"Dad?"
"Hello, son."
"How are you? I... I thought you were dead."
"It takes more than a war to kill me."
"What are you doing here?"
"Coming to stop you."
"Stop me? From what?"
"From joining."
...
"Why?"
"I don't want you to join the war. I don't want you to die."
"Well, who else is going to join the war?"
"I don't know, but it will not be you."
"And you get to decide what I do when?"
"Since I became your father."
"Mom raised me herself after you left and decided not to even write a single letter to us."
"I would've. But I can't when I'm blind."
"Then have somepony else write it for you!"
"Look, this isn't why I'm here. I-"
"Want to take away my dream?"
"If your dream is to die protecting a country that barely values your life, then yes. I do."
"'Barely values your life' what do you mean by that?"
"Equestria doesn't care for us common ponies."
"Yes they do! They're smart enough to let us handle it on our own."
"And where does that lead you?"
"To be a smarter pony, to know that I worked for what I deserved."
"Only because they don't care to help you."
"War has changed you."
"Just like it will change you. If you go through with this, you will realize what I mean."
"So what, do you want me to sit back and see my country fall apart at the seams?"
"I want you to survive!"
"Who cares if I survive? All that would matter is that fought for my country's victory and my death doesn't go in vain!"
"You are my only kid!"
"That you neglected to raise!"
"Because I was forced to!"
"What... what do you mean by that."
"The Army does not care about family. If they did, I would have been here much sooner."
"So you want me to sit back and see the world get slaughtered by the dragons?"
"I want you to do your own research. About the war. How it started. Maybe, just maybe, you'll find the answer somewhere in there."
"I already know how it started. A rouge pony assassinated Dragon Lord Ember."
"Was it just that?"
"Stop with these cryptic things you are saying. You're starting to sound like a zebra."
"Heh. Funny."
"It's true."
"Huh? Oh, right."
"You know I'm still going to sign up, right?"
"Whatever you wish. Just make sure you do your research."
"Not a foal anymore."
"Maybe not now, but you were. You still are to me."
"Okay..."
"I hope to see you later."
...
"Dad... Before you go..."
"Yes?"
"Why couldn't you have somepony else write the letters?"
"Because I didn't know what to say."
...
"Tell mom I said hi."