//------------------------------//
// Last Day 
// Story: Revolution Equestria 
// by SeriousTWILEY 
//------------------------------//

Canterlot, Equestria
June 10th, 2060

The white marble of Celestia’s throne room reflected the afternoon Equestrian sun in every direction, brilliantly illuminating the figures within. The Princess’s audience chamber was once a place where the subjects of the spirit of the sun would come to pay homage, and ask for help or advice. It used to be a symbol of peace, but now not even here was safe from the dark shadow that had fallen over the entire country. The humans had seemed to have found a much better use for the chamber; it became their primary war room. A huge marble slab had been brought in at the request of Shining Armor, it had been intricately carved with a map of Equestria and the Griffin Kingdoms, and it was now dotted with small plastic pieces that represented vast armies of fighting men and stallions. A number of human men, and several women stood around the end of the table farthest the Princess’s throne, with the other side occupied by the warrior aristocrats that made up the ranks of the Royal Guard’s officers. Currently, a human with shoulder length black hair, and a black beret indicated a spot on the map.
“Here.” Colonel Mandendez said as he placed the tip of his pointer on the map, “Just West of the Crystal Mountains. They’ve opened up a new Blitzkrieg. In the last week they have driven us back over three hundred kilometers, and at this rate, the Crystal Empire will be under siege before the end of June. Gentlemen, this represents a catastrophic threat to the entire war effort. As I’m sure you’re all aware, the Crystal Empire is a major magical industrial center for the Equestrian Royal Guard. Most of their magic based weaponry is crafted from the crystal that is mined in these mountains, and if it falls, then Equestria’s ability to wage war is severely diminished. With our troops at the Trottingham front holding on by their fingernails, we will NOT be able to pick up the slack that the Equestrians will be forced to drop.”
A quiet murmur was heard around the table, until finally, an officer of the Royal Guard stepped forwards, “We may be able to use this rapid advance for our own purposes.” Shining Armor said confidently, “The enemy carved a salient out of our northeastern border, but hasn’t sent troops into the mountains themselves. With a pincer movement from the East, we might be able to encircle them, and destroy the Blitzkrieg entirely.” with his last sentence, Shining drew an imaginary circle around the enemy positions with his hoof. 
Manendez again began to speak, “We have thought of that comrade, but unfortunately so has the enemy.” he sighed. “They aren’t stupid, but their intelligence seems to have been faulty, and that gives us enough time to turn this against them. Their reconnaissance sweeps told them that the mountains were devoid of any significant number of our troops. They were confident that they could reach the Crystal Empire and seal off the mountains before we could act, but they were wrong. As of last night we have over 75,000 troops of the 17th, 19th, and 93rd Mountain Rangers divisions standing by to be deployed by train to the mountains.” 
“Then what exactly is the problem?” a young Guard captain piped up from across the table.
Shining turned to him, “The problem is that they must know by now that we are planning to deploy troops. The most logical move for them, would be to slow their advance, and send a force to clear out the mountains. Our forces won’t be able to attack the salient if they are under attack themselves.”
“Precisely” said Manendez, “Drone sweeps show that there is a large force of Griffin marauders and Fascist light infantry massing in the northern foothills of the mountains. If we are to encircle the Blitzkrieg, then we must rout this force completely, otherwise it could easily attack our rear when we begin our offensive. The 1st Mixed Airborne division will complete its training in a matter of days, we-”
“You plan to trap them with paratroopers, and starve them out.” Shining interrupted.
Manendez turned to the prince and nodded, “The Airborne will be deployed here,” he said with a tap on the marble surface, “They will secure this 12km long stretch of beach, and begin a guerilla warfare campaign. It will be their job to ensure that as little supplies and reinforcements as possible get through to the battle in the mountains. The re-arming of the Royal 2nd Fleet is nearly complete, as is the resupply of Prince Shining’s 10th Army.” the Colonel began to trace a line up the coast, “The navy will transport the 10th up the east coast to the Airborne’s beachhead, where they will reinforce and resupply the paratroops.”
Shining examined the plan, “Then it will only be a matter of closing in on the enemy.” he said, “Our Rangers in the mountains will be the anvil, and we’ll be the hammer. Once that’s done, we can attack the flank of the salient.”
“And with all that” Manendez concluded, “we will eliminate the front in the east, and Equestria will live to fight another day.”
Gramov, who until now had been in complete silence with his head bowed, now began to speak, “Impressive.” he said, “Does anybody have anything else to add?” 
“Yes Field Marshall.” Shining said somewhat suddenly, “If we are going to deploy an Airborne division, then why the 1st Mixed? They are a raw unit, shouldn’t they have a little more experience before being thrown into an operation this vital?”
The old man smiled, “Trust me Prince, the man in charge will get the job done. Are there any other objections?” 
Silence.
“Then as chief of IOFR military operations in Equestria, I formally present this plan to the supreme commander of the Equestrian Royal Guards. Prince, this action now rests on your decision.” Gramov cast a grave look at the unicorn.
For a few seconds Shining was silent, but it seemed like an eternity to the officers watching, “All right.” he said. “I agree.”
The meeting was ended, and each officer exchanged parting pleasantries with the others before returning to command their individual sectors. Soon the room was empty, or nearly so. Shining still stood at the table, examining the map. His eyes were locked on the small plastic square that represented where the 1st Mixed Airborne Infantry division would be dropped. It’s troops had not even completed their training yet, and already they had been given the nickname “the Twilight Troopers”. 
“Be careful little sister…” was all he whispered as he turned to leave.
As the steady clop of his hooves rang through the marble halls, Shining failed to notice the human who had remained in the archway of a far door. His eyes seemed permanently narrowed into a spiteful squint, and his skin stretched over a tanned skull like a dark skeleton. He adjusted the collar of his black trench coat and began to walk in direction opposite from Shining.

Camp Columbus Training Ground
June 1st, 2060

“The winner, with ninety three mines successfully disarmed, is the Yellow Team!” came Eric McPhee’s voice over a megaphone. In front of him stood rows of dirty soldiers, their uniforms covered with mud and caked with hardened patches of dirt. Their thick engineer’s helmets were painted with their vibrant team colours, and each one had their heavy faceplate raised.
“Yeee-haaaw!” cheered Applejack, doing her best to give a happy leap in her thick flak jacket. The squad all began to crowd around her, laughing and patting each other on the back. 
“Congratulations Yellow Team!” Eric called, “Our armored boys will sleep a little safer knowing that you’re on the job. 
With that comment, Eric gave the order to get some food and grab a nap. They had a big day tomorrow, but he stopped a certain mare before she could leave the field.
“Great job out there love, ya made me real proud.” he said, somehow even more upbeat that normal. 
Applejack blushed a bit, “Aww shucks sugarcube, t’aint nothin’ special. I wouldn’t have known how to do it without ya.
The pair sat down at the edge of the field, as they did so Eric put his arm around the pony’s shoulders, and pulled her close. 

Further away on the firing range, the smell of smoke mingled with the sound of maniacal laughter, “Weeehheeehee!!!! Waaaahoooo!!!” screamed Pinkie as she doused the target dummy with a healthy dose of napalm jelly from her flamethrower, her eyes watering from the heat. 
“Pinkie, I’m starting to worry that you’re enjoying that thing a little too much” Twilight called from behind her. 
“Pyro Pinkie! Pyro Pinkie!” she called out between fits of demented laughter. 
The dummy smoked and popped as Pinkie cheered, and Twilight, though concerned, found her joy to be contagious as always. 
“Okay” Twilight giggled, “Maybe it does look fun” 
Pinkie finished her latest volley before finally deciding to put the weapon down, “Maybe? Twilight! This thing is way better than my party cannon!” she said, “Well, unless you’re on the business end of it!” she added with something that was part giggle, part snort. 
Twilight’s smile diminished slightly, “I’ve been telling you this for months Pinkie, this isn’t a game. I don’t think that you grasp what we’re really here to do.”
Pinkie’s hair deflated somewhat as she realized the implications of what Twilight said, she usually tried to ignore the somber side of being here, but she knew what was coming eventually. 
“I do know why we’re here Twilight,” she said with a small twinge of sadness, “but I’m going to try to make the best of it.”
Twilight smiled, “I guess that’s all we can do….” answered the Alicorn, her voice trailing off, “Hey Pinkie, why don’t you put that thing away and come to the mess hall.” 
“Hmmm… I could eat!” Pinkie laughed as she headed off with Twilight.

Twenty minutes later the simple steel building that made up their mess hall was bustling with activity. Humans and ponies of all sizes and colours moved back and forth up and down the aisles, talking and laughing. There was news that the enemy had nearly reached its breaking point in Hoofington, and any kind good news was enough to raise the spirits of everybody on the base. Anon stood near the exit, observing his troops, perhaps they weren’t his hardened “Fighting Forty First” that had taken Smolensk and been the first to begin the siege of Moscow, but they had spirit, they believed in what they were doing. Anon gave a small chuckle, maybe Gramov was right, maybe the Equestrians would fight harder than any human, knowing that their entire way of life was at stake. Anon could honestly say that he sympathized.
The clip clop of small hooves caught his attention, in came Twilight and Pinkie, who laughed and talked and giggled until they noticed Anon lingering by the doorframe. 
“Hey uh, why don’t you find yourself a seat Pinkie.” Twilight said
“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie chirped as she cheerfully hopped off to find her other friends.
Anon laughed, “Damn, for Eric it must be like looking in a ponified, feminine mirror.”
Twilight laughed genuinely, and was relieved for the tension breaker, but still she found herself without anything to say to her friend.
Anon broke the silence, “Look Twilight, I know that we haven’t really talked since training began, and I know you’re not happy here.”
Twilight showed the human a smile, “I’m happy to be where I’m needed.”
Anon wasn’t looking at her, “I don’t believe you.” he said, “Why didn’t you tell me? Can you imagine how I felt when I walked out into the training ground and saw you there? I feel bad enough about what happened in Stalliongrad, the way I treated you.” The young man’s gaze finally found the pony’s, “It will happen again Twilight. It’s just how I am. Under pressure some people panic, some people preform. I just… switch off.”
“Look Anon,” Twilight began, “I’ve already forgiven you for what happened, and I do understand what you’re going through. You try to block it out; you try to ignore your emotions so that you can get the job done. It’s why you were able to stay so calm when you told me about…. the camps….” Twilight’s last words were hesitant. She certainly didn’t want to bring up such a touchy subject, especially not in front of an entire brigade.
Anon’s face became calm, “I know you don’t hold it against me Twilight, but you don’t understand what’s going to happen.” he began to walk away, “you really don’t”.
He left the purple mare standing there, watching as her friend seemed to fade away.
At the front of the room, Anon met with Eric, who was just finishing up a conversation with Applejack.
“Don’t worry ya head about it love!” he said to her, “Everythin’ will be fine. Me and Anon will make sure of it.”
AJ looked nervous, “Well all right” she said, “just don’t think that I’m gonna be callin’ y’all ‘sir’ out in the field sugarcube!” 
“That’s ‘sugarcube sir’” he responded with a grin. 
As the orange mare made her way back to her table, Anon approached the blonde human, “What’s she worried about?” 
Eric gave him a serious glare, something that was extremely rare for the upbeat Aussie, “What the hell do you think?” he said somberly, “She’s worried about what they all should be worried about, and frankly, they’re not worried enough.”
“High morale is a good thing. They need all the courage going into this as they can get.” Anon replied, his eyes scanning over his troops. 
Eric shook his head slightly, “It shouldn’t come at the price of reason. This plan that they’re working on… I don’t know. We’re working with green kids here. Half of them are barely out of high school.” Eric turned to face the other officer, “The Fascists must know that this part of the front is important. I doubt that we’ll face anything easy.”
Anon chuckled, “Sit down and look at what we’re up against Eric, the Griffin marauders and French légions will be in the mountains. Let the Rangers handle them. We’re facing a Polish light armor division in rough terrain, a rear guard. If the Poles know what end of the tank gun to point at us, then that’s about all they know.”
“I’m not so sure,” Eric replied, “I looked up your unit’s experience at Kaliningrad a few years ago, and it wasn’t pretty. You should know that the Polish army has plenty of crack troops. ”
“And I can assure you that none of them are in tanks. Those were elite mechanized infantry at Kaliningrad.” Anon said with a half smile, “Funny.” he continued, “Normally you’re the chipper one. Why so-”
Anon’s stopped speaking abruptly as his eyes settled on Applejack, a quick glance at Eric confirmed that he was looking there too. 
“Oh…” Anon said quietly
Eric sighed, “I’m worried about her.” he said, “She doesn’t know what she’s getting into.”
“Do any of them?” Anon asked
Eric closed his eyes for a moment, then gazed at the floor, “No. This is going to be horrible for them.”
“It was horrible for me Eric,” Anon said, “It was horrible for you. It was horrible for Boris, for Gramov, for Manendez, and for all the rest. It was horrible for the billion people that died in the Great War. It was horrible for the millions that died in the aftermath wars.”
Eric’s demeanor didn’t change, but he laughed a little, “You know Anon, they called the Great War generation ‘the Lost Generation’, because fighting consumed their entire lives, and gave them no rest. There were plenty of people who were born during the war, and died before it was over.”
Anon knew where this was going, “And what do they call us Eric?”
Eric turned to face his comrade, “They call us Generation Kill, because it’s all we know how to do.” his brow furrowed and flicker of anger entered his eyes, “The Canadian Civil War, the North American Aftermath War, the Chinese Expansion, the Second Russian Revolution… Jesus man, we may not have spilt as much blood as the Great War boys did, but damn are we trying.”
Anon sighed, “What’s your point Eric?” he said
“Don’t treat them like a statistic Anon,” Eric replied, looking back towards the crowd, “Otherwise we’ll have another Lost Generation on our hands.” 
Several meters away, the Elements of Harmony were having their own conversation, but this one was far more cheerful. 
“I’d like to propose a toast!” Rarity called, “On finally being free of this depressing and ghastly place!” 
The entire table cheered in agreement.
“So, what exactly happens after we’re done here?” Rainbow Dash asked as she sipped her drink
Twilight lowered her cup, “Not sure, I heard that we’re going to be heading to Canterlot first for some ceremony, and then we’re right into the thick of it.”
Twilight’s words put a damper on the mood. All six mares knew what that meant, and while they all knew it was coming sooner or later, they were all terrified of actually going through with it. 
“What…” Fluttershy began, “What exactly do you think is going to happen to us?”
AJ tipped her hat, “We’re all goin’ to do what we signed up for. We’re the Elements of Harmony, and it’s our duty to protect Equestria.” 
Fluttershy nodded slightly, “I just wish that it had never come to this.”
“Nobody wanted this” Dash began, “but we have to deal with what the world is throwing at us. We’ll get through this together, as friends.”
The rest of them smiled.