"Are you guys sure we're ready for this?" Shining asked.
"I think so," Luna replied. "We've been playing our first game for some time, and I think that, for our livestream, we should be starting something new."
"This focus is kind of quirky, though," Eddy said. "I mean, we're relying on crises and on our sphere overlords to get any real gains, at least at first."
"I guess the uncertainty is what makes the entire thing worth it," Leon answered.
"We're just waiting for our last person," Luna said. "I think we'll have to start soon, though, if she doesn't show up."
"Well, just to recap, we're all playing Balkan nations, right?" Leon asked.
"Correct, or other nations that can otherwise trigger crises in order to gain land. And we'll be starting in the Civil War era; that means Italy is formed, and the USA and the CSA are at war."
"Greece, Romania, Serbia... Montenegro is an option, but they would clash with the possibility of Serbia forming Yugoslavia," Leon mused.
"Someone can also play as the Ottoman Empire," Luna added. "Montenegro is out for the reason you stated, Leon, but the Ottomans are acceptable. The biggest rule is that players are not allowed to eliminate other players, and Serbia and Montenegro would be fighting each other to form Yugoslavia, since one or the other would have to go in order to form it. Other rules include no cursing, of course, and insulting other people is out."
"Just to clarify, we're not giving up on our first game just because we're playing this, right?" Shining asked.
"Oh, no. That we'll finish, have no fear. But for the sake of a livestream we'll be doing this."
"Any other rules?"
"No 'permanent' occupation, which means not occupying someone else, in a permanent state of war, just to force them to accept a peace treaty that goes above 100% war score."
"Oh come on," Eddy objected. "That's the best way to force obstinate people and trolls into line in this game."
"No permanent occupations, period. End of discussion."
"Does everything else apply?" Leon asked. "Like, we're allowed sphere each other, go to war, cut down to size, et cetera?"
"Yes. Other than the things I've mentioned, we can all play how we like."
"I call Romania," Leon said.
"Oh wow, I thought you'd say Greece. Guess I'll be Greek, then."
"I'll be Egypt," Shining said.
"Right. That will leave myself and our guest to choose," Luna said. "I'll probably go with Serbia, in the hopes of creating Yugoslavia."
"Which will likely leave someone else up to our guest, who you haven't really introduced us to," Eddy noted. "is it Flutters?"
"No."
"Rainy?"
"Leon, you can't call Rainbow Dash that! And no again!"
"She doesn't have to know."
"Twily?"
"Stop guessing! She'll be here any-"
Another player joined the game. Leon looked at the name; Metamorphia.
"Who's that?"
"Oh, hello," a young female voice said quietly. "I hope I'm in the right place...? I'm sort of new to this whole computer thing."
"Gentlemen and Gentlecolt, meet Metamorphia, one of the Changelings that have been included in the cultural exchange."
Several seconds passed in silence.
"I know it's unexpected," Luna continued, "but I've decided to really kickstart the exchange by giving one of the foreign student, such as they are, a chance in one of our livestreams. I think it's a good idea, and will help break the ice."
"Are you sure-"
"Yes, I am sure that I'm not mind controlled or replaced, Shining Armor," Luna said with a hint of impatience, as though they'd gone through this before. "We have Guards checking everypony who enters the palace. I've had Guards check me, and I've had them check Metamorphia before we started playing. What else would you have me do?"
"Sorry, Your Highness," Shining replied, sounding a little now sheepish. "It's my-"
"I know," Luna answered, more calmly than before. "Now, without any further ado, I'd like to introduce Metamorphia. She's travelled a long way to be here, and has studied computer technology intensely in order to be part of this livestream, which I'll be starting in a few minutes."
"Hi," Leon said.
"Heya," Eddy said.
"Oh, hello." The changeling sounded like a normal Equestrian mare, without any accent or hissing that could give her away. "I'm glad to be here."
"We're glad you're here as well," Luna replied. "Do you understand how to play the game?"
"Yes. I mean, I've watched your livestreams and other videos, some made by ponies and others, rather more, by humans. I think I have a general idea of what to do."
"Brilliant! Now, to avoid insults and abuse in the comments, I'll refrain from actively identifying you as a changeling, though your name might give it away. I advise you all to simply not answer any such questions."
"Oh, alright. I hope the ideas they get from the fandom don't influence their opinion of me, or of my race in particular."
"I can't make promises," Luna said ruefully. "I can't control people who live in another world, and I can't force ponies and others in our own to believe anything they absolutely refuse to believe. However, I promise to protect your identity as much as possible. As for the livestream..." Luna was quiet for a moment; her hoof clopped as it struck something, followed by some muffled muttering. "Alright, we are live in three, two, one... Greetings, esteemed viewers. I am Princess Luna, playing Victoria 2 again with Leon, Edward, Shining Armor, and a new guest player, Metamorphia."
"'Ey, blokes," Eddy said in greeting.
"In this series, we'll be playing as nations that have stakes in crisis situations; Greece, Romania, and others of their ilk. The goal is simple; take as many of our cores from the AI, either through war or by initiating crises. Edward is Greece, Leon is Romania, Shining is Egypt, I am Serbia, and Metamorphia... actually, Meta, if I may call you that, I don't think you've chosen a country yet."
"I'll be... Mexico?"
"Eh, technically, they can get a crisis going," Shining said, "But the USA accepts Mexican culture, so its difficult."
"Perhaps Italy," Luna suggested. "True, they're a great power, but our guest has no experience with actually playing the game, and she may as well play as a country that's not going to be as easy to beat up."
"Thank you, Princess, I'll do that."
"Alright, I think with that settled, we can get started with the game itself."
The game switched to a loading screen briefly, then Leon found himself looking at the infant nation of Romania. It was basically Wallachia and Moldavia combined into a single nation. It began in the Russian sphere of influence, and he sent them an alliance offer immediately, while raising taxes and starting research designed to get more research points. There were plenty of locations where the population were soldiers, and he began recruiting units. The Ottomans would want a slice of his territory - incidentally the only piece touching the ocean - and he wasn't about to let them do that.
"Okay, I think we should all ally each other," Eddy said. "And cooperate as much as possible. This is the bloody Ottoman Empire we'll be up against."
"My war plan is basically to immediately take the rest of my only ocean province away from the Ottoman, mostly with the help of the Russians," Leon replied. "I don't see any harm in that. In fact, it might actually help us."
"So, this is murder-the-Ottoman-Empire mode?" Meta asked.
"Well, they can still exist," Eddy countered. "They're just not allowed to exist within our rightful territory."
"Right. That sounds like we're going to be abusing one country."
"Oh well. Sick man of Europe and all that."
"What if the Russians decide to take stuff that you think belongs to you, Leon?" Luna asked.
"I doubt it. The Russians normally steal Kars and other northern Ottoman states, so they probably won't be taking territory that belongs to me in particular. All that said, I do have a province with one of their cores, so a war with them eventually is almost certain, But I think they'll be more than happy to Rickroll the Ottomans for now. They hate each other."
"I can't fault your logic there, but I'd advise caution. The Russians have more men than the Ottomans, so making them more powerful may be troublesome in the long run."
"It's a risk I'm willing to take. Plus, they usually don't seem to focus on military technology. If I have gas attack and they don't, it's too bad for them."
"Hmm... Well, if we're all ready, I'm going to unpause the game."
No one objected.
"Right. Here we go..."
The time in the game began to move forward. Leon quickly formed an alliance with Russia, which was all too happy - for the moment - to accept. He also switched to a reactionary government. "Not really happy that my reactionary government is anti-military, and I don't think its historical, given how much Romanian land remains outside their current borders."
"Well, what are the other options?" Luna asked.
"I have a pacifist conservative party, and a pro-military liberal party that's also secular - and yeah, I am a most decidedly anti-secular person, so that party is never going to get into power, not if I can help it."
"You realize that a lot of our viewers aren't exactly going to like you for that statement, right?"
"Oh well. I don't have to care about their opinion whatsoever. And if the ACLU want to sue me, this livestream has been started by someone in Equestria and I haven't revealed my last name to anyone out there, so it's not like they can find out who I am."
"Noted, but please remember that this livestream is for fun, not for political messaging."
"RIght." That said, Leon clicked on the Ottoman Empire and checked. While his military was starting to produce units, he knew that the bulk of the war was going to be fought between them and Russia, and that the latter power would be the deciding factor. Britain wasn't yet friendly with the Empire, nor were they allied with them, so it would be safe for the immediate future to declare war. "That said, I'm going to wreck the Ottomans, so if anyone wants in on that..."
"I'm in," Eddy said immediately.
"Alright," Luna replied. "My Serbia is small, and I'll have to grow if I'm going to get any chance of forming Yugoslavia."
"I'm in too," Shining said. "They have a lot of my land, and I want it all back."
"What about me?" Meta asked.
"Er, well, a lot of the stuff you'd want to take from them is stuff we'd want," Eddy said, sounding as if he were scratching his head. "Might be willing to help you against Austria later if you either stay out or just help the war without adding a wargoal."
"Hmmm..."
"I can help you out against Austria, definitely," Leon said. "They have a lot of my cores that aren't also yours."
"I guess its not a totally stupid idea. I'll go for it. So, everyone allies each other and Romania in particular?"
"Yes." A moment later, Leon got several alliance offers, all of which he accepted. A few moments after that, having checked to see if the Russians would follow him - they would - he declared war on the Ottoman Empire, and everyone else joined.
Leon immediately invaded the province right next to him; Luna attacked Southern Serbia, Shining invaded Palestine, Eddy waltzed into Thessalia, and Metamorphia began to attack Crete.
"'What do you guys think of World War Bee?'" Luna quoted from the comments in the livestream. "I'm afraid that, since I do not play EVE Online, I cannot in good conscience render an opinion, even though I have kept up on the events."
"Basically, from what I hear, Goonswarm are getting their backsides handed to them," Leon said. "I don't really play either, but I've tried really hard to understand the mechanics of the game and the wars involved. Apparently, the immediate cause of war was that the Cluster-eff Coalition, or Imperium, led by the Goonswarm Federation corporation, attacked people's assets in lowsec, and a bunch of players and groups banded together and, to everyone's surprise, started to beat them back. Now, five months or so later, the Imperium is mostly down to a small slice of Goonswarm territory, and the Money Badger Coalition has them on the ropes. About time, a lot of people are thinking, for EVE's self-proclaimed bad guys to get what they deserve, though it'll be difficult to wipe them out as an entity, seeing as they were founded off-site. I'm not fond of Goonswarm's hate-filled counter response to the MBC, to be honest."
"I play it," Eddy said. "Not a Goon now but I used to be, ultimately I liked TEST better. Fought with them in the Fountain War and I lost most of my stuff when 6VDT fell. TEST's been conquering stuff from the Goons recently and they're back on the board. I don't play very often, but I've been on a couple times in the past few weeks and I've taken part - a small part, mostly raids - in the war."
"Ultimately, whatever side wins, EVE is going to have - has had - the political balance shift," Luna said. "As will the political balance after this war. If we can each take a province - or most of us - the Ottoman Empire will be weaker and we'll be stronger, though I have my doubts as to whether we'll be able to do this again, as the Ottomans will end up being in someone's - read, 'The British Empire's' - sphere of influence by the time the truce wears off."
"Unless they really don't like them," Leon replied. "If the British vote for one of us in a crisis, their relationship will sour - fast. And if Eddy can get them into the war right now..."
"Hmm? Oh, right, I'm already in their sphere, derp. If they accept my offer of alliance, I might be able to get them in. Of course, since I'm already at war, that might be hard." There was a moment of silence, then an announcement of a Greek-British alliance, followed by the British joining the war. "Fantastic. Blighty said yes."
"Good," Leon replied. "That'll help us, and drive a wedge between Britain and the Empire."
"It might not last, if the British want them in their sphere," Luna said. "If they want them badly enough, they'll get the Ottomans in their sphere; even the Russians might be able to sphere them if they don't end up at war with them constantly."
"We'll take what we can get," Shining answered. "To victory!"
Leon watched as his forces began to capture territory. The enemy's first response wasn't a very smart one; they sent six thousand men to counter invade, which he was easily able to beat.
"Desteapta-te Romane,
din somnul cel de moarte
in care te-adancira
barbarii de tiranii
barbarii de tiranii!"
"Nice, where's that from?" Shining asked.
"Romanian national anthem," Leon answered. "'Awaken Thee, Romanian/ from the deathly sleep/into which you've been sunk/by barbaric tyrants!'"
"Sounds... rebellious."
"Yep. From what I've heard, it's inspired by Romania's history of angry peasant revolts, and when the Romanian dictatorship was being overthrown in 1989, people were singing it as they battled government forces in the streets. Not that the army remained loyal to the government for long..." Leon continued to watch as the war continued, and his forces won more ground, along with his allies.
"'What are some current events in Equestria?'" Luna read. "You'd think people didn't know how to buy a newspaper anymore. Or how to look up things on the internet, which spans both worlds these days." She said this without heat, and in a joking sort of manner.
"it's not every day that people get the news directly from a princess, either," Leon pointed out. "Or get their news straight from the horse's mouth, pun intended."
"I suppose not," Luna replied, chuckling. "We've had some trouble with a bandit group in the south that has been harassing the railroads and roads there. Appleloosa and Dodge Junction have been suffering because of it. Fortunately, we're sending an army to wipe out the bandits, through any means necessary, though we're hoping to talk them into surrender rather than have to fight them. Changeling scares are also on the rise, and there are a number of ponies who think that my sister and I are mind controlled simply because we're trying for a peaceful approach and cooperation over military fiat." Luna breathed heavily. "Two changelings who were unmasked in Manehattan were savaged yesterday, by ponies unknown, and nopony is coming forward with information regarding the attackers."
"That's... That's monstrous!" Meta said angrily.
"It is," Luna replied, with a hint, or more than a hint, of fury in her voice. "The police were notified, and took the changelings into custody as well, instead of looking for the attackers. It took a doctor who happened to see them to convince the police that they needed treatment in order for them to receive it. Celestia and I at once sent an order that they be released and that the attackers be caught, detained, and punished under the law."
"Were they doing anything suspicious?" Leon asked.
"The changelings? No; as far as we're aware, they were just performing usual, non-threatening operations. Somehow, they ended up being caught and beaten by a mob. If you humans think that Equestria is a perfect place and that we're without flaw or sin, this is the proof otherwise."
Leon kept an eye on the Ottomans as his army continued to capture territory. "I hope you get the justice you intend. That can't just be allowed to go on."
"it won't. We will capture all of those responsible, and we won't stop searching until all of them are behind bars and ready for a trial... which probably won't last long, considering the evidence we've got."
The various armies invading the Ottomans continued their march. While the enemy was starting to throw greater forces into the fight, the Russians were crushing the Empire in the north, while the British invaded from southern directions. The momentum was building.
"Hey, Leon!" Shining said.
"What?"
"You're the historian of the group. Is it true that the guy who inspired the whole vampire thing and Dracula was based in Romania?"
"Yes. Yes, he was. The man known to history as Vlad the Impaler."
"Ugh. I'd heard about the whole thing, and just wanted to know."
"Which provides me a chance to explain something. To the world at large, and especially Hungarians and Turks, Vlad, or Dracula, was a villain. To Romanians, however, he's a hero who defended them from the Ottomans and the Hungarians. It depends on your point of view. Personally, I am just as disgusted by impaling as the next person, but Romanians have a different opinion on the villain, whom they consider a hero."
"It's something worth considering," Luna admitted. "Both sides in a conflict have their heroes, whom the other side will, whether or not it's true, will consider villains."
Leon continued to keep his eye on the war. A large Ottoman stack, for whatever reason, had decided to go west rather than fight the Russians. "Guys, look out, big stack coming here."
"Oh, I see it," Eddy confirmed. "Thirty six thousand. Ouch. Why couldn't this one go up against the Russians, die horribly, and just let us win the war?"
"Because empires tend to not give up power easily, and Ottomans hate losing land."
"But we're just trying to make the Sick Man of Europe well again," Eddy protested. "They got too big from eating so many countries, so we're trying to correct the balance before they get to a critical condition."
Leon laughed. "Yeah. I guess. But their immune system is trying to boot us out."
"Well, then, we'll just have to turn their immune system off until we're done."
Leon stayed on an occupied province until he realize that the enemy army was heading westward. "Luna, it's coming your way."
"Wait, what? I thought they'd head for the state you're trying to capture!"
"Well, technically, since you added a wargoal, that means that if you're occupying at least 75% of it, it adds to the ticking warscore, so either is a valid target," Eddy said.
"Oh. Right, this isn't Crusader Kings 2 or Europa. What's the plan, then?"
"Everyone surround and bum rush him while he's trying to retake things," Leon said. "And get your best generals. I didn't roll well with mine."
"I can't make up there in time," Shining said. "I'm busy trying to capture things."
"I'm still some distance away," Meta said. "I'll do what I can, but the battle's going to be over before I get there."
He watched as the Serbian, Romanian, and Greek armies got into position. His army was the biggest of the three. at 21,000 men in 7 brigades; Luna had managed to scrape up 3 brigades of 9,000, Eddy 6 of 18,000, to total 48,000 in all. Even though they had 12,000 more men than the enemy, Leon wasn't sure which way the fight was going to go.
"He's retaking too fast," Luna said. "He might begin moving away before we can attack."
"I'll catch him," Leon said. "My general is terrible at combat, but he's got ten percent higher speed."
"Okay then," Luna said. "Let's go."
Leon sent his army to attack the enemy stack; Luna and Eddy sent their armies as well, and the battle began in earnest. To Leon's relief, the Ottomans didn't do too well once the battle began, and when he checked he realized that it was due to a low level of military technology. Still, there were a lot of them, and it took several days for them to retreat. The enemy force was knocked down to about half the strength it had been.
"Follow them!" Luna commanded. "Let's crush that army out of existence!"
The allied armies followed. The enemy army was hit again, and suffered even more damage; it was down to about seven thousand men out of the original thirty six thousand.
"Again!"
They followed the enemy again, and this time, the enemy stack was wiped out.
"Yes!" Eddy almost shouted. "He's done for."
"Hopefully, the major powers will end the war soon," Luna said. "My economy is doing quite poorly at the moment, and my army is having trouble reinforcing."
"Mine too," Eddy agreed. "On the other hand, we have 70% warscore by now. Wish this game had achievements; something like 'Dismantle the Ottoman Empire' would be nice."
"I like getting achievements too," Luna said, "but they're not as important as you'd believe."
"But they show people that I'm better than them!"
"You got half of your Steam achievements with our help, and even more on Xbox; how are you better than anyone else!?" Leon asked.
"Because I have those achievements and they don't?"
Leon rolled his eyes as Luna said, "That'll be enough. Let's just focus on winning the war."
"Um... we've won already, Luna."
"Wait, what?"
"They gave up while we were talking."
It was true. The British, the war leaders, had made an offer that the Ottomans had accepted. Leon had gotten his state, as had Eddy and Shining. Luna got Southern Serbia.
"Looks like they threw the Russians under the bus in order to take Kuwait, or whatever it's called," Shining noted.
"Yeah, they did. I don't think they'd be happy if this were real life."
"Either way, I think we might have busted the idea of a British-Ottoman alliance," Meta said. "We won't have to worry too much about that. And now for Austria..."
"I'll join in on that," Leon replied. "But my army suffered a lot of casualties and I have to concentrate on getting more soldier pops to refill the gaps and get more units."
"I think that's the problem for most of us, Meta," Luna added. "Small nations have this problem."
"Oh, okay. Maybe in a couple years?"
"Yes, I think we can meet that timeline," Luna said. "Keep careful watch on the alliances, though. Austria will definitely ally somebody. Since they usually get into a ton of wars against Prussia, and, later, the North German Confederation, I think we should wait until they're fighting against them before we hit the Austrians."
"Ought to build up a bit of gold in our coffers and factories in our lands before we go to war again," Ed advised.
"Indeed. We have much to do and get started on. As good as the recent war went, we need to actually use what we've taken."
"Railroads," Leon deadpanned.
"Well, that's just one thing we have to do. Factories, research, handling revolt risk-"
"What handling? Rebels are overpowered after 1900."
"Well, I can't deny that. The Communists in particular are bothersome," Luna admitted, and Leon could almost see her rolling her eyes. "And its annoying that rebels in colonies are political rather than nationalist in nature. Still there are ways to help keep rebellion risk down, at least for a while. One is to not take decisions that anger the lower class, because they're always the majority population."
"But how do we get them to be more conservative and less socialist?" Eddy asked.
"I'm not sure. You can tilt the way the voting works by encouraging party loyalty in an area, but not the ideology. There's probably a way, but if there is, I haven't heard of it yet."
"I wish there was away to ban parties that participate in a rebellion," Leon said. "If Communists rebelled, you ought be able to ban the Communist party, at least for a set number of years, once all the rebels are dead."
"Unfortunately, that hasn't happened yet, and I doubt it will. This game is considered old, and it only has two major DLC packs, compared to Crusader Kings 2 and Europa Universalis IV."
Leon grunted unhappily.
"And I must add that banning a political party does not generally get rid of it," Luna added. "They just go underground."
"Yeah, but I ought to be able to do something to keep rebels from spawning every half-year other than giving in to them."
"I understand. Believe me, there are some political factions that I would love to ban if they only gave us the chance."
Leon found himself interested. "Oh?"
"Equestria does have a number of political... maybe not parties, the way you Americans and Britons know it, but there are supremacists of each three kind of pony, and there are groups that believe that Equestria should be for ponies, and ponies only. In other words, donkeys, griffons, and other species should be kicked out."
"I bet that doesn't make headlines," Eddy said.
"We try to ignore them; if people don't know about them, it makes it harder for any actions they may take to have any hold on the country. And, even though they exist, these extremists are of a very small number. They don't have the numbers to be particularly dangerous, not politically. And before anyone asks, yes, we have security keeping tabs on them just in case."
"You bet we do," Shining put in. "We've arrested a few ponies for subversive activities... which included robbery and extortion aimed at gaining money for their factions."
"'What do ponies use to travel when on Earth?'" Luna read off the comments. "Our own hooves, of course, some bare-hooved, others with horseshoes - yes, nailed on - as well as normal commercial transport, to include airlines, trains, and buses, and, for pegasi and the few alicorns that exist, our wings. We have trouble fitting into cars considering our size and the shape of our bodies, but it's not impossible. And another comment deleted," Luna added, much drier this time. "Do not ask whether we will ride in horse trailers or any similar question designed to insult. We wouldn't ask humans whether they'd like to stay in cages, or to live in a barn."
"Except for Applejack, whose barn is a house," Leon said.
"Well... yes, but in any case, comment deleted. Do not ask things with the intent to be insulting."
Leon watched and waited as railroads began to build, little by little. His army wasn't that badly off, though the soldier pops they'd come from were mostly red or yellow. "One good thing playing Romania, you don't have to go to war with the Middle East to get oil."
"What makes you say that?" Shining asked.
"Romania was Germany's primary source of oil for World War II," Leon responded. "And I know because oil pops up here later in the game. I'm going to try to milk that for all its worth."
"In the meantime...?"
"In the meantime, I get ready for the next war."
"Um-hmm."
"We'll have to wrap this up in a few minutes, sadly," Luna said. "I have to raise the moon, and then there will be Night Court to deal with."
"Ain't that always the way?" Eddy asked.
"I'm hardly enamored with the situation," the Lunar Princess replied. "But I do have responsibilities to take care of."
"And Cadence needs me to watch over Flurry Heart," Shining put in. "She's going to negotiate with the Yak ambassador and she needs somepony to take care of our child."
"Alright," Leon said, though reluctantly. "You guys should really tell us these things before the session, though."
"I will next time, I promise," Luna said.
"Good."
Factories and railroads continued to build. Leon didn't build many forts, but he did place one in his capital, just to make that in particular more difficult to besiege. It was always annoying when your capital was taken. As he waited, he took a good look at the world. "CSA is dead, as usual," Leon noted.
"They're dead because they can't get anyone on their side," Eddy pointed out. "They usually only win in the 1836 start if you made all your new states slave states and fill your military with Dixie units, and of course if you choose to play as them."
"Which I never will," Leon said. "I'm a Unionist, thank you very much."
"And China's own civil war is long since over," Luna said. "Do the Heavenly Kingdom ever win?"
"They can, if you're playing them. But even if they win, they don't get cores on everything like the Chinese Empire does, and the Chinese substates don't give them their allegiance. They have to deal with massive infamy penalties in order to conquer all of China to make it remotely feasible to unite them. If the Chinese Empire gets a revolution and loses its substates, on the other hand, it can just declare war at any time and eat them."
"I see."
"Oh, the NGF just declared war on France!" Eddy yelled. "Here we go!"
"I can take the Papal States now, right?" Meta asked.
"You will next time," Luna said. "For now, it's time to go."
"Awwww!"
"Don't worry, we'll continue another time. May everyone here have a good night!"
With that, the game for the night ended. Leon leaned back in his seat, remembering the more juicy bits of the evening...