The Unicorn Wars started when the Unicorn Empire discovered the new continent of Equestria, I fought in them, now I am telling you what happened.
In the 25th year of his majesty's reign, the Unicorn Empire's great explorer 'Coltombus' found the new continent of 'Equestria' and its inhabitants, a new race of pony, the Earth Ponies. A colony was established on the coast and named Manehatten in the 31st year of his majesty's reign. Then the Earth Ponies started to get hostile, no lives were taken until the 56th year of his majesty's reign, that's when the war started. The first war anyway.
I Nova the 3rd in my last days wright my side of the Unicorn Wars, when ponies talk of them in the future they will speak of great battles fought with honor against a equal foe, if you are stubborn and willingly blind to this and refuse to see it differently, stop reading now.
My account of the wars start two years after the first one started, when I became of age to join the military, 18.
"Identification papers,"The guard demanded as I stepped up to the recruiters table.
After a second of looking through my papers to make sure I was indeed 18, the guards eyes came back to me.
"Son, are you absolutely sure you want to go through with this?"The old stallion asked.
"Yes sir,"I replied.
"OK, I cant turn anyone who wants to join away,"He said shaking his head."just sign here,"
I quickly took the pen in my light blue magic and dipped it into the inkwell and signed the open line.
"Congratulations Privet,"The recruiter said sarcastically."happy birthday, now listen carefully, here's your orders, report to Captain Silver Sword at the recruitment camp in two days just south of town, bring these paper to him, he will take you from there.
"Yes Sir,"I said, a huge grin sweeping across my face."thank you Sir."
"don't thank me yet."He mumbled as I turned around and went for the door, but I didn't hear him, I was just to proud and exited, I wanted to do my duty for my country, and make my father proud.
I came out onto the streets of my beautiful home town "Roam", a small town with some scattered farms and a small square of shops in the center.
I took one long breath, the sweet sent of freshly baked loaves of bread filed the air, ponies filled the streets all smiling and happy, even though an ocean away the war was waging, but until the war was over and the "Earth Ponies" where safely contained and posed no threat, would the Unicorn Empire rest.
Ever since the new Continent and the barbarians that live there where found the Unicorns tried to bring civilization to the Earth Pony natives, but they wouldn't have it, they would rather act like animals and through sticks at each other, the natives called the Unicorns demons,and conquerors, but all we said we where was peace makers.
Standing there smelling the wonderful bread bake made me realize I was starving, my mother would have made something special for my birth day, and I had to tell them the good news about the military.
Like a lighting bolt I took off toward home, I ran past the mill, through the gate, up the hill, past Mr, Steel Plow's small farm just out the main gate, after that all sign of civilization vanished and became fields to the right, and woods to the left, I quickly came to the small farm on on the edge of the most beautiful lake in the empire, slowing from sprint to a slow trot, I opened the small wooden gate and entered the yard, at that moment the front door opened and my older brother "Iron Hoe" came out and stopped, his huge form standing there in the door for a second.
"Well, perfect timing,"He said finely braking the silents."Mom just sent me to get you."
"Come on,"I said bounding up the steps to the door."I've got to tell every pony something important."
Me and my brother then continued into the house, making our way toward to kitchen, where on coming in, I found Mother, Father, and my brother quickly joined them siting at the table, then all eyes where on me.
"Well, I have good news,"I started."I have joined the military."I finished proudly.
At once my brothers eye brows shot up, a look of horror filled my mothers face, and my father just put down his news paper to give me a unreadable look.
"Are you joking?"My brother asked a smile creeping onto his face.
"No, he's not,"My father said, he was always able to read my face."by the emperor's crown boy what where you thinking."
"I, just wanted to serve,"I said confused at there reaction, at this mother started crying," like you did father."
"Son, I was drafted,"My father said.
"You have to go back,"My mother started."Tell them it was a mistake."
"Did you sign the acceptance form,"My father asked urgently."did you get orders."
"Yes I signed the acceptance form, and I have orders to report to Captain Silver Sword at the recruitment camp."I answered.
"Then its to late,"my father said."He cant get out."
My mother started crying again, my brother just sat there, but my father stood up and made his way over to me.
"Son, you should have come to us."my father said.
"But you always talked so highly about the army,"I said."I thought you would be proud."
"The reason I talk so high of the army is because I respect them for doing what they do," He said."and I am proud of you boy, I'm just worried about you."
"Don't be worried about me,"I started."I'm an adult now, and beside when I was leaving I saw Maximus go into the recruiters office, I bet we will be stationed at the same place."
"Maximus, isn't he that little brown one?"My father asked as if me and him didn't hang out every day since we where 7.
"Yes father Tiberius Blade, the little brown one."I said and after I finished speaking a knock came at the door followed by a voice.
"Hello,"Maximus called."Nova, its Maximus, I have to tell you something."
After maximus announced that he to had joined the military he stayed for supper then went home, after he left the evening chores where done then it was lights out, the night was long, but the next two days where longer, chores seemed to take forever, the sun seemed hotter, and every pony on the farm was quiet, Mother cried through the night, no pony talked at the table, and when the big day came only shadows of the ponies I wanted to say goodbye to where there, after goodbyes where over I started to make my way to town to meet with my best friend maximus and head off to boot camp.
The sun bore down on my back as I walked out the gate of my yard, my family still standing where I left them, I walked on not looking back heading straight for town, slowly they went to work, trying not to think about where I was going. I rounded the corner that went through the forest and my house disappeared from sight, the chilling shadows passed over me and soon even the sound of work at the farm was replaced by birds singing and brooks babbling.
*SNAP*
I stopped dead in my tracks, something was in the forest and it was watching me, following me. I turned toward where the sound came from and saw it, blue, the kind of blue that didn't appear in the forest naturally, then I heard a sword being pulled from a sheath and saw the blue form move.
Then two stallions burst out of the underbrush, a green one with the sword and the blue one was charging a magical attack.
Rolling I dodged the flame that burst from his horn charring the ground I was standing on, then the one with the sword took a swing at me, I stepped back with ease, these two where very poorly trained, me and my brother use to train all the time and I liked to think I was pretty good, stepping forward while he attempted to regain his balance I grabbed his sword with my magic and pulled it from his grasp, then I slashed him across his chest, he fell to the ground letting out his last breath as his blood began to pool.
At that moment the sword was blown from my grasp by a ball of ice the size of my head, I spun around just in time to shoot down the next one with my own fire, but the bandit was not done yet and I barely jumped away from his next flame spell, in response I sent a lighting bolt arching down his body, frying his skin and charring his internal organs, with a surprised look on his burnt face he collapsed to the ground dead.
With the bandits dead I continued down the road, I wasn't hurt but that was not the easiest thing I had done, I had killed bandits before when they attacked my family's farm, but my brother and father had been there and had easily done most of the work.
I continued down the path toward town, Maximus had said that he would meet me in the "sleepy Unicorn", his family's tavern, but I knew he couldn't wait all day so I picked up the pace, double timing it toward town.
In a small amount of time I could see Mr, Steel Plow's farm and the town gate just past it, trotting into town passing the wood mill I made my way toward the Sleepy Unicorn where my life time friend Maximus waited, I walked through the door and instantly spotted my friend siting at the far table in the darkest corner alone.
"Hey, Maximus,"I said, walking up to him."hows things going?"
"Not good,"He replied."my mothers been crying all day."
"Yeah, my mother did the same,"I said in an understanding way."but, this is what I have to do."
"Same here,"Maximus agreed."but I don't want her to worry about me."
"I get that,"I said, in finish I added."well get up, we only have four hours to get there."
"Yeah, lets go."Maximus said.
Off we went toward the southern gate, and as we walked down the path winding through the wood we were joined by others all making their way to the camp, slowly the sun went toward the west and the day grew late, and the now rather large group finely found themselves outside of the huge recruitment camp, there where no walls, just row after row of white tents, in the middle of the camp was one tent larger then the rest flying the flag of the empire, and the banner of the battalion "The Iron Battalion", as we entered camp we where met by a lieutenant who escorted us to the captain, we where all asked for our papers which held our orders, they where gone through before the captain addressed the new recruits.
"Alright,"The captain said standing up."all the papers check out, follow the lieutenant that
brought you here to get your standard issue gear. Oh and welcome to basic."
I walked into the armory next to Maximus following the lieutenant, the armory was small, and tightly packed with the new recruits and smell of sweat and sulfur.
"Sargent,"The lieutenant said loudly."get these new recruits there standard issue."
"Yes sir,"The Sargent said snapping off a quick salute."Privet, get out here and help
me."
Shuffling was heard from the back room followed by what sounded like armor falling
down,"Yes sir,"Came a small female voice.
Seconds later a privet came out of the back room with uniforms, muskets, and a pack
with assorted supplies, powder horns etc.
"Alright,"The lieutenant started."This is your standard issue, your new best friend,
this musket might save your life one day, this uniform will keep you warm in the winter, and
this saber will stop your enemy."
After the lieutenant gave his speech we were all escorted to a large empty clearing,
where we were told to pitch our tents at the far east end of the camp.
"Well,"The lieutenant said."meet your new squad, their your brothers and sisters now."
With that the lieutenant left heading back toward the command tent, where he no doubt had some important work that needed to be done. Pitching the tent took two hours, Maximus and I had camped before, but these military tents were totally different, but with trial and error we finally got the cursed thing up.
The first day of basic was not so bad, all we had to do was set up a tent, fill out some medical papers, and had supper, granted it was the worse thing me and Maximus had ever eaten, but the next day is when the training started, or so I thought, before the sun was in the sky there was a Sargent screaming in my ear, something about making my bed, then we all ran for nine or ten miles, then came breakfast, then we ran some more, then we all lined up and fired our muskets at a wall until my head was on fire and my ears where ringing, then more damn running, finally the sun went down and we had supper, by the time I got back to the tent I had nothing in me.
"See you fine foals tomorrow."The Sargent said mockingly as he ran back toward the tent at the end of our row like he was just as full of energy as he was when he woke up.
"Alright,"I panted."a little running every day, I can take that."
I then fell into the bed of straw and immediately lost consciousness, the next three days where the same thing, but the next five after that were made increasingly harder with longer firing exercises and more running, but it eventually became easier and easier.
Then the first month ended, and the first day of month two we ran twenty miles before breakfast, which was outrageous even for the Sargent, then after a quick breakfast we did half the normal firing drills and the rest we were to practice our offensive magic, fifty minutes of constant firing with magic quickly wore the squad down, half way through two of my comrades over exerted themselves and had to be escorted out toward the medical tent, I did not know much about magic exhaustion only that there had been fatality's in extreme cases, but the training continued, all through the month, and eventually even the two that couldn't do it before where just as strong as me, and I could feel the difference, when I ran I didn't get fatigued, when I cast a spell it was so much easier then when I killed those two bandits in the woods all those days ago.
Then the third month of training came, it wasn't as much of shock when the new training came, and this time we all adapted much quicker, we now ran twenty-five miles a day before breakfast then we shot our muskets much more accurately then when we started, we fired our magic longer and with more power then before, I felt so different, so much stronger.
Despite how use to basic training me and Maximus were, when the last day came we were sure happy, no more Sargent yelling at us at unspoken hours, no twenty-five mile run, no magic exhaustion, no powder exploding in your ear in an Iron pipe to send little round balls of lead at a wall, we were finally out.
"Well, good news,"The lieutenant shouted at us as we assembled."your all fit for duty, and the good captain, gods bless his kind heart, has decided not to break up your little squad. Oh and it doesn't end there, Sargent Steel Hoof will be in command. Oh and your all going to Equestria"
As the lieutenant left to get order paper every pony just stood there, we where all thinking the same thing, 'Equestria', that was currently the front of a very nasty war, and then we all had the same after thought.
"Shit."We all said in unison as the lieutenant left earshot, even the Sargent joined in.
I stood on the bow of the ship 'The Sun's Dawn' a transport ship from Spurlin to Manehatten. The journey had taken almost three months and every pony on board was longing to get off, and kiss dry land. I was no acceptation, every day I stood in the same spot, looking east as the ship rocked on the waves, finally on the 7th day of Winter's Frost, in the 58th year of his majesty's reign, I saw land on the horizon.
"Land, ho!"The mare in the crows nest shouted.
As I continued to stand there my fellow squad mates came stumbling up the stairs and onto the deck, along with the other three squads on board.
"Finally,"Pvt. Ice Heart said, She was the only female in the squad, and the one that most openly hated sailing."Land."
"Oh well,"Pvt. Swift Steel sighed, he should have joined the navy, not the army."I liked the trip."
I was about to say that he should have joined the other branch of the military when I was cut off by the corporal.
"What kind of army stallion prefers the water to land?"Cpl. Iron Hide asked.
"My kind."Swift Steel Answered, then added."Sir."
"I always said you where weird."Pvt. Fire Ball said.
"Hey,"A shout from the captain of the ship turned all heads toward him."Go below beck, you're all getting in the way of the crew."
After that we all went down below deck as the captain ordered. The tight cramped inside of the ship made me a little claustrophobic, but the ship touched down only a few hours later.
As I stepped off the gang plank I took my first look at the small colony of Manehatten. The town had nothing but a wooden wall going around it for protection, the gate didn't look very strong, and there was a hole facing the west. But the town didn't look like it had been attacked, at least not recently. The town center was full of stalls trying to sell there goods, foals playing in the streets, and mares drawing water from the well.
The ponies seemed relieved that there where new guards in the small town, even though they clearly hadn't been attacked in quite some time, but just the presence of extra guards makes one feel safer.
The Pvt. continued to lead us through the streets as we went toward the barracks, the cold winter wind blew through the street sending a chill down my spine.
There was a sweet smell in the air coming from the bakery, the beautiful sent wafted through the street as we went filled me with memories of home, at that point I wanted to walk into the bakery and buy my favorite sweet, a sweet roll baked and covered with honey and chocolate.
I snapped out of my thoughts as we rounded the next corner, I then noticed the large barracks at the end of the road, the white stone shined in the sun, its golden rays making it glow.
"Alright,"The Pvt. said."you will all be in the forth bunk room, third door down the hall
to the right."
"Thank you privet,"The sarge said."you're dismissed."
"Yes Sir."The privet saluted then turned and walked toward his next post.
We all unpacked then nothing else was done that day until supper, we all gathered in the
mess hall to have the meal, nothing special, it was only barely better then the rations on the
ship.
"Attention,"The commander of the guard, Commander Golden Hammer said."Today we will
welcome the new boys from command to Manehatten. But tomorrow Hail Storm Squad and
The Blazing Hooves Squad will be transferred to fort Sun Guard."
The last part caught my attention, my squad was Hail Storm, and we where being already deployed
to a front line fort. A fort that had been attacked a lot if the news paper was right.
I looked at Maximus and saw the look on his face, he was thinking the same thing I was,
this was not looking good, nether of us wanted to be on the front so fast, but here we
where.
Are squad went straight for bed, if we where moving in the morning (3.00 am) then we
needed all the rest we could get. But I took the time that night to write a letter home, so did
Maximus I noticed.
To: Mom, Dad and Iron Hoe.
From: Nova.
Dear mom, dad, and bro, I just wanted to write you all a quick letter, to tell you that I have been given a posting. Me and Maximus are being posted at fort Sun Guard, don't worry we will be fine. The trip here took three moths so I wasn't expecting to be given a posting so soon, but they must really need ponies on the front right now. But enough of that, let me tell you about my squad, there's Maximus, Sargent Steel Hoof, Corporal Iron Hide, Privet Swift Steel, Privet Ice Heart, and Privet Fire Ball. there all really great, the sarge can be a bit of a, well, a Sargent, but the corporal is a nice guy, Swift Steel is a bit privet he hardly talks but when you get to know him he's not that bad, Fire Ball is just the opposite he never shuts up he always has something to say, but he's not like mean or anything. Now for Ice Heart, well she's not very sociable, and I don't know much about her, other then she was raised in a military family. But that's about it, I cant wait to here from you soon.
Love: Nova.
After I finished writing my letter, I put it into a envelope and wrote the address on it, and placed it at the bottom of my bag so I could send it out before we left in the morning.
But rest didn't come tonight, after I drifted off into sleep a siren blared and I was siting up not sure what to do.
"Grab your gear,"The Sarge yelled."That's an attack siren."
Instantly I was on my hooves and was in uniform, my musket flew into my magical grasp and then I was following Maximus and the Sarge out the door.
Outside was chaos, every pony was running around trying to get to their station. the Sarge noticed something that I missed because we were now running down a street toward the west, then I remembered. The hole in the wall was being attacked when we got there, the four defenders were way out numbered, and the first wave of earth ponies where almost on them, then I heard a order.
"Firing wall!"I was in the front, so I dropped to my belly next to Maximus."Aim."I raised my Musket over the unicorns who had thankfully heard their saviors and had dropped to the ground."Fire!"
As the order rang out I pulled the trigger, sending the hammer to make a spark on the
dry gun powder in the hallow steel pipe.
*Bang*
The weapon jerked in my grasp as the ball of lead was sent from the pipe at unknown
speed. Then in the same second the first wave of enemies fell, but the next was till coming.
As that thought passed through my head, the first four solders fired their weapons.
*Bang*
"Reload!"The Sargent shouted.
At that order the first four stallions fell back down. As I finished clanking the ram rod
down the barrel the sarge moved on.
"Aim!"He shouted again."Fire!"
*Bang* The guns sang in harmony.
Shouts and screams where heard from the dying stallions, even as the solders in front
of us fired there guns, blood covered the battle field and all I could do was to continue firing.
The hot sun pounded down on us as we went along our way toward the fort, we were
all still silent, even Fire Ball and the six ponies from the Blazing Hooves were quiet.
The forest we traveled through even seemed unnaturally quiet, the birds rarely sang and
no wild animals were to be found, just the clanking of mettle and the stretching of leather,
produced from the marching ponies, broke the deathly silence.
I felt like I was walking through a grave yard, or more like I was walking on a grave, the
faces still hung in my mind, constantly reminding me that I had ended some ponies life,
but I wasn't going to show it though, no pony was, they all looked like they had nothing
wrong in their lives, but the perfectness of their faces betrayed the feeling they were trying
to hide.
On we marched, the day lengthening and coming to an end, my mind still tormenting
me with the pictures that it had made against my will, of the broken body's from yesterday.
Suddenly I felt like throwing up, I swallowed hard to keep my stomach acid from coming
out, and continued down the road with the rest of my squad, things were not going to get
easier, but it was to late to get out now.
As that last thought finished we marched around a bend and there it was on a hill,
Fort Sun Guard, from the road we were on it looked like it was in front of the sun, guarding
it from any how would dare attack.
Next we were marching up the hill, it kept getting steeper and steeper as we got
closer to the huge wooden gate, that was currently open.
"Halt!"The order was barked from a guard standing near the entrance."I will have to
see your orders, Sirs."He finished, addressing the Sargent's.
Sargent Steel Hoof presented the stallion with our orders, which were taken and
swiftly gone through, then the Private gave them back to the Sarge.
"Everything checks out,"He started."just follow the road and turn right, at the second
right and you will see the main office."
"Thank you private."The Sarge said, as we started moving toward the main office.
"I will need to see your papers as well."I heard the private say to the squad behind us.
Then the noise of the fort was all I could hear, the pounding of a blacksmiths hammer
roared from deeper in the fort as we passed the armory. As I looked at all the ponies in the
fort it was painful obvious that they had seen a lot of combat, the rundown and damaged
walls proclaimed the same thing, that this was as front line as it got.
After a minute we were all standing in front of the main office, it, like the rest of the
fort looked old and rundown, the right side had clearly been burnt, and the windows were
all broken.
Ignoring the looks of the building, the Sarge led us through the door and inside, on the
inside it wasn't that bad, the wood didn't look so worn, and the furnishings looked like they
were in decent shape, chairs lined the far wall of the room, and there was a counter from
the door to the other side as well, with one tired looking old mare behind it.
"What can I do for you?"She asked as we came in.
"We are the reinforcements from Manehatten,"The Sarge responded."we just need some
orders."
"Ha,"The mare laughed."only pony who gives orders around here is the captain,"She said
"he's up on the battlements."
"Thank you."The Sarge said as he turned and led us out the door past Blazing Hooves
squad who were on their way in.
The Sarge spotted the ramp that went up to the top of the wall, and we were all moving
toward it in a instant, when we made it to the top I could see the captains uniform just
a little ways down the wall, with our cores set we made our way over to him and all saluted.
"Captain Bronze Sword,"The Sarge said saluting."I am Sargent Steel Hoof leader of Hail
Storm squad, here on orders to reinforce this fort, Sir."
"At ease,"Captain Bronze Sword said returning the salute."have you all been assigned to
a barracks?"
"No Sir."The sarge answered.
"Very well,"The captain continued."The private will show you to barracks three."
"Yes Sir,"The Private said stepping forward."If you would follow me."He finished and started toward the ramp.
He led us to the far south side of the fort were there was two barracks, barracks three and four, we were left there with no further orders so we just unpacked and went to sleep, all of us to tired to even eat supper.