Chapters ~{ Chapter I }~
The whistle of the train sounded, it awoke me from my slumber. To be honest, it wasn’t the best in the world, steam powered trains will never compare to the ones they had in the old Empire. I groan loudly, no doubt putting off a few fellow passengers. Whether I cared or not, it didn’t really matter.
As I open my eyes I felt the light from the sun hit my white coat and the crimson pendent that hung from my neck, and it sent the light of the sun all around the room with a bloody red hue to it.
“Good morning, we are about to pull into Ponyville, I hope the town is a nice as the Empire.” Sounded the Ticket Maid as she began to walk down the aisle.
“Time to start that new life you were always hoping for, hope it pays off.”
I thought to yourself. Yes, a chance at a new life, one away from the memories and bonds of the past, far away from Sombra. Far away from them
“Hello sir, do you need any help?” Asked the cheerful voice of the ticket maid.
“No, I’m good” I replied with the tone that would wilt plants.
“Are you sure?” Why does everyone feel the need to help every pony in sight?
“Yes, I’m quite sure. Thank you.” I spat those last words out rather harshly.
The smell and the sound of the platform confirmed the Ticket Maids words, this was far away from the Empire, I couldn’t even fell the spell.
“HI!!”
That sudden burst of sound sent me flying back a few feet and forced me to active a strong shield spell.
“Oh, calm do. My name is Pinkie Pie! What’s yours?!” Questioned the voice, this Pinkie Pie was both loud and upbeat. Two of the things I was told to hate, maybe this is the right town for you.
“Uh, Iron.”
“COOOOOOL! I so so so so so sorry, but I’m needed at Sugarcube Corner, I’ll throw you a ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party later, bye!”
“By Syt- no, I’m never using that name again.”
You think to yourself, and just as quickly she had come, she was gone. Not surprising, all thing considered. You decided that the town hall was more than likely in the middle of the town, and knowing what every pony talking about helps navigate the place.
You listen carefully to what every pony around you were saying. Learning to sift through voices was a talent that you have used for years.
You finale come to a door step, mostly likely Town Hall, seeing as this is a public place, you simple walked in. BIG mistake.
“AHHHHHHHHH!! AHHH! AHH! Who are you!!?? Get out!!” Yelled a very odd voice. Midway between a Filly and a Mare, an older filly, more than likely in her mid to late teens.
“Woah! Calm down! Is this Town Hall?”
“What? No! This is the Town Library!”
“Wait..... * TOWN** Library? Why am I getting kicked out?!”*
“Excuse me? Do you have any Braille Maps?” I asked, trying my best to keep my cool, if I were in the Empire, I could have her beheaded.
“What’s Braille? Why are you here?”
“Are you bucking kidding me.”
“Dust thou have Braille maps?!”
“Uh, no. What ever they are?”
“Can you please show me to Town Hall?”
“Uh, no. Can’t you go yourself?”
“Never mind.” With that, you left.
“Who ever that was, they were now on my sh- no, you’re not in the Empire anymore.”
The rest of the day was fruitless, every guess was wrong, maybe you should ask for directions? The very thought went against every part of my being.
I decided to walked up to a shop keeper, from the smell of the shop it sold flowers, ranging from Daisy to Orchid.
“Hello, how can I help you?”
“I need to get to Town Hall, can you give me some directions?” I asked with the best cheerful voice I could muster at that moment and time.
“Oh sure!, just walk down this here road, turn left, walk for about five minutes, you’ll come to a four way cross, take the left one, walk for about ten more hooves, and boom you’re there!” Replied the mare with a voice that seemed to mimic that of the one I first met on the platform.
“Why thank you very much.” I
“Uh, you know, we don’t get many stallions around here, and the one who do come around are either too regal or busy with work.”
“Oh Dear Syth- noooo, Celestia, that’s the god of this world.”
“If you ever feel like you need to release some stress . Look me up.”
“That smell, THAT is not flowers, it’s something primal, can’t place my hoof on i- WOAH, okay, calm down, no need to be hung like a horse.”
“I’ll think about it, Miss?”
“Rose Luck, my name is Rose Luck, see you around Brony.”
Surprisingly, Rose Luck was right, I followed her instructions to the letter and now I’m speaking with one Mayor Mare.
“Okay, let me get this straight, you. Iron, would like to buy a, no scratch that, the Blacksmith shop in town, and you would like a second floor added to it for you to live in?”
“Why yes, I would, and from the work I have done, it’s should coast about 7,500 bits. 5,500 for the Shop and 2,000 for the second floor. Do we have a deal?”
“7-7-7-7, 7,500 BITS??? You bet your flank we have a deal, I’ll have a team of work ponies get to work right away.”
“Good, that now leaves me with 2-4-6-8 ah, 10,000 bits. Sweet Sythis that is a lot of bit to spend on steel, and o- wait. * Sythis*, looks like forgetting about the past is going to be harder than I thought.”
It was time to take my leave, but I remembered I needed to do something first. You took the paper in you magical grasp, and burned your family sigil into it.
“Thank you.” Said Mayor Mare as she took the paper away from me and seemingly eyed and then sate back down at her desk.
As you we exiting the Town Hall you were attacked by the same mare who you met at the station. Except this time you kinda knew it was coming. After all, she did say something about seeing me again, right?
“Hey you, I setup the party and everything is ready to go! All it needs is the pony it’s for!” Yelled you mare with pure joy in her voice.
“Yeah, sorry. Can’t, I’n not that much of social pony.”
“Aww! Why not?” Asked the mare she started, along with what sounded like sniffling.
“I just don’t like parties, hey enjoy it in my honor.” You place you hoof on her should as you said this. This seemed to make her feel a little bit better.
“Okay, but next time you NEED to come!”
“Okay, fine, I, Iron Shield of the Shield Clan, promise to Pinkie Pie that I shall attend her next party.” As I said this I went through the age old steps of the vow.
“I thought that you were trying to forget about you past?” Asked the mare as she wiped a small tear from her eye.
“I a- Wait. How did you know that?”
“I know alot of things, even things I shouldn’t know, anywho. Bye!” And with that the mare was gone.
“Okay, that was weird. Great work Iron, you just made an Iron vow. Now you need to attend that party.”
The sounds of shouts and the tale tale sound of wood and hammers hitting each other filled my ears. Looks like construction was already underway. Strange, I only talked to the Mayor only a few minutes ago.
“Hey, you! Are you Iron?” Asked the rough voice of a stallion. From the sound of the voice, the stallion was in his late forties.
“Yes, that’s me, what do you need?”
“We’re almost done, just need to give the all clear.”
“REALLY?!?! I’ve only just talked to the Mayor!”
“We are the finest workers in Equestria! We always deliver! That and with that Mail-mare Ditzy, we need to be fast and effective.” Replied the worker as he turned to face his teams handy work.
“I don’t even. When can i move in?”
“In a few minutes, also you received a nice bed from the Mayor’s Office as a token of friendship.”
“A token of what now?”
“A Token of Friendship. Basically it’s a favor you don’t need to repay.”
“Really? That’s nice of her.”
“I wasn’t her decision, it’s the Board’s.”
“The Board?”
“Yeah, the very same that didn’t want a Guard Barracks built to protect the town.”
“Shifty! We’re done!” Yelled a young voice of a colt, or stallion. I couldn’t tell.
“Good! Well Iron, we’re done. All you need to do is buy some grub and settle in. We’ll take out leave.” Said the stallion as he turned and walked away from you new home and work space. No time like the present to start a new life.
~{ Chapter II }~
The setup for his new house was one long a tedious. Iron had setup the ‘tuning forks’ around the house so i could get a glimpse at what the house looked like. Oddly enough, it look about the same as he expected it to look. The room was a nice size, the walls were covered in a pattern that resembled wood, and the floor was covered in a beautiful rug, at least I think it looked beautiful.
Iron unpacked the many bits and odds and ends from my travel bag and laied them out over the bed. The one thing that concerned him was sitting right in front of him. His Father’s sword. Or rather, what’s left of it. Some time ago, there was a battle, you’ll never find it in any history book, nor will anyone remember it. In said battle, his Father met his death. His sword was shattered before he died. And his Shield was broken into several different pieces.
The words: “We Fight for the Fallen ” we scattered on the various bits of the blade. The Shield’s words were also spread apart. “I Protect the Living ” were etched into the crest of the Shield.
Said items were neatly set inside of a Oak box, lined with crimson velvet. And carved upon the box were the words: “From a Loving Father to a Strong Son ”.
Iron winced at the memories, the ones of the long summer days, the ones about him and his Father, spending time with his brothers, and adventuring with his best friend.
“Why does life need to be so unforgiving? ”
Pushing aside both the memories and the box, Iron moved to the next trinket. A small silver Watch. Inside the four hands ticked by, and on the inner face, a small picture of a Stallion and a young Mare, and in their embrace, a small Unicorn Colt. On the back of the Watch: “The best brother a Brother could ask for” were neatly outlined with gold.
Placing said Watch on his night stand, Iron pulled out his next item. A steel Dagger with the words: “A Swift Death to Our Enemies ” were carved into the chrome blade. One the hilt, a single ruby sat, if you were to look into the ruby, you would see a message, one that read: “Hey, bro! I see you still have the Dagger Vera and I gave you, stay safe! ”
After placing the Dagger back into it’s respected place, Iron unhooked his pendent which hung around his neck. He held it in front of his face, even the blindest pony in the world could see the flame flickering inside the red stone. And in the flame, resides a soul. One of pure power. The small trinket was given to him by his Mother. As a way of saying: “Remember us, but forget us. ” without saying it.
“Ha, looks like it’s just you and me again Trix.” Said Iron as he looked deep into the gem. The flame flickered dimly at the mention of lass companionship.
“Haha, don’t worry, we’ll me some ponies, let’s just hope they like me.” At this the small flame burst to life. What was once no smaller than a tiny candle flame, now burnt like a raging inferno.
“Woah, calm down now. We still need to get this place up and running.” The flame died down to something like you would see burning inside of a soldier ready for war. Small, yet very powerful.
Knock Knock Knock. Sounded the door, the sudden banging awoke Iron from his rest.
“......” He didn’t respond at first. He merely listened.
Knock Knock Knock . The knocking continued.
“......” Even still, he didn’t respond. He wasn’t in any mood for conversation.
Knock Knock Knock.
“......”
“Iron!! I know you in there!! Get out here!!” Yelled the voice of a mare. She sounded as if she had never yelled before.
“......”
“Please.” That was the last straw, he needed to respond.
“Fine.”
Iron slowly got up from his bed and made his way down to the first floor, a feeling of dread filling him as he walked.
“How did she find me? Who is this? Do I really want to know? I guess I could always run for it.”
Iron cleared away his thoughts and looked up at the locking on his door, he may be in Equestria, but he still lives like an Imperial.
With a heavy sigh, he unlocked the door, and looked at the mare who had awoken him at the hour half past Luna‘s hour. The mare was small, she didn‘t look any bigger than a teenager. But that didn’t surprise Iron, ponies have been getting smaller every year, and he’s been gone for over a thousand.
The mare was a light yellow, cream even. Her mane was a lively pink, it covered part of his face. She vaguely reminded him of his best friend’s sister, always covering her face. Of course she had a scarred eye to cover. Her ‘cutie mark’ was one composed of three Butterflies. Each hand pink wings.
“I-Iron S-Shield?” Asked the pink maned mare.
“Yeah, that’s me. What do you want.” He asked, his tone fully getting across the message that he didn’t want her there.
“M-my name is Fluttershy. And I have something to show you.” With that the mare walked inside, a book clenched in her wing’s embrace. With one glance he could tell what it was. His Family “Bible”
Stultitia est Admirabilius
~{ Chapter III }~
Saying that I was scare would be an understatement. I was terrified. She had the Book that had been missing for over one thousand and ten years! And from the looks of the corners, it had been used plenty of times. Most likely by the Pony who stole it from my father.
Fluttershy sat down in my kitchen and placed the Book face up on the table, as if to mock me.
“D-do you know what this is?” She asked, with the innocents of a child. It only made what was about to come up even harder to swallow.
“No. Why would I?” I lied, I knew what it was, the only question, why does she have it? Who gave it to her? You’re over thinking it.
“O-oh, i-it’s m-my family Bible. I keeps a record of all the family members, conflicts, and a lot of other things. I-I-I was looking through it, w-when Pinkie told me about you. S-she did say your name was Iron S-shield. I found your name in the book only a few hours before that.” She replied, trying to look into my eyes and look away at the same time.
“Well shit. It really it that fucking Book. I was hoping it was just one that looked like it. ”
“W-well, that may just be a coincidence. After all, the name ‘Iron’ is a very common name among Black Smiths. As is the name ‘Shield’. Well more so for army families.” I knew it was a lie. But I didn’t care. She better not be who I think she is
“REALLY?! Do you really think so? The mark painted on this book is the same one on you flank!” Yelled Fluttshy as she pointed at my blank. She really didn’t live up to her name.
“I wouldn’t know! I’m blind .” You stated as matter-of-factly. She seemed to clam down, or that look she wore was one of anguish, if only slightly.
“I-I’m so sorry, I didn’t know. WAIT!! I did know! The book says Iron Shield lost his sight when he was a colt after he ran off into a forest and went missing for two days! It IS you!” Yelled Fluttershy as she stood up and pointed at me, from all her shouting I finally got a good look at her face. It was one that seemed to mix disgust and anguish perfectly. And from the way her features changed as she yelled, she could mistake her as a child, if she were completely calm.
“And what if I am?! So what?!” Yelled in retaliation. Big mistake, I could see tears beginning to form in her eyes, then the would went both black with silence.
“Y-you. Y-yelled. B-but the book said you were kind. I-I don’t understand.” She slowly sat back down.
“Is she really that naive? ”
“You still didn’t answer my question. Why do you care?!” I replied as I sat my plot down on the floor. The tuning forks made on last ring before the room became completely dark.
“Y-you’re my grand father.”
~{ Chapter IV }~
One Thousand Ten Years Prior
Iron walked down the halls of the Crystal Castle, whistling to himself a happy tune he picked up a few hours ago in the Market. He had every right to be happy, he just came back from a very stimulating experience with the mare every stallion would drool over. Velvet Rose, the prize daughter of a fellow family.
“Shield! Wait up Brony!” Called a voice from down the halls. Iron turned to face the very familiar voice of his old friend.
“What do you need Scarlet?”
“Well, I walked in on my little sister after a big, strong stallion was finished with her. Know anypony who fits that description?” Asked Scarlet as she placed her right hoof against Iron’s chest plate.
“Uh, no. I really don’t.”
“Too bad, I was really hoping to find him, and take him to the bar and congratulate him on helping my sister break out of her shell. Anyway, let’s get to work, the Royal Games are only a few hours away.” Replied Scarlet as she let out a slight chuckle at the thought of Iron in the games, she turned and went back down the way of the hall she had come from.
“H-hey I never said it wasn’t me!” Yelled Iron as he bolted to follow the mare in shining armor,
“You slick son of a-” Scarlet was cut off by a loud boom filling to halls.
“What in the Void was that?!!?!” Yelled a voice from down the halls. Most likely one of the many guards Sombra had acquired.
“No clue, we need to find out, Captain!” Yelled a second voice. Scarlet conjured up her helmet and rushed off towards her fellow guards. Ignoring his better instinct, Iron followed, conjuring his own helmet as he did so.
“Report!” Barked Scarlet as she walk out on to the main Court Yard. The several guards who were present snapped a salute at their Commanding Officer.
“The King, he’s lost his mind, he’s using dark magic. We need to get the ponies out of the city! He’s already killed the entire Royal Court, we need to get the rest of the Guards here now, we need to stop him.”
“Stop who?!” Asked Iron as he slid to a stop in front of the group of Guards.
“Sombra, no time to explain, we need to get moving sir!” Replied a Guard before he took off running. The rest of them followed. Leaving Scarlet and Iron to talk.
“You heard him, get moving Lieutenant!” Yelled Scarlet as she followed the small horde of Guards. Once again not following his better instinct, he followed them as well.
Five Years Later
“You still alive?” Asked the voice of Scarlet. Iron groaned loudly as she tapped the side of his helmet.
“No, I died long ago, I’m just a spirit here to torment you.” Replied Iron as he rose to his hooves.
“Well that explains it! That's the reason why you're such a pain in the flank!” Replied a voice from behind Scarlet.
“Yeah? Well buck you too.” Replied Iron as he sat back down on his flank. This response only arose a mix of groans and laughter from behind Scarlet.
“Pipe down! Sorry Lieutenant, you’ll need to forgive the men, they haven’t had a good laugh in weeks.” Said a tall, grey haired stallion clad in dark blue armor.
“Really? I thought the Empire was all laughs and butterflies!” Replied a voice from behind the tall imposing stallion.
“Knock it off.” Replied yet another voice from the stallion.
“Seriously, what’s with standing behind everypony?”
“Just stop, I have a nasty headache.”
“That’s called a hangover.”
“Shut up!!” Yelled Iron before he passed out from still unknown causes.
“I think you broke him.”
_________________________________________________________________________
“Augh, I am STILL alive?”
“Yes! You are, now shut up and read this letter, my first officer died to get this to you.”
“Okay, fine.”
“Dear Captain Iron Shield
How have you been? Good? Good, also, the reason I’m writing this letter is to let you know that your son is very healthy, he’s going to survive for a long time, at least I hope. Anywho, the king as lost it completely, I’m bleeding out as I write this. He killed what little “supporters” he had left in a fit of pure rage. Also, by the time you’re reading this, the Crystal Spirit Booms are going to be set off in a few minutes. Locking the Kingdom away. Good bye.
~ Scarlet Rose”
Iron slowly closed the latter with his magic, somehow, Scarlet managed to write in perfect Braille.
“Sir...” Was all Iron heard as soon as the remaining windows of the kingdom were blown out by the massive blast from the booms. Just over the city, six rainbow mushroom clouds erupted. Teleporting them far into the deepest part of the Void.
One Thousand Five Years Later
BERRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!
“AHHHHHH !!!” The death wail from Iron was enough to send even the toughest soldiers on edge. Iron dropped to his knees and breathed heavily. He looked around, nothing. Nothing but cold.
“Hello Iron.
“Calm yourself my dear Iron. I am an Arbiter. I am hear to tell you about your future. The first thing, you’ll leave what’s left of the Empire. Second, you’ll find family. Third, you’ll never forget about the Empire, even while it’s gone. And lastly, you die. The last one you more than likely know about. Also, I give you two gifts. The first, this pendent. Keep it safe, it’ll come in handy in the future. And this, the gift of sight, you only need to find the cause of your blindness. Good-bye Captain .” And with that the faceless voice left. The cold was quickly replaced with the warm felling of a train car.
“Hello everypony! This is Ticket Maid speaking, and we are about to depart from the Ice Empire to Equestria. Please enjoy the ride, it’ll be a long hall.” Iron leaned back in his seat and sighed.
“Okay, let’s recap. I was Spirit Boomed, I woke up in the Void, a voice talked to me, and now I’m a train to this place called Euestria.”
“Oh and One last thing. Forget about the Empire, trust me, you’ll be better off without it, oh and don’t forget you bag when you leave the train. Bye!”
~{ Chapter V }~
A cold sweat began to flow freely down my neck. What she just said MAY be true, and it MAY be false. Only one way to find out. To asked her to read the book, well, more specific, a verse in the book that is only know to my family.
“O-okay, prove it, read me the first verse of the third paragraph on the twenty seventh page.”
“If she says: ‘To fight without honor, is to disobey the very foundation of our Family’. It’ll only prove that she’s right, and that I have a grand daughter .”
“Oh!, okay! I don’t even need to look in the book.” She cleared her throat, stood up, and then continued. “”To Fight Without Honor is to Disobey the very Foundation of our Family“” She replied with perfect clarity, no shuddering, no backing down, just a pure replied of the truth.
“.....”
“Y-you know it.... How?” I asked as I looked up as her, still standing tall and proud.
“My mother told me about it every night, and how we must honour family. Please, I know you to be my grand father. You’re all I have left.”
“A-all you have left? What happened?”
“They. They just disappeared a year ago, they only left a single note.”
“What was the note.”
“I-I don’t remember.”
“Sorry Fluttershy, we wish you the best of luck, you’ll find answers soon. Signed, Crimson Shield, the last of the Shield bloodline, or so it seems.
“WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THEM?!?!?” I yelled at the voice as if to intimidate it.
“Nothing I didn’t tell them about. Sorry, they’re away off in some paradise. You’ll join them, one day.
I was the first to break the silence. After what seemed like hours.
“So, grand daughter? Ha, not even out of my late 20s. And sitting in front of me is a filly who’s going to be calling me Gramps. So, why not tell me about yourself. After all, without Family, what would we be?”
“Nothing. We would be mere animals.”
“Good girl at least you were brought up rig-. Your wings. Is it me or are they REALLY big?”
“No, I’ve always had bigger wings than most other Pegasi.”
"You’re not a Pegasi, you’re a Pegasus. An Imperial Pegasus. Didn’t you find it odd that your whole family other than I were Pegasi?”
“No, I just thought that.” She averted her gaze to meet the floor.
“Don’t worry. Not matter what you thought it doesn’t really matter anymore.” I sighed as I looked over my options.
“T-thank you grand father.”
“Ha, Grand Father, going to need to get used to that. As I was saying, tell me about yourself.” I said as I looked at her.
“O-okay. My full name is Fluttershy Feather-Heart. My Father was a Pegasi, my Mother was a Pegasus. My grand mother was a Crystal Pony, a Crystal Pegasus.”
“And you Grand Father was an Imperial Stallion of the Rank: Captain .”
“My mother never told me how she survived over a thousand years before meting my father.”
“I can answer that. Spirit Booms . Modded ones, they froze time, or just moved the city. Either way you Mother and Grand Mother were just outside of the blast zone, sending them into the future. At least I hope that’s what happened.”
“How w-well did you know Grand Mother?” She asked, trying to move the subject away from something so, dark.
“You’re here aren’t you?” I asked as I took a sip of tea which I made as soon as she and I began talking.
“I. Well. I didn’t. Sorry.”
“No, I am. The mental image of your Grand Father and Grand Mother rutting like animals isn’t very appealing. To most.” I looked off into oblivion as I said this.
“Oh sweet Celestia. No, I’m going to have nightmares for weeks now. Ouch.” Said Fluttershy as she put her hooves over her ears.
“Okay, wrong move on my part, remember Iron, remember what Father always said: Mares are mine-fields, Fillies are mine-fields, and you son and daughters are also mine-fields. One wrong move and it all blows up in your face. ”
“Ha, sorry. But can you blame me? I’m barely an full adult.”
“What do you mean? I’m only 12 and most call me a full grown mare.” This new information made my inner fire blaze to life.
“What?! You’re only 12?! And your parents are gone?"
“Y-yes. I’m staying with my best friend, Rainbow Dash.”
“Please tell me you still go to school.”
“I don’t, I work, I’ve found my talent. Taking care of animals.” The made my boiling blood cool down, if only slightly.
“Have any stallions been taking notice?” I asked, a mix of concern and venom filling my voice.
“N-no. Most stallions are busy working. But.”
“BUT?!?”
“By Sythis. Calm down! You have only been her Grand Father for less than five minutes and you’re yelling at her for like a stallion, or mare. Could be either. ”
“I’m sorry. But what do you mean by ‘but’?”
“Well, I ran into this farm pony when I was exploring and looking for other animal friends. He wore a really big piece of wood, and his coat was bright red, and he was really quiet. I don’t know how do feel, and at the same time, I don’t know what I feel.”
“By Sythis. I’ve been your Grand Father for five minutes and I already want to keep you safe from any and all threats.”
“I know, but you don’t need to worry. I can handle myself.”
“Maybe so, but as long as I’m still kicking, you’ll never need a new home, I’ll get another bed from the mayor. I want you here with me. Plus, I need lessons on how to be an Equestrian Pony.” Fluttershy’s face nearly split in half as I nearly finished talking. It was clear before I even finished that she was going to say yes.