I appreciate everyone who gave this story a chance, especially The Nerd Who Wrote, and this is the first story I've ever posted, so I'm still trying to get used to how it works. I realized how short that first chapter was, but I was just going for an introduction to hat was going on in Equestria, so I'm sorry it was so short. However, here's another, longer chapter._
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Chapter 2: Day 5,476
First Corporal Twilight Sparkle awoke extremely early as usual, the sun not even dawning out yet. She awoke with dirt in her eyes, probably falling from the wrecked and poor ceiling only a few more feet above her. She walked out of her dingy, little shack and out into the dark, decimated world that was Equestria. It was a complete tragedy. Trees were either missing all their leaves, or were just missing altogether. There was virtually no grass, and what there was was dry, yellow and crackly. The buildings were just as demolished as the environment. Some missing whole walls and ceilings, while others were lit in an eternal blaze, a fire that never seemed to go out. The sky was almost always gray and hazy, while the sun, when arisen, is barely visible in the sky, seen only as a dark orange fog. Reduced to living and hiding in small camps consisting of tin and wood shacks, the ponies of the War for Equestria were back at their centre they called, Rebellion Square. While the occasional pony or two said a few comments, others were in waiting for their leader and top tactician to take the podium. As Luna stepped up to the rickety podium atop an even more rickety stage, barely able to withhold her weight, she looked over her subjects and took a deep breath. She closed her eyes, thought for a moment, and opened them up, looking back at the crowd of ponies, who devoted their complete attention to her. So she spoke.
"My loyal subjects. Another day has come. Another day where we have held our ground, and stood up against the wretched Dragon Lord. Another day we stood and fought! We will not let even the slightest disability inhibit us of our justice in this tyrant menace!" the ponies applauded and cheered for a short time before Luna started speaking again. "If we can hold our own against such a strong opponent for such a prospicient amount of time, then we can use our experience to our advantage, and advance towards our inevitable victory! Today's the day we rise and push forward! We can't be stopped as long as we work together and forever!" Luna's speech caused a riot, all the observing subjects rising and cheering at the tops of their lungs. The said crowd ran back to their camp to prepare for their first attack since... Well, ever. Twilight watched her captain in pure awe, glad to see her confidence hasn't diminished. If anything, it has boosted since the last hearing. She gave a light salute with her forehoof, and trotted back to her camp. Her unicorns were throwing things out of their chests looking for whatever they could use in their upcoming battle. She chuckled at one pair of stallions smiling over a sleek, iron sword. She looked down the campground and noticed one of her best friends, Sergeant Dash, keeping a small group of earth pony mares from fighting over a cracked wooden shield. Twilight walked up to her calmly and grinned.
"Trouble with the younguns?" Twilight asked, her smirk as obvious as her purple coat.
"No, they're little angels." Rainbow replied sarcastically. Twilight chuckled lightly and put her hoof on her friends shoulder.
"Listen, Dashie. This is hard. We all know that. The only thing we can do about it is fight it off, and we can only do that when we all work in sync. So you're going to have to deal with some... Less than sane ponies." Twilight explained quickly. "So come on. It could be worse."
"How?" Rainbow snapped back. Twilight took notice to this sudden fury and responded nervously and slower.
"Well, could be watching those dragons... Maybe?" Rainbow didn't seem to like that idea.
"Oh yea, watching the dragons. I'm sure that would be tons worse. Oh, wait a minute, I forgot. The thing that's been playing with us like toys does!" She said very angrily. She looked at Twilight, who had a look of complete shock and utter confusion on her face, for a second before a small tear flowed down her cheek. Then another. Then another. Just as quickly as the anger appeared, the sadness showed as well. Rainbow almost immediately began crying into her hooves, tears flowing like faucets. Twilight had seen this before. The stress. The pressure. The frustration. All eventually comes crashing into somepony. She did what came to her naturally. She comforted her friend. She wrapped her arm around Dash's shoulder and placed her head up against the other mare. "I'm s-sorr-ry. It's just so- it's just so stressful." She said between sobs and staining tears. Twilight shuffled herself closer to her weeping pal.
"Rainbow look, I understand. Trust me I do. You're not the only pony here who's feeling this way. It really is a stressful situation, and everypony here knows that. I'm not saying its bad to be upset, I would prefer you cry." She said, smiling in attempts to keep the rainbow mare's spirit up. She had a good idea in mind ti cheer her friend up, and looked back at Dash. "You know why?" She asked in reference from before. Rainbow looked at Twilight, acknowledging the question. "So that you're not too busy crying to beat the crud out of that Vloknaad bastard!" Rainbow gave a quick, short laugh. She tried to keep her smile and wiped her eyes off with he hoof.
"Thanks Twi. I really appreciate the pep talk." She said, tears still on her face, but wiped off by the purple hoof. Twilight patted Rainbow's shoulder before standing back on all fours and smiling still. Rainbow stood up too.
"Come on, Dashie. Let's go get ready for this advancement thing Luna's talking about." Before Rainbow could reply, a dirtied, orange mare with a slightly torn Stetson came running up to them. She spoke with a twang in her voice and excitement practically a breath past her lips.
"WoooooEEEH, gals! Can ya believe it? We're actually goin' fer an attack! Ya hear that? An attack! We must really be kickin' Vloknaad's tail ta actually go towards 'im!" Twilight and Rainbow smiled.
"Yup. That has to be the case!" Rainbow said, all the tears of the past gone and courage replacing with a swift beat.
"Darn tootin'! Ah can't wait ta see tha look on his face when we buck the door down and beat the livin' hay outta every one of them dragons that stupid Overlord controls!"
"I'm gonna take the one nearest the door and jut give him the old-!" She made punching motions in the air, eyes squinted and hooves moving faster and faster.
"Ah wanna rear up an' buck the others in their heads, and ram Vloknaad off a his throne!" As the two continued their plans for revenge, Twilight rolled her eyes, shook her head, and smiled
"Girls, please!" She said breaking the two out of their trance. Applejack chuckled embarrassedly.
"Sorry Twi. Guess ah just got into it." She said abashedly. Twilight widened her smile.
"It's okay Applejack." She said, lightly pushing the apple mare's shoulder. "Shoot Twi, if ah didn't know any better, Ah'd-" she cut herself short as she looked off behind the two ponies. She saw what looked like a tall human, running towards them. The problem? The scales glistening on the newly rising sun. Twilight noticed Applejack scoff and turned around to see what it was about. Noticing the running figure she too grunted in disapproval. Rainbow looked too and made an obvious sign in disapproval, crossing her forehooves while in air.
"What the heck does he want this time?" She asked impolitely. Luna, unheard and unseen, trotted up behind them.
"What is it girls?" When she looked up however, she realized the disdain. She turned around and flew into the air a few feet. "The messenger has come bearing another notion from the enemy!" She shouted, quickly gathering the attention of all the ponies in the camp. They all quickly trotted over to see what news the messenger bear. The messenger, a very tall Draconich with light blue scales and very small, bumpy horns going up his snout. He wore his traditional messenger outfit, consisting of a leather saddle bag he recieved from Vloknaad (probably stolen from a poor soul who didn't make it) over a light weight, pure white mailpony uniform (again, stolen). The said messenger stopped just short of Luna, panting and heaving. "Speak of your presence here, demon!" Luna yelled at the servant. The messenger looked up at Luna, his panting lighter.
"Vloknaad, sends his regards to a mister," the messenger pulled out the note, an old rolled up scroll. He quickly glanced to see the name of the recipient. "A Mr. Spike." _
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Thanks again guys. And on the Twilight being Colonel note, I'm going to be honest. I have absolutely no idea about the ranks, except that private is like the lowest rank. Otherwise, let me know of any mistakes, and errors.