Time moves fast when hard decisions are outside of your hands. At the same time, it moves at a miserable grinding pace.

That is to say, within a day, there was a pony standing at your door, a series of forms for you to sign and to read. There would be on-site formal training, she said.

Then, the slowness came. There would be no warning. There would be no note. Just a carriage outside your home to take you to the airship. The airshiP would drop all soldiers outside of the southerN border of Saddle Arabia. From there, the griffon kingdom has allowed the Equestrians to train new recruits on their land, to protect, and assist as an ally.

You wake up to another sunny morning in Equestria. Three huge pounds from your door rinG through your home.

It's time.

The carriage ride is quiet. Three ponies sit with you as you're transported to the airship. One you recognize as Roseluck, the red maned flower pony from in town who was known for overreacting. Or was that Lily? Who knows.

The second is a rather bouyant blue mare, with a cobalt and white mane. She introduced herself as Minuette. Sadly for her, nopony is really interested in talking.

Third, is the fucking jaundice horse herself. Fucking Fluttershy.

"Do you think we're all going to be squadmates?" Minutte asks, looking to each of you in turn.

You remain staring out the window, watching the country side roll by. It's strange, thinking that this could be the last time you get a good look at your home. Your new home.

"I hope so," Fluttershy mumbles.

Yeah, you bet she would. So she doesn't lose you or something.

You know, it didn't dawn on you until this very moment that this could be a good chance to make a run from Fluttershy. Permanently. You could get far, far away from her. Across borders. Where she could never find you.

But it's likely better not to dwell on such things. You need to find Red. You need to save her. If by going to this war, you're protecting her.

Somehow. Wherever she is.

You feel a tension inside you. Not a hatred. Well, not more than usual for the pony who is sitting beside you, oddly not trying to rub her body against you in some weird way. You feel that something massive is happening, right now, so large that you cannot possibly fathom. There's a breathlessness in the air. Ponies cast each other worried glances in the street. Papercolts elect not to announce the headlines out loud for the sake of public morale.

You blink and sigh.

"Are there such things as 'guns' in Equestria?" you ask aloud.

A silence falls over the carriage.

"Yes," Roseluck, of all mares, chirps. "They're strictly outlawed. We have enough ways to hurt other ponies with magic, artifacts, accidents, tools... who knows what else. Guns are considered murder weapons. The only ponies allowed to have them are those who go to war for Equestria, and are given one. Not all turn them back in after the war is over. My grandfather was like that."

You turn to her, and she looks to you. You barely know this mare, but in one glance, you feel as if you understand her. Her eyes are flat, the look of a pony who has come to terms with what struggle is ahead of them.

"Thanks," you ask. "Was your grandfather a war hero?"

She looks out the window once more. Silence. A moment.

"He was shot in the hoof in training. Never even saw the war."

There's an acid in her tone. Her eyes remain far off and in the distance. You decide that pressing further isn't probably smart. Minuette opens her mouth, but you cast her a dirty glance and she too remains silent.

The wheels bump and rattle against the dirt road, then with a left turn, you see it. Gargantuan. Spinning propellers. Ponies gathered outside, filing inside.

The airship.

You close your eyes and take a deep breath.

So. This is where it all starts, huh?

Author's Notes:

seead://octgp.rzzrwp.nzx/qtwp/o/1IkIb4WfqsrbOj_XB4wpGGIW6YfYv1v6U/gtph?fda=dslctyr