My Little SP

[Admiral Regis Hermitage]

"You'd think, eh?" Cato replied. "Maybe they're waiting for the Princesses or something... never know." he guessed. He turned his attention back to the stage.

"Maybe..." Shattered said, still laying her head on Cato's shoulder, but now directing her attention tot eh stage as well. She could help but to notice that Cato was a little uneasy about something, probably the impending announcement, which both of them already knew. "Im sure we can wait a little longer... The play isnt going anywhere."

[Queen Bright]

Oh would they just hurry it up already? Ember couldn't help but yawn as she paid half attention to the stage, awaiting the play to start. What the hay was taking so long? Actors all die? Everyponies scripts forgotten? Ember yawned again. With nothing left to do, she instead turned her attention to what was around her, listening to the bits and pieces of conversation she could get from other ponies through eavesdropping. So far there was nothing interesting, most, like her were just complaining about the late start. How boring...

Ember had just turned her attention elsewhere when all of a sudden....

The lights flickered back on brightly, having been dimmed for the start of the play before, and from the air dropped a bright pink Alicorn pony onto the stage below. It was Celestia's Niece, Princess Cadence. From what could be seen by everpony, Cadence was a wreck, her mane was unkempt, her wings disheveled, and the black around her eyes made her look as if she hadn't slept for days, very unbecoming of royalty. From beside Princess Cadence, her husband Shining Armor could be seen, there only to support his wife.

"E-everypony! I have a terrible announcement to make." Cadence's voice cracked as she finished started her statement. " "P-princess Celestia, and Princess Luna. They have... v-vanished..." With that, Cadence bowed her head as a gasp could be heard from the audience. "For this, the play has been canceled. I am sorry everypony..."

[Admiral Regis Hermitage]

"What!" Shattered shouted. She immediately jumped up in surprise. "They're missing?!?"

"Wait... What?" Cato had the same response as Shattered and the rest of the room. "When?!"

Up on stage, another pony came to Cadence's side. He wore full military dress, and the band around his right leg made his position clear to any soldier, or pony who knew anything about the REM. It was none other than Lord Northfyre Rychart, the Lord General of the Royal Equestrian Military, the effective Commander-in-Chief. "Ladies, and Gentlecolts.... This announcement comes with one just as bad." he started.

"General Rychart too?" Cato asked in an even greater surprise.

"Earlier today, the Combine Allied Forces of the Griffon Empire, and the Diamond Dog Federation attacked the Hayseed swamps area via the Horseshoe bay. In light of this blatant aggression towards Equestria, the government has declared a state of war. Any and all able bodied ponies are highly encouraged to enlist immediately in the Royal Equestrian Military, especially those with special skills needed. All current personal are to report to FOB Ponyville, and report in to their respective commanders in preparation to move out to FOB Dodge." he said, making sure that the radio picked this entire thing up. "I am very sorry, everypony, but we can get through this." He turned the mic back over to Cadence.

[Ghost]

"I knew I should've stayed home today......"North muttered under her breath. She watched ponies freaking out and rushing out in large groups. North flew up to avoid getting shoved about while the civillians panicked. What war...? Gryphon and Diamond dogs? What are those?, she thought, all sorts of questions bouncing in her head.

[Embodiment of Cringe]

Aether was speechless. Regardless of what happened around him, the psychic pony stayed motionless, taking in what was said.

"War?" The word forced itself out of him. Everything the word encompassed meant no good was to come of it.
And on top of that, Celestia and Luna were missing? It was a stretch to think, but Aether always considered Celestia a friend, or at least a close acquaintance. Their letters to one another, although was solely for work, he felt something else from them.
It was his precognition talking. A strange warmness emanated from them. Whether it was because Celestia was practically a goddess in pony form, or something else, was beyond him. And she was gone? His three month vacation took a turn much darker turn than he had ever intended. His observatory was lonely, but those letters kept him connected to Equestria, to the outside world.

Now, he really was alone. He thought it was impossible to be more alone than he already was, but it just happened.

[Queen Bright]

(OOC: Uhh.. it's been days, skipping Blade due to his authors block, we can go slow so he can catch up.)

War? Out of all the things it could have been, the announcement had been something to do with war?! Ember sighed. Well this entire outing had so far been a waste. It was much too cold to her liking, it was too crowded, the play had been canceled, and now on top of all that the 'oh so special' announcement that had been rumored was about something Ember had entirely no interest in, whatsoever. The red pony grumbled to herself and mumbled, "Can I go home now?"

"Please do not panic everypoy!" Cadence had to speak up to be heard over the large and now very frightened crowd. "Until this threat is over, the Castle will be open to all who need or desire protection and shelter. I solely believe this is what Princess Celestia and Princess Luna would have wanted."

[The Blade]

It took a few moments for all of the information to sink into Night's head. He had been expecting a good show and to thoroughly enjoy himself this night and instead he got hit with this. The first emotion to go through the pegasus's mind after confusion was anger, cold, shaking anger. "BUCK THAT!" He cried out, shocking himself with the outburst but at the moment anger was at the forefront of his mind and he cared for little else.

Black wings flaring, Night Fire hopped up onto the backs of the seats and started to walk over them towards Rychart and Cadence, visibly shaking with anger as he done so. Now, most would think that his rage was unfounded but it wasn't, he'd always looked up to the Princesses since he was born in Canterlot. Celestia was his role-model, the absolute personification of calm and something that Night himself tried to live up to. As was obvious, he wasn't quite near that yet but it was only because he'd learned that something had happened to a person he classed as a damned Goddess.

The Pegasus hopped up onto the stage in front of Cadence and glared at her but it was obvious that his anger was not directed towards anyone on the stage, it seemed he was actually angry with himself. "Celestia and Luna are gone, you say?" His voice was cold, holding the promise of held-back belligerence. "Where do I bucking sign up, ma'am?" He whispered to Cadence, still standing before her with his wings flared upwards behind him.

[Embodiment of Cringe]

"I'm... going to go home." Aether murmured to himself, caring not for whatever pony may be listening to him. Back to that cold, lonely observatory that he had grown to tolerate, just for his job. Fighting.. was not his strong suit, at all.
Which then another fear loomed over him. The draft. He knew that ponykind weren't fighters at heart, even with their beloved princess in jeopardy. Eventually, the army will start drafting. That much was certain. And if the war gets as bad as he feared, he will be swept up in it too. Wouldn't it be better to just save time and sign up now? Though, I sorta live near the crystal empire... I wonder if I could flee there. Would they get caught up in the war too? Cadence is here, so perhaps she already is.
Aether mulled over the topic to himself, before beginning to silently slip out from the crowd as unnoticeable as possible.

It was about two minutes before he was out of the crowd, and another two minutes to be out of sight, in an alleyway. "I need to know." Aether told himself, and closed his eyes. And upon closing them, an outline of another eye, floating, curved around both ends of his forehead with a hazy mist backing it between it and his forehead. The third eye, the source of all of Aether's abilities. This time, it was his precognition that he was calling into use, to see if he'd be drafted, and to see all available paths to him.
It didn't take long to get the answer. Thousands of visions flooded his mind, each of them worse than the last. Death, blood, suffering, anguish, anger, sorrow, bloodlust, greed. The feelings and imagery hit his mind full force, with no signs of stopping until he forced it, cutting himself off from the universe.
He caught himself breathing heavily after the short ordeal. The thoughts, the general feeling of this war from around the war polluted him and his ability. "I'll... huff... take that as a yes." Aether told himself in response to his earlier question.
He was to be drafted. And these were the things he was to see.

[Admiral Regis Hermitage]

"For anyone wishing to sign you and enlist in the Royal Equestrian Military, there will be recruiting booths set up in your towns." Rychart informs people.

Cato sat where he was silently, as Shattered held onto is arm. "Cato. We need to go." Shattered said. "They're going to make you report to FOB Ponyville tomorrow..."

"I know..." he said to her and lowered his head. "I've already given half of my body to shadowy wars that no one has ever heard of, and it was fine back then when i didnt have much to live for, or anyone to leave behind. Im not afraid of dying, Shattered... Im afraid of leaving you." he told her and turned to look at her.

"Cato, they need someone like you on the front lines." she releases her arm only to hug him. "And we can, and will make this night last." she said. After releasing him, she looked around. Aether was gone, as well as many ponies for that matter. "I think its time to leave here..."

[Ghost]

I really don't like the sound of this... what'd they call it? War? Why is there war? These questions flooded into North's mind as she stayed up near the ceiling, watching regular civilians screaming, questioning, mumbling, even running about in panic. She snapped out of thought when she saw a charcoal colored pegasus shouting and heading up the stage. She watched him curiously. Signing up...? she thought quietly. What is war like...? Do I really want to join this... whatever it is to see what it is? she continued to think. War sounded like a dreadful word.

North landed in a small area nopony was in and walked alongside the building up to the side of the stage. "Um... Excuse me... but what is this war about....? And what is a war...?"She asked in a really small voice.

[Queen Bright]

Before Cadence could answer Night Fire, she and her husband Shining Armor mysteriously vanished...

[Admiral Regis Hermitage]

(I think we can call this topic a wrap. Assume the normal.)