//------------------------------// // The Call for Conscription! (Prelude to War pt. 2) // Story: War | A Memoir // by Cammunism //------------------------------// The room fell quiet, deathly quiet. Silence had been an integral part of this conference thus far but this was a different kind of silence. One that you could hear your own blood pass by inside ones own body. You could see the wide mix of emotions of everypony's faces as you looked around the room. I remember feeling scared, defiantly shook up, a bit of shock. The Griffin Empire, as well as their populace, weren't exactly the friendliest of allies but a full out declaration of war? Never, not in my lifetime, not in anypony's lifetime. I remember the look on Auntie's -(A title once used by me to refer to Princess Celestia)- face as she read off the letter. She had no idea what to think of what fell before her; nopony did. The last time Equestria had been in a state of war was long before the times of Harmony. Long before Equestria was founded and the nation was happy. The nation had always been happy, even in times of peril the common folk held their love for their rulers before their own lives. I remember the Chancellor sitting back in his chair, hooves folded, as he gave a brief smirk. I assume he was happy that his hypothesis was correct, the attacks were an act of war. "Well", he opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. His mouth slowly shut and he sulked in his seat, fully realizing the gravity of the situation. He lost what remained of the grin and stared at the open table in front of him, as deep in thought as the rest of the participants. "We have to raise an army!" Shining Armor spoke aloud, blunt and valiant "There's no way in the world we are going to fight a war with the amount of Royal Guards we have now!" "Hey now let's not jump to conclusions so quickly brother!" Twilight Sparkle came out of silence to speak once more. "Why can't we just use the Elements of Harmony against them as we always have? We're always the main line of defense against forces threateni-" "We can not use them..." Celestia cut her off, I could hear the pain in her voice. "Not against other races of beings such as the Griffins." "Excuse me Princess Celestia but we used them against the Changelings during their invasion, I don't see why that's any different here!" Shining Armor supported his sisters argument. As a military stallion he seemed to understand that if you can win something without any casualties it's better than losing one! "Changelings have one motive. To feed and survive. Griffins have livelihoods, hopes, dreams... It's not the same, it'd be like using them on fellow Equestrians!" Celestia responded, despite the context her motherly voice still gave guidance through her years of wisdom. The room grew silent once more, "We raise an army then, it's simple!" the Chancellor repeated, his stance on the matter was set-in-stone. "We gather a great number of able bodied ponies from all the towns, from all the cities, of every race all across Equestria. We can win this in sheer numbers alone!" "The ponies in Equestria are peaceful folk, how can we make sure they would willingly sign up to fight!" Twilight Sparkle spoke, staunchly opposing his view on the matter. "Who said anything about willingly? If they won't sign up we'll conscript them into the army!" The Chancellor responded. I could see Celestia growing more and more visually upset as the meeting dragged on. The Chancellor was blunt and radical but his ideas were not completely crazy. On one hoof you had the moral side of the meeting, on the other you had the militaristic side, and in the middle you had me. I was in way over my head, night prior I had been getting drunk and causing chaos at galas and noble gatherings across Canterlot. Now I was stuck making decisions that would affect all of Equestria simply because I was born into it! "Speaking as the delegate from Ponyville..." Twilight Sparkle paused to clear her throat, her voice seemed to have much more gusto as she said that line, "I can say that the ponies of Ponyville would gladly serve their Princesses if need be." She paused, "However the amount of ponies needed to fulfill and army can't come from rural commonwealths like Ponyville and her surrounding towns. Most of the folk are farmers or workers and are a staple part in Equestria's economy." "Thank you Twilight, we hear Ponyville's plight." Luna arose to the command, seeing how her sister had grown quiet, "Chancellor I can say that your advice has not gone ignored. This is not longer a time of peace but a time of war and we have to accommodate for it..." She paused, thinking her next sentences out carefully before continuing "This conference was called together to decide how we, as a nation, should act against out aggressors... However we have not been given that luxury of deciding as our enemy has made the decision for us... I now say that we shall take Chancellor Frontline's logic into account and introduce mandatory conscription for all of the lands of Equestria. For now we must each go our separate ways for at least two whole sunrises and sunsets as we break the news to our common-folk. Celestia, the Chancellor, and I will write out the doctrine that explains how exactly this news means of Conscription will be carried out in each of the towns and cities. Taking into account Princess Sparkle's plight, as well as all of other lands... If any oppose to this idea speak now or forever hold your silence!" Not a word was said by anypony as Luna waited, she looked around the table one final time. "Then I hereby declare this Conference terminated until further notice!"