Crimson Feud

A long time ago in a dimension, unlike Equestria. Two Unicorns brothers were born. The young unicorns had a grand destiny before them. The two brothers grew up together, but they would become much more than brothers, they would become the best of friends, they would do everything together.

After their day at school would end, they would train their skills in magic and become the best they could be. They did this for many years. The eldest brother Crimson Shadow, a dark grey unicorn with gold eyes, and a black and red mane and tail, and a cutie mark in the shape of a shield with a crimson sword behind it. Had done a lot of research on battles and the royal guard itself, and came to the conclusion that wars weren't won by force but by tactics and ingenuity. He eventually became a brilliant tactician.

His younger brother Crimson Blood, a black unicorn with green eyes and a black and red mane and tail with a cutie mark, in the shape of a crimson shield with two silver swords behind it. He Believed the exact opposite to his older brother. He believed that overpowering your foe was the only way to defeat somepony and win wars. His older brother had explained the fundamentals to him numerous times, but his brother would always neglect to listen to his lessons. All he ever focused on was gaining more power.

On this particular day, the two brothers were training hard as they normally did. But today was the last day they could train before they had to undergo the Trial of the Royal Guard. Both unicorns were extremely powerful with magic, but Crimson Shadows younger brother was not only powerful with magic but also with weapon skill; he could wield any weapon with sufficient skill.

The particular magic they were practicing today was summoning. Crimson Shadow had summoned a water elemental, and Crimson Blood had summoned the most powerful creature he could think of, a stone golem. The two brothers were about to test whose magic was superior to the other.

This way of training was more like a game, both educational and fun. They would summon creatures and have their creatures fight each other, until one would fall, and the other would be victorious. But for some reason Crimson Blood would always lose, and he could not fathom how this was possible.

Crimson Blood ordered his creature to charge the water elemental. Meanwhile, Crimson Shadow just stood there patiently waiting for the right moment to strike. He had placed a trap in front of his creature.

As the stone golem blindly charged into the fray, he triggered the trap and suddenly sunk beneath the ground.

"How did you do that big bro?" Crimson Blood asked with a perplexed expression on his face.

"Well, I have told you numerous times, that brawn does not beat intelligence. Pay attention to detail and you can win any battle. I foresaw that you would charge headlong into the fray, trusting that your power could overwhelm my water elemental. So I used your strength, as your weakness. Do you understand little bro?" Crimson Shadow Explained.

"Yeah I do, you cheated," Crimson Blood said with a pout.

"No, I didn't, you just need to concentrate on your surroundings, and have the ability to read your opponent. We have been doing this for years; you should be able to read me easily."

"Okay let's go again."

They had to make their training count today because tomorrow they would undergo The Trial of the Royal Guard.

After hours of intense training, the two brothers made their way back to their home. As they were walking, they were talking about different strategies, to use in the trial tomorrow, as well as joking with each other about the princess.

Once the pair made it back to their home in Horse View Point, they ate some minestrone soup and headed to bed, in anticipation for the morning to come.

Crimson Blood was fast asleep when his mind was invaded by a silhouette that spoke with a slightly evil accent.

"So you’re Crimson Blood, you have an interesting destiny"

"Who are you?" Crimson Blood Inquired.

"You need not know my name; you just need to know that I am a friend."

"Why is that?"

"Because I bring you warning, that is all"

"Okay then, what is this 'warning'"

"My warning to you is that if you listen to your brother, you will surely fail the trial tomorrow."

"I don't think so. He is a master tactician, and if we work together we can overcome this trial, and I trust him with my life. How would you know any of this?" Crimson Blood said in a sceptical tone.

"The reason I know this, is because, I control the stars, the sun, and the moon, time even bows to my every desire." as the mysterious silhouette stated this he raised the sun the stars and the moon all at once then lowered them again excluding the moon and the stars.

Then he showed Crimson Blood a flashback from his past. It was the first time he and his brother met Princess Azure Sapphire. when their father took them to the Trial of the Royal Guard. When he saw the princess again, he was struck by a fresh wave of love. She was a white alicorn with crystal blue eyes and a long flowing golden mane and tail. She had a cutie mark in the shape of a Sapphire heart that sparkled as the sun hit it.

"You are truly powerful."

"And if you listen to me Blood, I will give you all the magical power in the world and you will become the most powerful unicorn in the world. Even an alicorn would fail to match your power. You will be able to stand up to an entire army and wipe it from the face of earth, without breaking a sweat. All I ask is that you do not listen to your brother, and become my apprentice."

"Of course I won't listen to my brother. I will become your faithful apprentice."

"Good my young apprentice, good" as the mysterious silhouette said this, Crimson Blood awoke.

Crimson Blood walked down the staircase and entered the dining room, where his brother was waiting for him. After the pair had eaten, they began to travel to the capital, ready for the upcoming trial.