The Great Crystal War
Chapter 1: Blank Flanks Forever
Load Full Story Next ChapterI look out my window. The farm is beautiful at night, what with it being so peaceful. I usually get up earlier than everyone else, but I don't think I slept at all. The fact that it's been three months since that alicorn said she would "fix things" is bugging me for some reason. I walk past my mirror as I go to my closet - I'm reminded of the fact that even as a grown mare I still don't have a cutie mark. I get on my work clothes and pace downstairs to fetch my hairnet. I make my way to the crates of apples and start hauling them into the factory.
I hear hoofsteps and immediately suspect the little one's up.
"Applebloom, go back to bed. It's too early in the morning for you to be helping me," I say sternly.
"But Applejack, I wanna be helpful! Maybe I can get my cutie mark in... in helping you moving crates!!!" She says. I chuckle at the silly filly's thoughts, knowing she's probably gonna end up as a blank flank like me. She yawns, obviously still tired.
"Now, you tucker off to bed. I don't want you being all too tired to work in the morning 'cause you got up so early." I nudge her back toward the farmhouse.
"But big sis--"
"C'mon now, I need to get my work done before Granny and Big Mac get up. You know how important the schedule is so that we get the food to the front line in time." Applebloom moans and starts heading back to her bedroom. I look to the entrance to our Sweet Apple Factory and wonder what's happening on that front line in the war.
~~~~~Rainbow Dash~~~~~
"Derpy Hooves, thank you for coming to speak with me." The young pegasus seemed to be paying no attention and was instead looking around the tent. She may be one of the best fighters and strategists, but she her mind can sometimes wander. "Derpy." I say suddenly and firmly. She snaps to attention.
"Why'd you call me here, Commander Dash?" She says, sounding puzzled.
"I want you out on the front line. You're an excellent fighter and you've shown immense loyalty to your fellow fighters."
"Oh wow, a promotion?"
"Consider it one."
She smiles, her wings fluttering slightly, though it's not enough to get her off of the ground. I try to hide how happy I feel for her, seeing her tiny smile and dimples. She was cute, but I could never admit that. She's my wing-pony, not a potential mate.
"Dismissed."
She starts to head out of the tent. "Thanks, Commander Dash!" I smile when her back is turned. Singling out one of my best soldiers would make me seem like I favor her over others, making others think that I'm not a fair commander. I can't risk that.
After Derpy leaves, I sink back into my seat and look out of the office window. Rotations have been in my favor - I needed this break. I needed time to think about the war and how we're fending off. I look towards the recruit applications on my desk.
None of them are gonna make it out there. I sadly push them all into the trash can. I see an old photo of Fluttershy and I at flight camp that was previously buried under all of the files. I look at my blank flank in the picture, then lift my shirt on my metal wing's side to see the blank space of the flank still empty. I will never get my cutie mark.
I shake my head. It's no good focusing on that now - I have ponies to command and a war to fight. I need a strategy by tomorrow at dawn or we're gonna be smashed to pieces like a rock against Rock Troopers. I start to head toward the strategy tent, where the Air Cavalry and Rock Troopers are waiting for me.
~~~~~Fluttershy~~~~~
I've always loved animals. For the second that I spent with those animals after I fell down at Summer Flight Camp, it felt like fate. It felt like destiny. But then they looked up at the sky and seemingly for no reason ran away. I didn't hear a noise or see anything that could've alarmed them, so why they ran away is still a mystery to me. Maybe they just didn't like me. That's fine with me. But ever since then, I've felt like something was missing from my life.
At least now I'm working with animals, but it's not exactly the sort of position I've dreamed of. I have to deliver materials to efficient war-clothes caterer Rarity, who is also mark-less but extremely talented in clothes producing. I feel so sorry for the poor sheep I have to shave every day. I'm getting so tired from lack of sleep and I just feel so isolated from society. I'm not one for talking, but social interaction with other ponies feels good every once in a while. Some days, after I turn off my alarm, I lie in my bed for a few more minutes. I wonder about whether I should keep going or not. Whether I could keep going or not. If I stopped, I'm sure some other willing pony would take my place for earning their fares. Maybe... I could just give up. But I can't.
I knock on the door to the Air Cavalry Uniform Providers and patiently wait for somebody to open the door. Grey Bow's voice rings throughout the building.
"Oi Rarity, get that for me, will ya? I'm right in the middle of doin' this here uniform." Her heavy accent isn't one to miss. It was her, alright. I hear hoofsteps from behind the door. I get my cart full of wool at the ready. The door opens quite suddenly, almost grazing my nose. Rarity's worn out face greets me with a friendly smile, hiding her restless nights behind a happy tone.
"Oh Fluttershy, I almost thought something happened to you! I'm so glad you're here, we're running out quickly with all of the new recruits just rushing in and those... careless soldiers just tearing through their uniforms." She grabs the cart quickly. I nod to her, understanding she has no time for me to respond. "Well, I need to get back to work. See you again soon, precious." She hugs me with one arm for what felt like a blissful eternity.
I return to the farm and sigh, ready to delve deep into the covers of my warm, safe bed. But I can't yet - I still have to organize all of the sheep and goats for shaving tomorrow. I wonder if this life will ever end.
~~~~~Rarity~~~~~
Every day I work. I work without any sleep on my side. I work with no break to give me peace. I just work. There was a sudden outburst lately with new recruits for the war and soldiers have been tearing their uniforms more than ever. Coming up with new fibres and materials to make uniforms better was hard, but manufacturing them quickly is even harder. Grey Bow is a lot of help, especially since her specialty is with war uniforms, but even with her it's been hard to keep up. I'm reminded of my blank flank - it has been proved that all ponies with cutie marks are slightly stronger and are especially stronger in their area. This mostly applies to unicorns. I've always had a thing with clothes, but it seems I never got my cutie mark, no matter how hard I tried. The clothes were never... perfect. They were never good enough for me. Applejack said that I should honestly quit the business and pursue something that's more suited to my trait of generosity, but I couldn't just give up clothes-making. It was... part of me. When the war came, despite being so devastating, it was the chance for a lot of ponies - especially ones like me - to get a job and earn money. If only I got my cutie mark. If only this war didn't happen. Maybe then I'd be living a much better life. But I can't be thinking about "ifs".
I can only think about work.
~~~~~Pinkie Pie~~~~~
"Pinkamena Diane Pie." I bow down to my Princess when she addresses me. "I may have discovered a way to defeat King Sombra."
"How does that relate to us, Princess? Shouldn't you be talking about this with the Royal Guard or Air Cavalry?" I ask her, confused. When the Princess arrived at the Rock Trooper tent, Maud and I were quite confused at what Princess Celestia had in store for us, but we never quite expected this. "The meeting's almost about to begin anyway--"
"I wanted to specifically talk to you and Maud." At the mention of her name, Maud looks from her rock studies over to the Princess. "You're experts on rocks and have worked with them, studied them for years. A specific rock in history has come to my attention when trying to find a way to defeat King Sombra - the Crystal Heart. Its power, with my niece's power of love, would be able to defeat King Sombra and deactivate the helmets. Somehow, love defeating darkness is 'scientific' and is actual magic." She adds the last part with a bit of sass.
Maud raises an eyebrow. "Wasn't Princess Mi Amore Cadenza taken prisoner by King Sombra?"
"I want you to lead a rescue mission with some of my Royal Guards at your disposal. You must also steal the Crystal Heart." Princess Celestia raises her wings and begins to step outside of the tent. "I expect you to be ready to pick up the selected Royal Guards by tomorrow." At that, the Princess stepped outside and flew off into the distance. I walk to the entrance of the tent.
"Come on, Maud. If we don't go to the meeting now, we'll be late." I say, urging Maud to hurry up with her rock studying.
"We'll mention what Princess Celestia said to the Air Cavalry, right?" My sister asks me as she follows me to the meeting tent.
"Of course, sis'. We won't be able to rescue Princess Mi Amore Cadenza from the Crystal Empire with just a few soldiers from the Royal Guard."
We enter the tent, with all of the Air Cavalry already sitting at the table. Commander Dash is standing up looking slightly annoyed, arms crossed.
"Why are you late?" She asks us, raising an eyebrow. "I'd like to hear your excuse. If we're not ready by tomorrow morning, we're gonna get crushed, do you understand?"
Maud and I nod. "Princess Celestia had something urgent to tell us," I explain.
"Princess Celestia, huh?" Dash scoffs. "You Rock Troopers are important, but if what she had to say was really that important, she'd be telling me."
"She asked us to lead a rescue mission to save Princess Mi Amore Cadenza from the dungeons of King Sombra."
Commander Dash's eyes widen. She falls back slightly. "That's a suicide mission, Pinkamena. If we go into there, countless lives will be lost. In any other circumstances, I will not question my Princess. But a mission to rescue her niece for no reason at all? Now that's bullshit!" Her mood quickly changes from being taken aback to anger.
"But Commander, she's key to defeating King Sombra and finally finishing this war," Maud states. Dash considers this for a moment.
"You'd be risking both your lives and the lives of the Air Cavalry on this mission," she says after a few moments that seemed to last forever. I look at her metal wing for a split second and gulp.
I step forward, confidence rushing through me as I think about finally ending this war. "Princess Celestia enlisted the help of a few members of the Royal Guard. This rescue mission, if it succeeds, will serve as an integral key to finishing all of this bloodshed with us as the winners." My commander looks me up and down.
"Alright. Tomorrow, Derpy Hooves, Lightning Dust and I will join you on the rescue mission." She turns to the table. "The rest of you are still going to be fighting on the front line. Now..."
As Rainbow Dash goes on about war strategies, Maud and I step out of the tent and return to ours. As we prepare for the battle, I wonder if tomorrow will be the day I finally get my cutie mark. But I know what tomorrow will be if we succeed - one of the biggest days in pony history.