't know you felt that way,"
"It's just," I began, "my mom told me about her adventures through a bunch of timelines, and one was about a war with Sombra. Now, I don't want to know that that future is becoming real."