This is a collection of two diaries, one written by Acid Flask and the other written by Blood Moon, two ponies that got tangled in the week-long Equestrian war, and a letter written by their son. He found something he really should have left alone.
Dear Reader
If you have picked up this book expecting there to be a happy ending, then you would be mistaken. The story you hold is a collection of two diaries and a letter that tell the tale of the week-long Equestrian war that devastated the land between Ponyvill and Canterlot. The story is sad but does have a few happy bits in the middle before slapping you again with sadness like a smelly raw fish. It does not end with a sunset or a happily ever after. In fact, it really doesn't end at all. I implore you to turn back now and read something more pleasant and fulfilling. I ask of you, look away.
I have collected the diaries of my brother and sister-in-law, the two of whom were a part of the week-long war that ravaged the land between Canterlot and Ponyvill. I've also collected a letter from their son Dox who has found much more than I think he ever wanted to. I will show you the diaries and letters untouched, unedited, and uncensored. Everything you will see is what they are. I did not touch them. I must warn you that the stories are not happy at all. It will not end happily ever after. It will not even be fulfilling like a ribbon wrapped around a gift. I say this to spare you from the sadness Acid, Moon, my husband and Acid's brother Film, and myself have gone threw just trying to find out what happened. Please, Look away before it's too late.
All was quiet on the first day. I went into work knowing about the whispers that a New Revolution was stirring up in the underbelly of Canterlot. My wife at the time Blood Moon, a bat pony, was talking about it, not in depth. I think she knew a bit more than she let on but held back because I was Celestia’s head science stallion and her former student.
It was very normal at work, just a few of the bat pony guards started to get nervous, like something was coming. I was optimistic that if something were to start, Celestia would clean it up quickly. Boy was I very wrong.
I went home that day from work in the lab, ate, and tucked Dox, my little adopted changeling, into bed before heading to bed with Moon.
(a picture of my little bugo)
Day Two
This day will live in my memory as one of the worst days in Equestrian history. I left home without seeing Blood Moon or Dox. I had assumed Moon went to drop Dox off at school early, so I didn’t think much of it at the time.
I went to work, but it wasn’t long until I heard it loud and clear. The ground shook from an explosion just a bit too far away for me to hear right before fighting broke out in the halls. Bat ponies were fighting the guards. Some of the night guards started to help the bat ponies fight the royal guards. I ran for Princess Celestia’s throne room to warn her, but it was too late. The bat ponies were already there along with a few night guards to help them. I did my best and helped Celestia and what remained of the royal guards to get out of the castle.
We fled to Ponyvill where we explained to Twilight what had just happened. We quickly created a defense between Ponyvill and Canterlot, and it wasn't a moment too soon. Right when the first cannon fired at us from a troop heading towards us, we had just finished the trenches.
We found out later that the troop was called the “Night Terrors”. With them was my wife, but I didn’t know that at the time.
(an image of the troop that survived the war. My wife is on the far right.)
They had brought a lot of cannons and were firing at us almost nonstop. We were worried we would not be able to give Celestia and Twilight enough time to get reinforcements. We held just long enough for a group of Pegasus, led by Rainbow Dash, to counterattack and push them back far enough that the cannons were useless. This only angered them. They built their own trench as more bat ponies came down from the mountain. We found out later when a letter arrived from Spike, who had been in Canterlot on different duties, saying Luna had staged the revolution and wanted us to come quietly into the hooves of the New Lunar Republic (NLR). She told us that she was just trying to prove Celestia needed to up the defense. Celestia did not take that lightly.
Twilight was worried about Spike, but Celestia calmed her down before we had to sleep. Good thing there were volunteers in Ponyvill to help throughout the night. They called themself VFD(The World is Quite Here), I still need to find them and ask them about that.
Day 3
I found out through a VFD member that Blood Moon didn’t make it to Ponyvill. I had to move on for the moment, the time for love was after the war.
We were able to create a bomb that would be deployed by one of Ponyvill’s old planes that they use to use for transport goods. It helped push the line back and gave us time and space to breathe. Somehow Celestia managed to get one of her council members from Canterlot to Ponyvill. His name was Watermelon Rat. I didn’t trust him, but I had no options.
The NLR pushed back but was quickly squashed by our new member of the team. He helped improve the bomb and developed bombing techniques to maximize destruction. The stallion was crazy but good. I later coined the term Solar Empire (SE) and told Celestia about it. She liked the name so it stuck.
Day 4-7
The days were so slow they almost seem to blur into each other like melted cheese. I would wake up, and help plan another attack with Celestia and Twilight. We would get good ground before slipping again. This happened over and over again. I think the only reason we kept the front lines up was because of Watermelon and Red Flux.
A side note to mention is I kept loading the cannons wrong. I blew up a few doing that. Ops. ^^
Got to wonder if that’s why I haven’t been deployed back since day 5.
Day 8
The day right before the war ended. The NLR pushed with everything they had. Watermelon was trying his best and Red Flux was in the hospital at the time. We were so in need of help that I was deployed as a platoon leader. When the NLR ponies got close enough, we charged at them ourselves.
We killed a lot of ponies that day. I killed a lot of ponies that day. I’m not proud, not even happy about it, but I thought it was the right thing to do at the time. That was until I saw her standing across the battlefield from me.
There she was, Blood Moon, standing across from me. Blood coated her armor. Mine was too. We were lost in shock and horror. In that moment, all I wanted to do was curl up into a ball and die right on the spot. But another emotion came through and saved me. Love.
We ran to each other and took off our helmets. Without a word even spoken, we kissed for the first time in over a week.
That was the best kiss I think I’ve ever had. I didn’t want that moment to end. All I wanted was for the war to end so I could hug my wife again without having to immediately dodge an incoming bomb from the NLR.
We got out of there without a word before the bomb dropped.
Day 9
I now write this, sitting on the trench of the NLR as Celestia and Luna talk about an agreement in no man's land as the NLR called it. Right now I’m eating a sandwich with my wife next to me.
I think you might be wondering what happened to Dox. I am too. Just give me a sec to ask Moon.
. . .
OK, so apparently Luna has him somewhere in Canterlot Castle. I hope to the pony reading this will take away that war is never good. No one ever wins in war. It’s a game only one side losses a bit less.
I hope you take away that love is stronger than anger. That Friendship is magic.
I see you have ignored my warning and read on anyway. You are now wondering why I warned you about it in the first place. Acid's Diary will be the last time you ever find happiness in this collection. It will also be the last time questions are answered in any way shape or form. Unlike Acid, Blood Moon will be much more detailed and have much more to say. Her diary is sad and filled with questions that once you read them, they will not go away. I implore you again to look away before it's too late.
I don’t feel good about what I did during the war. Everything I thought was right now feels wrong. I feel like a monster now. I keep thinking, was I always a monster and the war just brought it out? I guess this diary thing might help me process it, so here I go.
Day 1
This day was before the war began. I remember it all too well. I knew about what Luna was planning, it was hard not to when you are one of her personal bodyguards. She was planning on hitting Canterlot Castle soon. She was going to start a revelation for a New Lunar Republic (NLR). She had started whispers amongst the Bat ponies that she wanted to show the ponies of Equestria that her sister had gone weak, not necessarily soft. She wanted to show her sister and the ponies that they needed to up their defenses and safety measures or they could end up attacked from the inside out. I wonder if she knew something but wasn’t telling us.
I wanted to warn my husband Acid Flask about the attack on the castle, but something stopped me from telling him. I don’t know if it’s because I agreed with Luna, or if it’s because I thought he would take it the wrong way if I did tell him. He works in the science department in the castle and has a very close relationship with Celestia. Maybe on some level, I didn’t want to ruin that.
I went to sleep that night very nervous about what was to come.
Day 2
I went to work early. I even grabbed Dox, Acid’s adapted changeling, and dropped him off at school. I was seriously that early for work.
(Picture of Dox)
I couldn’t pay attention all day. I had canceled my regular night guard training class for the new recruits because I didn’t want them in the crossfire. This allowed me time to breathe and grade some of their tests. The attack just kept coming back into my head until I heard the deafening sound of rubble collapsing.
The explosion of the main exit wing of the castle. The attack had started and now anyone in the castle was trapped unless they knew their way around the secondary hallways as I did. I quickly went to go find Acid. I had to fly over bat ponies fighting the guards to get to his lab, but I made it.
I must have passed over him and in the chaos of the fighting didn’t spot him, because he was not in the lab. The next thing I thought he could be was in the throne room. I flew down the halls as fast as I could. The only thing on my mind was his safety. I fully regretted not telling him that the attack was coming.
I made it to the throne room to find Luna and the night guards had already secured the room. She sent ponies after her sister who had run from the room before I got to it. Luna said she didn’t know where Acid was, but I think she was sparing my feelings. He had run away with Celestia and was helping her.
We quickly found out that Celestia had fled out of Canterlot and to Ponyvill. We were told this by a random pony calling themself a volunteer. I found out later from Acid that they had a few ponies calling themself that and going by the term VFD. This was not the last time I ran into them, but it was the first. The VFD member specifically said that Celestia had fled to where the world was quiet and that she was heading for the last safe place. They even mumbled something about the great harmony, but I couldn’t hear them very well. We figured out the rest from those two slightly confusing sentences.
I was tasked with making a platoon of 100 ponies to make a trench at the bottom of Canterlot Mountain facing Ponyvill. Of the 100 ponies I chose, only 4 of us survived. 10 were wounded and in the hospital. Another 10 were almost dead, and 25 were dead. 51 ponies, as of right now, are missing in action. I have a bad feeling they aren’t coming back.
(Picture of the remainder of “The Night Terrors” as we were called by the other platoons)
We brought cannons to help defend ourselves just in case the Solar Empire attacked first (SE). We were in the middle of digging our trenches parallel to the SE when one of our cannons went off. I would later go and inspect all of them, but none of them were faulty, someone intently shot the cannon. The strange thing, no one was near the one that fired.
All hell broke lost the moment the cannonball landed against the SE trenches. We quickly scrambled to find out what had happened. We had no time to think when a counterattack shot back. We had no choice but to fire back at them. We tried to only target the opposing cannons. That is much harder than you think it is. I may have missed and hit a few buildings. I haven’t heard anything from Acid if any innocent ponies were hurt during that initial back and fourth scrimmage.
We got pushed back by the Pegasus army led by Rainbow Dash. We had to abandon the trench we were digging and save the cannons. The cannons were now useless to defend because the Pegasus kept coming after them. We split the group, one went and dug for a while and the other defended the cannons. Eventually, we got back up and pushed back to the fighting line where we quickly completed the trench.
My platoon switched out and rested through the night. Before I went to bed, I was approached by another “volunteer” who had told me that Acid Flask was dead. He was killed during the first attack on Canterlot. You have no idea how sad I was. At that moment I felt my world crumble around me. The only reason I was fighting was to find Acid. He was my little sunshine. The only light left in my world.
He was the only good thing in my life other than my father. I couldn’t believe that the world would take such a nice, kind-hearted, and caring pony from me. But I had no time to mentally process it, I had to sleep and get ready for tomorrow.
Day 3
This was the first time in over three years I’d woken up without Acid tucked nicely against my stomach with my arms gently wrapped around him. It felt so lonely, the house felt very empty. Dox was kept in the castle with Luna so he wouldn’t end up a casualty of the war. Many of the bat pony kids were also sent to live in the castle so they wouldn’t get hurt by SE civilians still in Canterlot.
I went to a briefing with Luna and a few other high bat pony guards. The one I found odd was the tall stallion bat pony that kept to himself and seemed to be in shadow all the time. Getting back on track, we found out that Watermelon Rat had been snuck out of the castle and to Ponyvil. He was previously being held in his room in the castle. I went and investigated, but all I found in his room were the words VFD on a piece of paper and a book called The Incomplete History of Secret Organizations.
I placed it into the evidence locker room for later but found out too late that it was later stolen by a pony that could change into any pony. I think I know what little bug did that. I knew he followed me, I just didn’t think it would hurt for him to just watch me from the door. Now I can’t find him and I don’t have the heart to tell Acid, so I lied that Luna knew where he was.
My platoon switched in at the trench right when the first plane came by with a bomb. That first one killed at least 15 of us if not more. We scrambled to fight back but kept getting hit with bomb after bomb. We must have lost over 350 ponies that day. There were 20 different platoons at the trench, only 10 were left even remotely in shape to fight by the end of the day. 5 platoons were completely killed or gone missing, again not holding my breath, and the last 5 platoons were completely hospitalized. We tried to push back, but we were too weak and got pushed back again.
I went back home tired and broken. My mind was starting to crack in front of me. All I wanted was Acid back, but the world wouldn’t allow me to have even that bit of joy in my life. I cried myself to sleep that night while hugging his pillow. I just wanted my husband back and for this war to end.
Day 4-7
The next few days felt like hell. My body did things on its own without my interference. I would wake up, get ready, eat, go meet up with Luna, and then go down to the trench with my slowly dwindling platoon. Every day was the same. Cannon fire, we fire back. Bomb drops, get out of the way before firing back at them.
A few times they charged at us personally with swords drawn. We were told to only kill if it was necessary. I was too angry to listen to that command. I murdered many ponies in pure anger. That’s what it was, murder. They did not need to die. They had nothing to do with Acid’s death. They were innocent fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters. I stay awake every night thinking of what I did. I no longer deserve Acid and his love. I didn’t deserve him to start, but now I’ve seen what I am. I’m a monster, and I fear if I told him what happened, then he would fear me too. As I’m writing this with Acid lying against my side I’ve had to make sure he wasn’t looking. I don’t want him to know what I did in my anger and sadness.
We had heard that the SE had a secret weapon they were planning on using to win. We were told this by another volunteer from VFD. That weapon was thankful never a real thing to begging with. This does make me question where the VFD pony heard it from. Are they really on our side? Or maybe they started this whole thing.
Day 8
Day 8 was the final day of the war. It was like every other day I woke up alone without Acid. We were told that this was going to be the last push we could do. Our numbers were weak, not dwindling, just getting tired. We were pushing hard back, so much so that I knew it was going to be the end.
We charged up into no man's land, as we called it, and headed for the SE trenches. They charged out after us and that day was when the bloodiest battle of the war took place. I was covered in sweat with blood dripping down my chest and neck. That’s when I saw him. I couldn’t believe my eyes, he was standing opposite me fighting off one of my own team members. I stopped as tears filled my eyes. It was Acid Flask, my husband, my love, my little light. In shock, I had dropped my sword out of my mouth.
I felt like hiding, I didn’t want him to see me. I didn’t want him to see what I had become. Blood was literally dripping down my chest from ponies he probably knew. I loved him, yes, but I didn’t want him to fear me like other platoons did. They called me the Oncoming Storm. They told me that they wouldn’t want to be on the enemy side if they saw me. They were right, I had become a monster, something to be feared.
It was too late for me to run and hide. Where would I even hide behind? We made eye contact, and that’s when I saw his jaw unclench and his eyes teared up. The same look of shock and horror was on his face as it was on mine.
We stared at each other as the war kept going on around us. It felt like forever. All I wanted to do was to vanish. I felt so ashamed of myself. But something kicked in me that was much stronger, it was love. Tears still in my eyes I ran to him. He ran towards me as we both took off our helmets. Not even one word was spoken and yet we understood what the other wanted at that moment. I hugged him tight as he jumped up and wrapped his arms around my neck and kissed me. I kiss back as I held him tight in my arms. I never wanted to let go of him again.
I wanted nothing more than to just pick him up and leave the battle. I wanted to bring him home and hold him close. I wanted to tell him how much I love him, and how much he makes me a better pony. But there was no time for that, an NLR bombing squad was diploid earlier that day and I knew we had to get out of there.
We ran to the closest trench, which was the NLR trench. I defended him again my own squad's insistence to jail him for being on the SE side. I yelled at them to leave him alone. I was going to make sure my little stallion was not going to die today or get jailed for just being on the wrong side. Honestly the more we talked, the more I thought I might have been on the wrong side.
Day 9
You have now been caught up with what happened in the last week. Right now me and Acid sit on top of the trench eating and writing in our diaries. It was his idea, not mine. Right now Luna and Celestia are in no man’s land talking about an agreement.
I still fear one thing other than what I did in the war. What happened to Dox? I haven’t heard anything from Luna about him. I hope he’s just hiding in our home and when we go back we’ll see him huddled up in the corner of his room. I hope so…
I see you have insisted on dragging yourself into the story like a cat dragging home a bird. Now that you have read Blood Moon's accounts there is no turning back, at least for the few of you that want to know exactly what happened to the little changeling Dox. That question and many more are answered in Dox's letter that we received not but three weeks ago. I ask of you one last time to shut this story and forget about it. What you are about to read will drag you into a world you never knew existed. You will have more questions than answers and no happiness left. I demand you to look away before there is no turning back.
Just to get this out of the way I’m going to be numbering the sentences so I can keep this as brief as possible.1 There is no reason for you to look at the numbers closer, especially when I mess them up.20 2
I honestly don’t know much about the war that went on.3 I was at school when the first-day attack on Canterlot Castle happened.4 The strange thing is my mother took me to school first instead of my dad.5 I wonder if she knew what was coming.6 I can’t think about that now.7 I have so much to tell you that I can’t, but I’ll try my best.8 This is the 5th letter I’m writing.9 Hopefully this time the guard outside lets it out instead of throwing it away after reading it.8 10
(a drawing of me. Yes I’m a changeling)
When mom picked me up from school she had tears on her face.11 I tried to ask what had happened, but all she told me was Acid was not coming home and that a war just started.12 I wonder if Dad died during the attack.13 No one would ever give me a straight answer on that, not even Luna.14 I was later escorted to the castle by night guards along with other bat pony fillies and colts.15 I think they were trying to protect us from the Celestia lovers.5 16
I went and found Mom after her meeting with Luna.17 Mom told me that a pony named Watermelon Rat had been snuck out of the castle and was heading for Ponyvill, where Celestia was at.18 She told me to go back to my room and to not follow her.19 I did the exact opposite and followed her from afar, but I think she knew.12 20
After I watched Mom look threw Watermelon’s room I went in and found a piece of paper that was marked VFD.21 Somehow I knew what VFD was, I just couldn’t pin it in my brain.22 I followed Mom to the evidence locker to see if she had found something.23 I changed into her and grabbed the book she had placed in there called The Incomplete History of Secret Organizations.24 I must have changed back too soon because a guard spotted me so I had to run and hide in my dad’s lab.1 25
I learned a lot about VFD through that book, but I can’t tell you much, or else the guard will throw it away again and I’ll have to start again.26 My horn hurts from all the writing I’ve done.27 What I can tell you is VFD is an organization that has been around since Celestia and Luna were fillies.28 It was created to keep the peace between the two when they became the new rulers of Equestria.29 Sadly they didn’t do a good enough job.30 As the tail of Nightmare Moon could tell you.19 31
After that happened, they started to splinter, but not by much.32 The organization went quiet after The Great Harmony8 15 12 4 5 18 went missing.33 I know what happened to it, but as I said I can’t say much.34 You also might be wondering what it is.35 That’s a really good question.36 I have no idea what it is, but it’s important to the VFD. 20 37
Thousand years later when Luna came back the organization returned back to normal and helped the two sisters return back to normal.38 This worked up until the Great Harmony was stolen from VFD.39 It caused a schism between ponies in VFD.19 40
I still do not know what the Great Harmony is, but it’s important and I think if fallen into the wrong hooves, it’s going to be bad for the rest of Equestria.1 41
When I went to bed that night I then woke up here in this prison cell.42 I still don’t know where exactly I’m at, but they keep calling it the last ERASED.6 43
Great, the guard handed me back the letter and said to look it over and I noticed there are a lot of scratched-out words and erased stuff.44 At least they didn’t rip it up this time.5 45
There isn’t much left I can tell ya.46 I’ve been stuck in here for a few days I think.47 The last time they updated me on the war was Wednesday.48 It sounded like SE is winning right now.16 49
All I ask of you is to forget me, to forget my safety.50 I’ll find a way out, just don’t worry about me ok.12 51
Please, whoever finds this.52 Find out what VFD is doing.53 Find the good ones and warn Celestia and Luna.1 54
I’ll be alright Dad.55 You know I will.56 That’s of course if you’re alive.3 57
Please, just forget about me.57 I’ll be alright.5 58
I currently write this with Dox still missing. Acid Flask, Blood Moon, Film Wheel, and myself have collected together all the evidence we could find. All we found is what Acid and Moon knew about what happened and the lone letter the two found when they went home one long day at work about three weeks ago. Film, Acid's brother, has used his connection with the Wonderbolts through Rainbow Dash to try and see if they could find anything about VFD and the missing little changeling. I'm sorry to say that we have not gotten an answer to where Dox is located. We've turned to publishing what we can find and getting the word out about what happened. If you can find where Dox is, please contact us. I know you are invested now considering you made it this far. For the safety of Equestria and the little bug caught up in a world we know very little about, please help us find him.
