Thousand Years War

The sound of marching hooves filled the countryside. Twilight found the path they march to-be like the Everfree in winter, and she was glad when, Nightwind had shown her, and Rainbow were to get cloaks. For the path to Griffin's Bane, was long and cold.

From what Twilight could find out about Griffin's Bane, is that it's a fortress at the northern end of Outer Equestria. It had been the site of many of the battle, with the griffons.

She levitated, a spell book from the back of her units wagon. She hadn’t had the time to train; unlike the Pegasi, who could train and fly at the same time. Unicorn and earth pony on the other hoof can’t.

Which had given her time to read, and she had read through many of the books her unit brought with them. Which she found to be most enlightening, she found that some of the spell could have been used in peacetime, if changed a little.

“Hey Twilight, get up here,” Nightwind called to her.

Twilight turned and looked up to Nightwind who had her usual small. Twilight wondered why she wanted. So she returned the book to the wagon, and then flapped her wings, and made her way to Nightwind.

“Yes flight captain,” Twilight said.

“Well, how would you like to train with me,” Nightwind said,”and Golden Valor said it’s ok.”

“Yes!” Twilight said.

“Good, now come on,” Nightwind said, as she started flying to her unit.

Twilight followed, and she was overjoyed that she would get to try some of the spells she learned. She would also be able to talk to Rainbow more than she usually does.

Twilight in truth was starting to be about Rainbow, she started drinking something that they called Dragon Ale. She also was starting to act more like a Legionnaire.

“Twilight may I ask you something about Rainbow Dash?” Nightwind said.

“Yes, what is it?”

“Has she always acted this way?”

“Do you mean the drinking?”

“Well, there that, and the part she seems ok with all this,” Nightwind said,”I mean I've seen you lost in thought, but Rainbow just seems to-be taking this too well.”

“I’m worried about Rainbow, because the longer it takes for the reality sink in, the harder it will be for her to deal with.”

“Will, you're right about that, but she tough and is making good friends. Not like…” Nightwind stopped.

Twilight looked around and find nothing out of the normal. “Not like what?” Twilight asks.

“Nothing,” Nightwind said,”Now please try not to set anything on fire when we start training.”

“Ok, I won’t use fire magic.”

Twilight looked ahead to find most of Nightwind’s group. Rainbow, was not with them.

“Were Rainbow?” Twilight asks.

“I sent her and Aurora out on patrol.”

“Ok, when we they be, back?”

“Hour or two, why?”

“Haven’t had time to take or hug out with Rainbow for some time.”

“Don’t worry, Golden Valor said as long as we're marching you can come train up with me,” Nightwind said,”now show me some of that magic stuff.”

Twilight decided to try and cast shield spells first, but find they weren’t as easy as she thought they were. Her brother had made them look easy when he cast them.

First, there was the kind of shield, next what you were trying to keep out, then came the casting, and maintaining them. She found the combat spell, were easier, they don’t need to be clean and precise, and the more emotion you put into them the stronger they were.

She knows if she could master them, she may be able to cast her brother spell, or at least get close. Which made her wonder how friends and family were doing. They must be worried sick, Shining Armor, and Celestia would have half the guards in Equestria looking for her and Rainbow Dash by now.

Twilight tries to cast another shield, this time she holds it for a few minutes. Before she could hold it any longer, and it faded.

“Will, I don’t know anything about magic, but it looks like you're doing better,” Nightwind said.

“Yes, I’m getting the hang of them, but you should see how powerful my brother’s shields are,” Twilight said.

“Older or younger?”

“Older.”

“Well, I could only imagine what he would think if his little sister could outdo him,” Nightwind said.

Twilight thought about it and knew he would be Proud of her. Will after he gets over worrying his little sister was out fighting a war that is.

“So we should be stopping for lunch in a few minutes,” Nightwind said.

“Ok,” Twilight said.

______________________________________________________________

Rainbow and Aurora had been on patrol for some time now, and found that there was nothing out of the normal. Rainbow had found that nopony takes care of the weather out here, so it wild and untamed.

“So what's it like in the shield lands?”Aurora asks.

“It's nice, but could we stay focused we are on patrol after all.” Rainbow said.

“Ok, but can you tell me later!”

“Fine.”

Rainbow in truth doesn’t want to talk about it, she was for the most getting used to the way thing were now. She found it hard to believe a week ago all she did was train for the wonderbolts, but now she was in a legion, and Nightwind said if she kept training she may even become a legatus someday.

She knew Twilight was holding on to the hope she would find a way back, but she was starting to like her new life. She misses her friends and family,  but she felt she was now somepony who keep them safe.

Which she found, made her proud, but Twilight thought, she would lose it, and can’t handle it. She knew Twilight meant well, but why couldn't she see this was what they were meant to do.

Rainbow had overheard some of the battle mages in the tavern, and they were very impressed by Twilight. They had said something like she may be the next great Archmage, if she keeps this up.

That's another thing she likes the tavern, she found they love telling stories, and boasting of their deeds. At first she found the drinks there, unappealing, but Lightning Bolt, and Aurora had changed her mind, and by the end of that night she was happily drunk.

She had tried to get Twilight to come with her, but turned her down every time. Twilight need to learn to relax, she wishes that Applejack was here, she knew, she would understand why this was important it like she does.

Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie, would never survive out here, and Rarity would never be able to live in a city like Ironhold, maybe if they're a city more like Canterlot out here, then maybe, but otherwise no.

Then there was the crossbows, so many different kinds. The one Nightwind had her using at the moment is, lightweight, and easy to reload. It arrows  are barbed, and she knew that getting hit by one of these would hurt, if it did kill you, and the fact it would be very difficult to remove.

“Well we should be getting back,” Aurora said

“Right behind,” Rainbow Dash said.

______________________________________________________________

Golden Valor least favorite pony in all the legions, Shadow Strike, a blood red, earth pony, who eyes were filled with hate, had decided to talk to him.

“So, Golden Valor tell me, how many do you kill in the least battle, against the griffons?” Shadow Strike said.

“Far to many,”Golden Valor said.

“You can never kill to many, I mean look how many they killed of us,” Shadow Strike said.

Golden Valor thought about it, and Shadow Strike did have a point. He heard that some take the skalls of their enemies and use them as trophies, and what they did to prisoners was sick.

“Fifty,” Golden Valor said, he remembered because there faces were burned into his mind.

“Fifth, you bet me by two,” Shadow Strike said, with a smile.

Golden Valor didn’t weather to be worried or not. He only seen Shadow Strike smile when killing, and beating him at killing was not something he wanted to do.

“You know were the same  you, and I,” Shadow Strike said.

“No were not, you kill for fun I don’t,” Golden Valor said.

“Then why do you?” Shadow Strike said, tilting his head.

“To protect, my brother and sister in arms,” Golden Valor said.

“Are you sure, that the reason, and not that you like the feel of the power you have over life and death,”  Shadow Strike said.

“No, I don’t, and their never will be a time that i’ll like that feeling,” Golden Valor said.

“Oh, I think I know what would make you enjoy killing at least one enemy,” Shadow Strike Said, smiling bigger.

“I’m going to say nothing,” Golden Valor said.

“Not even if they killed that friend of yours, what her name again,” Shadow Strike said,  putting a hoof to his head,”Oh yes Nightwind.”

Golden Valor wanted to counter saying, no not even then, but couldn’t, for he knew he would burn that enemy slowly, making them feel everything he could.

“Get away from me,” Golen Valor said.

“Oh, I will, but before I do know that when that day comes, and it will, I’ll be more than happy to help,” Shadow Strike said, before walking in to a group of earth ponies  legionnaires and then disappearing.

Golden Valor knew that day would never come, Nightwind would outlive him by a long shoot. Then again what if he was right, and that day did come, he may very well take him up on his offer then.

He may ever start to love killing then. The feel of power over life and death, and living every day knowing that power you don’t want to use could have saved your best, and only friend. Maby he was right how many die because of his conscience, and unwillingness to aim at the larger group, and put all his power into it

He then thought, and if he trained Twilight to do that she could destroy entire cohort at a time with all the power she has. That would mean giving her master level books. No, what is he thinking if that did happen Nightwind would not want him to become like that.

Only caring about the feeling of power, and the next battle, and he could never do that to Twilight, it would destroy her. Golden Valor knew killing one at a time would be hard for her, but an entire cohort.

He knew full well that he may say that now, but if that time did come would he be able to stop himself. He guessed only time will tell, for now he would do his best to make sure that never happened.

There was one thing he wondered what did Rightful Order do to make sure that nopony came looking for them.