"My fellow Terrans. I come to you today with the gravest of news. As you know, the monthly portal between our great republic and our friends on the planet Equus has recently opened, and we received their transport pod successfully. But what we must tell you now is disturbing. Where usually our friends pack their trade goods, there were only messages. Letters, scrolls. All begging for one thing..."

Marcus Tanbor, President of the Terran Republic and its surrounding colonies, blew a deep breath from his nose as he reached up to rub his eyes. The Indian-American man had recently reached his fiftieth year, and he could feel everyone of his years pressing down on him now. Through the lens of the cameras glaring down at him, Marcus could see a distorted mirroring of his features: his greying shock of hair, a neatly trimmed goatee, with a few streaks of silver as well. Usually, the odd image helped ease his mind with a bit of humor, but after all he had learned about with the goings on in Equus...

"Help. They are asking... no, begging us for help. We have learned today that Equus is under siege by an alien race previously unknown to either of our species. According to Princess Celestia, they are highly advanced and, even after just half a month of fighting, Equus is on the verge of defeat. The surviving militaries of their world have congregated at the Equine capital of Canterlot, and have managed to push the invaders back... for now. They have pledged that they will die fighting, a viewpoint shared by all of us out there."

Marcus tightened his lips, just a fraction. He had been a salesman in Chicago before the fateful day that had begun to spring him up the societal board towards Terran President. He had sold cars for the most part- a vital part of life in America, even in an age where spaceships had become damn near as ubiquitous. Today, however, was going to be the ultimate test of his salesman spirit. He sucked in a deep breath, and gave his best authoritative glare at the blank eye of the camera.

"We all know what Equuskind have given us. The cancer cure that saved millions, if not billions, of lives from a slow and painful death. The conjecture and knowledge that helped us create the first shielding technology for our starships. The potions that have made lives easier for millions of Terrans who wished to change some part of themselves. The science and arcanotech that helped jump up our terraforming projects on Mars, Venus, and Titan from hundreds of years, to decades. Millions of Terrans, every month, receive letters and gifts from our Equus brothers and sisters across the portal. We owe them a debt we could not have repaired, even by sending our own technology through the portal. They have helped uplift humanity into the golden age we now are experiencing. It is a debt we could never repay... until now."

Here we go, Marcus. Crunch time.

"My fellow Terrans. No true leader seeks out war. Peace is always preferable, you and I both know this. But this... this is not a war for resources. These creatures, these Seraphs as the Equus call them, are not after resources. They wish to butcher every single inhabitant of that world. To take it for themselves. And we as humans would be remiss if we did not do something. Humanity has gotten to this point in its life, not by a small group of individuals driving it, but as a collective of wills. Of bonds made by friendship, and camaraderie. The Equines have a philosophy of life they live by, Harmony. Many of you out there are practitioners of this philosophy, and I must admit, I have read up on it myself. Friendship and Harmony. We were a cynical world once, and in many ways we still are. I like to think that can change."

"Loyalty. Are we, as human beings, going to sit on the side lines while millions are butchered and abused? Millions of our friends? They have given much for our people, and now, we must return the favor. Kindness. Even if they were not our friends and pen-pals, humanity has an obligation to fight injustice, wherever it is! We took on this duty the first time a caveman stopped his neighbor from killing another. Generosity. Equus has already proven its generosity to us. Is it not time for humanity to do the same, to show our friends just what their gifts have done for us? Honesty. For too long, human honesty has been shoved aside for material gain and the building of nations. Today, I call for a true vote among all of our citizens. You all will receive vote requests on your bio-digital communication devices at the end of this speech, to decide how our Republic will respond, in the most honest way possible."

Marcus closed his eyes for a brief moment, and licked at his lips. The air in this building was so damned dry.

"Laughter. As odd as it may seem, people of Terra Prime and our colonies, could you imagine a world now without videos of our Equus brothers? Videos, pictures, the artwork and culture they have sent us. Of seaponies frolicking in the waves like our own dolphins, now valued members of our Republic. Of griffons soaring among the clouds, regaling us with tales of their history and drinks. Of unicorns performing feats of magic that can astonish even the most jaded mind. Magic... the last Element of Harmony. Humanity, I am sad to say, does not hold magic. In the same way that Equus does, at least. But we DO have technology. My fellow Terrans, I will be the first to inform you... we now can go to Equus. Humanity. Our scientists, as of early this morning, have perfected a shield that will protect us from the deadly radiation of the portal, as well as a technique that will keep the portal open full-time. We... can go to Equus. But only if there is an Equus left."

"Today, I am calling for a vote amongst the population of Terra Prime, Mars, Venus, Titan, and even our brave workers and explorers of the Asteroid Belt, Jupiter's cloud cities, and the mining outpost on Pluto. Today, humanity must vote on the biggest armed call-up in the history of our entire species. If this bill passes, we will ask that anyone willing to fight report directly to your local Armed Forces recruiter. If you have a starship and wish to include it, then we will find a way to arm it fittingly. This is a citizen army; a militia, to defend our friends and neighbors from death. My fellow Terrans... please. Do not forget who we truly are. Thank you."

As Marcus stepped away from his podium, he quickly wiped a small tear from his eye, turning back towards his aides. Now, he could only pray.

****************************************

"Today, after the landslide victory of the President's Call to Arms, billions all over the worlds have reported for duty at the local Arms Recruiters. Thousands of privately owned starships have been turned over to the Terran Space Command, and the Fleet has grown by leaps in bounds in only days. Some believe that this Call is a mistake... but I do not."

"Julian-!"

"No. I'm sorry viewers, but this will be my last day on the air. You see this photo? This is Rarity; she has been my pen-pal for the last ten years, and I will be DAMNED if I left her world to die while sitting here. I handed in my recruitment papers this morning, and I beg all our viewers to do the same."

*****************************************

"Some believe that a single month's training is hardly adequate to make a proper soldier, but the Admirals in charge of the Space Command had this to say."

"We will not be sending our militia out on the front lines. No, their job will be to act as paramedics, explorers, scouts, and a stop-gap force between our professional front-line troopers, and our support flotilla. Most private starships are getting shield generators, on-board medical suites, and light weaponry. The vast majority, we hope, will not see heavy combat, but if it comes down to it... well, these aliens are about to see a little human ingenuity up close."

******************************************

"As the month has come to an end, we now look upon the largest space fleet ever gathered in Terran history. Three thousand starships, ranging from the kilometer long battleship Yamato, to over two thousand standard personal freighters. Today, humanity marches to war. Not just one nation, but one people. Today, over four million human beings sail forth to rescue our friends and allies from death. We go now to the President, aboard the Yamato. Julien?"

"Thank you, Tom, the president is about to begin."

"Ladies and gentlemen, I will make this brief. Words cannot express just how proud I am of my race at this moment. And by race, I do not mean Indians. I do not mean one singular people... for we are beyond that now. We are all... simply... human. This fleet proves that. And today, we shall prove that to our allies on the other side of the portal. Many of us may die in this attempt. I may die. But let it be known... that all those that die this day are heroes, for they go forth bravely to fight an unknown enemy, to save the lives of-"

"Heh. Looks like that's our cue, folks. Everyone not coming with the fleet must leave immediately. It's time to begin."

*******************************************

In the heart of Canterlot Castle, five figures floated in a beam of purest light, attuned at the deepest level by the strongest magic of their world, each lending their power to the defense to the last bastion of Equuskind. Celestia, her face weathered and wrinkled from strain and worry, grit her teeth lightly. Her magic suffused the very bricks and stones of Canterlot and her recently built defenses, repairing themselves as they were damaged or destroyed by the Creatures' missiles. Golden magic drifted up like a heat haze all over the city, lending itself to her siblings' own magic. Luna, her wings spread wide and glistening with moonlight, was keening: in frustration, in pain, and in concentration. Her magic was doing its damnest to keep a massive shield in place over the Castle and the caverns where the refugees were hiding. Not too far away from the edge of her silver shield, a purple one glistened in the sunlight as the Captain of the Guard did his best to protect the Canterlot Academy and its students from destruction. Both Cadence and Twilight Sparkle were quite interested in keeping the purple shield intact, but their minds were drawn elsewhere by the pillar of magic. Cadence's magic was attached to each and everyone of their fighters on the frontlines, healing them as best she could. Tears matted her silken cheeks. There was just so many dead...

Twilight Sparkle floated alongside a twitching, buzzing form in the pillar: Queen Chrysalis. Old hatreds and rivalries had died away in the face of annihilation, and now both alicorns led the offense: beams of purple and green leaped from Canterlot Castle to smash the Creatures' smaller ships and their flyers as they got too close. But there were so many. Too many. Even as Twilight obliterated a turtle-shaped craft that always carried dozens of bladed Creatures, she sobbed quietly. What could they do against this? Her friends were out in the thickest of the fighting, but they were nearly our of magic, and out of ponies still able to fight.

A fluctuation in the magical field caught Twilight's attention, and she gave it as much focus as she could. It was small, and almost like a void. Facts flew through Twilight's analytical mind in a whirlwind of speculation and theory, none leading over the others... till she checked just where the fluctuation was. The Portal.

"To the Princesses of Equestria, and to all those still alive. I do not know if you can hear this message. But if you can, just hold on. Humanity is on its way."

"P... princess...?"

"I heard it, Twilight."

As Twilight turned to mentor, she was startled and elated to see a smile curving Celestia's lips, tears matting her own cheeks.

"I heard."

Author's Notes:

Cody- Oh god, my fingeeeeers. So much typing. Anyway, this is the first chapter, let us know what you think guys!

Taelea- Hey everyone. I just want to apologize about... everything. Cody has been a huge help on this project, and I want you all to treat him like you would me.