Broken Era:New Age

Imperator Stonewall was not a cruel stallion, but he was not a nice one either. Thirty years in the Equestrian Royal Guard would do that to you however. The burly stallion sat in his office while pulling the graveyard shift. "Damn accident reports...always making me stay late." He slid the stack of paper off to the side as he rose from his seat. He looked over to his right and saw a vanity mirror on the far side of the room. Trotting over he took a good look at himself. The stallion's once vibrant black mane had now dulled and turned a dull gray. His coat now a washed out version of red. He sighed as he saw his face filled with frown lines. Far more disappointments had lead up to this moment than happy memories. His eyes were a steel gray as they pierced through the glass and if looks could kill...well he wouldn't be standing there anymore. His body was much more defined than a regular earth pony's. Having broader shoulders and tones muscles did help during afternoon sparring matches between the higher ranked officers.

He turned away from the mirror as it no longer had the same draw to it now that he had indulged his own vanity. Slowly, he trotted over to the desk he had been sitting just moment before and opened the right side drawer. Inside were an assortment of photos and letters stacked neatly. All of them dated and organized. He flipped through each one till he came across a letter and photo he had received when he first became an imperator. The photo was of his father, who had worked himself to the bone to become a general. However this letter would not fill him with the pride and joy, as the photo did before. This was the letter of a dying stallion. One that had so much to say, but not nearly enough time to say it. He opened the letter to once again repeat the process he did every time he held it.

Dear Stonewall,

I know I have not been the greatest of fathers. I was not there for you...especially when I should have been. When your mother died in that fire, I believe a small part of me did as well. I got so caught up in trying to push it out of my mind that when I had finally come to terms with it, I was far too late. You were not the young colt who needed his father to guide him. You were a stallion filled with resentment and pain. Nothing I say in this letter will make you feel better, I know that, but please let me explain why I did those things.

Son...when I joined the Royal Guard, I was sworn to secrecy for this. I can only tell you now because tradition dictates that I must. There are secrets son. Deep secrets that scar even the princesses. You are free to accept them or live your life in ignorance. I know that once you get this that I shall not be of this world anymore. So the decision will be made by your own hoof. You can either burn this letter after you are done reading or touch the insignia on the back. Once you do however...you can never turn back to the life of bliss you once had. I cannot force this task upon you, but know that we come from a long line of protectors. There was someone we had sworn our lives to serve and protect. Someone other than the princesses that we had worshipped as a god.

If you want to know more about it then you know what to do. If not, than do not think yourself to be a failure. You will always be my son and no matter how much I may not have shown you...I love you. You were never a disappointment. You always made me proud.

Your father,

General Aegis Shield

Stonewall sighed as he remembered when he first read the letter. The anger and sadness that filled him as he let every word burn itself in his mind. He wanted to scorn his father and burn the letter, leaving nothing but ash and embers. However he remembered the second paragraph. It was so elusive and mysterious that he became overwhelmed with a feeling he had not had in years. The feeling of adventure. When he was a colt he loved to go off and explore new things. Thinking his destiny was to be a airship sailor or navigator. That dream would plummet to the ground after he protected his friends from an attack by a timberwolf. He stood his ground and stared at the beast, ready to meet his maker. The wolf ran away as his father came by with a torch however and he escorted the two of them back home. He trusted his father after that day and he did touch that insignia like the old stallion had asked. His life was forever changed after that moment.

As Stonewall was stuck in his daze, a stallion quickly barged into his quarters and panted heavily. The lad had clearly looked as if he had been spooked by a damn hydra and was about to faint! Stonewall immediately placed the letter and photo in the drawer, placing his cold gaze onto the young stallion. "You had best give me good reason as to why you have entered the imperator's quarters without any forewarning!"

The unicorn simply panted as he used his magic to take the scroll out of his belt. "Sir...I believe...you'll...want to see...this letter."

Stonewall's gaze fell upon the insignia of the letter. "You fool, You've come to show me a friendship report from that bookworm!?"

"It's simply best...if you just...read the contents sir." The stallion's eyes now rested on Stonewall's. With a grunt, he opened the letter to humor the stallion. Perusing over the contents of the letter carefully. His jaw dropped as he read the letter and came upon the words "human" and "Aster".

"Copy this letter...and make sure you go back to doing your duty."

"Sir? Don't you think we shou-"

Stonewall quickly interrupted the stallion. "And get our heads raised on pikes? I think not. You've done good work boy. I'll handle the rest from here." The stallion nodded and took the letter as he ran into the hallway. "It took over nine hundred centuries, but finally...our master has returned." Stonewall quickly closed his door, but only after making sure nopony was to be heard outside. "Can never be too careful...the walls have eyes and ears." He went back to his desk and took out a small key from the picture frame of his family. Utilizing it, he opened the small cabinet to the lower left hand side. Inside was a small badge with a faint glowing gem in the middle. For the first time in nearly a decade, Stonewall grinned widely as he pocketed the badge in his carrying pouch.

Aster woke up just as the sun began to send its beams through the windows and into his eyes. They flickered as both of them attempted to readjust to the new light source. He rose up and stretched his arms out, raising them high above his head. Looking over to the door he found Twilight already packed up and ready to go out on their excursion for the day. "Good morning. Seems like someone is in a hurry." He chuckled.

"Of course! As your host, it only makes sense that I am concerned with your wellbeing and comfort." She replied.

Aster rose from the couch and held onto his towel skirt by the knot. Making sure that it wouldn't come undone by the movement. "I'm so glad to have such a caring host then. Anyway, onward to your friend's house!" Twilight merely rolled her eyes as she opened the door for Aster. With a grin, he went out the door and proceeded to take a gander at the sights before him. Houses of all shapes, sizes and colors filled his view. Small thatched roofs and cottages lined the streets. The golden glow of the sun reflected and refracted as it rose from the far side of the town, making everything vibrant and bright. As Twilight lead the way to Rarity's boutique, Aster felt the strange pain overwhelm him as it did with the names he heard yesterday. The searing pain shot straight into the base of his skull as he saw the cottages turn into ones that were a bit more drab. The vibrant colors turning into blacks and browns. The roofs began to crumble and have small fires on top of them, all while he heard screaming and wailing. He shut his eyes so tight that he felt as if he was going to burst a vessel in his temple and began to let out a low moan of pain.

"Aster?" Twilight look back as she heard the moan. Her eyes went wide with shock as the pained look on his face only seemed to worsen by her words. "Aster?! Speak to me! Tell me something!" She quickly ran to his side as he began to lean over to his left. She braced her torso on his waist as he laid a hand on her backside. "Aster, please?"

"D-don't worry Shimmer...A commander never shows pain...no matter how bad it loo-" Aster quickly fainted and his body crumpled onto the dirt road. Twilight jumped at the sudden thump and quickly went over to check if he was still breathing. Placing a hoof over his mouth, she felt the warm breath escape and sighed in relief. With a quick levitation spell she lifted him up into the air and quickly made her way to Rarity's, making sure to avoid any early risers. However she gained a quizzical look on her face as she wondered exactly who this "Shimmer" was.

Clearly this was someone who Aster knew from before, but he was taken from the void. It was impossible to be a pony...right? However, given the name of the human and seeing as he doesn't remember the realm he came from, it seemed to be only logical that it was indeed a pony's name. It was the only explanation to the dilemma at hand...right? All sorts of questions began to filter into Twilight's mind. Did he perhaps come from here? Is the void a separate universe? Could it be that ponies also live on that realm too? All of these and more flooded into the inquisitive mare, but now was not the time for them. First, she needed to help the poor human. As she reached the boutique, Twilight quickly knocked on the door with her magic.

"Coming!" a regal voice said from behind the door. With the turning of a lock and a quick pull the door opened slowly as it revealed a white coated unicorn. Her mane was in hair curlers along with her tail. The purple flowing on top of the pink curlers as her big azure eyes looked to her friend. "Twilight! Why, whatever are you doing here so early dear?"

"Hi Rarity. I know this is going to be a lot to take in, but please just listen." Twilight explained her predicament quickly as she knew time was of the essence. Just because Aster was breathing, didn't mean he was completely fine. After giving a quick recap of the events leading up to this point and even showing Rarity the human, Rarity opened the door wide and helped Twilight place him on a large red lounge chair.

"So dear..." Rarity quickly became interested in the strange creature that now filled her chair. "You say he is a human?"

Twilight nodded. "Yes, Aster is a human. At least that is what he told me. Though he seems to have a case of amnesia."

"The poor dear. I could only imagine the horror of not being able to remember anything from before being pulled into another world. Such a scary thought...and this poor soul is going through it."

"I know...that's why I'm trying to ease him into Equestria easily. However...something was odd just before he fainted."

"Oh? And what is that?" Rarity tilted her head in confusion.

"Well...he called me Shimmer before he fainted. Then said something about how a commander never shows pain." Twilight sighed. Perhaps her friend could shed a small bit of light on this subject.

"Oh my...that is quite odd indeed." Rarity brought a hoof to her chin and tapped it lightly. "Well he said something about a commander correct?" Twilight nodded at this statement. "Then perhaps before he came to this world...he was a leader of an army?"

Twilight's face contorted as she realized exactly what her friend was saying. Now her guilt felt even worse. Sure it was bad before when she had already given him amnesia, but to have taken an important figure from possibly an important place where they are needed? Nothing felt as bad as that. Her head sunk down as she looked at the floor. "If I had never brought him here...everything would have been fine. He would have been living a great life with his friends..." Twilight choked on the final words, attempting to hold back on the tears that were ready to fall.

Rarity noticed the unicorn's distress and quickly came over and nuzzled her neck. "Sweetheart...don't beat yourself up about it." She knew she was treading on thin ice here. One small mistake could thrust her friend even further down the hole she was already in. "You had no idea that he was going to be taken. This was merely fate playing at the strings of the world." Rarity looked into Twilight's eyes. "So don't beat yourself up about what ifs! What we need right now is to take care of what is now."

Twilight sniffled as Rarity gave her speech. She knew the mare was trying her best to cheer her up and get her to move pass the problem, but she couldn't get it fully out of her head. After a few minutes of regaining composure however, she did feel a bit better. "Thanks Rarity, you always do have a way with words."

Rarity merely smiled and looked over to Aster lying on the couch. "Well a lady must know how to assist others with words as well as actions. Now let's take his measurements and I'll prepare him some clothes." Twilight used her magic to hold him upright as Rarity took every small detail to prepare him proper clothes. She did wish he had something to cover the more...private areas, but a lady must be prepared to work under all conditions! Even if they were not completely desirable. After the measurements were taken, Twilight placed him back on the couch and went over to his head. Rarity left the two alone as she went to make the proper attire. As she left, Twilight rubbed a hoof on the soft and tan cheek. The heat emanating off of it feeling wonderful and inviting.

"I'm so sorry...I wish I could take it all back and left you where you were. I'm sure you have other humans looking for you...wondering where you went. I promise you that I will help you adjust to your new life...no matter what the cost may be. I brought you here and it's only fair that I be the first friend you can trust. " She laid her head down on Aster's neck. Nuzzling lightly as she forced back her tears of sadness.

Celestia was bogged down with tons of paperwork. The expedition that she had sent out to the southern stretches of the land had an accident. No deaths, but more than a few injuries. Apparently two of the airships were attacked by an unknown band of raiders that held no banner. She knew that her allies, The Imperium Gryphus, laid on the southern border. She was skeptical about these raiders since she had never known the gryphons to lay down on security measures...especially after the great war. These were either due to the deteriorating peace between the two kingdoms or something far more sinister.

With these thoughts filling her mind and most of the day, she had invited a few ambassadors to the castle. Talks went as they usually did, but this one in particular seemed to have had no underlying tones. The ambassadors were just as confused as the princess was on this matter and it seemed as if nopony knew about this roving band. At the end of the talks she sent out a letter to Emperor Black Beak. She only hoped that it would shed more light on the situation at hand. She could not risk acting without first knowing all of the cards at play. Causing an uproar because of a small band of raiders was not in the interest of Equestria. However...a few more hooves to guard the small villages along the way might raise a few eyebrows, but none of them would create any alarm.

She had wished she could have met this creature her student was talking about. Apparently he hailed from a different land and was quite interesting to look at. If not for this breaking news, Celestia would have been halfway to ponyville by now. "Especially with a name like that. I feel as if I know that name...as if it calls to me. I only wish I could feed this hungry curiosity of mine." She pondered for a few seconds until the sound of clacking hooves getting closer to her stopped. She looked up to find her dear sister Luna in front of her. Her midnight blue coat elegantly complimenting her ethereal mane and tail. Her icy blue eyes held on to her own warm gaze. "Sister...is there anything wrong?"

Luna held her gaze. "Yes...I believe so dear sister. Please tell us why we were not to attend the meeting between you and the gryphons?"

"It was far too early in the morning for you to have been there. I was only thinking of your wellbeing." In truth it was more for the reason that Luna was a bit more hot-tempered than her. She would have made the talks go with more bumps than Celestia would have liked. Her sister was an astounding strategist and warrior, but her other traits were quite lacking when it came to diplomacy.

Luna merely stood before her sister. Proudly holding her head high as she spoke. "We appreciate the sentiment dear sister, but please involve us more with the activities of the court. We know that you have been doing most of our duties for quite a long time, but we wish to ease thy burden." Celestia stifled a giggle. Her sister was always cute when she went back into her old tongue. "We ha-...I have heard that there is rumors about the southern border being held by raiders and not our forces. I wish to ask thee for six hundred troops so we may dispose of these heathens."

Celestia shook her head and closed her eyes. "There is no need Luna. I have already dealt with the matter. A princess gallivanting around with armed soldiers is not going to keep the peace. I've sent guards to secure the villages and I am already sending out word to the reserves in the area. They will deal with this threat quickly and quietly."

Luna sighed dejectedly. "If you say so, but please let us assist you more often. Tis not fair that you have all the burden of the country while I sit on the sidelines watching." With that, Luna swiftly turned around and began to trot out of the room. Celestia awaited for her sister to leave before she went back to her work and worry began to fill her. "Please be safe my student...I wish that the evils of this world do not come to plague you as they do me."