Deep within Canterlot, Twilight aided Luna in searching through Celestia’s relic room. They hoped to find Starswirl’s staff, which proved difficult as one thing quickly became apparent. Celestia had collected many things over the years. Everything from great mystical artifacts down to a simple iron statue, which the two alicorns found a bit odd and unsettling for some strange reason.

Twilight and Luna looked in confusion at the relic before them, both knowing that it had been at the other end of the room earlier. When Twilight had first seen this iron statue, she thought it was made in an image of a hero; that time had worn away any semblance of whom it was meant to be. Now, however, she was not sure. It was clearly old, all the iron it was made out of had long since turned red from rust from years of neglect. As Twilight studied the statue she felt an air of magic about it, coming from the ruby embedded in its head. How strange, simple iron with an enchanted ruby. Not unheard of in the wards of the far western nations. So maybe it was a gift from some prince or ruler of ages past?

Twilight had reached out a hoof and touched the gem embedded in its head. “Do you feel the magic coming from it?” Luna asked, a nervous look plastered on her face. The Lunar Alicorn refused to take her eyes off the thing as if it would spring to life at any given moment and stab her.

Before Twilight could answer, it moved forward and its eyes started to glow red. It looked from Luna to Twilight, then back to Luna. The two mares stared in shock and nervously stepped back. The ruby in its head started to glow as it pulled two rusted blades from its sides. “Guards!” Luna yelled.

It turned to the door and threw one of its blades with such force that it buried itself into the marble wall, jamming the door shut. The sound of the guards trying to break down the door filled the room. It was then that Twilight watched Luna fire a beam of magic at the iron pony.

The heat of the spell burned off a bit of the rust, revealing ancient runes etched into the metal. Twilight knew all too well what the runes on visible meant and that was 'demon's bane.'

Luna unleashed another spell but to her shock, a magic shield deflected the beam, the shield had cracks and holes in its defense though. Twilight reasoned that it had to do with the magic being worn down over the long ears that it had been locked away. It was then Twilight took note of the torches along the walls had started to dim, and the ruby of the iron pony had started to brighten.

Right Rubies are linked to fire, Twilight realized. She turned her horn aglow with arcane power. She summoned forth a wind that extinguished fleams, before quickly turning back to the iron pony. Now, as long as we don't use fire magic it should not gain any more strength.

The iron pony had paid Twilight little mind and focused wholly on Luna. It slashed at the older alicorn, it had landed a few hit cuts on Luna. Twilight knew she would not want to face one of those constructs at full power.

As Twilight watched an idea quickly came to her. She aimed for one of the holes in the shield. The first hit the shield, which made the constructs turn toward her. Before Twilight could ready another attack the iron pony was rushing toward her. Doubtless, it wanted to end what it saw as the weaker threat. As the iron pony thrust its blade forward Luna let less a volley of magic arrows. Each did little to damage the iron pony, but give Twilight the time to unleash a powerful spell, ripping through the iron pony.

The iron pony managed to thrust its sword forward before it stopped. Twilight’s pupils were the size of pinpricks as she looked at the tip of the blade inches from her eye. Luna had caught the blade in her magic and Twilight let out a relieved breath as the blade fell to the ground, her heart was still racing through and she was on the verge of a panic attack.

“Are you okay?” Luna asked worriedly as she looked between the young alicorn and the blade.

“Ye-yes, at least I think so… I-I… I'm… Not dead...” She stammered, looking to Luna still in shock at the close encounter.

“Good, I’ll get the door,” Luna said as the guards were still trying to break it down. She looked at the iron pony as she passed it. “Seems you destroyed it... whatever it was.”

“Are you sure?” Twilight asked, staying close to Luna, not wanting to get near the thing, for fear that the fight wasn't over. She stopped as she saw a flash of light where its eyes were. “Did you see that!?”

“See what?” Luna asked as she tried to free the blade from the wall. The guards hit the door again. “Hold on!” Luna shouted.

“I-it's eyes, they…” Twilight shook her head.

“Princess, what's going on? Are the two of you ok!?” One of the guards shouted through the door.

“Seems one of the relics was more lively than we thought!” Luna called back.

Twilight screamed and tried to jump back as she felt a metal hoof wrap around her hind leg. “Luna!” She yelled as she started to feel weaker as if the creature was draining the magic out of her. Luna fired a powerful beam of magic, but as it hit the thing’s shield Twilight took note of how it was now the color of her magic. Soon an orb formed around Twilight and the iron pony.

Luna cast spell after spell each time doing a little damage to it. Twilight found a look of horror on Luna’s face as she realized her spell could do little to this thing. Twilight closed her eyes, as a bright flash filled her vision.
She opened her eyes once she felt the iron hoof let go. t “Luna you did i-” Twilight started to say, when she noticed that she was no longer in the relic room but on a dirt road. A small group of ponies was staring at her, watching her cautiously. Looking past the pony she found a few homes and shops, and just as many trees as the Everfree.

“Did she take down that Guardian!?” One said.

“Send for the Town Watch!” Another said, looking at her with distrust.
“Is she Devights? Better kill her just to be safe!” A third said, stepping forward with a large knife. Fear filled Twilight’s as she turned to ready a spell, only for a couple of sparks and a fizzle of tired energy.

“Please, my name’s Twilight Sparkle, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Twilight said as the pony with the knife grew closer. She began to panic and tried to use her magic again. Unfortunately, though, whatever that iron pony left her completely drained.

“For heaven's sake lads, if that lass is a Devights then I am a great lord who rides into battle on a great dragon.” Twilight looked up to find a middle-aged stallion standing before the pony with the knife, protecting her from their attempts to move in for the kill.

“Battlesong! Look at wench she clearly a Devight! I bet she lured more than a few brave stallions to their deaths with her black magic.” The pony spat in disgust as he stared down Twilight.

"Aye, and do you honestly think that a Devight wouldn't have turned you to ash by now, or ripped your soul from your body, and should we turn on the Great Lords as well? I mean they are alicorns as well." Battlesong stepped in front of the mob, "And let not overlook the eras of rust on this ancient Guardian."

The leader of the mob looked but seemed unconvinced. "Fine, but don't come seeking my aid when that wench turns on you. Retrieve the Guardian before this witch plays her hoof!” He order.

The ponies shot her hateful looks as two of them pulled the iron pony off of her. “Don’t worry guardian, we’ll have you good as new in no time.” One of the stallions said, the whole time glaring at Twilight.

Once the crowd of ponies was gone, Twilight found Battlesong offering a hoof to help her up. “Come now lass, we need to get you out of here.” He said as he leads Twilight away from the hamlet and into the woods.

Once they were safely away from the mod, Twilight found her heart was still racing. “Thank you, Battlesong.” She said, giving him a weak smile.

"Don't mention it lass, but maybe next time be more careful when acquiring artifacts, as some of them are deadly," Battlesong said.

Twilight couldn't disagree with that, however, a thought crossed her mind. “Why do they think I'm their enemy, and what a Devight?” Twilight asked in a frightened tone.

"Their demons lass," Battlesong looked around carefully. “Well, that old Guardian picked the worst village to teleport you to. The ponies here see anypony without a royal seal as a Devights, and being an Alicorn like the Grand Lords didn’t help the matter.”

“What about you?” Twilight asked as she heard the sound of a river.

“Simple, lass, you don’t have the look of the Devights, and by the looks of that Guardian, something tells me it has been some time since it has moved,” Battlesong said. “Does make me wonder where you’re from though, What’s your name again?”

“Princess Twilight Sparkle, I'm from the land of Equestria.” She said and watched as Battlesong looked in disbelief.

For a moment he didn’t say a word. "Well, that would make a great song wouldn't? A wandering saves a princess, but one most wondered how that old Guardian managed to get to bring you all the way here." Battlesong hummed a bit as he thought, "Most be he drained your magic?"

Twilight nodded, "Yes, and while I have so many questions I kind of need to find a way home."

"Ah, the simplest way would be to beseech one of the Grand Lords or seek passage form Watertown. However, the path to Watertown is full of outlaw and wouldn't recommend it."

"Well, then how would we beseech one of those Grand Lords?"

"Well, if you are truly a princess I'm sure one of them would have heard of you. As to getting you to one of them safely is another matter, as you saw my countrystallions are a bit, let say over cautious... and a bit eager to do away with Devights."

Twilight didn't speak for a moment. “Thank you.” She replied. “So where am I," Twilight asked with worry in her voice as she saw a huge paw print in the mud and gulped nervously. She was terrified.

“Right now we're near the village of Iron Guard within the Kingdom of Archen, but you may know it by Earth’s Warden.” He said.

“Earth’s Warden… the same one from where Puddinghead is from?” Twilight said.
“Few thought her boat would make it over the great sea but seemed it some did,” Battlesong said, as a huge lion came into sight.

His mane was black and he seemed to only have pieces of armor. He had shoulder plates and gauntlets on his legs as well as some armor on his back that seemed to be specifically designed for him but nothing else. Twilight felt her heart race as fear set in, she looked to Battlesong who didn't seem a bit worried.

The lion looked at them and he let out a sigh. “We're going to Silver’s Watch I take it?” The lion said as Twilight and Battlesong came closer.

“That we are. Oh, Twilight this is Golden Courage, Golden Courage that would be Twilight.” Battle said with a smile.

The lion laughed with a deep roar that rang through the woods. “Thought as much, you know you're going to give Silverfire another reason to have a headache.” He said.

Author's Note

First, update in a few years, hope everyone likes it.