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I'd like to thank all of you for reading my story, and I send a special thank you to my proofreader's KazeRinShin, quipdosemc. you should check out his book Weapon Master I am in the process of proofreading it, but it's a big read and will take me time to proofread the whole thing. And even longer for KazeRinShin to write it.
follow the link to my friend KazeRinShin.
Weapon Master by KazeRinShin: https://www.fimfiction.net/index.php?view=category&user=226337
Chapter I The Story Begins
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.
Chapter II Trial Of The Royal Guard
The two brothers were about to go through The Trial of the Royal Guard, and they were a little nervous. The brothers were at the front gate of the castle apprehensively waiting to see the princess up close. Then Crimson Shadow said to his brother, who was literally trembling with nerves.
"Calm down brother, you look like you're about to wet yourself,"
"I am calm,"
"Yeah I can totally see that," Crimson Shadow replied rolling his eyes
"I AM CALM OK!"
"If you say so there is no need to shout,"
As Crimson Blood was about to say something in reply, the castle gate opened.
"All of you ponies, pegasi, and unicorns. Some of you will make it and some of you will fail, but those of you who fail, will find your place in this glorious state. Unfortunately, there will only be a few of you who will achieve the esteemed position of a royal guard. And with that I bid you good luck and good will. Let the trial begin!" Princess Azure announced magnifying her voice with magic to carry over the twenty plus contenders. As she finished her speech, the group of participants walk through a side gate leading to an arena.
The two brothers stared in awe at the crowd, and then the princess spoke.
"The rules are simple, whoever can defeat the Minotaur, and whoever is still standing, will become a royal guard. But do not worry, he is your trainer and he will not kill you, he will only knock you out, and I'll teleport you to the infirmary. But know this if you are incapacitated you have failed. Work together and all of you will become a part of the guard. Good luck."
After the princess had explained everything to the participants, a great black steel gate lifted, and out the darkness a giant eight-foot tall Minotaur appeared, carrying a great hammer. That had been enchanted with magic to avoid any fatalities.
"NOW PONIES, WHO DARES ATTACK FIRST!" The Minotaur’s deep voice boomed.
After the Minotaur had challenged, the field erupted into chaos. Some ponies were working together some ponies were trying their luck solo. The ponies that attempted it by themselves failed quickly. Within moments, twenty became ten. The two brothers had stayed back to analyse the situation before engaging the Minotaur.
"Now brother he is rather slow so we have the advantage of speed-" Crimson Shadow was cut off by a shout of valour from his brother as his brother charged fool heartedly into the fray.
"NOOOOO!" Crimson Shadow screamed but it was too late; the Minotaur swang his hammer wide taking out his brother and another four in the same motion.
"WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE IT’S JUST THE THREE OF US NOW, A PEGASUS A UNICORN AND A MINOTAUR. SO WHO IS NEXT?!" The Minotaur said as he lifted up his hammer and placed it on his shoulder.
"What is your name Pegasus? I'm Crimson Shadow the unicorn beside you. Do not be fearful, I'm talking to you through your mind via magic." Crimson Shadow thought as he synced his mind with the Pegasus’s mind
"Okay Crimson Shadow my name is Whip Lash," Whip Lash said aloud. He was a blond Pegasus with brown eyes and a silver and gold mane and tail with a cutie mark in the shape of a black tornado.
"Don't talk aloud, just think what you want to say, and I'll understand you, we do not want the Minotaur to hear our plan."
"Okay..." Whip Lash thought
"Good this will be easier. Now my strategy is that you distract him and I levitate his hammer away from him and drop it on his head knocking him out. Can you do that Whip Lash?"
"It will be a breeze they don't call me Whip for nothing." As Whip Lash thought this he took off and started distracting the Minotaur. While Crimson Shadow concentrated on his task, and waited for the right time to take the hammer from the Minotaur.
In the next moment Crimson Shadow saw his moment to strike, and reaved the hammer from the Minotaur’s grasp. Before the Minotaur could realise, the hammer fell from its levitated state and dropped onto the head of the Minotaur. As it did, both Whip Lash and Crimson Shadow attacked at the same time, knocking the Minotaur out.
"Congratulations to the two of you, you have past the trial and now you will begin your training as royal guards." As the princess finished her statement, the crowd erupted into jubilation.
Crimson Shadow and Whip Lash welled up with pride. They had made it. They were royal guards in training.
Meanwhile, Crimson Blood was in the infirmary unconscious. After about an hour had passed Crimson Blood began to stir when he woke up his head was splitting. He could see stars he wondered where he was then his memories began flowing back to him he remembered the arena the crowd and the Minotaur. The last thing he remembered was his brother saying something then charging in and getting clobbered by the hammer. Then everything was blank after that.
Once his ears stopped ringing, he could hear rejoicing and the sounds of partying outside. He figured that the guards had been selected. He sat up and scanned the room for his brother, but could not see him and he figured that he must be enjoying the festivities. His brother would always keep optimistic, even in defeat; nothing would ever sour his mood. He lost his train of thought as he heard a door open. He looked to the direction the noise came from, and standing there before him was his brother adorned in fine golden armour.
"Where did you get that Bro?" Crimson Blood inquired of his brother
"From the Royal Armoury, I made it bro I'm a Royal guard in training" Answered Crimson Shadow with a bright smile still filled with pride from his new stature as a Royal Guard.
"That's... That's great bro; I'm happy for you." Crimson Blood said with an expression of defeat upon his face.
"What’s wrong?"
"Nothing,"
"I know something is wrong bro. I have known you for years, and that tone and expression mean's something is bothering you. What is it?"
"Nothing is wrong, I'm just sore from the trial that's all," Crimson Blood said as he put on a fake smile before putting a hoof to his head.
"Okay bro, when you feel better come and join the festivities."
"I will, I wouldn't want to miss your party," Crimson Blood said with a hint of envy in his tone
Crimson Blood closed his eyes as his brother left the room.
As Crimson Blood slept, the mysterious silhouette returned before saying.
"Crimson Blood you have been betrayed."
"I WAS, I WAS BETRAYED BY YOU WHOEVER YOU ARE, HOW DARE YOU TALK TO ME!" Crimson Blood replied with venom thick in his voice
"Me, betray you, how dare you accuse your master of such treachery, I would never harm you or lie to you Crimson Blood. For you see it was your brother that deceived you, to take the glory for himself!"
"THAT’S NOT TRUE MY BROTHER WOULD NEVER DECEIVE ME, OR PUT HIMSELF ABOVE ME, HE RESPECTS AND LOVES ME. HE WOULD GLADLY SACRIFICE HIS LIFE FOR MINE."
"Would he, he didn't take the blow for you did he?"
"Well no, he didn't."
"Then how can you be so sure of yourself then?"
"Well, you have a point."
"Here look at this flashback."
Crimson Blood's mind began to warp, and he was above the arena looking at himself and his brother in third person. He saw the whole battle he saw himself charge in and he saw something he wished he didn’t. He saw his brother charge his horn and shoot him in the back knocking him towards the Minotaur. The Minotaur swang his hammer and collected him and the other ponies. He watched his brother who had an unremorseful expression upon his face.
After he had been teleported out of harm’s way, he watched his brother and a Pegasus defeat the Minotaur. After they had, his mind began to warp again, and he was back in the present.
"I can't believe it my brother my big brother best friend forever is a traitor for glory" As Crimson blood said this a tear rolled down his muzzle
"I know, I know, I didn't believe at first either, but I watched it three times, and I knew it was true. I'm so sorry." The mysterious character said compassionately as he gave Blood a hug
"Now are you ready to declare fealty to me?" the mysterious character continued.
"Yes, I am. What’s your name?"
"You may call me Princess Dark Shroud." As she said this, the silhouette turned into a black alicorn with red eyes and a silver mane and tail with a cutie mark in the shape of a skull with a sword thrust through it.
"So that is what you look like, Dark Shroud?"
"Yes, it is, what do you think,"
"You look as my heart feels, blackened and cold."
"I have never been complimented in such away before, I think we are going to get along well."
"I at this moment sware fealty to you, Princess Dark Shroud."
"Good, your first mission is to pretend that you know nothing of your brother's treachery, and continue to act the way you'd normally act around him. After the festivities, meet me at Horse View Point, in the back alley behind your house." As Princess Dark Shroud, had finished talking. Crimson Blood awoke in the infirmary completely healed.
Crimson Blood left the infirmary and headed to where the festivities were going on, he found his brother and greeted him.
"Hey bro how’s things, I feel much better now since I had a rest."
"That's good, I was worried about you. Do you want to meet the princess?"
"Do I!"
"Okay follow me, little bro."
The two brothers headed to where the princess was socializing with some of the new recruits and guards
"Oh, hi Crimson Shadow, what can I do for you."
"My younger brother wanted to meet you; he was one of the participants who failed the trial."
"Hello Crimson Blood, how are you, your brother is quite the comedian. you know I couldn't stop laughing as he joked around" Princess Azure said with a chuckle at the memory.
"I-I-I know your ma-majesty" Crimson blood replied stuttering with nerves
"Don't be nervous Crimson Blood. Your apart of the royal family now, you can talk to me whenever you want, considering how close your brother tells me you and him are." The princess replied with a kind smile
"Thank-Thank you, your majesty you honor me with your kind words" Crimson blood replied while thinking "heh heh, Yeah real close."
"Please call me Sapphire," The Princess said in flirtatious tone
But Crimson Blood was too nervous to notice the tone of her voice
After the party had ended and Crimson Blood had said goodbye to his brother. He headed back to Horse view Point, where he would meet Princess Dark Shroud in person. Once he got to his house, he walked down the alley and called out to Princess Dark Shroud. Suddenly out of know where the princess appeared she appeared so stealthily that he jumped as she tapped him on the shoulder
"Crimson Blood Come on let us go, follow me we need to leave this place" she whispered
"Okay"
"I have created a replica of you; he is currently sleeping in your house when we are at a safe distance your house will burn down, and the replica will die. Then you will be pronounced dead while we continue your training. Once you’re a master assassin, you will make your appearance again. Understood"
"You're going to fake my death are you insane?!"
"No, it is the best way to keep you hidden while you train. If we didn't people would suspect you as being a deserter and you will be branded as a traitor. I don't think you want your love, Princess Sapphire, to brand you as one, or she would never forgive you."
"Fine let's go!"
The duo began their journey south, and when they were about a mile out, Crimson Blood saw smoke rising from Horse Point View, and he knew that he had just died.
