“Let it be known what I did; I did for my nation, my homeland, my people. You may sully my name and my honor, but let none forget the light that was saved by those brave ponies and my harsh decisions. War is not pretty, war is not glamorous. War simply is that; War…”
-Field Marshal Blue Blood, Equestrian Military Ethics Tribunal.
Early Autumn, 1011. Daisy
Daisy awoke that morning, bright and early as always and ready to face the day with a smile. The mare wasn’t one to lull about, always full of energy even this early in the morning. As she roused and remade her bed Daisy would exit and make her way outside, grabbing a pail and heading to the farmhouse. The pink mare was soon filling it with feed and throwing it to the chickens, the little cute buggers they always were. Daisy smiled, satisfied with her work and considering the day she had planned. Daisy was heading into town that day with her friends to see the soldiers come into town; the Buffalo War veterans she had heard of, still a soldier that had truly seen combat, was a rarity in Equestria and if the stories were right there was an adventure to be had.
Daisy swifty arrived home to find her mother had risen from her morning rituals. The older mare smiled and shook her head at Daisy. “Bright and chipper as always Daisy Chain.” Her mother placed a hoof on her head ruffling it as she spoke in a sing-songy voice.
“Mom, I'm not 12 anymore! I’m 16! I’m a grown mare!” Daisy said before moving away from her mother’s hoof.
Daisy’s mother scoffed, “And who says being a grown mare prevents a mother from doting on her only child?”
Daisy sighed, then moved to help her mother by grabbing the few spices they had along with some herbs to add flavor to their meal. “It’s nothing… I just want to be something I guess…”
Her Mother looks at her sadly. “This is going to lead to that talk about joining the army again, isn’t it?”
The young mare frowned at her mother “Why is it so bad? The changelings are preparing for it, why shouldn’t we? This is our home! We can’t just-”
Her mother quipped loudly. “None of that talk! Not before breakfast. Sit down.”
Daisy looked as if she was about to retort but her mother gave her a cross look. Daisy, knowing it would be better to not press the issue anymore, sat at the table. For a time, Daisy was alone with her thoughts, but her quiet contemplations would be broken shortly by a rustle on her head.
“Still trying to give your mother gray hairs still I see. There’s so much you can do here Daisy, I don’t think you need to worry about proving yourself.”
Daisy looked over to her father, giving a brief, and cross look before softening, sighing instead “It’s not fair for you two to gang up on me you know…”
Her father laughed jovially, “It is my right and job to, Daisy! If I didn’t you’d have no concept of right or wrong! It’s what parents are for.”
Daisy sighed again “Yeah yeah, alright maybe you’re right. Still I’m an adul-”
Her father cuts her off, “Daisy we know. We just don’t think it’s safe, and for two more years you need our permission to sign up.”
Daisy puffs up her cheeks before shaking her head. “I get it, I get it…”
Daisy’s father places a hoof on her back, patting her lightly “Cheer up, you’ll be hanging out with your friends today right? You should enjoy that.”
Daisy brightened up a bit. “I suppose I will, yeah!” Soon breakfast was on the table, and the squabble was forgotten.
Daisy had given her parents a farewell and headed off into town. She soon spotted her friends in the courtyard, milling about near a makeshift stage that was set up. The soldiers were bound to come out soon, but Daisy knew she had time to catch up at least. “Hey Iron, Fang! Zapper and Quick! What’s new?”
Iron Buck was the first one to look over to her, smiling and giving a nod. He was a broad, powerfully built orange earth pony stallion. “Howdy Daisy, good to see you could make it! Parents still fussing about us?”
Daisy sighed and nodded. “Yeah, they want me to wait two more years or do my part elsewhere. I don’t wanna leave you guys though.”
Cloud Zapper chuckles, waving a wing wistfully as he nodded, “Hey don’t worry! You’ll be safe with us! Plus I’ve got the eyes of a hawk! I’ll see anything dangerous from miles away!” Cloud was a white pegasus with a blue mane. He was the most talkative out of all of them.
Daisy quipped at him, “Just like you saw that cart coming?”
Cloud scowls briefly “Hey! I was sleeping! It’s not my fault… Fang was supposed to be watching for it!”
Fruit Fang looked at Cloud disinterested, and not wanting to argue with his feathered friend. Fruit was a dark red bat pony, with a passion for eating exotic fruits. He often went on trips to the city to get some, and would always share with the gang. “I think it will be good to get out, go see the world, learn to look good in a uniform.” Fang shaked his head, “Anyways, good to see you could make it Daisy.”
Quick Sign came up alongside Daisy. “Hey, you know I can still always forge the signature right? We’re shipping out in a few days. You don’t have much longer left to be guaranteed placement in the same Company as us.”
Daisy looked to Quick Sign - a suave White coated and blue maned Unicorn - infamous for forging signatures in the town. He’d gotten in some trouble a few times but had mellowed out in recent years.
“I still don’t know Quick… I don’t want to make my parents mad. I know it’s what I should do but…”
Quick shaked his head smiling. “I get it Daisy. Don’t worry too much, you'll make the right call for yourself. Anyways!”
Quick trailed off as Fang’s ear twitched and he looked towards the northwest “The soldiers will be here in about 10 minutes.”
Daisy looked over at Fang, her excitement getting the better of her. “Really?! That’s awesome!”
Fang smiled, Daisy’s energy seemingly rubbing off on all of them as they started laughing together as a merry little band. Soon the band settled down as the Buffalo Veterans came in on an Equestrian Truck, waving to the kids.
They began setting up their display on the stage, a crowd slowly starting to gather. The Sergeant wandered over to the band of friends tipping his hat “Sergeant Green Eye, at your service. Would any of you fine young ponies like to hold a genuine Lavender Rifle? I can’t let you fire them, but you can indeed hold them!”
Daisy looked at the Sergeant with bright eyes, her excitement reaching a peak. “I can finally hold a rifle!”
Quick chuckled “Calm down Daisy! You look like you’re about to explode!”
Daisy paused looking at Quick “H-Hey! I’m allowed to enjoy myself!”
Quick shaked his head smiling “Fine, but don’t blame me if you start gushing on the Sergeant.”
Daisy looked at him crossly “When have I ever gushed?”
Quick looked at her defiance in his eyes, “Well there was that time in middle school with Fang, thinking he was the ‘coolest creature ever!’ Then there was the time a few months ago when you gushed all over the recruiter!”
Daisy soon was blushing profusely, “Stop stop! I get it, I get it!” Quick seemed about to say more before Fang jabbed him in the side, shutting him up.
“Sorry sir! We’d love to see some rifles though.” Cloud Zapper gave a charming smile as Emerald Eye began laughing, as they settled shortly after.
“No worries, you are certainly a bright group! Follow me.”
Daisy and her friends began following the officer, who led them up the stage. The sergeant started going over basic firearms safety with them, starting with ensuring the gun was unloaded and ending with the rule of never pointing at something you didn’t intend to shoot.
The Sergeant hoofed over a rifle, and it was steadily passed around. Daisy was jittering with excitement as the rifle finally arrived in her hooves.
Daisy began by clearing the rifle, before briefly taking aim at a wall, getting used to the iron sight. After a few moments of looking over the weapon, she gave it back over to the Sergeant who looked at the group. “So are you all thinking of enlisting?”
Iron Buck nodded “That we are. I thought it would be more interesting than mining the rest of my life.”
The sergeant nodded “Ah I see! Well that’s good to hear. And it very much is, and better paying!”
Iron Buck laughed “So I’ve been led to believe!”
Cloud chuckled “Yeah of course it does! Now if only Daisy would try and sign up, we could all go together!”
Daisy blushed “Look I’m trying guys!”
The sergeant laughed and said, “And how old are you, miss?”
Daisy looked up “16 sir!”
The sergeant laughed. “You’d make a fine soldier! You seem eager to like your friends. You’d all do fine I’m sure.”
Daisy looked up at him. “Really sir?”
Emerald Eyes looked to her before nodding “That you would. Now, off with you! Me and my men have a presentation to put on!”
Daisy and the band of friends made their way off the stage, going to claim their crate seats as they were waiting for the soldiers to finish.
Fang looked at Daisy “You don’t have to go Daisy. Don’t feel pressured.”
Daisy sighed as she looked away, “I’m just unsure, because of my parents. If I was Eighteen I’d already be signed up!”
Fang made a light chortle. “As I said, don't feel pressured. We won’t forget about you, as long as you don’t forget about us.”
Daisy smiled at Fang “You always know what to say, don’t you?”
Fang smiled, a fang briefly showing, “I try to.”
Daisy began to say something but was cut off by the fanfare of the soldiers, a bugle ringing to signify the start of the show. The soldiers gave a presentation on their adventure through the desert fighting the savage buffalo, and bringing them to heel.
Soon the Soldiers showed off a few medals they were awarded, before a charismatic recruiter told everypony the benefits of joining, and how it was their duty to defend the nation. The recruiter said a motto well known to any Equestrian, as the crowd said it with him. “The nation calls! Ponies at the Ready!”
The recruiter got quite a few young ponies, and even some that were middle-aged to sign on, as Daisy’s thoughts dwelt on adventure and pride. She arrived home that night, eating dinner happily with her family as the next two days went by peacefully.
She recalled her friends were leaving Sunday, and it was already Friday. Daisy roused herself, and snuck out of her house with a piece of paper - her parents' signatures on them. Soon Daisy found her way to Quick’s house, knocking quietly at the.
Soon a tired looking Quick opened the door, yawning before smiling. “Daisy, how can I help you?”
Daisy swallowed, and wondered if she really should do this. Then her mind was made up. “Can you put my parents' signature on these enlistment forms?”
Quick looked at her surprised before leading her inside. “I can. Are you sure though?”
Daisy nodded, her naïve thoughts of adventure getting the better of her, “Yes, I am sure. Here’s a copy.”
Quick nods, seemingly hesitant, but he copied over the signatures, before handing the form to Daisy. “At least we stick together!”
Daisy smiled, “Yeah! Can I stay the night? I don’t want to deal with my parents tomorrow.”
Quick paused but nodded, “They’ll understand I’m sure.” Quick brought out some blankets for Daisy, as she settled down upon the couch, glad Quick had helped her. Soon she’d be off in another place, doing her part.