The Pastry Affair, Part II
The Pastry Affair, Part II
The Nineteenth Century: The Saga of Equestria
February 28, 1839
Near México City, México
Lieutenant Quill observed the fighting. As it continued, he slowly started to observe a pattern.
About five hundred French soldiers. I’d say maybe twenty cannons. No mounted troops that I can see.
We outnumber them by about one and a half ponies to one man. We were allotted fifteen cannon. I have five hundred pegasi, two hundred earth ponies, and fifty unicorns.
If I have my pegasi attack from the sky, we can utilize the element of surprise. I bet humans have very little experience with fighting enemies in the air…
“I need three hundred pegasi to prepare for a run on the French forces!” he ordered.
“Sir?”
“Just in case,” said the Lieutenant. “We must always be ready. You never know about these humans…”
His second, First Sergeant Bronze Spear, looked at him, and nodded.
The French forces moved forward, advancing against the Mexicans. Their forces were having a rough time.
“We need to be closer to the fighting,” said Quill. “Move to the right!”
The seven hundred fifty ponies slowly shifted in the direction specified. Now, they were parked on a hill near the fighting. The Mexicans were about twenty feet below and fifty feet to their right.
“Unlimber the cannons!”
And now we wait…
Fifteen minutes later…
“Sir! The Mexicans and French have moved to hand-to-hand fighting!”
“So they’re done trading volleys? Excellent,” said Quill.
Suddenly, amid the din of the fighting, Quill heard a faint whizz, and his sergeant, who had given the report to him, choked once, then collapsed.
Yes!!! he crowed to himself, silently. He was sorry about his sergeant, of course, but finally, he had it. A pretext to attack the French.
Of course, he had no way of proving that it was a French bullet. It very well could have been a stray Mexican shell. But that did not stop him.
“They’re firing on us! Cannons, aim for their back ranks and cannon and fire when ready!”
The ponies milled about for a few minutes, but finally, the Equestrian cannons started to sing…
April 4, 1839
Canterlot, Equestria
“WHAT IN TARTARUS WERE YOU THINKING!?!?” bellowed Luna.
Quill flinched. He had heard stories of Nightmare Moon, of course, and Luna was looking really pissed. He looked around the table, looking for some salvation.
Nothing. Not even from Major Shining Armor, who sat stone-faced.
“They attacked us first!” the pegasus protested. No sell.
“After you deliberately moved as close as you could to the Mexican army,” said Cadance, glaring at him. “Your officers were quite through in their reports.”
“But, I-”
“Lieutenant. Leave,” said Celestia, speaking for the first time since she called in the pegasus for the inquiry. “Wait outside until we call you back in. We must determine what consequences will be levied against you.”
Any protest Quill had to offer died in his throat. He could do not but salute sharply, turn around, and walk out the doors.
Outside the chamber, there were two ponies of the Royal Guard that watched him, to insure he did not try to run away or escape his judgment. Despite not being charged, he was, for all intents and purposes, under arrest.
And I did so well, he thought, remembering the battle.
As the Equestrian cannons started to roar, the French looked around in confusion. As they did, the Equestrian pegasi crashed into them, guns blaring. The humans wavered. They had eyed the Equestrians with suspicion at the outbreak of the battle, but their commanding officers had assured them that the Equestrians would not have the guts to intervene.
Apparently, they were wrong.
As the French rallied and brought their weapons to bear on the pegasi, they quickly found that the pegasi were scattering, no longer presenting a unified target for the humans to fire at. While the humans were still looking for an easy target in the sky, the ground-based earth ponies and unicorns closed the distance with the humans and slammed into them.
It was chaos. The French had no idea which way to turn. And their disarray bought the Mexicans time to rally and rebuild their formations. When they also struck against the French, along with a renewed attack from the pegasi, the humans quickly broke and fled the battlefield.
Quill lost twenty pegasi, thirty-five earth ponies, and five unicorns. The Mexicans lost about two hundred fifty of their four hundred fifty opening force.
The French lost almost four hundred twenty five of their five hundred men. Granted, a good number of them were killed by the Mexicans, but the Equestrians had certainly left their mark...
“Lieutenant Quill. The Princesses want you back,” said one of the guards, snapping Quill out of his thoughts.
He saluted, then walked back into the Council’s chambers. He then saluted the Princesses.
“At ease, Lieutenant,” ordered Celestia. “Sit down.”
Quill did so.
“You have been charged with unlawful and unauthorized engagement, performing unauthorized military operations, and attacking a neutral nation without cause. It is the finding of the Equestrian Royal Council that you are guilty of all charges.”
Quill felt as if he was falling.
“It is the ruling of this Council that you shall be stripped of rank and title within the Equestrian Military and confined to house arrest for a period of one year, effective immediately.
That concludes your sentence. The guard shall escort you to your home in Canterlot.”
Quill could do nothing but salute sharply and turn towards the door.
“Did we say you were dismissed, soldier?” asked Shining Armor, speaking for the first time.
“Upon the completion of your house arrest, you shall report to the First Corps, where you will take your place-” Celestia grimaced “-as the Captain of the First Corps.”
“...What?”
Celestia sighed. “Your actions were wrong. You broke the law, and you must be punished for it. ...However, your tactics were sound, and Equestria is suffering something of a shortage in the office pool. Perhaps more importantly, the Mexican government is elated at your actions, and we need to show that we support them...You are dismissed, Quill. Report for house arrest.”
Text of the French-Mexican Treaty on Claims
Article I: All hostilities between the French Kingdom and the Republic of México shall cease immediately.
Article II: The Republic of México shall pay a sum of five hundred and fifty thousand pesos to the French Kingdom within five years of this Treaty being signed.
President of México, Antonio López de Santa Anna
Special Minister to México, Jacqui du Vol
Observed by the Equestrian Ambassador to México, Silver Star
Signed April 5, 1839
April 10, 1839
Canterlot, Equestria
“But we won!”
“We got lucky,” corrected Celestia, looking at Chancellor Blueblood. “Again. We have had two engagements with the humans, and we have gotten lucky twice. In both instances, we faced them with numbers on our side, and were able to abuse our power in the skies to our advantage. We will not get lucky again. The humans are many things, but dumb is not one of them. They will learn from their mistakes. I am certain that the Americans have caught wind of our tactics, and are, as we speak, strategising and attempting to figure out how they can defeat them.
“The Battle of México City was our last easy victory,” said Celestia, in a heavy voice. “Quill both did a great service and gave us a terrible curse. On one hoof, his actions have paved the way to friendly relations with México, and possibly all of Latin America. On the other, he has exposed our tactics for the world to see and come up with counters to. It falls to us, the Royal Ministry of the Sciences, and the officers of the Equestrian Military to protect Equestria now that our tactics have been lain to bare in front of the entire world.
“Hubris from the human nations have carried us this far, but remember that we still have not engaged in a formal war with the humans. Everything up until now have been glorified skirmishes, not major engagements.”
Celestia looked around at the other members of the Council, looking gloomy. She did not blame them, as she hammered the point in one last time: “We cannot count on human hubris to save us again. Sitting on this Council is not easy, and sometimes we have to make the tough decisions. Decisions that determine whether Equestria will survive another day, or if the historians will include us simply as a footnote when they write of this time. But we can do it. This is not the first threat Equestria has faced, and it will not be the last. I believe in the power of ponykind. In the power of Harmony. We can do this.
“This meeting is adjourned until tomorrow.”
Stats
Page generated in 0.033 seconds
Total duration
887 users online
639,791 hits today, 2,561,572 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Now that's one pony earning a spot in the history books...
Quill has done it. There's no turning back. Pandora's Box has been opened, and won't close ever again. Equestria has finally left its first big mark in the affairs of the world. Which of course, will make heads turn. Reactions will be... interesting to see...
Hmm, so 50K pesos less to pay, and within a 5-year limit rather than up-front. This is certainly gonna have impactful, if small at first, consequences to the country. Too bad Economy isn't my field of expertise though, heh, so I wouldn't be entirely sure on what it can bring.
At first I was left pondering on Santa Anna being president for this. In OTL, he was president from March to July, as Bustamante had left to fight José de Urrea's rebellion in Tamaulipas. But thinking it a bit further, I wouldn't be surprised if the rebellion had happened anyway. It had started precisely taking advantage of the Pastry Affair, back in late-mid 1838. First led by Longinos Montenegro, who would grant leadership to Urrea once he had arrived from Durango. They actually established dealings with the French forces near Tampico. Certainly not a good move to make in regards to their image in the country, but at the time it made sense if they thought it was their best chance to install back Federalism.
Hmm, so, Santa Anna still has around 3 months left of presidency, though not that he'd know anyway since it would depend on the time it would take for Urrea's rebellion to be struck down, which they wouldn't be able to know exactly. Anyway, considering the type of man he was, it's certain whatever the country does to express gratitude for Equestria's help, he will be behind it, as he can use it to help on his image.
If it's any consolation for the ponies about exposing their military tactics, the world at large is still in the era where that sort of information still largely spreads through word of mouth, and since humans are still by large the most numerous sapient beings on the planet, it's not gonna be a big priority for most of the world. Still, considering which ones might be in the select few, makes sense to not take it lightly.
Things are definitely getting intense with Equestria starting to "show it's teeth" and rally back against the US and European Powers who think them just and inconvenience or a pawn, unlike the Native American Tribes Equestia is united and modernized. Combined with the ingenuity and long life spans the ponies have they are not the kind of competitor any humans are familiar with
7182168 Thank you for the clarification. Really.
Well, that happened.
I like how it all turned out though, a good end to the affair in my opinion. Again hubris has won a battle for the Equestrians but at least they have recognized this and there will be some interesting developments in the future. I love how Quill is rightly being treated as both a hero and and an imbecile, that is believable and hilarious.
Now that the 1830s are out of the way, now it is time for the 1840s. I wish not to sound imposing or ungrateful, I really do like this series, but this is my decade here, and there are some interesting developments to mention.
The Americans will definitely catch on as well as the British for they did have an eye on the affair this whole time and America, and then Texas, were active participants to some extent. Relations with Latin America would be different for sure but I have some things worth mentioning.
Though later in the century, their is a good event for the Equestrian to get in trouble with the British, the Caste War of Yucatan. Beginning in 1847 and not ending till 1901, people of indigenous decent revolted in the Yucatan forming their own state that Britain recognized in the 1850s, much to Mexico's attempts to crush the revolt. Seeing as that Mexico is in a better position and has Equestria support it would be interesting how Equestria deals with this with their Mexican neighbors.
Another thing, and this is for Twiligh'ts little adventure in Latin America is two people worth meeting Charles Baudin and Giuseppe Garibaldi. Charles Baudin was Commander and Chief of the French forces during the Pastry War. After the affair he was promoted to Vice admiral and sent on a military and diplomatic mission to Buenos Aires in 1840 and was given command of the French fleet in South America in 1841. It will be a very interesting encounter for Twilight when she visits Buenos Aries to meet him. Though an enemy of Equestria and leader of French forces in Mexico, Baudin actually did not enjoy the war and tried countless times to avoid battle when possible. He would be curdious and friendly to Twilight if she meet him and would provide insight on France and Europe to Twilight. Speaking of insight on Europe it would also be vary cool and beneficial if she met Giuseppe Garibaldi, the father of modern Italy. Garibaldi was the one who united all of Italy and was a man who fought for the people. By this time he is in Latin America and would soon go off to fight with the Uruguayan military. It would be very beneficial if by luck this princess meet this future leader of Italy.
Again I like how this all turned out and can't wait for the next chapter!
7182713
What, may I ask, was the eh?
7182704
Thank you for reading. Really.
heh i was listening to the dropkick murphys johnny i hardly knew ya
...... hey mint20 id love to see equestrias reaction to the irish wasnt there an instants were in one of the newspaper events about a drinking contest maybe you could have berry punch in a drinking contest between some fine irish gentlemen only for a drunken brawl to take place and since we know the irish like to fight and some of the drunken riots that riots that happen would make some funny moments maybe the fight would be like a domnio effect
7182773
Well, I would say it also depends on what they did and reacted during the different developtment of the event, counting the three months as well. After all, one thing was the Naval Blockade. An actual incursion of French soldiers inland is bound to factor in things as well. Though one that is a bit more definite is that the British now didn't had an involvement in ending the affair.
Well, assuming things don't have the chance to turn out different. Either way, I agree. Considering the British did stuff like supply the Mayans through British Honduras.
Baudin huh. That was the man who José de Urrea interacted with in Tampico while staging his rebellion. Though I suppose that wouldn't matter much by the time Baudin could make an appearance, so far away in both location and time.
Well. So that happened. Very interesting how you made Quill look like an idiot, and a hero. An idiot for purposely putting his troops closer to the conflict, but a hero for showing a world power that Equestria is not a country to be taken lightly. However, as Celestia has stated, they have been thriving off of human hubris and engaging in skirmishes. Global communication isn't exactly superb at this current time, but it will be a little bit of an eye opener for the big world powers. This will show everyone else across the globe that Equestria is not simply a joke. They are serious about safe guarding their position and interests within the larger world, and they will bare their teeth if push comes to shove.
I like how they have stood up to a word power, but at the same time, I advise Equestria be more cautious than ever from here on out.
Excellent two chapters, and I look forward to the next one.
~ Super-Brony12
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
The new chapter is here at last!
And yet I want more now.
Yeah, it was kinda obvious the Council/Princesses would first give Quill a well deserved verbal smack on the head, followed by a promotion to Captain of the First Corps (sooo, does that make him Captain of the entire Corps, or that he became a captain within the Corps?). Also, Celestia was right about this being the last easy battle. I mean, I'm sure that you're following the style of the game, but it kinda feels anti-climatic when we only get a brief description of the battle after it happened.
7182773
Yeah, Garibaldi is someone worth seeing in this story.
And I certainly hope there will be many new improvements to the Equestrian Army as we (finally) approach the 1840's.
7183192 Well the Mexican-American war won't start till Texas becomes a state in 1845, a good six years and the French were very thorough in their operations, collecting information about geography, public opinion, etc. (Just look at the Battle of Vera Cruz). The Americas and Texans were active observers, the US sent a frigate to help the French during Vera Cruz and if Equestria sent a military force to observe, then the Americans would have done the same. Having first hand observation and report of the skirmish they would have both the information and the time to create counter strategies and what technologies they would invest in such as better trained skirmishers, longer ranged and more accurate rifles and cannons, and even more development on mobile artillery units and dragoons. Faster mobility, better accuracy, and longer range will counter Equestria's military.
Also seeing that Britain is beginning to regret helping Equestria and patching things up with America I won't be surprised if they start pushing an anti-Equestrian policy in Latin America and the Pacific, they may even start helping the US out in balancing out Equestria's power by helping them in obtaining Giffonia. Rather having another player in the Pacific to counter the Equestrians then leaving Equestria open to consolidating the rest of the West Coast under the Equestrian banner and gaining more influence in both North America and Asia.
And as for Baudin it will open more doors to future relations as the French Republic will be reborn again in 1848 and he will play a part in the wars in Italy.
7184263
Hmm...about that...
7184277
Ooooooooh?
7184263
Hmm, funny. That sounds like some of the same things I was gonna say that Equestria should invest to counter America.
And it certainly would be a "What a Twist?" if Britain were to back peddle and help the US gain Griffonia.
Well, right now José Antonio Páez has started his second presidency, by this time he is so powerful that "if Bolívar raised from his grave, he wouldn't have much of a choice but to submit to me", if Twilight gets to Venezuela, she'll meet the "taita" and probably be treated with a party from Páez (again, he has so much money now that he would make the expenditure just to show off). The 1840 will be a very interesting year for Páez: the prices of Coffee, Cocoa and leather will drop (causing a default in our economy), Páez will get rid of Leocadio in April (just so Leocadio creates the Liberal Party in October and start to destroy the conservative image) and The Essequibo territorial dispute will start (although, for now, with only a bit of a talking, Soublette making his work in Great Britain to ease tensions and stop the land grabbing and a threat of War from Páez).
Another interesting thing to note here is that Páez was so overconfident that he wasn't even governing where he was supposed to, instead of being in Caracas, he was in his house in Valencia, resting. If Mint20 wants to, he could make the one receiving Twilight in Caracas to be Soublette (in the morning) and she would meet Páez in the late party celebrating her coming. That would be an interesting impression and depending on the exact date of her arrival to Venezuela, she could either meet a servile Leocadio (before April of 1840) or a manipulative, demagogue Leocadio that it's starting to speak volumes of the benefits of a Federal System and the Liberal ideals (after October of 1840)... or a bitter Leocadio who's very angry at Páez for firing him (between this months), depending of the month chosen, hilarity or a great meeting of the two political poles in Venezuela can be assured.
Which moment sounds better?
7184313
Let's just say that the history books will never reference a "Mexican-American War" in this timeline.
7184263
Beginning to regret? Where was it stated? Don't be passing assumptions as factual. Even if it ends up being the case, it still leaves a... how could I describe it... the post coming off as presumptious? I don't know...
As for having observed, well, was it stated they did? They're bound to hear either way, but having actual witnesses or not does makes a difference.
7184277
7184321
Oh, really? Hmm, time to begin to speculate what this could mean...
7184321
The main cause for that war was for the USA to gain New Mexico and California (and the Rio Grande border), which were sparsely populated by the Mexicans to begin with. Obviously that's not the case in this time line.
7184342
I'm sorry, I just had to put that on loop. It's freaking hilarious!
7184342
Well, I've always had the belief that since Alta California doesn't exist here, then all the peope that would've settled and lived there by this point, would've done it elsewhere. Whether this means that places like Baja California (which most likely would just be named California, since there is no Alta and Baja to split up), Sonora, Chihuahua, and Nuevo Mexico are more populated, who knows.
7182414
Well, for now, I can say that to be payed 550k in 5 years would be very beneficial for the Mexicans because they can balance out better their economy to pay the debt and stabilize their country, perhaps something useful will be done, like a statue to celebrate the heroes that helped to defeat the French: The Great Santa Anna and a few Equestrians that were casually there...
7182773
Well, I already mentioned what will Nueva Granada and Ecuador will be doing here, nothing big, I doubt the Anti-Equestrian policy would have much of an effect, Latin America isn't dumb, once they heard of the Equestrians helping Mexico (and they certainly know of the US helping the French), they'll prefer to open relationships with Equestria and see what the meeting could offer.
Personally I think Equestria would be supportive of the idea of reuniting the Great Colombia (Panama, Nueva Granada, Ecuador and Venezuela) or at least, make the 3 nations make an alliance of sorts, considering that Nueva Granada and Venezuela are in good terms now (Still need to research Ecuador's 1840's), I think there's a chance for the alliance and once the political parties in favor of it are in Charge (I know a few names that are Pro-Union) Equestria may be trying to make the unification (and here would be a great sub-plot IMO, Great Britain and the US trying to stop the reformation of the, once conceived, strongest nation in America and Equestria trying to unite them to have a very powerful ally).
In the meantime: Do you think Equestria would be interested in Coffee, Cocoa, Leather (Venezuela), Tobacco, Cotton (Nueva Granada) or any textiles (Ecuador)?
7184277
Welp... that Congress in Lima, Perú will be made a bit earlier: Nueva Granada, Ecuador, Perú, Chile and Bolivia may invite Equestria to this meeting, either as an observer or to have an opinion about that, right?
7184362
Yeah. I always wondered about that.
7184321
Griffonian-American war?
7184396
Coffee? Yes.
Cocoa? Yes, Yes, YES!
Leather? Ummm...
Tobacco? Meh.
Cotton and textiles? Probably.
7184396
No doubt. He milked for all its worth his failed attack on the French at Veracruz, and his prize was being the one to substitute Bustamante while he fought Urrea's rebellion. Here might be no different. Even if what he does takes long enough that Bustamante comes back, he would still not let forget he started it. Not sure on a statue, though. And Santa Anna wouldn't revive the Order of Guadalupe until the 1850's, otherwise he would've certainly granted one to Quill now.
About the resources... I can see it, except leather, maybe. Equestria in general might not yet be too keen of the idea of the usage of leather.
7184404
Yeah, would be interesting to know about it. Considering this wouldn't just cover the fate of the Mexicans that would've settled in Alta California, but also that of certain native tribes like the Apache and Navajo. They too would have to be living elsewhere, as Equestria covers most of their settled regions. And considering they arrived by migrating from Alaska and northwest Canada... well, I can see several ways it could've gone.
7184277
Me cofuzed, wat r werds?
7184313 What a Twist!
7184331 Britain has its eyes on British Columbia to the North and they are pushing into China. With Equetria facing up to France it has put her onto the suspicions of England. Remember they don't have a diplomatic mission and left with the Americans when Celestia made it illegal for Humans to settle in Equestria. And with everything Time Reaper said Equestria would be another challenger in Latin America. So England would start playing the US and Equestria off each other to balance both countries out.
And there is a thing called spies, the US, France and Britain, would have had people keeping an eye on them and providing detailed accounts of forces, strategies, and equipment. With the Equestrian army in Mexico they would have been surrounded by spies in the local population. Again refer back to Vera Cruz and the French using French-Mexican citizens to know the layout of the city.
7184396 Yes that is a very possible event: the beginning of an early Anglo-American relationship in Latin America.
As for goods I would imagine most edible products, such as Coffee, Cocoa, and Tobacco would be popular. Cotton and textiles would be possible trade items but I'm sure a number would ask where for I wouldn't imagine them buying from the Southeast United States. Leather, not so much in my opinion. There would be a number of goods that Equestria might trade for not just in Latin America, but i would warn that Equestria might have a problem with some products...
7184405 I would like to see that. It will be different.
7182414
"The Pony Menace must be destroyed! Death to the heathen abominations!"
- Preaching intro of the Southern Baptists Priests!
Paranoia is America's stick. I would not be surprised if they have posters connecting ponies to Bestiality!
I wonder how the Buddhists and Hindus would react to Ponies? They wouldn't give a shit about sentient ponies.
Expect the Shrapnel Cannon shots to come into play.
The United States would be willing to lose hundreds of thousands of men in its wars to conquer Equestria. (While pathetic for human standards, Russia and China can afford to lose many times that number, it would baffle the Equestrians how expendable men and pony are in the battlefield)
Expect Anti-Air weapons to be created much earlier. As well as scorch earth tactics and the disease-ridden blankets!
I wonder how the Spanish flu would devastate the ponies!
You know what would be ironic and fucked up? Having the US emancipate ALL blacks and THEN using them as Cannon Fodder in their war against Equestria! (The stupid CSA considered doing something like that in real life)
7185291
"But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated." Ernest Hemingway
7185291
Well considering later on some political cartoon /propaganda would appear, associating (the Republican Party [I think] with) interracial relationships (mainly white men with black/coloured women), I wouldn't put it pass them to do something like that.
Don't forget the 'Buffalo Soldiers', black soldiers in segregated regiments of the US Army, used during the Indian Wars between 1866-90's. Although what your saying is more on a grand scale.
... What.
.
So, THIS guy just attacked an army of a neutral country.
I don't think anyone understands how severe this is.
France wanted a New World empire.
Here are these semi-weak ponies, who have just essentially declared war on France.
This pony just gave a very valid excuse for the French to declare war on Equestria.
And THAT'S not the worst part.
He used an army sworn to offer humanitarian support. Humanitarian. There is no font big enough to express my
This man should be being charged with High Treason and executed, with the French being gifted apology ducats.
So... I don't mind the "Mexican-America War not happening" but I do have to warn you that there has to be a very good reason for that to be so in this timeline.
America wanted a war with Mexico, no matter how much land they would get from it because "Manifest Destiny", they wanted land for it meant that it could be own by settlers and any amount of it is worth a conflict. To give you an idea of the level of such fanatic belief in land I refer to the Land Rush of 1889 in Oklahoma. In 1889 a piece of territory in Oklahoma called the "Unassigned Lands", an area designated for the Muskogee Creek and Seminole to be moved to back in 1838, was opened to settlers by the US governemt. Because the Seminole and their Muskogee Creek allies won the right to stay in their homelands during the Seminole Wars, the area was never settled and left uninhabited till 1889. When this was made public, over 50,000 people lined up for their piece of the available two million acres and when the area was opened at high noon on April 22, they all rushed to in to claim it. Under the Homestead Act of 1862, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, legal settlers could claim lots up to 160 acres of land in size. Provided a settler lived on the land and improved it, the settler could then receive the title to the land. Though most of the land was barren and could not be farmed, the 50,000 settlers fought tooth and nail for their 160 acres.
Here in America land was power and there was lots of it. If you even owned an acre of land you were somebody, and this mentality drove Manifest Destiny and appealed to thousands of immigrants from places like Europe who could never have owned property in their homelands. "The American Dream". Not only was James K. Polk, pushing for war, but so was the American Congress and the majority of the US people. Though I did say that a number of Americans did oppose the war, there was so much hype that even the most rational of people couldn't voice their opinions without threat of ridicule (happened to Abraham Lincoln and others). And I also heard that that was the same case in Mexico. When Texas won its independence it was seen by a number of Mexicans as a national disgrace and lost of prestige in the world and there were a number of nationalist in the government who wanted to get Texas back at all cost. I might be wrong for I don't know what public opinion was like in Mexico but when Texas became a state, irritating Mexican nationals even more, the leader at the time, moderate, General Jose Joaquin de Herrera, who wanted to find a peaceful route, was quickly ousted and replaced by General Mariano Paredes, who quickly marched an army north to face the American army, lead by General Zachary Taylor, who had occupied the contested territory between the Rio Grande and Nueces Rivers.
And if you expect Santa Anna to stay in office and possible divert war you would be wrong. After being overthrown and exiled and when the first battle broke out between the US and Mexico, he told the US government that he could return to Mexico to quell the country and help settle the dispute peaceful. He was allowed to pass through the US blockade and was able to retake the country without a problem. The first thing he did though was call for an army of 20,000 to mobilize and march north to defeat the Americans. Great guy, but he to was also an ultra-patriot.
I might be completely wrong about this but both countries wanted a war, and with Equestrian's victory over the French and helping them out, the Mexicans would be more confident in a fight against the US.
7189968
Ohh...I know. I live in the USA.
Don't worry...
7190105 I am intrigued.
On a side note, have you ever read a book called "Gone For Soldiers" by Jeff Shaara? The novel is about the Mexican American War told as a story from the point of view of Major General Winfield Scott and Captain Robert E. Lee. Shaara is a very good writer and could possibly help you in writing this story. At least it will give helpful insight on the personalities and talents of some very important men in the US army at this time including Major General Winfield Scott, Capt. Robert E. Lee, Lt. Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson, Lt. James Longstreet, Lt. Ulysses Grant, Capt. Joseph E. Johnston, and Lt. Pierre Beauregard.
It's worth a look.
7189968
Have you considered that maybe it would simply not be named as such, but would still include a war between the two?
It is true the US will want the land (Texas's claim of bordering the Rio Bravo is already proof enough the war will happen), which will lead to war (although the circusmtances have changed. Nuevo Mexico will still be sought for, but without an Alta California, would the US's interests change or would they also start seeking to aquire Equestrian land due to its location? The Treaty of Limits from 1828 meant little here for them.). Ever since the Texan rebellion it sparked a huge concern of our territorial integrity (hence Santa Anna rushing to come back to the country then leading the army off north to fight the US). That's why we never agreed to sell Nuevo Mexico and Alta California when offered to, and that's why people were angry at Santa Anna for selling La Mesilla (in his defence though, even after the war the US still tried to obtain even more land from us, including Baja California and the Tehuantepec Itsmus, Santa Anna sold La Mesilla as a compromise for appeasement).
7188454
Yeaaah, but don't forget, somepony from the top had to have given the OK for this army to bring artillery on their humanitarian mission. Would Quill have been as willing to take that same risk if he had no cannons?
But then again, George Washington started what would become the French and Indian War (the Seven Years War).
7189968
I don't think Mint meant that the 'Mexican-American War' never happens. More like the conflict of this timeline will have a different name, because of who's gonna be in it, or where the fighting is gonna be.
In OTL, the nations that stood in the way of America's Manifest Destiny were the British, Mexicans, and Indians.
In this timeline it's the Ponies/Equestrians, Mexicans, Griffons, Indians, and maybe the British (since they don't control the Oregon territory, probably not as much).
7190105
7190194
7190284
7184342
Personally, I'm kinda curious in this development. the Mexican-American War triggered the first Congress of Panama in 1847 - 1848 between Chile, Bolivia, Perú, Ecuador and Nueva Granada (which fostered a bigger desire between the Latin American nations to unite themselves against any foreign invader and to support each other as well), my concern is that if the "Mexican-American" war doesn't happen (or at least not the series of events that triggered) then this congress may not happen, or it may happen but sooner? I'm really on the edge. Heck, there may even be a chance for Venezuela to be involved.
From your comments I can infer that the war will include Equestria, México and the US, but It feels like there's something lacking (Again, Griffonia and another European power perhaps?). Well, all we can do for now is guess what could have changed in history from this.
7190414
It would also depend I suppose, on whether the upcoming war happens either sooner, later, or around the same point as the Mexican-American war of OTL.
7190644
Well, it will depend on when Texas joins, as it was the catalyst. For Mexico, who never accepted Texas's independence and considered its admission to the US as violation to the Treaty of Limits. For the US, in their Manifest Destiny mindset and Texas's border claims giving them the pretext to claim them for themselves too.
One of the factors that contributed to Texas joining (or speed up joining, depending on how you see it) was Santa Anna's 1842 failed attempt to reconquer it. Who knows if that will still happen. But still, it was only just one factor among others.
7190354
If I were the French, I would have demanded the Equestrians to disarm the ponies.
Because who brings cannons on a humanitarian mission?
I'm looking at you, America7190706
Considering that this is the 19th century, I'm not that surprised.
7190725 yeah, the 19th century was a barrel of fun. Did they even have humanitarian missions back then?
Unrelated, did you know about this?
I went to 19th century on Wikipedia and this was a thing. Weird.
7190741
In the first half of the century? Not really. Closest you can find is the intervention of Britain, France, and Russia in the Greek revolt against Ottoman Rule in the 1820's. It resulted in the sinking of the Ottoman Mediterranean fleet at Navarino, and helped in the cause of Greek automy from Ottoman rule.
7190706
You would think the French might have sent a messenger to Quill to find out what he was doing, unless they were to busy fighting to know or care.
7191120
I meant like during the actual day of the battle, and to Lt. Quill personally, but okay.
Still..who's idea was it to bring the artillery along?
7191132
Yeah, I realized that about five seconds after I posted, hence the deletion of that comment.
Let's just say that somepony was hedging her bets...
7191153
Yeah. I also noticed she didn't have much say during Quill's trail.
7190644
7190692
7190706
Well the war will happen about the same time Texas becomes a state in 1846, if not for security at least because they were near bankruptcy by then.
France WILL get involved in this as Quill's actions would have changed the course of French history. The French people, upset at their king, would find what the Equestrian did as dishonorable and shameless, attacking a natural country without a declaration of war, it would be like Pearl Harbor with the US and Japan. And with the one responsible being given a year of house arrest and to become Captain of their I corp it will be seen as outright disrespect and unbecoming of a nation seeking equal status. There king will use this to stay in power as he will call for an apology and more from the Equestrians.
They will not declare war, for a war in Equestria would put a strain on France's already weak economy, but they will look to their long standing French-American Friendship and use the "Equestrian-American War" (or whatever Mint20 will call it) as payback. I do not imagine them sending armies, for Britain would not like that, but they will help the American's anyway they can, whether that be diplomatic, militarily in the form of ships, information (there still is a decent size population of French in Mexico) and advisors, and morally. America would jump at the chance to restore honor to their long time friend France who dishonorably lost it to the Equestrians. This will give the American cause a higher moral stance and more people will be in support of the war and volunteer for service. I wouldn't be surprised if thousands of French volunteers cross the Atlantic to join the American army, creating French Brigades, similar to that of the Irish.
Britain would keep their eye on this but will not intervene as long as the French don't over step their bounds. By this point they would want to distance themselves from Equestria as much as possible so as to not turn this American Conflict into a European one as well, with signs of rebellion and chaos already on the horizon.
Either way the eyes of Europe, Asia, and Latin America will all be turned to watch this great conflict unfold in North America. As the drums of war beat ever loader, everyone: Equestrains, Griffonians, Texans, Mexicans, Americans, French, British, everyone, will be affected by this war that will change the North American landscape forever.
7191277
Well, let's remember the the Equestrian Royal Council has publicly punished Quill, and there will be some follow up in upcoming chapters.
Nopony outside the Royal Council needs to know the identity of the commanding officer at the time of the Pastry Affair, and nopony needs to know of his promotion...
Yay, political intrigue!
P.S. Plus, I mean, this is a colonial war in, as far as anybody in France is concerned, a backwards sh!thole. (No offense to México intended). Plus, this was little more than fight against two minor forces, and the Royal Council withdraw the forces the second they heard of the incident. I would hardly compare that to Peal Harbor, a precursor to an attempt to defeat the United States, waged against a territory that was on it's way to becoming a full state.)
7191290 All we need now is for Sombra and the Crystal Empire to show up and we got a FUBAR situation: Fucked Up Beyond Any Repair
PS The French will still be POed and will probably help the American's just...a little. If not the people (they will still be PO by their king and probably revolt in 1848) then the government in the attempt to quell public opinion. The King of France did a lot in that he didn't listen to his people and tired doing stuff, like the Pastry Affair, to bring back support.