MLP FIM: Season 4 Rise of the A.M. (a what if story)
Chapter 1: An Old Enemy Returns
"Long ago, The three greatest kingdoms of Equestria were founded. The first, Canterlot, where friendship and royalty rain supreme. The second, The Crystal Empire armed with its Crystal Heart, hope and love are its greatest dynasty. And third...
"The Sapphire Kingdom." said a young foal grinning with pride.
"Yes Mark, The Sapphire Kingdom." said his father kindly. "Where loyalty, honor, and great sacrifice never dies. Together the three great kingdoms rule over Equestria in unison and in times of utmost peril they joined together to keep evil away..."
"Come on dad, just one more page!" pleaded Mark as his father used his magic to close the book.
"Not likely mister," said Mark's father. "Young foals need their sleep."
"Father, why does the king need you out at night?" asked Marks little brother yawning sleepily.
"Because it's my duty to the kingdom. As Captain of the Royal Guard I have to make sure my men are given their orders to patrol and protect everyone."
"I bet your the greatest Captain they ever had." said Mark.
Their father smiled warmly at his sons, said goodnight, turned off the light and headed downstairs to gear up and head out into the night to join his fellow guards on patrol.
5 years later...
It was a cloudy day in the Sapphire Kingdom. The wind wasted no time in making its presence known to the inhabitants. Since rain wasn't a problem, stallions and mares continued on with their day as usual. Arthur Cloud, a young 10 year old unicorn with dark green eyes, black mane, unique pointy ears, dark blue fur and matching horn was in a classroom listening with all his might to the teacher lecturing the class on how a mark, or in the girls case cutie mark, appears on ponies pegasus and unicorns alike when the time is right. Each mark is different and will affect what the he or she does with the rest of their lives. At least that's what everyone got out of the lesson.
When class was dismissed, Arthur galloped off; his ruff sack bouncing on his back. He headed toward the place he always went to after school was over... the training field; for those who were there would be coming close to wrapping things up for the day. His brother Mark was busy running laps with the rest of the Royal Guards in training. The drill sergeant watched everyone with a piercing gaze and blew his whistle loudly when he spotted someone falling behind. when the last runner made it past the starting line they all waited for the sergeant to speak.
"O.k. that will do for today!" he said aloud.
At once everyone on the field either fell to the ground or gave a loud sigh of relief.
"Excuse me cadets, but no one ever said this would be easy! Now, get in a line!"
Almost immediately they all straightened up and got into formation. The Sergeant passed the line surveying each of them carefully as if to see if they would pass out within the next second.
"Your teamwork needs work." he said finally.
"Sir, may I speak for a moment sir!" requested one of the pegasus
"Go ahead." replied the sergeant.
"Most of us were ahead of everyone else during the optical coarse."
"Then, as the leader of the herd, why didn't you order someone to aid those who had fallen behind?"
"It never crossed my mind sir."
"Here's a lesson for you to keep in mind Simon Streaks. No one, I repeat no one gets left behind! As a leader you need to make sure everyone can keep up!"
"Yes sir, it won't happen again sir!"
"Stop saying "Sir" more than once."
Simon stomped his left hoof in response and said no more. A girl pegasus aways away was giggling at what was happening and the sergeant rounded on her. After he let everyone go, Arthur called over to his big brother, Mark. He finished his conversation with one of the unicorns and went over to his little brothers side and together they headed back home. On their way, the wind's speed seemed to have picked up making their manes and tails dance.
"Man, I wish those weather junkies would give it a rest already. Training is over." Mark grumbled.
"They did say that today the kingdom was due for a clouds and a chance of wind," said Arthur. "If they were to stop then it would throw the whole schedule off."
"I know that." said Mark irritably. "Anyway, what about you Arthur? Do you have an idea for what you want your mark to be? You've been talking about how you couldn't wait for this day to come?"
"Oh, umm... not yet. I don't know what I want to shoot for." said Arthur.
Mark sighed.
The following days passed with ease. Several of Arthur's classmates came to school with delight written all over their faces as they showed off their marks to the rest of the class. One sunny afternoon, King Sullivan assigned an urgent job for Mark and Arthur's father to go on with small squad of guards to aid him. he left the two boys in a hurry telling them that he would be back and that while he was away, one of the neighbors would watch them. The two brothers waved goodbye to their father as his shining gold armor glimmered out of sight with his companions trailing close behind. A whole week passed until the small team returned galloping into the kingdom at top speed. Their armor scratched, singed and broken in some parts...