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// Shock and Terror! The Seabound Stalemate 
// Story: War | A Memoir 
// by Cammunism 
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I remember their faces, the ponies in the crowds faces, as Celestia gave her speech telling the mass of ponies that congregated outside the Castle walls. She addressed the elephant in the room, that the nation was at war, that recruitment stations had been set up in all of the major cities and towns. Ponies, initially, flooded the stations to sign up. Most ponies wanted vengeance for what the Griffin Empire did to ours, some wanted honor or glory, others just simply wanted something new to experience I assume the thought of traveling to far away lands intrigued some.

I was sitting in the dining room of the castle. It was completely empty with the exception of me and a few guard who were stationed there. I was eating breakfast and reading the newspaper, still as careless as ever. Shining Armor entered the room in royal guard armor, since the Conference I don't think he rarely ever took off armor as he was always on duty. 

"Ah, Shining Armor how nice it is to see you here!" I said, looking up from my breakfast for a moment. "Blueblood" He saluted me, which I found a trifle odd but I went along with it, not wanting to make a fuss about miniscule problems. 

"How's the recruitment going?" I said taking a sip from my water as I flipped through the pages of the newspaper. 

"Actually, it's going great! From all across the nation ponies are signing up in boatloads!" He said proudly. 

"Well that's good I suppose, maybe conscription won't be needed afterall?" I asked.

"I hope so... The willpower to fight is a key figure in battle, empathy is a silent killer! If the soldiers aren't willing to fight I don't know how you could win anything."

"I suppose that's why you're in command and I'm not!" I said with a chuckle as I took another sip. As I smacked my lips quietly I realized Shining Armor was staring at me. "What? Something on my face?"

"Didn't you get the letter?" He said cautiously.

"Mmm? What letter?" I said only half listening while fully engrossed in the paper.

"The letter of promotion...? You've been given command to the 5th Equestrian Army!"

I spit out my drink and I coughed and tried to catch my breath. "What did you just say?!" 

"You're royalty... You're expected to lead an army for the country!" He was taken aback by my sudden outburst.

"Why wasn't I informed of this?" I said whilst beginning to hyperventilate. 

"You were, they sent a letter yesterday..." He responded bluntly.

I didn't want to inform him that I spent the better half of the last two days drunk in my house not answering my door. "Um.. Sorry Shining I have to leave, I gotta catch... Something!" I said storming out of the room leaving Shining Armor sitting there, dumbfounded. 

I stormed my way through the castle looking for Celestia so I could be explained exactly who thought it was a good idea to promote me to a military position. I found here sitting upon her throne, filing paperwork. "Excuse me Auntie! I need to have a word with you!" I spoke storming the room. 

"Ah Blueblood my favorite nephew!" She spoke apparently happy to see me, "How are you do-" 

"What is this rumor I'm hearing that I'm being expected to lead an army!" I said cutting her off in panic.

"Uh... Mm." She paused, "It is Equestrian tradition that high Nobility helps lead armies alongside the Generals Blueblood." She spoke carefully, like speaking to a child on the verge of a temper tantrum.  

"Auntie I don't think you understand. I am not , I repeat, I am not a military commander!" 

"You did go to the Equites Military Academy Blueblood, according to your history you do have some military training." She said condescendingly.

I forgot that the academy I enrolled into was also a military school that most Generals are sent from time to time, Shining Armor even went there. I simply went there because it was the best school that money could buy! 

I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out, taking the opportunity to calm my nerves Celestia spoke again "Blueblood, I assure you that you won't see that much action. If you couldn't tell we are low on Command. With the exception of a few Officers we have absolutely no higher command and we need to take all we can get. You'll be one step below Shining Armor, and he'll tell you exactly what to do."

I lowed my head, ashamed with my cowardly behavior I had displayed in front of everypony. I heard her point but that still didn't make me terrified. "Okay... Okay Auntie I see your point." 

"Now please give me some peace and quiet. I need my space to work." I left her presence a bit ashamed with myself. I could see her point, the mad scramble for anypony with military experience was desperate indeed. I spoke to some close friends about the issue. Most told me that I would probably be relieved of command as soon as other officers were trained and I'd be back in Canterlot in the coming months. I wished, I dreamed, for that to happen.

I did, however, enjoy the attention this new position got me! Once again I was in the spotlight of Canterlot culture. With this new fame I found a hiding spot to hide my fear. I didn't want to be branded as a coward and that's exactly what happened to many ponies who didn't sign up. Any stallion that didn't sign up were immediately ridiculed heavily, the only thing worse than being against the war was not signing up in the first place. Everypony had to do their part for the war fund, and the numerous recruitment propaganda flooded every street corner and alley way in every small town across the nation.

The first few months of the war was entirely naval battles in the Eastern Sea. Thankfully I had no experience in commanding ships and sailors I stayed on the ground! I had kept up with the battles through with what was written in the newspapers. Most of it were heroic tales from the sailors that fought off the Griffin Aggressors against all odds. The Griffins had sea-superiority and we had to push them out of the large Eastern Sea before the ground battles could begin. The worst thing for the nation, and best for me, would be a sea stalemate. In which the entire war was a naval one with no actual fighting between ground troops. 

Ponies were scared however, when two months into the war we had a series of terrible battles that almost cost us the war. Griffins pillaging the quaint towns of eastern Equestria didn't really seem all that nice of an idea. Shining Armor made it entirely clear we would not surrender against the aggressors unless defeat was absolutely sure, or until we achieved victory. Shining Armor was a key role in moral of the troops, he could get the soldiers motivated! I remember him and I visited the crews of one of the sea battles. They were weakened and beaten down from the lifestyle of sea warfare. However he gave a vigorous speech about honor, valor, and defending their homeland that got their spirits up for another battle. I remember reading that their ship went down in the next battle without any survivors...

All and all the first few of the months were a mixed bag. I was secretly hoping that the war would be a back and forth motion of death on both sides. I thought these thoughts however when I looked into the faces of the ponies who actually fought in those battles I felt dreadful as I was the one hoping that they would continue to be slaughtered to save my hide. 

However, after three months of fighting throughout the summer a break in the Griffin sea-line was achieved as all ships stormed through their defenses straight towards their homeland of Scythia. The seas touched down of their western shores, finding the remains of the Equestrian settlements in ruin. The Griffin's had ransacked the settlements before their attacks on our shores. They killed most of the ponies and took the rest prisoner for hard labor. The Griffins were ruthless in their fighting and it scared me to no ends. 

I was in a boot camp officer outpost about a mile outside of Canterlot. The Fifth Army, my army, had been stationed there since the start of the war. Training and growing, my army was entirely made up of Earth Pony recruits with a few more experienced soldiers here and there. I had read about the victory in the sea the night prior and I was blissfully enjoying my moment of peace before Shining Armor waltzed in with two bodyguards. 

"Shining" I said rose and saluted, something I had become quite good at doing despite it feeling entirely foreign. 

"BlueBlood" He saluted back, "We set out tomorrow, I just thought I should inform you personally."

"Thank you for informing me, I'll make sure I-we're ready." 

He smiled, "We'll all need to be" He mumbled leaving my presence. A slumped down in my chair as I threw my officer helmet across the room. I let time go on forever as I sat in silence, alone with my fears.