Ink Rose was at her cubicle within the Cloudsdale Herald newspaper office. She just put the finishing touches on her latest comic for this Thursday’s newspaper. Finally putting down her pencil and breathing a sigh of relief. She admired her latest creation, then her boss walks in and looks like it.

“Nice Ink Rose!” Spectrum Streak said. Spectrum being the father of Rainbow Dash.

“Thank you!” Ink Rose replied smiling happily. She noticed Spectrum a little bit tense.

“Ink… Can I see you in my office real quickly?”

Ink Rose picked up on it and her ears dropped. She never seen her boss this tense before, unless it was nearing a deadline and nopony was ready with their stuff.

“Yeah sure…” Ink Rose followed her boss into his office as he closed the door for some privacy.

“Ink there is no easy way to say this… But I have to let you go…”

“Why? Am I not doing my comics to the best of my ability?”

“No you ARE doing the best comics for our newspaper.” Spectrum said. “It’s just that Equestria has declared war on the Vulcan Sol empire and your draft card was selected for Cloudsdale. I’m sorry to say this but you’ve been drafted into the Equestrian Air Force.”

---

Robin and his marefriend, Melody Sketch, walked down the streets of Canterlot side by side. The two got ice cream after their date at the movies and were walking home. However they saw a long line of ponies in front of the local recruitment office.

“What’s with the line?” Robin asked a nearby white earth pony with a blue mane and tail.

“Didn’t your hear chap?” the pony, named Antony C said. “Equestria declared war on the Vulcan sol empire! Everypony has been drafted into the war!”

“Okay…” Robin said, as him and Melody continued their walk back to their shared apartment.

“You think we’ll be drafted?” Melody asked. “We are of age to be drafted.”

“I hope not… It would mean either one of us can die in the war and I don’t want to lose you to some imperial filth.”

“I don’t want to lose you either.”

---

Prince Magnus Mage stood on the balcony of his bed chambers of Canterlot Palace. Looking down at the ruckus that news of the declaration of war brought. Many were crying as their loved ones were drafted into the military, others burned their draft cards in protest and arrested. It was chaos in Canterlot and Discord didn’t do anything at all.

“Can’t sleep?” Princess Luna entered Mage’s bed chambers and onto the balcony.

“No… Not when there is chaos like this… You didn’t have to help me with this war. I could’ve convinced father to lower the barrier and help fight off the empire.”

“We only did it because we too are threatened by the empire. This isn’t about Arcadia, it’s about Tidas Aurora and the rest of the world. Protected our home from a empire that uses forbidden magic.”

“That is true… Sorry for thinking of only myself and my ponies.”

“It’s alright young Mage. Tomorrow our new recruits will be sent for training. Our current military are heading to the front lines as we speak to protect Equestria.”

Mage looked at Luna “I heard the empire will be here tomorrow at dawn. Intelligence gathered suggest their ETA in eight hours.”