Keystone

by Monfang

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark
Length: 1239

The journal excerpt of then Major Steelbreast, the first Unicorn to personally request that Earth Ponies join his command, that accounts the events that lead up to his choice.

The events detailed within take place long before the events history will call 'The Fall of the Moon Princess'. In Equestria's early history, it was set on all sides by creatures who would rather see the young kingdom fall than for it to establish itself.

Even after the events of what was deemed the 'Warming of the Hearth', the three tribes were not completely united. It was the Pegasi who were the warriors and it was the Unicorns who commanded. The Earth Ponies were set to medial tasks when not put under the weight of their heavy armor to be used as shock troops. This all changed after one battle.

First attempt at journal style of writing, be gentle.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-08-15 03:30:01 UTC

Chapter 1

From the journal of Major Steelbreast

Day 25 of the 6th Month

It was the most horrific thing I ever believe I will experience.

The mission was meant to be simple, ride out from the nearby fort and intercept a small group of goblins and ogre that have been troubling a trade route. The worst we were to expect was one or two ogres but noting that we couldn't handle. I lead a several squads of Unicorns and pegasi. Our weapons were sharp, our armor shone and we sung songs of our coming glory. But I suppose that naivete is to be expected from not being part of the front lines.

We learned quickly when the intelligence proved wrong.

It wasn't a group of goblins and maybe an ogre or two. Perhaps those were scouts. What we encountered was so much more. I dare say an army of them. We descended when we saw them though the trees and ran into many ogres and so many of the goblins, their green skins coating the ground like moss, that our attempted ambush was rendered useless. I don't think I will ever forget how their shouts and cheers turned into screams and panic. We didn't even try to stay and fight.

We lost many good ponies in our escape but the worse is that we lead them right to the fort.

We tended our wounded with the aid of the Earth Ponies stationed there. Already, I was making plans to send runners out to get reinforcements to help aid us. I was watching as he flew over the wall and was promptly brought down by a hail of arrows. Though the ogres were still a ways off, the goblins were fast runners and had surrounded the fort, taking up sniping positions to keep us trapped inside.

Destroyed moral is never worse than when it is brought on suddenly. It only grew worse when the ogres arrived and the banging started. It was faint yet clear. They were trying to bring down the walls. Earth Pony construction has always been impressive, especially their stonework. It didn't buckle even as the ogres beat on it with trees, stones and their bare fists. They didn't focus on the gate though even that would have held. Instead, they pounded all four sides of the fort like it was a nut just waiting to be cracked open so they can have at us.

It lasted all night, we could sleep though it but the fear kept us awake, just waiting for death to come unto us. Some surrendered to it, writing their wills. My own is attached to this journal as I write this. Death is close at hand.

I am told that the Earth Ponies, those who manned the fort, had never returned to the barracks. Some mentioned them gathering large beams and planks of wood. I don't understand why.

I return after looking for them and found them, all around the wall of the fort. Support beams had been erected, pushing against the wall and resisting the strikes against it. And pushing against the beams were the Earth Ponies themselves. Their bodies shook with each blow against the fort, their home one of them tells me yet they stand. Even the smallest mare amongst them holds a place in the line.

Still, it is a minor comfort. We huddle in our bunks, waiting for the eventual cracking of the walls. I will hide this journal and hope that maybe it is found and passed on to my family...

Day 26 of the 6th Month

We slept. Don't ask me how but we slept and we wake. The banging is fainter and with much time between each. I roused the men, some shocked to be waking to my face. Some asked me if I had seen Celestia, if she was to take them to Heaven. With them all awake, we will see what awaits us.

I wish I could paint the picture of what I saw. It might not be worthy of being next to some of the artwork that adorn the walls of the nobles, but it brought a tear to my eye all the same. Cracked and buckling the walls may have been, they held. So too had the Earth Ponies. Not one of them were asleep on their hooves. All night, they had pressed against the onslaught to their homes and proved that their strength and endurance were more than the ogre's fists.

Finally, the banging stopped and somepony took the risk to poke their head out to see. I am told that they were retreating! That they had given up. Some of the ogre's hands were even broken after hitting the wall so much. A rational mind would have taken it as a blessing and retreated before they returned with a larger force.

But damn logic and reasoning! That wasn't what kept these walls up. I have told the men to throw away the arms of the Unicorn and the Pegasi that we had arrived with. The courage of the Earth Ponies have inspired me. They sought to break us and found themselves tired from the effort. Now, I will take the spirit that I was shown and break them.

The Battle was nothing short of glorious. It was cumbersome to wear the heavy armor of the Earth Ponies, but I willed myself though it, as did all of my stallions. Even the pegasi who complained about the lack of flight. When the gate opened, we charged forward. Our hooves were like a hailstorm as we made for the retreating horde, too tired to break into a proper run when they saw us coming. Too tired to aim properly when we drew near.

They found us well rested when we charged to them. They found us well rested when we buried horned helmets and lances deep into the legs of the ogres. They found us well rested when we sliced goblin bodies open with blade covered armor. Spiked boots broke any who fell under our hooves and when we brought them down hard on the ogre's heads.

I made sure one goblin lived. I told him to bring back a message about how they were broken. Broken against the walls built by Earth Ponies and held strong by Earth Ponies. And how they were crushed by 'Earth Ponies'.  I made sure to drill it in until I saw nothing in his eyes but fear before I set him loose.

Day 1 of the 7th Month

Jannabell, I promise I will return soon. But I must stay to see to the repairs of the fort and for my troops to be replenished so that I can join up with the rest of the army and march against these foes. I am looking forward to having a squad of Earth Ponies joining my command.

I include portions of my journal so that you may understand what I saw these few days. We might look down on our Earth bound brethren, it is a sad part of our heritage. But we forget their place in our kingdom. They might not hold a place in our hearts and minds like the stained glass windows or the gilded carpets. The towers raised high to touch the clouds.

But no bridge, no castle, not even a simple hovel will stand for long without their keystones.