What is a Monster but a Story?
Over a millennia ago, Equestria was changed forever by the discovery of another species of sentient being, referred to as humans. These 'humans' were different than anything that the ponies had ever seen before, possessing knowledge and ingenuity that, at the time, seemed incredible among the pony populace. Their appearance in the world of Equis though, was not completely thought of as an advantage.
Nonetheless, despite the bigots, and extremists that went against the human race, there still many more that had believed that they should be treated as equals. The four princesses of Equestria, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, and Princess Twilight, unanimously decided that it would be best to make peace with these humans as soon as possible.
Centuries passed as the humans and ponies lived in peace, growing in both technology and strength as they, through their combined efforts, created one of the most advanced and powerful nations that Equis had ever seen, rivaling even the nation of the griffins, Talunos.
Soon though, a great threat arose. A large evil that had once been thought to have been vanished.
A monster turned story, known as King Umbra, having returned from his long slumber, his own army of darkness, comprised of humans and ponies alike, ready to take back all that he had lost, and more.
It was a story that had come back to haunt Equestria. Just like this one though, there were other tall tales that weren't actually *so tall after all.*
It was one of these tall tale monsters, along with the influence of a single human, that would forever affect the tides of this war.
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I could hear the others laughing behind me loudly, blocking out all other noise around me as they relished in their cheer. Each were telling tales of other adventures and clashes they'd been in, ponies and humans alike, trying to pass the time as best as they could. They seemed so cheerful, so innocent.
The poor fools. They should've been trying to slow time, rather than quicken it. At least, that's what I would prefer to do. Then again, in a situation like mine, I'm pretty sure that anyone, or anypony, would do the same.
As I gazed out the window, watching the landscape go by as our steam powered locomotive practically glided green terrain, the occasional bump and rattle of the train just barely keeping me awake, I remembered how it had come to this. How I had ended up where I was without any choice whatsoever.
I was at the end of my rope, as they would say, and at that point, it seemed like nothing could for right for me. The orphanage had evicted me over a year ago, after I had turned eighteen, and I was forced to fend for myself, despite my minimal education. It was a struggle, yes, but through it all, I eventually managed to get myself a small hobble of a home, near the edge of Appleloose, slowly earning small amounts of bits by doing odd jobs, or simply giving newspaper from pony to person. It wasn't an easy life, nor was it one of luxury, but it was the best I could afford. Though only just. Besides, the other humans and ponies of Appleoosa were nice enough. Nicer than the caretakers from the Ponyville orphanage, that is.
I was content, for the most part. Sure, due to my limited funds, there were a few days that I would go hungry, but I always figured that it could be much worse. Then again, how could it be worse? As it turned out though, fate took this to be more of a challenge, than a rhetorical question, when I got a rather... Interesting letter in the mail.
Its funny actually. The first piece of mail that I receive in over eighteen years, and its from the equestrian monarchy's military department.
I was drafted, so to speak, into the royal guard. At the time, it was common knowledge that King Umbra, a once sealed away ruled who had originally been the ruler of the crystal kingdom, now ruled by Princess Cadence, had been raising an army of humans and ponies alike, hoping to regain control where he had lost it. Suffice to say, the other princesses were less than understanding of this, sending their own troops to the crystal kingdom in an effort to keep it safe. For the first time in what must have been centuries, Equestria was at war. I, unfortunately, ended up being caught in the middle of it.
As the war went on, more and more lives were lost from both sides, equines and humans falling together on the battlefield, spilling the blood of their brothers in a useless attempt at keeping or gaining power for their cause. More and more of these knights and soldiers were killed as the years went by, both sides taking heavy hits from this war despite their best efforts. So, they began forcing others into the guard, under penalty of imprisonment if they were to decline, being called a traitor for, not just the duration of the war, but for the rest of their lives. Moments such as these were rare, however, as the princesses felt the idea to be cruel, and unfair to those who wished to live their lives. The equestrian military had its needs though, and I was among those needs.
I let out a deep exhale as I continued to watch the window, occasionally noticing my reflection among the flowing landscape. My brown unkempt hair, my dull blue eyes, and the several spots of filth that I sported on my clothing. To many of the people, both on the train and in the city, I would be thought of as a peasant. A less than middle class man who was recently down on his luck. If they only knew what a luxury that would be to me. At least peasants were able to eat more than three times a week. I was forced to constantly ration my small amounts of bread and fruit, often going days on end without food and finding myself to be weak from hunger.
Before I could dwell on this any further, there was a large hiss and a plume of steam that came from the train as it slowed to a stop, slightly pushing me forward as if I were a sort of paper in the wind. The people who were on the train looked outside just once, looks that just screamed 'finally' fixated on them, before immediately scuttling towards the exit, luggages at hand and hoof as they either manually or magically carried the multicolored bags with them. I guess that there was an advantage to being who I was. I wouldn't have to carry any luggage anytime soon.
I chuckled at my sad humor, lifting myself from my surprisingly comfortable train seat and allowing myself to be consumed by the crowd that moved through the cars and towards the exits.
Upon exiting the train, I was immediately greeted by the castle walls of Canterlot, flags of the kindgom draping down the sides with images of the sun and moon sewn onto them, holding several settlements and services that had decided it best to station themselves inside the walls of the Equestrian capital, rather than outside with the more rural ponies. It was as close to the actual palace as it could be, close enough to be considered and guarded like nobility. Of course, most of the people had a certain issue with believing themselves to be just that, often looking down on thief 'lessers' as if they were scum.
I moved along with the crowd of soon-to-be soldiers, glancing back at the train as another large plume of steam came from its sides and it slowly began to pump its wheels and move along on the rails, leaving us all behind. If there were any chance of my leaving before, it was utterly obliterated now. Not that I had the choice to go back, that is.
The mob had continued to walk for hours, exchanging the occasional anecdote, and discussing the latest events of their lives. I simply walked along them all, the silent man who had nothing to his name.
"Halt!"
The loud, magically amplififed yell over the ruckus of the crowd came in loud and clear, causing most everyone to immediately hold where they stood. Since I was lucky enough to have nothing but ponies on front of me at the time, I looked ahead over the large number of heads, wings, and horns, barely armor covered pegasus guard who was currently stationed in front of what I believed to the castle doors.
"All recruits please await for the complete opening of the gate before continuing. You will be asked your name and be given confirmation before gaining entrance into the fort. Any recruits and/or citizens who do not follow this protocol will be incarcerated for their disobedience to a member of the guard."
After the message was relayed, I chuckled to myself as I noticed a continuing pattern. Many a days had passed by since a state of panic and caution was established into the kingdom of Equestria. It seemed that everything crime related, wether minor or major, had come to be punished through long periods of time in prison. What normally would have called for one month of jail time had become over two years, and anything worth ten years or greater basically became a life sentence. War changes even the greatest of lands as well it seems.
The sound of gears clinking and rattling with one another reverberated through the air as the large and decorated metal doors began to open, truly giving us a view of what others referred to as, "the inner haven" of Canterlot, where it was the safest among the rest of the city. The palace grounds, and the soldier areas that had been placed nearby. Almost immediately after the doors were opened, several members of the royal guard, each having hilted broadswords attached to their left hips and sides. They wore the familiar white and black armor of the royal guard of both the day guards and night guards, emblazoned by the emblem of a moon and sun, eclipsing over one another in relation to their armor.
The many human and pony males and females surrounded us, each raising their hoofs and hands to their foreheads in standard salute, their opposite arms either stamped straight to the floor or behind their backs. It was an impressive display to be certain, watching such order and discipline from these people that had once been nothing more than average, run of the mill citizens of Equestria.
Soon, a single mare in royal guard clothing came out of the fort as well, accompanied by two human men at her sides, holding clipboards with quills and ink pots in their hands, somehow managing to balance the three objects without spilling a drop of ink. She was dressed differently than the others. Her white armor was adorned with several gold and platinum medals, the metal of the suit itself appearing to be brighter and sleeker than that of the others. From what I could tell, she was an earth pony, a coat as pale white as the moon and her mane sporting a vibrant pitch black, streaks of red passing randomly along the downwards path it took to her back.
My heart beat quickened rapidly out of what I presumed to be fear as I quickly realized who this was, along with several of the other recruits that were with me in the crowd. When it came to the royal guard, that mane had become well known, and also feared. The most respected, yet infamous, general of the royal guard. As her sharp black mane shone from the sunlight, her bright yet sharpened amber eyes roamed over us. It was akin to a large predator eyeing a herd of its prey, ready to strike at any moment. Of all the outposts for her to be stationed in, why did it have to be here?
"We will now begin the confirmation sequence. Everyone is to line themselves up into rows and columns for a mandatory list check." One of the men that accompanied her explained, slightly raising his clipboard in emphasis. "The general will ask for each of your names, and we will look for your listing among these names. Once your name has been crossed out of the list, you are free to place your belongings in one of the soldier's quarters that will be assigned to you. Understood?"
There was no answer, everybody in the group seeming either too stunned, or two afraid, to move or speak, likely not having expected for the appearance of such a... Reputable mare. Speaking of, I was beginning to think that she was getting annoyed the amount of time we were taking...
I sighed to myself as I put myself slightly ahead of the crowd and formed a one man column and row. The general, along with all the recruits I had come with, looked at me with their own varying looks of emotion. The recruits seemed to believe I was a madman, looking at me with a combination of gaping mouths and widened eyes, while the general simply showed indifference, which I had heard was a pretty common trait for her. She looked back towards the rest of the crowd and continued to look on with a blank face, yet for some reason, one could detect a sharpened anger behind it.
"I do not like it when ponies, or people, have to repeat themselves." She spoke, her voice tempting me to flinch from the utter intensity of it, but i withheld from doing so. "Form columns and rows from the recruit in front of you all before I personally head over to each individual one of you and check to see exactly how many backbones you really are missing."
Almost immediately, the crowd went into a full frenzy, not that I could blame them. They rushed to make and take spots in the formation, pushing and shoving me as they went along. I stayed silent throughout the lunacy though, knowing it couldn't really be helped when facing somepony like the general.
It was but a few short seconds before the chaos eventually ended, leaving the area with a newly organized group of cadets. Each was lined up perfectly, not daring to be a single centimeter off, lest they anger the general yet again. I was in the front of this formation. Middle column, front most row.
The general pierced the group with her dead amber eyes once more, before promptly heading to the furthest corner left, the two clipboard holding soldiers with her as she began asking for names. I heard some of the group on my right let out a sigh of relief as they realized that they would be given more time before the general arrived to them, so I gave out a small, silent chuckle.
After several dozens of people, each of them being given a number for their quarters after their names were checked off, the general had finally reached me, my heart jumping in its pace as I heard her trots, along with the two men's footsteps, close in on me from behind. It took all the willpower I had not to lose the sensation in my legs as she came into my view and brought her eyes to me, almost piercing through my soul with emotionless intent. I gulped.
"Name." She stated simply. Though, somehow, even that had seemed intimidating.
I took in a deep breath before responding, attempting to calm myself as much as I possibly could.
"Enzo." I told her, my voice barely retaining its strength as I went on.
She continued to stare at me blankly, as I began to detect a hidden sense of annoyance behind her facade.
"... You know, I don't particularly like people who think themselves to be brave." I felt a spike of fear and confusion go through as she said this, one of my brows unconsciously raising itself in uncertainty.
"Um, pardon?" I asked. No sooner than I had asked though, had I felt like I would have been better off keeping myself quiet.
"I take it you still feel brave right now? Like when you stepped forward among the group of cadets, or now, when you probably think of yourself to be courageous to be showing no reaction to me?" Despite the fact that her voice sounded utterly emotionless, I could almost feel her spite and irritance among the air. The remaining cadets that stood to my right were looking to me in what looked like pity, likely fearing what the general would do to me, or more likely, to them, if I left her in a bad mood.
For a moment or two, I didn't respond, processing what she had just told me as I looked down to her, since she, like many other ponies, was just about chest height. Brave? No, I wasn't brave, I was just anxious to get it over with.
"... Actually Ma'am, I never once felt brave when I saw you. Quite frankly, I felt more scared than I ever had in my entire life. In fact, I still do." The humans next to her raised their brows at me.
"Oh? Yet you still stepped forward despite this?" She continued. I could feel my strength waver at this, a slight tremble going through me for what was likely a second or so. One that the general seemed to notice with ease.
"I... I guess I just wanted t-to get it over with." I wanted to slap myself for that stutter. I sounded so weak, and insignificant. Granted, I kinda knew that I already was, but it was another thing for the general to see.
She was the one to be silent this time, her amber eyes continuing to look at me with the same blank intensity as before. This time though, I didn't see any annoyance in her gaze. Maybe I had just imagined it before, or maybe she had decided to let whatever I had done slide this time.
"... Quarter 326." I nodded, quickly yet carefully making my way around her and the soldiers that accompanied her, letting out a quiet sigh of relief as I did so, a slight head of sweat dripping down my forehead.
So this is where it began. I was going to enter the royal guard, even though I didn't ever want, but I guess I didn't have the chance to make the choice. All I could wonder about though, was how long I would last before the inevitable would happen... Before I died.