Preview of the Next Chapter of AAG · 12:29pm Jul 5th, 2017
Given that Spitfire had always loved Cloudsdale and had lived there most of her adult life, it had turned out to be a surprise to most that she actually wasn’t from the location at all. Instead, she was from a small town in the west known as Rolling Hills. Apparently, her parents had chosen the place for it’s completely flat terrain and wheat fields as far as the eye could see. Her mother Junebug and her father Speak Up had settled there and raised their family in contentment.
And now Spitfire was returning home.
As a 21-gun-salute composed of survivors of the Second Battle of Canterlot, as it was known, fired the guns, and a missing pony formation stormed overhead, the National Ensign of Equestria was removed from the casket, ceremonially folded, and given to a distraught Klick Klack and his daughters, nopony said anything. It was too solemn a moment for the posthumous recipient of the Order of Faust, the realm’s highest honor. But that didn’t mean anything at all to the husband and children Spitfire left behind.
Tugging her combo cover down to hide her tears, Rainbow said softly. “I should’ve been the one to die. Not Spits. I was the one in desperate straits, and she was just filling my horseshoes while I was…well, you know.”
At her side, Soarin’ nodded. He, too, had drawn the visor down for much the same reasons. “Let’s not talk about that today, Rainbow. There’s too much sorrow right now without sinking into melancholia.” He paused to watch Klick shudder from tears as he held his two daughters close. “What’s going to happen now?”
“Well, you know the obvious: as an OOF awardee, he’s entitled to her monthly salary for the rest of his life, plus a widower’s annuity. The girls will be fast tracked for the Military Academy if they so desire, and he is now the steward for House Sorraia until Hopes comes of age.” She sighed, “But I know you didn’t ask me about that. I spoke to my cousin Stormy Flare – Spits’ younger sister – and she’s taking a leave of absence from her duties at the Military Academy to move in with Klick and raise the girls for a while. Faust knows he needs the help.”
They heard footsteps and saw Scootaloo and Featherweight joining them. “I got the situation report. We are in a dire situation, sis,” Scootaloo said.
“Scoots, now is not the time for this.” They all turned to see Celestia approach, dressed in her regal finery. Cadance was taking time off to recuperate from the whole ordeal, and Luna was attending to statecraft while Celestia was here. “I know we have much to discuss, but we have a grieving husband and father who needs us right now.”
“Tia, what happens next?” Rainbow asked. “Spitfire was one of the best of us. She’d served you longer than I had, and this is an aching loss – not just for the REAF or the military, but for my family as well. My cousin’s foals will never really know their mother. And the monsters that did this got away.”
“I know it’s hard, Rainbow. I know that more than anypony. But you have to believe me when I say that we did the right thing. Canterlot and its citizens were saved because of everyone’s actions. And yes, our foes got away. But I promise you, they will not escape justice.”
The three senior officers present all looked at her at once, while Featherweight said, “I shouldn’t be a part of this conversation, should I?”
“I trust you, Feather,” Celestia told him. “Which is why I’m saying this: after today, our world will change. And we ponies have to be prepared.”
Because these ponies are going to war.
Now how will the ponies handle it with all the new human toys? I see it going a bit like the first World War and those who will not adapt raising the body count and the warmongers raising the stakes.
You know, of all the ones behind the '2nd Battle of Canterlot,' I really hope that it's Artemis who gets his. Considering the weasel was not only pretending to be an Equestrian ally, but was one of the only enemy leaders without the guts to actually take the field himself.
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Maybe if WW1 was fought using modern warfare tech. The only ones without direct access to human tech seems to be the changelings, though they're in bed with people who do, considering Saddle Arabia was apparently building brand new fighters for the attack.
Pawns of War is going to be a theme now?
I'd kind of hate to be the opposition right now. Those creeps are like so dead.......