Dodge City, Socialist Republic of Mixieland, March 1st, 1 A.U.
“The first Revolutionary War, led by Steel Stallion and waged by the workers of Severyana, overthrew capitalist and monarchical rule, broke the chains of oppression, and created a new state, a Socialist Council Republic, the basic instrument for defending the revolution and for building Communism. In the second Revolutionary War, this great experiment would be brought to the whole of Equestria, breaking a millennium of stagnation for ponykind.
The strength of Socialism was again demonstrated in the Great War, where the dark encroachment of imperialism was forever quelled by the immortal actions of the Equestrian people. This victory consolidated and strengthened the alliance of the worker, the farmer, and the intelligentsia as well as the eternal friendship of the 4 pony nations: the earth ponies, the unicorns, the pegasi, and the bat ponies. Socio-political and ideological unity of Equestrian society, in which the working class is the leading force, has been achieved.
From henceforth, the exploitation of creatures shall be forever broken, a truly democratic government shall be established, and social ownership for the general welfare shall reign supreme.
Now, to further the development of a truly mature socialist society, the creatures of Equestria shall found a wholly new state: The Socialist Union of Equestria.
It shall be a free and voluntary union of Socialist Council Republics, reflecting critical regional circumstances.
It shall be a society of free creatures, unburdened by the shackles of tradition.
It shall be a society for all, with a perfect coexistence of all species, cultures, nations, and languages.
It shall be a society forever loyal to the rights and needs of its citizenry.
It shall be a state that ensures the effective management of public affairs, with ever greater participation of the citizenry in the political process, a perfect synthesis of political freedom with the obligation and responsibility to society.
The ultimate goal of this state shall be the building of a classless communist society in which there will be public, communist self-government. The main responsibilities of this state shall be: to further the development of material conditions favorable to communism, to mold socialist social and economic relations, to further the living and cultural standards of all creatures, to safeguard the peoples’ security, and to foster everlasting international cooperation.
The Equestrian people, guided by ideals of Caramel Marks and every revolutionary since, relying on great gains of modern socialism, preserving the continuity of ideas from the Socialist Republic of Equestria, hereby affirm this constitution as the highest authority on the political structure of the Union, the rights, freedoms, and obligations of the Union citizenry, as well as the principles that will guide the nation.
Comrades! Our time has come!”
Just as the chairpony finishes reading the preamble to the new Union constitution, cheers erupt from the assembled crowd. Ponies throw their hats into the air. Pegasi hover over the crowd while holding up long red banners filled with party slogans. Bunches of confetti are thrown into the air, a sight not seen since victory day.
One young earth pony, a foal of ten years of age, enthusiastically waves her small red flag. She jumps up and down, flailing her limbs about.
Predictably, one of her hooves hit her friend, another earth pony with yellow fur and an orange mane.
“Oh, sorry Spring Gallop…”
The energetic foal sheepishly scratches the back head while looking away from her friend - who’s still miffed.
“You’re such a child Amber.”
Amber Gem is greatly offended by this remark. She turns to Spring Gallop, pouting childishly.
“I am not! I get better grades than you!”
Spring Gallop glares back Amber.
“That doesn’t mean anything if you act like this!”
“Why you!”
The two foals begin pulling each other’s faces. It’s more common than it should be.
Eventually, a pair of much bigger hoofs pull apart the two bickering ponies. It’s Amber’s cousin, Tree Gem, a stallion with brown fur and a green mane. He’s dressed in a dark blue air force cadet uniform and looks very tired, despite being on leave.
“Our country’s constitution has just been ratified and you two are acting like this?”
“...”
“...”
Tree Gem sighs.
“Come on now, apologize.”
“Sorry…”
“...Sorry.”
Both the foals apologize but neither seem genuine. Tree Gem notices this but just releases the two.
“Well, just listen to the rest of the chairman’s speech.”
Soon, the applause of the crowd comes down to a rest. On the platform, the Chairman of the Dodge city council begins speaking once more.
The Chairman is well known in Dodge city, Silver Metal - he’d been a lawyer for the Rail Workers' Union before the war and then led a resistance movement during it. The now middle aged, brown furred pony adjusts his glasses before speaking again, with a warm smile coming across his face.
“Now comrades, you can read the full constitution provided free of charge at any government office, newspaper dispensary, or library. To paraphrase the great document: the rights of common pony to employment, rest, and political freedom has been officially codified into law. No more shall Equestrians live under the boot of plutocratic oppression!”
The crowd cheers once more.
“The Supreme Council of the Republic has officially been dissolved. It shall be reorganized into the All-Union Council of Equestria. This body shall be a bicameral legislature, with the upper body, The Council of Peoples, representing the diverse Republics, species, and labor organizations of our great nation. The lower body, the Workers’ Assembly, shall represent the people of the Union as a whole. In both bodies, the All-Union Communist Party shall take the leading role. Needless to say, the Red Party of Mixieland supports this action!”
Amber Gem pulls on Tree Gem’s sleeve.
“Tree, what's the-the Red Party of Mixieland?”
“It's the ruling party in Mixieland.”
That answer perplexes Amber Gem.
“I thought there was only one party, the communist party. I learned that in school.”
“Ah well, you know we have a government for Mixieland and then a bigger one for the whole Union?”
Amber Gem nodded.
“In the Union government, the Communist Party acts as the vanguard for the whole country, so it’s the only national party. In Mixieland and the other republics, though, a lot of different smaller parties are allowed, the communist party doesn’t even stand for regional elections.”
Amber Gem considers her cousin's words.
“Well then, what’s the Red Party like?”
Tree Gem scratches his head.
“As far as I can tell they mostly follow the All-Union party. All the higher ups are members of the All-Union party as well.”
“So they’re like - like an unofficial… branch of the main party?”
“Smart girl, how did you know that?”
Amber Gem holds her head high.
“I read those big fancy books in the library.”
“Did ya understand most of it?”
“...of course I did!”
Tree laughs and ruffles his cousin’s mane. Amber catches Spring Gallop smirking on the corner of her eye.
Hmph! Everyone thinks I’m just a kid!”
Though convinced of her maturity the little foal tugs her cousin’s sleeve for one more question.
“If there are other parties in Mixieland what are they called?”
Tree scratches his head.
“Well, uh, the others aren’t that important, the Red Party has about three quarters of the seats in the Republican Council. Uhh… there’s the Labor Front - Syndies, but good folk. There’s that small Buffalo party, we should probably keep an eye on them and, uhh… Oh yeah, there’s the United Front of Mixieland, all sorts of ponies there.”
“Like?”
“Liberals, social democrats, small business owners, folk who want more autonomy for Mixieland: it’s a diverse bunch. Internal Affairs even busted some monarchists that were in there. Definitely a bourgeois group, but not too significant though, they have round five seats in the council. I heard a lot of their candidates got disqualified - serves them right.”
Amber Gem sighs. In truth, she’d only vaguely understood what her cousin said.
“All this sounds confusing.”
Tree shrugs.
“You’ll understand when you're older.”
Suddenly, the band beside the stage starts playing a tune, a familiar and expected one.
Chairman Metal addresses the crowd:
“Now comrades, join me in singing our nation’s new national anthem! You should all know about it! Share your pamphlets with those that don't have it memorized!”
Amber Gem and Spring Gallop share a pamphlet between them. They’ve mostly memorized the lyrics but a reference would be nice.
Tree looks at them.
“Are you girls ready?”
“Yep!” Screams Amber Germ.
“Sure…” Mumbles Spring Gallop.
“It’s ok, Spring Gallop. No one can hear your singing with so many people here.”
“He-”
Amber Gem swiftly cuts her friend off:
“It’s starting!”
Soon, a slow orchestral rhythm spreads through the crowd. It calms the atmosphere, joining all those there into one. The tune is that of a common Hearth's Warming song, one familiar to almost all Equestrians.
Gently, it begins:
“...The people's flag is deepest red,
It shrouded oft our martyred dead,
And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold,
Their hearts' blood dyed its every fold…
…Then raise the scarlet standard high!
Beneath its shade we'll live and die,
Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,
We'll keep the red flag flying here!
…
…It waved above our smallest might,
When all ahead seemed dark as night;
It witnessed many a deed and vow,
We mustn't change its color now!
Then raise the scarlet standard high!
Beneath its shade we'll live and die,
Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,
We'll keep the red flag flying here!
With heads uncovered swear we all
To bear it onward till we fall;
Come dungeon dark or gallows grim,
This song shall be our parting hymn.
Then raise the scarlet standard high!
Beneath its shade we'll live and die,
Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,
We'll keep the red flag flying here!”
It’s after the festivities, near the outskirts of Dodge City. Tree Gem is walking behind Amber, making sure the philly got home safely. Spring Gallop lives near the city center and so had gone off by herself.
Oddly enough, Tree Gem looks a little nervous as he walks, constantly adjusting his collar as he goes. Amber Gem smiles.
“Hey cous, why do you look so nervous? Is the big strong soldier scared?”
Tree Gem frowns.
“Says the pony who's still scared of Buffalo.”
“A-am not! They’re just too big! And furry!”
The Air Forces cadet laughs at the expense of the younger pony. Still, Amber Gem stubbornly glares at Tree, expecting an answer.
He sighs.
“I didn’t want to worry you, but I got some nasty glares from ponies last time I was here.”
“What? What did you do?!” Amber Gem points at Tree accusingly.
Tree Gem throws his hoofs up defensively.
“Nothing, just the outfit.”
He gestures at his dress uniform.
“What? That’s it?”
“Yep.”
Without explaining further, Tree Gem starts trotting away quickly. Amber rushes to follow him.
“Hey, you didn’t answer my question!”
“I did.”
He speeds up.
“Not well!”
He speeds up to a sprint and Amber follows. Shockingly, the little foal is able to keep pace with Tree Gem, though it does take a toll.
After a half mile of galloping, Tree Gem relents and slows down. He lets Amber take a moment to catch a breath. The foal is nearly out of breath - her limbs are unsteady and she’s struggling to make eye contact with her cousin.
“Are you-”
“Answer!” Amber Gem, despite the run, did not lose her stubbornness.
Tree Gem sighs before explaining.
“Don’t worry about it, but a lot of folks around here don’t like the Union very much.”
“Like my parents?”
Tree Gem begrudgingly nods.
“Yes, like your parents. It’s better in Dodge city than it is in Cloudsdale and especially Canterlot - probably the labor union influence. But still, some folk in some neighborhoods don’t like soldiers walking ‘round.”
“Are those ponies dangerous?” More than she likes to admit, the thought of disloyal neighbors makes her nervous.
Tree Gem doesn’t answer at first, he instead gently ruffles his cousin’s mane.
“Are your parents dangerous? No. They’ll come around eventually. They just need some time.”
Amber nods, though only slightly.
“Come on, isn’t that your house right over there?”
Tree Gem points to the small cottage-like house at the end of the block. In the past, it had been painted white, but now, the paint has faded away, making the structure’s color a mix of faded white and the natural brown. At the very least, it had escaped the war intact.
Amber tugs on Tree Gem’s sleeve.
“You should come inside. My mom and dad would be happy to see you.”
The stallion pokes his cousin’s nose.
“Liar.”
“If you explained things again…”
“I’d like to see them but as I said, they need time, Uncle Knox and Aunt Jen still ain’t ok with me. Bye Amber Gem.”
“Bye…”
She watches her cousin go, probably to the boarding house where he’d been staying. By tomorrow, he will be off to the Air Forces Academy in Cloudsdale.
It isn’t fair.
Amber Gem resents her parents somewhat, Tree Gem had been nothing but a good cousin and nephew but when he wants to serve his country, they want nothing to do with him?
Amber Gem slowly walks to her house, trying to cheer herself up along the way.
There will be another Pioneer’s hike this friday, those are always fun. Ooo! The cherry trees will blossom later this month, that’s always a pretty sight! And uh… umm…
Before she knows it, the young foal reaches the door.
Okay! Today’s the day! I’m going to convince them to talk to Tree Gem again! They ain’t gonna brush me off today!
Abandoning all reason, Amber furiously opens the door.
“Ma! Pa!”
What meets her is silence. A few moments go by without a word. Strange, her parents should be home by now…
Then, Amber Gem sees the door to the kitchen open. To her relief, it’s just her mother:
Jennifer Gem looks the same as ever with pale brown fur and an even paler mane done up in one thin braid. She wears glasses, small ones, very fitting for a librarian.
“Hun, what is it now?”
“Where’s pa?”
Jennifer starts looking back at the kitchen for a moment before stopping herself.
“He’s busy in the kitchen.”
“Can we talk about something?”
“Maybe later Amber Gem. Could you go to your room for a second? Me and your father were discussing something.”
“Pleaseeee- it’s really important.”
Despite Amber’s pleading, Jennifer doesn’t budge.
“I’m sorry sweetie but-”
Before her mother can finish, Amber Gem rushes her, ducking to the side, squeezing past Jennifer to reach the kitchen. Her plan isn’t good - her father won’t be more willing to listen than her mother, but she has to try.
“Pa-”
In the kitchen is something she doesn’t expect.
Sitting on the table is Amber’s father, Knox Gem, wearing the same brown suit and having his yellow mane neatly combed. However, there are two other, unfamiliar ponies sitting on the table, both of which look surprised to see Amber Gem as well:
A unicorn with gray fur and an unkept pink mane is sitting next to Knox. Right next to him is a strange looking pony, a… pegasus with weird looking wings, a navy-blue mane and fur, and… fangs?
Oh! That’s a Thestral!
Most ponies in Dodge City or across Mixieland are still… uncomfortable around Thestrals. Like the rest of the country, they respected Marshal Masha and General Goldgear, but it’d always been a minor stir when a bat pony had been seen in the city - something to gossip about.
Tree Gem had told Amber that before the war, Mixielanders as a whole opposed the Thestral Rights movement. That certainly still showed in Dodge City, what a shame.
Still! It’s great of Ma and Pa to invite one over!
“Hello comrade Thestral! Are you enjoying Dodge City?!”
Somewhat stiffly, Amber Gem addresses the Thestral directly.
Instead of answering Amber Gem, the Thestral turns to Knox Gem.
“Your…”
Amber’s father sighs.
“My daughter.” He says in his distinctly northern accent.
“Oh, I see.”
With that, the Thestral awkwardly turns back to Amber Gem.
“Hi young lady, I’m enjoying the city very much…”
Hmm… he has a weird accent. He isn’t from the North, maybe the South East?
“So is it true tha-”
Before Amber Gem can ask a possibly offensive question, she’s pulled by the ear by her mother.
“Ow ow ow!”
“You’re going to your room missy!”
Right before reaching the door, Jennifer Gem looks back on the ponies sitting on the kitchen table.
“Sorry about this, Captain Sanbary, Lieutenant Evening.”
Wait, are those two ponies from the military? Are ma and pa ok with soldiers now?!
As if realizing her mistake, Jennifer quickly pulls Amber Gem out of the kitchen and into the hallway. The mare shuts the door behind them before letting Amber Gem go.
“Does this mean-”
“Not now Amber Gem. Go to your room now!”
Jennifer points at the stairs.
“But-”
“No. Not right now.”
“Then what were you-”
“Amber! Not now!”
Jennifer looks truly angry, there’s frigidity to her voice. Amber Gem can’t remember the last time she’d been this mad.
Reluctantly, the foal relents to her mother, making her way up to the stairs and into her room. Amber Gem slams her bedroom door behind her before collapsing down on her old, thin bed - her previous motivation gone.
Her parents hate the Union, yet they’d invited some soldiers over, and now they’re angry with her - well, at least her mother. That made little sense to the young foal: looking back, Amber had done far worse things than just now and yet her mother hadn’t gotten half as mad. Why didn’t they want Amber Gem to be there?
Nothing makes sense anymore.
Amber Gem thinks back before all of this went down. The war had apparently started when she had been one so her first memories had been one where Dodge City was under Changeling occupation. She didn’t have early memories of being outside. More often than not, her family put her down in the basement while loud noises went on around them. Amber Gem’s parents had been scared to go outside, really scared of everything. It hadn’t been their fault, they always looked a little more gone after they came back to their house, sometimes with injuries. It must have made them stressed - Knox and Jennifer had argued and argued in that cramped basement while Tree Gem would try to cheer up Amber.
Poor him, ripped from his parents and forced to comfort a crybaby.
Then, the Red Army came. Amber had been around five and even she’d known something big was going to happen. The noises had gotten louder and louder. Her parents had looked more and more optimistic, though they’d still be sad even in their happiest moments. Even so, in the early morning, against her parents' wishes, Amber Gem had stuck out of the basement. From the front windows, she’d seen pony soldiers wearing brown uniforms right on the road. Needless to say, Amber Gem had gotten so excited she ran out of the house to greet them. Though confused, the soldiers had been kind to her and told her that they were going to liberate the rest of Equestria. They’d then returned Amber to her very worried pair of parents.
From there, things had gotten better. Rations had gotten bigger, Amber Gem started school and met ponies her age, her parents finally began to smile a lot more, and Amber had been free to explore the outside as much as she wanted…
Then Tree Gem had passed the examination for the Air Forces Academy, and everything derailed.
Suddenly, Amber Gem hears a few, sporadic knocks on the door.
“Amber honey, can I come in?”
It’s her father.
“Go away.”
Despite her words, Knox Gem opens the door. Amber Gem turns over, refusing to face him.
“I heard you wanted to talk about something, do you still want to?”
“... No.”
Knox chuckles, sitting himself on the chair right next to Amber’s bed.
“Come on kiddo, I know it was really important to you. Your mother is sorry about shouting so much.”
“...Really?”
“Yes really, now what shall we discuss?”
“Tree Gem.”
Amber feels the room become 10 times as tense. Her father is silent, it’s clearly a sore topic for him.
“Honey…”
“You hate him now, don’t you? He was nothing but good to us all and you kicked him out because he enlisted! He misses you; you know! How could you?!”
Amber Gem feels tears dripping on her face.
“When I get older and I enlist, will you stop talking to me too?”
After a few moments of Amber quietly crying, Knox begins gently ruffling Amber Gem’s mane, just like when she’d been younger. It’s comforting, she has to admit.
“Amber, I would never. What happened with Tree, I never intended it to go that far. Just… tempers flared up and we said things we didn’t mean.”
“Hmph…”
Knox sighs.
“Amber, you know Uncle Granite?”
That’s Tree’s father and Knox’s brother. Amber Gem doesn't know much about him, just that he didn't survive the war’s first year.
She nods slightly.
“Well, he was a soldier in the Royal Army, major if I recall. He was stationed in Novochernushsk on the border with Severyana and well… I don’t know the details, but he didn’t make it when the commies invaded.``
Amber Gem tenses, reminded of her father’s views on the Union.
“Sweety, I know what you learn in school, but I don’t believe a word of it. They invaded us, killed their fellow ponies, and worked with bugs and now they act like they did us a favor. The Union is a better choice over Changelings mind you, but that doesn’t mean I like it. To work for them, willingly… It makes me sick to think about.”
Amber turns around and quickly gets up from her bed to face her father.
“That- that was necessary! The old regime was too weak to fight the Changelings!”
Anger flashes in Knox’s face before he quickly cools down. He rubs his temples, turning away from his daughter.
“You’re free to disagree, hun,” Knox says weakly, “But don’t think these reds have your best interest at heart.”
The stallion looks tired, drained because of his thoughts. It somewhat reminds Amber of what he was like during the war, always worried, always scared.
Amber Gem doesn’t want to probe further, and she wouldn’t… but she still has one lingering question:
“Pa, if you hate the Union’s soldiers so much, why did you have two of them over?”
Her father sighs again, his face in his hoofs.
“They’re… different. I can’t tell you why, but I promise they’re good people.”
“Can you at least tell me why they’re over?”
Worry, almost panic washes over Knox’s face.
“Yo- you’ll understand when you’re older, I promise.”
“Is it work related?”
Knox works as a clerk at the Dodge Junction logistics office. It's state-run, with all railways nationalized and all, so Amber thinks that’s maybe related to the military somehow.
The stallion in front of her pauses for a moment before simply shaking his head.
“Sorry hun, I can’t say.”
He pats Amber’s head.
“I’ll talk to Tree again. I was too harsh on the boy.”
“Really?”
“Yes, tomorrow, and I promise all of this will make sense one day. Things will go back to the way things used to be,” Knox gets up from his chair, “Now, let’s go downstairs, I think our guests have left by now.”
Holding the father’s hoof Amber Gem heads downstairs. She is inundated with worries - she’s still wondering what her parents are up to, if her father and Tree Gem can reconcile, or if her parents can ever accept the Union she loves. But, following the advice of her parents, she hesitantly chose to look on the bright side. Still…
“The way things used to be”? What could he mean by that?
The next day, Knox Gem will meet with his nephew for a very awkward conversation. It will go… ok - the beginning of a long process in which they will almost be able to reconcile.
This isn’t a rare story or one exclusive to Equestria, rather it’s common to all places which change rapidly
Still, Amber Gem will be happy enough with this development. She’ll celebrate the occasion with her parents, a memory she’ll hold dear even in her last days. But even so, the happy memory will have a bitter lining as Amber Gem will curse her younger self for being so unaware of the world around her.