//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 : Great War // Story: The Vanhoover's Filly // by Altia Sky //------------------------------// The Changelings had consolidated their positions in the north, and were turning towards Equestria with increasing determination. The geopolitical map of Equus was being redrawn, and for the first time in a long time, Equestria was not in a position of strength. Border towns like Vanhoover were particularly vulnerable. Fortifications and trenches were dug around the town, and Equestria's army increased its presence in the region. Rumors of imminent conscription were rife, and many ponies young and old volunteered to defend their homeland. In the midst of this chaos, the little filly's family was trying to make a crucial decision: to stay and fight, or to flee to a safer place. Father, with his contacts in the army, learned that the first skirmishes had already taken place on the border. The Changelings had a numerical advantage, but Equestria had magic, history and determination on its side. One evening, over a tense dinner, the mother told her family: "We have to leave. Vanhoover is no longer safe. I've heard of a refugee camp near Canterlot. That's where we should go." The father, worried about their home and life in Vanhoover, asked, "What if we stay and fight? Equestria needs us." The mother, with tears in her eyes, replied: "I don't want to put our daughter in danger. If we stay, we risk everything. But if we leave, at least we'll have a chance of surviving and coming back one day." Despite the ordeal, the family remained united. The little filly, though terrified, found comfort in the joys of everyday life and in her parents. It was clear that staying was dangerous, and leaving would become just as dangerous. The decision must be made before the inevitable happens. In the days that followed, the filly returned from school to hear ponies shouting in the street, holding newspapers in their hooves. Posters had appeared all over the town of Vanhoover. The filly approached one of them and read : General Mobilization Order Equestria Army, Navy and Air Force By decree of Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and the government, the mobilization of land, air and sea armies is ordered, as well as the requisition of civilian equipment needed to supplement these armies. The first day of mobilization is : Sunday, August 2, 1011 -- All Equestrians subject to military obligations must, on penalty of being punished to the full extent of the law, obey the prescriptions of the MOBILIZATION BOOKLET. This order applies to ALL PONES not on active military service and belonging to : I: LAND ARMY including NEW MARELAND COLONIAL TROOPS AND AUXILIARIES. II: AIR ARMY including CIVIL AIR MAINTENANCE SERVICES. III: SEA ARMY, including CIVIL MARINES and MARINE ARMURERS. -- The civil and military authorities are responsible for implementing the present decree. The Ministry of the Armed Forces --- The Ministry of the Interior It was clear that Equestria was preparing for war, and that it was now inevitable. Last week, Changeling troops, including tanks and military aircraft in large numbers, had been spotted on the border, with the Changeling authorities declaring it to be a classic military exercise. However, the various analysts and specialists were not fooled: such a concentration of troops on the border means a full-scale invasion. The little filly was on her way home, curious not to see her father, who didn't normally work today. A knocking sounded in the entrance hall of the house, and the filly walked in to see her father in a strange uniform. Her mother stood behind her, tearfully saying. "So that's how it is?" "Yes", replied the father, "they've mobilized all the ponies fit for duty". The little filly's mother was not concerned by the mobilization, in fact, although the Equestrian army also incorporated mares, those with children or specific and important civilian jobs were not mobilized, for the time being. The little filly approached her father and asked, "Why are you dressed as a soldier?" Her father replied, "I'm leaving for the fatherland, it's a duty where all the dads go, give me a kiss my little darling, I'll be home soon". Her father took his things and left for the train station. Although still young, the little filly wasn't fooled; she knew what it meant, that war was about to break out. A heavy silence settled over dinner, and the filly cleared her table and went gently to brush her teeth before going to bed. She told herself that this was no time to upset her mother, who looked lost in thought, her face flushed from crying earlier. The day after. Alarms sounded throughout the city, Changeling bombers flew over Vanhoover dropping bombs on the town, the panicking ponies tried to barricade themselves where they could or fled the city center or industrial sites, priority targets for the Changelings. The flak opened fire on the planes in flight, and many were shot down. Attacking from the air during the day was not a good strategy, but it confirmed the Changeling's state of mind, believing themselves powerful enough to allow themselves this kind of action. In truth, the damage was less than they'd hoped for, but it had a major psychological impact on the population, who had hardly ever experienced armed conflict on this scale. In the afternoon, the radio announced the declaration of war that the Changeling had delivered to Equestria this morning, as well as Equestria's declaration of war delivered to the Changeling ambassador to Equestria. Diplomatic relations between the two nations were quickly broken off, and the Changeling in Equestrian territory were arrested and put away from areas of importance in reception camps or moved to other regions away from the border, the aim being to avoid potential hostile Changeling in the country or spies. At the end of the day, the radio announced serious news: the town of Acornage, Equestria's closest town to the border, had fallen to the Changeling hooves, and a breakthrough indicated that they were on the offensive where Equestria was on the defensive. he news was nevertheless counterbalanced by a number of announcements: at 2:15 pm Princess Cadance of the Crystal Empire announced the Empire's entry into the war against the Changeling alongside Equestria. at 3:21 pm: The Republic of Puerto Caballo announced its entry into the war against the Changeling, followed a few minutes later by the government of the autonomous buffalo regions. at 5:48 pm: The last declaration was made: the Commonwealth of New Mareland announced its entry into war against the Changeling, adding the dispatch of a hundred thousand soldiers to Equestria and the dispatch of military equipment. The little filly stood by her mother's side during the announcements. She was frightened, but her mother was there to reassure her. But she herself was having trouble keeping calm, and she hold her daughter close to her, praying in her mind that the situation wouldn't get any worse. By evening, the situation was as follows: Acornage had fallen to a Changeling blitzkrieg, and Changeling units specializing in infiltration had succeeded in creating hostile pockets and ambushes behind the Equestrian lines, notably one near the town of Vanhoover. The Changeling marines had also landed from occupied Olenia and had succeeded in taking the town of Arcadia. The opening of a front in the Crystal Empire and the imminent arrival of New Mareland troops, however, forced the Changeling to slow down the offensive to avoid being surrounded by pockets of resistance. The Great War had begun.