For Princess and Country

by Nocturn Dreamwrite


Part 1

For Princess and Country

By Nocturn Dreamwrite

Part 1


This story is set at about 95 years before Episode 1 of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. Technological changes have only just begun to modernize the Equestrian Lifestyle, but outside the major cities, pony life to the north, south, and west of Canterlot still continues as it has always: quiet, and rural. New towns such as Ponyville and Dodge City are only in their infancy. Not long after the dawn of the 20th Century, a great war between Equestria and the Changelings tested the strength and endurance of the Equestrian pony race, and technology made its first debut, proving its usefulness, and its worth as progress. After five years of battles, The Great Changeling War finally ended with Equestrian victory, but the price of freedom is not cheap. Even as Equestria begins to explore the newer, safer uses of technology, such as steam locomotives and light bulbs, some ponies find the war not so easy to forget.
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Forester lived in Equestria’s White Tale Woods. He had been living there for about five years. To describe him, He was a full grown pegasus pony, but still young. His coat was apple green, and his mane and tail were of a shade of light brown. He had sky blue eyes, and his cutie mark was pine tree signifying that Forester was close to nature.

Forester had always had an interest in the natural world for as long as he could remember. Despite being a pegasus, the woods gave him a sense of peace that the sky, although beautiful in it’s own way, could not give him. For one thing, cities like Cloudsdale had no flora such as trees, and second there was as no such fauna as deer, a species that Forester admired intimately. In fact, ever since he had come to the White Tail Woods, he had been living among a herd of deer that had accepted his presence and his friendship. They had even let him study their way of magic, and how they helped bring life to the woods. Whenever his friends were threatened, Forester would always rush to their aid. Being a pegasus did have its advantages. Timberwolves simply couldn’t keep up.

For five years now the White Tail Woods had been Forester’s home, and he had lived a quiet and happy life learning all he could about the beauty and wonders of the woodlands. However, this wasn’t the only reason he had come here. Deep down Forester knew that he was here hiding from the rest of the world. Obviously these past five years didn’t cover his entire life. His past however, had left an imprint on him, and it had been strong enough to cause him to distance himself from the Equestrian world in which he had been brought up and served passionately. Despite his distance from the ponies of Equestria, and all his studies, Forester had never been able to shake off the ache he felt in his heart. There was one other thing that he couldn’t deny. After being gone for so long, Forester could feel a pull to return to his fellow pony kind.

It was a quiet summer night. Forester sat high up on a tree branch gazing up at the stars. The moon was bright, the stars sparkled, and there was a comfortable breeze. Forester sighed as he sat there thinking.

“I’m happy here,” Forester thought aloud, “I have friends, and there is still so much to see.”
He picked up his notebook and spun the pages, stopping to look over a few.

“But,” he said as he closed the book, “There is also so much more to see out there, and…well…am I being selfish by not sharing my life with my kind? It has been a long time. I know I needed this, but now…Is it time for another change?”

Forester looked up at the stars. His eyes watered. “What would you have me do?”

“Forester!” someone called with a loud whisper.

Forester looked down to see Odo, his best friend on the ground looking up at him. Odo was a young white tailed buck. His coat was reddish-brown like most deer with a dark brown stripe down his back. He had turquoise eyes, and had just grown his third pair of antlers that spring. He had been born only a couple of months before Forester had arrived, and soon after fell down a ravine. It was Forester who flew to his rescue and returned him to his mother, but ever since, Odo had stuck to him like glue. To this day Odo believed that Forester had saved his life, and he never strayed from his version of the story. Odo admired Forester for being a pegasus just as much as Forest admired him for being a deer. As time had passed, they had become best friends, and Odo would even help Forester with his studies. Wherever Forester went, Odo was never far behind.

Forester smiled. He should have known that he wasn’t alone.

“Forester!” called Odo again, “Are you all right?”

“Sure Odo,” Forester called back. “I’ll be right down.” He quickly gathered his notebook then spread his wings and glided down to the ground, landing softly.

Odo looked at Forester’s eyes. “Are you all right?” he asked. “You look as though you’ve been crying.”

Forester quickly wiped his eyes with his hoof. “I’m fine. I just…well…I have a soft spot for the night sky. You know. Ha, ha,” He laughed.

“Want to talk about it?” Odo asked.

Forester knew what Odo meant. He had wanted Forester to tell him about his past life for over two years now. Odo had figured out, that it had something to do with the night sky and with Forester being involved in some kind of war, but Forester still wasn’t ready to tell that story yet.

“No,” replied Forester, “Not tonight. It’s still…you know…personal.”

Odo nodded his understanding, then without warning, he smiled, and wrapped his forelegs around Forester’s neck and pulled him into a tight hug which Forester returned.

“Thanks Odo,” said Forester.

“Anytime,” replied Odo with a smile.

“Let’s go home,” said Forester.

With that, the pegasus pony and the deer walked silently side by side beneath the trees, until they came to the small hut they lived in. It really wasn’t much of a house; just a simple one room dwelling made of wood, big enough to fit the two of them, with one door, and a grass roof. Inside, there was a pair of grassy beds, a small wooden table, and a few other things.

“You sure you don’t want to talk about it?” asked Odo as he climbed on to his bed.
“Yes, Odo,” answered Forester. “I’m sure.”

“All right,” said Odo. “Good night my friend.”

“Good night…my friend,” replied Forester as he watched his friend succumb to sleep.

There was still a lot on Forester’s mind. He sighed, but decided to think it over in the morning. For now, it was time to try to get some sleep. Forester lay on his bed and sighed again before he closed his eyes and entered the dream realm.


Forester walked carefully through the section of the trenches that were under his command inspecting the dirt walls and his soldiers as he went. He stopped when he came to a pony who was sitting on the bottom step of one of the ladders. Forester tapped him lightly on the shoulder. The pony rose immediately and saluted. Forester returned the gesture before carefully ascending the ladder. When he got high enough, he adjusted his tin derby, and looked over the trench wall. About a mile away, but still visible, he could see the other trench which protected the Changelings they were facing.

The war with the Changelings had begun over two years ago. It was now summer of the third year. There had already been several major offensives on both sides, not to mention the hundreds of skirmishes that had taken place. This was already the single largest war in Equestrian history. Sure, the original three tribes, before they joined to create Equestria, had hated each other, but that conflict was a cold war, considering that they never actually had a battle. This was different. This war had already claimed the lives of many victims. The Changelings had gathered the largest foreign army ever seen, and after crushing the forts and outposts along the boarder, had made their intention clear: to invade Equestria. The only thing stopping them now was the Equestrian Army, or rather officially known as the EPU United Forces. When the attacks began, the EPU responded, but even with their reserves, they couldn’t hold back the enemy advances. A call for enlistment was sent all over Equestria. This brought several hundred more ponies including Forester into what was now called “the Army.” These ponies were now soldiers, and Forester had risen to become a Lieutenant in command of a regiment of almost 100 soldiers.

As the war had progressed, new technology had been brought to the front lines. Most of the fighting was still hoof to hoof with swords, spears, and magical horns, but a new weapon had taken the forefront of the battle with the hopes of reducing the length of the war: the gunpowder cannon. This weapon could fire a heavy metal ball at a target a mile a way or more and strike it. The effect was heightened by the fact that each ball had gunpowder on the inside and a fuse that was lit before the cannon was fired which resulted in a large explosion after the target was hit. On the other hand, as if the Changeling’s dreaded slime that they emitted which could stop a pony in their tracks wasn’t bad enough; they had introduced a new weapon too, known to ponies as the “black arrow.” The Changelings had invented a large, heavy arrow, which, when fired from an even larger crossbow, was launched with enough force, it would plunge down from the sky like a lightning bolt and bury it’s head in the ground before exploding and throwing slime everywhere. In short, it was scary out on the battlefield that stretched the two trenches also known as “No Pony’s Land.”

Satisfied to see that the Changelings had not made any move for the time being, Forester climbed back down the ladder. Waiting for him at the bottom was his younger brother Kepler, Sergeant Kepler to be exact. The two officers saluted each other then proceded to walk down the trench. Forester couldn’t help but take note of the humor of two brothers, two friends for that matter, saluting each other, but it was order.

“How’s it look out there,” asked Kepler.

“I’ve seen worse,” said Forester.

“So have I,” answered Kepler, causing Forester to chuckle. No matter how you looked at it, war wasn’t pretty.

Just then a currier came rushing down the trench toward them. He stopped in front of Forester, saluted then gave his message.

“Lt. Forester, Sir!,” said the currier, “General Corn Pipe has returned and wants to see all the commanding officers in his tent at once.”

“Thank you” replied Forester. Then with a salute, “Carry on!” He turned to his brother.
“Take over here. Will you? I shouldn’t be gone long,” said Forester.

“Right, Sir!” answered Kepler as Forester hurried away.

After navigating through several trenches, and splashing through a few mud puddles, Forester found himself along with several other officers in General Corn Pipe’s tent which served as his headquarters. They all hushed with General Corn Pipe stepped through the canvas that separated one side of the tent from the other. General Corn Pipe was the highest ranking officer in the EPU and the entire army, and he was the most respected. As he approached the table which held the map everypony was standing around, he adjusted his cap, removed his iconic pipe, and then said:

“Gentlecolts, I have returned.”

Everypony waited to hear what was next.

“I tell you the truth, you would not believe the way some of those fancy ponies back in Canterlot are acting. Those morons! They don’t seem to understand the gravity of our situation. Perhaps if the war was taking place over Canterlot, they would have a different attitude. At least Princess Celestia appreciates us. The good news is we will receive reinforcements, but the bad news is they won’t arrive until the end of the month. More importantly, while I was away, I managed to come up with a new strategy.”

He motioned for everypony to pay attention to the map.” “Captain Stone Wall’s artillery will begin the engagement. They will concentrate fire on the enemy’s center. Twenty minutes later, Lieutenants, Light Armor and Forester will advance with their troops to engage the middle of the enemy’s line; Light Armor from the left, and Forester from the right. The artillery will then concentrate fire on the enemy’s left and right flanks to keep them from reinforcing the middle.”

The General paused, and then said, “Now Gentlecolts, this is a risky move, but we have already fallen back twice, and Dodge City is right behind us. This must end here and Now! Now we begin the push back. The offensive begins in one hour. I’ll give the word to Captain Stone Wall when to open fire. Lieutenants, mark your watches, and prepare your troops.” General Corn Pipe stood at attention and saluted his officers who did the same in return. “Good luck to you all,” said the General. “Dismissed!”

Forester wasted not time in getting back to his regiment. He was almost out of breath when he found Kepler. They greeted each other with a salute, then Kepler asked “What is it Sir? Are there orders?”

“Tell the men to prepare for battle,” answered Forester.

Kepler was surprised. “You mean we’re attacking?! Now?!” he asked.

“You better believe it brother,” replied Forester, “And we’re on the front lines!”

“Sweet Celestia!” exclaimed Kepler.

“Prepare the troops,” continued Forester. “Helmets, weapons, any armor they can find, everything! And tell the unicorns to warm up! I’ll join you once I catch my breath.”

“Yes Sir,” replied Kepler, and with another salute, he adjusted his tin derby and hurried away.

Sure enough, exactly one hour later, the cannons opened fire. Forester, Kepler and all of their regiment was ready and waiting, all of them wearing the traditional tin derby, all armed with a sword or a spear, and all anxious.

Forester checked his watch. “Ten more minutes!” he said. He turned to Kepler. “I want you to lead the ground troops. I’ll lead the pegasi and cover you.”

“Yes Sir,” replied Kepler. Though, he knew that Forester had made this decision in order to protect him. Leading the battle from the air was much more dangerous than leading it from the ground. Forester would have to monitor both the ground and the air, and watch his tail at the same time all while in flight. The enemy’s attention would mostly be on the pegasi, but providing this shield would give the earth ponies and the unicorns a chance to get much closer before engaging. In all honesty, Kepler had wanted this position for the same reason as Forester, and had mentioned it to him, but Forester had decided otherwise. Kepler was a little disappointed, but he still respected Forester for deciding to take the risk upon himself. Kepler saluted and took his position.

Forester carefully climbed the ladder and looked over. The cannons had torn up the Changeling position all right, but the Changelings still hadn’t even made a move. He climbed back down and checked his watch again. “One minute!” he called. He counted the seconds silently to himself. The time was now. He looked at Kepler and they silently wished each other good luck. Forester drew his sword, and then placed the whistle that had been hanging around his neck to his lips and blew five times: the signal and order to advance. Immediately, the Equestrian soldiers began to climb or fly over the trench wall and out into “No Pony’s Land.”

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Forester woke up with a start. He was sweating. He looked around. There was no war. He was still in his hut in the middle of White Tail Woods. He looked over to check Odo. Odo was still fast asleep. Forester took a few deep breaths to calm himself, then he laid back down again. He lay awake for a while, before he went back to sleep. It was a dream, but Forester knew that it wasn’t just a dream. It was his past; the past which troubled him. The war had once been very real indeed.