- Akiden Noyan
By Ravenguardian17
May 2nd, 1257
Uhhun Forest, Khergit Khanate, Calradia
1:30 PM
To say that the day was beautiful was an understatement. A soft breeze drifted through the air, the sun was shining and not a cloud was in the sky. The peace was only disturbed by a party of Khergits riding through the forest. Their commander, a man named Akiden Noyan took it all in, it wasn't often you got to see a day this nice and Akiden wished he could make the most of it . Unfortunately for him he had to go, as serene as today was it was his duty to return to the harsh reality of war.
“Sir!” A voice said, breaking Akiden out of his trance.
“Jeremus, do you have something to report?” Akiden asked the party doctor.
“Yes sir! We have been making better time than expected and should reach Halmar by tomorrow.” Jeremus informed.
“Good, Alagur Noyan will want to set out as soon as possible.” The noyan said.
“If I may ask sir, what is the marshall's plan anyway?” The doctor asked.
Akiden Noyan sighed, “Knowing Alagur were probally going to march straight into the middle of Swadia and besiege one of the major towns.”
Jeremus chuckled, “I will never understand Calradian warfare. How did he become marshall anyway?”
Suddenly a white hot flash came out of the forest, temporarily blinding Akiden. “What the hell was that!?” as soon as the light escaped the forest every Khergit warrior in the camp had their weapon drawn.
“Could it be bandits?” One of the horsemen asked.
The Noyan shook his head, “I doubt it, no bandit I have ever encountered would have access to those kinds of substances.”
“Swadins?” Another suggested.
“Don’t be crazy Kirda!” The first horseman laughed, “They just declared war yesterday, there is no way they could have gotten her in time!”
Akiden thought for a moment, I guess it couldn’t hurt to send out a small party. “You two,” The Noyan said, pointing to the soldiers that had just spoken, “go and scout out the area, I want to know what caused that.”
“Yes sir!” The khergit horsemen obeyed and left to survey the forest. After a few minutes the scouts returned. Seeing them arrive Akiden turned to face them,
“What do you have to report?” He asked, noticing their distressed looks.
“He’s not going to believe us.” One murmured to the other.
The second one gave Akiden a nervous look, “Well you see we uh… found a certain… thing that…”
“Spit it out man!” The noyan shouted, getting impatient with the soldier.
“Wefoundapegasus!” The khergit said quickly.
Jeremus rolled his eyes, “Preposterous. Pegasi are just a legend fabricated by simple minded peasants.”
Akiden leaned in to Jeremus’s ear,”Let’s just humor them, you never know. Stranger things have happened.”
“If you say so sir,” The doctor sighed, “show us where you found this ‘pegasus’.” The scouts obliged and showed them the way, after riding for a minute or so they came to a clearing. Hearing some rustling Akiden looked over the bushes, he could hardly believe his eyes at what he saw next, “Well Jeremus looks like they're right!” In the clearing was a pegasus, but not just any ordinary pegasus, no, this one had a cyan coat and a rainbow mane to top it off. Suddenly it noticed them and tried to fly away, smashing right into an overhanging branch.
“Get it!” Akiden screamed, the khergits grabbed the pegasus while it was still dazed and tied it up.
“Let go of me!” it shouted.
Akiden’s jaw dropped, “Did it just talk?” he asked.
“Of course I did! Now let me go!” the pegasus retorted.
Akiden turned to the two scouts, “Bring it back to the camp immediately and tie it up with the other horses.”
“Yes sir!” the scouts obliged and brought the pegasus, kicking and screaming, back to the camp. Jeremus and Akiden rode behind them.
“So Jeremus, what were you saying about pegasi being a myth?” Akiden teased.
Jeremus shrugged, “Books have been wrong before.”
After another minute of riding they arrived at the camp, after the soldiers tied the pegasus, Akiden went over to where the Khergits had put it, intent to see if it really did talk or not. He walked up to the pegasus, it appeared angry at him for capturing it. Rightfully so Akiden thought.
“So what is your name?” Akiden asked, attempting to start conversation.
“Rainbow Dash.You?” It responded, even though he had heard it speak before Akiden could still hardly believe his ears.
“Akiden Noyan, lord of Dustril and Vassal of Sanjar Khan.” He answered.
“Where am I?” Rainbow asked, catching Akiden off guard, it seemed like a strange question to ask.
“The Khergit Khanate in Calradia, specifically the forest of Uhhun.”
She, Akiden guessed it was a she, sighed, “Buck. Any chance it’s close to Equestria? I never payed attention in geography class.”
“Equestria? Never heard of it.” Akiden said.
Rainbow Dash got even more upset at this, “Horsefeathers! How far did that artifact transport us?!”
Akiden blinked, “I’m sorry, did you say artifact?”
“Well duh, what else could I have said?!”
“Well normally artifacts don’t transport people, or in your case pegasi, over far distances.” Akiden answered.
Rainbow Dash gave Akiden a strange look, “What about magical ones?”
“Magic?!” Akiden spluttered, “Don’t tell me you're a magic pegasus!”
Rainbow shrugged, or at least what Akiden guessed was a shrug, “I’m not really sure about all of this magic stuff if you want to know about it ask my friend Twilight…” suddenly her face lit up, “hey! Did you see a lavender unicorn around here?”
Akiden shook his head, a lavender unicorn, really? What is this, something from a child's tale? “No I have not seen your… unicorn friend.”
The pegasus raised her hooves in exasperation, “Ugh, will I ever get home?”
Akiden felt a twinge of sympathy for Rainbow, he couldn’t imagine suddenly being thrown out of Calradia into a strange land with strange beings.
“Wait, what kind of animal are you anyway?” Rainbow asked.
“I’m a human, the only intelligent species around.” Akiden said.
Rainbow’s ears perked when he said ‘human’, “So this is what a human is like? Wow, Lyra would be freaking out if she were here instead of me.”
Suddenly there talks were interrupted by Jeremus, “Sir, it’s getting late do you want me to pass out the rations now?”
Akiden got up from his seat, “Yes,” then turning to Rainbow he added, “untie Rainbow and let her walk around the camp freely.”
Jeremus’s eyes widened, “You're giving a horse free rein of the camp!? Are you sure this is wise?”
Rainbow hovered up to Jeremus’s face, “First, I’m a pony not a horse. Second, what’s wrong with me going around the camp?!”
Jeremus gave Rainbow a angry look and was preparing to spit something back at the pegasus when Akiden pushed them apart.
“Jeremus,” Akiden said calmly, “what made you think it was wise to disobey your captain?”
Jeremus took a step back, “N-nothing, I did nothing to disobey you sir.”
“But you were questioning my orders, weren't you Jeremus?” Akiden retorted.
Jeremus hung his head, “Yes sir.”
“Good, next time I won’t be so forgiving.” Akiden said as Jeremus left to attend to his duties.
“You were a bit harsh on him, don’t you think?” Rainbow said.
Akiden shook his head, “A captain needs the undying loyalty of his troops. Now let’s get something to eat.”
Akiden and Rainbow walked to the camp mess area, Akiden got them some food and they ate in silence, once they were finished Akiden said, “Where are you going to sleep?”
“In the clouds, duh.” Rainbow responded.
Akiden nearly questioned her comment, but stopped himself. This is never going to make sense might as well not try Akiden thought.
“Well, see you tomorrow!” Rainbow called as she shot into the air.
.
Akiden watched as the rainbow streak flew across the skies, then turned and returned to his tent. It had been a long day, and Akiden needed his rest.
Author's Note
And thus begins the rewrite! Sorry for not updating this since... early October?! Woah! Now I'm REALLY sorry! But this isn't going to be any old rewrite, I'm changing a few story elements. Which ones you ask? Don't worry everything will be reviled in due time (laughs evilly)
