Sent September 23rd, 1007
Dear Cyril,
I met one of the Princesses today! Actually spoke to her face to face! Shook hooves even! Apparently, Princess Luna wanted to come tour the university in order to see how some new educational reforms are shaping up, a new budget got passed. Anyway, I was in my Theoretical Magicks class when she stepped in to look us over. She’s so tall, I almost didn’t believe it! I saw Princess Celestia before, but there was nopony nearby for me to judge the scale next to her. Luna stood head and withers above anypony else, and she was so beautiful and regal! She’s the one this university is named after, and she came around and shook hooves with-
(Several lines underneath are scratched out furiously)
I should just start a new letter. I have never-
(More scratches, just for the next sentence)
You know me, Cyril. I’m not one given to celebrity worship, and the Princesses are not my sovereigns. But I swear when Princess Luna entered the lecture hall today, my mind went for a trip. I don’t know if this is all alicorns, but maybe this is why they inspire such fervent loyalty. Gloaming’s still going on about it. Apparently Princess Luna went out of her way to find the only thestral on campus. It’s good to see her laughing and smiling.
I know you're more of a traditional mind, but I hope I can bring you around on thestrals. It’s really not fair what they’re going through out here. Did you know a large portion of thestrals on Equus are forced into frontier neighborhoods? The southern jungles are full of thestral villages and tribes. There’s even Nightmare Moon cults out here. Think of them like the Sunstriker Clan berserkers the Empire has so much trouble with. They’re not bad ponies, they keep to themselves. I just feel like there’s more we can do to help them. I wish you could understand.
Midterms are coming up in a few weeks. I might not get back to you for awhile. Want to start my university career out strong, and that means getting good grades on these exams. Every day is extra assignments and every night is study hall. I’ve got a crystal matrice model I’m behind on and two essays I can barely start. Gloaming just seems to rock the whole thing. I don’t know how she does it, but she makes me feel like a little filly. I’m glad she’s here to help me.
You’re part of the reason I can’t focus, by the way. I can’t help but worry for you too, with all the violence and disorder out east. I know you can’t give me much but sweeping details, so I did a little reading at the Ponybucks coffee shop. They’ve got a lot of newspapers there, and one of them had an article on the ‘Griffonian Kaiserreich’s Militant Resurgence.’ Apparently, ponies are saying that the Emperor’s death set off a chain of dominos. It was mostly somepony bashing your Regency Council about jingoism and what happens when the values of Harmony are rejected. Personally, if this is what an Equestrian pro-Harmonist has to say about the opposition, I’m not inclined to join his party. But it told me of the stark lack of information around here. It’s just surface details. Photos of military parades in Griffenheim, Imperial Knights training with swords, planes overhead. But they’re all selected shots. This journalpony isn’t the only one railing against your nation. So, while I understand you needing to be vague, can you tell me anyway? I know so little aside from textbooks from when I was back in Rijekograd. And you’ve opened up to me about the army and your family. But what’s home to you?
I figure that, and trying to figure out that Daring Do book, might be enough to keep you occupied while I’m up to my wings in schoolwork. Wouldn’t want you getting bored, now would we?
Yours,
~Paige
P.S: I saw a little bistro in Rottendedam when I was there. It really caught my eye but it seemed too much for me by myself. I can’t remember the name, but I know I can point it out to you when I see it. Dinner sounds amazing, I’m counting the days with bated breath.
Sent October 18, 1007
Dear Paige,
Its started calming down around here. They’re not trying so hard to run us into the ground, gives us a bit of downtime, so it's a good time to take it slow and focus on this letter. It's also a great time to tell you about my crewmates, and what’s happening here.
Ludmilla the 2nd is an LI-2 Ausf D light panzer. I’m allowed to say that now its been declassified, but expect stuff to get censored anyway. Our Changeling instructor (the name is cut out) walked us through her operation practically while she was being designed during the prototype phase. We may as well have had a hand in making the improvements. She carries a 3.7 cm main cannon, which I am the proud operator of. So far as I hear, a lot of this trial and error is being recorded by the Changelings and sent back to their homeland, so while we get a lot out of their designs, I can’t help but feel like we’re just the test rats.
Sergeant Alrich Hellsieg is our panzer kommandant. He’s a veteran of the failed revolution. When he was an infantryman, a bullet turned his kneecap to powder. Now he has a severe limp, but he makes up for it by spitting insults and invectives at us all day long on how terrible we are. He’s an excellent leader, and all the abuse he heaps on us makes us better at the end of the day. Well, that’s what I try to tell myself, at least.
Lance Korporal Hans Bluetalon is our driver. He’s been in a few years as well, so he’s a griff to go to when you have questions. The problem is, he takes his ‘big-brother’ attitude a bit too far at times. We’re both learning the same thing at the same time and he keeps going on about how much more experienced on panzers he is. Which can be a bit annoying.
Zoldater Erika Grimquill is our new radiogriff and loader. In the last model panzer we didn’t have enough room for one, but the newer variant put another seat in. She mans the wireless set and loads my 3.7 cm. For a radiogriff, she’s a bit of a loudbeak and she’s got a pretty nasty attitude at times. Always flares her wings, looking for a fight. But we did learn that her mother sold out to the Republicans up north, and even now works for the Skynavians. We’ve been informed by MfÖS to keep an eye on her as a potential security risk. So that may have to do with her attitude. Which I’m not too happy about. All this backstabbing and mistrust is exactly what got us to our current political crisis in the first place.
My regiment is the 41st Panzergrenadiers. We are responsible for assaulting enemy fortifications and rendering them null for infantry to move up and occupy the area. We’re being trained in ‘wolfpack’ tactics to take on enemy forts in companies to break up enemy fire. No word on anti-panzer tactics yet however. Apparently enemy panzers are not being seen as a factor yet.
You asked about my home, and I have two answers for you. Right now, the Reichsarmee is my home, and while I can’t say which base I’m posted up at, I can tell you a bit what it's like. We’re usually up early morning for calisthenics at sunrise. Pushups, stretches, ground laps and flight sprints. This is just for an hour, but it's good to get exercise in before we’re crammed into the panzers. The rest of the day mostly goes how I imagine the film reels and stories might portray it; training all day, classes and equipment maintenance. But where an infantrygriff just takes care of his kit and that’s it, we’re panzergriffs. We have to look out for Ludmilla, and right now the officers are breathing down our necks for perfection. I have to memorize every moving part on the panzer, how to change a track and how to drive the tank and spot for a gunner. They fitted a machine gun onto the turret, but so far that’s just for Sergeant Helseig. It may sound boring to you, but there’s something to be had from the stability, the knowledge that this routine is going to be the same tomorrow. It helps, y’know? No stress about your work versus home, buying food or paying bills. After the nobles take their piece and the Empire skims tax off the top, what’s in your pocket usually stays there. It’s not too terrible. I mean, aside from the prospect of war, that is.
But my home is in the outskirts of Griffenheim. My mother Margot lives there with Sophie, and she says she has no intent to leave. I grew up in a small apartment on the Industrie side, facing towards Crona. The outer districts are much bigger than the city proper, almost like cities in themselves. My mother’s worked at a steelmill since my father died. Before that, she was going to school to become a teacher herself, but she always says you have to put reality first. I always felt sad that she had to give up her dream to take care of us, but she’s never made us feel terrible about it. Sophie’s in primary school right now. She was barely a hatchling when Father died, and she doesn’t remember anything about him. Maybe that’s why she’s always the happier one of us all.
Industrie was always a hard place to live. It’s mostly factories and wharfs. Material gets hauled in from the countryside and turned into workable products here. The river is always full of gunk and it's dangerous to even touch, so no one dares to drink it. Accidents happen all the time in Industrie, and some of the street gangs even operate in the open. The only roads that are actually paved there are the important ones, the ones the nobles care about and finance. Otherwise, it's mostly muddy slosh. My father and uncle enlisted to get out. Uncle August got the attention of a general, and was promoted for it. My father meanwhile kept managing riots and disorderly soldiers until the day he died. Just goes to show how difficult it is to get out of this life. That’s why I send back whatever I can to mother. Make it easier so she doesn’t kill herself at the mill. And I think I’m getting it, I really think I’m changing things for her.
Mother doesn’t know I’m writing you. Not that she dislikes ponies, I’m just not sure what she’d think about (several words are scratched out) whatever this is. She has enough to worry about, I’d rather not (several more words are scratched out) Forget it.
Griffenheim proper isn’t bad. It’s tall towers and open boulevards. A lot of the buildings make you think you’re still in the age of castles and swords, but that’s the point. It carries a lot of culture in its stones, and we’re proud of that. Oktoberfest was a few weeks back, but I didn’t get leave for that either. It’s basically a week long drinking binge across the country and the end of September. Its lost prominence in the outer territories. I know it's practically illegal in Wingbardy. But we got an extra ration of beer back at base and a night off, so it wasn’t all bad. I still remember the beers we drank in the harbor in Rottendedam. I can’t drink beer anymore without smelling the sea breeze. So, I blame you for my lack of focus too.
Anyway.
Go into the Imperial City today, and everyone’s getting ready for Geheimisnacht, where we dress in fierce costumes and do mock battles to scare off evil spirits. Its a night of magic, so the occasional wayward ghost or ghoul isn’t unusual. The last time an actual monster came to Geheimistag was a century ago, I think. That’s more an issue in the countryside. But we dress up anyway, and decorate the buildings with skulls and strands of lights. We carve pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns like ponies do, and set them outside as our loyal sentries. The temples get a lot of traffic too, griffins coming in to try and say a prayer to Boreas and Arcturius, though this is also the time of year that Maar worshippers cause havoc. But last time I was in Griffenheim on leave was a few days ago, and the attitude was good. The markets are full of pumpkin beer, pumpkin pies, spiced sausages, caramel apples. Music playing all day in the squares. Candlemakers are working overtime to produce this year. With electric lamps becoming more common, business is falling for them. Everygriff keeps congratulating me for being a zoldaten. I even had a few chicks ask if they could get a ride on a panzer. The autumn air feels good. It’s a different atmosphere in the Empire than it was a few months back. The countryside’s leaves have mostly changed colors, and it's getting colder. We’ll likely start seeing snow by early November. There’s a few farms and small towns near the base we travel through a lot on maneuvers. They like us there. Military means griffons to sell food and drink to on the way. Better than the rations waiting back in the canteen on base, for sure. But they’ve collected the autumn harvest
I’ve never heard you go on about any famous figures before. I’ve heard of Princess Luna of course. But it must be another thing entirely to meet her face to face. I suppose that would be as if Archon Eros himself toured our base. I know for a fact that would cause a huge stir. I may not be a frequent temple-goer, but a lot of Imperial soldiers come from religious families. That, and the more veteran among us say you wind up doing a lot of praying one way or another. So is alicorn the term for a pony with horn and wings both? Are all alicorns demigods? Can anypony just become one, or are they considered a separate tribe like pegasi and unicorns?
Look, Paige. I’ve got nothing with -you- trying to do more for thestrals, but I don’t know anything about them aside from what I’ve heard. It's a little hard for me to have (the words ‘knowledge’ ‘wisdom’ and ‘ambivalence’ are all scratched out) perspective on them. I’m not saying don’t be her friend, I just don’t want you hurt because one of the old stories winds up being true. That’s all. I already asked to drop it. Please? I feel like we’re not quite going to see eye to eye on this.
You wouldn’t be at that school if you hadn’t earned it. So be proud. If you feel like (somegriff is crossed out) somepony else has gotten ahead of you, use that to push yourself to be better. Rise to their level. I know it's easy for me to speak of here while you do everything you listed off in your letter, but I just know you’re going to do amazing. Look where you’re at, Paige. You’ve already got a (foot is crossed out) hoof in the door. It doesn’t matter how good (everygriff is crossed out) everypony else is. Just you.
And just so I’m caught up, what is a matrice?
Back again, later. I took my time with this letter, so I’m writing it over the course of a week. I’ve seen the journalists you wrote about. They show up to our bases in the public areas, they’re in Griffenheim and up at the palace. They’re taking photos of what they want, writing what they want. Equestria doesn’t have a good opinion of us, same as your country. A lot of creatures have the same idea. It seems no matter what, we’re always the bad-griffs. I don’t take it personally. But if the newspapers are that skewed out there, I’ll get some local papers here and send them to you. I can’t promise they’re any more honest, but maybe between the lies and the propaganda you’ll find some truth.
I’ve been working on this letter a while, and it seems like long enough. Hopefully, if I send it tomorrow with the post it’ll reach you after exams, so you’re not as distracted. Any idea when you’ll get the results back?
By the way, I’m on chapter 3 now.
I’m sure we can find that bistro. The harborfront is all about serving the sailors coming and going and the dockworkers, so a lot of bars and eateries are out in the port. Let’s just not meet the same way we did last time. I’m not sure my pride could take another hit like that.
-Cyril
Sent November 13th, 1007
Dear Cyril,
Midterms are finally over, thank the Gods, Princesses, whatever you want to thank. Nothing but week of grinding studies, tests and endless lectures. Your letter showed up exactly when I needed it to, right as I was finished last week. Finals for the year aren’t until May, so I’ve got until then to prepare and panic.
Okay, matrices. Hmm. Okay, let me see if I can explain like this; a matrix is a series of numbers or of patterns that are internal to the subject, and are what give it form. For my assignment, I had to assemble a series of arcane patterns together to create a small magic crystal, which inside can hold arcane power. It's a relatively new but very exciting field of study, and my professors hope it can help catapult us to the next level of magic study by allowing it to be collected and store like an electric battery or a tank of gasoline. Imagine, refined crystals that can be manufactured to hold power. A future with no batteries, no oil, no diminishing fossil fuels. Just magic crystals, perfectly natural and replenishable. It's still a long way off, and we may never get there, but the possibility is so amazing it astounds me that I get to work with this. I obviously can’t create the arcane power in the crystal myself, but luckily I don’t need to so long as I can get a unicorn to charge it.
It’s good to hear you have family and friends to lean on. From your grim letters, I was almost afraid you didn’t have anyone else in your life. I know your family may not approve, but I hope that in time I can get them to like me. At the very least, I wouldn’t mind meeting your mother and sister one day. I know it probably won’t be for a few years down the road if we’re lucky enough to still be (underneath several scratches, the word ‘together’ is barely legible) talking at that time. Your uncle, well...I get the feeling he wouldn’t like me much either.
I’ve heard of Oktoberfest and Geheimenstag before. The first one is still popular with other griffons out east, I used to see the Griffon Quarter in Rijekograd bringing out casks and kegs into the middle of the street and just drinking for days straight. I’m sorry you missed out. But Geheimenstag sounds like an Equestrian holiday out they call Nightmare Night. I was caught a little unprepared when on the 31st everypony just showed up in costume. If I heard correctly, the costumes serve a similar purpose to yours, but these are meant to scare off Nightmare Moon specifically. Or, they were. Apparently Princess Luna turned that tradition around a few years back. Truthfully I’m not sure what they dress up for now.
But good news! The group I volunteered for, the Batpony Acceptance Team (“Go BATty for Equality!”), got word that Princess Luna is setting up new reforms to grant equal rights to thestrals with Celestia’s backing! I’m sorry you don’t see eye to eye with me on this. Maybe I can change your mind eventually. But I spent all of yesterday handing out fliers and pamphlets to everypony in the quad. Gloaming’s not too thrilled about the announcement. She seems to think this is a short-lived publicity campaign, and the only one she trusts out of all this is Princess Luna herself. That makes me sad as well. I thought I’d been getting through to her, but I’m afraid now she just sees me as hopping on a fad bandwagon that won’t get anything done.
I’m a little iffy about visiting Griffenheim itself. I’ve always heard such nasty things about it. Then again, you can’t call Riverponies the most unbiased creatures in the world. But if they’ll let me in, I could do it to visit where you grew up. There’s as many good stories as there are bad. I know its huge, but we don’t have to tour the whole place. Industrie sounds like such a rough place to grow up. I can see what you meant about the army being the only way to escape. How’s an average worker supposed to afford to leave on that salary? (rhetorical question, sorry).
End of the year’s finally coming up. With midterms over, it’s mostly just review lectures and final assignments to turn in for the semester until the end of December. I’ll get my results before Hearth’s Warming break, so I can at least get the anxiety of how bad I flopped out of my system. Also, word back from my parents; they’re not -eager- that I’m talking to you, but they’re not telling me to burn all the letters and issue you a hate note either. So, hopefully, good news. My brother though, sent me a surprise; enough bits to cover a trip to Rottendedam, a little bit of fun out there, and the trip back! And here I was thinking I’d have to eat ramen noodles the rest of my stay here.
I can’t wait to see you. Just another month, and so far, it’s all getting
(The following writing is more rushed, almost scribbled out)
Cyril, I had to send this letter out to you today. It's all over the news, King Sombra just reemerged in the Crystal Empire. Gods, that sentence feels like it has no impact written out. I don’t know how and the news isn’t saying. But the border is not far from here, and by the time you get this letter I may not get another chance. The most I’ve got is that Crystal loyalists went through some kind of ritual to resurrect him, and most of the army has mutinied with him. The royal family is on the run and the Equestrian National Guard is all over Luna Nova, heading north. The Guard commander told everypony to stay calm, but be ready to evacuate at anytime. So far the headmaster is telling all the students to go back to business as normal. I guess it's one thing to live with a former enemy over the border, but its another for a war to break out nearby.
I’m really worried now. The National Guard set up a camp just outside the school. There’s Royal Army recruiters and MPs all over the place. I can hear planes flying overhead all the time. All pegasus students have been told not to fly outside the gymnasium so they can keep the skies clear.
Okay, maybe I’m scared instead of just worried. Sombra’s got a dark reputation, and the last time he returned, the Princesses and the Elements were barely able to stop him. Now, he’s apparently got an army and the Crystal City right off the bat. I don’t know what else is being done to stop him. But I just hope it gets rolling soon.
Cyril (the rest of the sentence is scratched out)
What do I do?
(The following is much calmer, written almost like normal)
Sincerely,
-Paige
Sent December 1st, 1007
Dear Paige,
I can’t believe this happened. This whole time we were expecting I’d be the one at risk. I’ve heard stories of King Sombra, and none of them anything but terrifying. Most of them are spooky shit we tell around the campfire to scare everygriff. We got the news just after you sent your letter (so, before I got it. Means I’ve had a few weeks to process). None of the officers treated it like a big deal, and I guess to them it really wasn’t, but the newspapers are going ballistic over it. Thought you'd want to hear, though its likely in the papers too; Duchess Eagleclaw was named Regent and Protector of the Emperor last night. The announcement was made to the army at large today. The Archon and half the Regency Council are furious. It seems huge, but I guess its a bit overshadowed but what happening over there.
I don’t know what Equestria’s defenses are like. But given what I’ve heard, it's not encouraging. Apparently, the Royal Army’s been a bit lax from the Long Peace. I hear there hasn’t been a large-scale conflict since Stalliongrad seceded, and they’ve gotten used to having all their problems solved by the Princesses and the Elements.
I wish I was there to help you. Or that you were here, out of the way. But we have to accept the situation, and put faith in Equestria’s army to end the fight quick. Word here is that New Mareland just sent an expeditionary force across to you. So, hopefully, this will be enough to hold the line while the Princesses get off their ass and do something about it.
Look, I’m sorry if I’m scaring you. We may be freaking out about this too early. Equestria hasn’t been invaded yet, and there’s nothing saying any invasion won’t be stopped before it gets to you. But the commander and your headmaster are right. You have to stay calm. Keep an emergency bag by the door at all times, full of everything you need. If you can’t leave yet, then at least make sure you’re ready to go at all times.
I just looked in an atlas. Luna Nova’s right in the way of a march south to Canterlot. If it comes to it, you’ll be evacuated for sure. Don’t worry about it.
Keep sending me your letters if you can. I’m not going to be able to walk you out of danger, but I can at least tell you what to prepare for. Surviving a war is a different game than lasting through a riot or a barfight.
Okay, Reichsarmee survival training, real fast. Thank Arcturius for those endless lectures. Here we go. If you’re forced to evacuate, stay with the convoy, no matter what. If you find yourself out on the road without military protection or a clear place to go, keep heading the opposite direction of the front if you know where it is. Try to stay out of big cities and away from harbors, they’ll be jampacked with refugees and a clear target for the enemy. Like me, you can fly, so travel light and stay off the roads. Fly at night if you can help it. Good places to escape to are forests and mountains, where you can wait for friendly help. Whatever happens, do -not- surrender for your safety. The enemy will broadcast deals and assurances. Trust me, you’re better off in a refugee center than a POW camp.
I don’t know what else to tell you. Everything else we’ve been told is all about getting back to a unit to rejoin the fight. You’re not a trained zoldaten, so that part of the lectures isn’t helpful. I need you to send me a letter back as soon as you can about what’s happening out there. Now -I’m- worried -you’re- going to get caught up.
Okay, I went back and read this letter again. If it's been a few weeks and Sombra hasn’t invaded yet, then we’re probably not going to see shadowponies storming over the horizon. Besides, by the time this letter reaches you, the whole situation’s probably changed. If you haven’t been forced to leave yet, then we’ve both overreacted. The papers are hilariously treating this like a backwoods affair. Like when Nova Griffonia marched into the Frontier back in September. As if an evil sorcerer king returning from the dead a second time and instantly launching a coup isn’t a cause for immediate concern. But believe me, I’m concerned. For you. And a bit for the Equestrians, too.
Tell me you’re safe.
-Cyril
Sent December 23nd, 1007
Dear Cyril,
I’m okay. We’re all okay. For the most part from what I’ve heard, Sombra’s Legions have turned west instead of south. Crystal units loyal to Cadence and Equestria are making a fighting retreat, trying to get out of to Equestrian lines. But the Royal Army’s stopped. They’re not advancing yet. I can’t tell you why. Long range holiday break’s been suspended. The army’s worried about traffic on the roadways.
Thank you for all the advice, Cyril. I packed a bag with all those bits, some cold-weather clothes and a few maps. I don’t know where I’d go. I know you said to avoid big cities and harbors, but that’s my way home. I’m pretty sure I can’t fly across to Haukland, even with the minimum.
I’m having trouble writing. Everypony’s kind of...muted I guess. All the energy on campus is gone. With the war just up north, we’re all just sort of waiting I guess. The recruiters are still here, though. There’s a line of ponies outside the booth everyday, either talking to the recruiters or signing up. All the holiday cheer has gone from the school. Even the BAT has kinda toned down. Now we just put up posters.
But last night was the Winter Moon Celebration. Last night I listened to a broadcast over the radio. Princess Luna herself in Manehattan lit up the night sky under the Winter Moon and said we all have to stand together. Ponies, thestrals, everypony. It was apparently a huge turnout.
I know I’m a bit more verbose when I write. I guess now my mind’s elsewhere. But Luna’s words last night really hit me. Gloaming went and enlisted. Gave up her education to go and sign up. I’m proud of her, I really am. She leaves next month for training. But between what she did, what the Princess said and what you’ve been saying, I’ve been thinking. I’m not at risk of being drafted here. I’m a foreigner. But if I go and volunteer, I’m sure they’ll overlook that. I’m stuck in the middle of this dilemma. I worked so hard to get this scholarship and I love this school. But I can’t sit by while other ponies are signing up. I’ve heard all the stories around Sombra. The rumors are flying. And with it so close, I can’t ignore it. So do I sign up and go fight for a country that’s not mine, or do I wait for that fight to come south to me?
I want your input, but at the very least, I think I’m going to go talk to a recruiter tomorrow. I’m not going to sign up yet, but I want to do something. I’ve never been good about just sitting around. I mean, maybe you’re right. This whole thing could just blow over and never come south. I could just keep up my classes and never get anywhere near a shadowpony Legion.
Gods, I wish you were here.
Yours,
-Paige
P.S: Sorry I can’t make it to dinner.