Solar Eclipse

Chapter 3: No Turning Back

Ponyville, Day 2: 1400

            Shining Armor was worried. He hadn’t heard anything from Twilight in Canterlot, and had learned that none of his messages had made it through.  For the first time in his life, he found himself feeling jealous of the normal military and their instant communication.  Not only was this lack of contact getting in the way of his and Twilight’s relationship, but he was also left unknowing about conditions nearby.  NLR attack helicopters prowling the woods always seemed to find their scouting posts, but they let the Solar Empire soldiers at the posts escape instead of destroying the camps instantly.  From what he’d heard, Ponyville wasn’t in any danger yet, but at the rate the New Lunar Republic was going, he had a feeling the town would be attacked by next week.  Not that they wouldn’t be prepared.  Shining Armor decided to survey the defense forces to make sure they could survive an attack.

            When the 18th Legion arrived in Ponyville, they had received a surprisingly warm welcome from the Mayor and her cabinet.  She had arranged for two entrepreneurs, Shining Armor forgot their names, something like Flim or Flem, to provide cider for his troops as they began preparing Ponyville for a fight.  Aside from soldiers, barely anypony walked the roads.  Most had either evacuated to nearby designated shelters for civilians or joined either of the two armies.  As he walked to the command post by the former Town Hall, he made sure to observe the position his troops were in.  Several of them were originally from Ponyville, and eagerly pointed out locations to confused soldiers.  They had no catapults or ballistae, unlike the major cities, which confused him.  Ponyville, with its close proximity to Canterlot and direct rail line, was a tactical jackpot for the NLR, and with only his legion, Shining Armor feared the battle would be harder than anything else he’d done in his life, possibly more difficult than the Crystal Empire’s return.  It’s only the second day.  They might not even get here before the war’s over, if we win.  I’ve got more than enough time to prepare, he thought to himself as he neared the Town Hall.  When he got there, his unicorn lieutenant galloped excitedly towards him, a piece of paper levitating in front of him.

            “Sir!  Sir!  This just came in from Canterlot!  I think you’re gonna like it, sir,” he said breathlessly.  Shining Armor grabbed it magically, and his subordinate’s horn stopped glowing.  He took one look at the front, and then brightened as he recognized the writing.  Shining Armor thanked the soldier and opened the letter.

            My dear brother,

            If you manage to get this one, then my new message-transfer method has been successful.  It’s pretty boring up here, so I’ve been trying to practice my magic in-between tasks.  I can only hope that some lesson about friendship will come to me over the course of this ordeal.  I’m fine, right now.  For some reason no bombers are attacking Canterlot, and no cruise missiles or artillery shells have struck anywhere.  Either they’re hesitant to attack this city or your force field is stronger than I thought. (No offense, but I think a heavy, uranium-tipped rocket-propelled projectile moving at several miles per second might be able to get through, but who knows?)  Don’t worry about me, I’m safe at the castle, usually at the side of the Princess, or is it Empress now?

            How are things in Ponyville?  I’m curious as to what’s changed.  Are there any ponies who lived there originally among your troops?  It must be stressful, commanding a garrison tasked with defending one of the most strategically important locations in Equestria.  From what I’ve heard you haven’t even got any heavy weapons.  I’ll see if I can allocate resources to you, but things are scarce, even on day 2.  I shudder to think about what life will be like if this war continues for longer than a few weeks.  We’re completely unprepared for extended combat, unlike the rebels, who could probably survive months if not years of this.