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41
Canterlot Archives / Re: Canterlot: City of Light! City of Magic! (Open/Jump in RP.)
2018 Mar 12, 13:45:37Quote from: SparkleChord on 2018 Mar 11, 23:24:06Rather startled by the almost-collision with an unknown stallion, Sparkle nearly fell over anyhow, even though she never actually collided with anyone. Regaining her balance, she turned toward the pony who had almost walked over her with an apologetic look.
"No no, it's fine! That was totally my fault! I should've been paying more attention..." She said, smiling sheepishly. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you. Are you going to the Unicorn school? That's where I'm headed. I mean, I know I'm an Earth Pony, but a friend of my dad is doing a lecture there about the Great War today."
*He smiles pleasantly at Sparkle, and starts trotting toward the school*
"By the way, my name's Star Tracker. Nice to meet you."
42
Canterlot Archives / Re: Canterlot: City of Light! City of Magic! (Open/Jump in RP.)
2018 Mar 11, 23:14:32Quote from: SparkleChord on 2018 Mar 11, 23:01:31((thanks ^^))Spoiler: character app • show
Somewhere on the outskirts of the city, a train from Manehattan pulls into the station, as many ponies file out of it's cars. Among these ponies was a young mare by the name of Sparkle Chord, who was visiting Canterlot for the first time. As the young mare stepped off the train and followed the crowd into the city's gates, she took a deep breath. This was it. Her first day away from home. After 17 years of living in Manehattan with her parents, she was finally heading out to see the world. Taking in the sights of the sparkling city, Sparkle marveled at the pristine white buildings and golden spires of Equestria's capital. The whole place gave off a regal aura, filling the mare with a sense of excitement. Taking a moment to search through her saddlebags, Sparkle pulled out a map and quickly examined it. Assuming she was reading this thing right, her destination was on the other side of town. Letting out a sigh, she began walking in the direction of the magic school she was supposed to attend. The walk would be a long one, but with every step her heart grew lighter, the excitement of attending a school specially for magic building within her quickly.
*Off on a side street, a young stallion wanders toward the same destination. He walks slowly, but with purpose. He knows the way, but isn't in a hurry to get there, as his thoughts are all over the place. He thinks back to his vacation. The cruise where he met two Princesses. One of the most memorable times of his young life. He's so wrapped up in his thoughts that he doesn't see the young unicorn mare in front of him until he's nearly on top of her. He lets out a gasp and skids to a quick halt. Nearly bumping into @SparkleChord *
"Oh! I'm sorry miss! I almost ran into you!"
43
Canterlot Archives / Re: Canterlot: City of Light! City of Magic! (Open/Jump in RP.)
2018 Mar 11, 19:22:22Quote from: SparkleChord on 2018 Mar 11, 19:04:21((hello ^^ am I too late to join?))
((Not at all. Welcome aboard.
))
44
Canterlot Archives / Re: Canterlot: City of Light! City of Magic! (Open/Jump in RP.)
2018 Feb 13, 15:28:01Quote from: ScarletInk on 2018 Feb 13, 15:15:24Nice to meet you, sir.
I second that.
*Both mares bow their heads back at him.*
*He smiles warmly at the pair. Onyx seems to be studying him.*
"You were an infantry officer?"
*He nods*
"Yes. I led the 3rd Company."
*Onyx nods back at him*
"78th Independent Regiment? They were fine soldiers. Always respected them. Were you at Bridemont?"
*The Germane nods solemnly*
"I was. Terrible business. We held out as long as we could. Made our Fatherland proud. But it wasn't enough"
"One hay of a battle. We all lost a lot of friends..."
45
Canterlot Archives / Re: Canterlot: City of Light! City of Magic! (Open/Jump in RP.)
2018 Feb 13, 15:13:03Quote from: ScarletInk on 2018 Feb 13, 14:51:04You two can plan your wedding later! We're going to be late! *Lily says, ushering both of them out of the campus and toward the School*
*Onyx blushes fiercely at Lily's comment and marches along after her with Scarlet at his side. As they reach the front of the lecture hall, Onyx sees the huge crowd of ponies. Including several familiar faces. He waves to Lyra and Bon Bon, then the Germane Officer he saw earlier approaches. He bows his head to Onyx in a military fashion*
"Hello, Sergeant. I'm Oberleutnant Grimmige Klinge. 78th Independent Regiment. Or I was, anyway."
*He says pleasantly. Onyx salutes, and answers with military courtesy*
"It's good to meet you, Oberleutnant. I'm glad you're here. We may have been on opposite sides, but all our stories need to be told."
*The Germane nods*
"Indeed. I have to say, the ponies here have been very welcoming. I'm a bit surprised."
*Onyx smiles*
"Well, after the war ended, there was no 'us vs. them' with your people anymore. We were all soldiers. We all went through a lot... By the way, these are my friends: Scarlet Ink and her sister Lily."
*The Germane bows his head respectfully to the two sisters*
"An honor to meet you both."
46
Canterlot Archives / Re: Canterlot: City of Light! City of Magic! (Open/Jump in RP.)
2018 Feb 12, 17:04:36Quote from: ScarletInk on 2018 Feb 12, 16:18:01Hi, Onyx! Came to pick us up? Nice of you!
Uhm... you look really nice wearing the uniform.
*Onyx blushes again*
"Hehe, thanks. You look amazing."
47
Canterlot Archives / Re: Canterlot: City of Light! City of Magic! (Open/Jump in RP.)
2018 Feb 12, 16:11:50Quote from: ScarletInk on 2018 Feb 12, 15:45:39*Except the door gets opened before he can and he accidentally boops Scarlet's nose.*
*Onyx blushes cutely*
"Oh, uh... morning Scarlet! Lily!"
48
Canterlot Archives / Re: Canterlot: City of Light! City of Magic! (Open/Jump in RP.)
2018 Feb 12, 15:21:53Quote from: ScarletInk on 2018 Feb 12, 15:14:09You're wearing make-up.
Shush you.
And perfume.
I deny it.
And you asked me to borrow my nicest blouse.
I just want to look presentable, Onyx has nothing to do with it!
Who talked about Onyx?
*Onyx trots through the Canterlot morning toward Lily and Scarlet's place. It's a bit chilly. Passing the lecture hall, he catches sight of several other ponies in army uniforms. Including one wearing a Germane Officer's dress uniform.*
"Interesting. I'll have to say hello to him."
*He arrives at the sisters' place and knocks on the door*
49
Canterlot Archives / Re: Canterlot: City of Light! City of Magic! (Open/Jump in RP.)
2018 Feb 12, 14:28:12Quote from: ScarletInk on 2018 Feb 12, 14:11:05*Scarlet and Lily both get prepared for the lecture, though with completely different objectives: the younger sister is getting ready to another day of learning, though a special lesson is coming to pass, while the older one...
She has a stallion to impress and she has to look at the note with a particular friend's address to encourage herself.*
*Standing up straight in his military posture, Onyx walks out of his room and out into the hall. A few ponies standing around in the hotel take notice. Bon Bon and Lyra, who are in Canterlot for some reason, whistle appreciatively. Onyx gives them a smirk and bow of his head as he walks past.*
"Good morning to you both!" *He's talking like a gentlecolt.*
"Hey you!" *Lyra answers* "I might be mistaken, but I think Scarlet will approve greatly!"
*Onyx blushes slightly, then controls himself*
"Hope so. But I'm wearing the uniform because it's a formal setting and there will be royalty present. It's required. I'm totally not wearing it to impress Scarlet!"
*He says, though he's not even trying to sound convincing*
50
Canterlot Archives / Re: Canterlot: City of Light! City of Magic! (Open/Jump in RP.)
2018 Feb 12, 11:14:59
Early in the morning. Two days later.
*Dewshine arrives at the lecture hall. Bright and early. Today's lesson is going to be special. Not just because of the content, which is very near and dear to her heart, but also because of the ponies attending. Aside from her students, who are mostly upper-class Canterlot ponies, several nobles have been invited. Three of the Princesses, Celestia, Luna, and Twilight, will be in the audience too. Dewshine lifts a piece of chalk in her magic aura, and begins writing on the blackboard...*
1st of Sun's Fire, 1916
Star Swirl Corps Sector near Bridemont-en-Selle, Prance.
*She steps back for a moment and looks at the words. Her mind briefly goes back to that morning. She shakes away these thoughts and keeps writing...*
*In his rented room, Onyx carefully and reverently adjusts his Army dress uniform. Cover (hat) on properly. The tunic perfectly centered on his frame, buttons, badges, and medals all polished to a keen shine. Sergeant's stripes on his sleeve. He's prepared his uniform as if he was back in the army, getting ready for an inspection from Celestia herself. He reaches up almost unconsciously and touches the badge just above his campaign ribbons. Two crossed swords flanked by emblems of the sun and moon. This is his Combat Action Badge, only given to soldiers who served on the front line. Like most Great War soldiers, this badge is sacred to him.*
*Dewshine arrives at the lecture hall. Bright and early. Today's lesson is going to be special. Not just because of the content, which is very near and dear to her heart, but also because of the ponies attending. Aside from her students, who are mostly upper-class Canterlot ponies, several nobles have been invited. Three of the Princesses, Celestia, Luna, and Twilight, will be in the audience too. Dewshine lifts a piece of chalk in her magic aura, and begins writing on the blackboard...*
1st of Sun's Fire, 1916
Star Swirl Corps Sector near Bridemont-en-Selle, Prance.
*She steps back for a moment and looks at the words. Her mind briefly goes back to that morning. She shakes away these thoughts and keeps writing...*
*In his rented room, Onyx carefully and reverently adjusts his Army dress uniform. Cover (hat) on properly. The tunic perfectly centered on his frame, buttons, badges, and medals all polished to a keen shine. Sergeant's stripes on his sleeve. He's prepared his uniform as if he was back in the army, getting ready for an inspection from Celestia herself. He reaches up almost unconsciously and touches the badge just above his campaign ribbons. Two crossed swords flanked by emblems of the sun and moon. This is his Combat Action Badge, only given to soldiers who served on the front line. Like most Great War soldiers, this badge is sacred to him.*
51
Sign-Up Threads / Re: Campfire Stories sign-up thread
2018 Feb 03, 11:30:54
Name: Selle
Species: Earth
Gender: Female
Age: 16
Onyx's "Sister-who-isn't-really-his-sister." She hails from Prance, where Onyx knew her during his war days. She likes showing up to annoy Onyx from time to time.
Species: Earth
Gender: Female
Age: 16
Onyx's "Sister-who-isn't-really-his-sister." She hails from Prance, where Onyx knew her during his war days. She likes showing up to annoy Onyx from time to time.
52
Sign-Up Threads / Re: Campfire Stories sign-up thread
2018 Jan 31, 11:18:57Quote from: ScarletInk on 2018 Jan 29, 14:45:03New guy coming in! He won't stick for long, but the rules are the rules.Spoiler: show
Hello Sky!
53
Writing / Re: War Stories
2018 Jan 26, 12:15:04The Captain barked out again.
"Eight minutes! Eight minutes! Check your equipment!"
The waiting is almost over...
Onyx unslung his rifle and sat the stock against the fire step. Almost robotically, he opened the bolt with a metallic "click" and inspected the firing mechanism. Every lecture he'd gotten about the workings of his rifle played through his mind...
This is an Equestrian Mark III Short Trench Rifle! It fires 7.62mm rounds from a ten round magazine! It's a bolt action weapon, which means that between each shot, you must manually pull back the bolt to eject the spent cartridge .
He lifted the rifle up and checked the bolt to make sure it was oiled well, and wouldn't jam in combat. He'd spent over an hour the previous night, and another early this morning, cleaning the weapon. It wouldn't let him down today. He checked the rest of his kit. Tunic and overcoat properly set on his frame. Bandolier containing 120 rounds of spare ammunition in twenty 'strip' clips. These were designed to keep the rounds together for ease of loading into the Mark III's magazine. Each held five rounds. One M4 "Lemon" bomb. Entrenching tool with wire cutting attachment. A trench club he'd made by hammering hobnails into an ax handle. His field pack contained an assault ration consisting of several pieces of hard, sugary chocolate that was high in caffeine and quite bitter. These were to be eaten just after the Company had secured the first line of trenches. A quick burst of energy for the terror ahead. There were also three cans of beans and a two-day supply of tea, dried fruit, and coffee. Overall, his kit weighted about fifty pounds. And that was packing light by army standards. As the spearhead of the attack, they had to move fast.
He took his brodie helmet from its resting spot on his shoulder and strapped it on. Then gripped his weapon with purpose.
"Five minutes!" The Captain called out.
Dewshine came up to him with uncertainty in her eyes. Her greenish-blue coat was mostly hidden beneath the army tunic. A shock of her gold mane peeked out from under her helmet.
"Corporal?" She said in a foal-like, uncertain voice.
"Yes Private?" Onyx replied sharply.
"You fought at Amel, right?" Dewshine asked.
"I did."
"What's it like? You know, going over?"
"Stay focused, Private. Keep your mind on what you need to do." Onyx answered tersely. Dew wasn't deterred.
"Were you afraid...?"
Onyx took a moment to consider his response. Being afraid was natural and unavoidable, but Dew couldn't let it stop her.
"Yes. Yes I was. But I remembered something my father told me once."
Dew looked at him wonderingly.
"I was afraid of reading a story I'd written to an audience of about fifty ponies. He told me to be brave. Young and stupid like I was, I asked: 'what's brave...?'" Onyx paused briefly, with a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"He told me: 'brave is when you're scared to do something, but you do it anyway. Because you need to.'" He looked hard at Dewshine, and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "You'll be brave today, Private. I know you have it in you."
This seemed to comfort the scared young soldier, and give her a little peace.
"I... I'll be fine, Corporal. My shield won't break." These last words with a clear voice, and a hint of fire. Onyx nodded approvingly.
"Good. We're counting on you."
Another corporal, from B company, came down the trench with a large earthenware jug. There was a flurry of fumbling among the browncoats. They pulled out mess tins, which the Corporal filled with strong cider. A little liquid courage to deal with the fear. He worked his way along the line, holding the jug in shaking hooves.
Onyx's mess tin stayed in its holder. The B Company Corporal raised the jug and nodded toward it when he came by.
"No thank you, Corporal." Onyx said politely.
"You sure about that, friend?" He replied with an impish smile "Might be the last chance you ever get, after all!"
Onyx tapped his temple and grinned.
"Have to keep the head clear. Can't lead a squad if I'm plastered!"
The Corporal shrugged before shuffling off to other soldiers.
"Aww, why not? Might be the only way Germy has a chance!"
Onyx ignored this last comment. The artillery barrage from nearly 5,000 Equestrian guns had hurled hundreds of thousands of shells at the Germanes in the last six hours. The enemy lines were totally obscured by a massive cloud of dust and smoke that towered hundreds of feet in the air. But he knew that no matter how much high explosive the Equestrian guns threw at the Germanes, they would never destroy every bunker. There would still be autogun posts firing at the advancing Equestrians.
A light breeze from the east wafted the dust over the EEF lines. Browncoats coughed and covered their muzzles with tunic sleeves. Their lungs burned from smoke, and eyes watered. The sun's heat seemed to sear skin beneath Onyx's black fur, but on a day when he was about to lead his troops into Tartarus itself, a little discomfort was less than nothing.
"Two minutes! Two minutes!" Came the Captain's voice. Onyx started barking out last-second instructions to his squad.
"Number two squad! Eyes up! Attention! Three groups of four! Tactical columns! Tipsy, Grace, and Pinstripe: you're with Gray Hoof! Daybreak, Ocean, and Joyous: you're with Shimmering Dawn! Clay, Dewshine, and Emerald: with me! Spread out, move fast, and stay clear of open ground! Run from cover to cover and get to their first line!" He paused briefly. "Keep the mud out of your weapons! Keep those actions clear!. Remember your training and stick with your element leader!"
"One minute!" The Captain yelled. Even his voice trembled now.
"Form up! On your element leader! Get ready!" Onyx yelled out. There was a quick flurry of activity as twelve soldiers gathered around the Lance Corporals. Graceful stride drew in a stuttering breath, and seemed to be fighting the urge to vomit. Gray Hoof looked to Onyx with his sly smile.
"One hay of a way to get your Friday started, eh Faceplant?" He said with a chuckle, using the nickname he'd given Onyx on his very first day of basic training. After the young mountain colt had fallen on his face trying to come to a halt after a run. Onyx nodded.
"Should be interesting." He replied in his typical deadpan.
"Thirty seconds, ponies! Sun and moon be with us!"
Onyx turned to face his squad one last time, looking at each of their faces. Committing them to memory. They were afraid, but also determined. He felt a swell of pride and yelled out to them.
"Number two squad, listen up! Good luck! Stay together!" He paused, then added "I'll see you at the rally point!"
He turned back around. Placing a hoof on the scaling ladder, he looked up through the smoke at the morning sky. He breathed deeply of the hot air, his muscles tensing for the job ahead. To his right, he saw the platoon leader, Sergeant Jade Jester, studying him. He nodded to her
You got this. She seemed to be saying.
Looking to the Captain, Winter Storm, Onyx saw the whistle in his mouth. He was looking down at his watch.
Here we go...
A last look at the mid-morning sky. There was a break in the dust and smoke, allowing its brilliant blue to shine down. It struck Onyx that this might be the last time he got to look at it. He pushed all intruding thoughts aside and focused, with single-minded determination, on the immediate future. He was more than just a soldier, now. He was a combat leader. He'd come so far from that naive, headstrong colt who'd faceplanted on his first day at Fort Hurricane
The whistle blew.
"Let's go! Up the ladders! Go! Go! Go!" He shouted, and pulled himself quickly up and over the top.
All along the front, thousands of ponies went up the ladders, over the parapets, and into the jaws of Tartarus...
54
Writing / Re: War Stories
2018 Jan 25, 13:16:39
The Last Ten Minutes: A Tale of the Trenches
1st of Sun's Fire, 1916 by the Old World Calendar
In a Trench Near Bridemont-on-Selle, Poulain Region, Prance
Diamond Dog Sector, Star Swirl Corps Zone
"Ten minutes, ponies! Ten minutes!"
The captain's voice was barely audible over the bang of exploding shells and the shrapnel slapping the dirt outside the trench. Hundreds of soldiers, the troops of 1st Canterlot Light Infantry Battalion, 5th Royal Fusiliers, crowded in the narrow lanes of the trench. Nearly all of them were from Canterlot or the surrounding area. They came from many trots of life. Some were factory workers, others shop owners, street sweepers, clerks, students, carriage drivers, or . Some had even lived on the wrong side of the law. Mixed with them were nobles from Canterlot's upper class districts. These were the tiniest fraction of the strength the Equestrian Expeditionary Force would bring to bear, today. The Grand Combined Offensive, as it was being called, was supposed to break the back of the hard-pressed Germane Imperial Army. The EEF would use nine divisions in the first wave alone. Nearly 65,000 troops from all over Equestrian territory.
In the midst of that sea of ponies stood Corporal Onyx Quill. At age 19, he was one of the youngest NCOs in the battalion. The twelve ponies around him made up number two squad, first platoon of C Company. Two Unicorns, two pegasi, and eight earth ponies.
He knew all of them. Their strengths, weaknesses, hopes and dreams. He'd offered advice and reassurance during the trials of trench life. As he looked over them now, he couldn't help but wonder what the day held for each of them. How many would make the ultimate sacrifice?
Lance Corporal Gray Hoof stood to his left. The first friend Onyx had made after joining the army over a year earlier, Gray had stood by his side through good and bad times. They'd looked out for each other and become true brothers in arms. Gray had run a restaurant in Canterlot with his husband and son before the war, and joined up in the wave of patriotic fever a few months after Equestria had declared war on Germaney.
To his right was Shimmering Dawn, a unicorn and his other Lance Corporal. She'd led a troubled life. Her father was a minor noble, but her mother was a commoner. A shop clerk who'd caught her father's eye before he moved on to somepony else. Her mother had died when she was young, and her noble father had taken her in. More to avoid scandal than out of any real concern for Dawn's well-being. Her noble relatives had treated her like an outsider at every turn. Dawn's stepmother despised her, and her siblings hadn't been much better. One of her sisters, Onyx couldn't recall the name, had been good to her. But she'd left the family to become a student at Celestia's school, then disappeared from Dawn's life. During off times, Dawn loved painting and drawing. She was quite a gifted young artist and stayed positive despite her rough life.
Private Clay Sculptor stood next to Dawn. His face showed the fear more than most. Clay came from
a working class family, and enjoyed making figurines and sculptures. He preferred to work with stone, but used the mud of the trenches too. He'd gotten extra money and food in the trenches by making humorous figurines from mud, then trading them for whatever he could get. He'd acquired a great many mostly-useless items doing so.
He and Private Tipsy Laird talked in nervous tones. Tipsy had been with C Company since training back at Fort Hurricane. He was quiet, and kept to himself most of the time. He enjoyed trying to make new desserts out of army rations. Every once in awhile, a soldier who thought they had a cast iron stomach would try one of Tipsy's concoctions. They usually regretted it.
Graceful Stride, another Private, stared intently at the wall of the trench. He'd been a dancer and athlete in civilian life. A relative newcomer, he'd joined C Company after the Battle of Amel earlier in the year as a replacement soldier.
Standing behind Gray Hoof was the unicorn Dewshine, another replacement soldier. From a minor noble family, she'd joined the army before the war and worked as a clerk. After the war began, she'd been transferred to supply services. She'd wanted to serve on the front line, and finally gotten the chance. Onyx considered her a very promising young soldier. She'd shown initiative and leadership qualities in training.
Next to Dewshine, a pegasus stallion stretched his wings nervously. Daybreak Racer was his name. He'd spent the early part of the war serving with a weather battalion, but transferred to the regular infantry. He was from Cloudsdale originally, but moved to Canterlot a few years before the war. He'd been a fast flyer, and won several prestigious races.
Joyous Breeze was the other pegasus in Onyx's squad. She wasn't as strong a flyer as Daybreak, but she'd worked hard in training and proven herself in battle during Amel.
Pinstripe, another earther, leaned against the wall of the trench and adjusted his equipment. He'd come from a very poor family. His father had disappeared before he was born, leaving his mother to care for Pinstripe and his five siblings alone. As a result, he'd resorted to petty crime at times. Out of desperation more than thrill. He'd served time in Canterlot jails for shoplifting, pick-pocketing, and various other minor offenses. He was a tough, hard-edged sort who saw his squad mates as family.
The last of Onyx's troops was Ocean Leaves. An earth pony who'd been born in Baltimare but moved to Canterlot when he was young. He was the oldest member of the squad at nearly forty. In civilian life, he'd been a shop clerk for many years. He'd joined the army several years before the war began and worked mostly in clerical positions, being transferred to front line service after the costly battles of 1915.
They were all afraid, Onyx could tell. For most of them, the attack today would be their first combat action. They would be jumping straight into the fire during the biggest military operation in Equestrian history.
One heck of a way to start off... Onyx thought to himself. His mind went back to one of the many talks he'd had with the platoon Sergeant, Jade Jester. When Onyx had been promoted to Corporal and given command of a squad, she'd insisted he get to know everything he could about the troops under his command.
It was important, Jade had told him, to know how each soldier thinks. What makes them tick.
"Never look at these troops as 'just cannon fodder', Onyx Quill."
As with nearly all of Jade's advice, he'd taken it to heart.
((More to come later))
1st of Sun's Fire, 1916 by the Old World Calendar
In a Trench Near Bridemont-on-Selle, Poulain Region, Prance
Diamond Dog Sector, Star Swirl Corps Zone
"Ten minutes, ponies! Ten minutes!"
The captain's voice was barely audible over the bang of exploding shells and the shrapnel slapping the dirt outside the trench. Hundreds of soldiers, the troops of 1st Canterlot Light Infantry Battalion, 5th Royal Fusiliers, crowded in the narrow lanes of the trench. Nearly all of them were from Canterlot or the surrounding area. They came from many trots of life. Some were factory workers, others shop owners, street sweepers, clerks, students, carriage drivers, or . Some had even lived on the wrong side of the law. Mixed with them were nobles from Canterlot's upper class districts. These were the tiniest fraction of the strength the Equestrian Expeditionary Force would bring to bear, today. The Grand Combined Offensive, as it was being called, was supposed to break the back of the hard-pressed Germane Imperial Army. The EEF would use nine divisions in the first wave alone. Nearly 65,000 troops from all over Equestrian territory.
In the midst of that sea of ponies stood Corporal Onyx Quill. At age 19, he was one of the youngest NCOs in the battalion. The twelve ponies around him made up number two squad, first platoon of C Company. Two Unicorns, two pegasi, and eight earth ponies.
He knew all of them. Their strengths, weaknesses, hopes and dreams. He'd offered advice and reassurance during the trials of trench life. As he looked over them now, he couldn't help but wonder what the day held for each of them. How many would make the ultimate sacrifice?
Lance Corporal Gray Hoof stood to his left. The first friend Onyx had made after joining the army over a year earlier, Gray had stood by his side through good and bad times. They'd looked out for each other and become true brothers in arms. Gray had run a restaurant in Canterlot with his husband and son before the war, and joined up in the wave of patriotic fever a few months after Equestria had declared war on Germaney.
To his right was Shimmering Dawn, a unicorn and his other Lance Corporal. She'd led a troubled life. Her father was a minor noble, but her mother was a commoner. A shop clerk who'd caught her father's eye before he moved on to somepony else. Her mother had died when she was young, and her noble father had taken her in. More to avoid scandal than out of any real concern for Dawn's well-being. Her noble relatives had treated her like an outsider at every turn. Dawn's stepmother despised her, and her siblings hadn't been much better. One of her sisters, Onyx couldn't recall the name, had been good to her. But she'd left the family to become a student at Celestia's school, then disappeared from Dawn's life. During off times, Dawn loved painting and drawing. She was quite a gifted young artist and stayed positive despite her rough life.
Private Clay Sculptor stood next to Dawn. His face showed the fear more than most. Clay came from
a working class family, and enjoyed making figurines and sculptures. He preferred to work with stone, but used the mud of the trenches too. He'd gotten extra money and food in the trenches by making humorous figurines from mud, then trading them for whatever he could get. He'd acquired a great many mostly-useless items doing so.
He and Private Tipsy Laird talked in nervous tones. Tipsy had been with C Company since training back at Fort Hurricane. He was quiet, and kept to himself most of the time. He enjoyed trying to make new desserts out of army rations. Every once in awhile, a soldier who thought they had a cast iron stomach would try one of Tipsy's concoctions. They usually regretted it.
Graceful Stride, another Private, stared intently at the wall of the trench. He'd been a dancer and athlete in civilian life. A relative newcomer, he'd joined C Company after the Battle of Amel earlier in the year as a replacement soldier.
Standing behind Gray Hoof was the unicorn Dewshine, another replacement soldier. From a minor noble family, she'd joined the army before the war and worked as a clerk. After the war began, she'd been transferred to supply services. She'd wanted to serve on the front line, and finally gotten the chance. Onyx considered her a very promising young soldier. She'd shown initiative and leadership qualities in training.
Next to Dewshine, a pegasus stallion stretched his wings nervously. Daybreak Racer was his name. He'd spent the early part of the war serving with a weather battalion, but transferred to the regular infantry. He was from Cloudsdale originally, but moved to Canterlot a few years before the war. He'd been a fast flyer, and won several prestigious races.
Joyous Breeze was the other pegasus in Onyx's squad. She wasn't as strong a flyer as Daybreak, but she'd worked hard in training and proven herself in battle during Amel.
Pinstripe, another earther, leaned against the wall of the trench and adjusted his equipment. He'd come from a very poor family. His father had disappeared before he was born, leaving his mother to care for Pinstripe and his five siblings alone. As a result, he'd resorted to petty crime at times. Out of desperation more than thrill. He'd served time in Canterlot jails for shoplifting, pick-pocketing, and various other minor offenses. He was a tough, hard-edged sort who saw his squad mates as family.
The last of Onyx's troops was Ocean Leaves. An earth pony who'd been born in Baltimare but moved to Canterlot when he was young. He was the oldest member of the squad at nearly forty. In civilian life, he'd been a shop clerk for many years. He'd joined the army several years before the war began and worked mostly in clerical positions, being transferred to front line service after the costly battles of 1915.
They were all afraid, Onyx could tell. For most of them, the attack today would be their first combat action. They would be jumping straight into the fire during the biggest military operation in Equestrian history.
One heck of a way to start off... Onyx thought to himself. His mind went back to one of the many talks he'd had with the platoon Sergeant, Jade Jester. When Onyx had been promoted to Corporal and given command of a squad, she'd insisted he get to know everything he could about the troops under his command.
It was important, Jade had told him, to know how each soldier thinks. What makes them tick.
"Never look at these troops as 'just cannon fodder', Onyx Quill."
As with nearly all of Jade's advice, he'd taken it to heart.
((More to come later))
55
Thread Games / Re: Word Association Game
2018 Jan 21, 13:27:04
56
Sign-Up Threads / Re: Ponies: Lost In Space (Sign-Up!)
2018 Jan 15, 17:49:49Quote from: Nightshade Star on 2018 Jan 14, 20:00:47But how am I gonna jump in?? I'll need advice for that.
After you post your sign up, you can have Night join us on the Arrow. She can be part of the Meadowbrook's crew, or maybe a passenger that they rescued from the escape pods. Either way works.
57
Pony Off-Topic / Re: How did you become a brony?
2018 Jan 13, 18:20:55
For me, it was fan-made videos. They were a gateway drug...
58
Sign-Up Threads / Re: Ponies: Lost In Space (Sign-Up!)
2018 Jan 12, 23:22:57Quote from: Nightshade Star on 2018 Jan 12, 21:14:39Ok
And yes. Night can totally be part of the Meadowbrook's crew.
59
Canterlot Archives / Re: Make Your Own Roleplays
2018 Jan 07, 12:16:19
I'll bite.
Paradise Lose
"Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light." -John Milton
Equestria has fallen. All four of the Princesses are imprisoned in Tartarus, along with the Elements of Harmony (Mane Six), the Alicorn Flurry Heart, and the Pillars of Equestria. The forces of Lord Tirek, freed from Tartarus himself by unknown means, have overrun the land. They have spread far and wide, stealing the magic of Celestia's subjects and enslaving them. With the Princesses and all rivals out of the way, Tirek focuses on his ultimate goal: unlocking the secrets of the ancient Alicorns, who are said to have attained eternal life and unimaginable power. Tirek is aided in his quest by a mysterious alchemist with ties to Princess Celestia herself.
The major cities are all tightly under his control...
In the far corners of Equestria, however, a Resistance movement begins to form under the leadership of a mysterious unicorn with a dark past. Working in concert with her chief lieutenant, she has managed to bring a ray of hope to the oppressed ponies of Equestria.
However, forces are rising that threaten to snuff out the Resistance before it can become a danger to Lord Tirek's power. Agents of the oppressor and traitors from within could extinguish any hope of freeing Equestria.
Will you join the Resistance and fight against Tirek's tyranny? Will you join him, and aid in his quest for ultimate power? Or will you take another path? Fighting the conflict in your own way, or avoiding it altogether? In this paradise lost, there are many paths you can take...
Paradise Lose
"Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light." -John Milton
Equestria has fallen. All four of the Princesses are imprisoned in Tartarus, along with the Elements of Harmony (Mane Six), the Alicorn Flurry Heart, and the Pillars of Equestria. The forces of Lord Tirek, freed from Tartarus himself by unknown means, have overrun the land. They have spread far and wide, stealing the magic of Celestia's subjects and enslaving them. With the Princesses and all rivals out of the way, Tirek focuses on his ultimate goal: unlocking the secrets of the ancient Alicorns, who are said to have attained eternal life and unimaginable power. Tirek is aided in his quest by a mysterious alchemist with ties to Princess Celestia herself.
The major cities are all tightly under his control...
In the far corners of Equestria, however, a Resistance movement begins to form under the leadership of a mysterious unicorn with a dark past. Working in concert with her chief lieutenant, she has managed to bring a ray of hope to the oppressed ponies of Equestria.
However, forces are rising that threaten to snuff out the Resistance before it can become a danger to Lord Tirek's power. Agents of the oppressor and traitors from within could extinguish any hope of freeing Equestria.
Will you join the Resistance and fight against Tirek's tyranny? Will you join him, and aid in his quest for ultimate power? Or will you take another path? Fighting the conflict in your own way, or avoiding it altogether? In this paradise lost, there are many paths you can take...
60
Out of Character / Re: Ponies: Lost In Space [OOC]
2018 Jan 01, 10:55:41
Happy New Year, everypony! You're all awesome! Thanks for letting me join in.