//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Fears of Bygone Eras // by Lusaminia //------------------------------// An excerpt from A History of Equestrian Military: Chapter 14.1 - The Slaughter of the Red Ridge In the years since Tholak, the fifteenth dragon lord of the Dragonlands, denounced the newly formed country of Equestria, much tension had arisen between the two nations. The Equestrian public’s opinion has turned in favor of war, with the pegasus strongly supporting such an action. This outcry only continued as news spread of draconic forces arming up for what seemed to many as an inevitable invasion. It grew once again when a pony family that had been living near dragon territory were taken into custody by soldiers and accused of infiltration. Equestria denied the action, but one month later had received a declaration for war. Equestria, still young and dealing with severe problems of segregation among the three tribes, were not prepared when it came. Princess Platinum, then ruler of the throne, did what she could to request soldiers from the pegasi and earth ponies. The pegasi, knowing well what kind of foes the dragons were, not only agreed to this, but petitioned a draft. That draft was turned down when the earth ponies declined the offer, the AAL1 going into effect for the first time since its approval mere weeks earlier. While unicorns and pegasi forces bolstered the forts on the edge of draconic territory, they were still under armed and under manned for the impending attack. Merely a week after the declaration of war, Dragon Lord Tholak marched on Fort Hail, located in an area known today as the Red Ridge. Compared to the dozens that occupied the fort, the Dragon Lord’s army had what is estimated to be around four hundred soldiers. The battle quickly turned into a slaughter, with the draconic forces quickly overwhelming Equestria. Those who surrendered were killed without hesitation, though a few were taken as prisoners and was never heard from again. In the end, the entire contingency of Equestria’s forces were defeated with the dragons suffering minimal casualties. This event has hence been called the Slaughter of the Red Ridge, and would be the only battle with Princess Platinum on the throne. 1 The Absolute Agreement Law (AAL) was a law past in Equestria’s early years, stating that any law, act, or stature present to Equestria acquired the agreement of all three tribes to pass. This law would later be discarded with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna’s rise to the throne at the end of the War of the Red North. The following material was long deemed unallowed in all Equestrian educational material. That changed with Queen Twilight’s rise to the throne. -------- As Luminous waited for her tea, she had decided to read a little from another one of the books she had brought from home. Having been home schooled, she sometimes found herself looking at things other foals or mares would think of as boring. While she typically agreed, military had been one of Luminous’ biggest interests since she was little. She wanted to protect her mom just as much as her mom protected her. The problem with most textbooks, however, was that they were severely behind the times. Go back only a good three or four years and most textbooks would look completely different to now, especially concerning history. The previous rulers, for how much they were held in high regard, had covered up the more blood parts of Equestria’s history. Despite being a land founded on harmony, it was still subject to the horrors that every other country had seen. Battles won and lost, but the specifics of some wars were always glossed over. Now, with educators having free reign over what parts of these battles and wars they could explain, many of those asking “how” could finally get answers. Luminous was one such individual. “So your friend is a sculptor?” Spike asked. When they had finished picking up the dragon had offered a quick meal in apologies, and Luminous wasn’t one to complain. “That’s… pretty amazing. It’s hard to think that somepony unable to see could do such a thing, but you probably know her better than I do, huh?” “Honestly, you’re guess would be just as good as mine,” Luminous responded. “Psyche is many things, a mystery one of them. I feel like every time I see her do something impossible, that little part of my brain that controls logic gets a little upset.” “That’s a feeling I can relate to,” Spike said, laughing. “She sounds like a good pony, though.” “Yeah,” Luminous closed her eyes as she thought of her dear friend. “Not the most emotional pony, but I don’t think I could have asked for anyone to call my best friend.” The conversation was stopped as the waitress arrived with their drinks. In front of the pegasus now sat a cup of darjeeling tea a personal favorite of both her mother and herself. Looking to Spike, she saw a simple glass of orange juice in front of him. Lifting the cup to her mouth, she let the tea’s flavor hit her tongue, wincing as she realized it was still hot. Putting it back down to cool, Luminous looked to the waitress. “Are you two ready for dinner?” She asked. Luminous looked to Spike, who in turn motioned for her to go first. “Yes, I think we’re ready,” Luminous responded. “I’ll have egg drop soup, if you wouldn’t mind?” “I’ll have an italian sub,” Spike told the waitress. “Don’t worry, I’m aware that all the meat is fake. I’ve lived in Equestria more than long enough to know that.” “A regular like you doesn’t even have to ask at this point,” The waitress told the dragon. “I’ll take your menus and be back with your food in a few minutes.” Handing the menus to the waitress, Luminous’ attention was drawn to the noise outside the shop. In the past few minutes the city streets had turned from relatively lifeless to full of energy, foals and elders alike making their way further into the city. Even though she knew she wouldn’t find her friend among the crowd, Luminous tried her best to look at every face she could in hopes of seeing her. As expected, however, when she started counting the same pony twice, she had no luck. “Is it really that time of the day?” Spike asked himself. His question catching Luminous’ attention. “Is something happening today? I thought that the festival of the two sisters wasn’t for another week or two,” Luminous asked. Spike nodded, pointing at the castle in the distance. “Queen Twilight is going to make an announcement today at sunset, though it seems really early still,” Spike explained. “Well, not too early, but the Queen is the kind of pony who likes to do things on the dot.” Luminous nodded her head as she turned her attention back to the window. In truth, she didn’t really know much about the Queen, once again due to where she spent most of her life before this point. When one rules Equestria, they don’t tend to visit some of the more secluded areas of their country, and the last time Luminous could even think she might have been there was when she was four years old. She remembered none of it, but according to her mother a sudden illness caused the queen to leave. That was back when Twilight was only recently crowned as well. Her sixth year of rule if Luminous remembered correctly. It was than Luminous noticed an incredibly long, teal tail standing out at the back of the ground. Doing her best to get a better look at the pony in question, her mouth dropped open at what she saw. A pony with a cutie mark for sculpting, teal mane and tail, golden fur, and most importantly of all, a blindfold around her eyes. Luminous was, just like she had so many times before, been proven wrong at what her friend Luminous could and couldn’t do. The biggest thing, however, was just the fact she was here in the first place. “So, I wouldn’t expect you to go to the speech considering your regions unfamil- Luminous?” Spike’s train of thought was cut off as he realized the mare who had been there a few seconds ago was now gone, replaced by a sticky note. Reading the note, he sighed. “Why does it always seem to be me? -------- She looked to her left, though she knew she wouldn’t see anything, she never did. Still, where her ears caught sound, her eyes seemed to follow behind. No one would see it, which was a good thing, but she couldn’t tell just how close she was from the pony next to her. She was taken unaware as she accidentally bumped into a shape next in front of her, a pony’s rear end if her skin felt it right. She fell to the ground, and by the sound of it so did the pony in front of her. “Hey, watch where you’re going lady?” The stallion she had bumped into shouted. “How about using your eyes?” “Don’t work, no reason to,” Psyche said, pointing to her eyes. If she could see, she would notice the stallion suddenly trying to find the words to apologize. She was already gone by the time he knew what to say. “Wonder why he was… mad? I think he was mad. This is why I don’t leave the house.” Psyche shook her head, not needing to think about that right now. Today Queen Twilight would be revealing this year’s location for the festival of the two sisters. Most years, Psyche didn’t really care for what the princess had to say, and she didn’t get the same awe out of seeing the princess do to her lack of eyesight. This year was different, however, as two very specific things were happening at the festival. The first, and arguably less important in the face of most ponies, was that she was featuring her art during the festival. The bigger one, and the one ponies saw as more important, was her best friend coming to visit. Psyche didn’t have too many friends, never really thinking she could remember what a pony act or sounded like long enough to make them feel distinct. One pony, however, was different in that regard, Luminous. Perhaps it was just that fact Luminous was one of the first ponies that she had actually had the pleasure of meeting. She was the first distinct voice that Psyche could not forget, one that, despite not being able to see, she had tried so many times to put a face to. Psyche’s train of thought was interrupted as something tackled her to the ground, her lips connecting with marble streets. The pony responsible for tackling her hugged her neck tightly, their grip loose enough were she could breath but tight enough to keep her from moving. Psyche’s attempts to break free were paused as she heard a pony giggling, unable to tell if it was someone nearby or the one on top of her right now. What she could tell, was that the voice belonged to a very specific pony, one who she had been thinking of minutes earlier. “Luminous, though I’m sure whatever your laughing at is funny, would you please get this pony off of me?” Psyche asked. “It seems that I am in danger of being strangled.” “Never change Psyche,” Luminous said, nuzzling the back of her mane. “You do realize this pony “strangling” you is the same pony you’re talking to right?” “I fail to see why you would greet a friend with such a violent action,” Psyche replied bluntly, Luminous only giggling more and squeezing the mare harder. “You haven’t been possessed again, have you?” Luminous couldn’t help but roll her eyes; her friend had barely changed from the last time they had seen each other. To say Psyche had no understanding of emotions or friendly communication was an under exaggeration. The pegasus wasn’t sure how exactly, but she assumed that it might be because Psyche didn’t really have anyone growing up. As far as anyone knew the earth pony didn’t have any living family, and combined with her blindness her understanding of how ponies typically interact was very limited. Luminous couldn’t help but love her for it, though, seeing it less as a mental problem and more as what made Psyche so like and, in some ways, adorable. “I request air,” Psyche said. Luminous finally let go at the request, Psyche taking a giant breath in as she felt her lungs start working again. The two got up from the ground, Psyche looking were she assumed Luminous to be, only to have her head moved in the opposite direction. “This would be where I say thank you, right?” “Yep, though remember that there is a difference between hugging and choking in the future,” Luminous told her friend. “I didn’t think you would be out today? I was expecting to, you know, have to search the city top to bottom to find you.” “Other than the fact I require subsidence, I must know where the festival is for my display,” Psyche explained as the two worked their way down the street. “If I’m correct, the right action would be for you to come join me that day.” “I definitely plan on it, though I’ll have to decline if it is in a city like Manehattan or Los Pegasus,” Luminous said. “I know you don’t care, but at least Canterlot has some color and plant life. I feel like there is something natural about this place, or at the very least something more natural than dull brick and bland stone.” Psyche couldn’t tell, but she was smiling. Though she had no idea what it was she felt deep inside of her, hearing her best friend’s voice brought a joy she didn’t - couldn’t - understand. Luminous was one of only two ponies to ever make her feel some sort of emotion, whether it be joy or sorrow, anger or continent. It had been years since the two actually had seen each other, but to reunited and notice that feeling again after all this time, it was something that she remembered Silvia referring to as “bliss”. It was a word she was unfamiliar with, and though she knew Luminous didn’t have the largest vocabulary, had to see if she knew. “Luminous, do you know what bliss means?” Psyche asked. “No, but the word feels right for this situation,” Luminous explained, giving a smile to the blind mare next to her. As horns sounded in the distance, they stopped in the back of the crowd of ponies gathered in the streets. They were still some distance from the castle, but Luminous could make out a figure on the balcony. She knew it wasn’t the queen, as they had no horn or wings, and seemed significantly older than she believed Queen Twilight to be. When the horns died down, all the commotion in the streets too, everyone’s gaze fixed on that single pony on the balcony. Psyche could barely hear the pony clear her throat. “It’s time,” She said. “Who is one the balcony?” “An earth pony. Mare, old, never seen her in any of the papers,” Luminous replied. “Good evening, citizens of Equestria!” The mare shouted, her voice just clear enough for Luminous to hear over the few whispering ponies around her. “Thank you for taking time out of your day to listen to our Queen’s semi-annual State of Harmony address. We ask that you please refrain from taking pictures during her majesty’s words. You will have time after.” A single camera flash went off, and Luminous swear that she saw the mare shoot a stink eye at whoever had done it. It was only for a split second, however, as she immediately returned to her cheery tone from earlier. With a quick glance behind her and a nod, she continued. “So please, welcome our fair rules and honored matriarch of Equestria, former bearer of the Element of Magic and the first pony to hold the position of queen. Citizens of Equestria, Queen Twilight Sparkle!” As soon as the queen’s name was said, many ponies put their hooves to their chests with a smile. There was no clapping, no screams of joy or anything of the sort as Queen Twilight came out onto the balcony, and for the first time in years, Luminous finally got to see what she actually looked like. An alicorn, tall and proud, hair waving in the wind. She wore a silver chest piece embedded with purple gems, a larger one in the shape of a star on her chest. Unlike some of the gasps in the crowd, Luminous felt nothing special about the pony in front of her. It’s as if the way she looked made too much sense, that she had expected it. Then, she heard something completely unexpected from the crowd. A song she had never heard in her life, with a choir of anywhere between hundreds or thousands of ponies, was sung. We stand under the distant sky But rise up to the Sun. She takes our hooves into her warmth And shows us all the way. Her hoof brings us together, And brings back the harmony That long ago was broken when All were our enemies. Oh grand Equestria sun, Oh grand Equestrian moon, Oh grand Equestrian love and hope Joined all in tune. And now Equestria’s compass Turns towards the company, That we have all found in each other That long ago saw us free! No, Luminous did know this song, it was Equestria’s national anthem, but not how she remembered it. Yet that also wasn’t right, because this is how it should be, as it was changed when Queen Twilight took the throne. Her brain stopped for a second as that thought hit her, breaking all logic that she had known up to that point. Somehow she knew the song, but she had never heard of it, never seen it in a book, and by that means she shouldn’t know it changed. The crowd was on the second verse now, one that had received far less changes than the first. Luminous looked to the queen, but when she looked up she saw no one. She took a step back, noticing how rapid the sunset had turned to night, almost unnaturally so. The same thing that happened in the carriage was happening again, but this time she was afraid. Not only was no one in the balcony, but no one was in the streets as well. All the singing had seized, as no voice carried it any longer. She took another step back, and as she did something caught her attention. In the distance, Luminous could make out a form, falling from one of the castle towers. She was a pegasus, much like her, but something was off about it all. By all means she should be able to pull back up, stop her descent. It was only a few seconds later that Luminous noticed something, something she by all means couldn’t see but somehow knew was their. The pegasus had a broken wing, that much was clear, but they were clutching something in their hooves. A foal! She had a foal in her hooves! “No, no no no no,” Luminous said, having completely forgotten what she was seeing was not real. Her legs didn’t want to move, a feeling of fear coursing through her. “Somepony, anypony! Help me! I’m gonna die!” “Thank you, my little ponies.” Luminous suddenly found herself brought back to reality, Twilight’s words penetrating the image that her mind had created. Looking around her, Luminous found that everyone was back, a lifeless streets suddenly full of life once again. She looked up to Queen Twilight, and was shocked to see that the queen was looking back at her. She didn’t know how she could tell, but there was something inside of her that said the queen had her eyes on her. The crowd waiting for their Queen to start talking once again, unsure of why she had stopped after those first few words. “Did something happen?” Psyche asked.  “Huh?” Luminous asked in confusion, her eyes finally tearing away from the queen. She didn’t notice it, but she also felt far more relaxed as her gaze shifted between targets. “Typically, Queen Twilight doesn’t-” “Apologies, my little ponies,” Twilight finally said, her voice causing the question in Psyche’s throat to die. “As you all know, two weeks from today, the twenty-fifth annual festival of the two sisters shall be held. That is a day for us to not only grow our bonds and make new ones, but also one of remembrances. That is a day to remember Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, who held the crown for many years.” “As many of you may know, some years ago, they disappeared. No hint as to where they have gone has been found despite our continual search. Celestia was my teacher, and Luna a dear friend,” Luminous could hear the joy fade from Twilight’s voice as she talked about the princesses. “And in a way, I have done them a disservice. One that I plan to correct.” “Not once since I took my place as ruler has Canterlot ever held the festival, and that is wrong. This was their home, Celestia for a thousand years and her sister, though many less, spent every year I’ve known here in this city. Equestria did not start in Canterlot, but it’s where it grew its strongest. That strength not only came from us, but from their guiding hooves.” “And so, it is my pleasure to announce that this year's festival of the two sisters shall be held in Canterlot!” As soon as Twilight finished that sentence, the crowd went crazy. Ponies young and old cheered as Twilight turned to her side and spoke to someone next to her. Psyche, on the other hoof, had all she needed, and without a second thought made her way back down the street. It took Luminous a few seconds, but after noticing her friend leaving she quickly made her way to her friend's side. She could still hear the queen in the background, but her words were drowned out as the two started speaking. “Not gonna stay?” Luminous asked. “Got what I came for. Don’t have any reason to be there,” Psyche explained. “That said, I’m done working for the day, so I have nothing else to do. These times trouble me, I don’t know what to do during them.” “Well, if you were to ask me, I would say we go out, have some tea and-” Luminous stopped her sentence as she realized something. “My meal!”