[ROYAL DECREE #17 MOBOLIZATION]
By His Majesties orders every household must provide 2 stallions aged 2 to 10 that are both physically and mentally git. They must report in to their local town or city center for possible enlistment by the end of the month.
Those older but in still good health, may volunteer for the possibility of being chosen. Mare’s of similar age who wish to serve, may send a letter to their local mayor for approval. But this is not advised as assistance is most needed on the production and logistics front.
Exemptions to service: High skill laborer’s (Armor and weapon smiths, Raccoon breeders, higher level Guild employees) Medics (And also those currently in training) And Nobility, or those who posses high economic status.
[Pov Ix]
The trip back to Stablelot somehow felt both long and short. We were able to get to Nalpi by the end of the day, with us even able to get aboard a ship that was just about to depart to Seaside. Than some “Issues” started to arise. Which annoyed the hell out of me and Charles, that being Quin and Ozymandias. Didn’t matter how late in the night it got, or us complaining, it seemed like those two would just drone on for hours and hours, talking about the most random of things. Gossip of Xerxes parties, how Ozymandias’s business was going and recounting his adventures and current collection, fashion trends, and even some talk about how much money Quin could get out of the King to build a even grandeur house, and the rooms she wanted installed. Finally after what seemed like hours they went to bed, and finally I did as well. When tomorrow came we all got up and exited, Seaside looking as busy as always. Quin speaks looking at the busy port.
“Fiwst time quin set foot hewe in yeaws! stiww a dump as awways… Suspect 'ou hab cawwiage waiting?”
Charles looked as though he hadn’t thought of that, and speaks quickly.
“Chawwes am suwe Ozymandias can handwe it!”
I see him hand Ozymandias a few coins and he nods, and with that both he and Quin leave.
“Shouwd gib us at weast an houw of peace. Wanna get some nummies?”
I speak.
“Sure”
Making our way up towards the city center I speak, trying to lighten the slightly drab mood.
“Can’t believe where going to be instructors, feels almost like yesterday we were at training ourselves…”
Charles speaks, adding on.
“yeah, damn… Chawwes wondews whop dah wecwuits wiww be, hopefuwwy nu dumbasses.”
We both chuckle and make our way to a food stand, where we both buy some bread and sit and eat. Even though I was distracted before, after we were about finished I had finally noticed something… Strange On the street we were on, I saw that large groups of people were going in a single direction, most of them being young stallions. And not just that, they carried with them luggage and pieces of paper and not a single one of them looked happy with their faces showing signs of sadness or fear and looking slightly pale. Charles seeing me looking at this strange sight, looks himself and speaks confused.
“What dah heww am goin’ on?”
Suddenly the person running the food stand speaks, him being a older gentleman with a light gray coat, and bushy brown mane.
“Oh that? Hewe take dis.”
I grab the paper and me and Charles read it.
Royal Decree #17… Mobilization Guess in the end things would have to come down to this, building the largest army Motor had ever seen. Charles speaks, looking more concerned than I do.
“Joey, oh nu…”
I speak with concern.
“What’s wrong!?”
Charles speaks.
“My son, fwuffy meets aww dah wequiwements!”
I give Charles a hug as I speak.
“Try appealing to Enoch, he is sure to make him exempt!”
Charles speaks, him standing up suddenly.
“It’s not that, Chawwes feews wike fwuffy wants to fite.”
After this revelation, Charles saw it fit to go deliver a letter back home. With me leaving for the Seaside gate to join up with Quin and Ozymandias.
Once I get there I saw a very nice carriage already prepared, Once I get in and sit I speak to Ozymandias.
“Really Spared no expenses?”
Quin chimes in, before Ozymandias has a chance to speak.
“‘Ou may be comfowtabwe sittin’ in some wagon fo’ houws at a time, buh Quin am a pwopah wady of significant impowtance! Onwy dah bestes’ wiww do…”
I repeat “Onwy dah bestes’ wiww do…” Under my breath and I speak looking at Ozymandias.
“So Ozy are you going to head back soon?”
Ozymandias and Quin glance at each other for a second before both start to laugh, after a few seconds of this Ozymandias speaks.
“Actuawwy whiwe ‘ou an’ chawwes wewe gone Quin tawked to me about stayin’ ‘cos she needed some hewp nabigatin’ dah big city. An’ she am a cwose fwend, su Ozymandias said yes!”
They both chuckle and I couldn’t wait for Charles to be coming back here.
After about 10 minutes Charles finally came still looking a bit pale, and we began our journey. As the wagon made it’s way out of the city gate the journey was mostly peaceful, with only the conversations of Quin and Ozymandias breaking up the lonely silence. As the skyline of Stablelot started coming into view, Quin did something I hadn’t expected. She turned to look at us, and spoke in a almost friendly tone.
“Su Quin was wondewin’ what am Tethius up to?”
I speak.
“Oh he’s just the Royal advisor to the King, probably one of the most powerful and influential people in Motor if you ask me.”
Charles chimes in, giving a light chuckle.
“An’ a massibe stick in dah mud, sometimes.”
Quin speaks, her checks turning extremely red.
“Quin wemembews him aww those yeaws duwin’ dah gud day’s, duwin’ dah time of maximus ib. He was a young bwite bewy handsome stawwion, just finished his twainin’ in dah Obsewbatowy Distwict an’ was nao wowkin’ fo’ dah King’. An’ Quin eben den was neaw middwe aged, buh stiww his majesties bestes’ spymastah. Quin was su suwpwised when Tethius took wikin’ to me, he was su intewested in mean’ my wine of wowk. We’d tawk fo’ houws an’ houws about ebewythin, him bein’ su kind an’ chawmin’. An’ when fwuffy took Quin’s hoobe an’ inbited fwuffy to dance duwin’ dah King’ an’ Queen’s annibewsawy baww Quin knew she had fawwen smitten fo’ him. Oh, an’ when dah baww was finished Tethius cawwied me up to his woom, an fo’ houws he passionatewy fwusted his wawge-”
I speak, having heard a bit to much of Tethius’s liking of older women.
“I think we get it Quin!”
Quin who had now risen slightly, falls back and speaks. Her voice now much more somber.
“Buh fwuffy guess nothin’ am meant to wast’. Those gud day’s came to an end when Maximus iv passed aww su suddenwy, an’ we wewe now wuwed by dah incompetent boy… How fwuffy dishonowed much of his fathew’s gud name, an’ awwowed that “howy” idiot Gusto to decide how dah countwy shouwd be wun! An’ when that boy got in that accident an’ his bwain tuwned to mush, he fiwed awmost aww of us. Sepawatin’ me an’ Tethius, us fowced to be apawt.”
Quin takes a deep sigh and speaks one last time in a condescending tone.
“Dis boy Enoch bettah not wesembwe his fathah…”
As we entered Stablelot, the same sight of people heading for enlistment I saw in Seaside was even greater here. We could barely move through the streets as the giant crowds seemed almost endless. After 5 minutes of moving at a snails pace, a guard had noticed us and after alerting a few others they were kind enough to give us an escort. And so finally we had reached the government district, where we were greeted by a crowd that surely weren’t coming to enlist.
“WHY SHOUWD BE SEND OUW SONS TO DIE FO’ AN OBEWBWOWN FWEAT!”
There was a giant crowd surrounding a platform, with a single person on it shouting. Them being a middle aged mare, with a light red coat, half moon glasses, and a short dark gray mane. The crowd was pretty interesting to, it seemed to consist mostly of parents with a few younger fluffies mixed in, with a few stallion even wearing badges that said “I am not a weapon!” The mare continued to speak.
“So hewe, wet fwuffy teww ‘ou what dis waw am weawwy about! WININ DAH POCKETS OF ENOCH AN’ HIS NEW GUIWD BUDDIES!”
What, this is insane! Enoch never wanted any of this, he had no choice! The crowd cheered and applauded, and we soon left. The reactions of the others seemed mixed, Charles looked a lot less outraged than me, Ozymandias looked a bit scared from the crowds temper, and Quin looked indifferent. I speak.
“Lies I tell you! Probably from that paper…”
Charles was about to speak with him looking a bit down, but the carriage driver interrupted just as he open his mouth.
“Wewe hewe.” Fin
Thank you for reading my story! It’s nice to finally begin the second part of the Charles and Ix storyline, where many of the things from the Emily and Dar line will come into play here. Other than that I hope to have the next part done in at least a week and of course constructive criticism is appreciated. May you have a good day!