Thousand Years War

The first snow of winter had fallen the night before on the city of Ironhold. The sound's of the blacksmiths hammers filled the air. Shop owners opened their doors and readied themselves for another day of work.  At the heart of the city, members of the fifth legion had been training for an hour or two already, which was a common thing in the day-to-day lives of these ponies.

The lord of this city, and of the legions, readied himself for his duties, donning his black armor. He could hear the commands of legatus Stormkiller as he stretched his wing and levitated his helmet onto his head. He then made his way to his balcony and looked down upon the legionaries training, which, under legatus Stormkiller, always goes well.

On the other end of the yard, centurion Golden Valor, a blown furred unicorn with a tail mane and tail. Had ordered  the next set of training dummies to-be sat up. His command went through the dummies so fast, he wondered how they make them that quickly.

He wore steel armor, engraved with a phoenix, which given his love of fire magic, made it a good choice for him. He had found when he was young that fire and war spells came easily to him, so much so that he passed up all the others in his unit and made centurion two years later.

Golden Valor watched with pride as his five legionaries burned training dummies with blue, hot flames. He knew that he pushed them hard to get to this level, and he had never had a full command. His unit had the lowest mortality rate out of the fifth legion, maybe out of all the legions. He knew that when push comes to shove, there are no finer legionaries.

As his stomach rumbled, he was reminded  that it was time for breakfast, and he reasoned if he forget that then his unit may use him for a training dummy. "Legionaries! Break time!" Golden Valor yelled, as the heat from a the fireball reached him.

The legionaries stopped, and went to find some breakfast, as they did a night black pegasus made her way over to Golden Valor.  Great Nightwind's daily' you need to lighten up and stop being a boring, by the book centurion and have little fun' speech.

In truth, he like the daily speech, it gave him great enjoyment. He would never admit to it though, but, if there was one thing he could do without here, it was her pranks. I know i’ll play along today, throw her off her game.

"I know, I'm a boring by the book centurion who needs to learn to have fun, right?" Golden Valor said as she draws near, with a bow and a smile.

"Well, there always that, but today I came to tell you that you're looking a little pink," Nightwind said, laughing.

So that why legionaries were giving me odd looks and were laughing their heads off Which means this is another of Nightwind pranks how she does it i’ll never know. "You wouldn't have anything to do with that, would you Nightwind?" Golden Valor asks, as he started for the mess hall, followed by Nightwind.

"Who me, I would never do something like that,"she said, smiling,"Name one time?" Nightwind said grinning ear to ear.

one time i’ll give her a few more then that."Will, there was the time you switched  my armor for a mares suit of armor. Then there was the time you put itching powder in my helmet, and the one time you painted my hooves why I was sleeping, need I go on?" Golden Valor said, as the mess hall came into sight.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I'm as innocent as a newborn foal," Nightwind said, making puppy dog eyes.

Golden Valor sometime wondered how she was one of the top ranked legionnaires, and a flight captain. But he gives it over to fact in spite of all her jokes and pranks she was very cunning, which made her far more dangerous than she looked and acted.

"Ok then, I guess it was Shadow Strike, or better yet Stormkiller," Golden Valor said, playfully. Which made Nightwind start laughing, and made him start laughing as well. As they reached the door of the mess hall.

He used his magic to open the wooden door to the mess hall. "After you, Nightwind," Golden Valor said.

"Always the noble legionary, aren't you," Nightwind said, walking through the doorway.

Will that what he tried to-be ever since he was a young colt. He had always loved the stories of the noble legion, and the great heroes of it. Golden Valor remembered, as he entered the mess hall as well.

The mess hall was as it always was loud, and full of ponies. It was the largest of the five mess hall, and the most organized of them. The well of the mess hall kept the warmth in and the cold out. Golden Valor took a place in line and waited to-be served. As he did he ran through his to-do list for the day.

He already did morning drills, which went well. Next he had some artifact to look over, then after that it more drills, then lunch, some more drills, dinner, and then bed. I can’t wait to be back in the field.

This is what happened though when you lose a good amount legionnaires, in battle. You need to train new legionnaires, which takes a few months. Then there the fact you need to get used to the new officers.

Two thousand legionaries Stormkiller get off lucky that the griffon forces didn't box them in, if they'd had it would have been much worse than that. He'd most likely be dead and the fifth legion decimated, and for the unlucky ones taken prisoner. He rather not think about the horrors that awaited.

But the griffon are only one of their many enemies, some like diamond dogs are far worse. They may rip your guts out from below, or pull you down to their domain, and anypony taken prisoner are made to mine gems for them. Then when you can't work any longer they eat you.

Then there was the dark king, he was by far the worst of all their known enemies. He rips the soul of his enemies out torture, and corrupt them. Then use them as weapons. Golden Valor thought, as he reaches the front of the line and proceeded to get his meal.

After breakfast was over, Golden Valor proceeded over to the magic academy, its high stone wall and heavy iron doors, made this a fortress itself. That is, unless you knew of its weak points, but overall it had few such points.

The room that they kept  the artifact in was fairly large, it had many books for the identifying artifacts. Lucky for Golden Valor, there were only a few artifacts today. He looks down the line of artifacts three horns, one crystal, and a crossbow which may or may not, be enchanted. He can't wait till, he doesn't have to do this anymore.

He finds the first few were nothing useful, unless you were a historian who studied the pre war era. Come to think of it there weren't many historians at all, which made these horns useless.

Next was a crystal it was unlike anything he seen before. He walked over to a bookshelf and pulled the crystal index off the shelf. He started searching for what kind it was. It took him a few minutes, but he finds it.

Crystal of the Shield Lands, a set of two use to teleport back and forth  through the shield. Can also be used to project one's mind to look upon the shield lands, to look upon the other side. Extremely rare, only three are known to exist, all held by the lord protector.

To look past the shield, and see what they on the other side. He had always wondered what it looks like on the side of the shield. But if he used it and was caught, he maybe whipped, or worse. But when would he have another chance like this, so he took the risk.

He levitated the crystal up to him, he took a breath in, then looked deeply into the crystal. It

Was weird at first, being in two places at once. He finds himself fully aware of where his body was, and where his mind is.

He finds himself in a library that look to-be built inside a tree. He looked around and find two ponies, one an alicorn, the other a rainbow-colored Pegasus. Both seemed to-be happily reading books, but he wondered, does that mean the other crystal is here and if so where?

He walked around the room, reading the title of the books as he searched for the other crystal. As he was looking the alicorn got up and walked right through him, then stop, and started to look around. No, there is no way she could detect me, is there?

Her horn lit up, as it did Golden Valor find a light started coming from, a bust of a unicorn head in the center of the room. "Twilight is this a new spell of your's?" the rainbow-colored Pegasus asks, looking up from her book.

"No, but there something magically in there." Twilight said, as she made her way to the bust. Twilight then used her magic to pull one of its eyes out. Which to Golden Valor dismay was the crystal.

The rainbow-colored one trotted over to her friend. "What is it?" she asks, tilting her head

"It some kind of crystal," Twilight said, as it started to glow brighter.

Golden Valor find himself back at the magic academy. As the crystal on his end started to glow, and small cracks started to form on it. Which made him duck under a table, as it exploded in a flash of light, sending shards ever were.

As he looked up from under the table, he finds to his horror that the two ponies from the library were now standing in the room, dazed and confused. The first one to come out of the dazed, was Twilight if he remembered right.

"Rainbow Dash are you okay?" Twilight asks, looking around the room.

"Ya," Rainbow Dash said, shaking her head."where are we?"

"I don't know, but maybe one of these books can tell us." Twilight said, making her way over to the bookshelves.

"Index of magic spell books, index of..." Twilight said, as Golden Valor moved, knocking a horn off the table. It hit the floor with a bang.

Golden Valor found that both,we're looking right at him. "Hello, could you tell us where we are?" Twilight asks.

Golden Valor watched, as both looked expectantly. Why did he have to use that crystal to look into the shield land.

"You're in the city of Ironhold" - Golden Valor said, standing up."And you're not in your part of Equestria.

"What do you mean are part Equestria." Twilight asks. "I've never heard of a city named Ironhold either."

"Look you two are going to have to come with me now, and don't touch anything." Golden Valor said.

He looked at Rainbow Dash, as she picked up and started  messing around, with the old crossbows, he hopes that not one that fires magic arrows.

"Wait a minute pal, first tell us what you mean by are part Equestria?" Rainbow Dash said, rashly.

"You are not in your part of Equestria is the best I can do, now come on, my lord will find out what to do with you two." Golden Valor said, thinking he may of need to word that better.

"What do you mean find out what to do with us?" Twilight asks, sounding a little nervous.

It time like this I wish I had better social skills. Well I could always try plan B, not like their  legionnaires or anything. Then again the only alicorn I seen could destroy cohorts at a time. So I’ll try the way, and if that doesn’t work then Lord Protector help me.

"I'm Golden Valor, and you are in the city of Ironhold capital city of Outer Equestria, and home of Lord Protector Rightful Order." Golden Valor said as Rainbow Dash managing to fire the crossbow. It bolts hit the wall to the right of Golden Valor, and blowing a hole in it. Which got the attention of the legionaries, who heard it.

Will that answer that question, it's enchanted with magic arrows alright. Well, this day keeps getting better and better, doesn't it.

"Halt! Drop the Weapon!" One legionary yelled, as he charged in followed but many other.

Rainbow  Dash dropped the crossbow as two armored legionnaires tackled her to the ground, and the other surrounded Twilight, who look fearfully around as the legionnaires move closer. She looks as if she was trying to find an opening and a way to get to Rainbow Dash, before she did however there was a flash from a teleportation spell.

"Stand down!" A power voices, commanded. Golden Valor looks over to Rightful order, A black armored, Red eyed, male alicorn. He like the others here has no cutie mark, and his eyes were as cold as ice.

"How did these shield lander get here?" He demanded to know.

Golden Order taking in a breath.Well maybe he doesn't know I hopes."They find the other end of a Shield lands crystal, my lord." Golden Valor said.

"Will then I can see the crystal exploded, which means you both are now stuck here. Even if hadn't I could not allow you to return to your homes." Rightful Order said, Looking at Twilight, then at Rainbow Dash.

"Wait, why not?" They said unison, fear and worry on their voices.

"For it would destroy the peace, and put everypony in the shield lands at risk. Not even Your rulers know, so you have a three choices. One live here in what peace you can. If you two wish, then you may ask me to end your lives. Three give yourselves to the defiance of the shield lands, and of pony kind, but if you take the last choice it is for life. So what will it be?" Rightful Order said, as legionaries let Rainbow Dash up, "or do you some time to think about it."

"What if we promise never to tell anypony?" Twilight asked hopefully.

"I'm sorry even if there was a way I could, I wouldn't take the risk that you slip up. For even if most thought you both had gone mad. There would be those who would believe you. They may try to show other your right." Rightful Order said.

Golden Valor watched as Twilight, and Rainbow Dash seemed to-be fighting back the urge to weep.

Wait but he does have a way to send them back. He has three if I recall right, so why lie. I’m sure they both would understand, even if they didn’t Rightful Order has then hid somewhere that nopony will ever find.

"I'll give you some time  to make your choice." Rightful Order said. " I'll have a somepony show you to a room so you two can talk it over."

"What kind of terrible is Equestria in?" Twilight asks.

"A war that will never end, and yes, we have tried for thousand of years to end it." Rightful Order coldly said, "I'll have can have a book brought  to you if it would help you understand."

"Yes, please do." Twilight said.

"Legionnaire, show them to a room." Rightful Order told, the legionnaire next to him.

As Twilight and Rainbow Dash left the room, Rightful Order said "Legionnaires as you were, but not you, centurion."

Golden Valor watched as the legionnaires left the room. Then Rightful Order spoke "Well centurion, if you read the index, you know I have three other crystals, I could use to get them back to the shield Lands."

"Yes, my lord, I know," Golden Valor said,"but why not use them, won't other start looking for them if we don't send them back?

"Don't worry about that, nopony looks for somepony they think is dead," Rightful Order said," now you are to take them the history of the thousand-year war centurion."

Wait, what does he mean, think they're dead, is he going to the shield lands. To make it look like they died, and knowing the stories about Rightful Order, it would most likely be bloody, or involve fire.

"Oh, and centurion if they should find out for you, any  connected to you about the other crystals, you will wish you were never born," Rightful Order said, before disappearing in a flash of light.

Will I'm alive, but I wonder what he meant by you wish you were never born. Will he ripped my guts out and make me eat them, or burn me slowly to death. Golden Valor shook his head. Wait, why am I even wonder that, Nightwind is right I do need to stop looking on the dark side of things, now where do we keep the copies, of the history of the thousand-year war at?

After a good amount of looking Golden Valor find one of the copies of the books, and was on his way to drive it to the shield landers. He did feel sorry for them, he could not imagine, being ripped from your life and thrown into this Tartarus, and it was his fault after all, he had to find a way to make it right.

Then an all too familiar voice, brought him out of thought, and not hearing them approach, give him a shock, as well. "So is it true Golden Valor?" Nightwind ask.

"Don't do that Nightwind! You almost give me a heart attack, and is what true?" Golden Valor said, looking behind him to find Nightwind flying a little off the ground, and had a good  idea what she was asking.

"You know, about the shield lander." Nightwind said, landing right next to him. It always amazed him how fast news could spread.

"Yes, and there were given three choices, one I don't think anypony would take, the other two are, live the rest of your live here, of join the legion." Golden Valor said, as he started to walking again, and Nightwind started walking right beside him.

"So, what kinds of ponies are they anyway?" Nightwind ask

"One a Pegasus, who colorful, I'll give her that, the other an alicorn."

"Colorful how?"

"Think rainbow colored."

"You're, pulling my leg, aren't you?"

"Nope, she also fired a crossbow, which fires magic arrow, that exploded, and destroyed a wall."

"You think they'll join the legion?"

"I hope not, but if they do, it will change them." Golden Valor said. He hopes that they would pick to live a simple life, here and never see the horrors of what he, and Nightwind have. But If they did, he would take Twilight, if he remembers alicorn name right, and train her.

"If they do, though, I'll take that Pegasus under  my wing,  and show her how to survive, and if I know you're, going to do the same for that alicorn." Nightwind said

"Yes, but I hope it doesn't come to that." Golden Valor Said. As they continued walking in quiet thought.

Nightwind and Golden Valor, made their way to where Twilight, and Rainbow Dash, were to spend the night. It was one of the nicer buildings in the Ironhold, just outside the legion training ground. Rightful Order, had stationed guard outside the building. Golden Valor, walked up to the door follow by, Nightwind.

"I was told by our Lord, to bring them a book." Golden Valor said, the guards look to him, then to Nightwind. Then open the door.

"Good day, flight captain, and good day centurion." One of the guard said.

Nightwind and Golden Valor, enter the building and made their way to the guest rooms.  The building was well finished , and much nicer than either of them were accustomed to. They reached the end of a hall, and knocked on a door.

Twilight open it and let them in. Golden Valor, pulled the book from his bag, and handed it to Twilight, as Rainbow Dash come into sight.  "How bad does, your legion need recruits?" Twilight ask. Golden Valor hope, neither of them would ask that, he could lie, but decided against it.

"We'll take whatever we can get." Golden Valor said.

"Would we be, protecting, our friends, and family?" Rainbow Dash ask.

"Yes, for if the legion falls, the shield won't be far behind, an afraid."Golden Valor said. Getting a bad feeling he knows where this is going.

"If you're going to join know this, it won't be easy, and sure in Tartarus won't be fun, you may very die a painful death, or worse." Nightwind said. Which surprised Golden Valor, he doesn't think she ever thought like that, he thought she was just eager legionnaire, looking for a fight.

"Well, I can't stand by and watch as another fight, and die, so count me in." Rainbow Dash said.

"Me, too." Twilight said

"Wait, you have some time think about it, you join it for life." Golden Valor said, trying to change their minds.

"So what does a Pegasus do in the legion?"Rainbow Dash said, looking to Nightwind.

"Air support, scouting, and flaking mainly." Nightwind said.

"And what does, somepony who good at magic, do?" Twilight said looking at Golden Valor.

"Fire support, shield, and ward, and many other things, but I ask you one last time please think this over some more." Golden Valor said, but he knew the look in their eyes, it was that of somepony willing to give all so, other may live in  peace. The same look he has seen on, Stormkiller, Nightwind, Shadow Strike, and so many others.

"If you do this, Twilight Sparkle, ask to-be assigned, to me, centurion Golden Valor, and Rainbow Dash, you ask to-be assigned to flight captain, Nightwind, and if they give you grief tell them I'll set their tent on fire next time were in the field, got it? Golden Valor said. Both nodded in agreement.